Friends, Family and Memories

H-E-L-L-O again….  We haven’t vanished off the face of the earth, just been kicking back in Shawnee, Oklahoma visiting family and friends.  We even got a surprised visit from our friends Barb & Jim as they stopped by for a few days when coming through Oklahoma heading to Arizona. 

Ryan, JoAnn, Jerry, and Gene

 The weather hasn’t been what we would hope for, as it has been mostly rainy or cool/cold – Cold?  Guess it all depends if you ask Jerry or me – LOL.  After purchasing another motorhome, we had plans to do a total clean out and only take things we know we will use and store the rest.  Then Jerry had some electrical things to get completed before heading to Texas, but the weather has put a damper on getting any of this completed.  Oh well, guess it gives us more time to visit with family and friends!!  :) 

Ryan with his first love - entertaining family!

We even received yet another surprise once we got here; our oldest son Ryan has decided to take an employment opportunity in Florida, and he would be leaving in a few weeks.  WHAT? WAIT!!!  We haven’t seen him in a year and now that we are here, he leaves – LOL.   We wish him nothing but the BEST in life, plus it just gives us another reason to visit Florida. 

 Once Ryan got his things settled in Dallas, he made the drive up to see us.  Yay, because we got his full attention for three days, not something we get too often.  You know how single men are --- don’t you?  The family couldn’t believe how much he has grown –up and out!!!  They knew him as a young teenage who was all bones – think that has changed a bit!  

“A smile happens in a flash, but the memory can last a lifetime”    We love your smile, the gentlemen you have become, and the desire to go after your dreams.  Dad & Deb

 

Camp Fire, Hot Dogs, and Pies

Everyone’s time in the desert is winding down, so everyone is trying to use up their firewood.  Glen and Jan invited everyone over Tuesday evening for a camp fire, which Glen really knows how to have a bon-fire!  Sorry no fire picture :(

Don't you think that stack can make a pretty mean fire?

While sitting around the fire; George mentioned he needed to have a fire to use up his wood before leaving too.  Quickly it turned into a hot dog roast, Jan had homemade chili, so now we have chili dogs, and then Deb mention coconut pie… you guessed it…. desert was covered too.  So now we just needed to wait for Saturday evening to get here.

Saturday became a very busy day for Deb, as she was in the kitchen all day.  After our three mile walk; it was time to get busy - Deb started the coconut pie, while trying to cook breakfast at the same time.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t such a good ideal, so breakfast got put on hold until the pie was cooked.  

While eating (standing up), she had started on the chocolate pie – guess she didn’t learn her lesson from the previous pie. You just cannot do both at the same time, as pies take your undivided attention!  And eggs just really don’t taste too good cold!!

Finally, both pies were completed – but that wasn’t enough… she then decided to make some more lemonade syrup.

Sorry, nothing left to share - LOL

Shortly after the cooking was done, we got a call from another one of your new friends – Ed. They (Ed and his dog Paco) want to come by for a visit, as they were heading back to Vermont the next day.  

We have meet some great people in the desert this year and looking forward to seeing them again in about 7 months.

Question for ya: What’s your favorite dessert?

     ~Ours: Jerry - Chocolate pie / Deb - German chocolate cake

Guess Max had a hard day too!


Cheers, hope your day is filled with love, laughter, and many blessings!

Happy New Year - Bring on 2012

Happy 2012 Everyone!! 

Good Riddance 2011; it has been a year to “detox our lives”, as we prepared for a new adventure - living full-time in our Can called an RV.  :)   Talking about emotions; never thought it would have brought out so many emotions, however having the ability to live a “carefree live” has been worth it all.   

Jerry finally got to RETIRE after 40 years in Corporate America and Deb got the honor to stop working, so we could live out Jerry’s dream of going back to a life of travel and adventure.

We ended our year; sitting around the camp fire with many of our new friends, sharing laughs, a few adult beverages – including a jar of moon shine and adult straws for the ladies with snacks, however only a hand full made it to ring in the New Year.  Deb was not one of them, however she did make it to ring in the New Year Texas time.

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." Bill Vaughn

HELLO 2012…Cheers to Retirement and Safe Travels!!   

We don’t believe in making all these promises that are impossible to keep, so we just eat our Hoppin’ John in hopes of good health and luck.  Figure with good health and love, all things are possible.   Bring on Peace, Love, and Happiness!!

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." Oprah Winfrey

Merry Christmas To All

The holiday's are a time to spend with family and friends, reflect back on memories, play games, watch football and of course eat, eat, eat and then take a nap. :)  However, sometimes it just doesn't work out that way, so you improvise and do the next best thing, which is exactly what we had to do this year.


You see; we are sitting in the middle of the desert outside Quartzsite, AZ so it would be a long drive back to Texas or Oklahoma to be with our families.  And of course, our families couldn't get out to us either, so we meet several of our new desert friends at Blue Water Casino in Parker, AZ to feast on the all you can eat buffet.  Although we didn't gamble, Jerry did find a nice shirt to purchase for his bride. Sorry no pictures, maybe at a later time.


Once back to the rig, it was time for a nap - at least for Jerry, as Deb and Max played outside.  Actually Max decided to catch a little lizard and oh well, you can imagine the rest. Later in the afternoon, we decided to take a walk and let Max run a little down the wash, as we usually like to do each evening, however this turned out a bit different this time.  Deb twisted her ankle coming out of the wash, and of course we were still about an 1/4 of a mile from home. She was a good sport and was determine to walk home instead of letting Jerry go get the truck.

One fat ankle, guess that will slow her down a bit

It has been a great day, as we are blessed to be healthy, be surrounded with good people, wake up to many text and e-mails, and a chance to talk to most of our family members.

So we will leave you with a few Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness.  To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart.  To a customer, service.  To all, charity.  To every child, a good example.  To yourself, respect.