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June 2010
June 28 - 30, 2010, Summerfield, FL
Monday, June 28. The storm rolled through here last night had some incredibly loud cracks of thunder and I remembered how much we used to like watching the clouds form and the storms roll through this area. It's kind of nice to see the spanish moss again too. I'm becoming one of those people that says that the heat in Arizona is "a dry heat". The humidity makes it feel so much hotter. Walking out the door from the house, it feels like you are going into a hot, closed up car.

We're off to spend the next few days with Rudy and Sonia (our dear friends from Switzerland) in Dunnellon today. It has been 2 years since we've seen them and we're so looking forward to it.

We arrived at Rudy and Sonia�??s, their hugs felt so good and it was so nice to see their cheery faces again. We sat down for lunch and it wasn�??t long at all before we were all caught up on the last 2 years since we saw them last. We talked and talked and talked some more, had dinner and talked some more. Never do we have difficulty coming up with subjects to discuss.

Last January, shortly after our grandbaby Owen died, I contacted Sonia to see if her son Peter (a jeweler) and his wife Christa (a jewelry designer) could make a locket for me to contain a lock of Owen's hair. They made one for me and sent photos but I didn't receive it until I was with Sonia today. It is beautiful, designed to coordinate with my wedding ring, and much nicer than the pictures revealed. Sonia felt that I should get a chain that was a little more substantial than the one that I have, so I will have to do some shopping. Peter and Christa and their sons Marvin and Brian and Marvin's girlfriend Jasmine will arrive from Switzerland on Sunday, so I will be able to thank them in person next week.

Tuesday, June 29. After a walk and some breakfast this morning, we got in the car and headed to Cedar Key, a little fishing village about 50 miles west of Dunnellon. The drive goes through part of the Goethe National Forest, an area of dense Florida woods. Coming in to Cedar Key, the tide was up and the salt marshes were looking beautiful. The old wooden pier that was destroyed a few years has been replaced by a concrete pier that looks like it will withstand anything. Many of the shops were closed and only open on the weekends during this time of year.

The Rusty Rim was open for lunch and we had delicious local shrimp and grouper. A stop at the local museum educated us on the history of the area and it�??s Sabal Palm broom and the Royal and Faber Castell pencil industries that helped to keep people working in the past. Oysters, clams, shrimp and fishing also played a major role in the livelihoods of the local people. The town has been knocked down by hurricanes and rebuilt several times throughout its history.

As we headed back toward Dunnellon we stopped at the Historical Marker at Rosewood, and learned about the horrible slaughter that took place there back in 1923. Back then, it was a primarily black settlement. Many of the people owned their homes and found work at the nearby sawmills. The community had 3 churches. A black man was accused of assaulting a white woman and the local white populate went crazy. They looted many properties and also started fire to many homes. The blacks fled to the woods and away from the area and many of them were silent for years about what went on, fearing for their lives. Five of them lost their lives and many were tortured.

In 1994, some of the former residents filed a claim with Florida government and the state felt obligated to compensate some of the survivors for their losses.

Wednesday, June 30. I helped Sonia prepare for lunch today with another couple they are frienda with; Jack and Lois from Leesburg, FL. Rudy prepared the meat and Sonia did the rest. The least I could do was to help with some of the preparation such as setting the table and ironing the napkins. She does such a nice job, the table looks beautiful and we start with a first drink followed by salad and then Rudy�??s pork loin, banana cake and then coffee and chocolate.

We had great conversation and watched slide shows of our trips to visit Rudy and Sonia in Switzerland. Mike and I went in 2006 and Jack and Lois went in 2008. Our trip took us to Paris and to Florence, Jack and Lois's trip took them to Rome. We all agreed that we had wonderful times and Rudy and Sonia's tour guide services just can't be beat. Also, their hospitality and that of their families was just wonderful - we have been so fortunate to have them for our friends.

This evening we watched a movie and again talked and talked and talked.
June 26 - 27, 2010, Summerfield, FL
Just hanging out with Jonnie & Marty this weekend has been so nice. It feels good to be with them again. Not only were Jonnie & I cousins, but we were good friends through the years too. We looked at old pictures and remembered stories, had lots of laughs, cooked yummy dinners, took walks, did some shopping, and have just had a really nice time. Colton came over a couple of times to say hello but didn't stick around for long. Valerie, their good friend and neighbor joined us this evening for dinner.

We just heard that Ben has landed safely back in the US from his Paris trip - he still has a flight from Atlanta to San Francisco, but I'm so glad that he's back from the longest leg of his trip.

