Handmade slippers.......guess what materials were used!!!!!!
Saturday, September 24, 2005
A mid-day report from the CC Rally in Branson...
With the crunch of gravel close by to TheHowserHouse this morning around 7:30am.....my body slowly came alive..and I realized that it was about time for the gathering of the coffee and donut Creekers. A quick shower and I and the 1st Lady were ready to meet the world as we stepped down from our rolling home. A brief walk up the street and we found the other Creekers who seemed to have got an earlier start on their morning coffee than I did.
The laughter and stories were already flowing as quick as the coffee went down with everyone that was there. New faces were introduced and before long the morning was passing quickly. The 1st Lady and I decided another quick shopping trip to the Outlet Mall was in order, so off we went........only to run into three other Lady Creekers who were anxious to get bags of new items into their hands.
We made the route around the mall and then returned here to the cg so the 1st Lady could attend the crafters experience/workshop. THIS is NEW to her.......she is not a crafter!!!! We'll see how this goes.......hmmmmm.
Later.....
The laughter and stories were already flowing as quick as the coffee went down with everyone that was there. New faces were introduced and before long the morning was passing quickly. The 1st Lady and I decided another quick shopping trip to the Outlet Mall was in order, so off we went........only to run into three other Lady Creekers who were anxious to get bags of new items into their hands.
We made the route around the mall and then returned here to the cg so the 1st Lady could attend the crafters experience/workshop. THIS is NEW to her.......she is not a crafter!!!! We'll see how this goes.......hmmmmm.
Later.....
Friday, September 23, 2005
WHAT fun and laughs at the Central Divisional Cedar Creek Rally!!!!!
We were up at 4:30am this morning.......had coffee ready shortly thereafter, and finished putting the personal things inside TheHowserHouse. Got her hooked up in the dark, and we were on the highway headed west at 6AM!! After one stop at a rest area south of Rolla, we arrived at the ABC Campground at 11:05AM and were escorted to our site immediately. Before I could get out of the truck, other CC owners and CC club members were there to welcome us and to assist us in getting TheHowserHouse level and the umbilical cords hooked up to electricity, water, sewer, and cable tv. Such GREAT people!!!! MUCH better than bellboys in a hotel......because the members are sincerely interested in helping everybody....without needing a tip.
There are now 24 rigs here from Missouri, TN, Kansas, Illinois, OK, and Texas. The afternoon was spent in visiting with friends we had made at the National Rally last spring...and in meeting new ones. The 1st Lady and I then went to our favorite little BBQ spot on the south side of Branson....and had some wonderful, wonderful food!!! WOW.....it is soooo goooood there.
Returning to the cg, we stopped at an outlet mall for about 45 minutes......nothing needed, so no purchases were made. Then stopped to get fuel for the truck.....UGH!!!! $75.00 worth of diesel to fill up what we had used on the trip down here......$2.75.9 per gallon. Thought I had better get the fuel just in case it might become scarce and hard to find down here since the pipeline has been shut down.
Then at 7pm tonight the club had a "white elephant" party with everyone bringing unwanted items and drawing for these wrapped items. Nothing of value, but lots of laughs.....LOTS!!!! This was all followed by a homemade ice cream party......yummmmmmmmyyyyy!!!!
Tomorrow........a gathering for donuts and coffee at one of the member's 5er. Then tomorrow night we all eat together.....and Sunday morning a pancake breakfast with live entertainment from the Branson musical entertainers who are employed at the shows here in town.
Sooooo, lots of fun and good to talk to others how have CC rigs about their little problems, concerns, and resolutions of their concerns. Learning lots!
More tomorrow......wifi is very weak here, so using the cell phone tonight, which is slow but not as bad as the wifi. Think we are too far removed from the router in the CG office.
Life is GOOD!!! And...I hope you are experiencing the same for yourselves!!!
There are now 24 rigs here from Missouri, TN, Kansas, Illinois, OK, and Texas. The afternoon was spent in visiting with friends we had made at the National Rally last spring...and in meeting new ones. The 1st Lady and I then went to our favorite little BBQ spot on the south side of Branson....and had some wonderful, wonderful food!!! WOW.....it is soooo goooood there.
Returning to the cg, we stopped at an outlet mall for about 45 minutes......nothing needed, so no purchases were made. Then stopped to get fuel for the truck.....UGH!!!! $75.00 worth of diesel to fill up what we had used on the trip down here......$2.75.9 per gallon. Thought I had better get the fuel just in case it might become scarce and hard to find down here since the pipeline has been shut down.
Then at 7pm tonight the club had a "white elephant" party with everyone bringing unwanted items and drawing for these wrapped items. Nothing of value, but lots of laughs.....LOTS!!!! This was all followed by a homemade ice cream party......yummmmmmmmyyyyy!!!!
Tomorrow........a gathering for donuts and coffee at one of the member's 5er. Then tomorrow night we all eat together.....and Sunday morning a pancake breakfast with live entertainment from the Branson musical entertainers who are employed at the shows here in town.
Sooooo, lots of fun and good to talk to others how have CC rigs about their little problems, concerns, and resolutions of their concerns. Learning lots!
More tomorrow......wifi is very weak here, so using the cell phone tonight, which is slow but not as bad as the wifi. Think we are too far removed from the router in the CG office.
Life is GOOD!!! And...I hope you are experiencing the same for yourselves!!!
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Toooo hot to be readying TheHowserHouse today!!!
OK......OK.....where the hell is Autumn??????? Did I miss something that the Bush Administration changed???? Did they re-arrange the calendar and decree that Autumn will start much later than it always has started here in Missouri???????????? Have the lobbyists for the gas and electrical utility companies managed to get the calendar, and hence, the heat and humidity, to last longer this year????? What the hell is happening????
In other words: it was tooooo damn hot and humid today to do much of anything outside!!!!! And I needed to finish getting TheHowserHouse ready to roll in the morning.......I did get it done, but it was certainly in spurts. As soon as I would become blinded by the sweat dripping into my eyes, then I would hastily make my blinded way back to the stick/brick to cool down and recover my sight.....and then repeat the same sequence over....and over....and over again!!! But.....think all is completed and hopefully ready to leave in the morning. The stick/brick will be occupied by family this weekend, so hope they can remember the combination to the burglar alarm.....hahhaa!!!! Could be embarrassing when the local PD arrive.....HA!
I had to go to the Regional MO School Bd. Assoc. meeting which our school hosted tonight. A three hour evening.......not sure what we gained from this......the same presenter as we had last year made an 1.5 hour "talk"......Ok....this makes me sound like it wasn't any good....welll...............
Soooo, until tomorrow evening...........Life is Good, and I hope for all of you, too.
In other words: it was tooooo damn hot and humid today to do much of anything outside!!!!! And I needed to finish getting TheHowserHouse ready to roll in the morning.......I did get it done, but it was certainly in spurts. As soon as I would become blinded by the sweat dripping into my eyes, then I would hastily make my blinded way back to the stick/brick to cool down and recover my sight.....and then repeat the same sequence over....and over....and over again!!! But.....think all is completed and hopefully ready to leave in the morning. The stick/brick will be occupied by family this weekend, so hope they can remember the combination to the burglar alarm.....hahhaa!!!! Could be embarrassing when the local PD arrive.....HA!
I had to go to the Regional MO School Bd. Assoc. meeting which our school hosted tonight. A three hour evening.......not sure what we gained from this......the same presenter as we had last year made an 1.5 hour "talk"......Ok....this makes me sound like it wasn't any good....welll...............
Soooo, until tomorrow evening...........Life is Good, and I hope for all of you, too.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Days go toooo fast......I'll soon be in the grave if this continues!
Oh where, oh where, did my day go to......oh where, oh where did it go?
With my coffee in hand and my lappie onmy knees
I sat outside and hoped for a breeze......NO LUCK!
Yep....another hot and humid one!! After my hot coffee on a hot patio, I returned to TheHowserHouse (stick/brick) and cooled down as I watched the growing intensity of Ms. Rita on the tellie. NOT GOOD!! Looking around, after reading my daily newspapers on the net, I realized that this brick and stick needed some sweeping, mopping, and dusting.....so....what did I do??? I DID IT!!! Oh yeah.......and now most of the house is clean and gleaming.
Had a bite of lunch.....plums, apple, and a left-over chicken strip from last night's salad. Then I decided I had to venture outside and get the windows on the rolling HowserHouse washed and a few other items taken care of. Soooo, with sweat rag wrapped around my forehead to soak up the salty sweat that always drips into my eyes, I got the ladder and began washing the windows. Oh my God......was it ever humid, but like the trooper that I am, I pushed on and before long, I was completely wet.....and completely finished with all the windows.
Cleaned this old man up, and prepared for my growing music school students......all five of them. Then the doorbell rang.....and the schedule that I had so carefully crafted...began. All tooo quickly, the lessons were completed and the 1st Lady brought in a pizza....(after I had created a wonderful egg salad this morning for dinner). But, the egg salad will keep.....so pizza it was.
Tonight....well, I watched the first segment of LOST.....a catch-up segment that brought me up-to-date on last year's story line. Then the second hour was the new beginning for this year........pretty good! Now....as I create this post, I am watching INVASION.......another possible show to keep track of this year.?????
Sooo, I know that all of you addicted readers to this little journal know soooo much about my daily Life......it would certainly be great to hear from those of you that I know out there in cyberspace. Goldie.....I read your newest installment(about time for a new one!)......and what you are reading here IS the truth! As to "bandwagon"......that will require some research to know what this phrase means.
So....another day flies by very, very quickly.....Life is good..and I hope for you, too!!
With my coffee in hand and my lappie onmy knees
I sat outside and hoped for a breeze......NO LUCK!
Yep....another hot and humid one!! After my hot coffee on a hot patio, I returned to TheHowserHouse (stick/brick) and cooled down as I watched the growing intensity of Ms. Rita on the tellie. NOT GOOD!! Looking around, after reading my daily newspapers on the net, I realized that this brick and stick needed some sweeping, mopping, and dusting.....so....what did I do??? I DID IT!!! Oh yeah.......and now most of the house is clean and gleaming.
Had a bite of lunch.....plums, apple, and a left-over chicken strip from last night's salad. Then I decided I had to venture outside and get the windows on the rolling HowserHouse washed and a few other items taken care of. Soooo, with sweat rag wrapped around my forehead to soak up the salty sweat that always drips into my eyes, I got the ladder and began washing the windows. Oh my God......was it ever humid, but like the trooper that I am, I pushed on and before long, I was completely wet.....and completely finished with all the windows.
