New Computer (?) and Packing Up

"All changes are more or less tinged with melancholy, for what we are leaving behind is part of ourselves". Amelia Barr

It just might be time to update my laptop. Argh! I hate doing that ... I just hate it. It always takes so much work transferring programs and more programs over and getting everything re-setup again. However, I ran a little utility program on this thing and a big yellow CAUTION blurted out at me. Other warnings included temperature running above 124 degrees, laptop had been started up over 4,700 times and had run for 12,400 plus hours. Wow! Is that use or is that use?

This week started with a prediction for showers most of the week. Then, it suddenly changed and the prediction was for a few days of sun in between. Then, it changed again and the rain was dominating the week. Now this morning another change and other than one day this will be a sunny week. How can weather forecasters keep their jobs when they're wrong most of the time?

Last week was definitely a very busy week as we had guests most of the time. My cousin and her husband visited us at our lake lot for a few days and then my niece and her children did too. We fed the deer, went on a boat ride and roasted hot dogs. What a great and busy week it was.

Time in the Northwest is coming to a close. We're wrapping up things and preparing to head south. This has been one of the best summers of my life. Is it because this is the first summer I can ever remember not working? Or, is it because we've had such a fantastic time with grandkids, friends, brother, cousins, nieces and most importantly, with my son, Lee, his wife, Bri, Justin and Jordan. I believe it is all of the above.

Our "kids" have been a big part of our life here and it's really sad to go. We're going to finish off this week with another salmon BBQ, watching wrestling events on TV with them and just a good ole' time ...... and, we'll be back! We also have our storage shed to clean out, oil changes and saying goodbyes to everyone.

Oh, did I forget to mention that yesterday I was treated to a spa treatment gift! It was wonderful!

Now is the time for the diet to get serious as we always seem to be eating up here! Our Wii needs a good workout... keep posted for our challenge tallies.

The road is beckoning but which way??

The Weight Loss Challenge!

"If you want to look young and thin, hang around old fat people." Jim Eason

The time has arrived to put this little Wii machine to work doing what I thought it was supposed to do in the first place. And, that is what, you ask. Well, in January of this year I had my first exposure to the Wii system. It was so much fun that it was difficult to put down the little controllers. I golfed, I played tennis, I bowled and I boxed. By the end of the first day I could hardly move. I had discovered all those little muscles that were hidden way deep within. I figured ... what a great exercise machine. I loved Wii Sports.

It took me about six months to figure I had to have one of those things because I had packed on quite a few pounds in the year on the road ... yep, quite a few pounds. So, I bought one and a couple days ago added the Wii Fit and Wii Active Personal Trainer to my accumulation of Wii games. Well, I had to because Bri (daughter-in-law) had them. This is actually like having a gym in the privacy of your home .... whatever it is. And, I desperately need a gym!!!

The Wii Fit has a Balance Board bundled up with the software. It weighs you, figures out your BMI (fat measuring) and sets up exercises you supposedly need to get you in decent shape. It works on balance, training and getting a decent Wii fit age. The first day my Wii fit age was 68 (ugh). The next day was 45!! However, back on it today it had jumped back up a bit. My "personal trainer" told me I was unbalanced and a couch potato!! I have to do something about that!

And, what is the point of all this jibberish? Well, Bri and I are stepping up to a Wii challenge. We figured the easiest way to actually lose weight was to lose it with someone. So, we're keeping tabs on each other here to help motivate each other in losing weight. I hate losing weight. It's much more fun to gain it.

Any one else out there interested in posting their weight loss progress? I bet not ..... cowards!

End of Year One -- Beginning of Year Two

"If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts." Albert Einstein

How does one begin to summarize the first year of a tremendous adventure? We both were retired one year ago -- September 2008. We had one child in Texas and one in the state of Washington. Our original plans included spending one half of the year traveling north and the other half of the year heading south. Of course, neither of these trips were intended to be in a straight line but to include as many side trips and states as possible on our way. Plans always seem to change. We've learned to write in chalk on the calendar.

We also started out with two Doberman Pinschers. Contrary to popular opinion ... beautiful and loving "children". We lost our male within the first week of hitting the road. It was a very sad event. However, the decision had been made and we were still on our way - to someplace.

Our first trip took us to the state of Texas and then, back to Arizona and eventually ended up in the state of Washington. We've met so many, many wonderful folks and have enjoyed most every moment. We've even tried volunteering and discovered this wasn't our cup of tea. We've learned what boondock meant and been lucky enough to be able to compare the differences between the almost-free boondock areas of Arizona and the ultra-elite RV parks in California. We've seen sights so gorgeous that our camera couldn't capture. We've seen sights so bizarre we didn't want our camera to capture.


We started out from Arizona with our well-used 5th wheel and will return this winter in our newly acquired motorhome. Actually, the 5th wheel was a great "rig" to hit the road in. We learned a lot of things to do and things not to do. We learned what we liked, what we needed and what we wanted. We also learned that many folks stereotype by the RVs people travel in. And, we learned that others don't. We've met folks from all walks of life and learned that the RV has nothing to do with the person.

We've learned about different park systems, joined the Elks for their RV parks, been pleased with our RPI and Thousand Trails membership, stayed at COE parks and even at Walmart. Passport America has not really worked for us as we have traveled during high season and many places limit the use. What a wonderful education this year has been.

Summer was spent in the state of Washington. We've enjoyed every moment we've spent with our son, his wife, all four of our grandchildren, brother, nieces and the cousins I grew up with. It has definitely been a summer of great memories and bonds. We've gone through three boats this summer and even the building up of a new home base. We've been crabbing and fishing and lots and lots of eating. What a wonderful summer! We have been so busy. We've run from one adventure to another!! I don't believe we were this busy when we were working .... or, I don't know how we had time to work!

However, summer is coming to an end. It's time to head south and we'll certainly miss all the camaraderie we've had with family this summer. It's so sad to leave but we know we'll be back in just a few months. And, we're looking forward to the next chapter and all the adventures this next year will hold. We're actually having the time of our life and believe we have definitely made the correct decision in what we're doing. Our decision was for us ... it's come at a price but we love our new life .... we're retired .... we deserve this ...... finally.

This marks the end of year one as we get ourselves together to meet up again with folks we met just one year ago! Quartzsite -- here we come! We're looking forward to seeing all of you again.

What a year! Goal for Year Two .... lose the 30 pounds (??) I've gained in Year One!!

(PS - I refuse to get on a scale to see exactly how much!)

Keep posted for more!