Another relaxing day...

Another relaxing day

I was definitely looking forward to today. Jen and the kids arrived late last night and poor Jen looked like she had enough. She was ready to throw in the towel. It seems that she got stuck in traffic outside Indy making her trip last an hour longer than normal.

Her mid-week trip was productive. She exchanged kids clothes, gathered some wants and needs for life on the road, some dry goods, and had plenty of time to quickly visit family before heading back.

The kids got to visit their friends, see our dog who is being cared for by a family friend, and gather things they wanted to have with them on the road. They are growing so fast that it appears the clothes they had before this adventure are inadequate. Poor JJ's pants look like he was preparing for the flood. So it seems we will be making a shipping trip to buy items for the wardrobe.

Me, I had a quiet morning. I made coffee, had breakfast, and spent the first few hours cleaning up the camper, and taking care of the essentials which amount to trash, tanks, and tending to the campsite. Now, I am reading the news, enjoying coffee, and updating the blog! What a great morning!

We are the three Amigos.... Amigos forever we'll be

Not too long ago...

In a far off state...

Miles, and Miles Away...

Three cousins (actually two brothers and their cousin....making them all cousins) plotted to rule the world!

ZwanZig Pizza

Today was a good day. I survived another day at my new client location. Jen had made it home safe to exchange things out and bring new thing from home to the camper. She had a chance to reconnect with family by having dinner with her parents. The girls, Uno and Dos, got a chance to reconnect with a friend.

That left me to my own devices. I called my brother up who lives thirty miles from my office and decided to have dinner. My cousin from Houston, who is a consultant for a technology company, has been working in Columbus, IN on a contract. This is probably the first time in a long time that these three have been together in the same room for more than thirty minutes. Each of us with family, it just seems hard to get time to spend together.

It wasn't so long ago... well, long enough I guess, that these three guys stayed up late eating pizza, watching questionable movies, and causing mass hysteria. My step dad Randy, when hearing of our plans to get the three of us together, had said that there is trouble waiting to happen. Sadly, I think that was behind us. We were more content to eat good food, have fun conversation, and enjoy our cult favorite movie 'Office Space.'

Watching Office Space

I guess that can be exciting right? I mean, dinner and a movie, what is better than that. No crazy parties, no drunken Hawaiian dances. It was us kicking back, laughing at the good parts. Certain scenes make us laugh, or share a story. It was a lot of fun.

After the movie was over, I headed home after saying my good byes. It was good once again to reconnect with Scott and Chris. Reminder of the good times, and for now since we are all in the same area for a while, a chance to reconnect. I am sure there will be dinners together in our future.

After driving home, I was greeted by our neighbors. they are an interesting couple. They are salt of the earth people and have a million stories to tell. I had meant to go straight to bed when I pulled in. After an hour and a half later, I graciously dismissed myself from the conversation and headed to Arrakis.

I talked with Jen and she is doing well. She was laughing about how she is so tired of the 'stuff'. With all the room that we have in the house, she was still finding herself tripping over toys in the kids room. The one thing that living in the RV has taught us, it is that there really is a point of having too much stuff. She is looking forward to coming back to the RV because quite frankly, an RV is much simpler to maintain. 

The Ever-Creative Evie

Duct Tape Purse Perfection

As I  walked through the door, I was tackled by Evie. She was excited to see me and have her daddy home. She was overwhelming excited to show me her knew art/craft project. A purse made from duct tape. I have seen a lot of things and I have to say that I am very impressed. 

She had made it for her friend back home she is planning to visit with today. Evie is like that. She often gives of herself and time to her friends. She like to make them happy. Making things, either drawing or using her 'other creative' forces to conjure up something fills her day.

School had gone by so much better today. Kids were up, happy, and much more focused today. Jen had several projects around Arrakis to finish before she heads back home to take care of some personal business, visit family, and check on the house. I for one will fend for myself for the next couple of days. I think I can manage.

A family dinner, a day of unfortunate events

Kids setup the picnic table for a great summer dinner

Today was a tough day...

From the very start of the day, it started to rain. This made travel to my new work location difficult having to almost travel by the Force due to the heavy rain, crazy traffic, and newness to the area. Luckily, with my Waze App loaded on my iPhone, I was able to get turn by turn navigation and avoid some costly delays. Even with the bad weather, I was able to make good time and arrive to my new client site ready to work.

As with any client, there are politics and culture. I have to say that the culture at my new client location is the most difficult I have experienced in recent past. It seems that there are those who are the 'culture police' to make sure that everyone is following 'the policy.' So, I was a little put back by the change in scenery. Especially with worrying about every step I make could lead to someone sending some email to higher ups because of something I may have done. 

Use of headphones... Nope

Eating at your desk...Nope

Use of cellphone... Only in approved areas

Texting.... Nay, Nay!

Jen kicking back to enjoy a book after her tough day

I am a take charge kind of guy. You give me something, I get it done. I am diligent, hard working, and work fast. Part of that is due to my ability to focus a midst distractions. One of my tools is the use of headphones. Being able to listen to music or podcasts in the background allows me to drown out the drivel around me. So, the culture in this location will test my wits and my ability to focus. Change is always hard.