Cleaned this old man up, and prepared for my growing music school students......all five of them. Then the doorbell rang.....and the schedule that I had so carefully crafted...began. All tooo quickly, the lessons were completed and the 1st Lady brought in a pizza....(after I had created a wonderful egg salad this morning for dinner). But, the egg salad will keep.....so pizza it was.
Tonight....well, I watched the first segment of LOST.....a catch-up segment that brought me up-to-date on last year's story line. Then the second hour was the new beginning for this year........pretty good! Now....as I create this post, I am watching INVASION.......another possible show to keep track of this year.?????
Sooo, I know that all of you addicted readers to this little journal know soooo much about my daily Life......it would certainly be great to hear from those of you that I know out there in cyberspace. Goldie.....I read your newest installment(about time for a new one!)......and what you are reading here IS the truth! As to "bandwagon"......that will require some research to know what this phrase means.
So....another day flies by very, very quickly.....Life is good..and I hope for you, too!!
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Hmmmm.....what did today bring??? Hmmmm...??
Another huge storm in the middle of last night........and, oh woe is me......I forgot to unplug, unscrew, and disconnect all of our high priced toys....the electronic technology which resides in each room in our stick and brick.....before laying my ripening body in the bed last night. So....with the crack of horrific lightening bolt which made me sit straight up in bed, despite my weakened right arm, I threw myself out of bed and stumbling around all of the shoes, books, pillow, etc., on the floor between my side of the bed and the door to the rest of the house so that I could unplug, unscrew, and disconnect our toys before they were overcharged by striking white bolts that kept attempting to hit TheHowserHouse. I managed to get a light on and then take care of my duties to save the toys. Whew......didn't have to call the insurance agent this morning!!!
Coffee this morning on a very wet and leave covered patio....and soon the humidity ran me back inside for the refreshing a/c. Some time was then spent working on a schedule for my growing number of private music students which I managed to juggle and get things to work, I hope.
This afternoon.......I began to work on the inside of the rolling HowserHouse, again. From Rv.Net I picked up an idea about our shower in the RV. Wax the inside walls of the shower, along with the glass enclosure walls, and it will stay much, much cleaner without the soap scum. So, I turned on a fan and DID it. Really looks good and new....now let's see if this little tip works. Then.....I drained the hot water heater and ran fresh water thru it and filled up the fresh water tank, and drained it, also. Before long, it will be ready for the weekend trip.
Dinner was quick and easy......a large salad of many different veggies, cheeses, and greens...with some quick fried chicken strips on the side. A glass of the dark red medicine to assist with my health......and we were stuffed.
Then.....at 6pm it was out to the yard to mow half of the yard while the sun was sinking in the west. But....oh yeah...the humidity was dripping off of each blade of grass and leaf. So, after an hour I returned to the cool of the stick and brick. After recovering from an almost heat stroke, I decided that some hot brownies with walnuts would revive my lagging energy.......and, OH YEAH.....it did do that. Along with a cold glass of no-fat milk, I consumed three brownies that were sagging under the weight of powdered sugar! A delicious pick-me-up, if I do say so myself...hahha.
And now......it is time to read some before turning out the lights. NO storm warnings for this evening, so we shall see if the weather channel is correct and I don't have to throw myself out of bed again tonight.
Sooo.......Life IS good.......and for all of you, too....I hope.
Coffee this morning on a very wet and leave covered patio....and soon the humidity ran me back inside for the refreshing a/c. Some time was then spent working on a schedule for my growing number of private music students which I managed to juggle and get things to work, I hope.
This afternoon.......I began to work on the inside of the rolling HowserHouse, again. From Rv.Net I picked up an idea about our shower in the RV. Wax the inside walls of the shower, along with the glass enclosure walls, and it will stay much, much cleaner without the soap scum. So, I turned on a fan and DID it. Really looks good and new....now let's see if this little tip works. Then.....I drained the hot water heater and ran fresh water thru it and filled up the fresh water tank, and drained it, also. Before long, it will be ready for the weekend trip.
Dinner was quick and easy......a large salad of many different veggies, cheeses, and greens...with some quick fried chicken strips on the side. A glass of the dark red medicine to assist with my health......and we were stuffed.
Then.....at 6pm it was out to the yard to mow half of the yard while the sun was sinking in the west. But....oh yeah...the humidity was dripping off of each blade of grass and leaf. So, after an hour I returned to the cool of the stick and brick. After recovering from an almost heat stroke, I decided that some hot brownies with walnuts would revive my lagging energy.......and, OH YEAH.....it did do that. Along with a cold glass of no-fat milk, I consumed three brownies that were sagging under the weight of powdered sugar! A delicious pick-me-up, if I do say so myself...hahha.
And now......it is time to read some before turning out the lights. NO storm warnings for this evening, so we shall see if the weather channel is correct and I don't have to throw myself out of bed again tonight.
Sooo.......Life IS good.......and for all of you, too....I hope.
Monday, September 19, 2005
BUSY, BUSY weekend....
Yesterday, Sunday, was no less busy than Saturday was for the 1st Lady and I. After spending a great evening with Dr. Jeni and girls at the Moser Estate, along with watching a DVD, "Crash". By the way......if you haven't seen this one......be SURE and see it. But......make certain you listen closely and don't leave the room without pausing the DVD. A great, great movie about the clash of cultures in today's life, and it certainly "preaches" that there is more to the lives of people then what you see!!!!
After a leisurely breakfast, the 1st Lady and I left and drove the few minutes into St Louis. Began looking at more furniture stores and trying to get ideas as to what type, color, etc., etc. we think we might like and would work within the confines of each room. By late afternoon, we were at Harrah's Casino......dropped a few(VERY few coins) into the machines and then met her sorority members and spouses for dinner there. Then we attended their Summer Concert Series on the parking lot.......with the comedian Sinbad being the program. WHAT a funny guy!!!! Very enjoyable evening, to say the least. Returned home about midnight.....ugh!
So, today....it is a "day of recovery" and catch-up. Had my Fr. Roast coffee this morning on the patio and was viciously attacked by mosquitos, sooooo........I sprayed the back yard, plants, shrubs with my trusty Mosquito - B - Gone spray which works everytime.....for about 2 weeks! Need to work some more on a few things in TheHowserHouse (rolling one) to prepare for a little jaunt this weekend.
So, I need to close this and get busy!! More later this evening.........(Goldie: coffee tomorrow????)
HA!! My need to get things done was wonderfully interrupted by a former student who is about to graduate from Univ. of Missouri.....in December. Had not seen him in eons of time and we spent an hour attempting to catch up on each other's lives. Think he knew more about me than me him......he looks at this blog whenever time allows him to do so. He is very busy traveling each weekend with his golf driving competitions.....next week to Jamaica. He will enjoy himself there! It was great fun visiting with him........we have share many memories of various trips...he went to Europe with me one summer.
Did some cleaning in the RV........and then closed up the slides as the weather channel is forecasting BIG storms tonight. Fixed some finger foods to eat with our dark red medicine which we consumed before dinner
tonight. Two more workers arrived and began installing the new sheet rock/drywall on the walls and ceiling of our garage......didn't get here until after 5pm and remained until dark.
Put a few pics on here that were taken at the Moser Estate this past weekend of the newest member of our enlarging family......Ava. She is now almost 5 months olds and is probably the best baby I have ever known.
Of course, the pics wouldn't be complete without one of her older sister, Meghan........who is VERY much enjoying her first year in school/kindergarten. She seems to be a sponge as she is soaking up everything that they are teaching to her........even counting by 11's!!!!!
Soooo.....until later, Life is good......and I hope your's is also.
After a leisurely breakfast, the 1st Lady and I left and drove the few minutes into St Louis. Began looking at more furniture stores and trying to get ideas as to what type, color, etc., etc. we think we might like and would work within the confines of each room. By late afternoon, we were at Harrah's Casino......dropped a few(VERY few coins) into the machines and then met her sorority members and spouses for dinner there. Then we attended their Summer Concert Series on the parking lot.......with the comedian Sinbad being the program. WHAT a funny guy!!!! Very enjoyable evening, to say the least. Returned home about midnight.....ugh!
So, today....it is a "day of recovery" and catch-up. Had my Fr. Roast coffee this morning on the patio and was viciously attacked by mosquitos, sooooo........I sprayed the back yard, plants, shrubs with my trusty Mosquito - B - Gone spray which works everytime.....for about 2 weeks! Need to work some more on a few things in TheHowserHouse (rolling one) to prepare for a little jaunt this weekend.
So, I need to close this and get busy!! More later this evening.........(Goldie: coffee tomorrow????)
HA!! My need to get things done was wonderfully interrupted by a former student who is about to graduate from Univ. of Missouri.....in December. Had not seen him in eons of time and we spent an hour attempting to catch up on each other's lives. Think he knew more about me than me him......he looks at this blog whenever time allows him to do so. He is very busy traveling each weekend with his golf driving competitions.....next week to Jamaica. He will enjoy himself there! It was great fun visiting with him........we have share many memories of various trips...he went to Europe with me one summer.
Did some cleaning in the RV........and then closed up the slides as the weather channel is forecasting BIG storms tonight. Fixed some finger foods to eat with our dark red medicine which we consumed before dinner
tonight. Two more workers arrived and began installing the new sheet rock/drywall on the walls and ceiling of our garage......didn't get here until after 5pm and remained until dark.
Put a few pics on here that were taken at the Moser Estate this past weekend of the newest member of our enlarging family......Ava. She is now almost 5 months olds and is probably the best baby I have ever known.
Of course, the pics wouldn't be complete without one of her older sister, Meghan........who is VERY much enjoying her first year in school/kindergarten. She seems to be a sponge as she is soaking up everything that they are teaching to her........even counting by 11's!!!!!
Soooo.....until later, Life is good......and I hope your's is also.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!!!!
Nothing more need be said.......it was the nicest day that we have had in Missouri since before the terrible heat of the summer arrived!!!!! Clear blue skies, "just right" temps, and no humitidy made this Saturday exceptional.
We went to St Louis this afternoon following a stop to visit Mike in Bonne Terre. We had to stop at Circuit City for one last free item that came with the 1st Lady's lappie, and before we knew it, we were totally drowning in plasma tv selections......information.......questions and answers......and sales pitches. MUCH research needs to be done on our part if we are to drop the TOOOOOO BIG bucks for one of these units........so.....I have already been doing some internet research this evening. If anyone who has a plasma wishes to give me their personal opinions, PLEASE do so!!!!!!
Then it was off to the furniture stores.............items to ponder: a complete new bedroom grouping, new furniture for the family/entertainment room, and then other odds and ends that will be needed. From there, it was to the appliance stores to look at gas ranges. I/we do not like cooking on an electric stove, so as long as we are remodeling the kitchen with the other parts of the house, perhaps we should just go ahead and get a gas range........hmmmmm,.....BUT, if we get a stainless steel range, then.....what about the fridge and the microwave which are now all white like the electric range??????? Oh my God.........toooooo many dollars!!!!
