Ron and Paula are neighbors of ours in every sense of the word. We don't intrude on each other but do look out for each other and enjoy the company. The other day I was talking with Ron, who had just returned after picking up Paula from her visit with family. He mentioned that he did not get out much while she was gone but did get to the swimming pool for his daily exercise. Best of all, he had lost twenty pounds this past month since starting this exercise regimen.
What is commendable about all of this is how Ron and Paula have taken charge of their lives and worked out an exercise routine and also have begun to change eating habits. My real point is that each of us need to do exactly what they are doing. We are in charge of our lives, and if we want to make change,s we need to think it through and go for it. During the past year I have lost 30 pounds with the hardest part, keeping it off. I feel so much better and think it was helpful when I had to go through cancer surgery several months ago.
Foxy works hard to keep me on a reasonable diet and eating in a healthy way. We do allow for the occasional splurge and enjoy eating out. You can not keep at it all of the time. We are encouraged by our neighbors' fine example, and maybe I should set a goal to lose five more pounds. If I get down to 175 pounds and stay there, I will keep you posted. Happy travels.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Mirrors
This seems like a good title for the 800th entry. I have been thinking about mirrors and how useful they are in our lives. After all how could you get your hair combed or fixed without one? I wonder what you see when you look in the mirror. I know that I do not always see myself as I am, but rather as I think I am or wish to be. That brings to mind the Disney movie where the bad Queen asks the Mirror, "Who is the fairest of us all?" She is expecting the mirror to answer that she is and instead the mirror answers, "Snow White." The result of this answer is not good for the Queen, Snow White or even the mirror.
We are all vain in various degrees, and so when we look at the reverse image of ourselves, do we see the wrinkles, the sagging chin, grey hair, tired eyes or any of the reality? I think we hold as much of the truth as far away as possible. Lately, when I have time, I try to look in the mirror and say, "Who are you old man?" or, "How did you get to be so old looking?" This makes me laugh at myself and say that I earned all of these age related facial considerations. Then I pass another mirror trying to hold in my stomach and think myself thin. Thanks, mirror! I would like to be thin so that I could wear the clothes the models wear and look good in them. Oh, the reality of it all. Happy travels.
We are all vain in various degrees, and so when we look at the reverse image of ourselves, do we see the wrinkles, the sagging chin, grey hair, tired eyes or any of the reality? I think we hold as much of the truth as far away as possible. Lately, when I have time, I try to look in the mirror and say, "Who are you old man?" or, "How did you get to be so old looking?" This makes me laugh at myself and say that I earned all of these age related facial considerations. Then I pass another mirror trying to hold in my stomach and think myself thin. Thanks, mirror! I would like to be thin so that I could wear the clothes the models wear and look good in them. Oh, the reality of it all. Happy travels.
To make a long story short......
Recently we were over at the saloon enjoying 'a little something' and visiting with friends when Don put on a song from the juke box and we started to listen to the lyrics. The lyrics included the age old question, "Do these jeans make my ass look big?" As the song continued the commentary included, "To make a long story short, she's gone." As I had previously commented, you can not answer that question and live. We loved the song and when we returned home tried to find out more about the song. We wondered what the title was and who wrote the song and where could we get a copy and questions like that. We had not heard the song well enough to realise what the title might be.
Foxy began the googling process on our computer and tried, do these pants make my ass look big. That did not generate anything so she tried jeans and finally gave up. Several nights later we asked Don to again play the song and he found it on record 45, the eleventh song. We then learned the title was 'To make a long story short, she's gone.' We also learned that apparently the song was written by Willie Nelson who is not only a great country western singer with a bad hairdo but also a prolific song writer. I do like to hear Willie sing, I just don't like to look at him. Foxy is going to try to put a link on this blog so that you can hear the song. It is one funny song.
The Willie Nelson song is not the correct song so furthur research is necesary. Happy travels.
Foxy began the googling process on our computer and tried, do these pants make my ass look big. That did not generate anything so she tried jeans and finally gave up. Several nights later we asked Don to again play the song and he found it on record 45, the eleventh song. We then learned the title was 'To make a long story short, she's gone.' We also learned that apparently the song was written by Willie Nelson who is not only a great country western singer with a bad hairdo but also a prolific song writer. I do like to hear Willie sing, I just don't like to look at him. Foxy is going to try to put a link on this blog so that you can hear the song. It is one funny song.
The Willie Nelson song is not the correct song so furthur research is necesary. Happy travels.
Thankful
As I approach my 800 th entry, I reflect that I am very thankful. I am still around to make observations on the human condition. I have a wonderful wife and helpmate. I have lots of supportive family and friends. I have a terrific family that I love deeply. I have a good dog Max, who really perks up when we say, "Good boy, Max."
