Happy 2009!!!

Happy New Year, Y'All

Well the Gang has assembled in Sumter Oaks in Bushnell, Florida. The "gang" comprises the Escapees RV Club graduating Class of 2007 - that are the people who "graduated" from working to fulltime rving. We have communicated with each other online during 2006 and finally met many of them at a gathering in Quartzsite, Arizona, last January. Many of use continued to travel together to Casa Grande, AZ, to Nick Russell's Gypsy Journal Rally last February. During this last year we have run into many of the couples during our travels - which was always a treat. We always have such good times together; filled with so much laughter.

With Marcia and Joe Jones coming to Florida where Marcia will host in the park here in Bushnell, and Paul and Connie Anderson returning for another winter, plans started to be formed for more of the classmates to meet up. So now there are 11 of us here, with one more couple due in next week.

We had a grand time going out to dinner last night. The gang ventured out to the Whistle Stop in Bushnell. It is a small, quaint place that serves killer barbeque ribs and pulled pork. They also have the usual fare of pork chops, hamburger steak and ham. Jim and I shared a rack of ribs and we brought home six huge ribs - there was so many. We easily could have shared the half order that Trish got. They did have some unusual side dishes like sweet potatoe puffs and fried green beans. Jim and I had the fried green beans and they were very good - coated in a seasoned batter and deep fried, of course. I'm finding most everything is fried in the south. I think I need to watch out for that in my diet.....ordering fried things way too much!

Here we all are with our smiling faces. On the left that's Butch (Joe's dad), Connie Anderson, me, Molly Pinner, Pam and the top of Smokey's head, Bob Pinner, my Jim, Trish Schmidt, Paul Anderson and then Joe. Marcia took the picture.

After dinner we met again at the park's clubhouse for the night's festivities. There was the DJ music and a few people did the karaoke thing. Most of the music was older country western.

Here's the gang enjoying ourselves. The Margarator was in operation all night. Paul was showing his good side :)

Here's Pam trying to get Bob's keys so they wouldn't leave.

Hummmmm - Pam sure seems to be enjoying herself. No, I didn't adjust the coloring.....Bob's face really was that red.

Connie Anderson consults Trish Schmidt on what would be like to be "better endowed" using tasseled party hats. And then Connie decides to try it out. Wow, Connie!!!

We sure enjoyed the company of our Class of 2007 classmates, but we couldn't leave before giving the Class Official Salute.

Jim and I retreated to the rv around 10 pm and watched the ball drop at midnight in New York on tv. It was a great night!!! Thank you, Classmates, for providing us with such fun.

Remember - you are loved!

08 New Year's Eve Catching up

Yea, I am one of those types of people who think you need to tie up things before the end of the year - so you start the new year off clean and clear! That said I have a week's worth of activities and photos to post today. So bear with me and let us begin.




Here are some photos of this wonderful park we are in, Sumter Oaks, in Bushnell, Florida, where the weather has been fantastic being in the 80s most days.






On one side of the park we have mules....there's even a baby mule second from left.









Then on the other side of the park (where Jim and I are parked) there is a pair of Sandhill Cranes who have the run of the park. They walk around freely and everywhere; actually they come walk up quite close to you - it's very special.




The first day we arrived Joe and Marcia brought out The Margarator with Joe's dad, Butch, Paul and Connie joining in.










Connie made a real unusual, but delicious snack. It looks weird but try it for yourself. It's made with a Ritz cracker, spread with peanut butter, add a little chopped onion, yes, onion, and top that with a squirt of catsup, yup, I said ketchup (yes-I had to look at the bottle in the refrigerator for the correct spelling). But when you pop the whole thing in your mouth it is a very, very nice blend of tastes.




One of the nights Joe, Marcia and another couple, Tom and Sharon, took us to a very cute restaurant called Kracker Shack which is located in Werda-Hecamiat RV Park. You pronounce it where-the-heck-am-i-at. Isn't that the cutest thing? It really is a not-so-good-looking shack, but the food is wonderful.


They specialize in fish (all fried, unfortunately) with shrimp, cod, and scallops, along with pork chops, meat loaf and sandwiches. You can get full or half orders at very reasonable prices. Jim had a half order of shrimp which was four huge butterflied shrimp, paid $9.99 with fries and seasoned green beans and he couldn't finish it all. I got the half-order of fish and received three x eight inch pieces of battered cod with pickled beets and fried okra and couldn't finish it either. We WILL go back for sure.


OK, I didn't put in the photos of Webster, Florida's Flea Market, but that's a post all to itself, so I'll to it separately.


Oh, oh, Bob and Molly Pinner arrived in the area yesterday and came over to Paul and Connie and we all visited. I adopted Bob as my Sixth Husband, with Molly's permission - yes, I have been married five times - and we haven't seen the Pinner's since last February in Laughlin, Nevada, where we spent a few days together. It was great to be all together again.


Oh, oh, oh, Smokey and Pam Ridgley just, just pulled into Sumter Oaks. They have been up north in the cold, cold weather and have finally made it to the warmth of Florida.


Boy, are we going to have a great Happy Hour and New Year's Eve party tonight! Heard The Margarator is coming to the party with Joe and Marcia. Too bad I can't drink anymore (elevated liver function) but I might sneak one to celebrate the beginning of 2009.


Well, Happy New Year to all of you. May you be loved and fulfilled all year long. Remember - you are loved!!!!!