tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201887132024-03-13T14:18:51.209-05:00The Griswald's Great Adventures!The Retired FedExMan and the Dizzy Blond hit the road in their motorhome aka The Aluminum Asylum...funny, exciting and even not-so-fun adventures are chronicled here.dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.comBlogger369125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-19365245039864823222010-11-05T15:57:00.002-05:002010-11-05T15:57:45.590-05:00I usually try not to be political here, as this blog is about us, but both The Prince and I agree...<br />
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This was written by an articulate woman from Colorado Springs. I wish I had written it. <br />
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<a href="http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/?source=nav_ins_op">http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/?source=nav_ins_op</a>... <br />
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"So, many in this country decided Tuesday that the Democrats had plenty of time to undo the damage caused by the Republicans over eight long years. They have said that 21 months should have been plenty of time to restore the economy, get us out of Iraq and Afghanistan and put everyone back to work. Well then, I now give the Republicans in the U.S. House 21 months to undo the damages they initially caused themselves.<br />
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In a way, it is nice. Let them use their own methods to get us out of the messes they created. If, by October 2012, we are not all employed, living comfortably, have restored the deficit to where Bill Clinton left it in 2009, and are completely out of all wars in the Middle East, then I challenge those same voters to undo the damage they have done this week and put the Democrats back into office. Twenty-one months. That is all they get. Good luck, may the force be with them, and God help us all."dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-73308424412401845922010-09-04T19:51:00.000-05:002010-09-04T19:51:54.288-05:00<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The reluctant blogger has returned. We are currently in Springfield IL after a terrible month of trying to help my mother and her husband who is 90 and failing . What a waste of time. It's time to let these geezers be on their own for awhile, just like they are demanding. After all, we are plotting to put them in a nursing home, take over their assets and spend their money. Yeah. Right. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Enough of the downer stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We have had a pleasant summer, after Florida traveling to Georgia to visit Paulie's cousin, into Indiana to check out the Thousand Trails parks there, and visiting the eastern side of Michigan and Lake Huron. We then attended a family gathering in the Chicago area and then headed to Iowa to visit another one of Paul's cousins. We stayed in the Amana Colonies and had a nice couple of days to revisit some of the places we saw a couple of years ago. Then we were off to Sioux Falls SD to do our change of address stuff, get our driver's licenses and other mundane stuff. After Sioux Falls, we headed west to Mitchell SD and saw the infamous Corn Palace. We also stopped at several popular places such as the world's largest truck stop, where we left some of our tourist dollars like most everyone else. Wahl Drug was also on the list and we were not very impressed, however I will confess that they have the best handmade chocolate donuts I have had since I was a kid in Chicago from the Polish bakery. We landed in the Badlands and stayed about three days. The first time we saw the rock formations, we were awestruck. By day three, it was monotonous. We decided to continue west to see Mt. Rushmore. We did a 12 hour tour which included all you can eat cowboy pancakes, all the sites like the Rushmore Monument, and of course, Crazy Horse. We had lunch at a Lodge in the State Park, and for the first time, we had bison meat prepared in a delish stew. Very tasty, but I would not go out of my way to have it again...well, maybe a burger. From SD, we headed back east, heading for Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin. Door County is a great place and we had some time to kill. Had a nice time, but the place is totally outrageous in regards to prices. A hot dog will cost you about $6...yeah, right. After the frantic phone call from Springfield, we headed south making the trip in 9 hours of bumper to bumper traffic. Female geezer sprained ankle, male geezer was acting off his nut. In addition geezer husband had been scheduled for some type of heart "procedure" which both geezers insisted that male geezer must have. Paulie kindly agreed to stay with the geezers so my trip to Cancun with my sisters would not have to be cancelled. The trip deserves a post on it's own, but suffice to say it was beautiful, very hot and I am truly glad that I never had a teenage daughter. I doubt I shall ever write that post to protect the innocent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It is now the Labor Day weekend and we are getting to pack up and head to Goshen for the Escapee's Rally. We will be early arrivals which means getting there on Friday the 10th. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">later,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">dennise</span>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-56497353047373714942010-04-29T10:17:00.003-05:002010-04-29T10:18:50.112-05:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes, I just want to slap the crap outta The Polish Prince. Yesterday, it took all I could muster not to turn towards him while driving and just bitch-slap him. I needed to go to the dollar store just down the road for a new container for my cherry tomato plant. He insisted on going, and then followed me around complaining about how long it was taking. Jeesh. Finally he went to sit in the car. Why did he insist on accompanying me if all he was gonna do was bitch? I find what I am looking for, checked out some stuff, and check out. When I get to the car, he is talking to a gentlemen about SSI, which neither he nor I have any knowledge about. After what seemed like an hour, I told him we needed to go. As we are pulling out of the parking lot, he asked me if I wanted to go to Wal-Mart and see if I could find round labels for my new spice jars. I thought he would go to the Wal-Mart in Seffner, down the road about 5 miles. He insisted on going on route 301 which meets I4 which then you can exit on the Camping world exit and go to MLK drive where the store is located in SEFFNER. I told him to just catch the county road just behind our campground and we’d be there in 5 minutes. We have used that road to GO to Camping World for heaven’s sakes, and we are there like I said, in 5 minutes. No, not our direction challenged Princy. He stays on 301 and tells me to put in Wal-Mart into the GPS. OK, I comply even tho I am starting to get a little steamed. We get to I4 and follow the GPS directions then all of a sudden the Prince decides to pretend he is Hernado DeSoto and disregards the GPS. Putz. From this point it is all downhill. He is lost, he knows it and the sob is too stubborn to admit it. For the next hour we are getting a tour of a part of Tampa I have no idea even existed. He keeps making turns and more turns and then and behold we are at Busch Gardens. At this point, I cannot even LOOK at him I am so pissed. After being lost for an hour, he inputs into to the OLD GPS that hasn’t been updated since we got in 5 years ago. He continues driving and we find a Wal-Mart. A new, non-super Wal-Mart mind you. We get out of the car and I leave him in my dust. This damm Wal-Mart is so different from any other Wal-Mart I have been to I can’t find anything I supposedly needed. I find nothing. A real bust. We get back into the car and silently drive back to the rig. A ruined afternoon, waste of gas, anger and frustration not to mention the threat of potential violence(on MY part, not The Prince’s) all because DeSoto ‘s evil spirit entered the weak soul of the Prince and he was looking for the fountain of youth or the Lost City of Gold or some such nonsense. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just another day in the life of adventure. Even adventures that piss me off.</span><br />
