Sheltered wife

       I never noticed but it seems I have taken care of my household pretty damn good . Me and the wife sat down to discuss the bills . It appears that my wife has no idea how to pay the bills ,what bills we have ,when there due or anything. I get all bills by E mail and pay them online except our water and gas. Those 2 company's are stuck in 1974. I mail them checks every 2 or 3 months . I showed the wife how to log on to pay the cable bill she did good the 23 rd time she tried. next will be the power I expect it to take longer as its 2 bills in one to be payed. Any way she should be able to do it by her self if she try's hard come April or May. I also showed her how the real food is bought every2 weeks that has to be cooked . NOT from dollar general.

        I have the Jeep being worked on now she plans to keep it as a back up for her car. I want the cars and truck in as good a shape as possible for her . Plus I will have good tires put on the Jeep and truck. Her son would help after I am gone but last set of tires he got he spent 1400 for the best . I plan on 700 for 2 good new sets. I spent the weekend doing work on the rental trailer . Jason our renter is like one of the kids but we like him .  I have it in good shape hopefully nothing major will need to be done for a few years up there.
      Last Thursday I booked us a cruise on a last minute deal to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean . 5 nights for 2 was only 750$ ocean view rooms. I am even thinking of a 3 day trip to the Smokey's next week as a surprise . I am checking room rates now to get a good deal if possible. It would be great if it flurried in the Mts then 5 days later we where sweating in Freeport. If you can't
 tell I feel fine but have hit hyper mode.

      I plan on taking care of a few more things ahead of time so it spares the wife doing it . Part is I love her ,part is she would be took and spend way to much . I have started a notebook for her all she has said " I am not stupid" but when asked what she would do or handle something she says  I will be ok . Then she went back to a Facebook  trance.

      

Long weekend

      With last weekend being Labor Day I did BBQ again . I had 6 butts pre sold  and wound up cooking and selling 20 . I think it may have been my last time . I made a nice profit for the time and money but it wasn't Fun . I always enjoyed doing it before but this time it felt like I was just going through the motions. I will have to see how I feel about it in the future.

     I had planned on going out west this month but my wife isn't willing unless I make a hard time line and reservations for the whole trip. If I left by my self we all know how that would end.  So I have agreed to sit on the couch with her till death it seems.

      On a brighter note I did fix the tractor that had a missing freeze plug.  The old one tapped right back into place simple as can be.  It also had a split hose I cut down and reclamped . With Fall almost here its time to get anti freeze and add to all the vehicle's . You know when you have 8 radiators to treat it gets expensive quick.

camping feels good

  Last week we went and spent a week at the lake just me and the wife . We enjoyed getting away from the house and all the family . It is necessary  even for a old long term couple to get away and have some alone time in a different setting.

     We came back so I could go to the doctor. I have to see this one twice a year to stay in the system but I like her as a doctor. I told her she was a stubborn old Hindu doctor .She scolds me like I am a child for my blood pressure and diet. She cares and it shows. I am at a perfect weight of 190  BP was 138 / 91  and A1c from last visit was 4.7 . But I may be starting a preventative round of immune therapy I haven't decided yet . I feel good except for having reflux and trouble sleeping because of it.  I am no fool I only have a 60% chance of making it to 2022 and a 30% chance at making 2027. Now is the time for fun .

     

Got my Camper home

    Made a quick trip to the Gulf this weekend . We could only get 2 nights at the campground   as they are packed. I even called Gulf Shores State park on the Bama side and was told  full till July 15 or so.  Sure they have a few one night opening here and there but  we are retired so we will wait and book a 4 day trip the end of july. I hate playing camp site hopscotch its a lot of work and ruins a day moving site to site.

      We had left the camper when my dodge truck seemed to slip on the trip down. I had my old mechanic drive it he though it was fine said I should keep the overdrive off and keep my speed to 60 when towing. I did as he suggested and had no problems but I plan on getting a transmission fluid cooler put on. to be safe. I also plan on a fluid change and filter as that has been known to make this model drop in and out of overdrive and some times act like it is in neutral and overrev .

