Saturday Jan 30, 2010

Saturday here in Lake Pointe was very cold!!!  We put both of our slide outs in last night because of the wind coming right at us from the North. It seems to come in under the slide out and is very cold inside.  The furnace doesn’t run a lot but it is very cool inside.  Had to do some minor repairs to the furnace.  One of the pipes came loose from the heat chamber and was ridiculously hard to get at.  It took about an hour to get it hooked back up but should stay now.  We didn’t do a lot today, went for coffee at the office and got to talk to some of the old friends we had known from 3 years ago. Linda got chilly and didn’t want to go out so I went to Charles and Pat’s place this evening and had a real nice visit with them.  Charlie helped my set up the dish network  dish earlier today.  Took awhile then I spent about 45 minutes on the phone so we could get the local channels (weather and news) so they could tell us it was pretty CHILLY outside!!  This is January and it is supposed to be cool.  It is kind of unusual though.  Our camper is working out quite nicely, small, can’t do much entertaining here but it is comfortable.

 

This is the inside of our camper, works nicely but it is not a party place. Well, have to sign off for now will get back on here tomorrow if I’m not to busy:-)

Lake Pointe Resort, Canyon Lake TX

Had a pretty good and safe trip from Kerrville TX to Lake Pointe Resort in Canyon Lake TX.  It was windy and since this is the hill country, it was pretty hilly.  The top picture is Charles and Pat.  We worked here at the same time in the summer of 2007.  Had a great time with them and have been keeping in touch with them ever since.  The bottom picture is Bill Irvine (SOB)  Same Old Bill.  We all got together tonight and went to the Italian Garden Restaurant for some excellent Italian food.  Linda and I shared a pizza.  We love their pizza.  It is just cheese with Afredo sauce.  It is excellent.  I will take more pictures and put more in here tomorrow.  Didn’t have my camera at the restaurant.  I just can’t remember to take it with me all the time.

Friday Jan 29, 2010

Here are a couple pictures of the campground “By The River” where we are staying for a couple of nights.  We were planning on staying one night but the rain has been coming down quite heavy and I really don’t want to try to put the car back on the dolly when it is raining.  This morning seems like it may be nice enough to do it, but it still sprinkles and rains once in awhile.  I had to take the car off the dolly because it had worked its way back to the rear of the dolly and didn’t look real stable there.

We went to a pot luck last night up at the “clubhouse” office and had a good time.  There were probably 20 of us and the owners daughters fixed pot roast for everyone and we took a dish to pass. The pot roast was excellent, (forgot the camera again) and the rest of the food was good also.  I fixed 2 boxes of Rice A Roni and put in a pound of fried, smoked jalapeno sausage.  Not bad, we had a spoonful left when we got home so I had to finish it.  Met some very nice people, most of whom stay here for the winter, and a couple that are staying for a day or two like us. 

We are looking forward to getting on the road this morning, well, Linda is still sleeping, but I’m sure she is really excited about getting on the road.  Will continue our soggy saga later on….

Thursday Jan 28, 2010

Here are a couple of pictures, the top one is a gigantic road runner and the little sign behind it says  “BEWARE OF SNAKES”.  I don’t like snakes, but I think roadrunners do.  I don’t remember exactly where this was but it was somewhere in Texas on the way to Kerrville.  The bottom picture is a picture of the Guadalupe River.    We are sitting in the camper now, it is raining, not hard, but hard enough to get wet if I try to do anything outside. Guess my blog has my attention right now.  Really would like to travel on to Canyon Lake today but I might melt if I go outside.  There isn’t any real hurry anyway.  I’m not sure I want to be this close to the Guadalupe if we get severe weather (lots of rain etc).  This is the “Hill Country”.  There are a lot of hills, beautiful though.

This picture is the same rest area, beautiful.  Thought this was an excellent picture.  Linda said this was before we got to Ft Stockton, Must have been close to El Paso, anyway it was a beautiful sight where ever it was.

