CLOUDY COLD FRIDAY

[Colliemom]

Good Morning All,

Cold, cloudy morning here at the 45th today. Temps areound 19. Pretty much normal for this time of year. We are heading into the coldest part of winter over the next two weeks. Light snow on and off yesterday and supposed to today too. Tonight and tomorrow we are having a quick Alberta Clipper go through and dump some snow one us. So will probably be getting the blower out again. Our winter has been following last years patterns for the most part so far. And last year was the lowest snowfall ever recorded here, so it will be interesting to see how it pans out.

Nothing much doing here. Just the usual daily stuff. Running errands, banking, clean house, walk dogs etc. This time of year it's pretty much routine. But I sure am enjoying being out and walking in the winter woods this winter. Am saving a couple of things to do for tomorrow, so while it's snowing I will do them. And the scrapbook is just sitting here right now too.

Was thinking the other day, that there are abuot 8 weeks of winter left per say. In some areas that will be so, but here it remains to be seen. But it was a nice thought cause it means I can think of getting the TT ready for another season before long. I have hitch-i-tis right now, but weather is not going to et me leave MI what so ever

This is going to be the summer where I see how much I really like towing a TT around and hope to camp as much as I can. Also want to take a little trip someplace with it, to see how that feels too. It will make my decision as to whether or not to keep the TT or sell it and get something else. It was part of my future plans to do this, so it's time to put this part into action. Then the decisions of starting SS this year, selling the house and downsizing etc., will fall into place.

But the day is lightening up now, so time to get myself in gear here. I see it is snowing lightly outside too. Have a great day you all.

[Liz]

Operation migration for the whooping crane chicks is on for this morning. The live web cam is up and running as the ultralight aircraft will lead the chicks in the final leg of their migration to their wintering grounds in central FL. They should be airborne around 8:30 eastern, with a flyover of the Dunnellon airport between 9-10 am. It's below freezing here, and I have too much to do to drive to Dunnellon, but hope to watch the web cam.

http://www.operationmigration.org/crane-cam.html

There is a community yard sale here tomorrow, and I am hauling out "stuff" I want to get rid of as I continue to downsize. Hope I don't have to haul any of it back inside.

Also on today's agenda is finishing up year-end bookkeeping for the church.

Wishing all those on the move safe travels today.

[AliceM]

I need to downsize, declutter, sooooo bad. My meager attempts haven't been as fruitful as I had hoped. Like a kid, I keep finding other things I'd rather do. Less would be best for me.. .just need to get off my butt and do it.

Today's plans are simple.. stay warm. I try not to set my goals too high.

A

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!

I see that it's 8 degrees back at my northern house, and I don't think we had frost down here in Orlando last night. It's cool out there, for sure, but not frigid like it was a few days in December.

My plans for today are to drive to St. Cloud and bring some stuff to the trailer that I will need for the campground next week, turn off my furnace and hot water heater, and perhaps get a propane tank filled. I also have a very scratchy throat, like the beginning of a cold, for the first time since I can even remember! I was thinking that I have not had a bad cold like I used to get several times a winter in literally years----since I began getting flu shots each fall at school. I hate this feeling, and I am hoping the viruses will stay in my head and not move to my bronchi where they love to go and raise havoc. I guess I got this at the Pirate thing, as I first felt it the night before last.....pirates are just full of bugs! I still haven't heard anything from those friends of my daughter's who should have arrived down here last evening, so am not sure if/when I will get to meet up with them yet, or not.

Sue, I got your emails with the links to truck campers and wagon train stuff, but just haven't had the time to explore them yet. Thanks for sending them! I did shop a bit last night, online, for a few truck campers. If my trailer is worth anything at this point, I would trade it for a good truck camper. I can leave the camper parked and still have my truck parked here, whereas, if I got a C, I could never drive here to stay unless I towed a car behind, hence keeping the disliked chore of hauling! What I really need to do is check out how to back my truck under a camper, fasten it securely, and how difficult that might be alone.

Time for me to get going here so I can be back here before the schools get out and the commuters begin to rush home for the weekend. I got my document notarized and mailed yesterday with no problems right here next to my Publix supermarket, and for a cheaper price than the other notary charged, so that chore is done. Now I will just await a check for 800 bucks, followed by a possible big check in March which I can deposit into my bank account. I guess I will need to open a bank account down here so I can cash/deposit checks. It should be easy, as I have a loan with Bank of America, which has an office right in my Publix shopping plaza. It's that big loan that will be paid off next month! I can't WAIT to be free of that!

I hope today is bringing some sunshine to all of you, wherever you may be, and I will be seeing many of you soon at the Ocala GTG!!!

[Bethers]

I had all good intentions of being on the road already today. However, while walking Peaches, I saw the rigs lining up for the dump station and decided I don't have to be anywhere that quickly. One rig pulled out at 9:20 and just came back for their toad. I do not intend to go sit in line like that unless it continues another couple hours. So I haven't even disconnected water, electric, or pulled in my slides yet. Maybe about 11 or 11:30 will take a looksee. I'm only going about 3-4 hour drive, so no hurry necessary and checkout isn't till 1.

So here I am reading emails and forums

Have a great day all.

