Winding Down 2016; Looking Towards 2017

Holiday lights add cheer

Honestly, I’m looking forward to wrapping up 2016.  We’ve had the usual challenges of Life  this year and said good-bye to our sweet Maggie.  We continue to be grateful for each other, our home on wheels,  work, food, reasonable health for our ages, and so forth.  I’m ready, though, to put this year to bed and move on.

Speaking of moving on, we are in the planning and dreaming stages of transitioning to a new lifestyle.  We have had 6.5 years of living as full-time RVers, but – if all goes to plan - that time is coming to a close.  We are currently both working “normal” jobs (Dave in the community and me telecommuting as an admin assistant) with our home in an RV park.  We might as well be living in an apartment somewhere. 

While we experienced challenges from Mother Nature during our years in NJ as an on-site security team, Mother also provided us with rewards of the Spirit, magical and breathtaking moments, and memories for a lifetime.

Our souls were nurtured.   Our souls are currently starving.  Time for a change.

That, of course, is not the only reason.  We’re ready to get out from under the physical maintenance and related expenses associated with RV upkeep.   We want to sell the rig while it’s in good shape, before it gets much older.  The reality is that I need a home office, not just a wee desk in the corner by the kitchen, as my job has mushroomed over the past months and continues to do so. 

I find that violent storms make me uneasy in the RV, something which never bothered me before.  Of course, we had sturdy buildings in which to take shelter, something we don’t have here, and we primarily experienced snow storms, not the volatile thunderstorms and tornado warnings such as we get here in Texas.  We don’t feel “hitch itch” as in previous years, although we are looking forward to being on the road headed to our new location next year; we do miss seeing new places and the experiences that come along with traveling. Giving up the RV certainly doesn’t preclude a car trip by any means.   We’re tired of … people and traffic in large numbers.  We feel the need to be closer to Nature in a cleaner  environment, closer to wilderness.

So … the plan at this point is to sell the RV and move to a smallish town in northern MN, settling in a cottage within a 55+ community.   Maintenance-free living.  Simplifying our life and expenses again.  No snow shoveling!

Will be  emotional selling our home next Spring.  She’s a good rig and provides us a cozy home filled with many memories. 

I hear you saying, “Minnesota?!  Northern Minnesota?!?!  But it’s cold up there!!! “ 

Yes, it’s cold up there.  That’s one of the reasons we want to go.  Having been back in Texas again this Summer, we realize we both need to be in a colder climate for comfort/health reasons.  We know about Winter in Minnesota, having lived there during  2005-2007.  Yes, it snows.    A  lot.  And it’s cold.  Really  cold.

Walking around town and loving it – Hibbing, MN 2006

But you know what?   I have grilled outdoors with snow on the ground and more coming down.  Life doesn’t stop up there when it’s snow season.   We both still find magic in snowfall.  We miss walking hand-in-hand, hearing our boots crunching in the snow. The cold?  Well, you can always put on more clothes.  I’m a “sweater girl” at heart, and Dave is from Scotland.  There’s only so much you can take off when the mercury reaches 100+.  It’s a dry cold, too, and that makes a world of difference.  Trust me.

Dave on one of our walks in Hibbing MN,  2006

Living in Minnesota is like … well, it’s like living in an entirely different country.  Seriously.  That’s what I thought when I first moved there in July 2005.  Obviously the weather is different.  Buildings are different, especially in the smaller towns.  It’s less ritzy and glitzy.  There is a unique and distinct Minnesota accent one hears.  We’re ready to be back in a small town.  Fewer people and less stuff  around,  enough to meet one’s needs (and ours are basic needs) – shopping, health care, etc. , and slightly larger and more prosperous than Hibbing, where we lived previously.   Where we hope to be is again in the northern part of the state – well north of The Cities - where there’s not much between us and Canada (again) except a lot of trees and a lot of bears.  I’m ready for clean air and clean water.  Fewer people doing stupid, rude, senseless, and violent acts.  I’m ready to return to an area where the predominant cultural influence is Native American.  My Spirit yearns for all this, as does Dave’s.  I’m ready to see Winter be so cold that it literally reboots Mother Nature for the next year.  I’m ready to be back someplace where we can pack a lunch and go out in nature for the day without having to drive and drive and drive and drive ...

Dave at the head of the Mississippi on our of our day trips – MN, 2006

No, it’s not Utopia.  There is no such place.  However, we believe that our quality of life will be greatly increased.

We are still active and vital, and not ready for your typical “senior community” and rocking chairs on the front porch.  Except for a lazy afternoon when the weather’s nice.  Ha!   We are, however, ready to live in a mature community where – hopefully – our neighbors share the same overall values as us.   Our age peer group, if you will.

It also seems fitting that we return to Minnesota, as that’s where we started our life together here in the States.

So that’s the plan at this point.   The logistics are going to be … interesting, at the least.  But hey, this is the same gal who in 2005, put her Texas property on the market, sold everything except bare necessities, loaded the rest in a 6x12 U-Haul trailer (with the help of awesome friends) and headed solo (but with 2 cats and 1 dog) to Minnesota to an apartment she’d never seen (picked out by an aunt and uncle), to a state she’d never been in, engaged to a man 4000 miles away with whom she had spent a sum total of 2 weeks.  All that was accomplished in less than 30 days.

Loaded  up  with the help of these 2 awesome friends (and others), ready to head to MN – June 2005

This is doable! 

