82 House Sitting

     It was Saturday December 7th and our week was over, time to pack up and move on.  Nice weather, the low last night was 65 today we had already seen the high for the day, rain and cold. Packed hurriedly, trying to load up before the rain got everything wet. Light mist, I wore my rain pants today, ( didn't want that mocking voice in my intercom.)  It was time for a zip lock freezer bag over our GPS looks like we were in for rain most of the day.  It was 55 by the time we left, another high for the day.   

It looks out of place without snow!

   We stopped by the resort office to turn in the keys.  As I hit the XM button and swung onto the road I mentioned the two songs on my Christmas Do Not Playlist.  Why did I do that, put a negative thought out there, I know better.  The very next song-- 
 

Hey! Chingedy ching,

(hee-haw, hee-haw)

It's Dominick the donkey.

Chingedy ching,

(hee-haw, hee-haw)

The Italian Christmas donkey.



(la la la-la la-la la la la la)




Either the tractor lights up or they can't move it!

     See if it stays in your head.  We had made this trip to Ocean Isle enough times that we made a note of some decadent decorations to get a picture of.  After a short time I realized I had made a mistake, I had not put on my heated jacket, I didn't say anything for a while fearing the mocking voices in my helmet would return.  When I did mention I was going to stop and suit up Ruthie was pretty nice about it more concern than mockery.  To save time I waited until a red light was stopping me and pulled into a gas station under the canopy to change, bad choice.  A sheriff pulled up to the intersection just as we pulled in.   As I took off my raincoat to put on my heated jacket I could see he hadn't moved.  When we were ready to pull out we found out why.  He


how many corvettes did you count?

closed the intersection to let a corvette group coming from the West cross and head for Camp Lejeune the Marine base.  We wondered if it might be part of the Marines "Toys for Tots" ride that many motorcycle groups participate in.  I wish we would have counted the cars, there were so many of them they started stacking up thru the intersection.  Finally we were on our way.  The rest of the ride was comfortable and in a couple of hours we were at our home for the week.  Ruthie had the key, so we walked in first to look around.  There was a letter from Wolfie on the table along with her treats.    We had left over chicken we had brought with us, one of roasters they have by the check outs, it will last us at least 3 days, pretty cheap meal.  We were a little chilled from the ride I remembered Mike had an electric blanket on the couch he liked to use when his shoulder was aching. Sure enough there it was. Sometimes you don't realize the depth of the chill until you start to warm up.

Pretty nice letter for a cat!

     Later I sat up a chair as my computer table and started to work on the blog.  I got up for something and when I returned the lady of the house (Wolfie) had taken over my chair.  No way was I going to ask her to move.  I had rubbed her treats in my hands, (works with horses) I want to get on her good side, she already bit Ruthie.  Wish cats were similar to horses we could have a session in the round pen and then we would get along.  No such luck. I moved to the other chair.   The next morning I was awake at 5:30 laid a blanket in front of the door crack to keep it quiet for Ruthie, donned my hooded sweat shirt, drink of water and to the computer,  Is this a game or what?  Wolfee is in my new chair.  Fine, back to the couch besides the electric blanket is there.  (I wonder if Mike will miss one little blanket?)  A few relaxing days followed, a your now our neighbor and thanks for helping with our move grilled steak dinner at Tom and Lindy's.  Fun time, and it was just a short chilly ride for a few blocks.   A phone call changed our plan for our next stop to Charlotte. 
Monday Dec 9,  We ran some errands with Tom and Lindy and they were kind enough to wait while Ruthie had a check up for her contact.   It had reached 61 degrees and we were back at our new residence we were prepared for a relaxing day.   

     Suddenly Ruthie was waking me with an urgency in her voice I don't oven hear.  Tom had called and Lindy had fallen thru the ceiling to the living room below, he needed our help. (We


Studs two foot on center.

were the only ones they knew within hundreds of miles.)   It will be a long time before I forget that picture, poor lindy laying on the floor amidst blown in insulation and cardboard boxes.  The ceiling drywall was hanging wide open.   Ruthie gave her comfort and tried to access her condition.  A pain in her back led us to call 911.  Great response time, about 3 minutes.   We stayed to clean up the mess and borrowing a cordless drill from the neighbor we tacked the ceiling back up as best we could.  Looking back one interesting side note.  The ambulance driver asked what hospital they wanted to use.  They told him they just moved here from New Jersey, he asked what exit? (another transplant)  Tom called, our fears were justified.  Lindy had shattered her  2nd lumbar.  They transferred her specialist in Wilmington for the repair.  We have been in contact with Tom and Lindy, the operation went well and she is back at home on the road to recovery.   I'm sure her great attitude is helping with the recovery.