Busy day…Not 100% yet…

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While visiting my friend Lisa, who rescues bushbabies in Marloth Park, I had the thrill of feeding this little one. Caring for the bushbabies until they are ready to return to the wild is quite a commitment and I commend Lisa for her devotion and dedication.

Today is cleaning day. I am at a loss without a house cleaner. Even having one every other week would have been good, but at $250 for two to three hours, there was no way we were willing to pay that amount for this two-bedroom condo. Tom and I can get everything done in less than an hour.

Also, we needed to wash the bedding today and dry it in the laundry room way down the hallway on a long tek, about 500 steps according to my Fitbit up and back, which I had to do twice. It took everything out of me. Whenever I’ve taken antibiotics, as I am doing now for a ten-day course, I’m left weak and feeling unwell. I still have six more days to go.

It feels like all the progress I’d make working out is lost when I’ve spent most days since last weekend sitting on the sofa, playing with my phone while streaming documentaries and news. However, I am hopeful that the UTI symptoms will continue to waft away each day since beginning the antibiotics on Monday of this week.

I have tried to go about household tasks as usual to get back into a comfortable routine. I haven’t had to do a lot of cooking since we had plenty of excellent meals in the freezer. I made a huge batch of low-carb broccoli salad this morning with our frozen leftover dinner. So, besides popping our homemade frozen entrees into the oven, I won’t have anything to do for dinner.

Soon, we’ll put the clean bedding back on the bed, and I’ll hang the last load of the laundry on the portable drying rack. Tom will vacuum and wash the floors in a while, and we’ll be done for the day until next Friday.

We’re both looking forward to the Super Bowl on Sunday. Since we aren’t “snackers” and don’t eat “junk” food, we’ll have a nice dinner and enjoy the game and the day together.

On Valentine’s Day, we booked dinner reservations at Luna Rossa, the fantastic Italian restaurant down one flight of stairs and a short walk. Even if I’m still not feeling perfect, I will stick with the plan. I’ll be done with the antibiotics on February 15. Yeah! Hopefully, sometime in the next several days, I’ll feel well enough to return to the Fitness Center to get back to where I was a week ago.

Last night, I checked with Medicare’s online app and found that my Part B enrollment is processed. What a relief! There’s a card I can print online. As a result, on March 1, I will be fully insured for the first time in 11 years, which will give me great peace of mind.

Again, sorry, we don’t have any exciting news to share right now. Before we know it, in 51 days, we’ll be on the move again. How time flies, especially when we’re enjoying ourselves as we have in Lake Las Vegas, Nevada.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, February 9, 2014:

Some years ago, in the evening, Linda (and Ken), alone while sitting on the veranda at their home in Marloth Park, heard what sounded like a scream. She immediately went inside the house, locking the door behind her. The following days, she wandered through their property to find the remains of this impala, who’d been attacked by a leopard, as confirmed by the Park Rangers whom she called to assist. All that remained of the impala was this skull they’d displayed in their yard as a reminder that there are wild animals in this area, and one must always exercise caution. For more photos, please click here.

A very weird thing happened last night…It was a first for us…

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We’d never seen soap bubbles overflowing in a toilet. The toilet has an attached bidet, but we don’t use it since the water is cold.

Last night, while streaming an engaging series on Amazon Prime, “The Chosen,” we were both startled when we heard loud gurgling sounds coming from all the condo’s plumbing pipes. We both jumped up simultaneously, looking for an issue, and we were shocked when we entered the ensuite bathroom in our bedroom.

The bathroom toilet was just about ready to overflow with soap bubbles! What! We’d never seen such a thing! Why were there soap bubbles in the toilet? We ran back into the kitchen, and Tom turned off the dishwasher. Apparently, the soap was coming from the dishwasher! Go figure.

Now, the dishwasher and bathroom are not close to one another. This is a good-sized condo. We checked the bathroom at the other end of the condo, and that toilet was fine. After the bubbles went down a little, we tried plunging, but the toilet wasn’t plugged. It was just filled with bubbles.

