OMG, but where doe these damn days go????? Yep.....they seem to just fade away in a hurry....just like I am doing.....fading away in a hurry, except this sagging hulk of Me doesn't fade tooooo easily!!!!
Yesterday......After some coffee and moring talk with Mac and Gail.....by the way, did I explain that they are staying in their motorhome where they have all of their clothes, things, and their own beds!!! I totally understand.....as we feel that way about staying in our 5th wheel whenever we are staying some place. NO luggage to haul around, no clothes to carry in and out of some one's house!!!!
Anyway......the 1st Lady and I went down to visit with Mike for a couple of hours, and then by the time we returned it was time for dinner, soooooooooo we went to the Olympic Steakhouse here in the city center of F'town. They have very good catfish.....all you can eat....on Friday evenings...and we did eat lots of fish!!!! Very good.....and we had fun with our server....she was soooo good!!!
Then from there we drove out to Sue/Dave's for dessert at their home. Of course, we stayed and stayed....and talked and talked.....and ate some incredible apple pie!!! WOW, she can really cook those desserts!!!!! Home we went.....and fell into bed before long after arriving in our driveway!!!
SATURDAY(today):
Up and going earlier than usual, we left about 9:45 for STL......and a visit to the Gate Arch. This was the first time that Mac/Gail had gone to the top.....and it was a good experience for all of us!!!! Returning to the ground, we then took in the movie about Lewis and Clark making their historic and exciting trip up the rivers to the Pacific Ocean!!! A wonderful 45 minute movie with great photography and some wonderful background music!!!! Really enjoyed it on the HUGE screen.
Then we took in the museum.....and OMG, OMG!!!! I was sooooooo damned impressed with this newly opened museum!!!!!! YOU MUST GO THERE......and plan to spend quite a while in the museum.......just a wonderful work of art it is itself!!!
The weather was beautiful....barely a cloud in the sky....and the view from the top was spectacular.......and the walk to and from the parking area was wonderful in the yellow colored leaves. Returning to F'town......I fixed some steaks, the 1st Lady did the baked potatoes and wonderful salad....and we had a good meal. Tomorrow they must head further west, with Casa Grande, Arizona, their final destination.
It has been a wonderful few days together!!!!!! We blend so well as friends.....and we go back soooo many years......soooo many events/remembrances we have shared!! Really hate to see them drive away!!!
And....soooo, after a beautiful day....and a great visit with our friends..........
LIFE IS JUST INCREDIBLY GREAT!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
THURS Morning, Oct 22: House/driveway guests.....
Yesterday.....was one of anticipation, knowing that our life-long friends were to arrive and spend a short, few days with us. And arrive they did!!! They called as they were pulling into the local Walmart parking lot...and I immediately went out there. They were in the process of unhooking their car from the rear of their small motorhome. When they were finished I led them up to the stick and brick.....and we managed to get all of our vehicles into the driveway.....TheHowserHouse RV, their motorhome, their car, our car, and my truck!!! And, as you can visually imagine, it is completely full!!! It is a three car driveway width.....and for that I am thankful to the previous owners who constructed the driveway!!
We spent the afternoon giving a tour of our lawn, pointing out the holes that the storm's tree damage had done to our yard, the large gaping hole from the front tree being blown over, as well as describing the "action" of the storm and the devastating results of that morning. Then....it was into the stick and brick and a tour of our "new" remodeled home.....which was completed three years ago. The remainder was spent in much discussion/talk/etc.
Now...keep in mind that our friends, Mac and Gail, are the reason we purchased land in Wyoming where they have their park model. Their home is there at Star Valley Ranch RV Resort in the summer.....and then they move to their park model in Casa Grande, AZ for the winter. Not full timers on the road, but full timers in their park models in the rv resorts. Mac and I became friends in 1966 when we were both serving in the USAF at Offutt AFB, Nebraska.....and have remained close ever since.
They were last here in 2004 or '05, can't remember what they said it was......but, have been in and out of F'town several times over the years since we moved down here in 1988. DAMN....hard to believe we have lived here that long!!! Of course, we have visited them in AZ several times, as well as the 6 weeks we spent in Wyoming last month and August.
