Waze Craze and Stopped by a Cop

 

"The trouble with life in the fast lane is that you get to the other end in an awful hurry."

 

Christmas and New Years are now behind us. So, what's next?  We are certainly not going to sit still.  The weather should start improving in a few days and we're really looking forward to that.  Amazing how much better you feel when the sky is blue and the weather warm.

Tomorrow is moving day.  Actually, we're half moved.  We drove into the BIG CITY today with the Razor loaded on the trailer.  The idea was to mark our spot at our next RV park and then move the rest in the morning.  That we did so we're getting ready to itch that hitch and I'm so glad. 

We received a couple Olive Garden gift cards for Christmas.  On the way back to Casa Grande we figured it was a perfect time to stop for lunch.  Check out my plate ..... mussels, scallops and shrimp.  It was a meal made in Heaven!  Well ... kinda.

Mussels, shrimp and scallops …. 

We'll probably hang around the Phoenix area for another week.  That'll give us time to visit a little more with Terry's mom and stock up on supplies.  After that we're off to meet friends in Quartzsite for the biggest RV event of the year.  That’s about the time the Big Tent goes up and hundreds of thousands of other people converge on the little town. Fun, fun, fun. 

Have you been hooked with the Waze craze?  This is a fun app for your iPhone.  It's a navigation device and gives you real-time driving conditions where you are and where you're heading.  The idea is to outsmart the traffic, save time and gas money.  It's fun, fun, fun and it's free.  The app also notifies you of accidents, hazards and other events you see on the road.   Waze is hands-free and voice-operated. 

 --- Check it out here

Another great feature is being warned of  hidden police.  I know they say having police on the road is for safety.  I would definitely agree if they would actually patrol the roads and not hide where speeders and dangerous drivers can't see them.  Just being visible can prevent all kinds of highway calamities.  It's difficult to understand how their presence can be for safety when their hiding behind bushes or other contraptions.  Have you ever noticee how many actually drivers slow down and drive sane when a state patrol car is seen cruising down the highway?  Now that's  preventive and probably eliminates many accidents.

Speaking of police .....  I'm all in favor of having more police officers but not to fill the shoes of those hiding or harassing.  How many times have you or your family been stopped by the police?  If you live in a large town, maybe not at all because the odds are in your favor.  However, if you live in a small town, there aren't many other folks and the odds turn against you.     Our son and his family live in a town with a population of about 4,000.  Their family has been stopped about 8 times in the last two or three years.  Okay this might be an embellishment but not by much.   Out of those eight stops or so only two tickets were actually issued ... once for license tags that had been expired for about 18 days and the other time was when Jordan didn't make a complete stop at a stop sign.  The other few times no tickets were written .. of course.

Well, when I was with Sabrina over the holidays she got stopped .... again.  I didn't remember to post it because she wouldn't let me take a picture of her with the two cop cars and their lights flashing.  If I can't take a picture, I can't be responsible for remembering events.   I wanted that picture!!! 

The conversation began with the officers telling her they had seen us come into town on  a street we hadn't been on.  Not hardly as it would have been very much out of our way.  Supposedly their first issue was with that car ....  or was it just a ploy?  The next issue was her headlight.  After that came the tint on the car windows.  There was no after-market tint but they were so sure there was, they tested it.   It tested perfect.  She wasn't given a ticket.  There was nothing to give her a ticket for just like most other times their family had been stopped.    I'm all for having police officers and making our towns and streets safe but not like this.

Living in a small town definitely isn't like living in a large town.  In a large town there are lots of infractions and lots of people to keep the police busy.  In a small town ... not so much.  That's my opinion and I'm sticking with it.  

Remember yesterday I made a comment that we're tired of pulling a trailer?  Well, we have a plan to eliminate that trailer!

‘Tis life on the road.

Auld Lang Syne

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

 

I could have posted a title wishing everyone Happy New Year.  I figured there would be lots of blogs out there with that.  2012 is now behind us and all that remain are the memories.  Thus, Auld Lang Syne  … for the sake of old times ... is pretty relevant.

--  Soon this park tree will be  boxed and stored for another Christmas.

The clubhouse at the park had a New Year’s get together last evening.  Terry, of course, didn’t go because he’s still on an uphill battle trying to knock the bug he picked up.  I walked to the clubhouse with Toni and Doug for about an hour.    I think if you knew a lot of folks it would be fun visiting but most found a chair, ate some finger foods and talked to folks at their own table.  The best part to me were the Lairds.  They are certainly mighty fine people.  Our RVs have been back to back for nearly a month.  However, tomorrow we’ll be saying So Long for a few weeks as we both head our separate ways.

Instead of staying up late to bring in the New Year Terry and I rolled into bed before the clock struck twelve.  Once the sun goes down it gets pretty chilly but snuggling under the electric blanket makes that chill not so noticeable.  However, this morning it seemed nippier than ever. The temperature in the motorhome had dropped to 47 degrees.  Now that’s cold.  Even though it was still only 4:30 AM, I hopped out of bed and had our propane heater and our electric heater going.  It’s still not as cozy as being under an electric blanket but those little heaters make a big difference and keeping Duchess warm is important too.  Besides I can always take a nap later.

Party Hats -- 

With each year come changes.  2012 was no different.  We had a few changes.  We sold our cabin close to the lake only to regret it and buy another cabin just down the road.  That’s a continuing work-in-progress project.  We also sold a couple of the ATVs we bought the year before and replaced them with a Polaris RZR – that will probably change this year too.  We're tired of pulling a trailer and all the extra work having one brings. Terry also lost his father.

In the meantime we feel we have the best of all worlds.  We have the absolute best family and some mighty wonderful friends who are scattered all over this country.  Speaking of this country … we also know we live in the best country on earth.  I would say we’re mighty lucky people. 

Now come the resolutions for some.  I long ago stopped making those resolutions.  They cause stress.  I’ve come to learn there's no reason to make them if I’m not going to keep them.  Diet is at the top of many lists. If I made resolutions maybe that would be on mine too.  However, that would mean I'd have to give up good food.  We all love to eat and especially at the holidays.  Lots of people worry about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year but they really should be worry more about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas.

 -- Here's a toast to you and to the New Year.  I have to toast you with hot tea as it's too cold for anything else!!  

We're wishing the best of everything to our family, friends and fellow bloggers during 2013.  I’m sure a lot of adventures await all of us over the next twelve months.  Here's our toast to you and we're hoping the adventures are all good ones.

Happy New Year.

‘Tis life on the road.