tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61139693161785251442024-03-12T20:46:08.016-05:00Ramblin' RiewesRambling thoughts of 2 BabyBoomers, originally from MN, who have hit the Road as members of the FullTime RV Class of 2011.
We are members of ESCAPEEs (see http://escapees.com/) and Nomads-UMC (see http://nomadsumc.org/)Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.comBlogger459125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-29060731569568148822018-10-16T23:12:00.002-05:002018-10-16T23:12:15.369-05:00Arizona Means Medical?
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We spent the last Friday of September in Memphis, packing
and doing laundry as well as saying “goodbye” to many of our Nomad friends who
had been at the Annual Meeting.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had
planned for 5 full driving days to Phoenix, which is about 1,500 miles away. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As we got closer, the driving days grew a little
longer so that we arrived at Paula and Tom’s place in 4-1/2 days: midday on
Wednesday, Oct 3.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We held up Tuesday
night in Flagstaff, since Phoenix was getting drenched by the remains of Hurricane
Rosa.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Tuesday was one of the rainiest
days, ever, in Phoenix.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>By Wednesday
morning things were more normal in the valley and we had no difficulties
getting into town.</div>
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It would seem like we might have a quiet time ahead of us,
but Oh No.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In less than a week we were
back to an ER, this time for abdominal pains.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Bob had difficulties sleeping on Monday, and it was no better on Tuesday
so we went to Banner-Thunderbird to have things checked out.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They found an “inflamed appendix” and kept him
overnight for pre-op and scheduled surgical removal for first thing in the
morning.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He stayed overnight again on
Wednesday, so Paige got some alone-time for a change.</div>
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So in the last 3 years, Bob has had ER visits here due to
vision, prostrate, and appendix.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Maybe
we should stay away from Arizona, since we have had no medical issues elsewhere.</div>
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Election Day is still 3 weeks away, and we are looking
forward to ads for RV shows and personal injury lawyers to take the place of
the nasty political ones now being played.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Everyone running has a liar and traitor for their opponent, or so it
seems.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-91428308647852629392018-10-03T23:21:00.003-05:002018-10-03T23:21:17.136-05:00Back to Arizona
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While parked in front of Brett’s place, two weeks ago, we experienced
the pranks of high school students during Elk River’s Homecoming week.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The senior class and the junior class were
competing with each other to see which could spread toilet paper on the trees
at the most homes of the other class.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sophia
is a Junior this year, and the Seniors came to visit on Tuesday night.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In addition to TP-ing a tree in their front
lawn, they also spread a lot of mustard on our pickup and the motorhome.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Wednesday morning the hose came out and the mustard
got washed off.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had a concern that it
may have left a shadow on the protective 3M film on the nose of the motorhome.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Since we planned to stop at the Winnebago
factory anyway, we added that concern to our list.</div>
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We spent one night without hookups (called “boondocking”) at
the factory and were taken care of quickly the next morning (at no cost)!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Thursday night was spent in southern Iowa,
and Friday night in southern Missouri, before getting to the Nomads’ Annual
Meeting at Agricenter International just east of Memphis TN on Saturday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had a great time there, meeting old
friends and making new ones.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Early in
the week, before the business meetings and seminars began, we had a field trip
to the Lorraine Motel, which was the place where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was
assassinated, and which is now the location of the National Civil Rights
Museum.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We spent about 3 hours here, but
it could have been even longer since there is so much to see and read.</div>
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After most of the week full of meetings and seminars, we
took Friday off to do laundry and prepare for our trip west.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It had rained a lot while we were in the Memphis
area, and we were parked on grass.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Friday
was a good day for the ground to dry up and we pulled out on Saturday with no problems.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had planned for 5 driving days of about 300
miles each to get to Paula and Tom’s place in Arizona.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Saturday evening we pulled into a small
campground near the Oklahoma/Arkansas border and were surprised to see another
Nomad couple setting up their 5<sup>th</sup> wheel.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They had arrived just a few minutes before
us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had dinners on our own, but went
out together for dessert at Braum’s Ice Cream.</div>
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While we were headed west, Hurricane Rosa was aiming toward
Baja California, and later dropping lots of rain on Phoenix.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Last night we stopped just outside of
Flagstaff Arizona as the last of the rain moved out of Phoenix.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today was a much easier drive to Paula and Tom’s
place than yesterday would have been.</div>
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So now we are once more in their driveway and will be here
for a few months, while fall finishes and winter comes to the north.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Us “snowbirds” should be warm and dry here in
Arizona through the end of the year, and then some.</div>
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</div>
Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-1470629073475554642018-09-16T20:11:00.002-05:002018-09-16T20:11:41.525-05:00Time to Move On
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Summer is still officially ON, at least until later this
week, but hints of fall have already begun.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Here and there the leaves are beginning to turn colorful and the ferns
along the roadside are already brown.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
have been feeding hummingbirds all summer long, but there are fewer of them
lately.</div>
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Big changes are coming our way next year.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While a part of the Benson family for more
than fifty years now, the cabin has always been primitive, with no sewer or
water.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Carrying fresh water here at 5
gallons per tank and using an outhouse for relief has kept some potential
visitors away.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We also had our own sauna
in place of showers, where sweat and soap got us clean, and lake water rinsed
us off.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As we said, changes are coming:
a well will be drilled and cased this fall, with a pump and water main brought
to the cabin next spring.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A licensed On
Site Sewage Designer has been contracted to go through the county permit
process for us, and to install a high-capacity holding tank next spring.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our lot is too low to allow any kind of mound-based
septic system, so we will have a sewer truck pump out our tank at least once per
year.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That is how the outhouse works but
this will give us a lot more capacity.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Trees have been removed for access to both systems.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Last weekend we took down 3 of them for the
well driller to have access and last Wednesday the power company took down 4
more where the holding tank will go, plus a standing dead pine, plus 2 more birch
which will die next year when the trenches to and from the cabin will be
dug.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While we are contracting for this work,
Brett is looking into expanding the cabin’s floor plan to add a shower and toilet
and likely expand the living room.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It
