Showing posts with label Refrigerator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Refrigerator. Show all posts

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Final Countdown

DeBary, FL.

74 deg. clear, no wind, humidity 87%
Forecast =  Partly cloudy with scattered storms. Highs around 91°F. Heat index around 97°F. West wind 2 to 9 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 50%

Houston, we are ready to launch!!!!

Well, maybe not launch, but we are certainly ready to hit the road!!!! ;-) Right now we're at 4 days and counting and everything is looking "good to go!!

Yesterday Big RED took Linda and Jim over to the surgeon's office and the surgeon removed the "port" that has been giving Linda the creeps ever since it was installed way back on the 27th of December, 2013!! :-(   After Dr. Ogle removed the port, he gave Linda a "good to go", and in a total of about 1 hour, Big RED was backing back into the carport and Linda was relaxing in her recliner.

With a big smile on her face, I might add.  .;-)

Before Linda and Jim went to the doctor's office, Laura and Lindsey had stopped by for a few minutes. They chatted for a little while and then just before they left, Linda and Jim gave them a bunch of frozen foods out of the freezer for them to take home and use. There was just too much in the house freezer to take over to the trailer, so if they can use it, it won't go to waste.

As soon as Linda got back from the doctor, she called Laura and told her that the port was out, she was doing fine and it was a very easy procedure. Laura suggested that since we'll be leaving Monday and she'll be busy or working every day before that, it might be nice to go out to dinner together someplace.

So, after taking naps, Jim and Linda took Big RED and headed over to Gram's Kitchen where they met up with Laura and Lindsey for a very nice dinner and some great conversation with a couple of very special people. ;-)

Thanks so much for everything, Laura and Lindsey!!! :-)

So, what's left to do before we leave DeBary? Well, Jim went over to Highbanks early this morning and made some adjustments on the Equal-i-zer weight distribution, sway control hitch on the trailer. It had been set up with the trailer empty and now there's quite a bit of  "stuff" in it that has changed the amount of tongue weight, so he felt an adjustment was needed.  There's medicine to take over to the trailer, as well a clothes, personal items and the rest of the food. Jim and Linda have a pretty large list, but I won't go into all of that here.

Then, they have to get the house ready to sit empty for about 4 months. They'll need to do a little cleaning, close all the blinds and shades, empty the refrigerator, turn off most of the circuit breakers to the house, (the A/C stays on and is set at about 84 degrees, and one other circuit is left on for a light), make sure the water is shut off and of course, make sure all doors and windows are checked and locked. Everything outside needs to be put away or secured so that nothing blows around in case there is a severe storm, and the shop/shed is locked and everything in the Florida room and screened-in section of the carport secured.

There's also things to do like go to the Post Office and have all mail sent to Alternative Resources, their mail forwarding service, stop by the office here in the park to let them know that we'll be gone for about 4 months, talk to Bob, the lawn maintenance guy, and pay for the electric that was used since the first of the month over at Highbanks.

Whew!!!!!

Yeah, there's a lot to do, but I have faith!!! ;-) You can't imagine how ready Jim, Linda and I are to get away from here and get back out on the road. Talk about "hitch itch" we've all got a bad case of it and as far as I know, there's only one way to cure it, and that's to hit the road!! And, to top it off, Monday is the day the lot rent at Highbanks is up, so I'm sure we'll be out of here, one way or another!!! ;-)

Did you know that a third of the human population sneezes when they look at the Sun? Light can signal the ocular nerve near the sinuses and triggers a sneeze.

Woof!!!

Achoo!!!!!!! :-)

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

It's Difficult

DeBary, Fl.

74 deg. clear, humidity 86%, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with isolated storms. Highs around 91°F. Heat index around 98°F. South southwest wind to 7 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 50%.

It's difficult trying to decide what to take with you on a 4 month trip, especially since Jim and Linda's mindset is still in the full-timing mode.

Let me try to explain.  You see, for the past 12+ years, anytime that we've been traveling in an RV, Jim and Linda had all of their possessions along with them. Now, we're going to be in a much smaller RV, they won't need or have room to take all of their "stuff" with them, but just what do you need for 4 months and what can you do without?????

Are you going to need that casserole dish that was used for so many pot-luck dinners? Are you going to need  all those cooking utensils, or all the items that you've used for grilling and cooking outside? What tools will you need, which lawn chairs, which clothes?????

We've been full-timing for so long, its hard not to try to take everything you own with you. After so many years of living in an RV, Jim and Linda had figured out just what was needed and what wasn't, but this is a whole new "game"!!!

Linda says that they have to try to get back into the "vacation mode" that they used many years ago. :-)

Anyway, trying to figure that out is what has been going on around here the last few days. Yesterday, they took a whole bunch of  "stuff" over to the trailer and got it all put away. Today, they'll probably be packing more items up to go over there, but they're getting down to the things that they need for everyday living, so most of that will have to be taken to the trailer at the last minute.

