Campfire

[avalen]

ok, dinners ready, come and get it!!!
chilled pears and cottage cheese, pomegranite green tea, and a bowl of kettle corn (popcorn) its hot and I need something light and cold, then I'm off to the pool after relaxing a little, and catching up on the news and stuff. Then for a bedtime snack....little ice cream sandwich,
seriously, it IS little, 3 bites and its done, and of course the girls want to share.

[VickieP]

I guess Barbie is all snug in her tent after her and Bikerchic got caught up with each other's lives since they saw each other last. Hopefully the weather cooperated. No snacks at my house to bring to the campfire tonight. I do have some leftovers from supper if anybody is hungry, a pot of 15 bean soup with tasso in it, also made some homemade bread, but that didn't come out right, so that went in the trash. Guess I'll just sit a spell and prop my feet up.

[BirdbyBird]

Took a day off from the nursing home visits. I really don't want her, SM, to expect me everyday. I do so love the phone calls I get from the facilities every time there is a change in an order or an issue comes up. The dogs were not too excited today because they were not invited to any of the errands.

Need to sit here and gaze into the fire for awhile. The last two days have been a mixture of excitement and disappointment. After working these last couple of months I was having fun watching the numbers in my bank account beginning to look very healthy. Well I finally got around to ordering the inflatable kayak (which was on my wish list ), I scheduled the dental for Blondie and the annual vet visits for two of the dogs, an appt for Izzy to get a small lump looked at, ordered a new supply of Frontline, purchased the back up hard drive I needed to become a responsible computer person, made reservations for three of the doggies to stay at a friend's kennel while we go down to NC and kayak/camp again with daughter Kate and Lucas, scheduled several doc visits for me (I have a large deductable which fortunately I never meet so that comes out, too.) You get the idea...I keep hearing ChaChing ChaChing ....... Then I remind myself that is why I took that job to begin with At least I have figured that the balance leaves enough money for gas and travel in September So I feel very lucky to be able to get the services and supplies I need but sad to see the numbers go down. I lived on the edge and in debt for too many years....don't ever want to go back there again......

Enjoy the fire, if it is too hot just sit back farther and wander over and get one of Lori's beers. If I know her she probably has put ice in the barrel to chill them for us! I will be think of all of you enjoying the PA GTG in the coming week. I know that you will have a wonderful time, eat great food, share interesting stories and create some new ones. And no matter what the weather is like everywhere else, under the trees next to a creek always feels cooler

[sharon]

Don't visit here very often, but thought I'd pop in and see if there was anything good to eat....obviously not. Oh well, guess I'll live. Had to take Sam the cat in today for his shots. Poor guy has a reaction to the vaccine, so he has to get a shot first, wait 10 minutes and then get the vaccine. Then he still doesn't feel good for a couple of days. Thank goodness it only happens every 2 years. On top of that he hates the crate and it was 110 today. I started the car a few minutes before we left so it was kind of cool by the time I loaded him. Kind of raining here, good thing, we've got fires all over the place. Lots of thunder and lightening, something we very seldom get.
Sorry Tina for all the bucks with wings, know what you mean by hating to see it all fly away. Just glad you have enough left over for the Ark GTG! Mr Sun, the Twins and Cuz Mitt are so looking forward to visiting with Herschel! They're anxious to meet the M's, too.

Guess I'll go forage in the kitchen and see what I can come up with since there sure isn't anything here....hope everyone has a good night!

[AlmostThere]

I hear you, Tina! Today I bit the bullet and am getting a heat pump installed for my home. It will help with making my furnace last longer, suppose to help save around 44% on my heating bill and I will be nice and cool when the hot days come (so far they have been few and far between). I also am doing it as an added incentive for one day when I want to sell the house.
Then I decided I wanted the Kindle so called Target and the gal said yes, they had two, so made a special trip (11 miles OW), to get one, only to find out the idget I talked to gave me the wrong info and they are still out, and so was their nearest store. She did tell me I could drive to Portland, Oregon as their Target just over the river had 4! So I came home and ordered it from Amazon. Free shipping. I would have saved the sales tax by buying it in Oregon, but then I'd have to not only make the drive, but the Jantzen Beach area traffic interchange is such a bear!! Some one was on drugs when they came up with that exit/entrance road pattern!!
So I can feel a bit of what you are feeling, Tina. Oh, yeh, my dog has a vet appt next month just before I board him when I go on vacation to CA to visit my son/family.
That said: Life is Good!! Pass the beer nuts!