Immediately, I texted the owner to let him know we’d need a plumber in the morning, but not immediately. We were fine for the night and would use the other bathroom’s toilet in the interim. With my UTI not completely resolved after less than three days on a ten-day course of antibiotics, I knew I’d lose sleep when walking back and forth to the more distant bathroom during the night.

Before I started taking the antibiotics, I had to get up four times during the night. I am down to once per night, which is a good sign. Before this UTI, I never had to get up during the night. Fortunately, last night, I fell back to sleep quickly.

As I write this, the plumber is due to arrive before noon, and it’s 11:45 now. We’ve heard that these days, various workers don’t necessarily arrive on time in Las Vegas. Whether this is true or not, we shall see. We aren’t going anywhere today, so it won’t be a problem if he’s late. However, I’d like to get in the kitchen to prep for tonight’s dinner.

This morning, I headed up one flight to the lobby level and then outdoors to the mailboxes. A few packages arrived from Amazon sellers that send their products via the US Postal Service instead of through Amazon, which we prefer since they come directly to our door.

Once I arrived at the mailbox with the key the owner had left, I opened the box to find dozens of pieces of mail for the owner and a few small packages for me. Inside the mailbox was a key to a larger mailbox in the same area that I had to open. For the life of me, I couldn’t open that larger mailbox.

I had to ask one of the staff members at the reception desk if he could help. He explained that many tenants also struggle to open larger boxes. He fiddled with it for a few minutes and finally got it open. I left the key in the larger box’s lock so the mailperson could use it again.

Moments later, I was back on the elevator, my hands full of my few packages and tons of the owner’s mail, and continued to our floor. Once I exited, I couldn’t get into the corridor on which our condo was located. The two doors to the corridor were locked. I was stranded in the elevator access area. I headed back to the lobby, one floor up, and asked them to help.

The cleaning person was vacuuming and accidentally locked the two doors. When I returned to our floor, the doors were unlocked, and I could proceed to our unit.

The plumber has arrived and is working on the issue. Hopefully, he can get it resolved today. These situations remind us of how happy we are that we don’t own a house and have regular everyday maintenance issues most homeowners encounter. We love that it’s not our problem.

That’s my news for today. I hope we’re not boring you with our little daily snippets!

Be well.

After looking up our photos from the Maasai Mara, I couldn’t resist posting another previously shown hippo photo. This was one of the first wildlife sightings we experienced only minutes after arriving at the Masai Mara airport in 2013. Love it! For more photos, please click here.

No one is exempt from a scam…Including me, making a mistake…A warning for all of us…

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Gee.This ad looked legitimate. Lori and other Shark Tank cast members have mentioned that there have been many scams using their likenesses and names. QVC explained this ad was on TV in 2019 but not since.

Shortly after we arrived in Nevada on December 15, I saw a Facebook ad on December 18 for a fantastic carry-on bag. It was advertised on a video by Lori Grenier from QVC and Shark Tank, so I didn’t question its validity for a second. I placed the order but noticed I didn’t receive a confirmation email.

I didn’t question not receiving an immediate email confirmation from QVC simply because it was so close to Christmas, and I trusted QVC. I hadn’t made a QVC order since 2011 and wasn’t concerned, thinking it would arrive sometime in the 3½ months we’re in Lake Las Vegas, leaving on March 31.

Tom asked me if I had ever received the bag a while ago, and I explained I had not. I’d assumed that with the high demand for this nifty bag, I’d undoubtedly receive it within 60 days and still wasn’t concerned. The cost was only $40 for the item with shipping.

However, in the past day or so, I started thinking about this item. and decided to contact QVC. I wanted the item more than I wanted a $40 credit. Alas, after speaking with QVC this morning, I discovered they had no record of me purchasing the item. The last purchase they showed for me in their system was in 2011 before we began traveling the world.

The supervisor I spoke to explained that they’ve received many calls from customers who purchased this same item and never received it. After a little further research I found a comment page on Facebook with hundreds of people complaining the ad on Facebook was a scam.

