sailbad

Still in Helena. This Saturday some of my high school classmates are coming to town and we're going to take the tour train and the Gates of the Mountains boat ride. Should be a lot of fun. And once again our plans have changed somewhat. We were going to leave from Billings after Jim's doctor appts on Monday and head for AZ. But we've decided to come back to Helena until after Labor Day and then head down a different direction. So glad we're flexible. At least about plans anyhow.

Hey you two.... Unless you are planning on staying high in the mtns of Arizona. I wouldn't rush that direction. Even after Labor day, it's hot down there. I had a place for years just North of Parker and found the temps didn't drop until the later part of October.

 

Saw the oncologist yesterday and we don't have to see him again until September. Yippee! That means the surgeon got all of the cancer and we don't have to do any chemo. So happy. We are hoping to leave here June 7, depending on how good Jim is feeling by them. (He'd better feel really good because I want out of here.) Not sure I'll remember how to move my marker or even how to get ready to hook up it's been so long.

 

Several fires already burning down here in AZ. 106 yesterday and in the hundreds for the foreseeable future. Could really be a long long summer for firefighters.

That's wonderful news. The less time spent around doctors the better....

Those fires in Arizona are bad. They really have their hands full. I spent last summer dodging the fires and smoke in New Mexico. I think most of the state burned. I hope Arizona doesn't have that type of summer this year.

And that would be why Jim does not go fishing from Friday afternoon until Monday morning.

 

Surgery was routine. Aren't those wonderful words? Jim is feeling great - because of all those wonderful pain meds he's on. He's in ICU until tomorrow and hopefully I'll get to bring him home on Tuesday. It's my understanding that they got everything so there will be no chemo/radiation. I'm exhausted and will be heading for bed early tonight.

YEEEEEEE HAAAAAA!!!!!

Just wanted to let all of you know that Jim and I are going to be in AJ for awhile longer than planned. We found out Jim has lung cancer and is going to need surgery. We don't have a date yet for the surgery but hopefully it will be within the next two weeks. Then we'll find out if he needs any additional chemo or radiation. Several people here in our park aren't leaving until the end of May so we are surrounded by people who will take care of us if we need help. Sure is a good feeling.

 

I'll let you know when we find out something more.

Well, let's get all this bad stuff finished up this year so you two can go back to wandering. I will be praying for a fast and complete recovery.

The wind clocked at 42 mph here in Deming. No Drips thank goodness. The drip cap on the trucks side windows blew loose and was flapping against the side of the truck. I had to go out and cut it the rest of the way free. The Ladies Shower cap I keep on my bike seat blew away. I has never blown off going down the road at 60 MPH. I tried to carve but the trailer was rocking so bad I couldn't get the knife on the lines I had drawn. I pulled the slid in because it was making so much noise I couldn't here myself think. (Maybe that's because I wasn't thinking) All in all it was a beautiful day if you compare it with Anartica. I'm totally tapped out and it's more of the same for tomorrow.

I wish I'd been there. We had steady winds at 45 and gusts somewhere north of 65. I was in the middle of a sand storm for 3 or 4 hours. Could not see over 200 feet at times. I did pull in the slide when it became really strong. Millie really didn't like it. It was blowing too hard for her to fly.

Well I guess it's time to come out of the brush.... I started getting sick about Jan.5th and it got progressively worse until I finally went to the Parker Hospital Feb.17th. There the Doc. loaded me up with antibiotics and steroids. Bottom line, I missed the reunion in Quartzsite.

I finally left Quartzsite March 5th and intended to head for the Tourist trap. I made it to Benson and got winded in. Finally left there this morning, fully intending to stop in Deming. But I hit a little snow, a little sleet, and a misty rain and decided to go on to Las Cruces. Of course once in Las Cruces, it was only another 175 miles to go....

So I drove the rest of the way. Now I'm tucked away beside the Casita at the Tourist Trap. Those roads can freeze tonight and I don't have to turn a wheel.

Someone stole our sun today. It was a little cool sitting out. Steve and Carol got in this evening a little behind schedule so when they arrived we didn't even let them park Bessy Bus. We just loaded them in a car and off we all went to have dinner at the Palo Verde in town. Good meal and good company. Now if we can just keep Steve awake durning the day tomorrow. We are thinking about everyone putting their generator under Bessy Bus but we don't think Carol would like that. Any Ideas.

