Terry here running the netbook GPS mapping program while Dale drives.
We met up with Tom & Sharon, Ronan's other grandparents for breakfast this morning at that great greasy spoon called Waffle House. You know that joint along the Interstates mostly east of the Mississippi with big yellow signs. The food & talk were very good, even though the table was just a little sticky! We see Tom & Sharon each year around Ronan's birthday and try to get out for breakfast together. We talked about the past year and of course Ronan. Their version of getting away from it all is their boat on the Jersey shore. At the present they are getting ready for a eight day cruise with their "marina' buddies. Not on their boats, but on one of those big cruise ships out of Puerto Rico, sounds like a lot of fun.
Our planned route is on I-64 through the mountains of WV, can you say "fun drive", Dale can! After we escape "Wild and Wonderful West Virgina" , we plan to stop tonight at a little 10 site campground we've been passing for the last 10 years, that hasn't been in our reference books or on any of the campground review sites. I noted the location on our way last week and was able to find a web site for them. $25 for full hookups and on a concrete pad on a day with heavy rain forecast sounds great. So we plan to do about 330 miles today with tomorrow being a short driving day to Tab and Deanna's for tomorrow night. Hope to be set up at Elkhart Campground Wednesday by evening. We be there for about a month working on one of our rentals for a new tenant and with luck renting it. The week before Memorial Day we'll be heading south for the Pace reunion and our annual boating fix at Dale Hollow Lake.
Well we just turned west at Lexington VA, next turn I-77 at Beckley WV, 7% grades here we come!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Catching up. . .
The doctor appointments in Indiana went well. I think everyone was expecting Terry to look a little worse for the wear, but he really looks the same as always. . . and feels great!
While there we stayed at New Lisbon Family Campground. This is a camp we enjoy because a lot of our neighbors from our former home in Mooreland spend their spring and summer weekends there. We got to see some of them while we were there which was a real treat. We quit staying here for a couple years because the owners got a bit testy about the Passport America program. Hey, either offer it or don't. But don't offer it, then complain about how we are getting by too cheaply and costing them money. We quit going and one time our former neighbor told us that there were new owners and his dad was the manager. We know his dad really well, so we tried it out again and we were treated very well. They continue to offer Passport America and we are spending more time there.
We left there on a Thursday and headed to Virginia. Our normal stopping place in Gallopolis, Ohio, was a bit too mushy and Terry didn't want to chance driving on the grounds, so we continued on. We actually drove to Virginia and stayed at Natural Bridge. If you are inclined to go there, I would opt for the KOA out on the interstate. The drive back in to the Jellystone was narrow and tight turns, etc. Once you get there, you will pay $53 for a site unless you have PA, which is $26. Even at that, you get to set up in a field. We did have a "slot" we drove onto. Leveling was not possible front to back or side to side. It was okay for one night, but next time, we will do the KOA.
We arrived in Charlottesville at the KOA on Friday, April 15. We checked in and went to see the kids. It's hard to believe Ronan is four years old already. He is really a live wire and we enjoy spending time with the kids. He likes to come out to the bus as well and has been out a couple times with his mom and dad and dog,
Whiskey. Whiskey now loves everyone. He used to be afraid of everyone, but no more. He loves Ronan and Ronan is pretty good with him. They are quite the team.
We gave Ronan his birthday present the other day. It required some 
assembly, so we figured we might as well let Ronan in on the fun. We had to do it at their house because once assembled, it was too large to get out the door of the motorhome and too large to transport in the car. Ronan was pretty excited about Grandpa Terry putting his Peg Perego John Deere tractor and front loader together! It was pretty cool when it was finished and he uses it to move toys around in the living
room. Eventually when it warms up sufficiently, they will move it outside and he will get to use it in the yard.
Yesterday on his birthday, we took cupcakes, cookies, coffee and juice along with veggies and dip to the park. Jocelyn had invited all his friends and for 2 1/2 hours, the kids ate and played to celebrate Ronan's birthday. It was a great time and everyone had fun.
Today was errand day. Jocelyn and Ronan, Terry and I went over the mountain to Waynesboro and Staunton and visited some shops and did some grocery shopping. It started raining while we were there, so we had to come back across the mountain in the fog. The views from the top, which is where Skyline drive runs are beautiful and in the fog you cannot see anything. But it is still magically and I enjoy both the sunny days and the foggy cloud enshrouded mountains equally.
Tomorrow Ronan's other grandparents are coming and we will get to spend some time with them. We leave here on Sunday and are headed to Indiana.
Till next time. . .
Dale
While there we stayed at New Lisbon Family Campground. This is a camp we enjoy because a lot of our neighbors from our former home in Mooreland spend their spring and summer weekends there. We got to see some of them while we were there which was a real treat. We quit staying here for a couple years because the owners got a bit testy about the Passport America program. Hey, either offer it or don't. But don't offer it, then complain about how we are getting by too cheaply and costing them money. We quit going and one time our former neighbor told us that there were new owners and his dad was the manager. We know his dad really well, so we tried it out again and we were treated very well. They continue to offer Passport America and we are spending more time there.
We left there on a Thursday and headed to Virginia. Our normal stopping place in Gallopolis, Ohio, was a bit too mushy and Terry didn't want to chance driving on the grounds, so we continued on. We actually drove to Virginia and stayed at Natural Bridge. If you are inclined to go there, I would opt for the KOA out on the interstate. The drive back in to the Jellystone was narrow and tight turns, etc. Once you get there, you will pay $53 for a site unless you have PA, which is $26. Even at that, you get to set up in a field. We did have a "slot" we drove onto. Leveling was not possible front to back or side to side. It was okay for one night, but next time, we will do the KOA.
We arrived in Charlottesville at the KOA on Friday, April 15. We checked in and went to see the kids. It's hard to believe Ronan is four years old already. He is really a live wire and we enjoy spending time with the kids. He likes to come out to the bus as well and has been out a couple times with his mom and dad and dog,
Whiskey. Whiskey now loves everyone. He used to be afraid of everyone, but no more. He loves Ronan and Ronan is pretty good with him. They are quite the team.
We gave Ronan his birthday present the other day. It required some 
assembly, so we figured we might as well let Ronan in on the fun. We had to do it at their house because once assembled, it was too large to get out the door of the motorhome and too large to transport in the car. Ronan was pretty excited about Grandpa Terry putting his Peg Perego John Deere tractor and front loader together! It was pretty cool when it was finished and he uses it to move toys around in the living
room. Eventually when it warms up sufficiently, they will move it outside and he will get to use it in the yard.Yesterday on his birthday, we took cupcakes, cookies, coffee and juice along with veggies and dip to the park. Jocelyn had invited all his friends and for 2 1/2 hours, the kids ate and played to celebrate Ronan's birthday. It was a great time and everyone had fun.
Today was errand day. Jocelyn and Ronan, Terry and I went over the mountain to Waynesboro and Staunton and visited some shops and did some grocery shopping. It started raining while we were there, so we had to come back across the mountain in the fog. The views from the top, which is where Skyline drive runs are beautiful and in the fog you cannot see anything. But it is still magically and I enjoy both the sunny days and the foggy cloud enshrouded mountains equally.
Tomorrow Ronan's other grandparents are coming and we will get to spend some time with them. We leave here on Sunday and are headed to Indiana.
Till next time. . .
Dale
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Children of Cancer. . .
It's taken awhile before I could write this post. I hope I do these children justice.
MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is a leading center if not THE leading center for the treatment of all forms of cancer. There they have a Children's Cancer Hospital for the treatment of childhood cancers. Anyone can go there; and while your physician can refer you, they also have a process of "self referral" as well.
My experience with these children has to do with the Proton Therapy Center where my husband Terry was treated. Many children are treated using proton beam technology. In fact, it appears to be the preferred method particularly with brain tumors.
Children with brain tumors? I kept thinking this is all a mistake. Children should not have brain tumors, but they do. They have all kinds of cancer; and as unfair as it is, they and their parents are faced with many decisions the rest of us cannot even comprehend.
The proton beam system of radiation is different from the "regular" type of radiation called photon. Proton vs. photon. I am not a medical person and I am relaying this as I understand it. While we were there, the doctors and physicists had many informational lectures to explain to us what was happening with the treatments. Photon is like a regular x-ray only much stronger. As you might expect, there is a lot of area that is radiated with such a method. As a result, there is often a lot of tissue and cell damage to areas surrounding a tumor that could result in other problems in an individual, particularly if the area treated was the brain. Eye tumors cannot be treated with such radiation without risking the patient's eyesight. Also, with photon radiation, most of the radiation is released at the point shortly after it enters the body and less gets to the actual tumor. So more radiation must be given in order for it to effect the tumor.
Proton beam radiation isolates an individual proton which is then accelerated and at a precise point is directed to the tumor in the individual patient. Each patient's treatment has been precisely configured so that the "beam" enters the patient's body and travels to the tumor where it releases the bulk of its energy. So the photon releases most of its energy when it enters the body, the proton beam releases most of its energy when it is stopped at the tumor. The proton beam will stop at that point and delivers very little if any radiation past the tumor. The photon radiation does not stop, so it continues to release radiation as it passes through the tumor.
The physics behind the proton beam is why this treatment is desired for childrens' tumors. The radiation can be directed and confined as much to the tumor itself as is possible, reducing the damage to cells and tissues surrounding the tumor. In children who are continuing to grow, this means that other functions of the body controlled by the brain, particularly growth, will be less impacted by the radiation.
Because children are active and not likely to stay totally immobile during their brief treatment (which lasts seconds), it is necessary to anesthetize these children. And they have daily treatments, so most have a temporary line placed in their chest. One mother told me that on Mondays, they put in a tube and keep it taped in place. They remove it on Friday and place it again on the following Monday. That way they are only "stuck" once a week. The parents are given lidocane to use to numb the area before the Monday "stick." A mesh mask is made to place over their head to hold them firmly in position during the treatment. Since they are anesthetized, the children have their treatments in the morning because they cannot eat or drink beforehand.
The parents bring their children in for their appointment. Now you might think these kids would kick and scream and fight these treatments. That is where the doctors, nurses, and therapists come in. I believe every one of these children are loved dearly by the people who treat them. The therapists come out into the waiting room and search out their patient. They greet them, talk with them, play briefly with them (sometimes getting down on the floor with them) and when the time is right, they say, "Are you ready to go back?" Then they pick them up and carry them back. The children, I am told, get to push the buttons on the machines and you never hear any unhappiness from any child. The parents all tell me the children love their caregivers.
Sometimes the "beam is down." No one likes to hear that. It means a delay and sometimes a reschedule. The children get first dibbs on the beam. . . that is understood. If they have to wait, a certified child care professional comes out with a box of stuff to keep the children entertained. Now, these kids already have play areas in the building, including something for every age. . . toys, books, riding toys (one boy rides a big wheel back to his treatment daily), Wii, computer games, etc. But when this lady comes out, the kids all flock to her like she's the Pied Piper and she takes them all under her loving wings and occupies their time till their treatment.
I'm not sure how many treatments these children have. It all depends on the type of tumor and how extensive it is. In many cases, the tumor has been surgically removed and they are treating the area around where the tumor was. One little girl with whom I became aquainted had 22 treatments total.
These children are all ages. But most of the children I saw were under 5, probably under 3. Our last day I saw a Dad holding his infant child, probably not more than 6 months. The baby was cancer bald with a horseshoe shaped scar on his head and many tubes trailing. One child was older and he gonged out the same day Terry did. When I spoke to him, he smiled and turned to his grandfather who spoke English to me. I believe he may have been from Netherlands and they were all flying home that day. . . Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, sister, and him. He was very excited and except for being cancer bald, did not look ill. The proton beam does not cause illness, but fatigue is a common side effect.
Several patients were still in diapers. One little girl talked very little. She looked to be about three. She did a lot of whimpering. She was not loud, but I found out that she had a brain tumor surgically removed, then had 6 months of chemo, and now was having radiation. She was going through a lot of depression. A 3-year old, with cancer and depression.
Many children were mobile, some were infants, barely walking. Others were in wheel chairs. One was brought over on a gurney from the Children's Hospital. One young boy was almost bigger than his mother, yet she or his father carried him every day. Once I saw him walk. Obviously his was a brain tumor, he gate was distorted and his limbs flailed wildly as he held his head strangely to one side. But he was happy to walk that day!
The families of these children were amazing. Never did I see anyone feeling sorry for themselves or their children. I'm sure that happened, but they had an enormous support group around them, both in the staff and each other and were willing to talk about their illnesses to those of us there for treatment as well. The little girl above was usually with her parents and a grandparent and brother. Many times it was just one parent, but sometimes it would be both. One father would sit with his arm around his wife and his little girl playing between them while their son was being treated. He would have a rosary in his hand praying. As children would be brought out following their treatment, they had to stay for 30 minutes till the effect of the anesthesia wore off. Parents could be seen cradling their precious children in their arms and whispering to them.
I started praying for what I call the "Children of Cancer." I continue to pray daily for them. And I pray that my own grandson and future grandchildren will never have to experience such an insidious disease. A disease which is no respecter of age or gender. Please pray for the Children of Cancer and pray for a cure.
Dale
MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is a leading center if not THE leading center for the treatment of all forms of cancer. There they have a Children's Cancer Hospital for the treatment of childhood cancers. Anyone can go there; and while your physician can refer you, they also have a process of "self referral" as well.
My experience with these children has to do with the Proton Therapy Center where my husband Terry was treated. Many children are treated using proton beam technology. In fact, it appears to be the preferred method particularly with brain tumors.
Children with brain tumors? I kept thinking this is all a mistake. Children should not have brain tumors, but they do. They have all kinds of cancer; and as unfair as it is, they and their parents are faced with many decisions the rest of us cannot even comprehend.
The proton beam system of radiation is different from the "regular" type of radiation called photon. Proton vs. photon. I am not a medical person and I am relaying this as I understand it. While we were there, the doctors and physicists had many informational lectures to explain to us what was happening with the treatments. Photon is like a regular x-ray only much stronger. As you might expect, there is a lot of area that is radiated with such a method. As a result, there is often a lot of tissue and cell damage to areas surrounding a tumor that could result in other problems in an individual, particularly if the area treated was the brain. Eye tumors cannot be treated with such radiation without risking the patient's eyesight. Also, with photon radiation, most of the radiation is released at the point shortly after it enters the body and less gets to the actual tumor. So more radiation must be given in order for it to effect the tumor.
Proton beam radiation isolates an individual proton which is then accelerated and at a precise point is directed to the tumor in the individual patient. Each patient's treatment has been precisely configured so that the "beam" enters the patient's body and travels to the tumor where it releases the bulk of its energy. So the photon releases most of its energy when it enters the body, the proton beam releases most of its energy when it is stopped at the tumor. The proton beam will stop at that point and delivers very little if any radiation past the tumor. The photon radiation does not stop, so it continues to release radiation as it passes through the tumor.
