Sherri's Birthday Present

I have always dreamed that someday I would have my “Dream RV” and Joe and I would retire and travel all over the United States and see all the sights there are to see. We have owned many RV’s in our married life but the “Dream Trailer” has always just been out of reach until this Christmas came around.
It all started when Rodney and Becky called me and asked me if Joe and I would meet them up at Explore USA to pick up their trailer. It had been up there for some time having warranty work done on it. I asked Joe and he said yes it would be fun to go up and see their trailer and walk around the park and see what they had up there. Little did I know that I was being led instead of leading.
When we arrived there I went over to an Extreme 5 Emerald Edition that I just absolutely fell in love with as soon as I walked through the door. The colors were just what I always wanted the cabinets were the color I wanted…what luck would come along that I would walk right into the “Dream Trailer” on this day. Little did I know that I was being set up. Joe had already talked to the salesman and had given him explicit instructions to make sure I saw that trailer and that I would not leave the park without it. Well Chaze, the salesman had little trouble in convincing me that I should take the trailer. I could not have gone on line and ordered a trailer that would have had all the things that this trailer had.
It would take many pages of the journal to tell you all that we got so I will post some pictures to tell some of the story. I am so excited and I can hardly believe that it is mine. Joe has always said that we would have that “Dream Trailer” some day, but I never really believed him. OK he made me a believer!
We will still be retiring, for those that did not want us to buy a new RV for fear that we would have to postpone that date. We are still going to the “Gathering” in March and come June 1 Joe and I will be retiring and heading to Kansas City to see the G-Kids and then on to Colorado. From there who knows where we might end up.
It is hard to type this entry today because I just can’t believe that I am setting here in the new RV at this desk telling all my friends and family that my dream has come true…Somewhere in Time.

Joe will have more pictures to load latter.

Christmas Entry

My Last Christmas Vacation

Sunday

I would like to start off saying that this is a long entry and I don’t expect any of my family or friends to read it all. It is important to me that I keep each day in the journal so that I will not forget one moment in this wonderful life that the good Lord gave me.
Yes this will be the last Christmas vacation I get from Taylor Publishing Company. The next time Christmas rolls around I will be retired with no vacation. Well as I think about it I will be on permanent vacation.
Sherri and I arrived here Sunday afternoon much later than we had planned. We always try and get to where we are going well before dark so we can get set up in the day light. Well as things would have it time got away from us and when Sherri returned from Christmas shopping we did not get that early start. It was bitterly cold that evening and the ground was a little soft. As I backed in to our home base I noticed that there was a little squish to the tires. We had marked out a spot for the trailer some days before so we knew where its resting place would be. Sherri guided me in without a problem and we backed the curb side up on some boards to make it level from side to side. The front legs had to go up on some boards also due to the moist ground.
It was well after dark when we got the RV lined up and level. Sherri got the inside ready and I did my outside thing. We both agreed that we would not leave late again so as not to set up in the dark. For any of you out there that have yet to travel…make that a part of your routine…leave early enough to get where you are going well before dark.
The rest of the day/night was spent with G-Kids coming over and Jenny came over and we all visited and made Christmas plans. Kris came with the girls and he had fun taking all his toys out and scattering them all over the RV! Oh well I guess I will have to get use to this….you know Christmas brings more toys!!
Well it has been a long day and I must get some sleep if I plan on doing all that shopping with Sherri tomorrow. We have many things to pick up for Christmas dinner and last minuet gifts for the kids. I will have to tell Brice and Jodi that Poppa and Maw got a late start on the boys gift and we will mail it tomorrow.
OK this was the first day of many here at the base camp.

Monday

This morning I got up early to do my entry. I fixed the coffee and took my shower got dressed and came in here to post. I had just sat down at the computer when this little person came up to me and wanted to set in my lap. Well that was the end of the posting. Kris noticed I was not in bed with him and he got up to find me. It was 5:00 am but he was ready to get up and start his day.
Well I am posting Mondays on Tuesday…I guess it does not matter seeing as how I wont get to load this to the Web until I get back home. We are trying to see if we can get DSL out here. We have WIFI at the park we stay in and we could us it there and the DSL here when we are here. We are trying to keep down on the cost of phones.
It is raining her this morning…or should I say it is drizzling. It has been cloudy ever since I left work on Thursday. It has turned cold and sloppy and I know it is because Mother Nature knows I have time off. All my life when it came time for me to have time off to do something with the family it would rain or the wind would blow ….you know the routine. Well today is no different…we got set up last night and some of the set up I put off until this morning because it was too dark. Well now it is drizzling and I have to get out and do it. Well I have to whine about something GEE!!
Being that this is a wet nasty day it will be perfect for our shopping. Nothing I can do here so I wont mind spending the day in a store looking at groceries. Until tomorrow…

Tuesday

Ok this is Tuesday and it is still nasty outside. I hope we have a break in the cloud cover before long. I need some time to get some things done here if possible. Christmas Eve will be here tomorrow and I have many things that I wanted to work in before then…but as things would have it the weather has socked me in.
At least I have my satellite TV! If you have to set inside all day long you have to have something to do. I don’t have a good book to read…and when you have G-kids all around it would be hard to read anyway! All I can hope for is that maybe Wednesday will clear up and I can get a few things done. I don’t even know if the store will be open then or not. Time will tell…so until then I guess I will sum this day up as… just set and watch the drizzle and the TV. Where ever you are I hope it is nicer weather than this.

