Had a busy day running around doing errands, picking up some things for the new trailer, doing laundry, etc. We also picked up some plumbing PVC, as our hostess miraculously actually has an RV dump connected to their septic tank (something we’re getting to be in dire need of), though the above-ground piping had been crushed by too many lawnmowers and bulldozers running over it. Their grounds managed Luis dug it out, and so we picked up the pieces necessary to finish it off. A cold, windy day. Getting tired of this cold, thought way down here by the gulf it would be warmer, and every one is saying how unusual it is, but that seems to be the story everywhere we go. Really looking forward to getting to Florida, which seems to be the only place in the country (except Arizona) that has the kinds of temps we’re looking for. Of course, once we get there, it will probably still be unseasonable cold! It has already been for the most part this winter, according to my sources, but we’ll just have to find a horse camp in the Keys if necessary!
Archives for January 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 – Runaround/Medical Day
Hubby left early to find a detail shop to get the new horse trailer washed and vacuumed up, as well as the van, but after several hours, he returned saying he couldn’t find it, so he ended up going to a self-serve car wash where he at least got most of the dirt off. As soon as he got back, I headed out to the Sadler Clinic, for an appointment with a physical therapist to try to finally work out the kinks in my shoulder. Though I’ve made great progress over the past year, there’s still some tightness, and lately it’s been bone rubbing on bone and a lot of clicking going on, which I know is bound to create more problems later, so I figured I better get help to get it fixed up right. After several false starts, I ended up going to the Urgent Care center to get x-rays (which no one looked at, as far as I could tell), and a doctor’s order so that I could get an appointment with the physical therapist, Catherine. She worked me through a number of exercises and did some ultrasound, all of which helped. She didn’t really believe my interpretation of what happened, and tried to tell me part of the problem was aging and psychosomatic (which I know isn’t true, but I just smiled and kept quiet), and in the end, we made another appointment on Friday and I left with a rubber stretch band to continue with some of the exercises at home, though I’m not sure what I can tie it up to (she suggested a door, but I don’t really have one with enough room to exercise around). Whatever, I’ll figure it out. I just felt that since we will be here at least 2-3 weeks, it may be my best chance to get it straighted out once and for all. Did laundry in the evening, so we’re all set for whatever comes over the weekend.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011 – Picked up our New Trailer Today!
Slept deeply until 9:30, still groggy even after that long night’s sleep. After breakfast, we headed up to Magnolia where our new (to us) trailer was waiting for us. Arrived right on schedule at noon, finished off the paperwork and purchase, and proudly headed back to the ranch. It’s a great match, the white of the trailer and the white of the van looks great, and the graphics on the side of the trailer, a line art graphic of a running horse, is the same color as the accents on the RV and the color of our truck, so as a convoy, we are now a perfect match. The size of the trailer seems huge compared to our old trailer, yet the van had no trouble pulling it. It needs a good cleaning, and our host David recommended a good car wash nearby, which we’ll likely do tomorrow. I also had designed a brochure for an upcoming workshop, and had to go get it printed today, as well as run a few other errands, which we did for the rest of the afternoon. Got back just in time to feed the horses and dogs, and settle down for the evening.
Monday, January 17, 2011 – Work and Travel Back to Houston (also Government at its Best!)
Up with the alarm by 5:35, dressed, started to pack, and went down to Hampton’s free breakfast at 6:00, just as hot omelets were being served. Hubby was good and had oatmeal and an English muffin, I had one of their omelets, one patty of sausage and an English muffin. More than I needed really, I just convinced myself it was a long time till our next meal (not true, but I can be so persuasive :- ). Afterward we quickly finished packing and headed out about 6:40, arriving at our client’s office at 6:50. Though we were early, everyone was already there, so we got busy right away. Had an excellent session, lasting until 9:30, another satisfied customer. Meanwhile, I had been communicating with a very helpful young man at the TN Agriculture department trying to get our Horse Passports renewed, and he graciously volunteered to come in to the office (despite the fact that the office was closed for MLK day) so that we could pick them up rather than having him send them through the mail and risk missing us on the road. We met him right at 10:00, and he had us fixed up and ready to go with Passports in hand in 20 minutes! Then we headed for the airport (I still love Nashville’s airport the best of all the ones we fly in to, it’s just so easy to find everything, unlike in so many others!) Dropped off the rental, found a nice little restaurant in the terminall called Noshville Deli and had some lunch. Again, I ordered a small Matzoh ball soup and Hubby ordered a large chicken noodle, and this time, she brought a small chicken noodle and a large Matzoh ball, so AGAIN I had more food served to me than I wanted. This time, I truly left some in the bowl, I just couldn’t eat it all without too much guilt. Had another uneventful flight back to Houston, and arrived safe and sound back at the ranch by 5:00, tired but satisfied we had a good day. In bed early, expecting to crash as soon as our heads hit the pillow.
