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Velos

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Everything posted by Velos

  1. Over the years we have been to many a campground potluck and the invitation included BYOP "Bring Your Own Placesetting". I have see a lot of creative bags to put the place settings in to carry easily. Does anyone have a website that these are sold on or photos of your creative bag for pot luck place settings that you would like to share here?
  2. Not just for kids.....These are new to me or I never paid attention in the past. A loved one wears tennis shoes but can no longer tie them, didn't want Velcro or hooks etc. A friend gave me a pair of these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VF2FG88/ref=dp_iou_view_item?ie=UTF8&psc=1 to try. They worked so well I got some for me. I thought they might not be secure enough but they seem to be working very well and are easy to slip on and off. They come in all sorts of colors to go with most any lace up shoe or to be a trend setter around the campfire with neon or holiday colors....
  3. I have never made wings but thought I would give it a try. I have been looking at recipes online and finding tips ie: baking instead of frying, baking powder or corn starch to make crispier and crock pot wings (broil for 3 minutes just before serving). Several include ranch dressing seasoning packet but in looking at the contents it contains MSG. Packet Ingredients: Maltodextrin, buttermilk, salt, monosodium glutamate, lactic acid, dried garlic, dried onion, spices, citric acid, less than 2% of: calcium stearate, artificial flavors, xanthan gum, carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, natural flavors (soy). Contains: Milk, Soy. What is your favorite Buffalo Wings recipe?
  4. We enjoy the spur of the moment gatherings to meet neighbors or join in a parks social hour but am always stumped with what to bring other than pre-packaged snacks. What do you keep on hand for these gatherings? And what is your "go to" recipe for spontaneous socials and gatherings?
  5. Does anyone here have experience with this company? https://www.genexservices.com/
  6. Do you use Microsoft Outlook for your Email? If so which version? I have Outlook 2010 to download my G-mail but for "security" reasons Microsoft is no longer supporting 3rd party email for 2010 and before as of May 31, 2022. I am debating which way to go? I do not like managing my email online; more features in Outlook on my computer so looking for an email program housed on my hard drive and not cyber space. Suggestions? Ideas? Thanks. PS or is there a work around?
  7. Saw this article in the Costco Connection Magazine and thought it might be of interest to newer RV'ers. https://www.costco.com/connection-cover-hit-the-road-may-2022.html
  8. In my youth money was a priority to achieve my specific long term goals of independence and being able to care for my family. In the late 80’s I went to seminar called “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” don’t remember 6 of them very well but one made an impression regarding the $value of one’s time and I will paraphrase: We have our “circle of concern” and more importantly our “circle of influence”. Time is a finite resource, don’t just “kill time”, get the best return on it by $spending your time on what you can influence; worry and concern earn you nothing. Influential actions have tangible returns and concerns are a loss showing nothing for the effort. IMHO The government is too big to begin with and there has been a trend over my life time to forgo personal reliance and delegate individual responsibility to the government. The budget is too big to begin with and no one group can handle all the finances of 330 million people. We voted those individuals into office possibly with the lure/carrot of “free” this or/and “easy” that. Maybe we have learned the lesson, that only the individual cares enough to make the best daily and personal decisions through their own due diligence for themselves and not a group of people 1000’s of miles away that have little or nothing in common with our daily experiences, and more voters will participate in all upcoming elections. I am looking forward to the time when the majority of conversations will not be dominated by politics/government further separating humankind which seems to have has forgotten that it has more in common than it doesn’t. Now in my senior years my priority is time and to get the best value for my time that I have left on this earth. I am grateful for any government movement forward and though not a priority for some if we can get daylight saving time changed it will affect many and may influence other changes? All we need is momentum and maybe the pendulum will start heading the other direction. Since eliminating daylight saving time would seem to not negatively affect ones reelection potential as much as the “budget” does it may just happen? PS for those interested in the money https://finance.yahoo.com/news/daylight-saving-time-costs-us-211545214.html "a 2008 report by Chmura Economics & Analytics Independent Institute claimed the annual costs for changing clocks twice a year could be as high as $1.7 billion".
