Back in DeFuniak

We spent the last couple weeks in Denham Springs with more dr. appointments, more eBaying, and more catching up with friends before hitting the road back to DeFuniak Springs, FL. We had lunch with Brandon, who worked for Russ and is still finishing up work in the area for KB Home. We ate at LeFleur's Restaurant, specializing in fried catfish, and man is it good! They have a daily buffet with plenty of sides to go with that catfish so you definitely do not go away hungry. Then Brandon followed us to our storage unit to pick up a couple items that his grandmother was going to sell at her weekly yard sale...and got them out of our unit!

Then I had lunch with Vicky, who I worked with when our offices were on the other side of town, and before I moved out to the Greystone offices. Then it was margaritas and dinner one night with three chorus friends, Jane, Emily, and Wendy, a real fun group of ladies! And then another night I met up with Gwen and Alex for dinner. Russ was supposed to join us but wasn't feeling too well after two days of dentist visits and insisted I still go. Gwen is also a chorus friend, and was our angel when we first hit the road, picking up our mail in Denham Springs every few days, and mailing it to us wherever we were. We stayed in e-mail contact constantly and got to even better friends. We have now registered with a mail forwarding service in FL so Gwen won't need to help us out any longer, but we wanted to thank her and Alex for being there when we needed them. We know it was somewhat of an aggravation and truly appreciate their assistance and friendship.

A few days before leaving Denham Springs we found something very interesting in our RV. We were rearranging some stuff in the overhead cabinets inside, and noticed that a couple of my cookbooks were damp. There was a small bulge coming through the top, which Russ had seen before but never investigated. Now this cabinet is part of one of the slideouts, so he got the ladder and went to check it out from the outside. What he found was a small hole in the slideout cover and a corresponding hole in the top of the slideout. So he came back inside, made a small incision into the bulge, and after pulling out a little bit of plywood and insulation, what appeared to be a bullet head fell out!! We actually took it over to Bass Pro the next day to the gun dept., and the guy said it was a bullet head, probably a hollow point 9mm. What we think happened was that when we were in Dallas for the Cotton Bowl over New Year's Eve, there were probably folks shooting off guns up into the air somewhere in the neighborhood (as some folks like to do on New Year's Eve), and one of them came down through the roof of the slideout. Just another part of the adventure, eh?

We left Baton Rouge on Monday to head back to DeFuniak Springs, FL, and on the way we passed the USS Alabama stationed in Mobile, AL. This 680 foot battleship was launched and commissioned in 1942 and last ran under her own power in 1946. During her years of service, she earned nine battle stars and was called the "Lucky A" because, during World War II, she lost no American lives aboard her due to enemy fire. She is a National Historic Landmark, and if you'd like to find out more about her and the Battleship Memorial Park where she resides, you can go to http://www.ussalabama.com/. We didn't stop to tour the place, but I did get a couple pictures as we passed.

However we did stop at the Florida Welcome Center and rest area, so I could snap a picture of this U.S. Navy Blue Angels F-9 Cougar replica. We had seen it on our way from FL to LA so Russ remembered on the way back and made this one of our pit stops. As the plaque below it notes, the Cougar was the Navy's first swept-wing fighter, entering the fleet in 1954 as a fighter, attack, and photo reconnaissance aircraft. It was flown by the world famous Blue Angels from 1955 to 1957 and later served as an advanced jet trainer for the Navy before retiring from service in 1969.

We arrived at Sunset King Resort in DeFuniak Springs about 3pm Monday, and once settled, we went down to the end of our row to find our friend, Scott Gad. As you may recall, we met Scott when we were staying at the KOA in Eureka, MO, and he went to the football tailgate party with us, watching the dogs while we went to the game. We stayed in touch all these months, and were responsible for getting him to check out this resort. He arrived shortly after we had left so has been here almost 3 months. When we were in MO, we had talked about maybe doing some traveling together, and as the months have progressed, we've actually worked out an itinerary, and on April 7 we will start a journey up the East coast in a two rig caravan! About mid-June we'll part ways at least for a bit because he is scheduled to go to a rally in Branson, MO, and then will do some traveling with his brother. But then we may hook up again somewhere in NY to travel some more...if we aren't sick of each other by then! LOL

Scott went to dinner with us Tuesday night for my birthday at a little restaurant down the road called Mom & Dad's Italian Restaurant. Nothing fancy, but good food at reasonable prices, and good company.

