Saturday, April 6
Day 9 0f Recovery
All is good. It is much like any surgery one might have- you know you're okay but the area where the work was done still seems a bit tender. I do not notice the tenderness unless I bring my attention to it.😁
Is this the year to get handy?
Butch could have written this article however writing isn't his thing. But I thought of him and our son Jason many times as I was reading it. I found it in the RVTravel newsletter which we read on a regular basis. Jason took apart an electric toothbrush and resurrected it when he was about 9.
https://www.rvtravel.com/891-04-60/
Is this the year to get handy?
April 5, 20191
By Greg Illes
When I was nine years old, I took apart my uncle’s vacuum cleaner. He didn’t like that much – so I put it back together. He was astonished that it still worked … better.
Later, I became an engineer, hobbyist, tinkerer, and fix-it man. “Opa can fix anything,” say my grandkids. So please, take it with a grain of salt when I say that there is never any better time for RVers to get handy – or maybe just handy-er. Yes, I’m biased, but let me make my case…
COST
It’s almost too obvious: Doing it yourself (DIY) incurs no hourly wage. A few band-aids and some Neosporin are typically my only expenses besides parts and the occasional new tool. (Well, okay, maybe a little more than occasional.) Hourly shop rates across the country range from $100–$150, so even if we DIY-types take twice as long to get a job done, we’re still making pretty good money.
CONVENIENCE
Being able to fix your own rig, on the spot, is extraordinarily relaxing – especially by comparison to making a service appointment and arranging for where to stay while the service is taking place. In addition, you’ll typically spend far less time living with the problem (whatever it is) when you deal with it as soon as it’s noticed.
QUALITY
We have to face facts: Even with those high shop rates, there is still a lot of poor services to be had. A stranger in a strange land is throwing darts when picking an RV shop. Some are good, some aren’t. Is DIY work always great? Of course not. But the cost of a redo is low, and you can bet it’ll be right the next time.
AVAILABILITY
With the astronomical rise in RVs in recent years, not only the campgrounds are booked full. Service shops sometimes are swamped, months in advance. It’s no secret that many shops are deluged simply with the work needed to make brand-new rigs work right. In short, you simply may not be able to find any help at any price.
EXTRAS
Reduced angst. Satisfaction. Being a hero to your traveling partner(s). Learning new skills, maybe even helping others. Perhaps most importantly: When you are working on your rig, you are likely to see (and take care of) odd little quirks or glitches that an “employee” might skip over. A better, more reliable rig will result.
BUT … HOW?
Some folks are born with it, some have to learn it. There’s nobody out there that can’t figure out how to hold a screwdriver. A human teacher/mentor is invaluable, but forums, websites like this one, and YouTube can provide an immense amount of information.
If you’re new at “handy-ing”, take baby steps and don’t get yourself in trouble. Err on the side of caution, but don’t be afraid to make small mistakes. Buy tools you need, and understand how to use them; avoid the poor-quality “kits” and buy decent tools. When you’re first learning, size your jobs appropriately – replacing a fridge cooling unit is probably too grand a goal, but swapping out light fixtures for LED units might be well within your grasp.
“IT’S JUST NOT FOR ME”
There are those among us who just don’t want to embrace this part of life. I understand and sympathize. For me, it’s plants and dirt and watering that send me running. NOT for me. So if getting handy just ain’t gonna be your thing, that’s still cool. You have probably learned by now (or will soon) where the reliable service shops are, or who are the folks in the campground who’ll trade chores with you.
KEEP IT RIGHT
Regardless of who fixes it or when, be sure to exercise the diligence to always keep your rig in good shape and proper operating condition. It’ll be safer that way, and you and your brood will be happy campers.
Greg Illes is a retired systems engineer who loves thinking up RV upgrades and modifications. When he’s not working on his motorhome, he’s traveling in it. You can follow his excellent blog at www.divver-city.com/blog
##RVT891
https://www.rvtravel.com/891-04-60/
Is this the year to get handy?
April 5, 20191
By Greg Illes
When I was nine years old, I took apart my uncle’s vacuum cleaner. He didn’t like that much – so I put it back together. He was astonished that it still worked … better.
