Get Off The Roads

Cuz I'm back on them as of today! Finally got my driving privileges back. I feel like a new person.....one really takes the privilege of driving for granted.

So thanks to all of my recent chauffeur's. Without you I would have become a hermit.

Stay warm.

They Say No News Is Good News

I so disagree!

David still has not yet heard a date, and he may not for a month or so.....we are so antsy. It's hard to stop ourselves from boxing stuff up and MOVING.

And I am still not a driver! The paperwork is apparently making it's way through the system.

Ah I say again...state bureaucracy...gotta love it.

However, this is where we will be in just a few short weeks. I guess life isnt too bad huh?

It's Amazing How Things Can Change So Quickly!

Do you see these two smiling faces? They are the faces of two people who just found out that the north land will be home sooner than we expected.

The events as they have progressed-

We ALWAYS go north on Memorial weekend. This year, for some reason however we decided to stay home and have a garage sale with our neighbor who has a successful one every year. The thinking was it would be a good idea to start getting rid of stuff so that it isn't so overwhelming when we retire in a year.

I have been cleaning and purging 'stuff' for about a month just to get a start. David planned on doing the garage as soon as we return from Mexico. We've been collecting boxes to put stuff in.

Our neighbor told a co-worker at work the other day, "I better get David to do this for me before he leaves"...thinking she has a year for him to work on the project.

Last week David calls me saying that he would be able to get an MOU. An MOU is a process that allows state workers whose jobs are at risk because their facility is closing down to maintain a job at another facility as long as there is a person who is wanting to quit early. It is a very complicated process but that is the gist of it. The very very best part is...well other than he is able to retire a year early...is that our health insurance is paid (except for a very small portion that we would have to pay) until David is 65. At which time he would get Medicare and I would be able to continue on the state insurance by paying my premium. He will have to take a penalty in his retirement draw for retiring early but the insurance piece of it well outways the retirement reduction.

David called the person who is losing his job at the closing facility. Yup he is very interested in taking David's job.....

David talks to his bosses asking their support of which they will give fully.

Now we wait and see once the MOU 'bidding' process is completed.

Today we went to our retirement person to see what sort of money we will be drawing IF this should happen sooner than Feb 1 2009. Not too bad we say, we can live on that in the north land.

On our way home David receives a call from a fellow co-worker. Jeff gave David a number that he was supposed to call...and Jeff then said, "Congratulations I bet your excited". I don't think David caught that last statement from Jeff but I sure did. My thought was that the caller had told Jeff what he was calling about and the number just happens to be the same area code where the closing facility is at.

David is excited I can tell by the look on his face. But does he call the person back immediately...NO. He decides that five more minutes is not going to matter so we pull into the tire shop so he can get his new tires. I about burst at the seams for goodness sake! And Mikey you wont believe this...he gets back in the car, starts driving home and he FORGOT that he was suppose to call this guy!

Why yes the person is the guy who wants David's job and he is going to take it........oh my god oh my god! Neither one of us can hardly believe it.

Now David reminds me that something could still happen where by it will not be this soon.....so we are still keeping everything we own crossed and hope that you all will do the same for us.

I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!!!!!!

Yet Another Reason To Celebrate 2008!

Our Corpus Christi Texas kids are expecting their first baby! The Woelpern clan grows.

Will it be a boy

Or a girl

Or perhaps one of each!

Congratulations Ry and Jen.

Jan, This One's For You!

We spotted this on one of our north land drives this past week......

Happy New Year everyone. 2008 marks the last year of his reign. Nuff said.

Christmas In The Northland

Our first 'real' Christmas alone in the north land was quite relaxing.

David plowed snow as I sat by the campfire!

Making deer jerky...yummm it turned out very tasty too.

And of course looking for deer, can you see them in the woods?

And an abandoned barn in the winter wonderland

One only knows what excitement we will find ourselves in on New Year's Eve!

By the way, I am STILL not a driver....danged state bureaucracy

A Beautiful Winter Wonderland

This is what we woke up to this morning after a night of snow in the north land

Very pretty.

However our friends Mikey and Jan who point their motorhome AWAY from the snow probably think we are nuts to head north into the snow.....but it is beautiful.

An Early Christmas

Our blended families got together

For a fun day of cards-

Guess who ended up as 'The Biggest Loser'- in cards that is-as he leaves the table to pout

Gift sharing-

Santa's little helper-

Tackla loves to open presents-

Do we think he actually likes the hat I made for him or is that his typical smart ass grin?

