Happy New Year to You!

Happy New Year!  

Before the year comes to a close, I want to send out some greetings.  I love this time of the year and look forward to getting some things done during the holiday lull before we get back into the regular swing of things.

I hope you had a really good holiday and are revitalized for the new year.  Someone posted that thought that the Roaring 20’s are upon us!

One thing I like about the holiday season is that I always manage to find some time for reflection and planning for the new year.  I love that.

By all measures this has been a momentous year.  We thought it would be big and it has turned out to be more epic than we imagined.
At the beginning of the year, we were into our “one last hurrah” with the Roadrunner in Key West. It was there we found out the possibility of selling the Roadrunner was actually turning into a strong possibility.  In a few short weeks we managed to systematically give the Roadrunner a deep cleaning while traveling through the Keys and up to the Tampa area.  It was wonderful seeing friends in Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Tampa and St Pete.
After that, we traveled over to the Jacksonville area where we agreed to meet the buyer.  We left the Roadrunner there and  rented a small U-Haul and drove it to Kelly and Jon’s place in Virginia Beach.

It was a little strange as we got the price we wanted and then delivered the Roadrunner to a climate controlled storage facility outside of Atlanta.  After that, we drove to Virginia in only our Honda and on to new life.  We were able to stay with Jon and Kelly as we did some house hunting.

It took us a few weeks, but in March, we found a place 12 minutes from the grandkids. We signed a contract and had three weeks until closing, so we took a road trip in our F-150 out to Tucson.  Along the way we saw friends and family in Maynardville TN, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, Fort Worth TX and Denver NC.

When we got back to Virginia Beach the first week of April, we started on major renovations to the house.  After three months of renovations (new bathrooms, kitchen, roof, windows, inside doors) and complete interior paint job, we moved into our new home in Norfolk the last part of June.

But even before then, Pam and I put in a 12’ x 25 garden that has been a real joy.  The boys helped with the spring and fall planting. It was fun watching them run to Grandma’s Garden every time they came to visit.  They wanted to see how the peas or corn or pumpkins were doing.

In August we took a road trip in the truck to Canada, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. While in Canada we were given a couple of bird feeders that were tucked away in a cabin.  We brought them back to life and have enjoyed watching cardinals, blue jays, finches, and hummingbirds off the back deck. The simple pleasures of life.

We love our house.  Our small house. It is perfect for us.  And we have some great neighbors. We also found a great church which we absolutely love. We’ve become fast friends with many folks and it has been a source of inspiration, a place to volunteer and has a very strong sense of community.

All of that was made even more evident when Pam went in for a routine mammogram the middle of October.  Two weeks later we learned she had stage one breast cancer. Thankfully it was caught early and slow-growing. The church surrounded us with help and support which was touching.  After surgery and 10 rounds of radiation, Pam was declared cancer free.  Hallelujah! Praise be to God!

We had a terrific time over Christmas watching Brooks (almost 5) and Harry (almost 3) enjoy the big day.  It was great.  Their sense of wonder is precious.

In the new year we hope to continue on getting more healthy and exercise more.  We are off to a good start with some effort in that direction that last few days.  Pam has plans on a little bigger garden with a different assortment of produce that is a little different than last year’s bounty.

We also intend to play a little more golf, dive into some tent camping, and will no doubt be taking some trips during the New Year.

“That’s a wrap!” as they say ` hope you all are healthy, happy and looking forward to 2020!

P.S.
In the coming week(s) I should have a book coming out....watch for the details.

Thanks for joining us on the Roadrunner Chronicles!

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Pam and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  

We hope the New Year brings you the 

Best of Everything!

We appreciate the many folks who take the time to check in and see what is happening on the Roadrunner Chronicles.  It has been a great year with big things to come in the next. 

~ Randy and Pam

We Had a Nice Christmas

The holidays were a wonderful time with family for us.  Eldest son Adam and wife Melissa joined us here in Virginia Beach at daughter Kelly, son-in-law Jon and grandson Brooks.

Brooks is at the age everything is exciting!  And we had a lot of fun Christmas day.  We were all over at Kelly and Jon's by about 8:00 AM.

When we arrived Brooks was showing off his new rocking horse.

First the traditional cinnamon rolls.  Here is Brooks going in for seconds.  Or thirds.

Then we took a quick picture of everyone.

Next we passed out the stockings. And then sat around and watched each other open presents and basically just "hung out".

 We spent a lot of time watching each other open things.  And taking a look at some iPhone stuff.

 And trying out one of the more unique presents of the day:  a wind hammock.

And we ate. And ate.

This is a look at some tenderloin steaks.  These were probably the best I have ever eaten.  Jon makes that Big Green Egg sing!

 On Christmas Day, Jon cooked ham on the Big Green Egg.

 Brooks didn't miss out.  He got some ham and green peas and applesauce  for lunch.

 For dinner on Christmas, Jon changed it up by cooking a turkey in the deep fryer.

 It turned out pretty great!

Before we left, Brooks was on his rocking horse again.

 Adam and Melissa, and Jon are all into CrossFit.  We talked about that some and it was a bit motivating.  Its been a while since I've been to the gym, but I did manage to go on the day after Christmas.

It was a start and I hope to be there more regularly.  (I bet I'm the only one that ever said that over the holidays... ;)

 I'm getting more interested in the rowing machines and did some time there as well as the medicine ball off the wall and the elliptical machine.

Later, while Pam and I were returning some gifts, we came across a great looking bush with Christmas holly so felt compelled to take a selfie.

 Hope you all are enjoying the holidays.

Thanks for joining us on the Roadrunner Chronicles!~

Roadrunner Rewind: Past Christmases in the Roadrunner

This is our eighth Christmas as full-timers.