      The wife and I have decided we will be keeping our camper and truck. I want to paint our camper. I hate generic white campers and the tan ones aren't much prettier . She's not sure what colors she wants but is leaning towards Royal Blue  and Red trim . 

  
 This is a decent factory job  but a little less white would be nice. While our Fun Finder is not new it is not a retro or classic as are most that are custom painted.  
    To often we conform to  normal so not to stand out and because it could reduce resale value. We do it with our cars ,campers and homes . We are at that point in life where resale has no meaning .
We aren't  moving ,we plan on driving our cars into the ground and our camper is not perfect but its ours and usable for us.

Trip planning and cost.

    I have wanted to go on a long trip out west for years . My wife says sure but she wants reservations and a hard  itinerary of where we will be going. Me I am more turn right head west enjoy the ride.

      I want to see the Rocky Mts. Mesa Verde, Arches all the Utah parks . the Grand canyon, Vegas, death valley  and Yosemite plus a lot of side trip thrown in. If I want I will head north and do Yellow Stone and Jackson hole.

     The trip I want will be about 7500 Miles and take 8 to 10 weeks. This is where my wife loses her interest . She wants a more there and back in 3 no more than 4 weeks. She wants a new truck and her camper and campgrounds with full hookups. I understand she is a woman they are like that. That new Liberty Jeep was bought to make this trip pulling the palomino teardrop. 

  It isn't the big one but it is comfortable and easy to pull. The cost difference is  HUGE. I plan on starting this trip first of September and completing it the end of October. 

    The fun finder and my truck would take 2000$ in gas and  campground cost of 3000$ to make this trip plus food and other cost. Any breakdowns  could break me and end the tip.  Compared to 900 $ in gas and boondocking  cutting  campground cost  to 1200$. As far as a breakdown with the jeep and teardrop it could end the trip but I could just walk away from them. Now the hard part is laying out the trip to avoid snow in the mountains during October.

Were home But our camper is still camping.

     We left last Sunday early to go camping I planed on staying 8 to 10 days. When we go to the gulf we stop at Atmore Al. there is an Indian  Casino we play at for a few hours each trip. I normaly set aside 200$ for us to play on 100 for her and 100 for me. Me and the wife have the normal split, I cover all loses and she pocket all winnings. This trip we lost 40$ and enjoyed 4 hours of gambling . While gambling over the years between me and her we are at even or maybe slightly ahead. Its just entertainment now my days of earning a living off gambling are past. 

      The trip to this point had gone smooth but the last 10 miles to Atmore I thought I felt a slight slip in the transmission. When we left the casino I defiantly could tell it was over revving before shifting gears. So the last 90 miles I babied it to the campground . 

     

         Once at the campground I tried to get a site for 8 nites so we could leave Monday the 7th . Nope nothing available we got one site till Wednesday and I snagged another site for one more night, but the weekend was booked solid. This is shoulder season and the campground was packed. I expect this in June and July and maybe the first week of august not April ,May. Other campers there was playing switch every day because they did like me and just popped in. We could have moved to gulf state park on the Alabama side for the weekend but this trip seemed doomed from the start.

          I let my wife stock the pantry before we left. while I was sick we had striped the camper of food.  I assumed she put in what we normally ate . I put a few cans of stuff I like in a bag, Hash, tamales, chicken and dumplings, beef stew.  After we set camp we went to Public's grocery they have good fried chicken . Well I asked if we needed anything to round out the steaks and chops and Burgers I had in the fridge. NO lets go ! My wife has been impatient a lot lately and rushing when we got nothing to rush to. This pissed me off when we got back to the camper I wanted creamed potatoes . No instant  ok   no milk  ok what had she brought veg all cream corn and can potatoes and nothing else. 

      Now I was realy pissed all she wanted to do was get back and scroll face book . I  spent the next 4 days being a quiet polite asshole determined to make the trip as miserable as I could because all she wanted was to scroll face book pages and play games. 