If’s  … if our assignment in NJ had indeed lasted another 3 years, if by some fantasy that job opened up again, if we indeed had been given another assignment shortly after returning to Texas … we would be carrying on in the RV lifestyle quite contentedly.  But … things don’t always materialize as one has been told.    If we’d known there would not be more security work, we would not have returned to Texas. 

We’ve given this a year.   It’s time to make other plans. 

A bit of envisioning and manifesting going on with this blog post.  We’ve always said we would like to eventually return to Minnesota at some point down the road, and we’ve been talking about making this jump for months now, but this is the first time I’ve put it in writing. 

So, positive vibes, a goal to work towards and look forward to, and hopes I retain a wee bit of my sanity while we get our ducks – errr …. Canada Geese, more appropriately – in a row.  The prospect of this new chapter in our life together is exciting!

What’s on your horizon for 2017?

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

 

Our Maggie

 

Our Maggie  crossed The Rainbow Bridge on October 25, 2016

Our Wee Widget, our Little Stumpy Legs, our Little Jellybean, our Maggie Mae slipped from this earthly life and crossed the Rainbow Bridge peacefully on the afternoon of October 25.  Her health had deteriorated in recent months to the point where her quality of life was such that we realized we were being selfish in keeping her with us.  Comfortable on her pillow, lights low with only my Bear candle glowing to light her path, Reiki music playing, and our loving and releasing her … she now awaits to greet us when our times come to cross over.

Maggie became a member of our wee clan on February 28, 2010, adopted from a shelter in Texas before we started full-timing. I suppose she came full circle, her journey with us ending where it began – in Texas.

It was love at first sight for her, Dave and myself.   I just know she was waiting for us, as we were for her.  Our previous dog, Baby, had passed less than a month previously.  Dave and I both know that Baby had a paw in bringing Maggie into our life together.  She was a transfer from another shelter, and her prior history was unknown.  She was shy at first,  and during those first few days sometimes would look at us as if wondering what Life held in store for her.

Those first couple of weeks were about trust.  Reassuring her that she was indeed home at last.  Reluctant to believe the food bowl and food were hers and hers alone, I hand fed bits of kibble to her.   A few at a time for several days, until finally she realized that this was her  food and no one would take it away from her.   We came full circle with that, too, at the end.   In those last weeks when she was too weak or tired to stand at the food bowl, I would hand feed her once again.   Such a bonding, sharing of love, such an intimate act …hand feeding one’s beloved companion.

Seems like she was with us about a week before she did her “business,” and we were about to the point of taking her to the vet until one day … yahoo!  I tell ya, Dave and I were so silly and elated, like parents whose child had just achieved the milestone of being successfully potty trained.  We still laugh about that even now.  Our funny Stumpy Legs …

The initial shyness didn’t last long, and soon “Maggie’s Happy Face”  was a  part of our daily lives.

We embarked on the full-time lifestyle in our RV a few months after Maggie came to us.  She loved traveling and seeing-smelling-exploring new environments and meeting new friends, human and doggie.  For her protection, she rode in a spacious crate in the back area of our truck’s cab.  The ultimate road tripper, she was so quiet we joked that she must be doing crosswords or knitting back there.   She checked out countless rest areas during our time together.  Enjoying the break, she was ever eager to get back in the truck and continue on down the road.

Everyone says their dog is a good dog, a smart dog.  Well, our Little Jellybean was that.  She knew various commands, a few tricks and bunches of words and phrases. “Want to go on patrol?”  “Want to go to the beach?”  Oh yeah, you betcha!  More than that, she was attuned to us and our routines, as we were to hers.

Maggie loved snow, and got plenty of that during our time in New Jersey

So many adventures this wee doggie had in our 6.5 years together!

• She traveled the eastern third of the United States
• Two hurricanes and Superstorm Sandy
• One earthquake
• Numerous blizzards and Nor’easters
• Holidays at the Jersey Shore
• Two National Military Parks
• Countless campfires shared
• Geese, rabbits, deer, bears, horses, cows
• Went on patrol with us when we worked as an on-site security team and hung out in our office
• Many more …

Peek a boo!

The three of us were together virtually 24/7 ever since that day in February 2010.  She spent only two nights away from us during that time, both for medical reasons at a vet.  Our lifestyle afforded us the opportunity to be together.  Maggie was our constant companion, very much a member of our family.  Dave and I do not have children together, so I think Maggie was that child, albeit with four feet, a fur coat,  and a very pink tongue.

Happy to see  Dave home from his bike ride

If Dave or I were away from home and would call the other, you could hear Maggie barking in the background.  She knew it was us calling!  So funny, our girl.

On patrol  in South Carolina

Maggie and me  at Gettysburg

Fun at the beach house on the Jersey Shore.

Bedtime and mornings are the hardest for me.  Maggie would perform her “turndown service” every night without fail, even in her final days.  I would turn down the top comforter, neatly  (remember this word “neatly”) arrange my pillows and linens,  and place her folded blanket at the foot of the bed.  I’d go brush my teeth.  On my return …

Maggie’s version of turndown service

She would move to the foot of the bed while I was getting settled under the covers but, once that was done, she would come back up to snuggle by my side or – in colder weather – between my legs.  It’s going to be a colder Winter this year … no Snuggle Bud warmth in bed.   No quiet “woof-woof” while she dreams doggie  dreams.  Waking up was snuggle-and-silly time, an excellent way to start each day.