Pam and I were reflecting on that the other day and we tried to remember where we spent each year for Christmas beginning in 2009.  We remembered a few, but not all of the places where we've celebrated the holidays over the years.  Turns out we've spent two in California, two in Florida and four in Virginia.

Here's a quick look beginning with last year:

2015:  Here in Virginia Beach
We got rear-ended in our Honda CRV while in Florida, so the car was in the shop and we couldn't tow it.  Instead we left it in Fort Walton Beach and drove to Virginia Beach.  We stayed a week with Kelly and Jon and Brooks.

Pam had been busy the previous few weeks sewing a new stocking for baby Brooks.  He was almost a year old at this point.

2014: In the snow in Virginia Beach
This was the first long term test we had in the cold weather and snow.  Baby Brooks was due about six weeks after Christmas so we just stayed at Little Creek MWR Campground close to where Kelly and Jon live.  We did fine but it got cold that winter!

2013: In Seal Beach, California
We got to see nephews and nieces and cousins and extended family out there:  Nathan and Angela, and Ben and Lesley and all their kids.  Adam and Melissa flew out and it was a nice southern California holiday.

2012:  Christmas in Key West
Kelly and Jon joined us for a few days in Key West around Christmas.  They had just bought their house back in Virginia Beach and I remember them calling back and forth a few days to check on how progress was coming on their remodel.  The knocked down a wall opening up the living room and kitchen.  They also had all the carpeting tore up and the wood floors sanded and varnished.  Turned out great.

They opted to set up a tent and camp right on the water's edge.

2011: Another Christmas in Key West
We spent a few weeks at one of our favorite places and enjoyed a unique 'train' ride around town seeing all the houses that were decorated in the tropical city of Key West!

This was the second time Kelly and Adam joined us for a short trip in the motor home.  We were staying in Miami at Larry and Penny County Park and they flew in and stayed a few days with us.  We drove through the Keys together in the Roadrunner and spent the holiday in Key West.  This picture is a shot of us near the water and Mallory Square.

2010: A snowy Christmas in Virginia Beach
Adam came down from DC and stayed at Kelly's place in Norfolk which is where we had Christmas.  It was cold and we actually had snow on the ground Christmas Day.  We had to wait a few days for the roads to clear up before we left the area and headed south!

2009: Christmas in San Diego
This was our first Christmas in the Roadrunner and we found ourselves in San Diego.
Rob and Chris live there and they hosted 17 of us for Christmas dinner.  It was a great time!

I thought I'd add a bonus and show one other Christmas -- the last one in our stix and bricks house in Fairfax, VA in 2008:

In 2007, I was just getting in to blogging and we were looking at a lot of different options for our RV.  At the time we were researching fifth wheels as opposed to motor homes....

Its been quite a ride the last nine years and its fun to look back and see where we were and what was going on at the time.

Thanks for joining us today on a short trip down memory lane...

Until next time, hope you are enjoying some time off during the holidays.  Thanks for joining us on the Roadrunner Chronicles!

A Christmas Stocking for Brooks

Kelly comes up with some great ideas and one of the most recent was for Grandma to sew a Christmas Stocking for Brooks.  Kelly bought a kit and gave it to Pam.  And she was up to the challenge.

But this story goes back about 33 years and a Christmas stocking for Kelly.  My oldest brother Marty and his wife Bonnie lived in Oakland California in 1982.  Pam and I were in Birkenfeld, Germany when we were stationed over there with the Air Force.  

By then Pam was out of the Air Force and home with 19 month old Adam.  And then Kelly joined us in November.  She did not have a stocking for her first Christmas and her Aunt Bonnie made one and sent it to us.

Now with our first grandson - Bonnie's memory comes to mind and her continuing impact on our lives in the form of another handmade, needle crafted stocking.  From one generation to another...

This Christmas stocking kit Kelly got is a little complicated and overwhelming for me, but not for Pam.

After she digested the instructions, she put all the moving parts into an extra screw bin box.

She got right on it and worked on it daily for the 2+ weeks.  Talk about a labor of love -- she probably has put 50+ hours into this. (I got to help -- I probably threaded 30 needles...)

This stocking effort reminds me of two other projects Pam did.  She sewed a small quilt for Adam and then did one for Kelly back when they were newborns. Quilting, needlework -- all of those things are for the detail people with a steady hand.  And patience.  My hat goes off to them.

It's been a real joy to watch and reflect back to those times.  And to see how this little gem is taking shape.

And finally, the long awaited stocking came together!

Now it hangs in a prominent place on Kelly and Jon's hearth along with the other Christmas stockings, waiting for Santa to come.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday and a Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining us on this edition of the Roadrunner Chronicles!

Had a Nice Christmas

Adam and Melissa flew into LAX on Christmas Eve.

We picked them up and took them over to the Long Beach Westin where they were staying.  (Gotta love those hotel points!) Nice hotel in a nice area of town and only about 6 miles from us in Seal Beach.

Christmas morning we took it easy and picked them up about 9:00 and went back to the Roadrunner where we had orange juice, coffee and a family tradition - cinnamon rolls!  Then we went through our stocking and opened up presents.

Afterwards, we went for a drive down along the beach in Huntington Beach area.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day!

By then we were getting hungry and went to a Japanese restaurant for lunch.

Next, we went over to Ben and Lesley's and got to see little Ezra all her family.  In addition, we saw Nate and Angela and Jacob.  It was a great day and a chance for Adam see some more of his cousins and have them meet Melissa.  It was nice time.  We missed Kelly and Jonathan and niece Heidi but we were glad to get together with family we hadn't seen in a long time.

Hope you and yours had a nice Christmas!  Now to get some exercise in and make some resolutions for the New Year!

Thanks for joining us on this edition of the Roadrunner Chronicles!  Until next time...