Last day at Retama Village in the Rio Grande Valley.

Today will be our last day here at Retama. We have been extremely busy the last few days. We were able to get in one last Motorcycle ride with Gregg and Bonnie. We rode about 120 miles altogether and Gregg showed us a neat little place called Delta Lake and Park about 50 miles Northeast of Mission. We had a little picnic lunch, a good visit and cruised on back home. We are really gonna miss Gregg and Bonnie. However, they will be coming West to Arizona in April and we will get to see them again. Hopefully, we will get some more riding in then. There are a lot of neat places to ride near North Ranch.....like Vulture Peak, Prescott, Sedona and even the Grand Canyon! Plus there is Parker, another beautiful area.

Ms Pat made us a cover for the Harley while traveling....

Not really,,,(just kidding!) I couldn't resist showing you this picture of how someone got carried away while crocheting.

Yesterday we got the Harley all loaded and buttoned down and ready for travel. Thanks Gregg and Rocky for your help.  You both really made the job easy.  I sure feel a lot better with the new cover. It kills me to leave it out in the open unprotected. The next best thing would be a "Toy Hauler".  But until Ms Pat is willing to give up at least 12 ft of her living room, this will have to do.

We have really had a run on PressurePro tire monitoring systems. We just got Jim and Sandy Cox set up with a system  yesterday when Sam Jones called and asked if we would come to the RV Park next door and check out his Motorhome for a System. While setting him up, Ron Eichholz stopped and purchased a system for his 5th wheel. We were finishing up with him when Ron Mertz stopped and purchased one for his Alfa "See Ya". Then we had to rush home and quickly get a couple systems packed up and shipped out.

Just a few days ago I had 16 full systems in stock. Now we are SOLD OUT. WOW, what a send off!! We also sold 8 Repeaters and 4 PowerTanks  during the week. We should just about have enough money to buy fuel to get to Arizona!

Meanwhile we continue getting things ready to go, including sealing up the Coach House, shutting off the water and covering the air conditioner, etc, etc. With another busy day today and a little luck, by tomorrow evening we should be about 400 miles West between Del Rio and Van Horn, on Hwy 90, with God as our co-pilot.

Who knows where we will be by next Sunday when I post again. Thanks for stopping by and come on back Sunday for more on "Mike and Pat's Travels".

It is a GREAT WEEK!!!

Mike

This Blog is Published every Wednesday and Sunday..

Time in Texas is getting short!

Only 3 more days and we will be headed to our place at North Ranch Escapee RV Resort near Wickenburg, AZ. WOW, and so much to do getting ready to leave. So many things must wait until we are about ready to leave that it makes the last few days quite hectic.

Looking forward to one more nice Motorcycle ride with our friends Greg and Bonnie Gheyssens this morning. Then tomorrow, I will load the Harley and get it all secured and ready for the trip. After that, it's then time to prepare the 5Th wheel and the truck for travel and secure the Coach House for another year. As much as we have done this, we should be able to do it with our eyes closed. However, it still takes a lot of thought and double checking.

Chuck and Rhoda Roper from Tallahassee, Florida came and spent several days with us last week. They were our neighbors and good friends back when we were working and had a "stick" house. We have kept in close contact with them since we decided to sell our house and live full time in our "Home on Wheels". That was nearly 15 years ago. My how time flies!

Here they are in our Retama neighbor's driveway just before they departed for home. It was sure good seeing them again and talking about old times. They are the first couple that have stayed in our Coach House since we finished it and commented how much they enjoyed it. Come and see us again anytime guys!

We had one more little project that we wanted to complete on the patio extension before we departed. We found out about some special kind of sand called Polymeric Paver Sand. It is supposed to reduce weed growth, resist joint washout and prevent insect penetration.

In order to do this, we had remove some of the sand we had used to level the pavers and install the new Polymeric Sand. We got this all done yesterday.  Below are some pictures of the process.

First we had to clean it all up. I removed as much of the previous sand as I could by going down each joint with a screwdriver and then sweeping what was loose and Pat used the blower to further clean the surface.

Next, I slowly swept the sand into all the cracks. Note how much better the joints look on the right with the new Polymeric Sand.

Ms Pat hand swept each paver to get the excess off. Then I sprayed down the entire patio with a very fine mist of water. We had to respray it every 30 minutes for 4 times. This will make the sand set up and get hard, although it will stay somewhat pliable.

After we completed the portion outside of the patio fence, we started on the inside. Notice at the bottom of this photo how the finished product looked. We got it all done just in time to take a shower and get up to the clubhouse for the 1st annual Chili Cook Off. As usual the Buffalo chili was the best!! (IMO) But none was even close to as good as what my sweetie Ms Pat makes!!

So hopefully that's our last project for this year and we can move on down the road to new and different things.. I'll get one more Blog in on Wednesday, the day before we leave, and bring you up to date one more time before departure.

Thanks for stopping by. Please let me know if these larger pictures are hard for you to download or if they take too long. I know I'm going to have to change things when we leave and I get off this high speed data cable line.  We wil be back on our Verizon Air Card with a 5GB monthly limit. That really cuts us down. Pat and I will use that much in 2 weeks or less if we don't really watch our usage.  This Cable line spoils us!!

God Bless you all and remember to tell your kids, family and friends that you love them.  They may not be around forever.

We continually give thanks to our Lord for all the blessings he provides us. We are most grateful.

Mike

This Blog is Published every Sunday and Wednesday..

