East Coast Storm

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We live in Bethany Beach De., a place usually not considered a spot for blizzards...this is our second one in the same amount of years.  We have received 10 inches so far and still falling. The first photo is outside our back door...the following photos are of the same storm

Where's my shovel?

Its still the Christmas season so a fast pic of our tree!

Update Dec. 27th.....total snowfall 14 inches with snowdrifts as high as 20 feet....CRAZY!!!!!

Dream Location

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Well, this is it....this location in Yosemite is where we want to take a  picture of ourselves.  To become a part of the landscape.  This is one of our quests for our RV adventure out West in 2013!  This is not on a bucket list since we may need a boat...we may need a bucket if the boat leaks but what is most important is if anybody has seen this scene in their travels and can give us a heads up on location.  :>)

Emails from GrandKids

This is Maureen and the father of our
12 year old granddaughter!
How time flies!

To my Grandma and Grandpop

There were  probably many, many times this year when I may have

Disturbed you,
Troubled you,
Pestered you,
Irritated you,
Bugged you,
   Or got on your nerves....  

So today I just wanted to tell you...........

 
  Suck it up Cupcake!!!  

'Cause there are  NO CHANGES planned for 2011 !!!

Are we dizzy yet?

Now this is a spot in the grand canyon not for the faint of heart...the views for this photographer must be fantastic but why go out there? And as you can see in the following photo...he jumps back!

How is explained  HERE

Random sightings

It has been awhile since the last entry.  So much to do to get ready for our adventure but always time to reflect on the wonders of  creation.  I wish a list of places one must see was created also, so choices can be made instead of random sightings of exotic landscapes that inspire the dreams of adventure.  The image to the right seems to be from another world but can be found in Arizona....I never knew deserts were painted.  I imagine what we will see on the road will be a "must" see. It will all be random! We are ready!! Click on image for a full view.

Halloween

Ava is our youngest grandchild at 5 months.  She was singing to her grandma and was so into the performance that she did not see her cousin get a hold of a piece of pumpkin cake!

Now this is our youngest grandson who just turned one year old ...Braydon Charles is such a noble name, so I thought to post this as a reminder of the finer moments of growing up. He is just like his granddaddy.

Mortality

Sometimes the memories of our early beginnings do not portray accurately how fragile we are and how moments need to be cherished when our lives are connected by word or deed.  The tragic lost of two of our own this past week reminds us of our own mortality and the need to embrace each other as we share this unique RV lifestyle.  Bruce and Margie will be missed and I have never met them.  They enjoyed life and they had style...I will look for them in all of you.

Trivia

Do you remember the old crank phones ?  What I recall is the operator had to be used for all calls except those on your party line...you would use the crank to "dial" the number.  Our number on the party line was 3 longs and 2 shorts. There was no phone directory.  You would have to ask the operator .  It sure has changed.

Last trip 2010

It appears that we will go on one last 2010 camping trip to Assateague come November when all the campsites are first come, first serve. The summer is over and the ponies won't be on the beach but they will be everywhere on the island.  This particular horse was intent on finding some potatoe chips that fell when we  got out of her way. Before she left and not recorded by the camera, she left us a parting gift. Isn't nature grand?

Milk and Rving

This is how it was done when I was a kid. My grandmother would snug her head into the cows belly and be done before you knew it. See the kickers on this cow's legs? Gramma never used them. When I grew older and had to milk the cows, I remember old Crazy Legs arching her neck to see who was tugging on her teats and grew uncomfortable with me doing the tugging. A few well aimed swipes with her tail let me know to ease up. A cow who has been in the barnyard has a wet and very "ripe" tail and one smack is enough! What has this to do with RVing? Nothing. Milk is good for you, though.

A better deal...

Years ago on one of our beach walks I saw an elderly man sitting on a wooden bench, wrapped in a blanket staring towards the sea.  I noticed a red hat with a Marine Corps emblem and I yelled " Semper Fi, Marine! " and that look in his eyes told me I was welcomed.. After some introductions I learned that he was at Iwo Jima and soon he began to speak of memories long left resting in his heart.  For a brief time I was witness to an old Marine's life and for a moment I could feel his need to share it.  To someone who understands.    Thats what that college professor so many years ago gave me...   Maybe the greatest gift one may give to another is the gift of being heard. To belong to something greater....God bless the veteran...God bless us all. 

Today...42 years ago

On this day 42 years ago, I was leaving a history class at Shepherd College (now a university) and was mad as hell! Another verbal slugfest with a wannabe Vietnam war protesting college professor had just ended and his words that day changed my life.  " If you believe in the war, then go and enlist and stop evading the draft by sitting in class. " I pissed him off too, I guess.  It was a Friday night and at the local watering hole a few hours before closing time, I announced to the hanger ons that I was to enlist in the Marine Corps come Monday. A loud cheer erupted and my money was no good for the remainder of the night.  I followed through that Monday by enlisting in the Marines and was to be walking point and sleeping on hard ground by February. I guess the professor (who left for UCLA that same year) and I were both right.  He did not believe in the war and I believed in my country.  As it turns out, I think I got the best of the deal and will explain in my next post...

