Happy Birthday Nikki!!!! 
How depressing....my baby is 33...WOW!! Makes one feel kind of old.
Last night at work was really weird. I got to sign up people for the blackjack tournament. Now talk about an easy job. That took up the first 5 hours of my shift. Can't beat that!! Something tells me not to get used to it, but is was nice to have an easy night for a change.
The last two days I have had a really bad cold, complete with a very runny nose and sore throat. 
THIS IS TIME OF THE YEAR THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER A GOLFER'S SPECIAL. FOR AROUND $700 YOU GET ROUND TRIP AIR, HOTEL, CAR RENTAL, GOLF AT 4 DIFFERENT COURSES, 4 NIGHTS, AND 5 DAYS OF (HOPEFULLY) PERFECT SUNSHINE TO WORK ON YOUR GOLF GAME. THE CUSTOMERS ARE MOSTLY ALL MEN AND THEY ARE FUN TO VISIT WITH WHILE WORKING THE GAMING TABLES. THE FIRST GROUP I RAN INTO, AND DEALT TO, WERE FROM DULUTH, BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE NEXT TABLE THERE WAS A GOLFER WITH AN IOWA HAWKEYE SHIRT ON. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I ASKED HIM WHERE IN IOWA HE WAS FROM, AND HIS ANSWER WAS SPILLVILLE! TURNS OUT THERE IS A GROUP OF 14 FROM THE DECORAH AREA. IT WILL KINDA BE LIKE "OLE HOME WEEK" FOR ME AT WORK THIS WEEK.
WHY WOULD ANYONE NAME A CITY AFTER AN UGLY FISH?
BULLHEAD CITY, AZ STARTED OUT AS A MINING TOWN CALLED HARDYVILLE, NAMED AFTER WILLIAM HARRISON HARDY, A COLORFUL CHARACTER WHO STARTED A FERRY CROSSING, TRADING POST, AND INN ON THE BANKS OF THE COLORADO RIVER IN 1846 DURING THE GOLD RUSH DAYS. WHEN THE RAILROAD CROSSED THE COLORADO RIVER AT NEEDLES, CA HARDYVILLE BECAME A GHOST TOWN AND WITHERED AND DIED. STEAMBOATS WERE USED AT THIS TIME TO MOVE FREIGHT AND PEOPLE ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER. THE MODERN BEGINNINGS OF THE CITY ARE TIED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF DAVIS DAM, WHICH BEGAN IN 1942, BUT HAD TO BE HALTED BECAUSE WORLD WAR II CONSUMED NECESSARY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. CONSTRUCTION RESUMED IN 1946, A YEAR AFTER THE WAR ENDED, AND THE DAM WAS COMPLETED IN 1950. DAVIS DAM IS NAMED AFTER THE LATE ARTHUR POWELL DAVIS, DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION FROM 1914 TO 1923. IT PROVIDES HYDROELECTRIC POWER AS WELL AS CONTROLLING THE COLORADO RIVER FLOWS TO PREVENT FLOODING AND MANAGE THE WATER RESOURCES IN THE REGION. DAVIS DAM CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVED IN A COMMUNITY AT THE FOOT OF DAM CALLED DAVIS CAMP, BUT THE TOWN THAT SPRANG UP TO SUPPORT THE GROWING POPULATION WAS NAMED BULLHEAD CITY AFTER A ROCK ISLAND IN THE COLORADO RIVER THAT RESEMBLED THE SHOULDERS AND HEAD OF A BULL WITH LARGE, CURVED HORNS. THE ROCK WAS SUBMERGED UNDER THE RISING WATERS OF LAKE MOHAVE AS THEY BACKED UP BEHIND DAVIS DAM IN THE EARLY 1950’S. THE NAME STUCK.
TODAY BULLHEAD CITY, ARIZONA IS A FAST GROWING COMMUNITY OF MOSTLY CALIFORNIA ESCAPEES, AND RETIREES FROM ACROSS THE SNOWBELT REGION.
WHEN I LEFT ON THIS NEVADA ADVENTURE IN THE FALL OF 1999 I STARTED A COMPUTER RECORD OF ALL MY CASINO VISITS AND THE WIN/LOSS (DATA AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE BLOG). NOW YOU CAN JUDGE, BY YOUR STANDARDS, IF I HAVE A GAMBLING PROBLEM? FROM THE EIGHT YEARS OF DATA, IT LOOKS LIKE I AVERAGE 45 CASINO VISITS A YEAR, AND HAVE LOST AN AVERAGE OF $382 PER YEAR.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS (EXCUSES). IN THE YEAR 2000 WE SPENT THE SUMMER IN WENDOVER, NEVADA, WHICH IS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO DO BUT GAMBLE, 46 OF THAT YEARS 65 VISITS WERE IN WENDOVER.
