Hw2 is working real hard in the office and getting her mind to working overtime. The computer system that is used to handle checking in, reservations and all that goes with that is complicated. She is a quick study though and learning hour by hour. She says that every situation is a new one, but she has found it to be interesting. She meets people well and enjoys helping others, so really she is in her element.
The things that I do in the maintenance end of this place require a lot less thinking but are still interesting. I like to be doing things, so I get to drive a cart and check on who is still here, read electric meters, lead new campers to their sites and help them get situated, clean the pools (we have three and one hot tub), lock or unlock the entire place, and soon begin to mow and use the weed eater. Then, of course, we are expected to fix things that go broke. This can be challenging. Yesterday, my fourth day, I picked up sticks left from storms, did some trimming of trees and bushes, and removed some dead bushes. I hear that we are getting a new John Deere mower to be used primarily around each of the sites. We also have a larger mower to be used on the open areas. That should all be fun. I really like the work so far and have decided that I no longer need to stay so closely to my diet, since this amount of active working keeps me from getting too fat. We celebrated with Culver fried chicken on Sunday and leftovers on Monday. I guess that is all the fried chicken for this year, but it was good. Happy travels.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Work Camping
Tomorrow we start being work campers at the Guadalupe RV Resort. HW2 has been shadowing for two days to begin to learn all of the myriad details of working in the office. We are really looking forward to this new experience. It will give us something to do as we will work for 3-4 days each week and have the other days off. We get paid an hourly wage and have our rent and electricity forgiven. I expect that when we finish getting trained that we will have a regular schedule and can plan how to use our free days. The training time is more constrained for a few weeks.
Work camping is utilized at most RV sites throughout the country and also at many state parks. We have met and talked with many work campers throughout the many years that we have traveled and all seem to really enjoy the experience. Many travel to different places each year and then get to really visit the new area as well as having reduced living expenses.
You will probably hear more about our work camping experience in this blog as we get used to this new idea. Happy travels.
Work camping is utilized at most RV sites throughout the country and also at many state parks. We have met and talked with many work campers throughout the many years that we have traveled and all seem to really enjoy the experience. Many travel to different places each year and then get to really visit the new area as well as having reduced living expenses.
You will probably hear more about our work camping experience in this blog as we get used to this new idea. Happy travels.
Things I like
As a kid we used to visit our Aunt Florence and I always thought that her door stop, which was an iron Boston Bull Terrier was very cool. Today you can buy a replica door stop or look in antique stores for the original. The original is much more expensive of course.
I also liked wearing my dad's loafer shoes. He wore size 12 shoes, so they were not exactly my size. I think he suspected that I wore them when I was in his office at our home but never said anything to me, that I remember. Now when my feet got to be size 12 also, I to this day enjoy loafer shoes, especially for dress up.
Mom had a suitcase with two snaps that closed the case. Inside was a compartment that could hold shoes and a fancy lining. When we were going someplace it was always fun to have her get out this suitcase and we could watch her work the snaps. In those days my brother and I had to share a black Gladstone case which was not nearly as cool.
Dad made a tool box out of wood to hold his many tools. When he worked for the Federal Land Bank, this box was used daily as he worked on fixing up houses. In later years he would go to the box to get a tool and then comment if it was not there. At one point he got very frustrated with not ever being able to find hammers and bought us a case which had several. These were soon dropped here and there by careless hands. I do not recommend mowing over a hammer left on the lawn. It is hard on the mowing machine and potentially dangerous too. I think that I liked tools from this time and have a hard time passing up any tool when in Home Depot or Lowe's. Can you really ever have enough tools?
I do not know exactly why I like some things and not others. But memories are made up of times past and things that caught our attention. What is your favorite thing from when you were a kid? Happy travels.
I also liked wearing my dad's loafer shoes. He wore size 12 shoes, so they were not exactly my size. I think he suspected that I wore them when I was in his office at our home but never said anything to me, that I remember. Now when my feet got to be size 12 also, I to this day enjoy loafer shoes, especially for dress up.
Mom had a suitcase with two snaps that closed the case. Inside was a compartment that could hold shoes and a fancy lining. When we were going someplace it was always fun to have her get out this suitcase and we could watch her work the snaps. In those days my brother and I had to share a black Gladstone case which was not nearly as cool.
Dad made a tool box out of wood to hold his many tools. When he worked for the Federal Land Bank, this box was used daily as he worked on fixing up houses. In later years he would go to the box to get a tool and then comment if it was not there. At one point he got very frustrated with not ever being able to find hammers and bought us a case which had several. These were soon dropped here and there by careless hands. I do not recommend mowing over a hammer left on the lawn. It is hard on the mowing machine and potentially dangerous too. I think that I liked tools from this time and have a hard time passing up any tool when in Home Depot or Lowe's. Can you really ever have enough tools?
I do not know exactly why I like some things and not others. But memories are made up of times past and things that caught our attention. What is your favorite thing from when you were a kid? Happy travels.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Colonoscopy
My friend Hollis sent this delightful commentary on a colonoscopy visit from an uncited author (sounds like Dave Barry to us). Enjoy!
"I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy. A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one point passing briefly through Minneapolis. Then Andy explained the colonoscopy procedure to me in a thorough, reassuring, and patient manner. I nodded thoughtfully, but I didn't really hear anything he said, because my brain was shrieking, quote: "HE"S GOING TO STICK A TUBE 17,000 FEET UP YOUR BEHIND!"
