Goodbye 2024…Hello 2025

We began the new year as we usually do, just us and some bubbly, exactly like we like it! It seems like right now our days consist of working, hot tubbing and relaxing. 

We did make an exception for our 28^th anniversary, we got a room at the Vee Quiva Casino and just enjoyed ourselves. We had Huckleberry Margaritas that we made with our Montana Huckleberry Tequila and Huckleberry Mix, and we also added Skinny Margarita Mix which was surprisingly tasty. The Huckleberry Mix was too sweet, so the next time we partake in the Huckleberry Tequila we will just use the Skinny Margarita Mix and it will be much better.

Daytona Day was fun as usual, but turned into an all day race due to rain in Daytona, we did what we could to survive the day.

We gave up Direct TV a few months ago and had been streaming only and that got expensive due to our WiFi usage and our programming being put on other Apps we needed to purchase, so we chose Dish with our new setup. We are really happy with it so far.

Already the end of March and we only have a few weeks left before we head out for our great summer adventure. Our plans are taking us to Northern Michigan to enjoy my home state. Looking forward to partaking in all the local wineries, and seeing all the amazing sights, some new to us, and others revisiting. We will fill you in more about our plans when we begin our travels.

We are still watching our carb intake and are still losing weight and feeling marvelous, one pound at a time, slowly but steadily. Here are some of our meals and some great carb friendly items we have found and enjoy!

We took the last few weeks off of work since we were both feeling pretty crappy and needed to take care of ourselves. This has been a tremendous battle for both of us, we were down for a week, and attempted to return to work and it knocked us both down AGAIN! It seems everyone at work has been sick and we got it, whatever this is. No fever, just nauseous and the body aches are EXTREME…the pain is EXCRUCIATING! We are both so weak, but we will get through it, so far we’ve had 2 weeks off…without pay, and it looks as if it will be yet another week! If we could afford it, we would just be done for the season, but we need to salvage any part of the next few weeks if possible. Regaining our strength is our goal, I am finally able to stand up for more than a few minutes, but Jerry is still struggling. I have never experienced him so weak, and in so much pain, but I know exactly what he feels like since I felt the same way but I am on the mend and he is just a few days behind my healing. Not sure what this illness is, but I am certain we never want to have it again.

The weather has taken a turn already…not liking it at all!

Life has been grand and we are looking forward to many more wonderful years of our traveling lifestyle! All we need to do is kick this crud so we can get back to living.

Wine Tasting 2025

During our travels, we pick up bottles of wine, not only in the grocery stores in different states, choosing the local brands that sound good, but also during our wine tasting excursions at wineries, as we taste them, we will share our findings.

Dusky Grouse

Water’s Edge Winery & Bistro

Kalispell, MT

7.41% alcohol 

 

Stopped at this winery on one of our adventures in Montana and had to taste a few to bring on the road with us, this is one of them.

 

The ripe raspberries are front forward with no hint of the peaches. The aroma is delightful with a light and brisk refreshing finish. We would definitely recommend this one and would purchase again if we come across it.

Stella Rose Pineapple & Chili

Costigliole D’Asti Winery

Via Canella, Italy

5% alcohol 

 

This one looked interesting on the clearance shelf at a Walmart in Polson, Montana and it was definitely worth it.

 

A hint of pineapple with a lingering chili flavor was refreshing, and if we find it again we would purchase it.

Back in Arizona for the Winter

We arrived in Mesa, Arizona on Saturday, October 26th after a hectic drive…PEOPLE ARE FUCKING CRAZY! A short 3 ½ hour drive turned into a 5 ½ hour drive due to construction, traffic, wind, and rough frigging roads. Why would ANYONE put their lives or others in danger over a lane choice? We are well aware of slow driving in the right lane, we almost always follow that rule, but when the right lane is so eaten up and filled with potholes where most of tires fell into, we chose to drive in the smooth left lane. For the most part when traffic came upon us, we moved back to the right lane, but at one time we did not make it to the right lane before this semi whipped by us and then purposely tried to force us off the road by coming into our lane. It was uncalled for and so dangerous, and if Jerry wasn’t on point and kept it under control, we would have wiped out and there would have been deaths…PEOPLE ARE FUCKING CRAZY!

We both absolutely love Arizona in the winter, but it was the end of October, and it was still hot! Then overnight it dropped 20 degrees and its perfect 70s for highs and 40s for sleeping…perfect weather. We have become water babies, enjoying the pool and hot tub just about every day. Work started first of November and I am regaining the strength in my legs, as we are continuing with the low carbs. No sugars, no pastas, no breads and we have both been taking off a few pounds weekly, slow and steady and we are feeling much better already.

