Definition of potpourri – 1: a mixture of flowers, herbs, and spices that is usually kept in a jar and used for scent. 2: a miscellaneous collection. The second definition above pretty much describes today’s blog. This is another post in a collection of miscellaneous thoughts and info that I’m sharing because I really don’t have anything else to talk about today.
Do you have Kidde fire extinguishers in your home or RV? If so, you may be at risk. The company is recalling 40 million of their fire extinguishers with plastic handles because of malfunctions that have already resulted in one death, as well as several people being burned. Owners of Kidde fire extinguishers should contact the company immediately to request a free replacement fire extinguisher and for instructions on how to return the recalled unit. You can call Kidde toll free at (855) 271-0773 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time Monday – Friday, and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday and Sunday, or go online www.kidde.com and click on the “Product Safety Recall” link for more information.
Speaking of fire extinguishers, RVs are not like houses. Different materials are used in their manufacture, and they require different fire extinguishers than the kind you buy at Walmart. And yes, new RVs always come with a fire extinguisher. Usually just one. How much good do you think that will do if your rig catches fire? And do you remember how cheap everything else is in most RVs? That’s because the manufacturers want to get by for the least investment they can. Do you want to bet your life and your home on wheels on a fire extinguisher made by the lowest bidder? From the first week we started RVing we carried a variety of fire extinguishers from Mac McCoy, better known as Mac The Fire Guy because of the RV fire safety seminars he has put on at RV rallies across the country for 20 years. Mac sells only the best products, which are designed for RVs. I guarantee he will take good care of you.
I had an interesting email exchange yesterday with somebody who is researching the fulltime RV lifestyle and had quite a few questions, which is not uncommon. What was different about this person was that she doesn’t know how to drive a car and has a medical condition that prevents her from doing so. Her plan is to purchase a small Class C motorhome, or maybe a B van, and then hire someone to drive her from point A to point B, then she will pay their bus fare home. She plans to stay at every location at least a month, and maybe as much as three months, and when it’s time to move again, she will hire somebody else to drive her to her next stop. I’m not sure how that’s going to work out, but who knows? Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Way back in 2011, when my first Big Lake book made the New York Times bestseller list, a few people thought we were going to close down the Gypsy Journal and retire and live off the revenue from that one book. Obviously, they didn’t know much about the book industry. One person in particular never let go of that and every few months I would get an email from him asking me when we were going to pull the plug, now that I’m rich and famous. He wrote yesterday to say “I told you so” when he heard that we were no longer going to be producing the paper. Yeah, I guess you were right, Barry. You were six years early in your prediction, but you are right. Well, all except that part about me being rich and famous. Instead, I’m just old and tired.
And while we’re on the topic of books, my newest release, Badge Bunny, already has 10 Amazon reviews and they are all 5 stars. Thank you for your support, everybody. Those reviews and you telling your friends about my books really has made a difference. Meanwhile, I cranked out a little over 6,000 words in my next Big Lake mystery yesterday, bringing my total up to a little over 14,000 words since I started it last Monday.
Can you believe how fast Christmas is coming? Actually, can you believe how fast this year has gone by? Just in time for Christmas, my friend Jason Deas has released a new book called 101 Things to do with your Christmas Elf. It’s a book of ideas for parents and grandparents for what to do with your elf on the shelf. Jason is going to be giving away 10 copies of the book this week, and you could be a winner. Click this link to find out more and help spread the word about a good book by a great guy. I’d consider it a personal favor. https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/2361908e67024f15
A lot of you do your online shopping by clicking this Amazon link or the Amazon Search box at the top right sidebar of this blog. We appreciate that because when you purchase an item on Amazon any time of the year from one of our links, we earn a small commission, which helps us offset the cost of publishing the blog.
Congratulations Beckie Dobbins, winner of our drawing for an audiobook of my friend Suzie O’Connell’s Starlight Magic, from her popular Northstar romance series. We had 45 entries this time around. Stay tuned, a new contest starts soon.
Thought For The Day – The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected. – Robert Frost
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Mac the fire guy once told us the extinguishers that come with your RV are generally the ones that make a huge mess of things. Like you, we bought a bunch of his including one for the back of the fridge and one for the engine compartment. Kind of hard to get to either of the places if that’s where your fire starts.
Concerning the lady who couldn’t drive and wants to RV. We met a legally blind man in a 5th wheel some years ago. He moved every month to 3 months. He would hire some one who had a vehicle to tow his 5th wheel and take him and his dog along. He stayed in the south west USA and didn’t move very far each time. But he was being successful living in an RV. I can imagine if you wanted to move frequently or travel long distances this might not work.
Thank you, for the information about the fire extinguishers.