Wednesday, October 29

Got home Sunday eve.  Terribly jet lagged and with a mild cold.  Lots of sleep was in order.  Spent Monday doing laundry, going through a ton of mail and generally putting things away.

I went to see Cowboy yesterday.  He was happy to see me.  He was fine.  They were listening to a fellow play the guitar and sing western songs.  He always enjoys that.  I joined him.  When that was over we walked around a bit.  Beautiful day and lots of birds were feeding.  Nice visit.  He didn't say a word about my being gone.  His inability to keep track of time helps in that regard.

I went out today and bought underwear and socks for Cowboy and got some groceries.  My cold is about gone and I feel rested.  Another very nice day.

We are having a Halloween party at the home Friday so will make some pumpkin pies tomorrow  to take.

I had a wonderful time on the trip.  There were several single ladies to hang out with.  They were from Maryland, California, Florida and Idaho.  About all we had in common was our age.  They were fun and friendly.

The ship was very nice and comfortable.  The food was amazing.  I enjoyed every bite.  They had some sort of entertainment every night.  I liked the folk dancers the best with the gypsy band a close second.

I probably learned more history, geography and cultural details than on any trip I have ever made.  Listening to the citizens talk about the communist years and the Baltic wars makes you realize how fortunate we have been in this country during the past few decades.

We made several stops between Budapest and Bucharest. The weather was nice for most of the trip.  In the 60's for the most part. Then the last two days the wind blew terribly and on Saturday we had rain, then sleet and then snow.   To top it off the bus had a flat driving from the coast of the black sea to Bucharest.  We sat on the road for over an hour while another bus came to rescue us.  Needless to say between the delay and the weather didn't have much time to see Bucharest.  All part of the adventure I suppose.

Sunday, October 12

This will be my last post until I return from my trip.  I leave on Tuesday and fly to Frankfurt and then take a second flight to Budapest.  We will take a look around Budapest before sailing down the Danube.  Several stops in Hungary, Serbia, Croatia and end up in Bucharest, Romania before flying home.  Will arrive home on Sunday the 26th.

I hope I have covered all the bases.  The kids have my travel information and have promised to call Cowboy a time or two to check on him and the home has their numbers.

I bought a backpack today.  Have never used one but am told they make the job of carrying things around a lot easier so here we go.  One of our stops will include a dinner at a local home and as suggested, I bought a little gift.  I bought Texas wildflower seeds, a magnet and some pictures of the area to give them.

I went to see Cowboy yesterday.  Some of the ladies had brought in fixins for fajitas.  Cowboy didn't want any.  They did serve their regular lunch so he ate good, fried chicken and trimmings.  Then he ate a big piece of cake.  That ought to raise his blood sugar.   He was fidgety.  It was raining and he couldn't go outside.  It quit after lunch and so he went out when I left.  I explained to him that I was going to be gone for a couple of weeks but I suspect he will forget.  This is the longest I have ever left.  Hope he does well.

Tomorrow I pack and I have an appointment with the gastrointerologist at 3PM.  Just to find out what he already told me I suspect.

Thursday, O9ctober

All was good with the colonoscopy.  Hope he will tell me  can wait another  10 years but won't find out til go back to see the doc on the 13th.  Such a pain in the you know what.

Went to see Cowboy yesterday.  He was doing OK but got really upset with this new resident that is a bit like "Billy", always talking and bothering everyone.  We went to see the dentist and he had 3 teeth filled.  When I get home from my trip we will go back and get a tooth pulled and his partial modified. It frustrates me no end that they do such a poor job with oral hygiene.  It just doesn't seem to be on their radar.  A lot of the residents don't have any teeth and some of the rest of them have no one requesting or paying for dental care.  Talked to one wife and I get the impression a lot of it is just how difficult the whole process is and how unwilling the patients are to go through the process.  

