#Concrete cancer repair cost
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Concrete Repair Contractors – Is It Worth Hiring A Professional For Concrete Repair?
Expansion and contraction of concrete due to varying temperature can lead to the formation of cracks on the surface. If left unattended, these cracks can become a point of entry for water, air, moisture, and debris that can cause further damage to the structure and can also lead to safety hazards. Some other factors that can lead to deterioration of concrete include corrosion, plastic shrinkage, and delamination. While one can feel the urge to resolve the concrete related issues on their own, incorrect repair or poorly done repair can lead to more harm than good. Concrete is meant to last for years, and the repair work must add to its lifespan. Concrete companies, due to their extensive work in the field, have a foresight to not just identify immediate issues impacting the concrete surface but also issues that might develop in the future if the repair work is not executed properly and they come up with a cost-effective solution that fits the budget.
Builders, architects, leading infrastructure companies and individual owners in Melbourne have come to rely on BSL Group for a reliable and lasting concrete repair solution. We have three decades of experience across residential, commercial, and industrial projects and our knowledgeable specialists can handle any concrete repair work, big or small. Our concrete repair services include concrete cancer repair, concrete resurfacing and protective coating, concrete expansion joint repairs, shotcrete repairs and more.
If you are looking for effective concrete repair solutions, we recommend contacting a professional concrete repair contractor and we have enough reasons for it:
Specialization
Residential and commercial concrete contractors in Melbourne, like BSL Group, have spent decades in the industry working on different kinds of concrete related projects. Their portfolio includes both small- and large-scale projects, meaning that they will have the right tools and resources to complete the job accurately. When you work on the concrete surface yourself, there is always a chance of missing out on issues such as damage that expands to the foundation under the concrete or issues underneath that need to be addressed before the surface could be worked upon. With insights on concrete’s quality, best suited placement, and the scope of repair, they can evaluate your concrete floors for issues and come up with the appropriate repair recommendations.
Time Saving
Concrete companies, like any service-based structure, base their work on a set time frame which is decided once the site has been assessed for issues. When you work on concrete repair yourself, without complete knowledge of what it entails, the repair can easily stretch from a few hours to a few days, impacting your schedule with no guarantee of results being satisfactory. Professionals offering concrete repair and concrete finishing services will ensure that the repair work is done on time without any disruption to your operation.
Aesthetic Appeal
Concrete is not just a durable material but with a variety of colour options and finishes available for use, it is also a great investment if one wants to enhance the appearance of their home or office. Places like sidewalks or driveways are some of the areas that people see first and not having well-maintained concrete can leave a bad impression. DIYers might fix concrete issues but they won’t be able to give it the required finish. Not only can professionals repair a damaged concrete surface but can also provide added remedial services like concrete finishing service or concrete placement to ensure that the surface is back to its original state.
Cost Saving
Hiring professionals is advisable as they help save both time and cost. With tools readily available to complete the job, they will get straight to work whereas the expense you will bear for arranging these tools and materials will be much more than the overall cost of the service. Also, depending on the damage, a do-it-yourself approach can backfire and add more expensive concrete repairs to your list. For instance, if the damage is related to the drainage, fixing it will be needed in addition to concrete repair to avoid issues like erosion. If not done by a professional, this can lead to water damage and infiltration issues in the future.
Get In Touch With BSL Group
BSL Group provides cost-effective concrete repair service with competitive pricing. We guarantee high quality workmanship and timely delivery. Keeping customer satisfaction as our highest priority, we work to eliminate any stumbling block in your experience. Get in touch with our friendly team to discuss your concrete related issues.
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Renderers and Plasterers in Melbourne
If you’re building a new home or renovating your existing one, Renderers Melbourne can help improve the look and increase the lifespan of your exterior walls. They can create a wide variety of finishes for your walls, including cement render, polystyrene rendering and acrylic rendering.
There are a range of different rendering techniques, and each will create a unique look. For example, sand-finish rendering will give your wall a smooth, textured finish similar to the sand you find on a beach. Another popular option is a concrete-look render, which can be applied to brick, concrete, stone and painted walls (an undercoat must first be applied to prevent the rendering from falling off when introduced to the painted surface).
Rendering can also cover imperfections in your walls, such as sagging, cracks, stains and blemishes. It can even be used to hide the gap between brickwork and timber frames. The cost of rendering can vary, depending on the type and style you choose. For example, polystyrene rendering is much cheaper than concrete render.
A qualified rendering professional will be able to advise you on the best rendering solution for your needs and recommend the right colour and texture for your property. They can also assist with interior plastering, including decorative mouldings for walls and ceilings. They can even work on heritage homes and structures, as well as commercial and industrial buildings.
If you’re looking for a reputable renderer in Melbourne, browse our directory to view a list of professionals near you. You can then read reviews and message them directly to discuss rates and other details. Many rendering and plastering professionals can also undertake remedial repairs, such as concrete cancer repair and crack stitching.
Renderers in Melbourne
If your property is based within the Melbourne or its surrounding areas, you can find top-rated renderers and plasterers through online search. Before hiring the professional services, you can also see examples of their previous work in the portfolios and customer reviews.
Renderers in Melbourne offer a comprehensive range of residential and commercial services, including external and internal rendering, bricklaying, paving, concreting and landscape construction. They can also take care of painting projects and rectification works for owners corporations and investment properties, as well as commercial and domestic plastering. These services can be very useful if your property is damaged by natural disasters or if it’s in need of an upgrade. Rendering companies can help you restore your property to its original condition, and they can also add value to it. They can also provide a free quote. These services can be very beneficial, and you’ll be glad that you hired them to do the job.
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Water Purification Drops 30ml Mms Bio-sil South Africa
She was starting to seem like a healthy lioness once more. The paws have been then bandaged as a lot as enable the healing process to start. The uncooked little pads had been treated with Cellskin which is a human product that nourishes, oxygenates and protects the skin. The skin overlaying the paws pads was broken because of solely having concrete to walk on as there was no grass within the enclosure on which to walk. I popped Cell Pet into her bottle from the day I obtained her.
Key advantages of this product is that it helps preserve neuro health, cardiovascular well being and is wealthy in antioxidants. Improves mind function, memory, focus and mental readability. Helps maintain wholesome imaginative and prescient and improves blood circulate to the extremities. Ginkgo Biloba improves focus, memory, lack of power and depressive temper disorders.
Chamomile can also be a helpful anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-spasmodic. As a rule most herbs should not be fed to pregnant animals, as lots of then have uterine or hormonal stimulant properties. Before feeding a herb to a broodmare or foal, please seek the assistance of with a herbalist to have the ability to substantiate safety of a selected herb. When feeding dried natural blends, a most colloidal silver for stomach problems every day dose of 30-50g is adequate for a horse, and the dosage must be halved for ponies. Since the Nineteen Seventies, medicine containing platinum — the rarest and most treasured metal — have been used to treat testicular and ovarian cancers. Now other types of the disease have been added to the list.
Colloidal silver is the number one anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral. It is as potent as a critical drug, without the dangerous side effects. Just make sure to complement with a Pro-Biotic at the identical time, yoghurt or Kombucha. Barbara, being pores and skin and bones at all costs is your alternative.
So as funds go I had to wait abit longer than my mother to purchase this product, this morning my mother phoned me and stated it seems like she is dying. She has been using this nut for 3weeks now at first it was good, she had a traditional colloidal silver for stomach ulcers bowl motion something she have been battling for years. She has no energy, sleeping all day and don't have any appitite. Luckily she decided to stop with this “wonder” nut.
Within a couple of minutes, the pathogen suffocates and dies and is cleared out of the body by the immune, lymphatic and elimination techniques. Unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics which destroy useful enzymes. Colloidal Silver leaves these tissue-cell enzymes intact, as they're radically completely different from the enzymes of primitive single-celled life. Thus Colloidal Silver is totally protected for humans, animals, crops and all multi-celled dwelling organisms. We use this as our go-to pure fast repair for all our family ailments from combating the onset of flu infections to would healing, as a pores and skin toner and general immune booster for the whole household pets included. Sorts out mouth infections, infected eyes, pores and skin wounds, and heaps of others.
We also add Cell-Vet to the water given to the older monkeys. When for example, a monkey is torpid, we simply add Cell-Vet to their rehydration and the distinction is very noticeable inside a short time. We have been so impressed with the end result, that we've never discontinued using your great product. Riders have been known colloidal silver stomach ulcers to rise up every hour through the freezing nights to verify on their horses. It isn't the hardest because of the space, but as a end result of riders must full long distances over three consecutive days.
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Is Asbestos OK If You Leave It Alone
If asbestos is in your house, this is normally a serious trouble. The simple presence of asbestos in a house or a structure is not unsafe.
Harmed asbestos might release asbestos fibers and also come to be a health hazard.Asbestos is found in some vinyl flooring ceramic tiles as well as the backing on plastic sheet floor covering and adhesives (asbestos removal). Warm water as well as vapor pipelines in older homes may be covered with an asbestos product or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape.
If you assume asbestos might be in your house, don't worry! Typically, material in good problem will certainly not release asbestos fibers.If asbestos product is greater than somewhat damaged, or if you are mosting likely to make adjustments in your residence that may interrupt it, repair or elimination by a specialist is needed.Asbestos professionals are trained in dealing with asbestos material. You may employ Queensland Demolition and Asbestos removal contractor or, in some instances, an expert trained to take care of specific products including asbestos.
Can You Filter out Asbestos
Asbestos can be filtered out. Many companies make asbestos filters which are used to filter asbestos.The asbestos air filters in your ventilation, furnace and HVAC system work by trapping and absorbing passing particles.Your home will require air filters capable of preventing particles as small as 3 microns from passing through in order to keep your air system safe.The filters in a home are able to raise indoor air quality by stopping allergens and pollutants.
In many cases, asbestos may be recycled. Asbestos is recycled using high warmth, which ultimately converts the fibers into an inert silicate glass. The high temperature damages asbestos fibers as well as makes the asbestos non-hazardous. In one research, scientists reported submerging metals with asbestos treatments into a sodium hydroxide (Na, OH) bathroom- asbestos removal companies.
The metals were also reused. Researchers are still creating the innovation and procedure to recycle asbestos. The ability to reuse asbestos can assist reduce the cost of asbestos disposal as well as avoid the incorrect disposal of asbestos products.
What Happens If You Breathe in Asbestos Once
If you breathe in asbestos fibers, you may be at risk of these serious diseases (asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer).If disrupted, asbestos product may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled right into the lungs. The fibers can continue to be there for a long time, enhancing the risk of illness. Asbestos material that would certainly crumble quickly if handled, or that has actually been sawed, scraped, or fined sand into a powder, is a lot more most likely to develop a carcinogen.
Those couple of products made which still contain asbestos that might be inhaled are required to be identified thus. Nonetheless, until the 1970s, many sorts of structure products and also insulation materials made use of in residences consisted of asbestos. Common items that could have consisted of asbestos in the past, and also conditions which might release fibers, consist of: STEAM PIPELINE, BOILERS, and also heating system air ducts insulated with an asbestos blanket or asbestos paper tape.
Some roofing and also siding roof shingles are made of asbestos concrete. Houses built between 1930 as well as 1950 might have asbestos as insulation. Asbestos might exist in textured paint and also in patching compounds made use of on wall surface and ceiling joints.
How Do I Know If I've Inhaled Asbestos
Asbestos signs and symptoms may include: Shortness of breath. Persistent, dry cough. chest tightness or pain. Asbestos comes in direct contact with the lungs, that is why it mainly causes diseases related to the lungs. Apart from the lungs, it also affects the throat, stomach and rectum.
Any person who examples asbestos-containing products must have as much info as feasible on the handling of asbestos before tasting, as well as at a minimum, need to observe the following procedures: Make certain nobody else is in the space when sampling is done. Use disposable gloves or wash hands after tasting. Shut down any kind of home heating or cooling down systems to decrease the spread of any type of launched fibers.
Snugly secure the container after the sample remains in it. Meticulously throw away the plastic sheet. Make use of a damp paper towel to tidy up any product outside of the container or around the area sampled. Dispose of asbestos products according to state as well as neighborhood procedures (asbestos removal companies). Label the container with a recognition number and also plainly state when as well as where the example was taken.
