Ray the Electrician

The coach's AC blew the breaker so Dan called a friend of his from "Beer-30", a guys-only shop gathering spot. As they fiddled with amperage like in the Apollo 13 simulator, they determined we could live on 30 amps ( or one beater in the mixer) but would do better on 50 ( or two beaters). He talked our ears off most of the morning with his fantastic biography and a list of supplies to get to up the amperage at the pedestal in Dan's yard and he would install for $100.

We took Dan to the airport. Figured out the antenna and TV. Walked in the morning checking out the neighborhood and did the Wii this afternoon. Redid the body test with the Wii board on cement and found I'd only gained 2 pounds instead of 9.5. Going with the gals to flea market tomorrow.

The wireless stick hasn't worked all day so spent an hour on the phone tonight and found I'd used all my time up for the month. We got another month started early and I'm back in business. This isn't fast like at home and I had it running unconsciously while on the highway. Will be more aware of my use or misuse.

Yuma Lenten service

While the guys were at Beer 30 I went to lenten services Wednesday as the LUTHERAN CHURCH near here had a sign of services at 4 & 6PM. Schedules all run early here ( see beauty blog). I noticed there's only one size of bulletin - large print. I loved the message in the bulletin:

Before the service, speak to God.
During the service, let God speak to you.
After the service, speak to your neighbor.

The choir was great and the church had people in every pew for 6PM service. Instead of a traditional sermon, the pastor and a member acted out a Readers Drama between a Zoololgy professor with lots of animals to care for including a donkey and Nico, a Mexican needing a job. The message was animals have a story to tell. We learned about the donkey and how even kings rode donkeys (there goes the humble story) but donkeys won't lead their master into harm's way. They are safe animals. Matt 21:1-11. He also mentioned there is no Biblical reference to Mary riding a donkey into Bethlehem altho is pictured that way.

Glad I went. The guys asked if I prayed for them but they weren't on the top of my list-- tough day with Miss MT Scholarship Program, and Eileen Switzer Solberg passed away from cancer. Dan Uhl's 88 year old dad died of a stomach aneurysm after just passing his medical drivers exam . Dan's leaving Thursday for Calgary.

Beauty at 4:30AM

Our first full day in Yuma had Mike & Dan Uhl busy digging a trench for drain tile, then filling and spreading 6 yards of gravel. Yuma has already surpassed their year average of 5" of rain causing puddles in the driveway which at one time had a thin layer of pavement which didn't allow water to soak in. Dan lives in a bricked wall area where mostly mobile homes and xeriscape landscaping fill the big lots. Fun to walk and see ideas.

I ventured to the Laundromat which was buzzing with activity and friendly snowbirds. Met some folks from Langden,ND/Lewistown,MT (2nd marriage-thus the 2 locations). Went to the grocery store in the strip mall there and found it filled with Chinese food from vegetables and sea creatures I'd never heard of to noodles and rice of many varieties. Barb, Dan's wife- a vegetarian, who's on a trip with her sister, uses a lot of Chinese spices and sauces from this grocery store. We used a Chinese spicy chicken sauce on our barbecued steak that was very good. If anyone wants something from the Chinese grocery store, let me know in the next 10 days. (not perishables - as we aren't going straight home from here.)

Also walked down to the beauty salon that said "walk-ins welcome" so I did, inquiring about a haircut. There were about 8 beauticians working - with the chairs full of waiting gray hair. The receptionist hollered to the staff if anyone had any cancellations today. With no response, the closest beautician to me said she had an opening at 4AM tomorrow. I said, "In the morning?!!" Yes. Well someone else had a 4:30AM so I jumped at the chance to sleep another half hour.

Lo and behold, three beauticians were there the next morning when I arrived at 4:20 in the dark. A grandma came in after me and said her daughter thought she had Alzheimer's when she said her hair appointment was at 4:30AM. When two of the beauticians looked identical, she asked if they were twins. Yes, all three were sisters, but the 2 were identical twins. "Thank God," she said, " I thought I had Alzheimer's."

