January of 2018

Well I am back as promised!!! We are experiencing a warm winter. We have had a few days of wind from the north that does put a chill in the bones, and there have only been 2 nights that required an extra blanket on the bed. January seems to be our cold month but who knows what will happen as the weather is definitely changing all around the globe. I couldn't believe how many fires were burning in California during November and December. Those are the months that are usually downpours. And the summer Washington and Oregon were not good either. A lot of family and friends have been effected by these fires and it is sad. Who knows what will happen this year but hope it isn't as bad as last year.

Starting a new year is kind of exciting, at least for me. Because I look forward to new adventures and making things better in our life. Dave and I are looking forward to when we can travel. By the end of this year we should be debt free so we can save up for trips. Gotta do it before we can't!!! Always something good to look forward to.

The garage has been finished as far as building it and putting in doors. Dave struggled so much with the big doors because we found out that the cement bricks sagged a little in the middle. So Dave had to make adjustments. We still need to fix one of the larger doors at the top, but for now they close and lock so all is good. We will have to later put up material to keep birds out. We plan on getting that material in the states this summer. All that is left now is to paint it. 

 

We made a trip to Ensenada and stayed for 3 days. It was a nice break and we were able to get the material and parts we needed. We had to get another gallon of the red paint we used for the trim on the house and then did a little shopping for food and toiletries. We stayed in a different hotel this time and it was nice. Our friends had recommended it. The time we were there it was sunny and as long as you were in the sun it was warm. We met a couple of gals one morning at breakfast and found out they are working on getting a boat and one day sail off into the distance. We told them a few things about our adventures and what they need to do to prepare and they seemed appreciative. They were nice. They got Dave's email address so if they had any questions or whatever they could contact him. I hope their dream comes true. It really is a different world on the ocean!!!! After returning from Ensenada, it was time to get back to work. I started painting the trim under the roof. The garage will be the same colors as the house. A beige on the building and a Moroccan Red for the trim. I painted the north and west side then moved to do the south side. I was doing great but because I had to climb so high on a ladder, my muscles were tight all over. I was close to being finished on the south side but had to get down and put more paint in my container and move the ladder. I hadn't had any problems moving the ladder all this time but for some reason I lifted and pulled it just so and I felt and heard a loud pop in my lower back. Oh boy!!!! I didn't like the sound of THAT and wondered if I would be able to straighten up. I rose slowly and nothing hurt so I walked around the corner of the garage where Dave was and told him what happened. Well I got scolded for not asking him to help, but I didn't need it before!! Well I did now. Since I was so close to finishing I went ahead and climbed up the ladder and finished. Then put everything away, except the ladder, and went upstairs to put ice on my back and prayed I hadn't done something extremely damaging to my back. I was sore and stiff but I could still do my stretching exercises, but very carefully and not as many reps. I could still walk and everything except lift, push and pull things. The anti-inflammatory medicine I take works well and by icing and heat off and on has done wonders. It seems to be getting better but I think I will be putting up with sore and stiffness for a long while. The last back injury I had was more serious where I had fractured (hairline) vertebrae and it took 3 months. There isn't much the doctors can do about such things. I did end up getting a cortisone shot in my spine which lasted 2 years. It may still be helping for all I know. I do have to say I am very lucky and thankful I can move. I know eventually my back will get worse over time due to arthritis and age, but I have to remember my body isn't young anymore and I am limited on what I can and should do. I had been working in the yard prior to this picking up rocks and debris from tearing down the old building so I am sure this ladder thing was the final straw for my back. I am so thankful that I can still do everyday things.

Our grandson Jonathan Jr is 5 today!!!! The 6^th. Happy Birthday guy!!

Gas has gone up here so it is costing about as much here as in the states. The Mexican people are struggling with it as they don't make much money anyway and then to have the gas prices skyrocket! This is a fishing village and the men depend on going out on a daily basis to get fish to sell. So it has been rough for them. In Bahia, I have noticed more and more people shopping on credit to later pay off their bill. The store owners only do this for the people they know and have been coming to them for years.

One of my Bahia friends had a birthday so the gals that are here, got together for lunch to celebrate!!! Our friends are starting to come back down from being in the States for the holidays. In a couple months it will be a full house as the saying goes.

The ladies have been back to playing train but I have missed 2 weeks due to my back but am hoping to get back to it next month. I usually play from 9:30am to 2:00pm but will have to work up to that. For now I will only play until 12:00pm then have lunch with the gals and come home.

We had a surprise visit from one our our friends. They were running around in their new side-by-side and was exploring the south past our house. On their way back they pulled into our neighborhood and stopped to check out the garage and say hello. That was nice because they live at the north end of Bahia and we are at the south end so we don't see each other much. We had a short but nice visit. They are in the process of starting a small garage.

My back is still sore and stiff but I guess that is what I get for being stupid!!!! LOL. Some people learn the hard way!!! My life story!!! Ha!

Each day my back is getting better and I have good days and not so good ones, but I am managing.