A COUPLE OF SURPRISES

Just about sunset time, I noticed some movement out in the front yard.  When I looked closer, I saw several Javelina's walking toward our driveway gate, near the neighbor's house.  There were about 15 of the little critters, and they just kept coming.  Is a group of wild pigs called a herd, a pack, a gaggle, or what?  Whatever the proper name is, that's the most we've seen near the house, and the first time during daylight hours.  That encounter was actually the second surprise of the day.

Earlier, I made an unscheduled, quick trip to my local dentist, due to a cracked tooth.   His diagnosis was not what I wanted to hear, but I kind of already knew that an extraction was the only possible solution.    Faced with a gap between teeth, that would only be slightly visible, I pondered 3 possible remedies, as I drove to the second quick appointment of the day with an oral surgeon.  #1 - Fill the gap with a bridge, and crowned teeth on both sides.  #2 - Have a partial built that would have to be taken in, and out.  #3 - Fill the hole with a titanium implant, that would later be fitted with a crown.  There was actually a fourth option, and that was to do nothing.

I decided on the third option, which was done in a matter of about 1 hour.  The good news is that in about 2-3 months, when the jawbone grafts firmly to the implant, my regular dentist will be able to do a normal crown, and the teeth on either side will be undisturbed.  The bad news is my dental insurance doesn't cover implants, and yesterdays decision was a pretty big hit on the bank account.  If I had the power for one "do over" in my life, it would be to start out with better teeth. Since that's not possible, I guess I'll be happy with no more dental surprises, at least not today!

NEW ELECTRIC & WATER

The idea of placing a 50 amp electrical plug, and a new water faucet near the left side of the motor home, began well before I did the two concrete footings for the metal building.  The one inch electrical conduit, and the half inch water line have been buried for several months, and now that the new building is standing, it was time to install the new plug, and the new faucet.

I removed the old 50 amp plug near the electrical panel, and when I had the new wires pulled through the conduit, I started connecting them on both ends.  Once the wires were connected to the breaker, and to the new plug,  I then had the new motor home electrical service right next to where the cord comes out of the RV.

 The old 50 amp plug is now gone, with the smaller pipe on the right, leading down, and over to the new plug.

I extended the water line about 15 feet from near where the new electric plug is located, to be closer to the city water connection on the motor home.  Routing the PVC pipe up to where the new faucet is located only took a few minutes, and with the pipe secured to one of the building support posts, it was ready for use.  After these pictures, I added a bracket for the hose to be coiled around, and this project went into the history books.

It's been over a week since the Coast to Coast installation crew left, not completing the construction due to a missing panel, and not having the right equipment to install all of the concrete anchors.  When they left, I was told that they would be returning to finish the job within a week, but I should have known that wasn't going to happen.  I did receive one phone call from Arkansas, asking how the installation went, at which time I reminded them of the missing panel, and informed them that the building wasn't anchored properly.   An email day before yesterday has so far been unanswered.  I'm going to call them this morning, and give them about another week before I drill the new anchor holes myself, and give them a bill for my labor, the use of my tractor, my two ladders, and my drill that they used to install less than half of the anchors.   Thank goodness the quality of the building is good, because  Coast to Coast's service is anything but.  The longer this drags on, the cheaper this building is becoming, and even though I don't like any debt hanging over my head, I'm actually looking forward to the battle that looms on the horizon, regarding final payment.    

WOOD AND WIRE

Those were the two things I played with yesterday.   The day started with putting more wooden boards up on the south wall of the tractor port.  There are 5 sections between the support posts, a total length of almost 50 feet, and I had enough of the boards to finish 4 of them.  The fifth is framed up, and ready for about 20 more boards.  Then, the only thing left to do, will be to paint the new structure.

I thought about leaving this south exposure open, until I saw how much sunshine made it's way into the parking area.  During the summer months, when the sun is higher in the sky, it wouldn't be quite as bad, but now, the area will be shaded for the entire year.  When I fence in the area between the driveway gate and the garage, it will be this same wooden style, and the two will blend nicely together.

When I ran out of boards, I switched from my carpenter hat, to my electrician hat, and started the process of moving the 50 amp electrical plug.  It's current location is pretty close to the new RV shade cover, but on the wrong side of the motor home.  Several months ago, I dug a trench, and buried the electrical conduit, and a new water line, that runs from near the house, over to the the left side of the RV shade cover. 

The first step was to unravel the 4 wires, stretching them out on the front patio, so that it would be easier to pull them through the new pipe.  I then put the fish tape through the pipe from where the new plug will be, and connected the tape to one end of the 4 wires.  Pulling the wires under the motor home, over to the left side was quick and easy.

