We're still here :)

Wow it's been a month since I last posted, there has been a lot of nothing going on still. While Dave has been busy working as much overtime as he can I've been keeping myself occupied with a very relaxed life. Most days I've been staying around home, if I work it is for 5 hours or less a day, so far this season I've put in about 165 hours, I expect to put that many more in again before we leave. Looks like it'll average out to a little less than 20 hours a week for the site.

The campground has been busy since the end of June, the holiday weekend went off with out a hitch. Lots of young shoppers, gallons of ice cream scooped, ice and firewood flying off the porch all kept the store was kept hopping. Last weekend was another full weekend with a local baseball tournament going on, lots of tent campers some came prepared with 700 Jello shots. Our fears of trashed bath houses and torn up sites were unfounded, by 11am Sunday all the weekenders were gone. The past 4-5 days we have had the Hudson Valley Allegro group here before heading the FMCA rally in Essex Jct VT.

I worked on the 3rd & 4th of 4th of July but over the weekend we had company. Saturday we had friends out, Les & Deb provided most of the fixings for a shrimp boil, thanks guys.

We even had overnight guests, friends Mike & Carol pitched their tent in our yard and stayed a few nights.This worked out great since the next morning we headed out for a canoe trip on the Lamoille River. Unfortunately I forgot to put the card back in the camera so had to use the Iphone instead, most of the pics didn't turn out well :(

And then we came home and had pulled pork for dinner.









Dave's foot continues to improve slowly, the addition of the lift to his other shoe has made walking in the cast much easier on his back. At work he keeps the cast on but while home he is going with out it more and more.
My father has been released from the nursing home and is back resting at home, he reads the blog so I'm sure he'd second me saying again,  thank you all for your concern and support over the past few months.

So aside a lunch date with my girlfriends, some reading of thousands of pages in numerous books over the past few weeks, the usual running around that life requires and working a few hours ere and there not much else is going on. We are making notes of some of the places folks are traveling this summer, a file we hope to take out and use in a few years. 

Until next time...  whenever that might be :)

This and That

Yes it's been awhile since I last posted, since we are stationary for 5 months and working as much as possible there's nothing too exciting for the blog, customers are not adding any fodder either.  Dave's friends on Facebook are missing his story telling, guess this is the semi part of semi retired. We've talked of doing a few things but haven't, we did go to one farmers market and got a few goat cheeses, it was more about going for a ride instead. Since Dave is putting in as many hours as possible, unlimited overtime for him, we usually keep him off his foot as much as possible on his days off. So we are living a regular type of life right now, another 3.5 months and we'll have the wheels moving again.


Dad

The blood clots he had in both his lungs and legs have been aggressively treated which has resulted in my father feeling much better, I knew he was doing better when he started reading. He was transported to a nursing home near my folks home, thanks to my cousin Richard for bringing my mom home, dad will stay in the nursing home while he regains strength and starts PT. They were told by dad's doctor that most folks don't make it through what dad had gone through, how grateful I was to be able to call him on Father's Day. Again thank you to all who have kept us in their thoughts and prayers your support is much appreciated.



Father's Day Weekend

The week prior to Father's Day was one of getting ready for our Father's Day BBQ that was on Saturday. A huge shopping trip to Costco for the campground, two grocery carts filled to overflowing, sure glad it wasn't my bill :)  A morning spent getting huge quantities of potato and macaroni salads made and as much prep work done as possible.

It was  my weekend to work at the camp store, we had a full campground, the Champlain Valley Roadrunners who are a Good Sam club  had 19 sites, there were a few small family groups-some regulars and we were full up. An ice cream social for the club Friday evening-after the ones who still had to work made it in, 40 people served in 20 minutes by Robin and I, a quick shift.

Saturday was the BBQ, the morning was spent getting the final things taken care of, my shift started at 3pm, dinner was served to 80 people starting at 5:30, by 7pm most folks were done. Dave got home around then from work and came down to have dinner while we cleaned up. Another quick shift. 

