We signed the agreement yesterday to become the managers at the Texas Lakeside RV Resort. Our starting date is February 20th, but we will arrive there on the 17th. I planned out our trip which will take 4 days travel, almost entirely on I-10, and is nearly 1200 miles.
There is so much to take care of between now and our departure on the 14th of February. The main thing is that we make sure we have the things we will need over the next (?). Our job is permanent as long as we want it, which includes all seasons. It is mostly hot and humid there in the summer, but the winters are a lot like what we are used to here in AZ, temperature wise. We are planning - right now at least - to spend at least one year there, and longer if it really works out for us. If it doesn't, we may be home in April. At any rate, we will not end our relationship with the folks in Wyoming until we are certain we will not go there this summer. This opportunity is one that could very easily be our final workamping job before calling it quits.
Josie is off today, will work at the 19th Ave store on Wednesday, and then give her notice at the shop on Thursday. They will not be happy about that with Valentine's Day coming, but that's the way it goes. We don't dictate the timeframes when opportunities arise that we need to act on immediately. I will talk to the people in the office here today to give them our notice that we plan to leave on the 14th.
Today's schedule includes taking the Ford Escape to the dealer for service. That car had 12K miles on it when we purchased it about three months ago. It now has almost 19K miles. The good news is that the truck hasn't put on more than a couple hundred miles during that time.
The fun begins...
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Monday, January 30, 2017
Discussions and Winds Continue
Yesterday was pretty much like Saturday except that Josie had off and was relaxing at home. The discussions continue with the Texas park, mainly because the owner was out of pocket most of the day - and the winds continue to blow for the fourth consecutive night.
We are beginning to try to identify areas that need to be addressed in case an agreement is reached in Texas and we need to make a quick getaway. We usually have lots more time to prepare for an adventure, but this one might be the shortest. The existing management couple at his park will be leaving in March and he wants us to spend time with them before they leave - a good plan. That couple came initially with a one year commitment/time frame for the job and stayed three years. That says a lot about the owner, the park and the area. I hope that our experience, if it becomes final, will be similar. The owner is talking about a mid February arrival for us.
We have had beautiful sunshine and warming temperatures the last couple days. Too bad we can't enjoy it though with these winds. Maybe today will be the day when this AZ weather gets back on track to the way it should be in the winter...
We are beginning to try to identify areas that need to be addressed in case an agreement is reached in Texas and we need to make a quick getaway. We usually have lots more time to prepare for an adventure, but this one might be the shortest. The existing management couple at his park will be leaving in March and he wants us to spend time with them before they leave - a good plan. That couple came initially with a one year commitment/time frame for the job and stayed three years. That says a lot about the owner, the park and the area. I hope that our experience, if it becomes final, will be similar. The owner is talking about a mid February arrival for us.
We have had beautiful sunshine and warming temperatures the last couple days. Too bad we can't enjoy it though with these winds. Maybe today will be the day when this AZ weather gets back on track to the way it should be in the winter...
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Texas Discussions Continue
We had another lengthy discussion yesterday with the owner of the RV Resort in Texas that we are looking at for long term employment. He has committed a waterfront site for us to include all hookups including paid electric. Also, we are close to agreeing on a timeframe which, right now, looks like a mid-February arrival at the Resort. Once we reach total agreement, assuming we do, there is much to do between now and our departure from here which would be around the end of the first week in February. I will give full details once an agreement is reached.
Our planned summer arrangements will not be canceled until we are certain that the summer will be spent in Texas. We should know within a couple weeks of working there whether we need to end our relationship in Wyoming. That will be tough to do, but remember, we need to always look out for ourselves first. The advantage to working in a long term arrangement is obvious - we don't need to travel so much and we can eliminate the space rental here in Pioneer RV Resort. We hope that it all comes together.
Stay tuned...
Our planned summer arrangements will not be canceled until we are certain that the summer will be spent in Texas. We should know within a couple weeks of working there whether we need to end our relationship in Wyoming. That will be tough to do, but remember, we need to always look out for ourselves first. The advantage to working in a long term arrangement is obvious - we don't need to travel so much and we can eliminate the space rental here in Pioneer RV Resort. We hope that it all comes together.
Stay tuned...
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Another Opportunity
Yesterday we contacted a campground owner who had left a message for us. He got our resume from the Workamper News program and contacted us about opportunities at his campground. The campground is Texas Lakeside RV Resort which is located along the Gulf coast in Texas in the town of Port Lavaca. The campground is a Good Sam park that is rated 10/10/10 which is one of only 110 parks nationwide with that designation. The owner built this campground from the ground up five years ago and has recently purchased another campground along the coast - and is buying a third park in the near future. All of his parks will be of the same quality.
As we discussed the opportunity, and he saw our experience, he suggested that we consider managing the Resort for him. His current managers are leaving the Resort in March after three years on the job. If we were to decide to move forward on this opportunity, it would mean an almost immediate departure from here, and would mean our summer plans in Wyoming would be canceled. There is a lot to be considered before we commit to doing something like that. This is in a part of the country where we have never spent any time and is within two hours of the cities of San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Houston. We will keep you posted on developments.
The winds have continued into this morning. This is the second day for these winds and, combined with the cool (41 degrees) temps this morning, makes it a not very nice day. I will say that this winter certainly has been different from the norm with all the rain, wind and cold temperatures...
As we discussed the opportunity, and he saw our experience, he suggested that we consider managing the Resort for him. His current managers are leaving the Resort in March after three years on the job. If we were to decide to move forward on this opportunity, it would mean an almost immediate departure from here, and would mean our summer plans in Wyoming would be canceled. There is a lot to be considered before we commit to doing something like that. This is in a part of the country where we have never spent any time and is within two hours of the cities of San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Houston. We will keep you posted on developments.
The winds have continued into this morning. This is the second day for these winds and, combined with the cool (41 degrees) temps this morning, makes it a not very nice day. I will say that this winter certainly has been different from the norm with all the rain, wind and cold temperatures...
