The Gypsy Rose

The Gypsy Rose

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Re-Reading blog, your comments...

So, after re-reading the blog from start to finish, I seem a little schizzie!  We went from CY 396, RW 395, a reg 5th, back to a th, but looking at the 38 series.  Now, it's final, it's done...the RW 405 is ordered and being built..JUST FOR ME!!  YAY!!

Kinda funny that almost a year ago, Pirate was having severe cold feet.  Now look at us!

Our local Ford Dealership sent us a notice that there was a recall notice for the computer chip and this fix would help with gas mileage, etc.  Well, now the truck won't even start!  We are being extremely patient and allowing them time to make it right...before we go medieval on their asses.

Now Miss Tracie is wanting to move to Seattle!  Her dream has always been in that city, so we're behind her 100%.  We had to kinda put a damper on her plans with a dose of the 'hey, take your time and make smart choices here' because she was on a 2 week plan.  Now she's going to wait just one more month so she can save her dollars and give us the time to arrange things so we can help with the move.  She will rent a storage unit there in IF, then, we will travel to IF, after we rent storage here, and combine assets, move beds and big items to Seattle after that point.

We're hoping to travel to Michigan around mid-May to pick up the Hauler.  That should be perfect timing all around.

Willie says hello to his fans!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Here’s the ‘Plan”

 

405

So, here is the floor plan

We are so ready to hit the road, too.  Our wonderful representative at General RV, Christine, has been tirelessly working with us and deserves a medal in Patience!  LOL! I’m sure she has had much worse…we sure appreciate her, though.

Been going through pictures today.  I’ll be purchasing the scanner/fax/printers early in April, so I am getting everything ready.  Unfortunately, some of the pictures have ‘welded’ themselves to their frames.  Those, I hope, I can just copy right in the frame.  Once all the pics are uploaded and transferred to ‘sticks’ each kiddo will get one, and as far as the hard copies, we will divide them and the frames between them.

Oh, I cannot wait to start moving into our new home! Pirate had bettered have a good idea where he wants to put his things and arrange them…I’ll be busy in the kitchen!

 

Here’s to getting a lot of stuff sorted and some of it off the the shelter, or the dump, depending on the item.  We have been blessed to be able to help a growing young family purchase the condo, and my sweet T(win) F(of) L(ife) TFL Bugs will be buying Ruby the PT Cruiser.  We really want to help those we can with our things the kids won’t be taking.  Wow it’s gonna be sweet!! 

 

Happy Weekend, Everyone! SmileOpen-mouthed smileDisappointed smile

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

We laughed, We cried, we celebrated

After well over a year of research, planning, yearning, hesitation, death of our Boy, the kids going all different directions, making back-up plans to the back-up plan...here we are!  April 15th...wow.  Six months to the day of Boone's death.  It just amazes me that time has gone by that fast, and leaves me a little worried that I will blink and 10 years will have gone by!  The last 10 sure did...Tracie was 16 and my biggest worry was that I couldn't make all the other cars NOT drive next to her (don't laugh, but this was the hardest thing for me, knowing I couldn't protect her 24/7 anymore). Tony was losing his teen at 20, and our oldest, Amy, was a legal eagle at 21 and could drink wine with her Daddy.  Whew, it whizzed by!

I'll be working with Christine from General RV later today to order our home.  We get to join the Heartland Owner Club, Good Sam's, KOA and Camping World.  Yep, we have a huge learning curve ahead, but one we are ready to face head on and DEVOUR!!  It's finally GO TIME!!  Now, all of the little things we've been doing are starting to add up. I'm glad I have the pile of info on different states and towns, sent by their Chambers of Commerce, happily organized and waiting to be perused.

I'm glad I had a flash of "We could fit a catbox here" while looking over brochures of 5-ers.  We didn't have a cat at that time, but I figured we'd probably rescue one on the road.  I'll never forget that June evening when Tony came over, kitten in hand.  I simply said, "Is that for ME?" "Yep!"  "REALLY!" "Really, Mom...if you want it!"  Pirate knew instantly we now owned a cat and wisely did not say a word.  Thank Goodness Tony just came over instead of calling.  Smart man, my son!

