Back Out On The Road

So a very busy 3 weeks back on the road.  We had a timeshare week to use or lose so we decided to stop by Branson Missouri and use it up.  Really bad condo, but they let us park our RV on the premise while we stayed in the room.  I like MY home on wheels better.  We attended one of those wonderful timeshare/vacation demos - not because we like to be tortured but because we're cheap and took the 4 show tickets that came with the torture.  The Hughes Brothers (a huge multi generational family show), Six (6 brothers) both were awesome. Also, Grand Jubilee and The Haygoods - they were OK.  We also went up Shepard of the Hills Inspiration Tower and drove the Ozark Mountain Christmas light display.  My mother used to frequent Branson on a bus tour, and there were dozens of buses everywhere.  We loved driving around and finding the "other" places.  Downtown Branson, Lake Taneycomo, fish hatchery, the dam, and Table Rock Lake.  The fly fisherman were out in droves, fun to watch.
As we travel and need a quick stop, we usually choose Wal Mart parking lots for those quick 1 night stops.  But after being in the south we learned that Indian casinos can be a great place to stop.  They may or may not have a camping area with hookups (electric, water, sewer) and it's FREE.  Then you go inside and get a players card, which can include $10 up to 100 of free play.  So we play their $10, entertain ourselves for a few minutes up to hour (if were lucky) and then spend the night in their lot.  Some even have 2 for 1 or reduced price buffets with the players card.  So they let us have a nice, safe spot to stay, entertain us, and feed us.  We spent the night at the Cherokee Casino in Oklahoma.
Just east of Oklahoma City we took the hospitality of the Kickapoo Indians and stayed in the casino campground for 5 nights (FREE), played with their $10 players card, and ate at their buffet.  It also allowed us to visit around the area. 
We went to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.  It was great.  History of the Cowboy, artist display, tack, town reproduction, Indian heritage, and cowboy movie display.  Love all those old cowboy movies.  They had memorabilia from many famous cowboy actors and their movies. Rodeo history too.
We also stopped by the Oklahoma City Memorial, in memory of the OKC bombing in 1995.  It was really moving.  I had traveled through in 1998 and a lot of the building was still there, as they couldn't demolish it because of the trial.  I am so glad they build the memorial on the same grounds.  There is also a museum but it contains personal information and video of all of the victims.  Too much for me so we opted out.  A reflective pool is in the making. 
Lunch was spent in the Stockyards, were the states beef pass through on there way to the market (but don't tell them).  The famous Cattleman's Cafe has not changed in the 100 years of service, not from personal experience, but from historical information.  We had the absolute BEST steak ever.  It is one of those restaurants where people were walking in and the waitress would say "the usual Fred?"  A step back in time and an awesome experience. 
Onto Lawton Oklahoma.  Home of Fort Sill Artillery Army Camp.  We were honored to be invited to the boot camp graduation of Jasmine Reuteler.  Her father is a good friend of Randy's for decades (and mine for 1 decade plus).  He was the best man in our wedding.  So we spent a week in Lawton going to Army graduation events and visiting with the family.  Really neat to see all of the Army routine and events.  We got to eat Thanksgiving dinner at the base with the Reuteler's and about 200 other service people.  So thankful for their service and commitment!  Having had 8 uncles and a father in the military, this whole experience was really neat. Joy of joy's, it snowed while we were there too.  I thought we left that "stuff" back in Wisconsin. 
We took a driving tour of the Wichita Mountains, just outside Lawton.  Beautiful views on top of Mount Scott.  There is 59,000 acres wild life preserve to restore the long horns and bison on Oklahoma. Elk are there too but we did not catch one in view.  On the way is the Holy City.  The USA longest running Passion Play with a replica of Jerusalem and area. Cobblestone everywhere.  The area is known for cobblestone everything.  Beautiful.

Onto Amarillo Texas for a quick 2 night stop to see the sights and then head to Roswell New Mexico. Randy's really excited to see a few relatives!

Wisconsin

So after the warm weather we decided to head back to Wisconsin to see family, friends, and tidy up the homestead (Still For Sale, if anyones interested).  Our stay at the Redneck RV Resort had shown some lovely improvements and upgrades from our Spring visit.  Level, limestone graded parking area.  Horse view upgrade from corn field.  A wonderful doggy squat area just for Buddy.  Although the pool was closed we still filled our days with the Resort Managements suggestions.  Assisting in siding the house, assisting with a colicky horse, picking up kids from activities, mending jeans, racking leaves, and eating.  The best part was being with family.

Our house in Fort, on the other hand, was not as enjoyable.  We spent over half our time in Wisconsin cleaning it up.  It had been rented out last winter and the couple moved out in July without letting us or the management company know.  So that's when we decided to throw it back on the For Sale market and see if it would sell (always our desired goal).  Not being home, we relied on the management company and the realtor to keep tabs on things.  Didn't work out so well.  They had about 9 showings in the 4 months on the market and never bothered to tell us that the carpet had not been vacuumed (kid beads everywhere), the toilets were filthy, the bathtub had hairballs (gag), boxes left behind (empty), windows open (rain damages paint and windowsills), and the backyard was one giant weed fest.  The guy we hired to mow the lawn, did only that.  He was to keep an eye on the ponds but they were both gurgling and the filters hadn't been cleaned.  Neighbor said they'd been making noises for 2 weeks.  Fish are still alive!   So many days were spend cleaning, painting, shutting windows and screens, de-weeding, pond cleaning, racking, mowing, and winterizing.  So we let the realtor know how displeased we were.  I think they just want to get your contract and then let other realtors show the place.  She hadn't been in there since we listed it in July. Oh well, all clean and pretty for that next showing and SALE!!!   I know God's got a nice, large family that would love a 4 bedroom home.  Just praying they come by SOON.

We decided to have a multi-holiday event.  We incorporated Halloween, Sarah's 25th Birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all in one day and one meal.  Unfortunately, Sarah and Amber got busy and didn't attend, but we saw them later in the week.  Bummer, not the same :>((







Got a chance to have "therapy" with the girls and meet with friends.  Love the laughs and the great time we always have.  Especially that I don't have to pay for "therapy" and we all feel better afterwards.  Laughing is definitely the best medicine.

So now we're off to Branson Missouri for a week, to see the area, and maybe take in 1-2 shows.  Our goal is Las Vegas for Christmas (weird choice, I know) and Pasedena for New Years Rose Bowl Parade.