Unusual Uses for Vodka. P & N Fly Back to England!

"From cleaning jewelry to fighting stubborn stains, vodka has many handy uses -- other than pepping up your Bloody Mary! We've rounded up some unusual ways to put your bottom-shelf vodka to good use all around your house.

Vodka: not just for martinis anymore.
Whether on the rocks, straight up or mixed in with your favorite cocktail, vodka has a reputation for being the life of the party. But make no mistake, this versatile spirit is more than just a one-trick pony. Thanks to its basic mixture of pure alcohol and water, vodka can be used as a strong household cleaner, pesticide and so much more. Bonus: it's a non-toxic alternative to many traditional products and chemicals.

Use Vodka for Stain Removal
Vodka can banish three of the most stubborn fabric stains known to man: ink, grass and lipstick. For ink and grass stains, dip a clean cloth in vodka and rub spot. Rinse thoroughly. Lipstick on your collar? Blot stain with vodka, then launder in your regular wash.


Use Vodka to Clean Mold and Mildew
Instead of using toxic chemicals, fill a spray bottle with vodka to kill mold and mildew and knock out soap scum. On caulk and grout, spritz moldy areas and let sit for 30 minutes. Scrub area with an old toothbrush, tile/grout brush or nylon scouring-pad. Rinse thoroughly. For bathroom tiles, spray vodka and let sit for 5-10 minutes; then wash clean.

 
Use Vodka to Preserve Fresh Flowers

Plants all produce ethylene, a ripening gas that promotes maturation. Vodka stunts ethylene production, thereby helping flowers stay wilt-free longer. To keep store-bought flowers fresh, snip an inch off of each stem, add two teaspoons of vodka and one teaspoon sugar. Stir well and repeat this process every few days.



Use Vodka to Clean Chrome, Glass and Jewelry
Vodka is effective at making dull bathroom fixtures, chandeliers, eyeglasses, windowpanes and even precious gemstones (only stones that are a crystal, such as diamonds) sparkle like new.
- For chandeliers: Moisten a clean microfiber cloth with vodka and rub over dusty surfaces. Alternatively, you can spritz the chandelier with a solution of one cup water and one teaspoon of vodka in a spray bottle. Lay a drop cloth on the floor to catch drips.

- For chrome: Soak a soft, clean cloth with vodka and shine.

- For eyeglasses: Dip a clean, lint-free cloth in vodka and rub each lens (back and front) until clear.

- For jewelry: Measure out one-fourth cup vodka in a shallow drinking glass or bowl. Drop in jewelry and let soak for 5-10 minutes. Rinse and dry. Tip: Do NOT clean pearls, opals and other porous stones via this method.

- For windowpanes: Mix one cup water and one teaspoon vodka in a spray bottle. Spritz on windows and wipe clean with paper towels or a clean microfiber cloth.

Use Vodka as an All-Natural Pesticide
Also known as plant lice, aphids are tiny soft-bodied insects that suck the nutrient-rich sap from the stems of plants. To keep aphids off of plants add four cups water, four teaspoons of dishwashing liquid and four teaspoons vodka in a large spray bottle. Shake well and spritz areas where you spot infestations.
Use Vodka to Eliminate Odors
Vodka eradicates foul stenches -- and doesn't leave a scent when it dries. For an odorless air freshener, mix one part vodka with three parts water in a small spray bottle. Spritz area and let dry."
More at: http://www.diylife.com/2010/10/06/household-vodka-uses/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl5%7Csec3_lnk1%7C176357
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Today is a sad day for me.
 
My beloved brother Nigel, and Pamala, his wonderful bride of 40 years, are flying back to England today.   They, and my daughter, took the truck and camper to Galveston docks yesterday afternoon to be shipped to England.















Then the three of them walked on Seawall Blvd. to see the sea.  It was a shame that they didn't have time to see the Strand, Moody Gardens, Bishop's Palace,  or any of the other sights in Galveston.
They rented a Jeep and spent their last night in the US at my daughter's house, but like most RVers, were lost without their home!

They drove up here to see me this morning.  I had bought some seafood salad for Nigel, and Pamala's favorite, pumpernickel bread, so we had a little early lunch before they had to drive to the airport.

Ray made a special dash from Conroe to say good bye to them.   Ray just thought they were super folks, and I thought that was so great of him to want to see them one more time.

 

Nigel is so intrigued by Ray's drawl!

We took pictures, and I was holding back the tears, as I shall probably never see them again.

Yes, life has to go on, but it is a sad day for me today.

1st. GMO Day Tomorrow: 10-10-10.

