Time for my weekly update! Weekly is about as good as I can get while in this w*rk mode I suppose. Anyway ...
After another 4 day work week I made the drive back to Maine on Friday. Although it was Friday - and it is still officially summer - the traffic was relatively light coming into Maine. I suppose most folks are getting into the back to school mode and less vacationers are out on the roads. I did however note that a few trees along the interstates are starting to get a few yellows and oranges into the background of green. Ah - my favorite time of year in the northeast!
Our RV buddies Judy and Darrell Patterson are on their way west and south out of Maine this weekend and decided to visit with us for a couple of days this weekend as they start their trip. We had a nice relaxing dinner with them here at the house Friday night and then yesterday we were treated by a visit from some more RVing friends, Gene and Judi Curp, who have been spending the last few weeks in NH walking portions of the Appalachian Trail. It was really great to have them all over to the house ... just enjoying their company ... and then of course there was Darrell's famous fish chowdah, made with fresh caught Maine Haddock, fresh dug Maine Potatoes, fresh churned Maine (well maybe it was Vermont) Butter - and lots of care. It was waay yummy and was then followed by an equally yummy dessert provided by the Curps!!!
After all that fun - it's time to hit the road back to NY. But this time Peggy will be heading back with me for a couple of weeks. Yea for that!!
So that's about it from here in the Northeast - working hard - playing harder ... next stop - the Empire State.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
W*RK - Topsham, ME
After putting another w*rk week behind me, this time a four-day-40-hour week, Peggy and I dove home to Maine yesterday. We managed to turn a 5 1/2 hour trip into a 7 hour trip by stopping for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Clifton Park, NY, stopping for fuel/coffee/stretch in Ludlow, MA, stopping for lunch at the most northeast Cracker Barrel in the country in Massachusetts on I-495, and then one more stop for another stretch/drink in Kennebunk, ME. All these stops and more traffic than I like along I-495 made for a long driving day.
So today is chore day as I tend to mowing the lawn, washing the car, and maybe I'll even sneak in a haircut. Tomorrow it will be back to NY for another week for me while Peggy tends to some appointments she needs to take care of here at home. Then we'll do it all over again next weekend - only this time Peggy will make the trip back with me for another couple of weeks in NY.
So now that you've been w*rking again for a couple of months Mikee - whaddaya think?
Well - for a young fella getting started in life and needing to start providing for a family, and for a bit older fella needing to keep that family in a house and providing food, clothes, toys, and college - working for a living is a definite necessity. For a retired guy - w*rk is OK as a means to keep you busy and outa trouble, and if they pay you as well, then you get the bonus of being able to stretch those retirement funds a bit longer. But other than that - w*rk is waay overrated. I made a commitment to these folks when I agreed to take this job - and I'll certainly try and make good on that commitment - but I'll be glad to go back to the good ol days (back in June) when I slept in clear to 7:30, got a leisurely start to my day, and just needed to make sure the Winne was parked by around 3:30 for martini time.
Isn't it amazing how your priorities can change over time and circumstance.
By the way - after finishing her chemotherapy and radiation treatments a month or so ago Nan took a little vacation in Nevada at my sister Marcie's place where she spent several days paying her Nevada State Taxes in the local casinos. After all that excitement she made the trip back to California to go through another 3 weeks of radiation treatments to her brain. Although all her post treatment scans have been very positive - she took her doctors advice and is undergoing these latest treatments as a precautionary measure. Hang in there Nan - only one more week to go!
So today is chore day as I tend to mowing the lawn, washing the car, and maybe I'll even sneak in a haircut. Tomorrow it will be back to NY for another week for me while Peggy tends to some appointments she needs to take care of here at home. Then we'll do it all over again next weekend - only this time Peggy will make the trip back with me for another couple of weeks in NY.
So now that you've been w*rking again for a couple of months Mikee - whaddaya think?
Well - for a young fella getting started in life and needing to start providing for a family, and for a bit older fella needing to keep that family in a house and providing food, clothes, toys, and college - working for a living is a definite necessity. For a retired guy - w*rk is OK as a means to keep you busy and outa trouble, and if they pay you as well, then you get the bonus of being able to stretch those retirement funds a bit longer. But other than that - w*rk is waay overrated. I made a commitment to these folks when I agreed to take this job - and I'll certainly try and make good on that commitment - but I'll be glad to go back to the good ol days (back in June) when I slept in clear to 7:30, got a leisurely start to my day, and just needed to make sure the Winne was parked by around 3:30 for martini time.