Great Ride to South Padre Island, Jan 17,2010

Sunday was a Beautiful day just as predicted. The skies were clear and the wind was not blowing, so we took off on a Bike Ride with our friends Greg and Bonnie Gheyssens. We headed for South Padre Island, about 100 miles East on the Gulf of Mexico.

Greg and Bonnie are long time riders and we were waiting for an opportunity to ride with them. The weather hasn't been cooperating a lot this winter, so I'm glad we had this opportunity. Bonnie has her own Harley Heritage Softail Deluxe just like ours. However, she is recuperating from a mean fall off of a ladder while she was cleaning their 5th wheel. She was in the hospital for about a week with a bad break in her left leg. She is still in therapy and has been for over 2 months. I mentioned her fall in my Blog some time ago when we called the Emergency unit here to the park. Thankfully, her hard work and physical therapy are working and she only has to use a cane now. Soon she hopes to be back on her own bike..

We arrived at South Padre about noon and were anxious to find some good Seafood.

We had heard a lot about Dirty Al's, so we headed there. It was very busy and there weren't any parking spaces.

It's never hard to fiind a spot big enough to park a Bike; in fact, we got both Bikes parked nearly at the front door.

Greg and Pat as we were leaving the restaurant after a great seafood lunch...

We took the northern route home and went past this Sugar factory. It was a busy place and trucks were bringing in the Cane one right after another.  As far as we know, it is the only Sugar factory in the area.

Soon we were back home from a great ride, our longest so far (200 miles), and our first with other bikers. We are so glad we finally had the opportunity to ride with Greg and Bonnie. Maybe we can get lucky and get one more ride in before we leave for Arizona in 8 days....

Meanwhile, things are quite busy around here. Monday morning we had our PressurePro Seminar for folks here and in the big RV park just south of us. I'm extremely happy to say that it was very well attended by over 50 Rv'ers.  They were there because they are interested in learning about PressurePro and improving the safety of their travels.  We almost sold out and only have a couple systems left. Plus, we sold 4 PowerTanks. Pressure Pro Tire Monitoring Systems have become very popular and PowerTank is catching on fast.

Then Monday afternoon our friends and old "stick house" neighbors, Chuck and Rhoda Roper, came all the way from Tallahassee Florida to visit for a few days. We have been showing them around and we'll be headed back over to Padre Island today.  Hopefully, we will even get to see our friends and fellow Church members, the Geetings, from Custer, SD. They have a Condo on the Island and just recently came down for some warm sunshine.  

It is a GREAT WEEK!!!

Thanks for stopping by......

Mike

This Blog is Published every Wedensday and Sunday..

Chief Crazy Horse

Although my body is physically down here in the deep south Texas Valley, my mind and heart are still up in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. I often think about Crazy Horse Mountain. When we first started going to the hills every summer about 15 years ago, Crazy Horse Mountain was just another Mountain. When you drove by it, you would not have known what it was going to be if it were not for the outline they had painted on the side. Many folks were wondering if it would ever come to be or if it was a joke. I remember going past it back in the 50's and thinking "NO WAY"!

Soon (50 years)Crazy Horse's head took shape and you could actually see it was for real. Maybe it wasn't just some sculptor's dream after all. Soon Ruth, the sculptor's wife started inviting people, especially dignitaries to ride in a van to the top and walk on Crazy Horses arm and under his face. This really got folks attention.  Plus it got them into the museum and brought attention to what was happening.

Part of the museum is a large movie theater where movies and pictures are shown of the progress made over the years and just how far they have come. It is very interesting. The project was officially started June 3rd 1948, over 60 years ago, and the private owner and sculptor,along with his wife Ruth, truly did have a vision and a dream. Things were real tough and it was rough going for many, many years in the beginning. They didn't have much equipment and what they did have was old and not in good shape. A lot of things were done by hand the old fashioned way. The famed sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski and his wife Ruth, devoted and dedicated their life to the project. The sculpture was their entire life.  They lived and raised a family of 12 children on the mountain. Mr Ziolkowski died on Oct 20, 1984 at the age of 74. His dedicated wife Ruth and the children are carrying on their plan and vision. Blasting continues on the mountain, just as Korczak would have wanted. Ruth, CEO and President of Crazy Horse Memorial, is quite well known and respected.

Our boss Rollie Noem, the superintendent at Custer State Park when we worked there, became close friends with Ruth and part of our job and experience was to take VIPs to Crazy Horse Mountain and drive them up to the top and walk with them out on the arm. The view up there is outstanding. Pat and I enjoyed it every time and Ruth was always there to go along.  We got to know her quite well. She appreciated what Custer State Park was doing and always welcomed us with open arms. What a lovely lady she is. Plain and pure with a wonderful personality. We took many Senators, Legislators, Governor's and other VIPs to her place and up on the "Arm". We also hiked up there several times when formal, well advertised hikes were held throughout the year.  I will always remember Ms Ruth and the kindness she showed to us. She would welcome us and tell us "Now you go to my Restaurant and eat while you are here".  She would insist that we go and tell us, "I will tell them you are coming, so be sure and stop". Sure enough when we walked in, the head cashier would greet us and tell us that we were guests of Ruth and we could have anything we wanted.

I won't go into much more of the history as you can read all of that you want on the different websites, or you can just google "Crazy Horse" and find out all the legends behind this young Indian Warrior and how he was respected by his people. Crazy Horse also has a page on Facebook and Twitter.  I do want to show you a few pictures of some of the dozens of Dynamite Blasts that we have witnessed at the Mountain.

