Howdy Y'all,
Do you have post election syndrome? I do. I know I have it because my head is full of political ads and I am looking forward to seeing Viagra ads on TV again. That last part won't last long but it will be a welcome change for a day or two. The Village Idiot was up until midnight last night watching election results and now we can't pry him out of bed. My best friend Shari is thinking about shoving him outside into the rain to try and wake him up. I have noticed it is nice a quite around here without him yapping his trap. Maybe we should just let the sleeping dog lay.
Well, did the election results meet you satisfactions? I noticed in Iowa the state lost a long time politician, but, unfortunately, he will probably return from Washington and get back into his law practice. I haven't figured out which is worse, losing a politician or gaining another lawyer. Kind of a toss-up.
The Happy Couple have had some happenings lately and they weren't all happy. About 4 weeks ago they lost one of their best friends. Long time Burlington friend, Mark Steingreaber, had a massive stroke and passed away two days later. The world lost a great gentleman. I personally have been shocked about this as, without Mark, I would not have existed. Mark, and his sweet wife Beth, were the ones who were instrumental in getting the Happy Couple into the RV life. Mark had been talking to Dufus for years about getting a RV and enjoy the wonderful world of camping. In 2005 the Happy Couple bought a used motorhome and, on one of their first trips, they journeyed to Davenport, IA to meet the Steingreabers and Ken and Judi Weinreich for the weekend. While there, the group went on a little shopping trip to Kohls in Bettendorf, which happened to be where I was living at the time. After Dufus took one look at me it was love at first sight. He picked me up off the shelf, placed me on the dash of the motorhome, and we have been pals ever since. If it wasn't for Mark I would have never known the Happy Couple, would never have been to all the great places I have been, would never have seen all the great things I have seen, and, most of all, would have missed the opportunity to have all you great people as friends. Thank you Mark. You truly are missed.
Things have gotten a little happier for the Happy Couple lately. On October 22 the clan started the migration south by going north out of Mount Pleasant. (I wasn't in charge of the GPS) We traveled to Mount Vernon, IA and spent a couple nights in a state park. While there, the Happy Couple went to Cedar Rapids one night for dinner, beverages, and jokes with the Hawkins, the Minors, and half of the Zahradnik clan. (Carl thought farming was more important than eating. Foolish guy.) The next night the Couple went to Bata's Restaurant in Cedar Rapids and had dinner with the Quijanos and Shirley, of the Tony and Shirley Bata family. (Tony joined us occasionally but was working.) Great food and great times were had by all. The Village Idiot told me that all the stories told both nights were true stories. Yeah, right.
From Mount Vernon the Happy Couple headed east (what happened to heading south for the winter?) to Long Grove, IA for two nights, staying at Scott County Park. On Saturday they attended a wedding in Davenport of Cole Housman, a great nephew of Dufus. The Happy Couple really enjoyed the reception as they got a chance to see Dufus's brother Ed and wife Nancy and all the Kimm kids and their spouses. From what we heard later, the reception set a new record at the Blackhawk Hotel for the number of kegs of beer served at a wedding reception. Just think, the Village Idiot was part of history.
The next morning, the truck was hooked up to the 5th wheel and we finally got to head south. After a overnight stop in Illinois, I masterly guided the Happy Couple to Green Acres RV Resort outside of Savannah, TN where we are for about ten days. The Happy Couple stay here as they really enjoy the hospitality and friendship of Larry and Diane Frisbie, the owners of Green Acres. The two couples have taken a couple side trips as they went to the Rattlesnake Saloon out in the boondocks in Alabama and to an Amish settlement near Ethridge, TN. After lunch in Ethridge, the couples went on a short detour to a shop that sold quilts. My friend, Shari, wants a new quilt for the bed and she finally found a quilt shop. After looking at all the quilts, she finally found what she wanted. She yelled at the Village Idiot to get up to the cash register and pay. I thought he was going to have the big one right there on the spot. Fortunately for him, the lady that ran the shop noticed that the quilt was for a queen bed, the Happy Couple have a king bed, and the lady didn't have a king quilt. Old Bozo lucked out again. Larry was not as lucky. Diane found one she liked and Larry got to pay. The Village Idiot did get a free bag of popcorn out of the deal.
