November 14, 2015—Jim’s house in Santa Fe, New Mexico

At noon, Jim and I went on some errands.  Our first stop was at Burger King to get energy for the rest of afternoon.  We stayed longer than we should have because we were just visiting and having a good time. 

Our next stop was at Home Depot. I stayed in the truck and spent my time people watching while Jim went in to shop.  Santa Fe certainly has some interesting looking people… just like anywhere else. 

Jim had one more stop he wanted to make before we went back home.  He has started doing a new process I'm his photographs.  It is a process using melted wax.  His teacher, Angel, was teaching a class when we went in.  We were able to watch.  It was a very interesting.  He has been using this method for about four months.  He has already gotten quite good it.

We got back home in time for to rest before going out to dinner.  The best part of the meal was the sopapillas.  Yum, yum!

November 13, 2015—Jim’s house in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Today is Friday the 13th.  It is the day that many people around the world will not forget, especially in France.

Yesterday, my blog was written on the dictation program that came with my new MAC Computer.  It was much faster, but will take some getting used to.  I will need to learn to think in sentences rather than in phrases.  I used to have an eight track mind, but no more.  I told my brother, Jim, that I now have a one and a half track mind, so I have to work on that.  I also need an off/on switch for Bill.  I am amazed at how much noise there is in this little tiny house of ours.

It looks as if are visit here in Santa Fe may be shorter than we had anticipated. There is a snow storm headed this way, followed by several days of wind.  Both of those kind of weather are not what Bill thinks of a good driving situation.  We will decide when we get weather reports after tomorrow!

Jim gave me some good information on diabetes.  He also gave me some good websites.  I appreciate any help I can get.  At this point I continue to be confused about what it is okay and what isn’t. 

We spent sometime this evening watching reports from France. What a fiasco!  All the bombs and shootings sound like something out of a movie.  Perhaps that is part of the problem.  So many movies and TV programs, as well as video games, have desensitized much of the population. 

November 12, 2015—Jim and Peggy’s house in Santa Fe, New Mexico

I slept late this morning because I was still tired from our trip.  It was nice to not have to get up and head down the highway. The trip here to Santa Fe laws about 450 miles.  In the “good old days” that would have been a one-day trip for us.  No more!  Neither one of us have as much stamina as we used to.

Bill and Jim had an errand to do at noon.  I went in the house and spent time visiting with Peggy.  We never seem to run out of things to talk about.  She is working on a quilt, so that took a lot of conversation time.  She has a fancy new sewing machine and showed me some things she could do with it.

Jim and Peggy had a community meeting to go to tonight. They are wanting to extend the bike trail into Santa Fe.  Peggy would like that because she would like to be able to ride her bike to town, but she doesn't like to ride out on the highway.  I don't think anything was decided, but it sounded like a typical town hall meeting anywhere.

The weather has been cold all day. Peggy made a big crock pot full of soup that cooked all day long. It really hit the spot. This is perfect soup weather.

November 11, 2015—Trinidad, Colorado to Jim’s house in Santa Fe, New Mexico

It was 36° when we left Trinidad at 6:50 this morning.  Cold, but no snow or wind.  The climb over Raton Pass was easy, with very little traffic.  Bill and I can remember when the Pass was a two lane road and we were in our Porsche with the top down.  I think that is called the “good old days,” but these are the “good new days” for us!

By the time we got to the Rest Area where we planned to stop to eat breakfast, a really strong cross wind was blowing.  When the road veered west we had a full head wind, reported at 70 mph.  That sucks the diesel out of the MH in a hurry.

We got to Jim and Peggy’s house at about 12:00.  It didn’t take long to get the Motorhome parked and set up with electricity, etc.  Bill had to call DISH to have our major network service transferred from Denver to Albuquerque.  That always takes time.

Peggy had a meeting to attend.  Jim and I spent the time catching up on the events of the past year.  I had a lot to ask him about how he handles his diabetes treatment, which he has been aware of for 10 years.  I got some good hints and suggestions.

I was able to take a short nap, so I was somewhat rested by dinnertime.  We had lasagna, salad, and French bread…one of my favorite meals.   

