tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35740920013382191302024-03-05T00:44:50.260-08:00Barnes's Road Schooling RV AdventureAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-774573826204466072013-04-04T04:49:00.000-07:002013-04-04T04:49:07.534-07:00Keeping it simple<br />
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Chores are part of the Life</div>
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Minion Two: "Dad, you said that this is our home away from home..."<br />
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Me: "You are right sweetie, this is our home away from home."<br />
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Minion Two: "No Dad, I think our other home is our home away from home"<br />
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Me: Smiles<br />
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That was one of the conversations I had tonight after a long frustrating day at work. But my little minion #2 is correct. We all feel that our camper (Arakkis) is really our home. We love being on the road. Sure, there are struggles, things are not as convenient, but it does feel like we gel as a family so much better.<br />
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Over coffee, my wife had a similar conversation. It feels so much more like home. I think simplicity has its advantages. We have a lot less distractions in our life when you have 300+ square feet to live out of. Things have to have a place, you have to be organized. You have to be happy with less.<br />
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The advantages and freedom to explore is tangible. We have great views, plenty to do and see, and a lot less headaches. Now, flushing tanks, LP gas refills, camper stabilizing is not part of a 'normal' life for people, but for us, it is just part of the package. We have parks and playground equipment in our front yard. Our backyard is filled with scenic views of the Wabash. Battlegrounds, historical locations, and fun places await us.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-21931950072356293662013-04-03T06:27:00.001-07:002013-04-03T06:27:05.541-07:00Willie Says...."On the Road Again"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As promised... that crazy family from Indiana is back on the road...</div>
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This past winter has been a tough one. We felt the draw to come back home and spend the holidays with family. We didn't know that it would mean that it was the last holiday we got to spend with Jen's dad. However, we got to spend the holidays with family. Got to share great food and warm company.</div>
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However, it wasn't too long before the road began to call to us. We had to get some work done on the Arrakis which seemed to take forever. However, most of it was covered by warranty and I am so happy how Basden RV in Evansville has treated us and taken care of our camper! A few hiccups and we were ready to get the camper and head off to new adventure.</div>
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Family doing burpees together during a pit stop</div>
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What we didn't know was how much we actually packed in order to hit the road. Is it just me, or does it take forever to load everything you need? We did make some modifications to the camper. We added two new beds to the kids room. One is a fold out bed, the other is a toddler bed. It is about the perfect conversion to the kids room so that everyone has a nice comfortable place to sleep. We took out the kitchen table and chairs and added the couch from the kids room. This allows for more comfortable sitting areas for everyone.</div>
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So, my client has me in Lafayette, Indiana. Our first night was very cold. We weathered it well. While I was off to work the next morning, Jen and the kids started unpacking, organizing, having school, and getting to know the surroundings. We are located right on the Wabash River with tons of scenic views!</div>
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So, a new year of adventure begins. We are ready and excited to see what adventures our travels bring! See y'all on the road!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-2282862943341489502013-01-02T12:32:00.001-08:002013-01-02T12:32:44.598-08:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9637669299263507" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9637669299263507" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twas the year of adventure for the Barnes family six,</span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9637669299263507" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RVing, new friends, even snakes in the mix,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9637669299263507" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Camping by Rivers, Cities and Lakes</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children sleeping, on bunks, floor, and couch,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happily together, even when dad is a grouch;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A tight little kitchen so we often grill,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our time together helps us be real.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We homeschooled again for year number two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Math, reading, and science were given their due.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But there’s more to learn than what’s in a book,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at museums and parks we took a closer look.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To be a junior ranger was our first quest:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hiked over dunes with hardly a rest;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">saw fur traders' cabins,and learned about glaciers,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">historic farms, and lizards called racers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then came a chance for a family vacation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">South Dakota was our destination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Red, blue, and green bonnets on girls heads,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">came with fun at Laura Ingalls Wilders' homestead</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then westward we went to see Mount Rushmore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rattlesnakes and dinos were also in store.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A fatal game of Go Fish with Wild Bill Hickok,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A bus through the needles, Crazy Horse from a rock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After great times in Hammond and Indy,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we are now at home since it is windy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the winter chill we try to get rest, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but this is the season we hurry the best:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now music lessons, now church, now big family dinners.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now homeschool groups, now 5k runs and big fitness goals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On light company, on time with friends, on snowy commutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On spartan races, on home repairs and spring soccer fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back to our rv we will return before June.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So dear family and friends, let's visit soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don't forget our savior by whom we've been blessed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Merry Christmas to all, may you have peace and rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Jennifer, Jeff, and Evie Barnes. Adventures shared by Jayelle, J.J., and Tayla.</span></div>
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</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-29034271448528776792012-10-23T01:00:00.000-07:002012-10-23T05:08:04.977-07:00Fun with Reality TV...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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HQ for Antique Archeology... aka History Channel's American Pickers</div>
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On our adventure back to our home base where I work, we decided to visit Le Clare, IA. It is the home of one of our favorite TV shows, American Pickers. It is just one of the many adventures you can have on the cheap with your family on the road. </div>
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One of the things I remember after starting my career was a comment made by an old friend named Max. Max was the guy who was just an older version of me. He was a geek, but with entrepreneurial spirit. He is the guy who got me into Amway (an old long story) and taught me how to chase dreams and my own unlimited potential if I just tried hard enough.</div>
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He had a dream of living in one of those Prevost Coaches and traveling the country. He could then teach his boys about history up in person. When he needed to teach about the Civil War, he would just point the coach in the direction of some of the great battlefields and away he would go. That was a dream. I shared that dream a little on my own terms.</div>
