Well, it looks like we are gonna make it to 2009!! It.s been quite a year.
We took our first escape in 2008 to the Tuscon Arizona area in mid January. We spent a week in Oro Valley where the sun was shining every day! It was a bit chilly in the morning, but got into the mid 60's by mid-morning. We were told that it was about 10 degrees cooler than normal. It was about 20 degrees warmer and 100% dryer than at home.
In February we went to Las Vegas Nevada With Joyce's sister Patrice and her husband Paul (from Chicago) for a 3 day stay. We had a great time, and in my infinate wisdom, I made a $20.00 bet at a sports book for the Mariners to win the World Series (they proceeded to lose 101 games).
The month of April saw us taking the plunge on a used motorhome (2002 37' Pace Arrow) and a 2005 Chevy Cobalt tow car. We started planning our USA tour for when I retire in August.
August 1st I retired with 30 years of service credit to the Washington State Department of Transportation. August 15th found us pulling out of Keith and Sheila's in Stanwood to start our big adventure!! Our first stop in Eastern Oregon had us cooking in 107 degree heat!! We managed to make it to Florida for our Carribean Cruise departing on September 7th. Along the way we made stops in Salt Lake City Utah to visit Tom & Jandora, And Dallas Texas to visit old neighbors Craig & Wendy and their girls. Between Texas and Florida we dodged Hurricanes Gustav and Hannah. Then Hurricane Ike came along while we were at sea, and disrupted our shore excursions in Cozumel Mexico, and Grand Cayman Island. The cruise was a blast, and we met new freinds onboard (Ron and Diane from Oklahoma,& George and Karen from Tennessee).
The 15th of September we headed up to South Carolina. From there it was up to Virginia with a day spent at Arlington National Cemetary. It's hard to believe the amount of history there. While in the Carolinas we spent a day with our Seattle freinds Pat & Steph who were in North Carolina for a wedding. Very strange to meet them so far from home. When we left Virginia, we headed into Tennessee. There we spent a day with cruise freinds George & Karen. Also while in Tennessee we visited with Seattle freinds Gail & Randy who were there for a wedding.
From Tennessee we headed North up to the Chicago vicinity To spend some time with Patrice and Paul. Spent 5 days there and gained 5 pounds!! By now we are nearing the end of the first week in October. Our plan was to be home on the 15th, so we started heading West. It is begining to look and feel a lot like fall. When we got to South Dakota, the first snowfall of the year was dumping on Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. We hung out on the Western edge of the storm for a couple extra days until it was safe to go. We still managed to make it home on the 15th of October. We put 8,000 miles on the motorhome and 4,000 more on the tow car. The trip certainely wasn't without a few mechanical issues, but it was a blast!!!
November was a quiet month with a small gathering for Thanksgiving. All of the poltical B.S. was finally over and hopefully things will settle down and get back to what we consider to be "normal". Time will tell. I wish that I could be a optimistic as a lot of folks are.
December found us off and running again with an escape to Disneyland with grandkids Monica and Chandler for 4 days. The weather was great(mid 70's), and all had a good time. Just after we got back the snow started to fall here. As of today, I still can't get away from the house without chains. There is still about a foot of snow, slush, ice, and combinations thereof on the street in front of the house.
Christmas was relaxed this year. We had lunch with my mother on Christmas eve, and Christmas day Josh & Brynn came over in the morning, as did Kristin and Matt. Josh and Brynn both had to work in the afternoon, so Joyce & I and Kristin and Matt went to a afternoon movie.
Santa didn't bring us a new motorhome, so I guess the 37 footer will have to do! (maybe he just couldn't get it here because of the snow)
Kristin turns 23 on the 31st and Sheila turns 38 on the same day.(tax exemptions) It's hard to believe I've got a 38 year old. I can't believe that I'm over 38!
We escape next month for 12 days in Hawaii. We leave on the 12th of January. That is Joyce's birthday, and she might not like me saying this, but she's over 38 too!!
I'm sure there are some things that I left out of here, and I'm also sure that there are some things that I should have left out of here.
Until next year,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Ernie
We took our first escape in 2008 to the Tuscon Arizona area in mid January. We spent a week in Oro Valley where the sun was shining every day! It was a bit chilly in the morning, but got into the mid 60's by mid-morning. We were told that it was about 10 degrees cooler than normal. It was about 20 degrees warmer and 100% dryer than at home.
In February we went to Las Vegas Nevada With Joyce's sister Patrice and her husband Paul (from Chicago) for a 3 day stay. We had a great time, and in my infinate wisdom, I made a $20.00 bet at a sports book for the Mariners to win the World Series (they proceeded to lose 101 games).
