Another TEST----

Just another TEST,,,,and yes, I'll probably fail it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



But I gotta keep trying,,,,,,:-)



Here is the test................Where are we and who is that Statue behind us????

Winner gets to give me a prize of my choice!!!!
In case of a tie, tiebreaker is: Who is that picture of on my T-shirt????

Answer in Sh0ut Box.

Its a GREAT DAY!!!!!

Mike

Maps.Google.com, is Something!!!!

Google Maps is really interesting. I have been working with it for a while and it's amazing what all it will do! Here is a sample:

Where we spend most of our time:

View Larger Map

This is a map I quickly threw together to show you how it works. I have marked all the places where we have purchased RV lots. You can do an unreal amount of things with Google Maps. Click on a few things like "View Larger Map" and "Sat" on the above map for just a sample of a few things you can do.

Try it out here: http://maps.google.com/

Click on the markers on my map above and it will open a little window and tell you where the place is and something about it. You can also put pictures and/or picture albums in these pop ups.

If you go to Google Earth, you can Fly around the country at any altitude you want.


Here is another close-up of our place in Mission, TX

View Larger Map Click on the marker on this map (first click on "View larger map")and open the little box. Now you see a picture of our place in Texas. Click on the picture and it takes you to our Picture Album of the place with LOTS of pictures..... NEAT HUH????? Just think of what all YOU could do with GOOGLE MAPS!!!

Chris Guld of http://www.geeksontour.com/ does a wonderful job of teaching anyone how to use the Maps, plus a ton of other stuff. She puts out a newsletter with a world of information and I really enjoy her Tutorial Videos; they are short and informative. I have learned a lot from them. If I can do it, anybody can!!!! Check her site out and subscribe to her newsletter.

http://www.geeksontour.com/newsletters/


That's it for this week, we are still cleaning up loose ends with numerous Dr. appointments getting ready to leave. As it stands now, the (hopefully) last Dr. we have to see is on May 6TH.
But you know how that goes!!!! Meanwhile, we're just shipping out PressurePro systems all over the USA and Canada...... http://www.pressureprosystem.com/


It was a GREAT WEEK!!!!!!!!

Give us a shout!!!! shout box, email, cell phone, etc...

Mike

BEST NEWS SO FAR !!!

We were so HAPPY to receive the following news this week!!! The biopsy tests came back NO MORE LEUKEMIA !!!! Thats GREAT news!!!!!

Below is Scotts announcement from his web site.........

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2008 11:09 AM, CDT
We got home from Monday's appointment in Omaha kind of late last night so I did not get this journal updated until this morning...Well we got great news, the results of the bone marrow showed no signs of leukemia what so ever.Another great thing happened when the doctor took me off another med, another pill off the long list.The good news continued when the doctor cut us loose to live at home. I will go in for blood work here in Lincoln at the Oncologist and get transfusions if I need them here in Lincoln. We don't have to go back to Omaha for 3 weeks (and about every 3 weeks after). This was pretty much unexpected but very welcome news.Yesterday was a great day filled with great news that I Praise the Lord for and thank all my family and friends for their thoughts, prayers and support.Scott and Ann

This news made our week GREAT,,,,,,nothing else compares!!!!!

This is a picture I took of Scott back in early Feb. when Mikel and I were in Omaha at the Transplant Center. He is just beginning to get his 3rd dose of very, heavy Chemo and about 10 days before the Bone Marrow Transplant. He doesn't have any hair on his head; he is wearing a cap with "hair" built into it that I brought up to him from South Texas.:-) He soon lost his chin whiskers from the Chemo.... I wish we had some current up-to-date pictures. He has come a LONG way since then!!! Thank God!!!!! Bless his heart, he has been fighting this since Oct 1st, nearly 7 months! He still has a long way to go but he gets better every day.

You can follow his progress at his web site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/smcfall

We are getting extremely anxious to go to Lincoln, NE and see him. I'm watching the weather very close. Starting to prepare things for the move. It will sure be good to see him and Ann!!!