October 2010 will be the first ever Non-GMO Month, with a special Non-GMO Day on October 10th (10.10.10).

Read the press release.

Consumers, click here to find out more.

Retailers, click here to register to be part of Non-GMO Month.

Vendors, click here to enroll in the Product Verification Program.

Press, click here for contact information and resources.

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Genetically modified foods……..
Are they safe?

"The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) doesn’t think so. The Academy reported that “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. The AAEM asked physicians to advise patients to avoid GM foods.

Before the FDA decided to allow GMOs into food without labeling, FDA scientists had repeatedly warned that GM foods can create unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects, including allergies, toxins, new diseases, and nutritional problems. They urged long-term safety studies, but were ignored.

Since then, findings include:

• Thousands of sheep, buffalo, and goats in India died after grazing on Bt cotton plants
• Mice eating GM corn for the long term had fewer, and smaller, babies.
•  
• More than half the babies of mother rats fed GM soy died within three weeks, and were smaller.
•  
• Testicle cells of mice and rats on a GM soy change significantly.
•  
• By the third generation, most GM soy-fed hamsters lost the ability to have babies.
•  
• Rodents fed GM corn and soy showed immune system responses and signs of toxicity.
•  
• Cooked GM soy contains as much as 7-times the amount of a known soy allergen.
•  
• Soy allergies skyrocketed by 50% in the UK, soon after GM soy was introduced.
•  
• The stomach lining of rats fed GM potatoes showed excessive cell growth, a condition that may lead to cancer.
•  
• Studies showed organ lesions, altered liver and pancreas cells, changed enzyme levels, etc.

Unlike safety evaluations for drugs, there are no human clinical trials of GM foods. The only published human feeding experiment revealed that the genetic material inserted into GM soy transfers into bacteria living inside our intestines and continues to function. This means that long after we stop eating GM foods, we may still have their GM proteins produced continuously inside us. This could mean:

• If the antibiotic gene inserted into most GM crops were to transfer, it could create super diseases, resistant to antibiotics.
• If the gene that creates Bt-toxin in GM corn were to transfer, it might turn our intestinal bacteria into living pesticide factories.

Although no studies have evaluated if antibiotic or Bt-toxin genes transfer, that is one of the key problems. The safety assessments are too superficial to even identify most of the potential dangers from GMOs. See our Health Risks brochure and State of the Science report for more details and citations."

Recent health studies provide growing evidence of harm from GMOs:

GM Corn Damages Liver and Kidneys
Meat Raised on GM Feed is Different
Roundup Could Cause Birth Defects
Genetically Modified Soy Linked to Sterility

More at: http://www.responsibletechnology.org/

_________________

 

I recommend downloading the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, issued by the Institute for Responsible Technology. They also offer some helpful basic advice for how to avoid GMO’s when eating in restaurants.

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It seems so quiet after Pamala and Nigel pulled out in their truck and truck camper, about 4.30 pm yesterday afternoon.

Today:

Ray and finished cleaning the last of the skirting for my daughter and son-in-law's lake house at Somerville, TX.    We are all done with that, except the delivery.  I am looking forward to seeing their new place, when I haul it all over there.

 

Now we can concentrate on other things, as Jim, the mechanic/welder, brought back the stealth/cargo trailer, all fixed, today.

RV Handling Problems. PA Trips. Bye Bye Camper.

If you are having RV handling problems:

"The first thing to investigate during any preemptive troubleshooting foray into ride and handling problems centers on weight distribution.
Face it, RVs in general and motorhomes specifically are not created symmetrically nor is the weight equally placed on the chassis.

In fact, John Anderson, Founder of the Recreational Vehicle Safety Education Foundation once stated that, "Of all the RVs we've weighed (over 10,000 RVs in the first seven years); we've never come across one that was loaded equally on both sides."

As for all other steering, handling or sway issues, always begin by ensuring your rig is set up with the correct front end alignment at factory specs before adding equipment and components.

Also, according to Kevin Healy, owner of an RV specialty shop, East County Alignment & Brake, always have the stock springs tested and evaluated prior to slapping on replacement parts.
Granted, aftermarket products will indeed improve drivability, but having the correct spring rate is vital to knowing which combination of aftermarket products will do the most good.

Since it could be a substantial investment to rectify all ride and handling ills, the smart RVer will seek the biggest bang for the buck.

No talk of front end remedies omits the name Bilstein.
Simply put, if your coach is not already equipped with Bilstein shocks, get some.