Day Time Blast

From Crazy Horse Day Time Blast 2009

Night Blast

From Crazy Horse Night Blast 2009

Again click on the link at the right lower corner to go to the Albums. Use your back arrow to get back to my Blog.

This morning we are planning a nice long Motorcycle ride with out great friends and respected Bikers Gregg and Bonnie Gheyssens. We are riding over to South Padre Island, about 100 miles to our East. The weather is supposed to be the best we have had in weeks. It's been so cool and rainy that our Harley feels neglected. More about our trip on Wednesday. I smell Seafood on the menu!

Next week is going to be an extremely busy one. Monday morning at 10 am we are having a PressurePro Tire Monitoring Seminar at Bensten PalmVillage RV Resort right next door. Then in the afternoon, our old friends and "X" next door neighbors Chuck and Rhoda Roper  from Tallahassee, Florida, are arriving to spend a few days with us. We haven't seen them for over a year and it will be fun seeing them and getting caught up on the old home site.

It was a GREAT WEEK!!

Thanks for stopping by...

Mike

This Blog is Published every Sunday and Wednesday..

OK 2010,,,Bring it on!!

Well, here we are almost 2 weeks into the New Year. They say as you get older, each year gets tougher and I suppose they are right, but I'm not old yet. So I say "Bring it on".   I'm ready and lookin' forward to it.

A few weeks ago, we had a Fireman from Massachusetts call and order a PressurePro System from us for one of their Fire Trucks. It was a big order and we were quite pleased to get it.  Monday, he called Ms Pat again and ordered 3 more big systems for 3 more Fire Trucks and Pumpers. He was pleased and happy with the first system and wanted more, which we were equally happy to supply him. Lets hope he continues to be happy with them and finds more Fire Trucks to put them on. The day after that, a Foretravel Motorhome owner called and ordered another big system.  Then, yesterday we shipped a system to Oregon which was a referral from one of our present customers. So that makes it already a good week. In fact, it makes it a good year! Plus, we still have over half the week left. So like I say, "Bring it on"!

It is getting a little "blah" as far as weather is concerned. It's pretty limited around here for things to do and places to go, but when the weather is dreary and damp and you're confined to the indoors, it gets rather boring. I'm getting way too much computer time for me. I did manage to get my hair cut yesterday and went to the Post Office. That was real exciting!

On the way home, I stopped at my favorite store to just look around. You're thinking Wally World, aren't you? Nope, my favorite store is Tractor Supply. We have one just a couple miles from us and I enjoy just looking through the stuff. It even brings back old memories. They have a section for horses and all type of animals. There are saddles, bridles, halters, breast collars and cinches. There are neat curry combs, hoof trimming tools, throw ropes, pigging strings, hot shots and you name it. They also have a good tool section, truck supply section, all types of hardware, a special section for western clothing, both work and dress, and all types of shoes and boots. I bought a nice western straw hat there a couple months ago. I could go on and on about what all they have, but next time you see one, you need to stop in and take a look.

The three main things I miss at this Park is something I enjoy very much. One is a Jam Session, where all the local musicial talent get together for a couple hours and just play and sing. Another is a "Swap" table. All Escapee Parks have a swap table where people put things they want to swap. I love them and I put stuff out and exchange stuff there all the time. The third is mountains or hills. Both are scarce around here.

However, in a couple more weeks we aill be heading to North Ranch Escapee RV Park in Congress, AZ. I'm looking forward to hiking the Vulture Peak mountain again this year and hitting the desert with our ATV where we can exercise our trigger fingers and catch up on some target practice (another favorite) and checking that swap table. Paul, Nancy, Pat H and Julie, we are looking froward to seeing you soon. Start your engines!!

We'll be there soon!!!

It is a GREAT WEEK!!!

Thanks for stopping by.


Mike

This Blog is Published every Wednesday and Sunday..

MEXICO

I mentioned in my last Blog we were headed to Mexico with our friends and neighbors Rocky and Sheri Rhoades. We left home at 9am and spent the entire day about 10 miles south of the Border in Mexico. We toured 4 different Children's Missions that the Hero Makers help support. This is wonderful work these folks do. To see how some of these misfortunate Children live is heartbreaking.  "Hero Makers" is doing its best to make life a little easier for them. Rocky and Sheri are Missionaries and part of their work involves contacting groups and Churches all over the US and Canada for help and assistance for these Missions.  It was a real treat to see what they are doing and what they have done.

At one of the Missions, there was a group of College students from Tennesee working for a week as a school project.  They were sweeping, cleaning, building and just doing what needed to be done.  It was very heart warming to see these College students trying to make these young kids lives a little better.  If anyone is interested in making a donation to Hero Makers or would like to volunteer on some of their projects or know someone or some group that might be interested, you can contact Rocky at the following email address:  rocky@heromakers.org .  Or, you can click here:  Hero Makers Donations

We also had a "REAL" Mexican dinner at a "REAL" Mexican restaurant.  They know how to make things "HOT".  If you click on the title below the picture, it will take you to my album of several more pictures. Click your "back" arrow to get back to my Blog. All pictures have a caption describing them. Take a look:

From Hero Makers Mexico trip to the Mission's.Jan2010

Cold weather is plaquing a lot of people all over the country right now and many have it a lot worse than we do but it still is getting on my nerves. It was 22 deg yesterday in this area, but the sun did finally manage to come out for a while and it got up to a quick 50. It sure felt good too! Friday the wind was so bone chilling that we went to the exercise room at 6:30am and worked out. We managed to work up a good sweat there, then about froze walking back home. I had to get out my BIG coat that I haven't had out for years. It's 35 here in Mission, TX. this morning at 4am and I see it's 46 in Wickenburg, AZ........so you know where I wish I was! This time next month we will be out there, Lord willing. I'm getting real anxious to move.  That's why we have a home with wheels, so we can go.