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I love to travel and the freedom of the open roads. I think that is why I like being a consultant. You get to visit new places and see many new things instead of being stuck in one place all your life. While, at the time I would never imagine having four kids, I wanted to fly to Europe and travel the country on my own terms without worry about my next paycheck.</div>
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Now, we get to do these things. While yes, I do have a job and must work those hours during the week, I definitely have much more mobility to hitch up and see the country. On our way back from South Dakota, we got the opportunity to experience something that we like to watch on TV. For the kids, it was like putting flesh on the bones in their imagination. TV and the people in it could be real. They could see and touch the things that people only talk about.</div>
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That is the real dream. To bring experiences and enriching our lives. I would rather have experiences than all the riches. That is something anybody can do.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com1County Road F45, Davenport, IA 52807, USA41.6552479 -90.490777841.6077929 -90.5697418 41.7027029 -90.4118138tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-34650136844689690482012-10-15T04:46:00.002-07:002012-10-15T04:46:29.137-07:00Hello, Mr. President....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mt. Rushmore</div>
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One of the major attractions and the purpose of our trip to South Dakota was to visit Mt. Rushmore. I have always seen pictures of it in books. I have read about it in reference to the history and its purpose as well as seen it in several movies.<br />
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White Mountain Goats at Mt. Rushmore</div>
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We wanted to head West. We wanted to go, do and see all there was. We definitely did not want to have a conventional vacation. It always seemed that traditional vacations were more labor than love. You find yourself overly busy, swamped in the details, and while you have memories and pictures, in the end, the holiday becomes so tiresome that you need a vacation from your vacation.<br />
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Mt. Rushmore up close</div>
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What we wanted was to travel West and see as much as possible but driven by our own ambitions and limitations. Some days we tried to pack it in full of sites and adventures. Others were more low key. I think you need a healthy dose of both to make it fun, keep the kids engaged, and to leave without feeling you have missed anything major.<br />
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We visited Mount Rushmore. As you pull up, you are mesmerized by its beauty. It truly is as majestic as you see in the pictures. It amazes me the amount of detail and work that went into building such a monument. It was also interesting to learn about those who built it and it's purpose.<br />
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The kids got to soak it in for sure. They got to see it up close, learn, discover, and reflect. It was truly amazing. The parks service was on hand to give guided tours and to teach you about the history. They had a small museum that gave you more background into the history and the building of the monument. Like the Indiana Dunes, they had a Jr. Ranger Program that the kids could be participate in.<br />
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In the end, we were blown away.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-38077648396816413962012-10-11T01:00:00.000-07:002012-10-11T05:02:55.052-07:00A visit to Reptile Gardens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Snakes, Gators, Turtles... Oh My!<br />
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One of the stops that the kids just had to visit was the Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, SD. It houses the largest collection of venomous snakes in the country, maybe the world. The kids are quite fond of their four pet snakes and thought it would be cool to visit a place that specializes in reptiles.<br />
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For me, that close, face to face with things that can kill you.... Ugh!<br />
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King Cobra</div>
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Needless to say, it made for a fun afternoon. We visited the Reptile Gardens and there was so much to see even in the after season. While crocks and alligators where not on display outside, they did provide great up close views of these wonderful beasts.<br />
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Their snake display is quite awesome. I truly have never seen so many different, and yet deadly snakes all in one place. Being only feet away and face to face from the King Cobra was a little unnerving. I truly expected that the snakes would try to strike the class and get me. However, I think that the snakes are rather tame at this point and are used to seeing so many humans in close proximity to them.<br />
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Getting Imprisoned at Reptile Gardens</div>
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After roaming about, we attended a snake show where one of the handlers brought out a display of snakes for the kids. It was fun to watch the kids get so excited. The handler asked questions about snakes and I was so proud that my kids had the right answer. Do you know the difference between poisonous and venomous? My kids do!<br />
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Face to face with a Cotton Mouth...</div>
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When the handler brought out the venomous snakes, it was interesting to watch how he tried to interact with the crowd, keep an eye on the snake, and keep it all entertaining. At the end, I did see him start to sweat and it was pretty cool outside. I think the snakes where a little testy, and the crowd filled with kids were asking him a million questions. In the end, no snake handlers were injured in the production of the snake show.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-6078124812713529972012-10-09T01:00:00.000-07:002012-10-09T05:18:21.570-07:00A day of over vacationing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wanna' go for a ride?</div>
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I never thought it was possible, but maybe....<br />
just maybe....<br />
we did too much in one day.<br />
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After visiting Wall Drug in the morning, we had good drive to reach our RV park in Black Hills, SD. This is a small town right outside Rapid City. We had several recommendations for RV parks from our friends on Facebook Groups but we had a hard time getting into some of them. We found a Roadside America campground where our $40 membership allowed us to have a steep daily discount.<br />
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The campground boasted a playground, free wireless, and fifty amp service. All these are pluses. The campground wasn't pretty per say, but it did have a laundry and clean shower facilities. Having shower facilities is nice. It keeps humidity down in your camper (a must during the cold months), and with a family of six, keeping a bath schedule can be tough.<br />
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our campground</div>
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On the downside, the campground didn't have a playground. Not much for the kids to do except roam around and take in the sunshine. The owners said that they did have a playground once, but since it wasn't being used, they just took it down. To me, if you boast a big wooden play set for kids on your website to attract families and then take it down, wouldn't you want to update the website?<br />
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It really didn't become a big deal. We were out adventuring and enjoying our vacation. We were only coming back to Arrakis to crash. However, we found in our adventure this week some really cool camp grounds I wish we had chosen over the one we chose. So, our first full day in Rapid City was filled with a visit to Dinosaur Park, The Rapid City Museum, A game of disc golf, seeing the presidents in downtown Rapid City, and a little bit of shopping.<br />
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Jen reliving a memory</div>
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The dinosaur park, a park that has statues that look almost cartoons is way up in the hills of Rapid City. You can see them from miles away if you know where to look. Jen had visited Rapid City when she was a girl. She had fond memories of getting to climb the dinosaurs with her siblings and it was something she wanted the kids to experience as well. We got there bright and early, and were the first people to climb and explore the park. The kids had a blast, and I got some wonderful pictures to capture the moment.<br />
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After the park, we headed to the museum. Museums are great places to visit on vacation. Normally they are inexpensive. Often times if you buy a membership to a museum, they often partner with other museums that allow free access or reduced prices. You also get to learn about the history of the area, attractions that you might want to visit, and the kids get to discover, learn, and experience new things.<br />
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Mammoth on display</div>
