granddaughter coraline

granddaughter coraline

grandson mason

grandson mason

grandson jaxson

grandson jaxson

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

01-30NOV23 Sultan, WA (🍗turkey day🥂)

Wednesday first day of November starts with a mid-morning visit of our dog Bella to one of the very few vets that specializes in pets with eye problems.  Not a major issue but we need to try medication on her left eye to see if the issue can be treated.  That afternoon we lose power for short time; no big deal but frig is flashing 5 E when restarted.  Never happened before and owner’s manual and Samsung website have no info on what 5 E means.  Search of the web search reveals that error code occurs sometimes after power loss & gives remedy (problem solved).

Friday. 03NOV, better weather; Corrie runs errands and later Dan takes Toad into car dealer for maintenance.  After dinner daughter Rebecca arrives with grandsons Jaxson & Mason.  They are all spending night here in preparation for the boys’ soccer games tomorrow.  Both games are close to us and being here saves Rebecca driving and a ferry ride tomorrow early, early AM.

Saturday morning breakfast and off to first soccer game, which was Mason in south Bellevue.  During first half torrential downpour occurs for several minutes, off/on rain throughout rest of game.  Immediately after game Dan heads back to house to take care of the three dogs; everyone else stays in local area and finds place for lunch.




Early afternoon Dan heads to Marymoor Park in Redmond for Jaxson’s game; thankfully no rain.  NOTE - Jaxson's team short players and Mason is allowed to sub.  So at times Jaxson & Mason both on the field playing together on same team:)  Again immediately after game Dan heads back to house for dogs.  Little later everyone else shows up at house for quick meal, pack their stuff in car, load up, and head home.







Sunday not much done, light chores and recovery from yesterday.  Monday, 06NOV, Dan starts day by spending two hours at dentist to Silverdale for crown replacement; not much else done.  Tuesday not much done; Wednesday Corrie has shoulder looked at, PT/rehab not going well - so another MRI scheduled and may mean surgery is needed

Thursday 09NOV Corrie runs errands, and late morning Dan heads to Pacific NW 74 Class luncheon at Buffalo Wild Wings in Lynnwood (last gathering was 22JUN2023.

The Ryan RV Express: 01-30JUN23 Sultan, WA (what happened to junuary?)

Before the luncheon can even get started telling lies, Corrie calls Dan to say our jack Russell terrier, Rocket, is having significant problems and needs to be taken to emergency vet care.  Dan drives home picks up Rocket and spends next six hours at Pilchuck Vet Hospital, before leaving Rocket there for overnight observation.

Friday almost whole day devoted to Rocket’s condition and what can be done (if anything)?   Won’t recount all the details and emotions.  Turns out the latest issues are a continuation of the stones that blocked his blocked urinary tract couple of months ago.  The stones and this issue are as a result of some sort of blocked blood flow thru his liver (called shunts).  This is not an uncommon thing for small dogs and often they are born with it.  Usually the effects are not noticeable, progressing slowly over time.

Rocket’s progression has been fast and it appears his liver has been degrading significantly, and the stones and recent issues are the result.  Now tests show that his blood bile level is off the charts, and allowing the contaminated blood to effect the brain and impact his cognitive abilities.  The function of the liver cannot be reversed and will further decline over time.  Decision is to take him home and see if medicine and special dog food can stabilize his current cognitive abilities.

Saturday was a day of recovering from the emotional roller coaster of yesterday.  Day was spent observing Rocket to see if any improvement; thankfully things look very good and he is no longer a zombie dog.  Spends most of his time sleeping but pretty normal when awake (of course pretty normal for Jack Russells’, compared to other breeds is not the same)😊

Sunday, 12NOV, Dan gets RV & Toad ready for trip to RVrepair facility tomorrow.  Early Monday AM Dan heads to RV repair shop; we have used this ship once before when it was located in Monroe.  They do good work but now they are located twenty miles further out in Lake Stevens.  We had tried to have our repairs done by Dynamax/Isata dealer but Everett dealer said maybe xmas?  And Tukwila dealer said day before turkey day?  This small shop said next week!  Dan thought two of our items would need parts and/or significant amount of time; shop owner thought easy/peasy.

While disconnecting the Toad from the RV, Dan noted that the Tow Bar was completely worn and ready to separate from the Tow hitch and RV  So he threw it in the back of the Toad to repair if possible at home.  RV shop owner was right and called Dan in three hours, & RV was ready😊  Now Corrie had to drive Dan back to shop so he could pay the bill; and Corrie could drive herself back home in Toad and Dan drives home later in RV.

Thursday, 16NOV, early AM we take Rocket to vet hospital for follow-up.  Lab result on his blood sample are much improved from when we brought him in.  Slight change in his meds hoping to stabilize his liver function at present level.

Friday weather is cold and clear sky; last sunny day for a while.  Dan tried to use rid-em mower to cut some of the lawn before rain but mower blades would not engage?  Dan spent couple hours to insure drive belts properly aligned (they were).  But now transmission will not work.  So Dan spent another two hours getting mower into back of truck using come-alongs that kept jamming

Saturday AM Dan runs ride-em mower to one of few businesses remaining after covid that deals solely with gas powered lawn equipment of all manufacturers (except stihl).  Then back home before Dan hits road to meet Rebecca in Seattle for Jaxson’s soccer game.  Great brisk weather, perfect for soccer, then home to Corrie, dogs and dinner.