Hope everyone is staying warm.  Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Birthday today to our son-in-law Randy and Grandson Gabe.  Hope you have a GREAT birthday!!!

It was a GREAT WEEK!!!

Mike

This Blog is Published every Wednesday and Sunday.. 

WHAT?? Another Cold Front headed this way!!!

Everybody keeps hoping it will someday warm up! They say this is the coldest winter they have had here in the Rio Grande Valley in at least 5 years. We have only been here 3 winters and it sure is the coldest one we have seen. It just seems to get cold and stay cold for days on end. Cold and Damp! It's getting a little tiresome.  Now they tell us that tonight another frigid cold front is going to hit us and it will be worse than any so far...Geeze!

I'll bet those folks up in my home land aren't feeling one bit sorry for me.  I see it's going to be about
20 deg "below" zero up there and maybe warm up to about 2 deg "below" in the daytime.  Oh well, I guess we don't have it so bad after all.   In just 3 weeks, we are going to head North and West to Arizona.  I'm sure it will be a colder there. It will be a lot dryer though and that makes quite a difference. I just don't want to be in SNOW. I've had my fill of that stuff....40+ years of it is enough. Although several winters ago, we did get stuck in Deming, New Mexico in snow drifts of about 2 ft deep. I don't want to see that again.

Last summer I showed a picture of my friend Mel Harrison's PressurePro Tire Monitor stand that he had built by one of the Mennonite wood crafters near Elkhart, Indiana. It is an extremely attractive mount and several have asked me about it, so here is another picture of it. I have several more pictures if anyone wants to see them. Just send me your email address and I'll send you what I have so you can check it out further. Mel had them make it out of wood that matches the woodwork in his rig. He gets a lot of compliments on it.              (click on picture to enlarge)

 
Today's Blog is going to be short. We have an exciting day planned and must hurry around and get ready for it. In a little while, we are going to Mexico. No, not to shop or replenish the liquor supply. We are going with our good friends and fellow RV'ers, Rocky and Sheri Rhoades. They are Missionaries working with HeroMakers and have several projects going on just over the Border. They asked us to go along with them and see what they have been doing. I know they are very involved in working with underprivileged and orphaned children and I'm anxious to hear and see more about it.  I'll keep you advised.

Rocky and Sheri Rhoades at our place in Custer, SD

 
















It is a GREAT WEEK!!!
 
Thanks for stopping by.  See ya Sunday.
 
Mike
 
This Blog is Published every Wednesday and Sunday..

First Blog of 2010,,,

2010 is here, just as we predicted.  All the holidays and celebrating is over and it's back to business as usual. In less than a month, we will be leaving the South Texas Rio Grande Valley and head West. I'm getting anxious and looking forward to getting out where there are some mountains. We plan on leaving here on Jan 28TH and stopping for a couple days at Big Bend National Park south of Alpine, Texas. We have been there before and want to hike some of the trails again and explore Big Bend Ranch State Park right next door to the National Park. After that, we will continue on to Arizona. We should arrive at our place in North Ranch at the Escapee Park near Wickenburg on or about Feb 3RD. We are looking forward to seeing our great neighbors and friends there.

Yes, 2009 is gone forever, gone but not forgotten. Here are a few pictures I put together of last year.

Great memories. 2009 was a good year!

Congratulations are definitely in order for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Florida State Seminoles Football teams. Nebraska beat Arizona in the Holiday Bowl and the Seminoles beat West Virgina in the Gator Bowl. Nice way to end the year for both teams and a wonderful way for the great Bobby Bowden to end his career of 57 years.

We are looking forward to another Great year. I'm sure there will be challenges, but we're up for them  and looking forward to it. ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER!! CHARGE!!!

It was a GREAT YEAR!!!

God Bless you all from both of us.

Mike

This Blog is Published every Wednesday and Sunday..

My last Blog for 2009

This will be my last Blog for 2009. Here it is December 30TH and we will be celebrating the New Year in the Rio Grande Valley near McAllen,TX again for the 3RD year in a row. Tomorrow is New Year's eve and as usual, I'm sure we will be sound asleep when midnight comes. Then on New Year's day, we will have Champagne and our usual  "traditional" Southern New Year's dinner of Black Eyed Peas, Collard Greens and Ham. We have done that for as many years as I have known Ms Pat and it has become one of my favorites. She is the world's most wonderful cook and I love her "southern" traditions.  BTW....the Black Eyed Peas are for "good luck", the Collard Greens are for "wealth" and the Ham is one of my favorites.  I only get it on special occasions.  :-).  

On these last few days of the year, I can't help but look back over the past year at all the things we've done. All in all, it has been a GREAT YEAR! A lot of interesting things happened, but the thing that I am most thankful for is that our health has remained excellent. That's mighty important at any age, but especially important at our age.  Looking back at the daily records I keep, I see Ms Pat is 16 lbs lighter than she was last year and I am 8 lbs lighter. Our daily exercise, careful planning and food management program continue to pay off. It takes a lot of will power and determination, but those kind of results make it all worth while.

We finally got our little building on our lot at North Ranch in Arizona stuccoed. We had been wanting to get that done for several years.