will be messy around here next year.</div>
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While all of that was taking place last week, we were also
packing up to leave.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yesterday
(Saturday) we pulled out early in the morning to get to the Twin Cities area in
time to take Olivia to a soccer match in the early afternoon.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today (Sunday) we went to Pam’s place to watch
the Vikings tie with the Packers and to pick up some items we will deliver to
Arizona for them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Tomorrow we will
finish our annual water system disinfecting and flushing, then meet with David
and LeJoy and family for dinner.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On Tuesday
we have appointments in place for the motorcycle and our finances.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Then we will leave MN on Wednesday for Winnebago
in Iowa.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That should be a quick stop,
then we are off to Memphis for a week at the Nomads’ Annual Meeting where we
will catch up with about 1,000 of our best friends.</div>
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After Memphis, we will head to Paula’s place in Glendale, AZ
once again to help her for awhile as she just had knee surgery – again!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
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We have scheduled 4 volunteer work projects during the winter,
2 in Arizona and one each in Texas and Missouri before returning next spring. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-30036328420393496242018-06-14T18:50:00.000-05:002018-06-14T18:50:01.517-05:00Quiet Time at the Lake
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It has been awhile since we last posted.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Seems like not a lot happening in our
lives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have had a lot of short (50
mile each way) trips into Duluth for laundry, medical, and social
activities.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Both Bob and Joyce have had
quite a few medical appointments until this week, when we have had none at
all.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had a quick trip to Elk River to
pick up our Grand-dog for her “summer camp” while Brett and family are on a vacation
out west.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Anna planned the trip for
them, because she wanted to see the Seattle area.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They will return prior to the Fourth of July
because the girls like to be here for that holiday.</div>
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After experiencing this area’s last snowfall of the season,
we have had cool, quiet weather.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
reservoir is about as full as it can be and the dam is wide open in
anticipation of a lot of rain this weekend.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We have had a lot of east winds (on shore to us) that have become
tiring.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On the other side of the peninsula,
Steve and Dianna are getting a new deck and landscaping, so we have been checking
the contractor’s progress each evening.</div>
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<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-87384759743268916782018-04-30T12:02:00.000-05:002018-04-30T12:02:16.412-05:00Off the Road for Awhile
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We have finally made it to the cabin for the summer, but it
was quite a journey.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
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When we last posted, we were in Salt Lake City, waiting out
the weather.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We left the next day but
only made it until lunch-time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As we pulled
into a rest area for lunch, a fellow traveler pointed out a noise coming from
our truck.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paige made a few loops of the
rest area while Bob listened and confirmed a strange rattling
coming from the underside, like the 4 wheel drive’s transfer case.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The smartphone found a GM dealer about an
hour up the highway so we pulled in there for an examination.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They confirmed that a cover was gone and some
type of “keeper” was loose on the front driveshaft.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They didn’t have the needed parts in stock,
but thought they could get them overnight.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We “boondocked” in their parking lot, counting on our batteries and
generator while waiting for the parts to come in the next morning.</div>
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The parts did not arrive.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Rather than have us wait another full day, the service writer suggested that
he pull the front drive shaft off so that we had either 2 wheel drive or
neutral.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That plan worked for us so we
left about noon, loosing one day of travel time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We went down the highway about an hour or two
when “low coolant” and “check engine” icons came on in the motorhome.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Another check of the smartphone helped us
find a diesel service outfit on our way.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>This stop only cost us about 2 hours (and $200) where they checked the
on-board diagnostics, reset the fault codes, and added a gallon of coolant. We were
once again on our way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Having proven
that we could spend the night without full hookups, we decided to do it again
by spending Thursday night in a WalMart parking lot in Casper Wyoming.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
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Bob’s cousins had planned a family reunion for mid-day on Saturday
and we figured we could make it if we could get at least halfway across South
Dakota on Friday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>With an early start on
Friday, we planned a big driving day. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A
highlight of the day was when a herd of 30 to 40 antelope decided to cross the
highway in front of us. Zoom In to see them better:</div>
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We got cell phone service late morning as we came into South
Dakota and got near Rapid City.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most of
South Dakota was hard hit by a snowstorm last week and we soon found that the
RV parks around Mitchel and Sioux Falls are not yet open, so we planned on boondocking
once again.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sioux Falls has 3 WalMarts
to choose from, but none of them allow overnight parking due to a city
ordinance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Worthington Minnesota is less
than an hour further east, and on our way, so that became our target
destination.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We first planned on parking
at a restaurant on the edge of town, but it was too full of idling trucks and
mud, so we backtracked into town and found their WalMart, which allowed
overnighters.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Three nights in a row off-the-grid!!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Wow, that wasn’t planned at all, and neither
was 650-mile day in a motorhome.</div>
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On the bright side, we had only 100 miles to cover on
Saturday morning, and we could make it to the reunion, where we had a good time
seeing most (11 of 16) of Bob’s cousins and siblings.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>After that gathering broke up, we had another
100 miles to Brett’s place, where we had a 20-amp electrical connection waiting
for us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We spent 2 nights there, catching
up on the activities of his family, touching base with Dave, and getting a
spring-time motorcycle ride in.</div>
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We needed to get to Duluth on Monday morning for a number of
medical appointments, both for us and Paige’s mother.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We parked for 3 nights outside Paige’s cousin’s
house while all these appointments were taken care of.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On Thursday, we re-parked the motorhome at
the cabin.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was a fine spring day for
settling in and unloading the motorhome.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The lake is still frozen, but most of the snow is gone.</div>
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We had a number of social activities back in the metro area
for the weekend, so we only had a one-night stay at the lake.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Friday morning we awoke to the pitter/patter
of droplets on the roof, which quickly transitioned to large, wet snowflakes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>By the time we left for Minneapolis there was
a fresh inch or two of slippery snow on the ground.</div>
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This in late April??.....only in Minnesota!