It's almost inevitable, that even though you think you have all of the parts and pieces for a project, once you get into it, there's always something missing.  That was the case yesterday, and a quick trip to the hardware store got me the missing pieces to the puzzle.  I was in such a hurry, that I drove off without my wallet, not realizing that I had left it behind until I pulled into the hardware store parking lot.  Now what?  Do I turn around, driving 10 miles back to the house for my wallet, or, do I go in the store and plead stupidity, hoping for a solution that doesn't require a 20 mile round trip to retrieve my cash and credit cards. 
 

I did the later, and the folks at ACE Hardware allowed me to get what I needed, stating "just pay for what you get next time you're here".   If they had the selection, and the prices of the two big boy home improvement stores, I would certainly spend my dollars with the local guys.  Their slogan "Ace is the place of the helpful hardware folks" is indeed very true at my local store.

DRUG TESTING

When I first started driving tour buses in Alaska, about 10 years ago, I was required to be drug tested as a condition of employment.  My subsequent driving jobs at Glacier National Park, and at Grand Canyon National Park also required drug tests prior to driving public buses.  Yesterday, I formally signed an acceptance offer of part time employment at La Mesa RV, and once again, one of the conditions of employment was a drug test.  Today, pre-employment drug testing is nothing unusual, and is part of the hiring protocol for many businesses.  If you drive for compensation, it's almost a given that you will be required to take a drug test before going to work.

After filling out more paperwork, and signing the acceptance offer at La Mesa RV, I drove over to a lab, and did what I had to do.  The difference between this experience, and the others, is that the sample is tested instantly, and there is no waiting for the results.  Over the years, the system of testing has changed, primarily to stay one step ahead of the folks trying to beat the system.  I won't go into the details, but the lab person shared some of the ways that people try to avoid having their own urine tested.  We both agreed, it's a lot easier to just be drug free, instead of coming up with these elaborate schemes to avoid a positive drug test.

The main point I'm getting at is this...........A pre-employment drug test in this day and age is nothing out of the ordinary, and you don't hear about ACLU lawsuits against private companies for invasion of privacy, regarding drug testing.  It's pretty simply.  If you want to go to work for a business that gives you a paycheck, and they require a drug test, you either submit, or you go on down the road.  It's your choice.   Why is that so different than the short lived Florida requirement for all welfare recipients to be drug tested.  When a federal judge issued an ACLU lawsuit injunction against Florida's requirement, citing a possible violation of the 4th amendment against unreasonable search and seizure, I have to wonder what happened to common sense.  Why is it OK when you actually work for a business, and they require a drug test, but it's not OK for the state to drug test people who get something for nothing, by way of the generous taxpayers?  Something is wrong with that picture, and I just don't get it!

A NEED FOR SPEED

It's about 100 miles from Tucson to Phoenix, location of the 2nd stop on the National Hot Rod Ass'n (NHRA) Championship Drag Racing tour.  The old Firebird Raceway has been renamed Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, and along with the new title, we saw a few other changes, some good, some not so good.

 Two funny cars, after the burnout.

I picked up Marc at 8am, and if we could have made the 100 mile drive to the drag strip at the same speed as a top fueler, it would have only taken us about 16-17 minutes.  Since that wasn't possible at a speed of 75 mph, instead of  a dragster's top speed of 325 mph, we arrived at the racetrack a little before 10am.

This was my first opportunity in about 8 years, to attend the Phoenix drag race, due to a conflict with the Tucson Rodeo, which Patty and I always worked.   Even though it's been a number of years since we were a part of the NHRA traveling road show, there's still a few people that we know, and it was fun to see some of those folks.  Jim Maxie, who heads up MainGate's operation at Phoenix, and who was in charge of our gig at the Tucson Rodeo for a number of years, provided Marc and I with Sunday tickets, along with a parking pass. 

 The timing scoreboards reflect the speeds attained by 2 Fuel Funny Cars, on a typical side by side race, in just 1,000 feet of racetrack!

Erica Enders-Stevens is the first female Pro Stock Driver to win an NHRA Drag Race.

Back in 2005, while living in Lake Havasu City, we got a call from MainGate in Indianapolis, asking us to work their new merchandise trailer at the Phoenix drag race.  They hadn't hired permanent workers for this trailer yet, and we were available to help them out.  The merchandise was for one of the first female pro stock drivers, Erica Enders.  During the course of that weekend, Erica spent some time in the trailer signing autographs, and we got to know her, along with her dad Greg.  Erica started out in the Jr. Dragster program, and was the subject of a full length feature film entitled "Right on Track", released in 2003.  In 2011, she broke the national pro stock speed record, traveling over 213 mph in the quarter mile, and in 2012, Erica became the first female pro stock driver in NHRA history, to win a national event, at the Chicago race. 

She remembered Patty and I, not only because that was the first race where she had her own merchandise, but she reminded me that it was also the first race where she qualified to race on Sunday.  Erica is just one of many people involved in drag racing, that we became acquainted with, and it was fun to chat with her yesterday.

