Moved in and moving on....somewhat!

[John Schmidt]

After Rita's death four months ago today, and following a 5 wk. trip visiting family and friends...Solo 1 most importantly, I returned to Florida to start packing. During my trip to my daughter's place in Wisconsin I decided it best to be near family so that's what I did as shown in earlier posts.

Once moved in I found moving from a 2800 sq. ft. house to a 2bed/2bath ~1300 sq. ft. townhouse leaves you lacking in available space. Any of you that have moved from a place you've lived in for a number of years know what I'm talking about...time to toss out and/or burn. Setting up my computer, spkrs., printer, wifi, etc., was rife with problems. One day everything worked, next day only part of the day. It kept me on edge for days until this past Saturday when my daughter & hubby came over to help with moving some heavy stuff around and I told daughter Toni about the computer dilema. After about 10 minutes of her crawling around under the desk, she told me to flip on a particular light switch nearby. BINGO...it all worked. Seems that switch controls power to the top receptcle of two doubles along the wall where the desk is located. It didn't make sense....the printer would come on but the speakers didn't, after moving cords around the computer might but the printer wouldn't and neither would the speakers. Now all is well in my new "paradise." 

My gal Toni turned 51 last Thursday, she's the baby of four girls and has turned out to be one of the most fantastic women I've ever known. Smart, artistic, strong personality, and watches over "dad" like a hawk....especially when she goes to dr. appts. with me which she insists. She often puts the dr. on the spot until she gets an answer and I just sit back and be amused while listening. Last night she called and simply informed me she had pork roast, sweet potatoes/apple slices, salad, veggies....and apple pie alamode. She was still on the phone with all that when I walked in and her reaction was "holy s###" where were you...sitting in the driveway?" Told her I was at home when I actually took the call about a block from her house(live 3 mi. away). Somebody offer me a hot meal they don't have to ask twice.

To date, the interior of the new home is pretty much set up, the garage....not so much. It's about half done but have cleared enough room to get the bike in but not the trailer I haul it with. Both are currently stored at my SIL shop. The garage isn't heated so I plan to add insulation to the inside of the door and since the studs are exposed I'll add insulation to that as well. Maybe then I'll invest in a small space heater in case I want to work out there. It's a different life than my last 53 winters in Florida, but not a life I'm unfamiliar with since I was born/raised in Iowa and all my stations in the USAF were north....way north. Next stop....prostate cancer treatment.

Turns out I have a high cancer probability according to family history and genetic blood testing, so the treatment is to be a bit more aggressive than originally planned. More on that at a later date except I'm not looking forward to any of it...but beats the alternative of doing nothing and bearing the results of that action. So ends the update from the Schmidt House!   

[Jess from VA]

Thanks for the update John, and glad you are getting settled.  

I know it wasn't meant to be, but the story on the wall switch affecting all the electronics plugged into the wall socket is funny as hell.  (I inherited a couple of those myself in my current home, and they also caused me some grief, as I kept changing bulbs and the lamp still wouldn't work.  WTF?   )

My whole 3br, 2bth 3-level split is (a bit) smaller than your townhome.  The trick is to build up with storage and shelves, and closet organizers.  I use old entertainment centers and china cabinets for storage (up the walls).  My basement utility room is a marvel of cramming 50 gallons in a 20 gallon container.  Sort of like a submarine.  Course, it's a near 30year exercise in improvising and adapting.

I think those (electric) oil filled radiators are some of the most efficient heaters you can get, except they are not quick heaters, and take awhile to get a room heated up.  I also like those small electric ceramic box heaters, which are very safe, to be moved exactly where you will sit or work, with pretty quick results.  (but no fires)

Take care.

[GOOSE]

good to hear that you are moved in and are good for the time being. sorry that you had to go through all of this.

[sandy]

You're so fortunate to have the love of your daughter.

[bassman]

John,
Check your PM
bassman

[flsix]

John glad you are getting settled in. That kind of thing seems to take forever.

[OnaWingandaPrayer]

John, it's good to hear your settling in and adjusting . Glad your "gal Toni" is there to help out . That's a blessing for sure to have loving family in your corner.

[Pluggy]

Remember what a Snowman is?  You'll be making one before you know it.

