Update on health - Day 1966 (Year 6, Day 140)

Zephyrhills, FL

I'm still experiencing what the dr. alleges to be asthma attacks (can't get enough air into my lungs).  The inhaler does work, but it makes me feel very lightheaded and dizzy.  I don't feel that the steroids or antibiotics worked at all.

Went to the dr for a follow-up yesterday.  He put me on another type of inhaler (Symbicort) and anti-histamine, and scheduled me for a chest x-ray (today) and pulmonary function test (11/22) with follow up with the pulmonologist (12/3).  Dr. is now leaning towards a diagnosis of COPD, but I don't know where I would get that from as I'm not a smoker (quit in 1992) and am not around other smokers, although dr. explained it could be dormant from years ago.  I guess the tests will tell.  This is all very new to me.  I'm thinking it may be more of an allergy.  When I suggested this, dr. said he wanted to explore lung problems first and if everything is negative, then he'll recommend seeing an allergist.

Anniversary, and finally, a fun day! - Day 1965 (Year 6, Day 139)

Zephyrhills, FL

First, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my beloved husband - now 41 years.  This time last year we were in Jamaica renewing our vows.  I find it hard to believe that I didn't post any pictures last year; in fact, it doesn't look like I made more than a slight mention of the trip other than promising to post about it (guess I broke that promise).  It was a fantastic and very memorable trip.  Our daughter and her husband, as well as my sister and her husband joined us.  Here are a few photos:

  


As for the fun day yesterday, our friend & neighbor (Ellie, who has joined us for Shabbat a few times), is a singer/songwriter and member of a band (name of band is RED. As she points out, "it's not a political statement or the color of my hair (which is bright red), but very simply: Rick, Ellie, Dennis." 

The band was scheduled to perform in Tampa at a place called Sweetwater Organic Farm, which was also holding a farmer's market.  Normally, we wouldn't have made the 1 hr schlep just for the concert, but we love farmers markets, which are very hard to find on Sundays, so that was the deciding factor to go.  Unfortunately, they didn't have any vegetables there (either from their farm or other local farms).  There were only a handful of vendors: 4 food places-mostly juice bars & 1 tamale place, a clothing place, honey, and soaps.  Oh well. 

The music, however, was really fun.  I've never heard Ellie play before and I was very impressed by her talent.  Here is a very brief video clip and a photo of the band. Mostly they play folk songs, blues and bluegrass; lots of toe tapping, foot stomping and clapping songs.

 

Update - Day 1960 (Year 6, Day 134)

Zephyrhills, FL

Not much to report on yet, except for my health status.  For the past few weeks, I've been experiencing shortness of breath and coughing -- the signs of my annual bought of bronchitis.  Two weeks ago, I discovered very odd bruises on my body for absolutely no apparent reason, and I sent a message to my doctor whether it was something to be concerned about.  The response was that they made an appointment for me yesterday(a week later).

Turned out that all the bruises faded and no other ones appeared, so it's still a total mystery.  However, in the interim, I've been coughing and grasping for air, thinking it's the annual bronchitis that happens when the weather changes (had this for the last 20 years).

Doctor examined me and said definitely NOT bronchitis as none of the symptoms for that were present.  His diagnosis was an asthmatic allergy, which is also common with weather changes.  He prescribed steroids for 6 days and an inhaler.  It's only been 1 day and I feel about a 5% improvement with my breathing, although I feel a 30% improvement in the pain and mobility in my hip!  (Steriods weren't prescribed for that and it's not at all healthy to be on them long term, which is sad because it's the first time I've actually had any positive results in that regard).

Hopefully I'll be reporting again within the week, as a good friend of ours in the campground (Ellie), who is also a member of a band, is performing at a farmers market in Tampa on Sunday.  We really hope to be able to attend (not to mention our excitement to find a farmers market open on a day other than Saturday).  Also running low on our 72% Trader Joes dark chocolate, so need to make a run there as well.

More... Day 1950 (Year 6, Day 124)

Zephyrhills, FL

This was the 2nd Shabbat (Friday night) in a row that we were woken from sleep with all the alarms ringing about a tornado warning in the area (side note: I spoke with several of my friends who have lived in the area all their lives and they all agreed this is a result of climate change; it is NOT a usual occurance). 

In any event, I looked at the local radar maps (admit we turned the tv on in addition to the internet on our phones) and saw that the area of concern was a bit north of us, although we were still in the "cone".  Rather than running to the CVS 2 miles away, we decided it probably wouldn't be hitting our campground and chose to go to the bathhouse on premises instead.

Thank G-d the tornado touched down about 10 miles away and we didn't even experience even any wind.  All was good.

Still... although we have the ability to go wherever we want in the country, looking at weather & climate patterns, there doesn't seem to be anywhere in the US that's safe year-round, whether in a tornado, hurricane, extreme snow or wildfare zone.  We are very grateful that for the past 5 years we've been fairly safe, albeit with warnings to seek immediate shelter, but there is still the fear of the future.