Wednesday Jan 27, 2010

We traveled from Ft Stockton to Kerrville TX today. The weather wasn’t really good, lots of wind, from the wrong direction of course, and then it started to mist or rain, had to use the windshield wipers.  We made it to “By The River” RV Park about 5PM, got set up and emailed Carol. We figured it would be to late but she must have had her computer on and she emailed right back with her phone number!!  We called and she drove over and spent the evening with us.  We met in Coffeyville KS working at Amazon.  Linda and Carol hit it off right away, but Carol is very outgoing and could be friends with anyone I think.  She is very happy and energetic.  If you read this Carol, I was going to take a picture but forgot! Can’t believe I forgot something.  This picture was from Coffeyville and it was at Thanksgiving.  We are camped along the Guadalupe River, very nice, and we walked to the shore and at first glance I thought the river had algae on it but looking closer it was very clear and you could see the bottom of the river.  We like the Guadalupe!  Well, not when it floods and we are supposed to get a lot of rain tomorrow.  We did want to travel on to Canyon Lake TX.  Will see what happens tomorrow.

Tuesday Jan 26, 2010

Well, we are still in Vado, NM and it is cold.  I am not sure but I think our water froze up.  I took the hose off and brought it inside for awhile.  I didn’t turn the water off and I just looked out the window and I have a faucet on wide open and a little river flowing down the road.  Guess it was frozen, thought they had turned it off again maybe.  Oh well.

We will be on the road again this morning heading to either Van Horn or Fort Stockton, probably Fort Stockton, it is about 260 miles, not to bad a drive I don’t think.  Guess we are in for another cold snap.  Hasn’t warmed up yet, I think the cold weather is following us.

I am having problems with my computer this morning, can’t get online so I will have to post this later, maybe this evening when we stop.

Well, we made it to Fort Stockton and stayed in a small campground there. The weather is pretty nice, windy, but still kind of warm….Have to travel on though.

Pastor Dalmus Meeks, Jane and Kara

Wanted to get a little bit in about our Pastor in Rock Falls IL.  Pastor Meeks started Harvest Time Bible Church I believe in 1982, but may have missed that by a year or 2.  Linda and I started attending when it was quite small, about 90 members, and stayed there until we started traveling in 2000 or 2001, give or take a few years.  We enjoy Harvest Time and all the people that attend there.  It has grown so much since we have been traveling that we don’t know very many people anymore.  We still enjoy listening to Dalmus preach though.  We don’t get up home nearly as much as we would like.  I guess being retired is just to busy for us.  I like to travel around and do different jobs so we don’t really stay in one place for a very long time.  If anyone gets close to Rock Falls, IL  look up Harvest Time Bible Church and check it out.  I am sure you won’t be disappointed because like I said Dalmus is an excellent preacher……God bless you Dalmus, Jane and Kara.

Monday Jan 25th 2010

Well, we started on our little voyage this morning.  Left David and Marian’s place at Safford AZ about 10AM.  Had a great little trip to Vado NM with no problems to speak of.  I always worry about the car behind us (the toad) and wonder if it is doing OK. 

We got to the Vado RV Park and found out they are having pump problems and we thought about going on but I think we will be able to make it on the water that we have.  Hopefully they will have it fixed early in the morning.

It was pretty warm here actually, about 60 degrees I think. It is 7:30pm now and very chilly outside.  I think it is supposed to get close to freezing tonight.  Will keep the covers tight.

We will head on tomorrow I think to Van Horn TX and may stay a couple days there because bad weather is supposed to hit again. (I need a haircut too:-)

Will write more tomorrow probably, everyone have a great day….Joel

Kimberly Ann (Floto) Eurich

The above picture is our oldest daughter Kimberly Ann and her husband Dave.  Kim is a clothes designer and this is a new series she is putting on the market, probably will go far.  OK she isn’t a clothes designer, this is Halloween and they did the Wizard of Oz deal.  Kim is the poppy field and Dave is the (Dr) Wizard of Oz.  (TV Dr Oz!)   Kim works in the San Diego School District also and is a counselor at Point Loma High School.  I may have that wrong Kim, sorry.  Dave is a number cruncher, well, that’s what I call it.  He is an accountant or tax preparation person for businesses. Their son Jacob, seen earlier) is in Santa Barbara CA at UCSB.  He is a sophomore this year.  We had a great time visiting and doing different things with them especially going to Santa Barbara to see Jacob and the university he is at.  I could go on but I am going to get ready to go to church and will probably write more on my blog tonight.  Love you Kim and Dave….Jacob too….Keep up the good work, and get well Kim….

