30 Nov: Ron thought the new title would be needed tomorrow, but he forgets that Cynthia always gets things done yesterday. And we are awake, exercised, oatmealed and digitizing. Now we finished errands and resupply and walked to the lake, together at times. We are experimenting with walking separately so that Cynthia does not over-stress her physique trying to keep Ron's pace. Cynthia prepared sweet potatoes and corn on the cob for dinner. Yum. Now it is approaching 9 PM pill time and bed time. G'night. Except that Ron walked for an hour again since walking before bed seems to help him sleep better.
29 Nov: Oh, NO! It is the end of the month and tomorrow I have to find a new blog chapter title for next month! Another beautiful day to wake up to God's creation - Thank God. There, now we've given thanks two days in a row. Our morning has been wonderful so far. We woke up in good health and good spirits; we've exercised, eaten oatmeal, and are back to enjoying our electronics devices. Ron is working on the second Likens package, and that is going smoothly, being mostly a copy of the just-completed first package. Cynthia vows to get to the fitness center to carve off the three pounds she has gained in three days of not walking, and she did by walking with Ron. But then the pace was too quick, so she returned alone while Ron continued to the lake and returned to find her sitting at the apartment door. So Ron's pace was not quick enough to triple Cynthia's distance. After dark Ron surreptitiously enlarged a depression and filled it with compost in the field we walk across every day. Hmm, and slept for longer periods through the night.
28 Nov: Best wishes to all for this Thanksgiving, and let's all pray for many, many more opportunities to give thanks. Cynthia was perplexed that Ron was awake early and cutting boxes to size for stacking more stuff into a smaller space in the storage locker. Be prepared Sweetie, there are three more identically sized boxes to mutilate. And we enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving lunch at the Yacht Club with Cynthia's son Jon, daughter Julie, granddaughter Loren and Loren's fiancé, Tyler.
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| Thank God for us! |
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| Tyler, Lauren, Jon, Julie, Ron and Cynthia |
27 Nov: Its another great morning in the condo overlooking the marina on Lake Conroe. We slept in and missed the sunrise, but we've done our exercises, eaten oatmeal with berries, and are fully engrossed with our electronics devices as usual. Life is good. We made an early afternoon jaunt to the chiropractor's office to fill out paperwork prior to Cynthia's spinal decompression therapy in the near future. Then we stopped at the Magnolia Diner for the first time this fall for egg white veggie omelets and baked potatoes before returning home to our electronics devices; the waitress and cook remembered us and our no oil, no butter, no fat, no cheese, no salt orders.
26 Nov: And another day has dawned with a pretty rosy sunrise at Lake Conroe. Not much news: exercises, Ron walked alone to the fitness center and back. Cynthia did a new set of exercises prescribed by Frank back in October. She also baked a caramelized sweet potato and boiled sweet corn for dinner. Yummy.
25 Nov: Awake at Lake Conroe. Eureka !! Ron's weight is again down to an acceptable 174 lbs, so he can allow himself to eat pretzels again tonight. Before noon he "finished" the first of the two Likens packages. The next decision is whether to walk to our lake view or ride the bike to WallyWorld to buy more popcorn, berries, frozen fruits, and frozen veggies. Maybe first add water and start the beans & lentils cooking. Done, done, done and back to work on SCS packages. Cynthia's phone call to Frank Musumeci about leg & foot pain brought the unwelcome news that she had better stop walking until the issue is resolved. Frank's opinion is that it could be a pinching of the S1 nerve from the L5 vertebrae, not an uncommon complaint and easy enough to resolve with a zero-gravity recliner or spinal traction device or pricy "Relax The Back" pillows for reading whilst reclining. I'm voting for the zero gravity recliner; Bass Pro Shops sells one for $79, but I'd betcha dollars to donuts that Cynthia will try to use points on her Amazon one-click.
