A CRAZY DAY.

I had intended to go to Modesto with Jim to have a muffler installed on his Bronco, do a bit of shopping and go out to lunch.  But, my contractor wanted me to pick a handicapped shower on-line, so I stayed home.  Anything I liked, like the one in this picture, didn’t fit the space well.

The ones that fit the space, were smaller than this, with no color border, very antiseptic and plain. I spent a lot of time and visited 25 websites and learned about ADA approved showers and the cheapest I could find was over $2,000 and ugly. Not the least bit of character like the one in this picture. No fun, but I’m determined that the future with the multiple amputees from the recent wars, is going to demand more handicapped rentals. And, as we age, we may need some assistance, too.

Jim’s day was no fun, so I’m glad I didn’t go with him. He broke down on the road. A water hose got a hole in it and he was out of water. He thanked me for always keeping a big jug of water in the cars, (I always have a change of clothes and water in the Bronco, too.) “It saved my life”,  he told me. ” I made an emergency repair in the hose and used that water to get me to a place with a service station, and then a Napa Auto supply for a fix.”

He was late for Mitchell Muffler in Modesto.  Bobby Brown waited for him, the vet we met at the Defender Lodge. He left just before Jim arrived. He got the new muffler installed. It breathes easier, his mileage should improve and all the rattles and noise he was hearing is gone. The price was about $300 with taxes out the door, thank you Jeremiah.  And, Bobby Brown called him and asked him how he liked his service?  Terrific, in a word. Thanks Bobby.  What a crazy day for both of us.

I’m still working on the bathroom redesign. Managed to get out to do a little watering yesterday. And, I took pictures of some of the artwork on the walls at the Hospital and Defender Lodge when I was there. Got my art fix, and I’ll blog them tomorrow.

VETERANS HOSPITAL-JIM'S SURGERY

The drive to the Verterans Hospital in Palo Alto during traffic hours is horrendous. Thankfully they have an on base hostel called the Defenders Lodge for out of town people to stay. The drive home this second trip wasn’t so bad because we left at mid day and traffic was easy.


Jim had to report two hours early for surgery. They gave him a cute dress and a pair of booties to wear. He has never experienced surgery before, and he was fascinated by the process.


I waited around for an hour and a half. They came in with series of eye drops to keep his eye dilated. You can see the right iris his huge compared to the left eye. What amazed me is the IV, the pre-op prep, and the absolute professionalism of hospital personnel in every unit and every person we met who works there. It is an amazing and very modern place. I’m  impressed with their caring and efficiency.  For this procedure,  I had a comparison. My husband had double cataract surgery, probably 25 years ago. He was told to wear no creams or lotions, to shower and wash his hair and report to the clinic. I watched the surgery though a glass window.  They gave him a medication to relax him before he went in. They put stuff in his eyes, clamped the eye open. He could talk to them. They did the surgery and he wore an eye patch for a day and several nights and that was it. The difference in how it is handled is like night and day. Pretty undramatic. Jim was treated like he was going for major surgery.


After we ate dinner, which they supplied him; I bought mine in the canteen and we were able to eat together. We went to bed. Oh, oh!  Jim forgot to tell me that the instructions were to bring your own bedding. Well, thanks to my survival kit, I have pillows and blankets in my car. We would have been pretty miserable with out it and I’m once again, grateful for my survival kit. All they have on the beds is a bottom sheet, a light weight spread and some red throw pillows. We met a number of vets in various stages of the trek from pre-exam, prep, recovery, and the next day, post-op exam to know he is among those lucky people who, though he was in the Bay of Pigs debacle, was never physically endangered or fired upon during his service.


Dr. Pershing is his surgeon and she scheduled him for the next eye very soon. He is glad he can get it over quickly and have his vision back. It was scary to learn how impaired his vision was while driving home. It changed so quickly. But, his long distance glasses saved him, and having me available to drive, as an option, was also comforting-for him.


The hospital put him through all of his tests ordered by his regular doctor in Sonora.  I didn’t get her name, but she was wonderful. How nice is that? They actually communicate with each other. Repeat, I’m impressed by the Veterans Medical Care here in California. Far better than what I can expect in my community, though I’m not complaining.  They are just more organized and efficient. I can’t say enough about the system.

Now I have to add this little extra filip. We all know about networking, but at dinner in the defenders lodge we met a vet named Bobby Brown. Jim had been about to go to Jackson to get his muffler replaced after being quoted prices of $600 down to $400. Bobby Brown handed him a card and said:  “I guarantee you’ll get a better price from this guy and if you don’t I’ll pay your bill.”  Jim called, I believe it was Allied Muffler in Modesto, (he left before I could get the name of the place from him), the price?  $200 from Bobby Brown’s grandson.  He told us not to mention his name. Isn’t that a hoot?

RESTROOMS...HIS AND HERS.

What can I tell you . We are headed for the bathrooms again. Actually, publicly, more politely known as "rest rooms."  I don't know a soul who rests in them.

These tell you everything, the men's. The women's smells sweeter, hence the flowers,  and both have room for wheelchairs.

.


A little lace on the bottom of her towel. Nice touch. I've often noticed that whenever you stop at a rest stop, the men's rooms are first and the women have to walk all the way around to the back. Other public rooms are like that, too. Well, not always. But I once saw a sign that pointed left, for Men's,and right for Women's because Women Are Always Right.  Hey, I can buy into that.


This is Pennsylvania Dutch country.

 .


And, I think I took this one in Thailand. It indicates a roadside rest.