It was a GREAT WEEK !!!!!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again next week. All is fine on this end.

Mike

Not a FUN WEEK !!!

We didn't do much last week, not much we can tell you about, or show you pictures of anyhow. It was a week set aside for the DREADED Colonoscopy. Ugh, not fun!!! Those that have been the route know what I'm talking about, I'm sure!!!! It's got to be done, but I dread it!!!! It sure shoots a week, for both of us to go through it. They won't let you both go through it on the same day, because one is the designated driver. You can't drive after the procedure, or at least they won't let you!!

I went on a liquid diet last Monday morning and had nothing but a little jello and some broth. I didn't want much of anything, because what goes in MUST come out!! :-) At 4pm, I began drinking the WITCHES BREW,,,,,,,,,,,,MAN,,,,,,that stuff is BAD!!!!! Why can't they make it taste like ice cream, or a smoothie? Noooo, they make it taste like some sweet crap with salt mixed it. I spent an hour drinking that first QUART,,,,,,,,,,,,,,then I got a WHOLE hour to relax before I had to start on the second QUART.....That took another hour!!! This special brew was called "MoviPrep"! Last time I went through this I had to drink a whole GALLON of "Go-Lightly" (I wonder who comes up with these names). I thought this 1/2 gal would be a piece of cake. Hum,,well not quite!!! Then, ya set around and WAIT, and WAIT,,,,,,,,,,,,Well,,,,,,you know where I spent most of the night!!!,,,,,,,,,right, in that little room!! Sure didn't get much sleep.

Up VERY early the next morning, because we have 50 miles to drive to the Clinic in Sun City West, near the Del Web Hospital and had to be there by 8:00 AM. WE were there at 7: 40!! This time they were doing BOTH an upper and a lower. So we got it from BOTH ends..... !!!

I'm happy to report that we both came out in FINE shape! Actually, the procedure is not bad at all and the anesthesia makes it go without any pain at all. Neither one of us had any "polyps" at all this time. Pat did have a stomach irritation that needs some attention. That explains why she has been having stomach pains!!!!! Dr. wants to see her in 2 weeks.

With Monday and Tuesday spent on my procedure and Wednesday and Thursday with Pats, needless to say the week was about shot!! But so were we !! But GLAD it was all over!!!!

Now wasn't that exciting??????????? NOT!!!!






This is MY FRIEND Del Holowel


Del was a SPECIAL friend and I miss him very much!!!!!

Del was my next door neighbor here at North Ranch. Del passed away in 2005. He had Prostrate Cancer. He was such a delightful guy and I always looked forward to getting back here and spending some time with him. He really enjoyed life and knew EVERYONE. This place hasn't been the same since!!! We were about the same age and had a lot in common. We spent a LOT of time talking. His dear wife Pat still lives next to us and continues to "live on" trying to fill the void left by this GREAT man. She told me that Del always looked forward to Pat and I returning; in fact, she said he missed us terribly when we were gone. Well I want you to know Del, that I know your having a good time up in that GREAT CAMPGROUND in the sky, but my friend, I miss you and think of you a lot!!!! You were one of the special guys in my life and I can see your smiling face and feel your spirit around here a lot, so I know your still here. But I sure miss our talks! LIVE ON MY MAN!!!!!!!! How's your horse doing,,,,,and are there any campsites near you. or is the place full?



We thought we would downsize a little and get a rig like this......Neat Huh????


Maybe next week will be more interesting,,,,but then again maybe not, who knows?
Anyhow, if the Lords willin', we will be here, hope you stop back.

We are STILL ALIVE and WELL,,,so it was a GREAT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Son Scott is keeping up his good battle and had a Bone Marrow biopsy done Thursday. We are anxiously awaiting the results. Should hear Monday!!! We are getting extremely anxious to head up there and see them. Hopefully we can dodge the storms and floods.
Again, you can check his site at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/smcfall

Have a good week,,,and STAY HEALTHY!!!!! Maybe it's time for you to schedule your Colonoscopy!!! (-:

Mike

Our assignment: ROUND MOUNTAIN !!!