The beauty shop takes appointments until 4PM daily, but it's so busy this time of year, that's the only way they keep up is starting earlier. Starting in March snowbirds start going home so the beauty shop is closed Monday & Tuesday. The 3 beautician sisters return to Washington in April and play all summer.

Today was actually hot 79. but when the sun is not shining on you, it's cool so about 5PM you want a sweater or jacket.

Wii Reality

Got out the Wii board this morning at Dan Uhl's where we are camping for a week or so. My trainer had missed me. Yikes, the body test showed I'd gained 9.5 pounds and reminded me at every time I stepped on the Wii for a new exercise, "Your weight has changed." I know that - that's why I'm putting up with your nagging....let's get on with it. Anyway - out goes the Irish Cream in the coffee for breakfast.

Arizona

Going to fill up with gas Mike toticed the light come on that would not allow him to shift grears. We parked in back of the Flying J and nervously turned off the engine and called buddy Cass, even resorted to reading the manuals - which are extensive. We gave it some time and analysed Mike's driving --this was the trip thru the snowstorm and rain. Mike, wanting to clean that bus, hit every waterpuddle he could after getting it sprayed with red rock snow in the mountains. That was my bet - was water. Anyway it started back up and we filled up. Highest price yet $2.88 for diesel, and worse mileage as 40 mph headwinds. You can't put a price on fun!

Since all that took time, we weren't going to make the 3:10 to Yuma (watched that along the way). SO- GOT ON LINE TO FIND A CAMPGROUND. That is a time consuming process - figuring what town, reading the reviews - you have to find a balance between "noisy, near interstate" and "convenient access" and then call to see if they have room for a "big rig". When my choice on the west side of tucson did not and recommended another, by the time I had called them, we had to take the very next exit . Thank God for Alice, our GPS. It sure saves a lot of yelling at the co-pilot --it is permissable to yell at Alice.

What a place, It was a huge campground with a 12 bay repair shop and "Camping World" store. Beautifully landscaped and the website invited us to help ourselves to lemons from our tree by the campground. ALMOST EVERYONE HAD ONE. The low pickings were gone, but Mike reached me a couple which I added to my hard lemonade at cocktail hour.

Made lasagna for dinner --well -- not exactly made but heated deli lasagna that wouldn't pass the truth in advertising packaging. It was a container inside a container which on the outside certainly looked to feed 4. Thank goodness, there wasn't company as it was only 2 servings. In the future will get the frozen food version. Great tasting tho. Beat Mike in 3 games of gin. How about that Olympic skating area reverberating with O, Canada. Wasn't that inspiring for the skate dancing. Wish we had an anthem that didn't cover 2 octaves.

Went swimming and Jacuzziing at 7AM before free breakfast 37 degrees this AM. Met some folks from Manitoba while I devoured 3 warm powder-sugar coated deep-fried scones. Back on the road to Yuma.

SNOW & WIND in NM - Monday

The shortest miles was the longest route and at 8750' we were in snow with a 6% downgrade through the Sacramento Mountains of NM. Mike had to change his shorts after that. Now that we are on I-10 in south NM & AZ, it's 40mph headwinds and rain. There was a ski area on that mountain! In 50 miles we went from flat desert and cactus to cedar shrubs and then mountain spruce and snow then back down to desert....scenic but nervewracking with the weather.

Aliens & Caves - Roswell & Carlsbad Caverns

We changed routes to take in Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell, NM and check out the aliens story. Carlsbad Caverns are huge - one we were in covered as much as 6 football fields and the stalactites and stalagmite formations were awesome.
The alien cover up of July 4-9, 1947 UFO landing there had a convincing story at the UFO Museum and Research Center (a 501c3 so can get grants.) THE AIR FORCE BASE REPLACED THE EVIDENCE WITH WEATHER BALLOONS, THEY DOCUMENTED. How fitting that we came home to the Independence Day movie on TV. UFO museum was pretty cheesy - just blow-up copies of articles on display in a former theatre but the belief is there. I wonder if their sport teams are the Roswell Aliens.