Had a nice lunch and then I headed back.  Met with the insurance adjuster on the roof and he doesn't agree that the whole roof needs replacing.  I called the roofer and he wants to come out and take pics and address it with the insurance company  Can't do much until I get back so agreed to let him do that and we will do some negotiating.  Not a big hurry since the roof has been temporarily fixed so will address when I get back;

I went to the primary physician today and learned that my labs show I am pre-diabetic and my cholesterol is borderline high.  Am going to have to get serious about my diet.  Bone scan was good and labs were otherwise good.  He suggested I use a stool softener, add more fiber to my diet and that I should be fine.

I got a haircut and a pedicure today in preparation for the trip.  Tomorrow I plan to catch up on correspondence, bills, etc and start laying out my clothes for the trip.  May try to hit the mall and look for a backpack, although I have a nice satchel could use.  

Grandson #4 worked yesterday and painted my bathroom.  Still needs some touch up but looks pretty nice.  He left and went back to stay with his girlfriend.  I worry about him and the whole situation.  More later.

Sunday, October 5Fri

It was going along as a pretty good week.  I had gone to see Cowboy on Wednesday and he was doing fine.  He continues to spend a good deal of time outside.  We walked around and he commented about the bird feeders and fretted that very little of the feed had been consumed.  It is possible that the aide refilled them because I saw lots of birds last time was there, but not today.

On Thursday we had a terrible storm.  High winds.  They said up to 90 MPH.  Anyway the sun came out about five and I went outside and my yard and pool were filled with shingles off the roof.  I went to the front of the house and you could see rows of shingles standing straight up.  One shingle was lodged between two of the slats in the fence.  You think of tornadoes when you see that but it was just straight wind.

I immediately called a roofing company off of Angie's list that same evening and he came out first thing Friday AM.  He took about 5 minutes and said I was going to have to put on a new roof.  I was really hoping they could fix it for a few hundred but no such luck.  I called the insurance company while he was here and they will be out on Wednesday.   I feel really dumb but I don't know what price they use to determine the value of the house on which the deductible is based.  1% of the value of the house.  We will see.

They sent some fellows out on Friday afternoon to put some covering on the roof to prevent water from getting in the house.  Supposed to rain again.

Friday afternoon I went to pick up my daughter.  My tummy had been bothering me all day. Lots of gas.  Too much of something.  (Lordy, I hate this getting older stuff).   At the last minute they had changed her gate and I had to backtrack from one area to another.  DFW is a nightmare on a good day and right now it is all torn up with construction.  Between worrying about soiling my clothes and not knowing where I was going I was a little distracted.  Found the turn but was in the wrong lane, went to move over and sideswiped a hotel van.

There was little damage to either vehicle but the driver called her manager and was told to stay there and call the airport police.  The next thing that happened was I expelled more than gas.  We got our business taken care of and waited at the very busy airport for the policeman.  He comes, takes a quick look, asked if we exchanged info and left.

I was a bit late picking up my daughter and she had a Dr. appt to get to so they could release her from the crutches, etc.  She called the doc and let them know and off we went in a rush.  I drop her off, go home to clean up and then return to pick her up.  She is distraught.  Two more weeks of crutches.

So now I call my insurance company for the second time in one day.  That has to be pretty uncommon, hah!  I was kicking myself all the way to Timbuctu and back.  I can just imagine what this is going to do to the already high insurance rates.

I went to see Cowboy again yesterday.  He was cranky for some reason.  There was a birthday party for two of the residents and the staff and there had been food brought in and a huge cake.  Lots of visitors, noise and confusion.  Maybe that was it.  The home has a room for that sort of thing.  I think maybe they should have gone there.

Came back home, picked up my daughter and headed to grandson #2's for a birthday party for his youngest.  I did not realize she was turning 1.  What on earth has happened to the time.  Great party but noisy.  Lots of little kiddies.

I would like to say I am spending the day today in my easy chair but it is not to be.  I have a colonoscopy scheduled for in the morning.  That means drinking all that awful liquid and spending a lot of time running to the bathroom

My days should improve after that.  Have a bit more shopping to do for the trip.  I am going to buy a backpack.

Grandson #4 is coming over to take me tomorrow and then is going to help me clean up the mess from the storm.     and so it goes..........