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</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-21807374825027963522010-04-26T21:50:00.000-05:002010-04-26T21:50:21.251-05:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, it has been a while again, hasn't it? OK, so you’re right. I am a lazy ol’ blogger. What do you expect? I am a creative loafer. I am retired. I try not to schedule, stick to guidelines, do things from habit or anything remotely linked to our former working lives. ‘Nough said .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, we are still in Florida. Who would have thought that? We did get a fantastic deal at this RV park…$199 for the month plus electric. We have really enjoyed our stay here. It is a nice quiet park…lots of working people. Many of the trailers are single wides, some nicely kept, some not so much. The atmosphere is very “old Florida” with lots of oak trees with moss hanging down. The units are quite old also, which would turn off a lot of RV’ers. The spots are varied in size…some incredibly small, others large, like the one we occupy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are breaking “camp” here on Sunday morning, May 2 and actually are going south for a 5 night stay at one of the most beautiful county parks in Florida, Ft. De Soto. Located on the water, and almost impossible to get, we snagged a waterfront site. We will be heading north when our stay there is over. We will be headed to Atlanta to visit Paul’s cousin Gene. We will be parking in the driveway of their lake home on the shores of Lake <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Lanier</span>. After that we will continue up to Central Illinois to see Zack, my mom and maybe get a chance to attend the first <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cenois</span> <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">FMCA</span> rally. We are hoping to get to South Dakota to get some business done. We have registered and paid for the Escapee’s Rally in <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Elkhart</span> the second week of September and then want to head west. The Prince says we will hit bad weather, read SNOW and we can’t do it. <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Pffft</span>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Polish Prince bought some cheap hair clippers and proceeded to scalp both of my babies. Oh well, it’ll grow back…will be OK for hotter weather.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gene seems to be doing fine, and since the weather has warmed up in The Valley, he is using the pool and hot tub. Of course he wouldn’t be Gene if he didn’t complain even about this…the hot tub is not hot enough, and the sail type cover over the pool is not to his liking…he has to “chase” the sun. I wonder if he will say the same once the temps hit 100 soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">hugs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">dennise</span></span><br />
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</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-49776326924666750322010-03-20T17:43:00.002-05:002010-03-20T17:50:23.393-05:00<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We took the kids to the vet for their checkups and to settle them in for their boarding this week. Off we go to the Caribbean. Miss Lucy is over 9 lbs! The Mack Attack is now a robust 5lbs, 6oz! He is such a little cutiepie, all the girls in the office and even the lady vet were ooohhhing and ahhhing over the little stinker. He just eats that stuff up. After getting them settled, arranging for Lucy's surgery(no puppies in the future), we wrapped things up by paying $595!. Jeesh, these kids are expensive!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6VRADpTFRI/AAAAAAAAA5g/bfvr2V3elxw/s1600-h/DSC02520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6VRADpTFRI/AAAAAAAAA5g/bfvr2V3elxw/s320/DSC02520.JPG" vt="true" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We had a nice breakfast at the local cafe called Ram's where the food is good, service is with a smile and the prices so so. We came back to the rig and started packing. I also started the "dismataling" for breaking camp early tomorrow in the morning. We will leave the rig at Suncoast window repair, and hopefully we will be able to stay plugged in. We had made prior arraignments to leave the rig there while we are gone so we could have a place to store the rig as well as getting it repaired. Paul talked to the office manager and even if they have to move us out of the hookups area, we will be plugged in with a 20amp cord so the fridge doens't get turned off! I don't want to come home to spoiled meat and rotten royal red shrimps that are $14 a pound. I think they understand and even if no outlet is available, they will make sure the refer is on LP. That very thing happened to us while we were on a five day cruise with Grandpa, and I was one unhappy momma. Yuck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We can board the ship at 12:30 p.m. but am not sure what time we will get there. No use getting there early and have to wait for hours to board. I have read on several cruise critic sites that Carnival has the embarkation down pretty well, and there isn't a lot of waiting. I am taking my scooter, and I am sure I need it, even if we just disembark at one port where a lot of walking would be involved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, we are hoping to have a great cruise, and celebrate our 25 unbelieveable years together! Never thought that would happen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">later,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">dennise</span>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-71273138263961619012010-03-19T09:16:00.001-05:002010-03-19T09:21:17.783-05:00Photos speak a thousand words....here are my "babies"....Lucy is now almost 7 months old, and Mack will be 2 in May!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6OFYBC-wMI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/fxwP_I343PQ/s320/DSC02521.JPG" vt="true" /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6OFidUTQKI/AAAAAAAAA4g/_rKEQ-ClP3M/s1600-h/DSC02522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6OFidUTQKI/AAAAAAAAA4g/_rKEQ-ClP3M/s320/DSC02522.JPG" vt="true" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6OFqi8P20I/AAAAAAAAA4o/dWh1cwWRT6U/s1600-h/DSC02523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6OFqi8P20I/AAAAAAAAA4o/dWh1cwWRT6U/s320/DSC02523.JPG" vt="true" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6OF0uactoI/AAAAAAAAA4w/eYGRav7egPA/s1600-h/DSC02524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6OF0uactoI/AAAAAAAAA4w/eYGRav7egPA/s320/DSC02524.JPG" vt="true" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6OF-HXlv3I/AAAAAAAAA44/0geOgRzkZWY/s1600-h/DSC02532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6OF-HXlv3I/AAAAAAAAA44/0geOgRzkZWY/s320/DSC02532.JPG" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mack is still under 5lbs but Lucy, who knows? It's like picking up a ten pound sack of potatoes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We will get an update on Saturday when we drop the kids off at the Vet. Lucy will get spayed and they will be boarded while we are off on our anniversary crusise. We leave Sunday afternoon for 7 glorious days. We are sailing with Carnival this time, a first, and don't know what the ratio of spring break kids will be on this crusie. Oh well, we'll see...I am just going to enjoy it all, especially not having to cook or make meals for 7 whole days! </div><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-52762688645275457672010-03-18T11:13:00.001-05:002010-03-19T18:14:07.309-05:00Here are some recent updates to the Aluminum Assylum:<br />
