Allergy Testing

Today I did the arm-full-of-pin-pricks allergy testing at the office of Dr Cromar in the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center. Dr. Cromar is a very nice guy, who happens to go to our church. He is very active in the church, and is a very good speaker.

Anyway, as one of the tests, he wanted to have my sinuses x-rayed. At least that's what he said. I think it was just an excuse to get my head in an x-ray machine to see if there was any "gray matter" up there. He was so kind as to actually walk me to the x-ray department instead of sending me off to find it on my own. Now that's good service! I wasn't worried about the results, though, because I know with the medical privacy laws he can't reveal the results to anyone without my permission!

After an initial consultation for a variety of allergy issues, Dr Cromar had the nurse, Stella Visser, poke 28 holes in my right arm and another 12 or more in the left arm, testing for food allergies. I happen to know Stella because she is the wife of Dwayne Visser, the guy who was Max's technician for many many years when he worked at the U.S.D.A. research lab here in Wenatchee. Dwayne was an excellent technician and helped Max tremendously during his career.

Oddly, ALL of the food allergy tests came up negative. I had recently determined that I am definitely allergic (or at least have an intolerence for) peanut butter, but peanuts did not come up positive... nor did anything else. The odd thing is, I cut peanut butter out of my diet about 2 months ago and it has made a huge difference. There are other "intolerences" but I have not been able to isolate them (like peanute butter). Therefore, we are inclined to believe it is the preservatives (or some other additive) that is the culprit. Unfortunately, there isn't a test for preservatives and it's a difficult to monitor anyway.

We're working on some other alternatives... so stay tuned...

Life could get even better if it works!

The Golf Blog

I've started posting to the golf blog... so check it out when you get the chance.
Click here.

More Doctor Appointments

In a recent post I mentioned we had met Max's new primary care physician. We used all of our influence and favors to get Max THE doctor, so I was assigned a different doctor. Monday, I had the opportunity to meet this new doctor of mine... Dr. Toth. Not that it makes a real difference, but my doctor isn't even in the main clinic building and, frankly, he looks younger than some of our grandchildren! The picture posted to the left makes him look older than he actually does in person. I'm sure he must be older than he looks. The good news is, I suppose, we shouldn't have to worry about him retiring in my lifetime! Anyway, he seems fine and his professional profile looks good... and I'm sure we'll get along very well. He's a good listener and that's important.

As a result of the appointment, I discovered my blood pressure is on the rise. This is unusual for me because I generally have low blood pressure. It's about time I have something to show for what those step-children have put me through. :-) Anyway, it's something we will monitor.

The doc also ordered some blood tests, full-fledged allergy testing, and a bone density x-ray... plus we're working on a new course of action for my hot flashes. I've been on PremPro for over a year and not comfortable with staying on it much longer. He has me taking the Progesterone lotion and cutting back on the PremPro tabs. Over the next couple of months, I'll ween off of the tabs altogether. I go back in a couple of weeks to review the results of all these tests... and figure out what to do about it.

This all sounds like a lot, but I'm actually feeling quite fine. Just some nagging issues to tend to before I get too old for any of it to work. <grin> I will, afterall, be turning 54 in a few days!

Cheers to all!
Carol

One More Blog

You're not going to believe this, but I've set up one more blog. The newest blog is going to log my entire 2006 golf season, less the Palm Springs portion which is discussed elsewhere in this blog.

The purpose of the new blog is to chronicle my experiences this season game-by-game, couse-to-course. I promise to write about every game, whether I like it or not! I've only made one introductory post so far, but will add more as I get out on the course and have something to report. This coming Thursday is our first 18-hole Ladies Division event at Three Lakes Golf Course... so that will kick off the upcoming season.

Here is a link to the new blog. And, also, there is a link down the right side bar of this blog, cleverly listed under "links".

