Blue Angel Naval Recreational Area - Pensacola, FL

We have been neglectful with the blog for the last few days.  If the truth were known we are both bummed out because we have to go home tomorrow.  First time in my entire life that I have been away from home and not itching to get back.  Everything went well at Carpenters RV service center in Pensacola.  With a "little bit of luck" all of our motor home repairs will go that smoothly.  Although that was not a repair, just getting the truck outfitted to be towed by the motor home.  We highly recommend them for service.  Billy says that it makes a world of difference, and he is much happier.  He says he is ready for me to start driving now.  I must admit that driving his big truck doesn't seem so difficult now after I have been riding around in this 747 sized motor home.  We returned to the Blue Angel Naval Recreational Area and parked in the site next to where we parked previously.  Maggie and I took three long walks yesterday; one through the woods.  We tried to walk this afternoon; however, it was too hot.  How I miss the west!!!!!  We went to the PX and commissary yesterday to pick up a few things for Brandon and Lori when they come tomorrow night.  Lori came to Panama City to camp with us a long time ago, and I had put the refrigerated items, including the homemade pimento cheese, in a cooler outside overnight while the refrigerator cooled off.  You guessed it.  The raccoons opened the cooler and helped themselves to everything.  Must have had a big old raccoon party for they ate it all, but licked on the pimento cheese and dragged it around the park.  Lori didn't fret over the lost meats, but she couldn't get over losing the homemade pimento cheese.  She was determined to try to save it, but I wouldn't allow it.  YUCK!  She was broken hearted.  So pimento cheese is the only thing she asks for when she comes to visit.  Brandon, naturally only asks for sliced cucumbers and onions marinated in vinegar/sugar/water/salt and pepper.  Thank goodness they are easy to please.

Billy's appointment at the VA was supposed to be today according to him, but we found out this morning the appointment is tomorrow.  Back to those plans being made in jello again.  We were planning on getting an early start for home tomorrow, but now we won't be able to depart here until late afternoon.  We haven't been home in three months and the outside "stuff" is all crammed in the house in case a hurricane decided to blow through while we were away.  My point is, I have much to do at home and many groceries to shop for before Brandon and Lori arrive tomorrow night.  Guess that it is another reason we have been lazy these past few days.  We have started making plans for the remainder of the year, but they are definitely made in jello since the house sell/rent is up in the air.  We are both itching to kiss and cuddle on Jackson so a trip to Tampa for a week or so is in order as soon as we can get away.  Billy's mom, Sue, is feeling better now so we want to see her right away.  It feels like it has been a year and a half since we have seen her.  Bradley is playing in a football game on October 19th, so we are reaching for that time to spend a few days in Dothan so we can see Bradley's ball game.  Got us a couple of new nieces to meet, too!  It has been WAY too long.  After our trip to Tampa we plan to spend a few months at the Ft. Gordon recreation area because it is halfway between Brandon and Caroline.  That way we will be there for Xmas and hopefully get to keep Phil with us in the motor home some.  Need to see our little Lincoln, because he is growing fast.  Right after Xmas we plan to break camp and head to McDill in Tampa to spend a few months.  That way we get to keep Jackson and will be there for his first birthday.  I am second guessing our plans to travel to Alaska in the Spring.  Not ready to take the chance of damaging the motor home on the bad roads and really hate to put that many miles on it.  Instead, we may travel up the east coast to visit my sister and on toward Bruce and Fran in New Hampshire and then to Maine.  If I talk real sweet maybe Billy will stop and let me visit New York City along the way.  Oh yes, and a stop to see Cindy in Washington, DC.  Billy reminded me that I told him before we got married that I hated DC, but I think I would like it staying in the motor home and just going into town to visit Cindy and the museums.

Words can't tell you how much we have enjoyed this trip.  We are like goldfish.  We adapt to the size of our bowl.  We have managed to carry dirty laundry over 21 state lines and enjoyed every mile.  Today's photos are again of Maggie dragging her toys to the dashboard of the motor home.  I never think to take these pictures in the morning before the sun is shining on the windows, but my brother wanted a picture of Maggie's "den."  LIFE IS GOOD TODAY!