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.

It's Friday Nite.....

....and I can hear the stock car races! I'm glad the weather is nice so I can have all my windows open to hear them. I'd really like to go to the races, but by the time I got there, parked, hauled my walker and oxygen -- the fun is gone! That damn walker and oxygen can take the fun out of a lot of stuff!

Pigged out at Rube's Steak house on Wednesday evening and then at the Junction Thursday evening. Probably won't need to eat for a few days! Good food -- Good friends -- doesn't get much better than that.

Weather has really been quite 'agreeable'! Not too hot, not too wet -- a little too chilly, but Life Is Good!

Chilly, Windy, Brrrr...and It's August in Iowa!

It’s Friday night in Marshalltown, the wind is blowing from the northwest -- the stock car races are going full bore – there is no sense in even trying to sleep until the races are over - but I just love the sound of the races coming in the window. Guess it is a good time to catch up with the news!

Last Saturday I faced a project I just hate to tackle – cleaning out the storage area under the bed! I carry my cell phone in my pocked in case the damn thing slams down on me! Actually I do worry that the cat will crawl up in there and I'll not realize it until I don't see her for awhile and then I'll have to go through the whole mess again!

I guess it wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to try to lift the weight of a queen size plywood platform and queensize mattress while on my knees! But you can't stand up to do it – no room to get any leverage ...you have to kneel at the foot of the bed. A hydraulic lift would be nice -- just not sure how they would work it into the frame. Oh, well – another little problem you have to deal with to live full time in a vehicle labeled RECREATIONAL vehicle!!!

I found the sack of t-shirts and the quilt batting I've been looking for -- amazing how much crap you can put in that area under the bed! Now, if I'd get busy sewing, I'd have my window quilts done! But sewing is something I leave for the chillier days in Rockport. I also found some videos I had recorded from the old VCR days -- thought I had transferred all of them to disk but see that I have a few more to do -- another Rockport project -- setting up the VCR and the VCR to disk recorder thing is more than my electronics brain can handle -- so when I set it up -- it stays up until I'm finished!

AND - I found enough books under there that I will NEVER have to buy another book -- even if I live to be 100. I knew I brought a lot of books from the house that I wanted to read (couldn't pass up a sale at Barnes & Noble so probably had more than the local library!) Most of them are hard covers so I pulled out a bunch of them -- I'll read those first -- just to get rid of the weight. Never again will I buy a hard covered book -- well, maybe one or two now and then! Nothing beats the feel of a good hard-bound book in my hands!

By late Saturday afternoon I was pooped, my knees were sore, my gut ached from stretching over the wooden frame. That job is now done until it is time to get out the Christmas decorations (I think!)

It was a good week – plenty of sunny days to set out at the picnic table with Li’lBit and get some reading done. Made a couple of trips into the mall to walk – problem is I always manage to find something I really didn’t need and really don’t have room for in the RV! Had lunch at the food court – love their Indian Tacos – made with fry bread rather than tortillas.

Stopped in at Radio Shack to get some info on pre-paid Dish satellite TV – but they no longer carry it – will check with the Dish office when I get back to Gatesville. I have access to cable TV when I’m in Rockport – but local channels only in Gatesville and in Iowa. A pre-paid program would be great for me.

Well, it was a good week until I noticed some water under the back of the RV. I have a leak in my kitchen drain line -- water running out the back (underneath the back of the RV). Calling around, I found that no one comes out to do repairs, but did have the opportunity to talk to a service guy over in Colo. He said the leak is most likely between the floor of the RV and the underbelly -- could be the tank or could be the line, he can't tell without taking it in and having them pull the underbelly. He told me if I'm careful about draining from the sink, I could get it back to TX and have the people that know this rig take care of it -- there is nothing under there to rot -- just metal and plastic. So, I'm using a dishpan in the sink and dumping the water out in the bathroom sink or toilet. I guess I'm 'roughing it'! I'm now using paper plates.

Laundry at my favorite laundromat is actually a nice treat for me. OK, so it doesn’t take much to make me happy! I get lots of reading done. I hauled in the comforter and quilt from the bed – planned on putting them away – but no such luck – woke up this AM to 50 degrees, damp, chilly rainy day. It is August in Iowa and I REFUSE to pull out my space heater AGAIN! Supposed to be in the lower 50s tonite – in the 40s predicted for a bit further north east of me. Sure wish I could send some of this chill down to Texas to ease that heat wave they are having.