Wednesday

Today is Christmas Eve day and we woke up to clear blue sky. The temp today is suppose to reach the upper 50’s lower 60’s. It will be warm enough to get some things done outside. I have several projects that need to be done while I am off. I need to do them outside so this will really be good weather to do that. I hope the weather holds out until we leave here in next week. My oldest daughter and her two girls are coming today. They will stay the night with us and be here for Santa on Thursday. Jason my oldest son will be here Thursday afternoon. He and Susan will be visiting her parents Christmas morning and spend the rest of the day with us. Our youngest son, Brice and his wife Jodi, live in Kansas City and they will not be here this Christmas. We will miss seeing them but next year when we retire I hope to spend some time with them.
Well I went and got some material to finish out my shop in the barn…that is one of my projects. I will start on that the day after Christmas. I got that all stored in the barn and started boiling chicken for gumbo. When that was done Sherri had me start the sausage. It wont be long now and we will have some good eats ready.
Tonight will just be spent setting around visiting and trying to get the kids to go to bed so we can let Santa in to deliver the presents. I hope they have the satellite tracking of Santa again this year. This helps the kids get to bed when they see that he is just around the corner.
That is all I have to report today. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Thursday

Happy Birthday Sherri…and Merry Christmas to all. Christmas has arrived and we are having so much fun here in East Texas. Janet and her two girls arrived yesterday and only Janet stayed the night with us. The other girls stayed with their cousins in the “Main House” Like Jenny J we live in the outhouse. By the way Jenny called Sherri and I. It was so sweet of her to call and wish us a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Jenny thank you so much for that. Also got a call from Mark and Dortha wishing us a good holiday. They also wanted to know what our plans are.
Janet woke me up this morning wanting to know if she could take her shower. It kind of shocked me because I am not use to having house guest. I showed her where the towels were and I turned the coffee pot back on and went right back to bed. I could not go back to sleep, however because I knew Santa had come and left all those toys. I wanted to get dress and go see what I had got. Kris also stayed at our house and we wanted him to wake up and take him in to see the toys.
Kris woke up and we got dressed and headed over to the house. Santa had left so many gifts. The tree was surrounded with presents and toys and all the kids were so happy. I think everyone got what they wanted.
Sherri got her Christmas and birthday present wrapped into one gift. I think she got what she has always dreamed of this year. I will let her tell you about it later when she has time.
We all ate good food and played with the Wii game that the kids got. All us big folks had fun with the bowling game. We all stayed up until almost twelve midnight playing the game and I lost every game and had so much fun doing that.

Friday

Woke up this morning with the sun shinning brightly. Made the coffee and snuck in a post before the troops get up. The temp this morning is really on the warm side?? The weather man says this is a sign that bad weather is on the way.
Today is the day that I start working on the shop. I am building a wall in the middle of the barn to separate Sherri’s half from mine. I have so much saw dust going on all the time and she does not want it coming on to her side. OK so the wall is going up today. I have the wiring already installed and the wall framed so all that is left is for me to put up the plywood on the wall. Her side will be insulated and kept clean while my side will not.
I will give you an up date on this later…must get to work.

Saturday

Bad weather is on the way. They say it should be here by 12: 00 noon and the sky is showing some darkness now. Sherri and Jennifer are planning a shopping trip to pick up some bargains left by the crowds. The news yesterday was saying that sales are down 8% from last year and last year was down too. Not too good for the retail stores all over. I don’t look for the economy to rebound here real soon. I sure need to get out on the road before the gas prices rebound.
I will have Kris today so I guess it will be a busy day for me. Frank has the other kids so he too will have his hands full. Oh well they will return home sometime this afternoon and I will retreat to my workshop for some needed rest.
Kris and I had a good time watching TV and playing with his new train set. The girls did make it home and I did retreat out to the shop…no rest though I have so many projects going on out there and resting is not one of them. More tomorrow.

Sunday

This morning started off cloudy and a little chilly. I got up and made coffee and Sherri stayed in bed with Kris. Yes he stayed over again. He loves to stay with us and you can’t say no. Soon after the coffee was ready Sherri snuck out and joined me for our quite time…which does not last long with our short boarder. We laid out the plan for the day. Sherri was going to get her side of the barn straightened out and I was going to work on the drawers for the kitchen cabinet.
It was not too long and our little buddy got up and all the plan making stopped. We all got dressed and got to work on our plans. One of the plans was to take Kris over to his house and that was the first thing that we accomplished so that we could get everything else done.
I did get the drawers finished and tomorrow I will start on the other cabinet. Sherri got some done in the barn but had to stop and work on the desk in the RV. We had mail stacked up we have not read yet. She had to go through all of it and try to eliminate some of the stack. We still have some left to do but then when you only get your mail once every two weeks it does take time to do this.
Well we will finish out this day with a little TV and some snacks. See you all tomorrow.

