Help Thy Neighbor

I really slept in this morning! I am usually up at 5:00 am and this morning I slept until 7:00am! Do you think it might be because I did so much building and cleaning yesterday?
Yes I did get a lot done yesterday and I guess I must have passed out last night. I slept through until 7:00 without once getting up. I usually get up at least once during the night to go to the bathroom but not last night.
This morning I got up and made me a pot of coffee and sat for a long time just going over what all I had to do today.
One of the main things I have to do is help Rodney...my BIL and next door neighbor lower his porch. He has a wooden deck that he places next to his Motorhome so they can walk out on it without having to go down the steps. It makes it nice to have this porch out front but you have to be careful when you are on the road without it and you walk outside remember that you have to step down! We had one for years when we lived at Sandy Lake RV Park in Carrollton Texas. The first time we went on the road and I stepped outside I almost broke my leg falling down the steps!
Anyway his porch is too high for his new Motorhome so we have to trim the legs off so it will be the correct height to the last inside step.
While waiting on Rodney to show up I decided to get some done in the shop. I have so much stuff that needs to be discarded. Going through all that will take some time. With all the tools I have it really makes me sad that I have not been able to use them. I just have to arrange my shop where I can get to and use my tools when I want to. There are so many things that I would love to build for the grand kids and Sherri has a few projects for me to do too. I am bound and determined to get this done...

Somewhere in Time

Thanks for the advice

Well once again my readers came through for me. I asked about a security that would be free and one that would keep me clean and sure nuff I got an answer. I downloaded Windows Essentials just minutes ago and now I am feeling much better about my computers safety.
I said that I was going to get some things done outside today because of the beautiful weather and sure nuff I did. I finished one side of the Fort...which now has been dubbed a castle. Oh well what ever it is, I only have one more side to go and it will be on the completed list.
I trim the dead limbs off one of the trees in the back yard. I don't know why they died but they did and now that the trees are budding out again I noticed  they are not blooming. I took them off so maybe some new limbs will have a chance to grow in their place.
I burned up a lot of the scrap lumber I have accumulated over time. It does not take long for things to build up around here so you have to keep them picked up and thrown away or before long you will  be knee deep in junk.
For some reason I have this tendency to save bits and pieces of lumber...screws...bolts...and what ever that I think in my mind I will have a use for later. It is time that I part with some of this stuff so I can get my shop back into working order. There are many projects that I have in mind to build but until I can get to all my tools those projects wont happen.
I also got some things done on the phone today. Got our appointment with the tax guy...I don't look forward to that. I am sure I owe taxes this year plus will have to give back some of my SS money! I haven't figured out how all that works. I know it doesn't work for me but it works for the government. I worked for 50 years payed in all my SS money...Took a hit by retiring early and still have to give some money back and pay taxes on my overage on the SS money?? Man did I have a say in that legislation? I am sure I did not. No skin off their butts...they don't have to live on SS money.
OK nuff said about that. I can't do a thing about it except write my congressman and I have done that. You can see how well that worked out for me. Every petition that comes across the email I have signed and does anyone know where all those have gone? I am sure they have not changed anything that I am aware of.
Moving right along...I had a good day and now it is time for me to think of something to fix for dinner. I ate all my spaghetti for lunch. Guess I better head in and create me something delightful to eat...

Somewhere in Time

Took Care of the Comments

Thanks to some of my readers out there I got my comments where you don't have to figure out all those jumbled up words. I hope this makes it easier for you all to comment when you want to. I enjoy hearing from all my readers. They are helpful on questions I have had over the many years I have been writing. THANKS!

I feel so bad because yesterday was a beautiful day and I did nothing outside! What a waste of time. Today is suppose to be more of the same so I will get out and get something done while I have nice weather.

Last night I made spaghetti for the first time. I will have to say it was rather good. I don't cook much and sometimes not at all but I am learning and hope to help Sherri out when I can. She is not to up on me cooking. She has heard some of the stories about me and she fears that I will kill her...or burn the place down. I don't think I will. 