Can a Single Exposure to Asbestos Cause Mesothelioma
In the past, asbestos was contributed to a variety of products to enhance them and also to offer warm insulation as well as fire resistance. From studies of individuals who were subjected to asbestos in manufacturing facilities and also shipyards, we understand that breathing high degrees of asbestos fibers can bring about an increased risk of: lung cancer cells:-- mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the upper body as well as the stomach cavity; and also-- asbestosis, in which the lungs come to be marked with coarse tissue.
Nonetheless, if interrupted, asbestos product might release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can stay there for a very long time, raising the threat of disease.If you are troubled by a problem like asbestos then do not panic. Contact Queensland Demolition & Remediation today and get asbestos removed from your home.Queensland Demolition & Remediation is one of the best and leading asbestos removal company in Townsville. You can contact us for class a asbestos removal, class b asbestos removal, and asbestos fencing.
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Safety and Aesthetic Concern of Tarmac Driveways
Tarmac driveways are a common choice for driveways, but there are some major safety and aesthetic concerns associated with them.
Firstly, steep and narrow driveways present a major safety and aesthetic issue.
Secondly, a tarmac driveway is prone to cracking, usually due to improper installation or base preparation.
Lastly, tarmac driveways are difficult to maintain and repair and they often require heavy machinery.
Steep and narrow driveways pose a serious safety and aesthetic concern
When building a home, consider the accessibility of the entrance and the approach to the property. Driveways and sidewalks must be easy to navigate, and the primary consideration for a driveway is the slope of the surface.
The ADA has detailed guidelines for determining the slope of an area. For driveways, the slope must be a maximum of one-to-two percent, meaning that for every inch of height change, the area should have at least 12 inches of run.
As more people suffer from physical disabilities, designing a driveway that is both accessible and safe is even more important. Disabilities, such as those that affect the vision, can limit a driver's ability to make an accurate decision when backing up a vehicle.
Additionally, drivers with disabilities may not be able to see a dip in the ground, making them vulnerable to accidents. These conditions can also make navigating a driveway difficult or impossible during inclement weather.
Asphalt driveways can be resurfaced
Asphalt driveways can be resurfaced to improve the aesthetic value of your property and safety. Resurfacing can be done by removing the top layer of asphalt and replacing it with a fresh layer.
Before laying down the final layer of asphalt, patching must be done to restore structural strength and to create a neat, new appearance.
Resurfacing your driveway can greatly extend its life and reduce the need for a full replacement. Full replacement requires significant effort and can be expensive.
A resurfaced driveway will look like new and be safer for your family. Potholes in an asphalt driveway are not only unsightly, but can be dangerous for vehicles. Cracks in asphalt can also be a hazard, as they can cause injury. Fortunately, resurfacing your driveway can be a cost-effective solution for any asphalt-damaged driveway.
Concrete driveways can be restored to their original shape
A concrete driveway can last as long as the lifespan of your home. However, if it is not properly maintained, it can be subject to a range of problems that can shorten its lifespan. These include cracking, discoloration, scaling and settlement. Repairing this damage can save you money in the long run and can ensure your driveway's structural integrity.
Cracks in concrete can be repaired by grinding them out with a grinder or using a concrete overlay. This is a cement-based material which is applied over existing concrete. In this process, decorative finishes can be added, which can make the driveway look brand new again. Another popular method is to engrave the surface of the concrete to hide minor flaws.
Brick driveways offer durability and aesthetic benefits
Brick driveways are a more environmentally friendly alternative to asphalt or concrete. This is due to their low environmental impact and ability to be recycled, meaning that once a brick driveway is finished, it can be used again.
Asphalt, on the other hand, is made from petroleum products and releases harmful hydrocarbons that pollute the air and water. They also contain coal tar, which is highly flammable. In addition, exposure to coal tar may cause skin cancer and digestive tract cancer.
Brick driveways also offer the added benefit of being aesthetically pleasing, with a variety of different patterns and colours available. These features make them a more prestigious choice for driveways and can increase the overall look and value of a property.
Brick driveways, however, are not cheap and may need to be maintained periodically. A brick driveway can cost up to $30 per square foot. However, this will depend on your location and the type of aesthetic you want.
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Can You Fix Concrete Cancer?
Can you fix concrete problems? If you are having trouble with your pool or your driveway, or if you are noticing a recent rise in the number of silicosis cases in North America, you may want to take a look at the question of "Can you fix concrete cancer?" As it turns out, the answer to that question is yes and no. In other words, yes, because you can treat many problems with sandblasting, grinding, or sealing. However, you can't treat silicosis, and you certainly can't cure it through the application of cement, concrete, or any other material.
It is true that silica is a constituent of nearly all forms of concrete, and it is very much present in the sand used to build housing and commercial structures. However, when it combines with other materials in the preparation of concrete, such as cement, the concentration of silica and other trace elements increases. This makes the concrete less resistant to heat, pressure, and even moisture. Consequently, it becomes more vulnerable to cracking, breaking, and spalling, especially if it isn't given adequate protection during the manufacture or installation process. Moreover, once it is exposed to the elements for an extended period of time, such as during prolonged rains or high humidity, it becomes even more vulnerable.
You probably won't be able to convince most people that silica should be banned from cement production, because the manufacturers of cement, sand, and pavers definitely do not want to make their products ineffective. However, they will benefit from banning the use of silica in construction materials. After all, it costs them money to use inefficient materials, and they stand to lose far more in the form of defective concrete floors, swimming pools, and garage floors if their customers choose to use otherwise. You can help them by convincing them that by adopting a holistic approach, they can improve their productivity and lower their costs without harming the health of their customers in the process. With the right materials, a properly designed floor design, and regular sealing and maintenance, you can protect your family's health while simultaneously enjoying great quality and value.
Visit us on https://rapidengineers.com.au/
#concrete cancer repair kit#concrete cancer repair cost#Concrete cancer treatment#Balcony concrete cancer
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What is concrete cancer and how can you avoid or treat it?
This is a term that many may not be aware of and the implications it can cause! But just what exactly is concrete cancer? In this blog we are going to explain everything you need to know!
Concrete cancer is a serious issue that can affect the structural integrity of a building which can quickly worsen to become dangerous and can lead to buildings being condemned.
Concrete cancer is the breakdown of concrete, which can be caused by a number of factors, including water damage, chemical exposure, and physical impact. If left untreated, can grow at 500% per annum. Concrete cancer can cause serious damage to a building, which can be very expensive to repair.
As steel corrodes, it expands. This expansion puts pressure on the surrounding concrete, causing it to crack and become brittle.
As concrete cracks and crumbles, it accelerates the corrosion of the steel reinforcement inside of it. This can cause serious damage to buildings and other structures.
Look out for signs of corrosion, such as rust stains, bubbling render, or leaks in overhead concrete.
The first sign of it may be small cracks or spalling in the concrete, which could indicate further problems with leaked water and other chemicals from within the material like rust stains and leaking outwards towards wherever you least expect them, bubbling (or plating) at spots where there should otherwise just be smooth texture, this becomes more visibly displeasing if it’s near an edge, on a exposed soffit or facade speedy deterioration will be the case in these exposed instances!
What about leaks? These aren’t always easy to spot because they’re usually hidden by grout lines before anything else happens.
If you see these signs, it is important to take action to repair the damage before it gets worse. Taking action early is crucial!
Concrete cancer repair cost in Melbourne
We know it is tempting to perform a DIY concrete cancer repair, and there are many ‘how to fix concrete cancer DIY’ videos circulating out there, the problem is, these DIY solutions can be dangerous, as there is no way of testing the integrity of the work carried out in a DIY project.
At BSL Group our team of experts will identify what needs fixing and will give you the best solution for repairing the issue with varying costs associated.
Our team will assess what materials need to be used or other factors unique to each situation, all while maintaining top quality workmanship that will last decades longer than traditional methods do nowadays.
The longer you wait to address concrete problems, the costlier it will become.
At BSL Group our expert team has proven that they are the industry leaders, and lead the market as a reliable and efficient way for solving your concrete cancer issues before they worsen.
We understand that the cost of repairs can be a major concern, and we offer competitive rates that are based on the size and scope of the work required. Contact us today to learn more about our concrete cancer repair services.
Concrete cancer repair by BSL Group
BSL Group is here to help you maintain the strength and versatility of your reinforced concrete so it can last for years without worry.
If water or other materials have found its way into one or more weak points, BSL Group Melbourne will use their professional knowledge in repairing these issues quickly while ensuring that all repairs are safe and up to Australian standards.
At BSL Group Melbourne we use our professional knowledge of the material’s strengths, as well as its weaknesses.
Always check with a professional team such as BSL group prior to installation as your first preference before engaging with builders who may cut costs during the construction phase – without thinking ahead about what would happen when circumstances changed later down the road. It is important to look at the long-term solution rather than a ‘quick fix’ to avoid future costs and safety issues.
BSL Group is a Melbourne based company that specialises in concrete cancer repair. We have a team of experienced and qualified professionals who are able to assess the extent of the damage and provide a range of options for repair.
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Commodore Norrington x Reader Fic! Chapter 3
Title: The Same Water
Genre: Romance, Supernatural
Rating: General Audiences thus far.
Warnings: Mentions of trauma, drowning, and racism.
Summary: Commodore Norrington washes up on the shore and you must find out why.
Notes: I intentionally kept the main character ambiguous (but female) so readers can fill themselves in!
James and I got up early the next morning to head down to the marina. The sky was a dazzling pink only an island could produce.
“Here she is, Seaclusion! Don’t make fun of me. My dad named it.” James got a chuckle out of the other punny names of the neighboring boats.
We climbed aboard, and James inspected the vessel, fascinated by hundreds of years of progress.
“Here,” I said, tossing James a life vest and securing my own.
“What is this?”
“It’s a life jacket. It’ll help you stay afloat if you fall overboard.”
“Ingenious!” James said in awe as he put his on.
“Oh, and these,” I said, digging around in a compartment by the wheel. I pulled out a pair of old aviators and sunscreen. “To protect your eyes and your skin. Though you’re probably already riddled with skin cancer from living in the Caribbean unprotected for years. Keep an eye on that freckle behind your ear.”
James touched the freckle self-consciously.
“You know how to swim, don’t you?”
James rolled his eyes and scoffed, “Of course I do.” He put on the aviators and dang, he looked good. I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of interrogation with him. He had an intimidating air about him that he could turn on and off.
The engine roared to life, and the beginning cords of ‘The Real Thing’ by George Strait played on the speakers. James looked overboard to the motor and rudder underwater.
“I’m sure you have better sea legs than I do, but you might want to take a seat,” I said, gesturing the rows of seats on the front deck.
“Hold on!” I said and came up to speed, pulling out of the marina. James was pushed back in his seat by the motion, not expecting a boat to go that fast. I wanted to show him what ships were like nowadays. Even over the rushing wind, I could hear him laughing with glee.
We sailed to the other side of the island with dolphins in our wake. How lucky was I that I lived somewhere where dolphins were so accessible!
I turned down the speakers, “This is Pier 21. Our cruise ships dock here, and on the other side are the shrimp boats that supply these restaurants first.” Large pelicans lazed around the docks and boats, hoping for some fish scrap from the sailors. James wasn’t paying attention; he was gazing at the Elissa like a starved man in an oasis.
“What is this glorious creation?” James stood as we idled.
I smiled, “That’s the Elissa. A little after your time, but I’m sure you can sail her just as good as anyone else on this island.”
The Elissa was a tall ship from 1877. After many different roles in life all across the globe, she was moored in Galveston.
“Is she still functional?”
“Oh yeah, she goes on one big sail to Europe once a year. She’s mostly a teaching vessel now. And next to that is a yacht. Some restauranteur owns it and has a staff to keep it ready around the clock even though I’ve seen him use it like five times.”
“Is it common for laypeople to own such vessels?” He asked, finally pulling his eyes from the Elissa.
“Here on the island, yeah, pretty much everyone has a boat. They’re still quite common on the mainland, depending on how close you are to water. I’d say a boat is definitely attainable to the upper-middle class.”
“You mentioned a ‘cruise ship’?”
“Yeah, they’re huge ships that can hold thousands of people who sail for vacation. See that huge thing over there?”
“Is that a ship?” He asked in disbelief.
“Yep, let’s get closer.”
