Neti Pot

Years ago (and I am talking late 70s) I worked with a guy that I would describe as one of the original hippies.  That means long, scraggly hair and pot smoking.   His wife was into herbs, astrology, tarot, and a vegetarian. To me, who had not be exposed to any of that culture, they were really interesting.

She also used a “neti pot”.At the time I tried the neti pot and it was ok, but I just didn’t like it.

Imagine my surprise when Dr. Oz started talking about and recommending the neti pot.  Since I saw the Oprah show in which he did that, I assumed they would be easy to find.  Yup, they are now carried at Wal-Mart.

 

For those of you that don’t know what the neti pot is designed to do….

You put 8 ounces of distilled water in it and a packet of sinus rinse.  Then you lean over a sink with your mouth open and leaning to one side, put the spout to your nostril and start to pour.  The solution goes into your nostril, then it fills your sinus cavity, and drains out either your other nostril or your mouth.  Most people that suffer from sinus problems will find relief using the neti pot.

Who knew that this old “hippie” solution would go mainstream??  Pretty cool!!

CHIPMUNKS REVENGE

YOU REMEMBER A FEW BLOGS BACK THAT MARY STARTED A WAR WITH THE CHIPMUNKS?  SHE WAS PUTTING WATER OUT FOR THEM AND FEEDING THEM JUICY FRUIT GUM.

THERE IS AN OLD WIVES TALE THAT THE GUM WON’T GO THROUGH THEIR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AND THE GUM KILLS THEM.  AMY REMINDED US OF THE OLE TALE.

LIKE THE DEBATE OVER MOUSE TRAP BAIT, CHEESE VS PEANUT BUTTER, WE HAVE THE PERFECT OPORTUNITY TO PROVE THE THAT JUICY FRUIT GUM WILL SOLVE THE CHIPMUNK PROBLEM.

AS YOU CAN SEE MARY IS WELL ARMED.  IT’S EASIER TO FIND JUICY FRUIT GUM AROUND HERE THAN IT IS TO FIND JACK DANIELS.

DOES IT WORK?

WE’RE NOT REALLY SURE. THE GUM DISAPPEARS BY THE CARTON, BUT THE CHIPMUNKS ARE STILL PRESENT.  ARE THERE MORE CHIPMUNKS THAN WRIGLEY HAS GUM?

NOW THE CHIPMUNKS HAVE STRUCK BACK BY CHEWING A HOLE IN THE GARDEN HOSE USED TO PUMP MY WASTE WATER.

 

I WOULD CONSIDER ARMING MYSELF, BUT, SHOOTING GUNS AT HOME WHILE SURROUNDED BY SOFT MAPLE TREES, SOD, AND CORN FEILDS IS JUST DIFFERENT THAN BEING SURROUNDED BY ROCKS AND MOUNTAINS.  ONE HURRIED SHOT AT A CHIPMUNK COULD RESULT IN A RICOCHETED BULLET TO MY OWN LEG.

YOU KNOW, NOW THAT I’M THINKING ABOUT IT…….

I THINK THE JUICY FRUIT GUM TREATMENT WAS FOR MOLES NOT CHIPMUNKS.

Happy Birthday Alan !!!

HOY !!!  HOY !!! HOY !!!

WOW !! ALAN TURNS 6 TODAY !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AND ENJOY YOUR WILD AND FUN DAY !!!

Outside

By Susie-Q

My cat curiosity has always wondered about the outside, especially when the Happy Campers are sitting outside enjoying an evening cocktail.  I take up my station inside the screen door and whine.  It doesn’t do much, neither one of them can hear for shit.

Imagine my surprise when they put a harness and leash on me and took me OUTSIDE with them!!  To make a long story short, I’ve had a total of three different harnesses, all of which I’ve slipped out of.  One thing I taught the Happy Campers is that a black cat at night is invisible!

It’s my weakness for those yummy cat treats, and the shaking of their container that always brings me running back. 