This upgrade is the most common aftermarket replacement component in use today. For the larger diesel pusher rigs, it's not uncommon to find four Bilsteins added to the rear end also. " 
More at: http://www.rvdoctor.com/2004/11/improving-motorhome-ride-steering-and.html
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Passport America will now 'Trip Route', and you can include directions to their parks too, if you wish.
http://www.passport-america.com/Campgrounds/TripRouting.aspx
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Today:

Ray had to go to stay with his ailing father-in-law, which was really a good thing, as I was so busy helping Nigel, that I wouldn't have been much help to Ray.

We didn't have all the vertical parts of the skirting washed, and as long as my son-in-law has all the long horizontal mounting parts, he can start on that, until I can get there with the skirting.  That will all fit in my van, which I can take another weekend.

Nigel took the truck camper off the truck again, as he hadn't got it quite straight in the dark.  We were too tired, and it was too dark, to mess with it last night. 
Also he had forgotten to take off part of the Drop 'N Lock gooseneck hitch, which is of no use to him in England.   I should have washed the Okie red mud off it, before taking the picture!
That had to be done with the camper off the truck to get at it.  Nigel really needed to use my air ratchet, but the darned thing wouldn't work, so he had to remove all these long winded bolts with a regular ratchet.  I remember who used the air ratchet last year, and I guess they put it up without oiling it.

After a bit of lunch, a cuppa tea, and a shower, they loaded up their stuff, and the long mounting parts of the skirting, and headed to my daughter's lake house at Somerville, TX.

This is the last time I will see the truck and camper.

Pamala and Nigel will be back here on Wednesday in a rented car, after they have left the rig to be shipped at the docks in Galveston, TX.  Then they want to use the rented car to take themselves to the airport to fly back to England on Thursday.

I was supposed to go to the lake house for dinner in my van, but after all the tool "gofering", I just couldn't face doing 200 miles by myself, today.

Myths about the AKC… Possum! Truck Camper.

• 
• 

What AKC Registration Is

"There’s really only one thing you can be assured of with an AKC-registered dog – both his parents are also registered.
That’s it.

AKC registration says nothing about the relative quality of your dog or his health. All it takes to get an AKC ‘blue slip’ registration is to send an application and the required fee. If your pet’s parents are registered, your pet will be entered into the database as well. He’ll receive a registration number, which will appear on the blue slip you receive back from the AKC.
Your dog is now AKC-registered.
If you’re interested in seeing your dog’s ‘pedigree,’ for an additional fee the AKC will generate a list of the names of your pet’s parents, grandparents, great grandparents and so on.
A pedigree is really no more than a list of names of sires and dams.

But at Least I Know My Dog is Purebred, Right?

Not necessarily.

It’s far more common than people realize that unscrupulous breeders register litters with falsified parentage.

For example, a ‘backyard breeder’ owns AKC-registered male and female Golden Retrievers. The female goes into heat and the yellow Labrador Retriever next door jumps the fence to procreate with her.

A litter is born from this union and the breeder registers the puppies with the two Goldens as parents.

You’re looking for a Golden Retriever puppy. You see the breeder’s ad and visit the litter of puppies. Unless you’re very knowledgeable about dog breeds -- which is unlikely if you’re looking to acquire a puppy from a ‘backyard breeder’ -- chances are extremely high you won’t be able to tell these pups are half Golden and half Lab.

So off you go with your mixed breed, AKC-registered pet. As he gets older, you notice his coat isn’t very full and his frame is much heavier than the frames of the dogs you were told were his parents.

None of these curiosities really matter to you because you’ve fallen completely in love with your pet and have no intention of either breeding or showing him.

The point is -- AKC registration in and of itself should never be the basis for a decision about acquiring a pet."
More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/10/05/importance-of-pet-dog-akc-registration.aspx
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The problems arise when you think you have a registered purebred dog, and want to "make some money" selling some purebred puppies.  But you don't have a purebred at all, as a dog is the total sum of it's ancesters, whatever breeds.  Often, people don't realize what it costs to raise a litter of pups properly, especially when some "don't look quite right", and you can't sell them.  So you wind up keeping them, giving them away, or taking them to the pound.

Even true breeders aren't in it for the money, because of the expense of buying 'breeding quality' dogs which are the closest to the conformation standard of that breed:
http://www.akc.org/breeds/complete_breed_list.cfm      Each breed is supposed to look like it's breed,  so that you don't have Poodles with long bodies like Dachshunds!  Or Poodles with broad heads like Bulldogs!

Pet quality purebred dogs will only produce pet quality pups, which do not demand a price worth all the work and expense.
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Today:  













We had caught a young possum in our trap.  The Animal Control Officer said that they would put it to sleep. 

