Just About There!! Done Working That Is!!

But first we celebrated Christmas with our kids and grandkids.  The crew was here Christmas Eve day – had a great time eating and refreshments and watching the four munchkins above as they opened their gifts and just generally be kids – laughing, running, jumping, screaming – well that was the speed of the oldest three, little Owen pretty much just did what he does best – sleep! 

Tomorrow will be our last day at the bank.  Will be Vicky’s last working day and I will work thru the month of January remotely from TX.  We will be flying back to TX on Wednesday.

So the last few days have been kinda strange – packing up here at the home of friends where we have been staying since we returned to MN in late October and thinking our about when we return next spring and not going to work.  We’ll do just fine I’m sure but it will be a big change. Being able to see the grand kids more and help watch them when we can and do some more traveling in the 5er.

We did have a busy week before Christmas – some type of party every night Monday thru Thursday and then had another steriod injection Friday morning for the pinch nerve issue, which by the way is much better finally. 

So got decorations all back in storage, house cleaned up, bags packed for the flight Wednesday and one more day of work and we are out of here!!!  Texas here we come – warm it up please –

the weather here in MN has been unseasonable warm – no snow for Christmas although the lakes are frozen and the ice fisherman are out – vehicles going out on the ice today and the temps are in the 40’s – !!!!!

Take Care – next update will be from Sunny TX.

Where Do I Start!

In the four weeks since our last post I should have a lot to blog about – but not really!   Just been a long four weeks of dealing with a pinched nerve in my neck – leading from one thing to another.

About the week of thanksgiving I started to notice a pain or knot between my shoulders, didn’t do much about for a week and then went to the chiropractor.  Helped some but after a couple days it really started hurting.  Went back and got a message – she really worked out the knot and it felt good for a couple days.  Then the pain started in my shoulder and arm pit area.  So back to the chiropractor again.  This time he said he wouldn’t touch me and sent me to my medical doctor.  Before I could get in there the pain went down my arm and into my hand so I called physical therapy at the medical clinic and they diagnosed typical pinched nerve between 5 & 6.  Got into Med Dr and he prescribed muscle relaxer and nerve pain meds. and lined up an MRI in getting ready for steriod epideral.  Two treatments of traction later the pain got worse and ended up in urgent care last Sunday.  Got put on a drug that really made me sick. By Friday was finally able to get the epideral, pain has really subsided but an encouraged to get another in two weeks before we head back to TX. 

So after being our of work for a week I will try it tomorow – only 9 working days to go!!!

Looking for to spending Christmas Eve day with all the family here – the three older grand kids are full of energy and little Owen just sleeps and eats.

Till Next Time

Grandchild #4–Owen Allan has arrived

Kelly and Blake’s little bundle arrived Saturday eve and 7:32 – all 7# 9oz.  So that makes 4 grand kids – 3 boys  and 1 girl – with another one due in April!  The family keeps growing!

We Celebrated gr-son Caleb’s b-day in St Cloud yesterday during the snow storm – about 8-10” of the white stuff fell.But that doesn’t stop a four year old from celebrating – they really enjoyed their first day of this season  snow.  Caleb’s mom (dil)made this really “cool” transformer birthday cake.

Was hoping not to have to put new tires on the old chevy until next spring but our little November snow storm changed my plans – so $400 later we had new tires on the car to drive him with last night.  O well it was now or later.

Really bright and cold out today with the new snow and ice is forming on the lake but doubt any of it will last long because temps are forecasted in the 50’ by Thanksgiving Day.

Down to 16 working days at the bank – time is starting to go fast.   We’ve had a lot going on and the next four weeks are just as busy as the last four – won’t be long and we’ll be back in TX.

Take Care.

Back at the grind–30 working days till retirement!

Been back in MN for a week now – finishing my last 30 days at the bank.  Flight back to MN was pretty uneventfull – just made for a long day.

Upon our return Vicky had to get things finalized for the resorters fall conference in Grand Rapids (MN) – registrations, meal counts, copies of handouts, etc.  Have some friends that live there so spent Friday evening with them then at the resort with conference the rest of the weekend.  Bob came home Sunday evening and Vicky rode home with a local resorter on Tuesday.  She’s back  at the bank finishing up her last days too.