Right now, I'm looking out the window at a seriously gray sky and it's starting to rumble. I'm shutting down the computer and going to comfort my little dog that just can't seem to get close enough when it thunders.
Panacea to Summerfield, FL, 190 miles Friday, June 25, 2010, Panacea, FL to Summerfield, FL, 190 miles
Randy stopped by to say goodbye as we were starting to prepare to leave. Our drive was only about 4 hours today and since Jonnie and Marty are working, there really wasn't any reason to start early. It was close to 11:00 by the time we left.

The trip was uneventful and the terrain was familiar territory for us. The dense woods of palmetto and long needle pine trees lined the highway.

We arrived at my cousin Jonnie's house around 4:00 this afternoon and it felt so good to hug her once again. Marty got home from work and it was so nice to see her again, too. The last year has been especially rough for them, as Jonnie's grandson Colton had some serious surgery and Marty had surgery and chemotherapy treatment for ovarian cancer. She's is clean of cancer now and is looking quite healthy.
June 21, 2010, Montgomery, AL to Panacea, FL, 241 miles
Monday, June 21. What we expected to be a short drive today was really rather long and tedious. It was only 241 miles but over 50 miles of it was driven at 35-45 mph and it ended up taking us 5 hours - and because we are now in the eastern time zone, it was an hour later in the day. We are now setup at the Holiday RV Park ($35/night) in a nice, shady site right on the Ochlockonee Bay.

After setting up and relaxing for a bit, we headed out to Alligator Point where my brother Randy, his wife Julie, and daughter Lanae are vacationing at Julie's Aunt's place. What a perfect setting. Her back yard faces the bay and across the street and a very short walk in the opposite direction is the Gulf of Mexico.

Shortly after we arrived, the neighbors (a grandmother, parents and 2 teenagers on vacation) came by asking for help on what to do for a cut from a sting ray. They had been fishing and the father caught a sting ray - the cut is right between his first 2 fingers, it was deep, and the barb had broken off and was still lodged there - he was feeling nauseous. A note on the refrigerator said to soak it in hot water and call for help if the person was experiencing shortness of breath. Mike quickly checked his iPhone and learned of the hot water treatment also. I called 911 for advise and they couldn't give any over the phone, told me where the nearest hospital was (40 miles awayin Tallahassee), referred me to another number where I could ask for advise. The 2nd call resulted in another referral to call another number - the person at that number was not allowed to make ANY suggestions for treatment but gave me another number to call. On the 4th call, after a lengthy digital recording with several options, I got to talk with a person that recommended the hot water treatment also - they also said the person should get medical attention. The daughter called 911 and someone was there within about 5 minutes - recommending the hot water treatment for a couple of hours and said that it was not necessary to remove the barb, as it is cartilage and would break down and dissolve. He will be fine but probably have some pain and discomfort. I'm hoping that if the situation were a real emergency, the first call to 911 would have been enough - it sure wasn't a very efficient way to get quick medical help.

After that, we had a nice dinner and a stroll on the beach. Frisco had a ball chasing the Ghost Crabs that were darting in all directions. Next time we are at the beach, I will take the long leash and maybe even let him run free for a while (the thought of him running away or getting hurt really scares me). We're looking forward to spending the next few days with Randy and family, celebrating Lanae's 14th birthday, and just hanging out along the gulf coast again.

Tuesday, June 22. By 9:00, Frisco and I were out at Alligator Point at the beach. Lanae, Julie, and I got in a nice walk, dipping into the water when we got overheated, and looking for shells but not finding much. Randy and Frisco just relaxed on the beach. I did get Frisco to come in the water for a little bit, but he didn't appreciate the waves.

This afternoon, us girls went in to Crawfordsville to get some groceries, fresh tomatoes at the veggie stand, and shrimp at the shrimp and fish shop. We also made a stop at Beall's Outlet store to peruse the cheap clothing.

Lanae chose Hamaknocker's BBQ as the place to celebrate her birthday - it was a great choice as the food was yummy. After dinner, we stopped at our spot and had Angel Food Cake with strawberries.

Wednesday, June 23. Today is the day that I get my 1st Social Security check - YEAH!! It hasn't hit my account yet as the transactions don't show up until the next day, but I'm confident it will be there and I'm celebrating tonight!

We stayed home, cleaned house, and did the laundry today. I spent most of the day sitting outside enjoying the breeze, reading, listening to music and playing Sudoku and Word Warp. Mike got in a couple of hours of practice on his guitar - he is making progress and has been able to move on to Lesson 3 of the course he is taking.

