Mom’s New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2009)

Last Friday (Christmas Eve) was Mom’s 93rd birthday. We spent a quiet day – well, as quiet as can be when Mom is chattering like a magpie or screaming like a banshee.

Today, started with Mom falling – she does this way too often, but won’t always wake me up to tell me she’s getting up and sometimes I’m just so tired, I don’t know she’s getting up.

Then, while she was napping in her chair, I decided it would be a good idea to take a shower. When I came out of the bathroom, I discovered she had woke up, but instead of banging on the bathroom door as she usually does when she knows I’m in there, she decided to make a fashion statement.

My dear Aunt Iona once crocheted for me a red and white toilet paper cozy – this keeps a roll of toilet paper accessible on the back of the toilet. I guess Mom decided her head was cold and thought that cozy would make a great hat. I couldn’t resist taking a picture:

Actually, red is Mom’s favorite color and the cozy does make quite a fashion statement.

I also got a couple of pictures of Mom with my brother, Jeff during Thanksgiving at his house near Atlanta, GA:

Mom continues to lose weight, but is very strong and wants to be as independent as possible. Every day, though, it’s harder and harder to understand what she says. Pray for her, will you? She is so unhappy.

Going Rogue

Those who know me are no doubt aware that I am an avid reader. Today, I finished Sarah Palin’s book, Going Rogue.

I don’t read many biographies and wasn’t sure if I could force myself to finish this. I read it in three days, much of that time spent sitting next to my sleeping mother (she doesn’t like to be alone at any time) reading on my Kindle by flashlight.

It is an excellent read. I encourage anyone to read it.

I thought I was fairly savvy about political news and was aware of some of the harassment she has been subjected to, but I didn’t know the half of it. Not that she whines or complains about it but she does discuss it.

I admire Sarah Palin and would happily vote for her for president. She is a Ronald Reagan conservative. Small wonder she scares the Democrats AND Republicans.

She calls herself a Common Sense Conservative and is not bothered by political party labels. After being elected Governor of Alaska, she did not discriminate between political parties when it came to cleaning up corruption. Do we ever need that in Washington!

I’m checking out www.GOOOH.com, which stands for Get Out of Our House and is advocating replacement of ALL 465 Representatives in 2010. Read their checklist for candidates. I don’t know if they will be successful or not, but I hope they can get them ALL replaced.

Sorry for the diversion. Re: Going Rogue, why don’t you give it a try. You’ll get a terrific look at Sarah Palin and her family. Any book that makes me laugh, makes me cry, enlightens me on the beauty of living in Alaska, and stirs me to get involved politically is worth it to me.

If there was any doubt in your mind that the mainstream media is biased, you will be convinced after reading this.

Until next time…

Saturdays

When I was a working schmuck, Saturday was my favorite day, at least when I didn’t have a big project where I had to work on Saturday. It was a day of rest and relaxation after a hectic week of work.

I still have the hectic weeks. Only now, the weeks are hectic because of a variety of reasons, many of which are out of my control.

This week was no exception:

1. My roof is still leaking even after the second visit by the roofer. I have a Lifetime Roof, which is guaranteed to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, the company that put it on didn’t.
2. Mom has had an awful week. She’s developed a pattern of sleeping for 36 hours (with some moments for eating, etc.) and then staying awake for 36 hours (of course, I have to be awake for this too). She’s fallen 3 times this week; one time I thought she was going to take out the TV (she goes up there to talk to the people on the screen, in spite of being told they can’t hear her).
3. For a day and a half, Mom was hardly able to stand up and, in the process of helping her get to the bathroom, I threw something out in my back.
4. Much of the week, it’s been rainy and cold which means that Mom can’t go out and she loves to go out in the car.

There are, however, some counterbalances to all of this:

1. Right at Home Plant City has such great people who come in and care for Mom and give me a break.
2. Joe Langford, the roofer, is a pleasant man (a Glenn Beck fan, so he must be okay) who is determined to make these minor leaks go away.
3. Mom has a number of good days or, at least, good hours and is often sweet and easy to get along with. She must have bones of steel.
4. Sitting with Mom while she’s sleeping gives me a lot of time to read on my new Amazon Kindle, as well as on print books. (I’m currently working on U Is for Undertow, the long-awaited novel by Sue Grafton.
5. My back is better.

I still look forward to Saturdays, but not for the respite in work. On Saturdays, my RV Travel newsletter arrives in my email. It is jam-packed with all kinds of info on camping and safety, as well as lots of links to RV forums and blogs. Yes, there are a lot of advertisements running through it, but so much good info. You can check out this week’s issue at http://rvtraveler.c.topica.com/maanCvuabUQ5vbNYiLJb/

I haven’t done much Camper Prep this week except for some reading.

Till next time…

Finally Almost Caught Up…Well, Sorta

Some of you are probably aware that Mom and I went to the Atlanta area over Thanksgiving. It was an interesting 10-hour drive up and nearly the same back. Because of her tendency to open the front door while we are traveling at high speed, Mom has to sit in the back seat. This makes it difficult to hear her, to say nothing of understanding her – which is almost impossible most of the time.

We had a great time, or at least I did. Mom slept a lot after we arrived. Whenever she was awake she cried to go home. I should point out that she cries to go home even when we are home.

