We got a date!

[ali1257]

Just had to let everyone know we got the date we head out on our new adventure.

We leave on Sunday, March 21st after church to head towards Kelso/Longview, WA to start our new adventure of working/traveling with the carnival. We actually start our new positions on the 23rd so we will be going to Chehalis Thousand Trails for a night or two. We don't know yet what time we have to be there on Tuesday so we have not decided if we are pulling into Kelso/Longview on Monday evening or Tuesday mid morning. We will find that out on the 18th of the month.

We are continuing to get ready to leave. We finished cleaning out and eliminated the small storage unit ~ yea, we eliminated $70 a month off our bills! The big storage unit is all organized and we can even find stuff in it. I started my grocery list for a Costco run. We plan on doing that on the 20th. Since we will be boondocking most of the time we are going to be using paper plates and bowls to save on doing dishes. We have one more stop to make to the pharmacy to pick up the last of my medications ~ we got them all switched over to being filled every three months instead of monthly. we have cleaned and reorganized all the cupboards in the motor home. Found another gift that was hidden from view - that got delivered today! I think I need to learn how to keep better track of what is in our cupboards.

Ron has a couple more jobs to do this next week. We are hoping he gets a few more calls in the next week to help tide us over till we get our first paychecks. I will be working at the church for 2 more weeks. It will definitely be sad to say good bye to our church family and friends but at the same time we are excited to see how God provides for us as we step out on this new journey.

That's all for now. If any of you have any last minute suggestions of things we need to be doing before heading out on the road for six months, please do not hesitate to give a shout out.

[snowball]

that is neat Ali sounds like you have it all planned!!!
one thought on keeping track of gifts....I do a list of ideas on my computer for Christmas ideas and this year adding birthday ideas and have been known to misplace the gifts after getting them ....so this year when I picked up a couple of things for one of the daughters put where I stashed it so I know where to look for it....patted my self on the back for that idea! and it may work for you
sheila

[Sparkle]

I really hope this works out for you. Not much scares me, but working at a Carnival would give me pause. I've always felt they were a rough lot. Please prove me wrong...I'd love to be wrong. We will all be waiting to hear how it is. Is it seasonal? If so you could maybe get in on the Fireworks, Pumpkins and Christmas Tree circuit. I have friends who did that and they made a lot of money.

[sharon]

I really hope this works out for you. Not much scares me, but working at a Carnival would give me pause. I've always felt they were a rough lot. Please prove me wrong...I'd love to be wrong. We will all be waiting to hear how it is. Is it seasonal? If so you could maybe get in on the Fireworks, Pumpkins and Christmas Tree circuit. I have friends who did that and they made a lot of money.

Jean, for the most part they're just folks like you and me just trying to make a living. Many of them are families with children that are home schooled. Many many years ago, yes it was pretty rough, but as with everything else in our world they've changed. They pretty much don't hire bums anymore, and you have to have references to get hired. Ron is going to be working his butt off, long hard hours. Tear down the rides and tents, load everything, drive to the next gig, start setting up as soon as you get there to get ready to open for the show. It's a hard life, but a lot of folks love it. Used to be a lot of the folks couldn't afford a trailer or motel, so they lived on the show lot in the truck trailers and washed whereever they could, but for the most part now everyone has somewhere to stay. It's like a little campground. I did it for one season and loved it, but sure wouldn't want to do it now! They'll be fine, and might even enjoy it.

[Liz]

You sound very well organized for this new adventure! May God bless you along the way.

[Sparkle]

Thanks Sharon for the update on Carnivals. Probably the last one I was at was in Scotland and they hired the scum of the earth. That was what I was visualising. I feel mo bettah now.

[AlmostThere]

When the carnival comes to your town for Harvest Days I see many really nice RVs parked along with the semi tractors/trailers. Whenever that carnival comes or the county fair carnival, they post jobs in the paper so I know allot of the working folks are locals. I would imagine that there may be some that are suspect but it's like anything else. Just watch yourself, be aware.

[jemek]

The quality of the carnival employees have improved greatly over the years.
I do know the company Ali and Ron are going to work for...requires references, back ground checks, drug testing, etc.

They even have dress codes and grooming standards. Ron has to shave his beard and be clean shaven. I wonder if he has shaved it off yet...I bet he waits til the last minute.

It will be different seeing him without one.

Last minutes thoughts on full-timing...i have no idea. LOL

I do agree with going to the paper plate route. Heck I do that now...mostly because I want to enjoy camping not spend the time doing the dishes.

Kristy

[ali1257]

Thanks for the encouragement Sharon and yes, Kristy, Ron shaved a couple of Sunday's ago ~ surprised me that he did it that early.

You can check out the company that we will be working for at www.funtasticshows.com they have lots of neat pictures on their website. We are thankful though that we will have our own motor home and not have to live in their dorm/trailers - from all appearances there is not much space in them.

Now off to write my blog post. Have a great day everyone.

[Nasoosie]

I can't WAIT for some pictures and some talk about your super carnival jobs, Ali! I think it's so exciting to know someone working for a carnival----something I used to dream about when I was younger!

Have a great trip to your job site, and please keep us updated on the goings on whenever you can find the time.

[AlmostThere]

You may have listed the cities the carnival will be in. If so, I missed it. If you are in the Vancouver/Ridgefield (Clark County) area let me know and I'll try to stop by for a "howdy"!

[ali1257]

Right now we know that our itinerary is that we start on the 23rd of March at Three Rivers Mall in Kelso/Longview, then go to Lacey, WA for 2 weeks and then the Puyallup Spring Fair. We will get our full itinerary when we are in Kelso/Longview.

I will post my itinerary as soon as we have it. Hoping that we can connect with some of you along the way.

PS Thanks for all the encouragement from everyone. We are so excited to start this journey.

[SeeyaGal]

I'll let you know that you will more than likely be parked in the grass at the fairgrounds campground, if you go into the fairgrounds office tell Vicki Jenny & Dan Sheppard said hello! I used to be the camp host there in the campground the first year we went fulltime and turned in the camp fees to her. Our house was 2 miles away up the hill from the hospital across from the fairgrounds. I have gone to the fair since I was a little girl. The last few years they changed the fairgrounds around and made it much nicer but seemed they made the campground smaller. Quaint little town and you'll hear the trains coming through the town. I usually go to the fair in Sept. During the fairs only the vendors and carnival people and some of the fair people get to stay in the campground. I stay at the Elks club over by main street heading towards Sumner.
When you are not working go over to Van Lierops Bulb Farm 13407 80th st. E Puyallup to see the beautiful tulips in bloom...a photographer's paradise!!!
Shopping is close by the fairgrounds ( Safeway)and I love eating at Cattins restaurant on the corner by the Gold gate.