Another Chick-fil-A Controversy? Maintaining My Own Spiritual and Emotional Health? "Live Long and Prosper". Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Another Chick-fil-A Controversy?

“The last Chick-fil-A store is closing in the United Kingdom. What’s behind this controversy?

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/m-Ireix0WRk

[Darris McNeely] “Who would ever think that a chicken sandwich could be controversial? Well, it has been. In the United Kingdom, they’re shutting down the last and the only Chick-fil-A franchise. Let me read to you a headline that came out of the New York Times, it says that, “Just days after Chick-fil-A’s first restaurant in the United Kingdom opened amid protests by activists from the company’s opposition to same-sex marriage, the chain, the Chick-fil-A chain, said it will close the site in six months.”

So if you go to the United Kingdom, you’re not gonna be able to get a Chick-fil-A sandwich. It’s a sad situation because it’s a sad commentary on the culture wars that we are involved with and what has happened here by shutting down the last one in the United Kingdom is not unlike what has happened in the United States.  Even though we haven’t shut down the Chick-fil-A franchise in the United States, they have been prevented from opening up additional outlets in places, certain cities like New York City, as well as certain airports, all because this particular franchise has supported, openly, faith-based organizations and traditional values, and frankly, their view of the Bible.  This runs counter to the culture of many who are promoting same-sex marriage, LGBTQ issues and gender issues and identity matters in our culture today. And Chick-fil-A has become the kind of the poster boy to attack on this situation.

It is a difficult matter to deal with. We’ve seen this happen in the United States, and it makes you wonder where it will go from this point.

I look at a scripture, it reminded me when I read about this in the United Kingdom, because of a lot of other issues that that nation and America deals with as well. It reminded me of a scripture in the book of Hosea 7 beginning in verse 8 where it talks about the attitude of the people of God and the particular tribe of Ephraim and their inability to really discern their state, their moral condition. And God says about Ephraim in Hosea 7, “He has mixed himself among the people.” Ephraim, it says, “Is a cake not turned.” And what he’s showing is that they’re in decline, they have some very serious problems.

Talking about the ancient nation of Ephraim. It says, “Strangers have devoured his strength and he knows it not. Yes, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knows not.” In other words, their time has passed. They are in a state of transition and change from which it’s going to be hard to come back. And it concludes by saying, “And the pride of Israel testifies to his face and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all of this.”

Interesting words to the ancient nation of Israel, and particularly the tribe of Ephraim within the nation of Israel. Those words could apply to Great Britain today. A cake not turned, gray hairs there, their strength devoured. The situation with such cultural clashes that is closing down a franchise like Chick-fil-A because of these cultural differences and issues is a sign of the times to understand and to realize, if it’s chicken sandwiches today, what will it be tomorrow? That’s something for us all to think about.” From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/another-chick-fil-a-controversy

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Just a reminder about their beliefs  : https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Man-Shall-Not-Lay-With-Man/

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How Do I Balance Serving Those at Church With Maintaining My Own Spiritual and Emotional Health?

“When you take care of your relationship with God first, you are in good shape to help others.

Gift Habeshaw/Unsplash

The first and most important responsibility of a Christian is to keep a close relationship with God. That is done through prayer, Bible study, meditation and fasting and by applying God’s commandments to all aspects of your life.

You’ve probably heard the standard pre-flight safety session when the airline flight attendant gets to the part about oxygen masks. The instruction is to give oxygen to a child or another person after you put on your own mask. Why is this important? Because if you are without oxygen at a very high altitude, you will quickly become unable to help another person. So, you first take care of your own oxygen mask before helping another person with theirs.

This serves as a metaphor when it comes to balancing service to others at church with your own spiritual and emotional health. In order to be a good servant to others, you must first take care of your personal relationship with God.

A perfect affirmation of this is the answer Jesus Christ gave when He was asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36). He replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Then He said, “the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:39).

Thus, the first and most important responsibility of a Christian is to keep a close relationship with God. That is done through prayer, Bible study, meditation and fasting and by applying God’s commandments to all aspects of your life. Like the oxygen mask metaphor, after you first make sure you are in good shape spiritually, then you can begin to take care of others.