The physics behind the proton beam is why this treatment is desired for childrens' tumors. The radiation can be directed and confined as much to the tumor itself as is possible, reducing the damage to cells and tissues surrounding the tumor. In children who are continuing to grow, this means that other functions of the body controlled by the brain, particularly growth, will be less impacted by the radiation.
Because children are active and not likely to stay totally immobile during their brief treatment (which lasts seconds), it is necessary to anesthetize these children. And they have daily treatments, so most have a temporary line placed in their chest. One mother told me that on Mondays, they put in a tube and keep it taped in place. They remove it on Friday and place it again on the following Monday. That way they are only "stuck" once a week. The parents are given lidocane to use to numb the area before the Monday "stick." A mesh mask is made to place over their head to hold them firmly in position during the treatment. Since they are anesthetized, the children have their treatments in the morning because they cannot eat or drink beforehand.
The parents bring their children in for their appointment. Now you might think these kids would kick and scream and fight these treatments. That is where the doctors, nurses, and therapists come in. I believe every one of these children are loved dearly by the people who treat them. The therapists come out into the waiting room and search out their patient. They greet them, talk with them, play briefly with them (sometimes getting down on the floor with them) and when the time is right, they say, "Are you ready to go back?" Then they pick them up and carry them back. The children, I am told, get to push the buttons on the machines and you never hear any unhappiness from any child. The parents all tell me the children love their caregivers.
Sometimes the "beam is down." No one likes to hear that. It means a delay and sometimes a reschedule. The children get first dibbs on the beam. . . that is understood. If they have to wait, a certified child care professional comes out with a box of stuff to keep the children entertained. Now, these kids already have play areas in the building, including something for every age. . . toys, books, riding toys (one boy rides a big wheel back to his treatment daily), Wii, computer games, etc. But when this lady comes out, the kids all flock to her like she's the Pied Piper and she takes them all under her loving wings and occupies their time till their treatment.
I'm not sure how many treatments these children have. It all depends on the type of tumor and how extensive it is. In many cases, the tumor has been surgically removed and they are treating the area around where the tumor was. One little girl with whom I became aquainted had 22 treatments total.
These children are all ages. But most of the children I saw were under 5, probably under 3. Our last day I saw a Dad holding his infant child, probably not more than 6 months. The baby was cancer bald with a horseshoe shaped scar on his head and many tubes trailing. One child was older and he gonged out the same day Terry did. When I spoke to him, he smiled and turned to his grandfather who spoke English to me. I believe he may have been from Netherlands and they were all flying home that day. . . Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, sister, and him. He was very excited and except for being cancer bald, did not look ill. The proton beam does not cause illness, but fatigue is a common side effect.
Several patients were still in diapers. One little girl talked very little. She looked to be about three. She did a lot of whimpering. She was not loud, but I found out that she had a brain tumor surgically removed, then had 6 months of chemo, and now was having radiation. She was going through a lot of depression. A 3-year old, with cancer and depression.
Many children were mobile, some were infants, barely walking. Others were in wheel chairs. One was brought over on a gurney from the Children's Hospital. One young boy was almost bigger than his mother, yet she or his father carried him every day. Once I saw him walk. Obviously his was a brain tumor, he gate was distorted and his limbs flailed wildly as he held his head strangely to one side. But he was happy to walk that day!
The families of these children were amazing. Never did I see anyone feeling sorry for themselves or their children. I'm sure that happened, but they had an enormous support group around them, both in the staff and each other and were willing to talk about their illnesses to those of us there for treatment as well. The little girl above was usually with her parents and a grandparent and brother. Many times it was just one parent, but sometimes it would be both. One father would sit with his arm around his wife and his little girl playing between them while their son was being treated. He would have a rosary in his hand praying. As children would be brought out following their treatment, they had to stay for 30 minutes till the effect of the anesthesia wore off. Parents could be seen cradling their precious children in their arms and whispering to them.
I started praying for what I call the "Children of Cancer." I continue to pray daily for them. And I pray that my own grandson and future grandchildren will never have to experience such an insidious disease. A disease which is no respecter of age or gender. Please pray for the Children of Cancer and pray for a cure.
Dale
Sunday, April 10, 2011
What the Hail???????
Yesterday morning found us in Effingham, Illinois, with hail pounding down on us at 6:30 a.m. Grrrr. Terry was already up and it woke me up so we hurriedly closed up the slides. That is a bit of a pain in our motorhome, but having to replace slide toppers would be worse. The hail, which we couldn't see in the dark, must have been larger than pea-size, but we didn't have any damage. I do think it would have punched some holes if we had not acted quickly.
We were camped at Lakeview Campground, our second visit there. It is a nice camp and we initially met the owners the first time we were here. At that time, they had just bought the place. They are a couple retired from the military and they do a nice job on their campground. They keep it clean, restrooms spotless and give you personal service.
We had a troublesome light problem with a turn signal and brake light and Terry decided we would stay an extra night so he could tackle that problem. He had already spent a couple hours with it and decided to totally rewire it from where it plugs into the coach on to the back of the truck. He got his wire all cut and harnessed to go. When he pulled the plug that fits into the socket on the motorhome, he found the problem. That large plug was cracked. He opened it up and tightened all the wires and everything worked. So now he tells me we must go and buy a new plug! As it was, a mobile RV repairman was in the park and he had the exact plug we needed, so he bought it and finished the job in short order. We are so lucky Terry knows all this stuff. Where would we be if we had to rely on others for such things.
I met many new dogs in the park and one lady in particular stopped to chat awhile while I fussed over "Pepper." She and her husband were traveling with her husband's niece and her husband and their two dogs. She said,
"They have a Scottish Terrier, but she's white." My heart flipflopped. White Scotties are quite rare; and, as you know, we had one, Neal. We also had a black Scottie, Bailey. The little dog down the lane was "Fiona." I got to meet her. She was a typical Scottie, rather aloof and could really care less about me. Hahaha. But she still took my treats I offered. She was a bit out of sorts because she had torn a nail on a deck that had holes in it and it was causing her some discomfort. They ended up taking her to a vet yesterday who gave her antibiotics, some pain medicine and trimmed the torn nail. She is one loved and cared for Scottie. She lived with a red heeler, Carmel.
While we were talking, Gloria said they were all going out for supper and we were invited to join them. This is what camping and fulltiming are all about! Meeting people. We all went to a local steakhouse and had a great meal. Glorida bought a whole pie at the restaurant and we all enjoyed peach pie a la mode when we returned to camp. Thanks, Friends!
We left Effingham this morning. Storms made there way across our route yesterday and wind was promised for today. Great choice, eh? Drive in rain or wind? We checked the weather maps carefully and decided to leave very early this morning (7:15) and miss the wind which was to start later in the day. That plan worked perfectly and after seeing the flooded fields and ditches along the way, we were glad we were driving in the rain.
We are at the New Lisbon Family Campground near where we used to live. Many people from our little town have summer trailers here and we got to see some friends when we arrived. We are here for four days for doctor appointments, then we head to Virginia to see the kids and to celebrate Ronan's fourth birthday!
Till next time. . .
Dale
We were camped at Lakeview Campground, our second visit there. It is a nice camp and we initially met the owners the first time we were here. At that time, they had just bought the place. They are a couple retired from the military and they do a nice job on their campground. They keep it clean, restrooms spotless and give you personal service.
