Pennsylvania

After spending two rainy weeks ripping up linoleum, playing with epoxy resins and filler, I finally fixed the three sections of floor rot in the camper. The cost came to the amount I convinced Cheech to refund me, seeing as his floor was anything but mint condition. Considering that I'm not experienced with laying linoleum, it came out nearly perfect, if I do say so myself. That and caulk hides a myriad of imperfections. But hey, it's only a camper!

I quit my second job, took a 4-hour nap, then took off for Pennsylvania. Buzz chose to attend skateboard camp, and seeing how it was his first time at a sleep-away camp, Lotus and I thought we'd camp nearby, 'just in case.'

This was my maiden voyage towing anything and popping up the camper(after minimal practice at home during repairs). Got about an hour from home when suddenly we heard a huge clunk that sounded like we'd hit something. I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw black flying down the highway behind us. Buzz said he thought the chains were dragging so we pulled over and discovered the front wheel dropped down (I thought I'd tightened it tight). The plastic wheel on the tongue jack was shredded from hitting the pavement and dragging. Fortunately the mechanism wasn't damaged, so I raised it tightened it more securely.

At the next rest stop I noticed that the wheel was low again. This time it wasn't the raising/lowering mechanism, but the crank apparently was twisting in the wind and it was lowering itself. A small bungee cord solved that problem. The wheel will be replaced.

The second issue was the awning -- the self-tightening poles -- only 1 works properly; 1 works so-so, and the last won't tighten at all. Was able to get the awning up so it stayed in a usable fashion for the duration, but learned an important lesson (especially if you are short!) -- put the awning up before you raise the roof!

Our campsite was fairly small so it's a good thing we didn't have next-door neighbors. Considering I'd been working 80-hours a week up until the morning we left, with just 4 hours of sleep, the only thing we forgot? Pajamas for the kid who was going to camp the next day, the milk, and fire starter. After burning through all of the sale flyers and local papers tucked in the back of the car, plus using kindling (all of the wood at the campground was damp as was the kindling), we had nothing but a firepit full of smoke. I'm surprised no natives came out of the woods, seeing we were sending up smoke signals. A neighbor across the way with a fire pit bigger than our camper kindly donated a huge shovelful of coals to us.

I figured out the camp stove though I still hate that Poof! Did I mention I am deathly afraid of matches? And gas poofs?? I will buy a LONG handled lighter for next time. Got my tabletop grill working as well--that was an adventure unto itself as the only thing we did not have to do during assembly was stamp the sheet metal ourselves. Also realized I needed an adapter for the electric -- they had 30 amp outlets and my camper cord is 15 amp. Fortunately the camp store carried those. We ended up not really using the lights anyway, just the fans at night. We used bug candles and the fire.

All told it was an excellent trip. An unexpected bonus was that we were in the middle of Amish country -- I thought they were mostly in Lancaster County but there were many where we were -- lots of buggies everywhere, huge farms, etc.

Buzz went off to camp, Lotus and I enjoyed camping and seeing some local sights. And on the way home we eagerly planned our next trip.

We bought a camper!

I'd been working long hours, moonlighting, and essentially working 80 hours a week, with no day off. So as the end of my sentence neared, I started thinking about camping. The kids and I have always dreamed of traveling the country in an RV, but for now, we could start small and local.

Well, even a used RV is out of my current price range, so late one night, at work (did I mention I worked 14-hour night shifts?), it was slow, and I found myself on eBay searching through pages of pop-up campers.

See, we'd had one a few years back, a 1979 model my dad had picked up for $200. Pristine condition in spite of the orange vinyl and brown plaid cushions. The canvas was not mildewed, no leaks. Granted, the sink no longer worked, but for a tent on wheels it was great. Dad had bought new tires, had the bearings repacked and greased, and had put a second leak-proof roof coating on top. We took it out twice, then the kids used it mainly in the yard as a playhouse. But then, the ex--who hated used and ugly things--didn't close it up properly and over the winter the mice destroyed it. But I digress...

Too many choices, too many models, too many floor plans. Side dinette or U? Gaucho or counter? Shower and potty or not? New model or old? Looking back I lucked out, but in the end we chose a very simple camper, advertised in mint condition (and looked it by the pics), and bought.

Made it a family adventure of driving to get it (it was in New Jersey). It was a rainy, overcast day, complete with some thunder and lightning thrown in. We took the dogs and made a day out of it. Stopped at an old-fashioned 50's diner on the way, each booth complete with a table-sized juke box.

The guy who sold us the camper was a character out of a bad TV movie -- a dude named Cheech, deep voice and typical NY accent, but late 30s, white, overweight, buzz cut, 80s glasses, who drove a late-model sedan ...

He, of course, was late, and given my time crunch (had to be at work by 6), gave us mere minutes to check it over before just hitching up and driving off. Popped it half-way up, and it was in PERFECT shape. Dry, no mildew or odors. But the pink curtains have got to go. Of course, Cheech didn't really own the camper (go figure) and had no clue how to hitch it up. Finally figured it out. This was my very first time towing and I managed to do fine. Didn't even notice the camper behind me.

All was well and good, despite a cargo door popping open on the camper on the way home. Did I mention Cheech gave us a camper plate that had expired in 1977?

First thing the next morning the kids are begging to set it up. In the rain. With a steady dance of caterpillar poop on the ceiling. Yes, the gypsy moths picked this year to eat the oak trees in the yard down to twigs. Anyway, I've never opened a camper in my life. How hard could it be? Let's just say after an hour and a few choice words about how the bunk supports went in we had success.

The kids played in that all day, in the rain, with board games and snacks, while I slept (that night job, you know). We were antsy to go camping.

Until, that is, I discovered the rotten floor...

Tony Hawk

A month or so ago I took my skater dude to see Tony Hawk at Six Flags in New Jersey.

Okay, so we have a 200 mile trip that is on the other side of NYC -- 3.5 hours with no traffic. We have 5 1/4 hours to get there after leaving 45 minutes late. And it's hot. And raining. And nobody can drive. Traffic jam city and we're not even halfway through CT. Inching down I-95 at 5mph it will take us 42 hours to get there....so I pull out the map and look for a way around NYC. If we go a smidge north, we might can bypass NYC, but who knows what traffic Newark, NJ will bring? As we approach the bypass highway, I'm on the fence -- direct route with a likely bottleneck in NYC? Or around into the unknown? Did I mention it was raining?

Around we go. Hit traffic. Get past that, hit traffic again. Get to the Garden State Parkway, smooth sailing. Until the toll. Okay, knew about those, but the second toll has a huge traffic jam.

Tell Buzz that we're doing our best, but we may not make it. We may get there and find it rained out. We may make it but be too late to get in. We may just plain miss it. So we'll make do and ride a few rides -- at least we tried, right? He was cool about it.

Finally start hitting areas where traffic is moving along more quickly than slowly, and finally make it to the NJ Tpke. Fortunately fairly smooth sailing there. Till we hit another rainstorm. And a traffic jam. And now Buzz has to pee...it's past 4:30 and I have no idea how much farther it really is, how crowded the parking lot will be, how far we'll have to walk...

So we decided that rather than sit in traffic and make our bladders wait, we'd just stop and use the facilities (rest area). When we come out, rain is gone, and so is the traffic. We find we're about 35 miles away. Off we go! Finally smooth sailing. Get to the park at 5:05. It's POURING OUT. Ask the parking attendant if the show is on -- he says if the rain lets up it will be a go. So we park and as we get to the gates the rain lets up. Did I mention it's 85 and 99.999999% humidity? Very thick air, no breeze. Hear some other guys ask where Tony Hawk is, they have VIP tickets (so do we) so follow them. Didn't hurt that one of the guys was really hot... ;) Along the way we accumulated a few other groups of people who also had VIP tickets. Find a line. Somebody asks somebody who was supposedly in charge...told us to 'go up there.' I heard none of this, I'm a sheep following the flock, LOL. Get to the front of the line, mass confusion. Where is the line? Somebody says back there. Somebody says we were told to come here. Security and officials know nothing. They disagree. Some people at the front of the line say they have VIP tickets and they've been waiting 2 hours. Not fair! But by that time, after 10 minutes of bickering, finding this person and that, they just opened the gates and we all just went in. Apparently we all did cut the line, though it wasn't on purpose (misinformation somewhere). Got great seats. Awesome show. Rain holds off. Motocross dudes were cancelled but it dried out enough by the end of the show that they performed. Ever see a guy do a backflip with a motorcycle after flying off a ramp? 20 feet in front of you? Amazing!

After the show we waited for about 30 minutes trying to get an autograph, but Tony Hawk never came out. Some of the other guys did. Finally security said he wasn't coming out and they shooed us away. Buzz was disappointed.

We ended up dropping our stuff in the car, then went back in, grabbed a hot dog, and rode 3 rides, the last one being a flume log ride where we hoped we'd get soaked. Unfortunately that didn't happen. :/ Not sure if we didn't weigh enough? The splash was minimal. Oh well. Got ice cream on the way out.

Driving home I got gas at the last exit in NJ, service area. Only $3 a gallon FULL SERVE!! In my town it's $3.23 SELF serve.

Then the thunderstorm hit. A biggie. Skies opened, lightning bolts, the whole works. Can't see lines on the road, can't see anything. Follow the trucks! Fortunately not much traffic. Unfortunately I stay with the storm as it moves north and into CT. Torrential rains, thunder and lightening all the way home.

Got home at 1:15am. Worth every minute? You betcha! The joy on Buzz's face was worth it all.

Introduction

Okay, so I'm not Erma Bombeck, but I can truly relate.

I'm a single mom of two, a skater dude I'll refer to as Buzz, who is 8, and an artist/equestrienne I'll refer to as Lotus, who is just about to turn 12. We have 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 fish. The kids want another puppy but I'm still thinking about it. Neither goes to school, so we live life large and have fun doing it.

As for me? I'm just plain nuts. Maybe I'm just ADHD. Maybe I'm undermedicated. Who knows?

I hope you'll stick around and read about some of the adventures we're having.

Zany Mom