I realized getting this resolved was only through my credit card company since QVC had no record of the purchase and obviously couldn’t offer me a refund (or the item). However, I had a copy of the transaction on my December credit card statement. It didn’t show as if it was from QVC. The entry was from some arbitrary company, Sarry. Maybe they meant “Sorry,” sorry that I fell victim to their scam.

Even when I went through the December statement in January and didn’t give the charge another thought, after speaking with QVC this morning, I called the credit card company. After the call, they credited my account for the $40 and will handle the resolution afterward.

I learned a lesson I will implement going forward. I will no longer buy any products from Facebook ads. If I see something I want to buy, I’ll go directly to the website and purchase it from there, or better yet, from Amazon, which has almost every product you can imagine. I haven’t had any problems dealing with Amazon. If there was a problem, they quickly resolved it to my satisfaction.

That’s not to say that all products offered on Facebook are a hoax; I’m sure many are legitimate. But, after spending about an hour this morning dealing with this, I prefer not to waste my time trying to resolve such an issue.

Nonetheless, I would have loved to receive that carry-on bag. It was perfect for me. I can do a little research to see if I can find something similar from a reliable source.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, February 7, 2014:

There he was, looking at us through the glass and wood sliding door in the master bedroom at Khaya Umdani. What a sight. For more photos, please click here.

Funny thing happened with Tom’s five-days-a-week contribution to Garage Logic…Where were we yesterday???…

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We took this photo of a horse that offered this hysterical post while we were in Costa Rica in February 2015.

If you click on this link for yesterday’s Garage Logic podcast in Minnesota and move your cursor to 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 11 seconds on the February 5, 2024 podcast, and you will hear how popular Tom’s contribution to Garage Logic has ended up getting a Minnesota-based company to be advertisers for Tom’s segment on Garage Logics podcast.

The company is one we know so well: Anderson Windows/Renewals by Anderson described as follows:

“Andersen Corporation
Headquartered in our backyard in Bayport, Minnesota, Andersen Corporation is North America’s largest window and door manufacturer. Founded in 1903, Andersen is an international corporation employing more than 9,000 people in locations across North America, with sales worldwide.”
No, Tom doesn’t receive any compensation for his daily contribution to the show, nor will he from Anderson Windows, but it has driven many readers to our site since Joe Socheray always mentions the link to our site when he broadcasts what Tom sends in daily, “This Day in Minnesota History.” This news is fun and exciting to us.
The little morsels, along with support and comments from our readers, provide us with the commitment to continue to post day after day, almost 365 days a year. Sure, we miss a day here and there, and yesterday was such a day.
I hesitate to write anything about my (our) health these days, after all we’ve written in the past. But, in an attempt to be transparent with our readers, as we always have been, I decided to share why we weren’t here yesterday. But, my biggest motivation, as always, is the hope that if even one person can benefit from what we share, it will be worth revealing these somewhat personal details.
Over the past few weeks, I have been suffering from a bladder infection. This is a common condition suffered by many, as stated below:
“Are bladder infections common in the elderly?
Your UTI risk increases with age. According to one study, more than one-third of all infections in people in nursing homes are UTIs. More than 10 percent of women over age 65 report having a UTI within the past year. That number increases to almost 30 percent in women over 85.”
For the younger population, bladder infections are described as follows:
“Bladder infections are common, especially among women. Research suggests that at least 40 to 60 percent of women develop a UTI during their lifetime, and most of these infections are bladder infections. One in 4 women is likely to have a repeat infection.”
The odd thing about it is that people seldom share that they are suffering from these infections since there is a stigma associated with mentions of illnesses and infections regarding certain body parts. I didn’t tell anyone. I had a bladder infection (other than Tom) until yesterday when I was waiting at the urgent care facility where Tom had gone for his respiratory illness over a month ago. My friend Kathy wrote to me on WhatsApp, and I told her where I was and the reason for the trip to urgent care.
Now, here I am, sharing it with the world. Oh well. As I said, if one person gains a bit of insight from today’s post, it will have been worth it.
I figured out how I got this infection, which was vital for me to know since I hadn’t had such an infection in over 40 years, from what I recall. In the past seven weeks since we arrived at Lake Las Vegas, I started working out about a week after we arrived, starting on the stationary bike and adding the treadmill a short time later. I’ve added some light weightlifting and been thrilled with my progress.
However, the infection took hold as I increased the time on the bike. After some research, I found the following portion of an article from Women’s Health Magazine here:

