Texas here we come.....

There are lots of photos in this post, so be sure to follow to the end.

It’s hard to believe that a few months have already gone by and that we have crossed three states and are at our new location. It is again the familiar bitter-sweet feelings of leaving new friends behind, but moving on to seeing and living in new places. In the short time that we were in Alabama, we met some fascinating people that opened up their homes and hearts to us, making us feel right at home. We heard some great stories of life experiences, travels and accomplishments. Some folks told us about their battles with diseases, sicknesses and family tragedies. They all seem to agree with what we are doing. Do it now, because you never know when your situation can change and you may never have the opportunity again. So we go forward with all this advice under our belt. We know that we are welcome back should we take this road again.

Along with the great times and fond memories, we also leave with sad memories. One of them being the sudden death of a 15 month old boy that we came to know at one of the campgrounds who lived there in a very small and modest trailer. The news came to us on Valentine day. His young mother and the residents at another location could not revive the little boy after he choked on a piece of an apple. The news struck us like a thorn in our heart. The father was in the military nearby and the mother spent all of her time with the boy and his older sister. Lulu spent countless hours with the three when they all met at the swing set at Lazy Acres RV Park.

We knew that the family did not have much and that they would be faced with the unfortunate, unimaginative and costly task burying their child. Lulu decided to donate all the proceeds from her Valentine’s Day performance at Magnolia Springs RV Park to the family. It may not be much, but it will help a little with their expenses. We pray that this family find some comfort during their sad moment, and that they can find comfort in knowing that their baby was taken back home to a safer and better place with his lord and creator, for reasons that we cannot comprehend. May God bless them, give them strength and guide them.

We have met many incredible people along the way. I cannot name all of them and I don’t mean to say that one is more important than the other. But, I must name a few folks that have crossed our paths. Vickie worked at the office at Lazy Acres and was the person who called us while we were in Virginia and had yet to decide on a place to come to in Alabama. She was the deciding factor in selecting Lazy Acres. Without getting in to her personal life, we found out later that Vickie was an extraordinary person who has taken life by the horns and doesn’t let life’s challenges get in her way.

Mr. Bob introduced himself to us at Lazy Acres, and  we learned that he had once performed with Dr. Hook back in his musician days. Bob had recently lost his wife to cancer and was cleaning out his RV, selling off some belongings as well as a second RV that he had next door. Mr. Bob was a fairly new full-time resident of Lazy Acres and he had such a positive and cheerful personality. You could tell that Bob sincerely enjoyed meeting new people and went out of his way to make people feel at home. Mr. Bob was a great inspiration to us.

I personally enjoyed socializing with my neighbors next door, Gerald and Harley. They had their Rvs parked back to back in the site next to ours, just as they have been doing for the past several years when they return here for the winter months. These two care-free men have some great history to them. I spent many hours sitting with them and listening to their stories and learning from their vast experiences.

Everyone at Lazy Acres had their own special trait. I just don’t have the room to name all of them. But we had the pleasure of meeting Joel and Julie and our friend Marie. We couldn’t leave Alabama without returning to Lazy Acres and saying good bye to these folks who we came to know and love in two short months.

We also met Ms. Dee from Ms. Dee’s flea market which is located up the street from Lazy Acres. It’s not really a flea market, but an old barn that is filled to the brim with hundreds of used items of all sorts. Some every day household appliances and some very hard to find hardware. Nothing has price tags, and in fact, Ms. Dee will tell you how much the item will cost when you bring it to the register. I have found and purchased a propane regulator, some PVC pipe, an electric burner and a few other odd items and I have never  spent more than $5.00 at any shopping spree. Ms. Dee herself was a full-time traveling Rver up until recently when her husband fell ill and she had to settle down. Ms Dee’s is definitely worth the visit. Tell her that Lulu sent you.

Magnolia Springs RV Hideaway is about a 15 minute drive West of Lazy Acres and we stayed there after returning from Florida in January. What a wonderful time here. Everyone here was super. Here too were some wonderful people who made a lasting impression on us. We will never forget Hoot, who used an electric scooter to get around. Lulu had a great time riding on Hoot’s scooter as they danced to one of her songs at one her three shows there.