Bit of a scare - Day 1942 (Year 6, Day 116)

Zephyrhills, FL

Last night (Friday night, Shabbat), we were woken up very abruptly at about 11:30 pm, when 2 simultaneous, loud alarms went off: our weather station, and my phone emergency alert.  Almost in unison, they both said "this is an extreme severe weather alert.  There is a tornado in your area.  Take shelter immediately."  Being Shabbat, we weren't on emails or anything to learn that there was even a watch in the area so this caught us off guard (then again, at 11:30, we'd have been sleeping anyway).  There is a tropical disturbance in the gulf, but the effects were supposed to be flooding and storm surges along the coast; and we're about 40 miles from there.

In any event, we quickly threw on some clothes, ran to the truck (with the sky opening and crossing the lawn in ankle deep water) and very quickly drove 2 miles to the 24-hour CVS, where we sat it out in safety and comfort for about 1/2 hour, while watching the weather broadcast from my phone (we only grabbed my phone and a magazine to read--Mitch's idea!). 

There were 3 tornados; the closest one to touch down was about 20 miles away.

Thank G-d we are safe and we were quick enough to run for cover. And thank goodness for a 24 hour store!!!

More on the holidays - Day 1936 (Year 6, Day 110)

Zephyrhills, FL

Yom Kippur services were very inspirational and the fast was relatively easy.  I hope we've been "inscribed in the Book of Life" for another year, and for a sweet year filled with good health and prosperity (and I wish that for all my friends and family!)

Still a few more holidays to go: Sukkot (Sukkos, depending on Sephardic or Ashkenazi pronunciation) is the Festival of Booths, where we (1) commemorate how our ancestors lived in booths during their travels in the desert, and (2) to physically internalize how G-d provides for all our needs -- when we are commanded to live outside, in a very non-permanent structure (we don't actually live in it, but we do try to spend as much time as possible in it, including meals).  Mitch is currently outside building our sukkah (the 4th time since we've been on the road).  A full description can be found here (including the link to the YouTube video showing the origin of our Sukkah in the Sky):  https://mitcheryl-rv-journey.blogspot.com/2016/10/sukkot-day-851-yr-3-day-118.html

Unfortunately, our shul will not be holding Sukkot services for the first 2 days, so we will pray (and shake the lulav/etrog) at home.  The following week are the final festival days of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah (google it!).  Then we're done with the holidays until Chanukkah.

Still thinking along the path of leaving here for the Raleigh area first week of November, but it's totally dependent on whether (1) the place Mitch was given work will come thru (they didn't this week and it's looking very doubtful); and (2) if there's anywhere in the area for us to stay that we can afford (there are 2 mobile home parks, but last I heard, they didn't have any open sites). So it's a totally PIBE (Play It By Ear) situation.

Will keep you posted....

UPDATE:  Sukkah finished.  Here, with and without Mitch sitting in it:

   

Rosh Hashanah - Day 1925 (Year 6, Day 99)

Zephyrills, FL

This is the first time since we've been "on the road" that we were in the same place for both Passover and the High Holidays (which we consider to be Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot).  The longest we were ever in a place was 9 months in Asheville, NC, but it looks like here will be even longer.

As always, the services both days were mostly inspirational, spiritual and occasionally boring; they were from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  They were followed by a really awesome lunch spread (which isn't very common; in the past we were invited to people's homes for a fancy lunch).

Of course, returning to reality met me with 41 client emails, so I'm totally exhausted; been a long working day (note: NOT complaining!  Work is good, although I'd prefer to be in full retirement!)

Nothing new with Mitch.  His alleged new boss (who allegedly hired him but hasn't given him any work yet) said he call him today (almost 5:00 and still nothing).  The plan at this point (and plans are made in bubbles!) is that if nothing gets firmed up by the time all the holidays are over at the end of October, we are going to move up north, to the Raleigh area, and settle down there for a while while Mitch looks for employment in that area.  Yes, there are cold winters, but still not as bad as NJ. It gives us the chance to be closer to our beloved daughter and we absolutely love the Jewish community there.  But again, I emphasize that plans are made in bubbles.  There's also a chance there won't be anywhere for us to stay (can't afford the Fairgrounds where we usually go until Mitch works, as it's about $1K/month) and the 2 mobile home parks, last I checked about 2 months ago, didn't have any sites available.  So who knows?

Really looking forward to the day when we can travel where and when we want.  This isn't the lifestyle we had planned when we took to the road.  Not that it's at all bad and I'm really enjoying it.  Just wish we could travel a little bit more.  But my philosophy of life is that we're exactly where we're meant to be at any given moment.  So I'm trying to make the most of every moment we're here in Zephyhills.