If it quits raining here tomorrow as it is supposed to, we are going to continue out trek south. I guess our plans are to land at Cajun Palms RV Resort near Breaux Bridge, LA for the weekend. This will give the Happy Couple a chance to watch the Hawks and Gophers play football Saturday and indulge in some Cajun food. From there the plan is to wander over to Texas and, after a stop in Houston, end up in Austin on November 16th. If November 16 date sounds familiar, it is a national holiday. It is my best friend, Shari's, birthday. Being the gentleman that I am, I will not tell you how many years but will tell you she was a war baby. You just have to figure out which war and which year.
The reason the Happy Couple are going to Austin is the Village Idiot has taken a job at McKinney Falls State Park for the winter. When he applied for the job he told them he could work anytime between November 15th and March 1st so they scheduled him to work from November 17th to March 1st. So much for having part of the winter off. The bright side is this will give the Happy Couple many opportunities to see the friends they met in Austin two years ago when my friend, Shari, was having her hip replacement.
Well, I guess that is about it for now. Before I leave I want to pass on a comment I just heard about the new Chicago Cubs manager and their team for next season. The comment was "to have a zoo you have to have animals". I think the person that made the comment, and he is a Diehard Cub fan, feels like there is nothing in the pens. The Village Idiot always says that the Cub fans wear their blue clothing all the time because, deep down, they wish it was Dodger Blue.
On that note, I will say good day for now, and you'll be hearing from me on the next go around.
As always,
Tag
A quaint little drinking couple with a camping problem!
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
bad dog - Bad Dog - BAd DOg - BAD DOG - BAD DOG
The above title says it all. BAD DOG!!!!!!! I think I am catching the lazy way of life from the Brain.
Well, how is everything going with you fine folks? I hope you are healthier, wealthier, and wiser than the last time I wrote. I am healthy, never been wealthy, but I am still wiser than my buddy.
As most of you probably know, the Happy Couple are once again in Mount Pleasant, IA. The clan arrived in mid April after spending a wet and cool winter in Alabama, Florida, and Texas. I guess Texas wasn't all bad as the weather was nice and dry the month of March in the Hill Country.
The Brain is again working at Crossroads RV Park doing his usual thing. Nobody has figured out what his usual thing is but I am sure somebody is applying for a government grant to study what he does. Actually the old boy has to work a little harder this year. The park is running at about 80% capacity this year which means more work keeping the sites clean, the grass mowed and trimmed, the building clean, and answering the phone. The park has been full quite a few nights and have had to turn people away. The Village Idiot thinks this is all caused by his pleasing personality, his great demeanor on the phone, and his professional greeting to customers when entering the door. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there may be other factors involved. The main factor that may have caused this influx of business is a $1.7 billion dollar fertilizer plant being built in Wever, IA which is about 30 miles from here. Of the 34 sites available at the park, 24 of them are reserved for workers and those sites are generally full all the time. I think I just burst the old boy's bubble.
You folks may want to be sitting down when you read this next paragraph. The Happy Couple just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary about a month ago. I know that is hard to believe but it's true. My best friend Shari needs a medal for that accomplishment. I am sure there are a lot of people that knew the Village Idiot when he was young and would have bet big money that he would never reach his 40th birthday, let alone be married for 40 years. I asked him on their anniversary how this was accomplished and he say he attributes it to two things; the first was he learned to say 'YES DEAR" early in their marriage, and the second, he says, was because when he got married he was a 31 year old virgin. With that statement I dropped my drink, fell off the sofa, and rolled on the floor in laughter. Actually Moe is still laughing. I've heard him say some rather stupid things before but I think he just raised the bar.