Isn't it amazing how your priorities can change over time and circumstance.
By the way - after finishing her chemotherapy and radiation treatments a month or so ago Nan took a little vacation in Nevada at my sister Marcie's place where she spent several days paying her Nevada State Taxes in the local casinos. After all that excitement she made the trip back to California to go through another 3 weeks of radiation treatments to her brain. Although all her post treatment scans have been very positive - she took her doctors advice and is undergoing these latest treatments as a precautionary measure. Hang in there Nan - only one more week to go!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Upgrades to the Winne - Deer Run RV Resort, NY
Buying the parts to perform repairs/upgrades to the Winne was only the first step. So after Peggy and I had our late morning breakfast at Cracker Barrel yesterday - we stopped by the local Home Depot to pick up some additional parts necessary for installation and upon our return to the rig - I went to work.
First came the new battery. That one was pretty easy. Just open the compartment under the stairs, lift in the 50 lb battery, and hook up the cables. Check that one off the list.
Then for the new "Surge Guard." This one was not so easy. First I had to prep the new hook up wire and install to the load side of the Surge Guard. That step was not all that bad except that #6 wire is pretty stiff and a bit tough to work with. Then I had to disconnect shore power to the rig and then disconnect the shore power cable from the Power Source Transfer Switch located in the outdoor electrical compartment. Here's where it gets difficult.
Not that it was all that difficult to unscrew some connectors inside the transfer switch box - install the new Surge Guard - and then attach the shore power cord to the new gadget ... but you have to "stand" on your knees while reaching in to the electrical compartment to loosen and then tighten the correct screws. Now this would not have slowed me down at all when I was 20 years old, would have been just an inconvenience when I was 30 years old, would have been a little tough on the knees when I was 40 years old, and would have been a real pain in the a** at age 50. At age 50-ten it was a pain in the knees-back-neck-thighs and that pain lasted all night, most of the morning, and still lingers this evening!!
So I managed to get it installed and it works as advertised. After a much deserved martini break - I moved on to the generator fuel filter repair. This only took a few minutes of laying on the ground my back - a welcome relief from "standing" on my knees for a few hours.
So that's what I did on my vacation (weekend off) - how about you?
First came the new battery. That one was pretty easy. Just open the compartment under the stairs, lift in the 50 lb battery, and hook up the cables. Check that one off the list.
Then for the new "Surge Guard." This one was not so easy. First I had to prep the new hook up wire and install to the load side of the Surge Guard. That step was not all that bad except that #6 wire is pretty stiff and a bit tough to work with. Then I had to disconnect shore power to the rig and then disconnect the shore power cable from the Power Source Transfer Switch located in the outdoor electrical compartment. Here's where it gets difficult.
Not that it was all that difficult to unscrew some connectors inside the transfer switch box - install the new Surge Guard - and then attach the shore power cord to the new gadget ... but you have to "stand" on your knees while reaching in to the electrical compartment to loosen and then tighten the correct screws. Now this would not have slowed me down at all when I was 20 years old, would have been just an inconvenience when I was 30 years old, would have been a little tough on the knees when I was 40 years old, and would have been a real pain in the a** at age 50. At age 50-ten it was a pain in the knees-back-neck-thighs and that pain lasted all night, most of the morning, and still lingers this evening!!
So I managed to get it installed and it works as advertised. After a much deserved martini break - I moved on to the generator fuel filter repair. This only took a few minutes of laying on the ground my back - a welcome relief from "standing" on my knees for a few hours.
So that's what I did on my vacation (weekend off) - how about you?
Sunday, August 15, 2010
It's All Darrell's Fault - Somewhere in NY
Another busy week here in the Empire State. I put in my 50 some hours at work and Peggy hung around the campground getting in plenty of reading and walking. She was even able to drag me out for an evening stroll on most nights.