24 Nov, Sunday: still at Lake Conroe, Montgomery, Texas. And Thank God that we awoke again. We also enjoy a warm glow from the wedding yesterday. It was comforting to again attend Grace Lutheran Church in Conroe, and we learned a bit of church history. We ate our usual Sunday brunch at the Yacht Club and are digesting for a couple of hours prior to walking at 4 PM (to avoid the mid-day "heat.") The Likens package continues to progress. Walking close to dusk has the advantage of "wildlife," and we were rewarded with a closeup of a nice 6-point buck with a doe and three small ones, all relatively unafraid of us - we walked within 10 feet of them.
23 Nov: Today is the big wedding day for Cynthia's granddaughter Sam & Adam. We have to be there by 4 PM, wherever there is, half an hour west of here. Up, exercised, fed, internet down, internet up, and Ron is now working on Likens package again. We walked past the fitness center to the lake past the new mystery construction. No one seems to know what structure is being built. Amazing that the people who live in the community and work at the fitness center are actually unaware of the construction only 200 yards away - no wonder, it is a sewage treatment plant. Driving to and from the wedding was quite a puzzle; I have to remember to always bring a GPS. The wedding was quite delightful, and all the sundry relations were well behaved. In the middle of the ceremony, Samantha blurted out "sure" in answer to one of the minister's questions. The entire party cracked up. These two are certainly down-to-earth. We wish them a long and happy marriage.
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| Samantha and Adam |
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| More newlyweds |
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| Lauren, Samantha and Tyler |
Lauren and Grandmother
Jon, Julie, Paul and Roxanne
Rachel, Ryan and a Baby Bump
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| Yours truly two. |
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| We enjoyed posing for our photos for free. |
Photos below are from rehearsal dinner, above was from the wedding.
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| Regal SmoochSmooch |
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| Ron, Roxanne and Ali |
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| Julie and Lamar |
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| Jon, Paul, Samantha and Chery |
22 Nov: Today's big event is the rehearsal dinner for Sam and Adam at 6:30 PM this evening at the Yacht Club. Fortunately it is walking distance for Cynthia and Ron. Unfortunately Ron has been told that he needs to cut his hair. Until then, Ron is saddled with revisiting the Likens package that was so near to completion when we left the Inn at Long Trail in September. Ron has now forgotten everything about the package, so rereading 300 pages is a necessity. Fooey. We did go for a nice walk to the fitness center and return, about 2 miles altogether. Rehearsal dinner was a fine event with a Mexican theme. All of Cynthia's children came along with a host of Adam's family and friends of the bride & groom. We old folks left by 8:30 and were happy to return to peace and quiet. My, how things have changed.
21 Nov: Fall fell in Texas! Thanks to the hard freeze a few days ago, the trees have color, and a few are quite brilliant in reds and oranges. Ron & Cynthia spent a lazy morning before our usual walk to the fitness center. Then we drove to Cynthia's appointment with the infectious disease specialist, who was bearded today with his traditional November beard (it makes him appear ten years older). Afterwards we ate at Jason's Deli with the result that Ron is comatose after a huge salad, a huge potato and a half a huge sweet potato. Goodnight.
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| Sunrise 1 |
20 Nov: Somehow the blog entry for Wednesday disappeared. This was the day that Ron awoke at 5:30, finished daily exercises by 6 AM and was riding southward from Newport by 7:25 AM in 40 degree temperatures. The day warmed up quickly, but time passed slowly, in part because US 67 is 4-lane, Interstate 30 has lots of traffic, US 59 is 4-lane and all of those roads carry too much traffic to allow sightseeing. Even though the 4-lane roads pass through several towns, traffic and navigation prevent seeing much else. Riding southward into the sun was the other significant detractor, discomfort and occasional hazard. The only significant advantage is that sometimes the clouds were marvelously varied. Towards evening as shadows lengthened and light reddened, Ron turned onto FM 1988,
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| Sunrise 2, mere minutes later |
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| grandson Hudson, aged 1+ |
FM 3278, FM 222, FM 150, and FM 1097 which were quite pleasant and lovely in fall foliage approaching sunset. The skies were turning dark as Ron parked at the condo and greeted his sweetie, a wonderful reward after a long haul. I guess I had an excuse for being very tired - 500 miles in a short winters day after 300 miles yesterday. Besides that, there was not a Ruby Tuesday on the route, so all I ate was 1/3 of a bag of fat-free pretzels. Cynthia had a mammogram, an appointment with Dr. Birken and a meal at Jason's Deli.