Saturday Jan 23rd 2010 Tombstone AZ

Here we are in Tombstone AZ the top picture just looks nice, it was one of the best pictures I took today.  The middle picture was in a saloon, Six Gun City Saloon, and they look like they may have had a little to much to drink….Tea, Coffee and Hot Chocolate.  They put on a narrated gun fight and it was really entertaining.  They even joked about the people that got shot.  It was very good and entertaining.  The bottom picture is just a stage coach that you could ride in but everything was very expensive. We didn’t ride that ride or go into a lot of the other traps.  It was still a very good day.

Sunny Southern Arizona

Well, here we are in sunny Southern Arizona!!  It is sunny (partly) today but it is also very cold!!!  This is in the mountains.  Graham Mountain.  David took us part way up and it was gorgeous.  The views from part way up were spectacular even if it was snowy.  The last couple of days were rainy so today was beautiful even if it was cold.

We have had a great time here, will go to church with David and Marian tomorrow (Sunday) and kind of relax the rest of the day I think.  Anyway we have had a great time here in spite of the weather.

Didn’t God do a marvelous job??  Not anything we could do that is for sure. There are views like this all over, I have a lot of snaps of others that are just as good or even better than this.

Brenna Jo (Floto) Vanderpool

This is our youngest daughter Brenna, her awesome husband (I will explain that later) Darin, Alexa 4 years old and Jake 2 years old.  I need to explain about the awesome part, we stayed with them for almost 3 months and he didn’t ask us to leave!!!!!!  Brenna wanted us to stay longer but we have places to go and people to see but will return again, probably this year.  I just happened to snap this picture as they were getting ready to go to church wearing their Sunday best.  Well, it wasn’t church but halloween but they did go to their church for the kids party.

Darin is a scientist working for a called Takeda (SP?).  He does things there that I can’t even pronounce.  He loves his job and also the people he works for and with.  Brenna works at Children’s hospital in San Diego and is a secretary for some Doctors in Pulmonary section of the hospital.  Bren you will have to correct me if that isn’t quite right.  Alexa is a girly girl. The way she is dressed here (except for the hair) is the way she likes to dress.  She loves shoes and dresses, especially FANCY ones.  Wonder what she will be like at 16???  Jake is a character.  Loves to watch Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go.  His favorite character in Dora is Swiper the Fox…..OOOOHHH  MAN!!  These 2 kids are busy.  Always up to something.  We enjoyed our stay with them and got to do a little bonding and baby sitting too.  Had a great time, thanks Bren and Darin for allowing us to stay so long.

Audrey Kaye (Floto) Stover

This is Audrey Kaye Stover with her 3 kids Gianna 13, Kedric 10 and Jared 10.  Audrey (Dee Dee) works in the San Diego School system as a dietician which she really enjoys, also that is what she went to school for. Not everyone gets the job that they want and are trained for.  Gianna is a horse lover.  I think she would be at home on a ranch so she could be around horses all the time.  Jared is a gamer, well, that is what I call it.  He said he would like to create computer games and I hope that he pursues his dreams.  Kedric likes to cook, especially baking.  He learned to make biscuits and has people buying them from him….Go Kedric.  I also like to bake and I would like to have checked out the way he makes his biscuits.  We made pizza and cinnamon rolls together.  Had a great time and it turned out quite good.  We ate it anyway and we are still here to talk about it.   Linda made the fixings for the pizza, Kedric and I made the crusts.  Jared and Kedric both have something like a skate board but it twists in the middle and you don’t have to push yourself, quite amazing equipment.  They all ride them (except Dee). 

