MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Not the first Christmas I have spent alone. It does not get any easier! Just trying to remember the "better" days with family.
I always wondered what happened to old people, now I know! I am grateful to be alive, and have enough sense to know it! Thank God for the wonderful life I have enjoyed! Even alone, I am so glad to be here!

LET SNOW LET IT SNOW!!

It has been a cold, and windy Christmas Eve here at the Thousand Trails Park in Whitney, Texas. Winds with gusts up to 43 miles per hour! What a raw day. I am soo cold. Just bundled up in my electric blanket!

Freezing in Whitney!

Had our first "real freeze" here last night. Water was frozen, lucky I always have a gallon or two drawn up just for that! It took about two hours to thaw out, that wasn't too bad. However I did nothing to get ready for my trip west. I am just sooo glad I wasn't parked on the desert near Quartzsite when the storm passed through there. The wind really scares me. I have seen big rigs blown over, so stands to reason I could roll over too. Again tonight we will be in the teens. Hopefully I can manage to get out early next week. Meanwhile I will keep busy doing "busy work".

Kandi's First Grooming

Kandi about 6 mos. old. First grooming. What a movie star!!

Baby Kandi

For years I have had poodles. My beloved Mitzi died in 2004. I swore I would'nt get another. Hurts too much when you lose them! But year before last Mother's Day ,my grand children and their Mom and Dad gave me a new BABY! How could I say no to something this sweet!!

PASSPORT ISSUES

After much back and forth, I finally got my Passport Card! I had to get a certified copy of my birth certificate from the state of Texas. which came back without my name! Many calls later to both the State and Passport Office, I went to the Court House in Johnson County,TX to try to get a certified copy. Well guess what, they had one, however it wasn't filed until 1944! This was the only place I could have ever got one. I called the Passport Office to report that I had gotten my certified copy, only to be told it must be filed within one year of birth! I was so mad, couldn't even be civil to the guy! I told him it was not my fault the Doctor didn't file it. I was told to send it in anyway, which I did. I was told they may not OK, it. Well, lo and behold I did receive my Passport Card!!! So I am now able to go over to the Pink Store to eat with the LoW bunch in Deming,NM! Never give up!!

Storms!

Last night and early this morning most of central Texas was hit with some terrific storms. Some area close to me received winds up to 80 miles per hour! Here in my park Thousand Trails at Whitney,TX we mostly had very hard rain. It really pounded me. Of course in a RV it sounds much worse. The wind did blow, but I don't think it was 80 mph! The wind is one thing that really scares me. I just can see my rig rolled over, and everything I own gone! That did happen to a friend of mine. She was travelling through Raton Pass,NM when a burst of wind caught her rig, taking it off the hitch, landed in the ditch along the highway. She wasn't hurt, but lost just about everything in the rig.

When I looked out my kitchen window this morning, I was surprised to see a lonely cow! Do you think the wind blew him in? You never know what you will see down here.

Scorpin!!

Thought I would do a little work Saturday. Dumped my black tank, back flushed it. Decided to pump out my fresh water tank and then put my new water filter on. So turned the water off and came inside,turned the pump on. Very slow, while standing at the kitchen sink, keeping an eye on my water gauge, I spied my awning tie downs lying on the ground. Well I thought this will take a while, so thought I would run out and wind them up neatly and put away in their box. I just picked the straps up, tossed them on my table ,grabbed one to straighten it out, when something bit the crap out of my left thumb and index finger. I thought it was a wasp, because I didn't see anything , so I assumed it flew away. You know what they say, "never assume anything". So I continued to pick up the strap, with my right hand this time, cause my left is killing me with two stings! And yes, I was bitten again on my right hand! How stupid am I??? This time I saw the little critter, a scorpin! All I can say, he won't bite anything any more!! Now both hands are hurting, and I must turn my water back on,regardless of pain! Finally did get my new water filter on, and the water back on. I tried everything to stop the pain. I did not find anything that would help. Made my left hand ache, and made me a little sick. So much for working that day. Packed my hand in ice, and watched TV for the rest of the day!

Last Day of August!

Well here it is, the last day of August. I hope we will not have any more 100 degree days. I was happy to have my grand daughter Sarah visit me for a few days last week. My dog Kandi enjoyed the long walks she took her on. This park is not very busy for this time of year.

I am watching the fires in California closely, one is very close to Soledad Canyon Thousand Trails Park. I hope those campers are OK.

Watching the Hurricanes

Just watching the hurricanes as they form in the Atlantic. Hope they miss FL where my daughter and grandsons are.
Today would have been 47 years my husband and I were married, had he lived. Just a sad day. So many memories. We had lost our daughter in Aug. then just six months later, my husband.
Hard to remember these things, but it did open a new chapter in my life. I have enjoyed meeting folks that are just like me. Widow, or widowed, not fun I admit but we do learn to survive and move forward. Grateful for my family and friends.

Passport Issues

I have been trying to get a passport card, it seems I have never been born! I started in May. It cost about $60.00, including two pictures. I applied in Hillsboro,TX at the post office. Expected to get it in about three or four weeks. Just goes to show you, I should have know how slow the government is. I was sent a letter, saying my birth certificate was not acceptable. I would need a CERTIFIED copy from the state. I sent for the copy, another $22.00. I received it yesterday in my mail from Escapees Mail Service. Guess what, no name on my birth certificate. After a thirty minute call to see why I have no name, was told I would have to file a amendment to change my birth certificate to show my name. This is another $15.00! To do this I have to have an older relative, sign and have notarized. Problem is I HAVE NO OLDER relative! After that it would take about a month to process that! I called passport people to ask for a refund. No refunds! Was told to get census record of year of my birth. The girl gave me a web address for U.S. Census, guess what, that don't work either!

Well, all I wanted to do was go to the Pink Store to eat with the LoW's group in Deming, NM. I am not so sure Mexican Food is worth all this trouble! But, if I can't get refund, will keep trying!

Thousand Trails Whitney,TX

I first moved here in Aug. of 2005. I was in process of selling my house, and felt I needed a "Home Base" this spot has worked out very well for me. It does get a little hot here in the summer, and can be icey and cold in the winter, but this IS TEXAS!

Twins

Just had to publish pictures of my GREAT grand daughters, Emma and Abby. Aren't they beautiful?

HOT! HOT!

Another hot day here in Texas!

A good day to laze around and study my maps, make plans for my next road trip. So much to do before leaving. The wind has been up today, need to fix my awning, but too windy to stand on the ladder. I am trying to learn to use my new computer, with Vista! What a chore. XP was so much easier. Thanks to Geeks on tour, this has been a lot easier!

Working on my web store, www.roadrunnergifts.com