Saturday night's alright for......grilling

It was the smell that got me.....first BoBo, my little pup, started going to the door to the deck, his nose sniffing the air. Then when I took him out for a walk I noticed it....hard not to, I think the humidity made it cling to the air.

I was suddenly flooded with memories of days past, warm summer nights, family & friends, picnics, fireworks and July 4th, children's laughter, fireflies, good music.....amazing what the smell of burgers on a neighbor's grill can bring to mind.

A grill is something that has been lurking at the back of my mind. I haven't owned one in several years, Mike did all the grilling and when he could no longer eat regular food, owning a grill just didn't seem too important. Add to that the fact that I almost never used a grill myself, that was always sort of the man's domain.

While I love the smell and the taste of grilled foods be it burgers, hot dogs or chicken, I wondered if I would really use one. I read all the forum posts with interest, everyone debating the best grill, the best size, the best cooking method (gas or charcoal). For small the winner was the throw-away versions sold at Wal-Mart. For taste the winners tended to be way too large for my needs (and storage space).

I have pretty much resigned myself to using my small George Foreman grill outside, even though the taste wouldn't be the same. But that doesn't stop me from reading the posts about new grill discoveries. Recently I read about a smallish (24"x15"x6" and 20 or so pounds) propane grill. It's the Coleman InstaStart PerfectFlow Portable Grill. Looks like it would be perfect for folks with minimal storage space, still a bit too large for me though.

Another favorite for those with space to spare is the Coleman Road Trip Grill. It has its own stand so it's great for those times when there is no picnic or other table available. You can even order wheeled carry case for it....high tech! ;)

I did come across what looks like it would have been perfect....shame that they appear to have gone out of business (or aren't producing it anymore). Neat little grill, EZ-Grill, that folds flat for storage, yes, it's charcoal but how can you beat under four pounds and folds flat? LOL!
EDIT: A friend sent me a couple of links to other portable grills so I wanted to add them here. Grilliput Portable Grill and Grill4All

So it's back to the George Foreman and maybe finding some nice campground neighbors that notice when I'm drooling......

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

The Vagaries of Cars

I was sitting in my little corner of the local McD's enjoying my morning coffee and yogurt when I noticed a young couple pull in with an older car. It had "stuff" loaded on the top and covered with a blue tarp. While the lady came inside, the gentleman opened the hood and peered intently at the engine. Wiping his hands as she came out and handed him a drink, they talked for a minute.

I didn't see the resolution but when I looked back they had left. It got me to thinking about some of the cars I have had in the past. At one time I referred to as the lady with the disposable cars since it seemed as though most didn't last more than a year in our household.

There are a few standouts though, those cars whose personality, quirks and/or idiosyncrasies will forever have a special spot in my heart and memories.

The most memorable with a little Kharman Ghia that I bought, I don't remember what year it was but it was OLD and TIRED but it had personality. I mean what other car would honk its horn every time you made a right hand turn? LOL! My husband of the time had no sense of humor though, he eventually disconnected the horn (to my dismay). But the car got back at him eventually. We had gone fishing and on a washboardy dirt road, it's revenge was felt. A large bump and he was suddenly sitting about a foot lower in the car. We got out to take a look...the seat had actually fallen through the rusty floorboard and was sitting on the frame of the car. I laughed but he didn't think it was so funny. Ahhhhh...revenge.

Another car I remember well is my little Ford Falcon convertible...who can resist a car who has to get gas at every fourth oil stop!

Then there was "George", an old GMC pick-up. He managed to survive a can of roofing tar tossed at him, an attack with a tire iron (hey, anyone can get a flat tire, it wasn't his fault), and a cracked engine block repaired with some type of sealer that we were told was used by the egg industry to help protect them during shipment. I have no ides, all I know is that it worked! George was like a family member and when it came time to find him a new home, my brother took him in for many more miles.

My first ever new car was a Volkswagen Beetle, sort of a hunter green and named most appropriately Schultzie. He might have blustered and huffed at times but he was like a favorite old uncle who looked and sounded stern but slipped you candy when your parents weren't looking.

My favorite of all was a 1959 Austin Healey 3000 [6] that I got for $500. It was about 13 years old and a bit worse for the wear. The wheels were spoked and often I'd go out and find another spoke broken. The side curtains (window) were plastic (vinyl, fiberglass or something but NOT glass). When in rained I had to roll up my pant legs to keep them dry from the water coming up through the floorboards and put a towel over my lap to protect them from the water dripping down from between the convertible top and the windshield. This was also the car that gave me the unique experiences of dealing with no brakes (thank goodness for the emergency brake between the seats), a tire blow-out at 50 mph and losing first and third gears. But that car had heart and I will never forget it!

So, got any special car memories of your own?

