HITCH SWITCH DAY....MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

I TOOK THIS HARVEST MOON PIC LAST SEPTEMBER FROM OUR FRONT YARD

Tuesdays low 80F humidity laced one day heat wave did a mighty fine job in re-activating our backyard Cricket Orchestra this morning.  I opened our patio door about 6 a.m. to a host of squeaking sounds.  Dozens of little cricket legs sawing out their summer like tunes.  What a nice way to start the day.

Heavy thunderstorms in the night made for a rough night at the Bayfield Bunch household but we were up & at em anyway before 5 a.m.  At 6:28 our little 2 car convoy rolled out of the driveway into the rain slicked darkness heading for London Ontario & our destiny with the, TRAILER HITCH CENTER.  ETA 8 a.m.  I led the way with the Jeep & Kelly followed in the Santa Fe.  We had our walkie-talkies along in case we got separated. (cell phones too)  I knew where the trailer hitch place was but Kelly didn't.  It was an uneventful drive & we even punched our way right through London's morning rush hour to reach our 8 o'clock destination right on the nose.

They took the Santa Fe into the shop first & removed the tow bar assembly that could later be used with the Jeep.  We decided to leave the tow plate on the Santa Fe just in case something happened to the Jeep at some point & we had to revert back to the Santa Fe for a tow vehicle.  As soon as we had the Santa Fe back we headed out for breakfast.  Kelly dropped me off back at the trailer place & she headed back to Bayfield via Winners, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, & probably a few dozen other little shopping stops on her way out of the big city.

WE HAVE HAD A 'ROADMASTER' HITCH ASSEMBLY FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS & IT HAS PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY

I dozed out in the waiting room until the Jeep was finished at 10:45.  Snapped a quick pic of the new installation & there was no stopping for shopping for this guy as I high tailed it out of town just as fast as my little Jeepster could take me.  At the stroke of noon I was back home & stretched out in my recliner.  Mission accomplished.

The solenoid switch that arrived for our Motor Home at Ron's FOUR SEASON PERFORMANCE place today was the wrong one & Ron had to hastily order another switch & this time right from the solenoid switch manufacturer in Iowa.  He's hoping to have the rig done by the end of the week.  I still had Ron's truck at home so took it back to him in Grand Bend where Kelly picked me up about 20 minutes later.   Then, it was back to Bayfield for the two of us.

PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE RIG TO RETURN HOME & FILL THIS VOID

So, there you have it.  A blow by blow description of my day.  Now don't you wished you had moved on to something more exciting in someone else's blog...... Yep, I thought so:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( 

A cabbie picks up a Nun.  She gets into the cab, and notices that the very handsome  cab driver won't stop staring at her. She asks him why he is staring.
He replies:  "I have a question to ask you but I don't want to offend you."
She answers ,  "My son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have been a nun as long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about everything. I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that I would find offensive."
"Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me."  She responds, "Well, let's see what we can do about that: #1, you have to be single and #2, you must be Catholic."
The cab driver is very excited and says, "Yes, I'm single and Catholic!"  "OK"  the nun says. "Pull into the next alley."
The nun fulfills his fantasy, with a kiss that would make a hooker blush.  But when they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying.  "My dear child," says the nun, "why are you crying?"  "Forgive me but I've sinned.  I lied and I must confess,   I'm married and I'm Jewish."
The nun says, "That's OK.  My name is Kevin and I'm going to a Halloween party."

----------------------------------------------------------------

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

KELLY PICKS UP AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE IN LONDON

YEP, THIS NEW LENS IS REAL FINE FOR CLOSE-UPS ALRIGHT (all pics in tonight's blog were taken with new lens except the comparison photos)

I did a very much most unusual thing this morning.  I actually picked up our darn old telephone mossmagator thingy & made a phone call somewhere.  What is this world coming to!!!!  That somewhere turned out to Henry's Camera Store in London.  No, I wasn't calling about my new lens.....I was calling about my old lens.  I asked very nicely if I could have my dear old friend back.  That lens & I have travelled many miles together & I was missing him like crazy by the time I got up this morning.  There was nothing wrong with the lens so figured I should have kept it as a spare.  It is much lighter than the new lens too & that may prove to be advantageous in some future photo situations.  The 2x Convertor I traded in can also be used with the new lens to double it's maximum power to 600mm.  Now, what was I thinking about when I decided to trade that in anyway!!  Once again, that saying which was coined many years ago sure applies to me in this case for sure...."We get too soon old & late smart."

