Wednesday, March 28, 2007

On PC in adult lounge


Here I sit in the adult lounge on the computer. Yesterday I made another new friend. He is a retired newspaper photographer named Mark. I took a picture of him to e-mail to his friends & then he came & said he wanted to take a picture of me. As you can see there are people in the background also on their computers & playing cards.
Monday on the way here, I stopped at a flea market. I sold instead of buying. Some of you remember me sending a picture of a 1937 antique Daisy BB gun. I got enough money out of it to buy a copier/fax/printer. After last weeks experience of doing slide presentation at the cafe & getting free food, plus their used veggie oil, I have now printed up business cards. Today I did good at a beauty parlor. Took some of the pictures, made up part of the slide presentation, & added the song, "THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT", which I think sounds appropriate for a lady who went to the beauty salon. Got to go back Friday when she is busy to take more pictures while she has more customers. I gave her a price, plus a free haircut & she didn't blink at that so guess she liked everything I showed her. I had showed her the slide show from the cafe.
I'm in SUMMER MODE. I will be moving back & forth between the 2 Thousand Trails campgrounds, about 80 miles apart every 5th day. Free camping, so just have to travel, which most of it is done with free veggie oil. I had a phone call today from a guy at Zolfo Springs to pick up 15 gallons. No rain forecast for the next week even though we need it bad. Mid 80's in days, with 60-62 at night, good sleeping weather without heater on. If you want & can't make a comment here at the blog, you can write to me at zaqphoto@gmail.com Ron

Sunday, March 25, 2007

From Bushnell, Florida

Been awhile since I did a blog. Most people preferred the slide show, but it was a problem for people with dial up Internet. Been very busy here this week camping & with 2 doctor's appointments in St. Petersburg. I am camped at Bushnell Trailer Park, right behind the ODD "CUP"LES Cafe. The 1st night I got there I was looking for their grease bin to see if I could get some used french fry oil free. The next morning I went & talked to the owner. She said she'd save it for me if I gave her a barrel, which I bought a barrel & painted it black for her. I also did a slide presentation & gave it to her of which she truly loved & has given me a written reference to help me get more business, plus she asked me about a wedding for a person she knows. I've done maybe 300 weddings or so, so maybe I'll get a wedding now & then. She also gave me a free delicious meal. :)

That was some good news. Now for some bad news. A friend of mine passed away last night. He had Huntington's Disease. I had no problem going to my doctor's appointments Monday or Wednesday, BUT on the way home, I had breakdown problems with fuel, diesel, not the veggie oil. On Monday, I was on the bridge between St. Petersburg & Tampa, IN THE MIDDLE LANE IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC AT 4PM, when my engine died. So I put on my emergency flashers & started moving right to get off the highway, which I didn't hit anybody, but made some people move off to the right. I got out & opened the hood, WHEN SOME GUY 3-4 LANES OVER CALLED ME AN A--HOLE. People here don't think about anybody but themselves. TOO BAD I wasn't stopped with him behind me blocking him there. So I changed a filter. Got it started & took off down the road. I drove through downtown Tampa & it died on me another 3-4 times until I got back on the interstate & was able to hold the throttle down. A funny thing happened downtown. I drove past some war protesters, so I honked my loud bus horn, which they liked, & then I waved at this beautiful gal just pass them, BUT SHE WAS A STORE MANNEQUIN, LOL. Wasn't a filter at all, but sucking air, so I wasted a fuel filter. A picture shows the temporary fix which was temporary. Wednesday when I came home from the doctor's appointment it also died on me at an intersection & then in the driveway of a Texaco gas station. THEREFORE, I have spent 2 days this week making what I hope to be a permanent fix!
Some of the parts I got to fix the bus was from the hardware store. To get there with my scooter, I had to go past the fire station. Now tell me, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BLUE FIRETRUCK? Well, see for yourself:)
Today is Sunday, 86 degrees & I am sitting out back of the library here in the courtyard, IN THE SHADE! Nice library here now with 24 hour wi-fi. Wednesday night I came here & used my laptop while sitting in the bus. A concerned neighbor called the police to investigate me. Other activities here include Weight Watchers, which I heard some good free tips, like ask for the child's menu, etc. Also they support animal projects well. They had helper dogs who visit hospitals, schools, nursing homes, etc. one night, plus one night they had low cost rabies shots. See the picture of the hound dogs in the cage in the back of the Jeep. Sorry, but for some reason, the print jumped down here.
Last picture is a sunset. I was on my way to Wendy's to eat. I saw the setting sun & said WOW!!! I tried to ride faster to get to a more open place to take the picture, but it was setting fast. So this is what I got, which I am pleased after all. Today after doing some running around with the bus, I went back to the trailer park & hooked up electricity. They had juice, but I have some kind of problem I will have to deal with when I get home from the library. ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING TO FIX!!! Always seems to include spending money also.
I'll be headed back to Thousand Trails Resort tomorrow & moving about every 5th day, so I'm gonna be busy, but also might see some more pictures to take & tell about. Hope all is well with you. A couple of you said you wanted to leave a comment, BUT COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO DO SO. At the end of my letter here, you should see "comments" in green ink. Click on the link & you'll be there. Ron

