Moving on to Amazon....

Our time has come to an end in Texas. We are moving onto Kansas and our seasonal job at Amazon in Coffeyville, Kansas. 

We have been busy attending Meghan's volleyball games and working the occasional Dallas Cowboys games selling beer and frozen margaritas.  Meghan, unfortunately suffered a concussion after taking an elbow to her head during a game when she and a fellow team mate went for a ball at the same time.  She was restricted to complete rest with no stimulation. No school, no volleyball, no tv, no reading, no screens of any type (phones, computers, and TV) and large amounts of fish oil.  Since we lead a "non stimulating " life, she chose to hang out with us in the Rv. I wish I could say it was a great relaxing time for us all, but it was not. Poor Meghan not only had to deal with headaches and irritation by any light but also anxiety about missing school and not being there for her team.  She ended up missing three games and almost 2 weeks of school before she was cleared to participate in life again. Unfortunately the lack of exercise also caused her muscles some atrophy and she has not felt she is back up to the level of play she was at before. But, as her father and I kept saying, you only have ONE brain, so better this then some long term damage.  She played a few more games before her Senior Night game. This is the last home game of the season before playoffs. It is also the last game we can attend before we leave for Kansas and Amazon. It was a bitter sweet day... Sean and I spent so many years watching our children play sports, traveling all over the state and often other states to see them play. It made up most of all of our free time for at least the last 15 years. We made many friends through these activities and spent our vacations, money and all of our hearts being a part of this great endeavor called competitive sports. Some people may have thought we were crazy to spend so much time, energy and money in this past time but we wouldn't change a thing. We saw sports help shape our boys into men and our daughter into a strong, powerful woman. It was worth everything and we were so blessed to be such big part of this time in their lives.  I have to admit, this "ending" has me choked up a bit. But as in all things, endings only lead to new beginnings. Thank God for grandchildren!! It will be a few years but I am sure we have a few more games to watch. 

                                                                     Senior night

                                       Hockey game with Meghan and her boyfriend Johnny

Onto more humorous endeavors, like booze selling at the Cowboy games! Sean's last blog update was a great look at our newest careers. Unfortunately he has not gotten a cart again and has had to carry the tubs with approximately 2.5 cases of 16oz beers.  He has a much more physically challenging job then I do since I can only carry 12 margaritas at once and they don't weigh much. He also has to take off every twist bottle cap and pop every tab before he gives the customer their beverage.  This has led to some cuts on his fingers and bleeding. Now remember, this is during the Ebola scare and my poor husband already sweats enough for six people so throw in a little blood to boot and you got a customer who doesn't want his drink! I mean talk about bodily fluids! So poor Sean has to make three trips to first aid to get his cuts covered in bandages and he also carries a rag to keep the sweat wiped up to a minimum. You can imagine that this cuts not only into his time waiting for the bandages but also into lost customers who don't want blood on their beers! Luckily he has become hardened so to speak and his injuries have lessened. He also carries bandages in his pocket too. As for the sweating, most of the guys want to buy him a beer since he is so dehydrated. Maybe he even gets a few extra pity tips too! He always makes almost twice what I do. 

One of the rules as a seller of adult beverages is that you must card everyone! No matter what. And I do mostly. But sometimes their are those individuals you are pretty sure they are old enough but you card them anyway in case the undercover people checking up on you are nearby (they can fire you on the spot if you don't card or if you sell to a minor). So I carded a questionable customer and was I shocked to see he was only a few years younger then me! I gasped and said "you look so young! I wish I had some of that!" The man smiled, arched his eyebrows and said "you can have some of that if you want it"! I suddenly realized my incredible faux pas and I laughed embarrassingly and said "that is NOT what I meant but that was funny as hell"! I moved away quickly and couldn't stop blushing the rest of the night. Geeze! How naive can I be?

The line when you check back in from selling and an example of a tub but much emptier, and the home made strap you use to carry it

Sean and I are also very excited about our next summer job. We applied for and were offered the position of activity directors for a very large Rv resort in North Carolina on the coast. The resort is located in the OBX or the outer banks and is called Camp Hatteras. Unlike other work camping jobs, your site and all your utilities, cable, wifi and laundry is included in your job and all hours you work are paid for. This particular resort is considered one of the best work camping jobs you can get. Many people return summer after summer. We will have ocean views as we plan and facilitate daily activities for the resort participants. This particular resort is a big family place so we will be working with all age groups. Sean and I both worked in and loved recreation in our youth so this job is perfect for us! 

