Addendum to Post of Oct 31

This morning I was really upset at the news that the checks might not clear until Nov 15. My daughter in law told me that it is customary, especially with a check in a large amount of money (she is in accounting and a Vice President of a fairly good-sized corporation), so I might as well just go with it. It is possible that they will clear sooner, and I will be happy if they do.

I'm determined not to let anything get me down, and I am so excited about what I will eventually be living and driving in. I think it will work out well for me if I can leave NJ and get the PA Turnpike over to Carlisle, take I-81 south to Winchester, VA, and stop at the Camping World there to have some things done before continuing south to Asheville.

I thank all the readers who are rejoicing with me at my good fortune to find exactly what I wanted, and I hope to meet you all in the future.

Another SNAFU

I didn't realize how long it takes for checks to clear, but was informed by Carolyn that her bank estimates 11 business days, meaning the rig won't be transferred to my name until the middle of November. This means that by the time I get to it, I will just start driving south, which is scary because it won't give me much time to practice.

If I had realized back in August what I was letting myself in for, I may have never gone through with it! But there must be a reason so I will just have to accept it. I just hope the weather doesn't get snowy or icy when it comes time for me to leave NJ. I am thinking of driving to Camping World in Harrisburg PA or Winchester VA to have the RV washed & waxed, some caulking re-done, and the de-winterizing done. I will probably add a water filtration system at the same time, and would love to have a water softener, although I will have to see how much money I have at that point.

Now I need to get insurance quotes. I just hope I am able to get started fulltiming before I'm too old to do it.

I NOW OWN HITCHHIKER II, & FORD-350 DIESEL

I finally made it! On the coldest day in New Jersey so far this year, I'm sure, I met my 5Ver and truck , and it was love at first sight. I don't have a clue what I am getting myself into, but I'm in for a great trip. I drove the diesel around the parking lot at the storage place, and will definitely have to get used to a diesel. I think I'm gonna love it though. The 5Ver is wonderful, even better than the pictures showed. It's been stored outside so the 1st thing I will do when I get to a warmer climate is have it washed and waxed. There will be a couple of minor things to do to it, but all in all I'm satisfied with the deal I got. The kitchen is beyond my expectations, and really the entire rig is better than I had hoped for. The very best part about it is that it is 100% paid for!

Because I don't drive in the dark very well and especially on unfamiliar roads, I opted to stay overnight in a motel here in Burlington, at an outrageous price that is double what I usually pay for me and two dogs, but it's warm, I have a 6 pack and a bag of chips, and they serve breakfast in the morning!

As it stands, as soon as my check clears Carolyn will send me the original titles, and I will get my plates, pay SD excise tax, and get insurance and then they are completely mine. I will then get the truck (providing my son can drive me over to NJ) and I will drive it during November while I'm trying to sell my Jeep. I'll be starting south the 1st wk in December. One nice thing about this 5Ver is that there are two entrances - one back by the kitchen, and one between the living/dining area and the steps to the bedroom. That means that even if I don't extend the slides I still have full access to the kitchen and to the bathroom/bedroom. I can sleep on the bed without extending that slide, and there is enough distance in the living area even with the slides in for me to walk through. When both those slides are extended there is a huge amount of space.

I think this was worth waiting for, and I am very satisfied with what I got. It is a perfect size for me plus the dogs, and I don't think many 5Vers have more storage space both inside and out, so everything I need to cook meals, clothes for two seasons, computer & accessories, plus all the other items needed in the course of everyday life will fit. And by the way, I spoke with my real estate agent yesterday and she told me that the buyers of my house in NC are extremely happy with their purchase, and especially with all the space they now have. It is wonderful to achieve a win-win situation and I think I did it.

On that note I will leave for now with the wish that all your travels are happy ones, as well as my own.

Rain all day long

It's been raining here since early this morning, so I suppose it was best that I wasn't driving anywhere today. It is a slow, steady rain, and not a bad day to stay indoors. I spoke on the phone with my real estate agent in Asheville, who told me they have snow, and although it is sticking to the grass the streets are just wet. If this is October, I don't know what I will be facing in December, but will take it as it comes.

Wish me luck for clear skies tomorrow in New Jersey.

And another delay....