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Michigan's Yodeling Sweetheart

Saturday night we had Joyce & Phil Leonard to entertain us. She yodels & he joins in singing, plus they both play multiple instruments. You can go to their website at http://myyodeling.net/. Very enjoyable evening. Ron


Floating Down the River

Dean & I took a trip down the Peace River Saturday. I am sure glad we got over 1/2" of rain Friday. We had a couple of places we dragged bottom & one place Dean had to get out & push the boat. Dean did MOST of the rowing. In the 1st picture, we had just gotten in & his pickup is in the background. Mostly I rowed just to help steer or if we need to go from one side of the river to the other side to miss some branches or rocks. We saw several turtles out sunning themselves, but not any alligators or snakes.

I came down the river last year & at this one place where you see the guy waving, he always has music playing. I was happy to see him this time. He invited us to come to his St. Paddy's party & started telling us how to get to his place by road.


Nearing the end of our journey, beside the campground, there was a group of people digging for shark's teeth & fossils.
The weather is beautiful here today. I will be leaving here early tomorrow morning & going toward Busnell, Fl. for a week, so might be awhile before I am back on the Internet, & THEN AGAIN MAYBE NOT! Seems this computer is MY WHOLE LIFE, LOL!!! Ron

Friday, March 16, 2007

Eating Out at the Jacaranda Hotel





Yesterday I was invited to go out & eat with some friends. I didn't know there were gonna be 13 of us, but it was fun, & the food was good. It was Buffet Style. I made 2 trips. My 2nd plate is in the picture with JUMBO SHRIMP. I WENT BACK FOR MORE ALSO! Then I had desert also, pecan pie & strawberry shortcake with whipped cream. All of a sudden there was BIG LAUGHTER from another table, so I took my camera over there & found out it was this guy's 75th birthday & someone gave him a THONG, lol. He was asked to model it, but he refused, LOL.
I tried to attach one more picture, but it wouldn't. They had a piano player there with dinner music. He has played with several celebrities. As to the hotel, it was built in the 1920's. It has 40 rooms on the 2nd floor. The ceilings were at least 12' tall. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places & has had guests of Babe Ruth, Clark Gable, George Burns, & Gracie Allen. This is at Avon Park, Florida for those of you who want to look for it on Hwy. 27. The food service is handled by college students from University of South Florida.
Weather today here was CHANGING! I went & got 60 gallons of veggie oil from the Chinese restaurant early this morning. I got home & had the air conditioner on by 9 AM. This afternoon we got thunderstorms, accumulating 1/2" & it cooled off. So tonight I am running the heat again. I didn't see but 1 person in the swimming pool today.
Monday is my last day here at this campground for awhile. I've been asked if I want to go boating down the Peace River, which if I can work it into my time, I'll go. Ron

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Today as Dean & I came to Wachula, we saw this camper. It is a 1968 Ultra Van, manufactured in Hutchinson, Ks. It is 23' long & has a Corvair engine in the rear. It has 113,ooo miles on it.
I was happy to get an interior picture. Looks really great inside. Has a bathroom, also the bed is a queen size. To the right, not seen in the picture is a couch. The driver & passenger seats rotate around backwards to visit with company or watch TV.
Not sure what shape you call this, but the worst mileage he got was 12 mpg. into a headwind. With a tailwind he said he got 20 mpg. once.
Look at the clouds in the sky. It was a beautiful day. A little bit warm. The temperature at the bank was 86 & I did sweat some.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Now I've Seen ALMOST everything

I was sitting in the bus talking on my cell phone when I saw this couple walking by with this carriage. I saw the dogs in it, even though the top was closed up. I asked them if it was a special dog carrier, which they showed me it was made by Best Pet & told me they had bought it through ebay. The dogs seemed to be content riding in it.







About 2 weeks ago when I drove to Sebring, Florida, I took a back road to keep out of the traffic of 2 schools letting out & heavy traffic congestion, so I happened by this old VW in the front yard. Pretty nice advertising sign I thought. I actually found a place to turn the bus around to go back to take the picture. Weather is beautiful here today with people in the swimming pool.

The Chuckie Ray Harrelson Show

Last night we had The Chuckie Ray Harrelson Show for entertainment here at Peace River campground. He had a great show with a variety of music, mostly country.
The 1st picture is a photo taken of him when he was in Brazil. He was there performing because he had met his now wife on the Internet. He admits he robbed the cradle :) One of the songs he sang was "LIVIN' ON LOVE", an Alan Jackson song. He looks similar to Alan Jackson. He told me that once when he was in Brazil, someone asked him if he was Alan Jackson.




