JANUARY 2001

We welcomed the "real" beginning of the new millennium by being in bed and asleep before 12:00 AM...obviously, we not party animals!

Friday, January 5, was my 55th birthday. We celebrated by going to Lilly's, a Mexican food restaurant in Glendale, together with Buck & Phyllis Draughn and John & DeAnne Cooper. Earl got me a new printer for my birthday.

On the 9th, we took Maxx in for another blood test to see how his liver enzymes were doing after he finished his course of medication. The tests showed that his liver enzymes were way down which was great news! We can really tell he's feeling better because he's much "perkier" than he has been for awhile. We've started him on his daily heartworm pills and I've been cooking his meals, which he really loves! Hopefully, this problem will not reoccur.

We joined Sam's Club (we already belonged to Costco). We've found that some states don't have any Costco's but do have Sam's Clubs. Now, as we travel around the country, we should be able to find one or the other. We don't buy a lot of stuff in bulk, of course, since we don't have the room to carry it, but there are some things we can buy cheaper at Sam's or Costco than at a grocery store...coffee, for instance.

We had United Aero Shine come out to wash and wax our fifth wheel. This is the third year we've had this done. It's kind of expensive, but it sure beats us having to do the work...especially the waxing, which is a hand rubbed Carnuba wax.

Earl joined the Elks Club this month. Many of the Elks Clubs around the country have RV parking...some with hookups and some just dry camping, so we'll be able to stay at these clubs as we travel and have a place to have dinner and socialize.

We had more doctors appointments this month. Earl went in for his annual physical; I saw a dermatologist for a "mole" checkup and to have a couple of tags removed from my face. I also had a needle breast biopsy done, which turned out to be benign. Of course, I ended up catching something at the hospital...I think I might have had bronchitis. I think I'll live, though!

On the 30th, Earl, Mom, and I drove out to Carefree and had lunch at the Cantina del Pedregal, a Mexican food restaurant. We usually try to make it out here once while we're in Phoenix, although we didn't make it last year. We also ate at some of our other favorite restaurants... Cracker Barrel, Takamatsu (a Japanese and Koren restaurant), El Paso Bar-B-Que, and Bella Luna (an Italian restaurant). We also tried a new fast food Italian place called Fazole's which had surprisingly good food for a fast food restaurant.