Your physical and emotional needs are important, and you must take care of them if you are to be a help to others. Notice the apostle Paul’s instruction: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). He does not in any way diminish our personal needs, but makes them as important as the needs of others. This follows the second great commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

The greatest responsibility of a Christian is to love God first. Jesus Christ set the example by keeping His relationship with His Father His chief priority. He said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 4:34). Likewise, it is a Christian’s first responsibility to love God above all else. After this, we can line up the rest of our personal needs and our priorities for love and service to others.”   From: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/how-do-i-balance-serving-those-at-church-with-maintaining-my-own-spiritual-and-emotional-health

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"Live Long and Prosper"

The Bible shows us one of the main ways we can lead peaceful and productive lives.    

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/sQ-sjQypZtQ

[Darris McNeely] If you’re a “Star Trek” fan you know the phrase “live long and prosper.” But you know where that came from? Here’s where I think that it came from. Ephesians 6, where God is talking about honoring our parents. And He says, “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise. And He’s talking about the fifth commandment there, to honor your father and mother. What is the promise? In verse 3 it says, “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” Honor your parents that it might be well with you and you will live long on the earth.

Now, that is a part of God’s Word, and that is a promise that we can claim.

I recently had a friend of mine whose father died. His father was almost 98 years old. He was a World War II vet, he was a Marine. He went through the…stormed through the South Pacific in World War II, and the man lived a long life. And he lived a good life. And in his last years his son, my good friend took really good care of him. And his death was a peaceful death with his family around and his son there, and it was as everyone might wish.

And reflecting about that, I was thinking, you know, this verse here is extremely important for all of us. If you still have your parents with you, no matter how old you might be, appreciate them. Look at this commandment, “Honor your father and mother that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

Respect your parents, honor your parents, take care of your parents to their last breath. Do what you can. If there’s a problem, get it resolved. If there’s an issue that needs to be taken care of, make sure you get that taken care of. And then do what you can to talk with, to honor, to take care of your parents, so that in your life there’ll be no regrets. And you can claim that promise that God says, that it may be well with you and you will live long upon the earth.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/live-long-and-prosper

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Update.

We had the Bible study at the Community Room here at the apartments, as usual, at 4.00 pm on Sunday.  The Pastor has some videos, with questions after, that he plays on the big screen TV in there.  The same old folks come each time, and we have a good time and fellowship.

Wednesday morning, Health Quest brought us Chick-Fil-A for breakfast, and Thursday an HMO group brought us Thanksgiving lunch.  The very large gal (really obese) arrived with a lot of containers that had to be heated/cooked in the microwave, and it took her an hour and a half to do that.  It took so long that it burned up the microwave.  Next time our management is going to have Thanksgiving meals cooked on the stove or in the oven.  If all she knows is how to prepare processed food, usually full of chemicals, in a microwave, no wonder she is so large.

On Friday a nurse came from my new health insurance company to take my blood pressure, which was 116/60, check the circulation on all my extremities, which was normal.  She put packs which became warm on my big toes to do that.  After asking a lot of questions, surprised that I take no meds, she seemed happy with my state of health, so that is good.  As soon as she left I went to my usual Friday morning Bible study at my church friend’s apartment here.  We get ready for the Bible study that we have at church the next day, which is till on the doings of Nehemiah.

I had been given a really big block of cheese that I really didn’t know what to do with, so I made Nacho Cheese Dip with salsa, seasonings and coconut milk because I didn’t have the evaporated milk which was in the recipe.   It was very popular at the church potluck so I will make it again. 

The theme this week was “God is My Refuge and Strength” and the Sermon was very interesting about “Christ’s Object Lesson” and there were a lot of slides about how the temple and ark were built.

Another place where there is camaraderie and fellowship every Sabbath day.

Port Mansfield, TX. Fishing the Laguna Madre. Offshore Fishing. Birding. Duck Hunting. Diving Liberty Ship Reef. "In God We Trust". Medicare.

 

For “Travel Tuesday”, let’s visit Port Mansfield TX , in the Texas Gulf Coast Region:

“Home to some of the best beaches in America, the Texas Gulf Coast region draws millions of visitors to this Texas playground. Stretching some 350 miles from South Padre Island & the Rio Grande Valley, all the way to Beaumont & the Louisiana border, this region is renowned for its wildlife & natural beauty, as well as the home of America's space program. Discover the Beaches of the Texas Gulf Coast Region.”