We got our Toy Barn at Custer electrified and a 50amp RV plug installed as planned. That along with this little patio extension project has about been the extent of our construction projects for the year. Oh,and I forgot to mention that we completed the patio project just before Christmas.....Thankfully!!

I was getting a little tired of this project. It took over a month to complete. About 3 weeks longer than expected. We kept getting rained out and things don't dry out down here very fast.

This dirt pile has since been removed and we are happy with our "little" project. It will be nice to have a place to get our trash container and a few other items out of sight.

Another accomplishment we made this year was getting back into the Harley corner by purchasing the Heritage Softail Police Officers Special Edition Motorcycle. That made me real happy!

We also purchased a great Polaris 500 Sportsman 4-wheeler to ride in the Black hills. We enjoy 4-wheeling in the Hills very much.   Plus, we bought a cargo trailer. We have that all fixed up and prepared to haul the Harley or the Polaris. We are looking forward to taking our Volvo truck as a motorhome and pulling the trailer with the Harley up through Montana to Glacier National Park next summer. We'll also make a stop in Idaho.  I have always wanted to take Ms Pat to Coeur d'Alene. I think it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.

We had our Re-Baptism at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park. That really was the most meaningful event that happened all year.

However, I think the next most memorable and enjoyable thing that has come into our life this year is Ms Megabyte2. The Joy and Happiness that little gal has brought us is nothing short of a "miracle".. It was Sunday evening, Feb 1ST, when we made the decision to take her with us the next morning on our move to Arizona. Right up until then, we planned on leaving without her. How we could have even thought of such a thing is now amazing. When Kathy Detweiler told me that she was an "Angel Kitty", I broke! I knew then that she was ours and going with us. I had always had the feeling that Scott sent her to us, but for someone else to confirm it, I knew it was true. She is truly an "Angel Kitty", Thank You Scott and Thank You Kathy!

Here she was on the day after Christmas last year. She was still sleeping out under an old shed out back and she was coming over and visiting us a lot. The night before we departed a month later was the first night she ever spent inside with us. She has only been away one night since.  That was when she spent the night at the Vets after her cesarian operation. She is such a joy.

So thats about it.  There is more but these are the highlights and I'm sure you are bored by now.

One more Football game this year.  TODAY the Nebraska Cornhuskers play Arizona in the Holiday Bowl at San Diego at 7pm tonight (Central time). I'll be cheering them on as long as I can stay awake, so I hope it's a good game. It should be.  Nebraska is ranked 20TH and Arizona is 22ND. It's on ESPN.
Then on FRIDAY (New Year's Day) Florida State plays West Virgina in the Gator Bowl at Jacksonville. That is going to be Bobby Bowden's final game. We will be cheering them and him on at 12pm (central). Its on CBS. Bobby is a Giant of a man and I respect him whole heartedly. He and I came to Tallahassee about the same time and we both left our mark on the place. His much more noticable than mine! I met him several times as he and Ann used to eat at the same Restaurant lots of times and I attended many Monday "quarterback" luncheons after the football games where he was usually the speaker. We had season tickets for years...

It is a GREAT WEEK and a WONDERFUL YEAR!!

Happy New Year to you all..

God Bless.......Remember to tell your loved ones you love them.... they may not be around forever.

Mike

This Blog is published every Sunday and Wednesday.                          

It was a "COOL" Walk on the Beach.....

 

Christmas Day came and we carried on with our traditional "Walk on the Beach" that I mentioned in my last Blog. We left home about 8:00 am on Christmas morning and headed East towards South Padre Island. We had been invited to stop and see our friends Larry and LaVila Lawrence at their RV Resort in Mercedes, TX. We stopped and said a quick hello, Merry Christmas greetings and hugs.  We hadn't seen them yet this winter as they have been very busy building a shelter and outdoor kitchen on their place. Then we continued on to the Beach.

click on "Christmas 2009" on right to view the entire album                                                                                                              From Christmas 2009

Click on "Christmas 2009" at right to view entire album...                                        From Christmas 2009

We managed to "Walk on the Beach", but we didn't linger. It sure wasn't as nice as it was last year or the year before.The place wasn't overcrowded that's for sure but there were a few people mingling around. We drove on the Beach for several miles and found a quiet little spot and just sat back and watched the waves roll in. It was beautiful inside the car and out of the wind. We had a little Champagne toast to the occasion, reminisced old times and reminded ourselves how lucky we are and how much we have to be thankful for. Topped that off with a lunch of Cheese and Crackers, which made for another memorable Christmas Day.

Christmas eve we had our usual fun get together at the Club House. Of course, also as usual food was plentiful.

Ms Pat and Dale Bruss are enjoying themselves.

Here is Ms Pat modeling her new Harley Davidson knit jacket that Santa found way down deep in his sack and presented to her just moments before we came to this celebration.

On my way home from the Clubhouse, I wanted to get a picture of our good friends Greg and Bonnie Gheyssen's Christmas decorations. I think they have the BEST!

Greg and Bonnie have a beautiful Volvo Truck and Escalade Toy Hauler 5TH wheel all paint matched and they keep it looking sharp. They haul 2 Harleys in the back of the Toy Hauler and even have a Harley for Santa.....

Here is Santa on his Harley posing for my picture.

Well, that's about it for this week, only 4 more days left in this YEAR. Then we start all over again...2010!

It was a GREAT WEEK!!!

A special greetings to our friends and neighbors Doug and Jutta Franks who left here just a few days ago and flew to Germany to spend the Holidays with Jutta's family. Have fun guys, enjoy and safe travels back here toTexas. We miss you but we'll see ya in a few days.