Throw Millie in the bus.....She likes Steve

Had a nice campfire tonight but missed Denice to keep feeding it. The wind stayed down and it was fairly warm out there. Toni brought Cranberry Juice and Mike brought Maple cookies. Now that is what I call a nice fire. Terry finished wiring his Tri-Metric today so I don't know how we are going to keep him out of trouble now. Maybe we can convince him to take one of these rocks apart and put it back together again. No, that wouldn't work he'd get Doug to help him. Debbie brought me a bottle of Pinot Noir tonight. See what a bit of begging can do. Everyone Pretty Please bring cranberry Juice. That's spelled Pinot Noir just incase you forgot. I went to town today to see if I could find the Honda Generator Vender. I guess he isn't coming this year because I searched the whole town and couldn't find him anywhere. So Now I need more Cranberry Juice.

Well I'm starting to feel better and almost ready to join the frey. I do think I'll have to pass up on the camp fires though.

Lee the nearest Honda Generator shop is in Parker. I bought one from them last year. They are a good shop.

Jeri, California has a floor tax. If the vehicle is on their lot Jan.01, they have to pay tax on it. That is why

They are parked here in Arizona.

I don't have a grinder or beans but I do have a cup!

Well, finally getting caught up. Today is a run to Parker Wal-Mart. Sure glad I have a truck. I haven't been there in over 60 days. That's a lot of dog food. I tried out my new sewer valve yesterday. It fits on the very end of the pipes and when closed it allows me to equalize the 2 gray tanks. That will give me a couple more days before having to dump.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

Marsha & Paul & Bella (our cat)

I could not have said it any better!!!

We saw ICE yesterday!! We gingerly walked to our car only to find it covered in ice. Obviously, we had no ice scraper but Terry's comb came out and went to work until the car warmed up enough to help. Ice is not something we had in our plans to see ever again. Monday morning we'll be heading back to Arizona -- 1246 miles. Anticipated arrival --- Tuesday evening so that means absolutely no ice or snow desired between here and there.

 

Terry had another follow-up appointment yesterday and he's still cancer-free! Yeah!! Three more months until his next check-up!

That's wonderful news Terry......

I agree with others, Soon.

I can use a couple of those extra minutes. I went to the doctor yesterday and got a clean bill of health for another year. That will lead to a trip to Parker to fill the new prescription. Also it's an excuse or requirement to go to Wal-Mart and reload. I haven't been since before halloween. So the shopping list will start with 60 cans of dog food. Gotta keep Millie happy.

Today I was behind the Jerky store refilling a propane tank when I noticed Mike had moved his Michael's Quartzsite Glass Co. into a building there. I had a small chip and decided to have him take a look at it. It needed repair but he had a couple of cars in front of me. I told him I'd bring it in later but he wouldn't have it. He asked where I was parked and told me he would come out and fix it here. Which is exactly what he did. There was no service call charge and he accepted the insurance company's payment without question. I've known Mike about 10 years and I would not let anyone else do the job.

He's not a traveling vendor his shop here has been open for 20 years.

Let's see. I haven't posted in a while. But today it has been raining off and on and I finally ran out of excuses. Last week I replaced the Blue Flame but that wasn't all. I have had a kitchen faucet dripping for a year I decided to have a crack at it. I fully expected to have to replace it. I took it apart and discovered it had a canister that held the valve inside. Who knew? I took the canister to Herb's hardware. I explained what I had and a very nice man guided me directly to a replacement. That was an easy job.

Then there's the slide. I had a weld fail on the frame at the end of the ram. Fortunately it failed while I was re-spotting the trailer after a dump run. So I was with empty tanks and full water and a trailer that wouldn't move without repair. I discovered that the only welder in Quartzsite had gone out of business. That might have been a good thing. I had to call in a welder from Blythe for the repair. It took a few days for him to get a spot in his schedule for me. It was worth the wait. That guy really knew how to lay out a bead. It's a lot more solid now.

Also, I had just settled in for a nap when Terry and Jeri knocked at my door. I'm afraid I wasn't very hospitable during their short stay and I apologize. It was a case of the elevator not going to the top floor where the manners are kept.

Bill and Jan are in Casa Grande. We're going down there for dinner with them tomorrow night so I'm going to try and show her how to use the map. Wish me luck. Or I'll ask her if she wants to be taken off.

 

You know that chalk that Jeri uses all the time. Well, it's now in my hand. We aren't going to make Q this year. And I am disappointed. But Jim has back surgery scheduled for January 10 and will be out of commission for a month or so. Even though it breaks my heart not to be able to join you guys, if Jim can walk again it will be worth it.

We can move the reunion! We're on wheels! what room is he gonna be in?

