Merry Christmas - 2013-12-25

We hope that all of you are having a Very Merry Christmas with family wherever possible.

Before leaving Sumter Oaks, Wanda let us know that we are now number 2 on the list for long-term site rentals (ERPU as the program is called in Escapees language).  I did take another picture of the dash of our motorhome to show off Marilyn’s decorations.

We left Monday morning, and drove the Jeep to our son’s home in Columbus, GA, and Doug served pan seared rib eye steaks that were oven baked with a parmesan crust.  Our daughter, who lives in Dayton, OH, joined us on Christmas Eve.  Then we, joined by Doug’s friends Laila and Russ, all went out to Bonefish Grill for dinner.

Marilyn decorated Doug’s tree.   Doug tempted his and Laila’s dog Roman by making him lie down and not eat the treat on his paw until the command was given.

Christmas morning we enjoyed the presents under the tree. Then it was time for a delicious egg casserole, sausage, and Fo-mosa (orange juice and sparkling apple cider) for breakfast,

Type at you later.

Thursday, 2013-12-19

This has been another busy week. 

On Sunday, the 15th, we had a blast from last winter.  Jack and Dottie Barry came by to visit.   We drove to Coyote Rojo, in Bushnell, for another wonderful meal.  We all had the $12.99 special – beef and chicken fajita combo.  Marilyn and Dottie had some leftovers, but they were so good that Jack and I finished ours.

Monday, we had the house washed.  We thought the price was really good for here in FL – $100 for wash and $100 for hand wax.  It may not be as good as the $35 wash that Dennis got in Yuma, AZ, but they did polish the wheels.   Monday afternoon, Matrix delivered my new CPAP machine.  It has a higher setting than my old machine 15 instead of 6), but I guess I am getting used to it.  Monday was also Carolyn Jarvis birthday, so we went to Oakwood Smokehouse to celebrate hers, and three others including Sue Spahn’s (14th) and Maureen Haliday”s (19th). 

Tuesday, I went back to the dentist for my permanent crown, and impressions for a partial.  Next appointment is 1/13/14 for a fitting.  I stopped by Lone Oak Cemetery, Leesburg, to take a picture of the Veteran’s Wreath on her Father’s (the crypt includes Richard, her brother, N Douglas, her Father, and Lucia, her Mother) grave.

Wednesday there were a couple of trips to Wal-Mart, Marilyn made Christmas cookies, and I helped a little stirring the batter.

Of course, presents are getting wrapped so we can leave early Monday morning for Columbus, GA.

Type at you later.

Blog: 2012-12-14

The other day, Dennis Hill sent me an email reminder.  He said for me to Blog, that it had been over a month.  So, I will put something together.

Most of the past month has been about doctors, dentists, etc.  They started out as normal yearly checkups.  However the dentist wanted to replace a crown due to decay.  It required a root canal, then a temporary crown, next it will be a crown and a partial plate.

Our physicals went well, except Marilyn has a headache (me).  Sleep doctor wanted a new sleep study.  Now I will get a new CPAP machine.  In January, I will have carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand.

We had a great time celebrating Thanksgiving with Marilyn’s Cousin (Paul, 87) and family.

Marilyn has decorated the motorhome for Xmas.  We have done most of our shopping, and now have to wrap them before we go to our Son’s home in Columbus, GA for the 23rd to the 27th.

On the 12th, we, along with Larry & Carolyn Jarvis, went to Busch Gardens for two of the Christmas Shows.  We ate lunch at the Desert Grill so we could watch their Christmas show, but it was so active that the picture is blurry.    Then we went to the Christmas Ice Show. We had a minstrel entertain us before the show actually started.   This Christmas tree was taller than me.   While walking around, we saw these Pink Flamingos dancing around as a group.   Then, before heading for home, we took a train ride around the park, and we saw Giraffes, Rhinoceros, and deer like animas . 

We have also attended some of the Sumter Oaks RV Park activities (breakfasts, dinners, etc.)

2013-11-11

Today some of us from the Escapees’ Sumter Oaks RV Park attended the Veteran’s Day Ceremony at the Florida National Cemetery near Bushnell, FL.  Below are pictures from that event:  Phil Tobin, along with Marilyn and Teddy Pierson.

Next are Ralph and Bev Hosford. 

