February Q&A

I’m back with more questions from blog readers. While I try to answer all questions individually, I also share some here occasionally.

Q. I’ve read the blog posts you’ve done about building your bus conversion. That is something I’ve always wanted to do. I have a chance to buy a 2006 Thomas Saf-T-Liner school bus with a Caterpillar diesel engine and Allison automatic transmission. Would this be a good choice for a bus conversion project for full time RVing?

A. I would stay away from a school bus if I were considering another conversion project. Many campgrounds don’t allow school bus conversions, and they can be hard to find insurance for. They also don’t have the storage bays that an MCI or other over the road passenger bus would have, which greatly limits how much cargo you can carry with you and makes it difficult to install holding tanks.

Q. Work has kept me from reading your blog every day, but I’ve been catching up over the weekend. I was interested in your comments about the gentleman who wanted to get a .44 Special handgun for self-defense. I know from the reading I have done that you have an impressive collection of firearms. My question is, what do you carry on a daily basis, Nick?

A. I usually carry a Kimber Ultra CDP II .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol. It is compact, reliable, and accurate. It is also easy to conceal under just a t-shirt when worn with a Don Hume inside-the-pants holster.

Q. My sister recently turned me on to your Big Lake books, and I have worked my way through the first 12 so far and love them. Sis said she thought you had mentioned at one time the possibility of them being made into a television mini-series? Did that ever happen? Because if so, I really want to watch it.

A. I was approached a few years ago about the possibility of a mini-series based on the Big Lake books, but after looking at the numbers that were being offered and the commitments they wanted from me in return, I declined the offer. It would have placed too many restrictions on what I could and could not do in terms of continuing the series and in which direction it would go.

Q. Would you tell me where Miss Terry was treated for cancer? I know it was someplace in Michigan, and you were very happy with their services. I have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and I’m not comfortable with the facilities located in my area here in central Michigan.

A. I’m very sorry to hear of your diagnosis. We will keep you in our prayers. Terry received her treatment at the Biederman Cancer Treatment Center in Traverse City, Michigan. It has since been replaced with the Cowell Family Cancer Center at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

Q. I seem to remember that you were from Toledo, Ohio. I’ve always been a big fan of the M*A*S*H television series, and I remember Corporal Klinger talking about a famous restaurant in Toledo. Is there really such a place, and is it still open?

A. Actor Jamie Farr, who played the role of Corporal Max Klinger, was born and raised in Toledo, and the restaurant he referred to is Tony Packos. It was always popular in Toledo, but it became world-famous after Klinger referred to it several times in episodes of M*A*S*H. Yes, it is still open, and they now have four locations, as well as an online store. The original restaurant remains at 1902 Front Street in Toledo.

Congratulations Diana Ruelens, winner of our drawing for a Camping Journal & RV Travel Logbook donated by Barbara House. Barbara makes several variations of these, and they all have pages where you can list the date, weather, where you traveled to and from that day, beginning and ending mileage, campground information including amenities at RV sites, a place for campground reviews, room to record activities, people met along the way, reminders of places to see and things to do the next time you’re in the area, and a page for notes for each day. Note: We have several of these books, with different covers. The cover displayed may or may not be the one received.

We had 15 entries this time around. Stay tuned, a new contest starts soon! Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books and audiobooks to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed.

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

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.

Thought For The Day – I’ve got a sense of humor, a dirty mind, and a beautiful heart. I’m like a Hallmark card written by Betty White.