The short story: Wife works nights. From the time Sooga was 8 weeks old (when my wife went back to work), it was me and Sooga. I gave her her bath, fed her, put her to sleep, and woke her up in the morning, fed her, and got her dressed, and took her to the baby sitter. (thank God my son was old enough to take care of himself)
In the morning, I'd wake her up saying "Good morning Sugar pie" I promise, even on the mornings her eyes were matted shut with "crud", she'd be smiling upon hearing my voice.
As the years went by, "Sugar pie" became "Sooga pie". And as the years kept going, that turned into "Sooga". (and, I'm talking by age 5 or so)
To this day, say we're in a crowded gym, all kinds of noise: I can yell her name and she won't look. If I yell "Sooga", she hears it.
But, there's a certain way to say it: It's not "Shooga". It's "SOO gah".
Heck, even her friends call her that. Coaches do too.
I'm all moved into the new house that I mentioned earlier in this thread, am 99% unpacked and am loving it so far. It's nice to be out in the country a bit but still close to the city. Had a great sunrise this morning, the picture doesn't do it justice.
While this is certainly not as cool as Swish's new M6, I had to buy something to take care of the property (it's 6 acres, with 5 or so of it grass). I have to say, this would have been on the list of things I thought I'd never own about 5 months ago, lol.
I was between a zero turn and a compact tractor and went with the tractor since it has more uses than cutting the lawn.
My oldest daughter Deniza and her classmate just got 3rd place in the school districts elementary school science fair.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
they were doing a simple experiment using a kinect-made car and a rubberband. 2nd grade level stuff.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
I stuck one of these on the back of my truck and brought it home on Tuesday evening. Never pulled anything that big and the winds were cranking with those storms blowing in. I white knuckled it until I got used to the pitch and sway. It's home safe and sound. Can't wait to de-winterize it and break it in.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
I think I may get one of these in the future. The idea of taking myself on the road during the summer, and seeing parts of the country sounds absolutely phenomenal.
So, here is just a small, small part of our conversation (keep in mind, we covered softball, dating (mom and me dating)and a bunch more)
"Dad, what are my tire pressures supposed to be?"
Oh, I think on this car, 38, why?
Well, the dash shows that my left right tire is at 32.
"What?"
It shows my left right tire at 32.
I didn't say anything for a few seconds, thinking she might get it. Nope.
"Well, hon, when we get home I guess I'll have to check that left right tire."
Thanks dad.
I waited a good 10-12 seconds. I finally said "Sooga, you don't have a left right tire. You have a left rear. The "L" is left, the "R" is rear. It's your left rear tire, not your left right tire.
I stuck one of these on the back of my truck and brought it home on Tuesday evening. Never pulled anything that big and the winds were cranking with those storms blowing in. I white knuckled it until I got used to the pitch and sway. It's home safe and sound. Can't wait to de-winterize it and break it in.
#taketotheopenroad #homeonwheels
Me likey!
I wanna do this when I retire. Lug The Home to some centralized locale... then get TF out there!
Canoeing trips Backcountry camping/hiking Rolling into the nearest town for an epic meal at a diner...
You're right about it being the best of both worlds. Years ago we took a trip out west in a motor home. It seemed that every night when we hooked up and settled in, we realized we forgot something at the store or someone discovered a critter or something to see just up the road. With a travel trailer, you have your vehicle available to jump in and take off. Not to mention they are less than 1/4 the cost. They are so light these days you don't need a heavy duty truck to pull them, either.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
I'm torn on that. We have a motorhome. I know what you're saying - once in a while we get somewhere, get all set up, and if need be, or desire be, to go somewhere else......I'm not decamping just to go. We'll do without if we arent with someone that has a tow vehicle.
But the other side is, in a motor home, you can walk around, lay in the bed, sleep (while I've driving) on the bed or couch, play games at the kitchen table, make a sandwich.........all while on the move.
In a trailer, all passengers have to be in the tow vehicle. A pickup.
When we go anywhere, we USUALLY have another couple and their kids with us.
6 of one, half dozen of the other I guess.
The actual "driving to your destination" is better in a motor home. The actual "we're at our destination, but we want to go here or there" is better with a trailer.
The actual "driving to your destination" is better in a motor home. The actual "we're at our destination, but we want to go here or there" is better with a trailer.