The other evening, Rex leaned over and unhooked my leash from his lawn chair and just let me wander off.  I had a great time wandering around camp, even if I had to drag the 10 foot leash along with me. I found my old blue water dish and got a drink, and a huge pile of sand where I relieved myself.

I checked out under the trailer, under the Honda, under the pick-up, and even climbed up the mountain out back. 

I love  the OUTSIDE !!!

 

Happy Birthday Dan !!!

HOY !!!  HOY !!!  HOY !!!

AND HAPPY 35TH BIRTHDAY DANIEL !!!

Why Blog??

We recently went to see the movie “Julie&Julia”.  This movie actually started life as a blog written by Julie Powell.  She loved to cook and decided to cook her way through Julia Child’s cookbook and blog about it.  What a simple concept that paid off for this lady in a big, big way.

Anyway, to be perfectly honest, that is the reason a lot of us blog.  Like winning Powerball, the day dream of creating a marketable blog keeps us going day after day, week after week, year after year.  Like all of us that faithfully buy Powerball tickets, the vast majority of blog writers are going to be disappointed if dreams of a big payday are the only reason we keep blogging.  Obviously it isn’t.  We get hooked on the creative aspect of writing and the comments of the people that read it.

We started blogging in order to keep our families aware of what we are up to.  Neither of us are much for talking on the telephone so it started out as a way for us to keep in touch.  Now our blog as well as many, many others have become as common as the newspaper….and some read as much or even more.  So at the end of the day, we blog so someone will read it and hopefully, enjoy it!! AND we still by our Powerball tickets!!

 

FLOJET MASCERATOR PUMP

IT’S BEEN A FEW WEEKS SINCE I WAS FORCED TO BUY THE FLOJET MACERATOR PUMP TO EMPTY THE SEWAGE FROM THE CAMPER.

SINCE I’VE BEEN CAMPING ALL MY LIFE, AND ABLE TO GET BY WITHOUT THIS EQUIPMENT, I FIGURED THERE WERE SEVERAL OF YOU OUT THERE THAT HAVE WONDER ABOUT THIS PUMP.

THE PUMP COMES IN A HARD BLACK STORAGE BOX.

THIS MAKES IT EASY AND SAFE TO STORE IN THE BACK OF THE PICK-UP.  BESIDES THE PUMP, THERE IS ROOM FOR THE HAND SWITCH AND POWER CORD.

YOU ATTACH THE PUMP TO THE TRAILER DUMP PIPE, NOTICE IT LOOKS LIKE A STANDARD SEWER HOSE CONECTION TO KEEP IT SIMPLE.

NEXT YOU ATTACH A FRESH WATER HOSE (GREEN) AND THE DISCHARGE HOSE (YELLOW).  IT’S A GREAT IDEA TO USE TWO DIFFERENT COLORED HOSES SO THAT YOU DON’T MIX THEM UP.

IT’S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO USE THE FRESH WATER HOSE USED TO SUPPLY WATER TO YOUR CAMPER.  IN THIS PICTURE YOU SEE WE USE A WHITE HOSE FOR FRESH WATER SUPPLIED TO THE CAMPER WHICH GOES THROUGH THE BLUE WATER FILTERS LEANING AGAINST THE CAMPER WHEELS. 

SINCE THE PUMP RUNS OFF OF 12 VOLT POWER I CONNECT IT DIRECTLY TO ONE OF MY WALMART CAR BATTERIES.  I LEAVE THE BATTERY, IN IT’S PLASTIC CASE, OUT ALL WEEK AND HOOKED TO MY SMALL SOLAR PANEL SO THAT IT IS CHARGED UP EACH SATURDAY TO “EMPTY THE SHITTER”.

THE SWITCH TO TURN THE PUMP ON AND OFF IS ON A SIX FOOT CORD SO THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO BEND OVER EACH TIME FOR THE SWITCH.

