Refrigerator Woes

First a strange sign I saw recently.

Didn't you find that a little strange?  It's in a business store.  My friend and I were commenting on it when the cashier came over.  Unbelievable....they had to post it a couple of weeks ago because they noticed several couples come out of the restroom over a period of days.  This is a small to medium size retail and service store.

On to my adventure with the refrigerator.  I picked up the RV yesterday afternoon and headed down to Texas RV Supply to have the doors adjusted.  It's a Norcold.   Well, the technician had to take the doors off to adjust them and found that the corners of the doors, both of them, were separated.  No way to put them back together.  Once they slide those wooden panels out, the doors weigh very little but those panels are heavy.  

I have a service contract with Jayplus.  The manager called them.  It took some time to get the next available representative but once we did, he had a couple of questions for the manager and approved the replacement of both doors and labor.  I just had to pay my deductible.  Texas RV Supply had the doors in stock in their warehouse so they sent someone to get them.  I asked if the panels caused the problem because they are real wood.  He said it was possible but felt that I probably had just gotten some bad doors.  I sure hope he is right.

I wasn't happy with the initial fit because the latch opened way too easily.  I've never had my fridge come open and I'd like to stay with that record.  The manager came out and adjusted it himself and it was much better.  I still had a concern about how easily a dollar bill slips out from the seal so the manager called Norcold to see if there was any other adjustment possible.  We waited on Norcold who is now owned by Thetford for about 15 minutes and then the phone hung up.  So he called again and we waited another 10 minutes before we got a "technician".  He asked her about adjustments and she said she would check.  Then he asked her another question and she had to "check" again.  Translation, she was a receptionist or phone person and not a real technician.  She came back and told us that the seal just needs time to settle in to the new door.  She recommended waiting about three weeks and then, if there was any problem with frost in the freezer or condensation in the fridge, to let them know and they would send a spacer kit.  Three weeks, hmmm, that might work for a full-timer but not for a part-timer.  He asked her about the spacer kit--it's some washers you put behind the seal.

So the manager and I agreed that I would use the fridge while I am out in the RV for the next week.  If there are any problems, I will bring it back in and he will be back on the phone with Norcold.  Okay, I can live with that.

Overall, I was pleased with the service I received at Texas RV Supply.  Oh, and let me tell you what else I found there.  I scored a 50 amp to 30 amp reducer.  Now you say, you can find those anywhere.  Ah, but this 50 amp plug fits the socket in the RV not the one at the end of the 50 amp cord.  Nice.  I know a few people who have gotten them but they had to order them through the dealer.  That was definitely a find and I snapped it up as there was only one.

I'm already benefiting from it by using it plus my 30 amp to 15 amp reducer so I can have the fridge running to cool off overnight in my driveway.  It will be great not having to coil up that really heavy 50 amp cord before I take off in the morning.  Thanks Texas RV Supply.

I'm headed out in the morning to a Pink FlaminGoes Flocking with a large group of other women RVers.  Everything is loaded except the fridge and freezer items.  Can't wait.  See you later.

A Computer Work Day

We ran out of time working on Susan’s computer yesterday so she planned to come down to my house today while they finished up a few more things on her computer.  My friend Birdie called and said she was coming to town today so she planned to come over too.

Between my computer, Susan’s computer, and DH’s computer for Birdie to log onto, we set to work.  Birdie worked on finishing up a blog post from her Alaska trip.  I showed Susan how to make changes on her blog that she wanted and helped her set up a new one for her artwork.  Next we all took a look at Live Writer and got a few tips from each other. 

We headed out for a quick lunch and met Margareta at Schlotzkies.  Then it was back at the computers.
 Susan wanted to learn how to use Picasa so we got the program downloaded and ran her through the basics.  I also emailed her links to Geeks On Tour Picasa Tutorials.  Chris Guld does such a good job on these. You can also sign up for her email tips.  I know I have learned a lot from her easy to understand guidance.
So here we are after all the work is done.  The photo limited due to no other available photographers and I could only reach out so far.
 