Yup. You nailed the 'trade-off scenario' in one sentence. It's always been the big decision with this kind of motoring. Now, the really rich folk have the solution: Travel in a Luxury Bus, and tow a Mazda Miata behind. [moneysound: "cha-CHIIIING..."]
Outside of that, the trade-off will always be there.
The actual "driving to your destination" is better in a motor home. The actual "we're at our destination, but we want to go here or there" is better with a trailer.
Yup. You nailed the 'trade-off scenario' in one sentence. It's always been the big decision with this kind of motoring. Now, the really rich folk have the solution: Travel in a Luxury Bus, and tow a Mazda Miata behind. [moneysound: "cha-CHIIIING..."]
Outside of that, the trade-off will always be there.
The parents of a good friend of mine retired and bought a decked out diesel pusher motorhome and tow a Jeep Wrangler behind it. They drive all over the country in it.
Each of them have about 4 to 6 times the value of my house invested "invested" in their motor coaches. (once you get to a certain dollar value, I guess motor homes become motor coaches)
They can do that. First, they have the money. Secondly, a diesel pusher can tow a vehicle and suffer no driving .....dissatisfication (is that the word I want?) They can set the cruise, towing their vehicles, at 75 and the coach never misses a beat.
We have many, many friends that have a lake cottage. Sounds awesome.
But when you have one of those around here, and aren't retired, you have limited time to be there. Consequently, most of your weekends are spent going to the same place. Every weekend.
You're busy getting your "homestead" mowed, etc. so that on Friday you can drive to the lake to mow up there, get your boat off the lift Saturday, drive the boat around, party Sat. night. Get up Sunday, do the same boating thing, or just sit tight and watch t.v., then leave Sunday evening to go home so you can work M-F.
One of our besties grew up managing a family campground on the Maumee. They own about a linear mile of Real Estate along the shores of the Maumee. Most of their clientele is 'repeat/ongoing business': the clients rent the same space, year-to-year.
The observations you've made are exactly what he describes to us, when he talks about 'River People Life'... They kill themselves in early Spring (setup season) and Autumn (winterize season)... and spend a good amount of their 3-4 month's-long 'vacation time' on camper/site maintenance. The location is beautiful, and never has a seasonal opening. Jim refers to it as "Hell On Heaven's Shores."
But the 'moneystream' is strong, yo... and this side-hustle has been a money-making mainstay that's greatly to the family farm's coffers for more than 30 years.
When I asked Jim how he'd rock it for his own life, he said: "I'd use their rent money to buy what I want, and go where I want... someplace different every time. At the family campground, the scenery never changes. I'll NEVER do that-"
Gotta agree with him, you know?
There's a reason these constructs are called "travel trailers" and "mobile homes."
The key word is: "mobile."
It's a 'lifestyle choice.' You're either down with the base concept, or you're forced to own multiple homes that tie you down.
p.s I'm not naive about 'Mobile Home Maintenance.' It's costly too- and just another part of the trade-off game that everyone sings on to...
I'm torn on that. We have a motorhome. I know what you're saying - once in a while we get somewhere, get all set up, and if need be, or desire be, to go somewhere else......I'm not decamping just to go. We'll do without if we arent with someone that has a tow vehicle.
But the other side is, in a motor home, you can walk around, lay in the bed, sleep (while I've driving) on the bed or couch, play games at the kitchen table, make a sandwich.........all while on the move.
In a trailer, all passengers have to be in the tow vehicle. A pickup.
When we go anywhere, we USUALLY have another couple and their kids with us.
6 of one, half dozen of the other I guess.
The actual "driving to your destination" is better in a motor home. The actual "we're at our destination, but we want to go here or there" is better with a trailer.
Good points. If I were travelling with kids, I'd definitely rethink the situation.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
My brother owns a campground, and his bread and butter are the seasonal campers. Like you said, they park these beautiful travel trailers and fifth wheels for the season and that's where they spend all of their free time from April through October. It's a really nice campground community, but it's mind boggling that someone would buy one of these things just to park it there. Even if you want to stay close to home, there are so many beautiful places to see in Ohio and neighboring states.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
For some people, having a lake cottage, or a trailer/motor home at 1 location is just wonderful. That's fine, I get it.
