Sir, STEP AWAY from THAT Truck.

Wednesday's is quilting day for Kim, and Don made it over to the GM dealer in Palm Springs for his appointment to have the oil changed on the truck and the tires rotated.  He had our mechanic son change the fuel filter in Victoria prior to our leaving.  As he had time to wait for the work to be done, he starting looking around the lot at vehicles - oh no! He found a 2007 1/2, 38K miles, leather interior, full load, sunroof, dvd, chipped, lift kit, new tires and wheels, back up sensors, duramax, crewcab and pretty much anything you can get as an option on it.  I think he was drooling. Of course, the shark salesperson pounced and offered all kinds of help to sell to a Canadian.  No doubt our son will read this, and be emailing about 'how much?'. No, we do not need a new truck.

Couldn't seem to rotate the pic, sorry!

Cute zebras on the rice bowl

 I was busy in the north clubhouse finishing some Christmas wall hangings and visiting and learning with the ladies.  We all must have been ready to quit early this week, as we have the building till 4 pm, and we were all leaving by 3:10.  So, since we had time to organize ourselves, I asked Donald if he wanted to go to Happy Hour at the main clubhouse for 4 pm.  Yep!  Last year we went a couple of times and there wasn't many participants, but this year - whoa! Lots of people, lots of great snacks and conversation.  Our dinner meat was still frozen, so we opted to try out the local Thai restaurant for dinner afterward.  It was o.k., but we have had Thai food a number of times, and I quite often will cook KungPao, and we both felt this place had dialled down the food to meet western tastes, as it was not spicy or hot and not near the freshness of the vegetables.  There is another Thai place in Palm Springs that we might try.

The HOWLER started just after got back to the rig, and we picked up a few things, and continued to get up out of bed and pick up more as the wind got stronger.  We are still rocking and rolling as I type at 11:00 am.  I thought we might go to W*mart to print off pictures from the camera to send to the GG's in Ontario, but the sand has kicked up and we cannot see Mt. Jacinto, so likely the roads will be blowing sand.  Better that than snow. Hmmm sand/snow. Both 4 letter words.  You choose your favorite.

Oscar and Bella come to visit

Somehow I missed a day posting here, not that we're crazy busy.  Monday we headed off to the local GM dealer in Palm Springs, as Donald wanted to make an appointment for tire rotation and maybe an oil change on Wednesday.  Wednesday of course, is quilting day.  That done, we headed off to Rancho Mirage and a stop in Costco.  We noticed the black smoke coming from an RV Park, feeling bad for whoever it was that was going through the tragedy, and hoping no one was hurt. 

Yesterday, I really cleaned and rearranged furniture inside the 5th wheel, and Donald tackled washing the roof and the front of the outside.  Looking uptown!  I needed a better space for my sewing machine other than the kitchen table, and we picked up a small portable table at Costco that fits in the corner of a slide just tickety-boo.  After Rick and Paulette went on their uphill morning hike, she picked me up for another trip to Joanne's.  This time, no lineups but the good sales were still on!

The highlight of yesterday was a quick visit from friends, Rick and Lynda, from our northern BC hometown.  Rick also retired from the RR.  They were on their way to Mexico and would have loved to stay here, but the Sands does not accept truck campers, even though theirs is pretty deluxe! 

It had been a long time since we had seen their dogs, Bella and Oscar, so of course they had to have their picture taken!  The last time we were camping/glamping together was about 5 years ago at the Crabfest in Gingolx, B.C. ( waaayyyyy north, near Alaska, on the coast ).

Bella and Oscar

The end of the day was a great video call to our kids on the Island, and some online chat to our youngest son. Congrats for lining up school in February, N! 

Loving Google's header today : Mark Twain's birthday.

Busy Sunday

College of the Desert has a street fair in their parking lot every Saturday and Sunday with over 150 vendors, music and foods.  It is great fun.  An early start to the day had us leaving the Sands at 8:45 and we really enjoyed it. Just ahead of us pulling into the parking lot were Rick, Paulette, Allen and Lolita, and the furgirls.  We said our goodbyes to Allen and Lolita there, as they were heading back to work ( yuck! ) in the next day or so.

Isn't that the cutest little pink bear? Of course, we did sample the greek gyros and picked up a few vegetables.

