(Tucson, AZ)
Well, big surprise, our service tech didn’t come to the 5th wheel today to put in the parts that have arrived. While Bob and I were outside our service writer called to let us know that the parts would go in on the same day that ram get put in next week. Yeah, yeah, whatever.
To mask my disappointment I made comfort food. Brownies. With walnuts. Knowing me I would have no problem polishing off the whole darn pan so I cut off a good portion and took it to our lot buddy, Dennis. He was most appreciative! He just doesn’t ever make them for himself but its one of his favorites. I was happy I could put a smile on his face.
Have you gotten this email about the HEMA stores? HEMA is a Dutch department store. The first store opened on November 4, 1926, in Amsterdam and now there are 150 stores all over the Netherlands.
Take a look at HEMA's product page - just wait a couple of seconds and watch what happens. DON'T click on any of the items in the picture; just wait. This company has a sense of humor and a creative Website programmer. Click HERE.
While I’m sharing email stuff, have you seen the one about the Brass Band? Another good one. Click HERE.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
5/2/2013 Things Are Starting To Move!
(Tucson, AZ)
We got service bay time today and a big problem has been fixed! Finally. The “brains” of our hydraulic system was replaced and now our slides and landing gear won’t operate on their own anymore. Trust me, this is a good thing.
Now, that said, not everything is hunky-dory. No, not by a long shot. The arm, or ram, as they call it was ordered and it arrived. That’s a good thing right? Well, I would have to agree. However, you know there is always a however when it comes to getting things repaired. The wrong ram was sent. Was the wrong one ordered? Was the wrong one sent? At this point I don’t even care anymore. I was assured that it would be re-ordered and it would be sent overnight. Being the doubting Thomasina that I am now, I called the company to find out if it was ordered and is it, in fact, being shipped overnight. I got a yes answer to both.
There was some other work that the parts were in for and it was decided that we would stay in the service area overnight so that the rig could be there for the morning. Thinking about the heat and the weekend coming it was decided we would move back to the lot because our service tech said that what he had to do could be done in our spot there. People who have Monday morning appointments come in on Friday afternoons and we certainly didn’t want to lose our spot with its 50 amp service.
We are scheduled for the body shop on Monday through Wednesday for an area that the finish isn’t top notch. Heck, we’re here, we might as well get it fixed!
I made it perfectly clear that I wanted the rig back in the service bay on Thursday to put the ram in since it will be here by then. I received no resistance for that request. I really didn’t think I would.
So things are moving, things are getting done. Bob is relieved that I have taken over this task as are the workers here, if the truth be told. They we don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel yet I think we’re at least heading the bend.
We got service bay time today and a big problem has been fixed! Finally. The “brains” of our hydraulic system was replaced and now our slides and landing gear won’t operate on their own anymore. Trust me, this is a good thing.
Now, that said, not everything is hunky-dory. No, not by a long shot. The arm, or ram, as they call it was ordered and it arrived. That’s a good thing right? Well, I would have to agree. However, you know there is always a however when it comes to getting things repaired. The wrong ram was sent. Was the wrong one ordered? Was the wrong one sent? At this point I don’t even care anymore. I was assured that it would be re-ordered and it would be sent overnight. Being the doubting Thomasina that I am now, I called the company to find out if it was ordered and is it, in fact, being shipped overnight. I got a yes answer to both.
There was some other work that the parts were in for and it was decided that we would stay in the service area overnight so that the rig could be there for the morning. Thinking about the heat and the weekend coming it was decided we would move back to the lot because our service tech said that what he had to do could be done in our spot there. People who have Monday morning appointments come in on Friday afternoons and we certainly didn’t want to lose our spot with its 50 amp service.
We are scheduled for the body shop on Monday through Wednesday for an area that the finish isn’t top notch. Heck, we’re here, we might as well get it fixed!
I made it perfectly clear that I wanted the rig back in the service bay on Thursday to put the ram in since it will be here by then. I received no resistance for that request. I really didn’t think I would.
So things are moving, things are getting done. Bob is relieved that I have taken over this task as are the workers here, if the truth be told. They we don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel yet I think we’re at least heading the bend.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
5/1/2013 Timeline Building
(Tucson, AZ)
Today we gathered all the notes, emails and past service records together to build a timeline for the service/problem aspect of this rig.