Well, the little possum didn't know that it done anything wrong by eating Ray's vegetables out of his garden.   We didn't have a sign up that said "Not For Possums"!

So we took it down to the trees by the lake and set it free there.  I was very surprised when I saw this picture, as I didn't know that I had been fast enough to snap it. (As always, click to enlarge)



Then Ray and I carried on washing the skirting for my daughter's Lake House at Somerville,TX
  
If I had known that Ray and I were going to have to clean ALL of it, I would never have started on it!   I thought that just some of it had got dirty.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous. No AC needed.  Sunny, mild, and no rain for Pamala and Nigel's visit here.

Then Nigel took the camper off the truck:













He wanted to take the gooseneck hitch off the truck, before he shipped them both to England.  We have listed the hitch on Craigslist.



But it got dark so quickly while Pamala and I were helping him get it lined up to put it back on the truck, that it isn't on quite right.  It will have to be re-loaded. 

It is on there, but tomorrow is another day.

What About Bleach.

"Bleach is a chemical compound derived from natural sources used to whiten fabrics. Bleach works by the process of oxidation, or the alteration of a compound by the introduction of oxygen molecules.

A stain is essentially a chemical compound, and the addition of bleach breaks down the molecules into smaller elements so that it separates from the fabric. Detergent and the agitation of the washing machine speed up the cleaning process.

The disinfecting properties of bleach work in the same manner—germs are broken down and rendered harmless by the introduction of oxygen. In industry, different forms of bleach are used to whiten materials such as paper and wood, though most bleach is used to launder textiles.

History

Humans have been whitening fabrics for centuries; ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans bleached materials. As early as 300 B.C. , soda ash, prepared from burned seaweed, was used to clean and whiten cloth.

During the Middle Ages, the Dutch perfected the bleaching of fabrics in a process called crofting, whereby fabrics were spread out in large fields for maximum sunlight exposure. Textile mills as far away as Scotland shipped their material to the Netherlands for this bleaching. The practice quickly spread throughout Europe, and bleaching fields were documented in Great Britain as early as 1322.

In 1728 a bleaching company using Dutch methods went into business in Galloway, Scotland. In this process, the fabrics were soaked in a lye solution for several days, then "bucked," or washed clean.

The fabrics were then spread out on the grass for weeks at a time. This process was repeated five or six times until the desired whiteness was achieved. Next, the fabric was treated with sour milk or buttermilk, and again bucked and crofted. This method was lengthy and tedious, and it monopolized large tracts of land that could have been used for farming."

Read more: How bleach is made - material, manufacture, making, history, used, components, steps, product, industry, machine, History, Types of Bleach, Raw Materials http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Bleach.html#ixzz11YAWQP1q
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Be aware that if you are using bleach to sanitize, that all bleaches are not created equal.  Some do not say 'disinfecting' on the bottle.
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Today:

Muffie and Maddie, the two little doggie boarders, were picked up last night.  Everyone seemed to have had a good time at the casino.  I didn't ask how much they lost/won!


On and off for the last few mornings Ray and I have been washing some mobile home skirting which I have had for a while.  It is going to go to Somerville, TX to my son-in-law and daughter's weekend place.
Still more to do, but we got all the 10' long mounting parts washed and stacked up.  It takes three horizontal parts to install it, then the vertical skirting slides into the slots.

While we were doing that, Pamala and Nigel were occupied with their own little jobs, and catching up on emails, phone calls etc.

After lunch they drove their Dodge 3500 into Conroe to have the truck windshield replaced.  It had caught a few dings on the trip to Alaska, so now it would not pass British MOT (safety) inspection.   It is cheaper to get it replaced here.  I lead the way in my van, so that we could do some grocery shopping while we waited for the truck.

This evening, Pamala, Nigel, the cats, the dogs and I were just lazin' around after the disruption of having two spoiled bratkin dogs here in the house for two days.

What really saves fuel?

"While gas and diesel prices haven't gotten out of hand, they're still higher than last year at this time. If history is any indicator, fuel prices can shoot for the moon without much notice.

It's no wonder RVers are concerned with how to get the best fuel economy as they can. Enter the shadowy world of the "fuel economizer" salesmen. Can you really believe the claims they make?

If you think you burn a lot of fuel, try keeping a fleet of police cars in gas. That's a problem that the Windsor, Ontario police fleet technicians have been on to. They wondered if some of the fuel saving devices and treatments might really work, perhaps giving a little give in their fuel budget.