Jen had her own list of struggles today. For one, our oldest was falling behind in her schoolwork and only putting in minimal effort. That is a struggle with homeschooling. The more 'open' environment, can lead to laziness. It is important to identify the struggle, offer encouragement, and if necessary enforce proper habits so that they can succeed. Homeschooling is a pleasure for sure, but these struggles can be daunting. You don't want your children to fall behind. You want to make sure they are making steady progress. At times,  you have to reset, re-evaluate, and make a course correction. Jen, the trooper and mom-extraordinaire, had to take a stronger stance than usual, and Uno followed suit.

On top of that, we had another camper misadventure. We forgot to batten down the hatches so to speak and left the outdoor kitchen door lifted up. This has never been a problem in the past. I guess I say that a lot since we are still inexperienced as full timers. Water seemed to fly sideways and collect on top of the counter in the outdoor kitchen. It then flowed underneath and got the floor wet in the minion's bunk room. So Jen battled getting all the water up, closing the outdoor door (getting soaked in the process), and getting all the wet things dry. We had to go out and get a wet dry vac to help finish the job and using fans to help finish drying the carpet. 

As you can tell, both Jen and I were in foul moods by the evening. Instead of cooking for ourselves, we got take out Chinese and had a lovely evening at the picnic table. The weather was much cooler due to the rain and quite enjoyable. We finished dinner, kids biked, and Jen and I grabbed books, our zero gravity chairs, and set ourselves to a quiet evening. This lasted a while until the swarms of mosquitoes decided to descend to our location. Packing up the books, T-Rex, and a few odds and ends, we headed to the camper. We finished the evening watching '1911', a historical movie about the Chinese Revolution starring Jackie Chan. Tomorrow, will be a better day, at least we hope it to be.

On To Indy...

Caught the Navteq Road-mapping vehicle
as we were leaving Michigan City and heading to Indy

Friday it was our move day and why we really haven't been able to blog much the last couple of days. We got up, ate breakfast and then it was off to the races getting the campsite cleaned up, Arrakis ready to move, and four scurrying minions who resisted our efforts to participate in our pack and move operation.

The one thing I have to say is that Indianapolis is MUCH hotter than it was in Michigan City. Maybe it was the better shade, the lake effect, or just simply cooler up north, but it noticeably hotter the closer we got to Central Indiana. The kids had fun on the move. The gruesome twosome road with me as I hauled Arrakis and our tower of snakes. Jen, Uno, and T-Rex followed along carrying everything we could stuff in the van to make Arrakis easier to haul. Our plan worked.

Last visit to the Indiana Dunes

After a few potty stops, we arrived at our location. At first blush, Indy KOA is a pretty nice camp. Well planned out, good playground, a nice game room and pavilion. They also have fun activities such as hay rides, root beer floats, and breakfast available. The down side you may ask? Internet! OMG! It is non existent. Worse, they only allow one computer for an hour a day. Sorry charlie, that is not going to work for us. If you advertise free WiFi, I think you should also post your draconian restrictions. Let's be real, that is probably all the older RV crowd needs to get by. I am sure, if I was simply vacationing, that would also be fine. It might even seem more than enough for the older generation of RV'ers visiting here. But for us... I say Nay,Nay!

<warning.. rant!>

So, I am struggling with what to do. You see, we cannot even connect to the wireless at our campsite. Not even with our smartphones. I called the office and they said they couldn't do anything for us for the next week or so (after Labor Day). Then, we might be able to move. Should I be upset? Maybe not. Should I ask for some money back because of my lack of connectivity? Probably not since they are providing the wireless for free (with restrictions).

Saturday, it was so hot we decided to go for milkshakes, 

Dos chose milk mustaches

So I guess, I am going to break down and buy yet another pay as you go 4G plan. I had clear for over a year and the service was spotty. Some days it worked great and other days you were left in the wind. Their customer support is terrible and think that by repeating everything you say back to you is the end all of good customer service. Worse yet is if the hardware goes out on you. I have had this happened to me twice. They expect you to buy new equipment and have you send your old in. If they find it defective, they MAY reimburse you the cost of the new equipment. 

It took me forever to get my point across that I would not be paying for faulty equipment again, and that they needed to replace the equipment at no cost. Little did I know that they lied. Replaced the equipment, and charged me. As soon as I saw the charge come across, I threatened to drop their service, and they promptly dropped the charge. As you can see, I am not a fan and no longer use their service. The good or bad part of this is that Clear doesn't have service near our campsite.

This leads me to finding another solution, having to buy someone else's equipment and pay an exorbitant rate for wireless service. Such is life. Don't know if there is a better solution out there. I have been looking and really don't feel that I have found my answer.

<end of rant!> Well for now... don't get me started on our little warning we received about our kids..

Outside of my negative feedback about the KOA's wireless. The camp site is really nice. It is set beside a quiet creek. I believe we have the most shade you can get at the park. It feels ten to fifteen degrees cooler under awning and campground. I actually noticed that as I was coming in from a visit with my brother and his family. 

Amish made Holsters... Really?

My brother lives in Columbus, IN. Not too far from where we were staying. Earlier Saturday, my brother and I visited the Indy1500. It is a huge gun show in the Indianapolis area. There were lots of dealers. Some I recognized from the gun shows closer to Evansville. There seems to be a regular group of dealers that travel the shows to sell guns, accessories, and supplies. Just like the Evansville shows, the prices of guns were higher than they should be. You have to pay $12 to get into the show, see overpriced merchandise, and pay through the nose for concessions. Yet, every yahoo comes out and visits. I even saw a Congressman out there shaking hands.