This evening, we went to Angelo & Son's Seafood Restaurant (across the street from the RV park) for an early dinner. It has been a local favorite for the past 30 years, serving up local fish and seafood. In 2005, the building was destroyed by Hurricane Dennis, has since been rebuilt and is back in operation, a little more pricey but they now have to pay for that new building. Everything was excellent, we sampled each other's choices and all agreed that the food was well worth the price.

After dinner, we headed back out to Alligator Point to spend the evening on the beach and see the sunset. Us girls walked the beach hunting for shells while the guys sat and enjoyed the view. Lanae found the tiniest, perfect sand-dollar that I've ever seen, about the size of a pencil eraser. We talked with a man that had just found a couple of small shark's teeth, but we didn't find much. Better luck tomorrow morning maybe.

Thursday, June 24. Our last day here on the Gulf Coast, Julie and I decided to get out on the beach early this morning to see if the shelling would be any better. I got to their house before 7:00, driving through a downpour on the way there. Thunder could be heard in the distance so we held off for a while until it cleared up. We had a nice walk and were able to collect some shells but nothing spectacular again.

This afternoon, we all went to the small town of Carrabelle about 20 miles west of here for ice cream and a few stops at antique and gift shops. On the drive along the coast we did see evidence of orange booms being layed out to protect the shoreline from the oil that is encroaching for the BP oil spill. Since April 21, the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig off the Texas Gulf Coast has caused millions of gallons of oil to spill into the gulf, causing incredible damage to the ecosystems along the coast. It's inevitable that it will make it this way as reports are that it has reached Panama City (100 miles away). I think our country needs to get real serious about looking into alternative fuel sources but they seem to never learn.

I watched a woman fishing from the shoreline this afternoon. She had a big fish on her line and fought it for about 10 minutes before getting in to shore. It was a large stingray, about 2 feet across. A man that was cleaning fish on the pier came over to help her - he cut off the tail just above the barb, then wrestled the thing until he could get her hook and bait out and released the thing in the water. I wonder if it will survive with part of it's tail missing, but then they may not even care if it survives.
Tonight we had steaks and shrimp at Randy & Julie's beach house and took a short walk along the beach. We saw over 50 starfish clustered in the small pools that remained as the tide went out. It was kind of sad because you know they won't survive. Lanae did her job and returned many of those that were still alive back to the water. Again no treasures were found but we had a nice walk viewing the almost full moon to the east and the brightly setting sun to the west. A nice topper to our last day along the forgotten coast of Florida.
Montgomery, AL to Panacea, FL, 241 miles
Jackson, TN to Montgomery, AL, 342 miles June 19-20, 2010, Jackson, TN to Montgomery, AL, 342 Miles
Saturday's route took us south along the Rockabilly Highway from Jackson (the hometown of Carl Perkins, remember "Blue Suede Shoes"?). We didn't have far to drive as we decided to make it only 100 miles away to the Trace State Park near Tupelo, MS. I learned about this spot because I read the journals and RV park reviews by Laurie and Odell on We Call It Home - many thanks to Sharon for introducing me to that website. They were right - the place was wonderful, large level shaded sites in a beautiful setting - and it only cost $20. We pulled in around noon and our site was empty so we pulled right in and got setup. We were right on the lake with a nice view.

We have been to Tupelo in the past, so had already seen some of the sites like Elvis' birthplace and the nice park right next to it. Today, we wanted to see the Tupelo Hardware (the place where Elvis' first guitar was purchased), but arriving there, it was already closed. Too bad, because it looked interesting. The other place we wanted to see was the Vintage Guitar Shop and that was quite worth it. We had a nice chat with the owner, watched a repair being made, and perused the collection - very nice! We did stop at Reed's Clothing Store, a huge building that takes up the entire city block. It was a nice store, but we really weren't in the market for any clothing today.

Back at the campsite, we got out some Abita Springs Turbo Dog beers (from Abita Brewery, Abita Springs, LA) and sat in the shade facing the lake, watching the water skiers, tubers and fishermen. They appeared to be cool and having a great time. We stoked up the grill and had a decadent feast of porterhouse steak and salad - thanks to Louie and Dave! By the time we finished dinner, it was almost dark and cooler (a thunder storm rolled through while we were having dinner), so we took Frisco for a walk. He had fun chasing the fireflies.

Today's route was only 200 miles and the drive through Alabama was gorgeous. The terrain was hilly and the roadsides were densely covered with hardwoods - and lots of Kudzu too. The Kudzu is an invasive vine in the pea family that was imported from Japan for erosion control but has become out of control. It is able to consume anything in its path; trees, fences, even buildings.

