Happy Birthday Baby Girl

Three years or 21 years old?

Today is little Bridgit Jeane's birthday.  In actual years she turned three today.  I've always been told that one dog year equals seven years in human life*.  So, is she three or twenty-one?  For the last year I've said she was either a "terrible two" or a "mouthy teenager".  (She does like to bark, much to the consternation of my next door neighbor.)

She was born in Savannah, Georgia, and adopted by a family there.  After a little less than a year they wound up abandoning her.  At least they did take her to their Vet but never returned to pick her up.  After a month the Vet turned her over to the Chatham County Animal Shelter.  That is where my high school friend came to the rescue.  Diane (Burks) Abolt is the head of the volunteers for the shelter.  Little Bridgit, who then had the name Tru, never saw a cage at the shelter.  Diane immediately took her home with her and then contacted me.  In November, 2010, after a few weeks of trying to get a way to bring her to Oklahoma, with no success, Joanne and I got in the car and drove to Savannah.  We left Oklahoma City area on a Monday morning and were back home by Friday.  Spent two nights in Savannah, with Diane and her husband Russ.  Since then Bridgit Jeane has become a member of the family, even being totally accepted by, her now, older brother Buddy Joe.

When I'm up late, which is most nights, Bridgit lets me know it's time to turn out the lights and go to bed by covering her eyes so she can sleep.  At that point she goes to her kennel box for the night.

*Not sure I buy off on the 7 to 1 ratio for human years to dog years.  Buddy Joe turned 11 this past March.  That would make him 77 years old.  There is no way he acts like a 77 year old.



California Proposition 8

Another date night with Carrie.

Carrie and I took in another play tonight.  Picked her up at 5:00 PM and headed downtown Oklahoma City.  This time to the Freede Little Theater located inside the Civic Center Music Hall to see a reading of the play "8".  Although the play did not start until 7:00 it was open seating so we needed to be in line early to get decent seats.  Actually, we both prefer to be seated front row center in this theater.  Me because it makes it easier for me to hear and for both of us we have leg room with no row of seats in front of us.  After picking up our tickets we spent a little time in the coffee shop at the Music Hall.

The play chronicles the federal trial over the constitutionality of Proposition 8 that was passed in California in 2008.  This law restricted same sex couples from being able to marry in the state of California.  It was passed in a general election by a majority of the voters in that state.  This play was presented as a "reading" rather than a full blown play.  There was a minimal set, no costumes and the actors were not in stage makeup.  It was presented pretty much in transcript form of the actual trial.  The actors came from most of the different theater companies located in Oklahoma City and each of them provided their talent for free.  My good friend, Jonathan Beck Reed, was one of the principal players.  (After the show Carrie got a chance to meet Jonathan.)

This was a very thought provoking play and presented both sides of the argument about same sex marriage.  Following the actual play they were having a "talk back" session with a couple of moderators, the cast and the audience.  Since Carrie is scheduled to work tomorrow we felt it best to get her home.

Another enjoyable evening with my lovely niece.

Granddaughter fix

A day with middle granddaughter.

Aurora, my middle granddaughter, spent the day with me.  Her mother had to work and asked if I'd keep her.  (As a grandparent I don't consider the time I spend with any of my grandkids as "baby sitting".)  She got here around 9:30 and headed straight to the toy cabinet.  In the past she has enjoyed pulling all the toys out but never seemed to be interested in putting them back when the time came.  Today was not a problem.  She is now six years old and in the first grade in school.

Mid-morning we loaded into the car and headed south.  Aurora was the only one of my kids or grand kids that had not been down to the cemetery in Byars to see Joanne's burial monument.  It's about a 65 mile drive down there and she sang and entertained herself in the back seat most of the way before falling asleep a few miles before we got there.  She was very interested in the names on all the tombstones, especially the many with the name Stone on them.  We had stopped on the way down to pick up some new flowers to place on "Grandma" and "Great-Grandma"'s graves.  (As has been mentioned in previous post my mother's grave is just two spaces over from Joanne's.)