Rural Dutchess County, NY, is really beautiful this time of year, with the trees all shades of red and gold. I have driven through quite a bit of it today, mostly lost. I had directions to the dog kennel but somehow got mixed up several times, but I arrived ok in the end. Dropped the dogs off for a few days, intending to leave in the morning for New Jersey and my new home on wheels. A conversation with Carolyn ended up in our deciding to delay one more day until Wednesday, since rain and wind are predicted for NJ tomorrow which would make checking out the rig a bit difficult and uncomfortable.

As I was trying to find my way to Hyde Park NY and the dog kennel I decided that I would get a GPS for sure, even though my son drove to the same kennel this time a year ago and we got lost going by his GPS directions. I really don't think I have ever felt the need for one, except for when I tried to find the train station in Greensboro NC back in August, although that was in the middle of the night which isn't a good time for me to be driving. I'll keep an open mind to getting GPS anyway.

My daughter-in-laws parents fixed a meal for us last night, of baccalao, which they usually make when I'm in town, and which I really love. We had vinho verde to go with it, and I was a happy camper. (Baccalao is codfish, vinho verde is a "green wine", I guess so called because the grapes are new, or "green". Any Portuguese out there who can say?)

So as of now I am still homeless, but hopefully only have two more days to go.

And more waiting.....

Will Tuesday ever come? I will feel so much better when I am no longer a homeless bag lady. I swear I will never live out of a suitcase again! Of course I still have a while to go before I crank that baby up and start south, but at least I can plan for it, start getting info together on routes, campgrounds, etc., and buying the things I will need (but not too much buying, lol).

Thanks Rob (brother) for the CA info. I'll be in touch with you. I miss everyone in chat, but it's just too hectic around here in the evenings, and by the time the kids go to bed I'm tired also.

New phone

My new Verizon cellphone came today via FedEx. I ordered it from the 3G Store on the internet and wanted something simple, not many buttons & icons. The salesperson told me about a particular phone that didn't have many bells and whistles, but after I ordered it, and now that it arrived, I see it has a camera and a lot of other features. When I get used to it I suppose it will be easy to use. I have it charged and now I will enter all the phone numbers from my old phone. I hate this part, but you have to go through it every time you get a new phone.

I also made reservations for boarding the dogs a few days next week. I'll go to NJ to see my new home & truck on Tuesday, and plan to drive back the same day unless I would hit the commute rush, in which case I will find a motel - a lot easier when you aren't traveling with dogs! I just can't wait, and plan to take loads of pictures. I will need to decide what to do with my Jeep. It isn't easy to sell a V8 right now, but as winter approaches the 4WD might entice a buyer. I know I won't get much for it as it is a '97 and has transported dogs since I bought it in 2003! I'll never be able to get all the dog hair out of it.

I want to run right out and start buying things for the RV, but I know I should wait. Carolyn promised me a list of what she considers "must have", but I won't get everything at once and will have to decide on the most important to me. I'd say that will be a coffee maker. I have a decent one from my house, but would like to find a more compact model for the rig. The second thing would likely be a vacuum cleaner so that I can keep up with the dog hair that is bound to be all over the place. I'm really getting excited about it, but not near as much as I will in the next couple of weeks.

A little "grandkid story" - I told Joshua something last night, and of course he asked "WHY?". I guess I didn't answer soon enough, because he then said "BECAUSE."

Waiting.....

It is Thursday, and I have to wait until next Tuesday to go see my new (to me) 5th wheel and truck. It's all I can do to be patient, and after the long wait for my house to close, I'm a little short on patience these days.

I've been trying to think how I can get to SD to get the drivers license from that state, but it looks nearly impossible at this point. It is a little over 1400 miles each way, so it would be a 3000 mile round trip if I drive. I could possibly make it without running into bad weather, but it is just as likely I would face driving in snow or ice at some point. But I could take the dogs with me and wouldn't have to pay for a kennel, so driving would be the most cost effective. It is hard to get a realistic price for a flight unless you have exact dates and airports, and I don't know a thing about airports in SD except that I flew to Rapid City many years ago for a wedding. Maybe I can get by with waiting until next summer, and I may have to do that.

I'm anxious to get the rig and be on the road, finally. All in good time, I suppose.