We had a troublesome light problem with a turn signal and brake light and Terry decided we would stay an extra night so he could tackle that problem. He had already spent a couple hours with it and decided to totally rewire it from where it plugs into the coach on to the back of the truck. He got his wire all cut and harnessed to go. When he pulled the plug that fits into the socket on the motorhome, he found the problem. That large plug was cracked. He opened it up and tightened all the wires and everything worked. So now he tells me we must go and buy a new plug! As it was, a mobile RV repairman was in the park and he had the exact plug we needed, so he bought it and finished the job in short order. We are so lucky Terry knows all this stuff. Where would we be if we had to rely on others for such things.
I met many new dogs in the park and one lady in particular stopped to chat awhile while I fussed over "Pepper." She and her husband were traveling with her husband's niece and her husband and their two dogs. She said,
"They have a Scottish Terrier, but she's white." My heart flipflopped. White Scotties are quite rare; and, as you know, we had one, Neal. We also had a black Scottie, Bailey. The little dog down the lane was "Fiona." I got to meet her. She was a typical Scottie, rather aloof and could really care less about me. Hahaha. But she still took my treats I offered. She was a bit out of sorts because she had torn a nail on a deck that had holes in it and it was causing her some discomfort. They ended up taking her to a vet yesterday who gave her antibiotics, some pain medicine and trimmed the torn nail. She is one loved and cared for Scottie. She lived with a red heeler, Carmel.While we were talking, Gloria said they were all going out for supper and we were invited to join them. This is what camping and fulltiming are all about! Meeting people. We all went to a local steakhouse and had a great meal. Glorida bought a whole pie at the restaurant and we all enjoyed peach pie a la mode when we returned to camp. Thanks, Friends!
We left Effingham this morning. Storms made there way across our route yesterday and wind was promised for today. Great choice, eh? Drive in rain or wind? We checked the weather maps carefully and decided to leave very early this morning (7:15) and miss the wind which was to start later in the day. That plan worked perfectly and after seeing the flooded fields and ditches along the way, we were glad we were driving in the rain.
We are at the New Lisbon Family Campground near where we used to live. Many people from our little town have summer trailers here and we got to see some friends when we arrived. We are here for four days for doctor appointments, then we head to Virginia to see the kids and to celebrate Ronan's fourth birthday!
Till next time. . .
Dale
Dallas and points north. . .
We left La Grange, Texas, and drove north. We were still trying to stay away from the bad weather. We actually got into a small about of rain and some wind and the wind stayed with us till we arrived at our destination. 
We drove through Dallas, which we timed so we would not be driving through at rush hour, and continued into Oklahoma where we finally stopped in Durant, Oklahoma, at the Choctaw Indian Casino and campground. The new campground is beautiful and nicely laid out. It is a KOA, which was a surprise. It wasn't quite as expensive as most KOA's, but was very new and very nice.
We did try our hand at the casino and enjoyed our visit. We had dinner at the buffet and when we returned to the motorhome, the wind had died down. We were able to put our slides out which gave us a bit more room.
We left Durant and drove to West Seneca, Oklahoma. We stayed at the Bordertown Casino. They had RV sites in a parking lot, but we had full hookups and were quite comfortable. We camped for $9 for FHU, 50Amp for the first night and nights 2 and 3 are FREE! In addition, they gave us a coupon for buy one/get one free dinner in their restaurant. While we were there, they advertised their $2 breakfast. The next morning we went over for that. We got 2 eggs, any style, hash browns, choice of toast or biscuits/gravy and sausage patty, links or bacon. FOR $2! Can you believe it? We each got a doggie bag and took half of it home. There were many more casinos in this area and we spent another day driving around to other casinos. Most gave us free money to play so we parlayed that into some cash for us.
We took a little side trip over to Neosho, Missouri. There were supposed to be murals in town there, but we couldn't find any. What we did find was a fish hatchery. Not just any fish hatchery, though.
Neosho NFH was established in 1888 and is the oldest operating Federal fish hatchery in the country. The hatchery raises pallid sturgeon (Federally 
endangered) for recovery efforts in the lower Missouri River and rainbow trout for stocking in Lake Taneycomo. The hatchery also supports conservation of the Federally endangered Ozark cavefish and restoration of native mussels. We could see some fish in the aquariums, but the ponds made for difficult viewing. We did feed the trout in one pond and got a good look at some of them.
After our two nights there, we decided to move on. We drove up to Cuba, 
Missouri. We visited a couple of wineries and I stocked up 
on some luscious wines. Cuba is famous for its murals which are painted on the buildings in town. They 
are quite good and imaginative, telling a story about different eras in the town's history. There are pictures of early residents, famous visitors, and murals depicting life in by-gone eras. They were fun to find 
and photograph, although some had cars parked in front of them making it a bit difficult.
We have had to keep a close eye on the weather as we head toward Indiana. The weather this time of year is volatile and there have been many storms forecast. We are watching and timing our departure/driving/arrival times to miss the worst of the weather.
Till next time. . .
Dale
We drove through Dallas, which we timed so we would not be driving through at rush hour, and continued into Oklahoma where we finally stopped in Durant, Oklahoma, at the Choctaw Indian Casino and campground. The new campground is beautiful and nicely laid out. It is a KOA, which was a surprise. It wasn't quite as expensive as most KOA's, but was very new and very nice.We did try our hand at the casino and enjoyed our visit. We had dinner at the buffet and when we returned to the motorhome, the wind had died down. We were able to put our slides out which gave us a bit more room.
We left Durant and drove to West Seneca, Oklahoma. We stayed at the Bordertown Casino. They had RV sites in a parking lot, but we had full hookups and were quite comfortable. We camped for $9 for FHU, 50Amp for the first night and nights 2 and 3 are FREE! In addition, they gave us a coupon for buy one/get one free dinner in their restaurant. While we were there, they advertised their $2 breakfast. The next morning we went over for that. We got 2 eggs, any style, hash browns, choice of toast or biscuits/gravy and sausage patty, links or bacon. FOR $2! Can you believe it? We each got a doggie bag and took half of it home. There were many more casinos in this area and we spent another day driving around to other casinos. Most gave us free money to play so we parlayed that into some cash for us.
We took a little side trip over to Neosho, Missouri. There were supposed to be murals in town there, but we couldn't find any. What we did find was a fish hatchery. Not just any fish hatchery, though.
Neosho NFH was established in 1888 and is the oldest operating Federal fish hatchery in the country. The hatchery raises pallid sturgeon (Federally 
endangered) for recovery efforts in the lower Missouri River and rainbow trout for stocking in Lake Taneycomo. The hatchery also supports conservation of the Federally endangered Ozark cavefish and restoration of native mussels. We could see some fish in the aquariums, but the ponds made for difficult viewing. We did feed the trout in one pond and got a good look at some of them.
After our two nights there, we decided to move on. We drove up to Cuba, 
Missouri. We visited a couple of wineries and I stocked up 
on some luscious wines. Cuba is famous for its murals which are painted on the buildings in town. They 
are quite good and imaginative, telling a story about different eras in the town's history. There are pictures of early residents, famous visitors, and murals depicting life in by-gone eras. They were fun to find 
and photograph, although some had cars parked in front of them making it a bit difficult.We have had to keep a close eye on the weather as we head toward Indiana. The weather this time of year is volatile and there have been many storms forecast. We are watching and timing our departure/driving/arrival times to miss the worst of the weather.
