RE: woman travelling alone
I had a friend who retired and took off full-timing. She belonged to a group - LOW - Loners on Wheels. Before she retired, she went to monthly campouts that the local chapter had. She met friends who were also singles. Sometimes they traveled together in a caravan.
I remember her and another lady following each other, when going on longer trips. I felt better knowing she had someone around that she knew while she was out and about.
She spent the first winter at Deming NM. Ended up having bypass surgery. The folks there helped her out a lot through her recovery.
Go, have fun. Just be aware of your surroundings and follow your gut. If something doesn't feel right, move on.
One of the things I like about our CLass A is that if we are stopped for an overnight and something would happen, we can get behind the wheel and take off without going outside. With a B, you would most likely have that same option.
Congrats on your new adventure. You'll have a blast.
Edit: LOW link
Here's a link to the LOW group. I've never participated as I have my DH, but my friend always seemed to enjoy the comraderie when she went on the campouts with the group. I was impressed with the help she got from other members when she had her bypass surgery. Nothing makes you feel more helpless than having a friend in dire straits and you are thousands of miles away. It's nice feeling like you have a safety net available when you are far from home, and alone.
RE: Pets are NOT to be left unattended... what??
There is a big difference between leaving a dog in a parked car, and in a MH or TT with a/c or heat running.
Clicky
Quote: Is it illegal to leave your dog in a parked car? The answer to this question, of course, depends on in the state in which you live. Actually, only 14 states (AZ, CA, IL, ME, MD, MN, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, SD, VT, and WV) have statutes that specifically prohibit leaving an animal in confined vehicle. The next factor important to the question is the condition under which the the animal is left in the vehicle. Most of these laws provide that the animal must be confined or unattended in a parked or stationary vehicle. Further, the laws add that in order for a person to violate the law, the conditions have to endanger the animal's life. Some of the statutes specifically state that extreme hot or cold temperatures, lack of adequate ventilation, or failing to provide proper food or drink meet this definition. Other laws are more vague and just require that the conditions are such that physical injury or death is likely to result.
RE: Pets are NOT to be left unattended... what??
Good grief...... some ppl need to chill out. Just because some dogs don't know how to behave or have irresponsible owners, you lump all dogs and dog owners in one category?
Get real - there are wife beaters out there - does that mean all men are wife beaters? There are women who can be real shrews - does that mean all women are like that? There are children who are neglected and unsupervised - does that mean all kids and parents fall into that group? Some people steal - does that mean all people steal?
I surely don't understand the attack this thread took on, against dog owners.
RE: Memorial Day weekend, where will you be?
Staying home and babysitting the grand-dogs. Boarding fees are getting outrageous. So our son watches our chessie when we go away and we watch his dogs when they go away. Win/win situation.
All my life, I never went away on holiday weekends. Two years ago, we went to the shore over the July 4 holiday. I guess I stayed on the farm too many years.... I could not believe the traffic and crowds. We agreed we were not missing anything by staying home on the holidays. LOL
RE: Cleaning the curtains in front window of coach
I washed ours on a delicate cycle and used Oxyclean on the water stains. They came out like new. I washed them and then tossed them in the dryer for maybe 15 minutes. I hung them back up while still damp. I just wanted to dry them long enough to get the wrinkles out.
I might add, ours are in a 1998 Bounder, and as far as I know, they are the original drapes. I've washed them 3 or 4 times in the 4 years we've owned it. I was worried due to their age, but they are fine.
The velcro was bad on them, where they join together in the front. That had nothing to do with laundering them, though. I finally replaced the velcro and they are good to go again.
RE: Somebody had a birthday !
Is that a tiny dog or BIG bags of treats? Happy Birthday Izzy!!
Our kids get a new toy and treats for birthdays and holidays.
(And sometimes stupid hats or outfits that they could live without!)
RE: Sweet potatoes...am I late to the game?