“Can spinning – and exercise in general – cause UTIs?

It is a possibility. The tube through which urine comes out – the urethra – is only around 4cm long in most women, making it relatively easy for the infection to get into the bladder. During a spin class, the urethra and the surrounding area can come into contact and friction with the saddle.

This, combined with the hot and sweaty atmosphere down there, along with possible dehydration, can make a perfect climate for bacteria not only to enter the bladder but also to grow and multiply.”

For the balance of the article, please click here.

So, I had a reason “why,” but I didn’t have immediate means to end it. Recently, while in the US, I’ve noticed several online sites offering appointments with doctors who can prescribe medication to be filled at a local pharmacy. I went to work to find a service that would be suitable for me.

Many of those services don’t treat patients over 65 years old. As a result, I spent a long time going through the details of one such service after another. Finally, I found a company, Sesame Care, found here where my age wasn’t an issue. For a small fee, I spoke to a very helpful doctor and sent a prescription to the closest CVS in Henderson.

When I received a text from CVS, I was able to go online and request the prescription be delivered to me. Within two hours, I had the prescription and carefully followed the instructions for the five-day course of antibiotics. In the meantime, I continued working out but didn’t use the bike and may stick with the treadmill and the weights.

I took the last pill last Thursday, but by Saturday, the infection had returned with a vengeance. I took an antibiotic that didn’t work. On Monday morning, I was miserable and decided I had to have a lab test and see a doctor. First thing in the morning, I tried arranging an Uber to take me to the same clinic Tom had visited, as mentioned above.

(Also, as mentioned in a prior post, I won’t have health insurance until March 1 since it’s taking a long time for Medicare to process my Part B enrollment.” I preferred to go to Urgent Care rather than an appointment at a doctor’s practice).

Getting an Uber to come out here, 25 miles from the Strip, was challenging. Uber drivers don’t necessarily hang out in Lake Las Vegas, and with over 300,000 additional visitors here for the Super Bowl, getting an Uber was a challenge. After 30  minutes of trying, I finally got a confirmation for the one-way trip to the clinic. I told Tom he didn’t have to come with me. With his lung condition, hanging around a germy waiting room made no sense.

When I checked in, the receptionist handed me a little brown bag with a specimen bottle and a sanitary wipe. Once the specimen went to their in-house lab, my condition was confirmed. especially when I had blood in my urine. The doctor was very kind and prescribed a different class of antibiotic, and after less than 24 hours, I can already tell it’s working.

It took about two hours for the round trip with the drive-through at CVS for my new prescription until I returned to the condo. Tom was waiting for me in the lobby after I texted him, as he requested, to let me know when I was on my way back. I gave the second Uber driver an additional tip for going through the drive-through so I could get the prescription right away instead of waiting for a delivery. I’ll be on this drug for ten days after taking three pills a day.

By the time I returned to the condo, I didn’t have the energy to do a new post. But today, I am already so much better, I didn’t hesitate.

The cost of the appointment at Urgent Care, plus the two Uber trips and the prescription, was around $206. If I had insurance at that point, I would have had to pay about $500 for February’s premiums (Part B and supplement for Plan G) plus the once-yearly $240 deductible. Overall, it was well spent, and I am happily on the mend.

If we lived somewhere permanently and were no longer nomads, most likely, we’d have seen a doctor more than the few times we each have in the past year. I’ve been to two doctors, and Tom’s been to one.