Lulu found her bingo buddies, Mary Anne and Nellie. They would get together once a week and off they would go to the nearest bingo games. Sometimes they would win, and sometimes they would not. But that was not important. It was the camaraderie and the good times that was counted. Their husbands, Jim and Joe, were hard working men, that worked in the campground. They were always hard at work, and always ready to help out. In fact, Jim and another resident, Kurt, was a big help to me when it was time to get out washer and dryer out of our rig when I sold it on Craig’s List. The 120 pound lady that showed up by herself would not have been much help to get the 300 pound machine out of a closet and in to her pick up if it was just me and her.

Lulu did her last performance on a special day of friendship and love, Valentine’s Day . We were humbled and honored to have been asked to do one last show before leaving. Lulu was able to pay tribute to Whiney Houston, who passed away around the same time. Lulu does a few great renditions of Whitney’s hits.

We continue to reminisce about our great times back in Florida. A year never went by that we didn’t celebrate Valentine’s and Mardi Gras, either at a private function, or at Lulu’s many public venues. You can still see photos of some our very first Valentine’s parties from 5 or 6 years ago on Lulu’s web site. So, we never forget about the many great time we always had with our Florida friends.

We left Alabama on January 20 and started our journey toward Texas, making stops along the way. We stayed at the Fountainbleau State Park on the North side of Lake Pontchartrain, right across from New Orleans, during Mardi Gras. We decided not to participate in the frenzi and just hung out at the state park for a few days. It was a very nice park, with a clean beach, large RV sites and a terrific bike path. We did get to watch the continuous Mardi Gras celebrations on live TV, some of which started as early as 8am. I did learn that there are several parades, spread out throughout the city over the course of several days. Not just one parade, as I thought was the case.

After a pleasant 3-day stay, we drove about 6 hours to Sea Rim State Park in Sabine Pass, Texas. Located right over the Louisiana border, just across the river. This secluded park was on the outskirts of a small town which still showed the damage from hurricane Rita from about 6 years ago. Although the weather man stated it was going to be a nice couple of days, our primitive camping experience was actually quite nerve racking. We were originally supposed to have been set up right on the sand of beach, and use our own electric, water and sewer, since they had no hook ups. Our “Free Spirit” can dry-dock for about 7 days without having to empty out or fill up, so 2 or 3 days would have been no problem.

The first indication of something not right, was the sign at the entrance to the park that said that there was no beach camping due to the road being washed out. No problem, we decided to use the parking lot. We had the place to ourselves, and we figured we could walk down to the beach the next day. Needless to say, the weather man was wrong. The conditions turned for the worse over night, with the temperatures dropping to the 50’s and the winds gusting up to 40 mph. After a brief walk, very brief, because it was so cold and windy, we closed it up and moved our rig 10 miles in to town, where we stayed another night, in the middle of Sabine Pass. I didn’t feel comfortable driving with all the wind.

Sabine Pass felt as though it was a ghost town, with many abandoned homes, and very few people out and about. You could tell that this probably was once an active island, which had been ravished by storms and the homeowners had given up hope, leaving their skeletal homes behind. A few had decided to be brave and reconstruct, and it looks like the process is continuing. The only thing we saw that was active was the many off-shore drilling platforms that were spread out around the islands outskirts. You could see and hear the constant activity that must keep hundreds of out of town workers busy. Once the wind calm down, we drove off, another 6 hours and we arrived at a Wal Mart outside of Corpus Cristi, where we dry-docked on their parking lot for one night.

We arrived in Los Indios, Texas on Sunday, February 26.  And in only a few days, we have had a barrage of neighbors introducing themselves and offering their assistance in any way possible. Linda, the park owner, Ace, the park manager, and a few other helping hands have already shown how friendly this place will be. We are in the process of working something out with their entertainment committee for Lulu to do a show here. We enjoyed watching some of the park members do a jam session at the rec hall, and we joined a few on a local trek to Gonzalez Burgers in nearby Donna, home of the one pound hamburger. Lulu and I split the double cheeseburger. The things was so big, you couldn’t bite in to it. No dinner that night.

We are learning as we travel. This area, the Rio Grande Valley, is loaded with RV parks that provide all kinds of entertainment. Of which , there are literally hundreds of entertainers spread across the area. All of whom have been booked at these parks since last year, and have been doing this for the past several years. So, needless to say, my marketing effort has not proved to be very successful. We may end up with very little work while we are here. But, oh well. We didn’t do this for the work, we did it for the experience. But, it doesn’t hurt to make a few extra bucks along the way.