Sunday we visited on the recommendation of our friends from Calvary Chapel Sunset Coast to visit Horizon's Christian Fellowship. They are a Calvary Chapel Church in the Indy area that have a couple of campuses, have a bible college, and really seem to be doing a good work in the area. We were greeted warmly, helped getting our kids to their classes, and Jen and I enjoyed a great service and challenged Jen and I about things in our life that God is trying to use teach us about trusting him and following his will.

After service, we ate at a local Mexican restaurant that I didn't feel was that spectacular. It was enjoyable, quiet for a Sunday afternoon, and provided everyone with enough choices, that even a picky eater was somewhat satisfied. After lunch we headed to my brother's house for a afternoon visit and dinner.

Pajamas...check! Movie Time!

It was a nice visit. Our kids were entertained by my brother's family dogs, a crazy zombie film on Netflix, and great food. My brother made some awesome hamburgers, with a side of fresh vegetables, yellow watermelon, and a Barnes's staple of Kraft Shells and Cheese. After seeing my family, getting a little out of hand, and Jen and I get into a little tiff in front of my brother and his wife, I knew we were just exhausted for the day and time to head back to Arrakis. 

We all unloaded, got into our pajamas, and snuggled together to watch a movie. Jen had decided to hit the hay early. We watched a great film called 'Tho none shall follow." It was a battle of course because the kids wanted to watch the Lorax for the umpteenth billionth time. I resisted. In the end, they all liked the movie, it had a great message, and I tucked them in to bed. 

Completing the Jr. Ranger Program and celebration...

Resting after a tough hike on West Beach

The minions are hard at work. They are dedicated to complete the Jr. Ranger program at the Indiana Dunes National Park. It is a program sponsored by the National Park Service. I wrote about this earlier this month, and the kids have been dedicated to say the least. They have been tried to visit, see, and experience everything the park has to offer. 

Their workbooks are filled with sites, quizzes, and fun facts about the Indiana Dunes. I have to say, I am very impressed with their diligence. I am also happy that the Indiana Dunes provides such a fun and innovative way to get the kids involved in the the park. Every time I come home, I have been inundated with fun facts and adventures the kids experienced that day.

They will complete the program before we leave for Indianapolis on Friday. I am so very proud of them. It has provided tons of non traditional education in our road school environment. They have learned by experience and adventure. It has become their own laboratory of learning combining science, history, sociology, and geography all rolled up in one.

In the past couple of days, I have had a couple of calls with friends and family. It is so encouraging to hear the support for our adventure. One overwhelming theme I have heard from them is that, 'They wish they could do the same.' A close second is 'just think of how the kids will remember these days, and their childhood.'

I hope to think that Jen and I are good parents. While never perfect mind you, I do want what is best for the kids. It was the driving factor towards home-school, and bringing my minions with me on the road. Having to balance the road lifestyle and keeping them progressing in school is not an easy task. Some days, Jen wants to pull her hair out, and other days it seems like a pure joy.

While it may seem strange to some that we decided to live out of a small cramped space, all I can say is try it for yourself. Experiencing the detachment from stuff, and the freedom it brings is something I think we all crave. The struggle for many is the attachments to things. I don't blame them really. Having things and comfort is ingrained in us from birth. I battle it myself.

One battle is teaching martial arts. Going from having two large schools to teaching out of our home, to not teaching at all (my kids excluded) is a big change for me. Pride I think is the problem. So often we 'define' who we are by what we do. Dedicated so much of my life and energy to the martial arts and being distant from it has led to many personal struggles. I defined so much of who I was by my ability, status, and how others view me.

Living out of our camper, in such a different manner than most people has taught me that I am so much more than the things I attach to myself. I am more than a martial arts instructor. I am more than a kung fu master(yes I know, sounds fake... but it is true). As I distance myself from those things, I have had a chance to re-evaluate what is important to me, and have a healthier perspective in life. Will I teach again? Sure, I think I have too much to offer others. However, at this time, in this season, I will focus on what is in front of me, not what expectations or lofty attachments I thrust upon myself.

One of my goals was to lose weight. I have been on a lifelong yo-yo diet. A few months ago, I hurt my back again. It is an old injury that resurfaces from time to time. However, it is so painful that it hurts to sit, walk, or just about anything else. Just putting my socks on was so painful, that it almost brought me to tears. I started treatment with a chiropractor. I soon built a good relationship with him.

I had asked about losing weight and the affects on my back. He of course suggested that the less weight I carried, the less my back and muscles had to work to support itself. He had shared with me that he and his wife had both went on the HCG diet and had resounding success. He recommended that I do my research to make sure that it was something I should do. I bought the books, read everything I could, and concluded that I could do anything for a short period of time.

Today marks the completion of the program. I dropped 33 pounds and kept it off during the maintenance period.  Now I am free to eat whatever I want. I plan on doing another round in the near future as I still have some weight to lose. However, I have never felt better. The problems with my back, while aggravated due to the long periods of time I have to sit in my job, have been rather minimal. It also taught me portion control, eating a balanced diet, and how to counteract poor food choices and spikes in weight gain.

