Wow, I have been so busy I have forgotten to post. I received the Cradlepoint router and had o send it back the same day. It was defective from the factory, just my luck!
We have also been toying with the idea of getting a new coach but believe it or not, we are having problems finding a deal. We really like the Tiffin Phaeton 36 footer, but not able to find a 25% off retail deal. Just my luck again!!!
Mac's health is failing and the Vet says he may have a less than a month. He still has his good days when you'd think there was nothing wrong with him so we are staying close to home with him.
Joyce went back to work today to make us some gas money for our upcoming departure. Well, it's a beautiful day so I guess me and my dog will get out and enjoy the rays.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Getting Prepared
In an effort to prepare for our next trip, I have purchased a new Gateway Laptop. Joyce and I will both be able to get online because I also purchased a new Cradlepoint CTR350 wireless router from the 3G Store.
Plus, along with the new Laptop, I was able to get a Canon printer that will scan, print, and copy all for $26.76.
I called four painters to give me an estimate on painting the trim on our home. They all said that they would have the estimate to me by the next day. Two of them gave me their estimate four days later and after six days I still haven't heard from the other two. I can't believe that in these times these people don't seem to have the ambition to present themselves as competent business people. One of them even stated that business is slow but I am still waiting for his quote. Tough to pick someone based on these facts. Maybe I'm just being too critical!
Plus, along with the new Laptop, I was able to get a Canon printer that will scan, print, and copy all for $26.76.
I called four painters to give me an estimate on painting the trim on our home. They all said that they would have the estimate to me by the next day. Two of them gave me their estimate four days later and after six days I still haven't heard from the other two. I can't believe that in these times these people don't seem to have the ambition to present themselves as competent business people. One of them even stated that business is slow but I am still waiting for his quote. Tough to pick someone based on these facts. Maybe I'm just being too critical!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Oh yea, I can't begin to tell you how much I miss doing this. The after winter clean-up. I'm ready to load up the coach and head out again.
I fixed the wall yesterday but noticed that the overhang on this section wasn't right. Could the wall have shrunk???
We received a call from the Vet this afternoon. She had the results of Mac's latest blood test, which was better than we expected. It seems that he is adjusting to the Kidney failure and his body is hydrating more than normal. According to the Vet, this is a good thing. Based on the blood work results he may have up to two months to live but the main thing is that he is not in any pain, but he does sleep a lot. Oh well, he has had a good life.
I fixed the wall yesterday but noticed that the overhang on this section wasn't right. Could the wall have shrunk???
We received a call from the Vet this afternoon. She had the results of Mac's latest blood test, which was better than we expected. It seems that he is adjusting to the Kidney failure and his body is hydrating more than normal. According to the Vet, this is a good thing. Based on the blood work results he may have up to two months to live but the main thing is that he is not in any pain, but he does sleep a lot. Oh well, he has had a good life.I am waiting for a couple of estimates for painting the trim on the house, and next week I have a carpenter coming to do an exterior door replacement, and a new counter top in the master bath. Wow, I remember when I use to do all that stuff myself. Now that I'm retired, I don't have time, go figure!!!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Doing the House Chores
I haven't even had time to wash the motorhome yet. Had to fix our driveway wall that was damaged by the snowplow while we were gone. He had taken out about eight feet of the wall so I had to reconstruct the section.
We also had to take Mac to the Vet for blood work so we can get an idea as to how bad his kidneys are getting. Should have the results by tomorrow.
Joyce's cell phone is dying and it was about three years old. She hadn't sign for a new two year contract so we took a ride to see what they had for free phones and I wanted to see about dropping our home phone.
Long story short we got two new phones for free, I changed our home phone to a cell phone and saved us $10 a month. My phone was a prepay phone and I was just about out of minutes so no big lose.
My next move is to get a wireless router from the 3g store for our Verizon broadband wireless we have for the laptop. It seems that the Cradlepoint CTR350 is what most use in their RV's. It's small and can be used with 110 or 12 volts.
We would like to get another Laptop and with the router, we can both be online.
We also had to take Mac to the Vet for blood work so we can get an idea as to how bad his kidneys are getting. Should have the results by tomorrow.
Joyce's cell phone is dying and it was about three years old. She hadn't sign for a new two year contract so we took a ride to see what they had for free phones and I wanted to see about dropping our home phone.Long story short we got two new phones for free, I changed our home phone to a cell phone and saved us $10 a month. My phone was a prepay phone and I was just about out of minutes so no big lose.