Sooooo, it will be a busy, argumentative fall and early winter!!!!!!! We will never agree on all of this.......it will be interesting to see how this all plays out..........
By dinner time we decided to overnight at the Moser Estate west of St. Louis........along the Missouri River wine country. So, we are here with the two youngest granddaughters and then tomorrow it will be back to the stores prior to heading to Harrah's(sp?) Casino for dinner with friends and then to see Sinbad in one of the casino shows.
Mr. Gipson and Mrs.-to-be Gipson.....what are your plans for tomorrow?????? Out of range of Verizon service on the Moser Estate.....but call if you are free. Will be leaving here by 10am in the morning........
Sooooo.....a busy weekend............Life is Good......and for you, too, I hope!
We went to St Louis this afternoon following a stop to visit Mike in Bonne Terre. We had to stop at Circuit City for one last free item that came with the 1st Lady's lappie, and before we knew it, we were totally drowning in plasma tv selections......information.......questions and answers......and sales pitches. MUCH research needs to be done on our part if we are to drop the TOOOOOO BIG bucks for one of these units........so.....I have already been doing some internet research this evening. If anyone who has a plasma wishes to give me their personal opinions, PLEASE do so!!!!!!
Then it was off to the furniture stores.............items to ponder: a complete new bedroom grouping, new furniture for the family/entertainment room, and then other odds and ends that will be needed. From there, it was to the appliance stores to look at gas ranges. I/we do not like cooking on an electric stove, so as long as we are remodeling the kitchen with the other parts of the house, perhaps we should just go ahead and get a gas range........hmmmmm,.....BUT, if we get a stainless steel range, then.....what about the fridge and the microwave which are now all white like the electric range??????? Oh my God.........toooooo many dollars!!!!
Sooooo, it will be a busy, argumentative fall and early winter!!!!!!! We will never agree on all of this.......it will be interesting to see how this all plays out..........
By dinner time we decided to overnight at the Moser Estate west of St. Louis........along the Missouri River wine country. So, we are here with the two youngest granddaughters and then tomorrow it will be back to the stores prior to heading to Harrah's(sp?) Casino for dinner with friends and then to see Sinbad in one of the casino shows.
Mr. Gipson and Mrs.-to-be Gipson.....what are your plans for tomorrow?????? Out of range of Verizon service on the Moser Estate.....but call if you are free. Will be leaving here by 10am in the morning........
Sooooo.....a busy weekend............Life is Good......and for you, too, I hope!
Friday, September 16, 2005
COOL WEATHER......WOW!
Can it really be happening?????????? Can the heat/humidity actually be leaving us???? I am really excited about this prospect!! Fall has always been my favorite time of the year.......can't wait until the fall colors arrive, providing the drought didn't ruin everything.
Spent some time today again reviewing my collection of books and deciding which ones I am ready to dispose of to the local library. Not easy, after collecting them for over 50 years........but I do not see any need in them, and it is just time to get rid of a lot of "stuff" that we have accumulated.
This afternoon, I decided to open up the rolling HowserHouse. BUT......the beveled glass door that is between the kitchen/dining room and the den would not open......the door handle, while turning up and down, would not release the door. ANGRY....I became!!!! Just brought it back a few days ago.....and it wouldn't work!! Called the service manager at our dealer in Indiana.....and he said to take it off and he would airship me a new one....should have it tomorrow. Well, easier said than done!!! The screws were on the OTHER side of the door and so I could not reach them. Had to LITERALLY rip it off by using tools.....and then still couldn't get the bolt out. So.......along came my garage contractor and he spent two hours getting it clipped, sawed, and pulled out......and then replacing the door trim that he had to remove to get it done.!!!! "NOTHING IS AS EASY AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE!!"
Fried fish tonight at one of the local cafe establishments. Not toooo bad!!!! Enjoyed it!!
Off to St Louis tomorrow..........shopping trip to begin to "argue" over new items for our remodeling project in the house. haha.....and as usual, I'm sure the "argue" part will occur! We just never agree on decorating.......
Until tomorrow......Life is good......and I hope the same for you, too.
Spent some time today again reviewing my collection of books and deciding which ones I am ready to dispose of to the local library. Not easy, after collecting them for over 50 years........but I do not see any need in them, and it is just time to get rid of a lot of "stuff" that we have accumulated.
This afternoon, I decided to open up the rolling HowserHouse. BUT......the beveled glass door that is between the kitchen/dining room and the den would not open......the door handle, while turning up and down, would not release the door. ANGRY....I became!!!! Just brought it back a few days ago.....and it wouldn't work!! Called the service manager at our dealer in Indiana.....and he said to take it off and he would airship me a new one....should have it tomorrow. Well, easier said than done!!! The screws were on the OTHER side of the door and so I could not reach them. Had to LITERALLY rip it off by using tools.....and then still couldn't get the bolt out. So.......along came my garage contractor and he spent two hours getting it clipped, sawed, and pulled out......and then replacing the door trim that he had to remove to get it done.!!!! "NOTHING IS AS EASY AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE!!"
Fried fish tonight at one of the local cafe establishments. Not toooo bad!!!! Enjoyed it!!
Off to St Louis tomorrow..........shopping trip to begin to "argue" over new items for our remodeling project in the house. haha.....and as usual, I'm sure the "argue" part will occur! We just never agree on decorating.......
Until tomorrow......Life is good......and I hope the same for you, too.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
RAIN...RAIN....RAIN!!!!
It started in the wee hours of the morning and continued for almost the entire day!!! Wow.....I just finished the grass mowing and when that warm old sun comes out tomorrow.....well, the grass will need my personal attention by Sunday......not what I really want to do again so soon.
Nothing like feeling like a house robber......... some friends of ours who are out of town doing their job called early this morning and needed me to get into their home and pick up a few small items which were needed for an upcoming event. Soooo, carrying an umbrella I drove out there to their home, located the unlocked door and as I entered the house I began calling out "hello!....hello!!".....hoping no one was there who would attack me for breaking and entry. Sooo, as I made my way thru the interior rooms to the designated room where these items were hidden, I continued to call out.....trying to insure my own Life. Thankfully, I didn't come upon some family member who was sleeping or who stayed home from work because of illness. I located the hidden items, stuffed them into my pockets, and made my way out of the silent home.......a home that was as quiet as a tomb. And, as far as I know.......no one is aware of my entrance....except the long-gone away owners.
Went by the local Library to see if they accept donated books. They were very grateful and said that they did take donations of books, so I informed the librarian (NOT Marian the Librarian from a previous post) that as soon as I got them all together I would bring them down to her. We must have 40-50 books...hardback....that we no longer want or need......books of all categories from fishing to home repair to biographies of politicians and musicians. It is just time to let others read these, if they want, as we have finished with them and they are just collecting much dust in the bookcases.
Had lunch.....and watched it rain. Also took in some various shows on the tellie and then read the current novel that I started a few days ago.
Supper was good.....and healthy. Rice with steamed veggies on top such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and tomatoes with a small handful of cheese scattered across the entire dish. Love this concoction (sp?)!!
Watched the first installment of Survivor. Hmmmm.....will reserve comment for another time and after a few more chapters......
Then came our President's speech.........hmmmmm.......I do have comments but will hold them from publication. I still am upset with the way the entire tragedy was handled, ....at least the long delay before assistance was sent.......unforgiveable!
Soooo, another day..........and Life is good........and I hope for you, too!
Nothing like feeling like a house robber......... some friends of ours who are out of town doing their job called early this morning and needed me to get into their home and pick up a few small items which were needed for an upcoming event. Soooo, carrying an umbrella I drove out there to their home, located the unlocked door and as I entered the house I began calling out "hello!....hello!!".....hoping no one was there who would attack me for breaking and entry. Sooo, as I made my way thru the interior rooms to the designated room where these items were hidden, I continued to call out.....trying to insure my own Life. Thankfully, I didn't come upon some family member who was sleeping or who stayed home from work because of illness. I located the hidden items, stuffed them into my pockets, and made my way out of the silent home.......a home that was as quiet as a tomb. And, as far as I know.......no one is aware of my entrance....except the long-gone away owners.
Went by the local Library to see if they accept donated books. They were very grateful and said that they did take donations of books, so I informed the librarian (NOT Marian the Librarian from a previous post) that as soon as I got them all together I would bring them down to her. We must have 40-50 books...hardback....that we no longer want or need......books of all categories from fishing to home repair to biographies of politicians and musicians. It is just time to let others read these, if they want, as we have finished with them and they are just collecting much dust in the bookcases.
Had lunch.....and watched it rain. Also took in some various shows on the tellie and then read the current novel that I started a few days ago.
Supper was good.....and healthy. Rice with steamed veggies on top such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and tomatoes with a small handful of cheese scattered across the entire dish. Love this concoction (sp?)!!
Watched the first installment of Survivor. Hmmmm.....will reserve comment for another time and after a few more chapters......
Then came our President's speech.........hmmmmm.......I do have comments but will hold them from publication. I still am upset with the way the entire tragedy was handled, ....at least the long delay before assistance was sent.......unforgiveable!
Soooo, another day..........and Life is good........and I hope for you, too!
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Hmmmm.....another day disappears due to lack of excitement
Yep.....the title is correct. A day without controversy, without confrontations, without committments, without excitement..........a day that could be called boring. BUT......I will not stoop that low....."boring" is a word I dislike very strongly because there is ALWAYS something that can be accomplished and something to keep one's mind occupied and something new that WILL occur. Now.......let's see........when, today, did any of those things happen to this OLD man?????
Coffee/breakfast had to be inside.......the ravages of the rainstorm that blew through here last night left the patio very wet and filled with twigs and leaves. Soooo.... I found myself watching a bit of the news on the tellie and attempting to find something positive in what I was watching/hearing. Hmmmmm, must not have because I don't remember anything..........???
Actually, the morning rather flew by: did some laundry, checked on the status of the garage repairs, looked over the outside flowers to see if any were not destroyed in the heavy downpours (only a few still have petals), did some emailing, and then went out to WalMart Supercenter to pick up some items for dinner tonight.
Left in early afternoon for my 2 mile walk......it was nice and cloudy when I left the yard....and within five minutes the sun had jumped out and began to beat down upon my balding head, and before long.....I was one large sweatball!!! Returned dripping from the walk and then went right to the weights......and pumped some iron for about 30 minutes. The weakling appendage hanging from my right shoulder is getting stronger!!!! I am about ready to increase the weight on my right barbell.....YEAH!!!!!
