Change of plans...

Lots of things have happened since I last posted.  I'm not sure why I haven't been better about updates.  The only thing I can figure is that things have been so up in the air I haven't quite known what to say...


We're still in Arkansas for now.  Johnny is no longer working.  While the surgery on his leg was a success, and the place he was working agreed to the restrictions the doctor stipulated when he returned to work, they then ignored the restrictions and he was on his feet and walking way more than the doctor wanted to see.  The excessive walking was causing more damage to the other bones in his right foot.  So the doctor said no more of this job until he can see if the bones in his foot will stabilize.


So that has left us trying to figure out Plan B.  Plan A had been for Johnny to work out this project which would wrap up sometime in 2012 and I would continue the work kamping gig here at Millwood Landing.  That would've allowed us to pay off all the debt except the RV and the house and save the down payment we need to transition to a diesel pusher.


While we haven't worked out all the details of Plan B, we have put some things in motion.  We needed to generate some more income asap, so I sent an email and had a phone interview and next thing we knew I had a job as an "Elf" at Amazon.com's distribution hub in Coffeyville, KS.  I start on September 18th and the plan is to work through December 23rd.  Along with pay, overtime and a completion bonus if you stay through the season, Amazon also pays for your campsite and utilities.  They also say you can walk 10-12 miles a shift, so I'm hoping that along with putting some extra money in the coffers I'll lose 10 lbs or so before the holidays!


I've given notice here and my last day will be August 29th.  It's been a nice gig and I like the people.  It's an interesting business and I've learned a lot of useful things about campground memberships.


Our longer term plan is for me to get back into doing some consulting.  With the flexibility of the RV I think it will be pretty workable.  So I'm putting feelers back out about that.  We're hoping to find a camp host spot in Louisiana for the beginning of 2012 so we can spend a little time with Johnny's kids and the grandkids.


In the meantime, Johnny will be doing the laundry and grocery shopping and taking it a little easier to see if his foot will stabilize and he can get around without being in pain.  If not we will have to look closer at the amputation option.  Better to have 1 foot and be able to walk without pain than 2 feet and not be able to get around without constant pain.


We'll be headed to Austin, TX for the first couple weeks of September and then  off to Kansas for a few months.  Will try to fill in a few other missing pieces in the next few days.

Back to Work

Johnny started back to work last Friday.  He's working days now which is nice in lots of ways.  It's nice to be able to have dinner together and snuggle up at night.  His first day was a bit rough, but I think he's doing better.  I think it's hard for him to tell because he's tired, but there's less swelling in his leg/foot when he gets home.  The only downside of him working days is that I get to get up with him before he goes to work at 4 am and bandage the one incision on his heel that still needs bandaging.  Just call me "Nurse Carol."


I also started our (my) first workkamping gig here at Millwood Landing RV & Golf Resort.  This is actually a membership park -- part of Ocean Canyon Properties.  They were looking for a part time sales admin person in their membership sales office.  I talked to them and viola! I'm now workkamping.  24 hours a week.  My job is to greet tour participants when they arrive, get their basic information and make sure contracts are completed correctly, payments are collected and recorded correctly and all the files are up to date.  So far I'm setting my own schedule based on when they have tours -- primarily Friday, Saturday, Sunday and now Monday.


I started training Saturday and worked Sunday and Monday.  We're actually paid here through May 15, so I'm looking at this as "banked hours" for those times we need to go back to Austin for Johnny's doctor appointments or our trip to Daytona Beach, Florida in July.


Since Johnny's here working and I'd much rather be here with him than not, I decided workkamping makes sense.  At least I have something better to do than just sit around all day everyday.  And the site and utilities are covered.


We really like the park here.  The only downside is there is no laundry room... so it's off to the laundromat today for me.  

Survived the storms

We haven't been very good about updating this.  No real good excuses... just life getting in the way


First of all, our condolences to Donna (aka Froggi) on the loss of her stepson.  It's terrible to lose someone you love and our prayers are with the whole family in this difficult time.


Next, we survived the storms here in Arkansas.  It was really strange.  We spent the whole evening watching the weather radar show storm cells and tornadoes go just north and just south of where we are here at Millwood Landing Golf and RV Resort.  We got a little rain and not much wind.  Watching the devastation all around us reminds us of how lucky we are.


Today is a clear and sunny day so I'm hoping to get some things cleaned up outside the 5er before we head back to Austin, TX tomorrow.  It's time to put up the winter hoses and all that stuff.


On the recovery front with Johnny we had a little setback.  Johnny probably tried to go back to work a little too early and had one of the incisions in his foot open up and get infected.  If you're not in the know about these things, any infection near hardware in your body is a very scary, dangerous thing.  The good news is that it is a very treatable, not resistant strep infection and they put him on the right antibiotic right away, so it seems to be clearing up well.  No longer red or puffy or tender.  He hasn't had any fever so that is also good.  He goes back to the doctor on Monday and hopefully what I see as good signs are confirmed and he will be able to go back to work soon.


While we've been here at Millwood Landing I talked to the management team here and provided all is good with Johnny's leg for him to go back to work, I'm going to start doing some workkamping for them in exchange for our site.  They need some help in their membership sales area.  24 hours a week in exchange for the site.  I need to ask them if we can include free golf along with the site!


So we're headed back to Austin tomorrow for Johnny's doctor appointment on Monday and a neighborhood garage sale on Saturday.  Hopefully we can make a dent in the stuff in the house!