IN THE SPRING OF 2003 I HAD A 6 WEEK HOT STREAK WHILE ON VACATION. THAT WAS THE SUMMER WE LEFT LAUGHLIN AND DID 1000 MILES IN NEVADA BEFORE HEADING EAST TO GREEN BAY FOR SARA'S GRADUATION PARTY. I WON $5770 AND LOST $2543 FOR A NET GAIN OF $3058. THEIR LIES THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE REMEMBER THE WINS AND FORGET ABOUT THEIR LOSSES, IT'S HUMAN NATURE.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE CARD COUNTERS? I CHECKED OUT SEVERAL INTERNET SITES, AND BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY ON THE SUBJECT. THIS WILL WORK................. I BOUGHT AN ILLEGAL CARD COUNTING ELECTRONIC DEVISE, IT'S SMALL AND LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE A KEYLESS DEVICE YOU HAVE ON YOUR CAR KEYS. YOU PUNCH THE BUTTONS TO DO THE + OR - COUNTING AND THE UNIT VIBRATES TO GIVE YOU THE RESULTING COUNT SO YOU KNOW WHEN TO BET HEAVY. ALL IN ALL THE EXPERMENT FAILED, AND I LOST MONEY. IF I EVER GOT CAUGHT WITH SUCH A DEVICE I'D LOSE MY GAMING CARD AND WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DEAL AGAIN, ANYWHERE. PLUS SUCH A CONVICTION WOULD ALSO HAVE A VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PAULIE SHOULD THE NEED ARISE SOMEDAY FOR HIM TO APPLY FOR A CLASS"A" CASINO LICENSE TO BE A GENERAL MANGER.
CHASEING YOUR MONEY, NOW THIS HURTS, WHEN YOU LOSE IN A CASINO IT'S A GREAT TEMPTATION TO INCREASE YOUR BETS HOPING TO RECOUP YOUR LOSSES. MY WORST PERSONAL DEMON IS GETTING OFF EARLY, AND WHILE WAITING FOR MARY TO GET OFF I'LL PLAY A SLOT MACHINE, OUCH!
THERE YOU HAVE IT. AN HONEST AND DOCUMENTED REPORT ON A GAMBELING BLACKJACK DEALER. ODDLY ENOUGH I COULD DIG OUT COMPUTER RECORDS ON THE NUMER OF CIGARETTES I'VE BOUGHT AND SMOKED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.............. NAW, LETS NOT GO THERE!!
I'M NOT A BEARS FAN, IN FACT, I HATE THE BEARS!!! WATCHING THE SEASONS FIRST GAME WHERE THE BEARS SHUT OUT THE PACK AT LAMBEAU, I REMEMBER SAYING AT THE TIME, THAT THE BEARS LOOKED AWSOME AND WERE DEFINITELY SUPER BOWL MATERIAL. DAM, I FEEL LIKE A TRAITOR, AND IT WOULD SERVE ME RIGHT TO LOSE MY $100, BUT FOR THIS ONE BRIEF TIME.................
GO BEARS !!!!
We did our usual day off errands.....library and going to the new Aquarius casino in Laughlin. The good news, Rex won $100 so he could make a bet on the Bears to win the Super Bowl.....are you reading this Teresa??? He really did I can see the ticket from where I am setting. The bad news, he went back to the craps table 
Then we went to get some groceries and then home to grill lobster. All in all a really good day!!
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THE NICE WEATHER RETURNED TODAY AND WE SURE ENJOYED IT. MOSTLY WE HUNG AROUND CAMP DOING OUTSIDE STUFF. MARY GOT A HOLD OF MY LIST AND DECIDED TO HELP ME OUT WITH WEED REMOVALS. MARY ALSO GOT THE LAUNDRY STARTED AND DID THE WALMART RUN. 
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Happy Anniversay Billy and Kitty!!
Since we got the new TV and DVD player I have been getting a lot of television series on DVD to watch. Mostly I get them from the library (no charge there) but sometimes I get them from Hollywood Video. Right now we have season one of NCIS - one of our favorite series. We also really like Monk. We have seen some of them but right now I have season one on request but so far it hasn't gotten here yet. I also have a request in for season one of Deadwood. Rex will probably like that one more than me, he likes cowboys. I also have been getting the series "24" for our neighbor to watch. Actually I find watching TV series this way is very efficient-NO COMMERCIALS!! Less time!! Works for me!! I just wish they had some of the series on HGTV that I like but no such luck.
