I'm Here!!!

Day 3 – 12/1/07. Happy December!
Slept like a baby last night – even though there is massive unpacking to get done today!

From what I can see, nothing is broken!

YIPPEE – and other than the cages,
there is no major spill. Today is going to be vacuum, finish unpacking, then trying to get settled in and comfy!

The Rest of My Life - Day 2

DAY 2 – 11.30.07 Friday
Due to the lack of breathing equipment, I was awake early. Brenda’s husband,

Richard, dropped off some last minute mail that had been delivered to their home –

Brenda is my new “Post Office Box”

Walked across the parking lot to WalMart to pick up some last minute things,

stopped in at Subway for a breakfast sandwich – but they were out of eggs –

hhhmmm….is this the way this day is going to be? Already a stumbling block on the road to Rockport! So, breakfast was a toasted ham, cheese, onion, green pepper sandwich – kinda like an omelet without the egg! Everybody tied down, locked in, …….IT’S TIME!!!

Oh, My Word ! What have I gotten myself into!!

Pulled out of WalMart about 7:30 and headed east on Hwy 107 – going along OK –

some construction, but very little traffic and the sun is behind clouds (good for me!!)

Crossed I-35, taking Hwy 7 over to Hwy 77. As I passed Jan Johnson’s place,

I saw the door to the bird house open – so I beeped the horn, waved, and just

kept driving. What a wonderful experience I had working with her Dad, Orville Lyons – WOW – that man was terrific! Helped me so much and taught me so much about birds,

especially his beautiful cockatiels.And Jan is a joy to know…..little did she know I would be dumping my dolls and books on her to put in her EBay store! How’s that for using friends!

(jansantq on EBay)

Somewhere heading south on Hwy 77, I hit my comfort zone.

My clenched jaw relaxed, my death grip on the steering wheel relaxed and

somewhere in the back of my mind, I came to the realization that I could and would do this.

I missed having Li’l Bit in the seat next to me, but thought it best to leave her in the RV with the rest of the critters. She has a tendency to crawl across my lap when she needs to go out and wants me to stop. A couple of hours into the trip and things are going great – no problems, relaxed enough to pull into a gas station for potty break and get a soda.I forgot I had my house on my back and it was equipped with potty and sodas! Oh, well, the walk did me good. Now, getting OUT of the gas station. I pulled in, nice wide drive – left the rig setting out front – getting ready to pull out – what happened to the nice wide drive! I had to pull out of a itsy bitsy

narrow drive with a drainage ditch. Oh, well, I’ve been driving this thing for almost two hours - -I can handle it – and I did! Didn’t even cut anyone off in the process of pulling back on the highway – DAMN, I’m good!

See the exit sign for Taylor – toot and wave to Andrea – no, she isn’t there,

but that is where we have been meeting for lunch, again – a three month wait for the next lunch!
Coming into Giddings – straight shot through town….stop light green – OOPS – MY STOP LITE IS RED!! The green was for the left turn lane – put on the brakes – keep on the brakes – slowing, slowing, steady – WHEW – STOPPED. The poor little guy that had started across the street wisely decided to return to the curb! When I was stopped – out in his crosswalk, he walked by, smiled, gave me a ‘thumbs up’ and went on….I was even impressed with myself – pulling that thing to a stop in the center lane with vehicles on my left and right – and just took a little space out of the crosswalk!

Getting closer to LaGrange – need to watch for the truck by-pass – no way do I want to take this rig up that winding bluff road! There it is – truck advisory – watching for Hwy 609 – there it is – swing wide to the right – oops, bet I should have taken that on-ramp. Yup – should have taken the on-ramp – next sign “NO OUTLET”!! Good thing I practiced backing up. It was not a busy road so I lined the rig right up on the yellow lines down the middle and backed square down those lines until I got back to the on-ramp. YEE-HAW!! I did it! And, in the process of having to turn around and come back, I found that Czech bakery. That place had the best carrot cake when I was there many years ago – maybe I’ll stop on the way back to Gatesville in March.

