Feeling Better

Feel much better today. Dumped my black tank, back flushed it. Rinsed off the front of the truck, and back of the RV. Took my shower, did a load of laundry, then, went to the Post Office. Got my truck inspected, had to get some new wiper blades. I really don't know if I should have done that or not, but I did so I wouldn't have to deal with coming back again. I usually just get the rubber part. Been going to the same parts store for years, I buy them and they are nice enough to put them on for me. But, I am not in Crowley,TX so you do what you have to do. Maybe these will be better anyway.

Went to the Dollar General store. They were in a mess, remodeling, so I didn't shop much.

Then went to the grocery store, just a few things and back home. I am tired!

It looks like I won't get out of here by the first, as I had hoped. I will have to keep plugging along. I really didn't want to pay another months rent, but guess there is a reason why I can't seem to get moving. I still have hopes of going to Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in October. I haven't been able to connect with the people there to make reservations. I am concerned about all the walking I will have to do. There is supposed to be a tram to take you to the flight area, but I don't know how far it is from where they let you off. I am also looking into getting a electric scooter. It is a cute little thing, folds and only weighs 35 lbs. Just dreaming!!

Mice and Men

Well, what is it they say, the best laid plans of mice and man?

I awoke this morning sick as a dog. I have a bladder infection. If you have ever had one, you know how that hurts. I knew my back hurt a lot yesterday, but did not connect the two. I had vacuumed and just thought that was it. So I did not get any thing done. I was in and out of bed most of the day. Felt like I had a temperature also. So tomorrow I will try again!

New Neighbors

I awoke this morning to the sound of a "blower" running. Couldn't imagine what in the world was going on. I looked out the dining room window and low and behold my neighbors had moved out their trailer, and the lady that "hollered" at her husband when he was here to help me with a fuse, was out there using a leaf blower. She was blowing the leaves toward my rig! I thought Oh Great! All that dust. Then she yells at the top of her lungs, shit on so and so, and shit on him too. I thought that is really nice to hear on Sunday morning when I am trying to watch my preacher on TV. I put my clothes on, and in about 2 minutes, some one knocks on my door. It was Ed, another of my neighbors, he asked me to move my truck, as they were taking out that dead tree (remember how long I have been trying to get them to remove it), and he didn't want it to fall on my truck. Well I moved my truck back, and stood out and watched the going's on. Randy, the maintenance man came with a big "brush hog" and pushed that tree down. I asked him if I was getting a new neighbor, and he pointed to, YOU guessed it, that same bi*** that was out there screaming her head off. Next thing I knew they had drug their brown storage bldg. over, they put it right in the yard between us, not at the back of the lot! So,now when I look outside, I will see their storage shed. They also have a lot of "yard art". Lights, statues etc.

I am so ready to get out of here. I am going to try my best to be out by the first. I am not sure I can do it, but I am sure going to give it a try. I have been happy here until the last year, and I have been very unhappy since. Going to get my truck inspected tomorrow, and go to my storage bldg. in town. Then I will start moving stuff around, so I can put my rooms in and try to air up my tires,on the side that comes out over them.

New TV

I made another trip to Wal Mart yesterday to get the TV I had looked at earlier. I ended up with a Sanyo, on sale for $178.00. It has a stand and I thought my DVD player would fit under the TV. I bought the 2 year extended warranty for $20.00. I don't know if I should have or not, but I did. I had more trouble putting that stand on than any thing else. By turning the TV sideways, I got it in the cabinet, then turned it to the front. I like it very much! I don't have to go through the DTV box. The only thing is I have the sound all the way up and have to really "listen" to hear it. Also I think the picture is a little dark, but I will work that out, hopefully. I was really tired after my drive to Hillsboro, and installing the TV. My old TV is really heavy, hard to get down. The Sanyo weighs about 8 lbs, and is about 2" in depth! I will have to secure it,some way, when travelling. I still don't know how I will connect the DVD player, it will not fit under the TV, and there is no "top" to sit it on. I think I need a shelf, above the TV. I will have to look around for that.

Slept really good last night, it was about 60 degrees this morning. What a nice change from the 100s we have been having. I hope the heat wave is over!