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Plaxo & Frappr Map [updated 9/24]

I should be packing, sorting, tossing STUFF but got messing around on the computer (it's over 90 outside) and decided to do some general email address clean-up. I use Mozilla Thunderbird for my email client (if you are still using Outlook Express with all it's security holes, you might want to give Thunderbird a try...it's free, too).

Anyway, I found a way to synchronize my Plaxo information and my Thunderbird address book. Neat, I thought. Unfortunately a couple of things happened....Plaxo ended up with a bunch of email addresses that got automatically added to Thunderbird just by virtue of my sending an outgoing message. (THAT option is now turned off....) This meant that when I sent my update contact email from Plaxo, it went to a lot of folks that it shouldn't have. Hmmmmm.....

Next mistake, I thought I had found a neat little solution for mapping, a concise way for me to visually see who was in an area that I planned to visit. So the first note went out about Google Maps. Turns out that the owner is the only one who can add to Google Maps (thank you to the first person to notify me about this). So I deleted the map and started playing around with Frappr Maps. I hadn't used them in a LONG time so messed up the first two times I created a map.

I think it's set the way I'd like it now. If you just scroll all the way to the bottom of this page, you will see the map. I have added myself and will change my location as I travel, that way everyone can see where I am (as long as I have Internet access). Anyone who knows me can add themselves to the map by clicking the ADD YOURSELF button. Enter a name I will recognize (I have to approve all new pins so that the map doesn't get spammed with folks I don't know), enter a fake email address if you want (I am the only one who can see it, but I did a fake one since I didn't realize it wouldn't be shown) and chose the appropriate pin (if you have RV space or not or if you are an RVer yourself). NOTE: Several new additions to the map came without a name, even though I approve them they don't show. If you added yourself and don't see your pin within 48 hours, PLEASE add yourself again, being sure to add a name first.

I don't know if this will work but figured it was worth a try. It will only be as good as the information entered. So we shall see....thanks for giving it a whirl!

For those who got the Plaxo note for the first time, you are NOT required to join Plaxo, you just need to enter the information you want me to see (email, phone, address, etc). For those who think they need to download something then I suspect you may have Java turned off...I think Plaxo uses that (or else Flash and you may not have that loaded). Worst case, just email me your information and I will update it. I do really like it because if you DO join, anytime you make changes on your information, I see it automatically (and vice versa). Handy....

Okay, enough techno babble for one day...here's to continued communications!

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

The final decision is made.....

Well it's done....the last major decision is made. I've found the trailer for my motorcycle (used) and will pick it up, with a friend's help, on Tuesday. It's a single bike trailer, enclosed, already set up with a chock and d-rings and it's lightweight.

The trailer is made by Chariot Trailer out of Tampa, FL. The price is right, the options on it are right, the quality is right....I think you get the picture. The model is the Cycle Shuttle 10-6. Here are some photos of it.

Since it is fiberglass and waterproof, I don't want to put any holes in the sides (or top). I wanted to be able to store my motorcycle gear in it since 1) there is no room in the motorhome and 2) I need to keep the weight down in the motorhome. After much discussion with the current owner as well as doing some Google searches, I came up with what I think is a good solution.

I plan on getting a couple of large wheeled duffle bags. The ones I am looking at are 40" x 16" x 17" and hold 2,240 cubic inches (200.5 liters). While they weigh over 11 pounds, that won't make a difference since they are on wheels. They are still lighter than some type of trunk, tote or toolbox.

They will sit flat on either side of the motorcycle, strapped to the d-rings to secure them. When I need to move them, I just wheel them out of the way (or out of the trailer). Inexpensive and practical solution!

So now I can concentrate on putting "keeper" stuff in totes that the kids will pick up this weekend (along with my living and bedroom furniture). They are in for a shock....right now the count is 13 totes with at least 2-3 more before they get here. Six of those are the LARGE size. I begin to see why some folks have sheds or small storage units. LOL!

My time is numbered........

1. Friday (21): haircut, more packing/moving/storing
2. Saturday (22): final tote packing for storage
3. Sunday (23): kids arrive, move furniture/totes while I watch the grandkids, go out to eat & visit a bit
4. Monday (24): more packing/moving/storing
   
5. Tuesday (25): pickup new-to-me motorcycle trailer, learn how to use it (oh my, another adventure)
6. Wednesday (26): final tote packing for storage (any leftovers that I will take to Atlanta with me)
7. Thursday (27-29): pickup rental car, head to Atlanta for 3 days to babysit the grandkids
8. Sunday (30): head home - rest & recuperate
9. Monday (1): return rental car, run any other errands as needed
10. Tuesday (2-7): tackle office (oh my!!)
11. Monday (8-12): clean up all final loose ends, get rid of furniture that's left, donate "stuff", take care of closing stuff as I can, change addresses, forward mail, schedule house cleaning....

See? Busy, busy, busy......LOL!

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Ten Ways You Know You're Ready.....

How you know you're ready to move into your RV full-time...