HENRY'S CAMERA STORE...This accidental shot was done seconds after I clamped the new lens on my camera at the store counter & aimed out the door to check the auto focus.  Got a little too heavy on the trigger & inadvertently snapped this photo....so why is it in the blog??  This marks the very first photo I took with my new lens.............that's why:))

AND THIS WAS MY FIRST OUTSIDE PHOTO WHEN I GOT HOME

The same fellow, Mike, I bought the lens from Friday took my call first thing this morning & when I asked him if I could have my stuff back for the trade in price he said, "well I'll have to call my Boss because I'm not sure how that works & I've never heard of anyone doing that before."  Thought to myself, 'ya, well your probably dealing with your first case of Geezeritus here buddy.  Hey, maybe those kids behind the counter had me sized up correctly all along anyway.  Bet they got my name on file with a warning note like, 'watch this guy....he's prone to wild fluctuations of Geezerisms!! 

 

COMPARISONS..... New lens is much bigger & heavier than old lens.  Pictures of lens on camera show the 2x Convertor between the lens & the camera body effectively making the 300mm's a 600mm lens.

And two thumbs up for Henry's London location for returning my equipment for the same trade in allowance price.  Thanks Mike:)) 

Kelly was headed for London anyway this morning to pick up a few things so she just swung around Henry's Camera Store & picked up my two trade-in Pals & that was that.

                    

HIDING BEHIND A HOUSE PLANT KEEPING AN EYE ON THE PESKY SQUIRRELS

One of the great advantages of RVing is the flexibility it offers.  If you don't like the scenery you can just move.  Maybe the weather's grubby so pull up the jacks & head for some better weather.  If your in an RV Park & have a noisy neighbor you might be able to re-locate to a quieter spot or just exit the park completely.  We have been known to move if another RV even comes within a quarter mile of us sometimes.  But, what if your living in a sticks & bricks place between bad neighbors.  How do you handle that situation day after day.  Check out the problems WILD BLUE YONDER is having!!  Maybe we can all band together & send her some speedy 'House For Sale' vibes:))

WIND CHIMES IN THE GARDEN

The overnight rains let up before dawn & the cloud cover dissipated about mid morning.  Out came the lawn mower & a short while later the grass was shortened again for another week or so.  Next came a clean up of the van interior including vacuuming.  Quick trip into town for a 6" tuna sub at Subway & back home to clean the pond pump.  Took my new lens for a walk around the front yard, racked up some snooze time in the recliner & helped Kelly unload some big hanging flower baskets when she returned from London in late afternoon.  And after about 29 hours of soulful separation I finally had my good old 55-200 camera lens back home again safe & sound too.........10-4:))

BIRD IN SILHOUETTE

GROANER'S CORNER:((  You know your getting old when you sink your teeth into a big juicy steak......and they stay there:((

------------------------------------------------------------------

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/ (a work in progress)

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

NICE DAY FOR A WORKING DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY

 

WELCOME TO THE BAYFIELD BUNCH'S PLACE

Another nice mobility van drive today over to University Hospital in London, Ontario.  The hospital is in the north end of the city so didn't have to get into any downtown traffic madness.  Had a 2 hour wait & then it was back out into the quiet & scenic countryside & back home.  Sure am glad we don't live in, or anywhere near any kind of a city!!!!