Just Looking

Spent yesterday "fixing" my day/night shade. I think I have it, I won't say for sure! Had to move one big recliner to get to it, that meant vacuuming under it and of course dusting the cabinets above it. Can't do just one thing ya know. Was really tired last night and ready for bed by 10 pm, went to bed at 10:30, did not sleep. About 12:30 a noise shook me and Kandi! Sounded like someone trying my door! Scared the sugar out of me. I got up and turned on all the lights, inside and outside. Never could figure out what it was, but I couldn't go back to bed, so I watched TV until about 2 am. Then heard noises all night.

Went to Wal Mart today to look at the TVs. They have three that might fit my cabinet. I measured the cabinet before I left, but I am not sure if the smallest one will go in unless I can turn it sideways and then may pull it back to the front. I measured again tonight, and I will make another run to Wal Mart tomorrow. I forgot a few things anyway. Diesel was $2.68 gal with their discount. Here in Whitney it is $2.89 gal. They stick it to you in these small towns!

107

I am roasting! It was 107 here today. I don't think my trailer ever cooled below 90, the heat is just killing me! I don't know why I am having such a hard time with the heat this summer. Age, I guess.

Well I spoke too soon about my TV. It worked last night for about 10 minutes! I noticed a black line on the side, and I thought I might have to adjust the vertical,then it just went black! So, I guess I will look at TVs when I go to Wal Mart next time. I don't know how I will get it in my rig or lift it up to the cabinet. Meanwhile, my big day night shade at the back window, string broke or came loose from the little thingy that holds it down. Something else to fix! Gee I am having so much fun!

Doesn't Work/ It Works!!

This is the 22 nd straight day of 100 degree temps! Too hot to do much outside. Today after listening to the church services on TV, I decided to try to fix some of my 12 volt plugs, and the TV in my bedroom that also quit on me. I have a 12 volt fan, and I plugged it in the 12 volt in my bedroom, and it works! Now to check my 12 volt extension cords. I plugged one in the bedroom 12 volt, and it kicked the fuse! So I now know that cord is no good. Now to replace the fuse again. Got my little tester, fuses, glasses and magnifying glass. I still had my nightgown on, I opened the door just a smidge, to hang my feet out so I could sit down and work on the fuse, and a gust of wind blew the door open, and my nightgown up! Good thing my neighbors can't see my front door, I would have really given them something to see! In any case I got the door closed and pulled the offending fuse, replaced it and everything works once again. Now I have another 12 volt extension cord, so I plugged it in that same place and it did not blow the fuse, but it doesn't work, so I tossed both of them. I still have a double 12 volt plug over the dining table, but I will check that later. Right now I really wanted to see about my bedroom TV. I am so used to listening to TV and drifting off to sleep. I have not been sleeping good in a week. I had tried to install a DVD player, and I could not do it. My son-in-law, a tech. couldn't do it, my RV repair man couldn't do it, so I have given up! Any way I turned the TV so I could see the back of the set. There were so many cords and wires, looked like a basket of snakes! Most of the older TV sets have a "reset" switch on the back, and I did see a switch, I pushed it, sorted through the cords, plugged everything in, and it works! I am just thrilled! This is a really old Orion TV with a built in VCR player, and it works on 12 volts. It is great when you don't have electric. You can't find VCR tapes any more, but I have a lot I made of vacation trips with my husband, so I want to keep a player. I have a "deck" in the living room that plays DVDs,and VCRs on the TV in the living room. I just like to lie in bed and watch old movies, and I have some DVDs of country western singing, some of them are not with us any more. My Sunday wasn't very restful, but it was productive!

Kandi

Kandi was my Mother's Days gift from my grand kids, and their parents. She is such a "baby" she is two and half years old now. She has always slept with me. Even at 6 weeks old, never messed the bed! She was so easy to "potty" train. I buy the potty pads at Wal-Mart, and she just seemed to know what to do! When she was little she would whine and cry to wake me up to go to the potty, just like a baby! Kandi is a full blood poodle. This is my third and probably last one. I am highly allergic to dog hair and even more to cats! I love them all but can't have one in the house. Poodles don't shed hair! Of course they are high maintenance dogs, with the grooming, I have been doing that myself, not good at it,but keeps her looking half way decent. She is a good "watch dog". She barks when she hears something, even if it is at 3 am! This is my point. How in the world do you train them not to bark at everything? We were doing pretty good with our training, sit, stay, and working on walking with the leash on without choking her. Then I got lazy, and it got so hot, all the stickers,(remember the grooming) and ticks! The other night she just went crazy, bark, bark. I couldn't figure out what was wrong! Finally dawned on my, my tape deck was on, and all that was coming out of it was static. Now that's a watch dog for you!