We stopped for the night at The Woods RV Park ($16 with our Passport America discount) in Montgomery, AL. Unfortunately, the Woods RV Park has no woods and we are sitting in the middle of a field with no shade whatsoever. When we got plugged in to the electric and started the AC, the thermometer read 91 degrees inside the RV and it took a long time for it to call down. I think we might have to invest in another fan - the 9" one isn't doing such a great job, although it is much better than having nothing to circulate the air.

Ben and Jill are off to Paris today for a vacation. I'm tracking their flight (isn't the internet great!) and hoping that they arrive safely and have a wonderful time. They need a nice vacation after all that they have gone through.
June 18, 2010, Mulberry Grove, IL to Jackson, TN, 278 miles
It was a hot, hot, hot day and yes, it feels hotter than the dry heat of Arizona. The route took us through parts of 3 states. The remainder of Illinois was along the Lincoln Heritage Trail, a nice scenic drive through the southern part of the state.

Our AC was working but not very well. I ended up pinning a blanket between our seats to help keep what cool air we had trapped in the front compartment.

RV parks around here are few and far between. We decided to stop at the Jackson RV Park $22) in Jackson, TN. It's a blacktop parking lot and we parked too close to the hookups so we couldn't get our slide out all of the way. Also, we thought we might try to move it just a little bit, but then realized that the front left jack wouldn't come up. GRRRRR! Out came the WD-40 and hopefully, it won't be a problem in the morning - that has happened to us a couple of times before - and the WD-40 has been the solution. My fingers are crossed.

We both took cold showers and did that feel good. Might have to do it a few more times.
Mulberry Grove, IL to Jackson, TN, 278 miles
DeForest, WI to Mulberry Grove, IL, 333 miles Thursday, June 17. DeForest, WI to Mulberry Grove, IL (333 miles)
After an early to bed night last night, I was wide awake at 5:00 this morning and Mike was up shortly after that. As I was returning from my walk, Roger pulled in to deliver a gift from Pat and AJ - a darling little hand blown glass mushroom for my planter - THANKS you two! Rog had a cup of coffee with us, then we proceeded to get ready to leave. We topped off our propane tank, hooked up the Jeep, and were on the road by a little after 9:00.

Before we even got out of Madison, we were stuck in construction traffic for about 40 minutes but we still made pretty good time. The Bravo performed well, although the AC is a little sluggish - I was comfortable but Mike could have had it a little cooler. We may have to run the house air using the generator as we go - something we've heard of people doing but have never done ourselves.

Other than a few long stretches of construction, the trip was uneventful and there wasn't a lot of interesting things to see along the way with the exception of a large number of hot rods heading north - must be a car show or rally somewhere. There was evidence of large amounts of rain along the entire route, rivers high on their banks, fields flooding, and ponds where they probably shouldn't be. We learned that the small town of Ramsey, IL was home to Tex Williams, a Western Swing musician during the 40s, known for his song, "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette".

Just before stopping for the night, we passed a huge correction center north of Vandalia. A sign along the road read "No Trespassing, Correction Center Shooting Range". Hmmmm?

Home for the night was the Timber Trails Campground, about 8 miles west of Vandalia ($17) with our Passport America discount. The pull through sites are double length so 2 RVs share them - don't believe I've ever seen that setup before. A nice spot with several small fishing ponds and lots of birds and squirrels flitting around.

Check out the photo of the latest news from Stoughton. While painting the name of the city on the new water tower, workers spelled the name wrong - a snafu that made the headlines.
June 14 - 16, 2010
Monday, June 14. On this day in 1956, I was frightened by a dog while crossing Main Street in Stoughton and ran into the path of a Gardener Bakery truck, was hit and suffered a broken leg. I got my 1st and only ride in an ambulance that day. I spent the summer in traction at the Stoughton Hospital, the leg healed just fine and all has been well every since.

It's another rainy day - BLAH! We went to visit Mom, took her a fresh muffin but she showed no interest. Her breakfast was sitting untouched when we got there. She didn't even show an interest in chocolate - how can that be? She doesn't have much interest in anything these days, although we did go outdoors and she appreciated the fresh air. That was short lived as the rain started up again.

This afternoon we headed to Stoughton, as we had an appointment with our financial representative at Edward Jones and had a couple of other stops to make. There wasn't much said at our meeting as far as how things are looking, no advice for changes to our investments, and so we continue as we are doing currently.

Had a nice time with Pat and Tracey tonight. Said our goodbyes to Tracey and Savana - until we meet again. We will see Pat after work tomorrow.

