| Thursday
Dec. 11
Ron
here again, I know it's about time for Terry to do a post, but get over
it, he is doing dishes and fixing supper, so you get me.
Cool
but nice in Q. Don't you get tired of the always the same wonderful weather
reports from southwest AZ. But is the truth, so if you can't handle it,
just get your butt down here to see for yourself.
Went
to the Quartzsite
Rock and Gem Club weekly meeting at the QIA building to watch the action.
It starts at 2 PM So why state that? Stay tuned... That's about as good
as it gets for entertainment in mid week in Q. Last week the meeting run
so long they only had 15 min. left for coffee and cookies as they had to
be out of the building by 4 PM. So this week the meeting started with a
statement we will get through this in better time so when you talk
keep it short. I think they got about 40 min. for cookies this time. You
need to understand which is more important to these people, social hour
with coffee and cookies, or club meeting stuff. This week they proved which
won out. Now I should explain they do have fun at the meeting with each
instructor reporting on their classes. And the wagon master telling the
stories about the rock finding trips they led since the last meeting, and
how lost they got lost finding the claim sites. Last Tuesday they had 38
vehicles running in a caravan. Can you imagine the traffic problems that
38 vehicles would cause trying to stay together without getting lost, impeding
others on the highways around Q. Sort of like a funeral parade with all
these retired people bunched together going down the road. Try passing
that mob. At today's meeting they even asked the wagon master next time,
to slow down a bit! If you are driving around Q on Tuesday mornings about
9 AM watch out for this mob on the Highways. They do turn off eventually
and get back into the desert back roads where the mineral speciamens await
their discoveries. You too can join this fun... The link is above for the
club ($15 to join) do I have to type that link again?
Now
on to current stuff. At the meeting the club president stated the club
membership was down some this year. Current count is 432 YTD and last year
475 at this time. He also said the BLM has reported to him the Long Term
Visitors RVers are down about 45%.
The
Pit Stop reports their volume is down about 40%. Now all you have
to do is drive on West Main by the Main Event vender area and you will
see almost no venders set up. The Main Event is looking like a vacant
lot for the most part. The rumor is they might of priced themselves out
of the market. Now to be sure, there are other areas that do have venders,
like the Tyson Wells, who always seem to do will as they just know how
to do this vender thing. Anyway the traffic counts are down, but that is
no reason for you to stay back up north in the snow and cold. So if you
decided last summer with the fuel prices high and the predictions for it
to only get worse, you decided to not go south, there is still time. Drain
that antifreeze out of your RV plastic tubes and pour it down your sticks
and bricks sinks and stool. Life is short, and it is warm down here!
Enough said.
After
the Rock Club meeting we stopped at the General Store for their weekly
specials. Iceberg lettuce for $.79 each. and Roma tomatoes for $.79
a lb. Broccoli for $.89 a lb. Avocados at $.99 each. We got a nice
pork loin at $2.39 a lb. and beef chuck roast at $2.69 a lb. Now
at these prices why would we want to drive 40 miles to Parker to shop.
The last time we were in Parker, AZ at the Safeway food store, we got sticker
shock with their prices. You also have a Bashas' food store in Parker.
When you have two food stores in the same town it will keep prices in check.
And if you want sticker shock go to Blythe, CA to the Albertsons store
20 miles west of Q on I-10. They are the only game in town and know it.
Sure with fuel prices down it costs less to go to Parker or Blythe than
last year, but for many items it is cheaper, with the General Store's weekly
sales to shop locally, and we can also support the local merchants.
Terry
is cooking... Salmon patties and a broccoli and rice cheese casserole.
You
have great night. Stay warm...
Saturday Dec. 13
We
got some USPS Priority Mail packages off on Friday afternoon, to finish
up with our Christmas shipping. I love the idea I can go to the USPS web
site and print my own pre paid labels. The packages are free at the
post office, just slap on a label I print out online and I'm done. Terry
had to run into the rock club as they were delivering a load of lumber
and sheet rock from the lumber yard in Blythe. Free delivery and since
it came across state line no taxes. Now the remolding can begin in earnest.
