We had a good reunion

 

Gosh... I can't believe it was a year ago we had the second annual Turner family reunion. Here it is again and we were up early to get our pork ribs in the oven. Sherri had the marinade ready and we put the ribs in to soak for some time.

We got our coffee and went outside to set and enjoy the cool temps. It has been cool here in the morning this month but we know that right around the corner will be June...July and August and the temps will soar into the upper 90's and 100's. We will enjoy the outside while we can.

Sherri popped the ribs in the convection oven and we once again went outside to relax. While outside I got the grill ready to give the ribs their last basting and blacken the meat a little.

We went down and visited with Rodney and Becky for a while. The conversation turned to retirement and when and where we would be going. That time is not too far off now and we get excited when we start thinking about it. We are making plans now so we will have some idea which way we will be headed when we take off.

I looked down at the time and noticed it was time to take the ribs out and place them on the grill outside. We said our good-byes and see-ya-later to Rodney and Becky...headed to the RV and finished up the ribs for the reunion.

We planned on getting there about 11:00 but as usual we procrastinated long enough to arrive well after that time. Everyone was there when we backed down into the yard. We have the reunion at Beth and Jeff's property in Myrtle Springs. We have been lucky for the last three years to have good weather. We set up under the giant oak trees adjacent to their home. Many of the family bring large fans to keep the air moving and in turn keep the fly's running for cover.

 

The day went by with many stories and good food. The kids fished the pond down from the picnic area. They caught some fish which are all catch and release. Laughter was not in short order this day. We all had so much fun and when it was time to say our good-byes we left with anticipation of next years gathering...

Somewhere in Time 

Working without a belt is not good

 

This is Tuesday and Sherri and I are crawling out of bed...yes crawling! We have not really had a break since last week working in east Texas. We went right from there to lawn mowing and clothes washing and then up to Bonham to a wedding shower. We had forgot to set the alarm and by some miraculous happening we both woke up in time to get ready for work. I made coffee and then took my shower...dressed and turned the bathroom over to Sherri.

We both had some coffee and did get to visit a while before we had to hop in the truck and take off. The ride into town did not take that long and before we knew it we were setting in front of the store. Not wanting to go it yet we sat outside and waited for some of the other members of the team to show up. Not too much time passed when some of the folks started showing up in the lot.

We got our work cases and headed up to the store to start work. It was at that point that I noticed that I had forgotten to put my belt on. Now this is not good...you see I don't have hips or a butt to hold up my jeans so if I don't have a belt on gravity is my worst enemy! Sure enough it was not too far into working that I noticed my britches heading to the floor causing me to pull and tug constantly to keep them from going all the way to the floor.
At one point I knelt down on my knee pads to get to the bottom shelf and felt my pants drop somewhat! There I was on my knees trying to pull my pants up...which by this time were down around my knees. Kneeling on my pads I could not budge the pants so I had to stand up and then pull them up. I was sooo lucky that no one was coming down the aisle at that time or I would have given them a good show!

OK that did it...it was time to head across the street to get me a belt. Problem with that was as I walked my pants slid down with every step. So across the street I headed one hand grasping my pants and looking like a young kid with HO Daddy Pants on. The lyrics to that song came to my mind "Looking like a fool with your pants on the ground"...Or in this case my pants.

Found me a belt and the sales clerk asked me if I wanted it in a bag. I told her that I would have to put it on right here so I could walk across the street without losing my pants! So went my day...my pants stayed up and I was able to finish out my shift without dropping my drawers.

We all went out to eat that evening at an Italian restaurant and had a good time. After dinner we headed to the house and arrived just in time for some ice cream and to watch a recorded show. Then it was time for us to head to the shower and then to bed.

I hope that everyone out there is having a good time and wish you all the best in your travels...

Somewhere in Time

It is just too hot to do anything

Sunday morning creped up on me and my eyes wanted to come open but they were glued shut with sleep. Soon I was able to open them and peer out the window to see if the sun was anywhere in sight. No sign of sun light but I knew it was coffee time. I have to get some things done this morning

I needed to get some laundry finished up so we both got up early to get this day started. Coffee was made and we sat down to enjoy it...as usual with our morning conversation. Before we knew it the sun was up high in the sky and the morning temps were beginning to rise. I had to turn the air down to cool off the house before it got too hot. Setting in the wide open spaces here with no shade at all...the RV will get hot inside with all the glazed area we have. Believe me if you get an Arizona room go to Arizona in the winter not Texas in the summer. Colorado in the summer would be OK too but stay out of the hot sun shinny sky.

