1 Week and Counting

Actually less than a week now. Shirley is still up at Tunez 4 U trying to get wired properly. They say she will be done by Tuesday. I hope they’re right because I need to load two months worth of stuff into her before oh-dark thirty on Thursday.

I’ve been making last minute preparations all week. I’m stocking up on dry goods such as reduced sodium sunflower seeds, canned artichoke hearts, Craisins and other delicacies. Why? I’ve been doing the Valerie Bertinelli thing with Jenny (Craig) and have lost over 30 lbs since the first of February. I am 9 pounds away from my goal of 200 and I don't want to backslide by eating a bunch of ballpark junk. Somehow I will suffer through 30 baseball games eating low-cal, low sodium sunflower seeds, rather than peanuts ("Buy me some sunflower seeds and Cracker Jacks" just doesn't have the same ring to it). I am eating a lot of salad, so the artichoke hearts and Craisins add a nice touch to spinach salads. I will get a major Jenny delivery Wednesday and will fill Shirley's freezer with breakfast stuff. Lunches and dinners will be mainly ballpark pickings in moderation, or shelf stable Jenny delights.

I have also been plotting out my overnight stays using the 2010 Trailer Life RV Parks and Campgrounds Directory which was given to me by my CAL FIRE partner Shana Jones. The directory is very handy because it has thousands of parks with descriptions, rates, and phone numbers. A standard 3" X 3" Postit note covers about 450 miles on my Rand McNally Road Atlas. I use the Postit to get a rough idea of a day's drive then adjust based on factors like how tired I think I may be, and how far to the next game. So far I have reservations in Las Vegas and Oklahoma City (both named Roadrunner RV Park), and in Grand Junction, CO; Oakley, KS; and Terrell, TX. I have scheduled stops in Mississippi, Florida and Georgia also, but have not made reservations yet.

I had these cards made up for folks I meet along the way so they can follow the odyssey if they are interested. I decided not to advertise my trip on the motor home because some less than honorable folks may want to see what I am hauling around in Shirley when she is unattended. Too bad our world has gotten this way.

I have a little whiteboard that I have filled up with reminders of what I need to take with me. I need the board because CRS is quite common and finding out I need something in Virginia, and that something is in California will not be good.

Another reminder of my poor planning; my driver's license expires while I am on the road, naturally. I got it renewed but the new one will not arrive before I leave. I will be meeting a friend in Texas, so Phyllis will mail the license to him, and he can bring it to the game. We met this friend on a cruise and he is a huge Texas Longhorn fan, so we have annual bets on the outcome of Texas-USC games. I haven't done very well over the past few years.

My grandson is graduating from Argonaut High School in Jackson this June so I may have to hurry to get back to California so I don't miss it.

That’s about all that’s going on for now. Phyllis did not get Leo housebroken so I guess he has to stay here. I am including a picture of Leo and I am sure you will agree he would make a darling motor home companion. Happy Easter to all and I will begin blogging on a daily basis when I hit the road.