Wednesday… Disappointed but still hopeful

 Pic of the day:

A small obstacle on the Appalachian Trail created by Beavers.  I still want a Diesel Pusher to drive, but I also want to do this again before I am 90. BEFORE an OLD MAN tries to take over my body.  I was a kid when this was taken, about 66 yrs old.

 

SO for now:

So, we DID NOT get the coach we were looking at.  The deal fell through when the dealer, PPL, found too much wrong with the coach that was listed on consignment.

BUT, as I said in a previous entry, it is good to learn.  I learned a lot by working with a salesman named Brandon. WE enjoyed our interaction with him.  I sorta liked him because of his name, Brandon.  That was the name of our great granddaughter’s dad. Brandon was a good worker and worked for me as a subcontractor for a good while. I could depend on his work as an A/C man.  BUT like many in this country Brandon died by accidental overdose.  Sad that Stella will not get to know her dad as she grows up.

So naturally the name Brandon stuck with us and to make the relationship closer, he was the proud father of a little girl, still a baby.

All that aside, Brandon will continue to look for coaches that fit our guidelines.

In the last 30 years, this couple of gypsies have interacted with many folks in the RV world, some of them dealers and sellers.  As I said, we learned something in this case, and learning is always important. I feel that Brandon (and Conner) plus PPL gave us the truth about the coach and were going to hide nothing. I know salesman have a bad reputation, but I will not put them all in the same category.

Yes, I want to do it again! This is Sherry ahead of me. A shot from what Hikers call ROCKSYLVANIA.  Hikers say boots go to Pennsylvania to die!

All that said, we (I) would like to end our RV life driving a Diesel coach.  That ‘life’ is steadily trying to reach the 90s.

I just read what a hundred year old man said.  His advice is: Don’t let the ‘OLD MAN’ take over your life, ignore him.  Now methinks that is good advice, and I will try to follow it.

Take care my friends and I hope to be telling you soon we have found the ‘ONE’ we want!

Meanwhile, if you are looking for an RV, and in Florida, give Brandon and PPL a shot.

Nite Shipslog

PS.   

I do appreciate you stopping by the Shipslog.

Monday...Sorta in Limbo

 

Before I start; About RV blow outs.  Yes we have had a few blowouts. The funniest one or oddest one was when it blew out, golf-balls flew. The previous owner had used 6 golf balls inside to balance the tire. Yes, I looked it up, and it is NOT unusual. But no, we did not put golf balls back inside the replacement tire. AND  Huh uh, the big coaches are not in danger of rolling with tire problems...

SO for now:

There is something disconcerting about plans being put on hold by something out of your control.

Our new to us coach continues to be brought up to standards, so we are still a little anxious.  Since we just completed a move from house to house and moving was a pretty big job. Now we will complete a move from coach to coach when all is done. Truthfully it will be a BIG job because we have a lot of stuff to move and this move will be done in a half day along with being told how to run the one we are getting.

You would be surprised how different one coach is to another.  The heat/AC is always different.  There will be different procedures for water/ and water pumps. Lights will operate differently and doors are always a trick to get used to; believe it or not. An example this coach we are in has 4 doors in a 5’ sq area, we call it the hall of doors!

Cabinets, Closets and storage will be much differently arranged.  The one that is tough for me and is ‘my job’ is Engine maintenance and procedures plus the leveling-jacks always take some learning and getting used to. The slides, learning the new procedures is always important.

So doing just the ‘walk-thru & instructions takes 3 hours. WE are guessing 4 hours just to move our stuff. Sometimes I forget all we have in the basement. LOL

Of course that is all contingent that the transfer goes normally.  But we chose this, and we are looking forward to the change.

Nite Shipslog

PS.   Remember, moving is always fun.  LOL

Sunday…. Learn as you live

 

BUT for now:

I read that some wise person was recorded as saying:

A MISTAKE is not a REAL MISTAKE if you learn from it.  You should consider it a teaching incident.

I never make mistakes, forget or just do wrong. HA HA! I consider all or that just living and learning. Lately I am LEARNING A LOT. ;-)         :-o

There are times that an education is costly. Tires are very important on an RV.  One rule is never use your tires past 5 yrs old, no matter the tread (VERY FEW RV TIRES ARE WORN OUT!).  That one is very hard for me to follow, and we have had a few ‘blow-outs’.

