tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69988998244172068972023-11-16T12:17:15.338-05:00. . . Aleshia's Adventures . . .[Creative nonfiction writer, full-time RV traveler, social scientist, and student of life] Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-59718071743745337952013-12-06T12:44:00.000-05:002013-12-06T12:44:04.363-05:00RV Living Frugality - Part III<span style="font-size: large;">Continuing with the tips listed in </span><a href="http://aleshiaclarke.blogspot.com/2013/08/rv-living-frugality-part-i.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">RV Living Frugality - Part I</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and <span id="goog_873257425"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">RV Living Frugality - Part II<span id="goog_873257426"></span></a>, here are some other ways you can save money as a full time RVer:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">9.</span> </span></span></span>Holidays <span style="font-size: medium;">–</span> Remember how many times you promised yourself you'd keep it simple? You are going to love holidays without hassles! Long-distance gifting requires quality over quantity, so you need to pick one special gift for those nearest and dearest to you. Plan ahead and follow up with a phone call. And for all those people you feel "obligated" to give to - gift cards, either small individual amounts or a large amount for an entire family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">10.</span> </span></span></span>Banking <span style="font-size: medium;">– </span>You cannot go into the full-time RV lifestyle without having a good budget. Incidentals will happen, so you need a little extra savings set aside for them (blown tires, breakdowns, extra campground nights, etc.). Just about all of your bills can be sent to you and paid electronically, but you should set this up in advance and plan to have a secure internet connection for banking purposes. Contact credit card providers to let them know you will be travelling; some will put a security block on your card when they see charges from different states - you don't want to be filling up your rig and have that happen! Get an Ally debit card for cashing checks and getting money out at ATM's with NO FEES.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">11.</span> </span></span></span>Income <span style="font-size: medium;">– </span>Diversify your income streams and consider how each will impact your taxes. Save whatever you can, whenever you can. Investigate residency domiciles to find the best bang for your buck, but don't jump into anything until you have been full-timing for awhile. Think about employment and it's ramifications (our daughter got additional college financial aid, because I took a part-time job and Jim didn't work at all). Don't live beyond your means, as tempting as that may be with the wonderful enticements all around you! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most people find the full-time lifestyle to be a bit more expensive than they expected. We, on the other hand, found it to be much more affordable than we thought it would be. Everyone has a different situation and different goals. You really need to consider each aspect of your life; what you are willing to sacrifice, and what you cannot live without. </span><span style="font-size: large;">For us, that means staying put for 6 months at a time, wherever that may be. We don't use a car during most of that time and we live in a small, pre-owned motorhome without the bells and whistles. Despite those hardships, we absolutely love our lifestyle! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope these tips help you make the choice that is best for YOU. Good luck to you, and safe travels wherever you may roam!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-14227420727540705892013-11-14T20:09:00.000-05:002013-11-14T20:21:08.334-05:00We made it out in the nick of time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We stayed in NY right up til the last week of October, and it was very, very cold! The snowflakes began falling the week after we arrived in FL. Needless to say, I have a greater appreciation for those brave souls who do cold-weather camping.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The highlight of this trip was when Jim and I visited some of his friends in Myrtle Beach, SC. They hadn't seen each other in over 20 years. I learned that very little has changed about my husband since his younger days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We also had the opportunity to stay in a lovely RV resort next to the beach. Never, have I seen so many golf carts in a single place! It was so relaxing as we lounged around on the beach watching the few tourists that remained</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> ride horses up and down the shoreline.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some highlights of the trip included camping on the top of a mountain in Hancock, MD, waking up to the sounds of ducks in Savannah, GA, and seeing several cotton fields along Interstate 95. Once we got out of the colder climate, it was nice to take our "sweet time" exploring each place we stayed at. An added bonus was the minimal amount of </span><span style="font-size: large;"> traffic to contend with this time around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am so happy to be back in FL</span><span style="font-size: large;"> where we </span><span style="font-size: large;">have both </span><span style="font-size: large;">been warmly welcomed. As far as work is concerned, I am swamped! It truly does seem like "feast or famine" comes into play in the world of freelance. I have been offered a "work-camping" job (part-time), which I will be squeezing into an already hectic writing schedule.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I do want to send a shout-out to my friend Lorraine Reguly. She lives "way up North" and is running a giveaway</span><span style="font-size: large;"> on her blog. If you get the chance, please stop in and play along. I'm on my way over there right now to join the fun! Just click on this "<a href="http://lorrainemariereguly.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/a-special-featured-friday-featuring-author-donna-jean-mcdunn-and-a-book-giveaway/" target="_blank">link</a>" and let her know Aleshia sent you.</span> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-72440387908303531712013-10-13T12:24:00.001-04:002013-10-13T12:24:17.965-04:00The Next Adventure<span style="font-size: large;">We are getting ready for the next adventure! In two weeks, we are going to be on the road again. I haven't posted lately due to a HUGE project in the works, which is taking up each and every moment of my life. The folks up North have proven that "absence makes the heart grow fonder" with all of the social activities we are invited to! Emmie has returned to college with a new roommate and a new dorm. I felt so much better about settling her into the new digs. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Most RV friends in our social circle have already left us for warmer weather, but we decided that we would stay for most of October to celebrate some very special birthdays: Em is turning 20, our little grandson turned 2, and our niece just had her sweet 16 birthday. Thanks to Durham Editing and E-Books, I was able to write memoirs for my sister and I and turn them into a published work. My niece read them out loud during her birthday party with her grandparents present. It was a very precious moment that I will cherish always.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I hope everyone is having a wonderful Autumn. It is so hard to believe that the holidays are coming soon! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God bless, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">~ Aleshia</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-70877725140983684942013-09-14T16:40:00.000-04:002013-09-16T22:31:02.201-04:00RV Living Frugality - Part II<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Continuing with the tips listed in <a href="http://aleshiaclarke.blogspot.com/2013/08/rv-living-frugality-part-i.html" target="_blank">RV Living Frugality - Part I</a>, here are some other ways you can save money as a full time RVer:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">5.</span> Utilities – Always ask if electric, water, and sewage is included with the lot rent before you book a campground site – if
it isn't, use free campground facilities as much as possible. Motorhome owners should consider purchasing an Extend-a-Stay hose connector, which conveniently connects your grill's propane tank to
the RV's propane tank. It save's your gas mileage from driving the
rig up to a propane filling service. Consider bringing a portable
electric oil heater for daytime-only use. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">6. </span>Phone/Data – Google Voice has a free domestic calling plan, but
you will need to buy an Obi Talk device (costs less than $40 on
Amazon.com) for use in your RV. For mobile phone service, prepaid is
the most affordable option; I pay $100 per month for 2 smart-phone
lines (had to by our own phones) for my daughter and I. We can tether
them and use them as a wifi hotspot if necessary, but they are excruciatingly slow for this purpose. My husband, who has no interest
in data services, uses a Tracfone for less than $100 per year. If you
are going to reserve a long-term site and use the internet
frequently, your best bet is signing on with an internet service
provider (usually not an option in remote locations). </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">7.</span> Entertainment – Many campgrounds offer free cable television,
but if yours doesn't, low-cost alternatives are available (Free:
Website programming, Crackle/Low cost: Roku, Netflix, Amazon Prime).
