Senior Moments

We went to the dance at the clubhouse last night. "Senior Moments" was the name of the band that played. Kyle asked if they could remember the lyrics! Actually, they were very good. Between my injury and Roger's broken toe we were happy to make it around the floor a few times. Fun to watch all the older couples that are such good dancers - especially when they did the twist!
I've mentioned before that our social life seems to revolve around happy hours and dining. Someone suggested we go to the Elks Lodge for dinner last week - it is open to the public on Monday nights with a dance floor, a DJ and a $4.99 meal.There were 10 of us all together, talking and having a good time. Several staff members served us our food all at the same time. We each took a bite and all conversation ceased as we practically inhaled our meals and licked our plates clean! Open faced hot beef or pork sandwich with mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans - not the healthiest of meals but oh such good "comfort" food! Four beers and two dinners under $20.00 - of course, the cholesterol medication is not included!
The weather is finally cooperating so we plan to watch the Olympic hockey game between USA & Canada on the outside TV this afternoon. One last medal for USA!

Back on My Bike

Five months, 18 days and 2 hours after my fall I finally got back on my bicycle. Figured if Roger could get back in an airplane I should be able to get back on my bike!  Dr.Brewer, my chiropractor, has helped me so much - I'm finally getting my life back. The weather is nice today, in the 70's, and the wind has died down so I wasn't afraid I would get blown off! It felt good to ride around the park and get some exercise. Next on my agenda - using my new golf shoes and hiking boots!

Internet Scam

I received a call from a potential guest at our townhome in San Antonio yesterday. She had emailed us an inquiry, a long time ago, and unfortunately the townhouse was rented for the dates she requested. Still searching for a place to stay in San Antonio over July 4th week-end, she checked Craig's List. There in the list of homes to rent was Tobin Hill Townhome with all the same pictures as we have posted on HomeAway and VRBO! She contacted the "owner" and was told the property was available but was alarmed at the way he wanted her to pay. She went back to our site and confirmed that the property was still reserved and figured out that someone had copied and pasted our pictures and was "renting" the townhome illegally. She notified Craig's List via their "scam alert" and they deleted the ad. I notified HomeAway/VRBO and they responded that they have a copyright claim on their website but of course criminals don't abide by it!!! All we can do is "search the net" periodically to try and stop any false advertisements. Hate to think of people traveling all the way to San Antonio only to find out they have been duped!
Kay received an email the other day telling of a new burglary scam. Criminals break into cars in event parking lots, steal the GPS and remote control, and are led by our own technology straight to our homes. The email recommended that you never use your actual home address - put in an address nearby. Let them try to find our "home" address!

Megan's Project

Megan showed us her sketch books from the design classes she is taking this semester and we were so impressed. Since she inherited absolutely no artistic talent from either Roger or me, she has struggled, especially since so many of her classmates seem to have a natural talent. Projects have been time intensive but she is really enjoying her classes. Couldn't pass up the opportunity to "brag" about her project that made it to the display case! We are still putting her artwork on the frig!

Dometic

Our new motorhome has a Dometic, microwave/convection oven. The microwave works great but the convection oven has never heated to the temperature selected. We used two different thermometers to test it and always the same problem - it takes about an hour to preheat and never reaches more than 320 degrees. Just when I had finally learned how to use a convection oven and liked it! It is still under warranty so we figured we would just call them and have it replaced - after all, how hard could it be???
Well, for those of you that read my blog about Roger getting his Class B driver's license, I will spare you three weeks of daily details and just say "ditto for Dometic!"
After testing two different ovens, neither of which worked any better than the original (involving a service call which Dometic does not cover and two trips to an RV dealer in Harlingen,) Dometic customer service came back and said that there was nothing they could do about it because "only 80 degrees off" "met their specifications." Great quality control!
Roger kept pestering them and they finally agreed to give us a credit at any Dometic dealer. Sounded reasonable to us - now to find a Dometic dealer nearby - how hard could it be??? Trouble is most Dometic dealers sell RV and mobile home parts not appliances. Even Camping World does not sell microwave/convection ovens. What were we going to do with a $600 credit at Camping World - we don't need that much toilet paper and holding tank chemicals!!
I finally talked with two nice ladies this morning, Lucille and Dawn, who agreed that there was nowhere we could exchange the oven. We will return the oven to Camping World and Dometic will write us a check so we can buy another oven. How refreshing to talk with a reasonable, fair person interested in actually helping the customer! Ordered a GE microwave/convection oven at Lowe's that should fit. Stay tuned!!

The Michigan picnic was scheduled for last night - a get together for all Michiganders here at Winterhaven. I made a big pot of Roger's dutch oven beans. The day started out cool and overcast but by noon it was cold, raining and windy and it got progressively worse as the day went on. Needless to say the picnic was cancelled. What am I to do with all these beans?? Maybe we will need that much toilet paper and holding tank chemicals after all!!!

