May 19 to 25,2019

Sunday ; Sunny and warm.

Today was a productive day of successful repairs. I reinstalled the living room air conditioner vent window panel. After breaking the previous panel made of plexiglass I fabricated a new panel made of thin wood panelling, and Joanne painted it. I checked the camper water heater’s sacrificial anode, removed and replaced yesterday, to see if there were any leaks. There weren’t ! I checked the water heater’s winterization bypass plumbing, reinstalled correctly yesterday, to see if there were any leaks. There weren’t ! I checked the roof top solar panel’s charge controller, repaired yesterday, to ensure that it was working correctly. It was !

I replaced the truck’s “permanent” air filter. It was about twelve years old. I bought a new one in The Dalles, Oregon ( tax free ! AND … a $10 discount coupon ! ) on our way home from Yuma. Removing, cleaning, oiling, and reinstalling the air filter has been an annual chore that I dislike. So I expected that removing the old filter and installing a new one would also be an unpleasant chore. It wasn’t ! It went relatively smoothly and relatively quickly. My last outdoor chore of the afternoon was to remove, repair with glue, and replace the camper bathroom door’s latch. It’s made of plastic, and had developed a crack. That repair also went relatively well. That will extend the life of the door latch for awhile, postponing the difficult task of finding a suitable replacement for a latch that is now over twenty years old.

I did some banking and budgeting and investment records keeping work. I posted my weekly journal to my blog. I barbecued jerk chicken for supper. After supper Joanne had a long telephone chat with her sister. I went bicycling.

Monday ; Victoria Day ( Canadian holiday )

Sunny and warm, a bit windy.

This morning, after treating Ozzie’s ears and brushing his ( six ) teeth, I went outside and watered our composters, plants, and gardens. Joanne helped me load our old mattress into the back of the truck, then cover it with a tarp, and tie it down. I’ll take it to the dump on Wednesday.

After lunch and a nap ( for me ) we gave Ozzie a bath. As we were finishing that our neighbour / friend Jeanine came over for a visit. We visited, then took Ozzie for a walk, and walked Jeanine back to her home.

Back at home I refilled the camper’s freshwater tank. After supper ( baked salmon ) I prepared and submitted our ballot for our community’s upcoming special general meeting to vote on the “firing” of our Board of Directors. < sigh > Over twelve years of this sort of nonsense drama !

Tuesday ; Penticton

Mostly cloudy, mild.

We left at noon for a day of running errands in Penticton. Didn’t get back home until 8:15 PM. After shopping at Wal-Mart late in the afternoon I had to get a battery boost start for the minivan. HMPH … ran the battery down having the fridge plugged in all day. Put the battery charger onto the minivan battery as soon as we returned home. Might be time for a new battery in the minivan.

By the way … the female cashier at Value Village who served us today was two months older than me / seven months younger than Joanne. And I couldn’t help but comment to Joanne as we left the store … she looked a LOT older than both of us ! SO … I guess we both look relatively good for our age !

Wednesday ; Sunny and warm.

Late this morning I headed into town ( Keremeos ) in the truck. First stop was Autumn Rain Hair Design where I got a haircut and beard trim. Then I drove the truck to the Keremeos Landfill where I disposed of our old mattress. Back into town and I dropped the truck off at Total Performance Automotive for a new muffler and tail pipe. I walked across the street to Westland Insurance ( a.k.a. Similkameen Insurance Agencies ) and renewed the vehicle registration and insurance for the truck and the insurance for the camper.

And that resulted in … the demise of Similkameen Trailer Towing. Now that Joanne is 65 years of age she is ( we are ) eligible for a seniors’ pleasure use rating for vehicle insurance, with a considerable discount. BUT … that rating does not allow for any “business” use of the vehicle whatsoever. Our previous pleasure use rating allowed for up to six days per month of business use. So … I “retire” Similkameen Trailer Towing. Which I have been contemplating doing anyway.

Joanne came into town in the minivan and picked me up at the insurance agency. Back at home we “tested” the suitability of a fuel can that I bought yesterday as a means to get water into the camper’s freshwater tank refill inlet, in the event that we are unable to get access to a threaded faucet / spigot ( to attach our water refill hose ). It worked excellently ! We suspect that some of the remote wilderness campgrounds we will be visiting on our upcoming Cassiar Highway trip will have old fashioned well water hand pumps only.

