Wednesday - Feb. 21, 2007

It's one of those days..... long...... at work.......typing my little fingers to the bone......

It always seems like the days after a long weekend away are so much longer and the rest of the week just drags on.

Oh by the way..... While in Daytona last weekend the temps never got above 60 degrees during the day and were about 30-35 at night with lots of wind. And Monday when we returned home, it was starting to warm up already and the last couple of days here have been absolutely gorgeous, sunny, blue skies and highs in the upper 70's..... Perfect weather......Not at all like last Friday when we were at the Beach with Cully (from Tennessee) in our winter coats, long pants and gloves..... Unbelievable!

This coming weekend is another busy one. Thursday I will be visiting my aunt and uncle in Avon Park and then Friday morning getting a haircut in Sebring. Coming straight back to go to a Praise Team Rehearsal at The Gathering Place in Sanford for the Adventist Health System Conference on Missions. Our Praise Team will sing for two services on Saturday. It is lots of fun and I get to see and meet all the AHS V.P.'s that I talk to daily at work!

Sunday, Rudy wants to got to an RV Show in Volusia County - and then come home and watch the second race of the season from California.

Daytona 500 Weekend

Brrrr.... it was cold in Daytona this weekend, but we had a great time, camping in the RV at CrazyHorse Campgrounds and attending all kinds of NASCAR racing events at the Track. I will try to give you a few highlights of the long weekend! We arrived Thursday and set up camp and then headed over to the Track for the Gator Duels - 2 races - 60 laps each and Jeff Gordon won the second race - The first was exciting with lots of yellow caution flags thrown and Tony Stewart winning! The second was fast and furious with less cautions and Jeff came from behind (15th place or so) to win in the last 5 laps or less. It's hard to remember.

Friday, we went to the Flea Market and found a few bargains and went through the Driver Trailers at the Track and some of the exhibits to0.

Saturday - Jeff Gordon was on the Pepsi Stage at Noon, so Rudy and I made our way over there to get some pictures of Jeff on the Stage. Then we returned to the RV to meet Janine and Ashley and fix some dinner.

Sunday = Race Day! It was finally here.... Daytona 500..... We got up early in the morning because Cully and I were chosen through the Official Nascar Members Club to be along the Stage in the infield for Driver Intros! How exciting. Along with this came passes to the Fan Zone in the infield. We got to see the cars going into and coming out of pre-race inspection, Daytona USA giving back the # 48 to Jimmie Johnson & Rick Hendrick (last year's 500 winner), and watch the crews as they got ready for inspection, take peak at some of the Pit areas and see a little of the behind the scenes preparation for the 500.

As the Drivers were introduced they walked off the stage straight towards us and shook our hands or gave High-5's as they walked by. It was great seeing each of them so close!

Cully and I then made our way to our seats where we found Rudy and we got ready for the start of the Daytona 500 with the Invocation, National Anthem and those 4 words that we've been waiting to hear since last November, "GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES".

Janine and Ashley were seated one row up and at the other end of the row from us, but caught a glimpse of them now and then.

# 29 Kevin Harvick Won the race and so on Monday morning we went to Daytona USA to have our traditional commemorative tag made and he just happened to be there giving a radio interview so we got to take some pictures of him there too!. It was a great weekend and we are all so happy that Race Season is finally here. Our next NASCAR race that we will be attending is March 25 in Bristol, TN! (probably another cold one)

February Itinerary

This month is chucked full of RV destinations. Two weekends ago, we took Elani and headed south to Avon Park on Friday for a one-nighter in my aunt and uncle's backyard. This was Elani's first overnight trip in the RV and we didn't want to go far. So we spent some time with family. Elani did great and we had a good time too. She took a little nap in the afternoon on Friday along side Grammy and then at night she went right to bed in the "big girl bed" and not a peep out of her. She woke up bright and cheery the next day too. Except for the nasty rainy, cold, wet weather we had, it was enjoyable and I foresee longer trips with Elani in tow in the RV with us.
Last weekend we left Friday before Noon to our monthly destination north of Clermont to camp with a group of friends and enjoy the quiet solitude of the woods, and listen to the sand cranes and owls chat at night. We enjoy good food, fellowship and relaxation on these days.

This week, Thursday, we head to Daytona International Speedway for the Gator Duels and the Daytona 500. We are camping at Crazy Horse Campground behind the airport that sits behind the Speedway. We will rely on the generator for power for this 5 day, 4 night excursion. Our friend, Cully from Tennessee is flying in to join us and we expect a couple more to come for part of the time too (at least to visit and eat with us). This is the start of the 2007 NASCAR CUP Race Season and I am ready!

So, three of the four weekends in February we've taken up residency in the RV. I love it!