29 Years

Sunday, Father's Day was our 29th anniversary, I've known Dave 32 years, it's hard to remember a time when he hasn't been part of my life. We've gone through much but have come out stronger for it, no matter what we've made it through as best friends.We both had to work so a quiet small dinner was in order when Dave got home from work.

What a good husband :)

Dave's Birthday & Dr's appointment

Tuesday the 17th was Dave's birthday, it was an OT day so he headed into work, since he had a 3pm dr's apt he didn't work too late. After his doctors apt we picked up a couple of pizzas and a cake, we had a small celebration at the camp store with a few of our good friends from here at the campground.
 
Dave has been in the boot for 6 weeks, he usually has it on unless he's sleeping, driving or sitting around when he takes it off. He's worn out one sole so we ordered him a few extra, we are waiting for a piece that will attach to his regular shoe to lift his other leg up. He's been getting some back aches and his sciatica has been acting up, since he's going to be in the boot for awhile longer we decided to invest in the lift up attachment. His dr's apt went well, they have added some flex to his ankle as he will slowly try to transition back to shoes over the next 6 weeks. We talked with his doctor about taking all summer to try and fix Dave up, if surgery is going to be needed we discussed having it done while in TX this winter. The doctor is originally from San Antonio, he worked in VT until the mid 90's went back to TX, then 2 years ago came back to VT, he has lots of contacts in Corpus Christie so finding a doctor there will not be a problem. So we will be in a holding pattern for awhile,

This & That

Our friend Lesman - saying hi to our blog friends

We've visited with friends here and there, Les & Deb came out one Sunday for some serious (not) spade playing, our friends Mike & Carol surprised me with a short visit after I got off work on Father's Day. They were out on their motorcycle and stopped in to say hi.
 
All of our vehicles are legal, finally, now I'm not "stuck" here when Dave goes to work, it will be nice not to have to do all the errands on his days off.

Reading blogs and books, visiting around the campground and yes some tv time are my activities right now. It's our weekend off so hoping we can catch up with friends, got some ribs to smoke on Saturday, weather looks good for a fire.


Until next time...

Updates

June 1

Faye's FB post:

Chipmunk 1+ (he got into my trail mix )
Dave 0

Just saw him scampering across the lawn from the neighbors rig, traps reset with peanut butter instead of cheese.

Dave's FB post:

I quietly got out of bed at 4:30am being careful not to wake up the queen from her slumber. Slowly I walk into the kitchen area to see what treasurers I may have caught in my traps, in my mind picturing the bulging eye balls and a broken neck of this creature that has been menacing the queen. The little bastard CHICK monk was able to get by my defenses and traps, entering the queens palace. It ate the cheese I had in the traps without setting them off and also ate the queens trail mix just to piss her off. Chipmunk 1 Dave 0, time to rethink my plan of attack. Made a couple strategic adjustments to my traps, reloaded with a secret bate mixture I been working on the last few years and reset the traps. Time to go to work and hopefully I be having CHICK monk for dinner, females ones are more tender.


Faye's FB post:

Chipmunk 2+

Dave .5

Came home to find one trap untouched, the other was moved across the floor and is nestled in between my shoes, don't know where the little devil is. Dave will have to work on his traps, the queen wants some peace in her palace.


Dave's FB post: 


The queen just got home from work and was reporting in on the CHICK monk status. She said one of my traps with the secret bate mixture that I've been developing over the last few years specially gear toured chipmunks was tripped and dragged around the RV. It got lodged in between a pair of the queens shoes and the critter got away. I asked her to take any hair, blood or semen samples she could find for examination when I get home, but she refused. It looks like I'm in this battle by myself, the queen wants nothing to do with the capture and or demise of the beast that I'm after. Chipmunk 3 Dave 0.5, I got some of it's hair and possible semen samples but Faye won't taste it to be sure. Time to rebate the traps with the secret special bate mixture that I have been formulating for the last couple of decades. I think the little bastard is laughing at me, this is WAR

June 2

Dave's FB post: 


