Sunday Q&A

I’m back with more questions from blog readers about RVing, my writing activities, what’s happening in our lives since we hung up the keys, and all kinds of other things. While I try to answer all questions individually, I also share some here occasionally.

Q. We purchased our first travel trailer in December and have been looking forward to spending the summer traveling along the Oregon Coast before we return to our teaching jobs in the fall. But every place we try to book a campground is full. Do you have any suggestions of how we can still make the trip and find places to stay?

A. There are other options besides regular campgrounds. If you join your local Elks lodge, there are lodges in Brookings, Florence, Newport, and Tillamook with RV parking. Here is an older blog post that will tell you more about this, though I am sure prices have changed since it was first posted, Camping With The Elks.

Q. My husband has severe sleep apnea and just received his first CPAP machine. He is apprehensive about getting used to it. I know you have been using one for a while now, and I think you said it was easier to adapt to than you expected. We would appreciate any suggestions you may have.

A. I use a Dreamwear mask with nasal pillows instead of a full-face mask and find it very comfortable. The first night I had a bit of trouble getting used to it, but now I can’t imagine not having it. I no longer wake up gasping for breath or keep Terry awake snoring all night long. Tell your husband to try wearing just the mask for an hour or so in the evening while watching TV or reading to get used to the feel of it on his face.

Q. I just got my printed copy of The Hard Years today. Four chapters in and it’s another great story in the Tinder Street saga Nick. It’s obvious you put a lot of research into these books to get all of the history right. I know a lot of the historical stuff about politics and wars and all that can be found online, but where do you find information about things you include like what movies were playing at a certain time or the weather on a given day in the story?

A. I am glad you are enjoying the series. Yes, I do a lot of research online, but I also have a subscription to Newspapers.com, which has newspapers from all over the country dating back generations, and I find it invaluable in researching the period.

Q. How come we haven’t heard anything about Miss Terry’s new loom? We are overdue for seeing one of her beautiful weaving projects.

A. Terry got the loom assembled just before we left for our month-long trip out west, and since we have returned home, she has been busy playing catch up with paperwork and things that accumulated while we were on the road. She is eager to get all of that behind her so she can start her first weaving project, and I’ll be sure to share it with everybody when she does.

Q. We are taking the grandkids to Disney World next month and then want to visit Cape Canaveral and Daytona Beach because my husband is a big NASCAR fan. The grandkids are eager to play in the ocean, but I keep hearing about shark bites in Florida lately. Should we keep them out of the water?

A. Yes, there have been a couple of terrible shark attacks recently, one on the Gulf Coast of Florida and one down in the Keys. New Smyrna Beach, the next town to us, is called the Shark Bite Capital of the World. The two recent attacks notwithstanding, most of the shark bites locally are from small sand sharks, and they are seldom serious. They usually mistake swimmers or surfers for food and bite but quickly let go when they realize it’s a human, not a fish. It’s always wise to take precautions and be aware of your surroundings, but in truth, you are probably in more danger driving to the beach than you are once you get in the water.

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Today is your last chance to enter our Free Drawing for an audiobook of Buck Fever, the first book in my friend Ben Rehder’s immensely popular Blanco County mystery series. If haven’t read any of Ben’s books, you have no idea what you are missing out on. Wacky characters, great humor, and superb writing. Give them a try. You won’t be disappointed.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) 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 this evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with U.S. addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed.

Thought For The Day – When in doubt, just take the next small step.