Sometimes I wish everything I have not needed in the last two years would just go up in smoke. I will be glad when we are on the road and if something comes in the travel trailer, something must exit it.
I put a few things on Craigslist that we were going to throw away that were still very usable and while I priced them very low it still put nearly a C-note in my pocket plus I don't have to deal with disposing of them. Not suppose to put anything but household stuff in our park dumpster.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Our motorhome
Our old 1985 motorhome has been sitting in the driveway since we bought our new Cardinal travel trailer and now we have to get it ready to sell.
I have it running great and this week we are starting to unload everything from the inside as we have been using it for a storage shed. Not as easy as it sound because we have to go thru everything and decide if it goes in the Cardinal (no not more weight) or our storage building or to the trash (yes, yes, yes).
Friday, October 22, 2010
Happy birthday Little Man!
Leroy (a.k.a. Zachary) is a year older today. Dang it is hard to believe he is 33 years old.
So how is be celebrating his birthday? He is in Lafayette, Louisiana delivering a presentation at a French Conference for LSU @ Lafayette. He flew down from Penn State for the weekend. Last weekend he drove to New Haven, Connecticut to give a presentation at Yale. About as polar opposite as they come.
Now before Zac was born, I swore I would not be "one of those parents". You know the type, can't shut up about how great their kid is. Little did I know I would have the best kid ever!!
Happy birthday Zac,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I love you, dad
So how is be celebrating his birthday? He is in Lafayette, Louisiana delivering a presentation at a French Conference for LSU @ Lafayette. He flew down from Penn State for the weekend. Last weekend he drove to New Haven, Connecticut to give a presentation at Yale. About as polar opposite as they come.
Now before Zac was born, I swore I would not be "one of those parents". You know the type, can't shut up about how great their kid is. Little did I know I would have the best kid ever!!
Happy birthday Zac,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I love you, dad
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
This can not be right!
We are in Fayetteville visiting the granddaughter that is attending the UofA and will be here for a few days. Now for the kicker, our travel trailer does not have (and we do not want ) a washer and dryer.
The granddaughter has them in her apartment so we brought a couple loads of laundry to do while we are here.
The elders bringing their laundry to college instead of vice-versa. This can not be right!
The granddaughter has them in her apartment so we brought a couple loads of laundry to do while we are here.
The elders bringing their laundry to college instead of vice-versa. This can not be right!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Battery Box
The battery box is finished and installed,
I needed a box that could be installed and taken off in pieces. Here you can see the top, front section, and two sides. The back will be open for ventilation. All were made out of 1/2" plywood and primered inside and out with two heavy coats and then I added two heavy coats of gloss black enamel on the outside.
This is a picture of the batteries mounted in between the frame rails and behind my propane bottles.
The frame that I built holds the batteries apart with enough clearance for air circulation for cooling and the small unpainted square of plywood holds them down via an all thread rod that extends up far enough above the batteries that it will also hold down the top of the box.
This photo shows the side that are notched to hold them in place via the battery frame and the front that is notched so the trailer frame rails is hold it in place.
The sides extend to the bottom of the batteries but the front has an air gap at the bottom.
This picture shows the top mounted ( it has 3/4"x 2" strips mounted on the bottom side so that the front and sides are sandwiched between them and the batteries) and now it is ready to remount my propane tank cover.
This provides protection from the weather but allow air circulation and easy access to check the water in the batteries. The black makes it blend in with the frame.
I needed a box that could be installed and taken off in pieces. Here you can see the top, front section, and two sides. The back will be open for ventilation. All were made out of 1/2" plywood and primered inside and out with two heavy coats and then I added two heavy coats of gloss black enamel on the outside.
This is a picture of the batteries mounted in between the frame rails and behind my propane bottles.
The frame that I built holds the batteries apart with enough clearance for air circulation for cooling and the small unpainted square of plywood holds them down via an all thread rod that extends up far enough above the batteries that it will also hold down the top of the box.
This photo shows the side that are notched to hold them in place via the battery frame and the front that is notched so the trailer frame rails is hold it in place.
The sides extend to the bottom of the batteries but the front has an air gap at the bottom.
This picture shows the top mounted ( it has 3/4"x 2" strips mounted on the bottom side so that the front and sides are sandwiched between them and the batteries) and now it is ready to remount my propane tank cover.
This provides protection from the weather but allow air circulation and easy access to check the water in the batteries. The black makes it blend in with the frame.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
WOW!