The Chick monk is nowhere to be found. Got up this morning hoping this time to get more than just hair samples in my trap with my special secret bate mixture that I've been developing for the past 25 years or so, but nothing. Went to work today, overtime, gotta keep the queen is the life stile her has become accustom to and when I got home still nothing. After discussing the situation with myself, we come to the conclusion that the chipmunk realized the he was dealing with a superior intellect and was in a battle that he couldn't win. We believe the chipmunk was a male that was attracted to Faye because of the semen stain that was found on her sneaker. We also believe the chipmunk is ok, he was seen outside with a hairless bent tail and rejected look on his face. Time for him to find himself a chick monk so he can forget about Faye. I will keep the traps set for a couple more days just in case.


June 3 

Faye's FB post:

This morning Dave got up before I did, OT day for him, I got up just before he left. I asked him if he'd checked the traps, of course he hadn't so I peaked around the corner to one of the traps. All clear, time to move on into the living room and check the other one, oh my it's been moved, that looks like a body caught in it. Turned around and headed to the bedroom, time for my hero to handle this, soon I hear from Dave "are you sure it was a chipmunk you saw" and while I could swear I saw a stripe on the creature I saw this one didn't have one. Seems we've caught a mouse, still alive-nose had gotten caught, and Dave had been sitting in the living room while this thing probably flopped around a bit. Just goes to show you how aware men really are of things around them, at least some of the time. We still have the traps baited and set, just in case the word had been spread about access to Malouf's rv. Hope this is the end of this story. 

Dave's FB post:

Got up this morning before my queen awake to make sure the RV was clear of any dead bodies that may be in one of my traps bated with my special secret bate mixture I've been working on for the last 30 years or so. With my eagle like vision, I spotted a large rodent in the far trap way on the other side of the room and it was still alive. Knowing my queen would be waking soon, I ran across the room, diving on the massive critter, risking life and limb, killing it with one mighty blow. I dragged the creature to the garbage, with a thud it landed in the can. When the queen awake and enter the room, I greeted her, taking her hand, guiding her to her favorite chair. I told her that the beast the tormented her was dead and never to return again. I'll keep the traps set for a couple days just in case.

1 Mouse gone.....

On another note, my father continues to be hospitalized, blood clots were found in his legs and lungs. IV's were started to clear the clots in the legs, a tube was inserted into the lungs to dissolve the clots, he has pneumonia and has coughed up a small amount of blood. Dave and I are hanging tight here, Mom sounds good on the phone. She is staying in a hotel that has a direct shuttle to and from the hospital, if it's after hours the hotel security will drive her back and forth. The hotel is within walking distance but guests are strongly advised not to. Thank you everyone for the thoughts and prayers, your support is greatly appreciated.

Dave has been working some OT, trying to get as many dollars in the account while we're here. My hours are picking up, this is our weekend off so visits with long time friends are planned. Next weekend the campground is booked solid, we have a large group in, they've taken 19 sites, there is a BBQ on Saturday for Fathers Day and an ice cream social for the group on Friday evening. 

Until next time...

Update & An Intruder

What a difference a day makes, thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, it amazes me how in a year our sphere of friends has grown over the last year, there is of course the friend we have known for years-most of our lives but in the last year we have added a few new circles to our lives there is the friends we have made through this blog, some of whom we've had the pleasure of meeting the rest we hope to someday somewhere. Then there is our Gulf Waters RV Resort (GWRVR) family that we have become friends with, many of them we keep in touch through Facebook and many of them live in the IL area, some of them have offered up places in their S&B's or some have offered hookups at their homes for our rigs. We got more than just a lot when we bought our lot this year, we have  All of the outpouring of care and concern has been greatly appreciated, thank you one and all. 

part of our new GWRVR family

Friday early evening Mom called, Dad is doing better and the immediate danger has passed, water is being drained off the heart. Test are to run to figure out why an infection is lingering and what damage has been done to the heart, I did talk with both of them and both said for me to stay put, we shall see what the happens over the next few days. I was working the evening shift when Mom called today so she left a message, it seems Dad has an enlarged heart and of course awaiting still more test results. So for now I'll stay home and wait to see what is needed.