Elani Says "I Lub U"

And she said it first to her Grammy! YEAH - I can't smile big enough! Elani and I were out shopping on Sunday, January 21, 2007 and we were in the car driving to the Mall. Usually when we get on I-4 Elani sees things that she recognizes, but we were going a different way, so the usual retention ponds and billboards of "SHREK" were not on this route. As she asked and I had to keep telling her "not, we won't see them today", she got a little discouraged. So I reached my hand to the back seat and gave her little leg a squeeze and a shake as I said, "I LOVE YOU"!
And then I heard those three magic words come out so sweetly and cute. "I LUB U". I almost cried right there on the spot. I was thrilled...... so I did it again and she replied the same way!
Who knew, those words could touch the depths of my heart with such intensity and make such an impact on me. It was just what I needed that morning! After doing a little shopping we played in the Mall playground to play, had Elani's favorite lunch in the Mall (chicken nuggets and fries) before heading home for a nap. It was the best time. I love shopping with Elani and sharing lunch with her. In fact, I love anytime I get to spend with Elani and just me.

January 24

This month has flown by. It's almost February. But that's a good thing, because I am so ready for NASCAR race season to start! To help get our "motors" running, we went to Daytona NASCAR Cup Testing on the 19th for the whole day. It was great. Rudy and I got up at 6 am to be on the road and heading towards Daytona by 6:45 and we achieved that goal. We were patiently waiting in line in the truck behind about 40 others at 7:30 am. Why, you ask? Because even though we had purchased our tickets prior to this day, we (I) wanted to be one of the first 150 people in line to get a JEFF GORDON wristband so that we could get Jeff's autograph later that day! Goal # 2 Achieved!!

So when the gates opened and we were allowed into the infield through the fourth turn tunnel we made our way to the Fan Zone. I shot approximately 550 pictures of the Driver's, the crew, the cars in the garages, on the track and all around. With my 300+ zoom lens I am able to get what looks to be up close and personal with whatever my subject might be. We got lots of drivers autographs while they were in the garages and I even got my picture taken with Claire B. Lang and interviewed for her Radio show that night.

We took a nice lunch break and went to Ruby Tuesday's for about an hour. This is beginning to be a tradition with us since it is so close to the track and always has good food. Third year, I think.....

After lunch we walked around getting more pictures and autographs and watching the Cars do some drafting practice. We met some people from the JEFF GORDON Network and other fans, too and enjoyed chatting with them. One man we met just watching and taking pictures saved us a seat up from of the stage for FanFestForum. What is the Forum? Well, 6-7 drivers in 4 different sessions come out and answer questions from the audience. Of course, with front row seats, I got excellent pictures of JEFF and the other drivers.

Our friend, Janine came in the afternoon also, so Janine and I bought tickets for three hot laps around the track in a 2007 Chevy Impala SS. It was the best $20.00 I've spent in a long time and it "fed" my "need for speed"!! We went 135 miles an hour for two laps and then the third lap the driver slowed down to 35 miles an hour going into the 3rd turn to show us how the 31 degree banking felt at that speed. We could feel the G-Force at 135 miles per hour, imagine going 185 like those NASCAR drivers do for 3 1/2 hours +.

After the Forum and the Hot Laps, we were getting tired so we headed home, arriving at 9:00 pm and hit the sheets preparing for another day at the office!

Soon we will be on our way to Daytona for the 500 and the Gatorade Duels! I'm ready!

Camping Weekend

Well, it is Friday evening and we are on the road again this weekend, only this time we've headed north to just north of Clermont, Florida near Mascott, FL, camping in the woods in our RV with a group of friends that we gather with every 2nd weekend of the month to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. It is so peaceful, relaxing here, with no noise, no agendas, no sirens from fire engines or ambulances, only the creeking crickets, squaking owls and croaking frogs in the pond. There's a campfire at night where we sit and chat with the others or we can just sit under out awning with a good book. These weekends are very special and help bring us back to a place of no worries, just peace and quiet! Thanks Less & Pat for inviting us to join you and the others. We love it here!

January Update

Well, only 39 days until the Daytona 500 and I've got the Racing Bug! It's been way too long since we've been to a track and I am ready! Last weekend we fed this addiction a little by going up to Daytona on our bike for the weekend and stopped by the Daytona International Speedway to watch a little Rolex 24 Testing. Took some pictures, saw some NASCAR drivers and even got my picture with David Stremme! :-) Rudy and I had a great, relaxing time up there that weekend. We've got to do it mor often.
Next week we are going to the Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup series Testing! Jeff Gordon will be one of the drivers there that we intend on seeing. Actually I am planning to stand in line to get his autograph and chat with him. Can't wiat to hear the roar of those engines and smell the exhaust again! Daytona is very unique in that it has a FANZONE and a window into every garage that allows the spectators/fans to peer into the garage area as the crew makes adjustments to the cars and get close up looks at the Crew Chiefs and Drivers that are testing. And then hoping again all odds that one of them will come over to the window and autograph an item for you! Can't wait!!