We fixed dinner and with the addition of Dave and Sue, our table was full. And.....Dave and Sue are no strangers to Mac and Gail.....and so, the evening was a time of much talk about traveling and families and.....just playing catch-up for all.
Today....a gloomy day, which was predicted, will not be one of much local touring. Rains are falling off and on.....and at the present, the house is quiet as Mac and Gail slept in their motorhome and have not come inside as yet. And sooooo........our day has begun.....and there will be more to share in the next post....whenever!
And....as always........
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
We spent the afternoon giving a tour of our lawn, pointing out the holes that the storm's tree damage had done to our yard, the large gaping hole from the front tree being blown over, as well as describing the "action" of the storm and the devastating results of that morning. Then....it was into the stick and brick and a tour of our "new" remodeled home.....which was completed three years ago. The remainder was spent in much discussion/talk/etc.
Now...keep in mind that our friends, Mac and Gail, are the reason we purchased land in Wyoming where they have their park model. Their home is there at Star Valley Ranch RV Resort in the summer.....and then they move to their park model in Casa Grande, AZ for the winter. Not full timers on the road, but full timers in their park models in the rv resorts. Mac and I became friends in 1966 when we were both serving in the USAF at Offutt AFB, Nebraska.....and have remained close ever since.
They were last here in 2004 or '05, can't remember what they said it was......but, have been in and out of F'town several times over the years since we moved down here in 1988. DAMN....hard to believe we have lived here that long!!! Of course, we have visited them in AZ several times, as well as the 6 weeks we spent in Wyoming last month and August.
We fixed dinner and with the addition of Dave and Sue, our table was full. And.....Dave and Sue are no strangers to Mac and Gail.....and so, the evening was a time of much talk about traveling and families and.....just playing catch-up for all.
Today....a gloomy day, which was predicted, will not be one of much local touring. Rains are falling off and on.....and at the present, the house is quiet as Mac and Gail slept in their motorhome and have not come inside as yet. And sooooo........our day has begun.....and there will be more to share in the next post....whenever!
And....as always........
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tues, Oct 20, 2009: WOW.....again, a beautiful day here!!!
October is by far the best month to be in Missouri!! Today was another one of those incredible weather days here.....about 70 degrees with not a cloud in the sky......almost perfect!!! And....it lasted that way until the really pretty sunset this evening.
After the usual morning rituals, the Fr. Roast coffee, and some toasted Ciabatta buns, I drove over to Kemp's Auto Body repair....and in only about 5 minutes, Pat had installed the new switch which controls my truck side mirrors....and glad I am that it is finally done! I cannot recommend this body shop highly enough.......such professional service with such a friendly owner!!! Pat is just super......soooo, if you are need of something done to your vehicle, for goodness sakes.....be sure and give him a chance! (Not a pd. advertisement!!)
Returning to the stick and brick, I was soon in the yard, mowing once again. And.....I do believe that I under-estimated the time it would take for me to finish this task. By the time I had completed the north part of the lawn....it was almost twelve noon!!!! WHEW.......guess I must have been moving much slower than I thought I was moving!!!!
A quick bite or two of lunch.....and then I got out my tall ladder and soon had a bucket full of bleach and warm water....and I then began the not-so-pleasant task of hand-washing the vinyl siding on the north side of the house. This is ALWAYS the place where the mold/mildew decides to rear it's ugliness and turn the siding a green/black color.....just doesn't get enough sun here. Soooo, scrub-a-dub-dub I did for a couple of hours.....and, OMG, it sure looks better and the mold is gone......(for now). A few screams from my shoulder muscles....but, otherwise I'm no worse for the wear and tear on the body during those two hours.
From there, I gravitated to the sun-filled patio....and enjoyed the bright sunshine as it dried off my shirt and jeans from the spray of the water when I rinsed the siding....many times. A good cup of hot Fr. Roast coffee was just the thing I needed to get my energy level up and going again.......even though......I didn't do a damn thing more all afternoon.!!!
