Sunday, September 16 through Sunday, September 30: More Doctor Maintenance and Readying for October RV Trip

Sunday was another day of pickleball play at the Rodeo Barn. Monday, I had an appointment in Flagstaff with my dermatologist, Sara Risner-Rumohr. In May, she noticed a cyst on the back of my neck. The timing of having it removed did not work for me, so the in-office surgery was postponed. Today was the day! Just four stitches!

Tuesday morning, I attended the Highland Meadows ladies breakfast at Anna's Cafe. After an hour, I excused myself to go play pickleball. At the Rodeo Barn, we had our largest group of players --- twelve of us! The two courts were full.

 And, we had to implement a queuing-up system with four people waiting.

That afternoon, Tom and I drove to Flagstaff for my appointment with cardiologist, Dr. Mackin. I was scheduled for a stress echocardiogram. The procedure lasted about an hour. Dr. Mackin told me that my heart takes many extra beats. During the test, he said that I stopped the extra heart beats at the highest treadmill workout level.

Dr. Mackin's recommendation was to eat fish two to three times a week, increase natural potassium in my diet, and add a magnesium supplement and a fish oil supplement. He thought that this would get my heart beats back to normal is 3-4 weeks. I like that!

It was almost 6:00 pm. We picked up the two supplements at Sprouts and then headed to Hiro's for sushi. Our pleasant sushi chef was from Hawaii.

It is so nice that Tom likes sushi as much as me!

Wednesday morning, I drove back to Flagstaff. I had another appointment with chiropractor Brent Moseng. His adjustments are really great!

Unfortunately, this will be my last visit to his office until November. Tom and I are leaving on a 30-day RV trip in ten days.

My sister Wendy reached out to all the Shelton siblings to arrange a dinner together. The date was set for Friday, October 21. I decided it would be fun to join them. Then, it would be all six of us! My brother Peter and his wife, Terry, live in San Gabriel. They invited me to stay at Casa Shelton. Tom was kind enough to offer to stay in Williams and care for the dogs. He had done it once in July, but only for a night. This time, it was going to be two nights. Thank you, Tom!

On Thursday, I left Williams for Los Angeles at about 9:00 a.m. Without stops, it is a 6 1/2 hour drive. But, I do make stops! The drive was uneventful until I hit the Cajon Pass. Lots of traffic there!

I arrived at Pete and Terry's home around 3:00 pm. Pete had the day off. Terry came home around 4:00 pm. We decided to go to Lacy Park and walk. It was a beautiful late afternoon walk!

That evening, my brother, Peter, barbecued pork tenderloins. Yummy!

The next morning, Terry suggested that we ride bikes to the Rose Bowl and back. It would be about 20 miles. Terry was a champion in finding "none busy" streets for the ride. The Rose Bowl was being set up for several Beyonce concerts.

Terry texted my sister Wendy to meet us at a lunch restuarant, The Heirloom. Terry and I locked our bikes and shared an egg salad sandwich.

Wendy dropped by our restaurant after a gym class at the South Pasadena/San Marino YMCA. We will be seeing her later for dinner.

When we returned to the Shelton home, I took a little nap. Very refreshing! We left San Gabriel for Pasadena at about 5:15 pm. We wanted to pick up my nephew, Michael, in Pasadena.

It was a great Mexican meal at Wendy and Kai's home. What fun to have all six Shelton siblings together!

Saturday morning, I headed back to Williams. It was an uneventful trip. Tom and the dogs were happy to see me!

After I got back from church, Tom and I went to play pickleball at the Rodeo Barn. It was a smaller group, but still good.

Monday was a day of Flagstaff errands and Natanya's massage in Williams. It was time for me to go to Jiffy Lube for my 5,000 mile lube job.

In the mail, I received my new medicare card. The new number is gibberish. Too bad that my social security number is a thing of the past.

Tuesday was a beautiful morning of clouds.

