Day 4…Road trip…A memorable stop along the way…

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The Trstar Express Motel is reminiscent of the 1950s or 1960s

I wouldn’t say I like saying it was a podunk town, but in reality, it was…Tucumcari. New Mexico.As we drove down the main road in the old, worn-out town with a population of about 5,000, I was transported back to my youth, when I rode with my parents across the US from California to Massachusetts to visit my grandmother in the summers.

Tom, last night at dinner at Del’s Restaurant in Tucumcari.

Grandma lived in a mansion on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, which I recall as if it was yesterday, with the carved coconut heads hanging from the ceilings in the basement to the huge elegant dining room on the main floor and the no-touch parlor intended for observation rather than use.

I could go on about that magnificent house for hours, but I will return to the seven-day road trips I’ll never forget, including an overnight stay in Tucumcari, which looks the same today as I remembered it 70 years ago.

Fake flower decorations outside the door at Del’s Restaurant. We chuckled.

The difference was the shuttered old businesses that had long since closed on Route 66. When the interstate came through in the 1950s/1960s, the well-known thoroughfare became obsolete due to modern change.

Ironically, time stood still for the little town of Tucumcari and remained as I remembered it many decades ago.

Decorations at Del’s Restaurant.

We made our way down the road to our quaint motel, which was still standing seven decades later. I checked in to meet the owner, Mike, who welcomed us with open arms.

Much to our delight, the Wi-Fi was good, the room was clean and comfortable, and we wanted for nothing. I couldn’t stop smiling.

There wasn’t an empty spot for another Christmas decoration. It was adorable!

Tom had never made that route but appreciated the charm and the mystery of this unusual little community, mostly filled with retirees, cowgirls, and cowboys of varying ages—many who had lived there all their lives.

We found a great restaurant that reminded us of an old-fashioned supper club from the 1960s. It had a 10-page menu, smiling staff, and an array of old-fashioned entrees and sides. The ambiance in the supper club was indeed a Christmas wonderland.

My liver and onions with vegetable sides and of course, my one glass of red wine.

I ordered the seldom-seen liver and onions, and Tom had roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a couple of squishy buns. I couldn’t resist ordering a glass of red wine, my first since we began this road trip.

Tom’s favorite dinner is roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, and sweet corn. Of course, he has two rolls on the side.

Back at the motel, we watched the Minnesota Vikings game and lay down for the night in the somewhat hard bed, which had insufficient covers to keep us warm. My feet were freezing all night, but the only sox I had was a compression type, unsuitable for sleeping. The water never warmed up for this morning’s showers. Still, we didn’t complain and took off by 8:30 to head to breakfast at Kix, a local diner comparable to those we’ve all seen in many TV shows and movies.

We had breakfast this morning at Kix Diner.

Of course, we sat at the counter with swivel chairs and ordered hearty breakfasts unlike any other we’d had during this road trip.

The seats at the counter in Kix Diner.

Before we knew it, breakfast was over, and we headed back down Old Route 66 to a rundown petrol station to top off the tank and be on our way.

Tom was perusing the giant menu at Kix Diner this morning.

Today’s photos illustrate the incredible scenes we encountered in our short time in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Myriad license plates are on the wall at Kix Diner.

The other stops along the way on this 4½ day road trip have already begun to fade from our minds, but our time and Tucumcari will be a fond memory, always putting a smile on our faces.

My breakfast at Kix Diner.

Soon, we’ll arrive at another interesting hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona, where we’ll spend the night and see what delightful story we can add to share our experience once again.

Rundown classic cars are waiting to be restored at the petrol station. Perhaps they’d been sitting here for decades.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, December 17, 2014:

Sandy Beach spots for enjoying the tide pools filled with fish and turtles at the Onekahakaha Beach Park in Hilo. For more photos, please click here.
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One day and counting…Will we post during the road trip?…

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A pretty drive on the Big Island.

Finally, we’ll be on our way tomorrow! The packing is almost done except for a few items we’ll use tonight and in the morning. Soon, Tom will leave to pick up the rental car while I continue working on the odds and ends that require packing.