[Carolinagal]

Good-morning !! The sun is out, it looks so pretty outside. Only 7 degrees and its 10 am. Maggie, didn't have fun outdoors this morning. The snow is icy and the pads of her little feet want to stick to it, had to pick her up and bring her back inside. Its so nice having the sun shining. I will be sometime yet, getting my car out of the driveway. I can tell alot of the snow melted but ground is still covered with 5 or 6 inches, deeper in some places, but it is solid. Shoveled a pathway from my front door on the porch to the steps and down to make a safer way out of the house, yesterday. I'm just hoping I can get out next week for apps. I have, otherwise really not wanting to go anywhere. The sun shining does make for a nicer day, regardless of what the temp is outside.

My trash bags are really piling up, so that will be the first trip out on the roads. We don't have trash pick up out here, I have to haul my own trash 12 miles away to dumpsters, which the use of them is added to my property taxes. Most of the time, when I go into town, which is 20 some odd miles away, I just take it with me, but this time I have enough to warrant a trip just to haul trash

Hope everyone is staying warm, Tina, 75 is ok now, backroads here and through Ga. aren't but interstate travel is good. If no more snow before you leave, you should be good to go down that way . Safe travels everyone headed to Fl.

Have a Great day everyone,
CArol

[dayspring39]

Good Morning from frigid florida... but it will warm up to mid 50s today and wow will be climbing every day until we reach 77... I will be happy to feel that...
I remember sitting in line to dump the old MH for at least an hour if I left on a Sunday... after that I scheduled my leave for a week day... much easier to dump... that was at Comlara park in Illinois... drive careful Beth...
Oh Liz I was up to late to see the geese flight... Soos and Alice have a good day..
Everyone that is still sleeping have a cup of coffee and a good breakfast...
Kathleen

[bluepinecones]

Is mid-day here and temp has reached 30; up from a record low of 9 last night and headed for a high of 35; even warmer tomorrow and I might have a chance of getting out of my drive way by Saturday afternoon. Made it thru the night with power and have water this AM, so things are still looking up. Am thinking I might take broom and see if can sweep a little of the snow off van after it gets above freezing. I should also be able to get to my outside garbage can today; not a minute too early as too much piling up inside.
Felt sorry for them but had to laugh at some of the news pictures of crews trying to keep roads open. There were dump trucks full of sand with two guys in back with shovels heaving the sand onto road. Sand will not melt snow like salt but is supposed to help with traction.

There has been almost no progress on garage cleaning this week - just too cold out there. Have made headway elsewhere so not a total loss.

Travel plans still far from firm but am hoping to be able to leave here on Thursday for FL.

Stay safe and warm.

[Echo]

GOOD MORNING SISTAHS!!!

Whew! At least I got the greeting in before high noon!! LOL For the next 3 minutes it's still morning! Opps, now there's only 2 minutes left. But at least I did make it to the morning coffee. hehehehe

Sun is shining bright and strong outside! Yippie, took Shade out for her morning thing and didn't even wear a jacket out. Just a T-shirt and my sweatshirt. I can live with that. Ahhhhhhh

Nothing exciting going on here, might run to the grocery store today and that's about it for me. This town doesn't offer much and for sure nothing is free here!

Soos, reading your thoughts on a truck camper makes me remember that the one thing my Dad hated about the slide in truck camper was the loading and unloading. He "could" do it by himself but 98% of the time he would have someone watching just to be on the safe side in case he rubbed the edges and the camper began to twist. And once it went on? It was there as long as possible. He would only take it off if he had to haul something. And I know for sure he talked about how it would change the handling of the truck. I drove it once myself on a weekend camping trip and it seemed ? top heavy to me. I think if you do end up going to a C and pulling a toad you might not even really 'feel' or notice that you have a toad. But you'll have to ask the other girls and get their opinions on the feel and handling of pulling a toad. One thing I've read is that a whole lot of people say the easiest thing to pull is a 5'er. And they make a lot of them more than light weight enough to be easily pulled by a 1/2 ton truck.

Ok, enough blathering! Hope ya'll have a great day and do whatever it is your gonna do safely!!!

Love to all

[froggi]

I am SO not a morning person...LOL! It was nippy but sunny when I got up but I threw on several layers of clothes, hat, gloves and headed out with Stu & Sadie for a 25 minute bicycle ride. Now it's up to 65, still mostly sunny and I'm getting ready to do my second load of laundry. We're waiting for a mobile tech to come out and check out what needs to get done on several extended warranty items as well as our Norcold recall (will have to order the parts). Not much else....

Went to the Tampa RV Show yesterday and really enjoyed it. Posted on our blog...

[Ljpeterlin]

Reading this very late, as I am not out on the road yet, and still trying to get there!

I spent today in the RV shop getting my list of things taken care of so it is good to go
when I head out on Feb 4th.

I have a lot of things to pack, sell and some to take to the RV. Anything you experienced RVers
would recommend I take/not take that you found by experience?

I am open to all advice and I will try to "check in' in the morning, as the post states, in the future!

[Liz]

I have a lot of things to pack, sell and some to take to the RV. Anything you experienced RVers
would recommend I take/not take that you found by experience?

It depends...on your preferences, the storage space you have, etc. After you have been on the road a while you'll discover what things you spend more time moving than using, and what you miss and wish you'd brought. It's a learn by experience adventure. My biggest mistake was taking way too many clothes.

[BirdbyBird]

I still pack to many clothes... It isn't as if anyone else cares that I'm wearing the same sweat shirt again...it got cleaned... Another thought that usually reduces my stress when packing is knowing that as long as I am traveling in the usa, if I run out of something or have forgotten something really important ....I can stop at Meijers, Target, Krogers, Odd Lots, Dollar Store, Walmart.....you get the idea. And it is very interesting to realize just how much we can and do live without.....