Kyle, Heather, Samantha & Emily in Australia

Carlos & Megan Visit

Carlos and Megan came to visit for the week-end and we had a really nice time. They flew into Harlingen on Friday night and back on Sunday afternoon. The weather cooperated so we went out to South Padre Island on Saturday. Megan & I did some shopping, we walked the beach, and then went back to "Dirty Al's" for more shrimp. Megan is really enjoying her classes this semester - drawing & scetching rooms and spaces and building models - time intensive but fun. They just bought their first new car - a Toyota, Venza - and are loving it. Well, Megan is - Carlos is driving the truck! You know the fine print in the marriage contract that says the wife gets all new vehicles! They have so enjoyed their garden that now Carlos wants to get 2 chickens! Megan isn't as excited but, they are going on an "Urban Chicken Coop Tour" in Austin to check out how others are going back to nature in the city! Stay tuned!
Roger opened the freezer and the small shelf on the door, with frozen food in it, fell off and landed on his left second toe. It looks horrible, so swollen and black & blue, I'm sure he broke it. About the time I am doing better now he is hobbling around. Sure is going to interfere with his golf game!
Samantha called Roger the other morning to tell us she "pet a kangaroo." The trip to Australia hasn't been without problems but they have had a good time. Imagine Heather will "blog" about it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A nice day today - mid-70's and partly cloudy - we can finally enjoy time outdoors.
The guys played golf on Friday - despite the weather - and us girls went to see "Valentine's Day." Cute, chic flick!
I have been going to the chiropractor 3 times a week since we arrived but I "passed' my re-exam with flying colors and have now graduated to 2 times a week. Doing much better until yesterday - wish I could pinpoint what I do that causes the discomfort - I would certainly stop doing it!! We had planned to go to the Valentine's Dance but stayed home and watched the Olympics instead. Roger was soooo disappointed!
Roger is still fixing and modifying the motorhome. Every day a new project. He tackled his biggest project this week - fixing the shower vent. Both ovens do not work properly - the convection part of the microwave and the regular oven do not come up to temperature. They are still under warranty but what a hassle to get them fixed. We finally got a new microwave installed on Friday but it doesn't work any better than the one we returned! The designated RV repairman for Dometic, from Harlingen, isn't very knowledgable or helpful so not sure how we will finally resolve it!
Talked with Joel yesterday - they have a foot of snow in Dallas. No chance of teaching those Texans how to drive in "real winter!"  It has been an "inside" week for us here too - cool and rainy. Will probably warm up about the time we leave! At least we now have the Olympics to watch! Roger had hoped to fly the Cub down while we are here but the weather gods have not cooperated and time is running out to make it worth while. We are leaving the middle of March to go to the FMCA Rally in New Mexico and then on to an Alfa Rally in Tucson in April. Roger figures he will learn all about the new motorhome from other owners!
Kyle, Heather & girls, along with his parents, are on "holiday" (as Samantha would now say) in Australia. They will travel around the Brisbane area and then Wendell & Sharon will spend another 2 weeks farther south. What a fun adventure for them!
Thinking of Dad this past week - he passed away February 11, 1989 - hard to believe it was 21 years ago.
Many good memories.
PS - Just read Heather's blog - they missed their flight on Friday night! Had to go home and return to the airport Saturday night to catch their rescheduled flight. Hope the travel gods are with them the rest of the week!

