Monthly Archives: February 2023
Texans Again?
Jan and I were on our way up to Conroe about 9:45 this morning, to meet up with long-time friends, Debi & Ed Hurlburt for lunch at China Delight.
And strangely enough, we just saw in yesterday’s blog that it was 9 years ago yesterday that we first met in person, though they had been blog readers for a while.
After Hot & Sour Soup for both of us, Jan got their Triple Delight, with Beef, Chicken, and Shrimp, along with a lot of veggies.
I got the ‘Spicy’ Black Pepper Chicken, though I had to spice it up more for my taste,.
But it was good.
As was Jan’s.
We spent our usual 3+ hours together before they headed back to Trinity and we were on our way back down to Santa Fe.
Since our favorite Cowboy Coffee is closed on Sunday’s, we stopped at our local Timewise for coffee/cappuccinos before getting home about 4:30.
Looks like sometime in the fall Jan and I will become Texans again, for the first time since March of 2008.
Our South Dakota Driver’s Licenses will both expire in October, and unlike our online renewal in 2018, this time we have to be in SD in person.
In October.
No!
And since we’re not RV’ing any longer, it seems like it’s time to ‘move back’ to Texas.
The only problem is what we’re going to do about our Dodge Dakota, which definitely will not pass Texas emissions inspection. That’s one thing nice about SD, no inspections.
I’ve got an idea on how to handle this, but I’m still mulling things over. It’s really nice to have it as a backup vehicle, so I don’t want to have to put it out to pasture yet.
Thought for the Day:
If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?
February 26, 2010
Errand Day…
Today our friends already had plans for the rodeo, so we made it an errand day. We started off with lunch at Bruegger’s, a deli/bakery chain that we last visited in Fairbanks, AK two years ago. And it was as good as we remembered.
After lunch Jan walked down the strip mall a few doors to get a pedicure, while I read (napped) in the truck.
Then it was on to Bookman’s, Tucson’s version of Half-Price Books so Jan could look for the last couple of books in several series she’s reading.
After that we headed over to Costco to check them out and become members. As we had heard, it’s pretty much like a Sam’s Club.
Coming home we stopped at a Car Wash to wash off some of the West Texas grime we pick up on our way here. It’s really nice to be able to see out the windows again.
Next we visited Camping World to pick up a new sewer hose and connector and a few other things.
Then noticing how late it was, we decided that rather than going back to the rig and then back out for supper, we just headed directly to La Fuente, a really good Mexican restaurant we last ate at two years ago. Jan loves their fresh made to order guacamole.
Then it was home for the night.
Tomorrow we’ll get together with our friends for one last day, and then it’s on to Gila Bend on Sunday.
February 26, 2011
Trying not to be Taser-worthy . . .
My morning started about 10:30 (Jan’s started about 8:30), with a big pot of hot coffee, and luckily, no circuit breaker kicking out.
Jan did good.
While Jan read and watched TV, I worked on the layout map of the fairgrounds using the data I had compiled yesterday. This will give us a comprehensive map showing all the hookups at the fairgrounds, making it easier to park incoming RV’s quickly and efficiently.
Around noon Jan fixed us a lunch of turkey sandwiches with cranberry horseradish and mayo with Tabasco. Nice and Spicy!
A little after 1pm I headed over to the gun show being held here at the fairgrounds. Not looking for anything in particular, but did have some ideas.
I bought 3 magazines for my M1 Carbine. You can never too much ammo, or too many magazines to hold it.
As I was leaving for the gun show, I asked Jan if I could pick her up anything. She laughingly said “A Taser”.
I said I wasn’t sure that was a good idea since I’m the one she’s around most of the time, and I might not feel too safe.
She said “Just don’t do anything ‘Taser-worthy’ and you’ll be fine.”
So, riding that ragged edge as usual, I bought her one.
This one.
Trying to avoid being ‘Taser-worthy’, and hedging my bets, I also bought her some handcrafted sterling silver beaded earrings.
I got back to the rigs a little before 3pm, and went back to work on the layout map. Then Barb Westerfield came by to invite us over for a tour of their new coach. And we also spent some time getting to know their cat ‘Pansy’.
Getting back to the rig, I started taking our Moen shower faucet apart, so I can replace the cartridge to eliminate a slow drip. But the cartridge is apparently the original one that’s been there since 1999 and it’s stuck. So tomorrow I’ll have to get a cartridge puller to get it out without breaking something.
About 5:30 we all went over to EAT, our favorite local Chinese buffet. And as usual, we spent more time talking than eating.
Coming home a little after 7pm, we passed The Sticker Bus parked across the street from Wal-Mart.
We’re not sure what they sell, but we assume it’s stickers, since it’s called “The Sticker Bus”. And although you can’t tell from these nighttime pics, it’s covered with thousands of stickers. Maybe we’ll get a chance to check it out in the daytime tomorrow.
Back in the rig, we spent a while talking before calling it a night.
February 26, 2012
If it’s Sunday, it must be Yuma . . .
Since we didn’t have far to go this morning, only a 116 mile trip to Yuma. we slept in until about 8 before getting ready to travel.
We pulled out of our site at Holt’s Shell RV Park about 10 am and traveled right across the parking lot to have a breakfast sandwich at the Subway. Then it was on the road to Yuma.
And after a pretty uneventful trip we pulled into the Yuma County Fairgrounds about 12:45 and got set up at our usual spot at the horse barns.
Tomorrow I’ll hit the ground running and start hitting up local businesses for discount coupons and gift certificates to be used as door prizes for the upcoming rally.
After finishing setting up, Jan and I read and interneted the rest of the afternoon, until about 5 pm, when Tom and Barb Westerfield, and Jan and I headed over to Famous Dave’s BBQ for dinner.
And, as usual, when we all get together, we spent more time talking than eating, and didn’t leave until after 7. It’s good to be back together with good friends.
February 26, 2013
Beautiful Lake Medina . . .
or not.
Today was our first “do absolutely nothing” day in a good while. I even resisted the temptation to dabble on my To-Do list. Jan and I just sat around the rig and caught up on a lot of our DVR’d stuff.
Nice!
Medina Lake TT is pretty nice, with almost 400 sites, some heavily treed, but many others with good satellites views.
Unfortunately the coveted lakeside sites leave something to be desired.
Like a lake.
This used to be a boat launching ramp.
Due to the recent drought, this manmade 5,426 acre (18 miles by 3 miles) lake is empty, and has been since last year.
People are even driving out on the lake bed.
One thing I noticed while I was reading through the park literature is the fact that it cost to receive a package here, $2.50 for each and every one. I’ve never seen this at any RV park before, much less a Thousand Trails park.
Hope this doesn’t spread.
After lunch I got out the slow cooker and poached a bunch of chicken breasts for soups and other dishes for the rest of the week.
