June 2013 - Reno, Lake Tahoe

Reno, Nevada and a surprise to be hit with 100 degree weather.  Quite a shock.  New experiences were walk along the Truckee River and eating food at an El Salvadorian restaurant - papusas.

Beautiful, much used,

Reno River Walk

 

John sitting in shade

Peaceful

 

Headed for a week at Lake Tahoe, stayed up over 7,000 feet.  Some gorgeous sunsets that I enjoyed taking pictures of.  Sixth floor roof has two hot tubs, so fun to have a glass of wine and watch the sunset color changes.

 

Our first night, from our room

through a window screen

 

Cotton Candy

Fierce Fire

 

Our day excursions are fun and we enjoy it all.

 

Steller's Jay

Blue in tree, flew as I took picture

 

 

 

I took a very short hike on the Tahoe Rim Trail and got some pretty pictures.  This trail goes completely around Lake Tahoe and is 165 miles long.

 

Snow capped mountains

surrounding Lake Tahoe



 

John and I took a hike on the Tahoe Meadow Interpretative Trail.  It was 1.3 miles long and we both were wondering toward the end if we'd ever get back.  A beautiful meadow area and some interesting trees.

 

Stream in the meadow

 

 

 

Where is the end of the trail????



 



Of course we had to see Nevada State Capitol in Carson City.  Amazing marble and workmanship to install it.  Capitol was small in comparison to most others, but it was sort sweet.

 

Front entrance

Nevada State Capitol

 

Side of Capitol

 

Beautiful French windows

Marble in all its glory

The workmanship in matching

was amazing

Sarah Winnemucca

First Native American woman

to publish a book in English

 

One night in Reno, back to El Salvador for lunch.  We had a great time at a comedy club with a little gambling (and we were winners).  Up next day with a long drive home.  We had a fun mini trip and tried new things.  Saw Reno from a new perspective.  Good to be home for a little while.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 



 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Apartment in Boise 6/5/13 - down size again

I must be missing writing my blog - hard to believe, but true.  I don't have pressure (self imposed) now to get it done weekly so I will write when I feel like it.

We seem to be so busy.  Of course we are getting late starts every day, but that is OK. So many doctor appointments, tests, dentist, get wills done, get funeral arrangements made, check on taxes, etc., etc.  Retired life is just not a piece of cake (ha ha).

Today is John and Robert working on the El Camino.  Try to find some type of electrical short.  They will go to storage and bring me back about 5 boxes so I can restart the sorting.  I just did so much of this before we sold, but now that we've traveled and lived with less I think I can cut back more.  I still have too much.

Robert had his first week of work as a security guard at the mall.  Poor guy, he hates it, but it is a job.  He came home last night at 12:30 a.m., had been made fun of by kids and then had to try to round up some kids later and was cussed at in filthy language by them all.  Had huge blisters on his feet in several places.  He also got his first Oregon unemployment check.  First check, bad job.  We will sit down today and try to get some game plan for him.  Tech school, another job, or looking at apprenticeships.  He surely has a taste of real life now, so let's hope he can get on a good career path.

If our 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment is full and we are surviving quite well, then what else do I need.  So I probably have 200 boxes to go through.  I will have fits over photographs and the sentimental stuff.  I wonder if I need to hire a cruel organizer who could boss me around and force me to get rid of certain things?

So sort, trash, Goodwill, or repack.  I hope I am able to make some good progress.

Apartment in Boise 6/5/13 - down size again

I must be missing writing my blog - hard to believe, but true.  I don't have pressure (self imposed) now to get it done weekly so I will write when I feel like it.

We seem to be so busy.  Of course we are getting late starts every day, but that is OK. So many doctor appointments, tests, dentist, get wills done, get funeral arrangements made, check on taxes, etc., etc.  Retired life is just not a piece of cake (ha ha).

Today is John and Robert working on the El Camino.  Try to find some type of electrical short.  They will go to storage and bring me back about 5 boxes so I can restart the sorting.  I just did so much of this before we sold, but now that we've traveled and lived with less I think I can cut back more.  I still have too much.

