Time to Head South

 

This morning the alarm was going off….Why?? I have no idea…I guess because I forgot to unset it last night. Sherri had no idea how to turn my alarm off so I had to get up and find the remote to turn the darn thing off.

Sherri was fixing the coffee by the time I got the alarm shut off so we just stayed up. No since in trying to go back to sleep after all the turmoil. We settled into our recliners and waited for the light to go off on the pot so we could pour the first cup. AHHH that first sip was heavenly. I came to and was able to form some words that you could understand. The morning was officially underway now.

Today is a moving day so we are going over all the things that we need to do before we start on them. Kind of a mental list that we do on moving days. Talking about them reassures us that we still know what to do in order to move from one place to the next.

After coffee time was over it was time to get moving. I got up and got dressed and then headed out side to start the unhooking task. I realized that I forgot to top off the tank in the truck last night…so it was off to the station to get diesel. When I got back I finished up the outside chores while Sherri waited for me. We were on the road by 9:30… by any means a good start on a travel day.

Our GPS said that we would arrive in Marksville by 12:30 and it was right on. We got checked in with our PA rate for 5 days and the rest of the stay would be at the regular rate. We are staying here for two weeks for under $250.00. Not a bad rate for such a nice park with all the amenities it has.

When we arrived at our assigned site we noticed that our neighbor had his cable TV line stretched across our pad. That was not going to work…and about that time I saw the park host driving around in his  golf cart and flagged him down. He called up to the main desk and had use moved one site over. OK now we could get settled in. Sherri and I both by this time were hungry…not having eaten any breakfast. We made a fast set up and grabbed the first passing shuttle to the casino.

The Casino here in Marksville has really made a lot of great changes over the last 12 years we have been coming here. One of those changes has been the buffet. It is all new and very spacious with good food at a reasonable (lunch) price. We ate a little of everything and did not over do.

Next it was on to the Promotions counter where I got a new card and Sherri cashed in her points and got a few cards to fill out for the drawing. They had a $100,000.00 drawing…that by the way we did not win…so we are still poor. We had fun on the slots for a while and then decided it was time to go home.

We retreated to our house and got comfortable. We watched TV for a short time and  I noticed that Sherri was asleep so the TV went off and I sent her off to bed. We had a wonderful time today and thanked the Lord for delivering us safe on our journey….

Somewhere in Time

Sherri Returns Today

 

This morning I woke up at 5:00 am for no reason…other than that is the time I am used to waking up. I really did not want to get up so I just flipped the switch on the coffee pot and crawled onto my recliner and fell back to sleep. I thought I had been asleep a long time but the clock on the wall showed me that it had been just 30 minutes. Well that was all I needed because I felt so much better. Funny how just a quick nap can make you feel like a million bucks in your pocket…How does that feel? I’ll never know.

OK I had to catch up on my journal reading… so first I had to do the dishes and gather up all the dirty clothes. I separated them out so I could take them to the laundry later after I ate my breakfast at the casino. Sherri had told me that I should go there and eat so I was following instructions. It sure is better when she goes with me.

I read a few up-dated journals….you can always tell when folks are on the road and having fun…their journals don’t get up-dated too often. What does that say about mine. It is up to date…does that mean I am not having fun. Well you could say so…without Sherri here and all our neighbors have left…need I say more.

Journals read it was time for me to shower and take off to the casino buffet for breakfast. Breakfast is $6.99 for seniors with a card. Not the cheapest breakfast I have ever had but you do get all you want and they have a good selection of food there. I had eggs bacon hash browns sausage and a biscuit with gravy. Was it good…so good I had to go back and have just a tad more. Coffee and orange juice to wash it done with…All is good here.

Off to the casino floor to hook up with that winning slot. I found just the one that said, “Play Me….Play Me”. So I did and I read it wrong because in 4 hours it had taken my lucky $5.00. Man what a bummer! I am broke! What will I ever do without my lucky $5.00? I will be lost without it. OH BOO HOO…I will have to wait until next pay day to get me another $5.00….that wont be until the 25th of this month. That will be a long time without the slot button to push…maybe Sherri will spot a $5.00 until then.

Speaking of Sherri she will be home here soon so I better get my house clean. I don’t want her to have to do one thing when she gets here. She deserves to rest and relax after working all morning and driving home. I will see you tomorrow after we get loaded up for our move to Marksville and the next adventure…

Somewhere in Time 

 

Macho in Shreveport

 

I was awake at 5:00 am as always except this morning I did not need to be up that early. My head was pounding and I went to the medicine cabinet to take some Excedrin for the headache. I laid back down and slept for about an hour more…but when I woke up my head was still hurting.