For dinner we made ground beef taco salads, using this seasoned hamburger meat we buy at Wal-Mart.
It comes refrigerated, but freezes well. And it really tastes good. But it also keeps from smelling up the rig by cooking hamburger inside, or dragging out the grill and doing it outside.
As much as I like eating at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, 19 inches of snow would certainly dampen my ardor.
Really glad we’re about 500 miles south of there. Even so, it’s supposed to be 38 degrees here in Lakehills tonight, and that’s cold enough for me.
February 26, 2014
Cold, Wet, and Miserable . . .
First up, blog reader Bill Osbourne gave me a heads-up about a source for the discontinued Sears Air Compressor that I mentioned the other day. Another reader, David Cross, had noted that Sears no longer sells the unit, but Bill found this link (Sears Air Compressor) to reconditioned ones being sold by the Sears Outlet store.
Then blog reader Jeff Horton found this identical model now sold on Amazon under the Porter-Cable brand. Looks to be exactly the same. So now you have a choice.
PORTER-CABLE 150 PSI Air Compressor
If you need a quick, easy, and relatively cheap air compressor that will air up rig tires to 120#, this will do the job. I’ve had mine for about 4 years now and it’s still going strong. Check it out.
It looks like the cold, wet, and nasty weather we had at Galveston Bay RV Resort the last week or so before we left has followed us up here to the Colorado River Thousand Trails park. After raining a good part of yesterday, it went down to 42 last night and then made it all the way up to 45 today …with more rain.
Tonight it’s down to about 30 degrees. But tomorrow things are looking up, with a high in the mid 50’s and NO rain for the next several days. So now I’ll be able to do some things outside that I have planned.
So I started going through the storage boxes that are inside, consolidating stuff into categories like tools, computer stuff, rig parts, etc. One of problems in doing something like this is where do you put stuff as you sort it. We have a bunch of these really nice reusable bags we got at Tractor Supply Company recently. They’re made from a heavy canvas-like material and are very strong. And even better, they’re not expensive. We paid $.99 at one store and $1.49 at another, both a good deal.
Anyway I got though most of the file boxes today, and tomorrow I’ll start on the larger bins. But it’ll be easier now because I’ve freed up 6 of the file boxes to sort things into.
Tomorrow Jan wants to drive into La Grange for dinner and an HEB visit. Hopefully Ed and Debi will be able to go with us.
February 26, 2015
Hair and More . . .
Jan and I headed out about 2pm for an afternoon of hair stuff. Of course, more for her than me.
I dropped her off at the SuperCuts in Friendswood and then I drove back over to Lou’s Barbershop, where Lou has been cutting my hair since 1998. He did say that since I didn’t have as much hair for him to cut as when we started out together, he’d throw in a free beard trim.
Hey, something free!
And to show you the difference, I was able drop Jan off, drive to my barber, get my hair cut, drive back to SuperCuts, and It was still another 30 minutes before she was finally done. But then she has a lot more hair to work with.
And looks a lot better when she’s done, too.
Finishing up about 4:15, we now headed up to the Katy area to meet Brandi, Lowell, and Landon at Torchy’s Tacos, our new favorite taco place.
And it was just as great as last time. Really wish they’d get one down here in the Clear Lake area.
Leaving Torchy’s, Jan rode back with Brandi while I made a stop at a nearby Home Depot for a few things before joining them at their house. Before we left for home they filled us in on their upcoming ski trip.
They’re all three leaving early Saturday morning for a week of skiing in Steamboat Springs, CO. Brandi and Lowell have been skiing a number of times before, but this will be Landon’s first time.
And although Landon has flown before, this is the first time that he’ll have some idea about what’s going on. And he says he’s really looking forward to it.
On a final noted, back in August, right before we started gate guarding, I ordered couple of these Vent Insulators to help keep out the heat while we were on the gate.
Camco Vent Insulator with Reflective Surface
And they worked great. Normally the covers stay in the vent openings unless we’re actually using the vent fans, but about a week or so ago it was nice enough to open the windows and use the fans.
But when it got cold again, we just closed the vents and didn’t put the insulators back up. And I could really tell the difference in the amount of cold leaking in. Very noticeable just standing under insulated vent vs. the non-insulated one.
Check them out.
February 26, 2016
A Little Breathing Room . . .
Once again up way too early, we left out about 9am this morning, making the 70 mile trip down to the Clear Lake area for one more of Jan’s doctor’s appointments, this time a yearly checkup with her oncologist.
But our first stop was right down the road in Conroe at the Jack in the Box for a couple of breakfast sandwiches. Then I walked next door and got a Venti Smoked Butterscotch Latte, my new favorite flavor. Though I’m not sure what the ‘Smoked’ part is all about.
Is that like salmon, or what?
Although we kept hearing about wrecks and closed lanes ahead of us as we traveled south, they were always clear by the time we got there so the trip was pretty smooth.
Getting down to the area, and having some extra time, we stopped by Chris’ and started a load of laundry. Thinking we might have time, we bought our stuff with us just in case. They had an LG washer and dryer, and they’re HUGE. Our load only filled it up about half way, and it would have been maybe five loads in our Splendide combo.
This is one reason we’ve thought about, that if we do have to replace ours at some point, we might put in a stackable unit. The cost is actually a little cheaper, and we could be washing another load while drying the first one. The only downside is that Jan would lose her storage cabinet over the washer that she has now. So we’ll see when the time comes.
Then it was off to the doctor’s for Jan’s 11:40 appointment which only took about a hour and then we were back at Chris’, just in time to move our clothes from the washer to the dryer and start the second small load of towels.
About this time, Chris, Linda, and Miss Piper showed up from their outing, and we all headed out to the nearby Cheddar’s for a late lunch. We always enjoy the food here, and this time was no exception.
At this point we split up with Jan and Miss Piper heading out for Mani-Pedi’s while I checked in with a client or two.
We finally all met up back at Chris’ and hung out until Jan and I finally started home about 6pm. We wanted to get a somewhat head start on the traffic since they’re closing down both lanes of 1-45 from Dixie Farm to NASA Rd 1 all weekend starting at 9pm tonight. And they’re closing down Bay Area Blvd over I-45 starting tonight for 5 months while they tear it all down and built a completely new overpass/underpass there.
So stay far, far away.
Coming home, we stopped off for gas at the north Houston Flying J, and found the price had jumped 10 cents, from $1.39 to $1.49 in TWO days. So maybe there’s hope for gate guarding this year, after all.
Tomorrow, I going to get an early start . . . well, early for me, anyway, and try to get the new washer drain pump installed and hooked up. So we’ll see how that goes.