Friday, January 27, 2017
A Tough Winter
I saw a post on Facebook that put the Jackson, WY, winter in perspective. The Virginian Lodge - where we worked for four years in Jackson - was just about buried in snow. This shot was one of three that was in that post:
That is the courtyard of the Lodge and behind the hedge in the picture is the swimming pool. We certainly can be thankful that we don't have anything that looks like that in our area. The problem up there is that it doesn't get warm enough to melt any of the snow, and probably won't until at least late February or early March.
Speaking of weather, we don't have the rain now, but it has been replaced with high winds. Last night we had a rock'n roll night that had the RV shaking. It is a regular occurrence here, but we would like to see some warm sunshine and calm days. They must be on the way.
This day has started just like every other day in the last week - controversy over something Trump did or said. I don't know when the hatred will end, but, I for one, am getting tired of hearing all the negative press...
That is the courtyard of the Lodge and behind the hedge in the picture is the swimming pool. We certainly can be thankful that we don't have anything that looks like that in our area. The problem up there is that it doesn't get warm enough to melt any of the snow, and probably won't until at least late February or early March.
Speaking of weather, we don't have the rain now, but it has been replaced with high winds. Last night we had a rock'n roll night that had the RV shaking. It is a regular occurrence here, but we would like to see some warm sunshine and calm days. They must be on the way.
This day has started just like every other day in the last week - controversy over something Trump did or said. I don't know when the hatred will end, but, I for one, am getting tired of hearing all the negative press...
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Slow Tax Season
It seems strange that this year our tax documents - W-2's, 1099's - are arriving later than usual. They are suppose to be mailed to recipients no later than around January 20 (I think). It just may be that the post office has cut back so much, including elimination of Saturday mail deliveries, that the mail has slowed as a result. This is around the time that I normally begin the data entry for my return and I'm still waiting on a couple of these documents. I'm still certain that everything will get done on time, but it is always nice to get your refund as early as possible.
The beat goes on in Washington. The latest protest now is over the wall to be built along the Mexican border. What is the problem here? Trump said on day one of his campaign that he was going to build the wall. The wall is estimated to cost $14 Billion, but nobody is pointing out the trillions of taxpayer dollars that Obama wasted on failed foreign policy. Trump is only still in his first week of office. Oh, well. It looks like four years of protests, challenges and bad feelings from the Liberals.
Just a word on the weather - improving. For the first time in about a month we are seeing a weekly forecast with no rain and all sunshine. Now, if we can just turn up the heat...
The beat goes on in Washington. The latest protest now is over the wall to be built along the Mexican border. What is the problem here? Trump said on day one of his campaign that he was going to build the wall. The wall is estimated to cost $14 Billion, but nobody is pointing out the trillions of taxpayer dollars that Obama wasted on failed foreign policy. Trump is only still in his first week of office. Oh, well. It looks like four years of protests, challenges and bad feelings from the Liberals.
Just a word on the weather - improving. For the first time in about a month we are seeing a weekly forecast with no rain and all sunshine. Now, if we can just turn up the heat...
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Wyoming a Go
Our summer schedule was solidified yesterday when we received the employment packets from the Grand Teton Association. We are very satisfied with the program which has changed slightly from last year. We did get a raise in pay, our four-day work week approved and our RV space request in the Elk Refuge was granted. There will be some minor changes in the retail operations but nothing significant except for the Association membership program. Instead of six levels, there will be three, and our compensation for selling them has changed. Our start date is May 23 and we will work until September 13 which is two weeks earlier than last season. I'm sure that there will be some adjustments to our program as we get closer to the start of our season.
Our other workamping plans are still in the planning stage. We are waiting to hear from the one that could be our choice for the winter next year. They have offered us a position to start almost immediately, but it is in a remote area east of Albuquerque, NM, but we don't want to start with them in a remote area. They have nine other locations that are far less remote, so we will wait on those.
We are still planning to work the Spring Training season this year. The Seattle Mariners Retail Manager is suppose to contact us when he arrives in town. Our plan is to switch from the Surprise Stadium to the Peoria Stadium. We hope that the plan works out.
With all that is being finalized, we will have to address our home base living requirements accordingly. The anticipation of new experiences is always fun for us. We visualize another year or two of travel before permanently settling somewhere...
Our other workamping plans are still in the planning stage. We are waiting to hear from the one that could be our choice for the winter next year. They have offered us a position to start almost immediately, but it is in a remote area east of Albuquerque, NM, but we don't want to start with them in a remote area. They have nine other locations that are far less remote, so we will wait on those.
We are still planning to work the Spring Training season this year. The Seattle Mariners Retail Manager is suppose to contact us when he arrives in town. Our plan is to switch from the Surprise Stadium to the Peoria Stadium. We hope that the plan works out.
With all that is being finalized, we will have to address our home base living requirements accordingly. The anticipation of new experiences is always fun for us. We visualize another year or two of travel before permanently settling somewhere...
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Attention to Draft
First of all, I wanted to mention that yesterday was the one year anniversary of our daughter Tracy's death. We know she is in a better place and is looking down on us with a smile on her face. God bless you Tracy, you are missed.
I saw an article that was a mock draft of players for the NFL which is coming up in April. I was surprised and happy to see that Western Michigan University star Corey Davis is projected to go 13th - to the Arizona Cardinals. He was Austin's roommate at the University for the first two years they were there, and is a special person. I hope the draft projection is right-on and Corey gets the opportunity he deserves. The logic for the Cardinals is that Larry Fitzgerald will retire soon and they need another Wide Receiver to replace Michael Floyd who was released following his DUI last season. Another WMU player, Taylor Moton, a lineman, is projected to be drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round. I expected to see their Quarterback, Zach Terrell, selected in the first three rounds, but we will have to wait and see on that one. These are only projections and we know that anything can happen between now and the draft.
The weather still sucks. It is way too cool and wet for an Arizona winter. We can't wait for some nice weather so we can be outside again...
