After we left Reno, we decided to drive through the backhills of Arizona, Where it was much cooler, on the way home. It was really pretty and we stopped at the Petrified forest store, so I could buy a piece of it to take home! Then we stopped in El Paso, to see Jimmy's former orthopedic surgeon (who only consults now) to look at my foot, that I have had problems with for years. He wanted to get an MRI. The upshot is that I have torn/sprained tendons in my foot and that its actually my ankle that is inflamed and messed up. He doesn't see where surgery could fix it, so he suggested a cortisone shot in my ankle and possibly wearing a foot brace for awhile(Jeez!, I hate getting old!)
I'll be doing that probabaly next week.

Then we came home for awhile, earlier this week. (July 21st) and Jimmy's friend Rodney and his girlfriend Georgeanna have decided to put in new flooring at their lakehouse, sooooo Jimmy decided that WE (our mechanics,& Jimmy) could do it! So that's how we spent Yesterday.

About the third week of June, We headed out to Reno, Nv. For our Marathon "bus Rally". We arrived on a Saturday... and happened to see our friends Bob and Nadine from Oregon, going to Las Vegas for the Truck Show, on the same road going East! We met with them and had dinner. Then we settled in Sunday and started activites on Monday, after everyone else arrived. Monday was the Reno Rodeo, complete with barrel races, bronco bustin', bull riding and calf roping! Lots of fun. Then dinner and music at the "Bucket of Blood Saloon" with the 'Comstock Cowboys".

Tuesday was "Great Gatsby" day!

Jimmy and I rented roaring 20s outfits.... complete with a feather in my sequined headband, fringed dress and Jimmy in a Zoot suit with bright yellow hat with a pheasant feather! We were the hit of the day! We were treated to a fabulous collection of very rare cars (about 300 of them) owned by a Mr. Lee. Lots of security, we weren't even allowed to take pictures!


Wednesday

Was a "free" day, or for the people who play golf.....a."golfing" day. We spent a lot of the day with me doing payroll on the internet and Jimmy on top of the bus...messing with the dish!

Thursday

Today, we went on a paddlewheel boat ride on Lake Tahoe! Nice weather, cool, except in the sunshine....pretty warm! The only drawback was that the fires in California were sooooo bad that the smoke had settled over in Nevada. It had even invaded the campground where we were parked. Really smoky....the news was talking about resipiratory problems. After the boat ride we went to our hosts home....a quaint little shack on the banks of the Lake, 23,000 square feet, three stories, three elevators, wine room, gold gilded ceilings in the poweder room, theater room, etc.!!!! Jeez! White Lamborghini and Black Masarati in the garage.....Chuck and Cindy Bluth...he used to own the Cal/Neva Casino.....Holy Cow what a place! It seems that he wanted to build a boat dock for his boat, and the army corps of engineers said no. SO>>> he bought a small Marina (already existing) kicked everyone out, tore it down and built his house on the shore. Pretty cool!

Friday

Most of the busses lined up and caravanned through downtown Reno... on the way out of town and the Bluths had arranged for a photographer to snap a picture of each bus, as we drove under the arch! I will post that picture, as soon as they send it to us!
A very nice ending to a nice week!

This was just a cool picture, so I thought I'd post it!!!

On the first weekend in June....the Indy race (open wheel cars) was at the Speedway, so we went to the races....hoping that Danica Patrick would win, but she had some bad pit stops.....oh well....it was fun anyway! Then, the 3rd week in June, we took off on a road trip to Verdi, Nevada (near Reno/lake Tahoe) for a "bus" rally with friends.

May, was an uneventful month, except for Jimmy's birthday on the 22nd. We had been working with an architect, on plans for the lake house.....but Jimmy has found different land that he has been looking at and I was not thrilled with the way the plans were going, so we decided to put it all on the back burner, for awhile.

Once again, I have been very remiss in keeping up with my blog. In April, there was a NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway, and we, basically have just been working a lot. Having moved 6 trucks into Fort Worth from the business we have been running in Louisiana for 2 years and finally, purchased.....we have been busier than a one- armed paper hanger, keeping these trucks moving, drivers in trucks, along with the maintenance, etc.

well...23 years!

Jeez! I didn't think we'd make 2 years....... March 30th was our anniversary so we had a great brunch a Mac's Grill, then just goofed off all day until dinner....Lobster from Steak and Ale, YUM!

Monday, back to work until Thursday, then we will go out to the track in the bus, and park. All our buddies are supposed to be coming in on Thursday.

This is a movie.....click on it to play.

Well, on our way home, Jimmy has made arrangements to stop in Ruston, Louisiana to look at some 2007 Volvos. They are repo trucks from some poor company that went broke. We have a couple of brand new ones on order, but they won't be delivered until July. If these will do, we would save about $25,000 each and buy them.