Camp Hatteras click here to see the RV resort

On the other hand, I am a bit worried about Amazon. We were given the night shift which I have never worked before so that alone will take some getting use to. Also, this particular Amazon has announced their permanent closure after the holiday season. I follow a group on facebook and I have heard some negative comments about how the warehouse is currently being ran. But, as Sean keeps reminding me, it is only for six weeks and if they make us too mad, we just fold up our "house" and go. So, I am not sure if I will be doing much blogging during our Amazon tenure, but I will try to fit in at least one post between hour ten hour shifts! Wish us luck!


Random photos

Sean's TURN....

What a difference four weeks makes. As you know, we are back in the DFW area. Back in the land of traffic and heat, but with those we get hair cuts, eyebrow threading, and pedicures. Trying to get Marian to try them, too.

 

We are enjoying watching Meg play ball. They are having a challenging season with glimpses of volleyball on occasion.  Meg has had some success when they can get the ball to her. Fun, but sad, knowing after all these years of watching our kids play sports, that chapter of our life is over. Still have the grandkids though.

 

Upon our return to Arlington, we learned a vendor for ATT Stadium was conducting orientations for new staff. For those who are asking, ATT Stadium is the “house that Jerry built” and home of the Dallas Cowboys; and Jerry is Jerry Jones, Owner of the Dallas Cowboys; a struggling billionaire.

 

As part of our nomadic work experiences I had always thought it would be interesting to work at a large venue to experience the carnival atmosphere, without being one of those being led to the fleecing. Did I mention the ATT stadium is one of the most expensive stadiums to view an NFL game?

 

Knowing enough about sports fans, we knew that alcohol was the key to making a few nickels at these events. Bad news is that we had to pay our dues selling snack and sodas for two weeks, prior to be gifted with the opportunity to move to alcohol. We stuck it out and sold sodas, popcorn and cotton candy. Didn’t make much, but got the lay of the land.

 

This past weekend I got called up to “the show”. Yes that’s right, beer vendor! Well actually there is an asterisk. There were two games this weekend. Saturday was a college game featuring Texas A&M vs Arkansas, with Sunday’s game being New Orleans Saints against the Cowboys. So I got a warm up game with the college crowd. Although it sounds like a moneymaking opportunity, most college students are not old enough to drink – legally. The alumni were mostly too old to drink, or smart enough not to do it at $8.50 per beer.  So while there was money made, it was not what I expected. 

 

So did I quit? NO, I did not. I know what deviants are out there and my faith was not misplaced come Sunday! Marian joined me this time; she was working at Costco the previous day. To demonstrate our strong family bond and values, our daughter Meghan, and her friend Abby joined us. In fact they have been vending longer than us and have been successful. Never would have thought people would by $16 margaritas from pretty girls. 

 

To set the stage fully, I need to explain some of the ground rules. There is a dress code and a uniform. A sporty collared black golf type shirt with “VENDOR” stenciled on the back. As such I was unable to utilize cleavage to sell the suds. Raising three kids and working in prisons has enabled me to project my voice, i.e., yell; which is a good trait to possess when trying to get my point across to thousands of folks seeking rehydration. BEER HERE. GOT YOUR COLD BEER. You get the picture. I have also found that my gift for perspiring at any time has been somewhat an advantage. When traipsing up and down the isles with a “sweat ball” (acknowledgement to SNL’sRosanne Rosannadanna) not just on the end of my nose, but everywhere; think that’s also referred to as glowing, people don’t wait for their change. Think they want me to go have my heart attack in another section.

 

The girls were all assigned to the same room while I was assigned to another. Rooms are the bases where you get resupplied to nourish the parched sports fans. Upon arrival,all the beer vendors draw to see who is assigned to a beer cart. A cart is much larger and can accommodate cases and cases of tasty beer, and water if your taste runs that way. Did I mention the cart has wheels? Yes that’s right. Although it is delightful to tote cases of beer in a tub with a strap around your neck, it is a little bit of a workout. How do I know so much about carts? Because I was luck enough to get one. First day in the “bigs” and I’m the starting lineup. 

 

Like everything else, nothing is as easy as it looks. Although I had plenty of supply, you always need more. Now the strategy comes in. After your initial stock, you have to buy all new supplies with the money you make, so you have to have enough. You also have to make sure you have lots of small bills. You will see plenty of big bills, and unbelievably some people want change after an $8.50 beer, including the two quarters. It’s all management that comes with time.