See that mountain in the center of this picture taken from the top of our rig here at North Ranch in Congress,AZ? That's ROUND MOUNTAIN. This is the area where we ride our 4 wheelers a lot. We have ridden all around this Mountain, the front side, the back side and both the left and right sides. It is a Landmark for the area and keeps us from getting lost in this vast wilderness. Isn't the openness of the area outstanding? We love it!!! When we are out riding in the dozens of washes throughout the area and become disoriented, we just get up where we can see ROUND MOUNTAIN and we immediately know where we are.

Since DAY ONE, we have had the desire to go to the TOP of ROUND MOUNTAIN......This was the day!!!!!

OFF WE GO!!


Here we are about half way there.......



We are at the base of the mountain......


At about the halfway up point, with our great friends and neighbors Paul and Nancy Wilson, we decided to hike the rest of the way. It was about 2/3 of a mile on to the top. We could have ridden on up, but we wanted to HIKE IT!!! So we parked here and started the trek UP.



As usual, Pat took the lead. Its steeper than it looks and is very rocky. It would be a challenge to ride up but we'll save that for another day... today we're HIKING!!!! We love to HIKE!!!




It wasn't long and I was chugging along, when I looked up and there Pat was ON TOP!!!!! Whew,,,, I'll be there shortly!!! Chug, chug, chug.



The 360 deg view is quite a sight. These roads are on the back side of Round Mountain.



This is a shot of North Ranch from the top. See our TETON ?



After a little reminiscing, looking and relaxing on top, it was time to start down. Pat's leading, then Nancy, then Paul, then guess who? Yep, I'm bringing up the rear!!



I get delayed a little consuming the beauty of this desert, it is especially outstanding this spring!
I must have taken 2-3 dozen pictures of the flowers, different cacti, etc. on the way down. I'll put them in my web album.


BACK HOME AT THE RANCH....


I just had to show you this beautiful Easter Cactus just a short distance from our place. NO ONE that we know, has ever seen this many Blooms on one cactus at the same time!!! It is something else!!!


People come from as far away as Los Angeles, CA. to photograph this spectactular unusual sight.

Some of you just might recognize Nick Alezakis who now lives in a little community near LA. He and Joanne are our great friends that I introduced you to last week. We worked with them in Custer State Park....


This little jewel is on our property. Its a beauty and this is the way they usually appear, one or two at a time on a plant. They bloom around Easter almost every year. They are not late, Easter was just early this year...... (click on picture to enlarge)



Pat and I enjoy shooting our pistols. Finally this week we got out to sharpen up our aim a little. That's another thing we enjoy about this area, we can find a private place to target practice. Needless to say "I ain't as good as I once was"!!!!!! :-).......I've been shooting a pistol since I was 16 and had lots of formal training while I was on the Highway Patrol and at Custer State Park. I "used" to be a pretty darn good shot. But I don't know what is happening to me!!!! I introduced Pat to Pistol shooting shortly after we met about 23 years ago. She loved it and was exceptionally good at it. In fact she almost out shot me from that first day on the range. Well, she ALMOST did this time too!!!
OH, OK,,,,,,,,,,,,I just as well tell ya, she did OUT SHOOT me this time. But not by MUCH!!!!!:-(
Maybe I better have my eyes checked again!!!!

Hey, its been another GREAT WEEK !!!!!!!
We continue to be very thankful for all we have and enjoy.......

Son Scott seems to be continuing his slow but steady progress and was even cleared to go HOME for the weekend.....HURRAY!!!!!
Read his post on his CaringBridge web site at:http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/smcfall
I'm sure he would enjoy a greeting from you if you wish to leave one. Many thanks again to all our friends that have been checking and asking about him and have left him messages. Please continue keeping him in your prayers.........

Thanks for stopping by, see you again next week!!!!

Stay SAFE!!!!!
Mike