The Windsor police elicited the help of the nearby Windsor University thinkers to check out the viability of some of these "come ons" to sort out what works, and what doesn't.

Two years worth of research, and 60,000 miles of real-world testing is in. And the results may actually surprise you. "

More at: http://rvtravel.com/RV_Performance_Tips_161/What_really_saves_fuel.shtml
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Today:

My brother, Nigel, and sister-in-law, Pamala, and I have spent a quiet day here at my house, after their arrival yesterday evening.


Nigel backed their Dodge 3500 and Lance cabover camper into the side driveway, and we plugged it in to my 30 amp outlet.  It is right outside my back door, so it is very handy.

We were going to go out to eat, but we got a-talking so much, that the time slipped away, so I fixed organic Italian sausage, tomatoes, onions and mushrooms with quinoa here.

Misty just loves Pamala and Nigel, and they love her, she is such a sweet old doggie!  Paco is still scared of men, so he just wants to sit on my knee and carefully watch Nigel.  Even old Bobcat came and sat on the back of the recliner to be sociable.

We spent a lot of the day on our computers, and the phone, getting quotes from shipping companies, and looking up prices of certain RV parts that they want to buy for the camper.   So tomorrow we are going to PPL and Camping World in Houston.

Apart from that, my main accomplishments today were to get five more feral cats to Animal Control, and take a neighbor and her dog to get it vaccinated at the mobile vet clinic that comes to our little town on the the first Friday!

Nigel used my extension ladder and was able to wash the roof of their camper.  He hadn't been able to do that while on the trip to Alaska.  He has some sealer he wants to use on it, before they ship it to England.  Just preventative maintenance.

Tonight, again we ate here, as Pamala had some pork chops in the camper fridge that she wanted to use up.

All the cats were on the screen porch this morning, but later they had to come in, and we had to run the AC, as the weather has been a bit hotter today.

Free Days Tomorrow. Visiting National Parks Without a Campground Reservation.P & N.

By Bob Difley
"The slowly fading recession seems to have energized campers this season as campground usage is up and reservations become harder to nail down.

This becomes a particular problem with those of us who procrastinate, make last-minute travel decisions, or find ourselves wherever our RVs lead us–and most of the time without campground reservations.

But don’t let that discourage you from visiting the national parks, you just need to practice some tricks and tips for increasing your odds of securing a campsite.

Many of our national parks (NP) are adjacent to or surrounded by national forests (NF) that will have alternative camping options, ranging from improved campgrounds to boondocking in un-designated campsites. You can use these options for first night camping followed by a strategy of obtaining a NP campsite the next day, or as your main campsite from which you can visit the NP by tow or toad, returning each night to you NF campsite.

It would be all but impossible to obtain a campsite in the NP after a day’s travel, arriving in mid-afternoon or later, since most NP fill well before noon, even on week days. A NF campsite will probably be your best bet, since most private campgrounds or RV resorts will lie outside the forest on private land and well away from the NP. They are also often filled by reservations for the summer months and have few–if any–first-come spots.

Follow these tips for your best chances of getting a campsite when you have no reservation and with minimal hassle and stress.

• Research the adjacent NF for campgrounds, identifying those that will fit your rig, and the location of the area office. "

More at: http://blog.rv.net/2010/06/visiting-popular-national-parks-without-a-campground-reservation/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RvnetBlog+%28RV.net+Blog+Daily+Updates+Feed%29
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More free days slated for national parks, federal lands

"The Interior Department has announced more free admission days to round out the balance of the year. Here’s the schedule:
September 25 (Public Lands Day)
November 11 (Veterans Day)"
 
Free at Smithsonian, too.    Saturday 25th. Sept.

"To receive your free Museum Day Ticket please enter your information into the fields below. Your Ticket will be emailed to you after you submit your information. Please remember to print and bring your ticket to your selected participating museum."
http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/admission.html?2010
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Today:

Ray arrived to work and I left him trying to clean the gasket that goes under the luggage carrier on Pugsy, while I drove down the road to pick up Jay.  We haven't been up on the roof of Pugsy, the vintage motor home, to re-install it yet.  The gasket had old caulk and junk stuck on it.   Even though it has been soaking in soapy water for days, it is still difficult to get it all scraped off.

Pamala, my sister-in-law, and my brother Nigel, are now on the last leg of their "Trip of a Lifetime".

It was May 30th. that Pamala and Nigel flew into Houston from England.

They bought the Dodge 3500 5.7 diesel dually in Houston, and the Lance cabover camper near Oklahoma City.

They flew over the Grand Canyon in a chopper.

They have been on Route 66 from OKC to California.