19 Nov: Ron breakfasted with Carol and Bill before donating belongings from the Texas storage locker to the Edwardsville storage locker. He then visited the SIUSWIC Credit Union to spend a bit of time with a bit of his money and to visit with Kathy, the president who intends to retire in three years. Ron has been banking there for perhaps 45 years. As he rode south towards Eric's bridge into Missouri, the winds concerned him, but the river crossing on I-255 was easy-peasy. He then noticed a Ruby Tuesday road sign and stopped for lunch just south of St. Louis in Festus, MO. The Mississippi flood plains in southern Missouri and Arkansas were quite appealing in the evening sunshine. By evening Ron had passed by Success and Pocahontas in Arkansas to a Days Inn in Newport, AR, having ridden three hundred miles since 11:30 today. Had he checked beforehand or ridden through town, he would have stayed at the Fortune, where he has stayed previously. Cynthia went to see Bambi for a facial.
18 Nov: Monday: Cynthia saw Dr. Sparks for a steroid injection in her hip bursa that has been bothering her, visited Lab Corps for medical tests, returned items via UPS, dropped off dry-cleaning, and picked up a prescription at Lakeside Pharmacy. What fascinating errands, huh? Ron is in Illinois visiting his sister, Carol, whose son, Eric, bagged a deer Sunday afternoon. Dutiful mother Carol is finishing processing the deer that Eric shot yesterday. Ron is again deciding whether papers go into the wood burner or to the storage locker. We are heartsick that our dear friend Emily passed away from a brain aneurysm.
17 Nov, Sunday: Cynthia house-cleaned. Ta-DA! Ron did not have a Ta-DA, but enjoyed an enjoyable afternoon and meal with sistah Carol and Bill. Bill is quite the character and is usually quite amused by Ron's witticisms and half-witticisms. Ron spent most of the day going thorough the paperwork he plans to leave in the Illinois storage locker and feeding the rejects into the wood burner.
16 Nov: Ron said goodbyes to Dean & Janina, then to Cynthia, then rode the motorcycle out of Missouri (after filling the gas tank) and back up to Litchfield where Carol again picked him up after another meal at Ruby Tuesday including Bill. Cynthia’s return flight arrived in Houston thirty minutes early. It took almost two hours to claim bag, go to Park and Fly, and drive back to Lake Conroe. Ron phoned at 8:03, but the notifier was turned off; she picked up the phone to call Ron at 8:04 and saw the phone call she missed!
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| Carol was NOT going to let Kyle hide behind her. |
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| Dean and Janina |
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Carol could not resist clowning for the camera
and kissed Ron's bald top |
15 Nov: We awoke to another wonderful day in St. Louis with relatives. We breakfasted with Dean & Janina and Carol until Brigette and Chet showed up and took a different table. Then Jerry and Kerri came and sat at yet another different table. More of Brigette's family showed: Rex, Susie, and Nanette. Conversation was varied and interesting, but way too soon Rex and Susie needed to leave with Nanette in tow. Brigette and Chet left about the same time. Perry and Kerri delayed a little longer. And then no one was left except my immediate family, so after another hour Dean & Janina suggested the fitness center, so we all dressed for that and assembled there for an hour, after which we sat in our room for an hour before walking across Lindbergh to the Schnucks for their salad bar, which was very good. Now we are digesting, nearly somnolescent, as dinner time approaches. Eric & family will join us at Schneithorsts - promising more fun. Which was delivered. Eric & Denise put on their usual parental and nephewish behaviors. The kids behaved well and were delightful company. Kyle has grown to within an inch or two of Dean and Ron. Erika is sophomore at McKendree and quite a good student, intending to study law. Chelsea was smiling, cheerful and shy as ever. The food was again good, and everyone was well satisfied and happy.
