2008 - HOLIDAY GREETINGS

Dear Family and Friends,

We find ourselves, again, at the end of the year with time running out to complete all of our tasks which we set out to accomplish. Christmas - we must LOVE IT - to go through this craziness - Why does everything come due in the last 25 days of the year.....I suppose poor planning on our part. Nonetheless, I better get with it or I will fall further behind on my paper list of to dos......

This past year has been very challenging, rewarding and at times scary - let us share -

Early February here in North Texas brought a Hail storm that wreaked roof damage to the area. You could see roofing business spring-up every day or so, as almost everyone in the area had their roof replaced.

March came in like a lion

and out like a lamb.

In April, Blue Bonnet Hunting was on the calendar with the Hall's, the Robertson's and Uncle Jim and Aunt Debbie down in the Texas Hall Country - I mean - Texas Hill Country.

Always good times with good friends.

And there wasn't a Blue Bonnet to be found anywhere. Apparently the area ran short on fall precipitation which is key to a healthy spring blossom. Luckily for us, this area around Fredricksburg Texas which we visit, has grown in the number of wineries which dot the map. So we went Wine Tasting, and after a couple of wineries, we forgot about the poor blue bonnet showing...

Also in the area we spent some relaxing time watching the skies at the local airport. We got to see a brand new MOONEY fly in for a visit to the local Dentist Flying Club.

On the way home, Debbie and I along with Uncle Jim,Aunt Debbbie visited the Charles Foushee families in Arlington. The families are growing and the younger girls will be driving soon .

WE met up with the Halls and the Robertsons once again in May in Sedona. There is not enough digital space that can visually capture the all the beauty and majesty of the area’s rock formations – nor words adequate to describe its beauty.

We hiked, took in some sights and laid around the pool .

One afternoon we all took a train ride in the Verde Valley canyon. It was quite relaxing – every other car was open so you had the best views of the nature which surrounds the train you could have as we toured this old piece of America geography. For more info - http://www.verdecanyonrr.com/

Charles had a great time. Can you tell ?

Deb’s brother Rod and his wife G-Gay came down to Texas for a visit during the month. It was a quick visit as it served another opportunity to catch up on their family’s activities.
Rod tried out our hot tub.....I think he liked it ....

Nicole completed her college degree in early August [yahoo !! ] and she wasted no time getting out of Lubbock.

We moved her back home right after her last final and we all headed to Kansas City to celebrate Uncle Jim and Aunt Debbie’s 50th wedding anniversary.

Many family members from Uncle Jim’s side of the family were there. It made our extended family ever so much larger…..

In August we celebrated Debbie’s 60th birthday with a surprise party. Many, Many Thanks to all the friends and neighbors and PEO sisters who helped put the party together – it was quite a surprise and much fun…..Biggest surprises from Jess(Redlands CA) who surprised her Mom and Brother Ed and wife Kathy(StLouis,MO) and Cousin Charlie and wife Beth(Arlington,TX) who joined us to celebrate.

In September we RV’ed out to California to spend some time with Jess. We camped just off the beach. You can read about all our travels elsewhere on our blog page at http://theneunertimes.blogspot.com/2008/09/westward-ho-day-1.html


Through the months of September and October Gram Neuner had several recurring health problems which she had to be hospitalized for. We thought she was at her last step before heaven at least once during these times. But with each episode she pulled thru. This series of hospitalizations illustrated that she needed more attention than what Kim, Cheryl, Carol and myself could provide and so Mom checked into an Assisted Living Center named Crab Apple Senior Living center in St, Claire MO. In short, its been 45-60 days since she has been a resident there, she has improved dramatically.

In November Debbie and I traveled to St. Louis for our families visit. We caught up with Mom at Cheryl's house on Thanksgiving day.

Gram Neuner with Cheryl's boys - Jeffrey[l] and Jonathan [r].

So here we are in December, the weather is very typical, we have turning trees and pansies in bloom…..

Oh yes, my list of to dos….Today Dec 14th. we need to go out to Princeton Texas, and winterize the RV, we need to rake leaves which are building up with the 40 mph wind gusts we are experiencing, we still need to finish the Christmas gifts and start and finish molding some candy for the holidays……and get ready to help Nik move out of the house on Dec 20th. Some things never change – and we wouldn’t have it any other way

Love and blessings to everyone this season

Leo and Debbie.

Westward HO !! – DAY 8

September 18, 2008

Gosh, it’s hard to start moving on the day when you need more energy than any other….we had actually started packing up last night – but all the time consuming stuff we left until today. So we woke about 6:30 had a cup of coffee and then outside for one of about 30 tasks that needed tending to.