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This museum was a little odd. The front desk person was a little abrupt and the directions and layout of the museum was so convoluted that it took a few minutes for us to figure out just how to get 'in' the museum from the reception area. Once we made a few miss turns, we were 'corrected' and directed to the closed doors which represented the 'entrance' into the museum. Once we were oriented, we got to wonder around and take in the different displays. They had a 'planetarium' which amounted to a video projector and a movie. It was an interesting video, but Tayla taking on the persona of T-Rex decided that it was not for her.<br />
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After the museum, we had lunch at some picnic tables near the museum. I was getting a little frustrated with the minions as infighting began. After a quick lunch, I decided on a detour to a disc golf course. This allowed us to expel some pent up energy, and for me to get a quick round to help relax. The park near us was old. Which is hard to find. I believe it was one of the first courses in the country dating back to 1975. It reminded me of playing real golf at the refinery where my dad worked. There were all kinds of man made obstacles such as construction equipment and patios in the way. It did provide some difficulty especially trying to steer clear of Rapid Creek and other tributaries. In the end, we only played five holes because they didn't have public facilities easily located and wouldn't you know it? All of the kids, at the same time, had to use the restroom. I think they got bored and were tired from all the walking.<br />
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President Reagan</div>
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After moderately good behavior, we decided to head downtown. We took in the 'Art Alley' which is an alley where you can find awesome graffiti and colorful artwork combined. We saw a few of the president statues they have on every corner followed by ice cream. After a little shopping and picking up a t-shirt from a bike shop eloquently named 'Cranky Jeff's', we headed to Stavkirke Church. Afterwards, we were ready to head home and prepare our self for another day of adventure to Sturgis and Deadwood.<br />
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Stavkirke Church</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-42430308349067370472012-10-08T01:00:00.000-07:002012-10-08T04:47:56.290-07:00A visit to Wall Drug....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I remember from my days in college having to review the business case for Wall Drug. I thought the history and the marketing genius of this family was representative of the entrepreneurial spirit I had. Being able to bring a successful and booming business in the middle of no where was very inspiring.<br />
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Move forward to our vacation, Wall Drug was definitely a stop on my 'to do' list. We arrived late in the evening and Wall Drug was closed. They close at 7 PM for those interested in stopping by. No matter, we found a pub across the street and ordered Pizza. The little ones where anxious to let some energy out and Jennifer and I had hit our limit of road travel. We just wanted something to eat and find a place to sleep.<br />
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While we waited for our food, we called around for RV Parks. Worst case, we would sleep at a Walmart or Flying J and hit the road after having breakfast at Wall Drug. Who could pass up five cent coffee? We were happy to find a RV park just three blocks from Wall Drug. After dinner, we parked our camper, hooked up, and went right to sleep. Special thanks to Good Sam Club and Roadside America which provided nice discounts for our stay that evening.<br />
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Early in the morning, we sprang into gear and headed to Wall Drug. I was amazed at all the original western art work they had everywhere. The breakfast buffet was reasonable and not too expensive. Coffee was still a nickel and they had plenty of free ice cold water. The big draw was the shopping and activities they had available for the family.<br />
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We walked through the shops, played games, and bought some fun mementos. I have always wanted a sterling silver turquoise ring and even found one my size. I was very happy with my purchase and the kids walked away with souvenirs and plenty of memories.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-22928527280615603542012-10-05T01:00:00.000-07:002012-10-08T04:48:34.418-07:00Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So our vacation began...<br />
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Working a full week and getting off a little early on Thursday afternoon, we packed up the camper, hitched it to my truck, and headed west. After spending over a year without a vacation, I was ready for some adventure. We considered Disney World however knowing how well tempered our youngest was, it was best to wait another year or two before we tackled the talking mouse and his league of comical friends.<br />
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Our decision was South Dakota, land of Wild Bill, Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Sturgis, and the badlands. I have always wanted to go and see Rushmore. Even before the movie National Treasure 2 made it's debut. I always enjoyed seeing pictures of it, even more so after a bike trip made by my Dad and his motorcycle riding friends.<br />
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So, we were planning our trip and looking for fun things such as the world's largest ball of twine. We discovered that Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of all those 'Little House on the Prairie' books had her home in De Smet, South Dakota. It was a two hour trip off of our normal route, but they offered four RV spots. We called, and they had one opening.<br />
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The homestead is about 160 acres. It has passed from the Ingalls, to farmers, to families who wanted to give back to the world, a picture of what homesteading was like for families in the late 1800's. It truly is a living museum and very family friendly. Learning is hands on. The kids learned about living in the rugged prairie, and what it took to scratch out a living.<br />
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They got to see replicas of what the homes looked like at different periods of the homesteading process. From creating a dug out home, cold room, and about making do with what was available. One thing that impressed me was the ingenuity of 'Pa' when they experienced a rather cold winter while wood was scarce for heating. 'Pa' took the prairie grass and twisted it in such a fashion to make burnable logs to keep the family warm.<br />
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My minions had a blast. From reliving events from the 'Little House on the Prairie' books, while learning about one of their favorite authors. There were horse rides, tours, and a general openness to explore the area which included a church, an old school room, barns, two homes, and a workshop.<br />
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In the workshop, the kids learned to make rope, husk corn, and grind wheat. It is amazing to see the ingenuity that went into the early tools and machines they used that made their lives simpler. You often take for granted how easy it is for us to buy these things at our local stores oblivious to the effort it may have taken to produce it.<br />
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The only down side of the experience was the RV was a primitive hookup. We had water which was enough. Everything else we ran on battery. What we didn't expect was the weather. It gets pretty cold in East South Dakota in late September. It was cold enough to freeze our water lines. I was worried that we might have busted a water line in the camper after waking up to use the facilities only to find that no water was running. After careful inspection, I found that we were safe and only the water line itself had frozen up. Running the furnace in the camper overnight provided enough warmth for us, and the pipes underneath.<br />
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So, we had breakfast, explored the grounds all morning and headed out around noon to visit our next stop... Mitchell's corn palace.<br />
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Stay tuned for more...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0101-199 1st St NW, De Smet, SD 57231, USA44.3874696 -97.550354144.3647731 -97.589836100000014 44.410166100000005 -97.5108721tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-18714634836528049192012-10-02T01:00:00.000-07:002012-10-02T11:08:42.555-07:00Back from Vacation from South Dakota<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mitchell Corn Palace</div>
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Well, we are back from vacation to South Dakota. What an adventure. Sure it was a long drive and a first for me pulling a trailer for any distance over three hundred miles. While I will surely post more details into our adventures we shared, I will highlight a few...</div>
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Mitchell Corn Palace</div>
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Mt. Rushmore</div>
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'Loser' Buffalo</div>
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Crazy Horse</div>
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Chipmunks eating out of our hands</div>
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Antique Archeology</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-31306905616055603552012-09-20T01:00:00.000-07:002012-09-20T05:33:18.452-07:00Chasing dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Are you on the road?</div>
