| Wednesday, December 31, 2008 As you well know, the countdown is on! The last hours of 2008 are upon us with Wall Street, as well as many others, glad to see it end, however, January 1st, 2009 won't be any different. The economic collapse will not end at mid night. Housing prices and sales will not increase tomorrow morning. It will be months and years before things turn around again so we might as well hunker down for the long haul. But we can all hope that 2009 will be the beginning of better things to come; after all, hope is the key to overcoming despair and it's a lot better to be optimistic than pessimistic. So, good bye 2008 and welcome aboard 2009 - let's hit the road!!! Things on East Traveler Street remain pretty much the same, people out and about with something going on all the time; the weather has been just fantastic. Bocce balls came rolling through our yard yesterday with Clyde and Ron in pursuit. Social gatherings sprung up here and there with neighbors talking over the fence (we need to put up a fence to lean on). Miss Judy and I went for our morning walk and attended the Social hour at four o'clock. We sat outside (Alex likes to come out and sit in my lap for a while each day) and did some reading. A short nap even sneaked it's way into the afternoon. Before we knew it the sun was setting in the west (and a beautiful sunset it was) and beddy bye time was fast approaching but not before I watched the rest of the miniseries John Adams while Judy finished reading Wild Goose Chase. As you can see, we are "busier than a hound dawg scratching flees". Well, that just about wraps it up for today, so take care and we'll see you again next year. Tuesday, December 30, 2008 Wow, all of a sudden I realize that 2008 is about to exit the scene. It has been one heck of a year for the Wandering Americans (we actually did very little wandering this year). This has been our most expensive year so far, however, we ended up only $1,870 over budget. That's not bad considering that we had $5,600 out of pocket medical expenses (that's over and above our health insurance premium), $2,850 in truck maintenance costs, and $822 for RV maintenance (that's if the insurance company pays their share - that will double if they don't). The fact that we didn't wander as much as planned saved quite a few bucks in campground fees and fuel plus we were able to hold down costs propane and other emergencies. Our health insurance and truck insurance premiums were both under what we had budgeted. We thought that we were going to come in pretty close to the budget until we got to Rainbow Plantation and the refrigerator died ($822) followed by having to replace the bearings in the pinion gear of the truck ($1,062). Our 2008 budget was for $42,500 and we came in at $44,370 - oh well, it is what it is! The 2009 budget is in place and hopefully we will do better next year. The budget is still $42,500 but we have adjusted each of the line items a little to reflect this year's actual expenses. Unfortunately, our wandering will be limited again this coming year due to the heavy losses in our investments. We will need continue workamping and try to hold down expenses for the first seven months of 2009. Then, on August 1st, we will start seeing a monthly income as we start drawing on my pensions as well as Social Security and, most importantly of all, the acquisition of the Golden Age Pass. Yesterday I went over to the Robertsdale H&R Block office to work on some practice sets. There are forty of them in all and they want each of us to complete ten of them this year. I was, also, able to look around the office and become a little more familiar with the office procedures . I actually enjoy doing this so hopefully it will be away to generate enough income in the future to keep us from having to workamp. That would allow us more time to go Wandering America and less time sitting during the spring, summer, and fall. Judy J continued to work on some of her basket weaving stuff (beading I think). Then last evening we joined in with twenty of our neighbors around the campfire to chat, drink tea (that's right tea and not wine this time), and laugh. We planned our New Year's Day festivities - more to come about that in a couple of days. Then we came home watched a little TV and went nite, nite so that raps up another day in our fulltiming life. Monday, December 29, 2008 Pastor Bill presented a great message for living in these uncertain times. We left church with our confidence in God having been strengthened while realizing that He is the only certainty that we have in this life. I won't go any further into the message here but will say it is exactly what we needed to hear at this time. Yesterday afternoon Don and Debra Dekker arrived at Rainbow Plantation. We spent a little time sitting outside chatting while watching some football (Patriots won but still didn't make it into the playoffs). Then we decided to take a short ride down to Gulf Shores and walk on the beach. It's hard to believe that it was about 74 degrees on the 28th of December with sunbathers laying on the beach tanning themselves. We walked out into the water to let it lap up around our feet and legs; it was cool but I have swum in colder water - it felt good. Judy J and I just love this beach, it is one of the things that draw us back to this area each year. I remember well the first time we visited Gulf Shores waaaay back in October of 2006. You might say it was love at first sight and we never tire of walking the beach while playing tag with the waves. Judy had whipped up a casserole for us for dinner so we headed back home to eat while continuing to enjoy each other's company. Later we went over to the clubhouse for the Sunday evening Ice Cream Social. The time to say "good bye" came way too soon - Don and Deb are on their way to Florida where they will begin workamping on the 1st. It was nice of them to drive out of their way just to spend a few hours with us. We feel so fortunate to have good friends like these and look forward to seeing them again in our future travels. Did I ever tell you that one of the best parts of fulltiming is the people you meet along the way? Sunday, December 28. 2008 We started the day out with a brisk walk which felt extremely good except for my knees. They have been bothering me again but I don't want to get cortisone shots again as the last ones didn't help very much. I guess I have got to take some weight off in order to reduce the pain. Dr. Oz says that every pound of extra body weight puts four pounds of pressure on the knees; no wonder my knees hurt. After our walk we had breakfast and then I did one of my H&R Block computer based training courses. I have two more to complete before I start working for them on January 4th. They're not difficult but do take some time. I, also, want to complete 20 cases studies before January 4th as well - that may not happen as I have to go to the office in order to do them. That's a personal goal, they would like me to complete 10 or 12 but the more you do the more familiar you become with the TPS (Tax Preparer System) software. Anyhow, I'm on my way to becoming a Tax Professional. Judy J worked on some of her beading and took a nap. She is feeling better but is still beginning to get that stuffy sinus pressure again. There has to be something in the air down here in 'Bama. We run the dehumidifier and air conditioners trying to keep the humidity under 50% but that doesn't seem to help. Hopefully whatever is causing her sinus problems departs the area soon. We ended the afternoon by taking a nice bike ride around the Plantation. That didn't help the pain in my knees very much but it does feel good to get some exercise. Miss J and I plan on keeping up with the exercise routine hoping that will help us stay healthy and fit. We would like to build up our stamina as there are a couple of bike trails in area that we would like to ride. I did a little reading - got back up to date on all of my blogs and websites that I follow as well as starting reading a book that I got for Christmas. Marc and Amie (mainly Amie) got me "Dewey the Small Town Library Cat (they spell it wrong) Who Touched the World". Somehow she got the impression that I was a katt lover and would enjoy