sand summary

The RV lifestyle appeals to our family, it fits our personalities to a "T". Despite a glitch in getting to Pensacola Beach in time for our welcome home party (we were 24 hours late!) and spending the night in the parking lot of the Hattisburg, MS Firestone parking lot, we enjoyed ourselves. Even when marooned in Hattiesburg (and I was sorely tempted to call a S'Wheaten friend so we could park in her driveway) we were content. We ran out of fuel because the 3rd tank fuel pump wasn't functioning properly. No problem, despite rain and cold the furnace was working and the kitchen was stocked. I prepared lunch and we sat, as a family, and enjoyed lunch. Then rested quietly while waiting for the AAA guy to show up with fuel. Loss, 2 hours; gain, relaxed family. Moving on to Hattiesburg and we noticed the engine was running hot. We had finally turned off the heater in the cab and that put extra heat on the engine. Quick call to my darling brother who is a Ford-o-phile and a decision to seek a mechanic before it was a roadside emergency, thus the overnight at Firestone while waiting for a part for the 1-ton engine. We enjoyed margaritas, DVD's and a warm dinner. Rainy evening and the kids stayed up to watch the antics of city people in parking lots late at night (from the safety of their RV windows). A great breakfast of sausage and biscuits which had the mechanics salivating and then they got the part and started working. We were all happy, warm, dry and relaxed despite not being at the beach.
The week at Renee's was chaotic. Financial, health and personal chaos ensued, but we helped as best we could, stepped back when we needed to and had the oasis of Lindy the RV to escape to at all times. Packing up and going to the RV shop was even pleasant as we got the best service we have ever had in Gulf Breeze Camper World. Again, as we waited and shopped newer RV's, we were able to step to our RV for drinks and snacks and bathroom. Heaven.
We learned we love turtles, with our home on our backs we are able to be safe, comfortable and connected anywhere, anytime. It's probably a testament to our parenting and love for each other that 10 days with 4 people in a tiny space produced no fights! TV, puzzles, games, Xbox, books, knitting and naps. We'll be back May 29th Florida, get ready!!!

Beach Bound!

Not to put too fine a point on it, but we are leaving for ten glorious days in Pensacola Beach, FL! And while the water will be a chilly 70 degrees, the weather will be warmer and sunnier than Memphis...at least part of the time. I'm sure Memphis will get nice and warm while we're gone, but we're still leaving! Photos to come, we're unplugged for the entire time, which should be interesting. Are you jealous?

Purim at Or Chadash

The entire family celebrated Purim this year. Max took a major role in the Purim skit and had the audience rolling. William jumped in and read fabulously at practice and got the part of 2 characters! Despite 4 shots of Seagrams, I didn't fullfill the mitzvah of getting snockered, oh well!

The boys can get along

At least for a few minutes once a day, the boys get along famously. I was fortunate enough to capture this moment.

D&D night

The kids have been enjoying getting together with a few other teen boys and playing D&D for hours and hours. The adults and littles have enjoyed just hanging out and playing.

Hey, ma, look!

No more braces. And all it took was 2 years and selling the MG.

Catch up already

So, apparently I have been woefully behind in personal blogging. Please forgive me if you even still read this. The purpose of my blogging was originally to keep a bit of a diary of my descent into dementia. Then it was to keep a memory book to jog my failing one. Then I forgot to remember to jog my memory. Got it? So the short history of the last six or so months.

September 2008, beach, beach and more beach. Great friends, food and fun. check
October 2008, more beach, return home and hit reality HARD. William in school, Max in school, life changes. William celebrated surviving to the age of 14 by becoming a demon. we are still adjusting to this and the question of who will survive is anyone's guess.
November 2008 and finally some good news. Barack Obama won the presidential election. There is hope in Mudville.
Thanksgiving with my family in Oklahoma was great, except that Ginger got a wicked cold and had to miss the big meal. We had quite an RV adventure on our first RV shopping trip.
December 2008 we learned that boys who have been homeschooled and then go to structured public school have *issues* when they are given hours of free time for holiday breaks. We will know for the next time to put some structure in there. The gamers OD'd. Ginger indulged the boys in new computers for the big gift this year. we are still paying for them.
January 2009 arrived and we counted the days until inauguration. We had a big party and are hopeful the American public will get serious about personal responsibility and fix what's broken in this country. We celebrated our umpteenth anniversary and my 47th birthday with very little fanfare.
February 2009 and we are serious about this RV purchasing thing. We bought a 1986 Lindy by Skyline and begin to learn about her, fix her and make plans to take her on the road.
in March we'll return to the beach and stay in the driveway of Renee and her family while we live in the RV for 8 glorious days. In April we'll be in Dallas for the first Jimmy Buffett concert of my life!!! Again, in the RV and visiting friends before boondocking in the big parking lot of the Pizza Hut Plaza.
Hopefully we're all caught up. If you want to see dementia-specific articles, go to the everyday health.com site and look up my dementia blog.

Quickie trip to Shelby Forest

Family fun on the beach

Gamers on the beach

I swear, within 24 hours of hitting the beach our home is game central. We've told the boys we're limiting the festivities this year to accomodate my decline and to give Ginger more of a vacation. Here are some happy testosterone laden lads with their controls well in hand.

Seeing the ocean for the first time this season

After the 7 hour car trip with 2 teens and 2 dogs, we unload and ritually walk to the beach to view it for the first time each year. This is a sacred month for our family. There's even a special prayer to say when you see the ocean :)