1. You have to keep taking clothes out of the RV to the house each day.
2. You wish you had DirecTV in the RV.
3. You can't remember which cabinet has what...and realize you don't care
4. You spend more time in the RV than the house.
5. You want to spend your nights in the RV even though the bed is smaller, the mattress is older and you hit the walls when you turn over.
6. You clean the floors in the RV daily....you figure you'll clean the house floors when it's empty.
7. You run the A/C in the RV and not in the house.
8. You start to realize how few dishes you really need daily.
9. You make your daily coffee in the RV...and sit there to enjoy it.
10. You are marking the days off on the calendar, counting down the days till you FULL-TIME!
    

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Home in name only.....

Well, I'm back home....at the house, that is. I won't bore everyone with the details but had some electrical issues with the RV, go them resolved and still seem to have one more left. At least I know a lot more now than I did when I left.

The Lily Pad is now plugged into the house and I have spent the last several hours starting to sort through all the new items I bought, finding a home for them, reorganizing my totes & storage, and re-evaluating my clothing choices (dark is good...think muddy puppy paws ).

Still no final word on the house closing, we're hoping for the first or second Friday in October but it's all predicated upon the third buyer down the chain (and could be further down but that's all I am aware of). Keeping my fingers crossed!

BoBo did really well last week. As I said, he loved all the other animals and got to play quite a bit with several other little dogs (and us owners got to play untangle the leashes for our exercise). Speaking of exercise...I did so much walking last week that even with a couple of food splurges I lost 2.5#. Wow! Now to keep the momentum up....maybe won't be walking quite as much but I did notice that I wasn't as short of breath when walking BoBo up the hill by the house.

I am still trying to find the best, for me, motorcycle trailer. There are so many options and so little time. I like the idea of the swivel trailers that track with the tow vehicle....makes backing up easy. I like the idea of all the storage offered by enclosed trailers. I like the lighter weight of the all aluminum trailers. I like the trailers that are low to the ground without the steep ramp angle. I like.....well, you get the idea.

As much as I would love to go the carrier/lift route, my RV won't handle that. One thing I did at the Escapade was get my motorhome weighed by the RVSEF folks. They weigh each axle individually as well as each side. I was well under my overall weight limit but my rear axle was within a couple of hundred pounds. That said, I did have a full gas tank and half full grey & black water tanks (had no time to dump beforehand even though they recommended that). My front axle had lots of room to spare so I will be seeing what I can move forward in the storage bays. My rear was well balanced side to side with the front a little light on the driver side (I have three cabinets still empty on that side ). I will get it weighed again sometime after I start full-timing.

So, I will continue plodding along....sorting, tossing, packing, selling, donating as much as possible in preparation for that final trip out of the driveway. The office is the worst part and I am leaving that till last...yeah, I know, I'm the queen of procrastinators! LOL!

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Escapade Tuesday Check-In

Made it to Goshen, IN with one issue...my coach batteries died overnight when I went to leave the Flying J. After finally getting my step to come back in...after it VERY slowly went out and then came halfway in, I got back on the road. Made the check-in deadline with room to spare, got parked and set up and plugged into shore power so my frig would get working again (not enough power to fire the propane for the frig).

At that point all I wanted to do was rest....LOL! But had to do the rest of the setup, met two solo guys who THOUGHT they were going to sit and relax and got them to help me with water filter hookup. Nice guys....have met a lot more of the SOLOs folks and am definitely having a good time as well as learning a lot.

I did get the solar power battery guy to check my batteries and they aren't charging. We're not sure why so have an appointment on Friday with the loacl RV Tech (they have a vendor booth and have been booking appointments...they were booked until Friday when I talked to them Monday early afternoon. Wow!!!

Anyway, wanted to let everyone know all is well and we're having fun (and BoBo loves all the new dogs he's meeting).

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Flying J's

Just a quick update....I made it almost to Indianapolis today...about 340 miles (according to Streets & Trips). I didn't get on the road until 11am but at least I didn't hit rain until after 4pm. I stopped to grab a bite to eat, stopped three times to re-adjust the mirrors (gotta love the rough highways I was on), and the last stop was a Flying J for gas. It was pouring, I needed to move things around a bit inside the RV - including making up the bed. Got a little more settled, walked BoBo, grabbed some coffee & apple pie ala mode and paid for a one day Flying J Wi-Fi pass so I could check in.

Generator is running fine but for some reason I don't get anything from the coach batteries even though they show as charged. And that seems to not allow the refrigerator to switch to propane. Will talk to some folks at the Escapade tomorrow to find out what I'm doing wrong (I'm sure it's me....LOL!). Anyway, the frig will do fine overnight so will turn off the generator when I head to bed (which will be very soon).

I have less than 200 miles to make it to Goshen and the Escapade. Can you say EXCITED!!!!

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

On the road again.....

