13 Jan
You may have seen the Seinfeld show where Geo tell Jerry that "This show is about Nothing" and Jerry tries to debate it but Geo insist that it is about "Nothing ". Well, this day for us was about "Nothing". I can't think of another Nothing day as I always like to do some type of maintenance , if for no other reason to say I did "something:. cheers
14 Jan iPhone Class
One of the Ladies in the park , who really understands Apple, iPhones and iPads, has volunteered to hold a class, once a month, for us near illiterate users and that includes T and C. Now if you have ever had an opportunity to be in a ( free ) class with 30 senior , do yourself a favor and stay home and watch the rinse cycle in the washing machine. These folks would shame a class of Kindergarten Kids.
First , they will not stop talking ( mostly women ) and then they must spend hours thinking up a stupid question. As an example , the instructor is walking us thru a procedure on the iPhone and says "you will see the icon in the top right corner". One lady says that I don't have that icon on my phone so the instructor goes to her table to show her. The instructor says , you have an Android phone and this is an iPhone class. The lady doesn't stop there; she follows that by saying , is there a difference.
The instructor certainly has the patience of " Jobe ". One guy was sitting about 8 feet from the instructor and speaks up to say he can't hear what she said. Another guy speaks up and says "Rudy " you are deaf which is the reason you can't hear.
Then the instructor shows us how to send a picture on the iPhone. She says "go to you pictures". Rudy says, I don't have a picture on my iPhone so she say , just snap a pic of someone in the class but Rudy says I only talk to my daughter and she wouldn't want a picture of someone here. It is hard to imagine that these people have a Vote!!.
Suffice to say most of us gain a lot of information about the iPhone and iPad but we have a lot to learn.
In the afternoon we had a couple ( Cam and Joann ) pay us a visit. They were in the Military with us and who we have not seen since 1990 when we left Comox. We had a great visit and got caught up on all the news about Family and Friends . They are camped about 30 KM away and we will pay them a return visit in the following weeks. Cheers
.
Monday, 18 January 2016
Sunday, 17 January 2016
Washing the Motor Home
Tuesday 12 Jan
You don't actually think that I would wash my Motor Home when someone else will do it for 40.00. Sergio's RV Wash will wash your Park Model , Motor Home or other type of RV for 40.00 and if your car needs a wash he will through that in for free and he will not take a tip. Our MH needed a wash badly so I ask if he could do it on Sat but he too was overbooked so my appoint was late Tuesday afternoon. Sergio has two wash trucks and they use RO water so there is no streaking. However Sergio sometime has a timing issue and has in the past came early so we stuck around all afternoon and this time he came right at 4 PM. However he could not do my car as his "2nd" Rig blew a water pump and he other appointments today and he doesn't like to disappoint customers. He promised to return tomorrow to do my car when he gets caught up. I know he will keep his word.
We all have a soft spot for Sergio because he had Polio as a child and as a result he has a twisted short leg which causes him to have a real bad limp. I personally think it is great that he can run a business that hires 6 or 8 workers. As a result of his handicap he can not climb on the roof of the RV's. Cheers
You don't actually think that I would wash my Motor Home when someone else will do it for 40.00. Sergio's RV Wash will wash your Park Model , Motor Home or other type of RV for 40.00 and if your car needs a wash he will through that in for free and he will not take a tip. Our MH needed a wash badly so I ask if he could do it on Sat but he too was overbooked so my appoint was late Tuesday afternoon. Sergio has two wash trucks and they use RO water so there is no streaking. However Sergio sometime has a timing issue and has in the past came early so we stuck around all afternoon and this time he came right at 4 PM. However he could not do my car as his "2nd" Rig blew a water pump and he other appointments today and he doesn't like to disappoint customers. He promised to return tomorrow to do my car when he gets caught up. I know he will keep his word.
