Hello everyone. I hope you all had a great Merry Christmas and are heading for a great New Year.
Our Merry Christmas did not turn out the way I thought it would. Last Tuesday was a beautiful day in Gladewater, TX. The temperature was 83 degrees; a nice breeze blowing out of the south to keep you cool; life was great. I thought something was weird when the Happy Couple came driving into the campground with a Chrysler Sebring and started packing things into it. I never said anything. Moe and I just sat and watched. The next morning my friend Dave came into the house and hoisted my rear end off the couch and told me I had work to do. I said "Work? I don't do work. I'm retired." He told me he was retarded too but needed me to navigate a trip the family was taking. So Dave, Shari, Moe, and I got into the car and out the drive we went. Naturally, I started guiding south since that is the only direction civil minded people would ever go in the winter time. Good Old Dave says "Whoa, that's the wrong direction, we need to go north." I turned around and looked at him with my best stupid look and said "What the h--- are you talking about? It's cold up north." He told me it didn't matter. We were going to Iowa for Christmas. That was when I knew he was suffering from to much warm weather and his brain had been fried. Anyway, late Thursday afternoon we arrived at the country estate of Carl and Barb Zahradnik's near Shueyville, IA. Carl and Barb have graciously let us use their basement as base camp while we are visiting here for a few days. And, by the way, I was correct. It IS colder than whatever in Iowa in the winter time.
Thursday, on the way to Shueyville, we went through Washington to see Shari's folks. They were getting along pretty good and were looking forward to Christmas. On Thursday evening, the Happy Couple and the Zs (Carl and Barb) met the Hawkins (Ed and Carol) and the Minors (Les and Sherry) at the Dry Dock in Shueyville for food, adult beverages, and bull crap. Luckily, Moe and I didn't have to go. On Christmas Eve the Family (Dave, Shari, Moe, and I) went back down to Washington to have Christmas Eve dinner with Shari's folks. Shari had made some beef and noodle soup that was just fantastic. Moe and I even got to partake. Christmas morning it was back to Washington for brunch with with the Hamil family. In attendance was Shari's brother John and his wife Pat; the Happy Couple's daughter Laura and family, Wade, Emma, and Luke; nephew Derek and his fiancee Natalie; niece Christina, her husband Jared, and children Bryce, Katelyn, and Jenna; niece Bobbi and children Cole and Cheyenne; and of course John and Betty. Moe and I were not in attendance. We stayed with the Z's. Yesterday, my guiding skills were needed again as the Happy Couple wanted to go to Burlington to the Shipley's and also stop and say Merry Christmas to Mark and Beth Steingreaber and their family. WHAT A CHRISTMAS THEY HAVE!!!! So far, everything has been just great. (Except for the weather of course. Did I mention that it is cold in Iowa in the winter?) Today is a day of rest.
What's on the agenda for the rest of the trip you ask. Who knows. Shari is meeting her golfing friends in Solon this evening -- Becky Quijano, Ann Coady and Marilyn Husak. The Happy Couple are getting haircuts tomorrow AM, are going to Washington tomorrow afternoon, will stop in Iowa City to see friends tomorrow evening, and are going to the Hawkins' to watch the Insight Bowl game tomorrow night. What are Moe and I going to do? Try to stay out of the way. I don't know the remainder of their itinerary but I don't think it involves too much sleep. I think this pace is to continue through the week with us starting our return trip to the warm climates of Texas on Saturday 1/1/11.
As things around here continue to unfold, I will be keeping you updated as best I can. Sometimes things happen faster than I can remember them. In the mean time enjoy your week. I'll be getting back to you soon.
As always,
Your friend Tag
A quaint little drinking couple with a camping problem!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Seasons Greetings!
Seasons greetings from Texas!
I asked Tag if I could use his blog site and he gave me permission.
He is quite a guy!
Dave and I, Moe and Tag hope all of you are enjoying this wonderful
holiday season, just as we are.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND
BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY 2011!!!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
BRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Folks,
I know I haven't kept you up to date lately but, in these troubling times, I am trying to conserve. Actually, I am so down in the dumps, it is almost unbearable. These last few days I have had to watch the Happy Couple, and their dog Moe, try to cope with this miserably cold weather and try to keep the house going. I watch through frosted windows as Dave attempts to keep the water system from freezing and breaking pipes. He is out day and night, hooking water lines up to get water into the house and then unhooking the water lines to prevent pipes from freezing. Then, it is trying to get the truck started so he can make another trip to get propane tanks refilled so we can keep the furnace running. The propane and electric bills are going to be astronomical. Shari and Moe spend most of their time inside the house trying to keep as warm as possible. The furnace runs constantly and the little electric heater never shuts off. Moe is limited to going out to do her duty on an emergency basis only. Dave, Shari, and Moe go to bed early, and get up late because they have an electric blanket and they can turn it up to about 12 to keep them warm. I have no idea why they have insisted on staying here in Mount Pleasant and freeze like this. This cold and wind is not good for anyone. I don't know why, every year, we have to be the last snow birds to go south. Just to save my sanity, I think I'm going to change families to watch over. I just cannot take this misery any longer.