Raincoat, sweaters, parka, boots – Maggs was a well-dressed pup, ready for whatever Mother Nature had in store.  We had been told by a neighbor at an RV park they waited each day to see what sweater Maggie would be wearing.

Maggie was a joyous dog.  She lived totally in the moment … she was Mindfully Present in the here and now.  She awoke each morning in a good mood, was never cross with us, actually enjoyed being clipped (something I did versus taking her to a groomer), and tolerated baths, reveling in “crazy dog towel time” afterwards.  She was not a “yapper,” but would sound the alarm when appropriate, and I could say “Tell me,” and she would respond in kind.  Big bark or little bark, depending on what I asked she do.   She “sang” to us and made what we called “alien noises” – not barking, but her way of talking to us, yep, those “alien noises.”  Although provided with all types of typical doggie toys (including old socks, you know dogs love tug-of-war with socks) and encouraged to play with them, she never took an interest.  First dog I’ve known or lived with who just flat didn’t care for toys.  That being said, she would play with us. 

Silly doggie

She had a few health issues throughout her life, but obviously declined in the past months.  Liver issues or cancer were suspects.  Various tests were inconclusive and cursory treatments provided no improvement.   She had lost a dramatic amount of weight,  one-third of her original 15 pounds. Talks with our vet confirmed the ultimate outcome, so we opted for quality over quantity.   As a two-time cancer survivor,  I could not  submit our girl to the horrors of chemo,  given her age and other health issues.  Dave agreed,  and our vet said she would opt for the same path with her dog. 

As she declined, much of my day was devoted to Maggie’s care – feeding her, lifting her up on furniture and into the rig, keeping her comfortable, and seeing to her other needs.  Since she has been gone, I have realized I was subconsciously sleeping with “one ear open” in case she was in distress during the night.  Yes, she was a lot of care towards the end,  as one gives to a chronically or terminally ill loved one.   I am now left with a void in my routine and have realized that I have been tired – not just physically but emotionally and spiritually.  

Now I go to the bathroom unescorted … you know that’s what dogs do, they hang out with you, just like you do with them … The silence of the lack of Maggie’s presence is deafening at times.

The vet here determined that Maggie was older than we originally thought and, looking back at photos over the years, I can see that she had indeed aged.  Among her other issues, she had cataracts forming in both eyes.

It was tearing us both up seeing our little girl’s decline in health and her infirmity.   Having been down this path so many times before in my 58 years, I was seeing Maggie give me “the look,” and I knew she was asking to be released.  I knew it was time to let her go.   We owed her so much more than being miserable … we owed her joy and love, as she had given so unconditionally to us.   We wanted our little girl to leave this world peacefully.  We did not want her condition to progress to … well, something terrible. 

I would rather say good-bye a month early than a day late.

We owed her peace.

October 2016

Maggie was cremated, as we obviously do not have a yard for a burial spot.  When I was in hospital in 2012, Dave bought the wee doggie in the bed because Maggie couldn’t be with me.  Neither of us realized at first, but the doggie “breathes” courtesy of an internal battery.  “Gee, that is so thoughtful.”   “Wait .. is that dog breathing?”   That kinda freaked us and the nurses out when we first noticed!  It has been in a cabinet, but I got it out and attached Maggie’s tags to its collar.  Her urn is placed next to this slumbering doggie, in the spot where her crate used to be.  She used to sit on top of the crate, looking out the window and soaking up sunshine.  It was one of her “spots.”

Closure and comfort

This Tuesday will be three weeks and I am still blindsided by tears at times as I was this morning, but we talk about our adventures with our Maggie Mae, and smiles come more than tears these days.  It will get better, and perhaps sharing her here will help, too.  I realized today that I have always written about Life events in my blogging.  Once a prolific blogger/writer, that has taken a back seat in the past several months.  I am hopeful this will be a catharsis of sorts for me … more closure.

I also hope you enjoy reading about our silly, joyous little Maggie and our time together.

One of the lessons Maggie shared was to live Life with joy and to be present in the moment.    I know she would not want me to be sad because of her, but to live Life as she did.

After all, this moment is all one really has.  There are no guarantees of anything else.

I’m working on that, Jellybean.

Will there be another dog in our lives?  I don’t know.  It’s too early.  Time will tell.

Maggie  Barnes, February 28, 2010 – October 25, 2016

It’s Not That I Don’t Want to Blog . . .

. . . it’s just that I usually don’t have the creativity or energy to do so after working or even on my days off.

“Why not?” you ask.

Well, this afternoon and evening I worked on five different blog posts as part of my responsibilities for one of my clients.  That includes formatting, proofing, editing when necessary, inserting images, composing lead-in “teasers,” SEO and so on.

Yes, folks, I’m blog-faced.

So, you see, by the time I wrap up a day’s work doing that or even close out a “typical” day at 10 PM or so, I’m spent. 

Your next question is, “What’s in a typical day?”

A typical day in the life of this virtual assistant may include, in no particular order:

• Reconciling bank accounts
• Tracking and enrolling students using a variety of programs/platforms
• Developing/updating procedures
• Processing/composing/responding to emails of various natures
• Preparing reports
• Skype with client
• Special projects, most recently background administrative assistance with a conference
• Updating web analytics
• Data input/revision on two different CRM platforms
• Google Docs
• Google Sheets
• Web research
• Spreadsheet creation and maintenance
• Using Adobe in document conversion, editing, combination of files, upload, etc..
• Uploading documents to platforms
• Phone meetings with client
• MailChimp
• Various task management/sharing platforms
• Blog work – not just the posts
• Maintenance of various databases and systems (if I named ‘em all it would take a while)
• Social media – maintenance, development, reporting, posting
• Communicating with vendors on behalf of my client
• Keeping my clients on track towards achievement of their tasks, goals and projects

I usually have about a gazillion tabs open in Windows on my laptop.