That told me that it was time to get up turn the coffee on and get this one underway. I am hoping that today will be sunny and warm so I can do some of the outside chores I have lined up. Yesterday was windy and overcast and I really cannot get motivated on those kind of days.

This morning my plan is to go to the Casino and eat breakfast. I will order me an omelet and some orange juice. After I eat I am taking my lucky $5.00 bill to the slots to see how long I can play. I try not to spend more than $5.00 a day gambling when I am at the Casinos. Most of the time the parking is free so Sherri takes her share of the camping site budget and I take $5.00 and we entertain ourselves. We are so ingenious when it comes to stretching the budget.

I got all the way over to the casino and had forgot my card, which I needed to get the discount on the breakfast. So first thing I had to go to the desk and get me another card and then back to the buffet line. Well there was no line so I was seated real fast and soon found myself in the omelet line. I ordered an omelet with everything except the peppers and olives. Man was it good. I had a tall glass of orange juice to go with that and when I got through I was packed just right. Not too full and ready for the slot tour.

I walked up stairs to the 2nd floor and found me a slot that looked like it would pay off. I slipped my $5.00 in and soon I was up .50 cents…time to cash out. I got up all the way to $6.00 dollars in about an hour and then it was time to get crazy and I started  betting 3 lines at a pop. Soon I was back down to my original $5.00 and once more it was time to cash out and head home. WOW…two hours of excitement for $0.00. You can’t ask for more than that.

I was reading my mentors journal today…

http://www.wanderingamerica.com/index.html He was saying something about attending a men’s Fellowship….here it is…

I started the day with a men's fellowship group at Dick Bishop's house.  We are watching a video series by John Eldridge entitled "Wild at Heart" which deals with men re-establishing their masculinity (his assumptions are that somewhere men have lost it to women but, I'm not buying it - it's made him a lot of money though).  Oh well, the video is well done and they do some neat "men" things

I am right there with Darrell…where does this guy get off thinking that men are loosing their masculinity?

Oh well I did not stay on the computer long. I had house work to do before Sherri arrives tomorrow. I had to clean the bathroom and do the laundry. I must think up something for diner tonight and tomorrow so Sherri wont have to cook. Gee I better vacuum the house and get the dishes done so I will have time to darn some of those socks of mine that I have been meaning to get to for some time….

To think that guy talks about men’s masculinity! What does he know anyway.

That is about it for this day here in Shreveport. I think tomorrow I will do another breakfast and see how long I can stretch that $5.00 again. Maybe I will hit the big one…

Somewhere in Time

Sherri is off to West Monroe

 

5:00 am the alarm went off and Sherri was up with warp speed. She dashed down to the kitchen and put the coffee on and then sat down in the recliner to wait for the finished product. When the pot had filled Sherri got up and poured herself a cup so I followed in behind her to do the same. We turned the TV on to see what the weather would be like today. I was hoping for clear sky and sunshine. Well that is just what the weatherman said we would have….but it never came so that is one for the weatherman.

Sherri got ready and I zipped up her suitcase and loaded it and the computer in the truck for her while she put her shoes on. I got a quick peck on the cheek and she was out the door. I would not see her again until Thursday afternoon when she would return home. I will miss her company these next few days. I could have  gone with her but then she would have to short cut here expenses to keep me fed. I would rather her enjoy the time she has with her friends and that way she can eat good and not have to worry about me.

I will be OK here by myself as long as I can scrounge up something to eat. I really would be better off if I did not eat a lot. I could loose some weight and it would be to my benefit. I have eaten way to much these past two months and I really need to start back on my walking and exercising program that I was following. Maybe when I start working I will loose some weight.

I got the clothes together and started another load of wash. Sherri had started one before she left so I just have to get another load or two done and then head over to the laundry mat to dry them. I too must think of something to fix today to eat. There is some cleaning to do and caulking that I need to see about.

Weather station is hung outside…now if I can only remember to bring it in when we move.

As the day progressed I dumped the black tank got my laundry done and hung my weather station outside. It is so dreary outdoors that I cannot get motivated to do anything. Jennifer, my daughter, called and we talked for some time. She has a phone that has the Internet on it so I can send her stuff. We discussed how that worked and she told me she would send me some pictures of the kids when she had a chance.

Jennifer is a law officer in Van Zandt County Texas..I am proud of her

I too, was once a law officer…she is a chip off the old block.

While I was talking with her Sherri called so we cut our conversation short. I called Sherri to see if everything was OK. She and Brenda, her co-worker were on the way to the mall to shop. See if I had gone with her she would not have been able to go and do those things. It is better that I stay back here and allow here to have some fun. When you have to work all the time you need to be able to get out and enjoy yourself.