Our plan is to stay in today and enjoy the AC and the TV in the RV.

Somewhere in Time

Here we are at the lake

 

We arrived at the lake lot Friday afternoon. We had to work for two hours Friday morning so we got a late start. We were both surprised at how fast we made the trip. Before we knew it we were pulling up to our home and unloading the truck.

We were both very tired and decided to lay low for a while and then go out to eat. We had put in a hard week and it was showing on us about this time. We just sat around and caught up on some computer stuff. Watched some of our shows we had recorded on Direct TV and did nothing.

It was beginning to cloud up some so I got a second wind and got the mower out and mowed the lawn. It did not take long...I don't have that much yard...but I knew if I didn't get it done now it would not get done until next weekend. Next weekend is our Texas Family Reunion. We all get together not too far from here. Visit and have fun cooking out and playing games.

Finished the lawn and then it was time to shower and get ready to eat. We headed to Ochoa's Mexican Food restaurant. Sherri ordered a small plate and a side order of enchiladas for take home. I will eat those tomorrow for lunch while she is shopping for clothes...no I am not going with her. Sunday is my daughter-in-laws wedding shower and Sherri will be attending. She has to have new clothes for the occasion...you ladies understand.

I will stay here and wax the RV and finish the laundry. I have to spray for ants in the RV...yes it is that time of the year when these pests start invading our homes on wheels. I spray all suspect areas of entry on the outside and then go inside and spray all the base boards and door seals. We have not had trouble with bugs since we have been doing this. I put moth balls around some of the slide ledges and also around the tires so dogs don't relieve themselves on my aluminum rims. If we are in the same place for two weeks or more in the spring and summer we go through this ritual and it sure works.

By the way I have to tell my good friends Mike and John that I washed my truck and waxed it too. I have to clean the inside when Sherri returns from shopping. Mark Hall if you read this Rodney needs to buy some Solutions from you so I will give him you number. I used it on my truck and RV and it sure makes waxing easier. I will have to take some pictures and post them here. It has been 7 months since I waxed the RV...due to weather and time constraints I have not been faithful in doing this. The wax I use has held up good, however so I did not have too hard of a time getting that shine back.

Well I guess I better get those clothes out of the washer and into the dryer. Miss all of you and can't wait until we all meet up again...

Somewhere in Time

On Schedule With One More Day to go

 

Yes we have fun when we travel and work. These are two of our friends we work with having fun eating out and site seeing.

Wow! It is time to get up again! We don't even need an alarm anymore. I just wake up on my own without the alarm...which really makes me mad. I would rather wake up with the alarm because it goes off at the time I want to get up...my internal alarm goes off some times 15 minutes before time. I can't go back to sleep when I wake up so I just lay there and wait for the alarm to go off.

I know I have not been posting every day as I once was but we have been busy traveling from town to town working and I am either too tired or we don't have a signal where we are parked. This is aggravating to say the least but when you move around you will find out that you don't always have a good signal...the being too tired...well that will be straightened out as soon as we stop working all the time.

Some of you have asked what kind of a job we have that allows us to travel around. We work for a Marketing group. We are Re-set Specialist and we go into stores and reset shelves to promote sales of products that have been slow sellers. We usually stay in the same town for one week and then travel to the next town and start over. We work on the average of 32 hours a week. Lately we have been working 40 hours due to the work load that accumulated last year and has just now been unloaded on us for this year. We will probably be working these kind of hours for some time until we catch up.

These are my boys...Just wanted to show everyone how great they are. I hope they read this one day and remember me as a Poppa that loved them very much.

We chose to do this type of work for a short time rather than work camping which holds you in one spot for an indefinite time. Now I am not talking down work camping by an means...just saying we decided to strengthen our retirement fund doing this rather than trading work for a campsite. You get the same thing just in a different way.