My first learning experience was when I was having brake work done on our first big coach.  The mechanic said, “Sir, you should check the date on your tires his one is 7 years old. He DID NOT SELL TIRES either.”

I should have listened.  WE had a blowout within 100 miles. OUCH. I was also told I should always buy good name brand tires, they really last longer.

I once ordered a new set of tires on the net. FEDEX delivered them. That was a big load and the tires looked good, and they were half price of ‘Goodyear’.  Big mistake. We lost two of those tires to Blowouts within 500 miles of usage.  That was a very expensive learning experience. OUCH!

The average big coach has 6 some 8 tires. The average ‘good’ tire is now over $700 so you can see that is one big expense in living in one of these things. WE do use a road service called ‘Good Sams’.  They will come out and change the tire, but you must buy the tire.  Very few RV’s carry a spare.  WE just buy the tire, sometimes used, if a good one is available.

But after living nearly 30 years, mostly in an RV, my education has been good, but at times very expensive.  RV’ing is not a cheap lifestyle, but cheaper than buying a $500,000 home you don’t need. LOL Taxes alone will equal any number of tires and expenses of the RV.

358

Nite Shipslog

PS.   Remember,

 

Saturday ...Alcohol I never thought people drank that stuff.

 Picture of the day: 

 

 For today:

I used some alcohol today to clean a sink.  Someone has used Clorox to clean our sink; the sink is a heavy fake marble. Clorox disturbs this type of surface allowing it to stain so I thought I would try alcohol and the latest comet that is gentle to surfaces now..

As soon as I smelled that alcohol my mind went back to when I was 4.  My sister Shirley was about 7. She fell on a concrete porch holding a glass pitcher and left many cuts on her hand. WWII was going on big time and many meds and first aid materials were rationed due to all the battlefield usage. At that time, we lived in the country and Alcohol was the prime infection fighter.

I can still hear her scream as daddy held her and poured alcohol on her hand. It seemed like an hour, but was probably 3 or 4 minutes. I was crying with her. Dad was trying to apologize, “Sorry honey, I must do this.”

I had experienced many small cuts and scrapes I knew it burned but seeing the many cuts hurt me. She and many of us from those times kept scars all our lives due to lack of funds and availability. Many people had cuts that should have been stitched but folks had to roll with the punches dealt with in life.

Strange what a smell does to you. I can still remember the smell of ‘cashews’ when dad took us to Sears and Roebuck. They always had a snack center close to the entry.  And there was that Pop Corn smell when you entered a movie theatre.

What smells kick in memories to you?

 

Nite Shipslog

 

PS:  Sometimes I miss my good seller, it has aged out and not sensitive anymore.  BUT Sherry still smells good!

Friday … More STUFF

 pic of the day:

Grandsons Luke and Matthew with their new baby daughters!

They are proud of those girls. Palmer and Dillon.

 

 For today:

I do enjoy your blog entries so much here in bloggerville. I am always kicked into memories as I read them.  Lately, Myra was especially thought provoking. One of the many things She mentioned; something that catches a driver off-center. That is when someone forgets to or don’t care to, use their turn signals. All of us have been there. It causes confusion most of all but at times causes a wreck.

My mind wandered back to my first driver’s test. In our hometown you could not use turn signals (even if you had them) you had to use arm signals to pass the test.  You also could not use a car with an automatic transmission; we were required to use a stick shift. In the 50’s in our area anyway, automatic transmissions were considered a passing fancy they were too expensive and repairs were thru the roof. LOL

So now I am smiling, it is hard to even find a stick shift now. Life does change at times very subtle  and others so fast it makes my old head swim. Example is the changes of technical things.

 I think I have a problem coming up soon. I keep getting notices that I need to renew my MS365 or something, or I will lose it. I use ‘Word’ to do most of my typing.  What happens if I do not renew this MS365? All my blog entries are typed using it. I think they said $100 or something like that.  I will not pay it and see what happens. I don’t think I will be kicked off the internet, but we will find out.

This MS365 must have come with this new Laptop I purchased last year.  I do not need complicated many faceted APPs if that is what it is.

 

Well no matter, I hope you guys had a great Christmas.  We got to see both our sons and one Grandson, Luke. He brought Jenna and the sweet baby, Palmer (Palmy).  They are such a pleasure.  Grandpa Mark is down here and we we went to his place, he was feeding Palmy. What a great picture. (wish I hd taken one!)

