Cold Wet Thursday Sept 29

[JoanE]

Where is everyone? I am in Becket MA where it rained all night and continues this morning. This campground suffered tremendous damage from Irene and there doesn't seem to be a break in sight. There is a pond forming around my site. The campground is actually closed for repairs but when I just showed up, they said I could stay. They are about 10 minutes from the seminar I will be attending, so very convenient. I considered boondocking in the parking lot of the institute but am having battery issues, so this may be a better alternative until I know more about the coach batteries. They seem to lose their charge quickly. It occurred to me that they may be original batteries and ready for the graveyard.

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING JOAN AND ALL!

I hope that rain stops before you end up needing pontoons, Joan! We had an early-morning downpour that lasted about an hour, but now it's just overcast again.

I spent the early morning hours watching Oxygen on my TV----they had a documentary about young girls being kidnapped for use in brothels in India, and then another about young African girls being married off to older men by their families (some at seven years old, for heavens sakes) and yet another about programs to allow young girls visit their imprisoned mothers, showing the trauma the kids go through when their moms get incarcerated. Truths, customs, and attrocities like this going on in our world should be an integral part of our children's education here in this country. The video could be watched, discussions would ensue, research could be done to delve more deeply into the topics, essays could be written, vocabulary learned, English skills learned, public speaking debates could be held within the classes, and our kids would become enlightened to conditions other than in our homeland. Reasoning skills, research skills, writing skills, speaking skills, math skills via the use of graphs and figures, safe use and judicious use of internet information could be taught, analytical skills, morality in other countries, and, perhaps, foremost, an honest interest and enthusiasm to learn more and research more and desire to become involved in our earth's problems and joys----all of those would be part of the learning in that environment. Instead, our kids sit at desks, use the internet unwisely in most cases, are not allowed to express any innovative ideas, are not to even speak up in classes, for the most part, as they are too busy memorizing facts and accumulating the answers to standardized tests so their schools can get a good rating score and appear to be wonderful institutes of education. ACK! I wish I could be given a class of high school students to teach as I see fit, and then be able to follow them for years to watch what they do with their lives.

Didn't mean to begin the day with such a rant, but it was on my mind. Sigh....back to the coffee and pumpkins spice bread now!

Doc appointment (the real one) this afternoon again, and then just some walks and some more waiting. My goal for the day is to see if, or how, I could possibly get Molly certified to be a service dog (as I suffer from labyrithitis and panic attacks when confined in places like airplanes) so she could accompany me on Amtraks trains or even (shudder) airplanes, should I desire to come home for Christmas, or at any time. Just a thought Mandy came up with!

Hope all have a good day whatever you may be doing or wherever you may be.

[Christine]

Morning.... up early as always and having my morning cup-o-coffee.. its very fallish outside with fog this a.m. so will be another nice day... We have had our share of rain the last few days so this is very welcome..
I just got back from a month out at the Park hosting... I had a great time but glad i am home . I had alot of outside work to catch upon the past 2 days..,so feeling the effects on my old body today. I got on the roof and cleaned all the needles off and the awning..Got some Lithadora trimmed back, lawn mowed and winter fertilizer put on.
The Sisters of the Fly came to the park while i was there... what a nice group ( NW) division) I loved to see all those old trailers.. I hope to find one at a reasonalbe price so i can join up. Finding one will be a challenge thats in decent shape and affordable.. They left me a beautiful bouquet of flowers when they left...
Have to say i am glad to be back home again... I do not want to winterize my trailer as of yet.... Not giving up hope there will be at least one more campout or two before winter sets in.

[Birdie]

Good morning from sunny and yes rather warm and very dry Oklahoma City. Really ladies, you need to quit that water falling from the sky talk! Just yesterday the weather folks here said to get out of this drought here in OKC it would need to rain 22-23" (inches) over the next 6 months. Down near San Antonio it would probably be double that as they have had only about 4" of rain all year! So very dry...the blacktop in the cg's is show signs of stress with 1" wide cracks that were not there last year. Houses here on the street where my friend lives are having the foundation folks out to fix the cracks. It is pretty bad.

We have a nice cool night that then warms up during the day to the 90's and then recools to the 60's. It is so strange because it is so dry there is no fog. Normally when the ground is warmer than the air you will get some fog. So dry here - it ain't happening.

Enough of that. Going to get my hairs curled this morning. Then will come back and work on my friends laptop - trying to get her camera up and running. When she first got the laptop she did something to make the camer "go away". Now she would like it back to 'skype' and I am having diffculties. Anybody got any ideas just PM me. That is before I PMS!! Will go work on another friends laptop tonight - hookup printer wireless and do the apple shuffle. Now I gotta find out what the apple shuffle is. I am assured it has nothing to do with the fruit! So big day ahead of me with Mexican dinner tonight.

If you are on the road like a bunch of you will be, you be safe. Everyone have fun - life is short you know. Prayers are up there for those in need. Blessings to all.

