The Accidental Full Timers With Children - What The Fort!

[momof3kids-Yvonne 595]

I swear there is a Gypsy gene - I have it - I know it. I always want to travel.

I am the same way. I attribute it to my Romanian ancestors.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Not me Lou. I just have a fascination with pirate speak.

I agree with Lou...you are bad. Walk the plank!

[stefa70 205]

MEOW Dave!! :smug:

[Just Whipperwhirl 24]

We will check them both out. I would love to hear more about your planning process - how do you organize where you are going to be and when. Dates, confirmation numbers, etc. I also wonder about food shopping, storage and cooking - do you menu plan - dine out etc. Your fan - Whip

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

I am the same way. I attribute it to my Romanian ancestors.

I am a heinz 57 when it comes to lineage.... I wonder if I had any Romanian ancestor....

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

We will check them both out. I would love to hear more about your planning process - how do you organize where you are going to be and when. Dates, confirmation numbers, etc. I also wonder about food shopping, storage and cooking - do you menu plan - dine out etc. Your fan - Whip

That really is a :worms: . I have to confess I'm a trip planning ho. I love to plan (except when I'm putting it off.. like now).

We started with a wish list of sorts. Places we REALLY wanted to go.

We picked the things we really wanted the kids to see as well.

We knew we wanted to travel 300-350 miles a day, about 6 hours. (We have since cut this down to 4-4.5 hours ... less tiring)

We opened Google Maps. I often have about three Google Map tabs going at once. The main trip map then this special link...How Far Can I travel. You tell it how far you want to travel and how many hours you want to drive. It will map out all the locations you can reach within your paramaters.

We opened the book, 1,000 places to see in the USA before you died. (used book store)

While DH looked through the book, I started entering destinations.

When we find a destinations we'd like to visit, we first check RVparkreviews for a good rated campground and read ALL the reviews. (I usually won't stay at a campground that consistently rates under 6 out of 10 or says it's in a dodgy neighborhood.) Also check their rates.... some places we have paid as much as $35 and other it's been $15. Anything near a big touristy area = big bucks. Weekly and monthly rates are better than most daily rates.

If we find a campground, then we check for internet coverage through one of our Mifis. We carry both AT&T and Verizon Cell phones (one is a prepaid) and Mifis. What one doesn't cover the other usually does.. unless you are staying in a National Park Campground then you are usually out of luck. We have yet to stay in the actual national park.

If all of the above things are good, we call the RV park.

Scheduling for us is pretty easy. We typically stay a week. I would start making reservations about 3-4 weeks before arrival. Except for the big national parks.... I'd check out availability on those earlier.

This winter I am taking a more relaxed approach and not picking things until the week before we arrive (I'll let you know how that goes)....

If I remember anything else I will add it in the morning....

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

My TR officially fell off the first page of "My Content" so I guess it's time to give you an update. Unfortunately, DH has not provided me with the material for the post... unless you want pictures of my new floor. He and the kids went out this weekend but since I don't really enjoy walking in things made almost entirely of metal (the metallic smell is a bit overwhelming) I stayed home. By myself... didn't even get out of the bed until around 10am. At 10am I took a shower, got dressed and went back to bed to read. Truly decadent for our lifestyle. As soon as he writes up his blog post I will theft the pictures to post over here.....

The next day we went to see Beauty & The Beast in 3D (girls) and TinTin in 3D (boys). After the movie was over, I did well during the 3D experience, but for the next 36 hours I thought I was gonna hurl/head was gonna explode/swoon/something. It felt like my head turning (Linda Blair style) while my body remained stationary. Thus the reason I will not be doing ANYTHING IN 3D anytime soon. I'd could ride the Tea Cups 20 times in a row without exiting the ride and feel better. I'd rather take a few turns on IASW! We actually thought I was coming down with something until I woke up on Wednesday feeling like nothing had ever happened....

Just so you know there is a post waiting to happen ... just not on me!

[stefa70 205]

No worries, we'll be here when he gets done with his blog post.

I love lazy days like that, it makes you feel so......well, lazy. :rofl2:

[Just Whipperwhirl 24]

I saw the photos of the flooring on your blog - lookin good! I can not stand 3-D movies - they just arent comfortable for people with glasses.

