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Hi Debbielee, Sorry I missed your anniversary! Hope you had a great time and as I told Snowmom"Your best days are ahead"! Miki

Happy Anniversary to you two and remember "Your best days are ahead" Miki

Hi Twilap, I didn't know they had an oven but I've seen some with a grill on ebay. I'll look bdfore I buy! Thanks Miki

Hi Fleefromit, That's a great idea. I had considered rallies and events but not every day camping. I did read that I shouldn't put my name outside of my home because of bad guys who want to scare you into coming out in the middle of the night-they know your name so you would think it's a friend. But I'm sure I can come up with a name that will do well. Thanks again Mik

Hi everyone, All the suggestions are helpful! I appreciate you forwarding my questions Diinmi. Midnightmom- I already have both editions of Walmart atlas(big print and regular). I'tll feel like home since I already think I live there. Shepherd- I will have an awning on the van and my husband is already figuring out how to velcro netting to it so we'll have a little outside room. Fleefromit- Welcome! and Thanks for the info, I used to do a lot of tent camping and we'll still cook outside a lot. At home here in FL my motto is "When its smokin' its cooking". I'm not a bad cook but our smoke alarm is so sensitive it goes off when the eggs are done! Mare- We'll be in a lot of different states but I don't know when. Thanks for the invitation! If you guys on this site get together again, I'd like to go. Snowmom-Hi, We should be able to keep in touch via laptop from time to time. You can bet I'll be moving my husband (and Schnauzer) to get to the computer when we have a hookup. Do you know if there is a place to e-mail photos to this site? and how its done? One idea we've had is to go to small town type festivals and sell shredded BBQ turkey sandwiches and coleslaw, maybe chips. How does that sound? It would only be for a few months a year. Thanks again to all Miki

Hi Shepherd, You should come to our moving sale! Everything goes down to the walls in October

Hi there, When I read Midnight moms article on soy I quit drinking soy milk and using soy products(in reference to its effects on the thyroid). I had blood work done a week ago and my throid is real low. They said normal is .35 and mine is 40 TSH NO decimal in front. I think there is probably something to the article and thanks for sharing it Midnight mom. Miki I'm going to have to take synthroid for a while I guess.

Thanks for the suggestions ladies! I already have the Walmart Atlas-Regular and big print. I spend enough money there if I can stay a free night that would be good. Thanks Becca Anne for all the suggestions about packing small. The one advantage we'll have is pulling my astro van bhind the camper van for extra storage space. It'll still fill up fast though. Thanks Diinmi for forwarding my questions to your friend. Thank you all again. Miki

Things are still moving in the right direction towards our move out west. Sold our xtra car and have a date for a moving sale in October then to sell the house. It's a big undertaking but I think it'll be worth the struggles. I'm learning about selling stock photography and camping and camper vans. There's a lot to learn. All suggestions relating to camping across America and working are welcome as well as suggestions for living in a camper van for a while without hurting any one.(joke) Thanks- Miki

I only got 5/10 also. My mini-schnauzer- Stevie Rae is just disgusted with this low level intelligence! Slothful servant and she isn't too bright either. Good help is hard to find for a queen! Have a great day Miki

Hi Danny Lou and welcome! I also wonder where the Arbuckle Mountains are, and am envious that you actually have seasons. We have 2- hot and not quite as hot. Miki

Hi MOgal and welcome! I'm wondering what the title of Elaine Whites book is or did I miss it? I look forward to talking to you. Miki

Hi Midnight Mom, Thanks for all the info on soy. My husband and I switched to soy milk recently without doing much research other than hearsay. It's pretty hard to know the right thing to do. I still think we should stay away from dairy as much as we can. Maybe rice milk? Good thing my husband is patient! Thanks again Miki

Hi there, I didn't tell the whole story about simplifying last night. It's a lot about financial strain also. Our businesses slowed down after the attacks last year and never really recovered. I didn't see it so much early in the year because weddings are usually booked so far in advance but now it's really showing and not just for me but a lot of area photographers. People aren't fixing their boats like last year either. Just didn't want to sound like we have nothing better to do. We have many bills to pay as we downsize. Honestly-Miki

Hi Debbielee, Take your film or negatives to any Walmart and have them print them for the subject on their one hour machine. There's usually at least a couple of employees at each store that are conscientious printers and will do it. Not real expensive! Miki Happy turtleing

As we are going from an 1800 sq. ft. housr we've had for 10 years down to a coach house type van the size of our bathroom, I have been selling at yard sales, auctions, e-bay, donating to womens shelters, having a studio sale and just plain throwing out. It doesn't look like anything is missing yet but it will. Also cancelled all magazine subscriptions, haven't renewed Chamber of Commerce and photography association memberships. I wish this was the time of year for better yard sales. That's enough for now. Miki

Hi Becca Anne, Iowa is one of the places we intend to travel through. We will bring with us the youngest love of our life; not our grandchildren, but our miniature schnauzer- Stevie Rae. She's 2 in people years. I'll have to learn how to e'mail photos quickly. Thanks again for the welcome Miki

Lois, I forgot in my reply to put my web-site in. www.memoriesbymiki.com Miki

Hi to Debbielee, Lois and Snowmom. Lois- I have a mini web site(meaning I did it myself). I just got a book on selling stock photos, so I can hardly wait to get started. Debbielee- There are definitely tricks to look slimmer. Practice these in a mirror at home and better yet do a test standing both ways and have a picture taken. I use these on brides all the time. Stand at 45 degrees towards mirror with weight on back foot and front foot pointed front to camera. Draw knee up a little and twist from waist toward camera leaving hips and legs in original position. Bring arms out from body a little and up so elbows are slightly bent. I know it sounds like and out of control game of twister, but if it's comfortable as a rule it won't look good on film. For Double chins(which I have and do this in mirror too), stand at ease and bring head and neck forward like a turtle and lower head slightly. It will feel silly but looks good in photos. Drawing chest and shoulders back does about the same thing and lower head slightly. Standing while hiding behind a sitting person is my personal favorite and do the turtle thing. About the white skin tone in pics. Are you standing in front? If so you might be getting flashed out. Ask whoever prints your photos to print for the subjects(your) skintone. The background may go darker but you'll look normal. To every one thanks again for welcoming me and cheesecake is most definitely my favorite. Miki

Hi everyone! Thanks for the welcome so much! I'm a photographer by profession and desire. I have a step-daughter and 2 grandchildren. I'm married to a wonderful Christian man. We're both 45 and have recently had a mid-life awakening. We've owned our house for 10 years and both had small businesses. He does fiberglass and gelcoat repair to boats, jetskis etc. We live in FL (I'm from there). We are now in the process of selling everything including our house to become "snowbirds" 20 years early. We hope to leave after the New Year and go west, traveling between Wyoming and Arizona to start with. I'[m sure we'll both have work and be less materialistic. I do realize we will be going from a 4 bedroom house to living in a coach-house type of van about the size of our bathroom. This could have draw backs but I think we can do it. We've been married 12 and1/2 years so far. So that's perhaps more than you asked for. We look forward to meeting people and going to new Churches. We will have a laptop so as to stay in touch. Thanks again for the welcome and i'm looking forward to just playing with a camera for a while. Miki i don't understand the signature thing. How do I get one?

Hi Junebug, I'm new also and I don't have much time on the computer. Everyone seems very friendly and I hope to learn, and make new friends here as my husband and I are going to be traveling some(with a laptop). I pray that God will give you wisdom and guidance in the area of your troubles. God Bless Miki

Thank you for the encouragement about low carb eating. 95 pounds is about what I need to lose. I'm just glad to know there's hope.