There is spaghetti left from last night so I will have that for dinner tonight.
I slept in late this morning. Usually I get up around 5:00 am and fix my coffee. I like getting up early and easing into the day. Watching the sun come up is like waiting for the flag at a race. The gun goes off and I get started with plenty of time to get everything done by noon. Then it is time to eat lunch and take a nap. WOW what more could you ask for?
Well it is time for me to go to the Dreamers Forum with some questions. I need to find out more about the free security systems on the Internet. Anyone out there use them? I am tired of paying for all these others and I don't know that I get that much out of them. 
OK so I am off with good intentions of returning...


Somewhere in Time 

Sorry about the Comments Problem.

I have heard from my readers that they are having trouble commenting on my journal. I have no idea how to take the verification off of the comment section...so please give me the instructions on how to do this and I will see to it that it goes away.
I too have had a hard time commenting on journals from other folks and would like to have that part of the security system turned off. I had no idea that I had that on mine??? OH well I don't wont to block anyone from commenting on my journal. I will just have to set it up where I can review the comment before I publish it. I know that advertising can appear on your comments and you never know what that will be!
I am going to cut this post a little short today. I want to read some of the other journals on line and catch up to what is going on in the world.
I am also working on my bucket list of places I want to see in the coming year. I am enjoying this research and my readers have given me many ideas where to point the Motorhome...

Somewhere in Time

Building on the Fort

Yes we have a fort in our backyard. We all gather there when we are under attack by the grandchildren. This playground was purchased years ago and has moved several times over its lifetime and now it rest in our yard.
We put a roof on it and also some sides. The swing set is seldom used but then if I was to remove it I would be banded from the fort so I have to keep it up too.

Sherri was a big help in putting this all together. Her talent for remodeling came in handy during this project even though they conflicted with Kris's wishes. I think the last thing Kris said this was going to be was a bakery? Where did that come from...he must have been getting hungry at that time.
I another place in time my boys in Kansas were having a good time. Not sure where they were but it appears they were having a good time with Mom and Dad.

We don't get to see these guys very much due to the distance and the amount of time we have to go places. We hope in the near future to have time to go and stay a while so we can be a part of their lives.
OK today I finish up the fort project and if I have time I will tackle the shop.
Sherri leaves today for Louisiana so she will have to leave in time to get there before dark.
Better get to work so I can get all these things done...

Somewhere in Time

Two Days at the State Park

We took the long journey over to the State Park. About a 5 minute trip. Took longer to get ready than it did to drive the distance.
We love Tawakoni State Park and recommend it to all if your in this area of the country. The sites are far enough apart that you don't feel like you are visiting your next door neighbors all the time.
We got the site we wanted...with the clear view of the southern sky. This was our chance to try out our new Direct TV on the roof dish. I flipped the AB switch to connect the roof dish and it began to search for the satellites. It took about 2 minutes and bingo...it was on line and working.
After we got all set up we sat our chairs outside and enjoyed the warm weather. It was in the 70's today and tomorrow promised 80's. WOW you could not asked for better weather in this part of the country.

The lake is down real low at this time but the rains have helped.

 This is the beach at the swimming area and you can see the water is nowhere to be found

This little fellow stayed right with us the whole time.

We stayed two nights here and really enjoyed the time we had. It was almost like being in a far away place and really not being more than minutes away from our home base. We will do this again when the barn starts to close in on us.

Beautiful sunset from our site

We returned to the barn and sat up once more there. Thursday was the first day of the RV show in Dallas and we planned on going. We love to see the new RV's and see what they offer.
We got to Market Hall about 1:00 pm and spent most of the day just wandering around in everything from bumper pulls to Motorhomes. Went to a seminar about Texas State Parks. Man! I had know idea how many beautiful parks there are in Texas. One could spend many months here just visiting these parks.
We returned home that evening feeling good about our choice in coaches. I did not find one there that had any more than mine and non we priced as good as ours...even at the show prices!
That brings us up to date for now. We are just waiting for the next adventure...

