I LOVE SATURDAYS

Woohooooo it is Saturday again, my favorite day of the week. I got up around 0700 hrs, fixed a pot of french vanilla flavored coffee and some gravy and biscuits, I then sit around on the computer here until now (1228 hrs). I get to catch up on the RV blogs, RV Dreams forum and I am even taking time to post on my much neglected journal! :) I spent some time working on my financial accounts and budget also. This was important work because it is my blueprint to becoming a fulltimer. The budget is going well and I am getting closer to reaching my RV Daydreams, paycheck by paycheck!

I am going to finish up this little update and get to work on a "fix-up-the-house-so-I-can-sell-it" project. Today it will be sheetrock repairs and hole patching in one of the bedrooms. Although I am an engineering technician, I will need much prayer!! Till next time, GBY.......... Doncat

Don't Worry

Yes, I am still alive and kickin’. Sometimes it is a chore to try and make time to sit and write a post. I have been very busy lately at work and after working long hours, when I get home I can only manage to spend some quality time with my better half, then off to bed. Is that violins I here in the background?
Anyhow, things have been pretty routine around here, except for work. I thought we were going to have some icy weather this morning, but we dodged that bullet by a hair! It was cold and breezy with ice on some bushes, but nothing on the roads or bridges and more importantly no downed power lines! It is still cold and the wind feels like a knife cutting through you. It must be nice to be able to hitch up your house and drive it to a warmer climate! I sure hope to find out one day.
Cheryl says hi and we are both working towards the day we can meet you all out on the road. Until then and until I find another few minutes to sit and write, God bless you all……………………

JUST CHECKING IN

Hey, just checking in to let everyone know I still have an internet connection (so far). We have been having a good holiday weekend that included an outing with the "grands" yesterday. We took the three younger ones to the aircraft museum on Barksdale AFB and they had a ball. The oldest "grand" stayed home and watched football with his dad. I wish I had taken the camera, but alas, I did not. The youngsters wore me out running around the airplanes, but I needed the exercise anyway!

I made a slight change to the website, I had to remove my PayPal purchase buttons for the "Stable Tablecloth". I had a customer from Canada order one and evidently I did not have the system set up correctly, it did not include the shipping cost in the billing. The shipping cost to his address in Canada was about as much as the cost of the tablecloth! He decided to wait for an upcoming visit and save some shipping cost. Maybe he will just drop by Shreveport to visit and I will give him a discount :) Anyhow just to let everyone know I still have a few tablecloths and if you would like one just shoot me an email. I am going to rework the PayPal "thingie" and maybe get it back on the site soon.

Well it is really nice outside right now and I believe Cheryl and I are going out for a walk. See ya next time..........

Computer Problems and RV Improvements

I know it has been a while since my last post, I have been having some aircard problems, coupled with a laptop problem (trouble seems to come in pairs). I am finally able to get back online and do some catching up! I broke my aircard by plugging a booster antenna into it; actually it was unplugging it that did the breaking. When I unplugged the antennae, the connector came out of the aircard, in other words I ripped its guts out! I sent the aircard off to be repaired and have not heard any status or estimated return date as of yet.

Other than the unfortunate computer problems, things have been mostly routine. I am writing a couple of new service contracts at work and it is keeping me pretty busy. Seems like I leave for work before daylight and get home after dark!

I did find the time to install our newly acquired Oxygenics shower head and new faucets in our trailer. It was not a hard task, however I highly recommend that if you ever have to install a new faucets; always ensure the water connections are straight threaded and use teflon tape or plumbers putty. :) I screwed one of the connections on cross threaded and while Cheryl watched the plumbing I went out to cut on the water, in about a second flat I heard her yelling, “cut it off, cut it off” ! Water had sprayed all inside of our cabinets where the access was located. Oh well, after drying all that out, everthing else seems to be working great. The shower head definitely has more pressure :) .

