We have looked at hundreds of travel trailers both on line and in person and have found several with the two bedroom concept that would work perfectly. Then we looked at an older motorhome. And I thats what I think we are going to have to go with. We can get into it cheaper than a travel trailer and a truck. It will be easier for mother to get in and out of (lower to the ground) and easier for me to drive. The dogs will be easier to keep track of, driving or parked. There is more storage. I won't have a private area of my own but ... what's a little privacy? I will have to get out an hike, walk the dogs when mother starts to get on my nerves. Whatever ... I can make it work.
It looks like the amount of money we get from the house will probably be less than anticipated. The real estate agent I talked to suggested $156,000. I owe approximately $88,000 plus or minus. After paying bills, etc we could get out of this is with $48,000 at most. I want to keep as much of that as possible in the bank!
Also I made a run at planning a trip from here to Washington State. Selected camping sites based on price, estimated gas costs (mph * $4.00) and found that it will be difficult to do on our income. So I am researching free sites, national & COE campgrounds, etc. I've joined several online rv groups to find out how they do it. They say that the first year is the hardest and the most expensive.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Future Ex-Husband
I met John H***** the summer of 1967 shortly before my 21st birthday at a club called Little Pete's. The first couple of times I saw him in there he flirted with a friend of mine and ignored me. The 3rd time
was July 3rd, his 29th birthday. I was invited to go clubbing with the owner, Pete McNeil, a couple of other guys and John. Before the evening was over he proposed. The next day he took me to a barbque at
his sister's house. And I met his children.
John had been married twice already. His first marriage was to Sarah while he was in the military, living in Washington State and they had four children: John Charles IV (Chuck), Michael (Mikey), William Kelly (Billy) and Deborah Lee (Debbie). Mikey was born with spina bifada and died when he was about 18 months old, shortly before Billy was born. Debbie was born a couple of weeks after his divorce was final.
John then married Wanda. She had several children of her own. At some point Chuck, his oldest child with Sarah, started living with John and Wanda.
Per John, Sarah called and told him that to come get Billy and Debbie or she was putting them in a Catholic orphanage. Wanda didn't want the additional children so John took his three kids and moved back to Texas.
I met John a year later. Chuck was 6 1/2, Billy 3 1/2 and Debbie 2 1/2.
was July 3rd, his 29th birthday. I was invited to go clubbing with the owner, Pete McNeil, a couple of other guys and John. Before the evening was over he proposed. The next day he took me to a barbque at
his sister's house. And I met his children.
John had been married twice already. His first marriage was to Sarah while he was in the military, living in Washington State and they had four children: John Charles IV (Chuck), Michael (Mikey), William Kelly (Billy) and Deborah Lee (Debbie). Mikey was born with spina bifada and died when he was about 18 months old, shortly before Billy was born. Debbie was born a couple of weeks after his divorce was final.
John then married Wanda. She had several children of her own. At some point Chuck, his oldest child with Sarah, started living with John and Wanda.
Per John, Sarah called and told him that to come get Billy and Debbie or she was putting them in a Catholic orphanage. Wanda didn't want the additional children so John took his three kids and moved back to Texas.
I met John a year later. Chuck was 6 1/2, Billy 3 1/2 and Debbie 2 1/2.
Monday, March 15, 2010
We are on the road to getting on the road
I got up this morning and texturized the dining room walls, a job that took less than 3 hours but has been torturing me for months. This is the first real step toward getting the house ready to sell. Tomorrow I terrorize ... texturize ... the kitchen. More surface to work on in there but I now know it is doable!
I also re-started my interval training routine after lunch. It doesn't sound like much ...
And did I mention we have a new dog? His name is Mister and he is a Brussels Griffon. Here is a picture:
Okay, maybe he isn't the handsomest guy on t he block but I'm still very smitten with him. He is a rescue from the Black Hills Humane Society through a new friend of ours Katherine Andrews. Katherine has also talked us into being foster parents for a smooth haired terrier that needs out of the shelter while she looks for a forever home for him.
Mister was named Monkey by the Society workers but we have re-named him Mister. He is about 10 months old and is going to be neutered Wednesday. He is surprisingly good natured for a dog that has spent most of his life alone in a back yard. He is, however, terrified of the back door and has to be coaxed in and out. He is very respectful of our elderly Lucy and likes to play with Harley. Harley in turn is getting more exercise and has been able to stop taking his anti-anxiety medication. Harley even shares his toys with Mister.
