Happy Thanksgiving everybody.  We had a most perfect day down here in Columbus, Mississippi.  It was warm and sunny.
We got together with fellow loopers and had turkey with all the trimmings.  Now there is a full moon shinning over the water around us. Dick has been busy with boat projects today and I baked a pie and did needed cleaning.  Now the oven has stopped working.  On a boat it's always something.  We just ordered a new little generator to match the one we already have to sit side  by side on the back deck.  We are getting ready to leave next week and will be on the hook at least 3 days.  The extra generator power will enable us to have heat if needed and to use all the appliances while away from the shore power.
Not to much happening yet.  Big plans coming.

We just got back from New Orleans.  We ferried a car down to Mobile Bay for some fellow looper and brought a rental car with us.  After dropping off their vehicle we continued on to New Orleans which was another 3 hours.  Stayed the night in a hotel in the French quarter.  Went walking around last night.  What a wild place.  You can buy a drink and walk down the street with it which was great because that is where a lot of the entertainment was.  After a really wonderful dinner we stopped into a bar which had dueling pianos.  Stayed there for quite awhile because they were playing wonderful oldies and it was loud and rowdy and everyone was dancing.  Even Dick who says he never dances.  It was just too much fun.  When we got back to our hotel there was a wedding party in the lounge and a guy playing a guitar so of course it required another drink.  In the morning we walked in the very cold morning to have breakfast and to see the statue of Molly Marine.  The women marines during WW 2 freed up men to fight.  And there is a statue to the women who joined up.  This is a picture for my girlfriends back home who have their own group of "Molly Marines".  And that's all I'm going to say about that.
Did not take any pictures last night because I didn't take this computer with me.  A friend told us a story of being pick pocketed recently in New Orleans when all he had with him was his credit card.
I did take some pictures this morning.
We are exhausted so I am off to crawl in with the big guy.  Hope you are all staying warm.  Heard about the snow storm up north.  It is down in the freezing here.  Can't wait to get to Florida.
The only other news from home was a call on Friday from my brother to say that our 103 year old aunt Gen has died.  She was frail and this was expected but I am so sad.  She was my god mother.  Rest in peace aunt Gen.

Me next to Molly Marine.

Dick  next to a statue of Louie Armstrong.

some pictures of the Waverly mansion.

Hello everybody.  We have been sitting still for 2 weeks.  Interesting.  Many Looper have come in and left.  Some we knew and some we did not.  Everyone is heading to Florida.  Lots of "docktails".
We have been having some boat problems.  Boat of course stands for "bring on another $1000."
Just ordered a new water pump for the water system for the boat. Good to know this before we get out somewhere and have no way to get water from the holding tanks to the galley.
Have talked to many people about what they wish they still had for their boat or what was essential when buying their boat.  Our wish list for our next boat is bow thrusters.  It's the little engine that pushes water out the sides of the boat and allows you to spin on a dime.  When in the locks and trying to get out and away from the wall, I am the bow thruster.  I push with my hands to get us away from the wall.  Works OK unless there is a wind pushing you against the wall.  Wish we had bow thrusters.

This is the third time that I am writing this.  Did I tell you that we have a new Hotspot using our phone?  Guess there is a learning curve.
We are still in Columbus, MS and will be here another 2 plus weeks, until Dec 2.  We plan to travel with our friends Randy and Sherry from Michigan.  We have been watching and planning around the big crossing of the gulf.  We will be traveling over night from Appalachacola to Tarpon Springs, FL.  We will be watching "Eddie's Weather Wag" for recommendations about when it is safe to cross.  We met Eddie at the Rendezvous.  He is a retired Air Force pilot turned boater.  A really wonderful guy.
It has been fun to see all the Loopers come in here but sad to say good bye when they leave the next day.  Some we know and some we are meeting for the first time.  I keep thinking we are the last and then another group comes in.
Last week I went with a group to see the Waverly Mansion.  It was built in the 1840's and spared by the Civil war because it was so far south of Shiloh, TN and Corinth, MS.  Not even Sherman came this far south.  It sat empty for 50 years in the early 1900's and was bought by a family in the 1960's and brought up to modern standards.  They also filled it with period antiques.  Now the daughter and her family live there and open it up to tourists.  Pretty fun side trip.
Always more to come.

Wish the trees were prettier down here.  No brilliant reds or yellows like in Michigan.  Lots of greens and browns.

There are these absolutely beautiful flowers.  I just love them.

You can see how horribly invasive they are.  They float on top of the water and are everywhere.  Heard a story about some people 2 days ago that had to drive thru a big patch to get into the lock.  They got sucked into the water intake and made the engines over heat.  Just a mess.

Again I am frustrated at not being able to get on line.  I am sitting inside the marina office, the only place I have access.
We left Aqua Yacht Harbor at the head of the Tenn-Tom and went through 3 locks.  We then over nighted at Midway Marina and had a beautiful travel day going thru 4 locks with NO WAIT.  Almost unheard of.
We did have to wait at one lock the previous day allowing me time to add to the list I started a couple weeks ago - things to do while waiting for the locks.
1.  Drive in circles.
2.  Idle the engines.
3.  Sing along to the radio.
4.  Write this list.
5.  Smokes cigarettes (for some).
6.  Eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks- whatever is appropriate.
7.  Do my nails.
8.  Count clouds.
9.  Plan our future.
10.  Call my friends (if there is service).
11.  Brush the dog.
12.  Pick my nose.
13.  Read (in snatches).
14.  Work on my tan (when sunny).
15.  Wonder what my son has done to my car.
16.  Wonder how my friends are doing back home.

We are now in Columbus,  MS and will be here for probably a month or until the moment moves us.  Lots of Loopers

This is docktails.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

These are birds hanging out in the river.

here right now.  Many headed to Florida for the winter.  In the meantime there's "docktails" that is cocktails on the dock.  More to come.