So good!  After BF shopping on Friday, I had a $45 certificate from Kohl's, so we headed there to spend it, this time on something that perhaps Donald needed. He rarely buys clothes for himself, sticking to the usual (many!) years T shorts, shorts, and sweatshirts.  Of course, I didn't read the small print that the certificate wasn't good till tomorrow, but the sales were still on and he picked up a couple of shirts. The exciting part was when he was outside the doors of Kohls, waiting for me as I paid at the till just inside.  Sirens!  Emergency vehicles pulled right up to the door, and proceeded to get a stretcher ready to enter the store.  Donald mentioned to the Paramedic that the stretcher delivery gave new meaning to the phrase" Shop till you drop".  That gave some chuckles to the emergency crew.

If that wasn't enough excitement, we came home and washed the outside of the 5'er.  Lots of comments from neighbours about how we should come do their rigs after we were finished.  Hmmph. We are VERY expensive! Our timing was perfect, as we finished the big wash just as they were announcing the referee's for the Grey Cup.

 Later, just after the big game ( whoo hoo B.C.! ) I went to do laps in the pool and then the hot tub, as Donald drove to Valero to see how much their propane fill was ( $28 for a 30lb tank, I don't think so! ).

a planned quiet day turned into new friends and an invite

After Black Friday shopping, we thought Saturday was going to be quiet and just a 'hang around the rv' day.  Donald spied some nice looking outdoor plants at Lowe's on his galavanting Friday, so we made a trip to see if we could brighten up our patio area. The prices for plants were the same as at home, so I nixed that, and he suggested Home Depot since it was close by.  We picked up two lovely little mixed planters there, and a fellow shopper commented on how lovely they were, but too bad they were in a short planter. Why? Well, the rabbits will eat them all up pretty fast.  So, they are now at home, on the patio, up on top of upside down plastic milk crates.  We use those milk crates to transport our 30lb propane bottles in the back of the truck when they need refilling.

When we ran by Rick and Paulettes to drop off her casserole dish, Don heard someone yell out his name. Oh boy, he thought... I should know this guy.  Well, they hadn't met, but it was Allen from Corona, Cal., who has commented on our blog and the solver of the rice question at the border. He then graciously invited us to dinner that evening at their spot, joining R and P and Russ. What a dinner it was. Lolita is an amazing cook. I would post about it, but you can look at  Rick and Paulette's. 
Thank you so much for the invite guys and what a lovely couple!

This morning we are schedule for a quick chat on Skype with our kids in Victoria, then off to College of the Desert for the street fair there.  I think Donald hears the Greek food booth calling his name.

First experience of Black Friday

Well, the invitation was there from Paulette and Karen, for me to join them to experience Black Friday.  I am not a shopper, except when I have to for supplies and staples.  Just a minute, I correct that.  Quilt stores are different. Then I can spend and hour or more in a small wee shop. Usually buying little.

Today?  Bargoons to be had! No way for the midnight kerfuffel, that would be for the true BF shoppers, but we did start at 6 am. In the dark! First stop: Joanne's for fabrics. See paragraph 1: aka: quilt store. Mucho bargoono. There were 7 staff cutting fabrics, and we knew there were 50 people waiting all the time to have their fabrics cut to their desired lengths, because they have a pull ticket system with numbers like in Lee Valley Tools.  In the door we went, the other two gals headed off in one direction and I bee lined it to the number ticket dispenser. I KNEW! Then I went shopping for fabrics. We all bought a roller bag for your sewing machine, and a Rowenta iron. Not only a great sale, but we had coupons for additional 25 - 50% off!  Then to Kohl's for awesome sale items, and again, we had coupons for another 15% off! Who hoo!  Macy's: not much on sale.

bargoons in the back(seat)

Paulette tried to take some pics of the fabric shoppers carts at Joanne's. We were amazed! Check her blog for Nov.26th.

Donald says he didn't do too much. Checked on and topped up the rig's batteries. He went over to Costco and Walmart for coffee grounds. He was glad that the didn't have to go on BF shopping. Says he now has to look for a part time job for the bargoons.

Yesterday afternoon's American Thanksgiving fest was indeed a feast. To think we even had the energy to go back to the main hall for the dance later in the evening. Thanks Rick for the pictures of dinner, because we couldn't find the camera. It was found later .. in my purse... typical of me. Mentalpause.

Well, the temps are heading for the 80's.. so some outside activities are calling. Main Hall , 7 am tomorrow for coffee and muffins, followed at 8 am by a monster garage sale at the park.  I suggested College of the Desert street fair for Sunday.

Tonight we are watching Idiot Abroad on Discovery Channel. Funniest thing we have seen for a long time.

Karen attempting to negotiate stairs into her 5th wheel with her shopping loot.