Gave a piano lesson later today: fixed tortellini with alfredo sauce accompanied by grilled wheat bacquette slices covered with garlic butter, a salted tomato slice, and grated cheese with a basil leave on top. Of course.....the obligatory glass of dark red medicine helped to smooth the entry of all of this food into my stomach! Dessert for later this evening is fresh strawberries covering Breyer's Vanilla Bean ice cream......hmmmm, calories??????? YEP!!!
Tonight I'm reading another Ken Follett novel.....another one about WWII. This one is not nearly as good as the first one of his that I read earlier this summer......damn it!!! That one caught me up from the very first paragraph and kept my interest piqued all the way to the end.....but this one??? Well.......I should have known that that kind of a book is rare. Love to read.........would read more each day if I didn't feel sooooo guilty about not doing a few things around here!
Speaking of that......looks like we are going to remodel a great portion of our house this winter. Soooo, I DO have things that need to be checked on........prices.....colors.....styles.....trim.....floor coverings.......etc., etc., etc. Decisions on all of these things, plus many, many more. UGH......and these decisions have to be agreed upon by both the 1st Lady and myself........now that is ALWAYS interesting. We seldom agree on decorating so it might not be necessary to turn on the furnace as it gets colder here in the house........hahaha.
Hmmmm.......looks like I have written a lot....about nothing!!! Perhaps that is the state of my mind these days........a lot about nothing. Sort of like a Trivia expert, huh????
Soooo, until tomorrow........Life is good ( for you too, I hope!!)
Coffee/breakfast had to be inside.......the ravages of the rainstorm that blew through here last night left the patio very wet and filled with twigs and leaves. Soooo.... I found myself watching a bit of the news on the tellie and attempting to find something positive in what I was watching/hearing. Hmmmmm, must not have because I don't remember anything..........???
Actually, the morning rather flew by: did some laundry, checked on the status of the garage repairs, looked over the outside flowers to see if any were not destroyed in the heavy downpours (only a few still have petals), did some emailing, and then went out to WalMart Supercenter to pick up some items for dinner tonight.
Left in early afternoon for my 2 mile walk......it was nice and cloudy when I left the yard....and within five minutes the sun had jumped out and began to beat down upon my balding head, and before long.....I was one large sweatball!!! Returned dripping from the walk and then went right to the weights......and pumped some iron for about 30 minutes. The weakling appendage hanging from my right shoulder is getting stronger!!!! I am about ready to increase the weight on my right barbell.....YEAH!!!!!
Gave a piano lesson later today: fixed tortellini with alfredo sauce accompanied by grilled wheat bacquette slices covered with garlic butter, a salted tomato slice, and grated cheese with a basil leave on top. Of course.....the obligatory glass of dark red medicine helped to smooth the entry of all of this food into my stomach! Dessert for later this evening is fresh strawberries covering Breyer's Vanilla Bean ice cream......hmmmm, calories??????? YEP!!!
Tonight I'm reading another Ken Follett novel.....another one about WWII. This one is not nearly as good as the first one of his that I read earlier this summer......damn it!!! That one caught me up from the very first paragraph and kept my interest piqued all the way to the end.....but this one??? Well.......I should have known that that kind of a book is rare. Love to read.........would read more each day if I didn't feel sooooo guilty about not doing a few things around here!
Speaking of that......looks like we are going to remodel a great portion of our house this winter. Soooo, I DO have things that need to be checked on........prices.....colors.....styles.....trim.....floor coverings.......etc., etc., etc. Decisions on all of these things, plus many, many more. UGH......and these decisions have to be agreed upon by both the 1st Lady and myself........now that is ALWAYS interesting. We seldom agree on decorating so it might not be necessary to turn on the furnace as it gets colder here in the house........hahaha.
Hmmmm.......looks like I have written a lot....about nothing!!! Perhaps that is the state of my mind these days........a lot about nothing. Sort of like a Trivia expert, huh????
Soooo, until tomorrow........Life is good ( for you too, I hope!!)
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
A very normal stay-at-home-day.
The title says it all.......you may not desire to read any further! Coffee/breakfast on the patio....beautiful outdoor eating weather...breezy, 70's, and pleasant.
Mid-morning: A discussion with the contractor who is repairing my garage wall that was "raped" by my neighbor's car as it rolled...empty....through his fence, across my land AND, thru the wall and into my garage.......this all happened last December. The foundation was severely damaged, as well as the wall, the overall structure, the inside sheetrock ceiling, etc., etc., etc. Soooo, our contractor began repairing it this week. We discussed the progress being made, and then we went inside the brick/stick house and discussed his bids for a large remodeling job that we have decided to do. I told him he has the job........and now we play the waiting game again......he said it would be at least after the Holidays before he could begin the work. That will give us time to pick out flooring, carpeting, colors, and other design items.
Later in the morning: I completed mowing the yard....took a couple of hours. EXCITING!!!!! Hope you enjoy this mowing discussion.....hahhaa.
Afternoon: I made a chicken salad for dinner tonight. And then......did some reading inside. Way, Way tooo hot to sit on the patio. Another exciting discussion......right???
Dinner was eaten!
AND, then.....THE storm hit us about 8:15pm........tons of lightening, tons of rain, but no real wind to speak of. We even kept the electricity going throughout the storm........even tho I did unplug all appliances, computers, tv's, cable connections, etc., etc. AND....I found the flash light prior to THE BIG EVENT OF THE DAY!!!!
Ohhhhh, left out a phone call from Mr. Ass. Principal of Osage HS. We hadn't chatted for a few weeks and so there was lots to catch up on, and lots of griping about how terrible the government, including FEMA, had done in their "efforts" to protect and rescue our own Americans.
Now.......with the 1st Lady having just removed a pan of hot banana bread from the oven......I will close this uninteresting post and bore you no more tonight!!!!!!
Until tomorrow..........more excitement than today......I HOPE!!!
Mid-morning: A discussion with the contractor who is repairing my garage wall that was "raped" by my neighbor's car as it rolled...empty....through his fence, across my land AND, thru the wall and into my garage.......this all happened last December. The foundation was severely damaged, as well as the wall, the overall structure, the inside sheetrock ceiling, etc., etc., etc. Soooo, our contractor began repairing it this week. We discussed the progress being made, and then we went inside the brick/stick house and discussed his bids for a large remodeling job that we have decided to do. I told him he has the job........and now we play the waiting game again......he said it would be at least after the Holidays before he could begin the work. That will give us time to pick out flooring, carpeting, colors, and other design items.
Later in the morning: I completed mowing the yard....took a couple of hours. EXCITING!!!!! Hope you enjoy this mowing discussion.....hahhaa.
Afternoon: I made a chicken salad for dinner tonight. And then......did some reading inside. Way, Way tooo hot to sit on the patio. Another exciting discussion......right???
Dinner was eaten!
AND, then.....THE storm hit us about 8:15pm........tons of lightening, tons of rain, but no real wind to speak of. We even kept the electricity going throughout the storm........even tho I did unplug all appliances, computers, tv's, cable connections, etc., etc. AND....I found the flash light prior to THE BIG EVENT OF THE DAY!!!!
Ohhhhh, left out a phone call from Mr. Ass. Principal of Osage HS. We hadn't chatted for a few weeks and so there was lots to catch up on, and lots of griping about how terrible the government, including FEMA, had done in their "efforts" to protect and rescue our own Americans.
Now.......with the 1st Lady having just removed a pan of hot banana bread from the oven......I will close this uninteresting post and bore you no more tonight!!!!!!
Until tomorrow..........more excitement than today......I HOPE!!!
Monday, September 12, 2005
A wee bit late...... and an evening update.
Yep.....I just got lazy....(perhaps??)....and didn't get anything written last night. There just wasn't that much to talk about....and I was still really tired from my little jaunt to Indiana. Hmmmm....you know that is beginning to worry me: why do I get soooo tired from a small little trip??? I know....KNOW...that I don't exercise as much now as I did last winter and spring.......rather let it drop after I broke my right arm......had to spend most of my time learning how to utilize my left arm and hand to take over the necessary tasks that it had NEVER done before. Soooo, my weight lifting has stopped. And....I MUST get back to my walking a couple of miles each day. I MISS both of these routines greatly........but, I will not go back to walking until this heat and humidity has left us.
I am going to attempt to get back to lifting .......albeit lighter pounds....but need the muscle stretching and tightening. At this age EVERYTHING sags.....and pretty soon I will have to get one of those Chinese imports.....a male bra.....hahaha. The horrors of getting old(er)........
Went to church yesterday morning. Then went to see Mike yesterday afternoon/early evening. Watched a bit of TV last night.....took a long phone call from Mr. Engaged Gipson and tried to catch up on things, but a face to face visit needs to take place and neither one of us can match our schedules.......how terrible is that??? His life as a band director with the fall marching schedule is a life I remember oh soooooooooo well!!!!! Hmmmm.....I wonder whose fault it is that he has such a hectic schedule/life these days??????.....I wonder.
More later........today.
Yes, yes......I lifted weights today and by using a lighter weight for my right arm......no hurting or damage done, and I felt soooo much better after going thru my routine. THEN.......I checked outside and there was a great breeze and the sky was actually turning blue, so I put on my walking shoes and off I went: did 2 miles in 28 minutes.......my usual time for this round trip to the city lake and back!! Felt good doing it!!!!
Did an hour or so of reading on the patio after I returned from my walk. Then began some clearing out of a LARGE bookcase in our bedroom. Have decided that these books were read by me YEARS ago, and after looking at each one individually, I decided to pack them up and get rid of them. You can keep things just sooooo long and then it is time to get rid of stuff.....even books. Soooo, will have to see if the local Library will take them as these books will not sell in a garage sale. DO need to dispose of them where they can be used by someone who would enjoy them......hmmm, the hospital perhaps????? Don't know......will check on that also.
After dinner......decided to mow some grass. Worked about an hour and then the breeze had died and I just about died of the heat and evening humidity. Sooooo, back to the comforts of a/c in the stick and brick......
Soooo.........until tomorrow!!
I am going to attempt to get back to lifting .......albeit lighter pounds....but need the muscle stretching and tightening. At this age EVERYTHING sags.....and pretty soon I will have to get one of those Chinese imports.....a male bra.....hahaha. The horrors of getting old(er)........
Went to church yesterday morning. Then went to see Mike yesterday afternoon/early evening. Watched a bit of TV last night.....took a long phone call from Mr. Engaged Gipson and tried to catch up on things, but a face to face visit needs to take place and neither one of us can match our schedules.......how terrible is that??? His life as a band director with the fall marching schedule is a life I remember oh soooooooooo well!!!!! Hmmmm.....I wonder whose fault it is that he has such a hectic schedule/life these days??????.....I wonder.
