DISC GOLF NEW AT TT CHESAPEAKE BAY

After playing a game of Disc Golf with my daughter’s family in Goldsboro, I was really excited to present the idea to Ru at TT Chesapeake Bay. Let’s get Disc Golf going at the campground!!! After all, Disc Golf is the Big New Thing!! Everybody is starting to play and courses are springing up all over the country! (At least that’s what I heard.)

At the same time, I discovered there was a Pickleball player who had played Disc Golf while growing up. Ru and I recruited Dawn to help us design the course. We decided to use trees, stumps, etc. as targets so we would not have the expense of buying official baskets. We selected the large open space between the game room and the woods, behind the Horseshoe Pits, as the perfect area for the course. Next we went out to select the various targets – the short stump beside the ditch, the big tree near the bending tree, the fuzzy tree, the bar-b-q pit, etc. until there were nine.

That afternoon we tried out the course. It was a lot of fun. I think Dawn was the expert!!

I need a LOT of practice!!!

Ken walking toward a tree target to retreive his disc.

Ru has a mean toss.

At Play It Again Sports in Richmond, Ken and I found twelve mid-range Golf Discs at a good price. Ru bought them for the game room to have available to lend to members who wish to play – The Cobra, Coyote, Stingray, etc.

We are inviting Everybody!! Come on out and play Disc Golf!!

PLAYING PICKLEBALL AGAIN AT LAST!!

We have finally gotten back on the Pickleball courts again. There have been a lot of players at Chesapeake Bay this summer. It's Wonderful!!



Scott and Ken - The Red Bandits!!

Faye and John - You can tell Faye does all the work on this team!!

Diane and Mike

Rick and JoAnn

Scott and John - Scott said John was a great "coach". Helped him a lot.

Group waiting to play - Ken, Diane, Mike, Rick, and JoAnn. And a Want-To-Be behind the fence.

Ken and Mike - Father-Son team.

Great Game! Dawn, Michell, Jennie, and Amy

Ken and Wendal

Mike and Jeffrey

Ken, Wendal, Mike and Jeffrey after the game!

Jeffrey again with Granddad, Gilbert

Jeffrey, Gilbert, Amy and Jennie

Ken and Mike - Keep your eyes on the ball!!

I thought these next two pictures were neat!! Tom and Amy playing together. Same game, different points. Same positions!!

Several new players that I don't know - New, Faye, Jack, New, Mike, New, New, Amy

FUN WITH NEW FRIENDS AT CHESAPEAKE BAY

I was so surprised on Friday, a couple of weeks ago, when Paula showed up for Line Dancing. She was excited that someone was teaching and remembered me from TT Orlando this past winter. We were getting reacquainted when another couple showed up – Larry and Linda who spend their winters in Texas where they line dance every day and night.

The three of them not only wanted to line dance, they wanted to do water aerobics, too, and talked me into bringing my Billie Jo tape to the pool. We had more fun line dancing and doing water aerobics together almost every day. In fact, Larry and Linda were scheduled to leave after one week, but rescheduled so they could stay another week to play with us. Is that amazing or what!!!

Larry and Linda even took us out for lunch at Ginny’s one afternoon because they enjoyed our classes together!! Wasn’t that thoughtful?? Thank you, Larry and Linda.

Paula and Bob. Bob came over occasionally to line dance, too.

We expect to see Paula and Bob in Florida this winter. Hope to run into Larry and Linda somewhere on the road!!

OUCH!!@&!!@

You may have noticed from our schedule that we plan to return to the Allegro factory in Redbay, Alabama, on our way for Florida. Here’s why!

The end of July, when we were moving to the Elk’s Lodge for our Week Out of the TT Chesapeake Bay campground, I committed a really big boo boo!! Ken was backing into the site we have used many times before, plenty of room. He decided we should move a little more to the right, closer to the electric circuit. I was directing him and allowed him to back into a tree behind the RV. I could see the tree, and there appeared to be plenty of room to back up another foot at least. I had forgotten about the ladder mounted on the back. The ladder hit the tree and crushed into the back of the motor home!!

As you can see, no damage to the mean old tree, But, a detour to Redbay for us. Ugh!!

VISIT WITH DAUGHTER, STASIA, AND FAMILY IN GOLDSBORO, NC

After visiting my son in Raleigh and making an exciting detour to Durham, we continued on to Goldsboro to spend the rest of the weekend with my daughter, Stasia, Gene and Michael.

A NEW ADVENTURE – DISK GOLF!!



This was something new for us!! Stasia decided recently that since her younger son will soon be “leaving the nest”; she and Gene need some new hobbies. They decided to try Disk Golf and love it! She said Disk Golf is becoming the hot new thing with courses are being developed all over the country for the game; and tournaments being organized, etc. They took us to the course that is currently being developed in Goldsboro. It is only half finished at this time, but will be the longest course on the East coast!