    

 Erica (red car) won her first round race, but lost in the second round.

 Marc, from our vantage point at about half track in the grandstands.

 Everybody's trying to take pictures of .....................

 this guy - Jesse James, husband of Alexis Dejoria, driver of the Tequila Patron Fuel Funny Car

During the warm up of Alexis' car, Marc and I got a good dose of Nitro, which I guarantee, will clear up any sinus congestion, in just a matter of seconds!  It's always fun to watch the newbies, who have no idea what happens to the eyes, nose, and throat, when the exhaust fumes from a nitro engine reach your body.

 

 Yep, we salivated over the new Corvette, just like most everyone else.

It was a fun day, filled with lots of noise, power, and incredible speed.  The fact that a motor vehicle can go from 0 to 325 mph, in a little over the length of 3 football fields, is almost impossible to comprehend.  Yea, I'll admit it, I'm a gear head, with a need to experience a lot of speed!  I got it in spades yesterday!

CLOSING IT IN

 The six, 45 degree support post braces are now in place.

Before painting the new structure, one of the last things I have to do, is the incorporation of a wall, with what will eventually be a fence out to the gate.  A trip to Lowes yesterday morning, started me off with most of the lumber I'll need to close in the south side of the tractor port.

Picking out fence boards, is more of an art, than a science.  Even though I thought I was pretty careful in trying to choose straight boards, when placing them next to each other, the not so straight lumber stuck out like a sore thumb.  While filling in the first gap between support posts, there were only a couple of boards that were too crooked to use.

As this wall progresses, it will stagger down, following the same levels of the block wall.  It was about 4pm when I finished the first panel, and that was enough work for the day.

Diana left on Friday, and we enjoyed having her stay with us for most of the week.  She and Patty had time to catch up on everything, and they spent a lot of time visiting, shopping, and exploring some new attractions here in the Tucson area.   

Today is race day!  I'm picking up Marc this morning, and we're headed for the NHRA Drag Race in Phoenix.  Can't wait to hear those 10,000 horsepower, nitro engines come to life!

FROM BULLETS, TO BEAMS

Marc and I met at the gun firing range near the fairgrounds, yesterday morning.  He recently sold his dirt bike, and part of the compensation included a couple of new guns that he wanted to fire.  I took a couple of my 40 caliber semi autos, one of which I had never fired.  We spent about an hour at the range, before he headed off to work, and I went into town, to take back the defective shingles to Lowes.

There's a few reasons why I prefer Lowes over Home Depot.  First, and foremost is the 10% discount given to military veterans.  Most of the stores will accept a copy of your DD214 (discharge paper), even though their actual policy requires a retired military I.D. card.  It's helpful if you miniaturize, and laminate your DD214.  Over the last 6 months, I've saved over $400 with the military discount.  Oooops, I think I just disclosed how much $$ I've invested in home improvement projects!

Yesterday's return of the damaged 9 shingles, is another example of how Lowes customer service is excellent.  I didn't ask for, but got credit for an entire bundle of shingles, value, a little over $25.  On top of that, they replaced the 9 damaged shingles.  Net result was a free bundle of shingles.  Those are just a couple of examples why I prefer Lowes over Home Depot.  I'm sure each store has it's individual pluses, and minuses, but the store I frequent, treats me pretty well.

  
When I climbed back up on the roof, it only took 5 more shingles to finish the job, before I started screwing down the aluminum flashing.   With the upper edge of the metal tucked back under the garage shingles, and the lower edge screwed down to the new roof, the transition from the garage, to the tractor port is now water bullet proof. 

One of the last construction components for this new structure, is to reinforce the beam holding the downside of the roof.  These 45 degree braces are probably overkill, but with them installed on all 6 support posts, there won't be any issues of a sagging beam.

I cut all 12 of the support braces, but only had enough 5 inch long, 3/8 inch screws, to do 3 posts.  When I finish that job today, I'll start the partial side enclosure, before painting every thing.  Now that the roof is done, I'm starting to see light at the end of the tunnel!

ROOFING 101

When I started to cover the new roof, there were 20 bundles of asphalt shingles on the pallet.  Each bundle contains 22 individual shingles, and I should have had enough to finish the job, but I came up just a wee bit short. 

 This picture shows the progress at the point where 12 bundles of shingles are nailed down.

With the possibility of some rain next week, I wanted to get this done.  When I climbed back up on the roof yesterday morning, I had 9 bundles nailed down, a little less than half way to the finish line.  Due to the sometimes windy conditions in our area, I decided at the outset, to use 6 roofing nails per shingle, as opposed to the normal 3 or 4.  This takes a little longer, but I shouldn't have to worry about any shingles flapping in the breeze, during our next "Vail Gale".
 