Later, I became an engineer, hobbyist, tinkerer, and fix-it man. “Opa can fix anything,” say my grandkids. So please, take it with a grain of salt when I say that there is never any better time for RVers to get handy – or maybe just handy-er. Yes, I’m biased, but let me make my case…
COST
It’s almost too obvious: Doing it yourself (DIY) incurs no hourly wage. A few band-aids and some Neosporin are typically my only expenses besides parts and the occasional new tool. (Well, okay, maybe a little more than occasional.) Hourly shop rates across the country range from $100–$150, so even if we DIY-types take twice as long to get a job done, we’re still making pretty good money.
CONVENIENCE
Being able to fix your own rig, on the spot, is extraordinarily relaxing – especially by comparison to making a service appointment and arranging for where to stay while the service is taking place. In addition, you’ll typically spend far less time living with the problem (whatever it is) when you deal with it as soon as it’s noticed.
QUALITY
We have to face facts: Even with those high shop rates, there is still a lot of poor services to be had. A stranger in a strange land is throwing darts when picking an RV shop. Some are good, some aren’t. Is DIY work always great? Of course not. But the cost of a redo is low, and you can bet it’ll be right the next time.
AVAILABILITY
With the astronomical rise in RVs in recent years, not only the campgrounds are booked full. Service shops sometimes are swamped, months in advance. It’s no secret that many shops are deluged simply with the work needed to make brand-new rigs work right. In short, you simply may not be able to find any help at any price.
EXTRAS
Reduced angst. Satisfaction. Being a hero to your traveling partner(s). Learning new skills, maybe even helping others. Perhaps most importantly: When you are working on your rig, you are likely to see (and take care of) odd little quirks or glitches that an “employee” might skip over. A better, more reliable rig will result.
BUT … HOW?
Some folks are born with it, some have to learn it. There’s nobody out there that can’t figure out how to hold a screwdriver. A human teacher/mentor is invaluable, but forums, websites like this one, and YouTube can provide an immense amount of information.
If you’re new at “handy-ing”, take baby steps and don’t get yourself in trouble. Err on the side of caution, but don’t be afraid to make small mistakes. Buy tools you need, and understand how to use them; avoid the poor-quality “kits” and buy decent tools. When you’re first learning, size your jobs appropriately – replacing a fridge cooling unit is probably too grand a goal, but swapping out light fixtures for LED units might be well within your grasp.
“IT’S JUST NOT FOR ME”
There are those among us who just don’t want to embrace this part of life. I understand and sympathize. For me, it’s plants and dirt and watering that send me running. NOT for me. So if getting handy just ain’t gonna be your thing, that’s still cool. You have probably learned by now (or will soon) where the reliable service shops are, or who are the folks in the campground who’ll trade chores with you.
KEEP IT RIGHT
Regardless of who fixes it or when, be sure to exercise the diligence to always keep your rig in good shape and proper operating condition. It’ll be safer that way, and you and your brood will be happy campers.
Greg Illes is a retired systems engineer who loves thinking up RV upgrades and modifications. When he’s not working on his motorhome, he’s traveling in it. You can follow his excellent blog at www.divver-city.com/blog
##RVT891
Friday, April 5
Day 8 of Recovery
It sure has made coming up with a title for my posts easier. I will stop come Monday and go back to being more creative.
I am feeling fine. Normal. That is good. Yesterday afternoon we were invited to a gathering at Liz and Dave's old lot where their trailer used to be for a goodbye celebration. There was very little shade so the party moved to another lot and unfortunately the pest control people were working next door so I cut out and came back home. I was told to avoid cleaning supply smells so I imagined pest control smells might be even worse and I am not taking any chances with my new found relief.
The weather this morning is foggy. It is early(7:25) though so hopefully it will burn off.
Butch has a bad case of Hitch Itch. He is ready to move on up the road and has visions of lawn mowing in his head. Patience has never been one of his long suits.