Its Coming!

We love the Fall and all that comes with it, yet it is the winter that follows that creates a different world. As you can see, our beach can get its share of snow. No complaints, just anticipating the spring and following through on plans to live in the RV world of full timing. No snow allowed.

Aren't they Grand!

Getting ready for fulltiming requires downsizing and who better than our oldest granddaughter to help us with a yard sale. Of course, all these stuffed animals were won by her over the years playing those giant claw machines. You can't sell those memories.

Road Trip Part 2

Friday 3am began our drive to Lakeview, Ohio to RV Wholesalers to pick up our new Travel Trailer.
Why drive 640 miles? $5000 less than local dealers. We got 18 miles to the gallon going and 10 miles to the gallon coming home. Saturday 5pm ended our road trip with the RV resting safely in our driveway.

Elegant Parlor

Anyone remember the Parlor? Before TV and video games, the center of entertainment was the parlor, where your best was presented to the guests and was the perfect atmosphere for the host to "put on airs". I remember my Grandmother, the best cook in the county, taking me to visit her well to do sister. With promises of cake and strawberries, I tagged along as Gramma met with her sister and other guests...I was impressed by the fancy room with nice chairs, tables and a large radio...Hot tea was served in cups with saucers. Everyone poured some of the hot liquid in the saucer and sipped as I was looking at the sister's cake on the platter. My grandmother seemed out of place with the other women but she always had a smile in her eyes that others did not. When I got my cake and took a bite, it tasted so bad that I coughed and spit it out to the horror of everyone except Gramma. She told me to go outside and play...a little later she gathered up her things, grabbed my hand and walked me home. The smile in her eyes was now on her face. It was later that I realized why she had said to me on the walk home that the "proof is in the pudding!"

No Parking

This is one of the towns Walt Disney World was building when we were there 2006 and we have always wondered why cars were only parked on the street going up a steep grade...If you know whats going on here, we would like to know. Remember that Disney had fun doing the impossible. You will need to click on the image to enlarge so you can see what I am talking about.

Road Trip

Point A is Lakeview Ohio where RV Wholesalers is holding the new camper and Point B is Bethany Beach Delaware where we are holding our own until we go on this roadtrip...the savings we will enjoy will make the trip very enjoyable!

Illusions

We are getting ready to go to Ohio to pick up the RV, nothing to write about but plenty to see. Of course its hard not to see more than what is there, but you be the judge. Stare at the first image and let me know what you see...It took me minutes before "it" appeared!

Beach Dining at Assateague

Here are a couple of tidbits about the ponies at the State Park in Maryland. One, when hot, the ponies will come to the beach to cool down and two, they will dine on your picnic lunch uninvited. Best to keep the food hidden when they are on the beach!

Florida Flea Markets

Flea Markets are a big thing in Florida. Some of these cover acres of ground like the Webster market pictured here. Average attendance of 10,000+. Average 12-1300 vendors. One of the better wholesale markets in the country with a separate section for new merchandise.This every Monday market is a truly unique happening. What I found in some markets is you will need to look hard to find a treasure since most of the vendors have standard manufactured items that you could buy at Walmart...cheaper! Hard to find a booth where someone has emptied the attic...more like boxes of stuff made in China. We go for the food...you can get a real half smoke on a real fresh baked roll with mustard and onions that tastes real good!

It's a Big World

What do you know! Another blog featuring Maureen. Here she is embracing the world atop the mountains of Skyline Drive, Va. (no need to guess). From that moment until now, I remember her joy and the pure love of the outdoors we both share. Truth be told, there is a reason for the outstretched arms and that beautiful smile...it was a response to a question I asked before the camera took the picture...can you guess the question? Use comments below for your guess and yes, this will be the last guessing game...for now!
Click on image to enlarge.

Where in the world is.....

I have been in the "hunt" for some pictures to post and ran into this one of Maureen.
Can you guess what she is in and where? Red colors were everywhere in Oct. that year and we loved the adventure. Place your guess in the comments. I have placed clues in this post to help with your guess....;>)

First Date

Introducing our fluffy kid Mr. Pibbs. He is from Georgia and is a first generation Cockerpoo. In this photo the haircut shows his poodle side but that other side is debuting during the dog days of summer...Pibbs wants his first date and we would love to have him experience true puppy love, but it may not happen for him. That other thing may happen first, and if Mr. Pibbs could speak, he would ask why they call it getting "fixed" when there is nothing broken!

Race Fans

We took this picture near a fishing pier and can not remember if this was a race or fishing boats coming in filled with the catch of the day...from the crowd in attendance I think they are fishing boats. Taken 2005 in St. Petersburg, Florida or somewhere near there. For the RV'er there are hundreds of places where you can experience something new everyday in Florida. We plan to return 2011.

