The time is going.......

  I can't believe that my journey is only a couple of weeks from home. I have been 'wandering' around in North Carolina and am now in South Carolina where I will be until Sunday when I will visit with my friends in Kennesaw, GA. While in N.C., I spent a night at my friend's house  in Hickory and it is always good to visit friends. I discovered that my surge protector works correctly since I tripped the breaker in the house when I tried to turn on my a/c. After re-setting the breaker, I tried all my appliances while on generator and everything was just fine. It was cool enough at night to use their electric to run the refrigerator although I did have my propane turned 'on' for 'just in case'.
   I have discovered the reason for my 'sweating' freezer too and it is now 'fixed' because I had a container that was preventing the door from really being closed properly and now that I have changed that situation, my freezer no longer 'sweats' and all is good. 
    The things I have learned on this trip will serve me well for my future travels. I have more 'stuff' than I could ever need and when I get home cleaning out (house and Roadtrek) stuff is at the top of my priorities.
  

Kentucky, Tennessee

I am at my last campground in Tennessee. I am almost out of wine so I need a Walmart that sells wine and in Tennessee that isn't happening (I have a brand I like that only Walmart sells) so tomorrow I will head to North Carolina and have already put a Walmart Supercenter in the GPS!

   I have done some time in Kentucky and then Tennessee. The entrance into Mammoth Cave is only the start of a long, dry cave but fascinating. It was a lot of 'hiking' in the cave and then 'up' to get out of it.

I spent that night in a nice little place where I met a couple who live in Brisbane, Australia. They bought a used class C and are driving it to California where it will take a boat ride home to Australia.

Then I spent a couple of nights in a Corps. of Engineers campground that was on Lake Barkley, in Kentucky. It is a beautiful park.
     After that I headed to the Nashville area and stayed in a campground where they have country music on Thursday nights (the night I arrived) and dinner is available for purchase too. 
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                                                      I did tours the next two days (one in downtown Nashville and then the next day (all day) to the Jack Daniels and G. Dickel distilleries

 Notice that Jack was quite still during this photo op.
      After four nights there, I moved on to a place near Knoxville and then headed here to Bluff City, TN. As mentioned, I will head to North Carolina tomorrow - still not sure where from there.

September...already!

I can't believe it is already September! In the last week I have done more 'eastward' travel and arrived in Kentucky after some Wisconsin and Indiana. 

 This is Taliesin, the house built and lived in by Frank Lloyd Wright in Wisconsin. The interior designs and landscapes from this house are wonderful and a studio and school for selected  students of architecture exists to keep his ideas going.
   From this place, I drove many back roads and saw lots of corn being grown. I also found some Amish folks riding in their wagons including one who was in front of me and took a while before realizing that if he stopped, I could pass. I was in no hurry so I didn't mind the time frame at all.

I

I went on from there into Indiana and then Kentucky where I got to see the Mammoth Cave for a couple of 'hiking' hours. It is really quite interesting as a dry cave which goes on and on and on for many miles. The stories told by the Ranger were quite good about who started exploring this place.
    I spent that night in a small campground and met a lovely couple who live in Australia. They bought a used Class C and are driving it to California to be shipped home!

    I am spending a couple of 'relax' days in a Corps of Engineers campground that is lovely on Lake Barkley. There are only about 6 rigs in this whole place but a couple who just arrived told me it will be full for this weekend. I'll be heading to Nashville tomorrow.

Illinois now

It is getting hard to remember what I have written and what I have never gotten around to since the days 'on the road' blend together. I have done many 'one nights' and that does not make it any easier to remember the day I did which activity. I did get to Taliesin (Frank Lloyd Wright's house) in Wisconsin and also got to meet a couple of other Roadtrek folks who live in Hawaii but travel in the summer here.
    I, also, now have a semi-messed up computer which may not get totally fixed until I get home (October) so I will work with what I have and hope I do not miss anything (especially bills to be paid). 
   I am in a campground for two nights (need to rest sometimes) and will head out tomorrow.

To Wyoming

I have been driving daily but with some sights along the way such as Yellowstone National Park and their Grand Canyon.
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    The beauty is hard to capture in a photo from my small camera but you must believe me that this is a great place to see.
   I went on from there to Cody where I spent a night and then on to Sundance where I went to see the Devils Tower National Monument  (picture above) and the Vore Buffalo Jump (a large sinkhole where the Plains indians rounded up buffalo so they would fall to their deaths and provide food).

Here's one guy all by himself, resting.

       ---Today I am in Custer, South Dakota and will probably stay here a few days. Daily driving gets very tiring and in this campground, they do a barbeque on Friday night. The host here already plied me with wine on my arrival and I am one block from town so I can do some walking.

Oregon to Idaho

Hard to believe that I was not going to be traveling this summer and look how far I've gone! From Washington down to the Oregon coast.
   Then I headed inland to the big rally (Family Motor Coach Association/Roadtrek International) in Redmond. It was quite a surprise to discover that I would be 'boon docking' (no electric/water hook up) for the first time but doing it with about 70 other trek folks meant I had good support to learn this new type of camping.

     There were 2000 motorhomes at this rally with the 70 of us little ones. We were parked in an area up on a small hill overlooking the Expo/Fairgrounds but it was a hike to a real bathroom/shower. In fact, the shower was (as my next door neighbor called it) a 'gang' shower. There was no privacy whatever so, needless to say, with the hike and that factor I did more washcloth bathing than real showers. I prefer campgrounds where there is a hook up for electricity and water and will not boon dock unless I need to but now I am comfortable with it.
   My RT is second from the right the ones on either side of me are owned by 'solo' ladies. One is from Arizona and the other from Canada. The one from Arizona is the first where the 'fence' is because she had one of her dogs with her. There were, in fact, many dogs and a few cats too. I left on Saturday instead of Sunday in order to avoid the mass exodus.

    I spent last night in Fruitland, Idaho (further than I intended to drive) and tonight I am still in Idaho but (again further than planned) in Idaho Falls where I arrived after stopping in Craters of the Moon National Monument. This national place is miles of old lava that arrived when the 'hot spots' erupted (current hot spot is under Yellowstone).
   Tomorrow I will drive to Yellowstone National Park and if I can get into one of their campgrounds, will spend a night or two right in the park.

Washington

I am amazed at how many miles I drive but have learned that I am happy when I am behind that wheel so sometimes I drive further than what I have planned. This trip has been very 'loosey, goosey' anyway so I guess that is OK.

   Driving through Mt. Rainier National Park was magnificent. I was very impressed with the beauty of it all and how nature has provided this for us to enjoy.
  

