Its Summer at Woodhaven Lakes

Wow!  It's like someone flipped a switch and turned on the heat.   We went from a wet cool spring into a hot beginning of summer.  The change in the Sun's angle to the earth makes the heat from that burning fusion reactor almost 93 million miles away feel very hot on the skin.  It is really nice because we are able to enjoy many 'summer' things that have been on the shelf since late October 2015.

 For those who may be following my blogs, Woodhaven Lakes is just about fully cleaned up from last years tornado that hit the south west corner of the facility.  And now we all get to pay for it through the ever hated - "Special Assessment".  Right now we are not sure just how much that will be but expect to see it published later this year.  They will most likely delay the "announcement" until after the best season of the park - Summer.

But the board still lives in the past and steadfastly refruses to step into the 21st century.   As an example - I have taken my concerns about the limited WI-FI access to the executive director on more than one occasion.  Her answer is always "People do not come to Woodhaven for WI-FI, they come to enjoy nature".  Obviously she hasn't met my grand kids.

They do not like to come to Woodhaven because "the WI-FI is really crappy".  It doesn't take a genius to recognize that the dependency on WI-FI is increasing rapidly covering all endeavors including education.   Am I supposed to stop taking on-line courses so that I can come to Woodhaven?   It seems to me that the management is stuck in the past and needs to take a pro-active infrastructure approach that includes expanding WI-FI access throughout the park, not just at the recreational facilities.  The current availability centers around three recreational centers and if your RV is within 300ft of one of these you are fine.  If not then you can "enjoy nature".

I hope this reaches the ears of other owners and creates a stir for more and better WI-FI access.  Lets Leap into the 21st century at Woodhaven Lakes.

Woodhaven Lakes - 2016 Update

We just made our first visit to Woodhaven Lakes located near Sublette, IL and wanted to update you on the recovery efforts from last summers damage from a tornado that happened on June 22nd, 2015.  Today is April 27th 2016 and the park has made major progress in the clean up efforts over the 9 months since the tornado.

The mountain of wood chips is nearly gone and I estimate that a dozen or two truckloads remain.  I believe that the target was to get things 'back to normal' by June 1st 2016 and great process has been made in the efforts to meet this objective.   Owners were given 1 year to clean up their lots of the down trees and other rubbish left from the tornado.   Most of them have done so but there still remains some who made the decision to 'walk away' or abandon their lots.  Most if not all of these were owners that did not have insurance and found themselves having to foot the bill to comply with the associations 1 year time limit on their own.  My experience leaves me to estimate that it may be less expensive to start over rather than to remove the debris.

But the prognosis is positive.  The park looks great for the most part and we had a very nice time on our first visit of 2016.  There are several people relocating their park model RV's to other vacant lots throughout the park. We have had two new neighbors so far this year from other parts of the park.  The process I've seen is that the RV is moved and then the repairs necessary are performed at the new location.  This methodology seems to work well and helps to get a fresh start after the RV is set into the new location.

 Well that wraps up my 2016 report.   If you are looking for a fun option for your family take a look at Woodhaven Lakes Recreational Park.

Visit Me @  http://jdevtech.com

Spring 2016

It is the first Monday of Spring 2016.  It has been an odd spring this year with 50 degree temps in February and 20 degree nights in mid to late March the weather is all over the place.   I have prepped my snow blowers (yep I have two) for their summer stowage.  I found a new 4 cycle fuel the does not contain any ethanol and is supposed to remain stable for over two years.   It is expensive but works well.  I put a quart in each tank and we will see how it works this year.  I will let you know when I get them ready for next winter.  Of course without any idea of what is to happen with the weather but I am hopping the cold is over for the year.

As for the weather this spring - It is weird!   Yesterday a high of 61 and tomorrow a high of 38.  It is a wild ride and will be for another week or two.  We are just holding on for May when it should stabilize and enter into a warming period.  We are getting real tired of the chill even though it is much warmer than last March.