Well that is it for this day. I will spend the rest of the afternoon thinking of something to eat. Not much to report now that all my neighbors and my best friend have left me here. Maybe I will go over to the Casino tomorrow and eat breakfast and take my lucky $5.00 bill. Who knows I might hit it rich and be able to retire…

Somewhere in Time

Going Our Separate Ways

 

Oh yes it is raining here…this is the calm after the storm

I knew Monday would get here sooner of later and Sherri and I had hoped for later. Today our neighbors leave for Jackson Mississippi. They have to go there to get their home put back into working order. Just like any stix and brix our homes have things go wrong and you have to have them repaired. Unlike a stix and brix we have to take them to be repaired. This is one of those times for Mike and Leslie.

We were up at our usual time…5:00 am and coffee was the first order of business. Sherri had the honors this morning due to the fact that I was being oh so lazy. I notice a noise that I had not heard in some time and it sounded like rain. I looked out and sure nuff it was rain and lots of it. Wow such a deluge and poor Mike had to hook up today! I did not envy him at all. I sure would give him my full support from the window here.

Wind is picking up and it is getting colder…OPPS there went my dish!

The rain was suppose to head out of here by noon. Maybe it would be far enough ahead not to hinder their travel. I know I don’t like driving in the rain with a trailer behind me. If they time it right they will be able to set up in the dry when they get there. We will see…I am sure it will be on Leslie’s update tomorrow.

Sherri got out of here at 6:30 and called me when she got to work. I like for her to call me so I know she got there safely. With the rain and being in Shreveport I worry about her driving. She did call me and I fell better knowing that she is safe. She said that she might not be there all day due to the amount of work they have lined up. That would be great if she gets back before long. With the neighbors leaving I will feel all alone here. Sherri and I have fun doing little of nothing but then we have always been able to make the most mundane adventures the most exciting ones. I will be glad when she gets home.

I will really  be glad when she and I will always be home together. Right now we have some hills to climb but I know that the future holds the freedom to travel together and enjoy this beautiful land and all the sights it holds. I hope to have my best friend for a long time to come and I also hope that we will uncover all the adventures that are on the roads that we travel…

Somewhere in Time

Sunday at the Casino

 

Park at the River on the Shreveport side.

We were up at 5:00 am this morning. We have to stay in practice for the work week so when that time rolls around we go ahead and get up.

Sherri was the first one up this morning. I was glued under the covers and could not free myself. Once the coffee was near complete I found the strength to pull myself up. Something about the smell of coffee that will put you on your feet and get you going in the morning.

What was the plan for the day? What would we be doing this fine morning to add to our adventures here in Shreveport. This has been a fun trip here to the casinos and we have all done well with our money. Leslie being the biggest winner but really all of us have stretched our funds out to last and really had fun every day.

This morning we are planning on going to Sam’s to eat the half price breakfast and then walk over to the El Dorado to play the slots. Mike said that he might play a little Black Jack if the tables are right.

Sam’s Town and the El Dorado Casinos

After we ate our breakfast…which by the way was really good and way too filling…we walked next door and started playing. It was about 12:00 noon when we got there and it was about 4:30 when we left! I could not believe how long we were there. I started off with $5.00 and ended up with $5.50. I played all that time with that much money and never missed a lick. If any of you out there would like some lessons on gambling on under $5.00 all day just sign up and follow me.

We all rounded up and took a walk down the river to the park. Leslie and Mike had never been to this park and I wanted them to see the river from this side. We had walked the Bossier City side week before last and now we were on the Shreveport side. It was a nice day and the walk did us good after setting in the casino all day.

As soon as we got back to the truck we started making plans for dinner. We were all still feeling the effects of the breakfast buffet so buffets were out. We all decided to find a light dinner and then return home to visit. This would be our last night together for a while and we wanted to spend some time just setting and visiting.

IHOP was the place of choice and we all had a small portion of food. Senior Specials all around was the cry. Then it was home to Leslie and Mike’s for a short time before we called it a night. Sherri and Leslie of course were a little emotional…after all this would be the last time they got together for a time. We all said our good-byes and Sherri left there saying that she could not look back because she would cry…so she did not. Wow it sure is hard having to tell friends good-bye after having so much fun….

Somewhere in Time

Bossier City Adventure

 

 Looking out the window at my desk I can see the railroad bridge. It stays busy all day and night with trains crossing the Red River.

This is from the same window but a different direction. You can see the Red River behind the  trees.  

