Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Day 8: Tuesday....a Day of Traveling....
Well.....DAMN!!!!! There is no way I will ever catch up on this blog. Read below in the previous posts that I just published this evening.........I have never been THIS LONG without being able to get online since I began posting on this blog two years and several months ago!!!!!!!! I am having horrific withdrawal problems.....and to make matters worse.....for some damn reason that I know no why I have lost ALL of my precious, most important bookmarks!!!!! AND....my Internet Explorer will not work...and...and..and..and......and I am pissed!!!!!!
Let's see......the main news: Sunday evening as we returned to the COE campground on the west side of Mark Twain Lake at the Indian Creek CG.......at about 8:30pm I was driving about 63 mph....and out of absolutely nowhere......a deer appeared in front of the car from the side of the road....and I HIT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well....the noise was a BAM....and a few crinkling sounds and then there was no place to pull off the small narrow, shoulderless road.....and so I had to drive on about a quarter of a mile....and then I pulled off. Damage: A crushed front, heavy duty Ford Tough bumper......and some collateral damage. No deer was in sight behind us....and so we just drove....no liquids pouring onto the road, etc., etc. Very driveable, thank God!!!
Yesterday was a day of preparing to leave for Wisconsin.....and that about was the main item of the day. A boat ride with family for the 1st Lady.......and lunch with Dr. Jeni and family at the Marina....and then a small supper at TheHowserHouse with the 1st Lady's brother and wife.
TODAY.....up early...and on the road by 8:00AM......and 8.5 hours later we pulled into the camping resort here at Lake Delton, WI.....and joined many other Cedar Creek RV Owners Club members at the International Rally here. WHAT FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We had hardly turned off the engine and our "yard" was full of friends from the all over the USA and Canada coming to greet us!!!! And from then on........it was drinks, snacks, and laughter and stories as we sat around until dark....and then continued by lighting a fire and sitting around it....enjoying the great friendships we have with each other!!! More on this later.
Currently I am sitting on the bench outside the restroom buildings....mosquitoes nipping at my aging hulk of sagging skin as I write this....the Wifi doesn't reach to TheHowserHouse assigned site, but that is ok. At LEAST I HAVE ONLINE CONNECTIONS!!!!!!!
Sooooo, more in detail tomorrow, or phone my cell phone tonight. My sagging body is getting eaten alive out here.......NOT GOOD...for me, or for the damn mosquitoes!!! Will try to post a few pics before getting off of here.........
And with friends like those that are here........it can't be anything BUT:
LIFE IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And...I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Let's see......the main news: Sunday evening as we returned to the COE campground on the west side of Mark Twain Lake at the Indian Creek CG.......at about 8:30pm I was driving about 63 mph....and out of absolutely nowhere......a deer appeared in front of the car from the side of the road....and I HIT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well....the noise was a BAM....and a few crinkling sounds and then there was no place to pull off the small narrow, shoulderless road.....and so I had to drive on about a quarter of a mile....and then I pulled off. Damage: A crushed front, heavy duty Ford Tough bumper......and some collateral damage. No deer was in sight behind us....and so we just drove....no liquids pouring onto the road, etc., etc. Very driveable, thank God!!!
Yesterday was a day of preparing to leave for Wisconsin.....and that about was the main item of the day. A boat ride with family for the 1st Lady.......and lunch with Dr. Jeni and family at the Marina....and then a small supper at TheHowserHouse with the 1st Lady's brother and wife.
TODAY.....up early...and on the road by 8:00AM......and 8.5 hours later we pulled into the camping resort here at Lake Delton, WI.....and joined many other Cedar Creek RV Owners Club members at the International Rally here. WHAT FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We had hardly turned off the engine and our "yard" was full of friends from the all over the USA and Canada coming to greet us!!!! And from then on........it was drinks, snacks, and laughter and stories as we sat around until dark....and then continued by lighting a fire and sitting around it....enjoying the great friendships we have with each other!!! More on this later.
Currently I am sitting on the bench outside the restroom buildings....mosquitoes nipping at my aging hulk of sagging skin as I write this....the Wifi doesn't reach to TheHowserHouse assigned site, but that is ok. At LEAST I HAVE ONLINE CONNECTIONS!!!!!!!
Sooooo, more in detail tomorrow, or phone my cell phone tonight. My sagging body is getting eaten alive out here.......NOT GOOD...for me, or for the damn mosquitoes!!! Will try to post a few pics before getting off of here.........
And with friends like those that are here........it can't be anything BUT:
LIFE IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And...I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Day 6: Sunday
For some unknown reason…..everyone slept until about 8:30 this morning!!!!???? After a very quick shower, I managed to get the Fr. Roast coffee going…as the 1st Lady made some biscuits with honey and/or molasses for breakfast. There also seemed to be some donuts that came out of the pantry somehow….and they, too, disappeared very quickly.
After several showers and a bit of Sunday morning tellie with the “talking heads” programs…..and another cup or two of Fr. Roast……we loaded up both vehicles…and headed into Monroe City to the 1st Lady’s home. We visited for about an hour with her mother…and then went south past the Cannon Dam to the cabins that her sister had rented for the weekend. Before long…..the charcoal was going….and the hamburgers and polish hot dogs were cooking.
Lunch was served outside on the picnic tables behind their cabin……and with 18 of us “chowing down” under a cool cloud covered sky…..the great food didn’t last very long. Following the late lunch…..the kids all went to the indoor pool….and then before long the rest of us were playing the card game “31”. The afternoon and early evening flew by and as the sun set, we departed for the western side of the lake….about a 30 mile trip around the south end.
Hmmmmm…….a new experience then occurred for me as we were driving down the highway!!! All of a sudden…….a deer was in front my tough Ford truck….and BAM!!!! I hit it with a jolting thud and a bounce and it was over with for the poor little thing. There was NO place to pull over…no shoulder….and so it was about a quarter of a mile before I could pull over to check the damage. Welllll……not as bad as I had imagined……the front bumper was pushed inwards to the right of center….and a few other things were re-arranged, but there seemed to be no damage that would prevent me from driving!!!! We went on up the highway, after looking back and not seeing anything on the highway that might have been the dead deer.
As we drove on toward the cg, we called the local sheriff….and he gave us the number for the highway patrol. We then called him after arriving back at TheHowserHouse and told him the story so that the insurance would have verification of the accident. Hmmm……have never hit anything that large before!!!! Think we were damn lucky….no fluids leaking, no shaking while driving, no tires/wheels out of balance!!!! Ford trucks ARE tough!!!
As I have been thinking about this…..it sooooo brings back to my mind of an incident almost like this in northeastern Thailand: I had flown up to Chiang Mai, in that far corner of the country which is surrounded by China and Burma(used to be called that). I hired a guide with an open jeep to take me through the jungles and high up into the mountains to visit a Meo hill tribe village. On the way through the jungle as we started up through the mts., a very LARGE tiger jumped right out in front of my hired jeep and went right across in front of us!!! It all happened soooooo quickly, like the deer incident did tonight, that I couldn’t believe what I had seen. And as it happened that quickly, the only picture of the tiger that I have……is in my memory. But…..I have never lost that picture and will carry it with me forever…….
Ahhhhh……..what little surprises Life can bring to us….good and not so good! And with these different surprises…….
Life is GREAT…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
After several showers and a bit of Sunday morning tellie with the “talking heads” programs…..and another cup or two of Fr. Roast……we loaded up both vehicles…and headed into Monroe City to the 1st Lady’s home. We visited for about an hour with her mother…and then went south past the Cannon Dam to the cabins that her sister had rented for the weekend. Before long…..the charcoal was going….and the hamburgers and polish hot dogs were cooking.
Lunch was served outside on the picnic tables behind their cabin……and with 18 of us “chowing down” under a cool cloud covered sky…..the great food didn’t last very long. Following the late lunch…..the kids all went to the indoor pool….and then before long the rest of us were playing the card game “31”. The afternoon and early evening flew by and as the sun set, we departed for the western side of the lake….about a 30 mile trip around the south end.
Hmmmmm…….a new experience then occurred for me as we were driving down the highway!!! All of a sudden…….a deer was in front my tough Ford truck….and BAM!!!! I hit it with a jolting thud and a bounce and it was over with for the poor little thing. There was NO place to pull over…no shoulder….and so it was about a quarter of a mile before I could pull over to check the damage. Welllll……not as bad as I had imagined……the front bumper was pushed inwards to the right of center….and a few other things were re-arranged, but there seemed to be no damage that would prevent me from driving!!!! We went on up the highway, after looking back and not seeing anything on the highway that might have been the dead deer.
As we drove on toward the cg, we called the local sheriff….and he gave us the number for the highway patrol. We then called him after arriving back at TheHowserHouse and told him the story so that the insurance would have verification of the accident. Hmmm……have never hit anything that large before!!!! Think we were damn lucky….no fluids leaking, no shaking while driving, no tires/wheels out of balance!!!! Ford trucks ARE tough!!!
As I have been thinking about this…..it sooooo brings back to my mind of an incident almost like this in northeastern Thailand: I had flown up to Chiang Mai, in that far corner of the country which is surrounded by China and Burma(used to be called that). I hired a guide with an open jeep to take me through the jungles and high up into the mountains to visit a Meo hill tribe village. On the way through the jungle as we started up through the mts., a very LARGE tiger jumped right out in front of my hired jeep and went right across in front of us!!! It all happened soooooo quickly, like the deer incident did tonight, that I couldn’t believe what I had seen. And as it happened that quickly, the only picture of the tiger that I have……is in my memory. But…..I have never lost that picture and will carry it with me forever…….
Ahhhhh……..what little surprises Life can bring to us….good and not so good! And with these different surprises…….
Life is GREAT…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Day 5: Saturday
No one slept very late this morning!! The little ones were up and full of energy and ready to look around this new place…..to them! And…..after a breakfast of mixed “want for breakfasts”…….we decided to take the girls to the playground. They played for about a half hour on the equipment there……a really nice playground!!!
Then we decided to take a walk around the campground……and took about an hour ambling through the various cg circles, which are ALL FULL!!!! No camping vacancies at all!!
Back at TheHowserHouse, we all had a bite or two of lunch….and then we had a phone call from the 1st Lady’s sister and said they were in their boat and would be at the Marina next to our cg in about 15 minutes. So….we scurried around and I took Dr. Jeni, Rachel and Meghan down to the Marina and by the time we arrived they already had their boat tied up and were getting some food to eat.
I watched them all pull away for a bit of boating on the Lake….and I returned to the RV to join the 1st Lady who remained behind to stay with Ava while she took her afternoon nap. I did some reading….and just enjoying the relative quiet here.
Then the phone rang and her sister called to say that Rachel was sick, had thrown up from the boat, and I should meet them at the Marina. Soooooo, back over there I went and waited for almost 30 minutes before they pulled up to the dock…..seems they had become a bit “lost” as they tried to locate the cove where the Marina is located.
I took Rachel back to TheHowserHouse, and once again, she was ill. We soon had her laying down on the bed.……and just gave her some quiet time to herself. It wasn’t long until the thunder and rains began……..and so I put a DVD into the system and the girls did well as they ate some supper while watching a couple of movies. Rachel continued to just lay around…..alternating between feeling “a bit better” and not feeling good at all.
Dr Jeni left earlier to run down to Montgomery City to pick up Darrel…..he was to drive in a race tonight, but it was rained out. Soooooo, they will be back here later this evening.
The 1st Lady and I took care of all three little ones……..and at one time it became a bit hectic as there seemed to be a minor problem with each one, just as there was a phone call on each of our phones!!!! Doesn’t that always happen??????? But…..everyone survived their “emergency” without a hitch!!!
After getting the girls bedded down….on the floor of the den…..and after they were asleep, we finally turned out the lights and they were “gone” for the rest of the night. Dr. Jeni and Darrel didn’t return until about 1am……but never did hear them arrive. And…..as it always is….
Life is Great....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
Then we decided to take a walk around the campground……and took about an hour ambling through the various cg circles, which are ALL FULL!!!! No camping vacancies at all!!
Back at TheHowserHouse, we all had a bite or two of lunch….and then we had a phone call from the 1st Lady’s sister and said they were in their boat and would be at the Marina next to our cg in about 15 minutes. So….we scurried around and I took Dr. Jeni, Rachel and Meghan down to the Marina and by the time we arrived they already had their boat tied up and were getting some food to eat.
