Oregon Living 2024 – Blog #44 –  A  Wet Week and a Couple of Special Dances!

 one more pic  -  this one is from the outdoor dance at the outlet ...

Sunday, October 27^th., 2024…… We were up early and ready to leave camp by 9:30am. Earlier, when I took Rylee out, I noticed that we have water leak. It’s below the table in the slideout. Not sure if the slide was fully extended or not. If it was, we may have a seal leak. We headed back inland on US-26 and then I-217 to the I-5. It was certainly less windy and took a lot less time than the trip up. Once we got home, I pulled the motorhome into the rv pad outside so we could clean it out and wash it. I hooked it up to power so we could run the heater over the wet area. It’ll run all night tonight so I’ll have to check it after we get back from our class before we go to bed. Once we were done unloading, we were done for the day. We will look for a break in the weather (maybe tomorrow) so we can wash the motorhome. Tv and relaxation for the rest of the day until class. Turns out (besides Shaun and Lila who was teaching) we were the only one from our group there. The others stopped off at a casino rv park and stayed one more night. After class, we headed back home (no pizza party). I checked the rv and everything looks good, so I’ll let it run tonight. Spa and then bed.       

Monday, October 28^th., 2024…… We slept in this morning. It rained a little last night and more is expected today. After we got back with the dogs, I checked the motorhome and there was no additional water coming in. The heater has most of the carpet dried so far, so I think I can shut it off but will wait until later when the weather clears. We skipped the gym this morning and just headed straight to Kevin’s for breakfast. When we got back, it was still sprinkling so we stayed in most of the day and chilled.

Still waiting for the second batch of badges to come in. I waited until the mail came and then emailed the badge guy. I got back a note saying, “Never received. Please send again.” I did that and got back another email a little later. This one was tagged from the original - with my order attached! - that I sent saying he received it. Duuhh!  Hopefully he will expedite the order now! The rest of the day we both caught up on the programs we had taped during the week. After dinner, we watched Survivor and then hit the spa before calling it a night.     

Tuesday, October 29^th., 2024…… The weather still looks gloomy. But the forecast is for no rain and actually some clear sunny skies later today. We left later for our workshop. I had to explain the badge situation to those 12 waiting for them. After class, we came back home and got to work on the motorhome. It took about an hour to get the rv washed. The tires were the hardest, covered with road grime and oil. Cathye did those as well as the lower half while I worked on the top sections. Anyway, we got ‘er done!  I’ll wait until later and then put it back in the garage. We don’t have any plans for the rest of the year, so it will likely be in storage till spring. Oh, forgot - our neighbors Rich and Linda asked us if they could use it for their guests - coming for Thanksgiving – to use to sleep in. They originally thought I could just park it over in their driveway, but I have a few issues. I need to follow up to see if they have any rv hookups or just 110v. I’m concerned that they will need the heater and it will likely pop a breaker on 20 amps. They may just have their guests come here to sleep in it in our garage.  The weather held out and I left the rv out to dry.  Our new landscaper has been here twice already - last week and yesterday. He came back today and finished up the project. We had him clean up pretty much every area around the yard, including the blueberry cage. He said a few times that it was definitely more work than he bid on! Oops! His bad. But he wants to get on our list for regular work come spring so he kept it as agreed. Dinner and tv. We started in to get caught up on those shows that we taped last week. Then spa and bed.     

Wednesday, October 30^th., 2024……  The rains were coming again today. After we walked and fed the dogs, I went out and moved the rv into the garage. We didn’t have any plans today so we stayed in and watched the rain. The forecast is for intermittent rain for the next 7-8 days. Oh boy! Not!  It came down pretty hard but we were inside so we were good. Later in the evening we saw that our French drain was full and the rain ditch by the road was getting full! Some areas seem to puddle up and some drain pretty quickly. We know it’s the subsurface clay that makes for slow drainage. The wind is dropping more leaves but at least Trey and his crew got most of them in the cleanup. Next job is to go find some pine needles to lay over the raised bed. Cat says the light weight will help for drainage as well as help protect the bulbs and things for the season.    

Thursday, October 31^st., 2024…… HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  We had no plans to trick or treat or to even be home tonight. We have a special invite from one of our friends to attend his special 80^th birthday dance tonight. If you have ever square danced, then you will recognize the name Tony Oxendine!  Well, turns out Wendel knows Tony, and four years ago, made plans for this night and booked him to call and Rikki Lobato to cue for a special dance at his home club hall in Salem. It was free to those with invites. Because that hall is not the biggest around, we would tell no one – except he said we could invite another couple. We chose Shaun and Lila. I thought that Shaun, being a new caller, would love to see the best in the business at work!  He would not be disappointed!  Tony called a great dance and is the most entertaining performer on stage as well. Cat loved his calling and only had issues with his speed. Believe it or not – he held back for the night!  He said he will be in Milwaukie (OR) for The Royal Romp this weekend and he announced that it would be tough Plus and not for the faint hearted!  Cat doesn’t dance Plus level and we have our Club dance this Saturday so we would not be going. But I did get to dance a Plus tip and it was a blast!  I also got a chance to speak with Tony

and asked him if he remembered the Trail-In dance the Rustlers hosted the night before the 2001 National Convention kicked off in Anaheim. He did and mentioned that it was one of his biggest dances to date - and still is!  Ken and Sandie could verify but I think we had around 85-90 squares that night!  After the dance, we headed back home and were tired but happy for the opportunity to dance to the King!   

Friday, November 1^st., 2024……  Today was a sad day. A few days ago, we learned that our Club lost a new dancer!  Shawn and Sarah and daughter Gracie, were in Cat’s class last year. And this year they have been bringing their 12 year old son, Jaron to learn. Jaren came home from school last week complaining about his leg which he hurt in a fall. He went in to the er and they took x-rays and did other tests and sent him home. He complained about it the next day so they went back. His leg was swollen but still no definite diagnosis. Neither Cathye nor I can remember any more details other than things turned and he passed away. Needless to say, the family (and everyone else!) was devastated!   The Club started a Meal Train and then later, a GoFundMe page for the family. Today was our day to take them a meal. They have family in for the upcoming private service, so Cat made a large lasagna. Lynn made fresh bread and homemade butter for us to take over too. We saw and spoke (and comforted) Sarah briefly and then left the food so the family could gather to eat. We came home a little quiet – each of us lost in thoughts of losing a child. Prayers to the family….      

Saturday, November 2^nd., 2024…… The plan today was to wash Rhonda (the Honda). It still has cruddy windows from the salt and rain sludge from the trip to the coast. Even after I washed it at the self-wash! But first up was a trip to my church for their annual Christmas bazaar. I always try to buy stuff from there. Two years ago I got lucky and won $400.00 in their raffle. This year we bought tickets and also bought some for the baskets they had to raffle. Among a few items from the craft bazaar, we also bought a dozen tamales, which they have every year and which we both love!  We stopped at the car wash and got that done and came home and let the girls out and then had some tamales for lunch. Cat made egg salad sandwiches to take to the dance tonight and we each had a half before we left. The theme tonight is Circus Night. Last year I was the ringleader and Cathye was the lion. Turns out I can fit in the lion suit so we switched it up this year!

It was a fun dance! Afterward, we came back and I set the clocks back (ok, just the ones in the bedroom!) and then went to bed.