Happy New Year!!!!

Goodbye 2008,,,,,,Hello 2009.

Today is ABSOLUTELY the last day in 2008. Tomorrow it will be 2009. Time goes fast. Too fast!!! I keep saying we need to slow down, but it doesn't seem to happen. Sometimes all you can do is HANG ON and enjoy the ride!

I do hope our construction projects can slow down. 2008 was a year of us building something. It started out with the Coach House here in Retama Village. Then when we got to our lot in North Ranch in Arizona, we decided it was finally time to build the patio we had been talking about for several years. (click on pictures to enlarge)

Our biggest project was when we got to our place in the Black Hills at Custer, SD. We had been to our dentist and on the way home, just on the spur of the moment, I decided to pull into Michel's Pole Building's place of business and look at some buildings that were on display. I don't have any idea what made me stop. I had been by there a dozen times and not stopped, thought about it, but didn't. I think even Ms Pat was shocked when I pulled in. She said "What are we doing?",,,,,,,"Just looking", I replied.

It wasn't but about a month later that we had our 40'X40' Pole Building up. We had been talking of building one for 3-4 years. In fact, I have talked about it many, many times on this Blog. Funny how things happen.

We are still putting the finishing touches on our Coach House here in Mission, TX. We finally got the Granite counter installed on our wet bar.

Granite is big around here and we found a guy that we really liked and he did a good job. Yesterday, I got the faucets installed. Now to get the cabinets stained.... Then we will be ALMOST done!!!!! I HOPE!!! Oh, and thanks Dale for all your expert "home decorating" advice and support.

Meanwhile, life goes on...the weather has been real good. We get our 4 mile walk in every morning shortly after sun up. Sometimes it's a little cool at that time, but it usually warms up quickly. I went for a little 15 mile motorcycle ride yesterday. I needed to mail a PressurePro System so I decided to do it on the bike. It was a nice ride and I am starting to enjoy the rides a little more.

Enjoyed watching Florida State beat the daylights out of Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl and now we're looking forward to watching the Cornhuskers play Clemson in the Gator Bowl tomorrow. Even some of the Pro-Football games are fun to watch during the final playoffs.

We hope you all have a very HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS New Year and if you're like us, you won't be awake to cheer it in. But it will be here tomorrow just the same. Then we will be OFF........to a Brand New Year. We'll start it with the usual New Year's Day meal.... "Black-eyed peas" for GOOD LUCK and some fresh "Greens" for LOTS OF MONEY!!! God Bless you all!!

It is a GREAT WEEK!!!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year!

Mike

This Blog is Published every Wednesday and Sunday.

Christmas 2008

Dec 24TH, 2008

(click on pictures to enlarge)

Christmas Eve we had our usual Champagne Brunch at the new Clubhouse. We had lots and lots of fine food and, of course, WAY too many calories.......In the picture above are Larry & Linda Moore, Bob & Kathleen Gomez, and Dave & Linda Cypcar. And, you can't have a Champagne Brunch without Champagne & orange juice. (-:

This was our table,,,,,,,,,,The BIG guy on the left is Gail Quinn, on his left is Bonnie Quinn, next is me, then Pat's empty chair (she's taking the picture) next is Dave McCarron and wife Sue. With their back to us are new friends and the folks that have Tom & Sally's lot rented.

We all gathered back again in the evening for snacks. We didn't have a group picture this year,,,,,,darn!!! We were all ready for CHRISTMAS!!!

Back in about 1977 when my Company sent me from Denver to Florida, I was so intrigued and appreciative of the warm weather that I vowed to always go walking on the Beach on CHRISTMAS DAY (if there was beach close by). Since then there have been very few Christmases that we have had to miss and it has become a tradition.

The above picture was taken on South Padre Island on the Gulf of Mexico. It is located 100 miles East of our place. This is our 2nd Christmas on this beach and this picture was taken at the north end of the road on the Island. I took this exact same picture last year....

It's a little foggy, but the beach is right behind us.

We drove for miles along the Seashore close to the water's edge.

