Work Work Work

Yes we are still hard at it here and yes I did not post any pictures. When we went to get the camera to take pictures it was dead. So I do not have any pictures for now but I will try and get some today.

Sherri and I are going to texture the bedroom ceiling this morning. We got all the Sheetrock up and bedded out. When we get that done we will head downstairs to paint the closet and the front door. I know this is not like going on an adventure someplace but it is all we have to offer now.

I am so glad to hear about Dee and Jim's new truck and Jesse and Ginger sold their house. Things are so great for so many...but we have special thoughts for Karon and Dan and we are praying that he weathers this and gets back on the road. Our prayers are with them and will continue to be with them until we meet again....

Somewhere in Time

We Are In Galveston Hard At Work

Sherri and I arrived here Monday afternoon...missing the five o'clock traffic by a narrow margin. We have been working so hard to get everything done from can to can't. I have some pictures that I am putting together for tomorrows post so stay tuned and I will post tonight with more info and Pictures.

Sorry for the days off this week but like I said we have been so busy!

I will return with the rest of the story....

Somewhere in Time.

Last Day Here...Heading South

Gee it will be great in the future I tell you I am headed south and it will mean that I am hitching up for another adventure some place. But for now it means that I am headed to Galveston to go to work. Well it will be an adventure in some ways. We will be doing something to help out in the aftermath of Ike. We will be able to say some day that Sherri and I helped put Galveston back together.

It was in the 40's this morning when I woke up and went to the window to peer out at the outdoor thermometer. It feels good to wake up to a cool RV and the AC is not running. Now that is what I am looking for. Somewhere out there is a place that I can park my house and enjoy that kind of weather.

Sherri and I are thinking about starting our adventure in Colorado next summer. I mentioned that in my last post. We will swing through KC to see the kids and then on west to cooler temps in the mountains. I heard about some real nice CG along hwy 50 near Howard that were inexpensive. I think that would be a good place to start but I am not sure if you need reservations in June or not. If anyone knows please let me know. I would like to be assured of a good spot early on if need be. I think that we would stay a month there so we could scope out all the sites we want to explore. We would be in driving distance of so many places and that is what we want.

Another thing that I would be interested in finding out is what the pull is like to some of these places and what I should expect. I have no doubt that we wont have any trouble with the mountains but it is good to know what is ahead of you before you get there. Kind of like having a scout going out ahead of the wagon train. Once we get on the road we will have to scout out our own trails but starting out it would be good to have some input from those of you that have traveled that road before.

We plan on heading to the West coast after that and staying to the north if possible to avoid too hot of temps. I have heard that the lower elevations of Washington and Oregon states can get hot in the summer and we don't want that. We may wait later in the year to travel that direction. Our main objective is to get to the West Coast and see that area of the country and then head back East through Southern California Arizona New Mexico and then back into Texas. These plans are made in jello and some of it depends on Obama spreading the wealth around early on in his administration. We will see.

Anyone wanting to give us some tips on this please feel free to chime in...we are all ears.

We still plan on being in Kerrville for the first two weeks in March. I have to return to Dallas to finish out my training on the new guy...who I think we have lined up??? If I should finish that training before May I will be out of there sooner...we will see.

OK it is time for me to head out once more to the old work place. I have to return to the RV, after work, for my clothing and supplies for the Galveston trip. I will head to Wills Point and meet Sherri. We will be staying there until Monday morning and then we will leave out. I have to see my two little ones Trick or Treat. I will have to post pictures so you can see how cute they are....I know I am biased but I am a Poppa!

Have a good week and I will return as often as I can...

Somewhere in Time

Hump Day

Yes, today is hump day and I am sooo glad that I made it this far after a hard weekend of framing. Did I mention that I voted Friday. Did I mention that I had jury duty Monday? Gee what a busy weekend. Yes I am glad that today is hump day and I can leave soon to see my grand kids go Trick or Treating in Wills Point. We bought the two little ones their costumes. Kris is going as Spiderman and Frankie is going as a Lady Bug. They will be so cute!

Sherri and I will once again meet in Wills Point...her returning from Tyler and I will be heading that way after work here in Dallas. This is what our lives have been reduced to...both working to get enough diesel to make the first leg of our adventure.

We will start out solo on our adventure so we can work at our budget and see what adjustments we will have to make in order to stay on the road. How long we travel will be determine by the budget and how we can squeeze every mile out of it.

We plan on meeting up with as many of our friends as possible but to test our budget we have to solo on the travel so we can track our expenses and we wont be slowing down anyone in the process. I recommend this to anyone out there that is just starting out on a restricted budget like ours. If you are planning on traveling you must know what you can and can't do on the money you have allotted yourself through your budget.