The mailman brought the two Thin-Light model 652 lights I ordered
I found...solardirect.com...has a great price with no sales tax ( I have a little Gordon Kahl in me) and free shipping. They must buy in bulk because the lights did not come individually boxed and therefore didn't include the wire nuts and mounting screws. I just used the mounting screws from the stock units and rounded up some wire nuts.
and after replacing the stock incandescent lights
in the living room I can say this is one improvement that exceeds my expectations. Incandescent light bulbs start loosing their candlepower from the first time they are used and continue to grow dimmer over time. With three Thin-Lights in the front half of our travel trailer it is now BRIGHT. I differently see we will be adding them to the bathroom (does a woman ever have enough light in a bathroom?) and bedroom.
in the living room I can say this is one improvement that exceeds my expectations. Incandescent light bulbs start loosing their candlepower from the first time they are used and continue to grow dimmer over time. With three Thin-Lights in the front half of our travel trailer it is now BRIGHT. I differently see we will be adding them to the bathroom (does a woman ever have enough light in a bathroom?) and bedroom.I found...solardirect.com...has a great price with no sales tax ( I have a little Gordon Kahl in me) and free shipping. They must buy in bulk because the lights did not come individually boxed and therefore didn't include the wire nuts and mounting screws. I just used the mounting screws from the stock units and rounded up some wire nuts.
Friday, October 08, 2010
Lazy ass!
No, not yet. I have been busy this first week of retirement. I finished my battery box and added two heavy coats of primer and two heavy coats of gloss black for weather protection.
Finally got the old motor home running today after three days of working on the fuel system. Thought I was having a switching problem between the main and aux tanks but it turned out to be a cracked rubber fuel line. Replaced the 5ft hose and it is purring like a 454 Chevy with only 32,000 miles should.
Still a little work to do before we put it on the market. Will be strange not to have it in the driveway.
In 2003 I bought a slightly used Giant OCR3 bicycle and rode it 15 to 20 miles three or four days a week for about two years but it has been in the shed most of the time since.
I have another bike, an older Giant that I am taking when we leave but decided to sell my "road bike". I put it on Craigslist yesterday afternoon and sold it about 8:30 this morning. Recouping my investment. Sweet!
We are replacing part of our 12volt incandescent lights with 12volt fluorescents. We decided on Thin-Light Model 652 lights and bought one locally to check it out (a premium of about $25 over ordering online). Installed it in the kitchen and ordered two more for the living room. Maybe not the smartest move buying locally but really wanted to make sure they were the lights we wanted. Will probably add two in the bathroom and one in the bedroom at a later date. They produce more light while using less amps.
Finally got the old motor home running today after three days of working on the fuel system. Thought I was having a switching problem between the main and aux tanks but it turned out to be a cracked rubber fuel line. Replaced the 5ft hose and it is purring like a 454 Chevy with only 32,000 miles should.
Still a little work to do before we put it on the market. Will be strange not to have it in the driveway.
In 2003 I bought a slightly used Giant OCR3 bicycle and rode it 15 to 20 miles three or four days a week for about two years but it has been in the shed most of the time since.
I have another bike, an older Giant that I am taking when we leave but decided to sell my "road bike". I put it on Craigslist yesterday afternoon and sold it about 8:30 this morning. Recouping my investment. Sweet!
We are replacing part of our 12volt incandescent lights with 12volt fluorescents. We decided on Thin-Light Model 652 lights and bought one locally to check it out (a premium of about $25 over ordering online). Installed it in the kitchen and ordered two more for the living room. Maybe not the smartest move buying locally but really wanted to make sure they were the lights we wanted. Will probably add two in the bathroom and one in the bedroom at a later date. They produce more light while using less amps.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Hugs and handshakes
Thursday brought about "hugs and handshakes" and my boss took me for a steak before my last run to Hooks, Texas. I couldn't get away from Hooks without being taken for pie and coffee. Made for a long day but a very gratifying one.
Coleman Dairy has been very good to me and I know without a doubt that without my job with them for the last 15+ years I could have not retired at this time. Words can not express the gratitude I feel for them.
As much as I loved my job, I know it was time to leave! I just need to keep telling myself.
Coleman Dairy has been very good to me and I know without a doubt that without my job with them for the last 15+ years I could have not retired at this time. Words can not express the gratitude I feel for them.
As much as I loved my job, I know it was time to leave! I just need to keep telling myself.
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