RV'ing

2-19-12 Sunday (Pinching A Loaf)

On Friday, Jim departed Charlotte for a long weekend in Florida with his family! I’m a bachelor for the weekend.
To start my Saturday, I was stood up by the dry wall guy. Adams Homes said between 8-12; I waited until 1. I have no one to call so I had to fire off an email to the warranty coordinator. I’m sick of all this crap. Poor workmanship. Poor customer service.
The Sleep Number In Balance sheets we bought at the end of December are pilled. They are also too large for the bed. Why would you design your mattress so thin and your sheets so thick? They go on nice but then in the morning they are all bunched up. It’s too bad really since they were so soft. They also offered some sort of temperature regulating technology built in which is why we bought them. You could actually feel the difference when touching the sheets versus another fabric. I really shouldn’t have ever bought them since their return policy is crappy. I’m hoping that since I purchased a $3000 bed from them that they’ll do me right and refund me.

In the meantime, I researched sheets and it seemed as though Wamsutta Dream Zone sheets from Bed Bath and Beyond did well. $200 less a 20% off coupon (that would be $40 off, you’re welcome). I braved the mall. The Concord Mills Mall is CRAZY all the time. I swear it’s like Christmas every weekend. The interstate exit gets backed up, then It took several light changes by the mall to get in, then it’s a traffic nightmare of who has the right of way. Incoming traffic has right of way and it’s posted for them to keep moving but people miss the signs so they stop. The people at the stop sign decide to go because the others erroneously stopped. Horns are honking, near misses are narrowly avoided, it’s a friggin’ mess. After driving up and down several rows looking for a spot, I finally parked in what I believe to be a foreign country. I surely expected to see currency conversion machines and border patrol. I diligently hiked to the mall entrance.

Now some back story. The other day, Jim bought a Living Social coupon for Coldstone Creamery. What I didn’t know is that it’s only good at the Coldstone in the mall. Back story complete. So I’m walking to the mall and decide to check email to pass the time ~~at Customs~~ while walking. I see an email from Living Social saying we redeemed the Coldstone coupon and asking for our opinion about it. So me being a smartass, texts Jim “How was Coldstone?”. I figured he’d wonder how I knew. He didn’t go there and it’s only good for the mall location (he’s in FL). So we get to talking on the phone. We kind of panicked that perhaps someone hacked our account. After lunch I figured I go over to Coldstone and inquire. Maybe they punched in the wrong coupon number? Jim called Living Social, they checked with Coldstone. Apparently they were a little overwhelmed and frazzled and goofed but it was corrected. It was all just weird that I happen to be in the mall when it occurred. So I finished typing all that and thought to myself, self, I often call myself that, does anyone really care? My alternate voice told me not to listen to my primary voice so I published it anyway. Thanks for your support.
I washed the new sheets and the old sheets and I guess I’ll brave the mall once again to make a return. I don’t remember which entrance to the mall is closest to the Sleep Number store so I decided to browse the Android Application market where I found a Simon Mall App. Look at all the options there are. Will it help? Not sure, but I’ll let ya know.

Sunday: I’m back. The application was helpful. The screen shot is from the Android Market; I’m not in Indianapolis.
I went to the Select Comfort, Sleep Number store and had to wait a while for the manager to break free. He (Chad) cheerfully gave me a refund on the sheets, no hassle despite being over 30 days. While he and his saleswoman were handling potential customers, I chimed in about how much I liked the bed. Maybe that helped?
I did some more grocery shopping today, made meatloaf and clean bathrooms. Well, I also played a video game.

Above: Turkey meatloaf ingredients (ground turkey, turkey sausage, egg, garlic, cheese crumbles, stuffing, catsup, chopped onion, and a little milk.

Above: Pinching loaf: I made 4 mini loaves. More than enough for 2. 3 go into the freeze. Yummy!

2-12-12 Sunday (Blizzard Of 2012)

Snow tubing! Since last month’s snow tubing adventure was a flop, Jim suggested we give it a try with a first time visit to Winterplace which is a ski/tubing resort in West Virginia. Jim calculated the trip to be about 3 hours each way. Doable*.