Palmy on her first Christmas.  She just left Florida to head home...

Nite Shipslog

 

Thursday…. CHRISTMAS, THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME

 Today’s picture:

 

BUT for today:

Some preacher or speaker not long ago ‘busted’ my bubble and I did not appreciate it.  He said the angels did not sing when they appeared to the Shepherds! Maybe, but the scripture DOES NOT SAY THEY DIDN’T SING!!

I don’t care; I can STILL HEAR THEM!!  LOL

I smile and don’t want to get in a fuss with my pastor, but I disagree with him lately. He is determined Jesus was born in a stinking dirty stable area. Shucks if my mama would have had to give birth to me in a barn, I bet she and dad would have that place cleaned up for my arrival. I betcha my swaddling clothes would have been clean and that manger would have been dumped and fresh good smelling straw would have been in it.

I can only imagine what would have been done for the Gift of God to this earth.  I have NO DOUBT that even though traveling, Joseph and Mary had much time to discuss and plan, they were not caught unawares. This did not come as a shock, women seem to know when it is TIME, and even new mothers ain’t gonna be caught with no prep. Imma thinking the Father HIMSELF is not gonna let this be caught without normal preparations. ;-)

I was never a farmer, but why I take exception to the smell or stink thing is that my great grandpa’s barn did not stink. OUR black friends had a bard that did not stink, when I was a kid and played in their barn. Of course there was a smell, but I think the smell of fresh hay covered it.

A loving husband would help get things together. This woman knowing the baby inside her is SPECIAL, is gonna do the best for HIM!

I used to wish I had been a shepherd’s boy and in the field with my dad that night. What a wonder to see a heavenly host. I know they would have been joyful enough to sing to us!  LOL so there!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and may the Lord smile upon you.

Nite Shipslog

PS: 

I cannot forget Saint Nick, he was one of the good guys!!!!!!

Wednesday.. The time, When you REALIZE, this life DOES end.

 This is Arlington Cemetery, many of these  buried here only had minutes to realize life ends.

Sherry and I once worked in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. That building overlooks this cemetery. WE had lunch on the grass many times overlooking this scene. I did think of death of course, but mine was in the future, so I did not think of my passing back then.

SO for now:

Procrastination is normal for us humans methinks. Such things as, 'Our car needs washing, I’ll do it tomorrow!'

I need to lose a few pounds, I am going to check into a good diet schedule, next week.

I mentioned here before the time my dad’s eyes were opened by an attorney. I am repeating that: Once my dad went to an attorney in our hometown. He said to the Atty, “I have decided I need to make a will in case I die!”

He said the attorney looked him in the eye, smiling and said, “We need to get this straight Reverand, the statement is NOT in case I die, it is WHEN I DIE!”

So today my point is, as I added numbers to my age every Birthday it was not until I started to see 80s in that number before I faced facts. ‘Hey, over 90% of the people I knew growing up, are DEAD!’ My family that lived to know adulthood, 2 brothers, 2 sisters, mom and dad are GONE! Sherry is the same, family gone!

Sherry just said as she looked at the RV’ers in this large RV Park, “WE used to be in the younger group here, now we are the oldest.”

Believe me, even right now, I feel in my mind I am 17 years old. My only med or supplement is a one a day vitamin. Funny this container says Men’s One-A-day.  Now boys and girls have different one-a-day vitamins, (I just learned that). All this time I thought one-a-day was one-a-day. LOL

Sherry & I see our age group leave us on a regular basis.  Just in the past few weeks Sherry has lost 3 or 4 of her graduating class.

This is not meant to be a negative or SAD post, just factual.  In your life you have aims and goals, plans & hopes, do not put them off. If you really want it done, DO IT!

I have only a couple things left to do. (I’ll get to them later!) Then I will be ready. Not procrastinating of course, LOL

Nite Shipslog

PS.    Hoping your Christmas is BRIGHT! IT IS HERE!

Tuesday Gimme more!

 

 

For today:

This will be short (I think).  We just go a call today saying the coach we were buying needed some work, and the delay might be a week due to the holidays.

Sherry and I had discussed that, this was not the best time to make a big purchase, but we started it so we will roll with the punches.  LOL

If you write a check or make a charity donation in writing, expect to hear back from them and many others, to whom they have shared your information.

Now some of you guys know we do not use a home address for our mail because we are gone too much, so we use a mail service.  When we are close to the server, we pick it up rather than have the send the mail to us. Therefore, we do not get mail daily as we grew up doing.