We were dwarfed by the cruise liner. James looked up in disbelief as we buoyed in its shadow. “Galveston is a port city for cruise liners, bananas, farm equipment…Oh, and you need to see this,” I said as we turned and sped into the open water.
“I think you’ll like this,” I said as we pulled up next to the wreckage of a rusted and splintered ship.
“I am perplexed, yes,” James answered.
“This is the Selma, and it’s totally made out of concrete, or mortar, I guess is similar.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Yep.
“Surely, she never saw the open ocean.”
“It did actually. Until it was damaged, and it was far too costly to repair due to war, and it was scuttled.”
James looked to the horizon, “Why are those ships not in the harbor?” Container ships always loomed in the distance of Galveston Island.
“Again, costs too much but also because the channel isn’t deep enough.”
“Are pirates a concern?”
“I’ve never seen a pirate in my life. I guess pirates were your version of terrorists,” I said.
James thought, then nodded, seemingly decided the word was correct.
“Unfortunately, we still have a problem with terrorism, plus pirates as you would know them. Instead of big ships, they run around on jet skis or dhows today. They’re mostly a problem in the Indian Ocean and around that area.”
“So, they’ve been cornered…”
“What? Down boy! You want to go pirate hunting? Well, unfortunately, pirates are actually looked upon favorably as of recently.”
James looked at me like I’ve grown two heads, “Especially here. I guess people like the freedom of just going wherever you want to and forget that they were actually terrorists. Not that piracy is now legal or anything.”
“And what are those machines in the distance?”
“Oil rigs. They dig oil from the earth, and we use it to power just about everything. Crews live on them for weeks at a time. Usually, there are less parked here, but the price of oil has dropped, so companies don’t need as many.”
Container ships and offline oil rigs loom in the distance of Galveston Island. It’s almost like the giant guardians that protect us.
“Do you want to try?” I asked, gesturing to the wheel.
He looked hesitant at first but quickly accepted. “The wheel is the same as it ever was, this is the accelerator, how fast you want to go, the kill switch if something goes awry…” I explained. James and I then switched places, but I stood behind him in case something happened. I could tell he was uncomfortable with the proximity to another person and a woman, but when we got up to speed, he looked like a bird who could finally fly again. I almost didn’t have it in my heart to ask him to surrender the wheel.
When we got home, there was a package at my doorstep. My heart started to thrum when I saw it was from the police department. I hurriedly tore it open when we got inside. The contents of the box smelled like mildew, salt, and brine. It was James’ uniform. I pushed it to him as I read the letter that was on top of it. It was a standard form letter saying they were closing the case due to insufficient evidence that there was nothing out of the ordinary about the uniform.
James held the uniform in his hand. “Do you have a fireplace?” He asked.
“Why?” I asked.
“It makes me ill.” He replied.
“You don’t want it?”
“It’s a mark of failure, both personal and professional. I would think it best if it was gone.”
“I have a fire pit.”
“Splendid.”
Later that night, Jericka came over, and we started the fire. James unceremoniously dropped the heap of clothes in the fire and sat down with us around it. Jericka and I drank while James abstained.
“To new beginnings,” I said, raising my bottle of Ziegenbock. James nodded, watching the fabric burn.
“You know, there are probably costumers and historians who would have dove in there for that uniform,” Jericka said.
“So…what happened? Before you died?” I asked.
James was silent for a moment, composing his thoughts. “I can pinpoint the exact day when everything changed. An idiot pirate sailed into my port. To attempt to capture him, my men and I sailed through a hurricane. Only a handful survived, and I resigned in shame. I essentially became a pirate myself for the time, drunk, and destitute. Then, I meant Davy Jones.” James leaned forward, the fire casting shadows on his face, almost making his sharp features look hawk-like.
“You can’t be serious,” I said.
“I am. He is something of a grim reaper of the seas. I was stabbed by one of his crewmen. That’s all I remember.”
“You sailed into a hurricane?” Jericka asked, “And you made it all the way to Admiral?”
James scowled. “I had no choice.”
“But what’s so wrong about the uniform, or being called Admiral?”
“I didn’t earn it, nor was it through the Royal Navy. I worked for the East India Trading Company, who were no better than pirates themselves when I was an admiral. I took the post out of necessity, greed, and selfishness. I was only serving myself, not the Crown, not the people. I was no better than a pirate as well. I much rather be called commodore if you have to address me by title.”
Jericka gave a low whistle, “Then I’m sure you heard of Galveston before.” She took a drink from her bottle.
“Was it a pirate’s den?”
“Oh yeah, Jean Lafitte owned the place.”
“Lafitte? I have heard of him. I always seemed to run into a sun-drenched lunatic named Jack Sparrow.”
“He sounds like quite the character.”
“He was. If Lafitte settled here, I must be in Campeche.”
I snapped my fingers. “I never thought of that! That’s like Galveston history 101!” I said to Jericka.
“Well, I know where I’m at, so that brings some more comfort,” James said.
“Okay, Commodore,” Jericka said, “Tell us about yourself.”
James looked like we just asked him to explain nuclear physics.
“Pets? Did you have any pets?” I asked.
“Well, I had a horse named Scout back in the Caribbean. I think she tried to kill me once.” James said casually. “And there were coconut crabs all over the fort I was stationed at. They stole everything.”
“A horse? Tried to kill you? And crabs stole your stuff?” Jericka asked skeptically.
“No one believed me! Even then!” James said adamantly and gestured wildly as he told the story, “I swear this horse was calculating, and she hated me. How would a horse know to stop right below a hanging lantern so my tricorn would catch fire?”
“Maybe you should have been paying better attention…” I said gently.
James started to speak, but thought better, “Fair enough.”
“Oh, oh, oh!” Jericka said excitedly, “We need to take him to Pieces of Ship! Down on Mechanic street!”
“Excuse me?” James asked, not believing his ears.
I laughed, “It’s a shop that sells parts from ships; maps, flags, wheels, bells, you name it.”
“No, Mrs. Norrington, huh?” Jericka teased as James stoked the fire. She winked at me.
“Close, but it wasn’t meant to be,” James said, looking down for a moment.
“Yeah, everything I’ve read about you never mentions anyone,” I said. I was noticing I was relieved when I found out James never married. However, by his wording and the tone of his voice, there was someone he wanted. Jealousy tingled at my nerves.
“I appreciate time for forgetting such a blunder.” He gave a small, defeated smile.
“Sweetheart,” I said, “I think you need to see a therapist.”
We burst out laughing.
By the end of the night, we were laughing incessantly. I felt like we became friends with James at that point.
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Go Fund Us? an Interview with Professor Lauren Berliner
Paul Smith by Joshua Lucero
This interview originally appeared in Challenger BMX Magazine Volume 2, Issue 4. Winter 2018/2019. Interview by Nick Ferreira
When I first donated to someone’s GoFundMe medical campaign, I thought it was an innocent idea: Someone is in need and they don’t have enough money to pay for it. Seems like a no-brainer. But as I began to think about this concept of a private web site acting as a safety net for healthcare (not to mention the countless other types of campaigns, but we’re talking medical here), it all started to feel incredibly troubling and confusing.* Luckily there’s people out there researching this stuff. People like Professor Lauren Berliner, a faculty member at the University of Washington Bothell. Berliner works in the area of critical media practice and with the anthropologist Nora Kenworthy, co-authored the paper, “Producing a worthy illness: Personal crowdfunding amidst financial crisis.” This paper, published August 2017 in Social Science & Medicine, discusses things like media literacy, the idea of “deservingness,” and how GoFundMe perpetuates the inequality of the US healthcare system. Professor Berliner talked with me about her research and how it intersects with our small world of BMX
One of the things you discussed in the article is this idea of “deservingness.” What is deservingness and what do you think some of the more troubling aspects of deservingness are that came up in your research?
In general the idea that we are bombarded with so many campaigns at this point. Our attention is just not split amongst medical campaigns. On social media we have campaigns competing for lots of different issues. You might have one on your feed looking for funding for medical or another one that is really compelling for car repair funds. It’s not like you are only comparing medical campaigns when you are thinking about deservingness. In talking to crowdfunders and looking at the ways in which people write about their needs in crowdfunding campaigns it became very apparent that people are trying to frame themselves and their stories as deserving of funds. We live in a country in which asking for money is often associated with shame and self-sufficiency and the “bootstrap mythology” really prevails. When you have to ask for money it’s very hard even if you can point to a million systemic failures to say well, “yeah we actually still really need this.” So people who have very discrete, concrete asks: “we have everything we need but we need money for this treatment that is possibly going to save this child.” The campaigner might be imagining that the reader is looking for reasons why this person should not get the money. Because we hear a lot about fraud in campaigns. And people tend to approach them with a bit of suspicion if they don’t know the people involved very well. And so deservingness is, at least from talking to people who want to prove it in the healthcare arena, that they’ve done all they can to take care of themselves, and therefore they are deserving. There’s two modes of deserving: “I am deserving” and then there’s the flip side: “There’s nothing I did to deserve this.” Where, when you think about certain kinds of cancer linked to smoking or sexual transmitted illnesses or other kinds of health conditions that have been linked to stigmatized practices, it’s much harder and we see much fewer of those kinds of cases.
Yeah and that’s part of what I’ve been thinking about in regards to BMX, skateboarding, snowboarding, etc. It’s a risk adverse activity. I think a lot of people think why would I give this person money if they knew what they were getting into. I don’t know if there’s a right answer to this—it seems like a moral question, but also seems like a slippery slope. What’s the difference between someone who went for a run and got hit by a car vs. someone who is riding BMX because it’s healthy and fun?
When you first contacted us, I had the same thought. You are dealing with a sport that a lot of people would stay away from because by virtue it seems risky. I’d imagine in the realm of BMX related cases, where the person has an injury due to the sport, not if they are in the community and get cancer, but if it’s something injury related. Or, even someone who does have cancer and their goal is to get better so they can do BMX again, there’s a way in which that might potentially be a hinderance for them. But the flip side is that their network and community are people who are part of the community. And probably, I would imagine, from what we’ve seen the more the campaigner ties themselves to an already in place community the more likely they are to get funds because they have that sympathy across networks.
You are completely right. And I think that us something that BMX prides itself on that. Which is really kind of beautiful. I think that’s an aspect of crowdfunding that is quite nice. But to speak to your article and your research, I think it does take away the conversation from the fact that a better health care system would mean we wouldn’t need to be doing this.
Right or when we talk to people in countries where they do have universal healthcare and the things people are campaigning for are not the actual healthcare. It’s the stuff around it: travel to a care facility, the kinds of nice things to have when you are bed-ridden, travel for family. Not the actual procedures and medicines, etc.
I think that leads to this next question, people talk about shows like Black Mirror and how we are one step away from dystopia. But this idea of self marketing, to me seems like it is already a super dystopian scenario. You have to prove yourself to get your healthcare paid for on a web site that takes 5% of your costs.
Yes. Well at this point they aren’t taking 5% anymore but they do have this tip model which is super confusing to people, even to myself, and I work on this topic. I was giving to a campaign and it said “Would you like to give a tip?” and when I see “tip” I think of the service model and people who are working class who are trying to get tips on top of low wages and my do-gooder instinct is “Oh yeah, provide a tip” (laughs). And then I thought about it and I thought “this tip is not for the person, the tip is for GoFundMe.” And the word tip—I find the word tip very manipulative personally.
For sure. I donated to a friend’s campaign not too long ago and I thought ,"Hell no. Why would I donate to GoFundMe. That seems insane."
It’s interesting because we are at a point, you mentioned self-marketing, but self-marketing and branding has been increasingly part of our popular culture and our social theatre for, I would say, 10 years with the emergence of web 2.0 and people engaging in different forms of self produced media like YouTube channels and Facebook pages. And so the idea of cultivating a unified brand or expressing one’s values and needs through social media, is something that we’ve been slowly naturalizing ourselves to. So it’s not like crowdfunding comes along and suddenly bam—we’re self-marketing. We’ve been self-marketing but it’s being applied to different concepts. So the dystopia is part of a larger, I mean there’s so many things connected to the dystopian vision of our world right now, everything from climate change to all the different events happening around the world. This is just one piece. And you can see the ways in which the “goodness of the crowd” or sharing economy is continually pointed to as a way out of social and economic ills. So like “Oh, help the migrants that came through San Diego.” Everyone get behind this with money or send blankets. That kind of approach is super well intentioned and very impactful, most of the time, but that’s where the energy is going.