AFTER EVERYTHING IS ALL HOOKED UP YOU OPEN THE TANK VALVE, TURN ON THE PUMP AND EMPTY THE TANK.  YOU CAN EASILY HEAR THE WHINE OF THE PUMP CHANGE WHEN THE TANK IS EMPTY.  IT’S A “STAND THERE AND WAIT” TYPE OF CHORE, YOU CAN’T WALK AWAY AND GET A FRESH CIGARETTE, OR YOU COULD BURN UP THE PUMP IF IT RUNS DRY.

AFTER THE TANK IS DRY, YOU TURN ON THE GREEN FRESH WATER HOSE TO BACKWASH THE TANK.  PUMP OUT THE BACKWASH WATER AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TANK.

WHEN YOU GET TO THE BLACK WATER TANK, THE METAL IMPELLARS IN THE FLOJET MASCERATOR PUMP WILL GRIND THE SOLIDS AND PUMP THEM EASILY THROUGH THE 50 FOOT YELLOW GARDEN HOSE.

THE SYSTEM WORKS GREAT, AND OTHER THAN THE COST I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS. 

I GUESS IN THEORY YOU COULD SET UP CAMP IN THE YARD AT UNCLE HANS’ AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO EMPTY THE TANKS JUST RUN THE YELLOW HOSE INTO THE TOILET IN THE GUEST HOUSE.

TOO BAD WE’RE 1,839 MILES AWAY.

Leisure Time

By Susie-Q

I’ve been too busy laying around, tormenting Rex, patrolling for mice, and enjoying the easy RV lifestyle to Blog, but I’m still here and have avoided becoming “Coyote Bait”.

Recently I spent 53 hours home alone as the Happy Campers were off to Las Vegas to party with family. I got to admit, I prefer staying home alone to being in my Cat Garage, and getting anywhere near the Henderson Dog Pound, but I really miss the Happy Campers when they’re gone that long.

I know that Mary really misses me as well. Look at what I found on her foot after she came home from Vegas.

It’s my paw print tattooed on her foot!

Check out my growing collection of toys.

 

Of course my favorite toy is still an old brown shoestring out of Rex’s tennis shoes.  If Rex isn’t tying me up in it, I just roll and tie myself up.

This is my feathers on a stick.  It’s firmly duct taped to the top of the big fan, and when the fan is turned on it dances like crazy.  I attack it from the top and the bottom.

This is my own personal hook.  On it are stored a green cable leash, harness, and my own comb. 

It’s right next to Mary’s desk and when we’re watching TV she combs out the black hair on my back.  My own salon service!

If you’ve read this far in today’s Blog you must be a true cat lover……

I really need some help…….

This mysterious Red dot appears out of nowhere.

There it is just to the left of my head.  It moves across the doors, walls, and floors.  I give chase, trying my hardest to capture the Damn thing, but it just disappears and shows up somewhere else.  The Red dot of light annoys me, follows me, runs me ragged crashing into walls and doors.

I googled it on the Internet and all that came up was was “laser light”? 

Please Help Me…….

GLOOM & DOOM

THE GLOOM & DOOM OF THE NEVADA ECONOMY CONTINUES.  THE OFFICIAL JUNE NUMBERS SHOWED THAT THE GAMING INDUSRTY IN NEVADA IS DOWN 18% THIS JUNE COMPARED TO LAST JUNE.

LAKE TAHOE HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY HARD HIT WITH THE NEW COMPETITION OF THE RED HAWK INDIAN CASINO AT PLACERVILLE, CA. 

OUR DECISION TO STAY PUT ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT AND WORK AT THE AVI HAS BEEN A GOOD ONE.  OF COURSE WE HAD TO SKIP OUR MONTH OFF SPRING VACATION, AND OUR TWO MONTH FALL VACATION, BUT OUR FINANCIAL POSITION HAS REMAINED STEADY.

IN LATE OCTOBER WE HAVE VACATION APPROVED AT WORK FOR THREE WEEKS OFF, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OCTOBER 18TH.

