THE SCOOTER RETURNS

WHEN I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THE HANDLEBARS HAD BEEN REPLACED ON THE SCOOTER, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE HANDLEBARS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND WOULDN’T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY.

BUT, HE EXPLAINED, WE TOOK A PAIR OFF A NEW UNIT AND MY SCOOTER WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. THANK GOD!  I WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED TO BE WITHOUT MY SCOOTER UNTIL THE FIRST OF THE NEW YEAR.

MARY AND I TOOK OUR TIME LOADING AND STRAPPING DOWN THE SCOOTER.

 

WE WERE BOTH PRETTY NERVOUS WATCHING THE REARVIEW MIRRORS AND EVEN STOPPED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE WE HIT THE INTERSTATE TO CHECK THE SCOOTER AND GIVE THOSE RACHETS ONE MORE CLICK.

OUR THIRD TIME LOADING THE SCOOTER WAS SUCCESSFUL AND NOW WE’RE TWO OUT OF THREE.

FIRST DAY BACK AND I ABOUT RAN THE WHEELS OFF THE THING RUNNING ERRANDS AROUND TOWN.

   “SUNNY & 79”

HOW TO BUY A USED TV

WITH THE INVENTION OF THE FLAT SCREEN, AND MAKING TV’S RETANGLE INSTEAD OF SQUARE, THE USED TV MARKET IS FLOODED.

CHECK OUT THE SELECTION AT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.

 

AND THE PRICES, $10 - $30.

 

WE ENDED UP WITH A SONY, THAT JUST FIT INTO THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER ON THE PORCH.

NOW WE’LL BE READY TO WATCH THE PACKERS IN THE SUPER BOWL OUTSIDE ON THE PORCH.

Sara’s Wedding

By Uncle Hans

We had great fun at the recent wedding of Cousin Sara and Adam. I would have posted earlier, but had some computer problems and just now got them resolved. When we got the invitation, Renee laid it out for me in a conspicuous place with her "thoughts" attached. She gets anxious around crowds, and noise, and Rechsteiners!!..............

......but with time and some cajoling, she got more interested and changed her mind. She even agreed to press my suit pants!......

...........Their videographer ditched them at the last minute and Godfather Uncle Hans got the tap for doing the wedding video. Neil dusted off an old video camera and got tapes and batteries all set to go. We will have to wait to see how it turned out, as it is in the process of conversion from tape to digital, then to Hannah for editing and placement on a DVD.

But this long-winded explanation is why I did not get any actual wedding pictures, I was too busy with the damned video camera. Here are a couple of shots at the reception. This is the all-important paper signing by the witnesses to make the whole thing legal......

.......I leave you with some random shots from the reception. The big surprise of the night was the "Father-daughter" dance with Neil and Sara. They had actually taken lessons and practiced, all in secret as a surprise for the whole crowd. I got it recorded, but it is dark as the lighting was poor. With a little luck and some help from Hannah, I hope to get it posted to YouTube so our trusty editor can bring it to this blog.

Stay tuned!....................

By Uncle Hans

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

SCOOTER CHECK-UP

AT 600 MILES THE SCOOTER NEEDED TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE    BREAK-IN OIL CHANGE AND TO TEAR DOWN THE BIKE TO THE POINT OF BEING ABLE TO CHECK THE VALVES.  THAT MEANS ALL THE PLASTIC BODY PARTS HAVE TO COME OFF AND A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE AND VALVE ADJUSTMENT COMES TO $230.

AFTER THIS FIRST SERVICE, THE HONDA SCOOTER ONLY HAS TO GO BACK IN FOR SERVICE EVERY 2500 MILES, SO I GUESS THAT ISN’T TOO BAD.

THE CHALLENGE FOR MARY AND I WAS IN THE LOADING OF THE SCOOTER ON THE BACK OF THE PICK-UP.  NEITHER ONE OF US IS INTO STAPS AND RACHETS AND TIE DOWNS, ETC.