I went to Sandoval Tires to get my tires rotated. They were short-staffed, so it took a little longer. But, I made it to the Highland Meadows Ladies breakfast, this time at Pine Country Restaurant. No pickleball at the Rodeo Barn this week. The high school homecoming float is being decorated.

On Wednesday, four of us went to Flagstaff to play pickleball at the Aquaplex. I had not been there since May, 2017.

Gus, Libby, Jon, and I went to lunch at Jitters Lunch Box after pickleball. Jon is quickly engaged in becoming an Arizona resident. He already has a new license plate! Congratulations :-)

Thursday morning, the dogs and I walked through the neighborhood. We have seen this young buck in several locations. Here he was at a nearby home!

In the afternoon, I had an appointment in Flagstaff at Flagstaff Face & Body. Yes, I love dermaplaning! My current facial provider is thinking about retiring. So, I must look at alternatives.

My neighbors, Connie and Jay, earned a tag this year for hunting an elk. Hunting tags are part of a lottery system. And, they were successful!

500 pounds of elk meat is being processed at a local meat place on Garland-Prairie Road.  Later that evening, Jon joined us for dinner at El Corral Restaurant in Williams.

Saturday was a day dedicated to moving food and clothing to the travel trailer. The dogs always enjoy their walk from the front porch to Cataract Lake.

Sunday, we finalized the trailer set-up. We need to drop Ramsey off at Cinder Hills Kennel.

Our first night stay was at Springerville RV Park, about 210 miles southeast of Williams. It is a relatively new park --- still no showers, laundry, and toilets. But, it was quiet and the camp hosts were very friendly.

Saturday, September 1 through Saturday, September 15: Pickleball, New Williams Resident, and Medical Maintenance

Pickleball has really come to Williams! Parks and Recreation initially had play once a week. The venues have been changing, but now we have three days of play --- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. The Rodeo Barn will be the primary location for play, unless there is a weekend event there.

The Coconino County Fair was in Flagstaff over Labor Day weekend. I had never been. So, Tom and I took a field trip to go to the fair at Fort Tuthill County Park. Having given blood last month, I had a free ticket to the fair. It was fun seeing all of the animals and the colorful rides.

We just walked the property for an hour or so. Then, we headed off for lunch. It was too late for Hiro's Sushi (they close at 2 p.m. for lunch). So we had Chinese food down the way at Hunan West. Richard and I always found the food good here. No exception for me and Tom!

Ramsey has not been eating properly. He has also been sluggish. On Labor Day, I took him to the Canyon Pet Hospital in Flagstaff. On holidays, they do not take appointments. The veterinarian thought it was a urinary tract infection. Urine was taken for evaluation. But, I approved that they draw blood.

Poor Ramsey, I was told that he had a "raging" urinary tract infection. We were sent home with a week's supply of medicine and a request to return for a urine test in ten days.

Tom's son, Jon, came back to Williams from a road trip where he hiked and camped in Idaho and Oregon. The next day, his Williams home escrow will close.

Tom and I played pickleball on Tuesday. Jon's final paperwork for closing escrow on his very first home occurred at 2pm. Tom and I joined Jon at 1837 E. Tangerine Street for his first walk-thru as a homeowner. We brought with us toweling, toilet paper, and dish soap.

Not only is Jon's little house 575 square feet cute, but he has a killer view --- south to Bill Williams Mountain.

Wednesday, Jon wanted to go to Flagstaff to buy things for his new home. Tom and I tagged along. The two of us already told Jon that we wanted to buy him a microwave as a house warming gift. Done!

I also set aside a medley of duplicate dishes, glasses, pots, pans, serving dishes, and queen-size sheets for Jon to have in his home. Jon still has a 5th wheel in Tennessee where much of his household items reside. Until he goes there, it made sense to loan Jon items that I do not use.

