Great Road Trip of 2017.....Part Five/Day Five

Part One of the Great Western Road Trip is HERE
Part Two of the Great Western Road Trip is HERE

Part Three of the Great Western Road Trip is HERE
Part Four of the Great Western Road Trip is HERE

We hit a local diner in Grand Island Nebraska for breakfast before hitting the road for the day so we could meet a reader who lives nearby, Gerlyn.

Gerlyn had emailed me about where to find good barbecue along the route of our trip since her DH is from Texas originally.  Her and her DH own a ranch outside of town here.

She was so sweet and brought me some quilted items her mom had made and she brought some home canned jam and such she had put up.  I left her with a bag of toiletries(mostly shampoo has she had a bevvy of teenage daughter at that time). lol

Then we got down to breakfast.  I had an unsweet iced tea(I don't "do" coffee), a fresh fruit bowl and grits.  

Gerlyn said she wasn't very hungry so just ordered a cinnamon bun.  Well, WTF!  That bun was bigger than our heads! lol  I believe she took at least half of it home.

The obligatory photo with the Big Cock. hehehe

Then me alone with Tommy's rooster making love to it. lol

Lastly a serious photo without any cocks(lol)of Gerlyn and me.  It was a real pleasure to meet you Gerlyn and I'm sorry it took me 6 YEARS to post this.

After we parted ways we drove about a block and I saw another ginormous animal I had to have Hubs take my picture with.....

The mascot for the Texas T-Bone restaurant.  That same shopping plaza had a discount food pantry store too!  Of course I had to go in there......

FAT-FREE Mayo???  Isn't that the point of Mayo?!  Isn't fat the point of Mayo?

Gigantic #10 cans of Gefilte Fish.  These could have fed every Jewish mother in the entire state of Nebraska I bet. lol

And this shelf was a head scratcher....

They had a DISCOUNT SHELF!  Um, I thought the whole store was full of discounted food.  How far past the sell by/use by date must have THIS stuff been!lol

So we blew out of Grand Island NE heading West and hit rain on 1-80.  Just as we were pulling off the interstate in Kearny, NE the rain stopped as we got out of the car to go to "The Archway".  Or the "Great Platte River Road Archway" experience as it's better known as.

On the grounds of the place were some fake buffalo......

And native Prairie flora(which was not fake)....

There was also a statue descendants of the Martin brothers who survived a Native American attack had had designed and created.  One arrow went through both of their bodies, pinning them together as they rode hard back to their prairie home.

There was an accompanying plaque describing the incident.

The incident from 1864 and what happened is described HERE in case you are interested.

So we went in and paid our admission and were greeted by this man.....

Some one dressed up like a mountain from the early days of the West.  Man did he look convincing and truth be told I thought he was a statue and when he moved I about jumped out of my skin!!

Then, with individual transmitters in hand we rode an escalator up to the exhibit.........

The West was settled by folks of all ilk.....those looking for land to call their own, those looking for adventure, those fleeing religious persecution, those looking for a fresh start in life, those evading justice, etc.

Then gold was discovered in California and that set off wave after wave of more settlers and adventurers.

At first there were only notable landmarks such as rock formations and the stars at night to point the way (besides a compass).

The Mormons set off for their promised land they called "Deseret"(later to become the state of Utah)after their leader Joseph Smith was killed in Nauvoo, Illinois. Many of these travelers had no animals for transportation and just a handcart to drag their possessions in.  Setting off too late in the year on foot saw many would-be settlers freeze to death along the way.

After a few years travelers could also use the trail of discarded home goods as a guide as well.  If your oxen or horse or your wagon broke down, you left treasured possessions along the trail.  You had no other choice if you wanted to keep going and survive the journey.

And there were many deaths along the way.......

If the Natives didn't kill you or you didn't get some disease that couldn't be cured, some other disaster may be fall you along the way.  You'd be buried as best your traveling companions could and left out along the trail in the wilderness.

I found this particular exhibit above interesting.  You had to decide which shortcut to take by sliding little windows to reveal your fate.  The shortcut you took might not necessarily take miles off your journey and if you chose wrong, it could mean your death.