After a leisurely start yesterday we took off in the Vue for a shopping trip that ended up taking us all over the capital region of NY. We started by driving to the Alpin Haus RV dealership in Amsterdam, NY. I needed to buy a replacement fuel filter for the Winne's generator (remember the one that was leaking back in Yellowstone National Park that I basically bypassed?). Since there is a Camping World at this RV store we might as well take a quick walk through there - right?
Several hundred $$ later we loaded up the Vue. It wouldn't have been that bad but I talked myself into buying a low/high voltage and surge protector gadget for the Winne. It's actually all Darrell Patterson's fault - he keeps telling me how every RV oughta have one to protect all the valuable electronic stuff inside from the sometimes questionable shore power supplies in RV Parks - not to mention the added protection for nearby lightning strikes. In the last 5 years or so we have been traveling in the Winne we have plugged in to over a hundred different shore power supplies and have had only two that I recall were a problem. One was a 30 AMP service that was so low in voltage that I requested a different site and the other required that we be very careful when running the air conditioner at certain times of the day. Regardless - I have heard/read of enough bad experiences that I think the surge protector is a good idea. So now all I gotta do is figure out where I'm going to install it - go find a few parts - and then go play electrician for a few hours. Where is Darrell when I need an apprentice?!
After loading up our Camping World purchases we decided to check out the new motorhomes on display at Alpin Haus. We looked a nice 40' Tiffin Phaeton and a Tiffin Allegro Rear Engine Diesel - but alas - we found nothing that jumped out and said "buy me!"
Then we were off to Saratoga Springs to find a Sears store. It probably would have been closer to find one in Albany - but we decided to check out our old stomping grounds in Saratoga. After a nice drive through the NY countryside we finally made it to Sears where it was time to purchase a new Deep Cycle "House" battery for the Winne (remember the one that I found out was dead back in Yellowstone National Park that I had to disconnect?). Another dent in the wallet there and we were off to Wal-Mart for our weekly replenishment walkabout.
We finally made it home in the late afternoon, stowed our purchases, took a break, went for our evening stroll, and then crashed for the day. Whew - what a busy day-off!!!
Today I promised to take Peggy out for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We haven't been to a CB in several months now and I'm sure their revenue and Stock Price are suffering. So it's time to get going and stimulate the economy some more. After-all - I hear that another recession is coming if I don't get out there and spend-spend-spend. Well I might spend a bit - but it won't be with borrowed money - I'll leave that bit of insanity to our leaders in Washington.
After a leisurely start yesterday we took off in the Vue for a shopping trip that ended up taking us all over the capital region of NY. We started by driving to the Alpin Haus RV dealership in Amsterdam, NY. I needed to buy a replacement fuel filter for the Winne's generator (remember the one that was leaking back in Yellowstone National Park that I basically bypassed?). Since there is a Camping World at this RV store we might as well take a quick walk through there - right?
Several hundred $$ later we loaded up the Vue. It wouldn't have been that bad but I talked myself into buying a low/high voltage and surge protector gadget for the Winne. It's actually all Darrell Patterson's fault - he keeps telling me how every RV oughta have one to protect all the valuable electronic stuff inside from the sometimes questionable shore power supplies in RV Parks - not to mention the added protection for nearby lightning strikes. In the last 5 years or so we have been traveling in the Winne we have plugged in to over a hundred different shore power supplies and have had only two that I recall were a problem. One was a 30 AMP service that was so low in voltage that I requested a different site and the other required that we be very careful when running the air conditioner at certain times of the day. Regardless - I have heard/read of enough bad experiences that I think the surge protector is a good idea. So now all I gotta do is figure out where I'm going to install it - go find a few parts - and then go play electrician for a few hours. Where is Darrell when I need an apprentice?!
After loading up our Camping World purchases we decided to check out the new motorhomes on display at Alpin Haus. We looked a nice 40' Tiffin Phaeton and a Tiffin Allegro Rear Engine Diesel - but alas - we found nothing that jumped out and said "buy me!"
Then we were off to Saratoga Springs to find a Sears store. It probably would have been closer to find one in Albany - but we decided to check out our old stomping grounds in Saratoga. After a nice drive through the NY countryside we finally made it to Sears where it was time to purchase a new Deep Cycle "House" battery for the Winne (remember the one that I found out was dead back in Yellowstone National Park that I had to disconnect?). Another dent in the wallet there and we were off to Wal-Mart for our weekly replenishment walkabout.