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I read a great book this week called 'The Pilgrimage' by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Paulo-Coelho/e/B000AQ3HB8" target="_blank">Paul Coelho</a> ...<br />
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This is one book that has challenged me and inspired me. It made me realize some of the things that have led me and my family to hit the road in our little home on wheels. As you can read about many families who have decided to change their lives and hit the road, there is one overwhelming common denominator, we want to live a life more fulfilled.<br />
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That isn't to say, you cannot have a fulfilled life living, and working as 'normal' people do. Often you will read about families who have lived on the road, and then came to a conclusion that it was time to leave the road and live more conventionally. For reasons all their own, they decided that it was best for them to stop the nomad lifestyle. They experienced what they needed from life on the road, and now they can return to normality with a sense of accomplishment. I applaud those who have achieved this and feel that they have found what they are looking for, and settle down to a normal paced life so that they can apply the experiences and knowledge they gained on the road.<br />
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finding a geocache</div>
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The experiences achieved is like our own pilgrimage. We 'knew' that the conventional life had changed us somewhat. The idea of the open road, living on less, and experiencing more became a rallying point for our ideals of 'freedom.' This can be deceptive too.<br />
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The ideals of freedom are just that, an ideal situation. Little do they realize that cramped spaces, inconveniences of living on the road, can and will set you back. My brand new camper was all shiny when I picked it up in July. It didn't take too long before perfection revealed its flaws. So you really have two responses when such things happens. One is to learn and adapt, and use it as part of the experience. The other is to let it get you down, frustrate you, and diffuse your dreams of an ideal perfect experience on the road.<br />
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We really dig home schooling</div>
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Learning to adapt to change is part of the process. Like in the book, the author had an intellectual ideal of his purpose of the pilgrimage. He had a purpose which was to find his sword, a symbol of mastery in his walk in life. Little did he know of the pains, the suffering, and the battles that awaited him. What was intellectual became experiential. What was an ideal, became a hindrance, yet molded him to achieve mastery in a way he never imagined. We too, who chose a life much different will face many challenges. It will question our very choices to live on the road. How we respond and answer these challenges will mold us and change us, for our own benefit if we allow it.<br />
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For my family, we have had things broken. We experienced inconveniences to normal things we thought were a necessity. We had to be creative and adjust our well thought out plans. In the end, we have grown in this short time. By no means have we mastered this life on the road, however we have grown stronger as a family. We have had experiences that will last a lifetime. We put wheels and feet to our dreams in hopes to experience more. Ultimately these experiences will teach us that our dreams are possible, tangible, and we are worthy to pursue them.<br />
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Come along for the ride...</div>
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I truly thing that is why people do what we do, to experience something extraordinary such as climb mountains. We want a life more fulfilled. We just needed to get out of our normal day to day life in order to define it. Why we go on the road is less important than what the road leads us to discover. The challenges, the experiences, and what we learn form us, change us, and teach us what is truly our own prize.<br />
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The other response is to let it agitate us, conflict us, and defeat us. There are some who have chose to leave the road due to hardships. They leave the road because the idea of freedom felt overwhelming, unattainable. That is part of the human condition, simply to allow life to get us down. To allow others or situations to define us. Little by little, we give up our dreams and 'settle.' Of course, we all have the freedom to make our own choices, to determine our own happiness and far be it from me to condemn those who 'settle' down and find contentment. I only challenge those who give up, to find another dream, another purpose, because it was what led them to the road in the first place.<br />
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A road less traveled...</div>
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So, we continue on the road a few more months before the harshness of winter sets in. We will winter at home for a time to connect with family and friends, and for the practicality of it. However, it will not keep the road from our hearts and inspire us to dream.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0Indianapolis, IN, USA39.7685155 -86.158073639.57324 -86.473930599999989 39.963791 -85.8422166tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-29504292228010924412012-09-17T01:00:00.000-07:002012-09-17T05:15:05.828-07:00Hoosier Outdoor Experience and Disc Golf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Enjoying a day at the park with a picnic and disc golf</div>
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This weekend was chock full of minion goodness and experiences. First and foremost, we had a great time at the <a href="http://www.in.gov/dnr/5009.htm" target="_blank">Hoosier Outdoor Experience</a>. It is something that the Indiana Department of Natural Resources puts on every year to get Hoosiers out and interested in our public lands and resources readily available to us. For me, it was a way to introduce my kids to many different outdoor activities and see which ones they gravitate to. Little did we know that we would be picking up a new sport/hobby along the way!</div>
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One of the most important things to note about the Hoosier Outdoor Experience is that it is absolutely free. You don't pay for parking, nothing inside the park other than concessions cost you a single dime. Everything is either donated or sponsored and brought into the park for you to experience. That is a huge plus for us. As you can tell with a family of four kids, it can be expensive to do ANYTHING. Just a night out for dinner and you are dropping some cash. I cannot remember the last time I was able to walk out of McDonalds for less than twenty bucks!</div>
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Getting Ready To Play Disc Golf</div>
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So, we arrived and were bused into Fort Harrison State Park. For those of you who haven't visited this park, I highly recommend it. It is beautiful and the playgrounds for the kids are absolutely awesome. That said, we got off the bus and followed the map to our first stop... the bathroom. Yes, that is four kids for you. </div>
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Afterwards, we went to our first booth and found out some interesting fun facts about disc golf. They had setup a course for us to play and gave us the basics. It amounted to about a minute of lessons and basically picking up our discs and go out and have fun. I am glad they didn't get all 'technical' on us and just left us to go and have fun. I found out later that they had over 1047 people play their disc golf course over the weekend. With over twenty thousand people visiting over two days, I think that is quite an accomplishment. </div>
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Being instructed in Geo Caching</div>
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Next we spent some time learning about Geo Caching. I have done this before with the kids, but since we no longer had our handheld GPS and other things, we stopped doing it after our first adventure as a family. So, this was a good time to try it again to see if there was any interest. For us, it was fifty-fifty. It seemed that Jayelle and JJ were interested while Evie and Tayla wanted to play in the monster playground they had. Jen and I split up and went our separate ways. I was quite happy with the demonstration. The Geo Cache guys were very helpful and provided us with easy 'cheap' ways to get started geo caching without having to spend an enormous amount of money on a GPS. Good thing about iPhones is that they allow for a pretty good novice/newbie GPS absolutely free.</div>
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Riding the Trolley</div>
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Because Ft. Harrison is a large park, they provided tractor pulled trolleys to take you to different locations in the park. It provided an easy way to see everything the park had to offer without getting worn out. Sure it sounds lazy, but a trolley ride is quite fun and for little ones with little legs, they just cannot walk forever before having a melt down. Thus our rides to different areas were a time for everyone to take a break and have fun going on the ride.<br />
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The minions make a new friend at Critter Chat</div>