  9. U.S. Senate approves bill to make daylight saving time permanent March 15, 20223:24 PM MSTLast Updated 2 hours ago WASHINGTON, March 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent starting in 2023, ending the twice-annual changing of clocks in a move promoted by supporters advocating brighter afternoons and more economic activity. The Senate approved the measure, called the Sunshine Protection Act, unanimously by voice vote. The House of Representatives, which has held a committee hearing on the matter, must still pass the bill before it can go to President Joe Biden to sign. The complete article here: https://tinyurl.com/2p8ra7dr
  10. I have never been a big reader can't sit still long enough, but with the advent of the pandemic I bought a kindle and started reading free e-books downloaded from the library. Then when my gym closed I downloaded the books to my cell phone and bought wireless earbuds to listen to books on my daily 3 mile walk. I recently listened to a couple of books that had PDF appendices not narrated in the audio version and went looking for them on the internet and found https://www.thriftbooks.com/. I have ordered several books from them and been very pleased with the convenience, service and prices. One book I ordered specifically in the best condition to make sure I received a particular PDF. It had been removed from the copy I received. I reached out to the company on a weekend via their online contact form and received a response shortly after. (this is a discount book service) They replaced the book at no charge and no need return the damaged one, so I gave it to park library. Audio downloads are still my first choice but wanted to share this positive experience in case others may be looking for hard copy books. Safe Travels,
  11. 2022 Update on daylight saving time legislation "So far in 2022, at least 22 states are considering 62 pieces of legislation addressing Daylight Saving Time (DST) including 2021 carryover bills and new bills introduced during the 2022 legislative session. Specific states include Alaska, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Vermont." Source: https://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/daylight-savings-time-state-legislation.aspx For those wanting to get involved via an alternative to online petitions you can find the mailing address of your specific state legislator here https://clerk.house.gov/Members#MemberProfiles and write them a letter. This would be a good civics class exercise for elementary or middle school students to learn who their representative is and write their elected official.
  12. The pandemic increased interest in RVing to be able to still vacation while socially distancing. Many found it hard to find open RV sites these past two summers. RV sales went through the roof and pre-owned units sold quickly. Now with the supply chain challenges materials and supplies will take awhile to get back into the system. Change is like death and taxes: a certainty and it is human nature to resist change. The cost of building new RV parks and bringing old ones up to the current "standards" or "interests" of subsequent generations cost money. I started RVing when dirt was new and progressed through several styles of units from tents, to truck campers to tow trailers, to motorhome to fivers. I vacationed, part timed and full timed. Talented designers packed more and more into little spaces each year. Some want it all, some are minimalists and no two have the exact same interests. I googled "What is the future of RVing? Electric vehicles are quandary with their limited distances but that is just one of the many new challenges for travelers, RV manufactures and RV parks. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=What+is+the+future+of+rving
  13. A friend of mine, non-rver, just took their first post pandemic getaway and found this spot to enjoy the fall colors : https://tinyurl.com/u64v9x8a If fuel prices are keeping you from getting out on the the road right now maybe you can rent your RV like a stationary cabin? I've seen the Air Stream ranch in California on TV before: https://www.airstreamranch.com/
  14. Found these links on another page and thought they may be of interest here to others wanting to learn about P2P services: Consumer Reports P2P Safety Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T6RCVvtrgU How Venmo Works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ7EBa7OZ8I How Zelle Works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDZa1wRsCYM
  15. We haven't carried a checkbook in a long time and some places, believe it or not., don't take cash?? I have been looking into Electronic or Mobile Payment Methods (Peer to Peer payments) and wondered if any one here has used either Zelle or Venmo? Do you use it often? Is it easy to use? any comments appreciated. https://www.creditkarma.com/savings/i/zelle-vs-venmo-what-to-know?fbclid=IwAR3iYMR1UFWvxMnuHnqakapsyQhlMDRrdK45nhD31vpvcpMv1DdWdY4cWZA
  16. There are several points of view regarding supplements here are a couple: One is you are just flushing money down the commode. Another is the processing of our foods have gone so far we are not getting the nutrients we used to in the same food so supplements in moderation to balance ones nutrition Only prescription medications should be used as the FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/what-you-need-know-about-dietary-supplements My interest in supplements is a result of a pharmacy not being able to get a prescription for 3 weeks this past summer and then received the name brand formulation instead of the generic formulation that I had been taking for several years and subsequent reactions. The active ingredients are the same but they differ in inactive ingredients. According to the FDA, generic medications can cost, on average, 80 to 85 percent less than the brand-name equivalents. Virtually no one is making generics in the USA. Most drugs utilized in the USA are generics. Source : https://www.healthline.com/health-news/china-control-over-your-prescription-drugs With the current hiccups in the supply chain and estimated resolution unknown at this time combined with 80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients coming from overseas https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/politifact_missouri/fact-check-its-unclear-how-many-ingredients-raw-materials-are-imported-from-china/article_24a329cc-a04c-11ea-91c7-139bbfa702ee.html I was looking up drug shortages and found this website listing the status of many common drugs https://www.drugs.com/drug-shortages/ One size will never fit all in anything no matter how hard we try to put that square peg in a round hole ...so as in investing.. spread your eggs among several baskets to minimize your risk.
