DATES and DAYS

We did not escape the snow storm here at the campground. It snowed quite a bit and the snow covered the satellite dish, preventing any reception. All my efforts at preparing for our trip were in full swing. I was waiting out the snow and wrestling with a headache, when He Who is the master of towing all things came home to attach the tow bar and hook up my jeep to the RV.

Now, I did suggest that he do it the previous day when the weather was mild, but He Who is the master of towing, is also the master of procrastination. He decided to go gas up the RV before attaching anything. While about this business, he got a call and instead of bring the RV back, he drove to the shop to get the tow truck. This meant I couldn't put the last of our stuff in while it was still light out ........

I was annoyed. My headache was still aching. So, while I was enjoying a chat with my Jada on the phone, I was interrupted. I had to go drive the car up to the tow bar on the slushy driveway in the dark. I confess that I was a little miffed. I played the martyr and started carrying baskets of stuff to the RV. The passenger door was unlocked, so I crawled through and took all the clothes in and secured everything. On my way back out (in the dark), I walked right into the over the cab bed and nearly knocked myself out.

Deciding to call it quits for the night, I came back inside to find a text from my son reminding me of the flight information ........ I looked closely at the dates. Um, I had all the information a day off. We don't need to leave tomorrow, we need to leave Friday.

He Who is the master of towing was on a mission to find the proper clamps to secure the chains or something ( I confess that I wasn't listening). I took advantage of this. I called him and told him we didn't need to leave until Friday, giving the procrastinator a reprieve. Totally downplaying the fact that I had the day wrong!

Give Thanks

Since we will be traveling on Thanksgiving day, I  cooked turkey yesterday. Okay, half a turkey. Literally. Bought a 10 lb. frozen turkey and had the meat department saw it in half. I thought it would be a little silly to cook a whole bird for two people. It made an interesting carcass, with a cut down the spine


So, even though the skies were dreary and the wind was gusting mightily, I was determined to be thankful and eat turkey and all the fixins'. No pies, I made a flan. No sweet potatoes or mashed potatoes either. Dressing, people, it's all about that dressing. Italian green beans, too. I am certain we will encounter leftovers at every house we go to.

I am making lists and checking them twice ..... hoping to not forget something on this trip. I made two batches of Chex mix to have on board. Road trip junk food is the best! We will be picking up my son and granddaughter Friday morning. I need to have food handy. I am certain they will be ravenous after an early morning trip to the airport and foodless flight. I just hope two batches of Chex mix will be enough ....

So, I was about the business of loading in all my clothes and such, when I looked out into the park. Something was amiss ....... After two loads in, it finally came to me. My tenants owing me $360 are gone. So is my money. The man called last week to say he knew he owed the money and would be in to pay. He told me his mother had died and that's why they weren't here in the park, in their trailer, but that he wanted to "settle up" with me.

Given my current situation , I felt real empathy for him losing his mother. I told him I was so sorry for his loss and to just come in when he could. I did think it was a little strange when he seemed a bit confused at my condolences, but I imagine I seem a little "off " myself these days.

But, the trailer is gone and I have no address to forward a bill to. Just as well, since I would have to certify it and then go to the court house and file a complaint. All that stuff costs money, and even if you win a judgment, it doesn't mean you will get your money. Not to mention the time involved with all of it. I feel a little sick when I add up all the instances that folks have managed to skip out without paying. Then I remember ........ it will all come full circle. Always does.

So, I will only dwell on the positive and remember all the nice things people do for me. No shortage there, as I have wonderful friends that always surround me when I am down.

Cheapskate, Me?

I have seen it all now. Channel surfing, I came upon a show called "Extreme Cheapskates" on TLC. My kids poke fun at me for my cheap ways. They all need to watch an episode of this show.

By the standards of the people portrayed on this show, I am a big spender. I am watching a strange man wash his clothes and his dishes in his hot tub. Oh, almost forgot, he washes himself in there, too. A woman just had her husband pull her tooth!! She says the pain only lasts awhile, but the savings lasts forever. The dentist only wanted $185, for heaven sakes. Now I think I have a tooth ache. The hot tub man has a clothesline in his car ......

Another man keeps his toilet paper under lock and key and doles out 10 squares for his wife's daily use.

Yeah, I am not a cheapskate after all!

Kindling

The snow has melted and the grounds look sad. I am still hovering around the fire in my small sitting room.

