Shrimp, Wine, & Laughter - Summerdale, AL

Time to get caught up. I know I have not been very consistent in maintaining this blog over the past week or so but I have lots of excuses.

Excuse #1: Too busy

My days have been filled from the time I get up to the time I hit the sack. Getting up at the crack of 8:00 AM or so and passing out around 10:00 PM only leaves so many hours ya know. Then there is breakfast, lunch, and dinner - those take up time. And visiting with friends is time consuming too! Before you know it - all the time is gone.

Excuse #2: Nothing to Say

You know me - Mr. Introvert.

Excuse #3: Lazy

Excuse #3 is probably the most accurate.

But enough excuses - time to get caught up.

Stacy called yesterday with the news that the rain/snow and high winds back home had knocked down a power pole near our house and therefore the house was without power. The good news was that we weren't getting any basement flooding in spite of all the rain and loss of power to the sump pump. She and Kaj checked out the house again last night and it was still without power so they got out the generator and powered things up to warm up the place a bit. She just called this morning and it looks like the power is back on so all is back to somewhat "normal." Thanks you two for taking care of the homefront while we are busy down here in LA.

The weather has continued relatively cool here on the Gulf Coast with daytime highs in the mid to high 50s and sometimes making it into the 60s. Significantly below the AVERAGE historical highs in the mid 60s. The sun does feel good in the afternoons as long as the wind stays somewhat calm. Peggy and I took advantage of a nice afternoon last Thursday and drove down to the coast to visit the Ft. Morgan area on the east side of Mobile Bay. While in the area we checked out some of the beach homes on stilts. Although I'm sure these places could offer a nice escape from city life for some folks - I wasn't a bit tempted to run out and buy one of the many that were for sale. I was however tempted by some fried shrimp at Big Os seafood on the way home.

Then there was the Friday gambit over to Big Daddy's for more shrimp with a bunch of new and old friends from the Plantation. This time I tried the blackend shrimp. Yum- Yum I may have found a new favorite. This is starting to sound pretty old huh? Another day - more shrimp for Mikee.

Well just so you don't think I find a new way to have shrimp everyday - Yesterday Peggy and I drove over to Pensacola, FL to a fabric store. That's right Marcie and Jamie - I spent the morning in a fabric store! Well not exactly all morning - Darrell and I got really bored after awhile so we left to go have a coffee for about a half hour or so and when we returned the gals were just getting in line #1 to have their chosen fabrics cut - before getting in line #2 to pay for said fabrics. So after our fabric experience we headed back towards the Plantation - but then it was getting close to lunch - so guess what - yup - we needed to eat! Fortunately Stacey's Pharmacy and olde time soda fountain was on the way so we stopped by for hot dogs and ice cream (sundae's and shakes). No shrimp this time but still goood.

Upon returning to the Plantation for an afternoon rest from a busy day of fabric shopping - we were invited over to the Patterson's for another bout of eating and visiting with friends - Darrell and Judy, Mike and Gerri Jones and Randy and Terry Guiler. Mike and Gerri are leaving the Plantation this morning for Georgia so we needed to give them a good send-off over spaghetti, wine, and lots of laughter. The good news is - if you get this group together you will not have to worry about laughter - and wine is optional.

Labels - Summerdale, AL

During our stay here at the Rainbow Plantation I have been asked a few times – “Are you a fulltimer?” I guess I’m not sure. On one hand – my heart has been beating full-time for many years now, I try and enjoy life on a full-time basis, and I have full-time obligations – like paying bills. On the other hand – Peggy and I only sleep in our RV on a part-time basis so to these “fulltimers” I guess we are part-timers. We are learning to be “snowbirds” but we haven’t done a real good job “flying” away from the cold so we definitely aren’t “coldbirds” yet. Then there are “Winter Texans” who spend their winters in Texas and these folks are not to be confused with all the “fulltimers” who claim Texas as their domicile (thus minimizing their taxes and vehicle registration fees) but seldom ever enter the state (republic) of Texas. As you can see - these labels can be confusing to the uninitiated.



And then there is the question – “are you retired?” Well I suppose I am – but I’m not sure. I don’t receive, nor am I eligible to receive, a Social Security check from the government and I don’t receive a “retirement” check from a previous employer so maybe I’m not. But I haven’t worked for wages in almost two years and I do receive subsidized health insurance from a previous employer – so maybe I am. But I get offers to go back to work periodically and I look at them seriously so maybe I’m not. But just as often as not I turn them down – partially because working would interfere with my present “lifestyle” – so maybe I am.


And they say adolescence is a difficult time of life!