  17. I friend of mine gave me a book on the "Benefits of Cacao" several years ago, I didn't pursue it at that time but thought I would revisit. Just wondering if anyone here is taking Cacao Supplements? "Cocoa powder and cacao powder are very similar, the only difference being that cocoa is processed at a much higher temperature (and often packaged cocoa contains added sugar and dairy). Both start out as beans from the cacao plant (confusing, right?), which are separated from the fatty part known as cocoa butter. At harvest, cacao beans are fermented to develop flavor and texture. So, cacao powder is made from fermented beans that have not been roasted. They are processed at low temperatures and then milled into a powder. The result is a powder that's bitter in taste and higher in nutritional content. Cocoa powder on the other hand is made from beans that are both fermented and roasted, and then processed at a much higher temperature. The result is a less bitter, slightly darker powder that has lost some of its nutritional value.Cacao powder is often packaged as vegan, as it has been minimally processed with no additives". SOURCE: https://www.allrecipes.com/article/difference-between-cocoa-and-cacao/ Health Benefits of Cacao Powder SOURCE: https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cacao-powder#1 The fiber in cacao powder promotes healthy digestion and can reduce the risk and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive problems. Here are some other health benefits of cacao powder: Lower Blood Pressure Cacao powder is packed with flavonoids. These nutrients that have been shown to help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to the brain and heart, and aid in preventing blood clots. Reduced Diabetes Risk The flavonoids in cacao powder may help increase insulin sensitivity, reducing your risk of diabetes. Reduced Heart Disease Risk Cacao powder contains lots of potassium. Potassium has been shown to decrease risk of heart disease by reducing lower body inflammation and stress on cells. Reduced Inflammation The flavonoids in cacao powder can help to reduce inflammation throughout your body. Reduced inflammation may lessen your risk of some cancers, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. Nutrition Cacao powder provides more nutrition than cocoa powder and can be a healthier substitute in recipes. Cacao powder is also an excellent source of: • Iron • Protein • Magnesium • Potassium • Fiber Nutrients per Serving Two tablespoons of cacao powder contains: • Calories: 130• Protein: 7 grams• Fat: 6 grams• Carbohydrates: 13 grams• Fiber: 8 grams• Sugar: 0 grams
  18. Update: Repairman came on the 9/8/2021. He has worked with many GE appliances and explained the warranty process. To insure work is covered under warranty before he starts repair he has to check in with GE while troubleshooting. He put his phone on speaker so we could hear what was going on. We apparently have a bad sensor so that has been ordered unfortunately there is no way to test the board to see if it is bad until the new sensor is installed. The sensor should only take a couple of weeks but the board could take 6 to 8 months due to chip shortages from the pandemic. Its a shame that there is so much fraud with warranty claims that GE has to resort to this process for appliance repairs though I will give them the benefit of the doubt as many manufactures are in the same boat with a shortage of computer chips these days. Intel CEO's explanation for the shortage of computer chips in general and time estimate till production will catch up with demand: Source: https://www.popsci.com/technology/global-chip-shortage/ "The company's CEO has said he thinks the industry needs one or two years before the shortage resolves."