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We added some storage by taking out the hard to move island storage (which had replaced the paltry dining table and rickety chairs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JF8JcAMvI/AAAAAAAAA3g/u2XL3cGX7fM/s1600-h/DSC02531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JF8JcAMvI/AAAAAAAAA3g/u2XL3cGX7fM/s320/DSC02531.JPG" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is a lot of storage under the benches which are actually higher...about 27" tall. Considered "counter height" seating. I keep my daily use appliances in here on the right side and store my hand held Orek vac in a backet and lesser used stuff on the left. While traveling, the pillows get stored in the right side also.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JKHTPbUWI/AAAAAAAAA3w/taCEK9Qjfp4/s1600-h/DSC02526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JKHTPbUWI/AAAAAAAAA3w/taCEK9Qjfp4/s320/DSC02526.JPG" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the setup I usually use while cooking. The island is a foldable, portable one with lot of storage. I use baskets so when breaking camp it is easy to just grab the baskets, put them on the bed, and go. I have one for dishtowels which saves drawer space. I have a bread/snack/cookie basket, a veggie/fruit basket and a puppy supplies basket. All easy to just place on the bed while traveling as they don't slide around on the bed.. Behind the island you can see my other can't be without folding shelving. I bought this a number of years ago at El Boutique Target. This also holds various baskets, the two Mexican pots that I store my kitchen utensils (yes, two...I like kitchen gadgets ok?) I also store my toaster and my huge canister of protein on it. It too simply folds up and along with the island and stores in the bedroom while traveling. I have a foldable canvas box where the stuff on the shelving unit goes and it too travels in the bedroom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When set up for dinner, we just roll the island to the bench area and viola! Dinner is served.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JFlO7WZlI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/LNpnYuKivM8/s1600-h/DSC02536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JFlO7WZlI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/LNpnYuKivM8/s320/DSC02536.JPG" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
Here is a shot of the kitchen area and the new backsplash I put it. It is really just plastic panels from Lowes, and is cutable with a scissors. A very cheap way to protect the walls and I think if you didn't know it was plastic, you would think it was metal...which I eventually hope to replace it with sometime in the future. You may also notice we put in lineolem which I hate as it doesn't cover the slider rollers. Not too terrible in the living area where the throw carpet covers it, but I hate the other one sticking out like a sore thumb.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JOJbnsOaI/AAAAAAAAA34/eU1Jy3OEluE/s1600-h/DSC02529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JOJbnsOaI/AAAAAAAAA34/eU1Jy3OEluE/s320/DSC02529.JPG" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's another view...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JOS5NtDVI/AAAAAAAAA4A/yvA-BKLWj-M/s1600-h/DSC02527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JOS5NtDVI/AAAAAAAAA4A/yvA-BKLWj-M/s320/DSC02527.JPG" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I still have some honey-do's for the Polish Prince....new sink and new faucet...I get so frustrated with the ones we have now....one side of the sink is normal the other is a tiny useless dinky thing and you can't even fill water in anything with that short faucet. So far though I like the space I have gained.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a picture of my "lamp table"...a file cabinet topped with a square wood top and a table cloth. I need a different cover, but overall the double use is good. I do worry about the weight of the stuff IN the file </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JPdaZlVtI/AAAAAAAAA4I/rkKinWyR1G0/s1600-h/DSC02539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JPdaZlVtI/AAAAAAAAA4I/rkKinWyR1G0/s320/DSC02539.JPG" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
cabinet! One more shot....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JQnuFekWI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/qv_n98_Lt0k/s1600-h/DSC02526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/S6JQnuFekWI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/qv_n98_Lt0k/s320/DSC02526.JPG" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok more pictures of the puppies coming in a while...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hugs,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">dennise</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-68189156417096756422010-03-17T12:33:00.002-05:002010-03-17T12:47:37.607-05:00<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wow, it is now St Patty's day. Where has all the time gone. We are really having a great time in Florida. Well, that's not entirely true. The weather here has been as bad as in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. Rain. Cold. Wind. Nasty. We did see frost, and I froze, I have been cold since October(!)...no winter coat. I ditched them all. I guess I will look for a lightweight fleece jacket at the flea market. I saw them with flea market kinda "themes"....geese, wolves, strange zigzags and the typical fugly patterns. But, who cares? I sincerely doubt that some person(one like me, that is!) would walk up to me and ask me where I bought the darling jacket I have on. And I would certainly tell them the flea market, er, yah right!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We celebrated our 25th Wedding anniversay yesterday, March 16. We celebrated with some friends from Central Illinois Cenois Prairelanders FMCA chaper, of which we are still members. Our McDill sponsors, Hank and Elizabeth Kerr were there; Dave our Treasurer and his cutie pie wifey, Patty,and one of my favorite ladys, Roberta Williams with her hubby Tom. I love Roberta...she is one of the most fun people to be with. She tells the most wonderful stories of her and Tom's travels and family, and their missions work. She is not afraid to get on the roof of their motorhome and scrub the roof. No, I am not kidding. I couldn't climb up the latter and here is this slip of a gal, short cropped hair and in her capris, is cleaning the roof! I asked her why and she said she didn't want Tom to fall off. Hmmmm....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We did a lot of running around. A typical kind of Griswald day...Our cruise departs on Sunday, and the Polish Prince needed a sport jacket and a pair of decent pants to wear on the two formal nights. He said he could get in with casual, which for him is basketball shorts and a sleeveless tee and flip flops. I pointed out that a jacket is required, and he said he would chance it...what could they do, not seat him? I said yep, mrknowitall. Then I will eat all dressed up by myself. So we were on a hunt for a jumbo man sport coat. He found one at the second shop we stopped at and while he was browsing, I began a pretty bad hypoglycemia episode. When he got back to the car we headed for the nearest McDonnalds to get me a hot mocha...enough sugar to kill any diabetic is just what I needed. I am going to have to carry packets of sugar with me so I can just suck one or two down when this happens. Of course I have to get in some protein and carbs immediately to avert another crash. Paul pulled in and I went in. He was going to put the jacket on so I could see it. When I exited the store, I saw a man fall just outside the door. I look and it is the Polish Prince. I got to him as fast as I could. He had put the jacket on, and walked over to get the newspaper by the first handicapped spot which was sloped downward but had a strange short curb immediately in front of the newspaper thingy you put the