Weekend in Southeast Missouri

We just returned from spending the weekend with my Dad. As always, it was a great visit with a Dad, and as many other family members we can see in a 24 hour period. It seems that now when I visit something always triggers a memory from my youth. This time was no different; the trigger was a beautiful clear crispy January morning.

As we were cruising the back roads between Benton, MO and Charleston, MO on our way back home, the only thing in the blue sky were jet vapor trails. I instantly recalled sitting in the back of my Dad's pickup after tossing bales of hay to the cattle on another clear crisp January looking at vapor trails and wondering what wonderful places all those people were going and I wanted to be one of them. Of course, at the time all I saw in my immediate future was another school year interrupted by a summer of working on the farm.

As I grew older I knew I wanted more than what I thought the rural area could offer me. I jumped on every opportunity to get away from SE Missouri. After college, I started heading east till I got to Lexington, KY then spent over 20 years in Tamarac, FL before returning to the Midwest. I have been in 14 countries to date. I have been one of those people in the jets leaving vapor trails over other rural areas.

Yet it was not till we moved back did I fully realize that the area I felt could not offer a young Missouri farm boy anything was exactly what I was missing. It is true you can never return home, but you can go back for those special memories. To reflect on your life and the choices you made to get to where you are in your life.

I would not change much in my choices over the years; it was those choices that have placed me where I am today. It all started in a pickup in a field on a cold winter day in Southeast Missouri.

 

Keep dancin' Larry B.

 

Vacationing at Home

I decided to take a week off from work but this time there were no plans made as to what I/We would do for the week. We had discussed renting a cabin on the lake, going to Missouri, but decided to just stay home. The first day, I actually, did not know what to do with myself. I had nothing on my calendar! No place to be, no computer, no phone and no schedule. To say, I was bored is an understatement.

I finally realized it was vacation mode that I needed to wrap my mind around to fully enjoy this week. So I got busy there were things that I wanted to do that are difficult to arrange when you are tied to a desk during the week. I started with researching, and making appointments to obtain my backyard project estimates. That in process, it was time to get my work station in my cave cleaned up and re-organize the rolling shelves.

I have reviewed the types of Christmas lawn blow ups we have on hand and which ones will be necessary for this year’s lawn theme. What will be the front yard center piece and the back yard theme? There is a new Blowup calling my name so my plan may change by Thanksgiving.

The new Dance Gig is starting in a week and I have reviewed my first set of dances to teach. I have developed my plan of action to succeed with this new venture at Murph's Country Music Barn. Since Murph's has a live band that rotates through different styles of country, my goal is to always be teaching a dance per week that the dancers will hear from the band. I can then add newer dances to songs that can be played during the band breaks increasing the number of opportunities for the Line Dancers to get up and shake their money makers.

I knew I had achieved vacation mode when I felt at ease with sitting on the deck reading. I have completed two books and closing in on number three. I am shooting for 5 this week.  Reading for me relaxes me to the point of dosing and is my favorite vacation relaxation activity and this week there has been just enough chill in the air to sit on the deck, coffee steaming and lose myself in pleasure reading.

Today, we took a drive to Paducah to spend some time visiting our extended family the Henry's. It was a great visit and lunch with Sarah, Melissa, Megan, Brian and Santa Butch. Thanks for a great day.

To top off the week, Paul and I are going to a Halloween theme party on Saturday. This year's theme is Super Heroes. The Flash and Green Lantern are planning to attend.  I am sure it will prove to be an interesting evening; this is our introduction activity with a new group we just joined.  What better way to meet a whole group of new people but dressed up as Super Heroes...

Paul has started his Christmas Embroidery project and has been sequestered in his cave most of the week. It has been a great relaxing week, even if it took me a day or so to get into that vacation frame of mind. Vacationing at home is an art not to do too much around house and achieve that vacation frame of mind.

Keep dancin' Larry B

Homeward Bound

Well it has been a hectic week in South Florida, it was great to see old friends and to be in the office. I always enjoy being in the office and seeing all my fellow co-workers even though I have to admit I get more work done in my own little office in Tennessee. I mean after 20+ years of working alone in my home, the concept of dressing and driving to an office is just so foreign to my mindset.

I got the chance this week to teach some line dancing, and dance with a large number of the field staff. Now that was a fun day and I have the video to use for blackmail if the need ever arises.. Just kidding.. or am I .

I also got to surprise my International Line Dance Instructor, Stella Cabeca. I was able to announce in her Thursday night class that because of her encouragement, support and mentoring; I will be signing a contract with the City of Clarksville, Tennessee to provide an International Line Dance class at the Crow Community Center starting in February, 2013.

Yet as I sit here at the Ft. Lauderdale airport; a calmness has come over me for I know I am heading home. What a difference a year makes in one's life, for over 20 years South Florida was home. Now it is a place where the office is located and long time friends live.  I know I am always welcome down in South Florida but I also know it will never feel the same, it will never be home.

It is simply too busy, too crowded and just too hot for me now. I am a Tennessean now and could not be happier.  The pace of life is slower, people are friendly and a whole lot less of them to deal with than here in South Florida.

So yes it was a good week in South Florida but can they load this plane any faster. My body and soul needs to be back in the hills of Tennessee.  

Keep Dancin'  LB

Home Ownership

Okay, Condo living only lasted a mere eleven months, before we found ourselves back in a house. The past week has been a whirlwind of unpacking, organizing, hanging, arranging, deliveries, purchases, planning, purchases, contractors, installers and did I mention purchases.