There are nine goals of large steel baskets with chains on a pole placed at various points throughout the park (there will be 18 goals). The idea is to throw disks, like freezbees, toward the baskets, usually taking two tosses to reach the basket with the last disk going in. We all had a great time playing on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, I was a retard and had not a clue how to throw the disks and usually took about seven tosses, but it was fun anyway!!

Maybe we can get a course going at some of the Thousand Trails Parks!! Actually, the goals could be set up as a bush, a tree, a fireplace, a stump, or anything around the campground. What do you say, Ru and Terry? How about setting up a course at Peace River, Stan??

A TATTOO FOR FAYE!!!

My grandson, Jason (Stasia’s son), lives only a few blocks from Barry in Raleigh, and he works at Kung Fu Tattoo in Durham. On Saturday afternoon I called him to tell him we were in town and would he like to jog over to say “Hi”. Bad news. He said he had to work on Saturday afternoon. “At the tattoo parlor?” I asked. “Can I get a tattoo this afternoon?” “Sure,” he said. “How long does it take?” “Only about an hour.” “How much does one cost?” “For you, it’s free, Gammy!”

So that’s how it came about! On our way from Barry’s place to visit my daughter, Stasia, Gene and Michael in Goldsboro, NC, for the rest of the weekend, we detoured to Kung Fu Tattoo in Durham!!!

Oh, no!!! This can’t be my grandson, Jason!!! Where is that handsome face??

He took us inside, showed us around, and introduced us to a fellow worker. A nice clean shaven guy – I was almost ready to trade my grandson for him!!

I had told Jason on the phone that I thought I would like a butterfly tattoo. And, I love emeralds, so I’d like it to be emerald green, if possible. He showed me the neat design he had created and discussed the process of making and transferring the stencil, how they sterilize the needles, etc. Noticing a sign on the wall, Ken said, “You could have your “titties” pierced while you are here, Faye!” “Yes,” I replied, “and they can do my bellybutton at the same time since they hang so low!” The two young men laughed hysterically.

Here I am, ready for my procedure. Before he started, Jason surprised me when he said, “I’m so excited! And, I’m nervous.” I said, “I’m excited, too; but don’t you be nervous!!”
Beginning the tattoo. I asked Jason if they had marijuana for medicinal purposes. He gave me a stick of gum!!
The butterfly outline.
Now, we’re getting down to business! Ken asked if it hurt. Well, it’s not unbearable, but it’s not the most pleasant thing I have ever experienced, and I was really chewing that gum!!
The finished product – a beautiful, exotic emerald green butterfly. And because Jason designed it, it is very, very special to me!!

Thank you, Jason, for a great experience!! Love you!!
And, thank you, Ken, for letting me do such a wild and crazy thing!!

VISIT WITH SON, BARRY, AND FAMILY IN RALEIGH, NC

We finally had a break from doctors and spent a marvelous weekend in North Carolina visiting with my family. First, we went to Raleigh on Friday and Saturday to stay with my son, Barry, MaryAnne and Thomas.

When we arrived, we found Thomas and a friend playing games on the computer. (Thomas is the red head.)

Last weekend, Barry and MaryAnne took advantage of “Cash for Clunkers” and traded their old ’93 Pathfinder for a new Pontiac Vibe. Wow.

My how the baby chicks have grown. I think they have about six. They said the chicks have finally started earning their keep and they have not bought eggs in weeks. I love this picture!!

On Friday evening, we went out to dinner at 42nd Street in downtown Raleigh.

We all had delicious seafood dinners, except MaryAnne who ate tacos. I had great fried catfish; Thomas had calamari, and Barry and Ken had the chef’s special creation of blackened grouper over a bed of mixed salad greens. So sorry I did not get a picture of that unusual dish. But, Thomas did get pictures of signs he saw on the bathroom wall and thought they were worth memorializing!!

That's Thomas and Barry in the mirror!

On Saturday morning, we drove over to a nearby park and introduced Barry and MaryAnne to Pickleball. They had never played before and it was a lot of fun to finally get them on the court to play. Forgot my camera again, so we took pictures in the back yard with our paddles.

Here are Barry and MaryAnne, thrilled to be presented with official PICKLES!!

TRIPLE SURGERY GOES WELL

On Wednesday, July 29, I had my third cornea transplant which included two other procedures at the same time. The Release I signed described the operations as: CORNEAL TRANSPLANT LAMELLAR RIGHT EYE (DR. IUORNO), (COMBO) VITRECTOMY (DR. TABASSIAN), GLAUCOMA DRAINAGE TUBE RIGHT EYE (DR. McCRAFT).