Tuesday, June 15. Rain, rain, go away. Before we even finished our walk this morning, we were drenched. And it came down steady all day long. There are puddles of water everywhere, flash flood warnings on the news, and reports that Lake Monona may exceed it's banks. Tomorrow's forecast is for sunshine - sure hope it holds, as it seems like the forecasts change from hour to hour around here. I rather like the AZ forecast that is almost the same every day with the exception of a few degrees - sunny and hot.

While Mike was showering, I went to Sun Prairie to pick up dog food, as we won't make it to Florida on what we have and the brand that we buy is not always easy to locate. I also needed to pick up some Capital Brewery Supper Club beer to share when we get to Florida. Driving through the gravel parking lot, the new tires on the Jeep force the mud to splatter all over the sides. Nice.

When I got back home, Mike was ready for the day and we headed out to run errands. First stop was to have the new wheels on the Jeep torqued - guess that means tightened. On to the Guitar Center so Mike could get a set of replacement strings - just in case. Last stop was Trader Joe's where we stocked up on groceries. We've come to love that store and I don't think there are a lot of them out east.

I wanted to go to the Farmer's Market in DeForest this afternoon with my friend Pat, but the rain never let up until about 5:30. Our son, Pat came up after work and had dinner with us. We had a nice time with him but then had to say goodbye. Hopefully, they will be able to make a trip to Arizona this winter - we sure would love that and hope it will work out.

After Pat left, we met Pat and Roger at Culver's for an ice cream - just what we needed, but then, that's another favorite place that we won't be encountering for a while. Time to cut back on dining out and try to drop a few Wisconsin pounds that were gained in the last month.

Wednesday, June 16. Packing up and getting ready to roll day. The sun is shining and the birds are singing beautifully. It makes me want to get up and get going.

We had a surprise visitor at around 7:30, it was Dave dropping off a care package from him and Louie - t-bone steaks and local cheese from the Monona Farmer's Market. How sweet! THANKS MUCH YOU TWO!

After a nice walk, I finished cleaning the last 10 foot section of the motor home and Mike took care of the very tippy top parts that I couldn't reach - it's clean and has a protective coating of wax on it once again.

I got the laundry started and while that was going, Frisco got a pedicure and shampoo. I know he doesn't really like either activity, but he's so good about it - standing like a little statue while I shampoo him - even holding off on the shakes until I step away. Back to the laundry to get the stuff drying. Frisco and I took a walk around the park while Mike did the vacuuming.

Rachael and Reanna stopped by - Rachael is another of my faithful readers, she learned that we were getting ready to roll, so they came right over to say goodbye (they live just a mile or so from the KOA). We had a nice visit - Thanks for coming by, Rachael!

By then, it was time to head up to visit Mom. She was playing Bingo when we got there, so we sat with her until her game was finished, then we headed outdoors to enjoy the beautiful weather. She was bright eyed and bushy tailed today and it made for a great visit. We even learned that she and her friend, Dolores, were being feisty this morning, asking for the staff to unlock the door so they could escape to the outdoors. They got their way and were able to enjoy the weather from the patio. We strolled around the perimeter of the building with it's nice lawns and deck near a marshy area, stopping to enjoy the flower gardens along the way. It was one of those perfect Wisconsin summer days. Back at her wing, the women were getting manicures, so I did hers. She chose a bright red polish - that kind of shows her spunk. Again, we got the feeling that she is in a good place - there is a lot of interaction between the staff and residents, they joke around and have a good time together - and the place is spotless. It was getting close to her dinner time and we had to say goodbye - the hardest part of living so far away.

While we were visiting Mom, I got a call from Pat letting me know that their neighborhood in Stoughton was evacuated because of a break in a gas line. The police went to the house and told Savana she had to leave so she went to a friend's house. Fortunately, by the time Pat and Tracey got home from work, the break was fixed and they were allowed to get back in their house.

It was a busy and event filled day, early to bed. Whew!
June 7 - 13, 2010
Monday, June 7. The sun is shining this morning and we are supposed to have a nice day. I've got my fingers crossed.

We met our niece, Becky and her daughters Brooke and Elizabeth at Rocky Rococo's Party Place for lunch - a great Madison pizzeria that has activities and games for the kids where they buy tickets, spend them, and earn points to pick their own prizes. They had fun.

We left there and headed to Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park. Back when Mike and I lived in Madison and our kids were young, this was a place that we used to love to go for walks through the woods, marshland, prairie, and to Cherokee Lake. It was also a nice place for a picnic when we paddled the canoe from the Yahara River. Even when I worked, this was just a 5 minute drive and I used to walk the paths on my lunch break. So today brought back lots of memories from another time in our lives.