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We had a great weekend in the Twin Cities, with Anna’s
History Day competition at the University, and Olivia’s soccer game at St
Johns, plus breakfast with David, LaJoy, and Kaylen while Brayden had to work. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We got back to the cabin in time to join Steve
and Deanna for turkey burger supper.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It
was good to get back to the lake for a few days of quiet time before another
round of medical appointments later this week.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-69026813343123296432018-04-17T22:58:00.001-05:002018-04-17T22:58:08.828-05:00Stopped Again
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After waiting out the high winds in Arizona on Thursday, we
left Paula and Tom’s place on Friday on our way toward Las Vegas.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>US93 north of I-40 gave us a different view
of Arizona, with quite dramatic hills.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
had originally planned to stop just short of the Nevada border, but the campground
we had in mind was full.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>After calling a
couple of others, we crossed into Nevada and stopped for the night near
downtown Las Vegas.</div>
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Saturday’s drive was also very scenic, up the Virgin River
valley, back into the corner of Arizona, and into Utah.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I-15 is in a wide valley.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Years ago we had been in the next valley to
the east on a motorcycle trip, so now we got the see the “other side of the
mountains.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We stopped at Beaver Utah,
which gave us a shorter day into Salt Lake City on Sunday morning.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was a gorgeous day and we got to see the
mountains both east and west of us. </div>
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Sunday afternoon we spent with family: Bob’s sister-in-law
Dianne is in town, spending time with her granddaughter while Bob’s niece,
Becky, is out of the country with a grad school group.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had a very nice afternoon, just visiting,
and a pleasant dinner.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Eden had made
some fresh brownies for dessert.</div>
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While Eden was in school on Monday, Dianne led us on a tour
of the area: Great Salt Lake State Park, Antelope Island, and Temple Square
downtown.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
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We really appreciate her help because
we wouldn’t have seen all of these on our own.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Monday was a good day for sightseeing and not traveling because a new
front was coming into the area with high winds, again.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This time they were over 50 mph, so the
motorhome stayed parked.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As the front
came through on Monday night, we got some of the snow that was forecasted.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
We changed our plans, staying in Salt lake City on Tuesday
to wait out the weather again.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Not the
wind today, or even the snow.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Some freezing
temperatures came with the front and they are lower to the east, where we are
going.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Another day and the temperatures
will be a little more acceptable.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Tuesday
was spent doing laundry, buying Comey’s new book, and sightseeing in Park
City.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6tqlOV9QSXw/WtbCPAQ_DLI/AAAAAAAAIZ0/W2vtd7HF06o0CvF9htc2ldnKk65Kwa6xgCLcBGAs/s1600/going%2Bto%2BPark%2BCity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6tqlOV9QSXw/WtbCPAQ_DLI/AAAAAAAAIZ0/W2vtd7HF06o0CvF9htc2ldnKk65Kwa6xgCLcBGAs/s320/going%2Bto%2BPark%2BCity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"></span>Tomorrow will be a warmer travel
day into Wyoming.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-46801856087602942402018-04-12T10:48:00.003-05:002018-04-12T10:48:43.840-05:00Anxious to Roll Once Again
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Our work projects are done, our RV repairs are done, all “stuff”
has been repacked and loaded.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are
ready to hit the road; but we are sitting still for another day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Why?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Mother Nature.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This time of year Northern
Arizona often has high wind warnings and we are traveling in a “high profile
vehicle” so we tend to watch out for these warnings.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are planning to return north to the Midwest
by way of Salt Lake City (because we haven’t been there before).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is out of the way, compared to the
shortest distance, but not by much.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here
is part of a warning from the local forecast:</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">
<span style="color: #383e49; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; margin: 0px;">* TIMING...Beginning 11 AM this
morning continuing to 7 PM this </span><span style="color: #383e49; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
</span><span style="color: #383e49; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">evening.
</span></span><span style="color: #383e49; font-family: "&quot",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; margin: 0px;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
</span><span style="color: #383e49; font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; margin: 0px;">*
WINDS...Westerly winds of 20 to 30 mph gusting up to 45 mph.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
We will put up with gust to about 30 mph or so, but these
predictions are a little too much, so we will sit it out for another day and
leave Phoenix tomorrow.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Since there is also a good sized snow storm now moving from
South Dakota into Minnesota and Wisconsin, we have another reason not to
hurry.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We will give it time to melt
before getting there.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Apparently much of the country has experienced a delay in
getting their normal spring weather.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
follow a daily blog by Nick Russell and his “Thought for the Day” hits the
spot:</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Mother Nature apologizes for
the lateness of Spring, but Father Time </span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"> was driving and refused to stop and ask
for directions!</span>”</i></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-48971983098181847602018-04-04T22:25:00.003-05:002018-04-04T22:25:40.750-05:00Quiet Once Again
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
We have had a busy few weeks here in southern California:
first a 3-week work project at LaVerne that we described earlier, followed by
another 3-week work project at San Dimas, followed by a 5-day visit from Jen&Brett’s
3 girls that just ended this morning.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>During all of that we also met with Jamie and Jeff and their 2 daughters
and got some resolution on Bob’s medical issues.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Between the work periods, we met with Jamie, Jeff and their
2 girls at the LA County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens (with all of their
peacocks).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was so good to see how the
girls are growing up!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KCypa5VklY/WsWU3iUKX2I/AAAAAAAAIL4/8ouc3drzv5IOrr6EH5YYfgiNG7t4Ex7CwCLcBGAs/s1600/J%2B%2526%2BJs%2Bgirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KCypa5VklY/WsWU3iUKX2I/AAAAAAAAIL4/8ouc3drzv5IOrr6EH5YYfgiNG7t4Ex7CwCLcBGAs/s320/J%2B%2526%2BJs%2Bgirls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The following week, Bob had his prostate inspected by a ‘scope
where the condition was defined as BPH and a surgery is recommended, but it will
wait until we are parked for the spring and summer in Duluth.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A 4<sup>th</sup> catheter was inserted and
will stay in place for the next month.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The San Dimas project went well.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We worked on the parsonage’s garage and lawn as
well as a number of items at the church itself (including some painting, some
ceiling fans, a small shingled roof overhang, some interior drywall and plaster
repairs). <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As a group, we had a number of meals together,