Now that the long weekend is over, and all the “grandchildren” have left, it’s safe for us to use the swimming pool once again … < raising my eyebrows > ! So we went to the swimming pool for a cardiac exercise session before supper.

We had our annual treat of fiddleheads for supper tonight. We bought them yesterday at Superstore. Fiddleheads are available around here once per year only, for a very short period of time, grown at an Abbotsford area mushroom farm in the spring. We tried a new recipe for fiddleheads. My creation / idea ! It was EXCELLENT ! What a treat ! After supper we watched tonight’s two back to back episodes of Amazing Race.

Thursday ; Cloudy, mild, brief thunderstorm in the afternoon.

Around noon a truck and utility trailer with Saskatchewan license plates showed up on our next door lot, where Gord and Marcie ( and Ozzie ) used to live. It was the purchasers of that lot, and our new neighbours. Welcome to the neighbourhood, Ken and Lorena ! We chatted with them for awhile, then headed into town to pick up the repaired truck.

After a very late lunch at home we trimmed the hair on Ozzie’s feet and head. Then … < sigh > … had a vicious squabble that ruined the rest of our day !

Friday ; Cloudy, mild, intermittent heavy rain.

This morning we removed half of our side yard “fencing” to allow the new next door neighbours to get their trailer into their lot. It will be arriving tomorrow from Saskatchewan. Then I torqued the lug nuts on the truck tires and reinstalled the valve extenders, wheel liners and hub caps. This new style of valve extenders that I have been using for the last year are much easier to reinstall than the previous style that I had used. I crawled underneath the truck and examined the new muffler and tailpipe.

I removed the hard wired smoke alarm in the house, Joanne vacuumed it, and 

I reinstalled it. Maybe that will reduce the number of smoke alarm “incidents” occurring due to Joanne’s cooking … < snicker >. I repaired a crack in the aluminum skin of the camper. Joanne did laundry. We went to the swimming pool and did a cardiac exercise session.

I barbecued burgers for supper. First time this season ! I posted some online ads for items to sell. I “synchronized” our Government of Canada and Revenue Canada online account user names and passwords. HMPH … not as easy as you might think ! I paid our ( massive ) May MasterCard billing. Late in the evening we watched the final episode of season 1 of Downton Abbey. Gee … now it’s all starting to make sense !

Saturday ; Mix of sun and clouds, heavy rain briefly in the afternoon.

This morning we were awakened at 6:45 AM by the arrival of our new next door neighbours’ trailer delivery. Not pleased ! Enough said !

I rebuilt our side yard fence. When I began to back the truck under the camper, to remount the camper onto the truck … < fume > … the “check engine” light on the truck dashboard came on ! F*** ! I postponed putting the camper onto the truck. While Joanne was in town running errands this afternoon she stopped at my mechanic’s and made an appointment for me to take the truck in for a diagnosis on Tuesday.

Late last night I posted a couple of “for sale” ads on Kijiji. My first response to one of the ads came about 5:30 AM ! By noon I had four responses and the camper tie downs were sold, paid for by Interac e-transfer … < blink blink >. WOW !

I bought my 2019 fishing license online today. I reconciled our May MasterCard statement. I responded to a trailer towing quote request today. My last one, no doubt !

DSK

May 12 to 18, 2019

Sunday ; Overcast, warm, windy.

Joanne went to Penticton today to run errands by herself. I did a 6000 km. inspection on the truck. HMPH ! Truck needs a new muffler pretty soon. I have been patching the truck’s original muffler with muffler cement for at least the last seven years, but … it’s now beyond being able to be helped with some muffler cement “goop” ! I spent quite awhile in the clubhouse using Wi-Fi, getting work done online. I certainly am getting eager ( read that as “impatient” ) for Wi-Fi service at our home !

And this is why I have not done business with the local Internet service provider for the last nine or ten years, after using their service for the first two or three years that we lived here. Their Wi-Fi “technical” service is great, but … their “service” service is atrociously bad ! ! ! < sigh > Too bad I can’t find a better alternative ! I suppose that’s part of the price one must pay for living out here in the “bush” in the middle of nowhere !

Monday ; Overcast and warm.

Joanne did a lot of laundry today. I watered and turned our composter. I did some preventive maintenance on the truck, in preparation for a trip to the Lower Mainland tomorrow. I placed a bid on a U-Ship job to transport a dog from Penticton to Surrey, but the shipper let my eight hour timed bid expire. < shrug > Good luck, pal ... finding another transporter willing to transport your dog on the date you require, for the amount of money you are offering ! I was willing to postpone tomorrow’s trip for one week to accommodate this dog transport job.

