Day 67 of the Journey (Shabbat) -Panama City Beach, FL

As predicted, starting yesterday and today the campground filled up, pretty much to capacity.  Surprisingly enough, people are relatively quiet and kids are well behaved (i.e. no loud parties and drunken shouting by the adults and no kids running rampantly around).  But there's still 2 more days!

Unfortunately, this had a detrimental effect on our electricity.  We have a whole-house surge protector.  To avoid our electronics getting fried when there's a voltage spike (or when it gets too low), all the power to the RV is automatically shut off.  With so many people using a lot of power on the same grid, it was pretty much non-stop shutting off (in other words, no power) from 8pm last night until about 2pm today.  The temperature reading on our weather station read 107 at one point, so it was not a good day to be without power.  Folks will be leaving tomorrow, so let's hope the power continues to stay on.

Took another very long walk today.  Not intentional - we followed a wrong path and landed up taking a little hike through the woods before finding our way back to the main road.  It was scenic and shady with a soft breeze at least.  Cooler than the inside of the RV.  Took a cold shower when we returned.

Day 66 of the Journey -Panama City Beach, FL

Today was the last day of physical therapy.  Therapist has not had a chance to talk to the doctor yet, but she's pretty certain I will not gain all that much benefit from outpatient PT in 5 visits.  Plus, being a Friday before a holiday weekend, it's unlikely I'd get the authorization from my insurance company in time anyway.  Recommendation is just to keep on doing what I've been doing, as my progress has been excellent. 

I'll probably do a lot of walking today, just because I'm curious.  Lots of activity with RVs pulling in and out all over the place, preparing for the Labor Day weekend.  Most folks, I'm learning, are relatively local and coming here for the country jamboree (mentioned in a post a few days ago).  It's supposed to rain all weekend, too!  Glad I don't have tickets for that outdoor festivity!  In fact, the sky just got very dark.  May need to postpone that walk after all.

I can't believe it's Friday already, or that I'm on day 66.  Where is the time going???

Shabbat dinner:
Challah rolls, potato soup, grilled tuna steaks, spinach, baked potatoes, sauteed mushrooms & onions

Day 65 of the Journey -Panama City Beach, FL

Took a really long walk today; probably a good mile round trip.  We found a path off to the side of the pool, followed it, and discovered it lead to the beach!  Didn't cross the street to get there, though.  And I need pain pills and to lie down for a few hours afterwards.  I think I overdid it just a little.


There was a little gazebo a few feet before the exit of the campground and we took these few photos of each other:

A few more folks moved in today.  Still, a pretty quiet group so it's still peaceful.

Dinner:
Yesterday:  spaghetti with homemade sauce (diced tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, and diced zucchini), faux chicken patties parmesian.

Tonight: zucchini & onions with Italian style (veggie) sausage, homemade mashed potatoes.

Day 63 of the Journey -Panama City Beach, FL

Today was a fixup day.  Fred came over and helped Mitch put the door back on the track.  It was only semi-successful; it is inside the pocket now rather so no longer in the way of the steps, but it doesn't open or close smoothly.  We'll need to call in a professional to repair it properly. After a lovely lunch out, Mitch went to Fred's house and helped install a ceiling light/fan.  I went along too and hung out with Twila while the boys worked.  Returned home at 6:00.  Had a dinner of leftovers, took a shower and vegged out the rest of the night.

At some point soon, I really need to get in the habit of taking pictures!

Dinner
Dinner - leftover stuffed peppers, leftover salmon from lunch

Day 62 of the Journey -Panama City Beach, FL

The heat wave broke a bit today.  It was actually quite lovely out.  Therapy is getting brutal now.  I have been given more intense exercises using resistance bands, so I am feeling extremely sore, sometimes even in pain.  But this is all good stuff; it means I'm healing.  It's just kind of hard to get motivated to do my exercises!  I don't mind walking, though and I am now allowed to walk around outside without the walker.  I think I may be able to put it away in the basement now.

Four more RVs moved into the campground today.  Besides it being Labor Day weekend this coming weekend, there's a huge country jamboree (Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam) a few miles down the road, including such names as Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton (I've only heard of the first one) but people are coming in from all over for the festivities.

Dinner:
Stuffed peppers, stuffed with a combination of rice, vegetarian "beef" crumbles, onions, mushrooms and tomatoes. 

Day 61 of the Journey -Panama City Beach, FL

Not a whole lot going on.  Way too hot.  This is from our weather station:

A/C doesn't seem to be working, but I suppose it is.  Just need to keep going outside and then back in to feel it.

The highlight of the day was going to Target to buy Mitch some much needed shorts.  I found a few tops on sale for $5.00 each.  Also bought a few odds & ends.  Also spent the day opening the few dozen envelopes containing medical bills and trying to sort through that.  Thank goodness for insurance but we still owe close to $7K.  This doesn't include the most recent hospital stay, the week at the rehab hospital, the surgeon or therapy; those bills are yet to arrive.  If I procrastinate paying them, will they miraculously disappear?

Dinner:
Noodle casserole: farfelle noodles mixed with leftover potato/celery soup, topped with Mexican blend cheese.

Day 60 of the Journey (Shabbat) -Panama City Beach, FL

Another 4 trailers came to the park between yesterday and today, but it was still very peaceful and quiet.  I took a very long walk (for me, in this condition, anyway), from our site to the main office which is probably about 1/4 mile round trip.  Heat index 113.  Very frustrating walking past the pool with its glistening clear water calling my name.  Maybe by next week I'll be able to immerse.  This was also the first Shabbat we've observed in our home since being in our seller's driveway in June and the very first at our own location.  Otherwise, it was a day of reading and napping.

Went out to a very nice restaurant on the beach with Fred & Twila.  Watched a nice sunset, and of course, neither Mitch nor I had our phones with us to take a photo.  Beaches are such beautiful places, but it will be a long time before I'm ready to walk on sand.  But I can enjoy the view from the dock or deck or restaurant or boardwalk or wherever for now, and take in deep breathes of that luscious sea air.

Dinner:
Out to eat.  Ordered the blackened grouper with potatoes and a side tossed salad.