Stopped long enough to take another picture. The waves were rolling in, see them behind us? It was in the 70's and very enjoyable.

Uh, Oh, that wave came a little close!!! The tide is coming in, we better get out of here!!!

We moved to higher ground and had our usual Lunch of Cheese and Crackers along with the Traditional glass of Champagne. Praise the Lord!!

This is what it's all about. Pat and I give our Thanks for the many blessings we have.

We hope you all had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

God Bless!!!

It was a GREAT WEEK !!!!!!!!

Mike

There is still time to get in on our PressurePro HOLIDAY SPECIAL going on for the month of DEC.

********$50.00 off on a system of 8 or more Sensors!! ***********

This Blog is published every Wednesday and Sunday...

Twas' the Night Before CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Yep, today's the DAY before the BIG day!!! My Blog will be SHORT, as I know everyone is busy with their Holiday plans and activities. We are here in Mission, TX at our place in Retama Village. We are about in the farthest Southern place in the United States. Looking at a global map, we are directly West of Miami, FL. It is about 1/4 mile from here to the Rio Grande River, which is the Mexican border. In other words, we CAN"T get any further South and remain in the country!!

Presently at 5:30 am, it is 55 deg. and the forecast is for partly cloudy and getting up to 81. Then a low tonight of 64, and warm up to 82 tomorrow. Friday it will be 84, Saturday 80 and Sunday 70. Not BAD!!!!! We'll take it.

Meanwhile, today we have all sorts of activities planned, starting off with our usual early morning walk, next a noon Christmas Eve brunch at the Clubhouse. Then, tonight an "Hors D'oeurves" get together.

During these days, we can't help but think of the past. Remember those days when the kids were young and how excited they were at Christmas? I never realized at the time how much I enjoyed seeing the sparkle in their eyes and listen to their laughter. Ah, what neat memories! Wish I had some of those pictures on here.....
(click on pictures to enlarge)

This is a picture of our group last year at our First Christmas Eve Brunch. Some of the group aren't with us this year and are in different parts of the country. But most are here and some new ones have joined us.
WE WISH YOU WERE "ALL" HERE WITH US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


From our HOUSE to your HOUSE, Pat and I want to wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember tell your Kids and Family that you love them. They may not be around forever!!!

It is a GREAT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless you all....

Mike

This Blog is published every Sunday and Wednesday.

COLD BLAST all across the NORTH

Boy!! It's a cold one up North! Here is the Weather Bureau's report for Custer, SD yesterday: (Saturday)12/20/08

Today: Partly sunny and cold, with a temperature falling to around -10 by 5pm. Wind chill values between -25 and -32. Blustery, with a northwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around -15. Wind chill values between -33 and -39. West wind between 13 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Brrrrrr!! TODAY is the FIRST day of Winter!

This is a picture of our new Pole Garage in Custer, SD taken a few days ago by neighbor Sadonna Cordell. It was -22 when she took it. Not much snow at the time, but they've had more since.

What a difference a few miles makes, down here in Southern Texas at Mission, we had some cooler weather early in the week, but the last 3 days have been SUPERB. In fact, it got up to 86 yesterday afternoon and 82 the day before. I really appreciate it, because I well remember about 45 years I spent in the COLD country.

We really had a good week. Several people took advantage of our PressurePro DECEMBER SPECIAL, as we shipped out 4 PressurePro Systems and 2 PowerTanks. The PowerTanks are getting quite POPULAR, we have sold 20 of them this year!!!!:-)

I got my Motorcycle tire put on and took the bike for a little spin. Pat is frantically chasing around the Valley looking for a "sink"(with Dale's help) to put in the Coach House wet bar.

I had spotted an ad in the local "Winter Texan" newspaper about a Country Music Opry House complete with a Cowboy Supper. Now that sounded like my kind of place. It was called the "Chicken House Opry" So Pat and I and Mark and Dale Bruss decided to give it a try... Why not!!! It was CLOSE by and the price was right......

