November 19, 2007

Well today I had the fright of my life. I took Trucker down for his daily swim at the dog beach here at Cattail and he decided to take after some ducks. I called and called and he just kept swimming out towards the center of the lake. I hollered at a fellow in a passing boat and he shouted to his sister on the beach next door to call the dog. I ran like crazy in my thongs up two flights of stairs leading from the dog beach, across the boat ramps, past the docks, past the swimming beach to the beach next door where he was now swimming parallel about 100 yards out. When he heard me calling, along with everyone else on the beach, he turned and started paddling toward us. Meantime I was emptying my pockets of my cell phone and keys and was heading out to get him if he couldn’t make it. All I could see was this little black head bobbing along. He kept on coming, the little devil and I ran to grab him. I could have killed him, but all I could do was hug him. After everything else that has happened on this trip, if he hadn’t made it, I would have packed up and gone home. That is, of course, if I ever get my truck out of the shop. Arggggggggggggg!!!

November 20, 2007

Went bowling with Gordon again and checked on the truck. Still not fixed.

November 21, 2007

Wrenched my left leg today trying to vault over a 4-½’ fence to retrieve Trucker’s Frisbee. Hobbled back to the trailer and spent the rest of the day on my back with ice on my leg. This is all I need. When am I going to learn I’m not 20 again.

November 22, 2007

Gordon picked me up and we went to the Thanksgiving buffet at the Bluewater Casino in Parker. It was OK, but not really worth the $12.00. Then I lost $3 in the poker machine.

November 23, 2007

Went up to the Sandpiper resort next door and got my 4 month fishing license and some lures and wind was blowing like crazy. Maybe wait until a better day.

November 24, 2007

Gordon picked me up and we went to the flea market in Parker today. It’s sunny and warm, but the wind’s still blowing. Got some videos, drills and junk and came home.

November 25, 2007

Went fishing off the point and got skunked. That was ok, it was such a beautiful sunny day in the low 80’s that I didn’t mind. Later that night took Trucker for his evening walk, in the dark, and managed to trip over a speed bump on the road and skinned up my left knee, ripped my pants and bloodied my hand. What a klutz!

November 26, 2007

Another gorgeous, sunny day. Still no word on the truck.

November 27, 2007

Gordon picked me up and we went bowling again. Made our weekly stop at the transmission place and found that the truck hadn’t moved since we were there last week. Owner said he was short of help and hadn’t been able to touch it all week. I was LIVID!
Seems he had time to work on other trucks, but not mine. I walked away rather than say something unlady like and got into Gordon’s truck. Went over to Lakeside Tire and Auto who had contracted the transmission work and who I had paid my $3000 to and told the manager I was extremely unhappy with the service and had been without a vehicle now for 3 weeks. He called the transmission shop and got the same story. Apologized and stated they had always been reliable in the past. I am so frustrated, I could cry.
Then found out my mail for the month had been returned and wouldn’t be here for another 3 days. Can’t wait to see how many bills I’m late on. No Internet service here so I can’t pay them on line as usual. Oh brother.

November 28, 2007

Went into town with campsite neighbor, Pat. We went to Brewed Awakening, an Internet coffee shop and I caught up on my bill paying and emails. I called Ben Holland, my mechanic, back in Idaho and he said I should demand a new tranny from Chrysler with a warranty. After that we went over to see Chet at Lakeside Tire and Auto and I told him what my wishes were and that over 3 weeks was ridiculous to be without my truck. Bill said he was two thirds done with the tranny and they would give me a 3 yr. $50,000 warranty at no extra cost. (usually you pay $200 a yr. for that).I said ok.

November 30, 2007

Just got up and was about to go outside and lo and behold up drives my truck. I thought I would never see it again. Hallelujah!!! Both Bill and Chet were there and apologized again and presented me with the Warranty. I said OK with reservations, but I would stick around for a few more days and be sure it was working. I had mentioned to Chet that I would like to purchase new tires for my son’s trailer and he offered to do that at his cost with free labor. Sounds reasonable.

December 1-3, 2007

Have been driving to town (15 miles each way) every day and taking Trucker to Doggy Park and testing out the truck. So far so good.

DECEMBER 4-12

GETTING LAZY ABOUT JOURNALING. TRUCK SEEMS TO BE RUNNING OK, BUT STILL NERVOUS ABOUT IT. JIM HAS BEEN TEACHING ME TO CATCH AND CLEAN STRIPERS AND THEY REALLY TASTE GOOD. JIM AND MARY HAVE BEEN VERY NICE AND HELPFUL TO ME.