West TX, like KS and WY HAD LOTS OF WIND FARMS. This country has lots of pumping oil wells in the sagebrush flatland. ONCE WE GOT right OUT OF Carlsbad, they had irrigation and pecan orchards, and finally saw some cattle.

We're staying at the Carlsbad KOA which charged $95 for 2 nights - the most of anywhere. I was speechless but I didn't asked when I called cuz this is the middle of nowhere and we'd been to some fancy, highly rated campgrounds and I never dreamed it would be higher than the big cities. Mike said he would have paid twice that cuz he was done traveling after driving 500 miles Sat.
I'm like a pampered woman -Mike does everything to do with hook up, water, sewer and even cleaned out the frig and wash the outside and make coffee. He barbequed steaks and burgers the last 2 nights, made taters & onions, plus he does all the driving. It's quite the life. I'm spoiled and loving it.

I found a new storage drawer today under the dining bench. We have an ongoing rivalry claim if we find a new hidden storage place on the coach and call dubs on the place to store our stuff. Mike's in the lead cuz he claimed all the bays.

Like all of you, I'm watching the Olympics at night. When we're in a campground we get cable and wifi. Off to Yuma tomorrow, It's 700 mi so don't know that we'll go all the way.

Fredericksburg on Friday

Rene,' the tour guide, had found that the German town of Fredericksburg also had wineries, so the designated ndriver changed to Cassco as he no longer touches the stuff. We stopped at the first one we saw-Das Peach Haus which had great TX products too so we tasted wines and even got "free" insulated wine bottle carriers, and all sorts of great food. See store page.

We then went in search for German lunch. On the way into a German restaurant we talked to the Miller beer distributor, a former cop, who confirmed it was a good place to eat. His family had a long history there and was on the wrong side during the war but their town kept to themselves. I had a Fireman micro brew from Blanco,TX and we split a great sausage kraut lunch. The guys went to Admiral Nimitz WWII -Pacific Front museum (Fredricksburg was his hometown). The town was filled with unique shops so Rene & I explored kitchen stores, Quilt shops, home furnishing shops, Christmas store and sampled more wine until the guys called.

We ate at Rudy's for dinner. Great BBQ. The brisket reminded me of GARTH'S FOR HARVESTFEST AS THEY SERVED IT WITH a cheap white bread. Best cream corn ( like the corn I made and froze with leftover corn on the cob from tailgate party). Luckily we have some leftovers we will have going down the road as we travel tomorrow.

Came home and I lost a tennis match but beat Cass in a couple rounds of golf == on the Wii that is ( the only way I'd ever win at golf. ) TV fixed itself. SAtillno word on the PDC stolen TV. Cal said the police in the Ranger said they had no leads which she couldn't understand as we know who did it. I figure the police aren't ready to tell the press while still waiting to capture the suspects

Altho I haven't expounded on all the bus details = that's a story unto itself especially since Mike watched RV. He's cleaned out fecal matter and is enjoying his new ladder Cassco got him at Camping World - it collapses to 6" x 6" x 7' Mike has the bus shining.

Local foods store ideas

Great Farm to Table store ideas.
It's impossible to leave "FTT" with an empty stomach or car trunk. Saying at store/winery

IGunpowder = Groundpepper. Free recipes. Samples to try. Reminded me of friendly attitude of SodHouse Sundries. Peach Haus was located in German town Fredricksburg, TX.

Mexican Market

You would think you were in Mexico as we were at the El Mercado - Mexican Market Thursday in San Antonio. They had more dishes there that Sandi loves than in Cancun - and cheaper, the shop tender said. I almost went home with the kitchen sink - a beautiful sink in the same colorful terra pottery. I want it for a bathroom at the lake when we build. Will get that another trip--Mike said...ha.

