Reunion and Minnesota

Spent the weekend at my Mom's and attended the 2015 Atwood Family Reunion on Sunday at Maytag park west shelter.  It was a good time seeing all the family. My brother Andy didn't make it this year, but the rest of us got a pic with Mom, love my family. I played the part of photographer again and got some great family pics of everyone.  The only problem with being the photographer is I don't get to be in very many of them.  When someone pointed that out to me during the group photo, I decided to do a selfie with everyone...fun times. I was able to get in the group photo though, my nephew's girlfriend was cool enough to take the shot.





The day after the reunion I drove up to Minnesota to visit an old friend that I was stationed with over 20 years ago.  On the way I stopped at a Rest Stop to get a few Z's before I showed up at his house, and while there I got the pleasure of watching this care taker raise the US Flag. It always makes me feel good to see our flag raise in the morning.

 Over the years Shane and I did our own thing, but reconnected on Facebook and talked.  When we were stationed together in Fort Riley, we were both E-4's...and to put that into perspective, we were like seniors in high school.  Top of the ladder in school, but still no real responsibility.  It was a great time in my life, and me and Shane made it fun for not only us, but everyone around us. We joked and reminisce about old times, and talked about old friends that we both had back them. Sometimes I forget how great some of the places I've been were.  Glad I made such good friends that can remind me of those times.

Shane took the week off for vacation and he showed me around.  We went to Cabela's (just like Bass Pro Shop I think.)  He also took me to the "Mall of America", the biggest mall in the US.  Wow, this place was huge, and fun.  They have a roller coaster in the middle, and some other rides that were amazing.  The Ninja Turtle ride was something to see.  They also have a HUGE Lego built helicopter and transformer guy...really something to see in person.

 

We also wen to the county fair that was going on, two blocks from his house.  It was a great visit with him, and I look forward to doing it again someday.  His Wife Sarah was so nice, and his two daughters were awesome. On the last full day there, he took me to the twin cities, and we ate at a famous restaurant that has been in the movies. It was a really good time. If your reading this Shane, Thank you for everything!

Well, I'm back at my Mom's place. I ordered a new roof rack from my Truck so I could carry my Kayak on top. I had one before, but had to return it because it caused water to leak inside the truck. This one was more expensive, but it fits so much better, and doesn't allow leaking.  So much happier. Also, it makes my Truck look like I have cop lights on top, so everyone drives a little safer around me....good and great! I'm thinking of getting some colored cellophane to enhance the effect, just for fun....lol (not really)

Visiting Family

Had a couple of good days. Yesterday I got to see my cousin Lou Anne, and what a treat.  I stayed with her over the summers and part of a school year when I was growing up, and she is just so great.  I miss just talking ...I love you Lou Anne.  

Yesterday I got the hatchets back from the engravers for my brothers.  I got them to give to my brothers when we went camping, but even though were not going camping I wanted to get them.  Along with their names, I had a number put on each of them representing the order we were borne.  I'm number #5. 

Andy isn't even going to make it to the reunion this year, so I mailed him his, and I will give the rest out at the reunion (minus Kelly's, I couldn't wait and gave him his already).  

I took my Mom to US Cellular also to try and get her a new phone.  She wants to get a smartphone, but doesn't want to up her phone bill.  Well, we had a bad experience with the store and didn't get helped, so we went to the other location in Newton and got helped.  Problem is, if she gets smart phone it will require a data plan and a jump of about $30 dollars a month in her bill.  She didn't like that so I'm trying to see if we can buy a phone from someone else and just start using it with her current account.  Here's some pics of me showing her how to use my smartphone.

Last night I realized I don't exercise enough anymore...at all!  So, when I was getting ready for bed, I decided to take a walk.  I walked from my Mom's place to the old Maytag Plant 2 building. It's about 3.2 miles, and I felt it on the way back.  My back was sore, but feels fine today.  Well, this is short but better than nothing at all. 

Oh, almost forgot.  I got the paperwork for my passport and I have an interview at the Post Office on Friday to get it completed.  World, here I come...:)  

Boring, letdown, killing it

Pretty boring day today.  I stayed up until 4:30 am this morning working on the last blog entry, and did a pretty good job at getting caught up I think.  Well today I got up about 9:30 to Mom's dog Stewie barking as usual. I finally got up when Mom got up and made her way into the kitchen. She made some coffee for us, and we both sat down at the table.

We talked a little bit, not about any one thing really, just a little back and forth.  We did get into a little talk about politics, which I know she hates...she is a Democrat I'm pretty sure, but I know she doesn't like labels that way. I don't mind so much. I'm more a Republican than anything, but really just want good government.  I went to take a shower and when I got out, I went outside to get something out of my truck, and found a package I ordered in prep of the "Brother Camping Trip" that isn't going to happen.

I got 5 East-wing No.1 hatchets to give to my brothers to celebrate the trip...but that was before I knew that the trip wasn't going to happen.....again.

First, I was talking to Kelly about the trip when I first got here, and his enthusiasm was less then excited. First he told me that he thought we might not be able to find a camping spot without making a reservation ahead of time.  Then we talked about were we might camp, and he didn't really like any of the places around here.  Rock Creek sucks, and Red Rock north side has bacteria problems and he wont camp on that side.  Well, it was obvious to me that he wasn't really that interested in camping.