I got a letter from my grand daughter, Marissa, today. We are playing a game through the mail. Actually she is earning money for her class trip to Washington, D.C. in May. I send her a letter with a word that she has to look up in the dictionary. She then has to write me back a letter in which she defines the word and uses it in a sentence. If she does that correctly I put $5.00 in a pot for her DC trip. About the only way I have to help her earn some money.....she can't exactly clean out my car or vacuum for me.
I guess this is enough rambling for one blog entry.
Rex received a lot of birthday wishes from several family members and friends. He really enjoyed hearing from so many people. It is also fun for both of us to realize the number of people that actually read our blog. We really love the comments!!!!!!!!!!!
Today is Rex's birthday!!!!!!!!!!! 
I GUESS IT WOULDN’T BE AN RV BLOG UNLESS WE MENTIONED QUARTZSITE, ARIZONA. QUARTZSITE IS LOCATED ABOUT 120 MILES SOUTH OF US ON THE I-10. MOST OF THE YEAR IT’S SIMPLY A FREEWAY EXIT WITH A COUPLE OF GAS STATIONS AND RESTAURANTS. HOWEVER THIS WEEK IS THE CLIMAX OF THE WINTER BOONDOCKING CROWDS. IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT 240,000 CAMPERS COME TO THIS AREA OF THE DESERT AND DRY CAMP TO ENJOY THE WINTER DESERT HEAT. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VENDORS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND CAMPING GET TOGETHERS, CALLED RALLIES. THE MONTANA GROUP IS THERE, ALONG WITH ESCAPEES GROUPS, BOOMERS, SINGLES, ETC. OLD FRIENDSHIPS ARE RENEWED, AND NEW ONES MADE.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAMPING UNITS ARE REMARKABLE, RANGING FROM HIPPY SCHOOL BUSES OF THE ‘60’S TO THE MILLION DOLLAR MOTORHOMES. EXTENDED DRY CAMPING REQUIRES SOME VERY INTERESTING PROJECTS, DEALING WITH SEWAGE, SOLAR POWER, GENERATORS, AND FRESH WATER.
MARY AND I VISITED, FOR A DAY, A FEW YEARS BACK AND HAD TO PARK ABOUT ¾ OF A MILE AWAY FROM THE BIG TENT EVENT. WE HAVEN’T BEEN BACK BECAUSE IT’S TOO CROWDED FOR US. SEVERAL OF THE RV BLOGGERS I READ ARE THERE NOW AND I’VE BEEN ENJOYING THEIR STORIES AND PICTURES.
CAN YOU IMAGINE 240,000 CAMPERS WITHOUT WATER, SEWER, OR ELECTRIC ON THE DESERT?
WORKING IN THE CASINO BUSINESS, YOU CAN BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY WE HAVE TO FOLLOW A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF RULES. I HAVE A PERSONAL THOUGHT ON THE SUBJECT; I'M NOT NEARLY AS INTERESTED IN THE RULES AS I AM INTERESTED IN ENFORCEMENT. MAKE ALL THE RULES YOU WANT, JUST TELL ME HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ENFORCE THEM? FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE SPEED LIMIT IS 75 MPH AND I GET CAUGHT GOING 90 MPH, I GET CAUGHT AND HAVE TO PAY A TICKET, THAT'S ENFORCEMENT.
I WAS IN A BIT OF RANT WHEN NEVADA PASSED A "CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT". YA, IN THE STATE WITH NO BAR TIME, WHERE YOU CAN GAMBLE AND EVEN USE YOUR CREDIT CARD TO GET MORE MONEY AND KEEP ON GAMBLING, WHERE YOU CAN HIRE A WHORE, AND GO TO A WHORE HOUSE. PERSONALLY I FEEL THAT NEVADA NOW HAS SO MANY PEOPLE FROM CALIFORNIA THAT THEY ARE BRINGING THEIR "NO SMOKING" LAWS WITH THEM. BASICALLY THE NEW "NO SMOKING" LAW IN NEVADA SAYS YOU CAN'T SMOKE INDOORS ANYWHERE THERE IS CHILDREN OR FOOD. THIS LEAVES THE GIANT CASINO FLOORS OFF THE HOOK, AND YOU CAN STILL SMOKE. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF NEIGHBOR BARS, WITH A GRILL, AND 15 SLOT MACHINES? ACCORDING TO THE NEW NEVADA LAWS, THE BARS MUST NOW BE NON-SMOKING. SO I CAN GET ME A WHORE AND LOSE EVERY CENT I HAVE, PLUS UP TO THE LIMIT ON MY SEVERAL CREDIT CARDS, AND THEN GET A MARKER, ALL NIGHT LONG,............... BUT I CAN'T SMOKE A CIGARETTE? DAMN THE CALIFORNIA PEOPLE AND THEIR CRAZY RULES, WHERE HAVE MY FREEDOMS GONE? WHAT ABOUT THE WILD WEST?
