Merry Christmas !!!!

          The next few days I think will be busy for everyone. I wish a safe and enjoyable holiday to everyone. It seems we are going to host Christmas this year which is fine with me. I am glad to be here for it and hope to make at least next years . May God bless you and your family with health and prosperity over the next year.

    Why the blonde  ?  I am sick but not dead !!!     

    

           

My Truck got stole.

       Well I spent a  good bit of time, money and effort into getting my dodge in good shape for my wife to be able to camp after I die. Well last Wednesday it was stolen out of my driveway but I have to accept the blame I left the key under the seat like I have for 30 years I have lived here.

        Luckily it was recovered early on Saturday morning. The wrecker service that had it is only open Monday - Friday  from 8to5 . That added 50$ to our bill in storage  plus the 150$ tow charge. They told us on the phone it wasn't wrecked it had run out of gas. The driver had the sheriffs called because he was tweaking out going house to house asking for gas or gas money. The dumb Ass had 4 bags of meth on the seat. 

         When the driver showed us where it was stored I asked where? He said that one ? I had to do a triple take the grill was missing the silver on the lower panel down the side had been painted black. Any white had been painted my sticker from Phil had been removed . There was bolt cutters in the bed and my Tool Box was gone . The tow truck man said that the boy was blacking it out to do break ins at night he had seen it before. I had a 5 gallon can of gas with me so I put about 2 gallons in the truck because it was on a slope. After a little grinding the engine caught and I moved it to the flat parking lot and put in some more gas to get me to a station (I hate vent less gas cans). 

      The drive home was ok, the truck ran good but one tire seemed a bit odd I'm going to have to check it and tie rods. As unfortunate as having it stole was I am lucky to have it back in drivable condition.

        

Immigrants vs Migrants

        When a supporter of stricter punishment for illegals aliens speaks some liberal points out correctly we all descend from immigrants !!  They just omit the truth of what is in the meme below.  Why the Redhead with freckles .Your kidding its a Redhead with freckles!!!!!!!

     both pics stolen from the Feral Irishman here    Irish

Just went on my first Cruise !!!!!!!

       Me and the wife took a last minute cruise to the Bahamas . I wish I had give in and done it years ago.  Now I have always been a little on the cheap side But a cruise is a bargain for what it includes. I did snag a deal  at 753$  we had a blast on the ship. The ports were just trying to pry as much money from us in as short a time as possible. 4 Nights and  28 meals (plus all the ice cream you can hold) ,while I couldn't eat much my wife had Hungarian short ribs one night, lamb shanks with roasted veggies and gravy the next. To start with she was humoring me but the shank she had 2 . She opened up and tried some curried chicken "a fail" but found hot Naan bread with butter and honey to be great. 

       Not everything was good my wife likes to be in crowds and the pool deck had that and music . So she spent most the trip up there , I stayed with her as much as I could but the nerve ear pain would start So I would hide in the salon deck better music "jazz" and adults sitting around.   The noise level was much better. Had to go back up top for coffee refills but I didn't mind.
     
        If you have ever thought about a cruise  my cheap ass thinks "Do It "!!!  It has something for everyone. All told my wife had 8 mixed drinks and we bought 100 in gifts  the daily tips was 112  plus I gave our cabin Stewart  30 cash as we left. I wanted to be sure he got it not a communal split like the other.  The trip was 1056$ and a value.

The best explanation of the 14th amendment and birthright citizenship i have ever read

        It seems being born here making you an immediate citizen is a relatively new thing. New being the last 70 years or so. Read this very informative.

Birthright Citizenship: A Fundamental Misunderstanding of the 14th Amendment   

    

Truck transmission problem cheap fix

         My mechanic stopped by to tell me he found why my truck's transmission was acting up  occasionally. It turns out it was  check valve in the line from the radiator to transmission was clogging with gunk. The magnet in the pan and the filter was fairly clean no metal shavings found. That was my big concern it would have meant I would sell the damn thing. Now I am having a trans cooler installed he feels this will solve my towing problems.  I want my wife and her sister to be able to camp after I am gone and a dependable tow vehicle is a Must.
                  

       My mechanic David has a trans cooler out of a junker for 10$ The filter and gasket was 26$ but I need 6-8 quarts of ATF 4 . I offered him 80$ for to help cover parts but he said it would be Monday before mine got finished he had to fix his first but if I could do 130$ that would cover parts and labor. I think he needed the money to fix their truck his wife has always been hard on vehicles. I am happy our quickie oil place gets 89$ for a trans filter and fluid change and I think only the manager could spell CAR.

