When we lose a pet

Tonight we learned of another traveling companion who crossed over rainbow bridge.  Max and Checkers from the Bayfield Bunch, earlier this year, and now Whiskey from Kevin and Ruth’s travels…………It brought back very vivid memories of that day we lost our Maggie…………….I went back and looked at the web site that helped us so much get thru those days. 
We now have a great new buddy, Tucker George, not really so new he’s 5 years old, and he is the light of our life. We do feel so badly for those who lose pets, they are such a very big part of our lives……….. 

We put in a flower garden in our back yard and Maggie is buried there. “Maggie's Garden”  Her garden has grown into an awesome tribute to an awesome dog.
I hope that Mags has a new friend tonight to play with………Whiskey.  


In 2006 I wrote this post on Golden Babies, a golden Retriever web site.  These great folks helped us get thru the pain of loss we had.   Even as I read the post I wrote it brings back memories of a golden girl I still miss today…
http://forums.golden-babies.com/showthread.php?t=493
MAGGIE MAY
Maggie our sweet Maggie. passed away Last Sunday morning of Cancer. She passed the day before her 14th birthday. It was 2am at the vet when we new it was time. We held her as she slipped away from us and our best friend was gone. Our daughters were to have a birthday party that afternoon but the guest of honor could not attend. God had other plans. They had ordered a cake that now sits in the freezer. You can imagine our girls faces when we had to tell them that the pup they had grown up with was gone.
Mags was like most of these wonderful pets that give unconditional love and ask nothing in return. She loved to ride in the truck and would haul outside in a hurry at the words "Car Ride" She loved to ride out in the country and she loved to bark at cows when we passed the farms in the Indiana country side. Why cows, not horses or pigs she just loved to bark at cows.
We have had 3 goldens before Maggie and she was the standout. She slept next to me beside the bed for more than 10 years. Waited at the door when I came home from work every day. Monday was the hardest day of my life. I new she would not be there waiting. I will miss her greatly, the house feels so empty without her. I know she is in a better place and she is free of the pain she hid so well. It broke my heart to watch her struggle to come up the stairs at night to sleep next to me. But it was something she just had to do. I just can't believe she is gone! We will burry her in back yard in the butterfly garden my wife is putting together I can see the plaque already it will read "Maggie's Garden"
We may get another Golden in time but not for awhile. Maggie, I miss you so very very much. Yes so very much!
Here’s looking at you kid…………………………….

Question of the Day………..

As I dream of sunny beaches  or crisp desert mornings, I was pondering this thought.  Since I’m still 20 plus months away from retirement and our full time dream,  this thought popped into my head.  If I’m still working and living in my RV am I considered a Full-timer?

Why you might ask, We’ll put the house on the market next spring, and if it sells next year we will move into the RV.  So would I be a full-timer????  I will still be a few months away from retirement.  

The tough part is that we may


spend a winter in the Suite P.  The wife hasn’t warmed up to the idea just yet, but I’m working on her…….. 

There are a few options here in the Indianapolis area  so it can be done.  I like Lake Haven on the Southside and its only about 5 miles from the plant.  I have reminded her that the Mobile Suites is a four season 5’ver.  But as of this writing she isn’t biting………………………………I still have some time…..


Here’s looking at you kid…………………….

Why, As Time Goes…………Bye!

Hint……….
“Play it once, Sam. For old times' sake.
I don't know what you mean, Miss Elsa.
Play it, Sam. Play…………………… "As Time Goes By."


It is our song, we love this song, we’ve danced to this song at our daughters weddings, we’ve danced to it in our RV, we’ve danced to it in different countries, and it made perfect since to call our blog….As Time Goes……….Bye
We did change the last word to fit our new coming life style.



On our 20th wedding anniversary, Gayle and I went on a cruise, During the Captains dinner, we were asked if we would like to here a song, and there at our table we were serenaded by a Chinese lead singer and Mexican violinist   Their version of As Time Goes By, was what dreams are made of…………
It’s not that far of a stretch to know what are favorite movie is.

Casablanca won 3 Academy Awards in 1942, one of which was  Best Picture.

Humphrey Bogart was defeated for the best actor award by Paul Lukas for "Watch on the Rhine."
Ingrid Bergman wasn't even nominated.


That Casablanca was voted #2 in American Film Institute 's 100 Greatest American Movies of All Time    

Humphrey Bogart was voted #1 Man in AFI's 50 Greatest American Screen Legends    

Ingrid Bergman was voted #4 Woman in AFI's 50 Greatest American Screen Legends

They originally wanted Ronald Regan to Play Rick, but they  went with the more popular Humphrey Bogart instead.  I wonder if Ron would have been president if he played the lead in this movie………………………………

 
Humphrey Bogart is believed to have written the lines, "of all the gin joints in all the world"... and "here's looking at you, kid"

Well that’s why we have decided to call our Blog “As Time Goes……………Bye!
So instead of me signing off tonight , I think I’ll let Rick do it……………….

Here’s looking at you kid…………………..

13,870 Days

I was sitting here this morning wondering how many days total 38 years.  When I multiplied 365 x 38, I was taken aback,   13, 870 days.  That is a lot!

38 years ago today, September 24, 1973, I walked into Detroit Diesel-Allison as an 18 year old snot nosed kid,  and never left. 

I think of all the stuff I’ve been thru, all the moves I’ve made,  its been a life time of ups and downs.  I have been so blessed to have been able to stay with one company for all these years.  I see the kids we are hiring today knowing that they have had many jobs all ready  and may still work for many companies,  in the future.  I met the love of my life at Allison, she put in her 30 years and has since retired.  We have 3 beautiful daughters, 4 grandchildren and one on the way.  Its been a good 38 years………………….

