Saturday - July 18

 HAPPY   BIRTHDAY   BROOKE

Brooke and Millie

Another family birthday (3rd so far in July with 2 more coming) - today it's all about Brooke, our dear daughter-in-law (wife to Michael and Mom to Drew, Davis, Brady and Blair).    So thankful to have her in the family for almost 28 years!!!    She's a Keeper!

Tah dah...clear skies today and no smoke smell.    It's very windy though.

Mornings continue to be weird for me....wake up and always fearful for how it's gonna be getting out of bed and on with the day.    Head just seems to be discombobulated but with Mark's help, I'm up and going.   I cannot imagine having this "vestibular dysfunction" and being by myself...............no way!!!!!!!

We drove around the Lakeside area where the 11th Annual Fresh Coast Fitness Festival is going on in Marquette Park today and tomorrow- packed place at 8 AM and involves weight lifting and other competitions finding the fittest and freshest individuals and teams in the Midwest.

Kept on driving and downtown Muskegon is host to Rebel Road, Muskegon's Biker Rally, a 4-day event drawing 100,000 visitors and 70,000 bikes.    Downtown had several streets blocked off with many food trucks, vendors and porta potties!!!    

We found the Exchange Coffee Bar and enjoyed our coffee and white chocolate cherry scone (me) and breakfast sandwich (Mark) sitting outside.  Back to the car and Mark wanted to check out West Marine as he had a gift card from Father's Day.   Several of these stores are closing including this one but he found several things marked down and they had a good-size inventory.   

Then we drove south 20 minutes to Grand Haven, a very nice town that was busy busy this Saturday - the downtown was bustling with families, dogs and people everywhere enjoying the nice day.    We were last here June 8-9, 2006 and remember refurbished old buildings converted into shops, condos, etc.    Downtown is really neat with so many shops, restaurants, etc.    We walked and walked along the waterfront with so many boats and today was the big Rock the Coast Poker Run attracting dozens of cigarette (go-fast boats) from all over (we saw one from Las Vegas).   

Got some ice cream at Temptations and then stopped at the West Marine in Grand Haven and Mark did a little more shopping.    Back to Muskegon and Catrina.   I did some of my vestibular exercises and then nap time.    

Another wedding on the pier today - smaller with just 3 bridesmaids in green -  yesterday had the smoke, today, the strong wind.

We had an early dinner at the Muskegon Brewing Co. which is here at the marina - Mark had the beet salad with smoked pork and I had the walleye tacos - all delish!    Walked around the marina but so crazy windy!    Around 5ish we noticed the haze moving in over the water and the smell of smoke - more alerts on our phones.   UGH!

Tonight Connor and friends made their musical debut at the "Make Music Normal" festival in Uptown Normal.    Wish we could've been there and so glad the show went on after some heavy rain!

Connor, Nate and Drew

Friday - July 17

 Smokey skies and smell were maybe a bit worse this morning when we got up?   Mark fixed scrambled eggs, ham and bagels for a nice hearty breakfast.

Yesterday Mark noticed a bunch of people out on the pier (not that far from us).    They were having a wedding rehearsal.    Today all the white chairs and other wedding decor were set up - oh my.......not a good day for an outdoor wedding and the guests having to breathe that smoke.    On a beautiful sunny day, what a great view overlooking Muskegon Lake but not today😞

Ron picked Mark up at 10:15 and took him to Enterprise to get our rental car for a week  (charcoal Buick Envista with just 5,000 miles and NJ plates).    Then he stopped at Meijer's to see if they had any masks - apparently ours are on Flo!    A nice lady was just unwrapping a package and gave him 6 masks - now that's service - hurray for Meijer's.

Late morning we went to Biggby's for coffee - my 1st in a week!!!!   (Maybe that's the problem with my head???)    Then to Meijer's for groceries and back to the marina - got a dock cart/wagon and wheeled our stuff to Catrina.   Put groceries away and took it easy rest of the day.

Biggby's and Meijer's both originated in Michigan.  

The wedding took place here at the marina at 4 with lots of guests (no one wore a mask).   8 bridesmaids in pretty green dresses, 2 flower girls, 2 ring bearers, etc.   The sun came out but kinda pale.    Later the reception was held here in the event center at Adelaide Point.

Mark found a video on YouTube about after vertigo and BPPV, what to do when still having the dizziness and just out of sorts - wow, along with exercises from Dr. Freeman, these are so right on with what's going on with me.    This Dr. Matthew from Canada really explained and demonstrated it all very well.    Even after the crystals are back in place, the brain needs to be retrained and these vestibular exercises have all had great results.

Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday - July 16

 Dr. Olga Freeman, my primary in Fort Myers is my SAVIOR for recommending I stop taking the Meclizine.    I feel sooo much better today - not 100% but nothing like yesterday - that stuff gave me such a weird feeling + the dizziness and wooziness.

So........my Captain decided we would take off and he would take care of everything - I had orders to just sit.   At 8:12, we were leaving Manistee (got to know this town really well).    BIG problem today was the very poor visibility (3/4 mile) and awful smoke smell.    Mark drove from down below and we kept the door and windows shut.    Radar was big help as there was a fishing tournament going on outside Ludington, so lots of boats - can't believe there were so many other crazies out there.   But the lake was nice and calm with winds from the north (and that's why the smokey haze is so bad blowing from Canada).

We were settled in our slip at the Adelaide Pointe Marina off Muskegon Lake by 2.    Walked up to the dockmaster and ship's store to check in - not going outdoors anymore today. 