Jon's first night in his new home was Thursday, September 6. Tom and I had some visitors coming to stay with us for one night. We played pickleball in the morning, and welcomed Casey Apregan and her United Kingdom friend, Louise. Upon their arrival at our home, we had sandwiches for lunch and then I swept them away to see Bearizona.

Casey is the daughter of long-time friend, Craig Apregan. She and Louise just graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. It is a premier school of music, drama, dance, production and film located in Glasgow. Casey and Louise were on a three week road trip --- seeing national parks --- before setting off to find theatrical work in NYC (Casey) and London (Louise).

The next morning, I took them to see the Grand Canyon. Casey was too young to remember the Grand Canyon when her family visited it. Louise had never been. The day was beautiful and the tour very productive.

Both Casey and Louise loved the canyon. We hiked down the Chimney on the South Kaibab Trail and had lunch at Maswik Lodge. We returned to Williams about 3:00 p.m. The girls packed up their car and headed south to Phoenix. Then, off to San Diego and Los Angeles. There is LA, they were reuniting with Casey's parents, Pattie and Craig.

Sunday was some more pickleball. The junior rodeo was in town, so the Rodeo Barn was not available. So, we were back outdoors at the tennis court at Williams Elementary/Middle School.

Once a year, I have my carpets cleaned by Brian of Steam Master. Monday was the day. I only have carpet in my master bedroom suite and one bedroom. The one bedroom is rarely used, so Brian worked his magic in the bedroom suite. With three Dalmatians, hair is is biggest issue.

That afternoon, I drove to Flagstaff to have my second visit with my new chiropractor, Dr. Brent Moseng. My massage therapist suggested that I seek additional care to work out a thickness in my back and sciatica area.

Tom has been battling sinus and coughing issues. So, I volunteered to make dinner. Tom is usually the barbecue king, but I took over the reins Monday night.

The entree was blue-cheese stuffed hamburgers. Before Tom joined our household, I was the chief barbecuer.

Tuesday morning was pickleball at the Rodeo Barn. There were just six of us, so we only set up one court. There is a new couple who play pickleball, Emily and Joey. They are in their late 20s and move around with great agility. It is refreshing!

The Williams Medical Clinic referred me to a cardiologist. It seems that my pulse is very low. So, I met with Dr. Robert Mackin in Flagstaff. I was equipped with a 24 hour electrocardiography device, that monitored my heart for a day and night.

On Wednesday, Tom, Jon, and I drove from Williams to Tusayan for a Chamber of Commerce event "How to become a Grand Canyon Expert." It was an 1 1/2 hours, and included presentations from the Grand Canyon/Tusayan Chamber of Commerce, the National Park Service, and the Kaibab National Forest. Because we receive visitors who are heading to the canyon, and because we live so close by, it seemed like a fun outing at Big E's Steakhouse.

Later in the day, I went into the RV barn. There, I found that one of the travel trailer tires was flat. I called AAA Roadside assistance. They called Sandoval Tires and employee Melvin was sent out to our home.

The tire was taken off the trailer, taken back to the shop for repair, and returned promptly. It was a small screw that caused the slow leak.

Thursday afternoon, I had a follow-up appointment with Ramsey at Canyon Pet Hospital in Flagstaff. They wanted to test his urine and make sure the urinary tract infection was gone. Later that afternoon, I went to an exercise session at my gym. Good work-out!

Friday, was a another trip to Flagstaff. This time, for an MRI of my head. I was detected with a small acoustic neuroma in August, 2004. This is a benign tumor in my inner ear. I had annual MRIs for six years with no change. My last one was in 2010. My Flagstaff ENT doctor, Dr. Alex Lund, ordered the MRI.

The machine still makes the "clang, clang, clang."

On Saturday, I went to an open house at the International Kadampa Retreat Center. It is a modern Buddhist group that has opened a retreat center in Williams.

They also have broken ground on a 1,000 seat Buddhist Temple, right off Interstate 40, west of Flagstaff.