My 1st cousin 6 x removed, William Lewis Sublette, was one of the original "mountain men" who explored the West beginning in the 1820's.  We share a common ancestor in Pierre Louis Sublette, a French Huguenot, who came to Virginia in 1700 escaping the persecution of Protestants in Catholic France.  I descend from "Peter's" son William Abraham and Bill the Mountain Man descends from Peter's younger son, Lewis. Bill did trapped beaver for John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company among other activities and is said to have guided the first wagon train of settlers West from St. Louis to Oregon.  He was known as Bill or "Cutface" due to a wound he received on his chin.

And something I didn't know is that one of the shortcuts or "cut offs" is named after him, the Sublette cutoff.  Taking this cutoff near South Pass Wyoming took about 50 miles off your journey to Oregon.

I have lots more photos of the exhibit and if you are out that way it's worth a stop.  But avoid the gift shop downstairs.  A bunch of Made in China crap!  And waaay over priced.

Let's leave Kearny, Nebraska with a picture of Hubs next to a statue of a buffalo on the grounds of the exhibit outside.....

We hit the road once more........

We stopped for gas in Ogallala.  Mmmmm, gas station fried chicken. lol

We stopped for lunch in a quaint fake Western town front with a restaurant.  A tourist trap for sure and the restaurant was so dark inside you needed a flashlight to see your food!  Probably by design so you didn't notice how dirty the place was. Pondering that awful lunch I got to thinking that gas station chicken might have been a better choice after all. 8-)

We then took a turn North.....to get to "Carhenge", America's Stonehenge.

 It's located in Alliance, Nebraska, in the Northwestern corner of the state.

They talk about Carhenge's creator and the site HERE.

This was a very interesting stop but way off our route.

Next time we'll pick up from here.

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "This is Getting Tiresome" Edition.                                            

51 days in and I'm really getting tired of this eating plan.

I'll be eating some sugar-free Jell-O Wednesday as it's Prep day.  I guess a tiny bit of aspartame won't kill me.(I'll also be having chicken bone broth that day as well as "clear" liquids.)

I'm still making weight loss progress(albeit slowly since I can't move around very much), am in PT for my lower back issues, got a Neurology consult and meds(though it will take awhile to get them balanced)and am moving forward with both avenues available to get my knee replaced(at some point will need to decide on which one to go with but we aren't at that point yet). 

My PCP is on board with this way of eating to reach a short term goal so no unsolicited advice on this eating plan please.  While I appreciate the concerns I am fine and I am losing weight.  I haven't had any sugar(other than a bit of honey in some hot tea)nor any white food.....bread, potatoes, rice, pasta since returning from the cruise on June 4th.  But I am holding fast to my plan anyway.....so far.

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned for last week.......

1. Sunday-Zalad from Zaxby's, Watermelon

2. Monday--leftover ear of corn, a green bean appetizer for dinner

3. Tuesday--Protein drink, Watermelon

4  Wednesday--Teriyaki Stir-Fry Veggies w/Shaved Beef, yogurt cup

5. Thursday--1/2 a bag of Veggies(Broccoli?), yogurt cup, Watermelon

6.  Friday--Salmon, half of a Spinach Soufflé, Watermelon

7. Saturday--leftover Stir-Fry?

And here's what actually happened........

1. Sunday-Zalad from Zaxby's, Watermelon

2. Monday--leftover ear of corn, a green bean appetizer for dinner

3. Tuesday--Protein drink, Watermelon

4  Wednesday--Teriyaki Stir-Fry Veggies w/Shaved Beef, yogurt cup

5. Thursday--1/2 a bag of Stir-Fry Veggies, yogurt cup, Watermelon

6.  Friday--Salmon, half of a Spinach Soufflé, Watermelon

7. Saturday--Leftover Stir-Fry, Watermelon, 1 Apple

So what was planned actually happened for once.  Hooray!

I also drink, water, iced tea(unsweetened), and the odd zero sugar soda or Zero sugar Powerade/Gatorade and keep my stomach full and it also keeps me hydrated.  I mostly stick with the water or unsweet iced teas with lemon added.

This one mini-meal per day where I change between vegetable matter and a lean protein and a yogurt cup when these other meals won't suffice.  There also is a regime of supplements I am currently on, either to maintain my body's condition or were already taking them for various conditions.

I guess you'd call this an extreme intermittent fasting deal with many supplements to keep all my innards working and healthy.  I consulted a new PCP and my food plan was given the green light and my blood work came back aok. 8-)

What got taken out of the freezer last week...