Jeep liberty.

      I have wrote about getting our 2005 Jeep Liberty in previous posts and the rear end wiggle it had. Did you notice the word "had" yep I finally put it in the shop to be fixed. I had the lower and upper rear end bushing and arms replaced . I went by the shop 2 more bolts and the entire rear end would have come out . All the bushing showed excessive wear but the lower ones were shot. Parts were 130$ on amazon and David charged 150$ labor because the upper bushing were a bitch to get out.  I have known David 19 years. His wife worked for me once upon a time . I had to fire her. But me and him always got along ok . He was a biker, well still is but he had a ruff time he lost a leg 12 years ago in a wreck. Drugs and depression  made him a shell of his old self till about 4 years ago he snapped out of it and opened a home repair shop for bike's and some cars and trucks.
         
       When I came to pick it up he said Megan their daughter had been talking about  wanted a liberty or Renegade jeep for a few years . Mine was the first one he had drove he said he loved the handling now that it was fixed and understood why she wanted one. Now I need 4 new tires on it and its set for years as the wife's back-up. He has my truck now fixing a transmission leak changing the fluid and filter and if it looks strong putting on a cooler for it.

Canned ham and beef any one?

        Since my ability to eat is diminished my nutritional needs remain. So I have had to find foods that can be pureed to a thin paste so it will go down. Now peas potatoes carrots and beans puree and still taste like what they are. The real problem has been protein . Hamburger and Pork are difficult to  get fine enouph from raw.
         Well my daughter brought in a can of Underwood  Deviled ham. I haven't eaten a can since my grandmother was alive she liked it with egg salad as a sandwich. Now Underwood ham is a bit pricey . I had a canned ham here from Aldi's  the last of 20 that I had 3 years ago. We like them sliced  for sandwiches and flacked  with scrambled eggs  when camping. Most of the hams went to idiot son when he had no power before he found couch surfing. I have been putting a chunk of ham through a  mini food chopper with Mayo and it has made a paste I have been eating a ton of with crackers. 

       I tried corned beef the same way and found I like the taste  better than the ham. I have been eating pintos as refried beans after running them through the mini chopper . then I mixed the corned beef and beans together  when I cooked the beans they were so good the wife even loved them (she hates corned beef from a can) and saved her some before I made mush .  I may be down to pureed foods but the old fall back of canned storage meats is what is getting me trough this food crisis.
          Did you know the USDA even grades meat down to a canning only grade. I never knew they had so many grades and can only was the lowest for human consumption. Who would dream the only meat I can eat are prime steak fat and canned meat at potted meat grind . LOL.

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.

      

I got the long face and bad news

        I just want to say thank you to everyone I have talked to here on line and Read blogging. The Doctor gave me the bad news last Thursday . I have 12 months give or take a few. I knew before I went the doctor I was to see immediately after him had a added specialty of palliative care. That's a doctor that over see,s hospice and knocks you out when the end is near. She reminded me of a sweet Aunt I named my youngest after. 

           Being told your dying is a bitch, its worst because I feel GOOD . I mean I am having trouble swallowing again but I am managing to get down enough food . I had prepared my wife so she was my rock . Telling the kids went as expected  but when I had to go up and tell my  MOM  and brother  I lost it. I am ok now but I have a lot to get done. Next week is a lawyer to do a will. I have a note book I am listing items the wife is to give to friends and  relative's once I pass (damn writing and speaking "once I pass" feels weird ). I have a lot to sell because the wife would be lost getting rid of MY STUFF.

        I had to send a letter to my cousin and uncle they have been trying to sell some property I'm half owner in. WE don't get along ,I demanded 60% low retail of my share  to deed it to him . It will burn his ass to have to pay me himself but if he doesn't he has to contend with my wife and 3 kids to make a sale. My kids make what resterraunt for a birthday into a cluster fuck and he knows it. I gave him 60 days or no deal.

        Yea im rambling so I will end this post just wanted to put it out here .

I am still around.

      Sorry for not posting for so long . I haven't been feeling great still don't . I have been having a lot of sharp pain  in my throat to my ear. Its a ghost pain caused by nerves according to the doctor like when someone loses a leg and it itches. Mine is caused by swelling of the nerve bundle . Friday I go in to have my throat stretched and biopsies  took . My eating should improve and decrease the pain. It has been 359 days since they removed the cancer so I need to let them poke around and check it out.