So in celebration, we went to Bubbles Ice Cream Parlor in Michigan City, IN. We bought the 'big bubble' which reminded me of the 'ziggy piggy' from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure where they took Napoleon to the mall. Jen, the kids and I sat in our fifties styled booth and devoured our delicious dessert. It was fun, satisfying, and reminiscent of something you might see on the Food Network. It was an 'excellent adventure' had by all.

End of August and prepping for colder months

Getting Ready for the Cold

It is still green outside, and the weather has been wonderful dropping down to a low of mid fifties at night. Even with the expectation of the weather heating up next week, it will be short lived. So, I figured, that for Jen and the minions to stay happy on the road, we will need to keep them warm. That said, I am looking at some emergency preparedness options along with day to day use.

Enter Mr. Heater Big Buddy. I have a friend who brought one of these things on a camping and hunting trip and I was blown away at how much heat it put off. It kept us warm in 14 degree weather outside. The Big Buddy model will be big enough to keep the camper warm all while using the inexpensive one pound canister. You can connect it to a larger canister and it will last a phenomenal amount of time so we will see how much we need to use it. This will be our 'back up, emergency option' to our already existent camper heat. We have the winter package on our camper, so we should be good until the weather gets below zero. From there, we will put up skirting, and probably stuff hay bails under the camper to keep the heat in.

The campground where we are located offer these one hundred pound canisters, you have to pay a deposit of $250 with the canister filled. I am thinking of buying one and using it to keep us warm through the winter months. That depends on how much we have to crank up the heat and how often we will need to open the doors. 

Other options I am considering is the infrared heaters. They will use the park's juice and not use up gas. If we have a fifty amp service, we are in good shape and won't have to worry about using throwing breakers or having enough power to run our appliances and television. I have had mixed reviews in regards to these infrared heaters. One friend said that it saved him a ton of money on his heating bill in the winter, others have said that it was a joke and didn't work. I think I am willing to try it for myself. If it doesn't work, I will send it back.

One other precaution, I plan on buying is a canopy. Because the cost is so cheap, I can afford if it gets damaged due to snow. I don't want to replace my awning. I thought about getting one of those kits where you can add a room to the side of your camper with simple velcro attachments. That room would act as a buffer and save us from bleeding heat.

My Goal, wouldn't be perfect, but having the canopy raised up so that it covered over my door would provided the area for building my room. With a little bit of velcro, a few canvases securely fashioned, I can have a new room addition for under $200. This will give keep us from getting cold gust of air into the camper, provide storage for things outside safe from the elements, and an easy staging area for mustering the troops to get their winter gear on.

Seasons and change

Dos enjoying ice cream from Bubbles

Well our time up in Northern Indiana has come to a close. We will be transitioning to our next location in Indianapolis Indiana. The saddest part about this lifestyle is that you make acquaintances, meet lots of new people, and have fun experiences, and at some time, you just have to walk away. Much like leaving Disneyland without riding all the rides, it feels like you haven't yet begun to experience all there is to see and do.

We definitely feel like that with our church friends at Calvary Chapel Sunset Coast. What a great fellowship there. Sadly, we will have to be moving on. We pray that God continues to bless them and their ministry. Hopefully we will find a solid church with a heart of fellowship in our new location.

That said, I believe our experiment is not going to end with this month! Jen and the kids have agreed that an extended stay is in order. The kids are having a blast. They love the travel, the experiences, and the freedom to ride their bikes just about everywhere. I enjoy having my family with me while I travel. So as long as we can muster it, we will continue this little adventure and see where it takes us!

You see, I finally got it this morning! There is more freedom in my 300 square feet than your 3000 square foot McMansion! Here is why...

If I don't like my neighbors.... I can move
If I don't like the weather...... I can move
If I don't like how the sun hits my face the wrong way in the morning... I can move
If I don't like the homeowners association(we don't have any)............  I can move
If the drunk rednecks across the street decide to light fireworks at all hours in the night.... I can move

I have more freedom in my choices, in where I go, than being locked in on a mortgage, a home, or permanent place.

Weekend Fun and then some

One fishing excursion... One Bluegill

This weekend began like what most people consider normal. Sleep in a little bit, have breakfast, and then off to activities, honey do's, and a little shopping. For me, it meant a trip to the barber shop. I haven't been to one in a while. There just hasn't been a bunch of time for me to get away due to all the work supporting our latest Epic go live at the Sisters of St. Francis.

That said, I am happy to find a great barber shop in the Meijer's store in Michigan City. Most barber shops I frequent are usually from older men, giving old hair cuts, no frills and pay the bill. This time was different. I was greeted at the door with three men sitting in what appeared to be very comfortable leather furniture, a nice flats screen television on the wall, and fun conversation shared.

The most impressive part of the experience was with the detail, and care they took in the cut. Not only did they cut the hair, he went into precision mode and trimmed my beard and mustache, finishing with a straight razor. You don't find that kind of attention to detail and care these days. I was blown away. To top all that, he charged a fair price to boot. I walked out with the best shave and a hair cut I have ever experienced. Sadly, I wish that he was my go to barber in the future. Well, at least he can be for the short term. I am actually looking forward to another visit next weekend. 