The last I will see of him this winter. Guess he has it planned that they
do the construction on Monday and Tuesdays. And shall I say play in the
shop the rest of the week. Rough life if you can get it.
Now we did have a great sunset
this week. This this was Friday.
Q is blossoming with the
tents. This is Ken's Big Tent Auction that has come to town for years.
This year looks like they got a new tent as last year it was falling apart.
They have a nice new location at 750 West Main Street. They should do well
here.
Now you have heard me rant
about the food venders for years and their prices. Thinking they
are still at fairs and charging fair prices here in the off season. What
can say with the picture below. Reds Fair Food. Looks like he will cook
just about anything you can find at a fair. Haven't got close enough to
check his prices. Don't think I''ll need to. He even has deep fried twinkles.
Hope he is using non trans. fat cooking oil.
Now
back at the ranch I mean the 5er. Did I tell you it has been windy today
in Q. I know that is what many tell you that it is always windy in
Q. But for several weeks it has been calm and just this weekend has
the wind picked up. BUT it has effected our 5 LNB DirecTV dish on
some channels as they get pixilized. Sent Terry out a couple of times to
fine tune the dish to get a better signal. He is good at that and got the
main three satellites up to 75% but with a big gusts we may get a small
breakup. So out he went again to tie down the dish so it would not move
so much with the gusts.
Now
I should explain our SL-5 DirecTV dish is set up to receive signals
from 5 satellites Ka Sat 99 101 103 110 and 119. Now we see we only need
to set it up to receive signals on three satellites 99 101
and 101. If we don't want local channels and international channels. If
you want more info, go to DataStormUsers.com
and
read the forums under DirecTV/Dish. We will look into getting a new SL-3
LNB head so we can make receiving HD easier. Not sure that is possible,
but we can continue to read and learn how others are trying to make getting
HD on the road work for them.
After I saw this picture,
I told him he should tie the ropes to the LNB arm but he insists the wind
is blowing it back and forth not side to side. I stayed inside monitoring
the signal strength on the DirecTV setup screen. Do you think I went
out there with him. Not a chance. We would have started throwing rocks
at each other. If you haven't figured this out by now we both need to lead
and not be a gofer for the other. Must be a charactar flaw in one or both
of us. Or just two stong willed males interacting. Terry just went out
and tied the LNB arm down to a tripod leg to appease me. We can give in
when we want to.
We are having a treat for
supper. Terry has been cooking vegestable beef soup with, beef soup base,
plus beef stock left over from a couple of pot roasts, barley, cabage,
onions, cellary, carrots, corn, and peas. And a whole chuck roast. Salt
and pepper and parsley. On a cold, windy night in Q what could be better.
Anyway have a great Saturday
night.
Sunday Dec. 14
After
the Sunday paper and dumping the tanks stopped to chat with Larry and Pyllis
at the guard station. Next off to explore the venders. Now
if you are looking for a lawn ornaments, this is the place. Do you really
want to carry all this weight around with you. Many people used to come
from CA and Phoenix in the past looking for this stuff. Will lower fuel
prices keep them coming or will they sysu away trying to pay their mortgage.
We are right off I-10 and the traffic is nonstop, so some of them must
pull off and look around, as this is about the last stop in AZ for ceep
fuel before they cross into CA. The land of high prices for everything.
It seems the flea market
venders have moved just west of the post office on West Main St. Now if
you want old glassware or kitchen stuff for out of sight prices, this is
the place. Now don't get me wrong the have lots of old antiques and many
of you love to shop these. So go for it. Think most of these were in years
past at the Main Event. That place is pretty bare so far.
Since it is Sunday, time
to drive the by Grand Opening of the lastest RV lot offerings. Now
if you look at the sign the prices for lots are now offered at $39995.
They started last fall at $65K. When they come down to about $19995 we
might talk.
I should not bring this up
since this is "Q where everyday is a weekend" things are not looking
good for at least the next 10 days. The forcast is cloudy and rain and
very cool. Now this I hope changes as the days go on. It has been
the best we have seen in years in Nov and early Dec. but it is starting
to fall apart. It must be real shitty up north for it to be this bad down
here. Now this would be normal for January but not YET, Thank You.
