the last 2-3 weeks in a quick summary!

this is a phone "dump"  but wanted to start blogging again because i just have so much to share and cant possibly sum up all the excitement, projects and fun on any one specific medial platform.

the below pictures are screen captures from the real estate zillow site.  all pictures before we arrived.  to tell you the truth, i thought there was a strong possibility the pictures were made to look better than real life.

they werent.  its as good as it gets and better!

gretchen, me and rebecca starting the trip SD -> TX

rv kitchen.....BAR !

worlds largest chili.....silly stop

scorpion!  yes its real!!

closed! an easy day of signing four thousand sheet of paper.
did find out lots of tidbits during the closing.  the ins and outs of tons of local issues.  for one, phil is exempt from property taxes here!  

after the closing came to the house for the first time with my family.  3rd of july and they had it decked out with American flags for us!

bitchin camero made it with NO problem.  we like juan the car delivery service.  he did what he said and says what he does.  unlike my crazy Israeli household goods dude. 

the next big thing in real estate.  she thinks she doesnt like it but she is PERFECT for the job!!!

my very practical sister (me:  whatever..... clothing on the floor my whole life. whats a laundry room?.....shes about the nuts and bolts of things for sure.

oops.....hot water heater leaks....phil is on it...day one of the first year home owners warranty...covered.  already had a plumber come assess the situation, get the replacement approved and scheduled to have it replaced thursday!

when i first arrived, i tried to take pictures as i walked through to make a video or slide show.  this is as far as i got....so, here are snap shots of me walking through.

cat palm.....potted and outside the back patio now.  however, i should have guessed, but i placed it in full sun and burned some of the leaves, then i realized it should be in partial sun.  but, fully revovered.  nice house warming gift from my siblings!!

STRIPES is the local convenience store.  prices are comparable to grocery stores in CA, however, luckily i havent made too many trips into them after the first day or two.  found the gems of stores nearby with better prices, etc.  however, NOT before i had TWO smoked turkey legs.  rebecca said, "i bet phil would like one of those."  bought 2 and he didnt have a chance.

recbecca going home... a few days early.. so happy she did.  was planning for her to stay and help us unload household goods.  thank GOD she left, because a week and half later.....still no truck!

we were SOOOOO exhausted after boxing everything up, driving half way across the country.  in and out of the RV.  we went into a sears store to purchase a refrigerator, and washer and dryer.  i sat on this set and FELL in love with it.  next day, went on line and ordered the same set.  thankfully, because i would be tired of sitting on camping chairs by now!

i know this looks awful, but acatually this isnt even the worse picture of my face.  a couple of weeks before we moved i had gone to a routine dermatology exam.  come to find out the dr wasnt happy with some acitic keritosis -pre cancerous cells on my forehead (sort of scaly thick skin) and tow tiny pink marks on my lips.  she offered me a biopsy of one, a freezing of one and an excision of one.  but, no way it was going to get done before the move.  so, maybe a biopsy and then go to a new derm.....OR, she offered me FU5 cream to use for 2 weeks on my forehead and 6 on my upper lip and eyebrow.   well, i had used a similar cream before instead of a mohs and it worked great.  oh my gosh....this has been the most miserable experience ever.  i have avoided close up pictures for several weeks.  have been in pain, its bled, crusty, inflammed, dry, cracked.  its like having chapped lips times 10000.  there is really no amount of make up that can conceal this and the make up actually is painful to remove, so not worth the effort.

i have had to travel with this, meet new neighbors, go into stores, go to the closing........with this on my face.  it almost looks like herpes.  yesterday am i was running super early and met 4 neighbors walking, started walking with them and my lips then started bleeding.....it rather depressing.

but, its on the healing side of things right now.  and, it could be ALOT worse.  a few months ago we were at a radiation oncology appointment for phil and i met a super young very beautiful and fit surfer girl in her 20s getting radiation to her cheek bone and her brain from basal cell cancer! her big radiation ulcer on the middle of her cheek is not going away in a couple of weeks.

hats on....sunscreen on....

this picture has been on phils screen saver on his computer for a while......right before we left sd i decided to have it printed and sent to the new house.  it arrived, first picture up!  

these are some before and after pictures of the kitchen cabinets i have attempted to touch up.  its not perfect but it has concealed most of the damaged finish.  i used a pickled white wash stain and finish and tried to get the chipped areas.   

phil and i fell into these chairs and low and behold decided to get them.....very nice.

camping out in our NEW HOME!!!! its amazing

these are the bomb!  they are a really heavy composite rubber that can be trimmed to customize.  but they really give the lift and accessability to ALL of the door frames.  and its saving the metal and wood thresholds. because phil thinks he is evil kinivel and can jump up anything in the wheel chair.

this is just insane.  poor guy climbing out of our camping sleeping bag on the floor.  who else besides phil could do this?  

enjoying every minute

me taking pictures of the pool pump to learn the schematic and figure out how to flush the pump and set the timer.

lucky bamboo from rebecca as a house warming.  and then, i only traveled with two potted plants.  this miniture gardenia took a beating and a week later is flowering!  she likes texas

 new paint scheme.  got rid of the yellow orange insets.

friends sleep over first weekend!  rich from the USAFA and his new bride Mary

there is a contraption for everything...changing light bulbs

fresh cantalope from Rich and Marys garden!

gretchen!  such nice taste! thank you for the delivery!  great color scheme

RV coffee pot died on the trip.....purchased the cutest coffee pot and matching ice maker.  since no refrigerator for a week.  saved on buying bags of ice.  and this thing rocks!  makes ice every 3-8 minutes..  the fastest thing EVER!  you must GET one!!!!

home depot purchase.  figured we would want it outside so just get it now and use it for inside for a bit.  it does the job.

just as comfy as in the store!

first outing to san marcus.  the city square.  i am looking forward to spending time here.  there is a great art community here.

Freida kahlo 110 birthday party/art show.

shopping for belt buckles :)

DONT know WHO got this for me, but such a cute surprise!  its a shirt that says streaker on the front and runstreaker on the back.  its july 15th and still on my streak!  starting jan 1 running at least one mile EVERY day.

okay, im super slow and gotta admit to that up front.  but it has become such a fun habit and wouldnt stop for the world now.

thank you, to whomever sent this to me!

i LOVE IT!

this is our new little buddy.  phil has been calling him "chocolate"  all day.  showed up yesterday evening and hung out all night.  played with franny all day.  i posted on the neighborhood site pictures.  and then, it rained this evening and chocolate must have found her way back home.

she was a cute little girl!