You're probably asking yourself; "What did the Brain get his sweet, beautiful, loving wife for their 40th wedding anniversary?" Well, besides a beautiful bouquet of red roses, together they bought a new 5th wheel to live in. Now how many of you got a new home for your 40th wedding anniversary? Or any anniversary for that matter? Yup, they traded in there 2008 Montana Big Sky and bought a 2015 Montana Mountaineer. It is really neat! It is more like a small house than a trailer. It has a separate front living room, separate kitchen, separate bathroom/laundry, and a separate bedroom. The Brain says now he doesn't feel like he is watching TV in the kitchen or my friend, Shari, cooking in the living room. The living room has two sofas, a recliner, and a big HD TV. Even with all this room it is still cocktails for six, feeds four, and SLEEPS TWO. The Happy Couple have a friend named Lester who would have said that last sentence a little different but this is a family show. When the Happy Couple were moving from one trailer to the other, the clan thought we had lost the Village Idiot. To make it easier to move into the new unit, they unloaded everything from the old unit into the meeting room at the RV park. One day the Village Idiot thought he was having a heart attack. He was carrying stuff to the meeting room and suddenly had terrible chest pains. It was kind of warm that day and he had been making a lot of trips. On this particular trip, he was carrying things from the kitchen and in his hand he had a small crock with utensils in it. When the deep pain hit he got wide eyed and about dropped everything. He looked down and saw a small meat fork stuck in his chest. He pulled it out and the pain went away. I never did find out how well he was cooked. It's the little things like this that make me happy to be around these two. You just never know what is going to happen next!
For those of you that are interested, Moe is doing just fine. She gains about a pound a year and is about to go up another bra size. That is what the Brain calls her halter she wears when she is outside. She did have a sore on her foot and the Happy Couple had to take their free dog to the vet. $87.00 later she came home with a bandage on her right front paw. For five days she really hammed it up. When someone was around to watch her she would walk with her sore foot in the air and walk three legged. When she thought nobody was watching she would walk normally. I'm not sure but I think she is a mite spoiled!
My best friend, Shari, is doing just great. She has been busy all summer trying to keep the Brain in line, working on the itinerary for the Red Flag Tour, which is coming up in next week, helping around the campground, and making her coasters and lighted wine bottles. The hip she had replaced eighteen months ago is doing just great. Actually she is getting hard to keep up with.
From what I understand from the Happy Couple the winter plans are pretty much in place. The clan will be leaving October 23 to go to Davenport, IA for three nights to go to a wedding on October 25th. On the 26th the trek south will begin. The first stop will be a week at Green Acres RV Resort in Savannah, TN to see Diane and Larry Frisbie. From there it will be overnight stops ending in Austin, TX for much of the winter. The Brain decided he needed something to do this winter and, through friends, got in contact with McKinney Falls State Park outside of Austin. When he contacted them he told them he would be available any time between November 15th and March 1st of next year. When they contacted him back about a month ago they said they had him scheduled to work from November 15th to March 1st. The Happy Couple decided that it wouldn't be that bad even though the Brain had only planned to work for a couple months. They have a lot of friends in the Austin area and will have a good time. During the month of March the plans are to go back to the Hill Country of Texas. The Village Idiot still thinks he wants to be a cowboy and is looking for the right ranch. I imagine next summer we will be back in Iowa.
The Happy Couple have seen a lot of old friends this summer but not as many as they would like to have seen. With the work schedule at Crossroads they really haven't had a lot of free time. For the ones that got missed, they say they are truly sorry but thank the good Lord for social media!
Well that is about it for now. I would say next time it will not be quite as long between updates, but who knows. If I keep the Village Idiot as my mentor anything could happen. Have a good fall and I will be back sometime.
Tag
Well, how is everything going with you fine folks? I hope you are healthier, wealthier, and wiser than the last time I wrote. I am healthy, never been wealthy, but I am still wiser than my buddy.
As most of you probably know, the Happy Couple are once again in Mount Pleasant, IA. The clan arrived in mid April after spending a wet and cool winter in Alabama, Florida, and Texas. I guess Texas wasn't all bad as the weather was nice and dry the month of March in the Hill Country.
The Brain is again working at Crossroads RV Park doing his usual thing. Nobody has figured out what his usual thing is but I am sure somebody is applying for a government grant to study what he does. Actually the old boy has to work a little harder this year. The park is running at about 80% capacity this year which means more work keeping the sites clean, the grass mowed and trimmed, the building clean, and answering the phone. The park has been full quite a few nights and have had to turn people away. The Village Idiot thinks this is all caused by his pleasing personality, his great demeanor on the phone, and his professional greeting to customers when entering the door. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there may be other factors involved. The main factor that may have caused this influx of business is a $1.7 billion dollar fertilizer plant being built in Wever, IA which is about 30 miles from here. Of the 34 sites available at the park, 24 of them are reserved for workers and those sites are generally full all the time. I think I just burst the old boy's bubble.
