Rain is here again

 

 

Nice time out with the kids.

Woke up this morning with rain hitting the roof. I could feel the RV moving a little with the wind. We have more wind than rain and when it hits the trees it blows the accumulated water in the leaves onto the RV and you would think we are having a down pour.

After the second round of water pellets slapping the roof I decided to get up and get some coffee going. I went back up stairs and took my shower and got dressed. I was a little tired this morning due to the fact we were outside late visiting our son and his new wife. We took them out to dinner at a Chinese Restaurant that Jason had suggested. We had an enjoyable time with them and ended the night at their home.

Jason and Susan have put together a real nice home. We are so happy for the two of them. Many hours of work have gone into the house and the end results are very pleasing to the eye.

 

Jason and Susan's home

Their neighborhood

Jason being his funny self...love the hat son.

Susan is working on furthering her education in education. She is working toward a masters so she can pursue a principles job and on to superintendent of schools. We are very proud to have a daughter with so much ambition.   

We will be working today and if it rains who cares. The only thing that I don't care for is the fact that I have to drive in the rain to get there. When you're inside you don't know what is happening outside...and really don't care.

The day was a long one with having to work at two different stores in two locations. We got home about 5:30 after stopping at Wataburger for a sandwich. We ate and watched our soap opera and then read blogs on our computers. We have been looking for a winter location for some time now and this was one of the projects that I had been working on. Some of the places we looked at had waiting list as long as 7 to 8 years...well you know I would be too old to go there if I had to wait that long.

We did find some SKP parks that looked real nice with shorter waiting list but we will continue to look until we find the right one. We want to lease not buy. If anyone out there has information on nice parks with lease options in warm winter climates give me a shout.

Better get out of here now I have some blue jobs to get done before the next rain hits...

Somewhere in Time

Nice Warm Night and a move to the site with "It"

 

 

This is our new site down the road from where we were. We are on a point with the lake on three sides. This is one of the nicest in the park. We will be coming back here for sure.

We slept with the AC on last night. It has been warm here at night lately. Last night I think the low was in the mid 60's. When we woke up it was nice and cold in the bedroom. I really did not want to get up this morning. I heard Sherri down stairs so I decided to go ahead and get up. I was just laying there playing like I was somewhere far away with a view of the mountains. If I get up and go to the window my dream will end...so I just laid there for a while.

OK it was time to shake hands with reality so I managed to get up and take my shower. I looked straight up out the shower stall skylight and noticed it was cloudy. I could see the limbs of the trees swaying and knew that we were on the verge of some weather...what kind?

I finished my shower...made the bed...got dressed and went downstairs to get me some coffee which Sherri had prepared. We commented on the fact that we have been drinking motel coffee for two weeks and it was good and cheap too. We have a co-worker that collects the coffee out of his motel rooms and we do too so we have a good supply for the month.

Sherri was at the computer and so I sat down at mine and started reading journals. There are so many that I have not had the chance to read in so long! I read and read trying to catch up with all my good friends out there. So many of witch are traveling back up north...east and west. We on the other hand just circle like hawks looking for their next meal.

Next week we will be on company expense and will not have to worry about meals. We will leave our RV here and travel south and stay in a hotel for the week. All expense paid trip...with one catch...we have to work. But then not that hard and we get to eat real good.

Today we have to move sites within the park. We will be staying here through next week and the only way to do that was to move to sites that were available. We had to go by the dump for the black tank and then headed over to our new site. We are now right on the lake and what a great site it is! I wish we could stay here for the week but it is only available through Sunday and then it is reserved. We will have to move across the cul-de-sac to another spot on the lake.

This is the back of our site...appears we are in the wilderness

This is the southern view from our site

This is the northern view. Here I set this close to water and no boat!

We sat around most of the day just reading and then did some cleaning. For the most part we did nothing at all and enjoyed it immensely. We look forward to more of these days...

Somewhere in Time

The lake is calling me

 

Good morning...and I do mean it is a good morning. We have clear sky and warm temps here in north Texas and I hope to get out and enjoy it today.

I have some issues with the pollen that has collected on my RV and I have to get it off. This has been a heavy pollen year and it shows on everything around us. There are places on top of the RV that are so green I thought it was growing. I have worked on the truck several time but it is back so once again I must get it cleaned up.

