DAY TWO AT BOOT CAMP

Yesterday was exhausting.  Class began at 1:00 and except for a half hour lunch break I was away from my little doggie till 7:30 that night.  My hypoglycemia started acting up and I kept wanting to leave but felt bad about walking out during lecture so I stayed.  They offered us free bags of chips during a 15 minute break so I ate them.  The room was warm and stuffy and some of the 75 plus people were fanning themselves.  I thought I would faint from lack of oxygen so just kept fanning and stayed in my seat.  When it was finally over, I got back to the coach and walked the dog, made supper and went straight to bed.

Woke up this morning around 8:00 and felt too bad to attend class.  Stayed in bed till 9:00 and then had breakfast and walked the dog.  Decided to catch the last half of the morning class so walked over to the Club House around 11:30.  They broke for lunch at 12:30 so I came home and rested till 1:30.  Felt better and attended the rest of the class till supper time.  The meal was provided free for attendees and after the meal we were going to be able to ask questions of the guest speakers.  I did not stay for that event.  Ate my meal and got back to the coach around 7:30 and walked the dog, showered, and checked my mail and messages.  

Fire Safety Instruction

Tomorrow the topic will be weight management in your RV and then having your RV weighed.  They also weigh on Monday so I made an appointment for Monday afternoon to have my coach weighed.  I'll probably leave here on Tuesday.  I think I need to stay an extra day to recouperate from the long hours of sitting, listening, learning, and not eating properly.   I feel wiped out.

I hate to say this but a lot of the material being presented is on the Internet.  I have watched many instructional videos on Youtube and think that most of what I have heard since here is available online.

I personally wanted to ask questions pertaining specifically to my coach and was told that it would be better if I took my inquiries to the dealership.  Uh, Ok, if you don't think you can answer my questions I will go elsewhere.

It's been nice meeting other solo women RVers however we've had limited time to socialize since the seminar began.  Hoping after it is over we can all sit down and have a drink together and chat.

Sweet dreams everyone.

LAID BACK DAY

Today was a really laid back day for us.  Slept till 9:00 this morning.  A cold front came in last night and it was cold and windy today.  Used my little fireplace heater and it got nice and comfy in no time in the coach.

We took a late morning walk through the campground up to the office and back.  I spoke to my nice neighbor today for a long time and got the scoop on what goes on around here.  He's been fulltiming for 15 years and also will be heading out further south to the Gulf Coast in a week or two.

This afternoon was spent watching all of the really nice rigs pull in.  It was like a parade and I had a front row seat due to being on a corner lot.  Didn't get any photos though.

Set up my Meditation Reliquary today.  Didn't know where I was going to put it as I have no counter space or place for a little table.  But then it hit me.  Why not put it where no one would see it yet it would be ready and available for me whenever I wanted it.  So I have found just the right place... under the sofa.  I usually store supplies under there but redesigned everything and it has worked out great.  Now I can use it while sitting on the floor crosslegged on my soft rugs. 

My Reliquary contains several items.  Incense of course, Buddha statue, Native American statue, finger chimes, inspirational booklet, water brush, and paint board.  My first drawing today was quite nice.  It is a special paint board that uses only water.  When the water dries, the meditation is over.  It is an exercise in "letting go."  It's hard to let go of something you have created that you really like.  Interesting concept.  With the glare from the camera flash it illuminated the strokes and it looked like birds flying.  I really liked it. 

Took a nap later in the day.  That was nice.  Now we are settled in and watching a movie.  I still can't get any channels on my TV.  It has got to be due to the brand so I will have to see about buying a new one.

Tomorrow morning I will go to the Club House for registration and then my first class begins at 1:00.

It was a georgous day.  I love cold, brisk weather with lots of sunshine. 

WELCOME TO TEXAS

Broke camp about 11:30 this morning and checked out at the office.  My bill was $15 with my Senior Pass.  I would love to return to this park and stay about a week.  Maybe on the way home I can do that.  Some photos of Sam Houston Jones State Park.

There is lots of space between sites.

The boat launch in nice on the Calcasieu Lake.

Really nice Cypress Pond.  That's my coach in the background.

She really wanted to catch that goose.

Bridge over the Cypress Pond

Believe me, I had my eye out for gators.  They'd eat my little doggie in one gulp.

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Got gas and headed out for Texas.  It's been about 10 years since I've been to Texas.  Was born in East Texas but left when an infant.  My father's family is spread out throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. 

Had an enjoyable drive all the way to Livingston.  My GPS, that I call Winny, never once made a mistake or mislead me in any way - for a change.

