Checkmate

Well, the verdict is in – the pawn is staying on the square. We will be sticking around Croton for at least the next week or so due to a stubborn tooth! Poor “G” has been putting up with discomfort for two weeks now, and not much relief has been achieved. The positive in all of this is the attempt to save it by his own dentist!

This situation is giving us a good taste of the challenges of full-timing in the northern states. It could always be worse. We could be in North Dakoda!

I’ll be cancelling reservations soon and we plan to just “wing it” on our way down. It will be less stressful (I hope).

Deep thought for the day:  The sooner you learn to go with the flow, the sooner you will be floating up and over the rocks, around the twists and turns, and bobbing around the slow or rapid course of “life.” vc

Feeling positive, despite...

I decided to start my day off with super-positive feelings about being able to pull out of Croton Monday. I'm trying to send all positive vibes to "G's" bothersome tooth in the hopes he will get some much-needed relief from his discomfort. 

I'm sitting on the couch back at 223, using our internet service, which is a luxury I find myself missing in Allie. The Internet, not the couch. We think that Miss Lucy may have contributed to our high rate of data usage this month due to her addiction to YouTube videos of birds and squirrels. Thankfully, space 71 is affording her views of birds and squirrels for free.  

Today, on my way out, I saw a Rough-Legged Hawk. I wasn't quite sure of what it was until I checked on a birding site. It's a special treat observing these magnificent creatures. So far, I've seen a Snowy Owl, a Blue Jay and a Bald Eagle. Whenever I see the eagle. I feel like I should be wearing patriotic colors...they make me feel so "American."

Here are photos (not mine) of the birds I have seen here so far.

The bold and beautiful Blue Jay

The impressive Rough-Legged Hawl

The beautiful Snowy Owl

The magnificent Bald Eagle

Deep thought for the day:  Don't spend your life looking down or straight ahead to where you are headed. Be sure to pause and look up every once in a while.  The view can take you to to a different dimension.

Cha, cha, cha, changes!

One of my favorite David Bowie songs is, Changes. I have been humming that tune in my head quite a bit lately. We are here, going there, staying there, leaving there, and now, back here. Changes.

There have been many of those changes lately, and I decided to change my mind about fate wanting us to be in New Jersey, as I stated in my last post. Now, I am beginning to wonder if Mr. Murphy, you know, the guy who wrote, Murphy’s Law,” is having some fun at our expense. The following three minor annoyances have plagued us throughout the day, AFTER leaving Scott RV.

• A nut fell off from under the recliner and the base is now loose – “G” will fix tomorrow
• The front a/c unit, that also provides heat, is making a rumbling sound – “G” will check it out tomorrow
• The motor for the windshield night shade is not working – “G” will inspect a way to override the motor tomorrow

"G" will be busy tomorrow. Coincidentally, after us mentioning how lucky we felt that we haven’t had to disconnect the car and Ms. Parton from Allie, and don’t you know, it began to rain ½ way through setting up in space 71. “G” finished up today, and, it began to snow, but he managed to get us winterized again and we are spending the week here in one of the many spaces that is mostly dirt. The rain from last night created a muddy pond around our passenger side, that is full of decaying leaves. Keeping the mess and muck out is challenging.

Okay, that’s it for my whining and complaining.

On a positive note, I'm happy to report that Lucy had a terrific ride back to Croton Point Park.  It was close to a three-hour ride and she spent most of it either in her carry bag or under the covers of our bed. There wasn't the same amount of crying or complaining.  Hooray for that cha, cha, cha, change!

Deep thought for the day:  Change happens. Anticipate change. Monitor Change. Adapt to Change Quickly. Change. Enjoy Change! Be ready to quickly change again and again. ~ from one of my favorite books "Who Moved my Cheese?"

2nd Sticker on the Map!

Even though this is a business-type of trip, we are booked for a week and will get to drive around to see some sights. We are staying at at Pine Cone Resort in Freehold Township, NJ and it's name is very apropos as we are surrounded by beautiful pine trees. The roads are all hard-packed clay, but the sites have grass, gravel, a picnic table and a fire ring. There are millions of pine needles spread out under the pines and they resemble a Christmas tree skirt.  It seems like a very nice place, but I will offer my official verdict during daylight hours. So far, I've only heard different sounds from different people, different rigs and different cars, I'm guessing it will take the whole week here before I feel more "at home."

Our space just for the night. Pull-thru w/o water.

Lucy struggled with the ride for most of the trip down. It took us about 2-1/2 hours and only the last few minutes were spent quietly sitting on my lap in her carry bag. I felt like she knew something different was going to happen even before we pulled out of Croton Park, because for the first time, she actually tried to claw her way out of her bag and tore up the towel liner.

She was quite verbal, right from the start, so I let her out to seek a comfy spot. She immediately made a beeline for the bed where she remained content until we hit a rough patch of road. We could hear her crying and whimpering, which broke our hearts, but she was brave enough to walk all the way up to the front of the rig.

Lucy starting to unwind.

In the bag, out of the bag, on my lap, in the bag, under the bed, under the covers, in the bag. It was just sad repetitive actions until the last 20 minutes, when she decided that sitting in her carry bag on my lap, wasn't so bad after all.

As soon as we parked, the happy clam emerged and acting like nothing ever happened. She has food, water and a clean litter box. For Lucy, Life is Now Good. Tomorrow morning will be another story.

"G" and I are both tired tonight and we need to be up bright and early to get Allie over to the next town for her "look-see." It will be an early-to-bed night, but not until we get out the New Jersey sticker and place it on our map of the USA. A milestone, an accomplishment, a minute one, but memorable for us.