We are grateful for each day as we continue to enjoy our lives.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, February 6, 2014:

Many times, we’ve seen Vervet Monkeys holding their babies, most often from a distance. Rarely staying still long enough for a photo, we were so excited to get these shots at Khaya Umdani. We’d left yogurt out overnight for the bush babies, forgetting to bring it back inside in the morning. Suddenly, we were surrounded by over a dozen monkeys only feet from us. I asked Tom to avoid scaring them off until I got a few photos we shared with our readers today. For more photos, please click here.

Last night’s good time in The Village…

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Tom’s meat was overcooked. He gave me his sliced avocado. But we had a good time and didn’t complain about anything.

Last evening, around 5:00, we walked to the Sonrisa Grill, the Mexican restaurant located down the one flight of steps to The Village, a five-minute walk.

More people were walking in the Village than we’ve seen since New Year’s Eve around the time of the fireworks display on the lake. We suspected many of the people we spotted were family members or friends of the San Francisco 49ers staying at the nearby Hilton Lake Las Vegas.

These colorful chips were impossible for me to resist, so I ate a few.

Our goal was to go to the bar at the restaurant and, around 6:00 pm, get a table in the dining room. As soon as we entered the restaurant, it was evident we needed to get a table right away.

With only two available tables in the good-sized restaurant, Tom suggested we get a table right away, or there could be a long wait later. I agreed, and a friendly host escorted us to a table for four instead of the tiny table for two.

Tom enjoyed his blended Marguerita. He doesn’t like those poured-over-ice and not blended.

We seldom choose one of those tiny tables for two. They feel cramped, and we would like more elbow room.

Once situated in the now fully packed restaurant, we ordered our drinks. Tom had a blended margarita, and I had a glass of my favorite William Hill Cabernet Sauvignon. The vast menu offered many exciting options, which we perused for quite a while.

We both ended up ordering taco salads, Tom’s in the giant shell with roast beef and mine, without the shell but with grilled salmon instead of beef. The salads were good but not great.

The Mexican restaurant Sonrisa was packed.

They brought unlimited tortilla chips to the table, which were hard for me to resist. I limited myself to five chips and stuck to it. Those five chips were 10 grams of carbohydrates, half of my daily allotment, but they tasted good.

We each ended up having a second drink, which I rarely do. When the wine glass with a stem was so small and only half filled, I thought I could enjoy another since I hadn’t seen that vintage since we were in Florida last summer.

That was a big mistake. Having a little more than my usual 5 ounces caused me to sleep poorly last night. I learned my lesson and won’t do that again. Tom enjoyed his two blended margaritas.

My salad doesn’t look that appetizing. I asked the server to remove the tortilla strips, refried beans, and rice. The guacamole looked a little stale.

Our bill for the food, drinks, tax, and tip was $107, which is a lot for a Mexican restaurant. But we had a great time and enjoyed our night out. Plus, it was fun to see some of the player’s wives, girlfriends, and kids.

Back at the condo around 8:00, we watched a few more episodes of Feud, an entertaining TV series from FX on Amazon Prime (no extra fees). By midnight, we were both in bed but, as mentioned, struggled to get to sleep. My Fitbit showed I’d slept seven hours, but it didn’t feel like that much. Tonight’s another night, and it will hopefully be better.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, February 4, 2014:

No photos were posted ten years ago when my laptop screen was broken, and I had to go to Nelspruit for a new computer. See the text here.

Our friends, Lea Ann and Chuck, are enjoying their nine month world cruise…Would we do that?…

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May be an image of map and text

When our friends, Lea Ann and Chuck, whom we met on a cruise in 2017 sailing from Sydney to Seattle, came to visit us while we were staying in The Villages in Florida, they were excited to share their enthusiasm about booking Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas Ultimate World Cruise.

While we were in Florida last summer, Lea Ann and Chuck visited us. It was wonderful to see them and hear about their upcoming world cruise.