including comfort food, sushi, and Italian, plus lots of lunches and snacks
from the congregation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A good time was
had by all.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It all came to an end last
Thursday and our leaders left that evening to meet with family.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Another couple left Friday morning.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Bill and Ogie stayed until Ogie left on
Easter Sunday for an early flight to Korea.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>She is visiting her family for 2 months and will meet Bill in Hawaii
before coming back to their motorhome.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
On Friday afternoon we met Brett’s 3 girls at LAX where they
were traveling as “unaccompanied minors”.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The pickup process went smoothly, but we found this morning that Delta Airlines’
personnel did not finish their part the correct way which caused a slow process
for their return flight this morning.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>While they here we took them to the Venice canals:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLg4D1fT4XE/WsWVI9vhMqI/AAAAAAAAIL8/kveXJfCx6IggbEW9FfMoBQrhOag4iDenQCLcBGAs/s1600/Bretts%2B3%2Bat%2BVenice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLg4D1fT4XE/WsWVI9vhMqI/AAAAAAAAIL8/kveXJfCx6IggbEW9FfMoBQrhOag4iDenQCLcBGAs/s320/Bretts%2B3%2Bat%2BVenice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
plus Venice Beach, the LA County Museum of Art:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VZ7ZdRRQuMg/WsWVWvb9VUI/AAAAAAAAIMA/zu5gG4B8iyI75BU9XDgk3O_MH7Lr7sj3ACLcBGAs/s1600/LACMA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VZ7ZdRRQuMg/WsWVWvb9VUI/AAAAAAAAIMA/zu5gG4B8iyI75BU9XDgk3O_MH7Lr7sj3ACLcBGAs/s320/LACMA.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
a Twentieth
Century Fox Studio tour,<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--awtH5kMhyo/WsWVuA2bGII/AAAAAAAAIME/K_kfcj7Ula8Zsrijza1EDpj6qm2rtMp1QCLcBGAs/s1600/Fox%2Bsoundstage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--awtH5kMhyo/WsWVuA2bGII/AAAAAAAAIME/K_kfcj7Ula8Zsrijza1EDpj6qm2rtMp1QCLcBGAs/s320/Fox%2Bsoundstage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
as well as the Getty Museum:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTIzFnjv6iM/WsWXCqQyA2I/AAAAAAAAIMU/Ux8lr3rAYN8CwaBCNR0OBGD-7FK8WN_vQCLcBGAs/s1600/Getty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTIzFnjv6iM/WsWXCqQyA2I/AAAAAAAAIMU/Ux8lr3rAYN8CwaBCNR0OBGD-7FK8WN_vQCLcBGAs/s320/Getty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Mixed in with those were a tour of the USC
campus, a drive-by near UCLA, plus a walk along the Avenue of Stars in
Hollywood.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We all got to see a lot of
Los Angeles.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span>Now we have a night of quiet TV and packing before returning
to Arizona tomorrow.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have some repair
work scheduled on the motorhome and will see Paige’s sisters before taking a
roundabout way north for the spring.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-90048090257519957662018-03-14T19:58:00.000-05:002018-03-14T19:58:37.920-05:00Sad, Tired, and Angry: A Prayer in the face of gun violence
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Today is the day students nationwide have protested the school
shootings in Florida with a school walkout.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Out of respect for them, one of our Nomads provided this message in
their morning devotion; a prayer created by James Martin, a Jesuit priest.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was so well written, we want to share it:</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Almighty God,</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I come before you, once again, after another shooting.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I am sad, God.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
So I ask you:</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To receive
into your loving care the souls of those who were killed,</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To care for
those who were wounded or hurt in any way,</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To console
the family members and friends of those who died or were wounded,</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To strengthen
the hands of the rescue workers, medical professionals and caregivers.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I pray, too, for the shooter, as I must as a Christian.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
All this makes me inexpressibly sad, God</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
But I know the sadness I feel is your sadness.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"></span>It is the same sadness your son expressed
when he wept over the death of his friend Lazarus.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I know that the sadness I feel is your
sadness.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I am tired, God.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I am tired of the unwillingness to see this as an important
issue.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I am tired of those in power who work to prevent any real change.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I am tired of those who say that gun violence can’t be
reduced.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
All this makes me tired.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
But I know that the tiredness I feel is your tiredness.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
It’s the same tiredness that Jesus felt after his own
struggles against injustice that led him to fall asleep on the boat with his
disciples.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I am angry, God.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I’m angry at the seeming powerlessness of our community to
prevent this.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I’m angry at the selfish financial interests who block
change.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I’m angry that these shootings happen at all.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
But I know that this anger is your anger.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
It’s the same anger Jesus felt when he overturned the tables
in the Temple, angry that anyone would be taken advantage of in any way.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Help me see in these feelings as the way that you move me to
act.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Help me see in these emotions your own desire for change.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Help me see in these feelings your moving me to act.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Help me see in these reactions your pushing me to do
something.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Because I know this is the way you move people to action.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
And I know that you desire action.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
For Jesus did not stand by while people were being hurt.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
He plunged into their lives.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
So, help me to answer these questions:</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How can I
help?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How can I
fight against gun violence?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How can I
urge my political leaders to enact change?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How can I
help people understand that this is an issue about life?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I am sad over the loss of life, </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
tired of excuses for the loss of life, </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
and angry that we are paralyzed by the loss of life.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
So</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Turn my sadness into compassion.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Turn my tiredness into advocacy.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Turn my paralysis into the freedom to act.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Help me to be compassionate, to advocate, and to act, as
your son did.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Almighty God</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
We will close with a big Thank You to those students, who
are showing their elders what a miserable job we, their parents and
grandparents, have done on their behalf.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-70529619003879325012018-03-11T21:57:00.001-05:002018-03-11T21:57:21.374-05:00California Dreaming
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Nearly another month has passed already since our last
posting.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Time flies, so we must be having