Cheers,

Pluggy

[Jack B]

Glad that your life is getting better.
Welcome to Wisconsin
Let me know if you need anything.

[Rams]

What I have learned in my short life is, life is what you make of it.  Although, in 66 years, I've made a lot of mistakes to learn from.

Some things you can control, those you can't shouldn't keep you from doing what you want to do.   I sincerely hope you are able to do exactly what you hope to do.

BTW, I just left my part time job, been retired for several years (moved south) and I intend to do what I (or the wife) want to do.  

Rams  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Your title made me think of this :
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FHDwRECFL8M
(Glad you are getting settled in)

[John Schmidt]

Your title made me think of this :
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FHDwRECFL8M
(Glad you are getting settled in)

Wrong direction....it's the north side for me. 

Rams, you're so right re. mistakes...they can(should) be a learning experience. And at 81 you know I've made a good number of them myself, some I've learned from and others....well.....! 

[DDT (12)]

John,

Thanks for sharing your story! Life is full of surprises, disappointments, successes, heartache, and joy. Most of us only hear about the happy experiences of others, so we often develop a view of everybody else having a better go of it than we are... Your balanced and insightful glimpses into your experience are helpful in many ways, but they also add perspective for the rest of us, along with the realization 'we're not alone or unusually unlucky'. Thanks!

Glad you are getting settled in! You are already way ahead of me on that score... I still have most of my junk in boxes... where it will remain for my daughter to sort out someday. Hope you fare well over the coming winter. I know you have much experience with that already, but... COLD IS STILL COLD!!! I also hope you'll continue to keep us informed about your journey and new developments... Oh, and much good luck with the coming prostate adventure!

DDT

[da prez]

  Another saying from Pappy.
 "Son   , Life is like plowing a field , you can look back and see the crooks in the furrow , but you can't look ahead and see where they are going to be."

                                              da prez

[old2soon]

           Glad yer gittin settled in there John. Give yer Daughter and SIL a hug from me. And I in NO way shape or form envy the Winter yer about to face. You've lived in Fl. fer quite awhile AND you've gained a year or three since wintering over in a Cold Climate.  Do NOT git me wrong-couple years ago i HAD to use the frikkin snoblower at my Brothers place so I could git the car out of the garage so I could go to Church. Here in Missouri iffin I need to shovel snow I DO NOT GO anywhere!  As i stated early here-i Do Not ENVY he winter fast approaching fer ya!  But that could be like Just ME man!  In 2020 I'll let you Know the first time i ride After the salt is gone. Then you let me know the first time you ride in 2020 when the salt is gone.  Serving in the tropics changed my personal outlook on winter shortly after i separated from Uncle Sugars Canoe Club!  RIDE SAFE.

[TJ]

   

[John Schmidt]

... Oh, and much good luck with the coming prostate adventure!

DDT

Thanks Bruce. I'm still trying to figure out why they refer to it as a TREATment....it's not a treat in any sense of the word.    Starts with a brachytherapy procedure(that really looks like a day at the beach), followed by a few weeks of external beam radiation, another b-therapy procedure, followed by more external beam. And just so I don't forget the dr. has to pay for the next semester at his kid's college....the hormone injections will continue for nearly another 18 months. I just hope I don't show up at IZ-20 with painted fingernails, a ribbon in my hair, and shaved legs. 

An afterthought....I go in tomorrow, Wed., for a blood test to determine genetic association with cancer. Due to family history and my own current situation, it appears it might be rather strong. Hope not, guess I'll know shortly.

[mbramley]

 I wish you the best John in all that you do. I moved after loosing my wife and downsized some also. It can be a struggle at first but I adapted with some creative storage and all. I lost track how many times my Mom fought the cancer fight.(4 or 5 I think). She always said the most important thing was attitude. Keep in your mind "YOU ARE GOING TO BEAT THIS". No trying you are going to beat it. Your daughter is awesome, my stepdaughters calls on occasion with the we're having... also. She also comes by regularly. I appreciate it as I know you do as well. Sounds like you have done a fine job with her.

