Tuesday, October 13, 2015

‘YA-HOUIE LOOIE’ WE’RE GOING TO ARIZONA:))))))))))

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Dressed warmly against a cool mid October wind it was a quiet & cloudy morning walk around our pine tree trail.  Computer weather map showed rains had missed us & gone north up around the Bruce Peninsula.

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FIRST THE WAITING ROOM

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AND DON’T THESE EXAMINATION ROOMS JUST KINDA GIVE YA THE SHUDDERS

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<<< WAITING

Surrounded by dark November looking storm clouds we made our way to Clinton Ontario shortly before 9.  Kelly had decided to come with me to my 9:10 a.m. Doctor's appointment.  I think she may have been worried I might not tell her everything the Doctor might have said to me.  Had us a 20 minute wait before my name was called & into the examination room we went.  Dr. Bukala entered about 5 minutes later.  I watched the expression on his face as he reviewed my PSA results on his computer screen.  For about 3 weeks now I had been waiting for this exact moment.  The next few words out of this man's mouth would decide whether we would be going to Arizona this winter or not & it would decide in which direction my medical future was headed.  His first words were, "I see the PSA levels have risen a bit."  It was the 2 words 'a bit' that I hung on because I thought they had risen quite substantially according to what we had read on the internet.  At least he said ‘a bit’ & not…..'dramatically'.  He went on to say there was no cause for alarm & he said some things after that but I don't remember what it was because my mind had already spiked ahead thinking about our travel plans to Arizona.  Both Kelly & I did have some questions for Dr. Bukala which were answered satisfactorily & my next check-up appointment is scheduled for mid April of 2016. 

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JUST A FEW PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF OUR HOUSE TODAY

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ANOTHER COUPLE MONTHS & OUR FROG POND WILL BE FROZEN OVER

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OUR FRONT YARD BIRD FEEDING PLATFORM ON THE RIGHT

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NOTICE HOW THE FALLEN PINE NEEDLES CREATE GOLDEN PATHWAYS

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OUR STREET ON THE LEFT & OUR DRIVEWAY ON THE RIGHT

Well needless to say we were both feeling very relieved driving back to Bayfield.  There was a 50/50 chance I could have received unfavorable news this morning & I had prepared myself for that just in case.  In the past weeks I had purposely kept our Arizona winter travel plans out of my mind.  Did not want to get myself psyched up for a big let down.  The personal reward was greater this morning than had I 'assumed' everything would be totally fine.  A realistic mind does not work like that & I much prefer to be as honest with my reasoning as possible.  Maybe not an agreeable way of thinking for everyone but it is my preferred way to deal with myself. 

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First thing I did when we arrived home was to dig out our 'RV loading check-list'.  With only 11 days to departure we had a lot of things on that list to check off from now till then.  After-all we had just lost 3 weeks but here's the upside of the down-sided 3 weeks.......with only a week & a half to go we're going to be excitedly busy & I like that kind of busy excitement because it makes the time go fast.  Kelly immediately busied herself on the telephone arranging travel insurance, internet & cable TV off for the next 6 months as well as our land line telephone.  Re-newed our Coach Net roadside assistance program as well.  Always a lot of things to do for Snow Birds changing nests every 6 months.  And I knew for sure we’d be leaving on October 24th when I saw Kelly carrying an armful of clothes out to the rig:))

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LOTS OF AUTUMN PINE NEEDLES EVERYWHERE & THESE NEEDLES WILL ALL BE PART OF THE SPRING CLEAN-UP

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I’M SO HAPPY TO BE LOADING THE RV RATHER THAN HAVING TO GET IT WINTERIZED

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Depending on weather in the West I'd still like to see if we can make it to & spend some time in the CAPITAL REEF NATIONAL PARK & Moab areas of Utah before heading on down to our house in Arizona.  In order to arrive in the Capital Reef/Moab area we will take the Cheyenne-Laramie route to Rawlins Wyoming & drop straight south from there down into Colorado & then West to Utah.  It was one year ago today we traveled that very same route from Rawlins to Colorado then Utah on our problem plagued southern 2014 trek.  That day we drove from Rawlins Wyoming to Monticello Utah.  The following day we made it to Congress Arizona.  It had been a long grinding trip for us & I remember how totally exhausted but exuberantly happy we were to at long last reach our cozy little adobe ranch style house in Arizona.  Oh Dear & now we have decided to sell it.  Oh well, we'll deal with all that when we get there.  Just another chapter in our ever changing  lives………………

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Looks like Monday's gloomy 10 day weather forecast has already been moderated for our area with less rain & more sunshine than previously thought.  Pheebs & I just might get out for a few more gravel runs after-all.  And I did update my OLD BARNS, SOME NEW ONES & A FEW SHEDS ALONG THE WAY album with my latest photos taken this past Sunday.  Latest barn photos are always at the beginning of the album so you don’t have to go through the whole works to find the most recent pics.  Over 90 new barn photos.

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ON THE SIDE OF OUR WOODSHED

GROANER’S CORNER:((  The little boy was late for Sunday school and the superintendent, seeing him slip in, detained him and asked him the reason. The boy shuffled his feet uncertainly for a moment, then blurted out, "I started out to go fishing instead, but my dad wouldn't let me."  The superintendent beamed broadly. "A wise father," he said. "He was quite right not to let you go fishing on a Sunday. Did he explain why?"  The little boy nodded. "Oh, yes sir. He said there wasn't enough bait for the two of us."

