How many of you have seen the film, "Pay it Forward", starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment? If you haven't, you're missing something special. No special effects, no towering sound track but skilled actors doing a great job with a touching story. And an interesting philosophy which contrary to popular belief did not begin with the film: the philosophy of paying it forward.
We all know about paying it back, getting even. We've all heard "payback's a bitch" and "don't get mad, get even". But do we ever "get even"? And when/if you finally feel that you've gotten "even", does the other guy think it's "even"? Naw, not even close.
The concept of pay it forward presented in the film struck me with its simplicity and power: the power that anyone could wield to make the world a better place. In my self-absorbed way, since I had never heard of it before, I assumed it was an invention of the author, (the film is based on the novel of the same name by Catherine Ryan Hyde), but not so.
Science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein used the phrase in Between Planets, a book published in 1951, almost 50 years before Ryan Hyde's novel. Heinlein both preached and practiced this philosophy; now the Heinlein Society, a humanitarian organization founded in his name, does so. (Wikipedia)
The idea of "paying it forward", but without the pyramid scheme-like exponential growth, appears already in a letter from Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Webb, dated April 22, 1784. (Wikipedia)
Here are a few links for you if you would like to read more.
Foundation
Wikipedia
Blog
Why am I writing about this and why now, you ask. Well, since you asked... If you read about Sir Frank here, my knight who was so helpful in my getting my Lazy Lady, you may remember that in my call for help I made it clear that I was more than happy to compensate anyone who helped. When I remended him that I was waiting for a "statement" from him, he merely said "Pay It Forward".
Wouldn't it be a great thing if each person who reads this were to pay it forward to three people in the next few months with the reminder to keep it going.
Ginger
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The Summer Residence
The "Summer Residence" as I sometimes refer to it is home, well sort of. It's parked on the street in front of my house. Now I live in a typical middle-class suburb of a large city and the neighbours don't take kindly to vehicles up on blocks, old fridges in the back yard or RVs parked at the curb. I know the clock is ticking.
I kinda walk along the edge of respectability around here. Sometimes the lawn gets a bit long before it gets trimmed, sometimes the trash can sits out an extra day after being emptied, I admit that there are a *lot* of Dandelions in my lawn and in the winter and if the van can get over the snow in the driveway without going sideways, the driveway doesn't get shovelled.
I know, I know, I should burn in Hell for being such a slob but I figure the place is there for my ease and comfort not to provide me with a second, unpaid career or as a pretty setting for my next-door neighbour. So I know I'm on a pretty short leash regarding the RV out front.
My friend who was supposed to caravan with me to the seasonal site where Lazy Lady is going to life for at least the next 12 months, had his work schedule changed at the last minute, (How very inconvenient of his employer!) which means that I have no way of getting Lazy Lady to her site. Well, technically, I could get her there but then there would be no way of getting me back. I felt rather strongly about that, and so did my employer. So she sits out front aaaallllll week.
And I avoid eye contact with my neighbours.
I'm also a bit worried about the fridge. It's full of contraband groceries smuggled across the border. Shhh don't tell anyone but there's an RV in Canada full of American eggs, cheese (two kinds: cheddar and Swiss), ham and a peach! I need to keep it running. So how level does a fridge have to be, not to self-destruct? The road kinda slopes a bit at the curb and the side-to-side bubble in the cab isn't perfectly centred. It's a bit off. Now I've heard "half a bubble" is OK. Well is "bubble" a fixed quantity (distance/measurement)? How do I know when I've strayed past half-a-bubble into the death to fridges three quarters of a bubble? My level doesn't even have markings on it so I don't even know how much of my bubble is outside the OK zone. Don't laugh, this is complicated not to mention worrisome.
So, anyway, I'm worried about the fridge and also, will it run out of propane? How much propane will it use in a week? If it runs out of propane, will it automatically switch over to DC? If so, wIll the batteries last for the day until the sun comes up and the solar panels can re-charge the batteries? Why don't I just unload the fridge and turn the darned thing off? I dunno. Stupid I guess. All this over some damn-yankee eggs, cheese (two kinds: cheddar and Swiss), ham and a peach!