I had 14 eBay sales and the attendant paperwork to take care of when I got home, as well as laundry and taking care of Mom. Today, she can’t even stand up straight, but is apparently unaware of this since she has gotten up to walk and fallen twice. I, of course, feel awful about that, but can’t really stay by her side all of the time.

It seems that in the last few days, she has grown more and more unresponsive and confused. She’s having a lot more trouble swallowing and coughs a lot while eating. She hasn’t slept more than a few minutes at a time since yesterday morning and neither have I…

Sorry to burden you with all of my troubles, but I hope you’ll keep Mom and me in your prayers.

Needless to say, I have made no progress on my camper in the last week. Today, in the four hours I had off, I had a number of errands to run that can’t be done while Mom is with me. She just gets too tired and restless.

Well, I’m hoping she and I will be able to get a few hours sleep tonight.

Until next time…

More on Solar Power

In order to more effectively use my solar panel/generator, I really need the power cord to be about 15 feet longer. In this way, I’ll be able to power my computer, monitor, and some of my computer peripherals (though probably not my laser printer) without using my Tampa Electric hookup – that is, powering it for free (if you don’t count the initial cost of the solar equipment).

Not being sure if it was a good idea to add this much length to the cord that runs between the solar panel (it’s already 50 feet) and generator, I contacted the seller and was told it was no problem.

Today, if Mom is in the mood for a ride (she almost always is), I’m going to Ace Hardware to see if they have the necessary connectors (they are 3-pronged locking plugs) for the 12/3 extension cord – I’m going to make a 25-foot long extension cord.

By the way, I have a little device called a Kill-A-Watt Monitor which you plug into the electrical outlet. Then, after you plug in your computer or monitor or other electrical device, it will tell you:

• Volts
• Amps
• Watts
• Vrms/Arms (I haven’t figured out what this is yet)
• Frequency in Hertz
• Power Factor (I haven’t figured out what this is yet either)
• KWH (kilowatt hours)
• Timer (length of time making up the kilowatt hours used)

This morning, I hooked my desktop computer into the Kill-A-Watt Monitor and got the following readings:

• Volts – 117.5
• Amps – 1.80
• Watts - 140
• Vrms/Arms - 197
• Frequency in Hertz – 59.9
• Power Factor - .68
• KWH - .12
• Timer – in 57 minutes

If this ridiculous Cap and Trade bill in Congress becomes law, you all may want to get a Solar Generator. Electricity bills are expected to double if it passes, to say nothing of gas prices, etc.

Reduce your carbon footprint while you can!

More importantly, call or write your Senators and Congressional Representatives today…don’t let them cripple the economy even further with this monstrosity of a bill.

Till next time.

Wow! Do I Ever LOVE Solar Power!!!

Today, as planned, I hooked up my solar panel to my generator. It was a perfect day for it – sunny with few clouds.

In order to catch the earliest sun, I had to put the panel across the driveway from the house and run the 50 foot cord through the front window – what a job figuring out how to get the window up – and plug it into the already fully charged generator.

At this point, the generator is still in the kitchen.

To see how well the solar panel worked in keeping the generator charged before hooking it up temporarily-permanently, I hooked up the kitchen TV and satellite receiver to the generator. In order to do this, I had to move the generator over on the stove so the power cords would reach.

Guess what! The generator was able to keep up with the drain on the battery and hold a full charge for the whole time it was daylight.

The only problem I’m having at this point is making the wheels on the solar panel go around. There are screws that lock the wheels. When you loosen these screws, the wheels are supposed to turn. They don’t.

Tomorrow morning, I’m going to take a closer look at the wheels. Today, I just wanted to get it going and was able to use my hand-truck to move the panel. It’s probably light enough that I could carry it, but why bother when I have the means to move it more easily?

I’ll repeat: I JUST LOVE SOLAR POWER!!!

Till next time…

Good Intentions

In the last post, I indicated several things I intended to get done today.

1) Buy a set of shelves for my kitchen – I looked over quite a few and found a set of cherry shelves that I thought would be great…until I picked up the box. Weight is such a critical factor that I finally settled for a set of sturdy plastic shelves. See the photos below:

As you can see there is about 3 inches of space on the left and 6 or so inches in the front. I’ll have to figure out a way to keep the shelves in place, hopefully without putting any holes in the cabinet.

Incidentally, the shelves are rated to hold 264 pounds.  This should hold more than enough for the pantry items I will store here.

2) Try to find a set of shelves that will work in the bedroom closet. – I found a set, but when I got to the camper, I discovered they were about 1/4 inches too wide. On Monday afternoon, I’ll take the shelves back to Home Depot and try to find some that do fit.

3) Put the shelves together and install in the kitchen. – as you can see from the pictures above, I put them together – it took about 10 minutes.

4) Ditto the bedroom. As you know, this did not happen.

5) Attend a Webinar on linking Picasa with Google maps so I’ll easily be able to keep people up to date on where I am. I misunderstood the description, but did attend the Webinar on Picasa basics – it was very helpful. I should be able to figure it out or will wait til I can take a class or another Webinar.

6) Set up my Solar Panel and plug it into the Duracel Generator.  - I’ll try to complete that tomorrow.

Well, all in all, it was a fairly productive day. I’m very pleased with the shelves in the kitchen. I plan to put some additional organizational items on the shelves in order to break up the space a little more.