Robert had his first week of work as a security guard at the mall.  Poor guy, he hates it, but it is a job.  He came home last night at 12:30 a.m., had been made fun of by kids and then had to try to round up some kids later and was cussed at in filthy language by them all.  Had huge blisters on his feet in several places.  He also got his first Oregon unemployment check.  First check, bad job.  We will sit down today and try to get some game plan for him.  Tech school, another job, or looking at apprenticeships.  He surely has a taste of real life now, so let's hope he can get on a good career path.

If our 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment is full and we are surviving quite well, then what else do I need.  So I probably have 200 boxes to go through.  I will have fits over photographs and the sentimental stuff.  I wonder if I need to hire a cruel organizer who could boss me around and force me to get rid of certain things?

So sort, trash, Goodwill, or repack.  I hope I am able to make some good progress.

Settled in Boise

April 24 - May 26, 2013

 

Being back in Boise has been busy seeing friends and many doctor appointments.  We stayed with friends, stayed in the Residence Inn for 2 weeks (breakfast daily and 4 dinners included).  While at the hotel we made a wonderful friend named Wi Si from China and were able to spend some time showing him a few Boise sites and we had a few BBQs at our hotel.  He just left May 25th, hopefully to return later in June.  We hope so, he's such a nice young man.

 

Residence Inn

Sunday BBQ

 

 

What a good time we had at Cathy's Cinco de Mayo party.  All guests had the opportunity to help squeeze limes - an entire bag - so we had some really authentic margaritas.  Decorations and food were supreme.  We also had tequila tasting and had 5 different types of tequila - 2 of which were flavored. 

 

Beautiful margarita set

 

Cathy's usual feast

 

I loved the almond tequila



 

John has had 3 doctor appts., 4 lab visits to check his blood, an echo cardiogram, another echo test, chest x-ray and CT scan.  Been to his defibrillator doctor to get his battery checked (still good, unreal).  We have an appt. with his regular heart doctor on May 31st.  I've had physical, mammogram, and have dentist scheduled.  Still have to make appts. for John's dentist and both of us for eye checks. 

 

This is all in the middle of moving into our brand new 2 bedroom apartment on May 15th.  The grass had not even been put in and landscaping finished yesterday.  It was fun to make the first meal on a stove that had never been used.  I've never lived in a new place so it was exciting.  About 15 steps out our door we have a pool and hot tub, and 2 minutes away we have a gym to use.  We are very lucky to have found this place. 

Bldg 10 - that's us

No plants or grass

 

Week later - getting plants in

 

Starting sod at our porch

Pool in the background 

 

We have Robert with us and he thinks he has found a job.  He went Friday for a drug screen (he passed) and will hear if he got job this week.  He seems happy here and glad to be back with his friends.

So we plan on visiting with friends and catching up.  We've had a few guests so far and it has been wonderful.  One important thing I want to accomplish is to go through the storage unit box by box.  This will be torture.  I've GOT to get rid of more stuff.  If we're in our 2 bedroom and have pretty much what we need the rest is excess.  So I've got to go through all the sentimental stuff and stuff that I love but might not fit in.  I know Robert doesn't want most of it, and I really can't burden him with it.  He's a bit like me and if I ask him if he wants something he will usually say yes.  But I don't want to saddle him with "stuff."

So we're medically stable, happy in our new home and we'll wait to see what is around the corner.  We have a certificate for a free resort week, so we'll be going over to Reno in June, but besides that we'll be sticking pretty close to home.

* We had a "how long will we be gone" contest winner - Tracie Helstowski.  I don't think we would have ever stopped traveling had it not been for John's health.  We were just having too much fun and loved every minute of it.  Tracie refused the prize money, so I will donate that to a special orphanage in Cancun, Mexico, Casa Hogar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Settled in Boise

April 24 - May 26, 2013

 

Being back in Boise has been busy seeing friends and many doctor appointments.  We stayed with friends, stayed in the Residence Inn for 2 weeks (breakfast daily and 4 dinners included).  While at the hotel we made a wonderful friend named Wi Si from China and were able to spend some time showing him a few Boise sites and we had a few BBQs at our hotel.  He just left May 25th, hopefully to return later in June.  We hope so, he's such a nice young man.