THIS SITUATION LED TO A LEGAL STAND OFF. THE JUDGE RULED THAT BAR OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT CAN NOT BE FINED IF PATRONS ARE SMOKING IN THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS, BUT THE CUSTOMER CAN BE FINED $100 FOR BREAKING THE NEW "CLEAN INDOOR AIR" RULE. I'M ROLLING ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING !!! THE BAR OWNERS DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER PICKING UP THE ASHTRAYS !!!! I'LL TRY TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN THE COUNTY SHERIFF DECIDES TO SEND HIS DEPUTIES OUT TO THE BARS TO WRITE TICKETS TO THE CUSTOMERS FOR SMOKING. DAMN, I LOVE NEVADA !!! MY BET IS THE DEPUTIES WILL STILL BE OUT ON I-15 WRITING SPEEDING TICKETS TO THOSE CALIFORNIA FOLKS SPEEDING SOUTH BOUND (NOT IN THE NORTHBOUND LANES, WHILE COMING INTO VEGAS) TRYING TO GET HOME AFTER A WEEK-END IN VEGAS.
RULES - RULES - RULES
DON'T GET ME STARTED !!!
SORRY THERE WASN'T ANY POST YESTERDAY, BUT THE HOTEL DIDN'T HAVE A WIFI SYSTEM RUNNING. WE STAYED AT BUFFALO BILLS CASINO IN PRIMM VALLEY, NEVADA ON THE CALIFORNIA STATE LINE. PAUL AND HIS FRIEND EDISON JOINED US LATER IN THE AFTERNOON FOR SOME GOOD TALK AND BEERS. THE FASHION MALL’S 100 STORES WERE ALL UPSCALE, TARGETING RICH CALIFORNIA PEOPLE. A COUPLE OF CAMPERS LIKE US DIDN’T HAVE ANY SHOPPING BUSINESS THERE. WE ENJOYED BEING INSIDE A BUILDING, WHERE WE COULDN'T HEAR OR FEEL THE WIND. I BET THE TEMPERATURE IN OUR ROOM WAS 90 DEGREES, AND LOOOONG SHOWERS WERE ON TAP THIS MORNING.
"WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, STAYS IN VEGAS", BUT SINCE PRIMM IS 50 MILES FROM VEGAS, HERE IS THE SLOT MACHINE PAULIE PLAYED. HE HAD A PREMONITION ON THE DRIVE OUT TO PRIMM, TO FIND A 5X (FIVE TIMES) $5 MACHINE TO PLAY. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HE WON, I'LL TELL YOU THAT THE THREE GREEN BARS PAYS $50..JPG)
HOLY CRAP !!! LOOKS LIKE TOMORROW THE BLOG IS GOING TO HAVE HIT NUMBER 1000 !!! THE COUNTER IS HIDDEN IN THE VERY LAST LINE OF BLOG. WE HAVE SOME "LURKERS" OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT COMMENTING OR E-MAILING US. DON'T BE SHY, LEAVE US A COMMENT ON OUR BLOG ENTRIES, OR BETTER YET SEND US AN E-MAIL WITH A BLOG ENTRY YOU'VE WRITTEN FOR US TO POST ON OUR BLOG.
REMEMBER LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS "PISSY", WELL HERE IS THE UPDATE:
1. MARY BOUGHT US A NEW SONY DVD PLAYER, AND BEING THE SAME BRAND AS THE TV THEY ARE WORKING PERFECTLY TOGETHER.
2. I RECEIVED PAPERWORK AT WORK THAT RESOLVES MY PAYROLL ISSUE, PAYDAY IS THURSDAY SO WE WILL SEE, AND IT EVEN INCLUDED BACK PAY FOR THE 6 WEEKS IN QUESTION.
3. THE REPAIR ON THE BACK WINDOW OF THE TRUCK SEEMS TO BE HOLDING, THANKS TO MARY'S INTERVENTION.
4. NO NEWS FROM MY HEALTH INSURANCE, ANOTHER 3 MONTHS AT LAST YEARS RATE IS SURELY GOOD NEWS.
5. HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE RV REPAIR GUYS, BUT THEN THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IN MY POCKETBOOK EITHER, SO WHY WORRY?
