Day 309 - Back in Gloucester Point!

Today is Thursday, January 26th and we arrived back to our temporary home on the boat on Monday night.  We actually left here three weeks ago on January 5th heading back to Bethesda to help Sherrie load up a truck and prepare for the drive to San Antonio.  It was a long 4 days, stressful at times with Mike driving the 16ft. Penske truck and Sherrie following in her car.  We were amazed at the number of 18wheelers on the road and I think we saw two of them for every car.  Lauren rode with Poppy most of the time and I rode with Sherrie and the two dogs in her small Buick.  We had to make stops every 2-3 hours for the dogs and to stretch.  The third night we stopped in Dallas and spent the night with Kelly and Brian in their small 18th floor apartment.  It was interesting to say the least.  Picture 6 adults and 3 dogs (one large, two small) in an 800 SF space.  Mike and I got the best of the deal as they gave us their bedroom with the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on.  The others slept on blow up mattresses. 

We arrived in San Antonio on Thursday, January 12th and unloaded into a very cute 2-story townhouse that Sherrie's mother and father-in-law had found for her in the Alamo Heights School District.  Also, she interviewed for and got a job back at Fort Sam in the Cole School District.  Things fell into place right away.  Lauren immediately reconnected with friends and felt right at home.  As we had scheduled several doctor appointments we stayed an additional week and were able to visit with family and try and get our fill of Mexican food before returning.

We left San Antonio on Saturday, January 21st in very warm sunny weather and arrived in D.C. to wet, freezing rain.  We stayed over with Chris until Monday morning and left for Virginia in the bitter cold.  I had previously promised Mike a stopover at the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico which we did and if anyone ever has a chance to visit, I would highly recommend it.  They're going to expand it and expect it to be completed in two years.  While we were there, busloads of wounded warriors were there and it was the most heartbreaking thing to see!  Dozens of young men in wheelchairs with horrendous injuries.  I had to keep myself from crying in front of them.

We still have a few months here before heading north so we're trying to stay busy.  Mike has boat projects to complete and we go to the gym at Ft. Eustis 2-3 times a week.  I'm putting off knee surgery until we're off the boat permanently as it would be impossible to maneuver around after that.

That's all the news for today.  Stay tuned.

Day 280 Gloucester Point, VA

We hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Today is Wednesday, December 28th and we arrived back in Gloucester Point last night after a hectic week visitng both daughters.  We left here Sunday, December 18th after church and drove to Bethesda where we spent a couple of days with our daughter Sherrie and then left on Wednesday for Dallas.  I was unsure if we were going to get on the flights standby because of the heavy Christmas loads but were lucky and made each one.  It was a little uncomfortable on the first segment because I had to sit in a center seat between two large men but at least we got there.

We had a great time in Dallas as our daughter and son-in-law took us to a local theater (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) and saw A Christmas Carol.  The cast was great and it was a nice play to see again during the holidays.  The next night we went to Fellowship Bible Church and participated in an unbelieveable service.  It was a huge church with large screens in every corner.  After church we took them to Pappadeaux and had an incredible dinner (we've never had a bad meal there).

The next day Mike took Brian to the new Cowboy Stadium and had a VIP tour and saw Emmitt Smith and Mel Renfro as well as several Cowboy cheerleaders.  They also had a tour of one of the suites which was for sale (Brian said he made an application for it).

We had to leave Christmas day as flights were full the rest of the week and made it back to DC without a problem.  We arrived in Bethesda at 6:30 in time to have Christmas dinner with Sherrie, Chris and Lauren.  We left Tuesday morning to drive back to Gloucester Point and the boat but I think everyone else had the same idea as I-95 was packed and it was raining! 

What a difference a day makes as today is bright and sunny even though it's still cold and windy.  We have a lot to accomplish before turning around and driving back to Bethesda to help Sherrie move back to San Antonio until Lauren graduates from Alamo Heights High School in 2013.  It's a huge sacrifice they're making for their daughter but we all do things for our kids.

We have a lot to accomplish before leaving again but in case I don't get back to the blog I'd like to wish everyone who follows it a Happy New Year!

Day 264 - Gloucester, VA

Today is Monday, December 12th and I cannot believe how fast Christmas is sneaking up on me!  Tomorrow I hit the shops.  We're still planning to go to Dallas for Christmas if we can get a flight since we go stand-by.  I've never tried to do that during the Christmas season so it may be stressful.  We were going to include a trip to San Antonio but have agreed to help our daughter Sherrie drive down there toward the end of January so we'll wait on that trip.