Well, good news, I'm sure you've been on the edge of your seat. The fridge and the eggs, cheese (two kinds: cheddar and Swiss), ham and a peach! survived.
Next Saturday my friend, his thirteen year old son and I set out for the wilds of East Gwillenbury. Here follows the pictorial record of our expedition.
Entering Grangeways
Pulling up to the Office
Grangeways Main Building
Lazy Lady Parked
Ahhh, that feels good.
Ginger
Part Three - Getting Back
The original plan was to head back on Tuesday and take my time until Friday: maybe detouring over to Shenandoah in VA and up through PA and into the Finger Lakes region of NY and then directly west and home. But then the "best laid plans" rule kicked in and I didn't hit the road until 11:30 on Wednesday. This change in plans necessitated some freeway driving and no Shenandoah. Maybe next time.
So I boogied up I81 to I68/70 and across to Route 219. Rte 219, from the map, looked like a really interesting ride. Getting there, I exited from I70 a bit too soon due to my misreading the map. (Are they using smaller fonts lately?) And ended up at some small town (Frostburg?)Mental Health Facility getting directions. They certainly saved my mental health! I was close, but close counts only with horse-shoes and grenades.
Rte 219 is a great road - very pretty - mostly through forest. Lots of ups and downs (nothing more than a 6% grade) and lotsa curvey bits. It goes through small towns so you're not going to make great time but then, that's what the freeways are for. There was construction at one point necessitating a detour. NOTE: if you're heading north, when you come to the abandoned RR station with the huge flashing sign saying TURN LEFT, *don't*. Turn right as the small, low down "Rte 219 North" road sign says. Otherwise, you'll be heading south and you'll have to go back up the hill (they call them mountains) and down again. This is the voice of experience. On my first time up the hill I passed a couple of fellows under an overpass resting by their bikes. They gave the LD a good looking over. The second time, they waved like old friends.
There are lots of longish 6% grades on this route and numerous truck escape thingies. There was a mandatory "stop" for trucks at the beginning of one of the downslopes. But none of these seemed all that threatening. As for the LD, I just disengaged the OD and let the engine keep the speed down to about 50-55 going down. (Used the same speed going up.) Climbing was no problem either with no overheating or problems. Made it up all the hills in third gear.
There aren't a lot of services on 219 so watch your fuel. It's a quiet route with little commercial traffic and a long stretch of it has been designated the "Flight 93 Memorial" which prohibits vehicles with advertising panels. So, essentially, no trucks. I would estimate a bit less than half of the way from MD state line to Buffalo on Rte 219 is four-lane divided with a good surface except for about 10 miles right at the NY border which was horrible. Really, really tooth rattleing bad.
On Wednesday I drove until 7:30 which was much later than I planned or wanted to do but I was a bit intimidated about looking for a Walmart and didn't see any campgrounds and of course, no truck stops. Just as the sun was disappearing behind the hills and true panic set in, I saw a billboard for a McDonalds at the Wal*Mart Plaza just off 219 in Du Bois. (That's pronounced "doo-boiss" not as this Canuck would as "doo-bwa".) Halleleujah! And it was easy to see with its mile high sign. The Wal*Mart was great, no problem parking there, lots of space. It wasn't a super centre but it had a good assortment of drygoods plus some dairy and of course sodas. I purchased a $3.00 compass - one of those floating ball types. Worked perfectly. I covered about 350 miles on day one. But I didn't find the LD tiring to drive. There was no fighting the wheel or any white knuckles.
There was the advertised McDonalds across the road and another chain restaurant, Casey's or Kelsey's or some such. The location was quiet, except for the Wal*Mart tractor whose driver kept his engine idling all night. I intended to relax for a bit and then wander over to the McD's for a packet of fries but the thrumming of the WM diesel was kinda soothing and I nodded off.