[Fla. Jim]

John, we only met once on the road in Orlando as I'm a lone wolf type rider. I enjoyed our meeting and your grace of bearing. Florida has lost another good one when you left. Thanks for sharing and keep on keeping on my friend. I'm wondering where the tape for the jaws was about now!

[John Schmidt]

John, we only met once on the road in Orlando as I'm a lone wolf type rider. I enjoyed our meeting and your grace of bearing. Florida has lost another good one when you left. Thanks for sharing and keep on keeping on my friend. I'm wondering where the tape for the jaws was about now!

Wow Jim, I remember that day at Gatorland south of Orlando and that it was a cold one. We were making the Thor's Hammer run over to New Smyrna as I recall, got there really late and TC(Tom Carlson in the background with me) had called a friend that had a condo on the beach and offered it to us for the night. We accepted....thankfully. I also remember before we left an employee brought out a much smaller gator and laid it on TC's bike seat, where it immediately peed on it. We teased TC, telling him that was the original Gator Ade. Good times back in those days, I miss the overall Valk activity we all experienced in years past. Thanks for the memory my friend. 

PS: I know the guy on the right in front of your steed but for the life of me I can't recall his name. Can you or anyone shed some light on it.

[cookiedough]

say,  since you are near Green Bay area,  even yet this September if have time, head ONLY 3 hours north to Munising MI and see Pictured Rock lakeshore.  I know probably hiking 12 miles per day is out like we did the past 3 days, but you can on a sunny day head up there and do a 2 1/2 hour boat tour of the waterfalls and cliffside formations if you have not done it yet plus there are overlooks from the road easier walks to see other stuff like sand dunes on LOG overlook, pretty neat stuff up there to see and do for 2-3 days and even more. 

Boat tours I think are going out on calmer days thru end of September every 3 hours or so.  We just got back from ATVing 177 miles in Hurley WI and seeing waterfalls in WI and MI also Porcupine forest in MI and Pictured rock lakeshore area.

[John Schmidt]

I'll have to wait until next year Cookie, starting treatment in the next few days and it's daily...5 days a week for about 5 wks. at least to start. I'll ask about it again a few months into next year, sounds like a neat weekend excursion.

Have one question....does the wind always blow. This place is ridiculous, constant strong winds every day even when warm and sunny 70's.

[larue]

Good to hear you're settled now john, Aloma will miss you

[9Ball]

I'll have to wait until next year Cookie, starting treatment in the next few days and it's daily...5 days a week for about 5 wks. at least to start. I'll ask about it again a few months into next year, sounds like a neat weekend excursion.

Have one question....does the wind always blow. This place is ridiculous, constant strong winds every day even when warm and sunny 70's.

As a former short-term resident of Kewaunee Wisconsin, the answer is a big YES...wind always blows there.  My memory of it was that  every afternoon a 20-40 mph breeze came out of the northwest.

Don’t forget the Friday night fried fish specials...the Walleye is spectacular.  I’ve lost 70 pounds since I moved back east.

Good luck with the treatments.

[scooperhsd]

Have one question....does the wind always blow. This place is ridiculous, constant strong winds every day even when warm and sunny 70's.

Welcome to the Great Plains, where the wind never stops blowing (except to change direction). Heck "Kansas" means "people of the south wind" !

[cookiedough]

I'll have to wait until next year Cookie, starting treatment in the next few days and it's daily...5 days a week for about 5 wks. at least to start. I'll ask about it again a few months into next year, sounds like a neat weekend excursion.

Have one question....does the wind always blow. This place is ridiculous, constant strong winds every day even when warm and sunny 70's.

sure seemed like stronger 20-25+ mph winds coming home from Munising from Escanaba to Green Bay  into Appleton following 41 and 35 along the lakeshore of little bay de noc, etc.   vs. other parts of WI coming home yesterday. 

Probably a good choice of waiting to do that boat tour in Munising MI for Pictured Rock lakeshore until spring anyways since the park offices up there said the waterfalls have more water flowing from the cliffs into Lake Superior in the spring vs. this fall water level is pretty low up there.  Spring snow runoff will help with that say in May.  Just pick 1-2 days you know it will be sunny and not over 10 mph winds and ONLY 3 hours north is an easy day trip for you well worth it trust me on that!   


best of luck with your treatments coming up soon - take care!