      Tuesday I found a mini storage lot that had a spot for the camper . 43$ a month, I think I will leave it for the summer and look at my truck situation . The Dodge did great ,returning home without the trailer but if it cant haul its just a BIG 2 seater car.

To the beach

    In about 6 hours we will pull out to go to the beach . I like to leave between 3 and 4 in the morning . I hate traffic , on the way down I plan on a few hours at the casino . Wish me luck I know the odds are against me but its fun to try.

     I going to have fun  seeing if I can still get into trouble . 

Time to sell

          My front yard looks like Red Neck heaven . I have  both my yellow vending trailer's ready to paint sitting by the road. Next to it is my white truck (For Sale) then my daughters Honda(for sale) . My wife has 4 tables set up for a yard sale . I sold my sons camper yesterday and got it out of the yard . I pulled my Big grill next door because people ask if its for sale , its the only thing out there that's NOT for sale . If I get a good offer on the half finished grill its gone if I get a decent offer on the old Yellowstone camper it can go to.

       Now I did get one thing done that I am proud of today.  I repaired the air conditioner on our camper , kind of .  Last August when we were on the gulf our air conditioner motor was making a loud knocking and roaring like the motor bearings were going out . we couldn't run it 5 minute's at a time. I had found on amazon 2 replacements but needed the motor # to know which one. Now that I weigh only 180 I can get on the roof . I took the cowling off the A/C got the # off the motor. Once I had the # I removed the huge Dirt daubber Nest that was on one blade of the A/C fan got the wife to turn it on . It was quiet as a mouse  run great after I got all the wasp nests dirt dauber nests  pine needles and gunk cleaned out of the unit.

      While I was on top I did a good inspection of the vents and seams . I  need to do some caulking soon.  This summer it will be okay but will need to be sealed up before winter.

    If I had carried the camper to a shop the bill on the A/C would have been 500$ they would never have told me it was a nest and gunk. They would have billed me 350$ for a roof caulk and seal up.   It could use a seal job but I can do it for 40$ materials and an hours time max.


Update Saturday 4/7 its 48 and misty out NO Yard sale today . No traffic at all on the road.

Shit always happens when we leave town.

      We just got back from a week at the lake . It was fun and the warm weather  was a nice break for my feet and hands . Now I wasn't able to stay the whole time as Friday my oldest daughter called from emergency room where they were admitting her for Gall Bladder removal. It was severely infected and clogged so it had to come out. Even at 31 she wanted her daddy to be there when she had it done ;) . Every thing went fine and she went home Monday and went in to work today to do her and her Bosses paper work for end of the month. She did learn why I make fun of those DOC IN A BOX clinics they sent her home with Pepcid for heartburn.

    I planed on going back to the lake Sunday Morning early. At 8 I get a call from Jason who rents our mobile home that a tree has fallen on it.

    I put this roof on 5 years ago  it saved the old mobile home from being crushed . I got 4 busted rafters to fix and some siding to straighten . On the inside it shoved a 1 ft wide 3 ft long spot in the wall and  floor down 3 inches . in the picture I had already cut the tree  and come a longed  it off the M.H.  The tree was 16" across and solid but dead, it fell because the roots had rotted away. I did luck up in NO LEAKS and it has rained 2 times since.

      Finally  make it back to the lake about 3 pm Sunday afternoon. My wife wasn't bored while I was gone her sister got there as I left Friday and her daughter and best friend came up Saturday. so I missed 4 drunk females . 

     We stayed till yesterday then came back to the real world. I have already raised that wall with a screw jack but the floor didn't budge took the awning the rest of the way off the front of the M.H. My neck and gut is killing me now. The rafters are going to have to wait . I have over done it and still have more to get done.

Fun trip camping

        We got back late Saturday evening from our trip to the coast. This was my first trip since getting cancer treatments and it was the first real trip with the dodge truck. I learned a lot about myself and my new truck . 
      First off I am not the man I was a year ago and I had better learn to live with my limits. The scar on my stomach hurts if I lift or over stretch . I have lost a lot of muscle along with weight , just for the record I have stabilized at 164 lbs. My normal adult weight had been 250 lbs. I require more sleep and now like naps they help as I get tired quicker. Simple things like extending the awning and letting down the stabilizer legs took effort. While I did have fun and enjoyed the ocean and seafood (shrimp tasted normal)I wasn't able to ride my bike or to go for long walks .

