Wondering about curb feelers.

How many of you are old enough to remember “curb feelers”? I sure am, even had them on my first car, a 1955 DeSoto. They sure did remind you when you got near the curb. I don’t remember if they came on new cars or if you had to add them after you had the vehicle. Dang, just thinking about that old car brings back a lot of memories as does thinking about the second vehicle I had, a ’57 Chevy convertible.



OK, back on the subject, curb feelers. I woke up this morning thinking about a way to install something like curb feelers on that motor- home I just bought. You know, a few sticking out in vulnerable places, like the bottom left and right rear, the mid height left and right rear, the top left and right rear, the mid section left and right and top and bottom, the front left and right and top and bottom, and a few scattered over the air conditioners and the front and rear of the roof. Phew!!! Glad I got through all that, did you? If I did attach “curb feelers” in all the vulnerable and hard to see places, it would look like a porcupine for sure, but I bet I wouldn’t squash into another tree.


OK, I got to get back on that paying (hopefully paying) job so I can start learning the important things I need to know to drive that new house around a bit. Called last week to make an appointment at the local RV place to get the oil and filters changed. I guess they don’t get diesels in much cause they said they had a guy that comes in an does it and they have called a couple of times wanting model numbers and other information so they can order the filters, oil, etc. They have not as yet called and given me a date that they can do it. Guess I should have planned to take it on down toward Houston to a dealer that handles Newmars like mine.


Hey, you all have a great day now, you hear?

Wondering where the drought went.

I can honestly say that it doesn’t look like drought conditions this morning. Yesterday morning, the front blew in and with it came cool air and drizzle. The rain was so light that if you ran fast enough you could get from the car to the porch without getting wet. I admit, a few times it rained a little harder than that. Then a little before 05:00 this morning, a good strong rain hit accompanied by thunder and lightning. Well, to be exact, it would have to have been lightning and thunder. You can’t have thunder unless you have lightning first. So why do most people say “thunder and lightning”? Now say it real fast and see which way you normally say it. Let us know, I am curious. Maybe I am the only one that says it backwards.



You do know that it takes sound almost 5 seconds to travel a mile. At sea level it takes about 4.6875 seconds to travel a mile. So, if you see a flash, you can count the seconds and know how far away the lightning is and therefore, the major part of the storm. I do the “one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, one thousand four, and put one finger up, then say it over again and put the second finger up, and so on and so forth. The time it takes to extend a finger makes up the extra 0.6975 seconds (grin). At my age I need the fingers to keep track of the miles. Works for me, so you try it when you have the next thunder storm; or is it a lightning storm?


You all have a great Monday, you hear?

Wondering what the video problem is?

My computer is acting up. Not a good time for it to do so, since I am still working on this “rush” job. I do need to get it finished up this week. Let me tell you all what is happening and you tell me what to do to fix it, other than purchasing another computer. I think it is the video card and that can be replaced fairly easily. Or do different computers and operating systems take different cards. I use computers, I don’t work on them.



The video starts out just fine when I turn on the computer. In fact, it stays OK almost all day, and then it starts to get blurry. It gets so bad I can’t see where to close or save the programs I have opened. That caused me some lost time when I couldn’t save the drawing that was up. I had left the room to watch a TV show and came back in and the video screen was a jumble of colors. Sort of like if you took a fine tooth comb and scraped it across a wet painting.


Let me know what you think and what you would do to quickly solve the problem. Got to get working while I can see the screen. May take a quick trip to the flea market, even though it is threatening rain. I think I will shut the computer system down for a rest if I do leave for awhile. You all have a great day now, you hear?

Wondering when the leaves will change.

Actually, it is too early for the leaves to change color here. Some of the Chinese Tallow are turning their pretty red, yellow, and orange. That is the only thing that they are good for, autumn color. The hardwoods turn color and drop their leaves beginning after the second week in December. Most all of the leaves will be down by the end of the year, except for the Live Oak and the trees that died during the drought. I don’t think there will be much color this fall except for the trash trees. Actually, there never really is, especially if you are used to the beautiful color in the autumn in Pennsylvania. The peak of the color there is usually the second or third week of October.



