Friday
Feb. 1
Getting
Rebooted
Update Below...
Week ago Wednesday Jan 23 I came down with
Bronchitis and was put on a Strong antibiotic.... AVELOX TABS 400mg Things
went down hill from there. Do not take Avelox ever. Reaseach every med
you put in your month. My heart rate went out of control (A-Fib pulse 150)
(blood sugar over 300) Only thing hanging in there was blood pressure.
I found the Caution sez Never take this drug if yu have a-fib. (I
told the NP I had A-Fid issues and she precribed it anyway and now that
I have taken six of these monster pills.
So off to the ER at 8 PM on this past
Tuesday Jan 29. The cardiologist was still in the ER so I got lucky. Otherwise
he is on call from 50 miles away.
Admitted and a day later transferred to
the ICU. ( A three bed unit) Only a 20 or so bed hospital as we are in
Parker AZ La
Paz Regional Hospital after all. But the size is not what counts, but
the care and the care was great. Yesterday on Thursday after trying every
drug know to man to resync my heart they went for the last resort to get
my heart back in sync... Yup you guessed it REBOOT. I don't think there
is another one of me in the catalog at Dell. Get out the paddles (cold
pads) and front and back and shock my heart. That worked and in the future
will try pills like I have done in the past as who needs their plug pulled
each time you go haywire. It's time for a nap....
I had never been in ICU before and found
it to be a most dreadful experience. Several IVs on left arm. Heavy and
tight blood pressure wrap on right arm. Oxygen tube up my noise.
So I couldn't get out of bed to even pee.
And of course no food or water for days. Just when they thought they had
gotten my pulse rate lower I would move and it would go back up.
And I had bronchitis to boot. Now that I'm home it hurts just thinking
about it. Later on they let me take the oxygen out and gave me a mild seditive.
THAT helped.
Yep the green number is my pulse rate
152
Pay these hospital
workers more money...
Many work a 12 hr
shift and then go on a second job.
I'm not talkig about
the cleaning staff, I'm talking the RNs and such.
They love their
work and many must travel from Lake Havasu City
to work here in
Parker, AZ 40 - 50 miles.
Update:
Have had two more a-fib events. One Firday after being relaeased
from hospital and another this last Monday night. Going back to see
the cardiologist today Tuesday Feb 5 here in Parker and then leaving Quartzsite
later this week and heading back to Benson as have an appointment with
another cardiolist next Tuesday in Tucson. The hospital is going to bundle
alll the tests etc so we can take them with us.
To say the very
least I'm not happy camper.
Upate: 02/05/13
Just got home from
a 5 PM . appointment with the cardoilogist in Parker, AZ.
A follow up from
the hospital stay. Still having A fib problems. We think the problem
stims from a viris infection which has thrown my system out of wack. My
blood sugar is 200-300.... way out of norm. Working to get that down which
might help to stop my heart from going out of sync.
Going to start taking
onglyza 5 mg
Packing up the RV
and heading back to the acreage in a day or so to Benson (we are now on
the west edge of the AZ border at Quartzsite for more Dr. apoints for early
next week. Gathering up all the hospital records, blood tests, etc to take
with us for follow up with the new doctors in Tucson.
Will be able to
deal with things better when back at the house.
I'm being big on
a pity party right now!!! ;-)
Take care...
Ron
Saturday
Jan. 26
Another
Big Tent Event in Q this year...
But
not so fast... I know you love the big tent show and YOU come back to boondock
in the BLM every year looking to shop for something new you just
can't live without. But after a few trips through the big tent me
thinks you have seen this and like a state fair don't need to do
it agian.
But
we do it again each year as we are looking for things to do as snowbirders....
But
after walking around say to each other why do we do this year after year.
Why
because the many junk vendors have so mcuh stuff to sell and after all
you get out to walk around and and explore it all.
Because
we can is the best answer.... why do bikers go to SD for their events...
It's the same reason why RVers come back to Quartzsite to relive their
ideas of how they can boondock next to each other.... Here in the
BLM we are not just motor homes or 5 th wheels or pop-ups or even a tent.
We are the life for the sprit of why we live off the grid in each out own
way.
As
it would not be me if I didn't give this event an up front and in depth
review of what this once a year RV thing is all about.
