When you're having fun...

Summer is upon us and with it comes the burning desire to get away...to take a short vacation from the routine and relax without some task or obligation hanging over your head. We chose to get away for a couple of days by taking the RV up to Hot Springs. Just the two of us...and Beau. Let me start by saying that Beau is not necessarily a good traveler. He is a bit nervous. So why does he insist upon sitting on the dash where he can see everything that is going on while fidgeting around in a nervous state? The only tie he appeared comfortable was when I put my feet up on the dash, put his bed in my lap and let him sleep in my lap like that. Can we say spoiled? Anyway, this was the first time for us to pull a car behind the RV. It gives us the opportunity to park the RV but still have transportation to scoot around town. We parked at the KOA in Hot Springs...a shady spot in a scenic park. Really nice. We put up our screened canopy over the picnic table and this gave us the opportunity to sit outside in the evenings without being chewed on by the bug of the day. There must have been a billion cicadas there because they made a thunderous noise at night. But each camping spot had a cute little street light and curbside garbage. We spend our five days in Hot Springs just relaxing. We stayed at the campsite for the most part and spent our days...and nights...resting, reading, swimming, napping, etc. Oh, yeah...and taking Beau to the puppy playground... We went out to eat a couple of times. There was a really tasty Italian restaurant that overlooked Lake Hamilton. Beautiful view while enjoying margaritas and pasta. We joked about the plethora of Mexican Food restaurants in Hot Springs. There seemed to be two or three on every block. We went window shopping down main street on Friday. It was humid and hot so after a bit we happened upon a kitchy little bar named the Ohio Club. What a find! This bar was established in 1904 and has been patronized by lots of famous, and infamous, people. Mae West performed there as did Frank Sinatra. Al Capone tipped a few glasses there and rumor has it that Teddy Roosevelt also stopped in for a beverage or two. The bar was this massive oak cabinet with horses and ship maidens carved into it. Mmmmaaaassssssssiiivvveee...and gorgeous. This bar was a "cigar store" during prohibition and there were still holes in the floor where the false wall separate off the illegal bar and casino. There was a tunnel that had been walled in. Apparently it runs under the entire area and it is how the patrons escaped when the Feds raided the "store." It was a fascinating place!!! We broke down our camp on Saturday evening so that we could head back home early on Sunday. We had plans for dinner with our son, Ryan, on Sunday evening. So, after breakfast on Sunday morning, we hooked up the car to the RV and headed back to Rockwall. While it was an uneventful trip home...I can't say the same thing for our trip out to dinner. On our way back home we had a flat. The good part of that is that we were out on a two lane country road that doesn't have very much traffic. Of the traffic that did come by there were three people who stopped to offer their help if needed. We got the tire changed and made it back home. On Monday morning I had to go to work for a few hours....inservice for summer school that I am teaching in July. Afterwards I bought a new tire and got my car inspected. Now...vacation is over and everything is back to normal. The RV has been cleaned, laundry done and everything put back in its place. I've got a couple of weeks before summer school starts and then it's only a matter of time before the next school near begins. Amazing how time flies....when you're having fun.

Time for myself...

Time has flown...and "things" have changed since last I rambled at you. Shortly after my last post I ended my long-term subbing position (which had gone on for 3 months) and took a little time off. Actually, I worked in all the medical appointments and things that I had been putting off for work. I worked a couple of days a week and took the rest of the time for myself and the things that I needed/wanted to get done. My husband and I, along with two other couples, headed out in our motorhome and their travel trailers for a week at Lockhart State Park. We went hiking (and got lost), shopped at quaint little shops in Wimberly, shared meals and fellowship, visited a goat farm, and just generally relaxed. It was refreshing...and renewing. Ahhhhh! The only thing that would have made it better is if my allergies hadn't flared up and I hadn't come home with bronchitis which I battled for two solid weeks before I began to improve! During our trip I got a follow-up call on a medical appointment I had prior to the trip. Seems my blood sugar is too high and I must change my diet and get that under control. It's not ridiculously high...most of the time. I bought a glucose monitoring kit (the finger prick thingy with the machine that tests the blood drop) and have changed my diet radically. I still can't seem to get the reading down to the 80 - 100 range where Dr. S wants it. Guess that means there is more work to be done! Hubby is looking into vacation options for us for late June. That's the only time I will have off since I agreed to teach computer lab in summer school and that starts on July 7th. I'm actually looking forward to that. Four days a week for four weeks. No lesson plans and no papers to grade. Now really, who could turn down that kind of a deal? That said, I will have four weeks off before summer school begins and three weeks off after it ends. Niiiccceeeee! Took a short (overnight) trip to Shreveport with "the girls." Lost my butt! 'Nuff said. Went to the Ranger game Wednesday night. They were "playing" (and I use that term loosely) Seattle. I stopped paying attention in the 3rd inning when we were already down 16-0. It was ridiculous...painful to watch. I turned in my paperwork to sub again next year. Figure I'll give it one more year. After that... That's all my news. It's summer and I'm taking it slow and easy. Wishing you the opportunity to carve out some time to do the same. Till next time... ~Cheers!