My son is stupid and home.

        Yep took less than a week for my son to screw up and get tossed out on his ear. It took 5 days of his whining before the owner of the driving school told him he had 4 hours to leave the school and have his S@#$% out of the hotel. I was afraid this would be what would happen his mouth overloaded his ass with folks that could care less . Friday I had to make the 140 mile round trip to haul him back. On Saturday I found out he went to the school because the friends he had been staying with most the time told him to take his Mooching Ass elsewhere they where tired of him . Now he is with another friend till he does the same thing. 

       Did I mention my Kids take after My Ex. They look like me but act like her. I cant denied them as being mine but Damn they got to change!!!!!!!

Saw my son off to school.

         Friday both my daughters informed me that my son was going to leave for Truck Driving school Sunday. He has talked about going for the last 5 years. Well I just waved goodbye as they left to make it for next  3weeks of classes that start in the morning. I was baffled by him having to be there on Sunday but he said it was today at 4 or in the morning at 7. I wish him luck and hope he gets his CDL .

        Ok I didn't finish this post yesterday because when my son arrived at the driving school it was a cluster @#$% . I had my doubts about it but he swore he had researched them. They did a bait and switch on him . He was told his sponsor/truck line  was evergreen but when he got there they had no record of it but they had a sponsor in PAM trucking available.  PAM,s pay and mileage sucks they have a record of firing short of 12 months and demanding tuition reimbursement. I told him go for it once he has the CDL he will have options . Back in the 90s I worked in Trucking as a dock Forman and Dispatcher for a Major carrier . 
        As a single man my son has an opportunity to make some major money If he is willing to roll. 

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.

Well the car is running good.

          My son put the new starter on yesterday evening . Took about an Hour he was going to replace the valve cover gaskets but turned out the bolts had just worked loose . When I say loose I mean bad. I don't see how oil wasn't pouring every where.  On this car if the battery is disconnected it resets the computer. You don't have to go to a dealer like with some of the newer ones but you have to baby it for 10 miles or so till it relearns and resets .  We treated the fabric roof with water repellant,  changed the oil and filter . Aired the tires up now just  need to add anti-freeze and it is set for a while.

       The roof on the convertible is shot it needs to be replaced. Now the cars book value is 2900$ a new roof is 1300 $ . I have a problem spending that much on a 14 y/o 130,000 mile car . If it makes it with no issues till next summer I may fork it out.
       The Wife may decide she wants to let it go and take THE  jeep.
With her age and my health our next car  needs to be a careful choice . It may be the one that needs to out last us .     

 Patched but ugly we will see how it holds up.

A prepping book worth reading.

       A lot of free books are not worth reading. I just finished this one and it is a good one. No longer Free

Miserly-Without-Being-Miserable-Preppers-ebook

If you like Jim Dakin at  Bison Prepper you will like this book.

Car repairs and mowers

   I posted awhile back that my wife's car needed a starter. Well last week my son "volunteered" to do the job. I had belts for the mower come in from Amazon so he came over today to do both for me. The mower took less than an hour to replace a drive belt, deck belt and blades . 40 $ in parts and 40$ in labor now it's  running and cutting like a new one. Its a 2006 MTD I gave 100$ for 2 years ago. I helped on the mower but on the car I was a supervisor :).

         Now I knew the starter was going to be difficult as its a Chrysler 3.0 engine. I found a good YouTube video on replacing it . I had my son watch it . He informed me he had watched one and it was nothing like the one I showed him. Ok hard head this is your job . We got the car up on stands and he looks at the engine. Dad lets go watch that video you had again. This don't look like the motor on the one I watched. He was so hard headed I had to make him stop 4 times to re watch the video when he got stuck on a "how do I" points. It took 2 hours to remove, if he had FOLLOWED the video steps it would have took 30 minutes max.

      I pulled the part up on Auto zone 146$  Advance and o riley was the same  at 148$ all had it in stock. Amazon had it 49.95 free shipping be here Tuesday. So it was get it done Tuesday cheap or today for 100$ more. My son said he would come back Tuesday and put the starter and valve cover gaskets on if he could have the 100$ difference in part cost. Deal !!!!! Boy was he happy said putting the 2 part on wouldn't take 2 hours .