My next move is to get a wireless router from the 3g store for our Verizon broadband wireless we have for the laptop. It seems that the Cradlepoint CTR350 is what most use in their RV's. It's small and can be used with 110 or 12 volts.We would like to get another Laptop and with the router, we can both be online.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Home and Finished Within The Budget
We left our Walmart parking lot in PA. at 9:00am and pulled into Rhode Island at lunch time so we had to get some weiners for lunch, mmmmmm!
Mac loved to sit on Joyce's lap but hasn't wanted to in a while, today he had a good day.
Pulling in the driveway
Well we pulled into the driveway at home at 2:00 pm. Last year our total trip mileage was 7600, and this year it came in as 7691. We took a totally different route but came close to last years mileage, weird huh?
Mac loved to sit on Joyce's lap but hasn't wanted to in a while, today he had a good day.
Pulling in the driveway
Well we pulled into the driveway at home at 2:00 pm. Last year our total trip mileage was 7600, and this year it came in as 7691. We took a totally different route but came close to last years mileage, weird huh? Total trip took us 15 weeks and we came in $444.00 under budget. Campground average came out to $11.91 per day, that's under the $15 that I had budgeted.
Already started the honey-do list on things to do around the home. We are going to follow through with the things that have to be done prior to putting the house on the market. We may only be home till July then we may be heading out again.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
We got an early start this morning, drove three miles down the mountain and gassed up. Got back on the Parkway at the start of Skyline Drive. Used our Senior Pass at the Ranger stop and our trip was free.
There were so many overlooks along the Drive we didn't stop at them all.
Even though the road looks empty, there was a lot of traffic for this time of the year. We also passed a lot of biker along the way.
And there was also a lot of deer.
Deer
And more deer
Stopped for the view.
The view.
Did I mention the Deer?
And those corners!!!
And then there was the tunnel, 12ft. 8 in clearance
Fingers crossed
Who put those low rocks at the end, we made it with 8" to spare.
More scenery
More corners as we came down to the end.
We are now in a Walmart parking lot off of 84 in PA with six other RV's. It's starting to look like a campground. The wind is blowing and it is cold. Tomorrow we have about a four hour drive to get home and that will complete our loop.
There were so many overlooks along the Drive we didn't stop at them all.
Even though the road looks empty, there was a lot of traffic for this time of the year. We also passed a lot of biker along the way.
And there was also a lot of deer.
Deer
And more deer
Stopped for the view.
The view.
Did I mention the Deer?
And those corners!!!
And then there was the tunnel, 12ft. 8 in clearance
Fingers crossed
Who put those low rocks at the end, we made it with 8" to spare.
More scenery
More corners as we came down to the end.
We are now in a Walmart parking lot off of 84 in PA with six other RV's. It's starting to look like a campground. The wind is blowing and it is cold. Tomorrow we have about a four hour drive to get home and that will complete our loop.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Happy Easter
We left our camp behind the Cracker Barrel and headed east on 81. It stayed dry for the ride.
We jumped on the Parkway in Roanoke, Va.
The sky looked like rain most of the day but we didn't get a drop.
Nice view
The Appalachian Trail showed that it was being used a lot.
Most of the road didn't have guard rails so I really didn't get to enjoy the scenery.
There were a lot of deer grazing.
As we came down off the Blue Ridge Parkway we came to this rest area that was vacant so I pulled up next to the gas station and parked for the night.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Tornado Watch
We left Nashville this morning to continue towards home. When we left this morning they were calling for severe weather with thunderstorms and heavy rain.
We are now outside of Morristown, Tn. and we are parked behind a Crackerbarrel restaurant off of Interstate 81. It's a beautiful spot with a great view of the farm land below.
We just turned the TV on and found out that Nashville was hit by a couple of tornadoes, and the storm is heading this way. We are now under tornado watch and the clouds are getting real dark so Me, Auntie Em, and Toto are looking for something to rope ourselves to. OMG wish us luck, I'll let you know how we made out.
Sat. update: We made it through the storm fine, we just had some periods of heavy rain. Sadly two people lost their life's to a tornado during this storm.
We are now outside of Morristown, Tn. and we are parked behind a Crackerbarrel restaurant off of Interstate 81. It's a beautiful spot with a great view of the farm land below.
We just turned the TV on and found out that Nashville was hit by a couple of tornadoes, and the storm is heading this way. We are now under tornado watch and the clouds are getting real dark so Me, Auntie Em, and Toto are looking for something to rope ourselves to. OMG wish us luck, I'll let you know how we made out.