Better yet, get out of the RV and do something – bike, hike, treat
yourself to a matinee movie, or attend a local festival. Most
museums participate in reciprocal program memberships; the annual fee
includes free admission to many different museums within a geographic
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;"> (<a href="http://narmassociation.org/" target="_blank">North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association</a>, <a href="http://astc.org/members/passlist_about.htm" target="_blank">Association of Science - Technology Centers (ASTC) Passport Program</a>, <a href="http://www.albanyinstitute.org/empire-state-museums-reciprocal-program.html" target="_blank">Empire State Museums Reciprocal Program</a>). Some campgrounds offer discounted group rate excursions to casinos or tourist attractions. When you are exhausted after a day of exploring, relax to the crackling sound and warmth of a bonfire – grab a bottle of wine and invite the neighbors over.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">8.</span> Healthcare – The most cost-effective way to save money is
through preventative care and physical fitness. That being said, some
of us do need more advanced treatments and maintenance medications.
Having a good Primary Care Physician is essential, even though you
may need to use Urgent Care facilities in a pinch. You really can't
afford not to have health insurance, so make sure to visit the
“<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">Health </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">Insurance </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">Marketplace</a>” website for the most recent,
affordable options. Take advantage of community health clinics for
vaccinations, screenings and testing. Use a nationwide pharmacy with
online refill services to avoid costly, time-consuming prescription coordination errors. Sometimes you can get an over-the-counter medication at a lower cost as a prescription and vice-versa.
Anticipate emergencies, and be prepared by carrying your medical
record summary and insurance cards at all times.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Stay tuned for more tips in part III of RV Living Frugality...</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span> </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-57474850746894331382013-09-08T11:07:00.000-04:002013-09-08T11:09:57.073-04:00Memoirs Anthology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwxtZnRrHAGByf47LkiE18N6fEXgSlvX6TxeWuoqHGUfO1Jb8sqxWLBUwVwtC1E6z49Pw5QYzFbsOdXqmDhhUjYOMonHwy__zqcVoKi103IZ-zyF_pOuxLxvNN11kqblKmZ3H19ijHzEQ/s1600/LOCpromo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwxtZnRrHAGByf47LkiE18N6fEXgSlvX6TxeWuoqHGUfO1Jb8sqxWLBUwVwtC1E6z49Pw5QYzFbsOdXqmDhhUjYOMonHwy__zqcVoKi103IZ-zyF_pOuxLxvNN11kqblKmZ3H19ijHzEQ/s640/LOCpromo2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-53290595374976158642013-08-29T17:34:00.004-04:002013-08-30T17:19:22.666-04:00My Old Pal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwO14_WM0xM1EksOqrx-Mpv296ojdi1snUFCJsikDy77-Zo9S7SdSgHXthnayfr2dxJTgn2U5kkmlkXAXCA-Og2gHxxA2C03iMNXtltzIMxiPpn0cLHexnbYx_lVxER9DY1z_1wNM5SHAZ/s1600/Charlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwO14_WM0xM1EksOqrx-Mpv296ojdi1snUFCJsikDy77-Zo9S7SdSgHXthnayfr2dxJTgn2U5kkmlkXAXCA-Og2gHxxA2C03iMNXtltzIMxiPpn0cLHexnbYx_lVxER9DY1z_1wNM5SHAZ/s320/Charlie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This has been a difficult month for us. We lost our loyal and faithful border collie, Charlie, to cancer. He has joined his two "brothers" across the Rainbow Bridge. Each one of our three boys was 14 years old upon his passing. Our beagle Shadow crossed with on Christmas Day from cancer, just before we became "snowbirds." Then we lost Buddy, our long-haired orange cat, to kidney disease on Valentine's Day of this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Each of our pets chose us, rather than us choosing them. Charlie came to us on an airplane from Florida to New York when he was 8 years old, after Jim's Aunt passed away from cancer. He was such a good boy, and I am so happy that he was able to return there one last time. Shadow was an abused and abandoned doggie when he appeared on our doorstep, but in time, he became the boldest one of the threesome. His endless energy filled our days with joy. Buddy came with our home, after we told the sellers "no, we really don't want a cat." But leaving that sweet, demanding ball of fur behind for us was the most wonderful, unexpected housewarming gift that we received.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">With Emmie off to college, we are empty nesters once again, and even more so without our beloved fur babies to keep us busy. I have submerged myself into writing pieces for an upcoming anthology of memoirs along with a couple of nonfiction articles that plan to pitch this week. I am looking forward to our next trip down the East Coast in mid-October - the ocean reminds me that God is all-powerful and has prepared a grand reconciliation for all believers.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-70331438994579977362013-08-05T21:28:00.000-04:002013-08-05T21:28:14.849-04:00RV Living Frugality - Part I
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguauObLRmnt_dKbkQxjVSnuNnk4WHYp3seS2_Ty1uB1iJtB7cv1hW99hI18eIwta0OUVrR33g0hCw18IM-ly14TDeBFFCXjZV_oXPxJnRDGWu9-KyRzXNxhiMxp5XZDcRkW64qA8Jc8oyw/s1600/15641_606594472705536_19546103_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguauObLRmnt_dKbkQxjVSnuNnk4WHYp3seS2_Ty1uB1iJtB7cv1hW99hI18eIwta0OUVrR33g0hCw18IM-ly14TDeBFFCXjZV_oXPxJnRDGWu9-KyRzXNxhiMxp5XZDcRkW64qA8Jc8oyw/s320/15641_606594472705536_19546103_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Everyone makes a trade-off at some point in life. For example,
your family may skip eating at restaurants for a year to save money for a kitchen remodeling project. The questions
to ask yourself are, what do I want and how can I get it?
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Those of us who travel around the country by RV choose to give up
many of our personal possessions in exchange for new adventures and
friends. We must run a tight ship, so to speak, in order to
afford the “upscale” vagabond lifestyle. Since so many people
have asked me how we can afford RV living, I have prepared a list of money saving
tips for the basic necessities.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Food – Clip coupons and shop the sales, especially buy
1 get 1 free deals. Stir-frying on the grill is a healthy and
affordable. Crockpot meals = leftovers for a second dinner. Instead
of going out to eat, buy a good quality frozen meal for a special meal. Eat
lighter and get in shape!</span></span><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Clothing & Household Items –Shop end of season clearance sales and make routine visits to thrift shops. Go yard-sailing. S</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">ave time and find the best variety</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> online using the free ship-to-store option. Choose multi-tasking items like </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">apparel pieces that you can </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">mix, match, and layer (another example: a Pyrex measuring cup for measuring AND microwaving foods).</span></span><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shelter – Shop around for the best RV deals and bank
interest rates; don't rule out pre-owned models. Weigh comfort and
storage needs with style, and factor in the cost of maintenance.
