Jan 3, 2016

December 24, 2015

On Monday, the 21st I had a pow-wow with my cardiologist to discuss all of the tests that had been done.  He said that there is some calcium buildup in my arteries (I already knew that) but the blockages are not significant enough to do any intervention at this time.  That was very good news.  So, time to get back to the gym, loose some weight and try to start eating healthier.

Yesterday we packed up the RV and moved over to the Elks Lodge in St. Augustine where we plan to spend a few days making the drive to Harold and Michelle’s home much shorter.  The lodge has nine parking sites with 30-amp electrical and water.

December 30, 2015

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas at the Skidmore home was a busy affair to say the least.  In addition to Harold, Michelle, Abigail and Skyler, we had Michelle’s mother, Susanna from Asheville, NC, her parents Don and Diane Johnson from Fairfield, CA and Harold’s parents, Harold and Jane Skidmore who live in Beverly Hills, FL.  Also there was Michelle’s sister Kelly and her husband Bryan Massenzo.  What a great party.

On the 26th, we all loaded up and went to downtown St. Augustine to have pictures made.

January 3, 2016

Happy New Year!

Joyce and I spent a very quiet night at home on New Year’s Eve.  Heck, I was in bed and asleep by 10 PM so I missed all the excitement.

More later.

Barry & Joyce

December 17, 2015

November 16, 2015

The other day Joyce and I joined the USA Fitness gym here in Palatka.  We both have been gaining some weight so we hope using a gym will help take some of it off.

December 5, 2015

Where the heck has the time gone?  It seems like just yesterday that we arrived in San Mateo.

During the examination of my feet by Dr. Pereira, he had a problem finding a pulse in my left foot.  He also thought my feet were excessively cold so he referred me to a cardiologist to get checked out in case I have developed a problem with my heart or circulatory system.

At my first appointment with Dr. Caracciolo, he did an EKG and found that I have an abnormality in the electrical impulses in the heart.  He then scheduled me for a Nuclear Stress Test and several appointments to do some tests on my legs.

I had the stress test done on Wednesday which went well, or so I thought.  After leaving his office Joyce and I went to the Blue Hen Cafe in downtown St. Augustine for some lunch.  While we were eating, the Dr. C’s nurse called to say the doctor wants to see me before I had any other tests done.  Not good news.

I went back to Dr. C’s office and he has decided to do a Cardiac Catheterization to find out if I have some blockage.  In his words, “I am not looking for something a stent will fix, I am looking for something might cause us to do bypass surgery”.  More bad news.  So, I am scheduled for that procedure on Tuesday.

On Wednesday evening, we picked up Abigail and Skyler, took them to dinner at the Cantina Louie (which they picked) and then out to Palatka to see the Palatka High School Musical Theatre Department’s production of “Elf Jr., The Musical”.  It was a great show which we all enjoyed.

Yesterday, Joyce and I drove up to Jacksonville to see the new Tom Hanks movie, Bridge of Spies.  Tom plays James Donovan, the lawyer who defended the Soviet spy Rudolf Abel in the 1950’s.  In 1962 he negotiated the exchange of Abel for Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 pilot shot down over the USSR.  Joyce and I both think this is one of the best movies we have seen in a long time.

December 14, 2015

Man, have things changed around here since I last wrote.

On Saturday evening we went to see the Regatta of Lights in St. Augustine harbor.

Pictures were taken with my phone.

On Monday evening to took a Night Of Lights harbor tour in St. Augustine.

I had that heart cath done last week and the doctor found that I have some blockage in two of my arteries.  He said that the blockages are about 50% and that I needed to have another cath done, which is scheduled for tomorrow.

Today, I am having an ultrasound on my carotid arteries to see what is going on in there.

December 17, 2015
On Tuesday Joyce took me to the Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine where I had another heart cath which was much more extensive than the last one.  During this one the doctor looked inside my heart and the arteries. During this procedure, he also gave me some medication to speed up my heart.  I can tell you that part of the procedure was a tad uncomfortable but since it lasted only two minutes, I got through it alright.  The doctor did find a fair amount plaque buildup but not enough to do any intervention at this time.  That’s great news since the alternative would have been bypass surgery.

Yesterday, I went back to the cardiologist’s office to have a portable EKG monitor put on which I will return today.  Then, on the 21st, I’m having an ultrasound done on my legs to see if I might have a blockage there.  On the 23rd I’ll pow-wow with my cardiologist to find out if he is going to change my medications, install a pace maker or just leave everything alone for now.

Gettin’ old is not for sissy’s folks!