Hiking in Glacier

Second day in Glacier found me hiking..this is St. Mary Falls and the photo does not do it justice.

To get across another creek formed by another waterfall, I had to walk over this two board (one railing) bridge. Was fortunate to have a hiking companion who I met as we got off the shuttle bus which dropped us at the trail head. It was a glorious day although I hurt the next day (hot shower helped).
   Today I am in Soap Lake, Washington which is a lake that has minerals in it which are supposed to 'heal' the body aches and pains and when the temperature rises a bit later, I will attempt it.
   Tomorrow I am heading to Mt. Rainier and hope to camp in the National Park.

Glacier

I am in a campground directly across from Glacier National Park and the scenery is amazing! Yesterday I did the Red Bus tour on the Going to the Sun road and am glad the driver was at that wheel and not me! I got to take great photos and learn about the park while not having to watch the twisty, not always smooth, road. There is construction going on to repair the parts of the road that are really bad and that means 'flag' men who stop traffic and make it a one way road in several areas. The trip started in St. Mary (we were picked up at the campground) and ends at the Lake McDonald Lodge almost the end of the road on the west side of the park. After lunch in the lodge, we returned and got to take more photos. I started out in a jacket and ended up not needing sleeves at all!

at the campsite

glacier made valley

Logan Pass view

scenery

Have many more photos -these are samples. I am planning to return to the Park today (walking, using shuttle inside the Park) once the clouds blow away. I was told of a nice waterfall that I can hike to (not too far)  which feeds the St. Mary Lake and that is the view I have from my campsite location.

Michigan to Montana

Hard to believe but I am in Montana! When I left Michigan, I spent a night near Duluth, MN and the next day did some vehicle maintenance at Jiffy Lube. Then I headed west and spent a night in Grand Forks, ND. I had intended staying in another campground further west but still in North Dakota but encountered, for the first time, a campground that was full! I thought I might have to spent a Walmart night when I got to almost the Montana state line because another place I called was also 'full'. So, with daylight lasting 'forever', I just kept going west and spent a night in Glasgow, Montana. I called a few places in my 'plan' and made reservations for Sunday night (near Havre, MT) and starting on Tuesday I will be in the East Glacier area for three days. On Monday night, I have not confirmed a reservation but think I will be in Ft. Benton, MT and can do some sightseeing there.

   Before leaving the ladies in Michigan, we spent a day in Calumet and toured an old theater there. The town was a copper mining town and even Sara Bernhardt performed there. I took a few photos in the theater.

These are in arch over the stage.

   

Michigan

Since I have had no internet I was not able to update my blog but I think it has been a week since I wrote anything. I am in Copper Harbor, Michigan and it is currently raining. Yesterday, after a nice stay in Mackinaw (did the carriage tour on Mackinac Island) at Tee Pee Campground including an evening with Becky and Corbin, I headed to Sault Ste. Marie and watched boats go through the locks before taking the Lock Boat Tour and going through them myself. It is interesting to watch the water rise and fall to allow boats to go onto the St. Mary River and either into Lake Superior or Lake Huron depending on the direction they are heading.

Then I realized that I had time (in the rain) to drive all the way to where my RT friends from Melbourne were ending a rally so I did that and spent the night with them including doing a potluck dinner (I stopped and got food for it). They planned to head here to Copper Harbor so I decided to join them and stay for a couple of days too. We ate in a restaurant for dinner and now have great left overs for another dinner tonight. This morning we all walked most of the town and visited some gift shops and then Nancy headed back to the campground while Judith and I walked to the boat marina and took the Lighthouse tour. I asked a couple from this boat ride if they would drive us back into town and they took us right to our corner. We had time for a bathroom stop and by the time we got into our vans, the rain started.

No more camp nurse

I left Frenchwoods on Friday due mostly to my 'cold' that just wouldn't go away while working 12-16 hours daily. I have headed west and am in a campground in Jamestown, NY. Tomorrow I will head to Ohio on my way to Michigan where I intend to go up the west side and return down the east side.
     My 'cold' is still with me but getting more rest and sitting in the sun today has helped alot. The weather today was perfect at about 81 degrees, sunny and a breeze too. I might even need a blanket tonight when it will be in the 50's to 60 degrees.
    Being a camp nurse was short term but I learned alot about the  job and myself and doing my RV travel is more fun which at this stage in my life is the 'way to go'. Working a job that is not pleasant (and didn't pay very much for that many hours) just isn't for my 'old' body.

Working at Frenchwoods

I arrived in Frenchwoods (Performing Arts Festival) last Wednesday and it took many trips to the van to 'move in' my clothes and 'stuff' that I will need to be here for the summer. I have now returned a few things to my Roadtrek and I keep rotating items needed or not needed. I may have to bring in my little heater since we have had a couple of nights below 50 degrees and it would have been nice to heat up the room before my shower in the morning. I am using a down comforter (given to me by my friend Sue) which has definitely kept me from 'freezing' in bed.
    I started work officially on Tuesday and the last two days have been until midnight before being able to get into bed due to the 'set up' needed for dispensing medications because many parents do not follow a suggested way to get their kids pills to camp. And, it is amazing how many meds/vitamins/supplements, etc. that these kids are on (ages 7-17). There are anti depressants, GI and allergy things as well as the 'real' meds for the asthmatics that are given on a daily basis. During 'sick call' which is officially after breakfast and dinner, we get all kinds of complaints and in these beginning days, the 'homesick' happen alot.
      I am tired but the 'routine' should start being better tomorrow. We are given a few hours off each day (I have this evening off) and I will have two days off in the next 19 days and then another session will start. Each three week session is 20 days with a change of doctor and most of the nurses  come for a session because they bring their kids (they do not get paid and do not pay the camp fee for the kids).
      I found a nice level spot to park my van and hopefully will not have a problem using it all summer when I do leave for a few hours on a day off. I am checking her every couple of days and am keeping up the 'maintenance' things necessary although she sure could use a bath!
    When I start taking pictures, I will show you this camp and the activities that are quite unique to a kids summer camp (we do circus, drama, dance, music, horseback,waterfront stuff,arts/crafts including ceramics and jewelry making,sports including skate boarding) . There is not only the lake waterfront but a pool too. The fitness center (for campers and employees) is phenomenal with classes and machines galore. Employees can participate in any of the activities and once I am more rested, I intend to do that although it will not be circus for sure (too hard).
    I just hope the hills I am walking do not hurt my body too much (knees are aching) and just make me fitter and thinner!

Mass. to Conn.