So, the weather has finally turned to the better. We are hitting the high 70’s and 80’s this week and it does not look like we will be going back to the cold temps any time soon. We start another adventure in Texas. We plan to stay here until May. And then, who knows where. Stay tuned.

God bless you all, and stay safe and healthy.

I took this when we stopped in Ponce Deleon, FL on a restroom break. Thought it was a cool  photo. It was by the railroad tracks and someone's home.

Lulu's show at Magnolia Springs in January at their clubhouse.

Magnolia Springs RV PArk

Magnolia Springs celebrated our 1st year anniversary.

The groom kisses the bride...

We also got to do some dancing.

AL & Mr. Bob from Lazy Acres RV Park

Campfire at Lazy Acres.

Our Magnolia Springs RV Site.

Bingo in PA

Lazy Acres campfire

Lulu showing Emma how to shave Molly at Magnolia Springs.

Our neighbors at Lazy Acres, Harley & Gerald.

Lulu and Marie

Ms. Dee from Ms. Dee's Flea Market in Elberta, AL

Christmas in Florida

Beach dogige Molly

Lulu And Vickie at Lazy Acres

Talking about golf at Magnolia

AL giving craft classes. How to make paracord bracelets.

AL's creations. Handmade earrings.

Lulu, Lulu everywhere.....

AL's sun reflectors.

Fairhope, AL

Fairhope, AL

Fairhope, AL, French quarter

getting ready for Mardi Gras

Lulu and me in Fairhope, AL

Valentine's dance at Magnolia Springs.

Lulu and Hoot.

Valentine's King and Queen Mary Anne and Jim.

Christmas and New Years in Florida 2011/2012

It is hard to believe that almost a month has gone by and we are already starting to pack up our stuff and getting ready to go back on our cross-country journey. It is, once again, a bittersweet moment in our lives. Lulu and I are completely humbled by the over flow of support and turnout at all of our events and there are no words to describe the hospitality that we have received from our host venues. Once again, we part way with some fond memories. It was one of our better Christmas and New Year seasons ever.

As much as we enjoy entertaining our Florida fans, we also enjoy traveling in our fifth-wheel RV. We look forward to returning to our journey and meeting new people and seeing some wonderful sites in our beautiful country. You can tell from our blog that we have had some great adventures and experiences and we really have no set schedule. Our plans change often and we are always open to new ideas and trips. So, our current destination of the Grand Canyon for April can change in an instant.

Looking back at this past month, we sincerely enjoyed the company of our friends at all events. We met some new friends at new venues such as Hacienda Village in New Port Richey, The St. Petersburg Elks Lodge, and Portofino’s Restaurant in Clearwater. We had never performed at these locations, and we never know what to expect when we do a new establishment. Mostly because we are not sure of what the people are expecting. There have been some tense moments, in the past, when the crowd expected a more laid back and slower paced entertainment. Instead, they got the high energy that Lulu has to offer. You should have seen the look on their faces, as well as ours. Some people just do not want to have an upbeat evening, and we are not capable of easing back.

Fortunately, this was not the case with these last locations. Everyone had a great time, and we got some great feedback and comments from the owners and the crowd. We were invited back again and we know that we could have picked up more steady clients, had we chosen to stick around town. It is flattering to know that we have made such an impression. And then, there were our gigs at venues that we were regulars at. Classy Jac’s at The Ramada Inn, Tahitian Gardens Resort, Heritage Springs and The Wellingtons will always have a special place in our hearts.  It was unbelievable to see that our friends have not forgotten about us. The full-houses, standing room only turn-out said it all. Everyone was there to let us know that we were missed.

I keep saying we, when I should be referring to Lulu. She is the entertainer and SHE IS the show, and without her, we would not have a show to put on. I would not be doing this if it were not for Lulu and I have never seen any other entertainer that is quite like her. She is the most talented singer I have ever seen. When I say we, it is because we are a team. Without each other, we would not have such a successful production. Lulu works very hard, not only on the stage, but also, behind the scenes. She too gets her hands dirty by helping me with the stage set up and carrying the equipment around.  My responsibilities are more behind the scenes and include the technical aspect of the sound and music as well as taking care of the business side of our show, which includes the marketing and booking. We work hand in hand, sometimes literally. And, I wouldn’t have it any other way, and with no one else but with Lulu. It does make things easier when the entertainer is actually entertaining, as well as someone you get along with.