David Marian and Sean – Safford AZ

We arrived here in Safford a couple of days ago. in the top picture from left to right are Sean, Marian, David and Shane Hootman. We met David and Marian and Sean last summer in Bowling Green KY at Beechbend amusement park.  We kept in touch with David and Marian and met David again in San Diego at Santé Fe RV Park.  Marian wasn’t with him so we said on our way back East we would stop and visit for a few days.  It was beautiful when we arrived but has been raining ever since.  I think all Arizona has gotten almost their years quota for rain.  We have been having a good time eating out and just visiting.  I had to include a picture of Sean, he is an animal lover.  He has a dog named Munchkin, a Chihuahua (I spelled Chihuahua right!!)  He also rides horses.  He has won trophies for jumping and I’m not sure what kind of riding that is but I’m sure Gianna would know.  We plan on leaving this coming Monday, today is Friday. It has to stop raining though before we leave, and our camper still leaks!!  Bummer!   Both slides leak now, will take a look at it when it dries out.  We have both slides in now.  WOW talk about getting off track, we are going to make homemade pizza tonight, I will make the crust, Linda will make the rest of it.  Oh I almost forgot, David worked at a copper mine just North of Safford and is now retired.  We may be working at the same campground come Spring.  Compton Ridge in Branson.  We haven’t decided yet if we will stay home or go to Branson…time will tell.  Going to save this because I can’t get online to post it, may have to stop raining first.

California Kids

I am trying to get some pictures of the kids and grankids put on my blog. I am still having a little problem getting the pictures in right. The picture below is Linda, Kim and grandson Jacob. We went to Santa Barbara for parents week to see Jacob and UC Santa Barbara. We had a great time and the campus was really nice. We are proud of all our kids and grandkids and seeing them going through life and growing into adulthood is just amazing. Jacob is studying to be a marine biologist, and that fits into his lifestyle being a surfer, swimmer and water polo nut. I'm sure that Jacob will succeed in most anything he does. We were very surprised when he told us he learned to play the guitar!! He taught himself. That takes a lot of determination and self control. Wish I had that determination. Kim and Dave, Jacob's parents have taught him well and been there for him to help and encourage him.

RAINY DAY

We arrived last night here in Safford AZ, our friends David and Marian met us and helped us get hooked up and settled in.  As I said it is raining and our slide out leaks.  I put it in this morning after stepping in some water.  It isn’t raining hard or blowing so I’m not sure what they did at LaMesa RV but it didn’t leak during the storm but now….I’ve seen a rainbow twice this morning and haven’t gotten a picture of it..

This is another picture of Hank and Glady.  We visited with them one afternoon and had a great time.  This is a little better picture than the other one.

Don and LaVon on our last day in Casa Grande.  With all the traveling we do I am sure we will cross paths somewhere in the future…

LaVon and Linda (one “L”) posing for their picture.  Had a great time. May God bless and keep you both healthy and happy.

Trip to Safford AZ

We had a beautiful day today, we woke up to sunshine and very little wind! We hooked up our car and tow dolley and with a little trouble got on our way about 1030AM. Had to stop at LaMesa RV in Tucson to have them adjust our slide out in the bedroom. They also put a drain hose on the refrigerator. The old one was to short and brittle. We spent about 4 hours there and they fixed everything. I was very surprised that they would even look at it but we have most everything fixed for now and got on the road about 320PM and arrived at Safford around 530PM and had a very nice trip. Our friends met us and led us to their home and helped us get hooked up and settled in. They took us to a Mexican restaurant called El Charro. Had a great meal and a good time of fellowship. Their son Shawn was gone when we arrived but met him after we got back home. He is the same except a lot taller than he was in Bowling Green KY. Had a great visit but I was really tired. We are back in the camper now and trying to get this posted before going to bed.

LaVon told me that if you want to see a bigger picture than the one I posted you can just click on it. I haven’t any pictures this time but have a lot to put on later…..Everyone have a great night…..Joel & Linda

Wednesday Jan 20th 2010

Well, I had a lot to put on this page but I can't seem to get it downloaded. Sooooo here is a short version, we had a storm last night, kind of wondered if our camper was going to stay upright. The wind really blew hard, enough to get rain into our furnace and camper, but if only lasted a couple of hours I think. I went to sleep so I'm not sure. I know the power went off, lucky most of our stuff runs on 12 volts. We didn't know the power was off until we went to bed.

This morning looks like a beautiful day, may be a good day to travel. The sun is shining and so far the wind isn't blowing. We are going to head out to Safford AZ to see David and Marian and their son Shawn. I think it will only be a couple hundred miles so should be a short day. We have a lot of packing to do, like getting the car on the tow dolley etc. I need to get Linda up and we need to get packing.