Woke up this morning to balmy, humid weather. This morning low temperature was in the mid 60’s. Since I didn’t watch any news yesterday, I don’t know what the high is supposed to be. My wife tells me that California had 130 mph winds and they will even affect the middle part of the United States. Santa Anna winds, I believe they are called.


Quick now, how high do you have to count to find a number that when spelled out has an “a” in it? It only took me a second or two to answer that, how long did it take you? Hope there is none of you out there still counting; 1, 2. 3. 4. . . . You all have a great day now, you hear?

Wondering, where can I park my Jeep?

I only have 12 acres here, but I would think that would be enough room to park my Jeep.  Well, since it IS a Jeep, it can be parked anywhere, although my wife said I was leaving ruts in the yard and what is left of the grass.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am really not complaining, just trying to think up subject for today’s blog (grin).  My Class-C motor home is now taking up the spot where my Jeep usually parks:

I needed to park both units in that area in order to be able to reach the power pole and get them plugged in to shore power. I will gladly live with this little inconvenience just to have that blue and grey monster parked at my place (grin).

I promised to show you a better picture of the awning damage, so here it is:



And while I am at it, here is a picture of the driver’s side of the unit:

OK, I promise, no more pictures of my new toy.  Now I got to get back to work.  You all have a great day now, you hear?  It is Friday, you know.

I Got It!!

What did I get? Let me tell you, it was a rough road. Every time I tried to buy this RV that I wanted, someone beat me to it and it was then listed as “sale pending”. That happen a few times and then one day I saw it back listed “for sale”. I called the salesman and he said he was sorry, that there was someone right at that moment trying to make a deal. Well, he called back the next day and said the guy couldn’t get financing and/or couldn’t reach a trade in agreement. So I jumped on it. Now I am a proud owner of my first class-A motor-home! It was a hassle getting it ready to go and we didn’t get out of the sales lot, which is located on the far south side of Houston, until 17:00, putting us smack dab in the middle of rush hour and I had to drive it the whole way through Houston and then on home. For the first time I ever drove a class-A, I had to learn real quick in traffic like that.



It was way after dark when we got near home and of course the fuel tank looked like it was almost empty, so I stopped and filled the tank. It is suppose to hold a hundred gallons, but only took 75. Still, at the cost of diesel, that put a dent in my wallet for sure. I never wanted a diesel, but after finding this unit that had every single thing on or in it that we had on our “wish list”, plus a lot more, I bit the bullet and got the diesel. They do seem to be built better.


Here are a couple of pictures of the inside that were taken by the RV sales place:

Of course, being dark and all, I managed to squash the big expensive automatic power awning on a tree trying to make the last curve in my drive way. Remember that tree that had the woodpecker holes in it? That’s the one, it leans out over the drive way and since it was dark, I couldn’t see in my mirror. Dang it anyway!!  As soon as I find someone with a chainsaw, that tree will be gone.



Here is a picture of where I let it sit for the first night. I didn’t want to try to maneuver it around in the dark and I was exhausted from the long day.

And close up of the awning damage (I will get better pictures today when the sun gets above the trees.

And one more I took while standing on the porch.

Yesterday, we moved it into its berth or home parking place and got it plugged in to the electric. Then I parked the Class-C next to it, between it and the house, and was able to plug it into the electric, also. All worked out, so far.

Now, I got to get busy on a paying job that needs completed by next week. So you all have a great day, you hear?

An answer to one of my wonderings.

A few days ago I posted a blog about the holes in one of my trees. http://dizzydick.blogspot.com/2011/11/wondering-what-is-attacking-my-trees.html

Almost everyone said it looked like woodpeckers and Ben sent me an email with the information to contact my County Extension Agent. I sent to her the pictures via email and she wrote back and said that she forwarded my question on to the cause of the holes to the Horticulture Agent. Does anyone want to change their vote before I give you the answer?


Well, most of you were correct and I was wrong. Here is the answer I got back from the Agent: “This is a common problem here in Montgomery County. A type of wood pecker called a sapsucker is causing this damage. It does not usually cause the tree any problem.” So, there you have it; the expert has spoken.


I should have cut that tree down. It has since caused a big problem for me. I will explain in a later blog post, maybe, if I don’t forget. . .


I had a very, very busy day yesterday and didn’t get a chance to reply to all your comments until this morning. Sorry for that.


You all have a great day now, you hear?