I Have Been To Italy

Well, actually I have been in Kansas all this time BUT my credit card number was in Italy.  It was having a grand old time.  I am not sure all it purchased but it I do know it stayed in a really nice hotel.  Isn’t it sad that your credit card ends  up having a grand old time while you are stuck in Kansas… Sigh  You know something the person using my credit card did all of these fun things absolutely free.  Fortunately I paid for protection against these things.  All I had to do was cut up my globe trotting credit card (that will teach it to have fun without me) and wait for a new one.

Question – Have you ever done something so stupid that you wonder, after the random act of stupidity, what the heck you were thinking?  I arrived at my daughter’s home and there sitting on her counter was Robert’s Christmas present to her.  A Keurig which is a single-cup brewer.  At first I considered it a doo dad.  Hannah patiently showed me how to brew my own teas with it and then she showed me how to use the K Cups.  K Cups hold coffee, tea, hot chocolate etc.  The next morning I decided to brew a cup of decaf coffee on my own and it tasted so good I had a few more cups of joe.  At the end of the week Hannah came home and I met her at the door with a big old howdy and said  “hihoneyhowwasworkIdidthelaundryIplayedwiththedogsandbythewayyouareoutofdecaf.  I was wired for sound.  I have been off the caffeine long enough for it to really be potent.  So we headed for the store to purchase more coffee.   I ended up buying a small Keurig for myself.  I live in a van and I have absolutely no idea where I am going to store it when we are traveling.  I only purchased decaf coffee and I have all the tea I need.  So no more bouncing off the walls and staying up till 3 a.m.

This afternoon will be my last visit with the dentist and we will be heading out tomorrow morning for Camdenton.  After Camdenton we will be heading to Las Vegas New Mexico or someplace near.  It will feel good to be on the road again.

Life is good.

 

We Made It

We arrived in Kansas around 11:30, just in time for lunch.  Hannah and Robert took us to Bo Ling's, one of my favorite restaurants.   Unfortunately it was right next door to Half Price Books.  The afternoon was spent browsing through books and talking.  Hannah and I both have a love of poetry.  We also share the dislike for romance books.  She works among books and she says the romance books always smell of tacos, menthol vapor rub and cigarette smoke.  I am sorry if this offends some but reading a romance novel is like reading the same book over and over and over.   Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.  I like substance, I like variety and I don’t need a happy ever after.  I am not in the norm when it comes to this way of thinking because romance sells and sells big. 

Tomorrow I meet my new doctor. Life is good.

Topless Interstate Driving

We are in the state of Oklahoma this evening and tomorrow around noon we will be sitting down having lunch with my daughter. 

It has been pretty boring the past couple days with the exception of one morning.  I did the usual morning routine and we took off.  About thirty minutes later I started scratching.  I could see the bumps appearing on my arms.  I made a quick dash into a Dollar General Store and bought Benadryl lotion.  By the time I got to the counter it was obvious I was breaking out.  I made the comment that I am going to have to take my shirt off the minute I get into the van.  That caused an eyebrow to lift from the cashier.  I medicated myself and put on sleeveless shirt.  About a half hour later the itching stopped and eventually the redness disappeared.  The strange thing is when I put on the shirt I wore when I developed the rash, I broke out again.  I am allergic my to my shirt.  It is an old shirt that I have worn countless times.  I plan to wash it and then see if I break out.  I hate to throw out an old friend. 

I told mom that I would get us to Hannah’s on time even if it means driving topless to Kansas….  Fortunately that didn’t happen.

Life is good.

We Are Still In Louisiana

One of the places we wanted to see in Louisiana was Myrtle Plantation.  When we drove into St. Francisville  and did a little research on the area we both reached the decision to wait.  There are historical cemeteries, historical homes, civil war battle sites and hiking.  To much to do in less than 5 hours.  