Class B Drivers License

After we purchased our new motorhome, our friend Gary, who also owns a large motorhome, informed us we needed a Texas Class B drivers license - because this motorhome is over 26,000 pounds. We figured it would be easy to get them here in Brownsville. Roger, you go first! And so the saga begins......
On February 1, Roger went to the local Dept. of Transportation office and picked up a study guide. He read it over a couple of times, studied the appropriate chapters and was pretty confident when he went to take the test the next day. The test turned out to be tests, plural for 4 tests - General Knowledge; Air Brakes; Pre-Trip Inspections; & Special Requirements. He has been driving a motorhome for years and he had gone over the study guide thoroughly so, how hard could it be? Well.............he passed the General Knowledge test with a 97 (the highest score they had seen!) but royally flunked the other 3! No problem, they said, you can come back as many times as you need to. Seems as though they have many "repeaters!"
He is frustrated, many questions about 18 wheelers, school buses, and transporting hazardous materials. I'm not the world's best cook but my food has never been called "hazardous materials" before! Multiple choice questions like "What do you do first following a breakdown?" Roger answered - "pull off the road & put on your emergency flashers" but the correct answer was "put out your triangular reflectors" - how can you do that before you pull over???? And "What year were turn signals inacted?" - the answer is 1962 in case you are interested. How hard can it be????
In addition, he did not pass the vision test. You have to have at least 20/40 vision in each eye and since his accident he is legally blind in his left eye. After checking with several employees they finally said he could fill out form C-592 B and apply for an "exemption." This form stated it was for a CDL (commercial drivers license) so Roger says "I am not applying for a CDL, I need a Class B to drive my motorhome" but, they insisted it was required. This form consists of numerous health related questions with the usual disclaimer at the bottom that basically says "I did not lie." One of the statements is "I have 20/40 vision in both eyes" so Roger takes it to the "waiver lady" and says "I can not sign this because this statement is not true" - to which she replies "You have to answer yes and sign it so I can notarize it and apply for your exemption" to which Roger replies "But, if I answer yes and sign it I won't need the exemption!" They finally settled on Roger making a notation next to the question and signing his name. He thinks he is done - oh, no - now she gives him a physical examination form that requires a physician signature attesting to his health. By now even calm, easygoing Roger has reached his limit! As he is driving home a big cement truck pulls up next to him at a red light - he looks over at the driver and thinks "if that guy can pass the stupid test surely I must be able to!"
He has a pilot license to fly a 300,000 pound airplane, carrying passengers but can't drive his own motorhome! What is wrong with this picture???
After hearing his story I suggest that maybe the employees in Brownsville do not know all the rules and that perhaps a phone call to the DOT in Austin might be beneficial. So, after relating the scenario several times and numerous transfers "up the food chain" he finally gets a lady that said he did not need a waiver for his vision because he is not getting a CDL only a Class B license and if they don't believe him have them call Austin. But, she did not know which of the 4 tests were required. By that time he had been on the phone so long his battery was almost dead so he gave up trying to talk with anyone else!
I also suggested that there might be potential for a new business here - helping people pass the driving test. Similar to "Mr. Bill" at A&M - a former student that had a lucrative business "tutoring" other students to pass the math tests! So Roger gets on the Internet and sure enough someone else had the same idea - for a mere $15.00 you could purchase a practice test and take it as many times as you needed (within a 30 day time frame.) At this point what's $15 bucks? So he purchases the program and begins his quest. After several attempts and a better understanding of the stupidity of the questions he is ready to try again. After all, how hard can it be???
Roger already knows all the employees at the local DOT office by now and they all know him but the next time he gets to meet the manager. Roger explains the story one more time and the "boss" agrees that he does not need the vision waiver for a Class B license but insists that he has to pass all 4 tests. Won a battle but not the war!
Now it is time to take the remaining 3 tests. The tests are computerized - if you answer correctly it moves to the next question, if you get it wrong the question comes back in red  You can "pend" questions you are not sure about. Roger passed the "Airbrakes" and "Special Requirements" tests but had 3 pended questions on the "Pre-Trip Inspection" test. He had to answer one correctly to pass - the anxiety mounts! - he answers #1 and it pops back red - he answere #2 and it pops back red - he answers #3 - and it goes away and he passes with an 80!!! Can't celebrate yet - now he has to schedule the actual driving test! Not as easy as it sounds because it involves moving our house!
His test is scheduled for February 9th at 2pm (remember he started this process on the 1st)  but we have to leave at noon so he can go to a parking lot and practice parallel parking. Yup, you read it right - they require you to parallel park it! I went shopping and he went to meet Natalie. She did a thorough inspection inside & outside and made sure everything worked correctly and then they went for a drive. Roger got 3 "demerits" - he merged off the highway onto an access road and got in the left hand turn lane - all commercial vehicles are supposed to stay in the farthest right hand lane (I'm not a commercial vehicle!) he didn't use his turn signal prior to parallel parking (I'm in a parking lot, not on the street!) and he "kissed" the curb when he parked (Ooops!) But, he passed!!! Not sure what they do if you don't pass - confiscate your home??!!
As they are going into the DOT office to actually get his license Natalie says "I've worked here 4 years and we've never done one of these before. I researched it some and you really only needed to take 2 of the 4 tests - the others are for CDL's only." I think I would have strangled her!
Other future applicants need to thank Roger for paving the way!
Sure glad Roger went first!

Superbowl

We had a Superbowl party Sunday night. I made a big batch of "Boilermaker Chili' - less "heat" than usual for all the Michiganders - and we watched the game on our outside TV. We lasted until half time and then the cool wind drove us inside. Unfortunately, inside means the end of the party because no one has a "house" big enough for all of us! Thought about Dr. Langlinais - too bad he isn't here to see his friend Tom Benson's team win the big one!
We went to Dirty Al's, out on Padre Island,  for seafood last night. Did I mention most of our social life involves eating and drinking? Huge, delicious shrimp! Supposed to rain for the next few days so we have to get out while we can.
The chiropractor is really helping me and I've had several "good" days in a row. Thank you Lord! Hoping I am finally on my way back to normal. Thinking about getting back on my bike, but..............

Rain, Rain

"Rain, rain go away..........come again some other day!"