fun.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have heard from a couple of
readers this month, so we will keep the postings coming, on an irregular schedule like
always.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
We are in the Los Angeles suburbs, where we were 2 years
ago.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On days with good traffic (seldom)
we learned that we are about an hour’s drive from downtown.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On our first weekend here, we went
sightseeing and found that estimate was right: about an hour to Griffith Park,
but it took 3 hours to get back.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
We have just finished a 3-week project at the LaVerne United
Methodist Church (which was a location used near the end of the film “The
Graduate”, starring Dustin Hoffman).<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>This is our 3<sup>rd</sup> time working at this church.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We always enjoy our time here, which is made
better by the fact that they make wonderful lunches for us every work day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is a large Filipino presence here and
these people cook GREAT meals!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our
Nomads group was made up of 3 couples that had worked together previously and
one new couple.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It didn’t take long for
everyone to meld together to work hard and laugh much.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Since we’ve been here we have had 2 trips to the emergency
room.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Bob has been suffering with some
health issues.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What we’ve learned is
that health is very tenuous, family is so important for support, and Nomads are
a wonderful support for us also.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our
Nomads group stepped up to the plate and helped to move our RV for us, take up
some of the responsibilities we had as leaders, and make sure that we had our
priorities set on Bob’s issues as well as prayers for us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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Here are a couple of photos of our work group: first the
official group photo when we were cleaned up</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NgklGChKy7E/WqXrsqD561I/AAAAAAAAIKI/QDwSmbQvGuQjvwVrh-IPTPLxDNQX5tYIwCLcBGAs/s1600/Nomads%2Bphoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NgklGChKy7E/WqXrsqD561I/AAAAAAAAIKI/QDwSmbQvGuQjvwVrh-IPTPLxDNQX5tYIwCLcBGAs/s320/Nomads%2Bphoot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A big part of our labor was to rebuild an outdoor pergola
which has the same shape as the sanctuary roof and the sign above</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sO0uMVCabds/WqXsBFxfE0I/AAAAAAAAIKM/tvfo4lw3U3URNt2d-M2RlyI7zQsHxECswCLcBGAs/s1600/Pergola%2Bassembly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sO0uMVCabds/WqXsBFxfE0I/AAAAAAAAIKM/tvfo4lw3U3URNt2d-M2RlyI7zQsHxECswCLcBGAs/s320/Pergola%2Bassembly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last Thursday was International Womens’ Day, so the guys had
an audience for our final assembly.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
ladies had a chance to touch up our final paint job right after this photo was
taken</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6paobvkc3WI/WqXsO_Ps_8I/AAAAAAAAIKU/1r7NHchAttU-aL1jaoAdmMiOrGPsHWt0QCLcBGAs/s1600/audience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6paobvkc3WI/WqXsO_Ps_8I/AAAAAAAAIKU/1r7NHchAttU-aL1jaoAdmMiOrGPsHWt0QCLcBGAs/s320/audience.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"> We finished in time for a wedding this weekend, with outdoor photos taken under the pergola.</span></div>
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Our four RVs have been parked nearby at the back lot of
David and Margaret Youth and Family Services, also in LaVerne. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Two of the rigs left this weekend, allowing
room for two more to join us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Four couples
will be working at the sanctuary and the parsonage of Sam Dimas United
Methodist Church in nearby San Dimas, about 1-1/2 miles away.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We don’t often work back-to-back projects,
but these two are so close to each other, and have nice people to work for.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
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After we finish at San Dimas, we have permission to stay
here at David and Margaret’s for another week when Brett’s girls will be coming
for Spring Break.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We should have a lot
of fun showing them around the touristy places of Los Angeles.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our niece, Tomie, has arranged a tour of Fox
Studios for them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are anxious to see
them and show them around LA!</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-8589511698021201242018-02-13T21:13:00.002-06:002018-02-13T21:13:30.396-06:00Back on the Road
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After almost 10 weeks in Arizona, we left today to cross
into California.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had originally
planned to get on the road earlier but a couple of issues delayed things.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>First, we crunched a basement door on the
motorhome just before getting into Phoenix.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The RV shop near Paula and Tom’s place can handle the replacement but
the lead time for parts meant we would have to stay after our service project
in January.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Then we learned that they
had ordered the wrong replacement door and won’t have the right one available
until March, when we have to be in California.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We have re-scheduled that repair for early April after we tour Los
Angeles with our grand-daughters (their Christmas present from us).</div>
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We chose to stay in Arizona longer in order to attend an
informal Nomads gathering back on the 3<sup>rd</sup>.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There, we met a few fellow Nomads we have
worked with before and also many new friends.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>“Plan B” was to stay in the Phoenix area to watch the Super Bowl on TV
during the 4<sup>th</sup> and the leave for California the next day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But it didn’t work out that way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Medical issues Saturday night meant Bob had
to spend Sunday morning at an Emergency Room getting a catheter installed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Plan C” had us staying to meet with a Urologist
on Wednesday to plan a course of action and to return on the 12<sup>th</sup> to
have the catheter removed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our planned 2
weeks of sightseeing around southern California has been reduced to 2
days.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We now plan to arrive near our
next project on Thursday and meet with our local contact on Friday to review
the work they would like us to do over the next 3 weeks.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The rest of our team should arrive on
Saturday.</div>
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This area is known for its production of vegetables; today
we saw a lot of cabbages being harvested by hand and also saw large fields of
onions.</div>
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Our planned sightseeing will be to look around the border
area of Calexico tomorrow, as well as checking out the Blue Angels’ winter practice
area in the desert north of us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On
Thursday we will head north up the Imperial Valley, along the Salton Sea and
into the Los Angeles area.</div>
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We would like to ask any readers out there to contact us,
either by phone or email to let us know you are still out there.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Should we continue to update this blog?</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-51336936817454021172018-01-18T09:18:00.002-06:002018-01-18T09:18:54.269-06:00Mid-Period
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Nomads’ work periods are scheduled in 3 week blocks.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our first period of 2018 runs from January 8
to 25, so we are about 2/3rds through it.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Our main commitment has been to do whatever is needed at Youngtown
Methodist Church, while being parked at Calvary United Methodist Church’s back
lot.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>These locations are about 12 to 13
miles apart, both on the west side of Phoenix.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We have completed all items that Youngtown had planned for us (mainly