We did catch a little breathing room by doing laundry today at Chris’, and also by my beautiful, brilliant wife seeing something I didn’t, and suggesting that, if need be, we can just wheel the washer through the bathroom and then up against the bed and out of the way. Then just tie it down and we’re ready to go.
But I’m still hoping to get it done and in tomorrow. But a little less pressure now.
February 26, 2017
Love Me (Chicken) Tender . . .
Once again this morning we were out the door and heading for Clear Lake and our family get-together at the Webster Cheddar’s, getting there about 15 minutes before our 11:30 meeting time.
Since we had a party of 8, getting there early helped, and we were seated immediately as soon as everyone showed up. Well, everyone but Miss Piper, who couldn’t make it.
As is usual for our visits to Cheddar’s, everything was delicious. Jan, Linda, and I all started out with salads, which come with one of their tasty croissants.
Everyone got something different, with Jan going with her favorite Chicken and Shrimp, now coming with their Bourbon Glaze Sauce. So good that Jan wanted to know if she could buy a gallon of it.
I got my usual Chicken Tenders with Fresh Broccoli and Green Beans, my favorite partly because they give you enough to have plenty of leftovers.
We spent most of the meal going over plans for our big upcoming family reunion the end of June. Jan’s sister and her family are all coming down from Illinois so it’ll be a large group.
Getting our goodbye hugs Jan and I made a bank stop before segueing to the nearby Wal-Mart for a few things, and then it was back on the road up to the Katy area where we make a gas fill-up and Starbuck’s stop. After our usual Cinnamon Dolce Lattes, (still no Smoked Butterscotch) we finally got home about 4:30.
Brandi and Lowell brought my latest Amazon order with them, a 2TB WD External Hard Drive. I’ve been wanting a drive large enough to let me do one or more system images of my desktop computer, which requires a little over 600GB. So this new drive will hold 3 system images.
This new drive is also USB 3.0, which means it’s about 10X faster than one with a USB 2.0 interface, important when you’re saving 600+ GB files.
Holding this 2TB drive, the size of a deck of cards, in my hand, make me think of my first hard drive, circa 1990. It cost me $995 and significantly larger than a shoebox, it weighed about 15 pounds. And it was a whole 10MB, yes 10MB!
Which means that this drive has 200,000X the capacity of my first drive. a big change in less than 30 years.
Can you imagine what’s coming up in the next 30 years?
February 26, 2018
Click. No Ship . . .
I spent most of the day at work tracking down a problem with our Click-N-Ship Business Pro software for our USPS shipping account.
Normally we just place the package on the scale, call up the address from the address book, or enter it from scratch if necessary., and then click the Print Label button.
This prints out the shipping label, complete with postage, and charges our account for the postage. Then just slap the label on the box and drop it in the outgoing container and you’re done. Easy Peazy.
And we have the same type of software for our UPS shipments.
But after six packages were processed this morning, before I came in, the seventh one wouldn’t go through. giving an error message when Print Label was clicked.
After doing some checking, turns out that the Account Login Authentication wasn’t working, I.e. the software couldn’t login to our online account. So after rebooting the computer and trying it again with the same results, I put in a call to the help line, and waited for about 20 minutes. Finally talking to someone, that our software looked fine from their end, and anyway, they had nothing to do with ‘Account Authentication’.
Well, that was 20 minutes I’ll never get back.
So I was back on the phone calling the Account people, at the same number, just selection #2 instead of selection #8. I immediately got someone who told me everyone was busy, took my number, and said someone would call me back. That was 11am.
When I hadn’t heard from anyone by 3pm, I called back. And was told that they were working on the problem. I said, “What problem?” and she said, “The login problem.”.
So it was their problem all the time. But I didn’t find out for 4 hours. Great.
I’ll try later tonight to see if it’s working yet.
One thing funny today was a women calling in and saying she’d just got a new catalog and wanted to open a charge account like it said.
We all looked at each other, wondering what she was talking about, since we haven’t charge accounts for years. But she insisted that’s what her catalog said. So we had her read to us from the payment information paragraph, and it wasn’t like that in our copy. So finally I had Jennifer ask her for the date on the front of the catalog.
After a long silence, she said in a quite voice, “2012”
“And you just got this in the mail?”
“Well, maybe not.”
‘Click!’
I did get in a new toy, or toys, maybe, today. It’s a set of these PECHAM WiFi Switches.
They’re similar to the other ones I bought, but smaller and cheaper.
One of them I want to use to control my Power Converter. Used to keep the rig’s house and engine batteries charged while we’re plugged into shore power, my unit has 3 different charge levels, 14.4V, 13.6V, and 13.2V.
When it first turns on, it starts up at 14.4, stays there for about an hour, and then drops to 13.6 for a while, before steady-stating at 13.2V. And as far as keeping the house batteries charged, that works fine.
But the way the rig’s charging system works is that the engine batteries only get charged when the house battery voltage is above 14.0V. That’s the voltage the battery isolator pulls in and connects the house and rig batteries together. But since that only happens when the power converter first turns on, the engine batteries would gradually discharge over a period of time.
So my solution was to put the power converter on a timer that would cycle the power on and off several times a day. But I was never happy with the way it all work so I’m replacing the mechanical timer with one of these WiFi ones. Then I can modify the schedule remotely or manually control the timer itself.
Not sure what I’m going to do with the other one, but I’ll think of something.
February 26, 2019
Like Carvana, But Smaller . . .
Jan and I headed out about 11:45 up to the Friendswood area to meet up with some old Alvin Opry friends for a Mardi Gras lunch, complete with beads and a Mardi Gras King Cake.
But along the way we first stopped so I could get my hair cut. I also had him trim my beard just like last time, but I guess he misplaced my haircut records, or maybe my beard records, because he trimmed it a good big shorter than before. Leaving me with more like a Miami Vice 5 o’clock shadow.
Then it was on over to the La Casita Mexican Restaurant to meet up with old friends, several of them who we haven’t seen in a good while.
We used to eat at La Casita all the time when the kids were little, but somehow got away from it. But it seemed just as good as we remembered.
Jan and I both had the Grilled Chicken Breast with Grilled Onions and Charro Beans.
Really good.
And of course, no Mardi Gras party is complete with a slice of King Cake.
Luckily we didn’t get the Baby.
One thing I noticed was this mural in our dining room.
I was confused because this translates as the Hunchback’s Estate. I mean, do a lot of hunchbacks own haciendas?
When I asked the owner about it, he laughed and said he’d wondered about that too. He said it was his great grandfather’s village in Mexico. So when he asked his grandfather about it, he was told that the name came from a nearby mountain range.
Guess it’s better than the meaning of the Grand Tetons.
Saying our goodbyes after a great get-together, Jan and I headed over to the nearby WalMart for a few things, including picking up an online order that we made the other day.
I’m sure you’ve see those Carvana commercials featuring their Car Vending Machine.
