(Tucson to Arizona City and back again)
We left the confines of the blacktop parking lot in Lazy Days RV today to go close up our park model in Quail Run.
There’s very few people in the park now.
We put jugs of water in all the rooms, covered all the furniture and tables with sheets generally made sure everything was set for the summer.
Our plan is come to back here next fall and paint the entire interior. We had planned on that for last fall but it just never came to be because when we left we didn’t know we weren’t coming back and were going to the Florida Keys instead.
I walked around our yard to look at the cactus in bloom. Actually, this one is in our neighbors yard.
Here’s what we have.
There’s just a few blooms left on this one. Some year I’m going to get to see this in full bloom!
This next picture was taken in our park by the park manager Brenda. They counted the blooms on this century plant and there were 58. The blooms only last one day. Now that I think about it I’m not sure of the name of the cactus. Anyone know?
After a short while we were done all we had to do and it was time to head back to Tucson….and Bonnie and Steve.
Some going down the road shots as we headed east.
When we returned Bonnie and I went to the pool for about an hour. She had spent her time on the phone earlier in the day trying to find out about parts for the problem they are having with their motorhome. She got the answers she was looking for, it seems we are just better at dealing with the manufacturers and component suppliers than our guys are.
She had also been to the store while we were gone and picked up dinner for all of us. Bonnie made a fresh crispy garden salad and Steve grilled nice thick pork chops and sweet potatoes on the grill along with roasted cabbage quarters. Oh my heavens…the roasted cabbage was delicious! Of course everything else was too but this was our first taste of roasted cabbage and we liked it!
If you haven’t made it before, or even had it, here is the recipe that is making its way around Facebook. (This is not the recipe that Steve used as he used a spice mixture that I had never heard of before. That said, I have some friends that have made the recipe below and its getting rave reviews also)
ROASTED CABBAGE
2 tbsp. real bacon bits
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper (more or less to taste)
1 medium head of cabbage
Preheat the oven (or the grill,) to 425 degrees.
Mix the olive oil, bacon bits, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to make the marinade.
Cut the head into quarters. Rinse
Lay each wedge on a sheet of aluminum foil large enough to wrap it up in. Spoon about 2 tbsp. of the marinade on top making sure to get it in all the nooks and crannies.
Wrap each wedge and bake for 20-30 minutes. They will continue to cook once you pull them out - cook them up to an hour for softer cabbage.
The wedges reheat wonderfully in the oven or the microwave!
HMMM….HMMM GOOD!
After dinner we sat outside and talked and laughed the night away.
(Tucson, AZ)
Today our friends Bonnie & Steve from Quail Run arrive to get their motorhome worked on. They are parked right next door to us so this should prove to be a good time. Steve thinks they’ll be here overnight and that tomorrow they will be on their way. Silly man. He doesn’t realize that he’s in Lazy Days and that this service department is aptly named!
Bonnie arrived a few hours later than Steve and we to leave shortly after she arrived to pick up our 5th wheel from the body shop. To their credit they did a beautiful job on taking care of the spider cracks and buffing out a section that didn’t look so great from the factory. All is good now as far as that area is concerned.
When we returned a half hour later we settled in with our chairs and snack tables set up in between our rigs and talked the afternoon away.
We decided to go to the restaurant on the property. Florizona is its name. We arrived around six and were greeted by a server at a table who called out to us, “Somebody will be with you guys in a minute.” I cringed. We were seated promptly and were asked, “What can I get you guys to drink?” I cringed again. This is truly a pet peeve of mine. If you go into a pizza parlor and lay down twenty five bucks for a pizza and a pitcher and your server is a 17 year old teenager, well, you kind of expect to hear you guys. It isn’t right, but expected all the same. When we are going to lay down over a hundred dollars for dinner four, you guys is NOT expected or acceptable, in my book. Ever. Bonnie and Steve both ordered the walleye and Bob and I ordered the top sirloin steak. Shoe leather would have been more palatable. In hindsight, we should have sent them back but we didn’t because Bonnie & Steve had their dinners and were eating already. Yep, we should have sent them back.
After dinner we spent the evening in our outdoor living room and talked the night away.
(Tucson, AZ)
Today is our 55th day here at Lazy Days. Only two weeks total for me since I was home in Delaware for those five or so weeks. I totally understand Bob’s frustration and his boredom. But things are moving now.
