70 Years of Good Friends

 Still in Billings. But getting ready to move on.

I've spent most of my time in Billings getting to know Elias and comparing some of his ways with his Dad's at that age. Some ways alike, some very different.

However, I did do a couple of other things. I got a text from Renee, one of my high school classmates, asking if I had some free time to meet up with her and some other girlfriends from high school. I said sure, just let me know when and where. Renee was able to round up Nina, Karen, and Lynn and we met at a Starbucks. 

From the left - Renee, Me, Karen, Lynn and Nina 

There are so many people I've met along this life's journey and I wouldn't recognize them. And yet, my school mates from Sidney, MT are all in that part of my brain that still contains memories.  We had so much fun catching up and sharing events from high school. These people live in Billings and so they do see each other occasionally. I loved their Rule #1. They have Organ Time. Everybody is given a few minutes to talk about everything that is wrong with their health and then they don't talk about it again. As we get older, health does play a large part of our lives but life is more than just that.

I showed up with Sidney the eagle. Our high school mascot is the eagle and I happen to have one that I travel with. Lynn and Nina  in the picture.

 I also got a phone call from my friend, Vaughn. He's been my friend for over 50 years now. He was wondering where I was because he was trying to figure out how we could get together. He lives in Glendive, MT. Found out he was going to a funeral in Hardin and then to Helena to visit friends. He will come through Billings on his way home, so we made arrangements to meet at the Temple and go through a session together. Such a special way to share our friendship.

 Billings LDS Temple

 Vaughn

There are some really well done murals throughout the town. I managed to get these thanks to Todd.

Many wild turkeys wandering around the neighborhood. Trying to stay cool in the shade.

Like I said, most of my time was spent with Elias. Just what Grammie likes best. Looking at his baby pictures on my phone.

 

Heat and Grandkid

Billings, MT is under a heat advisory. The temperature will reach 101 degrees. Not normal but becoming more so each year. Thankful the kids' air conditioning works great.

Do you know how much energy a 2 1/2 year old human has? Holy Tornado!! He wears me out. But we play with cars a lot which I can do sitting down. We also play kick ball and catch but I don't last very long. They also have two dogs and two cats to make things even more exciting.  

I am so thrilled that I am going to be a grandma again. And I know Grandma Mary Beth is as excited as I am. Now we just have to wait awhile to find out whether it's a boy or a girl. Either is fine with me. 

This post is mostly going to be pictures. So enjoy.  (I started this post several days ago, so temperatures are more back to normal.)

Bruce and Elias checking out the neighborhood.

Todd and Elias

One day Michaela, Elias and I headed over to the Trampoline Park to wear him out a little bit.

Bruce and Elias

Todd, Lola and Elias

Michaela and Bruce

This is the desk/seat that his Grandma Mary Beth found for him. 

I have more pictures but they will be for future blog posts. 

WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG FOR A VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

 Another announcement will be made hopefully in September as to gender. 

Tooth Saga or Why I'm Still in Billings

Still in Billings

Okay. Time to get the blog in Billings. The drive from Casper to Billings is an easy one. All interstate which is in pretty good shape. The rest of this post is pretty boring for most of you, but I really want to have this information for my own reference. 

 One of the first things I did was to make an appointment with Todd's dentist at Moritz Dental.  They were able to get me in two days later. I thought he would have to pull what was left of my tooth and then my dentist in AJ would have to figure how to fix it. It was a canine tooth in the top right. He took a couple of x-rays and determined that he may be able to save the tooth with a crown. In looking at the x-rays he determined that the tooth next to it also had decay and needed a crown. This would work out really well because it would be one crown that fit two teeth. I was really happy to know that the tooth could be saved. 

I also mentioned to Dr. Moritz that I was scheduled to have three teeth crowned on the upper left in October. He had them take an x-ray of those teeth and agreed with my dentist. He then took a good look at my partial (he is very thorough) and did not like the way it set in my mouth. And I 100% agree with him on that. I have had several adjustments made to this partial and it still doesn't fit correctly. So he offered me a cost deal that I couldn't turn down. He would do the four crowns I needed and make me a new partial for not much more than it was going to cost me for three crowns in AJ. 

I was surprised to learn that he uses a 3D printer to make the temporary crowns. I was really impressed at how well made they were and how perfectly they fit. The permanent crowns would be ready in a week and at that time they would scan my lower teeth for the partial. A week later everything went really well. The permanent crowns needed very little adjustment and the scan was done. I was told it would take about two weeks for the partial.

It is now four weeks later and I still don't have my partial yet. I called the office and Tracey, who is really friendly and efficient, called the lab to check on it for me. The only thing they could tell her was that it would be ready any day now. So here I am still waiting. 