painting and some light carpentry) so we plan to use our remaining week helping
out at Calvary.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Later this morning our
contact here will take us around to show us a couple of things he would like
help with.</div>
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We have planned for getting together tomorrow with some other
Nomads at a coffee shop across town.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Some of them are old friends so it will be fun to see them again and get
caught up with their activities.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-85530305830380959682018-01-02T17:41:00.001-06:002018-01-02T17:41:31.368-06:00Still Recuperating...Back to Work Soon
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
Somehow, a whole month has slipped by.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We changed our plans and skipped going to Silver
City.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Instead, we dropped down through
Alamogordo, past White Sands (without stopping, this time) and back to an
Interstate highway at Las Cruces.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
spent a night each at Escapees parks in Deming NM and Casa Grande so that our last
day on the road was a short one through metro Phoenix and on to Paula and Tom’s
place on the north side.</div>
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We have just been sitting here with no major sightseeing or
work going on.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Bob has taken the time
for a couple of motorcycle rides, but there is not much in the way of scenery
in the metro area.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A rider has got to
get way out of town to find much good riding and the traffic is terrible; not
bad, just inconsiderate and at least 10 mph over the posted limits.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Pam and Ron have moved down to their winter home, about ½ hour
away so we’ve seen them a couple of times.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Ron has loaned quite a few paperbacks, so we have done a lot of reading.</div>
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Our loafing is about to come to an end.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Friday morning we will meet with the pastor
of a church in suburban Youngtown AZ for the first time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We will learn what repairs they would like to
have us do over the next 3 weeks.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Later
that day we will move the rig to a different church who are allowing us to park
in their back yard.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The project started
out with 4 RVs registered to work here, but 2 had to drop out leaving just us
and one other couple.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We may have some
last minute additions, but that’s not too likely.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We will get as much done as we can with the
people we have.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Usually it is more than our
hosts really expected from us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We will
see if we can surprise them.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-12526972434194839872017-12-03T18:19:00.002-06:002017-12-03T18:19:40.201-06:00A Day Off
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We spent 2 long days of driving (Friday and Saturday) to get
to the mountains of New Mexico.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are
recuperating by taking Sunday off at a park in Ruidoso Downs and wandering
around Ruidoso (another nearby town).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They
are between seasons here: lots of tourists in the summer for cool mountain air,
and lots of skiers and snowboarders in the winter.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is no snow yet, but it is coming!</div>
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Tomorrow we will get back on the road again, dropping down
near White Sands and sightseeing around Silver City.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-79668583780976114682017-12-01T19:46:00.002-06:002017-12-01T19:46:40.228-06:00Departure to the South and West
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
Our time in Oklahoma has come to an end.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is still a lot of need remaining and
some Nomads will be here for another couple of weeks, before a Holiday
break.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The OK Disaster program has also
been extended into 2018 with many groups, including Nomads, coming back to
continue the repairs to homes flooded about 18 months ago.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had made a 4-week commitment which ended
yesterday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>With only a couple of cool
mornings, our weather has been great for both indoor and outdoor work. Even so,
it seems like we are leaving just in time: a great weekend is forecast, but
next week will have highs in the 40’s and overnight lows below freezing.</div>
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We are on our way to Paula and Tom’s place in Arizona.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our first day on the road in awhile was a
long one; zigzagging diagonally through SW Oklahoma and on to Lubbock TX.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We saw a lot of cotton fields being harvested,
but not much else in the way of sightseeing.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-29153023460197714072017-11-25T21:16:00.002-06:002017-11-25T21:16:50.708-06:00Holiday Time
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
Two more weeks are now behind us, and we have one more
before we leave for Arizona.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On our
project near Moore, Oklahoma, house #3 needed 5 new windows and a couple of
floor repairs.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most of last week was
spent at Tina and Willie’s place (house #4), where 4 bedrooms are getting all
new drywall and floors, and the hallway will also be re-floored.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most of the old drywall had already been
removed, mostly.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In a mobile home, the
drywall had been glued and stapled in place.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It took lots of time and effort to get the studs smooth enough for the
new walls. This coming week we will have just 2 couples and the area project
coordinator, so we expect to be there all week working mostly on the installation
of laminate flooring and molding around the floors, doors, and ceiling.</div>
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Two weeks ago we came across a small diner in Oklahoma City
that does a lot to support the less fortunate in their neighborhood, so we came
back to support them over Thanksgiving: 800 servings were packaged Wednesday evening
and we helped combine this food into meal packages on Thursday morning.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Volunteers were lined up to deliver these
meals all along the I-35 corridor before noon. Here are Bob and Barb in front of 300 pies:</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GYeEzz1ouls/WhoxfeohZ6I/AAAAAAAAIAg/kxHBlkNINjg4F7bUddsFGokzoB71NhVzgCLcBGAs/s1600/11-23-2017%2BThanksgiving%2Bmeals%2Bin%2BOklahoma%2BCity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GYeEzz1ouls/WhoxfeohZ6I/AAAAAAAAIAg/kxHBlkNINjg4F7bUddsFGokzoB71NhVzgCLcBGAs/s320/11-23-2017%2BThanksgiving%2Bmeals%2Bin%2BOklahoma%2BCity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After working at the restaurant, we had a late breakfast along
with Jack and Barb, our fellow Nomads workers.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Then home to watch the Vikings beat Detroit!!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our Thanksgiving dinner was provided by
Cracker Barrel.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All in all, a nice
Thanksgiving Day.</div>
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This evening (Saturday) the older downtown section of Moore
held a family-friendly parade with over 30 floats, followed by a tree lighting
ceremony and sleigh rides. We walked about 2 blocks to get to the parade
route.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>About 55 degrees out.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Not bad; but not very Christmas-y out.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-80427542970886984002017-11-10T20:57:00.002-06:002017-11-10T20:57:50.492-06:00Resting and Recharging
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
Here we sit, just off of I-35 in Moore, OK about 800 freeway
miles south of Minneapolis.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We arrived
last Saturday, the 4<sup>th</sup>, after 3-1/2 days of driving.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are parked behind the First United
Methodist Church and have just completed the first of 4 weeks volunteering
here.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Some major flooding about 18
