There are a couple areas in the fifth wheel for which the dealer performing the repairs doesn't have the best solution. We took a trip to the local Camping World location in Avondale to check out options for our toilet and for our satellite needs.
Our fifth wheel has a Sealand Concerto ceramic/electric toilet that is probably the top-of-the-line toilet for an RV. Our salesman that sold us the fifth wheel back in 2007 gave us a free upgrade to this toilet which we love. We have problems with it now - of course, it is over 8 years old. The RV repair dealer is quoting an outrageous price to fix it, so we went looking for options. We thought that we had a "normal" toilet selected that satisfies our needs but by the time we added adapters to the floor connections to install where the Sealand unit is, the cost is about the same as replacing the existing Sealand toilet with a new one of the same style. That is most likely the way we will go. The best (and cheapest) thing to do is to take our fifth wheel to Camping World following the existing service to have it installed.
The satellite is a different problem. The company (Moto Sat) that supplied the satellite equipment that we presently have went out of business a couple years ago and we need to upgrade the equipment. We will probably acquire the Camping World replacement satellite equipment which is DirecTV equipment and would be an easy installation. That is very costly though, so we are trying to figure out how we can get it done without possibly going without buying groceries for the rest of the year. Our budget has been decimated by the unscheduled, but necessary, trip to Seattle last week.
It looks like we are back on schedule to get everything done on time. We should be ready to move into the RV space at the Pioneer RV Resort on schedule on February 17...
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Good Scheduling Day
Most of the day yesterday was spent catching up on scheduling the many activities we need to have done this next month.
The Storage space was reserved for all our household goods, the movers are tentatively scheduled for February 20th, all of our screens and windows will be cleaned on February 9th, our repairs on the fifth wheel were agreed to and that work begins right away and gathering of data for taxes was started. The major task of having the repairs done to the fifth wheel is most important as we are on a time frame to get it back to load with all the items we will need to "live" in it once more - temporarily. Depending on how well the home rental goes, it could be our home for a year or more. It will definitely be our home this summer and probably in the Fall. Josie will meet with the management at her flower shop to discuss our plans and try to get a commitment for her job next year. If they don't guarantee her job next Fall, we will make other arrangements. There are many options.
Josie has picked up an infection over the last week that is draining her of energy and her appetite. We went to the local Urgent Care after we arrived home from Seattle and she picked up some medication. She still hasn't seen much improvement but we are hoping she feels better before Monday when she has to return to work. It has made it doubly tough to heal from the emotional events of last week...
The Storage space was reserved for all our household goods, the movers are tentatively scheduled for February 20th, all of our screens and windows will be cleaned on February 9th, our repairs on the fifth wheel were agreed to and that work begins right away and gathering of data for taxes was started. The major task of having the repairs done to the fifth wheel is most important as we are on a time frame to get it back to load with all the items we will need to "live" in it once more - temporarily. Depending on how well the home rental goes, it could be our home for a year or more. It will definitely be our home this summer and probably in the Fall. Josie will meet with the management at her flower shop to discuss our plans and try to get a commitment for her job next year. If they don't guarantee her job next Fall, we will make other arrangements. There are many options.
Josie has picked up an infection over the last week that is draining her of energy and her appetite. We went to the local Urgent Care after we arrived home from Seattle and she picked up some medication. She still hasn't seen much improvement but we are hoping she feels better before Monday when she has to return to work. It has made it doubly tough to heal from the emotional events of last week...
Friday, January 29, 2016
Back Home
We have returned from Seattle where we took care of the business of providing for Tracy's final resting place. We have returned with her ashes which will be dispersed at a location to be determined. Needless to say, it was a horrible trip and one that we hope never to have to repeat and one we would not wish on anyone. We are thankful that there were family, friends and caring people to help along the way to make sure that we had the strength to carry on with all the arrangements and to help soften the blow of this loss.
Kristine did really well holding up through all the activities to help make the arrangements and insure that we had everything we needed. The hotel where we stayed - and where Kristine is now employed - was terrific and we had the opportunity to spend some time with her at both her work:
and outside of work. The father of her good friend, Taylor, graciously made the plaque in the photo above.
It rained the entire time we were in Seattle (what else is new) and, unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to spend time with the grand kids. That will be reserved for the next trip which we hope will be under more pleasant circumstances.
Our flight home yesterday provided some excellent views of the Cascade Mountains and Rocky mountains and the skies cleared enough for us to take some photos of the beauty we enjoyed all the way home:
Including these shots of the Grand Canyon:
It's back to normal again - if there is such a thing...
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Sorrow
Our daughter Tracy died yesterday.
The telephone call we have been anticipating for many years came yesterday evening at about 6 PM. Her battle with drugs is now ended, and a beautiful person has been taken from our lives.
I will suspend entries for the blog while we cope with this tragic event...
The telephone call we have been anticipating for many years came yesterday evening at about 6 PM. Her battle with drugs is now ended, and a beautiful person has been taken from our lives.
I will suspend entries for the blog while we cope with this tragic event...
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Poised For Estimates
I thought we would get our repair estimates yesterday, but all we received was an estimate for one, very small portion of the repairs list. It was one item that is very low on our list, so we are still anxiously awaiting the final number for the rest of the work. We are holding our breath as the work is significant, and we know there are things we will have to pass on as a result of the total cost. One option that we are looking at is to get the necessary stuff done and somehow either sell or trade the unit on a new one so that we don't waste any money. When you live full-time in a unit as we did for almost 7 years, it takes a toll on most of the equipment. We may get the final estimates today, but it will more likely be Monday.
Josie has a rare two consecutive days off this weekend, so we will try to do something special. We have to get started on the packing process so that can't be ignored either. It promises to be a an interesting weekend...
Josie has a rare two consecutive days off this weekend, so we will try to do something special. We have to get started on the packing process so that can't be ignored either. It promises to be a an interesting weekend...
Friday, January 22, 2016
Pass Day
It was the kind of day yesterday where most efforts were applied toward follow-up activities.
I contacted the RV dealer and we expect to have our repair estimates completed by today. I suspect that the actual work will begin right away once we get agreement on the work.
We were credited with our deposit refund from Lake Pleasant as we cancelled our reservation there for Feb-May. They were not able to put together a reservation for a single space for that time frame without moving three times. Hence, the Pioneer RV reservation.