Oh heck, I know I’m leaving out things, but I think that gives you the flavor of what my work day may look like.

Yes, that can be in one day.  Yep.  Indeed.  Cool, eh?

Whew!

No complaints at all, mind you.  My days are varied at a lively pace and, while many of my responsibilities are now routine, there are daily “brain exercises” in problem solving, creativity, procedural development and the like to keep my gray cells happily ticking over.  I have been exposed to so many new programs, platforms, apps, etc. over the past several months . . . it’s great!  I have learned, and am still learning, so many new things.

That being said, I like the weekends, especially Sunday.  I’m off Tuesday/Wednesday and my clients are off on Saturday/Sunday.  There may be some interaction with either or both of them on Saturday now and then, but Sunday is usually a quiet day in that regard.  It’s a great time for me to catch up or work on projects which I find easier to tackle with “quiet time,” such as the blog posts today. 

I’m fortunate to provide services to two great clients who are flexible, who expect results but who in no way apply any stress, are willing to delegate (and sometimes eager, even - apparently they think I’m trainable – haha!), patient with my questions, and who I enjoy on both a professional and personal level.

So I look up and it’s 10:30 PM.  Egads.  Just about time for me to take a shower before Dave gets off work and heads home at about 11 PM. 

By the time my work day starts to wind down, I’m just done, as in stick a fork in me done.  All I want to do is step away from my desk and laptop, and let my brain veg out a bit, spend a bit of time with Dave when he gets home while we both wind down and then toddle off to blankies and wee doggie.

So there you have it, a bit of “Why I Don’t Blog Much These Days.” 

Thanks for stopping by!  Ya’ll be safe out there, okay?  It’s a crazy world we live in.

 

 

Sentimental Journey

Today was indeed a sentimental journey for me, as I ventured out to see Texas Raiders, the B-17 my dad helped restore decades ago when it was based at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, TX.   I had already seen her in the morning; knowing her ETA at Easterwood Airport here in College Station, I stepped outside and – lo and behold – there she was, approaching from the southeast, turning and making her approach to the airport.

Have you ever seen and heard a B-17 in flight?  If you haven’t, you have truly missed out.  There is nothing like it.

“There she is!”

Okay, so there wasn’t anyone around to hear me, but I still said it.

Texas Raiders at Astin Aviation/Easterwood Airport, College Station.  Isn’t she just something?  Those folks are being briefed for their flight.

I had not been in her presence since 1997, when I dispersed my dad’s cremains from her overhead hatch in flight.

Seeing her again, my heart was full.  My eyes were leaky.  It was . . . moving.  I had expected to feel emotional, but I was a bit taken by surprise by the strength of those feelings.

I touched her, giving her a “hug” in those touches and saying “thank you.”

In those touches, was a connection to Dad, to a time gone by, to all that is good, right and honorable with our country.

TR Nose Art

Front gunner position

I stayed for a while, as her passengers boarded for their flight, heard her engines roar to life once again,  watched her take to the air in all her majesty and saw her back on the ground safe and sound. 

Not too many photos, as I was more into experiencing the moment. 

It was spiritual.  It was awesome.  It was noisy.  It was joyous.  It was . . . a very meaningful experience for yours truly.

I went to see Her.  I went for Dad.  I went for me.

Mission accomplished.

Been Keeping Busy, As Usual

Seems I either don’t have the time or the creative energy to blog these days.  Both of those commodities are being put to use in other ways and, when I have “down” time, it’s spent with Dave enjoying our Tuesday/Wednesday evenings relaxing our brains and bodies watching some previously selected Netflix programs.  Our latest was Last Tango in Halifax.  I take some Sunday evenings, such as this one, to catch up on things around the house, do yoga, organize my work area and projects for the coming week (read restore some order to the chaos resulting from the week winding down), clip and/or bathe Maggie and perhaps even gasp blog. 

I find if I do not take the time for personal creativity now and then, my temperament suffers both internally and externally. 

I was fortunate to be an advance reader of Paradise Down, the latest work of author Donna B. McNicol.   Paradise Down is now available on Kindle at Amazon.  It’s an entertaining whodunit set in Hawaii and, as usual, Donna delivers an enjoyable read.  You can visit Donna’s author website here to explore her other works, including The Klondike Mysteries.  I’ve read all of those, and hope there will be more in that series.  Ahem, Donna, nudge, nudge.

On Tuesday, I took the truck for a wee run up the road once again to Hearne.  My plan was to check out the Ace Hardware in downtown.  Gotta love Ace Hardware, ya know.

   Downtown Hearne, a virtual ghost town on a Tuesday afternoon

I did prowl the Ace, a thrift store that had seen better days, a wee antique-type shop and Wilson Drugs.  Wilson is still a functioning pharmacy with gift items towards the front of the store.  I confess the cow portrait paintings captured my spirit and fancy and . . . one of these days I just might make a return visit for one of the smaller versions.  I expected outlandish price tags but was pleasantly surprised and, well, they made me smile.  Good vibes and all that, ya know.  Cow energy is totally groovy.  Trust me.  I’ve hung out with cows.