We finally made it home in the late afternoon, stowed our purchases, took a break, went for our evening stroll, and then crashed for the day. Whew - what a busy day-off!!!
Today I promised to take Peggy out for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We haven't been to a CB in several months now and I'm sure their revenue and Stock Price are suffering. So it's time to get going and stimulate the economy some more. After-all - I hear that another recession is coming if I don't get out there and spend-spend-spend. Well I might spend a bit - but it won't be with borrowed money - I'll leave that bit of insanity to our leaders in Washington.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
A National Statistic - Topsham, ME
I've been meaning to update this blog all week - but I was crazy busy at w*rk and afterall - just how exciting can dealing with radioactive waste be?
We sure did have fun last week with our RV buddies at the Maine Event! Those of you who were following their blogs already got to hear about their trips to see more lighthouses, their Boothbay Harbor Cruise, and their attempts to eat all the seafood remaining in southern Maine. For those who didn't - I'll post some pictures that Peggy took while I was off in NY slaving away for gas money.
I made the 5 plus hour drive back to Maine today and then starting working on my home chore list. Just the standard stuff - mow the lawn, trip to the recycling center/transfer station to get rid of several weeks of trash, clean the BBQ Grill - normal homeowner stuff. Peggy and I will be driving back to NY tomorrow so she has been pretty busy also getting ready to travel. I think we both know that Mikee can survive as a bachelor for a few weeks - but it's not necessarily a pretty or healthy sight! I know I'll be glad to have her with me!! We'll see how she survives alone during the days in a RV Park without a car to escape. She'll probably gets lots of rest and reading done.
I became a statistic of the great recession last week. Before I explain - let's review.
There I was - hanging out in Redding, California happily retired - no job - no income - truly Fat, Dumb, and Happy. Then I get a phone call from a past work buddy recruiting me to go back to w*rk for a few months. I say no - he says how about for this much $$ - I think about the travel budget - I say OK.
That pretty much brings us to last week when I was asked to fill out a HIRE Act form for the consulting services company that I actually work for and who provides my twice monthly pay check. For those not familiar with the HIRE Act - it is a federal program put in place as part of the "stimulus" bill - to encourage employers to hire unemployed folks by offering rebates on employer paid payroll fees. So this form asks me to certify, under penalty of perjury, that I was not paid wages by any employer during the 60 day period prior to me being hired.
That's it! No questions about whether or not I was actually looking for a job, or whether I was really independently wealthy and only working for the fun of it , or whether I intended to terminate my employment in only a few months. It seems the feds don't care about the facts - they're just looking for an easy way to give away some stimulus dollars. So - since the project I'm working on is partially paid for by federal stimulus money and since I was "unemployed" for greater than 60 days prior to my recent hiring - I am now counted as one of the jobs either created or saved by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (Stimulus Bill) using money borrowed from Red China and also as a job created by the "HIRE Act" using even more borrowed $$.
How did that happen to guy who opposes both of those bills and wasn't looking for a job in the first place?
We sure did have fun last week with our RV buddies at the Maine Event! Those of you who were following their blogs already got to hear about their trips to see more lighthouses, their Boothbay Harbor Cruise, and their attempts to eat all the seafood remaining in southern Maine. For those who didn't - I'll post some pictures that Peggy took while I was off in NY slaving away for gas money.
I made the 5 plus hour drive back to Maine today and then starting working on my home chore list. Just the standard stuff - mow the lawn, trip to the recycling center/transfer station to get rid of several weeks of trash, clean the BBQ Grill - normal homeowner stuff. Peggy and I will be driving back to NY tomorrow so she has been pretty busy also getting ready to travel. I think we both know that Mikee can survive as a bachelor for a few weeks - but it's not necessarily a pretty or healthy sight! I know I'll be glad to have her with me!! We'll see how she survives alone during the days in a RV Park without a car to escape. She'll probably gets lots of rest and reading done.
I became a statistic of the great recession last week. Before I explain - let's review.
There I was - hanging out in Redding, California happily retired - no job - no income - truly Fat, Dumb, and Happy. Then I get a phone call from a past work buddy recruiting me to go back to w*rk for a few months. I say no - he says how about for this much $$ - I think about the travel budget - I say OK.
