It's Warmer . . . I Can Get Some Projects Done . . .

7AM Friday
Finally, finally, finally yesterday dawned, the sun was shining and it got up to about 70F.  It was so nice to be able to open the door and windows for some warm and fresh air.  I felt like we'd been breathing the same air over and over for days!

I spent the whole day here in Floribunda doing a major reorganization of the outside storage compartments.  When I bought her in June, the previous owners had left things they thought I might be able to use in the exterior storage compartments.   Rather than discarding something I might need, I decided to live in Floribunda for awhile before tossing or giving away.  I  thought this would be the place to do it, as I'm here for six weeks and it was supposed to be so comfortable, weather-wise.  I've put it off for various reasons:  weather, engrossingly good book, touring, etc.  Now I'm into the last half of my stay here and don't know when I might be staying someplace long enough to tackle the job; so, yesterday it was.

When I started emptying the outdoor storage cabinets I discovered several indications that I have uninvited visitors sharing our space and extra pantry supplies like flour, dog and cat food, cardboard, etc.  Yikes!  I ran out and bought a rat trap (I'm pretty sure it's a rat) and some moth balls.  I started to set the trap and realized I'm not wanting to kill the little bugger.  I just want to have him move out of our house!  My neighbors gave me advice at happy hour last evening and I returned home thinking I'd do something about it this morning.

I was working on the computer when I heard a very distinct moving-around-sound coming through the vent under the refrigerator.  Oh no!  I couldn't wait 'til this morning.  I poured several mothballs into plastic storage containers and deposited one container in each of the outside compartments (working in the dark).  I came back in and settled down to read; voila!  No more noise; the little rascal(s) had fled.  Of course, I can smell the pungent, sickly-sweet odor inside as well as outside Floribunda.

Today, I'm going to buy lots of dryer softener (Bounce) sheets to use instead of the para-dichlorobenzene (PDB) that is now used to make mothballs.  There's controversy as to the effectiveness of using Bounce but it's worth a try.  Any personal experiences and / or suggestions appreciated.

By the way, how do mothballs work?  They work by a process called sublimation, meaning that they evaporate from a solid state directly into a gas; and it's this gas that is toxic to moths and their larvae and repugnant to mice, rats, squirrels, etc.

7PM
I got a little waylaid today; but it was all good.  Marvin, one of my Betty's RV Park neighbors, an Acadian, born and raised in Louisiana, came over about 10 volunteering to help me out with several projects that are in process.  This morning he pulled my old picture tube TV (old for TVs these days is anything over about 5 years!) out of the cabinet over the dashboard.  It's been sitting there since I bought the rig last June and it works, but I've never hooked it up.  A couple of weeks ago Marvin, Jay and Tom, other neighbors, tried to get it hooked up to the roof antenna but were unable to get it completed; none of us is sure why!   Then we started talking about hooking up my Panasonic flat screen (that I've had in the bedroom TV cabinet, also not hooked up to any reception aid) as it appeared it would fit in the cabinet.  Long story short, Marvin and I decided today that what I really need is a mounted bracket and swing-out arm so I can direct the screen to wherever I'm sitting for watching TV.  So, off we went to our trusty Walmart to buy the wall mount; along with sundry gadgets in the RV section of the store.

I forgot to mention that on our way to Walmart we took all kinds of STUFF to a place here in town called The Ark - from my clean out of yesterday and today.  I've been taking some things over to Betty's office and leaving them on a table for whomever wants them.  They're things that are in good condition but I jut want to pare down unnecessary STUFF in my little house on wheels.

By the time we got back we were both needing a little relaxation time; so that's where the project lays right now.  I did have Marvin over for dinner late this afternoon; I thought it was the least I could do after all his handyman activities of the last couple of weeks.  Thank you, Marvin.

One of Merriam Webster's definitions for PACK RAT:  a person who collects and / or hoards things that are not necessary.  I want my life to be simpler and one way to accomplish that is to get rid of STUFF I'm not using.  I started this adventure last July and I figure if I haven't used something within this period of time, chance are good that I don't need it!