The 1st Lady returned home about 4pm.......and just before that, I had talked with Mac/Gail. They were in Indiana and said they would be here tomorrow, I imagine sometime during the morning hours. We formulated a few small plans for the next few days.....including getting some catfish dinners on Friday night, per the request of Mac!!
Sunday, I have to go to the Lake of the Ozarks for a meeting of the planning committee for the upcoming band reunion next summer. I plan to stay overnight there with my sister and do some shopping on Monday, as well as see a couple of people, hopefully.
This evening......we just had some chicken brats stuffed with garlic and mozzarella cheese that grilled outside. Then we spent the early evening hours discussing the upcoming trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.....and the problem with the iPhone costs in Mexico when being used for outgoing and incoming calls/texts/internet!!! THEY ARE HORRENDOUS!!!!! Hmmmm.....will have to keep it shut off all the time......DO NOT SEND ME TEXT MESSAGES NOR PHONE CALLS NOR PICTURES ON THE PHONE WHILE WE ARE IN MEXICO(Nov 4 thru the 8th).
I am hoping the resort hotel......Riu Vallarta....will have complimentary wireless as I will take my laptop, as usual. That is......if I don't drink tooooooo much since all the drinks are part of the all inclusive price. Can't wait!!!!
And so.....another day in the stick and brick, or outside the stick and brick, I should say. Another beautiful October Missouri day. Another day of taking care of the stick and brick......and it always seems that these days are MANY!!!!
But.....as always......
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
After the usual morning rituals, the Fr. Roast coffee, and some toasted Ciabatta buns, I drove over to Kemp's Auto Body repair....and in only about 5 minutes, Pat had installed the new switch which controls my truck side mirrors....and glad I am that it is finally done! I cannot recommend this body shop highly enough.......such professional service with such a friendly owner!!! Pat is just super......soooo, if you are need of something done to your vehicle, for goodness sakes.....be sure and give him a chance! (Not a pd. advertisement!!)
Returning to the stick and brick, I was soon in the yard, mowing once again. And.....I do believe that I under-estimated the time it would take for me to finish this task. By the time I had completed the north part of the lawn....it was almost twelve noon!!!! WHEW.......guess I must have been moving much slower than I thought I was moving!!!!
A quick bite or two of lunch.....and then I got out my tall ladder and soon had a bucket full of bleach and warm water....and I then began the not-so-pleasant task of hand-washing the vinyl siding on the north side of the house. This is ALWAYS the place where the mold/mildew decides to rear it's ugliness and turn the siding a green/black color.....just doesn't get enough sun here. Soooo, scrub-a-dub-dub I did for a couple of hours.....and, OMG, it sure looks better and the mold is gone......(for now). A few screams from my shoulder muscles....but, otherwise I'm no worse for the wear and tear on the body during those two hours.
From there, I gravitated to the sun-filled patio....and enjoyed the bright sunshine as it dried off my shirt and jeans from the spray of the water when I rinsed the siding....many times. A good cup of hot Fr. Roast coffee was just the thing I needed to get my energy level up and going again.......even though......I didn't do a damn thing more all afternoon.!!!
The 1st Lady returned home about 4pm.......and just before that, I had talked with Mac/Gail. They were in Indiana and said they would be here tomorrow, I imagine sometime during the morning hours. We formulated a few small plans for the next few days.....including getting some catfish dinners on Friday night, per the request of Mac!!
Sunday, I have to go to the Lake of the Ozarks for a meeting of the planning committee for the upcoming band reunion next summer. I plan to stay overnight there with my sister and do some shopping on Monday, as well as see a couple of people, hopefully.
This evening......we just had some chicken brats stuffed with garlic and mozzarella cheese that grilled outside. Then we spent the early evening hours discussing the upcoming trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.....and the problem with the iPhone costs in Mexico when being used for outgoing and incoming calls/texts/internet!!! THEY ARE HORRENDOUS!!!!! Hmmmm.....will have to keep it shut off all the time......DO NOT SEND ME TEXT MESSAGES NOR PHONE CALLS NOR PICTURES ON THE PHONE WHILE WE ARE IN MEXICO(Nov 4 thru the 8th).