God Bless you all.....and I know Jesus had a Happy Birthday!

See ya Wednesday for one final 2009 Blog post.....

Mike

This Blog is Published every Sunday and Wednesday..

It's a Christmas Tradition!!

Way back in 1977, my Company transferred me from Denver, Colorado to Tallahassee, Florida. I didn't want to go... I was having too much fun skiing Vail and the back bowls of the mountains. Every weekend I was high up in the new fresh powder snow, having a ball.  Sometimes in Corporate management, they need you to do a project so bad that they don't care how much FUN you're having. Such was the case in this instance. I found myself meeting a Moving van in the town of Tallahassee, Florida. Never been there before in my life and didn't know a thing about it. Didn't matter, I was there anyhow and had a job to do.

I set about my assigned tasks, happy or not.  The job was so tough and involved I didn't have time to even think about it.  I was so busy, good thing I was single at the time, because I was working 6 days a week from sunup until sundown.  That was a good thing, too, because whenever I did stop, even for a minute, I became so lonesome for my 3 boys back in Nebraska that I would become deeply depressed. My only salvation was to get back to work. With the amount of time I was putting in, it wasn't long until the project showed great improvement and with that it became a lot easier.It didn't take near as much of my time and I at least had weekends and holidays off

When Winter came and Christmas was nearing, I couldn't believe it. I had never been anywhere that it wasn't very COLD and SNOWING in the winter. The City of Tallahassee put up Christmas decorations and the stores started playing Christmas Music.  I was in my shirt sleeves in hot, humid weather,  listening to "Jingle Bells" playing around town.  I couldn't get the Christmas Spirit at all.  This was my NEW WORLD.

Christmas day came and, of course, I was alone.  Talking to my boys on the phone hours on end didn't seem to cut it.  I missed them very much. Christmas Day was a beautiful. sunny day and I had nothing to do. I wanted to get out and go somewhere.  I thought about where to go but I didn't know the area very well at all yet.  I finally decided I'd go about 45 miles South to the Gulf of Mexico.

I drove down to Alligator Point and stood astonished staring out at the Gulf of Mexico. The Beaches were deserted and I wandered up and down them all afternoon and only saw a few other people. I had never seen so much water in all my mid- western life. This was too much and I only wished my boys were there with me to enjoy it. As I was walking on the Beach, I was thinking "you know, people back home in Nebraska,South Dakota and Colorado just wouldn't believe this"!  Walking on the Beach in my barefeet, T-shirt and shorts,  looking at all that beautiful water.   It was then and there that I made the decision that whenever I was close to a Beach on Christmas day, I would go there, walk and make it a "Christmas Tradition"!

Since then, except for 3 quick years when I was transferred to Salt Lake City, Utah to correct another problem, I went to the Beach every Christmas Day. The closest beach to us here in the Rio Grande Valley, is South Padre Island on the West side of the Gulf of Mexico. That's where we are headed Friday. It's about 90 miles and we have gone there the last 2 years.  It's not near as pretty as the Florida Beaches, but the water and beach are there and it's very enjoyable. We thank God for all we have.

Here we were last year.

It is a GREAT WEEK!!!

Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and go walk on the BEACH!!!

God Bless you all....


Mike

This Blog is Published every Wednesday and Sunday..

2009 is about over!

Soon 2009 will be History! It went very fast for me.  How about you? This is our 3RD winter down here in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas near McAllen. It has also been our coolest. Not that it's real cold, just Wet, Cloudy, Foggy and plain Dreary. We had another 3.5 inches of rain this week and every morning it is extremely Foggy and it's mid morning or noon before it burns off and then it is still quite cloudy. The Sun has peaked out a few times but not near enough to satisfy me.

However, from what I hear it's been that way a lot of places. This wet cold is the worst.....seems a lot colder here at 45-50 deg than it is in AZ or SD at the same temp. It reminds me of Florida. I always said I got as cold in Florida as I ever did back home in Nebraska. But to look at the good side, we never did have to scoop any snow in Florida, nor have we had to here in South Texas. I've sure scooped my share in Nebraska!!

Cool, Cold, Foggy or what ever, we still manage to get in our "walk in the park". Every morning at 6:30 we head out in the Black Dark Fog to do our 1 hour 4 mile walk in the Bentsen Rio Grande State Park, about 2 blocks form where we live.  Almost every morning we see several Javelina's. I have some pictures below:

They like to eat the food that the birds waste out of the bird feeders.......

 They let us get fairly close, as they are used to people.  Cute little guy, isn't he?

We have seen as many as 13 in a group. One morning we saw 2 tiny little babies.  They were following their "momma" and getting breakfast when ever she stopped for a moment.

Remember this couple? I showed you a picture of them way back in 2007 when we first started walking this Park every morning. This is Red and Louise, Winter Texans from Michigan. They have been coming down to the Rio Grande Valley for over 25 years. They come to the park every morning and arrive at 6:00 am. They are professional "Bird Watchers".They know their birds! Much of the time they carry a large spot light.. What a lovely couple they are!! We have gotten to know them quite well. They seldom ever miss a morning. Rain, shine, cold or warm, they will be here. They are both 85 + and walk several miles every morning.

Each year when we come back we always ask each other, "Will Red and Louise be here"? Back in Jan of 2007 when I took this picture it was super cold.  We were all bundled up and still freezing to death but Red and Louise were still out there. They started out years ago in an RV but have now downsized to a Park Model.  However, they are still very active and a great inspiration and idol to Pat and I. We sure enjoy them.