They saw where our mother was born in San Francisco.

Then they crossed Canada, up to Alaska, crossed the Arctic Circle.

They have seen lots of National Parks, National Forests (and Walmart parking lots) all along the trip.

Then they went to Guelph, Canada to visit relatives. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guelph

On to a speed boat ride at Niagara Falls, and now they have left Chicago to do the other part of Route 66 from there southwest to Oklahoma City.

Then they will drive south back to here, the full circle.

They have been to rodeos in OK and Calgary.

They went 'muddin'' at Delta Junction Fair.

They should be here within a week.


Ray washed the Puddle Jumper (little station wagon) as it never did rain here.  Jay and I attacked my two rooms of carpet.   I did a thorough vacuuming, and he wielded the carpet steam cleaner.  There are always chairs, coffee table, etc. to be picked up and moved out of the way.  That was my job, too.  He also cleaned the couch with the upholstery tool.  So it should be all spick and span, ready for my guests.

Paco, the foster Chihuahua, and old Misty, the rescued poodle, didn't know where to put themselves out of the way of the noisy machinery today.

How to understand RV weight terms. P & N in AK!! New AC.

"Overloading an RV, whether a motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel trailer or other recreational vehicle, can spell big trouble. Here is advice from RV expert Mark Polk about how to understand basic RV weight terms. Make sure you understand these terms before buying an RV.
Everyone should have a basic understanding of RV weight terms. Do your research to avoid becoming a statistic in relationship to overloaded recreational vehicle, whether it's a motorhome, travel trailer or other RV."
See the article at: http://www.rvbuyingtips.com/rvweight.html
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AK Trip:

Pamala and Nigel, my sister in law and brother, have made it to Alaska in their Dodge 3500 and Lance cabover camper.
Often internet is not available or not very good, but they managed to send some pictures.  Mouse-over for descriptions.  They were in Delta Junction, AK, last I heard, yesterday. Then heading to the Arctic Circle.













Other famous places they visited:













They saw several bears on the highways:


























And this lovely blue water.



This was someone Walmarting at Calgary, rodeo folks they think:

Now that isn't WM etiquette, taking your camper off your truck!!
_____________________

Today:
I went to Lowes early this morning to buy an air conditioner, and then picked up Jay.

We took the old AC out of the window, and installed the new one.   The old one was too large for the area, and so it wasn't dehumidifying right.  It was still working, but just didn't feel right.
This new one should use a lot less electricity, as it has an EER of 10.7.  It has digital readout, and a remote!

I read my electric meter, and will look at the new bill, to get an idea of the difference that made today.

Whaling Ban Upheld. P & N in Canada! Cargo trailer home.

 

"Thanks to all of you who signed our recent petition telling President Obama to reverse his administration's decision to remove a ban on whaling: a decision that would have allowed Japan, Norway, and Iceland to begin hunting these majestic creatures. We are happy to report that the International Whaling Commission has halted negotiations that could have potentially put an end to the 25 year embargo!

Again, thank you for being part of our community that cares and for taking action!"

More at: http://greatergood.com/emails/2010/pet-070810-animal-w.html

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The Dodge 3500 and Lance truck camper that they bought for this trip.

"Our new 'home'. Just arrived at Lake Tahoe.":

 

 

Pamala and Nigel in the the Route 66 Museum at Victorville. 

'Pinning' Cambridge, England:

 

Will Roger's plaque marking the end of Rte. 66:

 

 

Their first view of the Grand Canyon from the chopper.  WOW!

 

Today:

They just Skyped me, and wrote on Facebook, that they just crossed the border near Cardston, south of Calgary, but the internet connection was terrible.

_________________

 

This morning, my son Kevin, arrived with his big pick up truck.  So a convoy of Ray in the Puddle Jumper, Kevin in his truck, and me in the van, all wound our way around the curvy streets over the bridge, to Section Two of this subdivision, to get the cargo trailer. 

We had the compressor, cords, jacks and shovel, etc. in the Puddle Jumper.  I took the van in case it was needed, and it was.  Kevin had a great big floor jack with him, so he jacked up the trailer and unblocked it. 

Our biggest problem was that the trailer has an electric jack which didn't work.  So we had to turn the drop ball mount over and move the ball to the upside, to tow the trailer.  Yes, I had a pipe wrench with me.

Ray was trying to get the curb side tire to hold air, but it was leaking out as fast as he put it in, so we had to move it with a flat, and take a chance on ruining the rim.  Kevin took it very slowly. 

The Puddle Jumper and the van were needed to carry all the blocks, and other stuff that went with the trailer.