I’ve been contemplating whether we’ll post each day while on the road trip and have decided to do a short blurb without photos of where we are each day, with weather updates and our mileage progression. If we see something interesting, we’ll take pictures and post them.

We expect it will take us five days since our condo in Nevada won’t be ready until the 18th. This way, we can take our time and not feel rushed. By doing so, we’ll have five days requiring that we drive about 460 miles each day. Since we’ll be heading south to avoid snowy weather, it will take us longer than if we took the direct route.

Tom is preparing our iced tea for the trip, putting it into empty 23.5-ounce bottles I saved from my drinking water so we won’t have to stop to buy bottled water. We don’t snack in the car on road trips since neither of us is into snacking between meals.  We’ll stop for breakfast and find a restaurant for dinner near our hotel after we check in for the night.

We’ll only bring our single clothing bag into the hotel each evening, along with my small wheeling bag with medications, the cloth bag with a few toiletries, and the computer bag. That way, packing and unpacking each evening will be a breeze.

Gosh, we’ve done this many times and are good at it. After showering and dressing for the day, we can pack and be out the door in about ten minutes, only carrying the small carry-on-type bags we brought into the room. Neither of us Is pokey at getting ready to head out the door. We rarely need to set an alarm since we both wake up early each morning, although I tend to lounge in bed, reading the news and watching funny videos on my phone.

While on the road trip, I’ll bolt out of bed as soon as I’m awake and get ready for the day. We won’t drink coffee on road trips to avoid stopping so often for bathroom breaks. We’ll stop at rest stops and petrol stations as needed, get out, and walk around.

We won’t need to use the wheelchair at the rest stops this time. I will be able to walk to the distant buildings. That’s a far cry from where I was in August when we drove from Minneapolis to Cleveland. It’s been a long 3½ months, and we’re thrilled to be on our way.

That’s it for today, folks. Tomorrow afternoon, we’ll update you on our progress after our first day of travel. A special thanks to our readers for sticking with us during this dry spell of limited activity with no new photos. Just think—in 2½ months, we’ll be back in Africa, sharing the joy of life in the wild. Please continue sticking with us during our quiet time in Nevada, where we will share any photo ops as they occur.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, December 13, 2014:

A perfect Hibiscus begs for a photo. For more photos, please click here.

Part 2…Traveling with pets…Potty breaks…Two days and counting…

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While standing on a dock on the Big Island, we spotted a sea turtle.

Yes, we will begin our road trip to Nevada in two days. Yesterday, I packed my clothes, and today and tomorrow, I will pack the leftover non-perishables and our various kitchen gadgets. Tom will do laundry in the morning and then head to the airport to pick up the rental car.

To finish the topic of traveling with pets/support animals, please review the following:

If your pet needs to go potty during a flight, it can be a bit tricky, but there are some strategies you can use to handle the situation:

“Before the Flight

Plan Ahead:

Ensure your pet can relieve themselves before heading to the airport and boarding.

Some airports have designated pet relief areas—use these before your flight.

Limit Food and Water:

Feed your pet several hours before the flight, and limit water intake to reduce the need for bathroom breaks during travel.

Training:

If possible, train your pet to use pee pads or disposable litter boxes in advance.

Select the Right Carrier:

For longer flights, consider carriers with absorbent liners or those designed for in-flight bathroom needs.

During the Flight

Use Pee Pads:

Bring a few pee pads and line the carrier with one. If your pet seems distressed or signals that it needs to go, place a pad on the floor of the airplane restroom (if allowed) or in a discreet spot.

Communicate with Cabin Crew:

Explain the situation if you’re traveling with a small pet in a cabin. The flight crew might allow you to use the restroom for privacy.

Cleanup Supplies:

Pack pet-safe wet wipes, sealable plastic bags, and extra pee pads or absorbent materials for accidents.

For Service Animals:

Service animals may relieve themselves on a pee pad in the cabin. Check airline policies in advance.