Monday

It got cold last night and I could hear the heater come on every now and again. After several times of waking up I noticed that it was getting too hot. I went and checked the heat and it was on 72 which is way to warm for Sherri and I so I turned it down and all was well the rest of the night.
I woke up about 6:00 and went in and made the coffee and sat down at the computer as I do most every morning. My fingers went right to work …I have to go fast due to the fact that my little buddy gets up pretty early and if he sees I am up he comes and finds me…then the journal entry comes to and end.
Sherri has to go out to Becky and Rodney’s to file her expense report on line so I will have a chance to post all my Christmas entry. They have DSL out there and we will borrow it for today and get all our on line stuff done.
June and Jim are coming out tomorrow…they wanted to visit with us before the head up north to Aubrey to see there two oldest girls. We spoke with them this morning and gave them the directions out here. We are anxious for them to arrive. We have a lot to go over since we last saw them in Galveston.
Mark and Dortha Sherri and I are headed somewhere tomorrow afternoon. We have not decided yet where we are headed but we will let you know. I hope that I have WIFI where ever we end up.
OK that is it for now I have some pictures to share

Another Day With Friends

This morning we woke up to much warmer temperatures here. We did not need the fireplace nor the heat in the bathroom and certainly not the furnace. Hey what more could you ask for? I heard that more of the Al Gore Warming was coming and we would be using all the heat at our disposal to stay warm....but until then I am going to enjoy this.

Sherri had some more shopping to do today and I had my TV project so we got on up and got the coffee started...in our new Cuisinart coffee maker...which by the way is working just fine. We sat in front of the fireplace for just a short while and discussed our move to Wills Point. We will be staying there for two weeks so we had to be sure we had a list of groceries and all the fixens for Christmas dinner.

With that taken care of it was time to get our showers and ready ourselves for the day. Part of the days plan was to meet some of the Dreamers up in Oklahoma at the Windstar Casino for some lunch and gambling. Well maybe not gambling...but some serious game playing. It sounds so wasteful to say I gamble...when in fact I play video games that cost money and in some cases pay me to play them. Now doesn't that sound less devilish?? LOL Anyway back on subject...we are to meet Dortha and Mark and Ellie and Jim at 2:00 for late lunch and then spend the rest of the day just having fun.

Sherri finished getting ready and headed out to the mall and I started my TV project. Man getting that thing changed out is no easy task. All the wires that have to go to those things is mind boggling! In here...out there...audio...vidio GEEEE OK stay calm and do it right. Viola about 1 1/2 hours later I had here done and working...yes...working. I am absolutely amazed at myself for getting it back on the wall and W O R K I N G...lets hear it for Speedy.

Sherri returned around 12:30 and we got our selves together and headed to Oklahoma. I had to stop along the way and pick me up an extension cord for the RV. That did not take long and we were back on the road when the phone rang. It was Dortha and she reported to Sherri that the guys...Jim and Mark were starving to death. They were about at the casino and were going to go ahead and eat. We were about 30 minutes away so she told them not to wait that we would be there shortly and then we would eat and visit.

As things turned out we did have a wonderful visit while Sherri and I stuffed our faces and Jim and Mark ate deserts. Dortha and Ellie are on WW and they are looking soooo good. They have lost a lot of weight. Jim and Mark well they are doing just fine...LOL Like me they are healthy looking. Sherri and I really need to lose some pounds but we are going to wait until we both retire and get a routine down that will allow us to stay on a good eating plan. It is hard when you both work and you are trying to eat right. Sherri eats out a lot when she is out of town working and I have to do for myself here so dieting is not something we can do and do right at this time. But stand back we will be looking good when we hit the road!

Jenny told me if I did not get any pictures that she was going to fire me so I did get some as we were all leaving the casino. When we got outside the temps had dropped 20 degrees and you talk about cold!!! My gosh it was C O L D and the wind....OHHH. Anyway I did get some hurried shots off before my hand froze to the camera.

Ellie is screaming... "Speedy hurry up I need to get in the car"!!!

Dortha is in the back seat of our truck shopping for doll clothes. I know it is a long story and I will

let her tell it.

Mark waits patiently in his Jeep while Dortha shops. It was just too cold to get out and pose for pictures...sorry everyone. We did have a fun time and Sherri and I can't wait until we get to do this on a regular basis without having to go back to work at the end of the day.

At lunch Ellie presented Sherri and I with a Christmas gift she had purchased while on Mackinac

Island. Ellie thank you so much...you remembered that I wanted some. Sherri and I will enjoy this for some time to come....

Somewhere in Time

A Perfectly Goode Day

This morning the light coming in the window was just enough to make me open an eye. Being that the sun light was coming in the window was all it took for me to realize that it was late. Could I have slept this late?? Oh yes and it sure felt good. I am feeling better because I slept the whole night through without waking up coughing.

Yesterday Sherri and I went out and bought us a new coffee maker. Ours would brew but it would not keep the coffee hot. We found a Cuisinart on sale at Macy's and it was just what we wanted. While we were there Sherri found her some new dishes that she could not live without. GEE what is she going to do when we get on a fixed income which believe me is not going to be anywhere near what I make now? It will be a tough first year for her...any suggestions on withdrawal programs?

