Moving On Day

After 3 weeks of being parked we are rolling out tomorrow. Repairs are all done and there hasn't been a drop of water inside our little house on wheels. Praise be. Our next stop will have cable TV and internet. So maybe I will find out what is going on between Rosie and Donald then again maybe not.

I have no deep thoughts or words of wisdom for the up and coming New Year. I think I am tapped out. To much time in the casino but we won enough for a steak dinner tonight plus tip so we are feeling mighty rich indeed.

This past year has been one of the best in my life. I do miss my children.

I have a new granddaughter on the way and that makes me feel blessed. I am anxious to meet her. I hope Rusty aka James' health will stabilize. Between his lungs and his gallbladder I am about to have a melt down. Believe it or not the lung problem is caused by him being tall and super skinny. Nicole (his wife) has done everything in her power to fatten him up. I envy the fact that he can eat non stop and not put on a pound. I pray that my granddaughter Isabel will continue living with her father and step mother. That will be decided in two weeks. Therapy seems to be working for her for she is now able to speak a little clearer. She is also potty trained - major accomplishment! I hope my other grandchild, Hayden will stop screaming. He has discovered his voice and he will let out an ear piercing scream. A scream so terrible it makes people stop in their tracks and look. Thank goodness Hayden smiles after every scream. He is so proud of his blood curdling screams.

For my daughter.... Honey you need professional help. Call 1-800-shoeoff. There are counselors there twenty four hours a day and they are professionals, they deal strictly with people with your problem. Please I am your mother and I am begging you to call. Stay out of Payless Shoes, Famous Footwear, Bob Jones Footwear, Foot Locker, Red Wing Shoes.... I am sure there is a twelve step program somewhere. Remember the time that I became so upset by a pair of clogs you owned, that I grabbed you, wrestle one of the shoes off your foot, and tossed it in the lake? I am sure that was what started you on this path of being permanently and fashionably shod. Like Scarlet O'Hara when she pulled the radish out of the ground and said "God is my witness I will never be hungry again" you must have felt that way when I sent you clog to a watery grave. I am so sorry that I started all of this and that is why I am stepping in now, and fashionably so too. God I love you, you are such a hoot.

Scott - I expect any day to open the door and see you there. You are my little road tripper. I remember you saying “Mom I am spending the night with so and so" and somehow you went from Missouri to Michigan. I miss our Hot Apple Pie canoe trips and sleeping on the side of the river. Me, clutching a flash light to my bosom and you snoring away. Belize and Honduras was our time and what a time it was. You don't know how worried I was when you went on a midnight beer run in that three wheel cart while in Honduras. I am sure you had the time of your life. Remember Jay in Belize? You would grab a canoe and paddle over to Benque to drink beer with your buddies, and I, being a mom, was worried. Jay reassured me that if you passed out you would eventually float to Belize City and he would pick you up there. Jay was 86? He said he owed his longevity to drinking copious amounts of beer. If I had a Belikin beer right now I would toast you. I miss you so much.

Happy New Year!

Whats In A Name

I read Skeet's post on the origin of her name plus the argument that my son and I are having led to this post.

First and foremost. Pepper is my given name. I have a legal name that I am never called unless you are a bill collector or want donations. Like Skeet, my brother (Ray) gave me this name. Only he did it because of two red crayons. Prior to my birth, my mother took Ray into the doctor's office because he just wasn't hearing. It was not selective hearing either. He wouldn't come to dinner when he was called. The doctor took a look into his ears and said "Its because he has two red crayons stuck in his ears." I will admit it was funny but his hearing was never restored to normal. That of course affected his speech. So when I was introduced to him, he tried to say my name but it came out "Bepper." That led to Pepper and god forbid it stuck. My parents owned a resort during my growing up years and I remember a couple came in with a Mynah bird. His name was Pepper and it would love to scream his name. I was running around in circles because I would hear Pepper and would come running. Oh but that is a different story that rates up there with third degree burns on my arse. I will continue on the name story.

I thought life was not easy with a moniker of Pepper until I met a girl named Skeet. I never heard the usual pick up lines like "whats your sign?" I heard "Are you hot?" "Are you spicy?" "Oh baby you shake me up." Then of course Dr. Pepper had their jingle..... "I'm A Pepper, You're A Pepper, Wouldn't You Like To Be A Pepper Too?"

What is your first impression when you hear the name Pepper. I think of a black Labrador, a Mynah Bird, and a baseball player. I don't think of a woman. I hear cute a lot and when you reach a certain age you don't want to be cute. Now that I am turning gray I hear "Oh Pepper - like your hair."

My brother passed away 15 years ago. What from? Lets just say "total despair of the soul" and leave it at that. The name now has become a gift. Somewhat of an endearment that ties me to him.

The name still irks me but I remember where my name came from and that helps.

Rusty aka James called prior to his surgery all excited. My new grand baby, due in April, is a girl. Jayda Renee and he wants to give her my legal name as a third name. It has become an argument between us because that isn't my name. It never was. Just words on paper. Has no meaning, no attachment to me. I will not be buried, but if I was the name Pepper would be on the headstone. I suggested that he give her the name of Pepper as remembrance to me and her uncle that she will never met. Of course that went over like a lead balloon. James aka Rusty, Nicole give her a third name that flows with the other two and if you want it to be my legal name. So be it. Truthfully, I would like for her to be a Pepper too.

