My last night with my sweetheart before going away for a week so I hope you will forgive the briefness of this entry. 

Good night and God bless. 

Waiting for the realtor. Annie is still not feeling herself.  Cloudy day in Ashland. Looks like it might rain. Haven’t checked any weather reports.  

Garden is looking good. 

Irises are beautiful this year. Hope the new owner appreciates them as much as we have. 

Papers signed today. For sale sign coming soon. Pray for a quick sale. 

Love to all. Good night and God bless. 

Still sick.  Going back to bed.   

 DG: Up and at’em at 5:30.  Okay, 8:30.  Dirt to dig.  On day 105 we mentioned removing the raised gardens to put up a storage shed.  As I’m moving the dirt I’m remembering when we put it there in the first place.  Two beds, each 4×10 feet, 12″ deep.  All of that was made up of bags of top soil, composted cow manure, and other amendments mixed in a wheelbarrow and added one wheelbarrow at a time.  Then tilled into a smooth healthy mixture.  And now after removing the boards that had become infested with ants and termites I am removing all of the dirt, one shovelful at a time. 

That last strip was removed just before dark so the pad is now ready for the shed. Gone are the days when you could get a day’s worth of work out of your friends for a case of beer so I did it all myself and will drink alone. I did have some help from my nephew Jake but he’s only 11 so he couldn’t help me with the beer. 

Tomorrow we meet with realtor and auctioneer. Selling everything and starting over fresh. Excited to see what God has in store for us next. 

Good night and God bless. 

DG:  Momma is not feeling well today.  Allergies.  I’ve got dirt to move.  

Shortest blog post in history. 

God bless

Up at 8.  Feel like I could sleep longer but body had different ideas.   Tired of laying.   

Started the day off with paperwork for a new study at Duke.  I don’t mind taking these little jobs because it gives somebody a chance to earn a little extra cash but Duke can sure drive you crazy with paperwork and forms.  10 days, 4 different documents but each one basically saying the same thing and making sure I give them my SSN so they can inform the IRS I made $12.    

Mom has two doctors appointments today. Coumadin clinic and final appointment with Dr. Miller the surgeon.   I know she’s glad of that.  

Got to get to work today clearing off a spot for a storage shed.   When the nieces were little we put up raised gardens in the area where Marchie had her storage shed.  Now that those aren’t being used we will use it once again for a storage shed.  So much still at the house to store until we see settled somewhere.   Moms garage is running over.  Time to move it outside.   Hope it doesn’t rain!  Or do I hope it rains?   Hmmm

DG:  Hoping for rain.  Nap time and we all know how good sleeping during rain can be.

Annie – No rain but still didn’t get it done today.  Greg got in to the wood part and it was full of termites so went to get termite killer.  Abby texted and said they could come over so we detoured their way.   Went to hardware store and got bug spray, Kroger for groceries and came home and had pork chops for dinner.  Yummy!  

DG:  Family day.  No pics, just memories.  We love ya all.  Good night and God bless.  

5:15.  Sadie is awake already.   Had a bad dream and can’t go back to sleep.   6 am.  Now Maddi is awake.   Mammie is so sleepy!   Doesn’t matter.  Lol.  “Let’s watch strawberry shortcake”.  Yay!    Up and dressed and ready for school.   Now we gotta wait for mom and dad to get up.  

7:30.  Dropped the kids off at school.  Now to get me to the airport.   Cutting it close.  

Made it In plenty of time.  They were just boarding.   Looks like I am sitting across from the same super star with the big Marshall ring on again.   He isn’t in a hoodie this time but sitting with his head down.   Really, does he get hounded that much?    

 DG: Got my baby back. And I don’t mean ribs. Plane was early. But we were there.  All is right with the world.  

So I’m looking at the possible ways they may get me to Jackson, MS next week.  

 Annie – Came home and took a three hour nap.  Guess I was more tired than I thought.   

Dinner at the Roadhouse, steak at last. All those trips through Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. and not a steak place in site.  

Went over to the house. Going to have an estate sale ASAP and try to get rid of the rest of our stuff. And then start over. 

Here are some pictures I had forgot to post earlier. 

bakery case at Corner Bakery Union Station Chicago

railroad bridge

Barge on the Missouri

An escaped bull that got into Union Station and chased out by the station master.

Harry Truman during a campaign stop at Union Station Kansas City

Liberty Memorial and WWI museum

Bicycle rental station, Kansas City

Model train display in Union Station Kansas City

That’s all folks. Good night and God bless. 

Sunrise over the Ohio. Just outside of Portsmouth now. A beautiful morning.  

  
Bob Lucas has so graciously offered to pick me up at the train station.  I wish I had told him to wait for my call as the train is running a little behind. Nothing like adding inconvenience to someone doing you a favor. Sorry Bob. I will of course apologize in person in a bit. To compound matters we are now stopped and the conductor just told us they are trying to find out why as they generally don’t stop here. Just trying to make me anxious. Hang in there Bob.  