“Port Mansfield enjoys the same latitude as Palm Beach, Florida.

The Rio Grande Valley has a semi-tropical climate and much of it has lush semi-tropical vegetation. Port Mansfield benefits from a sea breeze that keeps it warmer in winter and cooler during the summer.”  (That sounds good for a start!)

“Port Mansfield is one of the most popular fishing destinations on the Texas Gulf Coast, located on the Laguna Madre, opposite Port Mansfield Channel in northeastern Willacy County, Texas. Once an isolated and obscure fish camp known as Red Fish Landing, today Port Mansfield is recognized as one of the ten top fishing locations in the United States.

Port Mansfield offers fishermen access to the Laguna Madre, Padre Island and the Gulf of Mexico. Boaters and fishermen enjoy the uncrowded and unpolluted environment of Port Mansfield and South Texas.

Each July the Port Mansfield Chamber of Commerce sponsors a Fishing Tournament attracting anglers from all over the State of Texas to compete. The fishermen compete for prizes and trophies for both Offshore Fish, such as marlin and sailfish and for Inshore / Bay Fish, such as trout and red fish.

The port was opened in 1950 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which wanted a harbor between Corpus Christi and Brownsville. It was named for United States Representative Joseph J. Mansfield, who introduced the Mansfield Bill authorizing the extension of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande.

In 1957, when the first pass was cut through Padre Island, the little settlement had a few residences, some port buildings, a motel and store, and a few fishing cabins. The final Port Mansfield Channel was completed across Padre Island in 1962. The ensuing tidal exchange between the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre produced an abundant population of redfish, brown shrimp, and flounder, and greatly expanded the sport and commercial fish economy of Port Mansfield.  Port Mansfield in the early 1990s had mail service through the community post office at Raymondville.

The Laguna Madre Ecosystem

The Laguna Madre is clear and shallow -- less than 4 feet deep in most places -- and its pristine waters support about 80 percent of the remaining seagrass habitat off the Texas coast. These vast "meadows" of seagrass provide a nursery for juvenile fish as well as prime hunting ground for larger predators like spotted sea trout and red drum, both of which inhabit the Laguna Madre in record numbers, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Other game fish in the Laguna Madre include snook, black drum, flounder and gray snapper.

Fishing the Laguna Madre

The Laguna Madre appears on most maps as a single body of water but is essentially two bays connected by a narrow channel. Port Mansfield is on the lower bay, and offers access to the Laguna Madre, a 130-mile-long bay that stretches from Corpus Christi to the mouth of the Rio Grande. The Gulf of Mexico is only a few minutes from Port Mansfield by boat, and its deep waters also harbor a wealth of game fish.

Some of the best fishing in the Laguna Madre takes place from spring into early summer, though angling opportunities exist year-round. Live bait, particularly shrimp, works well for trout and drum, and artificial bait like topwaters, shallow-diving plugs and soft plastics also work well on light tackle. Some anglers also have great success with fly-fishing.

Access

You can launch a boat in several locations in the Port Mansfield area, including the Port Mansfield TPWD boat ramp (tpwd.state.tx.us) and a public ramp in Adolph Tomae Jr. County Park (co.cameron.tx.us). Several privately owned marinas have launch facilities as well. You can also fish from several public piers and jetties in and around Port Mansfield, and several parks along the shoreline have access for wade fishing and kayak launching.

Offshore Fishing

The Laguna Madre is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the Padre Island National Seashore (nps.gov), which represents the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world. Wade fishing can be very productive on both the bay and gulf sides of the island itself. Traveling farther into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico opens a wide range of other fishing opportunities, including a chance to tangle with marlin, barracuda, bonita and tuna, among others. After launching a boat in Port Mansfield, it takes less than 15 minutes to reach the offshore waters of the gulf.”

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Birding

“Port Mansfield and the Lower Rio Grande Valley boast some 487 different species of birds.  This diverse variety makes ours one of the premier birding spots in the United States.  Many of these birds can be seen up close and very personal in and around the Port. Additional opportunities to view these beautiful birds in their natural setting are available via water.

 

The Lower Rio Grande Valley has several major refuges and sanctuaries such as the Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge, Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge, Bentsen State Park, Anzaldua Park Sal Del Rey (SALT LAKE), East Lake Tract, and Teniente Tract.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Port Mansfield also offers a Nature Trail and a Bird Sanctuary.”