It Took Two Tries

They removed the two gallstones from James aka Rusty. I don't think he will be released tomorrow. He said he felt great after the surgery on Friday but then they had to use the scope today to remove the last two stones. He has Pancreatitis, which means his pancreas is inflamed. So he is in a lot of pain, severe pain which means major pain medication. Which means if you call him you will get some strange comments from him. My favorite was when I asked him what was going on with his pancreas he said "there is a lady in there that wants to talk to me." I said "in your pancreas?" He said "yeah." If I was his wife I would be asking him why there is a lady in there. He did say one thing that almost had me in tears. He said "Isabel (his daughter) is coming to see me. I can't hug her." I told him he will soon enough. Thanks for all of the well wishes and concerns they are appreciated.

Baton Down The Hatches

Last night the winds were howling. I have lived in my little house on wheels for almost 6+ months but never experienced winds like we had last night. It was the scariest time of my life. You could feel the house moving back and forth, back and forth, back and forth..... Pass the Dramamine please. Then of course the storm moved in and the electricity was going on and off. I lowered the satellite, curled up with Surely Not, and started say prayers. Today it has been storming on and off. I am looking at about 6 inches of water covering the yard. I went ahead and paid for one day internet access so I am able to get on line. Poor Surely Not, she hates water and getting wet and when she went outside to take care of her business the water was up to knees. I managed to find a place where it went to her ankles but she wasn't happy. Currently the wind and the storm has died down. So all is calm.



Update on James aka Rusty, my son. He had surgery on his lung in November and recovered well from that. While they were zipping him through the cat scan they discovered gall stones. So they scheduled him for surgery on Friday the 29th. They removed his gall bladder but there were stones still in the duct. They told his wife that they might have to operate on him again today or "scope him." We are still waiting for an update from the doctor. I did talk to him briefly this afternoon but he was so stoned it was hard to make out what was going on.

If you want to call me for updates please feel free to do so. I will warn you that the rain has a way of deafening the conversation.



Location: Louisiana Baton Rouge



So all is well, once again in my little house.

Click Here For New Pictures

Update On Rusty

Surgery didn't go so well. They will have to operate on him again in the morning. He was so stoned when I called I didn't ask for details. He said "I will call you when I wake up which will be Sunday."

Feast One Hundred & Twenty Four

Appetizer
How do you usually celebrate on New Year's Eve?
I am not a partier. I like to stay home. Just let the New Year come in quietly and peacefully.

Soup
Name one thing unexpected that happened to you in 2006.
The situation that my son is in and going on the road full time.

Salad
Where was your favorite place that you visited in 2006?
Guatemala, it is such a beautiful country. I was fortunate to be able to take my daughter and Robert with me. We stayed in El Remate and I saw Tikal again. Tikal just takes your breath away. We stayed in a small cabin up on a hill and I loved sitting on the porch nursing a cold one and looking at Lake Peten. Kayaking Lake Peten was an adventure. I also saw Ceibal and again it was amazing. It was at Ceibal that we were able to lure a trantula out of it's home. The sunsets there were marvelous. I long to go back.

Main Course
What resolution is your top priority for 2007?
I don't make resolutions. I find that it is just unhealthy to do so mentally.

Dessert
Using just three words, describe 2006.
Adventure, Eclectic, Educational

You can click on the photographs to see them enlarged, if you would like.

I Was Asked

I was asked where are you now. We are still stuck in Baton Rouge.

We finally got the leaks fixed. I found out that I will have to climb up on the roof every 3 or 4 months to caulk. I have been on the roof three times and each time I say to myself "No More." I am scared of heights. The leak by the refrigerator was fixed as well and will not require any climbing on my part. I am fortunate to find a repairman that will take the time to show you how to repair something. I went up on the roof with him and he showed me where to caulk. He also answered a lot of questions I had about maintaining my home.

The second repair we will have done and we are waiting for is mom's bed. She has a sleep number bed that leaks on one side. They will be bring us a new mattress (and not a sleep number bed) tomorrow. Then we are heading west. We have been here for 3 weeks and we are getting antsy.

We have been going to cemeteries but the majority of our time has been waiting for someone to show up. Tomorrow while I wait for the mattress I plan to wash the coach, the car, clean out the basement, put photographs in albums, and pray he shows up.

My daughter is tired of cemetery pictures so I haven't posted any. I will say the graves are above ground. We found a place where there are homemade headstones. We are hoping to see Myrtle Plantation before we leave but the way we both are feeling we just want to start going down the road.

Location: Louisiana Baton Rouge

How Does He Generate So Much Publicity?

Find Out Here Dirk Star

What Marriage Is All About - Thanks Mom

He ordered one hamburger, one order of French fries and one drink. The old man unwrapped the plain hamburger and carefully cut it in half.

He placed one half in front of his wife.

He then carefully counted out the French fries, dividing them into two piles and neatly placed one pile in front of his wife.