Dezbah on the rocking horse that David (and I even though it was a small part) made for her as a keepsake. Rachel is a wonderful mom.

In fact I/we made most of our gifts this year from the rocking horse to many knitted items, personalized picture trays and my own gift bags! It was fun doing it but next year I know to start much earlier.

The four generations-oh and Peeko too

The proud Grandpa

And my 'three' generations-

Pop

Lenny and his wife Kelly

And me

Oh wait a minute that isn't me...or is it...

It was a nice day with lots of fun and of course some fabulous food. We missed Ryan and Jen and Dezbah's dad Melvin but they were thought of to be sure.

Off to the north land David and I go to spend the actual day of Christmas just the two of us and our dogs.

Happy holidays to you all and a very bright and happy new year.

David and Bobbi

I Passed!!!!!

With flying colors. I do not yet have my driving privileges back. The statement from the doc that says I am now physically fit to drive, will be faxed to DMV today and then we have to wait for DMV to get it through their bureaucratic paperwork...but hey, at least I am now physically fit (to drive anyway)!





It just so happened that the instructor and I hung out at the same establishments back in our day as I found out when we passed two of those establishments and me being who I am said, "I used to spend a lot of time there in my day". He laughed and said that so did he in fact we were probably there at the same time! That broke the ice.

Sharing a picture taken yesterday of the creek behind our house. The trees full of beautiful frozen mist.

The Week Studying

Nope I didn't go back to school....I have been studying to retake my behind the wheel driving test.

Did you know that we now are supposed to drive with our hands at either 8 and 4 or 9 and 3 as opposed to the old school 10 and 2? With about 35 years worth of building sloppy driving habits the test next Monday should be interesting.

No no no I didn't get a DUI (can you imagine me drinking much less drinking and driving...scary!). It seems that the docs are concerned about my dementia and concentration in regards to my driving skills. My doc reported to the DMV that I was no longer physically fit to drive (all of a sudden now after having driven for a year or so after chemo) and to prove I am safe I need to take the behind the wheel test again. She also wanted me to re-do the cognitive testing to assure that I havent gotten worse...David and Lenny you shush I sure don't need your help here...LOL...but I talked her out of it..too expensive.

It feels a little strange to not be able to run to town for milk etc. Poor David has a honey do list a mile long and most of it involves hauling my butt here and there.

The test is Monday at 8am. Gees I get a bit panicked when I think of it even now! And after I have passed it (yes damn it I am going to pass!) I then have to go to the doc with the passing paper, she needs to write a letter to the DMV stating that I am now physically fit to drive, and THEN we wait for the DMV to get to my case and issue a letter saying that I now have driving privileges again. It could be another month or more!

You know, I have to laugh about it...doesn't pay to be pissed..yet anyway...

Chauffeur can you come get me please.

Fa la la la la la la la la

The Perfect Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

During the last couple of trips to the north land the dogs and I spent a lot of time in our woods searching for the perfect tree to bring home. There were a few to choose from but I think we got the perfect one. And here it is from beginning to end.

No that isn't what's his name from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie....although with that look on his face (he is a bit of a scrooge) one wonders!!!

Here my lumberjack is happily sawing away!

Out of the woods my tree comes.

Decorated with things that were also gathered from our woods

Leaves and cranberries (OK so I bought the cranberries!)

Pine cones

Birch bark

And a home-made tree topper.

Yup, the perfect Charlie Brown tree! Wouldn't you all agree...Lenny you shush!

The REAL Great White Hunter

So I have been reminded by two people now that I have not blogged in a while...meant to but you know how it goes!

Anyway, a picture of the REAL great white hunter and it sure doesn't look like David.

We had our first measurable snow fall while we were north and the dogs and I had a blast putting this guy together while David was in the woods. He melted the very next day though...not David...the other hunter.

This is how you get a deer out of the woods when your 4-wheeler has been stolen and your too old and achy to drag the big boy out!

David got the 7 point buck on the morning of my birthday. a very nice present in deed. This fella was harvested on our land...sorry Mikey and Jess.

We are now home and patiently waiting to go back.

Hunting Report

Well the weather was great, the company wonderful and the harvest pretty good!