We all have a soft spot for Sergio because he had Polio as a child and as a result he has a twisted short leg which causes him to have a real bad limp. I personally think it is great that he can run a business that hires 6 or 8 workers. As a result of his handicap he can not climb on the roof of the RV's. Cheers
Horse Races/ Steak Supper
Monday 11 Jan
We went to the monthly Horse Races but before you think real horses, it is not. It works this way: There are 6 wooden cutout horse complete with jockeys. You pay 12.00 per person and that includes a steak supper and it is always sold out. Luckily a couple turned there tickets in Monday morning and I got them. The race is held in the Meeting Hall and the people sit around the outside and the Race track is in the middle. The horse have to move 20 tiles to be the winner and they are moved by the roll of the dice. One Die to indicate the horse number and one Die to say how many square to move. To bet you draw a card with a horse number however, the cards are turned over so you actual draw blind. You bet 25 cent a horse with a limit of 4 card ( 1.00 ) There were 8 races and I had a Win or a Place on every races so I cleared 3.00 for the afternoon. That is 3.00 more than I won on the Power Ball.
The table that you sit at for the races is predetermined and since we got the last to ticket we had to sit with people we had never met. The first couple we met just happen to be the Firefighter who trained our son Clark in Shilo, MB some 27 years ago. (Clark is now the Fire Chief for Suncor in Ft. Mc Murray) . The next couple where born and raised in Medicine Hat, AB and he is the brother of Cory Snyder, who was a World Champion Bull Rider. So you never know who you may shake hands with as you travel around the world.
The T-bone steaks where huge and the supper was great. I'm sure we will go to the next Horse Races but it was humorous to see the Seniors holler to cheer on a "Wooden Horse ". Seniors are just older Kids. cheers
We went to the monthly Horse Races but before you think real horses, it is not. It works this way: There are 6 wooden cutout horse complete with jockeys. You pay 12.00 per person and that includes a steak supper and it is always sold out. Luckily a couple turned there tickets in Monday morning and I got them. The race is held in the Meeting Hall and the people sit around the outside and the Race track is in the middle. The horse have to move 20 tiles to be the winner and they are moved by the roll of the dice. One Die to indicate the horse number and one Die to say how many square to move. To bet you draw a card with a horse number however, the cards are turned over so you actual draw blind. You bet 25 cent a horse with a limit of 4 card ( 1.00 ) There were 8 races and I had a Win or a Place on every races so I cleared 3.00 for the afternoon. That is 3.00 more than I won on the Power Ball.
The table that you sit at for the races is predetermined and since we got the last to ticket we had to sit with people we had never met. The first couple we met just happen to be the Firefighter who trained our son Clark in Shilo, MB some 27 years ago. (Clark is now the Fire Chief for Suncor in Ft. Mc Murray) . The next couple where born and raised in Medicine Hat, AB and he is the brother of Cory Snyder, who was a World Champion Bull Rider. So you never know who you may shake hands with as you travel around the world.
The T-bone steaks where huge and the supper was great. I'm sure we will go to the next Horse Races but it was humorous to see the Seniors holler to cheer on a "Wooden Horse ". Seniors are just older Kids. cheers
Waiting on TimeWarner
Saturday 9 th
We were advised by Time Warner ( TW ) to stay home all day Sat as they may have a cancellation and would try to "Squeeze " me in for an Internet connection. As it turns out this was a wasted day as a Installer Tech later told me this never happens because there are so many Snowbirds arriving that a cancellation just means that they go to the next guy on the list. Besides they only give you a window such as " before noon " or late afternoon as was in our case.
However, I did sneak away for ten minutes to grab a couple of Power Ball tickets but as it turns out it was a waste of 4.00 USD because some "dam " American won the pot.
Oh Ya; I also hit the gym as I thought I could "tone " my body if I had to stay in the park. I also found out that if go to the Gym it is much quicker to do your workout and leave. I made the fatal mistake of asking a "older " gentleman how he was doing and I now know all about having a heart valve replaced and all the lead up causes and a step by step of the operation and the recovery process.
As it turns out that is my second "Heart Operation" story that I sat thru in two days. Why does everyone think I want to know about their health problem? I guess they are just happy to be on the "Green " side of the grass. Cheers
Sunday 10 Jan
Since we can't get the Internet connected we decide to get out Cell phone activated. To do this we thought we could get it done at the Verizon Store in the Yuma Mall as they have a big store there and we have Verizon for our cell at home. Being Sunday we assumed it would not open until 10 AM so we got there around 10:30 only to find out that it opens at 11:00. To waste 1/2 an hour we cruised around the Mall area to check our other stores that "Carroll " might like to visit. I kept reminding her to add 40 % to all prices.