Till next time. . .
Dale
Oh me, oh my!
I could hardly believe when I came to my blog today that is has been two weeks since I posted. Shame on me. I will probably post a series of tidbits of life since cancer treatment.
We left Houston on Tuesday, March 29, and headed back down to the Rio Grande Valley. My Dad, almost 87, had a total knee replacement. We were able to see him in the hospital because he didn't get out on schedule. It was Friday before he was released to come home. The experience in the hospital left a lot to be desired. It is the filthiest hospital I have ever been in and I would not care to see any of my family go back there.
While we were in Mission, we were able to touch base with many of our friends in the park and many who had signed cards for Terry during his treatment. Our neighbor introduced us to her hummingbird which has nested in her awning support rail. It's quite out in the open which is rather surprising and she does fly off when you approach, but she comes back. She is so tiny, as is the nest. It is hard to believe that birds can start out so tiny. We cannot see the eggs in the nest, but they cannot be much larger than a pencil eraser.
We also did a little shopping for patio furniture. We had been wanting something for the patio there and by the time we get there in the fall, there is nothing decent left to buy. I never found anything I really liked. We went out one evening to shop and ended up at Target. They had a set I really liked, but we couldn't get it in the truck. So the next morning we took Mom and Dad's van and our truck. We got the box of chairs in the van and the table on the roof of the little truck and got it home. The chairs were already assembled; they just had to be unpacked. While I did that, Terry got the table put together. We are very pleased with it, but only got to use it a day before we put it back in the shed for the summer.
We left Dad convalescing and drove out of the valley on Sunday, April 3. We are not driving super long days and have tried to enjoy the drive, but we did have to change our route at the start. There was that big storm outbreak predicted for the day we left and the direction we planned to take, so we decided to go straight north and let the storm track east a ways before we turned east ourselves. Our first night out we stayed in LaGrange, Texas. We got there early enough that we could do a little sightseeing around the town. We stayed at Colorado Landing mobile home and RV park. They are a Passport America park and very nice. It was a mobile home park when the owners bought it. They kept some mobile homes (to pay the rent) and moved out all the old trailers and made campsites. The sites were long and wide and 50A. The streets were wide, having been made for mobile home access.
We were glad we had changed our route because the bad weather hit east of us and we were out of harm's way.
Till next time. . .
Dale
We left Houston on Tuesday, March 29, and headed back down to the Rio Grande Valley. My Dad, almost 87, had a total knee replacement. We were able to see him in the hospital because he didn't get out on schedule. It was Friday before he was released to come home. The experience in the hospital left a lot to be desired. It is the filthiest hospital I have ever been in and I would not care to see any of my family go back there.
While we were in Mission, we were able to touch base with many of our friends in the park and many who had signed cards for Terry during his treatment. Our neighbor introduced us to her hummingbird which has nested in her awning support rail. It's quite out in the open which is rather surprising and she does fly off when you approach, but she comes back. She is so tiny, as is the nest. It is hard to believe that birds can start out so tiny. We cannot see the eggs in the nest, but they cannot be much larger than a pencil eraser.
We also did a little shopping for patio furniture. We had been wanting something for the patio there and by the time we get there in the fall, there is nothing decent left to buy. I never found anything I really liked. We went out one evening to shop and ended up at Target. They had a set I really liked, but we couldn't get it in the truck. So the next morning we took Mom and Dad's van and our truck. We got the box of chairs in the van and the table on the roof of the little truck and got it home. The chairs were already assembled; they just had to be unpacked. While I did that, Terry got the table put together. We are very pleased with it, but only got to use it a day before we put it back in the shed for the summer.We left Dad convalescing and drove out of the valley on Sunday, April 3. We are not driving super long days and have tried to enjoy the drive, but we did have to change our route at the start. There was that big storm outbreak predicted for the day we left and the direction we planned to take, so we decided to go straight north and let the storm track east a ways before we turned east ourselves. Our first night out we stayed in LaGrange, Texas. We got there early enough that we could do a little sightseeing around the town. We stayed at Colorado Landing mobile home and RV park. They are a Passport America park and very nice. It was a mobile home park when the owners bought it. They kept some mobile homes (to pay the rent) and moved out all the old trailers and made campsites. The sites were long and wide and 50A. The streets were wide, having been made for mobile home access.
We were glad we had changed our route because the bad weather hit east of us and we were out of harm's way.
Till next time. . .
Dale
Monday, March 28, 2011
Banner Day for Terry!!!!!!!
Today is the day. Today Terry "GONGED OUT" of
the Proton Therapy Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. His treatment for prostate cancer is complete. We have been here since December 27, 2010.We have enjoyed Houston, but I hesitate to call it the "radiation vacation" as some of the wives refer to it. There is nothing about vacation and cancer that belongs in the same sentence. The reason they say this is because the proton beam radiation has fewer side effects than any of the other treatments for prostate cancer and boasts about the same results. It is a bit of a daily ordeal for the men involved, but it is one treatment that does not make you sick or cause you many of the side effects while promising to stop the cancer growth. A lot of the patients and their wives use the free time between treatments to explore Houston and eat out. We have done that, taking in the rodeo, the BBQ cookoff, the flea markets, the beaches down at Galveston and the Kemah Boardwalk. We have also joined Terry's college roommate for a tour of the Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham, famous for Blue Bell ice cream. We also have spent some quality time with my cousin and his wife, being fed luscious meals and meeting many of their friends. We have made friends at the campground, many who are cancer patients. We certainly have not been bored and have enjoyed ourselves. But there is some fatigue with the treatments and lately an afternoon nap has been the rule. Some men are here by themselves, their wives work or some choose not to come. I cannot imagine making Terry face something like this by himself. We have fared better than some, however, because we are "at home" every night. Even though our home is in Houston right now, we still go home to our bed, our recliners, etc., every night. Ah, another perk of the full-time lifestyle.
So tomorrow we say goodbye to Houston. We are headed to the Rio Grande Valley for a few days. My Dad just had knee surgery this morning and we are going down to see him and Mom. We have a lot there with a canopy, so we can stay in the shade instead of broasting in the 100*+ weather. We are staying till the weekend, then heading to Indiana for our normal round of spring doctor appointments. Will the fun never end? Haha.
Till next time. . .
Dale
Ever wonder how they do that??????
Here is how Google maps gets their information. Perhaps they were
mapping the location of the Minute Maid Stadium in downtown Houston.
mapping the location of the Minute Maid Stadium in downtown Houston.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
An unusual treat!!!!!
We got new neighbors today and Terry helped the guy get his television cable working. He had a broken end on it and Terry changed it out for him. It still didn't work and so a little digging around found another problem that Terry fixed. So now they have television. It's always nice to lend a hand to fellow campers who need some help.
Tonight was a beautiful evening and we were sitting out under the awning reading. Across from us is an Indian man (from the country India) and we have exchanged greetings over the course of the past several weeks. He works nights, so we never have much time to chat. I have on occasion seen him carrying a
sitar to his car, and I have been curious about that. Tonight he came over and introduced himself to us. He was trained as a nuclear scientist in his native India and worked for his government traveling all over the world. He speaks 18 1/2 languages. He came to the U.S. in pursuit of the American Dream but found that he could not be employed in his field because the U.S. would not accept his degree from his homeland. So he got a job with the University of Texas Police Department and he has been there for 26 years. He is actually on the job at the Proton Therapy Center where Terry goes for treatments, but he is on the nightshift.