We will be participating in a "free" 3-day, 2-night vacation at Emerald Cove Resort in Parker, AZ on Feb 19-21. This is one of those occasions where you get a nice, free trip, but you have to have a strong resolve to say no following their 1.5 hour sales pitch. Basically, this is a membership club that runs five or six RV parks that are located along the Colorado River in Arizona, with another in Mexico just south of Yuma on the Sea of Cortez. We are not interested in joining, but are interested in a free 3-day vacation - plus, we get $200 in gas and a free Android tablet for attending.
The rest of the day was spent trying to zero-in on dates for other actions that need to be completed over the next several months...
I contacted the RV dealer and we expect to have our repair estimates completed by today. I suspect that the actual work will begin right away once we get agreement on the work.
We were credited with our deposit refund from Lake Pleasant as we cancelled our reservation there for Feb-May. They were not able to put together a reservation for a single space for that time frame without moving three times. Hence, the Pioneer RV reservation.
We will be participating in a "free" 3-day, 2-night vacation at Emerald Cove Resort in Parker, AZ on Feb 19-21. This is one of those occasions where you get a nice, free trip, but you have to have a strong resolve to say no following their 1.5 hour sales pitch. Basically, this is a membership club that runs five or six RV parks that are located along the Colorado River in Arizona, with another in Mexico just south of Yuma on the Sea of Cortez. We are not interested in joining, but are interested in a free 3-day vacation - plus, we get $200 in gas and a free Android tablet for attending.
The rest of the day was spent trying to zero-in on dates for other actions that need to be completed over the next several months...
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Pioneer RV Resort
We have been trying to get a "continuous" reservation at Lake Pleasant for the three months we will be staying in the area before leaving for Jackson in May. The reservation we currently have has us relocating twice during the three months as there is not one space that can accommodate us for the full three months. We have continually called them to check if there have been any cancellations, but none have occurred on sites the size we need to accommodate our fifth wheel. Yesterday, Josie and I went to the Pioneer Resort that is located just off of I-17 in North Phoenix just before Anthem. We found a nice space that was available for our full time frame and at a cost that is much less than Lake Pleasant.
We are familiar with the Pioneer Resort owners. They are the same folks that own the Cottonwood RV Resort where we stayed in Goodyear for a year back in the early 2000's. It isn't the kind of place where we would stay permanently, but it is in a nice location and satisfies our requirements for the short term. We are not certain about any space in the Fall - either at Lake Pleasant or anywhere else in the area - until we find out how the rental of our house is going. If it is going well, we may just take another Workamping gig somewhere else, so we'll see how it goes.
Our time is beginning to run short for making things happen. With only ten days remaining in January, Josie will be pushing hard at the flower shop beginning the first of February for Valentine's Day. I don't expect her to get much done at the house during those two weeks leading up to Valentine's Day and, after that, we need to get things packed and organized for the storage unit.
So many things to do, and so little time to get them done...
We are familiar with the Pioneer Resort owners. They are the same folks that own the Cottonwood RV Resort where we stayed in Goodyear for a year back in the early 2000's. It isn't the kind of place where we would stay permanently, but it is in a nice location and satisfies our requirements for the short term. We are not certain about any space in the Fall - either at Lake Pleasant or anywhere else in the area - until we find out how the rental of our house is going. If it is going well, we may just take another Workamping gig somewhere else, so we'll see how it goes.
Our time is beginning to run short for making things happen. With only ten days remaining in January, Josie will be pushing hard at the flower shop beginning the first of February for Valentine's Day. I don't expect her to get much done at the house during those two weeks leading up to Valentine's Day and, after that, we need to get things packed and organized for the storage unit.
So many things to do, and so little time to get them done...
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Old Computer
I spent a good part of yesterday going through some old boxes of goods that we have been moving from location to location and never deciding if they were worth saving. One of the boxes contained an old HP desktop computer that I bought in the 1990's and have just kept moving with us. I know for a fact that the data was removed from it way back when I replaced it with another computer, but the data still sits on the hard drive and that is a security risk if I just give away the computer.
I took the system to Best Buy to discuss options. They would copy the disk and give me a copy of the data for $250. No thanks. Another option was to remove the hard drive entirely from the system and let me keep the physical drive - for free. That was a much better option, so I now have a Western Digital hard drive that I can keep for posterity, or discard. I think I'll keep it for awhile until I see if I can somehow get the data from it, erase it, and then donate it to someone. I just saw where Seagate has a data recovery service that I will investigate. If it doesn't cost a fortune, I may pursue that avenue.
There are other boxes of goods that we are considering either selling or donating. For example, I have many albums of 78 rpm records, 33 1/3 rpm records, VHS movies and laserdiscs that we have no use for. I have to research whether there is a market for these items. Sometimes it is not worth spending a lot of time going through the steps of selling these things. I do know that we don't want to continue moving and storing these things, so a decision will be made soon on those items.
Josie is bringing boxes home every day from the shop, so we are gaining on the number of boxes needed to do our packing. I suspect that we will still end up buying more from U-Haul or Home Depot before it's all over...
I took the system to Best Buy to discuss options. They would copy the disk and give me a copy of the data for $250. No thanks. Another option was to remove the hard drive entirely from the system and let me keep the physical drive - for free. That was a much better option, so I now have a Western Digital hard drive that I can keep for posterity, or discard. I think I'll keep it for awhile until I see if I can somehow get the data from it, erase it, and then donate it to someone. I just saw where Seagate has a data recovery service that I will investigate. If it doesn't cost a fortune, I may pursue that avenue.
There are other boxes of goods that we are considering either selling or donating. For example, I have many albums of 78 rpm records, 33 1/3 rpm records, VHS movies and laserdiscs that we have no use for. I have to research whether there is a market for these items. Sometimes it is not worth spending a lot of time going through the steps of selling these things. I do know that we don't want to continue moving and storing these things, so a decision will be made soon on those items.
Josie is bringing boxes home every day from the shop, so we are gaining on the number of boxes needed to do our packing. I suspect that we will still end up buying more from U-Haul or Home Depot before it's all over...
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Snoring
One of the background activities that I have been involved in is finding a solution to my snoring and sleep apnea problem. I have been experimenting with two solutions that I discovered on Facebook, both of which seemed to make sense, but neither of which has produced any results.
The first one is from American Sleep Union and involves the creation of an oral appliance that you wear every night. I haven't been able to get past first base with this process as the appliance material is very difficult to work with and involves a signature from my Doctor before any "real" appliance can be manufactured - for about $118.