As those of you who follow this blog know, we have an RV at Woodhaven Lakes Recreation Facility in Sublette, IL and we are getting restless to begin our summer ritual of spending time at our RV.   I really enjoy the mornings when the air is crisp and the sound of woodpeckers and owls are filling the air with their signature sounds.   With each passing weekend I become more anxious about visiting Woodhaven Lakes.    Just think about it - no Comcast, no AT&T Uverse, no land line telephones, and miles and miles of roads without a stoplight.  We are still close to civilization when we want it.

We do enjoy plenty of walking and the peaceful quiet of the woods except for the holiday weekends.  On holiday weekends the place is swamped with families out to enjoy their little bit of the outdoors.  The facility management is rigidly entrenched and unless you are from the Naperville area their meetings are not convenient.   This is why the views of the few hold sway over the facility as a whole  They think they are 'protecting' us just as other totalitarian bodies often do.  This is price owners have decided is the price we pay to enjoy the facilities as a whole.

I hope you will decide to take a weekend and come visit Woodhaven Lakes.  They do have facilities for prospective purchasers so give them a call and set up a visit.  At just over 2 hours from the majority of the Chicago area the drive is tolerable.

Please visit my personal site:   http://www.jdevtech.com 

Superbowl Sunday 2016

We are waiting for the game to start early this evening and listening to the banter on the TV in the background while we take care of other matters.   I would enjoy it better if the game was on around mid-day or mid-afternoon.   With a 5:30 CST start time it is getting close to dinner time and I prefer not to be drinking and eating chips with salsa or guacamole so late in the day.  Oh well, these things are beyond my control and I will just have to adjust and take some antacids when I can remember to do so.  Enjoy the event!

How are you celebrating the Superbowl Sunday this year?  It would be nice to hear from some of you so we can share notes.   Leave a comment and see what happens.

When walking the dog earlier today I heard the familiar squawk of geese and I thought to myself that early spring may be right around the corner.  After all, the annual migration of geese do herald the change of seasons and we are really looking forward to warmer times.  Come on Spring!

This winter was short but tough and may not be over yet.  We lost a very dear neighbor when he was cleaning up after a storm that left a layer of snow covered ice.  He was found in his garage and the loss has racked the neighborhood.   It amazes me how many people come crawling out of the woodwork trying to take advantage of a grieving widow even before the dust has settled after such a tragic event.  At one time these same people were counted as friends and this is how they repay the friendship.  Amazing.

Take note of your close friends and make sure you family knows about your wishes as things can change in an instant and with out warning.  I really hope you don't have to go through such an event under any circumstances but in any event be prepared as that is the only way to protect your loved ones.

I hope you enjoy or have enjoyed the game.   I wish you good health and long life.

Please visit my web site @ http://www.jdevtech.com

2016 - A year of Challenges and Opportunities

Well here we are in 2016.   What are your hopes for the year?  Do you have any specific goals?

I have some very specific and some not so specific hopes for 2016.  My specific hopes surrond the political situation we find ourselves in as this is an election year.   Are you going to vote?   If you are then that is great and I am proud to be associated with those who choose to be a part of the process regardless of to which party they choose.

However, I am concerned about those who fail to vote and express opinions such as:

• The process and the people are all corrupt!
• It doesn't mater who I vote for the game is fixed!
• Both parties do the same stuff so whats the difference.
• No one has the fortitude to stand up against those who pervert the system.

Have you heard these thoughts expressed?  They have a common cause in that the current culture is in a state of up-upheaval and they don't see any way it will soon stabilize.  And as such the people are feeling powerless to control their own lives.  They don't know and don't have any hope in a positive future for them, their families, and their country.  All they see is anger, hate, and corruption.  People taking advantage of every loop hole they find while no one is helping them reach up to a brighter future.  Is it any wonder they loose hope and tend to adopt a 'I give up' mindset.