As of right now, the plan is still to leave here next Monday morning.although I suppose we could leave on Sunday if everything falls into place.

Linda has been doing a little better but.she's still fighting those dizzy spells which will probably stay with her for awhile yet. That, along with the extreme fatigue requires her to sit and rest a lot, but she's been really trying hard to do as much as she can to get ready to travel.

Oh, Big RED was telling me that they had a little excitement when they arrived at the trailer yesterday morning!!!! It seems that when they got there, there was no electric power to the trailer!!! Jim checked the circuit breakers and they were OK. Then, he checked the electric cords and  found out that there was no power coming out of the one that plugs into the trailer. Upon inspection, it was determined that something had happened inside of the connector and that one of the contacts was burned.

Jim had always thought that there was something that was not quite right with that connector, but the dealer said that they had checked it and everything was OK.

Well, I guess it wasn't!!!!  :-(

Anyway, because by that time, the temperature was already nearing 90 degrees and the refrigerator, (which already has quite a bit of food in it), had already been running off of propane and battery, for who knows how long, Jim decided rather than to mess around with trying to get LaMesa to warranty it, he just went and purchased a new cord.

When he gets time, he'll get a new connector for the old cord and then, he'll have an extra one in case something happens to the new one.

So, that's what has been happening around here. Tomorrow, Linda goes in to get that "port" removed and then it'll just be a matter of tying up all the loose ends.

I sure am getting "hitch itch"!!!!  :-)

Did you know that more than ten people a year are killed by vending machines?

Woof!!!!


Tuesday, June 10, 2014

A Shopping Trip With Laura And Ashley, Back At The House Again and A Comment

DeBary, FL.

73 deg. clear, S. wind @ 4 mph.
Forecast = Mostly sunny skies this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. High near 95F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%

Sunday morning about 11:00 Laura and Ashley came by the campground and picked up Linda and her wheelchair. You see, Ashley has a new sewing machine and Linda has volunteered to help her learn how to use it, so she needed a few patterns, some material and a few other supplies before they could begin. Anyway, after picking Linda up, they headed over to the Mall in Sanford where they went to a craft store where they were able find all the items that were needed. :-)

Of course by the time they were finished shopping, it was lunch time so they went to a restaurant called the Red Robin where they enjoyed some great conversation and a good "gourmet" burger. ;-)

 After spending a very enjoyable week in the trailer at Highbanks, Jim and Linda decided that yesterday, we'd return to the house. So, they started packing stuff up that needed to be brought back to the house as soon as Linda got up and finished her breakfast. Being that they're starting to get better organized, there wasn't that much to bring back, so by about 11:30, we were back at the house.

By the time Jim was finished carrying stuff into the house, the temperatures were up in the mid 90's and he was completely wiped out. Linda managed to get the refrigerator stuff put away but by that time she was exhausted also, so they both took naps before getting the other stuff put away.

Got a comment from Louise, (The Campground host up in Rantoul) yesterday and she said that she's getting ready for us to arrive and wanted to know if site #23 would be OK? Site #23 would be great!!! Jim has always said that he thought that 23 was one of the best sites in the park and it's also close to Paul and Louise's trailer so it would be easier for Linda to get over there for visits and gatherings.

Thanks Louise!!!! :-)

No big plans for the next few days. There's some laundry to be done and some groceries that will be needed. Then on Thursday, Linda will have her last Chemo treatment, so the whole day will be tied up with that.

A Point to Ponder: I've learned that money doesn't buy class.

Woof!!!


Sunday, October 6, 2013

I Forgot and Waiting

DeBary, FL.

72 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with a chance of rain, then thunderstorms and rain showers in the afternoon. High of 90F. Winds from the ESE at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.


Really hasn't been much to post about. In the last post, I forgot to tell you that this next Tuesday, Linda has to go over to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach to have some x-rays and some blood drawn.

Right now, it's wait, wait, wait, so nothing much has gotten done around here. Linda did a couple loads of laundry. As she was doing the first one, the washer quit. It went through the wash cycle but then wouldn't drain. Jim called an appliance repair service and they came the next day and found that it was only the lid switch that had broken, so it was a quick, fairly inexpensive fix.

The freezer door gasket on the new refrigerator has been leaking air into the freezer compartment, so Jim called GE. They sent a repairman out Friday and he worked on it, but by Saturday morning, the frost was reforming again. He tried to call GE but of course they don't make appointments on the weekend, so he'll have to call again Monday.

The freezer is keeping everything frozen, but there is a frost build-up along the bottom of the door.

Thursday evening, Jim and Linda went to Gram's Kitchen for dinner. Linda had breakfast and Jim had their chicken pot pie. Then Friday evening, Jim cooked some burgers on the grill.

Well, I guess that all I have to report. The "unknown" is wearing on both Linda and Jim. Hopefully in a couple weeks, they'll know more.