Ranting In Alabama - Summerdale, AL

Well it is warming up a little. I think it made it to the high 50s yesterday and today - and it is supposed to be in the low 60s tomorrow - so we are at least going in the right direction.

Yesterday morning I assisted Darrell with the final touches on his inverter installation and so far it all looks like it is working well. Later, Darrell and I made a Camping World run and I picked up one needed item (replacement water filter) and 2 not-so-needed but gotta-have items. After all, every RVer oughta have an adjustable step stabilizer and a TV antenna signal booster - don'tcha think?

Today we joined about a dozen other Plantation SKPs for lunch at the Roadkill Cafe in Elberta. The Roadkill is an interesting place. They cook up a bunch of food for their buffet in the morning and close the place in the afternoon when the food runs out. Today the buffet offered fried chicken, smoked brisket, smashed potatoes, corn, green beans, corn bread, rolls, and a nice salad bar with ice cream and cake for dessert. All you can eat for $8 each - not a bad deal! You pay on the way out and every patron gets a chance for a free meal by reaching into a bag of poker chips to choose one chip - if you get the red one - your meal is free! Unfortuantely - our luck ran white today.

After lunch Darrell, Judy, Mike & Gerri Jones, and Peggy and I rode over to the nearby Baldwin County Heritage Museum to take a look around and enjoy some of the old stuff on display. An interesting place to spend an hour for the price of only a donation of your liking. We did see some early camelias which were pretty and hopefully a signal that spring may be on the way.

Darrell managed to get a lesson on farming in lower Alabama.

And Mike gave a lesson on the finer points of adjusting seating positions in a Chrysler Minivan.

That pretty much sums up our last couple of days. Sounds pretty repetitive doesn't it? A few little projects here and there, some visiting with friends here and there, eating when not visiting ... the only thing different --- it's getting warmer!!!

I see our president decided today to form a panel to tell Congress how to decrease our deficit. If I would have known he was looking for panel members I would have volunteered. I'm pretty sure I could have helped. Step 1 - Stop dreaming up new ways to spend money. The existing programs are already costing us too much - we sure don't need any more. If you successfully accomplish Step 1 - take a nap and then fire yourself - let the new Congress work on cutting some of the spending you conjured up in the past. Seriously folks - does anybody out there see any possible way to avoid a bankrupt nation within my lifetime? California and a few other states are already there! We cannot borrow/tax our way out of this mess!!!!

STOP SPENDING MONEY WE DON'T HAVE!

OK  - I'm better now.

Let The Good Times Roll - Summerdale, AL

Finally! Mardi Gras is over here at the Plantation. Let me tell you - I think Peggy and I are among the youngest couples here and we are just barely keeping up our elder fellow RVers in all these party activities.

Yesterday we braved the cold temperatures and attended the Plantation's Mardi Gras parade. The temps may have been cold but it didn't seem to deter the local revelers. We saw some really great get-ups riding the golf carts, floats, and cycles - and more moon pies and beads!

Today Peggy and Judy Patterson took off to do some mother-of-the-bride dress shopping while Darrell and I drove over to Home Depot to pick up more supplies for Mod-1 to Darrell's RV Inverter installation. After picking up our parts we spent a few hours completing the installation before Peggy and Judy returned - empty handed.

This afternoon we joined the crowd at the clubhouse for the 4 PM Social Hour and then we helped make a hundred plus salads for the evening meal prepared by Larry-The-Cook. Larry is the one who looks very Cook-Like in his Hot Dog Cook's Hat. Larry and his helpers provided a really nice meatloaf dinner for all of us prior to the final Mardi Gras festivities.

So with all the parades, skits, costumes, beads, moon pies, and other party stuff over for this year's Mardi Gras it's time to rest up a bit. We have had a great time over this past several days enjoying our first Mardi Gras - and I doubt it will be our last.

With Mardi Gras behind us I think it's time to work on getting some warmer weather down here in LA. I should not be having to disconnect and drain the fresh water supply hose at night to prevent freeze damage and it's high time we get the temps back into at least the 60s - after all this is Alabama!

Marching with the Saints - Summerdale, AL

Boy do these folks in lower Alabama know how to party! First of all their party lasts for several days to a month or more. No use wasting a good party by limiting themselves to one day. After surviving a cold and rainy morning/afternoon (but no snow!) - it cleared up in the late afternoon and we made it over to the clubhouse around 5:00 to join the party that was already in progress. We had a great spaghetti dinner and then the merriment began with the choosing of the Rainbow Plantation Mardi Gras King and Queen using the traditional eating of the King Cake.

Neither Peggy nor I were fortunate enough to be chosen as royalty but we joined in the "conga" line helping to celebrate the coronation to "As the Saints Come Marching in."

