Dental Work

Quartzsite, AZ  High 70  Low 37

Just when I thought our internet connection couldn’t get any worse, it did. So we are sitting in the truck in Quartzsite so I can get this posted.

Saturday morning Jim and I headed back to Algodones to finish up our dental work.

Our dentist is Dr. Janira Rodarte Alcalde. You can find her website at www.dentpro.net.

Let me tell you, the second trip was definitely more painful than the first. I had a lot of work done on my first visit and my gums were still really sore. Putting crowns on means they have to push them up into the gum and hold them there until the glue sets. Also, my bridge didn’t want to fit correctly with my upper teeth. They had to do a lot of work on it to make it fit and it’s still not right. I plan to go back to Mexico and have a little more of it ground off. Jim’s four crowns went on easily with no problems.

Outside of the sore gums, I did not have any pain. The worst part (and it is no matter where you are) is the needle with the Novocain.

Differences that I noticed from my US dentist:

No x-rays were taken. I knew for sure that I had three broken teeth and she pointed out a couple of others that were cracked and would have broken before too long.

No assistant sitting on the other side with the water and air suction machines. The dentist used both of those herself.

We were not in separate rooms. Her three chairs were all in one large room.

I love the way my teeth look. I’m not self conscious about my broken and cracked front (upper) teeth. It’s so much easier to smile. The crowns fit beautifully and have not given me any trouble whatsoever. I am extremely happy and satisfied with the work I had done. Now I want to get my bottom teeth crowned so they look as good as the top.

Money: For my six crowns on top, and a bridge consisting of three crowns and a tooth, I paid $1,970. Jim’s four crowns, a tooth restoration, and a crown removal came to $908.

Tom and Diane were not real happy with the cleaning they had done. Tom said that they did a good job on the front teeth but really didn’t do much cleaning on the back teeth.

Bill was happy with the crown work that he had done.

Some of you already left comments about the work you’ve had done in Mexico. If anybody has any feedback, please post it because a lot of folks are interested.

Before picture – this was taken before I broke my left front tooth.

After picture.

Jim said the difference isn’t as obvious in the pictures as it is in person.

Would I do it again?  Definitely.

The Peanut Patch

Yuma, AZ  High 77  Low 51

This is what I see every morning when I look out the window by my chair. Just incredible.

Friday morning Toni, Doug, and Dianna joined us on a tour of The Peanut Patch. Was not what I expected.

 The Peanut Patch started after WWII when the Didier’s homesteaded the property. The Didier’s decided that peanuts would be a good crop to grow here in Yuma and in 1977 they opened their store to sell their homemade peanut butter and peanuts to the public. In the mid 1990’s a white fly infestation destroyed the peanut crop, and they no longer raise any peanuts here in this area.

The “tour” was simply the owner showing us pictures and telling us some of the history of the Didier’s and how peanuts are grown. She did grind some peanuts and we all got to taste fresh peanut butter with no additives. Pretty tasty.

Did you know that peanuts are a vegetable? They are a legume. So grab a handful of peanuts the next time someone tells you to eat more veggies.

Then we were shown where they make their peanut brittle and some of the other items they sell in the store.

Their peanut brittle is fantastic as well as their fudge.

After the “tour”, Toni and Doug headed to the swap meet and we stopped at a produce stand to get Jim some good tomatoes.

Friday afternoon this guy came to visit.

Six in Mexico

Yuma, AZ  High 72   Low 48

There were six of us headed for Algodones. Five of us to visit the dentist and one (Jan) along for the fun.

Jim was going to drive and Wednesday morning he went out to put stuff away so there would be room for all of us. He got in to start the truck and it was deader than a door nail. We were short on time so Bill came to the rescue and we all rode with him.

There’s a huge parking lot at the border and it costs $6 to park. Then you just walk across the border. It’s that easy.