IN VEGAS THE WEEK-ENDS REMAIN BUSY, BUT IF YOU’VE EVER CONSIDERED A LAS VEGAS VACATION, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME.  OUR FIVE, MID-WEEK VISITS HAVE BEEN VERY CHEAP.  ALTHOUGH WE SELECT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL HOTEL DOWNTOWN VEGAS, WE HAVE PAID LESS THAN $25 A NIGHT.  EVEN THE BEST HOTEL DOWNTOWN WOULD BE ABOUT $65 A NIGHT, MID-WEEK.

WHEN WE WENT TO SEE CHER IN CONCERT, MARY PAID $300 FOR TWO TICKETS.  RECENTLY WE SAW THE JERSEY BOYS, A MAJOR VEGAS SHOW AT A MAJOR STRIP CASINO, AND PAID $270 FOR FIVE TICKETS.  EVEN THE PRICE OF BEER ON THE STRIP IS DOWN TO $6 A BOTTLE FROM THE PAST PRICE OF $7.50 A BOTTLE.  IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A DEAL ON VEGAS NOW IS TIME TO USE THE INTERNET AND PLAN A NICE TRIP.  REMEMBER BRING GOOD WALKING SHOES AND LOT’S MONEY TO KEEP NEVADA GREEN!!!

A BETTER MOUSE TRAP

UPDATE ON THE MOUSE WAR (AGAIN)

WITH A CAT IN THE CAMPER THE MICE SEEM TO KEEP THEIR DISTANCE AND STAY OUTSIDE, HOWEVER EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS A BRAVE COUPLE OF MICE VENTURE INSIDE.

WHILE WE ARE AT WORK, SUSIE-Q STILL STANDS GUARD ON TOP OF MARY’S DESK. AT THE FIRST SIGN OF A MOUSE SHE SPRINGS INTO ACTION GIVING CHASE.  UNFORTUNATELY SHE’S STILL TOO YOUNG TO SHOW THE PATIENCE REQUIRED TO CATCH A MOUSE.

SHE DOES HOWEVER REARRANGE THE STUFF ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER ALERTING ME TO THE FACT THAT A COUPLE OF MICE HAVE MOVED IN AGAIN.

BETTER MOUSE TRAP

THE MICE SOMEHOW LEARNED TO SUCCESSFULLY LICK THE PEANUT BUTTER OFF MY OLD TRAPS, SO I WENT TO WALMART TO BUY A BETTER MOUSE TRAP.

NOTICE THAT THE BAIT PAD (YELLOW) IS MUCH LARGER THAN THE OLD DAYS. I PUT THE PEANUT BUTTER ON THE FAR BACK OF THE YELLOW BAIT PAD FORCING THE MOUSE TO PUT IT’S FEET UP ON THE PAD TO REACH THE PEANUT BUTTER THUS SPRINGING THE TRAP.

WITH THE CATS FIRST ALARM PROCEDURE, OF KNOCKING STUFF OFF THE KITCHEN COUNTER, AND USING A BETTER MOUSE TRAP INSIDE THE THE KITCHEN CUPBOARDS OUT OF REACH OF THE CAT, WE HAVE ARRIVED AT A STALEMATE WITH THE MICE, AND HAVE A LIVEABLE SITUATION.

CHIPMUNKS

OUTSIDE THE ENEMY CHIPMUNKS ARE STILL WINNING THE WAR.  WHILE VISITING WITH AMY LAST WEEK IN VEGAS, AMY REMINDED US OF THE OLD WIVES TALE THAT TO GET RID OF THESES PESTS, YOU SIMPLY FEED THEM JUICY FRUIT GUM.

SEEMS THE GUM SCREWS UP THEIR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AND KILLS THEM.  MARY HAS REOPENED THE BATTLE BY PUTTING WATER OUT TO ATTRACT THEM AND LEAVING THEM THE JUICY FRUIT GUM.  GOOD LUCK MARY!!!