More later........today.
Yes, yes......I lifted weights today and by using a lighter weight for my right arm......no hurting or damage done, and I felt soooo much better after going thru my routine. THEN.......I checked outside and there was a great breeze and the sky was actually turning blue, so I put on my walking shoes and off I went: did 2 miles in 28 minutes.......my usual time for this round trip to the city lake and back!! Felt good doing it!!!!
Did an hour or so of reading on the patio after I returned from my walk. Then began some clearing out of a LARGE bookcase in our bedroom. Have decided that these books were read by me YEARS ago, and after looking at each one individually, I decided to pack them up and get rid of them. You can keep things just sooooo long and then it is time to get rid of stuff.....even books. Soooo, will have to see if the local Library will take them as these books will not sell in a garage sale. DO need to dispose of them where they can be used by someone who would enjoy them......hmmm, the hospital perhaps????? Don't know......will check on that also.
After dinner......decided to mow some grass. Worked about an hour and then the breeze had died and I just about died of the heat and evening humidity. Sooooo, back to the comforts of a/c in the stick and brick......
Soooo.........until tomorrow!!
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Back in HUMID, HOT Missouri
Hmmmm, a night of interrupted sleep while "camped" in the Flying J truck parking lot. NOT that I didn't expect it.....because I rather thought this might happen....but it IS free and very, very convenient to I-70. I just do not feel like paying $22-$26 for a camp ground spot when I will not even be hooking up my umbilical cords from TheHowserHouse to the electricity, water, and sewage disposal, not to mention not using the pool or other varied recreational activities that are available.
Sooooo, with over 192 trucks there, as that is the amount they can handle with parking spots, but there were many, many others along the sides of their parking lot. I published my writings last night, then read for a couple of hours and turned out the light in the bedroom. Sometime after midnight....more trucks must have driven thru, as I woke up and had difficulty going back to sleep. Then a couple of hours later I got COLD....yes, COLD......I had the exhaust fan on and the air was so damp and cool that I had to turn it off for the rest of the night. Then around 6am the rigs began to start up and pull out for their trips across the USA. Soooo, I left a bit after 7AM and arrived at the stick and brick about 10:30 this morning.
WOW......this place is HUMID and HOT!!!! As I approached STL, it became hazier and hazier....the humidity just hanging in the air......and all the way south to here it looked like everyplace was drenched in smokey looking air......just humid, though. TERRIBLE!!! Will FALL ever arrive???????????
This afternoon.....well, guess what.....I napped off and on most of the afternoon. Isn't that a surprise??
This evening........well, guess what.....I just sat around and enjoyed doing nothing at all!!!! Soooo, I will post this now and edit it later this evening if anything exciting happens......it probably won't.
Sooooo, with over 192 trucks there, as that is the amount they can handle with parking spots, but there were many, many others along the sides of their parking lot. I published my writings last night, then read for a couple of hours and turned out the light in the bedroom. Sometime after midnight....more trucks must have driven thru, as I woke up and had difficulty going back to sleep. Then a couple of hours later I got COLD....yes, COLD......I had the exhaust fan on and the air was so damp and cool that I had to turn it off for the rest of the night. Then around 6am the rigs began to start up and pull out for their trips across the USA. Soooo, I left a bit after 7AM and arrived at the stick and brick about 10:30 this morning.
WOW......this place is HUMID and HOT!!!! As I approached STL, it became hazier and hazier....the humidity just hanging in the air......and all the way south to here it looked like everyplace was drenched in smokey looking air......just humid, though. TERRIBLE!!! Will FALL ever arrive???????????
This afternoon.....well, guess what.....I napped off and on most of the afternoon. Isn't that a surprise??
This evening........well, guess what.....I just sat around and enjoyed doing nothing at all!!!! Soooo, I will post this now and edit it later this evening if anything exciting happens......it probably won't.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Just hanging out....but, Life is good!
Friday……
WOW….I am parked and “camped” with the BIG BOYS tonight!!!! Yep…..I am parked and ready to spend the night in the truck parking area of the Flying J Truck Stop in Effingham, IL. There are at least 175 other big rigs here……and just a couple of other RV’s, so even tho their gennies are running, it is relatively quiet inside TheHowserHouse. I have the “Fantastic Fan” (quiet exhaust fan which is very, very strong) going to pull in fresh air from the ceiling in the bedroom……works like a charm and is cooling things down to a very comfortable temp. I thought that if it does get a bit humid in here, I will just turn on my OWN gennie and start the a/c for a while. But…..no need to as yet.
Today….well, it would have to be called just a day of hanging out waiting for the final repairs to be completed. Went out to New Castle from Indy late in the morning, Tried the wi-fi at the Flying J there, however I quickly learned that there is a charge for using it, soooooo, I just forgot about getting online this morning.
Went into New Castle, looked around, went to the friendly WalMart and took a tour to see if they had anything new, had lunch at KFC…..something I rarely ever do, but wanted some chicken strips, and then went on out to Walnut Ridge RV Sales. Talked with a couple of people I knew from last year, and then went thru all of the new RV’s that they have in their HUGE rv sales center. They usually keep about 400 rv’s on the lot, however I only looked at the new ones in the building. Still like mine……!!!!!!!!!!
Picked up TheHowserHouse about 3pm…and after getting hooked up I rolled out of their and before long was going thru the rush hour traffic on Friday evening in Indy!!! Not toooo bad……highway is fairly good thru there with pretty good merging lanes for those getting onto the I-70. 3.5 hours later I arrived here in Effingham. Gassed up, found a spot to park this rig, and then went inside to have dinner……steak and seafood buffet. REALLY quite good!!!!
Soooo, here I am……going to post this and get to bed. A bit tired from all of this hanging out I did, just wasting the hours in no-where land. AND.....just the complete concentration that I must give when rolling down the highway with literally hundreds and hundreds of huge trucks all around me, and, of course, going by me in one hell of a hurry. I keep TheHowserHouse going right at 60mph....and that is fast enough for me with all of the weight pushing on my ass once I get it up to speed.
Until tomorrow……..life is good!!
WOW….I am parked and “camped” with the BIG BOYS tonight!!!! Yep…..I am parked and ready to spend the night in the truck parking area of the Flying J Truck Stop in Effingham, IL. There are at least 175 other big rigs here……and just a couple of other RV’s, so even tho their gennies are running, it is relatively quiet inside TheHowserHouse. I have the “Fantastic Fan” (quiet exhaust fan which is very, very strong) going to pull in fresh air from the ceiling in the bedroom……works like a charm and is cooling things down to a very comfortable temp. I thought that if it does get a bit humid in here, I will just turn on my OWN gennie and start the a/c for a while. But…..no need to as yet.
Today….well, it would have to be called just a day of hanging out waiting for the final repairs to be completed. Went out to New Castle from Indy late in the morning, Tried the wi-fi at the Flying J there, however I quickly learned that there is a charge for using it, soooooo, I just forgot about getting online this morning.
Went into New Castle, looked around, went to the friendly WalMart and took a tour to see if they had anything new, had lunch at KFC…..something I rarely ever do, but wanted some chicken strips, and then went on out to Walnut Ridge RV Sales. Talked with a couple of people I knew from last year, and then went thru all of the new RV’s that they have in their HUGE rv sales center. They usually keep about 400 rv’s on the lot, however I only looked at the new ones in the building. Still like mine……!!!!!!!!!!
Picked up TheHowserHouse about 3pm…and after getting hooked up I rolled out of their and before long was going thru the rush hour traffic on Friday evening in Indy!!! Not toooo bad……highway is fairly good thru there with pretty good merging lanes for those getting onto the I-70. 3.5 hours later I arrived here in Effingham. Gassed up, found a spot to park this rig, and then went inside to have dinner……steak and seafood buffet. REALLY quite good!!!!
Soooo, here I am……going to post this and get to bed. A bit tired from all of this hanging out I did, just wasting the hours in no-where land. AND.....just the complete concentration that I must give when rolling down the highway with literally hundreds and hundreds of huge trucks all around me, and, of course, going by me in one hell of a hurry. I keep TheHowserHouse going right at 60mph....and that is fast enough for me with all of the weight pushing on my ass once I get it up to speed.
Until tomorrow……..life is good!!
Thursday, September 08, 2005
WOW....I'm late with this!!! AND NOW AN UPDATE!!
Well, I am behind on my journal’s postings…….So….let’s catch up:
Tuesday I awoke from a restless sleep (I now know why)…..and realized as I was making preparations to leave for Indiana THAT an invasion of my body had occurred, while I was sleeping, by some nasty little germ!!! My lower extremities started cramping and before very long I was bent over in pain….perhaps like labor pains (I really don’t know how that feels). Before long, I found myself staring at the shower curtain for long periods of time in the you-know-which-room. Soooo, needless to say (I use that phrase tooo much), I had to cancel my travel plans. There is no way you can move down the highway with TheHowserHouse behind you (weighing 13,500 lbs.) and 39’ long, and pull over quickly for a “rest” stop. There are only certain places that you can pull into so that you can get OUT of it without a lot of trouble.
So most of the day was spent nursing my aging body, and seeing that I didn’t become dehydrated. I called the service manager of the dealer where I purchased the RV and told him I couldn’t be there by 9AM on Wednesday, but would be there by mid-afternoon. Soooo went Tuesday….
Yesterday, I quietly left the bedroom at 5AM…..and believe me, I do NOT do 5AMs very well any more……gone are the days when I would get out bed at that time, or earlier, and head to the band room’s office to get some work done so the band would function easier. Nevertheless, I got ready, hooked up the truck to TheHowserHouse by flashlight, and was on the road by 6AM. A smooth trip, even thru STL at rush hour, and I was in New Castle, IN (35 miles east of Indianapolis) by 1:30pm..even after a couple of stops.
I left TheHowserHouse at it’s original homesite after going over the list of things that needed attention and repaired before my 1st year’s warranty runs out…..in two weeks. I did purchase an extended 5 year warranty when I purchased it……toooooo many things on this unit to go wrong. It includes, or so I have been told, coverage for all of the major components and appliances…….hope the “print” on this warranty is correct.
Then I located, by using my lappie at a rest area, a Days Inn on the east side of Indianapolis……one that doesn’t break the bank for just a bed, tv, and doughnuts and coffee!! When I found the location of it, well……the location is great, but the building looks rather run down. Checked out my assigned room……and it is just fine. Clean and everything in working order. But……..we all know that all motel rooms are just the same as all the others, don’t we? You would think that they could design something a bit different without charging an arm and a leg. BUT…..I won’t complain tooo much because I had a choice but elected to take the $41.99 per night room. I would MUCH rather be in TheHowserHouse in some quiet little campground with my own clothes hanging in the closet, etc., etc., etc.