   On the truck I was nervous as I hadn't driven it but a few hundred mile since the new motor and front end was rebuilt. I haven't posted what all ended up being done to the dodge. While it was having the motor swapped out my mechanic noticed I needed a drivers side spindle bearing assembly tie rods both inner and outer both sides upper and lower ball joints. The only good news was the transmission was good just need a fluid change and the shift cable adjusted (that was causing it to downshift). Total bill for it all was 1580$. After this trip it was money well spent it drove great!!!!! As long as I was under 60 mph. no problem. Over 60 it would start fishtailing , but that will be fixed with a load leveling hitch and sway bar. I knew it could be a problem because the truck is a short wheel base. Me and the wife will be looking for a slightly bigger camper over the next few months but we are in no hurry.

    While we were camped we noticed they had no camp host normally they have 3. Now before we left 2 camp host did pull in. Before they did I went into the office and asked for any information on becoming camp host . The park Rangers gave me a paper that had all the requirement and web site to apply state wide. They told me this year had been hard to get hosts system wide. The wife and I are considering doing the camp/work thing next year. We have a family friend that has been doing it for a year now .

Time to travel !

     I haven't post much lately because I  had a biopsy last month. I admit I have been worried . While the CT didn't show any cancer a PET scan showed abnormal cells in my throat and lymph nodes. Today I found out I have NONE in my throat!!!! As for the lymph nodes I am going to have them removed the 5th of September. If they are cancerous they will be out and a none issue. To remove them is no more surgery than to biopsy them.  But I have a 3 week window to go to the beach !!!!!!!

     This year has been all about doctors and hospitals. I need some beach time . So about an hour ago I reserved 6 days at big lagoon for the week of the 20th . While it isn't some place new it is NOT HERE. Sometimes its just about getting away.

     While we are there we plan on going over to Fort Pickens and getting a senior park  pass  so we can get half off federal camp grounds because we plan on traveling next year. This may be the last trip in our Fun finder as we are Looking at another larger camper.

I bought a new camper

     OK perhaps it isn't a new Camper as it is a 1950,s Yellowstone. It resembles this one but the rear door on mine is on the back side

https://www.flickr.com/photos/38843792@N08/3564001773

   Sorry blogger isn't letting me upload .

camper

   Maybe this link will work.

The camper I got is striped inside and has nothing original including wood . It is just the aluminum shell, floor , axels and windows of an early 50s Yellowstone, BUT for 250$ who cares!!!

 

    Now I am not a Facebook junky like some but while I have been sick I have been on its yard sales and items for sale. Sometimes good items get posted cheap . This trailer was posted for 3 minutes before I had the lady on the phone arranging to get it. The only draw back was it was in a part of town known as Gates city. This area is like Chicago 1 am on a Friday night. I did see one gentleman getting cuffed and stuff a block from the house. I hooked up and it rode the 20 miles home like a champ. 

       I haven't made up my mind what I am going to do with it . A full restoration is beyond my ability both financially and skill wise. So that is out . I could just redo it as a camper but the wife isn't likely to go (she's spoiled) in it.

   

Father's day gift review.

       My kids took fathers day a little over board this year. I now it was because I have been sick, so I didn't say anything like I normally would. Over the last 6 months I have not been prepping or even reading the usual web sites. It was like WHY I mite not make it. In the last few weeks I seem to have come out of my funk, depression. IT IS ABOUT TIME. Now I see my attitude was at bottom for to long.

    Ok for fathers day the kids got me camping/prepping gifts. One is a collapsible fishing pole . It is a foot long extends to 6 ft  and comes with a reel and accessories in a bag. The pole is a medium light duty combo perfect for blue gill or any up to a few pounds. A big bass or catfish would be no fun with this combo. I had been thinking about starting fishing again while camping but hadn't even mentioned it to anyone so I was pleasantly surprised.