Totally and that brings me to my last question and I think the problem with a lot of these campaigns is that it continues to undermine these public and social institutions that, I think, should be the things that are taking care of people in a first world country and if they aren’t “profitable” they are the devil.
I feel like, to that point, in the past 5 years since Nora (Kenworthy) and I have started working on this project, the idea of crowdfunding has become so popularized to the point of becoming part of most people’s everyday experience. Whereas when we started, we had to explain what crowdfunding meant. It was a very new area.
That’s so interesting.
Yeah. There’s ways we’ve become naturalized to its existence as a means of survival. It helps to further obscure super abstract areas of our healthcare system in general. So knowing how much your hospital or doctor is going to charge you is generally a mystery until you get the bill. And even when you get the bill it’s still pretty much a mystery unless you track down how much this Tylenol is and the adjustments your insurance company will make, if you’re lucky enough to have insurance, is also really confusing. And most people, if you’re like me, just kind of lean back and go “okay, I’m going to sit and let the bills collect and then figure it out” and so then on the flip side asking for funding is equally abstract. People who set up Go Fund Me’s we talk to are like “I don’t know how much to ask for. We don’t know how much this is going to cost.” Just even doing the math and then deciding what are people willing to give. There’s a lot of economic reckoning people are doing that is not guided by whatever resources are available for people in need or should be available for people in need. But really just trying to dance around or with this really abstract, weird medical care system that does not put people’s health first.
*Big Editor's Note:
In no way would I ever blame someone for using GoFundMe nor do I think it is bad if you make a GoFundMe campaign. I want to emphasize that this is a critique of the US healthcare system and the techno utopia we are often told will save us. I don't know the answers but I'm trying to learn more. Thanks to Lauren Berliner for taking the time to discuss this stuff with me.
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Concrete cancer and how to manage it
Concrete most cancers. That will sound awfully bizarre, does it not? But, any such thing does happen and may occur in a lot of concrete buildings. The destruction of concrete is still mostly being caused by the metallic structures inside and, in the event the difficulty it isn't likely to become settled, there's a pretty enormous possibility that the construction will gradually fail. It's a serious problem that needs to be taken under account. Even the Concrete Cancer re-pair is actually a somewhat common factor, particularly in the event the entire construction happened with particular errors and dilemmas. Thus, when you really have any kind of worries, it's wise to be in touch using all the High Rise Concrete Cancer repair contractor also manage the matter precisely in addition to on the time.
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National Zoo & Aquarium
Reserve your official parking pass for the National Zoo. By booking with Parking Panda you can purchase a 100% guaranteed parking spot for the day(s) you plan to visit the Zoo. Zoo parking reservations must be made at least one day in advance! If the National Zoo parking lots are sold out, Parking Panda customers will be guaranteed a space! A perfect day at the National Zoo starts with a guaranteed parking space.
The National Zoo and Aquarium (NZA) first opened in 1990 as the National Aquarium. The Aquarium consisted of approximately 30 different species, a large restaurant and function area, with its main feature being a large 1.5 million litre aquarium with an underwater viewing tunnel. This was reportedly the first of its type in the world and was manufactured by a local Canberra company. The Aquarium was situated on around 7 hectares of land which also incorporated a series of outdoor ponds and streams for trout farming. The Aquarium struggled both financially and with some of the major exhibits and within 3 years of opening had been sold to another operator.
This phase of the facility lasted around five years. During this period, the new operator added several outdoor exhibits that consisted mainly of native wildlife. The large aquarium was converted from saltwater to freshwater to reduce costs. The overall theme of the facility changed in an attempt to meet the demands of a large Asian inbound tourist market into the ACT and offered an “Australian” experience that incorporated the wildlife park aspects as well as other activities such as fly fishing in the trout ponds, sheep shearing and boomerang throwing demonstrations.
In 1998 the facility was again up for sale and purchased by the Tindale family. Richard Tindale was a successful local businessman who had a passion for animals. He had travelled to Africa on multiple occasions and had an interest in establishing a conservation breeding centre for big cats. Coincidentally, the wildlife park was put up for sale around the same time. His interest in animals at the time, along with several of his children prompted Richard to buy the facility in mid-1998. Initially, the Tindale family struggled to be accepted into the zoo arena having had very little background with zoo animals previously. Over the next two years they worked hard and repaired and replaced many parts of the existing facility and enclosures as it had been poorly maintained for several years. This included the discovery that the major exhibit of the facility (the 1 million litre walk through aquarium) had to be closed down permanently due to concrete cancer in the walls of the aquarium.
The National Zoo & Aquarium is a wonderful place to explore, learn, and relax. Our rules help ensure an enjoyable and safe experience for all visitors.
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NEW YORK
8 Sep 2020 (Tue) – We spent yesterday getting ready to move. We drove to the lawyer’s office in Port Jefferson to sign a temporary Power of Attorney for Travis. Since we won’t be here for the closing on his house, we are giving him authority to sign for us. That was debacle! First, the secretary asked for ID with a picture and our address on it. We gave her our New York driver licenses. They have our Texas mailing address on them. She said that was no good. She then instructed us to send her copies of our passports. When we got back home, I did that. She said Paul’s passport said New York but mine said New Jersey. I had to explain that there is no residential address on a passport; that the states are where we were born. She then asked for a Costco card or some other ID that had a picture and New York address on it. When we couldn’t provide any, she mumbled something about having to do a tax form for Texas. We are certainly hopeful that Travis & Sam don’t have to pay taxes to Texas!
After the lawyer’s office, we drove into Port Jefferson and had lunch at one of the many restaurants in this charming port town. The waiter gave us the menus, stated that he was the only one working today, and he would come when called. The tables were set up outside on the parking lot. There were about 6 tables he had to serve. The service was very slow but the meal was good.
We invited Caiden to come over for dinner. He enjoyed it. Unfortunately, we got a message saying my nephew’s funeral will be on Saturday. We were expecting it to take place next Saturday. We were going to camp in PA for a week, then drive to Rhode Island/Massachusetts. Now, we had to call campgrounds and move things around. Fortunately, we were able to get 5 days at a Navy campground in Newport, RI, as well as move the days we were going to PA. Whew. Otherwise, we would have lost our deposit at the PA campground.
6 Sep 2020 (Sun) – It’s been a busy week. Kenny went to the clinic and had his arm looked at. The doctor said he has a second degree burn but didn’t do anything with the injury. Just told him to keep it clean and dry.
I started physical therapy on my Achilles tendon. I went for therapy on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. They start with heat and stimulation, then I do some exercises, and it ends with ice and stimulation. They also do some ultrasound. The place is big and it kind of feels like an assembly line operation. Oh, well. I won’t be there for long.
Miranda’s car had the thermostat and rheostat replaced as well as three coils in the engine. It cost $900. Our next door neighbor, Dave, owns an auto body shop and did the work for us. We brought the car back to Miranda and Kenny and told them that’s it. No more money will be spent on that car. Dave suggested we put it in a lot, douse it in gasoline, and set it on fire. It’s basically shot.
We took Caiden and went over Susan & Bill’s house on Saturday. It was our last swim for the summer. He had a great time. We are all a little sad to see the season end. Earlier in the week, Susan and I went to West Hampton for lunch. They recently renovated the town and she wanted to look it over. It was very new looking.
After church today, we went over Travis & Sam’s. Today is Travis’ 39th birthday. We enjoyed a barbecue and ice cream cake. We gave him a storage device with all our photo albums scanned on it. Hope he likes it.
30 Aug 2020 (Sun) – We went to church this morning. Attendance is still sparse but the way the pews are chained off, it’s probably for the best. After church, we stopped at Bagel Boss for bagels. The deli counter had 6 people on line and the bagel line only had 1 person so I opted for the bagel line. What. A. Mistake. The girl who waited on me was so new that she had to ask another worker what a rye and garlic bagel looked like. She was sooooooo slow that everyone in the deli line not only went through but several people after where I would have been had I gotten on that line. Serves me right for being in a hurry.
After church, we drove to Travis & Sam’s, stopping at a couple of furniture stores on the way to look for new recliners. We are limited by the size of the space that the recliners would fit into. The kids are growing fast. The baby is such a happy little guy. Big smiles and laughs all the time. Paul and I picked up KFC chicken for dinner. It was a nice visit.
Miranda borrowed the truck at 7:30 to go pick Kenny up at work. Their car is not working right now. There is some kind of blockage in the cooling system. Caiden and I played a few games. When Kenny got home, Miranda changed the dressing on his arm from the scalding he took yesterday. He has a very large blister and a lot of redness on his arm. Miranda and I convinced him to go to the clinic tomorrow. He probably should have the blister drained and get put on an antibiotic.
29 Aug 2020 (Sat) – We went to church today to attend a memorial service for June Wertz, a friend of ours. Her husband, Bob, invited us to join their travel club some years ago. One of the members of their club had passed away just before the small group was going to camp out at Wildwood State Park. They invited us to take his camping spot. During the 8-10 years we camped with them, it was always on Long Island. The members were all up in years and didn’t go off-Island to camp. It was a fun group and I wish we could have known them in their younger, traveling days. At any rate, we certainly enjoyed the time we spent with Bob & June and the rest of them.
Miranda and Kenny had a serious incident yesterday. They were at KFC when they noticed smoke coming from the engine. They popped the hood, looked around, and opened the radiator cap. Both of them were scalded, Kenny pretty badly. They are monitoring his condition to determine whether his burns are bad enough to seek medical help.
28 Aug 2020 (Fri) – I drove to Ronkonkoma to visit with my cousin, Claude, today. He has been experiencing medical issues for a while now. He has gone from 220 lbs. to 175 lbs. He is looking old and sick. I fear for his well-being. I visited for about an hour then the nurse came in to see him so I left.
Paul spent the day repairing the steps to the back deck. He poured some concrete at the base a few days ago and had Caiden put his name, date, and footprint in it.
27 Aug 2020 (Thu) – I drove out to Southampton today. It was almost an hour and a half drive. When I arrived for my 10:30 a.m. appointment, the receptionist told me I was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. The dentist didn’t get me in until almost 12 noon. I was seeing him for a consultation. He is an endodontist who specializes in root canals and oral surgery. He didn’t see anything that needs immediate attention. Furthermore, he said that he conforms to the recommendations of the American Dental Association and doesn’t believe that metal in the mouth or root canals are inherently bad. He suggested that I leave everything as it is unless I am in pain. It was a disappointing consult.
I stopped at CVS to pick up my prescriptions from the dermatologist, the neurologist to get copies of the test results for my records, and at Shop Rite for some groceries. I got home in time to put everything away and turn around to make my 4:00 p.m. appointment for physical therapy. That was also a somewhat disappointing experience. I was brought in, asked a bunch of questions by someone who said she was a physical therapist, and advised that I would get some exercises to do. Today’s appointment was just heat and stimulation. An aide put the electrodes on my foot and wrapped it in a hot towel. She said the therapist would be in to turn on the stim. After 15 minutes, I flagged down a passing therapist to see if she could find the gal that was supposed to turn my stim on. After 5 minutes, she came in and said she thought the aide would turn it on. They seemed very disorganized and uncommunicative. I am scheduled for physical therapy 3 days next week. We’ll see how that goes.
When I came out of the office, I crossed the street to pick up a few things at Best Market that I didn’t get at ShopRite. It was a full day of running around. Whew!
26 Aug 2020 (Wed) – I went to the dermatologist this morning. The oncologist told me that the chemo can cause skin cancer and to get a skin exam once a year. So, here I am at my one-year check. The exam went well and I was given a clean bill of health.
At 1:50 p.m. I went to see the orthopedist that I was referred to by the podiatrist. I have an interstitial tear in the Achilles heel fiber, not the tendon. There are three ways to handle it – by physical therapy, by surgery, or by an experimental program that takes your blood, mixes platelets with it then injects it in the injury site. Insurance will not cover the cost. I opted for physical therapy. He gave me a script and I made an appointment with a nearby therapist.
We went out for dinner to Texas Roadhouse. The food was good. We forgot our leftovers. That must happen at least half the time we plan to take leftovers home. Aaaarrgh!