Our mouths were agape when we heard they’d decided to embark on the nine-month cruise. We asked them endless questions while wondering if we’d ever want to commit to such an extended period on a cruise ship.

Although we revel in their enthusiasm, after they left, we talked, and both agreed we’d never be interested in such a long cruise. Nine months is a huge commitment, and for the following reasons, we wouldn’t be interested now or in the future:

  1. Cruising for so long could easily diminish our enthusiasm for cruising in the future. We love the anticipation of booking a cruise and the days and months before sailing when the excitement is at the forefront of our minds. For us, it would take away the mystery and magic of cruising.
  2. Living in such tight quarters for so long would not be easy for us. No, we don’t always use all the space available in a holiday home, usually only spending time in the bedroom, kitchen, and living room. But, being able to move around with ease and enjoying spaciousness is a huge part of our enjoyment. Cruise cabin space, even the balcony we always book, is limited and confining.
  3. Many of the ports world cruises visit are ports we’ve visited in the past. After all, we’ve been on 33 cruises, most with new and unfamiliar ports of call, many of which we wouldn’t be interested in visiting again.
  4. The food can become tedious and repetitious, besides often being fattening and unhealthy.
  5. The risk of getting sick when a captive audience for such an extended period is an issue for us. On at least half of our cruises, at least one of us, if not both, picked up a cold or virus, many lingering for weeks. Now, with COVID-19 and all its variants, we’d hesitate to embark on such a large ship for so many months. Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas, with a passenger capacity of 2476 plus 832 crew, is a breeding ground for many illnesses, especially when new passengers embark for the next leg of the journey at some ports, disembarking at the end of that leg. Plus, passengers can pick up an illness when they get off the ship for activities at various ports of call. When we were on the small boat in August 2023, Azamara Journey, with only a capacity of 702 passengers and a crew of 408, neither of us became ill.
  6. Cost: One would pay well over $117,599 (per person) for a balcony cabin. We wouldn’t be interested in an interior cabin with no windows, and those prices start at $59,900 (per person). Based on the above five points, it wouldn’t be worth paying such a sum for a long-term cruise.

Here’s an article from the New York Post about the cruise Lea Ann and Chuck are on right now, focusing on how many Gen Z passengers are participating:

“It’s been three years, and Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise has finally set sail.

The epic nine-month-long holiday is a first-of-its-kind for the cruise liner, and they’re not surprised it’s gone viral on TikTok despite having hit the shores just over a week ago. (Related: Best cruise lines review).

“Many guests booked their tickets over two to three years ago during the pandemic, and we are thrilled to be hosting a range of guests from young solo travelers to couples and families,” Dave Humphreys, director of sales at Royal Caribbean International AUNZ, told news.com.au.

“We have an impressive number of Gen Z and millennial cruisers, with a significant number of guests between the ages of 18-30 joining us on various legs of this cruise.”

As the name suggests, it’s a pretty ‘ultimate’ experience, with the cruise traveling to more than 60 countries and 11 world wonders in 274 days.

The cruise is broken into four segments — Ultimate Americas Cruise, Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise, Ultimate Middle East & Med Cruise, and Ultimate Europe & Beyond Cruise.

Depending on the destination and room you choose, prices can vary from $19,895 to $37,268 (per person)

But, if you want to do nine months, the price tag is much heftier. The cheapest is $88,000 for an interior stateroom and up to $1.2 million per person for a Royal Suite.

“Each guest who has booked the Ultimate World Cruise Package received business class airfare, premium transportation, and a pre-cruise hotel in their package up to $5892 per person,” Mr Humphreys said.

“The business class airfare applies to specific getaway cities. The package includes a beverage package, laundry services, inclusive gratuities, and a VOOM Surf and Stream package.”

TikTok has become inundated with passengers sharing their experiences, from the meals they’re eating, restaurants they’re visiting, and gym classes to glimpses of what their rooms look like and the entertainment and performances they’re attending.

“I am LIVING for your videos. Please, pretty, please don’t stop. Greedily. I will beg you to post more,” one viewer commented on a passenger’s ‘sea day in my life’ clip.