ON A POSITIVE NOTE, AFTER READING SEVERAL STORIES ON OTHER RV BLOGS, I’M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE ARE NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE PACK RATS.  THESE DESERT PESTS ARE KNOWN FOR ATTACKING YOUR CAR.  THEY GET UP UNDER THE HOOD TO BUILD A NEST AND CHEW UP THE WIREING HARNESS OF YOUR VEHICAL.  WE’RE THINKING OUR MOTH BALL TREATMENT EARLIER THIS SUMMER MAY HAVE PREVENTED THIS ATTACK.

AHHH….. THE PRICE YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR FREE RENT.

Happy Birthday Paul !!!

HOY !!!  HOY !!!  HOY !!!

AND HAPPY 31ST BIRTHDAY PAULIE !!!

AMY IN VEGAS

AMY, MY DAUGHTER, ATTENDED A NATIONAL CONVENTION FOR “STAMP’IN UP” IN SALT LAKE CITY, AND WE WERE LUCKY THAT SHE FLEW HOME AND LAID OVER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IN LAS VEGAS. AT THE SAME TIME JUDY WAS IN VEGAS DOING HER ANNUAL PAULIE VISIT. IT WAS LIKE A FRANKVILLE RECHSTEINER’S REUNION.

OF COURSE THAT MEANS I WON’T GET TO SEE THE REST OF AMY’S FAMILY THIS YEAR, BUT I’LL TAKE WHAT I CAN GET.

EVERYBODY COMES TO NEVADA AND VEGAS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. WHEN AMY COMES, IT’S FOR THE SHOWS AT THE CASINOS. SHE DID A GREAT JOB ON THE PHONE AND LINED US UP WITH DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO THE VERY POPULAR VEGAS SHOW, “JERSEY BOYS”, THE MUSICAL STORY OF FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS. THE MUSIC WAS FANTASTIC !!!

THE NEXT NIGHT WE DID “MARRIAGE CAN BE MURDER”, A MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATER. SOME OF THE ACTORS WERE SEATED AT THE DINNER TABLES WITH THE CUSTOMERS. THE ACTION TOOK PLACE ALL OVER THE ROOM. THIS GAL WAS ONE OF FOUR PEOPLE KILLED AND HAD HER THROAT SLICED WITH A DVD DISK.

WE ALSO DID A LATE NIGHT COMDEY SHOW, THAT KEPT US LAUGHING FOR ANOTHER HOUR.

OF COURSE MARY AND I WERE STAYING DOWNTOWN AND GOT OUR LAST FIX OF THE “SUMMER OF 69 CELEBRATION” WE’VE BEEN ENJOYING ON ALL OUR VEGAS TRIPS THIS SUMMER. THIS WEEK IT WAS A BEATLES BAND ON THE MAIN STAGE.

Vegas Bound Again!!

Once again we are going to Vegas for our days off.  This week we are going to be visiting with Rex’s daughter Amy.  She is stopping off in Vegas on her way home from a meeting in Salt Lake City.  Sure will be great to see her.  An added bonus for Amy will be seeing her brother, Paul.  I think it will be her first chance to visit with him in 22 months.  And her Mother is flying in also---a real family get together.

Amy doesn’t like gambling but really enjoys shows so our goal will be securing show tickets.  Don’t know what ones we will score but I am sure that will be the topic of an upcoming blog.

The economy or something has finally caught up with our casino.  Business has be measurably slower the last week or two.  As a result I only got four days on the schedule this week, but because I had 39 hours last week, I am subject to being “forced out”.  Tonight (Thursday) I got forced with only 4 hours. OUCH!!  Am hoping things get better soon!!!

No blog is complete without a “Susie Update”.  She is endlessly entertaining.  I am glad we got a kitten rather than a mature cat because she is so funny and she is growing up to adapt to our lifestyle.  White men might not be able to jump but Susie sure can!!

Happy Birthday Joey !!!

HOY !!!  HOY !!!  HOY !!!

AND HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY JOEY !!!

WATCH OUT FOR THOSE BIG BROTHERS !!!