HA HA!!!! I gotcha. We ain't (SB) in Mount Pleasant. We are in Gladewater, TX and the weather has been just fine since we arrived here 8 days ago. Some days in the upper 60s to low 70s. Other days in the mid to upper 50s. Lows are usually in the mid to upper 30's. One night, so far, in the upper 20s. Today is the first day without sun shine.
We left Mt. P. on Sunday, Nov. 28th. and, after overnights in Ozark, MO and Texarkana, TX, we arrived at Shallow Creek RV Park, south of Gladewater, early afternoon on Monday, Nov. 30th. Gladewater is in NE Texas and is known as the antique capital of east Texas. The town is full of antique shops. The Happy Couple haven't been shopping there yet but I have heard rumors that little trip isn't too far away in the future.
The trip down here wasn't completely uneventful. Dave pulled into a station to fuel the truck in Camdenton, MO. and while doing so, went around the trailer to check the tires and wheel bearings. Upon inspection he noticed a tire that the tread was starting to separate. We spent an hour in a parking lot while a nice young man came and put on the spare. Our wise old leader says it was a good thing he found the problem when he did. If the tread had come off while driving down the road, the damage to the trailer could have been very intensive. After arriving here in Texas, he did some research and found the tires were manufactured in China by a company that, after being ordered to do a massive recall on their tires, suddenly disappeared. Our fearless leader is now in the process of making arrangements to replace all four tires on the trailer even though the tires only have about 11,000 miles on them. Another great cost saving move by Keystone, the manufacturer of the trailer. Did Dave ever tell you he thinks the 5th wheel he bought is a piece of crap? I know, if you ask him, he will do so. I am sure, if you asked him for a reference on purchasing a 5th wheel, the last place he would steer you is towards is any unit manufacured by Keystone. I have heard him tell quite a few people exactly what he thinks of this POS we call home.
Our time here at Shallow Creek RV, so far, has been uneventful, other than finding out real quick you don't go to Walmart on Sunday afternoon right after the church services are over. The place is kind of like a zoo only the people are dressed up better. This afternoon I am going to lead the Happy Couple, and Moe, on a trip to Marshall, TX to do some snooping around and see their Christmas lights this evening. They are supposed to have millions of lights and people come from all over to see them. If Stupid can figure out how to use his camera and takes some pictures, I will post them for you.
How's Moe? you ask. She is just fine. She gets the Village Idiot and his wife out of the house quite often. They go for walks, they washed the trailer, they have fires in Moe's firepit, and Dave gets to pick up her poop. What a life. She won't be a happy camper next Monday. She is going in for a wash job, a haircut, and manicure. She doesn't speak to anyone for about 24 hours after that happens. Poor thing.
Shari's Dad is doing better, which is why we were able to come down here. A few weeks ago Shari was afraid he was going to leave us but, after a few days in the hospital, he has rebounded quite nicely. We will be back up at Christmas to be with her folks. The Happy Couple are renting a car, leaving the truck and trailer at Shallow Creek RV, leaving on Dec. 23rd and staying through New Years. When we return to Texas, I have no idea where we are going. I have asked our "fearless leader" a few times but trying to get information out of him is quite difficult sometimes. I don't think he knows.
Dave's feeling on different topics:
#1 Iowa football season - Disappointing but not overly suprised by the results
#2 Iowa men's basketball - Really liking what's happening. Great defense against UNI last night
#3 Iowa women's basketball - Doing great - wish we could see them on TV more
#4 Iowa State athletics - No public comment
#5 BCS bowl winner - Oregon by 8 points
#6 TCU joining the Big East Conference - HUH????? I thought TCU was in Ft. Worth, TX
Well, I guess I better get off here. Duty is calling. I think the "Family" is getting ready to go on the road trip. I have to get on the dash of the Big Truck and do my duty. It is going to be cold this afternoon. Only getting into the lower 50s. The temperature now at noon is only 45. Dang that is COLD.
Have a good day and stay warm.