Today didn't go quite the way it was planned, Dave left as usual for work bright and early, I settled in for some computer time. All was going well until I caught a movement in my peripheral vision, earlier I thought I had seen a movement but had chalked it up to a reflection or such,  I looked and saw a little furry body with big eyes looking at me then turning scurring back under the slide. I let out a surprised sound (read scream) that I'm surprised no one heard, thankfully the little body had a stripe so I was pretty sure it was the chipmunk hanging around here, but I don't like furry little things in my home. Time for a back story here, in February 2012 to escape the winter depression of VT we headed to the FL Keys for a few weeks, upon returning we found our bedroom had had mice taking advantage of our absence. For days and weeks we were finding birdseed piles throughout our closet and dressers, but by far the worst part that evening after a long day of driving as we were going to bed we found abundant evidence that the mice had been in our bed while we were gone. Needless to say I have no love for small furry rodents who find their way into my house, but mice trap setting doesn't fall into any of my job categories. Dave was called and told to get some thing to take care of this problem, we're still with out a second legal vehicle right now.

My Facebook post;
  Dave has come to rescue me from the chipmunk that found it's way inside the RV

Dave's Facebook post;
 Had to come home from work early today after getting a frantic phone call from my Queen saying she was being attack by a HUGE chick muck in the RV. So I drove the 50 minute home, on the way I picked up beer and mouse traps. I pulled up to the RV to find the Queen sitting on the deck with the door wide open hoping the critter would come out on it's own. The first thing I did was to comfort my Queen who shaking and in partial shock from her dramatic experience with the creature that was still in the RV, possible in her bed. After calming her and telling what the cost was gonna be for saving her, I started in on the dirty deed. I peaked in the door, scanning the terrain for any kind of unwanted intruders that my be lurking in the shadows. I check the whole RV and found nothing. So I set two traps and put a repelling shield around the RV that only lets in the desirables. I gave the Queen the high sign that her palace has been purged of the beast that was trying to harm her and of the protective measures I took to keep her safe. Now I want payment!!!!!!

Since it was such nice day Dave decided to not go back to work and enjoy some of the beers he picked up. While I went to work Dave took a slow stroll around the park and let the seasonal folks know about my traumatic morning, tonight was pot luck dinner night. Guess who took a lot of ribbing at dinner. 

The only place Dave saw that the chipmunk could have come in is through the seals, looks like some one got more that they expected.

So for now we will wait to hear what my folks need and hopefully we'll have no little new friends.

Until next time...

Just waiting

I know I haven't blogged recently but not much is really going on, hanging with friends and working. Well today I planned to do a blog catch up and on thoughts from our winter but it looks like that will wait, I've received news my dad is in the hospital once again. He has never completely recovered from his hernia surgery we had when we all were in Nashville. The last time we talked he was still having to use a catheter and he was having some trouble breathing, last night he was taken by ambulance to the local emergency room in Effingham IL. Today he is being transferred to Springfield where there are heart specialist, my cousin Dennis is taking Mom to Springfield and getting her in a hotel she can taxi to and from the hospital.With out my cousin Dennis and his wonderful wife Nancy living in the same area I would worry more about my folks. I am not sure at this point but am considering I may be leaving Sunday for IL. Looked at the cost of flying, cheapest was $700 one way, think I'll be getting some more seat time in the Ridgeline. 