I saw an article that was a mock draft of players for the NFL which is coming up in April. I was surprised and happy to see that Western Michigan University star Corey Davis is projected to go 13th - to the Arizona Cardinals. He was Austin's roommate at the University for the first two years they were there, and is a special person. I hope the draft projection is right-on and Corey gets the opportunity he deserves. The logic for the Cardinals is that Larry Fitzgerald will retire soon and they need another Wide Receiver to replace Michael Floyd who was released following his DUI last season. Another WMU player, Taylor Moton, a lineman, is projected to be drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round. I expected to see their Quarterback, Zach Terrell, selected in the first three rounds, but we will have to wait and see on that one. These are only projections and we know that anything can happen between now and the draft.
The weather still sucks. It is way too cool and wet for an Arizona winter. We can't wait for some nice weather so we can be outside again...
Monday, January 23, 2017
Super Bowl Set
If you haven't heard, it's the Atlanta Falcons vs the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 51. I really, really want the Falcons to win this game, but the Patriots are a machine. It will be a great game based on the offensive power of the Falcons. They obliterated the Packers yesterday after beating the Seahawks last week. The Falcons have a good chance. We have to put up with two weeks of hype now before the game is played on February 5.
I don't know how long it is going to take, but I can't wait for the Trump "witch hunt" to end. The media is ganging up on him and it is turning ugly. The Meet The Press show yesterday was nothing but a Trump put-down and very negative toward him. The guy is not a politician, and his blunt manner is what got him elected. They better get used to it as there is a long way to go. We'll see how things are going after the first 100 days which is usually a sign for a new administration's long term direction and satisfaction rating.
It's back to work for Josie today and her schedule is Monday to Friday this week. It should be a busy week for us as we get close to tax time and to finalizing schedules for our work assignments this year...
I don't know how long it is going to take, but I can't wait for the Trump "witch hunt" to end. The media is ganging up on him and it is turning ugly. The Meet The Press show yesterday was nothing but a Trump put-down and very negative toward him. The guy is not a politician, and his blunt manner is what got him elected. They better get used to it as there is a long way to go. We'll see how things are going after the first 100 days which is usually a sign for a new administration's long term direction and satisfaction rating.
It's back to work for Josie today and her schedule is Monday to Friday this week. It should be a busy week for us as we get close to tax time and to finalizing schedules for our work assignments this year...
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Protests
It was almost unbelievable to see all the protests and number of women across the country marching against President Trump. Although they don't all admit to marching against Trump, the bottom line is that is the reason. I saw a post on Facebook that caught my eye "Trump got more fat women walking in one day than Michelle Obama did in 8 years". Thank goodness, they were all peaceful protests. I also heard that yesterday, congress passed a sizable pay raise for our military and the road is now cleared to replace Obamacare when a suitable replacement can be offered. It looks like things are beginning to happen that will fulfill some of the promises offered during the campaign.
The weather forecasts kind of missed the mark yesterday. It was suppose to rain most of the day but we had sunshine instead. It is still very cool for this area, but I'm sure we will see some warming fairly soon. There is no question that this has been a very wet winter season and that the drought is being removed in many areas that have been suffering for years. That is very good news.
Our day was quiet yesterday. We took a drive to Surprise where Josie got her hair cut and we also made a stop at the store to pick up some things. I missed the football games yesterday as I discovered that both Championship games will be played today. That pretty much sets up my schedule for today. Tonight we will know the Super Bowl contenders...
The weather forecasts kind of missed the mark yesterday. It was suppose to rain most of the day but we had sunshine instead. It is still very cool for this area, but I'm sure we will see some warming fairly soon. There is no question that this has been a very wet winter season and that the drought is being removed in many areas that have been suffering for years. That is very good news.
Our day was quiet yesterday. We took a drive to Surprise where Josie got her hair cut and we also made a stop at the store to pick up some things. I missed the football games yesterday as I discovered that both Championship games will be played today. That pretty much sets up my schedule for today. Tonight we will know the Super Bowl contenders...
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Long Day in DC
I watched the proceedings in Washington yesterday until about 3 PM, and again last night for awhile. It was in stark contrast to all of the previous Inaugurations I have seen. Of course, this is the first where a non-politician was sworn into office. It was a wonderful day for Donald Trump and his beautiful family. The Obamas went out gracefully and are vacationing now in Palm Springs. Even though there were protests in the streets and around the country, none of them overshadowed the events of the day. The task is monumental for President Trump and I hope he is able to fulfill his promises.
It was very evident yesterday during the proceedings that President Trump has a lot to learn in the way of political protocol. There were several occasions where he fumbled and looked confused while performing certain Presidential tasks. The big one was his first signing of Executive Orders (for his Cabinet nominations) where he didn't realize that a different pen was used for each, individual signature. I'm sure those kinds of things will eventually become automatic as he gains experience. None of us ever enter a new job knowing everything from the start.
I was particularly happy to hear him adhere to his promise of emphasizing the role of the people in his administration while taking away the political self gains that have been the norm in this country. It is going to be a rough road for him, at least in the beginning, but he appears to have the tools to make it succeed. May God bless his Administration...
It was very evident yesterday during the proceedings that President Trump has a lot to learn in the way of political protocol. There were several occasions where he fumbled and looked confused while performing certain Presidential tasks. The big one was his first signing of Executive Orders (for his Cabinet nominations) where he didn't realize that a different pen was used for each, individual signature. I'm sure those kinds of things will eventually become automatic as he gains experience. None of us ever enter a new job knowing everything from the start.
I was particularly happy to hear him adhere to his promise of emphasizing the role of the people in his administration while taking away the political self gains that have been the norm in this country. It is going to be a rough road for him, at least in the beginning, but he appears to have the tools to make it succeed. May God bless his Administration...
Friday, January 20, 2017
Washington Excitement
All of the national attention is now focused on Washington DC for the Inauguration of our 45th President, Donald Trump. It does not appear to be the "smoothest" nor the "most patriotic" Inauguration ever, but the majority of Washington is still overflowing with joy. It's just a sad testimonial to see so many protests and to see just how divided our country has become. Watching the early activities this morning, I am astonished to see so many well known celebrities and other prominent Americans rejecting the process. For those opponents of the election results, it is time to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. I hope that American pride returns over the next several years and that God graces the term of our new President.