I left Andy's office with some written instructions, and a prescription for a produce called "MoviPrep" which comes in a box large enough to hold a microwave oven. I will discuss MoviPrep in detail later; for now suffice it to say that we must never allow it to fall into the hands of America's enemies. I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous. Then, on the day before my colonoscopy, I began my preparation.
In accordance with my instructions, I didn't eat any solid food that day; all I had was chicken broth, which is basically water, only with less flavor. Then, in evening, I took the MoviPrep. You mix two packets of powder together in a one-liter plastic jug, then you fill it with lukewarm water. (For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a liter is about 32 gallons.) Then you have to drink the whole jug. This takes about an hour, because MoviPrep tastes - and here I am being kind - like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser with just a hint of lemon. The instructions for MoviPrep, clearly written by somebody with a great sense of humor, state that after you drink it, "a loose, watery bowel movement may result." This is kind of like saying that after you jump off your roof, you may experience contact with the ground. MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I don't want to be too graphic here, but have you ever seen a space shuttle launch? This is pretty much the MoviPrep experience with you as the shuttle. There are times when you wish the commode had a seat belt. You spend several hours literally confined to the bathroom, spurting violently. You eliminate everything. And then, when you figure you must be totally empty, you have to drink another liter of MoviPrep, at which point, as far as I can tell, your bowels travel into the future and start eliminating food that you have not even eaten yet. After an action packed evening, I finally got to sleep.
The next morning, my wife drove me to the clinic. I was very nervous. Not only was I worried about the procedure, but I had been experiencing occasional return bouts of MoviPrep spurtage. I was thinking, "What if I spurt on Andy?" How do you apologize to a friend for something like that? Flowers would not be enough. At the clinic I had to sign many forms acknowledging that I understood and totally agreed with whatever the heck the forms said. Then they led me to a room full of other colonoscopy people, where I went inside a little curtained space and took off my clothes and put on one of those hospital garments designed by sadist perverts, the kind that, when you put it on, makes you feel even more naked than when you are actually naked. Then a nurse named Edie put a little needle in a vein in my left hand. Ordinarily I would have fainted, but Edie was very good, and I was already lying down. Edie also told me that some people put vodka in their MoviPrep. At first I was ticked off that I hadn't thought of this; but then I pondered what would happen if you got yourself too tipsy to make it to the bathroom so you were staggering around in full Fire Hose mode. You would have no choice but to burn your house.
When everything was ready, Edie wheeled me into the procedure room where Andy was waiting with a nurse and anesthesiologist. I did not see the 17,000 foot tube, but I knew Andy had it hidden around there somewhere. I was seriously nervous at this point. Andy had me roll over on my left side, and the anesthesiologist began hooking something up to the needle in my hand. There was music playing in the room, and I realized that the song was "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. I remarked to Andy that, of all the songs that could be playing during this particular procedure, "Dancing Queen"had to be the least appropriate. "You want me to turn it up?" said Andy, from somewhere behind me. "Ha, ha," I said. And then it was time, the moment I had been dreading for more than a decade. If you are squeamish, prepare yourself, because I am going to tell you, in explicit detail, exactly what it was like.
I have no idea. Really! I slept through it. One moment, ABBA was yelling "Dancing Queen, feel the beat of the tambourine," and the next moment, I was back in the other room, waking up in a very mellow mood. Andy was looking down at me and asking me how I felt. I felt excellent. I felt even more excellent when Andy told me that it was all over, and that my colon has passed with flying colors. I have never been prouder of an internal organ.
On the subject of colonoscopies:
Colonoscopies are no joke but the following comments heard during the exam are quite humorous. A physician claimed that these are actual comments made by his patients (predominately male) while he was performing their colonoscopies:
1. 'Take it easy, Doc. You're boldly going where no man has gone before!
2. 'Find Amelia Earhart yet?'
3. 'Can you hear me NOW?'
4. 'Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?'
5. 'You know, in Arkansas, we're now legally married.'
6. 'Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?'
7. 'You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out...'
8. 'Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!'
9. 'If your hand doesn't fit, you must quit!'
10. 'Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity.'
11. 'You used to be an executive at Enron, didn't you?'
12. 'God, now I know why I am not gay.'
And the best one of all.
13. 'Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is not up there?' "
Happy Travels.
"I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy. A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one point passing briefly through Minneapolis. Then Andy explained the colonoscopy procedure to me in a thorough, reassuring, and patient manner. I nodded thoughtfully, but I didn't really hear anything he said, because my brain was shrieking, quote: "HE"S GOING TO STICK A TUBE 17,000 FEET UP YOUR BEHIND!"
I left Andy's office with some written instructions, and a prescription for a produce called "MoviPrep" which comes in a box large enough to hold a microwave oven. I will discuss MoviPrep in detail later; for now suffice it to say that we must never allow it to fall into the hands of America's enemies. I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous. Then, on the day before my colonoscopy, I began my preparation.