Post-Flight

As soon as you land and exit the airport, find a pet relief area or green space where your pet can comfortably relieve itself.

Staying calm and prepared can help you and your pet navigate this situation with minimal stress. Safe travels!”

We’re wrapping up today’s short post since we have plenty to do to prepare for our departure in less than 48 hours.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, December 12, 2014:

Tom and Jayden walked to a secluded scenic spot we stumbled upon on the Big Island. For more photos, please click here.

Why aren’t we flying to Nevada…What weather can we expect while in Cleveland until December 14?…And, on our upcoming 2000+ mile road trip across the US?

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There are numerous varieties of palm trees in Maui that produce red berries such as these.

We contemplated flying to Nevada rather than driving across the US in winter weather. For our non-US readers, here’s a map of the US.

Usa map states hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy

We will be driving from Ohio (OH on the map) to Nevada (NV), taking the southern route based on weather conditions to avoid snowy travel as much as possible. Of course, in December, it’s unavoidable. We could easily encounter snow in New Mexico (NM), especially in the mountains. In 1969, I lived in New Mexico, and although it didn’t snow a lot, it did occasionally.

So, the question becomes, why drive when we could fly? It’s not much about the cost since we already rented a car for a week and will pay for hotels and meals along the way. It could take us four or five days to get to Nevada since we prefer not to drive more than 400 miles daily.

One primary reason is that we don’t care about flying domestically in the US if we can avoid it. We are not interested in the cost of heavy bags, delayed flights, or airport confusion. Sure, we may spend a little more time driving, but it’s fun to travel through the US. Also, we’re always paying for a place to stay overnight in our nomadic lifestyle and for meals wherever we may be.

Flights from Cleveland to Las Vegas cost the same as the rental car for a week. Based on the prices for our extra luggage if we fly, any additional driving costs are a “wash.” We only eat breakfast and dinner and will look for hotels with breakfasts included during the trip.

The end result? We can bring all our remaining non-perishable foods in the rented SUV, which we’ll use in Nevada, saving us a considerable sum based on today’s prices. It’s not huge, but it could be around $200. While we are in Nevada for 2½ months, we will trim what we have in our luggage and get down to the checked weight allowed for international flights. We have yet to book our flight to South Africa but will do so after the holidays.

Driving so close to Christmas may not be too bad since we will be on the road starting on December 14. Our only concern will be the weather; we will do everything possible to avoid snow and ice. After encountering a snowstorm in Utah last May when we left California for Minnesota, we realized we can’t predict what we’ll experience. But we can change our route or take another day or two to get to Nevada if necessary. There’s no worry here.

If we make it to Nevada in five days, we’ll still have the rental car for a few days, so we can do some shopping and dining out. We may not need to head to our mailing service since we’ll receive a shipment from them in the next few days with everything we need from our mailbox.

Today, we just finished watching Sunday Morning and will start watching the Minnesota Vikings game in a few hours. It will be a good day!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, November 10, 2014:

An old boat was awaiting restoration or a Maui junkyard. For more photos, please click here.

We’re on the road to Cleveland at long last!..

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If we could have cooked our meals in London, we would have purchased some items at this Farmers Market.

Often, we’ve been asked, “Why did we choose to go to the Cleveland Clinic rather than to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, a short 90-minute drive from our current location, which is also highly rated worldwide for heart treatment?”

For me, having already had open heart surgery 5½ years ago and with remaining severe cardiovascular disease (hereditary) and my age, I decided I wanted to go to one of the highest-rated valve disease cardiovascular surgeons in the country, if not in the world, regardless of how long I had to wait to see Dr. Gillinov. It’s been a four-month wait for my appointments, which are upcoming next Wednesday.

If I had to wait another month or two, it wouldn’t have been possible as my condition continues to deteriorate, as evidenced by the necessity of using a wheelchair to get around outside this hotel room, which I can maneuver if I frequently pause when moving about. But any trip outside, even to the car, requires using the wheelchair.