OK that being said we have to leave here tomorrow and head for our next assignment. We will be staying at our lake lot and working in Terrell. This will allow us to enjoy our home and we can eat some home cooking at the same time. Well we will have to weigh this out with the cost of groceries vs eating out. Sometimes as you well know...you can eat out cheaper than you can buy groceries for a meal at home. Another thing is if you don't eat all your groceries they may spoil in the weeks your on the road.

Got to go and shower...watch a little TV...slip between the cool sheets and close my tired eyes. Dream of places far far away in the mountains with cold spring water flowing down a stream filled with rainbow trout and me knee deep in water fly fishing...and all this...

Somewhere in Time    

 

Another Day is Behind us

 

Sherri and I were both up at 5:00 am this morning and working to get ready to head down to the free breakfast.

We made it down stairs just a little bit before 6:00 am and had time to eat and drink two cups of coffee each. Now two cups of coffee will see us down the highway for a good ways.

Our trip takes about 30 minutes through some really pretty country early in the morning with the fog laying low in the valleys and the sun not quite up over the tree tops. We don't say much to each other as we make the drive but every once in awhile we will see a new site and point it out. Then our conversation turns to traveling to some place that we really want to go to other than a job. We both know that each day that passes brings us closer to that dream.

We are already planning our first trip this year to Castle Rock Colorado. We have never been there and look forward to seeing it. We are planning on meeting two of our close friends there...Dreamers Leslie and Mike  and Bridget and John http://travelsofjohnandbridget.blogspot.com/. We all were together after last years rally and spent time planning a trip together. Leslie came up with the idea of Castle Rock... we voted and Castle Rock it was. Now we are still trying to fine tune the route going and where to stay when we get there.

Tomorrow is another work day so I guess I better get my shower and get ready for "Justified"...one of my favorite TV shows. While talking about TV shows I must mention some of the morons on "Deal or no Deal". If I had the chance for some of that money offered them I would take it without thought! I almost get sick when they turn down $50,000 and end up with $10.00. What a waste. Just thought I would throw that in here...

Somewhere in Time

On the Road With no Internet!

 

What a night. Sherri and I slept in the recliners last night. Sherri fell asleep watching a movie and when I woke up and saw that she was asleep I just turned off the TV and went back to sleep. Who needs a bed?? We seem to do some of our best sleeping in the recliners.

The next morning I really felt rested and Sherri...well she was OK after her coffee. We sat in the living room and made plans for our journey to Mt Pleasant. We are working in Hughes Spring this week and staying in Mt Pleasant. We will have to drive each day about 20 plus miles but that is not too bad. We have to get up early to get ready and have time to eat breakfast down stairs.

After our plan was made I ate some breakfast here at our place on the lake and then got ready to wash the truck and RV. Yes we are at the barn here on Lake Tawakoni. We have parked our RV here while we are gallivanting all over the state working our stores. It is cheap leaving it here and best of all I can wash and wax it and the truck.

I spent the first part of the morning washing the truck. You talk about dirty. It has been two months since I laid some soap on it. I know that is too long but when you stay in RV parks and motels...you can't wash and wax you vehicles there.

Next I  tackled the RV. Now it takes a little more time to wash the RV. I did not get around to waxing but I hope to get that done next week. It sure looked a lot better washed and when it is waxed it really will look good.

We will return to our home the end of this week and if our job assignment does not change we will be staying at the lake for the whole week. That means I can get some of my plans done. We are wanting to put up a fence around our deck and plant some trees and shrubs. Sherri is working on the layout for this plan. We might be able to work on this some after the work days is done.

It is late and we are ready to hit the hay. Tomorrow is a work day and we need our sleep and the dreams that come with it...

Somewhere in Time  

Buzzard Billy's

 

Tuesday we were up early and in the breakfast bar for coffee and a sausage and biscuit. Sherri had her wimpy cereal and a cup of coffee. Then it was back to the room to gather up our stuff and down the highway we went.

Work went rather well. I was complimented on having one of the best sets in the store. We finished up and then went to the motel to rest before we headed out to eat. We had decided to go to Buzzard Billy's on the Brazos River. This restaurant is right on the river with a deck that looks out over the water.

We had great tasting food and we did not leave hungry. Not much happened after dinner. We came back to the motel showered and then watched TV until time to go to sleep.

There is a lot to see here in Waco and if we have time we would like to go to the Texas Ranger Museum. We have so little time to see anything so we might stay one extra day to see some of the sites.