Well, I was surprised to find that WalMart has their own version.
When you approach the keyboard housed in the base of tower, the window opens allowing you to enter your order number.
Then after a few seconds the hidden door above the keyboard opens and there’s your order.
Neat!
Makes me want to order something else just to try it again.
February 26, 2020
On The Mend . . . Kind Of
I struggled into work today, mainly because I needed to get the final mailing list into the mailing company to get it in to them by 3pm today, otherwise I would have stayed home again.
I was making good progress and was right on schedule when I realized that the 3pm time was Atlanta time, where the mailing company is located. So 3pm was really 2pm my time.
RUH ROH!
But I managed to get it done and uploaded at 1:56pm, just under the wire.
Here’s what the final ad card looks like.
I seem to be on the downside of my cold, with only a stuffy head and a glitch in my side when I cough. But luckily the coughing has tapered off from constant to occasional, with only my sore stomach muscles to remind me.
I never really had any fever or the achiness of the flu, so just a bad cold.
So far Jan has had any signs of coming down with it, so I guess you just have to be sneezed on by someone.
February 26, 2021
Now It’s Prep-For-Toilet Sunday . . .
I have ordered stuff for pickup from WalMart four or five times over the last year, and only once has it gone smoothly. And today did not change that tally.
I ordered some storage bins and some vitamins this morning to be picked up at the Texas City WalMart on my way home. But when I got there and drove around to the side to the pickup area, they had no idea who I was or why I was there.
And after I had waited for 45 minutes past my appointed pickup time, they finally discovered that my order had been unceremoniously canceled, and for no discernible reason, saying only this . . . because of unusually high demand. Slot availability, staffing, and inventory are still fluctuating daily.
Now the pickup crew had never seen this message before and couldn’t explain it. But they suggested I reorder for tomorrow. So I ordered again, but to be picked up at a different store. So I guess we’ll see tomorrow.
Toilet Saturday is now going to be Prep For Toilet Sunday. I want to double-check that I have all the right tools and wrench/socket sizes. If everything goes smoothly the changeout should only take me a couple of hours. But everything seldom goes smoothly, now does it?
February 26, 2022
Everybody Talks About The . . .
We thought that this weekend we’d catch up with some places we haven’t eaten at for a while, the first up being Spring Creek BBQ right out on I-45. Spring Creek is one of our two favorite local BBQ places, with Rudy’s being the other. I like Rudy’s better, but Jan likes Spring Creek better.
So we compromise and go to Spring Creek. LOL
But the Ribs and Brisket are really good here.
You only get one photo because we both get pretty much the same thing, except Jan gets her Brisket ‘lean’, or as I like to call it ‘dry’. While I get mine ‘marbled with extra bark’, which means ‘moist with a lot of the outside char’.
It’s still delicious, even it’s not Rudy’s.
Then it was on right next door to WalMart for a few things before heading home, with a stop at Cowboy Coffee along the way.
Tomorrow’s neglected restaurant is Black Bear Diner, also out on the Interstate, with a stop at the HEB right next door.
When we were at Costco a couple of weeks ago I bought myself a new toy to replace an old toy.
I saw this La Crosse Weather Station on sale for $80. Which I knew was a great deal since I had priced it a while back online and it was $190.
So I grabbed it up.
I’ve had an older model since 2017, but this one has a lot of new features.
One thing new is the fact that the unit connects to AccuWeather on the Internet to give you the weather forecast in your area, which is shown in the center circular section of the display.
The other neat thing is rather than separate outside sensors, the wind speed, temperature, and humidity, as well as a new wind direction function, are all in one unit.
The new unit also has a solar cell to supplement the internal batteries so that they don’t have to be changed as often.
But I got a little frustrated trying to get it all set up.
First, no matter what I’d tried I could not get it connected by WiFi to the app on my phone and to the Internet. Then reading online I saw that if your phone is using Android 12, which my S21 is, you have to connect it a longer, more complicated way. But rather than do this, I just used Jan’s S8 phone and it connected the first time.
The second problem I had was getting the new super-duper all-in-one wind sensor to connect to the display, though the range gauge connected with no problem. Then, again reading online, I found a list of 12 things to try in order if your super-duper wind sensor won’t connect.
My problem was number 11.
Of course.
But it’s working great now.
Always Tip The Cook . . .
Jan and I were on our way over to the NTB tire center over on I-45 for two new front tires, getting there about noon for our appointment. And 60 minutes and $300 later we were on our way back down to the nearby Denny’s for lunch once again.
And once again, we got our usual Ultimate Omelets.
This is why I regularly tip Hugo the cook for our great omelets. Like the $10 I had Angie our server pass on to him today.
Always tip your cook. He has his hands in your food.
Afterwards, heading back toward the rig, we stopped off at HEB for our weekly HEB stuff and gas, before getting home about 3pm
Tomorrow we’re making a trip up to Conroe to meet up with Debi and Ed Hurlburt once again.
Really looking forward to it.
Since we were having blog problems today back in 2019 when this was first posted, and based on page views, a lot of readers didn’t get to see it, I thought I’d repost it up top here.
My blog yesterday about coffeeshops in Amsterdam and marijuana got a lot of comments, including some about drinking and smoking.
As far as Jan is concerned, growing up a Mormon, she’s never smoked. I probably smoked less than two packs of cigarettes total in my life, and never bought a single pack. I just bummed a few from others. I did smoke a pipe for a while in college, but that’s about it.
I did have a few ‘vague’ weekends during my college days, but quickly found it more fun to have a few beers to get a buzz, and then sober up drinking sodas, and enjoy all the drunken antics of my friends. Too bad I didn’t have a cellphone camera back then. Some of the photos would be prime blackmail fodder.
I did lose a long weekend in New Orleans one time. Somewhere along the line, this happened.
Things got a little fuzzy after that. I do remember my two friends and I closed down the Playboy Club at 2am, and as we were leaving and trying to remember where we left my car, we took a shortcut behind the club and through their employee parking lot.
And bumped into ‘Bambi’, the girl in the photo. Turns out ‘Bambi’ was her ‘Hutch’ name, while Mary Anne was her real one. She lived nearby and was waiting for one of the bouncers to walk her home, since it wasn’t exactly a nice area.
But her bouncer friend was tied up with the police about an altercation with a rowdy patron, so I ‘volunteered’ to walk her home, giving my friends the keys to go find the car.
Things got a little ‘more fuzzy’ after that, and unfortunately the next thing I really remember was getting out of a cab at our motel the next morning. All I know is that this was stuffed in my jacket pocket.
And yes, it’s what you think it is. And yes, I still have it.
Jan said she was surprised to see how well it was made. I said, “Well, it had to stand up to a lot of fondling.