Mr. Humpreys said they also can’t wait to join some of these guests virtually along with the wider TikTok community.

“There will be 27,000 passengers on the various legs, of which over 600 are sailing for the full nine months,” he told news.com.au.

“We have almost 2,000 Australians joining us along the way, including 30 Aussies doing the full nine-month world cruise.”

He said guests were offered the flexibility to book one or more of the four expedition packages.

Mr. Humphreys described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience where guests can traverse the globe in one incredible journey.”It’s going to be epic.”

It’s fascinating to read about this and see Lea Ann and Chuck’s blog, which may be found here. We continue to see their updates and the sheer joy they are experiencing on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, February 3, 2014:

Louise suggested we put out some yogurt at night for the nocturnal bush babies. We placed a small bowl in a hanging wood birdhouse near a tree. Unfortunately, we were distracted yesterday morning and forgot to remove the little plastic bowl of yogurt. Going inside to get beverages, we returned to find these Vervet Monkeys lapping up the yogurt with the little bowl in hand. Tom scared them off (they can be destructive), and they dropped the bowl and ran off. For more photos, please click here.

“It’s always somethin, Jane!”…Happy groundhog day”…to those who celebrate!…

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The morning view from our condo in Placencia, Belize, in February 2013.

So, I was trying to get my start date for my Medicare Supplement, Plan G with Aflac, to March 1, when my enrollment for Medicare Part B hadn’t come through yet. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, after finally hearing from Railroad Retirement that it may take up to eight weeks to be in effect, I decided I wanted to change the supplement start date to March 1.

Why should I pay the $157 supplement when I wouldn’t have Part B in effect? It was as simple as signing a form, which the insurance agency explained I could do online, and sending it back to them by email. Easy peasy? Not so much.

First, I couldn’t open the form they sent me. It was in a format my computer didn’t recognize, nor could I convert it to an editable PDF using Adobe or any other apps I have. I went back and forth with the representative over several hours while she worked on sending it to me in an editable format—no such luck.

After about three hours of working on this, I asked the rep to investigate further with someone else in her company and devise a resolution. The end result? She explained I had to PRINT and SIGN the form and couldn’t do it all online. Her original plan was inaccurate.

With modern technology and the countless apps that allow signing legal documents online, I couldn’t believe I’d have to go to the UPS store, have them print the form for me to sign, and then…the most unthinkable…fax it to them. Who uses faxes anymore?

However, it was fun chatting with the two employees in the store. Looking out the window from their store, we could see the Hilton Lake Las Vegas, where the football team, the San Francisco 49ers, will be staying with their family members. Apparently, from what we heard, the players won’t be allowed to leave the hotel other than to go to practice at one of two locations. They will not be allowed to go to the Las Vegas Strip and casinos. Security will be extensive.

Even in South Africa, with many situations requiring documents for visa extensions and other matters, I never had to go through such hoopla to send a signed document.

It had been raining for the past two days (unusual for Las Vegas), and without a rental car, we’d have to walk in the rain (no umbrella, rarely needed in this desert climate) to the UPS store located in the Village, a decent walk from the “one flight of stairs.”

Nonetheless, we put on jackets this morning and headed down the stairs to walk to the USP store, a very nice modern facility. The UPS rep explained they’ve been having WiFI problems and informed me that their fax machine wasn’t working yesterday. I asked that rep to please try to get it going. He did. Thank goodness. Finally, this two-paragraph form with my signature was sent to Aflac. Now, I won’t have to spend $157 for February’s premium pointlessly.

I always say, “You can run, but you can’t hide.” Our nomadic lifestyle is by no means an escape from dealing with the everyday issues that pop up in most of our lives. We are certainly not exempt from dealing with such situations.

Then, this morning, our groceries were delivered but were missing the grass-fed ground beef I’d ordered. It wasn’t on the receipt, but I verified it was in my order. I needed the meat for Sunday when I planned to make Baretta mozzarella-stuffed meatballs with homemade mushroom Italian red sauce. (No pasta is included in this recipe).