 

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Duck Hunting

“Some of the most exciting and unforgettable hunts are done out of the Lower Laguna Madre, which is teeming with wildlife and an abundance of waterfowl.  Morning and afternoon hunts available. 
Some of the waterfowl found in the Lower Laguna Madre include:  Bufflehead, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Green & Blue-Winged Teal, American Widgeon, Shoveler, Redhead, Mottled, Cinnamon Teal, and Snow Geese.”

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Port Mansfield Liberty Ship Reef
“World War II Heritage for Divers, Anglers and the Public

The bravery of America’s Merchant Marines helped the Allies win World War II. Now, fourteen World War II ships that carried supplies and oil into the most dangerous fronts of the war serve as artificial reefs off the coast of Texas. Located in six readily-accessible sites, they offer divers and recreational anglers an encounter not only with magnificent reefs, but also with America’s maritime heritage.

The Port Mansfield Liberty Ship Reef is composed of three Liberty Ships, the Edward W. Scripps, the Joshua Thomas and the George L. Farley. Nine other Liberty Ships and two tankers are located at other reef sites along the Texas coast. Brochures for these reef sites are available from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The Farley brought supplies to the embattled port of Antwerp in early 1945.  During that period an armed guard officer wrote that the “sky was black with Antiaircraft bursts.” The Joshua Thomas twice made the Murmansk run to the northern Soviet Union in springtime, a particularly dreaded voyage because the twenty-four hours of sunlight made convoys vulnerable to air attack from occupied Norway at any time. The Scripps transported Army and Red Cross personnel and vehicles to the Normandy invasion.”

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On This Day:

President Eisenhower signs "In God We Trust" into law, Jul 30, 1956:

“On this day in 1956, two years after pushing to have the phrase "under God" inserted into the pledge of allegiance, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a law officially declaring "In God We Trust" to be the nation's official motto. The law, P.L. 84-140, also mandated that the phrase be printed on all American paper currency. The phrase had been placed on U.S. coins since the Civil War when, according to the historical association of the United States Treasury, religious sentiment reached a peak. Eisenhower's treasury secretary, George Humphrey, had suggested adding the phrase to paper currency as well.

At a Flag Day speech in 1954, he elaborated on his feelings about the place of religion in public life when he discussed why he had wanted to include "under God" in the pledge of allegiance: "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

The first paper money with the phrase "In God We Trust" was not printed until 1957. Since then, religious and secular groups have argued over the appropriateness and constitutionality of a motto that mentions "God," considering the founding fathers dedication to maintaining the separation of church and state.”

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Johnson signs Medicare into law, Jul 30, 1965:

“On this day in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Medicare, a health insurance program for elderly Americans, into law. At the bill-signing ceremony, which took place at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, former President Harry S. Truman was enrolled as Medicare's first beneficiary and received the first Medicare card. Johnson wanted to recognize Truman, who, in 1945, had become the first president to propose national health insurance, an initiative that was opposed at the time by Congress.

The Medicare program, providing hospital and medical insurance for Americans age 65 or older, was signed into law as an amendment to the Social Security Act of 1935. Some 19 million people enrolled in Medicare when it went into effect in 1966. In 1972, eligibility for the program was extended to Americans under 65 with certain disabilities and people of all ages with permanent kidney disease requiring dialysis or transplant. In December 2003, President George W. Bush signed into law the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), which added outpatient prescription drug benefits to Medicare.

Medicare is funded entirely by the federal government and paid for in part through payroll taxes. Medicare is currently a source of controversy due to the enormous strain it puts on the federal budget. Throughout its history, the program also has been plagued by fraud--committed by patients, doctors and hospitals--that has cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

Medicaid, a state and federally funded program that offers health coverage to certain low-income people, was also signed into law by President Johnson on July 30, 1965, as an amendment to the Social Security Act.

In 1977, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) was created to administer Medicare and work with state governments to administer Medicaid. HCFA, which was later renamed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is part of the Department of Health and Human Services and is headquartered in Baltimore.”

