Thankfully, the trip to Virginia Beach was uneventful, and we were able to spend some good quality time with Bo (Dick's mom) and Aunt Grace.  I think they both enjoyed hosting us and we got quite a bit packed into a short weekend.  We arrived at Indian Cove, one of our Coast to Coast parks we've visited before, but never did we get such an insight to their operations as this.  Once we set up, we decided to go out to eat — actually, we decided we'd call Debbra & see where she would like to meet up with us for dinner (we had only frozen foods).  She was not available to the phone, so we went on about our business, checking into local eateries & couldn't decide.  So, we did what comes naturally...we asked up at the office.  Well, were we surprised to hear, "I don't know, I only work here" and "She doesn't know anything, she's just a workamper."  Well, I dunno about anyone else, but WE make it our business to know the area in which we are working, and we try to at least be aware of any literature that might be helpful (most places have a notebook with customer reviews and/or menus and such), but once we heard that attitude, well, we just crossed THAT campground off our list of possible places to work.  Too bad, too, because we had considered it for next year.  We were glad, though, that we knew the managers' feelings up front.  I can understand why she mght feel that way, though, since the workamper in question had been working there for THREE YEARS. 

Anyway, Mother's Day went well, and Bo loved her big bag of chocolates and the cash in her card.  Always the right color!  After our final visit, we went geocaching, just to use up the daylight and stretch our legs (one can take only so much sitting in any given day).  They'd had 8 solid days of rain, so we weren't sure we'd be able to go everywhere, but as luck would have it, noooo problem.  We found a couple of really cool places we never knew about (thanks to Tim & Staples!!) and took pictures with the Purple Monkey travel bug we're carrying.  We've heard from his owner, and she's all excited to hear & see where we take him.  Sometimes, owners get worried if their trinkets don't move along or get placed, but she seems to be fine with it, as long as we keep her posted.  Dick wrote her back, saying he didn't eat much but does snore some. 

Last Monday, we set out for Charlottesville, to visit with the kids & grands, and to watch Tabatha graduate from UVA.  Plus, I seem to recall Dick mentioning that our "one week in one place" will be restful to my hip.  HA!!!  We loved spending time with the kids (all of 'em!!), and Kim was kind enough to bring Annabelle out to the park, where we could all go swimming.  Nooooo, NOT outside - they have a terrific, and WARM, indoor pool & spa.  Jose paddled Annabelle around the pool, letting her splash all around & use her water wings, while Kim & I relaxed in the hot, hot water of the spa......oooooooohhhhhh, so nice.  Later that night, it stormed and we saw more rain that we'd seen all winter, put together.  Thunder is much louder & lightning much closer, apparently, when you're in the mountains!  While there, we also made a major purchase...I thought we were gonna stop with one pair of sneakers, but, as most of you readers know, my computer screen has been rolling & turning pink.  Hot pink, everywhere it's supposed to be white.  That's tolerable, but all the writing is shadowed by a layer of white and a second layer of black, and that made it extremely difficult to read.  Writing blog entries & email was about impossible, but when it came to navigation, and I couldn't tell him the street names, it became *our* problem.  We stopped in at Best Buy - you know how I hate that store - and talked to the Geek Squad.  I didn't feel at all bad about doing such, because we had originally purchased the computer from them.  He was able to verify the purchase (and date of) so he didn't mind helping, either.  Turns out, he suggests a motherboard issue and told us with the current prices, we could buy a whole new one just as cheaply as fix the old.  UGH!  That is NOT what I wanted to hear.  I absolutely DESPISE getting a new computer or reimaging the old.  SOME people love it and look at it as a new toy, but, geez, if I could avoid it, I do.  Well, not this time.  we looked & shopped & compared, and it came down to two close to identical boxes.  One, the Dell, has no way to eject the CD in event of an emergency (get stuck, no power, etc) and is a Dell; the other is a Compaq, which is what I had, with an ever-so-slightly larger screen, and a place to stick the paper clip if need be, but has a really shiny skin.  I mean SHINY.  For most people, that's not really a problem, but, here I am, riding in the truck, and the sun's just beating down on us (THANK YOU GOD!).  With a shiny skin, there is simply too much reflection, and if it hits just right, and blinds Dick, we could be eating dirt really fast....so, believe it or not, I went with the Dell, simply because the skin is somewhat non-reflective.  Sounds kinda silly, but that's the way it is..

So, Jose's been diligently loading software & date onto the new 'puter, and he has just about everything right.  I spent the morning with both computers in my lap, loading pictures onto a stick, then into the new 'puter and I was even able to fine, export & import my Outlook address book (well, most of it, anyway), so I can hit back, now.  I got my web favorites over and am just goin' to town.  About the only thing left is to figure out what gives with this cursor, making things bigger or way too small at the slightest touch, and to get all my sewing patterns & software loaded.  Goodness knows I cannot do without that.  Not for long, anyway. 

We got to see Chuck & Stu again - THAT is always a pleasure.  We shared a few good laughs, and I got to love up on Buzzy.  They're all doing well and their cabins are staying full.  I swear, that is where I want my ashes to go when I die.  Dick & I took a few moments to scatter Sunny''s up on the bank where Boo & Trip are, and as sad as that was, I know she'll be happy there with them.  I cried all the way down the mountain, and it's *still* hard, but my head says that's the right thing to do.  My heart says, "screw you." 

So, here we are, left Gordonsville, VA early this morning (8 am is early for us!!) and with good luck & decent roads, we find ourselves on the south side of Greensboro by lunchtime.  We hope to make Gaffney, SC our evening stop, which will position us for an easy morning tomorrow.  Have been thru Charlotte with camper at rushour before; do not wish to repeat venture!!

Well, the road is getting really rough, and I find I have to undo as much typing as I'm doing, so I'll sign off for now...y'all take care & be safe.  Much love!