Hi all. I don't journal very often because Garry is so good at it. I tend to ramble. Things are going fine here. We are getting used to the way Northern Californians live. I don't like it, wouldn't want to live like them, don't really want to ever come here again, but am getting used to it somewhat. I guess I am too much of a midwesterner. I like things neat and clean, picked up and cared for. Here they live in one of the most beautifull landscapes I have ever seen but they have no problem with having STUFFFFFFF everywhere. For example. There is a great little bakery and pizza parlor in a town of about 100 or so. The people that own and run it are friendly, welcoming and great pizza cooks, but the place is just messy. There are always boxes and just miscelaneous junk sitting in hallways. The couters behind the order desk are always filled with dishes, utensils and stuff. Also here at the campground everyone is always saying how beautiful it is. Now the location is beautiful, but the level they accept for landscaping and park maintenance is really bad. There are piles of rotten boards, old sections of fence, old tires, rusty hamock stands, rotted old silk flowers in pots by the store, hanging baskets filled with dead old flowers on the porch of the office and the store. The lanscaping around the buildings is overgrown and there are weeds and junk everywhere. There is a river attitude about things that is kind of "oh so what" There are two long term employees here that have this whole 116 acres park to take care of. One is in his 60's and one is over 70. Yea, I know. I know that it shouldn't matter to me, but I see the potential here and I just cringe. I guess I have to let that go. I talked to the manager about some things and he said that the owners were happy with things the way they were so no problem. We have been waiting for the new gatehouse to open since we arrived on May 1st. The old gatehouse is up at the top of the hill and has no bathroom. No portapotti was placed there because the "new gate house would be opening very soon" I have now resorted to peeing in a big cup because there is no one to relieve me at the gate and you can't leave 10 cars/rv's in line waiting to come down to go to the bathroom. This last Thursday we had 116 checkins. I was in the gatehouse from 8:00 am until 1:00 with no break. there were cars lined up at 8:00 and there was not one minute that there was not someone checking in. It was not pretty. Everytime I ask about when, he says, "this weekend for sure" and nothing happens.

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. I wish I had the guts to tell him that I would not be able to work the gate until there is a bathroom there. I'm not good ant confrontation.

Out fellow employees are nice and we enjoy talking a socializing with them. It isn't like St Cloud for sure. Those friends are special for sure. I look around here and think, WOW what Chris could do with this place. He is such a wonderful campground owner and employer. I wish we had gone back there this summer.

We are trying to plan a short visit to Tom's to visit sometime after I get back from Columbus and visiting Lori. I leave here next Tuesday. I am not looking forward to the flying part. I am a BIG girl and airline seats are not my friend. My longest legs are full, so no empty seats. Some of my short legs I have an empty seat next to me. I am looking forward to seeing and spending time with Lori. We haven' had any alone time since Sedona, and that was not really alone time. I am sure she will spend a lot of her time loggy and recuperating, but we can stitch and watch movies. She will need to walk some especially the first few days after surgery.

I am looking forward to Christmas this year. I don't think my Mom is. She really gets nervous about having so many people there. The nice thing is, if she would let us, she really doesn't have to do anything. We will get there early and help get everything up and do the cooking and baking. We will stay after to clean and do all the bedding etc. When we leave her house will be as we found it. We did it a couple of years ago and it worked well.

I am going to go and get in bed and watch TV.

I am reading some old but good books by Fern Michaels about world war one and two and Hollywood in the 20's. Great reads.

Talk to you all later.

Sharon Hoeft, e-mail me so that I have your e-mail address. I keep trying yours and it doesn't work. sumjefi@gmail.com






"If you aren't living the life your want, change it"