The Inauguration activities are being well covered on TV by all of the networks. I plan to watch them this morning and into this afternoon. It's time to rally round the new President and begin the healing process in our country...
The Inauguration activities are being well covered on TV by all of the networks. I plan to watch them this morning and into this afternoon. It's time to rally round the new President and begin the healing process in our country...
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Boycott List Grows
The last I heard yesterday was that the list of congressmen that are going to boycott the Inauguration is over 50. The last time that a president saw those kind of no-show numbers was at the Inauguration of Richard Nixon. We know how that presidency turned out, so we hope there is not a repeat of that outcome. It's sad that there is the kind of tension that exists for such a happy American event. This country certainly isn't used to having the controversy that surrounds this incoming president. I believe that Trump will become one of the best presidents we ever had, or fail so miserably that he will be impeached. I don't see any middle ground.
Nothing much happened yesterday on the home front. Josie had her normal work day and I did my normal at-home work on the computer and around the RV. Organizing our files for the tax season and beyond is one important task. Deciding which files to keep handy over the next year is always a challenge as the rest have to go to storage. There is no chance to access them if we are not in the area, so those decisions are key.
Other than that, we are waiting for the Inauguration tomorrow, and hope that all goes well with those functions in Washington...
Nothing much happened yesterday on the home front. Josie had her normal work day and I did my normal at-home work on the computer and around the RV. Organizing our files for the tax season and beyond is one important task. Deciding which files to keep handy over the next year is always a challenge as the rest have to go to storage. There is no chance to access them if we are not in the area, so those decisions are key.
Other than that, we are waiting for the Inauguration tomorrow, and hope that all goes well with those functions in Washington...
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Computer Scare
I was sailing along on my computer yesterday and while I was in Facebook, I clicked on a sidebar story. Mistake. I immediately received a message that I had a "worm" and needed to call Microsoft Support to get it fixed. I learned a long time ago that that was a trap to get information from you and I would end up paying mega-bucks for the fix.
I packed up my system, drove to Best Buy to visit their Geek Squad, and they had the problem fixed - free - within 5 minutes. It turned out to be a "physhing" site that was after my information. The tech guy knew immediately what the problem was and how to fix it. That was another lesson learned about Facebook - stay on the main stream articles and posts and don't stray to any other link.
We had a call from one of our prospective (future) employers offering us a position at one of their locations that would begin almost immediately. We like the company, but this particular location was in a remote area that did not interest us. They will be contacting us again when other openings occur, so we are preparing for possible opportunities that may occur prior to May. We already informed them that we had a commitment in Wyoming for the summer, so they would allow us to leave during that time and return again in October following the Wyoming stint. This could be a good chance for us to wrap up our workamping experiences and settle down once and for all - somewhere. We are looking at just another year or two before we implement that plan...
I packed up my system, drove to Best Buy to visit their Geek Squad, and they had the problem fixed - free - within 5 minutes. It turned out to be a "physhing" site that was after my information. The tech guy knew immediately what the problem was and how to fix it. That was another lesson learned about Facebook - stay on the main stream articles and posts and don't stray to any other link.
We had a call from one of our prospective (future) employers offering us a position at one of their locations that would begin almost immediately. We like the company, but this particular location was in a remote area that did not interest us. They will be contacting us again when other openings occur, so we are preparing for possible opportunities that may occur prior to May. We already informed them that we had a commitment in Wyoming for the summer, so they would allow us to leave during that time and return again in October following the Wyoming stint. This could be a good chance for us to wrap up our workamping experiences and settle down once and for all - somewhere. We are looking at just another year or two before we implement that plan...
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Inauguration Notes
I keep reading and hearing on TV about Liberals boycotting and bad-mouthing the Trump Inauguration scheduled for Friday. The real sad part is the trashing by our government representatives - namely, Congressman Lewis - who doesn't believe that Trump is a legitimate President. He will never pay any price for his attitude as his constituency is mostly black and Democrat anyway. At a time when the country is trying to unite and regain positive direction, we have these losers that are throwing up roadblocks that don't seem to want to accept America's choice. I saw where several singers have opted out of performing at the Inauguration as a result of death threats. Doesn't sound very American, does it?
As the Inauguration and Trump's Tweets are consuming the news, it doesn't seem like a happy occasion that we are finally seeing Obama walk out the door for good. I am hoping that time will cure the ills and we can see some real progress soon to certify the choice that America has made for our President. The only people that won't be happy are the freeloaders that might have to find a real job after Trump removes the free ride. Enough on politics.
We are moving forward with conversations with prospective future employers. There are some that want us to begin work before our commitment begins in Wyoming. That creates some other considerations that we aren't sure we want to deal with yet - namely, mail forwarding issues and the status of our space here at the Pioneer RV Resort. Those issues will be discussed and evaluated this week. In the meantime, we will be making sure that all is in order if we should make a decision to accept an offer prior to May. There are changes being made in this new year at Josie's shop that may impact the time frame we have. Business is slow and the new pay structure passed in the last election has resulted in hours being cut across the board. Needless to say, Josie is ready for a change...
As the Inauguration and Trump's Tweets are consuming the news, it doesn't seem like a happy occasion that we are finally seeing Obama walk out the door for good. I am hoping that time will cure the ills and we can see some real progress soon to certify the choice that America has made for our President. The only people that won't be happy are the freeloaders that might have to find a real job after Trump removes the free ride. Enough on politics.
We are moving forward with conversations with prospective future employers. There are some that want us to begin work before our commitment begins in Wyoming. That creates some other considerations that we aren't sure we want to deal with yet - namely, mail forwarding issues and the status of our space here at the Pioneer RV Resort. Those issues will be discussed and evaluated this week. In the meantime, we will be making sure that all is in order if we should make a decision to accept an offer prior to May. There are changes being made in this new year at Josie's shop that may impact the time frame we have. Business is slow and the new pay structure passed in the last election has resulted in hours being cut across the board. Needless to say, Josie is ready for a change...