Consider adding a portable patio room to a small unit for increased living
space. Ask about single night campsite discounts for
boon-docking (dry-camping with no hookups). Skip the park and take advantage of free overnight
parking (some Wal-marts and Cracker Barrels allow it, but always ask
first). Make reservations for state and national parks or VFW
campsites. Most RV parks offer discounted lot rates for monthly and
seasonal rentals. Barter your expertise or services in exchange for
a discount.</span></span><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_">Transportation – Tow a light, economy vehicle (we call these toads). Buy a scooter, which can get up to 75 miles per gallon of gas. Plan to stay in walking or bicycling distance to a grocery store or a discount department store; bring backpacks along to carry your purchases back to your campsite (baskets for bicycles). Long-term <span class="gm_ gm_8b43817c-cd9f-5d26-7033-445a93cb0cdc gm-spell">RVers</span> might consider trying to find a campground near the public bus route. Taxis are for emergencies only!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Stay tuned for more tips in part II of RV Living Frugality...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
</li>
</ol>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-47673237417907290522013-07-20T14:58:00.000-04:002013-07-20T14:58:22.606-04:00For richer, for poorer...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I don't know where exactly the rumor started, but before we embarked upon the journey, people believed we were...nearly rich. At work the whispers went something like, "rich husband - that's why she travels so much." My own parents and sisters were under the impression that I had "money in the bank." The kids didn't hesitate when asking for help with car insurance bills and shopping money either. </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXOnoN30zLqYnZ4y8-SF6wUJj62SUq4aiG5aRT5QP42F4YRLuvLLtloBmQH2tBi5prrlJEp9JAHS34yE71CRBqRxc43igmOzA11dLI-QTg2eZ3hwoTtMvIouAwpAJnxqq9rz8JPBBy7eC/s1600/100_1316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXOnoN30zLqYnZ4y8-SF6wUJj62SUq4aiG5aRT5QP42F4YRLuvLLtloBmQH2tBi5prrlJEp9JAHS34yE71CRBqRxc43igmOzA11dLI-QTg2eZ3hwoTtMvIouAwpAJnxqq9rz8JPBBy7eC/s320/100_1316.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Everything changed this year, beginning when Emmie found out<span class="gmw_"> she was getting $0 in college financial aid grants (in addition to a $2,500 loan for her and a $10,000 loan for me). Jarrod (My stepson) found out when he made the decided to return to college without financial assistance from Jim. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_">Thank goodness </span></span>Daniel, my other stepson, </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_">financially </span></span>supports himself. Immediately upon returning "home" after our long-term RV trip, a crisis arose in my extended family, and all involved were stunned when I could not "help them out." </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_">In order to obtain the lifestyle we desired, we made sacrifices and lived frugally. We didn't buy or lease "new" vehicles; instead, we saved money and bought used ones. I won't bore you with details, but we went without the things many people take for granted. Our stationary home is an old trailer - we weren't sure if it would still be standing when we returned.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_">When you want something badly, </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_">you must work really hard for it, </span></span>and at times you must "go without," and put your money in a savings account. Emmie knows - she finished almost 2 years of college while in high school so she can afford the degree. Jarrod and Daniel know too - both took a longer route while learning to succeed in the "manual labor" workplace. These are lessons most of us learn the hard way, though they need not be. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_">What
kept each of us going? The adventures ahead of us; allowing ourselves a week in
Virginia Beach, VA or Myrtle Beach, SC every 2-3 years, and taking
weekend trips in between. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_">We also found joy in spending time together, as well as in the daily events of life. We looked at </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_">everything inside our little world</span></span></span></span> with humor. </span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_">My </span></span>words of encouragement to help readers reach their "dreams" are simple:</span></span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_"><span style="font-size: large;">forgo instant gratification, work to save money, and do something EVERY MONTH that brings you closer to your goal.</span> </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="gmw_"><span style="font-size: large;">think about the brevity of your dream - will it sustain your happiness over the "long-haul?"</span> </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_">material items decay, but a way of life is irreplaceable. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_"> </span></span><ul>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-53990752718653823582013-07-12T13:35:00.002-04:002013-09-08T11:08:32.355-04:00Summer Shorts: Airing Out Secrets <span style="font-size: large;"><i>Summer Shorts: Airing Out Secrets </i>is an anthology of </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">fiction </span> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">short stories being</span> released today. Publisher <b>Durham Editing and E-books</b> has provided free preview coupon codes for readers:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/335515" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7tGk6EjtE6QxFkAP21UigeSd9A1ChS_N7vesi1GpqG1lSFvlX_Z5TZYXhfxpQAFUax_cske4MZ8dg3pThHYMnNuehNoh2w80hevlg6Ra46E4tN02YJgFNaFm2NIIQOUxYC-XcJodaCtd/s1600/SSannouncement.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="userContent"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/335515" target="_blank">Summer Shorts on Smashwords</a><br /> Coupon Code: KR34E<br /> Expires: July 21, 2013</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">For a </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">nonfiction author who dabbles in poetry, my FIRST </span></span>venture into the </span><u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">world of fiction</span></span></u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> has met with great success.</span> It is truly an honor </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">that my short story, <i>Taking Control</i>, was selected to be published in this collection</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> of remarkable talent.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-83496387181058284582013-07-06T12:05:00.001-04:002013-07-11T22:22:11.045-04:00Donald Duck & Mickey Mouse & Goofy - Camping Trip<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">So, I
came across this on YouTube today: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SHaGRj803J8" width="459"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Disney has captured the "essence" of RV