Sunday, 19NOV, not much, mostly getting ready for turkey day at daughter Rebecca & husband Raymond’s.  Monday Corrie has med appointments for upcoming shoulder surgery.  Dan runs to Costco for turkey day stuff.  Even though store just opened the doors, it was already a zoo and complete chaos.  Dan left after 45 minutes in line – nothing bought.  Rest of day preparing pre-cooked items for Thursday.  Dan mows and preps truck for tomorrow drive.

Tuesday slightly late start to Rebecca & Raymond’s; we decide to drive around via Tacoma rather than worry about early turkey day traffic on unreliable WA ferry system. Unload truck and wait for everyone to get home from work and school; after dinner few games of cribbage.  Wednesday Corrie & Rebecca work mostly on prepping and cooking for tomorrow; pizza for dinner.

Turkey Day Corrie & Rebecca continuous final preps/cooking for Thanksgiving meal.  This year Rebecca & Raymond have invited Andrew, Ariel & their three kids (their son Micheal is on Jaxson’s soccer team); and also invited their friends Johnny & Sebastia.  Ariel & Andrew bring another turkey, more dressing and mash potatoes.  So now we not only have too much food but double too much food🙃  Everyone sits down for dinner at 4PM, but Johnny & Sebastian show-up little late








After deserts most of the adults stay around the table to play various “adult games?”  Dan and Sebastion sit off to the side shooting the shit.  Kids move on to video games or watching you tube.  Around 11PM everyone calls it a night.





Friday, 24NOV, lazy day recovering from yesterday’s food overdose.  Corrie.  Rebecca, Jaxson, & Mason off to the nearby Naval Base recreational pond for some fishing.  Then leftovers for dinner.  Maybe the first Black Friday without any xmas shopping?


Saturday Dan meets with a former Coast Guard Academy classmate/friend from 1974, Rusty Burke, for coffee.  Great three hours reminiscing/lying and then a walkabout the harbor of Port Orchard.  Amazingly one of the moored vessels was the LADY WASHINGTON, a replica of a 1700s wooden sailing vessel, that Dan reviewed the construction and stability plans for back in the late 1980s as part of the Coast Guard's Marine Safety technical staff.

Historical Sailing Ship Adventures on the Lady Washington | Grays Harbor Historical Seaport


Then Dan takes grandsons, Jaxson & Mason to Insight Climb.  Then back home for chicken wings prepared by Corrie; family fire outside; and cribbage.







Sunday drive around Tacoma to house, reopen house and just relax for rest of day.  Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday very cold and clear days.  Not much done – some chores, take care of dogs, and prep for Corrie’s rotator cuff shoulder surgery on Thursday.

Thursday AM (last day of November) AM arrive on time for Corrie’s surgery.  Then wait and wait; eight hours later, finally home for long and supposedly painful recovery. 

22-31OCT23 - Sultan, WA🎃

Sunday, 22OCT, was not a day of rest🙃  Very early start after fueling up with Oregon cheap diesel.  Next and last cheap diesel will be in Wapato, WA, at Wolf Den fuel & smoke shop.  Then finally home; unpack only the essentials, before ordering take out dinner.  Grass is over a foot tall and wet, but heavy rain is forecasted for next five days; so Dan does his best with small Craftsman push mower.  Meanwhile the Pitres were out fishing.




Monday Corrie runs errands; Dan uses ride’m mower for part of front yard; we move tractor out of shop/RV garage and moves RV in.  Tuesday spent mostly doing chores & errands.  Dan makes appointments to service the truck, and have repairs made to four items we discovered on RV during recent trip.  Appears RV facilities are still dealing with labor shortages from covid and appointments are booked months out

Wednesday (Corrie’s b-day'🎈); Corrie spends most of day running errands & medical; Dan continues putting RV away and pumping sewage.  Then off to Main & Lewis Restaurant for so/so b-day dinner.  Thursday AM Dan takes truck into chevy dealer for routine maintenance; of course they recommended something else (replace rear brake discs and rotors).  Not too long ago Dan would have said no thanks and done it himself.  Now at this age, time is more important than money; and Dan says go ahead.  Corrie takes Rocket in for routine vet visit.  That afternoon Dan mows some more while the sun is out.  Friday, 27OCT, Corrie has girl’s day out with Jan Formisano; Dan runs errands; extremely cold night.  

Saturday late AM we head to grandsons Jaxson’s soccer game in Bothell.  We will meet daughter Rebecca there.  Meanwhile son-in-law Raymond will be with grandson Mason’s soccer game in Bremerton.


After game we all head to their house in Silverdale.  Then get in one car and head to Red Lobster for belated b-day dinner for Oma Corrie.  Then back to their house for b-day cake and few games of cribbage.




Sunday, 29OCT, slow start and donuts for breakfast; then off to Trident Sub Base in Bangor to do some fishing on military rec area ponds.  Cold but beautiful weather; everyone fishes but Dan who was happy to just sit in the sun and watch.  All fish caught were released.  Then back to their house to pack truck and head home.  Only one WA Ferry running on Kingston/Edmonds, so we drive around Puget Sound thru Tacoma and home.










Monday and Tuesday (Halloween🎃) great fall weather; not much done other than a little more mowing by Dan.