Apple Machine

Wendy came back from taking Grandma Jean to Arizona all excited about a big "shopping score". She found this contraption in a high end cooking utensil store...........

....it peels apples, like for pies or applesauce or apple crisp............

....Not only does it peel, but it spiral slices.............

....it cuts the usable apple into a continuous slice in the shape of a spiral with the same motion as the peeling motion.......

....in about three seconds of cranking, the work is done..........

....the usable apple in the shape if a spiral slice is being removed from the core, which says on the machine........

....a little hand trimming may be required......

.....the spiral slice is then quickly and easily cut into nice sized pieces for your pie..........

....or, in this case, your apple crisp. Mmmmmmmm can you smell it baking now?. The apple prep time was 10 minutes. It is made by Progressive (http://www.progressiveintl.com/) and they call it the Apple machine (pretty catchy?) The amazing thing to me is that it has no on/off switch and no microchip to do it's thinking. The other amazing thing is how similar it is to the one my mother owns, which she got from her mom, which was probably built around 1930.

Progressive? I think not.........

Uncle Hans

Texas de Brazil

On our trip to Vegas we let Paulie pick the place for lunch. He had been to Texas de Brazil before and said it was a unique dining experience....with billing like that how could we resist??

This is Paulie and me checking out the reservation desk in the front.

The whole basis of this dining experience is receiving your meat...and let me tell you if you aren't into meat, don't bother coming here. All of the meat comes on these skewers that the server slides off onto your plate....

or you grab with a pair of tongs located by your place setting. This is flank steak and in the other picture it was Parmesan crusted pork. They also have sirloin, sausages, and chicken legs which were served this way.

In addition to meat, there is a fantastic salad bar. While we were there I was not aware that I would be writing the blog about this restaurant or we would have pictures of the salad bar that had artichoke hearts, roasted beets, bok choy, mushrooms with garlic cloves, grilled cheese, roasted red peppers, roasted tomatoes, fixins for Cesear Salad, garlic bread, a wonderful grape salad, taboule, roasted green beans, and that is all I can think of now. There was also lobster bisque and au gratin potatoes. Now does this sound like a diet meal to you??? Well it wasn't...it was time to check your diet at the door!!

ENCORE

THE ENCORE IS THE NEWEST CASINO ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP. THE WYNN ON THE RIGHT WAS OPENED FIRST, AND STEVE WYNN IMMEDIATELY BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON THE ENCORE. THESE CASINO HOTELS SIT ON THE LAND THAT USED TO BE THE DESERT INN.

THIS IS A WINDSHIELD SHOT FROM THE BACK SEAT. I WAS GOING TO HAVE PAULIE RETAKE THE PHOTO FOR ME FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO CENTER IT, BUT HE HAS A BROKEN ARM AND WAS USING HIS GOOD ARM TO DRIVE US.

THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IS BRIGHT RED COLOR EVERYWHERE ESPECIALLY THE CHANDELIERS.

THIS IS THE ENTRANCE TO THE HIGH LIMIT ROOM.

CHECKOUT THE BUTTERFLIES ON THE TILED FLOOR.

THIS PICTURE HANGS OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT CALLED SINATRA, IT'S THE OWNER STEVE WYNN ON THE LEFT AND OL' BLUE EYES ON THE RIGHT.

THE CAFE, HEAVY ASIAN INFLUENCE THROUGHOUT THE CASINO.

THE FRONT ENTRANCE TO THE CASINO.

INTERESTING CEILING ABOVE THIS COCKTAIL LOUNGE.

A SHOT OUTSIDE, UP THE HOTEL TOWER.

THE ENCORE IS MUCH NICER THAN THE DULL BROWN CHOCOLATE COLOR SCHEME OF THE ORIGNIAL WYNN.

TOWN SQUARE SHOPPING

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET TO VEGAS THE LAST THREE WEEKS ON OUR MONDAY DAY OFF. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE, OF COURSE, WAS TO CHECK ON PAULIE AND THE PROGRESS ON HIS BROKEN ARM. WE DID HAVE A LIST OF THREE OTHER THINGS WE WANTED TO DO IN LAS VEGAS.

BUT FIRST THE REPORT ON PAULIE, LET'S JUST SAY THAT SITTING HOME AND WAITING FOR A BROKEN ARM TO HEAL, WITH A DISABILITY CHECK OF $132.00/ WEEK DOSEN'T MAKE FOR A "HAPPY CAMPER".