However, we did spot Best Buy and we were having a problem ( mostly operator error ) with the iPad so after we get the Cell phone operational we would return to Best Buy.
We return to the Verizon store at 11:00 and ask to have our cell phone activated will a Sim card. The Tech says , "we can't do that" and I said "what " why not; his reply was that, Verizon doesn't handle cell phone. But, he says if you go to the AT&T store across the parking lot they will do it for you. This seemed odd to us but we went to AT&T and they sold us a Sim card with unlimited calls in the USA for 25.00 and for and extra 5.00 we could get 250 minutes for Canada, which of course we purchased.
Then we moved to the Best Buy and got a female tech who was "Badged" as the Team Leader. After spending about 20 minutes showing us a few things that we did not know and playing with the iPad she suggested that we might want to get a new one because ours was out of date. What!! it is only 3 1/2 years old. Anyway, we then ask about a new computer so she handed us over to " Martin " a young guy who seem extremely knowledge and did not seem to mind dealing with two " Computer Illiterate" seniors. He also explained that I could get a reduced price ( from 10 to 50 percent ) if I would take a "returned " computer or better still if I took an "Open Box " computer.
Returned , mean someone took it home and actually used it but returned it. The "Greeks " cleaned the computer and it was back to new. Open Box means the buyer took the computer home but never used it.
The salesman continued to tell us about this man (a Senior ) who bought a computer and his wife "Marched" him right back and stood over him until he got his money back. He says it was quite humorous.
The bottom line is that it is just too expensive for me to buy a computer in the USA.
In the evening we visited with friends from Medicine Hat who, it seems that we see more often in Yuma then we do at home. Cheers
We were advised by Time Warner ( TW ) to stay home all day Sat as they may have a cancellation and would try to "Squeeze " me in for an Internet connection. As it turns out this was a wasted day as a Installer Tech later told me this never happens because there are so many Snowbirds arriving that a cancellation just means that they go to the next guy on the list. Besides they only give you a window such as " before noon " or late afternoon as was in our case.
However, I did sneak away for ten minutes to grab a couple of Power Ball tickets but as it turns out it was a waste of 4.00 USD because some "dam " American won the pot.
Oh Ya; I also hit the gym as I thought I could "tone " my body if I had to stay in the park. I also found out that if go to the Gym it is much quicker to do your workout and leave. I made the fatal mistake of asking a "older " gentleman how he was doing and I now know all about having a heart valve replaced and all the lead up causes and a step by step of the operation and the recovery process.
As it turns out that is my second "Heart Operation" story that I sat thru in two days. Why does everyone think I want to know about their health problem? I guess they are just happy to be on the "Green " side of the grass. Cheers
Sunday 10 Jan
Since we can't get the Internet connected we decide to get out Cell phone activated. To do this we thought we could get it done at the Verizon Store in the Yuma Mall as they have a big store there and we have Verizon for our cell at home. Being Sunday we assumed it would not open until 10 AM so we got there around 10:30 only to find out that it opens at 11:00. To waste 1/2 an hour we cruised around the Mall area to check our other stores that "Carroll " might like to visit. I kept reminding her to add 40 % to all prices.
However, we did spot Best Buy and we were having a problem ( mostly operator error ) with the iPad so after we get the Cell phone operational we would return to Best Buy.
We return to the Verizon store at 11:00 and ask to have our cell phone activated will a Sim card. The Tech says , "we can't do that" and I said "what " why not; his reply was that, Verizon doesn't handle cell phone. But, he says if you go to the AT&T store across the parking lot they will do it for you. This seemed odd to us but we went to AT&T and they sold us a Sim card with unlimited calls in the USA for 25.00 and for and extra 5.00 we could get 250 minutes for Canada, which of course we purchased.
Then we moved to the Best Buy and got a female tech who was "Badged" as the Team Leader. After spending about 20 minutes showing us a few things that we did not know and playing with the iPad she suggested that we might want to get a new one because ours was out of date. What!! it is only 3 1/2 years old. Anyway, we then ask about a new computer so she handed us over to " Martin " a young guy who seem extremely knowledge and did not seem to mind dealing with two " Computer Illiterate" seniors. He also explained that I could get a reduced price ( from 10 to 50 percent ) if I would take a "returned " computer or better still if I took an "Open Box " computer.
