I’m still worn out but a decent night’s sleep helped.

Today we bought John a new-to-him Go-Go Sport four-wheel mobility cart. It is reconditioned with new batteries and it’s like new. We got it from a guy who buys them, reconditions them, and re-sells them for about 1/2 what you’d play for a new one. (I found a reconditioned one like the one we bought online for $300 more than we paid so we feel we got a good price.)

We’ll need to practice breaking it down and putting it in our vehicle. It’s heavier and larger than what he’s been using but we will learn how to do it. (It’s in the car now, so we know it fits.)

Yesterday we went to Busch Gardens to enjoy Rhythm in the Night (Celtic dancers) at Stanleyville Theater. It’s a long jaunt back to the theater but when we came in the front gate, we were told that all tickets to the 10:30 show had been given out except for tickets at the table near the theater.

John said, “Go get the tickets and save our place in the handicapped line.” He said he’d wait for caramel corn then join me.

Knowing the tickets would go fast, I really hurried the long distance to the ticket table. When I arrived, I was worn out. The 10:30 tickets were gone so I picked up two for the 1:30 show. I called John to let him know what had happened, but he informed me that his handicapped cart’s battery had died and he was near Lorrie Landing (about halfway to me). I hurried back and together we headed to a restaurant near the gate for lunch. I had to push it most of the way. While eating, we plugged the charger for the cart in and hoped we’d have enough power to get to the show and back. We made it there, but the return trip to the car was mostly accomplished with my pushing.

We made it!

Home at last I was exhausted!

According to the tracking monitor I wear, I’d walked about 12,000 steps (many steps while pushing John). It was well over FIVE MILES.

The Michigan Club Kentucky Derby Party will be held Saturday, May 5th, and I’m already thinking about what I’ll wear.

I just bought the loose polka dot top with trumpet style full sleeves and a round neck which you see to the left. I’ll wear it with a white just-above-the-knee skirt (or skorts).

There are always lots of lovely hats. Mine will be black and very, very wide-brimmed with a large bow matching the polka dot top. (The photo of the bow is on the right.) Maybe I’ll add some artificial rose-colored flowers for color. I don’t expect to win the hat contest. Some are professionally done and will make mine look shabby, but I’ll enjoy participating.

It’s always a super party. I think I’ll volunteer to get the tickets for our friends so we’re sure we can sit with them. It’ll be our last social event before we head north so we want to be able to visit with everyone.

For many years we’ve left early on Sunday, the day after the party, but this year the plan is to hang around until Friday, the 11th. John has a doctor’s appointment on Monday the 7th. We can take our time packing and leave early Friday morning. After overnights in Marietta, GA, and Miamisburg, OH, we should make it to Michigan by Sunday mid-afternoon. Or maybe we’ll add a stop somewhere on our trip back. We do need to be home by the 16th for dental cleanings.

I’m not anxious to go north, but there’s no sense fighting it. I’m already making lists of what we’ll need to take back with us. (And what stuff we’ll leave in Michigan when we come back in October 2018.)

I hope (in October 2018) I can talk John into flying back, get a shuttle from the Tampa airport, and be back here at our place in Kings Point at a decent hour. The plan would be to return between the October 12th and the 16th It won’t matter which day (whichever is cheapest). We’re flexible.

I’d sure like to know what to plan for before we leave in May, but if I can’t get a commitment from John then, I’ll work with that situation and pray he realizes eventually how much better it will be for him. Probably he’ll understand when he drives back in May. He’ll be tired for several days and it’ll take a toll on him. It’s just too much. Let’s hope he understands before it kills him. Stubbornness is hard to fight.

John’s always been totally against flying back and forth to Michigan but I think he is gradually becoming more agreeable to the idea.

I’ve pointed out the cost savings over driving (with motels, meals, and gas cost). Also, if we don’t drive the truck back down and instead we leave it in Michigan, we can give up our storage space in the RV lot which will save $150 annually.

