THIS IS THE DAY

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING ALL!

I am at my son's in St. Cloud, the trailer is all hitched and aimed to go out through the fence (I backed it up myself!) canoe is loaded inside, propane tanks are full, I need to hook up the safety chains and breakaway switch, crank down the antenna, close all the windows, check lights, put new registration sticker on plate, grit my teeth, and take to the unknown highways of FL! After I got all hitched and ready to roll last night, I was remembering all the things back in Orlando that I should have packed----like my best rain jacket, my best fleece jackets, more undies, and a few other details. All were out of sight, either in the closet, or hanging on the back of a door which was against the wall-----hence, I never thought of them. Sigh.

I will give Liz a call here in a bit, as I have a question about the route I am planning to take. Goog and I went over the map on his computer last night, and I think I see where I might have an error in my plans.

I need to empty and clean out and leave my porta potty here, wash my coffee cup, get dressed, feed Molly, and then it's stress time on these damnably busy roads.

I hope all of you are having a good trip or a good morning somewhere, and, if you are headed for Ocala, I will see you soon.

[Liz]

Yay! The forum is up, just in time for the GTG. I'll be getting things finished up here soon and go to the cg as soon as my site is available. That's so I'll be there to soothe Soos's frazzled nerves after her drive up. Friend Joselyn will bring me my car later this afternoon, so I can run back & forth to the house to get things that don't fit right now in my refrigerator, and to greet Tina & Sarah arriving there tomorrow. Everyone coming today or tomorrow is invited to my house tomorrow for dinner & cards. (Kathleen & Soos, I'll taxi you)

Soos, I thought we had your route all figured out yesterday. If you want simple & probably fastest, you can take the Turnpike to I-75 to SR 40 east in Ocala & follow signs to right on 58th St (Baseline Rd) to the park. But then you'd have to pay tolls on the Turnpike.

Or the way we discussed 192 to 27 to Baseline (SR 35) to the park. Call me to discuss and I can meet you if needed or talk you in.

Ok, must get moving now!

[Colliemom]

Good Morning Soos, Liz and Everyone else,

Sounds like you are up and at em and ready to toll out. You will be fine. And once you get there, you can set up camp and sit and enjoy and wait for others to join you. Soounds iike it's going to be a wonderful time. Have a great time everyone. The rest of us will be sitting here wishing we were there, waiting for the details and pictures

As for me here, I'm going to just do the usual things. Got up this morning to start with, had breakfast (Hamburger pattie and cottage cheese), am sitting here catching up on the forums for a bit, especially now that this forum is back up and running again. Then it's off to the bank and stores and back home. We are under a Lake Effect Snow Warning till 5 a.m. tomorrow morning. Don't know why cause the weather guy said the heaviest stuff would be west of us and the expected winds don't favor this area either. Oh well, guess we wll find out. Not supposed to start till later on, that's why I want to head in this morning. Girls are low on dry food too, can't let that happen And my snowblowers gas and trucks tank need some liquid refreshment put in them if we want to keep blowing snow and running up the road.

Yesterday we took a "cabin fever reliever" ride up north a bit here to Indian River. Stopped and had lunch at a Burger King and then drove out to Aloha State Park where we spent a lot of time camping this past summer. Course like all other parks up here, (there are a couple of exceptions), it's closed and snowed in for the winter. But the snow was not so deep that we couldn't park and walk back into the park a ways, despite it being only around 10 degrees. Very quiet and quite a few deer tracks running around back and forth through the snow. The fact that the deer are active and there have been a lot of car/deer accidents in this area, is testamount to the low snow depth here. Usually by now they are "yarded up". But it was a nice litle ride and got the girls out of the house for awhile as they are getting bored and I wanted a change of scenery. I'm giving some thought to maybe heading up to Michigamme where I was last fall if weather cooperates next month. But we shall see.

My scrapbook from last years trips is finished except for installing the pages into the book. For thos of you who have been asking to see it, I will post some pictures later on here. It was a fun project and I"m looking forward to starting anew this year.

So I am off to get my business done before mom nature decides she wants to start up the snow machine again. Have a nice day all.

[mitch5252]

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[relaxing101]

Mitch - how did you get that picture of me yesterday! I looked just like that lady in the bottom picture! That was worse than having caffeine withdrawals!!

Ah, but today it is all up and running! Wishing safe journeys for all of the Florida GTG'ers! Not sure if I will be able to make it up for a few hours or not but still trying to work it out.