I must say that we have been blessed. I could not have asked for anything more. We have a wonderful, peaceful lifestyle, with no drama, good health and we are somewhat financially stable. It is not to say that we are rich or do not have things to worry about. We have enough to get by and we let God handle those things we get caught up with worrying. And, for now, even though we are not in tip-top shape, we are not sick to the point that we cannot be physically active. We try to stay healthy with daily exercises and eating the right foods. Most important, we practice our Christian faith, by praying together daily, reading our bible and attending a church service weekly, wherever we are. We also practice what we learn at church and always try to set an example to everyone we meet.

In a few short days, we will be wrapping up our Florida gigs, packing up our bags, packing up our equipment and driving back to the Gulf Shores of Alabama where we will be staying for another month. We have one gig lined up at the Magnolia Springs RV Hideaway and maybe pick up another one or two in the area. We will continue west in to Texas and then we will decide where to go from there. Who could ask for anything better?

We can’t wait to see what the good Lord has in store for us down the line. I know that He has some great experiences lined up for us as well as some great people to place in our lives. I believe that God has made it possible for not only other people to make an impact on our lives, but for us to touch the hearts of other people around the country. And, we will have plenty more stories and pictures to share with our friends and family. So, stay tuned. Don’t touch that dial.

Line dancing at The Wellingtons, Spring Hill, FL New Years Eve

New Years Eve, Wellingtons, Spring Hill, FL

Our friends Brad & Linda, Lulu and AL (I can clean up well when I have to)

Sunrise at Tahitian Gardens Resort, Holiday, FL

New Years Eve in Florida, AL & Lulu

Christmas Dinner at Tahitian Gardens. Lulu sings for Santa.

Our condo at Tahitian Gardens with Christmas lights.

Christmas dinner with the residents of Tahitian Gardens, Holiday, FL

Lulu & AL

Alabama in December

December is here and it feels like winter in New England here in Alabama. It has been too cold for our taste. 30’s at night and 50’s during the day, and this is supposed to go on for a few days. We were wearing shorts, flip-flops and t-shirts and had the AC running a couple of days ago. Today, we are bundled in sweatshirts, coats and hats with the heat running. I don’t get it. So much for our plans of going to the beach again before we leave. It’s not going to happen.
We have started packing up. It is a task trying to get all our clothes and music equipment packed up into the beast (our truck). We won’t be taking the Free Spirit (our RV), which will be put in storage for a month and only because we will be staying at our condo, which has yet to be rented. And, we now qualify to stay at an over 55 resort, thanks to my hot wife, who looks awesome for 55. That’s another blog in itself.
Our drive to Holiday, Florida will begin early Saturday morning, and we kick off four weeks of performances with 11 shows throughout Pasco County. It has been a while since we put on that many shows in a short period of time. But, we are both looking forward to seeing all of our old Florida friends. It will be a great Christmas present for both of us. In a way, we miss those days, even though it was only six months ago. But, we also enjoy what we have been doing. And, we are looking forward to our next adventure when we finish up our Florida gigs.
Lulu and I watched her promo DVD that brought back some memories. If you haven’t seen any of the clips, you can see a couple on her web site at www.LuluEntertainment.com . It has been quite the change from those days. Those Florida fans really know how to party. It was rare to do a gig that people did not get up and dance. It seemed that as soon as the music started, the dance floor got busy. And, we loved the selection of music that they often asked for. Usually it was the modern pop music that they wanted, and we never objected to playing it. Check out what the St Pete Times said about one of Lulu’s shows at The Ramada Inn on her web site. The reporter was surprised to see the energy at what he called the “hottest dance night in town”.
Although we have had lot’s of fun entertaining at the different RV parks we have visited, we have not relived that same kind of energy. I think we just have not found the right group yet. Don’t get me wrong. Every place has had nothing but great comments and all have spoken highly of Lulu’s talent and our performances. We just haven’t seen the same kind of foot-work on the dance floor like we have seen in Florida. So, it is with eagerness and sadness that we pause our journey and head back to our old stomping grounds. We will miss our friends from Homossassa, after the tragic loss of The Marguerida Grill to a fire. We used to love performing there two weekends a month. We made lot’s of friends in that town, and we enjoyed working for the owners, Tommy and his family.
As for our stay in Alabama, I reiterate the post I had up before. If it had not been for a change of street names and some buildings, as well as the weather, I would have thought I was still in Pasco County. There was nothing here that took my breath away, or would tempt me to vacation here. The beaches are the best part of this area. And they are in fact as clean as they claim it to be, even after the BP tragedy. We are returning in January to do a couple of gigs, and will be staying for another four weeks. But, business is business, and we have to stick to a budget. It is cheaper to stay everywhere for a month or more, rather than staying for a few days.
It still stands that Lulu and I are very comfortable living in our 37 foot 5th wheel. It really does feel like a home, and I think we have adjusted to the smaller living quarters. It didn’t take long to get that feeling of home. We have all the comforts of a home; color TV, with all the channels, AC, heat, full kitchen, tiled floor bathroom, full shower, queen size bed, dining table and of course my magic couch and Lulu’s reclining rocking chair. The outdoor screen house really added to the space by giving us an outside room that we got to exercise, cook and eat in. We used it for the first time here in Alabama.
One major complaint is the cellular phone reception here is not very good for one of the phones that we use. It happens to be the cheapest one with the most minutes. So we had to budget our phone time. Wi-Fi has been excellent, so use of the computer has not been a problem, and I am still trying to figure out how to get the best out of magic jack and skype.
There is another thing that we miss, and that is spending the Christmas season with our family. This year will be the first year that my parents will not be returning to Florida and my only daughter is 20 and is doing her own thing up North, and Lulu’s big family also are up North. It is just another lifestyle change that we have to make. They are always in our heart.
We are off to finish packing. Putting on our winter clothes to keep warm, and hopefully shedding them off when we get further south. Our time zone will be changing also, since we have been one hour behind for two months. Florida, here we come. Stay tuned for our next post. I am sure it will be eventful.