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There were all sorts of things to see at the park including animals. The minions got to see several different types of snakes, a tortoise, and other creatures during the Critter Chat demonstration. It was fun to see that our kids knew the difference between poisonous and venomous animals. They were also able to answer many of the questions posed by the demonstrator about snakes. Small win for home school, check! Other things that the kids learned was about the different fish we have in our areas, and how the DNR collects fish using some old school techniques combined with new technology to effectively capture and record species.<br />
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Kids also learned how to trap! Trapping is something that I taught myself to do the year after my dad passed. It was a way for me to do something new in the outdoors that I hadn't ever tried. Well, at the Hoosier Outdoor Expo, they had great demonstrations on the different traps and even taught kids how to set them. It was a good demonstration about the humane way trapping has evolved and how easy it is to get started.<br />
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Tayla Takes Aim</div>
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Gruesome Twosome learning to shoot</div>
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Of course, I cannot forget to mention archery. That was the one thing the girls wanted to try. I was even a little excited about it myself. Due to everyone in the family reading the Hunger Games, they wanted to see if they had the mad skills of Katnis and fling arrows. Everyone got to try, even little Tayla! I was very impressed with the volunteers and instructors who safely and efficiently taught people the proper and safe way to practice archery. Each of the kids did great and were able to hit the target!<br />
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Playing a round of Disc Golf</div>
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We finished the weekend out with an afternoon of disc golf at the local park. We had a nice picnic lunch and bought our discs from a local vendor. We learned about the <a href="http://thehdgu.com/" target="_blank">Hamilton Disc Golf Union</a> and the many parks where there are free courses you can play. After buying discs for everyone, we headed off for our lunch at a very pretty park and a great beginner course.<br />
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We found the course challenging and fun. We played a non traditional game of disc golf to keep the action moving and preventing long waits between throws. Basically, it was whoever had the best throw, everyone would play their next shot from that location. That was an easy way for the kids to stay involved and not become too frustrated while teaching them the basics of throwing and the mechanics involved. After our first round, the kids wanted to play on the playground which allowed Jennifer and I time to play a round for ourselves.<br />
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After a day in the sun, we headed to my brother's house for dinner. He made vegetable soup, hot dogs, mac n' cheese, and it was enjoyed by all. We finished the evening with sitting by the fire in the back yard. We burned marsh mellows to a crisp and have fun just kicking back and relaxing. My brother's wife introduced me to Paulo Coelho, by letting me read one of her books while the kids ran and played in the yard.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0Fort Harrison State Park, 5753 Glenn Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46216, USA39.8693522 -86.020076439.8449782 -86.0595584 39.8937262 -85.980594399999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-80845850467028048682012-09-13T01:00:00.000-07:002012-09-13T04:45:44.119-07:00Art smart...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Showin' off the artwork</div>
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Today was a good day...<br />
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After a long day of work, I had my short drive to our little home on wheels, Arrakis. In normal fashion, I was greeted by the gleeful cry of 'daddy' as I entered the door. T-Rex dived for a death grip hold/hug on my legs as Dos hugged me. That is the best way to come home. Little did I know that death grip hug on my leg was a preemptive apology.<br />
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I had to work late and Jen had dinner ready to go. She was busy cleaning up a mess that T-Rex created. After using the potty, she wanted to wash her hands. All good right? Well, T-Rex likes to play in the sink and splash the water. If left to her own devices, this probably would last a good while. The problem? She put the stopper in the bottom of the sink to allow the sink to fill up with water and.... didn't turn off the faucet once it was filled.<br />
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Area on our outside kitchen door needing attention</div>
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You see in most homes, your sinks and bathtubs have this modern technology of an overflow. So if the basin is filled too high, it overflows and goes down the drain. However, we were not so lucky with our camper. That feature isn't available with the lightweight design with our camper. This is either do to oversight or just an attempt to reduce weight wherever possible. While the latter is probably the reason, I really wished we had it.<br />
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So Jen we had a small waterfall flowing into the living room of our little home on wheels. The good thing is that it was found early and we were able to get it cleaned up pretty quickly. We even pulled out our lightweight and portable wet-dry vac we keep in our storage compartment to help suck up the excess water that soaked the carpet.<br />
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A pipe, great weather, chillaxing...</div>
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So, Jen left to run to the store for milk and other necessities of our life on the road and I got to watch over our minions. Eating dinner outside, enjoying the wonderful weather, smoking my awesome pipe helped reduce the problems of the day. What a great way to unwind.<br />
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A quick fix on a door I had noticed needed attention. I have mentioned how our outside kitchen door had broken. The fix they used was to put more screws in. It works for the most part but I notice some of the screws starting to pull away. I grabbed my gorilla glue epoxy and added a little to the area that was loose and tightened the screws.<br />
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Dos and T-rex wanted to do some art or crafts so we gathered at the picnic table with oil pastels. Dos wanted to know how to draw the human face. I showed her how I go about drawing the face and drew a picture of my dad as he was on my mind. His anniversary was this weekend. While I drew the picture, Dos and T-Rex drew their own pictures. It was a good time sharing and having fun. We ended up all drawing together coming up with some funny and weird pictures all our own.<br />
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I love this life on the road...<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0Indianapolis, IN, USA39.7685155 -86.158073639.57324 -86.473930599999989 39.963791 -85.8422166tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-68180481777582519832012-09-12T20:18:00.001-07:002012-09-13T07:22:37.643-07:00New friends and frozen mice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You really meet the best sort of people out on the road. Today I had the privilege of meeting another homeschool family that is also road schooling at my rv park. They have a blog as well, guess I will have to look them up. I had a good time talking to the mom, Sara, and Tres hit it off with the son who was about his age. This is a tremendous thing, because Tres has the hardest time of all of our children with making friends.<br />
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Well, if you have been around homeschoolers very often, you might know about the wild and crazy things that happen in the name of education, especially science education. And when you get several homeschoolers together, it only multiplies. <br />
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I met this new family this morning after our kids met at the playground. Conversation turned to pets, and the son wanted to see our snakes. So I told him that if he wanted to see them, it needed to be now, because later this afternoon was snake feeding day, and then the snakes would need time to digest. To most people, this would bring about squeals of revulsion, but to a homeschooler, this is a fascinating learning opportunity. So, I extended an invitation for them to view the feeding later in the afternoon, which they graciously accepted.<br />
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At 3:00, I had the snake cages lined up outside my rv and mice thawed. I use frozen mice that we buy from the pet store, and I thaw them with hot water. On the road, I usually feed snakes outside so I have more space. All the children were fascinated to see how snakes eat. It is really amazing at just how large a snake's mouth can become.<br />
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Then we turned to more typical homeschool conversation of curriculum and learning styles. I am so encouraged to meet this family. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928034599399948995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-88714666329255814172012-09-11T01:00:00.000-07:002012-09-11T04:46:20.414-07:00Giving the kids the boot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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JJ tempts fate by choosing his chores</div>
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Ah yes, chores....</div>