We had a long day yesterday and this morning we were not in a hurry to get up and get started. Sherri was still sleeping when I got up. I fixed the coffee and turned on the computer to see where everyone was for the day. It is so cool to see where all our Dreamer friends are and what they are up to.

Soon Sherri came alive…about the time that the coffee had finished. She poured her a cup and came and joined me in the living room. She jumped on Bejeweled to see if anyone had overtaken her. She was still the leader and this made her happy.

We are waiting for our neighbors to come alive so we can go eat breakfast. Plan is to go to Sam’s Town to eat the half price senior buffet. I am sure there will be some slot play as soon as breakfast is done.

Sure enough there was slot play and Leslie struck it rich. We played until 4:00 and that was all I could take. I had maintained my own and was even for the day but I knew if I kept going it would be downhill from there. Leslie kept on playing…as well she should. The machine she was on kept paying off and going to the free spin so she was racking up a lot of cash! The machine finally cooled off after about 1 1/2 hours of play and she decided to cash it out.

We left the casino and headed back to the park to decide on a place to eat dinner. Applebee’s was chosen and we went in that direction with the help of our GPS. We had a real good salad for dinner. By the way Leslie and Mike bought our dinner with some of the land fall cash they gathered up at the casino. Thanks guys it sure was nice of you to do that…We owe you now. Then we returned to our place for ice cream and conversation.

What a great day with great friends. We will have to do this again…

Somewhere in Time

Friday the 13th and we are on the Road Again

 

Mike cooked Pork Steaks out on his grill our last night in Tyler.

Were they yummy

This morning we were in low gear and moving real slow. We are moving today but we don’t have to leave until 12:00 noon. So Sherri and I are taking our time and enjoying our coffee and making plans for where we will stay in Shreveport. As soon as I finished my coffee I started looking into places to stay. I started making calls and found out that there was no room at the inn.

Sherri started fixing breakfast and by that time I had decided to stay on the parking lot at Harrah’s Casino. I called Mike and Leslie and told them that we could not find any room at any of the RV Parks. I told them that we would probably boondock and if they wanted to they could join us.

Mike was not in favor of doing that so he and Leslie started doing some research of their own. I had mentioned that Diamond Jacks RV Park had some back ins that they might fit in. Leslie called and found out that they did have one for them so they were going there and stay. We would just drive to Harrah’s and stay there until Sunday when we could get into Diamond Jacks. Mike and Leslie will be leaving for Jackson Mississippi on Monday so they can check in at a service center on Tuesday to have some work done on their RV. While  there in Jackson they would look up the other part of the Dream Team…John and Bridget.

So we all pulled out at noon and headed to Shreveport. The drive there took about an hour and a half. We split up at the Diamond Jacks exit and drove to Harrah’s. About the time we got to Harrah’s Leslie called Sherri and told her that they had some cancellations and that we could get in if we wanted to. OK so we turned around and headed back to Diamond Jacks. We got a back in spot that was just fine and got parked without too much problem. We are backed up to the river and the train track. We got everything set out and unhooked and we were ready to go to the casino and get our free buffet.

First stop after arrival…Where else

Do they look excited?

It did not take any of us too long to play the needed amount of points into the machines to qualify for the free buffet. Sherri had to help me due to the fact that I don’t play enough money to win the points needed. So I am a cheapskate. I got my free buffet and that is all that counts.

We had a lot of fun and we all walked away with their money. We will all be able to play tomorrow and that is a plus. We are planning on going to some other casinos tomorrow and see if we can stretch our luck…

Somewhere in Time

Reflections from a Dreamer

 

Never would I have seen a rose so beautiful...Had I not met you.  Stay the course and always keep your dreams close to your heart….Speedy

Making our dreams come  true

What is your dream and how can you make it come true. Our dream has always been to live in an RV and travel. See the country and explore places we have never been. In some ways we are doing that now…but as you know Sherri is having to work a while longer to reach our goal of safety. I have been traveling along with her while she worked so hard to get enough saved up to pay for her insurance until she could retire. This is when I got to thinking that if I were to go to work with her and put my earnings in the pot she could travel so much sooner. What was I thinking. I have come to the decision to hire on at the same company she works at and help her reach her goal.

Yes you read me correctly. I have plans on doing some resets with the same crew Sherri is working for. I have given this a lot of thought and have come to the conclusion that if we do this a while that we can put together enough to allow Sherri to quit work and travel. We would be working 3 to 4 days a week…much the same as work camping but we would be going to different places and seeing different things. Work camping would confine us to one location and we would still have to put in about the same amount of hours. I see this as a win win for us and a way to get on the road that much sooner.