The problem is that I really don’t know what I did to get it. But I’m sure I had fun.
Thought For The Day:
“Freedom is not free. It is bought at a high price. It can be squandered cheaply.”—Jerry Pournelle
February 25, 2010
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum…
Today our friends, Al and Adrienne, took us to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum on the western side of Tucson.
We had visited the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Carlsbad, NM in 2007, but this was our first time here.
The scenery was just spectacular. More cactus than we knew existed, and many birds we had never seen before.
Below is the top of a saguaro cactus. They do not know what causes it to develop like this.
A very beautiful Barn Owl
This is what a normal saguaro cactus looks like. Supposedly they don’t start branching out limbs until they’re about 75 years old.
Another saguaro cactus with a strange top.
These are saguaro cactus ‘bones’. This is what is left after a saguaro dies.
A Great Horned Owl during the Raptor Free Flight demo.
A poisonous Gila Monster.
A very well-fed prairie dog on guard.
An endangered Mexican Gray Wolf.
Coming back to Tucson in the late afternoon, we stopped at Silver Saddle Steak House for an early supper, hoping to beat the crowd from the rodeo going on here in Tucson.
The food was great! Adrienne, Al, and I each had a rack of BBQ ribs, and Jan had a 1/2 BBQ chicken. We all agreed it was some of the best we’d had.
Al and Adrienne dropped us off at our rig about 5:30 pm and we agreed to meet them at their home around 7pm for coffee and dessert.
Adrienne made us a great flan and we watched pictures of their trip to Ecuador and The Galapagos Islands last year. The scenery and animals were really something.
We got back to rig about 9:30, thoroughly pooped. But we had a great time.
Tomorrow they already had a prior engagement, so after we decided to stay another night, we’re going to get together again on Saturday for more sightseeing.
February 25, 2011
Blown Breakers and Bread Pudding . . .
We didn’t really do much today, but I got a lot done.
Huh?
First off, I got a number of comments and emails thanking me for detailing how to weigh your coach at truck stop scales. Glad I could help.
One thing to note. Weighing this way will not be possible at all truck scales. I have seen many scales that either have railings alongside the scale platform, or the scale platform is elevated above the surrounding surface. I assume this is to prevent drivers from fudging their truck weights, but it makes it harder for us, too.
I was rudely awakened this morning by absolute silence…and “Sorry, Sorry, Sorry” from Jan up front in the kitchen. We have a white noise generator in our bedroom and when the power goes off, it gets very, very quiet.
Jan had gotten up about 15 minutes earlier, and forgetting that we only have 20 amps where we parked right now, she turned on the microwave without first turning off the electric floor heater.
That’s a no-no!
On 20 amps we can only use one heavy-draw appliance at a time. Which means the toaster oven, microwave, coffee maker, or the floor heater are one at a time.
So having to get up to reset the breaker, I just decided I was up for the morning. I also made sure that Jan now knows where the breaker is outside, so when she blows it again (and she will) she can reset it herself.
And I can stay in bed.
But since I was up, I decided to stay up and went ahead and made us coffee for the morning. Then about 10:30 Jan and I headed out to WalMart, by way of the Post Office to mail a letter, and Wendy’s for a Spicy Chicken sandwich lunch.
After we got back about noon, I headed out for our real job of the day. I spent a couple of hours driving around the fairgrounds, mapping all the electrical plugs and their location. Unlike a lot of fairgrounds, the electrical hookups here are scattered all over, hidden in nooks and crannies, and behind barns and trees. Last year we had to find the hookups on the fly, so hopefully this year will be a little more organized.
Of course, last year we also had rain, hail, and lightning, at different times, all on the same day we were parking incoming rigs. So anything will be an improvement.
About 5:00 Jan and I headed over to Famous Dave’s BBQ, where we met Tom and Barb Westerfield for supper. As usual the food was great, and Jan and I couldn’t resist sharing a Bread Pudding with ice cream dessert.
We got home about 6:30 and that was it for today.
More from Yuma tomorrow . . .
February 25, 2012
Project Day in Gila Bend . . .
The RV Park here in Gila Bend is one of my favorite places for getting projects done. They have a good hardware store, a good auto parts store, and not a lot of distractions.
After our morning coffee, my first project was to remove the door trim panel on our truck. When I replaced the power window system a month or so ago, I had problems getting the manual door lock working correctly, and the result was that when you locked the doors, the three passengers locked, and the alarm set, but the driver’s door didn’t actually lock because of the drag of the manual locks.
Luckily it only took about 20 minutes to remove the panel, adjust the lock, and replace the trim panel. Now it all works fine.
Next up I wanted to mount an external 12 volt socket in one of my outside bays to supply power for my Winegard Carryout Automatic Satellite Antenna.
It only requires the 12 volts during the initial setup, and right now I just bring the cable inside the coach and plug it in on the dash. But I wanted to install a more convenient socket.
I figured I would see if I could find a source of 12 volts in the storage bay directly under my driver’s seat where the satellite wires are also attached. So I pulled the generator slide IN/OUT switch out of its housing and found the 12 volts I needed on the switch.
My next problem was to figure out the best way to tap into the + and – wires. I decided to use a Suitcase Splice,
but I didn’t have any that would handle the 12 gauge wires on the switch, so a trip into Gila Bend to the NAPA store was in order.
Since it was about lunch time, I checked with Jan in the laundry room next door to see what she wanted to do. She was doing our heavy rugs in the big machines that she doesn’t like to do in our coach washer. We decided that I would just bring something back from the Subway across the parking lot from the park.
After lunch, I spliced the socket wires onto the 12 volt wires,
and then mounted the socket to the IN/OUT switch panel.
After checking the voltage to the socket, I declared the job done and got out of the sun. It was over 80 degrees here today, and the bay where I was working was right in the sun.
At this point I thought a nap was in order, and it was.
Around 6 pm, Jan and I drove back into town to have dinner once again at Sofia’s Mexican Food.
This time I decided to try Jan’s favorite Shrimp Burrito, but in my case I added a couple of their delicious enchiladas. It was as good as Jan had said.
After a great last meal here in Gila Bend, we headed home for the night.
Tomorrow we’ll make the 120 mile trip over to Yuma.
February 25, 2013
Blowin’ in the Wind . . .
Jan and I headed over to Gina’s about 9:30 with a quick detour by Subway for breakfast sandwiches for everyone. And after getting Jan settled in, I headed back to the rig to get us ready to head out this afternoon.
A little after noon I drove back over to Gina’s to say our goodbyes to Gina and bring Jan back to the rig. Coming back into the park I stopped at the office to settle up for a weeks worth of electricity, which turned out to be $16.10.
We pulled out of our site, got hitched up, and hit the road a little before 2pm, later than we normally would leave, but we’re only going 68 miles so it shouldn’t be a problem.
