Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Here is the latest update about my trip to California - - - 
My SUV not only has high preformance engine, stronger then a regular V-8, which is why I got it in the first place, for towing the travel traler.  It also had high preformance brakes. They were hard to come by and had to ordered through a racing and HP auto parts specalist.  This is puting the SUV at being done on Monday or Tuesday of next week.  I will however, leave as soon as I get it back, even if it is in the evening.  STAY POSTED!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

California Or Bust!

It looks like the long awaited trip across the country &  move will finaly take place this week.  With other problems out of the way and the SUV slated to be fixed by the middle of the week, it looks like, GO.  I am hoping to start out on Thursday, but Friday will be fine too.

Monday, October 21, 2013


Happy Halloween Everyone!



This is my Grandson Mal, who is 10 Months old.  
He was named after Captain Malcolm Reynolds, from Firefly.


Below is a photo of Nathan Fillion, as the good captain.
Firefly was a stoy about a renegade crew of spacecowboy set five hundred years in the future





Friday, May 3, 2013

Getting Started, Again.

Five years later and many miles in between and too busy to keep up a Blog, but times have changed and so have I.

In the Winter of 2011-2012 I became very sick and no one could find out what was wrong with me.  I had was were flu-like symptoms and not being able to eat for more the 6 weeks.  There were many trips to doctors and hospitals, but to not avail.  Then on one of my trips to the ER, a doctors saw a rash on my neck  and ordered tests and x-rays of my chest.  At first I had no ideal what the rash had to do with an upper respiratory flu, but I was willing to give anything a chance at this point.  The chest x-rays came back with small masses and enlarged lymph node system. Was it cancer, lymphoma?  They would need to do a biopsy of both the lungs and nodes, which they did and to my surprise they told me I did not have cancer.  However the biopsy did find that the lumps and the inflammation of the nodes was due to a illness called Sarcoidosis.
I had never hear of Sarcoidosis before that day and the doctor, responded, "nor have most doctors".   I felt as if I was living an episode of House. (The doctor who has to find the strange illness that no one else can find.)
I now have this Sarcoidosis, so now, what?
How do I get rid of it?
 How do I get well?
Then the bad news, not only rare, unknown to a lot of the world it was also incurable.
"What do you mean, incurable?"
"I'm I going to die?"
Wild thoughts were going through my head.  Such as I did not insurance because I worked for myself, "will they just let me die?"
"Who will take care of my cat, Tagger?"
"Will I get to see my kids again?"
The good news was that it was treatable, but I would most likely be on steroids the rest of my life.  Prednisone is the steroid of choice to treat Sarcoidoisis, but it has very nasty side effects, which are almost as bad as the illness.  But taking the medication will stop and slow down the impact of the illness to my body.  I also could eat for the first time in over 6 weeks and had some strength.

By now you may be woundering how does all of this fit into a blog about travel?  Well I'm getting there and isn't this whats it's all about ---"getting there"?

This illness has led me to going out on disability, due to my inability to stay well and work 40 hours.  Since the time of the diagnoses of Sarcoidosis, I have started to see doctors at Temple University Hospital's Lung Center in Philadelphia, of whom have heard of and know how to treat the illness. As an inflammatory disease that affect any organ or part of the body, as of now it is attacking my lungs, lymph node. ears, eyes, sinuses and skin. As with other inflammatory, autoimmune disorders, it is much worse in the Winter, when here in the Northeast having below freezing most days.  I once again ending up in the hospital this year, with breathing issues.
This led my doctor to ask if I needed to stay in the Northeast and suggested that I find someplace warm and dry to live.
So this is the beginning, again.  A new story and a new life in my search for wellness.  I hope this introduction was not too long and depressive.  That it stated the back story of what comes next and how this all will tie into "Stop and Smell the Burgers", along the way.

Friday, July 25, 2008

This is All New to Me!


Just getting started with this Blog thing. I want to share with you the places along the way I have experienced in my travels. 

I travel through New Jersey for work, but I always find time to stop on my way home:
Edison, go take pictures of the "Worlds Largest Light bulb" dedicated to the man himself.
Up north Jimmy's Hot Dogs for dinner.
Clinton, the mill.
The list goes on.

I want you to know, I do go to places outside of New Jersey, after all I live in Bucks County PA. Bucks County is a beautiful place to visit and many vacation here.  It is also a strange and scary place with many haunted homes and tours. New Hope, PA is one of those places, beautiful and haunted.  Must be all the Revolutionary War battles that took place here.  Yes Washington slept here and he also crossed the Delaware River here.  This actives is reenacted every Christmas day at Washington's Crossing State Park. 

As I travel throughout America I always stop, smell the burgers and see the sights. Now I want to share them so you can and make that dull trip into a great one.