Tonight we are parked at a RV park in Hawthorne, Nv. home to the "Hawthorne Army Storage Depot". Coming into town from either the north or south you notice acres and acres of land covered with bunkers, half buried in the earth. What are in those bunkers, you can only imagine, but I guess it isn't chocolate chip cookies.
This barren land is full of "government land". The A bomb was tested within 200 miles of here. Nevada contains thousands of square miles of testing areas, bombing zones, and military bases. Tomorrow we will continue our drive south on Hwy 95 past these areas. As I drive by the test site, I will be sure to keep my windows rolled up.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Movies for 2011
So we have been hanging around and watching a few flicks, some good some average.
MY SON JACK. ( Masterpiece Theater - PBS) A story of Jack Kipling, the only son of Rudyard Kipling who was sent to France as an Army officer in WWI. He died one day after his 18th birthday. The story is of his relationship with his father who was a very influential person in England and the war and the family's coping with the loss of their son. The movie works because so many people can relate to having a loved one killed or missing in action (whether it was Viet Nam, Afghanistan, or any other war).
SALT. The Bourne Identity with Angelina Jolie instead of Matt Damon. Lots of action and fun.
INCEPTION. Have you ever turned on the TV and it is in the middle of the movie so you are scrambling mentally to understand the story? Well, that's the way I felt with this movie. I watched this with five other people and none of us could figure it out. Maybe if I watched it again, it would make more sense, but I didn't like it enough to do that. The story is too twisted to enjoy without a program.
TRUE GRIT. Enjoyed the original last night. Great John Wayne movie. Went to the Coen brothers "remake" this afternoon. It is a definite "must see". Interesting story, great characters, good dialogue. Actually, it is not a remake but a re-telling of a story. I must admit that I did not miss the Duke for one minute.
EAT, PRAY, LOVE. Chick Flick
MY SON JACK. ( Masterpiece Theater - PBS) A story of Jack Kipling, the only son of Rudyard Kipling who was sent to France as an Army officer in WWI. He died one day after his 18th birthday. The story is of his relationship with his father who was a very influential person in England and the war and the family's coping with the loss of their son. The movie works because so many people can relate to having a loved one killed or missing in action (whether it was Viet Nam, Afghanistan, or any other war).
SALT. The Bourne Identity with Angelina Jolie instead of Matt Damon. Lots of action and fun.
INCEPTION. Have you ever turned on the TV and it is in the middle of the movie so you are scrambling mentally to understand the story? Well, that's the way I felt with this movie. I watched this with five other people and none of us could figure it out. Maybe if I watched it again, it would make more sense, but I didn't like it enough to do that. The story is too twisted to enjoy without a program.
TRUE GRIT. Enjoyed the original last night. Great John Wayne movie. Went to the Coen brothers "remake" this afternoon. It is a definite "must see". Interesting story, great characters, good dialogue. Actually, it is not a remake but a re-telling of a story. I must admit that I did not miss the Duke for one minute.
EAT, PRAY, LOVE. Chick Flick
Thursday, January 6, 2011
First Post of 2011
No resolutions. Don't need them.
Christmas is over. The tree is lying unceremoniously in the front yard waiting for the Boy Scouts to pick it up. The decorations are back in their numerous boxes in the cabinets in the garage. The pine needles have been vacuumed up. By looking at the number of needles on the floor after taking the tree out, you would think that the tree would have been bald by the time you got it out of the house, but it doesn't. In fact, it looks pretty good. It feels dry, but the color is still nice and green. It seems kind of wasteful to grow something for 8-10 years and then just throw it away after 1-2 months of use. At least it will be ground up for mulch.
Now that the clean up is done, it is time to get ready for our trip south. This year we are headed for Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in southern Arizona. I mean southern. The park is situated on the US/Mexican border about half-way between Yuma and Tucson and then south on Hwy 85. If you love the flora and fuana of the desert, you will love the park. The campground is one of the most beautiful I have ever been in. There are no hook-ups so generator use is permitted two times a day 8-10am and 4-6 to allow the charging of batteries and microwave cooking, etc. There is a dump station also.
R and I will be volunteering there for the months of February, March, and April. I am not sure what our duties will be but we are looking forward to the time spent in this goreous area. Watch for further blogs to let you know what we are doing.
With the trip in mind, this short time period will be used to get the truck and trailer ready. The trailer has been checked over; brakes, connections, etc. The water tank has been filled to the half-full level. The water heater has been drained and flushed. The only thing left on the trailer is packing it and most of that won't be done until the last couple of days, especially the food.