I planned to make enough meatballs to last for three nights, saving some for the freezer for a future meal. Thus, I placed another order for the meat this morning but had to spend $35 to avoid paying a delivery fee. I managed to order a few more items, and by tomorrow, I’ll receive the newest order. All is good.

Stuff happens, but neither of us complains loudly, not even to each other. Regardless of how frustrating it may be, we go through the necessary processes and move on. We didn’t get too wet this morning, even though it rained the entire time on the walk.

Today is Groundhog Day. It would be fun to believe this had some significance in our lives, but from our realistic viewpoint, it does not. However, there’s humor associated with this, which most people rely upon when they hear and see attention applied to February 2 each year. Thus, if you find this a particular day, please enjoy it!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, February 2, 2014:

The bed in the master suite in Khaya Umdani is comfortable and appointed with plush bedding. It was a fantastic few weeks staying in that beautiful house. For more photos, please click here.

Both football teams, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, are staying in our neighborhood for the Super Bowl…

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The Hilton Lake Las Vegas, one of the two hotels where one of the teams will stay during Super Bowl week, is very close to our location.

As it turns out, the two teams playing in the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, will be staying in hotels in Lake Las Vegas, the Westin Lake Las Vegas, and the Hilton Lake Las Vegas, only .6 miles from us. The NFL doesn’t want the players gambling in the casinos on the Lake Vegas Strip. These two hotels don’t have casinos.

According to reports, they’ll likely stay in Lake Las Vegas for Super Bowl week as they practice and prepare for the upcoming game on February 11. I doubt we’ll see any team members unless they decide to walk through and shop in the Village, down one flight of stairs from us. Of course, while they are here, we’ll head down there to see if we can see any team members and take some photos without being too intrusive.

We won’t be heading to either of the hotels since they will be heavily guarded and careful about who they let in. It wouldn’t be us. But the excitement in this area is palpable. Many restaurant and shop owners hope for increased sales during the week.

When we decided to stay in Lake Las Vegas, we chose this location because it is quiet and remote from the strip, where we seldom go when visiting the area. On occasion, in past years, we’ve seen a few shows, but many of those same shows are still playing. Prices for entertainment have increased tremendously over the years, and we’re not interested in spending $500 or more for a night out.

Photo
The Westin (Marriott) Lake Las Vegas is one of the two hotels where one of the teams will stay during Super Bowl week.

Richard is making fun plans for my birthday later this month. We’ll share details later.

As for today, we’re doing laundry, prepping for a nice dinner, and hanging out as usual. I’ve already done the banking and credit card pay-offs for the month.

I haven’t heard anything about my enrollment for Part B Medicare. Finally, I received a return response from the Railroad Retirement Board that my application was received on January 3, 2024. I won’t be processed for six to eight weeks, which could take me to the end of the month with my benefits to start on March 1 since today is already February 1. I’d hope this would all be processed by February 1, but it’s taking much longer than anticipated.

Here’s a recommendation for a fantastic Netflix show, especially for history buffs…”Alexander, The Making of a God.” It’s a docu-drama since it requires explaining what transpired when there’s too much information to be included in a regular drama. It’s a limited series of six episodes. Usually, we don’t care for the docu-drama format, but it’s been exciting and entertaining in this case.

We only watch shows in the evenings after dinner but go through many series when binge-watching movies and series we find interesting.

That’s it for today, folks. We hope you have an excellent day and evening doing what you enjoy!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, February 1, 2014:

At Khaya Umdani, this was the first outdoor grilled dinner since leaving the US. None of our past vacation/holiday homes had outdoor grills that we’ve found suitable. This was a rare treat. The chicken gizzards and livers are wrapped in foil on the side grate, which I’ll eat with tonight’s repeat dinner. Tom only eats white meat, and I like dark meat, making a whole chicken perfect for us. Zeff cleaned it this morning! For more photos, please click here.