Settling In

Al and I are settling into our condo (I keep bringing things from storage and Al seems to not notice) and Giano is settling into Davies Hospital Rehab center in San Francisco.  It's one of the best in the Bay Area and he is making very good progress.  They are working hard to get all of those injured neurons connected and help him get back to a normal life.  Nobody can say how long it will take but each step forward is rewarding. We  are still undecided about how long we will stay in San Francisco but have realized that our retirement has taken a different turn than we planned.  What was that about the F word? (Flexibility)

Change of itinerary

We have decided that because of Giano's slow recovery that we will stay in San Francisco for the month of December!  This is a major difference from Christmas in Louisiana but I've been told that the F word (flexibility) is the most important part of life. 

Giano is doing very well, but not nearly as quickly as he would like.  He has a good day with quite a bit of progress then a plateau day.  He is now off oxygen completely but hasn't passed the swallow test yet so is still being fed through the tube.  Today Chrissy, Nicky and Matthew will arrive from Atlanta and Peter from Montana, so they will be great inspiration for him to work harder to get all those neurons connecting.

Apparently we are lucky that the condo hasn't sold because we've settled back into it very nicely.  With the bare minimum of furnishings, but enough to make do.  The Little House and the Truck are in Phoenix and will get their work done while we are in San Francisco and we'll be ready to get back to the Alventure soon.  Thanks again for all your kind words, thoughts and prayers.

Back in San Francisco

After a few quiet days in and around Sedona (when you bring your house along, you still have to clean it), enjoying all the incredible red rock formations, we flew from Phoenix to SF last night, because Giano is waking up!  He is no longer sedated, has been out of ICU for a few days, is breathing on his own, and is speaking!  The words are weak but we all know that his spirit and determination are strong, so it's just a matter of time as he works hard to return to his former fine self.  His body is healing nicely, even though he is very thin.  If only I could share some pounds with him, but it won't be long before he quickly gains back his young man muscle so I guess I'm stuck with my old lady fat.

Maybe it's a good thing that there haven't been any offers on our condo because we have settled back into it quite comfortably.  Our Little House on Wheels and Truck are with the dealer in Phoenix, getting a bit of maintenance done, including running boards on the truck because that's a very tall step for an old broad.  We'll probably be in town for at least two weeks, depending on Giano's progress.

Thank you for all your kind thoughts, good wishes, and sincere prayers. 

Tuzigoot

Tuzigoot was a pueblo with more than 110 rooms, with a probable population of 225.  Will somebody be paying money to visit Deer Park in a thousand years?  I hope they all have the Senior Pass for the National Parks.

Jerome AZ

We're now at the Krazy K RV Park in Camp Verde AZ and today's adventure was to Jerome, with lunch at "The Asylum, A Restaurant On The Fringe" in the Jerome Grand Hotel.  It used to be a hospital and is said to be inhabited by some of the former patients.  None of them stopped us from enjoying lunch.  Not much can stop me when there is food involved.

More

The Old Navajo Bridge and the New Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River.

Glen Canyon Dam, built 50 years ago, which is when Page became a town.

The Glen Canyon Bridge.


Okay, I learned how to do photos (I hope you're seeing photos) but not how to add to a post, so this is part 2 of Page.  I'll catch on in a few more weeks.  Maybe months.

Page AZ

We wandered our way as far as Page AZ, but only after we tried to drive our Little House through Zion National Park and Ranger Rita told us to turn around and go the other way because we were just too darn big to fit through the tunnel and the switchbacks.  Page is right smack in the middle of all the Bryce/Zion/Grand Canyon geological formations and is beautiful - rocks of many colors, not just red.

Don't be standing too near this one when it decides to erode just a bit more.

This morning we got up very bright and early to see the Balloon Regatta that is an annual event in Page.  There were about 40 hot air balloons filling the perfectly blue sky.  It was worth using our alarm clocks for the first time.  Now we're going to the street fair and Balloon Glow, which we have been told is when all the balloons are inflated but tied down, for up close and personal viewing. 

Giano is now having physical therapy so that his body will be ready when his brain is.  We appreciate all your good wishes and prayers. 

Just a Little Corner of Utah

Finally on the way

We kept pushing back the departure date until there came a point when we just couldn't wait another day.,  We pulled out of the driveway of150 Lombard at 10:10 on 10/10/10 and hauled a truckload of belongings to the dealer in Los Banos, all ready to begin the retirement.  It was very difficult for me to leave San Francisco after 36 years (Marco's farewell CD of Tony Bennett only made it more poignant - but Thank You, Marco) so Al had to deal with tears, which seem to be subsiding as I become accustomed to this new life.

Monday we were just getting settled when the call came that Giano, Al's third child, second son, (32) was in a very serious motorcycle accident so we returned to the city for a week.  He is still in ICU at Marin General and most of his damaged body parts have been repaired, (tib/fib fracture, fracture on C2 with a torn ligament between C1 and C2, along with lots of scrapes and bruises) so now we're all hoping that his brain will recover as well.  At this point there have been little signs of cognitive responses, but everyone is optimistic that he will return soon - maybe minus the need-for-speed.  Thank you for all the kind wishes and prayers for his recovery.  We'll be going back home for Thanksgiving - or before, if Giano begins to show more indications of awakening.
On Tuesday, Oct 19, we went back to Los Banos to learn how to work all the bells and whistles on the RV.  Thursday, Oct 21 we followed the driver to Reno, where we took official delivery (out of California) and spent a few days there getting all the nooks and crannies organized.  The Reno fun included time spent with Al's cousins, Tom and Sandy Combs  and Vicki and Neil Johnson.  We found out that our Little House survived quiet well in strong winds and temps in the teens, all snug and cozy.  After many trips to Lowes, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, we managed our first solo trip as far as Beatty NV.  Al impressed me with his driving confidence because the thing seems enormous to me. Beatty is on the Eastern edge of Death Valley, so Thursday was spent driving through and among sand and rocks and dessert plants.  Badwater is 282 ft below sea level, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere.  Where was Al Gore for that global warming episode?

On to Las Vegas - did you know that there is a KOA RV campground behind Circus Circus, right on the Strip?  Now you do. Jackie and Rob (my sister and BIL) joined us for a couple days of eating way too much. 

We're learning so many things - about the mechanics of the RV,  living in a small space, being together all day, every day,  and having a great time!

Next time I'll learn how to add photos.  Maybe.  I need a kid around.

Going Soon

September 1 came and went and we're still in San Francisco.  Why does every project take longer - and cost more - than planned?  Al is busily getting Alfred's in shape for Marco, I'm trying to figure out how we accumulated so much stuff, and what to do with it.  The truck is parked in a garage a block away, the RV is at the dealer in Los Banos, and we're making our plans to get on the road with a new goal of "sometime" in October.