Tuesday ; home to Chilliwack to Abbotsford

Overcast and cool.

This morning we prepared for departure and left home a few minutes before noon, heading west on Hwy. 3, through Hedley, then Princeton, and into Manning Provincial Park. We stopped in the parking lot of Manning Park Lodge to have a late lunch in the camper. After lunch we continued west on Hwy. 3 until it ended and merged with Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 at Hope. We arrived in Chilliwack right on time at 4 PM.

I went to the parts department of O’Connor RV to buy a new water pump and hardware for the camper. Their parking area is WAY too small for customers in RV’s, but … their parts department employee Amanda gave EXCELLENT 

service ! I was finished shopping at O’Connor’s and we were back on the highway about 4:30 PM. We arrived at the Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 westbound km. marker 83 rest area at 5 PM. It was a bit early to be stopping for the night, but … < shrug > … Amanda advised that boondocking overnight at one of the three Wal-Marts in Surrey was … not advisable. Surrey is a tough neighbourhood !

The rest area provides free Wi-Fi so I amused myself online until it was time for supper. Joanne asked if I could find an interesting restaurant in the area. Maybe we could have lunch there tomorrow ? So … I did find an interesting restaurant ! And we are planning to have lunch there tomorrow after we pick up our new mattress in Surrey.

Wednesday ; Abbotsford to Surrey to home

This morning we left the rest area about 10 AM and drove west on Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 to Surrey, then south on Hwy. 15 and west on 64^th Ave. in the city of Surrey to Royal City Bedding, arriving about 11 AM. Our custom made mattress was ready and waiting for us, as was the purchase paperwork. We paid the bill, the staff loaded the new mattress into the camper, and we were out of there in just a few minutes. Very efficiently handled transaction. Thank you ! And … as we were about to climb into the truck and leave, our salesperson came out of the store and presented us with a lovely gift. Thank you ! ! !

We returned to TCH 1 and drove east, returning to Abbotsford. We found our way … thank you very much Thomasina ( our GPS ) … to the restaurant where we wanted to have lunch. And right beside the restaurant was a Co-op Fuel Bar, so 

I refilled the truck with diesel before going into the restaurant. It was difficult to squeeze the truck and camper into an urban small “hipster” mall parking lot.

Brodeur’s Bistro is a French Canadian / Cajun fusion. Rather expensive, very hipster, long wait for food, but … rated on a scale of zero to ten, here are our ratings on the food ;

• Joanne’s French Canadian pea soup ; 12 out of 10
• Joanne’s tourtière ( French Canadian meat pie ) ; 7 out of 10
• Daniel’s Montreal smoked meat, smoked Gouda, and cheddar grilled sandwich ; 11 out of 10
• Daniel’s Cajun poutine ; 11 out of 10 ( my three cardiac bypasses are LAUGHING with joy ! HA HA HA )
• Abbotsford’s tap water ; zero out of 10 ! EUUUWWW … what a lot of chlorine !

Yeah … the food was THAT good ! ! ! And we are very tough to please ! ! ! Except for the long wait for the food … a kitchen problem, not a server problem … the service was extremely good as well.

After lunch we continued east on TCH 1 a short distance to the MM 99 eastbound rest area … not the one where we boondocked overnight last night ( MM 83 westbound ) … and we dumped our waste holding tanks at the sani-dump station. We continued east on TCH 1 to Chilliwack where I once again stopped at O’Connor RV to buy some more installation hardware for the water pump 

I bought yesterday. Finally, our chores in the Lower Mainland were finished. We continued east on TCH 1 to Hope, then east on Crowsnest Hwy. 3 to home. We stopped at Manning Park Lodge for a bathroom break for all three of us. We arrived home at 5 PM.

We had a late supper at 8 PM, as the three hour season finale of Survivor was starting.

Thursday ; Overcast, cool, intermittent light rain during the day, steady rain late in the evening.

WHEW … busy day ! At 10 AM the China Creek Internet installation technician showed up to install the antenna and cabling to provide me with Internet service. He was finished around noon. AHHHHH … Internet service at last ! I opted for an Ethernet cable directly into my laptop instead of a router and wireless Wi-Fi in our house. The Ethernet cable provides faster service than a router / Wi-Fi.