During the day, we had Pete's RV service out to the site. They fixed my outside kitchen door, the step ladder to the bunk bed, and some decorative railing that had fallen down. I understand things have to be light in order for them to be towed, just wish they were sturdier. Thank goodness for warranties. It did cost me to have the person drive out to do the work because we couldn't just pack up the camper and drop it off. Lucky for us, they do that kind of service. Thanks Pete's RV again for going the extra mile!

That evening was filled with me taking Dos and Tres to the local fishing hole. It is catch and release which is fine. I didn't really feel like cleaning a mess of fish in the first place. The minions had a blast. Learning to cast and getting their first nibbles. I on the other hand didn't get to fish much. Much of my time was spent fixing their lines, teaching them to cast, and adding hot dogs on the hook. 

Yep, hot dogs. Those are some happy fish with the hot dogs falling off the hooks. However, I have been told by several people that these fish really like hot dogs and don't take kindly to the old fashion worm. I have tried on a couple of occasions using spinners and other lures with no luck. Good old fashioned hook and bobber did the trick. 

Our evening finished with one catch, a nice bluegill. The kids enjoyed looking at it and touching it a couple of times. I think they were more excited to see me throw it back than reeling it in on one of the few times I got a moment to throw a line out for myself. We finished the evening with a couple reel foul ups and I decided that it was time for me to head to Arrakis due to low light. The kids got to ride in the back of the truck. Before the parent nazis yell at me, I was only going five miles per hour from the pond to the homestead.

Today was an interesting day. We got up early and headed to church at Calvary Chapel Sunset Coast. It is a church started by some close friends we met in Tulsa, OK. It was a good service, and they always have a meal afterward. It is nice to be able to get together, break bread, and share a good laugh. It makes for a filling day. After a great service, meal, and overall visiting, we headed back. I had a splitting headache. I decided that I would head for a nice nap. 

That didn't work out so well. Jen and the kids going in and out the door made my head ache more. You know that place where you are almost asleep, just not quite there, and WHAM. That was the extent of my nap. After failing miserably, Jen let me know that dinner was ready. I was up for that. She had a a crock pot cooking and it filled the camper with a luxurious aroma.

After dinner, we decided to move the camper a little forward because it was getting more and more unlevel. This was due to rain, and the ground sloping. It wasn't the best spot by far to choose, but we didn't have a choice in the first place. After the move, we were greeted with trouble. Our toilet had back filled some how. Unfortunately, attempts to get it to go the other direction wasn't successful. In one last ditch effort, it spilled out onto the floor. I was able to get it unclogged, then had to deal with the mess. 

Jen and I worked like a precision strike team and got it all cleaned up. We cleaned up the mess, heavily cleaned with a bleach solution and took the offending cleaning materials and clothing (minions left on the floor) to the wash. Suffice to say, it has been an interesting weekend. My headache and ensuing migraine has passed. I got to watch a Star Trek film and life is good. 

A glimpse at the life of full time rv'ing

A pleasant walk after dinner

After a wonderful steak dinner, Jen and I took off for a little walk. One of the many pleasures of full time RV'ing is the opportunity to see sights, and literally walk the less beaten path. Close to our RV park is a nice little trail in the woods beside a small pond. With the rain we have had over the last couple of days, the temperature has dropped significantly. It is wonderful.

With all the hustle of life thrust-ed upon us, it is nice to take some time away and in the quiet. With the demands and business involved in raising four minions, it is nice for Jen to have some adult time with me. Having real adult conversations without the interruptions of kids. That is what we got tonight.

Our little stroll was so pleasant. We didn't have to talk much, but we talked about how much we enjoyed the freedoms of this life. While it is expensive upkeep, having a home and living on the road allows us the adventure we have been striving for. I have read about families who had all the appearances of success in life, who after some reflection realize that all the trappings of success also is a hindrance.

You see, many who have chosen the full time RV life have felt that having a home, keeping up with the Jones's, and having things was what life had demanded of them. Husbands and wives felt distant from each other in pursuit of acquiring things, distractions, and the business of living a life. Is the American dream all wrong? When did it change to having the latest gadgets, McMansions, and how good your yard looked?

I read one book this evening called 'My Home Has Wheels'. It describes what you will find on the road and what to expect. What I have found is that the author is pretty much right on. When you walk around the RV park, you see a mix group of people. There is little differentiation of classes. You see the retired, the young, the rich and the poor, all living in close proximity to one another.

People genuinely help one another. One of the permanent folks in the park has been quit helpful to me. He has experienced the down sized economy and has struggled to find work. Yet, I do see him out there doing what he can. He goes out and applies for jobs, and mows the grounds of the park to help reduce the cost of his lot rent. His wife has also found work doing laundry for many of the folks in the camp ground. She does an excellent job, and goes the extra mile to make sure that things are sorted, and folded correctly. Her micro business provides an excellent resource for many of the people who are contractors working odd shifts.

random flower picture... come on, it is pretty right?

It was this couple who first greeted me when I was pulling into my lot. They helped me back my camper in what turned out to be the tightest spot in the park! It was this couple who helped me learn about the great restaurants, and where to find things. They have been a great resource and have provided insightful conversations about living full time on the road. They may not be rich, successful, or have all those other trappings of life, but they are wonderful.