You can see from the picture below that a "good time" was being had by all. Especially Judy and Terry.

Once the King and Queen were upon their thrones we all enjoyed the music of the Vintage Vagabonds playing some classic light jazz, mostly from the 40s and 50s. Along the way we gained some beads to add to our carnival collection. We stayed until the jazz joint closed down at "SKP midnight" (9:00 PM) having had a great time.

This morning we joined Darrell, Judy, Mike, and Gerri and drove into to Foley to attend the 10:00 AM Mardi Gras Parade. Unfortunately, the 10:00 AM parade didn't start till noon so we dropped into Stacey's Rexall Drugs, had some 10 cent coffee, and listened to the juke box playing real vinyl 45s (you younger folks will have no idea what I'm talking about here).

We still had time to kill so we walked down to the Model Train Museum for another tour and then back downtown for the parade. The parade lasted about 45 minutes and featured the local high school band, dignitaries, and several floats, manned by local Krews throwing lots of beads and moon pies.

After fighting the local kids for beads and pies we all drove over to L-A BBQ for some pretty darned good BBQ.

Whew - this Mardi Gras stuff will wear you out! Time to rest up for tomorrow.

Gandy Dancing in Foley - Summerdale, AL

So here we sit ... listening to the consistent din of raindrops on the roof ... while awaiting the snow forecasted this morning for lower Alabama. Does this make any sense? But not to fear - for I am probably the only rig here in the park that brought along a snow shovel for just such an "emergency." Yessiree - Mikee is always prepared. Enough whinning about the weather!! It is what it is and no amount of my whinning or the government's interferrence is going to change it.

Yesterday, Peggy and I joined Darrell and Judy for a visit to the Foley Model Railroad Museum. The Museum contains a very elaborate "O" Guage model railroad layout operated and maintained by about a dozen local officianados. The amount of detail they have put in to their rolling stock and their model towns and countryside is really amazing.

After our bit of "gandy dancing" (you'll have to look that one up) Mikee was hungry (as always) so the gang was forced to drive over to Big Daddys Grill to feed him some shrimp, both fried and grilled. I gotta tell you - I really like good shrimp - and I've had shrimp in lots of places - but I REALLY like the shrimp at Big Daddys!!

Once we dig out from whatever snow we get here today the Mardi Gras festivities are scheduled to start this evening at the clubhouse. I'm looking forward to tonite's coronation of the Rainbow Plantation's Mardi Gras King and Queen. Should be a real hoot.

Pondering Valentines Day - Summerdale, AL

Not much new to report from Lower Alabama. We do a few chores here and there, visit here and there, and work on staying warm. We may not be fighting the deep snow that the NJ Evringhams are dealing with and we may not be fighting the consistently below freezing temps that those Maineiacs are dealing with ... but these 50 degree days and low 30/high 20 degree nights here in LA are pretty yucky too dontcha know?!

So now that we have made it passed Super Bowl Sunday I guess it's time to gear up for the Daytona 500/Valentines Day. Let's see ... what do I get for my Valentine? A Card? Nah ... been there and done that. How about candy? Nah ... she wouldn't want a box of chocolates - not my valentine. How about a nice dinner out? Now that's a possibility ... but I think I can do better. I got it! How about I lay around pretty much all day on Sunday watching NASCAR and then see if she'll make me a nice dinner? Nah ... the last time I tried something like that it cost me a diamond and sapphire tennis braclet. I guess maybe I'll go with the card, candy, and dinner - that may not only keep me out of the Valentines Day doghouse but it will be a lot cheaper.

I'm a wimp - I know it - I accept it - and I like it!

Who Dat - Summerdale, Alabama

We chickened out. It was just too darned cold and windy to be standing outside waiting for and watching a parade so we decided to stay inside and have dinner with Darrell and Judy and their friends/our new neighbors Mike and Gerri Jones. We had kind of a buffet with Peggy's enchiladas, salad supplied by the Pattersons, and dessert/drink supplied by the Joneses. One thing about hanging out with these SKPs - they definitely know how to eat, enjoy themselves, eat, and have a good time.

Today we started off with attending church services with the Pattersons, some goof-off time, our (hopefully) daily walk around the park, and then some more food & fellowship at the clubhouse at the super bowl party. The SKP bunch seemed pretty evenly divided between members of the Who Dat Nation and the Whosier Nation. As I sit here writing this the game is still in progress. As for me ... I guess I'm rooting for the Saints since they are the "underdogs." Who Dat Dere Gonna Beat Dem Saints?