Another thing to think about is how long you can stay on the road without having to return to the base camp to recoup your resources. Or maybe for a G-Kid fix LOL. Believe me I am not ashamed or embarrassed to tell anyone out there that we lost a ton of money in the Stock Market in the early 2000's due to the Dot Com crash and then again a few weeks back!!! We wont have the money we would have had years ago to retire on and travel the country. Here is the thing...we could have said...we can't do it...and given up our dream but not Sherri and I...no we just made a new plan and kept right on going.

We saved and put together every dime we could and ended up paying off our trailer truck and all the bills we had and still had money to re-invest in the safe side of the market and made money there. Sherri got a job and takes all her money and puts it up for diesel to travel on for the next five years. We will be doing OK as long as we don't go crazy and spend it all on the first adventure. This will be our goal...to travel to all the places we have always wanted to see at our own pace and stretch out our budget to make it all happen.

We will start in May of next year and I think we will head to Colorado first....We will probably go by way of Kansas City so we can see our two grandsons there...and their Mom and Dad too. We know we want to be cool in the summer and as the weather gets cooler we will track south until we return to our base camp in Wills Point. If Sherri and I ever have time to set down together we might have a trip planned out but so far we have not had one moments time together since she has started her job.

Well this is the plan and if all goes well we will be two happy campers. Oh I forgot one thing that will help us along. When Obama is elected and gets in the White House he is going to spread the wealth around so the other half of our problems will be solved! Ain't life grand??? Only in America can people that are poor collect from those that are rich!! Until next time I will go count my blessings...

Somewhere in Time

Tuesday

It was cold this morning!! Yes I got up and open the door to see if the weatherman was correct in his prediction and sure enough he hit it on the nose. It was in the upper 30's and luckily no wind blowing! I shut the door and started getting ready for the road.

We had no coffee this morning so I was really ready to get to work...where there was some coffee. I will have to go by and get some on the way home from work today. I have to have my coffee in the mornings to get my head straight. I don't know the whole day seems to really rub me wrong when I don't get my coffee. Anyway tomorrow will be a better day and I wont have to leave as early.

Sherri is in Tyler today and will return home Thursday. I just don't see her anymore...she is gone all the time and when she is at home we are in Wills Point and I am doing something and she has her things to do. It is only until May I keep telling myself.

It is time for me to head to the house now. I am at work and the clock has rolled around to that time that makes me smile. I guess I will slide on out of here for now and join you later...

Somewhere in Time

Another Working Weekend

Sherri and I met in Wills Point again this last weekend. She came from Shreveport and I came in from Dallas. I did not have to work Friday so I left Thursday after work. She left Thursday and we both got there about the same time. We still do not have our wiring in for the RV so we stay with Jennifer...I know she will be glad for us to get our house on wheels set up so she can have her house back.

The project Friday was to get some plugs in the workshop hooked up so I can start doing some other projects that need to get done. The next step is to get the electric box hooked up for the RV. I have to make sure where we plan to park so I can get enough wiring to do it. The wiring for the 50 amp hook up is not cheap but at least I have my box and the breaker already so the wiring is all I have to buy the next trip.

Saturday was set aside to build my nephew Jeff's office building inside his metal building. He has an auto repair shop next door to his house and he wanted an office and a craft room built inside the building. I put in a room for a kitchen...walk-in closet and a bathroom with a shower. My oldest son Jason came down to help me...and with Jeff, ...Jeff's friend Mike and Rodney Jeff's dad we completed the rough framing in a day and a half. Not bad for an old man who has not framed in some time.

Well as you well know next week will be the trip to Galveston to do some more framing and finish work. June and Jim's house is the next project on my list of things to do. I just wonder if this is what retirement will be all about?? I do want to stay busy. I think if you just retire without any thing to keep you going you just start to die. I don't want that to set in so I will stay busy as long as this old body will let me.

I guess that is about it for now...not much more to report so I will drift on off to the chat room and see what is going on. I will catch back up with you all...

Somewhere in Time

Here At the Office

Just got everything settled down today and now I can set down here and post from my desk. You know you hear about me going to work all the time but I have never shown you my office and the Plant that I run here. It is time for me to take you on a tour of the place.

This is Pressroom "A" and it contains One straight Eight Color Press One Ten Color Super Perfecter and two Eight Color Super Perfecter.

This is my Teams Offices with the Lead Tech in the very back behind the partitions. Next is the Correction Tech then the Press Tech and in the front is my secretary.

This is Pressroom "B" and it contains two Eight Color Super Perfecter and two Ten Color Super Perfecter.

And this....is my Office. Notice all the junk on the desk. That is all the Stats I keep and all the notes that I get for things to do....When I retire I wont have all these notes and things to do. Well maybe not THESE things to do...and maybe not THESE notes but...you get the picture.

I have spent 31 years of my life in this building and I have a lot of memories... Some good and some bad...that is a long time to be anywhere. I hate to say goodbye to my team and co- workers but I have to fulfill my dream that has keep me working here for so long. I have new friends out there that I have to meet up with and share adventures with.

