Rain is falling and falling and...

I'm sitting her this morning listening to the rain coming down. It started last night around 3:00 am with a loud bang and it has not stopped as of 7:41 am. Appears to me we are in for many more inches before it decides to move on east.
I thank the good Lord that we have everything buttoned up so that we don't have to do anything else outside. Most of the remaining work to be done here is inside and that we can do at anytime.
Today I plan on finishing some of the tape and bedding in the front room of the cabin. This is where we switched the door with the window. I have about two sheets of sheetrock to float out and then spray some texture. In the back room I have some patching to do around the washer and dryer and then I should be finished with the mud work.
The next thing on my agenda is the trim work around the windows and doors. All in all I really don't have much left to do. This means I can turn my attention to doing some fishing and maybe some painting. How sweet will that be! It has been a long time since I have had a fishing pole or a brush in my hand. I look forward to doing those things...

Somewhere in Time  

Maybe I was a little hard on Forest River?

You know sometimes you expect more from your children than they really can give you. After all Forest River may not be able to perform to my standards. Not being able to get the parts I need to fix my RV might have been a little too much to ask for. And then I have to depend on Funtown RV to provide them with the correct information to get the correct parts to them. I know I sent pictures but they may not have been clear enough for the parts manager to recognize...who knows. I do know this...if they would have looked at the VIN number and checked it with the factory they would know everything that went into that unit down to the bedspread. Just saying.
We are so glad that we got our little house back. I love the cabin here but it just isn't our house. I missed my recliner and the ice maker and all the stuff we have. I think I will do as Kathy suggested and take a trip up to Indiana and get it fixed at the factory. I need to find out when the next rally is and get all my other stuff fixed. Now that would be the way to go. Mix repairs with entertainment...

Somewhere in Time 

Forest River's Service Sucks

Well after 6 weeks my house is back in it's port. We had taken it to the dealership to have some warranty work done and they had it 6 weeks and it is still not done. Now I don't normally write reviews on people places or things...but I will have to tell you that Funtown RV Service Center is the worst I have ever seen. They don't return your phone calls and they don't pay attention to detail. This makes for a very sloppy ran organization. 
I first contacted them in August of last year while I was living in Colorado. I had a list of items that needed their attention. They were clearly warranty items so I asked the Service Tech that I was speaking with what I should do to schedule an appointment to get these things done. He told me that I could come in September to have him make a list and see about getting those items fixed for us. We left Colorado in September and drove to Cleburn Texas where the Service Center is located. The gentleman went over all our needs and listed them on his work sheet. At that time I asked him how long he would have to keep the RV and when I could pick it up. He said that they would have to get an OK from Forest River for the work to be done before they could start. 
OK now maybe I am behind the times but if something is broken and it is covered under the warranty why do they have to approve it to fix it? I had a light that did not work in the bedroom and they have to approve them replacing it? I had some trim on my TV cabinet that had come unglued and they have to approve them to glue it back? My bathroom fan motor went out and they have to approve them to replace it? I could not believe my ears! I have owned more RV's than Carter has pills and never have I had to get warranty work approved.
Well OK...how long will that take? Well it could take several weeks. Weeks! For someone to say yes or no? What kind of timing is that? Sure am glad none of these items are crucial to me using the RV...I would be out of luck. 
OK then I am afraid to ask how long will it take to fix the problems. "Well if you have an appointment we should be able to get it fixed in about a weeks time," he said. Then I want an appointment for sure. He told me that once he called Forest River and got the approval and received the parts that he would call me and set me up an appointment. Good...I will wait.
I got a phone call in November! Just a little over time span that he had told me that it would have taken. Over a month later. I had almost forgot about the warranty work. He told me that they had the parts and the approval to fix the items we had talked about. Gee that was fast...I said sarcastically. He asked me if sometime in December would be alright for the appointment. I was no where close to them and would not be until January I asked him if he had a opening then. He said yest we have an opening on January the 6th at 11:00 am. Sign me up and I will be there. Well with the wrong parts ordered and them not having some of the parts in stock and the wrong color arriving...and a ton more of BS they gave me I told them to just forget about what was not done and I would pick the RV up and I would reschedule the rest of the work at a later time. 
When we arrived to pick up the RV the man I had talked to had forgot to tell them that I was coming to pick it up so you can imagine the disarray our home was in when they pulled it out for us to pick it up. Parts and crap thrown everywhere inside...nothing clean! Sherri liked to have had a run-a-way!! When all the screaming was over they had people all over the place cleaning and putting things back together...
Needless to say this will be the last time that I will be in Cleburn Texas at Funtown RV. Forest River needs to get some new management and learn how to service their customers...and after they learn how they need to educate the folks at Funtown RV.
If I never give you any advice this will be one time that I would. Don not even think about dealing with Funtown and especially their Service...and I use that term loosely...Department! I will be taking my business elsewhere...

Somewhere in Time   

I think Winter has returned

You could not have asked for better weather here. We have had days in the upper to mid 70's and I can't remember when I wore a jacket last. Of all the winters I have been in this part of the state this has to be one of the best yet.
Sherri and I had to go to the Home Depot yesterday to get some insulation and sheetrock to redo the walls where we switched to door and window out. We had one of your standard double storage shed doors in the front of the barn and we traded it out with a single door that seals up better. We traded places with the window and now we have more wall space in the cabin. It all is working out real good.
Today the weather is cool and it is raining. Like I said...can't complain it has been so nice for so long. We will finish up working inside and then latter in the week we are going to have some more good weather.
Looking so forward to returning to Colorado this summer. I have serious hitch itch.
Still don't have the RV back. Really beginning to miss my house. The cabin is OK but our RV is so much better. Hoping to get it back...