Do we have problem? In a word, yes. Our entire hydraulic and axle system is a problem. Parts for these components were supplied by the same company. Its best that I don’t name the company here right now because I couldn’t type it without a few choice expletives placed before it. Let me put it this way, they definitely qualify for being at the top of my shit list.
Yes, we’ve had other problems too but none as big as this. Other things have mostly been nit picky thing, not all, but most.
So why the timeline? Just to have everything documented. I’m sending it to the sales and service managers of DRV, the service mgr for the hydraulic company, the CEO & service mgr for Lazy Days. Its not a nasty-gram in any way, shape or form. Just documentation in case we need it down the road.
It was quite a chore making heads or tails out of the collection of papers we each had. Between that and emails to go through it took me several hours to get it sorted and typed. But its done.
We have been here forty nine days now. Way, way too long. Things are going to change starting tomorrow.
We were supposed to be in the service bay today. This arrangement was made last week and somehow, someway, something changed. I talked with service manager and he assured me we would be in the service bay tomorrow. We’ll see. For his sake I hope so.
Today we gathered all the notes, emails and past service records together to build a timeline for the service/problem aspect of this rig.
Do we have problem? In a word, yes. Our entire hydraulic and axle system is a problem. Parts for these components were supplied by the same company. Its best that I don’t name the company here right now because I couldn’t type it without a few choice expletives placed before it. Let me put it this way, they definitely qualify for being at the top of my shit list.
Yes, we’ve had other problems too but none as big as this. Other things have mostly been nit picky thing, not all, but most.
So why the timeline? Just to have everything documented. I’m sending it to the sales and service managers of DRV, the service mgr for the hydraulic company, the CEO & service mgr for Lazy Days. Its not a nasty-gram in any way, shape or form. Just documentation in case we need it down the road.
It was quite a chore making heads or tails out of the collection of papers we each had. Between that and emails to go through it took me several hours to get it sorted and typed. But its done.
We have been here forty nine days now. Way, way too long. Things are going to change starting tomorrow.
We were supposed to be in the service bay today. This arrangement was made last week and somehow, someway, something changed. I talked with service manager and he assured me we would be in the service bay tomorrow. We’ll see. For his sake I hope so.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
4/30/2013 Getting’ to My New Normal
(Tucson, AZ)
I start my new normal today. First thing we had to do was take the rental car back. (Look a picture! I’m back with my camera!)
I rented the car yesterday at 4 pm and the paperwork showed I had to have it back by noon today. I thought I rented for 24 hours. The fellow at the desk assured me I could take it until then but we were there and our next stop was the grocery store anyway!
I’ve never seen such empty refrigerator and pantry shelves as I saw when I checked to see what was needed from the store. This was going to be some shopping trip.
As it turned out it wasn’t all that much anyway because I didn’t know the store and was getting weepy looking at things like Old Bay seasoning which me reminded me of the delicious shrimp my dad made for us.
I’m finding it doesn’t take much for tears to start to run down my face. I think about him or my mom and the tears flow. This is all new to me so I’m hoping this is perfectly normal and, if the truth be told, I hope it doesn’t last long.
I think about my dad so much and the memories that come to mind are things I thought I had long forgotten. Good memories, fun memories and some not so good. Life wasn’t always a bowl of cherries for the two of us. In some ways we were too much alike I think.
We’re near 100 degrees today. It’s hot. Our air conditioners don’t stop, they are running 24/7. How anyone could choose to live here in this heat is beyond me. Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s a DRY heat. Dry or not a hundred degrees is a hundred degrees.
Tomorrow I will start getting our ducks in a row with all the notes and emails and get a good timeline written down in black and white. We’ve been here too long and things have to move now.
I start my new normal today. First thing we had to do was take the rental car back. (Look a picture! I’m back with my camera!)
I rented the car yesterday at 4 pm and the paperwork showed I had to have it back by noon today. I thought I rented for 24 hours. The fellow at the desk assured me I could take it until then but we were there and our next stop was the grocery store anyway!