Fort Wilderness at Disney World

Beyond this sign and the wilderness before you, lies one of the best Rv resorts in the world.
You got to stay here to understand how well its laid out and how easy it is to park your rig and travel to all the parks and resorts at no cost...please continue to scroll to the last entry.

RV Notes

We love Fort Wilderness at Disney World and can get "swept away" by all that it offers. Maureen loves Downtown Disney where the food and shopping is first rate.
Getting there is an adventure all by itself with boats and monorails and buses
that run at all hours. Here Maureen is loving the Polynesian foliage that surrounds the resort. Until we get on the road, I will post here the memories that creates this urge to be rv nomads.

Less waste No Haste

This will be our home when we leave all reason behind and go forth in search of what, as yet, does not exist. Memories will be created and our greatest adventure has all the elements of being all that we allow it to be. I hope to continue this blog as we travel and make all who come here a part of the quest...More will be revealed.

Just for fun

Every since I saw this picture, I have been trying to figure out what happen to cause the girl on the right to get upset! Being kissed and not being kissed is obvious. But, if you imagine the photographer sitting the boy between the two sisters and then said..."kiss the pretty one"... What do you see, now?

Where is that duck??

I think I should place D.Elvis Duck over the flower in order to prove my sanity and convince those who care that there is indeed a duck hidden within the petals. When we traveled to Disney World I never saw any hidden Mickeys...go figure...

Love actually....

May 17th has come and gone, the hip has been replaced and rehab has begun. I was in the hospital for 5 days and on my return to our home, my wife was helping me get in our walk in shower...as I held on to her we both looked into each others eyes and embraced as we realized that the fears of major surgery were finally over. We shared the actual same feeling, felt the relief within the same moment and realized that our love for each other was always greater than our fears...what a powerful reminder of what love actually is.

Imagination

With so much strife in our world with wars, storms, political impasse and such little regard for others, I wonder what other residents of this planet think about...they do think you know...our friend in the picture is reasoning out its next move and seems to be deep in thought. I would imagine that if we could comprehend the language, our friend would be saying that this is such a nice place to have dinner...what did you hear?

Be Creative

With all the advances in medicine, technology and how we live, it takes very unique events to delight or to surprise. One such experience occurred at Animal Kingdom Walt Disney World in 2004 when we met Devine, a most enduring creation that delights the child in us all. We were walking from one ride to another, when the tree branches moved and separated into this slow moving form that became this human force of wonder that captivated the fast gathering crowd...When Devine gracefully returned to her "roots", we all were connected to nature in such a different way...Good stuff.

Wild Wild Horses

That Rolling Stones song fits the nuance of a stay at either the State or National parks that protects and provides a habitat for the ponies, deer, and numerous shore birds and shell fish. Assateague Island in Maryland is a gift to those who connect to the sea and share the love of nature with the animals. While we have hundreds of photos to post and adventures to share, this park has much to do with creating our desire to travel and our need to connect to ourselves and all that will be.

Horse Play

By now you may have noticed that my RV related posts are created by tying a picture from our camping adventures to the words. In this case it may not be necessary to write much about this scene in a parking lot on Assateague Island, Md. Most people have never seen a public display of "affectionate" ponies before and the response I heard were not words but laughter. If you need a close-up view, click on the picture.
These Assateague ponies are not laughing.

Long Time Gone

Been awhile since the last post. Full time RV living got a boost when we held our first yard sale. Sold $160 worth of treasures and have much more to offer.
Many Ebay buyers come to these sales in order to resale them on ebay. One confided to me that you can make a good living doing this. May look into this later.

Hip Hip Hooray!

I had a hip replaced in 98 and just got the news that the other hip needs a little work also. Operation is scheduled for May 17. I am glad this personal remodeling will be complete before the summer season is over. Full time RVing is a great way to rest weary bones....even the artificial ones.

Thoughts

With the Easter weekend over, I started back to work on a sundeck....I was trimming the outside boards using 1x12 when the outside 45's did not quite match up.
It was only off a little and you would have to look real close to see it and for a moment two thoughts entered my mind. The first thought was to let it go, no one would know...the second thought was that I would know. I remember being taught to always do my best. My best would inspire others to do their best. It has not always worked out that way over the years, but as I grow older, it becomes a great value to hold on to.
Thats me holding the beer can over another Marine in Vietnam 1969...such are the values of my youth!

Useful Information

In our quest of the ultimate lifestyle change, we have come across some good info given by other RV'ERs that I would like to share one of them....its Bill and Cathy's website and you can be informed and entertained by going to their website
HERE
You can never have to much information...Besides, once you start full-timing, the adventure will keep you excited with every turn in the road or in this case...bike path!

Freedom

This will be a short post due to the title...Our first RV experience was such a powerful change in our perception of living free. Living free does not mean that you are less responsible, but more responsive to the needs of those you love and yourself.
I think freedom can come long before you give yourself permission... what do you think?