Tag
I know I haven't kept you up to date lately but, in these troubling times, I am trying to conserve. Actually, I am so down in the dumps, it is almost unbearable. These last few days I have had to watch the Happy Couple, and their dog Moe, try to cope with this miserably cold weather and try to keep the house going. I watch through frosted windows as Dave attempts to keep the water system from freezing and breaking pipes. He is out day and night, hooking water lines up to get water into the house and then unhooking the water lines to prevent pipes from freezing. Then, it is trying to get the truck started so he can make another trip to get propane tanks refilled so we can keep the furnace running. The propane and electric bills are going to be astronomical. Shari and Moe spend most of their time inside the house trying to keep as warm as possible. The furnace runs constantly and the little electric heater never shuts off. Moe is limited to going out to do her duty on an emergency basis only. Dave, Shari, and Moe go to bed early, and get up late because they have an electric blanket and they can turn it up to about 12 to keep them warm. I have no idea why they have insisted on staying here in Mount Pleasant and freeze like this. This cold and wind is not good for anyone. I don't know why, every year, we have to be the last snow birds to go south. Just to save my sanity, I think I'm going to change families to watch over. I just cannot take this misery any longer.
HA HA!!!! I gotcha. We ain't (SB) in Mount Pleasant. We are in Gladewater, TX and the weather has been just fine since we arrived here 8 days ago. Some days in the upper 60s to low 70s. Other days in the mid to upper 50s. Lows are usually in the mid to upper 30's. One night, so far, in the upper 20s. Today is the first day without sun shine.
We left Mt. P. on Sunday, Nov. 28th. and, after overnights in Ozark, MO and Texarkana, TX, we arrived at Shallow Creek RV Park, south of Gladewater, early afternoon on Monday, Nov. 30th. Gladewater is in NE Texas and is known as the antique capital of east Texas. The town is full of antique shops. The Happy Couple haven't been shopping there yet but I have heard rumors that little trip isn't too far away in the future.
The trip down here wasn't completely uneventful. Dave pulled into a station to fuel the truck in Camdenton, MO. and while doing so, went around the trailer to check the tires and wheel bearings. Upon inspection he noticed a tire that the tread was starting to separate. We spent an hour in a parking lot while a nice young man came and put on the spare. Our wise old leader says it was a good thing he found the problem when he did. If the tread had come off while driving down the road, the damage to the trailer could have been very intensive. After arriving here in Texas, he did some research and found the tires were manufactured in China by a company that, after being ordered to do a massive recall on their tires, suddenly disappeared. Our fearless leader is now in the process of making arrangements to replace all four tires on the trailer even though the tires only have about 11,000 miles on them. Another great cost saving move by Keystone, the manufacturer of the trailer. Did Dave ever tell you he thinks the 5th wheel he bought is a piece of crap? I know, if you ask him, he will do so. I am sure, if you asked him for a reference on purchasing a 5th wheel, the last place he would steer you is towards is any unit manufacured by Keystone. I have heard him tell quite a few people exactly what he thinks of this POS we call home.
Our time here at Shallow Creek RV, so far, has been uneventful, other than finding out real quick you don't go to Walmart on Sunday afternoon right after the church services are over. The place is kind of like a zoo only the people are dressed up better. This afternoon I am going to lead the Happy Couple, and Moe, on a trip to Marshall, TX to do some snooping around and see their Christmas lights this evening. They are supposed to have millions of lights and people come from all over to see them. If Stupid can figure out how to use his camera and takes some pictures, I will post them for you.
How's Moe? you ask. She is just fine. She gets the Village Idiot and his wife out of the house quite often. They go for walks, they washed the trailer, they have fires in Moe's firepit, and Dave gets to pick up her poop. What a life. She won't be a happy camper next Monday. She is going in for a wash job, a haircut, and manicure. She doesn't speak to anyone for about 24 hours after that happens. Poor thing.
Shari's Dad is doing better, which is why we were able to come down here. A few weeks ago Shari was afraid he was going to leave us but, after a few days in the hospital, he has rebounded quite nicely. We will be back up at Christmas to be with her folks. The Happy Couple are renting a car, leaving the truck and trailer at Shallow Creek RV, leaving on Dec. 23rd and staying through New Years. When we return to Texas, I have no idea where we are going. I have asked our "fearless leader" a few times but trying to get information out of him is quite difficult sometimes. I don't think he knows.
Dave's feeling on different topics:
#1 Iowa football season - Disappointing but not overly suprised by the results
#2 Iowa men's basketball - Really liking what's happening. Great defense against UNI last night
#3 Iowa women's basketball - Doing great - wish we could see them on TV more
#4 Iowa State athletics - No public comment
#5 BCS bowl winner - Oregon by 8 points
#6 TCU joining the Big East Conference - HUH????? I thought TCU was in Ft. Worth, TX
Well, I guess I better get off here. Duty is calling. I think the "Family" is getting ready to go on the road trip. I have to get on the dash of the Big Truck and do my duty. It is going to be cold this afternoon. Only getting into the lower 50s. The temperature now at noon is only 45. Dang that is COLD.
Have a good day and stay warm.
Tag
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