That pretty much brings us to last week when I was asked to fill out a HIRE Act form for the consulting services company that I actually work for and who provides my twice monthly pay check. For those not familiar with the HIRE Act - it is a federal program put in place as part of the "stimulus" bill - to encourage employers to hire unemployed folks by offering rebates on employer paid payroll fees. So this form asks me to certify, under penalty of perjury, that I was not paid wages by any employer during the 60 day period prior to me being hired.
That's it! No questions about whether or not I was actually looking for a job, or whether I was really independently wealthy and only working for the fun of it , or whether I intended to terminate my employment in only a few months. It seems the feds don't care about the facts - they're just looking for an easy way to give away some stimulus dollars. So - since the project I'm working on is partially paid for by federal stimulus money and since I was "unemployed" for greater than 60 days prior to my recent hiring - I am now counted as one of the jobs either created or saved by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (Stimulus Bill) using money borrowed from Red China and also as a job created by the "HIRE Act" using even more borrowed $$.
How did that happen to guy who opposes both of those bills and wasn't looking for a job in the first place?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
A Little Bit of Margaritaville - Topsham, ME
Another Day - another day with great weather - another day with great people - and another day with great food. This is absolutely the "way life should be."
Peggy and I started off the day getting a few things done around the house and then Darrell arrived here at Mikee's Auto Service Center for an oil change on the GMC Duramax Diesel. I suppose Mikee will now have to change the name to Mikees Auto Service Center, Truck Stop, and RV Supercenter - "where the service is great and the coffee is hot."
Then it was time to get cleaned up and head over to the Maine Event Rallye site to meet up with my fellow shoppers. We decided to start our shopping spree at the Delorme Mapping Company store in Yarmouth where "Eartha" was a big hit - as were the fun wares in the gift shop. Anybody need a travel map and tour guide for Israel? - we got one!
After saying goodbye to Eartha we traveled back north a few miles to Freeport where we joined the multi-national crowd in doing our best to stimulate the economy of southern Maine. Unfortunately for the struggling coffers of the State 'O Maine - our group was made up of frugal RVers spending their $$ wisely. Only the folks at Giffords Ice Cream were really successful at getting us to dent the monthly "fun" budget accounts.
Then it was back to Topsham for a bit of R&R before we were treated to another great meal. This time the featured entree was Grilled Gulf Shrimp - Direct From Rockport, Texas. These pre-oil spill shrimp were specially transported to the Maine Event 2010 by Mark and Dortha, our "Real Texans."
Dortha also treated us to some Texas Frozen Margaritas. I thought Margaritaville was closer to the Florida Keys ... but after being treated to those shrimp and those Margaritas I'm pretty sure there is an outlet somewhere in Texas -- and we were lucky enough to experience a little bit of that Jimmy Buffet lifestyle yesterday!
It is really going to be tough to head back to w*rk tomorrow!
Peggy and I started off the day getting a few things done around the house and then Darrell arrived here at Mikee's Auto Service Center for an oil change on the GMC Duramax Diesel. I suppose Mikee will now have to change the name to Mikees Auto Service Center, Truck Stop, and RV Supercenter - "where the service is great and the coffee is hot."
After saying goodbye to Eartha we traveled back north a few miles to Freeport where we joined the multi-national crowd in doing our best to stimulate the economy of southern Maine. Unfortunately for the struggling coffers of the State 'O Maine - our group was made up of frugal RVers spending their $$ wisely. Only the folks at Giffords Ice Cream were really successful at getting us to dent the monthly "fun" budget accounts.
Then it was back to Topsham for a bit of R&R before we were treated to another great meal. This time the featured entree was Grilled Gulf Shrimp - Direct From Rockport, Texas. These pre-oil spill shrimp were specially transported to the Maine Event 2010 by Mark and Dortha, our "Real Texans."
Dortha also treated us to some Texas Frozen Margaritas. I thought Margaritaville was closer to the Florida Keys ... but after being treated to those shrimp and those Margaritas I'm pretty sure there is an outlet somewhere in Texas -- and we were lucky enough to experience a little bit of that Jimmy Buffet lifestyle yesterday!
It is really going to be tough to head back to w*rk tomorrow!
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