Somewhere in Time
 
 

Rain

Sherri and I both got up about the same time this morning and it was raining. Rain has been the weather around here for some time. We need the rain and I am sure that the lake is close to being back up to normal level by now. I have not been to the lake since our return so I really don't know for sure.
Here we live about 1/4 of a mile from the lake and I have not even walked down to look at it. Well then again it has been raining for some time so a walk any where would not be the thing to do.
We plan on moving over to the State Park today. We have to make the dump run and we always try to stay a day or two so we can make the move out of the barn worth while.
While at the park I can also catch up on my walking and maybe even get in some fishing. During the summer months I take the inflatable boat and go out in the coves and fish a little. The park is only 2 miles from our lake lot and we really enjoy walking the trails and relaxing under the awning. While in the barn you do feel a little confined but at the park you are outside and it is more like camping out.
We enjoy cooking out and when the weather is nice eating outside while the flies are gone in for the winter. I will have to say that the weather has been great here this winter. It is almost like being down south with the winter Texans and not having to travel to be there.
Guess I better get the coach ready for the long journey there. I'll check in with you as soon as I get back...

Somewhere in Time

Looking Back is Always Fun

This post is for all my children and grandchildren out there.
I started the journal years ago to track what Sherri and I were doing to get ready for our retirement. I wanted the Kids to know what was going on. The kids don't live next door so I have to use the Internet to communicate and to relay to them what we are up to.
I have transferred many of our old slides from the 60's 70's and early 80's to digital pictures so we could look at them from time to time without a viewer.
Have you gone to the photo mart at Wally World and asked them about slides...They have no idea what you are talking about...the young ones anyway. So it was time for me to convert all of them to pictures on the computer.
Well these are some of the old photos that I thought would be interesting. For several years Sherri and I did not  take pictures and have them printed. We like our slide projector and enjoyed sitting down with the family and watching the slide show.
Later on in years the slide projector broke and we never did replace it so we could not see our pictures. One day  we were wanting to look back as many of us do from time to time but with no projector we could not. I went on a search to have the slides converted to digital pictures but the cost was prohibitive.
After extensive searching I did find a device that would do just what I wanted it to do. I bought it and took it home and soon I was able to see the old slides on the computer.
So that brings me to this point in time where I want to share with our kids some of their younger photos that they can show their kids.

Does not seem that long ago that our little family was all together and creating adventures. We have so many fun times together and the memories will live on and on. Hope you kids enjoy and if you like maybe you can come and visit us and we can look at all the pictures together...

Somewhere in Time 

Now we have Rain

Well snow one day and rain the next. The good Lord knows we need rain here in Texas but I sure wish it would come when I am not needing to do outside chores. I still have not had the chance to wash the Jeep and even if the weather was permitting today the Jeep is further east than I am.
The poor Jeep has been on the road for some time and really needs to be washed. I did get to clean the RV before I parked it in the barn and it does look really good.We had the oil changed in Terrell and that was a little overdue.
Today...if the weather permits I have to drag some of the mess out of my wood shop and get it where I can make Sherri her shelves for the closets and cabinets. This should be quite an ordeal with all the junk I have stacked everywhere and no room to move it around.
Stay tuned for the results...

Somewhere in Time

Cold Weather Is Here

This morning I woke up and Sherri was not in bed. I had heard the alarm go off earlier so I knew she was up and about. I swung myself out of bed and headed into the living room to have coffee. Sure nuff she was there waiting on me...cup of coffee in hand. I poured me a cup and we sat and talked for some time.
Then it was time for her to get ready for work and the fun came to an end and reality showed up. She only had to go to Van Texas today for a short while but still having to go is a bummer.
I have a list of things that I want to get done today and I hope that I am able to get to some of that list. The outside stuff may have to wait. It snowed last night...Well I use that term lightly...as you can see from the pictures it was no storm! But it was cold and the things I wanted to do outside would probably have to wait until tomorrow.

Hey I said it snowed...Didn't say anything about snow skiing 

I need to clean out my wood shop so I can make some shelves for our cabinets. We have three cabinets that Sherri wants adjustable shelves in. I bought all the materials to do them with some time back and when we were in Red Bay they gave me some stain that matches our cabinets. All that is left to do is get started.
So far the Direct TV is directing and I an glad of that. It is nice to be able and watch some shows other than Public Broadcasting. I missed getting to see my regular shows...Big Bang...Persons of Interest...Mentalist....Now I have FX and I can watch Justified! OK I am a happy camper now. Missed the Super Bowl but then the Team I like won.
That team not being New England...brings me to think about traveling up in that area in the future. We traveled NY State and Vermont but never made it to New Hampshire or Maine so we have to make plans for that adventure. This gives me a lot to do between now and March of next year.
So I have pretty much covered all there is to cover here at the lake. Looking for warmer temps the rest of this week and maybe I can fill you life with better things when I can venture back outside...