After the cemetery we headed back north.  We stopped in Purcell to have lunch at Braum's and then over to the assisted living center to see "Great-Grandpa".  My dad always enjoys the visits from the little ones.  He always has to find something to give them to take home with them.  He had won a door prize at a recent cookout at the center, a large basket full of different brands of potato chips.  He sent a big bag home with Aurora.

Another night out with my fantastic niece

A road trip, a good dinner and a play...

It was time for us to catch a play again.  Picked Carrie up late this afternoon and we headed up Interstate 35 to the town of Guthrie, the original Oklahoma state capitol.  This is a neat town with many 1890's buildings in their downtown area.  Unfortunately, I misjudged the time we would need to get up there so we arrived in town around 5:30 for an 8:00 PM play.

First stop was at Gage's Steakhouse.  This is located in the basement of one of the old building, in the next block from the theater.  We had plenty of time for a good, leisurely dinner.  As usual, Carrie was all dressed up for a night out and was easily the prettiest lady in the room.



After dinner we still had over an hour before the play so we walked around the old Guthrie downtown.  Unlike many older, small towns Guthrie has maintained their buildings.  Many no longer have the businesses in them that they experienced back around statehood but most are occupied, although by antique stores, small shops and craft stores.  But, like most small towns most businesses close around 5:00 PM, even on Saturday.  Other than the restaurant, the theater and an Irish Pub, everything else was closed while we were there.

Our destination tonight was The Pollard Theatre.  (That is Carrie sitting on the bench in front, waiting for the doors to open.)  The acting company that performs does an exceptional job and produces several plays each season.  Tonight we went to see "Forever Plaid".  This is a fun show and although I've seen it several times in different venues it is always enjoyable to see again.  The music is four part harmony and was mostly from the late 1950's and early 1960's, definitely the music I grew up on.  This play lasted about an hour and a half with no intermission so we were on the road back south, toward the City by 9:30 PM.  I got Carrie home just a little past 10:00 which is fairly early for our nights out.

As it has been in the past, this was a fun night and we both had a good time.

Oktoberfest 2012

German food, German music---it must be Oktoberfest!

The Old Germany Restaurant out in Choctaw, Oklahoma, holds an Oktoberfest celebration every September.  They started this several years ago in a tent behind their restaurant but over the years it has grown to the point it had to be moved.  They now hold it in Choctaw Creek Park over in the main part of town.  The celebration, which started this past Friday runs all this next week and through next weekend.  In addition to the food tents, selling authentic German food, several other vendors have set up.  Some were selling conventional "festival/fair" food items and others were inflatable play areas for the younger crowd.

Picked up my niece, Carrie, and her family this afternoon and headed to the park.  Although it was very hot, since the local temperature got up to 102 today, we had a good time.  Got to sample some good food and listen to some good "Oom Paa" bands.  Carrie had said she had never eaten traditional German food before.  She tried the sour kraut and said she liked it.  Her son, J.J., tried it but he did not like it.  Husband John, who is a pretty picky eater, declined to try any of the food.

J.J. was a bit hesitant to try out the inflatable toys but finally got into it and did a couple of the slides.  The first time he convinced his mom to go with him.

The next time he worked up the nerve to go by himself and this one was even a steeper slope.

After awhile the heat was more than we could stand so it was time to pack it in and head back to the air conditioned house.  Had a good afternoon with three of my favorite people.

Another milestone

Mixed emotions today.

This has been a day of mixed emotions.  On one hand I remember the 23 plus years that Joanne and I were married.  On the other hand I am very sad that she is not here to celebrate with me.

Twenty four years ago today, on a Friday evening, Joanne and I were married.  What a journey that began that day.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of her and I miss her more than ever.

Minnesota 2012--Day 20

Almost over and back to where it started.

Well, the  dogs and I are back to where we spent our first night out on this journey.  We are back at the Miller's Kampground in Liberty, Missouri.

We left Prior Lake, Minnesota, around 8:30 this morning and headed for I-35.  Had a pretty uneventful day of driving other than the wind.  Spent the entire day driving into a very heavy wind coming out of the south.  That meant driving directly into the wind the entire day.  I was fairly tired when we arrived at the RV park around 5:00 this evening.  After getting the coach plugged in and set up we have pretty much sent the evening sitting under the air conditioners. 