My Dad has been a strong supporter of our life style change, once we told him our plans he and my mom were behind us 100+% even though this would mean a whole change to their lives. My folks retired in VT because we lived there, this was 1999, we had lived in VT for 6 years and at that time retirement and our wants in it seemed a long way off. Once we left while they would have good friends there would be no family there, our sons and my brother all live in very large cities and they did not want to live or drive in a large city they wanted a small town. They have chosen to move back to IL to my mom's hometown, my cousin (my mom's nephew) has welcomed them into their immediate family and includes them in all the holidays. Because of this it makes our lives on the road less stressful, we know someone is keeping one eye on them. I used to spend summer days hanging out at cousin Dennis' house, he had three younger brothers who were nearer my age who always let their cousin from out of town hang out with them. On our travels prior to the rv if we were going to by anywhere near the area we would stop for a day or two and spend it with whatever family was available, many times it was with my cousins folks, everyone else would be working and we would see them for a dinner usually. We are planning on going through the IL area at least once a year, either going north to summer some where or south to the warmth.

We have spent many vacations with my folks over the years, because they lived so far away they usually came to see us for 2-3 weeks at a time, Mom would even come on her own each year for a few weeks, usually in the spring and we got my gardens in with the help of two young grandsons. Later years would find three generations going on a road trip, along with my brother and his family we would spend a great two weeks exploring CO and the 4 Corners area. This year my folks are thinking of spending time in Port Aransas, where we will be this winter, during the holidays prior to their heading to Englewood FL where they hope to spend a few months with my aunt.

2004 3 generations

So for now my heads not into doing any other blogging, just waiting on phone calls. I have to work this afternoon, it's shouldn't be too busy, thank goodness I just don't feel like being around too many people right now.

my folks at our wedding-1985

my folks Oct '13

Until next time...

Settling In

One weekend involved lots of Switchback

As it rains I'm trying to figure out where the last 11 days have gone. We've entertained our friends, smoking a few things and drinking some local beers.

some really good smoked ribs

smoked chicken

                                                           

Note to Dave-always take a second photo

We've reconnected with our original neighbors in VT, Doug and Dianne Zybrands were going to be in the area for a conference they were attending. Thanks to Facebook we stay in touch but we hadn't seen them a few years and they wanted to check out our new lifestyle. Our older sons had been good friends back in elementary school, our younger son Tom had a hard time saying their last names and always called them Mr & Mrs Eyebrows. We enjoyed the few hours we could spend with them.



Dave has been wearing his boot for most of the day and he does take it off at night though the doc said he should wear it to bed.  His heel does feel better but of course there are the side effects of walking unevenly. Other than working, getting plants planted and a few things done around the site Dave has been taking it easy as he should.

I have been getting a serious reading fix in, I was asked what I like to read, for the most part I read fiction-mystery, female authors with a female protagonist. Light hearted authors like Janet Evanovich, Sarah Graves and Diane Mott Davidson to J D Robb, Kathie Reichs and Dana Stabenow and lots others. I read for total enjoyment and escapism, I grew up with out a tv so I've been a member of one library or another all my life. Time to go get restocked.

my commute

I've spent some time working in the store over the past few weeks, some days there is just nothing going on, I always take a book with me to help make those days go by a little quicker. The campground has been quiet the first two weekends, only one or two sites occupied and the seasonal sites were slowly filling up. All that will change on Friday, we are booked solid for the holiday weekend and the weather doesn't look like it wants to play nice.We have just a few sites left for 4th of July and that's just because of cancellations, Labor Day weekend all of the best sites are spoken for and for the rest of the weekends we look to be busier than last year. We have a number of groups that have made reservations for various weekends, then with some of the special activities that are planned things look to be shaping up for a decent year.

their site just behind the bird bath

Talked with our friends from GA whom we visited back in March, they will be heading this way on Tuesday and should be here on Friday. Their site is just down the hill behind us, not too far to go for an afternoon adult beverages or two.

Grass is growing

Spring has come to Vermont, the leaves have come out and the grass is starting to grow. We've had a mix of rainy days mixed with days in the 70's, night time temps are staying above freezing and we haven't seen any white flakes coming out of the sky.





Got our first reservations made for the fall, we'll be spending a few nights in October at Comlara Park with our friends Mark & Nancy who live in northern IL. Our boys are planning visits to TX to see us this winter so we won't be putting on the miles like last year, we are also not getting to leave as early so once we leave IL we'll be heading southward, no westward states this winter.