Being in so many RV parks that do not allow you to wash your RV is causing a dirt build up that takes longer to clean when I can. I hope to be out at the barn in a few weeks so I can give everything a good cleaning.

I did get the inside of the bays cleaned...well I have the rear bay to do...but for the most part the inside of the RV is looking OK. The truck on the inside is clean but the outside...that is another story. I will be getting it clean soon. We have had a lot of rainy days and washing seems fruitless.

Sherri and I walked yesterday around the park. We took some of the trails here and enjoyed the cool weather. We really need to get back into our walking program but with working we have fallen off. We both enjoy walking and feel so much better after we do. Staying inside your RV all the time is not good for you and it makes you feel bad...Get out and enjoy the outdoors whenever you can...that is what this life style is all about!

We worked today and when we finished our set we went back to the Lewisville area to eat some lunch. We stopped at Soup or Salad and had a great meal. They have the best chili there and I topped it off with two of the best gingerbread cakes I have had in a long time.

When I got home I just had to kick back in the recliner and take a nap. I will have to get to that back bay...

Somewhere in Time

 

Back in the Groove

Staying on Grand Bayou Louisiana

Sherri and I woke up to an overcast day in Louisiana. We were down on Grand Bayou this week at a family reunion. We have a reunion on the 3rd Sunday in April each year. All the family gets together and we visit and go to the cemetery to place flowers on all the graves.

Our back porch here with the Bayou off the lake in the background

This year we met at the campground on Grand Bayou...which is a privately owned park that was once a state ran park. It was not a state park but just ran by the state. Well it has all the attributes of a state park and even the rates are comparable and a really beautiful park to boot.

Looking back from the lake up the hill to our campsite. Really a nice site...I really did not want to leave.

 

 

We had a good time and really rested for a day. Our campsite was far from the main camp which was OK because we had a great place. We drove all day Friday to get there and then spent Saturday and part of Sunday there. Then it was back on the road again.

Cleaning out the bay...gotta have room for that boat

We headed to Lewisville...which will be the center of our work area this week. We like this area and really enjoy the park when we get to stay here. I will be spending some time in the next few weeks cleaning and getting some things organizing.

 

Always wanted a view out my window like this

That all happened yesterday and now it is Monday and we are just setting here relaxing. Tomorrow is back to work so we just want to do nothing today. I'm setting here looking out my side windows at our side yard. What a beautiful view we have. I just love it here and having this view is so relaxing. The lake is calm and my boat is still in the barn! I would be out in it if I had it with me. I will be loading it up next trip to the barn.

We are starting to plan our trip to Chimney Rock. We will be heading out in that direction in September. We plan on making it a 4 day trip up there and then we will stay for however long we want. I am not sure what park we will  be staying in.

Not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow but I knew that would come back around...

Somewhere in Time

Hello

 

We were up this morning early as usual and I could hear the highway noise...first time since I have been here. Must be the way the wind is blowing. We are on the north side of Interstate 30 so the wind must be out of the south today.

I had prepped the coffee last night so when I got up all I had to do was flip the switch and viola coffee in minutes.

While it was brewing I took my shower and got things ready to leave for work. We have a pretty long day ahead of us so we need some extra coffee to get going :) They provide free coffee to all of us every morning but it is so strong I can't drink it. \

We have about a 30 minute drive to work so we kind of get ourselves up for it while going down the interstate. As I said we really don't have to work that hard it just takes us some time to get the mind ready to W O R K

Last night Sherri did two loads of laundry and then after American Idol I took both loads to the laundry mat and dried them. While I was there I found some fishing magazines on the counter.I opened one of them up to read while the clothes were drying. As I was reading I got the strong urge to go fishing again. I took my boat out of the RV and left it at the barn. I need to go get it and put it back in the bay. I must make some time for me to go fishing again.

I still need to get me a battery for the trolling motor. It has been over a year and I have not got one yet. That will be high on my list for this coming month.

OK better go now and get this thing posted...See ya....

Somewhere in Time

Back to Work

 

These are our Kansas boys...They are growing so fast...can't wait to see them

OK Sherri and I were up and going this morning (Monday) and having coffee talking about the day ahead. We have a full store set this week and it will take some time to get it done. This means that we will have to put in some long days. I will have to say this before you start feeling sorry for us...this is not that hard of a job to do. In some ways it is a lot of fun...designing shelf layouts. Each day is a new day and a new set.