I will just have to stay
warm in our new 5er with a good book. I got several the other day for at
50 cents each at Sundance Trading.. They have thousands of newer books
for sale along with almost everything else ever made in China. I even found
a picture of their place. They are on West Main back behind the Main Event
vender area.
I should mention the great
public library in Q. Just found these and won't have to worry if I don't
get to them right away. You know we kind of slow down when in Q like the
locals. If you don't get it done today there's always next year.
Now if you have to get up
and go to work on Monday keep it to yourself and don't call and wake me.
I'll get up in time, and check out the weather up north and and even check
out the road condition cams. Then will read USA Today (via newsstand.com)
just like the print version for under 50 cents a copy, and see how bad
the stock markets are tanking.
Monday Dec. 15
A continuation
of the above post... of Sundance Trading
Terry bought the windmill
in the center right which is 10 feet tall for $10. Looks well built and
in this wind, boy does it spin. It's for his father for his birthday back
in Iowa in the spring. Now another heavy box to haul around. But we did
leave out a bunch of stuff when we reloaded things in the new 5er
this fall. The whole purpose is to try to travel as light as you can and
not to see how much you can stuff in and still move it all down the road.
Remember the statement.. The one who that sez has the most toys when he
dies, wins. I had that T-shirt given to me years ago. So you know I was
one of those.
I bought a RCA video recorder
at $1200. Had to be able to tape showes on $20 VCR tapes. Back then they
hid the VCR tapes behind the counter and you had to ask for them. I was
a early adaptor for new products back then. Now not so much. I dont' have
a an I-pod or Wii noer do I want one. and wait for prices to come down
when I want anything new.
In this lifestyle the less
you have, wins. Even more so with the economy going down the tubes, people
just can't afford to win with the most toys anymore. He who has any money
left in the bank to live on, now wins.
The above abbreviated shot
is of B-10 Campground on West Main. Now this is a very large RV park
and never full that we have noticed in the past few years. One reason
we wonder that might be, is they allow tent campers to set right up front
next to the West Main St., the main road in Q. Now I have no problem with
people camping in tents, as we most all started that way and I miss that
way to camp. BUT here it gets cold and living in a tent all winter in Q
has to be a challenge. Some have dragged old couches and recliners to their
sites. Starts to look a little ratty. The popup and the blue tent
in the above shot look pretty good, but others not so. Now if you are in
a RV and looking for a nice RV park to stop at for a day, week, or season,
which one are you going to pull into, this on, or any one of the many others
just down the street, or all over town, that doesn't have people hanging
out in broken down house furniture? If I owned this park I would
manage it so this was not the first thing potential customers see. Am I
nuts or what. If you have read my previous posts you know we feel all are
welcome in Q regardless of income or status. This was the stop of last
resort for many, years ago, in the great depression, and may be that again,
but as a business owner you also have to know how to manage.
I would designate another
area of the park for non self contained campers. Providing amenities,
that make that area special and inviting so as to welcome all paying customers.
Just up the street on West
Main is more of what Quartzsite was like when the first RVs came through.
(Might be before RVs were even thought of). They may not have been able
to find diesel at this station. Bet they had a Coca Cola, may not have
been on ice.
Now moving down the road.
We want to stop the Quartzsite
Museum to learn more. Tyson's Well Stage
Station- Museum
Operated
by the Quartzsite Historical Society Inc. The original adobe stage station
was built in 1866 by Charley Tyson at its present location. It was an important
way station on the California - Arizona line because of excellent water
and grass for the horses. Miners and freighters, hauling mining equipment
and military supplies from the river port at Ehrenberg, AZ also stopped
here. The Quartzsite Historical Society opened Tyson's Well Museum
in February 1980, after extensive restoration work. The original structurally
sound walls were retained and others were rebuilt. A shell of stabilized
adobe brick was built around the original walls to protect them.
We have not stopped there
to visit yet even thought we have been here for several seasons. What is
wrong with us.