After looking at them, Jimmy decided to buy one of them to try out the mileage, etc. So, when we got home, he arranged for us to go back down, next weekend and pick one up.

In the meantime, Hector, our friend and former driver, who owns his own trucks, now.....one of his drivers and trucks had a wreck in Houston. The driver was fine, but the truck was totalled. So we drove down on Thursday to retrieve the satellite equipment and some other stuff. Friday afternoon, we drove to Louisiana to pick up the truck.

Really nice track.

Parking is really close. And the seats were right at the top of the stairs!

After we got parked, we went over to the garages and watched race practice and got to see a lot of the drivers....this is Denny Hamlin, .......he drives the FEDEX car in the Cup series....this is the Nationwide series race... a sort of minor league to the big boys...but a lot of the Cup drivers like to drive in the lower league too, for practice.

Saturday was the actual race, and it had turned windy and VERY cold. The sun came out and it felt okay, but once it went behind the stadium seats we froze! So, about halfway through the race, we went back to the bus and watched it on TV...in the warmth.

Well, I haven't kept up, so here's what has been going on!
After Bristol....we headed home, but Larry and Linda, our friends from Tn., talked us into going to the race in Nashville, on Easter weekend, so we stopped at the Jellystone Park campground, near the Grand Ol Opry, for the week. Jimmy flew home from there, to take care of some business...it was cheaper than driving and coming back! (never thought I'd say that!) and I stayed there, with the critters. It was a nice vacation....I just cleaned, went to the store, did some computer work and relaxed.
Jimmy came back on Thursday and we met our friends at the racetrack campground on Friday.

The rain stopped temporarily...just long enough for all of "our gang" to get together and eat. We met under Larry and Linda's awning, at their bus, and had salad, brisket, potatoes, onions, and wonderful corn bread! Good food, good friends, lots of fun. Then Jimmy brought "Buster" our cockatoo, out for a visit and everyone just loved him!

Then, David Stremme, The driver of the Coors Light car, came by to eat, and fell in love with Buster. Turned in early (10:30) because I had some laundry to do....more tomorrow.

Well, here we are at Bristol....got here yesterday morning. Today is practice and qualifying and it's starting to sprinkle....it looks like rain will be the plan for the weekend. Yesterday was really nice out, so we really were out enjoying it, I'm afraid it's getting damp out and they had to stop practice. We are going to find a mailbox and take the dogs for a ride... it's starting to get cold out....have to get the jackets out. More later...

This will be a short note.....I have been down for about two weeks with a bad inner ear infection. I guess it started with sinusitis, since the wind has been blowing 50 mph for several days! At any rate, it has knocked me for a loop and I have been dizzy and lightheaded so bad that I couldn't even drive. It started getting really bad on the day we drove out to meet the architect. I was walking into the restaurant and got hit with such a wave of dizziness that I had to stop and lean against the wall and a waiter came to help me walk to the table. After a while, I felt fine, then when we got home that evening, I got so nauseous, I tossed my cookies.....right in the driveway...ugh! Anyway.....I am feeling better now...! We are going to Bristol, Tn. for the NASCAR race in about 10 days, I'll post some pictures and stuff, then!

Bye!

Well......on Saturday we drove out to the lake and met with the architect, for the first time, that will be designing our lake house......

He already gave us some great ideas and we will, hopefully get a sneak peek, sometime this week.

Jimmy rigged up a "techie" camera on a pole, so that he could videotape the view from the lot, from 20 feet high!! (sigh!, Jimmy!)

you can't tell a lot from the picture because much of the brush needs to be cleared, but trust me, there's a nice view of the lake from the lot!

Well, today was more furniture delivery day! Jimmy and I were up past midnight, last night, moving the current furniture and shampooing the carpet, getting ready for the delivery, this morning.

They arrived about 10 and I was not disappointed!

The China cabinet and the Curio Cabinet are gorgeous and have a really neat feature.....the light inside turns on (3 levels of brightness) just by touching the metal hinge!!

Then, while putting together the dining room table, they showed me, a "secret" compartment.....when you pull the table apart to add the extra leaves....a special compartment, built-in to the table, reveals itself and you can store the extra leaves and pads there! PrettyCool.

The desk and credenza are really something to look at.....I can't wait to build the office that will hold them....Now, all we need are the bedroom pieces...but there are some tough corners to turn, and I'm afraid they'll get scratched, so we'll wait for them, until later.

Here's the sofa table, coffee table and end table, I love the marble inlaid part!
I had a glass top cut to fit on top of the coffee and end table, because I know someone would set a wet glass or scratch the wood, and they fit perfectly! A company called Binswanger, in Dallas, came out and drew the patterns. They finished and delivered the finished products in about 3 days. Really pretty, huh?
It is a really elegant design...my brother says they look like something out of Hearst Castle, or something......now, just have to build the house to fit it! ha!