Till next time…

Mom and the Multi-Tasker

It’s probably been some time since you saw a picture of my Mom. I took a couple of pictures today so you could see how much she has failed. It will also show you that she, like Alton Brown, believes in multi-taskers.

If you remember, I reported she was willing to offer a sock to help pay for dinner one night. Now she’s discovered a new use for socks – keeping her ear warm.  The pictures don’t do justice to show how skinny she is now, but I know she weighs less than 95 pounds.

Please pray for her – it’s getting increasingly difficult to understand what she says and I hope I don’t miss something important.

Tomorrow I hope to get a lot done on my travel trailer:

1) Buy a set of shelves for my kitchen – so I don’t have to put holes in the walls. I’ve picked out a set from Home Depot and hope their on-line inventory is accurate.

2) Try to find a set of shelves that will work in the bedroom closet.

3) Put the shelves together and install in the kitchen.

4) Ditto the bedroom.

5) Attend a Webinar and linking Picasa with Google maps so I’ll easily be able to keep people up to date on where I am.

6) Set up my Solar Panel and plug it into the Duracel Generator.

'Til next time…

Pantry List Addendum; Solar Panel and Generator

I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t have to wait until I move into the camper to test my Pantry List methodology.

In view of that, I purchased a number of plastic containers for storing the various items in the pantry. I then washed them all and went through the bookshelf where I currently keep my pantry items and put the items I could into the plastic storage containers.

This picture shows the containers filled with the various items – what a bounty!

But, does it ever save space. All of this stuff fit on less than 2 shelves – see!

Isn’t that incredible? All of those items that were on the table are pictured here.

Solar Panel and Generator

Yesterday, I finally got my solar panel and generator via Fed Ex. I’m going to use it at the house for now to save on electricity.

The generator was in a big box marked DURACEL, which for some reason I found most comforting. Its peak AC output power is 1800 watts with a continuous output power of 1440 watts. Surge capacity is 2880 watts.

The start-up procedures for the generator itself involve quite a number of steps:

1. Plug the A/C cord into your house electricity and charge the generator for 48 hours.

2 After the 3 days, the generator must be unplugged from the outlet and a 100 watt lamp or other such load until the generator shuts off or begins to beep.

3. Remove the load

4. Plug in the generator to A/C again and recharge for approximately 15 hours.

5. Run the batteries down again until the unit shuts itself off or begins to beep.

6. Repeating steps 4 and 5 will make the batteries (there are 3 in the unit) ready for normal use.

At this point, the solar panel may be plugged into the generator, but performance should improve as the battery is discharged and recharged.

The generator is a compact unit (19.25” x 8.25” x 11.25”) weighing 51.2 pounds.

At this size, once I move the generator to the travel trailer, I plan to store the generator in the closet next to the main bed. It has plenty of room since the space requirement around the unit is 3 inches on each side.

The solar panel, which has a 50-foot power cord and supplies power at a maximum of 80 watts, is on wheels and tilts 45 degrees to horizontal for Winter and 30 degrees to horizontal for Summer. The wheels lock down for ease of use.

The generator can be charged by the solar panel while en route, if the panel is secured properly and is at the right angle for the sun. It doesn’t have be directly pointing to the sun, but the best charging is done when it is.

If I hadn’t had such good luck with the solar panel keeping a good charge on my travel trailer battery, I probably wouldn’t have bought this, but just imagine -- as long as the sun shines, the generator will be charging and NO NEED FOR GAS and NO WORRIES ABOUT GETTING IT STARTED and NO NOISE. and NO FUMES! To say nothing of a reduction in my electric bill since I plan to run my main TV, Satellite DVR Receiver, and Computer using this. Of course, this is assuming those items don’t exceed the ability of the generator. The only restriction is I can’t plug a surge-protected power strip into the generator since it already has surge protection and is a battery back-up.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I should have lots of time to work out the kinks before getting on the road.

Till next time…

Thinking and Shopping

Up very early today (4 am) washing bed linens and Mom – you can imagine why. Mom goes to the foot doctor today – the doctor checks her feet and clips her toenails. She’s getting increasingly difficult to communicate with and is seeing, talking with, and handing things to people who are not there – at least, I can’t see them. Our inability to communicate with each other is a constant source of frustration for both of us.

As mentioned in my last post, I’ve been working on some checklists, the most recent of which is my Pantry Checklist. I think I have a pretty good handle on what I want to take with me, though I have probably left out some critical items and have over-estimated what I need to keep on hand.

