Business Travel

After making friends in other campgrounds on other storms, this site has been unusual in that I’ve made no friends. The campground has other campers who are working in the area and they get together around one of the barbeques for dinner but only one person has ever said hello to me.
So yesterday an older man was walking around when I opened up my door to let some cooler air in. He asked me if he could camp next to me and I told him that it was not my campground, nor did I care where he camped. He went on to tell me that he was staying in his truck but was going back to his house then would return with his RV. I personally didn’t really care what his plans were as I was trying to finish up and get out.
He then saw that my plates are California plates and told me that I was smart to leave CA and come to live in “God’s Country” to which I replied that I preferred CA and would be returning there soon.
I went back into the RV and didn’t give it any more thought.
This morning I was working on estimates when I heard the guy tell the campground manager that the pretty woman “in that RV told me I could stay here”. He went on to tell the manager that he would be back and that we would have a party. I’m thinking Good Luck Buster!
The manager left and the guy came over telling me thru the screen door what he had told the manager. He then asked if I would stay. I said no, that I was leaving tomorrow. He asked me why would I want to go back to CA and I told him “because I prefer it, everything is better there”. He then asked if I was married and I said yes to which he replied that was disappointing. He then told me how his wife had left him (what a shock) and how he had an RV but the fuel was too expensive so he camped in his truck.
I chased him off by saying I had too much work to do so I could get out of Oklahoma. I would not be back anytime soon. Now I will be back soon but not to see him!

I’m finished here in Oklahoma/Kansas!!!! WooHoo!!! Well I guess because that means that once these are finished I’m also finished with my billing. I’d really like to make a little more $$.

When I think about what needs to be paid for: stock up on wine, a new photo printer but not just any photo printer this one is the new Epson 2400,a new computer with mega amount of memory for my photos, a new tripod, pay off a credit card or bill, trademark the names for my businesses and get the USDA testing for the 4 types of cookies. Wow, this list is long but most of these things are not on the list that we made to do in 10 months.

No room for home improvements at all, no new flooring or stove, no new paint on the walls or fixing up the Ferrari or Jag. So it is exciting to think that the businesses that I’ve dreamed of for years can be launched but depressing that our payoff plans have gone to hell in a hand-basket.

Twinks and I left at 7:30 a.m. for a little place just past Dodge City, KS. I had Map Quested everything but didn’t bother to check how long it would take to get there. I figured an hour to 1-1/2 hours should be plenty. Well 2-1/2 hours later I arrived. Now this was after a breakfast in which my milk turned out to be soured, like really spoiled. I’d tried to eat the cereal anyway but just couldn’t force it down.
So my first claim threw the other three late and later. Finally by 5pm we got back to the RV hot and tired. Fortunately it was cooler today so never got over 90F but that was hot enough. And of course my last claim had 2 separate buildings the back being a two story so we had to get the ladder up the interior stairs in the garage then set up on a small balcony.
On the way to my last claim I was driving along when Twinks stood up and barked at me. I stopped the truck and got her out, and she let out diarrhea. Glad I stopped when I did. I don’t need a repeat of the Seattle incident!
So if I complain about today no one will listen, no one was killed, or hurt. Just a bunch of hassles.
Tomorrow is my last day of inspections. I’m always thinking about being extra careful on my last day in a city. Don’t want to get distracted and then get hurt.

After the humiliation of going into Wal-Mart the battery charger gave a little charge to the batteries then quit and said that a cell was shorting. This means that the batteries were bad.
Yesterday I had a claim in Guymon, the 1st I’ve had in the town. Since I was meeting a realtor I thought he would be a good one to ask about who could help me with the batteries. Now the batteries in the RV are a Deep Cycle not just any battery but I needed help quickly.
The realtor called his friend who owns a parts store, Jeff Graue, who told me that he would come by when he had someone to relieve him at his store.
Just after 4pm Jeff came by and took a look at the battery situation. He wasn’t sure how he would hook up 1 12-volt in the place of the 2 6-volts but he called another friend and then assured me that they would have everything hooked up this morning while I was doing my inspections. He said that I could come into the store on Monday and pay what I owed.
Sure enough, when I returned from my inspections the new battery was installed and the AC and fridge were working great.
As Thelma Rick wrote in her “This I believe" essay, “… I believe in humanity”. Many people are good in this world and Jeff Graue is a gem!

My claims are in the panhandle area of Oklahoma and southwest Kansas for now. I live in an RV park in the panhandle, a little town called Guymon, Ok.

The RV park has farm land on 2 sides and a couple of houses to the west. We are on a main road over which probably 50 vehicles travel a day. Across the street is more farmland. The farmland is more for cattle than anything else. I saw about 8 cows today in the field. Everything is flat and very few trees anywhere.

This area is interesting to me. Most of you know that I was born and raised in L.A., graduated from Cal State L.A. I’m just a city girl who still loves the “big” city. So when Dale and I took over the family farm in Shafter it was quite a shock to move to a small town. But the small town was only 2 hours from L.A. and 4 hours from San Francisco so I could survive even though I hated the small town mentality.

Here most people in surrounding towns have heard of Guymon. Funny, I look at the place and wonder why anyone would live here. The town is really a sad town in a way; stores, like in many places, have closed up. The stores that are left are the “Dollar Stores” and stores that sell stuff that I can’t imagine who’d buy it. There are only a couple of grocery stores but there is the Walmart. I’m guessing that Walmart has done what they have done in so many cities; chase out all of the little guys then go in and take over. Those of you who know me well know that I hate Walmart for the way they treat the women and their business practices. I refuse to shop there except that there is almost nowhere else to shop.

I’ve driven around most of the little towns here now and find that houses are also just sad looking, older, in need of some TLC.

The alcohol rules are so crazy too. I’ve never had to live with them before and wouldn’t you know I only brought 2 bottles of wine along. Usually I bring at least 1 case but this time I was in a hurry and didn’t think ahead. There is virtually no selection and tax upon tax has been added onto each bottle making them much more expensive than at home. GURR!

Thank goodness this storm isn’t big so I’ll be out of here soon.