Thursday, January 31, 2019

Trailer For Sale

Finally!!  Sharon, the park manager, came by my trailer and said I can sell it and it can stay in the park.  This is such good news because she won't let many of the older trailers stay after being sold and they have to be towed out.  This means the difference between maybe a few thousand dollars and nothing.

I went up to the office today to sign all the papers...they're selling it for me for $1,000, paid only if it sells.  They wanted to list it for $10,000 but I know that's way too much and it wouldn't sell.  I wanted to list it at $6,000 but they convinced me to list it at $7,500 saying they knew it would definitely sell.  I sure hope they're right!!!

I also put the down payment on the new trailer for next year.  I really love this park and the people who have become good friends but the rentals are so expensive that I can't see coming back again after next year.  For some reason I keep getting older.  It must be the water in the park.

Faye leaves on Sunday so she's going to help me straighten up the trailer on Saturday so it looks nice for photos on Monday.  Because the park is selling it, they show it on their website.  My trailer is cute as can be and I'm not biased.  I've loved it since 2000 and have had all these years to enjoy it but I'm not sad to see it go.  It's time.

Well, now I have to hope it does sell and that I can stay in it until March 30th.  I chose that date because I don't want to pay lot rent in April.  I'll go over to Shelley's to stay until it's time to go back home...Cindy and Don are coming down on March 28th and driving back with me.  I'm not happy that I need drivers to get me back and forth but it's a fact of life so I'll just appreciate that I have people who love who do this for me.

Games ("65") with the ladies tonight!

Monday, January 28, 2019

Dreary, Cold, Wet Florida

Just as I never experienced a hotter summer last year in Ontario, I have never experienced so much cold, wet weather in Florida for this long...mostly the whole month of January.  I can still count on warm and sunny days to come before I head home but my heart goes out to those who chose this month to holiday in central Florida.

I'm pretty miserable.  My ears are still clogged and the sinus drainage has caused my voice to sound like I have laryngitis.  I'm also coughing a bit and I think that's from the drainage, too, and not from my lungs.  All in all, January 2019 has been quite cruel to me.

Shelley is visiting tomorrow and she can re-evaluate my condition and hopefully give me another antibiotic.  I think I need one but I'll trust her judgement.  She doesn't like it when I don't.  LOL!

Faye is all bundled up and out walking this morning for the first time in days.  It poured rain yesterday and the weather report is for 2 more weeks of unseasonably cool temperatures.  What the hell is happening??  I know it's much worse back home but that doesn't help me right here.

I don't know if I mentioned earlier that I wasn't able to get my propane tank filled because the company I use has been sold and they won't fill the old tank.  They will replace it and fill it then but I've decided to just hang in there using the little electric heater to warm up the trailer (never overnight, though).  For one thing, I have a 100 lb. tank and it costs over $5 per pound...over $500 to fill it.  Last year we had pretty nice weather and I didn't have to put any propane in at all.  

Right now I'd rather be back home in my sweet little apartment complaining about the grey skies instead of here in a tiny trailer complaining about the same thing.

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Dog Races

One of the park trips I enjoy the most is when we go to the dog races in Tampa but I was just told that this year will be the last time they will be allowed to race dogs.  I'm sure it's because a small group of people believe that racing dogs is cruelty to animals...I'm not sure I agree.  I know they used to euthanize racing dogs once they were too old to race but that was stopped quite a while ago and now the older dogs are put up for adoption.

I'm not sure that racing dogs is any worse than taking them to a dog park where they happily race around freely but I could be wrong.  I'm sure I'll hear more about what constitutes cruelty.

Now what about racing horses and stinging their sides with that whip?  I honestly believe that should be considered unnecessary cruelty but I bet no-one will be able to stop horse racing because it is really a lucrative business.

So much of our world is changing because small groups protest loudly and too many people are worried about being politically correct.  Remember the idiots who demanded all historical statues of not so decent warriors or political figures be torn down.  Look how many other idiots joined the destruction of our history and look how quickly that particular protest faded away.  Too many statues and too much hard work destroying them, I guess.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Friends

Last evening was so much fun just playing cards and yakking with friends, some longtime and some new.  One of the lovely things about this park is how many truly nice people I've met here that I wouldn't have met otherwise because we all live far from each other back north.  My dear, dear friend, Sylvia, is a good example because she lives in Nova Scotia.  She called me this morning and it's like she's right here with me...we'll be friends for life.

Dee dropped in for a visit this morning, too, and she's another treasured friend I met here but she does live a little closer back home...we can meet occasionally at the casino in Niagara Falls.  In about an hour I'm taking Jan and Linda for lunch at Five Guys.  They worked together to get me my passion flower and took care of it until I got back down to the park this winter.  Friends are very important in your life, not only for the favors they do for you, but just being nice companions and good souls.

I'm selling the trailer this year but I hope to always be able to keep in contact with many of the lovely friends I've made here over the years.  It will hurt the heart a little because we probably won't be able to meet in person in years to come but we've made fine memories.  We go through many changes in our lives and I'll always be grateful for the time I got to spend in this park and the special people who came into my life.

