It's here and I'm moving!

Just to let you know the new RV arrived about 5 PM Tuesday....it was a lump in the throat teary eyed moment for me when I saw the truck turn the corner on the lane in the RV Park! WHEW! It sure looks bigger than the one I have!

I promise I'll do a 'catch up' entry to the blog when this move is over -- weather has not been cooperating -- so the move is taking longer than I thought. I want to get the old RV emptied out and over to the dealer -- right now I'm paying for two RV lots and the insurance has been transferred from the old RV to the new one. Just wanna get the move finished -- will up date the blog when I get settled at the new computer desk in the new RV! YIPPEE!

Raining!

Wonder which will arrive first -- the first winter snow fall or my RV! Oh, well -- hurry up and wait!

No Go on Delivery

Rain, Rain Go Away! Haven't had rain for weeks and guess what arrived this AM -- RAIN! Not only rain -- some thunderstorms.

Twin anchors called -- they will not deliver today -- shooting for tomorrow afternoon -- then Randy will spend some time with me to show me all of the set ups....and he doesn't like to do that in the RAIN! I don't want to stand in the rain and listen to him, either!

So let's plan on Tomorrow afternoon.

Packing......

...the major happenings around here for the next few days will be packing, packing, boxing, boxing, toting, carting, carrying, unpacking, etc, etc, etc!

The new (to me) RV will be delivered here to Shady Oaks sometime late Monday or Tuesday. I hope the weatherman is wrong and we don't get the rain that is predicted...it would be nice to move with some nice dry, cool weather but that may be asking a little too much.

Hopefully this transfer will be done within the week and I can get the old RV over to Twin Anchors RV in Colo by the end of the week or the first part of next week. That will still give me a week or so to settle into the new one before I have to pack up and head south to TX.

Life is Good!

I'm Too Old For This!

Yesterday was a SCREAMING, YELLING, STOMPING MY FEET kinda day --- buying/financing long distance SUCKS! Local lending facilities want a state-issued photo-ID - can't get an Iowa photo ID without relinquishing my TX driver’s license -- NO WAY! That is the dumbest friggin' rule I have ever seen -- they need to get their shit together - lots of people live in two or more places! I know people that have a driver’s license in one state and a photo ID in a state with a secondary address especially when a photo ID is needed for something like a gun permit, etc. I guess Iowa Department of Transportation is 'too proud' to admit that some folks just might want to live some place warmer during the winter. They need to come into the modern world and make provisions for a mobile society.

This photo ID thing all came about when I decided to take the plunge to a new (to me) RV -- had some problems pop up with the RV I have and it was going to be a matter of putting some major money into this one -- or get something new or ‘gently used.’ Seems that most lenders want a state-issued photo-ID to apply for a loan – and they don’t want it from another state – they want proof of a local address – WHEW! Money must be tight! All the lending institutions wanted to do was remain rigid and follow the straight and narrow…..All I wanted to do was Stimulate The Economy!

I was running into too many ignorant bureaucrats – After my first encounter with the “bitch of the week” at the local office, I called DOT to try to get some simple questions answered and a programmed non-thinking voice on the other end of the phone told me I can't live in an RV – I told her I'm here 5-6 months a year, have a fixed address here for receiving mail, and travel the rest of the time -- after she started yelling at me (!!!) she told me I had to pay Iowa taxes and produce proof. I do not want anything to do with Iowa state taxes so maybe I need to go back to TX with what I have a buy down there…..I should have just gone to bed and forgotten he whole mess! I’m just too set in my ways to put up with non-thinking ignorant government employees!

Next option – call my bank -- My bank in TX won't finance long-distance either! I could get a loan if I’d come down there and get it! I'm definitely going to be a bitch until this gets settled.

When I went over to the dealer to discuss these financing ‘stumbling blocks,’ I took my camera to take pics - the camera didn't work -- got home and it worked fine! Now I just wanted to crawl in a hole! I needed to get this done and over with -- I'm too old and senile for confusion!

But, now that I’m thoroughly pissed, I'm determined to go back to TX with THAT RV if I have to whore myself out in some sleazy bar in Des Moines and pay cash for the thing!

My sister even got into the financial circus – she had found a place that would make the loan for 6 years – she came to get me to go fill out the application when Randy, the salesman from Twin Anchor, called.

Randy worked his butt off finding a place to get a loan with an out of state driver’s license and a local address. He called mid-afternoon – Finally Advantage Credit Union in Newton IA felt sorry for me and loaned me the full amount so I didn’t have to wipe out a chunk of savings…or whore myself out at some sleazy bar in Des Moines!

So back over to Twin Anchors in Colo to sign the papers and try again to get some pictures of the RV – got some from the outside but the ones from inside came out bleached out due to the glare from the sun at that time of day. I guess I can wait a few days to get some pics.