the book. Yep, I does!!! Mary got me the HBO miniseries "John Adams" which is based on David McCullough's book. I watched the first part (of seven) on Friday night and it is very well done. Being the history buff that I am this was an excellent gift. Marc got me the movie Gettysburg which is one of my all time favorites (I would like to get Killer Angels as well - hint, hint). So I have plenty of reading and movies to keep me entertained and out of Judy J's way while she does her basket weaving stuff. Couple becoming a Tax Professional, reading, and movie watching with the endless Ta Do List and I'll have more than enough to keep me busy through the winter months. Today it's off to church and then I'll work on another training course. Our kayaking friends who workamped with us at LGE this summer, Don and Debra, will be arriving for a short visit. So we'll have them over and fix them a home cooked meal in the "no cooking on a travel day" tradition (see, like I said yesterday, it's good to have traditions). It will be nice to see them again and maybe we'll get some kayaking in. Yep, the retired life sure is boring. Just can't find a whole lot to do 'cept sit around with one arm as long as the other. Saturday, December 27, 2008 It was December 22, 1990 and Judy and I had loaded the kids into the minivan for a visit with my parents in Belfast, Maine. Being that it took less than two hours to travel from our house to Grandpa and Grandma's house we would only spend the day and return home that evening. That afternoon my dad and I went to the local grocery store to buy some nice center cut pork loin roasts for our Christmas dinners. Dad was a great cook and knew his meats so he helped me pick one out for my family and he got a small one for him and mom. That was the last thing that I ever did with my dad because he died on January 10th, 1991, however, it started a family tradition that lives on in our house. Each year we go in search for that special pork roast to have for our Christmas dinner. This year was no different. Judy and I picked up a nice center cut pork loin roast to enjoy with our kids and grand kids for Christmas dinner 2008, however, this year we didn't have the usual "feast" that goes along with it. We had stuffing, corn, a marshmallow salad, gravy, and yeast rolls to accompany the roast which was delicious and we didn't leave the table feeling like we had to loosen the belt a couple of notches. And, yes, the roast was absolutely delicious with a little gravy poured over the top and some stuffing on the side. It's at these times that I think about the many special meals that we had around the table at my parent's house. I can see mom and dad in the kitchen preparing the food and almost smell the wonderful odors that flowed out from there. Then the whole extended family (mom and dad, my brother and his family, and Judy and I with our family) would sit around the dining room table and partake in the delicious meal while chatting and laughing together. As Teyve knew, from the musical Fiddler on the Roof , it is important to maintain family traditions in order to know where you came from and who you are; therefore, a nice pork roast on Christmas day helps to keep the memory of my dad alive. And guess what? You can take your family traditions with you on the road as you live the fulltime Rving lifestyle - that's a good thing; no, it's a great thing! Friday, December 26, 2008 Christmas 2008 is all gone and we are back home. This is a late entry because we left Murfreesboro early this morning and didn't take time to get on our 'puters. The trip home was just the way we like them, uneventful. Christmas morning began with Judy J and I getting up and having coffee. Matt and Jackie have the munchkins well trained in that they slept in until after 7:00 o'clock. That just would have never happened in my past life. My brother and I were bugging our parents to get out of bed around 4:00 o'clock in the morning - they would stave us off until at least 5:00, however, that was just about all that would be tolerated from the two of us. Our kids all got up early, I think that was because mom and dad got up early - I just never grew up when it comes to Christmas morning. Anyway, Judy and I emptied one pot of coffee and we were on our second by the time they rolled out of bed. It is fun to watch a child on Christmas morn. Miss Catia was more excited than a long tailed tom katt in a room full of rocking chairs - she's four and extremely good at it. Miss Kalina was rather subdued not fully grasping the concept of it all; after all, she's only 5 months. But let me tell you that after big Sis assisted her with the gift opening she would have her little paws out stretched and reaching for the new toy. It took well over two hours to get through all of the presents with Miss Kalina hitting her daily saturation limit at one point. So dad went through the tree pulling out all of her gifts so that big Sis could opened them and present them to her; then it was nappy time for Miss Kalina while Miss Catia preserved onward. She was more than willing to help anybody and everybody with the gift opening - I think she liked opening the gifts more than receiving them; this is, until they were all opened. Then she didn't know what to play with first. It is definitely well worth the effort to spend Christmas with grand children. Too bad it is sooooo far away and has to be sooooo cooooold and snooooowy in New Hampster this time of year. We would certainly enjoy spending Christmas with Marc, Amie, and the kids. There will be one more next Christmas - a little boy Patterson; the first grand son who will arrive on the scene sometime in early May. Needless to say, dad was ecstatic when he learned that he was going to have a son - it took three days to wipe the smile off is face. Somehow we'll have to figure an angle to spend one Christmas in New England sometime in the next few years. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and were able to spend time with family members whether it be blood relatives on your extended RVing family. It's always nice to have family and friends close at hand during the Christmas season. Thursday, December 25, 2008 Let us remember the
reason for the season. We are celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
Happy Birthday
Jesus
and
Merry Christmas Everyone We pretty much had an uneventful trip to Murfreesboro although we hit one short period of blinding rain that resulted in two accidents within a half mile of each other. Hopefully no one was hurt, however, one of the accidents looked pretty severe. The police were just getting onto the scene as we passed by so I can only imagine that it wasn't long before the traffic was backed up. Last night we went to Christmas eve services at Matt and Jackie's church, World Outreach Church. This is a mega church with three large auditoriums. They have live music in each of the auditoriums and then the pastor speaks in the main auditorium with it being telecast into the other two. There were three different Christmas eve services held beginning at 3:30 and every two hours after that, we went to the 5:30 service. It is always fun to visit these large churches in the Nashville area. They have so many talented musicians in the area that it is almost like attending a concert - the music is phenomenal. Allen Jackson is the Pastor of World Outreach Church (not to be confused with Alan Jackson the country singer) and always has an excellent message. After church we came home and had home made pizzas which is a tradition in the Winegarden family that Matt and Jackie have adopted. We watched Polar Express with the grand daughters (Kalina sat quietly in grandpa's lap while Catia pretty much bounced from one thing to the next). Jackie and Catia went on line and tracked Santa's journey via the Norad satellite - he can run, but he can't hide! Then it was time for grandpa and grandma to go to bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads while awaiting Santa's arrival. Wednesday, December 24, 2008 It's Up, Up and Away! The katts aren't quite sure what's going on but they know something is up. They will not be happy campers once they realize that they are being left behind. Uncle J is coming over to tend to them but