New Years Eve

I woke up this morning with a partly black eye.  I remember hitting the side of my glasses which then jammed into the corner of my eye.  Beside looking bad, it hurts.  (Makeup helps) I still have a cold and cough a lot.  Way to start a new year!

We went out to dinner with three other couples and then stopped by to listen to a band (outside) which was fair.  Afterward we went to one couple's trailer for dessert and visiting.  Altogether a good New Years Eve.

Gordon and Marge

Mareen and Frank

Dan and Kathy

Us

Wash, wash and more wash

We spent the day unpacking and doing wash.  There is no place to let stuff sit around in the motorhome so there was a big need to get thing put away.  Tired....

Back to Sumter Oaks

We got back to our motorhome about 6 PM, got the slides out, the water connected and the things in the car brought in before it started raining.  We drove 16 hours yesterday keeping just ahead of snow.  (I kept checking the weather on my phone.)  Stayed overnight just south of Nashville and got on the road again at 6 AM today, keeping just ahead of freezing rain.  The trip went well, but long as always and we are tired.

Last day in Minnesota

We did some shopping in the morning and then in the evening met everyone for dinner at the pub in our hotel.  Afterward we all went to our room and gave Josh his gifts for his 16th birthday.  Said goodbye until we see them in April.

(I added some pictures to the last few days.)

Christmas 2012

We started the day by going to Sheila's home for brunch and gifts.  Brenda and Rebecca were also there.  We got many fine things from shirts to food to do-dads.  In the afternoon we went for dinner at Ken's brothers home.  They had a really big bunch this year, as always the food was great and visiting fine.

We are tired tonight and ready to go to bed.

Christmas Eve

We took our gifts to Sheila's house, they saw us coming and scattered.  Thought for a minute they were trying to avoid us!  They just had to get put together - guess we should have called first.

Then it was to CVS to get me some stronger cold meds, the sudafed that has to be signed for at the pharmacy and some cough drops.

We met the Dennis' at their church for the Christmas Eve service and then went to their home crape and fondue dinner - very good.

Sunday in Minnesota

We started the day by doing wash in the hotel laundromat.  Later in the day we met Brenda, Dan and Rebecca for dinner at Fabulous Ferns in St. Paul.  Good food and great visit with them!

Downtown Minneapolis annual trip

We met Sheila and family and Brenda and Rebecca at Macy's to go see the annual animated show.  This is the third year for the same show so we know it well.  It is cute and fun.  Then did some shopping/looking and met again for lunch at the Sky Room on the top floor of Macy's.  What was different this year was we didn't have to deal with a blizzard/slick roads, etc.  Usually the weather is nasty when we go downtown.

Don and I came home for a nap and then got a Subway (not too hungry after a huge lunch) and the movie Hope Springs to watch in our room.

Friday in the north

Don went to the doctor today for a check up.  All is well.  I stayed at the hotel, had some things to do and lazy!  Went to Sheila and Ken's home for dinner and visiting in the evening.  Came back and watched the DVD we had borrowed from them "Descendants" with George Clooney.  Good movie.

Cold day in MN

There was some snow overnight and now a little wind today, nothing that will keep us off the streets.  We finished our Christmas shopping, sure seems cold to us as we are used to temps in the 80's.

We went to Josh's hockey game, was fun to see him on the ice.  Then we went to our favorite Chinese - Hong Wong for dinner.

Made it to MN

We got to Apple Valley about 3 PM.  There had been some freezing rain in northern Iowa but it had melted on the roads.  Looked like some had even been plowed but no problem for us.  Good to be here!

Davenport, Iowa

After 11 1/2 hours of driving today we made it to Davenport.  All went well today, no wrong turns which was a combination of GPS and good luck.  We got into rush hour traffic going into Nashville this morning and had a couple slow downs for wrecks.  There are all sorts of storm warnings for here tomorrow evening so glad we aren't traveling one day later!  We should be able to get to MN ahead of bad weather.

Chattanooga TN

Here we are in Chattanooga for the night.  Ran into some heavy rain, of course in a construction zone.  Otherwise the day went well.  We went to the old town area for dinner,  saw the old depot which is now a hotel.

Sunday afternoon in the sun

It is another hot day, around 80 degrees.  Yesterday I worked like a crazy lady getting things packed.  I thought I had done good preparation but ran into a few delays.  I kept thinking of things I forgot - oh well a Wal Mart is 6 blocks from our hotel!  Today it was getting washing done, putting the Christmas decorations away, cleaning the very dirty house and more odds and ends I forgot.  I think I have it together now.  We want to go to the weekly ice cream social as a friends birthday is being celebrated.  Tonight is the Survivor show ending, can't miss that!

