April, 2017 Spring Has Sprung

We have been super busy. We are completing tasks in preparation for spring and summer traveling. We have taken some nice walks, and enjoyed some pretty nice weather most days. As a kind of surprise - a few days this month- the temperature dropped back down into the 40's. We run the air conditioner and heater - sometimes both on the same day. I got a hair cut and color at the beginning of the month. On April 7th we went to the VA Medical center in OKC to pick up the orthotics that were custom fitted for Steve. We got there before noon and did not get finished until 4:45 PM. They were short two clinicians and it was suggested that people come back at a later date, but that would not have worked for us. We have too many other things to accomplish, so we waited. It was good to get them done, and Steve's feet feel better. During my days off, I do other routine things like, grocery shopping, bank statements, bill paying and making lists. On Friday the 14th of April we updated our GPS and did trip planning. I purchased a Zone Pass from Thousand Trails and got an additional zone (2 for the price of one). We have no experience with Thousand Trails, but want to try it out and see how it works for us. I will update that after our trip. On Saturday the 15th, we went to El Reno to celebrate Logan's 12th birthday. First we watched him play soccer, then cake and presents. Next was the Elevation Station to jump on trampolines. We finished with supper at the Outback. It was a nice day. Usually one day of the week-end is rest & relaxation day! Naps! On the 18th of April I went to Ponca City for my 6 month checkup with my doctor and instead of my usual 3 day workweek - I worked 4 days! It made me tired! On Saturday & Sunday (22 & 23) we took the RV to Perry Lake and de-winterized it, shampooed the carpets, lubed the jacks and slides and cleaned out the big bin on the driver's side. Again, I was pooped after this. We enjoyed the outing though, especially the dogs. Buster and Zoey (Poopsie) were so happy to go spend the night in the RV. They love it! It was chilly with a wind out of the north on Saturday, but the cool temps actually help Steve. Sunday the temperature was excellent. On Tuesday, the 25th, we got the yard mowed, bought groceries, paid some more bills and I listened to a webinar. Very productive day. Then it was back to work for two more days. Today, Friday the 28th I returned to the Eye Doctor, Sold some Thirty-one products, Took our dogs to the vet for their annual vaccinations and we had a walk around the neighborhood. We are looking forward to May - I am going to take a Wordpress class at Vo-tech, my sister is going to get her hip replaced and then we are going to New Orleans, LA to a Nutrition Symposium. It will be a great trip. After that, we will return home and I will work a few weeks, help my sister if needed and go to one more doctor appointment at the VA for Steve, then we will head to the Pacific Northwest. We have our route pretty well planned out. We will go north and do a stop at Niobrara State Park in Nebraska, a place I have been interested in seeing since I worked for the Ponca Tribe. Next we will re-visit South Dakota and some of it's attractions. After that we will head to North Dakota and visit Theodore Roosevelt NP while adding a new state to our travel map. Then a few stops in Montana and on to Washington, Oregon and home through California by way of Mt. Shasta and Lake Tahoe! I am getting really excited to get started!

March -Seemed like it lasted forever and then POOF, It was over!

Well March started out with work for me and Steve got measured for some new orthotics by a private provider. Later in the month - he also went to the VA and got measured for orthotics - he is going to be fixed. He needs help because his feet have been bothering him a lot. We want to get into hiking shape-but it seems to be slow going for us. On Saturday, March 4th - we walked about 2 miles, followed by a day of not much the next day - Sunday. We made a trip to Stillwater for groceries on the 7th and this week, I only worked 2 days - not busy at the hospital. We celebrated Hazel's birthday at La Macarena this week also! She & I are now the same age. Thursday night we met Kristi & the grandkids at Texas Roadhouse in OKC. Austyn & Logan are staying at our house for a few days of their spring break. On Friday the 10th we did additional prep for taxes and went to H & R Block to get them calculated. We were lucky this year - we got money back! Thankful for that. On Saturday- we took it easy - the kids love to just hang out and watch TV when they visit. On Sunday - we all went to the YMCA and the kids swam, I walked and Steve watched. It was too hot for him to walk inside the YMCA that day. On Sunday, the 12th of March we changed the clocks for Daylight Savings time. I worked and the kids hung out with Steve. Kristi came up on Wednesday and picked up the kids and they returned home. On Thursday - we put the tow bar on the RV, Hooked up the pickup and drove to Okarche, Oklahoma. The only authorized workhorse dealer is in this little town. We had a recall on the brake calipers and wanted to get them fixed. We are trying to start to get things ready for our trips this spring/summer. We walked on Saturday and Sunday along with doing some trip planning on the computer. We used google maps and Good Sam Trip Planner. On Tuesday, March 21, we went to Ponca City to Edward Jones and checked on our status there. We also went to Walmart for some groceries and ate supper at La Macarena with Linda & Hazel. In addition we walked around our neighborhood that evening. On Saturday the 25th of March - Kristi and the Grandkids returned and we all went to Stillwater to watch Logan play Soccer. We had trouble before we got away though, Steve and the lady across the street were backing up at the same time and our tailgate got bashed. Sad... We walked out in the country on Sunday - it was cool and cloudy. The sheriff, stopped to see if we were OK - told him we were fine, just out walking the dogs and ourselves. No problems. On Tuesday, March 28, we picked up the RV at Carter Chevrolet in Okarche, then went to Camping World in OKC to order a new refrigerator for our RV. This took some time. We wrangled around in our heads about seeing about fixing it or getting a new one. We finally decided to get a new one and be done with it! It cost a pretty penny! We returned on Thursday the 30th of March (after I left work early) and dropped off the RV to get the new refrigerator installed. Of course on Friday morning, Camping World called and needed to get an OK to charge us another hour for installing the refrigerator because the vent was someplace near the air conditioner. It didn't make sense to us - but at this point we said go ahead, we want it completed. So later we drove the pickup down and completed the transaction and home we came! We found out that the radio switch wasn't working. The guys who did the brake caliper recall/repair (plus new brake lines - our cost) had broken the switch. We knew they broke the rocker switch-and they replaced it - it just must not have been the correct switch. The radio would not stay on. So Steve will deal with that. OK - that puts a wrap on March, 2017.