We are also getting into the Mardi Gras spirit. We may not be in New Orleans but these Alabamians do a pretty good job of getting into the carnival mood themselves. Tonite we learned how to correctly claim a moon pie if given the opportunity during a parade using the stomp and slide method. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about - remind me to give you a demonstration next time we meet. Oh yeah - I also got my first beads tonight.

It's going to be a wild week here in LA (Lower Alabama)!

Settling In - Summerdale, AL

We made it through the rain in Florida yesterday and into Alabama to our destination here in Summerdale. The sun was out when we arrived yesterday and it has burned through the clouds today but it is still pretty chilly outdoors - right around 50 degrees.

We are settling in here at the Plantation for an extended stay. The awning is out, the patio mat is down, and the outdoor chairs are set up. All we need now is some warmth out there to go sit out an enjoy it.

So tonight the plan is to go watch a Mardis Gras parade. Watching a parade at 50 degrees doesn't really sound like that much fun - but we've never been to a Mardi Gras parade so ... we might as well try a new experience! If things go well - maybe there will be a few pictures tomorrow. So stay tuned and find out how we survived (or if we chickened out).

Outrunning The Rain - Chattahoochie, FL

We had a pretty quiet travel day today from Bushnell to Chattahoochie, FL (just west of Tallahassee, FL). The weather was relatively nice as we made our drive today but it looks like that will change significantly tonight and early tomorrow morning when the heavy rains arrive. So here's the conundrum: If the storm is moving from west to east at 30-40 mph - do I leave early in the AM and head west when it is just getting started here ...or...do I get a later start and head west when the rains are at their worst here and hope to run out of the rain earlier?

Either way - we get wet. I think I'll take the leave early option. At least that way I do the outside pre-travel routine in something less than a downpour.

We are looking forward to an extended stay at Rainbow Plantation (the "Plantation") in Summerdale, AL for the next several weeks. Especially since I understand we start with a Mardi Gras parade on Saturday ... and then there's Super Bowl Sunday. Sounds like a fun start to a fun stay. Now let's hope for some clear skies and warmer temps.

Traveling in the 21st Century - Bushnell, FL

As most of you know, Peggy has been joining the ranks of computer users at an alarmingly slow pace. Still - she wants to learn and has been gaining expertise slowly but surely. Over the past few years she has gotten pretty comfortable with e-mail and now that she has her own laptop she decided that she wanted her own Facebook account. So sh(w)e did it! The good news is - she is learning even more - the bad news is - she has a million questions and I only have answers for about half of them. It's tough to be the resident "geek squad" when your skills and experience are limited as well! OK you kids - here we come (into the 21st century) - you may not like us tagging along but we're coming with you anyway!

As previously advertised - today was (and still is) an official goof off day. The sun did come out around noon and it is quite nice out doors right now. I suspect it will cool down quickly once the sun goes down, but for now we'll enjoy it! We have done a bit of cleaning in the rig, taken our daily walk-about, enjoyed a short drive-about around the big city of Bushnell, and it looks like naps are in order now. We may be joining the younger generation in their trip through the 21st century - but we need a few naps along the way.

Trip Review - Bushnell, FL

Well we found some sunshine - but it looks like it's not going to last for long. Oh well - easy come - easy go.

We finished our short but fun visit with Kathy and Bill Ball yesterday in Naples and then drove back north today to Bushnell, FL where we are staying at an Escapees RV Park tonight. Actually - we have decided to take a "day off" tomorrow and just "chill." We don't do that often enough and I'm not personally good at it - but I can learn.

So how's the trip going so far? Let's review ...

We've been gone 3 weeks.

We have driven about 2200 miles through 14 States, burned about 300 gallons of gas at an average of about $2.55 per gallon .

We have visited with one son, one daughter-in-law, 2 granddaughters, 6 long time dear friends, and 2 new dear friends.

The low temps in Maine are in the single digits - it was in the low 70s for awhile here in Florida today after the rain quit and the clouds moved out.

So far - the trip is going great!

(Where's the) Sunshine State - Naples, FL

Southern Florida in February - what could be better than that? Well - some sunshine would be nice. But once again - I'm not whining - not me - rainy and 56 early in the morning is a whole lot better than single digits and frigid.

We actually had a fairly decent day for our travel yesterday down to Naples. It was overcast and in the low 60s but at least we didn't have to drive in the rain. It started a light rain last evening and it looks like it is going to continue throughout the day.

After setting up here at "Naples Gardens RV Resort" we drove over to the Ball's condo for a nice visit and some great BBQ ribs. We hadn't seen our ex-neighbors for a couple of years so we had lots to catch up on.

Today it looks like more visiting, some shopping for the girls, and some goofing off for Bill and I. We won't be on the golf course - but still not a bad plan in my book.