This is the beach at the campground in Dennis Port, Mass. and then the next day was not so nice and I headed to Rhode Island where I stayed in a campground right next to Newport so I got to eat breakfast in a little place that is apparently quite popular with the Newport crowd.

From there I headed to Old Mystic, Connecticut and stayed in a very nice place just north of Mystic and east of Groton. Strange weather did not allow me to do much sightseeing until the day I left and then I drove around Mystic, Nuank (south end of the peninsula) and had breakfast in Stonington Village before heading further west in dense fog and mist.

I drove around the Foxwoods casino and resort (there's an MGM Grand there too) and ended up here in a campground across from Black Rock State park. I needed to have a place with TV since I knew some of this stay was going to be rainy, indoor weather. I did get to walk in the park this morning before the clouds really rolled in and it has been misty, raining on and off all day but I had lunch out before returning to my cave. The television and internet have helped keep me occupied and my books are still waiting for me to pay some attention to them.

Cape Cod today

My days since last writing have been busy and fun. I visited with my friend Chicki and her husband, Stu, in Marblehead, Mass and she gave me a tour that was terrific (including Salem). They made sure I was fed well and my van was safe (finally used my propane to keep refrigerator cold).

When I left there, I headed towards Cambridge and Boston. I took the subway from Cambridge (right near my nephew's house) and spent a few hours downtown Boston walking the Commons and Gardens. By the time I left, the clouds were rolling in but I got back to my van and got parked in Elliot's driveway safely. Had a nice evening (dinner) with my niece, nephew/niece in law, brother and sister in law and the great niece, Lucy. I slept well while it rained and this morning headed towards Cape Cod. I am in a lovely campground (with TV for when it's raining and I'm inside) and if the sun does come back out tomorrow, they have a small beach area.
   The photos are just a sampling of Marblehead, Salem and Boston. I had done some of Portsmouth, NH before this and even with grey, drizzly skies, it was interesting.

Crisscrossing New England

It seems to me that I have been crisscrossing New Hampshire after doing some of that in Maine. I spent the last two nights in Massachusetts but it was just below the N.H state line and tonight I am sleeping in N.H again. I spent my day mostly in Portsmouth wandering the town and hoping the rain would hold off which is did until I got back into the van and headed south again to this campground. I only shopped in Walmart and a grocery store because prices in Portsmouth are 'tourist' priced items and I have found I can get things in Walmart that have the state name on it (souvenirs) for lower prices. As soon as I paid for tonight and walked out of the office, the sky opened up and the rain was like a faucet. It let up just a smidge to allow me to get 'hooked up' but then rained pretty hard for a while. It has actually stopped now. Watching two small squirrels chase each other around a tree is really funny. This type of squirrel has a red tail, is almost as small as a chipmunk but they are still squirrels in behavior.

    I did get to walk into Ashland while there and took a few photos just to try to show off the fact that these little towns are surrounded by great mountains of beauty.

Maine to New Hampshire

I seem to be 'criss crossing' the states I go through. I went from the beach in Maine to Conway, NH for a night and then to Mt. Washington (home of the 'worst weather') and took the cog railway to the top. It was not as clear as I would have liked due to fires in Quebec that were sending smoke down to New Hampshire. The top of the mountain was very windy and cold but sun was shining and I attempted the outside observation area but was almost blown down by the strong winds.
   I headed west from the mountain and spent a night near the Connecticut River which separates NH from Vermont. This morning I headed east again and am now in Ashland, NH with a brook all around me. I am staying here for three nights (will do some laundry and enjoy having TV). It was predicted to be rainy but tomorrow might actually have some sunshine. It is a lovely little park and I'm going to just relax.

On the Beach

I finally got to sit on the beach at the ocean here in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. This campground is not very big but it is close enough to the beach to walk and there is a little town like most 'beach tourist' towns where there are stores to buy souvenirs, restaurants, and an amusement park atmosphere to some of it. There is a pier that reminds me of the Cocoa Beach pier and others that have similar atmospheres.

    I have some new neighbors who are from Albany, NY and it is always nice to have folks to talk too while in a campground.

Maine to Canada and back to Maine

On Friday I wound up in Palmyra, ME but for only that one night since I was at a place where I was really alone. Another camper came in late but since they didn't unhitch the truck from the travel trailer, I guess they weren't staying there more than overnight either.
    I headed on Saturday to Canada but did a little touring of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park first. I got to St. Martins, NB, Canada late afternoon but with the light staying longer (and it was an hour later too), I got all hooked up and even met my next 'door' neighbors (a lovely young couple with a five month old baby and a little dog too). They live in New Brunswick but this is a new travel trailer for them so  'first' outing with it. On Sunday, I walked to the 'Caves' where I could see the tides going out and it was a good 2.5 miles roundtrip of a 'hike' for me. I spent the afternoon with my new friends out in the sun with the wind blowing very hard off the Fundy Bay. Since I had only paid for two nights (original plan was for three), and the hostess was not encouraging me to stay, I left this morning (Monday) and headed back to the USA. I was able to drive without needing the more expensive gasoline in Canada and filled up with room to spare near Calais, ME.
      I drove into Bangor where I did some Target and Walmart shopping (groceries, wine) and a stop in the Verizon store to check my phone battery. I almost got a haircut too, but didn't feel like waiting so I came on to this lovely campground in E. Orland, ME which is woods and lake (can see it from my window but have woods behind the van). I will take photos tomorrow and play with the ones from Canada too. I will stay here until Thursday, for sure.

Sunshine in New Hampshire

I am happy to say the sun came out today. I drove from Austin lake where it rained and since it kept raining, I just kept on going until a campground in Montezuma, NY where I spent the night. The rain let up enough for me to hook up and in the morning after my shower, it was still not raining for me to unhook.
   By the time I got into Pennsylvania, the rain came again (light but annoying) so I drove all the way to this campground in New Hampshire. It was misting when I got here and then was told the bathrooms/showers were not open until Friday! Well, I was glad I had showered in the morning and have a working toilet in my van. I have water, electric and a cable hook up so I've been able to watch TV.
   I convinced the office to give me the combination for the bathroom/shower today so I will be able to shower tomorrow before I leave for Maine. I will 'dump' and it should be a lovely weather day for several to come.

RAIN!

I knew I was lucky so far but the rain has finally got me! I am spending the day 'indoors' here in Lake Austin Campground and my planned walk (exercise) is not happening. I have walked up to the big bathroom twice just for the exercise although I have used my own facilities too. I am hoping the morning will be a little drier for 'unhooking' and getting out on the road again. I am using my little heater off and on today because the damp weather along with temps in the 60's are making it a little chilly in here for me. The 'babbling' creek is behind my van.
    I have started another blog (http://travelpod.com/members/rsherry6) so I am doing stuff in both places for those who are actually reading about my travels. I am trying to include photos but still learning how to do that on both blogs.