Yesterday morning was a real great adventure for the both of us. We got to meet Debbie and Bill Goode at Cracker Barrel in Garland Texas. We arrived a little ahead of them but did not have to wait long. We started off with handshakes and hugs and were taken to our table promptly. We immediately started our visit ordered coffee and forgot all about ordering food. Finally our waitress asked if we would be eating and we said yes but we had not even looked at the menu! What a great time it was getting to know each other again after such a long absence. I guess that is one of the many wonderful things about this life style is getting to acquire so many friends that like the same things that you do. Another thing is knowing that the good Lord willing we will all meet again down the road with new stories to tell. Thanks Bill and Debbie for sharing your time with us...we enjoyed it so much. Oh I can't forget thanks for buying our breakfast...we owe you one so... don't forget.

Sherri is heading out this morning to go and do her last minute shopping for some of the G-Kids. I think she has one or two left and then she will be done. While she is gone I will be installing the new TV in the living room and trying to get the satellite hooked up and running. Please wish me luck...you all know my luck with electronics. I wont have my kids here to get everything hooked up so this will be a real adventure. I will let you know how it all went in my next entry.

Also today we are meeting Dortha and Mark Jim and Ellie in Oklahoma at the Windstar Casino for some button pushing excitement. Ellie said she is not going to gamble but just set and watch me play my penny machines. You would be surprised at the people that have stopped and looked over my shoulder to see me playing one line one penny at a time. "Sir, did you know that you are only playing one line"? "Yes", I will tell them and about that time I win $2.00 and the hands go in the air and I am filled with excitement!! More people come over to see what I have won and then walk away shaking their heads in disbelief...LOL Hey it does not take much to make Speedy happy.

OK I have to get ready to start my project. I need to drink one more cup of coffee from my new coffee maker and then get dressed and get this day started.

Thanks again to Bill and Debbie for such a wonderful morning. I can't wait for our next meeting...

Somewhere in Time

The Start of a Fun Weekend with Friends

Good morning to all my readers. This is suppose to be a real nice day with warm temperatures and clear sky. Sherri and I are going to Mesquite Texas to meet the Goodes for breakfast and swap stories. Well we are going to get caught up on all that has gone on in our lives since our last meeting in Branson at the RV-Dreams Rally. It seems just like yesterday but it has been almost seven months. I think we will wait for the morning NASCAR crowd to get to work and then we will head out that way. We live on the North side of Dallas in Carrollton/Coppell area and they are located on the East side in the Mesquite/Forney area. It takes about 30 minutes to get over there if the traffic is not too bad. We are excited about meeting up with them and find out where they have been and where they are going. Then we can keep up with them on their Journal and travel right along with them. It will be a while for us to have any stories of travels to write about...but the good Lord willing we will have some good ones. Saturday we will meet Dortha and Mark...Jim and Ellie in Oklahoma at the Windstar Casino for some real fun. I invited the Goodes to come along with us if they can...so we should have some real good adventures to write about this weekend. Sherri and I play the slots and really don't spend that much money when we do. We don't have much to spend there but we make it stretch for many hours of exciting button pushing. I take $5.00 to $10.00 with me and that last me all day long. I usually play on the penny machines and betting one penny at a time takes awhile to go through that much money. OK today's plan is to meet the Goodes for breakfast and then head to Wills Point to finish getting our place ready to take the home on wheels up there. We are planning on staying for two weeks during the Christmas Holidays and then we will return here so we can both go back to you know what. Let me see when we get back I will have 6 months left before I retire. Gosh if it goes as fast as this last 6 months it wont be anytime! I guess I better get my coffee and get ready to head out of hear. Sherri is still in bed so I need to get her up so she will have plenty of time to get ready. We will miss you until the next time we visit... Somewhere in Time

Last Day Before Christmas Vacation

Hello to all my friends and family out there in cyberspace. It is getting closer to Christmas and Santa will be here soon. Not only is it our Lords birthday but it would be my wonderful wife's as well. She will be 29 years this coming Christmas day...yes I stole her right out of the cradle. I guess that makes me retiring rather young...but when you are fantasizing why not go all the way??

I hope that this Christmas season finds everyone where they want to be and spending time with the ones that they love. Christmas to me is having the family together and having fun and looking back over the last year and laughing about all the good times and forgetting about all the bad times. For the little ones it is Santa coming and leaving gifts under the tree. I remember as a small child not wanting to go to sleep Christmas eve because of the anticipation of Santa coming and hoping that he got my list of things that I wanted. Now that Sherri and I have all the G-Kids we look forward to seeing them come down the hallway wide eyed and trying to hold back the excitement in their hearts. Yes this is the season to be jolly.

I remember a Christmas that was not too jolly many years ago when I was overseas and far away from my family. That was a hard time for me and I guess those loved ones back in the World had a hard time missing me. I think about all our soldiers away from home and the hardships that they have to put up with and I pray to God that he watches over them and protects them from harm.

Well this morning I return to work and Sherri heads off to Longview to her luncheon. I hope the day passes quickly and that we both can return home safe and sound. If you are on the road this day and heading to a Christmas destination...Sherri and I both wish you a safe journey. I guess I best get ready for that NASCAR drive to work. This being the last day of work for many people I know that the roads will be busy and I will have to watch out for those drivers with a death wish.