So today we dropped by our mail service to get the mail. I am not a mean person, we gladly give to church work and other charities.  At times our gifts go directly to individuals who are having a tough time.

Lately we have lost loved ones and their desire was instead of flowers give to a charity. Hospice, Salvation Army, Wounded Warriors, etc,  Well today our mail was loaded with requests from charities; some we have not given to lately along with one or two we have never donated to. Then of course the ones we gave generously to. One sent us a small ‘real’ check. One sent us four nickels.

I don’t like how I feel altogether, but my impression is the letters are saying, “This was good bro but gimme me more!”

 

I am one that  when I feel impressed, led, or guided I give. I understand and appreciate charities; the most are doing a great work. I do check on some before I give and I avoid ones that give their ‘CEO’ or leader more than the intended receivers get.

So today no letters were answered, but I did whisper a thank you for their gift to me.  I will not deposit the $2.50 check. I will save the nickels for the ggrands in my coin collection.

WE are still smiling; hope you all have a great Christmas.

  NiteShipslog

PS:

WE are getting this coach ready to turn in for consignment. I little tired…

Monday…. WE're getting another one! (Most likely this will be the last!)

  Picture of the day:

The above from the early 1900s inspired our lives today.

NOW, for today:

(We have hit a couple bumps in this purchase, but still are expecting it to go thru....)

I hope to drive a coach about two more years; it is not logical to think of driving after my 90th Birthday.  So, unless I start aging backwards, this will be our last coach. I want to travel the last two years in something we will enjoy. SOOOOOOO we are buying this:

 

If all goes well, we will close on the unit next Friday. It will be our BIG after Christmas Present. WE have had 26, 37 and 38 feet units. This one is a ‘little’ over 40 feet. Yep. This one is a BIG’UN that is for sure.  Here are some more shots of the unit.  It is a Holiday Rambler, it is older of course, it is a 2004 unit. 

 WE thought and said, it was not wise to spend a lot$ just for 2 yrs. Son Mark said, "But dad the resale value will drop."  My answer, "I figure that will be my sons' problems." LOL 

Below is the Living room and dining areas

These two are cool, that is a fake fireplace that is electric heat methinks.

The Kitchen  above is missing a cab. door I have made inquiries about that. If the door is not hidden in the coach somewhere I will have one made.  AND that black thang is a BIG residential refrig with and ice maker.  Sherry be happy because she is an ice-a-holic.

WE haven't had a refrig like this even in our homes. Nice!

It does have a king size bed.  I hope we like it we have never wanted one...  Shucks, I guess we will have to buy king size sheets!!

 I will let you know how it drives after Christmas, if I can get it back to the RV park.

I about forgot:

Above my seat, She says she doesn't plan to drive, but this is her seat. below

Nite Shipslog

PS:

YEP,  Sherry and I are Gypsies…  we now have a BIG(er) tent!!!! .........MAYBE!!.......

 I guess we are in our lifestyle…. ;-)  

Sunday…Just STUFF!

 Pic today:

A little decorative over kill

SO for now:

Everyone has limits, but certainly not everyone has the same limits. My Ice cream dish, or bowl has a limit, called Max. Sherry’s? less than half of my serving.

Then there is my $5 USMC tattoo, just one I have never regretted it. I have had friends who got too many 'tats' and had some removed. One was my limit.  In my opinion some folks LIMIT was reached long ago, but not my problem, but I get a little squeamish at facial tattoos. That is way past MY limit. LOL

Again, not my business, but I have never been pierced even for earrings; but I get a little unsettled when served at a fast-food place or restaurant by someone with a ring in their nose, tongue or lips.  Again, that is their choice, but way out of my bearings.

Stretching is a little out of my limits too, I see this:

And get squeamish, reminds me of things I saw in school from way back in the brush in Africa:

In school I remember thinking how do they eat or..... ....  ........ kiss? OUCH!

 

And then My mind asks WHY?

Truck high 

But someone loves it enough to spend hard earned money on it. but then maybe folks asked WHY? I guess in the 50's when I lowered my car in the rear, daddy asked WHY?  LOL

 Anyway, do things today reach limits in your mind?

Oh and finally, I might show our next RV tomorrow...

Nite Shipslog

PS.    AGAIN. Just THANKS for stopping by, I like you!