Thanks

I’m thankful this Thanksgiving that I am still able to keep up with the life on the road. I enjoy being “houseless” and am glad that some don’t consider me “useless”. I have no idea of my future – after next week – and that’s fine with me.

I left Livingston and went to a Lake Texana State Park. I did some geocaching while I was there and found some of the caches in the park needed attention. I asked about them and found out that, not only the caches needed attention, but TPWD (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department) needs to update their program of controlling caches in their parks.
I got involved and stayed a week longer at the park explaining what was needed to the Interpretive Ranger, Cindy. Then she invited me to come to the region Interpreters meeting and bring the region up to date. That meant that I needed to get approval from the state, so I went to a meeting with the Regional Director to request to give a seminar to the region – and maybe later to the other regions. It is still in the “approval” stage – but I may be going to the Dec 3rd meeting with the PowerPoint presentation that I have worked up. And this may lead to a tour around the state in the future.

Now (Thanksgiving) I am cooling my engine and waiting for Kristi, my granddaughter and her family to arrive in Houston to move in to their new home. I offered to take care of the GGKids while Kristi and Victor go to the closing on Dec 1st and move in on Dec 4th. There is a geocaching meeting in Houston on the 7th and Kristi asked me about taking care of the GGKids on the 12th. So…..I may not go south as quick as I thought!

And….there’s the TPWD program – and park hosting – and the Red Cross Kitchen. No moss growing on this old man!

Lots of updating – and change

After my relatively easy job at McKinney falls, I volunteered to work with my son Gary for a few days. He really worked me – and we both ended up under the weather (something we ate maybe?) for a few days. He has an independent business restoring vacant apartments to being attractive to renters. While I was at his place I met many of his AA friends – a great group of people, living very positive lives.

After Gary’s I headed to Rainbow’s End, the Escapee home in Livingston Texas. Before I arrived, I received a phone call that a previous offer to work for the Dallas Area Chapter of the Red Cross had been accepted. I immediately turned toward Dallas where I had a very enjoyable week joining their chapter and renewing my role as a custodian of the Sysco Mobile Unit Response Feeding (SMURF = Kitchen). I was welcomed into the chapter warmly and went to work restoring the kitchen’s disaster readiness.

Next on my agenda was the regular 6 month doctor’s appointments, vehicle inspections, and voting in Livingston. Since I know so many of the Escapees in the park, it is always like a homecoming when I arrive there. I did the voting and inspections and doctor appointments, but now I am awaiting the results. It seems that my cardiologist feels that I need an upgrade in my medications – I hope that that is all!

While here, I am applying for a host position at Lake Livingston State Park. The woods here were very badly damaged by the hurricanes, Gustav and Ike, and the park has quite a bit of repair effort underway. I hope that I can become part of that effort for the next month or so. Stay tuned for more news about the life of this vagabond!