Today we took the 5th wheel to the Body Shop which is located three miles away. We have some spider cracks in the fiberglass that they will fix for us. We’re scheduled for three days in the shop but the body shop manager assured us we would be out in two. Actually, it’ll be out at the end of the day and we’ll be able to bring the rig back so that we have it for the night to sleep in.
So today we spent our day in the lounge and Bob would go check on our new friend Dennis to see how his move was coming along. He traded his 5 month old 5th wheel for a fairly new toyhauler, a 5th wheel with a garage in the back to hold his All Terrain Vehicle. Toy haulers cut down on living space somewhat but come in handy for those who have ATV’s, motorcycles, have a need for a hobby room or just lots of storage space.
A cold front has come through, the weather has cooled considerably. We’re now in the 80’s with a nice breeze.
I got this calendar that someone posted on Facebook about the dates to watch the skies for meteor showers. Last night was one listed and I couldn’t wait to go out and watch. That said, just like the calendar says, these nights are typically the cloudiest nights of the year. You guessed it, it was a cloudy night and not one meteor visible.
It will probably being pouring the night of August 12th, no matter where we are.
We’ve been playing around with some ideas on where to go from here. Nothing has been decided as yet. We just know we have to go someplace to play.
We ordered pizza in for dinner as I had forgotten to take anything out for dinner. (Yeah, he bought that…hehehe) We then settled in for a night of Monday Night RAW!
Back to the Body Shop tomorrow but the day will go fast because friends Bonnie and Steve are going to be here tomorrow to get their motorhome worked on. Wonder how many days they’ll be here?
(Tucson, AZ)
Late Saturday morning I had a conversation with Bob that went something like this.
Me: Did you wash this while I was away?
Bob: No.
Me: Did you wash that while I was away?
Bob: No.
Me: What about this?
Bob: Once…maybe twice.
Me: What about that?
Bob: Hmmm….probably not as much as you would have.
Well, six loads of laundry later….actually, it wasn’t all that bad because I was the only one in the laundry room in the Lazy Days Campground so I filled six washers and then dryers and got it all done at once.
The rest of my boxes that I shipped from Delaware arrived. As I unpacked the one with mementos of my dad I held each item, pictures of me and him, his dog tags, a sweatshirt with Delaware emblazoned across the front that he wore and the memories came flooding back and fresh tears fell once again.
I talk with my mom every day and she is keeping busy with projects we didn’t get finished while I was there. This is good for her. She needs to keep busy. When on the phone we talk about my dad and every once in awhile I hear that catch in her voice but she recovers quickly. One of these days the two of us will sit down and have a good old fashioned sob-fest together. I think it would do us both good.
I talked with an online friend of mine today and she had a very unique and special way of explaining grief. She said, “Grief causes temporary blindness... sight comes back, but the colors are different.” I have repeated that to myself over and over again and there is so much truth in that. Different colors…a new normal…. life is not and will never be the same again. This is going to take some getting used to, that’s for sure.
Back to our RV troubles. Our fireplace has a noise. We know for sure its not the blower motor. The service department says they don’t hear it one time and then the next they say the manufacturer knows there is a noise and there is no fix for it. Uh. Yeah.
Our problem is that since we’ve been here our air conditioner has started vibrating. Really, really bad. To the point that if I’m sitting on a dining room chair and the AC comes on my rear end vibrates. The leaves on my philodendron plant even shake when it starts up. We’re told they have done everything the manufacturer has suggested they do. We’re told that the manufacturer knows there is a problem but there is no fix if the suggested things don’t fix it. We’re told sorry for your luck, you’ll have to live with it. Now I know that if you know me that you are laughing out loud right now after reading that. No, we’re not going to live with it.
So today I wrote to our 5th wheel manufacturer. I laid it all out what the problem is, what we’re being told and asked very nicely for guidance. I can’t wait till Monday because my buddy at DRV is always prompt in answering my emails.
Are you on Facebook? If so, are your friends posting the most amazing sounding/looking recipes? Well, mine are. I made one of them Sunday. Roasted Cauliflower.
Oh. Em. Gee. This was fantastic! Very easy to make and after two bites both Bob and I were saying, “Oh yeah, this is a keeper!”
So, in case you aren’t on FB here’s the recipe.
