Hi Everyone!

[gja1000]

Well, our trip took a little detour today!!! Gary and I are still in Austin. We loaded up and headed to Arkansas this morning about 8:00AM. We'd driven about 5 miles when someone honked at us and pointed at the trailer. We pulled over and smoke was coming from behind the rear tire.

Fortunately, we carry emergency roadside assistance through the Good Sam club, which pays for roadside repairs or towing. We have a bearing out on the wheel/axle, which also fried the brake - sooooo, the trailer is at the repair shop and (hopefully) will be fixed by Tuesday-keep your fingers crossed! We plan to leave early Wednesday if the trailer is up and running.

We had quite an adventure with the tow truck, I'll tell you! We were stranded on I35 (a MAJOR interstate highway) for 2 1/2 hours. First there was a wreck and the tow truck couldn't get through. Then, he couldn't tow the trailer due to the wheel problem, so he planned to put it on a dolly - which turned out to not be wide enough - so he took the wheel off (there were 3 more, 2 on one side, and 1 on the other), did something to the axle so it wouldn't be off balance, and he drove VERY slowly the 30 miles to the repair place. It was all very interesting because he didn't speak much English, and we don't speak much Spanish.

Of course, our fridge was loaded up for the trip, so Brooke came over and got all our food and took it to her house - plus she took the boys, who were very worried about what was happening. We also had to get out all of Gary's medicines, c-pap machine, oxygen machine, insulin supplies, and a few clothes we didn't want to live without for 5 days. It was a hassle, but it could have been much worse - it could have happened in the middle of NOWHERE and we would have been stuck in a motel for several days. Fortunately, motel costs are covered with our roadside insurance, but still - who wants to be stuck in nowhere land in a motel!!!

We did have a bit of a problem when we got to the RV repair place - the wheel is covered under warranty - and they are not a dealer for the brand of trailer we have, so they were reluctant to do the work. I know it would have taken them a loooong time to do it, cuz they didn't want to. I got on my phone and found a dealer that sold our brand of trailer just 3 miles down the road, so we went down there and they couldn't have been nicer. They promised that if they have the part to fix the wheel, it will be ready by Tuesday. I really won't be upset if it isn't because i know these things take time and they may not have the right part in stock. I even remembered just a while ago that I left a pound of hamburger in the door of the freezer and because we turned off the fridge, I was instantly panicked at how that was gonna smell after 5 days!!! Diana, I remember your story! LOL! I immediately called them and asked them if they would get the hamburger out of the freezer. Again, they couldn't have been nicer and said they would do it immediately. Guys, this could have been much worse.

So, now I'll have a few quiet days at home before we leave which I am looking forward to! Here's a picture that Brooke took of us on the side of the road. That's the tow truck behind us and we are standing next to our trailer.

Oh yeah, the wind was blowing about 20 mph - that's why our hair looks so goofy! We both have a wind burned face!!!

[Blueyes]

Oh Gayle..what a PAIN!! And on 35 I'm glad you didn't get squished!! I'd be really aggravated after all of that packing and UNpacking! You and Gary look adorable

We just got home this afternoon, too. We were at our friends ranch in the Hill Country, not far from Johnson City. We HAD to put out protein feeders for the stupid deer The wildflowers were so pretty, and there were butterflies everywhere! We saw 21 deer, 3 jackrabbits, 8 hogs, and we heard a lot of turkey. Mike was in wildlife heaven, lol!

[gja1000]

We were very fortunate to be on a stretch of I35 where the shoulder was HUGE. We were at least 10 feet away from the whizzing cars - if you had to be stranded on the busiest highway in central Texas, we were at the ideal spot!!!

Oh Betsi, your getaway sounds heavenly. I just love that the wildflowers are still so beautiful! Gary would have been in wildlife heaven too! LOL! I know you all had a ball!

We are lucky, we have a few days to rest up from our "adventure"

[Blueyes]

Gayle, we need to get together sometime when we are there!!

[gja1000]

Yes we do!

[judy]

Oh my! Gayle, you have such stamina, and such a great attitude! As long as you didn't get hurt, or stuck out in that Motel Nowhereland!

You and Gary look like you are hiding from that wind! You are a wonderful couple, always working together so well! And, so good looking too!

I want pictures when you all meet, Gayle and Betsi! That will be such fun!

I hope you relax, and then safely get onto your vacation!

Betsi, one of my friends tried to set out deer feeders, but the bears took the whole thing right off the tree! We have way too many bears here! My neighbor put fish out in her garbage and forgot to lock it. Her garbage was all over the lawn the next morning! That bear had a feast!

[judy]

My SIL got a job! YAHOO! It's for an established contractor right near him, so his work will come to be known. I am so happy for him. There is not a ton of work because money is really tight up here right now, but it is work!

His boss leaves his little boy with Jessie a lot. He has custody of him, and the boy is Kassidy's friend. Jess and Steve have decided to go along with watching him a lot because Steve needs this job. It began to get out of hand - something about another neighbor and his kid, etc., etc. - but Steve straightened it out with the other neighbor. I say what I always say..."That's wonderful, honey."

Jessie called me to go shopping with her on Friday. Now that Steve is not around, she has time. I said no because it was my first day home all week though, and I had cleaning up, laundry, etc.

I had fun last week. I had a brunch with my writing group on Tuesday, a dinner with lots of people at my friend Ev's new apartment on Wednesday, beautification day on Thursday (hair and nails), and I don't remember what on Monday. Last Sunday was the Communion.

I think I'm in with high society here between the writers' group and the womens' network. I am waiting for Ev to invite me to one of her parties with the artist community, and I think that might be the Roxbury A list! I'm a celebrity now! Well, I am still going to wear jeans and flip flops and watch Dr. Phil!

Regardless, all of the people I have come to know here are so nice. As my friend Barbara put it, "There's no meanness between all of us." There is a bit of gossip, and some people don't like others, but it seems to be different in a small town. We all get along and help each other out if needed anyway. The gossip is not mean spirited either. There are just not that many people, so everybody's story is more or less known. I like it so much better than city living. So far...

[gja1000]

Well guys, we are not going to be able to make the trip to Arkansas after all. The RV repair place called and they are going to have to replace the back axle of our trailer (the wheel bearing froze up and got so hot the bearing welded to the axle). The axle has to be shipped from Indiana (Janet, could you run to Elkhart and pick it up please! ) - so it will be lucky to arrive this week - and then it will take them a day or two to install it - which means it won't be fixed till some time next week.

It's really OK, I realize now that I am slightly relieved that we are not going to Arkansas. It is A LOT of work for me when we take out the trailer and if we had gone on the trip, we'd only been home from Arkansas for 3 days before we have to leave for Alaska. I know I would have been tired and stressed out, so I now realize that I am relieved we are not going to Arkansas.

We'll probably run up to Oklahoma for Memorial weekend or maybe we'll just stay home! I don't know, but I do know that I'm not terribly upset we are not going.