Alignment

Stix n Brix
Clayton, NC

When we had new tires put on Wanda a couple of weeks ago, we noticed that the old right front one hadn’t worn evenly.  That’s a sign that it needed an alignment.  Since Clayton Tire wasn’t equipped for that, Terry referred me to Massey’s Aligning in Selma.  It’s another small town shop that does good work at a reasonable price.

 

I had driven over there a few days before in the Suki to make sure there was room to maneuver the MH in the parking lot.  I told the shop guy that it was 12’6” tall and he said that the door’s clearance was 13’6” when it was built several years ago and it hadn’t shrunk much.    You can tell that they had to leave the door open.  The work pit has all sorts of tools.  They had to straighten the axle to change the camber.  The wheels were toed-in just a little bit too.

 

I went to the office to pay the bill ($130) and the boss was standing on the table going back and forth with the two office workers.  He wasn’t feeling the best in the world, but he was definitely still the boss even though he was as sweet as he could be.

I could tell that the MH drove smoother so we are ready to go to the lake in a few weeks.  Spring is just around the corner!  We got the welcome packet from Escapees this past week.  At some point in time, we want to volunteer at the CARE Center.  Even though we prefer State Park cg’s, I’m sure we will stay at some of their parks during our travels.  Heck, we may even end up buying a lot in one of their co-ops.  There are all kinds of options out there.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

Fortune Cookies; Escapees

Stix n Brix, NC

I want to give a shout-out to some recent new followers; Carol who is a gray anonymous person, Ken & Cindy who we met at the RV-Dreams Rally last April and have followed their blog ever since then, Froggi Donna who’s blog I have checked in on many times over the past year or more, Kate who has a very nice blog, and Rick & Paulette who often add comments to many blogs that I follow.

I may have mentioned it before, but I enjoy reading the little sayings in fortune cookies.  Many of them are just plain goofy but some hit home with me.  I want to share a few recent ones, and no I didn’t eat all these cookies at one time.  “A small house can hold as much happiness as a big one.”  “Happiness isn’t something you remember, it’s something you experience.”  “Peace comes from within.  Seek it from yourself.”  “Any day above ground is a good day.”  I especially like that last one. 

This past week, we took a formal step towards full-timing.  We joined Escapees.  I think every any-timer and full-timer should join them for a period of time.  We haven’t taken too many other steps towards our goal lately.  It’s just easier to hibernate during the winter plus we are adjusting to this new schedule.  Well there’s a good football game on tv so I’ll sign off for now.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

New Tires

Stix n Brix
Clayton, NC

Baby got new shoes!  Well, actually, Wanda’s got new wheels.  I’ve taken our vehicles to Clayton Tire for the past 20 years for regular maintenance and feel comfortable with them.  We put the same tires on as the original, Michelin 245/70R 19.5 XRV.  They have a load range F which means they are 12 ply.  I asked Terry Hardee, the shop owner to see if he could find some that same size but with a higher load range since we will probably be a little overweight (the MH too) when we start full-timing in it in the Fall.  He checked with his supplier and said that what we had was best.  He found some with a load range H (16 ply) but the tread just wouldn’t be right for a MH.  Here’s Charles getting started on Wanda and taking off one of the front tires.

 

It sure looks different without the hubcap and really naked without the wheels.

 

Did ya notice the shiny new brakeworks on the front wheels?  Here’s a peek at the inner rear wheel and another naked shot. 

 

The guys really had to put some muscle into it to get the new tires on the wheels.  The stickers will soon wear off of these new tires.  The manufacture date is 4810 (48th week of 2010).

 

I know these weren’t very exciting pictures but I haven’t used the camera in a while.  Besides, we spent more money on these six tires ($2400) than we did on all the gas and cg fees last year combined.  The old tires were more than 7 years old.  Hopefully she’ll be safe for quite a while.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

New Work Schedule..198 Days left!!

Stix n Brix, NC

Today is my one day off instead of the usual 7 days off.  My new "work all the time" schedule starts tomorrow.  I've worked the old schedule for so long that my body will physically have a hard time adjusting to a month of day shifts and then a month of night shifts.  The old schedule went something like this; 4 nights,  off 3,  3 days,  off 1,  3 nights,  off 3,  4 days and then off a glorious 7 days!  These are all 12 hour shifts.  It was alot of flipping back and forth but it was well worth it to get a week off every month without taking time off. 

The new schedule is 2 on,  2 off,  3 on,  2 off,  2 on,  3 off,  2 on, 2 off,  3 on,  2 off,  2 on,  3 off.  These are also 12 hour shifts.  I'm not looking forward to a month of night shifts, but I don't like getting up real early for a month of day shifts either.  So if you ever encounter a grumpy cop, just remember that they don't know if they are coming or going.  Oh well, at least I'll only have to work it for a few months before I retire! 

On this schedule, we won't be taking the MH to the beach or lake or anywhere other than the RV-Dreams Rally in April.  We will use our time here at the house to get rid of stuff and put it on the market.  That's looking on the bright side of things, isn't it.  We try do see things in a positive light as often as possible.  I have always thought that a person chooses to be happy.  Life dishes out some tuff stuff sometimes, but it's all about how we handle it.  Many years ago when Gin was diagnosed with MS and could no longer work, we chose to think positive.  Sure we would have less money, but we would have more time together than most couples.  I know many couples out there who barely see each other during their working lives and upon retirement, find that they hardly know one another.  Throw in a totally incompatible work schedule, and it's no wonder that divorce is rampant with military and emergency personnel.  Well time for me to do a few things before I go to work early tomorrow.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life's journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

Blogs

Stix n Brix, NC

It’s been awhile since I’ve welcomed recent followers.  I apologize for that, so at this time I’d like to say welcome to Roxi and Annie of The Good Luck Duck who are in a bit of a holding pattern in the cold, Al Filo who is from another country but likes to expand horizons, rt who doesn’t have much info on his/her profile, Dear Miss Mermaid who has spent quite some time in the Caribbean, Sue and Mo of Moho Travels who comment often as Malone, and Mike and Terri who we met at last year’s RV-Dreams rally.

Some folks follow blogs centered around different subject matter that is of interest to them.  I have chosen to just stick with following RVer’s blogs.  I don’t know how some people can faithfully follow dozens and dozens of blogs either.  I think it’s good to add some that you find to be fresh and perhaps drop some that don’t keep your attention.  I’m not offended if someone drops me from their reading list and I hope to not offend someone if I drop theirs.  It’s a little bit like real life friends in that it’s a fluid development.  There are some blogs that I’ve followed for quite awhile and I plan to follow them a lot longer.  I think of them as old friends. 

Once you’ve met the authors of the blogs, their personalities can really come through in their words.  One thing that I’m glad isn’t coming through the keyboard is their germs.  Have you noticed how many have suffered from the flu or bad colds here lately?  I’d say that at least half of the people that I follow have been sick during the past few weeks.  I sure hope they all get well soon.  I sure can’t afford to call out sick.  I’m saving that time to use towards vacation in April for the RV-Dreams Rally.  I hope to meet some of my fellow bloggers there so we can see if their personalities match their words.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.