Monday, January 16, 2017
Playoff Picture
The NFL playoff picture is more clear today. The final four teams - those that will play for Divisional Championships - are now established. The Packers will play the Falcons next week for the NFC Championship, and the Patriots will play the Steelers next week for the AFC Championship. Frankly, there is no team to match up with the Patriots. There have been some great games though, and no matter what the matchups are, the quality of football is high. A dropped pass here or a penalty there can make a huge difference in the outcome of most of the games. It will be interesting to watch next weekend.
More lousy weather is forecast in the state today. I still would rather be here than in most other parts of the country as there are lots worse areas than Arizona. Ice storms, tornados, snow and freezing temperatures are the norm in most other places. Maybe this is a typical winter.
As we get closer to the Inauguration of Donald Trump, the Democrats just won't quit. The witch-hunt is still on, and some key Democrats think that somehow, they can change the results of the election. The claim that Russia helped determine the election outcome is outrageous, and I don't see the bad feelings going away anytime soon. It could be a long 4 years for our new President...
More lousy weather is forecast in the state today. I still would rather be here than in most other parts of the country as there are lots worse areas than Arizona. Ice storms, tornados, snow and freezing temperatures are the norm in most other places. Maybe this is a typical winter.
As we get closer to the Inauguration of Donald Trump, the Democrats just won't quit. The witch-hunt is still on, and some key Democrats think that somehow, they can change the results of the election. The claim that Russia helped determine the election outcome is outrageous, and I don't see the bad feelings going away anytime soon. It could be a long 4 years for our new President...
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Nice Birthday Yesterday
I had a very nice, quiet birthday yesterday. Josie and I went out for brunch to a restaurant in Anthem - Two Brothers Kitchen - where we had not gone before. It was pretty good from my standpoint, but Josie didn't care for her meal too much. They have a very good menu and I wouldn't be opposed to giving them another shot sometime. Their reviews are very good.
We talked about taking a drive up north someplace but the weather was really horrible. We didn't want to take a chance on getting caught in some snow, so we nixed that idea. Instead, I got to watch the NFL playoffs. The game between the Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons went almost as I expected. The Seahawks have several key injuries on their team and I didn't expect them to be anywhere near 100%. They weren't. I hope they have a great off season because they get to watch the rest of the games just like us. Besides, I don't see anybody beating the Patriots again this year.
The lousy weather lingers, so it looks like another "stay close to home" day...
We talked about taking a drive up north someplace but the weather was really horrible. We didn't want to take a chance on getting caught in some snow, so we nixed that idea. Instead, I got to watch the NFL playoffs. The game between the Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons went almost as I expected. The Seahawks have several key injuries on their team and I didn't expect them to be anywhere near 100%. They weren't. I hope they have a great off season because they get to watch the rest of the games just like us. Besides, I don't see anybody beating the Patriots again this year.
The lousy weather lingers, so it looks like another "stay close to home" day...
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Some Football Notes
There has been a lot of change at WMU since the Cotton Bowl game on January 2. Coach Fleck, as we all know, has moved on to Minnesota as head coach and Austin's college football career has come to a rewarding end. His best friend (Troy Fumagalli) while growing up was a standout for Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl (MVP) and I found this article that was written for the Naperville Sun recently: Austin and Troy. What a terrific ending to a terrific football career. Troy has decided to return for his Senior year at Wisconsin rather than declare for the NFL draft this year. Barring injury, he should go high in next year's NFL draft.
The new coach has been hired and has begun his tough assignment as follow-up to Coach Fleck. Tim Lester has a history with WMU and there are mixed reactions to his appointment. It appears that he has the ability and knowledge to continue the successful run at WMU, and we sure hope so. It is very exciting now for us to follow the progress at WMU with the new coach, the players who will be drafted this year (Zach Terrell and Corey Davis), and those teammates of Austin that will be drafted in the future.
As happens with all of us, I have another birthday to celebrate - today. Josie and I will probably go to brunch somewhere and otherwise stay close to home - through the rain and lousy weather - and get some chores done...
The new coach has been hired and has begun his tough assignment as follow-up to Coach Fleck. Tim Lester has a history with WMU and there are mixed reactions to his appointment. It appears that he has the ability and knowledge to continue the successful run at WMU, and we sure hope so. It is very exciting now for us to follow the progress at WMU with the new coach, the players who will be drafted this year (Zach Terrell and Corey Davis), and those teammates of Austin that will be drafted in the future.
As happens with all of us, I have another birthday to celebrate - today. Josie and I will probably go to brunch somewhere and otherwise stay close to home - through the rain and lousy weather - and get some chores done...
Friday, January 13, 2017
Weather Updates
This is going to be one of those years where Arizona gets more than its share of rain. It is always welcome, and more is on the way. I heard where the California drought is now officially over with all the rain and snow in the higher elevations that has come through that state. You always hate to see the flooding and mud slides, but the long term benefits are good news.
There are still lousy reports for conditions in the Midwest. More snow and ice is forecast for that area and they certainly don't need more of that stuff. This winter has been one of extreme weather shifts, so I don't know if our climate is changing or if the ocean currents are responsible. Maybe both are responsible. Anyway, I don't think there is any area of the country that has escaped the extreme weather this season.
Short of boring you with more dull events and activities, I'll end the post here. There isn't much excitement these days...
There are still lousy reports for conditions in the Midwest. More snow and ice is forecast for that area and they certainly don't need more of that stuff. This winter has been one of extreme weather shifts, so I don't know if our climate is changing or if the ocean currents are responsible. Maybe both are responsible. Anyway, I don't think there is any area of the country that has escaped the extreme weather this season.
Short of boring you with more dull events and activities, I'll end the post here. There isn't much excitement these days...
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Political Turmoil Stinks
I am having a hard time accepting the turmoil resulting from the election of Donald Trump as our President. While following his Press Conference yesterday, listening to the analysis following his Press Conference and listening to negative comments and rhetoric regarding interviews of his chosen Cabinet members, I get upset over seeing what is happening. It's like the liberals in this country think they can somehow reverse the election results. Get over it. Trump is our president and the sooner they accept that fact, the sooner we can see progress. Attempting to sabotage his presidency before it gets started is un-American. Just my opinion.