[BarbaraRose]

Sorry gals, no pictures yet...Slept in this morning, went to work and just got home. I didn't even unload my car until now. I just took my bike off the back and brought in the cooler. The rest can stay in the car until I have more time. Going to bed real soon here.

I think my manager is bi-polar! Today, she asked me if I would stay and close tonight for her since she needed to leave early to get her car fixed. I said yes, and she gave me a hug!!!!! Then she said she would return the favor, so I told her I was accidently scheduled on Monday evening which is my golf night, so she took me off the schedule for Monday (I only had one day off scheduled for next week anyways, so now I have two). She was unusually nice and friendly and smiley today. Go figure?!

I signed up on Roommates.com for the Palm Springs area to see what types of places are available and the cost of renting a room, etc. I got a reply today from a woman who has a room but she is looking for someone sooner than October. She has a furnished bedroom with private bath in her house and a swimming pool for $500 per month. Not bad, if I had a job. Rents for rooms seem to run around $400 to $500 per month out there. I am going to apply for my CA cosmo license in the next week and get that done and then start sending out resumes.

I checked with U-Haul on truck and trailer rentals. A small truck and tow dolly would cost me over $1500, versus getting a trailer hitch installed and renting a small trailer would cost $650, so will be getting the hitch and trailer.

Now I just have to start sorting and downsizing considerably around here!

Bedtime for me! Those S'Mores we had at our GTG were SO yummy! Gotta make S'More of them!

[bikerchic777]

I'm back!!! This is my first night with my computer back and I'm loving it I hope it continues to work well. I have been without it for so long! It really feels good! I have been so frustrated to be without it.

Really enjoyed the mini gtg with Barbie! Wish the DXH didn't decide to leave town at the same time. I was dog sitting Gizmo and had my 7 yr old GD, so didn't get any alone time with her I hope she can come back again this summer when I don't have any kids so we can go out and have some girl fun I felt bad that the weather turned so hot with her sleeping in her new tent. I told her that is why I have Myrtle. She will be there some day, too I know she didn't sleep well so was pretty tired when she left. She said the storms she ran into on the way home kept her alert. I prefer sunflower seeds, but hey! Each to her own Had a couple of nice campfires and s'mores. Got out for a short bike ride so she got to get on her long neglected bike. Took her on a motor tour of the Des Moines area, went out to lunch, and gave Wally World some more of our money.

Barbie and I will be doing some serious job hunting, in preparation for moving to CA. My search is for seasonal, of course, but she is hoping to find a Great Clips in need of a stylist in the Palm Springs area. I have a close girlfriend in Joshua Tree who we can stay with if we don't have a job when we get out there, but I'm thinking positive. I know you like "The Secret", Barbie, so let's keep the positive vibes going I've put out some feelers, but will be able to search more now that I have my computer back.

Still not back to work so am getting worried about money. Next summer I may get a part time job, too, to sustain me if we get flooded out again. I drove through my area today with one of the other custodians, Jeanie. Our sheds are back on our sites, but no electric yet. The water is on and it looked like our bosses have been cleaning our comfort stations. Wonder if that means they kept the reservations for this weekend. If so, we will probably get last minute word to go to work. We can't move home without electric, but we can open the recreation area and just close it earlier in the evening. They laid new gravel on my site and leveled it so that looks better than before. My flower bed looks so sad with the dead flowers, but there is a ray of hope for the decorative grass I planted in the middle. It seems to have even grown I will put new dirt around it and replant some flowers. I can't let him sit there all alone It's weird to think that my site was part of the river not too long ago OK...let's not think about it! Still haven't got paid for June so hoping that money comes in soon. Need to pay some bills. Not sure I will be able to afford to do my annual doctor visits, but at least I got Rags in for his. He really should have his teeth cleaned, but definitely will have to wait on that. Have to get my truck ready to tow this fall so need to get a Blue Ox and Brake Buddy and base plate for the truck. If anyone has that stuff for sale or knows of a good deal, please let me know. Tires will likely have to wait, too. Would really like to attend the AR GTG, but will have to see if I can afford it. May have to carpool with with Barbie and tent it like her.

No s'mores for me tonight! I've had my fill for awhile I went for more healthy tonight...banana, yogurt, almonds, Craisins, and camomile tea with local honey. The camomile helps me sleep better and the local tea helps my allergies Glad you all have kept the campfire going with all of my absence. Keep the fire blazing!