Ahhh, grandchildren!

I am really enjoying my two grandsons since I've been here. Joshua is at the stage where he asks "Why?" to everything that is said. Justin is still an infant and is cute and cuddly, and I hold him every chance I get. I just sort of lie back on the couch and he sleeps on my stomach. We both love it!

I was relieved to find the money from the sale of my house has reached my account, and the application and check for mail forwarding service arrived in SD. Now I need to complete the deal for the rv and truck, which I will probably do next week. Life is good.

Beautiful autumn day in New York

Well I am here in beautiful Dutchess Co. NY, where the leaves are in full color and falling fast. It was cold last night but warmed up today. When I took the 2 dogs out for an early morning walk, the big one (Lady) stopped halfway down the stairs off the deck and just looked out into the back yard. I kept telling her to move it, until I looked up and saw that she and a deer were making eye contact, and when I yelled "Wait", of course she ran. The deer was much faster as Lady is a bit overweight, so naturally it disappeared up the hill and into the woods. I had forgotten all about the fact that there are a whole lot of deer and they come down through the yards mostly in the early morning and early evening. The deer also make it tricky to plant shrubs or flowers, as they usually only stay away from yellow ones, so in the spring here you see lots of forsythia and daffodils. They also avoid pachysandra, but if they are really hungry they will eat anything. As is happening everywhere, humans are crowding animals out of their habitat. In NC where I lived it was the poor bears who were being shoved out. I wish there could be reserves set aside for the wildlife, close to the developed areas, although people owning the land wouldn't like to be told they couldn't sell to a developer if they wanted to. I met a man a couple of years ago who was deeding his farm to a national trust organization, because all his daughter would do with it would be to sell it and spend the money as fast as she could. Many people in the Carolinas have farms that have been in their family for generations, and it's very sad when it gets to the point that they have to sell to a real estate developer who changes the landscape so much you couldn't recognize it, and then gives it a fancy name with the words "ridge, grove, forest" and the like.

I didn't intend to get on a soapbox today! I have just about decided that when the deal is made for the Hitchhiker II & Ford 350, I will take over the storage rental in NJ until I'm ready to go south. It is winterized and I should leave it so until I get far enough south. I had thought maybe I could find a campground in this area still open, and maybe live for a couple of weeks in the 5ver before leaving NY, but it would be too cold and I think I will just wait. If anyone has driven in or around Philadelphia, I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on possible routes. I don't want to take I-95 south, so from Burlington NJ it looks like I could cross the river and be on or close to the PA Turnpike in the northern part of Philly. I hope to take the turnpike over to I-81 in the vicinity of Carlisle PA, and then head south. From there on I should be ok except for the 10 or 12 miles that I have to drive through Maryland. Lord, how I hate the way they drive! I wish I had been able to spend the first few weeks driving in a less traveled area just to get used to it, but that's not going to be, so I will deal with it.

New York

I woke up at about 4 am this morning and couldn't go back to sleep, so at 4:40 I got up and got ready to drive. I drove about 600 miles today and arrived at my son's house much earlier than I thought I would. I didn't go over the speed limit, but in PA between the "safety corridors" and "work areas" it isn't easy to maintain any speed. I have been following Bob & Judy's blog, and they have just left PA after a visit home, and commented on the beautiful trees with their fall colors. You only see those reds in the east, and driving through PA today I marveled at the variety of yellows and reds. In NC ours were just beginning to turn. I'm making a promise to myself right now to stop and find the beauty of every place I'm in, and appreciate it while I'm there. I sure do find myself missing Dixie though!

One of the things that stood out today were the number of RV's going south - mainly Class A's and 5vers. Do they know something that I seem to be missing? Now I'm stressing over how I am going to make it until early December and then drive the 5ver south to warmer weather. Gosh, I haven't even bought the rig yet, so first things first.

On the way

My closing was today at 3 pm and I was on the road an hour later. It rained most of the way and was extremely heavy off and on, so I couldn't use the cruise control. I forgot how difficult it can be to maintain a speed without it. The speed limit was 70, but in places I had to slow down to 55 because I could feel the vehicle planing when I went faster. I don't know how people can drive 75 and 80 in the fog and heavy rain, but I'm not gonna do it! I arrived at the motel in Wytheville, VA a little after 7 pm which was about 15 minutes after darkness fell, and I don't like to drive in the dark. I will try to leave very early in the morning and make it to NY, although if it is raining I'm sure I'll have to stop somewhere.

