Been a quiet week for the most part. The park has been busier since Monday than it was all weekend. There are several RVs with motorcycles and when I took a quick trip into town I noticed several in front of the cabins here. In town the bikes were at all the hotels I passed...then I saw the sign. There is a bike rally this weekend....the roar and the rumble!
All my packages are here and tomorrow I pick up my new bicycle. I think my ankle is well enough to let me do a little riding....just hope my stamina will hold out. LOL! Reports to come...
The biggest news is my new adventure as an independent rep for SkyMed. I received my packet today and will start my training. I sincerely hope that anyone who might find a need for something like this or know someone that could use it, will send them to my website (photo to be added soon). And just a note...in September the rates will increase so now is the time to sign up!
Oh, one other piece of news. I am being interviewed for S-Life Magazine, a new publication for owners of Suzuki vehicles. I was contacted by the editor last week and we're doing email interviews. A freelance photographer is supposed to come up from Phoenix Friday afternoon to take a photo. Sure be interesting....I hope to get a PDF file of the article if it ever gets published.
I will be heading north next week, will be trying to get my air bag leak fixed as soon as possible. I don't need to be in Gillette, WY until June 25th so plenty of time. It's still snowing in many places on the way there but looking at the 15 day forecast for Gillette, it looks like it will be warming up. The big surprise is that there isn't going to be the heat wave I expected...and that's a good thing!
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Ramblings & Rumblings
Rumblings: "Salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked tomatoes has spread to 16 states, federal health officials said Saturday..." [read the full story]The good news for me is that I've been buying "on the vine" tomatoes and those, according to the news article, aren't on the suspect list. Phew!
It does make me more aware that salmonella doesn't just come from uncooked/improperly prepared meats (especially chicken). Just something to think about....be careful out there!
Ramblings: Still babying my ankle...as long as I stay off it, the swelling isn't bad so I know it's getting better. Still icing it in the evenings. Hoping that when my bike comes in next week, I'll be fit to ride.
My front door lets in a LOT of sun and I had been using two small magnets to hold a pillowcase (using the two screws at the top of the door frame) and keep out some of heat & glare. A while back I found a dark colored window valance on clearance for $1.50. I thought it might be better than the pillowcase because it would be longer. I had to staple the open vent in the middle but it worked out well.
While visiting with my friend Sally at the motorcycle do here in Williams a couple of weeks ago, I noticed she did the same thing with a pillowcase but she had hers shirred on a rod. Last week I was looking at my curtain and realized that I could get a spring tension rod and do the same thing. This meant I would be constantly pulled one of the magnets down every time I went in and out of the door.
I found what I was looking at here at the local True Value and it's perfect! It also means I can leave the valance in place, just sliding it to the side when not in use. I love it....eventually I will find something just a little wider with enough length but for now, this works and was done for under $5 total.
If you look closely you can see where there is only a TEENY bit of plastic on the bottom of the left runner and you can see where the right runner plastic has broken.
My other triumph was more challenging....last fall on one of my early trips the big drawer underneath my refrigerator fell off the slide brackets. I pulled it out and managed to fix it. Six months and 6k miles later, it really gave up the ghost. The first time I just had to remount something that fell off. This time the plastic connectors broke...on both sides. I first tried duct tape....guess what. It's NOT the be all - end all. LOL!
Next was a trip to True Value to see if they sold new ones. They had several but they were all for center-under drawer slides, nothing I could use. I tried reversing the slides from side to side, that combined with the duct tape lasted....one night (not even moving). As I kept thinking about it, I wondered if I could brace something underneath to hold the runners in place. Next time I was at True Value I picked up some small L-braces to put underneath the runner.
Today I dug out my drill and for only the second time in my life, used it. LOL! It worked...thank goodness for hardware packaging that tells you what size drill bit to use. That and cordless screwdrivers.... Now to see if it will last till I find someone to replace the slides with ones that have metal mounts...plastic just doesn't cut it with RVs.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Still parked in the campround....