The second one is another contraption from a company: My Snoring Solution.com, that involves a head band, or strap, that is designed to keep your mouth closed at night. Along with this strap, they recommend that you use Breathe Right nose strips and other oral sprays that you buy in a drug store and are suppose to use each night. So far, this is also a no-win for me. It also costs in the $120 range.
I have reached the point with both of these products that I think I will just return both of them for refunds and move on to some other "medical" solution - somewhere. I feel sorry for Josie who has to live with my "noise" every night and I can't find a solution. Aside from the noise, I know that sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that needs to be addressed. I'll keep looking.
We have heard no word yet from the RV dealer about our repairs. We expect to receive an estimate, any day now, on what the cost will be to fix the laundry-list of items we asked them about. We know that some of the items we need to have fixed will not be done because of the high costs. We'll see, as we anxiously await the news...
The first one is from American Sleep Union and involves the creation of an oral appliance that you wear every night. I haven't been able to get past first base with this process as the appliance material is very difficult to work with and involves a signature from my Doctor before any "real" appliance can be manufactured - for about $118.
The second one is another contraption from a company: My Snoring Solution.com, that involves a head band, or strap, that is designed to keep your mouth closed at night. Along with this strap, they recommend that you use Breathe Right nose strips and other oral sprays that you buy in a drug store and are suppose to use each night. So far, this is also a no-win for me. It also costs in the $120 range.
I have reached the point with both of these products that I think I will just return both of them for refunds and move on to some other "medical" solution - somewhere. I feel sorry for Josie who has to live with my "noise" every night and I can't find a solution. Aside from the noise, I know that sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that needs to be addressed. I'll keep looking.
We have heard no word yet from the RV dealer about our repairs. We expect to receive an estimate, any day now, on what the cost will be to fix the laundry-list of items we asked them about. We know that some of the items we need to have fixed will not be done because of the high costs. We'll see, as we anxiously await the news...
Monday, January 18, 2016
Two Games in One
Yesterday's game between the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks was actually two games in one. The first half was a blowout by the Panthers and won 31-0, and the second half was a blowout by the Seahawks, won 24-0. Unfortunately, the Seahawks fell too far behind to recover. Their season is over. I'm really disappointed that it ended yesterday, but they will be back. Attention now goes to the Cardinals who we will cheer on next week to win over the Panthers. They have a real good shot to go all the way this year and win the Super Bowl.
What a stark contrast in weather this year versus last year. We have just had our 10th consecutive day of lows in the 30's in January. It is only the 18th of the month! Last year, we had four days with lows in the 30's in the entire month of January. Not only that, the temperatures from last year were taken at Lake Pleasant where we were at the rime. It was a bit cooler up there than here in Glendale, so the difference is even more surprising. We also have not gone out of the 60's for our high in January. Last year, we had 15 days that went into the 70's in January, and even one day where we hit 80. You never know from one year to the next.
These last two weeks of January are going to be critical for us to get our packing started. Josie will be very busy at the shop preparing for Valentine's Day, so we have to get a jump on our packing before she gets too busy. I have to make sure we have enough boxes and all of the right size. We saved some from our move last year, but we still need many, many more. I will research the best location to acquire those and get that ball rolling this week...
What a stark contrast in weather this year versus last year. We have just had our 10th consecutive day of lows in the 30's in January. It is only the 18th of the month! Last year, we had four days with lows in the 30's in the entire month of January. Not only that, the temperatures from last year were taken at Lake Pleasant where we were at the rime. It was a bit cooler up there than here in Glendale, so the difference is even more surprising. We also have not gone out of the 60's for our high in January. Last year, we had 15 days that went into the 70's in January, and even one day where we hit 80. You never know from one year to the next.
These last two weeks of January are going to be critical for us to get our packing started. Josie will be very busy at the shop preparing for Valentine's Day, so we have to get a jump on our packing before she gets too busy. I have to make sure we have enough boxes and all of the right size. We saved some from our move last year, but we still need many, many more. I will research the best location to acquire those and get that ball rolling this week...
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Not a Pretty Win
If you watched the game last night between the Packers and the Cardinals, you saw an ugly representation of top performances. Neither team actually deserved to win the game, although I am happy that the Cardinals have achieved their first goal of making it to the NFC Championship game which will be next week between them and either the Seahawks or the Carolina Panthers. It has been my thought all year long that if the Cardinals and the Seahawks could meet in the NFC Championship game, it would be the best situation I could ever want for the season. Of course, I believe the Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl again, so I'm holding my breath for today's game in Carolina. Go Seahawks!
We have been in contact with our friend Donna from Jackson and she has been filling us in on happenings with the new management team at the Virginian Lodge. Not everything is sounding rosy for this year and we are getting a bit nervous about working with this new management team. Her opinion is that there will be problems and she is not happy with the way things are going. There are many other opportunities for us to look into, but the Virginian Lodge is our preferred location right now, and the one we are committed to at the moment. We'll see how it goes over the next couple of weeks...
We have been in contact with our friend Donna from Jackson and she has been filling us in on happenings with the new management team at the Virginian Lodge. Not everything is sounding rosy for this year and we are getting a bit nervous about working with this new management team. Her opinion is that there will be problems and she is not happy with the way things are going. There are many other opportunities for us to look into, but the Virginian Lodge is our preferred location right now, and the one we are committed to at the moment. We'll see how it goes over the next couple of weeks...
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Football Frenzy
The excitement is building in this area as there are all kinds of activities around the stadium in preparation for tonight's playoff game between the Cardinals and the Packers. It is always a busy time when there is an event in the Westgate area, but the football excitement takes the prize. All of the barriers for parking and the crews that man those passage ways are already in place and the game isn't until tonight. The Cardinals better win.
I want to congratulate George and Cheryl on their 50th wedding anniversary yesterday. It seems like just a short time ago when they got married and George immediately left for Viet Nam. It wasn't the best way to start a marriage, but they survived.
I did some more prep work for our plan to rent out the house. The property manager and I had a discussion yesterday about the schedule of events and I received the documents we need to execute that outlines responsibilities during the rental period. This is a new experience for us and one that we hope we won't be sorry for. The only way to know is to go forward with the plan and try to ensure that all goes well by performing due-diligence in all the steps along the way.