The month of April saw us taking the plunge on a used motorhome (2002 37' Pace Arrow) and a 2005 Chevy Cobalt tow car. We started planning our USA tour for when I retire in August.
August 1st I retired with 30 years of service credit to the Washington State Department of Transportation. August 15th found us pulling out of Keith and Sheila's in Stanwood to start our big adventure!! Our first stop in Eastern Oregon had us cooking in 107 degree heat!! We managed to make it to Florida for our Carribean Cruise departing on September 7th. Along the way we made stops in Salt Lake City Utah to visit Tom & Jandora, And Dallas Texas to visit old neighbors Craig & Wendy and their girls. Between Texas and Florida we dodged Hurricanes Gustav and Hannah. Then Hurricane Ike came along while we were at sea, and disrupted our shore excursions in Cozumel Mexico, and Grand Cayman Island. The cruise was a blast, and we met new freinds onboard (Ron and Diane from Oklahoma,& George and Karen from Tennessee).
The 15th of September we headed up to South Carolina. From there it was up to Virginia with a day spent at Arlington National Cemetary. It's hard to believe the amount of history there. While in the Carolinas we spent a day with our Seattle freinds Pat & Steph who were in North Carolina for a wedding. Very strange to meet them so far from home. When we left Virginia, we headed into Tennessee. There we spent a day with cruise freinds George & Karen. Also while in Tennessee we visited with Seattle freinds Gail & Randy who were there for a wedding.
From Tennessee we headed North up to the Chicago vicinity To spend some time with Patrice and Paul. Spent 5 days there and gained 5 pounds!! By now we are nearing the end of the first week in October. Our plan was to be home on the 15th, so we started heading West. It is begining to look and feel a lot like fall. When we got to South Dakota, the first snowfall of the year was dumping on Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. We hung out on the Western edge of the storm for a couple extra days until it was safe to go. We still managed to make it home on the 15th of October. We put 8,000 miles on the motorhome and 4,000 more on the tow car. The trip certainely wasn't without a few mechanical issues, but it was a blast!!!
November was a quiet month with a small gathering for Thanksgiving. All of the poltical B.S. was finally over and hopefully things will settle down and get back to what we consider to be "normal". Time will tell. I wish that I could be a optimistic as a lot of folks are.
December found us off and running again with an escape to Disneyland with grandkids Monica and Chandler for 4 days. The weather was great(mid 70's), and all had a good time. Just after we got back the snow started to fall here. As of today, I still can't get away from the house without chains. There is still about a foot of snow, slush, ice, and combinations thereof on the street in front of the house.
Christmas was relaxed this year. We had lunch with my mother on Christmas eve, and Christmas day Josh & Brynn came over in the morning, as did Kristin and Matt. Josh and Brynn both had to work in the afternoon, so Joyce & I and Kristin and Matt went to a afternoon movie.
Santa didn't bring us a new motorhome, so I guess the 37 footer will have to do! (maybe he just couldn't get it here because of the snow)
Kristin turns 23 on the 31st and Sheila turns 38 on the same day.(tax exemptions) It's hard to believe I've got a 38 year old. I can't believe that I'm over 38!
We escape next month for 12 days in Hawaii. We leave on the 12th of January. That is Joyce's birthday, and she might not like me saying this, but she's over 38 too!!
I'm sure there are some things that I left out of here, and I'm also sure that there are some things that I should have left out of here.
Until next year,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Ernie
P.S. Thru some unknown malfunction on my part I am unable to add captions under the pictures.
#1 Is Turkeys in South Dakota.
#2 Is Disneyland in December.
#3 Is the gates at Arlington National Cemetary.
#4 is Patrice & Paul, and Linda & Bill in Chicago.
#5 Is Ernie & Joyce on the pier in Jamaica.
#6 Is Ron & Diane (Tulsa Oklahoma)on the cruise.
#7 Is George & Karen(Smyrna Tennessee)on the cruise.
#8 Is our cruise ship at the pier in Jamaica.
#9 Is Joyce on our way to Levenworth Wa. on Ernie's birthday.
#10 is Hairold the cat under the Christmas tree.
#11 Is us, Joshua & Brynn, and Kristin & Matt at our house on Christmas day.
2 comments:
you guys have had a wonderful year! I love all the pictures... Oh and dont remind me, ahhh 38 wow where did the time go? I hope we will get to see you guys on the 30th! Ill give ya a call later Sheila
Boy, you guys were really busy in 2008 and it doesn't look like your slowing down in 2009, are you sure that you guys are over 38?
Thanks for the pictures of all the snow, it was beautiful. It looks like there was a lot of shoveling involved though. The view from your deck is spectacular. It didn't look like you have been cooking out lately.
January 12th will be here before you know it....Aloha, Diane
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