I finally asked him about his sitar. He has been playing for 52 years. AND, he said, "I will play for you." He went and got his "stage," which was his carpet, and then brought his sitar. It is a rather large 
instrument made from a special type of gourd grown in India. His is elaborately carved and has frets like a guitar, but the ones on the sitar are very different. There are 23 strings on the sitar, but he said you really only play 3 at the most and primarily one. The other strings are used for resonance. He strummed it with his right hand like a guitar with a special pick that was a wire which he wore on the end of his finger. The left hand would work the wire and in one song he played, it appeared that he made chords. Other times, he worked that one wire. He pl
ayed scales for us and it appeared that all 23 strings would do scales. He is a remarkable musician and he said he is the only sitar player in Texas. He gives lessons on the weekend here in Houston. I was mesmerized by his talent and the sing-song of the sitar. I like most any instrument and especially strings. But I admire talent more and he was very good. I am excited that we had a chance to hear him play and admire the music of a foreign land.
Till next time. . .
Dale
Here is a little music clip. It is actually a movie, but it was dark out and I don't have a movie camera. But the important part is the music.
Tonight was a beautiful evening and we were sitting out under the awning reading. Across from us is an Indian man (from the country India) and we have exchanged greetings over the course of the past several weeks. He works nights, so we never have much time to chat. I have on occasion seen him carrying a
sitar to his car, and I have been curious about that. Tonight he came over and introduced himself to us. He was trained as a nuclear scientist in his native India and worked for his government traveling all over the world. He speaks 18 1/2 languages. He came to the U.S. in pursuit of the American Dream but found that he could not be employed in his field because the U.S. would not accept his degree from his homeland. So he got a job with the University of Texas Police Department and he has been there for 26 years. He is actually on the job at the Proton Therapy Center where Terry goes for treatments, but he is on the nightshift.
I finally asked him about his sitar. He has been playing for 52 years. AND, he said, "I will play for you." He went and got his "stage," which was his carpet, and then brought his sitar. It is a rather large 
instrument made from a special type of gourd grown in India. His is elaborately carved and has frets like a guitar, but the ones on the sitar are very different. There are 23 strings on the sitar, but he said you really only play 3 at the most and primarily one. The other strings are used for resonance. He strummed it with his right hand like a guitar with a special pick that was a wire which he wore on the end of his finger. The left hand would work the wire and in one song he played, it appeared that he made chords. Other times, he worked that one wire. He pl
ayed scales for us and it appeared that all 23 strings would do scales. He is a remarkable musician and he said he is the only sitar player in Texas. He gives lessons on the weekend here in Houston. I was mesmerized by his talent and the sing-song of the sitar. I like most any instrument and especially strings. But I admire talent more and he was very good. I am excited that we had a chance to hear him play and admire the music of a foreign land.Till next time. . .
Dale
Here is a little music clip. It is actually a movie, but it was dark out and I don't have a movie camera. But the important part is the music.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Galveston, oh Galveston. . .
Last weekend we were looking for something different to do, so we decided to drive down to Galveston. It's been years since we had been there and pre-Hurricane Ike which did considerable damage to the island community.
There were signs of the hurricane, but we had been told that "nothing's there anymore" and "only one or two restaurants open." Wow. What lies! Or perhaps just misinformation. There were not a lot of people there, but that is okay with us because we don't typically like crowds.
While driving in and crossing the bridge into Galveston, nothing really looked destroyed. In fact, there was evidence of buildings abandoned or in some state of disrepair and a few tarps here and there. But if you didn't know a hurricane had visited, you would not have suspected it. We past by a couple beautiful homes, including the Moody Mansion. 
We found the Strand, the shopping district as old as the city and found a good place to park. 
We walked up and down the street stopping in the various shops and enjoying mild weather and sunshine. 
We looked for the Jamacian restaurant we had eaten at before, but it is no longer there. It was a great place with a lot of atmosphere, but there was still a good selection of restaurants. The area was clean and even though the buildings are old, they appear to be maintained and evidence of hurricane damage was not easily visible.
That was not the rule out on Seawall Drive, however. I don't mean to say that Seawall Drive was trashy--it was not. But one could see areas where buildings once stood and other areas in various stages of debris removal. There is no doubt that the city has worked long and hard at cleaning up
and renovating what could be salvaged. We drove most of the length of the Seawall Drive and found a place to pull out onto the beach. We parked and walked out to the water. This was the most disappointing. You surely remember the oil rig disaster of last year. Well, that continues to affect the beaches here. The water looked terrible, it was very rough and choppy with large waves. The water was dark and oily; and as we walked on the sand, the black streaks confirmed that it was oil and not just dirt
churned up by the rough water. There were hundreds of people in the water, which had to be cold. I am surprised they were allowed in it, but I guess there is no stopping spring breakers. I would not have let my family into that oily mess. A couple homes we saw appeared to be too close to the water. These homes have been condemned since the 
hurricane and will be demolished. They actually were further up on the land, but the storm has changed the beach and brought the water closer to the road.
We drove back up the Seawall Drive and saw the famous statue arising from the sand over the seawall. Traffic was heavy and I didn't see it in time to snap a picture, so I will provide a link to it. It was placed in memory of the many lives lost during the 1900 hurricane.
We stopped at Gaido's, an old established restaurant on the ocean. We had great food and a great time. When we left there we continued down the road. We saw a hotel that was built out on
a pier and it was partially destroyed by Ike. This hotel has been in the news recently because apparently the demolition crew has been dropping large chunks of concrete and debris in the water which has created hazards for people. They were working on it as we drove by and they have large nets up now to catch debris. They are going to completely remove the hotel and the pier will revert back to a fishing/observation pier.
We had an enjoyable day and were glad to know that Galveston is alive and well and continuing its recovery efforts.
Till next time. . .
Dale
There were signs of the hurricane, but we had been told that "nothing's there anymore" and "only one or two restaurants open." Wow. What lies! Or perhaps just misinformation. There were not a lot of people there, but that is okay with us because we don't typically like crowds.
While driving in and crossing the bridge into Galveston, nothing really looked destroyed. In fact, there was evidence of buildings abandoned or in some state of disrepair and a few tarps here and there. But if you didn't know a hurricane had visited, you would not have suspected it. We past by a couple beautiful homes, including the Moody Mansion. 
We found the Strand, the shopping district as old as the city and found a good place to park. 
We walked up and down the street stopping in the various shops and enjoying mild weather and sunshine. 
We looked for the Jamacian restaurant we had eaten at before, but it is no longer there. It was a great place with a lot of atmosphere, but there was still a good selection of restaurants. The area was clean and even though the buildings are old, they appear to be maintained and evidence of hurricane damage was not easily visible.That was not the rule out on Seawall Drive, however. I don't mean to say that Seawall Drive was trashy--it was not. But one could see areas where buildings once stood and other areas in various stages of debris removal. There is no doubt that the city has worked long and hard at cleaning up
and renovating what could be salvaged. We drove most of the length of the Seawall Drive and found a place to pull out onto the beach. We parked and walked out to the water. This was the most disappointing. You surely remember the oil rig disaster of last year. Well, that continues to affect the beaches here. The water looked terrible, it was very rough and choppy with large waves. The water was dark and oily; and as we walked on the sand, the black streaks confirmed that it was oil and not just dirt
churned up by the rough water. There were hundreds of people in the water, which had to be cold. I am surprised they were allowed in it, but I guess there is no stopping spring breakers. I would not have let my family into that oily mess. A couple homes we saw appeared to be too close to the water. These homes have been condemned since the 
hurricane and will be demolished. They actually were further up on the land, but the storm has changed the beach and brought the water closer to the road.We drove back up the Seawall Drive and saw the famous statue arising from the sand over the seawall. Traffic was heavy and I didn't see it in time to snap a picture, so I will provide a link to it. It was placed in memory of the many lives lost during the 1900 hurricane.