living with this old clip & I just had to share it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And that's</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> exactly how the journey "feels" to a newbie.</span><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-22544845630737943962013-06-29T20:48:00.000-04:002013-07-11T21:52:36.192-04:00Social Circles<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0q2YYtb_73a9tMWoDg9JGP1U4lDbWVHw58etTAiBBvvsiejqqZk03veosiBkkiW0PcDviK6hF_s2xTCi2F0G3_fyr8muLQJUy4mLFHK_3k9jUMghyphenhyphen6sNlHkWj9qdEC2BeLzO2xBIHq9h/s510/Personality1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0q2YYtb_73a9tMWoDg9JGP1U4lDbWVHw58etTAiBBvvsiejqqZk03veosiBkkiW0PcDviK6hF_s2xTCi2F0G3_fyr8muLQJUy4mLFHK_3k9jUMghyphenhyphen6sNlHkWj9qdEC2BeLzO2xBIHq9h/s400/Personality1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Aleshia Clarke</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">An interesting group of people caught my attention last week. As most of you know, I have an acute interest in social science as a generalist (never did get that Master's Degree). I have been educated in personality theory and application through the use of psychological tests. I knew I was an INFJ according to the <a href="http://www.myersbriggs.org/" target="_blank">Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®</a> personality inventory. This basically means I'm the quiet, thoughtful type who seeks meaning in life, has concerns for mankind, and values the need for social justice.<br /><br />What I did not realize, is there is an entire subculture of INFJ's or other personality types. Some are bloggers or peace activists, and they have an organized online social presence. They proudly list famous people who share the same personality traits; for example, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Gandhi. On the other side of the coin, Adolf Hitler, Osama Bin Laden, and Robert Mugabe share the INFJ traits. Does this mean we can be almost exactly alike, but either "good" or "evil?" It sure looks like that may be the case.<br /><br />My daughter is an ISTJ, which means that unlike me, she is very methodic about her daily routine and she relies on facts more than feelings (she studies Molecular Genetics). She and I are very similar, as a matter of fact...I used to be an ISFJ when I was younger. Personality is fluid; it can have slight variation from one week to the next. I'm likely to test differently based on whether I am under pressure to meet deadlines at work, or relaxing at the beach on my annual vacation. In my case, going through the major life changing event of a divorce was the catalyst for changing my ST to an NF.<br /><br />I also learned that many INFJ's, myself included, are also <a href="http://www.hsperson.com/" target="_blank">HSP's - Highly Sensitive Persons</a>. Fascinating stuff, wouldn't you agree? If you would like to learn more about these analytical psychology concepts, which are based on the work of Carl Jung, check out the following websites:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myersbriggs.org/" target="_blank">The Myers & Briggs Foundation</a><br /><a href="http://www.hsperson.com/" target="_blank">The Highly Sensitive Person</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-42611053721277556122013-06-22T01:47:00.001-04:002013-07-11T21:56:16.309-04:00Unveiling my new blog: Aleshia's Angle<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">You may have noticed that I always have an endless list of "projects" in progress. My compulsion stems from a long history of working in the hectic field of human
services. The "lack of funding" always insures that there are never enough
qualified staff to provide adequate services. I responded to the dilemma by learning the art of "effective efficiency." It gave me an ethical way to meet the demands of management without sacrificing the needs of clientele.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Long story short: I take multitasking to the extreme. My career has created a psychopathology in me, in the form of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, adult onset - employee type (self-diagnosed, of course)!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">My "recovery plan" consists of putting all of that excess energy to work using a cognitive-behavioral therapeutic modality. I made a list of my primary objectives, which incidentally happen to be literary in nature:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>journaling </b>my personal experiences</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>composing </b>creative written works </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>improving </b>my<b> </b>literary skills</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>contributing </b>to the social sciences </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>selling </b>a few pieces to pay the bills</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">To these ends, I have decided that I need yet another blog; one that has a more serious, academic tone. It is a non-partisan social commentary highlighting issues that affect all of us from a sociology point of view. The blog is called <a href="http://aleshiaclarke.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Aleshia's Angle</a>, and I would love to present your "angle" too! I hope you will stop by, and if it interests you, I am going to begin accepting guest blog proposals. There are 5 requirements to have a guest post published on my new blog:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"></span>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">NO POLITICAL RANTS ALLOWED</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">topic is within the realm of the social sciences </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">post demonstrates insight on the issues facing a modern society </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">the piece is well-written according to high quality publishing standards</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">writers must respond to visitor comments in a timely fashion</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">If you are interested, you can find my contact information on the "About Me" page of my new blog. Please understand that I am unable to financially compensate contributors at this time. However, I will promote your work among various social media. Please include your byline in the proposal, and include a copy of all attributed photos that will accompany the post.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-56723297682915157442013-06-18T22:47:00.000-04:002013-07-11T22:29:15.354-04:00Summer in the Finger Lakes of NY<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nDsewTc6fOdYwKWGTOVsLHR2TomwI9kQnwU-HfFdzpmBcOkVQTl1VpNMuYE3Sk_YkMomPPkCNPs-ujsWqjO4bgi2DCWcgyhO63aaDkQHSyG35bZWKS0rde4gkQeYMR7revfouK57H9NF/s1600/Water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nDsewTc6fOdYwKWGTOVsLHR2TomwI9kQnwU-HfFdzpmBcOkVQTl1VpNMuYE3Sk_YkMomPPkCNPs-ujsWqjO4bgi2DCWcgyhO63aaDkQHSyG35bZWKS0rde4gkQeYMR7revfouK57H9NF/s400/Water.jpg" height="302" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Aleshia Clarke<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-SAirVRmfPGGKM2PnhhrfSpcTBKNZOOOk2TDuZdwtLJydztRe17LZeaIDXPd7cbBmLJRm6l3TiyiGYT5pv1g4FHcq6zOQANokQzpPXh8CY3g3BD2jizbH6nYwrh-sN9UP9v18radzdC6/s1600/Floral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-SAirVRmfPGGKM2PnhhrfSpcTBKNZOOOk2TDuZdwtLJydztRe17LZeaIDXPd7cbBmLJRm6l3TiyiGYT5pv1g4FHcq6zOQANokQzpPXh8CY3g3BD2jizbH6nYwrh-sN9UP9v18radzdC6/s400/Floral.jpg" height="296" width="400" /> </a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Aleshia Clarke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I'm beginning to believe that it is REALLY JUNE here in the beautiful Finger Lakes of New York. For the past few weeks it has RAINED and RAINED, then RAINED some more! Fortunately, we had at least one day of SUNSHINE each week. Nevertheless, we were quite WATERLOGGED for awhile up here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">In between CUTTING GRASS and building the ARK (just kidding :), we took the boat out to SENECA LAKE. We also tinkered in our FLOWER BEDS.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Being "SNOWBIRDS," we have to take care of all those pesky ANNUAL MEDICAL issues: dental cleanings, eye glasses, physical checkups, etc. This is quite a challenge with 3 adults sharing ONE CAR! I think we have gone to about 15 auto DEALERSHIPS within the last 3 weeks, but have yet to find the perfect vehicle for our daughter (cheap, low miles, automatic transmission, no rust). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I hope you enjoy the photos taken during the BRIGHTEST DAYS of JUNE here in the BIG APPLE!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-16948139961237071252013-06-11T22:52:00.000-04:002013-07-11T21:55:54.295-04:00Whirlwind Weeks!<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Time goes by really fast when there is work to do. We have finally moved into our "summer" home, which has been scrubbed clean from top to bottom. I cannot believe a month has already passed since our return to New York. The motor home will still get plenty of use as we travel closer to home for "recreational" purposes. Emmie's boyfriend will spend the next four days living in it while he visits her (yes, more cleaning to do). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">It has been raining nearly every day for two weeks up here. I've been working on literary submissions whenever I can spare a few minutes on writing. Next week, I must return to gainful employment (writing for money) to save up for the next grand adventure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I did take a break from the drudgery to attend a family reunion picnic, which thankfully took place in favorable weather. I have heard that it will be warm and sunny starting tomorrow, and throughout the rest of the week. I do hope this is true so we can take a ride on our bikes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Thanks to those of you who commented on my "riddle" post. You had some great guesses! The correct answer is "a rogue scholar," one who rejects learned knowledge in favor of quick profit. He sells false expertise for fame and fortune, but over time he gives up his academic focus, professional discipline and reasoning capacity. He loses the ability to contribute anything of value to society and becomes foolishly ignorant. This was actually one of several ideas I had to submit in a tanka poetry contest. I decided to send in a different poem, but this one was just too good to waste.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-41879317971108760782013-06-06T11:28:00.001-04:002013-07-11T21:56:52.085-04:00The Riddle :)<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIPjo71CF1UVi5VMHa17zzX9RGeBxi22WelBrjr6dIntztt02w_yY_OBINuVXAC-rZ-v1ifaFmMuJaGZCSQDlHgzHx3NsRI9YmPF-L-i3BOG4jbc8vNTbNQoRiCuU7AwYY77e2_7okoFc/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIPjo71CF1UVi5VMHa17zzX9RGeBxi22WelBrjr6dIntztt02w_yY_OBINuVXAC-rZ-v1ifaFmMuJaGZCSQDlHgzHx3NsRI9YmPF-L-i3BOG4jbc8vNTbNQoRiCuU7AwYY77e2_7okoFc/s400/Untitled.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Picture Credit: Aleshia Clarke</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-28207474364907629862013-06-01T14:01:00.000-04:002013-07-12T11:43:12.939-04:00RV Living: The Journey Continues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPBfr0xhhXO4G6ZNGA7ghj-CR2nYWO1l-nxtI5le4O-Qr0gE3lGb344dLfQV1ZHJGWxxj9bp-Lon1ol-82cbvpRFef_Pu3VOiEPO6rKFyo7yrvYnzLyF7rzpNhURHybzOByD7KFxXzROP/s1600/232323232%7Ffp543_6_nu=7;84_238_25__WSNRCG=35_387799234;nu0mrj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPBfr0xhhXO4G6ZNGA7ghj-CR2nYWO1l-nxtI5le4O-Qr0gE3lGb344dLfQV1ZHJGWxxj9bp-Lon1ol-82cbvpRFef_Pu3VOiEPO6rKFyo7yrvYnzLyF7rzpNhURHybzOByD7KFxXzROP/s400/232323232%7Ffp543_6_nu=7;84_238_25__WSNRCG=35_387799234;nu0mrj.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">A leaky window in the midst of a terrifying thunderstorm dampened our second night in Port Orange, Florida. Jim quickly repaired it while our dog Charlie was being comforted on my lap. Our cat Buddy stayed calm throughout the ordeal, happily settled in after two long weeks on the road. The rest of the week was went well as we explored our new neighborhood. With temperatures in the upper eighties, the campground pool was an oasis from the sweltering October heat, although big, scary insects often bobbed around on the buoy divider. Everyone in the campground was super friendly - we were going to fit in very well here.<br />
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Marye, our new friend as well as the campground office manager, graciously let us tag along whenever she ran errands. We avoided driving the motor home with its 9.8 miles per gallon of gas, as well as the issue of unhooking everything. We soon learned that interesting and unique people ride public busses, but I felt confident having pepper spray tucked discreetly away in my purse. Jim took the scooter out occasionally for short distance trips. Tired of feeling confined, I bought a bicycle after a few weeks, and had a blast zipping around town with it. Jim followed suit soon after. We outfitted our wheels with handlebar baskets and carried backpacks for additional storage space. We still used the bus for longer trips. The only downside to our modes of transportation was not being able to travel after dusk.<br />
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Our daughter Emmie had her college freshman meltdown shortly after we arrived. She was working at her first paying job in a campus café when a co-worker fell, gashed his hand, and was rushed to the hospital. Her stress level was already high due to her roommate’s personality and behavior - they were completely opposite to Emmie's quiet, studious ways. I found out later that the roommate had no inhibitions whatsoever, and my daughter had been avoiding the little vixen's frequent overnight male visitors, by sleeping on the floor of a friend’s room. I was livid about the "education" my girl was getting, and the fact that we were spending $7000 a year for a room that Emmie was afraid to sleep in. I seriously considered booking a flight and bringing her down to Florida, but she wanted to stay in New York near her friends. Against my better judgment, I agreed to let her handle the situation on her own, as an adult. <br />
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We never left our 14 year old boys alone in the camper for too long, and we always made sure the air conditioner was on in our absence. Buddy and Charlie enjoyed being outside on their harnesses, but Buddy got scared if we walked too far away from the camper. I don't think he understood why the scenery kept changing as trailers pulled in or out. Charlie was a campground favorite, especially with the children. They loved his quirky walk. Buddy suffered from a long-term inflammatory bowel condition that flared up occasionally, so I was always worried about his health. Thankfully, the Biketoberfest motorcycles didn't traumatize him, although the notoriously rowdy Bike Week was scheduled in February.<br />
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Apparently, Floridian employers don’t like hiring "snowbirds." I was confident about finding a job with my impressive resume, and I had done my research on the job market prior to the trip. After applying for over 50 jobs, I was finally hired for a seasonal retail position. This was not exactly my intention, but I couldn't find a per diem counseling job without a Florida drivers license. On my third day of merchandise handling, I got sick from riding my bike to work in the cool, humid mornings. I couldn’t speak or swallow by the sixth day, so I took a taxi up to the primary care clinic. Thanks to the medicine, I survived the hot, physical labor while working the following 10 days in a row.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">We had reservations for a dinner and cruise down in the New Smyrna Beach inter-coastal waterway the day after Hurricane Sandy arrived. Even though the rain had stopped, the ocean surf was extremely rough, but Marye convinced us that river would be calm. It was dusk by the time dinner ended, then we boarded the boat. We were having such a fun time when the captain made us sit down and hold on tight. He took us out near the ocean jetty at full speed to see (and feel) the huge crashing waves – never in my life have I been so terrified, yet so thrilled at the same time! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">