Between noon and 1 PM we took Ozzie for a walk, then removed our old mattress from the house and put it into our shed, and moved our new mattress into the house. At 1 PM the gas fitter I hired showed up to reposition our home’s propane regulator, in accordance with regulation changes. I assisted him with the work. I appreciate tradespeople who are willing to allow the client to help and learn by doing. The propane regulator repositioning was finished at 2 PM. We had lunch, I took a nap, then we took the truck and camper to our park’s 

sani-dump station, only about fifty feet or so from our home, to back flush the camper’s grey and black waste tanks.

Next chore was to trim Ozzie’s and Emma’s nails. < sigh > I was rushing, because it was raining lightly, and I carelessly cut two of Ozzie’s nails too short. Sorry, Ozzie ! < sigh >

After supper we watched the series finale of Big Bang Theory. < shrug >

Friday ; Overcast, chilly. BRRRRR !

We slept late this morning. By the time we were ready to head into town it was afternoon. First stop in Keremeos was Sanderson Farms for some produce. Then while I discussed muffler replacement with my mechanic Joanne walked to the grocery store for a couple of items. I picked her up at the grocery store and we continued to Cawston where we bought some strawberry plants at Little Bush’s Nursery.

Back at home we had a light, late lunch then I napped for awhile with the animals. This gloomy, chilly weather leaves me uninspired. I did some replenishment of toiletries in the camper, and refilled its freshwater tank. I did some online work, getting caught up on some e-mails I needed to send, and doing some bill paying.

Joanne bought fresh Steelhead Trout at the grocery store today. I cooked it tonight for supper, using a recipe I found online. Turned out pretty good … maybe a tad too much garlic ! < BURP >

Saturday ; Sunny, mild, windy.

This morning we removed the camper off the truck, in preparation for taking the truck for service next week. And the process of removing the camper was plagued by electrical problems. < sigh > When we were finished removing the camper I went looking for causes of the camper’s recent electrical issues. 

< sigh > And discovered two problems. First, a wire leading from the roof top solar panel into the camper had become disconnected. Then … I discovered a switch in the battery compartment was … in the disconnect position. < sigh > Where it probably has been since I replaced the battery in Oregon a few weeks ago.

After I rectified both those problems, the electrical problems were resolved. Including … the malfunctioning water pump was no longer malfunctioning. That’s good news, except … now I have a brand new water pump, purchased in Chilliwack earlier this week, at a cost of about $125, that I have absolutely no use for … now ! And … it makes no sense to return it for a refund. The fuel to Chilliwack and back would exceed the cost of the pump ! So … unless if I get hired to transport a trailer to the Lower Mainland in the next two weeks … extremely unlikely … it looks like I now have a spare water pump for the camper !

Joanne planted the strawberry bedding plants we bought yesterday. I drained the camper’s water heater then reinstalled the camper’s water heater winterization bypass plumbing … correctly this time … using hardware I purchased in Chilliwack. My last outdoor chore of the day was to remove the truck’s hub caps, wheel liners, and valve extenders, in preparation for a tire rotation service next week.

After a late supper we watched the season finale of Saturday Night Live.

DSK

May 5 to 11, 2019

Sunday ; Happy 18^th birthday to Joanne’s niece Amelia

Sunny and warm.

This afternoon I did some cleaning and maintenance work in the shed. Joanne did some yard work, cleaning and weeding our rock slope “front” yard. Late in the afternoon I went to the clubhouse to use Wi-Fi. < sigh > Government of Canada and Revenue Canada account access drama ! In the evening I reviewed our winter batch of mail.

Monday ; Penticton

Sunny and warm.

We left home at 10 AM this morning heading for Penticton. Joanne had an appointment with our family doctor. While she was seeing the doctor I walked over to a nearby optician and had the missing nose piece replaced on my sunglasses. When she was finished at the doctor’s we ran some errands until it was time for me to go to my 1 PM appointment with my gastroenterologist. When I was finished there we went to Dairy Queen for a late lunch.

After lunch we spent the rest of the afternoon running more errands. While Joanne shopped at Wal-Mart I went shopping for a new water pump for the camper at two RV dealers. I didn’t buy one today. Then … while Joanne bought groceries at Superstore I took the minivan for an oil change and fuel filter replacement. We left Penticton shortly after 5 PM and were home shortly after 6 PM.