Well, I am two days later getting onto the road than I originally planned. I am about 90% loaded (few minor totes & the refrig left to do) although not organized. I may sleep on the sofa tonight...LOL! I hope to make it just south of Indianapolis today which will allow me to reach Goshen tomorrow during regular check-in/parking time.

I am amazed by how much is still in the house....my daughter is going to kill me when she sees all the totes and there will be at least 4-5 more when I get home. Heck, I haven't touched the office yet!

High chance of rain as I head northerly, hoping that doesn't slow me too much. I probably won't have access tonight but hopefully will tomorrow (even if borrowed access, carrying my laptop). I will check in when I can, otherwise I won't be home before the 18th.

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Do you know what day it is?

What a week it's been....I can't believe it's Friday, let's hope I survive the next two days. As mentioned earlier, the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light came on during my trip back from FL. I had no idea where to take it after discovering that Camping World doesn't do engine work and my local Ford dealers don't have service areas large enough to accommodate an RV, even one as small as mine. Fortunately a retired truck driving friend of mine called with a local truck repair shop.

So I called and explained my situation and arranged to take it there on Wednesday. They reset the sensor and all appears okay. Keeping my fingers crossed!

In the meantime I have run myself to a frazzle working on packing up my storage stuff so that my youngest daughter and her hubby can pick it up when then arrive to get my living & master bedroom furniture. Wouldn't be so much of an issues except that I won't be here! LOL!! I got four jumbo totes and three large totes packed for storage as well as three medium totes with stuff to give my daughter & her family.

After picking up the RV late this afternoon, I came back and started filling the outside storage bays. I am at about 80-85% done. I'll finish in the morning and then concentrate on moving stuff inside. My hope is to be on the road by 1 pm, heading for Goshen IN and the Fall Escapade. Here's hoping!

Right now I am exhausted, my arthritis is killing me (back, knees, ankles, hands) from all the standing while my thighs are incredibly sore from so much walking (that's a good thing but won't feel like it until they stop hurting). The exercise is good, the pain...not so much. LOL!

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Home for now...

I slept well last night, my final night in the Chattanooga Camping World campground. After walking BoBo, I headed up to the store to talk to the service folks about getting some work done. Long story short, they were booked until next week which wasn't going to work for me. In addition, they don't do any engine work, I would have to see a Ford dealer. Okay, no problem...I'll get the work done in Elkhart, IN while I'm there and I proceeded to get the phone number for my local Ford dealer.

Oh-oh, they don't work on motorhomes of any size. Their bays just aren't large enough. So I proceeded to call an retired trucker friend of mine. He told me he ran into that as well with a friend's Class C. (He called me later with the name of someone close to home that might be able to take a look at it for me. I'll call them tomorrow.)

The ride home was uneventful. The motorhome did very well through the mountains outside Chattanooga....thanks to the Banks system on the Triton V-10 engine. Not a blip.... As I rolled into Sparta I pulled into our local Wal-Mart to do some shopping. I needed a few groceries and had a few things I wanted to pick up (more throw rugs, floor mats for the front of the truck, a sunshade for the windshield, etc). Found an out of the way parking spot, fired up the generator and headed off shopping. Found everything I needed and then some (the usual story ).

From there I headed home, taking it slow on the tight curves that lead to my house. Before I left I asked my neighbor if he would trim the branches hanging over my driveway. He had done so, thank goodness, and I had no problem pulling up the drive to my garage. I found a spot that didn't require leveling (still having issues figuring out the "combination" to getting that perfected), got out and stood back in awe. This was my new home now sitting in the driveway of my soon to be old home.

Let the adventure begin!

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Chattanooga, Camping World - Day Two

Another campground night survived....they do have cable TV but I haven't bothered to try to find the cable cord I THINK is in one of the bays. I get several channels off the antenna and that has been fine.

The Comfort Inn behind the campground has great wireless but requires you to log in so still no Internet access. I know everyone is probably wondering how I am doing....LOL!!

Had some good news last evening....I may have a contract on my house! My UPS man and his wife have wanted to buy my house since last year when it was first on the market but they needed to sell their house first. They found a buyer for their house but the buyer needed to sell theirs. Well the chain seems to have been completed....they have a buyer and should be signing the contract Tuesday or Wednesday. Once that is done, then my buyer will write up our contract. From there it will be a race to see how we can coordinate the closing dates and possession. I think I will have a busy couple of weeks ahead of me!

Back to the campground....more firsts today. I decided to try out the awnings. The window awning over the sofa was easy....you pull it down and hook the strap. No problems. It was the main awning that I was worried about...remember I mentioned all those steps. I should have gotten the book out first...I ended up getting it started but did one thing way out of sequence and had to get two folks walking by later to help me out. Phew! At least I didn't damage it!