His argument that we can’t bring some items (like wine) with us when flying is valid but most items we can duplicate or get by without. The power washer and air purifier can stay here. We can get new ones if needed for Michigan.

I called his oxygen supply store and found that they’ll work with us to make sure he has the necessary oxygen equipment at both ends of the trip.

He can probably take his little handicap scooter back and forth. Apparently, airlines are very accommodating with health equipment. Or maybe he can get a more heavy duty one to take back to Michigan with us in May and leave the smaller one here for going to Busch Gardens. It’s just not a problem. (Although he definitely needs one in Michigan for yard work.)

With the new-to-us Mercedes, we definitely won’t need the truck here. (It’s been our back-up for the Jag.) Once we sell our 5th wheel (stored next to our Michigan house), we can even get rid of the truck. Yeah!!! At some point, we can trade in our Malibu (which is currently in our garage in Michigan) and get an SUV which he’d like.

I’m eliminating all his arguments against flying. The cost savings will definitely be attractive to him.

It’s only a little over two months before we return to Michigan. If we are going to fly from Michigan to Florida in October 2018, we’ll leave more items here when we go north in May 2018. We can get by without a lot of the stuff we normally haul back and forth. It’ll really help if we’ve made the decision before we leave our condo for the north so we can pare down the back and forth stuff.

As an example, if I know we’ll be flying back, I definitely won’t take my autoharp with us in May, and John’s dulcimer should stay here. (We have an autoharp and several dulcimers in Michigan if we need them while north.)

Taking my new printer north is probably out of the question. Maybe I’ll get a second really cheap one to use in Michigan. (I’ve searched online and I know I can get a cheap wi-fi printer for $50-$100 but the ink would probably be extra.) Since I will need to haul my computer back and forth, and there’ll be a few items of clothing we won’t want to duplicate, we’ll it with us on the plane (or box it up and ship it via UPS.)

It all takes a lot of planning. I’m up to the task!

We’ve been busy upgrading the car we drive when in Florida. We found a low mileage 2003 silver Mercedes SUV/wagon in perfect condition and bought it yesterday. (We’ll pick it up Wednesday). Our 4-door Jaguar sedan would have needed us to spend more to keep it running than we were willing to pay so we sold it today. (It’ll be picked up Thursday.)

Now we need to find out how to get the Mercedes registered as a Michigan vehicle so we can move the plates from the Jaguar to it. We know it’s possible because in 2011, we had an old Toyota which we traded in when we got the Jaguar but all the paperwork was done by the used car dealer. We were able to easily move the plate from the Toyota to the Jag. Since today’s a holiday, no one in the Michigan Sec. of States office was there to answer our questions. Hope we can get it straightened by Wednesday.

I think I’m just into older vehicles with pretty hood ornaments. (The Jaguar had the jumping big cat and this Mercedes has the 3-pointed star in the round hoop.)

I am scared to death of driving on highways here in Florida. The traffic is always heavy and moving so fast. Semis hog the roads.

The little Jaguar had brake/abs problems. It scared me!

Now I’ll have a solid Mercedes if/when I have to drive. And, yes, I know John will need to have a procedure after he’s recovered from his pneumonia problem and I’ll have to be the driver on the way home.

We currently have a humidistat which has lowered our electric bills but, here’s my concern. We have several wooden, stringed, musical instruments. When the humidistat was installed we were told that during the summer months, we should keep it set to 65% humidity. The humidistat will keep the humidity from going over 65%, but it does nothing to keep the temperature from getting too high.

Yes, A/C can still turn on, but only when the humidity has gone over the 65% threshold.

I’m concerned that if the inside temperature goes to 90 or 100 degrees (even if the humidity is 65%), it could damage our instruments. That high temp will dry out the wood and will result in cracks and weakened glue. So far we’ve been hauling our instruments back and forth with us but the idea of leaving them here and flying between Michigan and Florida is becoming more attractive.

I read a report from someone here in Kings Point. He said his humidity has NEVER gotten over 65% when the temperature was under 85. (He runs a Nest system where he can see the temp and the humidity.) He suggested a setting of 85 on the A/C. That will keep the humidity lower than 65%.