14 Nov: The memorial service for dear, departed Uncle Lawrence was quite lovely. Margaret and the minister are to be commended for honoring Lawrence so appropriately. The meal and fellowship after the service was enjoyed by all of us relatives, but as always, there is never enough time to "catch up" with everyone. All of the cousins gathered at Schneithorst's that evening for a delicious meal. Ron again ate nothing but potatoes and a bit of Cynthia's salmon. (Matt & Mary, Rex & Susie, Brigette & Chet, Nanette, Kay & Tom, Jerry & Kerri, Perry & Sharon, Dean & Janina, Carol, Cynthia and Ron)
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| Sunrise over Lake Conroe 13 Nov 2019 |
13 Nov: Cynthia awoke at 3:30 AM... eyes wide open, OK, let’s start this day! The temperature is a record-breaking 28 degrees. The sunrise is awesome. Two cups of real, undiluted coffee and breakfast, the suitcase is in the car, a lunch is packed. At 8:30, it is time for another one of those crazy appointments 90 minutes of driving to an appointment in Houston. We hope the car will start. After the medical appointment, is another long drive to the airport to catch a flight to St. Louis, MO. The weather promises the same kind of deep freeze. But, two hours of quiet rest on the flight are good news. Mostly, it will be wonderful to see Smooch! Most of the cousins arrived early for the memorial service, and we all gathered at Bricktop for an evening meal (Matt & Mary, Dean & Janina, Rex & Susie, Jerry & Kerri, Perry & Sharon, Cynthia and Ron)
12 Nov: Today Cynthia had an appointment, this time in Houston’s Galleria area, 90 minutes from our condo at Lake Conroe. She allowed two full hours of driving time and arrived early, feeling very thankful to get there and home again safely. Do you need to know Houston traffic is stressful? Probably not, but she is indeed happy to share that being thankful while driving, whether lost or on time, kept her focused and about as stress-free as possible on Houston highways. She is very thankful for Sasha, her hairdresser. Her suitcase is packed! Thinking about that nosebleed "yesterday," Ron has decided that dehydration and saline nasal rinses were perhaps catalysts. He needs to be more careful to imbibe more fluids with his "medicinal" salted pretzels.
11 Nov: Forecast is rain everywhere Ron needed to pass through, but Ron is in Illinois, safe and dry with Sistah Carol! How fun is this! Cynthia tried driving the new Grand Parkway from the Woodlands to Tomball, Texas without researching the route carefully. Construction on I-249 West was very confusing; she ended up in Magnolia, Texas, about twenty miles west of her destination, and she was 45 minutes late for her appointment with Bambi. She didn’t feel particularly thankful by the time she got home at night. For Carol and Ron started the day with exercises by the torturess Miranda Esmonde White (Classical Stretch on PBS). Then oatmeal. Then as we considered activities, the forecast rain began to fall as sleet, which quickly turned into snow, which quickly accumulated into inches. We stayed indoors nearly all day, except for gathering a load of firewood into the house, and discussed DNA via GEDmatch. Carol cooked a lovely batch of chicken soup. Ron consolidated notes while Carol napped. Nighttime came early and bedtime similarly.