they do not like to be left alone. Oh well, this too will pass. That's about it for today, we are getting ready to hit the road and will be out of here shortly. If any of you are traveling; take your time and be safe. There is some real funky weather patterns out there so be careful. Until tomorrow . . . . Tuesday, December 23, 2008 Judy is hanging in there, what ever she has seems to be settling into her head (hits the weakest spot first). Other than that, we are getting ready for our Christmas trip. It will be a short one but one in which we can get our grand daughter fix. We always look forward to a grand daughter fix no matter how long it has been since the last one (one day, one week, one month, or one year - just can't get enough grand daughter time). We have another grand child arriving on the scene come May. Marc and Amie are going to augment their family in the great state of New Hamster - too cold up there for a winter visit but we will be there this spring to welcome him/her into this world. Anywhoo, we are getting the sleigh ready to make the trip - it's amazing what has to be done before heading out. I won't go through the list but I will say that we are going to be ready for beddy by the time we get everything done. I'm tired just thinking about it, but I had better get my keister moving and "Get-R-Done"! Monday, December 22, 2008 Yesterday was a PJ day - we never got out of our PJs. Before Miss Judy took her meds, which send her into La-La Land, she made a pot of beans (with my assistance). I tended to them for the rest of the day while Judy traipsed around La-La Land. I did go outside a couple of times, once to change the katt box and wash it out and then in the evening to disconnect the hoses so they wouldn't freeze and break. Other than missing church it was nice to just have a day to sit around in my PJs doing pretty much nutin' (with all of our sickness it seems as if we have had a lot of those days). I should have finished the November Travelogue but was so busy doing nutin' that I just didn't have time. I did manage to finish one novel and read about three quarters of another, keep track of the beans, do some house work, and tend to some of Judy's needs. Thankfully, she is feeling a little (not a lot) better this morning - she definitely needed to stay in and get some rest. "Baby It's Cold Outside." The snowbirds from the north must have left the door open when they headed south 'cause the temperatures just went from the 70's a day ago to the high 20's last night - that's why I had to disconnect the hoses last night. Today's high is only going to be in the mid 40's. This weather pattern is ridiculous; could it be part of the "Global Warming" Theory? This morning is our bi-weekly grocery shopping day. We'll go and get back just as soon as we can 'cause I don't want Miss Judy staying out too long or getting overly tired. Once we get home she'll take her meds and go back to La-La Land for the rest of the day. I will try to finish up the November Travelogue (Lord, you'd think the thing was going to equal War and Peace as long as it is taking me) and finish the novel I started yesterday. We'll definitely stay in out of the cold once we get home - I think I will set a fire in the fireplace, have a cup of hot chocolate (with some additive), and try to forget that the "weather outside is frightful"! (Yeah, I know my friends in the north are saying, "Whachu talkin' 'bout, Willis?") Sunday, December 21, 2008 What can I say, Miss Judy has officially relapsed. It began yesterday and by the end of the day she was getting hoarse again. Then last night she just kept waking up feeling worse each time she awoke. This morning she is sniffing and snuffing, hoarse, coughing, and just plain feeling lousy. It's back on the meds - she has some left over. The doc gave her a 10 day supply of antibiotic but told her to take 5 days worth. That way, if she wasn't better then she could take the other 5 days worth. Well, she was better so she has some drugs left. She has almost a year's worth of cough syrup so "open wide, here it comes". Our friends and relatives, who happen to be stubborn enough to hold out in the northeast, are experiencing yet another snow storm while we sit here in the south with rain and temps in the 60's. It appears that the coooooold, snooooowy weather has a grip on both ends of our country. Jenny J, in her blog Eleven Foot RV, has been telling about the snow and cold in the northwest as well. I loved reading her current entry, it brought back memories of growing up in Maine during the winter. I didn't live quite as rustic as she did, however, my mom did while growing up on the family farm in Monroe, Maine with five brothers and four sisters. I always enjoyed visiting that farm when I was just a youngster so her story brought back lots of fond memories. In any event, I think we will stay here in the south and watch it all unfold on TV. This morning we have watched a couple of our neighbors head out for parts west and north to celebrate Christmas with family. Last year we stayed here at Rainbow Plantation for Christmas after which we decided that that was not how we wanted to celebrate the day so we'll be heading north as well in a couple of days (only not into the inclement weather). We look forward to another grand daughter fix in Tennessee and watching those two "little monsters" tear into their Christmas gifts. Then we'll have a nice pork roast with all the trimmings for dinner and, as always, there will be more than enough snacks around for munching on throughout the day. That's the way Christmas Day should be! Saturday, December 20, 2008 Yesterday was another one of those nice warm days where shorts and sandals were the dress of the day. I worked on the November Travelogue a little but it was just too nice of a day to sit inside so we went outside to play. We went for a bike ride and finally met up with Jack and Danielle Mayer. Jack has been sick as well so they haven't been outside much either. We chatted for about a half hour and then finished our bike ride. Once we got home I continued doing some yard work. The grass around the concrete pad needed to be trimmed back and the flower garden needed to be cleaned out from the over growth that took place while we were away. Alex wanted to sit outside for a while. Whenever he is outside he just sits in my lap and enjoys the wind blowing in his face. He is a good little (if you call a twenty pound katt little) kitty and doesn't attempt to get down which in not allowed since Ragdoll katts are not certified for outdoor use. Judy J worked on her beading and did some meal planning. Both the budget and my pudgy little body need to go on a diet so Judy is putting together a meal plan that will accomplish both if it is followed. That's a big "if" but I sure would like to lose a few pounds. At four o'clock we went to the social hour at the clubhouse. Escapees' parks have a social hour each afternoon where we get to meet new arrivals and learn of any up coming events. After that we came back to East Traveler Street and joined in the evening campfire at Ron and Connie's house. Have you ever had biscuits on a stick? Well, we did that last night while sitting around the fire. What fun! Larry and Cindy brought all the "stuff" and gave lessons on cooking biscuits on a stick over an open fire. They were scrumptious. Stuff included the special sticks used for cooking, the biscuits, real butter to put on the hot-off-the-fire biscuits as well as home made blueberry jam straight from Maine, marmalade, and honey. Thanks Larry and Cindy for showing us how this is done as well as supplying all the ingredients. They were yummy! The evening air began to get damp which meant it was time for Judy and I to get inside so we wouldn't relapse. We came home and made Sloppy Joes for dinner using Linda Payne's BBQ sauce for her "OH MY! Slow-cooked Spareribs". I gotta say that those were the best sloppy Joe's we've ever eaten. So, that's a wrap up of our day. Again, I don't know what we do all day, but we never seemed to get finished. We have no plans for today other than to let the day take us where ever it leads. So take care until tomorrow. Friday, December 19, 2008 We may whine about our weather patterns down here in the