Got some leather stuff : Mike got a new wallet to flash like FBI, a ditty bag, I got some dishes, a pinata and Spiderman wrestling mask for Jayden. Rene' got this Texas size cowboy hat that will prevent sunburn on head and shoulders. Cassco finally fulfilled his dream and got a globe made of beautiful stones and gems. It's very detailed. THAT'S THE BONUS OF NOT FLYING -- ROOM TO HAUL.


Oysters again - Mike loves those raw oysters and they are very fresh here. Learned something from Cassidys - You don't have to buy seafood cocktail sauce. Use ketchup and add ground horseradish - more if want more bite...and a touch of lemon juice.

We had great margaritas today at "La Margarita" Restaurant and Mike & I shared a fajita. We can't keep eating at this pace or we'll have to add another axle to the bus
.

San Antonio

http://www.thealamo.org/history.html

Spent the day exploring the Alamo and the Riverwalk. No wonder the Texans are so proud of their state. I didn't realize 6FLAGS has signigficance that Texas has been under the governance of six different flags - Mexican to confederate.

We ate at Joe's Crab Shack with a dancing black waiter. Great food and enough for crab salad for lunch.

Rene and I visited St. Joe's Catholic Church built by Germans in the early 1800s. It's Ash Wednesday so we got the cross of ashes, which is something also done at the Wolf Point Lutheran church.

The guys are in their glory scrubbing their coaches this AM. I went to line-dancing at the campground this AM but looked at wrong clock set on Mountain time so got there for last dance. Ihought tI had everything for the Wii but forgot the Wii board. Matt & Billy Ball had it sent down here so should arrive today. We will do that in the bay TV outside so should be quite a show as we bowl or golf or do Wii Fit! ha

The previous owner has an expandable file on every appliance and system that operates this Marathon. Washing clothes in the W/D combo this AM and resorted to the directions for the convection oven for the Pillsbury grands this AM. Key- put in the time first, then push convection.

Dallas = visit friends and family

Gerald & Mrs. Harless of Plano,TX were a delight to reconnect with. Gerald is a Corrosion Engineer and oversaw corrosion installations for the AirForce in the 1980s and is now retired but sharp as a tack. Gerald designed corrosion installations for Mike.

My X sister-in-law Kathie and I can pick up just where we left off, so even though not officially related, we're still friends. She is one of the 8000 that EDS laid off a year ago. HP bought out EDS but has hired back few former employees. She and David were going to get married around Thanksgiving but he got a brain tumor and is doing radiation and chemo. He looked good- hair growing back; he and Mike are about the same size. She is a gifted interior designer and can rewrite techno goop into consumer lingo so has marketable skills so hope jobs materialize.

Running late, we met my brother Clayton and his new love Priscilla at her beautiful home. She is a tall willowy mother that bubbles with merriment. She has two kids, both in college that are the same age as Justin & Lauren except sex reversed. We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant and got home about midnight - At least traffic light. Only one wrong turn. A FUN day.

Day 4 in the OK campground

>Here's Mike & Rene's 45' Newell Coach. This 2004 motorhome has 4 pullouts so looks like a homey living/dining room as we watch the Olympics. Was a cold windy day - snow this morning in Ok City so no one wanted to go back to the flea market to get channel lock pliers or exchange the wranglers. Went to wallyworld (WalMart) last night to get the pliers and they must have dropped out of his bag cuz he couldn't find them this AM.

Went for Valentine's dinner at the Casino - usually not into buffets but this had shrimp cocktails, prime rib, oyster appetizers, catfish, great asparagus, and a dessert fountain of chocolate with fresh strawberries and pineapple , pecan pie and a 6" chocolate layer cake/mouse. We waddled home. Wimpy gambler: won $5; spent $3.

RV people go on line to look for RV spots and read the reviews of other RVers. They are pretty picky " Heard gunshots, gravel, potholes, have to pay for WIFi."