In accordance with my instructions, I didn't eat any solid food that day; all I had was chicken broth, which is basically water, only with less flavor. Then, in evening, I took the MoviPrep. You mix two packets of powder together in a one-liter plastic jug, then you fill it with lukewarm water. (For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a liter is about 32 gallons.) Then you have to drink the whole jug. This takes about an hour, because MoviPrep tastes - and here I am being kind - like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser with just a hint of lemon. The instructions for MoviPrep, clearly written by somebody with a great sense of humor, state that after you drink it, "a loose, watery bowel movement may result." This is kind of like saying that after you jump off your roof, you may experience contact with the ground. MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I don't want to be too graphic here, but have you ever seen a space shuttle launch? This is pretty much the MoviPrep experience with you as the shuttle. There are times when you wish the commode had a seat belt. You spend several hours literally confined to the bathroom, spurting violently. You eliminate everything. And then, when you figure you must be totally empty, you have to drink another liter of MoviPrep, at which point, as far as I can tell, your bowels travel into the future and start eliminating food that you have not even eaten yet. After an action packed evening, I finally got to sleep.
The next morning, my wife drove me to the clinic. I was very nervous. Not only was I worried about the procedure, but I had been experiencing occasional return bouts of MoviPrep spurtage. I was thinking, "What if I spurt on Andy?" How do you apologize to a friend for something like that? Flowers would not be enough. At the clinic I had to sign many forms acknowledging that I understood and totally agreed with whatever the heck the forms said. Then they led me to a room full of other colonoscopy people, where I went inside a little curtained space and took off my clothes and put on one of those hospital garments designed by sadist perverts, the kind that, when you put it on, makes you feel even more naked than when you are actually naked. Then a nurse named Edie put a little needle in a vein in my left hand. Ordinarily I would have fainted, but Edie was very good, and I was already lying down. Edie also told me that some people put vodka in their MoviPrep. At first I was ticked off that I hadn't thought of this; but then I pondered what would happen if you got yourself too tipsy to make it to the bathroom so you were staggering around in full Fire Hose mode. You would have no choice but to burn your house.
When everything was ready, Edie wheeled me into the procedure room where Andy was waiting with a nurse and anesthesiologist. I did not see the 17,000 foot tube, but I knew Andy had it hidden around there somewhere. I was seriously nervous at this point. Andy had me roll over on my left side, and the anesthesiologist began hooking something up to the needle in my hand. There was music playing in the room, and I realized that the song was "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. I remarked to Andy that, of all the songs that could be playing during this particular procedure, "Dancing Queen"had to be the least appropriate. "You want me to turn it up?" said Andy, from somewhere behind me. "Ha, ha," I said. And then it was time, the moment I had been dreading for more than a decade. If you are squeamish, prepare yourself, because I am going to tell you, in explicit detail, exactly what it was like.
I have no idea. Really! I slept through it. One moment, ABBA was yelling "Dancing Queen, feel the beat of the tambourine," and the next moment, I was back in the other room, waking up in a very mellow mood. Andy was looking down at me and asking me how I felt. I felt excellent. I felt even more excellent when Andy told me that it was all over, and that my colon has passed with flying colors. I have never been prouder of an internal organ.
On the subject of colonoscopies:
Colonoscopies are no joke but the following comments heard during the exam are quite humorous. A physician claimed that these are actual comments made by his patients (predominately male) while he was performing their colonoscopies:
1. 'Take it easy, Doc. You're boldly going where no man has gone before!
2. 'Find Amelia Earhart yet?'
3. 'Can you hear me NOW?'
4. 'Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?'
5. 'You know, in Arkansas, we're now legally married.'
6. 'Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?'
7. 'You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out...'
8. 'Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!'
9. 'If your hand doesn't fit, you must quit!'
10. 'Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity.'
11. 'You used to be an executive at Enron, didn't you?'
12. 'God, now I know why I am not gay.'
And the best one of all.
13. 'Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is not up there?' "
Happy Travels.
Post 501
Wow, 500 posts completed so far. This reminds me when I was writing my doctoral dissertation and working for Barney Leigh at the North Central Accreditation Office in The University of Arizona. I would come into work, and Barney would ask if I had written anything on the dissertation. If the answer was, "No," then he would say I could not get to work until I had written something. That discipline to write each and every day seems to be still working for me here as I think of things to write in this blog. While I don't write every day, I try to. It is my modern attempt to keep a diary. When I retired in 1996, I decided to keep a daily diary, and I still have all of those but quit when this blog got started. Every once in awhile HW2 or I try to remember something, and we get into searching the diaries or the blog, and these records help greatly.
Yesterday we drove to Fredericksburg and met members of our Seekers group at the Wildseed Farm which has started a butterfly exhibit. It was cool and windy, but once in the enclosed exhibit we could see butterflies emerging from the pupa stage, flying about, and even get them to crawl onto a finger. T
here were many species, but the Zebra, Swallowtail, and Monarch butterflies were in abundance. I did learn that butterflies fly in the daytime, and moths fly at night.
Afterwards we all had lunch at the farm and just visited with each other. We got to know Marilyn and Harvey a bit more. She is a retired elementary and music teacher who later became a principal. Harvey worked for the Houston Space center and is a Ham Radio operator.
When we got back to Kerrville, we saw Don and found out that we start working here this week. That is a bit earlier than we had expected, but why not? HW2 starts to shadow the office ladies today, and I start with the men on Thursday. Happy travels.
Yesterday we drove to Fredericksburg and met members of our Seekers group at the Wildseed Farm which has started a butterfly exhibit. It was cool and windy, but once in the enclosed exhibit we could see butterflies emerging from the pupa stage, flying about, and even get them to crawl onto a finger. T
here were many species, but the Zebra, Swallowtail, and Monarch butterflies were in abundance. I did learn that butterflies fly in the daytime, and moths fly at night.