Well, I did end up stashing the tables, chairs & other outdoor stuff yesterday. The wind got too high to take a chance. By 6:00 the sky was dark with threatening clouds and I pulled in my outdoor mat, the last outdoor item, just in case it rained. By 7:00 it poured and in the distance I could hear thunder. The rain continued for two hours...completely unexpected. Then the low dropped into the mid-30's. Actually had to turn the heat back on!I ended up not moving to a boondocking spot for two reasons. First, I was concerned about the soggy ground. When I drove up there earlier I saw deep ruts where others had to deal with soft ground. The thought of getting up there and getting stuck wasn't at the top of my "to do" list.
The second reason came while I was cleaning the car....trying to get all the dust circles from rain removed (more Protectall cleaning). I was almost done, had the back door open and was stretching to reach the center of the roof. My foot slipped and I wrenched my ankle. Spent most of the day with ice on it, taking aspirin and trying to stay off it as much as possible. It's better tonight but still a little swollen and sore. Sigh....no exercise walking for a couple of days.
Diet went pretty well today, considering I was constantly fighting comfort food urges. LOL!
- Bananas/strawberries in lo-fat vanilla yogurt
- Progresso wild rice & chicken (100 calorie cup)
- Pepperidge Farm Stella Dora cookies (3)
- Shredded chicken, marinara sauce & 1/2 can Zucchini w/tomatoes
- Apple
- Quaker multi-grain popcorn mini-cakes (90 calorie package)
The weather still looks good here...I love seeing 85 listed as "very warm". I can deal with that. I've been working on travel routes to Gillette, WY for the Escapade. One route takes me through Beaver, UT....today I read a blog about some folks who are there and they got 5-6" of snow yesterday. EEEK! Sure hope I don't hit snow on the way north....
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Take Two: Tourists, Transmission, Transportation & Tummy
Tonight will be a mish-mash of things....so sit back, put your feet up and, hopefully, enjoy.
First, the tourists....I think they must have flown in recently and were still really in a different time zone. I did close my window while they were getting ready to eat (traditional style....wives running around & cooking, guys drinking beer with their feet up). I noticed that shortly after dark all was quiet....and they were gone by 8:30 this morning. So whoever you are...my apologies for expecting the worst. You were good neighbors (Yes, they put the picnic table back where the got it...how many times does THAT happen with typical weekend/vacation campers?)
I thought I had posted about my transmission but guess I didn't get specific enough for some folks. The did replace the front seal but while in there they discovered some type of fitting/plug that was loose and tightened it. Needless to say, fresh fluid and filter change were done. When then did the 30 step inspection check, they mentioned the air filter should be changed soon. Since I knew I would be hitting some mountains over the next few weeks, I decided to have it changed. They did install my transmission temperature gauge (it ran under 200 all the way from Camp Verde to Williams) and I had them torque my tires again (since they had been pulled back in Tucson when I had my brakes done). Better safe than sorry... Anyway, no leaks currently...keeping my fingers crossed that we've licked this battle.
Now to the third T - transportation. (Well, it really is about bicycles but using four T words was more fun.) I got on the scales this morning and my weight is now 1.2# over my allowable maximum. I had already started cutting back on snacking, McD food and coffee with cream & sugar (which I do normally at McD). But I know I need to exercise...plus my arthritis is getting worse. I get really stiff after an hour in the car or sitting. I wake up with my neck & shoulders hurting. I go to be with my back & knees hurting, too.
Osteoarthritis is a catch-22. You need to exercise to keep the joints flexible and lubricated but it hurts to exercise. I am trying to walk every day but I know I will do much better with a bicycle. After reading that my friends Nick & Terry ponied up (see June 2nd blog) and got Trek Navigator bicycles, I knew it was time for me to get one as well. In an earlier blog I wrote about bikes and got a TON of wonderful input. The two bikes that stood out were the Trek Navigator and the Electra Townie.