Liz and Dave watching Kristi approach
Not ready yet
L to R, Karen, Bruce, Butch, Chuck, Connie, Kristi, Dave and Liz
I am feeling fine. Normal. That is good. Yesterday afternoon we were invited to a gathering at Liz and Dave's old lot where their trailer used to be for a goodbye celebration. There was very little shade so the party moved to another lot and unfortunately the pest control people were working next door so I cut out and came back home. I was told to avoid cleaning supply smells so I imagined pest control smells might be even worse and I am not taking any chances with my new found relief.
The weather this morning is foggy. It is early(7:25) though so hopefully it will burn off.
Butch has a bad case of Hitch Itch. He is ready to move on up the road and has visions of lawn mowing in his head. Patience has never been one of his long suits.
Liz and Dave watching Kristi approach
Not ready yet
L to R, Karen, Bruce, Butch, Chuck, Connie, Kristi, Dave and Liz
Thursday, April 4
Day 7 of Recovery
In case you are wondering, it takes 10 days to recover according to the sinus institute people. There were 4 surgeries done on the same day as mine and I was the first of the day.
The only hold up on my procedure was getting clearance from the heart doctor and at times I wondered if I should be having it because of heart issues I was having. Little twinges and sometimes minor chest pain lasting long enough to make me nervous. But post-op conditions now assure me that all those heart issues were caused by stress, pain and, possible infection. If those heart issues return in the future, my best option should be taking inventory on what could be causing it besides my heart. Throughout my life, the first choice when I told them I was having "twinges" was loads of testing of all sorts on my heart. So far those tests have always come out with positive results.
I woke this morning feeling very normal. I think I am 95 percent healed. I am following directions to the letter. Sunday is day 10 and next Wednesday is my last appointment with Dr. Honrubia.
On to other stuff: I used to use Evernote for note-taking and lists but wandered off of it because it was more complicated than I really wanted for list making. And then I found ToDo and it was an app that allowed making simple lists and I counted on it. For some reason, after the last Google business of doing away with some of their features, my ToDo and my lists went away! I was irked! I had a checklist on it for things to do before leaving Iowa and another for when we leave Texas and yet another for things to buy in Mexico before we leave. That last one was the one I was looking for when I discovered the whole darn app was gone. So out of curiosity I checked into Evernote and found some jokes I had saved. And that is why you are seeing this:
Random Thoughts of an Ordinary Mature Person
1. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is a great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. MapQuest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind-of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blu-ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Light than Kay.
17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.
23. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first "helmet" was used in 1974.” That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.
The only hold up on my procedure was getting clearance from the heart doctor and at times I wondered if I should be having it because of heart issues I was having. Little twinges and sometimes minor chest pain lasting long enough to make me nervous. But post-op conditions now assure me that all those heart issues were caused by stress, pain and, possible infection. If those heart issues return in the future, my best option should be taking inventory on what could be causing it besides my heart. Throughout my life, the first choice when I told them I was having "twinges" was loads of testing of all sorts on my heart. So far those tests have always come out with positive results.
I woke this morning feeling very normal. I think I am 95 percent healed. I am following directions to the letter. Sunday is day 10 and next Wednesday is my last appointment with Dr. Honrubia.
On to other stuff: I used to use Evernote for note-taking and lists but wandered off of it because it was more complicated than I really wanted for list making. And then I found ToDo and it was an app that allowed making simple lists and I counted on it. For some reason, after the last Google business of doing away with some of their features, my ToDo and my lists went away! I was irked! I had a checklist on it for things to do before leaving Iowa and another for when we leave Texas and yet another for things to buy in Mexico before we leave. That last one was the one I was looking for when I discovered the whole darn app was gone. So out of curiosity I checked into Evernote and found some jokes I had saved. And that is why you are seeing this:
Random Thoughts of an Ordinary Mature Person
1. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is a great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. MapQuest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind-of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blu-ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Light than Kay.
17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.
23. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first "helmet" was used in 1974.” That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.
Wednesday, April 3
Day 6 of Recovery
These are lyrics from the song Big Yellow Taxi by Counting Crows and they seem appropriate.
" Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got til it's gone"
These lyrics are what I thought of this morning as I contemplated where I am now and where I have been for most of this winter season. My vision, hearing, and sense of smell have all intensified in the last 6 days and I did not know they were gone! I have a renewed sense of overall well-being that I hope to hang on to forever! And the one biggy thing is being pain-free.
Butch and I walked up to the hall for trivia last night and it felt really good to be doing that in all ways. It was warm, the air was clean and all was right in my world.
Still being trivial on Tuesday night at 6:30 PM in the Sunrise Room. Last night was a tough one and I will try to lighten up the questions for next week. It can be a challenge to balance out the questions for easy, medium and difficult. I have played and hosted trivia competitions in several locations and there always seems to be one team that consistently carries the victory banner and in Trophy Gardens that team is Team SmartyPants and they came in first once again. Team BooBees was a close second. I am proud of all the teams in the trivia family and appreciate their efforts wherever they end up in the lineup.
So today is Wednesday and I am looking forward to it despite the fact that it is cloudy. The high for today will be in the 80s and that is also the forecast for the next 10 days.
Yesterday Butch went to play golf with the Magnolia golfers only to discover they had canceled but did not inform him. After that sour note, he came back home and we went to Costco for gas and groceries and a bank withdrawal. We had lunch at Raising Canes. It has become one of our favorite lunch places. We love their chicken fingers and their lemonade tastes like Mom's did when we were kids. It is made with real lemons, not from concentrate and the difference is remarkable. Butch and I share a 4 piece combo and it is plenty for both of us.
Enough for now and on with our day. We hope yours is a good one too.
" Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got til it's gone"
These lyrics are what I thought of this morning as I contemplated where I am now and where I have been for most of this winter season. My vision, hearing, and sense of smell have all intensified in the last 6 days and I did not know they were gone! I have a renewed sense of overall well-being that I hope to hang on to forever! And the one biggy thing is being pain-free.
Butch and I walked up to the hall for trivia last night and it felt really good to be doing that in all ways. It was warm, the air was clean and all was right in my world.
Still being trivial on Tuesday night at 6:30 PM in the Sunrise Room. Last night was a tough one and I will try to lighten up the questions for next week. It can be a challenge to balance out the questions for easy, medium and difficult. I have played and hosted trivia competitions in several locations and there always seems to be one team that consistently carries the victory banner and in Trophy Gardens that team is Team SmartyPants and they came in first once again. Team BooBees was a close second. I am proud of all the teams in the trivia family and appreciate their efforts wherever they end up in the lineup.
So today is Wednesday and I am looking forward to it despite the fact that it is cloudy. The high for today will be in the 80s and that is also the forecast for the next 10 days.
Yesterday Butch went to play golf with the Magnolia golfers only to discover they had canceled but did not inform him. After that sour note, he came back home and we went to Costco for gas and groceries and a bank withdrawal. We had lunch at Raising Canes. It has become one of our favorite lunch places. We love their chicken fingers and their lemonade tastes like Mom's did when we were kids. It is made with real lemons, not from concentrate and the difference is remarkable. Butch and I share a 4 piece combo and it is plenty for both of us.
Enough for now and on with our day. We hope yours is a good one too.
Tuesday, April 2
Day 5 of Recovery
I am feeling pretty doggone perky all things considered. I have spent too long on the computer and was ready to get away from it when I remembered that I had not updated the blog. So what have I done you might ask?
I have done all the chores connected with my recovery. Sinus rinse 3 x a day. Two to go. Antibiotics taken once per day. Nasal misting every hour while awake. Keeps me busy.
I changed our address in preparation for leaving the RGV.
I prepared the trivia questions for this week (tonight) and next week.
Emailed a couple of people I had not heard from in a while.
Yesterday I made reservations for our stay places on the way home.
Did the jigzone puzzle Butch and I compete with every day www.jigzone.com He won today.
Click on the link and check it out.
I also have a pork loin in the crockpot for supper.
Till next time!
I have done all the chores connected with my recovery. Sinus rinse 3 x a day. Two to go. Antibiotics taken once per day. Nasal misting every hour while awake. Keeps me busy.