Above: A lackluster motto.

Above/Below: There were so many great dilapidated barns and silos. I just love ‘em.

Above: One of two tunnels. We were glad we weren’t in the motorhome!

Are we there yet? Yes.

Above: Winterplace parking lot. It was COLD! Long johns, multi-layers, gloves, snow pants… we were ready!

Above: I’m on my way up to the top of the slope via the “carpet lift”.

Above: Other tubers waiting on the carpet lift.

Above: Jim and I.

Above: The line to grab a tube and get on the carpet lift.

Above: Jim on the tube, coming in for a landing.

Above: Jim rides the carpet lift to the top again.

Despite some annoyances, we had a fantastic time. AND yes, I’m going to complain anyway. It’s what I do:

This place only had one slope as opposed to the 4 that Hawk’s Nest has. At this place you don’t keep your tube, you constantly turn it in at the bottom, wait in a line and grab another one, ride the carpet lift to the top and then slide down. The lanes stayed very empty yet the line for a tube stayed full. At one point they got more tubes and opened the other carpet lift to make the line go faster. The problem with the lanes being empty was two problems. The first, not enough tubes. The second is kids waiting for 3-4 lanes in a row to be empty so they could race one another. This place is $32 for 4 hours. We were there for 3. It was poorly run.

Next time we may need some extra face protection. The wind combined with the snow machine made it brutal. It was surely blizzard-like conditions.

*Between the stop for lunch, stop for dinner and extra drive time, we got home much later than anticipated. It was close to 9:30 pm. We had to call on Dasher’s Uncle Mike and Uncle Billy to let Dasher out.

2-10-12 Friday (Working The Phones With Speech Impediments)

On Sunday, we finished cleaning up from the party. Although it was late, we actually had everything washed and put back to normal at the end of the party. Sunday was mostly about putting returning clean items to cabinets, grocery shopping and other errands.

So, for our next party I’d like to do a “white trash” theme. I’ve found so many websites with décor, food, beverage and costume ideas. What’s your suggestion? You know, like pink flamingoes on the lawn, spam for food…

Thursday sucked. I swapped shifts with a coworker so I could have step 1 of 2 in the root planing/tooth scaling process done. As typical we started with half my mouth, numbing, scraping, rinsing, blotting, etc. I’ve had the process done several times over the years and this was the first time my front teeth hurt even 2 days later. Not throbbing or anything like that, just no chewing using my front teeth. The hygienist warned me although naturally I wonder if something went wrong. I’m typing this up on Saturday morning and it was difficult to chew an English Muffin. Anyway, after the procedure I went to work. Since half my mouth is numb and I work by talking on the phones, naturally I was concerned about my probable speech impediment. “Tank you fo calling my job, I’m gawit, how can I atist you doday?” I practiced in the car. I sounded pretty good. Off to work I go. As the numbness wore off, it was painfully evident that I’d not be chewing. Skipping my salad for lunch, I went to the cafeteria and opted for a bowl of chili. I was able to eat that. Eating a cheese stick for a snack? Not so much. I had to literally gnaw on it from the corner of my mouth. Pitiful. I popped some more Advil and just dealt with it. I was determined not to use PTO. Why be miserable at home? I’d rather save my PTO for fun stuff!

The issue of what to do with the motorhome has come up again. I have weekends off, now what? It’s a 1997, things need repaired, things will go wrong but it’s paid off. Should we trade into a bumper pull trailer? Something a tad smaller, and much newer? Can we pull it with the Jeep. The towing capacity for the Jeep is 5,000 pounds. Finding a trailer we like under that weight is possible not not exactly what we want. Then it gets more complicated. Something over 5,000 pounds will require something larger than the Jeep. But the Jeep is paid off. We don’t want too large a vehicle because it needs to fit in the garage and it needs to be used daily for regular use. Next weekend is the RV show but Jim won’t be here. He’ll be in Florida. Maybe I’ll go to the show by myself, take pictures and notes.