Until the next meeting I wish you all a wonderful day....

Somewhere in Time

Disconnected and Sick

Thanks Dortha...you got the word out that Speedy was still among the living....how much....well the jury is still out. Sherri and I had made plans to meet up with the Goodes in Mesquite Texas this week. Well the weather got bad I got sick and my DSL went South. What more could a guy ask for. But alas all is coming back together. The weather...still iffy...but the DSL is back on track and I am feeling better tonight. I just got off the phone with Debbie Goode and told her my plight...we are planning on getting together this Friday...good Lord willing...LOL Debbie.

Sherri and I have been doing little of nothing these past days I have been off line and feeling like I was beat with a well rope. I hate getting sick and especially during cold and wet weather. It seems like it intensifies the ill feeling when the sky's are grey and the North wind is blowing down the back of your jacket. I will have to say that my doctoring has made headway to wellness these past days. I hope to return to work tomorrow. What did I just say??? I hope to return to work! I must have had a moment there. I can not imagine that I would hope for such a thing...but I did. Please forgive me for that I will have to start thinking before I type such balderdash!

Sherri is off this week...except for a luncheon in Longview Texas. Her group is meeting there for lunch at the Olive Garden. She is looking forward to that. I guess I will return to work tomorrow and then Sherri and I plan on leaving for Wills Point Friday to do some work on our place up there. On the way we plan on stopping by and visiting with the Goodes. They are located just off Interstate 20 outside of Mesquite. We are looking forward to catching up on all the news and travels they have....us...well we have no travels so our news is not that great.

It is so good to be back on line and able to post. I was so lost without my computer. What is really sad is with me being sick the whole time I don't have that much to tell you. I had promised my sister that I would email her my Web Page and that same day my DSL went out so Jimmie I will email you tonight. Sorry for the delay but when you get it I expect you to read all the post past and present from now on. LOL.

OK my dear friends and family. I must head out at this time so I can get on chat and tell eveyone hello. I will return...

Somewhere in Time

Saturday Morning Projects

Sherri had a hard time sleeping last night...I guess it was all the shopping she did yesterday. She is the only person I know that can shop for a set of sheets...look for just the right set for an hour and get up to the register and change her mind about getting them.

OK I have people tell me...including Sherri that they don't like my picture that I have been using on the Journal sooooo Here is a new one that I will be using for a while until my bride can come up with a better one. This is the home place that we have squatted on for the past two years and will probably call home for another 6 or 7 months. I hope that this is OK...like I said Sherri is looking for a better lead picture.

This morning we are drinking our coffee....I am posting and Sherri is shopping on the computer for a desk top computer. We have a nice desk area in our home and we need a good desk computer for it. They are soooo cheap now!!! Good grief you can get a desk top with all the works for $400 and that is everything! Anyway we are going to go out this morning and look around before the crowds get out. If you are looking to get some good buys on electronics now is the time to head out there.

We talked to Debbie Goode and we are planning on meeting up with them this week. We thought that we might get together this weekend but I have to get some projects done before the bad weather sets in here on Monday morning. They are calling for colder and wetter weather come Monday. I have so much outside things to get done and so little time to get it done in. Debbie if you happen to read my post today...I will be calling you as soon as we find out what Sherri's work schedule is like next week. I hope that you will be able to hang around until then???

Debbie said that she will be heading to New Mexico and Arizona soon. They will not be here for the "Gathering" in Kerrville so we really want to meet up with them and visit before they head out. It is so great to meet up with all our Dreamer Friends that pass through here.

OK I have rambled enough this morning and I know that you are begging for more but I really do have to get ready to go out with Sherri and get some needed supplies for our projects. I will join back up with you soon...

Somewhere in Time

Friday Morning and No Work Today

YEEE HAAAA....I am off today!! I woke up this morning and realized that it was Friday and I did not have to work today. I did get up make coffee and turn the heat on in the house on wheels so that it would be warm when I did have to get up. It is 38 degrees this morning but it is sooo cozy here inside. I went back to bed and caught me about 30 more minutes of sleep and then one eye opened and then the other and then Sherri got up and she got her coffee and I followed suit.

Now this is the way you should live every day. just get up when you want to and not have to worry about a schedule. I could do this without any problem. I think I will real soon.

I have to run some errands this morning and then we have to go to the store. When we get that done it will be a day of projects here at the 5th wheel as soon as the weather warms up. I have to rearrange the bay and clean it out. We have so much stuff inside the RV that we have not used in two years that really needs to go to he barn in Wills Point. We will stack it in the back of the truck and that will be another trip that we will have to make.

It takes time to get all the stuff whittled down to just the needed things. You start out thinking that you need all this stuff and the longer you live in the RV the more you see that you don't need it after all. Then you weed that out and it goes away and you start over and do it again. We should end up with about 500 lbs of stuff when we get all done in 10 years.

Well I'm setting here in my Captain America sleeping shorts drinking coffee and posting this on my journal. Probably should go take my shower and get some working clothes on so I can start these projects....maybe I will wait until it gets warmer??? or....well I'll get back with you...

Somewhere in Time

A Night In Wills Point

I made it back to work this morning with out a hitch. I had to go to Wills Point after work yesterday and drop off some things and pick up some things...one of them being Sherri. Yes she is home again and I am at work and life is good.