I’ve never seen such empty refrigerator and pantry shelves as I saw when I checked to see what was needed from the store. This was going to be some shopping trip.
As it turned out it wasn’t all that much anyway because I didn’t know the store and was getting weepy looking at things like Old Bay seasoning which me reminded me of the delicious shrimp my dad made for us.
I’m finding it doesn’t take much for tears to start to run down my face. I think about him or my mom and the tears flow. This is all new to me so I’m hoping this is perfectly normal and, if the truth be told, I hope it doesn’t last long.
I think about my dad so much and the memories that come to mind are things I thought I had long forgotten. Good memories, fun memories and some not so good. Life wasn’t always a bowl of cherries for the two of us. In some ways we were too much alike I think.
We’re near 100 degrees today. It’s hot. Our air conditioners don’t stop, they are running 24/7. How anyone could choose to live here in this heat is beyond me. Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s a DRY heat. Dry or not a hundred degrees is a hundred degrees.
Tomorrow I will start getting our ducks in a row with all the notes and emails and get a good timeline written down in black and white. We’ve been here too long and things have to move now.
Monday, April 29, 2013
4/29/2013 …and the Tears Finally Flowed
(Wilmington, DE - Phoenix/Tucson, AZ)
We woke this morning dreading the day. Today I fly home to Phoenix and leave my mom. I don’t want to.
I had some last minute things to put into the box I was shipping home so I finished packing that and got it taped up. That was an ordeal in itself. Mom had a roll of packing tape but darn if we could find the end of it to get it started. We turned that roll over and over but neither one of us could see or feel the end. I finally took a razor blade to start a new end but I didn’t realize just how far I had cut down. As you can imagine the pieces we were able to get off weren’t very long and it was a pain! We decided to find some duct tape but somehow that roll was MIA. Mom finally found a roll of blue tape so we used that. Half way through we realized it was the tape Billy used when he was painting. Yep, painters tape. Back to the packing tape we went. After much peeling, cussing and determination we finally got it going and taped that box up good!
A run to the post office and the box was on its way.
Billy was to pick me up at 11:30am so we didn’t have much time.
We agreed the night before that we wouldn’t cry. Mom assured me she wouldn’t, that she would point to the door and yell, Good Riddance!
Right on time, Billy arrived.
After some small talk it was apparent that the time had come. I had to leave. I hugged her and said I would see her soon and that I would be back as fast as I could. I turned to Billy to tell him I would carry my laptop case and when I turned back to her I found she had walked to the kitchen. I was a little taken aback that she left that quickly and went to the kitchen to find her. She stood at the sink looking out the window trying hard to hold back the tears. I walked towards her and couldn’t hold my tears back any longer. It was like a dam had broken,,,,finally. We pulled it together after a few minutes and each gathered that composure we held on to so tightly these past five weeks.
Walking out that door was truly one of the hardest things I had to do. I didn’t want to leave for it would mean she was alone. For the first time in her 78 years she was going to be alone. Alone, her new normal.
I was finally in the car and on my way home to Bob.
Of course there were more tears when I had to say goodbye to Billy. They were close to the surface so they came easily.
I got through security and headed straight to the USO lounge in the airport. This is the first one I had been in but I had plenty of time before my plane took off to check it out. I didn’t know that there was food, drinks and candy, there for the taking. I helped myself to a package of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and sat and talked to two policemen who were in there on break.
As time got close for check in I asked how far away my gate was and was told I was at the opposite end of the airport. Oh. Great. They offered me a ride on the back of their golf cart and I jumped on that. Since it had POLICE emblazoned on the front and both sides I got some looks as we rode through the terminal. We had to stop for foot traffic and I heard one little girl ask her mom, “What did she do?”
I got to my gate in record time and had time to search for a cold Pepsi and have a bagel toasted. I boarded with no problem. I found my aisle seat which I paid $40 extra for because it was a choice seat. I don’t know what so special about it, it looked just like the others. The seat in the middle was empty and Amanda sat in the window seat. Amanda is from Philly and was flying to Phoenix for work. She was a most enjoyable seat companion with a good sense of humor. She had an IPad with her and we played a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit as we flew across country.
It was a smooth flight and when we landed everyone was talking about what a smooth landing we made. It was like we were in the air and the next thing we knew we were on the runway but we never felt the touchdown. Kudos to that pilot!