We found the dentist’s office only to learn she had a new office several blocks away. Wandered our way over and announced our arrival. All five of us had 10:00 a.m. appointments. They don’t do things quite the same as we do in the states.

Jan wasn’t having any work done but she kept plenty busy with her camera. All of these pictures are borrowed from her blog.

Tom and Diane came in for cleanings.

Bill needed a crown and some fillings. He had to go back on Thursday to finish up.

Jim thought he needed a couple of crowns and ended up with four of them.

Then there is yours truly. I ended up getting 8 crowns and a bridge. Jim and I have to go back on Saturday to finish up our work.

I’m going to do a separate post about the whole experience and the costs involved.

It was really fun to have all the company. Made for a great time.

Tom, Diane, Bill, Jan, Jim and me

Jim and I took a long time so the others wandered around and had some lunch while they waited for us. When we finished up we needed to get some food in Jim so we stopped at this little restaurant. Pretty good food but fantastic company.

Coming back across the border was a breeze. The last time Jim and I went to Mexico the line to cross back into the USA was looong and it took us about two hours. I added to this time because of problems with my passport. It took me about 30 minutes of answering questions before they let me through. Not fun. I got a new passport last month. This time there was hardly any line and we were through in about 15 minutes.

Got home and the girls were sure glad to see us. Toni and Doug took care of them for us while we were gone. Thanks guys.

As soon as we got back, Jim and Bill started working on Jim’s truck. Tried jumping it, charging the batteries, and finally Bill and Jan took Jim into Yuma and he bought two new batteries for the truck. Runs real good now.

Jan just loves the fact that the Dodge was helping the Chevy.

It was a very long day and we were sound asleep by 9:30.

Feels So Good

Yuma, AZ  High 72  Low 48

Monday morning we were up and over to the RV store by 7:00 a.m. We figured they would have a couple of guys doing the bearings but one poor soul got the whole job. That meant it took a whole lot longer than we had thought it would. We finally got on the road just before 11:00.

We caught up with Dianna along the road and finally arrived at Pilot Knob about 3:00. We got Dianna unhitched and then she had to go back to Phoenix because she had a doctor’s appointment Tuesday morning. Shortly after she left Jan and Bill arrived.

Monday evening we had a pot luck with Toni, Doug, Diane, Tom, Jan and Bill. Toni fixed a wonderful ham and had pecan pie for dessert. The rest of the food was fantastic also. Doug built a blazing campfire and we caught up on all the latest travels and ordeals and friends. A perfect evening.

Tom, Diane, and Doug

Tuesday was a relaxing, do-nothing day. Well, we watched Jan and Bill’s rig get washed and waxed.

And we solved world problems.

Jan, Bill and Doug. Toni – where are you? I’ll track you down later with the camera.

Jim grilled hamburgers for dinner. Wednesday is our big adventure into Mexico for dental work. Fingers crossed.

Pilot Knob sunset.

Pilot Knob, CA

High  67  Low 47

We are currently boondocking at Pilot Knob BLM 14 day camping area. My internet connection is horrible. I cannot upload pictures and they won’t load when I try to pull up a blog. So I won’t be posting or reading much unless I can get someplace in town.

We had a great campfire last night with Toni and Doug, Jan and Bill, Tom and Diane. Dianna came down with us but she had to return to Phoenix and won’t be back til tomorrow.

Today was a relax and do nothing day. Tomorrow is the dentist for Bill, Tom, Diane, Jim and I in Algodones.

Hopefully this will post.

Seems Like A Million Things

Apache Junction, AZ  High 67  Low 45

Jim and I are both almost back to normal. Still have some coughing spells at night but not too many. That means it was time to get busy and get stuff done so we can leave town on Monday.

Friday we went to see Aunt Happy and my sister and BIL so the visiting was done. I also got some laundry done. Today we did some major grocery shopping, Jim filled the batteries, replaced the capture plate, put everything back into the shed, worked on the generator, and then we watched most of the second half of the game between the Colts and the Chiefs.

