Kathleen & Paul Smith's RV Travelblog

Saturday, July 24th and Sunday, July 25th
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Kathleen was concerned over noises she heard as she rode in the rear seat of the Honda. Paul called a local Honda dealer and took the Element into the "Honda Hospital" - we hope to hear on Monday what ails the beast. (We've had the Element since 2004 and she's served us well, so we can't be surprised after 90,000 miles to have her first "burp" ... we hope it won't be too expensive a "burp".)

So Saturday, Slade followed Paul to the Honda dealer and then brought him back to the Winchester home.

After dinner, Michelle and Slade took in a movie while we baby sat the children. They are all so well behaved it isn't anything like "baby sitting!"

Slade, Michelle and the boys took us to The Stone Arch Bridge

Only foot traffic is permitted on the bridge (plus bicycles, strollers and the like) so we had a nice stroll across the Mississippi. Slade, Olive, Paul, Michelle and John take in the sights as Graham, Seby and Zane forge on ahead.

Michelle poses with her Daddy on the bridge.

The lock was opening...

...to reveal a swarm of kayakers, canoes and various small boats.

Paul, Kathleen and John pose for the camera.

A special treat was in store for John. He rode home with Slade and Graham in Michell's BMW convertible!

Cody's two-week class sessions were over and we all went to the college to view the many art exhibits. Here Cody explains his computer program to Graham, Zane, Seby and Michelle.

Cody spoke so glowingly about his teachers, that we had to capture them on film (wish I had asked for names to go with their picture....)

7/25- Sunday
We took John to the Mall of America where he found just what he was looking for - a Puma store. There's no sales tax in Minnesota on clothes and shoes. John happily reported that in addition to no sales tax to pay, the shoes and shirts were 40% off and he came away feeling very lucky!

After our trip to the Mall, it was time for John to head back to Nashville. The three of us headed to the St Paul/Minneapolis airport (only about 10 minutes from Michelle and Slade's). While we were sorry to say goodbye to our youngest son, we were so happy and grateful to have had John join the family for this week. We both have a strong feeling that it has been an experience John will remember with joy for a long time.

Love and Peace, Kathleen and Paul

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"NO DEAL BASICALLY means that if we can't find a solution that wold benefit us both, we agree to disagree agreeably--No Deal. No expectations have been created, no performance contracts established. I don't hire you or we don't take on a particular assignment together because it's obvious that our values or our goals are going in opposite directions. It is so much better to realize this up front instead of downstream when expectations have been created and both parties have been disillusioned.
When you have No Deal as an option in your mind, you feel liberated because you have no need to manipulate people, to push your own agenda, to drive for what you want. You can be open. You can really try to understand the deeper issues underlying the positions." (9/9)

Paul & Kathleen Smith | 173 Rainbow Dr #7329 | Livingston, TX 77399-1073 | (510) 386-8973

Life on the Road with Paul & Kathleen: "Not bad for two dumb kids from Ohio" - Proving once again that it's never too late to have a happy childhood

Our Lazy Daze at Kirk Creek Camp on CA Hwy 1 40 mi N of Hearst's Castle 11/24/03: Shortly after full-timing began.	Lazy Daze no 2 at Kiki's RV Park in San Felipe, Mexico 7/02/09