She Did It!

In my blog last week I told you we were going to see my granddaughter try to break her best cross-country and she did.  Running in Dade City Florida a beautiful steeplechase track she crushed her best time by almost 2 full minutes - Go Brittney - We are proud of you.

PS if just the thought of running 3 miles a few times a week does not make the gray-haired  crowd want to lie down and take a nap, she is also on her high school swim team.  Her day begins in the pool at 6:30 AM breakfast at school at 7:30, school at 8:15 then running 3 miles in the afternoon. 

 

Great job Brittney, Your Wow & Pa are very proud of you.  You Go Girl!

Richard & Joan Parker - Seeing America at Eye-Level 

Off to the Races!

Well it is Friday, October 15th 2010 and we are packing the coach to head for a cross-country run being held in Dade City Florida.

 

This is a cross-country track meet that my granddaughter Brittney is competing in.  She is working on breaking 27 minutes for the 3 mile run.  Go Britt!

Another Deep Thought from Richard: I know we all must die; the circle of life and all that stuff, and we of course never know how we are going to die. But, I think it is a pretty safe bet that I will not die jogging in Florida!

We will keep you posted as the Parker's RVing Adventure continues.

Richard & Joan Parker - Seeing America at Eye-Level

I Could Not Help Showing You This - Where Do I Get A Bottle?

I guess those sports drinks really do work!

 

Burned Biscuits

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"

Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I sometimes forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's fault - and choosing to
celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the basis of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

So Please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

 

Richard & Joan Parker – Seeing America At Eye-Level

What a great weekend

 An Old Friend Greg Simmons and Myself

What a great weekend.  On Friday night we went to a high school cross-country track meet where  my granddaughter Brittney ran for her school, Satellite Beach High. She is also on the swim team, but that is a post for another time.   It was held at the rec. complex in Stuart Florida; a wonderful facility.  She finished her 3 miles in 26 minutes and 20 seconds.  We are so proud of her.  

 Brittney getting ready

 Brittney & Joan (also know as her WOW) post-race

Joan found a great little campground, Phipps Park just west of I-95 at 2175 SW Locks Road, Stuart, FL.

  What a wonderful little park.  It has only 9 RV sites, 4 tent sites and 10 boat slips.  It is located on the St. Lucie Waterway Locks.  Joan and I had coffee overlooking the water as a nice 55 degree cool front rolled tough.  Nice!

 Our Rig

 Our Backyard

 The Phipps Docks

 Only 9 RV Sites

 Brittney enjoying the coach

Joan having coffee at 55 degrees outside our coach

Saturday morning we had breakfast with Greg Simmons, a much older friend who  graduated from my high school, Dan McCarty High in 1969. I like to say mMuch older since I graduated in 1970: Greg,  his wonderful wife Shelia, my wife Joan and my granddaughter Brittney had a leisurely breakfast and then toured the old downtown section of Jensen Beach.  A great time was had by all.

 L to R Joan, Richard, Shelia Simmons and Greg Simmons

 Joan and Shelia

 Brittney tagging along

RV Sales Explode

JACKSON CENTER, Ohio -- Thor Industries, Inc., today announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended July 31, 2010. Thor stock was trading 13.5 percent higher at 3 p.m. after the company released the financial report.

Sales for the quarter were $663.7 million, up 51 percent from $440.9 million last year. Net income for the quarter was $40.6 million, up 64 percent from $24.8 million last year. Basic earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter were 78 cents versus 45 cents last year.

Sales for the year were $2.27 billion up 50 percent from $1.52 billion last year. Net income for the year was $110 million, more than six times the $17.1 million of net income last year. Basic EPS for the year were $2.08 versus 31 cents last year.

Total RV segment sales for the quarter were $563.7 million, up 67 percent from $338 million last year. Towable RV sales for the quarter were $465.7 million, up 61 percent from $288.8 million last year. Motorized RV sales for the quarter were $97.9 million, up 99 percent from $49.2 million last year.
Total RV segment sales for the year were $1.85 billion, up 66 percent from $1.12 billion last year. Towable RV sales for the year were $1.56 billion, up 63 percent from $953.3 million last year. Motorized RV sales for the year were $291.96 million, up 81 percent from $161.7 million last year.

All these number, that I just love, mean one thing; things are getting better in the RV industry

That means price increases cannot be far behind.  Onward and Upward

Richard & Joan Parker, Seeing America at Eye-Level