I have a lot to write about our family in San Diego and that will probably come later....Happy travels...

Thought I would enclose a picture of our camper. It is small but is pretty comfortable....Bye for now...

Tuesday Jan 19th 2010

OK This is Tuesday and we had a great day today.  Went to Coolidge, AZ to the bank and got a few things taken care of.  We had lunch at a little ice cream place which turned out to be very nice.  Linda got a BBQ and I had a frito chili pie.  We also had some ice cream after that.  We took off to see Don and LaVon again and played a round of Zilch.  Had a good time.  LaVon checked my blog and showed me how to post it.  I have to back track in time to get some things on here that I really want to post.  I am going to put on a couple of pictures of my brothers and sisters taken at my Dad’s funeral last year.  I figured this would be the last time we would all be together.  I was right, my oldest sister passed away in December 2009 after a long illness.

In the above picture we are in order of our age… Well, on the left is Geoff who represents my oldest brother Kenneth who died when I was very young.  Sister Anthony Clare (Barbara Floto) just passed away in December.  Fred Floto, Edward Floto, Sister Margaret Anne (Betty Gay Floto), me  and my youngest brother Dennis.  In the middle is Marian Floto, our step mother, and the picture above on the left is Bill Morris and his wife Sandy.  Bill is Marian’s son and in the rest in the picture are the spouses of the boys, Geoff and Karen, Fred and Joan, Ed and Larena, Joel and Linda and Dennis and Joan.  As far as travels go, Linda and I will be heading out in the morning (I think) on our way to Safford AZ to visit friends we met in Bowling Green KY.  Hopefully it won’t be raining or windy tomorrow.  I will definitely  write more tomorrow and if we don’t get to leave I will definitely put more in here about out family in San Diego.  I will do it anyway but my be in a few days.  Take care everyone and may the Lord bless and keep you…..

MY DAD

Well, I thought that I would write a little about my Father, Frank Marshall Floto.   My Dad was born December 22nd 1908 and lived to be over 100 years old.  My Dad may not have been a well know movie star or a well known politician (oh I hope not) but my Dad was a great inspiration to me and I believe all my brothers and sisters.  Dad had ethics, especially work ethics.  Dad did a job and did it right.  I thought about that for a long time and I saw that people respected him for this and even though he wasn’t wealthy money wise he was wealthy in other ways that mean a lot more than money.  Dad lived a simple life and I think he enjoyed living and all the people around him.   I don’t think I will ever live up to the ethics he had but I try and try not to disappoint any of my family or the ones that I work for or make a contract or promise with.  I am putting a picture of my Dad and Marian in January 2009.  Love ya Dad…..

Sunday

OK I'm on a roll now, found out how to do this at least once. I needed to add Sunday, went to church with Pastor Don and LaVon Baker at Sunscape RV Park in Casa Grande. Played some Zilch then went to a concert at their park. Sarah Getto, a 25 year old girl, blind from birth and talented like you wouldn't believe. One of the best concerts I think i have been to. I am putting on a picture of her and Don and LaVon. We met Don and LaVon at Coffeyville, KS also, he was our chaplin, which we really needed at Coffeyville. Working at Amazon.com wasn't the greatest job in the world but the workampers were. We had a great time there and met a lot of great workampers and friends Don and LaVon. Hope that we get to see each other again, may the Lord bless and keep you in all you do...

PS..Another picture that wasn't the greatest...I'm not as good as you LaVon at taking pictures.

MONDAY!!!!

Well, it is Monday and we have had a nice day, it rained and was cloudy and cool but still a nice day. We went to Casa Grande to visit Hank and Glady Olson from MN. We worked with Hank and Glady at Coffeyville, KS in 2008. We really enjoyed the visit and had a great afternoon. Sorry about the picture Hank and Glady but I think this is what we did best....EATING!!! We really enjoy your company, good times and good laughs...Have a great winter

First Day

Our travels started long ago but last year in October we set out for San Diego to be with the kids and grandkids for about 3 months. Later I will add pictures of some of our adventures and what all we experienced in those 3 months. We are now heading back to Missouri, very slowly and will also put in a bunch of pictures of our adventures on the way back to Missouri. That is all for now; will update this at a later date.