Saturday, January 14, to Wednesday, January 25: Weather Permitted

It is winter time. So, Becky often looks at The Weather Channel application.  She and the dogs want to head back to Southern California later in the week.  She may have to leave Williams earlier than planned.

So far, so good.  The weather has been too warm for snow.

Time for Becky's annual mammogram.  There is a mobile mammogram service in Arizona.  They were in Williams on Monday, January 16.  She had an eleven o'clock appointment.  She was out 15 minutes later.  Very nice! --- not the mammogram, but the efficiency of service.

Uh-oh, big storm coming to Northern Arizona.  It is estimated that 2 feet of snow will fall, beginning Thursday, January 19.  Becky decided that it was time for her get out of Williams early.  She made the decision on Wednesday, February 18.  She had already begun loading the trailer several days ago.  Becky went to Superior Propane to fill one of her canisters.

She kept her facial appointment in Flagstaff with Sue Kelly, but hurried back to finalize the packing.  It was a beautiful day.  Hard to believe snow will be arriving early the next morning!

Becky and the dogs headed out to Kingman, Arizona at 4:15pm.  It was a late start, but an easy 2 hour drive.  She and Richard have stayed many times at Fort Beale RV Park.  It has large, long pull-thru sites.  Funny.  She accidently booked two nights at Fort Stockton RV Park.  She saw the Texas location on her phone, but did not realize the error until she showed up at Fort Beale RV Park.  The office was closed, but there was a note on the door suggesting seven pull-thru sites available.  Becky selected site #36.  It was almost dark at 6:15pm.  She called Fort Stockton RV Park (located on Interstate 70 in the middle of Texas!) and cancelled her reservation there.

Thursday, snuggled in the trailer, Becky saw The Weather Channel report for Williams.  It was raining in Kingman, but at least not snow!

Ft Beale RV Park is very close to the historic old town Kingman.  It rained most of Friday.  But, Becky and the dogs caught some walks in the park and in the surrounding neighborhood.

Saturday morning, it was time to pack up and head to Parker, Arizona for three nights.  Since it was a trip of just 115 miles, and it was not raining that morning, Becky decided to take the dogs on a walk toward old town Kingman.  She loves to pose the dogs in front of the Route 66 sign!

Rain was expected to start again in the afternoon.  So, Becky wanted to get to Emerald Cove RV Resort, outside of Parker, before it started.  Emerald Cove is a beautiful location on the Colorado River.  It is an RV resort with over 1,000 sites!

On Sunday, Becky decided that she and the dogs needed to do something "touristy."  So, off to Lake Havasu City to visit the original London Bridge.  There is a byway highway route that goes over Parker Dam.  It is a few miles longer, but Becky was ready for a change.  Parker Dam is an older dam and is prohibited to be driven over by commercial trucks, RVs and vehicles towing trailers.

A unique item, on the west side of the Colorado, are the wild burros.  There are signs all over stating to not feed or harass the burros.  Becky and the dogs saw about a dozen burros on this trip, but only one was caught on camera.

Lake Havasu City was getting some rain, but mostly a light drizzle.  There is a lovely park just south of the London Bridge called The Bridgewater Channel.  Becky parked the truck, and she and the dogs walked up to the bridge.  Even though the weather was not ideal, Becky posted this photo of the dogs and the bridge on Facebook: "Great news! London Bridge is not falling down."

The price of diesel in Lake Havasu City is about 30 cents less than Parker.  So, Becky stopped at Terribles Gas station to fill up the truck.  Next stop is California and no deals on diesel or gas there!  Unfortunately, Becky locked her car keys in the truck at Terribles.  Her phone was also in the truck.  She went into see the cashier and asked if she could use his phone to call OnStar.  A lovely woman, probably in her mid to late 70s, said Becky could use her cell phone.  Thank you, Marilyn!  OnStar did the trick.

Monday morning, Becky and the dogs left Emerald Cove for Palm Springs Thousand Trails RV Park in Palm Desert.  It was another easy drive --- 2 1/2 hours, but picked up hour entering California.  Becky arrived to the park just before 10:00am.  Off duty Ranger Linda, also a friend, was there at the gate when Becky and the dogs arrived.  She had scoped available vacant sites --- and site #9 became the Ebbert site!  Once again, thank you, Linda!

Monday afternoon, Becky went to a Union Bank office in La Quinta to activate her new debit card.  Several doors down from the bank was a Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Vu.  Becky and Richard went there once --- with former Thousand Trails members and RVers Faye and Ken Eubanks.  Becky fell in love with a shrimp and apple salad on their menu.  Take-out dinner at Pho Vu it was!

Tuesday morning, Becky played pickleball.  It was pickleball day #8 --- since her 21 month hiatus from the sport!  After playing, Becky looked at her phone and saw that she missed a call and had a voicemail message from sister-in-law, Elise Ebbert.  Richard's older brother, Bob, had been hospitalized, and critically ill, since the middle of October.  Without listening to the voicemail, Becky called Elise.  The worst news was a reality.  Bob passed away that morning.  He was 81.  God bless, Bob.  He and his brother, Richard, are together again.  The last time Becky saw Bob was in late August, when he flew from Los Angeles to Flagstaff to visit and say good-bye to his brother.  Richard died early the next morning.