money in. He had backed up a half a step, hit that curb edge and lost his balance. He staggered back a few feet to try and get his balance but fell and HIT his head on the car parked in the handicapped spot! We looked at the car front door and it appeared that there was no damage. We got back into the car when an older lady and her son came up to the car and told Paul that he had dented the door. He went to look again and he did dent the BACK door of the car! Some patrons of the restaurant told us he hit his head on the back door. Well, that's comfirmation, his head is so hard he dented the crap outta a car door. (he did put a dent in our Tauraus about 15 years ago when he was on a ladder in the garage and lost his footing coming down and landed on the hood of the car and dented it with just one butt cheek...I am NOT making this up!) The lady was very nice and asked for our car insurance info. The Prince began to oblige when I stepped in and said, our car insurance won't pay for this...our car didn't make the dent, his head did from a fall on poorly designed handicapped ramp! It is McDonald's responsibily...I told him to go to the manger who had also come out of the store to see if Paul was ok and of course, embarrassed, he muttered he was ok. I told him to make out an accident report, what if he couldn't get out of bed tomorrow 'cause he hurt something that turns up latter. So, he did. He also gave the poor lady whose door was dented, our insurance info, telephone number. I told Paul, she would have a hard time collecting from our insurance company for this, he wasn't in the car when he did the damage. Paul had told her to see how much it would cost and he would send a check. Dumbshit. McDonalds is liable here, not The Prince's hard head!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We stopped at another Salvation Army place and he found some more stuff that he tried on and fit. I found a yellow top for a pair of capris (but once home they clashed...) and I also found a green T shirt that will work. Gotta look carefully at this stuff...and wash it a couple of times, but who can beat $.99 for a t shirt?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Crappy day for St Paddy's but we need to find a place that serves corned beef and cabbage today. The Prince can eat a burger, but I love my CB & C!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">*Sigh*. What'sa poor Irish girl from Chicago subpossed to do?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">hugs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">dennise</span><br />
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</span>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-91276543615545757652010-02-07T21:15:00.000-06:002010-02-07T21:15:02.363-06:00We are currently parked in Gulf Shores State Park in Gulf Shores, AL. We only drove about 150 miles or so yesterday. The weather is very cold, but we did have some sun today. We were on a mission today...me to Olde Thyme Pottery, a woman's design dream warehouse where I purchsed some seat cushions for the bench seats and some pillows. And drooled over stuff I see on the decorating shows on TV. The prince on the other hand was on a red shrimp hunt...red shrimp are deep water shimp that are light red in color...like you couldn't have guessed that! They taste more like lobster than shrimp. We found a pound of the headless ones, some frozen whole and then he bought some jumbos we can grill. We will be leaving here in the morning, heading into Florida. Not sure we really want to get there too fast. The long term weather forcast is kinda dim...rain, more rain and cold, the story of every snow bird this year. Maybe Baja Mexico next winter?<br />
<br />
Before we continue down to Tampa, we will be stopping in Hudson Florida where we plan to visit Suncoast Designers which is a place that refurbishes double pane windows in RV's that have fogging problems. Rather than replace the windows, we will try this much less expesive "fix".<br />
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After our shopping trip, we stopped to eat at King Neptunes, a place we had eaten at a couple of years ago. I had seafood etouffee that had a ton of shrimp, some cod and crab. Outstanding. My mouth was a bit tingly for several hours, but oh my it was good. The Prince had a fried shrimp basket with fries and a cajun bloody mary. The shrimp were small, and the bloody mary was too hot for our little pampered Princey. I tried it and after about three sips I was done too. Way outta our league...anyways who wants to burn their mouth when eating should be pleasurable!<br />
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While we were in the French Quarter in NO on Friday, I got a muffletta from Central Grocery...the very best sammich in Amerca I think! We ate at Jimmy Buffets place and I had the shrimp po boy, and file' gumbo. OH. It. Was. Heaven. In. A. Bowl! The prince had a Cuban sandwich. Hmmm, we are heading to Cuban Sandwich Captiol in Tampa and he eats one in New Orleans. Strange.<br />
I had a ultimate Jimmy Buffet Margarita and I was tipsy after two sips. Strong stuff that Ultimate stuff. <br />
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We'll try to keep up on our adventures on here. Can't bet on it, but I am gonna try to post a couple times a week. We'll see!<br />
<br />
dennise<br />
<br />
PS...Who Dat won the Superbowl! Yah!dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-59231398303587176502010-02-03T22:39:00.000-06:002010-02-03T22:39:00.674-06:00Wednesday...<br />
<br />
We arrived in New Orleans around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. It was a long day, going from Houston to NO. Mostly sunny day, so travel was good. We made two stops, those two puppies insist on going potty yanno.<br />
<br />
We made good time until Baton Rouge around 4 p.m. and hit the rush hour. Took us a while to get thru but we were certain we could still make the campground before the office closed at 6. Wrong. What time we made up after Baton Rouge, we lost in the horrible rush hour all the way into the city from about 20 miles west on I10.<br />
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So to recap, we left the RGV on Monday around noon as we had to settle the lock out problem at the storage yard. Oh well, nothing that couldn't be fixed once the Prince paid the bill!<br />
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We stopped our first night on the road in El Campo at the super Wally world. We had a sandwich around 3 pm and were really not hungry for dinner when we stopped. So we had a Bloody Mary and some chips and salsa.<br />
We let the puppies sleep with us as we had not opened up the rig being in the WalMart parking lot. They loved it. Paul said he didn't sleep well as he kept feeling the little wiggleworms move around all night. I had already passed out so they didn't bother me a bit.<br />
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Our first day in NO was one of rest and rejuvination...I slept alot and Paulie did the laundry, nice guy that he is. We are facing bad weather tomorrow with lots of rain and wind. We are planning on doing the RiverWalk just outside the French Quarter, after we do Cafe' DuMonde, Central Deli and the French market in the FQ. The first of the Mardi Gras parades begin on Friday night and we will certainly be hoping the weather cooperates and we can attend.<br />
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That's about all for now...will update after our day in the French Quarter tomorrow.<br />