Four days later

When I left Breaks Interstate Park, I headed to the New River Gorge where I got to see the bridge which is 686 ft high from the river (New River) below. People are allowed to base jump from this bridge in October (one day) and I can't believe they do it! I then headed to the Gauley Bridge and stopped on the way at Hawks Nest State park (no camping there) for lunch with a wonderful view of the Gauley river below the restaurant. I was heading to a campground which is along the Gauley River but when I got there I saw only one camper and decided this was not the place for me to stop. I went back east and wound up in Battle Run Recreational Area (on Summersville Lake) and was parked right on the lake. I did move for the second night because I knew it was going to rain and I wanted to be close to the bathroom.
    I left the next morning and headed to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. This is the place where the radio signals are sent out to the galaxy. Did the free tour and it was fascinating. I then headed up to another National Recreation area (Stuart) and stayed the night in the woods. I thought I had no shower there but it turned out the 'big' bathroom (I was close to an 'outhouse' type of toilet) was just down a short hill from me so I was able to shower before leaving this morning.
    Today was another 'tour' of the West Virginia mountains--and I mean windy,narrow and terrible roads around a mountain that my GPS took me on after I decided against another 'planned' campground. I stopped for lunch (Chinese) in New Martinville, WV and then went across the Ohio river and up to Steubenville where I am in a lovely campground on a babbling creek (out my back window) with no cell phone service but free internet. I am living without TV for almost a week now.

   I will stay here until Tuesday (walk and rest tomorrow) and will figure out where I think I'm going next.
   The bridge photo is when they were building it-the one with it behind me is how it looks now

Breaks Interstate Park

Today I am in Breaks Interstate park which is co-run by Virginia and Kentucky. I arrived here yesterday after spending a couple of days at a campground in Tenn. and then with Sue and Jon at Cumberland Falls State park in Kentucky.
   Escaping rain so far, we did have a cold morning and I needed to get another top to keep me warm so when we went to Walmart, I just had to spend money.
   Today I walked/hiked a total of about 4 miles and visited the Lodge and Visitor Center here. The clouds surely look like rain any minute so I am staying 'in' now.

Left Hickory, NC

I left Hickory this morning after a lovely few days with my friends who made me feel 'part of the family' and after my sudden loss on Monday, it was well appreciated.
   I was not happy to throw out all my frozen foods since at some point my refrigerator quit working and I think when I plug into a house, I have to watch for circuit breaker trips. The refrigerator did work after I got going and so I am pretty sure it is not a refrigerator problem. The rest of the cold stuff survived OK.
   This campground is nice and I have free internet and TV (cable) as well as my water and electric. It is hot so my a/c is quite welcome. It is supposed to cool off during the night and be cooler by sunrise. I am not sure what I will do on Saturday and maybe it will be nothing but read, walk - will see how this weather really turns out. I'll be heading to Cumberland Falls State Park on Sunday to meet up with Sue/Jon and since it is a short ride (2.5 hours), I can stop and 'sightsee' if I choose on the way.

Am now petless....

   I left home on Sunday morning with Missy. She didn't seem well, but I thought it wasn't anything serious. We arrived in Georgia and settled into Towns Bluff Park on the Altamaha river. There were only a few trailers there and many are just there without campers in them. On Monday when I thought it might rain and had very little to do, I decided that Missy needed to be seen by a veternarian since she was not eating, drinking or using the litter box. She wasn't even interested in a treat and I noticed her walking was difficult. I got an appointment in Vidalia and it turns out that she was in kidney failure! There was not much of a decision to be made then and so she was put to sleep. I am not sure how I drove back to the campground (30 miles) without crying alot but for dinner after some phone calls, emails, and cleaning out what I could of 'hers' (litter box), I had wine and ice cream for dinner and slept fairly well.
    It was pouring down rain when I left this morning but I got 'unhooked' fairly rapidly and headed to North Carolina. After several hours of driving in the rain, the sun did finally come out and I am at my friend's house (they used to live in Englewood when I did) in Hickory. We have had dinner and I will hang out for a few days before heading towards my rendevous with Sue/Jon in Kentucky. I will probably stay in a campground on the way from here to there (have to be there on Sunday) but have to decide when I leaving here first.

Travel with only one..

I will be traveling with only one cat now. My Silver Fluff didn't quite make her 17th birthday (May) and went to the Rainbow Bridge today. She had lost weight and was only 8lb 7oz and although we thought she might only need an antibiotic, that only helped for a few days so her last trip to the vet was this afternoon.
   I will miss her waking me early in the morning but I think Missy (who 'knows' something has changed) will not mind being an 'only' cat.
    Next week we will go to a Roadtrek rally at a nice campground in Kissimmee and I hope to continue my learning there enough to 'boon dock' when I do not want to stay in a campground with hook ups and just want a place to spend a night. When we get back, it will be a hectic turn around to be able to leave on May 3rd heading north.
    I can be honest and say that I am a little scared but lots of excited to be doing all of this stuff.

Photo trial

I am testing putting in photos. Seems to work OK.

Planning and Plotting

As you can see if you've read my blog before, I have changed the title to reflect what is more current. I am sitting with maps and campground directories trying to figure out my adventure starting May 3rd or 4th and ending at Frenchwoods on June 23rd for the summer.

First Campground

Well I have finally done a 'real' campground with the cats and it was fun. I did meet up with a group of women who had planned this 'rally' and activities were planned which kept us busy. I was pleased with how the cats handled being in the van even when I was out for a several hours and I think we will have a lovely time traveling.
While at the campground in Apopka, we went on a historic trolley tour and lunch in Mt. Dora and with the sun shining and not too hot, it really was lovely. I had enough food that I didn't need much dinner after our 'happy hour' snacks and wine and I didn't stay up very late because sleep was such a good idea. On Saturday we were supposed to have a 'free' day but it turned out to be more fun when about 8 of us made sandwiches and went to a 'refuge' where we had our picnic lunch.
On Sunday, I headed to Florahome to see Sue and her daughter's house and although it was raining, I plugged into the house to keep the refrigerator running. Becky made the best Shrimp Scampi for dinner and after some TV, I said good night and went to sleep. We had breakfast out for Sue's birthday and then I headed home. I took a scenic route mostly rather than the interstate and that proved to me that this is how I want to travel.