[BirdbyBird]

Soos.....You should be able to find out info regarding service dog certification with some digging (and on a related topic....I have always found your brain and thoughts fascinating and worth listening too...so keep thinking woman ) What I have read lately is that there has been some tightening of ADA regulations that require that Service Animals be allowed entry to some public areas. The definition of Service Animals in those cases has been "clarified" rightly or wrongly depending upon your position. Many different animal were being "certified" by in some cases questionable organizations for many different conditions and then all were claiming the right to bring the animals along everywhere. I knew a dog trainer in this area that was a close friend of someone who did "certifying". She had circulation issues with her hands and she was able to get her Sheltie certified as a service animal....the woman claimed that this way she always use the animal's coat to help warm/protect her hands. ....and that may be an example of why individuals felt a need to tighten up the definitions of Service Animal. If I remember right they focused on retaining dogs (and the use of some ponies ) and animals for the Blind especially. Let us know what you find out.

[dayspring39]

Good Morning from cloudy damp Lansing Mi... lol how do you like my wonderful greeting...
Soos we need that little light to give us a ray of sunshine and hope so he better come out soon to warm our hearts and minds...
Sadness is like a fog settling in on us but we will see the light soon...
Have been helping what I could at my daughter Jackies house... I am so very happy for her... she got a new refrigerator, washing machine and dryer yesterday... she got blinds and rods to put up and make it look more like home... I am sure she will have to take up the carpeting in the living room and downstairs bedroom the smell very dirty and may have cat urine in them they have been steam cleaned twice... but knowing Jackie she will make it home and a nice place to live...
take care everyone and look for the sunshine soon
Kathleen

[chalet05]

Good Morning,

Yesterday was a beautiful fall day, but we are back to cool and rain with wind on the way today. We loaded the 8 large pumpkins in the trailer - supposedly we will take them to L's grandkids south of Green Bay on Sunday - waiting to hear if that works with their schedule.

Weather is to be very nice next week so we have a trip planned to go leaf peeping in the western part of the state and up into Michigan. However, LeRoy then reminded me that the farmer he voluntarily helps might need him in the field - arghh. Isn't it nice I can just go alone if that is the case?

I just tried to catch up on Liz's blog, but pictures only loaded so far so will continue another time. Liz, I did see you came across 'decorated' barns as well!

Safe travels to those on the road!

[Liz]

Roe and I just got back from a morning paddle, enjoying the glow of morning sunshine and a light pleasant breeze. It's nice to be able to just tie up the kayak on the shore, handy for taking back out anytime the mood strikes. The weather is supposed to be sunny and mild right through the weekend here.

But while I'm enjoying this relaxing time, I can't help but meditate on those of us who are mourning the loss of loved ones; my heart goes out to you.

And I'm anxiously awaiting the begin of the AR gtg, and the opportunity to meet new faces...which I hope I'll be able to match to names with my weak memory, lol.

Birdie, it seems you just can't catch a break on the heat & drought. Things are bound to get better soon, and then we'll here complainin' about how cold it is I guess. I have some hummers for you to ID for me that I came across yesterday on the Trace. They'll be in my next blog post....whenever I get a good enough connection to upload the pics.

Anxiously awaiting the big announcement, Soos, but no more anxious than you are!

Anita, it looks like you are getting some pretty good color up that way...should be a nice leaf-peeping trip. Not much happening here in that department.

Kathleen, I'm so happy for Jackie, and glad you are there to share in the fun!

Christine, how neat that you got to meet some of the Sisters on the Fly and see their TTs. Did you get any pictures?

Joan, hope you get your battery problem figured out soon.

And to all that follow, have a great day. Do something just because you want to.

[Redetotry]

I agree how cool to meet some of the Sisters on the Fly!! I would love to see their rigs. You can buy them already restored here is a link. They are fun to look at. http://www.tincantourists.com/classifie ... .php?cat=3

It is sunny and warm here almost 80 and supposed to drop to the 60's tomorrow which I will like better! The morning just disappeared with conversation with my neighbor and phone calls. That seldom happens seems like everyone sends a text or email. We are having the house painted and they are starting to scrape and trim back some bushes. The man brought his lovely yellow lab and my dogs are not happy! I let Charley out and he totally ignored her and wanted only to see if the man wanted to play with him. It was funny to watch, she was following him growling a bit and he didn't even look her way.

Have safe journeys all who are on the road and I hope the doctor give news of imminent arrival.

[BarbaraRose]

Sunny and 72 here in SoCal! Listening to the waterfall, lawnmower and the breeze blowing thru the palm trees. Very nice!

Yesterday, I had plans to go hiking at Torrey Pines and then go to a Wednesday evening service at the church I checked out a week ago. Well, I got started late, decided to stop at Kohls to look at tops (need more black/gray tops for work), stopped for breakfast, ended up going to some other stores since Kohls had nothing I was interested in. Before long, it was 4:00, so I headed back home and took a nap. Was still really tired from working 8 days straight. Missed the church service...

Today isn't going much better . Forgot to pick up Delaney from school (she found a ride) and have done nothing productive yet. Need to fix my screen that Lola tore a hole thru. Also need to get things reorganized in my room so I can walk thru it! Also have to do laundry! I better get busy... (my stomach is growling and letting me know I also need to fit in lunch!).

...just realized I never sent this, so now 4 hours later...I've had lunch, organized my room quite a bit (little more to do yet), fixed the screen, and now taking a break.

[VickieP]

Barbie, you're blonde right?

[BarbaraRose]

I'm gonna blame it on my ADD I am easily distracted...

[longdog2]

Yahoo! We just a very healthy rain here in San Antonio. It lasted for about an hour. Still hoping for lots more.