Went out to see the city a bit, and then the 1st Lady called……..her lappie at home was not working correctly. Sooooo, after several phone calls to help her, I decided to head back to the room so that I could talk her thru some remedies by using my lappie. However, after getting back to the room, I called her and,…of course…..she had managed to get it so it worked properly!!! Oh well…….the bed was calling my old body. Soooo, I wrote out a longer post than this and as I was pushing “publish”, the damn phone disconnected and I LOST the entire post!!!!!!! Did I have enough mental energy to redo this???? Of course not…..remember: I had slipped out of bed that morning at 5AM!!!
So, with much apology to all….and I do mean ALL…of my readers, I will get this online and out into cyberspace this morning….hopefully. It appears that I am accumulating more and more readers around the world, as well as here in the states. THAT IS GOOD!!!! I can locate the areas where each reader is receiving his internet service, however……don’t fear….I cannot determine WHO is reading this. But……hmmmmmm, it would be nice to know for this curious old soul. And…….it seems that my daily readers are becoming DAILY readers and not just …..some days/whenever. GREAT!!!
So, I will close this as I finish my second cup of coffee furnished by Days Inn and the coffee must have been made with…well, perhaps…..ONE coffee bean drug through the hot water It is soooo damn weak that I feel like I am drinking colored warm water. Soooo, I MUST find a good coffee shop before I collapse on the motel room floor flopping around having a LARGE caffeine withdrawal attack…..and that wouldn’t be a pleasant sight or visual….an old man with all of those loose chins flopping around….could possibly injure myself from all of that loose skin hanging from my original chin!!!!
Until later……have a GREAT day……
AN AFTERNOON UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday……..An update!
WOW….WOW….WOW……Indianapolis city center is tremendous!!!!! I had heard about it from Jay ( my son), but I had to see it for myself. I am sooooo IMPRESSED!!!! The Monument Square (circle) is soooo cool……driving around the monument in the center reminds me of a small, very small replica of driving around the Arche de Triomphe in Paris. The streets are nicely done in brick….flowers…and the fountain which is in the monument to past military exploits of Indiana citizens is gorgeous!! But……with all of the wonderful sports arenas downtown, the “revivers” of the city have not knocked down the old buildings and/or warehouses, BUT……have recycled them and they are wonderful stores, malls, and shops. There is a super Mall that runs between buildings and above the streets by walkways…..all inclosed….and anchored by Nordstroms on one end of the Mall and by the Parisian on the other end. Of course, it certainly helps that the state government buildings and offices and the Capitol are right there in the center of the city.
The city pulsates with energy and activity. Older buildings are being rehabbed for new hotels, loft apartments, and other vital necessary housing for other planned activities. And……the Arts seem to be flourishing for a city that is not a LARGE city!!!! They are very much alive and active here in Indianapolis…….and that is great. If a city has an active and vital arts community, then the rest of the city will thrive along with them. I drove out to see where the Art Museum is located and it looks large and well-cared for. It appears to be much, much larger than the St Louis Art Museum………oh-oh…did I really say that???
Oh…..if only St Louis could get their crap together and do something like this downtown!!!! It makes it sooo enjoyable to be in a city center when it is sooo vibrant and clean and well-planned. I sooooo enjoyed my day in “downtown” Indianapolis!
My biggest disappoinment???? I forgot to bring my camera so I could show how wonderful it is here. Don’t know why I didn’t throw it in the truck…..however, I will blame it on my 5AM body shock.
So…..will there be another update???? Well…..stay connected….you never know what will need to be told about Life in TheHowserHouse!
Tuesday I awoke from a restless sleep (I now know why)…..and realized as I was making preparations to leave for Indiana THAT an invasion of my body had occurred, while I was sleeping, by some nasty little germ!!! My lower extremities started cramping and before very long I was bent over in pain….perhaps like labor pains (I really don’t know how that feels). Before long, I found myself staring at the shower curtain for long periods of time in the you-know-which-room. Soooo, needless to say (I use that phrase tooo much), I had to cancel my travel plans. There is no way you can move down the highway with TheHowserHouse behind you (weighing 13,500 lbs.) and 39’ long, and pull over quickly for a “rest” stop. There are only certain places that you can pull into so that you can get OUT of it without a lot of trouble.
So most of the day was spent nursing my aging body, and seeing that I didn’t become dehydrated. I called the service manager of the dealer where I purchased the RV and told him I couldn’t be there by 9AM on Wednesday, but would be there by mid-afternoon. Soooo went Tuesday….
Yesterday, I quietly left the bedroom at 5AM…..and believe me, I do NOT do 5AMs very well any more……gone are the days when I would get out bed at that time, or earlier, and head to the band room’s office to get some work done so the band would function easier. Nevertheless, I got ready, hooked up the truck to TheHowserHouse by flashlight, and was on the road by 6AM. A smooth trip, even thru STL at rush hour, and I was in New Castle, IN (35 miles east of Indianapolis) by 1:30pm..even after a couple of stops.
I left TheHowserHouse at it’s original homesite after going over the list of things that needed attention and repaired before my 1st year’s warranty runs out…..in two weeks. I did purchase an extended 5 year warranty when I purchased it……toooooo many things on this unit to go wrong. It includes, or so I have been told, coverage for all of the major components and appliances…….hope the “print” on this warranty is correct.
Then I located, by using my lappie at a rest area, a Days Inn on the east side of Indianapolis……one that doesn’t break the bank for just a bed, tv, and doughnuts and coffee!! When I found the location of it, well……the location is great, but the building looks rather run down. Checked out my assigned room……and it is just fine. Clean and everything in working order. But……..we all know that all motel rooms are just the same as all the others, don’t we? You would think that they could design something a bit different without charging an arm and a leg. BUT…..I won’t complain tooo much because I had a choice but elected to take the $41.99 per night room. I would MUCH rather be in TheHowserHouse in some quiet little campground with my own clothes hanging in the closet, etc., etc., etc.
Went out to see the city a bit, and then the 1st Lady called……..her lappie at home was not working correctly. Sooooo, after several phone calls to help her, I decided to head back to the room so that I could talk her thru some remedies by using my lappie. However, after getting back to the room, I called her and,…of course…..she had managed to get it so it worked properly!!! Oh well…….the bed was calling my old body. Soooo, I wrote out a longer post than this and as I was pushing “publish”, the damn phone disconnected and I LOST the entire post!!!!!!! Did I have enough mental energy to redo this???? Of course not…..remember: I had slipped out of bed that morning at 5AM!!!
So, with much apology to all….and I do mean ALL…of my readers, I will get this online and out into cyberspace this morning….hopefully. It appears that I am accumulating more and more readers around the world, as well as here in the states. THAT IS GOOD!!!! I can locate the areas where each reader is receiving his internet service, however……don’t fear….I cannot determine WHO is reading this. But……hmmmmmm, it would be nice to know for this curious old soul. And…….it seems that my daily readers are becoming DAILY readers and not just …..some days/whenever. GREAT!!!
So, I will close this as I finish my second cup of coffee furnished by Days Inn and the coffee must have been made with…well, perhaps…..ONE coffee bean drug through the hot water It is soooo damn weak that I feel like I am drinking colored warm water. Soooo, I MUST find a good coffee shop before I collapse on the motel room floor flopping around having a LARGE caffeine withdrawal attack…..and that wouldn’t be a pleasant sight or visual….an old man with all of those loose chins flopping around….could possibly injure myself from all of that loose skin hanging from my original chin!!!!
Until later……have a GREAT day……
AN AFTERNOON UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday……..An update!
WOW….WOW….WOW……Indianapolis city center is tremendous!!!!! I had heard about it from Jay ( my son), but I had to see it for myself. I am sooooo IMPRESSED!!!! The Monument Square (circle) is soooo cool……driving around the monument in the center reminds me of a small, very small replica of driving around the Arche de Triomphe in Paris. The streets are nicely done in brick….flowers…and the fountain which is in the monument to past military exploits of Indiana citizens is gorgeous!! But……with all of the wonderful sports arenas downtown, the “revivers” of the city have not knocked down the old buildings and/or warehouses, BUT……have recycled them and they are wonderful stores, malls, and shops. There is a super Mall that runs between buildings and above the streets by walkways…..all inclosed….and anchored by Nordstroms on one end of the Mall and by the Parisian on the other end. Of course, it certainly helps that the state government buildings and offices and the Capitol are right there in the center of the city.
The city pulsates with energy and activity. Older buildings are being rehabbed for new hotels, loft apartments, and other vital necessary housing for other planned activities. And……the Arts seem to be flourishing for a city that is not a LARGE city!!!! They are very much alive and active here in Indianapolis…….and that is great. If a city has an active and vital arts community, then the rest of the city will thrive along with them. I drove out to see where the Art Museum is located and it looks large and well-cared for. It appears to be much, much larger than the St Louis Art Museum………oh-oh…did I really say that???
Oh…..if only St Louis could get their crap together and do something like this downtown!!!! It makes it sooo enjoyable to be in a city center when it is sooo vibrant and clean and well-planned. I sooooo enjoyed my day in “downtown” Indianapolis!
My biggest disappoinment???? I forgot to bring my camera so I could show how wonderful it is here. Don’t know why I didn’t throw it in the truck…..however, I will blame it on my 5AM body shock.
So…..will there be another update???? Well…..stay connected….you never know what will need to be told about Life in TheHowserHouse!
Monday, September 05, 2005
A day of multi-tasking....
Stayed up late last night.....surfing on the net. Couldn't sleep as I was too "keyed up" from the reunion and all of the memories that were dug up from the past.
Sooo, I didn't rise as early as I had planned last night. But, this gave me time to have a light breakfast and coffee with my mother, and a brief reprise of last night's events for her ears. Got away about 8:45 this morning and drove the 200+ miles back to my stick and brick house getting here shortly after 12.
From that time onwards this afternoon I was on the go.......mowing half of the yard, getting things ready to depart tomorrow, checking air pressure in the HowserHouse tires and the tow vehicle's tires.....putting a bit more air in a couple of tires on each unit, and then finishing the afternoon by washing the F350 which always takes more time than I anticipate. But....think I ready to depart tomorrow morning .......middle of the morning. It is only 400 miles over there....and currently planning to "camp" in a Flying J truck stop that is located about 5 miles from my RV dealer. I have to turn in the HowserHouse at 9am on Wednesday for the repairs.
