REHOMING BLEU

February 28th: We have been thinking of this hard decision for some time, but we didn't want to make any hasty moves.

Sunday was the determining point.

We had gone over to Scott & Lana's (Holland's older brother, & SIL) to visit with Jake (Holland's nephew) and Jake's son, Levi. During conversation, Lana mentioned that her dog had gone missing a month ago - Scott said it jumped the fence and they have not been able to find it. Phone calls were made to neighbors to be on the lookout, posters were put up, veterinary clinics were called, ect.

No luck in finding the missing fence jumper.

So, Holland and I shared a look across the table, and Holland broached the idea of rehoming Bleu with them: we already knew that he would be loved and spoiled there … Lana made it known to us as soon as she laid eyes on Bleu as a puppy, that "if ever the Day came", she's gladly take Bleu.

When we left for home Sunday, Bleu stayed behind in his new home.

Lana was ecstatic.

Bleu was already following Scott around the house, and he looked pretty darned happy padding alongside him as they moved from room to room.

We were missing Bleu on the ride home - but we knew in our hearts that we had made the right decision.

Holland called Lana as soon as we got through our front door to see how Bleu was settling in: the report was that he has already established himself as the reigning prince of the house, in Kelso ;-)

This morning, when we boxed Bleu's things up and dropped them off, Holland was amused and gratified to see that Bleu was already vociferously guarding the Kelso castle. We had trained him well - and he had made an easy transition. All hearts were intact, and life is moving smoothly forward.

While we drank coffee and visited, Bleu moved easily among everyone to get pets, pats, kisses, ear rubbing … and Bleu seemed right at home with Scott and Lana. He has a cushion in their living room, and a pillow by the side of their bed; he can move in and out of the house with ease (except at night); someone is up around the clock, so he never lacks for interaction: in short, he is as spoiled there as he was with us.

He's a happy little fella.

When we left, there was no doubt we did the right thing.

Bleu's things …

We are rehoming Bleu with family; he's comfortably adjusted. Everyone is happy.

At Scott & Lana's, he can be the dog he is meant to be.

On our way out of Longview, I noticed that the East and South have merged with the West: the Sinclair mascot is very prevalent on the east coast, and down south - below calimexarabia … but this is the first time I have seen a green Sinclair dinosaur in the PNW ;-)

A dinosaur in the PNW! Longview-WA

Sinclair's advertising writers first had the idea to use dinosaurs in Sinclair marketing back in 1930: they were promoting lubricants refined from crude oil believed to have formed when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

When we got back to Long Beach, we grabbed a fish & chips boxed Supper; I was a bit disappointed to see that it was not fresh cod, but rather fish fillets that looked suspiciously like Skipper's Brand fillets :-(

Supper …

We ate them. They were okay. But we would have preferred fresh cod, especially at the beach, where fresh cod abounds.

After Supper, Holland researched some things on the internet … and I cuddled up with a Clive Cussler novel that includes risky adventuring with Sam and Remi: a very enjoyable way to spend a rainy evening ;-)

RELIEF

February 22nd: Yesterday while we had been in Longview, we had stopped by Red Canoe to take care of a banking snafu there … and were forced to close that account, and open a new one. This is becoming a habit with this banking company, We were not happy, but we really had no other choice. My woodworker's beneficiary pension is handled through that branch - which meant that I had to contact MetLife and get that straightened out this morning :-(

So, with Bleu sprawled on the floor at  my feet, I called the phone number given me for a MetLife Rep, and talked to a MetLife fella about the woodworker's pension plan widow benefits, and had to refile with MetLife because the woodworker's pension plans had been shifted to them … and they didn't know who I was, and was more interested in legally covering their monetary asses, than they were in continuing with my widow benefits, gifted to me by my late husband, who had thoughtfully provided for me so I wouldn't have to struggle when he was no longer in my life.

I was struggling trying to understand why MetLife was being difficult given that they already had all the pertinent information they needed to process what belongs to me.

UGH

Anyway; before the fella (and he really was very nice while doing a difficult job keeping his boss happy) disconnected, he told me that I had to finish the refiling online: which frustrated me - and Holland just sat by quietly, praying me through the online filing struggle … and occasionally offering words of encouragement, "You can do this, Baby", "Take a deep breath, and start again", "When you get this done - and you will; we'll go for a relaxing drive", "You did it!" And then adding, "What just happened is a real miracle, Baby. Normally things like this take hours on the phone - and weeks to complete: God wrapped this whole thing up for you in a little under an hour. A true miracle."