We had our Christmas lunch here at work yesterday and it turned out real nice. We went off sight to a place that host big parties and company functions. At one time we had a large cafeteria here in the plant but over time we faded it out and turned the space into production area. So now when we have a big get together we have to go outside.

It really got cold last night. When I got up this morning it was 27 in the country. Driving back into Dallas the temps got warmer but they still were in the low 30's. I was afraid that our water might have frozen at the RV but Lucky it did not. Sherri called me and said that the 5th wheel was like a tomb inside. I had only left one of the heaters going and did not have the furnace on. Oh well it is suppose to warm up today into the 60's so we should be OK. It will be nice when we can leave these cold temps and go where the weather is warmer.

I have a real busy weekend coming up. I have to get some things done around the RV and this might be the last warm weekend we have for some time. Many outside projects that need to be completed and with the warmer weather I can get them done.

That is about all that I have to report this morning. I guess I better get to work and do something...even if it is wrong. I will see you later...

Somewhere in Time

One of my readers commented that she (Dee) never thought of getting on the road to work was like a NASCAR driver leaving the pits and heading back on the track in a race. All you have to do is leave here with me in the morning and enter I35 south and see how it is. At least on the track you have the approach that cars can enter and exit for the pits.....not on the interstate....it is like trying to pass the lead car in a tight race. They see you about to get on the highway and they speed up so they can hold their position in the pack and not let you take it. If by chance you get on before they can block you they work and work to get around you and regain their place at all cost. I have had them race around me and slide in front of me at break neck speeds only to slam their brakes on so as not to hit the car in front of them. Go figure. All the way in is the same thing racing to see who can be first. Funniest thing is we all have a different finish line so no one really wins?

OK thanks Dee for pointing that out. If any of my readers don't have to use the Interstate to get to work...they are missing a real thrill in life...which brings me to another close here. I know this was not much of an adventure today but if you feel a let down just take the Interstate to work today and you should be OK.

I am sure we will meet again here ...

Somewhere in Time

Here it is Tuesday morning and I am up dressed coffee in hand and posting to my journal...like I have a lot to tell you from yesterday. With Sherri gone and me all alone...working...driving home...chatting...well that about winds it up for today's post friends and family. I know it really does not do it justice to have such a boring life and then write everyone and tell them about it...but I do not have much more to offer today. For the most part two years from now on this date I can look back and see what I did. Wow...I hope two years from now I have more to do than just see what I was doing now?? OK you will just have to bear with me on my boring life because I am going to write about it, if for no other reason just to give me something to do when I am all alone.

Sherri is in Canton this week and they are setting up a new store there. This is a brand new store and she says it is a lot harder to do than a re-set? I would not know the difference. She is ready to come home though and I am ready for her to be here. She is making good money and I really think she enjoys getting away every once in a while but then after she is away she really likes coming home. I use to stay on the road when I worked for Jim Walter Homes in NC. I spent 6 days on the road and maybe a full Sunday at home. That was not a life. The money was good but believe me my home life sucked. All I had time to do was mow the lawn and pack a bag to leave again. No I could not take that any longer and had to check it to them after two years.

Then we moved back to Wills Point and finished raising our kids in a small town with values and good school system that still spanked and had prayer in the mornings. My kids got good educations and went on in life to be productive adults without any hangups and one of the greatest things is they did not do drugs!! Now days if you can get through school without being exposed to drugs you have really been lucky. I guess everything always works out for the best. I always tell Sherri that if I had it all to do over again I would not change one thing. The one little thing in your life that you change would change soooo many other things that you might miss out on one of the best times of your life....No wouldn't change a thing.

Look here I have finished another post to the journal and found something to say. I guess Sherri is right I always have something to say. HEE HEE Well I guess I better get my lunch together and find my keys so I can join in the parade to the work place. I have to jump out there like coming out of the Pits at Indy and get into the pack... NASCAR mentality on the road to work...surely not all those people are in that big of a hurry to get to their jobs!? GEEE that does not make any sense at all.

My dear friends and family until the next time I bid you farewell...and I will join you again...

Somewhere in Time

Moanday Moaning

OHHHHHH I could not get up on the first call from the alarm this moaning. I just had to lay there just a little while longer. After all these years I get down to the last few months of working and it gets harder and harder to get going in the moaning...Moaning is the better word for this.

I dropped Sherri off last night at Randy's house. For those of you new to this journal, Sherri works for her brother, Randy and he takes her to all the towns they have to work in. She is doing merchandising resets for stores. Any...who I dropped her off there and we ate dinner with Randy and Nina and then I headed back to the RV for some chat time.

I had not been on chat for some time so I have gotten behind in new members to the chat room. Dee always fusses at me when I get behind and ends up sending me the updated list of new chatters. Now I would have loved to have Dee for my secretary but now it is too late. She is getting ready to hit the road and so am I. Now that I think about it we would have never got anything done with all the RV planning going on all the time.

Today I have to take off at lunch and go to the bank and do some business and then I have to call about my converter and see about getting money back on the second one they have had to replace. I will keep you updated on that. You know I think sometimes this RV'ing has a lot of work to it and then I think back about all the things that I had to do to keep my home going and I am content once more with the little bit that I have to do to.