                                                        Birdie,      Margareta,        Susan,       Colleen

It was another great day spent with friends.

A Big Day!

My friend Birdie had a major event happen this week.  I couldn't be there on Monday when the big event happened but I made up for it as soon as I could.  What was the big event?  Well, if you have been following my blog, you will know that Birdie has been looking at RVs for over a year now with me as her faithful sidekick.  Now don't misunderstand, Birdie is already an RVer.  She is a full-time RVer and "Bunkie", 30 foot Class C, has been her home for a while now.  "Bunkie" is a very nice RV but maybe just not right for a full-time single since he has two sets of bunk beds in back and a queen bed over the cab not to mention a couch and dinette which can also sleep a couple.  The thing "Bunkie" is missing is a slide to give a little more space to a full-timer.

Monday about noon "Bunkie" was replaced by "Suite Pea" an absolutely gorgeous Winnebago Vista Class A.  We looked at this beauty a while ago and Birdie made up her mind last week.  Two other RV friends were on hand Monday to help move all Birdie's worldly goods from RV to another.  It was a very big job even though things were boxed.  She spent the night at the Crestwood RV dealer's park in Buda so she could give everything a good run through.  Tuesday morning about 11:00AM I headed up to give her a hand with stowing all her goods away and getting the RV ship-shape.  Here she is with her Suite Pea!

We worked really hard all afternoon and I was invited for a sleepover as she needed to stay one more night so they could install a fantastic fan in the bathroom.  It took a lot of labor to get to this point.

We were both exhausted when we headed to bed about 10:00PM.  I think Birdie fell asleep right away but I wasn't so lucky.  I had a nice comfy bed on the sofa airbed but was a little hyper I guess.  Too bad because by midnight, we were both awake.  The storm that blew through Buda was horrific.  Even with the  heavy duty automatic levelers we could feel a slight shudder with all the wind.  The thunder was absolutely deafening and the lightning awesome.  About 3 AM Birdie had the weather channel on TV (watching TV is something she never does!)  just to see if there were tornadoes.  The thunder was so loud that I'm not sure that we could have heard the typical freight train noise of a tornado.  At least the heavy duty bathroom was right across from us.  Anyway, we survived with no damage but not a lot of sleep.  We spent the morning putting things away and arranging some more.  Then we headed back to Potter's Creek where Birdie is staying.  Another friend, Liz, was patiently waiting for us to arrive.

Doesn't this look like a happy new RV owner getting ready to head out on the road?

Once we arrived, the three of us began tackling the outside storage.  Of course, we found more items that needed to go inside.  Liz and Birdie were still at it when I headed home at 6:00PM.  There is still more arranging and stowing to do but that will go on for a while until Birdie finds just the right location for everything.  Enjoy your new home my friend!

Thanks Birdie! Support Ronald McDonald and Fisher Houses

Cameron was a very happy kid when we got back to San Antonio.  You see, Cameron has been saving pull tabs from soda cans because his school is collecting them for the Ronald McDonald house.  Ronald McDonald Houses collect pop tabs instead of entire aluminum cans because it's more hygienic to store tabs than cans, and collection and storage is easier.  The program is an easy way for people of all ages to support RMHC and know they are making a difference for families and children.

The Ronald McDonald houses are very special places where families who have children in the hospital can stay.  Staying at one of these houses helps with hotel expenses but it does a lot more than that.  It's a place with toys and things for kids to do while they or their siblings have to be in a hospital.  It enables families to be together and have a more normal life while undergoing health issues.  We have personal experience with the Ronald McDonald house in Ft Worth because Cameron had surgery for a brain tumor a couple of years ago and we stayed there.  It is a great place.  

We have all been saving the pull tabs but today I gave Cameron the bag of pull tabs that my RVing friend Birdie has saved over a long period of time.  He was thrilled.  That is a lot of tabs.

Thanks Birdie, these tabs will be going to back to Brownwood to Cameron's school and he is very proud and happy to be taking them with him when he goes back to school next week.