I found two bike shops in Flagstaff and one of them was a Trek dealer (neither sold Electras). I drove over there this morning and ordered a Trek Navigator 3.0. Initially I ordered the 2.0 ($90 cheaper) but when they called the factory, they found none in stock. Since it's the change of the model year for them, there was no way I could wait. I then looked at the Trek Pure but after some thought and discussion with the guys in the shop, realized it wouldn't be as good for me in the off-road riding. So I rationalized that the money I got for selling motorcycle gear would pay for the bike, so I went for it. This is what it will look like...it's Willow Green.
Now for the final T - Tummy. Today was a good day...breakfast was vanilla yogurt with strawberries and a hard boiled egg. Lunch was a double fiber, whole wheat bread sandwich with sliced chicken breast. Dinner I cooked 1/2 box of Zatarain's Red Beans & Rice. When it was about half done I tossed in some of the shredded chicken. Delicious and filling at about 330 calories. Okay, I promise to NOT write what I eat every day....honest! LOL!!
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
First, the tourists....I think they must have flown in recently and were still really in a different time zone. I did close my window while they were getting ready to eat (traditional style....wives running around & cooking, guys drinking beer with their feet up). I noticed that shortly after dark all was quiet....and they were gone by 8:30 this morning. So whoever you are...my apologies for expecting the worst. You were good neighbors (Yes, they put the picnic table back where the got it...how many times does THAT happen with typical weekend/vacation campers?)
I thought I had posted about my transmission but guess I didn't get specific enough for some folks. The did replace the front seal but while in there they discovered some type of fitting/plug that was loose and tightened it. Needless to say, fresh fluid and filter change were done. When then did the 30 step inspection check, they mentioned the air filter should be changed soon. Since I knew I would be hitting some mountains over the next few weeks, I decided to have it changed. They did install my transmission temperature gauge (it ran under 200 all the way from Camp Verde to Williams) and I had them torque my tires again (since they had been pulled back in Tucson when I had my brakes done). Better safe than sorry... Anyway, no leaks currently...keeping my fingers crossed that we've licked this battle.
Now to the third T - transportation. (Well, it really is about bicycles but using four T words was more fun.) I got on the scales this morning and my weight is now 1.2# over my allowable maximum. I had already started cutting back on snacking, McD food and coffee with cream & sugar (which I do normally at McD). But I know I need to exercise...plus my arthritis is getting worse. I get really stiff after an hour in the car or sitting. I wake up with my neck & shoulders hurting. I go to be with my back & knees hurting, too.
Osteoarthritis is a catch-22. You need to exercise to keep the joints flexible and lubricated but it hurts to exercise. I am trying to walk every day but I know I will do much better with a bicycle. After reading that my friends Nick & Terry ponied up (see June 2nd blog) and got Trek Navigator bicycles, I knew it was time for me to get one as well. In an earlier blog I wrote about bikes and got a TON of wonderful input. The two bikes that stood out were the Trek Navigator and the Electra Townie.
I found two bike shops in Flagstaff and one of them was a Trek dealer (neither sold Electras). I drove over there this morning and ordered a Trek Navigator 3.0. Initially I ordered the 2.0 ($90 cheaper) but when they called the factory, they found none in stock. Since it's the change of the model year for them, there was no way I could wait. I then looked at the Trek Pure but after some thought and discussion with the guys in the shop, realized it wouldn't be as good for me in the off-road riding. So I rationalized that the money I got for selling motorcycle gear would pay for the bike, so I went for it. This is what it will look like...it's Willow Green.
Now for the final T - Tummy. Today was a good day...breakfast was vanilla yogurt with strawberries and a hard boiled egg. Lunch was a double fiber, whole wheat bread sandwich with sliced chicken breast. Dinner I cooked 1/2 box of Zatarain's Red Beans & Rice. When it was about half done I tossed in some of the shredded chicken. Delicious and filling at about 330 calories. Okay, I promise to NOT write what I eat every day....honest! LOL!!
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Meandering Thoughts.....
Why is it so hard to get a good haircut when traveling? They never want to cut my hair short enough.....I have to keep pushing them. LOL! I guess the good thing is that folks continue to tell me they love my haircut. So far I've used one mall salon, one Wal-Mart salon and two local shops.Ocular migraines are a pain....well, mine usually aren't painful but when they happen I can't read or be on the computer for the 20-30 minutes they last. It's like having a kaleidoscope inside your eye. Nothing serious, just have had them two days in a row....maybe sinus related since I'm in the middle of pine trees.