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Chores and daily cleanup and maintenance is very important when living in an RV full time. You cannot allow clutter to build up, or the dishes left undone. Now, in our family, everyone pitches in. Everyone has an assigned job duty until yesterday.</div>
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You see, we started to hear grumbling. Grumbling turned into whining. Whining turned to shear frustration on the part of Jen and myself. It seems that there are more desirable chores than others. I guess some chores are more fun and take less time depending on minion doing them.</div>
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So Jen and I gave them the boot... a boot filled with pieces of paper with a chore written upon it.</div>
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"Choose and Perish..."</div>
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So, the minions got their assigned duties by lottery. In that way, they allowed 'fate' to decide which chore they received. That worked for the most part. Some where happy, some were resigned to the choice given. At least this took the blame off of Jen and I for assigning duties. I guess at times we assigned duties based upon overall productivity. Some washed dishes, vacuumed, or cleared the table better than others and Jen and I might have the tendency to assign tasks based on who performed which chore best.</div>
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A reward for good behavior... frozen yogurt!</div>
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This came out of the thought of how to get the RV cleaned up the most efficiently. At times this meant children doing these mundane chores over and over. However, that didn't sit well with our minion nation. Their revolt and cries for fairness, prompted a change.</div>
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In the end, all was settled. We had peace in our little house on wheels.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com01951 W Edgewood Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46217, USA39.676508339972322 -86.19250774383544939.67345283997232 -86.197443243835451 39.679563839972325 -86.187572243835447tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-88889747193150586792012-09-10T01:00:00.000-07:002012-09-10T05:54:27.172-07:00Food on the road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t-kOMvgSvgs/UEniRYZEEVI/AAAAAAAAM20/pEyJr5T5DdY/s1600/PicasaUp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t-kOMvgSvgs/UEniRYZEEVI/AAAAAAAAM20/pEyJr5T5DdY/s320/PicasaUp" width="240" /></a></div>
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Uno at the stove</div>
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Here is another installment of food on the road...</div>
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Early on, I wrote about the modern conveniences of living in an RV. One of the things people ask is about food, cooking, and meal planning. As you can see above, we have all the modern conveniences of home, in a more compact space. We even have built in <strike>slave,</strike> minion labor, that help with the day to day meal preparation.</div>
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We love to cook. In particular, if you ever met me, I like to eat! Uno, loves to cook and is quite accomplished at the young age of ten. She can cook a great omelet, and has learned many skills from her mom. She even cooks one dinner a week for the family with the assistance of Jen or myself.</div>
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When buying for a family of six, prepping, planning, and storage all begin deeply important. For one, we need to make sure that we buy enough in advance so that we can keep from running to the store everyday. We also have to get creative in sizes. We have found that half gallon milk containers are better to buy simply because their shape is more conducive to our storage needs and limited space.Thus, we have learned by trial and error what we can buy so that it meets our needs yet isn't so bulky preventing proper storage. </div>
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That certainly doesn't mean we eat every meal at home. As a traveling consultant on the road, we have the ability to splurge a bit. Just this weekend, we celebrated my brother's MBA at one of his favorite restaurants, Fogo De Chao. Needless to say, it was an exquisite display of never ending meat! It was a lot of fun, great tasting, and enjoyed by all.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-27654262973936523112012-09-08T17:44:00.000-07:002012-09-10T05:55:07.786-07:00A Pre-Teen Road Adventure<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonhJ-WwVRUJs7DI-bbGnMraeYkbpcY2dPRr5SPOF-I4Ja-6zRwhgMfx5ORlAQEPT3WT9QrggowSjdEnm-4eRDiKB3H-GF-fzMSg9Y3v1vproqggeoI_7NZGETjeq0VLJOSrI8yHkz_Oxf/s1600/jayelle-guitar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonhJ-WwVRUJs7DI-bbGnMraeYkbpcY2dPRr5SPOF-I4Ja-6zRwhgMfx5ORlAQEPT3WT9QrggowSjdEnm-4eRDiKB3H-GF-fzMSg9Y3v1vproqggeoI_7NZGETjeq0VLJOSrI8yHkz_Oxf/s1600/jayelle-guitar.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe Script, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">M<span style="font-size: medium;">y
name is Jayelle and my family has decided to live on the road. at
first I thought it would not be so bad but now I learned that it is
not so easy but I can toughen it out. First of all I cant bring all
my make-up I can only bring one thing off eye-shadow, lip-stick,
lip-gloss, and blush . A girl has to have her beauty-products! I
guess I can do without . </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe Script, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
big problem is personal-space and that is a big one for me. Almost
nothing is private . But that is a small price to pay for all the fun
I am having! You see lots of crazy things! I saw a giant pink
elephant statue holding a beer in its trunk ,CRAZY! I also saw a
giant concrete peach with a concrete little boy poking out of it., It
reminds me of James and the giant peach! </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe Script, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It
is also fun because last night we had a camp-fire adventure. we
roasted marsh-mellows., I love those squishy little clumps of sugar!
We also roasted hot dogs. I am a master at roasting things.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe Script, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My
twin sister and brother love to torch theirs and they usually
falloff. If they do not fall, they are usually on fire. They try to
put the fire out by blowing on the marsh-mellows or waving them in
the air. It is so funny! </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe Script, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After
roasting hot dogs and marsh-mellows, I played my guitar and almost
everyone sang along. My brother attempted to play along on his drum.
It wasn’t the best but hey, he's learning. </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe Script, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today
we made the trip to a different RV park in Indianapolis. We ate
McDonald's for lunch (ick!!!). Then me and my sibs went to the park
and met the owner's daughters. Afterward, we went back to the camper.
</span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe Script, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After
a while, dad took us out to dinner. The food was good but the best
parts were the jokes from the waiter. My favorite was when the waiter
gave my brother the bill and said that he can wash dishes if he had
to. The waiter then laughed, took the bill and gave it to my dad. It
was funny. </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe Script, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After
that, we went home and everyone just chill-axed and had fun. Some
point or another T-rex took Pivas's cat cage and started carrying it
around announcing that she had a kitty-cat in it . It was somewhat
cute, bot mostly ANNOYING. After that, she was quiet and we watched
Voyage of the Dawn Treader.</span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-19187174214861226092012-09-08T12:58:00.000-07:002012-09-10T05:55:23.433-07:00Pets on the Road<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnqjkcW6AS0nmdzvmfA12zFM-u5Z_DHjMrn15TE7hUknjyJ0bvv80La_QeKhOXbGeeifqonTVLiHfVGJvX0_HLiqyB903AhhsdbYOWTTyL9E-t2EV4fndWIKXZiXKouh7glf6yYtzsyo/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnqjkcW6AS0nmdzvmfA12zFM-u5Z_DHjMrn15TE7hUknjyJ0bvv80La_QeKhOXbGeeifqonTVLiHfVGJvX0_HLiqyB903AhhsdbYOWTTyL9E-t2EV4fndWIKXZiXKouh7glf6yYtzsyo/s320/photo+(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tres with our Children's Python</div>
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One of the joys and challenges of being
on the road is having pets on the road. Many people avoid bringing
pets on the road due to the added inconvenience and cost. But, my
family is very attached to our furry and scaly friends, so they had
to come along.</div>
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“Scaly?”, you question. Yes, we
are even different from most people in our choice of pets. We have
four snakes living with us in our RV. I had always wanted to have a
snake ever since freshman biology with Mr. Riedford at Mt. Vernon
High School. Most other students avoided his collection of pythons,
but I was one of the few who always sat on the snake side of the
room, and handled one of the them whenever I got the chance. But my
parents were disgusted by snakes and refused to let my have one.
Then when I moved out the responsibilities of adulthood pushed the
thought of snakes from my mind. But, there is something about
becoming a parent that lets you tap back into the dreams of youth.