Lenny and Kelly joined us and the Draegers/Fenskes were in the north land as well. Thus far David has won the money for our annual biggest buck contest much to Lenny and Steve's dismay!

Here is a picture of the beauty that we captured on our stealth cam. This shot is our resident buck scenting a rub right on the corner of our woods

He is still safely in our woods as David saw his track last night. He and his does are busy marking the trails in our woods. Needless to say, David didn't get his deer in our woods but in a public woods else where. That should make you happy huh Jess?

And here is David's big boy. The biggest deer he says he has ever gotten. Lenny was able to put his body inside the spread of the rack.

And here he is hanging beside the much smaller first deer that David got.

We are here the rest of this week and so enjoying ourselves. Can you believe that David left his tools at home so that he wouldn't do any work! Sounds like a good week to me.

More from the north land the next time I get to town for supplies!

David's Latest Accomplishement

Is the porch here in the north woods. We have the carpet left to lay and ceiling light fixtures to install but it certainly is livable now!

Walls are barn board that we found for next to nothing and the ceiling is corrugated steel.

Just another little piece of our heaven completed!

The weather is beautiful here this week....but it has been quite nice up here during hunting season the past couple of years. I am anxiously awaiting my husband's return as well as the hunter's Lenny and Kelly who are coming this weekend. I wonder if I can talk Kel into cooking as she doesn't hunt?????

Deer report to follow.

The Perils Of Walking In the North Woods

And no I didn't get lost this time...I was in our own woods..Ok so that doesn't assure that I am not going to get lost!

Yesterday after David left for home the dogs and I decided to take a walk in our woods. We've been checking out the many deer scrapes.....While walking the dogs always take a few side trails sticking their noses in fox holes and the like. They always come when I call...except yesterday. Tackla came but then ran right back to where Peeko had his nose in a large hallow tree that had fallen. I called both again and Tack again came running back to me but not Peeko...and then Tack ran right back to Peeko (who I could see had his entire body in the hallow of the tree). Finally out he came and he immediately began to scratch his nose. I thought shoot he is full of burrs again....walked up to him and there were three porcupine quills stuck in his lips!

Poor Peeko, can you see the quills in his lips?

I called David asking him what to do and then called the vet as I wanted to know about infection etc. Vet said the same thing that David said (man I hate it when he is right...LOL). It hurts like hell but you have to get them out. So I held him tight and yanked. He was a good boy!

The yanked out quills!

This moon was reported to be the closest to the earth of any this year...the true Harvest Moon so says channel 9!

Here it is reflected in Tackla's pool.

We have been busy watching the deer feasting on clover right by the cabin. This morning the dogs got me up at 5:45 and yup there were 4 deer behind the house/cabin. One got so close to the living room that I could have reached out and petted him. We watched them for an hour, they wouldn't leave despite my turning on and off the lights, stomping my foot and rapping on the window. The dogs had to pee! I don't know what I finally did to spook them a bit but they just didn't want to leave the dinner table! Hopefully it will be a good hunt this year.

Crazy Sexy Cancer

Kris Carr has an incurable cancer. I caught her on Oprah today (thanks to Jessica) and she is unbelievable.

Friends and family have always told me that I am strong and have had a good attitude about my diagnosis......mine is nothing compared to Kris. She is something else.

You cant control the cards you are dealt but you can play with what you have. That is her entire attitude on life. Everyone is going to die, life is about choosing to live with the time that you have.

She has written a book and done a documentary. Attached is the website if you are so inclined.
http://www.crazysexycancer.com/

Her take on life is not only for those with an incurable disease but is one that everyone should adopt. Kris is an ispiration.

Below is information on her documentry and when it will air-

NEWS UPDATE 10/20/07
CRAZY SEXY CANCER re-airs in OCTOBER!You did it! So many CanSer babes and chaps contacted TLC demanding rebroadcast - and they heard you! There are five chances to see it on TV again in October:
Discovery Health ChannelOctober 8th @ 8pm & 11pm October 14th @ 12pm
TLC has CHANGED THE AIR DATE!!It’s NOT on Halloween anymore… it is now:Wednesday, October 24 @ 8pm& 11pm
ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN TIME. AND AS ALWAYS, PLEASE CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS.

And how cool is this hat????

By the way...come October 27th I will be 2 years NED...no evidence of disease.

CHOOSE TO LIVE and play the hand you are dealt.

Buy pink.

Bobbi