Just as I knew I'd have a cat someday by looking at different models, when I saw the RW 405, I instantly thought, "Willie's treefort will fit here, next to the loft, so he can climb around up there." I just 'knew' this was to be our model.  And since we get to order it and we get to decided what does and does not get installed, we are in Heaven.  We are NOT getting those electric beds in the garage area, so now Pirate can use ALL of the wall space without worrying about machinery and leaving enough room.

We are so happy to be down sizing, simplifying, giving away our 'treasure' to the kids before we die.  How lucky is that, to be able to help your children while you're still kicking and they are still young enough to really be helped.  And we get to see them enjoy their stuff!  Yes, Tony purchased the Old Girl--at a steal of a price, by design--and we can't tell you the pleasure it gives us to have him ride over to the Condo on her.  It makes me get all sappy to watch father and son take of on the Harleys, be it a little putt or a big ride.  Knowing we're helping Tracie furnish her new life, making sure Amy has the things that mean the most to her and as the oldest, that she gets certain things meant for 'the oldest child' and darn it, both of the girls are having a hard time deciding what they want---they don't want to seem greedy.  We know who our kids are, Ladies!! :)

Pirate just left for one of his LAST days of work.  His comment out the door was, "This is the last time I'll stop at the dry cleaners!"  Oh, he can't wait to donate his suits and ties to the men's shelter!

We continue to miss our Beloved Boone, and hopefully we will get to have his ashes incorporated into the tattoo ink before we leave.  I'm thinking we have some appointments coming up soon, but I'm not sure.

I guess Miss Scooter and I need to get our game on and get moving.  There is a major storm headed towards us and my achy bones can feel it.  We may not get much else done today other than ordering the toy hauler.  That's still a great day's 'work!'

Can't wait to join y'all out there!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

April 15th!!

Pirate had lunch with his boss today...the verdict is IN! His last day is April 15th!!

The deposit is in the wire transfer system and Christine will be calling me tomorrow so I can order our home.  Can't say enough about the folks at General RV, and Christine McBride in particular.  She has gone out of her way to make this easy for us.  Crunching numbers each and every time we have a question or different scenario.

The most interesting part of all of this timing...Pirate's last day will be six months to the day since Boone's death.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

< Heartland Toy Haulers | Heartland RVs

< Heartland Toy Haulers | Heartland RVs

We finally decided, found our dealer www.generalrvs.com and when they say make us an offer, we just might accept it...they mean it! We are ordering our BRAND NEW dream coach on Tuesdays!! The Heartland Road Warrior 405. it has the kitchen we want, the cross seating..everything! And since we're ordering 'from scratch' we're requesting no electric beds in the garage. Now Pirate can make shelving for the walls of the Clubhouse!

I've already been mentally 'moving in' to the kitchen and deciding where Willie's treefort and 'outhouse' will go.

We are not ordering a generator...for $6000...geesh! We can pick one up from Costco for under $1000 and we don't plan to boondock. If we HAVE to a smaller gennie will be just fine for those emergencies. If not, we'll find out the hard way and adjust.

It's really happening!! It should take 4-6 weeks to build our Gypsy Rose, then we will travel to MI to pick it up. (also saving us $$ over delivery).

WahooooOOOO! Just wish Boone were here to see it....

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Time to Purchase

So, it's finally time to get real and buy the trailer.  I'm so frustrated with dealers I could SPIT!  I'm looking to buy a Road Warrior 405 after going around and around and around.  Now, to just find one that isn't overpriced.


Also, I've challenged myself to find and visit all the brick and mortar vape shops along our path! Hey, if you run one or know of one...please chime in! Either here or on ECF.  If you post your shop, I will visit, take pics and post for all of ECF to enjoy!  Hope to see you in the Vap-O-Sphere!  Fog on!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

f | Vapor Academy ★ 5

f | Vapor Academy ★ 5 YAY!! This is how I found out about them...my son had back surgery and knew he couldn't smoke at the hospital...now we're all using them!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

E Cigarettes: Do they work? - KFOR

E Cigarettes: Do they work? - KFOR

I'd rather have a teenager pick up an e-cigarette illegally than a pack of cigarettes ANY day! These are NOT marketed to children!!