I am thankful we don't have to use any of these old horrors. But, in a way, the bright blue porta potties aren't as friendly. At remote parks, they are smelly, cement rooms with little air. At a park, or temporary venue, they tend to be wet, overused and messy. But nothing, and I mean nothing compares to the pit toilets of China in a remote location. OMIGOD!  The worst places of all experiences.  You definitely wouldn't want a picture. Michal and I both found a bush.


Last night was a full eclipse of the moon. I woke up and checked the skies. A billion stars, etched clearly, all the constellations in site. An advantage to live where light pollution is minimal. The first time I looked, about 2:30 a.m. the moon was almost completely covered with a bright yellow sliver on the right. You can sort of see it. Half asleep and hand holding my camera, it didn't exactly come out round.


I finally got the full moon with some stars are just little blips with no ability to get a full constellation without the helpful light of the moon. My camera is limited and can't take those beautiful sky photos I love to see in magazines. Suffice it to say, it was one gorgeous sky and makes you envy early primitive people who lived outside and kept steady watch on the awesome night skies.

RESTROOMS THIS WAY---

In my travels, I’ve seen some interesting signs for restrooms. People think I’m a bit daffy when I take pictures of restroom signs, but, they are so funny. How can I resist? This is a small part of my collection. None have been edited. I have chores galore these days, so not much happening at home. I hope you find them amusing, too.

Pretty graphic, but understandable in every language.

Ditto.

.

I dragged this one off the internet, proving that I’m not the only one who chuckles at His and Hers.

.

.

So discreet.

Well, they got Red Riding Hood and the Wolf right. He is following her. More tomorrow.

ADDING A NEW HOUSE

I finally got through, meaning I’ve opened every piece of mail,  I received while gone. Getting close to tax time again. Bills from Calaveras County. Now, with the new building in Oregon,  I’ll have another tax liability. When my place there was demolished, I gave most of the fixtures and stuff to a local Christian School. I saved the windows because they were practically brand new. We drew the plans to use every one of those windows.  Jim and I  measured them once more,  so Doug can frame for the windows.  And in two weeks, or so, I have to drive them to Oregon.

Yesterday was pretty much a  day of rest.
Ciao

GRAPE STOMP AND BIRTHDAY DINNER.

I thought it was very nice that Grape Stomp was put on for my birthday. It is always a fun time. I approached from the East end of Murphys, the first stop at Hovey’s tasting room. The old Victorian sits on a huge quarter acre lawn, and people, me too, were attracted by the music. This group was dressed for Halloween.


The musician, Gail Warren. I’ve heard her play before and she has amazing licks and phrases that make her music distinctive and complex. I asked if she had a CD. No!


I love listening to her and her repertoire is varied from hard rock, soul, gospel, jazz, pop, you name it, she does it.


Because she is all over the map when she pauses and lifts, her drummer, Eddie Castro, interprets her every nuance and intuitively hesitates when she does.


Some listen and some like to get up and dance, grass didn’t stop them.


I’ve gone on and on about Gail, but I expect to see her name in national recognition some day.


From there, I hit the street to look into the booths to see if someone was selling something I couldn’t live without. This, from a person trying to down size. This guy was called the money man. He was selling rusting metal sculptures. I resisted.


I’m always impressed with someone’s ability to creatively change an unwanted object into something people will pay for, like these former golf clubs.The street fair has over 100 booths, so there is a lot to choose from.


This little girl was delighted with her newly acquired purple gecko. Her brother had a fuzzy dog bouncing on a leash. Her dad said it was okay to take her picture.


And here was Jimmy Heryford selling beer in front of the Native Sons Hall for the benefit of the hall. And, every so often, someone would bang this huge gong. Never did figure out why? I was sorry I’d eaten lunch before I went. I usually find great street food and a beer.


People seemed to be avoiding this booth because the dog was taller than the table. Kind of intimidating to some.


This woman had her own wine on ice on the back of her bike. I asked her if she was selling. “No”, she said, “If you have a glass I’ll pour you some.”  Neat lady. People are such a trip. Town was loaded, heavier crowds than I’ve ever seen before.


I walked to the park and it was mobbed. Everyone was standing in line or eating and drinking what they stood in line for.


But the main event is the grape stomp.The teams come from all over to compete. The initial competition has 10 barrels, and each team stomps 25 lbs. of grapes. The winner of each heat, one every half hour, goes to the finals.


The crowds cheer on their teams.


It is a messy and juicy affair. I stood quite a distance and still got a small splatter on my shoes.


The stomper stays relatively clean compared to the juicer. I don’t know if this couple won the heat, but they worked hard, laughed a lot and if they get to the finals, they have to stomp 50 pounds of grapes. Fun.


I went home and got ready for dinner. Ken and Laurie took us to Alchemy. They were busy, busy, busy with so many people in town.


Everything you eat here is good. Jim ordered a half boneless chicken…


Laurie and I had the seafood pad thai. Delicious.


Ken likes ribs. They have good beers, too, though I can’t recall the name of the beer we drank. And, they brought us a decadent dessert to share because it was my birthday.


I’ve wanted to blog the beautiful coffee table Laurie painted for me. She is soooo talented. Everyone helped me move the furniture around so the table is really a display piece. I’m going to get a glass top for it. It matches all my other Egyptian stuff and I’m just thrilled with it. I picked up the table at a yard sale years ago with the idea to paint it with an Egyptian theme but she has a talent that I don’t have. I love it!