A quaint little drinking couple with a camping problem!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Funeral details for Dad

Good morning......I wanted to update you on the funeral details for Dad.  The visitation and funeral will both be held on Wednesday morning (the 26th) at the United Church of Crawfordsville.  Visitation will be at 9:30 am and the funeral at 11:00 am.  Memorials have been established for the United Church of Crawfordsville and the M.L. McCreedy Home.

Thank you for the wonderful messages we have received with so many words of kindness.  It is sad to have Dad gone but he definitely is in a better place.

Shari

Saturday, January 22, 2011

My Dad

Thanks Tag for letting me write this note.  I have just lost the first man I ever loved - Dad is now on his way to be with our Heavenly Father.  More details later. 
Shari

Monday, December 27, 2010

Whoops, we went the wrong way!

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

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

Monday, November 8, 2010

The latest from the greatest!

And how is everyone doing?

We are still going great down here in Good Old Mount Pleasant, Iowa.  Yup.  That is correct.  We AIN'T left yet.  (Sorry Bertha)  Grandpa John (Shari's dad)  is still doing fine considering.  Shari, along with Dave and Moe, go to see her folks occasionally which means we are still in Iowa.  The Happy Couple haven't been doing a whole lot lately.  Last week they took a trip to Cedar Rapids for a insurance meeting (good old government health care) and then trips to doctors.  Everything was A-OKAY.  Other than that, it has been trips to Washington and Dave working in the office.

The pickin up truck went to the doctor last week to get an oil change and then it had to go to the truck hospital.  The transmission had a leak so it had to have surgery.  Actually, at this writing,  it is still in the hospital but is do to be released on Wednesday.  Had to wait for new parts.  No get well cards, please.

My thoughts on a few things:

#1.  The weather getting colder - YUK

#2   Switching the clocks back to standard time - YUK

#3   The results of the election - GREAT but I'm glad they are finely over

#4   The Iowa - Indiana football game - WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT (That is not the way Dave said it)

#5   The Iowa State - Nebraska football game - Take a close look at my photo attached to this blog


The funny of the week:

Dave received an e-mail from Shari's dear sweet cousin Nancy a couple of days ago.  It seems they (Mack and Nancy) were having trouble with a water heater in their 5th wheel and asked Dave for some advise.  (I have no idea why they would do that either.)  Dave made a suggestion they check for propane pressure as it sounded like that might be the problem.  Well, Dave gets this e-mail that the problem has been solved.  Nancy wrote, and I quote, "Mack replaced part of the ignition system-burner thingies.  Anyway, not enough gas had been getting through...from somewhere to somewhere else...".  Don't you just love technical terms???  Anyway we are all happy that everything is back in good working order.

What is in our future, you ask.

Tomorrow the family, (Dave, Shari, Moe, and I) are taking a trip to Iowa City, Shari dental appointment, Cedar Rapids to an insurance agent, then to the Bata's for dinner.  I don't know how many of you have eaten Tony Bata's cooking but Dave and Shari love it.  He is an excellent chef.  Shirley makes some darn good chocolate chip cookies too.  Moe and I aren't suppose to have any because they are bad for our hearts.  Therefore Dave wolfs them all down.  He will do anything for the team.

On Wednesday, it's to Burlington to get the truck out of the truck hospital.

Friday afternoon, the Weinreichs', Steingreabers', and Romeos' are coming to Mount Pleasant for one last toddy time before winter sits in.

Saturday is another Hawkeye football game on the tube.  I hope the Hawks play a little better so the air isn't quite as blue in the house.  Things can get quite nasty when the game isn't going well.

Sunday is the Hawkeye1st basketball under Coach Fran.  We watched the exhibition game yesterday on the tube and they scored 111 points.  I don't think they scored that many all season last year.

After Sunday, who knows.

Well, that is about all I have for now.  As things change, I will keep you updated.  In the mean time don't forget the cheer:  LET'S GO HAWKS - LET'S GO HAWKS - LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!!!

As always,

Tag

Monday, October 11, 2010

The Vacation Is Over!

Howdy everyone.

Yes, the vacation is over and it is back to normal life for the Frantz clan.  That is if you can call anything they do as normal.  Almost everything that has happen to the Happy Couple the past 3 weeks has been great.  There was one bump in the road that kind of messed things up, but by their standards everything was good.

To get the hiccup out of the way first, on the 21st of last month Shari took her normal trip to Washington to see her folks.  On the return trip it was raining rather hard but, since she was anxious to get back to Mount Pleasant to be with her husband, (If you believe that statement, I have some ocean front property in Arkansas for sale) she continued on her way.    Just west of Ainsworth, with a truck following her and raining hard, she was suddenly spinning around and around in the road, coming to a stop on the westbound shoulder.  She first thought she had hydroplaned until a young man came running to the car apologizing for hitting her and wanted to know if she was hurt.  She had a bump on her head, was checked out by EMT's and was declared okay, except for the black eye she had for a few days.  The kid said he passed the truck behind Shari and, due to water spray from the truck and Shari's car, did not see her when he pulled back in and clipped the rear of her car, putting her into a spin.  Fortunately, she did not go in the ditch and there was no oncoming traffic.  The condition of the car - TOTALED.   As was an antique lamp and a couple of antique vases that were in the trunk.  Thank goodness her golf clubs survived.  Now my buddy Dave gets to go car shopping.  That should be interesting to see what he comes up with.  A couple friends committed that, since she did such a great job of keeping the car on the road, she should drive on the NASCAR circuit.  I don't think that will happen.  If she did she would have to hire someone to keep an eye on my buddy Dave.

The trip to Wisconsin and northeast Iowa was great.  Great friends, great weather, great campgrounds, and way too much toddy time and food.  There were a few times during toddy time that Moe and I just went back inside the house.  We just couldn't take it any more.   Ken and Judy's dog, Fletcher, wouldn't even come out.  He's smarter than I thought.  And they call these people adults.  I'm sure Moe gained a couple of pounds and the Village Idiot, about a ton.  He eat all the time we were gone.  He must have thought he was a big old bear and needed to store up for winter.  I'm not going to commit on how much weight anyone else gained.  I want them to remain friends.

Now it's back to the daily grind at Crossroads RV Park for another 3 weeks.  Shari and Dave have doctors appointments on Nov. 1 and after that, who knows.  I keep asking Stupid where we are going this winter and his response - "I don't have a clue".  It should be a fun winter.  Shari's dad is starting to slip a little so I imagine that will have a lot to do with where and when.

We did make a family trip to Cedar Rapids one afternoon last week.  Moe, Shari, and Dave all needed haircuts so I had to go along to navigate and coordinate everything.  I was afraid Stupid would forget to pick Moe back up after her appointment.  Moe got a little grumpy about getting trimmed but she looked just ravishing when it was all over.  At the minimum, I can see her eyes now.  I think that yappy thing is starting to grow on me.

The Happy Couple made a couple trips to West Burlington over the past weekend.  Luke had a football game Saturday afternoon but results weren't as good as the should have been.  He is going to give it another try tomorrow afternoon.  It was back to West Burlington yesterday afternoon.  Emma had a couple of softball games.  The record was one and one when that was over.  Good job Luke and Emma.

I suppose I better get off of here.  Stupid will be home soon for lunch.  I don't know which of you is charge of weather, but, who ever it is, you are doing a great job.  It even makes Dave in a better mood.  The down side is, I think he snores louder on these cool nights.

Have a good one.  I'll get back to you when I can.

GO HAWKS!!!!!!!

Tag