Train is moving again. We were stopped in Greenup. Before I realized that I asked the conductor where we were and he said, “This is nowhere”. I’m sure the proud citizenry of Greenup would disagree.  

Slowly we inch our way toward Ashland. Only because Someone is waiting on me. 

Arrived!  Good ‘ol Ashland, KY.  Man this town hangs in there.  Just when you think it’s done, a spark of life emerges.  So many businesses closed, but some new ones making a stand.  Hang in there Ashland.   

 Somebody was glad to see me.

A special Mother’s Day I get to spend with Gregory and my babies.   We have been playing Barbie, painting toenails and the kids swam a while.  Hot dogs on the grill later sounds great.    

Maddi is just chilling while the other two swim.    

They are such good swimmers.  So glad since they have the pool.  

Maddie is the queen of chill. Happy Mother’s Day Mammie. 

Well, I slept all day and am getting ready to go back to bed. I will leave you with a few travel pictures. 

Good night and God bless. 

The Corner Bakery in Chicago.   What a mean man you are to tease me like that.  Best cinnamon muffins ever! 

Well, two are down for the count but Maddi is coughing her little head off and can’t get settled.  Spring allergies.  Lovely.  

I’m turning in too.  School in the morning so kids are up at 6:45.  Then off to the airport.   Plane takes off at 9.  

What a wonderful weekend this has been.  Can’t wait to do it again.   

Goodnight y’all. 

Up at 5:45 CST.  Train leaves at 7:35.  Breakfast at the hotel then a short cab ride to Union Station.  Next stop Chicago. 

Ah the modern era. You can now text for a taxi. Text your address and here they come. I thought I would have time for breakfast but cabbie was right down the street. If they had had the breakfast ready when they said they would, 6:00 am I could have eaten more than a sausage link. No matter, had coffee and a muffin at the station. 

Train was an hour late but now at 9:00 am CST we are heading for Chicago.  

I was worried about not having a window seat but guess what, they have an observation car.  The whole thing’s a window.

  
So, why do people bring books and Kindles to the observation car?  Observation cars are for observing. And writing blogs. I see the irony. To be truthful, not much to observe at the moment. 

Annie – We went out to breakfast at Annie’s.  A good place to eat in Cape Coral.  Then we went bowling.  Bowling is not like it used to be.  You don’t pay by the game anymore but rent the lane at a whopping $21 an hour and shoes are $3.50 each on top of that.   Still had a nice time though.  Kids really enjoyed it.  Gregory not so much.  His wrist is still hurting so he didnt have as many strikes as he would have liked.   They put the bumpers up for Sadie but for Maddi they had a ramp.  

Now home and the kids are wanting to swim a while.  Too hot for me.  90 degrees.  I would fry!  So me and Maddi are playing Hi Ho Cherry-O in the shade.  

Love the hands on the hips. As if she was willing the ball to hit the pins.  

Such beautiful children.

Got to Chicago about an hour late, but that just means I didn’t have to wait 2 1/2 hours as originally scheduled.  And I am now old enough to board with the senior citizens.  I keep looking for someone to check my id because I don’t feel that I look like the rest of the old folk.  But, guests I do as nobody stopped me.  

Been on the train for about 15 minutes now. Still boarding. Looks like a full train.

12 hours to Ashland.  This will be interesting.

6:15 CST, pulling out.

  
I had half a sandwich left over from one I had started in terminal, so I thought I would finish it.  Just as I was brining it out of the bag this smell emirates from somewhere I know not where when next I notice that the gentleman sitting beside me has taken off his shoes.  Talk about an appetite suppressant.  I put my sandwich back in the bag and headed for another car with an empty seat.  About three cars back there is a whole section empty so I take a seat.  NoW to eat in peace.  

Just got messaged from my two little angels an my sweetie pie.  Love you all.

Going through Lansing, IL right now. Not much daylight left.  Will get what pictures I can.

Just what I wanted to see, a distribution center.

  
A nice park in a pretty suburb.

   
  
The burbs.

 A quaint little station.  Dyer, IN

Getting dark so I am going to call it an evening.  Good night and God bless.

Up at 4:30.  Final leg of last trip. 

It’s a beautiful Illinois morning.  Sunrise in my rear view mirrors.  Stopping for the coffee I didn’t get before starting out. 

We haven’t been adding names of trucking companies as it just seems there are so many of them we could fill the blog with all of the different names we see out here. But I did see one last night I wanted to mention.  It is probably the least imaginative name for a trucking company I’ve seen but it says it all in relation to the owner. “Andy Transport”. What else do you need?  Simple. I love it.  

