Follower Correction

I was incorrect yesterday when I said my new follower didn't have a blog. She does and it is bigdawgandmumzilla.blogspot.com.  Sorry for the incorrect information.  I'll go check it out when I'm finished with today's post.

It wasn't raining today, in fact, we saw a wee bit of sunshine, so my spirit was lighter.  It compelled me to take the five boxes of books I decided I can get rid of to the second hand book store.  I was pleasantly surprised that instead of highway robbery I got a pretty decent amount of money for the books.  It's a relief to have them gone. I installed some shelves in a closet for all the books and now that they're gone I'll be removing the shelves and filling in the holes and painting the interior of the closet.

Now that it gets dark so darn early, I find that I'm closing the curtains and wooden blinds, something I rarely did since it got dark so late at night here. Also, with most of the leaves off the trees, it feels like the "vulture McMansion" behind me can see right into my house and I don't like that.  I didn't have anything on the back door so I installed a shade yesterday.  

I also have one for the plant window in the kitchen, to be installed shortly.  

I bought my ticket for Tucson today!!  There are a couple RV dealerships in town, so I suspect I'll be spending some time at both of them while I'm there.  I used to live at the Prince of Tucson RV park and I always check it out when I'm in town. This trip will be no different.  

That's it for today.

More sunshine please,

Jeana

Going to the Sun!!

Welcome to my blog Susan Bidniak.  It doesn't appear that you have a blog so I won't be able to put a plug in for you.  Thanks for following my crazy journey to my future RVing.

I made a decision today...I'm going to Tucson!!!  I'm feeling better already and I can feel the warmth of the sun.  This is the townhouse I'll be staying in:

This is the pool I'll be swimming in:

This lovely pond, loaded with koi, is located on the grounds of one of my two favorite vegetarian restaurants in Tucson that I will definitely go to:

I'm waiting to hear from my friend who house/dog sits for me when I go out of town to see if she's available.  

Five boxes of books are loaded into the back of my SUV and ready to go to the second hand bookstore tomorrow.  I'm making some headway with the pictures I'm scanning into my computer.  I think I have it in my head that I have to finish with the pictures before I do anything else, regarding downsizing, that is.  That's probably right because if I don't finish it soon, I'll probably never finish. I guess I'll go do that now and see how much I can get done with what's left of today. 

I do believe that's all for now.  


More sunshine please,


Jeana

Fly, Fly, Away

This is me in Spring 2011, not looking back, as I "soar" into RV land. I found  this future me at Fireworks, a store located in a fancy schmancy mall close to my house, i.e., 10 blocks.  I was there only because I had an appointment at the Apple store with my favorite helper, Brian.  I remember telling you in another post that I don't go to malls, so I just wanted to clarify why I was there.  A few doors down from the Apple store a new Microsoft store is opening.  Tomorrow is the day and it looks like it's going to be a pretty big celebration.  I'm sure glad I had my appointment today.  I do live in Microsoft country and I do my best to maintain my loyalty to Apple/Mac.  I heard not too long ago that Microsoft employees are not allowed to buy iPhones.  How sad is that.  I'd have one but I'm waiting for Verizon to be their service provider.  Rumors say maybe in January 2011. Fingers crossed.

This post was a whole lot longer until I went and messed up and lost it.  I was going on and on about downsizing.  I realize that I wasn't going anywhere so it's probably a good think I messed up.  You know that old saying about "there are no mistakes," well, case in point.  

I think I'll close for now and think about where I was trying to go and see if maybe I can write a more rational post tomorrow.  You're not missing anything, I assure you.  Until tomorrow.

More sunshine please,

Jeana

Short on Words

I don't seem to have a lot to say today.  Would you be interested in knowing that I bought silky long underwear so that I can be warm when I'm in my office?  Didn't think so.  OK, how about this:  

  

This is the first of three Christmas cactus I have and this one is closest to blooming.  I guess this means the season is upon us.  I'm not ready for it. Actually, my son's birthday is December 7th.  When he was growing up I would never decorate for Christmas until after his birthday.  I'm still that way even though he's out on his own now.  I bought his birthday card today, no present, just $$$.  

I was looking online today at possible routes to go when I do hit the road.  I thought that maybe I could base stops on 24 Hour Fitness locations so that I can continue to work out with weights twice a week.  That might be doable, but I might have to incorporate other gyms in the picture to fill the gaps. Then I looked at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods locations.  There's a large gap where Idaho is.  Looking at the maps provided, Idaho doesn't have any of the places I mentioned.  I usually go through Idaho but maybe the message is to go somewhere else.  I know for sure that my first stop will probably be Clarkston, WA.  I mentioned in an earlier blog that there's an RV park right down by the Snake River.  Next door is Costco.  I'll have join Costco before I leave just so I can stock up if I need to.  My friend, who turned 65 two days ago, has a Costco membership, so I usually go with her. Since she won't be coming with me when I hit the road, I'll have to join.  Or, not. That's almost sacrilegious, seeing as how I'm from the Northwest. 

The yard people are using one of those blower thingies next door that drives me crazy.  I'm going to leave my office so I can get away from the noise. It's either that or start screaming irrationally and I choose to exit gracefully. End of post for today.  

More sunshine please,

Jeana 

Weather Blahs and Downsizing Trauma

I don't mean to make my issue yours, but I'm seriously impacted by gray and rain and that's what's going on presently here in Seattle...surprise, surprise.  I am doing what I can to survive, i.e,  I had acupuncture this morning to get the serotonin moving and I'm currently sitting in front of my Verilux Happy Light Energy Lamp.  The box says the lamp will "beat the "Winter Blues" and effects of seasonal change; Improve mood and energy; Regain focus, concentration and productivity."  I also just had a cube of chocolate, so I think I've covered all bases.  Nope, I didn't.  Covering all bases would mean getting out of here...Seattle.  I'm working on it, I'm working on it.  