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Yesterday:

Ray and I acted like carpenters again, and made new supports for the screen porch windowsills.  They had been made out of cedar 1x12’s, and in two areas where they had been cut around the posts, they had cracked.   Being hard to replace, even if we could find some more around here, we had to repair them.  It is difficult to go back over what someone else has built, and figure out why they did what!  Before noon, it was getting hot, we had had enough, so we called it a day.

RV Cancer. Leaks. Keeper? Bugs. Batteries. Quiet Parks. Propane. Pictures. Medical Alert Flag. Hula-hoop. Aspirin. Phone. Suez Canal. Therapist.

For "tRaVersing" or RV Day:

Dry rot in an RV is like cancer in a person

"Dry rot in an RV is like cancer in a human body… it’s never good but not always fatal. It all depends on how far it’s spread before you find it. Maybe you can just repair the bad spots. Then again maybe the cancer has spread to far. The good thing is, dry rot damage can be repaired. The bad thing is it can cost a lot of money. Proper preventive maintenance and timely repairs are the key.

I can tell you the only evidence of any problem with this trailer was at the front corner under the window. The rest of the trailer, inside and out, looked fine and in good condition. However, as you can see, only once repairs were started was the true extent of the damage visible. Don’t know for sure but it makes sense there is more damage under the sheet metal on the front wall as well.

The last I knew, the shop was still waiting to see if insurance was going to pay for the repair or salvage the trailer."  From: http://rvtipoftheday.com/repair/dry-rot-in-an-rv

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Keep your RV leak free?

"Keeping up with RV maintenance is always a job. For many RVers, this means an exercise in do-it-yourself. Happily, most RV maintenance is not out of the realm of the self-doer, and kept up, not expensive.
While allowing some things to "slide," or fall into the category of deferred maintenance can provide a simple inconvenience, one area that you simply can't afford to let up on is keeping moisture at bay. A leaky door or window seal isn't just inconvenient: it can destroy your RV in a hurry.

Most RVs have framing members and paneling constructed with wood. Penetrating water leads to dry rot, and dry rot to structural failure. Repairing dry rot is often out of the expertise of the do-it-yourselfer, and RV repair facilities charge a horrendous amount for dry rot repair--when it can even be done.

Prevention is the only sure answer. Inspect your RV roof annually--more often is better. Check for damage to the roof, and failure of sealing material around anything that penetrates the roof: Skylights, plumbing vents, TV antennas. Many RVers do follow through on roof inspection, but fail to keep up with sealants around windows and doors. RV manufacturers list periodic maintenance of window and door sealants as a requirement to keep your warranty valid. If you're not sure about how often you should pop the windows and doors to reseal them, check with your manufacturer.
Keep the water out, you'll be a much happier camper."   From: http://www.newrver.com/article_261.shtml

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To Keep or Not to Keep

Dear Joe and Vicki: "My motorhome is 5 years old. Things are beginning to wear out and need replacement. We are wondering whether we should keep and refurbish our present motorhome or buy a new one. What do you think?"

Joe: "Either way, it looks like you are getting ready to spend some money. And, whether you buy a new motorhome or refurbish the one you have, in five more years you are probably going to be faced with the same decision again.
Five years of age seems to be a mid-life crisis point for RVs, especially motorhomes. Outside, the paint is beginning to oxidize. The windshield probably has a few battle scars. The roof needs to be re-caulked (for the second time). Shock absorbers and brake linings need to be checked. Belts, hoses and windshield wiper blades are due for replacement. Tires, no matter their tread wear, are reaching the end of their safe lifespan. The engine and transmission may not be performing as smartly as when they were new.
Inside, the carpet, upholstery and window coverings are beginning to fade and show some wear. Fabrics and color schemes are woefully out-of-fashion. Outdated appliances have reached the point where, if they stop working, the repairman will probably suggest replacement instead of repair. The entertainment center (if you have one) has a television screen that is smaller than you like, does not have a DVD player, and has speakers that seem archaic.
And, if your RV is five or more years of age, you may only have one slide-out room or perhaps no slides at all! Good grief! You own a dinosaur!
Chances are your RV's loan balance is less than, or about equal to, its market value. Or maybe you are one of the lucky RV owners whose payments are just right – nothing per month. That means you have some equity in your present RV that could be applied to the purchase of a new one. And let's face it, a five year old RV is easier to sell or trade than one that is ten years old. Maybe now is a good time to trade.