Once again, it was a rejuvenating outing for my Spirit – me, Truck, tunes and the open highway.  I think these wee expeditions nourish my independent Warrior Spirit.   

Thursday was the day of torrential storms and the tornado touchdown you have heard about in Bryan, TX.  That touchdown was perhaps five miles south of us, just a couple of exits down Highway 6 that runs by the park here.  Dave, Maggie and I joined others at the nearby restroom building here in the park for a while when the winds picked up and, well, it just didn’t feel “right” outside. 

I can’t describe that feeling to you other than it didn’t feel “right” and I knew we needed to get out of the rig.

This drainage ditch in the park is typically empty. This is looking out toward Hwy 6.

Same ditch, facing the other way.  Tops of the culvert pipes are barely visible.  Those pipes are big enough for me to comfortably crawl into still relatively upright.  That’s a lot of fast-moving water, folks.

Even after the imminent tornado threat had passed, we were still under one tornado warning after another pretty much throughout the day.  Dave was scheduled for work but ultimately called in an absence due to severe weather.  Bryan and College Station PDs were telling people to stay off the roads, emergency vehicle sirens were heard constantly, there were reports of cars off the roads, roads were flooded and so it went all day.  The storms continued throughout the day; the rain was biblical, torrential.  In short, it was nuts.

With one ear and eye on weather conditions and Dave at home, I accomplished very little work on Thursday.  I’m grateful for understanding clients.

Speaking of work, one of these days I’ll share with you the sometime insanity that is a day in the life of a virtual assistant.  It’s actually a fun state of madness, and I’m grateful for clients who are both professional and a pleasure and for work that is stimulating both mentally and creatively.  I get a kick out of having a full day’s schedule and that feeling of “Yes!” when I tackle and conquer a new process or complete a project.  I experienced that this week in compiling procedures for a process, finalizing that document in collaboration with my client and then implementing those procedures for the first time.  The feeling of accomplishment is sweet.

It was a bittersweet week with anniversaries of the passings of two of my favorite people . . .

Me on the left and Karen on the right, camping “back in the day”

Cousin by blood, big sister and soulmate by hearts, Karen passed seven years ago on the 26th of May.   She was the wind beneath my wings throughout my life and remains so to this day.  I think I will always miss her.  I hope I will always feel her presence.

Dad with “Texas Raiders,” the B-17 he helped restore back in the late 1970s/1980s.  The B-17 was scheduled to be in College Station as part of her current tour, but has rescheduled for June due to weather.  I’ll go see her then and give her a hug.  It was aboard her that I dispersed Dad’s cremains in September 1997.  She’s a special lady.

It was 19 years ago yesterday, the 28th of May, when Dad “went West.”  We shared a special bond, as many fathers and daughters do, I suppose.  He instilled in me a love and appreciation of Nature and wildlife, photography and flying things, to name a few.  Over the years while I was growing up, he taught me how to be independent from the practical – such as changing a flat tire – to the spiritual of being content with one’s self and not dependent on another for one’s happiness.  He’s also “to blame” for passing along the nomadic genes I carry.

It was a week of smiles and, yes, misty eyes on occasion.  It was a week of a full heart. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Ya’ll stay safe out there, okay?

 

 

 

Kept the Balls in the Air Another Week

In my previous post, I visited with you about juggling Life and its activities.  I’m happy to report I kept those balls in the air another week, with my second Sunday evening yoga session.  As the routine I had chosen was only 30 minutes, I followed that up with a 30-minute guided meditation.  I’m thinking about extending the yoga portion out to 45 minutes or an hour; seems like 30 minutes left me wanting more.  I’m still modifying the routine, so it’s all a work in progress.

Outdoor time continued this week, sometimes mornings, sometimes evenings.

Not only did Maggie and I have what I call our “outdoor therapy time” but she got a clip and some extended massage/silly talk time one evening.  This was the result . . .

Silly leg in the air after all that lovin’.

Of course, yesterday was Mother’s Day and my thoughts went to Mom, who has been gone since 2007.  Here’s one of my fave photos of her . . .

Christmastime photo taken by my Dad, probably in the 1950s.

Since we are off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Mondays are our Fridays.  Yay!  Lots of folks dread Monday, as it harkens the beginning of the work week.  We, however, look forward to Monday!  No great plans for this “weekend,” just the usual errands, cycling for Dave and hanging out for both of us.

After quite a bit of fine tuning, I believe I have found the right height and screen tilt for my laptop on my wee desk.  Did I mention I was hunting for a pair of prescription computer glasses I had from my medical transcription days?  Well, I think I have found them!  I have regular reading glasses for when I wear contacts, but they were totally ineffective for computer work.  After a grand “scavenger hunt,” I found a pair of glasses tucked away in a drawer.  I’m thinking they are prescription, as they are doing the trick so far.  What a relief.  The ergonomic chair purchased a while back, laptop position, mid-range computer glasses and increasing the magnification of my screen has lessened the eye strain, shoulder tension and general uncomfortable feeling I was having after putting in the hours of working on the laptop.  So far, so good for now.

It has been pretty darn blustery here today, although warm with no rain.  The heat has not been horrible . . . yet.  I have a routine I go through for “cool running” here in the rig after Dave goes to work.  I’ve been staying comfortable in shorts with both A/C units set at 76 and a floor fan going here in the living room.  I do turn them both units down before Dave gets home from work, so it’s really cool in here for him and in prep for sleeping.