The girls were gone most of the day.  They did some shopping, then visited Sabino Canyon, a popular public attraction.  When they returned at around 4pm, I had just climbed down off the roof.  What should have been a complete covering of the roof with new shingles, turned out to be an almost covering.  The last bundle had been on the bottom of the pallet, and about half of those shingles were twisted, and unusable.  A trip back to Lowes today, and I'm sure they'll replace the damaged shingles.

This is the small area left to be covered.

When the last shingle is nailed down, I have 50 feet of 10 inch aluminum flashing to screw down, where the new roof meets the old roof.  That will seal the transition between the garage and the tractor port.  With that completed, the only thing left will be to finish the 45 degree beam supports, then a coat of paint.  When finished, total shingles nailed down = 440.  Total nails hammered = Approx. 2,640.  

WORKIN FOR A LIVIN

Our Snoopy has become an equal opportunity lap cat.

It's been a couple of months since I submitted an application with the Tucson La Mesa RV dealership, to be one of their part time drivers.  Yesterday, I kept a 1pm appointment, to take a driving test, then I accepted their offer of employment.  I still have to be drug tested, before doing a two week orientation, when they have new drivers shadow another driver.   Then, after getting familiar with their operation, I'll be put on the schedule, to work an average of one day a week.  When they have big moves, like an RV show, they call in most of their drivers to shuttle the rigs from point A to B. 

Not that I have a lack of things to do, but, this will give me an alternative activity, and provide me with an opportunity to drive a variety of motor homes.   Returning to punching a time clock wasn't exactly on my radar, but, I think it will be something that I'll enjoy.  Having the flexibility to take off in our motor home, with just a notice to La Mesa that I won't be available, makes this part time gig even more attractive.

Marc, Chandra, and Laila came out for a smoked pork loin dinner last night, and with all of the other stuff that Patty and Diana fixed, nobody was left hungry.  The carrot cake was to die for!  Unfortunately, I overcooked the pork, and even though it was tasty, it was too dried out.   The biggest problem yesterday, was I had to take the meat out of the smoker before it was done, then I later tried to finish cooking it in the oven, where it lost much of it's moistness.  Next time, it will get finished in the smoker, then go right to the table.

While the kids were here, Marc set me up with a fantasy NASCAR league, that he and his brother Mike are participants.  Thanks Marc for doing the computer time, and thanks Mike for paying Dad's $25 entry fee.  After one NHRA Drag Race, the old man is already leading the kids in that fantasy league.  Game on boys!!

IT'S DONE! .. .. ALMOST

The three man crew was back at the house around 7:30am, and by noon, the building was almost done.  They still have to return with one side panel, and they need to finish drilling the holes into the concrete for the anchor bolts.   After burning up their one heavy duty drill, they used my 1/2" Craftsman drill to get several anchors installed, but there's still about 10 more holes to drill.  Drilling into concrete isn't an easy process, but with a better masonry drill bit, and a hammer drill, it shouldn't take them long to finish the job.

 One more side panel needs to be installed at the right front of the building.

When the installers left, I picked up a few metal screws that were under the new building, and parked the motor home in it's new shaded area.   It seemed like it had taken forever to get to that point.

I knew the side panel tan color wouldn't perfectly match the house, but it turned out to be pretty close.  My next step will be to pull the electrical wires through the underground conduit that I had previously put in the ground, and then install a 50 amp plug on one of the metal supports, near the left rear tire of the motor home.  I also have a water line near that area, that just needs a faucet installed on the end.

With the dark brown trim in place, I think the building looks pretty good, and with top center, and side bracing, it should be much more sturdy than the last metal building we had in Lake Havasu City.
I still have to figure out the best way to shade the afternoon sun from shining directly on the rear of the motor home.  In Havasu, I came up with a drop down fabric shade, but with the more severe winds, I'm not sure that's going to work here.  

With all of the activity going on around here, I neglected to mention that Diana Rush arrived for a visit, day before yesterday.  She had driven down from their winter home in Lake Havasu, and left Bob to babysit the two dogs.  Diana & Patty call themselves the "Ya Ya Sisters", and they've been buddies for almost 20 years.  Yesterday, they did some running around in town, then, drove out to the Desert Museum. 

While they were gone, I worked on the roof of the tractor port, and am pretty close to having about half of it covered with shingles.  By 4pm, my old body said "enough", and I gave up for the day. 
 

I got a call from the transportation director at La Mesa RV yesterday, informing me that they had an opening for a driving job, was I still interested?  I reiterated the fact that we do travel frequently in our motor home, and as long as they were OK with that, yes, I still wanted to be one of their part time drivers.  I have a 1pm appointment today, to finalize the paperwork, and take a company mandated driving test.  Gee, I wonder if I'll be able to pass the test?