SINCE THURSDAY IS PAYDAY, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A TRIP TO PRIMM, NEVADA. THE PRIMM VALLEY IS LOCATED ON THE CALIFORNIA BORDER ON INTERSTATE 15. THERE ISN'T MUCH THERE, THREE CASINOS, GAS STATIONS, AND , OH YA, THE FASHION MALL WITH 100 FACTORY OUTLET STORES. MARY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TRIP AND I THINK WE'LL GET A ROOM AND FILL HER UP WITH SOME JACK DANIELS WHILE WE'RE AT IT. PAULIE IS HAVING HIS CARPETS CLEAN ON THURSDAY MORNING AND WILL DRIVE OUT TO MEET US FOR A LATE LUNCH. SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN !!!!
Since we got our new TV we have been watching a lot of DVD's. I have been getting "Monk" episodes which we really enjoy but there wasn't any we haven't already seen at the library today so I happened to find the first season of "NCIS", another series we really like. 
Work was really busy tonight, I think everybody that has tomorrow off for Martin Luther King day was at the casino!!
I USE A WEBSITE CALLED WUNDERGROUND.COM TO KEEP TRACK OF THE WEATHER. I HAVE A FAVORITES LIST WITH ALL YOUR LOCATIONS, SO I'M UP TO SPEED ON YOUR WEATHER WITH JUST ONE EASY CLICK. WE ARE ALL FREEZING OUR ASSES OFF THIS MORNING EXCEPT AMY. HERE ON THE LOWER DESERT I GOT UP TO 29 DEGREES, AND OF COURSE THE LP TANK WAS EMPTY SO IT WAS ONLY 46 DEGREES INSIDE. SWITCHING LP TANKS WAS THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, A SIMPLE TRIP OUTSIDE TO CLOSE ONE VALVE ON ONE TANK AND OPEN ANOTHER VALVE ON THE THE SECOND TANK. THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE ON THE GAS REGULATOR TO OPEN BOTH TANKS AND IT WILL SWITCH OVER AUTOMATICALLY WHEN ONE TANK IS EMPTY, BUT THAT WOULD REQUIRE I CHECK TO KNOW WHEN I HAVE AN EMPTY TANK THAT NEEDS REFILLING. I KNOW HOW THAT WOULD TURN OUT AND I'D BE SITTING ON A MORNING LIKE THIS WITH TWO EMPTY TANKS INSTEAD OF HAVING A FULL TANK TO SWITCH OVER TO. REFILLING A TANK IS A SNAP HERE, YOU JUST SET THE EMPTY TANK CURBSIDE AND A COUPLE OF GUYS IN A GOLF CART COME AROUND THREE DAYS A WEEK, PICK IT UP, REFILL THE TANK, AND HOOK IT BACK UP TO YOUR TRAILER. YOU PAY FOR YOUR TANK FILLS ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH WHEN YOU PAY THE RENT. IT'S A GREAT SERVICE AT THIS RV PARK.
ENJOY YOUR WEEK-END AND STAY WARM !!!
Today "The Happy Campers" aren't happy....at least one of us isn't.
A day off and it sucked.
Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
THE DAY STARTED OFF GREAT. THE PHONE RANG EARLY AND HAD US UP AND MOVING AROUND. THE WIND WAS MISSING, AND WE WERE OFF ON A RUN. WE STOPPED AT ACE HARDWARE TO PICK UP THE BOLTS NEEDED TO FASTEN THE GLASS WINDOW ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, WALKED ACROSS THE STREET TO THE DENTIST TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, STOPPED AT THE SAFEWAY, AND HIT AN OPEN AIR MARKET FEATURING ROCKS AND GEMS.
WHEN WE GOT HOME I GOT OUT THE "SCREWDRIVER" TO DO THE REPAIR ON THE TRUCK TOPPER WINDOW.............. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS ABOUT ME AND TOOLS , BUT MARY KNOWS TO RUN AND HIDE WHEN THE TOOLS COME OUT. SHE WASN'T SUCCESSFUL, AND SOON MY INCOMPETENCE AND FRUSTRATION HAD HER OUTSIDE HELPING ME THREAD THE NEW BOLTS THROUGH THE OLD RUBBER GASKET. I'M ON A ROLL, SO NEXT I ATTACKED THAT LOOSE FAUCET ON THE KITCHEN SINK............... WELL, I DIDN'T MAKE IT ANY WORSE AND AS LONG AS THE "SCREWDRIVER" IS OUT LETS PUT UP THE PLEXIGLAS PANELS ON THE SCREEN DOOR. I'M SURE MARY WAS RELIEVED WHEN I GAVE UP MY COFFEE CUP AND OPENED A BEER AND LEFT TO DO THE LAUNDRY, AND VISIT WITH THE NEIGHBORS.