There it is, only ten feet long!

Kevin is used to backing up mobile homes and big trailers, so he slicked it into position outside the side door of the workshop, in my side lot driveway.    Then he blocked up the trailer and took the bad wheel off,  fortunately it hadn't ruined the rim.

We couldn't have done it without Kevin, on this really hot, sticky day.

Iams Recall. North To Alaska!

By Hope Schultz for WebVet

"Heads up, all you cat owners. There's yet one more pet food recall and it could be effecting you favorite furry friend.

Procter & Gamble announced yesterday the voluntary recall of Iams ProActive Health canned cat and kitten food -- all varieties of 3 oz. and 5.5 oz. cans -- distributed in North America.

Apparently, diagnostic tests were run and it was determined that the product contained extremely low levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1), which is essential to good health in cats. It seems that cats who were fed this particular product are at much greater risk for developing signs of thiamine deficiency. "

More at: http://www.everydayhealth.com/blogs/webvets-daily-dish/cat-owners-beware-pg-recalls-cat-food?xid=nl_EverydayHealthPetHealth_20100617

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Today:

Pamala called this morning to say that they were leaving Wendy's (my daughter), and would be here about 11.00 AM. The truck was all packed down, and they had installed a running board step along each side. When they leave here, the next stop is Ponca City to pick up the cabover camper.

I rushed into town to get some leg tips for one of my chairs that they were going to take with them. Ray had painted it yesterday, so it was all new looking. We all got here at the same time.

They had a cuppa tea, and called TomTom, something about the 'interactive', as it is a toll free call on my land line.

We chatted a bit, Nigel loaded the last few things they were taking from here, a 30 amp to 15 amp adapter, a USA map placemat, and a folding table.
Pamala took this picture of me and my brother, Nigel.
We have never been in photo together before!

Hugs all around.
They should be back around October.

They had already said that the trip would start from here, not Wendy's, so the trip odometer was zeroed out, and off they went.

And they are OFF!             Here they are backing out at Noon today.

Nat. Parks Are Open. Misty. Oh! Oh! Dodge 3500. Three's.

"The National Park Service has deployed incident management personnel from across the country to prepare for and respond to oil impacts along the Gulf Coast.

As oil continues to come onshore at Gulf Islands National Seashore and creeps closer to other national parks in Florida, Louisiana and Texas, National Park Service employees regularly based in these parks as well as those deployed as part of various incident teams are working to assess and clean up oil impacts and protect the park’s critical natural and cultural resources, including wildlife, birds, and historic structure and serve the visiting public.

All national parks in the Gulf coast region remain open to the public. To click on the map, and more info go to:
http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm

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Finally, yesterday, I was able to talk to Kenya about Misty's vet visit, as my neighbor had to take her, while I was busy with my brother and SIL.    She will have to have that damaged eye removed, and the other one has a cataract.  I already knew that she could only see light, so I make sure that I have lights on, or outside doors open, to guide her.   She can find her way around very well, and seems to remember my backyard layout from years ago. She wags her little tail when she goes down that paved walkway.

But her hearing is good, so she hears me when I call her or praise her for doing 'it' in the yard.  Neither she, nor Paco have had any accidents, and they are both the best behaved dogs I have had in my care since my Levi died. (2006)  She is so glad to see me when I return from anywhere, and so is Paco.  But Paco won't go outside for anyone but me, but still doesn't have any accidents.  Must have a bladder like Fort Knox!  They are fond of each other, too, so no friction there.  Even my scaredy-cat, Patches, will go near Misty, and they touch noses. Actually, Misty is good for Patches, Patches seems to sense that Misty can't see well, and stays close to her, as if she is worried about her.

But Misty's teeth, what few she has left, are absolutely rotting out of her head, and the vet says that is the most important thing, so that she doesn't get an infection.  He doesn't want to operate on her teeth and her eye at the same time.  They figure she is 13-15 years old.  She is spry, alert, walks well, has a good appetite, pees and poops fine, so I want her to be comfy, and happy for the last part of her life.

All this is from lack of veterinary care over the last 3 & 1/2 years since her "Daddy" Jim, died, and I am sure he was crying in his grave about the way she was mistreated.  I know I was very worried about her, and I am so glad that she is here.  I hope that Jim is happy to know that she is here, now. 
She used to have such long flowing lovely ears, almost like a show poodle, and now the hair is all cut off, not by me. They let her get so matted, and she was covered in cockle burrs.  I couldn't even get a clipper blade under the mats, so you couldn't see her face.
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Today:

Pamala called this morning.  The 'Check Engine' light came on in the new-to-them Dodge 3500, so they have to take it to be checked out in West Colombia before they can start on their trip.  So they might not be going through here today.  I will not only "keep the light on for them", but keep the teapot and kettle handy.   How many more delays are they going to have!!

