OMG!!!

WOW, talk about freaky....I went to my blog to see when I had blogged last and Holy Mole', I don't even remember the last blog I had written. Sheesh, I must have been really out of it, or something! Anyway, things have really moved since I talked with you last. I noticed that it was on March 18th and here it is April 15th already, wow, time flies. And, so much has transpired since then.

Let's see, March 28th we took off to got to Oklahoma to see our bestest friends, April, Robert and Kaitlyn. We arrived there Thursday evening (a little later than expected). We were moving right along until Salinas, KS. We got off the freeway to get gas then got back on. As soon as we were off the on ramp, onto the freeway, the Ol' Coyote anounced that he had lost the power steering...hum...what does this mean.... Well, we pulled over to the side and O C got out with the 18 wheelers wizzing by like HUGE gusts of a hurricane. He opened the hood and climbed in...after a few minutes he came back to the inside and announced that we had a broken fan belt. So he retrieved a new (he always carries a spare) fan belt and then went back out into the war zone to fix the truck. After some time, he came back to me and said, "call the tow company". The fan belt was not the problem. After removing the old one and finding there was no bite or tear in it, keen intellect told him, mmmm, something else must be wrong. So, we called the local AAA and after an hour, they arrived. I will have to say something for the people of Kansas, they were really hospitable. Two people stopped prior to the big truck, to see if they could be of assistance, really nice! Anyway, after the arrival of the BIG TRUCK, they loaded our little truck onto it and away we went to Oard's to see what the problem was, and, if we could get it fixed. We were praying that we wouldn't have to spend the night in Salinas, we really wanted to make it to Robt's/April's to spend the night with them. Seeings how, they both took Friday off, just for us. We were really sweatin' how much it was going to cost, the night stay, etc. WELL, that Big Guy upstairs took care of us again....whew! The fix and whole stop was only about 4 hours that we were behind. The cost of the fix was only $348.00! Now, I'm not one to like "repair bills" because O C usually does all the repair, himself. But that price on the road and in that short of time was totally outstanding! (If that would have happened in California, it would have cost about $800+...and that's a fact, Jack! Oh, btw, the fix was a new water pump and a new fan clutch, plus labor...

OK, so now we are 4 hours behind schedule and feeling pleased that we didn't get taken. So we made it to the Clarks' at about 9pm. We went to dinner and then collapsed.

Friday morning was supposed to be an ATV riding day for the boys, but with the inclement weather, they decided to look into the truck, and O C showed Robt what was done and they got to looking into it and low and behold, there was a bad apple in there. One of the seals was bad and the way they had put it together, it was sort of a miracle that we made it to Robt's. They used Friday for Truck repair. the GIRLS went S*H*O*P*P*I*N*G!!!!! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!

We went to Joplin and had a great time. Malls, real live Malls...they don't have but one here, and it's 2 hours away. And, not a very good one at that. So I felt alive again, walking inside a mall looking at all the shops. We bought, we ate, we drove, and we ENJOYED!!! Then when we got home, it was time to go out to eat with the guys. After dinner, April and I HAD to make a quick run to Sonic for my usual, strawberry limeaide with easy ice, yummmmmmmmmmmm, and of course, while we were out, we were so close to Walmart, why not, right? Then we headed home and turned in for the night.

Saturday morning was the tULSA gUN sHOW, wAAAAAAAAAAAhOOOOOOOOOO! The boys went in the truck and we went in the car....(nifty, eh?) Mooooore shopping!!! Another Mall, oh boy, watch out, here we come!!!! Our shopping was cut short as the guys were hungry and thru with the gun show, so we had to go meet them for lunch. We went to Applebees and all ordered what we wanted. We proceeded to eat our lunch when all of a sudden, CRUNCH! Hum, that wan't on the menu. I reached into my mouth and pulled a little chunk og glass from within. We called the waitress over and gave her the evidence and she was so apologetic. In fact, ALL of our meals were free!!!! Let's hear it for Applebees!!!!!

OK, after that exciting lunch, we all decided to go to Bass Pro, wow, another place to spend money...am I in heaven or what!!! We wandered around inside and found lots of really neat things to buy, but we couldn't because the guys had previously gone to the "gold mine" and gotten parts for O C's new project car. Let me re-phrase that. It's a new project, old car. So we couldn't bring home the cot tent I wanted, rats! It's really a cool contraption. It would fit in the bed of the truck, and all we would need would be a port-a-potty and we wouldn't have to pay hotel bills again. I thought it was a great idea. For some reason, I was voted down. hummmm, not happy. Oh well, just a minor set back. We had so many other goodies, I could hardly complain.

After coming back to the Clarks' we got a good nights sleep and were out again to see the malls. Somewhere in here we got to go to P. F. Changs...this really cool Chinese Food Restaurant. It was wonderful. I don't know if the Clark family enjoyed it as much as I did, but I was in heaven again...love that food. We were first introduced to P. F. Changs in Florida, with the boys. (That's another story).

The whole trip went by so fast, we were on our way home before we knew it! But, not to leave out Milagro's Mexican food dinner, one of those nights, oh yum! It's really fun to be so multi-restaurante'. Food is a big part of life and I really love to enjoy life....lol!

Home again, home again, jig-ity-jig! What a whirlwind those 4 days were. I think Robt and April had to go back to work, just to get some rest. Oh, btw, the boys did get to go ATVing before we made the trip back home, so they were happy.

Since we've been home, life has not slowed down. There is always a project going on, and, things that have had to get done. Thursday, I got a clean bill of (inside) health. I was worried about that one. I had waited (actually, procrastinated) for ten years since my last scoping. I was truly concerned as to what may have started growing. Not only was I clean, but, another claim to fame.....I am the only person that this doctor knows that has a longer colon than the scope! So , when I say I am full of it, I really am! Next Thursday, the Ol' Coyote gets his turn.....hopefully, the Big Guy upstairs will give him the same bill of health.

I guess I have rambled on long enough for this blog, I better leave you some time before the sun goes down. Isn't it great that the sun is staying up longer? Here in Cody, we have light until about 8:10pm, and gaining everyday. In the summer, it stays light up here until 10pm, it's great to be able to get so much done. We have to make up for those short winter days. We are waiting for the ditch water to be turned on, so we can start watering the lawn again, to have green grass, instead of the winter straw look. And I can plant my posies again in the front barrels. I love flowers. That's one thing I miss here is the lack of color....flowers! We have evergreens, thank heaven, or the winter would really be bleak (colorwise).

Gosh, I better close or I will never stop typing. Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are!