Who left the dimensional door open?

That cam is fantastic..thanks.. I saw a speed boat and a man and his dog kyaking.. ;)

I also saw a man that was acting quite sneaky..but lost him...

Sargent Lake sunset.

Guess this in G'night..

Good afternoon all....I have returned...checking over my old postings, I see that it has been more than 5 months since I posted....I was just at a recurrent low point in my mind, always going back go my Michael, and my difficulty dealing with his death, even tho it was so many years ago....my meds were no longer working effectively, and needed some management...I just needed to take a break, and revitalize myself, I suppose....

Anyway, with time, and some readjustment of my meds, I am feeling much better, and will slowly return to my posting duties...

Since it has been such a long time, I shall go back to when I stopped posting....We did indeed get down to California, in October and November, and it was a wonderful trip...

We did indeed rent a 24ft motor home for the trip, and Andy just shook his head in disbelief, watching his doddering parents attempt to make such a trip in a vehicle quite larger than anything that they had driven...but he knows that we often do the unexpected, and throw caution to the wind...we can be quite adventurous when we want...

We headed down to Portland Oregon in our car, loaded down with what we need for the trip to supply the RV....we rented the Rv in Oregon, because their rates were lower than here in Washington, and besides, in Oregon there is no tax....the car trip down there, was done at 5am, so that we would have a full first day, to get used to the RV....

Poor Dizzy had to ride in the car, in a cat carrier, which he calls 'cat jail'....he just growled and hissed and scratched the whole journey down to Portland....but once in the RV, and feeling more secure with his pet Condo, his litter box, his bowls, and his food, toys and catnip, he immediately planted himself in the overhang bed, and assumed the post of a regal king...from that point on, he was absolutely perfect...he loved riding along, perched in his high perch, watching out the windows, or snoozing, as the mood struck him...

He especially enjoyed the evenings, when once we were safely parked in an RV park, he quickly was the center of attention of me and Bigdom....he pranced on the tables, and chairs, and loved exploring all the cabinets, and loved having his captive audience, there to pet and admire him...a more perfect kitty, could not be found...

Now bear in mind, that we had never had an RV before...so BigDom and I had to take a crash course on all the amenties of an RV...we learned quickly, and never had any problems...we parked our car, at the RV lot, gave them the keys, and they had our car, and we had their RV...

RVing was wonderful...BigDom and I made this trip, in an effort to find out if this was what we wanted for our 'golden years', soon to be coming when Bigdom retires in two years....we figured the cost of the rental was worth it, to find out if we did indeed like it...and we found out that we just loved RVing, and find it would be a perfect way to spend our retirement, traveling the little highways and byways of this great country, seeing and experiencing all that there is...no rocking chairs for us, thank you...

We traveled along Hiway 101 along the rugged Pacific coast of Oregon and Northern California, a lovely and beautiful place to travel to....along the way, we met people from all over, mostly retired people, who were doing what we hope to do...living out of their RVs, seeing the country....

BigDom has a knack for sniffing out the smallest of breweries, and in little towns, that normally one might pass by, we stopped, found the little breweries, got personal tours, and bought some of their brews...met the workers, shook hands with the locals, and found that Americans, whether in the big cities, or in the little bitty one horse towns, are grand people....

We went to a wonderful restaurant in Arcata California...we have been there before, and longed to go back so indeed we did...being as this is lumber country, this place, the 'Samoa Cookhouse' prides itself on serving 'Lumberjack meals...its family style, as much as you want....on the chalk board, the days breakfast, lunch and dinner servings are proudly displayed...there is no menu, you just get the days servings...on our day it was the same wonderful split pea soup that we had had before, salad, mixed veggies, home baked bread, roast beef, and pork slices and gravy, followed by apple pie...as much as you want...they do not serve alcohol, which disappointed BigDom who was thirsting for a beer with his meal...but they pointed out, you can bring your own liquor in...I had never heard of this before, where you could bring in your own liquor, but such was the case here...so Bigdom quickly headed out to the RV, for a yummy 6 pack which was cooling in the fridge, freshly purchased form a local brewery....It was a grand meal....

We visited with Aunt Helen in California...she has aged quite a bit since I last saw her three years ago, but then she is near 80, so as she says, she is lucky just to still be alive and fairly well....we spent several days, with her, and many happy hours were spent chatting and laughing, rekindling old memories, and crying with each other, missing those that have passed on....it was a memorable time with her, shes such a grand lady, and a wonderful aunt, and she was such a wonderful woman with my dad in his last days with his cancer...

