Back home

Here we are on our way to Illinois, passing St. Louis, MO. Left on July 20, got there on July 21st. It was a long drive, but it was worth it. We were able to see my aunt for 3 days before she passed away on the 4th day (July 25th). We were not able to stay for the services, but we were there when it mattered - when she was alive.

This is a dairy farm we passed while driving up to Wisconsin to a cheese factory. I was in awe of how cool the weather is and has been up north. We are burning in TX with 105 degrees daily, while my relatives live in mid 50's degree at night!

We left Rockford IL on July 27th, headed to Port Clinton, OH to visit my birthtown of Port Clinton, OH. It had been a life-long dream of mine to visit where I was born before I pass from this earth and my parents helped to fulfill that dream. I cannot explain the "closure" I felt when we finally arrived. Just knowing my parents once walked those streets while in their early 20's...just can't put it into words.

This is my parents and me in front of the hospital where I was born. Of course, it's all modernized now, but it's still the only hospital in Port Clinton. Dad was worried about walking on the grass, until a nurse came out and offered to take our picture!

Leaving the beautiful state of Ohio. There, one more life-long dream fulfilled.

The reason I post this picture is because this semi was hauling this combine. As you can see, the tires had been removed. 2 other tires were strapped behind the combine. At one point the strap broke and one of the 500 lb tires cam bouncing down the highway!! It was a miracle of our Almighty God that no one was hurt! The tire bounced about 5 times and came to rest in the grassy medium. The shock of what had just happened hit us all later and we were speechless! Thank you GOD! for seeing that no one was hurt in any way!

TEXAS!! YES!!! It may be hot and it may sometimes be boring, but it's HOME!!

All in all, we were on the road for 5 days and we were in IL for 5 days. We traveled very close to 4K miles, averaging 850 miles daily, just my aunt and I as drivers. Wouldn't trade it for the world, but next time I'm going by plane!

My weight crept up to 228 while gone! UGHH!! Too many chips and junk on the road. It's back to slim fast and protein now. I HAVE to lose this weight! My son plans on getting married in Vegas in late October, I should be able to pull off a 30# weight loss in 3 months. I just have to DO IT!!

On Vacation and Refreshed

I finally finished my contract for the school year on June 25th. Have been doing nothing and enjoying it! Met up with my boyfriend in Rockport, TX for our annual week long vacation. We stay in some cottages along the waterfront and just lounge around, drink beer, talk, eat and sleep. No touristy thing for us, no visits to unknown places, just sit and do nothing!


Picture 1: View of the bay from our cottage.
Picture 2: View of our cottage from the private pier. The little cottage shown here used to be a bait stand. Our cottage is across the street from the pier.
Picture 3: Sitting on the pier at sundown. Aaaahhh, so relaxing.

The other couple that we went with would go out to eat every day. She said she was on vacation and was NOT cooking. I told them that this is the only time I get to cook for my boyfriend so I would get up every morning and make us a delicious Mexican-style breakfast. He barbecued pork butt and fried some shrimp for me.

I met him in 2003, so this is our 7th annual vacation we take together. Even though I love him, and I love being with him, it's always good to come back home. Could it be that we both have spent so much time alone, that we are used to being on our own? We sometimes talk about "someday when we're old and retired", about getting married, but is it wrong NOT to want to get married now, after all these years together?

Friends have said we don't love each other enough to get married. But I think it's BECAUSE we love each other so much that we are so happy with our arrangement. I just look at it as if we are married but our jobs keep us living in separate places.

Don't even want to weigh myself, thinking at least 5 lbs up during vacation. But daughter and I are helping each other out with good eating habits and I'm hoping that will finally get me moving in the right direction.


My grandson who lives with me is starting school in a few weeks. WOW, seems like just yesterday my daughter shocked me with, "I'm pregnant." We promised to love and support each other and we have. She and Ryan live with me, she works at the school I work at and I take care of him while she attends the university at night. She's half-way done so we're looking forward to the day she has her degree. Something she should have done when she didn't have a child to look after, but better now while she is unmarried and has no other commitments and still lives with me.

My new grandson turned 1 month 2 days ago! Can you believe it?? WOW, time is going to fly! I haven't gone to see him since I returned on Friday, but will spend the day with them tomorrow.

I've got another post in my mind, but it's related to my job.


I'll be back later tonight to put that up.