I watched them all pull away for a bit of boating on the Lake….and I returned to the RV to join the 1st Lady who remained behind to stay with Ava while she took her afternoon nap. I did some reading….and just enjoying the relative quiet here.
Then the phone rang and her sister called to say that Rachel was sick, had thrown up from the boat, and I should meet them at the Marina. Soooooo, back over there I went and waited for almost 30 minutes before they pulled up to the dock…..seems they had become a bit “lost” as they tried to locate the cove where the Marina is located.
I took Rachel back to TheHowserHouse, and once again, she was ill. We soon had her laying down on the bed.……and just gave her some quiet time to herself. It wasn’t long until the thunder and rains began……..and so I put a DVD into the system and the girls did well as they ate some supper while watching a couple of movies. Rachel continued to just lay around…..alternating between feeling “a bit better” and not feeling good at all.
Dr Jeni left earlier to run down to Montgomery City to pick up Darrel…..he was to drive in a race tonight, but it was rained out. Soooooo, they will be back here later this evening.
The 1st Lady and I took care of all three little ones……..and at one time it became a bit hectic as there seemed to be a minor problem with each one, just as there was a phone call on each of our phones!!!! Doesn’t that always happen??????? But…..everyone survived their “emergency” without a hitch!!!
After getting the girls bedded down….on the floor of the den…..and after they were asleep, we finally turned out the lights and they were “gone” for the rest of the night. Dr. Jeni and Darrel didn’t return until about 1am……but never did hear them arrive. And…..as it always is….
Life is Great....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
Day 4: Friday
Another day of mixed weather!! Clouds, rain, sunshine, wind………but, NO snow! Just the usual Missouri spring weather daily cycles.
We spent most of the day in Monroe City at the 1st Lady’s mother’s home. The 1st Lady’s sister and son had arrived Thursday evening and so we enjoyed some visiting with them during the day. The 1st Lady and her sister took their mother to several of the local cemeteries to place flowers on the graves of their family members.
When they returned to the house……the remainder of the day was spent in doing some shopping and preparing for Dr. Jeni, Meghan and Ava, and Rachel to arrive later in the day. More of her sister’s family were also going to arrive during the early evening….and they all have reservations made on the east side of Mark Twain Lake…..about 45 minutes from where we are staying.
The 1st Lady and I returned to TheHowserHouse and did a bit of shifting of things in the RV to prepare for the arrival of Dr Jeni and group. It will be a bit tight inside with all of the things necessary for three children………….and as we all know…they are full of energy at that age!!!
Later in the evening, Dr. Jeni called and said she would not be able to get started until 10pm…..which would make it around midnight before they arrived here. The 1st Lady eventually went to bed to read….and I remained up and awake so that I could assist in getting the sleeping girls into the RV and to bed.
And….it was midnight when they arrived. We had already put some blankets on the floor and got the pillows out and ready. We “poured” the girls onto the floor, pulled out the sleeper sofa and soon everyone was tucked away…..
A FULL HOUSE of HOWSER’s……….and…..
Life is Great….and I hope it is for all of you, also!! (a reminder that I have no access to the internet here…and will hopefully make another trip to Hannibal on Sunday to get these posts made)
We spent most of the day in Monroe City at the 1st Lady’s mother’s home. The 1st Lady’s sister and son had arrived Thursday evening and so we enjoyed some visiting with them during the day. The 1st Lady and her sister took their mother to several of the local cemeteries to place flowers on the graves of their family members.
When they returned to the house……the remainder of the day was spent in doing some shopping and preparing for Dr. Jeni, Meghan and Ava, and Rachel to arrive later in the day. More of her sister’s family were also going to arrive during the early evening….and they all have reservations made on the east side of Mark Twain Lake…..about 45 minutes from where we are staying.
The 1st Lady and I returned to TheHowserHouse and did a bit of shifting of things in the RV to prepare for the arrival of Dr Jeni and group. It will be a bit tight inside with all of the things necessary for three children………….and as we all know…they are full of energy at that age!!!
Later in the evening, Dr. Jeni called and said she would not be able to get started until 10pm…..which would make it around midnight before they arrived here. The 1st Lady eventually went to bed to read….and I remained up and awake so that I could assist in getting the sleeping girls into the RV and to bed.
And….it was midnight when they arrived. We had already put some blankets on the floor and got the pillows out and ready. We “poured” the girls onto the floor, pulled out the sleeper sofa and soon everyone was tucked away…..
A FULL HOUSE of HOWSER’s……….and…..
Life is Great….and I hope it is for all of you, also!! (a reminder that I have no access to the internet here…and will hopefully make another trip to Hannibal on Sunday to get these posts made)
Thursday: Day 3
Another quiet morning surrounded by the oak forest on the shores of Mark Twain Lake……quiet with one exception: the very loud chirping of the multitude of birds that inhabit this area!! Not a complaint!!! They are great to listen to…..as well as to see. Only one wish…….and that is that I had brought my bird feeder with me. Oh well…….
We went into Monroe City for a while…..and then I drove into Hannibal and became a temporary resident of the reception lobby in the Quality Inn Hotel there……using their wifi which is free and very strong. I only had 158 email messages in the past 48 hours…..hmmmm, not certain if that is a normal amount or not as I don’t keep track of how many I receive each day.
The 1st Lady and her family had gone into Hannibal also…..and before I was finished in the lobby of the hotel, she called and wanted me to meet them for lunch in Hannibal. A rather greasy lunch as we ate at Long John Silver’s…..and even though I enjoy their fish from time to time, it is not the healthiest food around to eat! Nevertheless…..I ate enough that I didn’t need….nor want….to eat the rest of the day…..haha!
After lunch….guess what I did!!! I returned to the hotel lobby and spent another hour reading some newspapers, etc., etc. I really do miss reading my daily newspapers online….and it makes for a very uninformative day when I don’t have that opportunity.
I returned to Monroe City….actually before the 1st Lady and her family…..and enjoyed a few minutes on the patio in the sun…which came and went with the increasing amount of clouds. The outlook for the weekend here is not good!!! RAIN….RAIN….RAIN….is predicted.
The 1st Lady and I returned to the COE campground during the early evening…..and just rather veggied out……enjoying the light rain showers…..and curling up with good books! We both love to read…..and oftentimes we don’t get a good chance to just spend an evening doing that.
And sooooo, another relaxing day……a relaxing evening…..and a couple of good books ………and…..
Life is GREAT….and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
We went into Monroe City for a while…..and then I drove into Hannibal and became a temporary resident of the reception lobby in the Quality Inn Hotel there……using their wifi which is free and very strong. I only had 158 email messages in the past 48 hours…..hmmmm, not certain if that is a normal amount or not as I don’t keep track of how many I receive each day.
The 1st Lady and her family had gone into Hannibal also…..and before I was finished in the lobby of the hotel, she called and wanted me to meet them for lunch in Hannibal. A rather greasy lunch as we ate at Long John Silver’s…..and even though I enjoy their fish from time to time, it is not the healthiest food around to eat! Nevertheless…..I ate enough that I didn’t need….nor want….to eat the rest of the day…..haha!
After lunch….guess what I did!!! I returned to the hotel lobby and spent another hour reading some newspapers, etc., etc. I really do miss reading my daily newspapers online….and it makes for a very uninformative day when I don’t have that opportunity.
I returned to Monroe City….actually before the 1st Lady and her family…..and enjoyed a few minutes on the patio in the sun…which came and went with the increasing amount of clouds. The outlook for the weekend here is not good!!! RAIN….RAIN….RAIN….is predicted.
The 1st Lady and I returned to the COE campground during the early evening…..and just rather veggied out……enjoying the light rain showers…..and curling up with good books! We both love to read…..and oftentimes we don’t get a good chance to just spend an evening doing that.
And sooooo, another relaxing day……a relaxing evening…..and a couple of good books ………and…..
Life is GREAT….and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
DAY 2.........Great place to enjoy Life!!!
How GREAT it was to wake up yesterday (Wed) and see yourself surrounded by tall trees……and the quietness of the night before was just the same. We were lazy…..just enjoying my Fr Roast coffee and the 1st Lady her tea……sitting outside in the warm and very breezy and forested campground.
We took a walk around the campground and eyeballed some other sites that we might enjoy in the future, if we ever bring TheHowserHouse back to this area. As we are on our way to the Cedar Creek RV Owners Club international rally at the Wisconsin Dells area we are staying here for a week to visit the 1st Lady’s mother, as well as other family members who will be around here this weekend.
Late morning we went into Monroe City and spent the remainder of the day with her mother. We had purchased some new full length drapes to go over her French doors at night, so we spent some time getting the rod in just the right place for the length of the drapes. She seemed to like them…..and she was very excited to rid herself of those vertical blinds she had been using.
We returned to the cg in time for the evening meal…….salad and pizza…and a glass of my dark red medicine. I had to sweep off the outdoor carpeting and the table area…..the winds have continued to blow at about 30 mph all day…..and the leaves and twigs were really falling all around.
We are only on antenna tv out here……but, we were able to get the news off of the two local channels…..and were excited to hear that Jordin won American Idol over Blake. She is a great singer/performer…..and to be only 17 years old….makes her just that much more incredible!!!!
Day 2.……was relaxing and enjoyable with no pressing responsibilities!!! YEAH!!! Soooo……remember that I have no internet service while here, other than drive 25 miles to Hannibal and use the Quality Inn lobby/parking lot to piggyback onto their wifi service.
Life is Great….and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
We took a walk around the campground and eyeballed some other sites that we might enjoy in the future, if we ever bring TheHowserHouse back to this area. As we are on our way to the Cedar Creek RV Owners Club international rally at the Wisconsin Dells area we are staying here for a week to visit the 1st Lady’s mother, as well as other family members who will be around here this weekend.
Late morning we went into Monroe City and spent the remainder of the day with her mother. We had purchased some new full length drapes to go over her French doors at night, so we spent some time getting the rod in just the right place for the length of the drapes. She seemed to like them…..and she was very excited to rid herself of those vertical blinds she had been using.
We returned to the cg in time for the evening meal…….salad and pizza…and a glass of my dark red medicine. I had to sweep off the outdoor carpeting and the table area…..the winds have continued to blow at about 30 mph all day…..and the leaves and twigs were really falling all around.
We are only on antenna tv out here……but, we were able to get the news off of the two local channels…..and were excited to hear that Jordin won American Idol over Blake. She is a great singer/performer…..and to be only 17 years old….makes her just that much more incredible!!!!
Day 2.……was relaxing and enjoyable with no pressing responsibilities!!! YEAH!!! Soooo……remember that I have no internet service while here, other than drive 25 miles to Hannibal and use the Quality Inn lobby/parking lot to piggyback onto their wifi service.
Life is Great….and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
DAY 1!!!!!
As always……..there are many last minute items that need to be loaded into the 5er before we can get on the road. Not certain why that occurs……….we have lists made, but it just seems that these “must have items” are never discovered until it is time to pull out of the driveway!!! Hmmmmmm………
We did pull out of the driveway at 9:20am yesterday, Tuesday. We didn’t make any stops as we drove north, through STL, and on to Hannibal where we took US 36 west through Monroe City and then down US 24 for a few miles. Then we drove down a county road to the Indian Creek C.O.E. campgrounds, which are right at the Mark Twain Lake.
Arriving a little after 1pm……we were still in time to select from about 6 full hook up sties……and so the 1st Lady picked the one she had seen a few weeks ago. After the usual back up/in procedures and the difficulties which occur in not getting too close to the electric post, trees, etc., etc. so that the slides will not hit anything when they open……..the 1st Lady decided that this wasn’t a good place for us!!!!! As I had been adjusting TheHowserHouse for the “just right” position……she had been walking around and discovered that not many yards away the land dropped off of a bluff down to the Lake. And…..it just wouldn’t do with the granddaughters expected here for the weekend.
Soooooo, we took a walk around the cg looking for another suitable site that was still open and had the full hookups. After locating one, I told the 1st Lady to STAY RIGHT THERE…….as I didn’t want anyone else getting it before I could move TheHowserHouse over there. Soooo, she leaned on the post, waiting until I walked back to where I left it, and then drove it back over……and then began the same back up/in procedures as before. Hmmmmm……..and we then unhooked, attached the umbilical cords and then I took out the chairs, etc., etc. from the basement.