We did find a RV park in St. Francisville.  It was a wonderful park.  Okay a little run down but wonderful.  We were greeted by a wagging tail, nice people, and reasonable rates.  Later that evening another pooch came up to visit while mom and I were sitting outside.   The trouble I had was my doo hickey kept going off.  I bought an electrical thing to monitor our electricity.  It was really really cheap and it flashes 120 and F60.   It was a cool night light and I was  looking forward to having Robert, my daughter’s beau, explain it to me.  Then it went off and I found myself googling “Reverse Polarity Fault Condition” to “Low Voltage.”  It was a crash course in electricity.  That is why I love the RV life.  You learn so much, you experience so much, and life is really never dull.    I fixed the electrical problem by hooking up to a different electric “doo hickey.”  LOL

Right now we are in Marksville Louisiana and the Paragon Casino RV Park.  It is a Good Sam and Passport America park and the rates are very reasonable.  We are leaving tomorrow and will be in Kansas as planned. 

We met another Van Dwelling couple from Canada.  They wintered in Texas but are not committed to staying in one place during the winter.  They were a nice couple and a delight to talk to. 

I am actually looking forward to the drive tomorrow.  Life is GREAT!

Bay St. Louis Mississippi

This morning mom and I got up early and headed for the casino.  It was a very good day for us.  On top of winning a few extra dollars we lucked into a seafood buffet for 9.99 a piece.  There are days I am so happy to be over 50…   Tomorrow we are planning on spending the night near Baton Rouge. 

While we were in Apalachicola Florida, mom and I stopped at Chestnut Street Cemetery, a historical cemetery .  Dr. Alvin Wentworth Chapman, Botanist, is buried there.  Dr. Chapman was the author of "Flora of the Southern United States", first published in 1860 with several later editions by the author. For nearly fifty years this was the only manual of flowering plants in the southeastern states. An 1830 graduate of Amherst College, he moved to the south in 1831 and to Apalachicola, Florida in 1847 where he practiced medicine. He collected rare plants throughout the southeast and stayed in contact with northern botanists including Asa Gray. The genus Chapmania was named in his honor

Some of the stones in the cemetery showed signs of repair but other than that, it was in poor shape.  Which is distressing to me because there is so much history there.

A few pictures I took of the cemetery. 

	Epitaph Found At at Chestnut Street Cemetery Jesus, while our hearts are bleeding O’er the spoils that death has won, We would at this solemn meeting Calmly say, “Thy will be done.” Moravian melody written by Thomas Hastings
	Epitaph Found At at Chestnut Street Cemetery When I am dead and all will soon forgot My words and face and ways I somehow think I'll walk beside thee yet Adorn thy afterdays. I die first and you will see my grave But children you must not cry For my dead hand will brightest blessing wave O'er you from yonder sky.
	Epitaph Found At at Chestnut Street Cemetery All that which pleases only for a moment All that troubles us is but for a moment That only is important which is eternal.
Epitaph Found At at Chestnut Street Cemetery Clarence Goet Tinger closed his eyes in death, and flesh and spirit severed When earth and father-land and home With all their beauty Sank in gloom say was it to be forever No not forever
	Epitaph Found At at Chestnut Street Cemetery While we weep as Jesus wept Thou shalt sleep as Jesus slept With they Saviour thou shalt rest Crowned and glorified and blest

Three States

We are in the state of Mississippi.  Our plan is spend one more night in Mississippi before heading to the next state.

Last night we spent the night at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, another  beautiful state park.  We got in around 4:00 p.m.  and I took a walk on the beach.  It was a little chilly but I enjoyed the solitude. 

Later that night things got a little freaky.  I did not have phone service nor internet service consistently.  The freaky thing happened when I notice my phone was on Central Standard Time.  The park ranger said we were still on Eastern…  I had picked up my phone to look at it and then I set it down on mom’s bed.  It went to Eastern Standard Time.  So mom, technically, was an hour ahead of me all night.   I turned my phone off because it was confused.  I didn’t turn it back on until we hit Mexico Beach. 

A few pictures I took at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Florida.

Big Ears, Little Spiders

One morning, last week, Mom and I were going to do a little exploring so I went outside to unhook.  When I reached under the electric box to unhook my electric a lizard just leaped out and landed on my arm.  It was just amazing and I honestly wasn’t expecting it.  I started laughing and I walked over to the front of the van to show mom.  She took the pictures.  My neighbor came over to see what was going on and I showed him the lizard, who was sitting quite happily on my arm. 

I walked over to a tree and gave it a little nudge to get him to move.  I went back to the electric box and and looked at it.  It was covered in small spiders.  I said to the man, “I interrupted his dinner.”

He said, “My wife would be screaming by now.”