Tomorrow will be our last day on the road and we should arrive back home sometime tomorrow in the afternoon.  After I get the coach unloaded then will come getting in contact with the insurance company and the glass people.  Thanks to a large hail stone from a storm in Oklahoma City this past June and the "great" roads in our Interstate system we now have some major cracks down the right side of the windshield.  Additionally, it has pulled lose from the coach in a couple of places.  I was able to cover those areas with tape to keep the rain out while we were up in northern Minnesota.  We've experienced a bit of wind noise today but nothing we can't live with.

This has been a good trip, much better than the first two solo excursions I've made this year.  The trip to Florida in January was very sad and lonely for both me and the dogs.  The trip to Indiana in May, for the Monaco America rally, was also very sad in that I was with many of Joanne and my very close friends, many of the same people we were with just three weeks prior to her death.  This trip gave me a good bit of time to spend with Joanne's family members up in Duluth.  Not only with her only Aunt and Uncle but some good quality time with her brother, Roger, and his family.  Attending the Priolo family picnic and seeing several of her cousins was also very good.  While in the Minneapolis area was able to see Roger's children.  This was a more upbeat trip and I feel much better in the return trip home than the prior solo outings.  I can only say "Thank You" to the Duluth branch of the Priolo family for making me feel so welcome.

Minnesota 2012--Day 19

Casino donation and lunch in a famous diner.

Yesterday was a day for mostly hanging out around the coach and playing with the dogs.  After they had their supper I headed over to the Casino next door to find something to eat and play a little Blackjack.  The food court looked better than the big restaurants or the buffet.  Then spent a couple of hours trying my luck at the Blackjack table.  As is normal, all the luck was on the dealers side.

Today I decided to head over to St. Paul for a late lunch at a famous diner.  Mickey's Diner has been in business since 1939 and is now operated by the third generation of the family.  Joanne and I had visited there a few years ago after we had seen the movie "A Prairie Home Companion".  The cast of the PBS radio show that the movie was based on has been known to gather at Mickey's late at night after the broadcast.  Mickey's has also been featured in several other movies and many television shows.

The radio show is broadcast from the Fitzgerald Theater which is located just a couple of blocks from Mickey's.

Minnesota 2012--Day 17

Moving day and visiting with more kin folk.

The time in Duluth has come to an end.  Pulled out of the Lakehead Boat Basin about 8:30 this morning and headed south.  First stop was for fuel.  Paid the highest price of the whole trip at $4.26.9 per gallon for #2 Diesel.  Fortunately I only needed just over 22 gallons.  We arrived at the Dakotah Meadows RV Park around 12:30 PM.  We've stayed here many times over the years and enjoy this park.  This is in Prior Lake, Minnesota, down on the southwest side of Minneapolis.  This park is adjacent to the Mystic Lake Casino and golf course.  This is a very large complex operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

After getting the coach all set up for the few days I plan to be here I got in the car and head up to the north side of Minneapolis to meet up with some of Joanne's family members.  Mark and Heather are the children of her brother, Roger.  Tonight was Mark and his wife, Wendy, and their son Zack.  Heather brought along her boyfriend, Tom.  We met at a place called the 5-8 Club, a local hamburger place.  We had a good meal and were able to sit and visit for some time.

LtoR: Tom, Heather, Zack, Wendy, Mark and Me



Minnesota 2012--Day 16

Gearing up, getting ready to move.

Just relaxing this morning before getting out and starting to get the coach ready to be back on the road.  This will be the last full day in Duluth.  Need to take down the windshield sun shade, take the tire covers off and dump my holding tanks.  Also need to pick up all of Bridgit Jeane's toys she has scattered all around the inside of the coach.  Hard as I've tried I have not been able to train her to pick them up herself.

Yesterday was mostly a "stay in" day.  We had rain during the afternoon and then again during the evening.  Between rain storms I did walk over the bridge into Canal Park for dinner at the Green Mill restaurant.  Was able to take some really nice pictures around the marina/RV park as the weather cleared.

This is the view I've had for the last two weeks out the front windshield of the coach.

This was last nights sunset over Enger Hill and the harbor.