QUANTITY TIME

It has been said that we should spend quality time with our children, this is a falsehood perpetuated by those that have too little time for their kids.

All children want quantity time, they want to know that you would rather be with them than your buddies, your boat, your golf clubs, your community service, or your career. They like it when they have you to themselves, but are happy to share you with their siblings.

They are especially happy to share you with a friend that doesn't get to spend enough time with their parents, it is both an act of compassion and a form of boasting. There is enough of my family to share and still have enough for me to be satisfied, in fact when I share you with a friend there is even more for me to have.

Ain't love grand.

It is SAD,

the Standard American Diet, how we kill ourselves more and more each day. We are designed to eat a raw food.

Watch Freelee's video on the role of food and cancer treatment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SSVnlglvFo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

STUFFED PORK CHOPS

My dear wife (DW) and I like pork a lot, we find that Sam's Club and Costco have consistently excellent pork. I have been wanting to do some stuffed pork chops, and today I found this recipe from TrailerLife,  http://www.trailerlifedirectory.com/explore/ArticleDetails.aspx?articleid=2632447&p=ia 

A solar oven can cook much like a crock pot, so I will try this soon and give you a follow up.

CROCK POT Solar Oven STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Serves 6

6 oz. herb stuffing mix
1 cup diced celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
6 oz. raisins
1 green apple, diced
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chicken broth
6 center-cut boneless pork chops

Mix stuffing, vegetables, fruit, butter and broth. Put half of the mixture in a crock pot; add pork chops and remainder of stuffing mixture. Cook on LOW setting for 6-8 hrs.


Submitted By: Bonnie Adriance, West Sand Lake, New York

Note: When cooler weather comes, hot slow-cooked meals are a real favorite with Bonnie’s family and friends.

Time Out

2012-01-18 09:07
Last night at 2200 (10PM or midnight on our eastern seaboard) I turned off my internet access. I'm boycotting the internet in protest of the internet copyright measure before the U. S. Congress (SOPA & PITA).

My downtime runs from midnight January 17th Eastern Time through midnight January 18th Hawaii Time, it is symbolic, but I will not partake of the internet while it is the 18th of January in the United States of America.

Many websites will be dark in protest of the censorship they believe this bill will bring.

For myself, my little turning off the internet is my protest of continuing intrusion of the federal government in our daily lives. Small government is the better government.

These measures would allow websites to be shut down WITHOUT DUE PROCESS!

Small is better, local and small is best! The further that government is from home, the less control an individual can exercise over their own destiny. When your representatives (mayor, aldermen, counsel members, etc) are in "your neighborhood" the more responsive they are. After all, they never know when you may bump into them, and take them to task.

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The problem IS Netit and Fiserv, Inc

There has been an ongoing problem with the Sea Air Federal Credit Union* providing our financial data to the Quicken family of financial products. (By the way, this is not just Sea Air FCU problem, it hits many credit unions, ie., Penn East FCU, Omaha FCU, Neighbors FCU, Westmark FCU, Honeywell Philadelphia FCU, etc, etc) The problem stems from the  defiance of the Netit* branch of Fiserv, Inc* (see: http://satisfaction.mint.com/mint/topics/is_netit_financial_net_com_holding_us_hostage) to let the users have their financial data.

This came to a head when the members of Sea Air Federal Credit Union received this note:
----[From: SEA AIR FCU; 01/06/2012 13:37:14 CST]-----
We regret to inform you that due to unresolved issues with Quicken, we had to cancel our contract.  

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Sea Air Staff
----[End of message]-----

I replied with:
I am afraid that you are letting netit.financial-net ordain the path of Sea Air FCU rather than the co-op THAT IS this credit union.
----[End of message]-----


It disturbs me that Netit* and Fiserv, Inc* blames security issues when in fact it is them wanting more money from someone, instead of providing financial data that belongs to us, when American Express, the Federal TSP program, and many others provide our data to Mint and others. The other financial institutions seem to understand that it is OUR financial data.