CHAD’S IN VEGAS

ON OUR LAST DAYS OFF WE WENT TO VEGAS TO VISIT WITH MARY’S SON CHAD. THIS IS THE THIRD SUMMER IN A ROW THAT CHAD HAS COME WEST TO VACATION, CHECK OUT THE CASINO ACTION, AND VISIT HIS MOTHER.

CHAD, IT’S GOOD TO SEE YA !!!

CHAD WAS STAYING DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS. PERFECT !!! WE GET TO GO BACK TO CELEBRATE THE SUMMER OF ‘69 !!!

HERE THEY ARE BOTH LOOKING PRETTY GOOD IN THE DESERT HEAT AT 107 DEGREES.

 

CHAD WAS STAYING AT BINION’S.  IN THE OLD DAYS OF BENNY BINION, HE DISPLAYED A MILLION DOLLARS USING $1000 BILLS.  WHEN THE GOVERMENT REMOVED $1000 BILLS FROM CIRULATION IT MADE THE DISPLAY EVEN MORE POPULAR.  BENNY BINION OF COURSE IS A LAS VEGAS LEGEND, AND WHEN THE CASINO WENT TO HIS KIDS, JACK, TEDDY, AND BECKY THE WILD STORIES CONTINUED.  IN THE END IT WAS BECKY RUNNING THE SHOW WHEN THE DISPLAY WAS REMOVED AND THE VALUABLE $1000 BILLS WERE SOLD OFF TO COLLECTORS.

TODAY, ONCE AGAIN, YOU CAN GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN WITH A COOL MILLION BUCKS IN $100 BILLS.

 

WHILE CHAD AND I WERE DRINKING AND GAMBLING WITH BOTH HANDS …..

WE RAN INTO A MILLER LITE SLOT MACHINE. COOL, NOW WE CAN WIN BOTH MONEY AND BEER !!

“GRANDMA JACK” SLIPPED OFF FOR A LITTLE SHOPPING, TRYING TO KEEP A HANDLE ON HER SOBRITY.  I CAN REPORT THE TRICK DIDN’T WORK, BUT CHECK OUT THE NEW WHITE COWBOY SHIRT SHE BOUGHT.

 

OF COURSE WE HAD TO TAKE CHAD TO “HOGS & HEFIERS” FOR A DRINK.  DON’T YOU WONDER WHAT THESE WISCONSIN BAR PATRONS ARE ALL SMILING ABOUT?

WELL IF YOU’VE BEEN TO THIS BAR BEFORE, YOU ALREADY KNOW WE’RE SMILING BECAUSE OF OUR RUDE BARTENDER.

 

I SEE YOU SQUINTING TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT THAT BARTENDER SO I’LL SAVE YOUR EYES…….

(JUST IN CASE YOU’RE HUNG UP ON THE LEATHER HALTER TOP, I’D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT HER PIGTAILS ARE CUTE TOO.)

CHAD, IT’S GOOD TO SEE YA !!!

FLOJET Portable Waste Pump

TO EMPTY THE HOLDING TANKS ON THE CAMPER HAS BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE, LITERALLY!!! 

NORMALLY WE KEEP THE BLACK TANK CLOSED, AND EMPTY IT ONCE A WEEK, ON SATURDAY. THE GALLEY TANK, AND GRAY WATER TANK ARE OPEN TO DRAIN AS WE USE THEM.  ON THE VERY FIRST DAY WE REALIZED THAT OUR 20 FOOT SEWER HOSE WAS NOT GOING TO REACH FROM THE TRAILER, UPHILL, TO THE DUMP PIPE. 

WE WENT TO WALMART AND BOUGHT ANOTHER 20 FOOT SEWER HOSE.  THE SECOND DAY THE GROUND WAS WET AROUND THE NEW HOSE AND ON SATURDAY WHEN I WENT TO EMPTY THE BLACK TANK THE NEW SEWER HOSE LEAKED LIKE A SIEVE!  THE DAMN GROUND SQUIRRELS (CHIPMUNKS) WERE CHEWING HOLES IN THE HOSE TO GET AT ANY MOISTURE POSSIBLE IN THIS ARRID AREA.