25 Aug 2020 (Tue) – No doctors today! I ordered dulse flakes from Amazon. Travis called to ask for help. He was turned down for a rental because a credit report stated they had been late on their last 8 mortgage payments. This is incorrect. I went on the webpage and saw that their payments were on time. Samantha called Equifax to correct the report but was told they only reported what the mortgage company gave them. She called the mortgage company and was told Equifax had to correct the record. A big, fat bureaucratic run around!
I spent a good part of the day on the phone with the mortgage company trying to get a letter that simply stated that their payments have been on time all year. The last agent I spoke with told me they are restricted in free-form correspondence because of a contract they have with USAA. They can only send certain forms. He did offer to send a transaction record that showed all payments were made. Unfortunately, it does not say the payments were on time.
In the meantime, I was trying to get an appointment with the dentist and getting a refill for Paul for a medication. I finally landed an appointment with the dentist for Monday and the doctor’s office placed the refill order directly with CVS. I did get to finish burning one box of records. Only 5 more to go!
Travis called later and told me he offered to pay one year’s rent up front and was waiting for the rental agent’s reply. He’s got a job offer and the new boss said he would look into putting the money up until Travis sold the house. If he does that, Travis better give this guy 110%. He doesn’t know Travis from a stranger on the street and is willing to put up $23,000? We will see.
Miranda and Kenny went out tonight. I offered to watch Caiden so they could have a date night out somewhere. It isn't much but I’m sure they haven’t had a chance for private time since this whole COVID-thing started. Kenny’s mother and grandmother are keeping their distance and they have no other childcare set up.
24 Aug 2020 (Mon) – We went food shopping this morning. I did laundry in the house. At 1:45 p.m., I left for an appointment with the biological dentist in Manhasset. On the way there, the office called to say the dentist was running late and to come in at 4 p.m. So I detoured and stopped at Sherry’s Market in Babylon. I wanted to pick up some barley grass juice powder and dulse flakes. They did not have the dulse. The clerk said I might find it in Wild by Nature down the road in West Islip. So I drove down John Street and into the strip mall. They had dulse granules but no flakes. Not sure if that was OK, I didn’t buy it.
Finally, it was time to stop dawdling and drive to the dentist. I got there at 3:50 p.m. and called the office to let them know I was there. They told me to come right up. I didn’t wait 10 minutes (BIG difference from last visit) and was shown into the exam room. The first dentist, Dr. Golden, popped in while Dr. Blum was reviewing my 3D scan. They discussed my case and what they recommended I do. Then they sent the money gal in. She described the procedure they would use – do a root canal on two teeth and put in ceramic posts with a bridge. Giving me a discount on the bridge, it would only cost $12,000. I could buy a frickin’ car for that much money!!! I told her I would think about it and left.
I called my sister to see if I could get in to see her biological dentist. She gave me his number but the office was closed. I’ll have to call them tomorrow.
23 Aug 2020 (Sun) – We went to church this morning. Everyone is still wearing masks and the pews are roped off to keep people distanced from one another. After church, we gathered up most of the stuff we have been collecting for the yard sale and brought it back to the church. They are trying to have an outdoor thrift shop sale on the front lawn. We don’t know how that’s going to work. It was all clothes they had outside and anyone shopping would lift the clothes to look at them. Now they’ve been touched. What next?
At 3 p.m. we drove to our friend’s house, Bob. He used to be my brother’s father-in-law (before they got divorced). Bob managed an A&P store in the day and he catered many parties. Any time he’s making a meal, it’s worth going. He’s a great cook. He made ribs, roast potatoes, and corn on the cob. We had a very nice visit.
22 Aug 2020 (Sat) – We gathered up Caiden and drove to my sister’s house. Susan is celebrating her 65th birthday today. As expected, Caiden never wanted to get out of the pool. Our brothers, Dennis and Chris, also came to the party. We gave Denis some old baseball cards we found in the back room during our clearing out maneuvers. He seemed to be pleased with the gift (his birthday is next week). It was a fun day.
21 Aug 2020 (Fri) – We went to the Oconee Diner for lunch then took a ride to Target to get a few things. We picked up some clothes for Caiden and ourselves. After we returned home, we spent the rest of the day cleaning out the back room. I burned more military records. Thirty-one years of military history – GONE! Up in smoke! I was surprised to see that I had every pay record I ever got during my service.
20 Aug 2020 (Thu) – It was a confusing day at the cardiologist. First, Paul went to the office for a 9 a.m. appointment only to be turned away. They said he had an appointment at 3:45 and I had one at 2:30 p.m. When he got home and told me, I stated that the office had called yesterday and confirmed the 9 a.m. time. I also had my appointment time entered in my calendar as 2:15 p.m. Just as we were perplexing over these times, the doctor’s office called to say he was called to the hospital and they had to reschedule our appointments. We managed to get us in at 11:30 and 11:45 respectively. That ensured we got in together.
The doctor was prompt and entertaining. He checked us both over. Reviewed our bloodwork and tests and declared us in good health. My cholesterol is a little elevated so he wants to see me back in 3 months. If the numbers are still up, he will put me on a drug (he thinks).
We drove over to Travis & Sam’s tonight for dinner. Turned out we had to buy the dinner (surprise!). We stopped at Chili’s and picked up 6 meals then drove to Trap’s where we enjoyed our dinner together. Travis got a job offer at a construction company in North Carolina. They will also help them to get into a rental home. It sounds very good.
19 Aug 2020 (Wed) – I went to a biological dentist today to get an assessment of all the dental work in my mouth. I have been reading several books about alternative medicine. One book by Dr. Simon Yu states that disease is the result of 4 causes. The three top causes are dental problems, heavy metals, and parasites. It was 2 hours before the dentist came in to see me and we spent an hour talking about the research and alternatives. She sent me to get a 3D x-ray to see if there are any infections in my mouth. Although there was no “pathology,” she did identify 4 incomplete root canals. She recommended I see the surgeon in the office. I made an appointment for Monday.
On the way home, I stopped by Sherry’s Market, a health food store in Babylon. It was expensive!
18 Aug 2020 (Tue) – I went to the neurologist this morning to get all the electrodes disconnected. I tried to schedule a follow up visit with the doctor but his earliest appointment is October. How do you discuss what they found with all these tests?
I drove to East Islip to the podiatrist’s office to pick up a copy of the MRI report stating I have an interstitial tear in my right foot. The receptionist offered to call the radiology office to see if I could get a copy of the MRI pictures. Then I walked over to their office and got the disk.
Paul spent the day working around the yard. I spent the day burning files. I have so many military files to burn. How in the world did I get so many in my possession???
17 Aug 2020 (Mon) – I went to the neurologist this morning and was wired up for a 24-hour EEG. They attached 23 electrodes to my head and 3 to my chest. I have to wear a machine to register brain activity for 24 hours. All this just to reassure Paul that I am OK and can go hiking in the woods again.
When I got home, Paul went food shopping. I was NOT going out with all the wires hanging off my head. When he got back, we had lunch, then went to work on getting rid of old files and boxes. I have tons of old military books and material that has to be burned. It can’t just be thrown in the garbage. I sat in front of the fire pit for 2 hours and only got through 1 box. I have 5 more to go.
Ford called to say they replaced the fuel pump on the truck and everything seems to be alright. I took the rental car, drove Paul to Sayville Ford to drop him off, drove to Islip Airport to drop off the rental car where Paul picked me up and we drove back home.
16 Aug 2020 (Sun) – We borrowed Kenny’s truck and drove to church this morning. It rained all day. We spent most of the day inside watching TV or working on the computer.
15 Aug 2020 (Sat) – Spent the day working around the property. Kenny went to work at 4 and I went into the house to watch Caiden. He came out to the camper and had dinner with us, then we went back inside and I gave him a bath. We had a pillow fight and played with his transformers. He finally went to bed at 9 p.m. I think that is too late for a 6 year old but his parents are night owls and I guess he’s becoming one also.
14 Aug 2020 (Fri) – The tech from Sayville Ford called and said the diagnostics was telling him the truck needs a fuel pump. No amount of arguing that the last service station messed something up. We finally authorized the part. Maybe they can get to it on Monday. Ugh.
Miranda’s truck was finished at 4 p.m. Turned out to be the alternator. I was going to take the rental car since we have no vehicle but I let her take the truck to Philly given the cruddy condition of her truck. We weren’t sure it would make it there and back. It really is on its last legs.
We were supposed to ride out to Indian Island to join the Long Islanders for camping this weekend. Since we don’t have the truck to pull the camper, we will miss the campout. This was very disappointing.
13 Aug 2020 (Thu) – Miranda’s car suddenly gave up the ghost today. It was clicking, wouldn’t start, and all kind of diagnostic warnings were flashing on her dashboard. She was able to drop it off at the service station. This is really bad timing because she is preparing to go to Philly this weekend to coordinate a concert for her camp. We looked around and was able to reserve a rental car just in case the car isn’t back tomorrow.
Paul and I rode our bicycles to Best Buy this afternoon. It’s been giving me trouble and there’s some kind of program on there that we didn’t load in but keeps trying to update drivers. I had them take it off. They were very understaffed and the tech wasn’t really interested in working with me on anything else. I had wanted help in getting videos off the computer. I’ll have to wait until things get back to normal.
Paul took an Uber to the cardiologist this afternoon for a stress test. They injected him with something and then put him in an MRI machine. He said it was quick and easy.
12 Aug 2020 (Wed) – It was a quiet day all around. Paul picked up the truck. Not only was it making the humming noise, but the dashboard was lighting up like a Christmas tree! Low fuel pressure! Low engine pressure! The service station told us they couldn’t find anything wrong and the noise was gone. Boy, were they wrong. Paul called Sayville Ford and we were able to get it into the service bay today. Hope they didn’t break the engine. L
11 Aug 2020 (Tue) – I went to the radiologist today for an MRI of my right foot. We worked around the property, cleaning out old files and boxes. Sent out for pizza for dinner.
10 Aug 2020 (Mon) – Paul brought the truck back to the service station this morning. They kept the truck and dropped him off back at home. At 1 p.m. I went to the doctor for an echo cardiogram. I had to borrow Miranda’s car to get there and back.
We called the service station at 3:30 p.m. The tech told us that they had to call a friend at Ford to ask about the fuel pump. The guy told them they had to replace the entire assembly, not just the fuel pump. Paul was annoyed! I think we will have to make sure in the future that (1) only Ford does the work and, (2) that the mechanic is a certified diesel mechanic. Hopefully, we will get the truck back tomorrow. They were going to send out for the item, which will cost us over $400. This is after already being charged $170 to put the fuel pump on before they broke it.
9 Aug 2020 (Sun) – We went to church this morning. I think it was the most people we’ve seen there since we came back. Everyone is still wearing masks and there are seats roped off. Hand sanitizer stations have been set up around the building. They announce that the thrift shop will open for 2 hours on Sunday afternoon in an outdoor setting. That means folks attending the service will be asked to help bring things outside and set up, then take it back downstairs when done. I hope it works. The thrift shop is a major revenue source for the church and it has really been hurt with the closure.
After church, we went to the Clamside Bar & Grill at the East Islip Marina. The waitress was soooooo slow. Paul ordered Belgian waffles and they came out cold. My food was lukewarm. He sent his waffles back. The next service was also cool. Paul wound up not eating his meal. It was a disappointing experience and we probably won’t go back there for a while.
8 Aug 2020 (Sat) – We gathered up Caiden and drove to Sue & Bill’s for the day. The day started out overcast but the clouds soon cleared away and we had a delightful day in the pool.
7 Aug 2020 (Fri) – I went to the neurologist this morning. The first test was a Neurotrax. It was a cognitive test to see if I’ve had any brain damage from the TGA back in March. Following that, I had an EEG. A technician glues 23 nodes to your head and then has you sit in a chair with your eyes closed most of the time. He flashes a light on your closed eyes, then says “Open Your Eyes” for like 30 seconds then close them again. Weird.
Paul has been working hard in the yard, cleaning up after the storm. The oblivious neighbor did a stupid thing. A tree in his yard came down into our yard. It was straddling the fence with the root ball in the neighbor’s yard and the tree branches supporting the tree in our yard. The neighbor brought his chain saw out and cut the tree. No longer balanced between the tree branches and the root ball, the tree crushed our fence.
I went to the podiatrist today to check out the painful lump on my Achilles tendon. The doctor took an x-ray and said I have a bone spur that could be causing the problem. She also criticized my flip flops, saying I needed more support for my feet. She gave me some heel inserts to wear in a closed shoe. She also sent me to the radiologist to get an MRI. I made an appointment for Tuesday.