We spent two days on the coast on RT 1, the old Redwood HIway....a beautiful, small, dangerous road along the California Coast....it is there that our dear Michael is buried, in Cuffeys Cove cemetary, near Elk California...going to his grave is always anticipated, but for some reason was more difficult to face this time, probably as I was in a somewhat fragile state...I just sat near his grave, and cried like a baby, so much so, that poor Bigdom, bless his heart, could not bear to watch, it hurt him so, to see me so sad....But I do think I needed to cry it out...the next day, when we went back, I just stayed in the Rv, and let BigDom go to the cemetary himself, to be alone with Mike and with his thoughts....it was a very difficult, poignant time for the both of us, but we have managed to get through it....

Heading back to Aunt Helens we went through the a large Redwood Forest, which is on the way, still quite near the coast....the beauty and majesty of the Redwoods is always still awe inspiring, no matter how many times one sees them...

Further inland, we went through the Anderson Valley, famous for its wineries, and of course we had to stop, sample wines, and buy bottles of wine to take home...then onto the Buckeroo Pub, which brews its own beer, and serves great meals....That BigDom, has a nose for sniffing out those breweries...

After we left Aunt Helens, we stopped for a day in Petaluma, California, where my cousins live...of course, there was also another brew pub there, and we stopped off before onto the cousins for a tasty barbeque, headlined by yummy deer sausage, and bbq chicken...we sat up till the wee hours of the morning, talking and laughing and again, remember all the family times together....our extended family is small, but we all love each other, and just do delight in those few times we are together...family ties, and family love is a blessing, and I do feel sorry for those who do not experience it...

After a nites rest in Petaluma, BigDom and I headed down for two days in San Francisco...we parked the RV in an RV park in Larkspur, not far from the ferry terminal, where one could catch the ferry boat for San Fran....now living up here near Seattle, we can grab a ferry boat ride whenever we wish...but our ferries go slow....those ferries in San Fran, are more like large speed boats....I so enjoyed riding on those boats, with the cold ocean air, and the water whipping around smacking us right in the face...it was quite grand...we went near the prison(whose name escapes me), and got to see the convicts, playing basketball in the prison yard...just like in the movies...

Our time in San Fran was wonderful.....we ate lots of seafood, visited Fishermens Wharf, shopped and ate in Chinatown....then went to the Italian section of San Fran, where we purchased lots of deli meats and cheeses to take back to the RV...also went into a wonderful Italian bakery, and bought all manner of Italian sweets....we sat outside of the bakery, enjoying our treats, and it was here, that we met one of our most memorable characters....

A little old lady, probably around 85 or so, and all decked out, in heels, nylons, fancy dress, gloves, and a big fancy hat, asked if she could sit down next to us...well, yes, we said, and we began chatting....come to find out, she was originally from Italy, and she took a definite shine to BigDom, when she found out that his family was from Sicily, and that he was raised speaking Sicilian...she tried to make us come home with her, and she was going to cook us a big spaghetti dinner, but we just did not have the time...but she made me take down her address, and phone number, and promise to come visit her, next time we were in San Fran....we sat for the longest time talking to her, and just enjoyed it so much...eventully she got up, and slowly walked down the hill, waving to us, and wishing us well on our further travels....a lovely, little old lady....

After two days in San Fran, sadly it was time to begin thinking about the end of our journey...we crossed over to RTE 5, the interstate, and slowly made our way home...of course, we had to stop at the olive shop in Corning, which had the most lavish goodies, of olive oils, vinegars, olives, and almonds...we spent a fortune there, with boxes of goodies to bring home...and of course, we had to have an olive burger, made with local olives...

We then headed toward the Cascade mountain range, and camped at night near the foot of Mt Shasta...it was cold out, and Dizzy made fun of the doggie he saw, wearing a blue coat...Mr. Dizzy says, that dog was a sissy, having to wear a coat, while he, Big Dizzy, could face the cold with his long Himalayan fur....it was wonderful camping surrounded by the mountains....

Then we sadly made our way back up to Portland to turn in the RV....we unloaded, repacked up the car, turned in the RV, thanked the people for such a wonderful experience, and went on our way...we got a motel in Portland and that night, went to Gustafs, a fabulous restaurant near Portland, where the food is grand, and where there are roaming entertainers, singing to us, yodeling and playing their accordians as we had our meal....a perfect ending to a perfect trip...