 I truly believe that RV living is a sub culture of America. People, who are in their pursuit of their own definition of the American dream. People who are willing, and have been able to live on less. MUCH LESS! In actuality, living in our RV, we have probably 95% less things. If you think of the clothes, appliances, furniture, and other things you fill your home with is non existent. There simply is not enough room to have all that stuff. You improvise, or simply live without. That my friends is the true freedom. Freedom from STUFF.

Tech savvy minions

Can you see the joy and excitement?

As you can see here, we have a new computer for the RV road school experiment. On my last trip to the local Wally-World with Dos, we looked at available and inexpensive options for buying a new laptop for Jen and the family to use along with the other 'tech' tools our children use for their education. I found a 'hodge-podge' selection of laptops that will fit our needs while not breaking the bank.

While not the Macbook air and the poor experience we received from Best Buy, this purchase was straight forward. No surprises waited for us. Jen actually picked out her new machine. While more expensive than I original was looking for, it was far cheaper than our previously mentioned first choice. I prefer Macs, won't stray from that idea, however this wasn't the computer I was going to be using on a day to day basis.

The computer booted up, I setup the user accounts and downloaded a few apps to help us get started. I spent the evening on my own setup with apps such as Evernote and Dropbox. Both accounts I use on a daily basis for storing notes, writing, and documents that I need to save. Evernote is my go to powerhouse. It is free and makes note taking and searching a breeze. I use it for day to day notes and messages to storing receipts that I scan in. There are a million ways to use the application. Some people have used it to write books to movie scripts. Others use it for grocery lists and daily task management. If you can think it, it is open and free enough to do it. Dropbox is an easy way to have documents readily available and shared at a whim. Need to send out a new resume to prospective consulting firms or clients, it is available to me via phone, Ipad, or computer. Evernote is much the same, synced via the 'cloud', I have access to all my notes, to-do's etc.

Other great ways of using these apps is for price shopping. Walking around and find something you want to buy but wonder if you are getting the best price? Take a snapshot on your phone via Evernote of the serial number, model, and price and then at your leisure, you can shop around. That is how we shopped for a new laptop. I took a snapshot of the different laptops we were interested in and shopped around. I found that the machine could be bought more cheaply online, but didn't want the hassle of shipping and the added costs. The two year protection was far cheaper than other options online, so our choice was pretty clear. That said, Jen did buy a different laptop than the one I was shopping for, but ultimately it was for her and she needed to be happy with her choice. Knowing that I wasn't going to pay a huge premium, and the alternatives were 'refurbished' models, my conscious was clear. 

Hiking the day away...

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Minions Posing For Mom at the Bailey Homestead

part of the National Park Service

So today was adventure day. Or for those less acquainted with homeschooling life. This would be the equivalent to a school field trip. Except this field trip didn't include riding the over stuffed, non air conditioned, half way broken down old school bus. No waivers had to be signed. While they did pack lunches, plenty of water, and set off for an adventure.

I was told by Jen that they took the hike by themselves without a guide and got lost. Here is a picture of that moment, for your viewing pleasure. The good thing is that in this modern day of technology, Jen was able to navigate her way back on course and off to more adventures. There are days, where you think, 'how did we ever get along without all this technology stuff?' Oh, that is right, compass and a map! Might need to dust that off!

Interesting Tree Fungus

The kids also got to visit the 'Sugar Shack.' In my day of summer camps in Arkansas (camp "Wildwood"), that was the local snack hut where you could buy soft drinks, candy, and a myriad of other things. However this actually was the sugar shack where they make... maple syrup, and sugar of all things! It is still the location where they have a sugar/maple syrup festival each year.

Minions on the search for S-U-G-A-R!

One of those rainy days...

You know it is one of those rainy days....

On those rainy days, sometimes camping out and
watching a movie is the best thing you can do

The kids are rambunctious and full of energy. Being trapped in the camper, our home, 'Arrakus' to us, tests the limits of controlled chaos. I fully expected Jen's hair to be completely white, and Dos bouncing off the walls from the sheer confinement.

I was greeted with none of that. Jen and Jr. were on the couch reading a book together. Tayla ("T-Rex") was playing with her naked barbies. Don't ask me why they are naked. Rest assured that if you buy this child a Barbie, it will inevitably end up naked. I think, clothes on these figures are just extra wrapping to her. Either way, she was having a great time playing with them.

Jen had stewed chicken on the stove cooking away while I sat and unwind. Uno and Dos were out making new friends and riding their bikes. The weather had been clear for just a short hour and they took full advantage of getting on the bikes and 'vamoosing' away.

Funny thing these kids. They were so worried about not having friends, or being able to make new friends. But not a week goes by and they have made numerous new friends and pen-pals. Is it still called pen-pals when they just email each other? I digress.

I remember the fears of family members that our kids were grow up awkward. They were afraid are children would turn into the 'social pariah' of weirdness. Rest assured, my kids are socially healthy, have tons of interests, and can make friends at a drop of the hat. I challenge the notion to say my kids are better at making friends that 'normal' kids. You see, my kids don't have a social ladder to climb. My kids don't have to have approval from others in order to fit in a specific pecking order. My kids are kids, and can be just that. My kids are not pressured to fit into a specified peer group. My kids are 'free range....'