Many times when traveling
Terry spots a local museum and sez can we stop STOP and I just drive on
by and flippently say look it up on the internet. I know we should stop
at each and every one of these. Yes I'm a slug and not into that
unless I'm at one, and then I do find it mind expanding. I tend to
skim and not read the in depth expanations. I need to get better and appreciate
what the curators at the many local historical societies have provided
for us.
Now back to the Q museum,
Terry knows Gilbert Brown this year's docent: a
person who leads guided tours especially through a museum or art gallery,
who is voluntering this year at the museum.
He is quite an entertaining
talker and Terry is sure he is giving guests a unique experience into the
history of this area.
Do stop when you are here
in Q. and go the above link to the museum.
It is on West Main St. past
the Post Office. You can't miss it.
Now since I'm into this,
might as well list again my article I did on What
is this place called Quartzsite, AZ?
I think I'm getting more
like Nick everyday. Stop me.
Tuesday Dec. 16
Another
day of clouds and rain showers moving through the area. I got a call late
morning from Cheryl a friend of ours who is managing the Holiday
Plams RV park here in Q. Her laptop was screwing up and wanted me to look
at it. I said bring it on over, as that's right up my alley. She said it
would boot and shut down and boot again. Didn't find that now, but did
do all the updates and hard drive scans to bring it up to date with virus
programs. It does need about 140 Meg worth of Microsoft updates. That would
use up my bandwith on DataStorm so will have her do that later or me later
tonight during my unlimited bandwidth download time frame for three hours
in the middle of the night. Now to set the alarm and turn on the inveter
so I can do that.
Did
find a virus or two and removed "My Web Search" program which I found
to by filled with spyware. That is now removed after digging into the registery
to completly remove it. Now with Avast virus and Ad-Ware installed things
shoud stay cleaner. Oh and did install the best program... CCleaner
to clean up the hard drive and registry and it is freeware. Go to our home
page link below to get the link to these programs. Just hit GO HOME
below.
This is like you can use
it till it burns out, our you can change the oil so to speak, (use virus
checking programs and check the hard drive for problems). Or you can drive
it, till the wheels fall off, or get a break job once in awhile, which
is much cheaper. Now if this is beyond you, or just have questions,
go to our friends Geeks
on Tour and they can help with all things computing. They offer many
online tutorials for many of the issues you have questions about. Also
see their personal
travel blog. They know more than I will ever dream about
knowing. They live this stuff ,I just play at it. They are fulltimers
and do seminars at many rallies, and if they are at one near you, do attend.
Look at me doing another
blog... how many days in a row has it been. As they say I need to get a
real life. It is to be rain and more rain tomorrow so we shall see if I
will have to post about the flood in the wash next to us or not. At least
it won't be frozen over or covered with snow. I hope. Never can tell as
it did snow in New Orleans last week.
Stay warm out there.
Wednesday Dec. 17
As
you can see it does rain on Q and rain and rain and rain. Did go off for
a propane bottle fill and fill the fresh water tanks. Now set for a few
days since the Honda 3000ie is working great to give us all the power we
need since there is no sun to hit the solar panels. The Honda just idles
along in econo mode topping off the batteries and powering all else in
the 5er as I do this blog and watch DirecTV HD. Yah, we are spoiled
to the most part. What can I say...
We
could be up north in the -30 temp conditions in the western upper west.
Iowa isn't that cold but is to to get snow and freezing rain again on Thursday.
What they don't need is power lines going down again. Just ask how the
northeast is doing from last weeks storms.
I remember
(when in a former life as they say) in the winter what I hated the most
was ice storms as you just can't drive on that. Extreme cold was bad but
you just had to deal with it and have a vehicle that was up to the task.
Snow and even if it is deep you could still plow your way through it. But
with ICE you have no chance.
I
was in the telecom industry (central office call switching, toll,
network control centers, and power systems) and we were considered essential
employees, so we were required to get our butts to work at all costs.
Now that sounds self important that we were needed, but in winter it was
a challenge. One manager actually told us back then, we should move closer
to the office.
Boy
was that another life as they say,
and you know I still do dream about it. (What does that tell you?)
