Met new folks - Day 527 (Yr 2, Day 149)

Asheville, NC

While taking out the trash, I noticed a new RV (Class A) pulled in and they had a banner on the front window: "Live, Love, Travel" and their website address:  RVLove.com.  Of course, I had to look them up, and it turns out they are also fellow RVillagers.  They are Marc & Julie Bennett and are really wonderful folks.  They also started full timing around the same time we did, but they have traveled much, much more.  Julie is originally from Australia, but they left their sticks & bricks home in Colorado.  They are much younger than we are (late 30's), and both work full time from their rig as well.  I'm glad we had the chance to hang out, even if it was only for an hour or 2 over a glass (or a few glasses!) of wine.

Tomorrow (Thurs, 11/26 - Thanksgiving day), we will be traveling to Raleigh to spend the holiday weekend with the kids and Doris.  Really looking forward to it!  My next post will hopefully have some exciting stuff to share.  If nothing else, a photo of a great feast!  Let's see if Jess can top last year's:  http://mitcheryl-rv-journey.blogspot.com/2014/12/day-155-of-journey-garner-nc.html

Fun Sunday - Day 525 (Yr 2, Day 147)

Asheville, NC

No postings this week, as it was all "same old, same old" -- work, work, work.  Saturday was a nice service at shul, but Sunday we allowed ourselves to take the day off for some fun.

At first, we had hoped to go to the Biltmore Estate.  However, when we added up the cost of admission, tour, food and probably wine from the winery (how can you go there and not buy any???), it would have been in the $250-300 range.  We decided that as spectacular (albeit ostentatious, although there's a lot of art dating to the 1500s - I could enjoy the historical aspect) place as it is, we just can't justify that kind of expense.  Even if we kept a tighter budget, it would still be close to $200.  Maybe we'll change our minds and go some time before we leave Asheville, but it's no longer a burning desire.

Our next choice was to do what's called the Urban Trail in downtown Asheville.  Kind of like the Boston Trail, there are 31 historical landmarks, indicated by a plaque in the sidewalk and a nearby sculpture.  There were a few in previous posts (the turkeys and hogs, as well as a girl watering a horse).  We thought that would be a lot of fun to do with our urb-es (and free) but it was the coldest day of the year so far -- 41 degrees with a wind chill of about 38.  It was just way too frigid for us to be out and about for so long.  That's definitely on our list of things we'd like to do soon.  So after doing a few chores (shul for their Channukah boutique where we needed to buy some candles and gelt (chocolate money to use for betting during our dreidel or poker games), Staples, a car wash (they don't do duallies), Trader Joes (nowhere to park so didn't do that either), we spent the afternoon in downtown at the Asheville Pinball Museum.

Now, this kind of place was right up our alley!  It is kind of a cross between an arcade and museum, with paraphernalia and machines dating back to the 1930s.  Best of all, most of the machines were available to play with the cost of admission ($13).  There were all kinds of pinball machines, old time video games (remember Pacman, Asteroids, Breakout?), and a shooting gallery.  They also had a bar that served beer.  We parked about 10 blocks away, so we rode the urb-es anyway.

Afterwards, we walked across the street to the Grove Arcade, where we looked in the windows at the gorgeous craft items, and then purchased some homemade fudge for Mitch and gifts.  We were going to eat at an Indian restaurant, but it was closed, so we went back home, first stopping at Edna's for some sandwiches.  All in all, except for the cold, a very fun day.  Here are some photos:

Nice Shabbat - Day 517 (Yr 2, Day 139)

Asheville, NC

The highlight of the weekend was a Shabbaton at the shul Friday night.  Basically, it's a big get-together which includes a nice meal, camaraderie, singing and words of wisdom.  We met a new person who is a farmer about 30 miles away -- he raises cattle and sheep for meat.  This is a very diverse community!   A good time was had by all.

Today - household chores and shopping.  Mitch should have his Urb-e back this week, so I really hope we can make time to get to Biltmore next Sunday.

The Day - Day 514 (Yr 2, Day 136)

Asheville, NC

I really wish I had more to report on, but this is same old, same old.  Although I do find it odd that I didn't blog on what Mitch and I did to celebrate our anniversary last year.  I know we were in Garner, NC (near Raleigh).  Did we go out to eat?  Did Jess and Griffin join us?  Can't remember at all, and sorry I didn't write about it.

So, I write about what we did last night, which wasn't very exciting, although we had a good time.  We did as planned - went to the new bar that opened down the road.  Since they don't serve food, we were in time to stop at the cafe there and pick up some sandwiches (very nice vegetarian and vegan choices.  The cafe is Edna's on the River and the bar is the Cascade Lounge.  It is small place with a very pleasant atmosphere.  The owners were there (1 is the bartender) were were extremely friendly.  We sat at a booth and enjoyed each other's company while we reminisced about our lives for the past 37 years.  Went out at 6:30, returned by 8:30.  Mitch had some technical stuff to do, and we went to bed by 9:30.

Today was another gorgeous day weather wise, although I shamefully admit I didn't take advantage of it.  I didn't feel like fussing with the urbe - getting it untarped and unlocked and then retarping and relocking it.  I did, however, go outside and met our new temporary next door neighbors, Phil & Eunice.  They bought a Starcraft TT 3 months ago (first RV) and just started traveling.  They are from Raleigh!  We had a nice chat for about 1/2 hr, then they had to leave to go to the world renowned Xmas display at the Biltmore Estates.  They leave Saturday, so not sure if I'll get to spend much more time with them.  It's been a while since I've been able to meet anyone here since the weather's been so bad and no one's been hanging out outside.