The sale of my house went perfectly in the end, and I even came out about $1k ahead of what I thought I would net. And I still have some $ coming from the escrow account. I'll use the extra to get Pressure Pro for the rig which will ease my mind. I hear of so many folks getting blow-outs, and I certainly don't want that to happen to me if I can prevent it. The closer I get to realizing my dream the more scared and nervous I get.

It is too aggravating to try to type this on the laptop. I didn't bring in the keyboard so I'm stuck with this terrible laptop keyboard! With a little luck I'll do the next post on my son's desktop.

Two important things taken care of

Well I spent the entire morning devoted to civic duties: I spent an hour at the dreaded Asheville DMV and got my driver's license renewed. When they checked the computer they found two addresses under my name - one was the correct address, and the other one I have no idea how it got there. I checked my credit reports within the last 6 months, and none of the three had an address I couldn't identify as having used in the past. It's kind of scary, but since the DMV didn't find that I was "wanted" for any kind of crime, and since I hope to never have to apply for credit again, I guess I won't worry too much about it. The good part about the license renewal is that I no longer have the restriction on it for wearing glasses when I drive. My glasses have had the corrections reduced for the past two years, and I have a hard time driving with glasses on, so I'm glad to be legal now. The only good part about the glasses is the fact that they get very dark in the sun.

Secondly, I voted! I feel like I'm walking on air since I completed that ballot, and I feel bad for the people I know who say they will vote for the "lesser of two evils". I voted for the person I can believe in and it feels wonderful, folks!

Now to get busy on packing up and cleaning the house. I'm not sure when I will be able to post next, but soon I hope.

Countdown

In two days from now I will have shed myself of a house on 3/4 acre in one of the most beautiful locations in the US. The closing is tentatively set for 2 pm on Friday. I'm a little disappointed that it isn't earlier in the day, as I had thought about stopping at a DMV one county over on my way out of town and renewing my driver's license, which expires Nov. 14. The DMV here in Asheville is always crowded, and like most govt offices in cities, the staff are usually too rushed to be very pleasant. I just checked to get an idea of air fares from close to where I will be in NY to Sioux Falls, SD, and I would be looking at $650+, so I'm not inclined to try to do that. It is over 1000 miles and driving is out of the question since the weather could turn bad and I would be stuck. I will be taking a slight risk having SD license plates and a NC driver's license, but that can't be helped. I'll get it in SD next spring/summer.

I have made some headway in cleaning up the bedroom, but then I just moved my air mattress & pillows, plus the two dog beds, out into the living room. That allowed me to vacuum and clean out the closet. That's two bedrooms and one bathroom finished, leaving the computer room, living room, master bath, & kitchen. I have to dismantle my desktop tomorrow so that means I won't be online after that unless the motel I'm staying at has wi fi and I can get online. I decided I didn't want to have to rush around leaving here on Friday morning - don't know when the buyer will want to do the walk through. I will take it easy on Friday and have breakfast at a little diner nearby that has the best biscuits & gravy & grits that I have ever eaten!

I just want to be on my way. I want to buy the 5th wheel & truck and start to live in it. I want to learn to maneuver it well, and to drive it back here to Asheville in December to load up some of the things I've put in storage. I'd like to visit a lot of people along the way, although none of them live in a straight line to anywhere.

So I doubt if I will be able to post for the next week or so, but maybe I will get lucky and be able to use that #/@#% laptop!

Phone not working!

I can't believe my luck! I got a call on my cell phone last night so I ran out onto the deck to talk, as I can't get a signal indoors. I lost the connection and then the "bars" went away. Living in the trees on the side of a mountain, I find it difficult to get a connection at all. I tried calling the person back on my home phone but it was dead. This morning the home phone is still dead and the cell phone won't work either. So I went to my Charter service online and emailed them a help request.

I just got an automated reply from them saying that of course, they want to help me and my family in a timely manner, so it would be best if I called them and select option 2 (HAH! that's just the beginning of the selection process, no doubt). I just wrote them I HAVE NO PHONE SERVICE, and they think I could handle it better by calling them.