Family Pictures

Harold & Michelle

 Abigail

 Harold & Skyler

 Skyler

 Justin & Travis

 Travis

Barry & Joyce

November 16, 2015

October 29, 2015

On Saturday the 24th, Joyce and I flew up to New Haven, CT to see our son Justin, his wife Adrian and our new grandson, Travis Duskin.  Justin is attending the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale University to get his Masters Degree in national security strategy and diplomacy in Central and South Asia.

November 12, 2015

On the 29th we had supper with JB and Gale Rickert at their beautiful home in Summerville, SC.      Gale and I were stationed at Travis AFB, CA flying the C-141 as flight engineers and JB was a flight engineer at Charleston AFB, SC.  It is always good to break bread with “old” friends.  Thanks JB and Gale for your hospitality and friendship.

On the 31st, we hooked up the CRV and headed south to Brunswick, GA where we spent one night.  While there we visited Jekyll Island.

After 4076 miles and burning about 442 gallons of diesel fuel averaging $2.21 a gallon, we finally made if to Florida where we will spend the winter.  As you can see on the map, we covered a lot of territory and saw a lot of interesting places.

We are now parked at Lynch’s Landing RV Park in San Mateo, FL, about 35 miles from Harold and Michelle’s home in St. Augustine.  Although the park is a little far out and doesn’t have a lot of amenities, it will serve our needs.  And, at $420 a month including electric and taxes, the price is right.

Harold and Michelle have a new pool and hot tub so of course we are enjoying that.  We will be spending a lot of time with Abby and Skyler while we are here as well as making some “day” trips.  We have already made reservations at McDill AFB so that we can attend the Tampa RV Show.  As I mentioned in the last newsletter installment, in January we will be going back up to Americas, GA to attend President Jimmy Carter’s Sunday School class.  We hope to make a trip back up to New Haven and also maybe down to Key West.

On Monday we drove over to Ocala to have lunch with Rodney and Susan Ziehr who we met at Cody’s RV Park in Weeki Wachee, FL back in 2008

Yesterday,  Michelle, Abigail, Skyler, Joyce and I went to the Jacksonville Zoo where we took advantage of the free admission for veterans.  After a few hours there we stopped at Olive Garden where Joyce and I got a free meal.

November 13, 2015

For the past couple of months I have been having some problems with my left foot hurting a lot when I walk and especially when I first get out of bed in the morning.  I finally made an appointment with a podiatrist in St. Augustine and he confirmed what Joyce and I thought was plantar fasciitis.  The doctor gave me a cortisone shot and I feel much better now.

“Nuff for now.

Barry & Joyce

October 23, 2015

October 22, 2015

On the 19th we drove over to Plains, GA to visit the President Jimmy Carter National Historic Site.  We began our tour at the old high school where the President and Roslyn went to school.  After that, we drove out to his boyhood home.  On the way out there, we actually passed by his home that he the President and Mrs. Carter built in the 1960’s and where they still live.  Of course, you couldn’t see the house for all the trees, the Secret Service fence and gate.

 The President does some painting.

This is the store or commissary that the Carter's owned.

 These signs are all over town.

After that we drove back into Plains and stopped at the Plains Historic Inn and Antique Mall.  Miss Jan, who is the owner, once worked for the Carter’s and spent time with them in the White House.  She also plays the organ at the Maranatha Baptist Church where the Carter’s are members and where the President Carter teaches a Sunday school class on selected Sunday’s.

After talking to Miss Jan a little while, she told us that lasts Sundays class had over 400 visitors.    The President’s classes are so popular, folks line up at 5:30 in the morning to get a good seat.  However, if you stay at the inn, you are guests of Miss Jan and she saves preferred seats.  Joyce and I thought it would be cool to do that so we made reservations for January 30th.

Next on the agenda was to check out Billy Carter’s service station.  Miss Jan told us that the station was closed but guess what?  She gave us a key to the place.  And yes, there are several cans of Billy Beer on the shelves.

After all that sight-seeing we were hungry so we had lunch at the Buffalo Grill at the Old Bank.  We didn’t see anything on the menu that would help you maintain your diet but the food was great.

We left Americas about 10AM and made the short run up to the Honeysuckle Farm RV Park in Dublin, GA.  This was just a stop to break up the drive over to Charleston, SC.  Nothing fancy here but with our Passport America discount we got a full-hookup, 50-amp site for twenty bucks.

Yesterday we made the drive to the Foster Creek RV Park and Villas on the Naval Weapons Station, Joint Base Charleston.  We’ll be staying here until the end of the month before heading down to Florida.  While we are here Joyce and I will be flying up to New Haven, CT to visit Justin and Adrian and to meet Travis, our brand new grandson.

More later!

Barry & Joyce