deep south but imagine living in the northeast right about now. Our friends, Mike and Peggy Evringham, have found themselves held hostage in their home by several winter storms - first an ice storm that knocked out their power for a few days and now just the continuing snow (and freezing rain) that requires due diligence in order to keep the driveway cleared. Mike writes down his thoughts about it all in the form of a poem; for a chuckle take a little time to read it and y'all will begin to appreciate the cold warm weather we have been having here in the south. I've been tellin' ya, Mike, to head that beast of yours south - hope you can get it out of the driveway!!!! See ya real soon :-) Since we arrived in 'Bama we've all managed to get sick. First the RV (refridge issues), then Judy J, and next me and the truck (bearing issues). However, the katts have managed to stay above the fray. I think it's all behind us now and we can start getting into our daily routine again. Yesterday Judy J went to one of her basket weaving gatherings while I did some yard work (I should actually call it yard play because I enjoy doing it). The temperatures have been in the high seventies which is just where we like it, however, it's not going to last for long. There is a mini exodus from Rainbow Plantation as people have stated leaving to celebrate Christmas with family members in parts east, west, and north. They will all begin returning right after Christmas so come January 1st our winter social event will resume again. Today I am going to work on the November Travelogue. Our daughter emailed us saying: It's December 18 ... And your travelogues for November 2008 are not posted. I’m just sayin’… Being sick and taking classes are no excuse. There's my 2 cents worth. So I guess I had better get my act together and finish the travelogue. Well, that's that for today. . . . . . Thursday, December 18, 2008 So, I take the truck in to have the rear wheel bearings replaced and learned that not only do we need the wheel bearings replaced but the pinion gear bearings need to be replaced as well. The cost promptly went from $360 to $970; needless to say, we were not happy but what can ya do? The bottom line is that we are pulling around a lot of weight and that puts additional stress on the drive train. The truck is rated to tow 16,800 pounds and our rig is only 14,800 but the truck's Combine Gross Vehicle Weight rating is for 22,000 pounds and we were at 22,040 at our last weighing. Since that weighing we have replaced the televisions with LCD HD which are less than half the weight. Also, we left the ladder and the tri-pod behind in the storage shed along with other some other basement "extras". I, also, left some wood working tools behind so we have reduced the weight by about 400 pounds, however, I have added weight with the doors under the desk, the baseboard, and the wainscoting that I have installed. Also, clothes add weight, we try to eliminate one for one but in reality that doesn't happen. Further, hobbies and other personal belongings have a tendency to sneak up on you. Now you see the reason to have your rig weighed and be diligent about maintaining your weight limits. I'm not sure that weight was the reason for the bearings failing, after all, the truck has almost 125,000 miles on it (with over 80,000 towing) and things do wear out but it most likely contributed to it. Even if you are within your weight range towing still adds extra stress to the drive train as well as the suspension and braking systems of your truck so weight management is paramount. Here's something interesting. When the parts arrived they were not right so after doing some research the shop discovered that we have the same differential that gets installed in one ton dually trucks. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not but it can't hurt. In reviewing our 2008 budget, surprise, surprise, we will be about $2,000 over budget. Before we arrived back at Rainbow Plantation it looked as if we were going to be about $400 over budget for the year but, with the refrigerator replacement and now this - oh well, it's only money!! When it's gone, it's gone - then we'll have to figure out how we are going to get some more. In any event, we refuse to charge "stuff" up so we'll just have to go without if it comes to that. We're still sure we can make it to retirement time but it's becoming an adventure to see just how we are going to meet that challenge. It just goes to show you that the fulltiming lifestyle is not an escape but just an alternative lifestyle with it's own set of trials and tribulations. There are good times and there are rough times but there are more good times than rough. So, if you are contemplating a fulltiming life than just be realistic about it but don't be discouraged because where there's a will, there's a way. Wednesday, December 17, 2008 "It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood!" Well, it will be just as soon as the fog lifts. The weather is supposed to be getting better later today and hanging around for a couple of days. But any day that you don't have to go to w*rk is a wonderful day. I managed to get a little taste of what Judy J had and it's not a whole lot of fun. In spite of it we still got a few things accomplished before my bride sent me off marching to my bed. She claimed I was being a grump - can you imagine that? Sweet little ol' me being a grump? No way, absolutely not, couldn't happen. Anyway, that's why there was no entry yesterday; my mind was pretty much mush yesterday morning (no comments needed from the cheap seats!) Today it's off the first thing this morning to get the rear wheel bearing changed out in the truck. We've been hearing a "whirring" sound coming from the right rear section of the truck at around 35 to 40 MPH and my past history leads me to the wheel bearings. I'm getting both rear wheels done since that same past history tells me if one side is going the other is right behind it. This is something that we should have had done while we were in Nashville but just never got "a round tuit". We'll put another thousand miles on the truck going to Murfreesboro for Christmas so we didn't dare push it any longer. Yesterday we did get the rest of the Christmas presents in the U. S. Mail system - one package for our son in Michigan and a second for Marc, Amie, Briana, and Lola in New Hampshire. Mary is going to celebrate Christmas in New Hampshire so there was a little something in the box for her as well. Miss Mary likes her snow for Christmas so she just jumps on a plane heading north. This year she is taking Joel, her boy friend, with her so the rest of the family can meet him and he can have a white Christmas. Snow for Christmas is something that doesn't happen that often in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Well, that'll will do if for today . . . . . . . . May God Bless! Monday, December 15, 2008 With Judy J beginning to feel better "thangs" are getting back to normal, however, I have started barking (i.e. coughing). Hope I can avoid going through what Judy did - I have already started taking some meds as part of my avoidance plan. Anyway, we went to church yesterday then played inside since it was rainy. Last night we went to the Sunday Night Ice Cream Social. It's amazing how many people are in the park at this time of year. The word is getting out that Rainbow Plantation is the place to be and it is becoming a popular destination park. Each year there are more and more people in the park during December, a time when a lot of RVers head home for the holidays. Gary, the park manager, announced last night that they already have over 120 people signed up for Christmas dinner (they had over 240 for Thanksgiving Dinner). There are so many activities available that if you find yourself bored it's your own fault. Both Judy and I could be doing something at the clubhouse everyday. There are get togethers/classes for most of Judy's basket weaving activities and there digital photography, investment, computer, fishing, etc. etc. "classes/clubs" for me to attend. On top of that you could join in with a bunch of people who are flying kites each day at one o'clock. And with a lot of people in the park it makes it a whole lot more