As you can see, I have posted some pictures from last night's event. There is one of all of the band students who made it to the reunion that were in that particular 1985 class......a few of Zane..who WAS a trumpet player but who has been taking lessons to learn how to play the bagpipes.....and he is doing GREAT!!!!! As a policeman....currently working with the Las Vegas FBI section....he finds himself playing at police events throughout the state of Nevada. He lives just outside Las Vegas with his family.
I am currently having a cup of coffee.....just heard yesterday on the news that coffee...yes, COFFEE...has more antioxidents in it than ANY other food/drink item!!!!!!!!!!! WOW......WOW, I should be completely antioxidized by this time in my life!!!!!!!!! EXCITING!!!!!! Hope my mind keeps going.....hahahaha!!!!
Hope that I can get online for the next few days while I am in Indiana. Will have to find an inexpensive hotel....perhaps toooo cheap for free wifi, though. However, I will have cell phone service as I expect to be in the Indianapolis area. Anxious to see the city center.....I hear it is really great!!! Never have done ANYTHING except drive through or around the city as I head for some other destination which takes me THRU Indianapolis. Soooo, a new adventure coming up.......
So, will close for now...........
Sooo, I didn't rise as early as I had planned last night. But, this gave me time to have a light breakfast and coffee with my mother, and a brief reprise of last night's events for her ears. Got away about 8:45 this morning and drove the 200+ miles back to my stick and brick house getting here shortly after 12.
From that time onwards this afternoon I was on the go.......mowing half of the yard, getting things ready to depart tomorrow, checking air pressure in the HowserHouse tires and the tow vehicle's tires.....putting a bit more air in a couple of tires on each unit, and then finishing the afternoon by washing the F350 which always takes more time than I anticipate. But....think I ready to depart tomorrow morning .......middle of the morning. It is only 400 miles over there....and currently planning to "camp" in a Flying J truck stop that is located about 5 miles from my RV dealer. I have to turn in the HowserHouse at 9am on Wednesday for the repairs.
As you can see, I have posted some pictures from last night's event. There is one of all of the band students who made it to the reunion that were in that particular 1985 class......a few of Zane..who WAS a trumpet player but who has been taking lessons to learn how to play the bagpipes.....and he is doing GREAT!!!!! As a policeman....currently working with the Las Vegas FBI section....he finds himself playing at police events throughout the state of Nevada. He lives just outside Las Vegas with his family.
I am currently having a cup of coffee.....just heard yesterday on the news that coffee...yes, COFFEE...has more antioxidents in it than ANY other food/drink item!!!!!!!!!!! WOW......WOW, I should be completely antioxidized by this time in my life!!!!!!!!! EXCITING!!!!!! Hope my mind keeps going.....hahahaha!!!!
Hope that I can get online for the next few days while I am in Indiana. Will have to find an inexpensive hotel....perhaps toooo cheap for free wifi, though. However, I will have cell phone service as I expect to be in the Indianapolis area. Anxious to see the city center.....I hear it is really great!!! Never have done ANYTHING except drive through or around the city as I head for some other destination which takes me THRU Indianapolis. Soooo, a new adventure coming up.......
So, will close for now...........
Sunday, September 04, 2005
NOTHING better than seeing former EHS Band Family members!!!!!
Well....after days of surreal tragedy along the Gulf Coast and in that wonderful city of New Orleans......tonight was REALLY special!!!! The 20th year reunion of the Eldon HS Class of 1985.
I drove to Eldon this morning, leaving a bit later than I had planned as I couldn't tear myself away from the tellie.....and the program: Meet the Press on NBC. Soooo, I arrived in the old home town around 1pm and went to the old homestead there in town. Spent the afternoon visiting with the 92 year old EverReady battery......my mother. She just keeps going and going and going.......with such a wonderful positive attitude, a mind of a young adult, but a body structure that is beginning to fail.....her spine. BUT.....off she goes around the house holding onto and pushing a "tea cart" upon which she carries all her necessary items.....her reading material, her TELEPHONE, and other such goodies that she needs where ever she goes. Her legs no longer are realiable for her stability, but with the "tea cart" she can go anywhere, albeit rather slowly. As usual when I walked in the door, she was in HER chair in front of the tv. She is an avid Cardinal fan, Mizzou basketball fan, and any other sport that has been around as long as she has.
We spent the afternoon visiting, looking at my pictures on my lappie....especially my granddaughters. Then after me catching up on the events down south.....I got ready to go to the reunion. Not quite sure what to expect.......no matter how close you are to students 20-24 years ago, things do change......or so I THOUGHT!!!
It was WONDERFUL!!!!!!!! First off, some of the teachers of that time period were also there, and it was a great reunion for just us OLD senior citizens. Even my Am. History teacher when I was in high school here in Eldon as a STUDENT was there: John Dowler.
But, the highlight was seeing my former students who have grown and matured and are all beautiful people!!!! It was as if the past 20 years had just disappeared into thin air..........we were all right back talking about band, the band trips, the frogs in the Holiday Inn in Orlando, forgetting the banner before a very important parade, and certain students being late exiting Disney World, and having to carry over 100 individuals suitcases to and from the buses into the hotels as punishment for being late!! We laughed, we hugged, we were family once again. It was wonderful to meet their spouses, hear about their families, and just to be together again.
This was one of the best evenings I have had.......well, I don't know how long it has been since I have enjoyed myself sooooooooooo much!!!!! THANK you to all of you who are responsible for inviting me...and the other faculty members. I, personally will never forget this evening.
I have some pictures that I took, but in getting ready to download them onto here, I discovered I didn't bring the correct cable.....soooo, for those of you who are looking for your pics to be put into cyberspace, it will have to wait until tomorrow when I get home. Never fear....Howser is here, and will get the job done.
Soooo, I close this with a smile on my face.....and wonderful memories racing through my mind after this evening's reunion!!!!
I drove to Eldon this morning, leaving a bit later than I had planned as I couldn't tear myself away from the tellie.....and the program: Meet the Press on NBC. Soooo, I arrived in the old home town around 1pm and went to the old homestead there in town. Spent the afternoon visiting with the 92 year old EverReady battery......my mother. She just keeps going and going and going.......with such a wonderful positive attitude, a mind of a young adult, but a body structure that is beginning to fail.....her spine. BUT.....off she goes around the house holding onto and pushing a "tea cart" upon which she carries all her necessary items.....her reading material, her TELEPHONE, and other such goodies that she needs where ever she goes. Her legs no longer are realiable for her stability, but with the "tea cart" she can go anywhere, albeit rather slowly. As usual when I walked in the door, she was in HER chair in front of the tv. She is an avid Cardinal fan, Mizzou basketball fan, and any other sport that has been around as long as she has.
We spent the afternoon visiting, looking at my pictures on my lappie....especially my granddaughters. Then after me catching up on the events down south.....I got ready to go to the reunion. Not quite sure what to expect.......no matter how close you are to students 20-24 years ago, things do change......or so I THOUGHT!!!
It was WONDERFUL!!!!!!!! First off, some of the teachers of that time period were also there, and it was a great reunion for just us OLD senior citizens. Even my Am. History teacher when I was in high school here in Eldon as a STUDENT was there: John Dowler.
But, the highlight was seeing my former students who have grown and matured and are all beautiful people!!!! It was as if the past 20 years had just disappeared into thin air..........we were all right back talking about band, the band trips, the frogs in the Holiday Inn in Orlando, forgetting the banner before a very important parade, and certain students being late exiting Disney World, and having to carry over 100 individuals suitcases to and from the buses into the hotels as punishment for being late!! We laughed, we hugged, we were family once again. It was wonderful to meet their spouses, hear about their families, and just to be together again.
This was one of the best evenings I have had.......well, I don't know how long it has been since I have enjoyed myself sooooooooooo much!!!!! THANK you to all of you who are responsible for inviting me...and the other faculty members. I, personally will never forget this evening.
I have some pictures that I took, but in getting ready to download them onto here, I discovered I didn't bring the correct cable.....soooo, for those of you who are looking for your pics to be put into cyberspace, it will have to wait until tomorrow when I get home. Never fear....Howser is here, and will get the job done.
Soooo, I close this with a smile on my face.....and wonderful memories racing through my mind after this evening's reunion!!!!
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Today...(yesterday's tomorrow)...is somewhat better..
Attempting to get up this morning at 7am.....well, it was very difficult to say the least. It was after 1am this morning before my aging and sagging body found the bed.....Dr. Jeni, Darrell, and girls along with Rachel arrived after 11pm last night, and then after midnight, Jay(Jeremy) arrived from Indiana. Soooo, we continued to watch the unfolding drama/tragedy on the tellie and finally, after being drained from the day...I found the bed and crashed.
This morning was spent visiting Mike. Rachel went with me and our visit was good......as they all are. Came home, dropped off Rachel at the house, and then met a former student and his girl for lunch. This was a great 1.5 hours......it is always good to see former students who are soooo successful in the chosen careers....and this one is an outstanding trumpet performance major. He currently is the principal trumpet player at Truman State University......and will continue to succeed as he progresses on to his graduate studies on the trumpet. He brought with him, for me to meet, his girl who is originally from Japan, but now claims Clayton, Mo/University City as her home. She,too, is a student at Truman......and has been accepted for graduate school in London, England.
The afternoon was spent visiting here at home......and then I grilled supper on the patio. Tonight....well, it was taken up by checking on the events in N.O.....and followed by a movie.
I leave tomorrow for about 30 hours to run to Eldon to attend the class of 1985's 20th reunion. Really looking forward to reuniting with many more former band students who will be there from across the nation.....many of which I have not seen in years!
Sooooo, until tomorrow.....and hopefully, a better day once again.
This morning was spent visiting Mike. Rachel went with me and our visit was good......as they all are. Came home, dropped off Rachel at the house, and then met a former student and his girl for lunch. This was a great 1.5 hours......it is always good to see former students who are soooo successful in the chosen careers....and this one is an outstanding trumpet performance major. He currently is the principal trumpet player at Truman State University......and will continue to succeed as he progresses on to his graduate studies on the trumpet. He brought with him, for me to meet, his girl who is originally from Japan, but now claims Clayton, Mo/University City as her home. She,too, is a student at Truman......and has been accepted for graduate school in London, England.
The afternoon was spent visiting here at home......and then I grilled supper on the patio. Tonight....well, it was taken up by checking on the events in N.O.....and followed by a movie.
I leave tomorrow for about 30 hours to run to Eldon to attend the class of 1985's 20th reunion. Really looking forward to reuniting with many more former band students who will be there from across the nation.....many of which I have not seen in years!
Sooooo, until tomorrow.....and hopefully, a better day once again.
Friday, September 02, 2005
NEVER....EVER....!!