YOUTUBE.COM IS AN INTERNET SUCCESS. IT'S A WEBSITE WHERE AMATURES POST VIDEOS THAT THEY HAVE CREATED THEMSELVES. THE POSTING IS FREE, AND THE VIDEOS ARE A LOT LONGER THAN THE CLIPS THAT AMY POSTS ON HER BLOG. THERE IS NO CHARGE TO GO AND CHECK OUT THESE VIDEOS. THE SITE RECEIVES A MILLION HITS A MONTH. THE ECONOMICS OF THE SITE ARE SOMEWHAT OF A MYSTERY, BECAUSE THE ADVERTISING ON THE SITE COULDN'T POSSIBLY PAY FOR THE BAND WIDTH INVOLVED FOR A MILLION HITS A MONTH.
ADVERTISING, OF COURSE, IS WHAT DRIVES THE INTERNET TODAY. IN BLOGGING WHEN A READER OF THE BLOG CLICKS ON AN ADVERTISEMENT, THE OWNER OF THAT BLOG IS PAID. SOME COMPANY'S PAY FOR THE CLICK, AND SOME PAY IF AN ORDER IS MADE TO BUY A PRODUCT. TAKE FOR EXAMPLE, ANGELFIRE, WHICH HOSTS OUR WEBSITE, WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE THE WEBSITE WITH NO MORE THAN 20MB OF CONTENT, AND WE ARE LIMITED TO BAND WIDTH, FOR FREE. THE OWNERS OF THE SITE ARE MAKING A PROFIT ON THE ADVERTISING CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON EVERY PAGE OF OUR PHOTO ALBUM. ANOTHER EXAMPLE, IN MY REALM OF INTEREST, WHICH IS RV'ERS THAT WRITE BLOGS, THERE IS ONE AUTHOR THAT CAMPS AND NEVER PAYS. HE SPENDS EVERY NIGHT BOONDOCKING. HIS BLOG IS VERY POPULAR AND RECEIVES 1700 - 2100 HITS DAILY, AND HIS MONTHLY INCOME IS $900.
INTERESTING, ISN'T IT? WHAT ABOUT OUR ATTEMPT AT BLOGGING? THE "HAPPY CAMPERS" BLOG RECEIVES ABOUT 12 - 18 HITS A DAY, AND OUR ADVERTISING INCOME FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WAS $1.42 :-) I GUESS WE WON'T RETIRE AS AUTHORS, BUT WE HAVE BEEN SURPRISED THAT WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THIS HOBBY FOR EIGHT MONTHS NOW. IT'S A FUN WAY TO KEEP OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPDATED ON OUR DAILY LIFE, INSTEAD OF E-MAILING.
BACK TO THE THE SUBJECT OF YOUTUBE, THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE WAS SENT TO US BY AUNT KATHY IN GREEN BAY. I THOUGHT BEFORE THE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS YOU'D ENJOY THIS VIDEO.
MARY SAID I SHOULD WRITE THE BLOG TODAY CAUSE IT'S BEEN A FEW DAYS, AND MY READERS WOULD BE WONDERING WHERE I'M AT. ACTUALLY I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE BLOGGING WHEN I'M A "PISSY". SO WHY ARE YOU "PISSY"? WELL HERE IS THE LIST:
1. I WAS CONTACTED BY MY HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, AND THEY CAN'T DECIDE HOW MUCH TO INCREASE THE PREMIUM FOR THIS YEAR, SO THEY ARE WAITING UNTIL APRIL 1ST.
2. I LEFT THE BACK WINDOW OPEN ON THE PICK UP TOPPER AND ALL THAT WIND LOOSENED THE BOLTS SO THE WINDOW IS ABOUT READY TO FALL OFF.
3. THE NEW DVD PLAYER QUIT WORKING ALREADY.
4. I HAVE A PAYROLL ISSUE AT WORK THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE FOR THE LAST 6 WEEKS.
5. THE RV REPAIR GUYS STILL HAVEN'T BEEN HERE TO PUT THE NEW FENDER ON THE TRAILER.
SO WHEN I GET A FEW OF THESE ITEMS OFF MY MIND AND GET OVER BEING "PISSY" I'LL BE BACK TO BLOGGING. IT'S A LOT TUFFER TO BLOG WHEN THE CAMPER IS SITTING IN THE SAME PLACE INSTEAD OF BEING ON THE ROAD.
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ARE YOU STILL READING THE MOHAVE VALLEY SERIES? PROBABLY NOT, BUT I’LL CONTINUE ANYWAYS.