*
Fiserv, Inc -- www.fiserv.com  see: www.whois.net/whois/fiserv.com
Netit -- see: www.whois.net/whois/financial-net.com
Sea Air FCU -- www.seaairfcu.org

Do Not Fret, Cream Rises

I used to have a cartoon posted at my desk, the picture had a little man at his desk pointing down the hall. The caption was "It is amazing what you can do when you don't mind who gets the credit."

It is so true, but do not fret, cream rises and you will be well known for your good work.

At one time I was a photographer. In charge of the photo lab was an NCO that knew more about the Army than photography. I referred to him as "my pillow", for when anything went wrong he would get the blame because he was "in charge". When the photo lab accomplished something out of the ordinary the recognition would go to anyone but the NCO. It was widely known that he couldn't be counted on when it came to photography.

The rest of us were concerned about the quality of the product, we didn't need to let people know how diligent we were. Our commitment was evident. Most of us didn't wish to be in the Army, but we were dedicated to our craft, and it mattered little who the employer was.

Tax Truth

MOMENT OF CLARITY: Tax Truth

This is something you should read, you don't have to agree, but you should read it and file for future reference.

A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

We have a new ornament on our Charlie Brown Christmas tree. It was a special gift from Marlene and Peter's family, to the best of my recollection it's the first motor home ornament I've seen.

The tree was a gift from Jenny and Wayne when we first got our motor home. It is the perfect size to setup and even a better size for storing in a MH. With no lights I don't have to find a place to plug it in, and with 2 ornaments it seems to have just the right balance.

I hope everyone had as blessed a Christmas as I enjoyed, it is hard not being able with all of our of our family and friends, but know that everyone of you are in my heart.

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No it isn't a Navel Orange

Sometimes when you are looking for a navel you find something on the other side and a bit lower.    ;-)


In the bag of oranges we found a rare Butt Orange. Now if we could find a little set of boxers and pants to wear low.   :-D

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THANK YOU

When called, they came.

It has been paid for by every veteran, from the first Minuteman to the latest enlistee.

Yes, they all are already there. When you wake up in the greatest country in the world. When you have the freedom to protest your own government. When you have the freedom to burn The Flag.

You also have the freedom to thank a veteran, and their families, for the sacrifices they made to protect your freedoms.

Through my window

I took this shot yesterday to show how in some ways our location in Ventura County is special. But alas, about 5 minutes after this photo a new 'camper' moved in, now my view is more RV billboard than natural.



Our plan is to be at my Dad's by Thanksgiving. We were going to be on our way a few days ago, but our new grandson is taking his time, he was due 10/31. I also ordered an item that has to be replaced, and we are waiting for that package.

On the way to Dad's we are going to swing by Knott's Berry Farm. Every year they let veterans and a guest in for free from the beginning of November through Thanksgiving. Veterans can also purchase up to 6 guest passes for $17 each. We have done this almost every year for the last 14 years.

Thank you Knott's Berry Farm for this salute to those who have served. While we enjoy our day with you, it is this gesture that moves my heart.

N HOLLY asked:

Whats easy thether...I have a Sprint Evo 4G and would love to have a wifi connection for my laptop..
______________

My answer: EasyTether is an app that works with most android (and other phone OS) phones that will allow the user to tether (connect) their android via a USB port to a computer. It is not a WiFi connection, but with your EVO you can turn on a built in WiFi that costs ~$30 a month, if you don't use a full month it will be prorated. See: Mobile Hotspot (This is hot! Your personal portable hotspot, connect just like you do with any Wi-Fi device. Optional $29.99/mo. Sprint Mobile Hotspot add-on is required for Hotspot functionality.)

Nate asked

How did you do it?

from what I read online, the windows easytether had to be heavily tweaked to get it to run on ubuntu...  would really love if you shared how you did this :-)

Laptop running ubuntu and a droid X with grandfathered unlimited data plan.

_______________

My answer: I had no problems using EasyTether with Ubuntu 11.04, I down loaded both deb files from http://www.mobile-stream.com/easytether/drivers.html, it does require version Ubuntu 10.4 or better.