We are still waiting on word from prospective employers and I am still very active in gathering data for our taxes. Actually, I am busy organizing the files which have become scattered over the last year. It will be an interesting - and longer process - for the taxes this year, made even more interesting as a result of the house rental. I am kind of anxious to see the impact if the house rental on our overall tax picture. You'll know, as soon as I know...
We are still waiting on word from prospective employers and I am still very active in gathering data for our taxes. Actually, I am busy organizing the files which have become scattered over the last year. It will be an interesting - and longer process - for the taxes this year, made even more interesting as a result of the house rental. I am kind of anxious to see the impact if the house rental on our overall tax picture. You'll know, as soon as I know...
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Final Rankings for 2016
It was nice to see the final AP rankings for college football. The Clemson Tigers replaced the Alabama Crimson Tide for No. 1 - finally. The really good news was that the WMU Broncos finished at No. 15, which is the best that any Broncos team has ever finished. I hope they get a terrific new coach to carry on the tradition that this group of players has started for the University. It's time to accept the fact that coach Fleck is gone and move on to bigger and better things.
I guess the biggest news for the day was Obama's farewell speech to the country. Good riddance!
We are getting to the point where our prospective employers should be finalizing plans for the rest of the year. We expect to hear, any day, about the Spring Training schedule. The more important schedule is the one we are awaiting from Wyoming and the Grand Teton Association for our summer commitment. We are anxious to finalize those schedules and to begin thinking about the Fall. There are opportunities that we are investigating for Fall/Winter schedules, and there is a chance we will not return to this area next Fall. That would require that Josie leave the shop which would be a major decision for her. Hang on for any new developments...
I guess the biggest news for the day was Obama's farewell speech to the country. Good riddance!
We are getting to the point where our prospective employers should be finalizing plans for the rest of the year. We expect to hear, any day, about the Spring Training schedule. The more important schedule is the one we are awaiting from Wyoming and the Grand Teton Association for our summer commitment. We are anxious to finalize those schedules and to begin thinking about the Fall. There are opportunities that we are investigating for Fall/Winter schedules, and there is a chance we will not return to this area next Fall. That would require that Josie leave the shop which would be a major decision for her. Hang on for any new developments...
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Last Undefeated Team Falls
The National Championship game last night between Alabama and Clemson resulted in the final undefeated team (Alabama) going down - 35-31. What a terrific game to watch and what a fantastic end to the college football season. I started to go to bed early when Alabama went up by two touchdowns, but decided to stick it out for awhile. Good decision. It is nice to see a different team get all the accolades. I believe it has been about 30 years since Clemson won the title, and the fact that they lost it last year to the same Alabama team makes it even sweeter.
That game wrapped up what was an otherwise uneventful day. It is becoming a huge event just watching the national weather every day. We are now watching flooding and heavy rains in the West after following blizzard and frigid like conditions in much of the rest of the country. The weather swings are becoming extreme for some reason.
One thing that doesn't seem to vary from day to day is the beauty of the Arizona sunsets. This one, from last night, did not disappoint:
That game wrapped up what was an otherwise uneventful day. It is becoming a huge event just watching the national weather every day. We are now watching flooding and heavy rains in the West after following blizzard and frigid like conditions in much of the rest of the country. The weather swings are becoming extreme for some reason.
One thing that doesn't seem to vary from day to day is the beauty of the Arizona sunsets. This one, from last night, did not disappoint:
Monday, January 9, 2017
Typical Relaxed Day
The entire day was spent home yesterday with the exception of one trip that I took to fill our propane tanks. We did a roast in the crock pot, Josie did some cleaning and I watched some football and did some work on my cross stitch. I would say it was a typical, relaxed day.
It's back to work for Josie today and I have more work to do with our files to be ready for this year. I hope to get a head start today or tomorrow on loading some of our tax data. With the exception of the final W-2 and 1099 numbers, I can get a lot of the data entered that will not change.
That's about it for today as it was just an uneventful day yesterday...
It's back to work for Josie today and I have more work to do with our files to be ready for this year. I hope to get a head start today or tomorrow on loading some of our tax data. With the exception of the final W-2 and 1099 numbers, I can get a lot of the data entered that will not change.
That's about it for today as it was just an uneventful day yesterday...
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Holiday Season Officially Over
We packed and loaded all of the remaining Christmas decorations and lights yesterday. They were all loaded in the truck and we drove to our storage unit in Glendale. That means we are done for another year. It was a shorter season this year as a result of our journey to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl. But, the season was one of the best with the gift we gave each other as the trip.
The impact of WMU losing coach Fleck to Minnesota is being felt in a big way. I saw where 6 pledges that committed to Fleck for WMU have changed their commitments to Minnesota - and it is only the first week. You know, WMU will survive - and thrive - from the lessons learned from Fleck and the experience from the last 4 years. Once again, we are happy for Austin who had the opportunity to share in that total experience.
The Seahawks got off to a great start in the playoff season last night by beating the Detroit Lions in their first playoff game, 26-6. Detroit was no "mega" opponent, but they all count. I'm still a little nervous about how far they will go as they play the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta next week for game 2. If they can get past that game, they may be a threat to go all the way. I can hope for that anyway...
The impact of WMU losing coach Fleck to Minnesota is being felt in a big way. I saw where 6 pledges that committed to Fleck for WMU have changed their commitments to Minnesota - and it is only the first week. You know, WMU will survive - and thrive - from the lessons learned from Fleck and the experience from the last 4 years. Once again, we are happy for Austin who had the opportunity to share in that total experience.
The Seahawks got off to a great start in the playoff season last night by beating the Detroit Lions in their first playoff game, 26-6. Detroit was no "mega" opponent, but they all count. I'm still a little nervous about how far they will go as they play the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta next week for game 2. If they can get past that game, they may be a threat to go all the way. I can hope for that anyway...