Somewhere in Time 

Something is wrong

I noticed yesterday that I can no longer get off the ground in one move? I am having to brace myself on something and use all the strength I can muster to pull my dead butt up. Every thing from the waste up is strong and does not seem to have changed any but from the waste down I think it is dying. 
Well maybe that is from the neck to the waste. Arms seem to be in good shape and I have a strong heart...according to the doctor...but from the waste down and the neck up I am losing something. 
Having worked on the cabin for the past 4 months has had a toll on my poor body. 
I am really hoping that I get finished here before my middle goes...

Somewhere in Time 

Went back to chat

For years I use to chat with all my friends on line. All the...at that time wanta be full timers would all talk over chat about wanting to full time in RV's. We were all members of RV Dreams. We all met on line through the RV Dreams Chat room. We conversed for years and then one day the RV Dreams members got together for a rally in Missouri. We all had such a good time and formed a bond that has not been broken since.
Well the other night one of the members, Dee Walters, put together their own chat room and invited me to come in and visit. It was really nice to chat with all the folks there. I will have to say I don't have a lot of time in the evening to chat but I do look forward to getting back on there and see what everyone else is up to. 
I hope to see them all again real soon...

Somewhere in Time 

Last project

The last project is about to begin and I use that term loosely..."the last." We have some good days coming up and we need good weather to take the side off of the cabin to install our new door. Can't do this if it is raining so nice sunny weather is a prerequisite to starting this.
Cutting the siding off the outside is just half the fun...you have to take out the inside too. I am trying to prepare Sherri for what a mess it is going to be so she does not freak out when I start.
Have you ever started something and your wife says, "I didn't know you had to take out the wall!" Oh yea I have been there so I try to go over all the things prior to starting so there is no melt down when the work begins.
I know you have heard this: "All we have to do." The key words here is "We" and "All." I have to carry a mouse in my pocket to cover the "We" part...you know what I am saying. 
I think the project will start Saturday so I will be keeping you up to date on what is going on...

Somewhere in Time  

Weather is working for me

Sherri and I were elated yesterday by the weather being so nice. It is so grand when you are able to work outside in comfortable climates. You can get so much done...and we did. We got the deck off the side of the shop built and just about completed. Just lack one rail and it will be a project completed.
Sherri worked with me until she worn down. I sent her inside to rest. She has so much to do taking care of me and Kris. 
We will be starting our final project for this year next week. We are moving the entry door to the west side of the cabin. This will give us access from the RV port without having to be in the weather as much. All these things we are getting done will be nice when we come in off the road and want to recoup our finances. This will give us a comfortable place to stay for an extended time.
Many of our family members have urged us to get through with all these projects and enjoy ourselves. Well this will gives a place to do just that once it is finished...

Somewhere in Time 

Today is our anniversary

Well it has been 43 years and 13 RV's 6 houses 15 cars and trucks and thousands of miles of fun. What more can a guy ask for? I thank the good Lord for all the many blessings I have had in my life...to include all my children...grandchildren and great grandchildren. 
I know I am in the fall of my life and I have no regrets for any of my decisions that I have made in the past... especially the choice of woman to spend my life with. She has been a gold nugget in my life bank that has made me the richest man on earth.
Without my best friend my life would not have been as wonderful as it has been. She has kept me grounded and busy with some of the best projects. She has supported me in all my endeavors...some good and some bad...but she was always by my side no matter what the outcome.
I love you Sherrilyn Grace Pitman forever and always...

Somewhere in Time  

I must be getting old

Goodness...I can hardly move this morning. I worked all day yesterday in my new shop building a workbench and closet. It was all I could do this morning to get out of bed! Every bone in my body hurts and the muscles that hold them in place are on fire! Do you think I am getting old?
I got a lot done, however and feel like I could get back out there and finish up...but we are going to Tyler today to deliver a table and chairs to our granddaughter. Sherri refinished the table for her and we are delivering it to her for her new apartment. Her husband is in the Army serving overseas. They have been separated for some time and she is making a home for him. 
The weather here has been really nice. It is suppose to continue being nice for the next week. Maybe I can get finished with all my projects before my body gives completely out...

Somewhere in Time  

Good morning

Sherri and I were up at 5:00 this morning. Coffee brewing and computers up and running by 5:15. We did go to bed early last night after a hard day of building. Yes I am still working on the property out here and will probably be for some time to come.
I hope to have it all done before we head out to our summer home in Colorado.
This year we plan on traveling with some friends of ours. They are getting an RV for the first time. We have told them about where we go in Colorado and they have decided to go with us this year. 
There is so much that we want to show them in that area and it will be new to us just getting to go with others. 
Still no sign of my RV! It has been almost a month in the shop. We did not have that much wrong with it but they are slower than the second coming. I have built this cabin out here at the lake and just about completed a shop in the time they have had my house! I don't know what to make of it...other than let everyone know not to take there sick RV to Funtown Service Center in Cleburn Texas. If they keep it another month I am going to have them make the payment on it.
Well the sun is peaking over the tree line here and I am still in my jammies. Time to get out from behind this computer and get to work...

Somewhere in Time