….like draining the tanks – 2 grey and 1 dark….never an activity that endures anyone to RV’ing - did you see how Robin Williams handled draining the tanks in that RV movie ? Am sure it scared every RV-er whoever had a unexpected backwater flush ! I have already had my moments with uncooperative tubing….luckily today went rather smooth – no pun intended.

Then un-assemble the fresh water hoses, and un-do the electric [no leave until last – will want the refrig to run until the last possible moment]. And don’t forget to repack all the chairs, BBQ pit, tools, golf clubs, tubs of hoses, stabilizers for the slide-out and tire stabilizers all have to go back somewhere….i know they go somewhere – I brought the damn things, didn't I ? Anyway you get the picture.

So finally we are pulling out at 9:30am – our goal was 9:00 – so not too bad…

After that boring drive thru the southern reaches of New Mexico and Arizona, Debbie planned to take us home via the northern route. What’s that you ask ? with Jess’s help, she routed us around the larger metro areas, like LA….so in Southern California speak our route was ‘the South Coastal Hiway’ to 'the 78' to 'the 15' to 'the 215' to 'the 60' to 'the 10' and then east… We drove thru Palm Springs. And a gazillion Wind farms….

And then the desert thru California and into Arizona - go North at Phoenix…..headed for Flagstaff at 7000’ elevation. On the way we drove by Hiway 179 – our exit for Sedona when we meet the Robertson’s and Hall’s. Flagstaff just about 45 miles beyond….

The mountainous terrain was another good test for the truck and RV- both did fine. The scenery immediately changed from desert to pine forest about 30 miles outside flagstadd. The temps dropped also from about 95 to 62 – what a relief.

We did catch some sunset views on way up to Flagstaff.

It was dark by the time we arrived at Flagstaff.

It was a long day - the park was very nice - my bed was better :>)

Westward HO !! – DAY 7

September 17, 2008

Jess came back out yesterday evening after work, and with her bike loaded on her car carrier.

Last day in paradise started and ended with thick clouds hanging in the sky. Darn…. It added to the general malaise that we felt, so we just weren’t in any hurry to get anywhere today.
But it didn’t hinder our plans we had for the day. We all slept late, yea ! Debbie made her wonderful waffles, bacon and eggs [I never get this treatment unless Jess or Nik are around].

We got our printer out to print some pictures from earlier this week. Printed a test page after loading the config files, and found we didn’t have a black cartridge in the darn thing….. DA. No wonder I don’t use that printer…

We checked out our bikes [like are the seats on , brakes work ? pedals turn ? lots of air in the tires !] and headed off for the beach. As some of you know there are many considerations for bicycle riders in California. Bike lanes are marked on streets and makes it much easier to get around.

We tooled down the beach several miles to the Oceanside Pier and toured areas of development – New Condos and private homes are replacing the structures of the 50’s and 60’s… A great facelift ! Am wondering who has the bucks to buy-in, in light of recent stock market down turns ? Nonetheless, the streets facing the ocean are turning into a very cool place to stay and vacation. Debbie had an abundance of flowers to choose from for her picture collage. Here are just a few.

Once we got the pier we walked out to the end and checked out the surfers, the seagulls and the fishermen...are very interestings....

Debbie thought our feathers were seasoned similar :>)

Surfer Dude - from the Pier.

After the day at the beach we BBQ'd and said our farewells....have to head home tomorrow..

Westward HO !! – DAY 6

September 16, 2008

Not much happening today. Jess has gone back to work for today to take care of some business, leaving Debbie and I to figure out just what to do. We loaded up the golf clubs and found out the golf course we had planned to play at was only an executive course [par3’s] and located within a senior citizen community….we aren’t just ready for that pace of play….so we drove on to our next item on today list – Camping World.

At Camping World we walked up and down every aisle, trying to picture how this gadget or the next whatcha-ma-call-it can be used in our camping life or on somewhere on the 5th wheel…..come on – we already have way too much stuff [tms] on this trip – we look like Sanford and Son going down the highway – the only thing we’re missing is the Clampet rocking chair strapped to the roof :>)….So we settled for some chemicals and TP. Not very exciting…. On the way back home we stopped at the grocery store and picked up some fiddles…[Ol’ Jedd in my mind].

Before we got back to camp we drove to the Oceanside harbor and planned out tomorrow – a bike ride up and down the beach [told you we brought everything !] Jess will be coming back to the camper tonite so she can spend tomorrow with us.

Deb has taken some pictures of the park to share with you all today. The park is owned and managed by a family who once lived in Midland Texas – small world and had a daughter attend and graduate from Texas Tech !! Small Small World. The RV Location is a small area located in a retail area of Oceanside, but is only about 250 yards from the ocean…very unique.

Happy Camping - Leo & Debbie