 

Arrived around 2:30 this afternoon and checked in.  I have a corner spot and a very nice gentleman neighbor in a Casita.  My spot is gravel but level.  Hooked up to electric and water.  There is also a sewer but don't like to hook up.  I'll use it to dump in a few days.  Walked the dog and took some photos then had a late lunch.

Lots of space between sites.

Lots of trees.

I've never seen so many beautiful dogs in one place before.  I really like this one little Pomeranian that walks by our site.  There was a Happy Hour at 4:00 today but I didn't attend.  Maybe tomorrow when I'm more rested.

The Boot Camp will be held at the Club House and doesn't start till Friday so I can chill and enjoy all the other activities offered here at the campground.  I'm not far from the Club House so that's nice.  This is a pretty large campground.  I'm not parked with the other Boot Camp folks which is pretty crowded.  I like my spot much better.  I'm parked next to full-timers in campers and full-timers who live here permanently.  The spaces between camp sites where I am is fairly large. 


There are lots of golf carts riding around as well as people on bicycles.  Similar to the last campground, there are lots of trees providing shade everywhere.  I like that.  I think this is going to be fun.

I have taken hundreds of photos but had trouble uploading to the blog last night.  I have better reception here so I'll try and post more later.

I'm feeling so light hearted tonight.  I guess it's because I'm relieved that I'm here and I know that I'm going to be stationary for 5 days and don't have to worry about traffic or stopping for gas or listening to Winny give directions.  It's time to relax and enjoy.  I'm having a nice glass of red wine and some peanuts and watching the sun set through the trees.  Yes, this is worth it. 

Tonight's supper is fresh green beans from home and fried sausage.  Tonight's movie is Hachi, A Dog's Tale.

GOING ON SAFARI

I can't say my first day out was uneventful, that's for sure.  I was up at 6:00 this morning and ready to hit the road by 9:30.  Put the key in the ignition and the battery was dead.  I was dumbfounded.  Had no idea why this was happening.  For the last few days I had the electrical cord plugged into an extension and into my house 110 in order to use the refrigerator.  I have done that many times before with no problems.

 

So I called my friendly neighborhood mechanic and he said he couldn't leave his shop at that time.  So I called another friend and he was not available.  Then I called Good Sam Road Assistance.  Felt kinda silly because I'm still parked in my freaking driveway.      They sent someone who arrived 30 minutes later. 

 

He jumped started the battery and checked it and said that the light inside the battery was shinning red which meant that it was no good.  If it was shinning green it would mean that it would keep its charge and be fine.  So I asked if he had a battery.  He did not but returned to his shop and brought back a new one. 

 

Removed the old one which kept the charge as we checked it a couple of times and it started right up.  But I thought, oh well, a new battery might be the best thing.  He installed the new one and closed the hood.  

 

Ooops... the hood would not close.  The new battery sat a couple of inches higher than the old one.  So out it came.  Before putting the old one back in he said I could drive to Auto Zone and they would put a new one in for me.  He then began to put the old one back in.  He looked into the little light hole and noted that the light was now green.  Oh really?  So of course I immediately thought that he just wanted to sell me a $45 battery and now he was busted.  He looked embarrassed.  I didn't say anything but knew at that moment that there was nothing wrong with my battery so I did not go to Auto Zone.  Haven't had any trouble with it yet.

 

So we finally left my driveway and went to get lunch.  After eating I departed Houma for Lake Charles around 1:00.  By now I had the beginning of a migraine.  Kept thinking it would go away but it didn't.  Stopped after driving a couple of hours and took some aspirin.  Still didn't go away.  Arrived in Lake Charles at Sam Houston Jones State Park around 5:00.  I don't usually drive over 55 miles per hour so it took longer than normal.  Four  hours of driving is not what I plan on doing in the future.  It's just too long a time for me to enjoy myself.

 

Parked in a nice spot.  I'm not exactly level but it will do just for tonight.  When I opened my door to go out to hook up I turned and caught my breath.  There, not 10 feet away from me was a deer.  I froze in my tracks.  I have never seen a deer before, in person that is.  I hurried to get my camera hoping it wouldn't run away and got some great shots.  Later when I was walking Xi Shi the same deer came out from the bushes with 4 of her babies.  Xi Shi was fascinated by them at first then started to bark and attempted to chase after them.  Well, of course they ran away. 

 

 

It's the damndest thing to hear her barking in these tall trees.  It echoed throughout the forest.  I kept telling her to stop because it was disturbing the quiet that was so noticeable all around.  You could hear everything so clearly it was so quiet.

