Sandie & Jim

Have I told you guys how much I HATE moving? Have I told you how HOT it is? Have I told you how STUPID I am for moving in this heat? We are going to spend our first night in the fifth wheel but we're only partially moved in. We had to call it quits on moving stuff because I wasn't sure who was going to die first, me or Jim. However, we forgot a few necessities - like bedding and JIm's medicine, so we'll make another trip to the storage lot to get that stuff. Then tomorrow morning when it's a little cooler hopefully we can get a bunch of stuff done again. I HATE moving.

Just had one of the best week-ends. Steve and Carol showed up Saturday morning and we directed them to Cabela's for camping. The parks in this area are outrageously expensive. Just ridiculous. We got to take them on a tour of the city, went to Johnny Carina's for dinner. Sunday we took them out to Pompey's Pillar. Not really the place to be on the hottest day of the year but still had a great time. Then last night we went to see Crazy, Stupid Love. It was surprisingly a very good, funny movie. Thank you Steve and Carol for making my life so much more exciting and interesting this week-end. This sitting in the drive way is really starting to get to me.

Hey Lavins - both Jim and I had our laugh for the day reading that one. I'm still laughing.

Dave - Trailer Hood or Trailer Trash? Jim is having way too much fun figuring out where to put stuff and how he can make different shelves and putting in the new floor. Got new shoes for it today so now maybe tomorrow we can start moving in. We'll take several days to do that because it is so hot. Carol - we will probably be here until about the 24th of August. That's when we head to Escapade. Then we'll be back here for Dr. appts the middle of September. Hopefully then we can get back on the road. There really aren't any great campgrounds here in Billings. We have a KOA (this happens to be their headquarters) and there's another one called the Yellowstone River Campground. Both are really really expensive. We have never stayed at the Billings Trailer Village Campground but it gets good reviews and is quite a bit cheaper. We drove through and it looks like a nice place. Not fancy. If you're an Elk, there's dry camping there. Helena has the same problem. Just not a lot of nice RV parks. Kim's Marina and Campground is a disaster and we will never stay there again. We did stay at the fairgrounds. Not fancy but it worked for us for the three nights we were there. Lincoln Road RV Park looks really nice but we haven't actually driven through it. Just by it. There are several state parks around Canyon Ferry which is about 30 miles from Helena. There's also a KOA out near Townsend (30 miles from Helena). Sure hope we're here when you guys come through.

Steve - where are you guys headed from the Black Hills? For those of you who don't read my blogs - our news is: we now have a truck and fifth wheel (again). Haven't moved into it yet, it needs new shoes which it will get tomorrow. Then we need to get the motohome sold. That's what happens when you sit in one spot way too long.

We'll be in Apache Junction so it'll be great to see you guys again. How about Sharon and Sherry?

Spaghetti will be served. That's a promise.

Sounds like we're going to have some folks in AZ this winter. So I would love to have a get together of whoever is around. I really enjoyed Yuma last January. The weather was just about perfect except for a few cold days. But I'm open to anywhere. We'll actually be spending a lot of time in Apache Junction. Jim has had a lousy summer because he hasn't been able to go fishing. So I'm hoping he can spends lots and lots of time fishing when we get to AZ. So by January or February I will be so ready to go someplace.

Welcome SloMozey to the strangest best group ever. I gave up trying to lead anything about this group. Like Sailbad said - it's like herding cats. But they are the best friends ever and will give you all kinds of advice whether you want it or not. Where do you plan on spending the winter? Hopefully the southwest somewhere. Sandie

And here I am bitching cause we were out of our home for one night. I'll shut up now. But great news that the estimate was MUCH better. Those are the kinds of things we like to hear. And your home will feel so much better when it's all fixed up. Thanks for all the good wishes. Dinner was fabulous. The kids joined us and one of my very best friends came over. A great day.