See what you think. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Item	Container/Size	Where
Flour	Plastic-5 pounds
Flour, Wheat	Plastic-5 pounds
Sugar	Plastic-2 pounds
Splenda	Plastic-1 pound
Honey	Plastic-2 pounds
Corn Meal	Plastic-1 pound
Oatmeal	Plastic-1 pound
Light Brown Sugar	Plastic-1 pound
Premium Saltines	Metal-4 sleeves
Cereal-Cheerios	Plastic-14 oz
Cereal-Kashi	Plastic-14 oz
Cocoa Powder	Small Container
Hot Cocoa Mix	12 Packets
Ham Jerky
Beef Jerky
Peanut Butter (Fresh Ground)	Plastic-4 oz	R
Jelly	Assorted Packets	R
Maple Syrup (from Cracker Barrel)	Little Bottles
Tuna, Canned	2 cans
Chicken Broth	24 cans
Dried Fruit	Plastic-1 pound
Almonds	Plastic-8 oz
Pecans	Plastic-8 oz
Cashews	Can-8 oz
Walnuts	Plastic-4 oz
Tea, Green	Plastic-180 tea bags
Non-Fat Dry Milk	Plastic-2 pounds
Yeast	3 Envelopes	R
Seeds for Sprouting	Plastic-2 pounds	R
Salmon	1 small can
Chicken, Canned	5 cans
Beans, Canned	2 cans
Bacon, Thick	1 pound	R
Olive Oil	1 quart bottle
Veg Oil	1 quart bottle
Salt, Kosher	1 pound
Salt, Table	1 pound
Peppercorns	Plastic-8 oz
Spices:
Bay Leaves
Cayenne
Chili Powder
Cinnamon
Cloves, Whole
Cloves, Ground
Crushed Red pepper
Cumin
Dried Mustard
Italian Seasoning
Nutmeg
Paprika
Poultry Seasoning
Vanilla	1 small bottle
Olives, Green	1 small jar	R
Olives, Black	1 can	R
Hot Sauce	1 small bottle
Worcestershire Sauce	1 small bottle
Eggs	1 dozen	R
Baking Soda	Small package
Baking Powder	Small package
Vinegar, Cider	1 quart
Vinegar, White	1 8-oz bottle
Vinegar, Balsamic	1 8-oz bottle
Onions	3 pound bag	R
Potatos	5 pound bag	R
Garlic	1 head	R
Aluminum Foil	1 roll
Zip Lock Bags, Sandwich	1 box
Zip Lock Bags, Quart	1 box
Zip Lock Bags, Gallon	1 box
Glad Wrap	1 roll
Wax Paper	1 roll
Jalapenos	1 quart	F
Green Peppers	1 quart	F
Hot Dogs	1 pound	F
Brats	1 pound	F
Italian Sausage	1 pound	F
Yellow Mustard	1 bottle
Popcorn	2 pounds
Mayonnaise	1 quart	R
Bisquick	1 small box
Salsa	6 Small containers
Tomatos, Canned	4 cans
Tomatos, Mexican Style Stewed	2 cans
Tomato Paste	2 small cans
Sun-Dried Tomatos	1/2 pound
Rice, Brown	8 oz
Cheese, Cheddar	1 pound	R
Cheese, Cream	8 oz	R
Cream of Mushroom Soup	2 cans
Dill Pickles	1 jar	R
Mandarin Oranges	1 small can
Celery	1 bunch	R
Crumbled Pre-Cooked Bacon in a Bag	1 bag	R
Hamburger, Bulk	2 pounds, packaged in 4 oz patties	F
Swiffer Wet Jet	1
Wet Jet Liquid	3 bottles
Bleach	1 quart
ERA	2 gallons

 

Most of you will probably think 24 cans of Chicken Broth is too much, but I use it for everything, even when I make corn meal in the morning or make soup or cook pasta. I use it in place of water whenever I think it will add flavor.

Yesterday, I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to see if they had a handy way to store spices, but was disappointed in all of the selections. I did find some plastic containers for storage of some of the items on the Pantry List marked “Plastic.” I’m trying to get all square or rectangular containers for better use of the available space.

Incidentally, I plan to post the Pantry List on the travel trailer refrigerator and use it to keep track of what I need to buy the next time I’m in a grocery store. I’ll probably laminate the list and use an erasable marker as with many of the other checklists.

Since I don’t intend to use glass plates because of their easy breakability and weight, I’m researching what to use. I’ve seen Melamine, but wasn’t there a problem with chemicals from that? Has anyone had any experience with bamboo – another real possibility. Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Well, Mom’s waking up again.

‘Til next time.

Checklists

The more I read and learn about camping, the more convinced I am that I am going to need a lot of checklists to keep track of everything that has to be or should be done – especially considering how faulty my memory is sometimes.

I’ll be adjusting these checklists as I go out the first several times. Eventually, the plan is to laminate most of them and use an erasable marker so I can re-use them multiple times. Of course, some maintenance checklists will be permanent so I can keep track of mileages, etc.

I have created an Arrivals Checklist, some points of which may not make much sense to you.

DONE	TO DO
	Pick Site - Prefer Pull-Through
	Empty?
	Fairly level?
	No too-low, overhanging branches?
	Proper orientation for solar panels?
	Power OK on campground box, if available?
	Check for position of sewer drain, if available
	Park Travel Trailer
	Set out positional cones
	Position trailer
	Check for side-to-side level
	Position leveling blocks for side-to-side level, if necessary
	Put trailer in position
	Check level gauges for side-to-side level
	Re-position if necessary
	Fine tune levels
	Chock trailer wheels
	Place wood under landing gear and extend landing gear to correct height
	Disconnect emergency break-away cable
	Unplug umbilical from truck receptacle
	Unhook hitch
	Drive away from trailer
	Adjust front to back level
	Pick up positional cones and store
	Set Up
	Unlock trailer and extend steps
	Plug in electrical cord, if hook-up is available
	Hook up water hose and pressure regulator, if water available
	Hook up sewer hose, if hook-up is available
	Turn down stabilizer jacks
	Set up solar panel and generator
	Lower awning
	Set out grill, charcoal, chairs, etc.
	Set up DirecTV antenna
	Set up Internet Satellite Antenna (if I get one)

 

Since I will mostly travel by myself and since I have ZERO experience in backing up a trailer (Mark was so good at this, I didn’t ever have to learn), I have included the use of positional cones. I figure they will make things easier since I won’t have a spotter most of the time. To be sure, I intend to practice backing until I can do it with little trouble.