Well I better sew this one up and head on into work. I hear the traffic getting heavy out there and I better edge into those lanes with all the other work zombies. I will join you later....

Somewhere in Time

Haircut Day and Clean the RV

Today is Sunday the 7th...Pearl Harbor day. I have an old newspaper dated December the 8th with the headline about the bombing. My uncle who was in Pearl Harbor sent it to may Dad as a keep sake. I don't know if it is worth any money but I would not sell it even if it was. I will give it to my kids when I depart this place in time. Seems like we try to forget 911...they will not show it on TV for fear that we will build up hate for those that did that to us. We should not build up hate for anyone but we should not forget what happened to all those Americans that lost their lives at the hands of fanatics. We need to remember that and make sure that it never happens again. This world is full of fanatics that believe only they have the right to be here. As long as we remember that we can guard against them ever bringing harm to us again.

Thanks to all the veterans that have served this great country and may God bless them all and may those that died in our service have sweet rest in the arms of our Lord.

OK today is haircut day and I got to set on the stool in the kitchen while my sweet wife so tenderly cut my hair. I now look like I might pass as a member of the human race again. My hair grows so fast that you can hear it! Sherri has said many times that I must have had some wild animals in the family tree?? Who knows...could have been...I will have to look into that.

We are cleaning today besides cutting hair. We have to get the RV dusted and scrubbed down while the weather is nice. Yes, it is in the 70's today so we can open the windows and let some sunshine in and fresh air. Days like this are so nice this time of year.

Yesterday we went to Explore America to meet Rodney and Becky. They were picking up their RV after being serviced. It had been there for 6 weeks. They have a backlog of repairs and that is as fast as they could get to it. Anyway we got their trailer checked out and before they pulled it out we went into Denton Texas and had lunch at The Old West Cafe just off interstate 35. We had the chicken fried steak and chicken. The plates were full and we had to take most of it home in a to go box. I think I will have mine today for lunch.

Well Sherri is in the shower cleaning and getting ready to re-caulk the base. I guess I better cut out of here and give the appearance that I am helping .....

Somewhere in Time

A Real Work Day

Yes....I am really working today. I had to go out and do some repairs on the 8 color press. Geee it is a long way up and down the steps on those presses! I was fixing some keepers on the ink fountain box and had to go back and forth to the shop to get the parts made. By the time I got through this old man was worn out. Now I am setting at my desk with non Maintenance problems being shot in my directions. Sometimes I say to myself...."you're really going to miss doing this job"... and then a day like today comes along and I say, "No way".

Sherri comes home tonight and I am glad! I think we will go out to eat and then go home and relax...maybe watch some TV and then go to bed early so we can get up early. We have to take the RV into Funtime RV in Denton in the morning to have them look at our converter. It stopped charging the batteries last week for what ever the reason. Always something...good that it is under warranty. Our refrigerator will not work while the batteries wont charge. If we do not have charged up batteries the fridge wont come on and stay on. So this week I have had a ice chest on the front porch with all my goodies in it. It will be nice to have my Refrigerator back on .

OK back on subject... we have to pack up and pull out for a 10:00 am appointment in the morning. I plan on leaving it there and heading up to the Windstar and do a little low stakes gambling while they work on it. I have to slip some pennies in those slots so I can make me another $5.00. Last time we were up there Sherri won $111.00 and I won $5.00 not bad for playing games! Oh well we will head up there and hopefully they will have my RV fixed by the time I get back. The proof will be in the pudding and I will post the results of the repairs and the casino run tomorrow.

Last night on the chat we were talking about the coast and the RV Parks down there and the prices that everyone was paying. Seems to me like they have some good deals down there at $250.00 a month + electric @ $.13 a KWH. I think that might be on my short list for winter time get aways. I love the beach early in the morning with a sunrise and a cup of coffee. We use to spend a week or so in Galveston on the beach in October. That was a great time to enjoy the Gulf. Temps are not too bad and there are fewer tourist to deal with. Yes I think we will have to give this area some thought.

Deb and Sandra are down there now and they said they are getting some good prices on rents and the rates are the winter rates....soooo that is not bad. I am not sure on making reservations and I am not real sure how much advanced notice you need to give them in order to secure a spot for January. I don't want to commit too far in advance for fear that I might change my plans later?? I guess as long as I give them 30 days notice to cancel I should be OK.

Being the Poor Boy I am I have to have somewhere to go that leaves me enough money to eat on after I pay my rent! I believe there is a lot of things to see and do in that area to keep me entertained on my small budget and I would hope that I could find a Dreamer down there to share my porch with me occasionally. This will be in January and February of 2010. That seems like a long way off but I will be in Colorado in June July and August of 2009 and in the Hill Country in September and part of October and then back to the home base in October November and December.

Now you know that all these plans are in the same Jello that Ellie and Jim make their plans in so it could all change....