HERE WE ARE BELLIED UP TO THE BAR AT THE "YARD HOUSE" A BAR AND RESTAURANT KNOWN FOR IT'S 100 DIFFERENT BEERS ON TAP. THOSE TAIL PIPES IN THE UPPER PART OF THE PICTURE ARE ACTUALLY STAINLESS STEEL LINES THAT BRING THE BEER TO THE BAR FROM THE BEER KEG COOLER NEAR THE FRONT DOOR. A COUPLE OF HUNDRED BEER KEGS IN ONE COOLER.

OUR FIRST STOP IN VEGAS IS MARY'S FAVORITE STORE.

SHE HAD A GOOD TIME SHOPPING, AND MAYBE ON HER THURSDAY BLOG SHE'LL SHARE SOME OF HER FINDS. I DID NOTICE BETWEEN HER AND GRANDMA THERE WERE FIVE BOTTLES OF WINE IN THE CART.

THE REASON WE KEPT PUTTING OFF THE VEGAS TRIP WAS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO DO SOME LOOKING AND SHOPPING AT THE TOWN SQUARE SHOPPING MALL.

WHAT MAKES THIS MALL UNIQUE IS THAT THE SHOPS ARE NOT COVERED BY A ROOF. YOU GO OUTSIDE TO GET TO EACH STORE. THE STREETS, WALK WAYS, AND LANDSCAPING ARE PERFECTLY KEPT AND BEAUTIFUL. IT REMINDS ONE OF AN OLE FASHION TOWN SQUARE. (DUH!)

IN THE MIDDLE IS A PLAYGROUND AND PARK.

MAYBE ONE OF YOU TREE HUGGING ENVIRONMENTALIST COULD EXPLAIN THIS SIGN TO ME?

WONDER WHERE YOU IMPORT WATER, FOR A FAKE CREEK? THE SWISS ALPS PERHAPS.

AT ANY RATE, WE PUT OFF OUR VISIT THE LAST TWO MONDAYS BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER.

ON THE WAY HOME WE GOT JUST A BIT OF A RAINBOW. A STRANGE SITE IN THE DESERT, TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR MY REPORT ON THE NEW ENCORE CASINO.

TUFF BLOGGING.....

IT'S BEEN TUFF BLOGGING THIS WINTER. HOW MANY TIMES CAN YOU BLOG ABOUT DESERT ROCKS, FLOWERS, AND CACTI?

UNFORTUNATELY THE MAIN TOPIC IN OUR CAMP HAS BEEN THE "GLOOM & DOOM" OF THE NEVADA ECONOMY. SPECIFICALLY, WHETHER TO RETURN TO LAKE TAHOE NEXT SUMMER? AFTER TWO BAD (ECONOMICALLY) SUMMERS AT LAKE TAHOE WE ARE A LITTLE SKIDISH ABOUT RETURNING FOR THIS NEXT SUMMER.

OUR PLAN "B" WOULD BE TO STAY HERE ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT IN THE SUMMER? CAN YOU IMAGINE? THE 120 DEGREE HEAT? THE MONSOON SEASON? THE 120 HEAT?

THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, ON A DIFFERENT RV PARK WITH A SWIMMING POOL, ANOTHER AIR CONDITIONER, A SWAMP COOLER.........

ADDED TO THAT, WOULD THE AVI TAKE US BACK NEXT FALL AFTER LEAVING FOR THE SUMMER? WE WERE LUCKY TO GET BACK IN, THIS FALL WHEN WE RETURNED.

OR I COULD BRANCH OUT ON BLOGGING TOPICS?

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO WRITE ABOUT HILLARY'S RUN ON THE PRESIDENCY IN 2016? AFTER FOUR YEARS AS SECRETARY OF STATE, AND THEN FOUR YEARS AS VICE PRESIDENT SHE'S GONNA BE IMPOSSIBLE TO BEAT.

OR I COULD SOLVE THE ECONOMIC MESS HERE IN NEVADA, AND MAKE UNCLE SAM RICH IN THE PROCESS. JUST BAIL OUT THE CASINOS AND NATIONALIZE THEM, INSTEAD OF THE BANKS. THINK OF THE PROFITS, IF THE CASINOS HAD NO DEBT, AND THE PROFITS IN 10 YEARS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT COULD SELL THEM ALL BACK.

HELL, AS LONG AS I'VE OPENED THE CAN OF WORMS OF POLITICS I MIGHT AS WELL GO WHOLE HOG AND TAKE A STAB AT RELIGION AS WELL. HAVE YOU READ BARBARA'S BLOG ON "CAFETERIA CATHOLICS"?

