Author Archives: Sparky
You never forget how to ride a bike
But you might have to learn how to fold one. Yeah, I bought a folding bicycle. I decided that I needed something other than my behemoth GMC 3500 diesel dually to take to the corner store to get a quart of milk. And when we are in Venice Beach I will be able to keep … Continue reading
Scary close
It is August 1st and it is beginning to dawn on me that in just over six weeks I will be unemployed and homeless for the first time ever. The prospect is scary. I am discarding the employment security that I have known since high school and will trade in my sensible job for a … Continue reading
The farewell tour
Time is getting so short – just 8 weeks now – that we have started lining up our “farewell tour,” the series of goodbye parties with close friends and relatives. My sister-in-law has taken care of the family part of the tour (or at least Jett’s family) by arranging a combo birthday/goodbye event for Saturday, … Continue reading
My dog ate my truck
Jett and I left the campground Sunday night at 8. We hadn’t eaten so we decided to stop for a bite. Any fast food place would have done, but we spotted a diner and decided to sit down. We left the dogs in the truck. It was a pleasant night and we left the windows … Continue reading
A journey of 6,000 miles…
… begins with 6-feet. Yes, folks, I have, for the first time, attached my big beast of a tow vehicle and have hauled my fifth wheel. Six feet. And I did it without causing any kind of personal or property damage. Is there a merit badge for this? We had to reposition the coach on … Continue reading
Frog catching
At my age there aren’t many things I haven’t tried. Yeah, I haven’t tried giving birth or getting run over by a bus. But in the realm of things both possible and sane there aren’t many things I haven’t done. Now there is one less because today I caught my first frog. The campground’s pond … Continue reading
The price of ignorance
$85. That is what I paid yesterday to find out how little I know yet about our fifth wheel. I think I have mentioned that the water heater has been misbehaving. Nothing but hot water (in both hot and cold feeds!) one day, nothing but cold water the next. We might have hot water for … Continue reading
Full-page littering
I spent my third night in the coach last night and it was the first night spent on the newly foam-enhanced mattress. I was very pleased. I slept well with no hip soreness from a too-thin mattress. Of course it helped that we were smart enough this time to turn off the gas water heater … Continue reading
Time to think about giving notice
We will be signing a lease today to rent the house. This was the last known impediment to our Great Escape and by tonight it will be out of our way. There is nothing to stop us now. Or, more to the point, now we HAVE to go because as of September 1 we have … Continue reading
Hardware floors and back pain
It has been another busy week. My main activities have been (1) completing the installation of the hardwood floor (DONE! Whoopie!) and (2) dealing with back pain. You might wonder, as I did, whether the two are related. I doubt it, but I have to admit that being hunched over, on my knees, for hours … Continue reading