 

Residence Inn

Sunday BBQ

 

 

What a good time we had at Cathy's Cinco de Mayo party.  All guests had the opportunity to help squeeze limes - an entire bag - so we had some really authentic margaritas.  Decorations and food were supreme.  We also had tequila tasting and had 5 different types of tequila - 2 of which were flavored. 

 

Beautiful margarita set

 

Cathy's usual feast

 

I loved the almond tequila



 

John has had 3 doctor appts., 4 lab visits to check his blood, an echo cardiogram, another echo test, chest x-ray and CT scan.  Been to his defibrillator doctor to get his battery checked (still good, unreal).  We have an appt. with his regular heart doctor on May 31st.  I've had physical, mammogram, and have dentist scheduled.  Still have to make appts. for John's dentist and both of us for eye checks. 

 

This is all in the middle of moving into our brand new 2 bedroom apartment on May 15th.  The grass had not even been put in and landscaping finished yesterday.  It was fun to make the first meal on a stove that had never been used.  I've never lived in a new place so it was exciting.  About 15 steps out our door we have a pool and hot tub, and 2 minutes away we have a gym to use.  We are very lucky to have found this place. 

Bldg 10 - that's us

No plants or grass

 

Week later - getting plants in

 

Starting sod at our porch

Pool in the background 

 

We have Robert with us and he thinks he has found a job.  He went Friday for a drug screen (he passed) and will hear if he got job this week.  He seems happy here and glad to be back with his friends.

So we plan on visiting with friends and catching up.  We've had a few guests so far and it has been wonderful.  One important thing I want to accomplish is to go through the storage unit box by box.  This will be torture.  I've GOT to get rid of more stuff.  If we're in our 2 bedroom and have pretty much what we need the rest is excess.  So I've got to go through all the sentimental stuff and stuff that I love but might not fit in.  I know Robert doesn't want most of it, and I really can't burden him with it.  He's a bit like me and if I ask him if he wants something he will usually say yes.  But I don't want to saddle him with "stuff."

So we're medically stable, happy in our new home and we'll wait to see what is around the corner.  We have a certificate for a free resort week, so we'll be going over to Reno in June, but besides that we'll be sticking pretty close to home.

* We had a "how long will we be gone" contest winner - Tracie Helstowski.  I don't think we would have ever stopped traveling had it not been for John's health.  We were just having too much fun and loved every minute of it.  Tracie refused the prize money, so I will donate that to a special orphanage in Cancun, Mexico, Casa Hogar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



End of the Road..............for now

Got up extra early and on the road by 7:00 a.m.  We want to beat the snow they say is going to fall in Colorado.  Drove into Denver, some storm clouds making the report of snow coming very believable.

Driving to Denver

 

Amazing clouds

 

Got to Denver early so decided that I better go see the capitol building before the bad weather arrived.  I spent about 45 minutes checking out the capitol which was in a state of renovation, so the dome was not even visible as a pretty structure.  Capital was nice, but not earth shakingly beautiful.  The pink marble everywhere was impressive.  Legislature was in session so the place was busy.  I just wandered about a bit and by the time I got out to meet the guys at 11:45 p.m. it was snowing.  So glad we got an early start.

 

Some neat architecture in downtown

Lots of huge sculptures all over the city

 

Renovations on capitol

Granite statute "The Closing of an Era"

in front of capitol.  Completed 1893

for the Chicago World's Fair

 

This stone is every where inside and so beautiful.  It is Colorado

rose onyx  (known as Beulah Red Marble).

 

As you walk up the stairs on the west side of the building, once you get to

the 13th stairs you are “One Mile Above Sea Level.” or at

 5,280’ elevation.  I did go up the stairs to the second floor.

 

John and Robert picked me up and we headed toward our hotel before more snow built up.  Actually we were too early so had to kill some time before checking in.  So we had a nice lunch and then went to the grocery store to get food to cook in room for our dinner.  I texted Tracie about the snow and she said Steve is in Colorado Springs, about 45 minutes down the road working on his exit from military.  Texted him hi, but we never could get together with him busy and the weather.  Amazing to be so close.  We all went swimming and in the hot tub, watched some TV and to bed.  We are not setting the alarm clock for a change.