Afterwards we all had lunch at the farm and just visited with each other. We got to know Marilyn and Harvey a bit more. She is a retired elementary and music teacher who later became a principal. Harvey worked for the Houston Space center and is a Ham Radio operator.
When we got back to Kerrville, we saw Don and found out that we start working here this week. That is a bit earlier than we had expected, but why not? HW2 starts to shadow the office ladies today, and I start with the men on Thursday. Happy travels.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
A bit of rain
We have been in a drought here for many months. While we were in Omaha there were three days of rain and almost 4-5 inches of rain, which was desperately needed. This morning we awakened to a bit of rain. Good! We need all we can get.
Today I have been asked to do the first reading from Numbers about the problems that Moses had when he was leading the people of Israel out of Egypt. That will then be commented on by our minister. It is wonderful to be involved in the life of this church. It is nice to have found a church home here in Kerrville.
Yesterday I broke the frame of my glasses and felt fortunate to have a second pair that can be worn until I get these fixed. We may take a quick trip to San Antonio this afternoon to try to get these glasses fixed. That should keep us busy today. Happy travels.
Today I have been asked to do the first reading from Numbers about the problems that Moses had when he was leading the people of Israel out of Egypt. That will then be commented on by our minister. It is wonderful to be involved in the life of this church. It is nice to have found a church home here in Kerrville.
Yesterday I broke the frame of my glasses and felt fortunate to have a second pair that can be worn until I get these fixed. We may take a quick trip to San Antonio this afternoon to try to get these glasses fixed. That should keep us busy today. Happy travels.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Max is growing
Not seeing Max for two weeks was tough. But, we could not take him on the airplane, so, he had to go to a nearby kennel which we call puppy camp. On Thursday after almost completing the unloading of the truck, we went to get Max. They had given him a bath since he got very muddy during the three days of rain, which happened while we were gone. The folks at the kennel seem to look out for him and enjoy him, so they were sad to see him go home, but we promised to come visit.
Max was glad to get back to his normal surroundings and immediately went out for a good walk and enjoyed that everyone he met mentioned that he was growing like a weed. If you miss two weeks in a growing puppy's life, you can bet you will notice how much he has grown. At the kennel they mentioned how much he ate, too. Fortunately he is not fat, just growing.
We were glad to have our puppy home, and he was glad to be here. Happy travels.
Max was glad to get back to his normal surroundings and immediately went out for a good walk and enjoyed that everyone he met mentioned that he was growing like a weed. If you miss two weeks in a growing puppy's life, you can bet you will notice how much he has grown. At the kennel they mentioned how much he ate, too. Fortunately he is not fat, just growing.
We were glad to have our puppy home, and he was glad to be here. Happy travels.
Thursday and Friday - Unload the Truck
Our storage unit found us a young man, Tanner, who is a senior in high school to help us unload the truck. We got started about 9:30, and Tanner arrived shortly after that, and we set to work. Unloading seemed to take longer than loading as we had to inspect boxes to see where to place them in the storage unit. We rented a second climate controlled unit for furniture and paintings. We finished unloading all but the safe, and Tanner located a friend who could come back on Friday to complete the job. No wonder HW2 wanted to sell the safe.
Once the safe was in the storage unit, we took the truck back to Budget Rental and were glad to see the end of this phase. Now we will take stuff we have stored in the motor home bays to storage and other things from the unit back to our home. This trading back and forth will take some time, but we should end up with some empty spaces in the motor home. Best of all, we can get to our stuff, whether it is for general living, tools, clothes, or sewing.
Don wants to set up our garden trains around the outside patio of the River Rock Saloon. So I guess that will become my next project. We set up our canopy for shade and really have begun to settle in here.
A trip to WalMart and we have groceries enough to last the rest of the month. How does Cornell Chicken sound? If you like it, come by. There will be enough for all.
We were really tired after our trip and emptying out the truck. I think we felt our age and wondered how we managed it all, but we did. Happy travels.
Once the safe was in the storage unit, we took the truck back to Budget Rental and were glad to see the end of this phase. Now we will take stuff we have stored in the motor home bays to storage and other things from the unit back to our home. This trading back and forth will take some time, but we should end up with some empty spaces in the motor home. Best of all, we can get to our stuff, whether it is for general living, tools, clothes, or sewing.
Don wants to set up our garden trains around the outside patio of the River Rock Saloon. So I guess that will become my next project. We set up our canopy for shade and really have begun to settle in here.
A trip to WalMart and we have groceries enough to last the rest of the month. How does Cornell Chicken sound? If you like it, come by. There will be enough for all.
We were really tired after our trip and emptying out the truck. I think we felt our age and wondered how we managed it all, but we did. Happy travels.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Back in Kerrville to a warm Texas welcome
Our third day on the road with the Budget Rent a Truck was hard on tired bottoms from all the bouncing. We hung in there and got to see the beginnings of spring south of Fort Worth. The grass along the roadside was greening up, trees were beginning to leaf out, and best of all was the Texas Blue Bonnet flowers along the roadside. You see these beautiful flowers and have to think of Lady Bird Johnson and her legacy to beautify this country's roadside by planting wild flowers. It has been so dry this year that we thought there would be no Blue Bonnets but there they were for all passers by to enjoy. In no time we drove through Austin and then left I 35 to drive through the Texas Hill Country visiting Johnson city, Fredericksburg and finally home in Kerrville.