The i386 deb is the one that would load on my laptop, just start EasyTether on the phone, connected the USB cord between my HTC EVO and PC, then opened terminal in Ubuntu and typed easytether connect pressed return, and it worked, for me anyway. BTW, PdaNet doesn't have a driver for Ubuntu.

LauraV in TX asked

 ... do you have problems when you are out in unpopulated areas?
_______________

My answer: So far I have not had too much of a problem with connectivity. Sometimes the frame of the motorhome causes interference, but by moving the phone around the motorhome a little bit has taken care of it.

We spent the summer at Lake Oroville, the campers with AT&The or Verizon had half the success of what I had with Sprint.

Back to Ubuntu

Well I've finally got my laptop computer up and running with Ubuntu (again), EasyTether, and my android phone.

BTW, with my unlimited data plan I have had internet access everywhere we've traveled while fulltiming in our motorhome, we started 01/03/11.

Until today I was running Windows 7 with PdaNet, but couldn't tether with Ubuntu. I got EasyTether pro from the Amazon appstore, and via RV park WiFi downloaded the EasyTether driver for Ubuntu. And few minutes later I was up and communicating with Ubuntu/EasyTether, now my Ubuntu is upgraded to 11.04.

Went to Costco on our way to Pismo Beach

The last two stops were "dry camping", this just means there were no hook-ups. Some places have an electric, water, and a place to empty the tanks at the site, some only one or two of the three. But I digress, the last few times the motor home was started. it wasn't!


The motor home had to be jump started, this is fairly easy with this motor home, there is a switch on the dash that uses the house batteries to jump the chassis batteries. Now here comes the tricky part, we didn't have enough 'juice' left in the house batteries to do the jump. So, we wait until 10 A.M. to start the generator. Let the generator run for 15 to 30 minutes to boost the house battery set, then continue to run the gen set while 'jump' starting the MH. Needless to say, this becomes a stressful situation.


Thus the trip to Costco, spent $182.39 for a pair of starter batteries. Changed them out in the parking lot.


Now the engine fires up like, well like it has new batteries.      : )

Boy did we have fun today,

 drove from New Brighton SB to San Simeon SP on Highway 1. Now this is a beautiful scenic drive in an automobile, but in a 37 foot motor home towing a Jeep is a slightly different proposition. Together the MH, towbar, and Jeep are nearly 59 feet long. Some of the switchbacks were so tight that the the inside rear tire would go over the 'curb' and give us all a bit of a fright.

Oh, I now have a great deal of respect for those caution signs telling us to slow for the curves, this old house bus wouldn't do 1 mph over the caution speed. Well we made it here safely.

It Has Been A Long Hot Summer

Today my wife and I went to Yuba City, California to celebrate my birthday with our grandson Miles and son Wayne. We enjoyed what may be our last visit with Miles before we depart northern California.


Wayne and Miles spent a number of weekends camped at our host site this summer. This was extra special because before this February we had only seen Miles once before.


Anyway, I was waxing nostalgic about how this has been a good experience, camp hosting for the first time, my dear wife (DW) not completely agreeing. We pull up to the motor home, I set up the stair rail for the DW, and she says look at the double rainbow. Thus the photograph. Is it a sign? I don't know, this is the first rain in a long time, or at least it seems that way, it has been so hot for so long (to us).


Anyway it was a very nice day today, a lot cooler, a little rain, time with Miles and Wayne, all topped off with a double rainbow.


Our motor home is not a pot of gold, but it is a nice abode.

Man, what a Man

I thought I had walked into the internet this afternoon. I saw it there, just after the bend, one of those all terrain camper set-ups. I've only seen photos on websites, so I thought I would share my photos with you guys.








You can learn more by searching for expedition OR adventure campers - they don't need roads, they are supposed to be able to go weeks with out needing to be dumped or refilled, oh and the prices $200K plus, sometimes a really big PLUS.


As the camp host I didn't want to intrude upon them so I didn't ask them about their rig, but one of the other campers said that they have been on the road for 6 years.

Spring Flowers

They caught my eye.

It has been rain off and on all day today, oh there was that bit of hail early this afternoon.

Only two sites taken today, all in tents, glad that isn't me.

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