6 Aug 2020 (Thu) – Paul brought the truck to the service station to get it inspected. When he got back, he complained that he could hear a humming from the fuel pump. That happened to us once before. A non-qualified mechanic had tried to mount the fuel pump on the rail and broke it. Apparently, a certified diesel mechanic needs to do the job. Paul called and was told to bring the truck back in on Monday.
We brought Bonnie to the vet at 2 p.m. The ultrasound shows she has some abnormal liver issues. The vet wants to do a biopsy but Bonnie has to get a blood test first to see if she has a clotting factor. If so, then she can have the biopsy. If not, then we can’t do it.
5 Aug 2020 (Wed) – I had a check with the nurse at the cardiologist’s office today. They wanted to check and make sure there were no problems with the loop recorder. She said I had a bit of a reaction to the medical tape but everything looked OK. I should just let the tape fall off when it wants.
After the doctor, I brought some containers to Travis. He is now in contract on his house and beginning to pack things up. I brought him 9 containers. Then I drove to Sayville and met my sister, Susan, and her daughter, Shay, for lunch at Cornucopia. It is a kind of health food supermarket with a great deli counter where we all ordered lunch. We then sat outside to enjoy our meal. Following that, we took a walk along Main Street, looking in the shop windows. When we came upon an India shop, we went in. Susan & Bill follow the religion of Ashananda and the shop owner had been to one of their meetings out in the Hamptons. She spoke for a while with the clerks (the shop owner wasn’t there).
We went over Trap’s tonight to sign the contract for the sale of their house. Since we are listed as co-owners on the house, we have to sign the contract as well. While there, Trap dug out the chain saw for Paul.
4 August 2020 (Tue) – Things have been so busy and technology has been so challenging that I have not been able to keep up with the blog. I have an appointment with Best Buy on the 13th. Hopefully, that will get things back on the road.
Let’s see. I have been to the cardiologist and had an internal cardiac monitor (ICM) installed in my chest. It is a device that tracks heart activity and at night, when I am sleeping, it uploads the day’s activities to the doctor’s office. It’s been 5 days and the site still itches like crazy. Ugh.
I had to go to the lab and get a COVID test before getting the ICM installed. The nurse stuck a Cutip so far up my nose that my eyes teared. And I had an earache for the rest of the day. That dam thing was painful! I will not do that again.
We took Caiden to Sue & Bill’s last Wednesday. Their daughter, Shay, and her boyfriend, Pat, are up from South Carolina. We all swam and munched on delicious vegan foods. It was fun.
I went to the doctor’s office to see what is wrong with my heel. The PA saw me (the doctor was busy). He thinks I have a cyst on my Achilles tendon and referred me to a podiatrist.
Miranda was back in Pennsylvania this weekend so we watched Caiden a good part of the time when Kenny wasn’t working.
We got to visit with Travis & Sam yesterday. The baby is walking pretty good now. He’s always so happy. He immediately lights up when he sees you and waves his little hand hello. Trap got an offer on the house and we signed the contract with the realtor. He’s a little freaked out. They have now signed a contract to sell their house. They have to be out in a month. They want to move to South Carolina but neither of them has a job or a place to stay. In addition, they’re not going to be able to keep as much of the money from the sale of the house that they had counted on. The realtor gets $16,400 alone! Wow!
Today, Paul had an appointment with the dentist. This was a follow up to checkups we had two weeks ago where the dentist found a cavity. He went in to day to get it filled. Afterward, we went to WalMart to pick up a few items. Later in the day, Tropical Storm Isaias blew through. Another tree from the neighbor’s yard came down across our fence. Also, one of our trees came down and landed on the deck. It just missed the roof and back doors. This was dejavu! Same thing happened last year when we were here. Paul will have to dig out the chain saw. The entire neighborhood is digging out. Two trees went down on Saxon Avenue, the next block over, and the road was closed. Thousands of people were without power. We lost power on and off all day long but not for very long. Our neighbor a few doors down had a tree go down and take all his electrical lines with it. The fire department came and cut up the tree and pulled it out into the road.
25 July 2020 (Sat) – We went to Nicky’s on the Bay for lunch. The tables were spaced apart. Lots of them were out on the deck. All the wait staff was wearing face masks. Our waitress was very slow and unsure about herself. She might have been new. While we were eating, a waitress came running through the restaurant asking if there was a doctor, an EMT, or a nurse in the place. Apparently, something happened at the marine fuel site out on the deck. We couldn’t see what happened but an ambulance did roll up.
The cost of the meal was very high. It don’t know if it is because Nicky’s is a seasonal place and is trying to make its money during the summer or if they jacked the prices up because they can’t have as many people in the place. Either way, it was over $60 for a wrap and a sandwich. Ouch!
24 July 2020 (Fri) – Finally! A day with no doctors. Whew! Paul got up early and took the truck to WalMart to get an oil change. He said it looks like WalMart is going out of business. The shelves are all half stocked. If you stop to think about it, they get most of their products from China. The pandemic has affected shipments worldwide. In addition, the U.S. is angry with China for keeping the Coronavirus a secret and has instituted sanctions against them. WalMart must really be hurting.
After Paul got home, we went to Home Depot to get a container. One of our two batteries went bad and Paul bought two new ones. Now he wants a container to put them in to keep the area more organized. Home Depot didn’t have much of a selection at all. On the way out, we stopped by the tile area and picked out a tile to do a backsplash in the bathroom. We couldn’t decide, so we picked up three samples to see which we would like best.
When I was entering the costs into the budget, Paul discovered that WalMart charged him for the oil that he actually provided. So he got in the truck and drove back to WalMart to get his $12.47 refunded.
Miranda is teaching in Pennsylvania again this weekend. They took Caiden into Queens to stay with his grandmother. Kenny borrows his mother’s car so Miranda can take their car. I will miss Caiden.
23 July 2020 (Thu) – Today was my visit with the oncologist. It was so disheartening! My appointment was at 4:15 p.m. I checked in then after a brief wait, a tech brought me into an exam room and took my vitals. Thank goodness; no blood draw. Then I went upstairs and checked in with the receptionist. I waited about a half hour before the doctor’s admin assistant came and led me to the exam room. I sat there for another half hour before the nurse came in and went over my case. He spent a lot of time complaining about patients calling and asking for visits or pain medication when they should be going to their primary care physicians. Then he asked me who my PCP was. I felt like it was some kind of criticism. Was I supposed to be going to a different doctor?
The nurse left and it was another 20 minutes before the doctor came in wearing a face mask and a full face shield. He seemed detached and didn’t really hear my complaints. He said the medication sometimes causes blisters on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Was I having any of those? He also said the medication can cause AFIB and that the cardiologist should check me for that. It seems like every visit to the oncologist results in him telling me something else that can happen with this chemo therapy. He seemed preoccupied and in a hurry to get out. I felt like I got the bum’s rush. I came home and started crying. Which is kind of stupid because the CT scan shows that I am responding to the medication very well. All the lymph nodes are continuing to shrink. So what’s my problem?
22 July 2020 (Wed) – I went to the Good Sam Sleep Center this morning. I had to sit in the parking lot and call the office to tell them I was waiting. They called me when the previous patient was done. When I walked into the doctor’s office after checking in, he excused himself and began to dictate the results of his visit with the previous patient. He stated the patient’s name, the issue, and his diagnosis, all in front of me. Hasn’t he been briefed on this whole patient privacy thing? I thought that I should probably step out of the room but with the whole COVID thing, they don’t want people wandering around unsupervised. When he was done, I told him that I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in 15 years. The cardiologist recommended I do a sleep study because poor sleep can affect heart function and weight. The doctor said we probably wouldn’t find anything but said he would do the study anyway. How encouraging is that???
21 July 2020 (Tue) – I went to the eye doctor today. I arrived at 9:30 a.m. When I checked in, I found my appointment was for 10:45 a.m. It looks like I made the appointment while we were in Alabama and my calendar recorded the appointment as central time, not eastern time. So the clerk sent me to sit out in my car till it was my turn or the doctor became available sooner. They called me at 9:50 to come in and brought me right to a test station where they blew air into my eye. Then she took me to an exam room where I sat for over a half hour. The doctor came in, put drops in my eyes, and said I am developing glaucoma. Come back in six months. Then he was gone. No discussion, no explanation, no anything. I complained about some eye discharge and irritation so he prescribed an ointment to put in my eye at bedtime but, again, no explanation or discussion of what the problem is. It was a very annoying visit. The doctor was very dismissive.
Paul put together a 3-minute video of upstate New York. I posted it on You Tube then contacted SMART with the link. They posted it on the website next to the description of our New York caravan.
I went in at 4 p.m. to keep an eye on Caiden while Miranda went to the store. Paul is still grousing about yesterday’s argument. I have to find a way to get him to lighten up. Ugh.
20 July 2020 (Mon) – I had a CT Scan with contrast today. I dropped off a urine sample for Sheba at the vet, then drove to Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. I checked in at the front desk and asked if my doctor or his nurse was available to see me. The receptionist said she would contact Dr. Rodriguez and see what he said. I then went into the imaging area and had the CT scan. That’s such a weird test. They inject an iodine based solution and it gives a flushed, very warm feeling in the back of the throat and in the crotch. It feels like I wet myself. The test isn’t very long and I was out of the machine within 10 minutes.
I returned to the front desk to see about the doctor. The receptionist said Dr. Rodriguez would change my telehealth appointment for Thursday to an in-person appointment or I could see someone in triage today. I said I would meet with the doctor on Thursday.
I got home to find Paul working around the RV. He was installing a switch for the water pump in the bathroom. The switch on the main panel stopped working some time ago and Paul installed a switch down in the basement. That has turned out to be somewhat inconvenient so he moved the switch up into the bathroom. That should work better for when we have to use the onboard tank for fresh water.
While we were outside, Paul and Miranda got into a nasty fight. That was very upsetting for me. Then we left and went over Travis’ house to help him with some projects. He has finally gotten an offer for his house and the inspector will be over on Thursday. He wants to clear up a few little things before the inspector arrives. Paul and Travis worked on repairing a leak in the kitchen sink and on the thermostat for his burner. I played with the boys then we all enjoyed a meal that Sam prepared. It was a pleasant evening.
19 July 2020 (Sun) – We didn’t think Caiden would be able to sit for an hour in church with a mask on so we didn’t go. At 11:30 a.m. we drove to the Bayside Clam Bar for brunch. Afterward, we walked along the boardwalk and looked at all the boats in the marina. There was a dog at one end that the owner let go down on a little spit of sand. Caiden climbed down and followed the dog around. We took his shoes off so he could step in the water. The dog was an older black lab and very friendly. Her name was Sandy.
After our meal and walk, we returned to the house and I watched Caiden while Paul worked around the house and yard. Kenny got home at 7:30 p.m.
18 July 2020 (Sat) – We got Caiden at 10:30 a.m. and then drove to Sue & Bill’s house in the Hamptons for a day of swimming in the pool and barbecuing. Despite the fact that I put sunscreen on Caiden twice, he still burned. So did I. His mother will never let me take him to the beach again. Aaarrgghh!
After we got back, I stayed with Caiden until his father came home at 10:30 p.m.
17 July 2020 (Fri) – We both went to the dentist today. The chairs in the office were taped off to ensure adequate spacing between patients. It only left 4 chairs to use. The secretary took our temperature and went through a checklist (like the tech did yesterday). Then we had our teeth cleaned and xrays taken. I got an excellent rating; Paul has a cavity and has to come back to get it filled.
We went over Trap’s to visit. We picked up dinner at Chili’s and brought it to the house. Travis was working on painting the counter top in the upstairs bathroom. They are trying everything they can think of to sell their house. They’ve had lots of lookers but no buyers. The real estate market is so hot today, I can’t figure out why the house hasn’t gone. His in-laws put their house on the market and the first visitor bought the house for $5,000 more than they were asking. The only stipulation was that they had to be out in 30 days.
Miranda’s cat was showing some kind of neurological issue today. It was walking against the side of cabinets like its left side was weak and it couldn’t stand by itself. Miranda contacted us while at Trap’s and asked about bringing her cat, Liath, to the vet. We hurried home to help but the vet said it was not life threatening and to wait until Monday to bring her in. Miranda was concerned because she is leaving tonight for Pennsylvania and will not be back until late Sunday. I promised to keep an eye on the cat.