Downtown Foley, AL Christmas in the park with man made snow.

I think this was the ugly Christmas Tree competition.

School children singing Christmas carols to us.

Gathered around the campfire during the camprground Christmas tree decorating.

Who has the prettiest ornaments? Lulu and Marie.

Now where did I put that thing??

Alabama in November

A word from AL

     This post is divided in two. The first section is mine, and since Lulu has a different writing style, her blog follows. So, don’t stop with mine because you are sure to get a laugh with Lulu’s experiences.

    We hope that you all will forgive us for not staying in touch. I have been putting off our blog for more time than I should have.  But, to be honest, there really is not that much to write home about. We are still having the time of our life, and, we are not bored with our journey. The reason for having a lack of writing material is that I have found that this area to be similar to the Pasco County area of Florida. It is very interesting to see that there is another part of the world that relies on the existence of snowbirds.

     We are in the Gulf Shores area of Alabama, about 20 minutes West of Pensacola, Florida. We are in a one-hour different time zone than our old home area and about a 12 to 14 hour drive away. If we were to go in to the waves of the beaches here and keep swimming in a Southeast direction, we would be at the shores of Hudson beach within several days. Or not, if you swim like me. Our campsite is a 15-minute drive to the beach and sits on a quiet rural road between all the action.

  If you have ever been to Pasco County, Florida, you would know that, like here, many businesses look forward to the return of snowbirds at the start of the winter season. Although the resident Floridians dread the increased traffic congestion, and the noticeable longer lines at the check-outs, it is a very important part of Pasco Counties revenue. Snowbirds spend money and give people jobs. Without the snowbirds, the area would be much different, and the residents would be burdened with having to consider alternative methods of revenue.

     We are currently experiencing part of this area’s “slow” season, as the snowbirds will start coming in within the next few weeks. Then, the area will experience the same snowbird effects that are shown in Pasco Florida. One of the effects are that the spaces in the campgrounds will be getting filled up. As it stands, there are few residents here, so activities are few. Although this gives us the area all to ourselves, it does not give us work. Few snowbirds means no money to hire outside entertainment, so work for us has been slow in emerging. We are expecting a couple of gigs later this month, but we thought we would have been a little busier.

     The closest city to us is Foley, Alabama, which hosts about 15,000 residents, and is surrounded by RV parks and campgrounds. There are the two major roads in Foley, highway 98 and highway 59, which splits the area in four parts. Highway 98 gives us access East and West and we can be in Florida or Mississippi within minutes and highway 59 travels North and South, and is our runway to the beaches. It is also the major road which has many, if not all, of our necessary outlets, grocery stores, restaurants and entertainment.  If you like to eat out, then this is paradise. There are restaurants of all kinds for miles and miles. If you know our lifestyle, this does not phase us. Although we like to try out new restaurants and experience different styles of food,  we prefer to eat in. It is not only healthier for us, but it is an important part of our budgeting.