I GOT OUT THE DUCT TAPE AND  WRAPPED THE HOSE WHERE IT LEAKED.  I WAS DISGUSTED WITH A BRAND NEW HOSE LEAKING. NORMALLY I GET 18 MONTHS OF LIFE OUT OF WALMART’S SEWER HOSES.

THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS THE GROUND WAS STILL WET, THE SQUIRRELS CONTINUED TO CHEW, AND MORE DUCT TAPE WAS LIBERALLY APPLIED.

THE DUMP PIPE IS TRULY UPHILL FROM THE DUMP VALVE, AND THE LOW POINT IS IN THE HOSE JUST BELOW THE DUMP VALVE.  GRADUALLY THE WHOLE HOSE FILLS UP AND IT DOES DRAIN UPHILL INTO THE DUMP PIPE.  THE WATER PRESSURE IN THE SEWER HOSE QUICKLY SHOWS ME WHERE THE HOLES ARE AS THEY SPRAY MINATURE FOUNTAINS OF … AH …… SHIT!

I HAVE TO WALK THE HOSE AT EACH DUMPING TO GET THE BLACK WATER TO DRAIN DOWN THE DUMP PIPE.

I FINALLY DECIDED TO CLOSE ALL THREE VALVES ON ALL THREE TANKS TO SEE IF WE COULD GET BY A WEEK WITHOUT UNLOADING ANY WASTE WATER. NO PROBLEM, THE TANKS ACCOMMOADATED A WEEKS WORTH OF WASTE WATER, BUT NOTHING CHANGED.  THE GROUND WAS STILL WET, THE SQUIRRELS STILL CHEWED HOLES IN HOSE, AND I FINISHED APPLYING A SECOND ROLE OF DUCT TAPE ON THE SEWER HOSE.

AFTER A COUPLE OF MORE WEEKS OF THAT, I FINALLY REALIZED THAT THE GRAY WATER TANK VALVE WAS LEAKING.  I WENT TO CAMPING WORLD AND BOUGHT A GATE VALVE ADAPTER TO PLACE ON THE END OF THE TRAILER’S DUMP PIPE.

THAT WORKED !!! THE GROUND IS NOW COMPLETELY DRY DURING THE WEEK, AND EVEN WITH DAILY SHOWERS AND DISH WASHING WE ARE ABLE TO GET THRU A WEEK WITH OUR HOLDING TANKS.

THAT NEXT SATURDAY WHILE WALKING THE HOSE TO GET THE WATER TO DRAIN UPHILL INTO THE DUMP PIPE, THE HOSE BREAKS LOSE FROM THE RED ELBOW. DAMN, THERE IS SHIT WASTE WATER EVERYWHERE!

THE GROUND SQUIRRELS ON THE OTHER HAND ARE DESPERATE, AND HAVE BEEN CUT OFF FROM THEIR WATER SOURCE.  THEY HAVE EATEN ALL THE HOME OWNERS CATI IN SEARCH OF WATER, AND ATTACK THE SEWER HOSE.  ONE MORNING I FIND A BIG HOLE AND OUT OF THE SEWER HOSE CLIMBS ONE OF THOSE PESKY SQUIRRELS.

IT’S SATURDAY AGAIN, AND TIME FOR MY WEEKLY ORDEAL OF EMPTYING THE HOLDING TANKS.  I’M DANGEROUS LOW ON MY THIRD ROLL OF DUCT TAPE, THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS 115 DEGREES, I OPEN THE VALVE AND SHORTLY AFTER THE WATER PRESSURE BUILDS THERE ARE 25 MINATURE FOUNTAINS SPRINGING FROM THE SEWER HOSE !!!

THAT’S IT !! IT TOOK HALF THE SUMMER FOR ME TO FINALLY PROVE THAT “SHIT DOES NOT ROLL UPHILL!!!”

I STOPPED AT CAMPING WORLD ON OUR TRIP TO VEGAS TO GET THE CAT SHOTS AND BOUGHT A FLOJET MACERATOR WASTE WATER PUMP.