Returned , mean someone took it home and actually used it but returned it. The "Greeks " cleaned the computer and it was back to new. Open Box means the buyer took the computer home but never used it.
The salesman continued to tell us about this man (a Senior ) who bought a computer and his wife "Marched" him right back and stood over him until he got his money back. He says it was quite humorous.
The bottom line is that it is just too expensive for me to buy a computer in the USA.
In the evening we visited with friends from Medicine Hat who, it seems that we see more often in Yuma then we do at home. Cheers
Friday, 15 January 2016
Things to do on our first full day at Benito Mesa
8 th Jan Friday
First thing this morning, was my attempt to convince Time Warner (TW ) that I needed my internet ASP. I later found out that "ASP" is not in their vocabulary. Since I did not have our cell phone activated yet, I visited a neighbor/friend to use their phone and called TW hoping to lay on my charm to get the Internet connect on Friday or Saturday. Dennis ( the TW scheduler ) was adamant ; no sooner that the 18 Jan BUT if they had a cancellation they would try to squeeze me in. I felt somewhat convinced that Dennis would really try to get me hooked up sooner because I just can't wait until the 18 th. So later in the afternoon I called back to TW to ask if they got any cancellation for Saturday. ( It doesn't hurt to ask ). This time I got "Anthony " and he said there was no cancellation but he had an opening on the 15 th at 4 PM so I took it. He also said that I should stay home on Saturday as their Techs were in Benito Mesa on Saturday and MAY squeeze me in. At least this was encouraging even if it was a long shot.
Our next move was to go grocery shopping and this would be a big one as our MH was empty of any perishables since it was parked in Mesquite since Oct. The grocery bill was 158.00 USD. The up side is the for every 100.00 you spend at Fry's you get 10 cents off a gallon of gas or diesel.
Our MH, like all MH's has power operated sun screens , one on the driver's side and one for the co-pilot ( Carroll's ) side. The windshields are quite huge so a Sun vision, like one in your car is really not practical hence the need for a Sun Screen. The plastic support brackets broke off on the way down in Oct and no Cdn RV dealer could supply the brackets so I went to the local Discount RV shop to see if the could order me the brackets. They did not have a bracket in stock , nor did I think they would have. However, the guy at the order desk suggest I order it on line myself because if he ordered it, he would have to add his markup. I thanked him for the advise and I will order once I get my internet.
We thought about getting our Cell activated but had done enough running around for today so we opted to take the afternoon to rest and to set the chairs, Bar-B-Q etc. Besides, Happy Hour was creeping up. cheers
First thing this morning, was my attempt to convince Time Warner (TW ) that I needed my internet ASP. I later found out that "ASP" is not in their vocabulary. Since I did not have our cell phone activated yet, I visited a neighbor/friend to use their phone and called TW hoping to lay on my charm to get the Internet connect on Friday or Saturday. Dennis ( the TW scheduler ) was adamant ; no sooner that the 18 Jan BUT if they had a cancellation they would try to squeeze me in. I felt somewhat convinced that Dennis would really try to get me hooked up sooner because I just can't wait until the 18 th. So later in the afternoon I called back to TW to ask if they got any cancellation for Saturday. ( It doesn't hurt to ask ). This time I got "Anthony " and he said there was no cancellation but he had an opening on the 15 th at 4 PM so I took it. He also said that I should stay home on Saturday as their Techs were in Benito Mesa on Saturday and MAY squeeze me in. At least this was encouraging even if it was a long shot.
Our next move was to go grocery shopping and this would be a big one as our MH was empty of any perishables since it was parked in Mesquite since Oct. The grocery bill was 158.00 USD. The up side is the for every 100.00 you spend at Fry's you get 10 cents off a gallon of gas or diesel.
Our MH, like all MH's has power operated sun screens , one on the driver's side and one for the co-pilot ( Carroll's ) side. The windshields are quite huge so a Sun vision, like one in your car is really not practical hence the need for a Sun Screen. The plastic support brackets broke off on the way down in Oct and no Cdn RV dealer could supply the brackets so I went to the local Discount RV shop to see if the could order me the brackets. They did not have a bracket in stock , nor did I think they would have. However, the guy at the order desk suggest I order it on line myself because if he ordered it, he would have to add his markup. I thanked him for the advise and I will order once I get my internet.