fun to join in with the activities. There are plenty of opportunities to meet new people, enjoy the company of others, and have lots of laughs as well as learn a new craft/hobby. Even if you are an "expert" in your basket weaving endeavor you will learn "new tricks of the trade" by joining in with the group, so don't stay away!! In any event, it's going to be nice to have our lifestyle back to normal so we can join in with all the goings on throughout the park and in the local area; not to mention having my bride back in the land of the living. Sunday, December 14, 2008 One of the greatest things about being back at Rainbow Plantation is Jubilee Shores United Methodist Church. We are sooooo happy to be back in church again. It has been difficult for us to find churches in which we can have a true worship experience. While workamping in New York we w*rk on Sundays and as we travel we very seldom find a church (not that there aren't any) to attend. We used to worship at Two Rivers Baptist Church whenever we were in Nashville but there has been a large personnel change and it just wasn't the same. Anyway, we are back "home" and immensely enjoy worshipping at Jubilee Shores so today we will certainly be in attendance. It is our hope that you all (all y'all down here in the south) have a church where you can gather and worship. This is the time of year that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior - the greatest gift ever given to mankind. "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 We have been soooo blessed to live in this country and have so many creature comforts (and "toys") that we forget how great a gift this really is. With our lousy economy this year it is my prayer that we will all slow down and take time to reflect on the "reason for the season". Okay, I'm done preaching now so I had better go get a shower and get ready to gather together to worship my Lord and Savior. Saturday, December 13, 2008 It's hard to believe that we have been back to Rainbow Plantation for two weeks. We have gotten quite a bit done but I still have a lot to do and since I will be going back to w*rk in January I had better "get a move on"! But, first of all, let me say that Judy J is beginning to feel better - she's even beginning to sound like herself again instead of Fog Horn Leg Horn. We've been back in 'Bama for two weeks now and she has been sick for about a week and a half which has made it seem like an eternity to her. I on the other hand have gotten quite a bit done around the house as well as the H&R Block training and, that too, has made it feel longer than two weeks to me as well. But it is still nice to be "home" again. Last night we went up and sat around the campfire for a little while with our neighbors then we came home and had dinner, watched some television, and then, guess what? You're right, we went to beddy bye. That cough syrup with codeine in it knocks Miss J out "like a light". She becomes nothing but a lump in the bed for the next 8 to 10 hours - that is, she doesn't hardly move all night. That must be some goooooood stuff, maybe I'll give it a try. Okay, so what's up for today? The sun is rising, the birds are singing, and it is supposed to be warming up. We have to get a tank of propane and, if Judy J is feeling up to it, I would like to stop at Lowe's and/or Home Depot to look at some wood. We have decided that we want to replace the curtains (which Mr. Alex likes to chew up) with wooden lambrequins. Oak would be my wood of choice but one of the problems with oak is if it is not completely dry it will crack. I sure don't want to spend a lot of time building and installing the lambrequins to only wake up some morning and see a crack down the middle of one. That would pi.., oops, make me angry! The other project, and it's a big one, is rebuilding the cabinet under the kitchen sink. I have already purchased most of the supplies but still need some lumber for framing. My brother-in-law, Warren, who is an expert wood worker, suggests using ash instead of oak - it should be less expensive and not subject to the cracking. He also suggests that I find a local mill that drys wood and see what they have. There maybe be a local wood that would be available that we could use (like a pecan, magnolia, or tulip). Pine and cypress are too soft (instead of chewing it, Alex would use it to sharpen his claws). I'm leaning toward the ash suggestion but will just have to do some shopping. I will take some before, during, and after pictures of the projects to share with you once we complete them. As you can see, there is more to do than there is time to do. "I don't know what I do everyday, but I never seem to get finished." Friday, December 12, 2008 "Baby, it's cold outside!" Even here in the deep southland! Brrrrr! By Sunday the temperatures will be back near the 70's and it's supposed to stay that way for a while. Yippee, yahoo! Miss J is finally on the mend. She has two meds, one is an antibiotic and the other is a potent cough syrup that knocks her out. She and the katts have been sleeping about twenty hours a day - well, not quite but more hours than she wants to sleep. Last night we went over to the club house for dinner. Judy feels like she's missing out because she has been sick pretty much since we arrived. She got to do a few things for the first couple of days but for the last week and a half she has been "down for the count". It seemed nice to her to get to go out of the house for a little while and see some real live people (other than me that is). Today I finish the H&R Block Basic Training. Next I will have to do some online courses before January 1st and then I will be "good to go" for this coming tax season. For the first couple of years you have to "pay your dues" and continue completing on line training courses. After that you can make some decent money during the tax season (January through April). So, it looks like our future way of life will be spending half the year at Rainbow Plantation and the other half on the road traveling, sightseeing, and visiting friends and relatives. We're okay with that scenario. It's not exactly what we had in mind when we "hit the road" back in October of 2006 but it will allow us to fulfill our expectations by balancing our ability to make a few bucks while allowing us to continue Wandering America. "Where there's a will, there's a way." As you can see, it is necessary to remain flexible but if you want to live the fulltiming lifestyle it can be done. It may not look exactly like what you expected but it can be done and it will be enjoyable. Being debt free gives you a lot of flexibility - I would highly recommend starting out debt free unless you have "deep pockets" with enough money in reserve to meet your financial obligations. So don't give up on your dream; keep looking for opportunities that allow you to live your dream - they are out there. Thursday, December 11, 2008 What's happening to our world? The weather girl (woman) is actually swearing on the air; she said that curse word of all curse words - sn*w!!! Aren't we in 'bama? Did we go back to New York? We are supposed to be walking on the beach not putting sn*w tires on our truck. They don't even sell sn*w shovels at the local hardware store - what will we do, oh, what will we do? Yesterday the temperatures reached the 70's and today they are talking about sn*w. If we get any it will be just light flurries and that will most likely take place north of us so all we will probably see is some c*ld temperatures but, you just don't hear "sn*w" coming out of the weather person's mouth here in 'bama unless they are talking about Michigan or other places north. Judy went to see the doctor yesterday afternoon and came home with drugs. She's much better this morning but will be on antibiotics for at least the next four days. She most likely had a sinus infection but it has now become bronchitis which if left unchecked can turn into pneumonia so it's a good thing that she finally got checked out. My classes are going well. I can tell you (and you won't be surprised) that taxes are a very complexed thing. One thing that you need to remember when doing a course like this is that there is no logic behind tax law (rules or regulations) so don't try to make sense of it, just accept it. We are only scratching the surface of it all in this course - it will prepare us to do only the basic tax returns. H&R Block offers online training courses that I will need to begin working on in the coming weeks. Right now I think this is going to be a fun seasonal J-O-B that I will be able to return to each winter while we are here at Rainbow Plantation. Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Judy J is going to have to go to the doctor. She just isn't getting better fast enough. Whatever she's got is just hanging in there totally wearing her down. It has settled into her lungs and won't let go. Zyrtec and Mucinex just isn't getting the job done so Dr. Chance (yes, we took a chance) is going to get a visit, hopefully this morning, from my bride. "It's six o'clock, Buddy", and the rain is coming down. The lighting is flashing and the thunder is growling. We are under severe weather conditions until eight o'clock and when I say the rain is coming down I mean the rain is coming down. It couldn't be raining any harder if we were sitting under a waterfall. A deer went running by and she was running so fast and it was pouring so hard that she left a wake when passed by - that's how hard it is raining. My first day of skool was just fine. Miss Judy sent me off with my new pencil box (it even had one of those little pencil sharpeners in it), a sandwich, a few potato chips, and a Ding Dong. Well, that's not quite accurate - she sent me off to skool with a notebook pad, a mechanical pencil, and a kiss (the kiss was certainly better than any ol' Ding Dong). I was a good little boy; playing well and getting along with others. The bottom line is that I think that I'm going to enjoy this J-O-B. I've always been involved in corporate finances / budgets and this is no where near as intense as that. We'll just have to see if it will be financially worth the effort in the long run - I think it will be acceptable. After all, I'm not looking to make six figures while shouldering the responsibility that goes with that; just a few thousand each year will be more than sufficient. There are 15 of us in the class with three other residents from Rainbow Plantation. They have 17 different stores throughout L. A. (lower Alabama) so there will be plenty of assignments for everyone who passes the class. Jan (from the ERPU sites), Ron (from the deeded lots), and Jim (from the daily sites) are the other Plantation residents. They are fun to be with, we w*rked with Jan and Ron last year when we did the RGIS "thang" and all of us with spouses often gather around the campfires during the evenings. Well, there isn't very much else to report this morning. I will be in training for the next three days and Miss Judy will be on the mend, I hope. So Take Care, Have Fun, and God Bless. Tuesday, December 9, 2008 Miss Judy is beginning to feel better, hooray for our team. These sinus infections set her right back on her hunches; that is to say that she goes down for the count and stays that way for a few day, but she's on the mend now. It will be a few more days before she is totally back to normal (what ever that is) so we'll just continue to lay low for a while longer. Beginning this morning and for the next four days I will be going to H&R Block's tax classes. They will be held from 9 to 5 each day and, no, Dolly Parton will not be there. Normally the classes begin at the end of August and there is a charge of $75 (which is cheap; it can cost up to $300 in some areas of the country) but they didn't get enough people this year so they are offering this concentrated course for free. I'm sure that they will be looking for a commitment to work for them during the peak season of mid January to mid March which will be just fine with me. It is considered a seasonal J-O-B and is short term enough that it will not effect our residency status (one of the things that we always look at before accepting w*rk assignments) and it will pay $9.00 per hour. That will help the ol' budget just a little bit. Yesterday I finished washing the RV. Next week is supposed to be warmer so I plan to hand wax the rig as well as wash the truck and guess what? The shed needs to be washed as well - the more you own the more you are slave to. We did our grocery shopping and I must say that it is good to be out of the Nashville area. We were able to get our spending back under budget again. Between the high prices and the high tax on food in the Nashville area we exceeded the budget every time we went to Wally World. There is still tax on food in Alabama but it is only 6% not 8 and 9% like in Tennessee (that's 8% on food and 9 1/4% on non food items). We shop at the Fairhope Walmart because Foley has an additional city tax of 2%. Now, there is a lot going on around the park and in this area. Being that Judy hasn't been feeling well we have not be participating. Tonight the Foley Pops is presenting a Christmas show at the Civic Center. Our friend Randy plays in the Pops and a lot of folks from Rainbow Plantation will be attending. Tomorrow a group of people are planning a trip to Bellingrath Gardens to see the Christmas lights. They will be leaving during the mid afternoon but since I will be in "school" we won't be able to go. However, there will be something going on every week so we'll have plenty to take advantage of once we get through this week. You just can't live in Rainbow Plantation and not find something to do; there's so much going on that you may just have to buy a day planner to keep track of it all. :-) Monday, December 8, 2007 Yesterday I went to church alone as Miss J has been battling a sinus infection. This morning she woke feeling a little better, maybe she's turning the corner. Anyway, it's nice to be back in our "home" church again. After I got home from church I climbed up on to the roof and gave it a good wash, then I proceeded to wash the rest of the rig getting three quarters of it washed. Today I will finish washing the RV, wash the wheels, and apply 303 to the tires (303 is a product the protects the tires from ultra-violet rays). This morning is our bi-weekly grocery shopping day. Hopefully we are not pushing Judy to hard - we are going to get out, get-r-done, and get home as fast as possible. Yesterday she slept for over twelve hours and even though she's feeling better we don't want to over do it causing her to relapse. Well, that's about it for today. We are just living the life - we're not on vacation so everyday isn't all that exciting. Once Miss J gets to feeling better we want to do some biking. There's a couple of bike trails in the area that we would like to ride. Before we do that, however, I have to tune up both bikes - it's been years since they were tuned and they aren't shifting like they should. Take care until tomorrow. . . . . . Saturday, December 6, 2008 Carpe Diem, success was ours!! Christmas shopping 2008 is behind us, now we can relax and enjoy the rest of the holidays. There maybe a lot of stores at Eastern Shore Centre shopping mall but there are, also, stores opening up just one exit west of the shopping mall on I-10. That's where Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Books-A-Million, and Bass Pro Shop are located. Well, now, there's a J. C. Penneys and a Kohls. The Penneys is one of their larger stores with a good assortment of "stuff". Penneys has always been one of our favorite stores. Last year we had to drive to Pensacola, Florida to find one and we weren't very impressed with that store so we are extremely happy to have a nice Penneys store closer to home. One thing that we were going to do today was go to the Christmas Celebration at Heritage Park in Foley. There will be a lot of different events going on through out the day with music and a parade being just a couple of them. But Miss Judy is fighting off something (she can't talk, has a sore throat, and gets kinda achy every now and then) so I'm making her stay inside and keeping her out of the cool damp weather. I will stay inside with her to make sure she stays out of trouble - that can be a fulltime job in itself. Since we are playing inside there are two things that I must do today - one is vacuum the house (vacuuming is my job) and the other is to spend some