He took a sip of the drink, his wife took a sip and then set the cup down between them. As he began to eat his few bites of hamburger, the people around them kept looking over and whispering.

You could tell they were thinking, "That poor old couple - all they can afford is one meal for the two of them." As the man began to eat his fries a young man came to the table. He politely offered to buy another meal for the old couple. The old man said they were just fine - They were used to sharing everything.

The surrounding people noticed the little old lady hadn't eaten a bite. She sat there watching her husband eat and occasionally taking turns sipping the drink. Again the young man came over and begged them to let him buy another meal for them. This time the old woman said "No, thank you, we are used to sharing everything."

As the old man finished and was wiping his face neatly with the napkin, the young man again came over to the little old lady who had yet to eat a single bite of food and asked "What is it you are waiting for?" She answered "THE TEETH."

Brother Iz

Scott, I am looking forward to Brother Iz's book. I can't believe you found it.

All others click on Brother Iz's picture to hear a great song.

Problem resolved you can now click on Iz. Thanks Wiz

Neighbor

My neighbor, who is in his seventies, is driving me nuts. Every morning since he has been here, he comes out of his house (fifth wheel) and walks over to my hook-ups and stares. He has a crotchety old man look - eyes slightly closed, forehead furrowed, and a frown. He tilts his head as he studies my hook-ups. My hook-ups are below the dining room window and I can see him every morning. It is his routine. Jokingly I said "maybe he is jealous" or "maybe he is getting some ideas." But it has been five mornings now, five mornings of him coming out of his house and staring at my hook-ups. Usually I am not a paranoid person. This is weird though. I check all the connections and every thing is looking fine. My water hose is properly coiled and on the holder. The sewage hose is properly installed. So what the hell.



This morning I went over and looked at his connections. I did my best imitation of a crotchety old man. The look, the concentration, and just stared at his connections. I even scratched my head to appear puzzled as I strolled away with Surely in tow. I thought that would be a nice effect.



Maybe this is his way to find humor in his life. Drive his neighbors’ nuts. I would prefer a big ole howdy instead.



Location:  Carrizo Springs Texas

Saw This Had To Do It

Rules – copy the list and bold face the items you’ve done. Wait for some comments then answer the questions.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Driven anything over 100 MPH
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid (I am considering Tikal a great pyramid)
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse of the moon.
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow and a goat too
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch the famous cookies - Chet said they would make a great foundation for a house.
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery I am just a shell of a woman
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours - Good Drugs
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair I was a carnie in my younger days
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Playing In The Snow

I have a knack at attracting people who love to talk. I could be on one end of a building and they will seek me out. I hear some interesting stories. I decided to start sharing some of them.

I was at a restaurant this evening, waiting for my order to be completed so I could take it home. A gentleman approached me and he was so excited about New Orleans winning today. I am not a football person. I can’t tell the difference between a quarterback and a pitcher. That started the conversation between two strangers.

This gentleman was about my age, perhaps a few years old. He was short, stocky, and rotund in a jolly way. He had a boxer’s nose and such an interesting face that I couldn’t help but smile when he talked to me. In the middle of this one sided conversation, he paused and said “you are not from around here, are you?” I told him where I was from and he told me the most wonderful story that I could actually see the events unfold in my mind. His wife and he saved for a vacation in Branson Missouri. Both are very busy people and finding the time was difficult. They finally made it to Branson this year just in time for the big snow. He told me that at 3:00 a.m. the police stopped him and his wife and said “what are you folks doing?” What they were doing was playing in the snow. They were throwing snowballs, making a snow man, and just being kids again. They didn’t get in trouble; they just told the officer that they were from Louisiana. He said they saw a lot of music shows and did the touristy things that people do but the best memories of their visit is the time they were able to play in the snow.

Location:  Louisiana Livingston

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas To All

From All Of Us Who Resides In

The Little House On Wheels!

Friday Feast One Hundred & Twenty Three

Feast One Hundred & Twenty Three

Appetizer
What is one of your Christmas traditions?
Growing up we really didn't have "Christmas Traditions." I know my father took a perverse thrill in throwing the tree in the lake. Great crappie beds.

Soup
Who is the easiest person on your list to buy presents for?
Everybody. I make calendars and everyone seems to like them.

Salad
What is your favorite Christmas scent?
Pumpkin Pie

Main Course
If you could give a fellow blogger a Christmas gift, who would it be and what would you give them?
Fruitcake fresh baked from Shepardsville

Dessert
What's something on your Christmas wish list this year that you need (not just want)?
A Pocket Knife. I want it and need it.

I Don't Think We Are In Kansas Anymore

A place where there isn't any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain.

I have been working on a water leak since we purchased the RV in August. I suggested, as well as mom, that it was a problem with the refrigerator. I did check the defrost and where it drained but that wasn't the problem. I checked and replaced the water regulator and that seemed to correct the problem. I relaxed until last night when all heck broke lose. It leaked where it already leaked before, then it started leaking in the bathroom around the vent.



I had enough.



