Thank You..

...to the many people who have played a part in my every day life...from cleaning my ears out so I can hear what you told me...

to keeping me on on top of things so I could watch over some of those things I may not have known about...
You also made sure I had many of the fun things that I probably didn't need... Joe at NorthWest RV Supply

...you took care of many of my unknown friends in a caring and professional manner... Deerwood RV Park

along with letting me know the group is "a family" willing to include me in some of the fun...
...not to mention keeping me informed about things that should be done...

And of course to the few who are not pictured..You have all touched my life in a very special way...and you will never be forgotten.

THANK YOU

Driving ...Can I Do It or Not?

The motorhome is a HUGE daunting piece of machinery... and as many of you know, it is something that I had not attempted to drive... but sometimes you need to decide that you are the boss of your own fears and thoughts.
This process started when I had to pay one of the Monaco technicians to drive the motorhome up to the Monaco Service Center for a "water leak". There is another problem once you are at the Service Center.
The thing about the Harrisburg Service Center is that you have to go to a "Dump station" to empty your "holding tanks". Geez..that required driving this thing!! YIKES!!!! OK...I can do things to not waste water and fill up the tanks too soon..but I still have to empty the tanks eventually....
I get lucky enough that one of my iRV2 couples were at the Service Center. Billy Paul offered to drive the rig to the dump station and empty my tanks. The offer was tempting...but I need to grow up and get over my fears...I then counldn't believe what I heard myself saying.... "No, Billy ...can you just ride with me and give me instructions?" (Did THAT just come out of my mouth??)
Well.. Billy agrees...and we went out the next day to dump the tanks and then he spent time with me and instructed me how to back the rig into different campsites. Billy Paul is great with his instructions... I pretty much nail it almost each time I pull into a spot. There were a few times that I pulled forward so I can straighten the rig between lines.....but each time is more than passable! I AM DRIVING the MOTORHOME!!!
I can't stop there...I signed up for the "Ladies Driving Class" that the Monaco Service Center" used to put on almost every Tuesday AM. I did this because I heard that they take you out on the streets after the "classroom session". The following week I was in the class and the first one to drive. I also found out that the Instructor, "Victor" does private lessons after hours. I became MORE determined... I set a date to go out with Victor in my own rig after hours on my next day off.
I am getting my blood flowing just thinking about it now...as this was a very liberating thing for me to accomplish.
I can tell you that Victor is a very calm person. You feel very comfortable with him. He talks to you as if you have been driving for some time- but gives you insightful tips without you realizing it. I spent about 90 minutes with Victor driving my own rig. We did residential driving, county roads, Highway, and windy back roads. I now feel like I can do this.
The time came for me to leave 2 weeks later ...I was nervous...but I had NO doubts that I could do this. I was lucky enough that I had another iRV2 friend here that drove my car and I drove the Diplomat about 25 miles to my own site at Deerwood... and yes...I made it all in one piece...no scrapes...no scratches.

Oregonian by law?

...It looks like I officially became an Oregonian today! I have finally gone in and got my Oregon Drivers License today..AND registered to vote. (Don't you just love the 'One Stop Shopping' concept that the government has come up with?)
...The truth be known...I was a little sad to hand over my California Drivers License - and watch holes be punched in it. NOOOO...the picture really wasn't especially good - but it seemed a bit sad to abandon that "crazy liberal state" that I was born, raised and lived in for over 50 years.
...and speaking of pictures...I evidently smile too much - the DMV had to take my photo three times. The first 2 did not show my pupils. I had to try and not smile so they could get some of my pupils in the photo. (yeah - I know... I must be too happy all the time!) I also did notice that my hair is a lot longer then it has been in some time. I was planning to get it trimmed - but I may wait to see how the color photo turns out before I get it cut.
...Let us not forget that life is ever-changing...and I do LOVE the freshness that you find in many parts of Oregon!
I guess now the last thing I have to decide...Do I cheer for the "Ducks" or do I back the "Beavers"? (Maybe there is a beast out there with a Duck face and a Beaver tail!!)

Seashells by the Seashore...or...

...what is that crazy MonacoMama talking about now?
I truly love the sound and smell of the ocean, so I had to drive to the beach while I was in Florence on Monday.

A walk on the beach is mandatory to me now. I can't imagine being in Florence and not at least stepping onto the beach...and that camera is usually going to be around my neck.

I know that I have no room in the Diplomat to collect things now...so I will have to settle for a digital collection of sorts...What better way to collect seashells then by digital camera? You have no sand to clean off...no dust to worry about cleaning off of the shells...or of them breaking while taking them home.

You can see more photos from my walk here...

I Know...I Know...

...just how hard is it to post something interesting? After all..you all know what an interesting life I lead...(NOT!!)
I really did not think anything fun or exciting was going on with me, until someone reminded me of this event...
Yes...SNOW...I woke up early one Sunday morning to see snow had started falling!

...Oh but it did not stop there. It continued to snow...
and then snow some more...but it did not stop here...it continued on... Pretty soon you could see snow forcing people seeking a safe refuge. Just know...I am a little nervous as they come down the driveway! But it doesn't stop here... people have to get home... The driveway needs to be scraped so the 3 rigs can go home! By the way, I had already wiped the snow off my car twice already!The three rigs got out okay.. the snow did stop..but you can get an idea of the amount of snow we got by looking at the level by the bumper! (and that was after some of the snow had melted!)
...so I guess that was a new experience for a "bay area-valley girl"!