Life On The Road | FabGrandma

Back To The Grand Canyon For Me

February 2, 2012 By Fab Grandma 3 Comments

While I was sitting here suffering through this crud of a cold, and freezing in my robe, I got my much anticipated email from my boss at the North Rim, asking me if I am planning to return for another season. Well, Heck yah! I am.

He said they haven’t had much snow up there this winter, and the road was still being cleared, so they didn’t have much need for snowmobiles yet. I’m hoping they don’t get a lot of late season snow, so we can get our trailer into our campsite without having to tromp around in mud like we did last spring.

Just knowing that I have a job to go back to is very comforting, since we bought the house. Someone has to make those payments!

Filed Under: North Rim, Workamping

Update On The Hitch

January 16, 2012 By Fab Grandma 2 Comments

This morning I had a response to the tweet I sent to Progress Manufacturing, the company who manufactures the Equal-i-zer hitch, with a phone number and name for us to call. Fabgrandpa called and talked to Daniel, who was very nice and said that they are sending a brand new hitch along with all the brackets and sway bars and other stuff that goes with it. They are also sending a prepaid shipping label to return the one that broke. They have been so nice and easy to work with. Just wanted everyone to know this because people rarely broadcast good customer service interactions. It is also good to know that if this had happened while we were traveling instead of when we are just parked in our yard, that this company would have us back on the road in no time! Thank you, Daniel and Progress Manufacturing!

Filed Under: Life on the road

There’s A Reason Why That Hitch Has Chains

January 14, 2012 By Fab Grandma 34 Comments

This morning when we got up, I told Fabgrandpa I wanted to go over to the house to pretend we lived there for the day. No, the driveway is not fixed yet, and it was not in the works to get fixed today, but I was getting anxious to actually live in my house (or in the back yard). We took the laundry and drove on over. While the clothes were washing, Fabgrandpa scouted out the yard.

The hitch broke!

He came back in the house and told me he thought he could bypass the unusable driveway and pull the trailer through the yard. I agreed with him that he probably could, but I wanted him to drive the truck over that route first just to make sure there were no mushy spots. He got in the truck and went from the upper driveway, down the road, and turned in the lower driveway, and got the truck stuck in the mud immediately.

It was a clean break off the truck hitch

While he was sitting there putting the truck into 4 wheel drive mode, a neighbor stopped to see if we needed any help. It turns out that he is related to the guy who owns the grader. He said he would come tomorrow to spread out that pile of slate in the driveway for us, and gave Fabgrandpa his card with his phone number on it, and went on his way. Fabgrandpa then drove the truck up through the yard, and decided that yes, we could pull the trailer in that way.

So there we sat!

On the way back to the campground, Fabgrandpa said “I don’t think I’m going to bother with the sway bars and chains for such a short trip.” and I said, “Yes, we will hook up just like we do for a 2,000 mile trip. It’s better to be safe than sorry.” So we did.

rv travel, broken hitch, sway control hitch

We only had to go right over there!

We got all the way to the house, and three fourths of the way up the yard to the back of the house, and heard a weird noise, and felt a weird motion. Fabgrandpa stopped the truck, and we got out to investigate. The hitch had broken! We couldn’t believe our eyes! We only bought that Equal-i-zer hitch about two years ago, and paid quite a bit of money for it. There we sat, with a broken hitch, just about 120 feet from our newly installed hookups.

Finally got moved over there.

Fabgrandpa decided to call the guy we met this morning, and see if he had a hitch that would work, and he did. Jonathan came right over, and not only loaned us a hitch but helped us get the trailer hooked up again and parked in the spot intended for it. And you better believe I am going to be writing to that hitch company! We have driven thousands of miles between Georgia, Alabama, and Arizona in the not quite two years since we bought that hitch. I am just so so thankful that we were not on an interstate highway going 65 miles an hour when it happened. I am also so thankful that we attached the chains and sway bars today.

The RV plowed up the yard after the hitch broke.

Always always always use those chains! Even if you are only going a couple of miles. You never know when something may happen!

Filed Under: Life on the road, The Yard & Garden

A Trip To The Big City

December 28, 2011 By Fab Grandma 7 Comments

When our friend, “Polly”, who lives in Miami, found out she had to go to a meeting in Atlanta last week, she called and asked if we’d like to meet her there. And you know us, we said “Heck Yeah!”. So, off to Atlanta we went.

We could see the Fox Theatre out the window!

It was just for one night, and we never left the hotel, but we had such fun!

yeah, I used to work on the 36th floor there!

We stayed at the Hotel Indigo, which is right across Peachtree Street from the Fox Theatre! I love the Fox! And I used to work in that huge building right behind the Fox, when it used to be BellSouth. It seems like forever ago.

gorgeous rooms!

Our room was gorgeous! It was not at all what I expected to see in such an old hotel building (built in 1925). It was very modern, very clean, and so nice! Because it is such an old building, the bathrooms were very small, but did all that they were supposed to do.

The bathroom was tiny, but it was so cute!

We chose this hotel because our friend has dogs, and the Hotel Indigo is pet friendly. It was also surprisingly inexpensive to be in downtown Atlanta. We have paid almost as much to stay in a motel chain in Douglasville.

The lobby

I loved the chandelier in the lobby, and the modern decor. They were very gracious, and called me by my name whenever I had a reason to be in the lobby, asking if they could be of assistance. They even called us in the room after we got settled in to tell us to let them know if we forgot anything. Polly forgot the dogfood, and they were very helpful in giving directions to the closest place where she could buy some.

Look at this decor in the cafe:

very modern!

And look over there:

Very comfy, too!