I headed back up to Camping World to see about scheduling a service appointment for new shocks. Strike one....they are booked until late Wednesday. Strike two....they don't have my shocks in stock. Strike three....the earliest they could get them in would be Thursday's delivery. Before I develop an alternate plan I will talk to the Service Manager in the morning and may opt to set an appointment for Thursday afternoon and then head directly to Goshen, IN from there. That gives me two days to load up the RV....oh my! Not going to be spending much time online for a while. LOL!

Then factor in the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light and finding out I have to see the Ford Dealer for that....let's hope it's something simple like an oil change reminder light that needs to be reset.

I forgot to mention what a beautiful sight I saw this morning as I took BoBo out for his first walk. The sun was just over the horizon and as we walked towards the lake I heard a raucous cry. In swooped a gorgeous and huge blue heron (at least that is what I think it was). Before we got to the other end of the small lake, another raucous cry heralded a second heron who settled in the trees. Now THIS is what camping is all about....

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

I Survived.....

Just a little recap of all the occurred today. I unhooked, trying to remember all the steps and left the campground before the other three motorhomes were even stirring...and it was almost 9 am. What a life!

Cloudy with rain in the forecast, I got back onto I-75 and headed north. Traffic was light which helped in the various construction zones. The morning got a little more interesting when my SERVICE ENGINE SOON light came on. Since I had to get gas I got off at the next Flying J to take a phone break, get something to eat and get gas. Called my son and talked to him about the engine. He felt the same was as I did, since it said "SOON" and not "NOW", and all my gauges were reading fine, the engine and transmission were running fine, no strange sounds were heard, it should be okay to continue my trek homeward just keeping an eye on things.

So after successfully getting gas again (yes, this is a big deal for me ), I got back on the road. The rain moved in and out all day. One thing I bought at Flying J was some RainX wipes for the outside mirrors. Once they were water spotted, it was really hard to see what was close to me. Needless to say, it never rained hard again the rest of the day.

I pulled over at a couple of rest stops along the way both to stretch and take BoBo for his potty break. At the second one it was getting hot enough to start the air conditioning so I decided to fire up the generator. Generator started without a hitch....but nothing in the RV was working. No lights, no A/C, nothing. Now I was stymied....I flipped to battery kill switch (for the coach batteries)....OOPS! That killed the generator...okay, store that in the memory bank.

Turned them back on and headed to the rest rooms...on the way back it suddenly hit me. I had never plugged the power cord into the inside plug, thus I had an open power circuit. Not going to work...unlocked the bay, plugged in the cord, refired the generator and voila! Power....it felt good to solve one problem myself.

Before I knew it I was coming into Atlanta and the traffic, while better than during the week and much better than if a game had been going on, was fairly heavy. I found my mantra was "Let them flow around me...", keeping my eyes on the road ahead and concentrating on maintaining my lane. I got too nervous trying to watch all three mirrors, the traffic ahead and be sure I was in the right lane to avoid an accidental exit or routing onto the wrong highway. Of course when I needed to change lanes I used the mirrors and the backup monitor.

The backup monitor has been a life saver. I has two level settings, one higher than the other. I initially moved it to the higher setting that gave me a broader view of the lanes behind me. After dealing with 6-8 lanes of traffic all going in one direction (most doing the speed limit thanks to the higher police presence on a holiday weekend), I experimented a little once I got north of town. I discovered that if I used the lower setting it gave me a quick visual of my lane change zone. If a car was in my view then they were in my blind spot and I couldn't move over. If not, then the side mirrors showed me the rest of the story. Now I have to decide if I want to move the top setting down to this level which will put the lower setting closer to the hitch (where the previous owner had it). Another learning experience....

I arrived at Camping World Chattanooga around 4 pm and they were open till 5 pm. The gave me the code for the campground and I did a little shopping (okay, maybe a bit more than a little ). The first thing I got was a stove top cover to both quiet the stove when traveling as well as expanding the non-existent counter space. I also got a sink cover (there are twin sinks) and that lets me put my coffee maker in the corner, just under the plug. Got jack pads, my extra water hose, a mini-dish drainer (sits right beside the coffee maker just like it was meant for that spot), a neat little expandable broom and dust pan (much needed with hardwood floors and all the sand being tracked in), a little rug for the top of the steps so the old one can be outside under the steps, and a few other little things.

Took the RV around to the campground entrance and wound my way around the sites until I found one open that appeared to be fairly level. Now came another new experience....using the levelers for the first time. First thing, one jack couldn't come down. Using my foot (since I had no tools, no little shovel, etc. with me), I finally managed to scrape it low enough that it could come down. Okay, next step. One jack had several inches between it and the ground so I used two of the 4 jack pads underneath. None of the others had enough clearance (note to self, hit the Dollar Store for 4 of those cheaper cutting boards). Back inside to go to the next step....had the instructions right beside me. Still confusing....but after about 30 minutes total time and many (way too many) trips in and out, I managed to get it leveled side to side. It's still a bit down in the front but the refrigerator is level enough to run well and that's the most important thing. (The new thermometer showed me it was running fine, will check the freezer tomorrow.)