The holidays were strange with temperatures in the seventies, and we felt the absence of our extended family. Thanksgiving dinner was spent in the rec-hall among people we hardly knew. Marye put lots of effort into Christmas planning, and we helped "adopt a family" of seven who were currently living in a hotel room. The father was a maintenance employee at the campground. JC Penney was having a promotion where you could collect cute little decorated buttons from the cashiers for a chance to win prizes or cash discounts. We went every day for our buttons, which were later strung as a decoration for our table top tree. On Christmas morning, we awoke early and followed a marshmallow trail to the rec hall. What a delightful time we had watching the kids open their presents of toys and clothes - all purchased at a discount thanks to those buttons! Later on, we enjoyed a lovely brunch at the Golden Corral followed by a charming movie at the local cinema.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">On December 27th, we picked Emmie up at the airport for her semester break. She loved the campground. After relaxing by the pool for a few days, we took her to Daytona Beach Shores, the flea market, and the International Speedway area. Marye arranged a tour bus trip to Port Canaveral for a casino cruise ship adventure. It was a wonderful experience, and Emmie won $75! Our "adopted" daughter, Jaynie arrived from Pennsylvania the following week. We rented a car and took the girls to Orlando, where we spent two days hanging out at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The 19 year old girls enjoyed the roller coasters, purchased a ton of souvenirs, and delightfully drank their butter-beer at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">We settled into our routine once again after Emmie and Jaynie flew back home. I decided to try my hand at freelance writing to supplement Jim's retirement income. Surprisingly, I sold articles for cash with minimal effort. Jim and I also did "odd jobs" for various people in the campground whenever an opportunity arose (shopping for an elderly woman, selling coffee and bagels, etc.). Our estimated living expenses were significantly less than we had expected - thank the Lord! As an added bonus, my unemployment qualified our daughter for financial aid the next year. We finally stopped worrying about our finances. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Then the unexpected happened. On Valentine's Day morning, Jim awoke to find Buddy was sleeping on Charlie's back. Even more peculiar; Charlie didn't mind. Buddy seemed somewhat "sluggish," but Jim had a dental surgery appointment, so we decided to call a vet afterwards. The surgery took nearly two hours. Upon our return, as I frantically tried to contact a vet, Buddy took his final breaths. He was cremated the next morning. My world turned very dark for the next two weeks as I grieved the loss of my dear, sweet, old friend. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">See Part I of The Journey:</span><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://aleshiaclarke.blogspot.com/2013/04/photo-credit-aleshia-clarke-normal-0.html">The journey Into RV living, as Snowbirds</a></h3>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><a data-pin-do="buttonFollow" href="http://pinterest.com/aleshiaclarke/">Follow me on Pinterest</a></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-41792048899963413422013-05-23T23:10:00.001-04:002013-07-11T22:00:41.507-04:00Trials and Tribulations<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">My week has been...interesting in many ways:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>Lightening struck a tree</b> perilously close to our motor home. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">My<b> laptop screen</b> is on the verge of death, and I'm ready to euthanize it!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">My daughter (Emmie)<b> lost all of her shorts</b> - it was 85 degrees most of the week.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">We carried a few <b>"hitch-hikers"</b> back from Florida - ants and lizards. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The<b> radiator</b> in Emmie's car (our only other set of wheels) blew up. :(</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">On the positive side:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Jim & I celebrated our 10th<b> wedding anniversary</b>. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">My <b>new laptop </b>should arrive next week. :)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Emmie passed all of her spring <b>classes</b> - even Chemistry II!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>Our house </b>is almost ready to move back into for the summer. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I ran into several <b>old friends</b> while running errands.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I think the worst is behind us now. Three people living together in a 24-foot camper is difficult at times. Each one of us has had a minor melt-down within the past two weeks. Although we don't like troubles pressing in on us, we know they are temporary, and we are going to keep moving forward.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>
<br />
<div style="float: left; font-family: Arial; font-size: 0.6em;">
<a href="http://www.clker.com/clipart-166784.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/7/2/a/e/13242751111398944943prester1-th.png" /></a><a href="http://www.clker.com/clipart-166784.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<a href="http://www.clker.com/clipart-166784.html" target="_blank">Prester clipart</a> <br />
from <a href="http://www.clker.com/">Clker.com</a><br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-74468070910160221902013-05-16T14:22:00.000-04:002013-07-11T22:30:22.622-04:00The week in review<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">We have been working diligently to clean out our old house in hopes of selling it in the near future. It is a decision that that we postponed until we were certain the full-time RV lifestyle would work for us. To that end, we are continuing to live in the motor home during the project. This will be interesting with our daughter arriving home from college on Saturday. She has spent up to three weeks in the RV with us over her winter break, but this will be a more intense adjustment for her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I will be writing more about our first year as full-timers soon. In the meantime, I've been busy writing a guest post for my friend Lorraine Reguly. Please stop over to her blog to take a peek at it:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="http://bit.ly/10uytHI" target="_blank">Using Social Media to Preserve the English Language</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Loraine has recently started a blog dedicated to her poetry, which she has also written about in her upcoming book (soon to be published). I'm sure she would love to have new visitors. I think you will be pleased!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://poetryperfected.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Poetry Perfected </a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">
~ Aleshia</span><br />
<br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-18259296644193404202013-05-11T12:58:00.001-04:002013-08-29T17:42:01.914-04:00A Different World<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Now that I'm back online, I am working on catching up with many things! It is a bit overwhelming, but at least I'm starting to feel settled. I always warm up by writing poetry. And this is my latest: </span><br />
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YOPm-vl3JaZwaPMqPO5hX_8whhIyI7K_6Y_pkFF9M0HTPh2mbT0xuSQlX-eV5ZUVjuo7F_PcLAix7gTJm0VL86j36MFa6Mk3ubj1HHcgFuCym5B7MAVtvIDtaiKzRUs7L2ux2InPDz-R/s1600/232323232%257Ffp73487)nu=7;84)238)25+)WSNRCG=36338234(;34;nu0mrj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YOPm-vl3JaZwaPMqPO5hX_8whhIyI7K_6Y_pkFF9M0HTPh2mbT0xuSQlX-eV5ZUVjuo7F_PcLAix7gTJm0VL86j36MFa6Mk3ubj1HHcgFuCym5B7MAVtvIDtaiKzRUs7L2ux2InPDz-R/s200/232323232%257Ffp73487)nu=7;84)238)25+)WSNRCG=36338234(;34;nu0mrj.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="gmw_">"Buddy" Photo by <span class="gm_ gm_57037aee-658d-2818-8ee8-cc4ed3ce7514 gm-spell">Aleshia</span> Clarke</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #bf9000;"><b><b>Coming Home</b></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #e69138;"> </span></span><b> </b></span></span></span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My journey is complete,<br /> or so it would seem;<br />I'm back to the familiar,<br />the home, and the dream.<br /><br />With grass overgrown,<br />and the house in a mess,<br />tears overwhelm me -<br />the return of my stress!<br /><br />Feeling quite empty,<br />all alone in the sticks,<br />not knowing where to start;<br />there’s too much too fix.<br /><br />I want to go back<br />from where I just came.<br />I knew this would happen;<br />it is just not the same!