If I could have called Holiday Rambler at 2:00 a.m. I would have and hell has no fury as a woman with a leak. I am not talking bladder control, I am talking get out the pans and start catching the drips. I am talking "lets step outside so we can get dried off " leak.



I found the source for the leak in the bathroom and I am thinking about climbing the ladder and caulking around the vent. I have no idea of what I just said but I think that would correct the problem.

About 10 minutes ago the owner of the RV park knocked on our door. The Church Group sent us our yearly fruitcake. Nothing calms me down faster than their delicious fruit cake. It doesn't taste like the nasty fruit cakes that you choke down out of politeness. For a religious group they make a sinful fruit cake.



I am calm, I am at peace. "Hand me another piece of fruit cake mom."



Location:  Louisiana Livingston

Thanks Barb

You're Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!
by Mark Twain

With an affinity for floating down the river, you see things in black and white. The world is strange and new to you and the more you learn about it, the less it makes sense. You probably speak with an accent and others have a hard time understanding you and an even harder time taking you seriously. Nevertheless, your adventurous spirit is admirable. You really like straw hats.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Education And A Major Complaint

Ever since Dirk Star made an appearance on my blog I have been getting quite an education not only from him but from his devoted fans. I met Wizard recently and from her site I learned how to share my love of music without annoying the heck out of people who don't want to listen to it or is not in the mood for music. Freebo made this CD and donated the money to an animal shelter. It is strictly for dog lovers.

Visit Freebo "My Dog Has Fleas"

Now for my complaint. I was talking to my oldest son, Rusty aka James last night and after about an hour he finally talked me into downloading something called "Firefox." I am a die hard Internet Explorer junky but to shut him up I downloaded it. Then he walked me through something called "add ons." He told me to download "Stumble."

With this "add on" I had to select what my interest are. After going through the registration, the selections, restarting Firefox a button appeared in my tool bar. STUMBLE! He instructed me to click on it. By this time my mother is watching what is going on. As per his instructions I clicked and was instantly transported to a web page that indeed caught my attention. All thoughts of posting a new entry to my blog vanished as I became hooked on "STUMBLE!" My mother quickly got on her computer and downloaded. She too became hooked.

Rusty aka James thanks to you, your grandmother was on the net until 1:00 a.m. and I didn't get to bed until 3:00 a.m. We didn't roll out of bed until 9:00 a.m. and poor Surely Not had to go to the bathroom so bad she had her legs crossed and her little eyes were watering. Shame on you son for introducing us to our latest addiction. Even as I type this my eyes wander to the left hand corner of my screen and my mind thinks "what inanities will I find if I click it?"

Fourteen Things That It Took Me Over 50 Years To Learn—by Dave Barry

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."

3. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

5. You should not confuse your career with your life.

6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

7. Never lick a steak knife.

8. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

9. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

10. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

11. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

12. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers.

13. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)

14. Your friends love you anyway.

Thought for the day: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

Ducks, Lizards, Muscovies, And One Torked Off Goose

Today mom and I went to the Bluebonnett Swamp Nature Center in Baton Rouge. On our way there we found a small park where we stopped. When we exited the car, we were mobbed by ducks. Two flew to greet us and one poor duck was so fat he couldn't waddle anymore. The Muscovies walked over to us, they are as dignified as they are ugly.

Back in the days when I had a house on a foundation, I lived next to a large lake. So close to the water, you could stand on my porch and throw rocks in. . I never realized how much I missed my ducks, even though they liked to roost with their back end on the wrong side of the boat. I remember one Muscovy in particular. He would walked up to the front door, knock, and when you opened the door, it would hiss. The hiss was like a noise Linda Blair made when she starred in the Exorcist. Muscovies look like they have cancerous growths around their heads. A friend of mine described them as a duck that mated with a turkey buzzard.



There was a small lake there and we wandered the shoreline, bird watching. A goose that was guarding his flock of mallards must of felt threatened by my presence because he launched a verbal assault. Geese are rather aggressive birds and I can understand why my daughter dislikes them so much. I couldn't help but laugh at his attempt to intimidate me. He finally herded his flock away from me.



We did make it to the Bluebonnett Swamp Nature Center. It was a beautiful, restive hike.  While at the Nature Center I had a fun time chasing the lizards that used the railings to sun themselves. I was determined to get a picture of at least one and I ended up with several. The swamp was everything I imagined it to be. The cypress trees with their interesting trunks rose through the undergrowth. The vines were abstract and created their own art. All through out our walk we could hear the birds but we didn’t see them. They too must have taken on the mysterious quality of the swamp. It was a peaceful place. The Nature Center also has a nice collection of snakes, boas to a beautiful Cottonmouth. I took some pictures but remember they are behind glass so they are not as good as I would like. They also had box turtles and two huge alligator snappers.



Alligator snappers are turtles with a bad attitude. Many years ago I found one on my road and I thought I would try to put him back in the pond. They too make a noise like Linda Blair when provoked. I don't remember if I managed to get him back or not. If anyone is interested in how to get an alligator snapping turtle back to his pond, use a stick. Picking them up is not a good idea. My poor brother learned this the hard way.

Tomorrow the weather will be rainy and stormy so it will be a day we will stay home and do laundry. If you click on the pictures posted here it will enlarged them.