We unpacked a few clothes from the back of the truck and had a bite to eat with Byron at Mamacita's Restaurant and then decided to walk the park. It took over an hour and a half, as we had to stop and visit with our friends. What a warm welcome home we were given! No wonder we like this place! Happy travels.
We unpacked a few clothes from the back of the truck and had a bite to eat with Byron at Mamacita's Restaurant and then decided to walk the park. It took over an hour and a half, as we had to stop and visit with our friends. What a warm welcome home we were given! No wonder we like this place! Happy travels.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
We keep driving
Day two of our trek south finds us first in Kansas and looking at very green fields which are winter wheat and so green. We also say forsythia and pear trees in bloom as well as maybe wild cherry trees. It was nice to see the return of spring and to see the farmers begin to get their fields ready for new crops. I believe they harrow the fields rather than plow them and mainly endeavor to get the leaving from last fall harvest to become the addition of humus material for the next growing plants. I was tickled to see on the horizon a figure of a man on a horse herding a cow and new born calf. As we drew closer it became obvious that these figures were cutouts. How clever!
We bumped our way through Kansas and onward through Oklahoma finally stopping in Fort Worth for the evening. After relaxing a bit we walked to a nearby Texas Steak House for dinner. Now full and completely relaxed we settle in for an evening of television and reading as well as a bath which will feel good on our warn out backsides. It was in the seventies or low eighties here today and maybe tomorrow will be short sleeve shirt weather. We hope to finish this traveling by mid afternoon tomorrow and then can begin to unload the rental truck the next day.
Traffic was light except in construction in Norman, OK and rush hour traffic in Fort Worth. Traveling by truck makes one appreciate travel by car. I feel thoroughly shaken and would prefer to be stirred. Sounds like a martini recipe. Happy travels.
We bumped our way through Kansas and onward through Oklahoma finally stopping in Fort Worth for the evening. After relaxing a bit we walked to a nearby Texas Steak House for dinner. Now full and completely relaxed we settle in for an evening of television and reading as well as a bath which will feel good on our warn out backsides. It was in the seventies or low eighties here today and maybe tomorrow will be short sleeve shirt weather. We hope to finish this traveling by mid afternoon tomorrow and then can begin to unload the rental truck the next day.
Traffic was light except in construction in Norman, OK and rush hour traffic in Fort Worth. Traveling by truck makes one appreciate travel by car. I feel thoroughly shaken and would prefer to be stirred. Sounds like a martini recipe. Happy travels.
Monday, March 16, 2009
We pack up the storage unit in Omaha
Very early we went to the airport to help Tim return their rental car, and then Kristy took us to Budget Rental to complete the paperwork and pick up the truck. Then onward to our storage unit where we welcomed two men who would help us unload the unit and pack the truck. They helped for two hours, and and then an hour later we two completed the task. Finally about noon we were done. We drove to a nearby fast food restaurant for a beef burrito and hit the road south to Texas.
The rest of the day was completed by sitting and driving in a rather bumpy truck stopping for rest room breaks, diesel, or supplies at Walmart. We arrived in Salina, Kansas, about five o'clock, found a motel, and nearby restaurant. We are now looking forward to a hot bath and some TV before dropping into bed. Happy Travels.
The rest of the day was completed by sitting and driving in a rather bumpy truck stopping for rest room breaks, diesel, or supplies at Walmart. We arrived in Salina, Kansas, about five o'clock, found a motel, and nearby restaurant. We are now looking forward to a hot bath and some TV before dropping into bed. Happy Travels.
Musical evening
On Sunday after church we made ham and navy bean soup and scalloped pork chops with potatoes for the next several meals. We had the soup in the early evening and then left to drive to Mercy Hospital where several of the kids would play a piano number for a group recital. Keilah, James, and Lydia continue their work at the Omaha Conservatory of Music and take weekly piano lessons with Dr. Milvia Rodriguez. It was her group and some students of the violin that were presenting on Sunday evening.
Heather did well on her violin recital, and we endured the other violin players. There were two cute four-year old boys who played their pieces, which lasted all of twenty seconds. Of course we enjoyed our grands playing and at some point will include pictures and maybe even a bit of their playing. We clapped when they curtsied or bowed before playing and then, of course, when the piece was completed.
At the end of the evening refreshments were provided and enjoyed by all. On the way home we treated all five to an ice cream treat at Dairy Queen. When we got home, we were greeted by their dad and mom back from their week-long workshop in Atlanta. They are now officially missionaries and have the daunting task of raising the money to support themselves in this work. We were glad to have them safely home and enjoyed hearing about their activities. It was a great week, and sadly we will be leaving them on Monday. Happy travels.
Heather did well on her violin recital, and we endured the other violin players. There were two cute four-year old boys who played their pieces, which lasted all of twenty seconds. Of course we enjoyed our grands playing and at some point will include pictures and maybe even a bit of their playing. We clapped when they curtsied or bowed before playing and then, of course, when the piece was completed.