We had a nice walk, the girls found lots of interesting things to explore and we talked and talked. I even remembered to take some pictures, so check it out - nothing spectacular but at least I captured the moment. It was a nice time and I'm glad we got to see them for a little while.

The local news has been reporting bear sightings in the area, the most recent on Sunday was less than a mile from where we are parked. Usually bears are not seen this far south in Wisconsin but they are becoming more common.

Tuesday, June 8. I was awake at 1:15 this morning, it was raining. Again at 4:00, it was raining. I got up at 6:15, it was raining. It is now 9:00 and it is still raining. Yuck! Guess we are so used to seeing sunny days after sunny days that it is really getting to us. Sorry about the complaining.

We headed up to visit with Mom this morning, she was in the shower when we got there around 10:00 - a bit late for their usual routine but we learned that she is wanting to sleep in and not get going at the usual time in the morning. She hadn't even had her breakfast, so we tried to coax her to eat but she was only interested in drinking the chocolate milk (actually a nutrition supplement). It's sad, but I think she has had a major setback from her recent health issues; less talkative, tired, no appetite, and not very alert.

Before going back home, we stopped at Menard's in Madison to get some U-shaped rain gutter to use as a support for our sewer hose (as suggested by Watersedge in Rockport) because we've been having trouble keeping the hose off the ground with our current system. The guy next to us bought a support from Camping World last week and it cost him $34. Our setup cost us about $6 - the rain gutter was $3 for a 10 foot length that we had cut in 3 sections and came with a $3 rebate coupon and the bungies to keep it all together were $3. We feel pretty happy.

We were hoping to go with Pat and Roger this evening to the local farmers market, to listen to some music in the park, and then to their house for BLT sandwiches. Guess what - it was raining, so we just went to their house.

Wednesday, June 9. I was awake at 5:30, couldn't go back to sleep, so here I sit at the computer. The sun is coming up and I can see blue sky - I love it!

After a very enjoyable walk with Frisco this morning, I set out to do the laundry. There is so much more to do when we don't wear our usual shorts and t-shirts but have to pull out the jeans, sweats, and hoodies. I've got my fingers crossed that the cool weather clothes can remain in the closet for a while now.

Since our site is very flooded this morning, we decided ask if we could to move to a dryer (this word doesn't look right with either spelling) site. We couldn't park our car on the parking pad as it was sinking in about 2 inches - what a mess. The park had no problem with that, in fact, they probably will be hauling in gravel to tidy it up. So we packed up and moved to the other side of the park. In about a half hour, we had a new front yard and a nice view of a field surrounded by woods. And it's just a short walk to Frisco's favorite place to explore and potty. The new sewer support works great - we might have the neatest setup in the park.

We met up with Mike's Aunt Joan, cousins Louie (& Dave), Vickie, and brother Tom (& Karen) for dinner at Angelos in Monona this evening. It used to be one of our favorite places for pizza and we loved to check out the signed and decorated Chianti bottles hanging from the walls, but they have remodeled and the bottles are no longer part of the decor. It is owned by the Fraboni family, known for their great traditional sausage and meats. The pizza was as good as we remembered it being, but best of all was the company - always good for lots of stories, memories, and laughter.

Thursday, June 10. We both got bursts of energy this morning and set about doing some cleaning. I worked on the outside of the motor home using a spray on dry off cleaner called Wash/Wax All. It was designed for use on airplanes but it is safe to use on all surfaces so I thought I'd give it a try. It seems to work pretty good on this old RV that is all oxidized and dull.

Mike vacuumed the buildup of dog hair from the car - it sure does accumulate and sticks to everything.

Off to Wyocena this afternoon, Dan and Sharon were sitting outdoors with Mom when we arrived. She seemed to be doing a little better today and was enjoying a piece of chocolate. Dan and Sharon are getting ready to leave on vacation, so this is the last we would see them for a while.

Friday, June 11. At 2:00 this morning, I felt Frisco up on the bed trying to snuggle in as close as he could get. Shortly after, the thunderstorm started and rattled and shook the motorhome for a long time before it moved on. Right now, I'm having another one of those sunken feelings about the weather. Yesterday, the forecast looked great for the next 10 days, with predictions of at least some sunshine every day. This morning, the predictions are cloudy, gray, and rainy for most of that time. What gives?

