Recapping the Fun.....



I thought instead of a daily post, I would do a recap of the weeks activity....We will be leaving on 25 July for the return trip....about 4 days earlier than planned...but some scheduling conflicts came up so this is the best we could all do....there will be another adventure!!! Photo's are randomly placed on this post.

Last Thursday(17) our first full day there and was a "veggie" day...we all relaxed...did make a run to DQ for a couple Blizzards...went to Walmart and ended up getting a couple of Xbox and  computer games....watched a movie with popcorn...called it a day. of course in-between was "archery" practice, several sword fights, piano lessons with the Bride..even got a "Duet" from Bride and no. 2 Gson....

Woke up Friday(18 Jul) with getting 3 inches of rain...stopped about 1000 hrs., Kids where getting antsy.....so decided to go to the local putt-putt golf, go karts, Bumper water cars and arcade place.....spent a couple 3 hours there...of course the arcade reaped them couple thousand points which they where able to obtain prizes with...prize of the day...fuzzy dice...what can I say.....home for late lunch, some Xbox games, supper, Skype, movie and popcorn...and to Dreamland....

Saturday(19 Jul) started off with a trip to pick up Ms Casita, got back about 0930 and the Gsons hit me with a surprise breakfast......they did get a watchful eye from Omi...but fixed it themselves....what a awesome surprise and BTW it tasted GREAT......

Decided to take them to a movie...they chose Earth to Echo......Let me come clean here...I don't do "Movie Theaters"...last time I was in one was 1995 when some friends came from out of town and we went to some James Bond movie...Bride thought something was radically wrong with me and wanted to call 911....  :) we went and had a good time...got a shock at how much it costs , especially for treats and drinks...could have purchased a 90 watt solar suitcase panel....  :)  

 

 

Came home and relaxed, had a couple pizzas, Skype, talked and played a board game and off to bed...

 
 


Sunday(20 Jul) was kinda a relaxing day..though there is an all purpose Book Store..books, electronics, games, trinkets..you name it have it...Hastings  Book store..took a trip there, looked around for an hour, bought 4 books, and we'll return before they leave.

Monday(21 Jul) was the Adventure at  ZDT's...an all around summer fun place..they have added more stuff..more Cliff climbing venues, and especially the four different simulators, plus the water slides and go karts....arrived there about 10am and left about 245pm...ate a late lunch...home and some down time...with Skype, and another board game.

Tuesday(22 Jul) we decided to go to the SA Zoo..they had been last year but with the new exhibits, wanted a return trip..got there around 9am, it was already backed up at the entrance, but we took our time, stayed until around 2pm...I think there highlight was seeing a rhinoceros  taking a pee...no. 2 Gson made a video....says he's putting it on utube to see if it goes viral....the generation gap between grandsons and Opi's.. :)....another late lunch...and both where tired and before we knew it where taking a nap......I spent some time with Ms Casita looking at stuff I could do prior to my trip...looks like a mid August Launch...can't wait!!! Kids got up, made a run to a store, ate, Skype and watched a movie...with popcorn of course.....we had the old ET movie, which we told them was somewhat like the Echo to Earth movie they saw...they where intrigued and enjoyed the movie...something's never grow old......

Wed(23 Jul)...Went to the City park...threw some footballs, Frisbees, and just "Horsed" around...then went back to the Hastings book store for books and a board game, though it didn't have a board...more complicated then I want to explain here...took them 3 hours of prep work...game is called Dungeons and Dragons... they have been  occupied with that almost nonstop...

Its now Thursday and they are still into the D&D game...works for me especially since its hitting 103 degrees today, best to be inside...I ran several errands, made motel reservations for the way back, packing the Boys stuff..Their "last meal" request was Hamburger Helper and Pizza......we plan on leaving by 0800, destination Shreveport,  La......

Though its been a short visit, it has been  quality time, and interesting to see the changes in a years time....no. 1 Gson is starting to enter the "Dreaded Puberty  Tunnel"....no 2 is stretching his independence arm....what they enjoyed last year is not necessarily what they enjoyed this year, so we did some "mid course" corrections...on the fly...but at the end of the day its been another memorable time....well spent!!!

Now for the trip back.... and then preparing for my "trip"......Happy Trails....Horst sends

Safe and Tired

This post is late....I was tired, didn't finish until today (Thursday)...also, still using my Brides point and shoot and as JerryC said I need to add "focus" to the name...I am getting out my camera....

(written Wednesday evening...yesterday) What a great night of sleep we all got...woke up this morning at 0500 and made a cup of hotel coffee...sat and read the local newspaper, the Ruston Daily Leader.....I enjoy reading the small town papers....to me its where "Real America" is and what really is important....like the Front Page Story..." Kelly O'Neal, the 15 year old daughter of Tom and Gay O'Neal, competed in the 2014 High School Rodeo Nationals in Wyoming this weekend in barrel racing"...followed by a super story about the event and some family history...and I could go on with several more awesome stories from the paper.....sorry I digress....

By 0630 we had cleaned up and packed the car and decided to eat the free breakfast feast that the motel was offering.....eggs, sausage, bacon,  biscuits,,,,and other great stuff....some even being healthy...by 0710 we where on l-20 heading West to exit 571A,  and then heading SW to Waco Texas and l-35 south......we stopped on the east side of Corsicana...I briefly remembered a gas station that also carried tourist stuff...Gson #2 had found a bow and arrow last year and he really had wanted it...so we stopped and he now is the proud owner that Bow and Arrow....#1 Gson got a wooden pen engraved with his name....and before the trip was over they bought several more "useful" trinkets.....

Traffic from Waco to the toll road cut-off  at Georgetown was stop and go...construction and fender benders was todays theme....I do love the toll road....its like running a 100 yard dash for an hour + and you're on the track all by yourself...Pulled in the driveway around 4pm...the Kids where sure excited to see Omi...non stop talking for an hour or two....I got my favorite "health drink"...haha.....the evening was topped off watching a movie eating popcorn......Horst sends

A Memory for life......

After showers, Skype with the parents, some computer time and getting set for the next days venture it was dream land until first light....so we thought......

1st snack stop this am

At exactly 0100(that's really O dark 30), the fire alarm went off...not in the room but for the entire Hotel...when I scraped myself off the wall I opened the door to see what was going ....water was coming from two rooms down...apparently from the 3rd floor....got the Kids up and they thought I was getting them up to leave, 'till they heard the noise...my definition of only essentials and their definition is nowhere close.....we got out and stood in the parking lot for a couple hours....


Photo taken by no.1 Gson....name of motel cropped out

 

The entire event was akin to watching the "Keystone Cops" working a shift....it took the Fire department at least 30 + minutes, if not longer from when the alarm woke me up....finally saw them ....as they drove past the Motel....another 5 minutes or so they had turned around and  entered the parking lot....and they came with one unit, walked around and left...nothing said....now for the Motel Night Shift.....I saw no one checking rooms to make sure all had evacuated....in fact the parking lot was full(autos) and there were only about a dozen folks outside...where are the rest hiding....no one took headcounts....after the Fire Crew left no one came out to give us the all clear ..finally went inside and asked...answer "oh sure, you can go back to your rooms".....the Boys thought it was a awesome adventure and I'm a hero for "setting that up for them".....  :)   plus they now have celebrity status with there Facebook friends...what can I say....

Did another wake-up around 0630, left at 0730 and got to Ruston, La about 4pm....checked in, spend an hour and a half at the pool, ate, did another Skype and am now relaxing and planning our route for tomorrow.....we should arrive home between 3 and 4 ....a margarita or 3 and good nights sleep....then the fun begins.....till next time...Horst sends

Day One of Grands Bonding...