Free range? Doesn't that sound ultra hip and veggie? Oh dear, does that mean I am a hippy? Well, so far I don't dress like one, I still like to hunt, shoot guns, and guns shows are second or third most important events to attend other than church and evening supper. But yes, I am a little free range I guess. I am happy my kids are home schooled, and I am happy my kids are free to explore the world instead of confined to a specific geographic location. Just this last month, you would be amazed if you could see what I see in my kids eyes. It is like a world is unlocked to them. They have explored, done things, and seen many new things that they would never had a chance to see without this opportunity to be with me on the road.

Minion Bday Hooray!

Sunday...

Happy Birthday Minions!

My first day off in two weeks. It's minion celebration day... er Dos and Tres's birthday! So up early and off to IHOP for breakfast. Then rushed over to St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Michigan for church at Calvary Chapel Sunset Coast. We finished the day with a movie of 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days' and dinner at the Texas Corral.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

Our day was busy and fulfilling. I forgot to bring my iPad to church and Jen kept nudging me and I wondered why. I was taking notes on my iPhone with the Mantis Bible App (really cool Bible program). I think she thought I was texting or sending emails. Who knows. Service was great. It was fulfilling and restful. That is what I like about services there. You leave fulfilled and rested. I have never left there feeling drained, discouraged, or tired. Strange, but I think that is exactly what it SHOULD feel like.

The Lorax Movie at home 'Arrakis'

Everybody wished Dos and Tres a warm and happy Birthday. We supplied them with love and gifts and fun for the entire family. I work hard at what I do so that moments like these are the most important. It isn't the things, it is the experiences!

A cat in the 'cat hat'

Jen took them to the Chesterton European Market. If you haven't had a chance to check that out, I highly recommend it. I think that it was crazy hat day at the market this weekend. Jen came home with some crazy and funny knitted hats. Even I got one. While funny, somewhat cute, I don't know if you will catch me wearing it. However for Jen and the kids, they were fabulous!

The Waze To Go

Waze is a life saver!

How can I count the Waze?

How would you like instant notification of police in the area (if you like to drive fast)? You get an audible letting you know that you should be looking out for them.

Need to know if there are hazards on the road? Waze will alert you of cars, or other items on the road that you need to watch for.

Is the weather bad? How about traffic (how fast, how heavy, standstill)? Waze will let you know of the hazardous conditions, speed of traffic if slowed down, and other conditions that make your daily commute more informed.

Would you like a turn by turn navigation for free? Waze provides that as well. I am very impressed with this app. You earn points, can build a social network, , edit maps, and make the experience shared by all much better!

We used it to help find dinner yesterday. I wanted chicken wings. Something called out to my soul... 'Buffalo Wild Wings, Buffalo Wild Wings.' I said to my soul, 'It's not on my diet.' My soul could not be abated. I found myself traveling, with family in tow, and the Waze app running on my phone, delivering me to the promised land of wings.

What a great place, Sports, kid friendly food, chicken wings, buzz time trivia. I asked the manager if we could take up residence. He shook his head no, he said something like 'policy' and 'strange request' and 'you are freaking me out.' So we parted ways, I with full belly and the kids in tow. Even little T-Rex ate her Mac-N-Cheese, so that was a plus.

We were able to leave our table with only one spill. Dos, though drenched, had enjoyed herself too. We finished the evening with some kid movie that was interesting, a little over acted, and well... boring. I left to my comfy bed with book in tow. It was a great evening.

Art and History Night

The Board Game of Se-net

Tonight turned into Art History night...

We started the evening with chili on the stove and an evening of sharing. Kids were in rare form for sure. We had a stressful day. Tonight we planned a simple evening filled with quiet times of reading, or other less involved activities.

Jen had to deal with our 'black pyramid' and had to flush the tank again. I had a brutal day answering the phone and fixing user issues. I think the quiet time was much needed as I really didn't want to have a lot of noise in the background. Spend a day in a cramped room surrounded by unhappy folks and dealing with critical issues does that to you.

I started the book 'Midnight in the garden of good and evil' and Momma-San went to bed early leaving me with a disquieted and rambunctious group of minions. No problem I thought. My book will have to wait. Uno asked for a game of Se-net. She is enthralled with everything Egyptian. She got this really cool book with fold outs and activities that she bought from her trip to the Museum in Chicago.

She told me the rules, we played. It was surprisingly fun. Much like a mix of chess, Othello, and 'Sorry!' all rolled into one. I like playing board games, the problem with two person games is that everyone else wants to play. Trying to keep T-Rex, the most annoyed minion who wanted to play, occupied was a tough job.

I haven't sketched in years, this was my result

That is when we turned to art. T-Rex was satisfied coloring in her new coloring book. Uno and Dos wanted me to teach them how to draw. We spent the next hour and a half working on drawing the human head and how to sketch things so that they eventually come out the way they wanted to.
In the end, all off to bed. I settled the minions down with a little struggle, and I am off to bed.

Food Adventures

Working a long day...

and Jen not feeling well...

Time for a night out on the town and out for dinner. We have been focused on all the experiences surrounding the RV, but sometimes it is good just to get out. One of the fun things about being on the road is experiencing new things. The Barnes Family loves to eat. Hey, it's me, the big guy right? I love to eat!