You folks may want to be sitting down when you read this next paragraph. The Happy Couple just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary about a month ago. I know that is hard to believe but it's true. My best friend Shari needs a medal for that accomplishment. I am sure there are a lot of people that knew the Village Idiot when he was young and would have bet big money that he would never reach his 40th birthday, let alone be married for 40 years. I asked him on their anniversary how this was accomplished and he say he attributes it to two things; the first was he learned to say 'YES DEAR" early in their marriage, and the second, he says, was because when he got married he was a 31 year old virgin. With that statement I dropped my drink, fell off the sofa, and rolled on the floor in laughter. Actually Moe is still laughing. I've heard him say some rather stupid things before but I think he just raised the bar.
You're probably asking yourself; "What did the Brain get his sweet, beautiful, loving wife for their 40th wedding anniversary?" Well, besides a beautiful bouquet of red roses, together they bought a new 5th wheel to live in. Now how many of you got a new home for your 40th wedding anniversary? Or any anniversary for that matter? Yup, they traded in there 2008 Montana Big Sky and bought a 2015 Montana Mountaineer. It is really neat! It is more like a small house than a trailer. It has a separate front living room, separate kitchen, separate bathroom/laundry, and a separate bedroom. The Brain says now he doesn't feel like he is watching TV in the kitchen or my friend, Shari, cooking in the living room. The living room has two sofas, a recliner, and a big HD TV. Even with all this room it is still cocktails for six, feeds four, and SLEEPS TWO. The Happy Couple have a friend named Lester who would have said that last sentence a little different but this is a family show. When the Happy Couple were moving from one trailer to the other, the clan thought we had lost the Village Idiot. To make it easier to move into the new unit, they unloaded everything from the old unit into the meeting room at the RV park. One day the Village Idiot thought he was having a heart attack. He was carrying stuff to the meeting room and suddenly had terrible chest pains. It was kind of warm that day and he had been making a lot of trips. On this particular trip, he was carrying things from the kitchen and in his hand he had a small crock with utensils in it. When the deep pain hit he got wide eyed and about dropped everything. He looked down and saw a small meat fork stuck in his chest. He pulled it out and the pain went away. I never did find out how well he was cooked. It's the little things like this that make me happy to be around these two. You just never know what is going to happen next!
For those of you that are interested, Moe is doing just fine. She gains about a pound a year and is about to go up another bra size. That is what the Brain calls her halter she wears when she is outside. She did have a sore on her foot and the Happy Couple had to take their free dog to the vet. $87.00 later she came home with a bandage on her right front paw. For five days she really hammed it up. When someone was around to watch her she would walk with her sore foot in the air and walk three legged. When she thought nobody was watching she would walk normally. I'm not sure but I think she is a mite spoiled!
My best friend, Shari, is doing just great. She has been busy all summer trying to keep the Brain in line, working on the itinerary for the Red Flag Tour, which is coming up in next week, helping around the campground, and making her coasters and lighted wine bottles. The hip she had replaced eighteen months ago is doing just great. Actually she is getting hard to keep up with.
From what I understand from the Happy Couple the winter plans are pretty much in place. The clan will be leaving October 23 to go to Davenport, IA for three nights to go to a wedding on October 25th. On the 26th the trek south will begin. The first stop will be a week at Green Acres RV Resort in Savannah, TN to see Diane and Larry Frisbie. From there it will be overnight stops ending in Austin, TX for much of the winter. The Brain decided he needed something to do this winter and, through friends, got in contact with McKinney Falls State Park outside of Austin. When he contacted them he told them he would be available any time between November 15th and March 1st of next year. When they contacted him back about a month ago they said they had him scheduled to work from November 15th to March 1st. The Happy Couple decided that it wouldn't be that bad even though the Brain had only planned to work for a couple months. They have a lot of friends in the Austin area and will have a good time. During the month of March the plans are to go back to the Hill Country of Texas. The Village Idiot still thinks he wants to be a cowboy and is looking for the right ranch. I imagine next summer we will be back in Iowa.
The Happy Couple have seen a lot of old friends this summer but not as many as they would like to have seen. With the work schedule at Crossroads they really haven't had a lot of free time. For the ones that got missed, they say they are truly sorry but thank the good Lord for social media!
Well that is about it for now. I would say next time it will not be quite as long between updates, but who knows. If I keep the Village Idiot as my mentor anything could happen. Have a good fall and I will be back sometime.
Tag
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