I’m also in the process of putting together a list of staples and food supplies, which I will fine tune the first few times out.

Today, I bought some canned chicken at Sam’s – needs no refrigeration – and will try to develop some recipes that I like and that will be easy to make. 

I also bought something called Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers (2 Ziti & Meat Sauce and 2 Rotini & Zesty Marinara Sauce in a single box). This may be a possibility for a quick microwave meal, though I wouldn’t buy too many since they create a lot of garbage.

Needless to say, I’ll be using canned tuna, canned salmon, and maybe even canned bacon – though if I recall correctly, this particular product is somewhat greasy. My cousin pressure cans beef, but I don’t think I’ll be that ambitious – I may be able to purchase some canned beef.

‘Til next time…

Some More Pictures

Today was another scorcher here in Florida – not conducive to working in an un-air-conditioned camper, but I did manage to get a little done and to take a few more pictures.

Since I have no way to dispose of the old double mattress that was on the bed at this time, I decided to put it back on the bed until the mobile home park brings in a dumpster for such items. The park manager assured me they would be doing this in November or December. I’ll then have to decide what kind of mattress to get.

Following are some pictures of the rest of the travel trailer except the bathroom:

The bedroom with no mattress

 

The bedroom with the mattress

 

The kitchen as seen from the bedroom (the white door leads to the bathroom) – the sink, the stove, the microwave above the stove, the refrigerator and freezer

   

 

The dining room table, cabinet, and small bed across from the sink, stove, etc.

 

The kitchen taken from in front of the bathroom door – note the dining room table and the bedroom

 

The dining room table with cabinets

 

A little different view of the dining room table

Doesn’t this look like a cozy place to live?

‘Til next time…

Bedroom Floor Plan

Yesterday and today, I used Visio to create a floor plan of the bedroom in my Travel Trailer. Doesn’t that sound easy?

Well, considering that Visio is a Microsoft program with plenty of power and capability and I am a poor old woman with little power and even more limited capability, you might be able to appreciate the difficulty I had in creating the following floor plan:

Part of my problem was that, until yesterday, I had only used Visio for flowcharts, never for architectural purposes.

Needless to say, the diagram works, but may need some explanation. 

The wall shown on top, which is at the front of the camper, slopes toward the front. You can probably best see this slope from looking at the picture of camper front from the outside.

The “Bed” (ca 74” by 54”) consists of a hinged piece of plywood which supports a mattress. The plywood lifts up to reveal the storage areas underneath, including the one holding the water tank.

The floor of the cabinet on the right side is about 12” above the floor in order to put it on a level with the bed and to make room for one of the outside cabinets to pass through under it. The storage area stretches under the bed over to the divider that separates the under-bed storage area into the area with the water tank and the area without it. These areas are clearly visible in the pictures in one of the previous posts.

The cabinets above the bed are not really above the window as they appear in the diagram. The window is the one that’s shown on the front of the camper in the picture of the outside. The cover for that window has the solar panel on it.

The window on the left is the emergency exit – every camper must have one besides the door.

The door into the bedroom has a folding ?canvas? door which allows for privacy.

I haven’t figured out what the little triangular shelf is for. It’s way to small to be very useful except possible as a place to put an alarm clock.

You’ll note the heater vent, which I hope never to have to use.

Tomorrow (10/30/2009), I will be free for 8 hours (Kristen will be staying with Mom), but am taking a break and will probably go to Busch Gardens instead of working on the camper.

‘Til next time…

Feeling A Little Foolish

Today, I spent a little while at my travel trailer, but it was so hot I only stayed there about an hour and a half.

As I mentioned before, the bed has helper tubes that make it easier to pick up the rather heavy plywood cover over the storage area. I was unable to figure out how to get the cover down once I lifted it up.

Today, as I was trying to take the brackets off so I could take the helper tubes over to Camping World to see if they had any suggestions about getting them to go down, I inadvertently leaned down on the top and the tubes just folded down.  

What an idiot i am! (but you probably knew that) -- I never tried just leaning on it; I just kept trying to lift it up to see if it would release and go down.

I think I mentioned in a previous post that I wanted to change the bedroom by making the bed “convertible,” i.e., make it so it would normally be a twin size instead of a double. This was impossible because of where the water tank was.

I then thought I might try to switch the bed 90 degrees and open up a little more floor space (about 20 inches wide…

Today, I decided that could not happen. There is a large storage area to the right of the water tank, but today I discovered that the water pipe goes through that area.

I still have to figure out what type of mattress to replace the icky one I took off. I’d like to get one that isn’t too heavy – this would not only help with lifting up the top of the storage area, but with the trailer weight.

Has anyone had much experience with the Air Beds – How durable are they? Are they comfortable? Do they have to be blown up quite often? Would they work for the long term?

I suppose I could get a Sleep Number bed, but I’m not sure I want to spend that much money or even if they have a double-bed size.

Next time, I hope to show you a floor plan of the bedroom with measurements.

“Til next time…

Measurements

Today, for a couple of hours, in the very hot weather, I measured the main bedroom. I can't believe it took so long.