    I also got 2 sets of these rechargeable batteries. I think the kids knew they had lost more than a few. EBL rechargeable combo 

They also got me a Yeti cup knockoff  and I tested it, half a cup of ice lasted 24 hours I was impressed.

    My wife got me a set of 4 LED lantern's that are awesome . awesome lanterns . The amazon page says they will light for 10 hours at full charge . I tested one last nite and after 6 hours I couldn't tell if it was any dimmer than one just turned on. Now after 10 hours it was still putting out 75% . Each lantern puts out 200 lumens = to a 25 watt bulb. They have a diffuser that softens the light. I love that these are solar rechargeable or wall plug . It has one feature not listed and that's a USB charging port that my phone mp3 or tablet could get a small charge from.

If we can pull it .

     With my daughter blowing the engine in my dodge me and the wife have talked about getting a larger tow vehicle. We hope to one day upsize our camper to a larger slide out or fifth wheel with slides model . While the dodge if fixed would pull a decent size camper it has limits. The wife's son told us his boss is selling our sons old work truck. T.J. has drove it for 11 years but got a new one last month. It is a 2003 ford F350 with a power stroke 7.3 diesel.
 I called Ken T.J.s boss and asked what he was going to ask for it he said he would let me know, if the price is right I am interested . 2003 was the last year for the 7.3 and there is nothing with wheels it can't pull. If it comes in under 5 I want it this is what it looks like.

   The pipe racks don't come with it but the Reading tool bed does .

My Kids and trucks don't mix

       I  have been slow posting lately but that doesn't mean life has been boring. I will be trying to catch up in the next few weeks. Since I got sick and have been sidelined a lot of stuff has gone unattended to. I was unable and the wife clueless on most of what needed to be done.

     One thing that has fallen into disrepair has been our vehicle's.  Not one but all of them need to have work done on them. Her car has a leaking valve cover gasket, drivable but leaking a quart every 2 weeks or so. My white truck has a rusted out freeze plug and runs hot after 5 miles so it is unusable. The black dodge had a leaking p/s hose that was spraying the exhaust and drops out of 4th

 back to 3rd gear at times.

    The dodge went to the shop first as it was the easiest and cheapest repair. I asked them to see about the air that didn't work to. Ok the next day it was fixed new hose and compressor clutch and Freon cost only 150$ . The mechanic had drove it and said the shift modules in the transmission needed to be replaced and would be 300$. Its a common problem in this model and I knew it but had to get my other truck fixed first. I had been babying it and would bring it back after the others were done. He gave me a price of 40$ on my wifes car +part and 100 to 150 on the freeze plug.

     Ok I  was lined up on getting our vehicles back in order. This week we were to go to the lake for a 4 day trip. Monday my daughter called and asked if she could borrow my truck I told her we were going to the lake . She had a coworker that was giving her a washer so she came by on lunch to get my truck. I was reluctant but told her to baby it and what to do if it revved up when it changed gears. An hour later she called crying . My truck was on the side off the road with a blown engine. It had downshifted on a hill instead of backing off the gas she had floored it so it would shift again . Yep it broke the crank and slung a piston oil was everywhere. Call a buddy to tow it (cost a gallon and half of shine)home. Called my mechanic he has a motor and will swap it for 1200$ and would have to be fill in work over 3 to 4 weeks.

Now I am without a working truck and a sick car.

 

All campers understand this old brochure.

    If you tell everyone you camper for quality time in nature and so the family can bond its true. But the real reason is so you and the wife can play. Admit it I am right this add from 1970 knew it. enjoy.

     here is a link to the whole sales brochure.
Komfort kamper

My little red teardrop got sold.

    The little red teardrop pulled out of the yard today for its last trip. The man that bought it knew it was to far gone to camp in but he wanted the trailer frame and the pattern. He had stopped last week and looked at it and got the price (250$). His plan is to disassemble it and rebuild it out of cedar planking . I showed him what I considered  my design flaw of the hatch. Plus drew out how to do chuck wagon doors.

