Goodbye, rally friends...Happy Birthday, Amy!!!

All good things must come to an end, but something good is about to happen! About 18 coaches left this morning (Sherman included) to head to the next rally in Brooksville. We two are heading to Orlando to a familiar cg we thought for one night. More on that. Don/Carolyn (Dick's sister) are picking us up at 1p to take us to their hunt camp for the afternoon. This is a new one that we haven't seend before. We had lots of good family time at the old one, so we'll create new memories at this one. That's a good thing.

Today is Amy's birthday, and we are getting a good present...she and her family are driving down to meet us tomorrow!!! Wooohaaaa...that is the best news...well, it would be even better if all the rest of the chitlins would be arriving, too, but we'll take what we can get.

OK, gotta go and close up everything, just to drive down the road an hour and set up again, but that's the fun of GLAMPing, y'all! Later...

Super Bowl Sunday final rally day...

The day began with good pancakes, sausages and fruit.
And good news--Joe & Bonnie agreed to co-host the '09 rally with us!!!
Sherman, Norm, Sandy, Harriet, Dick and Susan (who I discovered is a BSP sista!) at the Central FL Community College Webber Center, where we ate a delish luncheon (complete with wine), and then enjoyed an English comedy play, "Not now, darling."
This is the stage where all the action took place. We highly recommend supporting your local community activities, theatre, music...whatever! Ocala has been a terrific setting for our rally.

Saturday at the rally...

The business meeting of Monaco Travelers (the club we belong to) began after breakfast this morning. We eat well at these rallies! Since Dick and I are in charge of the Jan. rally next year, this was on the agenda...and we have been working on finding a location for that rally, since we now know what week we need to look at. That helps.

You may be wondering why I have that rose graphic up there, but there is a reason. Plans fell through for the club activity this afternoon...*stuff* happens...but it was NBD for us (that means no big deal) cuz we had 'work' to do on the next rally. Anyway, we called my BSP sista who lives nearby...we met Diane and DH (dear hubby) Tal on the Beta Sigma Phi cruise in Alaska back in '01 (was it that long ago?) and really clicked with them and have seen them a time or two since then. Anyway, we are meeting them at Sonny's BBQ for dinner in a little while. Hmmm, do we like BBQ? You bet! The club activity tonight is games and dessert at the club house, so we won't be missing out on too much and will be having fun seeing old friends. Family and friends...that's what is important to us...along with laughter, God and apple pie! Havin' fun, y'all! Hope all of you are, too. Later, gator...

Glasses found, Red Hats, and Patsy Cline...

Sandy, Harriet and Sue enjoying lunch at Bella Luna Cafe in Ocala.
Joan, Susan, Andrea and other "Monacats" having fun.

"Always...Patsy Cline" at the Ocala Civic Theatre provided a delightful evening of entertainment. The lady playing Patsy sounded very much like her, and her story was told through the eyes, comedy and antics of a definite admirer of Patsy's. We were all very well entertained...good quality all around.

Having fun at the Monaco rally...lots more stuff planned for tomorrow. Oh yes, I found my glasses on the floor of the coach by a basket. I looked everywhere but there! Big sigh of relief.

This 'n that...

This is a '41 GMC truck spied at the Turkey Lake plaza on the Turnpike today. Pretty spiffy!

Long sandwich logs, along with potato salad and coleslaw for dinner here at the Monaco Traveler's Club rally in Ocala. Turning Wheel RV provided a wine and cheese party prior to dinner. There are about 34 coaches at the rally. We are parked next to brother-in-law Sherman for four nights. Lots of good stuff planned for the next few days!

Dick and I are rally masters for the '09 rally, so I took lots of pictures so that I could look back and see what the '08 hosts did and get some ideas on what needs to be done for next year. Unfortunately, my glasses are missing:-( They were hanging on my shirt when a guy gave me a big bear hug, so I safely (?) left them on the table, and Dick didn't see them when he picked up our stuff...and they weren't there when I went back to the clubhouse looking for them. Sigh. Hopefully they'll turn up and not be in the trash can! I at least have a pair of 'cheaters' that I can use for now. This is another learning experience. See me banging my head on the desk!!! Oh well, I probably needed a new pair anyway...

Jose and some of the family...

Javian, Jose and Joe Perez

Chavela, Joe, Angie, Juanita kneeling (Javian's wife), Javian, Sara and Jose

Smiling Jose worked for Dick and Bob back when we were in the rock business on Jog Road, Lake Worth, back in the '70s and '80s. He was one of our best employees. They met us tonight at Sonny's BBQ, plus two of Chavela's teenagers who left after dinner. Pretty boring for them to sit around talking with old people! We understood. These are mighty good people...and we consider them family. It still feels good after all these years to sit and visit with them. We'll do it again next year.

The Duchess and the Bell boys...

Duchess Sandy with the solid gold plastic tiara!

Three Bell boys--Tim, Bob and Dick