At the end of the evening refreshments were provided and enjoyed by all. On the way home we treated all five to an ice cream treat at Dairy Queen. When we got home, we were greeted by their dad and mom back from their week-long workshop in Atlanta. They are now officially missionaries and have the daunting task of raising the money to support themselves in this work. We were glad to have them safely home and enjoyed hearing about their activities. It was a great week, and sadly we will be leaving them on Monday. Happy travels.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Athletics today
Today seems to be a day for athletics. The twins have a soccer game at noon. Then later on James has baseball practice. Our daughter does a great deal of driving in a week. We knew this before hand, and she made every effort to minimize the driving by having other friends help get the kids here and there. With five kids, it is a busy schedule, though. In addition to driving the kids to their lessons and practices or games, Kristy finds the time to home school, deliver Meals on Wheels, and to help out others in their church who need a ride or a helping hand. It is a full life that would tire me out if done on a daily basis. How she gets it all done is beyond me. We have had a great deal of fun with this set of grandchildren, and soon it will be time for us to return to Kerrville with a truck loaded with whatever we have in our storage unit here.
We hope by taking our stuff to Texas that we will have more access to our stored things when we need or want them. I am looking forward to being able to use all the tools that I have stored. HW2 is looking forward to getting into stored clothes as seasons change. I know she plans to change out dishes that we use every day with a different set. She is also looking ahead to getting to cloth that she has put away for that next sewing project.
We have organized help at both ends of this endeavor, and that should make the loading and unloading a bit smoother. I think that we will leave here Monday afternoon and begin our thousand mile trip back and spread it over three days and two nights which should make it a bit easier on HW2's back. Traveling like this is very hard for her, and she seldom complains. I would be a grump the whole time if it was my back hurting. I do admire her stoic approach to handling daily pain.
Once we arrive in Texas and get unloaded, it will be back to the daily routine there with a new twist. We will become, on April 1, work campers and work three days a week getting paid. This should help with monthly expenses, and maybe we can get our credit card paid off and even put money on the motor home mortgage. That is the plan, and we shall see how this works out. We plan to do this for at least a year. We enjoy our RV park but do not know how the summer weather will affect our daily lives. HW2 does not enjoy hot weather. Time will tell. Happy travels.
We hope by taking our stuff to Texas that we will have more access to our stored things when we need or want them. I am looking forward to being able to use all the tools that I have stored. HW2 is looking forward to getting into stored clothes as seasons change. I know she plans to change out dishes that we use every day with a different set. She is also looking ahead to getting to cloth that she has put away for that next sewing project.
We have organized help at both ends of this endeavor, and that should make the loading and unloading a bit smoother. I think that we will leave here Monday afternoon and begin our thousand mile trip back and spread it over three days and two nights which should make it a bit easier on HW2's back. Traveling like this is very hard for her, and she seldom complains. I would be a grump the whole time if it was my back hurting. I do admire her stoic approach to handling daily pain.
Once we arrive in Texas and get unloaded, it will be back to the daily routine there with a new twist. We will become, on April 1, work campers and work three days a week getting paid. This should help with monthly expenses, and maybe we can get our credit card paid off and even put money on the motor home mortgage. That is the plan, and we shall see how this works out. We plan to do this for at least a year. We enjoy our RV park but do not know how the summer weather will affect our daily lives. HW2 does not enjoy hot weather. Time will tell. Happy travels.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Piano practice and concert
This morning, three of the kids (James, Keilah, and Lydia) and I went to the Omaha Conservatory of Music for their final piano practice. On Sunday they participate in a recital or concert at a main hall of nearby Mercy Hospital. The kids have really learned to be good piano students, and it is a real joy for grandparents to either hear them practice or watch the recital in person. They have really learned good fingering, and their ability to hit all the keys and have fine music as the result, is just delightful. They all are playing the classics.
Sarah is also learning to play the guitar, and Susannah may actually learn the flute, but that remains to be seen at this stage as teachers are not available. Both of these girls have had some piano lessons but did not really like to practice and have moved on. Sounds like my abilities at the piano.
While the kids were at their rehearsal, I did errands to get gas, groceries, and dessert for dinner from Wheatfields. Lemon pie it is. Probably it will all disappear at dinner time. Yesterday we had the butt end of a ham for dinner, , and we have it so seldom.
Today it was warm enough that HW1 and I walked around the block two times. Lydia went with us and ran around two times to our one walk, and then walked a third time for her while we completed lap two. It was good to get out and do a bit of exercising. In Kerrville we can do that almost every day and have been faithfully exercising to help keep the weight off and to do good thing for our hearts. Happy travels.
Sarah is also learning to play the guitar, and Susannah may actually learn the flute, but that remains to be seen at this stage as teachers are not available. Both of these girls have had some piano lessons but did not really like to practice and have moved on. Sounds like my abilities at the piano.
While the kids were at their rehearsal, I did errands to get gas, groceries, and dessert for dinner from Wheatfields. Lemon pie it is. Probably it will all disappear at dinner time. Yesterday we had the butt end of a ham for dinner, , and we have it so seldom.
Today it was warm enough that HW1 and I walked around the block two times. Lydia went with us and ran around two times to our one walk, and then walked a third time for her while we completed lap two. It was good to get out and do a bit of exercising. In Kerrville we can do that almost every day and have been faithfully exercising to help keep the weight off and to do good thing for our hearts. Happy travels.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Cold and sunny
Yesterday afternoon we decided to take in a movie and watched Pink Panther 2, which we had seen once, but the kids had not. It was good fun, and we came away laughing and trying unusual ways to say "hamburger." Then we went to Red Robin for a mid-afternoon early dinner and filled them up. Later in the evening we watched an NBC food channel contest that had made it to regular TV and then had ice cream and berries for dessert, followed by a good game of Five Crowns. All to bed, and we were left to read in quiet.