 

THE MASCERATOR PUMP RUNS OFF OF 12 VOLT POWER, HAS IMPELLORS THAT GRIND THE WASTE, AND HAS A BACK WASH SYSTEM FOR YOUR TANKS, AND TO CLEAN OUT THE PUMP.  YOU ATTACH A REGULAR GARDEN HOSE TO SAFELY PUMP THE WASTE WATER UP HILL.  THE FIRST REAL TEST OF THIS EXSPENSIVE PUMP FROM CAMPING WORLD WILL BE NEXT SATURDAY.  WISH ME LUCK !!!

Happy Birthday Heather !!!

HOY !!!  HOY !!!  HOY !!!

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER !!!

UPDATE

CRITTERS

THE MOUSE WAR CONTINUES, WITH THE NEW CAT SQAURELY ON THE OFFENSIVE.  SHE HAS DOUBLED IN SIZE THIS FIRST MONTH AND A HALF, AND IN A COUPLE OF  WEEKS, JUMPING ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER FROM THE FLOOR TO DO BATTLE WILL BE A SNAP.

OUTSIDE THE GROUND SQUIRELS, OR CHIPMUNCKS ARE CLEARLY WINNING THE BATTLE. THEY HAVEN’T ONLY KILLED ALL THE CATI PLANTS THE HOME OWNER LEFT FOR US TO CARE FOR, BUT THEY HAVE EATEN THEM AND  CARRIED THEM OFF. 

 

FRIDGE

THE REFRIERATOR IS BARELY ON LINE.  WITH AN OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE OF 110 DEGREES THE RV FRIDGE CAN ONLY HOLD A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 50 DEGREES.  WE HAVEN’T BROUGHT MILK HOME FROM THE STORE IN ABOUT A MONTH. LIKE SWEATING, IT’S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH.

HOT WATER

IF YOU LIVE IN AN RV, YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO RUN ALOT OF WATER THROUGH YOUR SHOWER HEAD BEFORE YOU GET HOT WATER.  BOONDOCKERS OFTEN COLLECT THIS WATER AND USE IT TO FLUSH THE TOILET, ETC.  IN THIS EXTREME HEAT THE PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY REVERSED.  THE WATER IN THE 25 FOOT WHITE HOSE THAT SUPPLIES THE TRAILER IS TOO HOT TO SHOWER IN.  THE HOT WATER HEATER HAS ACTUALLY BEEN TURNED OFF FOR WEEKS. A BENEFIT TO DESERT CAMPING.

MONSOON SEASON

THE MONSOON SEASON HAS BEEN GENTLE TO US.  THE EXTREME HEAT BUILDS UP A CLOUD BANK THAT ROLLS INTO THE VALLEY FROM THE WEST LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AND DROPS SCATTERED RAIN ON PARTS OF THE VALLEY FLOOR BEFORE MOVING OFF TO THE EAST.  THESE STORMS ARE EASILY CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A “GULLY WASHER”, FLOODING ROADS AND WASHING OUT NEW DRIVEWAYS.  SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY.  THE NIGHT TIME LIGHTENING SHOWS ARE SPECTACULAR.

THE OATMAN LOCALS SAY THAT WE HAVE 4 WEEKS OF MONSOON SEASON LEFT AND 6 WEEKS OF EXTREME HEAT.  OF COURSE YOU NEVER KNOW ABOUT THE WEATHER, AND WE MAY HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT NICE JUNE WEATHER WE HAD.

 

“THE GLASS IS HALF FULL”

THE RENT IS FREE !!!

THE HOT WATER IS FREE !!!

THE DUELING AIR CONDITIONERS ARE WORKING WELL.

THE NEIGHBORS ARE MILES AWAY, AND MOUNTAIN VIEWS ARE SPECTACULAR!!!

WE SURVIVED JULY, AND IN 6 WEEKS WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO “SUNNY & 80”.

(So says Rex “THE ETERNAL OPTIMIST”!!)