I'm hoping it will clear off enough that we can get get on the Harley for a little ride this morning. It's still real dark out there, but I went out and walked around, it looks promising. Although there is no place to go here and absolutely nothing to see, I still love to ride.

We don't send out paper Christmas Cards anymore but here's a special card for all our readers.  Just click on this link:                    

 MERRY CHRISTMAS

It was a GREAT WEEK!!!

Thanks for stopping by.   

Mike

This Blog is Published every Sunday and Wednesday..

Our "SPECIAL" Christmas Tree......

This is the "SPECIAL" Christmas Tree I was telling you about.  Isn't it beautiful?  It is special for us because my Mother made it. It is "Ceramic". She made it many, many years ago.  How many years, I'm not sure. Maybe some of the Grandkids can remember, but I'd guess 25, 30,,,maybe more?  I remember it every Christmas at her house and in their RV when they used to go to Arizona every winter. Ms Pat always loved and adored this little tree. When Mom went to that Great RV Park in the Sky 3 years ago, we put this little tree in storage. We really didn't have room to carry it in our 5TH wheel, but this year we brought it to be a part of our new Coach House. We will probably be here every Christmas, so we'll leave it stored in the Coach House.  I just love it, the way all the little colored lights glow and the Star sets on top. I enjoy sitting in the dark with it on, just looking at it and remembering Mom.  God Bless her.  I know she is smiling down on us and her Beautiful Christmas tree.

Meanwhile, it is raining "buckets" outside.  It started at Happy Hour yesterday and rained steady all night long.  So.......our little project is still on "hold".  We started it before Thanksgiving...maybe it will be finished by Christmas??? 

Mike

It is a GREAT WEEK!!!

This Blog is Published every Wednesday and Sunday..

Toys for Tots,,,,,,

In hopes of making Christmas a little more enjoyable for some youngsters we bought a couple stuffed Animal Toys and took them to the local Harley Davidson Dealer.

This is a wonderful program and most all Harley Davidson Dealers across the country participate and collect thousands and thousands of Toys for Tots. When we arrived with the Toys, there were 2 Marine Reservists on hand receiving them and giving out "I donated a Toy" pins and other gifts to those that brought toys. They had a lot of toys and I'm sure lots more will come. It's a good feeling to think you might make some deserving youngster happy and their Christmas a little more enjoyable.

We started back on our "Project" this week, but it was so wet we had to wait until it dried out. Therefore, we still didn't get it done.  Like I said, you just can't get in a hurry around here!  Here are a couple pictures of what we got done.

The area behind our Coach House that includes the fence to conceal our trash can and other items is almost done.

 This will be a nice place to "hide" a few things. Oh ya, maybe we can even put our BBQ grill in there and the wind won't blow it out all the time! I think we should paint the fence to match the Coach House.  What do you think?

We have completed 12' behind the Coach House and have 40' to finish. it takes a lot of sand to get it level.. I have already hauled 48 sacks of paver sand from Home Depot and may have to go for more.  Hopefully, we will be able to complete the job next week.  I'm getting tired of having this mess on our Patio.  Why do these "Projects" always take longer and cost more than you think they will? I guess I'll never learn.

As Christmas nears, decorations are going up all around town and in the RV Park. I'm going to have to venture out after dark one of these nights and see them. Don't get out after dark much anymore, except early in the morning when we go out walking. Some of the Christmas lights are still on at 6:30 am when we head out on our walk, but not all of them..  Ms Pat put up our Christmas Tree about a week ago.  I'll have to remember to take a picture of it for you. It's a "special" Christmas tree.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you too are getting the Christmas spirit and will join us in contributing to the Toys for Tots and help make this Christmas a little more special for the little ones.

It was a GREAT WEEK!!!

     Time for me to again remind you to be sure and tell your loved ones that you love them, they may not be around forever....God Bless.

Mike

This Blog is Published every Sunday and Wednesday..

More FIRE pictures....

More pictures of our friends Bob and Kathleen Gomez's Motorhome Fire.  Fires are not pretty, but these pictures sure emphasize the mess and problems involved. Since Bob and Kathleen knew Ms Pat was involved in Insurance as an Agent for many years and I had 30 years experience as an Insurance Adjuster, they ask us to give them some assistance. I first took a lot of pictures to substantiate the damages for them and explained what the adjuster would do.  They called their Insurance Co and were advised an Adjuster would be out to inspect the damage Monday.

Here are some pictures in an album of their Motorhome after the Fire.  Note the dripping water and foam drenching everything.  This picture is blurry for some reason but when you look at it in the album, it clears up.
          (click on picture to view the album)

Bob and Kathleen Gomez fire 2009-12-05

I feel so sorry for anyone involved in a fire. It is such a mess. When one is a full time Rv'er, he has gotten rid of most of his "stuff", except for the most important and memorable "stuff". Now they must sort through what is left and determine if it is salvagable or not. Soaked clothes, furniture and many, more personal belongings. What a job!

A few years of handling these type losses was enough for me. I started specializing  in Automobile Personal Injury and Litigation. It was much easier for me to settle lawsuits with Attorneys and direct lawsuits in Litigation than it was to sit down with folks and go item by item through all their prize personal, memorable belongings.  That was a SAD job.   I loved wrestling and haggling with Attorneys.  Sometimes I even beat them in their own game.  That was especially enjoyable.  It wasn't fun and I spent a lot of sleepless nights when we were trying lawsuits and playing Russian Roulette with a Jury, but it paid well so I stuck it out. When I retired at age 57, I was a nervous wreck.  My health was bad.  My blood pressure and every other bad health item was way too high.   I was overweight and I drank entirely too much.

