Graduations, Rain and other nonsense

Tucson

Yes, we are still in "The Old Pueblo" as Tucson calls itself. It seems as we can't leave until June 3 after I get done with all the doctor appointments. They seem to be ruling our lives lately!

Not much has happened in the last 10 days since I last posted to my blog. When you are sitting around waiting to leave, time seems to go much slower. That is until you start to load your RV...then time speeds up. Go figure.

We have had two significant events in the past 10 days.

The first is Cortney graduated from high school last Tuesday night. We are so proud of her and she is soooooooooo glad to be done with high school. She has enrolled in Pima Community College to get her general education requirements out of the way. In two years she hopes to be going to the University of Arizona. Good thinking of her part. She is a very responsible, mature, young lady. Graduation night was held on the athletic field at her high school and it was windy and cool. So nice of a change from the night before when it was 95 degrees at 9:00 p.m. We gladly put up with the wind. Had a lot of big, black clouds overhead and it threatened rain, but fortunately the rain held off for a day or so. At any rate, it was a nice graduation and Holly and Bruce hosted a small party at their house after so we could all congratulate Cortney.

Cortney, Bruce (Dad) and Holly (Mom)....graduation from Ironwood Ridge HS

Holly's sister Christie and her fiance and her 4 children were there as well and it was good to get to visit with them as well. Her 4 children are so well mannered and pleasant to be around. Her daughter, Marina, reminds me so much of Sarah at that age. The Wraspir gene's are alive and well!

The second event is we have had RAIN! Honest-to-goodness rain. Unusal for us. I know, you folks in the Pacific NW think we are nuts; but rain is good when it rains gently here. We got over a half an inch yesterday and more early this morning. It smells so good when it rains here and it settles the dust and the thick pollen! I tell you pollen has been horrible this year. The mesquite trees are putting off a yellow powder type pollen that has everyone complaining about allergies this year. RAIN...whoopee.

I have finished another baby quilt, 3 down, 2 to go.
Sophie's Baby Quilt.

I have Natasha's quilt cut out (not really a baby quilt; but I put it in that class) and Ada's will be cut out tomorrow. Then I will take them with me so I can work on them this summer. I also have several other quilting projects I will take with me and hope to finish while we are in Washington/Montana/Oregon or where ever we wroam. I have taken notice that gas prices are up again...of course, it is summer time. But I am not complaining too loudly after the gas prices of last year. Diesel went up 10 cents a gallon over night this week though.

That's about all from this end of the world for now. Tomorrow we are moving the 5th wheel to in front of the house and I am going to start cleaning it and start to load over the next week or so. If the doc gives the okay (and maybe even if he doesn't) we hope to be outta' here June 3. Stay tuned for progress!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY EVERYONE. REMEMBER OUR TROOPS, BOTH THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES AND THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND ARE SERVING NOW.

Dang...a NO GO!

Tucson
In my last blog I mentioned that we were getting ready to head north to Washington, first stop to be Odessa and that we were waiting for Al's surgeon to give us the "go" or "no go". Well, we are on a "no go" status right now and not because of AL's doctor!!!

For a few months I have had a hard time breathing and I have came up with every excuse in the world for it, i.e., weight, asthma, allergies, etc. I finally made a doctors appointment hoping to get some relief for it in the form of an inhaler, pills, etc. WELL, the doc didn't go for any of my excuses, nor for my form of relief for said symptoms. Oh no, he has me going through a battery of tests, seeing all of the "ologists" in the process, you know, the pulmonologist cardiologist, and the Iknowyouhaveinsurancethereforeigetpaidologist. Soooo..we are on hold for travel until I manage to worm my way through all of these tests. Tomorrow I go for the pulmonary test, then next week is the stress test (I may have to study for this one) and for an ultrasound of heart and lungs, etc. Then, after all the results are in, I will see the doctor June 2. I hope to be outta' here June 3, but we will see. They have already ran and EKG on me (which was fine) and taken their gallon of blood and urine, so those tests are in the works. Geez....I am really out of practice being the patient.

In other not so exciting news, it is hot here! The last two days have been 106, but today we have a cold spell going through and it was only 98. I don't mind the heat too much, however, I must say I do love my air conditioner!!!! I have some work to do outside, and I have been tackling it in the early morning before 10:00 a.m. I am trying to get the 5th wheel ready to roll so when the doc says we can go we will go!

Al has had good reports from his doctors. We saw the GP on Monday and he is happy with his progress; saw the cardiologist today and he released him and told him he would see him in six months. Tomorrow is the surgeon and I am sure he will also release Al. So I seem to be the hold up for heading north. OH well, it must be my turn!

The cactus have been in bloom and they are absolutely gorgeous. I would send you a picture of them, however, I can't seem to get a good shot of one and I don't want to get to close!

Mi Nidito

Tucson
YUM, Yum, Yum! Mi Nidito Restaurant is probably the best Mexican Food I have had since El Patio days in Azusa! Why we have never been to this restaurant before, or even known about it, is beyond me. But let me start at the beginning.

Cortney is graduating from High School this year and since we won't be here to attend her graduation we told her we would take her and her boyfriend, plus Bruce and Holly to the restaurant of her choice. (I was hoping she wouldn't pick something like the Westin or Hilton!) She finally said she wanted to go to MiNidito's. HUH??? What's that? Where is it? Well, then the truth came out...she said it was only the best Mexican Food in the world. Hmmm, and why haven't we heard of it before? It seems as if it isn't in the best part of town, but it is worth the drive to South Tucson for it. First of all, we went early on Saturday evening (we got there before 5:00 p.m.) and there was already a wait of 25 minutes. Apparently, everyone else in town knows about this little secret. The minute we walked in I knew we were in for a treat. The food was sooooo good. Now, I can't wait to go back!

Not too much else going on in our world right now. Waiting for the surgeon to say "go" or "no go" so we know if we are heading north on the 15th. If he says "no go" I will probably put Al on a plane and the animals and I will drive the truck and trailer north. His appointment is Thursday. If it is a "Go" then I have to get busy and get the trailer ready to go. Our plan is to go from here to Las Vegas to Mesquite NV, then up Hwy 93 to Idaho. Just a different route for a change of scenery. And we will take our time. AL want's to be in Odessa for Memorial Day and family reunion on May 25, so that is our target. I have reservations at the RV Park in Odessa beginning May 24.

It is really starting to warm up here. Today is 95, tomorrow is suppose to break the 100 mark. Or as they say here, "The ice will break up in the Santa Cruz River"...hahaha! The only ice that river has ever seen is if someone tosses ice cubes in it...and it really isn't a river until Monsoons hit...and even then it is more of a torrent run off than a river.

And what is the big deal about the Swine Flu? Come on, it's a flu. Pandemic.. NOT! That must be our wonderful media blowing things way out of proportion AGAIN! Off the soap box Jo!