After a late supper I did monthly computer backup. And attempted … and failed … to repair my WaterPik. Joanne was eager to watch Love After Lockup at 10 PM. When we tuned to the T & E network to watch that show … HEY ! The free preview of that network had expired. Joanne was very unhappy ! HA HA HA !

Tuesday ; Joanne’s 18^th anniversary as a cancer survivor

Sunny and warm.

Joanne worked on cleaning the inside of the camper, especially the range top. 

I prepared my bicycle for summer use. While we were walking Ozzie I initiated a conversation with a neighbour’s ex-husband, driving a commercial van indicating that he was a certified gas fitter. As a result, and after a visit to our home to see our propane installation, I hired him to complete some propane installation modifications required by recent regulatory changes. < sigh > Bureaucracy ! ! !

In the afternoon I went to the clubhouse to work online. Then we went to the swimming pool to do cardiac rehab aquatic exercising. In the evening I worked on monthly updating of our investment files.

Wednesday ; Sunny and warm.

This morning I mounted a new carbon monoxide detector. The old one died of old age. HMPH ! They now manufacture these detectors to “self-destruct” after eight years. I mounted the new one on the hallway wall, and removed the old one from the hallway ceiling.

After lunch I replaced the air filter in the minivan, then we drove into Keremeos to run some errands. First stop was Napa Auto Parts where I bought new wiper blades for the minivan, and had them installed. The price of wiper blades at Napa is higher than at Wal-Mart but … they install them for free. Sometimes I’m willing to pay for that convenience. And I’m becoming more and more willing the older 

I get ! We drove to Cawston and bought bedding plants ; tomatoes for me and herbs for Joanne. We returned to Keremeos where I went to the pharmacy and bought colonoscopy preparation medications. < sigh > We crossed the street and went to the grocery store. Didn’t buy anything and … bickered. < another sigh > Bickered all the way home. And for awhile after returning home, as well. < sigh >

Joanne planted her herbs. Around ( everybody else’s ) supper time I went to the clubhouse to work online. I’m becoming impatient for installation of Internet service at our home. I returned home to have supper and watch Survivor followed by Amazing Race. Late in the evening I reconciled monthly investment statements.

Thursday ; Sunny and very warm. How warm ? So warm that when I got dressed this morning I didn’t have to put a shirt on until … 10 PM ! HA HA HA !

MMMMM … first meal of barbecued jerk chicken and potato salad this summer season !

We put in our vegetable and herb gardens today. Joanne did most of the work. It included connecting and routing an irrigation / sprinkler hose through the tomato garden, the onion planters, the strawberry garden, and criss-crossed around the raised vegetable garden. I also planted some tomatillo seeds from Mexico in small “starter” pots, but it’s probably too late in the spring to start them from seed. Although … the difficult to decipher / translate Spanish instructions on the package indicate that it’s okay to sow the seeds at any time except October, November, and December. HA HA HA ! I suppose they hadn’t anticipated their seeds being planted in Canada !

At 6 PM we went to the swimming pool for a cardiac rehab aquatics exercise session. HMPH … pool was kind of crowded today ! And some of our “neighbours” seem to NOT be the sharpest knives in the drawer ! ! !

Friday ; Sunny and very warm.

HMPH ! Somewhat a frustrating day ! Replenished toiletries in the camper. Refilled the camper’s freshwater tank. Removed the camper’s water heater’s sacrificial anode and flushed mineral deposits out of the water heater tank. Repaired the water heater’s broken pressure relief valve. Then the frustrations began ! I removed the “winterization bypass” kit ; two valves, many fittings, and connecting hoses. Late last fall, when I attempted to winterize the water heater, the winterization bypass procedures did not work as they should have. Today 

I removed everything, and diagnosed the problem. HMPH ! Improper installation ! HMPH ! Installed by me ! ! ! In my defense … I WAS recuperating from cardiac bypass surgery at the time !

I determined the problem … and the solution ! HMPH ! Will require some additional hardware and plumbing fittings. I reinstalled the original / 

non-winterization bypass plumbing, which I had saved. When we go to the Lower Mainland area next week to pick up our custom made mattress I will shop for RV parts at a large RV dealer in Chilliwack. I will also have to buy a new water pump for the camper. The current one has “died” after only three and a half years.