What
I love most right now is that was a former life and I don't have
to worry about cutbacks or layoffs anymore.
(Now
pension and Health Ins.) I remember working through those employment issues
several times during my working career life and was lucky to be in the
right, I suppose, demographic to weather those storms. I had to scramble
a few times when new technology implemented itself, and we had to either
grow in knowledge or be left behind. I worked in all inside plant aspects
of the telephone company. Never worked outside. Went from dept. to
dept. learning each area. Later on involved myself in management, craft
work force, job process, reorganization committees. I needed to be a part
of the discussion on my own and fellow employees futures. I hope that I
helped people be able to move into new positions as the company evolved.
That might be what I remember was my best efforts as a person to be remembered
by. If you don't get involved, you will be left behind. At that time it
was not a choice, it was survival.
With
the current economy many are in that same mode of fighting for job survival,
and we feel for them and hope we will all get through this together.
OK
so you may have had enough with this train of thought, but this is the
time of year for reflection. Stop back for more as we get closer to the
end of the year.
Stopped
at the General Store after getting propane and returning Cheryl's laptop
and got a huge chuck roast for a pot roast, and it is in the oven for supper.
Smells good as it slow cooks. The General Store has a great meat market.
Raining
harder... may have to turn on the police radio scanner and see if the roads
are closed as they don't install many culverts on some of the AZ highways.
Just put up signs: Do Not Enter When Water Is Present.
Last
thoughts...
La
Mesa RV on center Main St. (at the corner
of Main and the north and south HW 95) who we were wondering if they were
coming to town this year showed up BIG time and filled their huge lot with
MHs. I read on an RV forum a day or so ago (if I remember correctly)
that if they didn't moved their units to Q, as if they stayed in CA they
would have a large tax payment to make after the first of the year. Sounds
a little strange to me but who knows the ways of big business. Now I don't
know first hand about this but, they showed up in force and FILLED their
lot.
I'm
not even going to go into the idea about if you shoud buy a unit, from
this, our any dealer who shows up in Q.
If
you want after the sale service on a unit you bought in Q, and later the
lot is just empty gravel, go for it.
Do
your research, ask questions and get it in writting.
Thursday Dec. 18
Woke
up to clear skies and knew this would be a better day, but still a bit
cool. Since Terry wasn't going into the rock club he fixed us hash
and eggs and fresh whole wheat bread toast. We were short on milk
so I had a small cup that was left and later a big cup of decaf coffee.
I have that about once a month. Now, I know you are saying he doesn't
drink coffee?
Aah,
one of the very few vices I don't have, along with the cigs I gave
up a few years ago. I know it tastes good but don't need the caffine and
never got into the morning buz from it. Must be why I was, and still am
a grump in the morning. If I had my way it would be too late to have coffee
when I would like to get up. I like the thought when I do get up (NOW)
around 9 AM AZ time it is already 10 central and 11 in the east.
I do wake up early about 3 or 4 AM AZ and tune in CNN on XM radio and get
the news and later turn it back to The Loft on XM channel 50 for
a few more hours in bed.
The
bottom line is I am a night person BUT here in AZ the sun goes down now
about 5 PM and in the BLM as we are boondocking, the quiet hours are 10
PM to 6 AM. So by having to turn off our Honda generator at 10 PM kid of
cramps my style. This rule is not wildly observed as if you go outside
after that time, to turn off yours, you will still hear what we call the
desert hum. We too, on weekends, or if there are special live TV events
do also continue to run our very quiet Honda 3000 machine.
(Did you know a Honda 3000 is much quieter than a Honda 2000)? That ought
to get some emails. Just kidding. Anyway when inside an RV
at that hour (as it is cold outside this time of year) no one can
hear other generators running. Never heard this to be a big issue in the
BLM LTVA.
Since
we get the east coast network feeds in HD from DirecTV the shows are over
by that time, so what's to bother with staying up much later. Go to bed
and turn XM radio for great music to sleep by. Oh did I mention they are
giving us half price service for a year. All you have to do is call them
and ask, and they will give you a great deal if you say you are thinking
of dropping their service. In our case we did drop them last spring when
we left Q and later got a card pleading for us to come back online. So
this fall going south I said yes to half price. Now that they have combined
Sirius and XM with much improved channel selections we are very happy with
the service.