Next morning I was off to the "Subs and Six-packs" to get some Rolling Rock for my dog-sitter and to gas up. I'm not pushing it since I covered so much distance yesterday so was on the road around 10:30 with a big mug of coffee and some cheese and crackers to nibble on. What a life! (I'm easily amused.) I got myself turned around a bit - hafta get a GPS before I go on the road on a regular basis - but found my way back to 219 and continued north.
Before we go on further, I'd like to comment on the LD handling. There was a discussion, somewhere else, about the relative merits of trailering vs motorhoming vis a vis road stability, interior noise and other issues. I was a bit nervous about my decision based on the numerous opinions that motorhomes get pushed around a lot by the big rigs. And I know that my Astro van gets pushed around. How much worse was the 26.5' LD going to be? May I tell you than I could barely feel those rigs going by? I could occasionally feel a slight nudge when they were overtaking but never when oncoming. I'm delighted with this. As for noise, well the jury is still out since I don't have a lot of rattley stuff onboard - styrofoam plates are very quiet. The stove cover was noisy so I laid a folded towel under the cover and that ended the stove rattles.
Rte 219 leads directly into I90/190 around Buffalo and Niagara Falls, which I followed up to Lewiston where I was to cross the border. This is only Thursday and according to the US Customs web site they want 72 hours written notice before exporting a vehicle and this was only 48 hours. I really wasn't "due" at the border until the next day, Friday, but I thought, what the Hell, maybe somebody got super efficient and my paperwork would be ready early. Silly me.
I found my way to room 135 at the Customs warehouse and met the single most unpleasant, tight-assed, woman I have ever had the mis-fortune to encounter. You couldn't pull a greased pin outta her b**t with pliers. I hate to say this about my own gender, but women can be the worst nitpickers and take the most pleasure in it. Here is a gal with some authority and likes it a whole lot too much. And now, they've gone and given her a G U N.
Not only was I not getting that rig across *her* border on Thursday but it wasn't even going to happen on Friday since for whatever reason, my fax didn't get to her until Wednesday. She was determined that I had to come back on Monday. When I explained that I had faxed the required 72 hours ahead of time and that the 72 hours were up on Friday she merely said she wasn't going to argue with me and then proceded to get on with her other administrivia. Well, she was the one with the gun so what was I supposed to do? Fortunately her superior officer came in asking what was going on. (Had he been eavesdropping?) I explained the situation, mentioning again that I had faxed on Tuesday and had the receipt to prove it, thank goodness. He took my receipt and exclaimed that of course the vehicle should be released on Friday and wrote on the slip that my rig was to be cleared at 8:00 AM Friday. YES!!!
Officer Tight Ass had steam pouring out her ears by now.
All I had to do now was to cool my heels for the night and report back the next morning. I wasn't getting home early but I wasn't stuck here for an extra three days. (Camping is expensive around Niagara Falls.) So I found a KOA with full hookups and free WIFI for $38.00 and settled in for the night. I was really looking forward to the next day and my meeting with Officer T A.
The KOA was very pleasant with grass and trees and nice level packed gravel parking pads. There was reasonable space between sites and the area was quiet. Electrical power was sufficient - 30 amp and the WIFI signal was strong.)
Next day I got my export stamp. I greeted her pleasantly; she ignored me. I thanked her and she sent me off with her opinion that if it were up to her, I'd have to wait 'till Monday. Since I had the form I needed, I replied that I was pleased that it wasn't up to her and left.
Only one more hurdle, Canada Customs. Fortunately a walk in the park: some waiting, some form-filling-out, some waiting, some money changing hands, some waiting and I am home-free. All that remained was a quick stop at the first Timmies en route and 90 miles later... home. Ahhhhh!