While I was making brownies in honor of Valentine's day, the crew must have been making plans for camping in Dallas. When I joined them we were making plans for San Antonio and watched the movie RV with Robin Williams, a training video of what not to do! I looked for some places near McKinney/Plano where Gerald, Kathie and Clayton all live. When I'm calling for reservations Monday morning as we're leaving for Dallas, the guys announce we are staying in Burlesen ( south of Ft. Worth, 70 miles from where we are going to visit. ) I sure thought that was inconvenient but didn't win that battle as the reviews weren't good enough. Mike was willing to drive up and back in the pick-up. Here's what we drive thru- thank God it wasn't rush hour.

Day 3 -Oklahoma City

Sat morning the Cassidys and Mike & I headed to Franks Trailer Sales to pick up the new trailer. On the way we saw a flea market across the street, so Rene' and I headed there as the guys got trailers swapped. Great looking trailer and the guys got a great deal on clip-on heavy-duty ratcheting straps to secure a vehicle to the trailer.

The flea market had at least 5 vendors selling chickens of all varieties. The 5-acre field had tailgate booths of tools, guns, broken drumsets, toys, VCR tapes, plus a few tin and wood sheds of junk including piles of wranglers for $4. Rene' got a couple of champagne classes that matches her set she had priced at $15 ea which she got for $2. I got Mike a pair of 36x40 jeans but they were missized, even tho that's what the label said. Either Smiler gets a pair of Wranglers to cut off or we'll make a jean quilt! A guy from Kalispell had a booth of carved bears. We discussed the state of the nation with him while we admired his log carved fishing bear. It looked the the same artist that did the bears for the Book'n Bear, but I forgot to ask. We wondered how they could sell guns and ammo at a flea market but the trailer sales guy laughed and said we're in hillbilly country.

Went to the Oklahoma bombing site (see blog) and us girls went to a science museum especially for kids where they showed kids how to blow up stuff. Go figure!

Went to Spencer's Barbecue last night for great ribs and apple fritters. I found it on the internet. The owner took a liking to us and gave us extra fritters to go. When Cassco ordered cinnamon rolls to take home, he threw them in for free too. Had pulled pork sandwiches from the leftovers for lunch Sunday.

Oklahoma City National Memorial

The Oklahoma City National Memorial made such an impact on us. Remember Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, terrorists who drove a van filled with explosives that took down the federal building killing 168 in 1995? From the chairs representing those that died to the gates of time where you enter the memorial grounds. The east end says 9:01, the time of innocence, and the west end 9:03, the time of healing, with the reflecting pool between. 9:02AM was the time of the terrorist explosion.


This is all funded by private donations, but the National Park Service rangers are on hand to answer questions. It was impressive there is still a chain link fence of personal memorabilia outside the memorial grounds. Across the street where the Catholic Parish used to stand, the Catholic Church erected a statue of Jesus with his back to the memorial. At the base of the statue the only words it says are "Jesus wept."

Heartland of America

Nebraska & Kansas show a tint of green already. Lots of hog farms, feed lots, John Deere and farm supply stores. Just saw a Montana Mike's Steakhouse here in Kansas. Montana sells. It's 45-50 degrees. We ran out of snow at Casper. Heard Dallas, TX got a foot of snow yesterday.

It's fun to get up and raid the fridge as we drive but you have to release the lockbar and relock so the door doesn't release all the cans and bottles. Only one wine bottle rolled out so far on a curve-- didn't break.:)

We are in the heart of tornado alley but looks peaceful now. Mike and a fellow RVer just waved. Truckers don't wave as they hate RVers - same weight but don't have to stop at weigh station, no CDL required and RVs can go 75 rather than 70.

Mike started seismographing down here when he was right out of high school. He bought a used drill from his uncle's brother, Steve Becktel, while in Topeka, KS and headed to Tioga, ND in the middle of winter.

Technology

With Alice Garmin, our GPS and the wireless, we can hardly make a wrong turn. Altho Alice wanted us to go thru Denver. She could not get over it when we headed toward Scottsbluff, at every intersection she wanted us to make 2 right turns to go back to the interstate. Recomputing.