I am hoping the resort hotel......Riu Vallarta....will have complimentary wireless as I will take my laptop, as usual. That is......if I don't drink tooooooo much since all the drinks are part of the all inclusive price. Can't wait!!!!
And so.....another day in the stick and brick, or outside the stick and brick, I should say. Another beautiful October Missouri day. Another day of taking care of the stick and brick......and it always seems that these days are MANY!!!!
But.....as always......
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Monday, Oct 19, 2009: BEAUTIFUL!!!
OMG....what a beautiful day it was....the temps up into the high 60's....with a warming breeze/wind out of the south/southwest......and I spent as much time outside as I could.
First....I went to Farmington to take our disabled RV fireplace into the Harris Fireplace/Heating/Cooling shop there and left it for a diagnosis as to what the ailment appears to be. Hopefully, Dr. Harris can cure it with some type of minor surgery or transplants. From there.....over to the SuperCenter for a few purchases. And then...........
To the city center to Bauhaus Kaffee.....the wonderful coffee shop in Farmington. One of the best coffee shops I have ever been to......and that is quite a statement considering my love of coffee and the places like this that sell it!!! This place.....well, if you have not experienced it......you have missed a great experience. Just a beautiful place with incredible coffee/pastries/cappuccino!!!!! Go....order....sit and enjoy!!!
Then...back to F'town. Went by Kemp's Auto Body Repair but he was not there and so I will return tomorrow for the outside mirror switch on the truck. It needs to be replaced and he ordered it for me prior to our departure for Connecticut and NYC.
Then back to the stick and brick......and I began the task of winterizing TheHowserHouse on wheels. WELL......with the anode rod in the hot water heater......I spent an hour trying to break it loose so I could drain the water. It WAS STUCK!!! TIGHT!!!!!! I finally turned on the faucets inside, tried tightening, and then unscrewing it....and it finally broke loose. WHEW!!!!!! The water came gushing out....and after it was empty, I then attached to my outside hose the little "wand" and put it into the opening of the heater...now that the anode rod was out....and turned on the water....and UGH!!!! Out came all sorts of chalky gunk that was laying in the bottom of the water heater.......and this continued for about two minutes before I had clean water pouring out of the opening.
Then.....I bypassed the heater and turned on the pump to suck up the RV pink stuff used as non-toxic anti-freeze for the water system....and in a few minutes it was all done!!! THEN.......out came the lawn mower....and for the next two hours I pushed it back and forth across the lawn.....and about 4pm.....I called a halt. All that is needed is to do the north side of the lawn.....and so, I celebrated the saying that "It is 5 o'clock somewhere" and sat on the patio and enjoyed the remaining hour(s) of daylight.
Tomorrow???? Finish the lawn......and then get out the power sprayer and clean off a bit of mold/mildew on the north side of the house on the siding.....and that is where it can be found each year!!! The sun doesn't shine there!!!!
And so....a busy day....a busy week.....and, actually.....a busy two weeks to come. But....as always.......
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
First....I went to Farmington to take our disabled RV fireplace into the Harris Fireplace/Heating/Cooling shop there and left it for a diagnosis as to what the ailment appears to be. Hopefully, Dr. Harris can cure it with some type of minor surgery or transplants. From there.....over to the SuperCenter for a few purchases. And then...........
To the city center to Bauhaus Kaffee.....the wonderful coffee shop in Farmington. One of the best coffee shops I have ever been to......and that is quite a statement considering my love of coffee and the places like this that sell it!!! This place.....well, if you have not experienced it......you have missed a great experience. Just a beautiful place with incredible coffee/pastries/cappuccino!!!!! Go....order....sit and enjoy!!!
Then...back to F'town. Went by Kemp's Auto Body Repair but he was not there and so I will return tomorrow for the outside mirror switch on the truck. It needs to be replaced and he ordered it for me prior to our departure for Connecticut and NYC.