It was out in the country and just a little place, but WOW, the people were gathering. Soon we were all lined up for the Cowboy Supper!! Beef Brisket and Baked Beans and TEXAS toast. Oh, and a BIG Dill Pickel. All that along with ice tea or a can of pop was all we wanted!!! Very Good!!!

All the table's were taken before we got there, so we resorted to eating on the Deck. It was a beautiful evening, temperatures were just right. Shortly after we were finished with our meal, along comes CHARLIE LeBLANC. Little did we know he was the main STAR of the show. Charlie is from Lousiana and is the Storytelling comedian. He performed in Branson, MO. last summer. He is a TRUE Cajun......Nice Friendly Guy!!!

After talking with CHARLIE, we had time to stroll on over to the "Chicken House". Nice down home "Country Style" setting. We found our seats and soon the SHOW was ready to begin!!!

There was a good crowd and the center section was full. We "guestimated" about 200 people there. We had good seats and the 2 hour show with about a 15 minute intermission went pretty fast. I enjoyed it. Nothing special, but a fun, different night out. It ended at 9pm, just as us ole' folks were ready to get home...

So, that ended our week on a little different note than usual. Soon it will be CHRISTMAS and my next post will be on Christmas eve morning....

We are thinking of Friends and Family and wish we could be a little closer to them during the Holidays. Our HEARTS are with you. Be safe and BE HAPPY.

It was a GREAT WEEK!!!!

God Bless you all...

Mike

Winter STRUCK in South Texas!!!

Yes, it cooled off down here, too!!! Monday it was 65 when we got up and it got way up to 79 right after lunch and was beautiful!!! Then by evening it was down to 57 and of course, the wind almost always blows. Then Tuesday (yesterday)when we woke up it was 39, cloudy, misty, windy and cool. Due to the humidity here, it ALWAYS feels considerably cooler than the thermometer says it is. It was up to 52 by Noon but soon went back down to 44 for the remainder of the day. It was cloudy and misty almost all day.

But I don't really mind a little cool weather,,,,,in fact, I enjoy it....mainly when I know it won't last long and I will NEVER have to scoop SNOW!!!

Besides, with our NEW fireplace,,,,,,,it was comfortable!!!! Yep, we have a new FIREPLACE!!!!! I love fireplaces, I miss the one we had in our house. So I just had to have one...Off shopping we went! Here is a picture of it:
(click on all pictures to enlarge)

Neat, huh?

It's real easy to move from our Coach (RV) out to the Coach House, too. Ah, this is perfect!!!!! Can't you just imagine sitting in front of this SUPER fire, relaxing in the recliner, listening to Christmas music? Especially when it's cool outside... here is another picture:

Ah, Ha,,,,,,,,,Now you know "the rest of the story"!We found this Fireplace at Sam's for a mere $7.00!!! OK,,so its just a DVD, but with a "little" imagination, you can feel the heat!!!:-) It wasn't long until I took my long sleeves off and was real warm. I never was short on imagination!!!!;-) Besides, it snaps and crackles just like a real fire and the wood never burns out and there are no ashes to carry out!!!! What a DEAL!!!

You can see the cabinets we had built. Soon we will mount the TV up above in the cut out area after we get the cabinets all stained.

Here is Estaban setting up the cabinets before he mounted them. Estaban has a large shop close by in Weslaco, TX. He has been doing this for many years and has over 14 guys working for him. He came out and measured the area and Pat told him what she wanted, he went back and built them and came out Saturday for installation.

This is one of Estaban's men building the framework for the final finished product. These guys do FANTASTIC work!!! All angles are perfect.

This is the corner section they built for us. This is where we will have our "wet bar". We already put plumbing and a drain in the wall for this installation. The open space in the upper cabinet is for a microwave. They have to be stained and we will put a Granite top on the counter and install a sink with faucets. The door on the right is the bathroom. They also built a linen and towel cabinet there over the stool.

It's slowly all coming together, so you can all come on down out of that COLD country and spend some time with us. Now we have place for you. COME ON DOWN!!!!

Thanks for stopping by. As you can see we're staying plenty busy, it's always something. Right now, I'm working on my Motorcycle and have the front wheel off. A new tire is on order for it.......