MARY CAME UP WITH A GREAT SUGGESTION TO DO THE LOADING THE AFTERNOON BEFORE, WHEN WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME INSTEAD OF BEING IN A HURRY TO GET ON THE ROAD TO MAKE OUR SERVICE APPOINTMENT.

WE HAD THE INSTRUCTIONS OUT SEVERAL TIMES TO READ ABOUT PUTTING THE STRAP THRU HERE AND THEN DOWN THRU THE SPINDEL, AND TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT WE ACTUALLY GOT THE SCOOTER LOADED.

ANYTIME YOU START A PROJECT LIKE THIS OUTSIDE IN AN RV PARK, AN OLD GUY FROM THE PARK IS GOING TO WALK OVER AND GIVE YOU HIS FREE OPINION.  IN THIS CASE THE OLD GUY SUGGESTED A  FIFTH STRAP UP OVER THE SEAT, AND RECOMMENDED USING A DIFFERENT STYLE STRAP IN THE BACK.

I PUT DIFFERENT STAPS ON MY VEGAS SHOPPING LIST, AND MARY AND I WERE PRETTY PROUD OF OUR SELVES FOR GETTING THE SCOOTER LOADED FOR THE FIRST TIME.  IT’S SOMETHING WE NEEDED TO LEARN AS WE PLAN ON TAKING THE SCOOTER WITH US ON TRIPS IN THE FUTURE.

WE DROPPED OFF THE SCOOTER AT THE DEALER AND WENT SHOPPING A FEW HOURS WHILE THEY DID THE SERVICE.

WHEN WE GOT BACK THE SCOOTER WAS READY, AND WITH THE NEW STRAPS, WE WERE CONFIDENT AND READY TO LOAD THE SCOOTER FOR THE SECOND TIME.  THE SERVICE MANAGER WALKED US OUT AND OFFERED A HAND IN THE LOADING AND TYING DOWN.

THIS WAS OUR MISTAKE!

WE GOT ONE BLOCK AWAY AND I SAW THE SCOOTER SLIP IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. OMG, WE’RE IN SIX LANES OF TRAFFIC ON THE BOULDER HIWAY AND I’M HITTING THE BREAKS, SWERVING IN THE LANES TO GET PULLED OVER AND STOPPED, HORNS BLARING, THE SMELL OF BURNT RUBBER, BIG ASS TRUCK GRILL IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR……

WE GOT THE DAMAGED SCOOTER RE-TIED AND DID THE ONE BLOCK U-TURN BACK TO THE HONDA DEALER. WE GOT LUCKY AND THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS A BADLY BENT LEFT HANDLE BAR.

MARY AND I ARE BOTH COUNTRY BUMPKINS, AND WE JUST AREN’T CITY PEOPLE. HELL, WE DRIVE 50 MILES OUT OF OUR WAY JUST TO AVOID DRIVING THROUGH KANSAS CITY.  CITY PEOPLE ARE BAD, RIGHT?

LET’S TALK ABOUT PEOPLE FOR A MINUTE. FIRST OF ALL REMEMBER THE OLD GUY IN THE RV PARK RECCOMENDING A FIFTH STRAP OVER THE SEAT?  IT WAS THIS STRAP THAT HELD THE BIKE ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND SAVED IT FROM HITTING THE PAVEMENT AND BEING DRUG DOWN THE BOULDER HIWAY.

WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE RACHET, AND RUNNING THE STRAP THRU HERE, AND THEN THRU THE SPINDEL WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE INSTRUCTIONS, A GUY WALKING DOWN THE SIDE WALK COMES UP AND SAYS LET ME HELP YOU WITH THAT.

NEXT THING YOU KNOW A SECOND GUY PULLS OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND HOPS OUT OF HIS CAR AND IS HELPING SECURE THE SCOOTER.  HIS WIFE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE WE NEEDED SOME HELP…..

BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP THE YOUNG MAN THAT IS THE SERVICE MANAGER, FELT BAD SINCE HE HAD HELPED US LOAD IT.  HE LOOKED UP THE PART (NEW HANDLE BARS), AND SAID IF WE PAYED THE $40 HE’D HAVE IT INSTALLED LABOR FREE.

MAYBE THOSE CITY FOLKS AREN’T SO BAD AFTER ALL.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE LEARNED TO LOAD THE SCOOTER OURSELVES AND TAKE OUR TIME TO DO IT RIGHT, AND IT WAS ONLY A $40 LESSON.  THE BAD NEWS IS THAT DUE TO THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY I’M GOING TO HAVE TO GO 10 DAYS WITHOUT MY SCOOTER, AND OF COURSE THE WEATHER FORCAST IS FOR “SUNNY & 80”, PERFECT SCOOTER WEATHER.

DO YOU READ A BOOK TO FALL ASLEEP?

What Is It??

When Rex went home to Wisconsin in May for his Mother’s funeral, I had the neighbor make me this little room.

I recently painted it, I know May was a while ago, but I don’t do anything during the 100 plus degrees  of summer.  Besides paint doesn’t cure in that kind of heat.

As you can see I have some plants in there and a chiminea and a nice easy chair.  It’s dimensions  are 4 feet by 9 feet.  My intentions were just to have a place to go contemplate life.  And to decorate (which I am not done with) and to just play with.  Am I too old for a play house??

Rex refers to it as my  “Zen Garden” but I think his true opinion is “Mary’s Folly”.

THE BIG CATS

RECENTLY HARRAH’S CASINO HAD DIRK ARTHUR IN FROM LAS VEGAS TO DO TWO WEEKS OF SHOWS WITH HIS BIG CATS.

MARY AND I SAW HIS SHOW YEARS AGO AT THE TROP ON A TWO-FOR-ONE TICKET.  HE DOES A GREAT SHOW AND THE CATS ARE AMAZING.  IN THOSE DAYS THE PREMIERE ANIMAL SHOW WAS SIGFRED AND ROY WITH THEIR WHITE TIGERS.

TO PROMOTE THE LAUGHLIN SHOW, DIRK WAS SHOWING HIS CATS FOR ONE HOUR OUT FRONT OF HARRAH’S CASINO AND HANDING OUT $5 OFF COUPONS.  A PERFECT SCOOTER ADVENTURE.

 

OFF I WENT TO SEE THE BIG CATS.  I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY WHEELED OUT THE SMALLEST OF HIS CATS, A BLACK SPOTTED PANTHER, BUT IT WAS A PERFECT DAY FOR A SCOOTER RIDE.

   “SUNNY & 80”

UPDATE THE “TO DO LIST”

WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THE FALL “TO DO LIST”.  THIS WEEK-ENDS PROJECT WAS TO CLEAN THE PORCH.

WE WASHED AND WAXED THE TRAILER WALL INSIDE THE PORCH WHICH COMPLETED THE WASHING AND WAXING OF THE TRAILER.

THEN WE MOVED THE FURNITURE OUTSIDE AND HOSED DOWN THE FLOOR.

 

WE ALSO HAULED THE MATS OFF TO THE CAR WASH AND POWER WASHED THEM BACK TO THE BRIGHT COLORS THEY ONCE WERE.

THE FURNITURE ON THE PORCH BASCIALLY SITS OUTSIDE AND LITERALLY GETS SAND BLASTED WITH DIRT, SAND, AND THE SUMMER HEAT.  TWO PIECES REQUIRED A FRESH COAT OF VARNISH, THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, AND THE STEPS.

WE’RE MAKING GREAT PROGESS ON “THE LIST”, AND AS USUAL WE WILL BE DONE BY CHRISTMAS.

THE COTTON FIELDS TODAY

THIS BLOG IS FOR YOU HEATHER.  I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOUR COTTON FIELDS LOOK LIKE NOW.