Funny story about the fire. I was cleaning up the small twigs and pieces of firewood that lay around the firewood holder on the floor. I decided to just scoop them up in the little shovel and toss them in the wood stove. I am really grateful that I used the shovel, well, I don't know that I should be grateful. I was listening to TV and had my mind on grabbing one more cup of coffee and wasn't paying close attention to the task at hand (or shovel, as the case may be). I tossed the shovel full into the fire and poured coffee and got into my chair with Cujo at my side.

I do remember hearing Wall-E jump down out of the bed last night and vaguely remember movement in the bed when he jumped back up. He likes to eat at night when the other dogs sleep. He is non-confrontational, a gentle soul, our little white dog. He strives to please everyone and I suppose that's why he decided to hide his business in the twigs on the floor. He usually never does his business inside. He must have had an undeniable urge.

Yes, I burned dog poop. I do not recommend this as kindling. I have candles lit and my scentsy pot going and am glad this dog is small and his business was small and hope that it will burn quickly. Oh, and I can't believe that my life is so boring that I wrote about this!

Today I will be out and about. I need groceries. My big decision is whether to wait until I listen to the noon news and go, or go now. Rumor has it that there is a new breed of apple that will not turn brown after cutting. Teasers have been on the TV all morning. I am always curious about such things. Don't know why, since I don't buy apples anymore. I have more fruit than I can eat right here on my property.

I think the aroma of the fire outweighs the new genetically modified apple. I am out of here!

Making Beds

Cold weather is here. I am here in my tiny space with the wood stove and the TV. Haven't been able to access the internet for any amount of time for the past few days. I will read a post, then make a witty observation in the comment section ..... and lose the connection. See a good sale on-line and decide to peruse it, maybe load a cart (to edit later before actually purchasing anything) and suddenly lose it all.

Who knows how long it will allow me today. Will I finish this thought? Will I finish this post? Will it be saved? Will I actually publish this post? So many questions I ask myself.

If you know me and have read this blog for any amount of time, you will know that I am approaching my 40th wedding anniversary. A milestone. You will also know that for those last 40 years, I have never been a part of buying process of any vehicles. If it rolls on wheels, I am left out of the entire process. Not even a wheel barrow have I chosen.

Nothing has changed. In my absence, He Who Buys Vehicles, did buy another ..... for me. While it was my suggestion that we have at our disposal a means of traveling with our canine contingent in tow, I had been thinking of a small, lightweight travel trailer that could easily be pulled with my Jeep. Not a pop-up, mind you. I am definitely NOT a pop-up king of gal. But I have seen some really well designed small travel trailers that would suffice. And .... would work well when we have visitors. Though tiny, it would be better than standing in line in my living quarters at the only bathroom.

Did he purchase a tiny trailer? No, he bought a Class C motorhome. An older model. I asked about the condition of this unit and was regaled with information about tire treads and engine quality. I wanted to know what the inside looked like. He texted a photo of the exterior. Once again, I was gifted with a vehicle, never having seen the interior.

Though dated, the interior is in excellent condition. Clean and well cared for. I like the layout. Even without any slides, it feels roomy enough. My only real objection would be the tiny double bed I am expected to sleep upon with him. We have a king and sleeping on a queen is hard. Could be the four dogs and cat that sleep with us .......

I have used my insomniac hours to plan and scheme how to enlarge the bed. I have an idea. It will require removing an 8" cabinet on one side of the bed. The mattress will be right against the wall and be difficult to put sheets on, but well worth the additional space. I wish to be nesting my new digs, but the weather is keeping me close to my fire.

I did take a solo trip around my park with my new vehicle and feel okay piloting it. I drove our 40' Class A only once. He Who Likes Speed was in the passenger seat and was annoying me with his advice, so I pulled over and gave the wheel back to him. I do better when on my own and the "new" one is only 27' long.

We will headed south on Thanksgiving Day with my Jeep in tow. We will pick up My son, Jeff and my sweet granddaughter, Jada in Atlanta the day after Thanksgiving and head to my dad's. They will only be there until Sunday afternoon, so we have lots of stuff to cram into a small window of time.

I have to re-build my bed area and get the other two sleeping areas dressed for my visitors. As I sit here writing, I keep glancing out my window to see the snow swirling in what looks like a very strong wind ...... Not looking good for loading in the necessities.