Personally I think it's this kind of crap that is bringing our country down. Add all these little "things you are paying for but don't get" and you have a complete inter-related system that is broken. And of ALL the days when things need to work properly for me, and I have to deal with this. Wonder if I can even find a pay phone?

The days dwindle down to a precious few.....

And the days are dwindling down to what I think of as "D" Day - I'll be Done gone and outta this house and be on my way north. The RV I've been longing for is in storage in New Jersey, and I really believe it will work for me. I've spent a few hours yesterday evening and this morning talking to the owner and she has told me a lot about the unit as well as things that would be good for me to do - take the RV driving course first off! It's a bit pricey and I will have to see how things work out with the house. There will be so many places to put the little bit of money I end up with from the sale.

I cooked a really big pan of dover sole for dinner last night, and no amount of Febreze can neutralize the faint aroma of fish in the house, so I opened a couple of windows. The fish was sooo good. When I lived in Ireland I ate fish every day, but since I lived near where the boats brought it in, it was so fresh there was never an odor to it.

I just talked to the attorney's office and they think closing could be "sometime this week". How in the world can I ever get ready for it??? I'm cooking my last frozen pizza in the oven this evening, and I have a half box of ice cream to eat (which is more difficult than it sounds), and I think I will toss most everything else. Except the Miller High Life, of course - that will get me through!

Quiet Sunday

It's been a real quiet day here. I'm still in pj's at nearly 5 pm. I decided early on that I wouldn't go out to buy a Sunday newspaper, so there was no need to get dressed! I love lazy Sundays and just wish I was lazing in an RV at some great boondocking site in one of the National parks.

I am presently located about 10 miles (as the crow flies) south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have a fine view of the mountains, and I think if I could see just a bit farther east I would be looking at Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Maybe I can see it and just can't tell; I think I'm due south of Craggy Gap, for those of you who have traveled the Parkway. The mountaintops have a definite red cast to them now, so the trees at the higher elevations must be in full color. I would love to take a drive and see, but I don't like driving in traffic which there is sure to be a lot of on a beautiful sunny day such as this. I'm also still in the mindset of conserving fuel, even though I saw gas as low as $3.15/gal yesterday. Wow, can you believe that 3.15 sounds cheap!

I'll cook my supper soon, the last time I will cook anything in this house - I hope. Yesterday I made one last trip to an large organic supermarket (Earth Fare) on the other side of town and bought some dover sole filets. I haven't cooked fish for a while because I didn't want the smell to linger when I was showing the house. Now I don't give a damn if it smells like a fish market and wish the buyer's walk through was tomorrow. I guess you can tell I'm getting tired of waiting around.

Another week comes to an end

I was awake for about 2 hrs in the middle of the night, and then didn't wake up this morning until 8:30. I really dislike daylight savings time being extended as it has this year. In fact, I wish they would just leave the clocks alone. I wonder how much productivity is lost every year in spring and fall.

Habitat for Humanity is to be here between 9 and 10 am, so I took the dogs outside and let them go up the hill by themselves. I pretended I was following because they usually won't go without me. Funny though, when we're up on the trail they wouldn't think anything of running off if I don't watch them like a hawk! I started to move things out into the driveway that I want picked up: lawn mower, weed eater, snow shovel, rakes, hoe, and my fireplace set. Habitat has a thrift store, and they fix and shine everything up and then sell it in the store, using the proceeds for their buiding projects. They and Kiwanis & Goodwill have benefited from my move.

The Habitat folks just came, 2 young men, and loaded the stuff in the truck. They told me a bit about the work they do while they were loading. I have always admired the program and am glad I could contribute in some small way. Their gain is a loss for the buyer of my house - if he hadn't dragged his heels for the past two months and gotten us to closing a bit sooner I would have left him a very nice Toro self propelled mower and Bolens weed eater plus a lot of other tools. I signed the acceptance of his offer the first week in August and here it is, getting towards the first week in November before we will likely close. It hasn't been the problem of loan approval in his case, and both real estate agents think it's his way of being in control. Well I believe in karma, and it is going to someday kick him in the behind!