The truck is in the dealer right now to have the drive shaft lubed. I read about it in the Trailer Life magazine and it is something that I had noticed and wondered about. Next I will have the transmission serviced and it should be ready to go.
Vroom, Vroom.
Christmas is over. The tree is lying unceremoniously in the front yard waiting for the Boy Scouts to pick it up. The decorations are back in their numerous boxes in the cabinets in the garage. The pine needles have been vacuumed up. By looking at the number of needles on the floor after taking the tree out, you would think that the tree would have been bald by the time you got it out of the house, but it doesn't. In fact, it looks pretty good. It feels dry, but the color is still nice and green. It seems kind of wasteful to grow something for 8-10 years and then just throw it away after 1-2 months of use. At least it will be ground up for mulch.
Now that the clean up is done, it is time to get ready for our trip south. This year we are headed for Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in southern Arizona. I mean southern. The park is situated on the US/Mexican border about half-way between Yuma and Tucson and then south on Hwy 85. If you love the flora and fuana of the desert, you will love the park. The campground is one of the most beautiful I have ever been in. There are no hook-ups so generator use is permitted two times a day 8-10am and 4-6 to allow the charging of batteries and microwave cooking, etc. There is a dump station also.
R and I will be volunteering there for the months of February, March, and April. I am not sure what our duties will be but we are looking forward to the time spent in this goreous area. Watch for further blogs to let you know what we are doing.
With the trip in mind, this short time period will be used to get the truck and trailer ready. The trailer has been checked over; brakes, connections, etc. The water tank has been filled to the half-full level. The water heater has been drained and flushed. The only thing left on the trailer is packing it and most of that won't be done until the last couple of days, especially the food.
The truck is in the dealer right now to have the drive shaft lubed. I read about it in the Trailer Life magazine and it is something that I had noticed and wondered about. Next I will have the transmission serviced and it should be ready to go.
Vroom, Vroom.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Medicare Notes
Next week I come under the umbrella of Medicare. My 65th birthday isn't until the last day of the month but M becomes effective on the first day of the month you turn 65. And so I since we got home in November I have been trying to get my horses in order. Easier said than done.
Because of down-sizing I took early retirement from Pennzoil in 2001 and have been under their retirement wing for medical coverage since. Over the years I have been told by persons on the phone from the provider that when I was eligible for M that this current coverage would become a suppliment. After 2 months of telephone calls and not getting answers, I recieved a phone call yesterday informing me that my retirement medical coverage would end when I became eligible for M or in 8 days.
Luckily I have been to see an agent that handles Medicare insurance. I immediately called and got an appointment to set up a M supplement program and a drug program. It helps to talk to professionals about this part of your life. I did also meet with a volunteer from SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance who provided me with more information and a booklet that is made for Oregon residents. I think they have one for other states too. This is called the Oregon Guide to Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and Prescription Drug Plans. It shows the various companies that operate in Oregon and their health plans and costs. It helps to talk to someone of knowledge before you try to travel down this curvy path called Medicare.
Because of down-sizing I took early retirement from Pennzoil in 2001 and have been under their retirement wing for medical coverage since. Over the years I have been told by persons on the phone from the provider that when I was eligible for M that this current coverage would become a suppliment. After 2 months of telephone calls and not getting answers, I recieved a phone call yesterday informing me that my retirement medical coverage would end when I became eligible for M or in 8 days.
Luckily I have been to see an agent that handles Medicare insurance. I immediately called and got an appointment to set up a M supplement program and a drug program. It helps to talk to professionals about this part of your life. I did also meet with a volunteer from SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance who provided me with more information and a booklet that is made for Oregon residents. I think they have one for other states too. This is called the Oregon Guide to Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and Prescription Drug Plans. It shows the various companies that operate in Oregon and their health plans and costs. It helps to talk to someone of knowledge before you try to travel down this curvy path called Medicare.
Holiday
Today is Christmas eve day. A quiet day for R and me. It is just the two of us for the holiday. The pool is open until Noon so we will go for an hour or so and do our own exercise thing. Christmas Eve candle light services at out church are at 7pm so we will have our traditional oyster stew dinner before we go.
Then we will come home and watch the movie, "Christmas Eve". It is a 1986 made for TV movie adapted from a 1947 George Raft flick of the same name. This movie starred Loretta Young and Trevor Howard. Ms Young is a wealthy grandmother who is trying to get her estranged family home for Christmas Eve without telling them that she is near death.
The schedule is to have our family together next week Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday for our "Christmas". All of us have not been together for a long time. It is interesting how your family traditions change over the years. How priorities change as children go up and move away. What were fun annual family activities are just memories now.
May your holidays be active and fun-filled.