Sunday may be a trip to West Virginia for snow tubing!

2-4-12 Saturday (Tricky Abbreviations)

When Jim and I moved in together, he unpacked this eerie clown picture from his childhood.

Honestly, he won’t get rid of it. It’s creepy and he feels like some strange horror-movie-ish thing will happen. Every time he throws it out, it will simply reappear a week later next to something dead. Maybe the hat the clown was wearing will be laying in our front yard. You know, freaky stuff like that. So for the last 12 years, it has been “safely” stored away in a guest room dresser drawer… (maniacal laugh) until recently.

You see, he likes hanging the dumb picture of a cub below in the bathrooms of any residence we’ve been in.

I’ve pleaded that I hate the photo and then without regard to my disgust, it will appear in the bathroom. I decided enough was enough and removed said picture and swapped it with Creepy Clown Painting. Jim and I laughed but yet a month later it still hangs above the toilet. Jim said we’ll leave it there; it scares the shit out of him… literally.

Once in a while you find out that someone didn’t know something that you’d think they should. Like… a mechanic should know what a strut is. A surgeon should know about scalpels. Stuff like that. A year ago while I was in my training class, we talked about CDs. You know (or maybe not) CDs as in Certificates of Deposit or Time Accounts? Well as we kept talking about them, a coworker, who was under 21, asked what we were talking about. She was confused as to why we’d sell CDs as in music CDs. I don’t think anyone laughed out loud but truth be known, I chuckled to myself. I then realized that maybe things that I consider simple are maybe not so much to others and that the definition of a CD should have been explained. So where the hell am I going with this? Well, on Wednesday a coworker who has worked for the company for about a year and a half mentioned that when a client inquires about an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) she connects them to the mortgage folks. Why? She thought an IRA stood for International Renter’s Association and they were looking to purchase a home. When I heard this story today, I didn’t laugh nor smile. I was in shock. Yes, later I laughed my ass off.

Speaking of work… a co-worker has started selling Mary Kay. I like Mary Kay… well the few products that I can or will use anyway. I ordered some oil absorber that I’ve used years and years ago. It’s perfect for smearing on my face and keeping my oil fields-ish nose from sparkling inappropriately. So I told Jim I had ordered that and he mentioned how he liked Tribute Cologne so I ordered that the next day too. If you’re interested, Michelle will ship to you:

I am a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. I can assist you with skincare and body care needs that are specific to you. Also, I am able to help you establish a personal color pallet that will fit all parts of your life. Having fun is part of my business, hosting a party where I can be with you and your friends is another way that I love to work. If you are not in my area that is ok, all shipping is completely free to you and all products are guaranteed. I can be contacted through phone 309-339-5456, email msmith08@marykay.com, or my website marykay.com/msmith08.

For every dollar you spend, she’ll contribute something to the Tammy Faye Bakker Institute of Make-up. OK, not really but certainly sounds connected and legit, doesn’t it?

Today we had some errands to do. We needed to get our state income taxes mailed out. We went to the Post Office. Who decorated these tacky places? Wall to wall Formica. It’s so institutional. Why are they so run down?

Above/Below: Great alcoves for service. No copier, no scale and no stamp machine.

It really is a shame that the post office wasn’t run more retail-ish than governmentish. I lump the attitude and service of the Post Office right up there with the DMV or tag office. Yes, I know not everyone is that way. I hate to stereotype like “all New Yorkers are rude” which is how I’m coming across but the majority of postal counter workers (not carriers) are awful. If only the government would have stopped taking their money.

Onward to BJ’s for some weekly supplies. Here’s what I saw:

I didn’t have my camera with me so the best I could do was the camera phone. That kid had so many barrettes in her hair, I’m not quite sure how she held her head up.

Oh, and honey… your bloomers are showing. Severely.

Later in the day Jim and I vacuumed, mopped, scrubbed, wiped, etc to get ready for a cocktail party. I didn’t take any photos of people. I had a little wine. Perhaps that had to do with it. Here’s the shots I snapped while sober:

Above: Dasher eagerly awaits guests.

