Wednesday, July 17, 2019, MN

The only thing worth writing about yesterday was a very nice 2-mile hike at Montissippi County Park. It was a beautiful morning and the walk was peaceful and enjoyable. We both took naps in the afternoon and did a bit of grocery shopping late in the afternoon. Tom had ordered a replacement slide window for our screen door, delivered to Walmart. When he installed it, he learned that it didn’t fit quite right, leaving a 1/2” gap that the buggies could get through. Will have to return it and do some more research to find a replacement that fits.

We got another nice 2-mile walk in this morning through the neighborhood. As we walked through Otter Creek Park, we stopped to let Frisco get a little drink and a soak in the clear water of the creek.

This afternoon, I had appointments for a mammogram and a bone density test at the Park Nicollet 

Clinic in Maple Grove. Again, I am impressed with the system, appointments are on time and everyone has been friendly, efficient, and professional. I have only one more appointment, next week, and that is with the optometrist. Checkups will be done.

Monday, July 15, 2019, MN

Wow! This day flew by and was busy, busy, busy! Well, our day’s activity doesn’t start until 11 or so when we take Frisco out for his 2nd walk and we usually try to make it a good one - at least a couple of miles. 

After that, we loaded up the laundry and headed to the laundromat.  All went well until we loaded into a dryer that was not working and lost our first $.75. I called the number that was posted and was told that they would refund the money by mail. Is it worth it? Damn right it is. We finished, folded, took it home and put it away.

I let Frisco out and then Tom and I took off for a drive and a few stops along US-10 and the towns of Big Lake, Elk River, and Anoka. Tom was out of reading materials, so our first stop was at a thrift store in Big Lake - a nice little shop with very reasonable prices. Our next stop was at the Tractor Supply store in Elk River where we filled our propane tank and stocked up on dog food.  Tom has researched and found Tractor Supply to have the best prices on propane and this one was $.20 less than what they were saying online.  Still heading east, about 14 miles down the road is a Costco where I scheduled an appointment to have my eyes checked and we bought one of their broasted chickens (a deliciously great deal for $4.99) and a case of water.

On our way back home, the skies darkened and we heard a weather warning on the radio for severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and possible hail for our area. We made it home safely and found that many of the sites in our park have lakefront property. I mixed a drink, fed Frisco, cut up the chicken, served up some salad and enjoyed every bite.

Sunday, July 14, 2019, MN

Happy Birthday to my sweet niece, Monica!

This is another instance of having to backtrack and try to remember the past four days.  So I’ll start off with Friday. Frisco got the tube removed from his ear this morning and it looks good. The vet told me that the surgery appeared to be successful but there still appeared to be some infection in the ear canal. The antibiotic regimen will continue for another 10-day cycle and the cone can come off.

I went to Ben’s for a sleepover - a good way to hang out with the family. Norah got to sleep with me this time - she got the first turn because she missed out on her 2nd turn when I left a day early from my visit in February. I got there in time to walk over to get the twins after school, give them snacks and read for a bit, then played outdoors until Ben got off work. Their reading skills have improved so much in the past few months. They are sounding out words and are able to read some of the beginner books well.

Norah and Camille - a bit tired after a day at school.

Ben fixed flank steak tacos and rice and Jill made a tasty Guacamole. After dinner, I played with Charlotte until Camille and Norah finished showers and then Norah and I read a story and I tucked her in. I hung out with Ben for a while before retiring for the night myself.

On Saturday morning, Norah and I got ready for the day and then we walked Frisco around the block, actually Norah walked Frisco the whole time. She did great and I told her that she did so well that she could be a pro when she got a bit older, but she said she wouldn’t want to because of the poop pickup part.  When we got back, Jill and Charlotte were getting ready to walk around the lake, so I changed my shoes and went with them. Charlotte is growing up so much. We had great conversations and she clipped right along the entire 2.8-mile walk.

Ben had a tasty breakfast of bacon, eggs, and blueberry pancakes ready for us when we got home. I hung around until about noon, then headed back home to Monticello.

Tom and I went to Beef O’Brady’s for dinner and then walked to the Community Center to listen to music in the parking lot. It is Monticello Riverfest weekend and this was one of many events going on. We heard Terry DuBois who did the first (very long) set and then we were tired of sitting and drinking beer by the time the headliner, The Fabulous Armadillos, started. We listed to a few of their tunes and then headed home. I guess we should have started a bit later than we did.