Apparently, it is not a usual occurrence to have three surgeons participate in the same surgery. All the attendants in Pre-Op made a big deal of it – “You’re really getting the royal treatment!” “You’re having everything done today!” “Everybody’s working on you today!”

The procedure went according to that described in my previous article telling about the planned surgery. It took about four hours plus recovery. Unfortunately, after all this I still will not have any sight in my right eye, but I knew that all along.

Ken did a great job of taking care of me following the surgery. After a few days recuperating, I’m doing fine now. I just hope the transplant will last this time.

Thanks to all of you for your good wishes and prayers.

MILLIE AND BJ STOP BY FOR A VISIT

Mille and BJ have been friends for a long, long time. Millie used to work at Union Theological Seminary with Ken before he retired. We used to have great times camping together at Buggs Island Lake in North Carolina.

It was fun to have them drop by for a visit and lunch at the Silver Diner.

EYE SURGERY SCHEDULED FOR FAYE WEDNESDAY

I just could not let Ken have all the attention with his recent surgeries. I’m going to have my own out-patient surgery tomorrow morning, Wednesday, July 29th.

Most of you may know, back in May 2006, I contacted Acanthamoeba Keratitis in my right eye. Ken spent months dispensing eye drops into my eye trying to control the pain and eradicate the microscopic parasites. We finally succeeded, but in the process I had two cornea transplants and a variety of other unusual problems and procedures. Eventually I lost the vision in my right eye.

And, I guess most of you did not know that, as a result of all my eye problems, I (Faye) became a Calendar Girl in 2007. Yes. That’s True! My Ophthalmologist created a 2007 calendar highlighting pictures of his most unique eye cases. I made both January and June!!

Since 2006, I have had been under the constant care of my Ophthalmologist, a cornea specialist, as well as a glaucoma specialist to try to control the pressure in my eye. Recently, I learned that the second cornea transplant is deterating, the pressure in my eye continues to be erratic, and the lens inserted in my eye has moved forward to the point of touching my cornea, probably due to the pressure. Now I need a third cornea transplant along with other intricate procedures. This time, instead of the transplant being “routine”, there will be three specialists involved. This is how the nurse explained it to me.

1) My cornea specialist, will remove my cornea, and remove the lens, and put in a temporary cornea. Since I cannot see out of my right eye anyway, he has decided not replace the lens.

2) Next, a retina specialist will clean out all the clear jelly-like substance in my eye. Everybody has such a mass, but the glaucoma specialist is afraid it might get in the tube he plans to insert and block it. Therefore he lined up the retina specialist to handle the clean out.

3) Then the glaucoma specialist will then insert a tube beside my eye which can be connected in my eye at a later time if the pressure rises too high and needs to drain. He decided not to insert the tube IN my eye for fear the pressure may drop too low.

4) Finally, the cornea specialist will replace the temporary cornea with a cadaver cornea tissue from the Richmond eye bank. The nurse said I was given VIP priority because of the three doctors working together on the case.

The entire out-patient procedure should take about two hours plus recovery time. We certainly do hope this time the cornea transplant works!! Wish me LUCK!!

LITTLE MICHAEL COMES TO TT CHESAPEAKE BAY

Michelle and Christoper brought Little Mike to visit Diane and Mike a couple of weekends ago. Here he is with his Mom and Grandmother on their way to the pool!! He’s soooooo cute!!

FAYE WITH AN “E” and FAY WITHOUT AN “E”

Two good friends together again!! Fay without an “E” lives not too far from TT Chesapeake Bay, in Chesapeake, VA. Last weekend we were surprised to receive a call from her – she was standing across the road from our RV!! We were delighted to see her again and took her for a ride around the campground on our borrowed golf cart.

We first met Fay and her late husband Jim years and years ago in Orlando, FL when we first started RVing. We hung around with the same group of friends at the TT Orlando campground. They are the ones who named us Faye with an “E” and Fay without an “E” so we’d know which one of us they were talking to, or talking about.

Years later, when we started playing Pickleball, I would introduce myself as Faye with an “E”, just for the heck of it. Maybe someone would remember me HA HA!! Out in Arizona, when I introduced myself to another player, he said, “Then you must know Fay without an “E”. Surely enough he was talking about the same Fay. Another time in Arizona when I introduced myself to another player, he said, “You remind me so much of another Fay from Virginia, but she does not have an “E” in her name. It was the same Fay!!! In Washington, I met a really good female Pickleball player in the ladies room. She told me she had taught another Fay from Virginia how to play Pickleball. I thought it cannot possibly be the Fay I know; she was not athletic at all. But, can you believe it, it was the same Fay!!!

Since we have been on the East coast, we see Fay often during the winter down in Florida, where we play Pickleball together, line dance, party, etc.

Pickleball does indeed make a small world and one that really a lot of FUN!!