The really sad point is that unless they step out and use the very right that was granted them by our Constitution (to be a part of the system and help choose the next leaders of our country) they may never realize any hope, any feeling of being part of something bigger than themselves, and any sense of helping to choose their own future.   They will continue to feel hopelessness and surrender to those thoughts that keep them powerless.

So I ask you to talk to those who you know and let them know why you take part in our system and vote.  Show concern for their feelings and express understanding so they will continue to listen to you.  Let them know that their country needs their participation and how good it will feel when they do decide to take part and vote.  You may not see results this year but your words will be planted in their conscience and will take root and grow into there active thoughts until eventually they will get involved and vote.

I hope you will be a part of our country and help us select the candidate that will take the helm of our ship and guide our voyage into the next decade.  Please join me and pray for our country that it will be what it was meant to be and help stop those who wish to subvert our Constitution. And to bless us with leaders who understand and are devoted to defending our Constitution at all costs to themselves as did the original signors of the Constitution.  They "Put it ALL on the line" when they signed that document.  And now we again need leaders that will again "Put is ALL on the line".  May God Bless America!

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A Yearly Prayer

The week of Christmas 2015 is here.

What are your goals for this time of year?  Mine are simple.  I want to clear up any unfinished tasks that I can and then just shut down until after Christmas.  I want to enjoy the time with my family and more importantly I want them to enjoy their time with me.

It is infinitely more important that the children, at all levels, see me as a wonderful role model and allow some of my values transfer to them albeit sub-conscientiously.  As I get older it has become more important than ever to put forth a genuine effort to show the positive qualities to my grand children.  After all I am their only grand father and if I don't no one will.

I hope you will join me in this goal.  Be the best you can be and show your positive self to those you love.  Reach out to the young ones and realize that they will be young for a very short while.  It is at this precious time that you can touch them and have a chance to mold them to be their absolute best at all things throughout their life.  They will remember your kindness and soft touch.  Please be at your best and calmest - Enjoy your family.

So if I come to mind during your quiet times please utter a small prayer for a grand father that wants to be at his absolute best at this time of year and always when enjoying his grand children.  It is the last chance for him to really make contact with another life that could go on for generations.  Thanks!

 

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December 7th - Pearl Harbor Day

Today is December 7th - a day we should all remember.

It is the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese that sealed our involvement in WWII.  It took us awhile to get back in gear after the attack but once we did enter the war we didn't hold back or worry about what others might think.  In fact we made sure others were convinced that we were the best and the worst in the art of waging war on our enemies.  They were either with us or against us and there was no middle ground.

During the war we lost over 400,000 lives (almost 10 times that of VietNam) of our most courageous men and women in a struggle that would last 5 years.  We as a nation were united in the cause of 'Winning' the war.  It brought us together - all of us in a common cause to 'Win' the war.  We shared a national will and spirit that was awe inspiring and led us to one of our brightest victories. A nation united can not be defeated.

So as we observe this December 7th I ask - Are we united in a common cause or divided into many groups each with its own purpose and cause.  Do our differences divide us or can we overcome them to unite as 'One Nation' and strive together to be great again.  I sincerely hope that we haven't let our differences divide us because a nation divided can not stand.

To be really united requires that our leaders stop the stupid bickering and work for the betterment of 'ALL' the people - not just their constituents.  Quite a few have lost site of America and have given their efforts and concentration over to maintaining power regardless of the damage it does to our nation as a whole.  These kind of shortsightedness is not limited to politicians.  It affects just about every organization that 'begs' for Federal funding to sustain there purpose.

Here is a bit of 'Common Sense' - We hear a lot of talk about immigrants these days.  I say we should concentrate on taking care of the homeless here before we give benefits to immigrants.  Then once we solve the homeless problem, we can turn to helping immigrants.  This makes sense to me.

I better stop before I get myself in trouble - you never know who is out there and how they may react to these 'Inflammatory Remarks'.  Pray for America.

Please visit my site @ http://www.jdevtech.com