Having
a chicken casserol dish tonight with water chestnuts, cream of chicken
soup, chicken and rice soup, and chow mein noodles, now don't forget with
also real boiled chicken.
Friday Dec. 19
Now that the RV dealers have
moved into town in a BIG way. I think more this year than last. Must
be lots of inventory they are trying to liquidate. Some banners stating
"Bank Repos".
Now just had to post this
dealer's picture. They are right on Main and North Central (the main
corner stop light) This is where the old Radio Shack burned down. (That's
another story) They moved in a sales trailer and have many nice looking
trailers, many on the smaller side which just might sell. They have set
up benches. Now the cool part is the area (under the benches) used
to be full of the large rocks you see, and they smoothed it out and added
sod carpet. Makes a nice touch and is just a welcoming touch.
Now these guys may just have a clue on how to attract customers, or at
least know they may have to relax while waiting for sales.
Many of the larger RV lots
have sales people sitting in their golf carts just waiting to pounce on
anyone who attempts to set foot on their lots. Can you imagine the pressure
these people are under to sell, sell, sell.
It was sunny and got to 60
today, and 37 last night on our indoor, outside weather monitor.
I'm a little dwon as it feels like January already and am not ready for
it. Now will all you up north will cry me a river. Poor Boy.
You will soon see if you
look below, I must be in a funk, as see what I am reading.
You may ask how could anyone
write a whole book about this but he did, and I'm sorry, but it
is a pretty good read. How the broadcast networks thought they were the
end all. AND no I didn't pay the inside cover price of $24.95 or
even the Bargain Book sticker price of $5.00 but 50 cents at Sundance
Traiding here in Q. When I'm done it's yours for 25 cents. (Plus
shipping)
Have great Friday night.
Saturday Dec. 20
Terry
was at the rock club this morning and when he called asked if I wanted
anything from town for lunch, I said sure a BBQ sandwich from Buster's
BBQ on the north side of Rice Ranch vender area. I had asked before
but we got Indian Fry bread tacos instead from across the raod. So about
1:30 PM he stopped and the owner said Terry was the fourth customer today
and offered the sandwiches for FREE. Terry paid him anyway.
At $6 each they were OK, but a little pricey for our tastes. The venders
will be busy for the Big
Show Event for 9 days in January but the rest of the time what makes
these food venders think they are going to make it, is still the question.
Now we do wish them well, and hope you will stop and enjoy what they offer.
There is plenty of room to pull over your MH and stop for lunch at any
of these places. I'm sure these hard working food venders, would love to
serve you.
Later
while driving the loop on West Main (we had to go for propane) (did I say
it's been cold) we spotted this new BBQ place below. I know the health
inspector has to grant a license but this place just doesn't look very
inviting. He may produce the best BBQ around, but he could at least get
a new sign. It sez Billy Bob's Chuckwagon Barbeque.
The Main Event has gotten
a bunch of banners and flags up, now all they need is venders.
It is getting to be an event
when we see a RV parked at the BLM La Posa North entrance station checking
in. Like the old Maytag washer repairman slogan... The loneliest
guy in town, are the volunteers who have to sit there at the gaurd station
all day without customers. This is sort of getting serious.
Maybe after Christmas and Mama is willing to leave the grand kids and head
south they will show up. But for right now the fulltimers who used to land
here for the whole season just aren't showing up in the numbers of past
years.
Some think it gets crowded
in Q, but except for the
9 day Big
Tent Show life is good as far as traffic is concerned. Other
than that time frame Sunday afternoons are busy with people pulling off
the interstate to get much cheaper gas here in AZ before they head on over
back west to the crazy high cost land they call California.
Terry is busy baking several
batches of bannana bread from the bunches of frozen ones he has
been storing in the freezer. (The General Store had a sale a while back
for 25 cents a pound) Time to make room for real food as we are planning
to head north 30 miles to Parker in a day or two to stock up for the holidays.