This is his beautiful wife Lourdes with him. I jitterbug danced with her & she said I was a good dancer :) Of course she was a good follower, which made us look great together.



Chuckie does a great job playing to the audience. It just happened that the lady sitting next to me is celebrating her 81st birthday April Fools Day. He gave her an autographed CD. She said it was her 1st birthday present this year :)

Friday, March 9, 2007

Mgr. Debbie on backhoe working

Today I was awaiting a guy to pick me up to go see his veggie oil setup on his motor home, so I had walked across the 4 lane divided highway, WHEN I NOTICED THE MANAGER ON THE BACKHOE TRACTOR!!! So I got my telephoto lens out & put it on my camera. What you see in these pictures of Debbie, I was probably 300' away & SHE HAD NO IDEA I WAS TAKING HER PICTURE. But she was happy when she saw them, as she had proof she worked more than behind the desk. She will fwd. the pictures to a manager friend of hers at another Thousand Trails campground. She really liked the 2nd picture because it showed her load in the bucket.

I also took a picture of the swimming pool. Just before I got into position to take the picture 2 people got out, but it is warm enough here that I am running the air conditioner in the bus & I am happy to be in the adult lounge here where the air conditioner is on. It is sunny & warm here. Rod,a friend of mine a few minutes ago showed me pictures of his house in New Hampshire with snow & explained to me that that was the reason he isn't there. He also showed me some beautiful pictures he & his wife took last year to Alaska, as well as some pictures in Arizona.



Thursday, March 8, 2007

I Met Santa Claus Today


Nice thing about camping & there is always a change of campers in & out is that I meet new people constantly & making new friends. About 3 days ago I saw this guy. Later that evening I caught up with him & his wife & asked him if he played Santa Claus. Of course he does. Today as I sit here in the adult lounge, I asked to see a picture of him dressed up & this is the picture I got. I asked him if it payed good, since he looks so good, & he said, not as good as it could be, BUT HE DID REMIND ME IT IS 292 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS. Also he dresses up & rides his motorcycle on the "Ride For Kids" in July to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. He also passes out "Toys For Tots" in December.
Nice weather here today with people in the swimming pool.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Full Moon from last week

Last week when I was in the junkyard, I got this picture. I took about 10-15 pictures at different exposures to try to get what I wanted. I didn't use my tripod. Just braced against the door of the bus. The day before I took this picture, there was the eclipse of the moon, which I wanted to shoot, but I had cloudy conditions.

The weather is beautiful here today, sunny & in the 70's. I've had several e-mails wishing they were here where it is warmer. WELL, COME ON DOWN, LOL. Ron

Monday, March 5, 2007

Good News-Bad News




Been a week since I have been in the campground. Bad news is that I can only stay in the campgrounds 2 weeks at a time & then I have to leave for 1 week.
The good news to that was that I needed to paint my bus again as it had been 6 years since it had been painted & it was faded & chipped as to see yellow paint spots, so a place that sells used tires & various parts from campers, trailers etc. let me park in there & I got my bus painted. See picture of the bus.
The bad news was it was awfully junky & I had to watch where I stepped to keep from stepping on nails or getting cut from scrap aluminum siding or get into the RED ANTS!!! See picture of some junk I had to walk around & through to get to various places.
Some more good news was that I had a lot of time, a whole week, with electricity & water furnished at no charge, except a little labor. I helped stack some skids onto a truck once, WHICH I GOT A RED ANT BITE, & I drove the owner to Clearwater in his car about 90 miles to the airport so he could fly to Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Then I had use of his car the rest of the day in which I visited a friend at Clearwater & shopped at Wal-Mart before going back to the junkyard. With plenty of time on my hands, I decided to make some homemade potato soup with cheese & ham. It sure was good. I made enough for 2 servings. Think I'll make some more tomorrow. See picture of the cheesy potato & ham soup.
Some more bad news, I had to go past a dog that I was told would bite, so I went well out of my way. HE BARKED FEROCIOUSLY!!! I thought of him as the JUNKYARD DOG. See his picture. There were a total of 10 dogs there, ALL CHAINED UP. All the rest were friendly, except 1 after dark who was just being protective, & it nipped me once. There was 1 cute little dog there I would have liked & they said I could have him, but I didn't take him.
I also got a picture of the FULL MOON, but I'll send it separate.
It was chilly here this morning, but warmed up nicely this afternoon. I had lots of e-mails, including 2 e-mails from a Russian friend who came to America last summer & worked in the carnival with me. She also sent pictures, WITH HEAVY COATS on. It really made it look cold there, but she said it was 15-17C if I remember right, WHICH IS COLD TO ME!!!
Hope all is well with you & hope to hear what you are doing, NOT JUST FWDS. Ron