You never know when humor will pop up either from the human condition or a comment overheard or a clever email. I do wonder how the folks that make a living creating comic strips manage to be so clever and frequently cause one to laugh out loud. I would love to have such a talent.
Recently we tried to replace our recliner chairs with new ones that were craftsman styled. We went to San Antonio and looked in several furniture stores but did not see any that we liked. Then I went to a local store to look some more and found several we might like and later took Foxy after work to get her opinion. We discovered that the store had exactly what we wanted, and so we decided to get the pair. Several days later Gordon and I drove back to the store to pick up the chairs which turned out to be really heavy. On the way back Gordon decided that we needed to get George to help us get them into our coach.
We unwrapped the chairs, removed the backs, and lifted the bottom parts, and they would not go in until I removed the handle by the door we use to not fall either in or out of the coach when entering or departing. Then we moved the passenger seat back as far as it would go, and the three of us managed to twist and turn the bottom half, and finally it was in. The second chair followed, backs re-inserted, and we had our new recliners.
The inside of the coach looked like recliner heaven. We had the new chairs. We had the old chairs. We had the driver's seat and the passenger seat. Now six recliner chairs in our small space was a bit much. Se we talked about what to do with the old recliner chairs.
We could sell them to other work campers, or maybe Don would buy them and use them as needed in the cabins. We could put them into storage except that we are unable to even get into our storage unit. It seems that it is very full. I do like to open the storage unit garage door and look at all of the stuff we have there and wonder where anything is. The answer to that thought is always, "Hell if I know." I guess we will have to get another storage unit. There is something wrong with this picture.
So, we did nothing, just sat in one of our recliners and thought and thought. After sleeping on our problem, we again broached the recliner problem. We finally admitted to each other that we had made a mistake, and since we were still in the five day grace period, we could sent the new recliner chairs back to the store. We drove to the store, explained our decision, filled out the necessary paper work, and agreed to be home on Saturday for their men to come and retrieve the chairs.
Saturday arrived, and we awaited the men. I again removed the handle used to enter and leave the coach. I moved the passenger seat back and waited. The men arrived. They looked like they had been linemen on a local football team in a former stage of their lives. One of them barely fit in our door. Backs of chairs were removed, and instead of the three of us who had brought them in, it only took the two of them to take them out, with a small bit of coaching by me on which way to turn the bottom of the chairs so that they would fit through the door.
All of a sudden our coach was back to normal. We had two fewer recliner chairs. Now we do not have to sell our old chairs, and Max can find his food dish which was hidden behind one of the chairs. We heaved a sigh, sat down, and enjoyed all of the extra room we suddenly had. Then Foxy said, "Do you want to go to the other furniture store and check out their recliners?" What could I say? The question made me think of another question you can not answer and continue to live, "Do these jeans make my ass look big?" There is no answer to that question. We went to the store, of course. Happy travels.
You never know when humor will pop up either from the human condition or a comment overheard or a clever email. I do wonder how the folks that make a living creating comic strips manage to be so clever and frequently cause one to laugh out loud. I would love to have such a talent.
Recently we tried to replace our recliner chairs with new ones that were craftsman styled. We went to San Antonio and looked in several furniture stores but did not see any that we liked. Then I went to a local store to look some more and found several we might like and later took Foxy after work to get her opinion. We discovered that the store had exactly what we wanted, and so we decided to get the pair. Several days later Gordon and I drove back to the store to pick up the chairs which turned out to be really heavy. On the way back Gordon decided that we needed to get George to help us get them into our coach.
We unwrapped the chairs, removed the backs, and lifted the bottom parts, and they would not go in until I removed the handle by the door we use to not fall either in or out of the coach when entering or departing. Then we moved the passenger seat back as far as it would go, and the three of us managed to twist and turn the bottom half, and finally it was in. The second chair followed, backs re-inserted, and we had our new recliners.
The inside of the coach looked like recliner heaven. We had the new chairs. We had the old chairs. We had the driver's seat and the passenger seat. Now six recliner chairs in our small space was a bit much. Se we talked about what to do with the old recliner chairs.
We could sell them to other work campers, or maybe Don would buy them and use them as needed in the cabins. We could put them into storage except that we are unable to even get into our storage unit. It seems that it is very full. I do like to open the storage unit garage door and look at all of the stuff we have there and wonder where anything is. The answer to that thought is always, "Hell if I know." I guess we will have to get another storage unit. There is something wrong with this picture.