I'm even wondering how to keep up with posting on all of these blogs. With the golf blog, I'll have a total of 4 blogs plus my regular real estate website. Here they are:
Our personal blog (this blog)
Carol's golf blog
Carol's residential blog
Carol's investment blog

Carol's Top Properties website

Gee... maybe I won't have time to play golf afterall ! Stay tuned...

One Sentence

Today we had out first consultation with Max's new primary care physician, Dr. Peter Rutherford. Our other doctor retired at the end of last year, so we were left to find a new one. We solicited the help of a doctor friend, who is on mission in Brazil, to get us a referral to one of the best and most popular doctors in the Wenatchee Valley Clinic. The nurses, and others in the know, are shocked we were able to get into this doctor because he has a 1 1/2 - 2 year waiting list for taking new patients.

Anyway, we talked about Max's Parkinson's and his meds and I wanted to discuss his memory issues. The doctor ran Max through a series of questions, including what day and month is it, spell some words... AND then he asked him to write one sentence on a piece of paper. Can you guess what Max's one single sentence was? "I love Carol". How sweet is that?

Tough to top that, so will sign off for tonight.

A New Art Site

A shirt-tail relative of mine has put up a new website, featuring her unique art work. I love her use of colors. Check out her gallery and narratives here.

Another Birdhouse

Only patriotic birds will want to visit this house. Isn't it just the cutest thing? This was a surprise find yesterday as I wandered through the new Apple Annies Antique Mall in Cashmere. It certainly isn't antique but I wanted it anyway. It was only $8.

This came about because yesterday I was scheduled to see my massage therapist, who works out of her home in Cashmere. Max was whining about how much his hip and back were hurting so I offered to give him my massage time. So, I dropped him off for the massage and this gave me about an hour to take an unplanned trip over to the Antique Mall. My reward for sacrificing my massage time!

The Mall which was completed several months behind schedule and hundreds of thousands of dollars over budget is phenomenal. It's huge. I don't know how many vendor booths there are, but a lot! And, they're nearly all full. It's almost overwhelming when you walk in and every booth is full of stuff. Warning: Do not take small children in here. It would be too scary with all the dishes and other glassware.

In addition to the new building, their old building across the street is still used as an annex for consignment furniture and other things. When I have some spare time I'll stop in there and check it out.

Anyway, this new birdhouse which is now the second in my collection, has inspired me to consider starting a collection of birdhouses. It will be fun to watch for unique birdhouses in my travels about. I won't buy just any birdhouse... only those that jump out at me!

By-the-way... Max's hip is feeling much better and he's definitely walking with more spring in his step today! So we both benefitted from the change of plans. And... I will get MY massage treatment next Tuesday (if he doesn't sweet talk me out of it again).

Home Safe

Hi everyone,
I keep getting calls to be sure we are home safe. Yes, just haven't had time to post yet. Had good travel weather.

Will write more later.

A Public Warning

Today I am offering a public warning. Yesterday I spent about an hour getting analyzed for a new set of golf irons. Could this be the beginning of an improved golf game? I certainly hope so. For a girl, I'm not a bad golfer... but having a new set of irons that are custom fit to me should make me a more "consistent" player. Hopefully it will be consistently good, and not consistently bad.

This is all theory, of course... so I'll let you know how it goes.

Carefree Driving In California?

Is that an oxymoron? Could there actually be such a thing as carefree driving in California? Maybe not, but having an onboard navigation system is as close as one could ever come. I was pleased to be able to focus on traffic and not when the next exit was coming up.

We got up at 4:00 this morning, so we could leave Palm Springs by 5:00 in order to beat the rush hour through the high traffic areas. We were on the road by 4:50, and I was amazed at how much traffic there actually was at that time of day! But, we did get through without ado. "Maggie", our onboard navigator, makes weaving through the maze of southern California freeways a breeze.