I had the first test of the hitch portability last night as I took out the hitch to free up all the space in the truck bed for moving-related activities. I'm sure that we will be using the truck for many trips to storage and to Lake Pleasant. The hitch - although fairly heavy - is easily removed which will make for easy hauling. I'm not looking forward to that part of the plan...
I want to congratulate George and Cheryl on their 50th wedding anniversary yesterday. It seems like just a short time ago when they got married and George immediately left for Viet Nam. It wasn't the best way to start a marriage, but they survived.
I did some more prep work for our plan to rent out the house. The property manager and I had a discussion yesterday about the schedule of events and I received the documents we need to execute that outlines responsibilities during the rental period. This is a new experience for us and one that we hope we won't be sorry for. The only way to know is to go forward with the plan and try to ensure that all goes well by performing due-diligence in all the steps along the way.
I had the first test of the hitch portability last night as I took out the hitch to free up all the space in the truck bed for moving-related activities. I'm sure that we will be using the truck for many trips to storage and to Lake Pleasant. The hitch - although fairly heavy - is easily removed which will make for easy hauling. I'm not looking forward to that part of the plan...
Friday, January 15, 2016
Another Year in the Books
I would like to thank all of my family and friends for the Birthday wishes yesterday. It was a very good day and one that I am more thankful for each year.
We used the day to go to a couple places that have been on our "must go" list for awhile. The first one was to Sephora to pick up my fragrance gift from Patty that I received at Christmas. The first Sephora we went to was the closest, but it was located inside a JC Penney store and wasn't big enough to carry the choice I made in the fragrance from the list of selections. We then went to the big store in the mall and they carried the choice I made - the Tom Ford fragrance. We picked up other samples of men's and women's fragrances while there. Thanks, Patty.
I also have been wanting to have my ring refurbished for a long time, so we stopped at the Kay Jeweler's store in the mall and I left my ring there for that project to be completed which will take about 6 weeks. All in all, it was a different kind of birthday and a very enjoyable one.
I am getting excited now for the games that are scheduled this weekend. I hope the Cardinals win against the Green Bay Packers, and the Seahawks win against the Carolina Panthers, to force a winner-take-all matchup next week between the Cards and Hawks. I couldn't ask for a better ending to the season and leading up to the Super Bowl...
We used the day to go to a couple places that have been on our "must go" list for awhile. The first one was to Sephora to pick up my fragrance gift from Patty that I received at Christmas. The first Sephora we went to was the closest, but it was located inside a JC Penney store and wasn't big enough to carry the choice I made in the fragrance from the list of selections. We then went to the big store in the mall and they carried the choice I made - the Tom Ford fragrance. We picked up other samples of men's and women's fragrances while there. Thanks, Patty.
I also have been wanting to have my ring refurbished for a long time, so we stopped at the Kay Jeweler's store in the mall and I left my ring there for that project to be completed which will take about 6 weeks. All in all, it was a different kind of birthday and a very enjoyable one.
I am getting excited now for the games that are scheduled this weekend. I hope the Cardinals win against the Green Bay Packers, and the Seahawks win against the Carolina Panthers, to force a winner-take-all matchup next week between the Cards and Hawks. I couldn't ask for a better ending to the season and leading up to the Super Bowl...
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Smooth Transfer
We arrived at the RV storage area at Lake Pleasant a little before 8:30 AM yesterday for the trip to Mesa. I climbed up on the roof to do a better job of securing the wires that ran from the satellite dish on the front6 of the rig to the back. Then the real test began. We hitched the fifth wheel to the truck, put away all of the blocks and wheel covers, and headed out to Mesa and the Robert Crist dealership. This is the way it looked:
On the road again!!
The trip to Mesa was excellent. We averaged 12.5 mpg for this first trip. That is much better than the best mileage we ever got with the previous setup. Of course, the fifth wheel is much lighter now as we have emptied most of what we had and placed everything in the house. It handled well and the performance was flawless, even though we don't have the dual wheels any longer on the truck.
Following the disconnect at the dealership, we reviewed all of the items that needed repair and we left the rig with the service department and will await their estimate.
Our next stop was at Denny's where we had some lunch, and then we stopped at a nice active adult community that advertised some specials in a magazine we saw while eating at Denny's. It is yet another option for folks that want a winter base in Arizona.
It was a very good day and we are happy that everything worked out with the fifth wheel transfer. Now, we need to get some very good - and low - estimates on the repair work so we can move forward on that phase of our plan...
On the road again!!
The trip to Mesa was excellent. We averaged 12.5 mpg for this first trip. That is much better than the best mileage we ever got with the previous setup. Of course, the fifth wheel is much lighter now as we have emptied most of what we had and placed everything in the house. It handled well and the performance was flawless, even though we don't have the dual wheels any longer on the truck.
Following the disconnect at the dealership, we reviewed all of the items that needed repair and we left the rig with the service department and will await their estimate.
Our next stop was at Denny's where we had some lunch, and then we stopped at a nice active adult community that advertised some specials in a magazine we saw while eating at Denny's. It is yet another option for folks that want a winter base in Arizona.
It was a very good day and we are happy that everything worked out with the fifth wheel transfer. Now, we need to get some very good - and low - estimates on the repair work so we can move forward on that phase of our plan...
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Real Test
The day has finally arrived. Today is the day we take the fifth wheel into the dealership where we purchased it 8 years ago for much needed repairs. It is also the maiden voyage for the truck as the new tow vehicle. I'm confident that everything will work as expected, but I still have a little queasiness about the first trip. There are a couple wires on the roof that I think are secured from the last time I was there, but I think I'll go a little early and make sure by tying them to the satellite dish to be sure.
Our appointment to drop off the fifth wheel is at 10 AM, so we expect to leave Lake Pleasant by around 9-9:30 to get there in time. We have to go to Mesa, but the drive is all freeway, so it should be easy.
I finally took down the Christmas tree yesterday and packed it away for another year. Depending on how the rental goes with the house, it may be more than a year. Josie still has to pack away the decorations, but she needs to do that so that she knows where everything is located. The fact that it has been so many years since we had all of our decorations out, it is an especially tough year to pack everything away again. Not to worry - it won't be too long before we are unable to travel so much and we will finally settle in one place - maybe...
Our appointment to drop off the fifth wheel is at 10 AM, so we expect to leave Lake Pleasant by around 9-9:30 to get there in time. We have to go to Mesa, but the drive is all freeway, so it should be easy.
