What is Going On, Anyway? -- Sun., Sep. 30

Two other bloggers have fallen, both on Friday, exactly one week after I fell. You can read about them here: Mushroom Accident and Your Life Can Change in an Instant. I also received a note from one of Bob's running friends in Hawaii who fell and injured her face three months ago and is still not healed. She had two front teeth cave in and has had multiple surgeries, but she's still having trouble eating. Oh no!

Is it something in the air? A full moon? 

Is this a trend? Is it our age? I hope not. Be careful out there everyone!!

I let Bob know I wasn't yet up for a car ride today. Tomorrow we're driving four hours round-trip for my follow-up in Corpus Christi. That will be road trip enough for me at this point. I have SO MANY QUESTIONS for the doctor. I'll post an update as soon as I can.
 
Hi Jeannie and Eldy of Where's Eldo? So happy to see you on board. [Note: I have been following Jeannie's blogs for a while and thoroughly enjoy all the things they see and do. You may want to hop on over and check them out, if you haven't already.]

Also welcome to Joe and Betty of Joe and Betty's Adventures, fellow Oregonians, who we do not yet know. Thanks for joining us on our full-time RV adventure. Maybe we'll meet when we're in Oregon in October or December.

It's Sunday evening...time for "60 Minutes" and a new season of our favorite show, "Amazing Race."

Did anyone see the season-opener for "Last Resort"? Wow! That hour-show was like a movie. Can't wait to see where they take it. (And it was filmed in Hawaii!)

It's time for more fur-kid photos, so tune out now if you're not interested.

Bowie totally relaxed in the recliner next to mine.

Sunnie snoozin' on the floor between the two recliners.

This looks like a good book. I'll get right on it!

And that, folks, is life in our "house" today. Take care out there wherever you are!

Travel Bug out.

Food -- Sat., Sept. 29

Oktoberfest 2006 -- Germany with Susan's relatives.

We* take food for granted AND enjoy: the tastes, textures, spices, scents, temperature, presentation, sustenance, and social aspect. 

Texas-sized pork chop on my plate. Yikes!

We abuse food: over-eat, super-size, over-salt, over-sugar, over-fat, over-process, genetically modify, become addicted. 

[*We=People in industrialized nations.]

Human beings need food to survive, although some would argue this point as I have heard about monks in some foreign land who can go years without food. I've never really studied them, so am not totally speaking from a base of knowledge, only rumor.

Different cultures have different tastes and different etiquette regarding food. Some eat with their hands, some eat only with their right hand, some use Western utensils; some use chopsticks.

In parts of the world, people hunt and gather their food; others shop and cook; some plant and raise their own food on farms; some fish, and use crab and lobster traps, and others simply dine out. By choice or by tradition, people can be carnivores, omnivores, vegetarians, vegans, follow strict religious guidelines, avoid genetically modified foods, or simply eat whatever they want. So many choices.

The one thing people seem to have in common when it comes to food is: they like to share it! Potlucks, weddings, family reunions, parties, wakes, church gatherings, picnics, cruises, vacations, family meals, eating out, community events, fairs, holidays, just about any occasion we can think of, people like to get together and eat.

Susan's family at Cheesecake Factory in Portland, Oregon. (2002)

 There's something almost primeval in our attitudes toward food. We savor it and enjoy "breaking bread" with others. Having food to eat is essential to our well-being, I'd venture to say, physically and spiritually. Sharing food is a tradition with most people. 

2009 Puerto Vallarta -- River Cafe

Sometimes you see someone eating alone. If I'm in a restaurant by myself, I feel an unspoken social stigma. "What's wrong with her?" I try to bring a book or magazine to read if I'm by myself. It's probably just me being paranoid, but hey, I try not to let it bother me.

Sharing food and socializing is a long-standing event in the human race. It starts when we're at our mother's breast. Comfort, warmth, love, caring, sharing. Some cultures take it a bit further and more than one woman may raise and suckle a baby.

So what's got me doing a soliloquy on food? I miss regular eating, that's what. With jaws wired shut everything is reduced to liquid in some shape or form. I miss eating cereal and chewing food while "chewing the fat." I don't know how long this will last. These bands and wires make me feel a bit claustrophobic too. It's impossible to yawn and very hard to sneeze, cough, spit stuff out, and talk.