We've been staying busy here on the boat and going to Ft. Eustis to the gym, etc. but haven't done as much sightseeing as we intended because it's so cold here.  If the weather permits this Saturday, Mike wants to do the segway tour of Yorktown.  I've never been on one of those things but have always wanted to try it.  We'll see...

Day 252 - Back in Gloucester, VA

Today is Wednesday, November 30th and I am having a hard time believing tomorrow is December 1st.  Time seems to fly faster and faster.  We did go to Bethesda for Thanksgiving and had a very relaxing, enjoyable visit.  Of course we ate too much but had lots of leftovers and I have even made a pot of turkey rice soup since returning to the boat.  The girls and I went shopping on Black Friday and hit Tyson Corner Mall at 8:00 AM.  We got a front row parking spot and the mall wasn't crowded at all until later in the morning and we were able to pick up some amazing deals - 50% off everything in the store until noon, etc.  We had a great shopping day.

I celebrated my birthday while there which made it even better.  Chris took us to the Great Falls area which flows from the Potomac River and I didn't even know it existed.  Mike and I came to the conclusion that we wouldn't live there even if someone gave us a house.  We took Route 17 from Gloucester to Fredericksburg which was a lovely drive but then you pick up I-95 and the traffic is horrible!  After visiting the Falls we went to Georgetown and walked around and then went to Serendipity to have a bite to eat and have their famous frozen hot chocolate.  When we were in New York in August Lauren made sure we went there.

We've been back on the boat since Sunday and are falling back into a routine.  We've decided to go to Dallas for Christmas to visit our other daughter Kelly and maybe a short trip back to San Antonio for a visit.

Day 237 - Gloucester Point, VA

Today is Tuesday, November 15th and the leaves are beginning to fall everywhere.  They're still beautiful but it won't be long before they're bare and then it will reallly look like winter.  We're staying busy by doing work around the boat, on the computer, etc.  We've been going to the gym at Ft. Eustis which feels great since we both have gotten so out of shape on this relaxing cruise.  We're planning to see parts of Williamsburg tomorrow after my injection (my third and last).

Fortunately we had Direct TV installed here at our slip and have been able to watch my favorite "Dancing With The Stars", and Mike his endless football.

We'll be going to Bethesda for Thanksgiving and are looking forward to that.  Believe it or not, my daughter,  granddaughter and I will be hitting the shops early on black Friday!  That's something I swore I'd never do but oh well....

Day 231 - Gloucester, VA

Today is Wednesday, November 9th and I had my second injection this morning.  So far so good.  It seems like the pain is less which is a good thing.  I continue to be amazed at the beauty of the trees this fall.  This is one of the most beautiful places I've seen.  Being from Texas, I'm not used to the change of seasons like we're experiencing here.

Yesterday the weather was really nice so we decided to take the boat out for a cruise up the York River.  It was great to be out on the water again.  We removed the dinghy from the back of the boat and later in the afternoon we took it around the creek here and checked out the homes on the water.  When we were backing the boat into the covered slip, we were so nervous about hitting the sides that we both forgot about the antenna which needs to be lowered first and we broke it off.  That's a $100 - $150 mistake!

We've gotten to know the guy who has a little fishing rod shop right across from the boat and Mike plans to buy one of his custom made rods and start fishing off the boat and from the dinghy as we've been told the fish in the creek here are good to eat.

We continue staying busy doing little things around the boat and the marina. 

Day 225 - Gloucester, VA

Today is Thursday November 3rd and it continues to be chilly but it was also nice and sunny today.  My car was delivered on Monday and on Wednesday we drove to Williamsburg for me to have my first injection in my knee.  The doctor said results normally are seen after the 2nd or 3rd injection so we'll see.  We drove on the Colonial Parkway to Williamsburg and it was simply gorgeous with all the leaves turning colors!  I have to say that the scenery in this part of the country is spectacular.

Today we ran errands and then went to the Fort Eustis gym. Boy am I out of shape!  Seven months of mostly inactivity has taken its toll on me.  Of course the knee has prevented me from doing much but I used the eliptical machine and it seems to be ok.

We'll be going to Bethesda for Thanksgiving with Sherrie, Chris and Lauren and am looking foward to that.  We decided we need a GPS for the car if we're going to the Washington, D.C. area as we'll be totally lost if we don't.

Not much more going on with us since we're stationary here for the season.