Busy errand running.

Since we're leaving for the east coast Thursday we still have things to do.  That's why we came back to Illinois early.  I haven't been able to get my emails on my phone and really would like to use it on the trip instead of lugging the laptop.  I can do everything else on the phone but not a particular email account.
Off to Verizon this morning. We were up early so we had plenty of time before lunch.  The staff at the Verizon store outside the Mall were courteous and knowledgeable.  She worked and worked on my phone and I still couldn't get a test message through.  When she was about to give up and have me contact Tech Support on the phone, it worked.  We don't know what she did but it worked.  Looked at some tablets while we were there.  Our desk top is shot and my lap top isn't far behind.  We'll see.
By the time we got out it was lunch time so we headed for "Hey Hotdog" on Ruby Street but then realized we had BBQ yesterday.  Their root beer would have tasted great but as Ron drove past a Steak and Shake we both decided that was a better option.
Back in Tucson there's a lot of hype over "smash burgers" and to tell you the truth, I like that style better.  No preformed patties, just a ball of hamburger meat placed on the grill and flattened with a spatula.  Steak and Shake fit that to a "T".  I added a small strawberry shake and Ron had his usual, side by side orange and vanilla.
Ron did get to Cassinova's for his hair cut and a stop at the Moose to get his account straightened out.  He's not getting any communications from them about what's going on, the news letter or the dues reminders.
Tomorrow is mow the lawn and get "hard rolls" for ham and swiss sandwiches to enjoy for our lunch the first day.  And pack.  I'll get the hard rolls, guess who's mowing.  

Water.....Water......Everywhere.

I blogged last that it's been raining.  Well the rain finally stopped but flooding took over.  We're high enough up it wasn't a problem for us but thousands of others lost a lot.  Our daughter and son in law had sewer backup in their basement but most people suffered from the Fox and DesPlaines Rivers overflowing.
Ron spent Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at their house. First getting the sewer water out of the basement and then cutting out the drywall and carrying it out to a dumpster.
I did enjoy some quiet time on Saturday and Sunday but glad to have Ron home.  Today was warm enough to sit out on the front porch swing for awhile.
I'm reading a Michael Connelly mystery from the library and was into the really really good parts when my Kindle's battery went dead.  I love modern technology.  Just turned on my smart phone and brought up Kindle and kept on reading off my smart phone.

Rain...Rain...Go Away, Little Charlie wants to go out and play.

We've had one sunny day in the week we've been back in IL.  Daytime highs in the 40's and now rain.  We're on high enough ground where we won't have to look up how big a cubit is and we have a whole house generator for power but this constant gloom and now rain can encourage anyone to be depressed.  A friend's son and his friend took off for Puerto Rico today.  I think they have the right idea.
I have nails appointment on Friday.  I'll have to wear shoes with the toes out and hope they don't freeze on the way home.
Otherwise, we're getting along fine.  Bought some seeds for the garden.  Just have to wait for it to dry out.  It still has drainage tiles from when we had a sewer system running thru it so hopefully that will help it drain faster.  

Drab and Dreary

First full day back in IL and I'm ready to fly back to Arizona.  I can handle that heat still better than I'm handling this cold and dreary day.  No working outside yet.  Got some vines and roses that need cut back.
Speaking of handling the hot weather in Tucson.  About a month ago I posted a blog about Mundane Monday.  It was a simple post about how we learned about "Swamp Coolers" operations and the messes we made while learning.  I'm still trying to figure out why I'm still getting views on it over ten times as many views as I ever get on a blog.  If anyone knows why this is happening, please leave a note.
I think we have all the boxes and suit cases emptied and put away.  Now we have to get the house and yard cleaned, make doctor appointments and pedicure/manicure appointment for me.  Maybe a hair cut before we leave.  Hopefully some garden will be planted or at least the cold weather crops of lettuce. onion, radish and peas in the ground.  They can take the cold soil.  Enough of home gardening 101.

Illinois at Last

We made it back to our home in Illinois safe and sound this early afternoon.  It's cold here and it drizzled off and on most of the way from St Louis north.  The roads weren't bad so no trouble there.  Noticed some new entrance and exit ramps off of I-55 by the Inter model entrance.  They needed to do something with the increase in truck traffic.  Didn't get to good a look between the drizzle and the traffic.
Gas is $3.66 a gallon and we traveled from Sullivan, MO to Lockport, IL on one tank of gas.  Which is pretty good.  We did make a quick trip to Walmart to pick up individual things needed.  Monday will be a trip to Sams Club or Costco or both for stockups.
For you world travelers, Dixie Truck Stop in McLean, IL is finally looking like it's old self, or better.  New rest rooms looking good and clean.  The store having a variety of souvenirs and snack foods.