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dennisedennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-62529397714182301852010-01-23T19:28:00.003-06:002010-01-23T21:35:33.633-06:00OK. You have me, again. I have been very very lax about writing our blog. Of course, I really don't have anything to write about. The weather has sucked for the entire time we have been here. Finally, this week, it changed. Sunshine, blue skies and warmer temps. We hit 80 a couple of times too. I have been making some roman shades. Not going as planned, but then again, just call me Mrs. Griswald. Paul certainly is Clark Griswald...or like I have said before...he is a bull in china shop. Everything we touch, we screw up. Amazing but true. Example: I was trying to attach handles to our new two drawer flimsy metal file cabinet. The screws were so short, I could not grab them with my thumb and forefinger. I was so frustrated...I must have struggled with those little boogers for 20 minutes...even the magnetic head on the freakin' screw driver didn't help. My finger nails are not daggers, and I wasn't about to cut them to place 4 stupid screws. After about a half hour of cussing, I got two in. Then another waste of ten minutes and my cussing got grosser. Hey I never said I was a good girl yanno.<br />
<br />
Since our stint here at Llano Grande RV resort we have accomplished a number of things...all with alot of cussing and sweat and almost tears. I no longer cry, I just throw something or hit something. Thusly, we have decided to change our name to the Griswalds. No more Meandering Ziajas; we are now the hapless Griswalds, and the blog will now be The Griswalds Great Adventures and will be about our long road trip in retirement. Hey, if you remember the wife's name, let me know, I am having a brain fart. We have installed the faux coppper backsplash in the kitchen; we have our L shaped dinette bench installed and stained and the topper table done for the rolling island is also stained and useable. I need to varnish the table top for protection. Hopefully, when I get up the blinds, I can clean up this mess and take some photos.<br />
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An update on the RV park Vs. The Ziaja's...they ignored the demand letter and the lawsuit has been filed. That's about it. <br />
<br />
I have a new blog. http://witcherella.blogspot.com. There is a linky in the links box on the right side of the blog. Now if you don't want to read the musings of a 55+ aging hippie progressive liberal pro-choice Democrat, then I guess you should pass. Well it won't always be a political post, I will also have a chance to bitch...yanno, just random thoughts, what irks me, what I like, funny stuff and stuff that just stinks overall. My thoughts and opinions are only mine so it may not even interest anyone but me, LOL! And I promise I will state in the title if this is a political post.<br />
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We have about another week or so here, and we are then off to Florida, visiting our fav cajun places along the way.<br />
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later...<br />
dennisedennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-17880106161528913282009-11-15T19:52:00.002-06:002010-01-23T19:58:03.709-06:00Just another Sunday...<br />
<br />
That is what I wrote a week ago...<br />
<br />
What a week. I was still quite ill and finally went to the doctor on Monday morning as a walk in. We were there almost three hours. My Doc thought that I had C diff colitis. Tests proved negative at the follow up on Wed afternoon. She plopped my tush in the hospital for tests. I had a CT scan of the abdomen, an endoscogy and then the most awful of tests, the dreaded colonoscopy. I recall my first scope and I felt nothing...was out. This time was different...I was NOT asleep and felt gosh awful pressure and real pain. A very ugly experience really. I then got dry heaves from whatever so called knock out drugs they used and thought I was having a heart attack. I just hate the hospital. The gastro doc took biopsies of my colon, said it was quite inflamed and called it "colitis". Hmmm. Guess we may have some answers early this week. I hope we can find something so I can get with a diet or medicine regimin that will help. I am still on flagyl and keeping my fingers crossed as I write this, have not had a desperate trip to the bathroom today. <br />
<br />
We are now way behind schedule on cleaning out the remaining stuff from the mobile home and getting the stuff we no longer use out of the motorhome. OH,we did get kicked out of this park...it was all my fault. I brought Lucy home three weeks ago and there is a one pet limit per unit. Oopsie. My bad. I really don't care, we were only going to be staying here for another month or so and then we were heading to Florida. I guess I just don't get the rule, it's really stupid. But, I must confess, I broke the rules and must suffer the consequences....oh woe is me lol!!!!<br />
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Well, that's about all I can write for now. Still very weak and want to rest. Take care...<br />
<br />
dennisedennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-60294229041851805672009-11-08T18:15:00.000-06:002009-11-08T18:15:45.997-06:00Just another Sunday...<br />
<br />
We closed on the house today. Well, Paul and grandpa did. I once again, was confined to the bedroom and the bathroom. Stomach woes strike again. This is one persistant dragon I am dealing with. I do think I bring on the dragons sometimes myself. I let that ol' geezer get under my skin and then I pay the price...no one else, just me. <br />
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Not too much else going on here. The Bears got blown away today...so what else is new. At least cousin Neal's team won, LOL!<br />
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later<br />
<br />
dee<br />
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</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-53378252107015655212009-11-07T20:14:00.001-06:002009-11-07T20:18:02.160-06:00Moving day...<br />
<br />
We moved the rest of grandpa's stuff today. I shouldn't say "we", I did nothing. Dorothy tried to hang the curtain rods we purchased, but the most she was able to do was put two new holes in the wall...oh well, it wasn't me...<br />
<br />
I would not put anything away. I was itching to organize the kitchen, but was able to keep my seat. I am tired of hearing that "I can't find anything" whine from the geezer that I am determined to let him screw it up himself. He is never pleased with anything, so I figure, go at it old man.<br />
<br />
He decided to take his new toy, his electric wheelchair (don't ask...he is worse than a kid with stuff and it makes me totally nuts...)downstairs to supposedly help Paul get the rest of the stuff out of the car. Like Paul needed the old fart to tell him how to unload a car...! He comes back up to the apartment out of breath, grey faced and visibly upset. (How someone can change their face color is totally beyond me....) hollering "Somebody has stolen my scooter! This is KILLING ME! Someone stole my scooter." He goes back down the hall and finds some poor maintenance guy and tells him that somebody took his scooter. The guy comes into the apt, looking all around, and then both he and goofy go back downstairs. Paul comes up, assesses the situation and heads out to look for the scooter. Goofball is sitting in his chair, looking like he is gonna die right there and then. Paul calls, he found the scooter. This geezer suddenly perks up, his demeanor totallly changes and his normal pasty color is back. All I can do is grit my teeth and bite my tongue. How can you lose a wheelchair? Apparently he stopped at the door near the loading dock, got out and looked for Paul. He claims he turned around and the chair was GONE! OK. Sure. It rode itself away. Paul says he found it right at the door to the loading dock, still on...apparently he had gotten off and TURNED down the wrong way into the hallway. For heavens sakes, this man will kill me and Paul and laugh as we are lowered into the freaking ground. He is now THEIR problem...he couldn't open the door to the apt, and had to get someone up there to "show" him how to unlock the door....the wheelchair incident and a ton of other things...Dorothy said he didn't know how to get to his apt. Like I said...HE is THEIR problem now!<br />
<br />
Dorothy and I made his bed, but of course, the bedspread was not to his liking. After this I left using the excuse that my furbabies were in the kennel and needed a potty. I go home, walked the kids, and then sat in my recliner doing deep breathing excercises...I did a cleansing of my mind...I had to rid my poor brain of all thoughts of murder, thoughts of slapping and thoughts of screaming at him. It took a LONG time to do this, you must understand.<br />