Above: Some food ready to go. The rest was on the kitchen bar and dinette table. Sorry, no more photos.

This type of party was a first for us. We did it as a potluck appetizer/snack sorta way. Deanna, Beth, Billy (Mike had a migraine), Ruby, Jamie, Jim and I had great conversation. We had all sorts of dips and spreads and pizza rolls, and guacamole and this and that. Lots of wine. It was all yummy. I totally blew through my Weight Watchers points. I utilized Pandora and played some swanky groovy music (listen here) if you want a sample AND Pandora is 100% free. Love it.

1-28-12 Saturday (All You Can mEAT)

So. This morning at 7am, Jim and I awake to Dasher throwing up in the bed. Under the covers. Between us. When I heard it, I woke up and pushed the covers down. It was too late. Luckily it wasn’t very much. It was enough to get us out of bed and to go through the sheets to the mattress pad. It certainly could have been worse; it could have been 6am.

At about 8:30am, the drywall guy arrived. With his head up close to the ceiling holes, he realized that the insulation is missing. It was probably wet and thrown out by the plumber. The drywall guy wasn’t prepared with insulation so he’ll have to come back. It’s really not his fault. The builder doesn’t typically have insulation between floors, however, Jim and I paid extra to have that done.

Jim worked on taxes while I washed bedding and clothes, vacuuming and mopping, and all that fun stuff that you wish you were doing.

We’ll be partaking in Charlotte Restaurant Week tonight with dinner at Chima Brazilian Steakhouse. I’ve been wanting to go there and tonight’s the night. There will be a group of 8. Here’s tonight’s menu:

Fellow blogger and Carolinian, Flartus, commented on my previous post about our experience at Bonterra. Flartus’ other half is a chef at a restaurant that partakes in Restaurant Week.

The problem was that the place was empty… it was only 5pm. I was disappointed that Open Table only had that time open when clearly we could have been there later.

Thanks to Flartus,I do have a better understanding of what happens to the restaurant during Charlotte Restaurant Week (aka Queen’s Feast). She explains the behind-the-scenes info here. More about our Chima experience later…

We ordered blinds from American Blind and Wallpaper Company at the end of November. Jim had emailed them asking about the delay. They said Levolor was experiencing material shortages and they knocked off 10% from the price. It’s taken a long time but they arrived yesterday! Jim installed the five in the dining room and office. Similar to the ones in the bedroom, we ordered top down blinds. We like these the most because it allows for light and privacy during the day and privacy at night.

Mike and Billy met us at our house for the trip over to Chima. The plan was to meet everyone else at 8, go somewhere and have a few drinks and then return to Chima for our 9pm reservation. Everyone got stuck in uptown traffic so we ended up hanging out at the bar inside of Chima. Here’s some photos of the night:

Above: Jim, Billy and Mike await the others arrival.

Above: Erin & Josh

Above: Ja-Nessa & Jason

Above/Below: Ja-Nessa is served lamb.

Above: Billy & Mike.

Above: Josh & Billy.

Above: Jim & Garret

Above: Erin & Josh

We had a lot of fun. The food was excellent. The salad bar was far from ordinary. It had many unique, if not strange, dishes. My favorite meats that I had was the flank steak and chicken wrapped in bacon. Delish. I didn’t even get to try some meats as I filled up fast on the salad bar. Trust me, this was a good thing. I left that place not feeling overly stuff like I’ve been known to do.

If you’ve never been to one before, a Brazilian steakhouse is a MEAT buffet. The appetizers and side dishes are brought to the table, family style. The salad bar is a get up and serve yourself type of thing as for the meat… servers (aka Gauchos) come around with meat on a huge skewer. The skewer usually has different sides with varying degrees to doneness. “Top sirloin?” “How would you like that cooked?” They start to carve it right of the skewer while you use small tongs to hold onto the piece which is being served like so:

Each person has a disk/sign that they flip according to: ready for more meat or on hold. The Gouchos look for the “yes” side and then offer up the meat they have.