I called Andy yesterday afternoon to find out when he would be coming, and that's when he told me that they weren't going to make it this year for the reunion.  His unit was going to the field and it would be hard to get leave.  He also had a big expense for one of his dogs recently who suffered dehydration and he took him to the vet and the bill was really big. He said things just weren't looking good, so he decided to not come this year.

Then the next morning I missed a call on my phone from Lonnie.  It was Lonnie who left a message for me.  He said he was going to have a hard time making the camping trip because he had a tournament that same day, So, I decided to just cancel it for this year, and maybe we can try again another time.

It seems like taking time out to spend time together (camping) just isn't such a big deal to anyone but me.. I kinda wonder if I'm being selfish, because I can camp and do pretty much what ever I want whenever I want now that I'm retired from the Army....and unmarried.  I only have myself to consider.  They all have other responsibilities, obligations, priorities and such. I know it's better to just hope we can spend some time together in the future.

I haven't told anyone but Mom, but I don't think I will be here next year.  I plan to start traveling to other countries next year, and I don't know that I'll be around. I know that whole reason they all agreed to do it this year was because I got survival knifes engraved commemorated the event....that didn't happen.  Well, get ready for the guilt trip again, cuz I'm still going to hand out the hatches I got this year...LOL

I'm really not that mad, jsut hope we can do it someday.  Miss the days when we were growing up and hanging out.  But now that I say that....I hope it doesn't backfire and we all hate it.  Never know sometimes.

On a happier note, I went to shoot my 45-70 rifle today at Uncle Carl's place.  Man, what can I say...I still got it. I bought some clay targets and a punch out target board to hold them and I will killing it.  Just need a bigger range next time.  I was less than 40 meters, and I need about 100 to sight in my scope...which I think I need a new scope too.

Well that't it for tonight, if you hung in for this long, congrats....you are a true follower!.

Nite.

Getting caught up

Well, I haven't posted in a bit because I dropped off Nancy back at her home, and traveled to my home town.

Here's the Update:  I left Nancy's place and headed north through eastern Texas, and then through the hill country of Oklahoma.  I got to say I never new how beautiful part of Oklahoma was, but the part I drove through was nothing less then breath taking in spots. I even got to drive through a tunnel  (I freaking love tunnels)!

I camped in a couple of different places, and it was pretty cool even though I was alone. The first place I stayed was in Oklahoma and was impressed with the campsite, but thoroughly unimpressed with the late night shenanigans of two suped up cars racing in the campsite area...but I did have the place to myself after they were gone, so it all worked out. In the morning, I got up at 5am to have my coffee, and took some really nice pics of the sunrise.

When I got past Oklahoma, I ended up in Kansas and needed to find someplace to camp cuz it was getting late.  I used Google to search for campsites and found Crawford State Park. What a cool place, very clean and very well maintained.  I didn't have a fishing pole, but I should have got one because the lake looked really good, and I was only about thirty feet from the bank.

Just like when I choose a  parking spot in a Walmart parking lot, I choose a spot that had several open spots on either side of me...well, after I paid to camp their and fully set up my tent and started a fire, that was when a family with 2 boys and 4 girls and the Mom and Dad decided to camp right next to me.  Well, after I stopped being pissed that they camped right next to me, I cleaned out my truck bed box, and found some hot-dog cooking forks that I didn't' need anymore, and offered them to the family. They took them and we had a nice talk.  Turned out OK.

It rained on my all night, but I stayed dry in the tent.  The next morning, I woke up to my new neighbors cleaning up one of their tents that they had their food in.  He told me that they woke up about 3am to fight off over 10 coons that broke into their tent of food, and stole everything they had. I sure am glad I pack up my trash before I went to bed.

Well, it didn't want to stop raining, so I showered and tried to wait it out.  After checking the weather, I saw that it was going to rain all day where I was, but north it was dry so I packed up in the rain and headed north. On the way out, I snapped a few pics of some birds just chilling in the rain.

I arrived at my next destination in Missouri around 1pm after going to Walmart and buying a new fishing pole.  I wanted to fish this time and see if I still had any skill. The park was great, and the host of the campsite were a really nice couple that stayed there for the summer. Like most campsites it was $13 for a primitive site (no electric or water,) and they also sold firewood for $4 a bundle...but I didn't need any...still had some left over from my last campsite.  I set up my tent and then walked down to the lake to fish.
It was a long walk to the lake, and by the time I got there I was sweating buckets because of the humidity, but I didn't mind to much.  I used plenty of bug repellent so no mosquito were biting me.  The fish were biting, and I even hooked a few, but they were so small they would jump out of the water and come off the hook before I could get them reeled in.  That was OK with me, cuz I wasn't going to keep any of them anyway.  Got to say it was just a great day there.

 That night I had a fire, cooked some Brats with mustard and had a few beers.  Life is good.  Got up the next morning about 5am again, went and took a shower (really nice facility,) packed up and left out about 9am for my home town.  Got to say as far as campsites go, this is a good one.  I can't wait to get back out there.

 Well, I think I'm all caught up now....hopefully I wont get this far behind again.

Quick update from then to now...I got to my hometown a few days ago, and I'm staying with my Mom.  I decided that I really enjoy the water, so I bought a Kayak to take on the water when I go to these places.  I'll try to get some pics of me on the Kayak on the water...and maybe some of my shooting my new rifle too.  Picked up a 45-70 a few weeks ago, and loving it.

That's all for now.







My first camp site was in Kansas