It had been a rather hard drive due to the high, blustery winds that at first blew from our rear end……and then began to hit us from the side…..causing the 5er to wobble some and jerk around when the huge gusts would hit us. Sooooo, after a glass of my dark red medicine, we went into Monroe City to visit with the 1st Lady’s mother for a couple of hours.
We returned to the cg as darkness settled in. This COE cg is really quite nice!!!! And……since we will be here until Tuesday morning, when we depart for Lake Delton, WI, I am glad that it is so nice: heavily wooded, long sites which are all paved, hookups located correctly, picnic tables…….everything that is needed to make living in the woods comfortable!
And sooooo……Day 1 of our short journey comes to a close. With the trees rustling outside in the winds, the quietness of the wooded area, and the complete darkness…..
Life is GREAT…..and I hope it is the same for all of you, also!!!!
We did pull out of the driveway at 9:20am yesterday, Tuesday. We didn’t make any stops as we drove north, through STL, and on to Hannibal where we took US 36 west through Monroe City and then down US 24 for a few miles. Then we drove down a county road to the Indian Creek C.O.E. campgrounds, which are right at the Mark Twain Lake.
Arriving a little after 1pm……we were still in time to select from about 6 full hook up sties……and so the 1st Lady picked the one she had seen a few weeks ago. After the usual back up/in procedures and the difficulties which occur in not getting too close to the electric post, trees, etc., etc. so that the slides will not hit anything when they open……..the 1st Lady decided that this wasn’t a good place for us!!!!! As I had been adjusting TheHowserHouse for the “just right” position……she had been walking around and discovered that not many yards away the land dropped off of a bluff down to the Lake. And…..it just wouldn’t do with the granddaughters expected here for the weekend.
Soooooo, we took a walk around the cg looking for another suitable site that was still open and had the full hookups. After locating one, I told the 1st Lady to STAY RIGHT THERE…….as I didn’t want anyone else getting it before I could move TheHowserHouse over there. Soooo, she leaned on the post, waiting until I walked back to where I left it, and then drove it back over……and then began the same back up/in procedures as before. Hmmmmm……..and we then unhooked, attached the umbilical cords and then I took out the chairs, etc., etc. from the basement.
It had been a rather hard drive due to the high, blustery winds that at first blew from our rear end……and then began to hit us from the side…..causing the 5er to wobble some and jerk around when the huge gusts would hit us. Sooooo, after a glass of my dark red medicine, we went into Monroe City to visit with the 1st Lady’s mother for a couple of hours.
We returned to the cg as darkness settled in. This COE cg is really quite nice!!!! And……since we will be here until Tuesday morning, when we depart for Lake Delton, WI, I am glad that it is so nice: heavily wooded, long sites which are all paved, hookups located correctly, picnic tables…….everything that is needed to make living in the woods comfortable!
And sooooo……Day 1 of our short journey comes to a close. With the trees rustling outside in the winds, the quietness of the wooded area, and the complete darkness…..
Life is GREAT…..and I hope it is the same for all of you, also!!!!
Monday, May 21, 2007
A day of preparations............
Felt a bit better this morning, but still a bit on the weak side. A cup of Fr. Roast coffee helped.....just a bit. Two pieces of toast.....and then I decided the lawn would not get shorter of it's own accord, sooooooo I put on my "mowing shoes" and began. It took several 5-10 minute breaks with lots of water, but I finished in about three hours.
After a lunch break.....I began to load the RV.....getting it ready to leave tomorrow for about 3 weeks. And......it took all afternoon and into the early evening.......always, always it takes mucho longer than I think it will to decide just what is needed and then get it stowed away.
Soooooo, there you have it!!!! My entire day in two brief paragraphs!!! Wasn't it an interesting day for me??? Such an exciting day.....HA!
Now.....as we depart tomorrow.....AFTER the house alarms have been set.......we are going to spend a week at Mark Twain Lake in NE Missouri at one of the Corps of Engineers campgrounds. Then.....we will be off to the Wisconsin Dells area for another week......and finally after a slight detour through Indiana to New Castle, where we will have a couple of repairs on TheHowserHouse done and our new dining table installed.
For the next week, at the minimum......we will probably not have access to the internet. My cell phone rarely works up there unless it is on "extended network" and with that I cannot get online either. Soooooo, if there are not any regular posts or pics on here........try not to panic and get toooo upset with me. I will try to find some free Wifi.....somewhere during the week......and just perhaps.....PERHAPS I can get online from the cg.
And sooooooo.........after a very busy day.......
Life is Great!!!!.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
After a lunch break.....I began to load the RV.....getting it ready to leave tomorrow for about 3 weeks. And......it took all afternoon and into the early evening.......always, always it takes mucho longer than I think it will to decide just what is needed and then get it stowed away.
Soooooo, there you have it!!!! My entire day in two brief paragraphs!!! Wasn't it an interesting day for me??? Such an exciting day.....HA!
Now.....as we depart tomorrow.....AFTER the house alarms have been set.......we are going to spend a week at Mark Twain Lake in NE Missouri at one of the Corps of Engineers campgrounds. Then.....we will be off to the Wisconsin Dells area for another week......and finally after a slight detour through Indiana to New Castle, where we will have a couple of repairs on TheHowserHouse done and our new dining table installed.
For the next week, at the minimum......we will probably not have access to the internet. My cell phone rarely works up there unless it is on "extended network" and with that I cannot get online either. Soooooo, if there are not any regular posts or pics on here........try not to panic and get toooo upset with me. I will try to find some free Wifi.....somewhere during the week......and just perhaps.....PERHAPS I can get online from the cg.
And sooooooo.........after a very busy day.......
Life is Great!!!!.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
WONDERFUL day to be enjoying a Festival.....
Another bright and clear day, void of any noticeable humidity with just the right temps!!!! After a quick few bites of caramel rolls and biscuits, we said our goodbyes to Jeremy and the 1st Lady and I left for Washington, MO....about 110 miles. This is a beautiful area of Missouri as the MO River usually ambles peacefully beside the town of Washington, which sits along the banks of the river....however, the Muddy Missouri was moving rapidly towards it's juncture with the Mississippi.......full of crap from the floods that have been happening in western and northwestern Missouri the past couple of weeks.
We met Dr. Jeni and Darrell and both Ava and Meghan at the Art and WineFest being held on the Main Street of downtown Washington. The streets were quickly filling with people who came to view and, oftentimes, to purchase the works of art which were on display in many white tents along the side of the streets. The wonderful aromas of the food booths were hanging over the street.....and it was impossible to pass by these booths and stalls of hot food: brats, Tilapia wraps, fajitas, BBQ Shortribs, etc., etc., etc.
Next to the busy food sellers was a stage and tables/chairs with a great sound system set up for the musical entertainment. AND......on stage for the first two hours was my cousin, Mick Byrd, and his two singing partners......performing their many bluesy, folksy, songs........of which are written by Mick. It was great to hear him again....even tho I do have a CD or two of the many tunes that he has released. With the two granddaughters, it wasn't as easy to just sit and enjoy his performance as I had hoped it would be!!! Soooo, I didn't get to hear all of the two hours, but the part I did hear......WOW....he just gets better and better!!!!!!!!
After eating and viewing the Art displays.....we headed to the Wine tasting area. The deal was: you pay $15 for your wine glass and an arm band.....and then there were 13 different Missouri wineries there.....with a total of 64 different wines that you could taste. YEP....ALL OF THEM!!!! And......to help with the tasting, they furnished cheeses, crackers, and grapes to help cleanse the pallet after tasting each wine.....WOW!!!! WHAT a deal for $15!!!!!!!
Between the four of us "of-age" tasters, we purchased a case of various wines. A GREAT deal.....as they were 20% off the regular price and NO sales taxes!!!!! We saved $34+ with that price break!!!!!
A GREAT DAY IT WAS!!!!!! The 1st Lady and I returned home around 7:30pm.......and I seemed to have picked up a tiny little intestinal germ.....it began bothering me at the Festival so I quit tasting the wines.....DAMN!!!!!! Anyway......perhaps I will lose some weight!!!!!???
Not to worry.......because with a day like this....yep, you know:
LIFE IS GREAT....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
We met Dr. Jeni and Darrell and both Ava and Meghan at the Art and WineFest being held on the Main Street of downtown Washington. The streets were quickly filling with people who came to view and, oftentimes, to purchase the works of art which were on display in many white tents along the side of the streets. The wonderful aromas of the food booths were hanging over the street.....and it was impossible to pass by these booths and stalls of hot food: brats, Tilapia wraps, fajitas, BBQ Shortribs, etc., etc., etc.
Next to the busy food sellers was a stage and tables/chairs with a great sound system set up for the musical entertainment. AND......on stage for the first two hours was my cousin, Mick Byrd, and his two singing partners......performing their many bluesy, folksy, songs........of which are written by Mick. It was great to hear him again....even tho I do have a CD or two of the many tunes that he has released. With the two granddaughters, it wasn't as easy to just sit and enjoy his performance as I had hoped it would be!!! Soooo, I didn't get to hear all of the two hours, but the part I did hear......WOW....he just gets better and better!!!!!!!!
After eating and viewing the Art displays.....we headed to the Wine tasting area. The deal was: you pay $15 for your wine glass and an arm band.....and then there were 13 different Missouri wineries there.....with a total of 64 different wines that you could taste. YEP....ALL OF THEM!!!! And......to help with the tasting, they furnished cheeses, crackers, and grapes to help cleanse the pallet after tasting each wine.....WOW!!!! WHAT a deal for $15!!!!!!!
Between the four of us "of-age" tasters, we purchased a case of various wines. A GREAT deal.....as they were 20% off the regular price and NO sales taxes!!!!! We saved $34+ with that price break!!!!!
A GREAT DAY IT WAS!!!!!! The 1st Lady and I returned home around 7:30pm.......and I seemed to have picked up a tiny little intestinal germ.....it began bothering me at the Festival so I quit tasting the wines.....DAMN!!!!!! Anyway......perhaps I will lose some weight!!!!!???
Not to worry.......because with a day like this....yep, you know:
LIFE IS GREAT....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Saturday, May 19, 2007
What can I say???? No excuses.....other than.......
ANOTHER two day report!!!!! I have no excuse other than I had taken too much of my dark red medicine earlier in the evening, and then I had to drive back from Cape.....and I was beyond writing anything illuminating by the time we returned......soooooo
Yesterday. We departed about noon for Cape......stopped at Becky's newly purchased house, looked over the new carpet samples, and then we all headed across the Mississippi to the carpet store located just over the bridge in Illinois. There..........we assisted Becky in making some decisions as to which carpet she wanted in the house.....and then we sped away across the bridge and down to see Mike for a couple of hours. Another very, very rapid trip back to Cape, arriving at the Methodist Church just in time for the wedding ceremony. Jeremy was a groomsman, so it was great to see him!
The wedding was nice with a string trio performing all of the musical selections. Then we left for downtown Cape and the dinner-dance reception. The 1st Lady and I had a GREAT time......and as I said, I overdosed myself..........just lost count of the correct dosage, I guess!! I drove back to F'town....and we pulled into the drive around midnight.
This morning we were up and going by 8am......and as Jeremy was going to be here today with a "lady friend", we did a bit of cleaning/dusting. He arrived around noon with Cassie and we spent the next few hours on the patio talking and laughing about a flurry of topics.......
By 3:30 the 1st Lady and I were out at the home of one of her sorority sister's.....and we joined about 15 others and drove to the Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary and Restaurant. We took a tour through the "just opened" sanctuary....just opened today........and it is REALLY a great place. Not certain I would pay the admission prices that they are currently asking, but we got a price break and it was a good hour's tour. The facilities are state-of-the-art for the housing and caring of these large cats........WOW!!!!! They are in cat heaven. All of them are recovering from lack of the proper treatment by their previous owners.........those who have private little zoos and haven't taken good care of the cats.