I will spend some time today moving the big rocking chair and some more boxes. I decided to keep my microwave in storage as well. I don't use it often and I bought one that suited me exactly - small, dials you turn rather than pushbuttons, and very little options. As I say, I don't use one very often and don't need a big one that can cook a complete dinner. I would probably rather have it in the RV than the one that is likely to be there, but if I get one that is built in I'll be stuck with it.

Looks like rain again, but that's ok.

Ready to Roll

I just took my Jeep in for an oil change & check-up, and everything is a "go". I was a little concerned about one of the tires, but I trust the mechanic and he said I could drive to NY & back ok. I sure don't want to replace tires if I don't have to, since I will be selling it soon.

So depending on what I hear in the next few days regarding a firm closing date, I will leave next Wednesday. If I arrive early enough on Thursday I will drop the dogs off at the kennel in Hyde Park, and then continue on to Kingston to look at a couple of 5th wheels. I'd like to do that first thing and then I would have a few days to think about a possible purchase and I won't be rushed. If I find one that means I will need to find a truck in the area as well. I've always hated looking at new or used cars, and I don't expect a truck to be any different.

I think I will cancel the internet & phone service before I leave, as well as trash pickup, and I will leave the house ready to move into. That means I won't have the kind of internet access I've been used to, so posting will be erratic as will email. There are so many details to attend to and although I usually make excellent lists, I haven't done much about it up until now. It's all in my mind but I sure need to get it down on paper.

Things are starting to look up, but only a little. I have the feeling that next week it will all come together!

The Sun May Shine Again!

Things may be starting to look up, although I'm still in a turmoil as to when this sale will close. I woke up this morning and decided I would leave next Wed. the 15th for NY, and would return in about 10 days. I also decided they could hold the closing at my convenience for a change. But then I got news that things may be moving along. I think I will sign paperwork before I leave, but I will also have to close up the house as well and leave nothing behind, so I will keep busy during the next few days moving everything out. It is really difficult to anticipate what paperwork I might need to have handy, but I'll just have to take whatever I think I will need along with me. I'm getting the Jeep serviced tomorrow and I really hope & pray he will tell me the tires will make another trip to NY.

I'm also going to look at a couple of 5Vers while in NY, from a dealer I found on the web. He has two very nice used Holiday Ramblers, plus a Nu Way Hitchhiker that I think I could be happy with. All are older models but have a good reputation at that, and even the pictures show the attention to details that these manufacturers put into their products. So it would be very nice to find an RV, and of course then I would need the tow vehicle, but I would love to be able to drive it back to NC to pick up my belongings. I suppose the thing to do would be to get a flight from NY to Sioux Falls and take care of my driver's license. It's up for renewal in November, and I hate to have to get it renewed in North Carolina when I will be registering my vehicles in South Dakota. Why does everything have to happen in a rush at the last moment? I sometimes wonder if there is a quirk in my temperament and personality that requires suspense and last minute decisions. It's probably in the stars!

I've been corresponding this morning with a wonderful source of inspiration - her blog is at http://www.travelingwithfloandrida.blogspot.com/. She is a solo RVer pulling a 5th wheel, and in reading the early pages of her blog I recognize all the terrors and doubts that I'm facing right now. That goes a long way to making me feel a whole lot more confident - to find someone who has "made it" past the initial obstacles.

It rained all day yesterday and into the early morning, which I really enjoyed especially after the drought we've been in. I walked the dogs about 8:30, and when we came back down the hill it was to find everything shrouded in the mist that had crept up from the valley. I think that is the most peaceful and beautiful sight ever. Now at midday, the sun pops out of the clouds once in a while. The leaves are just beginning to turn at the higher elevations and it won't be long before they start falling AND I WON'T HAVE TO DO A THING ABOUT IT!

Rainy Day

I usually love a rainy day now and then, and today we're having a nice gentle rain. The only negative is that the dogs get their paws wet and muddy, and don't want to stand still while I wipe them off.

I've had no word on a closing date, so I have no motivation to get the odds & ends boxed up and in storage. I'll work like a beaver when I have a definite date.