I had to first take off everything I had placed on the bed, and then take the mattress off the double+ bed support (a piece of hinged plywood over a storage area. This was a difficult job, because the mattress was awkward and heavy. It also smelled of smoke and will be dumped as soon as I figure out where to take it. Right now, it's in the kitchen. I won't be putting it back in the bedroom.


The following pictures show the bedroom as it looks now.


There is a closet in the right corner, a 2-door cabinet over the bed, and a bed where the top lifts up to reveal the water tank and a storage area. From the open door, you can see there is a small shelf in the closet.

None of the pictures show very well that that the wall in the back of the closet and the wall behind the bed both slope toward the back of the travel trailer (the bedroom is on the front of the travel trailer on the right as you come in the door).


There are decorative mirrors on the cabinet doors over the bed.



The top of the bed support is hinged, the cover of which is raised to reveal the 30-gallon water tank and a good-sized storage area. One of the outside storage areas reaches through the bootom of the closet on the right into this area.























The top is heavy, but there are some metal tubes that assist in raising the top. My only problem now is that I can't figure out how to get them back down.

Reluctantly, I have resolved that there is no way I can modify the bed to take up less room since the water tank is right in the way. I may well be able to add another tank in the storage area on the right -- it all depends on whether the trailer will support the additional weight (at 8 pounds per gallon, that's 240 pounds, if my math is correct)

I do believe, however, that all of the clothes I wear on a regular basis will fit in that single closet to the right of the bed. I'll just need to add some shelves so I can keep stuff separated-- I don't hang up too many clothes, but there's plenty of room if I need it. There's plenty of room in the cabinets over the bed for the stuff I don't wear too often.





I'd love to hear from anyone who might have suggestions about releasing those rods so I can get the bed down. I'd especially like to hear from anyone who might have suggestions for a better way to hold them up. I almost think a couple of plain old wooden sticks could be used as props; it just wouldn't assist in raising the plywood.

'Til next time...

The Value of the Dollar

Tonight, Mom and Karen Dersham and I went to Kazbor's for dinner. When the waitress brought the bill to the table, Mom said she had some money, reached in her pocket, and pulled out a sock (a dirty sock, yet!).

Is this what the dollar has come to? We didn't try to give it to the waitress -- what would she have thought?

'Til next time...

LP Tanks

What a gorgeous, productive day!

I finished de-rusting and painting my LP tanks. Fortunately, I used a spray paint from Rustoleum that dried in about 30 minutes so I was able to put them back on the A-Frame of the camper.

Note the two pictures:

The first picture was taken after I re-installed the LP tanks. It shows the entry side of the camper, complete with awning. The other picture shows the other side of the camper, with the tanks off from the front.

Thankfully, you can't see the dirt on the outside of the camper, but it is there. I'm debating whether to clean the outside next or go to work on the inside. There are a lot of modifications I'm contemplating for the inside, such as adding shelves, cabinets, determining storage, perhaps changing the bigger bed. Oh, so many possibilities!

Since the camper will just get dirty again before I get to use it, I'll probably start on the inside, with the first job of drawing a detailed floor plan with specific measurements.

I did check the battery today and the voltage is up to 13.11. The regulator is supposed to stop charging the battery when it reaches 13.4. (I'll be checking it almost daily to make sure it does that.) Last time I reported that the battery was up to 12.44, but I checked my notes and it was really up to 12.94 (I shouldn't rely on my memory, should I?). It seems to be charging faster as it gets a higher charge. I guess this makes sense since the plates are probably getting more and more de-sulfated.

Today, I ordered a solar generator, which produces 1800 watts of power in full sun. This is much better than a gas generator (except at night or on really cloudy days). It's portable and will be a big boon when I'm boondocking (chuckle, chuckle), i.e., camping without hookups. If you have any interest in such a generator, just check out http://www.rvbackup.com/ It's a little pricey, but you never have to worry about gas cans or even being able to get gas like you would for a gas generator.

I hope you can tell by my blog that I am having a ball doing this work on the camper and anticipating getting it done, to say nothing of anticipating my full-time RVing.

'Til next time...

Deadbolt Installation

Today, I did something I have never tried before: installing a deadbolt in my double doors in my mobile home.

My mom sometimes leaves the house when I am taking a shower and could get out when I'm asleep and she isn't. My solution: the deadbolt. I'll hide the key up high so she can't reach it.

It took me much longer than I thought it would because the door is encased in some kind of metal. This made the hole saw struggle.

I also was slowed down by the fact that I had no idea what I was doing and had an awful time getting the parts to line up. In the process of testing my first try, I broke one of the chintzy little keys that came with it.

Well, I did finally get the key to engage and disengage the lock -- after several hours, but then it wouldn't go into the other side of the door because of the placement of the preinstalled plate.

I finally had to adjust that (by cutting out a hunk of metal) and it works great.

Unfortunately, having a solid lock like this just points out the weakness of the double door installation itself. Ironic isn't it that the reason I had these new doors installed was because Mom couldn't get the sliding doors open?

Now, I'll have to get some trim to solidify the doors themselves. One job just leads to another.

Doesn't this sound like fun?

'Til next time...

