Birthday happenings

When I got up this morning, I decided I wasn’t going to do anything I didn’t want to do today in honor of my birthday.  Birthdays really don’t mean that much to me, and I’m not sure why everyone celebrates them so, but it was a good excuse to indulge myself.  :)  That meant I could procrastinate for another day and not do those chores that are necessary, but mundane.  So, no laundry, vacuuming or defrosting the freezer.
Shortly before noon, I took myself out to the Boondocks Restaurant for dinner.  What an excellent decision that turned out to be.  Boondocks is located about five miles off the main drag of US 20.  It is run and owned by a man that is not a cook, but a chef!  What an interesting menu this small establishment had.  You know I wasn’t expecting to find lobster here in Island Park, but I ordered the foot long shrimp (close enough).  I usually don’t talk about food much, but this meal was excellent.  Lightly breaded and spiced jumbo butterflied shrimp, skewered and grilled.  The salad was memorable, and there were also fries and a delicious home made roll.  I’m thinking I may stop here two more times before I leave for the sirloin steak smothered in mushrooms and onions, and the rainbow trout Almandine.  Most of the customers were local folks, and there was good natured bantering going on.  The menu remains the same all day long.  I appreciate that since I really like to have my main meal at noon.  There was an eclectic variety of music in the background…from classical, to ragtime, to Willy Nelson, and it didn’t hurt your ears!  All in all, an enjoyable birthday dinner.  :)

When I got back to the rig, I messed around on the computer for a while, and then Emma and I sat outside.
Star, the Brittany Spaniel, is Emma’s best friend next door.  Star is 9 months old, and the two of them have similar levels of energy.
They just go on and on, but it really helps drain their energy so they are both worn out at night.  :)  Emma’s head got chopped off in the right hand picture, but you can see that all eight paws are often off of the ground.  Wish I had that kind of energy.  :)
While the dogs were romping, Jackie, Jim, and June invited me over for some birthday cake.  What a thoughtful surprise that was!  I haven’t had a birthday cake in I don’t know how many years.  What great neighbors these folks are.  We had a great time sharing stories while enjoying the cake and ice cream.  They are Star’s owners.  You couldn’t ask for better folks to be parked next to for two months.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes from you folks out there.  They made my day.  It was another good day in the neighborhood.  :)   The winds are really beginning to howl tonight, as I write.  Maybe I’d better go stow my rocker….

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy

Campground etiquette

I’ve read lots of blogs where fulltimers complain about weekend warriors with their noisy dogs and children and music and campfire smoke.  Now, dogs left to bark incessantly do get on my last nerve, but I can put up with some of those other things for two days.  Having spent many summers as a campground host, I’ve pretty much seen it all.

Today was a corker for me, though.  The way this campground is set up, every two sites share a LARGE yard out their passenger side doors.  This means that the driver’s side of each site is pretty close to the neighbor on that side.  I’ve been here almost six weeks now, and have had excellent neighbors the entire time.

When my neighbor on my driver’s side left today, it was only about a half hour before the next motorhome moved in.  I need to preface this by stating that I have a site where you drive in face first.  So, I set up my satellite DISH at the rear of my motorhome.  Not one person in five weeks has interfered with that setup.  The new motorhome backed into the site and the husband was happy with the job.  Not the wife, however.  She decided he needed to move their motorhome forward about ten feet.  Why, I don’t know.  There is no one in back of them.  The husband pointed out that this would totally block my dish.  Her answer…”So what!  She can move it!”  She’s obviously the boss there, so move it he did, and yes, I had to move the dish.
Of course, she had a roof mounted automatic dome, and obviously doesn’t understand the challenge involved in moving mine.  It took me close to two hours to find another spot where I could get a signal.  Shame on me, but as I was sweating away moving the cement blocks and trying to level the dish, my imagination was putting a layer of sharp nails under their tires.  :(

After they set up with all that extra room behind their rig, they jumped into their toad to head out.  Instead of following the camp roads, they cut right across over the grass through the yard of the two rigs across from us.  I couldn’t believe it.  Where did these people come from?  I hesitate to say…California.  (sorry Merikay)  My guess is they are not fulltimers, as they don’t even have the proper screw in thingy for the dump hose.
 
OMG!  I just looked out my front window, and this same guy has brought his dog into my yard to do his business.  Ugh!  Okay, so now I’m glad they’re only staying two nights.  Emily Post, send them a long message!

I’m having to remind myself that this too will pass.  :) 

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy

A new neighbor

For the past month, I've had the area around the two new sites all to myself.  March first meant that one volunteer couple moved on and another volunteer moved in.  Dub decided to put him in the new site next to me.  The other empty site is being saved for my friends Diana and John in case they are able to make it here.  They were supposed to arrive this month, but it turns out they will be delayed a few months.  That's too bad, as I was looking forward to their arrival.

We were told that this new volunteer had a small rig.

I'd say that was a gross understatement!!!  I can't believe Adrian Peterson is living in this rig for several months.  He has all the other volunteers wondering.  I think that camper is less than ten feet long.  I haven't seen the inside, but there can't be more than a bed and table inside.  He did say he had a small cook top.  Hmmm....there's a cooler outside so I'm guessing maybe no ice box?  What about a bathroom?  I can't wait to get to know him better to find out the details.  Inquiring minds want to know!

I hope my friend, Susan, reads this up in Minnesota.  She is interested in purchasing one of these tee pee shaped campers.  Since we are next door neighbors, I'll try to get the down and dirty after he settles in.  Perhaps he likes to read a lot.  I like my DISH and computer for entertainment during these long dark evenings.

It doesn't matter if you live fulltime in an RV or live in a sticks and bricks; getting a new next door neighbor always brings a little excitement, especially on a cold rainy day.  ;)  Of course the rest of the crew here thinks I ought to check him out because he might be a hot prospect for me.  Ha Ha Ha.  Settle down you would be matchmakers............

Thanks for stopping by....talk to you later,  Judy