WHEN THE COTTON’S READY, THEY QUIT IRRIGATING THE FIELDS AND ALLOW THE COTTON PLANT TO DIE AND DRY.

THEN THEY TAKE A JOHN DEERE COMBINE AND HARVEST THE COTTON AND DUMP THE COTTON INTO BIG HOPPERS THAT FORM THESES TRUCK SIZE BALES.

 

THIS IS BOUNDRY CONE ROAD ON THE WAY TO THE AVI CASINO WHERE YOU STOPPED TO TAKE PICTURES AND LOOK AT THE PLANTS.  ALONG THE ROAD YOU CAN SEE THE BALES LINED UP.

 

LOOKING ACROSS THE VALLEY, YOU CAN SEE THE BALES WATING FOR THE TRUCKS TO COME AND HAUL THEM OFF.

NOW THIS IS THE TIME TO VISIT LAUGHLIN, IN THE FALL AFTER THEY HARVEST THE COTTON, WHEN IT’S “SUNNY & 80”.

HAMMOCK CHAIR

YEARS AGO WHEN WHEN AMY WAS IN MEXICO SHE GOT WHAT’S CALLED A HAMMOCK CHAIR. IT’S SUSPENDED BY ONE ROPE OR CHAIN, AND SHE HAS IT HUNG IN THE BACK YARD OUTSIDE WHERE SHE LIKES TO CURL UP AND READ.

WHEN WE ASKED HER IF THERE WAS ANYTHING SHE NEEDED AT THE DRUG STORE ON OUR UPCOMING TRIP TO ALGODONES, MEXICO, SHE SAID,“NOPE”, BUT SHE COULD USE USE A NEW HAMMOCK CHAIR, AS HERS IS ABOUT WORN OUT.

WE FOUND THE RIGHT VENDOR ON THE SIDE WALK, AND BEGAN OUR NEGOTIATION.

 

HE OPENED BY ASKING $35, AND I’M SURE THAT IF AIM HAD BEEN THERE, SHE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN TWO CHAIRS FOR $35.  THE ONLY SPANISH I KNOW IS TO ASK FOR “A VERY COLD BEER, PLEASE”.  THE VENDOR’S ENGLISH WASN’T THE BEST, AND THAT’S PART OF THEIR STADEGY. WHEN I OFFERED $25, HE SOMEHOW GOT TO RATTLING ON AND ON AND NOW HIS PRICE WAS $60.

WTF? I WALKED AWAY, BUT WHEN I CAME BACK, I GOT ONE HAMMOCK CHAIR FOR $30.

 

HE LOOKS TO PRETTY HAPPY TO ME. I THINK ANOTHER GRINGO GOT SCREWED.

(YES AMI, THAT’S YOUR NEW CHAIR, BUT THE RICH PUDGY MEXICAN DOEN’T COME WITH IT)

LOS ALGODONES B.C., MEXICO

IN THE 13 YEARS WE’VE BEEN IN THE WEST, WE’VE GONE TO ALGODONES, MEXICO FOUR TIMES.

THIS MEXICAN BORDER TOWN IS PACKED WITH LIQUOR STORES, DRUG STORES, DENTAL OFFICIES, AND EYE DOCTORS.  THE WINTER SNOWBIRDS FLOCK ACROSS THE BORDER FOR THESE SERVICES.

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE SNOWBIRD SEASON IN THE AFTERNOON, THE WAIT TO CROSS THE BORDER BACK INTO THE USA CAN BE HOURS LONG, STANDING IN LINE.

OUR MISSION WAS THE DRUG STORE WHERE YOU CAN BUY MANY DRUGS CHEAPLY AND WITHOUT A PERSCIPTION. FOR EXAMPLE WE BOUGHT A BOTTLE OF 100 AMOXICILLIN TABLETS FOR $5.05.

 

THE SIDEWALKS ARE NARROW AND PACKED WITH VENDORS.