Hats....hats and sunglasses. I love them....I don't wear them often enough, the hats that is. Going to try to wear them more...or else they have to do. RVers try to get rid of things they haven't worn or used in a year. EEEK!
When a campground rule says no feeding the wildlife, does that include the birds? I love being able to put out a birdfeeder or two (including hummingbird feeders) and a pie plate with water for them. Guess I need to ask next time I see this rule.....
This weekend is my lady motorcycle gathering here in Williams. We have about 20 women riders, 10 spouses and one baby coming from CA, NM, CO, UT & AZ. It will be fun, even if I am without a bike. But I suspect this may be my last motorcycle gathering...being bikeless makes it much harder to stay connected. I'll still visit the forums and I'll never forget the friends I've made...some for life.
Where to next? First stop will be Camp Verde where I hope to get my transmission fixed. Today I was working on my expenses and budgeting.....not a pretty site with all the repairs & maintenance costs this year....then factor in setting up the RV & car for towing. Sigh...but it's better to know where I stand so I can tighten the belt as needed. I have several annual memberships that may go by the wayside next year. I will be shopping for cheaper auto insurance for sure. I can drop to a lower level of DirecTV shows. But I won't, I absolutely WON'T give up my Internet. LOL!
Oh, I was supposed to be talking about where....after Camp Verde I will head north. I plan to spend a couple of weeks just north of Denver. I'll visit family and get some other personal things done. I need to settle on a base for getting a checkup and prescriptions renewed. Since I no longer have medical insurance it needs to be where I can find a good walk-in type clinic with reasonable costs. I found one in Branson, MO but that is the wrong part of the country right now. LOL!
How do I manage to get so far behind in email correspondence....if you have emailed me in the last couple of weeks and haven't heard back....hang in there! I will get back to you....but it may be another week. Sorry....honest!
I really miss boondocking but it looks like it may be July before I get to try it again. Too many commitments and things to do right now, as well as temperatures that mean running the A/C. I am NOT a hot weather gal....daytime temperatures in the 60-80 degree range are perfect for me. Once it gets over 82 in the RV, you can count on the air conditioner being turned on. That means running the generator if I'm boondocking, the solar won't run the A/C (or the refrigerator).
I think I could travel around Arizona for a year and still not see everything...and Utah even more so. Than factor in New Mexico and Colorado. Is it any wonder I want to stay out west? Of course there is still WY, MT, ID, OR, WA.......see what I mean? Beauty abounds....
I got on the scales this morning....I am at my max weight. Time to #1) cut back on intake and #2) start WALKING. I bought some very inexpensive walking sticks at Wal-Mart. I also have small hand weights and exercise bands. I really have to get serious...I refuse to buy any larger clothes. Time to start watching craigslist and Freecyle for a good used bicycle....
This all ties into my Diet Coke addiction as well...there are more and more studies showing that we are worse off using sugar supplements. It can increase your weight [ 2008 study - 2005 study ] and even worse, totally mess up your metabolism [ American Heart Assn - Framingham Heart Study ] . I see myself in that picture. I am trying to drink more green tea (hot and cold).
I think I got a mosquito bite on the top of my head the day I was at the Grand Canyon. It still itches.....
So, have I bored you enough yet.....then WAKE UP so I can sign off. LOL!
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Was it something I ate?
Had barely gotten to sleep last night when I woke with a HORRIBLE case of heartburn...got up, took a pill and went back to bed. Couldn't sleep on either side, had to put my head up, felt terrible. Finally fell asleep around 4am, back awake at 6, back to sleep till a little after 8. Not near enough sleep... Got up, hit the bathroom....okay, so now things appeared to have gone south.
Spent the day feeling lousy, ate some plain yogurt, 1/2 bagel and a little soup. Visited with several folks who stopped by. Took a 2 hour nap. Got the last two Pressure-Pro sensors put on the car. Read some emails & forums....replied to a few. Got a ton more advise about the transmission. Ran a low grade fever. Rested some more.
What a day....apologies to those waiting for email replies...it may be a few more days. In the morning I head to Williams, AZ for the Escapees Grand Canyon HOP. I am caravaning with another couple so if I have mechanical problems, I won't be alone. Oh, and as soon as I'm settled I'll be doing the drawing for the contest winner. Thanks to all who entered!
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Spent the day feeling lousy, ate some plain yogurt, 1/2 bagel and a little soup. Visited with several folks who stopped by. Took a 2 hour nap. Got the last two Pressure-Pro sensors put on the car. Read some emails & forums....replied to a few. Got a ton more advise about the transmission. Ran a low grade fever. Rested some more.
What a day....apologies to those waiting for email replies...it may be a few more days. In the morning I head to Williams, AZ for the Escapees Grand Canyon HOP. I am caravaning with another couple so if I have mechanical problems, I won't be alone. Oh, and as soon as I'm settled I'll be doing the drawing for the contest winner. Thanks to all who entered!
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Can you find me now?
If you have been following my blog, you remember my post about passing out and hitting my head one night while sick. Several folks made comments about setting up a way to have others local to you check in on you, nightly/daily check-in phone calls, etc.None of these are perfect...if you like to boondock in the middle of nowhere, there isn't someone you can ask to check on you. And if you're a solo lady, that in of itself is a bit scary (asking someone you don't know....). A daily check-in by phone can be difficult as well...you might be out of cell phone range is the first problem. The second is inconveniencing someone on a daily basis.
In one of my favorite motorcycle forums they have been discussing Personal Locator Beacon solutions.
"The PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) is a pocket-sized emergency 406MHz beacon, a scaled down version of the EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) and ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) that boaters and pilots, respectively, have had available to them for years."
~ Landfall Navigation
These items were brought up in a boondocking session I attended at RV Life on Wheels recently. While a nice option, they are pricey...VERY pricey at $500-700 although there are no annual fees.
Recently some new products have come into the marketplace. One is the TracMe Beacon, only $99 and again, no annual fees. Note that this is not satellite communication and it does not automatically start a search & rescue operation. Not does it allow you to notify someone that you are okay. But it is one newer solution to be considered.
The new product now being discussed in The Motorcycle Tourer's Forum is the SPOT Satellite Messenger. Priced at $170 by the manufacturer, it is in the affordable range. (The cheapest price I found was at Amazon.com, at under $135.) There is an annual fee of $99 for the basic services with a couple of upgrade options. But for the $99 you get a lot...
- ALERT 9-1-1:
Dispatch emergency responders to your exact location. Unlimited usage included. - CHECK IN:
Let contacts know where you are and that you’re okay. Unlimited usage included. - ASK FOR HELP:
Request help from friends and family at your exact location. Unlimited usage included.
It's not perfect...like any satellite solution it needs a clear line of sight for the best signal. It can take up to 20 minutes to lock onto the signal. Too many trees or other obstructions and the signal may not go out. But if you have been using the CHECK IN feature, then your last location sent is available as a starting point.
Here are some reviews I found, Lets Go Mobile and Wild Snow, as well as a good FAQ page on the emergency service. One of the motorcyclists has sent check in updates to his blog! I really like this product and think it will only get better. I think I see one in my near future....
UPDATE 5/12/08: I have purchased a SPOT Messenger - see the link in the sidebar or click HERE for the best price including Priority Mail shipping.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
The perils of solo traveling...
Yesterday was a relatively quiet day...the first day of the Bouse Rendezvous for the group. I had already met many of the folks here and several of us headed into Bouse for the Monday morning at the Community Center (great breakfast for $4). I ordered the Adkin's special (2 eggs, 2 sausage patties and cheese) while everyone else dug into their biscuits & gravy or the traditional eggs, sausage and pancake breakfast. After that we all headed back to our rigs and did whatever it is that we each do all day. At 4:00 we met at the campfire ring for social hour.