Friend/neighbor of mine - several years back - bought a trailer. Took it about 3 miles from here, to a campground. Parked it. It was going to be there weekend getaway for the summer.
The first 2, maybe 3 weekends, he'd come home from work on Friday, shower, and off he, his wife, and 3 kids would go. I'd get a phone call "hey, can you watch my house?" Sure. They'd get home on Sunday evening.
After the first few weeks, they'd take off Friday early evening, and they'd be back home Saturday morning. To mow, or do whatever, at home. Then leave again around noonish. And they'd be home Sunday mid afternoon.
4-6 weeks of that.
Then, friday evenings became the "work at home" time, and they'd go to the campground around 9 pm or so. Just in time to put their kids to bed.
Back home Sat. noonish, back to the campground in time to have a fire Sat. night, and home by noon on Sunday.
Driving down a country road today I watched a red tailed hawk swoop down and grab a mouse. It was nature at it's finest. So cool to see it "hit", and take off again, just that quick.
You're right, there's nothing like seeing a raptor in action. We have coopers and sharp shinned hawks that visit our bird feeders on a regular basis and pick off house sparrows and finches. The best one I've seen was a peregrine falcon dive bomb a mourning dove sitting on a fence post. It happened right on I-280 near the 795 exit. I was watching the falcon soaring overhead, then he reared his wings back in dive formation and dove...the speed was unbelievable. The dove never saw it coming and never knew what hit him. Just popped off the fence post in a cloud of feathers. The falcon circled around and came back to claim his meal.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
Wow. That's awesome. I know her music was shallow and contrived and I almost hate to admit it, but I used to dig that chick.
Did you ask her anything? Did you make promises in the dark? Did you say you would treat her right? Did you say the two of you were invincible? Did you tell her that we belong [together?] Were you all fired up? Did you speak in the shadows of the night? Did you use sex as a weapon? Did you say "I need a lover?"
LOL...........I used to have such a crush on Pat. The little girl who packed a mean punch. She was sexy. She was bad. She had those lips and bod. She put her heart and soul into her songs. Love this one, dawg:
It was a really successful gig. Crowd loved the entire thing.
Pat's 64 now and the show reflected it. She sang center stage on a stool. Her husband, Neil 'Spider' Giraldo played acoustic guitar and piano. No band- we were the band. 1st half was just them. We played the opener, and left the stage. The gig was like an "MTV: Unplugged" joint.
She can still bring the energy, and her voice has held up well. The crowd ate it up.
We drove to Lexington Ohio (2 1/2 hour drive) for our girls b.b. regional finals game. (sometime I'll tell you why Lexington gets to host a regional finals game, and it's not because it's centrally located, or because the gym is nice)
Our girls got.........beat. Lost by 29 I believe. They played the Nubians, Columbus Africentric, winner of, I believe, 5 of the last 7 D 3 state championships.
So, after the game, we head to Napoleon Ohio for our boys district finals game. Stopped in Findlay to eat.
Got to the 7 pm game at 6:15 and the place ended up packed. Played the black knights of Van Buren. Beat them by 9.
So, off to Bowling Green THursday to play Cardinal Stritch at the Stroh Center (awesome place to watch a game, and only 45 minutes away) in a regional semi final game.
Best part of the day? Well, the boys winning, of course. But, more than that, Sooga driving, mom in the backseat, and Sooga and I's conversation. Priceless.
Is she still a "Heartbreaker"? Does she still think "Love is a Battlefield"? Did she make you any "Promises in the Dark"? Did she get you "All Fired Up"? and most importantly did she ask you to "Hit her with your best shot"?
So, I was doing some work at a fire station this morning. Ambulance was out of the station when I got there. No biggy, I figured there was an accident or something.
Did my job and just as I was leaving, the ambulance and emt's pulled back in.
Headed about 6 miles north to my next job. Only driving 25 mph, as the snow was so dense, and the roads were bad. Phone rang. My wife.
"My dad was at his shop. He called 911, and they took him to the hospital. We don't know what's going on."
Turns out, he had had a heart attack. It's his 3rd one since I've been "in the family". (actually, the first one was before I was in the family. He didn't do anything at that time, just went home to sleep. Only found out he'd had a heart attack at his next doctors appt. Ended up getting a pacemaker)
Luckily, he's fine. Supposed to get out of the hospital yet today. So, that's good news, I guess.
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