Have you ever had a day that just got on your nerves – nothing flowed smoothly – just a pain in the butt kinda day? – Well that was the roller coaster I was on yesterday. It’s really hard work going into debt!

I'm now the proud owner of a payment book and a new home. ....well, the home will be delivered next week and then I'll transfer my stuff out of the 'old' RV and put it in the new one -- 2008 35 ft Heartland Big Country 5th wheel with 3 slide out units! WHEW! Lots of space to clean and clutter!!

Blame it on old age -- senility -- dementia -- whatever you want......as I was signing the papers, I noticed they made a mistake and listed what I had remembered as a 2004 Heartland Big Country as a 2008 Heartland -- NO MISTAKE -- My 2004 Heartland Big country is now at 2008 Heartland Big Country. I had confused a couple of the units I looked at and so now I realize I REALLY got a good deal!!!

Should have a new (to me) RV here to start moving sometime next week....as soon as the insurance comes through, the dealer gets it serviced and ready and there is an opening here in the park.

I just love it -- and it will work so well when I get the sofa out. The whole thing is in tans, brown-tones, earth-tones so it is very conservative and neutral....not like the one I have now.

Oh, and the storage compartment underneath is huge and goes straight thru to the other side and not broken up with drain pipes and conduit! My under-storage in this one is so low, it doesn't take anything much deeper than a tool box.

And I love it that the sewer connection is really easy access -- I won't have to get on my hands and knees to do it -- could probably do it just by bending over. The drain levers and hook ups for water, cable TV, etc are in the little compartment outside at eye-level!! They sure are designing RVs for ol’ fat ladies!

Stumbling Blocks

The more I thought about it -- getting my RV back to TX and putting it in for repair since the kitchen drain system popped a major leak -- fortunately NOT inside the RV but out the back on the ground. After talking to several RV service places, I decided to see if I just couldn't get a new (or new to me) RV while here in Iowa. I'm not getting any younger and applying for a loan on a small state retirement and social security may not have a high percentage of approval!

Monday Bea and I went over to Colo to Twin Anchors RV to look at what they had on the lot -- see what was available, what monies they wanted for what they had -- typical search for a new vehicle!

My sister told me that you usually take the first one you see or the last one -- in this case, I think it will be the first one -- have found myself comparing anything else I see to that first 2004 Heartland Big Country 5th wheel.

I need to get an Iowa Photo-ID since I have to have one to apply for a loan in Iowa! Isn't that amazing! AND the RV will have to be licensed in Iowa. So tomorrow, after I go check out the RV for the second time to see if I really do like it -- and see where everything, I'll find the place to get the photo-ID...I've read the requirements on the state website on line -- not sure if I will be expected to relinquish my Texas Driver's License -- but I'm not applying for a driver's license.

Randy, from sales came by today and looked at my RV regarding trade-in value -- didn't give me any dollar amount for mine for a trade in - has to go back and "talk to Don" -- there is always a "DON" somewhere when you are buying vehicles. He said their reference books only go back to 1997 and mine is a '94. But geez, if I can get anything out of this -- I only paid $9,000 for it nearly 4 years ago. I think that would be just fine. I'd put some from savings with it and call it a deal!

I hope he gets together with "DON" and they sharpen their pencils and get out a big eraser and give me some facts. I'm going out tomorrow to set in the one I like and check it out! We arrived late on Monday and I didn't have time to go over everthing....I was just looking to see what the had and get some cost ideas. Now I need to check out everything (and I'll take a camera!)...where are the hook ups, ease of access, stuff like that. What's hiding in closets and cupboards to take up storage space (like hot water heaters, etc) -- I have the hot water heater under my kitchen sink in this RV and it takes up a big chuck of cupboard space. Who knows - it might not look as good the second time!

Also - he said that they could bring the RV out here so I could take my time moving once I decided if I wanted it and we got together on a deal. That would be nice -- I could have Bea gather up some of her friends and their kids and come help me in the evenings. It would also give me time to get used to the new one and where stuff is. And give me a week or so to 'shake down' the RV for problems.

I've told my sister to save boxes! They get their paper supply in those nice cardboard boxes with lids -- good size for storage and moving. I'll just live out of boxes 'til I get settled.

Bea wants to go to some of the big RV places in DesMoines - you know - acres of RVs.....I'm not sure I want to buy from a big dealer like that - I think, being alone, I'll get better response from this small local dealer. And, to me, knowing that when I come up here in the spring, I can get them to service it -- and there is an RV park right there -- I just think I'd rather stay with the little local guy even if it costs me a little more. We looked at a couple new ones -- but they were considerably more than the others we saw.