[Colliemom]

I hear you too, Tina. I have an account which I call my "play money". Been setting aside a bit of cash into it for a few years now. Every yearI take some out for some little trip or something plus also it covers me when I am not working in the winter and the unemployment runs out before work starts back up again. And with my purchasing my new rig this year, I'm using a bit for camping fees and such. Hate like heck to touch that money cause it's nice to see those figures in the bank book, but I keep telling myself that''s what it's for. I'm trying to save it up thugh so I can take my trip out west in two years. But then thats two years up the road. Right now I am getting ready to take another camping trip with the new rig this coming Sunday and of course will be using some of it to pay the reservatin fee.......

[BarbaraRose]

Been a very stormy day here today! I thought 2 tornadoes and storms were enough for one week, but guess not! This afternoon while I was at work, tornadoes broke out west of the town I live in and hit my town with high winds and large hail (softball size). Now there are severe storms moving thru with a tornado now on the ground just north of Minneapolis. We have high winds and heavy rains right now here. We were suppose to have fireworks tonight in town for our annual Spirit of the Lakes Festival, but I am sure they will be postponed.

My car is having issues today too. Doesn't want to start very well. It may be the battery or alternator. I am trying to get ahold of Steve to see if I can borrow one of his cars to get to work tomorrow, but he is probably hunkered down with these storms right now. I have Monday off so I can get it looked at and fixed then.

Will get my photos on line Sunday evening, finally! Just haven't had time. My computer is very slow and it takes awhile to get the photos loaded and then transferred to photobucket.

Sounds like our storm is quieting down here (I am 20 miles west of Minneapolis), but the tornado is still on the ground and moving into Wisconsin.

Hope all of you are staying dry, cool and safe! If anyone has S'Mores, please share! I ran out of cookie dough

[snowball]

barbie without cookie dough is like .........Mitch not giving Vicki a rough time
Be safe Barbie not a fun time when the wind is blowing stuff around
sheila

[VickieP]

barbie without cookie dough is like .........Mitch not giving Vicki a rough time

sheila

[bikerchic777]

I hope you are safe, Barbie! Some of those storms are dipping down into northern IA so I hope they don't come down this far. I fear you are now addicted to s'mores, as well as your chocolate chip cookies, after staying here Maddie and I had a fire tonight, in spite of the ungodly heat! I had promised to cook hot dogs tonight. We skipped the s'mores and opted for strawberry shortcake...YUM! Jeanie (the other female custodian) came over and visited for awhile by the fire. The mosquitos are aweful with all of this standing water I clip a citronella button on Maddie May and spray myself with SSS bug repellant. The smoke from the fire helped, too. It is supposed to be a bit less opressive tomorrow. This 105 heat index is nuts!

It feels good to be back home after the flood evacuation. Still need to replant my flower bed, but I will go buy dirt and flowers during the morning hours so I can enjoy it more. Will have to plant in the morning, too. Think I have most things back in order. Hung all of my bird feeders back up and the birds came back pretty quick. I did miss them. Not the same variety up at the campground. Already had a hoot owl convention outside Myrtle tonight I remember how it creeped me out when I first got here, but now it sounds like home Now, they just need to open the recreation area to the public and let me go back to work!

Well, better get to bed. DGD and I plan to try a different Church in the morning. Keep the fire blazin'!!!

[Nasoosie]

Man, I hope all that tornadic stuff stays out of this area! Please all of you take heed and keep your eyes to the skies during this violent weather summer we are having. I feel so lucky to be right where I am, so far. Stay in touch as often as you can so we can know you are alive and kicking!

Fire probably feels really hot for most of you, but feels pretty good to me!

[mitch5252]

barbie without cookie dough is like .........Mitch not giving Vicki a rough time

Oh, Sheila - I think you have that all mixed up...it's the other way around...
(PS: had guests for 5 days. They just left today, so now I can get picked on again by The Pest...)

[BarbaraRose]

I am fine and survived the storms yesterday. It was nice today and cooler. Same for tomorrow and Tuesday, my two days off. Yay!

I do love S'Mores but they are very messy (finger lickin' good!). Also really love strawberry shortcake! I'm just a chocolate and sugar addict!

Had my dad take me to work and back today since my car wouldn't start. He looked at it tonight and it turns out the battery terminals are severely corroded. I poured a can of rootbeer on it to dissolve the crud. My dad will clean the connections better tomorrow. Luckily, it was an easy and cheap fix!

I am now looking into buying a car top carrier for my move to CA. It would fit the things I need without the cost and hassle of a small trailer. Am looking at a used one on Craigs list. Just checking to see if it is long enough for my golf clubs!

I am now going to finally get my photos from my GTG with Linda posted...