I also re-started my interval training routine after lunch. It doesn't sound like much ...
- 5 minute warm up
- 30 second sprint
- 90 second walk
- 30 second sprint
- 90 second walk
- 30 second sprint
- 90 second walk
- 30 second sprint
- 90 second walk
- 30 second sprint
- 90 second walk
- 30 second sprint
- 5 minute cool down
And did I mention we have a new dog? His name is Mister and he is a Brussels Griffon. Here is a picture:
Mister was named Monkey by the Society workers but we have re-named him Mister. He is about 10 months old and is going to be neutered Wednesday. He is surprisingly good natured for a dog that has spent most of his life alone in a back yard. He is, however, terrified of the back door and has to be coaxed in and out. He is very respectful of our elderly Lucy and likes to play with Harley. Harley in turn is getting more exercise and has been able to stop taking his anti-anxiety medication. Harley even shares his toys with Mister.
Kelsi
Kimberly and Jessie arrived in Seattle today for a college visit
(University of Washington) and to meet the people who make going to
school in Washington so attractive - Chuck's kids and grandkids.
This is a video of Kelsi, age 1, my first great grandchild. If you look closely you can see dad Kyle and mom Stephanie. I am hoping to get additional video this week of Jacqueline whose first baby (a boy) is due tomorrow and Patrick who is the youngest of the three.
Jane's daughter Kim also lives in the area and Kimberly is hoping to see her and her two kids also.
It would be great to get these two branches of the family who are not actually related together!
Washington State is our first planned destination after we get our RV. I am hoping to be able to get a part time job at a state park in the area so we can spend several months there and really get to know every one. I thinking that our RV could be a great visiting place for everyone.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
We found our RV home!
Sunday Mother and I went to look at RV's and found the perfect one for us. The bedroom in the front (queen bed) will be mother's. The bedroom at the back with all the twin beds is mine.
Keystone has been making this model since 2006 so our chances of finding a used one in good shape are decent. It may cost a little more than we had planned to spend but would be worth it for the space available. Lots of storage. I would add a railing to the bunk on the left and store my boxes of fabric there. Each bedroom area has storage plus the wardrobe outside of the bathoom could hold most of our clothing. There is a decent pantry in the kitchen. All models come with a large flat screen tv which isn't necessary but could also be nice. I doubt that we will have TV reception very often unless we decide to go with a DISH. We love the idea of the outside kitchen but not all models come with it.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Winter Olympics 2002
Watching the Olympics tonight, specifically the Women's Bobsled, reminded me to an amazing experience I had while working at Verizon. Verizon was an Olympic sponsor for the 2002 games and offered lunch with four Olympic athletes to employees via a drawing. I was one of the lucky winners and sat next to Jill Bakken, winner of a gold medal with Vonetta Flowers in the bobsled. Jill was friendly, humble, blonde, athletic (obviously) and let me hold her gold medal. How often do you get to hold an Olympic gold medal?!!
Here is some additional information about Jill:
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=43926
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Bakken
Here is some additional information about Jill:
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=43926
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Bakken
Dangerous Days
I stopped at an RV lot in town while doing errands today. Found a used (2009) North Trail that I really liked the layout of:
http://www.heartlandrvs.com/models.html?model_id=74&id=7&name=&type=
I wouldn't have a bed of my own but the living area would be awesome. I also like the windows in this one ... great view of the outside. And instead of a regular gas over, there is a microwave. Someone actually realized that people don't use the oven in their RV! This model also has more storage than usual.
I can't wait until mother and I can start looking at RV's!
In the meantime I've got to get to work on this house. Here's a short list of the things that have to be done before I can put the house on the market:
http://www.heartlandrvs.com/models.html?model_id=74&id=7&name=&type=
I wouldn't have a bed of my own but the living area would be awesome. I also like the windows in this one ... great view of the outside. And instead of a regular gas over, there is a microwave. Someone actually realized that people don't use the oven in their RV! This model also has more storage than usual.
I can't wait until mother and I can start looking at RV's!