Mike and Jean Pertick follow: 

Larry & Carolyn Jarvis also joined us at the ceremony, 

 

We have Fran followed by general pictures of the us and the crowd. 

They band played, and patriotic songs were sung, Taps was played, and Amazing Grace was played on the bagpipes. 

Type at you later.

2013-11-10

Wednesday, the 5th, Marilyn started going to the activity center for exercise after our morning walk.  For dinner we went to Howie’s for all you can eat spaghetti with the Halliday’s and Larry Jarvis.  Thursday was the SKP lunch in Clermont at the Golden Corral.  Many of the approximately 40 were from Sumter Oaks, but we also got to see some new folks and several from the area we had not seen since last December.  Eye doctor visit at 2pm.  Marilyn doesn’t need new glasses, and mine are not a great change, but I will get new ones that are not scratched.  Friday Marilyn went for her m’gram and a stop at Publics.  We talked to Doug, and wished him a Happy Birthday.

Yesterday morning we went to the activity center at 8am for breakfast – scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and grits.  At 8:30, we drove to the Tampa airport to pick up Carolyn Jarvis.  Marilyn spent the afternoon making a delicious pea soup.  We had 8 of us for cocktails and dinner – Halliday’s, Jarvis’, Tobin’s, and ourselves.  In addition to the pea soup, we had salad, and a pasta casserole to welcome Carolyn back.

Type at you later.

2013-11-05

it doesn’t seem possible that as of tomorrow, we will have been here at Sumter Oaks for 20 days.  We have definitely been enjoying been enjoying our time with our friends.  Last Friday we took Carolyn Jarvis to the Tampa airport so she could fly to California to visit her brother.  Saturday we will pick her up as she returns. That evening my mew Microsoft Surface Pro 2 was delivered.  Since then I have been learning what it is capable of and not.  I am glad I have it. 

Yesterday, we started the doctor thing with a visit with our new primary care doctor in Bushnell.  Shorter drive, then up to Leesburg.  This morning was a Leesburg bone density test.  Then we stopped at our storage unit to start re-arranging it.

Type at you later.

2012-10-31 Halloween

Tonight we will go up to the Activity Center for a Halloween Party – your beverage, and snacks to share.  Should be fun.

We have been here at the Escapees’ Sumter Oaks RV Park in Bushnell Florida since October 17th.  Nice to see those of our friends who spent the summer here.  Larry & Carolyn Jarvis arrived on Friday, so it was not a cooking night.  We went to Coyote Rojo’s with them and the Halidays.  It is nice to relax, since we will be here until April except for 2 rallies and Xmas at Doug’s.  Terri and Phil Tobin arrived on Monday, plus we are making new friends.

Tuesday, we went to Sam’s Club in the Villages, and had dinner with Mitzi and Pete.  Then on Wednesday, Dennis & Carol Hill arrived with their new “Baby”, a 36’ Winnebago.  It has many nice features.

Thursday night, we took Dennis & Carol to Oakwood Smokehouse for baby back ribs, accompanied by many of our other friends here at Sumter Oaks.  Dennis & Carol invited us over for some of his delicious smoked pulled pork butt on Friday night.  We said goodbye to them Saturday morning, and then headed out for more shopping. 

Sunday, we went to visit Paul (Marilyn’s cousin) & Peg Gifford.  In addition to great conversation, Peg made a delicious beef stroganoff dinner.  Back at Sumter Oaks we have done some cleaning out (still more to do) and moving stuff into our storage unit.  Now we have to clean out the storage unit.  

Monday, the 28th, I tried to order a Surface Pro 2 from Microsoft.  They place a $1 charge on your credit card to see if the card is good.  My Visa card thought it was a fraudulent purchase (of course they did not call to find out).  Several hours of working with Microsoft’s customer service resulted in not being able to make the purchase on either my Visa or Discover card – Microsoft started to block the transaction.  Robin said he would try again on Tuesday, if I replied to his email.  Of course he did not call back.

So on Wednesday, the 30th, I tried again.  My Visa card and my Discover card blocked it again, as a fraudulent purchase.  So Microsoft’s customer no service tried again for a few hours to no avail.  After JD gave up, I received a call from Discover asking if I had tried to make a purchase from Microsoft.  I said that I had tried, and then ranted a bit, so they decided to unblock the purchase.  Since I had not deleted the MS Store page, I clicked submit, and voila, my purchase went through.  Microsoft had the nerve to ask me to take a survey about my experience with their online Store.  Of course they received a negative review about their store and customer no service.  However, I should have a new Surface Pro 2 tomorrow.