Location:  Baton Rouge

Thanks Mom

TO THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH JOE ARPAIO HE IS THE MARICOPA ARIZONA COUNTY SHERIFF AND HE KEEPS GETTING ELECTED OVER AND OVER THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY:

Sheriff Joe Arpaio (in Arizona ) who created the "tent city jail":

He has jail meals down to 40 cents a serving and charges the inmates for them.

He stopped smoking and porno magazines in the jails. Took away their weights . Cut off all but "G" movies.

He started chain gangs so the inmates could do free work on county and city projects.

Then he started chain gangs for women so he wouldn't get sued for discrimination.

He took away cable TV ! until he found out there was a federal court order that required cable TV for jails. So he hooked up the cable TV again only let in the Disney channel and the weather channel.

When asked why the weather channel he replied, so they will know how hot it's gonna be while they are working on my chain gangs.

He cut off coffee since it has zero nutritional value.

When the inmates complained, he told them, "This isn't the Ritz/Carlton. If you don't like it, don't come back."

He bought Newt Gingrich' lecture series on videotape that he pipes into the jails.

When asked by a reporter if he had any lecture series by a Democrat, he replied that a democratic lecture series might explain why a lot of the inmates were in his jails in the first place.

More on the Arizona Sheriff:

With temperatures being even hotter than usual in Phoenix (116 degrees just set a new record), the Associated Press reports: About 2,000 inmates living in a barbed-wire-surrounded tent encampment at the Maricopa County Jail have been given permission to strip down to their government-issued pink boxer shorts.

On Wednesday, hundreds of men wearing boxers were either curled up on their bunk beds or chatted in the tents, which reached 138 degrees inside the week before.

Many were also swathed in wet, pink towels as sweat collected on their chests and dripped down to their pink socks.

"It feels like we are in a furnace," said James Zanzot, an inmate who has lived in the! tents for 1 year . "It's inhumane."

Joe Arpaio, the tough-guy sheriff who created the tent city and long ago started making his prisoners wear pink, and eat bologna sandwiches, is not one bit sympathetic He said Wednesday that he told all of the inmates: "It's 120 degrees in Iraq and our soldiers are living in tents too, and they have to wear full battle gear, but they didn't commit any crimes, so shut your @#$%& mouths!"

Way to go, Sheriff! Maybe if all prisons were like this one there would be a lot less crime and/or repeat offenders. Criminals should be punished for their crimes - not live in luxury until it's time for their parole, only to go out and commit another crime so they can get back in to live on taxpayers money and enjoy things taxpayers can't afford to have for themselves.

I was thinking this has to be a joke but it is not. Click here to view his webpage

Robert aka Hannah's Beau

Robert sent me my dream vehicle. I wonder if I can tow it behind the RV? Where will my mother sit?

Powerful, tough, responsive: Lamborghini tractors perfectly embody the idea of dynamic farming, the pursuit of excellence, the readiness to take on the challenge of even greater productivity. Dedicated to those who look ahead, the Lamborghini range complements its prestigious motorcar tradition with tractors that maximise the performance of their gutsy, specifically designed engines.

Where Do You Find These Things?

Song

"My karma broke down on the Road to Glory,
My karma broke down, ain't that a shame.
My karma broke down, I'm in purgatory,
And I can't get a ticket on the astral plane."

I have this song stuck in my head again. Maybe a little CCR will cure it.

Physical Therapy

Mom and I haven't been playing tourist too much but we will be back on track tomorrow. I explained earlier I had a bad case of "Slot Thumb." It is because of the repetitious movement I make, using my thumb, to keep the wheel spinning. Mom and I discussed it and decided I needed physical therapy. So we have been to the casino twice and I think it is helping. I might need further treatment further down the road though. Is this the same as drinking for medicinal purposes only.









Location:  Tunica

GPS

I invested in a GPS system because I get lost backing out of my drive-way. I would say 50% of my life was spent going around in a very wide circle. A GPS system is a wonderful device but it isn’t for the faint of heart. I discovered that if I select “car or motorcycle” as the vehicle I am driving it will lead me thru a labyrinth of streets and avenues. It will take me through every back street and seedy alley there is. To add to the excitement the GPS, every 10 minutes or so, will say “Lost Satellite Service.” I think it does that for chuckles and grins. This week mom and I were on a street in Baton Rouge, on the corner of Joe’s Bar and Streetwalker Avenue to be exact. It was a really bad neighborhood. I saw a group of 20-something men wrestling. My poor mother, her eyes got real big so I decided that the joke “if you see a gun DUCK!” wouldn’t be appropriate. I instructed her to lock the doors and roll up the windows. I waited calmly for the light to turn; mom was clutching something to her bosom and saying prayers. I was unfazed because of the years of experience I had in being lost.



When I get behind the wheel of a car and all sense of direction I had stays home. My children have seen the worst of St. Louis, Kansas City, and Joliet Illinois. They have heard their mother using words that would make a sailor blush in shame and a few I made up. I have been in lost in the United States as well as Honduras and Guatemala. Shoot I even got lost in a state park. Since I am use to being lost, it has become just another adventure.