Early in the day I felt a little queasy so I took one of my prescription Prevacid tablets. I've been able to get away from the daily dosage that I had to take for years but depending on what I've eaten, I sometimes have to pop one to keep the acids down. Didn't think much more about it.
After the social hour I came back and fixed dinner, salvaging what was left of some tomatoes, cucumbers, baby carrots & lettuce....topped it all with some shredded chicken (canned chicken breasts). Tried my new spray salad dressing (10 sprays = 10 calories). Very good! Desert was a couple handfuls of Hanover's Sourdough Pretzel Nuggets.
Well, within an hour I was miserable...very bloated, queasy and just generally feeling bad...very bad. I took a couple sips of Coke (that often settles things down as well), then took a Mylanta Gelcap. Less than 30 minutes later, things came back up. Not good...especially since I was still very bloated and now gassy.
The evening went downhill as I worshiped the plastic toilet goddess (no porcelain in my rig) several times. I shut everything down and was in bed by 8:30. A couple more trips and suddenly the other end erupted...talk about flying out of bed. As everything inside me continued to drain out, I got quite lightheaded. I tried to put my head between my knees but that bent my abdomen over enough that I was afraid I would throw up again.
Once everything seemed to have stopped...they should make special corks....sorry...., I stood up and headed to the bed. I remember reaching out for it in the dark....I remember hearing, not feeling my head hitting something. The next thing I remember is coming to with my ear hurting. My head was resting against the wooden platform under the bed. Since my ear hurt, I figured I had hit it as I fell...assuming that it had just happened. As I said, I remember a sense of HEARING my head hit something, not a sense of feeling it happen.
Well, I slept till around 8 this morning and when I got up I still thought I had just hit my ear. I could see a little swelling but as I ruffled my hair I noticed quite a tender spot on the side. As the day progressed the headache did as well. I also discovered a sore spot on my knee and my shoulder, both on the same side. So now I suspect that I did faint, hitting my head hard in the process. I have no idea how long I was out but am pretty sure I was....might have been seconds, minutes or more.
Did make me think this morning about how vulnerable we are as solo travelers. There really is nothing I could have done differently, I know that. Okay, so I could have crawled....LOL! But it will make me think carefully about things when boondocking by myself. No good answers...now off to continue nursing my headache.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Early in the day I felt a little queasy so I took one of my prescription Prevacid tablets. I've been able to get away from the daily dosage that I had to take for years but depending on what I've eaten, I sometimes have to pop one to keep the acids down. Didn't think much more about it.
After the social hour I came back and fixed dinner, salvaging what was left of some tomatoes, cucumbers, baby carrots & lettuce....topped it all with some shredded chicken (canned chicken breasts). Tried my new spray salad dressing (10 sprays = 10 calories). Very good! Desert was a couple handfuls of Hanover's Sourdough Pretzel Nuggets.
Well, within an hour I was miserable...very bloated, queasy and just generally feeling bad...very bad. I took a couple sips of Coke (that often settles things down as well), then took a Mylanta Gelcap. Less than 30 minutes later, things came back up. Not good...especially since I was still very bloated and now gassy.
The evening went downhill as I worshiped the plastic toilet goddess (no porcelain in my rig) several times. I shut everything down and was in bed by 8:30. A couple more trips and suddenly the other end erupted...talk about flying out of bed. As everything inside me continued to drain out, I got quite lightheaded. I tried to put my head between my knees but that bent my abdomen over enough that I was afraid I would throw up again.
Once everything seemed to have stopped...they should make special corks....sorry....
Well, I slept till around 8 this morning and when I got up I still thought I had just hit my ear. I could see a little swelling but as I ruffled my hair I noticed quite a tender spot on the side. As the day progressed the headache did as well. I also discovered a sore spot on my knee and my shoulder, both on the same side. So now I suspect that I did faint, hitting my head hard in the process. I have no idea how long I was out but am pretty sure I was....might have been seconds, minutes or more.
Did make me think this morning about how vulnerable we are as solo travelers. There really is nothing I could have done differently, I know that. Okay, so I could have crawled....LOL! But it will make me think carefully about things when boondocking by myself. No good answers...now off to continue nursing my headache.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
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