That was around 10:30 AM.

Around 11 AM, we were both sitting around the house; relaxing and surfing the internet, and drinking morning coffee - when Holland decided to call the referred knee doctor's office to make an appointment for Monday, and the receptionist said there was a 2:50 opening this afternoon, and she could pencil him in if he was interested.

(((YES!)))

Second miracle of the Day :-)

So, we quickly left the driveway for Longview. We were both rejoicing that Holland would finally get relief from the agonizing knee pain he has been suffering. He could hardly walk without grinding his teeth - that would end with the cortisone shots :-)

We arrived in Longview ahead of schedule, so we found a parking spot close to the clinic, and sat talking for a few minutes … until Bleu kept interrupting us with his territorial guardship attitude concerning me (Holland is actually encouraging this); Holland wants Bleu to primarily be my guard dog, but I want Bleu to be as equally protective towards Holland given the current society under the current DC madness, that is quickly spiraling out of control. 

Bleu considers me his personal property - I insist Holland gets equal attention so Bleu doesn't get 'territorial'.

We hadn't been parked long in the clinic's parking lot, when Holland's phone rang: the X-ray results were in … arthritis and age-related degeneration (the breakdown of 'soft tissue' leads to pain and inflammation); shortly after that phone call was ended, Holland went into the clinic to get the patient forms filled out.

Lakefront Clinic; Longview-WA

Togetherness … through a brick wall ;-)

The doctor Holland saw today, was a doctor he'd seen before (doc remembered him, too); and he was comfortable with him.

The cortisone shots were given in both knees, and Holland is feeling much better.

Following that happy event, we  drove across town to visit with his cousin Crystal, for about 2 hours - and I got a tour of the new house layout ;-)

It was evening when we started an enjoyable drive back to Long Beach, under the glow of moonrise.

I like seeing the moon shining brightly in the night sky.

We are happy with the way this Day unfolded :-)

NICE TO BE WITH YOU~Ocean Park & Ilwaco-WA

Yesterday we spent a quiet, relaxing day in-house: Holland did some internet surfing, I designed and worked on a new crafted item, and Bleu just lurked around between the both of us. This afternoon, we spent some time at the beach … and enjoyed a short drive into Ilwaco; just for the fun of it :-)

Gallery - 'Nice To Be With You' song: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgN9bV_Uw2I)

It was wet, cold, and windy … but we all enjoyed the fresh ocean air.

Holland watched the waves, and cut a few sand doughnuts.

Bleu raced around in the sand, chasing seagulls and running energy off.

My eyes took in the scenery - and watched the males in my life relaxing, & enjoying themselves.

Frisky Bleu and the deep, angry sea of Ocean Park-WA; the angry waves are CA & OR storms fallout.

Angry, brutal waves were rolling onto Ocean Park's beachway, with spray being violently thrown backwards as they pounded down upon the roiling ocean surface; sand was churned up as the waves made their way inland, and by the time the waves were rolling up on the sandy beach, they were very brown with the churned up sand carried in their angry curls.

A dragonfly totem caught my eye; Ilwaco-WA

Glass Dragonfly Thrift Store, 110A Lake St SW, Ilwaco

Holland spotted this wooden hulled boat … I'd never seen one before. Interesting. I laughed when I saw the name of it ;-)

When I spotted the boat's name, I laughed aloud because the 'Run Bambi, Run' song … and news coverage of that time, immediately ran through my thoughts; and I told Holland why I was laughing: he didn't know what I was talking about.

So, I told him ;-)

Lawrencia Ann "Bambi" Bembenek, known as Laurie Bembenek, was an American former police officer, convicted for the 1981 murder of her husband's ex-wife, Christine Schultz, so that her new husband would no longer have to pay alimony.

While serving a 10 year sentence in a Wisconsin prison, Bembenek escaped through a laundry room window and was picked up by her fiancé Dominic Gugliatto, the brother of a fellow inmate. They fled to Canada. Bembenek's story went national after she escaped.

As publicity around her escape swirled, a slogan began to crop up: “Run, Bambi, Run!” Recaptured in Ontario, Bembenek pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in a retrial and was released with 10 years of probation.

Leaving Ilwaco, we spotted a Museum on a side street, and Holland said it might be interesting to visit …

A museum - might have to check that out.

Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum: 

(https://www.discoverourcoast.com/our-coast-magazine/history-heritage/our-picks-columbia-pacific-heritage-museum/article_e817fa3a-65c4-11ea-81c2-0f30d99f29ad.html)

When we got back home, I drafted the pattern I jotted down last night while I designed & worked up my crochet purse organizer … and while posting the Purse Organizer Pattern to Blog Hops I frequent, I smiled when I saw that the pattern for my Swiffer jet mop top had been featured on one of the Blog Hops I shared it with :-)

MOD CROCHET PURSE ORGANIZER: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2024/02/mod-crochet-purse-organizerfebruary.html

My Swiffer Jet Mop Pad was featured on a Blog Hop ;-)

MOD SWIFFER JET MOP PAD PATTERN~Revised & Updated; Quartzsite-AZ:

 (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2024/01/mod-swiffer-jet-mop-pad-patternrevised.html)

Then, while Holland was doing his thing, I exercised, and posted those exercise paces too :-)

Seniors, as well as the younger generation, need to stay fit - and I am hoping Holland will join me at some point.

GLUTES EXERCISES~My Senior Exercise Plan 2024; #9/Long Beach-WA: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2024/02/glutes-exercisesmy-senior-exercise-plan.html

TIES THAT BIND~Hanford-CA & Laton-CA

February 10th: Today we drove to Hanford to visit Holland's Uncle George - Holland talks fondly of this man: he loves him.

I took extra time getting ready to walk out the door this morning: first impressions are important; I am not well-to-do (and I did not know Holland's family was, until we were married), but I want them to understand that Holland didn't marry beneath him, and he didn't marry trailer-trash either.

We choose to be road gypsies … and I can clean up real nice ;-)

Sequined blouse - I chose makeup colors that matched the sparkle ;-) Maybelline 'Charcoal Smokes' - Pearly Gray for browline; Lt. Gray for upper lash liner.

Profusion 'Chocolates' Palette - glittery 'Illusion' for overall eyelid color.

Maybelline 'The Urban Jungle'  - sparkly upper right for inner eye accent & bottom lash liner.

'Auburn' Brow Gel; 'Deep Green' Mascara; 'Coral Ardent' crème blush & 'Pink Quartz' Lipgloss.

Necklace & some curling iron magic … and we're off like a herd of turtles ;-)

Yesterday I probably looked worse for wear after 24 hours on the road, sleeping in the truck - and wearing the same clothes … with a quick brush through my hair when I first met Brenda. But today is different. We've had a good night's sleep in our bed, we've showered road dust (and Bleu's stinky mess) down the shower drain, slipped into fresh clothing, and I dolled up a bit before walking out the front door to meet The Family.

Holland said, "They're just normal people Baby; you don't need to worry."

But Holland is a guy: and he loves me no matter what.

First impressions are important when meeting Uncle George ;-)

The atmosphere when we arrived was very welcoming and friendly towards me. I didn't say much because I didn't want to intrude on the tender moments: I just listened and learned more about my husband's early years.

When we drove to Brenda's for Supper, that was a whole other thing, and I opened up more; freely engaging in convo and sharing in the cohesive family unity. I met her husband Jeff (who knew Holland from his boyhood days in Laton), and her two daughters & their husbands. Laughter echoed around the table, and it was almost like I felt I had known those people all my life.

It was a good day, and a good evening.

And we're going to do it again, tomorrow :-)

Coming here was a good decision - we had planned this stop in Laton at the same time we decided to become road gypsies. I'm glad we came; we both needed this heartfelt connectivity - Holland because he missed them … me, because I am Holland's wife, and he is my sole family now: it is good to be accepted, embraced, and included into a loving family unit.

Super exciting Day - we both have been looking forward to this.

Visalia-CA

Hanford-CA from Visalia-CA; 20 min (20.1 mi) via CA-198 E

Hanford-CA:

 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanford,_California)

A little background of Holland's ties to this place …

Holland and his Uncle George are tight; George was excited to know Holland is in town.

Holland comes from a strong work ethic background.

We arrived …

The closeness of these 2 … and the love flowing between them had my eyes watering. It was a beautiful thing to see.

Cousin Brenda, Uncle George, & Holland. Together again.

Bleu behaved while left alone in the truck for the majority of the Day; a little freaked out, but no anxiety messes. Thank God.

The sunset on the way home in Visalia-CA, from Laton-CA.

Visalia-CA from Laton-CA; 31 min (28.9 mi) via CA-198 W and CA-43 N

Sequoia National Park KOA Journey~Visalia-CA (Internet Pic)

*BIKER BAR & BRENDA~Quartzsite-AZ to Visalia-CA: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2024/02/biker-bar-brendaquartzsite-az-to.html