Thanks! We wanted the one with the temperature control. We were looking at the 10K because of the size of the unit. One fella told us to get the ones that heat the bricks but those are hot to the touch .... very hot. We'll compare the size tomorrow when we go back. Since we're moving to LTVA La Posa after the first, we thought it might be better to run that than our furnace. Once we get it installed, I'm sure we'll have a heat wave and will no longer need it. It's kind of like taking an umbrella with you. It never rains. Thanks for the input.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks! Terry put in the connectors today because we weren't sure which one we wanted. Terry said to tell you he was retired. That's his way of saying he's not getting up 30 minutes before me to turn on the heater ....... I'm the earlier bird. We'll check out Grandma's tomorrow. We didn't know we had an option of where to buy it in "Q". Thanks again.

Jeri, Grandma's has the 10k or 20k units. I have the 10k and it works well in my 5er.

Two things: I think he is buying 2nds by the truck load. There is nothing really wrong with them. Also he guarantees the units for a year and he really stands behind his units.

I had a problem this year with one I bought last year. It was at least a year old and he replaced it immediately, no questions asked. I couldn't ask for a more fair deal.

Grandmaw's is in the north end of the Pit Stop's parking lot.

Oh the thrill of fulltiming! A couple of days ago I took the rig and dumped the tanks. Brought it back to my spot and set it up again. While extending the slide I heard a funny popping sound. It turns out the bracket that holds the ram on the bottom of the slide frame tore loose. Fortunately the slide is out. But I cannot move the trailer until it's repaired. There is NO mobile welding unit in Quartzsite. I had to call Blythe and make an appointment to have them come out and repair next week.

As an added thrill, I was looking at my Blue Flame heater last night and noticed it had 2 pilot lights burning. That seemed to be one more that it needed so I decided to give it a closer look. It turns out a seal on the side of the gas valve had began to leek and ignited. This allowed a small flame to erupt on top of the valve directly beside the incoming gas line. It certainly didn't take me long to disconnect that sucker.

So it was off to the heater store this morning to get a new heater. While there, I told the fellow about the heater failure. He says to bring it in and he will replace it. Ya can't beat that! I wanted a second one for my "K-LINES Casita" anyway.

Now, there is supposed to be a major storm coming tomorrow. High winds and all that stuff.

So if you are not in Quartzsite, you might want to wait a few days.

Lee, you don't need wrist braces. You need hand cuffs! They will help you stay out of that ladies drawers!

I cannot FIND this post you referred to... can you please advise?!!?

 

-Don

 

p.s. We're in Temecula for T'giving with all 4 g-kids -- just arrived after getting new MCD shades installed (back in McKinney) and a short visit to PHX for replacement winch cable, so the smart-loader is back in working order (we think/hope).

 

p.p.s Can't recall the MAP location, need to re-discover that bookmark... maybe someone can re-post that, also?!?

(Ooops --- I found it, and update our pin; we did stop-over in Q, en route, just o'nite at KOFA Mtn park,,, sorry we couldn't visit, Eric; maybe next time -- after Jan 23, or thereabouts.)

I think this is the one you are looking for:

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=90708

So here I am, parked in the pucker brush, when I find this couple lost in the desert.

I guided them back to the hiway and they rewarded me with a fine lunch.

Jeri, Terry and I had a nice chat and I will look forward to seeing them again soon.

Have you noticed, every time someone comes to visit, it cost them a meal?

Now if I can keep the rest of you spaced out right, I should be well fed all winter!

You know how much I like to keep a calendar up to date. I know the rest of you feel about the same. So, I thought I'd throw a real tough question at those who plan on being in "Q" in January. I know the real reunion isn't until the 15th but knowing this group most will be there way before that so what is the question? Well, when do you plan on getting there? I need to mark it in ink along with our schedule on the calendar.

I thought Millie and I would show up about Nov.01.

Hey Lee, can we pry you out of the slabs for this bash?

Any one in your class who is interested in attending this event is welcome. I only ask that you please send me a PM with your e-mail address so that I can add you to the attending list.

We do need to plan for a big enough area to accomadate the crowd. The entire thread can be read here: Class gathering in Q

 

Looking forward to meeting all of you.

Thanks

Linda the official "Room Mother" and one of the 3 "Cat Herders" of the "07 Class)

Can the class of 08/09 get a cat herder?

Count us in!

 

(Smidgen is a word, English people say it all the time. A smidgen of this, a smidgen of that)

It will be a long drive....... But Millie and I will be there!

Tonight finds me in Quartzsite at the Sun Setters RV Park.

YOU'RE WHERE? DINNER?

168 miles and two stops to re-torque the lug nuts. I sure didn't help the pain in my wrist by putting 110 lbs on the handle of that torque wrench today. Let's see. 6 lugs times 4 wheels times 3 applications is 72 times. Then 72 times 110 lbs and you get 7920 lbs of force on my poor little wrist. Now don't you feel sorry enough to offer me some Cranberry Juice to sooth my pain. LOL

Nope!!! Haven't you heard of a cheater bar?