Progress Today

What a beautiful day it was for working outside. It was so nice, I was able to get the following done:

• Checked the battery to see if the number of volts was still going up -- it is. Last time I checked it was about 11.8 volts; today it was at 12.44 volts. The solar panel was charging at 19.43 volts. I think the battery may just be okay even though it was probably allowed to discharge a little too much before I got the trailer. I'm considering the possibility of exchanging the batteries anyway... I'd like to get two 12-volt AGM batteries - they don't take as much maintenance and don't release Hydrogen gas when being charged.
• Removed the LP tank cover and two LP tanks (this sounds easy, but I had quite a time unscrewing the hose from the tank... it takes a 7/8" wrench and turns off clockwise). I'll be creating a label that will remind me of this next time I have to take off the tank -- this type of reminder has saved me a lot of time when hooking and unhooking the battery cables -- I just put a label on the underside of the battery cover that says which cable to connect/disconnect first
• De-rusted the rest of the A-Frame
• Painted the rest of the A-Frame
• Started de-rusting the two LP tanks (I couldn't put them back on the A-Frame because the oil-based Rustoleum paint takes 24 hours to dry)
• Took the two LP tanks up to my house where I'll be able to de-rust and paint them (maybe -- it depends on Mom)

I forgot to take my camera with me today; I was going to take some pictures to post on the blog. On Friday, I'll try to remember to take it.

'Til next time...

A Far-Away Memorial

As many of you may know, in order to downsize, I'm selling a lot of my "stuff" on eBay.

Between 1991 and 1993, Mark and I collected First-Day Covers from the Postal Commemorative Society. Every little while, an envelope and supporting documentation would arrive from wherever a new stamp was issued. The envelope had Mark's name and our address in Brandon and was postmarked on the first day of issue at the place where the stamp was issued.

Yesterday, October 20, 2009, I sold a set of four such First-Day Covers on Space Exploration to the Mt. John Observatory in New Zealand. They will be using it as part of a display. To quote them:

"As this is the International Year of Astronomy we have been actively reviewing ways in which to improve and enhance our outreach programs and one of our main goals is to develop a philatelic collection dedicated to space, astronomy, and satellites through which we can engage and excite visitors. These covers would be a perfect match! We've put in a "best offer" which we hope you will look upon favorably. "

Most of you who knew Mark probably knew of his intense interest in astronomy. He had two telescopes and belonged to the astronomy club at the Museum of Science and Industry. It seems fitting that his name will be on display in an astronomy exhibit, even as the name of the recipent on envelopes with Space Exploration stamps.

Sometime, I'd like to travel to New Zealand and see it, but I have the whole US to cover first. Besides, how would I get my travel trailer to New Zealand? :)

In any case, Chris from the Mt. John Observatory has promised me some pictures of the display once they have completed it. I'll share them with you as soon as I get them.

'Til next time...

Mark, Who Loved to Camp

Today, October 21, 2009, Mark would have been 65.

It's hard to believe it's been 7 years since he passed away, but that's what my calendar tells me so it must be true.

Does time heal all wounds? Yes, at least to a degree; it at least softens the pain of the loss. It sure helps to know that he is now in a place where you don't count the milestones of your life in years or months or days.

I don't know if they even celebrate birthdays in heaven, but Mark really got excited about birthdays--probably not as excited as his brother, David, who wanted every day to be his birthday. He always said, "Today is my birthday, the best day of the year."

I like to think they are celebrating this important anniversary of Mark's birth today, along with countless others who love him.

Mark loved to camp and would be 100% behind my plan to RV full-time. We had many campers, including a 5x7 tent, an 8x10 tent, two different truck campers, a tent camper, and a Class C motorhome. I think he loved the planning of our excursions as much as the actual trips. He would spend hours looking at maps and studying places to visit. He approached each trip with an eagerness to explore and enjoy. He found many obscure places to visit, most of which were well worth the time.

One of his favorite places to camp was Moffits Beach, in the Adirondacks. In fact, most of his family hold Moffits Beach in a special place in their hearts... it was where they camped as kids, "roughing it" in a big "Army" tent.

We've spent many a rainy day in the Adirondacks, which somehow made everything more fun. Yes, it's true. It's often the challenging days that we look back on with the greatest joy. Same old, same old days are harder to remember.

He also got to spend time camping with David and Esther and the kids, when I was unable to because of having to work. This picture was taken by Esther at one of their camping trips in North Carolina. You can see from his smile how much fun Mark was having.

That's one of things I miss most about him -- his smile and his love of life.

'Til next time...

Rustoleum paint

Today, I also went to Ace Hardware and picked up the white Rustoleum paint I need for my LP tanks. If all goes well tomorrow, they should be pretty much done. I got primer and paint and both dry in about 30 minutes.

I also hope to get the A-Frame on the camper de-rusted and painted.

Hopefully, the cooler weather will hold for tomorrow.

'Til next time...

Reading is fun and helpful

Today, I received two books in the mail:

• The Audubon Society Nature Guides: Deserts
• Woodall's Owner's Handbook: Understand the Inner Workings of All RV Systems.

I really want to spend a lot of time in the southwest, where the main terrain (hear the rhyme?), or so it seems, is desert. I've never spent much time in the desert, except when Mark and I took our trip to Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. What I saw of Arizona, I loved. In fact, if I had seen Arizona before Florida, I'd probably be living there instead.

The author of the other book is Gary Bunzer, also known as "The RV Doctor." I've read a lot of his articles on RV sites online. Not only is he extremely knowledgable about everything RV, he has a way of explaining things that the average, or even below average, schmoo like me can understand. I'm still reading Trailer Life's RV Repair & Maintenance Manual and look forward to filling in some of the blanks when I read Gary's book.