We thought about getting our Cell activated but had done enough running around for today so we opted to take the afternoon to rest and to set the chairs, Bar-B-Q etc. Besides, Happy Hour was creeping up. cheers
Wednesday, 13 January 2016
AVI to Yuma
Today is the 7 th Jan. I forgot to mention that yesterday was Carroll's Birthday. I bought supper at the casino and she won 8.00 which is better than dropping her usual 20.00.
We left AVI around 9 AM and we stayed on the CA side which is HWY 95 as this hwy is much more of a casual drive than the AZ side. The trip from AVI to Yuma is a casual 6 hour drive assuming we did not stop in Quartzsite and we did not stop as the "Big Tent " was not open yet. Then we took hwy 62 to Parker AZ where we would stop for fuel as the price is at least half of the CA price. Since we are sometimes a " creature of habit" so we stop at a favorite Haunt for breakfast.
After leaving Parker we sailed right thru Quartzsite heading for Yuma which is 85 miles from there. About 1/2 way I need a "Pit " stop and there are few pull-offs so I spotted a somewhat level dirt area and pulled off. On my entry back on to the hwy I then realized that it had been raining here recently and as my wheels hit the soft sand my next though was "Holy Shit " what have I done. So I gave the throttle a slight touch and we spun the wheels a little but made it back on the road. Another disaster averted.
We arrived at the RV park around three PM and then had a long discussion about where we wanted to park and where they would let us park. Our first choice was taken and since we have a 40 foot MH with 4 slides we are limited. The park attendant wanted to put us in a spot that we had before but we refused as the neighbor has 2 "Yappy " dogs and the tree at the back of the MH "houses" many birds at night an they use our MH for a bathroom. After several conversation the gentleman who " parks " us said; let's jump into my cart and go find a suitable site. We found a spot with nobody on either side and a very friendly " Binder Pilot " from Sask , who we had met last year , just spots away. Problem solved.
After getting set up we went grocery shopping and pickup a Chinese supper at the grocery store. the day is done and I need a beer. Cheers
We left AVI around 9 AM and we stayed on the CA side which is HWY 95 as this hwy is much more of a casual drive than the AZ side. The trip from AVI to Yuma is a casual 6 hour drive assuming we did not stop in Quartzsite and we did not stop as the "Big Tent " was not open yet. Then we took hwy 62 to Parker AZ where we would stop for fuel as the price is at least half of the CA price. Since we are sometimes a " creature of habit" so we stop at a favorite Haunt for breakfast.
After leaving Parker we sailed right thru Quartzsite heading for Yuma which is 85 miles from there. About 1/2 way I need a "Pit " stop and there are few pull-offs so I spotted a somewhat level dirt area and pulled off. On my entry back on to the hwy I then realized that it had been raining here recently and as my wheels hit the soft sand my next though was "Holy Shit " what have I done. So I gave the throttle a slight touch and we spun the wheels a little but made it back on the road. Another disaster averted.
We arrived at the RV park around three PM and then had a long discussion about where we wanted to park and where they would let us park. Our first choice was taken and since we have a 40 foot MH with 4 slides we are limited. The park attendant wanted to put us in a spot that we had before but we refused as the neighbor has 2 "Yappy " dogs and the tree at the back of the MH "houses" many birds at night an they use our MH for a bathroom. After several conversation the gentleman who " parks " us said; let's jump into my cart and go find a suitable site. We found a spot with nobody on either side and a very friendly " Binder Pilot " from Sask , who we had met last year , just spots away. Problem solved.
After getting set up we went grocery shopping and pickup a Chinese supper at the grocery store. the day is done and I need a beer. Cheers
Mesquite to AVI Casino
Our plan was to have breakfast, then go to the storage and pick up the Motor Home (MH ), go to the Casablanca RV park, ( there is no security ) fill up with water to last until we get to Yuma and head for AVI Casino where we would overnight for free.
That was the plan but it did not work out that way. When we got to the storage area the batteries in the MH were dead with not enough power to honk the horn.