Ginger
So I boogied up I81 to I68/70 and across to Route 219. Rte 219, from the map, looked like a really interesting ride. Getting there, I exited from I70 a bit too soon due to my misreading the map. (Are they using smaller fonts lately?) And ended up at some small town (Frostburg?)Mental Health Facility getting directions. They certainly saved my mental health! I was close, but close counts only with horse-shoes and grenades.
Rte 219 is a great road - very pretty - mostly through forest. Lots of ups and downs (nothing more than a 6% grade) and lotsa curvey bits. It goes through small towns so you're not going to make great time but then, that's what the freeways are for. There was construction at one point necessitating a detour. NOTE: if you're heading north, when you come to the abandoned RR station with the huge flashing sign saying TURN LEFT, *don't*. Turn right as the small, low down "Rte 219 North" road sign says.
There are lots of longish 6% grades on this route and numerous truck escape thingies. There was a mandatory "stop" for trucks at the beginning of one of the downslopes. But none of these seemed all that threatening. As for the LD, I just disengaged the OD and let the engine keep the speed down to about 50-55 going down. (Used the same speed going up.) Climbing was no problem either with no overheating or problems. Made it up all the hills in third gear.
There aren't a lot of services on 219 so watch your fuel. It's a quiet route with little commercial traffic and a long stretch of it has been designated the "Flight 93 Memorial" which prohibits vehicles with advertising panels. So, essentially, no trucks. I would estimate a bit less than half of the way from MD state line to Buffalo on Rte 219 is four-lane divided with a good surface except for about 10 miles right at the NY border which was horrible. Really, really tooth rattleing bad.
On Wednesday I drove until 7:30 which was much later than I planned or wanted to do but I was a bit intimidated about looking for a Walmart and didn't see any campgrounds and of course, no truck stops. Just as the sun was disappearing behind the hills and true panic set in, I saw a billboard for a McDonalds at the Wal*Mart Plaza just off 219 in Du Bois. (That's pronounced "doo-boiss" not as this Canuck would as "doo-bwa".) Halleleujah! And it was easy to see with its mile high sign. The Wal*Mart was great, no problem parking there, lots of space. It wasn't a super centre but it had a good assortment of drygoods plus some dairy and of course sodas. I purchased a $3.00 compass - one of those floating ball types. Worked perfectly. I covered about 350 miles on day one. But I didn't find the LD tiring to drive. There was no fighting the wheel or any white knuckles.
There was the advertised McDonalds across the road and another chain restaurant, Casey's or Kelsey's or some such. The location was quiet, except for the Wal*Mart tractor whose driver kept his engine idling all night. I intended to relax for a bit and then wander over to the McD's for a packet of fries but the thrumming of the WM diesel was kinda soothing and I nodded off.
Next morning I was off to the "Subs and Six-packs" to get some Rolling Rock for my dog-sitter and to gas up. I'm not pushing it since I covered so much distance yesterday so was on the road around 10:30 with a big mug of coffee and some cheese and crackers to nibble on. What a life! (I'm easily amused.) I got myself turned around a bit - hafta get a GPS before I go on the road on a regular basis - but found my way back to 219 and continued north.
Before we go on further, I'd like to comment on the LD handling. There was a discussion, somewhere else, about the relative merits of trailering vs motorhoming vis a vis road stability, interior noise and other issues. I was a bit nervous about my decision based on the numerous opinions that motorhomes get pushed around a lot by the big rigs. And I know that my Astro van gets pushed around. How much worse was the 26.5' LD going to be? May I tell you than I could barely feel those rigs going by? I could occasionally feel a slight nudge when they were overtaking but never when oncoming. I'm delighted with this. As for noise, well the jury is still out since I don't have a lot of rattley stuff onboard - styrofoam plates are very quiet. The stove cover was noisy so I laid a folded towel under the cover and that ended the stove rattles.
Rte 219 leads directly into I90/190 around Buffalo and Niagara Falls, which I followed up to Lewiston where I was to cross the border. This is only Thursday and according to the US Customs web site they want 72 hours written notice before exporting a vehicle and this was only 48 hours. I really wasn't "due" at the border until the next day, Friday, but I thought, what the Hell, maybe somebody got super efficient and my paperwork would be ready early. Silly me.
