Sometimes I get up in the morning, take a look at myself in the mirror and get really depressed. I’ll tell you what, if I had known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken a lot better care of myself. Roly poly may look cute in polyester, but naked, it’s just wrong.
Even when I’m dressed it’s not pretty. I remember having hair on the top of my head. Contrary to what you might think, I didn’t go bald. I still have the same amount of hair I always did, it’s just migrated south. I don’t think I could pass for one of the mop top Beatles from the 1960s, but I’m pretty sure if I trimmed my ears, nostrils, and eyebrows I could come up with enough hair to make a halfway decent toupee. And if I got Miss Terry to shave my back, I’d have enough for a rug for my buddy Greg White too.
And at least Greg can fix things! Give me a tool, any tool, and I’ll get into trouble. Years ago, long before we started our fulltiming adventure, I decided to get my vehicles ready for the winter and I broke three cars in less than two hours. True story! I kept the local mechanics in winter firewood and booze just with what I paid them on a monthly basis! So no matter what my loving and supportive wife says, I’ve got good reason to be down on myself at times.
But then I hear from somebody who makes me say, “Heck, Nick, it could be worse. You could be like that guy. Being pretty or handy isn’t everything.” Here’s an example of what I’m talking about.
A few days before Christmas I posted a blog on Gift Ideas For RVers, and one of the items I suggested was a Progressive Industries Electrical Management System. We had an EMS in our MCI bus conversion, and it saved us from major damage three different times. When we sold the bus and got our Winnebago Ultimate Advantage, an EMS was the first thing we had installed.
A blog reader told me that most of the things I recommended were a waste of money and that the chances of needing an EMS or a tire pressure monitoring system (something else I suggested in the same blog) were slim to none. He said he’d rather save his money and use it to buy diesel fuel. Three days ago I heard from the same blog reader, telling me that he had to eat crow because he had just fried his TV, satellite TV receiver, microwave, computer and a couple of other things in his motorhome while plugged into a bad campground electrical outlet. I’m not sure if the problem was a power spike, or low power, which can be just as deadly to electrical components.
I really wanted to say “I told you so,” but instead I sent him contact information for Daryl Lawrence from Lawrence RV Accessories and Phil May from TechnoRV , both of whom carry EMS systems, and suggested he get one ASAP. I took the liberty of pasting in his reply below.
“The damage has already been done. It’s going to cost me too much as it is to replace everything. Besides I’m still not convinced I’ll ever need one again. Lighting doesn’t in strike the same place twice.”
Yeah, Nick, ease up on yourself. You’re not that bad after all.
Thought For The Day – You, out of the gene pool – Now!
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Gee Nick, you’re in big trouble. Red Green says that, “if your woman doesn’t find you handsome, then she’d better find you handy!” Better hope Terry is far sighted 🙂
The guy who is sure that lightning will not strike twice should remember the definition of insanity … repeating the same action and expecting a different result!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Nick, your about the best looking short, bald, fat guy I know and am proud to call a friend. By the way, talk to Lee Traveno, his been hit three times by lighting!
years ago I took husband to eye store as his vision wax bad. Wd returned to pick up glasses. Avter the fitting he turned to me and said ” I thought you told me you lost weight” one of the funniest things he ever did. The looks on the employees faces…….
Hi Nick…..do you have the hardwired version, or the portable version? If you have the hardwired, was it easy to install? Your story has convinced me to take action today to protect myself….I wish I would have had this in Vancouver back in August when I accidentally plugged into 240 volts and fried my microwave/convection, expensive coffee maker, and converter charger.
Maybe he’s right. If he’s going to stay put, hooked up to a decent electrical pedestal his “lightening doesn’t strike twice” philosophy might work. But he’s probably going to put the key in the ignition and move on to another campground and another electric hook up. In that case, the lightening isn’t finding him, he’s finding it.
We have a Progressive EMS hard wired into our 5th wheel. Karen insisted that I install one because Nick said it was a good idea. Well it has saved us a couple of times due to surges and low voltage. I will never be without one. I will answer Clarke’s question: If you have some basic knowledge of AC electrical systems it is not that difficult to install. But if you are not comfortable cutting into to main wire coming into your rig then I would have a professional due it.
What a wonderful love story.
Some people we should feel sorry for. That guy isn’t one of them.
JC
Clarke,
I have the hard wired version. I installed the one in our bus conversion, it wasn’t that difficult if you follow the directions ad have a basic knowledge of electricity. I’ve gotten lazy since then and had Lawrence RV Accessories install the one in our Winnebago.
Ha, Nick….I get the same thing all the time. Each makes their own choice and lives with the results. You may not need a seat belt or an air bag ever, either. But what happens when you DO need them. Personally, I’d rather avoid the hassle and inconvenience of fixing stuff….But then again, some would just say that I “drank the Koolaide”. 🙂 What flavor are you serving today, Nick?
I have lost count on the number of times we have found faulty electrical outlets in campgrounds. I always get the same basic answer from the campground, “we know we have some bad electrical boxes, we are just waiting for the campers to tell us they are bad.” Nothing like having our RVs be their circuit testers like the fellow that email you was. Will he also stop buying auto insurance after he has an accident?
Regarding the guy who didn’t think that an EMS was needed, my comment is:
A FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED!