Beach Trip

The day started off getting ready for the beach.

Ready to go!

BTW… this is our site for the winter…

and yes, those are palm trees!

Beach drive and first stop,

Seafood Market on Pensacola Bay…

tons of seafood…

and lots of other stuff, everywhere,

if you’re near, ya gotta go there!

Then off to lunch… seafood gumbo…

shrimp, fish, clams, lobster, squid…

and the eyeballs from something…

but it was great.

Fish Basket, french fries, slaw, hushpuppies

(sorry, started eating before the photo)

Then off to Pensacola Beach…

Yep, the water was great…

crystal clear, blue, emerald green, and warm.

Toes in the sand… Ahhhh.

Too crowded this Saturday…

but on the next visit…

up, up, and away!

So another great day trip with my sweetie.

Life is sweet!

Next trip…

swim suits, chairs, umbrella, cooler with water,

the only question…

sunrise beach trip...

or sunset version.

(decisions, decisions)

Old Man…

A friend wrote, while studying for the master’s degree in medicine:

During the process of aging, men's brain cells die faster than women's brain cells. Very thankful I read that tonight while studying; just knowing this information makes my Master's degree worth it!

She continued:

Here's the scientific reason; Hyper-activated mTOR (Target of Rapamycin).Cellular growth and hypertrophy are stimulated by the mTOR intracellular signaling pathway. Insulin, growth factors, amino acids, glucose lipoproteins, and testosterone all activate the mTOR pathway. Hyper-activation of mTOR may provide an advantage (muscle hypertrophy, high levels of testosterone and high spermatogenesis) in early life at the cost of accelerated aging later in life.

[ Several of her women friends made comments about “men’s brain cells”, which I won’t mention here. ]

My perspective and response was”

Wow, thanks, and here I was in total state of bliss not knowing any of this. I feel so much better now (with a sarcastic grim, scratching my head) . However, now I feeling less guilty of blaming it all on getting old! So I do feel better.  I already use the three main excesses for having no memory... 1. hey, I'm a guy ( we are programmed to remember only what's important to us... the rest is extremely hard). 2. I'm married ( need I say more), and 3. ha,haha, ha,ha... I'm old, and shouldn't be expected to remember anything. Then I do my best Forrest Gump voice, and all is forgiven... or at least the expectations are much lower. Works every time! And I go on my merry way... life is sweet!

 

… and you just follow the white feather, blowing in the breeze!

Just thinking…

A  moment of reflection... it's good to be back in Florida, family and friends, and just being near the ocean. Four days of driving and a two day stop over in Nashville has left little time to think. How thankful we are to have such good friends to leave behind, we already miss you all... family and good friends where we will call home for the winter, thankful to spend time together... and all our family and friends that are still far away, but ever in our thoughts. Family and friends that always accept you as you are, and always enjoy your company. One of the true treasures in life, is family and friends that make it so rich and full. So here’s to thinking of you all, near and far, for you all our the fabric of our life. << a moment of heart felt comfort and joy >>.  Kinda feels like Christmas for the heart and soul. 

Dragonfly

Life has many little simple pleasures… ya just have to look for them and enjoy. Just before we pulled away this morning, Shelly had the biggest Dragonfly I’ve ever seen right on her finger. Wow!

 

Ravens Win Game #1

Ravens Win Game # 1

Season Opener at Home!

Records broken…

Final Score:

Ravens: 44

Bengals : 13

 

Joe… 299 passing yards

What a first week!

Dreamy Creamy

Dreaming of a…

Dole Pineapple Float.

So where can I get one?

9/11

Remembering 9/11. Still lots of emotions and we all have our thought & feelings. Here some photos of a “First Responder” Special Edition Truck that we saw in Texas at the rodeo. Beautifully done to remember the Spirit of America.

.

.

(Silence)

Tired?

Tired… nope… exhausted!

Emotional Break

Sometimes, ya just wanta make peace with the world, and be done with it. Find a rocking chair and watch the wind in the trees.

Show Me!

Wow... seems like everyone is getting wrapped up in all the election stuff. I wish there was a "winner take all" election. Then the President, cabinet members, Congress, the House, and the Justices in the Supreme Court would all be from the same party. I truly don't care which. Then they could be solely and completely responsible for each of their actions and the outcome. Another words they wouldn't have the luxury of the past hundred years of blaming their each other for all the shortcomings and failures of the government to make the interest of "The People" their first and only consideration. Dealing with greed and corruption would be the first order of business. Just a thought that would never happen... besides... which party would want to go first, and have the ultimate responsibility without having the option of blaming the other party for their failures. After all, that's how the two party system works today. Accomplish nothing, grab everything in their best interest, greed and corruption and special interests are their way of life... and do everything that is at the other end of the spectrum from what is in the best interest of the people.... and it's all okay... because they blame the other party for their failures... failures even as decent human beings. I dare say that if this was ever proposed or considered, that neither party would want to go first. Congress maintains "business as usual" just like they have done for the past century. They give lip service to what you want to hear, blame the other party for all the damage they do to America and it's people... and then continue on, year after year, with the without anyone to answer to. Sad to say that there is no solution... and that's just the way they want it to be. So if it's easier to single out any one person... hey, yall go for it. But there's many more guilty of bigger crimes against the American People then any one person. So shout out against which ever party or person you want to. Praise which every party you want. Nothing is ever going to change. A pit full of vipers, no matter the variety is still a pit of vipers... poisonous to us all. Or if you prefer, a den of demons... either works for me. As the political and social climate changes everyone needs to realize what the politicians really think... that the older you get, the less useful you are to them and society, and the less useful you are to them as political supporters and political influence. You worked all your life to support the political and economic system, and now that you are older, you are simply a drain on society, and more importantly to the politicians, you are of no value to them anymore. The very title of "seniors" now implies that you will get the least amount of consideration, even to basic health care. They consider you are a drain on society and the longer they keep you alive, the bigger drain you will be. So don't expect too much from your government... you're only gonna get the scraps. So shout it to the top of the mountains how wonderful your party is. Maybe a little bit of Missouri has rubbed off on me... I say  to the politicians... quit telling me and the rest of the country how great you are... SHOW ME! Bet you didn't know that Missouri was nick named the "Show Me State" way back when, based on the political issues of the day. They wanted the government and the politicians to show them that they could do the right thing... those people from Missouri, like the rest of us today, are still waiting... for the politicians and their respective parties to... "show me"... by doing the right thing.

Planet Rover

Neat little comparison…

1960’s Lost in Space version…

to NASA 2012 Version…

The Planet Rover Rv?

Trucks…

Trucks… there are trucks for everything…

and they come in all sizes.

But they’re all still called trucks.

Matchbox…

Models…

Remote control…

Golf Cart Trucks…

Mid-sized Trucks

Full Sized Trucks

Can you say Hemi?

Doesn’t  hemi mean “half”?

 

Anyway…

Big Trucks…

for pulling big Rv’s…

can you say Tankity… Tank.

(Our TRUCK of Choice)

Yep… Big Trucks… for big jobs…

or if you are young and single…

giving rides to girls.

 

New Rv?

Rv of the future? I can’t imagine it. But, different strokes for different folks. Probably would make a nice little weekend get-a-way conversation piece. I guess there’s a market for anything and everything.

Just a little too unusual for me… okay… a lot unusual.

( Not a full time unit for sure )

Careful!

"Thoughts expressed on Facebook may be harmful to you!" Well... aside from what you say that might be taken the wrong way... there's always the risk that someone, somewhere, somehow, will take offense at what you write. This is probably especially true if you express a thought of feeling that is contrary to how they think or feel. OH, PLEASE! It's NOT a declaration telling you what you should think or feel... it's simply how the writer feels. And if you know the person as a friend, perhaps a little consideration and understanding might be in order. If you know them well enough, to think that they wouldn't write something negative, that you would take the wrong way, well... they probably didn't mean it that way. Besides... if you are going to hold one thing against them, after a long friendship, just because it strikes a nerve... maybe you just need to get over it and not make more of it then what it is. After all... life's too short and getting shorter everyday. This seems to be an ever growing problem on Facebook. Over the past years, several people were extremely concerned about what I write because they felt I had a great deal of influence on others and others respected what I had to say. Well, perhaps this is more credit then I really deserve (a great influence on others)... but if so, perhaps they should be more concerned about themselves, how they act, and how they are viewed... and not the fact that they will be put in a bad light from someone else expressing thoughts and feelings that are true. Worse yet, they may hold a grudge that may have a negative impact on you. Well, ya can't do anything about that... small people that think they are perfect and can do no wrong generally can not accept that others wouldn't always think that they were the greatest! ... and if you put them in a bad light... you will endure their wrath. Even more so if it involves an issue that is more open to be easily discriminated against. Wow, condemn someone because of a prejudice belief... yep, happens all the time. Sometimes even if you are neutral on the subject... if you don't share their prejudice belief, you could be in harms way if you so express it in writing. Funny how things in writing have much more weight then the spoken word. I guess if you simply say it, it's done with, over, and gone, and perhaps soon forgotten. If written, it could go anywhere, for anyone to read, virtually forever. And to think, it all started with a simple expression of how you really felt about something... but you shouldn't say such things... right. I have a hard time and little respect for those that simply condemn others because they have a different though or feeling on a topic, that simply doesn't match theirs. So why did I write this? and who is it aimed at? Why?: the mood and the moment just struck me. Who?: Actually, no one specifically... really! But, I'm sure that someone will think it's about them, when it's really not. Just a attempt to see things in a different light, and from a different perspective. Take from it what you will. Perhaps just a little bit of understanding... perhaps nothing. After all, I don't profess to be E.F.Hutton lol.

Monday 4am

Why am I awake?

Answer…

Now can I go back to sleep?

Catching up

Looking forward to lots of things in Florida this winter. Family and friends… less work… new adventures… and hopefully a bit more time to “be inspired” and catch upon blog entries that have been rolling around in my head for some time… but never actually made it to “print”. So here’s to more entries, on more topics. I just thought how nice it might would be to have a new updated high power computer where I could use a “speak / type” program… and I would have to pick and peck at the keyboard. You’ll never know what you might find here… but with even a bit of fortune… it may bring a smile to your face.

oh… and looking forward to lots of shrimp…

Bubba Gump Shrimp of course!

Movin’ On

Every place we go, no matter how short or long of a stay… it’s always our home… at least for a while!

It won’t be long and it will be time to move on to new adventures. Our winter destination is the Florida Panhandle near Pensacola. We have had a good time here in Missouri this summer at the Mark Twain Landing Campground and water park… plus exploring the area and seeing new things. Learned a lot about Mark Twain and the area. Historic Hannibal, Missouri, where Sam grew up… the caves, riverboat cruises, haunted Hannibal and it’s history… and all the good places to eat. Just a quick note… while they may have lots of fish here, “seafood” comes from the “sea”… and it will be nice to get back to the gulf coast. The general lay of the land is a lot like Maryland, rolling hills, farm land for miles, and lots of green grass, trees, and bushes. A welcome change from the Florida to Texas scenery of mostly scrub trees, scrub grass, and scrub bushes… but upon reflection, the palm trees are a big plus in the south. We came here with 30 some other couples from Texas, so it’s been a great season being with lots of people that we knew in Texas and Virginia. But as with all things… change is the one constant… but as with all Rvers, the really aren’t goodbye’s… it’s so long until our paths cross again. Funny how that all works, sometimes you may not see each other for a year or more, maybe not even email, but when you meet again, it’s just like it’s only been a short time, and you pickup right where you left off. Looking forward to being back in Florida with family and friends. Looking forward to the beaches of the gulf and my toes in real beach sand… smelling the salt air… and watching the sunset over the beach and water. Looking forward to being closer to civilization… lots of shopping, restaurants, and places to explore. Monroe City and Hannibal are not exactly hot spots of big urban development. We were 25 miles out on the middle of the corn fields and small towns. The small towns, well… what can you say… they’re small country farm towns, seemingly just surviving the economic down turn, not much more to say… except that the folks have a greater appreciation for country living and the friendliness to match… just about everyone waves as you pass. Sometimes ya need a place like this to put it all into perspective. No doubt Mark Twain, as did many others, including Walt, drew a lot of inspiration from the hometown community country lifestyle. Down to earth country living… quite the contrast to big city or urban living with all the hustle-bustle and impersonal interactions of the the big cities. Never the less, looking forward to some urban civilization and everything at your fingertips. We had a nice day trip to Marceline, Missouri… one of Walt’s home towns and the inspiration for Main Street USA. I think the Disney World version is a bit more impressive then the real thing… but we had a great time seeing the museum and the town.  We got to see and visit the farm when Walt lived and the “Dream Tree” where Walt dreamed and thought of things to come. The local ice cream parlor with it’s homemade ice cream was a true treasure to find… but the again… as we walked down Main Street, shopping in the stores, everyone was friendly and asked us if we had been to the ice cream parlor yet … something not to be missed. It’s nice to go places where the history and friendliness of the locals plays such a big part of the culture. They may not have the urban sprawl of places to go to… but they certainly have a great value in what they do have… openness, friendliness, and a love of social interaction and history. We will certainly miss the experiences and interactions of the staff and guests here at Mark Twain Landing. Having fun and enjoying interactions with people is certainly one of the pleasures in life… which seems all the more precious as you get older. Lots of great moments and memories… and I’ll miss a lot of the kids. Doing activities and having fun times with the kids is kinda a little like having a bunch of grandkids… which is really nice when you can’t be around your own grandkids and miss them so much. So one chapter ends, and another begins… new adventures to experience… new places to explore! Four relaxing driving days with a stop over in Nashville, and we plan to arrive in Florida by Sept 14th. It will be so nice to get to spend quality time with family and friends this coming year. Working fewer hours will also be nice. Perhaps a bit more time to be inspired, and make a few more blog entries. Well, farewell to those we are leaving behind… enjoy life and make the most of everyday. I’m often asked how I am today… My reply is that I have a good day when I wake up and breathe in & out… a great day when I smile and laugh… and a wonderful day when I can make others laugh and bring a smile to their face. Happy trails until we meet again.