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Blocked Ears and Puppysitting

Faye and I puppysat for Shelley and John last week while they went to Las Vegas...John on business, Shelley for fun, and both to renew their wedding vows by Elvis.  She wore a snazzy red dress with rhinestones on the sleeves and John wore a royal blue velvet jacket...quite fitting for such a top drawer wedding!

Tank, Gunner, and Winnie were our charges and I dearly love them all but spending 5 days catering to the demands (and I do mean demands) of 3 spoiled rotten dogs made me change my mind about getting one for myself.  They (mainly Gunner) demanded loudly to be let out to pee at least a dozen times a day.  They demanded their meals on time.  They demanded their snacks very loudly and on time.  They demanded to be fed when it wasn't even their time.  They also demanded a lot of affection and that I was more than happy to provide.

Even though I'm not sick any more, I still have blocked ears that were starting to worry me.  My nurse/practitioner, Shelley, cleaned an enormous amount of wax out my ears but that didn't unblock them.  She had told me to take the decongestant along with the antibiotic I was also taking but she didn't make it clear that I was to continue taking the decongestant until my ears unblocked.  I'm back on them now.

Faye isn't feeling well today and it worries me when she looks frail.  She's normally a tough old bird.  It's been unusually cold here in Florida and she has no fat to insulate her.  

I heard from Donna today, too, and she can't have her valve replacement until the infection in her toe is gone...4-5 weeks is predicted.  We sure have to be tough old birds to survive what life throws at us sometimes.  I just don't like being so far away from home when I'd like to be up there giving moral support to Donna.

I can't believe this is Jan. 22nd and tonight is my first time going over to the clubhouse to play cards.  That is one of the most fun things here for me but I've stayed away because of the cold and then going to Tampa.  Time flies!

Faye and I went over to the jam session at the clubhouse last night.  It's so nice to be able to just walk about a minute from my front door to get there (for cards, too).  I'm going to ask for a rental in the lot next to my trailer for next year.  I still don't know if I can sell my trailer and it can stay here or if it has to be pulled out.  The manager here is not too swift in replying to my question!

Well, I'm going to go to Joann's Fabrics and Bealls today with discount coupons in hand...on the cell phone, actually.  I hope Faye feels up to going with me.  Then it's cards with some fun ladies tonight.  Life is good!

Update:  We went to Joann's where I found 5 1/3 yards of white monk's cloth but, when I tried to use my 40% off coupon (on my cell phone), it wouldn't come up.  After spending many minutes trying to get the clerk to help me, she finally gave up and rang in the discount manually but somehow another discount was added and I saved another $15.  Yeah!!

Then we travelled on to Beall's only to find the store closed for renovations.  I could have cried...and I will cry loudly if we find the only Beall's I know of closed next week.  Beall's is my favorite store to shop for clothes.   

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Florida Cold

I didn't expect to have so much cool/cold weather in Florida because we usually only have bits of it but it's pretty cool out there today.  It will warm up a bit for a few days and then it's supposed to hit a daytime high of 43F one day next week!!  Poor Faye will be here until Feb. 3rd and then go south to Miami to meet up with Valerie so she'll get lovely warm weather there.

We're going over to Shelley's today to puppysit while she and John go to Las Vegas (John on business and Shelley for fun).  I feel it's kind of wasted on them because neither gamble much.  I should be going!!

My cold is gone but one ear is still blocked...so annoying.  A lot of people here either have the cold or are just getting over it.  One lady is on her 3rd batch of antibiotics.  I'm starting to think that many seniors will survive all kinds of illnesses and diseases only to be taken out by a common cold.

The government here is still shut down due to Trump's insistance he be given the wall between the U.S. and Mexico.  I think this matters more to him than the struggles of all those government workers who are going without a paycheck.  He simply can't identify with the average person who lives pretty much from paycheck to paycheck with little or no reserves.  Scarier still is that national security is undermanned and, in this time of rampant terrorism, that is unbelievably dangerous and foolhardy of Trump.

Anyway, I'm trying to ignore any safety issues that might affect me or mine because it will drive me crazy if I worry too much about something I can do nothing about.

I'm all packed to go over to Shelley's, loaded with dirty clothes to wash at her house.  It makes me laugh because it's almost like when college kids come home for a visit loaded with their own laundry that needs doing.  

Well, time to get off the computer and do something useful.

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Florida Sunshine

After months of grey skies in Canada, the sunshine I expected here in Florida has not disappointed me.  We've had the odd cool day but that is normal for this time of year...mostly no sweater days, though.  

Faye and I are whittling down our stash of leftovers and even went over to the clubhouse last night for a meatloaf dinner.  Randy and Janet were there and we promised to meet up in the summer for lunch.  We usually manage that every summer but somehow didn't do it last summer.  Time has a way of getting away from you.

Today we're going to the flea market.  I'm on a mission for some loungers that I like wearing all day when I'm not going anywhere.  They're comfy and cool.  I'm hoping to find some polycotton instead of the crinkly Indian ones, though, because the Indian ones aren't color fast.