A few years ago, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise did a bizarre movie called "Eyes Wide Shut." I think a new documentary should be made called "Jaws Wired Shut" which shows what it's like to live for weeks without the usual use of your mouth.  It could be very interesting. Anyway, it's a good word play.

Enough rambling, I want lamb, applesauce, beets, asparagus, chocolate, chips, cereal. I'll find out Monday what I can expect for the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Welcome to new readers Rick and Kathy of It's About Time.

Hungry Travel Bug out.

It's the Simple Things -- Fri., Sep. 29

Who would have thought I'd write a blog about a kid's toothbrush? Well let me tell you, they don't make 'em like they used to.

It's been a week since I've brushed my teeth because of my fall and subsequent wired jaw. My mouth felt, and probably smelled, awful. I have been swishing clear water around and letting it dribble out because I was beside myself due to my poor oral hygiene. The doctor's nurse told me no mouth rinses and to use a toothbrush to brush the outsides of my teeth. An adult toothbrush would not fit in the small space I created by pulling out 1/3 of my mouth. (The middle of my upper lip is covered in a big scab so it doesn't stretch at all.)

On the internet, one of the maxillofacial surgery centers had discharge instructions for a wired jaw that said to use a child's toothbrush. So Bob was nice enough to buy a child's toothbrush for me this evening. It is the cutest thing ever in a toothbrush!

Check it out. It looks like a kangaroo and has suction cup feet so it can stand on the counter and look adorable. (This is an Aquafresh Kids, 3+ years, soft toothbrush, in case you're wondering.)

,

My new 'roo'thbrush (sounds like Scooby Doo!).

I can report to you I now have a clean set of wires, bands and the outsides of my teeth.

It's the little things. Don't ever take them for granted.

Travel Bug out.

Daybook Entry --- Thurs., Sep. 27

FOR TODAY – SEPTEMBER 27

[Note: I meant to publish this on Thursday, but had technical difficulties with my computer recognizing my camera. I had help from a fellow blogger, Rick, today and reinstalled my camera software into my computer, but then my computer started a loud beeping. I think the fan went out, so I turned my computer off. I still don't know if the reinstall worked. When Bob got home, he graciously let me download my camera software on his computer and it works like a charm. Now I can post my photo showing my life yesterday. So, here it is, a day late. When it rains, it pours--and it's doing that outside now too.]

Outside my window Thursday…it's windy, sunny, but partly cloudy, about 84 degrees.
I am thinking…about my healing process from my bad fall last Friday when I broke my face.

I am thankful…for being alive.

In the kitchen…I am learning how to eat a wired jaw diet. Nothing solid can pass these lips until the wires and rubber bands come off.

I am wearing…comfy sleep shirt...I won't be going out for a number of days.

I am creating…my blog.

I am going…nowhere until my face heals. I don't want to reinjure it.

I am wondering…when I can get the jaw wires off so I can talk normally, eat normally.

I am reading… “The Sanctuary” by Raymond Khoury. 

I am hoping…my face heals quickly and that I learn how to clean my mouth soon. Bob bought me a child's toothbrush that I will try to use tonight.

I am looking forward to…being healthy again, walking and hiking again, going to Australia.

I am learning…how to take care of my jaw.

Around the house…Bob has been doing housework and shopping to let me recover from my trauma and subsequent surgery.

I am pondering…how will my teeth and glasses get fixed before we go to Australia.

A favorite quote for today…

Though we may travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we will find it not.   ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

One of my favorite things…is traveling.

A few plans for the rest of the week: not much. Heal, blog, read, watch TV, wash dishes, stretch.

A peek into my day…
Bowie is between my feet on the recliner footrest. Sunnie is next to me in the other recliner. Such sweeties!

Come and join us at http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ and join in!!

Corpus Christi Downtown Volkswalk -- Fri., Sep. 21

A day that will live in infamy (in my mind). Yep, this is the walk that finally did me in. (I know I'll do more walks, but it will be a couple of months...have to get over this one first.)

This past weekend was another kidnap* by Bob. (*Kidnap means one of us writes "Kidnap" on the calendar. The person who wrote down the kidnap is in charge of the weekend--or date night, or day--and makes the plans as to where we'll go. What we do is usually decided by both of us.) Bob took me to Corpus Christi, two hours southeast of San Antonio. 