*  3 bags of Stir-Fry Veggies

*  1 hunk of Beef

*  1 piece of Salmon

*  1 Spinach Soufflé

What got put into the freezer last week....

*  Nothing

Last week we spent $47.28 on grocery shopping.

 Total comes to $308.26 for July(so far). More dog food, Jell-O, Protein drinks, Gatorade(for prep day), corn meal and assorted things we were out of.

There are 7 shopping days left in July.

I've earned $117.63 on Ibotta in July.

I've earned $13.75 on Shopmium in July.

I've earned $21.00 on Coupons dotcom.

I've earned $0 on Kroger Cash Back in July.

I've earned $0 on Checkout 51 in July.

I've earned 314 points from food shopping on Fetch in July.

I've earned 3,425 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in July.

I've earned 46 SB from food shopping on Swag Bucks in July.

That is $152.38 in rebates(not counting the Shop Kick/Swag Bucks/Fetch)on $308.26 of grocery spending so in reality it's $155.88 in food spending after the 5 rebate apps I count.

My savings percentage for the last week was 69.66% and the monthly savings total for July comes in at 39.57% so far spent.

Leftovers going into this week...nothing but a bowl of baked beans(Hubs).

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday-Protein drink, 1 apple

2. Monday--Watermelon, Roasted Broccoli and Carrots, Yogurt cup(maybe)

3. Tuesday--Chicken Parm, either more Yogurt or an apple

4  Wednesday--Prep Day, Clear Liquids

5. Thursday--?

6.  Friday--A dish with Shrimp, more Broccoli

7. Saturday--Yogurt drink, Collards or whatever is fresh at the store in the way of Veggies

I also drink, water, iced tea(unsweetened), hot tea with lemon and honey and the odd zero sugar soda or Zero sugar Powerade/Gatorade and keep my stomach full and it also keeps me hydrated.   I mostly stick with the water or unsweet iced teas with lemon added.

This one mini-meal per day where I change between vegetable matter and a lean protein and a yogurt cup when these other meals won't suffice is not hard to do once you get past the first 3 or 4 days.  There also is a regime of supplements I am currently on, either to maintain my body's condition or were already taking them for various conditions.

What do I need to buy to fix everything on this menu?  Everything but the fresh veggies. Tomorrow I'll be making sugar-free Jell-O for a change and in preparation for Cleanse day, Oh Joy, Can't wait!! Hubs will eat the chicken and shrimp meals I fix(and may supplement with some carby dish too)but otherwise he's on his own. :-)

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any deals on food at your stores this week?  I confess that I don't need to buy anything right now nor have I had any desire to read the ads.

Sluggy  

June To-Do List 2023.....Outcome

Here's how the June 2023 To-Do List came out...........

JUNE

*  Pay Bills  DONE  All paid on time or early

*  Go to 1 Dr. Appointment  DONE  Got a new PCP, YEAH!

*  Buy Car Port  DONE and paid for.

*  Clean & Organize Stuff in House  IN PROGRESS  This may be in progress until I die at this rate.

*  Buy Stuff for House  IN PROGRESS  Don't remember what we bought in June but it wasn't big ticket stuff...probably hardware for installing ceiling fans and such.

*  Price Generators  IN PROGRESS  Looking into which kind/size to get

*  Clean out Q Inserts and Envie  DONE

*  Edit more Photos  IN PROGRESS  I've got all the "old" photos edited now I need to edit everything from Dec 2022 until now but using new-to-me editing software so that's going to go slower than it should.

*  Post about Old Trips  FAIL  Just didn't feel like it and then typing got very hard.

*  Work on Genealogy  DONE

*  Hang Ceiling Fans  FAIL  We weren't home for much of the month so no, this item moves to July

*  Organize Clothes  DONE  Mostly Done.  I've still got to fold and put some pants on shelving in the closet but I'm calling this done.

*  Unpack from Trip  DONE  Washed and put all the clothes away.

*  Convert Foreign Currency  DONE  Hubs took what we didn't spend back to the bank.

Sluggy

Frugal Friday on Saturday, July 22nd

Welcome to Frugal Friday!   

There are very few Frugal wins this past week and not everything here would be considered frugal but here goes......

*  Being on this restrictive short term eating plan meant we spent very little at the grocery store this past week,  under $50.  The freezer is packed with food for Hubs to eat(that are not part of what I can consume right now), so as long as he remembers to thaw something, he eats. lol

*  Been cropping and renaming photo files and uploading videos to my You Tube channel.

