Saturday February 26

Well, it has been a pretty busy week. Loretta is still fighting the cold so not too active. I spent a good share of the day Wednesday working on the storage building with Glenn. We made a few trips around the area observing the storm damage and what still needs to be done.

Yesterday was my birthday. Glenn was taking their 3 girls that are still home along with his son visiting from Minnesota on a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico. They have 3 rental units here and one of the tenants was also going. I was invited, so treated myself to a birthday gift. Weather was overcast but the rain held off, so the trip was enjoyable. However we didn't find any fishing to brag about. I think between the 7 of us only 8 legal fish were caught. I caught 3, two were definitely smaller than I wanted to monkey with. One was pretty good size, but just short of legal length. Oh, well I had a good time anyway.

Last evening Loretta wanted to treat me to dinner at a restaurant we hadn't visited yet this year. On the way there, I drove through the south part of town and area south of there. The Hurricane

Bye for now.

damage is much more extensive there with piles of trash along the roads that used to be homes. Lots of people are still living in RV's and there are many vacant lots where homes once were as well as many in various stages of repair or waiting for repair. It will probably be a few years before all rebuilding and repair is complete.

Today was the birthday for Abigail (one of Glenn and Sue's daughters), so they had a cookout birthday party for both of us.

We still haven't been to visit our many friends at Avion Palms north of here. Hopefully Loretta will be feeling up to that before we have to head back to Homosassa.

Tuesday February 22

We did move to Sarasota, FL last Friday, but by that evening Loretta was coming down with the cold I was recovering from. We parked at the Moose Club and enjoyed a delicious dinner there before calling it a day. Saturday we had a great breakfast in the club, but Loretta was feeling so poorly that we stayed close to home most of the day. We did ride around part of town in the evening.

Sunday we drove to Englewood where we stopped to visit disabled friend Nancy Nickel. We had not called ahead and found that she was not home. We then went to the park next door to visit Bob Lyons who was one of our vendors when in business. I knocked on the door and was invited in by a stranger to see Lu (Bob's) wife in a hospital bed in the living room. The stranger was their son who informed us that Bob was in the hospital with a serious back injury. Lu has Parkinson's Disease and last year was in a nursing home. We then went to the hospital to visit Bob. He informed us that the doctor has told them she would get better care at home. But with full time care while he is in the hospital, I am sure the financial burden it terrible. Please keep them in your prayers.

From there, we went to visit my brother Clair and his son Larry came over to visit We had a delicious dinner and watched the Daytona 500 race. However Loretta got to feeling badly so we left before the race finished. When we got back to Sarasota, we heard from a Ham Radio friend that lives nearby. We went to visit her for a short while before calling it a day.

Yesterday we moved to Arcadia to the home of Glenn and Sue Geyer. They had moved since last year and some arrangements for a parking space had to be made. In the Sarasota area there was little evidence of last summer's hurricanes. But as we approached DeSoto County we saw more and more signs. Lots of trees down, buildings gone or damaged, lots of new mobile homes and trailers and the Arcadia water tower laying on its side. After parking and some visiting, we had supper at home.

Today Loretta is better, but still not too chipper. Glenn has put up a metal building on the property here. He is framing it so he can insulate and panel it so I spent most of day helping him there. We went to town for supper, but found that our old favorites are either destroyed or closed. We ate at The Clock but quality and service were not up to expectations. We had planned on looking around some more and shopping but Loretta felt it best to return home. Hopefully she will feel better in a day or so that we may visit friends in this area.

Our hearts go out to those that suffered so much damage last summer. FEMA treated most well financially, but there is so much that cannot be replaced. It almost looks as if the area had been bombed.

Kinda got behind

Well, we have been pretty busy. We went to Christmas Airstream Park in Christmas, FL on Sunday the 6th and came back to Homosassa on the 13th. We had a great time at the rally there. Really kept very busy as I was the official photographer this year in addition to being the sound man. The food was great both at the rally and the nearby restaurants that many of us visited. Loretta and I also visited the Spacewalk Museum at one of the malls in Titusville. Nothing like the Cape, but still interesting. Unfortunately many of us picked up a cold or severe allergy there. So I have been really taking it easy since we got back here. Thankfully, I am starting to feel better.

On Monday we went to the Urologist that had done my biopsy. He pretty much said the same as before, his suggestion was a "SEED" 'implant then we would be free to travel again. He arranged an appointment at the Cancer Center in Lecanto for Tuesday. That is only about 10 miles away and no heavy traffic in case Loretta has to drive at times. The Oncologist there recommended 28 radiation treatments over 5-1/2 weeks. So yesterday we were back there for X-rays, CT Scan and prepare a mold to support my legs in the desired position. However, I have to wait till 3 March for first treatment. Therefore it will be near the end of April before we can travel any great distance again.

As I am feeling pretty good today, we plan on going to Sarasota tomorrow. We will spend 2 weeks in that area visiting family and friends. Then back to Homosassa to start the treatments. Means we may not get to visit everyone we wish and not do much sightseeing. OH, Well.

Loretta's knee is still causing some pain, but I feel she is getting around better than she has in years. A couple of days ago, one of my classmates and his wife arrived for a visit. Dick is the brother of Cal Doud who provides a place to park here. So today we did some visiting and went to supper with all of them.

Getting late, so will close for now.

Andy and Loretta

Groundhog day

Well, if Punxatawny Phil sees his shadow tomorrow, there will be 6 more weeks of winter for those up north. If he didn't, there will only be a month and a half.

Yesterday I went to Citrus Urology Clinic for my doctor appointment. I was called about an hour late. When Dr. Desai came in, he apologized and said "I had to spend time talking to 2 patients as I had bad news for them - as I have for you." He then informed me that I do have Prostrate Cancer. From what he told us, it has been detected early. He told us about several treatment options, most of which were not indicated. He appears to favor inserting the "Seeds"

I had a long phone conversation with my brother Clair last evening as he had Prostrate Cancer. He had opted for surgery almost 7 years ago and has had good reports since. It was my feeling that he favored that over the "Seeds" . Of course our travel plans have changed. The doctor will not be in the office next week. So we will go to the RV Service Net Rally at Christmas, FL. Then return for an appointment on the 14th. We plan on having the process done at the same clinic that did the biopsy. This way we will not be required to make an early trip to Tennessee.

Then hopefully we will have time to visit family and friends in south Florida before we head for Las Cruces, NM in March. Today we did visit friends near Dunnellon. Larry had an accident in his woodworking shop and cut off part of some fingers on left hand. Please keep him in your prayers even though it appears he is doing well. And of course you may continue to pray for me and my doctors.


Andy and Loretta