July 4th Watermelons, Nothing About Buses

[tdelorme]

A week ago today, my 13 year old grandson ask if I had some work for him to do to earn some cash. He is to old for a "make work" task and I told him the only thing I could think of was for him to sell a load of watermelons. He was all for it, so we loaded up and drove down to Grapeland, TX. to the Pennington Farms Watermelon Shead. The Pennington's have been growing melons for 80 years and there are none better. We pulled up on the scale, got a light weight and pulled into the loading area. He thought he could sell 200 melons in a week, but they were so large, I had them stop at 150. Monday morning, I dropped him and the trailer load of melons off at the local feed store in Diana, TX. He sold out by Tuesday afternoon and we went down early Wed. morning to get him another load. 170 melons this time.
You have never seen a kid work any harder and have more fun doing it. He has stories that will be with him forever and learned a lot about how hard work pays off. The second load was gone by Friday afternoon. This is the same little guy who was able to crawl into the front of our bus over the top of the Cruiseairs to replace the step slide air cylinder for me last year. He's my buddy and I'm real proud of him.
Monday morning:
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i174/tdelorme1/jm1.jpg

Friday afternoon:
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i174/tdelorme1/JohnsMelons008.jpg

[Joe Cannarozzi]

You have created a monster. Great job Ted.

[Sid Tuls]

You have every right to be PROUD. This our up coming generation !!!!!!!! Who knows He might run for President of The United States!!!!! @ least he knows how to make money. Happy 4th of July everyone and remember all those who are defending our country.

[MangoMike]

Mel Torme

Positions available.

Send him to Mango Mike's.

Nothing better than having your kids be producers and not consumers.

[GDeen]

Ted - great story. What a good looking young man.

[dale farley]

Ted, Looks like you got a great helper there. Maybe you should let him open a portable fruit stand.

[rickdesilva]

Can he sell cars and would he relocate to NJ?

[Jon Wehrenberg]

If you bring him to OKC he will make a fortune cleaning buses. If the converters are smart they will start working on him to buy a bus because at the rate he is going he will be able to afford one. Good job.

[MangoMike]

Big time fireworks for the 4th in Bethany Beach, DE. Shot right from the beach, about 4 blocks down from the restaurant.

Pixs from the roof of Mango Mike's.

5017

5015

5016
Mango's staff.

5018
Two of the Mangoettes - Chelsea and Danielle

[rfoster]

You have every right to be proud.

If he likes selling watermelons, think what he could do with cars. I need a good man in East Tn.

We need more young men like him - keep on doing whatever you have been doing to keep that spirit in him.:cool:

[gmcbuffalo]

NIce looking Excursion in that first photo.
GregM

[Joe Cannarozzi]

I thought the upgrade to the rainbow umbrella was a good move.

I wish I had a rich uncle like you Ted:o:D

[jello_jeep]

Good job, I was becoming concerned that capitalism had died early last January.

And watermelons at that. Something poetic there... :p

[hobobimmer]

Your story gives me goose bumps. Great. I'll share with Jay as soon as he awakens. Thanks for posting.

Debbie Faires

[michaeldterry]

Good job, I was becoming concerned that capitalism had died early last January.

And watermelons at that. Something poetic there... :p

jello - how true! I'm just glad that you said it! Down here in the Atlanta area, I seem to be surrounded by people who have no appreciation for "poetry" (and way too much confidence in our current "leaders"). :eek:

And how does Mango Mike get away with hiring such a comely staff? Mrs. Mango must have him on a very loose leash! :D

[michaeldterry]

Speaking of the 4th of July - Vita, the buspuppies and I spent the weekend in Gulf Shores (actually Foley), AL at Bella Terra RV Resort. Bella Terra had a nice holiday package that included 3 nights, tickets to the July 4th concert and fireworks show at the Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach (5 miles away) featuring Little Big Town (incredibly good!) and Montgomery Gentry, and even a complimentary meal voucher to Rum Runners, a nice local restaurant. The concert was great; the fireworks show was way over the top (one of the best and longest I've ever seen); the staff at Bella Terra were very attentive and friendly and the amenities were outstanding (especially the pool and clubhouse complex). We (as always) met some really nice, interesting fellow RV'ers and talked buses (no POG'ers unfortunately and only two other Prevosts at the resort that I saw) and the buspuppies even made new friends!