I love the sweet potato fries. Sometimes I have them sprinkled with cinnamon/sugar.... other times I salt them and use a raspberry vinagrette on them. Yummmm.....
RE: Does stress itch??
X2 on the seasonal stuff. I usually quit taking my allegra over the winter. It was time to break it back out a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully spring is here - even though the temps aren't all that warm yet.
RE: Does stress itch??
Put some Bach Rescue Remedy in the water bowl for a while. I swear by the stuff. If you have multiple dogs, it won't hurt anyone being in the water. Dogs have more feelings than a lot of ppl give them credit for.
Give him some extra loving and talk to him. I always talk to my dogs and picture in my head what I'm talking about.
The one thing that comes to mind, I had buff dogs that were all related and a couple of partis that were rescues who stayed. Buffy Love was the dam of my litter. The last two buffs left were her and her one son, Flash. I wondered how Flash would make out as the last buff, because they always liked laying together. The parti's really are more independent and won't lay snuggled together.
We got our RV and our first trip out, we went to visit friends who have cockers too. I will never forget - Our dogs were in their back yard and their dogs came out of the house - they have two buffs and a chocolate. When Flash saw Tizzy his head snapped around like someone had slapped him and the little old man took off at a run for Tizzy. I think at first glance he thought it was his mom. Once he got closer he realized it wasn't her, but he always hung with Tizzy when we got together.
Potato Corn Cakes
I've been hungry for potato cakes like my mom used to make with leftover mashed potatoes. I've also been hungry for corn fritters. Found this recipe -- it's good. I bet they'd be good fried in a cast iron skillet over the fire.
2 cups Idaho potato flakes
1/3 cup corn meal
1 Tbsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cups milk
2 cups frozen corn kernals, defosted
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 green onions thinly sliced (I just substituted a medium size sweet onion chopped)
Optional garnish: Sour cream and sliced green onions or shredded cheese
20 min prep time
Combine potato flakes, cornmeal, garlic salt and pepper in bowl.
Stir in milk, corn, cheese and onion.
Let stand 2 min.
Pan fry 4 to 5 min on each side, till golden.
I tried pan frying with olive oil first. The next time I fried them in butter. DH liked them both ways - I liked them fried in butter, better.
We did not make them all at one time. I covered the bowl and put it in the refrig and fried more of them the next day. They were still good. Or you could fry them all up at one time and microwave them later.
Edit: I forgot - I added 2 beaten eggs. Just because that's what my mom did when she made the potato cakes. She always said it held them together better.
RE: Excessive Vet costs?
We have an ER pet clinic here. Their prices are a tad high, but when you compare the individual prices, they aren't really much higher than my normal vet. They are open 24/7 and have all the equipment needed in an emergency. You pay for that convenience. They examine the animal and give you a written estimate and you tell them what you want done.
As others said, Banfield is a corporation. I would find a private vet practice and build a relationship with them. I don't think Banfield is considered an emergency clinic in the true sense. You went there with an emergency and they worked you in. I'm sure you were distraught and weren't thinking about estimates, but rather, save your dog.
Also, I've never had a vet charge me for suture removal. I think I'd go back and let them take the sutures out, so they can also re-check the animal to be sure all is well.
RE: Shoes, Shoes and more shoes.
Eycom - truer words were never spoken. My son is at the stage of his life, where he is falling over shoes so to speak - I'm at the stage where I love having them here to fall over when the GK's are with us.
OP - We leave our shoes outside, too, to keep the MH cleaner. I like the idea of the bin with a lid.... we usually just have them lined up under the edge, beside the steps.
RE: Is our summer trip out West too ambitious?
As others have said, way too much driving and not long enough at your stops.
Rather than spending one night at a place -- allow 2 or 3 minimum. After driving all day, let the kids swim at the CG or do something of interest. Set up, so you can sit down outside with a cool drink and relax after driving all day. The next day, get up fresh and do your sightseeing.