I changed our address in preparation for leaving the RGV.
I prepared the trivia questions for this week (tonight) and next week.
Emailed a couple of people I had not heard from in a while.
Yesterday I made reservations for our stay places on the way home.
Did the jigzone puzzle Butch and I compete with every day www.jigzone.com He won today.
Click on the link and check it out.
I also have a pork loin in the crockpot for supper.
Till next time!
Monday, April 1
Day 4 of recovery
Butch and I went out for breakfast at El Dorado in Weslaco for our usual breakfast tacos. Followed by a trip to our favorite H.E.B. also in Weslaco on Westgate. The rain is lighter than yesterday but still wet and drizzly and cold! And before you go all Wah! Wah! on me visualize a day in July where the temperature does not get above 49 degrees and it is all day a drizzling rain. Yup, that is what it is like.
I was feeling all cocky about how well I was feeling until I spent too much time in the cold and my old familiar headache spot showed up and immediately slowed me down. No, it is not as severe as before but just the fact that it is there at all is enough to bum me out. We are back home now and I have taken some helpful steps toward getting rid of it, Tylenol, warmer temps in the house and some sinus rinses ordered by the sinus people. So day 4 is not the fully healed day I was dreaming of but hopefully, we are one day closer to that day.
To back up a minute, Netflix is working for us again now that a good chunk of people has left the valley. So yesterday we watched "The Highway Men" and it is a good one. It is "The untold story of Bonnie and Clyde". Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson are the main stars. I know we would not mind watching it again.
Tune in tomorrow...
I was feeling all cocky about how well I was feeling until I spent too much time in the cold and my old familiar headache spot showed up and immediately slowed me down. No, it is not as severe as before but just the fact that it is there at all is enough to bum me out. We are back home now and I have taken some helpful steps toward getting rid of it, Tylenol, warmer temps in the house and some sinus rinses ordered by the sinus people. So day 4 is not the fully healed day I was dreaming of but hopefully, we are one day closer to that day.
To back up a minute, Netflix is working for us again now that a good chunk of people has left the valley. So yesterday we watched "The Highway Men" and it is a good one. It is "The untold story of Bonnie and Clyde". Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson are the main stars. I know we would not mind watching it again.
Tune in tomorrow...
Sunday, March 31
Day 3 of recovery
I am better. It is a gradual process even more so now that I have some age on me. I asked Butch if he was ready to be done with being Dobby, the house elf and he said no because it means we are a team and he likes that idea and quite frankly so do I.😍
It is raining here today and it is much heavier than we usually see. We even have lightning! We had planned to go out for our traditional Sunday breakfast but with the heavy rain, we decided to postpone those plans.
I have been sleeping in the recliner. The sinus people want me to elevate my head at least 45 degrees. But last night I tried sleeping in the bed for a little while but I discovered after a couple hours that I was better off in the recliner. I was getting clogged up and dried out so the recliner it will be until I am declared well. I slept better last night than I have for what seems like a very long time.
The park model that Dave and Liz lived in when we first came to TrophyGardens was a short way down the block from us. But then they sold it and moved to what they call the North 40 into a Mobile home. And yesterday their former park model left the park so that meant lots of Looky-Lou's on our street. It is a fascinating process to watch.
And here is one of the reasons we do not have a pet.
It is raining here today and it is much heavier than we usually see. We even have lightning! We had planned to go out for our traditional Sunday breakfast but with the heavy rain, we decided to postpone those plans.
I have been sleeping in the recliner. The sinus people want me to elevate my head at least 45 degrees. But last night I tried sleeping in the bed for a little while but I discovered after a couple hours that I was better off in the recliner. I was getting clogged up and dried out so the recliner it will be until I am declared well. I slept better last night than I have for what seems like a very long time.
The park model that Dave and Liz lived in when we first came to TrophyGardens was a short way down the block from us. But then they sold it and moved to what they call the North 40 into a Mobile home. And yesterday their former park model left the park so that meant lots of Looky-Lou's on our street. It is a fascinating process to watch.
And here is one of the reasons we do not have a pet.
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