In the meantime I've got to get to work on this house. Here's a short list of the things that have to be done before I can put the house on the market:
Texture dining room walls3/15/2010- Texture kitchen walls
- Prime dining room walls
- Paint dining room walls
- Prime kitchen walls
- Paint kitchen walls
- Paint interior of kitchen cabinets
- Install metal pull out shelves/drawers in two kitchen cabinets
- Paint exterior of kitchen cabinets
- Install hinges, door knobs and drawer pulls
- Hang cabinet doors
- New baseboards in living room
- Wood flooring in dining room
- Paint upstairs bathroom ceiling
- Paint wood work in upstairs bathroom
- Touch up blue paint in upstairs bathroom
- Paint back door
- Install new sink and faucets in downstairs kitchen
- Sand and paint fence
- Install fence on other side of house
- Spruce up flower beds
- Strip wallpaper in blue bedroom, texture and paint
- Strip wallpaper in mother's room, texture and paint
- Strip wallpaper in hallway, texture and paint
- Paint all woodwork
- Paint downstairs
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A Winter Day in the Life of ...
I'm not proud of it but this morning I put on shoes, threw a coat over my pajamas and went to Sonic (Rt 44 Diet Dr Pepper and bacon/egg/cheese burrito for me) and Hardee's (egg and cheese bisquit for mother). The temp was 20 degrees and it was snowing slightly. On the way home I snapped a few pictures to illustrate my current world.
This picture was taken on Kansas Street and shows a church with snow piled in front. The sidewalks are clean but there's no place to put the accumulated snow.
This is the corner of Mt Rushmore and Kansas. Note the pile of snow in the corner of the parking lot. Again no other place to put the snow. There are piles of snow like this in virtually every parking lot in town.
This picture shows West Blvd, the main street in our neighborhood. I walk the dogs in the esplanade in the center.
These are just a couple of houses in the neighborhood. Did I mention that we live in an historical district? Probably 20% of this houses are single family converted into multi family dwellings. I've only seen the inside of one and it was very well done.
This picture was taken on Kansas Street and shows a church with snow piled in front. The sidewalks are clean but there's no place to put the accumulated snow.
This is the corner of Mt Rushmore and Kansas. Note the pile of snow in the corner of the parking lot. Again no other place to put the snow. There are piles of snow like this in virtually every parking lot in town. 
This picture shows West Blvd, the main street in our neighborhood. I walk the dogs in the esplanade in the center.
These are just a couple of houses in the neighborhood. Did I mention that we live in an historical district? Probably 20% of this houses are single family converted into multi family dwellings. I've only seen the inside of one and it was very well done.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Radio Shack
I had my second interview with Radio Shack yesterday and was hired to work at the Rushmore Mall store. I go in at 2 pm today to complete the hiring paperwork. It will probably take a week to get the paperwork through corporate and me to start work.
Curtis approves!
Had breakfast yesterday with my brother Curtis to see if he had any objections to my taking our mother on the road in an rv. He is fine with the plan. He said he can build some sort of ramp to help her get in and out of the rv easier. He also suggested that we get mother an motorized scooter of some sort so that she can get around in the various campgrounds.
I think it will cost approximately $40,000 of the money we will get from the sale of the house to do this.
14,000 used RV
11,000 used truck
5,000 hearing aid for mother
6,000 sewing machine for me
4,000 miscellaneous
For the $25,000 budgeted for RV and a truck to pull it I will also look at used motor homes and could pull the jeep behind it.
This is the travel trailer floor plan that I've found that I think would work great.
http://www.keystone-cougar.com/index.php?page=floorplans&coast=west&model=29BHSWE
I would give mother the queen bedroom up front and I would take the bunk bed area in the back. There is a dinette set under the wider bunk. I could use it for working on computer, etc. The other two bunks would be great for storage and/or guests.
There is a pullout bike carrier that can be used for my bike, a kayak and a scooter for mother.
This model new sells for about $28,000 but I don't intend to buy a new one. It is too easy to buy a good used rv. Might not be exactly like this one but doesn't have to be.
I think it will cost approximately $40,000 of the money we will get from the sale of the house to do this.
14,000 used RV
11,000 used truck
5,000 hearing aid for mother
6,000 sewing machine for me
4,000 miscellaneous
For the $25,000 budgeted for RV and a truck to pull it I will also look at used motor homes and could pull the jeep behind it.
This is the travel trailer floor plan that I've found that I think would work great.
http://www.keystone-cougar.com/index.php?page=floorplans&coast=west&model=29BHSWE
I would give mother the queen bedroom up front and I would take the bunk bed area in the back. There is a dinette set under the wider bunk. I could use it for working on computer, etc. The other two bunks would be great for storage and/or guests.
There is a pullout bike carrier that can be used for my bike, a kayak and a scooter for mother.