<br />
I am home alone this evening, both of the males are playing poker. I hope they both lose.<br />
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later<br />
dee<br />
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</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-19368441906879216732009-11-06T15:29:00.003-06:002009-11-07T09:09:58.974-06:00<script type="text/javascript">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dancing with Dragons....</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script></span></span>Today I finally found out what is wrong with me. No virus. I am once again dancing with the dragons in my life. I found my go to "bible" for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue while packing. Reviewing the possible symptoms or should I say, the <strong>onset</strong> of symptoms I found my anwer. Usually I think of a flare as pain issues. Boy, I don't know how I missed this chapter, but all the things I have been experiencing the past 11 days are right there in black and white. Chills, severe sweats, headache, acute and severe diarrhea, intestinal cramping, ear pain, increase in overall fibro pain, extreme fatigue, increased coughing, shortness of breath, having the itchies, reduced tolerance for noise...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everything I have listed, I was experiencing or had experienced. It knocked me on my proverbial tush. My dragons continue to harass me, and after 10 or so years of disability, I am still learning the steps to this "dance". The problem is the steps keep changing. Unfair says I!</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Discovered the camera is in the motorhome, so I guess I need to put in some fresh batteries and snap some photos...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">later...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">dennise</span>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-82981772971997438702009-10-31T21:09:00.002-05:002010-01-23T20:02:24.698-06:00Anyone who is not a liberal stop reading now....<br />
The earth revolves around the sun.<br />
The earth is billions, not thousands of years old.<br />
Fox News is neither fair, nor balanced - nor news.<br />
Evolution happened and is happening.<br />
Torture does not work.<br />
Bush did not keep us safe.<br />
Markets do not regulate themselves.<br />
Fascism is not the same as socialism.<br />
The world was not with us with regards to the Iraq War.<br />
Iraq never attacked us and was never a threat.<br />
Trickle-down economics is extremely insulting on its face. More so if examined. <br />
Obama is not a socialist, or a communist. <br />
A weak public option for a fraction of the country does not spell doom.<br />
Prayers in school did not avert any wrong doings. Nor are prayers prohibited now.<br />
There is no correlation between religiosity and morality.<br />
The world can be and is over-populated.<br />
Supply-side economics makes no sense, period.<br />
Lying to soldiers about why they are fighting is not equivalent to support.<br />
Supporting any war for any reason is not equivalent to patriotism.<br />
Tax cuts for the rich are not a fix-all. In fact they hurt after a certain point.<br />
Gays are not asking for special rights. They are asking for human rights.<br />
An economist from Exxon does not equal the entire peer reviewed data from the world’s climatologists. <br />
We really don’t have the #1 healthcare system in the world, and pretending we do only hurts our chances of improvement.<br />
The fact is, now there really is a Northwest Passage for the first time in human history.<br />
Facts are facts and do not have an ideology. Pretending that an impassioned denial is equal to established facts is extremely harmful. And the number of people sharing your particular delusion is irrelevant to its status as a fact.dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-19785021664631391582009-10-31T20:55:00.002-05:002009-11-07T19:53:56.417-06:00<script type="text/javascript">
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STILL sicky. No posties today. Sorry
dee<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-52763153216338223592009-10-29T11:05:00.000-05:002009-10-29T11:05:56.999-05:00<script type="text/javascript">
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Still feeling lousy...did manage to get a quick snapshot of Lucy on my camera...and no, geez I wasn't choking her, she wouldn't stop wiggleworming all over the place.<br />
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</div>She does have a tear in in her eye...but it's NOT from my hand around her neck HONEST! She is part POODLE, yanno they have real tears...so does Mack...<br />
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more to follow, with my camera, not the phone camers<br />
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dennise<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-39479298405606749892009-10-28T23:23:00.000-05:002009-10-28T23:23:53.017-05:00<script type="text/javascript">
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Pictures of Lucy will have to wait...I have been deathly sick.<br />
<br />
Paul took Lucy to the vet and he is concerned that she may have distemper. Asked Paul if we got a health guarantee...um, no, we live in Mexico, dufus. The seller indicated that she had had her first "shot" (distemper) and three wormings. She does have a wet nose, and a bit of tears in her eyes, but nothing else I found on line that would appear to be distempter symptons...no fever, no lethary, no diarrhea (see my problem below.)<br />
<br />
Now here is my story...have lived in the bathroom for like 36 hours<br />
Here is the Uban Dictionary decription of my malady...<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">"Explosive Diarrhea </span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Not always from eating too much of the wrong foods which is usually relieved and ends with 1 incident of it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Can be a prolonged horrid condition that usually comes about from a bad bacterial stomach/intestional virus. A violent exploding stream of liquid that feels like hot foamy lava shooting from your poor tush along with mild to severe abdominal cramping. A frothy water that will range from shades of dark brown to a pale yellow. Depending on the cause it can last from just one incident where you get immediate relief, to 3 to 4 days until a doctor has to give you an RX to stop the awful stuff. The stream is so forceful it blasts against the toilet water forcefully causing a violent splash sending the soiled stinky water up all over your poor butt cheeks, and underside of toilet seat. Usually always accompanied by a very putrid pungent odor that you feel the need to grab the nearest towel while you are still stranded on the toilet bowl, or if not available, a wad of toilet paper to cover your nose until you can hurridly leave the bathroom. </span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">The (danger) of this condition is DEHYDRATION. It is important to not let it run on and to sip on water thru-out the day until a couple of days after it subsides. Also accompanied by noisy bowels sounds as if a war is going on inside your poor lower abdominal area along with excessive very LOUD blasting explosive gassed up farts, queasy stomach discomfort, and severe weakness if it goes on for over 24 hours.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Gosh! While I was sick I had that awful exploding diarrhea that left me feeling so weak I could hardly move!</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">by Cathie Feb 27, 2004 share this "</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">So, now you know and I gotta run back to the throne.</span><br />
<br />
More on Lucy and some pictures of her and Mack soon I hope.<br />
<br />
dennise<br />