Stay WARM and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

It is a GREAT WEEK!!!!

Mike

This Blog published every Sunday and Wednesday.

It's -2 deg BELOW ZERO!!!!!!

Yes, It's 2 Below zero this morning in Rapid City, SD!!!!! Plus they had 2-4 inches of BLOWING snow. Portions of Interstate 90 have been closed, many of the local events are being cancelled and the Police are asking everyone to STAY PUT!!!! Between 2pm and 5pm Saturday, the Police were called to more than 40 accidents......

Every morning when I get up I read the Rapid City Journal on my computer. This is a neat feature and I thoroughly enjoy it. The service is totally free of charge. It was interesting to see this mornings headlines..
"Your Journal mat not be delivered this morning due to hazardous road conditions" ............Fortunately, this doesn't effect the Electronic publication. It was right here waiting for me as usual. Every morning about 3am, they email me the Daily edition. What a neat service.

If you want to enjoy your Home Town newspaper while you're down here "basting" in the sun, this is a nice way to do it. Isn't it fun to sit down here and read about the weather UP NORTH?? I just have to glance at my indoor/outdoor thermometer and right now at 5:25am, it says 63 outside and 71 inside. No snow outside to shovel, no icy streets, no heavy coats and we don't have to warm up the car or scrape the ice from the windows. I don't know about you, but I'm GRATEFUL for that!!! I fought those Blizzards and road conditions for nearly 50 years as a way of life, and my memory is not failing me to the point that I have forgotten all those experiences. How well I remember!!!! If I didn't remember, I wouldn't be so thankful to be where I am today. Thank you AGAIN God!!!

Speaking of NEWSPAPERS, the second thing I read EVERY morning is a Blog written daily by our good friend Nick Russell. Nick is a former Newspaper Editor and publisher of the famous RV'ers newspaper... GYPSY JOURNAL. His Blog is as GREAT as his Journal, very well written. Nick tells it like it is!! You need to give it a shot and put it on your every day "to do" list. It's short, quick and enjoyable. Now I didn't say you have to always agree with him, but it's just plain good reading.


Try this: NICK'S BLOG and when you get there, do some "clicking" around, you'll enjoy it!!!!

This is none other than NICK RUSSELL. Nick is doing some serious thinking for his next publication at this PUBLIC rest area on Hwy 87 in Nebraska!!! LOL

Nick published this picture in his Blog some time ago. When I saw it, I got a special HOOT!!! I recognized this "rest area" immediately. I doubt there is another one like it in the entire world!! Unbeknownst to Nick, this rest area is located just a couple miles north of my HOME TOWN of ALLIANCE, NEBRASKA and is just a short distance from the infamous CARHENGE.

My parents had a Cattle Ranch where we lived about 25 miles west of Alliance, deep in the heart of the SANDHILLS of western Nebraska... Nick is a history buff and this stuff was all right down his alley. This one sure brought back some fond memories!!!

This is Nick and Terry standing by their bus in Arizona last winter when we helped them install their PressurePro Tire Monitoring System.

Nick and Terry also put on the Gypsy Journal Rally twice a year. It's one of the best Rallies available. The next one will be Feb.9-13th in Case Grande, AZ. at the Fairgrounds. Many of you know what a neat Rally it is, for those that don't, you need to ATTEND and find out!!! It won't cost you an "arm and leg" like some do and it has some of the best Seminars and training sessions you will find. Look for more info and an application form in Nick's Blog...... See you at the RALLY!!!!!

That wraps it up for this time. Thanks for stopping by and we hope to see you Wednesday. To all you folks up north ...... STAY WARM and SAFE!!!

GOD BLESS you all!!!
It was a GREAT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This Blog Published every Sunday and Wednesday

WHEW,,,Tough Job!

One thing about a tough job, it's GREAT when you get it done!!! Here is one job I was extremely HAPPY to get done. A 12" section of Flex pipe on the exhaust pipe of my Volvo had rusted out. It was right near the engine and was one of those tough challenges that really had me scrambling. No room to work and the 5" Flex pipe is tough stuff to work with. It took some time and yes, a little blood and lots of sweat!