Upon landing the pilot said, “The local time is 3:48pm and its one hundred and three degrees. Welcome to Phoenix!” I was the only on this 757 who was dressed for the weather in Arizona. It was chilly, rainy and overcast when we left Philadelphia. I was the only one who traveled in shorts and a top and was I ever glad I did!
Remember back in the day when flight attendants, then known as stewardesses (a word typed using only your left hand) were always female, in their twenties to early thirties, usually blond, beautiful and size 2? Well, those days are gone! Today the flight attendants were a crew of four, two male, late thirties to early forties, totally bald, and just average looking. The women, one in her forties,had salt & pepper hair color and she looked tired. The other woman was a woman of color, had a great smile and was shall we say, pleasingly plump. Oh how times have changed.
I hopped in a cab and twenty one dollars later arrived at the Enterprise Car Rental store. I had my reservation number and everything went smoothly. Until. Until the fellow was going through my bill with me and explaining the charges and telling me a deposit of $250.00 would be applied to my credit card as a deposit. I told him I wasn’t told that but that I didn’t have a problem with it. He then asked if I wanted to pay the $50 drop off charge now or did I want to wait until I actually dropped the car off. My response was, “What drop off charge? I wasn’t told about any drop off charge. What’s it for?” Well it turns out you have to pay fifty big ones if you drop off in a different place which I was, in Tucson. I simply told him I wasn’t told about this charge and I’m not paying it. For all I knew he could have been putting that fifty dollars in his pocket. He then said, “Well, since you weren’t told about it, I can help you out and knock it down to $35.00.” I told him he needs to drop it down to zero because I’m not paying it. I guess he realized by the tone of my voice that I wasn’t playing around and he quickly agreed to waive the fee.
I got a black on black Chrysler 200. The car handled nicely and has a very nice sound system in it.
I drove to Quail Run, our winter perch to pick up our mail that was being held for us. I stopped to see my good friend Sandy and spent some time with her. I spent a few minutes with another friend, Bonnie and then hit the road for Tucson.
Since I hadn’t talked with Bob since the day before yesterday I thought I had better call him and let him know I was in Arizona and on my way home. My phone battery was deader than a doornail. Oh well, I would just drive on.
He didn’t even hear me drive up and when I walked in he was surprised to see me. When he got up from his recliner and walked towards me, well, I just lost it. All those tears held in for five weeks were finally being released. I was finally getting in that good cry. He just held me and let me get it out.
Its been quite an emotional day. Certainly not one of my favorites.
I’m home again, where I belong and my mom is going to be ok. I just have to believe that.
We woke this morning dreading the day. Today I fly home to Phoenix and leave my mom. I don’t want to.
I had some last minute things to put into the box I was shipping home so I finished packing that and got it taped up. That was an ordeal in itself. Mom had a roll of packing tape but darn if we could find the end of it to get it started. We turned that roll over and over but neither one of us could see or feel the end. I finally took a razor blade to start a new end but I didn’t realize just how far I had cut down. As you can imagine the pieces we were able to get off weren’t very long and it was a pain! We decided to find some duct tape but somehow that roll was MIA. Mom finally found a roll of blue tape so we used that. Half way through we realized it was the tape Billy used when he was painting. Yep, painters tape. Back to the packing tape we went. After much peeling, cussing and determination we finally got it going and taped that box up good!
A run to the post office and the box was on its way.
Billy was to pick me up at 11:30am so we didn’t have much time.
We agreed the night before that we wouldn’t cry. Mom assured me she wouldn’t, that she would point to the door and yell, Good Riddance!
Right on time, Billy arrived.
After some small talk it was apparent that the time had come. I had to leave. I hugged her and said I would see her soon and that I would be back as fast as I could. I turned to Billy to tell him I would carry my laptop case and when I turned back to her I found she had walked to the kitchen. I was a little taken aback that she left that quickly and went to the kitchen to find her. She stood at the sink looking out the window trying hard to hold back the tears. I walked towards her and couldn’t hold my tears back any longer. It was like a dam had broken,,,,finally. We pulled it together after a few minutes and each gathered that composure we held on to so tightly these past five weeks.