Post Roadtrek Rally

I did the Roadtrek Rally in Orlando a couple of weeks ago (three nights) without my cats so that I could concentrate on my educational needs. I left with so much 'stuff' in my head! I met great people who never said 'no' to me when I asked questions or asked to visit inside their vans.
I am more confident now about my camper but still need to learn a few more things before I will be able to be 'on my own'. I will attend another 3 night RV get together (not just Roadtreks this time) next month and will get the rest of the 'hands on' training I think I still need. This next trip, I will take the cats and see how they orient to their 'room on wheels'.
I am still glad that I made the decision to purchase this vehicle and know it will be a wonderful journey for me. I expect to be leaving home in May and heading to the Catskills for a few months starting in June. I will 'camp' along the way to my job site and look forward to a fun time.

New van

My travels will be in a larger van than the mini - as of now I have a Chevy 3500 extended van (Roadtrek) to travel and live in when I go back on the road.

After I attend a three day 'rally' in February, I will be more confident and able to take me and my two old ladies on trips. I will not be staying in hotels and motels except for special occasions and intend to enjoy my new 'life adventure'.

short trip to GA

I have just returned from a short trip to Sue's in Georgia where it was definitely winter and this Florida gal was a little chilly!
We had a great time shopping for things for her 'open house' which was a success on Sunday evening with so much food that even I got to take home 'left overs'. Jon and Sue had decorated the house inside and out for the Holidays and it is really pretty.
When I left on Monday morning it was 29 degrees and Jon was busy scraping ice off my van windows so I could see and with the help of the defroster, it was just fine. The sun came out and there was very little traffic so the drive home was quite uneventful. The mileage I get on my minivan is so good that it is hard to think about exchanging it for a small RV (Roadtrek) and will, again, take more thought (and finding the right price).
When I got home, the heat was needed and I had it on all night so I think that winter followed me. I do not mind some coolness and 50 here is not so bad. It gives me the chance to wear the winter sweaters and sweats.
Now, I just need to get everything back together (put away and mail stuff and homeowner stuff) so I can be back to 'normal' for a while.

Nov. 30, 2009 -home

I am home now after last week's driving from New York to Winchester, VA to Columbia, SC, and then Eufaula, Alabama.
My night in Winchester was uneventful and the drive to Columbia was misty/rainy, not the nicest of weather but I did not encounter heavy rain. Driving with trucks when it is wet, however, is not such fun.
The weather in Columbia prevented me from visiting the zoo/botanical gardens but I did get to the Capital building and that was quite interesting. When the building was re-built after burning, it was decided to make it 'burn proof' and so it is marble and steel and the woods that are used are decorative and gorgeous.
On Wednesday, I headed to Alabama and even though it was the day before Thanksgiving, my timing was good enough to miss bad traffic and I arrived in sunshine (not very warm) and rested.
Thanksgiving was fun even though it was cold outside. After I watched most of the Macy's parade on TV, I headed to Lakepoint Park where the Whitmer clan was gathered and cooking. They really made me feel part of the family and I apprecated that very much. I only lasted until about 5pm when it was already dark outside and getting colder. I enjoyed my warm room and slept well. We 'hung out' on Friday too and they fed me well again.
I headed home on Saturday morning and was glad to sleep in my own bed at night. My poor Fluff is a bit confused with suddenly having more space than the single room of hotels, but this morning she remembered how to get out on the deck through the 'pet flap' so I guess she is re-acclimating to home. Missy has no problems since she sleeps close to me no matter what bed we are in and adjusts to all situations. They do amaze me at how, at 15 years of age they put up with the travel even though they do not like the confinement of the cage in the van.
Today the massage I am going to get is going to feel magnificent!

N.Y, Winchester, VA, Columbia, SC

I am now in Columbia, S.C.
After leaving Garden City, NY early on Sunday morning (hard even though I did not stay through the dinner at the wedding), I headed to Winchester, VA for the night. It was such an easy drive I was quite surprised because I wound up going through the city of New York (drove right past Macy's) but it was on Sunday and there was no traffic to speak about. Even with a few small detours (not made by me), I arrived in Winchester by 1pm. It was a quiet night and I went to sleep early.
This morning, we headed to Columbia, SC driving in mist and some rain (but not hard, dowpours), we got here by 3pm. I hope that Fluff does not continue to wake me at 5 a.m. each morning. It makes me sleepy very early in the evening.
I will do some sightseeing tomorrow and maybe go to the zoo if the weather is nicer but otherwise, starting at the Visitor Center downtown, I will find other things to do

New York

I left Virginia early on Friday morning with no more rain and it was mostly not a difficult drive at all. The only part of the DC beltway that I used was going north and the time I was on it, the traffic was light. My driving dilemma happened when I got to Staten Island and had to get off the parkway to get cash! The tolls had depleted my cash and so I stopped in Target, bought catfood, and got some cash back so I could go on, but I got confused (even with the GPS) and wound up on streets before getting to the Verrazano Bridge.
Then, it got worse when I did not follow my instincts or the GPS and I drove though many Brooklyn and Queens streets (20 miles took over an hour) which I had never driven on in my life even when I lived here!
I finally arrived just before 4pm and got everything inside that I needed and since I found I could get a ride to the dinner, I had some wine and tried to relax. I left here at 6:30 and discovered the dinner had 90 people attending due to so many families being involved since there are several divorces and remarriages involved. It was fun to see family and meet a few cousins I didn't know about.
I had to take a taxi back to the hotel because the driver took off early even though I told them I would be calling for a ride back. Anyway, with the wine I drank, it was certainly safer than driving. Tonight, for the wedding, I will drive and not drink (not more than one) which I have done before in situations where I will be driving.
Tomorrow, we will head back to Virginia for one night before heading south to Columbia, SC.

Luray, VA

Today I saw the Luray Caverns and they really are spectacular. To think how many years and milleniums it has taken for it to get to such beauty is mind blowing.
There isn't much else to do here in Luray, Virginia and so tomorrow will be real 'rest' day for me. I have re-arranged the items in the big suitcase and duffel (my dressers in the van) and they are now back in the van (did laundry too). I would have gone to NY a day earlier but the price difference in the room is enough that I will stay here and head there on Friday morning. I am not happy that I will have to do the beltway around D.C. but that is the best/fastest way to get there and still have time to settle in before heading to the rehearsal dinner.
My lunch (and dinner) are items from the Walmart - rotisserie chicken and potatoe chips. I may treat myself to pizza tomorrow for lunch. The weather is not so great with clouds looking like they will open up and rain at any moment and with temps around 50, it feels colder. I do have heat in my room but it is hard to regulate so I've been turning it on and then off to be comfortable (it will have to run for the night).
I have made my reservations for next week and so that is off my mind since it is Holiday week and I wanted to be sure I didn't run into any difficulty.