16 July 2020 (Thu) – We both went to the cardiologist today. I was doing a follow-up to my “incident” in March. Paul went because he has hypertension and should be seen by a cardiologist.
When we arrived, we were met at the door by a tech who asked us a bunch of questions about where we’ve been and who we’ve been near. He took our temperature and then let us pass. We walked in and was processed by a clerk. Then we were brought back to the exam room. The PA came in, went over our medical histories, took our blood pressure, and did EKGs on both of us.
Then the doctor came in. I liked him instantly. He is young – in his late 20s/early 30s. He was upbeat and very friendly, touching elbows as a form of hello. He thinks I had a TIA and felt the neurologist was wrong to think I had a TGA. He recommended I get an EEG, an ambulatory EEG, and have a loop recorder inserted in my chest. He feels it is possible that I have atrial fibrillation (AFib) and the recorder will measure my heartbeat and send messages to the office. I would wear it for 3 or 4 years! I said I had to check that one with my oncologist.
Then it was Paul’s turn. The doctor referred him for a nuclear stress test. He also recommended that Paul resume taking the baby aspirin every day (he stopped a year ago because of a medical report that said baby aspirin didn’t help to prevent strokes.
15 July 2020 (Wed) – We worked around the RV until 11:30 a.m. then we took Sheba to the vet. It was over an hour in which the vet’s office displayed confusion and chaos. First, I called to say we were outside for our appointment. About 20 minutes later, one of the vets came out to gather information then went inside. Ten minutes later he came out to get Sheba. Again, the office was not able to get through to my phone and the vet came out to tell me to call them. I called and spoke with Dr. Thode. She took blood and gave Sheba shots. Dr. Thode also said the blood results were back for Bonnie. She has round worm and a low liver value. She prescribed medicine for the worms and recommended an ultrasound for the liver. After waiting 10 minutes, I called the office to see what was happening. They were just finishing up and would send Sheba out. The vet brought Sheba out, went over the highlights of her exam, and said the office would call to get payment. After another 15 or 20 minutes, I called to make the payment. The clerk took my card number three times because the machine wasn’t working properly. Then the vet tech came out with the paperwork. Paul asked about the medicine for Bonnie. They forgot it so she went back in to get it. She brought it out but stated they had forgotten to charge us for the medicine so I had to call again to give the credit card number. They brought the receipt out along with the stuff to get a urine sample from Sheba. We left but I got a phone call about 10 minutes later saying they forgot to charge us for the bloodwork they did on Sheba so I had to call back again and give the card number again. What a debacle!
Late this afternoon, Caiden came knocking on the door. He came in and played for a while then I made dinner for the three of us. He ate a small part of his meal but seemed to enjoy it. I brought the left overs into the house for Miranda and Kenny, or to keep and reheat for Caiden tomorrow.
14 July 2020 (Tue) – I had an appointment with the neurologist this morning. This was the same doctor that found the tumor in my mother’s brain 36 years ago. He has gotten very personable over the years. I liked him very much. He said the incident I experienced in March was most likely Transient Global Amnesia (TGA). Just to be careful, he recommended three different tests but stated that he doesn’t expect to find anything. Apparently, a TGA can happen at any time and never happen again. Or, it can happen again once or multiple times. If it happens many times then you would have to get checked for seizure activity in the brain. Luckily, I have not had any problems since that one time.
I played with Caiden a little tonight. We didn’t get much time together but it was still fun. He loves battle sequences.
13 July 2020 (Mon) – We took Bonnie to the vet this morning. She needed a refill on her flea and tick medicine. She got a checkup and a couple of shots. It was so weird. When we arrived, we called the office and were instructed to stay in the truck. After about 20 minutes, a vet tech came out. He took down Bonnie’s information and reason for her visit then went back inside. He came back about 10 minutes later and took her inside. We sat in the car until the doctor called. We discussed our concerns and what the doctor found and recommended. Five minutes later, the clerk called to get our credit card number for the bill. A whopping $950!!! After about another 15 minutes, Bonnie was brought back out to us. Then we waited ANOTHER 15 minutes for the clerk to bring out medicine and the bill. What a pain in the butt. And we will have to do it again with Sheba.
Kenny was off of work today, so Caiden stayed in the house nursing his sunburn and playing with his parents. Paul worked around the yard and I did paperwork.
12 July 2020 (Sun) – We went to church this morning. They just reopened after holding services digitally on You Tube and FaceBook for months. There were about 30 people in church. We had to wear our masks the entire time and still try to maintain 6’ distance from each other. They didn’t pass the collection plate. Instead, it sat in the back of the church and the minister asked everyone to drop their donation in the plate when they left.
After church, Paul and I drove to the Clamside Bar & Grill at the East Islip Marina. We both enjoyed a salad. The day was lovely – sunny, but not too hot, with a soft, balmy breeze blowing in off the water. The sun glittering on the bay was beautiful.
When we came home, I gathered up Caiden and he and I went to Heckscher State Park. I figured the beach would be closed but we could walk along the shore, throw stones in the water, build sand castles, and wiggle our toes in the water. Boy, was I surprised to find the beach open, complete with lifeguards. There were many people on the beach and in the water but they still were all keeping a decent distance between each other. The water was so warm; like a bathtub. There was lots of wave action and a delightful breeze kept the heat away. I did not have a bathing suit so I stood on the shore with my feet in the water, getting splashed well up the legs. Caiden went in and had a great time. Unfortunately, I forgot to put sunscreen on him and he got burned. His mother yelled at me.
When we left the beach, I stopped at Carvel and got Caiden some ice cream. The perfect end to a perfect day.
11 July 2020 (Sat) – Paul worked in the yard most of the day. I entertained Caiden a good part of the day. At 4:30 pm, we went over Travis’ house. We shared a salad and pizza then spent two hours playing with Noah and Hudson. The baby is on the verge of walking. He has very good balance.
10 July 2020 (Fri) – It was an overcast day with rain on and off. Tropical Storm Fay was pummeling the Jersey coast today but we didn’t get it too badly. Paul and I went shopping at PetCo for pet food and ShopRite for some groceries. Boy. Was the grocery store crowded! And we forgot to bring our own bags so the cashier charged us for 3 bags. Glad we didn’t buy a lot.
Caiden wanted to come into the trailer so badly today but the weather was lousy and I wasn’t going to put Bonnie out. Caiden came out and we stood outside in the drizzle talking for about an hour. Later, I went into the house and we played for about 2 hours.
9 July 2020 (Thu) – We packed up and left Newburgh at 10:45 am. It took almost 4 hours to drive down to Long Island. We were surprised with all the traffic on the road. We came through the boroughs and had traffic and construction that caused us to creep along through congested spots.
Caiden was so happy to see us! He ran out and gave me a hug, then ran back to the porch to watch us park the rig in the driveway. When Paul had the RV positioned well, I had Caiden help finish the set up by pushing buttons to open the slides. After we were set up, we visited for a bit and watched him swimming in his little pool. After dinner, I took Caiden to Carvel and picked up ice cream for him and Miranda (Kenny was working and Paul and I are on a diet). We brought it back home and they enjoyed the treat out on the back deck.
8 July 2020 (Wed) – Just hung around the campground most of the day. We did run out to fuel the truck and get ready for tomorrow’s move.
7 July 2020 (Tue) – We visited with the sales manager here at the campground. We had interviewed him last year and reconfirmed the amenities and costs. The nightly fee actually went down. He also promised to coordinate a bus tour into New York City for us. He offered to pick up our order for bagels and juice and even stated he could arrange a catered meal right here in the campground.
We came back and did laundry then just hung out for the day.
6 July 2020 (Mon) – We started out for West Point but would up sidetracked to the Historic Huguenot District. It was two blocks of old stone houses built in the late 1600s/early 1700s by early French settlers. The visitor’s center was closed and none of the buildings were open. We walked up and down the street, admiring the architecture from the street.
We then continued on to the West Point Military Academy. The visitor’s center was closed, as well as the tour operations office. There was no one to ask anything of. The day was a loss in that regard.
5 July 2020 (Sun) – We drove over to the Mohonk Mountain House today. Thought we’d check them out for the farewell dinner and then take a hike around the area. Unfortunately, they now have a gatehouse to control access to the place. They have us a brochure to look at and a telephone number to call but wouldn’t let us go in.
Then we drove by another restaurant but they were closed. No signs on the door. We couldn’t tell if they were just closed or if they had gone out of business. Cross them off the list.
We made a quick stop at the grocery store so Paul could pick up milk for his coffee then returned to the campground. We got to enjoy another campfire tonight. Two in a row. Wow.!
We drove into Newburgh and took a stroll on the Walkway Over the Hudson. It was an old railroad trestle over the Hudson River built back in the late 1800s. It was repurposed into a level concrete walkway that stretched for more than a mile and a third. We walked out to the middle, took a selfie, and walked back. The day was lovely. There were lots of people on the bridge – strolling, biking, walking the dog. Almost everyone obeyed the signs and wore a mask. Some people didn’t. It was very warm and my mask was wet from sweat by the time we finished our walk. It was a good time.
We drove to the FDR National Historic Site to look over the presidential library and home. The visitor’s center was closed.
4 July 2020 (Sat) – We were going to drive to the Mohonk Mountain House today but stayed in the campground instead. We had a small BBQ and sat before a delightful campfire. The campground is pretty full with lots of kids. Bonnie is barking at bicycles, skaters, and walkers. The staff came by yesterday passing out flyers about the pool. It was going to be open today from 10 to 4. They were having people sign up for a one-hour block of time. The pool is limited to 25 people but they were thinking they wouldn’t be able to do that and still have people maintain their distance. We didn’t sign up. It seemed better to leave the time slots to the kids. Normally, they would spend the whole day in the pool. This is like a tease. But I suppose it’s better than nothing.
3 July 2020 (Fri) – Things have been quiet. We have been running around trying to line up restaurants for the caravan next year. We are now at the KOA in Newburgh for a week.
30 Jun 2020 (Tue) – We pulled stakes at 9:25 am. It was a white knuckle exercise in getting out of our site. Paul had to ask the guy behind us to move then he backed up the RV to get out. Trees and other RVs and yard “stuff” in the area made it impossible to pull out from our pull-through site. Paul did it perfectly! He is so good in moving our big monster. It’s almost like it’s an extension of his physical being. Just imagine maneuvering 54’ of truck and trailer. I can’t do it!
We arrived at Shadowbrook RV Resort at a little past 11:30 am (it was a very short drive). This campground only has 18 campsites for transients. Again, we’ve been undone by the seasonal campers. After set up, we drove to four separate campgrounds and all gave the same answer – no room at the inn! The last campground we stopped at recommended the KOA up on Route 20. We’ll try them tomorrow.
We drove by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. They are on a limited opening. I left a business card and someone will call me back. I also sent emails to the tour director for the NY Capitol in Albany and the USS Slater. Communications continue with other venues as well.
29 Jun 2020 (Mon) – We drove to another campground this morning to check it out. It turned out to only have 4 available campsites for transients. The rest are filled with seasonals. Too bad. It was a really nice campground right on Saratoga Lake.
On the way back to the campground, we refueled for tomorrow’s trip and picked up chicken and water. Bonnie has diarrhea again. It just seems to be something that she’s going to go through on a regular basis no matter what we give her.
28 Jun 2020 (Sun) – We left Ticonderoga at 9:20 a.m. It rained a little in the three hours it took us to arrive at Adventure Bound RV Resorts & Campground. The campsite we got was very tight while Paul had to maneuver around a parked van, trees, and lawn decorations. This campground, although very large (over 300 campsites), would not suit our group and many campers are seasonal. The RV next to us hasn’t been moved in years.
As soon as we were set up, we headed out. First stop was at Chili’s for lunch. We both had a grilled chicken salad. Tummies full, we drove to four different campgrounds. Two wouldn’t fit the group, one had no one in the office, and the other took our phone number to give to the owner. It was not a very productive day. Hope things get better tomorrow.
On the way back to the campground, we stopped at Hannaford to pick up groceries. It was a nice supermarket. Why can’t we get any of these grocery stores on Long Island?