Biting at a Bite to Leave

Its Monday evening...we left Charleston this A.M. after a very relaxing Sunday with Daughter, SIL
and Grands....had a carryout of Wings, Greek Salad, Pizza and some Super Greek Bread.....the Grands finished packing, we loaded the car and this morning all where up by 0530...The parents left about 0630 and we pulled out of the driveway at 0715.....great day for driving...overcast and not too hot...took rt 17 out of town and past through the small hamlets of Ravenel, Jacksonboro, Osborn, Green Pond, and Sheldon.....got on l-95 south till we got to Savannah, then got on l-16 for a while until we ventured onto rt 96 west.....another set of small towns, some very poor looking....but most had character... we stopped 4 times for gas, snacks and lunch...and a "relief" break or three...arrived in Columbus, Ga. mid afternoon...and guess what...yup...to the pool we went

Number two Gson with His Beer Goggles on

...then it was dinner and now we're vegging waiting for our Skype time with the parents...a call to the Bride and then off to Dreamland...until tomorrow....Happy Trails to all of You...Horst sends

Number 1 Gson  hard at programming

ps...took and using my Brides Point and shoot camera...guess I need to read the instructions....I thought "point and shoot" meant that...apparently not so...Mmmmm

Ready, Set...Regroup....

Sooo here we where getting ready to go east to Charleston, SC to see the Kids and more importantly the Grandkids....and we're thrown a "curve ball"....Brides Doctor is not being responsive to her most important  "Med"...one of those that can't be without....she doesn't have enough left to make the trip and back....First decision was that I would go solo...stay for a week, get my "fix" with the Gkids and come home...sounds like a plan....The Bride is really feeling down that she isn't going to see the kids....so I get a "rare" intelligent thought....why not bring the Gkids back here...I run all the required coordination's...everybody is delighted, especially the Grands....Sooo, I left on today, 11 July.....I wasn't sure where I would beddown the first night...depended on how I felt...I made it north of Mobile, Al....about 13 miles or so...the weather turned ugly before I got to Mississippi, plus 3 accidents, so I arrived about an hour and a half later than expected..... its now 8pm and I'm relaxing at a local Inn...have about 600 +  miles to go....below is a short clip of my first days travel...decided to take the scenic route :)

Should arrive in Charleston sometime late afternoon tomorrow and will probably leave with the Gkids on Monday.....Horst sends

Let the fun begin....

Status....I'm Back!!!!..and....Happy Birthday...America

Its been a while since I've last posted....but I think I'm at a point where there may be a launch date within the next 30 or so days....after all the medical stuff, ie.,  ultra sounds, blood work, x-rays, cat-scans and probing and prodding.... the final conclusion of my aliments was....."You're just getting OLD".....and your being held together by "bailing wire and duct tape"...what do you expect....I can accept that....as my mother once told me..."when you dance, you got to pay the fiddler"...God knows I ran them pretty hard in days gone by... Sooooo I'm putting together a kinda , sorta trip to the west and northwest....areas I've been, but places I've missed....a "non-structured" adventure of sorts....

Horst Kelly photographer

We do have a mini trip coming up...will be traveling to Charleston SC to see the Daughter and SIL...ok, its really to see the Grandkids for a week or so....the Gkids want to know why I'M NOT TAKING THEM on a  summer long (repeat) camping trip....told them Opi was selfish and wanted to do a "selfie tour"....they smiled and one of them said a "selfie" was OK....I love them!!!!....

2013 Summer Tour

I've got the camper pretty well prepped for the trip... got a new Wilson Sleek Booster that supports 4G....other than that it ready...I may buy a 90 or 130  watt  solar...the suitcase model...we'll see .....I'm getting excited... solitude, a camp fire, witnessing what Mother Nature presents on a daily basis, photography and hiking....and maybe meeting some Blogging Friends....I'm ready to roll...and I haven't put together a traveling  "LIST".....heha!!

Horst Kelly Photographer

Wishing you all a safe and happy Independence Day....and asking to remember our Troops.....

I saw this clip by Red Skelton  some time a go...thought it may be appropriate for  Independence Day..its called "Red Skeletons Pledge of Allegiance......after the first 30 seconds or so it becomes pretty thought provoking...not as a political message but being an "American "....Horst sends