glowing red

yes I am glowing red (from sunburn) but so are the beautiful sunrises we have had everyday here in Myrtle Beach. We certainly lucked out on the weather. Rain was in the forecast for last night or this morning but all we got were a very few clouds and warming temps. Sue has been getting her shopping fix in at the outlet malls and I have visited camping world and best buy. We took in a show last night and today drove down to Brookgreen Gardens... what a pleasant surprise.... The gardens were some old rice plantations bought up by a wealthy New Yorker who had a wife who was a sculpture. They have changed the 9000 acres into a beautiful garden and outdoor sculpture exhibit. We will definitely return. As we missed lunch today because we stayed at the gardens so long we decided to head on out to one of the local all you can eat seafood places....well it was good and plentiful and we had our years quota of King Crab legs, shrimp, salmon etc. prepared every which way. We waddled along the beach this evening to try and work some of it off. :-)
To view pics go to https://picasaweb.google.com/collindo99/MyrtleBeachMarchBreak##

Doug.

Finally Glorious sunshine and warm weather for us

Well it is the March Break in Ontario and Sue and I took off as soon as she could get out of work on Friday. We drove through snow flurries until we got near Erie Pennsylvania then it was a snow storm almost down to Pittsburgh. Passed a few accidents and saw a SUV go off the road behind us (why don't people slow down) but we were OK and kept going all the way to Beckley West Virginia where we grabbed a room for the night. Saturday morning we were on the road again and headed southeast through the mountains still seeing snow on the mountain ridges but it was gone at the lower elevations and the temps were rising. Finally pulled into Myrtle Beach South Carolina to the Jade Tree cove resort. Older smallish 1 bedroom unit but right on the beach with a million dollar view and the temps were up to 20 celcius (high 60's low 70's F) We have started on our sunburns and are enjoying the beach sand relaxing, reading and enjoying the sites. We got a call in the afternoon from someone wanting to know if we would like a $100 gift card and other gifts..........ya right a timeshare presentation. We normally don't partake but we had our allotment of sun for the day so decided to sit through 90 minutes for the gifts. Interesting presentation and they do know how to push all the right buttons but we decided it wasn't for us and were getting ready for the hard sell that comes at the end where they sweeten the pot and presure you.........but suprise we said it wasn't for us and they said well thanks for listening take this form to the office and pick up your gifts. whew what a plesant suprise. So where to spend my $100 prepaid visa card Oh I'm sure Sue will think of something.
We both were up before dawn again (a first for Sue) to watch the sun rise I'll try to get a few photos posted soon. off to work on that sunburn :-)
doug.

On the mend again

I finally have shaken the bug that has had me congested for the last 5 weeks or so. My father is showing great progress and is on the mend. My mother has finally beat the bug as well and my wife is starting to improve. Hopefully with warmer weather all will be back to normal. Being optimistic I have even made reservations at a condo in Myrtle Beach for the march break week. Hopefully far enough south for warmer temps and yet within a hard one days ride if I need to get back home quick.
We are going to put our house up for sale this spring so have started the big job of cleaning out all the "stuff" one accumulates over the years. That is going to take quite a while to do and quite a few trips to the dump I am sure.

Finally starting to clear up.

It seems like I have had this chest thing for ever, but I guess it has been only a couple of weeks. This morning for the first time I didn't wake up coughing and wheezing. I guess the inhalers and antibiotics have finally won. Looking forward to getting dressed and out of the house for the first time in 2 weeks, although the warm temps we had yesterday are gone and it is back to snow and cold. I have been passing the time by reading and have enjoyed following the blogs that are listed on the side panel as well as others. I rarely comment as it always seems anything I'd say has already been said by someone else and they say it so much better. It is nice to dream and look forward to following in others footsteps. (er tire treads). I have learned so much about........well everything......computers, RVing, places to see and things to do. I can't wait for my wife to finally decide to retire and we can start our wanderings throughout North America. (Hopefully before it becomes too expensive)

I'm outa here next year

My Father was released from the hospital yesterday and is now resting comfortably at home. I finally went to the doctor and have congested lungs so am on antibiotics and a puffer. When I look around this year so many friends and relatives have had colds flu or pneumonia that I figure that's it, my last winter for a while here in the cold north. Next year I am definitely heading to warmer parts for the winter months. Even if I do come down with something at least I'll be able to lie out in the warm sun.

Winter of Hospitals

I have been in the hospital more times than I have ever been this winter. My father was in for a week over the Christmas holidays and we had to take him in again last week with a heart attack and pneumonia. He is responding to treatment and improving. My mother visited the ER yesterday with congested lungs but is OK and was released the same day with meds. To make matters worse I have come down with a very bad chest cold so have been unable to visit my folks for the last two days. I am hoping warmer weather is around the corner. Thanks for all the expressions of concern for my parents.

I think I have the Turkey Brain

Well Christmas number two is over.....and another turkey dinner is history. I feel like that guy in the commercial with the Turkey brain from all the left overs. My daughter has winged back to Calgary heavier with presents after a good visit. My father is on the mend, home again and feeling much better. We have had a few minor snow falls all of which only required a shovel but on one of them I hauled out the snow blower as it hadn't been used last year or yet this year. Surprise it started right up and after a short coughing spell starting purring. Boy I am missing not heading down south this year and reading all the blogs of those who have just adds to the funk I am in. Oh well maybe Sue and I can get away for the March break down to Myrtle Beach which is only a day and 1/2 drive south. Won't take the trailer however, I know a friend who has a number of time shares which I might be able to rent. Well off to go out and sit in the hot tub. I can at least have the warm water if not the warm air outside.
Doug.

gearing up for Christmas number 2

Christmas was a bit different this year as I had to call an ambulance for my father on Dec. 23 He had a cold that moved down into his chest and made him quite stuffed up. On a 93 year old that is not a good thing so off to the hospital where he was for a full week. This kinda changed our Christmas plans as the number of people coming to our house for Christmas dinner kept changing. Oh well a smaller group this year only 12 but a good time non the less. My father is now home and on the mend but a week in the hospital takes a toll on a 93 year old and it will take some time to get back to normal. I will be staying around Ontario this winter to help with caring for him. Now to Christmas number 2..... my daughter who lives in Calgary now has never missed a Christmas before but had to work this year sooooo she is flying in on Jan. 10th and my wife assured her that we would have a Christmas with her then, sooooo, that means all the decorations stay up and we will be having another Christmas dinner while she is here. I hope the weather co-operates and she has a good flight into Kitchener with no major snow storms to contend with.
Hasn't been bad here so far this winter. I still haven't used the snow blower once yet this season.
To all a very Happy New Year
Doug.