Vicki: "Before you do, however, consider what you will be doing with your present or new RV for the next five years. Do you anticipate any personal or career changes that would affect your RVing lifestyle? A new job or promotion might curtail the amount of time available for RVing. In that case, it might not make good financial sense to buy a new RV only to have it sit in storage. Perhaps it might be better to postpone that new purchase and, for the time being, make do with your present RV.
On the other hand, if you will be retiring soon, perhaps you will have even more time available for RVing. Buying a new RV prior to retiring can be a good decision. You can choose one that will better complement your extended travels. You will also have the opportunity to take it on a few shakedown trips and get familiar with it before you embark on those extended cross-country journeys.
One of the most popular reasons for getting a new RV is a change of RV lifestyle. Going from weekend and two-week camping trips to extended travel, snowbirding, or fulltiming frequently calls for a change in the type and/or size of RV.
However, if you are going to continue to use your RV as you have in the past, there are some other considerations. By now you have made a lot of personal changes and adjustments to your RV. Closets, drawers and cabinets have been arranged to hold all your "stuff". Pictures, pillows and decorations have been added to reflect your personal taste. You have decided where to keep the trash basket, laundry hamper and vacuum cleaner. You are familiar with your RV's idiosyncrasies and comfortable with its operation. Do you really want to get rid of this rig? If you did replace it, would you want the new RV to be radically different? If your present rig will satisfy your RVing interests and needs for the next five years or so, if you can incorporate the changes and upgrades you'd like into your RV, maybe you should hold onto it."  More at: http://rvknowhow.blogspot.com/2011/02/to-keep-or-not-to-keep.html
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Selling an RV: Spit and polish for good impressions

"Looking forward to getting a new RV?  For some of us, that means selling the one we have. While 'trading in' the old rig on a new one is loads easier, it may not be practical. You'll often get more money selling your pre-owned RV than the dealer will give you on trade, and unless you're buying from a dealer, you won't find a lot of other sellers looking to take yours on trade.

If first impressions are as important as we're told, having your rig clean and neat when you first welcome potential customers is critical. As you've cruised down the road with 'Old Betsy,' you've probably come to overlook some of her cosmetic defects--you probably don't even see them. But a potential customer often comes equipped with a critical eye. So take a good, close look at your rig's condition and try to put yourself in the shoes of a buyer."  More at:  http://rvtravel.com/RVroad/Selling_an_RV_Getting_the_RV_ready_to_sell.shtml

How to Sell Your RV Online at Little or No Cost

"Motor homes, fifth wheels, travel trailers, folding or pop up campers and truck campers can often be sold quickly and easily by advertising the sale on the internet.  Using the right combination of free online classified ads and spreading the word through online forums your RV and ad can be viewed by thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of potential buyers each day.    Here are a few simple guidelines to follow to help you get the exposure only the internet can provide.

Make sure the RV is clean, and as presentable as possible.

Take photos both inside and out. Take as many photos as necessary to show the floor plan, features, and both interior and exterior condition.  Take good photographs of any damage… better to let potential buyers know upfront rather that waste time …theirs and yours.

Write a detailed description of the RV. You can’t include too much information or too many details. Include model numbers of appliances and accessories, like awning, slide topper, inverter, solar panels, power jacks/stabilizers, LCD TV. Don’t forget things you may have had added.

Set a fair price. Of course you want to get the highest price possible for your RV but setting the price too high can discourage buyers from even considering your RV. To help determine a fair price for both you and the buyer start by checking the price guides at NADAGuides.com. You can find dealer retail prices on RVs going back to 1975 in some cases." More at: http://rvtipoftheday.com/general-tips/how-to-sell-your-rv-online-at-little-or-no-cost

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Ant attack!

"Spring is here. And so are ants. One method for keeping ants from entering your RV is to have a nice talk with the queen and convince her to have her food gatherers search somewhere else.
Failing that, try sprinkling a chlorinated, powdered kitchen cleanser, like Comet for instance, in a circle surrounding each of your RV’s wheels. Ants will not cross the barrier to climb up your tires.
Sprinkle a ring around any other place where ants could climb from the ground to your rig. Disperse or sweep up the residue when you vacate your campsite—the next rig may not have wheels spaced exactly like yours." From: http://www.rvquicktips.com/2011/04/ant-attack.html

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Keep bugs outside where they belong

"Now, let's concentrate on bees and spiders, which can ruin an RV vacation by sending you rushing off to find an emergency room.
To keep spiders from invading your RV living spaces and storage bins scatter a few moth balls around inconspicuously. Some RVers prefer to use pet flea collars, merely cutting them into small sections and placing them nearest likely entry points for arachnids. Be sure to include the areas near propane lines for your stove and fridge.