My children are ecstatic about my purchase of a GPS system. Let me tell you and them. I get lost even with it turned on. Maybe that is why it says “Lost Satellite Service.” If this machine had a brain it would know I am a hopeless cause and would just shut down.

Location: Louisiana Baton Rouge

Scott

Scott, remember the jungle bug in our room. I went running to Jay and said there is a humongous roach in my room. (I hate roaches) He said "that isn't a roach, it is a jungle bug. We grow them big down there. The time we were climbing the temples at Tikal and I almost fell off? All I was concerned about was the darn camera. Those were fun times.

One Word Meme - Thanks Jolie

one word meme
1. Yourself: Excited
2. Your spouse: Something I hope I don't get for Christmas.
3. Your hair: Grey
4. Your mother: Awesome
5. Your father: Fireplace
6. Your favorite item: Camera
7. Your dream last night: None
8. Your favorite drink: Diet Coke
9. Your dream car: lamborghini
10. The room you are in: Small
11. Your ex: Insane
12. Your fear: Elevators
13. What you want to be in 10 years: Wherever
14. Who you hung out with last night: Mom
15. What you’re not: Loud
16. Muffins: Banana nut
17: One of your wish list items: Pocket Knife
18: Time: Watch
19. The last thing you did: Drink
20. What you’re wearing: Clothes
21. Your favorite weather: Tropical
22. Your favorite book: OED
23. The last thing you ate: Crackers
24. Your life: Unencumbered
25. Your mood: Silly
26. Your best friend(s): Mom
27. What you’re thinking about right now: Sleeping
28. Your car: Toad
29. What you’re doing at the moment: Typing
30. Your summer: Hot
31. Your relationship status: Single
32. What’s on TV: Nothing
33. The weather: Warm
34. The last time you laughed: yesterday

Good Meme Skittle

The Five Questions Interview Game"

What have you learned so far from your visitors? Diversity. I have met some wonderful people and enjoyed their stories. I love the fact that there are some that post their opinions and demand that you think. Thanks Dirk.

Did blogging change your life or your personality in any way? No I am who I am. Like me or hate me.

Are you satisfied with what you’ve achieved this year, in general? Hell yes. I am doing exactly what I want to do and enjoying life.

If someone would offer to pay for a course for you, what course would you take? Spanish.

If you had the opportunity to meet one person that you admire the most in the world, who that person would be? Living or dead? Living I would love to sit down and have a cup of coffee with Dorothy Allsion. Awesome writer. Dead I would love to talk to Mother Teresa.

Painting With Mud

On the 14th mom and I went to an art gallery of a painter who paints with mud. The mud is actually mixed with a little egg yolk and water. The artist is Henry Neubig, a local painter and his work is beautiful and reasonably priced. We couldn't buy anything because of the lack of room. The mud comes from the Tunica Hills, crawfish mounds in his backyard and the Mississippi River floodplain. The black comes from the swamp. Here is a sampling of his work, ENJOY

Location: Louisiana Baton Rouge

Friday Feast

Appetizer
What was your very first job with a paycheck?
I worked at the Patio Drive In. Every day I would jump in my little boat and drive to work.


Soup
Did you ever lose something really important to you?
Who hasn't? I lost a bracelet that my grandmother gave me.

Salad
What is the best Christmas present you ever received?
There were to many to mention. My favorite Christmas was the last Christmas that I spent with my brother. My favorite holiday tradition as a child was throwing the Christmas tree in the lake. They make great crappie beds.

Main Course
Tell about a favorite "hang out" place for you and your friends when you were in high school.
High School a horrible time in my life and I didn't hang out anywhere.

Dessert
Name something that always brings a smile to your face.
Talking to my wonderful, wise daughter.

Yesterday

Yesterday we decided to take an afternoon drive and found ourselves at Tickfaw State Park, a beautiful cypress swamp. We didn't see any wildlife but the sounds were there and it was so peaceful walking the trails. I took pictures.

Thanks to all who responded to my "What The Bug." It is a stink bug, fortunate for me it didn't stink.

Location:  Tickfaw State Park Louisiana - Springfield

What The Bug

In Hattiesburg Mississippi I went out to retrieve something from the basement. I opened the door and came face to face with a bug. When I looked around I noticed that a few of his buddies were in there as well. I grabbed a stick and carefully removed all them. I made sure I put them on a tree branch because they belong there and not in my basement. A couple days later I opened the door to my basement again and they were back. Once again I moved them to a tree branch. Since I was in a hurry, instead of placing about them about 10 inches apart I just put them all together and it was total bug mayhem. Obviously they were not buddies and I wasn’t about to get involved in a bug brawl. I checked my compartment for any holes and closed the drain. I don’t want them back. My patience was wearing thin and I was considering Raid. On the day I left I opened the compartment where my water and sewer hookups were and guess what. They were back. Obviously they all didn’t die in the bug brawl but I did notice one was missing. Maybe he was lunch, maybe he didn’t survive the bug brawl, or maybe he just got smart went elsewhere. Once again I removed them, making sure to place them further apart than the last time. When I pulled out of the park I was thinking it would be the last time I would be see those types of bugs. Guess what? I was wrong. Does anyone know what kind of bug this is?