I found my way to room 135 at the Customs warehouse and met the single most unpleasant, tight-assed, woman I have ever had the mis-fortune to encounter. You couldn't pull a greased pin outta her b**t with pliers. I hate to say this about my own gender, but women can be the worst nitpickers and take the most pleasure in it. Here is a gal with some authority and likes it a whole lot too much. And now, they've gone and given her a G U N.
Not only was I not getting that rig across *her* border on Thursday but it wasn't even going to happen on Friday since for whatever reason, my fax didn't get to her until Wednesday. She was determined that I had to come back on Monday. When I explained that I had faxed the required 72 hours ahead of time and that the 72 hours were up on Friday she merely said she wasn't going to argue with me and then proceded to get on with her other administrivia. Well, she was the one with the gun so what was I supposed to do? Fortunately her superior officer came in asking what was going on. (Had he been eavesdropping?) I explained the situation, mentioning again that I had faxed on Tuesday and had the receipt to prove it, thank goodness. He took my receipt and exclaimed that of course the vehicle should be released on Friday and wrote on the slip that my rig was to be cleared at 8:00 AM Friday. YES!!!
Officer Tight Ass had steam pouring out her ears by now.
All I had to do now was to cool my heels for the night and report back the next morning. I wasn't getting home early but I wasn't stuck here for an extra three days. (Camping is expensive around Niagara Falls.) So I found a KOA with full hookups and free WIFI for $38.00 and settled in for the night. I was really looking forward to the next day and my meeting with Officer T A.
The KOA was very pleasant with grass and trees and nice level packed gravel parking pads. There was reasonable space between sites and the area was quiet. Electrical power was sufficient - 30 amp and the WIFI signal was strong.)
Next day I got my export stamp. I greeted her pleasantly; she ignored me. I thanked her and she sent me off with her opinion that if it were up to her, I'd have to wait 'till Monday. Since I had the form I needed, I replied that I was pleased that it wasn't up to her and left.
Only one more hurdle, Canada Customs. Fortunately a walk in the park: some waiting, some form-filling-out, some waiting, some money changing hands, some waiting and I am home-free. All that remained was a quick stop at the first Timmies en route and 90 miles later... home. Ahhhhh!
Ginger
Monday, October 1, 2007
Part Two - Being There
It's Monday morning in the Virginia countryside. There are green hills beyond hills beyond hills disappearing into haze. I pad around the garage peering out windows, sipping hot coffee and every once in a while looking back at the Lazy Daze sitting there: *my* Lazy Daze.
There are black cattle peppered over the surrounding fields. Moo-ing and munching and looking very pastoral. And there, close to the pond, one grass green cow. HUH?!
Later, I learned that the cows like to wade in the pond put there for drinking. The pond is rather deep and green pond plants float all over it's surface. If a cow has been submerged sufficiently, when it emerges it is covered with this green material. Sort of a life sized Chia Cow.
But back to the rig. She's an older gal - 15 years - and in remarkable shape. The inside is almost perfect. The carpeting in the living room and whatever was in the kitchen area have been replaced with hardwood parquet. I would prefer strips, but I'm content with the parquet. It needs a good waxing which it will get as soon as it's cooler.
The upholstery looks new. It's blue and brownish: acceptable although not to my taste. I will use throws in colours more to my liking. Eventually, I'll have the cushions re-upholstered but not any time soon. The cloth is repeated in the centre panels of the driver's and co-pilot's seats. The dinette cushions are navy and I want to replace these covers soon - too dark. And the fabric is velour which doesn't slide. Makes it really difficult for someone to slide into the inside position.
The bathroom is huge and the shower is almost as big as my shower at home. The shower has a big window which I will cover with some kind of translucent film. (bevelled glass or stained glass pattern ?) The floor is carpeted which must go ASAP.