Walking out that door was truly one of the hardest things I had to do. I didn’t want to leave for it would mean she was alone. For the first time in her 78 years she was going to be alone. Alone, her new normal.
I was finally in the car and on my way home to Bob.
Of course there were more tears when I had to say goodbye to Billy. They were close to the surface so they came easily.
I got through security and headed straight to the USO lounge in the airport. This is the first one I had been in but I had plenty of time before my plane took off to check it out. I didn’t know that there was food, drinks and candy, there for the taking. I helped myself to a package of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and sat and talked to two policemen who were in there on break.
As time got close for check in I asked how far away my gate was and was told I was at the opposite end of the airport. Oh. Great. They offered me a ride on the back of their golf cart and I jumped on that. Since it had POLICE emblazoned on the front and both sides I got some looks as we rode through the terminal. We had to stop for foot traffic and I heard one little girl ask her mom, “What did she do?”
I got to my gate in record time and had time to search for a cold Pepsi and have a bagel toasted. I boarded with no problem. I found my aisle seat which I paid $40 extra for because it was a choice seat. I don’t know what so special about it, it looked just like the others. The seat in the middle was empty and Amanda sat in the window seat. Amanda is from Philly and was flying to Phoenix for work. She was a most enjoyable seat companion with a good sense of humor. She had an IPad with her and we played a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit as we flew across country.
It was a smooth flight and when we landed everyone was talking about what a smooth landing we made. It was like we were in the air and the next thing we knew we were on the runway but we never felt the touchdown. Kudos to that pilot!
Upon landing the pilot said, “The local time is 3:48pm and its one hundred and three degrees. Welcome to Phoenix!” I was the only on this 757 who was dressed for the weather in Arizona. It was chilly, rainy and overcast when we left Philadelphia. I was the only one who traveled in shorts and a top and was I ever glad I did!
Remember back in the day when flight attendants, then known as stewardesses (a word typed using only your left hand) were always female, in their twenties to early thirties, usually blond, beautiful and size 2? Well, those days are gone! Today the flight attendants were a crew of four, two male, late thirties to early forties, totally bald, and just average looking. The women, one in her forties,had salt & pepper hair color and she looked tired. The other woman was a woman of color, had a great smile and was shall we say, pleasingly plump. Oh how times have changed.
I hopped in a cab and twenty one dollars later arrived at the Enterprise Car Rental store. I had my reservation number and everything went smoothly. Until. Until the fellow was going through my bill with me and explaining the charges and telling me a deposit of $250.00 would be applied to my credit card as a deposit. I told him I wasn’t told that but that I didn’t have a problem with it. He then asked if I wanted to pay the $50 drop off charge now or did I want to wait until I actually dropped the car off. My response was, “What drop off charge? I wasn’t told about any drop off charge. What’s it for?” Well it turns out you have to pay fifty big ones if you drop off in a different place which I was, in Tucson. I simply told him I wasn’t told about this charge and I’m not paying it. For all I knew he could have been putting that fifty dollars in his pocket. He then said, “Well, since you weren’t told about it, I can help you out and knock it down to $35.00.” I told him he needs to drop it down to zero because I’m not paying it. I guess he realized by the tone of my voice that I wasn’t playing around and he quickly agreed to waive the fee.
I got a black on black Chrysler 200. The car handled nicely and has a very nice sound system in it.
I drove to Quail Run, our winter perch to pick up our mail that was being held for us. I stopped to see my good friend Sandy and spent some time with her. I spent a few minutes with another friend, Bonnie and then hit the road for Tucson.
Since I hadn’t talked with Bob since the day before yesterday I thought I had better call him and let him know I was in Arizona and on my way home. My phone battery was deader than a doornail. Oh well, I would just drive on.
He didn’t even hear me drive up and when I walked in he was surprised to see me. When he got up from his recliner and walked towards me, well, I just lost it. All those tears held in for five weeks were finally being released. I was finally getting in that good cry. He just held me and let me get it out.
Its been quite an emotional day. Certainly not one of my favorites.
I’m home again, where I belong and my mom is going to be ok. I just have to believe that.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
4/28/2013 Sticker Shock!