      What I didn't tell him was I planned on paying him 100$ for the work any way.  I don't feel bad he isn't doing any thing and we fed him fried porkchops taters pintos cornbread and corn .  I will feed him good Tuesday and I have paid his insurance for a year + on his/my jeep. If he wasn't so stubborn he might become a decent wrench turner. I was at one time always hated it. If I had been paid by the cuss word I would have retired at 30.


      I had priced the starter repair for this area averaged  349 . the valve covers was 120. Even paying my son  the savings is over 300.
A Leaking valve cover let oil short out the starter  that's what started all this.      

Some questions backfire

   The peaceful Muslim  wishes she had kept her mouth shut .


H/T to  Papa mike

Yard shrinkage due to edge growth.

      Back in 2010 my backyard got cut and edged all the way to the fence.  Today my fence is buried 3 foot deep in overhanging and small privet hedge around the edges . While its no Biggy I need to trim it back  to make the yard easier to mow and to keep ticks down in the yard.
      Over the years the overhang grew and I just mowed a few inches less  near the edge each year now its up to 3 foot. I will cut it back this winter before spring for sure. I did some near the house today. will do the other side of the house next before I start on the fence line. Hedge and small trees can destroy a houses foundation if allowed to reach any size so I do around the house often .

      

A good nite sleep at last.

    Last nite I slept all night . Man it feels good not to be exhausted.  I did wake up 2 times but was out again in a second.  All I had was a beer .


 A few things worth of reposting I have found this week.

Lack of sleep ghost pain.

     For the last 6 weeks I haven't had a good nights sleep . I tend to wake up every hour with a pain going from my throat to my ear sharp but it only last a minute then gone. The doctor says its nerve induced like  ghost pain nothing they can do but hope it disappears on its own. Its worst at night but happens during the day to. At first I thought it was reflux but I have that calmed down with Prilosec .
      Not getting uninterrupted sleep makes me groggy and difficult to concentrate normal. I think tonight I will try a Beer or 2 to help me sleep it is the least objectionable sleep aid I can think of. The Wife says I am grumpy to so she has wanted me to take Ambien or similar. O well at least I am still here to complain.

This will be Phil in a few years !!!!!!

     Your never to old to rock on!!!! read this head line and thought Future Phil.

2 Elderly Men Sneak Out of Nursing Home to Attend Heavy Metal Music Festival in Germany  
here is the link.   link

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 .

     

Why Harley Davidson Closing Plant Due To Declining Sales

Harley Davidson Closing Plant Due To Declining Sales

From a friend........

Harley Davidson Closing Plant Due to Declining Sales

Apparently the Baby-Boomers all have motorcycles. 

Generation X is only buying a few, and the next generation isn't buying any at all.

A recent study was done to find out why?

Here are the reasons why Millennials don't ride motorcycles:

1.  Pants won't pull up far enough for them to straddle the seat.

2.  Can't get their phone to their ear with a helmet on.

3.  Can't use 2 hands to eat while driving.

4.  They don't get a trophy and a recognition plaque just for buying one.

5.  Don't have enough muscle to hold the bike up when stopped.

6  Might have a bug hit them in the face and then they would need emergency care.

7.  Motorcycles don't have air conditioning.

8.  They can't afford one because they spent 12 years in college trying to get educated.

9.  They are allergic to fresh air.

10. Their pajamas get caught on the exhaust pipes.

11. They might get their hands dirty checking the oil.

12. The handle bars have buttons and levers and cannot be controlled by touch-screen.

13. You have to shift manually and use something called a clutch.

14. It's too hard to take selfies while riding.

15. They don't come with training wheels like their bicycles did.

16. Motorcycles don't have power steering or power brakes.

17. Their nose ring interferes with the face shield.

18. They would have to use leg muscle to back up.

19. When they stop, a light breeze might blow exhaust in their face.

20 It could rain on them and expose them to non-soft water.

21. It might scare their therapy dog, and then the dog would need therapy.

  Shamelessly stolen very blade of grass


    Will post something tomorrow just got back from the lake.

