Computer repairs

It is bound to happen..

even though I'm pretty careful..

sometimes you have an 'oops' moment.

A few months ago, I had

my laptop on the kitchen table,

where it sits when I eat

breakfast in the morning 

before work.

I spilled not even a tablespoon

of orange juice onto

one corner of my keyboard.

I immediately dried it off,

sprayed some canned air into it..

and it seemed ok.

After a few months I noticed that

my touchpad wasn't working quite right,

and sometimes my cursor would 

jump while I was typing..

making me very frustrated.

In comes my personal computer guy..

told me to order a new keyboard & touchpad..

and he installed it for me tonight!

Thanks, Josh..will you come with us?!

Some more news..

I've made a deal with the

company..

once I leave,

I will be available via phone

and computer login,

to help with any transition.

I will get an hourly rate equal

to my current salary,

and our health insurance

covered for up to one year.

That will certainly help us out!!

We still haven't been quite 

confirmed on our work camping gig yet..

the wheels are moving slowly :-p

4 weeks from Monday..

the wheels will be moving!

Butterflies

5 weeks!

Getting lots of things out of the way..

- sold the Pee Wee Herman bike
- cleaned out the rest of the 'stuff'
out of the house
- ordered a back up camera

It's a Voyager Digital Wireless
that we ordered off of
RV Parts Nation..
sort of an early anniversary present :-)

The FEMA buyout is rolling right along.
Word is that we'll get our offer
sometime next month,
and closing could be as
early as October sometime.

We started looking for a
work camping job too.
Since we plan on being in
California for Christmas,
we figured that would be
a good place to start.
There a few details to
work out, but it looks
like we are a shoe-in.
I'll post the details after
we get the 'official' offer!

So on to the butterflies..

George and I needed a 'fun' day..
so today we headed up to Tunkhannock.
There is a nursery (plants, not kids!)
called Creekside Gardens
where they have a butterfly house.
They are trying to help the
Monarch population along a bit
as they are becoming endangered.
They are lovely..

Then we headed over to
Twigs Cafe
for some lunch.

I had a nice special..
carmelized onions with steak,
and homemade kettle chips..

..hey, not healthy, but once in awhile
ya just gotta..

George had an Italian sandwich..

Then we did a little wine tasting
at a local winery,

and topped the day off
with a bit of ice cream..

I think we'd better hop on the bikes tomorrow!

New bike!

Yesterday started off at our church,

then grocery shopping,

and picking up a few odds & ends.

I have been trying to decide if  I 

wanted to get a different bike

from my 'Pee-Wee Herman'

style cruiser.

When George and I went to 

Wal-Mart yesterday, 

they had a perfect bike

for me..

Can't beat the $88 price!

I even got a new seat with

memory foam padding ;-)

It has 18 speeds,

which will be nice when

we are on those gravel-topped

rails to trails spots.

Can't wait to try it out!

Are we from South Dakota?

According to our license plates we are!

and according to our new 

bank account :-)

It's really starting to feel real now..

It's been a great week.

Heather came over last night,

and I helped her with her new laptop.

She wanted to get one so that

she could 'Skype' with us

when we are on the road.

Today after my pedicure..

I came home and helped 

George spruce up Harvey a bit.

He cleaned the outside windows,

and I did the inside.

It was a beautiful late summer day.

We can't believe how fast time is going.

6 weeks from Monday!!

What a mother won't do :-)

My youngest son, Austin,

who is now 23, 

lives in Greeley, CO.

He flew out to spend a week

in Philadelphia with

some of his friends from the city.

He put aside a day to spend

with me :-)

He did take the SEPTA train

from center-city Philly 

to Lansdale to save me 

the trip into the city.

It's 90 miles one way

from our place to Lansdale.

So...this morning, 

I took off toward

Lansdale, met him at noon,

then headed back home so 

he could see Harvey.

180 miles.

He was properly introduced to

Harvey, said hi to George,

posed for a picture..

Then I took him to lunch to

George and my favorite place,

The River Grille

George stayed home to give

us some 'mom and son' time.

We had a nice lunch, and long talk.

He's such a good son :-)

So then..

it was time to head back

to Lansdale.

We got back in the car,

he took a nap,

and I drove back.

We pulled into the station,

and I slipped him some

money so he could have 

some fun on his vacation,

gave him a hug, and drove

back to Plains.

360 miles.

I wouldn't drive that far

in one day for just anybody!

That's what Moms do!

BBQ

This week went by so fast!

Monday my superior

came to the office

to talk to my staff and me

about my impending departure.

It's going to be two months (less!) 

before I say my goodbyes.

Can't go into too many

details in public, 

but we're working out  a

deal which could be

mutually beneficial

to the company and us. :-)

We ordered a few more things

that we'll need..

a 12.5 foot extension ladder

that collapses down to this:

We went ahead and renewed our

Passport America membership,

choosing the lifetime option.

It'll pay for itself in a year or so.

Trying to decide if we'll do 

the same for Good Sam.

George and I have made

lists of things that need to

get done in the next few weeks.

Changing addresses,

closing bank accounts,

and the like.

7 weeks from Monday we

take off!!

Last night we were invited over

to one of my employee's house

for a backyard BBQ.

He's a delightful gentleman

from Vietnam.

His wife does my pedicures ;-)

He barbecued ribs, chicken,

corn, huge shrimp (they looked

like lobsters!), and made rice

with sausage.

He's very proud of his garden:

I've never seen squash grown

on a trellis before!

The one on the left he'll use for

seed for next year's crop.

It was very nice to get 

together with everyone..

This afternoon my son, Austin

is flying into Philadelphia

to meet up with some friends

for the week.

I get to see him for a day ;-)

More about that later..!

New address means ch..ch..changes

I've moved around a lot

in my 55 years.

Lots of address changes.

We have our new address

courtesy of Alternative Resources.

I took the time this week

to go online and change 

our address on a few things.

That is a much easier task

to complete online!

Another task I had to do

was to get a new passport.

My name changed in October

and so that is all done as well.

Took no time at all to get

a new one in the mail.

Today was blistering HOT..

92 degrees!

We did a few things outside anyway..

George started cleaning out

the basement..

He trimmed the one bush left..

..and cleaned off the swing, 

which we sold to one of

my employees..

 I went for a pedicure..

and Friday night got my haircut..

I only have one more haircut

scheduled until we'll be 

taking off!

Work is going pretty good.

The upper echelon is coming

in from Ohio on Monday

to strategize my departure.

8 more weeks!!