We have to drive a ways each day because we are staying in the RV this week. When we travel far from our home base we stay in motels and sometimes we have to travel a ways there too. This time the store we are working is not that far from Wills Point so we moved the RV as close as we could to the store and drive from there.

All is well with this working gig. We are getting closer to our goal and our comfort level is growing. We look at it as though we were work camping somewhere. With this job, however, we don't stay in one place and the routine changes somewhat. The money is much better too.

Well I have to get ready to head on out this morning (Tuesday). We will be stocking coffee...you know how I love coffee.

Yes I read all the journals about the rally and I am soooo jealous of everyone that got to go. We could have gone but the time constraints would have made for a lot of stress. This should be the last year we miss the rally...so we will see you there...

Somewhere in Time

Having too much fun

 

 

We arrived at our new park and settled in.

Sherri and I have been real busy entertaining the G-kids this weekend and I fell behind on my posting. I know many of you are at the rally and I envy you. Sherri and I both wish that we could have made it this year...but as things would have it we have other obligations.

This is our campfire we had with the kids at our previous location.

Sherri and the kids enjoyed the campfire

Next weekend is our family memorial in Louisiana. We would not have been able to make the trip to the east coast and back in time to be at the reunion on the following weekend. Well I know this will be the only one we will miss from now on...good Lord willing.

The weekend with the G-kids was fun. I had told you that I was buying Kris a bicycle but that did not pan out. We took him to Wally World and once on the bike he decided that it was too scary for him. He is a little skidderish when it comes to things like that so I will have to  buy him one and take time getting him use to it.

The bicycle did not happen but we did get them a wagon that they  both enjoyed

We did by him and his sister a wagon. We put them in the wagon and pulled them all over the park. This was fun for them and good exercise for us. Lord knows that Sherri and I need all the exercise we can get.

Sweetpea would not let Sherri put her down the entire weekend

Well she did let Sherri put her in the sink for a bath

Well all good things come to an end and Janet came and picked the kids up Sunday about 2:00. Check out time was at 2:00 so we loaded the kids up and they went home...we headed to the dump. It did not take long and we had the trailer dumped and were moving on down the road.

We reached the next park about 4:00 after missing our turn. Yes the sign for the Campground had been run over and we missed the road and had to stop at a truck stop and call. They knew the sign was down but failed to tell us. Oh well we made it OK and got set up.

Without the kids Sherri and I had time to relax and soak up the quite

We sat around outside for a while and then I grilled a steak out and Sherri made her a TV dinner. I had spinach with my steak. It was good and fast to fix without too much clean up...which was right up Sherri's alley after traveling all day.

My new gas grill...and does it cook great!!

We watched 4 episodes of Justified and then Brothers and Sisters. Then it was time to call it a night. We closed our eyes and dreamed of wondering in the desert...

Somewhere in Time

Moving like gypsies

 

We have been up every morning early to get somewhere. Yesterday we got up early to leave Louisiana and go back to Texas. On the way we stopped in Shreveport and ate breakfast. After breakfast we visited the casino for a few $'s and then it was back on the road.

We arrived at our RV park around 2:30 pm. We got unpacked and Sherri began to wash clothes. I sat down and watched Ghost Hunters which I had been recording for some time. When Sherri got her wash done she came in and we watched all the Young and the Restless we had recorded for the past week.

It was getting late so we decided to go to Ochoa's Mexican restaurant to eat dinner. We had a good meal and retreated to the Wally World for some supplies. When we finished there it was back to the RV park and time to get ready for bed.

Thursday...we once again got up early and drank some coffee. I sat at the computer for some time reading journals while Sherri played her game and then worked on the check book. Before we knew it...it was 10:00. Sherri finished up the last little bit of wash and I took it over to the laundry mat to dry. We will pack all this back in the suit case and be ready for this evening when we go to Sherman Texas to work.

We got everything done and started getting the RV ready to move to Lake Lewisville. It will stay there while we are working in Sherman. Then we will return to the the lake for the weekend. We will have the grandkids Friday Saturday and Sunday. I plan on giving Kris his new Bike this weekend and then show him how to ride it.

Well that about does it for now. We go to work at 7:00 in the morning so we have to turn in...