So now for the winter, we just hang out between our Thousand Trail Membership Resorts, moving every 3 weeks while we work at CalAm, but not in catering, we are cooking in the Café instead and we like it a lot better. A good perk of working there is all the free food, our shopping bills have decreased drastically and even though the pastry temptations are there, we have been sticking to the low carb choices.

Celebrated my birthday on the 29th of October quietly, just us enjoying the hot tub and wine. We went out to dinner, planned to have Crab Legs but we instead chose Chinese at our favorite Lin’s. It was very hard to stay with our low carbs since Chinese food is so high in carbs and we both felt very sluggish afterwards. Looks as if Chinese will be off our menu in the future.

Right now, our lives are about working and getting ourselves back into shape. No plans for the holidays or weekend getaways, just work and enjoying our days off relaxing and hot tubbing…LIFE IS GOOD!

Meridian RV Resort

1901 S Meridian Road

Apache Junction, AZ 85120

(480) 474-8900

11/2023, 2024

 

We paid $0 per night using our Thousand Trails membership for a water, 30/50 amp electric, sewer, backin site on a gravel lot with a patio slab.

 

During every encounter, we had extremely high customer service. Going above and beyond with such a great, high-energy attitude was so appreciated, and we felt welcomed.

 

We enjoyed the pool area several times with a nice hot and bubbly spa.

It was quiet and the area was always well maintained.

 

 

Monte Vista RV Resort

9060 E Steven Pollard Avenue

Mesa, AZ 85209

(480) 618-0460

12/2023, 2024

 

We paid $0 per night using our Thousand Trails membership for a water, 30/50 amp electric, sewer, backin site on a concrete slab with a patio.

We had extremely high customer service, going above and beyond with such a great, high-energy attitude was so appreciated, and we felt welcomed.

 

They have a separate area for RVs, away from the Park Models, but we are able to enjoy all the amenities throughout.

 

This included several pool areas, three with hot tubs and the closest one to us only had the pool, so we enjoyed the other areas several times with nice hot and bubbly spas.

It was quiet even though our site was near a main road and firehouse with sirens. The common areas were always well maintained.

 

 

 

Product Reviews

This blog will be about our testing various products that we have tried and will share our findings about the item. Just a note…we are not receiving any monetary gain by giving our truthful opinion; it is just something we love to do!

CERAKOTE CERAMIC HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KIT

BEFORE

AFTER

We keep our truck as clean as possible and our headlights have been the hardest part to keep clear and not foggy. We have tried several products prior to using this one and we were disappointed every time, they were time consuming to get any decent result, but then it never lasted more than a month. This product changed our way of keeping our headlights bright and shiny, and it was easy. No buffing, just wipe the lens clean, lightly wipe with sandpaper, wipe again with clean wipe, then apply coating. That’s it…so easy and such a lasting finish. We highly recommend, and we will update exactly how long this application lasts.

Our Experience at Polson Motorcoach Resort & KOA in Montana

We worked the summer of 2024 as Front Desk and Maintenance, using the K2 system, we checked guests in and showed them to their sites. Not only at the KOA but at the Motorcoach Resort that dealt with the high-end coaches. Answered a busy phone line making reservations and answering questions about the area. The work was easy for both of us due to our vast knowledge and experience. We ended up mostly on the closing shifts which we had some adjustments to make with our sleep.

Weather was ferocious many days, too cold, way TOO WINDY, too hot, and just miserable. We hardly had any perfect weather days.

Too many rules being ignored so not to make waves and maintain a high rating. My biggest issue was dogs, they had a list of “not allowed” dogs but too often it was ignored and then offered a “Meet and Greet” option. Early in the season when I asked if Jerry was doing a meet and greet and he got hurt, would the park cover our expenses, and I was told, “No, so maybe he shouldn’t do them.” I agreed for him to NOT do any in the future.

There were great team members, and several not so great team members. We were so grateful that we worked mostly with the great ones, but during those other times, it was excruciating for us.

Our site was situated amongst the guests which for us seemed a better fit than in the Workamper area. Our only complaint was that our trailer and truck did not fit on the site due to our super slide and where we had to position our trailer, but we made it work by parking our truck offsite but nearby for most of the season.

The management, both maintenance and office were exceptional. Very professional, positive, supportive and fun.

We volunteered to help with the weekly pancake breakfast which turned out to be a blessing. We worked with the other two team members that were exceptional. It also broke the monotony of the week, and we finished by noon the day before our two days off which extended our time off.

If anyone is interested in working there, we would highly recommend, but at the same time, we would not return, mostly due to not enough places for us to explore. The only perk we received was free laundry which really added up to a lot.