I finally took down the Christmas tree yesterday and packed it away for another year. Depending on how the rental goes with the house, it may be more than a year. Josie still has to pack away the decorations, but she needs to do that so that she knows where everything is located. The fact that it has been so many years since we had all of our decorations out, it is an especially tough year to pack everything away again. Not to worry - it won't be too long before we are unable to travel so much and we will finally settle in one place - maybe...
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Final Touches
First of all, it was a terrific National Championship game last night between Alabama and Clemson. I was rooting for Clemson to go undefeated and win for the first time since 1981, but Alabama was just too much and deserved to win, 45-40.
I was back up to the fifth wheel yesterday to make some final adjustments for the short trip to the RV dealer on Wednesday. The trailer sits a little too low on the truck, so I measured the hitch and the trailer clearance with the truck bed and discovered that it was 2" too low. I returned to the hitch shop and had them raise the hitch by 2" so that it would be level with the trailer on the truck.
I also was on the roof of the RV to clear some TV wires we had left over from our previous setup, so we should be ready to go.
We are now turning our attention to acquiring some boxes so that we can begin packing up. Our time frame has us scheduled to be out of the house by the end of February so that we can start showing the house to prospective renters. Our goal is to have the house rented by April 1, so that all transitions can be made from the house to Lake Pleasant to Jackson on schedule by mid May. This is an exciting time in our lives as we branch out to become landlords while still enjoying the mobile lifestyle and gaining equity in our home...
I was back up to the fifth wheel yesterday to make some final adjustments for the short trip to the RV dealer on Wednesday. The trailer sits a little too low on the truck, so I measured the hitch and the trailer clearance with the truck bed and discovered that it was 2" too low. I returned to the hitch shop and had them raise the hitch by 2" so that it would be level with the trailer on the truck.
I also was on the roof of the RV to clear some TV wires we had left over from our previous setup, so we should be ready to go.
We are now turning our attention to acquiring some boxes so that we can begin packing up. Our time frame has us scheduled to be out of the house by the end of February so that we can start showing the house to prospective renters. Our goal is to have the house rented by April 1, so that all transitions can be made from the house to Lake Pleasant to Jackson on schedule by mid May. This is an exciting time in our lives as we branch out to become landlords while still enjoying the mobile lifestyle and gaining equity in our home...
Monday, January 11, 2016
Call it Karma
It was (-)6 in Minnesota at the start of the Seahawks-Vikings playoff game. It didn't take more than the first 4 minutes of the game to realize that the Seahawks were going to struggle in this cold and they would not adjust to it as easily as the Vikings. It was 9-0 in favor of the Vikings going into the fourth quarter, and it didn't look like the Seahawks had a prayer to win.
Suddenly, they caught a realization that it was about to end if they didn't reach down to find some hidden energy, and they scored a touchdown and a field goal to take the lead, 10-9 with about 5 minutes to play. It looked like they were going to salvage the win until the final 30 seconds of the game when the Vikings moved the ball to the 20 yard line and in position to kick a certain game winning field goal. The Vikings kicker either couldn't take the pressure - or the cold weather - as he "hooked" the short kick and missed the field goal. Win for the Seahawks!
Call it "Karma". It is the same situation as in the Super Bowl last year when the Seahawks had a certain victory and lost it with the interception on the goal line with about 30 seconds left. Like the saying goes - It ain't over till it's over, or it ain't over 'till the fat lady sings.
Now, the Seahawks travel to Carolina to play the top seeded Panthers, and I expect to see them win that game and move on to play the Cardinals, one more time, for the NFC Championship. What a day.
We went to Lake Pleasant following the game to install the new batteries. Also, we hitched the trailer to the new truck and new hitch configuration and it all works great. There are a couple little nuances that have to be worked out - like finding a mirror-type solution to see the hitch when hooking up. This hitch sits lower in the truck bed and I can't see it while connecting to the trailer. Otherwise, we are set to go on Wednesday to the RV dealer in Mesa...
Suddenly, they caught a realization that it was about to end if they didn't reach down to find some hidden energy, and they scored a touchdown and a field goal to take the lead, 10-9 with about 5 minutes to play. It looked like they were going to salvage the win until the final 30 seconds of the game when the Vikings moved the ball to the 20 yard line and in position to kick a certain game winning field goal. The Vikings kicker either couldn't take the pressure - or the cold weather - as he "hooked" the short kick and missed the field goal. Win for the Seahawks!
Call it "Karma". It is the same situation as in the Super Bowl last year when the Seahawks had a certain victory and lost it with the interception on the goal line with about 30 seconds left. Like the saying goes - It ain't over till it's over, or it ain't over 'till the fat lady sings.
Now, the Seahawks travel to Carolina to play the top seeded Panthers, and I expect to see them win that game and move on to play the Cardinals, one more time, for the NFC Championship. What a day.
We went to Lake Pleasant following the game to install the new batteries. Also, we hitched the trailer to the new truck and new hitch configuration and it all works great. There are a couple little nuances that have to be worked out - like finding a mirror-type solution to see the hitch when hooking up. This hitch sits lower in the truck bed and I can't see it while connecting to the trailer. Otherwise, we are set to go on Wednesday to the RV dealer in Mesa...
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Sams Club Batteries
We ended up going to Sam's Club yesterday for the new fifth wheel batteries. I never thought it was going to involve two trips to the fifth wheel, but there was a $35 charge per "missing battery" of the old ones. So, we went to Lake Pleasant and took out the old batteries and returned to Sam's Club to buy the new ones and trade the old ones. We should be set to go now as I have to go back to Lake Pleasant and install the new batteries today. I just might try out everything while I'm there today - the new hitch, all the hitch wiring, the batteries and all the electrical in the fifth wheel. It all has to be ready to go to Mesa on Wednesday anyway, so I need to make sure I can get it there.
I will somehow get all that done and still watch the Seahawks play their first playoff game today against Minnesota. They already "creamed" them once this year, and I hope they can at least beat them convincingly today. They are the better team and, frankly, I think they can go all the way to the Super Bowl again. The only question mark is the Carolina Panthers, but the Seahawks had them down with a couple minutes to go before losing in their first game earlier in the year. This is the exciting time of the football season.
It looks like the rain has stopped for now. The problem now though is - it is darn cold. We're dipping into the 30's again at night and only warming into the low 60's during the day. It is going to have to warm up more than this to keep Arizona's reputation as a good winter location...