One day this past week we were on the way home and spotted a Select Suites fifth wheel sitting in a parking lot with a for sale sign in the window. Of course we had to stop and take a look! It is a 2007 Select Suites TK3, 36ft long. It was locked of course and we could not see the inside, but besides being a bit dirty the outside looked good. We took down the phone number and gave the owner a call. It seems they just want the “pay-off” amount of $47k. We still have not made an appointment to look at it yet, but it has peaked our interest. The only problem is getting a truck that will pull the thing! I have a 2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD and I think the tow capacity is 11,000lbs. I don’t believe is enough. Anyway we are trying to make up our minds whether to even look at it or not. :)

Well I have bored you enough for this time, hopefully it will not be as long before I can bore you again :) or maybe something exciting will happen soon (like my winning the lottery or something) and I will have something interesting to write about ;) Until then God Bless You...

SHEDDING "STUFF"

We had a great weekend and spent some time getting rid of "stuff". What a liberating feeling! Cheryl and I were both surprised that it wasn't that hard, or at least not emotionally like we thought it would be, but still physically exhausting. We gave all of the stuff to our oldest daughter, who will sort through it and keep what she would like to keep. She will also have a yard sale to make some bucks :) Cheryl and I decided we didn't want to go through the hassle of a yard sale right now, since we spend all week working and my daughter could use the money more anyway.We still have a ways to go in getting rid of a lifetime of stuff, but now we feel great starting our preparations for fulltiming :) We know where the rest of the stuff is going, some in storage, but most to our children as "hierlooms".

Well it was a great holiday season, and a productive weekend, but now it is back to making a buck. I am on a financial plan that will have us ready for the road in 2 to 3 years, depending on the market and unforeseen expenses. I need to rush the plan, because I think my health may give out before the money! Cheryl and I are working hard to accelerate the plan :)

We are also still trying to decide on an RV, fifth-wheel or motorhome? My health issues may play into that decision also, for example; athritis has set into my left hand (probably due to a past injury) and I cannot grip much with my left hand. How will that effect my ability to set up a fifth-wheel versus a motorhome? Of course I have to take into consideration that new technologies are out there that help us to "work smarter" and not so hard. Wow, this is not an easy decision for us, hopefully some of our RV friends out there will give us plenty of good advice and make it easier :)

In the meantime, I am making a few repairs to the travel trailer to make it more enjoyable for couple of more years. I need to replace the tires before I make another "long haul" trip. I hope to do that before March and then maybe I can make "the gathering" in Texas :) I recently order new fixtures for our shower, which included the much acclaimed Oxygenics shower head. I am not as handy at making repairs as my friend Speedhitch, but hopefully we will make our trailer comfortable enough to last us another couple of years until we buy that ...... uh whatever we decide on :)

Once again I have run out of time....... Until next time GBY :)

LATE REPORT

Well they say "better late than never". What does that mean and who exactly are they? I don't know, but I am finally getting back to posting about our family adventure at Christmas at Roseland!

These family get togethers serve as a reminder to live for today and tomorrow will take care of itself. Sure, I dream of the day that Cheryl and I will travel fulltime in an RV, but I also realize how precious each and everyday can be.

Well enough of the deep philosophical thoughts, back to the adventure! It was quite a night for us, the gardens were decorated beautifully and the kids were thoroughly amazed with lights. The youngest, Brendan, was also "energized" and quite a handful! He will take off running and he is hard to catch. I am thankful his dad was around to do all the running after him. Check him out in these pictures:








Can you tell that someone always has to have a hold on the little guy? Oh, but he is worth the effort though. He loved the decorations, in fact this one he loved so much he tried to eat it!






Yes, the little guy had fun and so did my other little blessings. Check out my little princess, Hayley:



and here she is again with my little prince, Nicholas (he would hate it if I called him that!):



Now here they are showing their "true nature" as goofs:






The "rumored to be adults" had fun also, mostly just because of the kids. Meet my oldest daughter and the mother of Brendan, Sheila:



and here is my youngest daughter, Crystal:



of course most of you know the love of my life, Cheryl:



The adventure would not be complete without visiting Santa:



We even got the little guy to visit with Santa. I am not sure but I think he was a little leary of the jolly ole elf, what do you think?