Then......we had reservations for all 17 of us at the restaurant. It is a gorgeous setting.......and the facility is great. However........I...and others...were disappointed with the quality of the food. The 1st Lady's meal and mine was right at $60......and well, I just feel it was not worth that kind of a price tag. My scallops were cold......and that was NOT good!! It just ruined the entire meal.....and, well...we decided we would not return there. Others in our group had meat that they had to send back due to the toughness of the meat......and two of our party had had their entire meals DROPPED on the way to the table, which met they had to wait for almost 25 minutes before they were served!!! NOT a good evening...........Crown Ridge Restaurant......think twice before trying it out!
We returned home around 8pm......and Jeremy and Cassie were back from their pool party at one of his friend's homes here in town. Soooo, we spent some time visiting......
Tomorrow the 1st Lady and I are going to Washington, MO to the Art and Wine Festival.....and I will be discussing that tomorrow evening.
And so.........even though our food was not very well prepared....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Yesterday. We departed about noon for Cape......stopped at Becky's newly purchased house, looked over the new carpet samples, and then we all headed across the Mississippi to the carpet store located just over the bridge in Illinois. There..........we assisted Becky in making some decisions as to which carpet she wanted in the house.....and then we sped away across the bridge and down to see Mike for a couple of hours. Another very, very rapid trip back to Cape, arriving at the Methodist Church just in time for the wedding ceremony. Jeremy was a groomsman, so it was great to see him!
The wedding was nice with a string trio performing all of the musical selections. Then we left for downtown Cape and the dinner-dance reception. The 1st Lady and I had a GREAT time......and as I said, I overdosed myself..........just lost count of the correct dosage, I guess!! I drove back to F'town....and we pulled into the drive around midnight.
This morning we were up and going by 8am......and as Jeremy was going to be here today with a "lady friend", we did a bit of cleaning/dusting. He arrived around noon with Cassie and we spent the next few hours on the patio talking and laughing about a flurry of topics.......
By 3:30 the 1st Lady and I were out at the home of one of her sorority sister's.....and we joined about 15 others and drove to the Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary and Restaurant. We took a tour through the "just opened" sanctuary....just opened today........and it is REALLY a great place. Not certain I would pay the admission prices that they are currently asking, but we got a price break and it was a good hour's tour. The facilities are state-of-the-art for the housing and caring of these large cats........WOW!!!!! They are in cat heaven. All of them are recovering from lack of the proper treatment by their previous owners.........those who have private little zoos and haven't taken good care of the cats.
Then......we had reservations for all 17 of us at the restaurant. It is a gorgeous setting.......and the facility is great. However........I...and others...were disappointed with the quality of the food. The 1st Lady's meal and mine was right at $60......and well, I just feel it was not worth that kind of a price tag. My scallops were cold......and that was NOT good!! It just ruined the entire meal.....and, well...we decided we would not return there. Others in our group had meat that they had to send back due to the toughness of the meat......and two of our party had had their entire meals DROPPED on the way to the table, which met they had to wait for almost 25 minutes before they were served!!! NOT a good evening...........Crown Ridge Restaurant......think twice before trying it out!
We returned home around 8pm......and Jeremy and Cassie were back from their pool party at one of his friend's homes here in town. Soooo, we spent some time visiting......
Tomorrow the 1st Lady and I are going to Washington, MO to the Art and Wine Festival.....and I will be discussing that tomorrow evening.
And so.........even though our food was not very well prepared....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Ohhhhh......moan....groan......ughhhhhh......
ANOTHER day of waxing TheHowserHouse, or should I say ...finishing it. AND......then I took on the task of washing the truck......and later on, the 1st Lady wanted me to wash the Park Avenue.....and so, tonight I am soooooo damn sore I can hardly sit quietly.
All muscles and upper joints are screaming out at me for treating them so harshly!!!!! And, I am now finding it difficult to even use the keyboard on my lappie. DAMN.......I will not try to do all of these vehicles and TheHowserHouse within two consecutive days. AND........to make it worse, I still have all of the many windows on the RV to wash!!!!!
The day was very cool, windy, and mostly sunny. The lawn could be heard growing......and each time I walked on it, I had thoughts running through my head about WHEN would I be able to mow it before Monday afternoon?????!!!!! Just another task/chore that must be completed prior to our hooking up and leaving next week..........they are never ending, aren't they???
Tomorrow......well, we plan to see Mike for a while and then we head to Cape for the wedding of two of our friends/students. Jeremy is a groomsman and so he is there already from Evansville, IN. He and his date for the weekend will be here at the stick and brick on Saturday and Sunday.......I hope we can spend some time with them as we have a list of events planned that will keep us "on the go" the entire time, I'm afraid!!!
One little visual enjoyment that has been occuring recently for the 1st Lady and myself. I FINALLY put up two bird feeders......right beside the hummingbird feeder.....and the two I put up were for finch seed and for sunflower seed. AND WOW!!!!!!! The flight path to our feeders is completely full and occasionally there are collisions at the landing locations!! We have had all kinds of wonderful birds making their appearances besides our patio........and this makes sitting there for Fr. Roast coffee in the morning or for my daily dosage of dark red medicine in the late afternoon highly enjoyable!!!!
Ok....OK!!! I must submit to the howling, aching muscles in my aging body....and bring this discussion of my day to an abrupt closure. I think I will take a very HOT shower and using the built-in seats in the large shower......just let the steaming water massage my old carcass. Even with this pain and aching from making TheHowserHouse more beautiful, my vehicles cleaner.......
Life is Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
All muscles and upper joints are screaming out at me for treating them so harshly!!!!! And, I am now finding it difficult to even use the keyboard on my lappie. DAMN.......I will not try to do all of these vehicles and TheHowserHouse within two consecutive days. AND........to make it worse, I still have all of the many windows on the RV to wash!!!!!
The day was very cool, windy, and mostly sunny. The lawn could be heard growing......and each time I walked on it, I had thoughts running through my head about WHEN would I be able to mow it before Monday afternoon?????!!!!! Just another task/chore that must be completed prior to our hooking up and leaving next week..........they are never ending, aren't they???
Tomorrow......well, we plan to see Mike for a while and then we head to Cape for the wedding of two of our friends/students. Jeremy is a groomsman and so he is there already from Evansville, IN. He and his date for the weekend will be here at the stick and brick on Saturday and Sunday.......I hope we can spend some time with them as we have a list of events planned that will keep us "on the go" the entire time, I'm afraid!!!
One little visual enjoyment that has been occuring recently for the 1st Lady and myself. I FINALLY put up two bird feeders......right beside the hummingbird feeder.....and the two I put up were for finch seed and for sunflower seed. AND WOW!!!!!!! The flight path to our feeders is completely full and occasionally there are collisions at the landing locations!! We have had all kinds of wonderful birds making their appearances besides our patio........and this makes sitting there for Fr. Roast coffee in the morning or for my daily dosage of dark red medicine in the late afternoon highly enjoyable!!!!
Ok....OK!!! I must submit to the howling, aching muscles in my aging body....and bring this discussion of my day to an abrupt closure. I think I will take a very HOT shower and using the built-in seats in the large shower......just let the steaming water massage my old carcass. Even with this pain and aching from making TheHowserHouse more beautiful, my vehicles cleaner.......
Life is Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
AHHHHH.......two of cleaning TheHowserHouse....Let's Go!!!!
Yep......by last night I was just toooooo damned exhausted to make my fingers "do the talkin' "!!!! Sooooo, I just became a veggie and watched some tellie.........shit! Am I getting OLD????? er? This last statement just makes me think that I must be.
I worked on the RV "rubber" roof, which is not rubber at all, but a composite material that lasts longer than rubber IF treated properly each year. Well.......that took longer than I anticipated and then the storm clouds moved in and I didn't get it finished, OR looking like I wanted it to look!!! I had worked and scrubbed and brushed and cleaned my ass off as I crawled around on all fours spreading my hulking weight carefully.....AND.....seemingly more balanced on all fours than on twos! The damned roof slopes downwards towards the front AND the rear of the RV from about 1/3 of the way back from the front cap of the RV.........and when it gets wet, well........it is not the safest place to be walking around. And....you sure as hell can't scrub it without it getting wet, can you?
Last night? Well, the 1st Lady had gone to Cape for two days, leaving yesterday morning, to work on painting some of the rooms in the house our daughter-in-law (Becky) just purchased. She and Rachel will be moving in in a couple of weeks....or less.....and it would be nice if it was all clean, painted, etc., etc. before the furniture starts getting set up. Soooo, I was alone last night as I watched the "show of the night"......"American Idol"!!!
My pick for the final two???? Jordin and Melinda......and I hope my picks are correct.......will find out within the next two hours!!!
Today?? Ahhhhh, another day working on the RV.......a day of washing it by hand and a long brush....and THEN: the task of waxing it! The washing only took three hours....minus the windows.......and then after a quick bite of lunch, the waxing began. Not wanting to wax it in the bright, crispy cool sunlight today, I only did the left side which was not in the sun....and then the front end, after the sun moved into the western sky. TheHowserHouse sits in the driveway and faces the East........can't decide if it is an early Christian or a Muslim. The early Christians always faced the east...at least their churches were built so the people faced the east when worshiping and we all know the Muslims face the east when praying........so one way or the other, TheHowserHouse faces the east while resting in the driveway. Enough religious history.......
I have always had to climb my 7 foot ladder and then struggle to reach towards the top of the front cap of the RV......and DUH!!!!!!! Again......DUH!!!!!! I all of sudden after three years of owning this home-on-wheels......I finally "saw the light"!!!! Why in the hell didn't I think of this before???? All I have to do is to lower the RV at the front end.....as far as it will go down....and VOILA!!!!!! I can now reach the top of the cap while on the ladder!!!!! Where I have been for three years each time I washed/waxed the RV????????????????????? (Aging mind?????)
I am ready to "get the Hell out of F'town" as soon as possible. Yep.....it has been six weeks since we arrived home.....and I am just itching to hit the road and see what is around the bend, or over the hill!!!!! The more I work on TheHowserHouse.......the more I am ready to GO!!!!! I just know, though, that we will not be gone nearly as long as I would like to be gone. UGH!!!! I do have remaining obligations in Eldon to continue to get my mother's estate settled as quickly as possible, soooooooooooo.....we will backing into the driveway(and facing East) much quickly than I would really like to be doing. Oh well......such is Life.....right???
CRAP!!! Looks like Melinda didn't get enough votes, but I am more than certain that she will not have to worry about a career!!!!! She is incredible......absolutely wonderful!!!
And so.......my arms and shoulders are soooooo screaming out in pain from all of the washing and waxing today......that I am going to bring this little evening discussion to a close. Nevertheless....
Life IS Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
I worked on the RV "rubber" roof, which is not rubber at all, but a composite material that lasts longer than rubber IF treated properly each year. Well.......that took longer than I anticipated and then the storm clouds moved in and I didn't get it finished, OR looking like I wanted it to look!!! I had worked and scrubbed and brushed and cleaned my ass off as I crawled around on all fours spreading my hulking weight carefully.....AND.....seemingly more balanced on all fours than on twos! The damned roof slopes downwards towards the front AND the rear of the RV from about 1/3 of the way back from the front cap of the RV.........and when it gets wet, well........it is not the safest place to be walking around. And....you sure as hell can't scrub it without it getting wet, can you?
Last night? Well, the 1st Lady had gone to Cape for two days, leaving yesterday morning, to work on painting some of the rooms in the house our daughter-in-law (Becky) just purchased. She and Rachel will be moving in in a couple of weeks....or less.....and it would be nice if it was all clean, painted, etc., etc. before the furniture starts getting set up. Soooo, I was alone last night as I watched the "show of the night"......"American Idol"!!!
My pick for the final two???? Jordin and Melinda......and I hope my picks are correct.......will find out within the next two hours!!!
Today?? Ahhhhh, another day working on the RV.......a day of washing it by hand and a long brush....and THEN: the task of waxing it! The washing only took three hours....minus the windows.......and then after a quick bite of lunch, the waxing began. Not wanting to wax it in the bright, crispy cool sunlight today, I only did the left side which was not in the sun....and then the front end, after the sun moved into the western sky. TheHowserHouse sits in the driveway and faces the East........can't decide if it is an early Christian or a Muslim. The early Christians always faced the east...at least their churches were built so the people faced the east when worshiping and we all know the Muslims face the east when praying........so one way or the other, TheHowserHouse faces the east while resting in the driveway. Enough religious history.......