NAW............... I BETTER JUST STAY WITH RV LIFE. HOW ABOUT SOME ARTICLES ON CASINO TABLE GAMES? SOUNDS SAFE.

HAM RADIOS

(A RERUN BLOG FROM 8/12/06)

MORE ON THE RV LIFE.............

SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH RENO NV, WE WERE TRYING TO INTERSECT WITH I-80 EAST FOR A TRIP HOME TO WISCONSIN. IN A LAST MINUTE LANE CHANGE I HIT THE ON RAMP WITH THE TRUCK AND TRAILER, BUT MARY WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH LANES IN TIME.

IN THOSE DAYS WE USED THE OLE CB RADIOS TO STAY IN TOUCH WHILE TRAVELING. IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS WE WERE TOO FAR APART AND OUT OF RADIO CONTACT AS MARY CONTINUED ON TO FIND A PLACE TO TURN AROUND AND TAKE A SECOND SHOT AT THE ON RAMP FOR I-80 EAST. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE WE DECIDED TO BUY THE HAM RADIO BOOK AND STUDY FOR OUR HAM RADIO LIC. EXAM.

AFTER STUDYING MOST OF THE SUMMER WE TOOK THE EXAM IN DUBUQUE IOWA AND BOTH PASSED. THESES DAYS MORSE CODE IS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO GET A TECH. LIC.

HAM RADIO OPERATES AT A MUCH HIGHER FREQUENCY THAN CB AND GREATLY INCREASES THE RANGE. WE BOUGHT A COUPLE OF HANDHELD TRANSCEIVERS, WALKIE TALKIES, AND HAVE USED THEM IN OUR LIFE STYLE EVER SINCE. I NO LONGER HAVE TO VISIT THE GIFT SHOPS !!! MARY GOES IN AND LOOKS AS LONG AS HER LITTLE HEART DESIRES WHILE I WANDER AROUND, USUALLY IN SEARCH OF THE LOCAL WATERING HOLE.

WE ALSO USE THEM ON THE ROAD TO STAY IN TOUCH, AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE DRIVING TWO DIFFERENT VEHICLES A HALF A MILE APART WE VISIT LIKE WE ARE SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN THE SAME CAR.

NOW I KNOW MARY PLAYED FOOTBALL IN A PREVIOUS LIFE, BECAUSE WHEN FOLLOWING EACH OTHER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I WANT TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE WITH THE TRUCK AND TRAILER I JUST RADIO TO MARY WHICH LANE I WANT TO BE IN, AND BEHIND ME SHE SWITCHES LANES AND MAKES A PERFECT BLOCK OF THE TRAFFIC WHILE I PROCEED TO PULL IN FRONT OF HER FOR THE LANE CHANGE.

WE EVEN USE THESE RADIOS AT SUPER WALMART. WE HEAD OUT IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS IN THE STORE AND START OUR SHOPPING. IF I HAVE A QUESTION ON AN ITEM ON THE LIST I JUST KEY THE RADIO AND SELECT THE CORRECT ITEM.

WE ARE SO USED TO THESE HANDY RADIOS WE DON'T EVEN THINK TWICE ABOUT STOPPING SOMEWHERE AND HEADING OFF IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS TO DO WHATEVER. HOOKING BACK UP IS JUST A SIMPLE RADIO CHAT AWAY.

MANY AREAS HAVE REPEATERS, SAY FOR EXAMPLE IN LACROSSE THERE IS A REPEATER HIGH ON ONE OF THE BLUFFS. WE CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER WITH THESES SMALL RADIOS ANYWHERE IN TOWN. OUT WEST WITH THESE REPEATERS LOCATED ON MOUNTAIN TOPS THE RANGE IS ABOUT 50 MILES. MARY CAN BE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AT THE CARSON CITY WALMART AND I CAN BE SITTING IN THE CAMPER AT LAKE TAHOE, 30 MILES APART AND STILL USE THESE HANDHELD RADIOS.

WE ALSO USE THESE RADIOS AND REPEATERS WHILE OUT MOUNTAIN HIKING. WE ARE MORE APT TO HIT A REPEATER THAN A CELL PHONE TOWER IF ONE OF US WERE TO FALL AND NEED MEDICAL HELP.

Polaris Snowmobile Autopsy?

This old beauty is a 1996 Polaris Ultra, my sled for several years. Sturdy, stable, low center of gravity, and a ton of horsepower made for a sweet ride. Many a friendly race ended when the other guy lost sight of my tail light.