Avoided the bluff road and now back on Hwy 77 headed south. Made another stop to check critters – all is well in the back of the rig – took a walk around – probably need to check a tire the next time I stop. I’m gettin’ the hang of this! Hallettsville, next stop --- Hwy 77 sign – sharp right up ahead –DAMN – it’s taking me through town – down a narrow two lane street with cars parked on both sides of the street. I know there is one smart lady in Hallettsville. She saw me turning right and decided it would be wise for her to back up a little and let me through! This street takes me to the town square – well, at least going around the square is all left turns.

Wait a minute – THAT is the highway – one block south of where I am – so I just go straight thru the square – Oh, My! This is a one way street going the OTHER way – OK – I’m just about to the corner – I made it – back on Hwy 77! I’ll remember next time – go a block beyond the right turn sign!

Next stop, Victoria – watch for the bypass – found the bypass, poorly marked as it was.I needed to get up on the highway and off of the frontage road before I saw another one of those “No Outlet” signs. As I started pulling to the left to get on the ramp,I received my first middle-finger salute as the guy displayed his road rage by waving his middle finger shouting something and beeping his horn. Oh, I hope he got that out of his system….I’m sure I just ruined his whole day!

I feel quite greatful that I made it this far before experiencing such a display of disgust!!

Friends in Rockport, Deryl and Elke, told me to come via Hwy 239 to Trivoli – that I did and it was a good highway and easy traveling. I didn’t even bat an eye crossing the causeway. I decided to stop and fill up with gas just beforeI took the HWY 239 cut off. I haven’t figured my mileage yet, but I don’t think it will be too bad – I still had ¼ tank when I pulled off to fill up.

(P.S. – mileage was 11.2 mpg)
As I was doing my walk around to check tires, etc, one of the truckers told me to check one RV tire when I got where I was going. He noticed a spot looked like it was thinning out.

At 2:30 PM, I pulled into Rockport 35 RV Park http://www.35rv.com/
I learned my lesson – don’t travel on Friday! When I pulled off of HWY 35 into the park,

I was THIRD in line to check in! Allison had me down as needing help backing in – Truer words were never spoken! She called one of the other RVers – he whipped me in and had me set up

before I could say “Thank You”! What service!

Now, settle the critters – we had a minor incident – evidentially the rachet straps I had for holding the bird cages in didn’t do the trick. They had tilted forward – still strapped together! No one was injured. Fortunately I had fruit in their cagesfor travel, so their water bowls were empty. I did have some seed to clean up. When I said, “What happened!” Zamba, the grey parrot, goes “WHOA” Must have been quite a ride!

The First Day of the Rest of My Life

Day 1 – 11.29.07 Thursday
Lee and Mary Jane came by to hitch me up, haul me to get propane, in general, make sure I was ready to go – which I wasn’t when they got there. I was when they left!

Way to Go Lee & Mary Jane.

These two got me started on this “RV” thing – and once I had one, they sold theirs... wonder if they were trying to tell me something!

But, if it wasn’t for them and my dear cyber-friends, Sid & Rain,

I wouldn’t know anything about this rig.

Brenda was at the house getting the oxygen and last minute stuff gathered up….there is still so much crap in the house, it will take all three months when I’m back in Gatesville in the spring to get it sorted. Brenda and Diana are going to monitor the home front and Brent will take care of the yard and mowing while I’m off playing "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" –
well, maybe Lifestyles of the Poor and Retired!

Utilities have been taken care of, phone disconnected, mail forwarded. Thanks to Brenda for ‘renting’ me a room at her place so I will have a mailing address.
Thanks to Bobby, the little red truck was sold and I had money in the bank and some coins jingling in my pocket when I rolled out. No more of Johnnie’s coffee and visits until March!

After lunch with Lee, Mary Jane, and Brenda, I headed off to the old Ford dealership parking lot to practice backing this thing up.....again and again and again – which came in handy the following day! I’m going to miss my lunches with Brenda and the Sunday trip to Dairy Queen with Brenda and ‘the girls.” Another treat to look forward to when I get back in March.

My first night on the road was at "Wally World RV park" – the local WalMart parking lot!

Stopped into the store to see Brenda's sister and say good-bye, but she was off work. Ellen sure is a good friend and has been there, just like the rest of that terrific family. They raise good people and strong families in Purmela, ,Texas!