I have always contended that you can learn how to do anything by reading. I guess we'll see if I'm right.

'Til next time...

LP Bottles

Yesterday, I read about how important it is that you not let your LP tanks get rusty -- it can destroy the integrity of the tank and could lead to a dangerous explosion.

In view of this, on Wednesday (my next day I can work on the camper), I've decided to take both LP tanks off (which I was going to do anyway) and de-rust them and paint them. Neither has much rust, but it's probably better to take care of it now before it gets serious. I'll just take them off and take them up to my shed for later work.

I'll have to get some White Rustoleum spray paint to use once I've taken off the rust. I'll have to stop in Lowe's or Home Depot or, more likely, Ace Hardware and pick up the paint. I already have the EVAPORUST which is an incredible rust remover.

Isn't it strange how one project can lead to another and another?

I'm looking forward to working with the cool temps we've been having this week. Hopefully, I'll get a lot done.

'Til next time...

Two-Way Mirror or Not

This morning I was reading the RV Travel blog and found some interesting info I thought would be good to pass on to everyone who reads this blog, even though it has nothing to do with Camper Prep: How to tell if a mirror is two-way or not. To quote the blog (http://www.rvtravel.com/rvforum/viewtopic.php?t=6381):

Do you know how to determine if a mirror is 2-way or not? This is not to scare you, but to make you aware. A policewoman who travels all over the US, and gives seminars and techniques for businesswomen passed this on. When we visit toilets, bathrooms, hotel rooms, changing rooms, etc., how many of you know for sure that the seemingly ordinary mirror hanging on the wall is a real mirror or actually a 2-way mirror (i.e., they can see you, but you can't see them)?

There have been many cases of people installing 2-way mirrors in female changing rooms. It is very difficult to positively identify the surface by just looking at it.

So how do we determine with any amount of certainty what type of mirror we are looking at? Just conduct this simple test: Place the tip of your fingernail against the reflective surface and if there is a GAP between your fingernail and the image of the nail, then it is a GENUINE mirror.

However, if your fingernail DIRECTLY TOUCHES the image of your nail, then BEWARE FOR IT IS A 2-WAY MIRROR! "No Space, Leave the Place." So remember, every time you see a mirror, do the "fingernail test." It doesn't cost you anything. Remember: "No Space, Leave the Place."

Ladies: Share this with your girlfriends, sisters, daughters, etc.

Men: Share this with your wives, daughters, daughters-in-law, mothers, girlfriends and friends.

Weather Hinders Progress

I can't believe it's been nine days since I worked on my travel trailer (TT). Though I have lots of time to get it ready, I want to make more progress than that.

Since my mother requires 24-7 care, it's very difficult to allot time for trailer prep. She does have a caregiver 3 times each week for 4 hours (Monday 1-5 P.M., Wednesday 9:15 A.M - 1:15 P.M, and Friday 9:15 A.M - 1:15 P.M. During that time, I have to run errands, including getting groceries, etc. and then set aside time for preparing my TT. The weather here in Thonotosassa has been so hot (in the 90's), it's been impossible to spend a lot of time working on it.

This weekend, we're supposed to see a break in the hot weather. Today, it's been raining off and on and I met some friends for breakfast. On Monday, I have to take my car in to complete the service I started Tuesday -- Mom pitched such a fit, they really moved us out of there fast, but I don't recommend that method for speeding up the service on your car. She used to be okay in such situations, but now is loud, swears, cries, demands to go home, etc.

In any case, the plan for next Wednesday morning is to:

• Remove the battery
• Remove the two propane tanks
• Paint the A-frame section of the TT after making sure the rust is mostly gone (I worked on that before)
• Wait for the paint to dry
• Re-install the two propane tanks
• Re-install the battery

I think my next project in the TT will be to modify the double bed into a single bed that can be turned back into a double. There is hardly enough floor space in the TT for a comfy chair and since I will mostly be traveling by myself, I won't need the double bed unless some of my family or friends visit.

I've been reading a lot of books and articles about camping in general and boondocking in particular. I am seriously considering boondocking for 1/2 to 3/4 of my time. For those who are unfamiliar with boondocking, it is camping without hookups -- no water, electric or sewer - you rely on the amenities in your TT itself. I will probably upgrade my TT with solar panels to handle the electricity - the one I've already installed does a great job. An extra water tank and a "Blue Boy" (portable tank for shifting the contents of the holding tanks without having to break down your campsite) will extend the time I can stay set up without hookups.

Of course, decisions like this don't have to be made right now, but it's fun to consider it.

Well, time to get going. Til next time.

K

Progress on Camper Prep

Today, I did some more rust removal -- this time on part of the A-frame in the front. I also put a second coat of paint on the back bumper -- probably won't need any more of that. The next time I work on it, I'll start right out with the A-Frame ... I'll have to take off the two propane tanks and the battery to really do the job the way it needs to be done, since there's rust underneath those also.

I put some dryer sheets around in various cmpartments -- it's supposed to keep the critters out.

The solar panel charger I installed is doing a great job: a few weeks ago the battery registered 11.2 volts; last week it was 11.8; this week it was 12.4 volts. On a sunny day, it charges at about 19 volts. What a great way to create electricity... If a person were to boondock, it would be of tremendous help.