OUR IRIS FLOWERS ARE IN BLOOM

A comment question from JANNA AT TIN TEEPEE/LOG CABIN about last night's blog photo of our little Motormouse on the porch wearing a long blue lead.  Both Checker's & the Motormouse are very crafty girls & like to wander off.  We always have to watch them closely when they are outside of their fenced in back yard.  They are both explorers & know we are easily distracted when people are around.  You get to talking & forget about the dogs.  Both Checkers & Motormouse know this & will slip away every time.  A couple weeks ago we got distracted doing some gardening & before we knew it we couldn't find the little Motor.  She had walked all the way over to the mail room to greet people picking up their mail.  Checkers has always been a happy wanderer & will do the same if we don't keep a close eye on her.

IT'S THE MOTORMOUSE CATCHING A FEW RAYS THROUGH THE SUN ROOM'S SKYLIGHT

Had another comment question from SAM & DONNA -5TH WHEEL VAGABONDS which asks, "Al how do you handle the Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde transformation when you climb in the van."  This is in reference to my blog A PLEASANT WEATHER & WORKING DAY.  In it I was talking about my job of transporting elderly Seniors & stated, "Of course they don't know me as a cranky old Cursmudgeon though. To them I am one of those bouncy, good natured & friendly young guys." 

To start with I have often heard people say that whenever they are around young people it makes them feel young as well.  I am the total opposite to that.  It is when I am around young people that I feel old & when around older folks I feel younger.

Now, about the Jekyll/Hyde  thingy.  Yes, it's true, I am basically a Cursmudgeon alright in these latter years, but on my mobility van job the transformation out of my Cursmudgeon character happens automatically & willingly as soon as I enter a nursing home facility, hospital, or a Seniors home & meet the person I am transporting.  I seem to get an extra little bounce in my walk & am easily able to talk with these people.  All of these folks are in need of help & that is why I am there.  It is my job to safely transport these wheelchair folks to & from their destinations & quite often that means right into the hospitals, medical centers, dentist offices, etc.  Up the elevators & down the halls looking for waiting rooms & Doctor's offices.  And I am always talking & kibitzing along the way trying to make them feel comfortable & at ease.  Years ago doing travelogues at Seniors facilities I used to get the very same feeling.

I feel very good about that so I am comfortable & able to relax & bring out that humorous young good natured friendly guy that still lives inside somewhere.......somewhere within the shadow of the Cursmudgeon!!  Don't want to get too deep here but sometime in a future blog maybe I will expand on my Jekyll/Hyde & Cursmudgeon theories.  It could get a bit lengthy though.................. And, while on the topic of Seniors I would just like to thank everyone for all your kind comments about my Uncle Harry in last night's blog.  Very much appreciated.  Thank You:))

JUDY & EMMA are in the process of moving into their new home.  'New to them' Motor Home that is.  Lots of excitement going on over there as they transfer things from their older Motor Home into the newer one.  Nice looking rig for sure:))

THIS LITTLE SIGN WAS MADE BY OUR FRIEND 'BUTCH' WHO HANGS OUT IN THE DESERT NEAR BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

Our weather just continues to get nicer & as I sit here at the computer looking out over our front yard I am always amazed at how such a barren & bleak yard-scape during winter & early spring can explode into a veritable jungle of green foliage & colorful flowers.

 

JUST OUTSIDE THE SUN ROOM WINDOW IN FRONT OF ME

My gardening style has changed over the years.  Gone are the manicured large lawns, the perfectly trimmed shrubs & razor edged flower beds with everything precisely measured out & planted like you see so often in suburbia.  Nothing wrong with that kind of landscaping where everything is crisp & neat as a pin.  Did that for a bunch of years & It's just not what I care for anymore.  Now I let the foliage grow in together giving the yard a more natural woodsy look.  Kind of a junglescape flavor.  In fact, I thought I saw a saber tooth Zebra near one of the Azalea bushes last week.

Much more critter friendly too with squirrels, chipmunks, bees, butterflies, & lots of birds flittering about.  And I like the privacy all the foliage provides because we do have a few prying eyes in our Park!!  Well, doesn't every neighborhood!!

HEY, WHAT THE HECK IS THIS PICTURE OF A JEEP WRANGLER DOING IN THE BLOG.....Hmmmmmmm!!

GROANER'S CORNER:((  And it's real darn scary when you start making the same noises as your coffee maker too.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.