Time to go to bed...take care and visit again...

Somewhere in Time

Staying in the State Park

 

The day got started about 5:00 am and we scurried around getting our showers and getting dressed. Coffee was extra good this morning for some reason there are mornings when coffee means more to me than others. Must be how I slept the night before?

We went to work and soon it was time for lunch. We again went to Tracks and I had a salad. Sherri also had a salad with chicken. We went with all the other people on the set and visited. We enjoyed going out to eat with all but soon we had to return to the store.

We finished up the shift and packed it in. We were headed to Carrollton to pick up our grandson. He is going to stay with us for the weekend. We bought him a new car seat with lights on the sides so he could see at night. Don't really know what he will be looking at but he has lights just in case he needs them.

We picked up the little guy at his house and then headed to the State Park. We did not arrive until after hours so we had to check out the available sites on the board posted outside the office. We noted they had several spots with sewer so we picked out a pull through and parked. Not our first choice but it will do for the short week end we have. There are some sites in a cul-de-sac that has little or no traffic...which is good when you have a little one ridding a tricycle around at break neck speeds. But we had to settle for a pull-through on the major road and we had traffic all weekend long.

Had a wonderful time and really enjoyed playing with my little buddy. We made a campfire and sat around it until late. We went inside and watched a little TV. The boy fell asleep as soon as he got still and I put him in bed. Sherri and I sat up for a short while and then we too went to bed.

We had a wonderful day and look forward to tomorrow and new adventures here...

Somewhere in Time  

Happy Mothers Day

 

 

Happy day to all the mothers out there. I live with one of them...Sherri the mother of my children. I could not have asked for a better mother for my children. She is a giving person...who gave all her life not only to the children but to her parents and mine. If medals are to be handed out in heaven Sherri will be one of the recipients.

Thanks dear for all the love and devotion you have given to our family. We all love you and respect you for your loving manner. There is no way we could ever repay you for all the love you have given to us and we will always love you for it.

Dear I love the adventures we have had and will have...

Somewhere in Time

I just had to laugh

 

This morning was like all the others. We got our free breakfast...free coffee...and we were ready to go for the day. We loaded up in the truck and headed down the highway. It did not take long and we were pulling into the parking lot before we knew it.

We had a good day which went real fast. I like it when the day goes well and the time flies by. We ate lunch at Tracks...the theme there is trains...DUH! They have trains everywhere and one that runs around the outside wall of the dinning room. Pretty cool place to eat and the food is reasonable there.

After work we went straight to the motel and I laid down and took a nap. Sherri sat at the computer and chatted with our son and several of our RV friends all around the country. So many of our friends are scattered to the four winds. We have to check in every day to find out their location. When I get out on the road I will be in one place for some time so you will not have to check in as often. Some of the folks we know are on the go almost everyday. They have a lot more funds than I...to just keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny.

I had to laugh today when one of our friends commented on me spending too much time wondering why and another giving me more to think about. Brail on a drive in bank machine??? Good one Jim...I have always wondered what group of people in our government sets down every day and come up with these ideas. How much do we pay these morons and how can I get one of those jobs. 

If the citizens of this country...I mean the legal ones...took time to see where all our tax dollars go and how much bang for the buck we are getting from them we would all make a change here. When our President said it was time for change...he was not kidding.

That is all for today...I will keep wondering...

Somewhere in Time

Wonder Why

 

Alarm went off this morning and I told Sherri she could shower and get ready first. I was just too tired to get up that early and start getting ready. I just had this lazy streak shoot through me and I could not shake it.

Sherri was out of the shower in record time...or maybe it appeared that way because I was sleeping. Then it was my turn to shower and get ready. Got in the shower and really did not want to get out. Wanted to lay in the tub and let the water run over me while I slept for another hour. Can you do that???

Got through getting my morning chores done and it was time to go down and get some coffee. I can't go without it. I don't know why it does not stay with me long. No way I can drink coffee before I go on an extensive drive. The drive to work in only 5 minutes so I will risk two cups this morning.

We made it to work in good time and found that many folks arrived early today. Being an empty parking lot every day...one does not need to worry about a good spot to park. Soon the rest of the crew showed up and we went inside to get her done.