Plan on checking in with the kids and grandkids in St Cloud this weekend along with visiting Bob’s mom at the nursing home.

So not much else going on this week.

Take Care

Mexico Visit

Got a couple comments on our visit to Mexico yesterday.   We always go to the small town of Progresso – don’t do the Reynosa thing anymore!   It’s very calm, people are generally very nice – a little hungry this time of the year so they sure do want you to buy their wares!  The military has been visible for the last couple of years but no sign of them yesterday.  Had a good visit with one of the bartenders in one of the stores – he said there’s been a lot of political changes, changes in the police department, etc., so things remain very quiet in their town.  We did the regular things, bought a couple meds, couple gifts, some vodka (better than half the price than in Mission but now state tax at the border is up to $3.25 for a quart), had a very good lunch at the Red Snapper, bought a couple movies which I will take back – poor quality and one will not play – never had the problem before.   So all in all felt very safe in Progresso we will return for sure.

Was a warm day with temps in the 90’s so a couple cervasas tasted pretty good!!  S’pose to be in the mid 90’s again today.  We are meeting some friends in Harlingen for the lunch at the Longhorn so best get going here.

 

Take Care

Been a nice break!

We’ve been in TX since last Friday – really has been relaxing!  Pulled in about 9pm but the house cooled off pretty quick and we were sound to sleep by 11.  Everything was fine and rather dust free in the house but sure is dry.   Having been running water on the fruit trees nearly every day.

Just been taking a easy – going out to eat, cards with Lloyd and Gail, pool, etc.   Going to Mexico today for lunch and to pick up a few “necessities”!  Went to bingo at the Elks with Lloyd and Gail last night – Gail won $18 and I won $38 – so was a good night.  Friends Gil and Bev from MN will get into Harlingen today so will go over and have lunch with them sometime over the weekend.

Will be heading back MN next Tuesday for a couple months – need to finish up the working career – will be back here 12/28 for our first New Years Eve in TX and will be here till around the 1st of April.

Take Care

Mile High City!!

We have been in Denver, CO since Wednesday.  Bob is attending a conference of the American Fraternal Alliance, an affiliation to the Fraternal Life Insurance company of which he is on the board.   This is our first time in Denver, so far it’s been a lot of meetings and workshops and dining out.  Later today we are doing a 4 hour bus tour of the foothills and mountain area to the west of Denver – that will be fun and interesting.

Since our last post – we left Albany early that Sunday morning as it was raining and it’s not a good place to be when it’s wet and muddy.   So got hookup and back to New London by 10:30.  Spent the rest of the day cleaning up the 5er,  Vicky had a lot of catch up to do in logging resort memberships for the coming year.  Not sure if we’ve mentioned, but she continues with her side job as Office Manager for the Congress of MN resorts  (www.minnesota-resorts.com).  This is a group of mom and pop cabin resorts throughout MN.  They have approximately 200 members and associate members, they do a spring and fall conference and then the membership drive annually in August.  So she has duties throughout the year and especially busy this time of the year with both memberships and fall conference.  The good part is she is able to do it most anywhere we are as long as we have internet and our daughter Kari is able to pick up the mail.  Oh – and the pay comes in handy too!!

Spent the couple weeks working at the bank. Started arranging some belongings to move from the storage facility to the house we will be staying in during November and December until we head back to TX.  Also got stuff ready to load up for the drive to TX on the 13th for 10 days.

So we will be back at the bank Monday counting off our working days – think it will be down to about 35 or so when we head south on th13th.  Time is getting short and lot going on in the next couple of months – a 50th wedding anniversary for some friends on the 8th, baby shower for the new baby on 10/9, State park fund raiser on the 10th, Catholic United board meeting on the 13th, leave for TX that afternoon, back to MN on the 25th, new grand child due 11/12, bridal shower for a niece on 11/20, wedding for a good friends son on 11/26, another Catholic United board meeting 12/8 along with Christmas Party the night before.   So along with the holiday gatherings in there – I think we will be busy before we fly back to TX  12/28.

That’s it till next time.  Take care.