About 5 years ago on Christmas eve "Day " we were parked in a parking lot in Mesquite and the alternator in the Ford truck failed or to coin a phase, "it shit itself ". Since I did not know where I could get help I ask trucker who was parked near us, and he told me to go to John's Diesel as he was the best mechanic in NV. So I again solicited John's help to see if he could Jumper the MH. John is a talker and he was holding court with guys so I did not want to interfere so I stood near by and kind of stare at him to get his attention. Finally he ask me if he could help and I said I needed a boost for my MH. He called one of the mechanic who did not seem busy and told him my problem. The mechanic apparently runs the Mobile Service Truck and he knew the location of the storage and said he would be there in 10 Minutes.
The Service Truck arrived and had to let his vehicle run for 10 minutes to charge up the batteries before the MH would start. A 120.00 later the MH was running and we headed to the Casablanca RV Park where I quickly top up the water tank and of course nobody seemed to notice nor did the Security show up. We hooked up the tow car and headed for AVI Casino which is a 4 hour drive and is 15 miles out of Needles, CA but located in NV.
We have stayed at AVI Casino several times over the years as they have a 5 acre gravel lot where many RVers park overnight or for a few days. If you stay longer than one night you are suppose to gamble but they are fairly lenient. Any how we pulled into the lot along with 100 or so other Freeloaders and parked. Carroll went to unlock the door and the deadbolt lock was stuck. I tried to turn the lock but no luck. " What the hell can we do? ".... We are locked in with no way to get out. Carroll opened a window and hollered at two men who where sitting nearby and I'm sure they could believe what this lady was hollering about. The two guys took our keys but could not turn the lock so we are now trapped inside our MH. The lock is secured by two bolts from the inside the MH but when the lock is in the "Locked " position the Thumb Knob covers the two screws. I ask the two helpers to get me a screw driver and I turned the Thumb Knob just far enough to remove one bolt which slightly loosened the lock. Then I sprung the Thumb Knob far enough to remove the second bolt. Finally the lock fell apart and we where now "Freed ". Needless to say the deadbolt will never be reinstalled as long as we own the MH. If we had a fire and the lock jam the isn't hope in Hell of getting out alive.
That was the plan but it did not work out that way. When we got to the storage area the batteries in the MH were dead with not enough power to honk the horn.
About 5 years ago on Christmas eve "Day " we were parked in a parking lot in Mesquite and the alternator in the Ford truck failed or to coin a phase, "it shit itself ". Since I did not know where I could get help I ask trucker who was parked near us, and he told me to go to John's Diesel as he was the best mechanic in NV. So I again solicited John's help to see if he could Jumper the MH. John is a talker and he was holding court with guys so I did not want to interfere so I stood near by and kind of stare at him to get his attention. Finally he ask me if he could help and I said I needed a boost for my MH. He called one of the mechanic who did not seem busy and told him my problem. The mechanic apparently runs the Mobile Service Truck and he knew the location of the storage and said he would be there in 10 Minutes.
The Service Truck arrived and had to let his vehicle run for 10 minutes to charge up the batteries before the MH would start. A 120.00 later the MH was running and we headed to the Casablanca RV Park where I quickly top up the water tank and of course nobody seemed to notice nor did the Security show up. We hooked up the tow car and headed for AVI Casino which is a 4 hour drive and is 15 miles out of Needles, CA but located in NV.
We have stayed at AVI Casino several times over the years as they have a 5 acre gravel lot where many RVers park overnight or for a few days. If you stay longer than one night you are suppose to gamble but they are fairly lenient. Any how we pulled into the lot along with 100 or so other Freeloaders and parked. Carroll went to unlock the door and the deadbolt lock was stuck. I tried to turn the lock but no luck. " What the hell can we do? ".... We are locked in with no way to get out. Carroll opened a window and hollered at two men who where sitting nearby and I'm sure they could believe what this lady was hollering about. The two guys took our keys but could not turn the lock so we are now trapped inside our MH. The lock is secured by two bolts from the inside the MH but when the lock is in the "Locked " position the Thumb Knob covers the two screws. I ask the two helpers to get me a screw driver and I turned the Thumb Knob just far enough to remove one bolt which slightly loosened the lock. Then I sprung the Thumb Knob far enough to remove the second bolt. Finally the lock fell apart and we where now "Freed ". Needless to say the deadbolt will never be reinstalled as long as we own the MH. If we had a fire and the lock jam the isn't hope in Hell of getting out alive.
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