1 Medium Cauliflower cut into 1 to 1.5” florets 1/2 C breadcrumbs (I didn’t measure I just poured)
1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese. (I used the grated kind that comes in the plastic bag and I just grabbed two handfuls)
1/4 C olive oil, I didn’t measure, I just poured.
Mix all together to coat cauliflower well. Spread in baking pan lined with foil and sprayed with PAM.
Bake for 30-35 at 400 degrees.
I was also making a meatloaf (1 lb) so I cooked both on 375 for 45 minutes and both were done.
I have lots more recipes that I’ve copied so as I try them and we like them, I’ll share.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings!
(Tucson, AZ)
Well, big surprise, our service tech didn’t come to the 5th wheel today to put in the parts that have arrived. While Bob and I were outside our service writer called to let us know that the parts would go in on the same day that ram get put in next week. Yeah, yeah, whatever.
To mask my disappointment I made comfort food. Brownies. With walnuts. Knowing me I would have no problem polishing off the whole darn pan so I cut off a good portion and took it to our lot buddy, Dennis. He was most appreciative! He just doesn’t ever make them for himself but its one of his favorites. I was happy I could put a smile on his face.
Have you gotten this email about the HEMA stores? HEMA is a Dutch department store. The first store opened on November 4, 1926, in Amsterdam and now there are 150 stores all over the Netherlands.
Take a look at HEMA's product page - just wait a couple of seconds and watch what happens. DON'T click on any of the items in the picture; just wait. This company has a sense of humor and a creative Website programmer. Click HERE.
While I’m sharing email stuff, have you seen the one about the Brass Band? Another good one. Click HERE.
(Tucson, AZ)
We got service bay time today and a big problem has been fixed! Finally. The “brains” of our hydraulic system was replaced and now our slides and landing gear won’t operate on their own anymore. Trust me, this is a good thing.
Now, that said, not everything is hunky-dory. No, not by a long shot. The arm, or ram, as they call it was ordered and it arrived. That’s a good thing right? Well, I would have to agree. However, you know there is always a however when it comes to getting things repaired. The wrong ram was sent. Was the wrong one ordered? Was the wrong one sent? At this point I don’t even care anymore. I was assured that it would be re-ordered and it would be sent overnight. Being the doubting Thomasina that I am now, I called the company to find out if it was ordered and is it, in fact, being shipped overnight. I got a yes answer to both.
There was some other work that the parts were in for and it was decided that we would stay in the service area overnight so that the rig could be there for the morning. Thinking about the heat and the weekend coming it was decided we would move back to the lot because our service tech said that what he had to do could be done in our spot there. People who have Monday morning appointments come in on Friday afternoons and we certainly didn’t want to lose our spot with its 50 amp service.
We are scheduled for the body shop on Monday through Wednesday for an area that the finish isn’t top notch. Heck, we’re here, we might as well get it fixed!
I made it perfectly clear that I wanted the rig back in the service bay on Thursday to put the ram in since it will be here by then. I received no resistance for that request. I really didn’t think I would.
So things are moving, things are getting done. Bob is relieved that I have taken over this task as are the workers here, if the truth be told. They we don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel yet I think we’re at least heading the bend.
(Tucson, AZ)
Today we gathered all the notes, emails and past service records together to build a timeline for the service/problem aspect of this rig.
Do we have problem? In a word, yes. Our entire hydraulic and axle system is a problem. Parts for these components were supplied by the same company. Its best that I don’t name the company here right now because I couldn’t type it without a few choice expletives placed before it. Let me put it this way, they definitely qualify for being at the top of my shit list.
Yes, we’ve had other problems too but none as big as this. Other things have mostly been nit picky thing, not all, but most.
So why the timeline? Just to have everything documented. I’m sending it to the sales and service managers of DRV, the service mgr for the hydraulic company, the CEO & service mgr for Lazy Days. Its not a nasty-gram in any way, shape or form. Just documentation in case we need it down the road.
It was quite a chore making heads or tails out of the collection of papers we each had. Between that and emails to go through it took me several hours to get it sorted and typed. But its done.
We have been here forty nine days now. Way, way too long. Things are going to change starting tomorrow.
We were supposed to be in the service bay today. This arrangement was made last week and somehow, someway, something changed. I talked with service manager and he assured me we would be in the service bay tomorrow. We’ll see. For his sake I hope so.