months ago created a lot of damage which we are helping to repair.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are joined with 3 other couples.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have worked with the Drakes a couple of
years ago in California, but the other 2 couples are new-to-us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Morris and Karen were our leaders this past
week, but they left for Florida this morning.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Next week’s leaders will be Jack and Barb, who arrived Wednesday
afternoon and worked with us yesterday.</div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
Most of us spent most of the week at Renee’s place; a house
originally owned by her native American grandparents on land deeded to them
almost 100 years ago.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most of our work
has involved flooring: some new sub-floor, some laminate, some peel-and-stick
tiles, and painting.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A few of us also
spent time at David’s double wide trailer where we are fastening metal skirting
around the outside to help insulate and direct future water runoff around the
building.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Both of these homes are about
25 miles southeast of town, so we pack a lunch and eat on site each day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Another group of volunteers (not Nomads) are
coming in this weekend and should finish at Renee’s place, and there is not
quite a day’s work remaining at David’s so next week will bring us some new
opportunities.</div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
Most Nomads are retired folks who really appreciate our
3-day weekends.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>After 4 days working, we
need the next 3 to recuperate.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-79044878684570198252017-11-02T16:53:00.002-05:002017-11-02T16:53:56.884-05:00Escaping Winter Just in Time
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
When we last posted, we were emptying the cabin and loading
the motorhome.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We picked a good day to
do it, while the weather was still OK.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Most of that work was done a week ago Wednesday, saving Thursday morning
for loading the motorcycle, parking the golf cart, and doing all of the final
lockups.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As we got to the County road,
the weather began to change to a cold mist and drizzle.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It stayed that way most of Thursday, but
changed to heavy, wet snow overnight.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
spent the night parked on the street outside of Steve’s place in Duluth and
woke up to about 8-10 inches of slippery white stuff on Friday morning.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GyMIh2QRnys/WfuT3vJozRI/AAAAAAAAH-4/Peg6wldQBCcSLIl_byMpud8vJcBejIqwQCLcBGAs/s1600/Oct%2B31%2B2017%2BDuluth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GyMIh2QRnys/WfuT3vJozRI/AAAAAAAAH-4/Peg6wldQBCcSLIl_byMpud8vJcBejIqwQCLcBGAs/s320/Oct%2B31%2B2017%2BDuluth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Paige spent the morning with her mother, while Bob had a
last-minute eye exam.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We both got good
reports, then left for Brett’s place by mid-day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The snow on the ground got lighter as we came
south.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We parked on the street there for
a few more days, helping with the granddaughters’ activities and getting to
Paige’s final eye exam.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We also had a
family gathering on Saturday night with Brett and Dave’s family (minus LeJoy
who is moving her business, but we got to see her Sunday morning for
breakfast).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We all had a great time
eating lasagna, chocolate éclair ring, and visiting.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Love to see everyone!!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Before leaving Minnesota, we took time to
have lunch with the Dave and Nancy, who are now former fulltime RVers and
former Nomads.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was snowing lightly
during and after lunch, but quit about an hour later.</div>
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The temperature climbed out of the 30s about the time we got
to the Iowa border; first time in over a week for us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Wednesday night we spent in an RV park, first
time in a week we got to open all 4 slides.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Today, Thursday, our temperature display showed 60 as we came through
Kansas City.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Warmth sure helps the
disposition.</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-89163795251148108002017-10-21T07:05:00.001-05:002017-10-21T07:05:03.110-05:00Closing and Packing
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We are not leaving yet, but are getting ready to hit the
road within the next week.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Fall has
fallen (most of the leaves are down), winter has hinted it is near (overnight
temps in the 30s and scattered frost), but we have just had some nice “Indian
Summer” for the past week or so.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Joyce
has finished her radiation treatments and completed an ortho-surgery and now
has a couple of weeks of therapy ahead of her before she can return to assisted
living.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She knows the routine, and is
looking forward to getting back to her place.</div>
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Potential snow is in the long range weather forecast for
this area, so it is time for us to pack up the motorhome and close up the
cabin.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We will have a quick stop with
the kids and grandkids next weekend and then head south.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have scheduled ourselves to work with
fellow Nomads near Oklahoma City for most of November before heading further
west.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-46202180628466550082017-09-28T18:49:00.000-05:002017-09-28T18:49:09.660-05:00Back to the NorthWoods Once Again
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The Customer Service group at Winnebago took efficient care
of us once again.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Since we arrived with
an appointment, most of our work was completed on Monday; a couple of “Add On”
items and most of our tree damage, leaving only the duct-taped holes in the
roof.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>These were dried out Tuesday and
Tuesday night, and finished up on Wednesday morning.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We were out of there by 1:30, in time to
catch the early part of Minneapolis’s rush hour traffic. They also had to take care of over 45 non-appointment "Drop Ins".</div>
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We spent the night on the street outside of Brett’s place,
and took Olivia to a soccer practice that evening.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Her team is doing quite well this season.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We will miss Anna’s CrossCountry meet this
weekend.</div>
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Since Paige will be taking her mother to radiation
treatments on Friday, we returned to the cabin on Thursday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Pam was with Joyce on Tuesday and Wednesday,
so we met with her in Hinkley during her return.</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-64228906640686913062017-09-24T21:21:00.001-05:002017-09-24T21:21:40.316-05:00Back to “Camp Winnebago”
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After a great Annual Meeting of the Nomads at Amana Iowa we
have come back to Forest City for repairs to our motorhome.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This will mostly be repairing the damage
caused by a wind-blown tree.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(See our
posting of June 16)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have had the
Canyon repaired earlier and now it is the Journey’s turn.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We arrived Saturday afternoon and found the
parking areas somewhat crowded; and more motorhomes have arrived since
then.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We haven’t ever seen this many
units here for service.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are glad to
have a firm appointment.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-15841898557206717082017-09-12T08:00:00.001-05:002017-09-12T08:00:38.017-05:00Pack and Load…(repeat)…(repeat)…
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Yes, the time has come to load up the motorhome and hit the
road once again.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But only for a short
time until we return to the lake.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are