Knoxville, TN

I have been in Knoxville since Saturday and I think I got to do what I wanted to do/see. I went to the Worlds Fair Park and got up into the Sunsphere for a great view of the city (not as high as the Tower in San Antonio). I walked to the downtown area and browsed but took the free trolley back to the candy factory (did buy a little bit of chocolate). Then I drove down to the river although it took a few 'round the blocks' before I finally figured out how to get to where I wanted and had lunch at Calhouns right on the river. With great weather hanging here, it has been a lovely day. Taking pictures of trees with 'fall' colors is good for me. I may get some rain in the next few days (leaving for Luray, VA in the morning) so I really enjoy this 'perfect' weather.
I hope you all are enjoying my notes.

forgot...

While in San Antonio, I did a trolley tour and then the Alamo before the things mentioned in the previous post.

Vicksburg, MS

Here I am in Vicksburg, MS after a couple of days in San Antonio following my weekend in Conroe/Shenandoah, TX. I did a lot of walking in San Antonio along the River Walk where I ate lunch a couple of days (more on that in a minute) and went up to the Tower of the Americas as well as The Texas Institute of Cultures.
On Wednesday evening I started to feel some stomach distress but didn't think too much about it until I didn't sleep most of the night. I finally got up and left by 7:30am but with gastric spasms. It was a very, very long drive to Vicksburg and not feeling well and being so tired I stopped more times than usual including times to just sit and close my eyes. I, therefore, did not arrive here until about 6pm CST and that's when the diarrhea started. At least, it waited until I was in the room!
Today I went to the Vicksburg Battleground (National Park) which is right across the street from my hotel. I also drove downtown and looked around and was not that impressed. The Park was lovely although I felt I was in a large cemetary (all those soldiers who died there) and there are monuments all over from all the states that participated in this battle.
Tomorrow, I will head to Knoxville, TN which is also not a short drive but I am being careful about what I eat today and right now seem to be better.

arrived San Antonio

While in Shenandoah for four nights where my friend Diana is staying for her current contract, we mostly spent our time 'shopping' the malls and eating. It was fun but exhausting. Shopping is hard work! I didn't buy much of anything and that is good since I'm spending on food and enjoying it.

This morning I left for San Antonio and am glad it was not one of my marathon drives because I am tired. I did find that there is a streetcar system (with a stop 1/2 block from my hotel) that will take me to the center of town where the Riverwalk, Alamo, and other things are that I want to see. I went today to see how it goes and had some late lunch on the Riverwalk in an italian place (not very good food). Tomorrow I am going to take a trolley tour and get the 'overview' so I can see what I really want to see (like the Alamo) and still not 'kill' myself walking. I will be here to do more on Wed. so I do not need to cram it all into one day.

I am very lucky with weather so far and with the storm heading away from where I am (or where I'm going), I will be able to enjoy things even more.

Arrived in Texas

I spent a couple of nights in Mobile Alabama and that gave me a full day to go to Bellingrath Gardens and do some Kohl's shopping too. I met a great lady at the Gardens who has been on the road alone for a month and we did the Gardens and House tours as well as going for lunch together. Marilyn and I will keep in touch via email. She was heading to Vicksburg and then home soon.
I arrived in Texas this afternoon after a very long drive (got off I-10 and did some scenic routes) and now am waiting for Diana to get home and we'll get something to eat or just drink.

ready to roll

I am almost ready to get going on this new adventure. Most things are packed or ready to be put into a bag and/or the van. I'll be leaving on Tuesday morning so I am just doing 'last minute' stuff to be sure I don't forget anything. It has been a challenge to pack for multi seasons and the wedding too but I think I have it all and am sure I am taking more than I will need as I usually do that even though I plan on doing laundry along the way. I am only hoping that I do not have to drive in rain or snow both of which could happen especially with the crazy weather patterns we've all experienced.
I will try to write on here every few days while on the road with my first stop being Mobile, Alabama on Tuesday.

Still hot in October

Now it's October but the weather sure doesn't seem to be aware that it is autumn! We've had record heat and I'm tired of it.
On my birthday, when I enjoyed a day at Epcot with my friend, the temperatures were in the 80's and there was a slight breeze so we were able to get through the day comfortably until we just got too tired to do any more eating and drinking during the Wine/Food Festival there.
With Boo at the Zoo time starting next week (my volunteer job), I am hoping that the weather cools and it 'feels' more like the Holiday is supposed to be at this time of year.

mid September

Hard to believe that it is midway into September. Here in Florida the weather seems like summer just goes on and on and on and the weatherman says it could be another month before any 'cooling' occurs.

'restless' again

Have been home for a week and I am 'restless' already. I can't seem to figure out where I want to go or be right now so I am just trying to enjoy my 'minutes' at home and I seem to be keeping busy so I guess it's alright. Some of the problem is the weather which is still so hot that I do not want to go out to do much of anything and that is keeping me from going to the zoo (volunteer work). Next week we should get rain from the tropical stuff that is heading this way (could actually have a hurricane develop from those systems out there).
So I am looking at my 'next trip' possibilities and that may not happen until November when I think I am going to a wedding in New York. I'm thinking I will make a trip out of that occasion when the weather is cooler. It is still early to be planning but I did check that the hotel involved is 'pet friendly' so I can take cats with me. I am assuming that they will both be breathing still and so I need to plan for taking them.

Home again

I am home now after several days in Kennesaw, GA with my friends. We went to Tallulah Gorge and saw some of the falls and it is quite a pretty place. I just wish we had more stamina in order to really hike around!
All in all I had a great four weeks on the road and even with Fluff's veternary interventions, we survived it and will go on with more adventures in life.

Salem, VA

I really did enjoy going to the Lobster Festival on Wednesday when I ate two soft shell lobsters. They are at a stage where the shells will be shed and replaced so they are soft enough to crack with fingers. It was like any other 'fair' with rides and all sorts of food vendors (not just the lobster). They have a gigantic lobster cooker than does thousands of pounds of lobsters all at one time.
On Thursday, we headed to New Windsor, New York and although there was some drizzle, it wasn't a bad day's drive at all.
Friday was a 'killer' drive. It should have been about 8 hours but I was in that van until arrival in Salem, Va at about 5:30pm (left before 8am). The rain was awful and there were spots on the highway where traffic was actually stopped for a good 15 minutes. The last couple of hours the sun came out but I was already tired from the strain of that hard drive. Even with stopping for gas and bathroom breaks, I was really happy to get here. I checked in and didn't even mention the cats. It turns out that I am in the 'pet' wing anyway -there is a dog show happening and there are some beautiful dogs staying here.
I slept very well and didn't get up until 7:30 which is really a treat since Fluff has been waking me at 5:30 most mornings. I am going to see about some caverns that are close by and not be 'too' strenuous at anything today. Tomorrow I will head to Kennesaw and stay at Sue's house.