 

Some legalities to be considered when hawking suds. Age, sobriety, and how many hands they have? Can sell two drinks at one time, one per hand. There are state alcohol agents on site, so correspondingly ATT has their own team watching us. I was praised by a 20 something year old for carding a group of beer buyers. Of course she doesn’t know if they really were of age, just knows I looked….

 

We are paid a commission per unit. More pay with a tub than a cart, but more volume with a cart. My limited experience is that we make as much with tips as we will on commission. Liquor sales must end at the end of the third quarter. The trick then becomes selling to every poor schmuck who can’t possibly make it through the last 15 minutes without a Miller Lite, while making sure you aren’t last to your room, where you return unused product and settle up. Be last and you’re there an extra hour. An extra hour puts you still at the stadium at the end of the game and 100,000 people all driving where you want to go. Not good.

 

Again, you don’t know what you don’t know. So won’t make that mistake again. The girls all did well although I never saw them once. Marian was the top earner among the three of them, validating my previous theory. I certainly made enough to make me want to come back next week. Figure almost $600 for the two days. We enjoyed the financial boost, but the dynamics of 100,000 attendees, all with varying motivation for being there make for good story telling, too. As a matter of fact, we are already registered for this Sunday’s games. So if you’re in the area next week, stop by and have a beer, just buy it from me, the sweaty, loud guy.

    Ready to go serve some thirsy fans!

    A thirsty fan.....

A few other funny photos from our time here in Arlington......

    A neighboring pooch who has an ac unit attached to his dog house. Nice!

   In front a house where we walk. Everything is bigger in Texas!

    Go Meghan!

    Cute photo April sent me of Cory, the pet whisperer!

Colorado is a wrap!

We finished our last work week, Labor Day weekend. We said good bye to all of our work camping friends and hit the road! We drove two very long days to get to Arlington, Texas but we made it safe and sound.  We are settled into Treetops rv park which is where we have stayed before. It is almost like coming home! But I have jumped ahead. We had many days of just hanging out at the park, but we also hit the road twice more. Once to Aspen again and then Cripple creek another day.

Our trip to Aspen was specifically to hike the Maroon Bell area. The Maroon Bells are located in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, (near Aspen), and are considered to be the most photographed peaks in Colorado. You have to take a shuttle bus to reach the trail head unless you go before 8:00 a.m. Or after 5:00 p.m. We took the shuttle bus up with Remi on our lap. It was the first time he has been on a bus and he did very well. Everyone wanted to pet him and he was very nice about even though somewhat nervous. The hike up was beautiful and we even found a little trail off the beaten path that led to a beautiful waterfall!  I can se why it is so photographed here. My iPhone does not do it justice.

Our other trip was to Cripple Creek.  Cripple Creek is a small ghost town in the mountains that now allows low stake gambling. It was once a very large mining town that eventually all but died because of the bust in gold mining.  It has a new take on life with the gambling. We use to go up there from time to time when we lived in Canon City. We didn't gamble but looked around a bit and shared a delicious ice cream!

On the way home we stopped at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. I'll be honest, that stuff doesn't really thrill me that much but it was close so we stopped in. We didn't stay long as they wouldn't allow dogs on the trails and we couldn't leave Remi long in the truck.  So we did a fast walk through and got on our way.

I also met up with an old friend of mine from when we lived in Canon City. We use to work together when I was running a non profit program called Baseline Training. We hadn't seen each other for about 15 years. We had been very close so it was great to see each other and catch up. We did a little hike together in Buena Vista and had a BBQ back at the rig.  She sells a health/weight loss supplement called Plexus and is doing very well with it and of course she works full time as a counselor too. I am considering joining her in this endeavor but I just haven't decided yet! It would be an easy fit with our travels and a way to possibly supplement our travels. We shall see!

   Two old friends together again!

Here are a few photos we took around the park.