Today I took Susannah to volleyball practice and stopped to get some things from the store on
the way back. We are having ham, rice with carrots, broccoli, and cheese, and fruit Jello salad for dinner. Sounds yummy but smells even better at this point.
The kids continue to do school without too much encouragement and seem to be up to date. They made toasted cheese sandwiches for lunch, which I enjoyed, of course. Happy travels.
Today I took Susannah to volleyball practice and stopped to get some things from the store on
the way back. We are having ham, rice with carrots, broccoli, and cheese, and fruit Jello salad for dinner. Sounds yummy but smells even better at this point.The kids continue to do school without too much encouragement and seem to be up to date. They made toasted cheese sandwiches for lunch, which I enjoyed, of course. Happy travels.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sunny but cold
Today d
awned sunny and cold in the twenties for a high. We are in the middle of school, piano practice, and hopefully will do something fun in the afternoon. Last evening we enjoyed the meal that HW2 had made and then played dominoes for several sessions, visiting with Beth and Harold throughout. A fun evening but a long day for HW2, who was the main cook. The kids helped make Jello and dessert, as well as setting the table. T
hey all pitched in and then cleaned up the dishes at the end. Their help makes it go so much easier.
It seems like our time with these grandchildren is flying by. We always have fun with them, especially playing games and fixing meals that they particularly enjoy. Happy travels.
awned sunny and cold in the twenties for a high. We are in the middle of school, piano practice, and hopefully will do something fun in the afternoon. Last evening we enjoyed the meal that HW2 had made and then played dominoes for several sessions, visiting with Beth and Harold throughout. A fun evening but a long day for HW2, who was the main cook. The kids helped make Jello and dessert, as well as setting the table. T
hey all pitched in and then cleaned up the dishes at the end. Their help makes it go so much easier.It seems like our time with these grandchildren is flying by. We always have fun with them, especially playing games and fixing meals that they particularly enjoy. Happy travels.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Nebraska in March
We knew when we flew to Omaha that the weather could still be in a winter mode. Today we have had a dusting of snow and ice on the roads. So my two trips to get grands to volleyball and Latin lessons were a little dicey. The sand trucks had been out, and they got most of the intersections and hilly spots, so it was not too bad. I did have to scrape the windshield to be able to see to drive. The kids and I got to our designated places and back without incidents, which was good.
This burst of winter weather has caused HW2 to plan a great meal of chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and broccoli, which has a stick to your ribs sound. Harold and Beth will be here for dinner too, so the conversation will flow, and all will eat well. Happy travels.
This burst of winter weather has caused HW2 to plan a great meal of chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and broccoli, which has a stick to your ribs sound. Harold and Beth will be here for dinner too, so the conversation will flow, and all will eat well. Happy travels.
Monday, March 9, 2009
A foggy awakening
We got up this morning to be greeted by a light fog outside. It is supposed to warm up into the fifties today but be significantly colder on Tuesday and Wednesday. We are trying to get a bit of schooling done this morning and then some fun activity this afternoon. The kids have been great.
Last evening we started teaching them a new card game which we call Progressive but may also be called Michigan Rummy. At one point in a very slow start to understanding how it worked, Lydia said, "Am I the only one who understands this game?" We finally completed several hands and decided to quit in favor of the television. I suspect we will try this activity again before the week is out.
I still need to get to our storage unit and arrange for help to load all our stuff into a U-Haul truck, which we will be doing a week from now when the kids get back from their trip to Atlanta. They ran into some severe weather yesterday, probably in Kentucky where it rained very hard, and they were under a tornado threat for at least half an hour. They finally arrived in Atlanta and were glad to be there after the severe weather. We hope their week goes well and the trip home is not quite so exciting, weather wise. Happy travels.
Last evening we started teaching them a new card game which we call Progressive but may also be called Michigan Rummy. At one point in a very slow start to understanding how it worked, Lydia said, "Am I the only one who understands this game?" We finally completed several hands and decided to quit in favor of the television. I suspect we will try this activity again before the week is out.
I still need to get to our storage unit and arrange for help to load all our stuff into a U-Haul truck, which we will be doing a week from now when the kids get back from their trip to Atlanta. They ran into some severe weather yesterday, probably in Kentucky where it rained very hard, and they were under a tornado threat for at least half an hour. They finally arrived in Atlanta and were glad to be there after the severe weather. We hope their week goes well and the trip home is not quite so exciting, weather wise. Happy travels.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Time flies
Here it is Sunday morning, the clocks have been moved ahead an hour for daylight savings time, and it is about time to wake all up to get ready for church. We flew up here on Wednesday, and where have the last two days gone? We have played Five Crowns several times with the grands, and that has been fun. We have done a bit of shopping and walking at the malls. We both have had to get haircuts.
On Friday night we had a wonderful time with our old Suppers Eight group and talked and laughed throughout the entire evening. It is good to reconnect. The food was wonderful, and no one left hungry. I got so full that I had no room for dessert. When
we arrived back at our kids' house, we had to tiptoe quietly upstairs so not to wake anyone.
Yesterday I took Tim and Kristy to get their rental car to drive to Atlanta, and then they returned, packed, and finally got on the road to their first stop in St. Louis. Once they left, we took all the kids to watch the twins play soccer. After the game at about 1:00 pm we then got lunch of Greek food and stopped in Wally World for a pizza and salad for
dinner. Next was home and another game of Five Crowns, which Keilah won. Dinner and baths or showers, and we headed for bed. I guess I can see where the time has gone. I expect we will be very busy this week and hope to get the highlights into this blog. Happy travels.