<br />
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</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-18624767591785584982009-10-26T18:38:00.001-05:002009-10-26T18:41:48.975-05:00<script type="text/javascript">
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Hmmm, my Friday post just appeared. I know not what the universe has against me, but I musta' done something horrible in my past. Well, we won't go there.<br />
<br />
It is now Monday, and we have sold the mobile home in Weslaco. The couple from Houston visited twice today, the second trip were the "negoations". I always make myself scarce during this intense Paulie thing...don't want to be around when he gets down to brass tacks as they say.<br />
<br />
We have a new family member...her name is Lucy. Lucy is a yorkiepoo just like Mack. She was born on September 1st so that makes her 8 weeks old tomorrow. As soon as I can find my camera, I will shoot a few photos and post them. Lucy's parents are almost identical to Mack's. 5 lb mommy poodle and 3.5 lb daddy Yorkie. She is coal black and at night you can't see her at all. We will have to get a blinking or glow in the dark collar. There were two males and two females. Figured I wanted a female not to have dueling alpha males...and I loved her color(which may actually change...) so she will look great in pink!<br />
<br />
We had a buzy weekend. Saturday night Paul's cousin Maryann and her husband Russ came over for dinner. Paul made some pretty wicked bbq chicken(normally he makes burnt offering...). I made a salad and opened a can of pork and beans. Mary and Russ are here for only a few days, taking some of her dad's stuff back to St. Louis. So on Sunday, we went to their place and had Uncle Ben's special recipe for red sauce and pasta. Delish! The sausage was "imported" from St Louis and was really really good.<br />
<br />
Sunday was reorganize and first pack up day. We were up at 7 am vaccuming and moping floors. I cleaned the Texas Room. It was packed with "stuff" like tubs of photos, all my caking supplies and just a whole lot of junk that went into the trash. It was so dusty all I could do was sneeze. Worked our tushies off. We are both exhausted. I think Grandpa must be exhusted too...he hasn't shut up for four four days! Get's on MY nerves...jeesh, and I have only been back two weeks!<br />
<br />
More tomorrow. <br />
<br />
deedennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-19193293149278612742009-10-23T22:06:00.001-05:002009-10-26T17:52:48.059-05:00<script type="text/javascript">
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<a name='more'></a>Quick update...<br />
<br />
The buyer from Houston will be looking at the house on Monday. I have started a few purgings...stuff I didn't even know I had...hmmm.<br />
<br />
I was a bit under the weather today so I wasn't very productive other than doing a little sorting and tossing. <br />
<br />
Paul started playing shuffleboard today. Now he can walk Mack for me on Fridays and I can sleep in! We will see how long that lasts.<br />
<br />
Well, I have a ton of things to accomplish tomorrow so I am off to bed. Not much to talk about today. More updates tomorrow.<br />
<br />
dee<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-18883943923770868902009-10-22T22:22:00.002-05:002009-10-22T22:31:47.853-05:00<script type="text/javascript">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">News from the Valley </span><br />
<br />
<br />
As promised, I have big news. Grandpa has visited the John Knox Retirement Village here in Weslaco and loves the place. He has signed up for a medium sized one bedroom apartment. Knox is a unique type of retirement village that includes independent living facilities, such as apartments, townhomes and cottages; personal care or an assisted living wing; and a nursing facility. Once the resident buys in (prices range from $30k way up to $200K) they are assured of care until they pass on. Each unit that is part of the buy in has different monthly “fees” which cover the gamut of things such as meal(s), cable TV, all utilities except land line phone and other amenities. The main meal is dinner, actually lunch. It is the largest meal of the day and has the greatest variety. Supper is a soup and sandwich type menu, but the residents do get to enjoy a glass of wine with supper! Gene was most impressed with the ratio of ladies to men…like 5 to 1! At almost 93, he still believes he is a real Romeo. He was able to pick out his carpeting and the apartment is almost completely renovated. New wiring and light fixtures, new ceramic tile in the bath and kitchen, new appliances. He has tons of storage space and both the living room and bedroom are light and bright. The pool and Jacuzzi have just been revamped. There is a library, wood working shop, computer lab, arts and crafts room, exercise classes, dancing, cocktail parties, karaoke, and countless other activities. <br />
<br />
We will need to get him a small microwave, he wants a lift recliner, a bed, small dresser and some end and night stand tables. He can’t decide if he just wants two recliners or a loveseat and recliner. Paul promised him a LCD wall mounted TV and he will need to pick out some curtains and a bedspread. He has plenty of towels and sheets and we can take whatever kitchen stuff he needs from the house. Yep, the mobile home is for sale. We have a potential buyer coming down from Houston on Monday, and another lady from the park looked at it. However, her husband is recovering from a serious infection that necessitated a replacement of an earlier knee replacement. Gene still feels that he wants his car, however the Village has shopping trips to the grocery store, WalMart and other shopping places. <br />
<br />
Well, I am falling asleep and my mind was racing with all we have to do. Once again we will be getting rid of personal stuff we parked down here in the house. I believe we will need a storage space, as we have stuff that I am not ready to part with just now. And, I just got all my cake decorating stuff purchased and organized...NOT willing to give that up yet either.Perhaps in a year we will reconsider, and maybe by then Zack will be a bit more settled and we can have him take some of our "treasures". Needless to say, this is the best possible solution to the problems Gene faces as he becomes more dependent, and it gives us peace of mind while traveling. We still plan to spend several months in the RGV in the winter to escape the cold, but now there won't be as much worry and guilt leaving him. <br />
<br />
hugs<br />
<br />
dee<br />
<br />
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</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-36003782045173750212009-10-22T00:48:00.000-05:002009-10-22T00:48:54.512-05:00<script type="text/javascript">
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Here are a couple of things that made me laugh...<br />
YMMV<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_wCcbTY6I/AAAAAAAAA0w/wYskDX6Fr8s/s1600-h/funny-pictures-kitten-calls-you-weakest-link.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_wCcbTY6I/AAAAAAAAA0w/wYskDX6Fr8s/s320/funny-pictures-kitten-calls-you-weakest-link.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grandpa and I voted Paulie out of the kitchen. He lost interest in doing decent dinners so goodby lousy chef!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_vhk_KLTI/AAAAAAAAA0I/H60r1sU1br8/s1600-h/zack+and+beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_vhk_KLTI/AAAAAAAAA0I/H60r1sU1br8/s320/zack+and+beer.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">gee for Jr. things never change...he said he took this picture so I could see the name of a really good beer....suuuurrrreeee Zack....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_vncQdQLI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/yoag0d333DU/s1600-h/dog+pooz.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_vncQdQLI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/yoag0d333DU/s320/dog+pooz.bmp" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_v89QmRoI/AAAAAAAAA0o/i5-RATdoW0o/s1600-h/birthers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_v89QmRoI/AAAAAAAAA0o/i5-RATdoW0o/s320/birthers.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This may offend some of my readers....hmmm, and do I care?????<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_v4mDN_aI/AAAAAAAAA0g/1VhRKosHjxU/s1600-h/add+kitty.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_v4mDN_aI/AAAAAAAAA0g/1VhRKosHjxU/s320/add+kitty.bmp" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this is for one of my favorite sisters.....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_vzR9S4lI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/WaeUQU_-dHU/s1600-h/too+funny+john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_vzR9S4lI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/WaeUQU_-dHU/s320/too+funny+john.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">whomever snapped this photo during last years debate should get a "gee whiz, when did this happen?" award. I still get the giggles when I see this photo...and I really really admire Sen. McCain. This just tickles my funny bone...no offense intended to the Honorable Senator!<br />