Sat. update: We made it through the storm fine, we just had some periods of heavy rain. Sadly two people lost their life's to a tornado during this storm.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Mac Gave Us A Scare
Today we had a plan to drive into Nashville to the Hardrock Cafe to get our oldest daughter a pin. She collects Hardrock pins so we try to get pins from the areas we visit.
We also planned to visit The Hemitage, home of Andrew Jackson, and the Nashville Super Speedway.
Mac wanted to go for a ride so we figured we would take him to the speedway with us then bring him back to camp. At that point, we would have lunch, put him in his crate so he could nap while Joyce and I went to Nashville.
So we all hopped in the Jeep to leave and just as I started the Jeep, Mac let out a loud yelp and dropped lifeless on the seat. I immediately jump in the back seat because he was hanging off the seat and looked like he was gone. I then noticed that he was breathing but very shallow. For the next ten minutes we sat as I patted him figuring that he was going to leave us for doggie heaven.
He began to regain his composure and in about twenty minutes he returned to his old self. We tried to get him out of the Jeep but he wouldn't budge, we even tried luring him with a treat but he wasn't about to leave the back seat.
So.....it may sound heartless but Mac loves riding in the Jeep so we took the ride to the Super Speedway. He was fine during the trip and we were no more that fifteen minutes away from the local Vet. When we returned to camp he was happy that he had a ride and he got out of the back seat without a problem.
Needless to say, Joyce and I were really worried about leaving him alone so we stayed home at camp and we all sat outside to enjoy the warmth of the sun.
We have no idea what Mac experienced in the Jeep, whether it was a heart attack, seizure, or a partial stroke, we don't know. We only know that with his kidney failure progressing, it is only a matter of time when his system can no longer handle the stress. Until that time comes, we will try to cater to his wants.
When we approached the entrance gate we were stopped by the security guard. We had hoped to get to see the track but not today. There's a race this weekend so we had to be a vendor to get in. Oh well, at least Mac enjoyed the ride!!!
We are moving again in the morning, heading to Pigeon Forge, Tn.
We also planned to visit The Hemitage, home of Andrew Jackson, and the Nashville Super Speedway.
Mac wanted to go for a ride so we figured we would take him to the speedway with us then bring him back to camp. At that point, we would have lunch, put him in his crate so he could nap while Joyce and I went to Nashville.
So we all hopped in the Jeep to leave and just as I started the Jeep, Mac let out a loud yelp and dropped lifeless on the seat. I immediately jump in the back seat because he was hanging off the seat and looked like he was gone. I then noticed that he was breathing but very shallow. For the next ten minutes we sat as I patted him figuring that he was going to leave us for doggie heaven.
He began to regain his composure and in about twenty minutes he returned to his old self. We tried to get him out of the Jeep but he wouldn't budge, we even tried luring him with a treat but he wasn't about to leave the back seat.
So.....it may sound heartless but Mac loves riding in the Jeep so we took the ride to the Super Speedway. He was fine during the trip and we were no more that fifteen minutes away from the local Vet. When we returned to camp he was happy that he had a ride and he got out of the back seat without a problem.
Needless to say, Joyce and I were really worried about leaving him alone so we stayed home at camp and we all sat outside to enjoy the warmth of the sun.
We have no idea what Mac experienced in the Jeep, whether it was a heart attack, seizure, or a partial stroke, we don't know. We only know that with his kidney failure progressing, it is only a matter of time when his system can no longer handle the stress. Until that time comes, we will try to cater to his wants.
We made it to the track. Entrance to the Speedway
When we approached the entrance gate we were stopped by the security guard. We had hoped to get to see the track but not today. There's a race this weekend so we had to be a vendor to get in. Oh well, at least Mac enjoyed the ride!!!
We are moving again in the morning, heading to Pigeon Forge, Tn.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
A Day AT The Grand Ole Opry
Here we are making a turn into the Grand Ole Opry complex
Speed Limit 24????? Who came up with that?
Outside of the building entrance
We signed up for the tour of the Grand Ole Opry which explained how it all started.Further along the tour we came to the area where the Opry members get their mail. There area 60 regular members that perform at the Opry.
Below are some of the dressing rooms, most area shared by various performers.
Here are two of the top performers now!
After taking the tour of the Opry, we crossed the parking lot to the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.
The roof on the center of the complex is all glass and the center looks like something out of Disney.
There are boat rides that circle through the gardens.
Nice fountain!
The plants were unbelievable, there were flowers everywhere
More plants
Flowers growing from the sides of the palm trees.
Wedding chapel area
Two short videos of the complex
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