Day Three and Last Night

What a difference a day makes.  Today was a complete turn around.  No precipitation but some winds.  Chilly.  Other than having to put on and take off jackets as we left the car and returned, it was a perfect day.  Traffic from Stroud, OK to Eureka, MO was light and moving along at 70-75 miles an hour.
We're staying at a Holiday Inn that's upper scale and qualified for a free dessert but we opted for Pondarosa instead.  An old standby.  I gave up a Bailey's Irish Cream cheese cake.  Tomorrow headed thru St Louis and home.  

Day Two

Well, today's trip was a real doozy.  We started out the day with a nice breakfast of cold cereal, juice and coffee.  Then the day started changing soon after.  It was cold, 23 degrees, but nice and warm in the van, but it never got above 40 all day.  We stopped at a gas station and were told the weather east was terrible, travel at our own risk.  We watched on coming traffic and rarely saw any snow on the vehicles.  We stopped again at the Oklahoma Welcome Center where we were warned that it was dangerous eastbound with sleet falling in Oklahoma City.  We saw snow on top of grass and beautiful white trees all covered in ice.  The road turned out to be clean and dry as far as Stroud, OK where we've stopped for the night.  The tornado warnings we worried about hit farther east and south, St Louis and Arkansas.  Going to be watching the weather tonight for tomorrow's travel thru the rest of Oklahoma (Tulsa) and Missouri.
We realize it's way to cold to be coming back to IL but we're doing it.
BTW, anybody know what we should expect next November when we open the refrigerator door in Tucson.  We left a container of milk in the door.

Tucson, AZ to Santa Rosa, NM in one day.

I can't tell you how far it is from Tucson to Santa Rosa but I can tell you it was a long 8 hours plus loosing an hour because of change in Time Zones and a half hour for lunch and rest stops.
I'll start on Monday night.  We had several visitors during the evening wishing us fond farewells.  Our friends, Gerry and Larry stopped by later, they knew we'd be up.  They didn't stay long but shortly after they left our power went out.  According to Ron, it didn't come back on till after 5:30 this morning but we still got a good start time of 8:30 am.  Roads were a little windy but not to bad.  Ron insisted that we travel the entire route we'd planned.  When we got between Bernardo and Willard cutting around Albuquerque we ran into snow.  Not a lot at first but it kept getting worse and worse to where the defrosters were on full blast in order to keep the windshield clear.  The roads looked pretty treacherous but I trusted Ron to decide if we stopped or kept going.  It finally came to a stop and we made it into Santa Rosa without a hitch.
I won't make any promises of more blogs but decided tonight would be one.

It's Time

Last full day in Tucson.  It's warm but the wind is gusting toward's 50 MPH.  Ron and Charlie from the park, shut off the "swamp cooler" this morning and got it ready to sit thru the summer.  I wish I'd have heard what was going on out there so I could have gotten a picture.  From what I'm hearing, they were both on the roof of the mobile when the ladder fell down.  They say they were going to call the manager to come get them down when the neighbor came out and put the ladder back up against the mobile.
I said it was windy.  Well, while the neighbor was out helping Ron and Charlie his screen door blew off.  Glad our front door is a sliding one.  Their regular door sure looks nice though.
Ron carried all the food stored in his shed into the mobile and stacked it in a corner so that's done.  Got some things to toss tomorrow that's a shame to waste.  We gave away a dozen eggs and I put the butter and margarine in the freezer.  But sour cream and cottage cheese that's perfectly good but opened aren't really giftable.
The previous owners left three foil window covers.  They are like what people put in the front window of a car.  They'll be place on the three big windows that get the most sun.  One is already on the back window in the bedroom and it's pitch dark in there already.
Not expected to do much writing during our travels.  I can't figure out how to get my blog on my smart phone.  Guess that makes the phone smarter than me.  LOL

Packing and discarding

The past few days have been filled with emptying out the refrigerator for perishables that won't make it to November and just plan throwing things away.  The pickles, both sweet and dill, will stay as will the ketchup, mustard and miracle whip.  Salad dressings if they're not close to expiration.
Got to find someone to take the eggs and produce.  Considering all the food we stockpile we're doing pretty good job of emptying out the cupboards.  The last two potatoes will be baked for supper tonight.  Even canned veggies are extremely low.
I packed a box full of clothes to be sent back home but never got sent so it will travel with us, otherwise the only clothes going back are for wearing on the way.
We're trying to make that the norm but this is only our second year of having two homes.
The weather has been beautiful here in Southern Arizona.  Ron has turned on the "cooler" a few times but only because of a little discomfort late in the afternoon.  It cools off so nice at night that we leave the front door open till we go to bed.    I know we're going to miss the warm dry weather.  But for now we're almost packed and ready to head out Tuesday morning.  Don't know which way we're going to travel but the first day is pretty much the same route unless we decide to go the far southern route.