Good Morning everyone. Only 2 more days until we take off for our trip to Michigan. I think I am ready, but you never know. Doing laundry today, changed the bed and will do some additional work in Mama Bear. I washed my hair for the last time before we leave, so I can put the hair dryer in there now. Little stuff like that. I made an updated list of what “from the house” I put in at the last moment. Coffee scoop, chargers etc, etc. So the other day I was experiencing some “issues”. I was waiting for my GPS to arrive and it kept telling me by email that it had been delivered but still wasn’t at my door. It was making me nervous because it wasn’t cheap and I didn’t want it to get lost. Well, come to find out, UPS delivered it to CT-RV after hours and left it somewhere and Rick called me to say that it was at the office – whew!!!!!! Here it is:
I needed to pay for a service to make it work and I think I got too robust (word of the COVID era) for my use, but we’ll see how it goes. It connects to my iPhone so I can use them in conjunction with one another. Especially text messages. The device has one of those keyboards like a TV where you have to arrow over to the letter and touch “check” and it notes the letter – really a PIA! The whole reason to have it is so if I don’t have cell service this thing can communicate with me and others. I ultimately called the Garmin people and a really nice guy walked me through the set up. I’ve got it to work now, but there are “instant” messages I want to add to it but I think I need to connect those through the website. Another thing to do when I go on this trip. Work with the website and connection to my device. Anyway, right now it’s a HUGE learning curve. I’ve been watching YouTube videos on it and I’m learning a lot, but there is A LOT to learn. There are “workshops” from Garmin about them and it’s like going back to school – ugh! But I’ll get it at some point. I’ll have time during this trip to do a little researching on it I hope. I’m glad I have it.
So the other thing I’m dealing with is this:
Ever since my trip to Lost Dutchman for a test run, I can’t get it to go down to freezing again. It got as low as 26 degrees but that isn’t cold enough to hold food frozen. I turned it off and decided I would deal with it after the trip, but I’m testing it again now to see if it will chill down. Probably won’t take it though – too much to worry about not getting it to keep cold. I’ve been in contact with the company “on line” but I’m not sure what will happen going forward. They might “replace” it. We’ll see – time will tell – more will be revealed.
My printer finally crapped out on me. It’s been a great “work horse” for me so I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth out of it. But it won’t allow the ink carriage to move across the device. I kept turning it off hoping it would “reset” but to no avail. So here it is ready for the dump:
I could put it at the dumpsters by the mailboxes and maybe someone would try to fix it, but it’s a lost cause I think and I wouldn’t want anyone to think it is working and get frustrated with it, so I’m going to walk it up to the trash trailer and toss it in. Going to do that now. Be right back. Put it right on top of some cardboard so if someone sees it and wants it they can pick it out of the trailer. So long HP Printer – you’ve been a great friend! So now I’m into another era. I had Papa Bear’s oil changed the other day ( 1 of 4 FREE oil changes) at Lawley in Sierra Vista and lo and behold, there was a Staples right across the street. I was just going to “look” because I’d decided that I didn’t care if I had a printer on the trip or not. But of course I found this little beauty:
The last time I had an EPSON printer was in the “dot matrix” days. ANYWAY, it was about $150, but then I bought a 4 year extended warranty so that if it craps out in the next 4 years, they will replace it for FREE. Then I bought a set of ink cartridges – 5 of them – and that was $85!!!! Anyway, now I’m set for the trip. This little cutie closes up to a square a little bigger than my laptop and I’m going to take it on the trip with me. I’m not sure I can get it to work with my “phone hot spot” but we’ll see. I couldn’t get it to work first time out, so I called the company and spoke to a wonderful woman who walked me through the set up process. Now it works great, great copies and much more portable. Oh and it scans too. On to a thumb drive, but I’m going to see if it will send an email like the HP did when I get time to research it, but the thumb drive is ok. I’m really happy with it and it’s going on the trip too. I’m going to put it on the bed in the corner by the dining area and I think it will ride safely there. Then I can put it on the other dining table seat to run it if needed. Another thing to be determined – time will tell – more will be revealed!
So I think I’ve done as much as I need to for this trip. Only 2 things didn’t get here before I leave – bug screens for the furnace and a more “robust” lock for the hitch. Both are coming on Tuesday. Oh well – I tried.
Another thing I got accomplished before my trip was this:
I had these installed yesterday. They are solar panels that fit over those 4 windows to keep the house cooler in the summer. The screens are black which matched the black screen in my porch, but that screen has gotten really dirty because of the rock piles in the lot next to me. Every time the “guys” come to collect rocks or dirt, the DIRT FLIES! I’ll be happy when the house comes in next to me so that lot isn’t used as a dumping ground any longer. Anyway, looking out of the solar screens is fine but it does make the house darker. I’m opening the blinds over the couch now to get a little more light in the house during the day. The screens really make a difference. I’m glad I spent the money and got it accomplished before this trip. So for now, I think all of my “big ticket” items are done and I can begin to save money every month. I’m getting more Social Security each month and my truck payment is an affordable $160 a month. My investments are doing well and I think I’m pretty settled now for the future. Thank you John Beane!!!!!!!!
Here is your sweetness hit for the day: ROXIE!
I’m still so JEALOUS of her. She is SO adorable. I’m really happy for Dick and Doug. I wonder if she is housebroken yet? I realize that I really love having Metaxa. She loves sitting in my lap which is what I wanted a dog for also and she is so well behaved. She is really the perfect pet for me. I really hope she gets used to traveling in Mama Bear. There isn’t much room for her to run around, but I don’t want her to pick up ticks or fleas from outside so she’ll be in all of the time.
Here she is in the bed under the dining table. She fits just fine in there and still she can sleep with me on the bed at night. It’s a perfect fit for camping.
I have just put in the in Reach website into my Keeper app so I can access the website from my computer. I’ve added in contacts for Bill, Cathy, Jon, Suzee, Suzan & Bette & Susan. So those should be on my Garmin Explorer, but I’m not sure. All of this is new and unknown at this time. More will be revealed as I learn more.
I guess that is about all for now. I’ll add to this before the trip if necessary. But if not, thanks for visiting.
Just had to add this: I went to LOVES to get a final gas up and on the way back to CT-RV I saw a coyote “in the wild” – WOW! A first for me! I saw one at the Desert Museum, but having one in my little neighborhood was enlightening. I was surprised it was still running around at 9:20 am. Just goes to show we shouldn’t leave our little pets outside around here without supervision. That is why Metaxa never goes outside – just on the screened porch.