At first we thought about going in the Escape pod and staying in a hotel, but why do that when we can take our home and kitties with us. So The Rig and The Beast were put into action and we left my Escape pod at the RV Park in San Antonio.

In reading RVparkreviews.com, I found Ransom Road RV Park in Aransas Pass, Texas, about 24 miles outside Corpus Christi. How perfect is that RV park name for a "kidnap" weekend?

It was Friday afternoon and the weather was gorgeous, 82 degrees with a slight wind coming in off the water. We got our RV situated in the site, fed the kitties, turned on the air and went out for a late afternoon/early evening 10K Volkswalk (6.2 miles). That was the last I saw of Ransom Road RV Park.

The Volkswalk started at Hotel Corpus Christi Bayfront. Normally I go in and ask for the "walk box" at the front desk. The front desk had a sign on it that said check in at the coffee shop. OK, that's different. Went to the coffee shop and asked for the "walk box." The lady behind the counter looked at me like I was speaking Swahili. She got all flustered and kept asking me, "What?"

"The walk box. You know, with directions for walks," I explained.

After a quickly placed call to someone who knew, she went over to the hotel check-in desk, phone in hand, and was told exactly where the box was. Once I got signed in, I gave her the box back and we were able to start our walk.

It was one of those picture-perfect evenings and we were enjoying all the sights in downtown Corpus Christi...

Banks, hotels, restaurants.

History of the Old Salt Mill

USS Lexington

Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge with Water Garden in foreground.

Water Garden with Art Museum in background.

Water Garden and Harbor Bridge

Bob at Water Garden.

A sculpture in park by Art Museum.

The next five pictures are of Heritage Park.

Real time 6:00 p.m.

Simon Gugenheim House

Grande-Grossman House

Lichtenstein House.

History and style info about Lichtenstein House.

All along the downtown harbor are gazebos with history inside and concrete steps.

The whole waterfront area is beautiful. If you worked downtown you could walk to the steps, sit, eat lunch and enjoy watching ships in the channel, great blue herons, brown pelicans and whatever else was going on in the harbor. Some of those gazebos had homeless people sleeping under them.

Great blue heron in classic stance.

Art downtown

Here's a place along the walkway where children can splash about. Looks inviting.

Splashy fountain for the kiddos.

A different kind of windmill, art, or both?

Brown pelican making sure I wasn't coming closer.

There's also comfy benches--you can face either direction.

Looking toward downtown.

Corpus Christi Marina

All along the walkway are markers depicting our solar system with facts about planets, our sun, moons, atmospheric conditions on planets, and interesting factoids. This was very educational. (And we wonder why we can't get a 10K walk in a new city done in two hours. Go figure. We're too busy reading signs. And I'm too busy taking photos!)

Extra info on comets and asteroids.

We walked around the T-head* in this marina.

Corpus Christi Marina.

 *T-head = roads in marina in shape of a T.

Some kind of fishing/shrimping? boat. Anyone know?

We thought about coming back here for dinner...but..

Corpus Christi skyline from marina.

Another great blue heron posed nicely.

Memorial to Tejano star Selena.

Selena Memorial--Mirador de la Flor (Overlook of the Flower)

 

We also walked a second T-head in the marina.

Another T-head in the Marina.

...another good option for dinner.

Joe's Crab Shack--Peace, Love & Crab

Replica of the Nina.

Being restored by this group.

Downtown skyline at dusk.

Just after sunset.

Along the harbor seawall.

A historic church at dusk.

The Cathedral--last photo I took before I fell.

After the last photo we went down the steps from the cathedral to the street below it. After walking another block is where I broke my face. Does that mean I fell from grace?

Bob took a few photos on his forays back and forth to Aransas Pass to feed the kitties and get some sleep. Here are Bob's photos of his ferry trip. See what I miss when I'm laid up in the hospital?

The big ship channel.

Ferries everywhere!

The Beast on a ferry ride!

Coming into port at Aransas Pass.

Life goes on and I want to go back to Corpus Christi, finish the walk and enjoy more time there: USS Lexington tour, aquarium, South Padre Island, bird watching. We still have those restaurants to try, but they will have to wait a while.

I also found out there's a Harbor Bridge walk every Sunday morning. That's on my bucket list too.

Travel Bug out.