I'll Be Watching You!

Finally! I have been deprived of the internet for two days!! Withdrawal was painful, let me tell you! I had to rely on the TV and audio books for all my entertainment.

I have emptied my spam (186!) and replied to all pertinent e-mails and even perused a couple of previews to Black Friday. I have decided what I am going to request for my 40th anniversary. I can't tell you here. He Who tows and mows also reads this from time to time. When I say I am making a request, I really mean that I am planting the seed to make him think it was his idea. That should give him pause for thought.

So, as the season is officially over, we have started the winter-time chores. One of them is to close down the satellite bath house. I made a sign to proclaim the closing of such. We all know how much I like signs and painting. Only problem is .... I can't seem to locate my sign. I think I will just paint up another one, though. That will assure me that the original will turn up and let's face it, the more signs the better.

All my seasonal campers know that we shut down the bath house for the winter. They all know there is no water rushing through the pipes. And, even though no sign was in evidence, the doors were locked. That would certainly be a clue, wouldn't you think? That and the fact that the weather has presented us with some below freezing nights.

But, no, it was not enough. The lady's room and the men's room were both broken into and all 4 toilets contained solid waste. Note how I managed
to word this without using the word I said when I found out about the invasion.

So nice to discover such things. Makes me sit here and wonder who is responsible for this vandalism. Was it someone who hates me and they were being vindictive? If so, how did they manage to violate all four toilets? Was it a gang event? Or was it the same one, returning four separate times?

Inquiring minds (well, mine) want to know. All I can say is that our army of security cameras continues to grow. No, silly, not inside the facilities! Outside the doors. Be fore-warned, phantom pooper, I will be watching!

Coke ..... It's The Real Thing!

While visiting my dad, he felt good enough to go out to eat. His clothes just hang on him now and it breaks my heart, but he remains in good spirits.

I ventured out to look for some smaller clothes for my dad. There it was, a JoAnn's beckoning to me, so I went in, you know, just to look. A sale was in progress and I felt it was my duty to look at the flannel, and touch the flannel and then, buy the flannel. It was on sale, what was I supposed to do?

Now that I am home, I have yet to explore the wonderful possibilities of all that fabric. As much as I long to be engrossed in a project, I just don't feel good. I brought a cold home with me. A sore throat, a hacking cough, and sinus pressure. I hate colds.

Hot liquids seem to help temporarily. I feel like I am floating in a sea of soup, tea and coffee. I want to be better. I want to sit at my machine and sew for hours.

Instead I have been hanging out in front of the TV, sniffing and coughing while sipping at a hot beverage and downing Tylenol and aspirin. Lurking on the internet and gathering useless trivia in my head ...... I see the revelation about drinking Coke and what it will dissolve and what it will do to your digestive tract.

Got me thinking. This cold has me feeling like my throat is clogged with stuff I am unable to swallow, you know like a backed up drain. So, I grabbed one out of the cooler and downed it. The first swallow hurt, but it got easier as I drained the can. In my opinion, Coke tastes better from a can than from a plastic bottle. Actually the taste is much better in glass, but given the fact that glass is costlier and I have a pool where glass is prohibited, I only had aluminum and plastic to choose from.

May I just tell you that my throat feels better after 12 ounces of undiluted Coke straight from the can. Worked just like Liquid Plumber. My throat is clear and I can swallow easier. Who says trivia is useless? I wasn't whiling the day away, I was looking for a cure!

Little Dolls Love Little Dolls

Lots of hugs and kisses from this one. I spent some time with Jailynn on my trip. Is that just the sweetest face you have ever seen? She is the image of her dad ...... right down to the gum in her mouth!

She is quite adept at the selfie. Gramma looks a little ragged, doesn't she? Lots of driving leaves me withered.

As it would happen, I had to drive back when she was taken to the hospital. She vomited her little body into dehydration and was in so much pain, she was given morphine! Blood tests and MRI's failed to reveal the problem and  just found out she is still queasy and hurting.

That doll. She is missing an arm and her foot was chewed off by her puppy. Can no longer toss her in the washer, either. I tried to convince Jailynn that her doll needed to come home with Gramma to the doll hospital. I failed and I doubt she will let a new doll take her place. I loved all my dolls, but I especially loved the maimed and needy ones. I understand completely.