The problem was, all the non chain restaurants (well Red Lobster too) were full. Our first attempt was the Galveston Steak House. From there we tried to find something else and settled at Red Lobster. They were booked and a had a forty-five minute wait. Not conducive to a hungry band of minions who were happy with a choice of McDonald's.

Little Red Riding Hood?

Not going down that rabbit hole. I have paid my dues to the burger clown!

So we found an off the beaten path Indian Restaurant. I got there before the family and ordered some appetizers to appease the minions and distraught momma-san. When they arrived, they were greeted in Nan, and some other delicious appetizers.

My praises go out to the Indian House off 421 in Michigan City. It was a nice, clean, and family friendly environment. The food was delicious and tons of variety. Our children were able to sample several different entree selections and they liked many of them. It enabled for us to have a fun, comfortable, and enjoyable evening!

Chores and minions

T-Rex showing us she can clean like the bigger minions

Chores and the family, it is essential in keeping Arrakis orderly but it does a whole lot more than that. Have you ever met anyone who couldn't boil water, cook a decent meal, or simply forgot to learn basic life skills before reaching adult hood? I know countless examples from my college days. From simple meals such as Ramen Noodles to balancing a check book, there are people who just don't know.

That scares me quite frankly. At the same time, I remember resenting some of the chores I had when growing up. I remember having to push mow a half acre lawn at least once, maybe twice a week during the summer. I remember also having to weed-eat the entire thing. What was worse, there had to be nice straight lines. No round about in a circle mowing which is easy and keeps you going one direction. Nay, Nay... a nice pristine yard or nothing at all.

Want your own car? Get a job!

Got the job? Great, get your own insurance!

Mine was never this cool....

On down the rabbit hole I go. Teenager to responsibility and self sufficiency was a major piece of the 'raising' I got. Not that it was all bad. I learned how to do things for myself. I had to solve problems. I had to learn to manage money, pay bills, and take care of myself. If my car broke down, I had to buy my own parts. At times, my dad or a friend would assist me in repairs, but the majority of the time, I had to do my own work. I remember replacing the front grill and nose panel on my '78 Pontiac Grand Prix. It didn't match in color, but it looked better than the broken one it had when I bought it for $1000. I put it on myself. The grin on my face, and the feeling of accomplishment was immense.

So in the Barnes family, everybody pitches in. We all participate in getting things done. Basic cleaning to maintenance and repair. We all have our jobs to do. This helps us because it helps the family continue. You could call it 'survive' or better yet 'thrive'. We all are better off by doing the chores. It provides teaching moments, independent skills, and many other life lessons. Think of a goldfish and toilet situation. For us, Hamster and Air Conditioner... long story.

So, here is my list of why chores are important for family life on the road...

• A person who enters the real world with life skills will have a far easier time living, working, and dealing with others.
• Chores teach basic discipline.
• Simple chores around the house teach invaluable things such as time management, prioritization, and organization.
• We are a family, and the chores keep the family moving ahead and thus children learn that everyone has a part that makes the family stronger.
• Staves off 'self-entitlement'. Parents are not slaves to the children and we don't want our children to think the 'world' owes them something. If they want it, go out and work for it.

Breakfast Awesomeness

Come on... Stop drooling!

Off to work. Early in the morning and my wife got up with me and made me probably my most favorite breakfast in the world. "An omelet, light and fluffy...", to quote one of my favorite VeggieTales videos. Rounding it out with Dunkin' Donuts Coffee and fresh blueberries from the farmers market!

Before you start screaming at me for 'making' Jen get up and make me breakfast, I have to say it is a true blessing that Jen is more than willing to help me. I roll out of bed, shower, get dressed and have to be on the road in short order. My drive to the client site is a bit far from our campsite. We looked at others sites but they either didn't have room, or had less than admirable reviews online. We are pretty content with our location. While the drive makes my twelve hour day of work that much longer, a peaceful and restful place to call our home while on the road makes it worth it.

Uno and Minion 'Miss Mayham' find a frog

So Jen helps me tremendously by making me breakfast. It allows me to eat a healthy and well rounded breakfast without having to worry about fast food, junk food that is readily available at work, or other less than healthy options. With her help, I have been able to lose twenty seven pounds and keep it off!

Jen makes 'Arrakis' home everyday. From homeschooling, and keeping up with things, Jen has a lot on her hands. But we are having fun! Even when greeted with the dreaded 'black pyramid' as I arrived home today. For those who don't know about the 'black pyramid', it is what happens when the sewer backs up at the drain pipe and piles up behind it. 

Luckily we have a black water flush system. Hooked up the water hose to the system and ran it for about fifteen minutes to flush it out. Problem solved. It is those little things added to our camper that make it easy to maintain and solve the simple problems. Quick and easy, on to more fun.

One other thing... the door latch on our camper seemed very difficult to open last night. I was constantly getting up to open the door as the kids were coming back from playing or riding their bikes. Frustrated, I grabbed one of the most important tools in any mans arsenal... WD40. With a few squirts in the lock mechanism and along the latch and the problem was solved. 

And the hero for the day is..... Still Jen. One door fix still doesn't outweigh breakfast awesomeness.