On the last walk of the day, something agitated the dogs.  Suddenly, Kelsey and Libby were in a full fledge dog fight.  Here Becky was --- two hands, three leaches, and two dogs at one another!  A very kind neighbor flew out of her motorhome, and asked if she could help.  Becky had already tied up Ramsey and Kelsey to a post.  She had Libby, and Kelsey was still lurching to continue the dog fight.  The nice woman, Catherine, took Libby's leash, and they walked the dogs back to the trailer.  Becky left Libby outside.  She tied up Kelsey and notice some blood.  A flap on her ear was bleeding.  Once Becky got her cleaned up, she brought in Libby.  It was then that Becky noticed that Libby's front left leg had puncture wounds.

Becky left Ramsey and Kelsey in the trailer, and she and Libby headed over to VCA Valley Animal Medical Center & Emergency Hospital.  Becky had used this facility three or four years ago for Ramsey. 

It was just past 6:00pm, and the evening veterinarian was just clocking in.  The vet technician, Lyndon, came out to greet Libby and evaluate her wounds.  While she had wounds, nothing was life threatening.  Libby was put into the queue, and a room was assigned.  After about a half hour, Becky asked the receptionist about the delay in seeing the doctor.  The vet was involved in an emergency situation which takes precedent.  Libby finally saw the vet, a cost estimate was shared and approved, and Libby was taken to the back.  This allowed Becky to head back to the trailer and check in on the status of Ramsey and Kelsey.  Libby wasn't discharged until 11:30.  Becky is going to have to keep Libby separated from the other two dogs for two weeks!

Wednesday was a fun day.  Becky had planned and unplanned visitors!  Bill and Pat Wheeler, and Claudette and Larry Van Dusen, drove over the mountains from Aguanga (east of Temecula).  It was the good old Highway 74, Palms to Pines Highway.  Their carload arrived at noon.  The surprise was also a visit from Pam and Walt Macqueston.

After some time getting acquainted with Becky's new trailer, the two carloads headed to La Quinta and Fisherman's Market and Grille.  It was a very nice lunch, indeed!

Monday, January 2, to Friday, January 13: 2017 Begins Anew

A number of the Thousand Trails pickleball players arrived to the Palm Springs RV Resort on New Year's Day.  Becky hadn't seen most of these people since February, 2015.  So, she walked the dogs early, so that she could come out for her Day #7 of pickleball.  It was a fun reunion!

It was (left to right) Norby, Ray, Chuck, Wayne, Gloria, Merlin, Linda, Martin, (front row) Larry, and Becky.

Rick Brockie, Linda's husband, has been very ill for several months.  Fortunately, he is recuperating well.  Rick has been the father of all the pickleball activities at this park for many years.  While he is not able to play pickleball, he did come out to cheer us on.

Becky made an important decision several days ago.  On December 31, the night of New Year's Eve, she took off her wedding ring.  On January 1, the morning of New Year's Day, she did not put it back on.  Months ago, Becky had used Google to find out if there was a protocol for how long one should continue wearing the wedding ring.  There was no protocol.  Many comments were that you would know or feel when it was time.  Becky decided that it was time to release the wedding ring.  In her heart, in her mind, she knew that 2017 was a new year.  And, it was a year without her Richard in it.

To make a circle in her life, Becky decided to take the two wedding rings --- from the original wedding in November, 1985, and the renewal of vows in November, 2005, and make some piece of jewelry that she can wear daily.  Maybe an infinity ring or bracelet.  Becky will reach out to Jeff Karl Jewelers in Flagstaff.

Don and Elaine La Marr, friends of Becky's since the LA Junior Chamber Watts Summer Games, have a second home in La Quinta.  Two of their grown daughters were with them, Melissa and Courtney.  Becky had a nice dinner with the four of them at Fisherman's Market & Grill on Tuesday.  Becky and the La Marr's were all leaving the desert the next morning.

January 3, Becky headed out of the desert with the dogs and the trailer.  The next stop was Pueblo El Mirage RV Park and Golf Club, near Phoenix.  It was an easy 245 mile drive on Interstate 10. 

She arrived at the RV park around 3:30pm, was escorted to a nice pull-thru site near a large off leash dog park, and proceeded to set-up the trailer and the utilities.  Of course, the dogs were ready for a nice walk around the new park.  That night, Becky snacked on leftovers in the refrigerator.

Becky had been watching the weather forecast in Williams for several days.  Rain, snow, and wind were expected Thursday and Friday.  While Becky was scheduled to stay at Pueblo El Mirage for two nights, she decided to only stay one night.  She preferred to get back to Williams before any weather hit.

Avoiding the long climb on State Highway 17 to Flagstaff, Becky decided to take the route through Prescott Valley up to Ash Fork and Interstate 40.  It was uneventful.  There was some snow on the ground at her home in Williams, but not much.  However, the ground was soft from melting snow and recent rain.