Jim also took our recycling over to the recycling center while I had my toenails made all pretty. The girls’ also got their nails done. I was happy having mine done but they were not.

We still have a long list of things to do tomorrow but we’re looking forward to having dinner with friends that we met in Helena a couple of years ago.

Monday we have a 7:00 a.m. appointment to have our rig’s wheel bearings packed and from there we head down to Yuma.

Come on Mom – put away that computer and let me have that spot on your lap.

And Now For The Rest of the Story

Apache Junction, AZ  High 67   Low 43

Ginny came over to our house, opened the door and ordered me outside. She said I had been hibernating with the germs too long. So I went over and sat in the sunshine and visited for about an hour.

I finally felt like I was going to live this morning when I got up. I still have a terrible cough and my back muscles really hurt from coughing so hard for so long. But I’m on the road to recovery.

Jim is doing much, much better. He worked on the generator and putting all the Christmas decorations away today. We’re ready to enjoy 2014.

Several of you asked about my Dad’s story. He was totally and completed committed to “his” city, Sidney, MT. One of the most patriotic men I have ever known.

He met my Mom (Olive) when she lived at his parent’s house and worked for room and board. She was a country girl and needed to do that so she could finish high school. The day after Dad turned 21, he and Mom eloped. They went to Wibaux and were able to get the judge to leave the golf course long enough to marry them. They then returned to Sidney and it was three weeks before they told anybody they were married.

My Dad was the town hooligan. He and his buddies, Bob, Joe, and Robert, were always causing problems around town. Mom was a quiet lady and Dad’s father actually tried to talk her out of being married to his son. Just couldn’t understand what she saw in him. His Dad, Ben, was one of Sidney’s first councilmen when Sidney was incorporated in 1911.

Mom knew that underneath all that tough, macho shell was a really good guy. Dad served in the Army in the South Pacific from 1941 to 1946 and his job was to “clean out” remaining Japanese solders, who were hiding in caves. He never really talked much about the war but he liked to tell about the time he missed the boat. He had to catch the next boat and was late getting back to Seattle. Mom was NOT happy.

In 1955, Dad was elected as a City Alderman. Two years later, at the age of 37, he was elected Mayor. He was Sidney’s youngest mayor ever and spent eight years in that position. Then he served 19 years as the Public Works Director.

Dad is on the right with one of his old cronies.

After he retired, he really didn’t know what to do with himself. The final straw came when he decided to rearrange my Mom’s kitchen. That was one of the worst arguments I ever remember them having. Needless-to-say, the cupboards were put back to their original order and Dad decided to run for Mayor again.

His second stint as mayor was 1984 through 2000. When he left office, he was Sidney’s oldest mayor ever. He served as Mayor for 24 years and loved almost every minute of it. People, especially older folks, loved him. He received the Lifetime Service Award in 2001 from the Montana League of Cities and Towns.

Dad was also very active as a Kiwanis Key Club Advisor and as a Little League baseball coach. He loved being involved with the youth. I remember a trip he took with the Boy Scouts when my brother was involved with Scouts. They hiked down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. My Dad was an “older” father and was not an outdoor person. He got down to the bottom of the Canyon but he couldn’t get back out. So the rest of the Troop hiked up to the top and sent a mule down to get him.

He and Mom celebrated 67 years of marriage just a couple of weeks before Mom died. Dad died in March of 2010.

Here are a few of the quotes from businessmen who knew him:

“Harold was a very effective mayor. He had the ability to bring all parties together.”

“Harold was very conservative and fiscally responsible. Harold knew where every sewer line and every water line was located. He understood money, taxation and people. He ran a pretty tight ship.”

“He was a great leader, a great speaker. He was very conservative and yet very progressive. He always looked at Sidney’s needs 20 years down the road. Yet he was very concerned that the city’s reserves were always there.”

There were times when we felt like we came second to “his” city but I was so very proud of him.