Spent the evening reading and re-reading emails I’ve exchanged with a cyber-friend, Rain.

Rain and her husband have been full-timing in a fifth wheel for several years. If I had a question, they had the answer. If I had a problem, they had the solution. If I had a worry, they had a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen to my problems!!!

Didn’t get too much sleep – the brain was in high gear worried about making the trip and since I was without electric hook up, I didn’t have my CPAP, a breathing machine I need at night. But with the help of a battery operated fan, I did manage to get a few hours sleep. I will figure a way to use my CPAP when I'm without utilities!

We were all loaded, the birds, the cat, the dog and ready to head out Friday AM.

The first day of the rest of our lives!

In The Beginning (Part IV)

Homes have been found for all of the critters, furred and feathered, that found their way to my place and called home. It’s time to move out of the house, into the RV and see how it ‘fits.’ Christine came from Houston (Almost Angels Aviary, www.almostangelsaviary.com ) , Rob and Rebecca came from Hamilton, Debbie came…..the word got out and soon a bird was going here, a cat going there, a dog over here.

Then it got to the point where my friends walked away when they saw me coming –

they knew I was going to try to convince them to ‘take just one more!!”

And here comes Brenda again to save the day! Anything that didn’t have a home by the time I was ready to leave town went with Brenda and she continued the search for homes.

With the help of friends, we got the RV down to the service center for it’s “well-baby check-up.” The refrigerator required repair or replacement – replace it while there is still a part-time job and money coming in! When it came back, I moved it to the local RV park.

Better to make my initial mistakes as I start this life close to home and close to friends.

Three months in the RV, one major problem, the flusher needed to be replaced (well, not really, but by the time the repairman realized that wasn’t my problem, it was installed and I just had him leave it there). The problem was with the holding tank not draining properly. Once that was cleared up, everything ran like clock work.

The next three months involved trips back and forth to the house, the RV, the trash can! Miscellaneous odds and ends of things needed to be done and loose ends tied up. Rob and Rebecca came and moved and welded the scooter hitch from the Chevy to the RV.

Bobby came by and hauled my Chevy down to the used car lot

and wheeled and dealed me right into a good deal.

Bye-Bye Chevy!

I suppose I should add at this point – we have had two accidents with the Billy-Truck – first the passenger side wiped out in a parking lot – then, just days after I drive it away from the body shop, I decide to rear end another truck! OOPS!

Don’t ya know the insurance company loves me by now!

OK – here comes November and I have reservations in Rockport TX for November 30 – March 5. A trip to Rockport last Memorial Day week gave me an opportunity to check out the RV parks and make reservations. It also gave me a chance to visit with friends.

Rockport isn’t a ‘foreign’ or new community to me. For several years I drove out of central Texas to Corpus Christi to be a vendor at the Corpus Christi bird club’s spring and fall bird marts. In the process, I made some wonderful friends and I am truly excited

about spending time in Rockport and visiting with them for the winter.

I couldn’t move out any earlier. I’d been in Gatesville TX for over 20 years and there are some traditions that just have to be maintained. One was spending the holidays with Johnnie and Bobby and their family. The time spent with them was the foundation of my stability at many times in my life. Leaving them before Thanksgiving was not even a possibility!

Life is good – I’ve been Blessed with wonderful friends that, through their help,

are getting me off to a wonderful start on

The Adventures of Billy-Max: Reinventing Helen

In The Beginning (Part III)

When I moved to Texas in 1986, I hadn’t planned on staying – just came to take a job for awhile. After working as a nurse at the Women’s Prison, I found I enjoyed the work. Applied for the Director of Nursing job, got it and stayed. Retired from the state once I hit age 55…..not much of a retirement, but it was a chance for me to devote more time to my parrots and the critters at a little operation I had in my home, Charlie’s Bird House –

A Home for Cast-Away Treasures: We Accept Handicapped Birds.

So, here I am in 2007 with lungs that don’t work very well and eyes that find it difficult to do those things nurses have to do. It was time to cash it in and really be ‘retired.’ It was time to do what I wanted to do for the time I had left to do it. How many times had I heard someone say, “When I retire I’m selling it all and hitting the road.” Well, when I retire I’m selling it all and hitting the road!