 

 The wife and I both had mixed feeling about it being sold but I think this young man will use it as a guide and make one live on inspired by what we enjoyed.

    It gave us 4 good summers of camping but has spent the last 2 slowly falling apart in the yard. The roof had a small leak the hatch was broke and I had robbed the good tires off it for the BBQ smoker.  I had wanted to rebuild it but I have to much going on .

 

  I know his picture is 2 years old , I feel bad it was still there when we hooked it up :( .

I got a truck.

     We have been wanting a better truck for over 2 years and I finally  bought one.  It is a 2000 Dodge Ram with a 5.2 engine and factory tow package. While not new it is newer than my Chevy and is set up to pull my vending trailer or camper better than my old truck. This is the first short wheelbase standard cab I have owned and I have to say it rides a little ruff. I never realized how smooth a long wheelbase extended cab rode . I have already pulled the vending trailer twice with it and the ride smoothed out and it pulled like a dream. I can't wait to see how it does with the camper !

      The Dodge was my Nabors and he drove it for 4 years and all he did to it was a new radiator. James is a funny fellow once he is done with a vehicle he is done and prices them to move. I bought my Jeep from him 4 years ago for 1200$ the truck was 1300$.

     I carried it to my mechanic and he said it was in good shape but needed an engine flush their bad to gunk up, advised a transmission fluid change and a cooler be added since I bought it to haul with. Other than that he said it was good to go.

   This truck was bought  just to haul my vending stand and camper. I plan on keeping my jeep and Chevy truck but something has to go so I will be selling my 96 Ford Ranger . Hopefully it will bring 11 or 12 hundred it has been a good toy truck but I need a tool that can do work and that's a full size truck.

Short vacation.

    Me and the wife went camping this week the temps have been perfect to be at the lake. I didn't want to go but she whispered promises in my ear so I was game. We had planed on leaving Tuesday morning but we kept the grand kids (4 &2)and that takes a day to recover from. I had to come home this morning to do BBQ but I will go back tomorrow after I get done. My wife's sister is staying with her while I am here. Even a short vacation helps recharge the batteries.

    I hate leaving the wife but the BBQ has returned to good profitability .After a long hot slow summer it feels good to be making decent money again. Which is needed because the water company finally approved to install the water meter at my daughters place. That's next weeks project having the water turned on and running down and fixing leaks. I still haven't found a licensed Electrician to run from the pole to the trailer. The power company has a new policy any inactive addresses for 2 years requires an inspection . I will set no dead line I have said end of the month since July and its now October .

Was given a pop up camper.

    Last weekend a man came by the BBQ and asked me if I wanted a old pop up camper. I  miss understood where he was going on it and told him I couldn't afford to consider buying another camper no matter how good a deal. He got a big grin and said it was free he wanted it out of his yard.

    Ok the price is right, he told me where he lived about 2 miles from the house. Now he was honest he said it wasn't in good shape but had seen how I modified other trailers and figured I could do something with it.

    Me and my son went after we finished selling to get it. Of course the only rain we got in 2 weeks started as we pulled up. It had 2 flat tires off the rims no spare and they were 8" rims which I have none. So in Redneck style I pulled it home on just rims.

 

  This is how it supposed to look . Ours was half put up with the sides hanging out but it was at the house. Sunday I decided to set it up and see where to start demolishing . With the small tires it was going to  be a nice low deck hauling trailer. But low and behold when we got it up it was in decent shape !

  Ours had some screen tears but the fabric is leather in good shape . My Son claimed it as his camper ( Funny a kid living in a camper wanting a camper to camp in) because it is light enough to pull with his car. All it needs is a little patch tape a few screws and 2 tires and it is ready to go. For a freebie it is going to get a new lease on life and if it tears up  it can still be just a low deck trailer later.

 Ps it has a stove sink the tanks, air and a 10 amp 12 volt charger that all works plus a 30 amp 25 ft. power cord.