Today, the 31st, I borrowed Larry Jarvis pressure washer to clean the Jeep and our concrete patio.

I will try to take some pictures at our Halloween party tonight for posting in a subsequent blog.

Hugs, and I will type at you later.

2013-10-14

We left WalMart in Dothan, AL and continued down US 431 to I –10.  Then we drove west to Crestview, FL to pick up our mail at Passport America.  After lunch, we drove down HWY 85 to the mid-bay bridge over Choctawhatchee Bay, and then on east to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.  All sites are reservable, but you can get a drive up site if they are not all reserved.  We could only get 2 nights because they are full.  It is a gorgeous park with full hook-ups for $21 per night for FL residents over 65.  We do take advantage of senior discounts.

After cooling down with the roof air conditioners, we took a walk to the beach, 1 mile each way, plus a mile up and down the beach.  Marilyn finally got to get her feet wet in salt water this year.  We think she might have gotten her toe wet in the Pacific last spring, but she definitely got her feet wet here.

Below are a picture of the dunes, and one of the beach.

Hugs, and Type at You Later.

P.S. November 2014 is another National Election, so please remember the impact on the lives of normal Americans caused by both Political Parties, and do not vote for any current member of Congress or any other office.  In other words, do not vote for an incumbent.

2013-10-13

Yesterday, we had the Escapees Chapter 16 meeting at 10am.  Our total turnout at the rally included 4 officers (President Dave Pye, Vice President Roger Dubrulle, Secretary Charles Earhart, and Treasurer Larry Forbes) and one non-officer member Steve Gerner.  It was a normal meeting, until we started discussing whether to continue as a chapter.  We finally voted to de-activate the chapter due to lack of interest and participation on the part of chapter members and Escapees members that have Georgia addresses.  None of us wanted to de-activate the chapter, but we were tired of creating rallies that were attended by officers plus one or two members.

After the meeting, some went to the Little White House (FDR) in Warm Springs, some to Callaway Gardens,some to a hoe-down in Warm Springs, while Marilyn and I went to Columbus to stop at Hobby Lobby, Verizon, and a liquor store.  At Verizon, I wanted to know the impact of the Share Everything Plan on contract lengths, and phone discount upgrades.  We were told there would be no impact on those items if we switched.  I also wanted to find out which Mifi Routers had the best reception.  I was told that the new router for residences (voice and data) had the best reception.  I may change in the next month or two.

Today, we said goodbye to our friends in Chapter 16.  It is sad that the chapter is de-activating, and I have to close the bank account that I just opened in 2012.  However, we did have a wonderful brunch at Bone Fish in Columbus with our son (Doug) and Laila.  We will definitely return for other meals at Bone Fish.  After leaving Doug and Laila, we moved to Dothan, AL where we are spending the night in WalMart’s parking lot.

Hugs, and Type at You Later.

P.S. November 2014 is another National Election, so please remember the impact on the lives of normal Americans caused by both Political Parties, and do not vote for any current member of Congress or any other office.  In other words, do not vote for an incumbent.

2013-10-11

Yesterday when I checked Marilyn’s jury status, the directions said for her not to report.  And today, Marilyn got an email stating that she did not have to report on Monday for jury duty.

Yesterday was another moving day.  We left Lakepoint Resort State Park in Eufaula, AL and drove to Pine Mountain Resort for the Escapees Chapter 16 Fall Rally.  It was a long 73 mile day.  We have ended up with 7 rigs for the rally – 4 officers, a friend of one of the officers, one non-officer chapter member, and one rig from Chapter 29.  Dinner was in LaGrange, GA at Cisco’s Café for wonderful Mexican dinners.

This morning, 10 of us went to the Pine Mountain Wild Animal Safari.  You get to drive through the park viewing and feeding the animals.  We rented one of the park’s vans, and Dave Pye (President of Chapter 16) was our driver.

 

There were deer like animals, pigs, Watusi cattle, bison, etc.

 

The would come right up to your window for the pellets that were sold for animal food.

 

For dinner we went out to a little restaurant in Pine Mountain called Bon Vivant. 

Type at you later.