Chapter 2

 

This is obviously an older picture.  We've had nothing but sunshine for weeks!

This has been a year of change for Consort and I.  After spending four years on the road as full-time RVers, we decided we've had enough moving around.  We have traded the Ford F350 for a new Nissan Rogue.  We have purchased a mobile home located in the 4 Seasons RV park in Brownsville, Texas, and we have put the fifth wheel up for sale.

The flier advertising the fifth wheel for sale.

Kitchen in our new house

We closed on the new house the end of June and began transferring our belongings from the fifth wheel to the house.  I must say I was dumbfounded as to just how much stuff we (that's the royal we and mostly I just mean me!) had packed in the trailer.  As an example, we (see above note) were carrying around 60+ hardback books, you know, just in case.

Daughter was our first houseguest arriving days after we were in our new place.  One evening while she was visiting, I observed something odd.  After taking a shower in the bathroom I was sharing with daughter, I noticed a fish drawn on the steamy mirror.  I assumed daughter was showing off her artistic talents.  It made me smile.

I finished up in the bathroom then went to find daughter to let her know I had seen her whimsical art.  She said she had not drawn the fish and assumed that I had, so we're not really sure how the fish got on the mirror.  No matter how many times I clean the mirror, the fish reappears each time the mirror steams over.  We're beginning to wonder if we brought our ghost from our last house.

The heat and humidity here in Brownsville are unrelenting.  We've become accustomed to it and don't let it slow us down.  

 

On a recent trip to Mexico, we saw this Humvee-type vehicle going through customs.  The Humvee has been modified into an RV.  A family of five from France are travelling the world in this unique RV.  If you're interested in their story, check them out on their website which is printed on the side of the vehicle.  (Bigbidule Bouquins Trotteurs)

We are still making weekly trips to the beach.  We have a large umbrella, two beach chairs, an ice chest, a bag with everything D.O.G. needs, snacks, books, and extra water.  Oh, and most importantly, a fat-wheel wagon to transport it all.

The beautiful carousel at Brownsville's Sunrise Mall

And we go to the mall.  Sometimes just for the air conditioned walking, sometimes to go to the movies, and sometimes just to shop.

Have I ever admitted in this blog that I never drove the F350 truck?  Before becoming full-time RVers, I drove a convertible Volkswagen Beetle.  The switchover to the F350 dually was just too much for me.  I drove the truck about a mile two different times, but other than that, Consort was always designated driver.  Now that we have traded the truck for the Rogue, I am at ease with driving again.  Consort is thrilled to say the least.  When I want to go to the mall and shop, or a quick run through Hobby Lobby, he can take a raincheck.  This pleases us both.

Note the bright vertical mark at the end of the thumb bone

Now, that's a picture you don't see every day.  At the end of June, prior to moving into the new house, I had my sewing machine out working on a sock monkey, a gift for our newest grandson scheduled to arrive August 31, 2023.

Here is the finished sock monkey

I was finishing up the last bit of machine sewing when I had an unlikely accident.  The thumb of my left hand got a little too close to the sewing machine needle.  The needle of the machine went through the thumb nailbed and broke off.  When I pulled my hand back, half of the needle and two long black threads were protruding from my thumb.  My instant reaction was to grab the needle between my teeth and pull.  That sort of worked.  All but the tip of the needle came out.

A close-up of the needle as seen on x-ray

My thumb was a little tender from the trauma, but no real pain.  I loaded a new needle in the machine and finished what sewing needed done by machine.  The next day I did all of the hand sewing.  I tell you all of this to underscore what a "non-event" I thought this was.  Everyone I talked to said I needed to have the needle removed, but I just kept thinking it would work its way out.

Not quite two weeks after stabbing myself with a needle, I went to (what I thought was) an Urgent Care.  There they took x-rays of my thumb.  Then the attending doctor said there was nothing he could do.  The needle is lodged in the bone and will have to be surgically removed.  That kind of rocked my world!  I told the doc I did not want to be admitted to the hospital.  He gave me a prescription for a really high-dose antibiotic and told me to follow up with an orthopedic hand surgeon.

That's about where the story ends.  I've had a second opinion from my trusted doctor in Oklahoma who wholeheartedly condones the surgery.  There has been no infection and I haven't had any pain, but my thumb just isn't right.  My goal for the week is to get this needle out of my thumb.  As I've already said, it doesn't really physically bother me, but the speculation of "what if..?" weighs heavily on my mind.

Quote of the day:  I'd rather live in a place and have an actual part in the life of it than just see new bizarre things. ~Ernest Hemingway

On the stereo:  Summertime ~Billie Holiday & her orchestra