We were braced for rainy and snowy conditions today as per the forecast. We did experience on again and off again rain throughout the day (and a little snow through the Grapevine). Later in the day, we were shocked to find a 2-3 mile stretch of highway with a thick blanket of hail on the ground just north of the town of Willows. It was very bizarre. One minute we were breezing along at 70+ mph, then we were immediately slowed to about 40.

Tonight, we ended up in Redding, California which is about 650 miles from Palm Springs. It was a long day of driving, but this puts us in a good position to evaluate the weather conditions for the Siskiyous tomorrow and take off if conditions permit, or stay put if that's more prudent. I-5 has been closed on and off over the last few days, including today because of numerous accidents. With our all-wheel drive, we're not so worried about getting through the passes, but I do worry about some of the other drivers out there. I'm constantly amazed at how many dumb drivers there are in the world. Many of them have macho 4-wheel drive rigs that they think can go anywhere they want... as fast as they want.

Will check in again tomorrow or the next day to let you know how we progressed.

Dessert in the Desert

I bought some fresh strawberries, while at the College of the Desert Street Fair yesterday morning. Yum... there's even some left for dessert again tonight. I also bought a new blouse, a couple new visors, and some golf towels. It's a good thing we really are leaving here on Friday, because there is no more room in the car to put things!

Click on the picture to enlarge the strawberries (and Max). They're huge in real life... the strawberries that is. :-)

Last Days in Paradise

We are settled into our one-bedroom villa at the Welk resort. This place is really nice, as were our accommodations at Canyon Shores which is, literally, just across the street. Here there are two big pools, instead of the several small pools serving each building at Canyon Shores.

The Welk resort offers a lot of activities to keep you as busy as you want, including a Champagne Welk-um the evening that you check in. Isn't that clever? Remember Lawrence Welk and his "Champagne Music"?

Today's selection of activities included: Treasure Box Painting, Tote Bag Painting, Flower Pot Painting, Bug Painting (they're into painting here I guess), a pool tournament, root beer floats, happy hour at the pool... and they have some kid activities and evening family activities.

Tomorrow morning my friend, Dorothy, and I are going to the Street Fair without the men. Max likes to go, but after about an hour he gets tired and wants to leave. So, Dorothy and I are going to stop by Starbucks on our way and wander around leisurely.

We're scheduled to leave here Friday and plan to be home by Sunday... so just a few more days in Paradise. Don't be too sad for us. We've had a good time!

Spring Training

It's almost time for another baseball season to start. I was so pleased to find a Spring Training game on TV this morning while we were waiting to check out of our motel, and move to the villa at the Lawrence Welk Desert Oasis Resort. The game wasn't a Seattle Mariner game, but it was a game (Dodgers vs Braves). I told Max someday we should consider going to Arizona during March and taking in some of the Mariner Spring Training. We'll see if that ever happens.

Another week in the desert coming up. We'll definitely be on our way home by next Friday, so we should arrive back in Wenatchee some time Sunday, the 12th.

Change Of Plans

We were scheduled to be on the road headed home yesterday (March 1st), putting us home on Friday. BUT, Max's mobility hasn't been that great so when our friend, Dorothy McIntire, offered to let us use her week at the Lawrence Welk Resort, I decided there wasn't any point in rushing Max back to the cold and wet. At this time, it looks like we'll be heading home next Friday (March 10th), getting us home within 3 days.

I had to do some scrambling to change some appointments, but everything seems to be under control. I continue to do my real estate work via computer, phone and Fax.

Will check back in a couple of days.

The Team

Here is a picture of the gals I played golf with on Sunday and Monday at Cathedral Canyon Country Club. We were lucky that it wasn't as hot as originally forecast. The cloud cover helped.

From left to right: Janet, Cheryl, me, Dorothy

We were only a few strokes out of the money, but we had a great time! These ladies know how to put on a tournament. It was an "Oscar Nomination" theme, with (fake) oscar trophies... and tons of door prizes for those of us who didn't win by virtue of our golf scores! The day after the tourney, it rained about for the first time in the desert since October. What good timing.