We stopped at Gaido's, an old established restaurant on the ocean. We had great food and a great time. When we left there we continued down the road. We saw a hotel that was built out on
a pier and it was partially destroyed by Ike. This hotel has been in the news recently because apparently the demolition crew has been dropping large chunks of concrete and debris in the water which has created hazards for people. They were working on it as we drove by and they have large nets up now to catch debris. They are going to completely remove the hotel and the pier will revert back to a fishing/observation pier.We had an enjoyable day and were glad to know that Galveston is alive and well and continuing its recovery efforts.
Till next time. . .
Dale
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Rodeo, part II
Well I decided to do the rodeo in a couple posts. There is a lot to 
see and even though we don't take in the entire grounds and activities, we still enjoy the venue and the excitement that abounds in the area.
We have eaten in the food area. This is a huge area with tents and the food vendors are all in these large tents with picnic tables down one side. We have seen it quite full and fairly empty at other times. There is just about anything available to eat from crawfish, shrimp, BBQ, smoked turkey legs, etc., and lots of difference sides. There are Cajun food vendors as well as standard fair. There were some outside vendors as well. Several Dippin' Dots vendors. . . that must be a big hit in the area.
The grounds include the old Houston Astrodome, which is just 
there, but not actually used in any of the activities. That seems a real shame to me. I guess it has outlived its usefulness and now would cost too much money to fix up for use again. I would love to see inside. There is also the Reliant Stadium where all the big name entertainment performs, and the Reliant Center where all the vendors are. Also the Reliant Arena is where all the rodeo events are held.
In the area around all of these massive buildings are numerous metal sculptures. They represent the cowboy way of life. Many are of horses and many are of cattle and cattle drives, depicting moments from history.This has been a big event for Houston. I am sure preparations are underway for next year's event. A production this large would have to be planned more than a year in advance. It has something for everyone and no one who attends even a portion would be disappointed.
Till next time. . .
Dale
I know, I know. . . .
I haven't been very good at keeping up the blog lately. We have been having a lot of fun here in Houston, considering why we are here. We have managed to work around Terry's treatments and get out and enjoy the area. It turns out we will leave here not doing everything there is to do, but no matter. We will be back here every year from now on as Terry returns for checkups. Since we have our place in the valley and always go through Houston anyway, that's not going to be a problem or even be out of the way.
The rodeo is still going on. It actually starts with behind the scenes activities for a couple weeks before it really starts. And once it starts, it goes for one day shy of three weeks. Wow. I have discovered that it is a combined effort of many different groups including FFA, 4-H and various rodeo associations as well as others. It is huge. I think one of the reasons it is so big is because they rotate animals and exhibits as the time rolls on.
We have spent two Wednesdays there. Wednesday is SENIOR CITIZEN DAY. Unfortunately (or you cou
ld say fortunately) we are now qualified and have take advantage of the $5 parking and free admission. The freebie doesn't include the rodeo proper, but I have no desire to watch that. They tell me that no animals get hurt in those activities, but I'm not convinced. We do enjoy walking around and looking at all the animals who are penned up and attended to by their owners. They are standing and laying down or munching, all in air conditioned comfort! There is also a nursery section where pregnant animals give birth under the watchful eye of veterinarians' assistants. Most of the births occur in the wee morning hours, so we get to see the newborns later. In one area, they have animals in a barn with information about the breeds, particularly animals that are found in Texas, like this longhorn. They are a gentle breed, able to go for long periods without water or food and can f
orage successfully on their own. I asked this handsome boy to smile for the camera.
We mostly walk around the vendor areas and buy stuff. Hey, why not. The first week I bought a tooled leather purse and last week I bought a pair of cowgirl boots. They aren't the pointy-toe type. I don't care for those. Surprisingly, did you know that boots are built for comfort? I did not know that. I figured they would really be uncomfortable, but no. They are made with more built-in support than your tennies and careful shopping can net you a pair of "Ayriat Fat Babys" which are wider, with rounded toes and crepe soles. So, under the close tutelege of my friend Pat (who owns a pair), I am now the proud owner/wearer of such a pair.
However, my boots don't match my new purse. (horrors) Does that mean a trip back is in my schedule for today?
One of the vendors displayed his works outside. He had large rocks that where engraved and some were used as wine racks, some as flagpoles, some as firepits, etc. There were beautiful, but I'm convinced they are not appropriate for carrying in the motorhome. Hah!
We also spent some time listening to the chuckwagon entertainment. These guys told a few jokes and sang some traditional cowboy tunes that were common out on the range while gathered around the chuckwagon. We thought we were going to hear some cowboy poetry, but that didn't happen. But the music and the jokes were great anyway!
The second time we went we took our friends Mike and Pat. Pat is a breast cancer survivor going through chemo treatment. They enjoy getting out and going when she feels well enough which is most of the time. She has had three treatments and has three more to go. Her next one is Friday and we are going to doggie sit for Pebbles, the little dog about whom I blogged arlier. They never know if they are going to be late from her chemo sessions, so we will take charge and they won't have to worry about her. Pat and Mike are leaving then on Monday. She is flying back to New York to their daughter's for recovery and remaining treatments and Mike is headed to the Grand Canyon National Park where he works as a shuttle bus driver. We are going to miss them but only wish them the best. We will stay in touch as her treatment progresses.
Yep, I think we are headed back to the rodeo today for Terry to get a belt and me a new purse! Yay! Might take in the butterfly house too.
Till next time. . .
Dale
The rodeo is still going on. It actually starts with behind the scenes activities for a couple weeks before it really starts. And once it starts, it goes for one day shy of three weeks. Wow. I have discovered that it is a combined effort of many different groups including FFA, 4-H and various rodeo associations as well as others. It is huge. I think one of the reasons it is so big is because they rotate animals and exhibits as the time rolls on.
We have spent two Wednesdays there. Wednesday is SENIOR CITIZEN DAY. Unfortunately (or you cou
ld say fortunately) we are now qualified and have take advantage of the $5 parking and free admission. The freebie doesn't include the rodeo proper, but I have no desire to watch that. They tell me that no animals get hurt in those activities, but I'm not convinced. We do enjoy walking around and looking at all the animals who are penned up and attended to by their owners. They are standing and laying down or munching, all in air conditioned comfort! There is also a nursery section where pregnant animals give birth under the watchful eye of veterinarians' assistants. Most of the births occur in the wee morning hours, so we get to see the newborns later. In one area, they have animals in a barn with information about the breeds, particularly animals that are found in Texas, like this longhorn. They are a gentle breed, able to go for long periods without water or food and can f
orage successfully on their own. I asked this handsome boy to smile for the camera.We mostly walk around the vendor areas and buy stuff. Hey, why not. The first week I bought a tooled leather purse and last week I bought a pair of cowgirl boots. They aren't the pointy-toe type. I don't care for those. Surprisingly, did you know that boots are built for comfort? I did not know that. I figured they would really be uncomfortable, but no. They are made with more built-in support than your tennies and careful shopping can net you a pair of "Ayriat Fat Babys" which are wider, with rounded toes and crepe soles. So, under the close tutelege of my friend Pat (who owns a pair), I am now the proud owner/wearer of such a pair.