On Wed. I guess you could say we officially became Florida residents. We had set up a mailing address via the internet a few weeks ago by registering with that mail forwarding service in Orlando. So Wed. we got our Florida drivers licenses! The staff there was very friendly, helpful, and efficient. Then it was over to the tax collector's office at the courthouse to see what all we'd need to get our license plates (you don't do everything at the DMV like in many other states). The lady who waited on us was so incredibly helpful and patient. We didn't have our titles, of course, since we still owe on the car and RV, so those would be needed before we could proceed. After learning that we'd only be in town for a couple weeks, and informing us that we'd need to return to this particular office if the titles were sent to their office, she called each of the two lien holders, asking to fax them the requests, and finding out how long it would take to retrieve the titles. She spent nearly 45 minutes with us very cheerfully and patiently handling our case. We have never experienced such outstanding customer service from any governmental agency! Russ will work on getting FL insurance for the vehicles, both titles should be here some time next week (she'll call us when they arrive), and then we can get our plates.

Well, guess that's all for now so until next time....happy trails!

HAPPY EASTER!

May Easter bring you happiness and the simple joys of life.

May it be filled with blessings great and small.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

~An Irish Blessing~

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind always be at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Top o' the mornin'! Ahhh, St. Patty's Day, one o' me favorite days of the year! I'm a wee bit Irish on me mother's side, and we always celebrated the day with some good ol' corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes...one o' me favorite meals! And that tradition continues today! But hey, on St. Patty's Day, everyone's a wee bit Irish!! So to all me fellow Irish folk.....

May your day be touched by a bit of Irish luck,

Brightened by a song in your heart,

And warmed by the smiles of the people you love.

Author Unknown

Contest & Campgrounds

Well, I guess it's about time I updated the blog. Hopefully folks are still checking in on it, and the withdrawal hasn't been too bad!

Guess the big exciting news (at least for me) involves singing and the Sweet Adelines. As you know, I've been visiting my former chorus here in Baton Rouge and having a great time. I even got to sing at a couple local performances with them, which is always fun. Since I maintained my International affiliation, and the performances were open to non-members as well, I was able to participate. (Yes, there are all kinds of rules and regulations!) Well, as you may or may not know, every year Sweet Adelines worldwide hold competitions in each region. These contests help the competing choruses and quartets finetune their skills and gives them an opportunity to see what other choruses and quartets in the region have been doing and how you can improve yours. Judging is held in four categories (Sound, Music, Expression, and Showmanship) by four members of the International Judging Faculty. Baton Rouge Chorus will be competing the first weekend in April in Houston, TX, and the ladies have been bugging me about competing with them. I knew we'd be back in FL by then so it wasn't even on the radar and besides the fact that I'd have to rejoin the Region and the chorus to be eligible to compete. Just let me say that these ladies are quite persistent and persuasive!! One of them even did some checking on her own to see what it would take for me to rejoin and compete! Their persistence and excitement was contagious, and after some more discusssions and talking it over with Russ, we've worked out all the logistics, and I am going to fly from Pensacola, FL, to Houston the first weekend of April to compete with the Baton Rouge Chorus!! (Aren't frequent flyer miles great?!) I've rejoined the region and the chorus, I've already learned the two competition songs, and I'll only miss two rehearsals before contest. Cate, our director, will send me .wav files from the rehearsals the two weeks I'll miss so I can stay current with any interp changes.