I will somehow get all that done and still watch the Seahawks play their first playoff game today against Minnesota. They already "creamed" them once this year, and I hope they can at least beat them convincingly today. They are the better team and, frankly, I think they can go all the way to the Super Bowl again. The only question mark is the Carolina Panthers, but the Seahawks had them down with a couple minutes to go before losing in their first game earlier in the year. This is the exciting time of the football season.
It looks like the rain has stopped for now. The problem now though is - it is darn cold. We're dipping into the 30's again at night and only warming into the low 60's during the day. It is going to have to warm up more than this to keep Arizona's reputation as a good winter location...
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Hitch Swap
It amounted to almost another full day yesterday while the dealer swapped out the truck hitch. It never should have happened in the first place, but mistakes are made. The new - or, correct - hitch looks like this:
It will do the job, for sure, and it looks like it will be easier to use than the one I had on the other truck. Time will tell.
I have to get a couple replacement batteries for the fifth wheel today and sometime, either today or tomorrow, take them to the unit in storage and get them installed. The old ones have been installed for 7 years, so it's time to get new ones. Following that, we get to try out all the new equipment by towing the fifth wheel to Mesa and the Robert Crist dealership for the repairs on Wednesday. I don't know how long everything will take yet, but we have a time schedule of late February to move the fifth wheel into the space at Lake Pleasant. That is when we get the house ready to show to prospective renters and it has to be in model home condition.
Somewhere along the line in February, we need to get our training for the Spring Training games. This year we work the cash registers at the team store, so there are some new things to learn. It promises to be an interesting Spring this year and we just hope all goes well without any serious glitches...
It will do the job, for sure, and it looks like it will be easier to use than the one I had on the other truck. Time will tell.
I have to get a couple replacement batteries for the fifth wheel today and sometime, either today or tomorrow, take them to the unit in storage and get them installed. The old ones have been installed for 7 years, so it's time to get new ones. Following that, we get to try out all the new equipment by towing the fifth wheel to Mesa and the Robert Crist dealership for the repairs on Wednesday. I don't know how long everything will take yet, but we have a time schedule of late February to move the fifth wheel into the space at Lake Pleasant. That is when we get the house ready to show to prospective renters and it has to be in model home condition.
Somewhere along the line in February, we need to get our training for the Spring Training games. This year we work the cash registers at the team store, so there are some new things to learn. It promises to be an interesting Spring this year and we just hope all goes well without any serious glitches...
Friday, January 8, 2016
Enough Rain Already
It isn't that it has rain any large volumes, it is just that bit won't quit. Yesterday was our fifth straight day of rain. The total accumulation is only about 1.4 inches, but it is certainly spread over the five days. Our high yesterday was 55, and the low was 42. Enough of that already, too.
Most of what we did yesterday was inside work - of course - and we started taking down the tree and packing away the other Christmas decorations. It was a good day for that.
I go to the dealership to get my second attempt at getting the hitch right and to eliminate an ugly message I get on my dash from the brake controller. Hopefully, they'll get them both right this time.
We then take the fifth wheel to the RV dealer next Wednesday where it will get a thorough repair of damage that has occurred over the last several years. That is, until the cash runs out...
Most of what we did yesterday was inside work - of course - and we started taking down the tree and packing away the other Christmas decorations. It was a good day for that.
I go to the dealership to get my second attempt at getting the hitch right and to eliminate an ugly message I get on my dash from the brake controller. Hopefully, they'll get them both right this time.
We then take the fifth wheel to the RV dealer next Wednesday where it will get a thorough repair of damage that has occurred over the last several years. That is, until the cash runs out...
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Waiting for Sun and Warmth
It is very rare to have four straight days of rain and very cool weather in the Arizona winter. It is actually going to be the fifth straight day today. Our high has been 62 and our low has been 49 during that stretch, with over an inch of rain. It looks like today will be the last day we have to endure this unusual stretch. It's anybody's guess how long this El Nino effect will stay around for the winter, but I heard that it is already the worst one we have ever had. Every location in the country has had some effect from this year's El Nino.
It has given me a chance to catch up on some paperwork and to get things going on the right track with the truck hitch and other changes. Friday should be the final step with that effort. I am about ready to take the fifth wheel into the dealership for repairs, so that should occur this weekend or early next week. That means we can cancel the storage space and move the fifth wheel into the space at Lake Pleasant following the repairs.
Another step that begins about now is to slowly get all our things packed up again for another storage space. I sent a note to our friends at Jackson outlining our schedule, so I expect to get confirmation on those arrangements any day now. So far, we are moving along close to the planned schedule...
It has given me a chance to catch up on some paperwork and to get things going on the right track with the truck hitch and other changes. Friday should be the final step with that effort. I am about ready to take the fifth wheel into the dealership for repairs, so that should occur this weekend or early next week. That means we can cancel the storage space and move the fifth wheel into the space at Lake Pleasant following the repairs.
Another step that begins about now is to slowly get all our things packed up again for another storage space. I sent a note to our friends at Jackson outlining our schedule, so I expect to get confirmation on those arrangements any day now. So far, we are moving along close to the planned schedule...
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Wrong Hitch
As I mentioned yesterday, the hitch that was installed in the truck was the "roller" model.
That would be the correct model if I didn't have a long bed pickup truck. How can the people doing the installation not know that I had a long bed and they were installing this short bed model anyway. Don't you think they should have asked somebody if this was the correct installation? I have also mentioned over the years, numerous times, that the world is getting more and more infiltrated with incompetent workers, and this is another example. I have another appointment scheduled for Friday AM so they can "swap out" the hitch for the proper one.
Also, as mentioned yesterday, there is a message on my instrument panel that there is a "Brake Controller Fault" each time I start the truck. That is a result of the third party controller (Tekonsha) installed because the factory supplied. integrated controller from Ford will not work with our fifth wheel. The service appointment this Friday will also include removing that message from the instrument panel. So, it has taken at least two tries to get the installation of my accessories right. Sheesh!
We are in the middle of a rash of rain storms in Arizona. The El Nino effect has created the storm track containing the four storms that are lined up in the Pacific to come through over the current week. I have not seen such storm movements since we left Washington. We need the rain, but this is suppose to be the Sun Belt where you get very little rain. Oh, well.
Josie's eye appointment went pretty well. She has no danger of a serious problem right now - as long as she follows the treatment program the Doctor prescribed for her. He doesn't need to see her for another year which is always a positive sign.