After lunch we each took a nap and so happy to be here, feeling better and out of the nasty weather conditions!!!!!!

Yesterday Maeve and Graham met for the first time!

60 years ago today (7/16/66), my cousin  Billy (16) and a friend were killed in a horrible moped accident south of Sublette, IL (my hometown).   I will never forget that very tragic day and the sad days that followed.   Billy was my Aunt Marian's son.    I had just graduated from high school that spring.

Our friends from Port Clinton (boat sister, Chris and Michael) had planned to spend today thru Sunday here in Muskegon.    We were so looking forward to some fun times, BUT with my head issues, they canceled and probably a good thing especially with all this smoke.

We are renting a car tomorrow for a week - Ron is picking Mark up in the morning, so will be good to be out and about (well.....depending on the smoke)!   Latest update for air quality here is "very unhealthy".   So glad we got here ok and Ron and Pat did not have to make the trip to Manistee.  

2 of my faithful blog readers commented after last night's blog they knew things were bad when I didn't feel like going out to eat!!! 😔

Wednesday - July 15

 This is the 7th day of my head nightmare and I so want it fixed.   Woke up feeling good until I'm ready to get out of bed and then oh my............not so much the vertigo but really bad dizziness and sick feeling.    Been in touch with the Meijer pharmacist who suggested I take 1/2 the dosage of Meclizine.    The mornings are definitely worse and gets better as the day goes on, but never great.    I'm very dependent on Mark to hold onto....

We have a bench just outside Catrina on the dock - have sat there frequently - just a change of scenery and off the boat.    Walks feel good, too but still dizzy off and on and never without Mark (my ROCK).

Kay, the medical assistant in Fort Myers called and said Dr. Freeman suggests I try the Vestibular exercises.    Mark printed off those instructions and ready to give anything and everything a try.

There's no rental cars or taxi service or Uber in Manistee....but very thankful we had Kevin.

We've gotten several alerts on our phones about the poor air quality in our area from the Canadian wildfires.....the sunny start to the day turned into a very hazy day and there is a smell of smoke.

We are hoping to move on to Muskegon tomorrow - Mark called our friend Leon to see if he would be available along with a friend.    I could ride back in the car and Mark and whoever could bring the boat.   Well, unfortunately, Leon has been in the hospital for 2 weeks after a nasty fall,    So sorry to hear this,

Then we called friends Ron and Pat - they could drive up here in the afternoon and I would ride back with Pat;  Ron and Mark would come on the boat.   We'll see what tomorrow brings...

Kay called again at 4:30 and said Dr. Freeman wants me to stop taking the Meclizine as she feels it doesn't help.    So.....................that's what I'm gonna do!

Mark and I had wanted to take Kevin and Heather to dinner (thank you for taking us to the ER and Meijer)) and talk about our "Loop" travels.    Tonight was the night at The Golden Stag downtown.   But I just wasn't up to it....if I'm propped up with pillows, not bad but any other movement.....arghhhh.   Been sleeping a lot, too.

Heather and Kevin

Mark had a great dinner (they said "no" to him buying dinner but he did get their drinks) and visit and I'm so sorry I missed it all.    

One thing they mention is to keep the eyes focused so reading, games, puzzles, etc. seems to work - to an extent.    And glad I can keep the blog going.    

Tuesday - July 14

 HAPPY  BIRTHDAY  CONNOR

Connor and birthday dessert at Biaggi's

Connor is 20 today - we remember (7/14/06) so well and also got a new car that day - Honda CRV.    So proud of this young man and all he's accomplished.   He just completed the 1/2 Ironman, loves his music (guitar),  has excelled in school and will be attending the University of Illinois majoring in engineering.    And working at Lowe's this summer.

Slept well last night but felt woozy much of the day and blah.   Mark walked with me, we talked to a nurse about whether I should continue with the Meclizine and his thoughts on my head!!!   The nurse was in Traverse City - not much help.   Later we went downtown and I had a few bites of an apple/cinnamon muffin at Trophies.    Then another nap.   It is a beautiful day.

We had some excitement here at the marina today.....2 things.    First there was a major boo boo or disaster at the fuel dock as 3 boats had to be pumped out - diesel got into the gas tank and gas into the diesel.   NOT good.....guys have been here working all day.    Sure makes for a mess when traveling (this problem has gone on since last week but today was the earliest the "Blarney Castle Oil Co. could get here.)

Then a HUGE freighter (The Calumet) came down the river - it was probably hauling salt as there is a big salt mine on Manistee Lake where it was headed.   This sure brought out the townsfolk.    Freighters come thru about every 2 weeks and have either salt, iron ore or lumber.    Kevin (our good Samaritan friend from yesterday) sent Mark a text that it was coming (not that we would've missed it....ha!)    Kevin and his wife Heather came to watch it pass (SLOWLY) by.

Here comes the Calumet

630' long; 68' wide

Kevin took this pic - you can barely see "little" Catrina down below

Had a good chat with Connor.    He and 2 friends are playing at "Make Music Normal" event Saturday evening - this 2-day event is for promoting local artists.    Wish we could be there to enjoy his talent.

Mark went to The Outsider and brought back supper - smashburger for me and gourmet "Whammy hot dog" for him    Both were delish!

At the suggestion of the nurse this morning, I called my primary Dr. Freeman in Fort Myers and left a message with Kay, medical assistant.    She called late afternoon - keep on with the meclizine and some side effects may happen but takes time, so.....