The winds blew!

We had baby sitter duty today, so I never know what to write about the day.  It really didn't effect me to much, but I stayed here for the afternoon right along with Loyce. 

Now before you get to feeling all sorry for me, consider that the wind outside here in the midwest was blowing about 25 miles an hour, but we had gusts up to 40.  I wanted to go get the motorhome and start to wash on it, but with that wind?

And the motorscooter seemed like it would be out of the question, since I'm not really used to its size and especially its weight quite yet.  So big gusts of wind didn't seem like what I wanted to do.

But after our grand daughter went home, I fired up into action and went out and mowed the lawn.  And since the scooter had to come out of the garage to get the lawn tractor out, aw why not even if it is windy.  And then I went South out into the country and had the full brunt of the wind.  It had died down just a little.

I stopped by son Ben's house, so he could see the new motor scooter, and the grandkids came running out to see me.  Grandpa!!  Ya gotta love that.  Of course they had to climb all over the new scooter.  With the center stand down, so they wouldn't accidentally tip it over of course.


So I didn't accomplish a thing today, but the yard and a 15 mile ride.  But then I guess I am retired and needn't turn in a time sheet like I used to do at the accounting firm.  LOL

Retired Rod

Back at the DMV

Another morning and lunch time in the DMV.  Since the new motorscooter needs a new plate, I had to go sit and wait.  Again!  Seems like I was just there, oh ya for the utility trailer.  Today was at the end of the month, and it seems that folks wait until the last possible minute to go pay for plates in their due month.

So I sat and sat. At one time I was 140 people away from a window.  They had 17 clerks working, and still it was taking 2 minutes per person.  But ever so slowly I came to the top of the list.  I was finally out about 2 PM.  Not too bad considering I arrived at 10:45.

You have to take the papers to them when you have a Manufactures Statement of Origin.  That is when something has never had a title before. So I couldn't renew on line or take advantage of any of their quicker options.  Once I had a number I could have left, but I am always afraid that I will miss out when I get called up, and have to start all over.

In the afternoon I just went out and rode the new bike.  I made the excuse to go to the old scooter shop where I purchased the Kymco, to get some oil to do an oil change.

That is up in the old part of Overland Park, about 10 miles from here.  They had moved, and I didn't know it.  I thought they might have gone out of business, but then thought better of it and used the blackberry to look on the internet.  The first page that came up, said come see us at our new address.  It was only 3 blocks away, but it may as well have been miles, when I had no idea where they went.

So now the Kymco has an oil change, and a wash job.  Perhaps I will get it listed on Craigs list for the weekend.  I took some current pictures.

Late tonight, I went over to Wal Mart with Loyce's Escape, looking for an oil change.  I was nicely surprised to find that the late crew were not busy at all and finished me in rapid fashion.  Then a quick drive thru the car wash to get rid of all that sandy mud from the Timberline Camp Ground up in Des Moines.

I wonder why I am so tired tonight?   I never worked this hard when I went to the office every day!

Retired Rod

Des Moines to KC

A routine travel day, from Des Moines back to KC.  We were up and packing, but we had almost everything out of its place, so it took us a while to get going.  Loyce likes to load a lot of the stuff into the car so she can carry it into the house more quickly when we get home.

This often times slows our departure, but speeds us up when we arrive.  We had lunch at that same Wendy's in Bethany where we got tangled up with paying on the way up.  The same clerk was there, but if he recognized us, he didn't say anything.

I made double sure we were paid in full before we left the counter though, LOL.

KC is a maze of construction from the North side and thru the downtown area, but even so it seems quicker than going around 435, so we plowed right thru town.  Since it was 3 PM and not later, the evening drive traffic hadn't started yet.

Once we arrived home, we loaded stuff into the house.  We had never completely emptied the rig after we came back from Alabama, since we knew we were headed back out, but this afternoon we emptied it out.  I was bummed at the prospect.

So tonight the rig is in storage and we are stuck at the sticks and bricks for at least two weeks or more. 

I am going to Dayton, Ohio with the ham guys in the middle of May, but have no plans between now and then.  Just the same old stay at home routine.

I wonder how I will keep myself entertained?  But remember that new motorscooter?  I need to go learn how to ride it.  It is much heavier and faster, and requires skills that have yet to be learned.

Now if it will stop raining so I can go and ride, all will be well.

Retired Rod

A day in Des Moines

I'm not sure how, but I just lost the entire blog I had written on the blogger editor.  It is just gone!  So I start over.

Anyway we went into town this morning to Francie's for lunch.  Loyce had decided not to go since she said it would be all men, and that was just how it turned out.  We had a nice time with the guys as each of the spots seemed to turn over for yet another guy during the two hours we were there.

Afterward we headed over to Harbor Freight for some tools that we needed for our trip to Dayton in two weeks, so we had further fellowship. 

With all our plans made, I came back for Loyce at the Campground.  She was ready to head out to her favorite lunch spot, Made Rite.  This is a crumbly hamburger on a bun sandwich with pickle and mustard.  They season the meat with onion and bullion and then cook it down to almost dry.  It is an old Iowa restaurant chain that has survived since the 1930's.

We headed out to shop at all the local Des Moines haunts that Loyce likes, and the afternoon seemed to disappear.  We ended up at the new Wal Mart out in the newest part of West Des Moines.  This place is much nicer than most Wal Marts, and as such does not allow overnighting in the parking lot.  I think it is a city ordinance, but I wouldn't want to deal with the local cops on it.

For supper, we went to Lone Star Steak House, and had a small steak.  It was good, as we lost all of our Lone Stars in KC due to the economy.  It wasn't very busy here either, so I am worried for their ability to continue.

So we had a nice day in the old home town, and we will pack up in the morning and head South. 

Retired Rod