Hopefully we will be on the road tomorrow morning by 8 AM   (We decided to wear shorts knowing we will look silly as we drive north into the cooler weather.)

Where is that sun?

It is yet another gray, humid day.  The sun was suppose to be out by noon, we did finally see some just before dark.  We went out for breakfast and made a couple more stops.  When we got home I made some dip for the wine and cheese party tonight.  There weren't a lot of people at the party, probably about 30.  We had a good time.  The fog is already starting to form.

We are so saddened by the senseless shooting of the little children that happened today.  Even though I am a supporter of sticker gun laws, I know that unfortunately sick people like this shooter will somehow get a gun if they are determined.  We must start identifying people who are a danger to others despite their so called "rights" and think about their potential victims.   Just in the last few months we have had shootings in a mall, a theater, a place of worship and workplace and now in a school - it must stop or no one will be safe.  I think of the parents of these little angles - they probably already have purchased Christmas gifts for them and now they are buying coffins.

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Dec. 12, 2012  -  Last time triple digits until next century!

We went out to eat at Steak and Shake this evening.  It rained on and off all day, the air conditioner  ran most of the night.  Suppose to cool down and dry off now!!!!

Santa visits Sumter Oaks

This morning a pre-school group of kids came to the RV park to sing a few Christmas Songs.  They did a nice job, cute and well behaved.  They each had on a white T-shirt with a reindeer on the front.  They had made the reindeer by tracing their foot for the head and nose and their hands for the horns and cutting them out of brown felt, decorated with eyes and a red nose of course.

Santa (a man from the park that didn't need a fake beard or padding for the stomach) passed out little gifts to the kids.

The park managers had treats for the kids and adults as well.  They were worried that people wouldn't show up but say the word "food" and they come.

Afterword Don and I went to Brooksville.  We had lunch at Chic-fil-a, Don got the food and had a strange look on his face when he brought it to the table.  The food was free because it was the 900th order of the month.  We then got hair cuts, went to Wal Mart and Sam's Club.  It rained a bit on the way home.  Rained hard yesterday with the light and sound effects.

Humid Sunday

The humidity turned into rain last night so today it is even more humid and plenty hot.  Had the AC on all day.  Don't bother to watch the movie Sparkle, we were about bored enough to turn it off but made it to the end.  Went to the ice cream (sherbet for me) social this afternoon.  Lots of people there.  I tried on my jeans that I haven't worn for a year to see it they still fit - they do, so I won't have to wear shorts in Minnesota next week.

We're about to grill the last of our Minnesota steak tonight.

Florida Humid Saturday

It has been hot and very humid today.  Woke up to fog, later the sun came out to warm us up.  We went to breakfast at the clubhouse, sat with a couple form Australia that keeps their RV in Arizona and comes to the US to travel around.  They have been to every state but three, better than most Americans.

I started boxing and wrapping Christmas gifts after breakfast and then we went to Bushnell for lunch and some shopping at Wal Mart.  Still can't find one item, will try in Brooksville this week but may give a gift card.  We rented the movie Sparkle for tonight, hope it is good!  Finished wrapping gifts this afternoon.  Cards are about done, now I have to think about packing.

Escapees "First Thursday" lunch

We went to Clermont for lunch at the Golden Corral.  The majority of the people are from our RV park but always good to see people from other places as well.   Friends we hadn't seen for a while were saving a place for us - great to visit with them.

After eating far too much Don and I went to Target, K Mart, Kohl's and CVS.  We got home about 4 PM.  I was determined to get my Christmas shopping done but couldn't find one item.  At Target I got my nerve up and asked if they would price match an item that was cheaper elsewhere, and she said sure!

Sick - eek

I woke up this morning about a dizzy as one can get and not faint.  The bedroom was spinning!  Also I was hot, then cold, etc.   I discovered that I felt better sitting up so stacked the pillows on the sofa behind my back and went back to sleep.  I awoke about 11 AM and felt somewhat better, went back to sleep in the afternoon and then felt almost normal.  It must have been one of those crazy flu's that go around.

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We went out for breakfast, came home to read the papers.  Its getting hot again in Florida - humidity can't far off.  We returned the  red  box movie Men in Black lll.  Good movie!