Next job was to reinstall our living room’s portable air conditioner. It is vented via a hose and vent outlet installed in a plexiglass panel I fabricated years ago. I fit the plexiglass panel into a partially opened living room window. While installing the old, brittle piece of plexiglass … I broke it ! SHIT ! When I fabricated the plexiglass panel about five years ago … I had enough material to make three panels. The two spares were buried deep at the rear … and top … of our hallway closet. With assistance from Joanne, we found the two spare panels.

To make a long story shorter … while working on the two old, brittle, spare panels, I broke each of them ! < sigh > When we took Ozzie for a walk I went into the woodworking shop and found a scrap piece of wood panelling. I fabricated a new air conditioner vent panel using that piece of scrap wood. Sometime in the near future Joanne will paint it.

Late in the evening we watched another episode of the first season of Downton Abbey.

Saturday ; Mostly sunny, warm, a bit humid.

Joanne and I both worked on sorting and replacing clothing in the camper. I did some yard maintenance. I did some truck maintenance. I did more “return to Canada” spring tasks.

At 6 PM we went to the swimming pool and did a cardiac rehab aquatics exercise session. On our way home we stopped to chat with some neighbours and learned that … < sputter > ... another neighbour, around our age, in good health, died a few days ago … of a heart attack ! < sigh > I am very fortunate … and extremely grateful … to even have the opportunity to do post surgical cardiac rehabilitation exercise sessions !

DSK

April 28 to May 4, 2019

Sunday ; Mix of sun and clouds, mix of chilly to cool.

Joanne spent the day “moving” from the camper to the park model, mostly kitchen contents. I spent way too much of the day trying to gain access to the Internet. I finally was able to acquire the password for the Wi-Fi signal in our “lodge” ( a.k.a. “clubhouse” in all other RV parks ). I did some preventive maintenance on the truck. I restored the minivan to functionality. I spent about three hours in the clubhouse, working online. I submitted our income tax returns and payments. I reviewed and responded to a lot of e-mail. I cancelled our U.S. cell phone service. Good riddance ! I uploaded my weekly blog entry. I prepared for a meeting tomorrow with our new investment advisor.

We went for a long walk with Ozzie. And, of course … I napped with the animals after lunch. HA HA HA !

Monday ; Mix of sun and clouds, mix of chilly to cool … again !

Today was a long, expensive day of running errands in Penticton. We left home at 9:45 AM heading to Penticton for our 11 AM meeting with our new financial advisor. We had a good meeting with Kelley that lasted for a bit more than an hour. Next stop was the medical laboratory so that Joanne could have blood drawn, for blood tests ordered by our new family doctor last fall before we departed for Yuma. < fume > Joanne forgot this morning that she was supposed to be fasting ! So … it seems unlikely now that she can get her blood test done in time for the doctor to have the results before her appointment with him next Monday.

After the brief, unproductive stop at the medical laboratory we went to Cherry Lane Mall and had lunch. I went to the Telus store and discussed Internet service with them. Then we drove back downtown for my appointment with the family doctor. It went well, I like our new family doctor.

Th rest of the afternoon was taken up with shopping at Wal-Mart and Superstore. Before leaving Penticton I refilled the truck with diesel fuel and we left Penticton about 6:30 PM arriving back home about an hour later. Long time for Ozzie to be left home unattended. Good dog, Ozzie.

Tuesday ; Sunny and cool

Our ( indirect ) trip home this year from Yuma to Keremeos was slightly more than 3800 km. / slightly less than 2400 miles. The lowest diesel fuel price this winter season was $2.499 per gallon in Bullhead City, Arizona in February. The highest diesel fuel price was $3.909 per gallon in Barstow, California in November.

This morning we headed into town / Keremeos. First stop was the medical clinic, for Joanne to pick a scheduled time to have blood drawn at the lab. The lab was not too busy today, so they gave her a “walk-in” slot with a short wait. I went to the pharmacy to pick up some prescription refills I had phoned to them before we left Yuma, and to leave them some new prescription orders written by my doctor yesterday. I asked if they could have the new prescriptions filled in an hour. They said yes. I went to the insurance agency and renewed the registration and insurance for the minivan. I returned to the clinic, picked up Joanne, and drove to FasGas where I had a propane tank refilled and we washed the truck and camper. Next was Sanderson Farms to buy some fresh vegetables and fruits, then back to the pharmacy to pick up the new prescriptions. Last stop was the grocery store in town to buy a couple of grocery items.