After the open house, I enjoyed a pedicure at 66 Nails Spa with Jennifer.

That night, Tom and I had dinner at Red Raven Restaurant. This day was our 15 month anniversary of being a couple.

Thursday, August 16 through Friday, August 31: Amazon Packages, Rodeo Pickleball, and Appointments

Last night, I decided that the rash on my stomach needed to be looked at by a doctor. I had no appointment at the clinic, so I used the walk-in option. I met with Dr. Tom Myers. He used to work at the Grand Canyon North Country Medical Clinic and co-wrote the book, Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon. Had I know that he was working at the Williams clinic that day, I would have brought my book for autographing!

Two things came out of my medical walk-in --- Dr. Myers submitted a referral for a cardiac evaluation because my pulse was abnormally low and I was given a low dosage of steroids to stop the unidentified rash from itching. Last week, I almost was not able to give blood because my pulse was under 50!

While in the medical center parking lot, an idiot light came on. Battery Not Charging. I called James at JJs Automotive and made an appointment for the next day.

Early Friday morning, I walked the dogs over to Cataract Lake. The wildflowers are in full bloom. Love the yellow sunflowers!

I have been enjoying my Amazon Prime membership. The two-day delivery is so much fun! During the past few weeks, I have been thinking about a welcome sign for the front door area. There are local wood carvers with Welcome Bears, but I decided on a ceramic version on the Amazon website. It arrived!

James from JJs Automotive called and said that my truck was ready to be picked up. And yes, a new alternator was required.

Saturday, I told Tom that it would be fun to go hear Omar sing at the Best Western Plus. Before leaving, we had an adult beverage and a shrimp cocktail appetizer. Omar was happy to see us and we enjoyed his music variety.

On Sunday, I told Tom that I wanted the two of us to take a day road trip to parts of northeastern Arizona that I have never visited. We decided to get an early start on Monday. The rest of Sunday was some of the usual --- church for me, pickleball on the tennis courts, and a Netflix movie streaming in the evening.

I walked and fed the dogs early. Tom and I left Williams at around 8:30 am. Our 8-hour road trip was going to be a loop that included the Mogollon Rim. We drove through the beautiful Ponderosa pine forests from Flagstaff to Mormon Lake to Happy Jack. Then, we dropped down to the towns of Strawberry, Pine, and Payson. It was another 30 miles from Payson to the Mogollon Rim Visitor Center.

At about 12:30 pm, we stopped in Snowflake, Arizona, for lunch. TripAdvisor rated La Cocina de Ella as the best restaurant selection. It was good Mexican food, promptly served. The place was busy with retirees and office workers.

The town of Snowflake was settled by the Mormon pioneers. It was Mr. Snow and Mr. Flake --- who were asked by Brigham Young to go and colonize this area. There is a large Church of Latter Day Saints Temple on a hilltop.

I had never been to the Mogollon Rim or Snowflake, Arizona. There is another town I would like to visit at another time --- Show Low. If we had gone there too, it would have been too long of a day. As it was, we didn't get home until 4:30 pm. The dogs were ready for a walk!

On Tuesday, our Pickleball coordinator Kerry-Lynne Moede made arrangements with the City of Williams Parks & Recreation to open the Rodeo Building. Six of us arrived at the building around 10:00 am. We were going to see if this enclosed venue would be a good place to move our pickleball play. Tom and Gus measured the court and I helped with the taping. The floor is cement and the ceiling is low, but it seemed to work!

The Rodeo building has events and activities on most of the weekends until October. So, Sunday pickleball will have to remain on the tennis courts until then.

Roy Henderson recently contacted me. Roy and I worked together at Union Bank over twenty years ago. Roy and his wife, Mel, live in Anthem, a community north of Phoenix. Roy wanted to know if we could meet for dinner in Flagstaff. I said "YES!" Roy was driving up to Salt Lake City. One of their granddaughters was getting married. Mel was already in Salt Lake City. So, Tom and I met Roy for dinner at Horsemen Lodge.