I think, if I got something like this, I would give them back the sofa (they can put it in my old RV since I got rid of that one!) -- I'd move the two recliners to the sofa space and put MY recliner and the bird cage at the back window. That would give me 3 recliners and that is plenty for what little company I have. Plus I'd have the chairs at the dining table and the one at the computer desk. WHEW! A computer desk and an entertainment center! what will I do with all that space - clutter it up like I do everything else!!

Amazing how the mind wanders around all things RV when in the market for something new! - OK - I've rambled enough!!

I Had a Really Good Time!

Saturday morning, my sister picked me up and we back to Maquoketa IA (our home town) for my high-school class get-together -- not really a class reunion - just a birthday dinner for ourselves celebrating our 65th Medicare birthday! Any excuse for a get-together! Bea wanted to spend some time with a couple of friends that have been having some horrible medical experiences lately. I know it had to be a real emotional roller-coaster for her, seeing friends from her childhood going thru these ordeals.

I really had a nice time. I’m not sure exactly how many showed up but I thought it was a good turnout considering it wasn't a REAL class reunion...it was just the dinner, no other planned events, so it could have been quite costly for anyone needing to travel any great distance. The dinner was at the Eagles Club in town – with the ladies of the Eagles providing a nice buffet of chicken and/or beef, peas, corn, potatoes, gravy, rolls and 2 salads….and a yummy chocolate birthday cake!

The building juggled more than a few memories for me since it started out as Jean's Drive-In many years ago and I was a car-hop there. Then it became a restaurant, then a supper club, now the Eagles Club.

There were a few from the other classes just before or just after us that
came by to visit. It was really nice catching up with friends. I guess it was about 11 PM when I called it quits for the evening and called Bea to come pick me up.

Before we left town on Sunday morning, we met with a friend of mine from school and a friend of Bea's from school for breakfast buffet at the pancake place. Also got to see a few more‘school chums’from my youth.

Returned home to the RV about 2:30PM Sunday --- with a big welcome from Li’lBit, Holly and Tinga!

2012 will be our 50th Class Reunion -- hope we are all around to make that one!

Life is Good!

Eye clinic on Monday was a real ‘upper’ for me – no, there is no major change for the better – but there is definitely NO major change in the other direction, either. The doc took some photos of my eye and you can see that the opaque area covering the eye is thinning out and it seems to be ‘shrinking’ in from the far right corner of the eye. However, the scar tissue is still there. But the best part of the exam was the fact that when fingers were held up in front of my eye, I could count the fingers! Now before we all get really excited about this – the fingers had to be right up nearly IN my eye – but what an improvement that is for me – and oh, how wonderful it makes me feel!

Because of the thinning of the opacity, the light entering my eye does not fracture or flash and scatter like it did. I can actually go out into sunlight without my sunglasses for short periods of time. Life is good!

In celebration of the ‘good news,’ my sister treated me to a terrific meal at JAX Restaurant here in Marshalltown.

The weather has been perfect for the past week. Cool enough for good sleeping at nite and warm enough to set out at the picnic table with Li’lBit and a good book during the day.

Because we are retired (!!), Li’l Bit and I will occasionally take a nap about 2:30 in the afternoon – I often find myself staying up and reading late at nite – so I need my nap! Today, Li’lBit and I were at the picnic table and about 2:30 she walked over to the RV and climbed up on the steps, staring at me. Then, when I opened the door, she ran up to the bed --didn’t I know it was time for our nap! I can’t believe she has made this a routine! Well, you have to do what your dog tells you – so nap time it is!

Heading to Maquoketa (my home town) Saturday AM– my high school graduating class is having a birthday party/dinner for ourselves – we all have or will turn 65 this year – So Happy Medicare Birthday to Us! Bea is going with me – it will just be a Saturday in and Sunday out trip – but will give her a chance to catch up with some of her friends.

I do have to admit, I’m really getting a good case of Hitch Itch and anxious to get back on the road. One more medical appointment September 30 and then will pick a day and hitch up and head out.

Just Takin' It Easy

Sometimes, on a long holiday weekend, you just have to take it easy outside in the lawn chair!

This is a follow-up to the blog entry Attitude – You Gotta Have Heart! Saturday, August 16, 2008

Jun 11, 2008 ... Little Sioux Scout Ranch in western Iowa found itself in a direct path of an EF-3 tornado with 143 mph winds barreling down for a direct hit. Four teenagers were killed; 48 people were injured. The 93 Scouts at the camp were attending a weeklong leadership training. They had taken part in a mock emergency drill with 25 staff members just a day before the twister hit. Folks came from miles around to assist the scouts in cleaning up and rebuilding their camp. The new buildings will withstand winds up to 250 mph.

The giving continues.

Nearly 20 members of Groesbeck Rebuild America came to participate in the 9/11 anniversary rebuild project. Groesbeck is a central Texas community, aproximately 4100 folks, in Limestone County.

They will be joined by New York City Firefighters in building a new Chapel at the camp on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Life is good with people like this in your life.