10 Nov, Sunday: Ron asked for a six AM wake up call; but he awoke at three AM and was unable to go back to sleep because, as he laid quietly on his back in bed, a nosebleed suddenly started. This was quite a shock, but it wasn't messy since he was on his back, but it took several tissues stuffed up his nose to finally staunch the flow. By 7:30 AM he was breakfasted, bundled, nose plugged and on the road towards Sistah Carol’s house in Illinois. Cynthia is trying to get back to feeling energetic and filled with gratitude again. She is worn down. Worship, coffee, IHOP and a manicure and pedicure didn’t do the job. She planned a walk but instead wrote a devotion. Mid-day Ron arrived at an IHOP north of Little Rock and called Cynthia to tell her that he had just ordered an egg white veggie omelet, and we were both amused to discover that Cynthia was also in an IHOP awaiting an egg white veggie omelet. After Ron crossed the Missouri state line and bypassed Poplar Bluff, he started looking for a filling station, and the GPS promised a Phillips 66 station in 30 miles. When he arrived at that gas station, he had three miles of gas remaining in the tank; the station had stopped pumping gas years ago and only sold convenience items. After Ron called a tow service to bring gas (at $50), a lovely, considerate couple offered to follow him to the next station which was open. Ron canceled the order to the tow company and rode the 7 miles to the nearest station with the other couple following. Relief !! Cynthia did not like hearing the gas tank actually holds 9 miles of gas when it reads three. That's too close for comfort. Ron arrived at Ruby Tuesday in Litchfield at 7:06 PM; Carol and Bill were waiting for him. After a good salad, Ron parked the bike in the nearby Hampton Inn parking lot and rode back out to Carol's in her new car with Bill driving. Bill left Ron & Carol to chat and retire early. Today's route was US 59 N to I-30 NE to I-440 skirting Little Rock to US 67 N into Missouri (including 50 miles paid for by the residents of Poplar Bluff, MO) to I-55 approaching St. Louis to I-255 skirting St. Louis to I-55 again to Litchfield, Illinois.
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| Erika in Color Guard |
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9 Nov: Ron did not sleep well last night, lying awake in bed for several hours, but he felt well upon waking. The cold, wet, and likely icy weather on Monday does not look like good traveling weather. Ron completed packing, recycling, cleaning, and took off at 3:20 PM today! The forecast prompted him to move up his departure by a day, albeit late in the day. He phoned Cynthia 80 miles south of Texarkana from a motel, so he was able to cover about 200 miles by riding for an hour after dark. The route was quite pleasant, out of Walden to TX 105 W briefly to N on Lone Star Pkwy to R on Buffalo Springs Rd to R on FM 1097 crossing Lake Conroe through Willis to R on FM 150 for 20 miles to L on FM 222 for a few miles to L on FM 3278 for several miles to L on FM 1988 passing the Lake Livingston dam (which was very pretty, having the middle two gates releasing water in a white fan shape contrasting with the otherwise dark dam). That soon exited onto US 59 north for the duration of the trip through Texas. The fall colors were very pretty with reds, rusts, yellows, and lime greens. Ron wants to take off at first light in the morning and hopefully cover the remaining 600 miles tomorrow before dark. He loves motorcycle life. Thanks to Eric A. for sending us a photo of Erika during the halftime show.
8 Nov: More packing. We awakened as usual, exercised as usual, breakfasted as usual and hustled into Montgomery to the skin specialist who froze four moles from Ron's back. (Only once did it burn noticeably.) Then we bought pretzels, picked up two more boxes from storage (- count them: 1,2,3,4,5,6), and Ron got his flu shot at Wally World. After eating lunch, we walked as usual to the fitness center and back. Ron was hoping to be able to walk to the lake, but the construction workers were in the way again. Maybe tomorrow. The afternoon was filled with backing up the computer, trimming roses, crock potting beans & lentils, and rinsing recycling. Finally, in late afternoon Ron sorted through the boxes to separate 1) things to go to Illinois, 2) things to pitch, 3) things to recycle ... and wore himself out. Time for bed. G'night.