TODAY THE FORT MOHAVE INDIAN TRIBE IS A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATION WITH 32,000 ACRES OF LAND IN ARIZONA, NEVADA, AND CALIFORNIA IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF MOHAVE VALLEY. THE TRIBE’S UPBEAT ECONOMY PROVIDES THOUSANDS OF JOBS. THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST GROSSING CONVINCE STORE IN ARIZONA, NO DOUBT BECAUSE OF THEIR TAX FREE CIGARETTE SALES, THEY OPERATE THREE CASINOS IN THE VALLEY, INCLUDING THE AVI RESORT AND CASINO WHERE WE WORK, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, A CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE, RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS, WHERE YOU GET A 99 YEAR LEASE AND NEVER OWN THE LAND YOUR HOUSE SITS ON, AN AGRICULTURE COMPANY WITH MANY BEAUTIFUL IRRIGATED FIELDS OF ALFALFA AND COTTON, A TRIBAL POWER COMPANY COMPLETE WITH A MODERN GENERATING PLANT, AND THE INDOOR ARENA. TODAY THE TRIBE HAS ABOUT 1200 MEMBERS.
SICK OF INDIANS, ME TOO, LET’S MOVE ON.
Does anyone remember the flowers I bought at the Farmer's Market at Lake Tahoe this past summer?? I ended up drying some of them and they are in the picture below..jpg)
This post may not be suitable for all readers......some may find the content disturbing. So if you are faint of heart or have a problem with, dare I say it..flatulence...please discontinue reading and sign off NOW!
I must admit to suffering from flatulence on occasion(I don't feel so embarrassed since Dr. Oz explained it, and even Oprah suffers from it), Rex has made the comment "put a cork in it".
Since Rex and I have hooked up and he introduced me to the RV lifestyle, he has always said if there is anything I didn't want to do just let him know. In all this time there has been only one area of RV life I refuse to get involved with......I don't do sewer anything.
Every week Rex empties the holding tank (a sewer thing) and fills the tank with water to rinse it. The easiest way to do that is to depress the toilet pedal to fill the tank with water. Well no one is going to hold that pedal down long enough to fill it so we have to find something to hold it down with..
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As you can see Rex's first solution to that problem was to carry in a HEAVY battery to hold it down. After getting battery acid on two of his favorite western shirts and wrecking them, he decided to try a different heavy item to hold down the pedal..jpg)
I really can't understand why this solution didn't occur to him first. After all beer is near and dear to his heart. The beer works great..jpg)
I WONDER HOW MANY OF OUR BLOG ENTRIES START OUT WITH THIS SUBJECT LINE OR THE OPENING SENTENCE? THAT'S THE WAY IT IS WHEN YOU WORK ON THE CLOCK AS AN HOURLY EMPLOYEE. WE MADE GREAT PROGRESS TODAY ON THE "WINTER LIST" , IN FACT THE ONLY REMAINING ITEM IS CARPET CLEANING, SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW, BEFORE A ROAD TRIP TO OATMAN AND GOLDEN SHORES.
WE HAD THE CHANCE TO GO TO COCKTAILS WITH OUR FRIENDS DAWN AND COLE. THEY ARE, LIKE US, A COUPLE OF FULLTIME RV'ERS THAT ARE OUR AGE OR A LITTLE YOUNGER, THAT HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO WORK AND CAMP ALL THE TIME. THEY MAKE THEIR LIVING X-RAYING PIPES FOR UTILITY COMPANIES. THEY JUST CAME OFF A JOB THAT TOOK 8 MONTHS IN VIRGINA. WE MET THEM THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE HERE AT BLACKSTONE RV PARK BECAUSE THEY HAD A PACKER STICKER ON THE FRONT OF THEIR CAMPER. IN OUR LIFE STYLE WE HAVE FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER WITH A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS.
WE FIRED UP THE BIGG ASS GRILL FOR GRILLED PIZZA AND MARY MADE CREPES FOR DESERT.
TILL TOMORROW..............
Remember last Wednesday when we had the 8:30 AM call from Mohave RV asking where we were?
Well today was the rescheduled appointment.....so last night we got on the EO (early out) list and Rex got out of work at 8 PM and I got out at 9. So we rushed home to get some rest so we could get up at 6 and be at the RV place at 8 AM. I also did some of the things you have to do in the trailer to be able to move it...like vacuumn the carpet, shake the rugs, put down the bedroom TV, etc.
Then it was time to get some sleep so we could be up and at'em. I tossed and turned all night long....looked at my watch at 5 AM turned over and waited for the alarm to ring in an hour. The next time I looked at my watch my indiglo said 7:00 AM....NO NO....it must be wrong, the alarm didn't ring!!!!!!!!!! So I yell for Rex to get up and he really moved!! He also was not happy about the alarm clock-he never did like it. It now resides in the garbage.