Okay, enough fun for one day....time to walk BoBo and then clean up. Talk about hot & sweaty! Met some of the neighbors, they had two Harleys out there so had to chat. Looked at their trailer and really liked it. It was a Haulmark Low Hauler which made it really nice to pull up into. But the last two feet are totally wasted space since it's sloped down. I've seen open trailers set up the same way and I have to decide if I want to pull two extra feet in length just to lower the ramp. I am seriously considering an enclosed trailer now....good place to store my gear as well as extra clothes, books, etc. since I can get one for two bikes and only store one. Decisions.....

Tomorrow the saga continues....

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

A Day of Firsts

Well, I survived my first night in The Lily Pad....all snug and tucked into a corner of the dealer's lot. Quiet location, for the most part, we settled in and headed to bed at 11 pm. I slept pretty well, did dream about what I wanted to do to settle my stuff in my new home.

About 6 am I awoke to a major storm blowing through....heavy downpours, high winds, thunder and lightning. I considered getting up and bringing down my TV antenna but knew that would awake BoBo and there was no way were were going outside in that downpour. It lasted over an hour but finally pushed through the area, headed on to new territory.

The dealer has no service staff on weekends but two of the sales staff showed a little after 9 am. About 10 am, BoBo and I wandered around the front building to wait for the owner to show. Another customer was there and we chatted for a while. Eventually the owner appeared, having slept in a bit being a weekend. He thought I was pretty much set to go, then he found out we still had some things to cover including dumping the tanks.

My firsts today....

• Backing up my first motorhome
• Driving my first motorhome
• Hooking up power and water
• Starting the generator
• Putting down the awning (that sucker is HUGE, covers the entire side of the rig)
• Putting up the awning (wondering how I will ever remember all the steps)
• Dumping the tanks (glad the black was almost empty because the hose blew off )
• Driving 225 miles on the interstate in my first motorhome
• Pulling into my first rest area (truck side) with my first motorhome
• Getting gas in my first motorhome (lined up just perfect...filler is in the middle of the back....too far to reach with the short hose so had to pull forward & back several times before I could reach it)
• Spending the night in my first campground in my first motorhome
• Doing my own hookups in my first campground in my first motorhome

Gee, can you tell I'm excited? Tomorrow I get to try to remember everything I need to do (got to build a checklist), head out and try to make Chattanooga where I will stay at Camping World's campground. I'm hoping they will be open Labor Day so I can get some shopping done.

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

First Impressions

What a week....Tuesday I sold my car back to the Toyota dealership where I bought it. Wednesday I picked up the check, converted it to a cashiers check at their bank and deposited that in my bank. Thursday I loaded up what I thought I might need for 3-5 days in the motorhome and after stopping at the bank to pick up the cashiers check for the RV, BoBo and I headed out. While we did hit some bad weather, overall it was a good trip and I drove straight through, just under 600 miles.

Friday morning I headed to the local Hertz where I would plead my case for them to take me to the dealer's, 15 miles away (but more like 30-40 minutes depending on traffic) when their limit as 15 minutes. Luck was with me...the manager was in, had an extra driver and agreed to transport me.

Fast forward to Friday night where I am camping (sans Internet access) for the night. I have water & electric, brought enough food (although I've had three offers of a trip to the grocery store if needed as well as the loan of a car), get antenna reception of several stations and am quite comfortable.

Everyone here has been wonderful, making a stressful situation fairly painless. I videotaped my walk through, both inside and out. The motorhome is so much more than I anticipated....it is in great shape (not that there aren't some minor issues, after all, it is used) and has obviously been well cared for.

It has a Fan-tastic fan over the driver cab...something that everyone raves about (automatically controlled fan with rain cover). The bathroom exhaust fan and the bedroom vent both have rain covers as well. The thermostatically controlled ducted heat & air conditioning is a really nice add. The generator has a brand new carburetor, added this morning. The old one was gummed and and rather than hand over a rig with a poorly running generator, they repaired it.

The Pergo flooring is gorgeous and will be easier to clean now that I have BoBo in the house. Area rugs & runners will take the brunt of the foot wear. Many things have changed in the years between our old Allegro and this RV....all of them make things much easier for me as a non-mechanical solo RVer.

The mattress will eventually be replaced, it's an old inner-spring model, with a solid foam one which will be more comfortable as well as lighter. If I can't sleep on it tonight, there is the brand new jack-knife sofa bed to sleep on (already took an hour nap this afternoon on it).

During my first walk-through I really started to wonder where I was going to put everything I initially planned to bring. After sitting in it for several hours, I started to remember all those little hidden spots that can be utilized. Also, using organizer boxes and totes (underneath) help as well. Yes, I will be bringing less than originally planned...remember, I was looking at a 30' Class A. It also means more to sell or store.

