Update...

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything.  I got my new camera last week and while installing the software my laptop crashed.  OOPS.  Dell tells me I corrupted a library file.  I repaired the operating system enough so I could backup all my data files one last time.  Now, since the system is VERY unstable, I am going to wipe my hard drive and then reinstall EVERYTHING!  Or so Dell tells me.  Hopefully I will see you all on the other side of this nightmare.

I have soooo much to tell you and a lot of pictures to share.  My new camera is REALLY awesome and I got lots of great shots at the Jeep Blessing.  I took over 600 shots of Jeeps, trees, rocks, sand and mud, lots of mud...  Even a few of a very unfortunate little boy who thought it would be nice to jump into the mud pit for a swim before going home!

Friends Arrive

Our friends, Cathy and Ed, arrived today for a week long visit.  It has been so nice to see them again and catch up.  Only 2 more days to go till the Jeep Blessing and we all are furiously working on the Jeeps to be sure everything is in working order.  I can't wait till we get to take them out and trail test them!

This was Ed's retirement present to himself after 24 years in the Navy!  He just got back from his last 7 month cruise and will be "officially" retired in less than 30 days.  He hasn't even put 300 miles on his new toy yet, so the first thing they did was to take a quick ride.  Don't they look neat in their matching helmets, coats and boots?

Revenge on a Tailgater

We took the truck into our favorite shop, Cadillac Truck, this morning and left it for its 6 month DOT inspections.  On the way home, while still maybe 7 miles south of town, a little grey BMW pulls up behind me.  Mind I am driving an Excursion, but I don't drive slow.  Its a diesel too, so hills don't even faze it on cruise control.  It just growls louder and up we go!  I was doing about 6 over the limit and had the cruise set.  I could almost hear the driver behind me gripping the wheel and grinding his teeth.  Tailgaters are a huge pet peace of mine and I am sure there is an especially heinous place in hell, reserved just for them.  Unfortunately for this idiot he decided he just had to get closer the rear of my vehicle.  Like that was going to speed me up.  Not!  Just for him, since I was in a no passing zone for the next 6 miles, I tapped my brake, broke the cruise and slowed down to 5 below the limit!!!!! Na-Na-Na-Na-Na :-P

I could almost see the steam come out of his ears in my rear view mirror O:-D  Randy, who was in the passenger seat wasn't perturbed at all by the irritating tailgater, but almost came unglued by me slowing down.  I guess those tailgaters have to stick together no matter what, huh?

A little R&R

The floors and bookshelves are clean, dishes done, groceries bought and put away... My oh my what am I going to do with all of this spare time.  SPA DAY!!!

I spent 8 hours today at my salon getting polished and tuned up.  It felt absolutely heavenly and I actually feel like a woman again!  After all I have put in my fair share of time in the past 4 months polishing on the truck.  Today it was my turn ! ! !

What you might ask did Randy do all day to unwind.  Well he didn't go to the salon with me.  Instead he went and played with his buddies working on the obstacle course for the upcoming Jeep Blessing next weekend.  They met for an early breakfast at Sparks (absolutely delish local resturant). Then thru rain and wind, worked for 6 hours finishing the obstacles.  Of course they all had to "test" them to be sure they were in proper working order for the eager Jeepers next weekend :-) By the time I got home, he was dry and cozy again. But the smile was still firmly planted on his face as he regailed me with the days follies. 

Bonny - 1 Dust Bunnies - 0

We finally made it home last night. 

The vehicles all started on the first try, no dead batteries.  Amazing after more than 4 months of sitting idle in the barn.  All the locks opened, no ice freezing them solid, and the driveway was clear of snow drifts.  I turned on the hepa filters, swiffered all the floors, dusted all the cabinets and shelves and lugged in all the food from the truck.   The only real problems were a low battery warning on the house alarm system and I had to trash some freezer items that had obviously thawed during a power outage.  Not bad for being absent for so long.

Of course we hit the trails almost immediately with the CJ.  Had to burn the cobwebs out of the engine after all.  After bouncing along for a little over 2 hours we called it a night and headed back to the house.

Back at the house I filled up the jacuzzi tub and we soaked away 4 months of tension.  Man that tub felt great.  Too bad it wont fit in the sleeper!

Serial Farter Attacks

I was in the Book Nook (a used book store I like to frequent) in Cadillac, MI brosing the older cookbooks when I heard it.  It wasn't a soft one either.  It was loud and long. 4 octaves and better than 20 seconds. I glanced toward the noise and to my suprise there was only one person standing there next to me.  A Woman! She didn't even react.  Just stood there, completely dead pan, reading her book like nothing had happened.  It wasn't long after this that the stench drove me from my stack of books.  So I retreated to the cashier to buy my books and leave.  Wouldn't you know it though, she followed me.  Luckily I think the cashier had heard and when this woman asked if she could use the bathroom the cashier gave her directions.  Saying after her as she walked away that this was a private bathroom and not normally open to the public.  Even as I sit here writing this, I still can't believe it.  Randy of course had a laugh spasm when I told him the story.  He promptly dubbed it the Attack of the Serial Farter.  I think it made his week ;-)

The Count Down Begins

HOME.  We are finally going home this weekend.  We have been on the road for 4 months straight!  I can't wait to see my friends and catch up.  But I know there are going to be 4-5 mail totes to deal with too.  Not to mention the deadly dust bunnies that are probably laying in wait under the couch and beds!  Well, let them do their best.  I have a Swiffer!

I am so excited to get home a whole week before the Jeep Blessing.  I will actually have time to recharge the vehicles batteries, clean up the house, do some grocery shopping and get my hair done before our guests arrive.  What a change.  Usually I am getting home hours before our guests land.  I am not sure I will know what to do with all of this extra time.  But I am sure I will fill it up.  I have already started a list of things to do.  Might I actually have a chance to be a normal hostess?  Nah, I have never done a normal thing in my life.  Why start now >:-)