(Wilmington, DE)
Today I started getting ready to go home again.
I packed another box to ship home. I wonder if it wouldn’t have been less expensive to go to Goodwill, buy a large suitcase and just check the bag at the airport for $25.00. Yep, that’s what I should have done! Even if it had cost me fifty bucks it would have been worth it. Lesson learned.
Mom and I didn’t do anything around the house today. Not that there wasn’t a project we could have completed but we both knew that this would be my last day and without saying it out loud I think we just wanted to enjoy the day keeping each other company.
I didn’t go to church this morning with my mom. I just couldn’t take it. Not that I didn’t want to be with her or listen to the pastor, I couldn’t take the music director another Sunday. He’s been with the church for the past two and a half or three months now and he’s not making many points with the church members. While I like some of the “new” hymns that are more modern and have a beat, if you will, I don’t like having two guitars and a set of drums on the stage that play so loud that I feel like I’m at a rock concert. There’s a time and a place and this isn’t it. Speaking of rock concerts, this music director jumps around the stage and in place so much that he looks like a jumping bean. I don’t get it. I was waiting for him to smash his guitar at the end of music portion of the service. I’m not the only one that feels this way. Mom knows of several families that don’t come there anymore because of the music. She doesn’t care for it and the people who sit around her have all voiced their dislike of the situation. I asked her why doesn’t anyone say something to the pastor then. She couldn’t give me a reason. I would like to see at least one Sunday a month when the old traditional hymns are sung. Me and a whole lotta other people.
While mom was gone in the morning I got online to make reservations for a rental car once I reached Phoenix. I started with the rental agencies right on the airport complex….hence, the title of this post. The smallest car and the cheapest price I found was $99 and it went up to $107. I don’t want to buy the darn thing I just want to drive it to Tucson! I called Enterprise Rental Car agency at the 800 #. What a difference 5 miles makes! If I take a taxi from the airport to the rental agency I could get a mid-sized car, think Chevy Impala for $35 and change. I don’t have to pay the “stadium tax” if I rent away from airport. Yes, you read that right, STADIUM TAX. Phoenix has a new stadium for one of their sports teams and to help pay for it visitors to the city who rent a car at the airport pay an extra tax. WELCOME to Phoenix. So, needless to say, I rented from the off-site rental agency.
Mom and I spent the day playing cards, sitting on the porch watching the world go ‘round, at times lost in our own thoughts, and talking and laughing and making plans for the future.
After dinner it was more cards and TV and going to bed knowing that after tomorrow,when I walk out the door, she will be alone. Her new normal.
Today I started getting ready to go home again.
I packed another box to ship home. I wonder if it wouldn’t have been less expensive to go to Goodwill, buy a large suitcase and just check the bag at the airport for $25.00. Yep, that’s what I should have done! Even if it had cost me fifty bucks it would have been worth it. Lesson learned.
Mom and I didn’t do anything around the house today. Not that there wasn’t a project we could have completed but we both knew that this would be my last day and without saying it out loud I think we just wanted to enjoy the day keeping each other company.
I didn’t go to church this morning with my mom. I just couldn’t take it. Not that I didn’t want to be with her or listen to the pastor, I couldn’t take the music director another Sunday. He’s been with the church for the past two and a half or three months now and he’s not making many points with the church members. While I like some of the “new” hymns that are more modern and have a beat, if you will, I don’t like having two guitars and a set of drums on the stage that play so loud that I feel like I’m at a rock concert. There’s a time and a place and this isn’t it. Speaking of rock concerts, this music director jumps around the stage and in place so much that he looks like a jumping bean. I don’t get it. I was waiting for him to smash his guitar at the end of music portion of the service. I’m not the only one that feels this way. Mom knows of several families that don’t come there anymore because of the music. She doesn’t care for it and the people who sit around her have all voiced their dislike of the situation. I asked her why doesn’t anyone say something to the pastor then. She couldn’t give me a reason. I would like to see at least one Sunday a month when the old traditional hymns are sung. Me and a whole lotta other people.