Wednesday, July 10, 2019, MN

More rain. Just as I settle down to be outside. The ground is still wet and there are puddles everywhere. I get the feeling that we will be dodging raindrops the whole summer.

We went for a nice, long walk this morning at Montisippi County Park, about a mile from our RV Park. The morning was a cool 67 degrees with a light wind - perfect.

I had an appointment to get my teeth cleaned this afternoon at Southside Dental here in Monticello. This is the first visit to a dentist in years because I didn’t have insurance, so my hygiene appointments have been at colleges where they have been free. It’s a good thing I haven’t had any issues. Today’s hygienist told me that my teeth are in excellent shape and should be for years to come. Guess I’ve done something right.

Tuesday, July 9, 2019, MN

I was up early and out of the house by 8:30 this morning, heading for my annual health physical. I am impressed with the Park Nicollet Clinics. A week ago, when I went in for blood work, I had the results by the end of the day. Today, I waited 5 minutes to be called in and Kristin, Dr Milburn’s assistant remembered me, was thorough, and professional.  Dr Milburn arrived shortly after and spent almost an hour with me. She reviewed my health history, medications and supplements, blood work, asked me of my concerns, did a physical checkup and then went over any changes for the future. I need to get a bone density and mammogram done and then I will be finished with health care for the next year. I didn’t feel rushed and I told her before leaving how impressed I was with my treatment.

Yesterday was a hang around the house day with the exception of a trip to the grocery store to stock up on produce.

I got word from Dawn this afternoon that my cousin Donna passed away this morning. She was 89 years old and has deteriorated over the past year. I knew it was coming, but am still saddened. She was always a positive influence in my life and loved by many. I had a nice visit with her last summer when Jonnie and I went to visit her.

Sunday, July 7, 2029, MN

There was nothing on the agenda for today, so we decided to drive to the south of Minneapolis to check out some future RV park options. The drive was a total of 290 miles, took about 7 hours and we stopped at eight places, and crossed six of them off the list.  One was on an island of the Mississippi near Red Wing and was under a huge bridge and surrounded by green, murky water, one was a parking lot at Treasure Island Casino, and the rest were mostly seasonal, tightly packed places, pricey, or didn’t have full hookups. The two that we would consider are Camp Faribo in Faribault and the Cannon Falls Campground (pricey, but it could work).  All of them were about the same distance from Ben’s house.

Saturday, July 6, 2029, MN

OK, I have Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to catch up on. Have I written how good it feels to be settled? 

On Wednesday, we got our picnic table positioned where we want it on our site, swept the pad and rolled out the rug, washed the road dirt off of the windows, and took walks to become familiar with our surroundings. The neighborhood is quite nice, a typical midwestern neat and tidy community with large green lawns, mature trees, and the beautiful Mississippi River rolling by. The road leading to the RV Park takes us along a well-kep cemetery with huge Oak trees and then through a mobile home park where the homes are older but well cared for. The RV park has about 85 sites in which about half of the residents are working folks. Our immediate neighbors behind us and across the street have children and right behind us are two kids and three huge dogs, the man of-the-house is off working during the day and consuming large amounts of beer at night. Not every night, but it seems to be a regular thing - not noisy or rowdy - just working folks lifestyle. There are quite a few Trump flags flying and trucks with flags and stickers - guess we will have to keep our mouths shut. 

Once the rain stopped on the 4th, we were able to get outside and the planned, although delayed, 4th of July parade went through. We grilled some bratwurst, had some adult beverages, and had a low-key celebration.

I got up Friday morning and headed for the Park Nicollet Clinic in Rogers to have my blood work done in preparation for my annual physical next week. After that, I stopped at McDonalds for some breakfast and coffee and did some shopping at Target.

This afternoon, we took a drive to check out a couple of area parks.  Nearby, Montissippi County Park has some nice looking hiking trails and about 15 miles from here, the Bertram Chain of Lakes Park has about everything you would want in a park; hiking trails, swimming beach, and a YMCA Camp that is well equipped for youth activities. We came across a beautiful swimming pool that is equipped with water features and a slide, so we stopped to talk with the manager and learned that it is open to the public on the weekends.  It looks like a good possibility for the grandkids.

We took one of the hikes and ended up walking abut 2.6 miles - a very nice hike on a spectacular day.