A DOG'S BREAKFAST OF TOPICS TONIGHT

Turned out be one of those days you could work up a sweat just standing still.  Not as bad as RETIRED ROD'S neighborhood down there in that Kansas City town but bad enough here for me alright.

SOMEBODY GOT A NEW TOY TODAY

Some readers may remember our Star Choice Satellite Dish tri-pod breaking this past winter.  Broke right near the head of the tripod & is unfixable.  Today Kelly got on the phone to rustle us up a new tripod from a local dealer.  The tripod that broke was from our Internet Anywhere satellite system that we had used prior to switching over to the Verizon air card way of doing things.  I was hoping to maybe adapt our newer Star Choice LMB to the older 39 inch satellite dish because the older dish has an easier way of fine tuning it than the newer Star Choice dish.  But, it was not to be.  We are currently waiting for the tripod guy to call us back now so we can see what kind of tripods he has.  Gotta be strong pods to do battle with those big Southwest winds we are always subjected to out in the desert!!

NEW DISH ON LEFT & OLD DISH ON RIGHT 
Looks like Google may be up to some more Blog Shigooligans again.  Noticed our 'Blog Follower's list has been mysteriously disappearing & then reappearing.  At least it's not visible from any of our computers here at home at the moment.  Hope it's a problem at their end & not my end.  They have a far more extensive brain bank at their disposal than I do.

KEEPS ME BUSY JUST TRYING TO KEEP ALL THE DUCKWEED OUT OF THE FROG POND...NO, IT'S NOT SLIMY 
Reader Alex sent in the photo below of a sign in the 4 Corners area of Utah, New Mexico, Colorado & Arizona somewhere.  Looks like it might have something to do with the Navajo Indian Nation.  Am wondering if anyone knows more about this & just exactly where it is. 

WHAT!!!!  $300 A PERSON????  
And to clear up a little confusion on Sunday night's post about the soft top on the Jeep.  When we bought the Jeep it had it's hard top on.  We later took the hard top off & had Pete the Jeep Guy help us put the soft top on.  After a few days of wrestling with tight snaps, hard to close zippers, wind noise, etc. etc. I decided to take the soft top off & put the hard top back on.  Much quieter ride inside & better security so the hard top has remained on the Jeep ever since.  And, while on the subject of our Jeep TJ, we received the following comment from a concerned reader......."I saw on your pix that you have a TJ jeep. Just wanted to point out a serious problem with the TJ series. Happened to a friend of mine and I have found many stories of that model. It has to do with the brake line rubbing and eventually losing all brake fluid and losing your brakes or worse - brake fluid catching on fire." ....... Well, it didn't take us long to climb aboard the internet in search of more info on that.  Came across an excellent site showing exactly where the problem is.  YOU TUBE JEEP BRAKE PROBLEM.  A big thanks to commenter Kari for the 'heads up' on that:))


As soon as I was remotely presentable this morning I headed out to the driveway to have a look for that possible brake line problem....& I found it.  Just like the You Tube video had shown, there was the thin rubber flap resting against the brake line.  The potential problem was on both sides of the Jeep & covered more of the brake line than the video showed.  I knew this job was going to be a challenge & knew it was going to require not only a mechanical person but a special mechanical tool as well.  Was I up to the task??  Not likely but I walked over to my tool box anyway & had myself a look.   Aw yes there it was, a very special tool indeed & how fortunate it was that I even had one.  With some upside down crawling around in the Jeep's front wheel wells I was able to twist my arms around in pretzel like fashion & slowly but surely use the tool to remove the thin rubber flap sections along the brake line.  Surprised myself that I was able to even do this job but 15 minutes later it was done & nothing was rubbing on the gas line anymore.  Carefully returned the special tool to my toolery & congratulated myself on a job well done.  Oh, & what kind of special tool was it that I used..........a Scissors:))
  
THESE ARE THE RUBBER PIECES I CUT AWAY FROM THE BRAKE LINE PLUS YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE RAVAGES OF RUST CAUSED BY OUR SALT INFESTED WINTER ROADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     
 
BECAUSE OF OUR ONGOING  CAT PROBLEM IN THE FRONT YARD THERE ARE FEW BIRDS LEFT FOR ME TO PHOTOGRAPH ANYMORE
Debra at FIND AN FIND AN OUTLET has some photos of the aftermath on that Monument fire near Sierra Vista in Arizona.  As expected, they now have a problem with mud & ash washing down the mountain sides once again forcing people from their homes.

