Nifty, nifty...Look who's 50!

Most of the world will be observing the end of 2008 today and the beginning of 2009 tomorrow...not me! I'm celebrating my friend Lizzy's 50th birthday. So, I say, rejoice in all that was wonderful and glorious about 1958 …

For age is just a state of mind
And life can be such fun
And you still know how to party
As much as anyone

Happy Birthday, Liz!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Merry Christmas

Back in Flagler Beach for the holidays and enjoying the fabulous weather - just the medicine to cure a winter cold. Finally started taking drugs yesterday to clear up the old noggin. Did do a double take this morning thinking I had slept thru Christmas when I heard the garbage trucks out picking up trash. OMG! They pick up garbage on Christmas. Ever hear anything so amazing? Monte opened his present this morning, a DOGZILLA! He played with it awhile until he got bored or tired - not sure which. Anyway, he took me out for our walk to visit the beach and check out the neighborhood. Glad to hear all are experiencing much better weather - it's 60's in Texas and a hot 45 degrees in Connecticut - and the company of friends and family. Sending one and all a virtual hug...Merry Christmas!

Let it snow

Arrived in Richardson Friday afternoon after several missed turns...can't live with GPS, can't live without it! Anyway, I be here relaxing and visiting with Rikka and Kali as well as with Beth and Pat. Nothing spectacular on our agenda except the Dallas Stars for Pat's 71st birthday. Looking at the sky yesterday, I predicted snow and sure enough last night we had brief flurries. I hate being right!

Ice!

Althought I did not personally get to visit with Santa, I was able to meander through a winter wonderland at the Ice Exhibit. A brisk 8 degress made me think I was back in Connecticut!

Moving right along

Just have to say Thanksgiving couldn't have been better...a real treat for me to spend it with my sister and brother and their families including dogs in all shapes and sizes. Here's a big shout out to Jayne, Karl, Janet, Gig, and Liz. Hope your Thanksgiving was as fine. Miss you! I also got to spend some time fixing up my home away from home since I stopped moving around for awhile. Who knew there were so many places to put stuff - not me! Got to get organized. I left Annette's on the Monday following Thanksgiving and moved on up to Millsap and Kevin's house. Kevin and Luz had a special surprise for me - a trip to see Santa with Kayla and Liz...

So far...so good

An amazing 2 weeks have passed since my last communication. Left Flager heading to my first stop outside Tallahassee at 7am. I found my sweet spot, 55 miles per hour. Not exactly exciting but really comfortable. Made my first full day an early one - didn't want to over do the first day. The next couple of days flew by - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Livingston, and finally Cameron - home of the Locklear clan. At every stop I learned something new about the BornFree, met some interesting people and dogs, and saw some great countryside. Annette and Mike had a 30amp outlet already for me. I plugged right in and made myself at home for the holidays.

Maiden voyage

I spent Wednesday getting my punch list addressed...drove around from one shop to another...getting lost is soooo much fun! Can't wait to figure out the GPS. All done and back to the lot for another evening figuring everything out. Thursday morning was the true launch - back roads to Flagler Beach. The travel gods were on the look out for me. Right after I merged onto I-4 heading north I was going to stop at the rest stop, but no, state police were in the process of closing it off. Didn't think anything of it...just kept on going. Later I saw on the news that the semi I glimpsed in the rest area was leaking gas & the state police CLOSED I-4 right after I zoomed on by! Lucky me!

Born Free

We took off this morning to go get my RV! Josie and Maryann picked us up and down to Clermont we went...a bit of a scenic detour through downtown Orlando was a bonus. Anyway we got to the Born Free Motorcoach factory direct sales lot about 11:30. A quick tour for all and then Josie and Maryann left me for my training session. Well...4 hours later I'm was more knowledgeable, for sure! Believe it or not, the awning is more complicated than it looks. I'll need lots of practice 'cause I don't want to be Robin Williams hauling out of the campground with the awning still up - my worst nightmare.

Got a call from Bill Salmonsen about coming to visit me in CT since he and Diane were visiting family in NJ. Had to let him know that I was in FL. I can still hear him laughing. So...it will be me visiting them in TX after Thanksgiving.

About 4:oo I loaded up Tucker and Monte and drove down the road to the grocery store for a short test run and supplies. Then came back to the lot to spend the night hooked up. A couple of items on the punch list for tomorrow including learning how to operate the satellite TV.

(Oh by the way...that is Florida State Prison in the background...so safe)

Welcome to Flagler Beach

I finally arrived Wednesday afternoon - about the same time the sun did. No problem finding Billie's house which is absolutely amazing. It's all about location, location, location! Not to mention it's adorable, too. I'm only minutes away from the beach - a slow leisurely walk and I'm there. Both Billie and her aunt, Josie, were nice enough to check in with the weary travelers - me and the wee wonders. On Thursday I picked up all 14 boxes from the USPS office and got my PO Box setup. USPS - the best bargain in town. Friday I followed Billie's suggestion and walked to town for the farmer's market. Friday night was the 2nd Annual Chili Cookoff...back to town I walked. What a deal - $2 for like 10 different kinds of chili and blues music, too. Today, Saturday, has been a day of leisure watching the surfers at the beach.

Rain, rain, go away!

Geez. What is it with me and I95? In and out of rain all day from Fredericksburg, VA where I spent the night to Florence, SC. At least the rain let up whenever I hit a rest stop for letting the dogs out. Last year Janet and I traveled down to Disney in the rain. Oh well...it's warmer.

A new journey

And so it begins...another RV adventure this time in my own Born Free Motorcoach...waiting for me to pick it up in Florida.

Today I left Connecticut for sunny & warmer (I hope) Florida. Well...the drive through all the major metropolitan areas wasn't too bad. I missed rush hour everywhere. Lucky me! The Days Inn couldn't give me a room with a non-smoking king sized bed on the ground floor. So I ended up with 2 doubles. Turns out Monte & Tucker took one bed and I had the other. Tell me they don't have a great life. Bonus - Days Inn comped me the pet fee! Wasn't that nice? The evening excitement was Monte treeing a possum. I know he thought it was a squirrel.