The best there is…………………………

I have been able to work for Allison for 38 years, but I have seen many changes in those years.

Hired  in 1973 as an hourly employee.  In 1985 I married a beautiful young lady who worked in the Unitizing Department.  In 1988, Detroit Diesel Allison’s year of transition, we were sold to Roger Penske. 

But General Motors wanted to keep the Allison brand, so Roger bought the diesel side of the business and the Transmission side stayed with GM.

No dump trucks, fire engines or motorhomes were damaged during this film!!!!

That meant a move for us…………………..

Detroit to Indianapolis

Allison’s headquarters were in Indy.  Wife: “Lets go to Indy, its better than being laid off………….”, Husband, “No way I’m I going to Indianapolis, there is nothing there but corn!”

Long story short…………………………. we moved.  So, we sold our home in Michigan and moved  to Indy.  We moved down here with 30 employee’s that came along. 

In 1990 they offered me a salary job that I could not refuse. 2 years later, I made Area Manager of Plant #2.  In 1995 I became Operations Manager of PDC North.   Then we built a new PDC on the south side of Indy which became Plant #17.  

Not Again…………

In 2000, GM decided to sell us.  Poop, not again.  However this time we became a stand alone company, “Allison Transmission Inc.

So today after 18,370 days, I’ve hit the clock, no matter where Allison has been.  I do love my job, but I’m ready for a new adventure.  Change is not a stranger to Gayle and I.  We’ve stayed with a great company, but have faced the unknown many times in the moves we have made. 

So loading up the “Suite Pea” and selling everything but what we need, is not that frightening.  

2013 is just around the corner…………………..40 years sounds like a good number to me!!!!

Here’s looking at you kid…………………………….

 

Meet my Son

Meet Tucker George.......our traveling buddy.  Tuck is 5 years old.  He of course is spoiled rotten.  He is the son I never had.  3 daughters but no sons. 

All the men in the Pietz family have the name "George" in their name, either first name or middle.  I could not get the wife to name one of our daughters Georgia so Tucker became the son I never had.................

He goes everywhere we go.  He loves to travel and is always ready to hit the road.

His daddy was a Canadian Champion and he loves to pose for pics...........

                                        I am not a muzzwaum!

                                     My campin' hat

He does have a traveling companion,  Mooch the Cat, we'll talk about him soon enough..................

                                       My bonesuzes!!!!!!

                        My wife, Gayle and Tuck on the sand in Michigan

He loves to take baths but does not like lakes or anywhere he can't touch bottom..............

My Boy

Here's looking at you kid.................................................................

New Lisbon Family Campground

We had our Escapee’s Indiana Chapter fall rally at New Lisbon Family Campground this past weekend.  For being just over an hour west of us off I-70, it was surprisingly nice.  We never knew it was there until we received our information on this years fall rally.

There were at least 20  gravel pull thru sites with 30amp full hook ups, all pretty level. 

It has a very nice club house that held all our events through the 4 day soiree………..

Of course you have Indiana’s smallest park.  Carl Park, one bench, one flag pole, and one trash can. 
The front of the camp is mostly seasonal sites and in the back of the park is the pull thru sites.  There is a very nice fishing pond and they also have a camp store with propane available on site.

Free WiFi, that is excellent .  A basketball court, a playground and a beach for you sun bathers.


They offer Passport America and Escapee’s discounts……


All and all it was very nice park and we will visit again some time in the future………………..


Here's looking at you kid..........................................

Rally was fun and sad too!

Rally ended yesterday morning with the hitch up breakfast.  Most of the club showed up around 8 ish and said our good byes over coffee and donuts.  Most of the club members are snowbirds and were getting ready to start heading to their winter haunts.  I’m jealous because I am one of the few that still has to work……..Yes I said it, the 4 letter word, work, work, work.

  I love staying in the rig, it just  feels right.  

 I keep dreaming of the day when we'll wake up in our own bed and can be anywhere we want to be and  still be home!   I  kinda get sad when I have to go back to the S & B  and leave the rig, even though its in the drive.  The house is too big, and Rig is Just Right!!!!!


To Errr is human, to Arrrr is  pirate!

But alas, as I said, some of us are still working so in our case, we headed home to Greenwood and parked the rig in the driveway.  Started taking things out of the Suites. We may go out one more weekend before we winterize and park it on it’s pad next to the Garage for the up coming winter…………………and maybe not.........)&a*@;)^%%%$#^&!!!!!!!


New Officers for Chapter 51


Nuts!!!!!!!!!!!

Coffee and Conversation………

See ya next year at the spring rally…..safe travels everyone!

Here’s looking at you kid……………………

Carl’s Park, Indiana’s smallest Park

I was up at 6am this morning  to put the coffee on for the Chapter's “Coffee and Conversation”. It starts at 8am every morning of the rally and I've been elected to make the Java........

.  After breakfast and showers, Gayle, Tucker, and I headed to Hagerstown to the Abbot Candy Co.  to sample some homemade treats that they’ve been making since 1890.  After picking up a few goodies,  $90.00 worth, we headed to Richmond for some fish at that great fish restaurant,  The Cracker Barrel.  Came back to the campground and took a nap. 

Took Tucker for a walk around the lake here at the park and found Carl’s Park.  Indiana’s smallest park.  One flag pole, one bench, and one trash can.............What a hoot.  Here are some pictures of it. 


At 4pm, we went up to the club house and had a great time making paper airplanes and trying to fly them thru a target for prizes.  We each got 4 tries and I tied Maurice for a Fly off, which I lost. 

Had a great meal made by Betty and Stan.  Meat ball sandwiches.  Had a lot of fun  with some super friends


Here’s looking at you kid……………………