Here it is all COMPLETED!!! Finally!! Now to change the dressing on my sore finger......:-)


This is the first Post on my NEW COMPUTER!!!! BOY,,,is it neat!



Let me tell you,,,Mark Bruss is the BEST computer geek there is,,BY FAR!!!He took my new Computer, along with the old one and spent hours setting it up and transferring everything over.


He let me have the old one back long enough to do my last Sunday Blog, then he was back at it. He is extremely particular and wants it to be JUST RIGHT,,,,,,,and perfect it was!!! I have never had a new PC set up so neat and thoroughly. He is extremely competent and what a joy it was to have him set up this new computer!!! Thank you AGAIN Mark!!!


After Mark got it all set up he brought it back to me and spent a couple hours showing me all about it.... Here he is demonstrating some of Vista's features. I had heard a lot of negative things about the new Vista and I was a little bit afraid of it. However, Mark assured me that it is GREAT!! He likes it a lot and told me not to worry about it..... I know I didn't absorb all he showed me, but I hope I got some of it. If not, Mark is just a couple sites down and always more than ready to help........ A mighty neat guy to have CLOSE!! Also, thanks to Dale for letting him help us. I'm sure he had to postpone a few items on her "honey do" list.
Here is Marks Blog. Dale and Mark Bruss
You will be surprised how much you can learn from his website. Hardly a day goes by that I don't refer to it to get his take on different situations and more often than not he is RIGHT ON and saves me a lot of unnecessary grief and work...



TONIGHT.......we get to go on a ride as a group in a Horse drawn wagon, to see all the CHRISTMAS LIGHTS in a special display at the Festival of Lights in the City of Hidalgo, TX..............It was a beautiful 89 degrees and no wind yesterday, TODAY, it's 41 this morning with a high expected in the 50's and the wind is blowing like crazy!!! Hope those Horses walk fast!!!!

See ya all Sunday.......

It is a GREAT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike

This Blog published every Sunday and Wednesday....





Dont forget our CHRISTMAS SPECIAL at PressureProSystem. Drag your pointer across the Santa face and see what happens!!!!!

Santa STOPPED!!!

Santa is hitting it early this year so he can relax during the holidays. He stopped by our place this week!!!

He brought me a new Sony LAPTOP computer!!!!! My present Sony is nearing 3 years old and is slowing down and missing a lot of the features, memory and speed of the new ones. I got the Sony I have kinda by accident. Best Buy gave it to me FREE when the Gateway I bought from them dealt me a FIT for nearly 2 years. I wasn't familiar with Sony laptops at the time, but I was so FED UP with that Gateway, I was happy to get anything different. I have loved this one since day one,,,,,,it's done a super job and been very reliable. So, when Ms Pat saw a new one on sale at Circuit City, she ordered it for me. It arrived Wednesday!!!!

So now the big project of transferring all my "stuff" from the old to the new. Fortunately, we are close to Mark and Dale Bruss,,,,,,,Mark is a computer expert, second to NONE!!!! Mark agreed to set up the new computer for me and transfer everything over. OH MAN,,,Thank You Mark!!!! You're a lifesaver, I could NEVER do it on my own, I would get it real messed up! It's a slow process to do it right and consequently, as anxious as I am, I haven't been able to get my hands on the new one except for a few minutes, but it's gonna be GREAT!!!