Wednesday afternoon, we had some some heavy showers. The clouds were beginning to congregate around noon.

Another Amazon Prime purchase was a package of copper mugs for the Moscow Mule drink. When we were in Bend, Kai made some very tasty drinks in these mugs. So, the mugs arrived and the drinks were made. Mine was made with vodka and Tom likes his whisky.

On Thursday, I took Ramsey to Flagstaff for his appointment with Dr. Miller at Canyon Pet Hospital. This was an annual wellness exam, in order to renew his muscle relaxation prescription. It was diagnosed last year that Ramsey probably had distemper before I adopted him in 2010. Later in life, the condition in dogs is similar to multiple sclerosis in humans --- the brain, spinal cord, and legs are sometimes not talking to one another.

Later that day, I went to my gym, Results Fitness, for the 5:30 p.m. exercise class with Lucas. I am not a self-motivated gym person, so I like the "Simon Says" format of trainer Lucas.

August 24 is my mom's birthday. She died in December, 2005. This year, she would have been 93. All of my siblings texted one another acknowledging the date. My sister Wendy shared a photo she had of mom --- probably in her late teens/early twenties.

On Saturday, Tom and I went to the Garden Market in Williams. It was the first time we visited this place. We bought some organic zucchini and squash to barbecue.

I wanted to walk Kelsey and Libby in the historic part of Williams. Tom dropped us off near the cemetery and the three of us walked up to Buckskinner Park --- about two miles. There, Tom had his fishing gear and was seeing if any of the fish were biting. He did catch one fish, but did a "catch and release" action.

Since it was Saturday, there were a number of other people fishing on the shore of the lake.

Amazon Prime is contagious. The hand-held shower head bracket in the guest bathroom broke.

So, I ordered a replacement from Amazon --- delivery on Tuesday!

On Sunday, after church, was pickleball outdoor play. The Rodeo building is not available for Sunday play until October. It was not too windy, but the clouds rolled in and the monsoon rain began after only an hour of play.

There was a full moon early Monday morning. When taking the dogs out for their first walk, I took a photo of the moon against the blue sky.

Monday morning I had a hair appointment with Shawna at Tirzah Salon. Near the completion of my appointment, Lisa D'Arpa showed up for her hair appointment. It was fun to see her! Lisa was tan from spending a lot of the summer at her parent's home in Southern Florida. Unbelievable that her oldest daughter, Shasta, is starting high school. I remember when she was born! The D'Arpas, Jeff and Lisa, worked at Zion Lodge with me and Richard.

I enjoyed a 90 minute healing massage with Natanya Nagy in the afternoon. She was massaging my lower back, near my sciatica. Near the end of the treatment, she suggested that I go to a chiropractor for some additional work. I knew of one in Flagstaff that seemed to get good reviews.

Tuesday was another day of walking the dogs. I still walk Ramsey about two miles a day, but Kelsey and Libby get the full five miles.

Eight of us showed up for indoor pickleball at the Rodeo Building. So, we finished taping off a second court. Nice!

The Moen hand-held shower kit I ordered through Amazon Prime arrived Tuesday. It was a perfect fit, and the guest bathroom shower/tub is back in working order.

Jan Chumley, a neighbor in Highland Meadows, suggested that a group of us go to the Flagstaff Arboretum on Wednesday. I have never been to the Arboretum, so that sounded fun. It turned out that three carloads of us met there at 10:30 a.m. Tom and I drove one of the cars. The last four miles of the road to the Arboretum was dirt. Interesting! We spent a half hour in the visitor center before going on a 45 minute tour of the grounds.

At the conclusion of the guided tour, several of us walked out to a 1934 log cabin --- built by the McAllisters --- who eventually donated the land to the arboretum.

The last exhibit we saw was the butterfly room. It was active with live butterflies whose life span is only two weeks.