Kandi

Bending in the Wind

They say the tree that bends in the wind is the one that survives.

Guess I will have to bend in the wind a little while longer.

This is the 19th straight day of 100 degree temps. Just too hot for me to get outside and do much work. In fact I didn't do anything today. I am still in the "planning" mode on going to the Balloon Fiesta. I have not given up hope yet, just have to be patient a little while longer. I am still trying to make reservations to park with the Escapee's Boomers. The girl I was talking to put me on hold, and finally came back and said she would call me back. I am still waiting! Well I will try again tomorrow. I am a little depressed, because I didn't get to leave this park. I do think things happen for a reason. Maybe it just wasn't meant for me to leave at this moment. Labor Day is coming up soon and I don't want to be "looking" for a RV park at that time. I have already checked the COE park and they have been booked since last May. In case any one doesn't have this web site it is www.reserveusa.com, you can choose from U.S. Corps of Engineers, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management. When I looked at McCowan Valley park, it has a actual map of the campground, showing the sites, what sort of site, back in or pull through, the length of rig, and electric amps, if it is full shade etc. I thought it was a great map. I will keep on with my research, I hope I can find a place to stay in Albuquerque.

Staying Put

Well, I guess I will stay put for the remainder of the month. Then who knows. I still have to work out my problems with the 12 volt plugs, and airing up my tires.

I have been a full time RVr for five years this month. Time flys when you are having fun! I sold my house and leased this lot, so I would have a home base. It has worked good for me,until now. I just want to move around and I still plan to do that. I will just have to be patient a little longer. We have had 18 straight days of 100 or over degrees. That is really hot, today we had a nice little shower, of course that will make it more humid.

Actually I have been camping for over 40 years! My husband and I started out just sleeping outdoors on army cots,the two oldest girls slept outside too. The youngest daughter and my son slept in the station wagon. Then we really got high class, we borrowed a tent! That was our first big trip, to Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado. One of the best trips ever! Two weeks, and four kids in a tent. Can you ask for anything more? Next we got a "tent trailer". It really was a tent trailer. You had to first put the rails up, then throw the tent part over the rails. I bought foam for the beds, and we had an extension cord for electric. Seems I have been pulling some sort of trailer for 40 years! First was a U-haul, then the tent trailer, then we had two travel trailers, one we took to Alaska. Then came the big fifth wheels, one 37 ft, and one 38 ft. I pulled all of them. Never thought anything about it. In the later years my husbands health was not too great and he would get us on the road, and then I would do the driving. After he passed away I traded the 38 ft trailer for a 31 ft class c motorhome. I did not like it, very uncomfortable, but I did make a lot of trips in it. I had it five years. Class C is a great little motorhome, but, the wind does catch under that overhang and they can be hard to handle in high winds. When I decided to go full time I wanted something I would be comfortable living in if I couldn't travel. And that is how I arrived at the Big Sky Montana. I think of all the rigs I have towed or driven the little tent trailer was the most dangerous. The wind really whips those little trailers around. Got to be really careful. Next dangerous is the travel trailer. Same problem, and the big 18 wheelers will suck you right into them if you are not careful. And you MUST have a equalizer hitch. I think the easiest and safest to pull is the fifth wheel.

If I Didn't Have Bad Luck

What is the saying, if I didn't have bad luck I would have no luck at all! Yesterday was another one of those days. First my watch battery died. Sunday night the TV in my bedroom died. Monday I find the refrigerator is off! I noticed the antenna boost light was off, so I am figuring it's the fuse. Blown from trying to air up my tires. When your refrigerator won't come on, it is either, you have a dead battery, (I had checked that Sat. I knew it was OK)or a blown fuse, or your converter is out. I knew the converter was ok, because when I turned on 12 volt lights, it came on. So, had to be a fuse. So I get my fuse tester/puller and box of fuses. My fuse box is right by the entry door, hard for me to reach, because of my back and hip problems. So I call the office and ask if the maintenance man could come and put a fuse in for me, that my fridge was off and everything would spoil in this heat in a hurry. So, she says sure. I wait, and I wait, decided to take out my trash, and on the way to the trash bin, I see one on my neighbor men drive up in the golf cart. I hailed him and ask if he could put the fuse in for me. He says, wait, I will go get my glasses. So he comes back in a few mins. and about that time his wife comes running out to the street screaming, tell her to call the maintenance man! What in the H*ll did she think I was going to do? Steal her man? He says to me, I am a truck driver, I don't know much about electric! So I ask him, you CAN put a fuse in can't you? He just walked off.