While mom was gone in the morning I got online to make reservations for a rental car once I reached Phoenix. I started with the rental agencies right on the airport complex….hence, the title of this post. The smallest car and the cheapest price I found was $99 and it went up to $107. I don’t want to buy the darn thing I just want to drive it to Tucson! I called Enterprise Rental Car agency at the 800 #. What a difference 5 miles makes! If I take a taxi from the airport to the rental agency I could get a mid-sized car, think Chevy Impala for $35 and change. I don’t have to pay the “stadium tax” if I rent away from airport. Yes, you read that right, STADIUM TAX. Phoenix has a new stadium for one of their sports teams and to help pay for it visitors to the city who rent a car at the airport pay an extra tax. WELCOME to Phoenix. So, needless to say, I rented from the off-site rental agency.
Mom and I spent the day playing cards, sitting on the porch watching the world go ‘round, at times lost in our own thoughts, and talking and laughing and making plans for the future.
After dinner it was more cards and TV and going to bed knowing that after tomorrow,when I walk out the door, she will be alone. Her new normal.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
4/23–4/27/2013 Time is Going Too Fast
(Wilmington, DE)
This past week we have been putting the finishing touches on the house. Pictures are once again hung, dishes are back in the china closet, several boxes have been filled and delivered to the local Thrift Store.
It’s been one heck of a lot of work but its beginning to look like home again.
Again this week we’ve gone out to dinner. On Thursday we drove down to Dover to the Air Force Base so mom could get her prescriptions refilled. On the way back mom, my friend Cindy and I stopped for dinner. We feasted on a great salad bar, a brick oven pizza and for dessert Bananas Foster. We stuffed ourselves but it was so good!
We shopped several times this week for small house things. I've never shopped so much as I have these past weeks.
I’m going home with a lot more than I came for so I’ve had to ship three boxes home. We won’t even talk about how much that cost. Mom gave me my photo album of my first year and some things she no longer wanted but I did. Where I’m going to put these things is beyond me but I just had to have them.
This week is flying by and I’m just hating this. I don’t want to leave my mother alone. When I leave here on Monday its going to hit her that my dad is gone. We’ve kept so busy and had so much to do that she hasn’t had time to grieve. Monday, she will and my heart just breaks thinking of her in the house by herself.
We had a chance to talk about this a little bit and she told me she’s glad this happened this time of year if it had to happen at all. She loves working in the yard and will keep busy this summer doing that and going to the beach house. If this had happened in say, October, it would be getting cold in Delaware and she would be in the house for the winter with all those short daylight days.
My brother will take me to the airport. There’s no way I would put my mom through taking me and dropping me off. She was relieved when I told her because it had been on her mind.
It is going to be so hard to walk out the door on Monday, I simply dread it.
This past week we have been putting the finishing touches on the house. Pictures are once again hung, dishes are back in the china closet, several boxes have been filled and delivered to the local Thrift Store.
It’s been one heck of a lot of work but its beginning to look like home again.
Again this week we’ve gone out to dinner. On Thursday we drove down to Dover to the Air Force Base so mom could get her prescriptions refilled. On the way back mom, my friend Cindy and I stopped for dinner. We feasted on a great salad bar, a brick oven pizza and for dessert Bananas Foster. We stuffed ourselves but it was so good!
We shopped several times this week for small house things. I've never shopped so much as I have these past weeks.
I’m going home with a lot more than I came for so I’ve had to ship three boxes home. We won’t even talk about how much that cost. Mom gave me my photo album of my first year and some things she no longer wanted but I did. Where I’m going to put these things is beyond me but I just had to have them.
This week is flying by and I’m just hating this. I don’t want to leave my mother alone. When I leave here on Monday its going to hit her that my dad is gone. We’ve kept so busy and had so much to do that she hasn’t had time to grieve. Monday, she will and my heart just breaks thinking of her in the house by herself.
We had a chance to talk about this a little bit and she told me she’s glad this happened this time of year if it had to happen at all. She loves working in the yard and will keep busy this summer doing that and going to the beach house. If this had happened in say, October, it would be getting cold in Delaware and she would be in the house for the winter with all those short daylight days.
My brother will take me to the airport. There’s no way I would put my mom through taking me and dropping me off. She was relieved when I told her because it had been on her mind.
It is going to be so hard to walk out the door on Monday, I simply dread it.
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