  Driving further South on 59, we drive right in to, probably some of the best beaches we have ever seen. These beaches are miles and miles of clean, soft, white sand. Although the water is a little cold for us at this time of the year, it has its moments of calm, wading conditions, and then bold, challenging high surf, for the more experienced swimmer. Either way, time on this beach is well-spent for this time of year, especially if you prefer the quiet, open space. We have had some splendid days of catching some warm sunrays, and just laying around. I know that I would not like this place during spring break or when everyone else wants to spend his or her time here. I prefer the quietness, over the busy, radio blaring, kid screaming and volleyball competitions that we have experienced at Clearwater beach in Florida.

     At the middle of Foley, we catch Highway 98. Driving to the East on 98, passing the Lazy Acres RV park, where we are camped out for two months, we arrive at Pensacola Florida. We went to Pensacola twice, so far. The first, time, to get a pair of tires for our truck at Sam’s Club and the next time to watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight squadron practice their routine. We were here during the Angel’s homecoming and Veteran’s Day 100 year of Aviation show on November 11 & 12, but we chose to not go to the actual show and settle for the practice routines that we saw. Not only was it free, but it was one of the most thrilling and unique experiences I have ever had. We also went to the museum for free,  which was a great educational experience.  As for the rest of Pensacola, can you say Tampa? Although, Tampa gets a higher rating for its’ parks and downtown. Pensacola has some catching up to do.

    Our stay at Lazy Acres has, so far, been a satisfactory experience. We have not had any problems or issues that would give them any negative reviews. The site itself is roomy, clean and trouble free. Due to the lack of residents, there have not been many activities, which we are told will change within the next few weeks. They already have started up bingo, which is one of Lulu’s passion, and an occasional football game tailgate party. Lulu will be doing a performance here later this month, as well as at Magnolia RV Park on the other side of Foley, which is where we will be staying at when we return to this area in January.

     We have been to a few restaurants, which I will not bolster about, only because it is not my thing, and we have been to several festivals, which we enjoyed. The Foley Heritage Days Festival, Elberta’s German Sausage Festival and Gulf Shore’s Shrimp Festival are just a few that we attended. The entertainment was entertaining and the food was abundant. Mostly festival junk food that you would expect at every outdoor festival you see. Fried dough, seafood, soda, hot dogs and hamburgers are just not something you can brag about.  And, as for the craft shows, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. They are usually the same folks with the same stuff, or someone that has similar talents, selling over-priced trinkets that we really don’t need.

     Have you gotten the hint yet? We love the beaches. And, we could stay living on one, if we were allowed to. But, around here, the closest you can get to live on one, may be a very pricey campground, a few miles away, that we would never pay what they ask for. As for sightseeing, there is nothing like the breath-taking views of mountain ranges and valleys that we have seen up North. And it may be because we have lived in Florida for the past six years that we are not surprised at what we have found around here. It is pretty much the same thing. In fact, if we were to switch out the people, we would feel like we were back in Pasco County. The weather sure beats the cold of up North, but it is slightly cooler than the warmer climate of Gulf Coast Florida, which we would prefer.

     One last thing that we seek out everywhere we go is a church that we can attend. It is nice to know that we have a wide variety of churches we can pick from, especially being a Christian. However, it becomes challenging when we look for one that is uplifted, energetic, positive and has a pastor that not only knows how to speak well, but knows what he is talking about and can back it up with references to the Bible. We love hearing and praising with modern Christian music, and prefer to see a church that celebrates with singing, clapping and dancing. Not one that people think they are in a library or one that they sulk, complain or are afraid to praise with joy and happiness, which is what the bible tells us to do. We have been fortunate to always find such a church, even though it may take us a couple of tries before getting there.

     We are still happy to be doing what we are doing. There is still nothing like opening your front door and looking at a different front yard every month.  We still enjoy the peace and quiet of the campground atmosphere, and just having that freedom to pick up our home and moving it, if we don’t like our neighbors. Which is something we have yet to encounter, and hope we never do. We have met nothing but very nice folks, who are always willing to offer a helping hand, if we need one. They are also full of great advice on how to go about living a stress-free full-time RV life. And we have been running in to more and more people doing the same thing, all of whom have not had any regrets doing it, as do we.