Well I got all my stuff, flashlight, magnifying glass, my glasses, my cell phone, and my fuse puller, and fuses, got in the floor, and started pulling fuses. I got to tell you, this old, dumb ass lady fixed it!I called the ranger back and told her not to worry I took care of it!

Then I went to town, got a hair cut, stopped at Western Auto to look at their air compressors, the ones you can plug in to the electric. Decided I didn't want to spend $127.00, I told the clerk my problem with the blown fuses in my truck, she said it would cost $5.00 for them to ck it. So I say, OK, sounds good to me. I was sure too tired to try to fix that too. Didn't take the guy too long, but I had two, and he charged me $14.50! Lesson learned! I watched him and next time I will do it my self. After that I stopped at the store, by the time I got home I was in bad shape. My sugar had dropped to 76, I was afraid I would pass out. I took my "sugar" tabs and finally got to feeling OK.

I spent the day off and on in the bed! I am so tired and stressed, I don't know when I will move. I think if I ever do get out, I won't be back.

My friend that wants to go to Oregon has an antique store she is trying to sell out of, but it is slow going. I am hoping she will just wholesale it out, and we can go, before one of us can't!

Hot Sunday

I was so tired and stressed out from all my work yesterday, I didn't manage to do much today. I did defrost my refrigerator. It needed it anyway, but the reason I cleaned it was I put a dish of dog food, dry kind, in there so as not to feed the "mice", and of course I knocked it over and dog chow went flying every where!

Too hot to work outside today and I am too tired. My spirit says get up and do it, but my old bones say, hey, wait a minute! I am still tired. I just sorted though some stuff I am selling on e-bay. I did take a nap, didn't help me much. It is just so hot. I hope this heat wave will end soon and I will be able to get it together. I will have to put off moving until I can get my tires checked. I don't want to ruin a tire, I sure don't need that expense too.

I talked to my friend who wants me to travel with her to Oregon, I told her you better get it in gear and let's go before I can't go. She and I are the same age. I think you should make an effort to "follow" your dream before you can't.

Second Post for Today

I forgot to mention the pictures I posted on my last blog, were of the Whitney Dam, and the spillway. I tried taking pictures today of my efforts with the air compressor, but I guess my camera battery was down, because they didn't take!

A Trying Day

I got up early and started trying to check the tire pressure in my tires on the door side of my rig. I keep them covered to keep the sun off. The ones on the other side are covered by the slide out room and don't require covers. I found they had 60 psi, and they should be at 80. I think that is too low to run on, so I dug out my little 12 volt air compressor. Got it hooked up by using a 12 volt extension cord to my truck. It is very slow. I should have started the truck first,but I waited a while before starting the truck. By that time the air compressor had turned off. I could not get it going again. So I brought the compressor inside and tried a different 12 volt plug, still wouldn't work. After reading the directions, it says if the compessor doesn't work, check the 12 volt plug and see if the fuse is blown. I have two in my truck, sure enough neither one would work. So I tried the air compressor in the rig, without the extension and it works. So I got another extension to plug into, and plugged it in the 12 volt in the rig. It worked. I continued airing up the second tire now. After about five minutes, it quits again! I did manage to get 72 psi in both tires before it quit. BUT, I still have the two tires on the other side to do. I am not sure I will be able to get ready to leave here on Monday. I may have to stay the rest of the month. I just can't work very long out in this heat. I also washed the front of my truck, to get the tree sap off, so I can see who I am running over! I was drenched with sweat. My sugar dropped too low. I was in bad shape by 2pm. I also washed my sheets, and finally got my bed made up. I tell you I am ready to crawl in it!

Lake Whitney,Texas

I have decided to move my rig to McCown Valley, a Core of Engineers park. I haven't made my reservation yet, but it's in the works. This park is just a few miles from the Thousand Trails Park where I am now. I am really nervous about moving, as I haven't moved in two years. I hope I remember how to do everything. I am going to start Saturday taking the tire pressure, and squirt some WD40 on my slide out rails. I am hoping to move on Monday, August 16. This is a very nice COE park, with trees and right on the water. They do have some pull through sites. I did discover they don't have sewer hookups. I will try to get all my "washing" done before I move. I have boondocked in the desert, so I think I can handle no sewer for a while.