Somewhere in Time

No DVR No HD???

Just a quick note to all out there that have asked why I didn't get all the bells and whistles with my Direct TV.
Having purchased the new Motor Home I found out that the roof mounted dish does not support them. It only has one receiver and that limits the amount of satellite reception that we get.
Had I  gone with the HD and the DVR I could not use the roof dish making it worthless. I opted to go with the straight receiver that would work with the Wineguard I have. When we camp remotely the roof dish will pick up the signal that my receiver understands and we get all the channels that we normally get with the tripod. This is why we have the A/B switch in the front cabinet. A...being roof dish and B being tripod at home. We don't have to worry about losing half the channels when we travel we get them all. We don't watch shows and record at the same time so the DVR was not important to us.
Now later on when I get my rich uncle out of the poor house I might purchase the dish that receives it all but until then I will just settle for the beautiful scenery outside on my porch.
I have started planning our Westward trip to the coast. Anyone out there with some ideas on what route to take feel free to jump right in. Remember we have a beer pocket book so all the fancy resorts are not in our plans...LOL. We just want to get there and have enough money left to eat on.
I would like a route that we don't have to drive through mountain switch backs. Sherri is not a mountain climbing type of traveler. She loves to see the mountains but does not like to drive up and down them. Sure we will have to climb some mountains but the fewer the better. I will post my route...

Somewhere in Time

Direct TV Back Working....for now

Yesterday I had a job to go and do in Dallas. Sherri was home waiting for the Direct TV guy to show up and fix our signal. We were only getting one half of the 150 programs we purchased due to the system not picking up but one of the satellites.
I worked until 3:00 and called Sherri and she said the guy had not shown up. I called him and he said that his supervisor was suppose to call me. OK here we go...I told him the guy had not called and I want this fixed. I am not paying for half of the package I bought so I want the full meal deal!
When I got home I called him back and he told me to try my Direct TV now. Well low and behold it was working. He gave me some humbo jumbo about my A B switch in the coach but I knew they had not turned on my service correctly at the main facility. I did not just fall off the turnip truck. The A/B switch selects the roof top dish...A...and the outside tripod...B.
It always amazes me how these people think everyone is stupid. Now if it had been something about my coach wiring then it would not be working now. Somehow they fixed the problem in my coach and did not even come by to do it? Now that is what I call high tech stuff.
No mater what we have our Direct TV now and are happy. We did not get the DVR and the 3000 channel deal. We figured it wont be that long and we will be out on the road all the time and all those bells and whistles wont be needed. If we decide to watch two channels on two different TVs then I will pull the box out of the office and take it with us. I can run another coax off a spliter and hook up the other box in the bedroom.
Today is Saturday and it is getting cold outside. They said last night that the temps would be dropping down into the 20s. I don't know if it did but I wrapped my hoses last night just in case. I turned the water off to the laundry room too and turned the heater on out there.
Thanks to all the folks that commented on my TV problem. Thank you Mark for the phone call. It was good to hear from you and Dortha.
That is about all for this moment...

Somewhere in Time

OK I Spoke Too Soon

As I was telling you yesterday all was well...and I underline WAS  due to the fact that later that evening when I returned to the coach and turned the TV on...guess what. Yes you are correct I only have half of the signal that I am suppose to have and no Direct TV.
OK even though it was late I called the installer and once again he was very nice...not nice enough to come back but he did call his supervisor and tell him the problem. After talking to him the installer called me back and told me he would work it out where he could come back sometime tomorrow and check it all out.
Well I am satisfied that they will I just hope it is before Sherri gets home so she has her TV.
I don't know why RV manufacturers don't have schematics showing the wiring on the TV sets in these RVs? There are several cables and all kinds of wires and if you had a simple schematic and the wires were marked you could hook up anything. OH well such is life.
Today I have to fix some dinner for tonight and wash some clothes. I need to cover up the conduit out back and clean up the mess on the porch. I don't really guess I have time for TV anyway...