 Annie – getting ready to go see my babies today!   Plane leaves at 11:55 and I should get in at 2 pm.   Gregory is picking me up when he gets off work so I’ll have to hang out at the airport a couple of hours but I don’t care!  Can’t wait!!! 

On plane and ready to go!   Easy on as Huntington always is.  Full plane which is surprising.   Flight is two hours so I’ll be there shortly!  At least I’m not sitting next to a big fat sweaty guy who is snoring!    DG: Is this a reference to anyone in particular?  Landed safe and sound.   Really bumpy ride most of the way but that was all.   

I must have been traveling with a celebrity of some sorts.   Kid in front of me sat with his hoodie on and hunkered in his seat most of the time and one time I saw him raise his hand and he had a huge emerald and diamond ring with a big M on it.  Must have been a basketball player.  Other guy with him had a hoodie on that said Military Bowl.  

Well. Gregory should be here soon and then I can go see my babies!! 

I didn’t have to wait long for Gregory.  He was able to get off a bit early!    Not a bad view when you get in to town is it? 

  
Got some errands to run before we get the babies.  

Gregory says hi!

DG:  Looking good Bro. Presently I am in a taxi looking for a room. Apparently the are a couple of big events in town this weekend. Train doesn’t leave until 7:35 in morning.  There’s a NASCAR race on Sunday but I will be in Ashland by then. 

Oh, got the truck turned in, lease terminated, contract terminated. Check’s in the mail. 

Had a real nice cab ride. Cabbie was an ex police officer, his dad and several uncles were truck drivers so we bonded on that level. Very friendly chap. He got on line checking for hotel rates and this being Friday of course rates are up. Will be nice to sleep in a full bed. 

Desk clerk tells me there are several barb-b-que places close by so guess I’ll go get me some Kansas City bbq.  

That’s all for now. Shower and a nap are in my near future.

While Greg is busy napping I am playing with my sweeties.   They swam a bit and now we are off to play in Barbies dream boat.   

    
Had a roast for dinner.  First red meat I have had in weeks.  It actually was good and stayed down.  Since going to the meat processing plants I have had an aversion to meat.  Finally able to keep it down today.   Yay!      DG: I had no problem keeping this down. 

  
This was at Two Jacks in Kansas City. Finally some great barbecue. That yellow stuff is cheesy corn. Kind of like Mac and cheese but with corn. Very tasty. And the other bowl is baked beans. Everything was delicious. Including desert. 

  
That’s bread pudding with vanilla bean sauce. So good. 

Annie – Getting the girls to sleep tonight took a while.  They are all wound up.   Maddi hasn’t let me get two feet away.   This is how she feel asleep tonight.   Finally!  

  
I don’t mind.  Such sweethearts.   Now if only I could get the other one to sleep then Mammie could go to sleep.  Going to give it another try.   Goodnight y’all. DG:  Looks like you are having a great time. Can’t wait till it’s my turn. Well, I have a train to catch in the morning so I will leave you with some pictures of Kansas City. 

Good night and God bless.    

Up at 6:00 having a sit down breakfast waiting to hear from dispatch regarding their plan to get me back to the terminal by morning.

Stopping short of my pickup. Called and the load is not quite ready. I’m about an hour out and it should be done by the time I get there. We shall see. And then. It’s on to Kansas. 

Waiting in my office. 

 
That’s me at the Armstrong flooring plant in Kankakee, IL waiting for a door into which I will park my truck and wait to be loaded. Silly me I thought this was a drop and hook. Fooled again. But this will be the last time. 

Somebody figure this out for me. I passed two signs on the way here, on a two lane country road, that pointed the directions to two different nudist colonies. In northern Illinois?  Must be a summertime only thing.  One was Sun Aura and I think the other was Paradise Colony. I think.  

 Annie – Wouldn’t be so bad if the nudist colonies were young people but the ones I saw when working in Florida were all old retired people.   Not a pretty site!  

Glad you are almost ready to head this way! 

I finally finished the taxes this afternoon!   Yay!   Jake came in from school and wanted to bake a cake so we made a confetti cake.   Waiting on it to cool.  

Otherwise not much going on here.  

DG: After checking in at 12:40 and told to park and someone would be out soon to get me. Well, two hours go by and I decide to call.  I think the message that I was waiting got mishandled because the guy I spoke to this time was unaware I was waiting, but he checked with somebody and assigned me a door. They should be done soon and I can be on my way. 

Annie – Had a nice evening with Abby, mom and Haruna.   Watched the first hobbit.  That movie never gets old.   Took them home and probably should get ready for bed.  Going to see my babies tomorrow!!   Can’t wait. 

Talk to you tomorrow.  Goodnight y’all. 

DG: Up at 4:30 am.  Last leg of last trip with Trans Am.  Looking forward to new beginning.  Kiss the grand kids for me sweetheart. I love you bunches. See you soon.

Good night and God bless.