But what did turn out to a little bit of a problem was the wind. All the forecasts said it would be pretty windy last night, a little less this morning, and then drop off in the afternoon.
But instead the wind just blew harder as the afternoon wore on, which made for some interesting driving. But since we were staying on state roads and seldom getting above 50mph, it wasn’t a real problem
We got into Boerne (bur nee) about 3:15 and made a stop at the Wal-Mart to pick up some supplies. I had already scouted out the location on Google Maps and Street View and knew I wouldn’t have any trouble getting in and out.
About an hour later we were back on the road heading for Lakehills, TX and the Medina Lake Thousand Trails Resort. But we did have a small bobble (well, maybe a little larger than small) along the way. Our GPS had us taking a short cut on a rural back road, which although narrow and a little rough in a couple of places, was OK for the 10 miles we were going to be on it. What was the problem was that I missed a turn. Well, not really a turn, more like a curve, where I went straight instead.
So for only the 2nd time in 5 years we had to unhitch the truck so I could turn the rig around and get us back on track. Since we were only about 8 miles from the park, Jan just followed me the rest of the way.
We got into the park about 5:15, got checked in, and found us a nice space with a good satellite view. And as it turns out we’ve got good Verizon 3G also. So far it seems like a really nice park.
February 25, 2014
Apples and BBQ . . .
First up, a number of our blog readers are having trouble accessing this site while using the Safari browser on iPads, iPhones, and iMacs. This is a known problem, not just with this blog, but many other websites. Some people have trouble even with sites like Facebook and Google.
The problem is with the Safari browser and this link from Apple Support details the problem and a number of possible solutions.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4093878?tstart=0
Of course, if you have this problem on this site, you’ll never see this.
So, Never Mind.
___________________________________________________________
On another software note, there is a new wave of email viruses on the loose. The latest appears to be a video email from WhatsApp. It looks like this.
When you click on the play button, it takes you to a website that will infect you. You can get more info here.
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/whatsapp-new-voicemail-malware-emails.shtml
Finally, if you get ANY email from anyone, including someone you know, and that email has one of those shortened links like this one – http://bit.ly/OAM7r7, do not click on it. (BTW this one takes you right back to this site.)
So, let’s be careful out there.
About 1:30 Jan and I walked down the row to meet Ed and Debi Hurlburt. We have some mutual friends, and they read our blog, so we were looking forward to getting together. But our ‘getting to know each other’ visit turned into an all-afternooner and then later, dinner.
We all hit it off immediately and spent the rest of the afternoon talking about anything and everything, and were surprised to find out how much we have in common.
Finally about 4:30 we headed out for Peter’s BBQ a few miles up the road in Ellinger. Jan and I had eaten here years ago, and it was still just as good. Great BBQ and a buffet of sides, including desserts. Really good.
I had hoped to be able to start going through bins, sorting stuff to stay, go, or trash. But between the nasty weather, and making new friends, that didn’t happen.
But there’s always tomorrow.
February 25, 2015
Fish, and Shrimp, and Oysters, Oh My . . .
Sorry. I couldn’t resist.
We woke up to 38 degrees this morning, so after coffee and Dunkin’ Donut’s Munchkins, I worked on client stuff for most of the morning. It was just too cold and windy to get anything done outside.
About 2pm Jan and I headed out for a bunch of errands and then dinner. After stopping for gas and the bank, our next stop was a client’s office in Clear Lake for a while to go over some website changes.
Then it was on up to the Almeda area to Johnson GT, a truck accessory company. I had picked up some new locking handles the other day for the lift window on our truck cap. But I ended up;with two differently keyed locks, and keys to only fit one lock. So I went back up to get two new locks both keyed the same.
That accomplished, we head back south on I-45 and stopped off at the Sam’s Club on El Dorado to pick up the prescriptions we dropped off yesterday, and a few other things as well.
Finally, with 5pm looming, and with our stomachs rumbling, we headed over to Kemah to have dinner under the Kemah Bridge at Outrigger’s, one of our favorite local seafood places located right on Clear Lake Channel
And lucky for us it was 50 cent raw oyster night, so we started off with a dozen. With lemon juice and horseradish for the cocktail sauce, it can’t be beat.
I had the Fish Sandwich, with a big piece of Atlantic Cod. Eat your heart out, Filet-O-Fish.
Jan had her usual two Grilled Shrimp Tacos, the real reason we come here.
It’s hard to tell from this photo, but it’s just solid shrimp underneath the fixin’s.
Getting home about 6:30, it was already down in the 40’s, with a low of 36 or so expected. But tomorrow’s supposed to be sunny and in the high 50’s so maybe I can get some things down outside. I’m running out of time before we leave on Sunday.
But we don’t have it as cold as our great-nieces and nephews do. At least not according to this photo and video.
Nothing like a little ‘improvised’ skiing using plastic garbage can lids. Maybe the next Olympic sport.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1013910515289021
And of course, sledding behind a one-horse (well, maybe about 5) open golf cart.
Kids can really have a lot of winter fun up north.
Of course, by ‘up north’, I’m talking about north Alabama here. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that much snow there, at least not when I lived there.
February 25, 2016
Free is Not Always Free . . .
We didn’t walk this morning since I wanted to get an early start on finding parts to hook up my new FREE washer drain pump. Well, the pump was free, but I spent about $30 at Lowe’s this afternoon buying tubing, hoses, couplings, circle clamps, adapters, and angle iron to hopefully make all this work.
But it may be Saturday before I really have a chance to get started on it. Right now I think the only part I’m kind of unsure about is exactly how I’m going to mount it. But that’ll have to wait until I see where the pump ends being positioned after I’ve got it hooked up.
About 4:30 we headed out to the Asian BBQ & Grill for dinner with Brett and Frankie O’Neal. Sherry and Clark Bennett introduced us to this last Friday, and we were really looking forward to trying it again.
Jan and I each had the same as last time, the Pork and Shrimp Spring Rolls,
![Asian BBQ Spring Rolls_thumb[1]](https://ourrvadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Asian-BBQ-Spring-Rolls_thumb1-1.png "Asian BBQ Spring Rolls_thumb[1]")
and the Grilled Lemon Grass Chicken over Vermicelli.
![Asian BBQ Lemon Grass Chicken_thumb[1]](https://ourrvadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Asian-BBQ-Lemon-Grass-Chicken_thumb1.png "Asian BBQ Lemon Grass Chicken_thumb[1]")
but this time I added a bowl of Pho with Eye of Round Steak, Beef Brisket, and Beef Sirloin.
![Asian Grill Pho_thumb[1]](https://ourrvadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Asian-Grill-Pho_thumb1.png "Asian Grill Pho_thumb[1]")
And the big plate of fresh greens, with cilantro, basil, bean sprouts, and other stuff was delicious as well.