And of course Fabgrandpa and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Me and Fabgrandpa at Hotel Indigo Cafe 683

Oh, and the food! delicious and beautiful! There wasn’t a lot of stuff on the menu that was gluten free, but I did notice that they had a fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil flatbread, and after a discussion with the waitress, she asked the chef if he could make me a caprese salad, which he did. I felt so special, and was very thankful that they would work with me like that.We had this for an appetizer:

made especially for me!

Fabgrandpa had the Fried Chicken Tacos with blackeyed pea relish and jalapeno slaw:

Fried Chicken Tacos

Polly ordered a Steak and Roasted Beet Salad:

Roasted Beet Salad

And I had the grilled salmon:

Grilled salmon with roasted peruvian potatoes

After dinner we all went up to our room, and talked and laughed until time to go to bed. We ordered dessert via room service! Fabgrandpa and Polly had Chocolate Cake with Strawberries and Cream, and I had plain vanilla ice cream. My ice cream tasted sooo good! I forgot to get pictures of the desserts, but trust me when I say they were delicious!

Too soon, it was time to go home, and say goodbye again to our friend, Polly. I know it won’t be the last time we see her, but it is always sad to leave. We are hoping to go back to Atlanta in April to see the Aretha Franklin concert at the Fox, and if we do, we’ll stay at the Hotel Indigo again!

Filed Under: Fun Stuff, Georgia, Motel Reviews, Vacation

My Miracle Cure For Plantar Fasciitis

December 11, 2011 By Fab Grandma 5 Comments

My Miracle

Last week when I went to visit Dr. Howell, we talked for quite a while about my foot that just continues to hurt. I have tried everything that has been suggested to me to help heal my foot. I have bought pair after pair after pair of shoes and boots, trying to get one pair that would be THE one that would help. I have bought several different types of insoles and inserts, even some that cost $39 a pair.I have taken prescription pain medication and Alleve almost daily. Alleve during the day, Rx at night.

I have tried the stand on the edge of a book exercies. I have tried the pick up a towel with your toes exercises. I have tried the making circles with your foot in the air exercises. I keep a tennis ball under my seat at my desk and roll my foot around on it often during the day. I even bought a brace to wear to bed at night to keep my foot bent, and that helped some.

waterproof bandage tape for wrapping your foot

When taped correctly, it supports your arches!

But, Dr. Howell and I talked about taping my foot. I thought it sounded like a bunch of hooey when I read about it online, but Dr. Howell said, yes, (enthusiastically) that taping would definitely help. So, I went to the pharmacy and bought some tape. Plain old tape like you use to tape up a wound. Like they use to wrap ankles for playing soccer. And guess what! My foot hasn’t hurt for two whole days! It is like a miracle! I can actually walk around without pain!

So, because some of my friends have asked, here is a link to the website that Dr. Howell printed off the taping instructions for me: How to tape your foot for relief of plantar fasciitis.

And here is what my foot looks like taped:

This looks weird but works great to releive pain of plantar fasciitis

The tape it thin, and even though you use four pieces of it, you can still wear your socks and shoes. I am so happy to have found something that works to relieve the pain of my plantar fasciitis!

Filed Under: General, Life on the road

Want To Play Santa? This Couple Could Really Use A Christmas Angel

December 7, 2011 By Fab Grandma 3 Comments

Fabgrandpa and I don’t celebrate Christmas in the traditional, spend all the money in the bank on useless gifts way. We DO send a small gift to each of our children and grandchildren, we just don’t buy gifts for each other. It is just not what we do. We feel blessed that we have reasonably good health (OK, I have plantar fasciitis, diabetes, and high blood pressure; and he has had oral cancer and has COPD, but we DO ok with our health), and that we have “enough”.And believe me when I say, I know what it is like to not have it.

In the course of my day today, I read about Kathryn and Bill. They live in Texas near a friend of mine, who is good friends with them. They have been married for 35 years, and raised six children together who gave them 21 grandchildren. In March of 2009, Kathryn followed her lifelong dream and opened up children’s boutique and consignment shop in Katy, Texas called The Children’s Carousel. In November, 2009, they received custody of six of their grandchildren. As a grandmother myself, I can see where that would change their life immensely! Taking care of children is a chore best fit for the young–being a grandparent parenting six grandchildren would be not just emotionally and physically exhausting, but financially draining as well.

In July 2011, Bill felt a sharp pain in his neck and developed a blood spot in his eye. This turn of events landed him in the hospital to have what they expected to be a simple stint proceedure, but actually turned out to be open heart surgery. After he surgery, Bill woke up to kidney problems and the realization that he was blind in both eyes, due to complications from the surgery.

He was moved to an assisted care facility, then home. He needs around the clock are that no one in the family is able to provide for him. Kathryn has tried to remain strong through this ordeal, but the realization set in that Bill is no longer able to see and can never work again. Now the legal guardians of only three of their grandchildren, they are the sole providers for them, and have the other three most of the time as well.

The events of the past several months have been hard enough to digest. Add to that the fact that their house is being sold in a short sale and they are forced to find somewhere else to live. As if that wasn’t enough, Kathryn fell on a makeshift fence at The Rice Harvest Festival and broke several teeth and is in constant pain.

I am asking you, my readers, to think about what you would do in any one of these circumstances, and try to find it in your heart to be a Christmas Angel for Bill and Kathryn and their grandchildren. You can make a cash donation via paypal, by using my email address, fabgrandma@gmail.com, or email me for the email address of their friend, Lisa, who can give you a mailing address if you want to send clothing, food, or toys, gifts other than money. If you send a paypal donation, please put Kathryn and Bill in the subject line. I will certainly make sure it gets to them. I only wish I could do more for them, or that I lived nearby so that I could lend a hand in some way. At the very least, if you could share this post with your friends and family, tweet it or share it on Facebook, I would very much appreciate it. Thank you. May the spirit of Christmas fill your heart tonight.

Filed Under: Volunteering