All is fine!

All is right in my world today! I was sort of surprised that I woke up feeling so great, because about midnight the people upstairs must have started watching a movie and I thought it would keep me awake. And I don't know why, because the floor is carpeted, but it sounds like someone walking across the floor in Army boots when they move around. It's not them, because it was the same way when Brandi lived there.

So I went out this morning to run some errands, and picked up some ear plugs which I will try. I can't tell them not to listen to music or to watch TV, so I'll just try to deal with it. The first night I was back from camping they started playing something that made the floor vibrate, and I don't think ear plugs would help much with that, so if they do it often I will just ask them to turn down the base. What I did was to crank up my iTunes to country music but didn't keep it like that for long because it's a childish thing to do. I am really not cut out for apartment or city living, but it is what I have right now so I'll make the best of it.

Yesterday I got a new Verizon phone as I just became eligible for a new one, of course requiring a new 2 year contract. I hadn't intended to even look at them, but was in Target looking at the iPod and got to talking with the guy who runs that department. He was terrific and when I mentioned I didn't want a lot of bells and whistles on a phone he steered me to the exact model I can live with. I think it's unofficially marketed for seniors, but that's fine with me. It has words instead of icons, and very few words at that, plus the arrows. I had no trouble raising the volume and increasing the font size! (It is an LG model).

I think I will eventually get the iPod Nano, but can't decide if I want the 8GB version, or for $25 more (at Costco) to get the 16GB model. I could probably do with 2GB but who knows how technologically adept I might become. Yeah right! I see that it also records videos, and if any readers have this feature I would appreciate a comment as to how well it works, and what do you usually use it for. I would sometimes like to record things on my travels but can't see spending the $ for a movie camera.

I stopped in at the Eye Clinic and rescheduled my appointment for a week from Wednesday, July 14th (which is also Bastille Day!). I'm resigned to waiting another week and keep telling myself that I will have a real leap in improvement of my eyesight during that week.

I hate to make this blog entry so long, but while writing it I forgot that I intended to post some pictures from the camping trip. The first one is "Riding Double"


As I always did when backpacking, the same thing happens while camping - I get really cold after eating dinner. It doesn't happen with breakfast or lunch (maybe because I eat less at those meals), but shortly after supper I just want to crawl into my sleeping bag. I had an extra sleeping bag along, one that isn't warm enough for being comfortable on cool nights, but it was sure nice to wrap around my shoulders while sitting near the campfire. The smoke from the fire was starting to blow in our direction, causing Autumn to squeeze her eyes shut, and Arianna to start puckering up to cry.


The family went down to the lake one afternoon but I was content to lie back in the lounger and look up at the trees and sky. Here is Donald and Arianna at the lake, although you can't see the lake.


And here is some of what kept me at the campsite. A photo can't do it justice.


Three sisters in a hammock:


Jeannie and Arianna in the hammock:


And this is Autie just enjoying camping:


I feel bad that I didn't get any pictures of Steve & Megan, but I guess we were always snapping pics of the kids. Next time they will have little Liam along, and no doubt we'll get plenty of photos of them!

Thanks to everyone who is still reading my blog, and also for the various comments. It seems that readership is down for most bloggers lately, and mine has fallen off by 1/3. I really don't blog for the purpose of racking up numbers, but I do appreciate those who are still reading my rants and raves, and joys once in a while!