I am very nervous about moving. I just think my Electric bill is way off. I tried to talk to the office manager this morning. She didn't think it was too much, and there has been a 2 cent kilowatt increase. But still a $40 dollar increase in one month? I feel like they are not reading it, just estimating, of course she said no, they read it. Any way it will be a change for me, a trial so to speak. If I can't do it, then I will look for a cheap apartment, or maybe I can trade rigs, to a small motorhome. Seems like I have always got some kind of problem. Guess that means I am still alive!

Just Hot!

Not much to write about tonight. It is just plain hot! It is 102 at 10:00 pm. I truly hope I don't have to spend another summer in Texas, at least not in this site. I am parked where the west sun hits me on the front door side. There is no way to get any shade other than a carport, or plant trees. I think planting trees would take about 30 years to make any shade!

I did manage to go to my storage bldg. Just threw my junk in and left. When I opened that metal door a gust of hot air hit me, made me sick. Then I made a fast trip to the grocery store, and back home to get under the air. My days seem to get shorter and shorter. The weather man is talking about a break in the weather by next week. I really hope so, I am tired of the heat. It has really taken a toll on me this year. My friend wants me to go to Oregon with her, I may just take her up on it!

Too Hot!

I am finally able to post on my blog! I had downloaded a free software for my Droid phone to get online. However the free version blocked secured web sites. I guess Google is a really secure web site! I could read my Blog and others, but not post. I was able to purchase the version that would let me get on, for a total of $18.95, period. I still could not get my registration number to work. After contacting PDANet. several times, it works! I miss not being able to post to my Blog.

After getting my electric bill I decided to move. It was $190.00, I about had a heart attack. I worked trying to get ready to move. I got so hot, I thought I was having a heat stroke. I spent the remainder of the day in bed. I have a membership in Thousand Trails that allows me to stay two weeks for free, but I have to move every two weeks. That includes electric, unless you want 50 amps. 50 amps will cost you $3.00 per day. I am leasing a spot and have to pay for my own, so I thought I could reduce cost by moving, same park, to the sites I can use without paying electric! I will still try to do that, I just can't work outside in the heat. I am still planning a trip to New Mexico and the Balloon Fiesta. I have not been able to get online to make my reservations, so I hope I can still get a spot. Being sick today made me question my abilities to move this thing. I forgot to mention that I was sick in the first place with a bladder infection. That didn't help. Well as my Mother used to say, Tomorrow is another day!

Finally

Well I finally am able to post to my Blog using my Droid. I have not be able to get into Google at all. I hope I have it worked out now.

I managed to take Kandi to get her shots on the third. I got up early and drove the 20 or so miles to Hillsboro to the Paw Pals clinic, only to find the bldg. locked up tight! I came home and found their telephone number and called and was informed they had changed locations, but I could drive back to the new location! I called my Vet. here in Whitney and made an appointment for three. It was really hot by then, but I was able to get in, no waiting. So I guess that was a good thing. It was only a few dollars more than going to Paw Pals. Kandi is set for a year now, with all her shots, and six months for Heartguard. Here in Texas you must give it year round.

The last few days have been so hot! I put foil over the windows to keep the sun out. I feel like I am living in a metal box! Well, I guess I really am, after all. It did come a thunder storm yesterday and lower the temp a little. Not much rain for me. Hopefully I can get on my blog now!

Heat Wave!

We are having a heat wave! It reached 102 today. It is really hard for me to tolerate this heat. Tomorrow I have to make a trip to Hillsboro, about a 40 mile round trip to take Kandi to get her shots. Hill County offers low cost shots on the third of the month. It is quite a saving, so I will get up early and be there by 10 am.

Did not do a lot yesterday, my day of rest. Watched my TV Preachers, and tried to study my Bible for a while. Went back to bed, my bad! After my nap, defrosted the ice maker, and did a load of laundry, it seems to be better to run the dryer at night when it is cooler. I am not looking forward to tomorrow.

I am using my Droid phone to get on line. It is slow. I have not figured a way to post to my blog off line, and upload to blogger when I sign on. Can this be done?