Alice's Restaurant ~ Dishin' Up Food for Thought

Alice's Restaurant ~ Dishin' Up Food for Thought ~~~ A place to share what I am thinking, reading, feeling & contemplating as I travel on this journey called life.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Just Rambling ~ Part 2!

If you have not read Just Rambling - scroll down to read the first half of this post ~ thanks :)

We have been ~~~

~ working as managers here at Branson View Campground (you can like us on Facebook - it is the one with the picture of the look out area) for just over six weeks.  We have met many new people.  Since we started here we have had two events.  First was a Bluegrass Music Concert & Potluck where we enjoyed lots of great food and great music.  Our second event was our Father's Day BBQ & Potluck where we enjoyed lots of great food including strawberry rhubarb pie (YUMMY) and 3 hours of conversation.  We will be planning something for July in the next week or so.

We have 40 RV sites, one tent site and one cabin for rent.  If you are coming to the Branson area we would love to connect with you.  Give us a shout out and lets make some plans.

~ we enjoyed visiting with Ron's cousin's Sharon & Jim and Karen & Lee while they were here on vacation.  It was fun to see family pictures, laugh and tell stories and give/get lots of hugs.  So fun to be with family. 

~ hurting and praying for so many friends.  Two of our friends have lost a baby.  One baby, Trek passed away at the tender age of 18 months after being diagnosed Niemann Pick Type A in January 2012.  You can read his story and about his family and how they loved on him each and every day of his life by clicking on his name above.  Another baby tragically drowned last Saturday in Australia where his family live and travel.  Elijah was only 7 months old.  And then we join our friend Sheila as she mourns the loss of her hubby.  They were married for over 40 years when Larry was diagnosed with cancer.  Sheila and Larry are full time RV'rs and we met them first via the Women's RV Forum that I belong too and then we met in person once in Salt Lake City in 11/09 and then again in February 2011 while we were on our way to Texas. 

~ and then yesterday I found out my Aunt Joan is battling Mantle Cell Lymphoma.  She is currently being tested to find the best treatment options.  Many of you know my aunt is my mom's sister and we are very close.  She has always been there for me and a major part of my life.  I remember she came to Las Vegas to be at our wedding (December 1975) and then brought my Grandpa to WA state to see us when we were stationed at McChord AFB (Summer 1980) and in summer of 2009 she came to see us for just a few hours before heading back to CA to pick up Uncle Don from a trip to Alaska.  Aunt Joan & Uncle Don have loved on us, hosted us numerous times at Noyes Ranch, treated us to some wonderful meals and fun times with our family.  Each of us have fond memories of being at the ranch, riding the ATV's and one major wreck (Jamie & Brandon) and many stories, laughter, and visits. 

And so I ask that when you think of me or Ron, to please say a prayer for one or all of our friends and my aunt for God's healing and comfort during the trials they are each facing. 

Ali

Just Rambling

I know it has been awhile since I have written.  I could say it is because we have been so busy ~ yes we have but that is no excuse.  I could say because nothing new is going on and my every day stuff is boring ~ but that is not really true either.  I could say I had writers block ~ but don't really think that is it either.  What was going on was I being lazy, spending way too much time on Facebook and playing computer games (Mahjong is addictive!).

Lots of things have been going on ~~~

~ Ron had his hearing with the Texas Workforce Center; the hearing was a necessity as the BOD Pres. Marti O'Hare appealed the TWFC decision to grant Ron his unemployment benefits.  After reading the 40+ pages that were sent to us from LSC we knew that what was being said/written about Ron was totally untrue.  We received some letters of support and along with those and the documentation that we had: 2 managers reports that we submitted to the LSC BOD and members in Oct. 2011 & Feb. 2012 that were approved at both of those meetings, plus lists of all the projects that Ron completed while working at LSC and tons of prayers the hearing was held.  During the hearing Ron questioned "their witnesses" and then answered questions from them.  The Hearing Examiner said a decision would be made.  The Hearing Examiner upheld the original decision that Ron's unemployment benefits were/will be paid.  We thank the Lord for the outcome as it validated the work Ron did at LSC and that others knew the truth and the the accusations/allegations that he was lazy, did not do the work required of him and spent most of his day playing games on the computer were false. 

~ One week later I had my hearing with the Texas Workforce Center.  As expected I lost my case and that was okay.  I had not received any money from unemployment, I knew I had stepped out of line one time and that was it.  During my hearing I was able to question the BOD Pres. Marti why if they had been having so many complaints about me (she stated since December) why was nothing said to me?  why did they renew our contract?  Her response "well I should have."  Still have no clue what all the complaints were about.  I was also able to question one of their witnesses who said I did not honor his request for some information out of the membership office while the remodeling was going on.  He did concede that he knew that the membership office would be closed for approximately two weeks during the remodeling project.  Two of their witnesses were not available by phone and so their statements were not admissible.  I tried to address the statement by BOD Pres. Marti that I have posted derogatory comments on Facebook and in my blog posts but she said she didn't have the documentation present and could we postpone till later date.  Nope, don't think so, you have no documentation at the time of the hearing, not going to be postponed to another date.  And why did she not have documentation ... could be because nothing was ever posted that was derogatory.

And so now we move on.  Our time at LSC had many fun components.  Did we like how it ended ~ nope, not at all.  Have things worked out the best for us ~ ABSOLUTELY!  God provides for us and gives us many blessings. 

~ I was only unemployed for two weeks and Ron for 4 weeks.  Ron's unemployment kept our bills being paid and we had no problems with the motor home or travels while we made our way from Hondo, TX to Branson, MO.  We have received so many blessings since coming to Branson.  As managers of Branson View Campground we get many free tickets for different shows here in the area.  We have seen almost all the shows at Grand Country, have been to Dixie Stampede, Legend of Kung Fu, Yakov's Dinner Adventure, God & Country Theater where we saw Statlers Revisited and are going to the Showboat Belle for a dinner cruise on Ron's birthday (July 27th). 

We have made new friends since arriving in Branson.  I have connected with a great woman's prayer group (an answer to prayer for a fellowship time with other Christian ladies) and we have attended some great worship services.  And we have a swimming pool right here at the campground for those hot (100' +) days where we can go and swim, relax and enjoy time together.

To be continued at Just Rambling ~ Part 2!