Dave and I are off for the weekend but we'll be around the campground in case we are needed, our only plans are for Saturday evening when some of our friends come out for dinner and cards, I'm sure some of local brews will find a way to our table.

We hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day.

Until next time...

Where Did The Weeks Go, Much Less The Year

We have had a crazy few weeks getting settled in and catching up with a few friends. There has been rain just about every day since we arrived, they don't call VT the Green Mountain state for nothing, grass is finally starting to turn green, but the days have been cool and somewhat dreary.

Tuesday before we headed into Burlington we stopped at the Johnson Library so I could check out some real books, while here I will let my Kindle rest. Dave needed to stop at work to check in and make sure he had all the access he needed. mail needed to be picked up, a vehicle to get inspected and dinner with friends. We had a great evening catching up with our friends, made the start of some fun summer plans.

Found out neither the truck nor rv got registered correctly, both were to have the existing VT plates transferred to the new vehicles. One the paper work wasn't filled out properly and the other just ordered new plates, hopefully before to long we'll have the paper work fixed, always something, so for now we are down to one truck that is legally registered.

 

Wednesday we moved onto our seasonal site, they have just put down new pad material and some grass seed where some regrading took place, so the site will be a work in progress for a while.

Thursday was Dave's meeting with Heather, our own sweet hairdresser, she has been taking care of our family for 15 years. Dave only got his hair cut once this past winter, needless to say there was quite the deposit of hair on the floor when she got done with him. We stopped by Home Depot to pick up some tomato and herb plants, a stop at the grocery store, where we found we hadn't been forgotten. The afternoon was spent figuring out how our yard would look this summer, we have friends coming out with tents, with all the changes the site has undergone we get to choose the positioning of the fire pit. So hopefully the new grass in the yard will grow good and be coming in really nice in a few months when our visitors are here.

Thursday was also the first anniversary of our new lifestyle. When I pointed this out to Dave his first comment was where did the year go, we are so thankful we've been able to make such a life altering change at our ages. We have received so many words of encouragement from the folks we meet as we travel, most wish they had started earlier.

Friday was Dave's first day back to work, I got up bright and early too and rode in with him. It was almost like he was off to school for the first day, just wish he had a better sandbox to play in. My girlfriend Carol and I met for breakfast at the Parkway Diner in Burlington then we headed out for some shopping and errand running, after some serious dents to the wallet I ended up back at Carol's house visiting with her and her husband Mike until it was time to pick Dave up from work.

Saturday and Sunday had been rainy days here in VT, a small break in the early afternoons has allowed for some time finessing the placement of the containers for our soon to be garden. Some of the seasonal folks have started coming in, so many new ones this year but seems like a good bunch of folks. There appears there will be more people in the park during the weekdays, last year there were more younger seasonals who were only here on the weekends, with the amount here this summer we might have a bit more folks interested in some mid week gatherings. 

Monday, a dentist appointment for 3/4 crown for me, Dave going in for some OT, a little running around (returns from Fridays outing) and then a visit with my girlfriend Deb and her husband Les until time to pick Dave up.

Tuesday was the long awaited surgeon visit for Dave, only two options open to him, wear a boot for 6 weeks and see if it's better or major surgery and be off his feet for 6-8 weeks. He chose the lesser of the evils to start with, we show know in a few weeks if this is helping at all. After lunch I had to go back to the dentist, 45 min trip one way, the temporary crown the gave me came out.

Wednesday and Thursday Dave worked and I've been spending some time helping get the grounds and store ready for this weekends opening. We now have a few folks coming in this weekend, we have some friends coming out for visits and we have to get a few more things done around our site.

So I really don't know where the time has gone, if we're home and not working or outside I've been enjoying reading real books again. Catching up on all of my favorite novelists, it takes forever to get new books through our e-library and I've always been too cheap to buy books so I'm soaking in all the reading time I can. Since Dave is working and gone 14 or so hours on his work days I have plenty time to enjoy some serious reading.

Until next time...