Dec 20, 2010 - Milwaukee For The Night

It's one of those transition days: on the road by noon, drop of the rental car, spend the night at Motel 6, depart for Florida at 7 AM. What a great visit I had with Amanda and Scott. Sad times, lots of memories, trying to see their future. Mars Castle is one of those tourist places on the side of I-94 that I usually pass by and wonder about. Today I visited and had some great samples of cheese and beer.

Sep 26, 2010 - End of a busy week in Milwaukee

Hard to believe that it is Sunday already where did the week go. We checked into the WI State Fair RV Park on Monday. Anyone who has been to a state fair knows that this is a cement parking lot with full hook-ups (water, sewer & electric). I-94 is viewable from my window. The woman's shower room looks like it belongs in the local high school. Nine stalls to shower with a cheap moldy shower curtain to hold the water in and benches and hooks on oppositesite wall for your clothes and things. I try to get the handicap shower where there is at...

Sep 9, 2010 - Bikes, Beer And "Spicy" Babe

Written from Lake Lenwood Beach and RV Park. Today we headed to the Harley Davidson factory to do the tour. Well the very nice lady (I use that term loosely) told us that they haven’t done factory tours at that plant for the last year. So why do you still have it listed in the Wisconsin tour guide for 2010? As we were walking out, very disappointed, a nice man was coming out and said he didn’t understand why they still had the tour listed in the tour guide. But mentioned that the Harley Davidson Museum was very interesting and we should go...

Sep 4, 2010 - A Whirlwind Journey

Just a quick note to update everyone on where we are and where we're going. (I still hope to get up a blog on Biltmore Estate and some neat pictures, but given our new hectic schedule, no telling when that will get done.) Before we left Asheville, we got the news that we connected with a short workamping gig in Arizona. One of our top choices there, Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood, has an opening for a volunteer camphost for the month of October. We were elated as that is one of our favorite parks not only in Arizona but in our...

Aug 26, 2010 - Goodbye Oshy

Went up to Oshkosh last night for ladies night at Molly's, my favorite dance bar. I was able to say goodbye to all my Oshkosh friends. I really will miss each and every one of you. *Muah* I spent most of the day today packing and getting things organized. I feel like I have not made a dent in the things I need to take. I also feel like I have the smallest wardrobe ever, due to the fact that I cannot wear half of the clothes I own in Rome. They are very fancy and never wear tennis shoes, sandals or sloppy stuff unless exercising. No short...

Aug 24, 2010 - Hello Roomates

I got an e-mail today telling me where my appartment is and who my roomates are! Im living with 4 other girls. One of them is also an O'Brien! Crazy! I also went shopping with grandma today to buy a few things for Roma, like a nice sweater and some cute boots. Time is passing very quickly! Only a week until I leave! Loveas!

Aug 22, 2010 - Goodbye Bff

I had to say goodbye to my best friend Kirk a little earlier because he left for England yesterday to visit his family. We hung out on Friday, went to dinner and a moooovie. I miss him already! But, thank god for skype! If anyone wants to skype me, send me a message and I would be happy to add you. Its a free service that anyone can download to their computers and it is fantastic! Dont forget that I want to hear from everyone at least once while I'm abroad! Send me a message, don't be shy :) Loveas!

Aug 20, 2010 - Goodbye Holiday Inn

Hello! Hola! Chao! Today was my last day at work before I leave for Italy. It was an interesting day that's for sure. Amber brought cupcakes with the little rings on them that we wore while we were working. In fact I'm still wearing it and find it extremely stylish :) I got hit on, which never happens, I flowed through my rooms, I got a hug from Araceli (lo siento si se escribe mal. ¿cómo se escribe?) Im going to miss most of the people who work there. Each individual has something special to make my day more tolerable. These sites can be...

Aug 11, 2010 - The Begining

Hello! This here is my first entry! I have three weeks until I leave for Rome on the 31st of August. I applied for my student Visa last month and should be receiving it in the mail in the next week or so. Starting to think about packing and what I need to buy to bring with me. Have about ten lists going! I'm SO busy. I'm trying to fit everyone and everything in to the last few weeks and still have time to sleep, eat, learn some more Italian and pack! Starting to get excited, nervous, and homesick already! Loveas, MO

Jul 29, 2010 - Cheeseheads Enjoy German Cuisine

From mid-November to early January we stayed at Mesa Regal RV Resort in Mesa, Arizona. It was a lot of fun with lots of activities, two beautiful pools and nice people. While there we met Frank and Karen Werra who live outside of Milwaukee in Waukesha, Wisconsin. They left Mesa at the same time we did and headed for California and then to Yuma, Arizona for a couple of months. They returned home this spring. Meanwhile, we've been on the road racking up 28,000 miles so far when you add the motorhome miles of 14,000 and 14,000 for the car....

Jul 28, 2010 - An Evening by Lake Michigan

After finishing up the things we wanted to do to help my mother today, we got our motorhome ready to move again. It takes less than 30 minutes to take off the hose for water and the electrical cord and move the slides outs in and the jacks up. We had lots of wood under the jacks and tires to level the coach so that took a bit of time to store away. We then headed out of Arlington Heights and made our way over to the tollway (I 294). We have a fast lane transponder in our RV and our car which is accepted on the tollways in Chicago so we...

Jul 20, 2010 - Doing The Prep Work

I got all of my travel prep books in the mail today. AAA sent me a personalized map, a guide book, and two large maps for free! I've already started marking pages of restaurants I need to eat at and important "getting around" info for Seattle.
I am going to purchase a special pass for a month of ferry riding and the City Pass to save the biggest bucks. I imagine 95% of the days I'm there I will be taking the ferry to Seattle from my place. It will be a great time (35mins approx.) to plan my route for the day and make notes in...