I lost my Jeep

        I posted back in June I had bought a 2005 jeep liberty it has been a good one. A little to good. My wife's car had the starter short out because it has a leaking valve cover gasket. Oil in an electric motor is not good. Neither is an expensive part but its a Mitsubishi spider with a 3.0 engine. It's a bitch to work on .The starter is behind the Exhaust manifold and catalytic converter with 2 heat shields . I have a guy that says he will put the parts on for 200$ but he doesn't know when he can get over here and do it.
    While her car is broke my wife has been driving "the" jeep. I noticed last week its gone from "My" jeep to "the" jeep. Today I asked her if she would budget 100$ next month out of her check to help fix her car. She said sure no problem if I needed the money but she was happy with "HER JEEP". S0 in 6 weeks its gone from  "My" to "The" and has become "Her" JEEP.  I guess I am going to be the old fart in a convertible sports car now. I can't seem to hang on to a jeep .

    

My house is old !!!

       OK a lot of people have older homes . Mine is just older than most . I know Will Proctor grew up here, he died in 1982 at the age of 86 any way the best I can tell the house was built 1890 to 1900 by will's father. So its over a 120 years old . Now I know it has been renovated 2 times. Once in the 30's they enclosed the back porch to make the kitchen and bathroom. Again in the 50's new roof, floors and the cedar siding. A minor one in 83 for electrical and painted inside and out. For its age it is still pretty solid ,but for about 10 years the kitchen floor has had some bounce,a sage and a dip that I should have took care of a long time ago. 3 years ago I picked up a floor jack like this one.  Steel column jack

  Instead of a steel beam I used  a 4x4  crossmember and one jack .

Once I had it screwed to level (It took 2 weeks and 4 adjustments) I replaced the column with 2 4x4 ones . I need 2 more supports put in so I needed the jack for them. When I get done the kitchen and bathroom will be sturdy and level. By using the 4x4's this is only going to cost 70$. If I left the jack posts it would have cost 6 to 800$ once done.

    I am feeling about 70% of my old self . Being down for a year a lot around the house suffered. I will admit a lot was on the back burner (like the floor) and painting when I got sick now is the time to catch up. I would hate to relapse and leave my wife with these problems to  contend with on top of me. If all goes as planed she will have new flooring and fresh paint  and counter tops in the kitchen by Christmas. 

Painted the trim on the house.

        A couple of weeks ago I bought a quart of white paint to touch up my little camper. Well I gave the wood 2 coats and still had plenty left. In front of my house I have a ledge on each side with the old style concrete planters. Like Grandma had at her house.

    Mine had been painted in the past but were looking ruff. So I took them down and emptied the dirt and gave them 2 coats of paint. When I put them back on the ledge I saw how chipped and faded the trim was on the front of the house had become. So I got a gallon of bright white to do the trim.

   I took the water hose and put on one of the old brass nozzles so I could blast off all the flaking paint last weekend. This weekend  I jumped back  to it and painted the trim. When I finished I am pleased. If it last 20+ years like it did before I will be happy(and also long dead). The house was painted in 83 by the former Owner in oil on the cedar   but white latex trimmed. The oil based red still looks good and now the trim is fresh.   It looked like this all over when I started.

  finished 

   Me and the wife got froggy and cleaned up the Porch I filled my truck bed with crap that had accumulated. Still got a ways to go before its as we want but a good start. We still want to paint the steps and floor a grey but that's for later.

Jeff Sessions is Lying

       

    

Trump should have done this allready.

   Trump pardons the Hammonds  

    The Bundy's and the Hammond's should never have been charged let alone convicted of any crime.

I did BBQ for sale this 4th

        I did 30 buts and 10 ribs this 4th of July . I was busy and sold out fast I should have done more but I am retired. 2 days work netted me a 450$ profit. I  plan on doing it again on Labor day .
Funny I pop up on holidays and could do a booming business and my son says its not worth his time.  He is mad because he has no water or power. All I have to say "that sucks good luck" then I change the subject.
   
       I spotted him supply money a dozen times I wont do it again . I wont pay his utilities . Its time for him to grow up. 

For the 4th a little Cash

   

Lightning storms .

     Just got a replacement modem last night to replace the one that got zapped . For about 10 days we have had afternoon thunderstorms with lightning.    We got zapped last Saturday,  all we lost was the ATT. modem. Naturally it took 5 days to get a new one. We lost power 3 times in 5 days for 2 to 10 hours each time .   Infrastructure isn't what we think it is. Its a thin thread that has many knots patching it together. 

     I  have 2 Nabors that have NG gensets hard wired to run a few circuits . I pulled the truck close and used my inverter during the 10 hour outage . Their solution cost 5000$ plus ,mine cost 115$

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.