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- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

35 comments:

  1. Great news!!.. Now you all better get busy packing!!

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  2. Right on!!!! Now get packing.

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  3. WOOHOO!!!!! Open the gates....be safe!

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  4. WoooooHoooo! I always love good news and yours is the best! Being a worry-er myself, it always makes me heave a big sigh when my friends or myself hear positive things. Way to go, Al.... now you'll be busy getting ready for the trip.

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  5. That is the best news you could have received, and now you and Kelly are wasting no time getting travel ready. Is Pheebs catching the excitement?

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  6. As I said, this too shall pass.... But I do hope you will rethink your decision to sell the
    Congress property..

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  7. We hope to get the same good news and leave the same day. Still waiting to hear. Great for you guys!! Safe journey.

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  8. Well congrats on the good news! I can sure relate to those critical medical apts. have one myself coming up in two weeks. Your pix today seem particularly vibrant, especially those leaves and hostas.

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  9. ON THE ROAD AGAIN. . .happy travels! Becki

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  10. Great News so happy all is well and you will be hitting the road on time. Safe Travels to You n Kelly

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  11. So happy for you, a week and a half will go by in a flash. Looking forward to seeing you and Kelly.

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  12. Oh how I hate Doctor's appointments and I have to go every three months.
    I am so happy to hear your wonderful news. What a lovely place you have in Bayfield. I love your pictures.
    Elaine in BC

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  13. Great news!! Onward to Arizona
    Jim

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  14. Yipee.......you're cleared to go! Have a safe trip. Anxious to enjoy your adventure with you!

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  15. Now thats is great news. All cleared and ready to go.
    We leave three days before you and will end up in the southwest, not sure which way we going yet, will depend on the weather.
    Might just see you along the way somewhere.

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  16. Very, very good news!! I'm super happy for you both!!
    Nina

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  17. Same PSA deal with me, and same verdict as we are south of Moab and Canyonlands… temporarily forced by unusually high temps into the Abajo Mountain's cooler climate. If this weather pattern holds you guys will be plenty warm :)
    Congrats on your release, Al,
    Box Canyon Mark

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  18. Congratulations on your good news. I have a feeling you will be seeing things along the roadway a lot differently this time after your 50/50 shot. Safe travels to you. Enjoy

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  19. "Yippie skippie!" So glad your news was good and you both can now focus on your travel plans! Can't wait to read about your western adventures this season! Take care.
    Cheryl Ann

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  20. If you get to Moab, there is a campground called Spanish Trail 3 miles south of town. Rates were $36/day for electric sites in September. You might find some place to boondock further south from there. There is a funky road house across the road from Spanish Trail. I am suggesting this so you can go back to the other side of Moab and drive Highway 128 (just before the bridge) up and back along the Colorado River and through the red rock canyon. A spectacular drive, especially coming into Moab. Looking forward to seeing your trip west. I just came back after driving two lane highways from Utah, Colorado, and Kansas.

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  21. If you get to Moab, there is a campground called Spanish Trail 3 miles south of town. Rates were $36/day for electric sites in September. You might find some place to boondock further south from there. There is a funky road house across the road from Spanish Trail. I am suggesting this so you can go back to the other side of Moab and drive Highway 128 (just before the bridge) up and back along the Colorado River and through the red rock canyon. A spectacular drive, especially coming into Moab. Looking forward to seeing your trip west. I just came back after driving two lane highways from Utah, Colorado, and Kansas.

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  22. WOOT!WOOT!WOOT! WOOT!..I am sooooo happy for you..was thinking of you yesterday...The one and only thing that keeps us all from our trips is medical/ family stuff. I could feel your relief through your "blabber fingers"!!!Hugs!

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  23. I enjoy following your blog, always such beautiful pictures. Glad to hear all is well and you will be on your ways soon.
    We will be leaving the UP tomorrow and pointing South but for the next 12 days we will be about an hour South of Port Huron. We will be spending sometime with our son and family. We will be 3 days behind you heading Southwest, this is only our second year, and we do not have a definite route yet so we will be checking your progression and the weather as we decide. (It is so helpful to get ideas from other blogs while we enjoy this adventure.) Safe Travels.

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  24. Yipee, yipee!! Get that rig packed!

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  25. Got excited just reading the title! So nice to have a beautiful place to say good-bye to for a few months, and grand adventures waiting just around the corner. Love the leaves on the woodshed - they remind me of sheet music :-)

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  26. Congratulations! Not only on being able to travel to Arizona as hoped, but also that your levels were okay and you are healthy! I just love good news like this. Have fun loading and preparing. :)

    PS - My dad's levels have been a bit high for years and years. He's 93 in November and still doing well.

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  27. From Oregon: Good. Was anxious to hear the results for you. We are getting ready to head out for only a few days. Glad not to be packing for a six-month trip. Take care not to overdo.

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  28. Awesome news - very happy you are well and can travel south. I deal with worries in the same way. Prepare for the worst and then its a great relief when its all good, and if its not good, you are mentally prepared for that scenario. Bit pessimistic but it works for me.

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  29. Great to hear you are good to go. I had my prostate removed three years ago. It's better if you don't have to.

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