We
drove by on Sunday thinking no one in their right mind would go to this
event on opening day on Saturday or Sunday last week. In the past the isles
in the tent would be a wall of people. But as it was on Sunday
we at about 2 PM as no traffic back ups I wipped the steering wheel
to ther right and entered the small up front parking area as I knew I could
at least get in and out again, if no parking spots were available. so on
we went to the big tent area and found a parking spot right outside the
south entrance.
Now
this is lead up in to say the people count is way down this year.
Some pictures of and around the big show
grounds.
Try to find a retired woman
in this crowd that these would fit.
Notice the small crowds and this was on the second day of the show.
They are alll at the Ice
Cream stand.
Sickies
Since we were out and about
last week I came down with the crud. I was dry coughing real bad
so that I was even dry puck gagging.
Terry called the Q clinic
and they said come right over. Yep Bronchitis. I had this last spring
so knew what to expect. Coughing afer awhile will cause sever pain in the
Abdomen. So a script for a high power antibiotic. The local pharmacy
siad my Ins would not cover it so I had to call them and they said they
did. Called the pharmicy back told them how to charge it and went back
and got $185 back form them I had a $50 co pay though. Better than
$235 for ten pills.
Well now Terry has come down
with it so we are a couple sad campers. It's also causing my blood
surger to go out of sight. To compensite I don't eat and that gets me nowhere.
I remember last sping I coughed so hard I passed out twice.
Not much info with each picture...
I just don't have the engery.
Tuesday
Jan. 15
It's
just damn cold outside, But getting better...
And
we are in sothwest Arizona. This is just not right for it to be this cold
for this long in January.
Snowbirds
flock to this place called Quartzsite to stay worm in the winter off season.
And they get this.
It
was novel at first after the super hot summer some had to survive last
summer up north. That's if they were dumb enough to hit the midwest or
east.
The
RV Pit Stop is doing a fire storm of propane sales. It's about the only
place in town you see happy faces. Or should say only the owner as the
worker bees are out in the cold filling the propane tanks. The lines are
not long as they have this down to a smooth operation. Seems like people
with the old RV forced air furnaces are burning propane up faster than
they can rush back for more.
Now we trying to be ahead
of the game made a decision to circumvent the waste of propane and go for
a non vented inside the RV propane heater. We looked at ceramic heaters
and blue flame type heaters. I did the research and found that the
ceramic brick type heater can get dusty and need cleaning. A non user function
and they get very hot as they heat objects. So touching one you can get
burned. The blue flame type stay cool in front as they heat the air and
it rises heating the room.
Cracking a window helps
with air to feed the flame and so oxygen is not depleted. They do have
sensors if the oxygen levels are to low. So be it... we said... this
should work... Now we are glad we bought a Pro Com Blue Flame propane
heater. 20,000 BTU A little large for a RV. A 10,000
BKU would have been enough but the larger one runs more efficient
as we only have to run on setting 2 and with the thermostat it cycles on
and off to keep us warm and happy. We turn the ceiling fan on low
to move the hot air.
The larger BTU will make
it useful in our Benson, AZ vacation house to use to heat the kitchen,
etc. instead of the electric furnace. The Pro Com unit we got also can
run on either LP or NG. We don't have NG but if later on we want to sell
it it would be a great selling point.
The back of the unit and
in front is cool. (notice the plant is not effected) It has a glass like
panel between the flame and grill in front... Does not get hot at all.
The heat comes only out of the top front vents.
We had thought about a propane
heater for years but did not do it as was not sure about the idea of a
live propane device in our RV. Now that we have it this is a good deal
and not so scary anymore.
We have not found the stated
downside of these units such as RV walls damp with water.
Now we have not tried nor do
we plan to leave it on all night...
But the window we had left
open a bit as recommended in the heater manual was still open this AM so
the RV was kind of colder when I got up. Now mind you Terry gets up at
about 7:30 AM to brew his tea so he can get to the Gem and Mineral Club
early. He does turn on the heater and when he leaves at about 8 AM turns
it off as I am still in bed and if you think I get up that early you are
NUTS.... I 'm retired and not in my sheme of things to get up early for
anything let alone when it is cold when the covers are removed. Now I am
under two comfortors and it is warm no matter the outside or inside temp.