We go to www.cheapgas.com to see where to fill up as you can imagine, it's a major expense as we got 85 gallons last night.

The TV or DVD didn't work although it did in the shop so we're in touch with our 2 consultants - son Chris and Leon at Marathon.

The starlight ceiling lights, ribbon of lights under the windows, mirrored ceiling and walls make you feel like you're in a passion pit. Mike's early morning trip to the mirrored bathroom, had him running for clothes so he could go.

Teapot Dome - WY

Wyoming was a plethora of oil wells and windfarms and a new power plant going in by the coal mines near Gillette. We went through the Teapot Dome area near MidWest,WY. Mike's great grandpa Si Iba found oil there, discovered it and sold it, moving to Casper. That land is still known as the "Iba 80." He went thru a lot of women, booze and money, but if I remember grandpa Keith's story right, he married a real nice prostitute. Anyway- no oil $ to pass down - just good stories.


Anyway, with wireless, we checked out the Teaot Dome Scandal of the 1920s. That was considered the first political scandal uncovered. When the Sec of Interior accepted a $400,000 "gift" for leasing to Sinclair. Wonder if that's why there's still a lot of Sinclair stations in WY. The investigation by the Senate was spearheaded by Senator Walsh of MT.

http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/hpolscrv/jzeck.html

the robbery

Yesterday as the Farm to Table crew was loading up stuff for Glendive Agri-Trade Expo at the EPEC,and we gathered in the conference room of the Prairie Development Center, Jess said "WHERE'S THE TV?" We have a 52" flat screen TV purchased last July mounted on the wall for showing sustainable food DVDs and the food channel shows.

Bruce was in Helena presenting for a Growth Thru Ag grant so it couldn't have been him . but I called Sherry just in case. I know the tv was there for the Miss MT meeting Mi=onday night. Tuesday I never noticed anything. So headed upstairs to check with mental health. Karen Schneider followed me up the stairs and I told her the TV was missing. She gasped, " I know who took it!" I helped them load it into their car at 4:50 last night. They were in the parking lot and I it was almost in but needed some help - it had brackets in the back."
We called the police and after I reported the robbery I turned the phone over to Karen. She gave them a name and address. She already had the police watching this address for possibly selling pain meds. Officer Cope investigated. The TV found at their house was a 42" different brand. - not a Sony Bravia. WHAT! I understand they did have him in jail for something else.

The police need a serial # to pit out a APB to the pawn shops. I spent the afternoon looking for the sales receipt in Bruce's office. One thing leads to another--that started a sorting and filing project not only for receipts but magazines, and books. ( If you'd seen Bruce's office, you'd understand. Anyway Bruce took over looking for the receipt and serial # this morning. No # on receipt; no help from Best Buy but checking with Sony. Anyway, better buy some Rotary tickets for the flatscreen to be drawn March 4 at the Health fair. And if you see that TV being loaded in someone's car bMarch 4, call the police.

We're on the road and have already passed our last journey to Fallon. Mike started out more nervous than a whore in church as we eased out of the shop yard. Got up to 45 by the elevator but heading to Broadus his comfort level has him going the speed limit.

I'm holding Sherry & Arvid's Roadrunner wine - ready for the journey.

Road Trip hasn't seen the road yet

We were going to leave Saturday, Then Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday but now set for Thursday. It was -25 last night and the coach is diesel so we don't want to be jelled up before we leave the state so we're held captive for a few more days as it warms up. More time to finish projects!

Mike- with his cathodic protection training has an aversion to that salt spray. It corrodes anything it touches. Not on his chrome and stainless steel-thank you very much so we're avoiding snowstorms, but Oklahoma City - our first destination got snow.

You'll get to hear about food and easy cooking, how a husband and wife who have spent half a lifetime apart do together 24/7 and life on the road. The maiden voyage awaits. So far I still have room to bring more stuff - like the Wii.