Location:  Hattiesburg Mississippi

Merry Christmas

I received my presents early this year and like I always do, I open them before Christmas. I got worm clamps and a collapseable ladder. The ladder is a thing of joy. It folds up and can slip in my basement. Now I can wash the windshield and the RV. In fact, I have it set up now and as soon as I post this I am going to do a little washing. Last year at this time I received a piece of jewelry, some cool socks, candles...... all of which I absolutely loved. Isn't it funny how much changes in a year? Off to scour to the windshield.

Location:  Livingston Louisiana

My Grandpuppies Rose and Peppy

My Daughter In Her Birthday Suit

And The Wonderful Man In Her Life

How To Run Away From Home

First sell your house; you don’t need it if you are going to run away from home.
Second sell or give away everything you own. Since I moved into a house on wheels the only thing I needed besides personal items was my laptop and camera. Between selling the house and everything you own you will have capital.
The most important thing to do prior to running away is let your family know you are running away. It is very traumatic for grown children to come home only to find there is no home to come home to.

The first year (I haven’t been on the road that long); you will travel, explore, and experience your new found freedom. The second year will require you take on some adult responsibilities and jobs are easy to find if you’re a transient. The thought of me standing on a busy highway with a sign that says “will work for food” won’t happen. George Carlin said it best when he said “That's all you need in life, a little place for your stuff. That's all your house is: a place to keep your stuff. If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house. You could just walk around all the time. A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it.” So according to George Carlin I am either “walking around” or I traded in for a smaller home to keep less stuff in only this house has wheels.

I know you are wondering what about the important stuff. Stuff like pictures, mementoes, and Christmas ornaments. One of the reasons I gave birth to three adorable little children was for instances such as this. You give that stuff to them and they will have to get a bigger place to keep your stuff. The plus side to that is when you visit your children you will feel right at home because your stuff is there.

There is a down side. Because space is limited in a motor home you can’t go out and buy more stuff because there isn’t a place to stuff your stuff. If you tell your children you are mailing them stuff then they might run away themselves and leave no forwarding address. So you have to control the impulse to buy more stuff. I really do feel they need a “Stuff Anonymous” for people like me.

That is it. In a nutshell. All you have to do to run away from home is sell your house, everything you own, and leap.

Po-Boy

Here in the south they eat Po-Boy sandwiches. I realized that to people not familiar to the Po-Boy sandwich will think they are just a sub sandwich. What makes a po-boy special is the bread. A po-boy isn't a po-boy unless it's made with good quality, fresh French bread. New Orleans French bread has a crunchy crust with a very light center. The loaves are about 3' in length, and are about 3-4" wide. Roast beef and shrimp are the most popular fillings for a po-boy, but just about anything can be put inside a loaf of French bread and taste good. I ordered a po-boy with ground beef, onions, and cheese so any filling can work. Those sandwiches are huge. I now know now not to order fries. In case someone says "Darlin', you want that dressed, or what?" A "dressed" po' boy has lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Non-seafood po' boys will also usually have mustard, but the customer is expected to specify whether they want "hot" or "regular. If you are ever in the south make sure you order a po-boy sandwich and don’t order fries with it.

I'm A Grandmother Again!

I received a call from my daughter and she informed me that I have another grandchild or should I say granddog to add to my bunch. Robert and Hannah picked up a 13 week old Golden Retriever and gave her the name of Rose. I can't wait to see what my other granddog, Peppy is going to do when they introduced them. It will be interesting.

The Gulf

Even though Hurricane Katrina hit over a year ago the scars are everywhere. When we were driving down the road we would see signs advertising resturants, gas stations and the only thing left is a vacant lot. The live oak trees that grow along side of highway 90 are stripped bare. The branches no longer drape but there are leaves and that means life. They are also dredging the gulf for cars, household appliances, and whatever else that was pulled into the ocean. There are a few damaged buildings, hotels with the exterior wall peeled off exposing the rooms. A gentleman that I spoke to said he went out right after the storm and the trees were covered in plastic bags along with cars and boats but what stuck in his mind were the plastic bags. It was a little strange driving through Biloxi because you immediately feel sorry for the folks that lived there but then you are in awe of them as well because of their spirit. They are coming back and like the signs say "the best is yet to come."

The RV park we stayed at had the majority of the lots rented to FEMA workers. From the looks of their RVs they have been there since the beginning. They made their little houses on wheels as comfortable and homey as possible. It was kind of neat.

It was a wonderful experience at the gulf. I was able to see the beach and spend 10 minutes on it. The casinos are all open and providing much needed revenue so we had fun taking our $40 and spending it like big wheels. Sorry kids I didn't win big but won enough to have a lot of fun.

Location:  Biloxi Mississippi

Biloxi Mississippi

My last day at Biloxi was a dismal failure of running around in a circle. I checked online for what parks were open to the public. The first park was completely blocked off so I drove to the second. I was stopped at the gate by a Ranger. He said “I’m sorry but we are only open to daytime campers. I asked him what a daytime camper was and I was told it was a camper that spends the day at the park and leaves when the park closes. I told him then I was a daytime camper and he told me I didn’t have any equipment. I asked him what kind of equipment I needed to become a daytime camper and he asked me to leave. I need to know what is a “daytime camper?”. I know that a daytime camper needs equipment but what kind of equipment does a daytime camper need?