November 10, 2015—Loveland to Walmart, Trinidad, Colorado

We left Michelle’s driveway at 9:30.  It was cold with clear skies.  We hope to be able to beat the snow storm that’s headed this way.  Oh, yes!  We are singing along with Willie Nelson as we go “on the road again.”  That’s probably one of our favorite songs.

We stopped at Cabela’s north of Denver to use their dump station.  While Bill was taking care of that chore, I put away the dishes he had washed earlier this morning.  With those things out of the way, we got back on the Interstate going south.  Bill was really dreading the drive through Denver.  Although he had white knuckles most of the way across the city, traffic wasn’t as bad as we have seen it.  No stop and go, or construction to deal with.

South on I-25 was Pueblo where we planned to stop for fuel, to eat some lunch, and take naps.  Each thing was a welcome event.  I was really hungry by the time we got to the lunch part of the schedule.  I am trying to eat snacks more often, but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.

Trinidad was about as far as Bill thought he could drive, and by the time we got there, he was feeling his 80 years. In past years, I would have done part of the driving, but now, in my present health condition, when I volunteer to take my turn, he turns pale and breaks out in a cold sweat.  Hm-m-m-m-m!  Do you think that translates to “NO?”

250 miles traveled today.  And we were fighting the wind most of the day.  No wonder the driver and co-pilot are so tired tonight.

November 9, 2015---Parked in the driveway, in front of Michelle's house.

Both Bill and I accomplished quite a lot today.  Mainly, I was “uncluttering.”  When we stay at one location for any length of time, we tend to kind of spread out with our possessions.  As our departure time draws closer, we start putting things where they belong when we are in travel mode.

Bill put some of the finishing touches on the running parts of the motorhome.  Oil changed, new filters, water tank filled, etc.  He actually worked too hard today and was so tired by dinnertime I thought he might go to sleep and fall in his mashed potatoes and gravy.

Meredith and the pups came this afternoon and stayed for dinner.  Sadly, we said goodbye to them tonight.  Weather permitting, we will head south midmorning tomorrow.

November 8, 2015---Parked in the driveway, in front of Michelle's house.

After staying up past midnight watching the Ducks win their game last night, we slept late this morning.  It was 9:00 before we turned off the electric blanket and crawled out of our nice warm bed.  Bill fixed French toast for breakfast and it certainly did taste good.  He is a very good cook.

Lori came at noon and she and Michelle went on a couple of errands.  They went grocery shopping at Walmart and King Soopers.  Wow!  What an adventure!  Actually, Lori, being a great Bronco fan, wanted to check out specialty foods for “tail gate parties.”  She thought there would be lots of things, like desserts…cakes, cookies, donuts, etc. decorated in Bronco colors and logos.  She was very disappointed to find virtually no items.  I guess the next time she comes during football season, she’ll need to set up a roadside stand and start up a business.

At 2:30, Michelle, Lori, and I went to Origins where Meredith was working today.  She had arranged to get off work when we came to watch the football game between the Broncos and the Colts on their big screen TV.  It wasn’t a Jumbotron or anything like that, but it is several times larger than what we have in the motorhome.

Natalia and her boyfriend, Garrett, joined us.  We ordered a variety of things to eat during the game.  The food there is really good.  They serve different items and we sampled several of them.  It was a fun place to spend an afternoon.  The girls all had matching Bronco shirts and took a picture to send to Brent.  As you know, he is a Seahawk fan.  His comment was, “Can you return those to the thrift store or does the homeless shelter allow that?”  He doesn’t let them get away with much!  By the way, Denver lost by three points.

Brent called me tonight and we talked for a long time.  We also laughed a lot.  That kind of phone call really makes me happy.  Michelle had been to the MH earlier and asked what we wanted her to cook for our last dinner here.  We chose chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, and biscuits.  Brent said I should have ask for liver and onions.  I was certainly disappointed that my sense of humor has slowed down so much that I didn’t think of it.  I missed my chance!

Harolene called today to ask some things about my diabetes problems.  I think you can tell I really need help with my diet.  She suggested I see a nutritionist, and I think she is right.  We’ll see about that when we get to Yuma.