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Catching up From Dallas
The most obvious result from our wonderful trip to Arlington, TX, for the Cotton Bowl was a hit to our monthly budget. We anticipated most of that, and have to make a few adjustments this month to catch up and get even again. One of the major adjustments is our eating-out schedule which took the biggest hit since we ate out almost all the time. We don't usually eat out that much at home, but we do allow for some of that pleasure. Gas took a hit - a small one as the new Ford Escape got almost 30 mpg for the trip and the total gas charges were about $150. Compare that to over $800 for airfare, car rental and parking if we flew. Patty and Mark helped us tremendously with expenses and we are so appreciative of that. We will get caught up soon - hopefully.
Everybody has heard by now that the WMU coach - P J Fleck - is moving on to coach the Minnesota Gophers in the Big10. I guess we can say that Austin was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of his total success at WMU. It is great timing for Austin as his college football career is now over and he will complete his education within the next year and move on. Best of luck to coach Fleck.
We didn't do much more than our normal work yesterday - Josie at the shop and me on the computer and around the RV. We did grab a shot of the nice sunset while grilling our dinner last night to end the day:
Everybody has heard by now that the WMU coach - P J Fleck - is moving on to coach the Minnesota Gophers in the Big10. I guess we can say that Austin was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of his total success at WMU. It is great timing for Austin as his college football career is now over and he will complete his education within the next year and move on. Best of luck to coach Fleck.
We didn't do much more than our normal work yesterday - Josie at the shop and me on the computer and around the RV. We did grab a shot of the nice sunset while grilling our dinner last night to end the day:
Friday, January 6, 2017
Setting up for the New Year
With each new year, we set up new charts to track our finances, our health and weight progress and our personal goals. While setting up new files for the new year, we also have to organize the old files from the previous year for easy reference. Everything has to be organized in order to simplify the tax year. So, a big part of the organizing also means deciding what goes to our storage unit and what stays here in the RV. I'm going to try to make everything easier for this year.
Our taxes will begin as soon as we get the W-2's and 1099's for last year. I expect to have them done by early February. That assumes that the documents all arrive on schedule. This year, we have the rental of our home to deal with, so that will result in some new paperwork that we have never dealt with before. I hope the new forms will mean more refund for us.
I'll try not to make everything boring for the next couple weeks. There are some places we want to visit, so it shouldn't be too bad...
Our taxes will begin as soon as we get the W-2's and 1099's for last year. I expect to have them done by early February. That assumes that the documents all arrive on schedule. This year, we have the rental of our home to deal with, so that will result in some new paperwork that we have never dealt with before. I hope the new forms will mean more refund for us.
I'll try not to make everything boring for the next couple weeks. There are some places we want to visit, so it shouldn't be too bad...
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Safely Home in Phoenix
Our travel day yesterday from Las Cruces, NM, to North Phoenix was a fairly short trip (420 miles) and took us around 6 hours. That includes a stop for lunch at a Dairy Queen near Tucson at one of our gas stops. This is the final shot from our trip and the final milestone as we entered Arizona:
We wish we would have taken another day for Josie to get some rest before heading back to work. She is back to work today at 9 AM and works today and tomorrow before getting two days off this weekend.
We didn't miss too much while gone except our neighbor said there were some heavy rains during the week. We picked up our mail and now are ready to get back into our usual routine.
The objectives now are to get ready for the tax season (ugh), the Spring Training season and our return to Jackson in May. There are opportunities that we are considering for next Fall that would keep us away from this area - at least for awhile. We'll keep everybody updated on those developments as they occur...
We wish we would have taken another day for Josie to get some rest before heading back to work. She is back to work today at 9 AM and works today and tomorrow before getting two days off this weekend.
We didn't miss too much while gone except our neighbor said there were some heavy rains during the week. We picked up our mail and now are ready to get back into our usual routine.
The objectives now are to get ready for the tax season (ugh), the Spring Training season and our return to Jackson in May. There are opportunities that we are considering for next Fall that would keep us away from this area - at least for awhile. We'll keep everybody updated on those developments as they occur...
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Staying in Las Cruces, NM
It was kind of a "downer" yesterday morning as we said our goodbyes to everybody. The football season is officially over, and we will not be seeing many of the friends we made this year for who knows how long, if ever again. Patty, Mark and the boys left the hotel early for their 10 AM flight and we pulled out at around 8:30. That was a late start for us as we wanted to have breakfast with Patty and her family and we had lots of packing left to do.
Everybody had a fabulous time in spite of the loss. The game results were very respectable and we could/should have won the game. The team should feel very proud of their accomplishments this year.
With the late start, we didn't arrive at our destination at the La Quinta hotel in Las Cruces, NM, until almost 6 PM local time. The only sign that is appropriate for the day is below:
We enter Arizona this AM and that sign will do it for the final leg of the trip. It's boo-hoo for the next several days as we unwind from this fabulous experience...
Everybody had a fabulous time in spite of the loss. The game results were very respectable and we could/should have won the game. The team should feel very proud of their accomplishments this year.
With the late start, we didn't arrive at our destination at the La Quinta hotel in Las Cruces, NM, until almost 6 PM local time. The only sign that is appropriate for the day is below:
We enter Arizona this AM and that sign will do it for the final leg of the trip. It's boo-hoo for the next several days as we unwind from this fabulous experience...
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Surprise Outcome
We had an absolutely terrific time at the game yesterday. Following breakfast, we all traveled in cabs to the area in the stadium parking lot where the Tailgating festivities were being held:
Everybody was then "ready" to move on into the stadium and grab our seats:
The seats were not where we expected them, but they were very good seats that would have cost $150 each if we purchased them:
I'm sure that the folks that assigned the "free to the players" tickets didn't want to give away the most expensive seats.
The game was great, as expected, except that Wisconsin won the game (24-16) - which was not expected. Here are some shots of Austin on the field - again, we were not real close, so he looks like he is farther away:
The surprise outcome of the game was the fact the Most Valuable Player in the game was Austin's best friend - tight end Troy Fumagalli. He absolutely was the difference between Wisconsin winning or losing. He made several key catches and kept drives alive that would have resulted in WMU getting the ball. We got behind, 14-0, in the first quarter and actually outplayed Wisconsin the rest of the game in quarters 2 through 4, by a score of 16-10. Below are a couple shots of Troy - the first one with Austin following the game:
and this one where he is receiving his MVP award:
What a fabulous trip and game to boot! It is a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget.