Then back to the stick and brick......and I began the task of winterizing TheHowserHouse on wheels. WELL......with the anode rod in the hot water heater......I spent an hour trying to break it loose so I could drain the water. It WAS STUCK!!! TIGHT!!!!!! I finally turned on the faucets inside, tried tightening, and then unscrewing it....and it finally broke loose. WHEW!!!!!! The water came gushing out....and after it was empty, I then attached to my outside hose the little "wand" and put it into the opening of the heater...now that the anode rod was out....and turned on the water....and UGH!!!! Out came all sorts of chalky gunk that was laying in the bottom of the water heater.......and this continued for about two minutes before I had clean water pouring out of the opening.
Then.....I bypassed the heater and turned on the pump to suck up the RV pink stuff used as non-toxic anti-freeze for the water system....and in a few minutes it was all done!!! THEN.......out came the lawn mower....and for the next two hours I pushed it back and forth across the lawn.....and about 4pm.....I called a halt. All that is needed is to do the north side of the lawn.....and so, I celebrated the saying that "It is 5 o'clock somewhere" and sat on the patio and enjoyed the remaining hour(s) of daylight.
Tomorrow???? Finish the lawn......and then get out the power sprayer and clean off a bit of mold/mildew on the north side of the house on the siding.....and that is where it can be found each year!!! The sun doesn't shine there!!!!
And so....a busy day....a busy week.....and, actually.....a busy two weeks to come. But....as always.......
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Oct 18, 2009: FROST was really heavy!!!!
A beautiful morning, today, and it looked as if it had snowed as the ground was sooo thoroughly covered with a heavy coating of frost........sure it killed all of the uncovered plants and flowers!! But.....I suppose it is time for this type of yearly evolution....and, I AM tired of taking care of the lawn, or having it taken care of while we are gone.
Friday??? Saturday??? Hmmmm.....those days passed quickly without any earth-shattering events or news in my Life here in Misery. Friday, I did go down to Cape and then visited with Mike during the afternoon. Yesterday was spent in just laying around the house, watching the sun attempt to remain in view with all of the clouds coming and going all day long.
Sooooo, today and tomorrow I have many things on my "To Do List"....and then need to GET done!!!! Several phone calls to make, the fireplace in the RV to be pulled out and then taken to Harris Fireplace/Heating Shop in Farmington and see if it can be repaired, check out getting the RV into the service shop to take care of the cosmetic damages from the early May storm, and then get the lawn cut, IF...IF..it dries out today.
The 1st Lady is up at Monroe City visiting her mother for a few days, not having been up there to see her since before we left for our trip out west in early August. We now look at the calendar and find ourselves pretty tightly scheduled until almost Thanksgiving......and then it will not be long until the Holidays are here.....and then we leave on Dec 29th for our winter in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
And so, I need to get busy....NOW, on Sunday morning(as soon as I finish my second cup of Fr. Roast). Sooooo, as always.........
LIFE IS REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Friday??? Saturday??? Hmmmm.....those days passed quickly without any earth-shattering events or news in my Life here in Misery. Friday, I did go down to Cape and then visited with Mike during the afternoon. Yesterday was spent in just laying around the house, watching the sun attempt to remain in view with all of the clouds coming and going all day long.
Sooooo, today and tomorrow I have many things on my "To Do List"....and then need to GET done!!!! Several phone calls to make, the fireplace in the RV to be pulled out and then taken to Harris Fireplace/Heating Shop in Farmington and see if it can be repaired, check out getting the RV into the service shop to take care of the cosmetic damages from the early May storm, and then get the lawn cut, IF...IF..it dries out today.
The 1st Lady is up at Monroe City visiting her mother for a few days, not having been up there to see her since before we left for our trip out west in early August. We now look at the calendar and find ourselves pretty tightly scheduled until almost Thanksgiving......and then it will not be long until the Holidays are here.....and then we leave on Dec 29th for our winter in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
And so, I need to get busy....NOW, on Sunday morning(as soon as I finish my second cup of Fr. Roast). Sooooo, as always.........
LIFE IS REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
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