     Another month, and we will be placing the “Free Spirit” in storage for 4 weeks, and we will be taking that 14-hour drive to Pasco County Florida to do our Christmas season gigs. We look forward to seeing all our old friends that have been a very important part of our lives. They have played an important role in Lulu’s singing career. Had it not been for those folks, we could not be doing what we are doing now. So, in a few short weeks, Lulu and I will be entertaining back in the town that gave us that big break and opportunity.  We will see y’all real soon. I will be emailing out a schedule very soon. Stay tuned!!

Gulf Shores Beach in Alabama during Shrimp Fest 2011

Food, food and more fried food. Can you say, plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is?

The cotton picker at work. Just like shoveling snow.

Blue angels jet. Not the pilot in front.

The Free Spirit's screen house.

A peaceful , deserted beach.

A few words from Lulu

I write these to give you a few laughs, and as promised to keep you up to date on what is happening. Today I’ll be telling you about our current location at “Lazy Acres RV Park” in Elbeta, Alabama. Are you familiar with the saying, “If the shoes fits, wear it”? If you are and are a little creative, then you could probably put together a catchy country tune that would tell our story that I am writing about today.
Here in the Gulf Coast area of Alabama, we’ve done a little fishing. The park has beautiful little pond that is speckled with old tree stumps and turtles that love to sun bathe. If you are ever in the area, you can still see the fluorescent shiny fishing lure that my husband cast out and got imbedded on to one of the tree stumps. I actually got a few bites, but, not from the fish. It happened that I was standing on an anthill and the resident fire ants were not too happy. So we are not destined to be fishermen. We would just have to get in the truck get our fish from the local seafood market.
Driving out in to town, I thought we were in Pasco County Florida, except not on Highway 52 and 19, but rather, highway 98 and 59. There were restaurants upon restaurants and gas stations galore. There were plenty of fast food joints, but to my dismay, not one Dunkin Donuts. How disappointing. But, this is a quaint little town with lots of thrift shops, flea markets and yard sales. Nearly every weekend there is some kind of festival. In fact, we did the polka at the Elberta German Sausage fest. Yes, a real live polka with a real live polka band, which we waltzed to the beat of the three-piece oopa-loopa band. (Not their real name).
The weather has been beautiful here in New Port Rich…… I mean Elberta. It has been so nice that we get to stay outdoors as much as we can. Every day, I frequent this spot, surrounded by pine trees in the middle of the park that has a swing set, with my I-pod and rehearse to my music. I will sit, swing and sing until my legs go numb from lack of circulation. It seems that these swings were designed for 5-year-olds and not 55-year-olds. But the saying goes, it’s not over until the fat lady ”SWINGS”. Which reminds me of another outdoor activity that I can tell you about.
We are trying our best to stay healthy. Some of you may know that Al used to teach spin and fitness classes before we started our journey. Well, we brought along a heavy- duty spin bike that my husband promised to sell if we used it for a clothes rack for more than a month. Although Al has set up the bike inside the screened in patio and has been peddling away, I, on the other hand, decided to unchain my “real” bicycle and take it for a ride down the dirt road out to highway 19…….., I mean 98. Here is where the country song chorus comes in. About a mile from the RV to the main road, I’m peddling along, riding by “Hampton the Pig”. I wave at the folks sitting on the porch of the country store and I see Lynx and Frank the cats rolling around on the dirt road, maybe getting ready for their cat-naps. Just outside the camp grounds, I’m on a paved street, with a corn field on the left and a cotton field on the right. About a half a mile up the road, sits a country farm- house that has a big black Labrador retriever who decides that he wants to make my rubber tire on my bike a giant chew toy. I’m scared, but I yell out, “Go away Emma”. Because I learned her name from the owner yelling, “no, no , Emma!!”. Needless to say, that was the end of my bike trail journey until we find a real bike trail to go on.
Whatever happens, and no matter where we go, it always seems like we are on a real vacation every day, but, we don’t have to worry about packing up to go back home. Our home IS the “Free Spirit”. (In case you didn’t know, Free Spirit is our RV’s nickname).
We are heading to Florida in December and will be doing several performances while there. We can’t wait to see you all then. Until then, God Bless you all and have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!!