Sunday, January 16, 2011 – Travel Day to Nashville
Woke up to the alarm around 7:30, had breakfast, finished packing, then headed out to IAH, Bush International Airport, which is the closest airport to where we are staying. An uneventful Continental Express flight on a small jet (2 seats on one side of the aisle, one seat on the other), picked up a rental car at Thrifty, headed in the general direction of the Hampton in Brentwood before stopping at Pantera Bread for some nice soup. Hubby had chicken noodle and I had bean soup, and even though I ordered a cup they served me a bowl, so I ended eating more than I wanted. We left with a salad to share for dinner tonight. Stopped off at Target to pick up soda and some stockings, swung by our client’s office to see where it was so we would be able to find it easily in the morning, then headed to the Hampton just across the road. Got a good room at the end of the hall, away from the elevators and vending machines, then settled down for the night after printing some materials we needed for our meeting in the morning, followed by showering and sharing our salad. Hubby was asleep by 10:00, me by 11:00.
Saturday, January 15, 2011 – Prep Day and Dinner Out
Slept late, and spent the morning getting ready for our flight out tomorrow, then I spent several hours with our host and hostess, who then spontaneously asked us out to dinner to meet some other friends who might be instrumental in drumming up some more business while we’re here in the Houston area. Went to a South African restaurant called Peli Peli. It had an interesting decor, though not very comfortable, and the food had some interesting spice combos, but wasn’t exactly spectacular. The piano/string bass combo was a nice touch, but with all the hard surfaces, the noise level was very high, making conversations even with those directly across the table quite difficult. I was hoarse by the end of the evening. Not the place to go for a quiet or romantic evening, but it was good to meet such nice folks. Got home just after 9:00, we watched a bit of TV, then went to be early, as we will be getting up early in the morning to pack and fly!
Friday, January 14, 2011 – Hanging Around Day
Went grocery shopping and worked on the computer. Otherwise delightfully uneventful.
Thursday, January 13, 2011 – Work Day
Spent the day trying to get my books in order for the year end. Switching from an old bookkeeping program that I’ve been using since 1993 (which I loved! But is incompatible with Windows 7), to Quicken. I like the fact that with Quicken it can automatically download almost all of my accounts directly, which will save me TONS of time inputting every receipt we collect. It’s been a cloudy and cold week (everyone tells us that’s uncharacteristic for Houston, another testament to the fraud of global warming), with highs only in the mid-40’s. Cold, but nothing like everyone else in the country seems to be having (except Florida, of course!). Kind of wish we’d made it there by now, but the potential for work calls, and we’re in a good place, both for the horses and for us, with electric and water for the RV and world-class stalls for the horses, though it would be nice if they had a paddock or pasture in which to stretch their legs. We have been getting them out every couple of days and taking them for a walk around the property, as well as lungeing them for a few minutes, but it would be nice to take them for a ride. Waiting for the weather to warm up!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 – Work Day
Hubby did some errands while I did more office work, then I had to run out to the Post Office and run a few more errands. Otherwise an uneventful day.
Tuesday, January 11, 2010 – 1-11-11 The Day of the Ones!
Hubby spent the day getting our old horse trailer washed and ready for sale, while I posted an ad on craigslist and tried to get caught up on a lot of other year-end bookkeeping work. Made travel and hotel arrangements to fly to Nashville on Sunday for a short job there, returning Monday afternoon.