Whatever you do, don't camp next to this guy!

To prevent spiders, wasps and bees from making nests in your exterior electrical and water access panels place a piece of easily-removable wire screening just inside the doors.
Also, more than one unsuspecting RVer has been stung while opening RV park electric boxes. Wear leather gardening gloves. Someday you'll be glad you did."   From: http://www.rvquicktips.com/2011/04/keep-bugs-outside-where-they-belong.html

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Fire Safety Tip from Mac McCoy
"Batteries produce explosive gases. Keep flame, cigarettes and sparks away. Be sure your battery compartment is properly vented. Keep vent caps tight and level. Check your battery monthly. Replace swollen batteries immediately. Use extreme care when handling batteries -- they can explode." Learn more about Mac and fire safety.

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Random RV Thought:
If you prefer quiet RV parks, when calling ahead for reservations ask if there are any railroad tracks close by. Same with busy streets. Many RV parks are on inexpensive land, and sometimes the reason is that they are near a busy street or railroad track. If trains run often, it can be difficult to sleep.

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Bill's Hint:
"Turn off all open flames when you are filling your gasoline tank(s). One hundred gallons of burning gasoline makes an impressive sight after the explosion." --From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy.

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Picture Frame Hanging Using Command Strips:

"There are three critical steps in the process of putting up picture frames in your RV. First, you need to decide where they are going to be placed. Once you accomplish that important task and you still have your sanity, you must apply the strips to the back of the frame. It is very important that you clean the area where you place the fasteners with rubbing alcohol. This makes the adhesive work better.

If the frame is not flat (it has to fit flush with the wall) then use liquid nails and a popsicle stick as a trowel and make a flat spot on each side of the frame where the tape will be placed. Let the Liquid Nails dry completely before attaching the fasteners.……"      More at: http://rvnow.rvtravel.com/2007/01/picture-frame-mounting.html

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Medical Alert Flag

"RVer Shirley Mendonca designed a medical alert flag for use when traveling. 

The Flag measures approx. 13" x 15". The Flagstaff is 30" long x 1/2 in. diameter. Bottom cap is removable to place over antennas

"Shirley Mendonca and her husband, Dave, travel a great deal in 39-foot their Holiday Rambler motorhome.
"We've been RVers for about 30 years," says Shirley. "My husband and I are members of a tractor club that puts on tractor pulls at various places. He does the announcing and I help with checking in all of the tractors and 4 x 4 pickups."

Handy shipping tube is large enough to store additional items such as a Flashlight, Whistle or extra batteries ( Not included) 

Flashing Red Strobe light mounts at the top of flagstaff. Has 6 different light functions. Super bright LED. On/off function on the rear. Takes 2 "AA" batteries. (not included)

"After Shirley had open-heart surgery, she was concerned about how Emergency Medical crews would be able to find her quickly if "we were camping out in the middle of nowhere." "More at: http://www.womenrvers.com/2011/02/rver-shirley-mendonca-designs-medical.html

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"At home, it's better to have an emergency light. This light replaces your porch light bulb and when you switch it on, it acts just like that. However, switch it on, off, and on again and it blinks. When the emergency is over, just switch it off, wait a few seconds, then switch it on and it's back to being a porch light. So much easier to find you at night." 

One place to find them: http://www.911beacon.com/

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On This Day:   Sorry, I have been lax about posting these:

Mar 05, 1963 :  Hula-Hoop patented

Mar 06, 1899 :  Bayer patents aspirin

Mar 07, 1876 :  Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone

Egypt opens the Suez Canal, Mar 8, 1957:

"Following Israel's withdrawal from occupied Egyptian territory, the Suez Canal is reopened to international traffic. However, the canal was so littered with wreckage from the Suez Crisis that it took weeks of cleanup by Egyptian and United Nations workers before larger ships could navigate the waterway.

The Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas across Egypt, was completed by French engineers in 1869. For the next 88 years, it remained largely under British and French control, and Europe depended on it as an inexpensive shipping route for oil from the Middle East."

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Yesterday:

After Misty's walk, Jay and I got an early start into town, arriving at the physical therapist's by 8.30.  It must be a big business as the whole top floor of the clinic is dedicated to physical therapy.

When I was finally ushered into a room, it took a while for the main physical therapist, Ben, to look at my back and then decide what to do.  He said that Medicare and my HMO would pay for therapy TWELVE times, and then, and only then, maybe the clinic's chiropractor would adjust my back.   He sent in a lady therapist who hooked up some electrode thingys on my back that I could feel pulsing while I lay on some heat.  After that, Ben took me into an enormous room where there were lots of therapy tables and showed me some exercises I could do to strengthen the muscles to stop my back from going out.  But why won't the clinic adjust my back first?  $$, I suppose!

Jay waited nearly 2 hours outside with the Reader's Digests that I keep in the van.  But I have spent a lot more time waiting for him at his doctor's office.

First stop was the battery place, and they replaced the bad battery free of charge.

Next stop was our favourite thrift shop.  We donated a lot of paper to their recycling, items for their shop, and even some trash into their dumpster.  Jay bought some clothes.  Then unsuccessful trips to Home Depot, Moore's Plumbing and Grainger's, to try to find the fittings I need for the cargo trailer's water tank.   I had already tried at the RV store north of us, and may have to make a trip to the other one, way south of us.

I was peeved about the whole waste-of-time physical therapy  thing, until I realized that it had made my back feel a bit better yesterday.

Just Piddlin’. Kindle Alternative

It was drizzly and chilly, not cold, but the cats couldn’t go out on the porch till later, and then not for very long. It was still warm enough for us to have the big doors open on the workshop.
Ray and I looked to see why Jay’s repair  to the leak on the porch roof didn’t work. We can see some things that we are going to try, but it was too wet and slippery on the roof today. 

So we finished Bobcat’s porch bed, and screwed it into place.  You can see that she is a ‘red tabby’, not a gray one. 
  We have a side table that is going in the yard sale, whenever we get some of our nice TX winter weather!  It needed to be repainted, but first we had to get pipe clamps on it, and secure one of the corners which was spreading.  Then Ray painted the new paper towel holder, and utensil holder for the motor home, in country blue.

Two small cube heaters worked when we tried them out, so I don’t know why they were on the repair table.  I had bought a new ceramic one at WalMart, then found out that it didn’t have a tip-over switch, which I thought was illegal, so that goes back.  So beware, and read the labels.

Phew! I finally got enrolled in another Medicare HMO, after doing more studying, and calling, about it.  The one that seemed the best deal only had Primary Care doctors all the way down in The Woodlands. That wasn’t going to work.

As I had heard how great, attentive and not-in-a-rush Claudia’s doctor is, I signed up with that doctor and plan.
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KINDLE ALTERNATIVE?

I don’t know anything about Kindle, but I saw this for those who might be interested:

“There is another alternative.  Amazon has a free download of the Kindle software that allows you to use your netbook, laptop
or desktop computer to download any Kindle book, newspaper, magazine, etc.
Anything you can get for the Kindle is available through this free software
on your own computer.

It's the same catalog and the same prices for everything. It's a great way of trying out the product (which are the electronic versions of the books) before you commit a chunk of money to a dedicated reader.
The software is available for Windows XP, Vista and 7 - they don't have the Macintosh version ready, yet, but it is is coming - they'll also have versions for the IPhone and other smart phones.
Just go to Amazon to the Kindle site and you'll find the info and the download button - register your software with Amazon and read to your heart's content - oh yeah, and if you ever buy a Kindle, you can synch the Kindle to the computer and move the books to the Kindle or download them again from your Kindle archive at Amazon. Pretty cool and the price is RIGHT!

Along with the free software, if you go to the Kindle bookstore at Amazon.com, search on "-public", and then change the sort order to "low to high", there are an amazing number of free books available. Many authors release a few of their titles for free use to help build up a readership that will buy their other titles. These are not all old expired copyright books either, as I have about a dozen downloaded with copyright dates ranging from 2002 to 2009. Ebooks sure cut down on the weight of our onboard library. :-)
This may be what they mean?”

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311

So that was my day.