I do remember trying to plan for events and activities when we lived here - there always had to be a contingency plan in place - in case the weather turned. I truly understand why folks want to go south and I'm one of them. I thrive on sunshine. Sorry, Wisconsinites.

It was a busy but rewarding day. Mike and his brother Tom went to hang out with one of Mike's classmates and good friend, JD this afternoon, so I stayed with Karen and the puppy, Tara. She and Frisco played and played and Karen and I talked and talked. It was a nice time.

This evening, we picked up Pat and Roger and headed to the Owl's Nest Supper Club in Poynette for fish fry. We met Gary and Susie and Jim and & Bev (Roger's brother and sister) there. It is a favored place because they serve their delicious fish fry family style - large platters and bowls of food are placed at the table to be shared, a custom that you don't see in restaurants much any more. Not only that, they make some of the best old fashioneds around.

After dinner, we're sitting in the bar, enjoying a grasshopper when someone announces a couple coming in, Dick and Connie. As Connie was talking with Gary, I was feeling like I knew her from somewhere but it just didn't register until Roger introduced me to Dick. Something was said that made it all click and I realized that Connie and I had been co-workers with the State of Wisconsin Adoption and Foster Care group back around 1970. In fact, me and 2 other women that worked together crocheted Connie's wedding dress for her, 3-team project that turned out great - back when crochet was all the rage.

We didn't have a lot of time to talk, but we hugged and shared a few laughs. On the way home, we talked about the connections between all of us, how we all knew each other, and even back in the 70s, we all knew each other but didn't realize it. It's a funny world and little things like this make it so much more interesting. It makes you dig back in the archives and remember what life was like back then.

Sunday, June 13. I've been dealing with a very weak internet connection since yesterday morning, so no updates until now, not that I've had a whole lot to write about. Yesterday morning my friend Pat and I went to Waunakee to meet up with a fellow classmate, Mary Jo, for breakfast and to catch up on the last 40 years since high school. We have seen each other through the years at reunions and brief conversations at the grocery store but never really had time to talk. I've recently gotten back in touch with her on Facebook (I love it!). We managed to do a pretty good job of catching up over a two hour visit. Our families, jobs, health, places we've lived, people we've seen, getting older, and retirement were all subjects that were covered. Whew! It was a great visit and we're all looking forward to the next class reunion (can't believe it will be our 45th) in 2011. We sure don't look and feel that old - and some people even have the nerve to call us elderly.

The afternoon was pretty laid back. We had kind of left it open to whatever Pat and Tracey wanted to do and since we're going to be together today, we decided to just stay home. I fixed some pork chops and sweet potato on the grill and it was just a nice, relaxing day.

Today, we met Pat, Tracey, and Savana for lunch at Smoky Jon's BBQ on the east side of Madison for some of their prize winning fare. Can't wait. We all had ribs except Savana who chose the brisket sandwich. The ribs were deeeeeelicious, as usual. There's no doubt as to why they claim to be the best in Madison, the evidence of their many awards is displayed on the walls.

After lunch, we headed for Stoughton and spent the rest of the afternoon just hanging out. It was a rainy day, so we didn't have too many opportunities to be outside. I couldn't believe how fast Pat's garden has grown, some of his perennials increased in height by 6-8 inches and have formed flower buds - just in the last week. As we drive along the countryside, we also notice that the corn has increased in height by about 3 feet since we got here a month ago. That's what hot days and lots of rain will do.
June 1 - 6, 2010
Tuesday, June 1. I'm a total mess this morning, I can't seem to relax a pinched nerve in my neck or shoulder (probably caused from my recent gardening activities) and I had to get up during the night to put Benadryl on an itchy spot on my right arm. I spent the morning doing light stretches, applying heat, and taking Advil, so hopefully it will feel better as the day goes on.

We took a picnic lunch to Mom this afternoon and she was totally out of it - she could barely keep her eyes open and wasn't even interested in our lunch, complete with root beer that she has been asking for. After about an hour and a half, she said she was ready for a nap, so we said goodbye and headed back home. Then I took a nap.

Mike went to Madison to buy a different guitar as the one he recently bought in Arizona to learn on, was way too big for him to handle and not a comfortable fit for him. Anyone want to buy a pretty Johnson guitar? His lessons are going well and he's gone from making a bunch of noise to getting his fingers to reach the strings correctly, having a tuned instrument, producing clear notes, and Jingle Bells is even recognizable now. He's enjoying his new project of learning an instrument and is coming right along.

This evening, we met up with Pat, Tracey, Savana, and Tracey's family at Red Lobster in Madison to celebrate Savana's 17th birthday. We have been sterrible about taking photos and I don't even have one to post. I've just put the camera in my purse so I will have it with me from now on. Had a nice time and enjoyed the dinner too.

