Observation

Nice paint job.

The Good Life

Sitting in the "hot tub" at night looking at stars over head. Dining out with friends and road acquaintances. Playing Scrabble with real people instead of the computer.  Add to that many other activities for participation, there seems little time to get the laundry done.

That is the good life where I've hung my hat for a month at the Voyageur RV resort.

Then there is hiking. My passion. Found a fellow hiker/walker in next door neighbor Duane. We've hiked several days in Saguaro East. Other times, we have joined a hiking group from the park.

The most recent hike was to the Empire Ranch. A BLM managed grass land south east of Tucson. Much of the hike was along part of the Cienega River (the name according to my GPS). Some cottonwood trees have been growing a long time. They were huge -- six to ten feet in diameter.

There was considerable temptation to climb the branches of these trees. But with that inner ear balance issue, I decided that this was a good time to be a sensible person in spite of what I really wanted to do. A younger person -- including a younger Wandrin Lloyd -- would have shimmied up the tree without a second thought.

Speaking Of The Budget

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." -- Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.) Roman Statesman, Philosopher and Orator

Same thing 2000 years later.

A long time ago as a manager, interoffice memos were occasionally received to cut 10% from my budget. Not just my budget, but every budget in the corporation. Nothing was safe from the 10% cut -- including some position consolidations and job terminations.

That isn't the way the US Federal government is run. Only a small portion of the budget is being considered for cuts. Why? Because a vast portion of the budget represents votes and getting re-elected. That does get in the way of making a rational decision. The cuts should include all areas, defense, Pentagon, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. However, there isn't even a discussion about possible cuts or adjustments in those areas.

A suggestion: Stop manufacturing the penny. It isn't a lot of money, but it is a gesture that there is serious concern about the budget. Losing money on the manufacture of every penny is not the way to stay solvent.

Diesel Engine Idling

It's happened to all of us. It is 7:00 a.m. and you are still asleep. For some reason, the diesel owner seems to believe that the engine has to be hot and idle for 30 minutes before moving from the RV space right next to yours. Not the sort of alarm clock you were expecting.

This message is not to the considerate diesel owners who idle for a few minutes. Thank you. This message is to those diesel owners who did not read the owners manual or were recalling the diesels of decades ago. There is a risk to your modern diesel engine by excessive idling.


Quoted from RV The Magazine -- Winter 2011, Page 8

Diesel Idling
Garry Miller
Shady Spring, West Virginia

As a retired diesel electrician, I support Jim Harper’s opinion on excessive no-load diesel idling (August 2010 RV View). Diesel engines are so efficient that they generate little heat when not doing any work, so idling when cold can actually harm any diesel, especially a modern, computer-controlled engine with a soot filter. The low temperature idling causes incomplete combustion and soot (an abrasive) to get into the lube oil and can clog the pollution exhaust filter that must be burned off with extra fuel by the engine. Read and follow the engine manufacturer’s instructions. Idle only to bring up the air for the brakes and suspension. By then the oil will have circulated and it will be safe to drive at moderate speed and load until the engine reaches operating temperature. If you are still concerned and must operate your diesel at high speed and heavy load immediately, do what standby diesel generators and emergency diesel fire trucks do: run your electric block heater, with care, so the engine is somewhat warm when it is first started.

More support on the same issue comes from RVBasics on the subject of diesel idling.

Gluten Free Wine

Not really, but that was what a customer wanted.

Shopping at Trader Joe's this morning in Tucson, I overheard a thirty-ish guy asking a clerk where he might find a Merlot (he pronounced it rhyming with "knot"). The clerk corrected him by pronouncing it correctly. As he followed the clerk, he said that he wanted "gluten free." The clerk shouted out to another clerk asking if the Merlots were gluten free. The answer shouted back was "Yes".

Have to wonder where the guy was hiding all these years. Is this the first time he purchased wines. Or did he find an internet website that suggested a Merlot as a fine way to impress his date for Valentine's Day. But, "gluten free"?

The best part was when the clerk asked how much he wanted to spend. About five dollars.

Continuing my shopping, I headed off to buy a low carb and no trans fat Marlowe....

---

After hearing that exchange, and continuing my shopping, I ran into Tucson friends Flora and Phil -- far from their home on the west side. Equally amazed, they also heard that exchange between customer and clerk. Can't make up these stories. They actually happen. Flora and Phil can confirm it.

Wish For You

Gem and Mineral Show

Tucson hosts this two week long show every year. With 42 venues around the city, there are numerous choices for gems, minerals, fossils, beads, etc. The selections, the colors, the varieties and sizes are endless.

I toured the tents at the Kino Electric park complex. Rock is versatile. How about a bench of petrified wood. Might take a while to warm up that rock.

Decorating your home with colorful rock to match any artist's brush.

With too many choices of the beauty of rock art, I purchased nothing and returned home.

Rocky Mountain National Park -- in Winter

Attending a photography workshop about 20 years ago, this is one of those photos that describe what the eye saw -- in two dimension. Additionally, with the other senses, imagine a cold wind blowing and an occasional snow shower. The wind blows through the stocking cap. Turn your head to the side so you can breathe. The air just smells cold. No other odor. Walking on the snow provides the cold crunch as the snow is compressed under foot.

Just good memories. 

... But glad to be here where the temps rose to the high 60s. It was a good day.

RV Choices

Want to travel the world where many roads may be a challenge or not exist like a desert or jungle or perhaps just off road in your neighborhood during a snowstorm. A rugged RV choice for off the beaten path with the required human creature comforts is Unicat. The tag line on their index page says it all: "Explore Without Boundaries".

Check out some of the units on this Unicat photo page and this one.

Packers Did It

Watched one football game all season -- the Super Bowl. Nothing better than a good football game. Of course, Pittsburgh would not agree. However, as a kid growing up in the Green Bay area and with green and gold still flowing in Wandrin Lloyd's veins, it was a great game and fantastic end.