So when I do get up due to a bladder alert. I do my draining, get
my socks and sweat pants on and rush to turn on the heater and wait for
the warmth to fill the 5er. With the window open a bit it was extra chilly...
but I'm tough and got past that without a cel call to Terry expressing
my thoughts about the open window. Why.... since as soon as I turn on the
heater I would need to crack the same window so as I found it was already
open... Life is good... no extra effert required.
The
big show here in Q starts on Saturday...
But
as things stand now me thinks the crowds may be less this year. The
RVs in and around Q are at the lowest we have ever seen them. Sure the
diehards with the National RV Rallies will show up for a week and then
be gone. I would say the venders are less than 2/3s or more of what it
used to be and even less for RVs in the BLM LTVAs
If
they show up in the next couple of days I will be surprised.
NOW
for the good news for us RV boondockers and venders.... Hold on now this
could be scarry....
Later
this week and for at least the next week we are talking highs here in Q
in the 70s....
So
for the ones just coming for the Big Show they may hit it just right this
year. From experience when people have a Great Time (as in warm)
for the Bigt Show they make plans to come back trhe next year in bigger
numbers. Have a cold rainy big show and the next year counts
are down. This one should be fantastic... Smiles and shopping bags
full of stuff you just can't live without from the venders.
COME
ON OVER THE WEATHER IS GUNNA BE GREAT...
Now
for some down news I have to share...
On
Friday Jan. 11 I lost a very good close friend so I have been on an emotional
rollercoaster.
Kay
Stone 66 Des Moines, IA
Kay
was retired from Qwest Comm. after many years of service.
She
was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in early November 2012 and died
January 11, 2013.
She
wanted to maintain as much of her very independent lifestyle as long as
she could.
She
had a VERY strong spirit. Kay helped me so much in her ideas and thoughts.
She
was a huge positive influence in my life.
Kay
and I just seemed to bond over the years when both at Qwest and were confidants
to each other... in retirement.
She
allowed me to share my most private thoughts and she in return to me.
She
was part of a woman's AA support group for many years and had many great
friends that were there for her.
Her dog has gone to live
with her best female friend.
Sunday
Jan. 6
Are
you in or coming to Q.
I have
found this place is not filled with snowbirds like in years past... to
be sure. I know we all say that every year, (so who is talking here)...
We used to come for the full season and now we are lucky to come back for
a couple months... and learned sometimes all of a sudden they all show
up, but year this seems to be different. Even the vendor areas have many
empty spaces that have never been that way before.
But
who cares, just that much more fun for us, without lines at the restaurants.
So
come on down, the big tent show is scheduled and will be as big as ever
as the throng will show for at least for that
10 day period.
It's
something the locals or vendors like to talk about but over many years
things have grown or should I say dwindled down to a 10 day state
fair like event. People come back each year to party in the desert while
their holding tanks last out and then get the heck out of here for other
rally circles so to speak.
Now how to live here in the desert in
the winter.
And
you say you want to boondock in the desert in one of the 14 free or pay
area LTVA. (long term visitor areas)
To
help I present some info on how to make your stay much more pleasent.
Sure
you can boondock in the LTVA and every week hitch up and go down to La
Posa South LTVA to the central dump and get water. (Now the water is OK
but most don't drink it but get conditioned water in town for 5 cents a
gallon.)
OK
for dish washing and showers.
If
you're in one the 14 day free areas you don't get access to that service
and have to go to town and pay to dump and get water. And pay a big bunch
for the privilege. Or have service trucks come to you for even more money.
So if only here for two weeks best to buy short term pass for $40 in one
of the LTVA areas for two weeks or for longer $180 for the full season.
NOW
in the busy season you can wait in line for hours to dump at the La Posa
LTVA south so many have done as we have done over the years developed ways
to empty our holding tanks and get rid of the gray and black without hooking
up the whole RV and moving it to the dump station. How you
ask...
Well
many use Blue Boys...
Boondicking...
Dumping Gary and Black water
AND
Below
this post a must read if you are thinking about solar or already have it.
There
are several options when handling grey and black water.