In addition to all listed above, the Bella Terra staff coordinated several activities all weekend, including cocktail parties, games, a wonderful cookout at the pool for lunch Saturday featuring hamburgers, hotdogs, several side dishes (many contributed by guests), and all the cold beer and soft drinks you wanted!

We had a great, relaxing time - with nary a single sales pitch from Bella Terra - and we will go back! We also went by Buena Vista on the Beach (luxury RV Resort) across the highway from the beach in Orange Beach and toured the model units with one of the owner/developers, Gary. Gary is a really nice guy - trying hard to sell, but not too intrusive. The resort is one where you buy a lot and select one of 3 or 4 models of coach houses to be built on it with various options, etc. The reason we went by is because we really like the concept of an RV community with a coach house as our "home base" after we get the last of the kids out of our house (our two 16 year olds are the last of the "brood") in the next few years. 8,000 square feet for two people is crazy and I spend the vast majority of my time in 2-3 rooms on the main level anyway! However, Buena Vista on the Beach wasn't really our cup of tea because 1 - we're not really beach people, and 2 - the lots and coach houses are way over priced (in our humble opinions). They want almost $500,000 for a 3,500 sq. ft. RV lot with a coach house that has a small kitchen, small sitting/dining/whatever room, a small loft "bedroom" (up a tight spiral staircase that I propbably can't even negotiate), and a bathroom. Oh yeah - there is the option for a screened in porch and a large "closet" for washer/dryer and golf cart storage. When it's fully built out, it will no doubt be very nice, but for our purposes - too rich for our blood!

I'll try to post a few pictures of our Bella Terra weekend later (after I put them on Flickr). We'll see if I can get it right (I've had "hit & miss" results with picture posting on POG!).

[MangoMike]

jello - how true! I'm just glad that you:

And how does Mango Mike get away with hiring such a comely staff? Mrs. Mango must have him on a very loose leash! :D

Two of those staff members are daughters so they keep a real close eye on the mango dad.

Although I don't have the slightest idea how JDUB gets away with hiring this babe.

5023

[tdelorme]

Two of those staff members are daughters so they keep a real close eye on the mango dad.

Although I don't have the slightest idea how JDUB gets away with hiring this babe.

5023


Speaking of melons, right, Mike??

[michaeldterry]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeldterry/3698171637/" title="IMG_0076 by "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2673/3698171637_e0861d2e31.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0076" /></a>

We spent a relaxing July 4th morning at the pool where I interspersed reading in the shade with intermittent dips in the pool while waiting for the grilling to begin

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeldterry/3698172045/" title="IMG_0084 by "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2424/3698172045_4ae388c7db.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0084" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeldterry/3698171917/" title="IMG_0073 by "><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/3698171917_527a309b01.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0073" /></a>

Vita alternated sunbathing with refreshing dips in the water.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeldterry/3698171687/" title="IMG_0078 by "><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3604/3698171687_0b0d4debed.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0078" /></a>

A few more pictures - next post (or you can click on the pics here to go to flickr.com for the whole boring set!)

[michaeldterry]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeldterry/3698172245/" title="IMG_0096 by "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/3698172245_c19f124d22.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0096" /></a>

We enjoyed the concert by Little Big Town and Montgomery Gentry at the Wharf Amphitheater complex!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeldterry/3698984130/" title="IMG_0104 by "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2440/3698984130_a4009dff80.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0104" /></a>

The post concert fireworks display was truly incredible! The pacing was fast, the shells spectacular, and the show was LONG!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeldterry/3698984020/" title="IMG_0109 by "><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3531/3698984020_3d222cd755.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0109" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeldterry/3698172953/" title="IMG_0122 by "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2432/3698172953_f3e8002446.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0122" /></a>