The next day we headed out for home...Poor Dizzy had to again sit in his Pet Taxi, or Pet Jail, where he stayed for only 1/2 hour before vomitting....the only time on the trip he got sick...i think he did it on purpose as he hates that Pet Carrier...so I let him out, zipped up the carrier, and he promptly feel asleep on top of it while it rested in my lap...his head was stretched out on the dashboard, and was quite a sight, as people driving by, would laugh and wave, seeing this big fluffy kitty, with his head resting on the dashboard, while the rest of his big body, was perched on top of his carrier...what a scene stealer....

And thus ended our trip...we returned home, tired, but ecstatic, at the success of our trip....RVing proved to all we had hoped for, and even more....we will indeed be geriatric gypsies, when the time comes....as I said before, no rocking chairs for us, just put us in the RV, and let us drive and enjoy, for as long as we can....

Well, I sure did blather on and on....but I just thought I would make up for lost time....Its time for me to go now, but I hopefully will be able to return more regularly in the future, to visit with my dear friends...

See ya later....

See ya later....

Best it be soon rather than later MOm - dang, we've missed ya!

What a super trip you and BigFella had. That is so wonderful to know.

My very best to you, Dom, and the Dizzy guy.

Please be very well, JL

...soonER rather than later. doh

Glad to see you back and posting....
May I suggest you don't limit your RVing in the future to just the States...There is Canada, Alaska and Mexico just a drive away...Nothing like a warm mexican beach in the middle of winter..
I Rved for a number of years with a VW camper van and a 21ft Class C MH....

.......Westy......

Jesus, look what the Helga dragged in! Nice to have you back, Lynn, and I hope we see more of you on a regular basis.You'll always be welcomed here, hope you know that :-)

Now, if you could only make your posts a bit more informative and not so brief ;-)

Thanks for the good wishes...I sure do hope to be back on a regular basis, sooner rather than later...I am feeling better, and am glad to be back among everyone....

Of course you are correct....we do look forward to seeing Canada, Mexico, and especially Alaska in the RV....

I was just surprised at how much we loved RVing...for me its quite a luxury....as when I was growing up, vacations were always camping excursions...no motels for us....the tent, sleeping bags, cooking on the coleman stove out of doors, going to the outhouse, washing up in the open air...these are dear memories of my childhood vacations...and I loved it....

So I raised my boys that way....we camped all the time, braving thunderstorms, tornados, torrential downpours, and even snow, all while sleeping in the tent...

So the RV is really, for me, quite a luxury...we just absolutely loved it...

We also plan to go overseas, as Bigdom gets free travel, being retired military....so the world is open to us, to explore...

Thanks for your welcoming me back...

LOL...I sure do blather on, dont I, once I get started...just had lots to report....

Thanks for the welcome back...

We have added a new dreg and flake, a chap named Sundog.Grannie somehow snagged him and he is smitten, or it could the chain she uses ;-)ACe is still running his grotty cheesecake photo biz on the side, Grannie is ripping off the bingo players in Cape Coral,Kathleen has her own Gals and Guns calendar coming out soon, Darks is well...Darks..Loddy is still a social butterfly with a hankering for grilled meats and dirty ditties, and the ghost of Westy haunts us from time to time with purloined pixs.We get the odd lurker too, and even NASA has sent inquiries wondering what the hell a Dimensional doorway is all about.Shhhhh, we won't tell ;-)

You go on your own pace, now, as we do as well.Some because they are in jail, others because they pass out, but you post when you can :-)Nice to see your name again!

That Grannie can snag em, cant she?....shes quite the gal....hopefully by next week, I should be able to post more....right now, I am trying to thin out some of the stuff we have accumulated over the years, and send them on to new homes....just trying to make it easier on Andy, for when the time comes for us to part this earth....

Poor Andy, just looks around, especially in the garage, and rolls his eyes, at the prospect of having to deal with all our years of accumlation of 'stuff'....

But I will try to pace myself, and try to post at least a little each day...I missed everyone so...

Do what you can, when you can.

We love having you here.

You know that.

I ditto loddies 373 post....Hang in there....

......Westy....

Blind Sled Dog

........Westy......

Nigerian Scam

I know you like these...lol

.......Westy......

A rose for the girls

Goodnight all...

.......Westy.....

Captain's Log
Tuesday March 11th 2003

Caloosahatchee River: Cape Coral Bridge
Units are feet
Tuesday 2003-03-11 First Quarter Moon
Sunrise 6:41 AM EST, Sunset 6:34 PM EST
Moonset 1:20 AM EST, Moonrise 11:55 AM EST
Low Tide: 4:33 AM EST -0.06
High Tide: 7:37 PM EST 0.83

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Granny's Chimney Korner

Accidental Nudity

That is what the duct tape was for.

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Good morning all.

Welcome back Mom!!!