OUR SUMMER 2009 FRONT YARD FROG POND SET UP 
I am often disjointedly blathering on about the RV lifestyle from one angle or another.  A few opinions in this post, a few opinions in that post.   Sandie sent me a link today by someone who writes much better than I who has summed it all up in one fell swoop.  Nick Russell from the Gypsy Journal hits the nail on the head in his 'Bad Nick' MAGIC CARPET RIDE post for today.  If the RV lifestyle is in your blood & your friends & family think yer nuts, then ya had better read what Nick has to say:))

A TREASURED MEMORY FROM LAST JULY
GROANER'S CORNER:((  We are born naked, wet and hungry.  Then things get worse.
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR
PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

SOME MORE THOUGHTS ON TRAVEL PLANS

I have noticed a few early signs of our lush prime growing season turning a wee bit of a corner.  Brown patches are beginning to appear on some lawns & there has been a slight shift of color in our big ferns.  A month from now the weather will again shift & the nights will slowly begin to cool.  In the meantime we are into the hot humid days of summer & Monday promises to be a shirt wringer.  Not my favorite time of the year!!

TOYS, TOYS EVERYWHERE & WHY IS ONE OF MY TOYS ON THE TRAILER HITCH DAD?? 

Meant to thank Fred Wishnie for pointing out a geographical error in my Friday night post. I had said Bob from The Caretaker Chronicles lived in the far off country of Vienna. Vienna is actually a city in the far off country of….AUSTRIA. I have since made the correction:))

WILD RASPBERRIES IN OUR BACK YARD 

When travel plans are being made by 2 or more people both parties have to be on the same page or concessions may have to be hammered out.  There are many variable factors that must be figured into the plans.  Sometimes the perfectly logical & reasonable reasons of one person have to be set aside for the perfectly logical & reasonable reasons of the other person.  Kelly & I balance each other out very well & are generally able to work things out to both our satisfaction.  Such is the case with this years departure date for the Southwest except that I came out a smidgen ahead this year. 

EACH YEAR THIS IS HOW THEY DREDGE THE MOUTH OF THE BAYFIELD RIVER...SLUDGE IS SCOOPED UP & DEPOSITED IN THE BIN BEHIND THE DIGGER..ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE A BIT OF RISKY BUSINESS TOO ME...........

For the past couple of years I have given in to Kelly's reasoning that the later we leave, the longer she can work meaning extra money for us in the long run.  Always hard to argue with extra money, unless you are me of course.  Kelly is more  of a financially oriented person than I am & that is where some of our balance comes in.  Remember, I'm good at taking the garbage out sometimes!!   However, I too have a set of solid realistic thinking methods on the other side of the coin. 

AND THIS IS HOW THE BOATS ARE PUT INTO THE WATER IN THE SPRING & TAKEN OUT AGAIN IN THE FALL

With each passing year we get closer to whenever the RV bubble will burst.  And yes, even for posi-thinkers. the bubble will someday burst.  I have continuously emphasized to Kelly that if we want to see & do the things we want to do, we have to do them now!!  Not in 2 years, 5 years or 10.  NOW!!  We are well aware & know how fast things can change whether the change comes in the form of a heart attack, stroke, cancer diagnosis, faltering economy, higher gas prices, domestic problems, financial difficulties, loss of a driver's license, an accident or whatever.  The list just goes on forever & to deny any of those things can happen is simply not to be living in the real world.  We are living our part time RV lifestyle dream now so therefore it will have a conclusion......not a beginning!!  

   

YOU CAN SEE WHERE I CUT THE RECTANGLE OUT OF THE BIRD STATION'S BACK WALL SO NOW THE BIRDS HAVE A GREAT 'BIRD'S EYE VIEW' OUT THE BACK TOO:)) 

If you are financially stable & have your health then do not put off your plans until tomorrow.  We all know people who have done just that & then one day it was too late!!  Just like that, too late!! 

     

IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO TODAY THAT 'PETE THE JEEP GUY' CAME OVER TO SHOW US HOW TO TAKE OFF THE JEEP'S SOFT TOP.  WHAT AN EXERCISE IN FRUSTRATION THAT WAS...A FEW DAYS LATER I  HAD TO GET  PETE TO HELP ME PUT IT ON AGAIN....AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN OFF SINCE!!!!  

In our particular case, because of our travels being limited by the winter months as to where we can go & for how long, I already know it is very unlikely we will ever get to see the Northwestern States.  We just can't go there in the winter & of course we spend our summers anchored here in Bayfield. 

CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO BE STUCK IN BAYFIELD DURING THE WINTER EVEN IF WE DO HAVE 5 SNOW SHOVELS

I have always wanted to see the area where the 4 States of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico & Colorado meet.  Only chance of seeing that area is to head west as early as we possibly can in the Fall because winter comes early to the mountains of Colorado.  Ideally, I would like to see us head out there right after the labor day week-end but that is just asking too much so I have to settle for the next best time which is after our Canadian Thanksgiving.  By the way, I think the months of September & October are the finest travel months of the entire year.  Our getting away in mid October is a bit on the late side but better than nothing & certainly better than our last two years when we didn't get out of here until the first week of November.  My heart really goes out to all the Snow Birds who have to wait until after Christmas to head south in the snow storms & icy roads.  

MOTORMOUSE IS UP ON HER HIND LEGS IN ANXIOUS ANTICIPATION OF US REACHING THE BURRITO WINDOW AT McDONALDS:)) 

So, ka-blooey with earning extra money this year & let's just get out there & on the road as soon as we can......while we can!!  There is certainly more to life than the almighty dollar that's for sure.....10-4!!

    

PETE TOOK US ON A SHORT SWAMP TOUR & IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY WE WILL EVER BE DOING THAT AGAIN!!!!  AND YES, WE DID 'BRIEFLY' GET STUCK...
Oh how I wish we could travel the summer months like IVAN does out there in the wilds of Alberta & British Columbia. For Boondocking oriented RV’ers like Kelly & I this is RVing at it’s best. Totally surrounded by the sights & sounds of nature’s abundant wonders.

Kelly had to work today so I slipped on down to the Ritz Villa to see Uncle Harry.  He was stretched out in his recliner & had his electric shaver in high gear giving himself a shave.  The mobility is pretty much gone in his legs now so his wheelchair has become his main source of transportation instead of the walker.  Still dealing with some lower back pain but he was alert & said he had heard about the cat problem we have in our front yard.  Said he wished he had wheels on his big recliner so he could go outside.   He had a twinkle in his eye & managed a few smiles this morning.

<<< SHADOWS IN OUR FROG POND 

GROANER'S CORNER:( 

Last night, my kids and I were sitting in the living room and I said to them, 'I never want to live in a vegetative state,dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.'  They got up, unplugged the Computer, and threw out my wine,
and my Scotch!!!!  They are such idiots!!

---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

A FEW PHOTO MEMORIES OF JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA

Had a Jeep load of stuff for the Goodwill this morning so loaded up the Motormouse & off we went.  Also had a little photo favor for one of our readers so I was lucky enough to remember that & took care of it on our way to Goderich.  Besides the Goodwill we had some other errands to run.  A few groceries at Food Basics, some Niger birdseed at TSC & a stop at a local garden center to see what they had in the way of Virginia Creepers or Engelmann Ivy.  We have a few bare spots in the jungle out back that need a little thickening.  We cannot even see cars going by on our road out front anymore....perfect:))  Heading south out of Goderich I was able to distract the little Motormouse by telling her, "I tot I ta a Puddy Tat' off to the left side of the road.  While she was looking for that Puddy Tat we stealthily cruised right on by McDonald's Burritoville on the right:))

  
Ooooooohhhh, how I love to hear the rumblings of travel plans.  Tis music to my ears & warms me very heart indeed.  Received an email from Jeannie & Ray at the Ranch in McNeil Arizona this morning wondering if we could do some ranch sitting again this winter.  Darn right we could:))  Nothing firmed up yet but we are aiming at getting the big wheels rolling westward a bit earlier this year.  Hopefully October 15th.  I want to head straight away for the 4 corners area of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico & Arizona.  It will depend on the weather as to how long we stay there & just where we will travel after that but we will likely head south to the Ranch depending on when Jeannie & Ray want to head out for some holidays of their own.  We have to figure out some time frames yet plus length of stay.  We'll maybe get some of that ironed out over the next few weeks or so.   Can't tell you how much I love to see that first glimmer of light on the old travel horizon.  We are now 3 months & counting.  Ya-houie Louie:)) 

   
Here's one for the guys.  John over at RV LIFE ON WHEELS got to  totally smoke up some Mustang tires Friday at the Grand Bend Drag Strip in Grand Bend Ontario.  Had himself 4 runs down the track at over 100mph.  You will be surprised at what was powering that Mustang & how it helped him to blow the doors off a big fancy Camaro on his third run.  Is John a race car driver? Nope, he & Judy are full time RV'ers but he'll tell ya how he got the race opportunity though & if you dig a little deeper into John's blog he might even tell you how he has survived a few plane crashes as well.  Model planes that is:))

    

Sitting here at the computer earlier today I got to looking at the front yard bird station & decided it needed an opening in the back wall.  Without further ado I was out there with my buzzing little skil saw & cut a perfectly straight & crooked rectangle out of the back board.  Groovy:)) I'll maybe include a pic of that tomorrow.