7 Nov, Lake Conroe: Today promises to be different with a forecast of rain and the need to pack discards to take to permanent storage in Illinois. Ron's efforts to reduce calorie intake were too successful; he now weighs only 171.8 lbs instead of the 175 he wishes to maintain. Eat more food !! Cynthia got a flu shot appropriate to youngsters 18 again.
6 Nov: Today now, still in Lake Conroe, another day just like yesterday. Awakened, exercised, breakfasted, indentures transcribed (typed), walked, and it will be bedtime before we know it. Ain't life Grand !!
5 Nov: Tomorrow. Whoops, yesterday already. Cynthia drove to take a fasting blood test at the Medical Center, so afterwards we treated ourselves to breakfast at the Toasted Yolk. The egg white omelet arrived looking far too yellow (regular eggs = loaded with fat) and was returned. Cynthia's oatmeal was not hot when it arrived. After running a couple of errands, Cynthia voted. The issues she voted for passed favorably.
4 Nov: And we woke up an hour early. How can it be so light already at 7 AM? We are not used to this, but we arose, exercised, breakfasted and adjusted to the new norm. Ron again spent the entire day working on DNA, this time for Bankston cousin Myra. We did take time out to walk to the fitness center again since construction has resumed on the path to the lake. Cynthia managed to get errands run in the afternoon. We bought even more frozen fruits and veggies besides carrots and celery to reduce calories while nibbling.
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| Morning Has Broken |
3 Nov, Sunday: was a stellar day on Lake Conroe, beginning an hour earlier. Meanwhile, in England, workers at Stonehenge worked feverishly through the night moving the stones back an hour.
All Saints Sunday service at Grace Lutheran was lovely! We lit candles for those saints in our lives who have passed on before us. Ron lit one for Uncle Lawrence Rambo who recently passed away. Cynthia lit one for her son Scott.
Cynthia shares her memory about the meaning of the Communion of Saints that brings much comfort at a time of loss.
On All Saints Day 1 Nov. 1977, Cynthia's father passed away after suffering from lung cancer. The last time she saw her dad, she glanced back as she was leaving the hotel room, and he was praying the Lord's Prayer aloud. Dad was a living member of the Christian church until his death.
The sermon that morning in 1977 was about the Communion of Saints, the spiritual union of the members of the Christian church the living and the dead. When we grasp in our guts the meaning of the Communion of Saints, the Eucharist is a spiritual reunion.
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| Jon, Cynthia, and Ron at Lakeview Dining |
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| Notice how Cynthia's little hand keeps Ron in line |
Today, after church we joined Jon at the Yacht Club for a Sunday brunch. Cynthia took pictures of course.
2 Nov: Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and so the song goes! But, it's already tomorrow... And here we are on the second day of November hiking the two-mile trail to the lake. Saturday and Sunday, we are able to walk through the construction site all the way to the lake; during the week we have to obey the keep out signs because workers are on site. After the hike and lunch, Cynthia organized the storage unit while Ron helped her move heavy boxes. The red lentil rigatoni chili is really delicious! Salt-free, 1.5 grams of fat and very spicey! Yum.
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| Looking East |
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| Lake Conroe South (plus finger) |
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| Cynthia's Favorite View |
1 Nov: Walden in Lake Conroe, Montgomery, Texas. We are slowly settling into being in one place for a while. We went for a nice walk after breakfast, before Ron rode the motorcycle to first Jason's Deli, and second the new BMW dealership in the Woodlands to have a new rear tire installed. The service manager talked Ron into a new front tire as well by remarking that the front was "cupped." While waiting for the installation, Ron asked a salesman for a test ride on a new R1250RT. It was quite a surprise, and that may well be our next choice when we need to replace our current bike - which has taken us 54,000 miles in the 3 1/2 years we've owned it. Returning "home" in the 4:45 rush hour on I-35, Ron opted to stop again at Jason's Deli to pick up baked potatoes and baked sweet potatoes. Cynthia had spent the day cooking, but neglected to tell Ron about this, so we decided to eat the potatoes.