A voice came out of nowhere, “I would not.”

Hannah, I am getting very excited too.  I am looking forward to our salads from Whole Foods, coffee with books.  I am looking forward to conversation over tea. By the way, I have three different kinds of honey to try with our teas.  And I have a honey salad dressing as well.  We definitely have to go back to the head shop in Columbia as well as the art shops.  I would like to go back to the shop where I had the Hindu Gods framed.  If you can find a vegan restaurant I will think I have died and gone to heaven.  I have been texting you a little Andreas daily.  We are going to have a great weekend and I am heading to your house now.  We are in Chiefland Florida.  LIfe is Good.

Alive and Well

We are alive and well.  Currently we are in Mims Florida…

Why?

It was on the way. 

 

Tomorrow we will head to Micanopy Florida and start our journey back to Kansas.  I am looking forward to seeing my daughter, Hannah and her beau Robert as well as my sister, Deanie and her family.  I am extremely excited to see Carol who was released from the nursing home on her birthday.   I just don’t like the whole doctor thing.

I will be posting more tomorrow.  I just wanted to let everyone know we are alive and kicking.

Life is good.

Off And Running

Today we set off for Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary for a 2.5 mile walk through Slash Pines, Cypress Trees with their knees, and wildlife.  I didn’t see many birds but I enjoyed being outside.

Tomorrow we will head back to Fort Pierce to see my Uncle one more time before heading for Kansas.  We plan to take it slow since I don’t have to be there until the 2nd.  I have really enjoyed my time in Florida and plan to come back for another visit.  Florida is just beautiful thanks to the State and Government.  If it wasn’t for the preservation of land, Florida would not be as fun.  That is what mom and I really enjoyed.  Around the beach the traffic is amazing and I often laugh and say “I can’t wait to drive around Kansas City.”  In comparison Kansas City is a breeze.  The majority of people we have met have been very friendly and welcoming.  I know the Keys is the biggest tourist trap but that was an amazing place to go as well as the Everglades. 

Mom and I visited Shark Valley and took the tram through part of the Everglades.  We also took our first air boat ride.  No, the Everglades was not what I imagine.   I pictured it swampy but it is a slow moving river, hence the name “river of grass.”  Some of the fun facts I learned about the Everglades:

1. Everglades National Park is home to over 1,000 species of plants. 
2. The Everglades ecosystem provides a home to over 350 species of birds.
3. The Everglades comprise the largest wetlands located in the lower 48 states in the U.S.A.
4. America’s Everglades are home to 67 threatened or endangered species.
5. The Everglades is the only place in the world where the American Alligator and the American Crocodile co-exist in the wild.
6. The ubiquitous grassy plants known as sawgrass (a sedge), feature serrated, razor-edged blades of grass that are so sharp, they have been known to cut through clothing.
7. Ten thousand different islands make up Everglades National Park. Each of these islands is inhabited by natural wildlife.

Pictures I took while visiting the Everglades.

Double Fisting Drinking My Blues Away

For those that heard that horrible crash that was me falling off the Caffeine Free Diet Coke wagon and I took a chocolate cake with me.  No, turning a year older didn’t cause my fall it was Valentine’s Day.  I was in Winn Dixie with about 10 items more than the express land would allow.  So I went to the the next register and I had to move again because  I was in the “Valentine Express” lane.  Christmas time there wasn’t a “Santa Claus” express lane and I am sure on Easter there will not be a “Easter Bunny” express lane.  I had no choice to get behind a woman with two grocery carts full.   I tried to make Ma buy me a dozen roses and  a box of chocolates so I could get in the Valentine Express lane… but she said I wasn’t worth it    

My son’s girlfriend, Anna posted a picture of herself and James on Facebook that really threw me for a loop.  When James was a teenager he wore a grey sweat shirt, jeans and tennis shoes every single day until he joined the Navy.  Then he traded his teenage attire for a Navy uniform that he wore every single day.  Then he traded in his Navy uniform for a Correctional Officer Uniform.  I have never seen in him in anything but a uniform or jeans and a t-shirt.  Until last night.   I was so shocked that I woke up Ma and said “you are not going to believe this.”    Anna thank you for the picture. 

She also posted another picture, a picture of all my grandkids.  They make a great looking family. 

Life is good.