      

Well, it's Saturday night & that makes it my favorite night of the week.  With Saturday mornings being my favorite morning I guess it is safe to say I have a real liking for Saturdays.  What's not to like about some of those great old habits developed back in the days of our early school years.  I still remember that first day of school as my Mother walked me up the long sidewalk to what seemed like an enormously big two story building with lots of windows in it.  I can still hear the school bell to this very day.  And, I can be instantly transported back to those early school days with just the whiff of an eraser.  Remember the smells of those class rooms.  Inkwells in the desks gave off a smell as well as pencils, crayons, paper & glue for crafts.  The school itself had a smell about it because it was old.  Creaky wooden floors & tin ceilings.  The wooden school desks themselves had a smell all their own.  So did some of the kids.  Often there was the smell of stale farts in the air.  Girls didn't wear perfume yet & whoever heard of underarm deodorant in those days.  Some of we poorer kids still used soap that our Mothers & Grandmother's made out of Lye & ashes.

    

I had a teacher by the name of Mr. Douglas in grade 5 who took the time to show me how to use a broom properly when sweeping up the classroom after class.  Without fail I still think of Mr. John Douglas every time I pick up a broom.  And, that's every time!!  I wasn't much of a brainiac when it came to most things like arithmetic & stuff like that but Mr. Douglas always encouraged me to write & draw.  And, I have never forgot that to this very day.  Artsy things were not encouraged in my home so you can imagine my quiet delight when my pencil drawing of a stern looking bedraggled old soldier won first prize at the Tavistock Fall Fair one year.  One year in those oh so early days long, long ago.

OUR BOON DOCKING SPOT ABOUT 5 MILES OUTSIDE OF THE PARK'S WEST GATE...IN BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO THOSE MOUNTAINS ON THE HORIZON ARE IN JOSHUA STATE PARK ITSELF 

Seems I always manage to get myself into a bit of a nostalgic mood most Saturday nights.  Wonder why that is.  There just seems to be something different about a Saturday night.  Anyway, I like that feeling & I like the trips down memory lane my mind is so kind enough to take me on.  Keeps me grounded in who I was:))

 

LOOKING WEST FROM THE PARK...THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT  RUNS THROUGH THE VALLEY BELOW

  

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Do not look at the answers until you are finished....or else!!

A TEST FOR OLD KIDS
01. After the Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off into the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask, Who was that masked man? Invariably, someone would answer, I don't know, but he left this behind. What did he leave behind?________________.
02. When the Beatles first came to the U.S. .In early 1964, we all watched them on The _______________ Show.
03 ' Get your kicks, __________________.'
04. 'The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to ___________________.'
05. 'In the jungle, the mighty jungle, ________________.'
06. After the Twist, The Mashed Potato, and the Watusi, we 'danced' under a stick that was lowered as low as we could go in a dance called the '_____________.'
07. Nestle's makes the very best . .. . . _______________.'
08. Satchmo was America 's 'Ambassador of Goodwill.' Our parents shared this great jazz trumpet player with us. His name was _________________.
09. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking? _______________.
10 . Red Skeleton's hobo character was named __________________ and Red always ended his television show by saying, 'Good Night, and '________________. '
11. Some Americans who protested the Vietnam War did so by burning their______________.
12. The cute little car with the engine in the back and the trunk in the front was called the VW. What other names did it go by? ____________ &_______________.
13. In 1971, singer Don MacLean sang a song about, 'the day the music died.' This was a tribute to ___________________.
14. We can remember the first satellite placed into orbit. The Russians did it. It was called ___________________.
15. One of the big fads of the late 50's and 60's was a large plastic ring that we twirled around our waist. It was called the__ ______________.

ANSWERS :
01.. The Lone Ranger left behind a silver bullet.
02. The Ed Sullivan Show
03.. On Route 66
04... To protect the innocent ..
05. The Lion Sleeps Tonight
06. The limbo
07. Chocolate
08.. Louis Armstrong
09. The Timex watch
10. Freddy, The Freeloader and 'Good Night and God Bless.'
11. Draft cards (Bras were also burned. Not flags, as some have guessed)
12. Beetle or Bug
13. Buddy Holly
14. Sputnik
15. Hoola-hoop