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

I saw the photos of the flooring on your blog - lookin good! I can not stand 3-D movies - they just arent comfortable for people with glasses.

Thank you much.. I am so glad to have a "real" floor again. I did not realize just how much the painted floor bothered me until we started laying the new floor!

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Straggling Along the Texas Coast & The Blue Ghost -

I know not a lot of pictures but strangely not alot of hijacking. I really expected better of you people!

We were finally liberated from South Padre. We got a new floor and a new hitch in the same week! You can really have no idea how happy both things made us. We stayed in a great RV park in Portland, TX. While there Shawn took the children off to the USS Lexington while I lazed in bed for 90% of the day. I read trashy romance novels, fantized about ASkars, read more trashy... oh, wait this isn't that type of TR. Give me a second to get back on track....

The USS Lexington aka The Blue Ghost-

The approach shot-

The obligatory plane shot to get all the guys pumped up and ready to see some cool stuff-

Something really cool-

It pays to be an admiral -

This bathroom looks larger than the one in our home... though, that's not saying much. (no that's not urine.. it's rusty water)

Captain's Quarters-

Operations-(not the medical kind)

I'm telling you .. it pays to be an officer-

The regular beds-

Operations (the medical kind)-

I know this isn't my most informative post but Shawn and the kids enjoyed this trip very much. Even more so because Momma was not there waiting to leave. Momma doesn't like the smell of old metal things (diesel trains, aircraft carriers). There are some times when it's best to leave momma to her trashy romance novels and nordic .. oh wait getting off topic again! Sorry!

I think I'd better go cleanse my mind with some Jane Austen now....

Next Up (haven't seen those words in awhile) - JSC, CapComs, ISS, and the SSP

[PureTcrazy...rita 380]

Thanks for the heads up, I would definitely have to be an Admiral. I couldn't fit my big self in one of those bunks!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Nice update, but I'll tell ya Navy does have a definite smell. Blech!!! My first husband was on a submarine, and the rules were you couldn't wear your work uniform (dungarees) off base, so he had to wear civilian clothes to and from work, then change when he got on the sub. So then, when he got home, had to change into another set of clothes. So 3 changes of clothes a day!!!!! Lots of laundry.

I thought it was just a submarine smell, but then me and my second husband visited the USS Alabama, and the same smell was there, so it's a Navy smell. You were smart to stay back at the camper!!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Ooops, pulled a Kimmie!!

[stefa70 205]

Nicki, YOU told us that you wouldn't have much to post until you did something fun, therefore no hijack. You should know by now, that I am a good girl who obeys all the rules. I was just waiting patiently!

I love that you pointed out the rusty water in the toilet. You know that one of us would have noticed that. Good catch!

No way I could sleep in those bunks. I am way to claustrophobic for that. I could sleep in the Captains bed, not with him silly...unless he was really hot and acted like a pirate. :rofl2:

That looks like a neat thing to see, but I certainly don't blame you for enjoying some "me" time with some trashy reading.

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Thanks for the heads up, I would definitely have to be an Admiral. I couldn't fit my big self in one of those bunks!

would anyone... besides stef?

Nice update, but I'll tell ya Navy does have a definite smell. Blech!!! My first husband was on a submarine, and the rules were you couldn't wear your work uniform (dungarees) off base, so he had to wear civilian clothes to and from work, then change when he got on the sub. So then, when he got home, had to change into another set of clothes. So 3 changes of clothes a day!!!!! Lots of laundry.

I thought it was just a submarine smell, but then me and my second husband visited the USS Alabama, and the same smell was there, so it's a Navy smell. You were smart to stay back at the camper!!

so glad it isn't just me. I almost can't breathe on those things. Old diesel trains have the same smell too.. yuck.

Ooops, pulled a Kimmie!!

the ghost of kfk TR's has struck again.

Nicki, YOU told us that you wouldn't have much to post until you did something fun, therefore no hijack. You should know by now, that I am a good girl who obeys all the rules. I was just waiting patiently!

I love that you pointed out the rusty water in the toilet. You know that one of us would have noticed that. Good catch!

No way I could sleep in those bunks. I am way to claustrophobic for that. I could sleep in the Captains bed, not with him silly...unless he was really hot and acted like a pirate. :rofl2:

That looks like a neat thing to see, but I certainly don't blame you for enjoying some "me" time with some trashy reading.