<br /><br />My sweetheart comforts me,<br />saying “wherever we roam,<br />as long as we're together,<br />we will always be home.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/aleshiaclarke">Follow @aleshiaclarke</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-87398510397313683032013-05-06T09:45:00.000-04:002013-07-11T23:18:50.977-04:00Greetings from West Virginia!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz92eeBdvipHK0U06rsUD7sK6Ke4vpMDQ6Lin9B7KLEpMxBv-IzOJ9Z1b71C9sksBamJ6absad0-poadqPrkePtSaGh_zM3y2vD5ohS2oTuzmkyrHkJY6UNSl8Z0uq-Fp07TU5iQK487qH/s1600/P1010022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz92eeBdvipHK0U06rsUD7sK6Ke4vpMDQ6Lin9B7KLEpMxBv-IzOJ9Z1b71C9sksBamJ6absad0-poadqPrkePtSaGh_zM3y2vD5ohS2oTuzmkyrHkJY6UNSl8Z0uq-Fp07TU5iQK487qH/s320/P1010022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Blue Ridge Plateau, NC</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyiKa56MwHOGCAwMB9ImGSBGy0nmvMomn60kfaheJ_K3gLbUzMKu6puisfq_v46cpmehQDAY3VhQon0XbLBbxvaIMypjcsxYLKww00pYNT4WUT6I6ZK3MLj9ZLwn3T9s1g61YLJvO1rmg/s1600/20130505_145504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyiKa56MwHOGCAwMB9ImGSBGy0nmvMomn60kfaheJ_K3gLbUzMKu6puisfq_v46cpmehQDAY3VhQon0XbLBbxvaIMypjcsxYLKww00pYNT4WUT6I6ZK3MLj9ZLwn3T9s1g61YLJvO1rmg/s200/20130505_145504.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">New River Gorge, WV</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">We are having an exciting time traveling through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The scariest part of the trip was the climb up Grandfather Mountain in Blowing Rock, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">North Carolina. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">In the midst of rain, fog, and road construction, we were only inches from plunging over </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">the side! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">But the views are absolutely breathtaking, and I'm glad we chose this route.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRfV7A4jMnS5QA73pXGdIUnCAZq7nhEAueZ1r191eAt6GzywpdtfSYlla02LkJFk8kbKkSm4_dbWWOvhn4zLZ17z1XNcw9CKHZkc_Y_87gITSl67F7KQwFEKBmx3mlysAQW73EvzFUGZS/s1600/20130505_145516+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRfV7A4jMnS5QA73pXGdIUnCAZq7nhEAueZ1r191eAt6GzywpdtfSYlla02LkJFk8kbKkSm4_dbWWOvhn4zLZ17z1XNcw9CKHZkc_Y_87gITSl67F7KQwFEKBmx3mlysAQW73EvzFUGZS/s200/20130505_145516+-+Copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">New River Gorge Bridge, WV</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjledxA7IsPiKAO4EBfSwMa6sJ2xd0nXZQlC9XSPCZTlO25Kw-1gMboiMKHPVsLyLxcwWpWo0Oa0drMOjFiGqV-gspq3lyRw5N8AshYy40v60DUwiVZeycZyGc15EbNf8TTZfzzg29dkgtB/s200/20130502_112907.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: xx-small;">Blue Star Memorial Highway Sign, SC</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUqIgSRfWgtqa2jfjFrvRTEyCegWb0475R_a1pVVWXFzJ1DyVfsnSk6WDQoZwI9A-Qq-8aDYWHG_jw96tsuhcTwGtlLVGTovU5yz7ynLa1ucqNXtPasVYoy64HKZerknIq29AwNoj5dZV/s200/20130504_134139.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mystery Hill Vortex Room, NC</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL48_k2UIs8ztZGINSTKqzurzNm4xfSDE38GDmmWvly63lajVg56LCPmR9BRCZwQYjtAhJB6aj6bAn8CL0CqZuKtD_QApgTX7RLQGFy-1NcYldQNOgNQPzqwwoYVeOmjHVJLlE9snQ7fED/s1600/P1010027+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL48_k2UIs8ztZGINSTKqzurzNm4xfSDE38GDmmWvly63lajVg56LCPmR9BRCZwQYjtAhJB6aj6bAn8CL0CqZuKtD_QApgTX7RLQGFy-1NcYldQNOgNQPzqwwoYVeOmjHVJLlE9snQ7fED/s200/P1010027+-+Copy.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: xx-small;">Charlie Napping</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjledxA7IsPiKAO4EBfSwMa6sJ2xd0nXZQlC9XSPCZTlO25Kw-1gMboiMKHPVsLyLxcwWpWo0Oa0drMOjFiGqV-gspq3lyRw5N8AshYy40v60DUwiVZeycZyGc15EbNf8TTZfzzg29dkgtB/s1600/20130502_112907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-88908600684563326562013-04-30T16:23:00.001-04:002013-07-11T22:02:40.037-04:00Just a couple of notes<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I will be leaving in the morning for my next adventure! My husband and I are looking forward to seeing some old, familiar faces along the way. Posts may be far and few in between due to spotty cellphone coverage while on the road. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I will try to post a few pictures of the trip when we are in camp for the night.
Thank you everyone who took the time to vote for my Hub in the rising star competition. Voting ends tomorrow, so I'm hoping to find out shortly afterwards. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is some excellent competition, and I feel quite honored to be considered among their ranks. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy trails to all! </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">~Aleshia</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>
</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-76489053489212032092013-04-26T15:45:00.000-04:002013-07-11T22:02:55.143-04:00Nominated for Rising Star Award!<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Votes are appreciated!</span>
</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Please vote for me: <a href="http://t.co/LTnLiZNxiM" title="http://hubpages.com/topics/politics-and-social-issues/4677">hubpages.com/topics/politic…</a> Nominated for Rising Star Award: College Dorms...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">— Aleshia Clarke (@aleshiaclarke) <a href="https://twitter.com/aleshiaclarke/status/327865306632552448">April 26, 2013</a></span></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-87804056556648267002013-04-23T20:17:00.001-04:002013-07-11T22:03:29.274-04:00Let the positive cultural revival begin!<div style="float: left; font-family: Arial; font-size: 0.6em;">
<a href="http://www.clker.com/clipart-dancing-brown-cow.html" target="_blank"></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Large crowds freak me out. Some say I have a phobia, but avoiding the risks associated with so many people occupying the same space at the same time, sounds logical to me. I think my fear is quite rational, as I prefer not to be the target of a pickpocket, and to avoid getting trampled by an out-of-control crowd. When we attend large events where crowds are unavoidable, my husband plays a game to help ease my mind. He looks over and says, “Moo,” implying that as cattle, we are making our way through the dinner line. He always brings my smile out!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">My question is, why do people tend to follow the crowd (in a metaphorical sense)? I realize that chatting about the latest movie release builds camaraderie in the office, but what about the sculpted nail trend? Frankly, the idea of getting my fingernails ground down, then attaching acrylic pieces to them with superglue, gives me the creeps! Even more gross, is the piercing and tattooing trend - this dangerous gamble could result in serious negative health effects. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I want to challenge to readers to explore the world outside your social circle, and to be a positive trendsetter. Instead of celebrating the disturbing culture of reality television, be freethinking, eccentric individuals, who model inspiration and hope for others. Refuse to let your personality become a pawn of group-think mentality. Make a commitment to develop your natural creativity, talent, and skills. Cultural revival begins with a single person, when each of us unleashes our inner awesomeness!</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgXD9-O-yvkOCPsH4jOv0G66RQI_GyIMuGaIHPvtVlJ7UBPcsqByrRO2XJxmhhcn_pFhqN-NIkzC9ZvKtf7VAZZRxZmGkjnPO3uCAIDLDQ9CP_t5pGjfp7A2yjanKf1ZUJTED2VhDeuyWedOMoD8eMe_sTFP6-l05ybAFkEWZlWxIhn" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/x/U/g/h/a/2/dancing-brown-cow-th.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/clipart-dancing-brown-cow.html" target="_blank">Dancing Brown Cow clipart</a> from <a href="http://www.clker.com/">Clker.com</a><br />
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Apparently suspect number two was thought of as a typical guy. Most people in his social circle thought heat was a good person. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">How do people like him turn evil?