I had lunch today with a friend who recently returned from a 48 day cruise to Australia.  She also turned 65 yesterday and has bemoaned that fact every time I've talked to her since she returned. I say bring them on, but she's not happy about turning 65.  I pointed out that it's better than the alternative, to which she agrees. I finished the yard art project for her birthday present and I took her a picture of it since it's still curing and unable to leave my house at the moment.  I think it turned out well and I love the color.  I think I'll have to do another one for me.  She really likes the stand but, unfortunately, it doesn't go with the ball, it stays at my house cause I really like it, too.  

Downsizing is tough, isn't it?  I have a box of Hummels my mother started collecting when we were in Germany oh so many years ago and it's a pretty sizable collection.  While I like them, they don't fit in with my decor and I've carefully wrapped them and have them safely packed into a box.  It would seem that if they've been in a box for six months or longer (just a random number), they aren't needed, therefore get rid of them.  Right?  Can't.  Or is that won't?  Then there's the buffet.  Oh, the buffet.  This lovely piece of furniture takes up a whole wall and has tons of storage.  It was my parents. I love it and I hate it because I love it.  And I don't know what to do with it.   

When I was looking at a particular house in Tucson, I was actually basing my decision to buy it on whether this piece of furniture would fit. How insane is that???  I decided not to buy the house and the buffet ultimately didn't have anything to do with that decision.  Realizing that I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a house and be stuck in one place helped with that decision.  Which, once again, led me to RVing.  But that doesn't solve the dilemma with the buffet or some other furniture that I haven't even brought into this discussion.  Most of the furniture in the house will go to consignment.  The only furniture in the house that's mine is my bed and the glass desk I bought a few months ago for my computer.  I guess if it doesn't go to consignment it goes into storage.  If it goes into storage, again, that random number of six months, why hang onto it?  DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS DILEMMA?  AARGH!!!  

I have downsized so much since my dad died January, 2008.  Downsized, ripped up, painted, repaired, replaced, created, etc., etc.  I'm really at the tail end of it.  I'm not selling the house but I can't leave stuff in it if I decide to lease it.  If I don't lease it, then no problem.  No problem with the buffet, no problem with my car if I decide to go with a fifth wheel because I'll have a place to store it.  

Geez, are there any easy decisions or am I just blowing this out of proportion???

Maybe I better turn my happy light off, I think I've gotten too many rays. Does that mean I have to change my salutation?

More sunshine please,

Jeana 

Get Away Van

Welcome to my blog Kate of Kate and Terry - Travels in Cholula Red; Dave Murphy; Pam and Randy of Roadrunner Chronicles.  

I finished scanning over 1,000 slides and started on a container of pictures and found this one taken at Ocean Shores, Washington.  My husband and I bought this Get Away Van and only used the refrigerator.  Shortly after we bought it we drove up to Vancouver, BC to have the drivers and passenger seats changed to captain's chairs that swiveled.  We checked out Stanley Park and found an RV park nearby.  I could not talk John (my husband) into checking into the park so we stayed in a hotel.  I remember feeling quite put out and wondering what we bought it for if we weren't going to camp in it. If I recall correctly, we had to put in a porta potty and it didn't have a shower, but at least it was fun for our day trips.  

I remember trying to talk him into quitting Boeing and hitting the road back in 1975, two years before we married.  Now that I'm collecting retirement from Boeing it was probably a good thing we didn't do that, but who knows. Clearly, the RV bug hit me a long time ago.  

More sunshine please,

Jeana

I'm Thinking Fifth Wheel!!!

Welcome Karen V., a new follower.  It doesn't look like you have a blog so I don't have anything to plug for you.  Enjoy and thanks for following.

I went and looked at fifth wheels today and I'm in love...with the Jayco Pinnacle 36REQS (introduced one month ago!!).  OMGosh.  I've been aware of Jayco for years but what  I didn't realize is that they're a privately owned company and many of their employees are Amish and Mennonite.  I knew about the Amish but not the Mennonite.  I believe it after looking at the interior wood details.  

This really draws me because I eat organic, use natural products in my house and have been worrying about formaldehyde in RVs and possibly living in that environment.  Ta da...

Before I forget, this particular model has a built in vacuum and I really like that.  One less cumbersome thing to store and mess with.  The bed is king size which I don't want.  According to the brochure king size is standard but I do remember the salesman saying I could get queen size.

This chair  becomes this  a step stool in order to reach the cupboards above the tv/fireplace.  The tv is behind the fireplace until it's time to watch it, then it rises up for viewing.  The chair stores to the left of the fireplace.

The kitchen is fantastic. I love the bar with the stools, but see below for replacement.   Notice the rounded cupboard at the entrance to the kitchen...it opens and has shelves in it.

I would probably replace the wooden stools with this one.  I have another one in the garage still in the box.  I haven't needed two stools so I haven't taken the time to put it together.  

This will be my last picture because I'm going nuts trying to get them to go the way I want for this post. AARGH.  I  want to show the detail of the dining room chairs.  The padded seats lift up for storage.

If I buy a fifth wheel I need a truck. The salesman said I'd need a one ton and he recommended a diesel.  I'm not crazy about a diesel because of the noise and smell.  He said they're a lot quieter now, we didn't get into the smell.

I mentioned once before that I think fifth wheels are more livable.  This one is certainly more livable than the one my son and I lived in for two years which was seven feet shorter and had no slideouts.  I wouldn't have to worry about a tow vehicle, just what I'd do with my SUV while I'm on the road.  

Decisions, decisions.  

More sunshine please,

Jeana