Somewhere in Time

Still Catching Up

Thanksgiving Day and we were on our way to Dallas around 10:30 am. We were going to meet Jason and Susan at Maggiano's for Thanksgiving lunch. When we got to Mesquite we usually take LBJ that skirts the north side of town but it has been under construction for so long we decided to keep going and take Highway 75 north out of downtown Dallas and meet back up with LBJ further past the construction. We thought that this might take longer but we had compensated by leaving earlier in the morning. We breezed right on in to town without too much delay and before we knew it we were heading West on LBJ and back north on the toll road. From there it was not too far to the restaurant and we were parked with about 45 min. to spare.

It was really nice weather so we sat in the truck with the windows down and enjoyed watching all the people coming into the parking lot. Some were dressed up and some looked like they had just crawled out from under a car. So much for dressing up. Sherri, of course had me put on my finest...which by the way is not all that fine...you put a suit on a toad frog and he is still a toad frog. Anyway she was happy with the way her toad frog looked and that is what is important.

Jason and Susan showed up about the time we decided to walk up to the front of the building. Hugs were exchanged and we went inside to confirm our reservations. When we got inside it was like they open the gate and all these people started coming in and pretty soon it was crowded. We did not have to wait too long for our table which was good because Mr frog was getting hungry and his web feet were starting to hurt somewhat.

We got to out table and we all ordered different dishes so we could all try out each others. I had the turkey and dressing and we had ham squash corn spinach....and did I say how good it was? I had way too much and if that was not enough we ordered desert....Oh I hurt when I think about all the food that we consumed.

We had such a nice visit with the kids. We did not have a whole lot of time due to the fact that they also had to drive to Bonham Texas to be with Susan's parents for yet another round of food. It was so nice of them to invite us to eat and Sherri and I love the time that we got to spend with them both. All year long we all have such busy schedules and we do not get to visit with each other and when we have the chance to see them it is special for us. We love you guys and thank you so much for taking the time to spend with us. Oh and also thanks for paying for it!




Maggiano's is located in North Dallas and they have a real good Thanksgiving meal each year.

Sherri and I were really excited that we got to spend some time with Jason and Susan. I hope that we can get together again...maybe Christmas???

Jason was kind enough to take pitty on Mom and Pop and Wrestle the check from my shaking hand. Next meal will be on us....

Somewhere in Time

Thanksgiving

I have been so neglectful about posting!!! I am sooo sorry for not being better at getting this done each day. I try so hard to get my time worked out so I can set down and type out my entry but it seems like the harder I try the behinder I get. I have so much to tell you all... now that I am a week behind and it takes so long to catch up. I know you are all on pins and needles to hear about my great adventure. Some of you...I am sure... have lost sleep over the fact that I have not posted and to you I apologize. TEE HEE.

OK nuff said I must get down to the facts. As the facts would have it we had a great time with the kids and Thanksgiving dinner was the best! For those of you who did not know we had Thanksgiving dinner with Jason and Susan in Dallas at a restaurant...that story tomorrow. We had our other Thanksgiving dinner with Jennifer and Frank in Wills Point and the g-kids were there to help eat all the fine food Sherri and Jennifer prepared. My favorite part of the Thanksgiving dinner is the turkey sandwiches afterwards! I like the dark meat and lots of mayonnaise a big pickle potato chips and a large glass of milk. I think I have reached heaven at this point!

Sherri did the dressing and it was to die for. Along with that we had corn green beans potato salad cranberry and fruit salad! Ask me if I ate it all....OH yes I did and I hurt afterwards too. Sherri made some pies and with that we had ice cream and then I slipped back into the recliner and that was the last thing I remembered until I was awaken by the g-kids arguing over what to watch on TV...I settled that argument....we watched the football game. Now all is well in Wills Point.

Now this was actually the week before Thanksgiving. Because we try to spend time with all our children we have to have Thanksgiving several times and Christmas the same way. This gives them an opportunity to spend time with the in-laws and there is not the pulling back and forth of all the kids. It works best for all. Because my in-laws and my parents lived next door and behind us we did not have this problem. We had one Christmas and one Thanksgiving...but no more.

Also in the same week we had some visitors to our part of the State. Mark and Dortha Jim and Ellie and Weldon and Sandy came to Canton and we all met for linner at Juanita's Mexican Restaurant on Interstate 20.

If you are ever in Canton or passing through you might give this place a try. They have good food and the service is not too bad. Also free ice cream after your meal.

This is the gang waiting on our order to arrive. Jim and Ellie Mark and Dortha Sandy and Weldon in the back on the same side and my bride across from them...I am manning the camera I guess you know that. Mark and Jim are camera shy or maybe they are in the Witness Protection Program? At any rate we had a real good meal and lots of fun.

We returned to Mark and Dortha's new home for some drinks and more time to visit with one another. Sherri and Jim are pictured above and it appears Sherri is giving me the "EYE" what did I do, says Joe. Maybe Jim told her some kind of story about me?? Looks like it amused him whatever it was.

Mark and Ellie were deep into trying to fix the Direct TV. I think Mark was having trouble getting the local channels out of the Dallas Ft Worth area. Nice picture of the new digs Dortha.

Looking back toward the front of the MH Sandy and Weldon are seated enjoying the conversation. They are vendors at First Monday Trade Days...as were Mark and Dortha and Sherri and I for years. We all left last year and Sandy and Weldon are still there selling their goods. We enjoyed our visit with all