We are heading out this morning and will stay in Las Cruces, NM, tonight, and arrive home tomorrow afternoon sometime.
Everybody was then "ready" to move on into the stadium and grab our seats:
The seats were not where we expected them, but they were very good seats that would have cost $150 each if we purchased them:
I'm sure that the folks that assigned the "free to the players" tickets didn't want to give away the most expensive seats.
The game was great, as expected, except that Wisconsin won the game (24-16) - which was not expected. Here are some shots of Austin on the field - again, we were not real close, so he looks like he is farther away:
The surprise outcome of the game was the fact the Most Valuable Player in the game was Austin's best friend - tight end Troy Fumagalli. He absolutely was the difference between Wisconsin winning or losing. He made several key catches and kept drives alive that would have resulted in WMU getting the ball. We got behind, 14-0, in the first quarter and actually outplayed Wisconsin the rest of the game in quarters 2 through 4, by a score of 16-10. Below are a couple shots of Troy - the first one with Austin following the game:
and this one where he is receiving his MVP award:
What a fabulous trip and game to boot! It is a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget.
We are heading out this morning and will stay in Las Cruces, NM, tonight, and arrive home tomorrow afternoon sometime.
Monday, January 2, 2017
Happy New Year
We were up early following the late night New Year's Eve. The Cotton Bowl Breakfast at the stadium started at 8 AM, so we had to rush to get ready:
It was a very nice affair and one in which both teams were offered the benefit of the breakfast. The Wisconsin fans were at the opposite side of the stadium, enjoying the same menu and benefits that we had. Following the breakfast, all of us proceeded to the stadium field area - WMU on one side, and Wisconsin on the other - where we all watched a film of the "road to the Cotton Bowl" on the super large screen TV inside the stadium:
We just kind of hung out most of the day while some of the others in our party went to various other locations in the area. We were happy to get some rest and enjoyed watching some games on the TV in the room.
Our dinner last night was the Humperdinks Restaurant - actually, sports bar - and was very good:
It's finally game day... We are heading down for breakfast and then will go to the Tailgating Party at the stadium:
GO BRONCOS !!!
We just kind of hung out most of the day while some of the others in our party went to various other locations in the area. We were happy to get some rest and enjoyed watching some games on the TV in the room.
Our dinner last night was the Humperdinks Restaurant - actually, sports bar - and was very good:
It's finally game day... We are heading down for breakfast and then will go to the Tailgating Party at the stadium:
GO BRONCOS !!!
Sunday, January 1, 2017
New Years Eve
It was a long day for us at the Cotton Bowl pre-game festivities. We had our morning buffet breakfast in the hotel lobby and then split into groups to drive to the Fort Worth Stockyards. That is a definite "must see and do" if you ever visit this area. It is an attraction that is world class and a place where you could easily spend a whole day and lots of money. The pictures below will attest to the great time we had. There were many photos taken and I couldn't post most of them, but these are representative of the great time had by all.
Starting with our arrival at around 10 AM when we walked a short distance from our parking area to the end of the street where it all begins:
It is an area that is about 5 square blocks of old western stores, restaurants, rides and you name it. We took some shots of the family, including these on the bulls and just standing around with some of the cowboys that keep things moving:
:
and, speaking of moving - the herding of the bulls which occurs on the main street twice a day:
We even got a group shot of all of the folks, here for the game - that came on this visit from our hotel:
and another shot of the group while eating Bar B Q at the Risky's Barbecue:
We also have this shot of us while at the Barbecue:
All of these people are family of other players on the team that became really close friends through the Tail-Gating parties before each of the games. It was a terrific time!
Last evening we drove to the Gaylord Texan where Austin and the WMU football team is staying. You talk about class! This is a place that almost defies description. The amenities, beauty and overall facilities are among the best in the country. The entire WMU team gets to share the reward for their outstanding accomplishments this year. Of course, it was also Austin's birthday celebration after we ate dinner at the Sports Bar within the hotel. We spent a fantastic evening with Austin over dinner and after dinner, meeting many of his other teammates. These photos are among the best we took throughout the evening. Starting with Austin - the guest of honor:
and a picture of his cake that we brought for the occasion:
It will definitely be a night to remember.
Oh, and here are a few shots of the inside of this place and of the grounds at the outside entrance:
Josie and I (and the boys) took a cab back to our hotel after Austin had to check back into his room, while Patty and Mark stayed to bring in the new year. We brought in the new year in our room and went to bed shortly thereafter. What a tremendous day!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody !!!
Starting with our arrival at around 10 AM when we walked a short distance from our parking area to the end of the street where it all begins:
It is an area that is about 5 square blocks of old western stores, restaurants, rides and you name it. We took some shots of the family, including these on the bulls and just standing around with some of the cowboys that keep things moving:
:
and, speaking of moving - the herding of the bulls which occurs on the main street twice a day:
We even got a group shot of all of the folks, here for the game - that came on this visit from our hotel:
and another shot of the group while eating Bar B Q at the Risky's Barbecue:
We also have this shot of us while at the Barbecue:
All of these people are family of other players on the team that became really close friends through the Tail-Gating parties before each of the games. It was a terrific time!
Last evening we drove to the Gaylord Texan where Austin and the WMU football team is staying. You talk about class! This is a place that almost defies description. The amenities, beauty and overall facilities are among the best in the country. The entire WMU team gets to share the reward for their outstanding accomplishments this year. Of course, it was also Austin's birthday celebration after we ate dinner at the Sports Bar within the hotel. We spent a fantastic evening with Austin over dinner and after dinner, meeting many of his other teammates. These photos are among the best we took throughout the evening. Starting with Austin - the guest of honor:
and a picture of his cake that we brought for the occasion:
It will definitely be a night to remember.
Oh, and here are a few shots of the inside of this place and of the grounds at the outside entrance:
Josie and I (and the boys) took a cab back to our hotel after Austin had to check back into his room, while Patty and Mark stayed to bring in the new year. We brought in the new year in our room and went to bed shortly thereafter. What a tremendous day!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody !!!
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