Then we will come home and watch the movie, "Christmas Eve". It is a 1986 made for TV movie adapted from a 1947 George Raft flick of the same name. This movie starred Loretta Young and Trevor Howard. Ms Young is a wealthy grandmother who is trying to get her estranged family home for Christmas Eve without telling them that she is near death.
The schedule is to have our family together next week Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday for our "Christmas". All of us have not been together for a long time. It is interesting how your family traditions change over the years. How priorities change as children go up and move away. What were fun annual family activities are just memories now.
May your holidays be active and fun-filled.
The Chiropractor
Until a few weeks ago I was a chiropractic virgin. Never been. My sister goes regularly, but me no. Never needed it. Even though I when I worked for Pennzoil moving cases of motor oil and drums around, didn't need it. Of course I was much younger and stronger.
So one morning while we were on San Juan Island, I woke up with a pain in the neck. It was on the left side sort of where teh neck joins the shoulder. I must have slept wrong. I have had them before once in a while. But it didn't go away. It persisted for weeks and I started to get headaches too.
When we returned to Eugene, I made appointments to check it out. Optometrist, new glasses.
Doctor for annual physical. (He didn't seem concerned.) So I decided to go to the chiropractor that R had used in the past.
Same kind of office. Same look. Went into the examining room and talked with him for a short time and then he had me lie on the table. He immediately felt the jammed up muscles and inflammation where my top ribs join my spine. Evidently the inflamation is the problem. It pushes everything around and presses on the nerves causing discomfort and, in my case, the headaches.
So the following happens on my visits:
1 I go in and lie on my stomach my my face in a special donut shaped pillow. An aid gives my whole back a massage with an electric machine that feels like a car buffer. It makes my back all soft and warm.
2 The doctor comes in and feels my spine and "the spot". He presses my spine in several places and I can feel movement and hear little snaps.
3 Then he has me roll unto my back and moves my spine by moving my arms in front of me and pressing on my elbows. It seemed quite odd the first time, but there was movement when he does it each time. He tells me that the movement it easier now showing that things are getting better. The inflammation is lessening. Movement is what is needed to get rid of inflammation. Movement allows the body to reabsorb the tissue that had become the inflammation. I told him that I had seen an ad on TV for a arthritus medicine that goes, " A body at rest tends to stay at rest. A body in motion tends to stay in motion." The meaning is obvious. Stay active even if it it is uncomfortable. My chiro confirmed. Use it or lose it.
So one morning while we were on San Juan Island, I woke up with a pain in the neck. It was on the left side sort of where teh neck joins the shoulder. I must have slept wrong. I have had them before once in a while. But it didn't go away. It persisted for weeks and I started to get headaches too.
When we returned to Eugene, I made appointments to check it out. Optometrist, new glasses.
Doctor for annual physical. (He didn't seem concerned.) So I decided to go to the chiropractor that R had used in the past.
Same kind of office. Same look. Went into the examining room and talked with him for a short time and then he had me lie on the table. He immediately felt the jammed up muscles and inflammation where my top ribs join my spine. Evidently the inflamation is the problem. It pushes everything around and presses on the nerves causing discomfort and, in my case, the headaches.
So the following happens on my visits:
1 I go in and lie on my stomach my my face in a special donut shaped pillow. An aid gives my whole back a massage with an electric machine that feels like a car buffer. It makes my back all soft and warm.
2 The doctor comes in and feels my spine and "the spot". He presses my spine in several places and I can feel movement and hear little snaps.
3 Then he has me roll unto my back and moves my spine by moving my arms in front of me and pressing on my elbows. It seemed quite odd the first time, but there was movement when he does it each time. He tells me that the movement it easier now showing that things are getting better. The inflammation is lessening. Movement is what is needed to get rid of inflammation. Movement allows the body to reabsorb the tissue that had become the inflammation. I told him that I had seen an ad on TV for a arthritus medicine that goes, " A body at rest tends to stay at rest. A body in motion tends to stay in motion." The meaning is obvious. Stay active even if it it is uncomfortable. My chiro confirmed. Use it or lose it.
No New Car
Well, I didn't get the car. It is a great car. Sporty, looked to be a good shape for a 2003. The dealer dropped the price by a $1000 when I inquired but it did not happen. I would have driven to Bend and picked it up immediately, but R did not think it was a good idea. "It would just sit in the garage while we are gone." A good argument, but so did the Porsche and things were OK. So I relly don't know the reason for her reluctance. Her final response was, "Go ahead and get it if you want." Well I knew her well enough to read between the lines and let the dealer know that the buying or shopping process was over. Too bad because it was a cute car like the picture above.
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