It was only eleven months but home ownership was totally wiped from my memory. Condo living we only had to worry about the inside of the condo and the small patio out back.  Now we are back looking at taking care of a house again.  Yes, I know we are in a new construction with an exterior that is basically maintenance free but I do have to plan on winterizing exterior plumbing and water sealing the deck.

Plus for the first time in over twenty years, we had to purchase a lawn mower and weed eater.  Yikes, I have to do more in the yard than take care of a flower bed and fish pond.  Presently, I have to purchase more grass seed to assist the back yard, ensure the sod in front and side yards are fertilized and purchase border brick for the front flower bed. Notice that word Purchase keeps popping up, well that is part of being home owners.

We are also having 2 man caves completed over the next few days then we can reclaim the garage for its true purpose of storing automobiles.  What a concept the last garage I had was a work room /store room and this one is even large enough for two vehicles, a motorcycle and still has room to spare.

The D Suite (Dad Suite) looks more like a fine Hotel Suite than a guest room. Coffee pot, 40 inch flat panel TV, pub style table and chairs, rocking chair with reading lamp, and once the wall hangings, plus dorm size frig are added it will be complete.

We have created what we are calling the E suite which is the main guest room, Antique furniture, King Size bed, Antique wall decorations and just waiting for the plantation shutters.  Guest will have a nice short stroll down the Cruise Memorial gallery to their large yet cozy bath.

Yes, moving from 1000 square feet condo to what will eventually be 2200 under environmental control has been a great adventure. It actually is great to be back in a house where we have room to spread out and even room to grow. 

It is great to be home owners again and look forward to many years of happiness here. I am hopefully that the purchases will subside once we have obtained all the necessary tools and items we need to complete the house.

Till later LB

Yahoo!

New Beginnings

Yahoo!

Nearly 11 months ago, Paul and I made the decision that it was best for us and family to relocate to Clarksville, TN. After much discussion and mental anguish, I approached my boss to request a transfer and was rewarded with the knowledge that she was not about to lose me to another State or office. So with the security of being employed remotely, we put the house on the market, thinking we might have to leave and deal with a long distance sale. Fortunately, that was not the case and the Florida house sold in two days.

So with a month to pack, deciding what went with us in our two vehicles and what would be placed in storage, our path was clear to make the final move to Tennessee. We had purchased the Little Condo on the Bluff a couple of years prior as our getaway location and now it would be our new home.

The Condo is a great little house, quiet and peaceful but the goal of moving to Tennessee was to eventually convince Dad it was time to retire and that we wanted him to live with us. Dad is the only surviving parent that my sister, Paul and I have and it is our goal to ensure he takes care of himself. So even though we loved living in the condo, it was not going to be our ultimate location.

After spending months roaming Montgomery County, we looked at multiple re-sells but no matter what we liked it was going to take thousands to make it suitable for ourselves. Our wonderful realtor passed on a link regarding a new subdivision approximately 3 miles from the condo. After touring the spec. homes in the community we found the perfect model. It had a Dad Suite and a bonus room that we could convert into 2 man caves. Plus starting from the ground up we could make all the modifications that we wanted from the start.

So after 5 months, we are now in the Orchard Hills house. We have spent the week moving, unpacking and purchasing to our bodies and credit card are totally exhausted. We are now awaiting the delivery of the Florida Storage and few items that we had to order to arrive. The Dad Suite is nearly complete and now the real work of convincing the Old Missouri Mule to think about retiring will begin in earnest.

Clarksville has become our new home town and we could not be happier. A new home, new neighborhood and starting Monday September 10^th; Larry B resurfaces with an International Line Dance class at the Clarksville Athletic Club. It is always stressful starting out on a new beginning but having family and support from friends it has been a great adventure. Granted it is one we do not plan to do again, Clarksville is the final stomping ground.

Till next time, LB.

90 days

It is amazing that we are about to celebrate our 90 day anniversary in Tennessee.  It seems as though we have been here a lot longer than only 90 days.  We have accomplished a great deal since our arrival on October 29, 2011 with two vehicles loaded practically to the roof.  We both only had a straight view out our back windows, the poor dogs only had a small place to sit in my passenger front seat and Paul did not even have that much room in his vehicle.

My Dad sat in his rocker and watched us unload one vehicle into the condo, and then we had to sort through that load. We had to put things in their place before we could even unload the second vehicle.  We moved from a 1500 square foot house with a one car garage to a 1000 square foot condo with a 4 by 5 storage room.  Our saving grace here is an attic that I can stand up in and have it now sectioned with storage.

I had one day to get my office set up and organized to be back to work on October 31, 2011. Since that day we have replaced the windows, HVAC, storm doors, downstairs’ floor and the kitchen countertop/back splash.   I can honestly say the Little House on the Bluff is cozy, warm and Home.

So what is the plan for the next 90 days, I plan to get out in the community to work on establishing a dance class, Paul plans to begin a class on embroidery and we are going to decide on interior paint colors.  Yes, it has only been 90 days since we pulled out of Florida and I have to say it was the best move we could have made.  We both are able to spend more time with  family; we both get to spend time in an area that has the nicest people you would ever meet.

 The dogs are content because they have both of their parents around all the time.  Things are good and we are looking forward to a great 2012.