Who turned off the heat? It looks and feels like winter here in Elkhart, Indiana. We’ve had a lot of wind, a little rain, and the daytime temperatures have not climbed above the mid-50s the last few days and are not going to get above the low 60s for the next week or so. I sure hope it starts to warm up soon.
At least it’s good sleeping weather. Between the cold, dreary days and the fact that our bodies have not adjusted to changing three times zones yet, it’s really hard to get out of bed in the morning. Then when you throw in our new mattress, I just may hibernate for a week or so. Seriously, this new mattress is so comfortable that the last few days I’ve woken up and nothing hurt. The first couple of times it scared the hell out of me because I thought I was dead!
We’ve been busy getting the new issue ready to mail and dealing with the post office, which is always a hassle. Printing and mailing each issue gets more expensive and the folks at the post office seem to get less and less efficient by the week. A couple of weeks ago they returned several copies of the March-April issue of the paper, which were mailed two months ago, saying they had the wrong address on them. Those included Elkhart Campground and other addresses we know are valid.
Then when our mail arrived yesterday there were two or three more returned envelopes with the previous issue inside. They were from longtime subscribers with proven addresses like the Escapees mail service in Texas, but returned with notations saying there was no such address. So we have upset customers because they didn’t get their paper on time, and the expense of sending them out a second time. I’ve always said we would never switch to a strictly digital format, but I sure do understand why so many publications have.
When we were in Arizona a few weeks ago, Bank of America announced it was closing down many of its small town branches, including in Show Low, where my daughter lives. Yesterday we discovered that the branch here in Elkhart has also gone away. Just like the post office, they charge more and more and deliver less and less.
After the post office and bank, we stopped at RV Parts Nation (formerly RV Surplus) to see our friend Trina Ambris. It was nice to see her after so long and we had a nice visit. We need to replace our Splendide washer/dryer and Trina said she’d see what was available. Terry really doesn’t like going to the laundromat, so she’s eager to get a new unit installed.
One of the things we really look forward to when we’re here in Elkhart is dinner at King Wa, one of our favorite Chinese restaurants in the country. When our chores were done yesterday we decided we deserved a treat, and the food was just as good as we remembered. I’m sure we’ll make it back there a few more times while we’re here.
We are still taking orders for autographed copies of the printed version of Miss Terry’s Kitchen
A couple of days ago I mentioned the possibility of holding a self-publishing workshop here at Elkhart Campground after Escapade. If we can get enough interest, it will be the 19th and/or 20th. Please let me know if you would like to attend.
Have you entered our latest Free Drawing yet? This week’s prize is an audiobook of The Last Call, the first book in my pal George Weir’s excellent Bill Travis Mystery series. All you have to do is click on the Free Drawing link and enter your name in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening.
Thought For The Day – Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does not necessarily mean it should come out of my mouth.
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Nick Russell
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We are snowbirds not full timers but I know what you mean about the post office. We spent this past winter in the Mission Texas area. We sent 7 packages to our kids and grandkids the week after Thanksgiving. 4 arrived fine, 1 got there crushed like somebody had stomped on it more than once, 1 showed up the first week of January and 1 never did get there. In January I sent my daughter a priority mail letter that was returned to me almost 3 weeks later with a note that there was no such address. The address was our house, where she was living for the winter and where we have lived since 1989! When I complained to the postmaster I was told that we must have addressed the envelope and packages wrong. Like I don’t know the address where I have lived for almost 25 years???
Fiction: Here I am on my way to drudgery; that would be work; no one next to me has ever had to do that before. I overheard a conversation once at McDonalds about something that they called the service industry. I and convinced that I am not a servant.They have to clean stuff and can get fired if they don’t step too. I feel sorry for those people,but that’s not me,I cant ever get let go. I wonder how much money I will make in the pool today.You know,thats the cash that comes out of all of those birthday cards that we open.I can’t waite until I retire at full benefits. Lord almighty, I am thankful for the internet and the American education system.Otherwise,I’d have to sort all kinds of stuff.The pool money was pretty good though.I hate my congressman.Why you ask? Well that bulk mail that they dump on me doesn’t have one cent in it. And he says that he is working for me!……….
Tomorrow, May 2, is “First Friday,” in Goshen. There will be food, fun, entertainment, performers, shopping, runners, walkers, lots to do and see for visitors. Come celebrate Goshen! My highschool graduating class formed a scholarship years ago and we operate a food venue to help fund our scholarship to which all proceeds go. I will be working there all day. Downtown will be closed off for the festivities. You can read more here at cityonthego.org.
Nick could you please send me the location at which you purchased your new mattress?
Fonda and just figured that YOU brought the bad weather with you.
Richard, we ordered it online from Sam’s Club.
We dumped BOA when they decided to charge us to take OUR money out of an ATM and went to USAA. I would think you, as a veteran, would also. Their service is excellent. We’ve had our Debit card stolen about 5-6 times and when we had a problem with it while with BOA, I’d call them about an unauthorized charge and I’d have to wait until it POSTED to my account before they’d do anything. USAA will correct it as soon as you call them and immediately cancel the card and issue new ones. Banking isn’t their only service, They offer a whole range of financial services. They don’t have local branches but you can do anything you need to do over the internet. If you need to use an ATM, you just find one and use it. If your charged a transaction fee, they refund it. Check them out.
We are returning to Indianapolis, Indiana because John needs a pacemaker, per his cardiologist. Telemetry is a great thing! But. the point is, will you please order warmer weather? We have reached Amarillo and already are freezing at 42 degrees!
If the pacemaker “install” goes as expected, I would like to attend your seminar, but it would be a last minute thing.
We have the warmer temps here in Visalia California, in the 90s. Also a very good chinese place for you to try if in the area, new star.
Cheer up Nick, Winter is almost over. The latest in the year that it has snowed, here in Fort Wayne, was May 4. That was in 1954. I got off the bus and mowed the lawn for the first time in the year, about half way thru, it started snowing, by the time I was done, I was pushing a half inch of snow thru the mower. I ended up with a cold for my high school graduation.