I have always had to climb my 7 foot ladder and then struggle to reach towards the top of the front cap of the RV......and DUH!!!!!!! Again......DUH!!!!!! I all of sudden after three years of owning this home-on-wheels......I finally "saw the light"!!!! Why in the hell didn't I think of this before???? All I have to do is to lower the RV at the front end.....as far as it will go down....and VOILA!!!!!! I can now reach the top of the cap while on the ladder!!!!! Where I have been for three years each time I washed/waxed the RV????????????????????? (Aging mind?????)
I am ready to "get the Hell out of F'town" as soon as possible. Yep.....it has been six weeks since we arrived home.....and I am just itching to hit the road and see what is around the bend, or over the hill!!!!! The more I work on TheHowserHouse.......the more I am ready to GO!!!!! I just know, though, that we will not be gone nearly as long as I would like to be gone. UGH!!!! I do have remaining obligations in Eldon to continue to get my mother's estate settled as quickly as possible, soooooooooooo.....we will backing into the driveway(and facing East) much quickly than I would really like to be doing. Oh well......such is Life.....right???
CRAP!!! Looks like Melinda didn't get enough votes, but I am more than certain that she will not have to worry about a career!!!!! She is incredible......absolutely wonderful!!!
And so.......my arms and shoulders are soooooo screaming out in pain from all of the washing and waxing today......that I am going to bring this little evening discussion to a close. Nevertheless....
Life IS Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Monday, May 14, 2007
WOW......these days fly by soooo quickly!!!!
Yesterday.....Mother's Day......was one of total relaxation, almost. The 1st Lady and I had some great cinnamon rolls on the patio to begin Her Day.....and I insisted that she just lay back, relax, and enjoy it.......even though none of the family were able to be here. I spent about three hours mowing the lawn......my God, but it grows soooo fast with all of the rain and warm weather we have been having. Then we just........we just did nothing! We did some reading on the patio and enjoyed the day completely......without having any obligations to attend to.
We watched the three hour special of "Survivor".........and I was quite glad that Earl was the big winner!!!! He appeared to be a great guy.....and it was good to see that he was from Kansas City....even if it was the Kansas side!
This morning, I was up and going early as I had to take the truck about 24 miles up the road to a local diesel/4x4 mechanic. I needed an oil change with a good diagnostic check-up on all hoses, fluids, etc., etc. and........Duncan's 4x4 in Doe Run is THE place to take a truck for quality and friendly service. They have been servicing my truck ever since they installed the modified exhaust brake a couple of years ago.......and their service is excellent and not as expensive as many others.
A quick stop at the SuperCenter in Farmington and then I was home by late morning. AHHHH, but then it was time to go back to the lawn.....planting some flowers, some decorative grasses, transplanting some other plant materials, etc., etc. It was late afternoon before all of this was completed......ugh!!!
And now.....it is time to get TheHowserHouse ready for the road and a few weeks of being on the road!!!!! YEAH!!!! I am getting "cabin fever" from being in the stick and brick soooooo long.....and I know that I will feel "more free" and relaxed once we get going next week!!!! JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!! With washing and waxing both the RV and the truck....the week will go by very quickly.......oh yeah!!
We are headed to Lake Delton, Wisconsin......right at the Wisconsin Dells for a week. It is the Cedar Creek RV Owners Club international rally.....and we have many rigs arriving from both coasts of our country as well as Canada and many, many states between the two coasts. This will be great fun.......WOW!!!!
And sooooo, for those of you who are waiting to read and see pics from our travels......HANG ON!!! It won't be long..........
LIFE IS GREAT.......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!!!
We watched the three hour special of "Survivor".........and I was quite glad that Earl was the big winner!!!! He appeared to be a great guy.....and it was good to see that he was from Kansas City....even if it was the Kansas side!
This morning, I was up and going early as I had to take the truck about 24 miles up the road to a local diesel/4x4 mechanic. I needed an oil change with a good diagnostic check-up on all hoses, fluids, etc., etc. and........Duncan's 4x4 in Doe Run is THE place to take a truck for quality and friendly service. They have been servicing my truck ever since they installed the modified exhaust brake a couple of years ago.......and their service is excellent and not as expensive as many others.
A quick stop at the SuperCenter in Farmington and then I was home by late morning. AHHHH, but then it was time to go back to the lawn.....planting some flowers, some decorative grasses, transplanting some other plant materials, etc., etc. It was late afternoon before all of this was completed......ugh!!!
And now.....it is time to get TheHowserHouse ready for the road and a few weeks of being on the road!!!!! YEAH!!!! I am getting "cabin fever" from being in the stick and brick soooooo long.....and I know that I will feel "more free" and relaxed once we get going next week!!!! JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!! With washing and waxing both the RV and the truck....the week will go by very quickly.......oh yeah!!
We are headed to Lake Delton, Wisconsin......right at the Wisconsin Dells for a week. It is the Cedar Creek RV Owners Club international rally.....and we have many rigs arriving from both coasts of our country as well as Canada and many, many states between the two coasts. This will be great fun.......WOW!!!!
And sooooo, for those of you who are waiting to read and see pics from our travels......HANG ON!!! It won't be long..........
LIFE IS GREAT.......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!!!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Another varied day in my Life.....nothing unusual!
WOW.......what a hazy, humid, and almost HOT day it was today!!!! I keep looking at the calendar thinking I have slept through a month or two........this type of weather is really just not quite "normal" for mid-May...even in SE Missouri. Hmmmm......sure beginning to wonder just what July and August will be like here!!!???
I had help this morning from a man named Goldie.....and a neighbor named Jim.......and thank goodness they were available for some physical assistance. The 1st Lady and I gave our daughter-in-law our used electric flat-top kitchen stove/range........as well as our well-used dishwasher. Both appliances were removed last fall from our kitchen when we gutted it completely during the remodeling project. Sooooooo, this morning I needed assistance to get these two appliances loaded into the back of my truck so I could take them to her new home in Cape.
And that I did! The 1st Lady and I arrived there around noon.......unloaded them with the help of our daughter-in-law's father and his friend who had come down from south STL to assist in getting the house cleaned and a few repairs made.
Then following an hour there, we took Rachel to see Mike......and returned to Cape late afternoon. A bit later, the 1st Lady and I enjoyed a few minutes of shopping in the main mall in Cape......and then we went to Barnes & Noble for a bit of time....and finally decided to eat at Panera Bread. Always a GREAT choice!!!!! Love their Broccoli-cheese soup, as well as their Greek Salad.....both of which I enjoyed this evening. We ate al fresco......on their new patio and it was a wonderful way to end a good day.
We arrived home around 9:30pm.......while the highway from Cape to here is being improved, right now it is HORRIFIC shape!!! Enough so that anyone who drives it has their patience tried to the max!!!
We are thinking and discussing spending a bit more time than 2-3 weeks on the road....when we depart here in about 10 days. Perhaps we will go on over to northern Michigan after all.......I'm READY.....if I can just convince her....haha! Time will tell.......
And so.....as I said above.....it has been a varied day, like so many of mine these days. But.....it only re-enforces the fact that.....
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
I had help this morning from a man named Goldie.....and a neighbor named Jim.......and thank goodness they were available for some physical assistance. The 1st Lady and I gave our daughter-in-law our used electric flat-top kitchen stove/range........as well as our well-used dishwasher. Both appliances were removed last fall from our kitchen when we gutted it completely during the remodeling project. Sooooooo, this morning I needed assistance to get these two appliances loaded into the back of my truck so I could take them to her new home in Cape.
And that I did! The 1st Lady and I arrived there around noon.......unloaded them with the help of our daughter-in-law's father and his friend who had come down from south STL to assist in getting the house cleaned and a few repairs made.
Then following an hour there, we took Rachel to see Mike......and returned to Cape late afternoon. A bit later, the 1st Lady and I enjoyed a few minutes of shopping in the main mall in Cape......and then we went to Barnes & Noble for a bit of time....and finally decided to eat at Panera Bread. Always a GREAT choice!!!!! Love their Broccoli-cheese soup, as well as their Greek Salad.....both of which I enjoyed this evening. We ate al fresco......on their new patio and it was a wonderful way to end a good day.
We arrived home around 9:30pm.......while the highway from Cape to here is being improved, right now it is HORRIFIC shape!!! Enough so that anyone who drives it has their patience tried to the max!!!
We are thinking and discussing spending a bit more time than 2-3 weeks on the road....when we depart here in about 10 days. Perhaps we will go on over to northern Michigan after all.......I'm READY.....if I can just convince her....haha! Time will tell.......
And so.....as I said above.....it has been a varied day, like so many of mine these days. But.....it only re-enforces the fact that.....
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Friday, May 11, 2007
AHHHH.......more rain!!
Well......the night was short!!!! Not sleeping in my own little "groove" in the stick/brick mattress, I found myself looking at the clock ALL night long......about every 20-30 minutes!!! DAMN!!!! No matter which way I turned, it seemed the clock was looking at me....reminding me that the night was going to be a short one.....and that 6AM was going to be early. Surely that knowledge inside my head was not keeping me awake!!!!!!!!?????
So, when 6AM arrived after a sleepless night, I pulled my aging hulk off of the hide-away that hides inside the Flexsteel sofa....and managed to get myself together, dressed, a tie around my neck AND tied, and then got the Park Avenue loaded....and headed to the nearest place that I could find open at that ungodly time of the morning! AND....that place was none other than McD's......so I picked up some coffee(yuk!) and one of their tiny sweet roll dishes. A quick gulp and the roll was gone....and so I sat there and sipped the coffee(?).
I came to rather abruptly as I realized that a lady was standing next to me asking if my name was "John"???? So, a conversation centered around the past began.......she being the mother of a fellow that was in my sister's hs class........and soon I remembered how she loved to talk years ago....and she still does!!!! I quickly......or I tried to make it quick......make my "good-byes" and headed for the car. WHEW!!!!
Arriving in Jefferson City for my 9AM meeting.....I headed for the Capitol....and the lot where I normally park when attending meetings there was FLOODED!!!! Yep.....the local creek that flows through the town was UP and the lot was mostly under ugly, brown water. Sooooo, up the hill I drove, around the Capitol, and found a pay sight on the other side........$1 per hour.....with a two hour maximum. So, I put in $1 and sat there and finished drinking.....or tried to....the McD's questionable liquid they call coffee.
Finally went up the hill to the main building in the state....and headed to the cafeteria on the lower floor. Coffee was there.....and it lived up to that name! I met my daughter-in-law there and we proceeded to the offices of the Representative where we were to meet.
After almost an hour, we left feeling that perhaps....just perhaps we had made some significant difference in our issues. Heading back to the parked Buick, I arrived with ONE MINUTE left....and the city ticket giver was just two cars away!!!!!!!!! WOW....talk about luck and timing!!!!
I was soon headed south back towards F'town.....about 170 miles. I made a food stop in Cuba...and then headed on through the hills, the drenching rains, and when I got to Farmington, I stopped and got a quick cut of my 69 blond(??) hairs on the top of my head. Leaving there the rains began again and very quickly I couldn't see anything in front of me......DAMN!!!! Sooo, a quick slowdown and I crept along with my flashers flashing.....and eventually arrived in F'Town.
The afternoon flew by....I took a nap.....and we were soon fixing a couple of very thick filets of salmon and some steamed broccoli......accompanied by some dark red medicine. I am way behind on my daily dosages.....and will need to "catch up" very soon......for my health!
And soooo........the day has ended and with a clearing sky!!! Once again, the lawn has gone wild with all of the inches of rain which it has drank up greedily.....and now, it needs to be tamed very soon!!! But....tomorrow will not do......I have to take our old electric range and our older dish washer to Cape for my daughter-in-law's house which she recently purchased. Then I will take Rachel to see Mike for a couple of hours.......
I am now thinking seriously of heading to MY bed and my "groove" where I sleep......hahaha. I have a couple of friends arriving in the morning at 9 to help me load my truck with the appliances.......