  19. Thank you for the suggestions. I hope it doesn't become a legal issue. I did purchase and have the same company install the appliance and the salesman has forwarded my request for warranty work authorization to the company's regional manager and the Arizona State Regional Manager for General Electric. Trivia: Whenever I have had an issue I start a spiral bound written log (i'm old fashion and some habits never die, I know I could keep a log electronically) of dates, times, phone numbers and names of who I have spoken with or emailed regarding the issue. As much as we would like to get things solved with a phone call all we have is the phone number and time of call but no content of the conversations. These days there are phone trees instead of humans, most of the time it is very efficient but there will always be issues that need human intervention. I have found in the past that the internet is a very helpful resource to find the names and contact information of company executives and write letters to them. It takes more effort and unfortunately time but I have had success in the past contacting Executives at Best Buy, Home Depot and the USPS to resolve issues that in-store managers are no longer able to resolve because of "centralization" of tasks as a cost saving process. I personally had worked for a company that centralized internally and then when the company was sold to an even larger company those tasks were centralized across state lines. The benefit of that for the client was that federal laws handle transactions across state lines and the limit in this particular industry was 10 days to resolve issues. When trying to resolve issues I try to stick to just the facts without adjectives and be sure to include supporting documentation ie advertisements, contracts. I also use social media to to share my story and company names to help others that might experience the same issues as well as take advantage of big company's spiders that search for their name on the web and maybe get additional assistance. Again the Pandemic has exponentially complicated our lives and will have a long lasting effect for years to come. Our greatest tool to navigate these waters will be kindness, patience and above all tenacity and persistence.
  20. Thank you for the encouragement. I will continue till it is resolved. I received an email this afternoon from the appliance store that they have forwarded my concern to the Company Customer Service Manager and to the GE Manager for Arizona. I have purchased appliances over the years from the appliance company and have been pleased with the service. I have not had GE appliances before. Interesting info Haier bought GE appliance division, I found this article about the acquisition of GE by Haier. https://www.madeinamerica.com/chinese-investors/ For anyone else needing to contact GE Headquarters here is their website: https://corporateofficehq.org/general-electric-corporate-office-headquarters-numbers/
  21. I understand there is a pandemic and there is much stress on reduced production, materials and labor shortages. I am an optimist and sure we will get through this but wanted to prevent anyone else from having to go through this appliance inconvenience. I know other RV'ers have put GE appliances in their RV's so that is why I am sharing here. My GE gas range started beeping the other night and had a error code F200; we weren't using it at the time and it has performed flawlessly for the last 4 months so is still under warranty. I called the GE service line 1-800-432-2737 and the phone tree refers me to the website for faster service. I go to the service website genet.geappliances.com/eservice/service/contact and it has been experiencing temporary issues the last three days morning and afternoon and refers me to the GE service line. I call again and they can't find my appliance so the phone tree disconnect me: funny but I see my range when I log on to the GE website? I also Googled GE customer relations and called and emailed and they refer me to the nonworking website and phone number. I also found a 1-800 phone number that was supposed to guarantee a human though there may be a wait and it also refers me to the non-working GE Service line and website. I am retired and have a lot of patience but non-working websites are what late night parody skits are made of this material. The appliance dealer that installed it is trying to help me get warranty authorization but in our small town the repairman won't come out until GE gives him the warranty release and the repairman can't initiate the warranty action. (I understand they have probably lost on warranty calls in the past so best to get the paperwork up front) I just want to range to work but would like to get the warranty I paid for in the purchase price. If not I would like it repaired and will pay for the repair but would like to know there is a human being at the company that will reimburse me for the service and most probably a part. Its only been three days without a range, I will keep you posted on the resolution but in the mean time I can not recommend GE Appliances.
  22. I was curious about the German brand you mentioned and found this name on the website below: Stiebel For others that may be water heater shopping this is one website's top ten tankless water heaters: https://tinyurl.com/dtr32xby
  23. Thank you for sharing your experiences. It has been very helpful. We thought we might have to replace our water heater but it was just a loose connection and are now much more informed for when it does start "pushing up daises" for real. Safe Travels,
  24. What are the Pros and Cons of tank-less water heaters in your experience in RV's and or stick n bricks?
  25. Update and Success: Thank you for all your suggestions. Found the title, it had fallen between some other papers. All documentation by the TX DMV was on the original title and the RV now has a very happy new owner. Safe travels all.
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