Tuesday, March 14 - Remembering Mr. B

 

February 3, 2003 – March 8, 2012

Mr. B came to be part of our family one Friday afternoon in mid December 2006. Someone Jesse worked with was going to take him to the pound because they didn’t want him anymore. They said his name was peanut.

Jesse said NO I will come and get him!

We did like that name and we wanted him to have a name that begins with “B” like the other two. I decided to call him Baxter. Jesse recalled the TV show on many years ago called Hazel who was a maid for the Baxter family and she call the man Mr. B and that stuck. The paperwork showed he had puppy shots from the breeder and nothing else.

We took him to the vet. He had a bladder infection that we medicated him to get better. We had his teeth cleaned and got him neutered.

Bayer and Buddy didn’t take too long to accept him and love him as much as we did.

He was such a sweet little boy with a fun loving nature.

I noticed in June of 2011 that Mr. B didn’t wag his tail anymore and he seemed to not have the energy that he usually did. He also wet in the house which he usually didn’t. I took him to the vet and he said he had another bladder infection and gave me meds for him.

 

He really didn’t get better. Then in November he got really bad and we thought we would lose him. After two more vets and Kansas State Veterinary School they could not tell us what was wrong with him. We took him home and he sort of bounced back. We could tell he was sick, lost a lot of weight and continued to have more bad days then good.

A few people sent me this poem that I want to share in remembering him. Hope it will give others some comfort.

 

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown..."

Monday, March 12 - Leaving Mercedes - Rockport/Aransas Pass, TX

 

We traveled from Mercedes, TX to Rockport/Aransas Pass, TX. It was 174 miles and we arrived at 1:30.

We had lots of activity during our last days at Llano.

Our group spent one day in Mexico.

We had dinner at Irene and Heinz’s. They made pulled pork with cold slaw and potato salad.

It was yummy and we had lots of laughs.

We had happy hour most days at different sites.

We had dinner one night at Pam and Hank’s..Pam made lasagna and salad and it was very yummy. All eight of us ate inside her motor home and we all had plenty of room because it was very spacious.

We spent another day in South Padre Island. We was so much fun. We met 2 new couples that Ed knows at Dirty Al’s for lunch.

Then the bunch of us went to the beach. It was a Sunday and the beach was crowded with family’s. It was fun watching the family’s have a good time.

We had a hot dog roast at Ed and Marilyn’s and then the plan was to go to the rodeo, but it was too cold so we went to the library and played games again.

Five of us went to the rodeo the next day. Janet stayed home. The Ranch Rodeo is where teams of four or five cowboys from different ranches in the area, compete in rodeo events, and it is fun to watch.

When we got home this is what was waiting for us.

Janet stayed home to make this delicious cherry pie that she shared with us along with ice cream. It was so good and we really appreciated her time in making it.

Everyone came by to wish us safe travels pictures were taken.

Thursday, March 1 - Brakes? - No Brakes? (Mercedes, TX)

 

By Sunday the 26th I was feeling better and being the giving person that I am I gave my cold to Jesse. So we pretty much hibernated in the Kram-a-lot until Wednesday.

Jesse’s story

Ever since we bought the Alpine I have been uncomfortable with the brakes.  It just did not seem to have any stopping power.

While it was still under warranty I had Camping World in Colorado Springs check them when we were having other warranty work done.  All they did was check the voltage to the wheels and said all was fine. 

Meanwhile it was getting harder and harder to stop.  Last week I attempted to find the problem on my own...and with the help of Ed, Bob, and another neighbor Renny.  We could not find anything obviously wrong.

Last Thursday I took the truck to Camco Wheel and Axle in Pharr, TX so they could check the truck wiring and brake controller.    Everything checked out on the  truck so I made an appointment to bring the trailer in to be checked out on Wednesday the 29th.

I showed up at the appointed time of 8:30 and they took me in right away.  As soon as they pulled the first wheel off the problem was apparent.  The seals were blown out on all 4 wheels and the brakes and magnets were saturated with grease.  So much grease that they would never be able to clean all the grease out of the pads and magnets so everything would have to be replaced.

Wheel 1, 2, 3, and 4

They gave me an estimate and I ok'd  the work and 6 hours later I was on my way home with working brakes.  Normally brakes are not covered under warranty but I believe the factory over filled the axles with grease and blew out the seals.  I have never added any grease and I have not had any work done to the wheels so I feel it was done by Keystone.  I will give them a call but am not optimistic.  Anyway I have proper working brakes and that is what is important.

New

Ginger’s story

Me and the boy’s watched as our home pulled out of site 2028. We sat in the site feeling homeless. We kept moving so that we sat in the shade. When there was no shade left we got in the car and took the trash to the maintenance space in the resort.

Then we went by the library and donated some DVDs that we have had for awhile. Our next stop was to go into Mercedes to fill the car with gas. On the way back to our site I stopped to use the restroom.

By this time is was really getting warm outside and very sunny so we went over to Ed and Marilyn’s to sit in the shade of their RV. Marilyn was laying out in the sun so we visited.

She was so nice to sit with me and the boys. They invited me to have lunch with them, Ed grilled some ribs on the bar-b-que while Marilyn made fried apples and a salad.

Janet came over to sit and visit and offered to sit with the boys while I went inside to eat. That was so nice of her and it was really nice to sit inside with the AC on. Bob joined us and we all sat outside visiting.

Around 3:00 Jesse showed up with our home in tow. I left to help get set-up while the boys stayed to visit.

After getting things set up I went to get the boys and get them in the AC, they were very tired after being outside all day. I fed them then took a shower.

I made Jesse a couple sandwiches, then sat in my recliner for the rest of the evening.

 

Our 1st task to day was to stop at the office, pay our electric and extend our time here until March 12th. The last 2 months have just zoomed by and I was not ready to leave. Then we ran a few errands and went to lunch at Quisno’s.

When we returned to the resort I went over to see if Marilyn wanted to ride over to TJ Maxx and JC Penney’s to look around. She said yes and off we went.

The guys were going to go play pool.

When we returned the guys were still gone so I took the time to prepare dinner. When the men returned we all met at Bob and Janet’s for cocktails.

We had lively conversation and after about an hour or so we returned to our own homes. We had our dinner and then relaxed in front of the TV and computers for the rest of the evening.