As before with Brett and Frankie, we spent longer talking than actually eating,
![Brett & Frankie_thumb[1]](https://ourrvadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Brett-Frankie_thumb1.png "Brett & Frankie_thumb[1]")
and didn’t leave the restaurant until after 7pm.
Our next stop was right down the road at the HEB for a few things, and then we topped off the evening by ‘accidently’ stumbling across a Marble Slab Creamery. True be told, we stumbled across it while looking for a Dairy Queen, but we won’t talk about that
Tomorrow, Jan has one last appointment down in the Clear Lake area, then she wants to get a pedicure, and I need to see a client or two. Then after that I don’t know.
We may get together with the kids, but our schedules may not match up.
So we’ll see.
February 25, 2017
Butter Smuggling . . .
Today was another ‘stay at home work through my checklist’ day. And I actually got a lot done for a change.
One thing I got done was to finally install the new wiper blades. I used the same Denso blades that came originally on the rig, but they no longer make blades that fit the mounting on our 1999 wiper arms. So there’s drilling, bending and filing required to make them work.
I’ve looked into replacing the pantograph arms, but any possible replacements seem to run in the $150/pair range, so I’ll keep drilling, bending and filing once a year until I find something cheaper.
I also purged the computer cables behind Jan’s chair and installed the new APC Uninterruptible Power Supply and got it wired up. I then zip-tied the cables and neatened it all up.
Tomorrow it’s back down to Clear Lake for a big family get-together at the local Cheddar’s. We’ll leave about 9:15 for our 11:30 meetup. Really looking forward to see everyone together.
Regular Big Bang Theory fans will remember the episode where the gang was writing an app that would solve an equation just by taking a photo of it. Well, you can now have that app, or one like on your own phone. It’s called Photomath, and it’s passed every test I’ve given it.
Here’s the link for the Android version – Photomath
Check it out.
Want to try a butter that’s so good that people are willing to smuggle it just to get some?
Well,the butter is called KerryGold, a grass-fed butter that’s imported from Ireland. And if you live in Wisconsin you have to smuggle it into the state because it’s not allowed be sold there.
Wisconsin, known as The Dairy State, has always gone out of its way to protect its dairy industry, even to the point of banning margarine outright for many years. And when they did finally allow it in the state, they required it to be dyed in odd colors like white, or even pink.
And this mindset is causing KerryGold’s problem. Wisconsin’s dairy laws required that any imported butter under go a strict 32 point inspection process that takes weeks. And this is not just a one-time check, but is necessary for every single shipment that comes into the state.
And since KerryGold prides themselves in the freshness of their product, they refuse to sell it in Wisconsin. So Wisconsin KerryGold lovers regularly smuggle it back across the state lines to feed their butter addiction.
And you can buy it in the other 49 states with no problems, even at Wal-Mart. So we picked up a block of it on our last visit there. And its reputation is well deserved, and it leaves Land O Lakes in the dust. The rich, smooth, buttery taste really stands out, and makes it worth the slight extra cost.
Give it a try.
February 25, 2018
Home Again . . .
Catching up starting with Saturday, I had planned to install my new LED headlight bulbs but both my Clymer’s and Hayne’s car manuals lied to me. They said that the headlight mounting bolts were 3/8” inch. They weren’t
So I had planned to get the right socket when I stopped off at the rig to feed Karma Saturday night, but then I saw it was supposed to rain all day Sunday, so . . .
Never Mind!
Jan and I headed down to Seabrook about 5pm to drop her off at Kathy’s for her Annual Coworker Get-Together. Then I headed back toward Santa Fe with a stopover at King Food for a big bowl of Hot & Sour Soup for my dinner.
Getting to the rig, Karma was very happy to see me . . . or at least to see me open her container of Meow Mix Tuna and Shrimp. Of course she has her dry Meow Mix all the time so she wasn’t really that hungry. Also gave her a big squirt of whipped cream, her favorite.
Then after cleaning Karma’s litter box, I read for a while before heading back up to Seabrook to wait for Jan’s call that she was partied out. Which came about 9:45.
After getting a group photo,
and saying our goodbyes, we were on our way back to Katy, getting there around 11:30.
Later Jan and I were sleeping soundly until about 2:30am when a thunderstorm moved in and parked right over us. But it wasn’t the storm that woke us up.
It was the 140 pound Black Lab Miss Kitty, who terrified of thunderstorms, decided to join us . . . by knocking open the bedroom door and leaping onto the bed with us. And snuggling down between us, whimpering.
Luckily for us, Baxter could have cared less, otherwise it could have gotten really crowded really fast. Finally getting back to sleep, I was awakening about an hour later to a leaking roof.
As least that was my first thought since something wet was dripping on me. Turns out that it was Miss kitty sitting up, and DROOLING on me.
Yuck!
This is how Jan pretty much spent the weekend here at Brandi’s
That’s Baxter on the left, then Mooshe the cat, Jan, and Miss Kitty on the right. The only thing that changed was Baxter and Kitty swapping places, or fighting over the remaining spot if I sat down.
And even if I did, sometimes Miss Kitty would just get up on the sofa with me, well, more on top of me.
Brandi, Lowell, and Landon got home about 2pm, excited and worn out after their fun weekend, so Jan and I headed home about 3. But after my Hot & Sour Soup meal last night, Jan wanted her bowl too, so we stopped off at King Food for an early dinner.
We each had a big bowl of the Hot & Sour Soup with Crispy Noodle Strips,
and an order of their delicious Crispy Chicken Wings with Garlic and Butter.
Really, really yummy.
Tomorrow it’s back to work.
February 25, 2019
Bunny Tales . . .
If you haven’t been able to tell, we’re having blog problems again. But this time it’s a problem with the Brava theme that I use.
It was working last night and early this morning, but died later in the morning. It’s apparently theme-related, since temporarily changing to a new theme fixes the problem. Temporarily!
So I’m working on it.
This blog is one of those blogs that ends up all over the place. In my case it’s more of a hot mess consisting of some random thoughts and ramblings.
We’re now at 60 days and counting on our European Cruise, and Jan and I want to thank everyone for all their help and suggestions. It’s much appreciated. Especially since time will start passing much faster the closer our departure gets.
I’ve got my WiFi Thermostat up and working. It’s now paired with both my phone and tablet, and is displaying the temperature in the fridge using the attached probe.
Based on the Hi and Lo temperature settings, it also turns a lamp on and off that’s plugged into the outlet on the front.
Now my problem is to connected up to control the refrigerator. I’m trying to avoid hooking it directly since that would mean trying to thread the probe from the outside compartment through the rig wall and into the fridge.