But, sadly, stuff wears out, and they build newer and better stuff. Black Betty here was the victim of neglect (failure to keep the oil tank full, is the proper term) She suffered a nasty heart seizure 60 miles from anywhere up in Canada and had to be towed. She got rebuilt and a new life, because everyone loved to ride her. But alas, the keeper of the oil was an idiot and failed to learn the first time. Another heart seizure. But everyone missed Betty. She got yet another rebuild, but a poor quality job. She seized up a third time..........

....So the keeper of the oil guy and his friend set out to do yet another rebuild, this time at home (kids, these are trained professionals, do NOT try this at home). From this shot, it looks simple enough (we haven't started yet)......

....Turns out Betty had a lot of shit hooked to the engine.............

....but we wrestled that nasty engine out of there and put it on the workbench.............

....simple. You just pop the heads, find the problem, and fix it...........

....closer and closer.........

....and disaster strikes!! The bearing between the connecting rod and the crankshaft is the problem. So the crank will have to be rebuilt or replaced. That is too much work and expense for this old sled ..........

....here is the offending cylinder's piston, it is shredded on top and the sides are scored or scratched....

....this one is normal, smooth and shiny (the black stuff is just carbon build-up and harmless).....

....So Betty gets to go to that great snowmobile race in the clouds, where she can eat Skidoos for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Or my friend is thinking about parting her out and selling the remains on E-Bay. Any way you look at it. Kinda sad.

Uncle Hans

Agatha Christie

When I was in Middle School, I read all of the Agatha Christie novels. It is one of the reasons that mysteries are my fiction of choice to this day. Recently at the library I found a DVD set of "Agatha Christie Classic Mystery Collection". Of course that made it into my book bag!!

It has been great fun watching these mystery movies.....Agatha Christie is well known for her many twists and turns. Nothing is as it seems in her stories!! Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot and Helen Hayes as Miss Jane Marple are a joy to watch. There is also a lot of stars in these movies, Faye Dunaway, Stephanie Zimbalist , Rue McClanahan, and Ken Howard to name just a few.

These DVDs have been a real escapism treat!!

DAYS OFF

ON OUR DAYS "OFF" WE HAD GRANDMA OUT TO CAMP FOR SOME LUNCH OFF THE BIGG gASS GRILL. THE GRILL RAN OUT OF LP GAS, SO WE FINISHED IT OFF IN THE OVEN. LUNCH WASN'T WORTHY OF ANY PICTURES, JUST A FEW CHICKEN BREASTS AND A NICE SALAD, EXCEPT REX SUBSTITUTED A BAKED POTATO FOR THE SALAD.

WE STARTED OUT ON THE PATIO, BUT SOME CLOUD COVER HAD US MOVING INSIDE ABOUT THE TIME WE ATE. THE LAZY DAY SLIPPED AWAY AND WE RETURNED GRANDMA TO HER MOTEL WITH A QUICK STOP AT WAL-MART.

THE SECOND DAY OFF HAD ANOTHER OF THOSE PACIFIC STORMS ROLLING ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND OUT ONTO THE MOHAVE DESERT. MORE RAIN ON THE DESERT MEANS MORE DESERT FLOWERS. ALL WE NEED NOW IS SOME HOT WEATHER AND THINGS WILL BE POPPING UP OUT OF THE GROUND LIKE CRAZY.

THE RAIN MADE FOR A GOOD DAY TO LAY AROUND THE CAMPER AND PACK UP THAT SHOEBOX FULL OF TAX PAPERS TO SEND OFF FOR ANOTHER YEAR. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

RV LAUGHLIN, NEVADA

BRETT FAVRE

WE ALL KNOW THAT BRETT FAVRE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BLOG TOPICS, AND SURELY YOU WERE EXPECTING MY COMMENTS LAST WEEK WHEN HE RETIRED.

I FAILED TO REACT BECAUSE I'M FIRMLY IN THE UNREALISTIC CAMP OF FANS THAT BELIEVES HE SHOULD PLAY FOOTBALL FOREVER!

THE SPORTS WRITERS ARE HAVING A HO-HUM HEYDAY ON WHETHER HE WILL STAYED RETIRED? MY ANSWER IS A FIRM "YES"! THE END OF A FOOTBALL ERA. WATCHING THE NFL JUST WON'T BE AS EXCITING WITHOUT THE GUN-SLINGER FROM MISSISSIPPI.