It’s helped make the past few days tolerable and allowed me to see family and friends. They even accommodated me to stay in the wheelchair during Friday’s pedicure.

Following are some of the reasons patients choose Cleveland Clinic for their procedures and surgeries.

  1. Reputation for Excellence: Cleveland Clinic is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the United States and worldwide. Its reputation for high-quality care, particularly in specialties like cardiology, neurology, and orthopedics, draws patients seeking the best possible outcomes.
  2. Expertise and Innovation: The clinic is known for its cutting-edge treatments and surgical techniques. Surgeons at Cleveland Clinic are often leaders in their fields, offering advanced procedures that may not be available elsewhere. This expertise is especially appealing for complex or high-risk surgeries.
  3. Multidisciplinary Approach: Cleveland Clinic offers a collaborative environment where specialists from various fields work together to create personalized treatment plans. This approach ensures comprehensive care, addressing all aspects of a patient’s health, which is particularly important for those with multiple or complex conditions.
  4. Advanced Technology: The clinic invests heavily in the latest medical technology and equipment, allowing for minimally invasive surgeries, robotic surgery, and other advanced techniques leading to faster recovery times and better outcomes.
  5. Patient-Centered Care: Cleveland Clinic is known for its focus on the patient experience. From pre-surgery consultations to post-operative care, the clinic emphasizes clear communication, patient education, and support, helping patients feel more confident and comfortable throughout their surgical journey.
  6. Research and Education: As a major research institution, Cleveland Clinic is involved in numerous clinical trials and studies, offering patients access to the latest medical treatments and innovations. This research-driven approach means patients benefit from the most current and effective surgical options.
  7. Global Accessibility: Cleveland Clinic attracts patients from all over the world, offering specialized international patient services, including translation, travel assistance, and culturally sensitive care. This global reach adds to its appeal for those seeking top-tier medical care.
  8. Positive Outcomes: Cleveland Clinic’s high success rates and positive patient outcomes contribute significantly to its appeal. Patients often choose the clinic based on recommendations from others who have had successful surgeries there and its track record of excellence in complex cases.

These factors combined make Cleveland Clinic a top choice for patients seeking surgical care, particularly those with complex conditions or who want access to the latest medical technology and treatment advancements.

We’re moving along the road to Cleveland and will stop for the night, well before dinnertime.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 25, 2014:

We had no trouble finding the distant Laundromat, Bobo’s Bubbles, in South Kensington, England. For more photos, please click here.

Six days and counting..Will we post during the road trip?…Did my wheelchair arrive?”…

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We often take photos of nearby restaurants and later look up reviews on TripAdvisor. In this case, in South Kensington, London, it ranked #1572 out of 17,134, making it in the top 9%, perhaps worthy of a visit.

Although, at this point, I struggle to prepare a post daily, we both appreciate your continued readership. The problem is more about deciding on a topic for the day, rather than putting it all together. Once I have a topic depicted in the heading, I can breeze through the post in a few hours with relative ease.

Right now, I don’t have the oomph to tackle a complicated topic requiring research and planning. As we have over the past many months since we’ve been in the US, the topics are most light and lacking major content, except for a few unique posts here and there with travel information.

With the road trip in six days, I’ve decided to continue to post using the app on my phone during the two-day drive. Most likely, I won’t add photos unless we encounter some interesting sightings along the way, nor will we include the “ten years ago photo.”

We have a lot to do to prepare to leave next Sunday, but we will try to continue posting over the next several days until we hit the road next Sunday.

My wheelchair arrived yesterday from Amazon. We were pleased that it was mostly put together. It only took Tom about 10 minutes to add and set the footrests. To my surprise, it’s very sturdy and comfortable, and it costs only $115 at Amazon with one-day shipping with Prime. It folds and unfolds easily and will travel well.

I now accept that buying a wheelchair was a practical and sensible decision. We tried it yesterday when we had to go to the office to print a document, and Tom carefully wheeled me over a few bumps and uneven pavement. But it worked well. It felt odd to suddenly appear at the reception office, sitting in a wheelchair when everyone at the desk was used to seeing me walking. But they were friendly as usual. No doubt, they were curious why I was in the wheelchair, but I didn’t say a word.

