I'm going to have to start to compose posts that I can just cut and paste into Blogger during my stolen moments of online time!
More about the last few days will follow, but I will say that I'm settling in nicely, learning A LOT, eager to get on the road, already nervous about how the winter is going to be, and collecting lots of amusing anecdotes.
Topics to look forward to:
-Rae learns a very important lesson about towing.
-Rae discovers that backing up perfectly (in one try) into a campsite is actually not the most important consideration at that time.
-Rae finds something that no longer makes it necessary for her to run an extension cord from her electrical post to the coffee maker set on a picnic table.
-Rae has a real lightbulb moment involving a too highly chlorinated fresh water holding tank.
And more!
Stay tuned! :-)
Showing posts with label rv stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rv stuff. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Pleasant Surprises
I was just playing around with my cell phone and managed to lock on to a signal that took me to my account where I could check the balance. I was curious to see if I would still have 100$ on it, or if I would have been dinged for some unexpected tiny print charges.
Neither.
While all the other cell companies charge you 25$ or so to activate your phone, Virgin Mobile pays YOU money to activate your phone! They gave me a 15$ credit for activating on line!
Even at 30 cents per minute for local calls, 115$ is going to last a long time!
This reminds me of ten years ago, when I bought a £5 phone card for my month in Scotland and got a ludicrously generous £3 bonus. I still had so much money left on the card at the end of the month is was worth giving it to another traveler!
Neither.
While all the other cell companies charge you 25$ or so to activate your phone, Virgin Mobile pays YOU money to activate your phone! They gave me a 15$ credit for activating on line!
Even at 30 cents per minute for local calls, 115$ is going to last a long time!
This reminds me of ten years ago, when I bought a £5 phone card for my month in Scotland and got a ludicrously generous £3 bonus. I still had so much money left on the card at the end of the month is was worth giving it to another traveler!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Funny How Things Work Out
Saturday's horde was supposed to take off with all my appliances. But the deal on the fridge and stove fell through, so I was left with them. About three hours after the horde left, I received a slightly panicky telephone call from my landlords wondering if my fridge and stove were still available for sale.... So I now have both right up until the day I leave and I don't have to coordinate their departure from the house. AND I got the price I wanted for them. Yay!
I had a bit of a meltdown when I woke up this morning and realised just how little time I have left, so I've been using my breaks to chip away at my humongous to do list.
First order of business was to find a place to camp for my last five days. Plan A worked out just fine, YAY!!!
I then cancelled my Hydro Quebec account online, but will need to call the doofuses there to confirm that they'll be sending my final bill the way they send all my bills, via email.
Finally, I confirmed with my insurance company that the changes I'd asked for have gone through. As it turns out, the company's headquarters burned to the ground a few weeks back (!), so they're having major delays, but I should be getting my paperwork before I leave.
What's left? Oh so much. :-)
I had a bit of a meltdown when I woke up this morning and realised just how little time I have left, so I've been using my breaks to chip away at my humongous to do list.
First order of business was to find a place to camp for my last five days. Plan A worked out just fine, YAY!!!
I then cancelled my Hydro Quebec account online, but will need to call the doofuses there to confirm that they'll be sending my final bill the way they send all my bills, via email.
Finally, I confirmed with my insurance company that the changes I'd asked for have gone through. As it turns out, the company's headquarters burned to the ground a few weeks back (!), so they're having major delays, but I should be getting my paperwork before I leave.
What's left? Oh so much. :-)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Wardrobe Woes
Miranda's wardrobe is surprisingly useless for a full-timer. Blame it on the sliding doors. If I had doors that opened outwards, I could have done something like Andy Baird did in his rigs, that is put in plastic drawers to fill in the space. Instead, I have to contend with doors that eat up a surprising amount of interior space. I will put in at least one drawer unit, but it will have to be quite skinny.
When retirees move into a full-timing rig, they can usually downsize their clothing since they know they'll be doing mostly casual things in mostly warm climates. I don't have that luxury. I'm still going to go through four seasons and I have no idea what sort of scenarios I'm going to encounter. It therefore doesn't make sense to get rid of anything I've worn in the last year except for pieces that are definitely too big for me now.
I divided my wardrobe into three: winter, summer, and inbetween. Since I'm leaving at the beginning of September, I can expect to wear summer clothes for at least that month, but will want ready access to the inbetween items, which include longer-sleeved tops and heavier skirts. The distinctly winter items--corduroy skirts, heavy knit tops, coats, boots, hats, etc. went into two rubber totes that fit nicely in the basement. I'll need to figure out how to squeeze the summer things into the wardrobe using the hanging and drawer space I have available to me. As for the inbetween stuff, I want it at the ready for the first chilly morning.
So, I just spent a half hour staring at both my closets (yes, both, I'm in suuuch trouble, LOL!) and realised that I hadn't figured out yet where I'm putting my suitcases. Yes, I'm taking my suitcases with me since I plan on doing one round trip air flight per year to Montreal to visit my family.
The three suitcases nestle in each other, so there's only the big one to worry about, size-wise, and it should fit on the wardrobe's shelf if I measure things correctly. I put the smaller suitcase in it and stuffed it with rolled up long-sleeved inbetween tops:
I then closed up the small suitcase and laid on top the dressier clothes I own that would be suitable for interviews or office jobs. They'll be out of the way, but stay reasonably unwrinkled.
I finished by stuffing the suitcase with socks and tights.