The living room has two opposing couches. There is also, as mentioned above, a dinette. I think I will replace a couch or the dinette with a desk/workbench. Since there is very little counter space, it might be more workable to lose a couch. Opinions anyone?
We spent the morning going through the manuals and controls. And later at Wal*Mart shopping. I was a bit concerned when we got back with umpty-ump bags of stuff and groceries, but they disappeared into the cupboards barely touching the ample storage space. The freezer can best be described as "cozy". But the fridge is OK.
The heat was wearing me down. The A/C kept popping the circuit breaker so I was limited to a ceiling fan which just keeps the hot air moving. Better than nothing but not much. There are two additional small oscillating fans that are so loud they'd wake the dead. Pass on those.
Just enough time for a honey ham and Swiss cheese sandwich, (OK, OK, two sandwiches), a room temperature shower and bed.
Tuesday we go to the DMV to register the change in title. Gave the government computer conniptions over my lack of a valid Zip code. And paid $5.00 for a travel permit - no sales tax - goodie! Then off to fax all the required documentation to US Customs for the export of the rig. Long story short, this took about 4 hours. I won't bother you with the ugly details. It's a tale too horrible for your sensitive ears.
Tuesday AM Willie, (the seller), treats me to breakfast at a local diner she likes. I had scrambled eggs and biscuits so light they kept floating off the plate. It was heavenly. Willie had a biscuit with "gravy". The guy next to me at the bar had biscuits with "gravy". It was the worst looking stuff I've ever seen on a plate: glutinous off-white sauce with brown lumps in it.
Gravy should be a rich brown aromatic slightly runny sauce that fills the room with the scent of beef or pork or turkey or whatever. Nevertheless, these folks ate it with relish. But I found it difficult to watch.
Later that day I treated her to lunch at the restaurant of her choice. Back to the diner. And there on the menu, under sandwiches, I see BBQ. Not BBQ-ed something, just plain BBQ. Thinking back to a recent thread on an RVing newsgroup that went on and on about BBQ I decided to sample my first BBQ (not my first BBQ-ed something). I guess that makes me a qualified BBQ virgin. Sandwich comes with creamy coleslaw. Nirvana. Or maybe not.
The meat is what I'd call "pulled pork". It was mixed with what tasted like bottled hickory BBQ sauce and served on a grocery store hamburger bun. Oh well, there was still the coleslaw. Or maybe not.
Now hereabouts, creamy coleslaw is a simple pleasure: finely shredded cabbage, mayonnaise, salt and pepper: optionally with shredded carrot and or onion. This stuff had cabbage - I'm pretty sure - and some kind of dressing, largish black specks and an undertaste of something that had been sitting on the counter too long. Oh well. One meal out of two ain't bad.
Departure is scheduled for the morning, Wednesday. Tuesday night nothing that runs on gas um, runs. Both the gauge on the tank and the gauge inside read 1/2 and Willie wants to go to the RV dealer Wed morning. It can't be that both gauges are wrong. OK, if you say so.
We go to her regular shop and the owner checks the regulator and valves and opines that we're out of propane (no charge, nice folks). OK. Off we go to the propane place and buy 7.8 gallons: tank capacity (allowing for head room). Back home, drop off Willie, take some pictures, make some promises about writing etc and off I go. Heading back again. Oh boy!
Ginger
There are black cattle peppered over the surrounding fields. Moo-ing and munching and looking very pastoral. And there, close to the pond, one grass green cow. HUH?!
Later, I learned that the cows like to wade in the pond put there for drinking. The pond is rather deep and green pond plants float all over it's surface. If a cow has been submerged sufficiently, when it emerges it is covered with this green material. Sort of a life sized Chia Cow.
But back to the rig. She's an older gal - 15 years - and in remarkable shape. The inside is almost perfect. The carpeting in the living room and whatever was in the kitchen area have been replaced with hardwood parquet. I would prefer strips, but I'm content with the parquet. It needs a good waxing which it will get as soon as it's cooler.