Things are moving along with the scheduling of our fifth wheel repairs, so I will be taking the unit into the dealer as soon as we get the hitch issues resolved...
That would be the correct model if I didn't have a long bed pickup truck. How can the people doing the installation not know that I had a long bed and they were installing this short bed model anyway. Don't you think they should have asked somebody if this was the correct installation? I have also mentioned over the years, numerous times, that the world is getting more and more infiltrated with incompetent workers, and this is another example. I have another appointment scheduled for Friday AM so they can "swap out" the hitch for the proper one.
Also, as mentioned yesterday, there is a message on my instrument panel that there is a "Brake Controller Fault" each time I start the truck. That is a result of the third party controller (Tekonsha) installed because the factory supplied. integrated controller from Ford will not work with our fifth wheel. The service appointment this Friday will also include removing that message from the instrument panel. So, it has taken at least two tries to get the installation of my accessories right. Sheesh!
We are in the middle of a rash of rain storms in Arizona. The El Nino effect has created the storm track containing the four storms that are lined up in the Pacific to come through over the current week. I have not seen such storm movements since we left Washington. We need the rain, but this is suppose to be the Sun Belt where you get very little rain. Oh, well.
Josie's eye appointment went pretty well. She has no danger of a serious problem right now - as long as she follows the treatment program the Doctor prescribed for her. He doesn't need to see her for another year which is always a positive sign.
Things are moving along with the scheduling of our fifth wheel repairs, so I will be taking the unit into the dealer as soon as we get the hitch issues resolved...
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Strange Events
I had the truck in the Ford service department at 8:15 yesterday morning to have the hitch installed, and the brake controller installed. Before catching the shuttle back home, I went through a discussion with the service advisor about the necessity for a brake controller. The advisor thought, just like everyone else, that the integrated brake controller already in the truck negated the need for another controller. Wrong. The brakes on our fifth wheel are hydraulic, and the integrated Ford controller is only for electric brakes. Therefore, a third party controller - like the Tekonsha controller I was having installed - is necessary. The strangeness resulted from the call to the person I thought was the service manager at the dealership in Mesa where we purchased the fifth wheel to get a technical explanation of the brakes. The person we contacted is actually the service manager at DRV in Howe, In! I don't know exactly how I got the two mixed up, but if it didn't happen when it did, I would have taken our fifth wheel into Robert Crist next week expecting to get the repairs done and they would have wondered who I was, and what I was talking about. I connected with the real service manager at Robert Crist and I am back on track with the repairs now. The hitch and the Tekonsha controller were installed successfully.
The other problem is with the hitch. They installed the model that is mounted on a roller that is primarily for smaller truck beds to provide better clearance. This model is suppose to provide better ride with the trailer, but it looks very different from a standard fifth wheel hitch. I will call the Ford service department this morning and try to get some further instruction on the use of this model hitch. It has been a different experience so far from our last truck and towing configuration.
Josie has an appointment this morning with the eye doctor who will determine what has to be done to improve her vision. The examination we had a couple weeks ago revealed some issues that she needs to have addressed. We hope everything goes well with that appointment this morning...
The other problem is with the hitch. They installed the model that is mounted on a roller that is primarily for smaller truck beds to provide better clearance. This model is suppose to provide better ride with the trailer, but it looks very different from a standard fifth wheel hitch. I will call the Ford service department this morning and try to get some further instruction on the use of this model hitch. It has been a different experience so far from our last truck and towing configuration.
Josie has an appointment this morning with the eye doctor who will determine what has to be done to improve her vision. The examination we had a couple weeks ago revealed some issues that she needs to have addressed. We hope everything goes well with that appointment this morning...
Monday, January 4, 2016
Pummeled
Even though the final game of the regular season really didn't mean much for the Seahawks and meant only that the Cardinals (potentially) could receive the number one seed in the conference for the playoffs, Coach Bruce Arians stated all week that the Cardinals would be playing with all their starters and would be playing to win because he didn't want to see the winning momentum interrupted - they didn't show up. The Seahawks absolutely pummeled the Cardinals from the first snap. I think it was more a display of the true talent and ability of the Seahawks than it was a Cardinal letdown. The final score was 36-6, and it wasn't that close. Actually, I think it is a good thing for the Cardinals as this game will serve as a wake-up call for them and I think they will be fine the rest of the playoffs. The fact is, no team wants to face the Seahawks in the playoffs. It will be interesting to watch.
Today is the day I take the truck into Peoria Ford to have the fifth wheel hitch installed, along with the wiring and the brake control installation. It will take most of the day, and I will have the dealer's shuttle bring me home after I drop it off at the service department. I hope it all goes smoothly.
Also on the schedule for today is the not-so-pleasant task of taking down the outside Christmas lights and packing them away. It is always a joy putting them up, but I don't like taking them down which signals the end of the Christmas season. Josie is about ready to begin the same task of the inside decorations, and that also is not very pleasant. The most unpleasant task of all is taking down the Christmas tree which comes later this week.
It looks like the weather is finally beginning to warm up a little. There is rain in the forecast, but at least we are looking at a day or two in the 70's which makes it a lot better than the 50's and low 60's we have living with. It is what it is and we can just remember that it is always worse in some other part of the country...
Today is the day I take the truck into Peoria Ford to have the fifth wheel hitch installed, along with the wiring and the brake control installation. It will take most of the day, and I will have the dealer's shuttle bring me home after I drop it off at the service department. I hope it all goes smoothly.
Also on the schedule for today is the not-so-pleasant task of taking down the outside Christmas lights and packing them away. It is always a joy putting them up, but I don't like taking them down which signals the end of the Christmas season. Josie is about ready to begin the same task of the inside decorations, and that also is not very pleasant. The most unpleasant task of all is taking down the Christmas tree which comes later this week.
It looks like the weather is finally beginning to warm up a little. There is rain in the forecast, but at least we are looking at a day or two in the 70's which makes it a lot better than the 50's and low 60's we have living with. It is what it is and we can just remember that it is always worse in some other part of the country...