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</script>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-17628478895353870152009-10-22T00:21:00.000-05:002009-10-22T00:21:17.941-05:00<div>Here is!<br />
Here is!<br />
<br />
<br />
When our son Zack was just learning to talk and put together sentences, he would respond to our asking where he was with “Here is! Here is!"<br />
<br />
So my title today answers the question so many of you have asked. I’m here, just been off the web “grid” for awhile. Well, it’s been 10 months which is really scary that so much time has passed without posting my glib and self-centered musings. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_rtPSlMtI/AAAAAAAAAz4/k_UgYOkpAsI/s1600-h/me+without+meds.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/St_rtPSlMtI/AAAAAAAAAz4/k_UgYOkpAsI/s320/me+without+meds.bmp" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
We left the RGV mid-June, heading for St Louis, Springfield, Illinois and then Muskegon, Michigan to spend the summer months in a cooler environment. The Texas RGV is a killer in the late spring and summer with the heat and everlasting UV rays from the sun. We were escaping temps in the 95 to 105 degree range that we had borne since mid April. We spent two wonderful months in Michigan, enjoying not only Lake Michigan but the local eateries and the abundant farmers markets. From Michigan we returned to Illinois to see friends in Chicago and our remaining family there. We had a wonderful visit, having not been up north in several years! We traveled back to Central Illinois to see Mom and Cecil, and our FMCA local chapter, Cenois Prairielanders for a great rally in the Champaign area. We were also able to visit with a cousin in Danville before we were off to Celina Ohio for the Escapees Class Reunion and the Gypsy Journal Rally immediately following. Another great time, visiting friends and meeting new ones. We left a day early as we needed to hustle down to Kerrville Texas for the RV Dreams Rally, the last leg of our summer travels. We were able to visit one of Paul’s FedEx co-workers who has also retired and moved to the Austin area. Jackie was so very sweet to make us a hearty breakfast of blueberry pancakes and sausages for our trip into Kerrville. The RV Dreams Rally was great…good people, good food and entertainment and the best seminars on the full-timer lifestyle. Paul went into San Antonio to have his hip rechecked at the VA as he is still experiencing some problems since his surgery at the beginning of the year. Nothing found, just to keep up walking and doing some exercise. After the rally, we stayed an extra day at the RV resort to gather our thoughts and ready ourselves for what we needed to face getting back to Weslaco and Paul’s dad.<br />
<br />
Before anyone becomes alarmed, we just needed to visit with Grandpa and tell him our concerns about him remaining in this big home in Weslaco when he is starting to feel his age. More on that in tomorrow’s blog. Good news all around. Lots to do and lots to think about in the next few weeks.<br />
<br />
Hugs,<br />
<br />
dennise<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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</div>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20188713.post-13024239115152487302009-01-16T14:35:00.005-06:002009-01-16T14:54:53.647-06:00My shinning masterpiece...<br /><div><div></div><br /><div>...for this week anyways. Here is the cake I made for a wonderful lady who is leaving the park to live nearer to her daughter in NC. She loved the cake.</div><div><br /> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/SXDwmwlwD-I/AAAAAAAAAyo/QFy0wDCeLvc/s1600-h/DSC02157.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291994110829268962" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/SXDwmwlwD-I/AAAAAAAAAyo/QFy0wDCeLvc/s320/DSC02157.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>This cake was a lot of fun to make...three torted and filled layers. Bottom layer was chocolate cake with twinkee filling (I love that stuff so I make it alot!) The middle layer is white almond sour cream buttermilk with chocolate chip whipped ganache(Oh, it is heaven...like the middle part of a truffle...!) and the top layer I carved into the beehive shape. The cake was also the white almond sour cream buttermilk but with strawberry filling. All of the cakes had buttercream base icing and then were covered in fondant. This is my first stacked or tiered cake and only the second time I've worked with fondant. I made my own fondant which was also a lot of fun to do. It is very sweet, kinda like eating candy corn. Many folks don't like it because it is so sweet, but it is a decorator's dream to play with on a cake. All the bees and flowers were also made of fondant. All handmade and modeled by moi. I had pictures to reference. The bees are so cute. In the next picture, I did change the color of the bow on the "big bee" and replaced one of my ribbon roses that in the pictures anyway, looked like a specific part of the male anatomy...and I don't DO those kinda cakes!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here Lola posing with her cake.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/SXDyZaffuhI/AAAAAAAAAyw/6UxRaEtLQUQ/s1600-h/DSC02160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291996080582408722" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-efEr3kRlg/SXDyZaffuhI/AAAAAAAAAyw/6UxRaEtLQUQ/s320/DSC02160.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></script></div><div>As you can imagine, the cake was a huge hit with the partygoers. I was very happy and Paul said it was a "work of art...nobody will eat it...". Well, they did smarty pants. They all liked it too!</div><div> </div><div>I will have to make a tiered "wedding cake" for my class final. I think I am going to invite everybody over for cake and coffee the day after so I can get rid of the cake. To say we are all "caked out" is truly an understatement.</div><div> </div><div>Next week is the park's luau party and Dennise got suckered into decorating the table...guess what folks....CAKE! I am going to do a tiki guy head and a bunch of palm tree cookies. Thank goodness I bought that palm tree cookie cutter when I saw it a couple of weeks ago! I will do a hot color table cloth, buy a boogie board and make some fake palm trees out of rice crispie treats and use fondant to decorate them. An all edible centerpiece! That should get me a few points in the judging! I'll post the pictures after the 22nd...</div><div> </div><div>Not much else going on. Zack is getting depressed not finding a job. Poor kid. Worst economy in freaking history and he is now out on his own. He has put in many many applications and sent out lots of resumes. He is still looking at going to the UK to teach in the spring. We'll see.</div><div> </div><div>later...</div><div>dee</div><div> </div>dennisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530472297509193152noreply@blogger.com5