Vagabonds Again: Preparing For Our 2023 Westward RV Journey

Hello, Ya’ll.  Once again, we are readying ourselves and our Fifth Wheel RV for a four- to six-week journey across our Great Nation. We have done a handful of these journeys in an RV.  In 2020, we took our last trip across the country in our Keystone Raptor, which we had for just over ten years. Moose was our RV’s name, given by our late friend Warren of the great state of Texas. Warren aptly named it Moose because it was pretty big.  However, in 2021, we had a semi-custom RV built that’s even bigger than Moose and not a toy hauler—so much more living space.  It’s also just about 13k pounds heavier than Moose.  We figured we might live in it one day while building our final home in the West.  

Lessons learned…

Anyway, we learned a few things on our last cross-country adventure.  We learned that the power of prayer works as we somehow survived an unexpected disastrous Derecho; before that trip, we had never even heard the term Derecho.  Still, during that storm, we prayed and prayed hard and fortunately lived to tell another day with only one minor scratch on Moose. 

Google thinks I’m a meanie…

I also learned something about Google.  Let me explain.  As many of you know, I have blogged parts of our previous trips, and in August 2020, Google shut my Blog down.  What harm could I be causing the world of Google?  I figured it was because my Blog was dedicated to our search for Faith in America.  Or perhaps it was my observation of the thousands of Trump signs we saw compared to a few Biden signs.  But no, to Google I had done something even more sinister.  Those of you who remember the Blog (it was only up for a couple of weeks) probably remember our buggy hike on the Wisconsin Ice Age Trail (just off of Lake Michigan).  This was where I noticed all the different colored squirrels, Grey Squirrels, Red Squirrels, White Squirrels, Brown Squirrels, and black Squirrels.  While on the hike, I took photos of all the squirrels and commented to Justin–“Hey, look at all these different colored squirrels, happily living together in the woods and not one Black Squirrel Matters sign anywhere.”  It seems like squirrels understand that “All Squirrel Lives Matter.”  So that was the title of that day’s Blog, “All Squirrel Lives Matter.”  I couldn’t figure out why I was shut down, but when we got back to Florida, a Google representative finally called me back to tell me why.  As you probably guessed, the drones at Google thought my “All Squirrel Lives Matter” post was hateful, would offend many people, was in poor taste considering the happenings of the world, and may potentially incite violence.  I asked the representative, “Do you mean to tell me Squirrel Lives don’t matter at Google.”  She said she was just a representative and had no opinion on the subject.  

Free Speech…Except if Google doesn’t like the words you use.

So much for “Free Speech”.  I decided then and there that I would no longer be beholden to Google and their blogging platform, and so, with the help of Sara and the folks at Skyway Media, I started my website, Taradiddlez & Tutelage.  You will find many different Blogs on this site, including our travel adventure and RV’ing Blog, info on a book I’m writing, recipes, and so much more.    

When you have a great husband…you get to pursue your dreams.

Before I move on, I want to thank my fantastic and patient husband of 23 years and best friend of 31 years, who tried to fire me from our businesses more times than I can count, but only so that I would pursue my dreams and goals.  His encouragement has kept me moving forward.  So after promoting our head of Accounting to Controller, hiring an exceptional Chief Administrative Officer, and bringing on a talented Executive Assistant, and then seeing how amazing they all are and how well they all work together, I finally felt it was time for me to make my leap, and so on August 1st I took the plunge and left my role as CFO/HR of all of our business.  Now, I am on yet another career path, perhaps the one that fulfills me the most at this stage in my life.  I hope to use the written word on this path to enlighten and entertain all who follow me.  You can learn more about the purpose behind Taradiddlez & Tutelage and my story under the About section.  

Footprints…

Thank you in advance for leaving your footprints on my path; I hope I can leave my footprint on yours.