Last day in Maine

Today will be my last day in the state of Maine. Yesterday the sun was out all day and I can really understand why this is such a great summer destination. I went to to top of a small mountain (Mt Battie) and then walked out (almost a mile each way) to the Samoset lighthouse along a breakwater which protects the bay from really bad storms.
I did drive down to Freeport (home of LL Bean) on Monday while Fluff was at her 3rd vet getting the stitches (I couldn't get them out since they were so embedded ) out and being looked at (they 'squeezed' her in their day so I had to leave her there) and she got an injection of an anti-inflammatory drug. I spent more on her than on me this day.
My hosts gave me a lobster sandwich with corn on the cob for dinner and I have spent time talking to them. They have suggested I come for a couple of months next year and have the apartment which is available here. It is something I will give some thought to doing although there are other places I want to visit too.
My Fluff's ear is healing but it will never stand up perky again. There is a breed of cat with ears that look like what her left ear is like now (the ears sort of lie down) but she has not seemed bothered by any of her 'ordeal'.
Today is the start of the Lobster Festival and I intend to eat one or two of those delicious crustaceans.
I will pack as much as I can into the van today (after I eat) so I will have less to do in the morning before heading to my next stop which will be an overnight in New Windsor, New York. Then, on Friday, I will head to Salem, VA (by Roanoke) for two nights and end on Sunday in Kennesaw at Sue's house where I will 'rest up' until I go home.
At this point in the trip, I am happy about the vacation even with the veternary visits.

The sun, the sun!

The sun actually came out around noon today and it really is prettier country with sunshine. I can now say that I drank wine at 10 in the morning. My alcohol intake record was vodka at 11 a.m (many years ago) but when you go to a winery, you taste and it happened to be only 10 a.m.!
I enjoyed the winery but only bought a small glass and no wine. I shopped and ate lunch (lobster roll) in Camden, ME (had driven up to Lincolnsville to see where the ferry leaves to go to Islesboro--where my nephew got married) and then stopped at the other store (same winery but not at the vineyard) to taste some more!
I went into Rockland and enjoyed the scenery (harbor, boats) and got some fresh baked bread, cheese, Genoa salami that will be dinner with wine.
I am disappointed about not having lobster here where I am staying but will just have to buy it to get my fill. I can get it at a market and have it steamed if I want to eat it in my room and that could be less expensive than in a restaurant.
I am enjoying this trip even with the weather interference.

arrived in Maine

It was a nice drive through New Hampshire to Maine today even though it was overcast and cloudy. I didn't get rain until just before I got to my destination in Rockport and then it stopped so I could unload the van in a 'dry' situation. I will probably have rain more than sun in the next week but will have fun anyway. Tomorrow my first stop is a massage! Then, I hope to explore Rockland and get information on all there is to do in and out of the weather.
On Saturday, I am planning a winery that isn't too far and in the direction of Camden. That's about as far as I've thought for now.
Fluff has made herself comfortable on the other bed (two queens in this nice room) and Missy is with me on this one. Fluff started out under a bed so this is a whole lot better. The husband and wife who own this place have dogs, cats, birds. Next door is a couple who have a cat with them. My only disappointment is that they really are not doing the 'lobster daily' as was on the website because it has been raining for long enough that they just haven't done it. The husband told me he will get me some though (not tonight) and if I buy any, he will steam it for me too.
I am looking forward to 'sitting still' for a week in one place.

I managed to get up into the White Mountains this morning before the rain started and found that my 'old' body is not in very good shape. I took the tram up to the top of a mountain (about 4000+ ft) and in order to get to the observation tower, there was a narrow trail along the rim of the mountain. Some was uphill and then the tower stairs to the top but it was well worth the huffing and puffing. Then, I went down the the Flume area (all in Franconia Notch State Park) and that little 1.5 mile trail was mostly up! Another beautiful and well worth the hike trips and I just stopped and rested a few times. I talked with some folks from California who were resting almost as much as I was and so I had company on part of the trail (we thought we were on the down part but that was not the case).
When I was leaving was when the rain started so my timing was very good. I went into Plymouth, NH and found the hospital so I could try to get a suture removal kit (Fluff's stitches come out on Sunday). The pharmacy next door did not have any so I went into the hospital itself and the triage nurse gave me (free!) a kit. Then I found a sushi place and had lunch. I have food for dinner so I do not have to go out in the rain today again. The rain is supposed to move out by tomorrow mid-day so I can do some other 'sight seeing'. On Thursday, I am going to my B & B in Maine and will stay there for a whole week.

New York state arrival

We arrived in New York state yesterday after another stop at the vet for some 'probiotics' and a 'hard' collar for Fluff. She doesn't like this collar but it works better and that ear has to be protected for this week's healing to occur. I just wish she wouldn't wake me at 5:30am!
The weather has cooperated on the trip, so far, so I can not complain. Today I will go into Stockbridge to sightsee and visit with my brother/sister in law. Tomorrow I will head to New Hampshire where I hope the weather will continue to be nice so I can really see those mountains.

A memorable day in PA

Fluff had her ear surgery and she is 'home' now with an Elizabethan (soft) collar. I just hope it really keeps her from scratching the area that has a small open area for drainage. She got it off once on the way home from the vet and I had to fix it at a red light stop. She is on an antibiotic and I have a pain med to give her for a couple of days (only one dose every 12 hrs if she needs it). The vet thought she would need the pain med but right now she seems to be OK and, in fact, ate quite a bit when we got home. She is a little wobbly and can't jump up to things (though she was having some trouble with that before this) so I have done a 'step' thing with the carrier and a chair so she can get up on the bed. She is supposed to rest. Her stitches will come out in 10-14 days and we will be in Maine then. I have copies of all her records from today so I can show any other vet we might encounter. I am hoping to get the stitches out myself and not need to see another vet. The vacation expense has risen quite a bit from the original numbers but she is one of my 'babies' so, as any of you animal people know, you just do it when it is necessary.
I did a little sightseeing here and had lunch with my friend Sue and her sister, Nancy. We will not leave until Saturday so I'll see them again tomorrow.