The biggest change will be office stuff...no longer can I consider keeping my color laser printer. It will be sold along with several other office items. By the time I have a place for another color laser, they'll be even cheaper. The little color inkjet that is also a copier/scanner will work just fine. Takes up very little room, lightweight and multi-purpose.

There is a little pull-out bed over the driver's cab (under the entertainment center) where I plan to store the mattress (for resale) and use the area for storage as well. Might see if my DVDs will fit in there. If not, since it is long, then it might store my Swiffer, broom, etc. as well as other miscellaneous stuff. Either way that makes more sense that leaving the mattress in it.

There are also two large storage cabinets on either side of the 19" TV. One already holds the the antenna/cable switch box as well as a VCR (got to replace that with a DVD player since I no longer have any VHS tapes). Not sure if mine with fit but since it was a cheapie, it can be replaced easily (players are cheap).

The one thing that is really noticeable...I am short...TOO short. LOL! I can barely reach the overhead light switches and can't reach the bedroom fan or TV antenna without standing on the bed/sofa. I can't reach the Fan-tastic fan at all - will need a step stool for that. Fortunately I have my nice folding two-step stool that I hope will work.

So, my work is cut out for me. I need to get home and get a lot done in a few days so I can attend the Escapade in Goshen, IN with most of my new home set up. I want to get the RV weighed while I am there and this will be my shake-down cruise. While I will have water & electric, it will still be the first time out with my stuff loaded. I'll better be able to see what is working and what isn't, then come home and make any changes as needed.

It will be September by the time I get this posted, hard to believe that fall is approaching. I guess we're all ready though after the high temperatures many of us have experienced this summer.

More to follow as I move stuff into The Lily Pad....getting even more excited now!

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

One step closer.....

Photo courtesy Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village

It's almost a reality! Soon The Lily Pad will be in my driveway. Can you believe it? 18 longs months of preparation, delays, research, delays, investigation, delays, planning, delays....LOL!

Yesterday morning I stopped in at the Toyota dealer where I bought my Rav4 (last January). My salesman took me over to the used car manager and introduced me. They discussed my car and my situation. They looked it over, amazed at how clean it still was (what's to be amazed about - it's less than 9 months old). Even the mileage of 12k didn't bother then. They did the usual paperwork scramble, made some phone calls, asked me to come back in a couple of hours, called me less than 10 minutes later and asked me to come back at my earliest convenience.....well, they bought the car at a price I could live with (what I was willing to sell it for outright). They took me to Hertz and I picked up a rental car that will get dropped in FL.

Today I picked up the check, took it to their bank to convert it to a cashier's check and then deposited that in my bank. Tomorrow morning I pick up the cashier's check for the dealer and head south. I'm scheduled to take delivery on Friday morning.

So this afternoon I will start packing up the minimum I need to live in the RV for 5 days...started making my list this morning. I think this will help me pare things down in the long term...seeing how little I really DO need.

Once I get back (assuming all goes well), I will start moving things into the RV in preparation of living in it permanently. Not everything will get done next week...I have to be in Goshen, IN for the Fall Escapade on Saturday the 8th. That is going to be an awesome learning experience for me...I will have RVing friends all around me that can help me with the gazillion questions I know I will have.

There are still a lot of things that need to be done in preparation of moving into full-timing. I need to change to electronic statements for all my credit cards and bank accounts. I need to start changing addresses, especially those that can be done now online rather than waiting for a paper statement. I need to try to find a trailer for the BMW!! That is a biggie....I don't need the trailer until October so at least I have a little time to look around.

I still haven't managed to get doctor, dentist and eye doctor appointments squeezed in....I think those may be delayed a little. There is the utilities to take care of, mail forwarding to arrange. I've been advised to not use the USPS mail forwarding, it encourages spam mail (I did just register to opt-out of direct mail programs). My plan is to move everything to my new SD address, have my neighbors check my mailbox from time to time and leave them envelopes to forward first class mail to SD for me. Then I will get the mail forwarding service to send my mail every couple of weeks.

Well, enough rambling for one day....just wanted to keep everyone in the loop. Until after Labor Day my Internet access may be limited till I get home.

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Backing up is hard to do.....

No, not an RV....your blog! Today I was googling around and ran into a topic that I hadn't thought about. What happens if your blog provider LOSES your blog? Do you have a backup? I sure don't...I used to host the blog on my domain, then I had backup. Now that it's under Blogger's upgraded plan, they host the blog but display it under my name.

So, found what looks to be a possible solution (actually two) for those of us that blog and don't want to lose our content (words are precious....).

The first is easy but is only good as long as 1) it exists and 2) it's priced right. Presently it exists and being free, the price is right. It only backs up text so be sure to save any photos to your hard drive where you can easily find them.