One if your a good girl then I'm a saint....which my husband will tell you I'm not. :rofl2:

I didn't realize you understood the definition of the word rule... :rofl3:

You at least could fit in those beds... you meet the minium height requirements... :heartsmiley:

There is something about a man in uniform.... particularly if he is of Nordic descent.

I very much enjoyed my day off ... sometimes it's just good to really laze around.

By the way, I put that in there because someone got "upset" about the urine in the toilet on our blog... I figured someone here would... ummmm.. have a flush at it. :rofl2:

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

I lied about the next update. I didn't know I would be lying but I decided to share this one with you first. It's another one for TCD-

Sunset off An Airstream -

[Lil Lisa 53]

How on earth did I miss this trip report? Awesome! Now I understand the volume of reviews you write. You know I am sooooo jealous, don't you?

[Lou... 3,118]

Touring an aircraft carrier, doesn't get any better than that. Except for maybe touring a battleship.

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

How on earth did I miss this trip report? Awesome! Now I understand the volume of reviews you write. You know I am sooooo jealous, don't you?

Easy enough since there are tons of them going on these days. Your volume level has declined but you did get a new one today. The only ones I did not review are the ones I didn't have anything nice to say about. It's a karma thing. Don't be jealous, just sell all your stuff or pack it in a storage shed and hit the road. It's easy.... really.

Touring an aircraft carrier, doesn't get any better than that. Except for maybe touring a battleship.

if only they smelled like roses I would agree...

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

By the way Lou... here is your :hug: :bighug:! nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

JSC, CapComs, ISS, and the SSP -

Finally, some jargon I can get in to. You see folks we headed our tow vehicle towards one of the largest cities in Texas to visit a certain Space Center... Johnson. This was a life long dream of mine.

You see I wanted to:

1. Go to space camp

2. Go into the Air Force

3. Get into the Astronaut Program

What really happened-

1. Mom wouldn't spring the $350 for space camp

2. The marines wanted me but not even for the cutest recruiter in the world...he almost got me...but he was married (dirty word to a High School Senior) and after awhile I rebel against certain types of authority (my way or the highway type)

3. Well in all honesty... it's dangerous to get strapped to that much rocket fuel.. I like my life just fine.

So now that i've digressed enough -

A pretty wall mural-

Rocket anyone -

Although I really wanted to see the Gemini/Apollo mission control rooms, I was just happy to see the Space Shuttle Mission Control Rooms-

Did you know that not EVEN the President Of The United States can overrule a decision made by a flight director at NASA during a mission?

The area that is light up in the left corner are the on going missions... those that will never return.

Now let's head to the Astronaut Training Facility - ISS anyone?

The Space Shuttle Trainer -

New Rover, it can house an pair of Astronauts for 14 days-

Here you go boys---- ROCKETS-

Saturn V... anyone? (on loan from Smithsonian)

One more for the Road-

Now we have finished the Tram Tour and are headed back to the Science Museum portion -

Dude just hanging-

Mockup of the inside of the Shuttle -

Sleeping quarters, mockup, of Skylab-

Capsule-

Whew... I'm tired just typing this up. We were there for almost 5 hours and still didn't get everything done....

What's with that silly title -

JSC - Johnson Space Center

ISS - International Space Center

SSP - Space Shuttle Program

CAPCOMS- Astronauts that talk to the Astronauts on the Shuttle

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I lied about the next update. I didn't know I would be lying but I decided to share this one with you first. It's another one for TCD-

Sunset off An Airstream -

Thanks for the photo!

I love it.

I also loved all the JSC photos. It looks like some of the exhibits are better than what they have at the Kennedy Space Center.

TCD

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

I also loved all the JSC photos. It looks like some of the exhibits are better than what they have at the Kennedy Space Center.

TCD

It's very.. interactive but if you want to see a lot of historical space stuff - The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas. They have the actual capsule that sank on Gus Grissoms flight, the apollo 13 Lunar Module.... etc.. etc...

[michele j 9]

WOW! What a great read. I couldn't stop,read the whole thing tonight.

This is my goal in the near future(after our first trip to the fort). My husband & I want to travel around this beautiful country in our RV.

Thank you for all the wonderful information :heartsmiley:

Michele