time working on the November Travelogue. It just amazes me how dirty two people and two katts can get one small place. I have to vacuum at least every other day; it probably wouldn't hurt to do it everyday. As far as the travelogue is concerned, I have been making notes and working on it right along so it is just a matter of finalizing the writing, reviewing it with the editor (that would be the sick one), selecting and resizing the pictures, and publishing it. It will take me another four or five hours to complete the task so hopefully I will be publishing in just a few short days - so please hang in there. Speaking of the sick one, she has been immensely enjoying all of her basket weaving endeavors. Quilting is certainly one of her all time favorites and she has been helping Linda Payne with her first quilt. Linda spent a lot of time last year teaching Miss J how to do beading so she is just ecstatic to be able to help Linda. I got to see Linda's quilt yesterday afternoon just before the social hour at the club house - she is doing an excellent job. Linda is very talented and does a great job with every craft that she gets involved with so we just know that her quilt will be beautiful when she finishes. Fulltime RVing is more than just traveling around the country like nomads. It is getting involved with people, places, and things. The truth of the matter is that twenty four hours is just not enough time to get it all done. When you look over the number of hobbies that are available to get involved in you have a hard time deciding what to do next. It's like a kid in a candy store - you just can't make up your mind. You want to do it all but realize that that's just not possible. Having said all of that, I've been eying the kite flying hobby that is just getting off the ground (pun intended) here at Rainbow Plantation. It's amazing to see the number of new styled kites that are now available. When I was a kid (way back when Hector was a pup) there were two basic designs: the regular kite shape with a tail and the box kite. We had both with the box kite being a little more challenging to get into the air. It was not unusual for us to make our own kite using small tree branches, brown paper bags, cloth, and string. The tail would be made using string and some cloth torn into strips. The object, of course, was to see whose kite would fly the highest. After a while we would get bored with that and have kite wars which, of course, would end up destroying our kites. Then we would then just gather up the materials and just build another one. Well, now they have kites that do acrobats. They circle, they loop, they fly high and then swoop back toward the earth just to go skyward again before hitting the ground. I don't know if they are hard to fly but it certainly looks like a lot of fun. Is there a new hobby in my future? Time will tell. I would much rather have a kayak but there is a significant cost difference between a kite and a kayak so I just might "go fly a kite" while I am gathering my schekles to buy some kayaks. Friday, December 5, 2008 Yesterday was a rainy day so we played inside most of the day. I was a good little boy (well, maybe not so little) and played quietly, picked up my toys, and didn't run with scissors in my hands so Miss Judy made me a batch of home made chocolate chip cookies with walnuts in them - "num yummy!!!" But, I don't play well with others or share so you'll just have to take my word for it that the cookies are very good. We continued with the clean up effort, the decorating effort, and the napping effort. It was a remarkable day indeed. All the training that the katts have provided for power napping has really paid off in dividends. Thanks Katie and Alex - streeetttccchhh, yaaawwwnnn, puuurrr! So, to say the least, it was a nice quiet day with nothing else breaking. Yay!!! ERPU stands for Escapees Rainbow Parks Unlimited and is a separate division of the Escapees Club that leases lots (or sites) for a five year period. There are 22 lots at Rainbow Plantation that belong to ERPU which are located on a dead end street named East Traveler and we have leased one of those lots (lot 318). To obtain one of those lots you must put your name on a waiting list which cost $20 per year. Once your number comes up you put $14,500 into a "kitty" and pay a $750 per year maintenance fee. At the end of five years you get the choice to "give up" your lot or extend your lease (it costs $1 to extend the lease for another five years). When you "give up" your lot you get your $14,500 back so basically you lose the interest that you would have gained - in the current market we made money 'cause we would have lost 30% of it had it stayed in our investments. When we stayed at Rainbow Plantation in January and February of 2007 we decided to go ahead and put our name on the waiting list thinking that it would take two to three years before a lot would become available. Four months later (July 1st of 2007) we signed the lease for our lot. At that time we weren't really ready to have a "permanent site" but decided to go ahead and do it anyway. Today we are extremely glad we that we made that decision. In the current economy we are being forced to "hunker down" somewhere for a long period of time and this is a great place for us to be. We love the area and have a great church family as well as lots of friends / neighbors at Rainbow Plantation - we'll be here through the end of April. We aren't ready to give up the nomad lifestyle yet but for the next year or so it is going to be necessary for us to continue workamping in order to build up our reserves (now if only we can quit dipping into the ol' emergency fund long enough to shove some moolar back into it). I have found a seasonal J-O-B and will start training on Tuesday with H&R Block. They need some extra people for their "Peak Season" during January and February so they are offering a concentrated training course for free none-the-less. This will be something that I will be able do each year in just about any place we find ourselves; most likely right here in L. A. (Lower Alabama). Today we plan to finish up our Christmas shopping. We'll start with a stop at Walmart in Fairhope then onto the library to pick up some reading material. Next is a stop at the "basket weaving" store (Hobby Lobby) and then onto Eastern Shore Shopping Center. Hopefully this will be a successful "hunting trip" and we'll "bag" the big one leaving Christmas shopping for 2008 behind us. Thursday, December 4, 2008 I slept in yesterday morning until quarter of seven. We had time for a couple cups of coffee and then we had breakfast earlier than usual since the RV Repairman was coming at nine o'clock. He showed up as scheduled and within an hour and a half the old refrigerator was out and the new one was in. J., one of our fellow East Traveler Street neighbors, helped get the old unit out and the new unit in - Thanks J.. By eleven it was back to the routine, however, we did have to wait a few hours for the fridge to cool down before putting our goodies back into it. Life at the Plantation just seems to roll along and before you know it the day has ended. I can't tell you all that we do but I can tell you that we never seem to get finished. One thing that takes place everyday at the Escapees Parks is the social hour at four o'clock. We try to go several times each week because that's where you get to meet the new folks coming into the park. It's an opportunity to make new friends and share a little time with others throughout the park. Yesterday we met Art and Jan from Pennsylvania. They will be here for a month and we hope to get to know them a little better as time goes on. Another way to get to know others is at the weekly meals at the club house. There are meals on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, breakfast on Saturday mornings and bagels and coffee on Sunday mornings. On top of that there are a ton of activities each week to keep people out of trouble. So you get plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make lasting friendships by being involved. Today is going to be a rainy day so Miss Judy and I are going to play inside for most of the day. We are decorating the place for Christmas plus still finishing