My ears are still mainly plugged but they do click open once in a while.  It's pretty annoying and it interferes with my hearing.  This must be what it feels like to be half deaf.

The weather today is sunny and around 80F.  I'm so fortunate to be able to come here for 3 months in the winter!

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Crappy Start to Florida Time

The cold got worse and then started to get a bit better but actually stalled at "still pretty bad".  My ears clogged so I was and still am half deaf, my sinuses became infected so I had to go on an antibiotic, and my eyes ran so much people must have thought I was crying.  No wonder I worry so much about catching a cold.  The antibiotic did help and today, even with clogged ears, I feel almost well.

On Tuesday, Matt came over to spend some time with us and then Shelley and John came over.  We all went into Orlando to our favorite Thai restaurant for dinner and Nicole and Sam joined us there.  I'm missing out on a lot of hugs because of this darned cold!!

Matt flew home on Wednesday...I guess he got home safely and I can stop worrying about him now.  I worry myself sick over everything involving my babies!

I don't know if I mentioned that the handle broke off the toilet tank but I'm still waiting for Kevin to fix it.  I hate waiting but I don't have a husband to nag and am dependent on the kindness of friends and family that I don't dare nag.

One of the ladies here suggested I get Afrin to help unclog my nasal passages.  It worked beautifully and now I just need to unclog my ears.  

On the bad side, we found out Donna had a heart attack and was in the hospital.  She has an infected toe (diabetic) so can't have heart surgery until the infection is cleared up.  I'm worried about the whole situation and won't rest until her surgery is over and I know she's okay.

Faye and I had to go out for a bit of shopping this morning and, when we returned, we found Dee M. had left us some home-made chicken soup.  We didn't know it was her at first but, knowing Dee, I felt it had to be that wonderful lady.  The friends I have here are the best.

Speaking of friends...I am blessed to have Faye, my friend and sister-in-law, here with me.  She's worked like a dog getting the yard raked and cleaned while I only had enough strength to do a bit of work.  She's like the Energizer bunny...never stops!

I'm pretty sure I won't be allowed to sell the trailer because the park owners are surrounding my area with the new rentals and my trailer would probably stick out like a sore thumb among them.  It pretty well looks like I'll have to just turn it over to the park but I've been prepared to accept that eventuality.  It's too bad but there's nothing I can do about it.  I'll come back next year and rent one of the lovely new trailers for 3 months and that will make my life a lot easier than dealing with this old one.

I've stayed away from everyone except Faye since I got to the park but I'm ready to host the Friday morning coffee tomorrow if anyone comes.  I feel well enough to go to Bingo tomorrow night, too.  Thanks to drugs!  I think Faye must have the immune system of an athlete because she hasn't caught my cold.  I'm thankful for that, too, because I bet she'd be whiny.

Sunday, January 06, 2019

In Florida

It was a wild and woolly week before leaving for Florida.  The Christmas festivities with family and then the family dinner on Friday that turned out to be Cindy and Don's engagement and wedding all rolled up into one.  I'm so happy for both of them because there is so very much love and commitment between them.

I had caught Bev's head cold and it just worsened until the first day's drive to Florida was abject misery for me.  Kellie did all of the driving, thank heavens, and I worried either she or Faye would catch my germs but they didn't.  We stayed at Shelley and John's for 4 days before going to the trailer.  I love my friends there but couldn't give or receive any hugs because of my cold.

The trailer was in great condition, nice and clean thanks to Debbie and Jim but the air conditioning wasn't working and it was hot as hell.  Boy, did that add to my misery!  Poor Faye worked like a dog dragging stuff in from the car so we could put it away and relax...in the heat!  I had to ask Bob Pierce if he could take a look at the air conditioner but, if it couldn't be easily fixed, I wasn't going to replace it.  He was able to fix it quickly by removing some bent and broken blades in the fan.  I couldn't exist here without the help of good people like Bob and we have a lot of them.

Problems never seem to end, though, and now the handle on the toilet tank has broken and I've put in a request for Kevin to look at it.  I try not to impose on one person when I need help.  I'll be so glad to dump this damned trailer and get a rental for next year.

My cold seems to have settled and isn't budging..it's still only a head cold but my whole head, nose, and ears are plugged...so I texted Shelley to see if she could send a prescription for an antibiotic to Walgreens for me.  She and John are on o little getaway for their anniversary so I do hate to bother her but I feel miserable and am worried the cold might drop down to my chest.  Life as an old gal isn't always wonderful!

Jan brought over the passion flower that Linda had gotten for me and it's gorgeous!  I've wanted one of these for so long and thought I'd give it to Shelley when I leave for home but I'm afraid she'd kill it so it's going home with me.  If the U.S. government is still closed in April (Trump said he'd keep it closed for years if he can't have his wall!), there probably will be no border guards at all.

Well, I'm happy to be in Florida and grateful to have Faye with me.  I love her dearly and she is such a wonderful friend.  I've been lucky all along to have in-laws that I love.

Today I'll plant a few more flowers and wait for sweet Kevin to fix my toilet and Shelley to send me an antibiotic.  Life is what you make of it.