Ronald McDonald Houses deserve support for the great service they provide.  If you happen to be military, Fisher Houses provide the same great support for those in military hospitals.

Potter's Creek, Canyon Lake, TX - Day 2

Potter’s Creek is a Corps of Engineers park on Canyon Lake located about 15 miles from New Braunfels.  It is on Hwy 306 which runs between Hwy 35 and Hwy 281.  The nearby town of Canyon has numerous restaurants, cabins, and RV parks if you don’t want a more rural setting.

The grass was pretty much brown about two weeks ago but quickly greened up with the rain we had.  Sunday about noon the tenters started leaving so the park was back to its more normal quiet.  This is a beautiful time of the year to be here.  It is a lot more busy in the summer.  Canyon Lake is very popular for boating and fishing.  

RV spots with water and electric are $24/day ($12/seniors with national park pass).  

There are very nice restrooms for each loop, some cabins, a boat ramp, and a dump station.  There are some shady spots and some directly in the sun (not bad at all for now but pretty toasty in the summer).

There are a lot of deer which roam freely through the park.  

There is also a large flock of geese.  My resident bird expert, Birdie, told me that they are Egyptian geese so they look a little different from what you might expect. 

All in all, it was a wonderful visit.

Potter's Creek Get-to-Gether

For some reason I couldn't fall asleep Wednesday night so I didn't get much sleep between 2:30 and 5:30 AM but everyone has those nights once in a while. Steve was headed back to Florida before dawn on Thursday morning.   So I hopped up and helped him pull together a few last things although he was already very well organized.  It's about a 14 hour drive which he has made too many times to count in the last few years.  Like me, he loves to travel.  He hit the road at 6 AM and I decided I was going to lay back down for just a little while.  I was back up at 8:45, made the coffee, and headed out to Potter's Creek Park, a COE Park on Canyon Lake.  

My full-timing friend Nancy (Birdie) is parked in her favorite spot at Potter's Creek.  She spent most of last winter there in her Class C.  Even though the lake is pretty low and there is a total burn ban (including grills), it still doesn't look too bad there.  You'll see in just a minute.  We planned to have a Get Together.  Nancy's friend, Shirley, whom she met in Livingston at the Escapees this summer was coming in from Kerrville and I came in from San Antonio, actually Schertz but that is a little too small for most people to know.  Nancy (Birdie) is on the left and Shirley is standing in the door of Nancy's RV.

We sat in the shade and visited for an hour or two and then we headed into Canyon City which is a very small town on Canyon Lake to the Italian Garden.  It was remodeled last year and another whole room was added.  It is very nice inside, the prices are reasonable, and the food was very good.  I had Eggplant Parmigiana, Birdie had a combination platter with lasagna and Zita, and Shirley had Sausage Fettuccine.  They were all delicious.  I know some of you love food pictures but I never think of them until the food is half gone.  Sorry.  After we ate, we drove around and showed Shirley some of the sites like Canyon Dam.  We also checked out Lake Pointe RV Resort.  It is one of those membership resorts BUT they also take Escapees, Passport America, and CampClubUSA members at $12/night.  They even let us drive through and check it out.  It seemed nice with an small adult pool and a separate Jr Olympic size family pool, there's also a clubhouse, dog walk, and walking path.  You can see the lake but you are not camped right on the edge of it.

Once back at Potter's Creek, I got a better picture of Birdie's campsite.  You can see why she likes it.  This is the view towards the woods.  She has shade and a nice covered picnic table.  There is also both a grill and a fire ring but those cannot be used right now due to the burn ban.

This is one of the views from Birdie's site.  You can see the deer that move through the park all the time.  There are quite a few fawns but you are asked not to touch them.  I didn't get another picture that I should have which is to the right of this are which is where you can see the lake.  There are several camping loops here, some shady spots, some completely open spots.

It was a beautiful day in the lower 90's, perfect for sitting out in the shade with a slight breeze blowing.  I'll be back Birdie.