Here is what PC World had to say about this solution:

"If you have a blog and you aren't sure that your blog provider will always have a backup in case of a crash, head over to BlogBackupOnline pronto. The site is straightforward: Log in, enter information about your blog, and the site diligently backs it up every day (provided that you use one of the 11 supported blogging services--Blogger, Friendster, LiveJournal, Movable Type, Multiply, Serendipity, Terapad, TypePad, Vox, Windows Live Space, or WordPress). The site is also a great tool if you ever decide to move your blog from one platform to another. After you've backed up your blog, BlogBackupOnline can bring all of your old entries into the new service."

Yes, I've signed up and will give it a try. But in addition I am also using the other approach. It means creating a page with all your blog entries on it. Some folks said it doesn't work over 1000 posts but since I don't have that many, I created it today and dated it. In a week I will do it again...if it starts dropping them off the end, they will still be there in my older saved pages.

This page explains how to display the entries. Then just do a FILE SAVE AS, give the page a name you will remember and voila....a simple backup!

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Special Days not always so special....

Today....August 27, 2007. A day like any other. The alarm goes off, I hit snooze...4 or 5 times, then I crawl out of bed and head to the bathroom. Splash some water on my face, brush my teeth and take my morning meds. Toss on some clothes and go get BoBo out of his crate and take him outdoors.

Every morning starts this way...then the variations start. Today's first variation was loading BoBo into the car. He needed to be dropped at the vet's office by 8:30 -- today was the appointment for his neutering. I chatted with the receptionist a bit, she printed out the papers I needed to sign and handed them to me. I looked it over, signed and asked her what the date was. "August 27th," she said, not realizing the significance to me. I wrote the date and quietly said, "My husband would have been 66 today."

How easily the days pass, rushing by like the waters in a stream. Then suddenly you find yourself free-falling down an unexpected waterfall. You hit bottom, shake your head, look back to see where you've been and then you see it.....the rainbow. You smile....they are watching over you.

I had many moments today, some sad, some nostalgic and some full of laughter. I bought groceries, got my driver's license renewed, mailed the paperwork to establish my new South Dakota residency, chatted with the bank about their new account and how it would work well for me, talked to my Toyota dealer about buying my car (didn't make it in to see them because of the amount of time it took to get my drivers license done), made several phone calls (something I tend to procrastinate), and watched an improv reality show that had my laughing so hard I was crying.

All in all, a special day for me.... Happy Birthday, Michael!

[left to right] Mike & his younger brother Dave in 1997

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Froggi's NEW Lily Pad

tioga000
Originally uploaded by Froggi Donna

Yup, I put down a deposit on a motorhome today. I hope to be able to get it within the next week to 10 days. I'm so excited!!

It's a 1999 Fleetwood Tioga, 26', has the Ford V-10 Triton engine and is on the Ford F-450 chassis which gives me over 2800# of carry capacity and 5000# of tow capacity. It has new Pergo floors, new tires and batteries, hydraulic levelers, ducted air, generator, backup camera, two awnings, Banks exhaust system and about 57k miles on it.

Now I get to sell my car, call Enterprise and drive down to FL pick it up. I will spend a couple days in a neighboring campground and they will fix anything that comes up during that first outing.

If this link works, you should be able to see photos of it.

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Comfort Food

Comfort food....everyone has something that they like to indulge in from time to time. Chicken noodle soup when you're sick, lasagna or meatloaf when you miss home or family, sweets when you're stressed. Different foods for different feelings and sometimes different foods for different times in your life.

Most people know I spend a lot of time in McDonalds and get a giggle out of that. Most of the staff are young enough to be my grandkids but they argue over who is going to wait on me and encourage the new workers to remember my "standard" orders.

I started coming here on a regular basis after Mike passed away. It was the only way I could force myself out of the house without a lot of social interaction. Remember, I was new to the town - we had moved here less than 2 months before he died. I'd head over most mornings for breakfast sometimes and coffee always, sitting there reading and enjoying free refills.

During my 2005 motorcycle trips, I continued to frequent McDonalds for all my mid-day stops, sometimes for breakfast, if the hotel didn't have a decent breakfast bar. I even tracked where I got the cheapest senior coffee (a price perk) as I traveled. When the trips were over, the morning visits resumed, changing to dinner breaks after I started working.

I sat there tonight, reading and enjoying my coffee, waiting for my salad to settle a bit before getting my nightly low-fat ice cream cone. I noticed a motorcycle pull in and thought about how hot he had to be, watching as he walked in slowly, obviously feeling the effects of the heat.

I was flooded with memories.....memories of learning to ride in Florida during the summer of 2002. Florida....home of hot and humid, being a late in life learning rider I went out as often as I could, trying to ride early mornings before it got too hot.

Weekends Mike and I would ride for hours, enjoying the sights while I continued to learn. To combat the heat we developed the habit of stopping mid-way at a McDonalds....for cofee and an ice cream cone.

Thus my comfort food....McDonalds Coffee and a low fact ice cream cone.

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna