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

Hitchen Up

Well today we pack er up for the trip to Wills Point and our new base camp. I have so much to do this morning but I thought I would take some time to let you know that once again I will be out of Internet range until next Monday. I have to return to work on Monday so we will have to come back here and park the RV on Saturday. I wish that we were leaving and not coming back but that is not the case dear friends.

I am not sure what all the plans are for Thanksgiving but as soon as they come together I will log them in here and post for the week Monday night. I wish we had Internet down in the country but we don't so I will just have to post every day and then upload all my post Monday.

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving...and we should be thankful we can enjoy this freedom we have to live this life style. It wont be long and Sherri and will be partaking of that freedom....

Somewhere in Time

Getting Ready for Turkey Day

So many of you are traveling now and it really is making me sad. Only because I can't do it too. At least I can set here at my desk and read your post and travel along with you. I look at the pictures and place myself in them and I feel like I am there with you laughing and talking about what a great time I am having. Thank you all so much for including me in your adventures. I will make sure you are all included in my every move. I will try and return the favor and entertain you to the fullest. I hope that my adventures will be as exciting as yours are and that you enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed all of yours. Each journal that I read gives me more ideas of places to go and things to see. I, of course pick up on all the free stuff you all go and do. That will be my adventure...seeing all the free sites out there and from what I can tell there are plenty out there to see.

Sherri and I were talking last night about where we want to go first and we still have so many places that we just can't make a decision. Oh I am sure that it will all come together here once we really pull out.

I do know that we will be in Kerrville on the first of March for two weeks and If I have left my job by then we might plan on going to Colorado?? We will see...I like making plans in Jello they can be changed so easily. I know that I want to be where it is cool in the Summer and warm in the Winter...which by the way reminds me I need to clean out the summer close in my closet today before we leave for the kids house.

We will be pulling the RV for the first time since we got back from the Rally. That has been a while. I have to check the lugs and the gear underneath to be sure all is secure. I have a lot to do tomorrow morning. I have to put the hitch in the truck load all the stuff that is going to the barn out of the RV and put it in the truck dump unhook the satellite....GEEE we probably wont pull out until 10:00 am but that will be OK...we can be sure all is ready.

Really I am kind of excited about getting to go somewhere. It would be nice if I got to do it more often but then that time will come and then I might not want to move so much?? LOL One thing nice about it is that we really never leave home...isn't that the greatest feeling. You don't have to pack a bag and worry that you might not have brought your XYZ stuff...it is all in the house and you are hauling it down the highway.

I will get to try out my new electric hook-up when I get there and see if it is working. Check the voltage drop and make sure all works OK. While the RV is there I can see where I need to put my pad for the tires and the landing gear. I will also see where I have to place the pads for the rear jacks. I will have plenty to do this week so I will not get bored at all. And the most important thing is that Sherri and I will go get our free turkey at Kroger's and cook it so I can have turkey sandwiches!!! Yeah!!! Life will be good...

Somewhere in Time

Man that Turkey was sooo good now for a little nap

Back at Work but not hard at it.

OK I know I have been remiss in posting and I know that you know so I will not make any excuses. I am at work but as the title of this entry suggest I am not hard at it. I just can't pull myself to be hard at it now or later or anytime in between! These days are getting longer even though the sun is not up as long the days drag! I know as soon as I retire they will fly by and I will wake up somewhere and wonder what happened to my life??

I have been trying to catch up on all the journals this last day or two and have not been on the chat in soooo long! I miss getting to bug all of you on chat and will try my best to get on tonight for a while. Sherri is getting ready to leave again for Arkansas and we have so much to try and get done before she leaves...it is hard to get things put back together when we have both been absent from the RV for two weeks and you only have a short time to get caught up.

We bought a new program for Sherri's computer last night. We got the Home Architect so she can design an addition. We had one, years ago, that she used to design our last home we built. It has been stored away...no telling where...so we got the new one and I will load it up for her tonight. She can start planning the room addition to our daughter's house now. She needs extra bedrooms and this is our last building project so Sherri wants to do it up right.

Yes the last building project. I don't think my body will hold up to more than one. Jen has 5 children in a three bedroom house and she needs to move some of them out of her bedroom. This will get one or two of the children more space and Jen a sanctuary of her own. Frank and her have a large front porch that Sherri thinks she can take part of for a nice size bedroom. The roof is already there and all we would have to do is the floor system and the three walls. Sherri will start that design tonight and I told here to have several designs for them to look at so they could choose the best one.

Well it is nice having a mother and father that can do this kind of work. There is a large savings in doing it all yourself. I think we will both wait until I retire to start such a project. I would hate to start something like that and then have to stop and go to work. No...we will wait and do it when we have the time and the weather is nice. That is another thing about being retired you can choose the time to do things when they are more comfortable to do.

Well I guess I better go...they keep bringing me things in here to look at. Don't they know I am busy posting...

Somewhere in Time

Last Day In Galveston

This is it...what ever is left to get done has to be done today. We are leaving in the morning and we have to finish today. Sherri is leaving Arkadelphia today and should be here before dark. I told her I did not want her driving after dark. She will be calling me as soon as she gets on the highway and it is 7:14 now so I should be hearing from her.

I think all we have left is the trim in the Den area and Jim and I will tackle that this morning. He has some electrical problems that I need to look at for him and also he has a vanity down in his office that he wanted me to help him install. Other than that I think we will have a wrap here before the day is done.

I have enjoyed my stay here even though it consisted mostly of work. I did get to visit with June and Jim and met some of their great neighbors. They live in a nice community and are very lucky to have the support here of all those around them. Sherri and I can't wait to get together with all the friends that we have made over the last several years with RV-Dreams. It wont be long now and we will be able to spend some time with all of them at the "Gathering".

I am so far behind on all my Journal readings and I need to get to reading them. I miss reading about all the things that have happened to everyone and the trips they are on keep me pushing ahead. Sherri and I have to start planning our destinations here real soon. We have so many places to go and see I don't know where to start.

OK the clock on the wall says it is time for me to take my shower and get ready for this day. I will catch up to all of you very soon...

Somewhere in Time

Really Winding Down

As the title reads...Winding Down...not the job...I am winding down. This has been a long two weeks... and I am starting to feel the results of all the work. My muscles are sore and I feel tired at night when it is time to hit the sack. I have no trouble in falling asleep. Hey this is good...I want to feel this way. I need this type of exercise all the time to stay in shape. I hope that I can find someway of exercising after I retire. More along the lines of hiking...HE HE HE

We are on the last few projects now and should finish them up by Friday. Sherri and I plan on pulling out of here by Saturday morning and heading to Wills Point. I will only leave them with
the painting and cleaning up. They will be able to move back into their bedroom and straighten up their house. June said yesterday that she was tired of looking at all the mess. I know what she means. Sherri went through that when we were building our home. The only difference is when we got finished with the mess we moved out and sold the house.

Oh well that is about all that I have for you today. Not much excitement here. We ate pizza watched a movie last night and turned in. Tonight may be more of the same. I know you can't wait to see what we do...LOL Hey there is more excitement...

Somewhere in Time

Electrical and Doors

Well it is Wednesday morning and it is still raining here. They had severe weather north of here around Lake Conroe and of course the first person I thought about was Ms Penny. Penny I hope you are OK today. I will try and get on chat tonight and check in with all of you.

It has been so hectic around here. Sherri is gone so if we need something from the store I have to go with June or Jim so we will get the right thing. Not that they can't do it but it helps if someone goes that knows what you need and know what it looks like. Hey they are learning...I'll have to say that.

Today I start wiring the lights in the closet and then the shelves and finally the doors go up. I am coming to the end of this project...right on schedule too. We have added projects to the original list as we go but still we have managed to stay on the plan and get the things done that we needed to complete. When Sherri and I leave they will be on their own to paint and finish out the little things that will be left.

Overall it has worked out real well. You know in remodeling or just plain fix up work you always run into problems that were not seen in the initial planning. In this project, however, we have had little surprises and very few slow downs. I am happy the way it came together and I think that Jim and June are pleased with the outcome.

Jim and June have been so gracious to us. Yes we are down here to help them but they have gone overboard in trying to make our stay as comfortable as possible and have seen to our every need. Thank you both for that.

Ok I have downloaded some pictures to show you all the progress. Many of you who have been here to their house will recognize some of the shots here and see the new items we have added. I hope that you enjoy seeing them as much as Sherri and I have enjoyed building and installing them. It is time to ride the wave out of here for now but I will see you...

Somewhere in Time

This is the boat dock that was under water about 6 feet to be exact.

June's new front wall and door. This wall was blown out by the water surge so it had to be rebuilt

View from the inside with the new closet on the right still needing trim and shelves. Also I am installing lighting in the closets.

There will be three closet doors and shelves in two of the closets and a clothes closet on the far right.

This is Jim's new office wall and T111 siding to finish out the inside. He will leave it unfinished

This is looking at the closets from the front door back toward the stairs that go up to the second floor. This area will also have the T111 siding but it will be painted a color.

This is the new bedroom ceiling. The old one had caved in due to a roof leak. Sherri painted the ceiling and did the trim out....Good job baby!! June you have to do the rest I know you can.

Rainy Morning in Galveston

It has been raining here for the past two days and the temps have dropped along with the rain. The humidity is still high..even higher with the rain. The water is dripping off the roof just outside the patio door where I am setting to do this entry and I am feeling very much alone...Yes Sherri is gone again...off to Arkadelphia....leaving me here to work on my sister and BIL house.

I am just about finished with the things that we had planned on getting done these past two weeks. The down stairs of their house was wiped out by the high tides during hurricane Ike. Not much was left of the walls and very little of the belongings they had stored down stairs. We have managed to rebuild all the outside walls and rebuild the closet that they had in the den. I have some pictures of the before and as soon as I can get back to my computer I will show you the after pictures.

They have cable Internet here and for some reason Sherri nor my computer will connect here?? I guess it has something to do with the way they have their set up. If it is at all possible I will try and download some pictures on this entry. You will see them if it works.

Sherri will be returning here on Friday afternoon and by then I should have all my tools gathered up and ready to return to Wills Point where we will drop them off and then head back to Dallas. I will have to return to work on Monday...GRRRRR! Such is life until May!.

Sherri said that she got on chat last night and talked to some of you. I could not get on because of the cable going in and out due to the rain. I will give it a shot tonight and see if I can hold a connection. Well until that time I guess I best finish my coffee and get to work. I have to try and put some pictures on here so we will see. I will be with you later....

Somewhere in Time.

Jim and I start out with all the energy in the world and ended up without any...LOL

Not all was work. We do have this view in the evening while sipping on a cold one. Nice!!!

Just another shot of the canal they live on.

This pile is still going down.