 

This campground is really nice.  I'm a die hard beach person but I really like this place.  There is not one camping spot that is not in the shade of these tall pines.  Even the air is full of the scent of pine.  I'm parked next to a large pond, have a fire pit, picnic table, electric, water, and sewer.  The office was closing when I arrived so I was told to pick a spot and just come by in the morning to register and pay.  Good deal as I was exhausted and my head was killing me.

 

After a walk around the grounds and placing  a Peace Rock my headache went away and then we had supper.  Chinese food brought from home.  Tomorrow we'll drive another few hours to get to Livingston, Texas at our reserved campsite at Escapees RV Park.

 

All in all it wasn't a bad day.  Tonight I have my little doggie sleeping next to me on the sofa as I write this, the kitty cats are in the bedroom looking out the window at all the critters, and I'm having an ice cold beer.  Life's good.

 

Night all. 

 

THE ISLAND OF ADULTHOOD

Now a castaway on the island of adulthood, ever less sure of rescue, I’m hoping for a few precious moments to regain youthful bliss.

I believe in bliss. However, it has become foreign to me. In our youth something is taken away – our priceless individuality – that part of us which makes us unique and differentiates us from the others. We reluctantly accept maturity and responsibility. We "grow up," and sometimes lose ourselves in the process. Some people are never conscious of what they have lost, but the sense that there is something not quite right remains. We feel the sense of something that is missing.


A part of me asks, "Why are you leaving the comfort of home, friends and family to go out into the unknown alone? Aren’t you afraid?"


I respond, "I have accepted fear as a part of life - especially the fear of change. I will go ahead despite the pounding in my heart that says: turn back."

 Another part of me asks, "Why do you have to leave to find what you are looking for?"


I respond, "It isn't about finding oneself by leaving, it's about finding oneself by living. Let me tell you why we’re leaving. We’re leaving because we know something. What we know we can’t explain. It is something we feel. We’ve felt it our whole life. It’s like there’s something just not right with the world we are living in, that there is something we have lost and must find. We don’t know what it is, but it’s there, like a splinter in our mind, driving us mad. It is this feeling that is calling out to us and will take us away. Do you know what I’m talking about?"


 Some of us do and some don’t.


Leaving is hard. It can be a big sacrifice. I think we always have to leave something behind to recapture our youthful bliss. Perhaps if we start listening to our inner voice, then decide what is really important, and what needs to be left behind we might regain the true treasure. I’ll try not to be afraid to "grow down" if I feel like I've grown up too much.

What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. I will not cease my search and exploration due to fear. However, I may, at the end of my search, arrive where I started and know the place for the first time. And that may not be so bad.

I’m hoping that my road experiences to come are too fantastic not to tell. In my search I’ll keep in mind that the road I may fear to travel could lead to the treasure that I seek.

Come to the edge!
We can't... we'll fall.
Come to the edge!
We can't... we're afraid.
Come to the edge!
They went...
she pushed them...
and they flew!

See ya... further down the road.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

LIVING BACKWARDS

As I pack my Freedom Express in preparation for our extended journey I’m reminded of the days I lived as a free spirit. I look back on my life and can still feel the absence of burden on my shoulders, the delight of fishing and hunting for my supper, the friendships of other like-minded people, the relentless energy felt daily, and the knowledge that I had my whole life ahead of me. I think of the past a lot. And I wonder where AnnaLee is hiding.

It is quite true what Philosophy says: that Life must be understood backwards. But that makes one forget the other saying: that it must be lived - forwards. However, I believe that the farther backward you look, the farther forward you are able to see. The sad thing is that you will only understand life once you've lived it, but you have to live it blindfolded.

Sometimes we grow in one dimension and not in another. Unevenly so to speak. We grow partially. We may be mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present.

At times it seems that I am living my life backward and with the approach of old age my real youth will begin. My life has covered me with wrinkles... wrinkles that hardships and worries have put there and that I have had the greatest trouble keeping at bay and can never be removed. Along with the visible wrinkles are invisible scars. You can't escape the scars of history, or the needs and neuroses you've picked up along the way.

Living backwards is confusing at first. However, one's memory works both ways. It's a poor sort of memory that only works backwards. A walk along with Alice through the looking glass has taught us that.

Chasing the past, I stumbled into the future. I have come to realize that when I am anxious about leaving on a journey it is because I am living in the future. When I am depressed because I am going nowhere it is because I am living in the past. Having spent the better part of my life trying either to relive the past or experience the future before it arrives, I have come to believe that in-between these two extremes... is peace.