Since the fridge is already controlled by a Smart Plug through Amazon Alexa, my best hope is get the thermostat to control the fridge through Alexa’s Smart Plug. So I’m working on getting the two to communicate. I’ll keep you informed.
My blog yesterday about coffeeshops in Amsterdam and marijuana got a lot of comments, including some about drinking and smoking.
As far as Jan is concerned, growing up a Mormon, she’s never smoked. I probably smoked least than two packs of cigarettes total in my life, and never bought a single pack. I just bummed a few from others. I did smoke a pipe for a while, but that’s about it.
I did have a few ‘vague’ weekends during my college days, but quickly found it more fun to have a few beers to get a buzz, and then sober up drinking sodas, and enjoy all the drunken antics of my friends. Too bad I didn’t have a cellphone camera back then. Some of the photos would be prime blackmail fodder.
I did lose a long weekend in New Orleans one time. Somewhere along the line, this happened.
Things got a little fuzzy after that. I do remember we closed down the Playboy Club at 2am, and as we were leaving and trying to remember where we left my car, we took a shortcut behind the club and through their employee parking lot.
And bumped into ‘Bambi’, the girl in the photo. Turns out ‘Bambi’ was her ‘Hutch’ name, while Mary Anne was her real one. She lived nearby and was waiting for one of the bouncers to walk her home, since it wasn’t exactly a nice area.
But her bouncer friend was tied up with the police for an altercation with a rowdy patron, so I ‘volunteered’ to walk her home, giving my friends the keys to go find the car.
Things got a little ‘more fuzzy’ after that, and unfortunately the next thing I really remember was getting out of a cab at our motel the next morning. All I know is that this was stuffed in my jacket pocket.
And yes, it’s what you think it is. And yes, I still have it.
Jan said she was surprised to see how well it was made. I said, “Well, it had to stand up to a lot of fondling.
The problem is that I really don’t know what I did to get it. But I’m sure I had fun.
February 25, 2020
NYC Wasn’t Built In A Day . . .
Thanks to everyone for their ‘Get Well Thoughts’. I’m feeling a little better, with the coughing finally subsiding. Now I’m just at the point where my chest is so sore that when I do cough it feels like there’s a knife in my ribs. But at least I seem to be on the mend, so I’ll be going back into work tomorrow.
Our daughter Brandi got bored this past weekend and pulled out one of Landon’s Christmas gifts that he hadn’t had a chance to get to, mainly because, though the puzzle itself came from Amazon in just a few days, the special pair of tweezers had to come from China and took over a month.
The reason you need special tweezers is that the 1480 pieces are all 1/8” or smaller.
So Brandi started working on it and ended up there.
But then Landon came along and told Brandi, “You’re not doing it right”, and took it over.
Looks like he’s got it well in hand.
February 25, 2021
They Had Me At PB&J . . .
Jan and I headed out about 1pm for Jan’s 2:45 doctor’s appointment, early because we wanted to have lunch first. And since it was right on our route, we decided to check out the new Eggcellence that just opened in the old Steak and Shake right on I-45, actually right door to Twin Peaks.
They weren’t very busy, which I hope isn’t indicative of their long-term success. It’s a very visible location, but not exactly easy to get to with the all the I-45 construction in that area.
Jan went with what she comes in for, the Greek Omelet.
She said it’s the best one she’s found in this area, and pretty much why we come here when Jan doesn’t want her Bravocado Toast from Snooze.
I got the Texas Sampler once again, with eggs over medium, bacon, ham, and sausage, and fruit instead of the normal hashbrowns and pancakes.
Then it was on to Jan’s appointment, which was right next door to Clear Lake Regional Medical Center where she used to work before we started RV’ing.
And since this appointment was just to go over some test results, Jan was in and out fairly quickly, and after a quick stop at the Clear Lake HEB for a couple of things, it was on down Hwy 3 to the WalMart on 646 for a few more things, before heading home, with a stop at the Santa Fe PO along the way.
And as we were coming along NASA Rd 1 heading over to Hwy 3, we noticed a new restaurant hat opened across from the IHOP. Called Texas Huddle Grill, it looked intriguing, so when we got home this evening, I checked them out online.
Looking over the menu, I found some of the usual suspects, salads, wings, pizzas, tacos, and burgers. And one particular burger caught my eye.
It was their PB&J Bacon Cheeseburger –
One or two sizzling all-beef patties covered with pepper jack cheese and bacon. Topped with creamy peanut butter and raspberry jelly, then sandwiched between a buttery brioche bun..
They had me at PB&J.
Regular readers know what big Vincent Van Gogh fans Jan and I are, having seen Van Gogh exhibits in Paris, London, New York City, and here in Houston.
Well, a lost painting by Vincent Van Gogh, hidden in a private collection and not seen in public for over a century, is going on the auction block next month in Paris and is expected to garner as much as $10 million.
Entitled “Street scene in Montmartre”, it was painted in 1887, about 3 years before Vah Gogh’s death.
Unfortunately it will only be exhibited in Amsterdam and Hong Kong before returning to Paris. Too bad it’s not coming through Houston.
February 25, 2022
Blew Out My Flip Flop . . .
Of course, now that we’re off the road, Jimmy Buffet gets into the resort RV park business, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville RV Parks
With 3 already open, one in Lake Lanier, GA, one in Pigeon Forge, TN, and one in Auburndale, FL, they expect to have 50 up and running in the next 5 years.
With more than 30 successful albums under his belt, the self-proclaimed beach bum parlayed his laid-back vibe into one of the world’s most successful hospitality brands. What began with a few restaurants has transformed into hotels, casinos, resorts, retail stores, a cruise line, senior living communities, and a line of licensed products carrying the “Margaritaville” name.
Guests can bring a camper and rent a full-hookup site for about $70 a night. Camp Margaritaville RV Resort locations also offer “cabana” cabin rentals and premium motorhome sites with waterfront views and personal Tiki huts.
The existing locations offer resort-style amenities, such as luxurious pools, waterslides, Tiki bars, putting courses, entertainment stages, daily scheduled activities, playgrounds, and dog parks.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the “Come Monday” singer is worth an estimated $600 million. He’s considered one of the world’s wealthiest musicians.
I think I’ve mentioned before that I kind of know Jimmy Buffet. He wrote in one of his books, how growing up in the Mobile, AL area, he and some friends would come over to the Alabama Point area near Gulf Shores to surf. And that there was usually a bunch of locals there too.
And I was one of the ‘locals’ that was surfing there.
Good, but kind of disappointing.
I blogged yesterday about Hot Mamba Peanut Butter that I’d ordered from Amazon.
And as I suspected, it’s a really good peanut butter, but not very hot. It’s less hot than the salsa we had yesterday at
El Palenque. Of course, in the world of peanut butter, it’s probably pretty spicy, but just not in my world.