We will probably not use the humidistat this year and see how our electric bills are.

In case any of our friends have wondered where we’ve disappeared, let me explain.

John really crashed about a month and a half ago. He had been doing so well and we were looking forward to Thursday nights at the South Club when we’d try to make at least two loops around the dance floor and lots of fun events. But then things changed.

Walking in from the parking lot wore him out. He had trouble walking a few feet. Breathing was a problem even with his oxygen running 24/7. We had to change our priorities. We gave up the idea of using our Busch Gardens annual tickets and we’ve just stayed in.

John’s G.I. specialist at Moffitt had him scheduled for a pancreatic biopsy procedure this month, but Monday, his pulmonologist diagnosed his loss of strength and breath as pneumonia! Yup, in addition to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis which has robbed him of normal lung function, he has pneumonia (again!) His pancreatic biopsy procedure has had to be postponed until his strength has improved. We’re hoping the pancreatic problem it’s nothing serious anyway.. just a remnant of the pancreatic cyst which was drained at Moffitt in May and hasn’t changed since then but they want to biopsy it with an esophageal procedure.

We hope to show up for some events, but we’re pretty much hunkered down taking it easy. And we definitely want to avoid the flu and colds so many seem to be fighting.

On Tuesday, February 20th, John and I are hosting the huge Michigan Club Pizza Party. (It’ll be a sell-out with 240 seats sold). I’m the chairman and John has always helped me with everything. This year, with all our KP friends, we are sure we can handle it, but we’re really counting on KP friends more than we ever have.

So if you wonder where we’ve gone, we’re here. We are taking it easy and hoping that John’ll soon feel better. We thank you for your prayers and support.

My husband and I have been snowbirds since 2002. Knowing that it would be months before we’d return to our Florida home, I started a computer spreadsheet (but it could be done in written form) to keep track of the folks we met. I’d list their names and something to help me remember them (physical description, characteristic, or where we met). There’d also be a column for their address and their email and phone number. When we returned, as my husband drove the long trip between Michigan and Florida, I’d quiz him. It was a great way to refresh our memories and kill time on the road. Those clues still come to mind when I think of some of the folks. As time passed, and cellphones with cameras were more common, I’d take a picture of their KP badge.

Another pointer: When meeting folks at a party, I’ve found a paper napkin labeled with all names in seating location and placed in the center where all can see the identities of their table mates, helps folks remember the names of folks they’ve just met. It really helps break the ice.

My allergies seem to have cleared up and I’m actually feeling pretty good but I have no energy.

John has had a rough month or so I should be doing more, but I’m pooped! I’ve got to snap out of it and get busy.

Audra will arrive a week from today. No time to feel lazy!

John had a CT and an appointment with his G.I. specialist at Moffitt Cancer Center Monday.

She doesn’t like the looks of the site where the cyst was drained last May and she has prescribed another biopsy. The good thing is that it hasn’t grown any but they’re still wanting to eliminate the possibility of cancer.

We don’t know when it’ll be scheduled. We have a few days on our calendar when it wouldn’t work out: Feb. 13-16 while Audra (John’s daughter) is visiting, and Feb. 20th when I’m in charge of the Michigan Club Pizza Party which will be attended by about 240 members.

I’ve been trying to get everything done in advance. Most of the items for the party have been purchased, but that morning I’ll need to pick up the 240 cupcakes, bags of lettuce, and small tomatoes.

In addition to worrying about John’s biopsy, I have to worry about driving back from Moffitt because he can’t drive after the procedure. I am scared to death to drive on the expressway. (When I did it the last time, I had nightmares before and after.) Knowing I don’t have a choice, I have found an alternate way to get back home. I won’t go on the highway at all. Instead, I’ll go via a secondary road, SR 41. It’ll have a lot more traffic lights, but hopefully, it’ll be easier for me.

Now I just have to worry about the outcome of John’s test. SCARED!!