Sunday

Almost There...

Recently I wrote about finishing up my taxes.  In all that had gone on with being lost in a fog for eight months and such, I was unable to find all my information on 2011 and searched high and low. Being totally distraught in thinking I would have to compile everything again, I turned the problem over to the Lord and prayers were answered.  Praise God! 
One like this will be traveling with me

This weekend I have been plugging in information into my spreadsheets and should have everything done by the middle of this coming week and then off they go to my accountant.  

How do I say...how liberating that will be.  THEY ARE FINISHED!!!!!!  

This has been the most difficult 8 months of my life with many more months ahead, I'm sure. The only other time that has been close to this was the death of my mother.  I will say, I seem to be recovering a bit more quickly this time.  When mom died I couldn't read anything. I could not seem to get past the third paragraph of any book or article for 3 years. I had difficulty paying the bills and keeping it together.  This time I have been able to read several books...Thanks Gaye Lynn Wood and Nick Russell. Also if I didn't get the bills paid it was solely on me. It had to be done and so it was.  

Life goes and there is no point in being left behind. One must continue so that memories may be not forgotten. I know I will have a lot of rocky moments, especially in one week and two days.  That is the day I say good bye to 16 years at the University and working with a great bunch of people who care about me. I only hope I can keep it together.

Starting out on a new adventure is a bit daunting but I know I will have lots of help to get me going.  The laundry list is long of things I have to do and it's like the never ending gobstopper, it just seem to be growing. 

I have so much to learn how to do and how to keep my rig up and running. At the moment it is dead in the water.  I went to start it up yesterday and the battery is dead. Not good!  But I'm getting some help this week and hopefully will get it up and going again and hopefully I can keep it going. I did go out briefly yesterday and wash the woodwork in the front part of the rig with Murphy Oil Soap and wipe the counter tops down and clean out the bathroom sink and kitchen sink. I want to oil all the wood and make it shine. 

Christmas is almost here and for the most part I have done all my shopping on-line. I have things I need to get for the boys and their daddy. The girls have been finished for awhile now.
Thank goodness this (snow) hasn't happen
yet, but lights are up and lit
 I have not decorated the inside of the house yet but I do have my outside Christmas lights up thanks in part to a very nice young man who helps me out a lot.  


Soon I will be writing a new blog about my travels with my three dogs.  When that time comes I will attach a link to this blog in the side bar that will take you to it. The name is "My Big Adventure with Three Dogs". 

For all the solo women out there, how scared were you to take that first big step...when you actually got in your rig or truck or car and drove away?  What was going through your mind?  I just want to know if I am normal...scared s%#!&(@s? You have to understand, I come from a time when young ladies lived at home, were under the protection of their parents until they married, then protected by their husbands. So for all 65 years of my life I have had someone there for me. 

This is the first time in my life that I have ever been on my own.  It's not a feeling I like. I don't like not having someone to talk to, that can carry on a conversation with me.  The dogs look at me like I'm crazy and their conversation skills leave much to be desired when I can't translate Woof, woof...woof-woof-woof...yap, snarl, snarl...Woof!
The three furbateers
Yes...I get when it's time to feed them, give them water and let them out and back in and such, it's the other times when out of no where the chorus begins and I am left in the dark. Anyone out there speak dog? To be certain, I howl too!  Feel like I should join in with the pack. Maybe they will begin to look at me as the Alpha. 


Wisdom begins in wonder.  Socrates

And so it begins...






Welcome...Welcome...Welcome New Blog Followers...

I am so happy...I have new blog followers!  At least I know someone is reading my blog!  
Rain storm in the Texas Panhandle 2009

A big shout out to Dragonfly!  She is an artist following her dream in her hand-painted 1972 Shasta Compact named Serenity.  Her work is beautiful to be sure. Check out her blog Chasing Flowers. She also has hand-painted blank cards for sale on her site. 

Next are Debi and Ed Hurlburt of Debi's RV Cooking. Welcome! They have been busy traveling and as you know WiFi hot-spots are hard to come by when traveling. Therefore it's difficult to get some of her blogs posted, but when she does post...wow yummy recipes await you. Her recipe today is the ultimate comfort food! Hot Ham and Cheese in a Baked Bread Bowl! Check it out...it looks so yummy!

Janet and Kevin Shaw of Seize The Day RV Adventure, are new on the scene. They are looking to go full-time in 2015 or 2016 in the meantime get to know them. They love to bird-watch and Janet has a mean cooking tab on her blog. Her cuisine looks yummy, especially the Dutch Oven section. They are building their site so as they travel more expect more stories, photos and great food! A good site to check out. 

This couple are avid outdoors-men. Meet Julie and Tom. Their photographs of their trips are beautiful and makes you want to go to the places they have been to. They have been blogging their trips since 2010. Check out RV and Outdoor Adventures with Julie and Tom. You won't regret it! Their photos of Cloudland Canyon State Park in Rising Fawn, Georgia are beautiful. Makes me want to be there enjoying the gorgeous sites next year. 

I love Travels with Emma.  Judith Bell and her dog Emma, I feel honored to have her follow me! Her adventures are amazing along with her commentary and photographs on her blog. She and Emma travel the country leaving love wherever they go. She has encouraged me when I have been at my lowest and I love her for that.  Thanks Judith! 

Of course everyone knows Al, Kelly and Pheebe of Travels with The Bayfield Bunch.  I love Al's many stories and greatly enjoy how he captures the essence of flight in his bird photography. Lately he has been having trouble with pack rats stealing his frog, froggy. Al has be gracious to help me with questions that I have had about RVing...Thanks Al!

Last but not least is Laurrie Piland of Baked Lava. This is a cooking site extraordinaire. She has great pictures of the prep of her food and the cooking of it. I can only hope to be a tenth as good as she is in my food posts. She is a blogger/columnist/photographer who travels the USA in an RV with her husband along with their pets.  

So a big Oklahoma welcome to you all.  I look forward to meeting each one of you as I get ready for My Big Adventure with Three Dogs to begin next month.  Time is ticking down and I am not ready (Will I ever be?). I have a lot on my plate between now and then.  Finishing up work, retirement party, family coming in for Christmas, cleaning and packing up the RV (First I have to learn how to drive it then learn how to dump the holding tanks), get new tires on the RV and get some things fixed before I head out.  Boy, that's enough to make this person dizzy and I'm already dizzy enough as it is! 
2005 Winnebago Voyage  My new ride!

12 working days until I'm finished.  Look out everyone the Wild One is getting ready to hit the road! 


Monday

Taxes...Taxes...Taxes...

The most dreaded word in world...besides Social Security.  I have come to find out recently that I dread getting mail from Social Security.  What more are they going to take away from me?


Back to taxes...I am finishing up my taxes and have promised myself that I will not work on my motorhome until they are done and out of my hair.  I think that will give me some incentive to get them done. I really don't lack much in finishing them.


Normally I am more organized than what I currently am, but ever since Dave passed away I find myself being dragged 20 different directions and not able to stick to any one project for long. It's frustrating to be sure. I know in time it will get better, but it's taking too long!


Once I finish these it will be time to start on the 2014 taxes. I really don't think it ever ends does it.


16 days until I retire!