“Cool running?”  Yes, that’s closing certain shades and curtains at different times of the day depending on the slant of Mr. Sun.  It’s not cooking during the peak heat time (4:30 to 7 PM) and not having the TV on.  The television puts out a fair amount of heat, actually.  Heck, I’m busy working or doing something else like house chores that I don’t need – or want - television.  What about with meals?  Nope.  I’ve been reading, as was my habit years ago.  (Right now it’s Bel-Air Dead by Stuart Woods.  I always enjoy the Stone Barrington novels.)

Enjoying cooking while it’s not 2000F outside.  Tuna biscuit casserole, a longstanding “comfort food” dish, for my meals this week

That inevitable time in Texas is approaching when the A/C units will be getting a thorough workout, so I’m trying to give them a break as long as possible.  I’m thankful we have not had really hot days yet and that, with the exception of one or two occasions, nights have been pleasantly cool for sleeping.

It is coming, though.  I dread it beyond description, but will soldier through and remember that it will come to an end.

You know what?  This blog post has come to an end.  Let the weekend commence!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Juggling Act

I've had this wee Gateway notebook for a few years. I used it now and then in New Jersey, but it seemed to run so slowly that I became frustrated with it on several levels. I dug it out recently just to see if it really was as bad as I remembered. Lo and behold, for some reason it seems to be behaving significantly better.  Who knows?  Perhaps it just likes Texas.

I’m composing in Wordpad, will save to a stick as a draft and then finalize the post in Open Live Writer and publish from my laptop.  The tricky part is typing on the very small keypad.

Why am I going to all this trouble?  I miss blogging and writing in general. I sit at my laptop working a significant number of hours these days.  I have less time for my brain to wander, if you will.  I miss letting my thoughts "freefall."

To say that my days are full is somewhat of an understatement. That's not a complaint, just a statement of fact.

I've got the basic daily routine of my life down pretty well and am now trying to integrate some other facets once again.

I have started giving Maggie more outdoor time, hooking her up to her lead and sitting out with her for 20-minute periods two to three times daily, weather permitting. 

She spends much more time indoors and is exposed to much less stimulation versus that in our life as a security team.  I could tell she was pretty much bored just hanging out watching me work.  Our "sit outs" seem to be helping, as she now anticipates them and seems more perky in general.  Yes, we walk the loop in the park, but it's not the same as just hanging out listening to birds, watching people, etc.

Being more sedentary these days, I need to resume a walking routine.  This is not only good for my physical body, but for my state of mind and my Spirit.  Nothing like a 2-mile walk (several times around the loop) with groovy tunes in my head to recharge my batteries on several levels.  I'm hoping it will also help acclimate me to the Texas climate again.

Well, one can hope, right?

A scavenger hunt of sorts failed to turn up my yoga DVD. It has to be here somewhere; I just haven't found it yet.  I did find my Tai Chi DVD, only to remember that the DVD player is disconnected from the TV to allow access for the cable converter box.

We have a Roku streaming stick, and I have found some yoga series on it.  In fact, I did a bit Sunday night and found that I need to do a lot more!  I think it will work be feasible to do yoga here in the living room.

It's all about integrating and maintaining balance in one's life, and that is what I am striving to achieve at this point.  I’ll have to compromise and improvise at times, but I think it will be worth it.

How’s your balancing act going?

Thanks for stopping by!

Pleasant Weekend

Dave took a pass on the bike yesterday, with the winds being a bit of an issue and just, well, not feeling like cycling.  That meant we had plenty of time for a Walmart run and then groceries afterwards.

Both Walmarts here are a bit more of a drive than they were in New Jersey, so I only go once every couple of months.  It’s not so much the drive, but the traffic, etc.  We went to Dave’s store, which is a few miles more down the road than the closest one.  Needed printer cartridges and a few more items that I can’t get locally.  We also got a few paver stones for the spot where we stand to access the basement on the driver’s side and for the front corner of the patio, so we don’t have to duck under the rig to stay on concrete.  I think we’ll add a couple more there.   Dave got a new pair of shorts that won’t fall off him (we’ve both lost weight since last year) and I got a pair of Earth Spirit sandals to replace my current ones when they wear out.  One used to be able to purchase Earth Spirit shoes at places other than Walmart and online, but Walmart seems to be the only vendor for them now.  They are the most comfortable footwear and essentially the only brand I have worn for years.  Whenever I manage to spot a pair in my size (5 or 6) in a style I know works for me, I get them and stow them away for when current shoes are retired.  Yes, we took advantage of the associate discount.  Woot!

Next it was on to Kroger’s.  We have not been impressed with the H.E.B. that is quite close, and agreed last week that we will shop at Kroger’s in the future.  It’s a bit more expensive on some items but about the same on others, and they do have decent specials.  This is the first H.E.B. I’ve been in that is . . . well . . . not exactly scuzzy, but just not on par with my past experience.  Kroger’s is a much more pleasant and relaxing shopping experience.

The storm now in the East passed through here around 3 AM this morning as predicted, rocking and shaking our rig like crazy.  We had rain and a bit of lightning, but neither were severe; it was the wind that was the violent part.  There were a couple of big limbs off trees in the park.  We are fortunate to be in the open with no trees nearby.  We checked at daylight and found no leaks and no damage to our home on wheels.