As I sit and watch and listen to this catastrophy that has been and is continuing to take place in N Orleans,it is almost more than I can believe........but, in fact it IS happening in front of all of our eyes. The political double talk that is coming from many officials in our government is the same type of "cover-your-ass" talk that always occurs when there is blame that must, and will, be placed.
I experienced that same thing at 9AM this morning when I called our Congressional Representative Joanne Emerson's office in Washington D.C. Expressing my outrage at the lack of assistance to the people down there, I was told that "that is why Rep. Emerson is coming in to the office today.........." Well, to say the least......I came unglued on the phone. I was also told that she was cutting short her vacation to return!!!!!! I heatedly discussed the lack of planning from FEMA for disasters of this size, as well as from many other agencies.......told the office lady that after 9/11 that something like should not have happened...that preparations should have made in the way of planning for something like this....that N.O. was listed as one of the top three places that a disaster such as this could occur and yet, NOTHING was ever done EXCEPT to cut funding for working on the levees in N.O. that would have raised their stability for floods and storm surges.
Of course, the only reply was an official political double talk line.....and I just told her not to give me that political trash talk.....I then gave her my name, spelled it out for her, my address, and my phone number!
Am I angry?........shit....I believe that was evident from my post last night!!!!!
GAS!!!! It is overy $3 a gallon here......I believe the 1st Lady said it was $3.10 when she came home from school a bit after 3pm. I returned from Farmington at 2:45 and it was only $2.99..........amazing how they can raise the prices soooo much in such a short time period. It is sooo upsetting but it seems to be one those things that we have no control over and can do nothing about.......except complain(bitch, is more like the correct word).
hmmmmm.....I seem to be in a negative, fighting, kick-um-in-the-ass mood today. Not my usual disposition and this is not a pleasant way to be......I do not like confrontations like this morning when I talked with Rep. Emerson's office staff. But.......sometimes things go about as far as I can handle and then I have to let it rip.....and that is what is happening today. There is absolutely nothing that I detest more than anything that appears to be intolerance and/or racial prejudice of others!!!!!!!!!!! THAT is when I come unglued!!!!
Soooo, this afternoon I finished washing the RV......something I started before I called Wash. DC this morning when it was cool and the 5er was not in the sun. I waited until after dinner this evening and spent the last two hours of daylight finishing the job. And now.....guess what!! My healed(??) arm is aching like hell!!!! (not sure what type of "ache" that is). But.....I will survive as I said a few weeks ago. The washing did help me mentally.......somewhat.
I am thinking more and more about calling the Red Cross to see if they need some help.....serving meals, cleaning, making cots.....whatever. I have to make a little journey for a couple of days next week, but after that I am free and could go down there if I can be of help. They may have all they need, but I feel sooooo damn helpless just sitting here when there is soooo much distress, frustration, and helplessness being felt by so many thousands and thousands down there. The 1st Lady sent a check this afternoon to the Red Cross Relief Fund.......
Ok......let's see what good things tomorrow might bring........
I experienced that same thing at 9AM this morning when I called our Congressional Representative Joanne Emerson's office in Washington D.C. Expressing my outrage at the lack of assistance to the people down there, I was told that "that is why Rep. Emerson is coming in to the office today.........." Well, to say the least......I came unglued on the phone. I was also told that she was cutting short her vacation to return!!!!!! I heatedly discussed the lack of planning from FEMA for disasters of this size, as well as from many other agencies.......told the office lady that after 9/11 that something like should not have happened...that preparations should have made in the way of planning for something like this....that N.O. was listed as one of the top three places that a disaster such as this could occur and yet, NOTHING was ever done EXCEPT to cut funding for working on the levees in N.O. that would have raised their stability for floods and storm surges.
Of course, the only reply was an official political double talk line.....and I just told her not to give me that political trash talk.....I then gave her my name, spelled it out for her, my address, and my phone number!
Am I angry?........shit....I believe that was evident from my post last night!!!!!
GAS!!!! It is overy $3 a gallon here......I believe the 1st Lady said it was $3.10 when she came home from school a bit after 3pm. I returned from Farmington at 2:45 and it was only $2.99..........amazing how they can raise the prices soooo much in such a short time period. It is sooo upsetting but it seems to be one those things that we have no control over and can do nothing about.......except complain(bitch, is more like the correct word).
hmmmmm.....I seem to be in a negative, fighting, kick-um-in-the-ass mood today. Not my usual disposition and this is not a pleasant way to be......I do not like confrontations like this morning when I talked with Rep. Emerson's office staff. But.......sometimes things go about as far as I can handle and then I have to let it rip.....and that is what is happening today. There is absolutely nothing that I detest more than anything that appears to be intolerance and/or racial prejudice of others!!!!!!!!!!! THAT is when I come unglued!!!!
Soooo, this afternoon I finished washing the RV......something I started before I called Wash. DC this morning when it was cool and the 5er was not in the sun. I waited until after dinner this evening and spent the last two hours of daylight finishing the job. And now.....guess what!! My healed(??) arm is aching like hell!!!! (not sure what type of "ache" that is). But.....I will survive as I said a few weeks ago. The washing did help me mentally.......somewhat.
I am thinking more and more about calling the Red Cross to see if they need some help.....serving meals, cleaning, making cots.....whatever. I have to make a little journey for a couple of days next week, but after that I am free and could go down there if I can be of help. They may have all they need, but I feel sooooo damn helpless just sitting here when there is soooo much distress, frustration, and helplessness being felt by so many thousands and thousands down there. The 1st Lady sent a check this afternoon to the Red Cross Relief Fund.......
Ok......let's see what good things tomorrow might bring........
Thursday, September 01, 2005
WOW!! Good news!!
Fats Domino HAS BEEN FOUND!!!!!!!! His wife, his daughters and he are all safe!!!!!!
Katrina's fury will affect us all...
All of us are victims of this storm........as gas prices go up, the price of food will go up as so much came into the ports of N. Orleans.....including my necessary staple: coffee!! AND......so many items that we haven't thought about because all we hear about is gasoline. Gas is even becoming hard to find in many areas of the country that weren't even hit by the wild bitch, Katrina.
Fingers are being pointed and will continue to be pointed as this tragedy becomes more and more evident to us. From my standpoint, it is difficult to understand why things haven't moved faster, however, I do realize that I am wearing only my shoes and walking in only my shoes.........I do not know what all of the agencies have to do to mobilize and get assistance to the needy. Sooooo, I will not say more....
The picture: These beautiful goblets were sent to me by a cyberspace friend. All winter I have been following a blog that "Kathy" has been writing as she, her husband Jamie, and their four young children slowly tour all of Mexico pulling their travel trailer. It has been such an eye-opener to that wonderful country........and believe me, from what I have been reading, and the pictures that I have been seeing, the average U.S. citizen has no idea of the beauty of that country......AND the beauty of the citizens of Mexico. All we hear are the negatives about those who are crossing into our country illegally......and I understand how the American people feel about these millions of Mexicans who are coming across the border......illegally. But.......we are not seeing or hearing about the millions and millions of wonderful citizens of Mexico who live in their beautiful country and who have a great culture and wonderful arts and are sooo friendly to Americans. Ok....enough sermonizing.
Kathy has been collecting this type of pottery, Talavera, since she first saw the beauty of it......and so, one day the postman delivered this box and voila.......these gorgeous wine goblets emerged from the most interesting paper packaging: Kathy's children's pencil and crayon drawings!!!!! What a cool way to pack the glasses!!! I know I have expressed my thanks, but once again......KATHY...THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!! As I told her, we have to meet someday....perhaps on the road in our RV's......so that I can personally thank her for the goblets and for the wonderful blog she writes: http://www.hopalog.com/
Once again....the tellie is showing the horrific conditions the refugees of N.Orleans are experiencing........makes me ill, but even more, it ANGERS me beyond belief. If these people lived in an upper, or, first class area/neighborhood of any city, believe me......the people would not be having to live in the filth and horrible conditions in some domed convention center/sports complex for days without any assistance!! They are poor, they are mostly black, they are not well educated, and they were in an economic condition that for the most part would not allow them to leave the city before Katrina arrived.......they couldn't afford to get out of town. Now......I am certain the media is showing the horrible parts of what is happening, but I have seen enough to believe how terrible things are down there. Ok......enought of my second sermon........I guess.....I guess I am just really upset about all of this!!!!! And to think......Fats Domino is missing in N.O.
Sooooo, until tomorrow......we'll see what tomorrow brings.
Fingers are being pointed and will continue to be pointed as this tragedy becomes more and more evident to us. From my standpoint, it is difficult to understand why things haven't moved faster, however, I do realize that I am wearing only my shoes and walking in only my shoes.........I do not know what all of the agencies have to do to mobilize and get assistance to the needy. Sooooo, I will not say more....
The picture: These beautiful goblets were sent to me by a cyberspace friend. All winter I have been following a blog that "Kathy" has been writing as she, her husband Jamie, and their four young children slowly tour all of Mexico pulling their travel trailer. It has been such an eye-opener to that wonderful country........and believe me, from what I have been reading, and the pictures that I have been seeing, the average U.S. citizen has no idea of the beauty of that country......AND the beauty of the citizens of Mexico. All we hear are the negatives about those who are crossing into our country illegally......and I understand how the American people feel about these millions of Mexicans who are coming across the border......illegally. But.......we are not seeing or hearing about the millions and millions of wonderful citizens of Mexico who live in their beautiful country and who have a great culture and wonderful arts and are sooo friendly to Americans. Ok....enough sermonizing.
Kathy has been collecting this type of pottery, Talavera, since she first saw the beauty of it......and so, one day the postman delivered this box and voila.......these gorgeous wine goblets emerged from the most interesting paper packaging: Kathy's children's pencil and crayon drawings!!!!! What a cool way to pack the glasses!!! I know I have expressed my thanks, but once again......KATHY...THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!! As I told her, we have to meet someday....perhaps on the road in our RV's......so that I can personally thank her for the goblets and for the wonderful blog she writes: http://www.hopalog.com/
Once again....the tellie is showing the horrific conditions the refugees of N.Orleans are experiencing........makes me ill, but even more, it ANGERS me beyond belief. If these people lived in an upper, or, first class area/neighborhood of any city, believe me......the people would not be having to live in the filth and horrible conditions in some domed convention center/sports complex for days without any assistance!! They are poor, they are mostly black, they are not well educated, and they were in an economic condition that for the most part would not allow them to leave the city before Katrina arrived.......they couldn't afford to get out of town. Now......I am certain the media is showing the horrible parts of what is happening, but I have seen enough to believe how terrible things are down there. Ok......enought of my second sermon........I guess.....I guess I am just really upset about all of this!!!!! And to think......Fats Domino is missing in N.O.
Sooooo, until tomorrow......we'll see what tomorrow brings.
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