It wasnt little johnny this time!!!!!

OH No !!! He has a sister ??

Little Sally came home from school with a smile on her face and told her mother,

"Frankie Brown showed me his willy today in the playground!"

Before her mother could raise a concern,

Sally said, "It reminded me of a peanut.."

Relaxing with a hidden smile, Sally's Mum asked,

"Really small, was it?"

Sally replied, "No... Salty."

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.

I bought a Jeep .

      I am now officially Vehicle  rich . I sold that silver Camper last week and had a parking place open for one of my trucks to be parked / stored out of the way. That gave an extra spot in the drive, then my daughter sold one of her cars. Now when some one comes over they can park and not just pull in and back out.

      Long story short my daughter found a Honda with 95,000 miles for 3000$ in good shape . I have been looking for a tow vehicle as I have no confidence in my trucks unless I sink some more cash in one of them. I was on Craig's list 3 weeks ago and found a jeep for sale at a new car lot near by. Man it was nice 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee one dent in a door 180,000 miles 1200$  but no hitch and no way to mount one unless I paid for a OEM at a dealer. When I talked to the lady that owned the lot she said check on Wednesday and Friday for new stock  so I kept checking . Got this one yesterday.

     2005 Liberty with 198,000 miles Got it for 1300$.We took it today to a dealer and left it as it had 2 recalls on this model. A lot of people are leery of the Liberty. I think I have a decent one  I hope it is My wife even likes driving it. With it I am back to full up in the drive again. And still need a truck .

Pardoning the Preident.

       Last week  we heard Trump say he would just pardon himself.  We all know he was making a joke. Intelligent people knew he made a joke even if he kept a straight face . The stupid liberals and Democrats went  crazy saying NO he can't Pardon himself.  He feeds them S------ and they fall over themselves like keystone cops.

   

Quote's to think on

   “The rifle and handgun are 'equalizers' -- the weapons of a democracy. Tanks and bombers represent dictatorship.”
― Edward Abbey

  Abbey died in the 80s but he must have seen the future

“In the land of bleating sheep and braying jackasses, one brave and honest man is bound to create a scandal.”
― Edward Abbey,

First BBQ in 18 months.

        This weekend was the first time I have done BBQ since the Saturday after thanksgiving in 2016.  WoW that is hard to believe . I had 2 customers come to the house last week to ask if I would cook them a couple of butts each. I had been thinking about it old habits and I am a little bored . I had put my trailer and a sign up on Friday when I would be selling Saturday. Well I cooked a couple of cases of butts and a few slabs of ribs  hauled up to the HI way  and sold out in 3 hours . My customers all said they missed me. 

       Was nice to make a few hundred and the bad thing was I could have sold triple what I cooked. I told everyone I would be ready and have plenty come the 4th .

Sold my yellow stone camper

          Today I waved goodbye to the old trailer I got right before I started chemo. I had wanted to fix it up and use it but life got in the way. After I had recovered I considered repurposing it as a portable sandwich,  hotdog stand. It could have been cute but the wife and kids told me just sell it and keep my present vending trailer.  So I listed it on Facebook and Craig's list . Vintage trailer shell  7ft X12 no interior, early 50s Camp it or Yellowstone Mfg. Price 1000$

        

    I washed it and moved it out by the road, screwed down that back corner aired the tires made it presentable . I showed it to a dozen or more that seemed interested . I got lowball offers from 100$ to 500 . Even a used lawnmower trailer brings 6 to 800$ and is smaller.

    

       Today a young man drove from Cartersville Ga. I told him my bottom dollar was 800 or don't come it was 160 mile each way. Well he showed and we talked he wanted to do a restore to take his wife camping. They had Mud buggy Jeeps  and had been using a van but now had a baby and he wanted more room.

    This young man went over it top to bottom even took a ladder so he could see the roof. He didn't spew out ever flaw but I knew he saw them . One lady had bitched about everything she could find imperfect about it. To her I said  its a 48 model what year are you? She left a little mad. 

     The fellow got quiet and was thinking hard I could see him running  numbers and what it would take in his head. I gave him a few then asked, think you can fix it so the wife is happy.  He said yea he knew he could. Where you at on price son  he said 600$ I told him make it 700 we both can lie and say we got it for OUR PRICE . He said Deal, I feel good I believe it will get a second life with a young family.