What do you think about it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190056702607589602noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998899824417206897.post-52084329062502212862013-04-20T14:49:00.006-04:002013-07-11T22:45:23.426-04:00The journey Into RV living, as Snowbirds<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSXYusdFaieCzidtaCfwYhZw9hKScs2ezEbKBNJz5GvMfHqZvh8SoLOekgPmroCcavcfHB18JwO2fWdtsrq2uawi4J-N8MmFBtgwPIRE49-ROh9y5ohqzqrt9f2eQH2g25g3Gcnh3hn6Y/s1600/Picture1+(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSXYusdFaieCzidtaCfwYhZw9hKScs2ezEbKBNJz5GvMfHqZvh8SoLOekgPmroCcavcfHB18JwO2fWdtsrq2uawi4J-N8MmFBtgwPIRE49-ROh9y5ohqzqrt9f2eQH2g25g3Gcnh3hn6Y/s400/Picture1+(2).png" height="400" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Photo Credit: Aleshia Clarke</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">To the surprise of our friends and family, my husband and I packed a few belongings into an RV, and went south for the winter. People thought we were crazy. Few had believed we would actually follow through with our plan, but those who did were quite envious of us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Turning Point</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">After 10 years of hard country living, the joys of home ownership had lost its charm. My husband was planning to retire from his job of 30 years. I worried that he would hurt himself trying to fix the house up. I was also concerned about how he would deal with being home alone most of the time. My job was very demanding; a struggle for daily survival, and I was starting to feel burned out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Our turning point came on the day of my first stress test, when I nearly died. It was a terrible morning at work. Management had various surprise assignments for me, and I dealt with a couple of angry clients. I sped along the highway to my appointment after escaping work…late again. My next memory involved taking two nitroglycerins and getting loaded into an ambulance. I nearly died again the following day, after transferring to a different hospital, where I proceeded to fail another type of stress test.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The director promised that things would change when I returned to work, but I knew better. I wanted out, and my husband agreed wholeheartedly. “Let’s go to Florida,” he said. My response was, “We could close the house up and live in a camper!” I gave my employer a full year notice in writing, and we purchased a small motor home. I had something to look forward to, and Jim started preparing for the trip.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>Project Snowbird(s)</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">While we were closing up house, I brought some pantry items over to my sister. I will never forget her asking, “You guys will be back by Thanksgiving, right?” My employer finally hired a replacement 10 days before I left. During the interview, the Director assured her that I would provide my cell phone number to her before I left, should she need to ask any questions. I thought, “you must be kidding me!” I politely declined when the new employee asked for it, by telling her that I needed to focus on the road ahead of me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Our daughter, a senior in high school, had applied to a college near her stepbrother’s residence. She was not accepted. We offered to bring her to Florida, but she wanted to be near her friends. Her words were, “Mom, what is the difference between a kid going to college out of state, or the parents going out of state to leave their kid at a local college.” She opted to attend a local college instead. In the end, the decision was entirely hers; still, people thought it was selfish of us to leave her behind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Journey Begins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">My impatient husband, Jim, insisted that we leave on time - in the middle of a torrential downpour! We spent over 150 harrowing miles trying to keep the rig on the road, to keep Charlie (our dog) off Jim’s lap, and to keep Buddy (our cat) from having a stroke. I finally convinced Jim to pull into a Walmart parking lot until the tornado warnings ended. When they continued to active three hours later, we decided to spend the night in the Yogi at Shangri-la Jellystone Park Campground in Milton, Pennsylvania. Just our luck; it was adjacent to the Chillisquaque Creek, which had a long history of major flooding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">We managed to survive the night without incident, so we left the following morning for New Market, Virginia. Charlie had developed an attachment disorder, which became evident when we came out of a welcome center to find our 50 pound dog on the dashboard, nose pressed into the windshield. Shortly afterwards, the tire pressure monitor system alarm began sounding off. After we stopped to check it for the fifth time, Jim deduced that the left rear dually tire was overinflated. He also learned that going up and down a steep incline is a bad idea. Our rear hitch-mounted trailer, loaded with a 2-stroke Honda Zuma Scooter, scraped the pavement on the way up, and again on the way back down the Mobile Gas Station entrance ramp.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I drove for a bit to make amends for snapping at Jim over his carelessness. I came upon an extremely narrow bridge in heavy traffic, and made a hasty decision to drive right down the middle of both lanes to prevent passing traffic from sideswiping us. The terrifying maneuver worked like a charm. As Interstate 81 took us down through West Virginia into the Appalachian Mountains, we both began to relax while enjoying the breathtaking vistas. There were slightly unnerving emergency pull-offs for trucks with break failures, but driving deeper into the region’s beauty helped to melt our stress away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">We entered a garden of stone on the side of a deserted mountainside when we pulled into the Endless Cavern’s NASCAR RV resort. I finally had the chance to purchase souvenirs for our daughter at the camp store. With an entire section to ourselves, we enjoyed the solitude and natural geology of the resort. During the next two days, the pets calmed down, we caught-up on our laundry, and everyone had fun exploring the trails. Due to the nearby epicenter of a recent strong earthquake (the earthquake had cracked the National Monument in Washington D.C.), we avoided going down into the caverns. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Halfway Mark</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The next leg of our trip was mostly enjoyable and problem-free. There were no shortages of Walmart stores on Route 77, so there were no worries about low provisions. Our confidence pushed us all the way down to Fort Mill, South Carolina. By the time we arrived at the KOA camp, we were exhausted. To make matters worse, Buddy peed on our bed. This was a new behavior, but unfortunately, it became one of many future incidents. After washing the linens and taking a nap, we walked over to a local bar, had a couple drinks, and listened to the band play. The following morning held a surprise for us. It turns out that Jim’s nephew lives in Fort Mill. Finding us via my Facebook update, he and his wife brought us over a bottle of wine, and spent the day showing us around their town. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">After the third day, we were back on the road again. The next destination was Edisto Island, where we planned to spend nearly a week camping at an oceanside state park. It was a beautiful, rustic, seaside jungle! We had to get jugs of drinking water from the public water tower, due the salty island water. Over the next several days, we zipped around on the scooter along the salt marshes and into town. The park has a breathtaking beach; it was barren, unspoiled, and loaded with seashells. The oceanfront village houses were up on stilts. Listening to the native folk accents made it felt like we were in Jamaica. Aside from the vicious mosquitoes, and a serious late-night car wreck on the remote road next to our camp, it was almost paradise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Final Stretch</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The final part of our trip was underway. I was getting the sense that our daughter was having trouble at school, but she did not offer any information, and I did not ask for any. I could not afford to lose focus yet, because Jim had clearly lost it. Nearly four hours later, we made it off the island; the last five miles spent stuck in traffic, waiting for a huge piece of culvert to creep down the street. Thankfully, we did not run out of gas. Jim was upset over the delay, and over every other thing that he could not control, so I decided it was best to stop speaking to him!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Late that night, we pulled into a KOA camp in Kingsland, GA. Buddy was on our last nerve with his new habit of soiling our bedding. We also had our first experience with tiny lizards and weird bugs. We found the campground to be very charming; there were plenty of souvenirs to buy, and the reservations included a complimentary hot breakfast. After getting a good night’s sleep, we felt much calmer, as we eagerly pulled onto the highway to finish the journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Pure excitement made the hours go by quickly. When we finally arrived at the Nova Campground in Port Orange, Florida, it was a pleasant surprise for the manager to come out of the office and welcome us. Our site was very large, and pretty, with a variety of flowers and perennials all around it. As we started to unpack, we knew we would enjoy living here as snowbirds through the winter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">See Part II of The Journey: </span><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://aleshiaclarke.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-leaky-window-in-midst-of-terrifying.html">RV Living: The Journey Continues</a></h3>
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