Somewhere in Time

Direct TV Has Been Installed

The installer made it out here just a few minutes after 12:00. He said that he had done RV installations before but I was cautious. I have been told before by installers that they know what they are doing and come to find out I knew more than them.
As things would have it in this case I did know more than them and had to lead them through the process every step of the way. Finally the area supervisor showed up and he and I together got the system hooked up and working fine.

Well there is one exception to every story and the one in this story is the TV in Sherri's hide out. I signed the papers on the installation and saw that everything in the RV was working wonderfully. Then I said good-bye to the man and went to the office to surf on the WEB. I thought oh heck while I am out here I will watch a little TV...and that is when I noticed that this Direct Box had no signal on it.
Jumped on the phone and called the installer who by the way was half way home when I got him and told him the problem. Much to my surprise he said that he would be right back to check it out. Great! I was thinking I was going to hear something like...Well you'll have to call the office in the morning or Gee I might be able to get back out there tomorrow.
He was back in a flash...checked out the signal all seemed to be OK but then still could not get the picture?? Checked outside and found out that he had a bad ground block and when he changed that out all was good.
I now have Direct TV in the office and I am a happy camper.

While the installers were here getting all the wires run I put the lines in conduit and covered them up so they would not be above ground. This will allow me to move about without tripping.

Now all I have to do is seal the conduit to keep  them dry when it rains. So I guess I had a good day. I got the DSL in and the TV up and going. Sherri will be proud of me when she returns...

Somewhere in Time 

Taking Time To Thank All Of You

I would like to take this time before I  get into my journal entry to thank all of my readers for their comments. I do enjoy hearing what you have to say about my journal. I began this journal several years ago to chronicle my journey from Pre-Retirement to Retirement and beyond.
Well as things would have it we decided that we would need Sherri's income at retirement to eat so we have been waiting for that date to come around before we go. So it has been a long wait...but as they say...It will be well worth it.
Today I worked on the phone line I ran from the service  box to the computer here in the office. I had to route it through the ribs in the barn and that was no easy task. I did get it done and it turned out OK.
I got the leaves swept up in the back yard and the trash picked up so I am making some headway.
Tomorrow the Direct TV installers come out and I hope to have something to watch. I am getting the 150 channel package. There is no way I will watch all 150 channels in my life time.
I had Dish come out and the guy that came out never had installed in a Motorhome so he left the next one that came out had never installed in a Motorhome either. Now I told them both times that I had a Motorhome and yet they have no installers that know how to put it in?? Here they advertise in all the magazines yet they have no one that knows how to install it. Go figure.
OK so now I have changed to Direct TV and we will see if they know what they are doing. I will bring you up to date tomorrow afternoon.
At least my DSL is working great and we can get on line with a super fast connection. I feel good about staying out here now that we have Internet. Sherri has to have a connection to put in her time and expenses to the home office. When you have a slow connection it takes forever and sometimes you get bumped off line before it goes in. I don't think we are going to have that trouble anymore.
On top of all that I can communicate with all my RVing friends out there and keep up with their where-a-bouts.
OK time to get dinner ready. I am hungry and I get grumpy if I don't eat...
Somewhere in Time

Google Chrome up and Running

Our fire pit in the back yard sure is nice on a cold winter eve.

Wow...There is so much to do around here and I just don't know where to begin. I have so much to clean up and get back into order. Then there is the MH that has to be washed and waxed.
I did get the MH washed which was a big step but I still have to wax it. There was a lot of road grime on it. After a month on the road things do tend to get dirty.

I guess we will winter here.  Traveling that time of year really gets the MH dirty. Need to do all my moving in the summer time.

The place looked good other than the dead flowers and the leaves piled up in the back yard. I have to picked up a lot of trash that has blown in over time. I hope to have a gate on the front of the barn and one on the side before we take off again. This will keep the trash and dogs from coming in.

The rig looked pretty good after I washed and waxed it. Well this side anyway. I will do the other side after I get the leaves out of the back yard.

We only have one tree in the back...thank heavens...but it had a lot of leaves. Winter comes and they will fall...

Somewhere in Time

DSL up and Running Great

One problem can’t get Google Chrome to load up so I have to figure out what to do. Any suggestions? I will post more later.

 

Somewhere in Time