27 Jun 2020 (Sat) – It was a light day. We just hung out around the campground today. I made some calls and updated the files on what we’ve collected so far. The poor wifi service here is maddening! Even the cell service is poor. I’m glad we won’t be staying here as a group but I worry the other campground might be just as bad. After all, we are now in the mountains.
26 Jun 2020 (Fri) – We drove into Lake Placid today. It is a small town. The Olympics Museum was closed. We decided to have the group explore the museum then go out about the town on their own. There is a lot to see in this little tourist town.
We then drove to Whiteface Mountain. We wanted to drive up the Veterans Memorial Highway to the peak. Unfortunately, it was $25 per car to drive up. I thought that was too much money to go up there and find everything closed (not that there is that much up there to see other than the view). We turned around and left.
Right next to the entrance for Whiteface Mountain is Santa’s North Pole Workshop. We came up here twice with the kids when they were little. The workshop is still there with the post office that will send off a letter or postcard with the North Pole return address. The park was also closed.
We drove to Ausable Chasm, the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks. It was beautiful. We spoke with the sales manager and got information on a walking tour, float trip, and lunch at the center. It will be a nice touch for the group. Up the hill right next to the chasm center is the Underground RR Museum. It is in a beautiful old stone building. It was closed but a woman stepped out of the building to speak with us. The cost to explore the museum is free and the place is very small. Guess we’ll have the group break up into smaller groups to tour the museum.
We also checked out two other campgrounds. The KOA seems like the best option at this point. It would have been nice to stay at the North Pole Hundred Acre Woods Campground but they don’t take groups of more than six rigs. Oh, pooh!
After we got back to the campground, we did the laundry.
25 Jun 2020 (Thu) – Well, we learned today why a scouting trip is so important. We left 1000 Islands CG and headed out to Ticonderoga, 170 miles away. The GPS in the truck tried to route us though Canada. It would have added 100 miles to our trip! Instead, we followed the route on my phone. The trip went through Adirondack Park. We saw mountains but the elevation never got much over 2,000’. The roads were narrow and winding and the driving was slow but we got here safe and sound. The scenery is beautiful with occasional glimpses of the lakes and rivers beside the road.
It turns out that this campground does not have enough campsites for our group – they are mostly for seasonal campers. Paul went through a list and found an alternative campground. In fact, he changed two campgrounds for one and we now have another stop on our itinerary.
After set up, we drove to Brookwood RV Resort and interviewed the owner for a possible stay there. They are a very popular campground and she suggested we get our reservations in ASAP. The only thing we don’t like is that we wouldn’t all be together. Everyone would be spread around the campground.
We drove down the road to another campground owned by the U.S. Forest Service but it was closed. We then drove into the town of Ticonderoga. The Star Trek Museum and Fort Ticonderoga were both closed due to the pandemic. We walked into a luncheonette across the street from the Star Trek Museum to see about a lunch for the group. Our group could go to the museum at 10, go to lunch at 11 (it’s a little early but that’s what they want), then take a tour of the fort. The other option is to wait on lunch until 2 pm, which is kind of late. I don’t like either option.
As we were driving around, we spotted an old stone chapel in a graveyard. We parked and went in to explore it. It reminded me of the Viking church on display in DisneyWorld.
24 Jun 2020 (Wed) – We drove over to Alexandria Bay this morning. We stopped at U.S. Boat Tours which I had emailed to ask about a tour of the Singer and Boldt Castles. We checked at the window to find out what time the shuttles and tours ran. After getting the times, we decided to have the group go to the Boldt Castle at 10 a.m., come back to town, wander the shops, and have lunch. At 2 p.m., we’ll have everyone come back and take the tour to the Singer Castle.
Afterward, we drove around the area, checking out different places. We also drove over to Wellesly Island and looked at the state parks and golf courses there. We also stopped by the ice cream shoppe in front of the campground to find out about an ice cream social. They sell 3-gallon containers of ice cream for $45. The lady suggested butter pecan as an older person’s favorite flavor.
23 Jun 2020 (Tue) – We packed up and left Stow at 9:15 a.m. The drive was easy but took almost 4 hours. When we arrived, the office was closed (we had checked in online), and a note on the door told campers to proceed to their assigned site. After set up, we left a message for the campground manager asking for a meeting.
We drove to Clayton where Main Street was under construction and closed to traffic. We had seen a delightful hotel with a restaurant years ago that boasted the original Thousand Islands dressing had been invented there. Unfortunately, the restaurant went out of business. We spoke with a manager at Bella’s. The restaurant was pleasant but she said they did not want to have a large group in to dine during their peak season. She preferred to cater a meal of assorted wraps, salads and desert and suggested we eat at the Antique Boating Museum.
We drove past both the Thousand Islands Museum and the Antique Boating Museum. They were both closed. I sent emails asking about admission and meals. This is becoming very frustrating. Many of the businesses that I have sent emails to have not answered.
When we got back to the campground, we met with the campground camp host. Whe was very chatty and gave us lots of information about the area. I have to follow up with an email so she can share it with the owner.
22 Jun 2020 (Mon) – We drove to Seneca Falls today, noting the mileage to various areas along the way. Everything we wanted to see was closed. The National Women’s Hall of Fame, although the name was displayed on the front of the building on Main Street, is no longer there. A woman in the visitor center told us it was relocated to a mill across the bridge but the coronavirus had stopped the set-up and opening of the center in its new location. We drove over and saw that it will be 3 stories high and promises to be a good stop. There is also a National Women’s Rights Museum on Main Street and a couple of houses around Seneca Falls that people could tour if they wanted.
Waterloo, birthplace of Memorial Day, is next to Seneca Falls. There is an American Civil War Museum and memorial graveyard in town. I think it would be appropriate to include it in our itinerary but Paul thinks it is too much. If so, we will certainly have to suggest it as a stop on their own.
We stopped at Ventosa Vineyards to see about a group lunch after the Seneca Falls tour. There is a lovely deck area outside overlooking the lake. The woman we spoke with suggested we send an email to the catering manager.
We then stopped at Belhurst Castle. They have a very attractive stone room with an intimate setting for lunch that also looks out at the lake. The man we spoke with gave us a menu and suggested we coordinate with the catering manager. I sent emails out to both managers.
21 Jun 2020 (Sun) – We packed up and left Bath at 9:50 a.m. It was only 95 miles to Red’s Twilight on the Erie RV Resort in Macedon, near Rochester. We arrived about noon. The office was closed. Our registration packet was sitting on a table. As we were preparing to drive to our campsite, the owner pulled up and led us to our place. She was very friendly and gladly agreed to meet with us later.
After set up, we cased the campground while walking the dog (it was too hot to let Sheba out – 90 degrees!) then went to the office and sat down with Barb. She said they would give us 10 percent off for military discount. We were all sitting around the table with our masks on and it got very hot. I was sweating like crazy. I sure was glad when the meeting was over.
We drove into Rochester to the George Eastman Museum. It was closed. We then drove to The Strong Museum of Play. That was also closed. It is a very large museum and looks like it will be fun. We then drove to a restaurant recommended by Barb. It was too far from The Strong to have people walk to it so we will have lunch in the museum then explore the museum. There is a restaurant inside.
On the way back to the campground, we stopped at Wegmans Supermarket. What a huge store! It had to be the largest supermarket we’ve ever been in. And it was neat and clean and attractive. Everyone in the store was wearing a mask and the staff was actively wiping things down and making sure everything was sanitized.
20 Jun 2020 (Sat) – We drove to the Finger Lakes Boating Museum to meet the Administration Assistant and see the wine cellar where they host catered meals. It is a lovely room and we are sure the group would like it. We would probably have the tour of the museum first (there are 3 floors in the museum) then go to the bottom floor for a lunch.
After meeting with Nancy Wightman, we drove back to the KOA to meet with the Office Manager. We sat outside at a picnic table, all in our masks, and discussed what they could offer the caravan next year. Elaine is pregnant and will be out on maternity leave for a while. This could cause a problem with coordination but we will see how it shakes out.
While driving out and about, we stopped at a nearby fish hatchery. It was closed but they had an observation pool with three kinds of trout in it – brown trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout. What is weird is that the brook trout is the only native species to the area, yet the hatchery doesn’t raise them – only the other two species.
We drove around to check out some other places. There is a VA Center and National Cemetery a couple of miles down the road. We rode around the cemetery looking at the gravestones. We also gathered information about other services in the area – RV dealers, hospital, clinic, vets, foodstore, etc.
We had a campfire tonight. There is nothing more intoxicating that the smell of a campfire.
19 Jun 2020 (Fri) – We packed up and left Chautauqua at 9:30. The weather was good and the drive was pleasant. We arrived at the Bath-Hammondsport KOA around noon. They had sent an email asking us to pre-register/check-in. I did that. When we arrived, Paul stayed in the truck while I went in. The clerk confirmed our information and gave us our map and paperwork. This is a lovely campground. We have been here before and am sure the caravan will enjoy the place.
We drove around town, trying to find a restaurant to have a welcome dinner in. The three restaurants we chose were all too small and two of them were still closed. The thirde, the Stone Timber Inn, does catering. We took the chef’s card and left. On the way back to the campground, we stopped at an American Legion post and took a look at their hall. We asked about renting the hall and the bartender gave us the rental agent’s phone number along with the commander’s number.
The campground is working hard to ensure people are having a good time, despite the spacing restriction from the coronavirus. They delivered a packet to make s’mores with. Folks were invited to make s’mores and post pictures on the facebook page. They also gave us free firewood. It made a delightful fire. They also had a cornhole contest where people who had the game in their rig wee encouraged to play and report their results.
18 Jun 2020 (Thu) – We went to the office at 9:30 a.m. to speak with the campground owner. The doors were locked. Some guy came out in to the hall, looked at us at the door then went back into his office. How rude! I then called the office and the owner answered. We sat at the table outside on the deck and interviewed the guy about the facilities and what he would do for the group. Satisfied, we told him we would send a check and wanted to leave him a book. He said he was in his office. When we told him the door was locked, he laughed and said he forgot to open it then stepped out and took the book.
We drove 20 minutes to the Grape Discovery Center to see what it looked like. It was closed. We parked and walked around, peeking in the windows. It looks like it would be a nice experience for our group next year, so we will include it in the itinerary.
We found a laundromat in a house (ah, country life). We put the clothes in the washer then drove to a Mazza’s Winery and had a flight of wines. Then we returned to the laundromat house and put the clothes in the dryer. We walked around the town of Mayville while our clothes tumbled.
After we collected the clothes, we drove to Jamestown to check out the Lucy-Desi Museum and the National Comedy Center. Unfortunately, they, too, were both closed because of the pandemic. This situation is going to make it hard to develop a budget for the caravan.
Paul located a WalMart and we did some food shopping. We are starting a diet and needed to pick up all the right kinds of foods. I just planned 4 days and the frig is chocked full. I will not be able to shop a week at a time, that’s for sure.
The check-in time for this campground is 6 p.m. (check-out is 5 p.m.). We’ve never seen such a late time for check-in. We asked if the owner would put that aside for us when our group comes next year.
17 Jun 2020 (Wed) – We left Marblehead, Ohio, at 8:20 a.m. It was a long drive today so we left early. The drive was over 4 hours and took us along the lakeshore of Lake Erie, through Pennsylvania and into New York. The campground looks like it was a KOA at one time. Our campsite is a pull through with a concrete surface. The campground is on Chautauqua Lake. The pool, the store, and all group centered places are closed due to the pandemic. You have to wear a mask in the office.
After set up, we drove into Mayville to meet with the operations manager of the Chautauqua Belle paddlewheeler. He was a young man who seemed to be coordinating a group tour for the first time. We went over is suggested schedule and agreed on an itinerary. He will draw up a contract and send it to us.
Then we drove down the road to the Chautauqua Institution. It is one of the stops on the itinerary Mike put together and we wanted to look at it. It’s not very clear why we should take a tour of the place. It seems like a private community with very lovely homes on the lake. The roads are very narrow and seem to wind aimlessly around the neighborhood. There is a beautiful old hotel where he suggested we have lunch. We wanted to get some information about the place but the visitor’s center was closed. I’ll have to send an email.
We drove to Jamestown and picked up food at Pet Smart. Then Paul drove up the other side of the lake to the center where the interstate crossed the lake. We got back to the campground at 5 p.m.
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Concrete Repair Contractors – Is It Worth Hiring A Professional For Concrete Repair?
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