Dear friends Sue and Billie were in town today and stopped by for a visit.  Yay!  Absolutely dear friends and so fun and relaxing to hang out with as usual. 

Aren’t they just cute?  They were exercising their rig.

Sue and I met about . . . I guess it’s been 13 years (?) ago at a volunteer function related to the Brenham Relay for Life.  I met Billie at the event a short while later.  I dunno, we just kinda fell in together.  You know that little saying on the Internet, something like how you meet someone and think, “Gee, I really like this person.  I think we’re gonna be friends.”  We used to hang out more when I lived in Brenham and I’ve missed their company.  We kept in touch by phone and email while Dave and I were out of Texas, but nothing beats spending time in person.  I love them both very much and am so fortunate to have them in my life. 

I’m tickled I actually remembered to take photos!

Not much else is happening in the Barnes home this evening and I’m actually okay with that.  We’ll probably wrap up our marathon of Hinterland on Netflix and then search for another series. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Looking Down the Road

I’m grateful again today that we are in a park with concrete sites and roads.  Dave just now mentioned he could only imagine the state of the other park we were at briefly when we landed here in College Station.  The term “mud pit” surely describes it.  Here, though, we are good.

Break in the rains on April 18

The days and nights seem to fly by; perhaps it does have something to do with the aging process?  As one gets on the “downhill side” of Life years, does Time truly seem to pass more swiftly?  Perhaps it’s a “mental” thing.  When one is young, one seems to be waiting for different stages . . . summer break from school, graduation, first job, first home . . . you get the idea.  Looking down the expanse that is the open road of one’s life to come.  In later years, perhaps we subconsciously realize we’re gliding on the “downhill” side.  Get it? 

I have to smile . . . the song on my Pandora station right now is “Where Are We Going From Here?”  We have been casually talking about the future.  No, we’re not ready to make a jump at this time, and it will be, realistically, two years before that time comes.  With that in mind, now is the time to start visiting the topic.  We are looking at ultimately transitioning from RV living to a 55+ community, i.e., apartment/villa/townhome so we do not have maintenance, grounds upkeep, snow shoveling. 

I hear you exclaim, “Snow shoveling??!”

We lived in northern Minnesota for a couple of years; yes, that included Winters.  It was a small town with not much between us and Canada except a lot of trees, lakes and black bears.  We both really liked that environment.  It was wild, simple, pristine, laid back . . . yes, Winter is cold with temperatures dipping down to –30 or so.  It is a dry cold – trust me, that makes a world of difference - and easier for us to physically tolerate.  One adapts and dresses for it.  Yes, you cover your face in subzero conditions.  Your breath freezes.  Your nose hairs freeze!  Snow?  Yes, there’s snow; however, life in that environment continues.  Things don’t come to a standstill – except during actual blizzards – just because there’s white stuff on the ground.  Summers are mild.  There are fewer occurrences of weather-related disasters such flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and so forth.  Extreme cold each Winter also seems to “clear the slate,” if you will, with regard to insects, viruses, etc.  It’s like you start afresh each Spring.  We like that concept and feel the colder climes are healthier for us all around.

Me and Baby (our dog-child then) strolling around town – December 2006

There is something fun, magical, unique and perhaps a wee bit insane about firing up the backyard grill, standing in snow and having the white flakes come down on you while doing so.

Ever seen the sun shine on ice crystals in the air, causing them to look like twinkling diamonds suspended in air?  Stood on your back porch and marveled at the Northern Lights?  Ever cycled the numerous Rails To Trails paths and seen a young black bear up ahead or had a large deer cross your path right in front of you?  Heard Canada Geese and the call of the Loon from your open bedroom window in the early morning?  Have you sat at the feet of a Native Elder and been honored by the wisdom and insight of yourself bestowed upon you?

If you have, then you perhaps understand the voice that speaks inside, calling you back to that land. 

Looking across the alley at the maple tree in our backyard in MN

Pros and cons.  Unfortunately, there are financial considerations.  Minnesota’s health insurance premiums are predicted to skyrocket exponentially in the coming year and the state does have a personal income tax. 

Texas is financially more favorable as the overall cost of living is lower and there is no personal income tax.

Wherever we end up, I think we agree that it will be a smaller town, one which has necessary amenities but not a surplus of businesses, hustle, bustle, traffic and people.  We’ll be back where one more intimately shares the land, sky and water with Mother Earth’s creatures of the wild kind.

Security job site - Warren Glen, NJ – October 2012 – See?  This is the “problem.”  We spent 3.5 years at this site in a small community.  We became “spoiled” with the beauty, the remoteness, living in Nature, the simplicity, the “wildness,” the peace, the privacy.

So, that’s our “problem,” mine, at least.  My soul looks forward to the time of escape from a large city with so much traffic and so many people.  I know, I know.  College Station is not truly considered a large city; however, it is a megalopolis by my standards.

We’ll see what the future brings and how we can shape ours.  There may be communities in Texas which would suit our everyday living needs with regards to housing, but . . .

What about one’s soul?  Does one have to “settle” for something totally absent of what is desired?  I confess it saddens me to think so.  Can’t one manifest what one’s soul longs for?  I have always believed so.