Becky backed the trailer into the yard and lined it up in front of the RV barn. 

However, her truck's two back truck tires got stuck in the mud while trying to get the trailer INTO the RV barn.  Fortunately, Becky's neighbor, Jay, was home.  Jay pulled out his 4 wheel drive truck, hooked up the trailer, and successfully got it into the RV barn.

Friday morning, Becky woke up to a dusting of new snow.  She was very happy that she got back to Williams when she did!  But, the snow was beautiful.

Becky picked up her "vacation hold" mail.  A goal for this month is to make Arizona her permanent residence.  The original Ebbert Family Trust checking account and money market portfolio need to be closed out and new accounts opened.  Becky began the process in December.  Her new checks arrived.  She spent most of Friday contacting automatic bill pay companies and automatic direct deposit entities to change her bank account number.  Most of the changes were effective immediately, except social security.  The change to the bank account for social security will not take place until mid March.  Figures.

Becky noticed that the heating system for the kitchen, dining room, and great room was not working properly.  The gas heater was not igniting.  It was time to call American Home Shield and get an heating expert to make a house call.

Becky invited her neighbors, Connie and Jay Leadebrand, to dinner Saturday night at Kick's on Route 66.  The Red Raven is closed for the month of January.  Connie and Jay (especially Jay!) have been so helpful.  It was her pleasure to host them for dinner!  Connie had to go through chemo for breast cancer.  But her hair is coming in beautifully.

American Home Shield provided Becky with the name of a local specialist, Gabe's Plumbing and Heating. Gabe contacted Becky and an appointment was set-up Monday morning.  It was rather cold throughout the weekend.  Sunday morning, Becky found that Libby and Kelsey bungled up together in the same crate!  Fortunately, there is has a fully functioning second heater that cover the bedrooms.  The fireplace is electric and the heater is on a one hour timer.

Monday morning, Becky had a hair appointment in Flagstaff.  It was a rainy day.  After her appointment, she drove immediately back to Williams to meet with Gabe, the heating company contact.

Gabe climbed up into the attic from the garage.  He did a diagnostic on the heater.  He uncovered that the reason the heater was not igniting was that a part needed to be replaced.  Gabe contacted American Home Shield and the part was ordered.

Ellen and Mark Burson are friends who have two homes --- a manufactured home in a Malibu mobile park overlooking the ocean and a large home in Oxford, Mississippi, with a number of acres.  They used to have just one home in Los Angeles.  Mark is now a professor at Ole Miss, University of Mississippi.  Several times a year, Ellen and Mark travel between the two homes.  They were making their trek from Malibu to Oxford, driving on Interstate 40.  Becky's home in Williams was a perfect place to spend the night!

Ellen and Mark have two Australian Shepherds, Sky and Rosie.  Their dogs are very protective and are better separated from other dogs.  Ramsey, Kelsey, and Libby were put in the master bedroom suite with their dog crates.  It was a fun slumber party! 

When Ellen and Mark left Tuesday morning, they still had another 1,400 miles to go. 

Tuesday, Becky headed back to Flagstaff.  She wanted to meet with the Jeff Karl Jewelers.  She took all four wedding rings (two from the 1985 wedding, and two from the renewal of vows in 2005 .  Perfect timing... Jeff Karl was on the showroom and he talked to Becky about some options.  It was decided to make an infinity bracelet.  Jeff told Becky that he would work up a design and a cost estimate.

A second stop in Flagstaff was the Verizon store.  Becky decided it was time to turn in Richard's flip phone.  She held on to it for over four months.  The phone no longer had a greeting set-up. 

The third stop was the Arizona Motor Vehicle Department.  It was time for Becky to become an official Arizona resident.  Unfortunately, the MVD requires a passport or birth certificate for issuing a drivers license.  Becky had neither with her.  She decided to return the next day.

The Arizona Motor Vehicle Department was not able to do anything with the truck's Texas Certificate of Title, as it was still in Richard's name.  So, Becky went home and began the process of filling in applications for transferring the truck's title into her name.  She mailed the package to the Polk County Tax Office.

On Thursday, Becky stopped by J & J Automotive in Williams.  James is a very capable car mechanic and she wanted to get his advice about the "check engine" light and the glow plug relay issue. 

James suggested that she save her money.  He said that there is a systemic issue with GMC trucks --- when the relay and the glow plugs are not communicating.  It is not a safety issue.  James said that his GMC tow truck has had the same issue for six years!  So, Becky took some black electrical tape and covered over the "check engine" light.  😊😊😊

In July of last year, Richard purchased a wig in Phoenix.  His name was Charlie.  Richard wanted an additional option for covering all of the surgeries on his head.  Becky thought it would be nice to donate Charlie.  She sent an email to the wig shop in Phoenix.  They recommended a Scottsdale non-profit called Face in the Mirror.  Face in the Mirror works with cancer patients by providing services and assistance in boosting patient self-esteem.  Becky phoned the non-profit and packed up Charlie and his accessories.

Gabe came back on Friday with the new part for the heater.  It took him over an hour to install and test the system.  Voila!  Heater is fully functioning again.