* Saw a Neurologist(will wonders never cease?)this past week instead of in February.  Yay!  Got put on an Rx and this drug is FREE until I hit Medicare in January(as are all my meds).

*  Went to Physical Therapy for my back.   Basically did water aerobics in their pool.  No copays so again FREE.  I go back 2 x next week and the week after, and the week after, etc.

*  I found money! 
Nope.  Nada. Zilch.

Total Found in last Week.... .00¢
Total Found this Year.......$2.49

That's all for this past week.  Just sitting home is frugal, right?

It's too damn hot here(triple digit heat indexes for weeks now!)so I rarely leave the house except to hobble to the car with a/c then to wherever I am going that also has a/c.  Can you say I am over Summer down here on Satan's front porch??

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Sluggy 

Thank You All!

I had to draw a spiraling circle and mine looked not quite as bad as the one on the right in this photo.

Miracles do happen it seems.....either that or my PCP did really listen to how desperate my ADL(activities of daily living)situation was(I was actually considering checking myself into an assisted living facility).  After they gave me an appointment 7 Months out, I was put on the Wait List for Neurology and miraculously an appointment opened up on Wednesday and I saw a text about it Tuesday evening.  Either someone canceled at the last minute(but I can't think why someone would cancel/reschedule a Neurology appt!)or somehow they figured out how seriously impaired I had become and they squeezed me in.

So I got a good going over with a new Neurologist, a med student(it's a teaching hospital after all)and then the head Dr. came in too after the Neurologist went to consult with him.  I got tested(I failed the touch your nose with your pointer finger, then touch the doc's pointer finger test as well as hold your hands out i front of you and keep them from trembling test.)

 For now I've been diagnosed with Essential Tremors and put on an epileptic anti-seizure medication.(This or a Beta-Blocker(which I have adverse reactions to)is standard treatment for this disorder.)

Now we start working on getting the dosage right.  I'm on 25 mg(half a pill)for the first 4 days to get me use to it.  Then I go on the full 50mg dose and wait a few days and if that doesn't take care of the tremors we start upping the dosage.  

They are also scheduling me for an MRI to check that I don't have something worse going on(like Parkinson's or lesions on my brain)since my tremor condition seemed to worsen at a quick clip and could be part of something else developing in my head plus I have family history on both sides of neurological conditions.

I'd be happy with "just" Essential Tremors thankyouverymuch!  There is no cure for this condition and it can get worse and most probably will.  Kim's hubby who passed had this condition so I've seen first hand how it can affect your life.  I don't know yet(didn't ask)how bad or how high they can push the med for it but we'll cross that bridge when and if we get there.

I see the Orthopedist early in August so we are moving ahead with the knee replacement here.  But I am also moving ahead with the elite joint surgeon program available through our insurance too.  I had picked a surgeon near Columbus OH but then they told me he insists on an in person pre-op appointment and won't do that through telemedicine.  That means trekking 995 miles to OH TWICE-once for an in-person appt. and then again for the actual pre-op testing/surgery/beginnings of PT afterwards.  And what if I go to OH and go through that initial visit and fly home and the surgeon says he won't take my case?  All that effort was for nothing and I have to start all over again in that program. ugh

So I switched to a different surgeon in the same practice who will do the initial pre-op stuff via telemedicine.  They are suppose to get back to me next week to schedule that particular appt. so we can get that ball rolling.  

Basically whichever surgeon can schedule me for the knee surgery sooner gets to do it. 8-)  Either way I'll be in Physical Therapy afterwards for many, many months.

And next week I get to have more fun.....2 days of PT for my back bookending my 10 year Colonoscopy.  Goody!  I don't mind that procedure but the day before prep?  That's the b*tch!  But at this point I eat so little anyway I won't mind and barely notice going a day without eating.  Now drinking that nasty prep stuff and staying close to a bathroom all day is another story. lol

This year is genuinely what I've been calling it, the "Year of the Shit Show"(and next week will be an actual shit show on Wednesday).  

I just want to thank everyone who has reached out with prayers, concerns, etc. for me this past week.  I was in a very dark place mentally before getting into see a Neurologist.  Between that and family drama plus Hubs brother passed away up in PA on July 13th, things have been nothing approaching "normal" with us.

Sluggy-who can sort of type today but writing is still beyond her skill set