Wednesday, June 2. My phone rang at 7:00 this morning, it was my cousin Ken and his wife Gerda calling to see if we wanted to meet for breakfast. I just didn't feel like rushing to get ready or waking Mike up, so agreed to meet up a little later in the day. We got to their house around 11:00, sat around the kitchen table drinking coffee and chatting. Their son Jeff stopped by, and it was nice to see him, especially since he recently went through treatment for cancer and is now on the mend and feeling healthy again.

They live on Lake Waubesa, in the house next door to where Ken's parents lived for as long as I can remember, so being there brought back lots of memories from my childhood. It was a nice afternoon, so we took the pontoon boat for a nice ride around the lake. After about an hour though, a big gray cloud covered the sky, so we headed back to avoid getting wet. We said our goodbyes and headed back home, getting there just in time to avoid a large thunderstorm and heavy rains. We watched our neighbor that was having several people over for a campfire and barbecue - it only took about 5 minutes before the campfire was out.

Once again, we have lakefront property. We will have to remember this in the future, as this is a good centrally located place to park for a while, but we would prefer a site that is high and dry.

Thursday, June 3. What was planned to be a "do nothing" kind of day ended up to be quite busy. The dirty clothes basket was full, so I had the laundry started by about 8:00, walked Frisco, had some breakfast, and got that out of the way so I could make a 10:30 haircut appointment.

There was no milk for my cereal this morning, so that led to a stop at the grocery store - can't pick up just milk, ended up with a full cart. The gas gauge on the Jeep was in the red, so had to stop to fill up the tank. While reading Facebook this morning, I learned that Rachael was having a garage sale - a good time to stop by to say hello to her (she lives less than a mile from where we're parked). Her sale wasn't busy, so we got to have a nice visit.

The rest of the day was the "do nothing" part.

Friday, June 4. Our day started early this morning, as I had made plans to get together with two cousins, Steve and Kathy, that I hadn't seen in about 20 years. Steve and I had talked a few times through the years and we had exchanged Christmas cards, but we had lost touch once again. I recently found them both on Facebook (I love it!), we exchanged a few e-mails, chatted a bit, and then planned to get together at Kathy's house in Sun Prairie today. Mike and Steve's wife, Mayda, also joined us.

We sat around the kitchen table and talked nonstop, drinking coffee and eating Krispy Cremes, bringing each other up to date on our families and our family history, stories that we remembered from our childhoods. I gave them the family tree information that I had been gathering for years and they gave me information and dates that I was lacking. Steve and Mayda brought photo albums and Kathy had a few too. It was one of those instances where even though so much time has passed, and we really didn't know each other well while growing up, it felt comfortable - like family - and kind of like it was only yesterday when we saw each other last. I like the feeling of being connected to family and friends. No pictures, I forgot the camera - darn!!

After saying our goodbyes, we spent a couple of hours at home, took Frisco for a nice walk, and then headed up to Wyocena to visit with Mom. She was having another "off" day and wasn't quite with it, but we had a nice visit before heading up to Dan and Sharon's in Portage. As we drove north on Hwy. 22, we passed an Amish buggy and the driver waved - kind of like the friendly waves we get from fellow Jeepers when we pass on the roads.

Dan and Sharon took us to Foxy's in Briggsville for fish fry. It was good, the usual Wisconsin fare, we got plenty to eat and drank a Leinenkugel beer (from Chippewa Falls, WI) that was most refreshing, but best of all was their company.

Driving home, along the back country roads, we remembered all of the good old Wisconsin country smells, from damp, rich marshes to dairy farms.

Sunday, June 6. The weekend was pretty uneventful. We did go to the west side of Madison on Saturday to get new wheels and tires for the Jeep. We knew it was coming at some time because they have been problematic (2 rims are bent and they can't seem to be balanced) since we bought the car and we're firm believers in having good, safe tires. Recently, the ride has been more and more rough (like it isn't a rough ride anyway) and we noticed it especially on Friday night when the steering wheel jumped around the entire drive home from Portage to DeForest. We are good at making our money disappear.

It poured down rain most of Saturday afternoon and evening, and once again, our little site became lake front property.

We spent Sunday afternoon with Pat, just hanging out, having Culver's ice cream, and watched the Pixar movie "Up". They do a great job with animations and it was a cute and fun movie.

Created on 05/30/2010 06:58 AM by bridge
Updated on 07/16/2010 07:11 PM by bridge
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