My topic today is "Wonder Why" I wonder about things that I don't understand and like to ask the question WHY. One of those questions I will pose to you today is why do they have Handicap spaces at Sonic? Now when I go to Sonic I stay in my car...punch the button a voice comes on the speaker and takes my order. When the order is ready no one says come and get it so I can stay in my car and a person brings it out. Now if I don't have to get out...why would a handicap have to? The Sonic here has...not one...but 5 handicap parking spaces and they are all just like the non handicap spaces.

That is my question for this week. I am sure there is a good explanation and when I read about it I will feel so much better.

Sorry I have not uploaded a bunch of pictures to the journal here of late. I have really not had any photo moments this last week. I hope to capture some good ones to put on soon. Until then you will just have to put up with my words written here...

Somewhere in Time

Staying on the Company Again

 

Sherri and I dropped the house off at the lake and headed out...homeless. We are staying in a motel now and we are being wined and dined by the company this week.

We woke up this morning with frost on our noses. I had turned the air down last night because it was so hot and when we woke up it must have been 50 in the room. Sherri was rolled up in a ball of covers and I could hear her muffled cries for me to turn the air off. I had to laugh it was cold and she was not about to come out of her cocoon until I had the room warmer.

We got our showers and got dressed and headed down stairs to the breakfast bar for some coffee and nourishment. I had the waffles in the shape of Texas. Sherri had a little ol muffin that would not have stayed with me more than an hour.

We finished our breakfast and then loaded up in our ride and left for the store. We left in plenty of time to get there...not ever having traveled to this store from the motel we found that we did not need to leave quite that early. We were in the parking lot about 15 minutes before time to start. Tomorrow we will have some extra coffee time for sure.

I would like to thank all my readers out there for sticking with me through the times of dull writing. Yes I know that when we are on the road working we don't have a lot to report. We just get up and drive in and then go out to eat and back to the motel. Not much of an adventure to write about but I do try to keep up the diary of daily events in my life so  that one day when I am confined to my home I can read about all the wonderful times I had exploring.

I hope that you that have journals out there keep that in mind and try to keep up with your daily routines and what all you do so that you will have some interesting reading later in life. I hope that someday my children will enjoy reading about what I did and where I went. Maybe if they are as lucky as I am they too will get to travel and see some of this great land before it falls into the hands of who knows who...

Somewhere in Time

Bad weather in east Texas

 

Yes it is Spring time here in East Texas Dorothy and we have tornados bouncing all over the place...

Last night Sherri and I sat here in Louisiana trying to watch our crime show and the weather guy would break in every 10 minutes and tell us all about what was going on. At one point he was telling us about the location of a confirmed possible tornado. Now I may not be a meteorologist but I have never known of a "confirmed" "possible" Tornado. They kept going over the area that they thought the tornado was in and then told everyone to head for cover and then kept telling them where the tornado should be if it is in fact a tornado. Now if these people are hunkered down in the safe room of their house with a mattress thrown over them how are they going to be watching this guy tell them where it is? If it is possibly a tornado then who confirmed it?

Moving right along...Sherri and I headed east after our week in East Texas. We are now in Louisiana and hunkered down in a casino waiting out the storms. Sherri did well, our first night in the casino and won enough to gamble today. We went to Harrah's at the race track and there she won us both a free buffet. Go Sherri go!

The horse races are going on now through September. The track was being readied for today's first race and the crowd was growing. We slipped into the buffet before the onslaught of race fans hit. We got our assigned seating and got our first plate full of food and when returning to our table we noticed the line to the buffet was growing rapidly. What timing on our part.

We finished eating and decided to vacate the casino to keep from getting crushed in the crowd. We headed to the Valero to buy diesel and then to Kmart to look around. We had not been in a Kmart in years. We found a few bargains in there but left them behind for someone else.

We left there and ventured south of town to visit a Target and a Wally World. We found a new car seat for Kris and got some laundry soap. We desperately need to wash clothes today.

We loaded up all our clothes and went to the laundry mat across from the RV. Very convenient because I had to make 4 trips back to he house to get all the stuff I forgot. I did get my walk in for the day so two birds were killed with one stone!

Laundry  being done Sherri and I settled in for what would be our last night here in Louisiana. Tomorrow we have to leave for our home base. Yes the work week starts all over Monday and we have to be...

Somewhere in Time