I will most definitely need to hang some things, so I suspect I'll end up using up as much of the wardrobe for drawers as I can, and then put up hooks in the entrance and study for hanging the coats and shawls I'm using at the time. I'll hang the other coats in the wardrobe in the dead space between the drawers where the doors intersect. I'll need to remove the drawer units to get at the coats, so that will be fine for rotating storage.
When retirees move into a full-timing rig, they can usually downsize their clothing since they know they'll be doing mostly casual things in mostly warm climates. I don't have that luxury. I'm still going to go through four seasons and I have no idea what sort of scenarios I'm going to encounter. It therefore doesn't make sense to get rid of anything I've worn in the last year except for pieces that are definitely too big for me now.
I divided my wardrobe into three: winter, summer, and inbetween. Since I'm leaving at the beginning of September, I can expect to wear summer clothes for at least that month, but will want ready access to the inbetween items, which include longer-sleeved tops and heavier skirts. The distinctly winter items--corduroy skirts, heavy knit tops, coats, boots, hats, etc. went into two rubber totes that fit nicely in the basement. I'll need to figure out how to squeeze the summer things into the wardrobe using the hanging and drawer space I have available to me. As for the inbetween stuff, I want it at the ready for the first chilly morning.
So, I just spent a half hour staring at both my closets (yes, both, I'm in suuuch trouble, LOL!) and realised that I hadn't figured out yet where I'm putting my suitcases. Yes, I'm taking my suitcases with me since I plan on doing one round trip air flight per year to Montreal to visit my family.
The three suitcases nestle in each other, so there's only the big one to worry about, size-wise, and it should fit on the wardrobe's shelf if I measure things correctly. I put the smaller suitcase in it and stuffed it with rolled up long-sleeved inbetween tops:
I then closed up the small suitcase and laid on top the dressier clothes I own that would be suitable for interviews or office jobs. They'll be out of the way, but stay reasonably unwrinkled.
I finished by stuffing the suitcase with socks and tights.
I will most definitely need to hang some things, so I suspect I'll end up using up as much of the wardrobe for drawers as I can, and then put up hooks in the entrance and study for hanging the coats and shawls I'm using at the time. I'll hang the other coats in the wardrobe in the dead space between the drawers where the doors intersect. I'll need to remove the drawer units to get at the coats, so that will be fine for rotating storage.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
How Can Anyone Doubt...
the existence of some higher power in the universe?
My mother did a walk about the coach this weekend and stopped in front of my licence plate, commenting that it was an odd coincidence. I saw three letters and four numbers for which I could force a significance that would enable me to remember them. She told me to look at the four numbers again:
2498
24
49
8
August 24, 1949
My (late) father's birthday.
My mother did a walk about the coach this weekend and stopped in front of my licence plate, commenting that it was an odd coincidence. I saw three letters and four numbers for which I could force a significance that would enable me to remember them. She told me to look at the four numbers again:
2498
24
49
8
August 24, 1949
My (late) father's birthday.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Discoveries
I went back to Miranda tonight to hopefully finish the floors. I almost got done before I ran out of light and steam. I'm at the 'really finicky lots of measuring and fitting of itty bitty pieces in a tiny space stage', which is not fun at all.
I've made two discoveries this week.
Until Sunday, Miranda had a secret basement compartment with a door I couldn't open. I tried every key and had my friend try, too, when she came last Tuesday. Neither one of us could get that door open. Sunday, I decided to try again and I got in (wish I could remember what key I used). Guess what I found behind the door? An outdoor shower!!! YES! *score*! And there I was disappointed that not only do I have a rig without enclosed tanks, I also don't have an outdoor shower. My rig is truly awesome! :-)
Second discovery came from spending about an hour sitting on the entrance steps. I looked up and noticed a switch under the kitchen counter, just above the drawers. I'd of course seen it in pictures, but hadn't really clued in to the fact that there was something there. Curious, I hit the switch. Miranda roared to life. Yes, folks. I found the on switch for the generator. I had no idea that a generator could be turned on from inside! There's even a little counter that keeps track of the generator hours. I'll be filling up the tank on Friday and will exercise the generator this weekend.
Tonight was the first time I turned lights on in the rig and doing so caused a shift in consciousness. Miranda is parked by her lonesome in a rural setting, by farmland, and surrounded by trees. Soon as the sun set, the crickets came out. As I turned lights on in my current metal tube on wheels set in such a familiar setting, I was instantly home. I can't wait to move in.
I've made two discoveries this week.
Until Sunday, Miranda had a secret basement compartment with a door I couldn't open. I tried every key and had my friend try, too, when she came last Tuesday. Neither one of us could get that door open. Sunday, I decided to try again and I got in (wish I could remember what key I used). Guess what I found behind the door? An outdoor shower!!! YES! *score*! And there I was disappointed that not only do I have a rig without enclosed tanks, I also don't have an outdoor shower. My rig is truly awesome! :-)
Second discovery came from spending about an hour sitting on the entrance steps. I looked up and noticed a switch under the kitchen counter, just above the drawers. I'd of course seen it in pictures, but hadn't really clued in to the fact that there was something there. Curious, I hit the switch. Miranda roared to life. Yes, folks. I found the on switch for the generator. I had no idea that a generator could be turned on from inside! There's even a little counter that keeps track of the generator hours. I'll be filling up the tank on Friday and will exercise the generator this weekend.
Tonight was the first time I turned lights on in the rig and doing so caused a shift in consciousness. Miranda is parked by her lonesome in a rural setting, by farmland, and surrounded by trees. Soon as the sun set, the crickets came out. As I turned lights on in my current metal tube on wheels set in such a familiar setting, I was instantly home. I can't wait to move in.
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