Just got a call from Iowa and they are having a blizzard. They can see
blue night sky above at times, so no current snow falling) but the wind
is what makes a blizzerd and with a temp of 0. Told them it is 50.2 outside
here now and Sunday to be 60 and 40 for a low and Sunny.
Sunday Dec. 21
Our
normal Sunday routine is stopping at the BLM guard station and dropping
off the Sunday Paper and chatting about the happenings around town. The
guard station is the hub for hearing any news and sharing the local gossip.
Now this is like Las Vegas what's heard here stays here. After a
chat with Larry and Phyllis we took off to gert more bananas for Terry
as he is going nuts baking for friends at the rock club. I asked him if
we were going to get one to eat ourselves. He said sure, a sugar free one
later. On our banana run we had to check out the new food vender on East
Main past Sweet Darlene's. Now I am looking forward to (see the sign below)
trying their Broasted Chicken.
We think this could be a
hit. Stay tuned for our food critic review. Such as it is. If we say it
sucks, that just might be the best reason to try it for yourself. Looks
to me if you are only doing one food type you should have figured how to
do it right. AND what could be better than Broasted Chicken. Now we will
ask as part of the review what oil they are using. Non Trans Fat
will be the correct answwer, or no sale for us, and a bad review.
Now 
on Food TV uses buttermilk
and Vegetable oil in her fried chicken. The reason I went to her
site is I thought her recpie used peanut oil, but after finding
it, it is said Veg. oil. Her
recipe is here.
The 5er is filled with baking
smells and is warm and cozy, as I upload this post and head for a shower
and supper and see what is to watch on TV tonight.
Later on to Monday..
Monday Dec. 22
As
I have stated La Mesa RV has moved back to town in a big way. And they
always show their most expensive rigs right on the HW 95 corner. $250 -
$300 K. Bet they would come come down a bit from those prices if
you flashed your checkbook.
Now on the east side of town
at a smaller RV sales lot you can find this MH all set up for NASCAR events.
On the far side is a slanting ladder. Wonder how many people the roof can
hold. Bet there is a warning sign saying Don't
use lawn chairs with pointed legs. Here in Q someone would surely
try to drag an old couch and a portable fire pit up there.
Many RV parks have small
signs as you leave... Is your antenna DOWN? I can see it now... Is
your upstairs patio DOWN?
Just
saw the weather for back up in IA. The blizzerd for now has been
called off as the wind dropped below 40 MPH. But the next line said two
more storms were on the way. Guess I can't complain as it is 56 cloudy
and breezy here.
Well
lets see it's Monday and Christmas is Thursday so I know you men out there
are in a tizzy and the sweat is starting to bead up on your forehead, as
you don't have your significant other partner a present yet, do you?
Don't
look to me for gift ideas, as this time of year, I just go around mumbling 
over and over.
We
are looking at, that we already had a big present with a brand new 5er
and all that goes with that. The best present of course, is that
Terry and I are able to enjoy life with each other and we really don't
want for much of anything.
Now
the great news is we now have flannel sheets and they make all the
difference in the world. You remember them, if you were a kid in the cold
north in that farm house without much heat at night. Ok so we are in Q
and it is not that cold but it does get in the 30s in January and even
now in Dec. outside. We turn it down to 55-57 inside at night. I forgot
just how nice they are. NO more being cold in bed. Just so you guys konw,
if you are in Quartzsite, you can get them at Kmart in Blythe, CA.
If you are wondering why Kmart would carry them, the locals are warm blooded
so when it drops below 60 they are not used to it. It's well
over 100 for most of the summer here. You should see Kmart's flannel
shirt selection.
And
if you are still up north, an even better, going to bed idea.
 So
look at me, with the idea I came up with, for you guys or gals for
that perfect gift for your Significant Other. Get in gear and get a set
of flannel sheets
and you will be rewarded in bed on Christmas night!
I should
stop now, while I'm ahead....
Beef Stew is now in the oven
for tonight, and off to Parker, AZ on Tuesday for goodies.