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Change in Plans
We have been tossing around various options for the next couple years. We love our house, but it has created a problem for us as far as continuing to travel - mainly in the summers. It is not desirable for us to leave the house vacant for the 4 months or so we travel to Jackson, WY. The thought of broken water mains, leaks in an area somewhere that will ruin everything, problems with the pool, mail forwarding issues, scorpion issues, etc., has led us to a decision to turn our house - at least, temporarily - into a rental home. Paying all of the utilities while gone is also not attractive to us. We have lined up a property manager to handle the details and we are going forward to become landlords. We are anticipating at least one year, possibly two or more if all goes well - before either moving back into the home or selling it and buying somewhere else. The other consideration is that we bought this home as an investment and we want to generate some equity from it before selling. Giving up our RV lifestyle altogether is not an option.
Going forward with repairs to the fifth wheel and upgrading the truck with the required equipment to safely tow the fifth wheel is the next step. We will have the hitch installed tomorrow, along with the wiring and electric brakes for the RV. When that is completed, I will take the fifth wheel to Mesa and the Robert Crist dealership where we purchased it in 2008 to have the repairs done. Following that, we will set up the fifth wheel for three months - from mid February to mid May (following Mother's Day) - while the house gets packed up, moved to storage and the property manager locates a suitable tenant to move in by April 1. In the middle of all this, we will work the Spring Training games the entire month of March at the Surprise Stadium.
Right now, Josie is planning to go back to seasonal work at the flower shop - if they will agree to allow that plan. If not, we have several other options to work in other locations during the winter months. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
We fought through all the concerns about who might rent the home, but we do have control over the selection. There will not be any pets and it will be rented to only non-smokers. The property manager handles 100% of the details surrounding the house. We hope to have a pleasant and profitable experience. If you know anybody that might want to rent a nice home, let me know.
Everything has to happen, without glitches, on our tight schedule. That is about all of the details - so far - so we'll keep everybody up to date on our progress...
Going forward with repairs to the fifth wheel and upgrading the truck with the required equipment to safely tow the fifth wheel is the next step. We will have the hitch installed tomorrow, along with the wiring and electric brakes for the RV. When that is completed, I will take the fifth wheel to Mesa and the Robert Crist dealership where we purchased it in 2008 to have the repairs done. Following that, we will set up the fifth wheel for three months - from mid February to mid May (following Mother's Day) - while the house gets packed up, moved to storage and the property manager locates a suitable tenant to move in by April 1. In the middle of all this, we will work the Spring Training games the entire month of March at the Surprise Stadium.
Right now, Josie is planning to go back to seasonal work at the flower shop - if they will agree to allow that plan. If not, we have several other options to work in other locations during the winter months. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
We fought through all the concerns about who might rent the home, but we do have control over the selection. There will not be any pets and it will be rented to only non-smokers. The property manager handles 100% of the details surrounding the house. We hope to have a pleasant and profitable experience. If you know anybody that might want to rent a nice home, let me know.
Everything has to happen, without glitches, on our tight schedule. That is about all of the details - so far - so we'll keep everybody up to date on our progress...
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Off and Running
The first day of the new year included a visit to our fifth wheel at Lake Pleasant. I had taken the cover off a couple weeks ago when the insurance adjuster came out to take pictures of the body damage we received when we had the tire blowouts several years ago. Josie helped as we had to spread out the cover to fold and roll up for the bag to store for the next year. No easy task. It is a bulky piece of material with lots of zippers and seams and is almost impossible to align in neat folds. We came pretty close as this is the cover before performing the final roll up for the storage bag:
The total job took us about 1 hour to complete. The next step is to take the rig into the dealership to have the repairs done. That will happen after I get the hitch installed in the truck this week.
The day was also filled with watching the Rose Parade and some great football games. What else are you suppose to do on New Year's Day? Josie goes back to work again today and works just the one day before getting another day off tomorrow. This past week has been strange as she worked every other day the last week. Now that the holidays are over, she will get back to her normal schedule beginning Monday.
We have a lot to squeeze into the next several months. I will try to summarize the challenges in the post for tomorrow. It involves some changes in our plans that will, hopefully, make sense in the long term...
The total job took us about 1 hour to complete. The next step is to take the rig into the dealership to have the repairs done. That will happen after I get the hitch installed in the truck this week.
The day was also filled with watching the Rose Parade and some great football games. What else are you suppose to do on New Year's Day? Josie goes back to work again today and works just the one day before getting another day off tomorrow. This past week has been strange as she worked every other day the last week. Now that the holidays are over, she will get back to her normal schedule beginning Monday.
We have a lot to squeeze into the next several months. I will try to summarize the challenges in the post for tomorrow. It involves some changes in our plans that will, hopefully, make sense in the long term...
Friday, January 1, 2016
Happy New Year
It was a typical New Year's Eve for us. We tried to stay up to watch the ball drop in Times Square but just couldn't make it. Josie almost made it, but I was in bed before 9 PM. Both of us woke up in time to turn on the TV again and watch the ball drop anyway. It was nice to see Carrie Underwood as the main entertainer at Times Square.
I got bored watching the second football game of the night which was dominated by Alabama over Michigan State - 38-0. I think Michigan State called it a year after their last game of the season. Now, we have the National Championship scheduled at the Stadium here in Glendale on January 11. That is between Clemson and Alabama, I hope Clemson wins that one.
We expect to have a quiet, peaceful New Year's Day today. No plans are made even though we are talking about a couple options. One is to go to Lake Pleasant and fold our RV cover that was on the fifth wheel. I just jammed it into the RV storage compartment when I removed it a couple weeks ago and it takes two people to fold it and store it back into the container. Another option is to take a short hike somewhere - like the White Tank Mountains. That one will probably lose, as there is the Rose Parade to watch and the Fiesta Bowl which is being played here at the Glendale Stadium today. That is between Notre Dame and Ohio State. Go Ohio State!!....
I got bored watching the second football game of the night which was dominated by Alabama over Michigan State - 38-0. I think Michigan State called it a year after their last game of the season. Now, we have the National Championship scheduled at the Stadium here in Glendale on January 11. That is between Clemson and Alabama, I hope Clemson wins that one.
We expect to have a quiet, peaceful New Year's Day today. No plans are made even though we are talking about a couple options. One is to go to Lake Pleasant and fold our RV cover that was on the fifth wheel. I just jammed it into the RV storage compartment when I removed it a couple weeks ago and it takes two people to fold it and store it back into the container. Another option is to take a short hike somewhere - like the White Tank Mountains. That one will probably lose, as there is the Rose Parade to watch and the Fiesta Bowl which is being played here at the Glendale Stadium today. That is between Notre Dame and Ohio State. Go Ohio State!!....
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