'surgery' for Fluff

This morning I am taking Fluff to a 'Cats Only' veternarian and after talking to the doc on the phone, he is going to do the surgery to fix the bleeder in her left ear (lobe) so we can not worry on the rest of the trip. I will report on the outcome later.
We are in Montgomeryville, PA which is near my friend's house in Perkasie and will be here until Saturday when we will head north again.

Virginia now

Yesterday I did go into Charlotte's 'uptown' area and went to the Discovery Place where the exhibit was on sunken ships and Pirates. It really was quite interesting and there were lots of pieces from the Republic which sank in 1865 during her fourth hurricane encounter.
I was awake at 4am with Fluff crying but I still do not know why since I examined her and even fed her. Her ear is puffy and has fluid in it but not like the other night so I'm watching it and know it will need draining again.
I dozed on and off and then just got up around 6:30a.m. After some breakfast at the hotel, I headed north to Virginia where we are staying only one night before going on to PA tomorrow. I just didn't want to drive any further today. There is a buffet restaurant next door with good food so now I can have some wine and stay in for the night. The temperature is about 78 and that is so nice compared to the higher ones the last few days. The desk clerk said it was 55 here this morning so I may need sleeves tomorrow morning! I actually have turned the A/C off in the room because it was too cold. Didn't use A/C much in the van either on the drive.

Emergency Vet experience

Arrived in Charlotte, NC around 5:30pm and it was still about 95 degrees outside. I got settled into the room and rested. Driving that many hours (about 10 with stops) made my back ache and it needed to be rested. I went out to get some dinner (take out) and then watched the 1st half of the TV movie about the meteor. I was petting my 'kids' as I usually do when we are in a strange place and felt a 'funny' ear on Fluff. When I turned on the lights, I found her ear was swollen with fluid!
I got dressed and got some help from the front desk (cat lovers) and, thank God for GPS systems, we went to an Emergency Vet clinic. I am glad it was a Sunday night when traffic was extremely light and the GPS talks to me (especially on the dark roads). Her ear got drained and he explained it could happen again (broken blood vessel) but in the meantime I will be giving her Prednisone to help stop her itchy/scratching skin problem. By the time we got back to the room, it was almost 2am so I am not in any hurry to get out and do anything this morning. She doesn't seem bothered by any of it.
The weather is cloudy/rainy but that gives me temps in the 80's instead of 90's and that is nice. I will probably go looking for indoor (museums, etc.) places to spend my day.

Unemployed again

The job is over. I gave it 6 1/2 weeks and realized that this 'ideal' job is not the one for me. Not only did I not like the full time situation (lost my 'freedom') but there were several other things about the job tasks themselves that I just could not abide by any longer.
I learned alot about many things including myself and since I am no longer a zoo employee either (although I can volunteer), I am now a 'really' retired person.
I have thought about taking a trip, but with temperatures outside being so hot, I am not in any hurray to go anywhere. It was hard enough just going to the store today. The thermostat in my van that shows outside temps said 96-98 and that is 'stay at home in the A/C' weather.
I have things to do in the house so my time is being used and I am enjoying my minutes.

First week on the job

It has been a week since starting the new job and although there is much to learn for this 'simple' job, I think it is going to be great!
We have had an overview of the systems we will use and some documentation information and will start getting into the details this week. We still are not 'in' the system for us to 'clock in/out' but that should also be happening this week.
It was an interesting week being 'Nurse's Week' in that we got some sort of food treat everyday thanks to the work of the two Team Leads (our first line of managers to report to) and it was really nice to see how employees are treated by this company.

I have 'landed' a new job and it is in nursing (it does require my RN license). I will be using my nursing experience/knowledge along with my computer skills to evaluate the need for specialized radiology tests. It will be 'full time' and after nine years of not working 40 hours a week, it should prove interesting (a little scary) but that it is a 'sitting down' job and should be 'perfect' for me.
I am very excited and looking forward to it (starts May 4th). I expect to learn new things and keep my brain active. Before I start, I will take a short 'road trip' to visit my friends (Sue and Jon) in Georgia.

Seems like forever since I last wrote anything and, I guess, three months is a long time.
I flew to Chicago a couple of weeks ago for my convention of O.R. nurses and surprisingly, there were four of our 'group' there this year. The weather was superb considering we thought it might snow/rain and instead we had sunshine and tolerable temperatures.
That week goes by very quickly between educational sessions and seeing old friends. It really wears me out and when I got home I had my four days of work (at the zoo) to contend with after finding my 'main' computer monitor not working.
When the first day 'off' came, I decided to activate my new cell phone and that turned into a difficult task when I could not download my contacts into it and had to go to the Verizon store not just one day (after 'on the phone' for an hour) but a second day as well. I did, however, take the time to run some errands while I was in that neighborhood including a nice pedicure (been at least 9 months since one of those treats).
Back to work on Friday after 'cleaning' some of the house on Thursday, and am back in the 'work' pattern again. I keep thinking I should get back into nursing and leave this very low paying zoo job, but this one tires me out so how could I really survive a nursing position. I would be willing to try, however, and have resumes out to some folks.
So, that catches me up for now except for mentioning the 'road trip' to Kennesaw at the end of February for a few days. It is nice to have a friend just far enough away that when I visit it seems like a real 'road trip' and helps my wanderlust alot!

Holidays 2008

And Thanksgiving is done and over so onward to the December Holidays.
Thanksgiving was fun with Diana here. Our Cornish Hens (and the traditional 'trimmings') provided just enough food that we wouldn't have too many left overs since we went to St. Augustine the next day for Becky's wedding.
The wedding was beautiful and Becky was a gorgeous bride in a dress she hadn't thought would be 'her style'. We all had a lot of fun and being with 'our gang' of ladies made it all the more special. The sad note here is that grandpa, Don, who was past 91 in years and having a grand time at the wedding, suddenly passed on the Tuesday morning after the event. He was a great guy and will be missed by all.
I will probably be working a bit more at the zoo the last couple of weeks of this year since that is our 'busy, busy' time but that's OK with me.

almost Thanksgiving 2008

My downstairs room is finally finished and looks very bare with no furniture except the lone single bed. Everything else from down there went out in the trash when it was so badly destroyed by flood waters. I have not figured out what I want to use that room for so it will stay 'as is' for the time being. I love my new windows and door and without another '100 year' flood, we should stay dry for a long time.
I am enjoying my job at the zoo which is certainly easier than nursing! It doesn't pay a lot of money but is quite different and talking to the guests and kids is really fun.
I am looking forward to Diana's visit and our trip to St. Augustine to attend the wedding of Sue's youngest (Becky). With the reception being held in the winery, it should be wonderful.
The ceremony is in an old church so it will have a great romantic 'feel' to it all.