The old
stand by is the “blue boy”.
All I
can say about it is that it will work, but that it is messy, has limited
capacity, and has to be drug behind the truck to the dump station. Everyone
seems to have one and they are not cheap.
So here is a better
way I think to go if you want to think outside the "Blue Boy".
We purchased
a macerator pump and have a 50 gal. tank rigged up to dump.
The 50
gal tank was about $120.
It stores
in the center in front of the hitch length wise. See if this would fit
for you in front of your hitch. W 19 H 20 L 38. This even fits with both
our black storage boxes on each side of it. The pdf link for the tank we
got... http://www.norwesco.com/PDF/LST2004.PDF
Norwesco
PCO tank part 40664
Updated links => We
got our Tank and parts from www.sprayers.com
And you will need a 2 inch
through the tank fitting NORWESCO TANK FITTINGS ( part number Norfitt
200) at
http://www.sprayers.com/SprayerCat_2007/191-192.pdf
We called them and they will UPS.
And then a 2 to 3 inch reducer
from your RV dealer that goes to the gate valve. Which is the RV slider
shut off valve.
We bought
our pump from
ABS
Alaskan as a stand alone unit.
Also see
RV
SANI-CON for prices etc. They have units with attachments so you don't
have to build them from scratch.
We added
a clear curved 3 in. RV connector on the end of the hose, a short section
of HEAVY
duty 3 in hose.
The pump
has good suction and a weak 3 inch hose may collapse.
A short
clear short 1 inch section on the outlet.
We want
to see stuff going in and out to make sure the pump is working.
A quick
connect, release connector to the longer 1 inch heavy duty hose. Which
we got at a farm and market store. Was intended for a farm sprayer.
We have
found we can go two weeks before having to dump gray and black. It takes
about two trips with the 50 gal tank.
There
are two of us, your volume may differ. We have been accused of being full
of it though!
The 12 volt pump chops up the
waste from the 3 inch hose and pumps it into the smaller hose.
It pumps uphill to the
tank in the back of the pick up just fine. Feed the 1 inch hose into the
tank. (below)
We have a quick disconnect
on the 1 inch hose.
We store the pump and short
attached 3 in hose in a cheap plastic tool box. No mess no fuss.
You do need a 1 inch hose,
a smaller one will not handle the pressure or volume. Do not use
a 3/4 inch garden hose.
We first found a 1 inch flat
fold up type one (like a smal cheap fire hose) and when hooked up it blew
with many pinhole leakes. So we went with the strong sprayer hose.
On the
left bottom (above) is the 3 inch drain hose connection as in the pic below.
Has a
drain pull handle just like on the 5ers drain system.
The 50
gal. tank goes between our two black storage tubs when traveling.
And you will need a 2 inch
through the tank fitting NORWESCO TANK FITTINGS ( part number Norfitt
200) at
http://www.sprayers.com/SprayerCat_2007/191-192.pdf
We called them and they will UPS. And then a 2 to 3 inch reducer
from your RV dealer that goes to the gate valve. Which is the RV slider
shut off valve.
Hook up a 3 inch hose to the
tank at the dump site (pull the value handle).
Remember to close the value
handle as you do not want to remove the drain cap with the value
open and no hose!
When this tank drains it drains with a
huge wosh! And the best part is watching the faces of the blue
boy users at the dump site as they watch us dump.
So
now for the solar power stuff when boondocking..
I am still learning on all this but I know
a person who has it all together and whom you can learn from. DO
NOT BUY solar panels or batteries untill you read HandyBob's articles...
If you are thinking about adding solar to
your rig. PLEASE read
HandyBob's
RV Solor Power articles on his web site
and his atricle "The
RV Battery Charging Puzzle"
To give you an example of what is in his
articles look at this picture and realize that if you have any shadows
across your solar panels they are for the most part useless. Who would
know... This is important solar panels MUST be unrestricted. Or they
are just junk on the roof.
We just replaced our batteries with 4 12
Volt AGMs made by Fullriverdcbatterity
and have been impressed with their performance. My old Interstate 12 v
AGMs did not last for what I expected they should. The new batteries
I bought in Quartzsite at Discount
Solar where about half what I paid for the others. And these have a
longer warrenty...
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