The upholstery looks new. It's blue and brownish: acceptable although not to my taste. I will use throws in colours more to my liking. Eventually, I'll have the cushions re-upholstered but not any time soon. The cloth is repeated in the centre panels of the driver's and co-pilot's seats. The dinette cushions are navy and I want to replace these covers soon - too dark. And the fabric is velour which doesn't slide. Makes it really difficult for someone to slide into the inside position.
The bathroom is huge and the shower is almost as big as my shower at home. The shower has a big window which I will cover with some kind of translucent film. (bevelled glass or stained glass pattern ?) The floor is carpeted which must go ASAP.
The living room has two opposing couches. There is also, as mentioned above, a dinette. I think I will replace a couch or the dinette with a desk/workbench. Since there is very little counter space, it might be more workable to lose a couch. Opinions anyone?
We spent the morning going through the manuals and controls. And later at Wal*Mart shopping. I was a bit concerned when we got back with umpty-ump bags of stuff and groceries, but they disappeared into the cupboards barely touching the ample storage space. The freezer can best be described as "cozy". But the fridge is OK.
The heat was wearing me down. The A/C kept popping the circuit breaker so I was limited to a ceiling fan which just keeps the hot air moving. Better than nothing but not much. There are two additional small oscillating fans that are so loud they'd wake the dead. Pass on those.
Just enough time for a honey ham and Swiss cheese sandwich, (OK, OK, two sandwiches), a room temperature shower and bed.
Tuesday we go to the DMV to register the change in title. Gave the government computer conniptions over my lack of a valid Zip code. And paid $5.00 for a travel permit - no sales tax - goodie! Then off to fax all the required documentation to US Customs for the export of the rig. Long story short, this took about 4 hours. I won't bother you with the ugly details. It's a tale too horrible for your sensitive ears.
Tuesday AM Willie, (the seller), treats me to breakfast at a local diner she likes. I had scrambled eggs and biscuits so light they kept floating off the plate. It was heavenly. Willie had a biscuit with "gravy". The guy next to me at the bar had biscuits with "gravy". It was the worst looking stuff I've ever seen on a plate: glutinous off-white sauce with brown lumps in it.
Gravy should be a rich brown aromatic slightly runny sauce that fills the room with the scent of beef or pork or turkey or whatever. Nevertheless, these folks ate it with relish. But I found it difficult to watch.
Later that day I treated her to lunch at the restaurant of her choice. Back to the diner. And there on the menu, under sandwiches, I see BBQ. Not BBQ-ed something, just plain BBQ. Thinking back to a recent thread on an RVing newsgroup that went on and on about BBQ I decided to sample my first BBQ (not my first BBQ-ed something). I guess that makes me a qualified BBQ virgin. Sandwich comes with creamy coleslaw. Nirvana. Or maybe not.
The meat is what I'd call "pulled pork". It was mixed with what tasted like bottled hickory BBQ sauce and served on a grocery store hamburger bun. Oh well, there was still the coleslaw. Or maybe not.
Now hereabouts, creamy coleslaw is a simple pleasure: finely shredded cabbage, mayonnaise, salt and pepper: optionally with shredded carrot and or onion. This stuff had cabbage - I'm pretty sure - and some kind of dressing, largish black specks and an undertaste of something that had been sitting on the counter too long. Oh well. One meal out of two ain't bad.
Departure is scheduled for the morning, Wednesday. Tuesday night nothing that runs on gas um, runs. Both the gauge on the tank and the gauge inside read 1/2 and Willie wants to go to the RV dealer Wed morning. It can't be that both gauges are wrong. OK, if you say so.
We go to her regular shop and the owner checks the regulator and valves and opines that we're out of propane (no charge, nice folks). OK. Off we go to the propane place and buy 7.8 gallons: tank capacity (allowing for head room). Back home, drop off Willie, take some pictures, make some promises about writing etc and off I go. Heading back again. Oh boy!
Ginger
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