Our time so far in Texas has been hectic. I quickly hooked back up with the marketing group I worked with here before, Interactions Marketing and got a day at Costco marketing some products. Aka, hand out samples and tell folks about the product. Easy money and really fun. We also hooked up with a company called County Fair Foods and signed up to be vendors at the AT&T sports arena. Meg does it and we thought it would be fun way to make a few bucks. We sold soda, water and Gatorade at the Dallas/San Francisco game. Poor Cowboy fans! It was sort of sad seeing their sad faces as Dallas got spanked once again! We didn't make much, but you have to suffer through two games of selling snacks before you can move to alcohol. As you can imagine, that is where you make the money. Meg sells margaritas at $16 a pop! She made $165, we made around $50 each. Who wants soda for $5 when a beer is $8?? So, hopefully after this Saturdays UCLA/Texas game we can move over to alcohol. If not, my vending career will end.  I also have 5 more Costco days scheduled so that will bring in a bit at $17 an hour. I wish I could get that work everywhere. It beats the heck out of scrubbing toilets at Rv parks!  I am also going to be a Mystery Shopper for Doctor offices. I just got that gig today and I need to do some online training before I start. It sounds kinda fun snooping on Doctor offices and reporting on their customer service.  I'll update you in the next blog. We are certainly finding many ways to make a buck. And there seems to be plenty of work if you hustle a bit. The recession is over in Texas, no doubt.

It is great seeing Meg! We have been to one game and we had her and her two best buddies over for dinner tonight. I love feeding hungry kids! Ha, young adults I should say. We also have both gotten to the chiropractor which includes a massage which we both needed desperately! Our time here will go quickly and they are even saying a cold front is moving in!! I hope so!

    Hahahaha! Me selling at Costco. You have to take a photo and email it to the company when your   there. 

    Meg and her team mates on the beach in Florida for a tournament.

Remi's before and after we got his haircut. Much cooler hair do in Texas.

    Remi was very cold in Colorado after his haircut. Bet he is wishing he was back there now!

    I had to get him a sweater!!!

    Aislynn sent us some artwork. She may be the next Picasso!!

Wrapping up the summer and a surprise guest blogger!

Our summer is winding down here at Arrowhead Point Resort. I haven't posted in a while because frankly, I get tired of writing sometimes! Especially when we aren't doing something fun and exciting. It is always much easier to write about those types of things rather then the real life mundane things.   Luckily my guest blogger will add his thoughts on this post. I hope he will continue to do so in the future!

Not to say we haven't had some more good times! We have gone on several more hikes and bike rides but we decided that we wanted to do some road trips before we left.  One was to the Red Rocks Amphitheater where we saw a concert with Chicago and Journey. It was really fun. The Red Rocks Amphitheater is amazing by itself but throw in a bunch of old hippies and it was rocking!! We had a great time and didn't get back to the campground until after midnight. I was exhausted and could not keep my eyes open on the drive home. I remember when our night out didn't even get started until midnight! But truthfully, two people over 50 shouldn't be driving over two hours at night after a long day/night. Sean stayed awake with no problem but he said I kept doing the head bob in the passenger side. I was trying so hard to stay awake so I could help keep him awake. Luckily he succeeded in staying awake and getting us home safely like he always does.  My nice friend and neighbor, Sharon, took Remi out for some walks while we were gone so he could get out and go to the bathroom. Having an RV dog has its problems.

The very best thing was the visit by our son Cory and his girlfriend (though she feels like my daughter!) April.  It was a wonderful visit but I will let the guest blogger tell that story!

A sad event that occurred was the passing of my favorite and last living Uncle, Steve Perry.  I flew out for the funeral and stayed with my best friend Lisa Wierck. She and I had a few days to hang out and visit which we never get a chance to do anymore.  We had left our Honda Element in Casa Grande at my sisters house. She and her husband were gracious enough to bring it to Scottsdale to my brother Larry's house. And being the wonderful brother he is, he had a new battery installed so I could drive it back here to Colorado.  We will take it to Texas when we leave and switch vehicles with Meghan.  She decided to use the Element and we are going to sell her Civic. That will help with our expenses quite a bit too. Anyway, though I went to Arizona for a sad reason, it was wonderful seeing my siblings, Aunts and cousins at the get together after the funeral. It was a great tribute to a great man.

My drive back to Colorado was long but incredibly beautiful. I really enjoyed the drive and the solitude. It was an excellent time to look back not only on the passing of my Uncle but also my parents. My Aunt Shirley and Uncle Steve were always a very big part of my childhood and we spent a lot of Sundays together having BBQ's and visiting with my grandmother who lived in Prescott. They are some of my most pleasant child hood memories.....

Anyway, on to our guest blogger, my hubby and partner in crime....Sean Finley!

Time for a different perspective; or as they used to say on Rocky and Bullwinkle – “And now for something really new”…. Ourturn, will be Sean’s turn.

Been awhile since we have updated this thing, so will see what we can remember.

The highlight of the month was a visit by our son Cory, and his girlfriend, April. Cory was celebrating his recent graduation from college and had a condo near Vail for a week. Unfortunately, their visit coincided with the start of a pretty aggressive monsoon season, so they got pretty wet.

The day before they left, they visited us in Buena Vista for a half-day rafting trip. Having already been rafting twice this year through Brown’s Canyon, I was eager to experience another route.  Actually, during our previous trips, Brown’s was the only trip available since the river was running at record levels, thanks to all the snow in Colorado this winter.  I suggested “the Numbers” to Cory and April, so named because the rapids come so quickly they didn’t have time to name them all separately! It consists of class III-V rapids and was recommended for advanced rafters. Problem being, Cory and April have never been rafting before. A call to the rafting company revealed that they want folks who are able to paddle and follow directions of the guide. So far so good, as both of them are very fit. Both agreed, although with a little trepidation on the part of one of them.

Upon arrival, Cory and I met our guide, who stated he was the operations manager for the company, and would be working with us since our guide called in sick.

Now, for the prequel; just keep reading because it all comes together – at some point. Just prior to our trip, a recent accident broke the record for drownings on the Arkansas River.  In one of the most recent tragedies, the guide was thrown out of the raft, which subsequently flipped. All but one of the rafters made it to safety.

Our guide had been with this company for 10 years, and now he was a manager. My mind, which some call skeptical, immediately goes to his “seaworthiness”. Thinking, now we have an “office manager” as our single strand to safety. Flashback to the guide being thrown from the raft…

This feeling is not satiated as during the safety briefing where the guide details the bad things that can happen, the other guide in our party calls April out, stating that they always have somebody with that look on their face (or words to that effect). And he wasn't referring to her usual happy go lucky carefree self!

We arrive at the river and we are broken down into two groups; the full day trip has six paddlers and the guide. Our raft has Cory, April, the guide. and me. April is not convinced we have the weight, horsepower, or resources to traverse on of the most “exciting” sections of the river. To her credit, she presses on with a sick smile on her face.

Like everything else in life, she was hooked after the first rapid; nowhere near what she built it up to be. Good lesson for all of us.

As we progressed through the numbers, I watch the lead raft with the full day folks. Although not in a rapid, the raft hit a large rock and the guide bounced forward into the raft; thereby no longer steering said raft. Raft meets rock. Raft flips. Rafters are ejected. We spring into action (ha-ha, paddle ahead) and are there in a second. Our guide directs the swimmers – that’s what you’re called when you’re not in a raft – to swim to shore. Two others are on my side of the raft, where I am the only paddler. One male, one female. The male is smiling; seems he wanted to flip. Female, on the other hand, is not in a happy place. Petrified. As we head to another small rapid I am trying to decide weather to stop paddling and pull them in and put us in a rock, or just pull them in. They are holding on to a line on the raft, so aren’t going to float away so I pull the guy in and guess the guide secured the female and then paddled to the side to pick up the others.

Things definitely became a little more somber, especially when we saw another flipped raft soon after. Still though, faced our fears, helped other realize their dreams, looked death in the eye, and still managed to take some pictures. A great day.

  
This is a video of the raft over turning from Sean using the go pro fixed on his helmet. You have to keep your eye ahead of Cory and April to see the raft overturn.

We have a few more weeks here and then onward to Texas and my baby girl! It is her senior year and we are so excited to see her. When she graduates we will have two college grads and one very experienced fire fighter/paramedic and excellent father. We are blessed to have such motivated kids. Guess we did a few things right!

Here are some random photos from the last month.....

    Our neighbors dog, peanut, lounging in the sun

    Remi and his friend Molly 

    Chilling out with us

    Sign at a church in Buena Vista...LOL!

    

     Aspen

    Bike ride in Leadville 

    Chilly night!

    Hike in the mountains

    Marmot - funny creatures you find high in the mountains

    Four wheel drive adventure with our friends. They got very stuck but were pulled out successfully 

    Taking shelter near some mines on four wheel drive adventure

    Camp fire with our co workers

And some random photos of kids and grand kids

    Carson enjoying a tasty treat!

    Carson and Ais playing

    Aislynn

    Sean fighting fires in Northern California aaarrrgghhhh!!