Figuring It Out...When You Feel Like a Mac Truck Hit You, Then Backed Over You Three More Times...

The quote goes something like this "Necessity is the Mother of Invention". Boy ain't that the truth!  My motor home was delivered Saturday and we got it hooked up so it would have some heat in it since it was to be extremely cold weather. However the cord I purchased is too heavy for for the 50 year old outlet

50 year old outlet

in the garage and kept falling to the floor.  No electricity, no heat...don't need frozen pipes. Not a good thing, nope!

What to do?  Figure it out Susan...First off, I am sicker than a dog and any attempt to do anything sends me into violent coughing spasms and a serious sweat. There is no one here to help me so I have to tackle the problem as best I can.  

I know I need to take the weight of the cord off of the outlet, so rummaging through Dave's 40 lb. junk drawer, I spied one of these little numbers.

Ah, the right item...a bicycle hook

 Think Susan...I can pound it into the underside wood platform of the water heater, just above the outlet. 

Now, trying to hit a small surface with a hammer in a contorted position is like trying to catch every drop of a melting Popsicle on a hundred and twenty degree day in an eighty mile an hour wind storm. It's just not going to happen...ah! light-bulb moment... turn the hammer on it's side and drive the nail in. Worked like a charm! Put the cable up over the hanger, plugged it in and....and...it stayed put! I now have power to my rig. 

Up until this very moment I had not approached my rig, but I needed to know how Mr. Wilson had set up the heaters inside and at what temps.  I donned my winter gear and proceeded toward the beast. I have to say it is huge but I needed to make sure that my $35,000 dollar investment was okay.  I discovered it takes 2 keys to open the coach door. Once inside, the heaters were running and I was a happy camper. The rig has a convection microwave oven and Mrs. Wilson had put the cookbook inside it. I retrieved it so I could start pouring over it to learn how to use the unit.

One problem solved. Next problem...

Dave was always great about wiping the dogs wet feet off when they came in from outside. We now have had our first winter snow storm.  Since I have spinal stenosis and scoliosis in my back, bending down to do the task is always hurting me. How do I get their feet somewhat dry? Again a light-bulb moment.  I seemed to remember seeing an entry rug runner

Works perfectly!

stored out in the garage. If they could walk across that, it would take a good portion of the wet off their feet. Where was that sucker.  Ah...found it. I rolled it out from the outside back door to the inside back door. Dogs being dogs, happily ran over it thinking it was something new and had to be inspected. They gave it their approval. 

Hopefully the dog can't get to it.

I recently bought (what I thought was dog proof) a locking lid to a trash can.  Nope!  Big boy got into it and emptied every bit of trash out of the can. Figured out the lid in less than 10 seconds. I am up to here (hand over head, arm extended) with him raiding the trash. Now if he can get up on the washing machine and get into it...dear daughter is going to have to take him. The last time he got into the trash it cost me a $189.00 Vet bill.

As I have learned, getting older and being sick at the same time is not for sissy's. I have always had problems with my sinuses and since I grew up with both of my parents smoking, my lungs have not always been the best. I get sinus infections when the weather changes and that will invariably develop into pneumonia. I am winning this battle, but it is a long drawn out process.  I go back to the Dr. tomorrow to see if he wants me to take another round of meds. Send me good healing thoughts and any spare prayers you have.

Happy trails...