We have no social plans today through Tuesday but will go to TJ’s home for a barbecue on Wednesday. On Thursday, my dear friend Karen will be in Minnesota for business, and we’re planning a late lunch at Jimmy’s Kitchen and Bar. On Friday, I am having a pedicure with my dear friend Chere.

In each case, Tom will transport me both ways while I am using the wheelchair. In the late afternoon on Friday, we’ll head to Billy’s for our final get-together with Tom’s siblings. We’ll most likely see Greg’s family on Saturday. Two of the five of them have had COVID-19 these past weeks, and we’ve been avoiding getting together with any of them. We’ll see how they’re doing by Saturday before planning anything.

This morning, I made a batch of chicken salad for tonight’s dinner, and yesterday, I made shrimp salad. I can easily stand on my feet to cook in the small kitchen. We’ll have both salads tonight and tomorrow night, with a green salad on the side. Easy peasy.

That’s it for now, dear readers.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 19, 2014:

We walked past Christie’s in South Kensington, London, where we stayed for two weeks. The world-famous auction house occupies almost the entire block. For more photos, please click here.

We’re finally made it…Quite a challenging road trip…Tomorrow, details of my upcoming appointments at Cleveland Clinic…

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The snowstorm was much worse than shown in this photo as we left Layton, Utah.

We finally made it to Minnesota and arrived at the hotel last night at about 6:00 pm. It was a relief the long and stressful road trip was over after encountering 2½ days of challenging driving during a blizzard in Utah and Wyoming, the longest stretches during the four days of travel.

I tried to take photos during the blizzard but found it impossible during “whiteouts.” I was so busy hanging onto my seat that I couldn’t get a photo through an open window when the wind was blowing at 70 to 80 mph, nor could I get a photo through the windshield, which was covered with snow between each fast swipe.

Numerous accidents along the highway often slowed us down for long stretches, including cars, but more so semi trucks that toppled over in the high winds. What an ordeal. I couldn’t imagine how we’d get through it without being scathed. If we got trapped, we had a big blanket in the SUV, our mugs of Crystal Light iced tea, lemonade, and some protein bars. We were as prepared as we could be.

The Virgin River Gorge in Utah.

But, thank God, we made it through with Tom’s expert driving skills, although at times, I thought he took too many chances and asked him to slow down on several occasions. He was determined to get through it. We had a couple of close calls when vehicles started sliding toward us.

Thank goodness, living in Minnesota most of his life, he had acquired excellent driving skills in inclement weather. But, even for the more expert drivers, driving through this nightmare was a real challenge. After the blizzard, the high winds remained, and more accidents occurred.

Getting out of the SUV to go to the restroom at a petro station or rest area almost blew me away. I hesitated to walk outdoors on the way back to the car. Whew! The winds continued after we arrived in Nebraska but finally died down on the final day.

The Layton Utah Temple is a three-story, nearly 94,000-square-foot structure. It sits on a slope between the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains and the valley floor at 1400 Oak Hills Drive. The sacred structure is the second house of the Lord in Davis County.

We had a great dinner and breakfast with Marylin and Gary in their hometown of Layton, Utah. It was a charming town of 82,000 people with a strong Mormon influence. They drove us to see their new temple and showed us the snowy, peaked mountains surrounding the quaint and charming town.

When we went to dinner at a Mongolian-pot-type restaurant, I proceeded to order a glass of wine, reminded that no alcohol can be served in Utah unless under exceptional circumstances. I ordered an iced tea and forgot about the wine, or lack thereof, in seconds.

In the morning, we met up with them for breakfast and then were on our way. The skies were cloudy, and a light dusting of snow covered the car. An hour after leaving Layton, we were entrenched in what became the most challenging long drive in a blizzard neither of us had experienced, especially for such an extended period. As we read along the way, Wyoming is one of the US’s most deadly locations to travel. We certainly got a taste of that.