Needless to say we ran around like chickens trying to get everything done and the trailer hooked up. Fortunately our good friends Dawn and Cole were out for a walk and they helped us. Cole saved Rex at least 10 minutes by helping hook up the truck to the trailer. Somebody was looking out for us. We make it for our 8AM appointment. WOW
They said it would take about 4 hours so we left the camper at the RV repair place and set out to do our list of errands. We went to the bank, Wal-Mart (to get a new alarm clock), Home Depot, and the library.
We killed enough time at the library so that it was time to go get the trailer.
Of course, life being what it is...........there were a few glitches. One was all the electricity was out in entire area of the city where the RV repair place is located. Another glitch, when they opened the replacement skirting it was white.....not goldish like the rest of the trailer. Did we really think all would go smoothly...OF COURSE WE DID!!!
The good news is we could take the trailer home and they can finish installing the skirting at our site tomorrow (but we are not holding our breath on that).
So anyway by the time we hit the second stop light on the way home the power came back on....things are looking up!!
So we get back to the RV park...now I need to say here, Rex has everyone trained here to the fact that he can't back up for shit. So as soon as we pull in two guys are here to assist, except one guy just says "screw it" and jumps in the truck and backs it up himself....saves time!!
Now it is Miller time, oh so sorry Rex, I forgot....you have to work so I guess it is wine time.......
THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER !!!
I'VE GOT A LIST OF TOPICS I'D LIKE TO COVER TODAY-----
FIRST, TO THE PACKER FAITHFUL, I DO BELIEVE THAT FAVRE WILL RETURN NEXT SEASON, DESPITE THE TEARS ON NATIONAL TV AFTER THE BEARS FOOTBALL GAME SUNDAY NIGHT.
DURING THE HOLIDAYS I DID RECEIVE A VERY NICE CARD FROM AUNT SHARON AND UNCLE NED. AUNT SHARON IS RECOVERING NICELY AFTER HER HEART SURGERY ABOUT A MONTH AFTER CHEESEDAYS. HERE IS THE UPDATE, QUOTED FROM HER CARD,
"MY SURGERY WAS ALMOST 2 MONTHS AGO AND I FEEL GREAT. IT WAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE BUT THE U.W.HOSPITAL IS TOPS AND EVERYONE THAT I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPAIR THE VALVE. BEFORE I COULD FEEL MY HEART BEAT AND NOW I'M NOT SURE THEY EVEN PUT IT BACK BECAUSE IT DOESN'T BEAT AS HARD. MY DOCTOR IN BRODHEAD SAID HE HAS NEVER HEARD ME SOUND SO GOOD. NO MUMMER SOUND AT ALL. THE PAST TWO WEEKS HAS REALLY BEEN THE CHANGE. MORE ZIP, LESS STIFF (BEEN EXERCISING) AND BEGINNING TO PICK ON NED AGAIN. HE DID GO BACK TO WORK FOR MONROE TRUCKS THE FIRST OF DEC. WE WERE GETTING ON EACH OTHERS NERVES. HE WAS TAKING CHARGE OF "MY" HOUSE, SO IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO GO. I'M DRIVING AND BACK TO TAKING CARE OF MOM. SHE'S DOING GREAT."
MY FAVORITE "X-COUSIN-IN-LAW" TERESA HAS STARTED A BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN FRANKVILLE BLOG. I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW OF YOU, LIKE ME, THAT LOVE TO HEAR FRANKVILLE STORIES. I'VE ADDED THE LINK IN THE RIGHT HAND BLUE COLUMN.
WE GOT THIS NICE E-MAIL FROM MARY'S DAUGHTER, NIKKI, SENDING US SOME OF HER GOOD LUCK FOR 2007:
OMG guess what happened to me today or i mean tonight.......after work i stopped by Deweys to have a few beers to see how it would be not smoking and drinking...that was way to easy anyway..you know the 3 big red dice that is the 666 shake..well now you get 2 shakes and my first shake i got 654..a free drink and my second shake.......i got 666!!!!!! HOLY SHIT!!! That was a $200 win....oh yeah did i mention that driving down the street working last night i saw something in the road and stopped and looked and it was a good thing i did as it was two $10 bills and a $20 in a puddle....hope whoever lost it still got to party!! So if my luck keeps up in 2007 i could have a great year!!!! I stopped and bought a scratch off and lost and i bought a powerball too...boy that would be awesome the $200 was my biggest win ever!!!! I had to call Jesse right away and of course bought a round that cost $11.25 and tip $2.00 i was outta there!! Ok i'm going to bed as Maxine is sleeping already so she will probably decide to get up to play around 1 am...shes s joy:) Love and miss and am sending some of my good luck....
THAT'S THE "HODGEPODGE" BLOG ENTRY FOR TODAY.
WHEW............ THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER !!!