Somewhere in Time  

In Louisiana

 

 

First stop...Diamond Jacks Casino

Sherri and I were up a little latter than we had planned but we had stayed up a little later than planned. The kids had dropped by to say good-bye and they visited with us until 12:00 midnight. We are glad they stayed and we had a good time. Frankie...my youngest granddaughter wanted me to play with her and she ordered me around until I was wore out.

After they left we got ready for bed and turned in. It did not seem long and my eyes came back open. I looked at the clock and noticed that it was 6:30. I jumped up out of bed and went down stairs to make coffee. Sherri was up and we had a cup together and discussed the fact that we had overslept. We had planned on having breakfast in Shreveport and Diamond Jacks Casino. They stop serving at 10:30 so we cut our coffee break short and got ready to go.

We had packed all our clothes the day before so all we had to do was get ourselves ready and load the truck. We did that in record time and soon we were steaming down the highway.

 

Excuse the bugs on the windshield...we were not about to stop once we got going

Traffic was light and we set the cruise control on 75...yes I know that is speeding. We made it to Diamond Jacks for the breakfast. I ordered my omelet and Sherri got her one too. We made short order of them and then went to the boat to gamble.

We spent 2 hours gambling and ended up spending $1.00 on our entertainment. Now that is a cheap date. We had a blast but it had to come to an end. We jumped back in the truck and headed south down the highway. We arrived around 4:00 pm and checked into our room. We have a real nice room with two double beds. Should get a good nights sleep so we can be spry in the morning.

We first stopped at the Comfort Suites only to find out we were suppose to be at the  Comfort Inn.

We got that all straightened out and checked into the correct Motel

OK that should catch you up on this exciting adventure...

Somewhere in Time

Exploring Paris

 

You can't go to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower. The one on the left is the one Sherri and I went to...it is in Texas...DUH! :)

 

We took a trip downtown to the square to see the old buildings there.

The 1917 First State Bank is for sale in Paris...must not have applied for the bailout.

Not sure when this old theater shut down but it was a neat building

 

Sherri and I at the tower ...yes that is sunshine you see.

We had an enjoyable time here in Paris. Even tough we were up here to work we  did take time to go exploring. Paris is a nice town to visit and see the history. We had to leave our home on wheels and stay in a motel. It will be good to get back to our little house...

Somewhere in Time

Bullies in Schools

 

Sherri and I got to sleep in late this morning but at 4:30 the phone rang and it was my youngest daughter calling. She didn’t know that we did not work today. She was ending her shift as a patrol officer and wanted to talk. The topic of conversation was my granddaughter being bullied at school.

Jennifer sent us a video taken by one of the students in Emily’s school of a girl picking on Emily in the hall. The girl was the ex-girl friend of Emily’s new boy friend and she was confronting Emily and trying to intimidate her. The conversation got a little heated and the girl pushed Emily down. In a matter of seconds Emily was back on her feet and the battle was on.

By all indications from looking at the video Emily got the best of the girl and had her on the defensive right off. Now I don’t condone fighting in school but more so I don’t condone bullies. This girl, from what I understand, has been after Emily ever since she lost her boyfriend. The battle in the hallway was the final straw for Emily and that is when the fight began.

You know this goes on in schools all over this country and we have taught our children …through the liberal education classes to be a kinder…more gentle people. Well this is the end results of all that type of thinking. Our children have been softened up to not fight back when bullied. I don’t know how many children have committed suicide due to unrelenting bullies. Now I may get blasted for saying this…but I think we should stand up to bullies as we have in the past and not let people walk over us.

http://theweek.com/article/index/201372/Phoebe_Prince_and_the_bullying_phenomenon

Now Emily and the little girl were suspended for 3 days for fighting in the hall. No one looked into the facts behind the fight and never will. This is another travesty. If you are provoked into a fight and defend yourself how is it fare to be punished? I don’t think any punishment is required here…the little bully got her due and Emily will not be provoked again…WIN WIN…end of subject.

OK nuff said about that. We are off today…found a set down restaurant that serves a real breakfast. You know those are harder to find now days. If you want a breakfast you have to go to a fast food place. We had a good breakfast…but it was a smoking restaurant and I mean smoking!! We left there full but we smelled like a tobacco shop. We stopped by Wally World on the way home to get some Fra-Breeze. It was nice to spray down and rid ourselves of that smell.

Not much going on today…but I am sure we will come up with something to do. Stay tuned for tomorrows post and I will try to have some pictures of Paris. Until then we are out making an adventure…

Somewhere in Time