As mentioned above, once we reached Nebraska, the blizzard ended, and many miles later, the winds died down, and we could enjoy the remainder of the trip. We drove through Nebraska and Iowa and then entered Minnesota, encountering traffic. The last few hours seemed painstaking.

The Wasatch Mountains, also known as the Wasatch Range, border Layton, Utah, to the east. The Wasatch Range is a 160-mile mountain range from the Utah-Idaho border to central Utah. It’s the western edge of the Rocky Mountains and the eastern edge of the Great Basin region. The Wasatch Mountains are the most prominent landmarks in the area and define the east boundary of Davis County. The mountains are still rising today due to the Wasatch fault, which causes the earth’s crust to shift suddenly. It was beautiful to see.

Since Tom was still full from a massive breakfast at Perkins in Lincoln, Nebraska, he wasn’t hungry for dinner, but I’d only eaten a small omelet and two pieces of Tom’s bacon for breakfast. Nine hours later, I was ready for something for dinner. We walked across the parking lot of our hotel to the Pizza Luce restaurant, where I had an appetizer size of gluten-free meatballs with sauce and mozzarella. Tom ate my garlic toast.

Back at the hotel, I set up the room’s TV to work with the streaming apps on my phone, and we relaxed and watched a few shows until bedtime. We both had an uninterrupted good night’s sleep. This morning, we ate at the hotel “included breakfast” and met a lovely couple our age. We enjoyed a lively conversation with them for over an hour.

Tom headed out the door 30 minutes ago when he noticed a retiree lunch for railroad guys starting at 11:30. He didn’t tell any of them he was coming, and it will be a fun surprise for his old railroad buddies. At around 5:30, my son Greg will pick me up to join them for dinner and a musical at the Minneapolis Children’s Theater after that. All three of my grandchildren and Greg’s lovely girlfriend, Heather, will be attending. It will surely be a pleasant evening.

In the future, we’ll be posting daily as we have in the past. Tomorrow, I will share the details and dates of my appointments at Cleveland Clinic.

I appreciate your patience with the lack of posts in the past few weeks.

Be well.

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

My friend Joan posted this on Facebook last night, and it caught my eye this morning. So true. For more photos, please click here.

We’re on the move again…Leaving Los Angeles…Heading to Mesquite, Nevada…

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Marisol Cocina Mexicana is a Baja-style cantina at the west end of Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. It serves authentic Mexican food, including tacos, fajitas, and margaritas, and has views of the Pacific Coastline and Los Angeles. Marisol also has outdoor dining, live music, and rooftop seating.

We are sorry for today’s late post. I decided to write the text on my phone while on the road trip toward Utah and upload photos once we arrived at the Hotel in Mesquite, Nevada, this afternoon.

At the Hotel, I will be better able to post photos using my laptop and upload the entire post at that time. We are glad we planned two days for the road trip to Utah, which is over 700 miles. We didn’t want to make the long drive in one day.

We can only imagine the value of the properties along the beach.

Also, we stopped every few hours to get out of the vehicle and walk. I am wearing compression stockings, a priority with my current heart condition.

We were thrilled to see the Santa Monica Pier. I hadn’t been here since I was a teenager.

Unfortunately, we have to drive back through Las Vegas to access the best roads to Utah. We’ll soon enter Nevada as we make our way to Mesquite, Nevada, where, as mentioned, we will stay tonight.

Palm trees line the boulevard by the Santa Monica Pier, a popular tourist attraction.

We had a great time in LA hanging out with my sister Julie. We laughed, we cried, and we reminisced. Tom kept busy in the hotel room for a few hours each day, enabling Julie and I to catch up. When the three of us were together for meals, the conversation was lively and animated.

Famous buildings line the boulevard, including the famous Georgian Hotel.

At one point, Julie and I went through many of our posts and our busy YouTube channel. It was such fun sharing everything with her in person. She loves animals like I do, making it all the more enjoyable.