With only about 10 days until we leave for 2-3 three weeks in TheHowserHouse....I have many things to get ready.......wash it, wax it, wash the truck, wax the truck, load the rv, etc., etc., etc. A busy 10 days!!!!! I am ready to hit the road again.....and leave ALL of the responsiblities around the stick/brick and around town!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
So, when 6AM arrived after a sleepless night, I pulled my aging hulk off of the hide-away that hides inside the Flexsteel sofa....and managed to get myself together, dressed, a tie around my neck AND tied, and then got the Park Avenue loaded....and headed to the nearest place that I could find open at that ungodly time of the morning! AND....that place was none other than McD's......so I picked up some coffee(yuk!) and one of their tiny sweet roll dishes. A quick gulp and the roll was gone....and so I sat there and sipped the coffee(?).
I came to rather abruptly as I realized that a lady was standing next to me asking if my name was "John"???? So, a conversation centered around the past began.......she being the mother of a fellow that was in my sister's hs class........and soon I remembered how she loved to talk years ago....and she still does!!!! I quickly......or I tried to make it quick......make my "good-byes" and headed for the car. WHEW!!!!
Arriving in Jefferson City for my 9AM meeting.....I headed for the Capitol....and the lot where I normally park when attending meetings there was FLOODED!!!! Yep.....the local creek that flows through the town was UP and the lot was mostly under ugly, brown water. Sooooo, up the hill I drove, around the Capitol, and found a pay sight on the other side........$1 per hour.....with a two hour maximum. So, I put in $1 and sat there and finished drinking.....or tried to....the McD's questionable liquid they call coffee.
Finally went up the hill to the main building in the state....and headed to the cafeteria on the lower floor. Coffee was there.....and it lived up to that name! I met my daughter-in-law there and we proceeded to the offices of the Representative where we were to meet.
After almost an hour, we left feeling that perhaps....just perhaps we had made some significant difference in our issues. Heading back to the parked Buick, I arrived with ONE MINUTE left....and the city ticket giver was just two cars away!!!!!!!!! WOW....talk about luck and timing!!!!
I was soon headed south back towards F'town.....about 170 miles. I made a food stop in Cuba...and then headed on through the hills, the drenching rains, and when I got to Farmington, I stopped and got a quick cut of my 69 blond(??) hairs on the top of my head. Leaving there the rains began again and very quickly I couldn't see anything in front of me......DAMN!!!! Sooo, a quick slowdown and I crept along with my flashers flashing.....and eventually arrived in F'Town.
The afternoon flew by....I took a nap.....and we were soon fixing a couple of very thick filets of salmon and some steamed broccoli......accompanied by some dark red medicine. I am way behind on my daily dosages.....and will need to "catch up" very soon......for my health!
And soooo........the day has ended and with a clearing sky!!! Once again, the lawn has gone wild with all of the inches of rain which it has drank up greedily.....and now, it needs to be tamed very soon!!! But....tomorrow will not do......I have to take our old electric range and our older dish washer to Cape for my daughter-in-law's house which she recently purchased. Then I will take Rachel to see Mike for a couple of hours.......
I am now thinking seriously of heading to MY bed and my "groove" where I sleep......hahaha. I have a couple of friends arriving in the morning at 9 to help me load my truck with the appliances.......
With only about 10 days until we leave for 2-3 three weeks in TheHowserHouse....I have many things to get ready.......wash it, wax it, wash the truck, wax the truck, load the rv, etc., etc., etc. A busy 10 days!!!!! I am ready to hit the road again.....and leave ALL of the responsiblities around the stick/brick and around town!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Spring in Misery.....
Another muggy spring day in Southeast Missouri…….Spring in Missouri is fast becoming Spring in Misery! The rains came and went today……..and…..
The 1st Lady and I got the stick and brick cleaned and spruced up for the upcoming Sorority meeting here this evening. By 5pm…….I had vacuumed, swifted the floors, cleaned the bathrooms, etc., etc., etc. and the two of us got a new Georgia O’Keeffe art poster hung in the tv room. I had purchased it from an online art poster company and had them frame it. It really looks great…….and the thick black frame around this poster of a deep red canna is just perfect for our gray tv room!
Around 5pm……I packed a few items, told the 1st Lady goodbye, and drove to Eldon…..right at 200 miles. I have an important meeting at the Mo. Capitol in the morning at 9am…..and this will save me getting up in the middle of the night to drive up there in time to make the appt. As soon as it is over…..well, back to F’town I go….about 165 from Jefferson City.
Talked with the 1st Lady after I arrived here….and she said that her evening “with the girls” went well……and they all were sooooooo complimentary about our remodeled home….especially the completely new kitchen!
I thought of many things I wanted to discuss tonight as I drove through the evening light and then darkness………but, by the time I got the house aired out…..and my things ready to go in the morning, my mind is not functioning at it’s literary best. Will make some notes tomorrow as I return back home so that I can get on my soapbox and say a few words tomorrow night! Sooooo, if you thought you were going to get a chance to peek into my mind tonight to discover a bit more about me by reading my thoughts on a subject or two………sorry! But, never fear!!! Howser is still here!!!! And….I will be back tomorrow night…………..and don’t’ forget…..
Life IS Great…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
The 1st Lady and I got the stick and brick cleaned and spruced up for the upcoming Sorority meeting here this evening. By 5pm…….I had vacuumed, swifted the floors, cleaned the bathrooms, etc., etc., etc. and the two of us got a new Georgia O’Keeffe art poster hung in the tv room. I had purchased it from an online art poster company and had them frame it. It really looks great…….and the thick black frame around this poster of a deep red canna is just perfect for our gray tv room!
Around 5pm……I packed a few items, told the 1st Lady goodbye, and drove to Eldon…..right at 200 miles. I have an important meeting at the Mo. Capitol in the morning at 9am…..and this will save me getting up in the middle of the night to drive up there in time to make the appt. As soon as it is over…..well, back to F’town I go….about 165 from Jefferson City.
Talked with the 1st Lady after I arrived here….and she said that her evening “with the girls” went well……and they all were sooooooo complimentary about our remodeled home….especially the completely new kitchen!
I thought of many things I wanted to discuss tonight as I drove through the evening light and then darkness………but, by the time I got the house aired out…..and my things ready to go in the morning, my mind is not functioning at it’s literary best. Will make some notes tomorrow as I return back home so that I can get on my soapbox and say a few words tomorrow night! Sooooo, if you thought you were going to get a chance to peek into my mind tonight to discover a bit more about me by reading my thoughts on a subject or two………sorry! But, never fear!!! Howser is still here!!!! And….I will be back tomorrow night…………..and don’t’ forget…..
Life IS Great…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Another busy one.......!
This morning flew by........a quick cup of Fr. Roast on the patio....didn't think I would find a dry chair out there. We had a HUGE storm push through, as I mentioned last night, and we had inches of rain that was driven by a strong wind. Sooooo, after my coffee, I got out the hoses and hosed down TheHowserHouse(on wheels).....as those damn whirlygigs from the trees were plastered ALL OVER the side of the RV!!!!! The rain and winds had practically pasted them all over the north side of it.....and once they dry, they stick like glue to whatever they are on. Sooooo....my morning was interrupted by this necessary chore!
The 1st Lady returned to Cape to help our daughter-in-law strip wallpaper and paint on the house she just purchased last week. She is moving, with Rachel, to Cape Girardeau at the end of this month......and just doesn't have the time to do some of the work on the house that is needed to make it more comfortable and enjoyable for both of them. And......the 1st Lady really enjoys painting, so she is hard at it!
I received another insurance beneficiary form in the mail, so I spent the next hour filling it out so it could be mailed to the company. Sure is a difference in each one of the ones I have sent in........this one was the most detailed.
Then......I was off to search for some good sized Geraniums for in front of the house.....as well as some red mulch, pansies, and petunias. I also needed some parsley and basil plants for my herb garden. I stopped outside of town and found some GREAT geraniums........really, really healthy looking and quite large for only $3.75.....and so I bought six of them. Should have picked up a few more....may have to return tomorrow as they had plenty of them. These are the best ones I have seen all spring no matter where I have been!!!!
Then I went on to Farmington.....and got the mulch at the SuperCenter. They didn't have any here yesterday so I went looking....... Was going to get a haircut, also....but they were packed with people waiting, so will wait myself until Monday morning.
This afternoon.....well, I sure discovered just how hot and humid it was here today!!!! I was outside removing the old mulch, weeding, and laying down some new ground cover paper to keep the weeds and grass from emerging through the mulch.....and I got so hot that I thought I was about to pass out. I had been squatting and guess when I got up the blood had not traveled it's regular route through my skinny legs....and boy.....I just about passed out! I have not been able to do much in high temps AND humidity for the past couple of years without really feeling strange......so, I suppose this time I had a strong warning to not work so hard in the boiling sun and muggy air!!
Well......this evening.....I was disappointed that Lakisha was voted off of American Idol!!! I thought Blake should have gone.......thought he just didn't do the job last night on either one of his two performances. BUT........I know Blake has his fan base out there across the country. Melinda or Jordin????? For me........I just really don't know! They are both wonderful singers AND performers!!!!!! They will both be winners anyway......no matter who comes out on top!
And so....tomorrow the 1st Lady has her Beta Sigma Phi Sorority meeting here at the stick and brick....about 20+ members should be here. Soooooo, it is vacuum, dust, and mop....and put away day for us. Sure some of the girls are wanting to see the remodel job that we did last year.......as frustrating as it was, I suppose it was worth it!!!??? Sometimes I wonder......????
And sooooooo, another day in my ever-shortening Life......but no matter.....because
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
The 1st Lady returned to Cape to help our daughter-in-law strip wallpaper and paint on the house she just purchased last week. She is moving, with Rachel, to Cape Girardeau at the end of this month......and just doesn't have the time to do some of the work on the house that is needed to make it more comfortable and enjoyable for both of them. And......the 1st Lady really enjoys painting, so she is hard at it!
I received another insurance beneficiary form in the mail, so I spent the next hour filling it out so it could be mailed to the company. Sure is a difference in each one of the ones I have sent in........this one was the most detailed.
Then......I was off to search for some good sized Geraniums for in front of the house.....as well as some red mulch, pansies, and petunias. I also needed some parsley and basil plants for my herb garden. I stopped outside of town and found some GREAT geraniums........really, really healthy looking and quite large for only $3.75.....and so I bought six of them. Should have picked up a few more....may have to return tomorrow as they had plenty of them. These are the best ones I have seen all spring no matter where I have been!!!!
Then I went on to Farmington.....and got the mulch at the SuperCenter. They didn't have any here yesterday so I went looking....... Was going to get a haircut, also....but they were packed with people waiting, so will wait myself until Monday morning.
This afternoon.....well, I sure discovered just how hot and humid it was here today!!!! I was outside removing the old mulch, weeding, and laying down some new ground cover paper to keep the weeds and grass from emerging through the mulch.....and I got so hot that I thought I was about to pass out. I had been squatting and guess when I got up the blood had not traveled it's regular route through my skinny legs....and boy.....I just about passed out! I have not been able to do much in high temps AND humidity for the past couple of years without really feeling strange......so, I suppose this time I had a strong warning to not work so hard in the boiling sun and muggy air!!
Well......this evening.....I was disappointed that Lakisha was voted off of American Idol!!! I thought Blake should have gone.......thought he just didn't do the job last night on either one of his two performances. BUT........I know Blake has his fan base out there across the country. Melinda or Jordin????? For me........I just really don't know! They are both wonderful singers AND performers!!!!!! They will both be winners anyway......no matter who comes out on top!
And so....tomorrow the 1st Lady has her Beta Sigma Phi Sorority meeting here at the stick and brick....about 20+ members should be here. Soooooo, it is vacuum, dust, and mop....and put away day for us. Sure some of the girls are wanting to see the remodel job that we did last year.......as frustrating as it was, I suppose it was worth it!!!??? Sometimes I wonder......????
And sooooooo, another day in my ever-shortening Life......but no matter.....because
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Alive....yep!!
At least three days with no post from this aging hulk!!! I am not certain, but that may be one of the longest, if not THE longest times that I have gone without posting a few lines. Oh well.....yeah, I did say a quick little ditty, but nothing of any substance, was it?