I really had not planned on moving in with my kids but it has about worked out that way. I am definitely getting to know my grandson really well. I get to babysit when Michaela goes to work. She works part-time at a painting studio. Elias and I have reached the point where he no longer cries when she leaves for work and he is just fine with staying with me. More about him in the next post (and lots of pictures). I'll let you know if and when I ever get a partial. I will move on shortly after that time towards Helena and visiting with my sister and brother-in-law.

I Don't Feel Good

Still in Billings 

Had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and then headed north. After being on the road for a week, I was ready to get to Billings but I still had a couple of days left to drive. 

I took I-25 to Pueblo and then headed up County Road 9. Paul had suggested this route because I was avoiding Denver. My choices had been to head east to Brush and northwest to Cheyenne or go west and up through the mountains to Frisco. 

Remember Daisy? My 2008 Kia Rio? There is no way she could have made the trip up the mountain. But Jazzy took it in stride. We even drove through slush on the highway with snow piled up on the sides of the road. I was glad to see the end of that. Arrived at Frisco, CO (which is next door to Breckenridge) and got out of the car to check in. I couldn't breathe. Lifting my small suitcase out of the trunk and getting to my room was almost impossible. I dropped the suitcase at the door and sat down in a chair. I thought I was having a heart attack and I kept praying and telling the Lord that I did not want to die in that hotel room. It took me over an hour to find the strength to get up and get some water to drink. 

Called Paul to let him know I was there and told him what was happening. He thought I was suffering with altitude sickness. The pass I came over was at 10,000+ feet and the motel was at 9,810 feet!  And after looking up the symptoms for altitude sickness, I had to agree with him. I've lived in the Phoenix Valley for years and have not been to those high altitudes in all that time. My lungs were not impressed. I was just happy it wasn't a heart attack. 

There was a KFC right next door and that's where I got some dinner and brought it back to the room. Once again it took me awhile to regain my ability to breathe. I've known people who suffer this stuff but now I truly understand how horrible it is for them. 

I did take a picture out my window.  This is the only picture I took until I got to Billings.

 The next day I headed into Wyoming. I was still in the mountains for many miles but Highway 9 runs through the valley which was really nice and a beautiful drive with mountains towering on both sides of the valley. I was really excited about being able to breathe again the farther down the mountains I drove. My destination for tonight is Casper, WY. Tomorrow I'll be in Billings and I'm so excited. 

A Visit Worth The Drive

 Still in Billings - they think the days are hot but I'm enjoying the 80 degree weather. 

I'm still trying to catch up my blog posts. So where did I leave off? I spent my last night in Los Alamos. My drive the next day wasn't very far so I went to church Sunday morning before heading out. 

I had a beautiful drive through the mountains on a very narrow two lane road with lots of curves and traffic. I was following a fifth wheel and was happy it was him doing the towing and not me. 

We had one real scary moment. A wide load came around the corner headed towards us. No pilot car, just a banner strung across the front of the huge truck towing a trailer with a load that definitely hung over into our lane. I watched the driver of the fifth wheel jerk his vehicle over to the right and the tires of the RV threw up a bunch of dirt as they went off the road. He did some good driving getting that RV back on the road. I was able to get over far enough that we at least had a few inches to spare. I'm sure he was definitely not legal.  

No pictures. It was a beautiful drive but not one I'm in any hurry to do again. 

I made it safely to Trinidad, CO for a visit that I was really looking forward to. Jim's oldest son, Steve, and his wife, Jen, live in Trinidad. I haven't seen them for several years and I was excited to finally be able to meet up with them. 

Steve and Jen

 Steve was still at work so we decided that when he was finished, they would come to the motel and we would head out to dinner. Steve recommended the Trinidad Smokehouse and I'm really glad he did. However, everybody else in town had the same idea. The place was as packed as Apache Junction restaurants during snowbird season. Worth the wait and we got to visit.

Inside the restaurant

They told me some of the history of Trinidad. Did you know that it is called the sex-change capital of the world? I sure didn't. It is also called Weed Town USA. 

 

We did a lot of reminiscing and catching up. Steve reminds me of his dad in a lot of ways. For example, they both have the ability to take a problem and think it through to a solution. Not me. I just want the answer now!!

Dinner was really good and we even ended up with enuf left overs for them to take home. 

Trinidad used a lot of brick when they built the town. The kids gave me a short tour of the downtown so I could take pictures of some of the beautiful buildings. 

 

The Trinidad History Museum

Trinidad is someplace where I would like to spend a couple of days just wandering around looking at buildings.

Jen posing with one of the old fashioned street lamps.

Time really does go by quickly. I should have scheduled two nights here but I left the next morning, getting closer to Billings and more family time.