Did you know that George Washington is the only man whose birthday is a legal holiday in every state of the U.S?

Woof!!!

Friday, September 20, 2013

Right On Schedule, Jeff and Dinner Plans

DeBary, FL.

68 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with a chance of rain in the afternoon. High of 90F. Winds from the NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20%.

11:30, right on schedule, the driver brought the new refrigerator, got it into the kitchen and took the old one out to the truck. It was a tight squeeze getting the new one through the kitchen door, but the man had a lot of experience and got it in with just a little maneuvering.

As I write this, the new fridge is humming away out in the kitchen, keeping all of the food nice and cold. ; -)

Jim got a call from Jeff yesterday. (His son who lives out in Portland Oregon). He called for 3 reasons, the first was to find out how Linda was doing, the second was to wish Jim and Happy Birthday, (his birthday was Wednesday), and third was to remind Jim and Linda that he is going start out on a bicycle trip down the Oregon coast next week.

Yep, you read that right. He's going to ride his bicycle from Portland, out to Tillamook and then down US 101 to near the Oregon/California state line. From there, he will ride back up to the little town of Yachats, where he will meet up with Heather who will drive down there from Portland in her car. They will stay at a rental cabin there for 3 or 4 days and then will return to Portland in the car. The whole trip will take 3 weeks and cover between 500 and 600 miles.  He will be camping in his little pup tent at nights, staying in State, County and City parks along the way.

So, if your're traveling up or down US 101 in Oregon during the next 3 weeks and see a lone bicyclist, please give him a little extra room if possible, toot you horn and wave. It may be Jim's son Jeff.

Today for dinner, Jim and Linda have plans to meet Laura and Lindsey at the Texas Roadhouse Restaurant over in Orange City. It'll be a combination get-together for Jim's birthday and to thank Laura and Lindsey for all the help and support that they've given Jim and Linda since we decided to come back here to take care of Linda's medical problem. This meal will also be a gift from Paul and Louise, (the campground hosts up in Rantoul, IL), because of the generous gift that they gave Jim and Linda when we left the CG up there.

Thanks Paul and Louise, I'm sure Jim and Linda will be thinking of you this evening. ;-)

Did you know that on February 17, 1993, Kent Taylor opened the first Texas Roadhouse in Clarksville, Indiana? There are now over 300 steakhouse locations in over 40 states.

Woof!!!






Thursday, September 19, 2013

Finally Another Appointment and Noises From The Kitchen

DeBary, FL.

72 deg. mostly cloudy, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with thunderstorms and rain showers. High of 88F. Winds from the ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Linda and Laura going to Daytona the other day to get the records sent over to the original doctor that Laura and then Linda had contacted, paid off.

He went over the files and decided that he would see Linda to determine if, or what type of surgery will be performed. The results for the biopsy have not returned yet, but by viewing the other doctor's notes and test results, he seems to think that surgery will more than likely be necessary regardless of the biopsy results.

So, an appointment has been made for 8:30 AM on the 1st of October, with a "new patient orientation" the day before, on the 30th of September.

Linda has very mixed feelings. She wants to get this problem taken care of, but of course, is nervous about the whole procedure to correct the problem.

In the meantime, the doctor's office e-mailed her a whole packet forms to fill out and information about the doctor, the hospital and directions to the different places that Linda and Jim will have to go. They even included a map of the facilities!!

I've heard a noise coming from the refrigerator in the kitchen for quite some time now. It comes and goes, but lately has been getting louder and more frequent. I guess Jim has been hearing the noise also, but being that there was so much else going on, just kind of ignored it.

In the last few days, the noise has gotten noticeably worse and  yesterday morning, I saw Jim checking it out. He's pretty sure that the noise is coming from  one of those little fan motors that circulate the cold air throughout the inside of the fridge.

So, what to do? Well, He and Linda talked it over yesterday and decided that if this refrigerator was larger and a nicer one with an icemaker, they would have called a repair man to come and repair it. But, since they really don't like this one much, they decided to see what they could find to replace it.

Over in Orange City, there's an appliance store called John's Appliance, so they headed over there yesterday afternoon. John's sells all the major brands and also sells scratch and dent appliances at reduced prices. After talking to Dan, the salesman, and telling him what the size limitations were, he showed them a few different units that would fit into the space in the kitchen. Jim asked if they had any scratch and dent models that would fit in the space? Dan showed them what was available and soon they were making a deal on a nice 21 cubic foot GE refrigerator that has a very small dent in the door down towards the bottom.

Today, they'll be delivering the refrigerator and picking up the old one. They're supposed to be here between 11:30 and 12:30.  

This wasn't an expense that they had counted on, but when they bought this house, they new there would be some expenses, so they set money aside for things like this.  It's a good thing that they did.

Did you know that on this date in 1876 - Melville R. Bissell patented the carpet sweeper?

Woof!!!