In the meantime, today is our “Sunday.”  The rains have hopefully moved out of the area for a while this afternoon.  Dave is preparing to get out on the bike again today – he logged 52 miles yesterday – and I’ll be going for a much-needed hair trim later.  Then it’s cooking Mexican Lasagna once I return; it’s a great dish for a few meals this week and then for portioning and storing in the freezer for a later date.  An evening of chilling – we finished House of Cards and have moved on to Hinterland.  Tomorrow it’s back to work!

Thanks for strolling down the path of future plans with me!

DIY Project Done and Dusted

Quite some time ago, I removed the godawful headboard that came with our RV.  Paisley fabric . . . funky-looking and just a dust collector. 

 

Not having time, energy, creativity or tools, I had not come up with a replacement, and the bare wall was starting to really annoy me.  Not to mention protecting both heads and wall when sleeping.

Thus began a search over the Internet for ideas on something to put in that space that would look better yet still be practical.

I found headboard tiles!  After reading bunches of reviews and tips on installation, I purchased a set.  They are 12” x 12” and can be arranged to suit one’s needs and whims.  I read that Command Strips worked well for adhering them to walls.  The adhesive that comes with them apparently does not work well and leaves a gluey residue.  All our framed photos are hung with Command Strips, so Dave picked up a few packs for me a few weeks ago.

The box of tiles has been sitting in the living room for almost a month.  With work and Life, I just haven’t had time or energy to tackle this project.

I played hooky from work this afternoon and got busy.  Armed with spirit level, measuring tape and pencil, I determined where the tiles would go. 

Discovered that those two lamps are not quite level with each other.  They aren’t off by much, but just enough to make ya go, “Hmmmm . . .”

The tiles really are level and aligned.  It’s either the light from the window or, more than likely, me off kilter a bit.  I’m tired!

Yes, a standard layout.  I tried different configurations, but the lamps were in the way.  Ah well, it’s better than it was and finishes off the room.  I’d like to update the lampshades next (and the ones in the living room, which are exactly the same), but that’s a project for another time.  I’m not crazy about the duvet pattern, but the duvet itself works well for us.  Again, that will be another update sometime.

So, finally, that DIY project is done and dusted.  I’m thinking I might as well clip Maggie this evening.  She needs it (again) and I’ve already blown off most of the day.  Spending time with her is fun, she feels better with a clip and I’ll have these two major time-intensive projects done.  Then I can jump back into work tomorrow full-tilt.

Hope you’ve had a fun, productive and rewarding Sunday!

Thanks for stopping by!

Another Week and More Cooking

So it’s Wednesday again already!  I’m grateful we made it through a week with no malfunctions of any sort.  Haha! 

I tell ya, my work is steady lately and for that I am also grateful.  Whew!  Keeps me hopping during the week.  As a matter of fact, I contemplated putting in some time yesterday or today (days off) but then thought, “Nope.  Not gonna get in the habit of that.  I need my time off.”  Thursdays are my “Mondays,” and catch-up days, so I know I’ll be hustling tomorrow.

Yesterday was errands-and-chores day, and I did accomplish everything, including a late afternoon boogie to H.E.B. for groceries.  I like to get all the errands done in one day, so the next day I can just be here at home to cook, chill or whatever, “whatever” being a blog post, crashing in my recliner in front of the TV . . . taking a day at a slower pace.

When returning home from the post office in the early afternoon yesterday, I overshot the exit to the park.  Was just grooving along in the truck with tunes cranked up and, next thing I knew, I was passing the park.  Contributing to that overshoot is the fact that the exit for the park is closed due to construction, so one has to get off the highway via the exit right before this one. 

Oopsies.  It was just one of those days when I was digging the drive and could have driven from here to . . . Iowa.  Ha!

Keeping in mind the new routine I want to establish of giving the truck a workout now and then, I just said, “Why not?” and kept on going.  Turned my sights to Hearne, a small town about 20 miles north on Hwy 6.  Cranked up the music and settled in to enjoy the drive.  Engaged the cruise control for a while just to make sure it still works.  It does. 

There’s not a whole lot in Hearne of interest from a quick glance, excepting perhaps the Ace Hardware store downtown.  Small-town Ace Hardware . . . love ‘em.  I tried to think of something I might need as an excuse to go in and wander around, but came up short.  So I went around the block and pointed Truck toward the barn.

Me, Truck, highway and tunes.  Bliss.

When I did arrive home about an hour later, I realized I felt bit more relaxed.  Thanked Truck for some much-needed windshield time.  “Me” time.  Sweet.

Dave got busy this morning and washed our awning.  He did a great job and it looks soooo much better!  We were able to leave it deployed for a while, but then the wind intensified and we had to retract it.  He clocked 30 miles on the bike after taking care of that maintenance task.

Wednesday cooking ensued while he was away – sausage kolaches, a beef-and-wild rice casserole and then cinnamon rolls (not from scratch, sorry).  Dog fed and walked, dishes done and dried, and now steak fries are in the oven which will accompany the burgers I’ll make in a bit.

Whew!  There are 40+ work emails awaiting my attention, along with routine end-of-week tasks and current special projects. 

That DIY project I alluded to recently?  It’s still in the box here in the living room.  I’ve eyeballed what needs to be done but need 2-3 hours of dedicated, uninterrupted (quiet) time to tackle it.  Hopefully soon.

Yeah, right.  Ha!

There are other things I’d like to talk about, but it’s just about time to put the burgers on. 

Perhaps next time, whenever that might be!

Thanks for stopping by!  Ya’ll be safe out there, okay?