On Friday night we had a wonderful time with our old Suppers Eight group and talked and laughed throughout the entire evening. It is good to reconnect. The food was wonderful, and no one left hungry. I got so full that I had no room for dessert. When
we arrived back at our kids' house, we had to tiptoe quietly upstairs so not to wake anyone.Yesterday I took Tim and Kristy to get their rental car to drive to Atlanta, and then they returned, packed, and finally got on the road to their first stop in St. Louis. Once they left, we took all the kids to watch the twins play soccer. After the game at about 1:00 pm we then got lunch of Greek food and stopped in Wally World for a pizza and salad for
dinner. Next was home and another game of Five Crowns, which Keilah won. Dinner and baths or showers, and we headed for bed. I guess I can see where the time has gone. I expect we will be very busy this week and hope to get the highlights into this blog. Happy travels.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Omaha redeux
On Wednesday morning we got up very early, and a good friend Vivian took us to the San Antonio airport. On the way, at four in the morning, we counted over eight deer eating along side the road. Deer are a real problem in the hill country of Texas, and you have to drive defensively, or you will become one more of the deer/car statistics so prevalent. Vivian was a careful driver, and we were glad to have her good attention so that we arrived at the airport safely.
We went through security without a hitch and soon were in the air. The trip to Chicago was the first leg of the trip, but the plane seemed to land a a very fast clip. Any landing is a good landing, though. A short wait and we were in the air again, this time on the final leg to Omaha.
We landed to be greeted by five grandchildren. Kristy transported us to their home and our new adventure of a week or so sitting the grands while their parents go to Atlanta for a missionary workshop. We are planning as many activities as we can for this next week, and hopefully we will recount all the fun happenings in the blog as we go along.
Tomorrow night our original Suppers Eight group will get together again for a wonderful Italian dinner. We have been meeting for five years on a regular basis and have become-long friends in the process. What fun to get together again! Happy travels.
We went through security without a hitch and soon were in the air. The trip to Chicago was the first leg of the trip, but the plane seemed to land a a very fast clip. Any landing is a good landing, though. A short wait and we were in the air again, this time on the final leg to Omaha.
We landed to be greeted by five grandchildren. Kristy transported us to their home and our new adventure of a week or so sitting the grands while their parents go to Atlanta for a missionary workshop. We are planning as many activities as we can for this next week, and hopefully we will recount all the fun happenings in the blog as we go along.
Tomorrow night our original Suppers Eight group will get together again for a wonderful Italian dinner. We have been meeting for five years on a regular basis and have become-long friends in the process. What fun to get together again! Happy travels.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Annual physicals today
This afternoon we meet our new internist here. When we were here before, we had a great doctor, but he had moved from Kerrville by the time we returned last year. So friends recommended a name, and that led to this man. We have to get annual physicals so that we can continue to receive our daily and necessary drugs for high blood pressure and cholesterol. These seem to be under control, but to continue the prescriptions we have to have the annual visit. I suppose that is a good thing, and so off to do the necessary paper work. Probably this year we will have to got colonoscopies which have to be done every five years. Those five years certainly went fast. Fortunately, they put you out so that you do not have to know what they did or how they did it. You just have to hope you behave while they are doing it. There has to be a better way. One year they got me from both ends, and afterwards I asked if they met in the middle? I didn't get an answer to that question. Then there is the dreaded prostate exam which causes many jokes from night time comedians. However, it is not something I look forward to. It seems as you age that your body finds different things to complain about, and then you have to return to the doctor to see if the ailment can be patched up. This is all good, especially if you want to keep on living. Older people like to talk about their physical troubles, and an amazing number of them have serious problems but manage to keep going for the time being. Hopefully, this visit will turn out well and we can put off for another year any return visits. Happy travels.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Can Max learn to heel
This morning at 32 degrees, Max and I headed over to the office to get the Sunday paper. We moved right along with some urging to Max by whistles, clicks, and presumably other encouraging human sounds to get him to walk with me. At one point he actually was dogging my footsteps when I realized that he really was only trying to bite my pant legs. So I guess I have not been teaching him to "heel," but more correctly to "pant leg."
We managed to find Max a larger crate since he was outgrowing his first c
rate. We had gone to a moving sale and found a crate for $15.00, which is considerably cheaper than what can be found in pet stores. Max seems to like his new home, but it does give him a greater chance to see what is going on and to make doggie comments on why he is crated and not free outside. We finally covered his crate with one of his towels to cut off his view a bit. He decided to try to drag the towel through the slats of the crate, and this kept him occupied for some time. We do what we can to keep him amused. Max is a joy and a handful but already is much loved around here. Keep tuned, we may yet tell you more about Max as he grows from puppydom to adulthood.
We managed to find Max a larger crate since he was outgrowing his first c
rate. We had gone to a moving sale and found a crate for $15.00, which is considerably cheaper than what can be found in pet stores. Max seems to like his new home, but it does give him a greater chance to see what is going on and to make doggie comments on why he is crated and not free outside. We finally covered his crate with one of his towels to cut off his view a bit. He decided to try to drag the towel through the slats of the crate, and this kept him occupied for some time. We do what we can to keep him amused. Max is a joy and a handful but already is much loved around here. Keep tuned, we may yet tell you more about Max as he grows from puppydom to adulthood.
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