TWTWTW* (And thank goodness it's over.)

Although there will be some aftershocks extending into next week.

It's been one of those weeks where the money just flows...out.

First there was the "simple" fix of the RV's 12-volt system that turned into a completely new set of tires--all six of them at a cost of about $1.5K. Oh, and they still haven't got the 12-volt system fixed as the part had to be ordered from Timbuktu or somewhere.

The the refrigerator was diagnosed as terminal and a new one had to be purchased. Hopefully it will be delivered by my birthday, September 17th.

School taxes are due. 'Nough said. (At least the taxes on our 20 acres in PA are much, much less than they were for 1/3 of an acre in New Jersey and on a par with those for 34 acres in New York's Adirondacks.)

Today the Tundra's exhaust system went "KABLOOEY"..sorta. The tail pipe/muffler connection rotted out meaning the entire system needs replacement at a cost of $1K. Happened on Route 6 while I was going from the doctor's office to the hospital. More on that further down.

While scheduling the appointment I asked them to plan on doing my inspection as well. Then, on the way home, I remembered that the brakes (rotors and pads) will need replacement (another $1K) before it will pass inspection...unless the mechanic's forgetful. Well, the Tundra does have 122K miles on the odometer. The radio works just fine...I think. I never have it on.

Oh, and I went and saw the doctor today because I've still got sharp pains in my buttocks from a fall I took four weeks ago. No black-and-blue, no pain down the leg, no explanation for the continued pain. Got sent for an X-ray but the doctor hasn't called me back so if there's any damage to bone or disc will not be known until Monday at the earliest. I can put up with a lot of pain...A LOT...but this was getting to be too long a period for me. I've things to do (and I've been doing most of them) and the sharp pain I was experiencing was...well...a pain in the ass (P.I.T.A.).

Speaking of doing things.... I went and ordered a load (about 22 tons) of pea gravel and purchased a slew of pressure treated 6"x6" timbers to build a raised, level box upon which to park the RV...when ever it returns.Now if I can get the back/buttocks to behave long enough, I can get the timbers in place and lag bolted together before the stone comes.

Oh, Terry and I celebrated our 42nd Anniversary on the 19th.

And, speaking of P.I.T.A., Terry had a colonoscopy. Everything was fine.

Interesting times, interesting times.

*And if you know to what the title refers (TWTWTW), you're as old a fart as I am.

In which the SHTF.

Two weeks ago everything was coming up roses for Terry and me so you knew payback time was right around the corner.

The end of last week I discovered the 12-volt system in the Winnie wasn't working. I thought it might be the auxiliary batteries (some 7-8 years old) so I replaced them. Still a no-go. So I made an appointment up in Bath to have the system looked at and repaired.

We dropped the RV off and went to the Glenn Curtis Museum to look around. (More on that in the next post.) After a much too short a time at the museum, we got a call that the problem was fixed and returned to the shop to pick up the RV.

As it sat in the lot, we started to fold some bedding only to discover a momma mouse and four pink babies had made a nest in one blanket. *sigh* I removed the mice and we bundled up the blanket and bedding to be 1) tossed and 2) laundered. And, oh yeah, the 12-volt system stopped working.

The technician said he thought there was a problem with corrosion at the secondary shutoff switch and he had cleaned it, but perhaps the selenoid is bad. (There was considerable amount of water in the compartment where the selenoid was located.)

And, by the way, your tires are badly dry rotted and should be replaced.

So we left the RV in their care to have the 12-volt system taken care of and the tires replaced.

******

Got home and found the refrigerator was not working. Temperatures in the freezer compartment were rising as they were in the fridge compartment as well. Called for a repairman but they can't get here until Tuesday. Ate lots of ice cream (now more of a watery milkshake consistency) and moved what we could to the stand alone freezer and the two small dorm fridges we have from the kids. (Beer and soda were removed to boxes as they do not need to be chilled.)

Started shopping online for a replacement (just in case) but the space our current fridge occupies has unusual dimensions: 33" wide, 68" high. 33-36"deep. Most new fridges are wider and have ice makers/water dispensers--which we do not want.

*sigh*

******

It IS August, right? Then what's with the high temperatures barely in the 70s and the lows dipping into the 40s? Have we done anything to piss off Canada besides not completing the XL Pipeline? Why are they sending this cold, cold air our way?

My tomatoes will never ripen if this keeps up. And I can kiss any thoughts of okra or cantaloupes goodbye.