Tuesday Dec. 23
We went to Parker today and
the back seat of the truck and cooler was full of goodies. At CVS
pharmacy we found a great buy on cheap champagne. At $3.49 a 750 ml bottle.
So of course we had to purchase several and then one extra one at a higher
price in case we need to either start or stop with a good tasting one.
After shopping at both Bashas' and Safeway for food. I told Terry we won't
have to go to the Q General Store in Q for at least a week or two. Got
a standing prime rib roast just the right size for two people, on sale,
and pickled herring and fresh oysters. Oh, we looked at a lunch
ham and it was the same price as a full bone in ham portion. So why not
as we do have a bigger fridge with the new 5er. Also got ham hocks for
bean soup later in the week. It might just snow down here in the next week.
Never can tell. The weather does call for heavy rains tomorrow.
Will get the tanks dumped and fresh oil in the generator and we we'll be
all set to hide out for the holidays.
We again have reservations
at the La Casa Del Rancho again for Christmas dinner. They do a great spread
, ham or turkey for $9.95. Think we'll do the turkey as we almost have
a full pig in the fridge.
Now as you can tell our neighbors
(below) in the BLM have returned and have put up their holiday decorations.
Now they just don't put up decorations they go all out. They get the award
for the biggest and brightest in the whole Q BLM I'm sure.
Now this is all run off
a Honda 2000 (might be two as they both have them) and you can bet it is
not in its Econo mode. There are two RVs next to each other, a Double Tree
and a HitchHiker.
All these lights and remember
we are ALL off the grid boondocking in the LTVA at La Posa North (just
inside on the south of the black top if you want to drive by to see the
display). Don't think you could miss it.
Here they are around their
campfire enjoying the lights they have erected.
They sure don't let life
pass them by. Even have the fireplace tool set behind the fire.
Notice no snow on the ground...
it did get to about 60 today and clear and sunny and no wind.
As I said before we are
looking for lots of rain upcoming. Kind of keeps us in touch with nature.
Up north you keep in touch with nature by making sure your fingers don't
get frost bitten.
You have a Merry Little Christmas.
Bet they still have flannel sheets for sale if you still need that stocking
stuffer.
Ron and Terry...
Friday Dec. 26
We
had a nice quiet Christmas with a great, as knew it would be dinner at
the La Casa Del Rencho restaurant in Q. They were busy, (but no waiting
to be seated) as I think the word is getting out they are the place to
go for a great holiday feast. (Hope we had something to to with that with
our blog posts) (and at $9.95). We tipped well as the servers were rushing
to make everyone happy, and we know they are there only for the season
and would not be working if they didn't need the money. We don't go out
to eat very often, but when we do we tip well because we appreciate the
service. They work hard and we know there are slugs out there (we have
seen them) who don't tip well, or at all. An extra buck or two can make
all the difference, when each table does that. And think of the service
the next customer will get when your sever is pleased with the tip that
was left by you, the last patron. You will be that next customer in the
future. We all waste money on many things (a candy bar, chips, etc.) on
an impulse. Tipping a food server should not be where we decide to get
cheap. It's like spreading the joy.
Now
for tomorrow (Saturday) we are going on the below fieldtrip. We
have been looking forward to this in a big way. A big blog post with all
the pictures, etc. is in the offing later Saturday night when we get back
or Sunday. (If the camera doesn't crap out at the most wrost time)
Saturday night back in
Q
Working on the Q Roadrunner
field trip update... You may need to check back on Sunday. I'm ready
to get a life and stop blogging for now. It's time to unwind. (Terry said
he will do some commentary) since I got the pictures web sized and uploaded.
We shall see, as I get to wordsmith it and do my own thing around it. WE
all know I write a more up keyed, in your gut blog. Whatever that means.
Happy hour helps my columnist commentary, so to speak.
Tired from driving on the
back side canyon trail roads, some of which were a real challenge.
We were in a 3500 Chevy 1 Ton dually. Not sure how some of the smaller
units made it. Drove all day and we are tired and I need to hit the recliner.
Stop back on Sunday for
all the pictures and blog that goes with it.
For right now have a great
Saturday night and see you again on Sunday....
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