So, two years ago I finally bought my first snake, a Children's
python named Phoenix. Later, we acquired three corn snakes. Much to
my husband's astonishment, all four of the kids love the snakes as
much as me.</div>
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The first challenge of snakes on the
road was their housing arrangement. Their usual glass aquariums were
completely unfit for the road. So, I drilled holes into the sides of
clear plastic bins, and I keep the bins securely closed with bungee
cords. Not the most aesthetically pleasing, but it is functional,
and the snakes don't seem to mind. Then, to save space, we stack the
snakes' bins on top of a set of small plastic drawers. So the kids'
room has a tower of snakes!</div>
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Tower of Snakes!</div>
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The next challenge is temperature
control. Snakes are cold blooded, and can neither warm nor cool
themselves. Different species have a different range of acceptable
temperatures. My Children's python is from a tropical region of
Australia, so he needs extra heat. A heat lamp on top of his
terrarium works quite well, even with the plastic terrarium. The
corn snakes are from more temperate regions and so are comfortable at
standard room temperature. But when you travel in August,
overheating your snakes is an more pressing concern. The day I left
home, it was forecasted to reach 106. I knew my cat and my children
could just pant or sweat, but I worried about frying the snakes. So,
I left my home at 3:30 in the morning so I could make my drive while
it was still a reasonable temperature. Since arriving here, we make
sure to always keep the air conditioner running. No dry docking for
us with snakes on board.</div>
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Finally, we have the challenge of
feeding the snakes. In case you didn't know, snakes must eat rats or
mice, there is no such thing as snake kibble. At home I keep a large
quantity of frozen mice in the deep freeze. On the road, my freezer
space is too tight to devote any space to rodent-cicles. So on
feeding day, fortunately only every two weeks, I make the trek to the
pet store and feed the snakes as soon as I get home. Michigan City
has been challenging. The local store had only frozen rats and live
mice that they could kill for us. Captive snakes are picky and don't
readily switch between types of rodents, so the rats were out. As
for the mice, my children had just spent the last few minutes
watching the cute little feeder mice run on their wheel, and they
begged me to spare the lives of those mice. So then it was off to
the next pet store 20 minutes away. Fortunately, they had suitable
mice. Hopefully it will be a bit easier in Indy.</div>
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We also have our elderly cat along for
the ride. She hated the trip up here, but since we have been
stationary, she has been pretty happy inside the RV. We knew our
hyperactive dog would do poorly on the road, but fortunately my
brother and his family are willing to care for her for a long term.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewb6yzw6WvAN4WBC0fCRvfHyuB-Tki1ewYHy0Ul1wVC-raQpYMEetMRes8UYXeFkyCr5nePwbLUNVAoO_BisUbuwTWLnajHheySYzVahhj7dyrU8aOSPSP53XutxwV2N0qm_6cz1VuOw/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewb6yzw6WvAN4WBC0fCRvfHyuB-Tki1ewYHy0Ul1wVC-raQpYMEetMRes8UYXeFkyCr5nePwbLUNVAoO_BisUbuwTWLnajHheySYzVahhj7dyrU8aOSPSP53XutxwV2N0qm_6cz1VuOw/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Happy Cat!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928034599399948995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-90399148297990126172012-09-07T01:00:00.000-07:002012-09-07T05:00:54.403-07:00Making memories...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Minions roasting hotdogs in the camp fire</div>
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Living the RV dream...</div>
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The one thing that blows me away about living full time in the RV is all the simple and fun adventures we share as a family. Today, as I got home from a day full of meetings and a long drive, I was greeted with excited and happy campers. Today the are getting to roast hot dogs in the camp fire.</div>
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Simple right? Absolutely. </div>
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But it is simple things such as roasting hot dogs in the fire that provide fun and excitement on the road. At home we would probably grill or cook the hot dogs on the stove and have dinner at the table. No real excitement there. Change the scenery, roast the hot dogs over the fire and sitting in camping chairs, now you have adventure.<br />
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I think that is one of the fondest memories I have as a kid. The rugged outdoors, cooking your own food, and laughing and sharing during the process implants long, fun loving memories. It is something that the kids and I love to do. Along with fun, it is fairly cheap to do.<br />
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Uno playing guitar</div>
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The kids thought that playing music and singing by the campfire would make the event even more special. Uno brought out her guitar, my son brought his djembe, all while the rest of us lent our voices to some songs as we watched the sun set. That my friends are moments that make me more resolute that living this strange and fun lifestyle more fun.</div>
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Every day is an adventure if you look for it. I am sure you and duplicate this at home living in the traditional way. However, I think that living in our RV, on the road with the kids, it is just easier. They can play, explore, and see new sites and have new adventures almost daily. It truly is an escape from normalcy. We can escape competing with the Jones's. We can set our own expectations, living a life more fulfilled.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com05896 W 200 N, Greenfield, IN 46140, USA39.81241 -85.91308639.7880185 -85.952568000000014 39.8368015 -85.873604tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-18182607061252862282012-09-04T01:00:00.000-07:002012-09-04T06:40:28.799-07:00A trip down Zaharakos lane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fun filled day in Columbus, IN and visiting <a href="http://www.zaharakos.com/" target="_blank">Zaharakos Ice Cream Shop</a></div>
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This weekend was filled with rain and fun. While the hurricane down south prompted a much needed thunderstorm in our area, we had to get a little creative in keeping our minions at bay. Most of the time, we spent sequestered in our home on wheels. There were a few stints where we were able to unleash the kids and have them ride bikes and make their rounds of the RV park.<br />
<br />
Today, we got to visit my brother and his family for Labor Day. Having spent the morning conversing with our neighbor about the drag races getting rained out, and that they were moving on Tuesday, we traded addresses and said our good byes. Texting back and forth with my brother and we had plans for the afternoon. I was to have lunch with my brother and one of his friends while Jen and the kids along with my brother's wife and daughter would head downtown to Columbus for fun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexaGOZIZ5f7Kf_tYfWxgD6YgdyeaLk5nL7i872R-10p9kZ55DZnnwrOHj2HEdeskuDoSdv-B6PxjHjArKjIeMKOurCN1BZd2HUhoT6DZGq9WrxGHj3AnXpDBkWWuZI_l-vxPuKikOCw/s1600/PicasaUp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexaGOZIZ5f7Kf_tYfWxgD6YgdyeaLk5nL7i872R-10p9kZ55DZnnwrOHj2HEdeskuDoSdv-B6PxjHjArKjIeMKOurCN1BZd2HUhoT6DZGq9WrxGHj3AnXpDBkWWuZI_l-vxPuKikOCw/s320/PicasaUp" width="240" /></a></div>
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fully functional auto play pipe organ circa 1909</div>
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Columbus is really growing on me. The downtown area has lots of fun shops, and things for the kids to do. They even have an indoor play area. What blew me away was the free wifi. Come on, FREE WIFI. I guess being so starved at our camp ground has made me appreciate wireless connectivity especially when I forgot to lock down data traffic on my phone and already hit 65% of my data plan for the month. Thanks ATT, love ya! Now, I either will just use my phone as normal and pay the $10 hit for overage or just tightly control my access. With my job, more than likely it will be paying the $10 extra for overage.<br />
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I realized my problem, I tried to download some favorite podcasts while waiting to pick up pizza from Puccini's Pizza in downtown Columbus. When they told us that our pizza was done, I forgot to cancel the un-downloaded podcasts. Needless to say, wham! I just used a bunch of data traffic. Lesson learned I guess.<br />
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Looks like T-Rex enjoyed her treat</div>
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Lunch was great. Good to hang with my brother and reconnect. Meeting his friend for the second time (he was my brother's best man) was fun. I can see why he and my brother get along. We ate at Hooters. Not my favorite joint but I enjoyed wings, the good conversation, and the opportunity to get out after being shut in by the rain. On the way home, I spotted a smoke shop. After a few near death experiences after forcibly asking my brother to make the stop, I was greeted with the sweet aroma of Cavendish and vanilla.... smelly happiness for sure.<br />