Where did the time go?? Just seems like yesterday I started school and then graduated High School...College was just a flash in the pan and my time in the service....then 31 years here...life is so short and gets shorter the older you get. Yes I have to live out my dream before I shut my eyes for the last time.

Well there is more to come and I will share it with you all...

Somewhere in Time

Just a short note

I woke up this morning and winter is here! I don't know how cold it is but it is cool and I had no heat on last night so the RV is chilly. I just want you to know that I am still here just can't type real good with my sore finger. I have to get ready for work and head out so I will post the journal at the office this morning.

Have a good cup of coffee for me and I will see you when I get to the office...

Somewhere in Time

Galveston Continued

Here are some more pictures of the area. We drove up the coast toward the west to see what the damage was. We were especially interested in the City RV park we stay at when we go to Galveston. The parking area there was washed away and we could not get close enough to see what was left...but we could tell that we would not be staying there for some time.


These piers use to have a buildings on them but not any more. We stopped at Lowe's to get the prices on all our materials and to see how long we would have to wait for delivery. Only a one to two day wait on delivery! I was surprised to say the least.

This is Joe's Crab Shack down by the yacht basin. Closed for some time.
After all the touring and shopping we worked up a hunger and found McAlister's to be open for business on Sea Wall Blvd. We had a real nice lunch and a great visit.
We started outside but found out that the flies owned that area. Since the storm has stirred up all the trash on the island the flies are real bad....there is no room for the mosquito's now..LOL. This is what is left of the City Park on the Gulf shores. Once this was a real nice place to stay. It will be a while before it will open again.

We will return to Galveston the 2nd week of November and will keep you updated on our progress. For now I have to retire for the night and will join you again soon...

Somewhere in Time

The List is made and the plan is going forward

We arrived in Galveston around 2:30 PM which was later than the plan had called for. We had hoped to get there around 12:00 noon but we had so much to do here that we could not get away that soon. We had to go to the bank and get out some money go to the pharmacy and get Sherri's drugs take the rent car back to the car rental and then we were ready to head out. At least we missed the traffic here in town by leaving later.

When we arrived in Galveston we noticed signs of the storm still remain. A total clean up will take some time to complete. June and Jim's neighbor hood looked like a slum because of all the trash that has yet to be picked up. What appeared to be run down houses were really what was the result of the storm winds and tide surge.

Jim and Jun met us out in front of their house with grins on their faces. They were happy to see the Calvary arrive. Believe it or not the two of them had done a heck of a job cleaning up the mess inside their home. Things were clean and neat and most all the trash had been carried off from the front of their house.

We did not get down to business upon arrival but decided to spend some time visiting and drinking some wine and beer while doing so. We did talk about how we would set out in the morning to make a plan and a list of things that they wanted done to the house. It is important that you ease into these things so you do not have an overload right off ...LOL After our visit and tasting the fruits of the vines June invited us upstairs to partake in a delicious meal she had prepared for Sherri and I. It was great...thanks June... A little more visiting after dinner and then we all decided to turn in so we could get an early start on making our material list.

Sherri was up first and got our coffee going. We sat for a while and drank coffee and then proceeded down stairs to start making our list. We had to get this done before the trip to Lowe's to price the cost of things. We are replacing all the exterior and interior wall board... putting in a new closet with shelves...repairing one outside wall and installing a new door jam in that wall...building three closet door openings and installing three closet bi-fold doors in those openings... replacing shingles on the roof...and replacing the master bedroom ceiling. I have set aside two weeks to get this job done and hope we have time to spare.

After all the materials were listed we were off to Lowe's to get pricing and find out how long it would take to get these supplies delivered. But first before stopping at Lowes we wanted to head over to the Island to see how much damage was done. We drove to the Strand and the Boat Docks which had been hit so hard. We then drove toward the West End to see what had happened down there. We were surprised that the West End did not show as much damage as I thought it would. I have some pictures to leave with you...I need to get to bed so I can go to you know what in the morning.

Boat Storage barns collapsed in the high winds and tidal surge
This storage barn burned during the storm and of course no emergency services available.
Trash pick up is a daily process here in Galveston and it will go on for some time.

This is what is left of the Strand...nothing is open and wont be for months.
Another business shut down for repairs
Eating establishments are shut down indefinitely
Boats are scattered all over the town like this one. This is someones income and it is going to cost a lot to get it back to work. It will take Galveston a lot of hard work to get back on line. We are here to do our small part to help that happen. Stay in touch and we will keep you up to date on our progress....

Somewhere in Time.

One Last Entry Before We Head Out

Just a quick Hi and Bye before we head out to Galveston. Sherri and I got up early and drank our coffee and made the plan and now it is time to carry it out. I just wanted to tell all of you that I will get some pictures and have them ready to view Monday. May all of you have a great weekend and we will see you soon....

Somewhere in Time