Seeing the cousins at yesterday’s lunch at Katella Deli was delightful. Sure, we all looked older but familiar after decades apart. The conversations flowed with ease. The food, ambiance, and service were impeccable. Hopefully, we will see everyone again in the future.

Tom, standing next to a cannon.

However, I don’t know when we’ll return to California. It’s crowded with outrageous traffic, and this morning, we paid $6.50 a gallon for the lowest-priced fuel option. This is the most we have ever paid for fuel anywhere in the world.

Maybe next time, we will meet up with Julie somewhere in the world. Only time will tell.

That’s it for today, dear readers. We will stay in touch along the way.

Be well.

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

We wrote about losing our friend Lane, who passed away the prior day. Here is a photo of Lane and Peggy and their beloved dog. For the story, please click here.

Talked to Cleveland Clinic…One day and counting…

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More colorful wares were offered for sale in the souk in Marrakesh.

With the utmost determination, yesterday I called Cleveland Clinic and spoke to Tina, the rep handling my file. I felt bad calling again after sending several email messages with no response over the past three weeks. Tina explained that the doctor has been on vacation and is returning tomorrow, Wednesday. Of course, he didn’t look at files in his absence to determine who takes priority in upcoming appointments.

Tina apologized profusely, especially when I jogged her memory, about how my UPS package was lost after delivery to the clinic, which was verified with the tracking order. At that point, until they found the file, I’d lost a week on the waiting list. Tina promised to work on getting me an appointment as soon as possible.

I am not holding my breath, but I am a little more hopeful that I will hear something soon. They will want me to see a cardiologist to do the ultrasound again. However, I sent them two of the three ultrasounds I had done: one in South Africa, another in Ecuador, and the third, most recently in Las Vegas.

In most cases, a medical facility wants to do its tests, and I have no problem with that. I expected another cardiology appointment. Tina is working on setting this up for me. We shall see.

So here we are, one day from departing Arizona to drive to Los Angeles to see my sister. As of this morning, before I started this post, I am fully packed. Tom will head to the Mesa Airport at noon to pick up the rental car, which we’ll keep all the way to Minnesota until May 30, which I hope is big enough for all of our stuff. We’re hauling the extra foodstuffs we’ll use in Minnesota at the Residence Inn with a full kitchen. It’s not that we’ll do a lot of cooking, but avoiding eating out when we’re not dining out with the kids will be good.

The hotel room isn’t big enough to have the family come for dinner, and since they don’t cook much, we won’t be dining at their homes. We will figure it all out once we get settled there.

Separating the packing for the road trip and the first few weeks in Minnesota was easy. Until we know when we’ll need to head to Cleveland, we won’t fully unpack. There isn’t enough drawer and closet space in hotels for all of our stuff.

Yesterday, on our way to Taco Tuesday on Monday at the VFW, we stopped by the Goodwill store to drop off a bag of clothes I no longer wear. This eliminated about ten pounds of unnecessary items. Each time we pack, I make every attempt to lighten our load.

Afterward, we stopped at Walgreens for Margie and CVS for Colleen and then went to the taco lunch. Once again, we had a lovely time and returned to our place around 3:00 pm. I did a little more organizing, after which we settled in for the remainder of the day and evening.

The taco salads we ordered were small, and by 6:00 pm, we were both hungry again. I made a huge onion, ham, and cheese omelet with bacon on the side that we shared. We are taking Margie and Colleen out to dinner again at JJ Madisons, which we all enjoyed. There aren’t a lot of restaurants we like in Apache Junction, so we’re happy to drive for 15 minutes to this establishment for today’s dinner.

Tomorrow, since we’re leaving early, I will write the post while in the car on our way to Los Angeles. Once we arrive there, the other days will be easy to do the posts in the mornings before we head to Julie’s home where we’ll spend the day. Julie has a severe ankle injury, and she’s unable to walk. Thus, we won’t be sightseeing. We’ll help her get into the car when we go to dinner each night and lunch with the cousins on May 4. It will all work out.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, April 30, 2014:

Shop owners and workers in the souk often play with their phones as they await the next customer. For more photos, please click here.