<br />
I forgot my pipes at home when we made the trip. I am not a big smoker, but at times, I like to smoke a pipe and kick back. I got my friend into smoking pipes a while back. I think I have created a monster as his pipe collection has surpassed mine. He and I enjoyed pipe smoking, fedora hats, and hanging out. I think our hunting trips last year were more about getting out to smoke and hang out than deer hunting. Needless to say, I missed my pipe.<br />
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A Ben Wade Estate Pipe</div>
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<br />
I found a great deal on a estate pipe. I have always wanted one. They are bigger, usually hand carved and look awesome to look at. More importantly, they are well made. I instantly fell in love with one and after seeing the price, I didn't hesitate. I picked up the pipe, some necessities such as pipe cleaners, and picked up some great smelling pipe tobacco to boot.<br />
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After eating dinner and watching the Hunger Games with my brother's family, we headed back to Arrakis. It was a fun, relaxing weekend. I got to enjoy time with the family, spend time with my brother, and I got a pipe to boot.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0Columbus, IN, USA39.2014404 -85.921379639.1030024 -86.079308099999992 39.299878400000004 -85.7634511tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-4810168459353345382012-09-01T08:40:00.001-07:002012-09-01T08:40:27.534-07:00Frozen custard and a shopping trip<div id="dE_H" style=";width:100%; height:100%; ;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><img id="imgd458ab4b-0571-4af2-a8f2-78816a6b9ddc" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7y1kl49rv3t7yufXpNdaiFgnxE3qfmybwVYK8wEM3V59cn5P5R4uCD3A69uN72p3Abkg04oXh4y6x2-2-24O1PWLDTc6_BSLiFPVLIttykk7qGdixUSMBm918igd-PNjwyjNAtMLUQ/" style="width: 297.5124418735504px; height: 396.88159745931625px; opacity: 1; " class="" rotate="-9.941177368164063" scale="0.6"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Ritters Frozen Custard...Nom, Nom</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Yesterday was tag along With dad day. At first we had a relaxing morning, sleeping in and having a simple breakfast. Afterwards, we hopped in the van and headed out. Our first stop was Camping World. I picked up a satellite dish in hopes of getting our DirectTV hooked up. After several hours messing with the unit and unsuccessful connection with our service, I went to the Internet for answers. To my dismay, the type of receiver we have won't work. There are some extra pieces that power the signal. Actually called a power inserted and necessary in order for it to work.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">So today I will have to return my dish and hope they they take it back.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">After Camping World, we visited Gander Mountain. I was excited to see that they had a Ruger Redhawk with mounted scope(I am a gun nut). The problem was they wanted too much for it being used, and that it was dirty to boot. I really thought about it, but walked away as I can always find better deals. My neighbor at our campground is a gun nut too and we have spent quite a few hours talking guns. He is better than I at finding deals. I have a lot to learn from this guy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">As you probably guessed, this isn't the minion friendly activity, and they began to get a bit unruly. We promptly found a frozen custard shop and had ourselves a treat. Ritters was awesome. Tons of great options and plenty of kid friendly choices. As you can see in the picture, they were enjoying themselves.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><img id="img8ebbc616-7ae5-4ef3-888d-7432570ad494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUR5VK0XNiFUS7DB2gjojZDLupr8i54xx43b4i_dG69sz3KiIe7ik8F0A1uXEKaldxQf1K-YlTmBvly8XSBL9BZ9yPvtarZampJSFhJl1Qb-pwD_mqwrVIXPOF33O3aXNQu1oj4AyS3A/" style="width: 293.0908799171448px; height: 390.98323380947113px; opacity: 1; " class="" rotate="-5.784984588623047" scale="0.6"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Jen is enjoying her morning</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">On the way back we got stopped in traffic. After a long delay, we pulled off and found a churches chicken for dinner. Right next to it was a gun store with indoor range. This will be a great place to check out later. I did stop in for a sec. While only taking a quick glance, I began to drool over their Kimber selection. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">After dinner, we headed back to Arrakis taking the back roads. I messed with our satellite connection as mentioned before and gave up. Finally, we just kicked back, enjoyed the evening together as the kids played and I rested. </span></div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-46991635600754281962012-08-31T08:33:00.001-07:002012-08-31T08:33:19.500-07:00Another relaxing day...<div id="dE_H" style=";width:100%; height:100%; ;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><img id="imgd7667332-058a-4fb5-9377-0d95df0858b0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qmpUDiaLzt4/UEDZOooeRLI/AAAAAAAAMws/-ICI0vsICDI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="width:199.37530159950256px;height:265.9666523337364px;left:159px;top:192px;opacity:1" class="" rotate="-6.631500244140625" scale="0.4" mvc="false"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Another relaxing day</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">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.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">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.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">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.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">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!</span></div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-49838761187732937062012-08-30T01:00:00.000-07:002012-08-30T04:52:27.113-07:00We are the three Amigos.... Amigos forever we'll be<br />
Not too long ago...<br />
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In a far off state...</div>
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Miles, and Miles Away...</div>
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Three cousins (actually two brothers and their cousin....making them all cousins) plotted to rule the world!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://zwanzigz.com/" target="_blank">ZwanZig Pizza</a></td></tr>
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.'<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching Office Space</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com05896 W 200 N, Greenfield, IN 46140, USA39.81241 -85.91308639.8002125 -85.932827 39.8246075 -85.893345000000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-40579225391161379262012-08-29T01:00:00.000-07:002012-08-29T05:10:30.814-07:00The Ever-Creative Evie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-g7_Ck83tkx1YEqyB0K6_nZqMZCilTb8hHvRCfx6PxcmYxBfC5uOABnjTJT4Wj-GKMsNSCBuRB6yQ77-099pVYvYEupUBa58SyL34rQgBX2TZjbTxsxUQ2hI3PSHqo-TVLGYyiYTeQ/s1600/PicasaUp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-g7_Ck83tkx1YEqyB0K6_nZqMZCilTb8hHvRCfx6PxcmYxBfC5uOABnjTJT4Wj-GKMsNSCBuRB6yQ77-099pVYvYEupUBa58SyL34rQgBX2TZjbTxsxUQ2hI3PSHqo-TVLGYyiYTeQ/s320/PicasaUp" width="240" /></a></div>
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Duct Tape Purse Perfection</div>
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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. </div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com0Indianapolis KOA, 5896 W 200 N, Greenfield, IN 46140, USA39.81241 -85.91308639.800213 -85.932827 39.824607 -85.893345000000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574092001338219130.post-79203304030398099472012-08-28T01:00:00.000-07:002012-08-28T04:59:54.033-07:00A family dinner, a day of unfortunate events<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kids setup the picnic table for a great summer dinner</div>
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Today was a tough day...</div>
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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.</div>
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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. </div>
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Use of headphones... Nope</div>
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Eating at your desk...Nope</div>
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Use of cellphone... Only in approved areas</div>
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Texting.... Nay, Nay!</div>
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Jen kicking back to enjoy a book after her tough day</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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. </div>
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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.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547121756176193780noreply@blogger.com05896 W 200 N, Greenfield, IN 46140, USA39.81241 -85.91308639.7880095 -85.952568000000014 39.8368105 -85.873604