Thanks guys. That would be me. Jim's isn't until September. I keep thinking I'm not going to have any more of these stupid things but they keep coming around every year. Jim is fixing me a steak on the grill with corn on the cob and a salad. Sounds really good to me.

Joe - I just found out the reason why you headed out. Laurie and Odel are headed your way and you needed to protect that BAD whiskey from them. See you really can't hide anything.

Lee - definitely invite them to the group. The more the merrier as Steve said. Well, unless they're going to eat all the ice cream or drink all the cranberry juice or eat all the crabs. We have enough of everybody else doing that while we sit and sit. LOL

Congrats Sue. Sure am looking forward to the pictures. Moving is so much fun. I honestly don't think I have all that much stuff in the motorhome but trying to move it all really lets you know how much there is. Lee - I'm not sure your rig will know what to do without being covered in mud. Are you sure it'll run? The leaf spring finally showed up and we have an appointment tomorrow to get it repaired. Yea!!!

We're still sitting in Billings waiting for the leaf spring to show up. Supposed to be here today but I'll believe it when it actually happens. Jim went fishing yesterday. For trout this time. They caught 12 nice ones and threw back several along with the ones that released themselves. So it was a great catching day.

Wow Lee, I can't believe she did that to you. How inconsiderate and rude can somebody be. And then to not be able to exit. I would have been beyond frustrated also but I'm not sure I would have made it all the way to Mitchell. I'd probably have to pull over and cry. Glad you're safe and resting up.

Happy 4th everybody. Hope you all have a really great day and stay safe. No playing with fireworks.

Hey Dave - it's 70 state parks which is 25% of the state parks in California. Dumb idea.

Lee, if you come through MT in August you had better let us know where you are so we can track you down. Hopefully, our broken spring will be fixed by then. I sent Jim fishing today. It's been a really frustrating week and he needed to relax. Don't even care if he catches anything.

Jeri - so sorry about your son. I ruptured my achilles tendon but I also broke my ankle at the same time. So he's going to be on crutches for quite awhile. But tell him the most important thing he can do is to completely stay off that foot and let it heal. I still have a few problems but not near as many as some people. No news yet on when they're going to get the spring or when they might get us in. Sure hope the neighbors don't get tired of us being in the drive way. Getting a lot of cleaning out done. Sorry Dave - I'm going to just be plumb wore out before we get down your way. Maybe you can train Millie. We aren't having any luck with our girls. Miss Kay - hope you get out of there and into cooler weather soon.

I'm beginning to feel like Steve when he sat forever in OK and Jeri when she sat forever in the Phoenix area. We may never get out of Billings. We got the service work done, got the fridge working, took the rig in for the alignment today and they found a broken right rear spring. So now we have to try and get another appointment with the Workhorse people (so it will be covered under warranty) that we don't care for and who knows when we'll get the appointment. So here we sit. And you know how much I like sitting. Back to cleaning out cupboards.

Had a sort of class reunion this week and just got home. I am so tired and talked out I can hardly move. Still in Billings - need to get the alignment done on the rig on Monday and wait for Jim's package to arrive and then we're off again.

Thanks to Mary Beth and her WIFI, I am actually on line out here in the middle of absolutely no where. The last 25 miles are all gravel and I lost a fender on the boat trailer as well as another thingie that help guides the boat onto the trailer. A guy found the fender and brought it over to us but no luck with the other thingie. That should give you some idea of how rough the road is. Jim had better catch fish.

I'm going to be borrowing IYQ's vanishing cream for awhile. We're headed up to Hell Creek tomorrow morning - no TV, no internet, no cell service. I'm hoping we'll be able to access Mary Beth's wifi - she's a fishing guide up there. But who knows. Everybody stay safe.

Sounds like you could be having a really exciting summer. Maybe they will let you make some changes as they get to know you better. We had beautiful sunshine today and now it's raining again. It sure is green around here. The lawns all look marvelous. We miss you, too. See you this fall sometime.