BESIDES THE DRUG STORE, WE WERE LOOKING FOR A HAMMOCK CHAIR. TWO STOPS AND WE WERE BACK ACROSS THE BORDER INTO THE USA, WITH ONLY THREE PEOPLE IN LINE AHEAD OF US. A SCAN OF OUR PASSPORTS AND QUICK LOOK INTO OUR SHOPPING BAGS AND WE WERE OUT OF THERE.

ABOUT 40 MILES NORTH ON A BACK ROAD WE WERE STOPPED BY THE BORDER PATROL TO SEE IF WE WERE USA RESIDENTS, AND IT GIVES THE DOGS A CHANCE TO SNIFF OUT THE HONDA FOR MARIJUANA.

WE LEFT AT 6AM AND WERE HOME BY 2PM.

NOT A FLUKE

I PUT ANOTHER 100 MILES ON THE SCOOTER AND PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO SEE IF I REALLY WAS GETTING THAT GREAT GAS MILEAGE?

102 MILES ON THE TRIP ODOMETER, AND 1.03 GALLONS TO FILL THE TANK. YES, I GOT THE DECIMAL POINT IN THE RIGHT PLACE, AND YES, THAT’S 99 MILES TO THE GALLON. AND YES, I’M A HAPPY CAMPER.

 

I GOT OUT ON HWY 95 LAST WEEK ON ONE OF MY SCOOTER ERRANDS IN A 55 MPH ZONE AND THE NEW SCOOTER HAD NO TROUBLE KEEPING UP WITH THE TRAFFIC.

THINGS ARE GOING SO WELL WITH THE SCOOTER I EVEN TALKED MARY INTO RIDING TWO-UP.

YES IT’S DESIGNED FOR THAT. ABOVE IS A PICTURE OF THE FOOT PEGS FOR THE PASSENGER.  WE MADE IT TO “MR G’S” FOR A COLD BEER AND HOME AGAIN WITH OUT ANY PROBLEMS, BUT WE AGREED WE NEED A LITTLE MORE PRACTICE RIDING DOUBLE.

   “SUNNY & 80”

More Halloween In Spooner

By Uncle Hans

Shelly, an old friend of Renee's came by for a weekend visit. She had yet to experience the delights of Cable Lake and Spooner and only had one night to spend. That should work (there ain't that many delights.....)

..............she had missed the pumpkin carving/salsa party so we set her to work to catch up........

.......her beauty fit right in the empty spot on the mantle, third from the right. Now the Jack-o-Lantern family is complete............

.............Then, off to town for a night of costume contests and fun. Every bar had a contest and the judging time was staggered so contestants could make several contests (lots of staggering, in fact!) I dug out the Cadillac and donned the chauffer's hat with a tie and jacket so I had a costume. The girls didn't know it, but found out later that they were both dressed as "Miss Daisy" .........

................Renee did her own judging, but her winners were mostly people she knew..........

.....Renee stole a hat from some giant wrestler dude (Mr. Marvel?) who was there with Hulk Hogan and we almost had a WWF title match right there to get the hat back.............

.....the hands down winners, in my book, were these two. At first they seemed like two crazy guys who had spent the afternoon with a Wagner Power painter and green latex paint. Very effective. But they were both carrying a roughly oval piece of plywood the same hideous latex green. I didn't get it at first,but they suddenly threw down the green plywood ovals, stood on them, and struck poses which were strangely very familiar........

.... OMG! Of course!.............

They were the little green rubber army men we all played with when were kids! Remember? They were even in the movie Toy Story? Look closely at the machine gun guy, you can see his green "base".

I love a costume that is innovative like that (Don't get any ideas, Neil, that idea is so good it is probably copyrighted and we can't do it)

...............The next day we went to Hayward and did tourist things. Here, each "Miss Daisy" turned into the proverbial "Kid in a candy store"........

We surely enjoyed our visit with Shelly and hope she comes back soon...................

By Uncle Hans