Other than that there is NOTHING TO DO ALL DAY, and I'M SO BORED! Cabela's Christmas Catalog came in the mail yesterday and I can't even get interested in looking at that. There is nothing I really need and it's all made in China anyway, which I try to avoid wherever possible. The laugh is probably on me because I'm sure all that junk food I bought yesterday is full of milk solids from China. When we have Wisconsin why in the world do we need to go to the other side of the world for milk? But the FDA says a little melamine won't hurt us (in fact it's probably good for us. That sounds like it could be developed into a good Monty Python skit.

That's all the complaining I have to do for today, folks! From this minute I am putting on a happy face, and sending good vibes to the FHA to get this sale completed so I can begin my new life in an RV.

What is happening to me?

I don't understand it but lately my appetite has been ravenous! I never buy processed or junk food, but today I came away from the grocery with a big bag of things I rarely ever eat. I've done little but sit at the computer (it's where the only chair in the house is located), so I'm not working up an appetite...Just the mention of it sent me to the kitchen to open a package of cookies - pecan sandies, not bad. Would black walnut ice cream go with pecan cookies? I'll try it out.

Today's Prayer

Lord grant me patience.
I want it now!

Ho Hum Sunday

I have spent the ENTIRE morning online trying to find RV's within 200 miles of home, and I did find one that looks ok - a Bighorn by Heartland, in Chattanooga (about 210 miles); from there I could drive to Woodstock, GA another 150+ miles, to look at a Cedar Creek Silverback, and back home, 160 miles, for a total of about 525 and 9-1/2 hrs driving time. I should probably stay overnight in Chattanooga, (especially since I'm changing the route from what Google maps suggested - from Ashville NW to Knoxville, and then S to Chattanooga - way out of the way!. I'll go the scenic route.) The Silverback is a later model and is rated higher, but it is 34' in length which is a couple feet more than what I would like. The Bighorn is 35', so no better in that respect. From what I've heard, when you are towing a 5ver you can't tell if it's 30 or 35' behind you, but I bet you know the difference when backing into a parking spot. I think as soon as the closing date is set I will phone these two dealers to make sure they have the RV's on their lot.

I finally got showered and dressed (after 1 pm!) and I think I will take a few boxes to my storage unit. I don't have any big boxes ready, so maybe I can make room in the back of the Jeep for the 2 dogs. I'm sure they are wondering where I go with all those boxes. I have a full tank of gas and sure hate to drive anywhere!

Nothing new

I am so bored although there is plenty I could be doing. A team came yesterday morning and worked for several hours doing whatever extra it is that FHA requires. I confirmed that they were at the correct address, and then let them get to it. The real estate agent was here and she dealt with the "boss man". The three workers who had to do the dirty part of the job in the crawl space were Mexican, so I practiced my rusty Spanish on them. They were cheerful and hard working, and since the boss left for a few hours, I provided the workers with lunch and bottled water. Hopefully the job can be re-inspected by FHA next week and we will be close to closing.

I am still spending most of my time researching RV's online. There seem to be some good deals on new RVs listed on eBay, but the dealership is hundreds of miles from me and the logistics of it are too much for me to deal with. If I drove all that way to inspect a unit and then decided it wasn't the quality I wanted, then where would I be? I guess if I placed a bid which was accepted I would be obligated. I emailed the dealership with a question which wasn't answered for a few days (after the closing of bids on the unit, matter of fact). In the meantime I spoke on the phone with one of their salesmen. Then the owner called me with regard to my email. He ended up saying to me "You don't know what you want, so I can't help you until you know". This was because I had questions about two different models. When I related this to my real estate agent we both had a good laugh, just trying to imagine one of their agents saying that to a potential buyer. Maybe the guys at this RV dealership haven't heard the news about the downturn in the economy and the shaky ground on which the RV industry is standing right now.

At least I'm sleeping well at night (and sometimes even taking a nap during the day) on my exquisite Walmart $15 special air mattress. I didn't even get an air pump since someone in the chat room suggested I use the vacuum cleaner hose, which worked like a charm. Oh what a charmed life I lead! The perfect, affordable 5th wheel is out there searching for me,
andI hope it finds me quick!

I am finding it so frustrating trying to get an absentee ballot for the Nov. 4 election, so I've just about decided to wait until early voting starts on Oct 16 - whether or not I've closed the sale.