Sunday.....hmmmmm.....that was 48 hours ago and there seems to be nothing of any importance to discuss. The 1st Lady, her mother, and her sister all went to see Mike during the afternoon. Dr. Jeni and Darrell and girls all went to the Azalea Festival carnival for a couple of hours so the girls could ride some of the rides again. It was really quite a nice, big carnival this year......many, many rides for all sizes/ages!!!
Jeremy had spent Sat night at Dr. Jeni's house.........he had to catch an early flight to Minneapolis as he had a business appointment on Monday. He then flew back to STL last night following his appointment......and then drove on over to Evansville.
Yesterday........hmmmm.....just what did I do? HAHHAA......each day seems to evolve quickly into the next day the older I become. The 1st Lady's mother and sister left before noon.......and then we just did a bit of cleaning and straightening up.......moving the toy boxes back to the garage, doing some laundry, etc., etc.
Today.....well, some tiny little germ invaded my lower intestines and rather put a change of plans into this day. I had planned to go to Eldon today to work on the house, but I spent most of my time in the necessary room.....doing what the tiny little germ made necessary!!! It took most of the day for that little germ to find it's way out of my aging hulk.......perhaps....just perhaps I might have lost a bit of weight....which is also "necessary"!
Right now.....I may lose this entire post as we are having quite an electrical storm with buckets and buckets of driving rain!! If so......I will never get this re-written!!! Ahhhh.....the storm has left....and luck was with me!!! I was able to get this posted even though I had unplugged the electricty and the internet cable from the wall!!! And.......that is good news....at least for you because you will get to read this evening's post!
I've been thinking about this upcoming Sunday......Mother's Day. It just struck me that this will be the first time since I was a very small child that I will not be sending a Mother's Day card. And.....it brings back memories of when my sister and I would go with our mother and grandmother to church........each of us wearing a flower pinned onto our Sunday's best clothes. There seemed to be a color....either red or white........and the color that was worn was determined by if your Mother was still alive or deceased. Now......why does that memory return to me at this time in my life????? I am not certain, but I believe that "tradition" may have evolved and/or faded into history.....and is not carried out any more. Is that so???????? Let me know...if YOU know/remember.
This storm that came up soooo quickly and went away just as fast reminds me of the 6th Symphony by Beethoven. It is also called the "Pastoral"......and in the second movement this storm arrives with lightning and thunder.....HOWEVER......the order is reversed by Beethoven. He has the orchestra playing the chords and sounds for the thunder first....and then the lightning!! It is a marvelous work........more programatic than the majority of his symphonies.....and it is, and always has been, my favorite!!! I highly recommend that you take a half hour and listen to this one........it will NOT bore you, if you are not a listener of serious music!!! Try it....you might just like it!!!
And sooooo......a not so pleasant day has faded away(Thank God!)!!! And, as always.....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Sunday.....hmmmmm.....that was 48 hours ago and there seems to be nothing of any importance to discuss. The 1st Lady, her mother, and her sister all went to see Mike during the afternoon. Dr. Jeni and Darrell and girls all went to the Azalea Festival carnival for a couple of hours so the girls could ride some of the rides again. It was really quite a nice, big carnival this year......many, many rides for all sizes/ages!!!
Jeremy had spent Sat night at Dr. Jeni's house.........he had to catch an early flight to Minneapolis as he had a business appointment on Monday. He then flew back to STL last night following his appointment......and then drove on over to Evansville.
Yesterday........hmmmm.....just what did I do? HAHHAA......each day seems to evolve quickly into the next day the older I become. The 1st Lady's mother and sister left before noon.......and then we just did a bit of cleaning and straightening up.......moving the toy boxes back to the garage, doing some laundry, etc., etc.
Today.....well, some tiny little germ invaded my lower intestines and rather put a change of plans into this day. I had planned to go to Eldon today to work on the house, but I spent most of my time in the necessary room.....doing what the tiny little germ made necessary!!! It took most of the day for that little germ to find it's way out of my aging hulk.......perhaps....just perhaps I might have lost a bit of weight....which is also "necessary"!
Right now.....I may lose this entire post as we are having quite an electrical storm with buckets and buckets of driving rain!! If so......I will never get this re-written!!! Ahhhh.....the storm has left....and luck was with me!!! I was able to get this posted even though I had unplugged the electricty and the internet cable from the wall!!! And.......that is good news....at least for you because you will get to read this evening's post!
I've been thinking about this upcoming Sunday......Mother's Day. It just struck me that this will be the first time since I was a very small child that I will not be sending a Mother's Day card. And.....it brings back memories of when my sister and I would go with our mother and grandmother to church........each of us wearing a flower pinned onto our Sunday's best clothes. There seemed to be a color....either red or white........and the color that was worn was determined by if your Mother was still alive or deceased. Now......why does that memory return to me at this time in my life????? I am not certain, but I believe that "tradition" may have evolved and/or faded into history.....and is not carried out any more. Is that so???????? Let me know...if YOU know/remember.
This storm that came up soooo quickly and went away just as fast reminds me of the 6th Symphony by Beethoven. It is also called the "Pastoral"......and in the second movement this storm arrives with lightning and thunder.....HOWEVER......the order is reversed by Beethoven. He has the orchestra playing the chords and sounds for the thunder first....and then the lightning!! It is a marvelous work........more programatic than the majority of his symphonies.....and it is, and always has been, my favorite!!! I highly recommend that you take a half hour and listen to this one........it will NOT bore you, if you are not a listener of serious music!!! Try it....you might just like it!!!
And sooooo......a not so pleasant day has faded away(Thank God!)!!! And, as always.....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Monday, May 07, 2007
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Summer weather brings HowserHouse guests!
With ALL of the rain this past week, the humidity was high enough today that when the sun would peep through the heavy clouds, it was just like being a tropical rainforest......whew!!! Several thousand extra people were in F'town today...and will be here tomorrow.....as the annual Azalea Festival got underway.......and they were all sweltering in the wet grass/mud on the Festival grounds today.
Darrel and Dr. Jeni with their two daughters....and Mike's daughter, Rachel.....arrived LATE last night. Then after lunch today, the 1st Lady's mother and sister arrived for a couple of days. Soooo, TheHowserHouse was rockin' and rollin' most of the day today. We went to the carnival grounds of the Festival for a couple of hours this afternoon, but the heat/humidity was not kind to the younger girls and they did not even fuss when we decided to return to our house up on Buford Heights.
The rest of the afternoon and evening were simply spent in visiting, controlling the three granddaughters, and helping the 1st Lady's mother find her way around and through our house. She is almost totally blind and with the new furniture arrangement, as well as the new rooms, she had a bit of trouble locating everything in our house.
Today was not only Cinco de Mayo, but it was also the 1st Lady's sister's birthday, so we had cake and candles, along with the singing of the tradition Happy BD song. Prior to the cake we celebrated Cinco de Mayo with Margaritas and Chips and Mexican Salsa(which I brought back from our winter trip). Somehow....the drinks and chips were not nearly as good as the ones we drank soooooooooo FREQUENTLY while in Rio Grande Valley and in Arizona!!!!! I am ready to start counting the days until we can leave to return for another three-four months this winter!!!!!!!!
And sooooo, with kids running through the house......."Granny" trying to find her way around the house......and the celebration of Cinco de Mayo........
Life is Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Darrel and Dr. Jeni with their two daughters....and Mike's daughter, Rachel.....arrived LATE last night. Then after lunch today, the 1st Lady's mother and sister arrived for a couple of days. Soooo, TheHowserHouse was rockin' and rollin' most of the day today. We went to the carnival grounds of the Festival for a couple of hours this afternoon, but the heat/humidity was not kind to the younger girls and they did not even fuss when we decided to return to our house up on Buford Heights.
The rest of the afternoon and evening were simply spent in visiting, controlling the three granddaughters, and helping the 1st Lady's mother find her way around and through our house. She is almost totally blind and with the new furniture arrangement, as well as the new rooms, she had a bit of trouble locating everything in our house.
Today was not only Cinco de Mayo, but it was also the 1st Lady's sister's birthday, so we had cake and candles, along with the singing of the tradition Happy BD song. Prior to the cake we celebrated Cinco de Mayo with Margaritas and Chips and Mexican Salsa(which I brought back from our winter trip). Somehow....the drinks and chips were not nearly as good as the ones we drank soooooooooo FREQUENTLY while in Rio Grande Valley and in Arizona!!!!! I am ready to start counting the days until we can leave to return for another three-four months this winter!!!!!!!!
And sooooo, with kids running through the house......."Granny" trying to find her way around the house......and the celebration of Cinco de Mayo........
Life is Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Friday, May 04, 2007
Back in TheHowserHouse (stick/brick)
I returned this morning just before noon.....in driving rain. The traffic was moving so slowly through the hills on the two lane highways.......and it took almost 4 hours....much longer than usual for the 200 mile trip.
The 1st Lady left shortly after I arrived to go visit Mike and pick up Rachel in Cape Girardeau. She will be spending the weekend with us as this is THE weekend for the annual Azalea Festival here in F'town. It has rained here for days and the ground is more than saturated.....it is overflowing. The forecast for tomorrow and Sunday is for sunshine and warm temps.....sure hope it is accurate!
I spent most of the afternoon catching up on things that I needed to do this week, but since I was gone they needed to be done today. Darrel and Dr. Jeni, along with Meghan and Ava, are coming for the Festival weekend. Then tomorrow, the 1st Lady's sister is bringing their Mom(Granny) down for the weekend. Neither one has been here since we remodeled, so they are anxious to see the changes.
This evening...well, I watched both of this week's segments of American Idol.....since "our" house in Eldon doesn't have cable tv anymore.....or for that matter, a TV! Also watched "Survivor".....and tried to get caught up on these programs. "Idol" is getting narrowed down....and then next couple of shows will be interesting and emotional as it gets down to 2 people!!
I have not yet caught up on my sleep and rest. This has been a busy week of constant sorting and tossing away........and making the decisions that all of this entails. Looking forward to HOPEFULLY getting some sleep tonight in a bed that is "molded" to my hulking form.....hahah!
My mind is not working very well......and so I will close for the evening. Perhaps I will be thinking better tomorrow night.....??? Hmmmm.....hope so, anyway!!
Life is Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
The 1st Lady left shortly after I arrived to go visit Mike and pick up Rachel in Cape Girardeau. She will be spending the weekend with us as this is THE weekend for the annual Azalea Festival here in F'town. It has rained here for days and the ground is more than saturated.....it is overflowing. The forecast for tomorrow and Sunday is for sunshine and warm temps.....sure hope it is accurate!
I spent most of the afternoon catching up on things that I needed to do this week, but since I was gone they needed to be done today. Darrel and Dr. Jeni, along with Meghan and Ava, are coming for the Festival weekend. Then tomorrow, the 1st Lady's sister is bringing their Mom(Granny) down for the weekend. Neither one has been here since we remodeled, so they are anxious to see the changes.
This evening...well, I watched both of this week's segments of American Idol.....since "our" house in Eldon doesn't have cable tv anymore.....or for that matter, a TV! Also watched "Survivor".....and tried to get caught up on these programs. "Idol" is getting narrowed down....and then next couple of shows will be interesting and emotional as it gets down to 2 people!!
I have not yet caught up on my sleep and rest. This has been a busy week of constant sorting and tossing away........and making the decisions that all of this entails. Looking forward to HOPEFULLY getting some sleep tonight in a bed that is "molded" to my hulking form.....hahah!
My mind is not working very well......and so I will close for the evening. Perhaps I will be thinking better tomorrow night.....??? Hmmmm.....hope so, anyway!!
Life is Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Thursday, May 03, 2007
More sorting and tossing..........
AHHHH……another day……a lot more memories!!! You know…….I am really getting a bit tired of the “new”, but horrendous coffee at McDonald’s!!!!! Three days out of the four that I have been here, I have found myself at McD’s in the morning for NOT my Fr. Roast coffee. Yesterday I went to the another “local” place: “The Eager Beaver”…..an old café that has been there for years and years………not for certain that it is quite as “eager” as it used to be……age has a way of making even beavers not so eager as they used to be!
While there yesterday morning I ran into a former band student who was in the class of ‘82.……played(held) the trumpet and went with the band to the Rapid City Music Festival that we soooo enjoyed in 1980.….and has stayed in Eldon all these years. For those of you who might know of this class…….it was Jon Brewer. Also saw many others who were either former band parents of my students or in high school with me or just a few old friends from the years I taught here.