Ray and I have been cleaning the paved walkway that goes into the back yard, of pine needles, etc.   There is a shelf unit there where I keep the different sprinklers, clean scoop-a-poo bags, etc., so we moved that, and cleaned under it, too.  We washed the shelf unit, and could see it really needed repainting.

Pamala and Nigel are taking a couple of my folding chairs for outside their rig.  Pamala can't use one with arms, due to her beam, and she makes jokes about it.  One needed repainting, so Ray did that.
Then he was called away to take a Mustang into town for the owner.  So Shay drove Ray's car, so they would have a ride back.  I found out that the Mustang was being taken in for a 'Check Engine' light problem, too.   I put Misty and Paco on leashes and walked them out front for a while, they liked that.

Ray called, his fan belt had broken in town, and he couldn't remember how to access his road service which is through his Verizon cell service.  So I looked up that info for him.  It was towed back here so we can fix it.  So then Ray painted the shelf unit.

My 'Check Engine' light has stayed off, so I hope that we have the last of our three auto troubles, for today.

Towing. Dodge 3500 Finally Theirs!

Be careful when determining tow capacity of a vehicle

"When you are determining the tow capacity of a vehicle make sure you know what the rear axle ratio is. It's possible to have the same type and size of vehicle with the same engine, yet the tow ratings may vary by several thousand pounds. "  More at:
http://markpolk.rvtechtips.com/2009/02/be-careful-when-determining-two.html
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Last two days:

Oh! This finding the right truck, cabover camper, and getting them, has been quite an ordeal.   This would have all been eliminated if the man with the original truck and camper hadn't reneged on the deal.


As I said, I took my brother, Nigel, and sister-in-law, Pamala to Huntsville, TX, and Southwest Houston on Friday to look at trucks.  Here is a picture of the HOV lane on the way back.  Reminds me of the one in Seattle.

Friday, they put a deposit on an immaculate white 2006 Dodge 3500, Diesel 5.9, Mega cab, Dually, 4x4, Lone Star Edition, but it wasn't ready to pick up until yesterday afternoon.   It was too late, and hot, to battle the Houston traffic.

 
We couldn't pick it up then anyway, as Pamala and Nigel didn't want to insure the truck until they were sure they were getting it, so we did that yesterday afternoon.  Even that wasn't easy.
They can legally drive in the USA with their British drivers licenses for 6 months, but several insurance companies didn't understand that, or about insuring the slide-in cabover camper.  They finally bought a policy with State Farm who seemed to know what they were talking about.

We had been cooking and eating here, and Pamala and I got along great in my little kitchen.  (Unusual for 2 women!)  It is really strange that as big as Pamala is, she takes up less room than Jay does, when he gets in my kitchen.

Yesterday we had to go into town, so we ate at Bing's Chinese restaurant nearby, and I had something I haven't had for a long time, glass noodles.


Today, we got all their things out of my B+ motor home, where they had been staying while here, packed it in my van, including all the dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, teapot, sheets, blankets, pots and pans, etc, out of my vintage Class A motor home, "Pugsy", so all that could go with them, to equip the camper. I also gave them a MaxxAir for the roof vent, and bubble level for their freezer.

This morning, I drove them back to the dealer in Southwest Houston.  The paperwork there took a long time as the truck will be exported back to England when they leave the US.  Finally, after a couple of hours that was done, so we transferred all their stuff including the new plastic chests of drawers and bins, into the back seat of their new-to-them truck.

We got a bite to eat at Subway, and went our separate ways.  They went back to my daughter's house in West Colombia, TX to get the rest of their things.   I came home in really gulley-whomping, pouring rain, but the rain stopped when I got to Conroe.

They will stop back by here on their way to Ponca City, OK, where the cabover camper is.
They are getting the rest of the camper light hook-ups and tie downs done there by an RV tech friend of the seller of the camper.   The seller is also going to take them to a rodeo this weekend.  So they are very excited about that, as they have never seen one in the US. (They lived Down Under for 7 years, so they have seen Aussie rodeos.)

Then they go west along Route 66, stopping to see the Texas Grand Canyon (Palo Duro State Park), near Amarillo, TX.  Then on to Monterey, California, to see where our mother was born.   Then to the other Grand Canyon, and north to Alaska.

 You know I got them set up with Live Writer, and Blogger!

What a day!