We returned home, took Ozzie for a walk, and had a late lunch. After lunch I read and napped briefly. Joanne continued unloading the camper. After my nap she helped me install the new toilet water supply valve I purchased yesterday in Penticton. WOO-HOO … no more turning the water supply to the toilet on and off with each flush.

I took my computer to the clubhouse to get online to check if there were any phone messages, and to retrieve e-mail. We walked Ozzie, drained his anal glands, and gave him a bath. I cooked excellent omelets ( one of my specialties ) for supper, then watched a movie. Joanne left after watching some of it, finding it too violent for her tastes.

Wednesday ; Mix of sun and clouds, cool.

This morning I made buttermilk banana pancakes for brunch. Joanne mixed the batter from scratch, using my Aunt Lena’s recipe. I put the finishing touches by adding the buttermilk, and on impulse, banana slices, to the batter, then I cooked the pancakes. Another of my culinary specialties. HA HA HA ! Many of my ( few ) culinary specialties were learned in my beloved Aunt Lena’s kitchen.

After brunch I went over to see our neighbour / friend Jeanine, to retrieve my mailbox key … she collected our mail all winter … and to give her some items we had purchased in Mexico for her. I visited with her for way too long ! In the meantime, Joanne did a lot of laundry.

This afternoon we continued unloading and putting away stuff from the camper. After watching the supper time news on TV we walked and fed Ozzie then went to the swimming pool to resume cardiac aquatic exercises, not done since last November ! After exercising we returned home to have supper and watch Survivor, followed by Amazing Race. WOO-HOO … perogies for supper ! ! ! Another thing not done since last November. HA HA HA !

Thursday ; Mix of sun and clouds, cool.

Both of us still busy with lots of “return home” chores, and regular ongoing chores. Treated Ozzie’s ears and brushed his teeth. Sharpened kitchen knives. Unloaded more stuff from the camper. Joanne did yard and garden cleanup and weeding work. I trimmed my beard. I went to the clubhouse for quite awhile and got a lot of work done. Retrieved e-mail. Sent e-mail. Reactivated our Canadian cell phone. WOO-HOO ! Less cell phone drama than usual. Ordered Internet service installation. Retrieved month end bank statements. Retrieved investment updates.

After supper I reviewed and discarded old MasterCard statements and receipts, and twelve years worth of medical expense records ! I updated my prescription medication records. I did some annuity accounting. And … prepared the garbage and recycling for weekly pickup tomorrow morning. BRRRRR !

Friday ; Sunny and warm. A nice spring day. It’s about time ! Joanne roasted a stuffed flank steak in the Sun Oven today, our first use this summer season of the “northern” Sun Oven.

This morning we set up the gazebo for the summer. Joanne cleaned. I set up and arranged the furniture.

After lunch Joanne went to town to run errands. She bought a leg of lamb that cost … < blink blink > … HOW MUCH ? ? ? I worked on emptying and putting away everything in the second of two totes full of stuff we brought back from Yuma. I disassembled and cleaned the small electric space heater in the camper. It was performing poorly, clogged with dust and … cat hair !

In the evening I worked on prescription medication accounting and monthly budgeting. And … we watched episode one of season one of Downton Abbey. We have not seen season one before.

Saturday ; Sunny and warm, a bit humid early in the day, a bit windy later in the day.

This morning I discovered that a screw-in nosepiece on my relatively new ( and relatively expensive ) eyeglasses fell off and was lost. I had no matching spare nosepieces, so I cannabilized one from my new sunglasses, which are the identical frame. I hope an optical place in Penticton will be able to replace the missing nosepiece.

I put away a lot of laundered clothing in the camper. We trimmed Ozzie’s muzzle and groin hair. You’ve heard of “manscaping” ? This was “dogscaping” ! HA HA HA ! I attempted to repair some solar rope lights in the yard. I failed. They will have to be replaced. WOO-HOO … already things to buy at Harbor Freight next winter. HA HA HA !

Late this afternoon we went to the pool to do my regular cardiac rehab aquatics exercise session. After returning home we walked and fed Ozzie, then I went to the clubhouse to do some online work. I responded to a trailer towing quote request. I responded to an e-mail from my sister. I bought tickets to a figure skating exhibition in Penticton in October that Joanne wants to attend. SHEEESH … they’re not exactly giving away those tickets, are they ?

I returned home to have supper and watch Saturday Night Live. And read way too many pages of way too much drama from this community’s Board of 

Directors !

DSK