the "deep" cleaning. I, also, need a rematch on Sequence as Judy won two out of three games the last time we played. We both want to get caught up on some reading; it's been a long time since we had time to just sit down and read. One thing that we haven't done since we've been back is to sit around the fire with our neighbors. Two things have happened that has slowed down the evening fires - one is the weather has been a little chilly in the evening and secondly is that Ron, who is one of the primary hosts of the nightly fires, has broken his arm while, of all things, cutting up fire wood. He is scheduled to have surgery on Friday and we wish him a speedy recovery. It will be too rainy tonight for a fire so, most likely, it will be this weekend before the next one takes place. We are looking forward to gathering together again around the fire while chit chatting, sharing travel stories, and sipping wine. So, I guess we are pretty much settled back into our Rainbow Plantation routine - It's certainly nice to be back. Wednesday, December 3, 2008 Like I've said before; sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you. Well yesterday the bear got us. Our refrigerator bit the dust! Yep, Monday night Miss Judy said she thought the freezer wasn't working so I put a thermometer sensor in the freezer to monitor the temperature. The freezer was at 21 degrees but as the night progressed the temperature continued to rise - by yesterday morning it was at 28 degrees. I tried operating refrigerator in both the AC and gas modes but nothing. So I journeyed over to Norm's house remembering he had had problems with his refrigerator back in 2003. He told me they had had a ammonia leak and asked if I had any greenish-yellowish stuff on the back of the refrigerator (this is behind the outside panel). I told him not that I noticed so he came over to take a look. While we were at the Gypsy Journal rally in September we had the recall work done on the refrigerator which included the installation of a tin plate that covered up the bottom right portion of the opening thereby blocking the ability to see into that area. Norm took the plate off and, sure enough, there was a puddle of dried out ammonia (greenish-yellowish stuff). That means that the cooling unit has leaked and will need to be replaced. Now, there are two options - one is to replace the cooling unit (which runs around $1,000) and the other is to replace the refrigerator (which runs around $1,600). Option one would required putting the cooling unit on order and waiting at least a week for the part to arrive while option 2 had a refrigerator readily available with installation occurring the next morning (that's today). So we chose "door" number 2. The RV Technician that we are using. who just happens to live right here at Rainbow Plantation, didn't recommend changing out the cooling unit. Norm had his cooling unit changed out with no further problems with his refrigerator, however, another of our neighbors had their cooling unit changed out and had nothing but problems. I guess it's pretty much a crap shoot so in the long run we probably made the right choice - at least there will be a two year warranty on the new refrigerator. Judy and I went to Camping World and picked up the new refrigerator and the technician will arrive at 9:00 this morning to install it. Then he will work with the insurance company to see how much money they will authorize for the work - most likely they will only authorize the installation of a new cooling unit which means that it will end up costing us $500 to $600 - easy come, easy go (actually it ain't that easy to come by any more). All I can say is that this is becoming a very expensive year when it comes to the ol' emergency fund - dental work, truck repairs, new computer, and now a new refrigerator. Hopefully nothing else fails for the rest of the year, actually for rest of next year as well. Other than than that we managed to get the grass cut back away from the patio tiles where we set the outdoor fireplace, get the fireplace out of the shed, and get the picnic table out of the shed. So progress is being made, however, ever so slowly. Glad we are not w*rking or else we wouldn't be able to get it all done. I had better get going and take a shower 'cause 9:00 comes early when you're "retired". This fast pace is giving me stress!!!! Tuesday, December 2, 2008 Oh, it seems so nice just to have our days back. We got up had our coffee while we chatted a little bit. Then it was time for some cereal, showers, etc. before Miss Judy took off for her morning Basket Weaving endeavors while I stayed home and did some "deep" cleaning of the rig. It's amazing how dirty a place gets when you just do the "routine" cleaning for several months. We didn't have dust bunnies on top of the kitchen cabinets, we had dust rabbits. I started at the ceilings and worked my way down. It will take several days to get this place as clean as we want it. Now, don't think that Judy just goes off and leaves me with all the work - oh, no! She does more than her fair share around here; this is just my contribution to this lifestyle. We went to Wally World and picked up few groceries to get us through until next shopping day. Stopped at Ace Hardware where I picked up some bracket material to remount the bedroom TV. When we got home I made the brackets and mounted the TV (the plastic brackets that I had made a year ago broke). I had started some barbecued pork loins in the crock pot and they were ready by 3:00. Being that we hadn't eaten since breakfast we decided to have an early dinner. So I sliced some red potatoes in half, added some "Montreal Chicken" seasoning and baked them in the microwave. We, also, had cooked up some frozen broccoli with lemon garlic seasoning. It was a decent little meal which led right into a half hour nap. Then it was time to go over to the club house for the social hour after which we came home and watched the news, played on our 'puters, and went to bed. Yep, real exciting stuff - like I said, it sure is nice to have our days back. Monday, December 1, 2008 Yesterday was our first full day back on East Traveler Street and a busy day it was indeed. Alex got Miss Judy up at 5:00 in the morning (back to his old tricks). I guess he remembers being in Alabama because that is how he would start his day when we were here before. Also, he sits at the door and meows to come out with us whenever we are outside (he hasn't done that much since we left Rainbow Plantation last spring). Any how, we began our day with our morning coffee and the internet. Then it was time to get ready for church; we leave at 8:30 since the early service begins at 9:00 - it sure was nice to worship in our own church again. After we got home we spent time visiting with the neighbors, had a little lunch, took a quick power nap, and watched some football (that's something that we hadn't been able to do while we were in Nashville because we w*rked on Sunday afternoons). At a little after four we headed to Randy and Terry's for dinner. Terry had fixed a casserole (which was good - thanks Terry) and we just enjoyed catching up since our last get together at the Gypsy Journal Rally waaaay back in September. As always, we just kinda pick up where ever we left off and go from there with plenty of laughter along the way. It is always nice to spend time with Randy, Terry, and Blackie the dawg. The four of us meandered over to the club house around six o'clock for the Sunday evening Ice Cream Social which is always a fun time with plenty of socializing with old friends as well as meeting new friends. We were home by seven and watched some more football before hitting the hay. Today Miss Judy has a couple of Basket Weaving activities that she will be attending this morning while I will start some intense cleaning. This afternoon we are going to go into Foley to get some propane, pick up a few things at Wally World, and I need to get some material to make a bracket for the bedroom television. Something else will most likely pop up, like wine time around a fire this evening. I know, this is a rough life but someone has to do it so we will just bite the bullet, roll up our sleeves, and get busy. The sacrifices that I am called upon to make. |