After being turned away from the parks, I decided to try the beach. I put Surely on the leash, grabbed my rubber gloves and camera equipment and took off. I was shown a sign “no dogs allowed on the beach.” I tried to explain that she was a day camper disguised as a dog…. Just joking. Surely and I left the beach and went home. We curled up on the couch and watched a wonderful old movie.

This morning I was taking out the fuse and I dropped it in the motor of the car. When I tried to pick it up, I dropped it again only it went a little further in the motor. Mom handed me two kitchen knives. Using them as tweezers I was able to drive the fuse deeper in the motor. So taking one knife I very gently nudge the fuse to where I can grab it without using my thumb. I need to stay away from slot machines for a while.


Location:  Springfield Mississippi

Friday Feast One Hundred & Twenty One

Appetizer
Which language would you like to learn and why?

I would love to learn spanish. I have spent some time in Central America and would love to be able to communicate.

Soup
What's the funniest thing you've heard or read so far this week?
I was taking Surely for a walk. We passed an motorcoach similar to mine. It has a huge windshield. I heard a horrible ruckus going on inside the coach. I turned in time to see a small Yorkshire Terrier hit the windshield. Splat he looked like a bug only it was from the inside not the out. I thought I was going to die laughing.

Salad
Which movie was so bad you couldn't watch the whole thing?
Back in my late teen years I had a date with someone that I thought was a gentleman. He said "you want to see a movie tonight?" I said sure. We walked in, sat down, and the very first scene was triple XXX. I stood up and walked out. I didn't see the man ever again. I think I had a friend pick me up.

Main Course
If there were a holiday in your honor that didn't use your actual name, what would the day be called?
River Day. Everyone would get the day off only if they go to a river, rent a canoe, buy a 12 pack, and do a 15 mile float. Hot Apple Pie drink could be substituted for the beer.

Dessert
Name one movie which is coming out soon that you would like to see.
Truthfully none. I haven't seen one that I would like to see.

Ocean Springs MS

Today mom and I drove to Ocean Springs. Beautiful town, with lots of galleries. I was introduced to Walter Anderson and became a fan.

Huh?

Hannah
how did your letter to
Santa Claus end up at
the Gulf Coast?

Today - Ocean Springs

Scott, Rusty,and Hannah - Presents will be arriving, please watch your mailbox. I don't have Robert's address so I am sending his to you Hannah.

We are on the beach. Its colder than a well digger's whoops. I am being punished for teasing and tormenting those that live north of where I am. Tomorrow Surely Not and I will be on the beach waiting for the sunset.

There is still a lot of destruction at the Gulf. It is overwhelming. You see it on the televison but to see it over a year later.... There is so much that needs to be done. We drive down the road and see signs, bent and twisted advertising a resturant. There is nothing there but an empty lot. I will be getting out to take photographs.

I have been busy with Christmas. I am finishing up tonight come hell or high water.

Right now I am listening to Cynthia Clawson. She has such a beautiful pure voice and the one song that can bring me to tears is Softly and Tenderly. I highly recommend her highly.
See I am ecletic, slightly strange I go from "Boys Want Sex In The Morning" by the Three Weird Sisters to Cynthia Clawson. Off to finish up playing Santa Claus and give the old credit card a beating.

Moving On Day

We are heading south today. We enjoyed Hattiesburg and I did fix the leak. It seems my water regulator was defective. I replaced it and it hasn't leaked yet. Now I just have to figure out the ice maker.

Once again internet will be iffy. I know the RV park we are going to doesn't have wireless internet. If you don't hear from me tonight I will be talking to you all in a week.

My baby turned 21 today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH

Remember this?
Hannah Banana Girl
You Give my hear a whirl.

I love you and Happy Birthday.

English

Now that we have all taken the English Test, Book Test, Grammer Test I thought I would share the following that I found on another website.

Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.
Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat)
Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
Be more or less specific.
Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
No sentence fragments.
Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.
Foreign words and phrases are not apropos
Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
One should NEVER generalize.
Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
One-word sentences? Eliminate.
Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
The passive voice is to be ignored.
Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.
Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth-shaking ideas.
Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
Puns are for children, not groan readers.
Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
Who needs rhetorical questions?
Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

And finally...
Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

Buy An Alpaca

A fellow blogger shared this with me and I thought I would pass along the message. Are you struggling with trying to find a unique gift for someone special? How about buying a goat or an alpaca. I know what you are thinking "what the...." I will explain. You buy a gift from Oxfam Unwrapped. You receive a card and a fridge magnet that represents the gift that you have chosen to give to your friend or family member. Someone in the developing world receives this gift. Whether it be an alpaca to earn a living from, the means to plant an allotment or safe water to drink – the result is that their lives are much improved! A direct quote from the company. Go to http://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/. You can buy a gift and help someone out at the same time. I wonder consider it an awesome gift.

I Just Loved Her