Many of the Dreamers out there are already doing this. Some work 5 to 6 months and then move on and some work 3 months then go somewhere else and work 3 months and so on. In much the same way we will work the same amount of hours but will do it in different towns and States. We should not have to do this very long. With the both of us working we will reach our goal in a shorter period of time. Then we can strike out and enjoy our freedom.

Not having insurance in this day and time is a scary thought. I know you can understand our feeling on this. Really noting will change as far as our travels and adventures. I will, however be spending some time working but the thought of helping Sherri will make that not so much a chore.

The point I am trying to get across to anyone that might read this…is; Don’t think you have to go full force into traveling. There are those out there that need a boost to get them over the edge before they can cut all the ties. Look at all the options before you make a decision on how when and where to fulltime. You don’t have to be independently wealthy to live your dream you just have to be able to dream….

Somewhere in Time

Veterans Day

 

Don’t let the memory of these brave soldiers  fade…

This day started out as many do and progressed through the coffee ceremony into the part where Sherri leaves out the door and I say good-bye.

Saying good-bye brought me to remember that this was veterans day which took me back in time when I had to say good-bye to family. In those days a good-bye could be a forever thing…no one knew if you would ever say hello again…not in this lifetime that is.

Standing at the gate in the airport with my Mom looking up at me touching my face for maybe the last time. Thinking that I would never feel that touch of real love again…made it hard to hold back the emotions that where filling up in my heart. The strong handshake from a Dad that had been my protector for a big part of my life was the last bit of encouragement that I would have for some time to come. I remember so vividly that moment in my life when I turned and walked toward that plane that was taking me to an overseas destination that I might never have a return ticket from. I dared not look back for fear that they would see the tears that were streaming down my cheeks. I had to suck it up…for I was an Airborne Ranger…and Rangers don’t cry.

I tell you this so you can think about those soldiers that are leaving this very moment…going to parts of the world that they may never return from. Think about the fear of love ones that may never see there Son Daughter Mom or Dad again. That my friends is a fear you will only know when you go through it.

Upon returning to the World…as we called it then…I had to wear civilian clothes so that there would not be a protest at the airport when I got off the Freedom Bird. How sad is that. Keep this in mind as you celebrate this Veterans day. Somewhere there is a soldier longing for that touch from Mom or shaking his Dads hand once more before called to heaven. Maybe he is staring at a picture of his Daughter or Son…who in his mind he may never see again. Yes this is what serving your country is all about. Doing it to keep what we so often overlook alive here….Freedom.

As I read today…our freedom does not come from the President nor the Congress…our Freedom comes from that soldier that is facing up to the evil in this world. Keeping it over there and not allowing it to come here.

Today, as many days in my life I think about what our soldiers are going through. I pray that G O D watches over them and keeps them strong and delivers them from the valley of the shadow of death and back into the World…

Somewhere in Time

 

Laundry Day

 

 

This morning was real quiet…Sherri and I did not say many words to each other while having our coffee. Sherri has to go to work and this was my laundry day. Time to get all the clothes done for the week. With all this in mind we just sat there comatose for a while. Soon it was time for her to get ready and time for me to get the first load out of the machine.

I spent until 12:00 noon washing clothes and still have them to dry yet. The laundry mat here at the park seems to be full up for now so I looked on line to see if there was one close by that we could just drive to. I found one down the loop from us so we may just give it a try.

Laundry Mat was empty so we just landed here to do the wash

We were there almost 2 hours…time enough for Mike to wax the truck.

On the way out the gate we drove by the laundry here and noticed that it was empty so we just pulled in there and unloaded the laundry. They have two washers here and two driers. I had drying to do and I took two machines while Mike and Leslie took the two washers. We started doing laundry at 1:30 and finished about 3:45. We took the clothes by the house and then headed to Wally World to get some fixens for dinner. Mike and Leslie were going to eat their leftovers from the Texas Road Ho and I wanted to fix Sherri some salad with chicken sprinkles.

When we got to Wally World I tried to call Sherri several times to find out if there was anything else she needed at the house. I finally got her on the phone and added to my list of things to pick up. I found out that she was already home and we must have just passed her on the highway to town.

While at the store we ran into two RV-Dreamers Larry and Janeen. How cool is this. Janeen recognized me…Can you imagine anyone recognizing little low profile me. We struck up a conversation there in the aisle and found out that they were staying at the same RV park we were at! WOW…what a small world this is. We invited them over for drinks later and they excepted.

What are the chances of meeting RV-Dreamers in Wally World?…Better odds every day as our numbers grow.

We had such a nice visit and found out a lot about each other. Leslie and Mike came over after they finished their dinner and joined in the conversation. Larry and Janeen, thanks for dropping by and sharing an evening with us…

Somewhere in Time