Sorting through 63 years of prized, and extremely valuable (!!), possessions is not an easy job. The memories – what do I save, what do I toss out. How much can I take with me – how much can that Billy-Truck tow. What memorabilia do I take, which go into the trash? What clothes will I need? What to keep from the kitchen? In comes Brenda, a really great friend, with her ‘3-trashbag” technique of sorting – one for trash, one for Good Will and one to keep. That sounds much easier than it is! When I would try to keep something, Brenda would just look at me and say, “Why?” – nothing else, just “Why?” Eventually I found myself making up stories about items to make them more important…. Just because I wanted to keep them!

Getting a pack rat to toss out “things” is not easy! Brenda certainly had her hands full!

My lifestyle remained constant after several respiratory episodes because of Brenda and her family. Brenda comes equipped with a husband and a daughter, three (and sometimes 5) nieces and great parents that would come and help at the drop of a hat! Brenda and the girls picked up the bulk of the cleaning and tending to my critters when my lungs couldn’t take the feather, fur and seed dust. And her husband was always there when something needed to be done.

During the summer I convinced my sister to come down from Iowa and help me with yard sales. Oh, what a tiring experience. How sad to see my worldy possessions going out the door for a nickle or a dime! But, I didn’t have room for them, no sense in paying a storage rental monthly fee, the house was to be sold….the stuff needed to GO! And GO it did!

What was left after 2 sales was delivered to the local Good Will.

In The Beginning (Part II)

The search for a quality used RV began early spring 2007. It wasn’t long before I found a 1993 32 ft Holiday Rambler 5th wheel in great condition just a few miles down the road.

After a walk through with the owner, Max, a deal was made.

My little red Chevy S-10 wasn’t going to get this RV to my driveway – but that’s what friends are for! Lee & Mary Jane went with me and brought it to the my driveway, quite convenient for loading and sorting and storing! After all, I did have a 2-bedroom house to empty

and put on the market.

Now a vehicle to haul that thing around – again, that little Chevy S-10 wasn’t it!
Along came Bill – with a 2003 Dodge 3500 Dually Diesel already equipped with a

5th wheel hitch and a towing package. Deal made.

So was the birth of Billy-Max – a Dodge Dually Diesel and a Holiday Rambler 5er.

Now What??

The Adventures of Billy Max

The Adventures of Billy-Max
~or~ Tinga’s Traveling Troupe
~or~ Reinventing Helen
Home is where the hook up is!

It is time to Reinvent Helen – age for retirement is here – lungs and eyes are getting bad—not good when you make your living as a nurse. Retirement – do it now or stay here until the end. Well, I’m certainly not ready for staying anywhere until the END!

Driving past an RV storage area at the edge of town; seeing a ‘for sale’ sign on a travel trailer hit every nerve in my body – What a way to go – never done anything like that in my life – a few camping trips with friends during my younger ‘gypsy/hippy’ days, field maneuvers with the military isn’t quite the same. But this was going to be IT! A travel trailer and the road. The decision was just about that quick. So gathering together a few close friends and hitting the road seems to be the way to go.

Meet my traveling companions:
Jeannie – a Double Yellow-Head Amazon. He sings, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” “Somewhere Out There,” and “Amazing Grace.”
Zamba -- A Red-tailed African Grey Parrot that dances beautifully to “The Lion Sleeps Tonite.” Zamba even kicks in with the background singing.
Tinga – A Blue-Crown Conure that greets me every morning with “Hello, Pretty Girl.” She seems to have the biggest mouth and is, therefore “The Boss” of the avian side of the family.
Holly – “The Cat From Hell.” Saved from freezing during a winter storm, she was bottle-fed. I obviously was not a good ‘kitty-mom’ since she turned out mean as the devil. She has long ago used up her nine lives and has a ‘chip’ on her shoulder.
Li’l Bit – a Chihuahua-mix elder statesmen of the family.
And I’m Helen – I’m going along because I have the checkbook, the gas card

and the driver’s license.