Santa had one more gift in his bag for us before he flew off into the sky....... While at Sam's this week, we found the PERFECT size TV to replace the old analog set in our bedroom. (remember the time is getting close for digital only to work without a converter box) When you have a certain size cabinet for it to fit in, it's hard to find the "perfect" size. But we found it,,,,a 26" Sony Bravia,,,,,,,,,,,fits perfect!!!!,,, and WOW,,,,,,,,now we have 2 Sony Bravia's and the picture is SOMETHING ELSE!!!! With this new 5 LNB dish and HDTV Direct Satellite DV-R receiver, TV is UNREAL!!! I never dreamed TV could be so good,,,,like 3D! It also does well off the regular "batwing" RV antenna on those Stations that broadcast in HD........NOW, if we just had some decent TV shows to watch,,,,:-)

This is DirectTV's latest "Slimline" 5 LNB "Oval" dish. It's a bit bigger than the preceding dishes and has 3 incoming coax cables. So it takes a little heavier duty mast. The pole size for the mount is 2". Otherwise, it is no different or any more difficult to aim than the previous dishes. We have had DirectTV Satellite dishes since we went on the road in 1995, so I've been aiming TV dishes for a long time. Before that, aiming my amateur radio antenna arrays at Ham Radio satellites was a hobby, so I enjoy it. The MAIN thing to remember is to have a "PLUMB" & "STABLE" mast, perfectly level and vertical. Then just set your dish to the coordinates as instructed by Direct and with it pointed in the right direction (azimuth), you'll be pretty close and many times will be on without the use of any instruments!! But I like to "tweak" mine to the BEST signal, so I play with it.......These new SLIMLINE'S have a fine tuning set up that I love and it makes it even easier to aim....Setting it up is HALF the fun!!!!

So, that's it for this week. Christmas is over,,,now we can sit back and wait for the BIG dinner that I know we will have........

Thanks for stopping by, come back Wednesday and by that time maybe I'll dream up something that's not quite so boring....:-)

It was a GREAT WEEK!!!!!

Hope Santa has a little something in his BAG for you.....

Regards

Mike

PS: Don't forget to call about our PressurePro "Christmas Special"!!

This Blog is published every Sunday and Wednesday.

Progress in RETAMA VILLAGE.

This place on the Southern tip of Texas continues to fill up every day....More and more people stop by and are interested in living in Retama Village. Yesterday we were happy to have our customers and new acquaintances Bruce and Sandra Starkey stop in. They were looking the area over and actually found a lot right next to us that they are interested in. They will be back TODAY for the BIG tour that goes on once a week. They might be our NEIGHBORS!!
I showed you a few pictures last week, here are some more this week.


This is part of the Front Entrance as you turn in.


Here are the Entrance Gates.


Looking out the Entrance Gates from in front of the Clubhouse.


The Clubhouse has two main Entrance doors, this is one.


Here is the other.....



Just North of our RV complex, they are building this type of a home,,,,,several have been built and are being occupied. This is the Model Home and has offices where the Garage is normally on the occupied ones. Or you can have it built any way you wish.... Prices for these start around $150,000.00..........They are nice!


This is one of the RV PORTs that they are just completing in another area of the Village.


Here is a shot from the other side. You can also build these about any way or size you desire. This is a 2 bedroom with a smaller RV PORT.


Right across the street, they are building this one. It's almost finished. Several have been sold. I understand the prices start, again at $150,000.00. Then the SKY is the limit!!



This is one of the BIGGER ones that has been completed. Notice how much longer the RV PORT is on it than the previous one. The storage behind the RV is also much larger....

The Bentsen Palm Development is HUGE,,,,,,and goes on forever! Retama Village is a "gated" age 55 + community. On north a few blocks, there is an area for family homes. several homes have been or are being built there. Hope that answers some of your questions that many of you have asked about. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to ask. Also, there is a web site at: Bentsen Palm Development

Meanwhile, back here at the TETON,,,life goes on. Pat is making arrangements to have some cabinets built to finish off our Coach House. We try to get our 3-4 mile walk in every morning about 7:30 am, watch our eating closely attempting to control our weight and keeping active, ,,i,e, HEALTHY...... Its a JOB!!! We are both up a couple lbs and we're trying to avoid as many temptations as possible....:-(.

We are blessed with such a wonderful life and want to keep as healthy as we can and continue
enjoying it.....

That's it for today......

Its a WONDERFUL WEEK !!!!

God Bless and stop back.....

Mike

PS: Don't forget our PressurePro Christmas Special.


This Blog published every Sunday and Wednesday.