But, for some reason I returned to McD’s and ate and drank their coffee(??) in relative silence. The rest of the day was spent doing about the same as the previous three…..going through and sorting and tossing. Today our concentration was mainly in the kitchen…….and most of everything went into the trash! Too old for daily usage, but not old enough to be in the antique class……just well used!
Then this afternoon I had help in removing everything that was in the storage shed in the back of the yard…..and OMG, but what a task. Most of the boxes contained old clothes and SPIDERS!!! How lucky we are that next Monday/Tuesday are the Spring Clean-up day here in this part of town and they will take any and everything that is put out on the street edge of the yard….soooooo, we have mucho items out there that will be picked up next week. However…….by this evening, many items were already gone by those who drive around town and check out other people’s trash……and they find treasures in there that they take with them before the clean-up trucks arrive.
Later this evening I went to the Lake and had dinner at Chili’s. Hmmmmmm…….not nearly as good of food or service there as in other Chili’s around the country!!!!! The service was very poor……the chips with salsa were supposed to be warm and not only were they frigid, but the were STALE!!!! Then……of ALL things, my cabernet dark red medicine was OLD……there was not even one hint of an aroma/bouquet when my nose entered the wine glass and the wine had an old taste to it!!! And last, but not least…….my Grilled Shrimp Alfredo was almost missing from the plate! There was not enough penne pasta to even cover the bottom of the plate!!!!!!!!!!!! So, I called the server over and complained….the manager arrived….and after explaining to her the problemS…..she took off the chips/salsa and the wine from my bill….and then charged me only half the cost of the shrimp and pasta. I have found that it certainly pays to complain…….but, ONLY if there is a legitimate complaint, of course!!! How else will the restaurant management know that the quality of the food and service is not up to the standards they wish to attain???
Back to the old homestead….and some more looking around to see if there was anything else that needed to be loaded in the truck. At times, waves of guilt wash over me for not taking more items from my parent’s lives with me……..should I take things for MY kids and grandchildren to have??? It has been an emotional time….and I hope that later on as I withdraw into my own past and my memories that I will not regret these four days of sorting and tossing away. Hmmmm……..
And so, with a very busy HowserHouse expected this weekend with a variety of family members and houseguests for the weekend, I will have to return in the morning. In fact….TheHowserHouse on wheels will be put into use as a place for some of the family to stay during the weekend. So, I have to get it opened and aired out, hook up the cable tv cable, and attach the fresh water hose. Doing this will make me salivate to get back on the road again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, as I look at the calendar it will only a little over two weeks before we will be leaving……..if only for 2-3 weeks…..but it will be good to get away once again!!!
And so……I will return up here next week to continue this task with my sister…and hopefully get the house ready to try to sell “as is”.
Life is Great……and I hope it is for all of you, also!
While there yesterday morning I ran into a former band student who was in the class of ‘82.……played(held) the trumpet and went with the band to the Rapid City Music Festival that we soooo enjoyed in 1980.….and has stayed in Eldon all these years. For those of you who might know of this class…….it was Jon Brewer. Also saw many others who were either former band parents of my students or in high school with me or just a few old friends from the years I taught here.
But, for some reason I returned to McD’s and ate and drank their coffee(??) in relative silence. The rest of the day was spent doing about the same as the previous three…..going through and sorting and tossing. Today our concentration was mainly in the kitchen…….and most of everything went into the trash! Too old for daily usage, but not old enough to be in the antique class……just well used!
Then this afternoon I had help in removing everything that was in the storage shed in the back of the yard…..and OMG, but what a task. Most of the boxes contained old clothes and SPIDERS!!! How lucky we are that next Monday/Tuesday are the Spring Clean-up day here in this part of town and they will take any and everything that is put out on the street edge of the yard….soooooo, we have mucho items out there that will be picked up next week. However…….by this evening, many items were already gone by those who drive around town and check out other people’s trash……and they find treasures in there that they take with them before the clean-up trucks arrive.
Later this evening I went to the Lake and had dinner at Chili’s. Hmmmmmm…….not nearly as good of food or service there as in other Chili’s around the country!!!!! The service was very poor……the chips with salsa were supposed to be warm and not only were they frigid, but the were STALE!!!! Then……of ALL things, my cabernet dark red medicine was OLD……there was not even one hint of an aroma/bouquet when my nose entered the wine glass and the wine had an old taste to it!!! And last, but not least…….my Grilled Shrimp Alfredo was almost missing from the plate! There was not enough penne pasta to even cover the bottom of the plate!!!!!!!!!!!! So, I called the server over and complained….the manager arrived….and after explaining to her the problemS…..she took off the chips/salsa and the wine from my bill….and then charged me only half the cost of the shrimp and pasta. I have found that it certainly pays to complain…….but, ONLY if there is a legitimate complaint, of course!!! How else will the restaurant management know that the quality of the food and service is not up to the standards they wish to attain???
Back to the old homestead….and some more looking around to see if there was anything else that needed to be loaded in the truck. At times, waves of guilt wash over me for not taking more items from my parent’s lives with me……..should I take things for MY kids and grandchildren to have??? It has been an emotional time….and I hope that later on as I withdraw into my own past and my memories that I will not regret these four days of sorting and tossing away. Hmmmm……..
And so, with a very busy HowserHouse expected this weekend with a variety of family members and houseguests for the weekend, I will have to return in the morning. In fact….TheHowserHouse on wheels will be put into use as a place for some of the family to stay during the weekend. So, I have to get it opened and aired out, hook up the cable tv cable, and attach the fresh water hose. Doing this will make me salivate to get back on the road again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, as I look at the calendar it will only a little over two weeks before we will be leaving……..if only for 2-3 weeks…..but it will be good to get away once again!!!
And so……I will return up here next week to continue this task with my sister…and hopefully get the house ready to try to sell “as is”.
Life is Great……and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
A Mother's Death.......It brings many Discoveries!
Two days…..two very FULL days……of the large task of going through cabinets, many drawers, the LONG closet, bookcases, shelves, under the beds, through the desk, through numerous shoeboxes and other cardboard boxes……and many other places that I can’t remember…..all of the above necessary to clean out my mother’s house. AND…..what a treasure trove of items and memories!!!!!!!
We have found literally thousands of newspaper clippings dating back to the 1800’s, through the 1900’s, and into this century. And…..all of these clippings related to our family members: their births, deaths, celebrations, weddings, school awards, school activities, vocational awards, happy times, and sad and tragic times. My mother was a “clipper”…….she searched the newspapers for any….ANY….item of the most miniscule size that might mention an accomplishment or any of the above activities of any of her family members…..and clipped it out to be saved. And on EACH and EVERY clipping she had underlined the name(s) of the family members that were in the article(s)……and oftentimes, in the margins of the paper would be edited corrections of the article that she made in pen or pencil. My and my sister’s eyes are aching from all of the reading of aged, yellowed newspapers that we have read, scanned, and skimmed during these past two days. BUT……what we have learned anew, what we have forgotten over the years, and the memories that have come surging forward with laughter….and many tears….as we went through these clippings!!
The cedar chest….the LONG closet, the other drawers and cabinets…..they all held items that made memories for, and of, our family members. I pulled out a box…..and inside were my USAF summer dress blues, winter dress blues, cap, tie, and my winter dress wool overcoat!!!! I had no idea she had saved these “tiny” clothes…..at least they look tiny NOW….hahaha! Another box and I discovered that she had saved my elementary/jr. high hobby: she had saved my stamp collection from 50 years ago!!!! I am wondering……are there any of these OLD stamps that might have some value now? Who knows???!!! I have also discovered that she saved many of my childhood books….the books I loved as a pre-school child are now in my possession as I reach MY senior years…..who would have thought that she would save these for me for 60 years…..under the bed and in the closet??!!! Many tears have streamed down my face during these past two days……..it has been a very emotional two days.
We have yet to begin going through the thousands of OLD black and white photos of ancient and contemporary family members…….what a task lies yet ahead! My mother was not only a “clipper”, but she was also a “keeper”…….a keeper of everything she had used or owned during her 93+ years. What things will these pictures reveal to us???? WOW…I can hardly wait to begin……but, probably next week!
Luckily for my sister and I…..she had tightly organized her affairs for the end of her Life. Her house had been placed in a “beneficiary deed”……and this morning all it took was three minutes at the county courthouse and $24.00 to change the house ownership from her to my sister and myself…..no probate, no attorney….just a check to have the change of ownership recorded in the courthouse!!! She had set up her bank accounts and other financial affairs in the same manner! WOW……even in death she is still watching over and taking care of her children and other family members……..and that was type of Lady my mother was…….always thinking of, and being very protective of her family!
And sooooo, I will have many items to transport home tomorrow…..and many, many more to discover when I return next week to continue this cleaning task. I have already had one call from an interested buyer for the house……but, there is much work to be done before anyone can even get inside the door. And…..I may not be able to get OUT the door unless I move some boxes……….
I need to somehow find MY luggage, clothes, etc. to prepare to leave tomorrow afternoon…….and so, as I go about trying to get out of the house tomorrow…….I will always remember just how my Life was here in this tiny house…..and how my Life continues to be:
Life is/was Great!!!!! And…I hope it is for all of you, also
We have found literally thousands of newspaper clippings dating back to the 1800’s, through the 1900’s, and into this century. And…..all of these clippings related to our family members: their births, deaths, celebrations, weddings, school awards, school activities, vocational awards, happy times, and sad and tragic times. My mother was a “clipper”…….she searched the newspapers for any….ANY….item of the most miniscule size that might mention an accomplishment or any of the above activities of any of her family members…..and clipped it out to be saved. And on EACH and EVERY clipping she had underlined the name(s) of the family members that were in the article(s)……and oftentimes, in the margins of the paper would be edited corrections of the article that she made in pen or pencil. My and my sister’s eyes are aching from all of the reading of aged, yellowed newspapers that we have read, scanned, and skimmed during these past two days. BUT……what we have learned anew, what we have forgotten over the years, and the memories that have come surging forward with laughter….and many tears….as we went through these clippings!!
The cedar chest….the LONG closet, the other drawers and cabinets…..they all held items that made memories for, and of, our family members. I pulled out a box…..and inside were my USAF summer dress blues, winter dress blues, cap, tie, and my winter dress wool overcoat!!!! I had no idea she had saved these “tiny” clothes…..at least they look tiny NOW….hahaha! Another box and I discovered that she had saved my elementary/jr. high hobby: she had saved my stamp collection from 50 years ago!!!! I am wondering……are there any of these OLD stamps that might have some value now? Who knows???!!! I have also discovered that she saved many of my childhood books….the books I loved as a pre-school child are now in my possession as I reach MY senior years…..who would have thought that she would save these for me for 60 years…..under the bed and in the closet??!!! Many tears have streamed down my face during these past two days……..it has been a very emotional two days.
We have yet to begin going through the thousands of OLD black and white photos of ancient and contemporary family members…….what a task lies yet ahead! My mother was not only a “clipper”, but she was also a “keeper”…….a keeper of everything she had used or owned during her 93+ years. What things will these pictures reveal to us???? WOW…I can hardly wait to begin……but, probably next week!
Luckily for my sister and I…..she had tightly organized her affairs for the end of her Life. Her house had been placed in a “beneficiary deed”……and this morning all it took was three minutes at the county courthouse and $24.00 to change the house ownership from her to my sister and myself…..no probate, no attorney….just a check to have the change of ownership recorded in the courthouse!!! She had set up her bank accounts and other financial affairs in the same manner! WOW……even in death she is still watching over and taking care of her children and other family members……..and that was type of Lady my mother was…….always thinking of, and being very protective of her family!
And sooooo, I will have many items to transport home tomorrow…..and many, many more to discover when I return next week to continue this cleaning task. I have already had one call from an interested buyer for the house……but, there is much work to be done before anyone can even get inside the door. And…..I may not be able to get OUT the door unless I move some boxes……….
I need to somehow find MY luggage, clothes, etc. to prepare to leave tomorrow afternoon…….and so, as I go about trying to get out of the house tomorrow…….I will always remember just how my Life was here in this tiny house…..and how my Life continues to be:
Life is/was Great!!!!! And…I hope it is for all of you, also
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