Either way, have a wonderful time and post LOTS of pictures!

Bonnie

[asirimarco]

Good Morning to All - So glad to see the forum this a.m. when I clicked on it. Didn't realize how addicted I'd become to it.
Felt like a part of me was missing all yesterday.
We had a wonderful day yesterday - a couple of amazing surprising events in our days adventures. Will blog later about them.
Soos you'll be fine - just take it easy - the other people on the road will take care of themselves.
Can't wait for pictures and gab from the GTG.....
Drive careful and stay warm - I see there is even more snow in Indiana again. It is foggy here again this a.m. and chilly - 65degrees. The natives are all bundled up in stocking caps and winter coats and talking about how they're freezing.

[rvgrammy1953]

Oh, Mitch, I think we all felt like that yesterday.....

Got things planned for the arrival of PeggyCT and Jean....have to work a few hours today, but should be here to greet....The Sultan will take care of the gals if I'm running late..... Finally a nice day here....suppose to be 65F....woohoo.....

Okay, have a great day, all....and those traveling, safe travels....

[retiredhappy]

Now I know exactly what an addict feels like!! I kept checking the forum all day and kept getting more and more frazzled when I couldn't get on. Maybe we need to form a support group.

[dayspring39]

Wow it is good morning... missed you all yesterday... I was sad for everyone with the news about Jean Sparkle's passing... she had a hard fight...
How do we ever get along without knowing our friends ok....
My day will be spent doing laundry and finishing up a few things here... my hot water safety valve decided to spring a leak so my friend Debbie shut off the water under the sink... I will stop at the rv place tomorrow on my way to Silver River to get the part which should be very easy to put in... I can even do that but will have someone turn on the water...
Mitch I will have to spend a month or two (ya right)at your house on my way home so you can show me a bit about your creativeness... well if not a month maybe a couple of days...
Take care everyone and have a great day...
Kathleen

[Liz]

Wishing safe journeys for all of the Florida GTG'ers! Not sure if I will be able to make it up for a few hours or not but still trying to work it out.

Either way, have a wonderful time and post LOTS of pictures!

Bonnie

Oh, do try Bonnie! The more the crazier...er, merrier!

[BirdbyBird]

But Karen ...this IS our Support Group. Sitting parked today and relaxing from driving several days in a road. I'll be all rested up to reach Liz's tomorrow. Need to go, there is a dog or two that think it is time for another walk. They are all about insuring my healthy living..... Soos, I'll be thinking of you heading down the road.

[Redetotry]

Well we now all know how addicted to the forum we are, I must have checked a dozen times to see if we were up and running again. Whew what a relief to find everyone here this morning.

Safe journeys to all on the road, Soos just take it easy the more you do this the easier it will hopefully become.

[AlmostThere]

Even with my "one good eye" I so looked forward to my forum fix and it made for a long day to be without it! Soooo happy it's up again. Perhaps Sparkle was playing one final trick on us!? May she be at peace now. I wish I had gotten to meet her... she sounded like she was a colorful character!

Speaking of my "one good eye"! Yep, it's wonderful! I had no idea just how distorted and yellow the world was for me until now. My goodness, I can see my kitchen floor really needs a good scrubbing and also I have eyebrows growing everywhere that I never could see to pluck!! My post-op visit went well, no problems, everything on track. I so look forward to getting the other eye done next week. It is a bit hard to function in that I need my glasses still for the bad eye, but then the lens for my new good eye makes everything distorted. It's a quandary for now, but I know it will be all worth it soon. I did get a complimentary DVD of my surgery. I think I'll wait a bit before viewing it.

My BIL had his surgery yesterday to relieve pressure on his brain from the bleed. My sister emailed last night that the surgery went well and allot of blood was removed. Prayers that the bleed stops so no further surgery is needed.

My DS got word that he will be deploying to Afghanistan this summer. Then he got word that the home he is renting is being foreclosed on!! Such a mess, and all at once. Prayers for a solution is needed. He said that he put in an offer for the house but it looks like the bank wants more and he can't afford it.

I'm so looking forward to the FL GTG! I know you gals will lift my spirits with your stories and pictures. Praying traveling mercies to all on the road trying to get there.
Enjoy your day!

[Liz]

I so look forward to getting the other eye done next week.

My BIL ... Prayers that the bleed stops so no further surgery is needed.

My DS ... Prayers for a solution is needed.

Lots of prayers going up for you and yours, Lenora.

[AlmostThere]

Thank you, Liz.