 

Nice heated pool

 

Look at the snow outside

 

Tuesday, up and had breakfast.  Still snowing and quite a bit has accumulated.  Traffic jams and some cars are having trouble getting up hills according to the news reports.  We were going to go downtown, but there is an accident on the interstate, so we decided to just go eat lunch and come back and go in pool and hot tub.

 

I've been checking roads and weather reports all day.  Not sure how we are going to go until tomorrow.  I don't want to buy chains to go over Interstate 70, so if that is required we will head down to Albuquerque, NM.  I will check in the morning.  So water, TV and bed and see what tomorrow brings.  I'd love to drive right across I-70 W.

 

Yum Yak

We just had to have a picture of this

We didn't eat here, but it cracked us up

 

Wednesday, dry road reports mostly so we took off.  I drove Denver to Vail with maybe one icy spot, way up over 10,000 feet.  Robert drove from Vail to Grand Junction.  Checked in to hotel, had lunch and then headed downtown to their historic district.  What a fun area, about 20 blocks long, little stores, out door dining, and lots of sculptures lining Main Street.  Would be fun to spend some time there. 

 

Snow on mountains in 10,000+ passes

 

John Otto

Person responsible for Colorado National

Monument becoming a monument

 

One of the fun sculptures

 

This one sure caught our eye

 

We came back to room, will rest, and go to bed and get up and do it all again tomorrow  We talked to Rudy who lives outside Salt Lake City, and we are heading to his house for two days.  We hope he can be home a little of the time we are there, but he may have to be out driving his truck.  We only have 4 hrs. and 11 minutes to get to his house tomorrow, so maybe we will check out the Colorado National Monument.  Just looked this up and so weird we have already seen this.  When we went to the Pow Wow back in September we drove over from the other side.

 

Thursday in Grand Junction, we stopped for a few hours to see the Allen Unique Autos Museum. What a beautiful place with a woman's touch, Tammy Allen. I spent more time looking at the cars and displays than the guys did. A place not to be missed if you are a car person – well worth the $8 admission. Beautiful, clean, great staff and the cars are the best.

I just thought this was a cute pink mini until

I walked around the side.........

 

2009 hot pink stretch Mini Cooper limousine

 (with a hot tub in the rear)

 

1962 Austin Beach Mini

 

This is so cute

 

Beautiful old touring car

 

Fit for a King

 

Sonny & Cher Mustangs

 

Very unusual - a Cadillac Woodie

 

Shelby Cobra

 

Quite an extensive collection of

beautiful old pedal cars

 

Cool low rider Mercury

"Wasabe"

 

The museum has that femine touch

 

 On our entire trip no rock chips until today, one day from the last day of driving across country. Black Suburban passed me and just kicked a rock.  Damn.  Besides that, good drive into Alpine, Utah where we spent the night at our friend Rudy's house. He was out driving his semi in Washington, so we didn't get to see him.

 

Friday, beautiful day, sun out. Drove into Salt Lake City for lunch at my favorite bakery, La Gourmandise, where we started our trip from. Wonderful lunch and bought many pastries to take back to Boise to share. Got to Tracie's house around 6:30 pm. She had dinner ready and we at gyros that were very good. Visited quite awhile and caught up. Got to bed around 10:30 p.m. and I guess that is the end of this part of our trip and this blog.

 

One each, please

 

Our lovely lunch at my favorite bakery



 

Below is the map of our trip. From Colorado we came home the same way we went. That was not our plan as we were going to AZ, CA, OR and WA, but we want to get John checked out at Boise VA and see what's going on and what we can/should do. We drove a total of 19,371 miles. That is putting on some serious miles. We had the best time and wouldn't have missed it for the world.

 

Our route

 

So we'll see what the future holds as far as our travels, maybe some mini trips. We are glad to be “home” and appreciate our friends, The Helstowski family, welcoming us to stay with them until we see what is going on and what we are going to do.

We thank God for our safe trip with no accidents.  We were in some places where people had no concept of what "speed limit" means, and many tailgaters.  Thank you Lord for our blessed trip and getting John home safely to his Boise.  I'd say we have all good memories and don't regret one moment of the trip.

I may take some time to reflect on all that took place on our trip and write a summation.  I'm not sure I had any profound thoughts or earth shattering revelations, but maybe I just need some time to assimilate it all.