Beautiful day - Day 513 (Yr 2, Day 135)

Asheville, NC

At first it was a mystery. What was that strange color in the sky and that yellow orb?  Figured out it was a blue sky and the sun, something I haven't seen for quite a while!!!  There was no wind and it was about 60 degrees.  A bit on the cold side for me, but still a gorgeous day.  I took advantage and took a ride on my urb-e to Carrier Park where there was a LOT of activity.  So many bikers, joggers, dog walkers.  It's also a federal holiday (Veterans Day), so there were a lot of kids out.  There is a field in the park for English Lawn Bowling, and there was a game going on there, which I stopped to watch for a little while (it's very much like boccie).  The playground was loaded.  There was even a volleyball game going on on the sand court, as well as what appeared to be football practice.  Overall, a nice Fall day to be outdoors.

It is also mine and Mitch's 37th year anniversary!!!  Nothing fancy planned.  We're going to new bar that opened up the street for a drink or 2, just to get away from the house for a few hours.  Hopefully we'll get there before the adjacent cafe closes so we can bring in some food; otherwise we'll run up the street and bring back some Chinese.  As long as I don't have to cook.  Reason for not going fancier: Mitch gets home late, exhausted, and is in no mood to drive very far and have to deal with trying to find a place to park since the best places are in the downtown area.

Very productive day - Day 511 (Yr 2, Day 133)

Asheville, NC

Yesterday (Sunday) was finally a very productive day.  Although very cloudy, the rain stayed at bay, and Mitch told his boss he really needed the day off (he's now required to work 50 hrs/week plus 5 hrs on Sundays).

We got up at 8:00.  By end of day, I had done 4 loads of wash (I do a load every week, but got caught up with towels, sheets and assorted "back burner" stuff).  We started out with me making a very fancy omelet while Mitch did a major bathroom/toilet cleaning.  Around the bottom of the bowl and under the plastic covering was getting extremely disgusting (Mitch calls it "boy stuff" -- you can use your imagination).  It was so bad that the bathroom had a bad odor and it's not something the mop could get at.  It required his getting down on his hands and knees and cleaning it with a sponge.  Nice and fresh now!

The next project was getting rid of those box elder bugs and putting up screening so nothing can get into the vent areas again.  We took a trip to Lowes and bought a spray bottle and fine mesh screening.  Some folks suggested that a solution of Dawn dish soap and water would work on killing those bugs without the fear of spraying flammable insecticide into an area heated with propane.  Oddly enough, it worked wonders!!!  We had a huge pile of seemingly hundreds of dead bugs immediately after spraying.  Mitch then spent some time cutting down the mesh and affixing it to the inside of all the open vents where bugs could creep in.  Well, not all -- still need to do the refrigerator vents (which requires a ladder) and go up on the roof where I'm sure there are tons in the a/c vents.

The next big project was cleaning out and organizing the truck.  For our friends and family who remember what our garage in the sticks & bricks house looked like -- well, that's pretty much what the truck had become, with all Mitch's tools and junk strewn all over the place.  It was really time to clean it up and reorganize stuff.  I think we can finally find a place for someone to sit in the back again!  (If the previous owner ever saw this, he'd have major conniptions!)  In addition to cleaning the inside, the truck has gone thru a few mud baths and we haven't had the chance to bring it to a truck wash, so Mitch tried to clean it by hand.  He got 1/4 (back door) done.

There were still a few other projects I wanted to accomplish, but by now it was getting late and we were both exhausted, so we called it quits.  We treated ourselves to some nice cocktails and got a little drunk (one of us, no names mentioned but of the male gender, much more than the other).

Today was yet another rainy day and the river is almost at the top of the bank again.

Regarding Mitch's work, I already mentioned that he has to work a mandatory 10 hour/day Mon-Fri plus about 5 hrs on Sunday.  This is because there is a legal requirement that gas lines be inspected within a certain amount of time, otherwise the company will face major fines.  It must be accomplished by the end of the year, which is why they're revving up the hours.  All the rain hasn't helped at all either.  At least we know there's an end in sight.  We will most likely be moving by the end of the year.  To where is anyone's guess at this point.  When we started this lifestyle, it was with the plans that the work would follow us.  It is quite the opposite now -- we have to go where the work is.  But we are extremely grateful and blessed that there is work.  In 2 years we'll be able to collect from our 401K plans, so we just need to be patient.

More bugs, and this week's musings - Day 508 (Yr 2, Day 130)

Asheville, NC

It has been a very slow week for me, business wise.  Unfortunately, I'm not at the point of feeling confident enough to try to take my urb-e on a bus, which pretty much means just riding around the greenways.  The weather has also been pretty lousy, so not much incentive to even sit outside by the river.  This, too, shall pass so I'll just try to enjoy the peace and quiet and calm while it lasts.

I made a little investment this week ($15) -- a Dirt Devil stick vacuum.  Although I love my central vac, it really is a royal pain to take it out and assemble it, just to suck up a small area.  It's great when I need to do a full house vacuum, but for a quick pick-up, I think this will work out much better.  And being a stick, it shouldn't take up much space.

As for Mitch, he learned today that he will now be required to work 10 hour days M-F because the surveys are incredibly behind in this area.  They are trying to bring in more folks, but the constant rain this past month has set things even further back.  At least it's good money, but it will definitely put a damper on evening plans, and I don't even know how to handle Friday nights (Shabbat), especially now that candle lighting is in the 5:00 time frame and he won't get home until after 6.

And now for the title about the bugs.  We still have some stink bugs, but I'm only killing 2-3 a day instead of about 15-20.  However, they are now replaced by box elder bugs, which swarm and get into every crevice.  They are now outside, getting into the furnace and refrigerator vents, as well as covering almost every surface area.  This is just a small sampling.  Unfortunately, I don't think it would be very safe to use insecticide as it's flammable and the appliances they're getting into are propane.  I'm trying to explore other options.