This model new sells for about $28,000 but I don't intend to buy a new one. It is too easy to buy a good used rv. Might not be exactly like this one but doesn't have to be.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Highway 287 or Highway 395
Curtis suggested Highway 287. I like that but Highway 395 is interesting also. It starts at the US/Canada border and travels south through Oregon, Washington and California almost to the Mexican border. Maybe I could do 287 and then 395?
Mother says she is excited about the idea of this trip. I hope she really is. I could put this off until ... but I like the idea of her traveling with me. I need to figure out a way to make getting in and out of an rv more user friendly for her. Maybe Curtis will have an idea on that. I looked online and there was just discussion about wheel chair lifts and making the inside wheel chair accessible. The narrow confines of an rv would probably be safer for her than a house. Something for her to hold on to makes her less likely to fall.
Mother says she is excited about the idea of this trip. I hope she really is. I could put this off until ... but I like the idea of her traveling with me. I need to figure out a way to make getting in and out of an rv more user friendly for her. Maybe Curtis will have an idea on that. I looked online and there was just discussion about wheel chair lifts and making the inside wheel chair accessible. The narrow confines of an rv would probably be safer for her than a house. Something for her to hold on to makes her less likely to fall.
Retirement
I am now retired. I will receive my first social security check on February 10th. I still need to find a part time job to supplement social security but that will come soon enough. I decided to retire instead of looking for a full time job for several reasons: (1) There aren't many jobs that pay what I was making (2) What I was making net is only $300 a month less than I will get from social security (3) Mother is starting to need someone home more.
So I am sleeping to 8 each day, doing some major house cleaning, playing with the dogs, reading, etc. I find I am cooking more meals (vs take home fast food) which is good for both of us. And I am contemplating what to do when this house finally sells.
Current plan is to buy an RV, probably a travel trailer, a vehicle to pull it (used not new) and get out on the road. I would like to start at one end of Highway 287 (Montana 100 miles south of the Canadian border) and travel to the other end (Texas near Port Arthur). Along the way I want to either film a documentary and/or write a travel book about the places I've seen and the people I've met. Sounds far fetched I know but it is always good to have a dream.
Lots to do to plan for this. I'm starting to research the route online and compiling what I find into a notebook. I want a travel trailer that will accomodate an additional person or two or three so that Mother, grandchildren, friend and/or an occasional cousin can accompany me on parts of the trip. I want to be thinner and in better health. I want a better computer (probably an Apple laptop) and the knowledge/ability to attach a web cam to the RV so that the people at home can follow my trip.
,
But first I have to finish the kitchen/dining room remodel so this house can be sold. And I have to continue to clean, organize and get rid of all the the cr** that has accumulated since we moved here.
So I am sleeping to 8 each day, doing some major house cleaning, playing with the dogs, reading, etc. I find I am cooking more meals (vs take home fast food) which is good for both of us. And I am contemplating what to do when this house finally sells.
Current plan is to buy an RV, probably a travel trailer, a vehicle to pull it (used not new) and get out on the road. I would like to start at one end of Highway 287 (Montana 100 miles south of the Canadian border) and travel to the other end (Texas near Port Arthur). Along the way I want to either film a documentary and/or write a travel book about the places I've seen and the people I've met. Sounds far fetched I know but it is always good to have a dream.
Lots to do to plan for this. I'm starting to research the route online and compiling what I find into a notebook. I want a travel trailer that will accomodate an additional person or two or three so that Mother, grandchildren, friend and/or an occasional cousin can accompany me on parts of the trip. I want to be thinner and in better health. I want a better computer (probably an Apple laptop) and the knowledge/ability to attach a web cam to the RV so that the people at home can follow my trip.
,
But first I have to finish the kitchen/dining room remodel so this house can be sold. And I have to continue to clean, organize and get rid of all the the cr** that has accumulated since we moved here.
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year
Time to start the new year with new resolutions. Updating this blog daily is one of them. The other is losing weight by following my diabetic diet and increasing activity. Didn't manage to do either one today ... probably because (1) Kimberly, Jessie, Jeffrey and Gregory left today to go home to Texas and (2) it was too frigging cold. Morning started off at 1 degree at 7 am, got up to around 10 degrees and is now at 5 degrees. I had planned to walk the dogs (Harley at least) but at that temp it probably isn't good for either of us. There were exercises I could have done inside but they didn't cross my mind until I started writing this.
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