only going as far as Duluth today, to help coordinate some of Joyce’s medical
issues, to have our annual chassis maintenance done, and to do our annual water
treatment.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>After a few days there, we
will head to Iowa for the Nomads group’s annual meeting next week.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The week after that we will get our tree damage
repaired at the Winnebago factory before coming back to the lake for most of
October.</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>As we get back on the road, it will be easier to remember to post here more often.Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-88875144041602578392017-08-16T18:29:00.002-05:002017-08-16T18:29:48.163-05:00Enough Is Enough
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Once again another month has gone by since posting here.</div>
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The “Retired Life” is great.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We work when we want and where we want.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Last week we volunteered again at Habitat for Humanity.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A new house is being built in Mountain
Iron.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we arrived, the outer walls
were standing and sheeted, with rough openings for doors and window cut
out.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The two of us and three other
volunteers built and erected four interior walls for the bedrooms.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>New construction is quite different from the
repair work we have done with Nomads.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Next week a large traveling group of RVing volunteers will begin a
2-week project on this house.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We will
come back again, after they leave, when there will be a need for more local
help.</div>
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Next week we will leave the quiet lakeside life for a few
days in the Twin Cities.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We both have a
number of doctor and dental appointments, plus a day at the State Fair before
returning to the lake.</div>
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Those of us from the Midwest have a reputation for being too
pleasant and not speaking up often enough or loud enough.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The label “Minnesota Nice” comes to mind, but
it also applies to many of us in at least a 7-state area.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The time has come for us to speak our
minds.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On a recent morning TV program,
the hosts asked about stress in their viewers’ lives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Reflecting on this question, our main
stresses come from the shameless functioning of our current administration in
DC.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The “swamp” was not drained; it has
only become more rancid during the past 6 months.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The current occupant of the Oval Office has
shown his true colors as a despicable egotist who will never admit any of his
many mistakes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The “Leader of the Free
World” is now someone in Europe.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our
president is not a leader, but is an embarrassment to this country, his party
and himself – a truly “Ugly American”.</div>
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It is true that he has bought us together:</div>
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“<span style="font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://maristpoll.marist.edu/816-trump-at-lowest-point-with-35-job-approval-rating-crack-at-the-base" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The new Marist Poll</span></a>, which has a sampling margin of
+/- 3.1 percent, found that 55 percent disapprove of Trump after seven months
on the job“</span></div>
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This poll was completed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>before</u></b>
the recent Charlottesville demonstrations.</div>
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There, I have said it, and it feels good to get it out there</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-88859593054692717402017-07-15T08:32:00.001-05:002017-07-15T08:32:14.657-05:00Nearly a Month has gone by
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Maybe summer has finally come to the Northwoods.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Since parking here at the lake more than 2
months ago, we have finally had a couple nice weather days, back to back.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>An average day has been cool, wet, or windy
or a combination of them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There may have
been 4 or 5 nice days scattered around, but not very many.</div>
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We had Stella, the Grand-dog with us for more than 2 weeks,
while Brett, Jen, and the girls were on vacation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The granddaughters took Stella’s place over
the Fourth of July weekend and have since gone home to their varied summer
activities.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>David and his family were
here as well over the Fourth, so that weekend was quite busy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Dave took lots of beautiful pictures.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is one of my favorites!</div>
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After the Fourth, Paula and Tomie came to Duluth for a quick
visit to Grandma Joyce.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Pam and Ron came
up from the Twin Cities and we had a nice dinner with Grandma to celebrate an
early 88<sup>th</sup> birthday for her.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Brett’s girls were still here so it was a nice group and lots of fun.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMPAc7bAA4M/WWoZQGHcjsI/AAAAAAAAHmk/QOsJ0ORPAuARB3c33ZP4SsYCDeJaLTO6ACLcBGAs/s1600/girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMPAc7bAA4M/WWoZQGHcjsI/AAAAAAAAHmk/QOsJ0ORPAuARB3c33ZP4SsYCDeJaLTO6ACLcBGAs/s320/girls.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Last Sunday was a nice day and we spent part of it on Steve
and Deanna’s pontoon.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Very quiet as most
of the “weekenders” had left the lake.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>So nice that they invite us for these long rides!</div>
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The last week has been pretty quiet.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The pickup has been repaired (mostly) from
the storm damage.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We haven’t yet
received an estimate to repair the motorhome; maybe we’ll have it soon.</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6113969316178525144.post-72952291855559453542017-06-16T13:03:00.002-05:002017-06-16T13:03:28.891-05:00Well, This is Different!!
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After all these years in the northwoods, storms have only
caused a few power outages, but no real damage to our personal property.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All that changed Tuesday afternoon.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rm6eWMhM1CA/WUQdSSyAX9I/AAAAAAAAHkI/U6xC0RRotH4epbp8O81Hsp2Pk7Pic1MwwCLcBGAs/s1600/tree%2Bdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rm6eWMhM1CA/WUQdSSyAX9I/AAAAAAAAHkI/U6xC0RRotH4epbp8O81Hsp2Pk7Pic1MwwCLcBGAs/s320/tree%2Bdown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had strong winds off the lake, and one weak tree.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It came down onto both the Winnebago and the
pickup.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have policies for both
vehicles with the same carrier and they will consider it to be one “incident”
so we shouldn’t have to pay two deductibles.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We have spoken to a claims person by phone, and are waiting for a
personal visit to be scheduled soon.</div>
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We will see how all this turns out.</div>
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Down the road, Duluth is now filling up with runners and
their families and fans.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is the
weekend of Grandma’s Marathon, when tens of thousands of people show up to run
along the shores of Lake Superior.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
will be volunteering to help with route control during the William A. Irvin 5k
support event, just like we did last year.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>At least it will take our minds off insurance, deductibles, and body
shops.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bob and Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550996619564282698noreply@blogger.com0