Reading your proposed itinerary just makes me feel like I need a nap. LOL
We took our 9 y/o GS along last year on our longest trip ever. 3+ weeks. We left PA - went to a friend's house in VA. Spent 2 nights there. Left and headed for FL. Stopped at South of the Border, for a break. Took GS in to the Reptile Land there - basically just to let him do something other than riding in the MH. He was good with the riding, but that stop did him good. It was not a planned stop - I saw it and just thought it was a good time for a break. Also, I like to allow time that if we see something along the way that looks interesting, we stop to see it.
Drove the rest of the day and just stopped for a few hours of sleep. The next day we made our first destination. Stayed there 4 days. Next destination stayed 11 days. Next destination 5 days. Then headed home.
Our GS did great. But he had enough riding on the travel days. I would not want the entire trip to be pushing for mileage nearly every day. I think the kids will get squirrely.
You want to make good memories that the kids will remember and want to go again in coming years.
Just a tid bit here -- my dad would never stop when we went away. He drove truck for a living and he was in the mindset that you get where you are going. He was all about getting to the destination. We used to do day trips on vacation. We never got to stop if we saw something of interest along the way. You just go.
One of my memories is dad, mom, my brother, me, and my infant son.... we went from PA to Jamestown, VA. We were all packed in a corvair. Had the ice chest with the baby formula, the stroller - and in those days, strollers took up a lot of real estate in a car. Plus the diaper bag.
We went to Jamestown and back in the same day. My mom and I took turns holding the baby. Our arms were about to fall off. We were packed in like sardines. MOm and I kept begging dad to stop and get a room. Nope. I was never so glad to see home in all my life. I don't remember what we saw or did that day but I sure remember the agony of that trip home. That was the last time I went on a trip of that duration with my dad.
Don't do that to your kids..... LOL We laugh about it now, but it sure was NOT fun at the time.
RE: Is it just me? Or do you not talk about Health Issues ?
It's like anything else. Talking about things can be helpful and educational - morally supportive. Even just the moral support can be really important when someone is dealing with serious issues.
I think what the OP was referring to is when the subject goes beyond the realm of reasonable.... like the ppl whose meal was ruined by surgery details.
We are all different and that's what makes the world go 'round.
Camping Party Favors
A while back someone had posted looking for ideas of items to use for party favors at a campout. A lot of things were mentioned. Just wanted to note that this week at Harbor Freight, they have two of the items on sale. The little LED lights are $2.59 and the badmitton racquet type of bug zappers are $1.99.
Couldn't find the original thread to update.
RE: Is it just me? Or do you not talk about Health Issues ?
Re: purpose of this forum.....
Yes, but.... there's a difference between asking a question or getting a little moral support -- and real life where there are ppl who can't carry on a conversation unless it's about all the gorey details of their problems. A big difference. :)
RE: Is it just me? Or do you not talk about Health Issues ?
I have early onset Parkinson's. DW and I have learned to have fun with. The neighbors all look after me if I'm outside. They come help me up if I fall down or if I look like i'm cornfused! Which is usually normal for me! So medical issues in conversation have become the norm with us, but we try to to focus on it. Atitude is the most important thing. We are very much glass half full folks. Though parkinson's is not a funny thing, it does provide some comic refief from time to time! Now what bothers me is the looks I get when I ride the old lady carts at wally world. I don't look sick and I'm not old yet, but if looks could kill....
I think you have a great attitude. We have to play with the cards life deals us. I find it better to laugh things off, rather than get depressed about it.
As far as not looking sick and getting looks, I hear ya.... I have breathing problems, back problems, and a bum ankle. To look at me, I look fine. I hate riding the carts and I push as hard as I can. When I walk with a cart, I am slow and ppl get mad that I am in their way and go flying around with dirty looks.... if I ride the carts, ppl look at you like you are too lazy to walk..... Ya can't win.
That always bothers me, but I'm working on ignoring ppl like that. I keep telling myself it's their problem not mine.....:(