However, my boots don't match my new purse. (horrors) Does that mean a trip back is in my schedule for today?
One of the vendors displayed his works outside. He had large rocks that where engraved and some were used as wine racks, some as flagpoles, some as firepits, etc. There were beautiful, but I'm convinced they are not appropriate for carrying in the motorhome. Hah!
We also spent some time listening to the chuckwagon entertainment. These guys told a few jokes and sang some traditional cowboy tunes that were common out on the range while gathered around the chuckwagon. We thought we were going to hear some cowboy poetry, but that didn't happen. But the music and the jokes were great anyway!The second time we went we took our friends Mike and Pat. Pat is a breast cancer survivor going through chemo treatment. They enjoy getting out and going when she feels well enough which is most of the time. She has had three treatments and has three more to go. Her next one is Friday and we are going to doggie sit for Pebbles, the little dog about whom I blogged arlier. They never know if they are going to be late from her chemo sessions, so we will take charge and they won't have to worry about her. Pat and Mike are leaving then on Monday. She is flying back to New York to their daughter's for recovery and remaining treatments and Mike is headed to the Grand Canyon National Park where he works as a shuttle bus driver. We are going to miss them but only wish them the best. We will stay in touch as her treatment progresses.
Yep, I think we are headed back to the rodeo today for Terry to get a belt and me a new purse! Yay! Might take in the butterfly house too.
Till next time. . .
Dale
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Blue Bell Creameries
Last week, Terry's college roommate, Dave and his friend Kirk, took us to Brenham, Texas, to the Blue Bell Creameries. Blue Bell ice cream is the number 3 selling ice cream in the United States and I think they only distribute to 17 states. It was a great drive out of Houston to the northwest, taking over an hour to get there.
We arrived at the creamery and signed up for the next tour. We could not take any pictures, so you won't get to see any secrets, but we had a nice tour guide and got to see them making several different flavors of ice cream. In addition to the ice cream, Blue Bell makes a lot of ice cream novelties as well, including a bomb-pop style fudgesicle and a variety of fruit bars that I will have to try.
When we left there, Dave drove us 
around the area to see the countryside. This area, just an hour or so outside of Houston, has none of the big city glare to it. Brenham is a small little western town with lots of antique stores and restaurants. Across the road from one of the stores we visited was a town square that had antique fire equipment. One housed two fire engines of the motorized type and the other had one of the first horse drawn steam fire engines in it. It was all glassed in and the sun was shining so it was hard to get a good picture, but you get the general idea. We visited several of the antique stores because Dave and Kirk really like them. Before we left the area, we stopped at a steakhouse and had dinner. It was great to sit and visit and we really enjoyed our time.
Till next time. . .
Dale
We arrived at the creamery and signed up for the next tour. We could not take any pictures, so you won't get to see any secrets, but we had a nice tour guide and got to see them making several different flavors of ice cream. In addition to the ice cream, Blue Bell makes a lot of ice cream novelties as well, including a bomb-pop style fudgesicle and a variety of fruit bars that I will have to try.
When we left there, Dave drove us 
around the area to see the countryside. This area, just an hour or so outside of Houston, has none of the big city glare to it. Brenham is a small little western town with lots of antique stores and restaurants. Across the road from one of the stores we visited was a town square that had antique fire equipment. One housed two fire engines of the motorized type and the other had one of the first horse drawn steam fire engines in it. It was all glassed in and the sun was shining so it was hard to get a good picture, but you get the general idea. We visited several of the antique stores because Dave and Kirk really like them. Before we left the area, we stopped at a steakhouse and had dinner. It was great to sit and visit and we really enjoyed our time.Till next time. . .
Dale
Monday, February 28, 2011
Can you say BBQ?
Well, these Texans take their BBQ seriously. 
This past weekend was the BBQ Cookoff, one of the "pre-rodeo" activities and they were anticipating a big crowd.
We decided to go since we will probably never be here again for it and thought we might enjoy the activities.
While the BBQ is a big event, it is not all open to the public. Most of the tents are by invitation only. There are over 400 teams. . . yes, I said 400+ teams. They compete by cooking chicken, pork and brisket.
The top prize in just one category is $15,000, money that the team then uses to sponsor scholarships. So there is a little money involved. The teams are set up in row after row of tents. Not your normal little pup tent, but large tents made to hold large crowds. Most of the teams create a false facade for the front of their tent to follow the theme/gimmick they have chosen to set their team apart from the others. Most all had matching team shirts and hats, so you could easily tell one team from another.
The cookers were very unique. Again, we aren't talking your average little table top BBQ, but large BBQ machines on trailers, all primarily wood fired to get
that distinctive taste that will 
"wow" the judges. One of the BBQ's looked like a Continental airplane. I took a picture of it, but the side you see in my picture is not the cooker. The cooker was on the other side and the sides of the plane lifted up to reveal the cooking racks. Another was actually a tanker trailer that had been 
modified. The top was cut so that the entire top portion lifted to reveal the BBQ racks inside. When finished and ready to move, the top slides down and it looks like any other tanker truck going down the road. Very unique.
We had a very enjoyable time and for your admission price, you got a free plate of a BBQ sandwich, beans and chips. We went over with Mike and Pat and had a great time just walking around. There is a large carnival on the site which will continue to run during the rodeo which officially starts tomorrow. There have been many activities going on, but the main events start tomorrow. We are planning on going, but since it lasts for three weeks, we are going to go next week, hoping that the crowds will not be as bad.
Till next time. . .
Dale
This past weekend was the BBQ Cookoff, one of the "pre-rodeo" activities and they were anticipating a big crowd.
We decided to go since we will probably never be here again for it and thought we might enjoy the activities.While the BBQ is a big event, it is not all open to the public. Most of the tents are by invitation only. There are over 400 teams. . . yes, I said 400+ teams. They compete by cooking chicken, pork and brisket.
The top prize in just one category is $15,000, money that the team then uses to sponsor scholarships. So there is a little money involved. The teams are set up in row after row of tents. Not your normal little pup tent, but large tents made to hold large crowds. Most of the teams create a false facade for the front of their tent to follow the theme/gimmick they have chosen to set their team apart from the others. Most all had matching team shirts and hats, so you could easily tell one team from another.The cookers were very unique. Again, we aren't talking your average little table top BBQ, but large BBQ machines on trailers, all primarily wood fired to get
that distinctive taste that will 
"wow" the judges. One of the BBQ's looked like a Continental airplane. I took a picture of it, but the side you see in my picture is not the cooker. The cooker was on the other side and the sides of the plane lifted up to reveal the cooking racks. Another was actually a tanker trailer that had been 
modified. The top was cut so that the entire top portion lifted to reveal the BBQ racks inside. When finished and ready to move, the top slides down and it looks like any other tanker truck going down the road. Very unique.We had a very enjoyable time and for your admission price, you got a free plate of a BBQ sandwich, beans and chips. We went over with Mike and Pat and had a great time just walking around. There is a large carnival on the site which will continue to run during the rodeo which officially starts tomorrow. There have been many activities going on, but the main events start tomorrow. We are planning on going, but since it lasts for three weeks, we are going to go next week, hoping that the crowds will not be as bad.
Till next time. . .
Dale
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