Here are a few more pictures:












We all had a wonderful time and look forward to many more. I am going to post again this week with some pictures of our Christmas. I hope I am not boring anyone to death out there :) Until next time remember:
EVERY DAY OF LIFE IS A GIFT FROM GOD

CHRISTMAS IN ROSELAND

I should of titled this post "Blessed is Papa" and here is part of the reason why:



Need more proof? Here is more:




and yet more:



Well now that I have bragged about how blessed I am and offered proof, I have to go for now! I have company (some of those blessing) and I am going to finish this later. So stay tuned and I will tell you all about the great time we had Friday night at Christmas in Roseland..............

ENDEAVOR VISITS

Hi Everyone. Once again I have been remiss in posting and this time there were things happening outside my everyday routine! :) Not only did I get to work with excel spreadsheets and other exciting things, but the space shuttle Endeavor came to Barksdale AFB for a rest stop on it's way back home. :) Here it is coming in for a landing (riding piggyback of course):

From SPACE SHUTTLE

Here she is again, making her way to a parking spot. I wonder if the pilot will have as hard a time finding one as we do at Walmart during Christmas shopping season? :)

From SPACE SHUTTLE

Let's zoom in for a closer look, hmmmmm... looks like she needs a wash job after the trip. Anyone know if there is a Blue Beacon Truck Wash around here? :)

From SPACE SHUTTLE

I picked up my grandson to come over and look at the space shuttle and he wanted to see it take off. He thought it would be cool to see it rise off the back of the 747 that was carrying it!! He is 7 years old, I am a little older and I was thinking the same thing! :)

Cheryl has been busy shopping in all her spare time. Noticed I didn't say Cheryl and Don.. :) Normally we are inseperable, however I do have my limits :)

That is about all the excitement I can stand in one post, so until next time:

MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND MAY GOD BLESS US EACH AND EVERYONE....

HOLIDAY SEASON

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but it is only the beginning of the holiday season. We love the holidays, especially Cheryl. She loves decorating with lights, snowmen, singing santas and all kinds of stuff. Her eyes brighten and she is like a kid in a candy store! I love watching her enjoy the season. MERRY CHRISTMAS CHERYL :)

Speaking of decorating, the grands (and Cheryl) had a ball decorating the tree on Thanksgiving day. I was a little "under the weather", so I forgot to take any pictures. The whole family was over and being with them helped me to feel better :)

Since I am having to write this a little along, it is now Monday. Woohoo I get to go to work! Up at 5:30AM, why not I wasn't sleeping very well anyway, shower, shave and off we go. What a beautiful sunrise over Shreveport this morning, pinks, purples and shades of blue. Don't ya just love Mondays........ yeah I know, I've done gone over the edge!! :)

I get here this morning to find I have to start two new declining balance spreadsheets and try to figure out why my funding is short on a service contract. Man where else can you have this much fun and get paid too?? Well I better get busy and I will try to post more later. I will also try to get some pictures included. Would you rather have pictures of the sunrise of the spreadsheets?

Remember, every Monday is a gift from God! :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

A very happy Thanksgiving to all and may God bless us each and every one. I love this time of year, the beginning of the holidays and time for family get-togethers. I love my family and I truly believe that since we all share the same heavenly father we are all family, HAPPY THANKSGIVING FAMILY! :)

I have so much to be thankful for and at the top of the list is the grace of God. Without God's grace life would be harsh, bitter and unbearable due to my weak and sinful nature. Through God's grace I am forgiven and recieve the blessings of the Father. Thank You God.

Of course also at the top of my list of blessings is my beautiful wife of nearly 39 years, Cheryl. She has stuck with me through difficult times and wonderful times alike, always there to care for me and love me. How can I not love someone who can put up with me! :)

My family, starting with my two daughters, then later in life my son, growing to two son in laws, then four grandchildren, then recently a daughter in law is truly the foundation of my life. I have the most wonderful family I can imagine and they make me feel like I am the center of their lives also. I love my family. :)

There are plenty more blessings in my life, such as my friends in the RV DREAMS FAMILY. I have met many decent and caring friends and pray that I will meet with them often in future travels. :)

To my extended family I say:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND GOD BLESS YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE