AROUND THE CAMP FIRE

[cranelakeont]

Around the camp fire you usually just sit and enjoy, roast marshmellows, have coffee or something stronger and sit and chat. So, pull up a stool, bench or lawn chair and sit a spell.

[cranelakeont]

Sorry, wrong bedroom picture. Here is my bedroom.

[papel1]

Your bedroom is so nice. Could be in a hotel. I need to work on better decorating my house, mainly displaying my handcrafted projects. I hope you had fun in Mexico. Years ago we would go to Tijuana but it is not safe. I would not go anywhere in Mexico although we had fun trips years ago including Ensanada and a 4 day trip to Mazatlan. Ah for the traveling days. We just don't get out although I had 3 trips to the Valley. The third trip was due to a failed starter and we had it replaced at Hyundai. We were lucky, got in without appt and they had the part which they said was unusual for a car 10 years old. At least I got out of cooking with KFC. Tomorrow is our 46 anniversary. No plans what so ever. Hot but still in the 90s which is OK. My plants in the ground and in pots are doing well with daily watering. today a Grosbeak joined the group of birds eating my seeds. Well it is about bedtime.

[cranelakeont]

 Alga donis Mexico is very safe. It is a border county that the cartel keeps safe due to all the Canadians and Americans who shop, go to the dentist, go to the pharmacy there. Lots of restaurants with music good food good beer. I fly back to Michigan tomorrow. Am going to miss my friend, Howard, terribly. Think I have fallen in love! Did not feel like this when Phil and I got together. Now, I have to figure out how to break up with Phil who is 92 yrs old, without hurting him! Not looking forward to this.

[papel1]

Wow fallen in love. Two men in your life. Went to the ENT doctor today and my thyroid masses (or whatever they are) ar benign but he may want to remove one in the future. Really don't want surgery at 77 plus but go back in 6 months. Gee a whole week before our next appointments. The cancer center did describe fosomax (sp?) for bones but I have a new doctor there. He did mention that this medicine makes your teeth worse including the jaw. I am thinking of stopping it because my teeth are not that great. After our appt today we went to Costco where I got cases of drinks like vitamin water etc. Bought a tub of a chicken cassrole but will only cook half. Cooler on Sat. The wild turkeys discovered my deck and ate birdseed. Oh well. Where does Howard live? Maybe you can be a permanent resident of Arizona.

[cranelakeont]

First, I have to disentangle myself with as little hurt or trauma or bad feelings, from Phil. I do care a great deal for him, but we have nothing in common. We are different generations (he is 92 to my 74), different socio/economic backgrounds (while I was brought up very privileged, he was very very poor) and he is totally country while I am Rock & Roll. He helped me emotionally when Al died and I am grateful. Howard, on th other hand, I have known for years, was best friends with his wife, we are the same age and from the same backgrounds. We have everything in common. What a mess. Life is too short to not be with someone who makes you happy all the time and makes you laugh and smile. Major, major step for me.

Off to Detroit today. Fly out of SanDiego this a.m.

[papel1]

Here is my finished mug mat.  Applique with wool and a little embroidery.  I bet you got your  car in Michigan and maybe have driven to PA.  I bet Shelby will be glad to see you.

[cranelakeont]

Your mug mat is sooo cute! 

I am still in Michigan (yes, I have my car). I won’t return to PA until Thursday. Phil has a meeting Thurs night and will be gone probably until about 10 PM. This will give me time to pack a lot of my “stuff” and get it out of there. Hopefully, Friday he will sleep late to give me time to get to post office and ship many boxes of my clothes back tp AZ. Then I will sit down with him and break off with him. At that point, I should have enough room in my car for Shelby, me and the rest of my stuff and I will leave. Hoping this all goes smoothly. I hate the thought of hurting him. I do care about him but it is time to end this. We have nothing in common.

so, at that point, I will drive back to Michigan, spend one night and hit the road for AZ. Howardwanted to fly up and drive back with me so I wouldn’t be alone but the timing won’t work. He needs someone to watch his dogs, Alisa flysout of AZ on the 21st and I can’t make it back until the 22nd. So, she can’t watch his dogs. Even if he did fly up, he has an appointment at Mayo Clinic on the 23rd and I can’t promise we would be back in time. So, the plan is, he and dogs will drive up to my house and be there when I get home.

Exhausting, isn’t it? I will be so glad when this is over.

[papel1]

I do not need to watch the Hallmark Station I get my romance news here. I am excited for you. I know you were never thrilled with PA and being in one location Arizona will be more convenient. I am full of questions but will save til later. Maybe you and Howard can go RVing? I appreciate you keeping in touch and will share more pictures. But don't worry about writing here for awhile as I know you will be busy. It would be niice if you could take some camping trips. I will clean our trailer as it will be only 85 today but next week back up to 99. I am in my shorts already and do move lazily in the morning. One cat loves cat nip and when I was breaking up the dried leaves outside he went crazy but when I made a catnip toy sachet he just looked at it. Good luck on everything.

[cranelakeont]

 Thanks Judy, I’m scared to death of the way Phil  may react. I don’t think it will be a problem BUT I have seen his anger before. As for RVing it, we have both had RVs in the past . Now, even combining our incomes, RVs are gas hogs. It is more economical for us to road trip in a car with our combined 3 Shih Tzus! We are already planning many trips. Northern Vermont where he has a home on 360 acres, on our way to Newfoundland. The Great Basin in the north/middle of our great nation. Up the east & west coasts, etc, etc. we both realize at 74, we may not have a lot of time left and we want to enjoy each other, have fun and travel as much as possible. I am really excited about the whole thing. Funny how his wife told him to “grab Claudia when I die” and his kids told him the same thing after their mom died! I am so flattered by this whole thing. Wow! Who would have thought?

Stay cool and don’t work too hard. That heat is a killer.

[papel1]

Well I am hoping you might be driving back to Arizona. I thought I would wait a couple of days to give you a chance to tie things up. Back to over 100 here but only for a couple of days. We both had our eyes exam today and the new doctor (old one retired) said I could wait a year for the cataract surgery or do it now. I decided to wait. Yesterday we went to the chiropractor down in the valley. We also have to drive down the mountain when the new glasses are ready. Two mornings getting up early and tomorrow is Sewing so up by 8 though not too bad. I wonder where my wild birds are. Maybe they don't like the wild turkeys eating their food and pooping. Time to go outside now that it is cooling off.

[cranelakeont]

Back in Maricopa with Howard. OMG! How did I get so lucky. We are so so compatible and I am so terribly in love with him and HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY! We are both acting like a couple of teenagers. Enough said. Daughter Alisa flies  to Detroit today. She was hoping to reconnect with an old boyfriend. I felt he was "playing" her, she felt that he was still in love with her. He backed out and now she is devastated! Hoping she meats someone while on this trip. This will be her first time back in Michigan in 4 years.

Thats all my news here. Don't put off the cataract surgery too long. Al did that and they had a hard time doing the surgery. Took 45 minutes instead of the normal 15. Have fun at sewing.

[papel1]

Well I know it is hot in Maricopa but I know you are thrilled with the developments I am having soreness with both hip areas and it has been a year since surgeries. But my sagging sofa doe not help so I put a pillow down before sitting this morning. The turkeys came this morning and I had to chase them off the deck. Hope we get our new glasses this week. We ad 2 grass fires 14 miles away. So dry even after a wet winter. Enjoy your travels. I would pay any amount of gas for an RV. I hate motels and hotels. No travel here. Hubby is not feeling that great. How is Shelby?

[cranelakeont]

Shelby is slowly learning to accept Howards two Shih Tzus. She does NOT want them near "moms" bed and, of course, she will NOT share her bone or food. The food, she will just walk away and allow them to eat all of it. Not good for them as they are not used to meat. Bones are a different story. She will fight, snap and chase them away. She is putting her foot down and asserting her authority in HER home. Funny thing is, she won't do that in their home. They are both very docile and all is going well. Shelby is also learning to love Howard and has accepted him in our bed.

Right now, we have Justin, Howards 38 yr old son. He did 22 years in the military and is now on disability due to the burning of the "weapons of mass destruction" Iraq had. These were the weapons that they claimed "weren't there". Funny since our military had to destroy them anyway. Well, the smoke and ashes from this has caused problems with the soldiers lungs. The VA has sent him the the Mayo Clinic and being that I am close to one in Phoenix, he is here visiting his dad. He is ecastatic to see his dad so happy! So, Howard & I are really happy that he has accepted me. Really nice young man. I like him a lot.

Thats the news from here

[papel1]

I know you are having hot days in Maricopa. It is hot here too and Fair Time but we do not go anymore. I wish we were but hubby is not feeling too well and it is very busy in town. Maybe I will venture out tomorrow. All 20 wild turkeys showed up yesterday and what a sight seeing about 10 drinking water out of the deers water bowl. The cats do not seem to mind the heat but do like the cooler evenings. My feet are kind of flat and effectinng my walking so doing exercises for that. Thank goodness for one last meal with that store Deli Chicken. The scanner is busy, injury now on a foothill Lake and otten there are drownings in the Merced River. People think it is not deep but it is with strong currents. I bet there is no room in Yosemite.

[cranelakeont]

We are in Yuma clearing out my RV. Phil is buying it from me and I want it cleaned out befor he gets down here in Nov. I still get calls from him telling me he loves me. As I said to him, “To little To late!” His parting words cinched the deal, as he unzipped his pants, “how about one last time for the road?” OMG! I nearly flipped! Then telling me “I’ve come to love you” along with, “I guess I’ll have to get Phyllis (his daughter) to clean for me.” If I hadn’t been at the end, that certainly would have put me there.

Howard, on the other hand, is a gem with a capital G! Tells me he loves me many many times every day. We have so much in common that it is scary! I knew from the start that Phil and I had nothing in common but figured it would happen. I have regained my life, the things I love to do, the music I enjoy, etc. Howard has so many of the same great qualities my A l had. Can’t believe God sent me a second solemate. He feels the same way.

Enough gibberish. Hotter than hell here. Especially working outside. Will finish up RV today and head back to Maricopa tomorrow.