U-turn

One of the funny things that "G" does, that keeps me rolling my eyes, is his frequent u-turns. It seems we can't go anywhere without needing to make a u-turn. This trip afforded us just one, but I decided I shall torture him with posting a "u-turn" photo log from this point forward. I feel this is going to be a noteworthy item to track.


Deep thought for the day:  Lucy, just like "G" and I, does not like bumps in the roads. They can be unpleasant and scary and we prefer to avoid them at all costs.

Breaker, breaker...bump in the road....That's a 10-4 good buddy.

The Master Chess Player is again moving our pawns to a different square than we had planned. Tomorrow, we shall be headed down to Scott RV, in Lakewood, NJ for a service call to repair our electrical panel box, grounding wires and breakers.

We were supposed to be there anyway, on Monday, for the electrical hot water heating element. Apparently, there is some reason we MUST be in New Jersey on December 1st. Perhaps I should buy a lottery ticket while there.

"G" and I spent the day tying up some loose ends before hitting the road tomorrow. A car trip or two, back north, will be required, but Allie and Lucy will wait for us at Pine Cone Resort, in Freehold, NJ. "G" has a dentist appointment on Friday, and we need some time to close up the house and pack the last minute items - like my pile of summer clothes and North Carolina Christmas gifts. 

We are taking the disruption in stride. There is nothing we can do to change our situation, so we will just "go with the flow." This will be Lucy's first extended trip in Allie and we are looking forward to see how she manages with my new travel plan, thanks to my new "Oregon-RV-friend-with-a-cat," Paula's suggestions. Lucy will start off in her carry bag, and then, once we are on smooth road, I will open the bag and let her go wherever she likes. My guess is that she will end up under the covers of our bed, but her bag will be close by, if she chooses to crawl securely back inside.

An update will follow.

Deep thought for the day:  Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. ~ Lao Tzu

Thanksgiving Day 2014

The best profession must be that of a Meteorologist. It seems to be the only job where you can guess what is going to happen, take credit when you are right, blame someone else when you're wrong, and not get fired. Poor Mother Nature, for having to take the rap, so often, and from so many.

Thanksgiving Day 2014

I'm grateful this day for a multitude of reasons, but especially for my #1 guy, for our Tiffin Allegro, and of course, Lucy! I'm thankful, too, that all the predictions fell short for our immediate area and we were only teased with about an inch of snow, at most. The photos that follow are time-lapsed from Croton and a few shots from our ride up to Washingtonville, NY this afternoon, where the predictions were more on target.

9:30 am Wednesday

12:30 pm Wednesday

Thanksgiving morning

9:30 am Wednesday

12:30 pm Wednesday

Thanksgiving morning

9:30 am Wednesday

12:30 pm Wednesday

Thanksgiving Day

Driving along the Palisade's Parkway

Deep thought for the day:   "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." ~~ Oprah Winfrey

There must be 50 ways to leave your…RV park?

Well, we are on the brink of an impending “snow event,” that has been forecast to hit our area tomorrow and continue into Thursday early AM, which is Thanksgiving Day.  

"G" had both symptoms. 

Besides the much publicized and news-worthy snow event, “G” had the unpleasant malady of a severe toothache this weekend. Thankfully, his dentist was able to see him Monday night and a root canal was started and is scheduled to be completed on December 5th. The timing was actually good, since the last thing you want to do, when in a lot of pain, is see a dentist you don't know and trust.  

Tomorrow, I shall contact the campgrounds I had booked for our trip down to Florida, which will be an easier task than having to postpone our North Carolina trip for one week. As Kermit the Frog, so wisely said, “It’s not easy being green,” so is it true that it’s not easy asking parents of three youngsters to swap a weekend when they are all so involved with extra-curricular activities, have many friends, parties, plans and celebrations, especially at this time of the year. We planned the original weekend over two months ago.

Thankfully, “G’s” tooth feels much improved already and the NC weekend was easier to reschedule than anticipated. Now, all we really need to be concerned about is the snow. “G” had a fleeting thought of going back to the house to weather out the storm there, but when we realized how much stuff needed to be packed and transpored, it didn’t make sense to attempt such a feat. Therefore, we have decided to stay put, pull in our slides (to protect them from the weight of the snow) and wait out the storm. We already have the little Sentra tucked away in the garage and a full tank of propane on board Allie to keep us warm and cozy.

We are in-between the 3"-5" and 5"-8" prediced area.

I'll be sure to provide a photo update of our first snowstorm in an RV, that is, only if the weather people are on target.

Paul Simon sang it well...50 Ways to Leave your Lover...Here is my version of "50 Ways to Leave your RV Park:"

"The problem is all inside my head" he said to me,

"This tooth hurts so much, that I can hardly see.

I'd like to help you, in your struggle to be free,

with fifty ways to leave this RV park."

He said, "It's really not my habit to insist,

and I hope you don't act up or bother to desist,

but, I'll repeat myself, if you really must insist,

There ARE fifty ways to leave this RV park."

You just release the brake, Jake

Make a new plan, Stan.

Reprogram the GPS, Les

And get this rig free.

Hop of the bus, Gus,

No need to discuss much,

Just dump the black tank, Hank,

and it will get us all free.

He said, "It grieves me so that I am in such pain.

I wish the dentist would prescribe a litttle somethin' to make me smile again."

I said, "I'd appreciate that, but would you first explain, 

about those fifty ways to leave this RV park?"

He said, "Why don't we both just sleep on it tonight?

In the morning, after the Vicodin, we both will see the light. "

Then he kissed me, and I realized he probably was right,

There are fifty ways to leave this RV park!

Deep thought for the day: Go ahead, I dare you. Make all the moves you want in the game of life. If the Master Chess Player chooses to NOT move your pawn, then you remain put, until He/She decides to move you to another square. Deal with it! vc