So, we did nothing, just sat in one of our recliners and thought and thought. After sleeping on our problem, we again broached the recliner problem. We finally admitted to each other that we had made a mistake, and since we were still in the five day grace period, we could sent the new recliner chairs back to the store. We drove to the store, explained our decision, filled out the necessary paper work, and agreed to be home on Saturday for their men to come and retrieve the chairs.
Saturday arrived, and we awaited the men. I again removed the handle used to enter and leave the coach. I moved the passenger seat back and waited. The men arrived. They looked like they had been linemen on a local football team in a former stage of their lives. One of them barely fit in our door. Backs of chairs were removed, and instead of the three of us who had brought them in, it only took the two of them to take them out, with a small bit of coaching by me on which way to turn the bottom of the chairs so that they would fit through the door.
All of a sudden our coach was back to normal. We had two fewer recliner chairs. Now we do not have to sell our old chairs, and Max can find his food dish which was hidden behind one of the chairs. We heaved a sigh, sat down, and enjoyed all of the extra room we suddenly had. Then Foxy said, "Do you want to go to the other furniture store and check out their recliners?" What could I say? The question made me think of another question you can not answer and continue to live, "Do these jeans make my ass look big?" There is no answer to that question. We went to the store, of course. Happy travels.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Dog days of summer
I believe that we have hit the dog days of summer. When Max and I get up any time after five in the morning, we go out for his morning constitutional. He takes his time and sniffs around for the perfect place to do his business, and I get to watch the waning stars and sliver of a moon. I do notice the humidity and the fact that it is rarely in the seventies and nearly eighty degrees even at that hour. Max finishes and is glad to head back into the coach where it is cool. Even though I am not thrilled with warm days, I do realize that all too soon summer will be gone, fall here and back into winter.
Even Gracie our resident spider seems to have troubles keeping her web business going. Does it ever get too hot to be a spider? I think that this coming week I will be back to work full time and hope that I can manage in the late afternoon when it really gets hot. We need rain here as the grass begins to brown up. I guess that means that I will not have to mow so much. When we do mow, it really seems like we are mowing dirt, and we come back just covered.
Am I complaining? Not really. I am thankful to have my health and be on the recovery trail and have something to do with these dog days of summer. Happy travels.
Even Gracie our resident spider seems to have troubles keeping her web business going. Does it ever get too hot to be a spider? I think that this coming week I will be back to work full time and hope that I can manage in the late afternoon when it really gets hot. We need rain here as the grass begins to brown up. I guess that means that I will not have to mow so much. When we do mow, it really seems like we are mowing dirt, and we come back just covered.
Am I complaining? Not really. I am thankful to have my health and be on the recovery trail and have something to do with these dog days of summer. Happy travels.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Anniversary
It is our 21st wedding anniversary today. I still remember our wedding as if it was yesterday and wonder at how quickly these 21 years have flown by. It took us both a try or two to finally get it right, and now we can celebrate our wonderful years together. In the interim we have been blessed with our children getting married, although Jerry and Marlene had been married five years when we got started. The greatest blessing is that they are all still working on their marriages and enjoying their children. We now have thirteen grands, with one married and starting her own family, so we have a great grand as well. Two grands graduated from high school this year, and others are not far behind. It is quite a rollicking family and we enjoy keeping in touch often. Happy travels.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Bill and Connie visit
Bill and Connie have been work campers here off and on for several years. We got to know them quite well and were pleased when they decided to bring their coach and stay over night to go dancing at the saloon and visit their old buddies. Since they live just a few miles north of town on the way to Fredericksburg, we do get to see them on occasion. They parked next to us, and we enjoyed an evening at the saloon and were joined by Roy and Laura and Dave and Lois. The music was good if loud, and we did do a bit of dancing as well.
The next morning we cooked a late breakfast out on the grill and just relaxed and visited. Then all too soon, they packed up their rig and drove the short distance home. The friendships that are built between the work campers are one of the things that we enjoy the most.
Last night we stopped by Gordon and Diana's rig to check out their new recliner chairs for a short visit and stayed quite awhile. We will certainly miss them when they leave in September. They will have been here for a year and think it is time to move on probably to Arizona for the winter. We will have to keep in touch by e-mail. Happy travels.
The next morning we cooked a late breakfast out on the grill and just relaxed and visited. Then all too soon, they packed up their rig and drove the short distance home. The friendships that are built between the work campers are one of the things that we enjoy the most.
Last night we stopped by Gordon and Diana's rig to check out their new recliner chairs for a short visit and stayed quite awhile. We will certainly miss them when they leave in September. They will have been here for a year and think it is time to move on probably to Arizona for the winter. We will have to keep in touch by e-mail. Happy travels.
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