Troubles

Living this lifestyle isn't always easy when not on the road. It is frustrating to have wheels, but they don't go anywhere! I begin to feel sorry for myself and there is nothing worse than self-pity! I stewed in it for a few days. It's not the reason there hasn't been a post since 6/17! I didn't stew that long.

Then I sat myself down and figured I had better straighten up. I started counting all the things I have to be thankful for. I have a roof over my head. I am warm and dry (sometimes a little too warm). I get to see a beautiful sky and trees and listen to the birds singing everyday. I have a wonderful husband that comes home every night and I know he loves me. I have two wonderful daughters that call me nearly everyday and I am very fortunate to still have my mom and dad.

Life isn't so bad here. So I get a little bored sometimes and the money is tight since I had to leave work, but that is little stuff. My mom always told me that when you start wollering in self-pity, it is time to do something for someone else. And as usual, mom was right!

I pulled out my crochet bag, found my little hat patterns that I was making for children with cancer, chemo-caps and I got busy making more. If these little hats can help brighten a sick child's day, it is a terrific thing.

I wish I could do more for them. Bless their hearts. I look at pictures and read the stories about these awesome children and it tears my heart out. All they go through and yet they keep a smile on their little faces.

Children are so resilient, so innocent and so forgiving. No wonder in Matthew 19:14,  Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (New International Version)

God bless all the little children for the times this world is heading for are not for the weak, nor the Godless.

Peace until next time...

Storm

I took some pictures of yesterday's storm. It was a gusher, rained for hours, but we needed it so badly. The grass was turning brown and the heat is extraordinary for this time of year. We were blessed with a cool, beautiful morning today. I actually took a walk.

Below are some pictures that I took of the stormy sky. Darn it, I never could catch the lightening, but there was plenty of it.

Time On My Hands

One thing my new lifestyle (I've got to stop calling it new, we've been here six months already!), is giving me is an abundance of time. I've always wanted time to do the things that I want to do. Well, now that I have that ever elusive time, I don't know what I wanted to do with it!

I took a look around at the few books that I brought with me in our tight space. Most of them have to do with Biblical studies and lost scrolls of the Bible. Some deal with writing, always a favorite past time and the rest are fiction favorites.

It wasn't a long stretch to figure out what I wanted to do. Writing + Biblical Studies=A new blog! I just launched God-My Perspective yesterday, http://god-myperspective.blogspot.com/. I hope you like it. As always I welcome your comments and questions.

Well, I just heard a loud roar of thunder. Our summer afternoon storms are back, I hope to stay. It got fierce here yesterday. I've learned my lesson, the awning stays rolled up most of the time. We have some ferocious winds off the lake here and add a storm it is a recipe for disaster.

The last day that I left the awning up, an unexpected, fast-moving storm turned it into a sail. I don't know how it stayed attached to the coach, but thankfully it did. It's a little stretched, but still works and looks fine. That's one expense I didn't want to cover right now.

The sky is black and lightening is zig-zagging across the sky. I stuck my head out to check on the sky and the air is sharp with the smell of ozone and the wind is whipping. It won't be long before the real booming and blustering gets here so I'll sign off. Koali and Scooter like some extra attention to help them through the weather.

Heat

It is so hot. I am a native Floridian, but this has got to be the worst heat we've had this early in the year. It's not even officially summer yet. This past winter was extremely cold. We had an extended spring, but one day it was spring and the next day it was hell.

My poor kitties sit in front of the fan even in the air conditioning. It hasn't cooled enough in the evenings for the past few days to even take them outside to play in their Kittywalk. I've tried, but they just sit there and pant. It's pitiful.

Even in the shade, the heat is so humid that it feels like I'm wrapped in a wet blanket that has been set on fire. I don't remember ever being this miserable in June. August, yes, but not June. I don't look forward to what August has in store for us. The heat index has already topped 100 degrees.

We watched Knowing, the other night. This heat makes one wonder if the sun really is heating up and getting ready to scorch us right out of existence!

Until next time, stay cool...

Side Note

It's Koali again. I was sitting here beside her as she was writing that last entry and now I understand. Just because she's on a diet, she's put me on one too. I wondered what was up with this half dish of food thing. She even takes it away from me in the middle of a snack.

If this wasn't a G-rated blog, I'd call her a nasty name. The thing is she encourages stupid Scooter to eat. What's up with that? It isn't fair and I just want it noted that I am protesting this treatment. If anyone wants to give a guy a warm cot and some food to eat; you've got my address. Okay, it's her address, but maybe your emails will wake her up to the fact that my bags are packed. I can find someone else that will appreciate me and my husky build. It's muscle, really!

Now I'm thinking that stupid, glorified cage outside with the cutesy little hammock things is not really for fun. She must be exercising us too! Some nerve. I won't go in it willingly again and if I do I'm just going to lay there and pout, unless that flag thing starts blowing again. I just can't resist that, I have to climb up and get it. It isn't fair. Again, I'm being manipulated against my will. HELP!

Look again at this fine physique, do I appear portly to you? I can't help Scooter is scrawny.

I think I'm pretty close to perfect just the way I am. You're welcome to make a comment here...

Setting a Few Goals

I've been putting it off for years, but I've got to get serious about losing weight. I do lose, but then I gain it back plus a few extra pounds. I'm sure that sounds familiar!

My cholesterol is up, my blood pressure is border line. I'm disappointed in myself because I said I'd never be overweight. Well, here I am, a fatty. I'm not counting calories this time, I'm just trying to make better choices. I know what I should and shouldn't eat and I've counted calories, fat grams, etc., etc., for so long I have those pretty well memorized too.

This time I'm adding more and consistent exercise. We have a gym and a pool in our park so there are no excuses. I have to be careful what type of exercises because I have fibromyalgia and if that gets started, I won't be exercising at all.

I've been walking on the treadmill, doing some stair stepping and a lot of stationary bicycle. I'm doing a little weight just for the triceps and biceps and some ab lounger for the baby tummy that just never got back to normal after baby number two.

I see women that have had four and five babies that look like they've never had any. All I can say is it must be in the genes because the women I know personally don't exercise at all. It's disgusting, really!

I've got three months before I have to back to the doctor so that will be my motivator. My special treat is swimming in the evening after my morning workout. I love swimming and it's just a bonus that it is good for me.

Interesting Sounds

I was just sitting here waiting for time to go by. I found this interesting singer, Theresa Andersson. I like her music, at least what I've listened to ths afternoon. See what you think. Here is the link: http://www.theresaandersson.com/

Hope you enjoy!

Kittywalk and Other Stuff

The cats new toy got here on Saturday. It is very nice. The only thing I'd say that is misrepresented is how long it takes to set up. The directions said ten minutes for each section. We had three sections, it did not take us 30 minutes. It might take us 30 minutes the second time, but it definitely took significantly longer the first time!

I explained to both of the kitties, that this was for their fun and they did enjoy their first session. They ran around and climbed into the hammocks and chased dragonflies and birds. Well, as far as they could anyway. What they don't know is that now when they go crazy chasing each other, I have somewhere to put them so they don't drive me nuts!

Here is what we got for them: Kittywalk Grand Prix-

We have the nicest family across the street from us. They have four adorable children. They took them blueberry picking last weekend and they brought us over some berries when they got home. Of course all of them were so excited about it and told they all told us all about it all at the same time! I've been thinking about making some cookies to take over to them. Baking cookies in my small oven is not an easy feat, but then I remembered no bake cookies, my kids loved them when they were growing up at home. That solves the problem of a little oven and they are good.

Here is the recipe in case you'd like to make them too.

No Bake Cookies

½ cup milk
½ cup peanut butter
1/3 – ½ cup cocoa or 2 squares unsweetened chocolate
2 cups sugar
½ cup butter
3 cups regular oatmeal

Mix milk, sugar, cocoa and butter; bring to a rolling boil. Add oatmeal while boiling, stirring constantly. When oats are just stirred in, remove from heat (Do not cook the oats too long). Add peanut butter; stir well. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto wax paper. Yield: 48 cookies.

Blog Take Over

Shhh, this is Koali. Tammie is not looking, don't tell her I'm taking over the blog this afternoon.

To introduce myself, I'm a pretty cool cat. I'm outgoing, handsome, got blue eyes some say you could get lost in. Sorry ladies, if you're looking to hook-up, I'm just not interested, I've been neutered. Besides, I'm too busy keeping the people entertained.

Today started off like most others. I yawned, stretched, filled up the clean litter box just to give my human, aka, Tammie, something to do. My brother Scooter and I have it all worked out. I go, the human cleans up the box and then Scooter goes. It is pretty funny, she cleans up on command. One time she tried waiting us out, but we just acted like we didn't notice and wham soon as she gave in and cleaned the box, Scooter did his thing. She missed the high five we gave each other (she misses a lot).

Ahh, we don't do it to be mean, she's a pretty good human as humans go. She does get a little upset when we climb on the valences, but we can outrun her and we're just so darn cute, she always ends up laughing at us. All we have to do is hide under something and peek at her and she's over the upset, it works every time!

We had a visitor today, new lady, I haven't seen her before so I had to give my best performance. I walked in front of her with my back arched and tail straight up in the air, giving her my blue-eyed sideways glance with each pass. She ignored me!

Can you believe that? So then I poked her in the leg, nothing. I jumped up next to her on the couch, poked her in the arm, nothing again. What is this dame's problem? Is she blind or just plain stupid? Hey lady, this is me doing my best cuteness, here.

Finally, I can't take it anymore. I lean way over her lap and cock my head so I'm kind of looking her in the eye. Yep, she has eyes, they are open and I finally got a glance, but that's it. Not a scratch, not a pet, nothing.

Well, if that's how she wants to play it. I notice she has a pony tail and I can reach it from the back of the couch. Hmm, no one is looking at me. They are talking away. As stealthy as can be, I slink up onto the back of the couch just behind her head. I lean forward to judge the distance just right, pick up my paw (the right one, I'm a right-handed guy) and just as I'm about to thwack the tail out of the ball park, Tammie sees me. "Don't you dare," she says. That tone of voice means business so I put the paw back on the couch. I sit here for a few more minutes, but I hear Tammie again, "KOALI!" she says a little more sternly.

Guess I'm done. I climb into the chair opposite Tammie and pretend to take a nap. I'm really listening to see if another opportunity will come up for me to be cute. A few minutes later, the talking is done and the lady is saying goodbye. She reaches over to pet my head. Yeah right lady, I think. I tried to get your attention, so don't come petting me now. I back up as far as I can and avoid her touch successfully. I get down from the chair and give her my best go-to-the-devil walk and saunter back to my bed for some peace. You had your chance human, now you can talk to my behind is what I'm saying, but all she hears is purr, purr, grumble, grumble. Humans, we can understand them and they can't speak our language. Who's the superior species? Cats for sure, but stupid humans haven't figured that out yet.

I'm pretty thankful that I have a well-behaved human afterall, I think I'll sleep the afternoon away just to give her some rest!