This past weekend was the chorus' coaching retreat held at the downtown Hilton in Baton Rouge. About 6 weeks before contest, choruses will bring in an outside coach to really work those two contest songs and help the chorus see where improvements are needed. You know how it sometimes takes someone from the outside to see things that are right in front of you!?!! Our coach this weekend was the fabulous Vickie Dennis, Master Director of Houston Horizon Chorus. Vickie has been a member of Sweet Adelines since 1975, is on the Regional Education Faculty, is an approved candidate judge in the sound category, a Junior High School Music teacher, and just a super dynamic and highly talented coach! She was my director when I sang with Houston Horizon so I know well her talent and positive coaching and teaching abilities, and it's always great to see her. (That's Vickie on the keyboard making sure that chord we're singing is in tune! We don't use musical instruments to perform... only to finetune our craft when needed at rehearsals.) Retreat lasts from Friday night through Sunday morning, but I was only able to attend the all day Saturday session, which was really the crux of the weekend. It's hard work, but we always seem to have some fun, and it's all worth it in the end. One of the ladies in our chorus (Heather) is pregnant with her first baby, so we tied a baby shower into our lunch break. Worked out well for our theme since our contest songs are Baby Face and Baby Mine!

Along the way on our journey we've talked about the places we've seen and the people we've met and friends we've made, and how every campground has its own uniqueness. Here in Denham Springs it's no different. The KOA here is largely made up of working folk...contractors working on a project in the area for a short or long term, traveling nurses and lab techs, and folks hired for a fulltime job and their rig is their home. Coca-Cola is building a new plant in Baton Rouge and has rented 10 sites and put travel trailers on them for some of the guys they're bringing in to do the work. Bass Pro has several people who have been here quite some time and are still working to complete that project. So we thought we'd introduce you to a few of the folks we've met.

Linda is a traveling lab tech and was working at a local hospital for the past 6 months. Her husband, Dick, got a job working here at the KOA showing people to their site and helping out wherever. And their dog, Rez, became fast friends with Abby and Mikey....especially Abby! Their ages and energy levels were about the same so always had a great time running and playing together. Linda and I would take the "kids" over to the big dog park a couple times a week. It was good exercise for all of us and a great way to get to know each other better, chatting along the way. Russ would sometimes visit with Dick while we were gone, and they'd spend many hours solving the problems of the world. Linda and Dick still have their "stick" home in Iowa, which their kids watch over while they're on the road, but Dick says that when they return there this summer, he plans to start downsizing and selling stuff on eBay (we've inspired him!) They left about a week ago to head for Linda's next assignment in San Jose, CA. We sure miss our walks, and I know Abby misses her romps with Rez!

Paul is the Project Manager at Greystone Golf & Country Club, and I worked with him during my time there. He's lived at the KOA here for the past two years, and it's been fun getting to know him a little better on more of a personal level since we arrived. Russ and Paul have had many conversations on construction, sports, the economy, and many other topics. Paul has worked and lived all over the country and doesn't have a stick home at present though he owns half of one with his sister in upstate New York. He'll be here until the job's done and it's time to move on, wherever that may be.

Then there's Dennis and Sarah...what a fun couple! Though we didn't really go do a lot with them, we just had fun chatting with them and living through them vicariously as they went to many of the Mardi Gras parades and checked out the local area. I had mentioned them before when Sarah made sure to drape Mikey and Abby with beads after one of the parades! They are from Missouri (our home state!), and also still have a stick home though Sarah is planning to put it on the market this spring. Dennis had been here for several months working on a framing project, and Sarah and their dog, Muffy, had come down for a month long visit which actually got extended a little longer. Since Sarah didn't have her car this trip, I gave her rides a couple times to Wal-Mart, the groomer, and we went to lunch a couple times. She's a great gal with a great sense of humor, a big heart, and I'm so glad we've become friends. As is the nature of Dennis' business, he got told by his boss last Thursday that his assignment here was over and time to move on....now! He took Friday off so he could drive Sarah and Muffy back home to Missouri and find out his next destination. Rumor was it might be Tyler, TX.

There are several other guys that Russ has struck up conversations with while smoking outside. Roland next door who works on the Bass Pro project, Craig who's lived here for 3 years and is a local contractor, Joan and Jim who live and work here fulltime at the KOA, and Chris (a huge University of Kentucky fan and alum as evidenced by the flag he flies and the UK on his truck!) who's an electrician. Everyone has their own unique story, and it's always fun and interesting hearing them.

We've got a couple more weeks left of eBaying before we hit the road for Florida so that's keeping us plenty busy. We're not becoming rich, but it's been paying the rent here at the KOA the last couple months! One of these posts we'll share some of that experience with you. As we said last time....people will buy anything! So until next time, don't forget about us, stay tuned, and stay in touch.