What we've been doing

A few days ago someone said to me that they thought I should continue with my BLOG even though we were no longer traveling so here we go.... Home2 is finally becoming a home. The countertop is connected, sink hooked up and the microwave installed over the stove. The cabinets and free stand counter have been taken out of the house and installed in Doug's work shop. We feel a little proud that we two "old" folk were able to install both the microwave and cabinets onto the walls by ourselves and they haven't fallen off....yet!!

Had our first party on Sunday, it was a combination Super Bowl/Birthday party. Grandson Adam, who was born on a Super Bowl Sunday, is now 19. Fun time was had by all and Amber was the big winner of our foolball pool.

Work, work and more work

Whatever happened to retirement? Since our arrival we get up in the morning start working and don't stop until bedtime. Grandson Aaron was over yesterday helping out, washed cabinets with G'Ma and repair cabinet end piece with G'Pa. Aaron will be graduating this March, has finished all requirements for his senior year, and now is a TA at his culinery school.

Took a couple hours break today and went for brunch at son Todd's home. Amber, Mark, and Nick were over, Aaron had the day off from work (Publix) and Adam was able to come home from work (Publix) for a break, it was nice seeing all the grandkids. Afterwards back to home2 and more work, a house can amass alot of dust in six months.

Home1 to Home2

75:44 hours

4591 miles

We have arrived!

Started work this morning on remodeling Home2. Doug has been under the kitchen sink most all of today hooking up the faucet and garbage disposal. Much to do and alot of time to do it.

Chillimobile

Arriving 01/06/09 lots of chilli in the Chillimobile. Number One Son this should keep you in stock for a couple months anyway.

On the road again and again and again

Left Verl and Lyndia's at 8am driving the final leg of the trip. Drove through LA and into MS by nightfall. Weather cooler today - in fact down right cold this morning, but has now warmed up to the mid 60's. We stopped after crossing the Mississippi River, had lunch and done some gambling at a Riverboat Casino and then back on the road. Then drove in heavy rain most of the afternoon, arriving at Biloxi, MS around 5pm and called it a day. Plan to drive into Sarasota tomorrow night if weather permitting. Now it's time to relax and have a cold beer.

Waltz Across Texas

Another long day of driving but not as long as we thought, looking at the map we figured 10-12 hours, but the GPS showed it to be only a little over 8 hours. The temperature was 73 degrees when we arrived at Verl & Lyndia's, but heard on the radio that a cold front was moving in. During the evening we sat on the porch drinking wine. beer and fighting off the mosquitoes, yes, mosquitoes in January. (I forgot to mention that while in Andrews I dropped the lap top on my right foot. It was not broke but is very sore, swollen, black and blue and now I'm being eaten by mosquitoes).

We have some of the best cooks in our families and everyone has taken such good care of us, I'll be sending out e-mails to get recipes. Doug and I will have to get very serious about our diets once we get to Sarasota.

Andrews, TX

Friday we drove from Gilbert to Andrews, it was long and unlike the drive so far, the country side was not pretty to look at. We've seen wonders of nature on this drive, but this land was barren and the closer we got to Andrews a certain odor developed, some say its the smell of money, but believe me it smelled more like oil and sulfur mixed. We already knew about the smell, as Dick had previously warned me before we started the trip. This has been our longest day driving, over 10 hours and 700 miles. Dick and Jenni had a wonderful meal waiting for us and we had a good visit. Heard more about their time in Dubai and Dick set us up with his special alarm clock "Call to Prayer". It is a Muslin alarm clock and when the alarm goes off if sits you right up in bed. That morning they fixed us another big meal and we got on the road for Maud, TX