Strangely enough 6 months after I left the business, my blood pressure and weight went down and my general health improved immensely. The Dr told me, "I don't know what you're doing, but keep doing it". I told him that I had just gotten out of a quite stressful job. He said that getting out may have saved my life.

I must say that I always envied people that loved their jobs. I never could figure that out. All my years on the Highway Patrol, I dealt with mostly BAD people and in the Insurance business I dealt with mostly MAD people.   It wasn't fun. If I hadn't been paid for it and needed the money, I wouldn't have done it..:-).   Love my job?  I don't think so.  Are these people for real?

The weather has sure done a 180 down here. Yesterday morning we went on our walk at 6:30 am before daylight and it was 70 deg. We were in shorts and T-shirts.  NICE !  Now we remember why we are down here!!! I see it's "-15" in Custer, SD this morning!  Wow!

It is a GREAT WEEK!!!

Thanks for stopping by and reading my Blog.  I'm getting 150 + hits a day. Bless you all !!  I need ya!

Mike

This Blog is Published every Wednesday and Sunday..

Baby It's Cold Outside!!

The Weather Forecasters down here are usually pretty accurate.  They had a freeze warning out so we knew it was going to be cold. Yesterday it was 31 deg down here in Mission, TX. when we got up. Frost was definitely on the Pumpkin and everything else!! We never sleep with any heat on, so it didn't take me long to get dressed.  Too cold for the heat pump, so both electric heaters were activated and I continued putting on clothes....3 shirts,  my hooded sweat shirt and sweat pants. My insulated coveralls were in the basement or I would have put them on. The Blue Flame Heater is also put away, but I sure could have used it.

The sun is just coming up,  Frost is on the grass, all the roofs and my poor ole Truck is saying "You promised to take me where it is warm". Well, we are as far SOUTH as we can get in the US. Just a mile South is Mexico, and I'm not about to go there!

Our friends, Larry and Jeri Gustafson, from Custer, SD, who have been visiting us and touring the south, decided this was the morning for them to head on West towards Arizona. The cold didn't bother them much, they are used to it. Above they are all prepared to HEAD WEST!! We certainly enjoyed having them with us and wish the weather could have been better. Except for the first afternoon and evening they arrived, the weather has been LOUSY to BAD. Several days we were confined to the inside as it downpoured outside. They enjoyed Retama RV Park, the Pool and the Exercise room, but I think they had seen about all of the Rio Grande Valley they wanted.  Seminole State Park West of Del Rio is their next stop, then on to Big Bend National Park, south of Alpine.  Safe Travels Guys.....see you in Arizona!

Wouldn't it be shocking to be across the street in the Club House having coffee and hear sirens outside and see Fire Trucks pull up in front of your RV?  Yes....shocking, but not FUN!!  That's what happened to our friends and neighbors Bob and Kathleen Gomez. Shortly after Larry and Jeri had left, I noticed smoke at the West end of our Park but they burn Sugar Cane often around here and I assumed that's what it was. At the same time, I heard several sirens in the distance, but since there is a lot of Border Patrol activity in this area, that also happens regularly. It crossed my mind about the smoke being an RV Fire since it was so close and when I saw this Firetruck pull up down at the other end of the Park, I knew something was up. I hollered at Pat and got on my bike and headed that way.

I saw that it was Bob and Kathleen's Motorhome and was told immediately that they were not in the Rig. Soon there were 3 Fire Trucks, several Police cars and an Ambulance. The smoke was really bellowing up by then.  Darn!  I ran off without my camera....fine Photographer I am!!

The fire started somewhere around the Furnace, which is right below the Refrigerator and between the damage the fire did and the damage the Firemen did, I personally feel the Coach is definitely a "Total Loss"... no question. See the Fireman on top of the Motorhome in the picture? What's he doing you say?  Well, he's chopping a hole in the roof!!  One of the others was knocking out the windows with a sledge hammer!!

The Gomez's are in a mess right before the holidays and our hearts go out to them. The inside of their beautiful home is water and foam soaked. Its a wet, slick, slimy, burned and smokey mess.  They have lots of friends here and everyone is helping out but it has to be devastating for them. The most important thing is they are OK and their little dog Cookie is OK.  We thank God for that. 

After hearing about Nick and Terry Russell's robbery and now the Gomez's fire, that's about all the excitement we could stand for this week.

It was a GREAT WEEK!!!!

Thanks for stopping by.  It's 50 deg this morning, so we are looking forward to some warmer weather and getting ready for our weekly motorcycle ride.

ON THE SPORTS FRONT.....

My CONGRATULATIONS go out to the NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS for a Superb Football game with the #3 Texas Longhorns last night in the Cowboy's Stadium. What a GAME!!!  Texas was favored by several Touchdowns.  The entire game was CLOSE!  UN was ahead the entire first quarter....then Texas managed to kick a field goal in the last SECOND and win by 1 point. 13 to 12....Big Red is Comin' BACK!!!!

Yesterday was a great Football day.   I also watched, and was pleased to see Alabama STOP the #1 ranked Unversity of Florida.  Being the Florida State Fans that we are, that was good in our book...LOL.

Sorry Tebow and Gator fans!!  I know the loss was tough.

God Bless You All !!

Mike

This Blog is Published every Sunday and Wednesday