Bummed Out

I mentioned that we are having to replace the refrigerator in our 5th wheel, and were hoping to get it installed in time for a scheduled trip.  We still might, but now I've found another problem that makes that moot.  

We have called and cancelled our reservations, and we've pretty much decided that once everything is fixed we're putting the thing on the market.

I'll miss the trailer, but won't miss the monthly payments, the cost of license plates, insurance and the extended warranty.  Whoever said that RVing was an inexpensive way to see the country probably failed  third grade arithmetic.

Not sure what we'll do next.

Well, That Was Scary

I was out cleaning up the 5th wheel yesterday when I noticed that the refrigerator wasn't working.  The interior was warm and the error light on the control panel was on.  

I turned it off and back on, and it seemed to reset, but a half hour later it hadn't cooled down at all. RV refrigerators do not cool as efficiently on AC, so I switched it over to propane. 

Within a couple minutes, I could smell ammonia, and I knew the fridge had a major problem. I called Terry at Terry's RV service, and as we were talking, I looked over to see that the fridge was on fire!

I ran to the trailer to turn the fridge off and grabbed the fire extinguisher on the way back out.  The extinguisher is as old as the 5th wheel and had never been used - now when I actually needed it, it wouldn't do anything at all.  I grabbed the water hose, and was able to get the flames out without any noticeable damage to the trailer.

The good news is that the damage is covered by our extended warranty.  The bad news is that the warranty only covers the cooling unit and specifically excludes the cabinet, which now smells like ammonia and probably will forever.  We opted to replace the entire fridge and pay the difference.

I did learn the answer to something I've wondered about.  Most RV fires  start in the refrigerator, and the motorhome or trailer is usually totaled. 

Ammonia is not particularly flammable - in fact is almost always requires a catalyst to ignite, so why do they burn?  The ammonia used as a refrigerant in RV refrigerator is in an atmosphere that contains helium and hydrogen. Helium is an inert gas, and is not flammable - hydrogen is not just flammable, it's been described as the most flammable of all known substances.

It didn't feel like it at the time, but I would guess you could say we got lucky.

Fred and ______

For the last several years, we have had a pair of Cardinals here at the Boggy Thicket.  We have watched them raise several batches of babies, and have enjoyed watching their interaction.
We named them Fred and Ethel.
This year we are wondering if Fred has become a bigamist.
Ethel is still around, although she has put on some weight, and Fred is still attentive and protective as ever.  
This year though, there is another female. 
Her coloring looks just like Ethel except her beak is black with no trace of red.  The two females get along fine, and Fred spends at least as much time with the newcomer.
We've decided to name her Wilma.

Double Jeopardy

James Holzhauer went over the $2 million mark on Jeopardy Friday.  
Honey mentioned a week or so ago how she felt sorry for all the contestants he has faced on the show - people who have dreamed for years of being on the show only to come up against the most formidable contestant in the history of the game.
Apparently, she is not alone in her feelings.  My sister Karen sent me this New Yorker cartoon.

Seven-Ten Cap

There's an old joke about a young (blonde) lady who comes into an auto parts store asking for a seven-ten cap.  Nobody has any idea what she wants until she draws a picture of it - then the guy across the counter knows immediately....

Well, I had to buy one this week.  Actually, mine looks more like this...

I didn't exactly lose mine - I know exactly where it is - I just can't reach it.  While I was changing oil on the truck, it fell down between the radiator and the transmission cooler.  I can see it, even move it around, I just can't get a hold on it to pull it out. My magnetic fishing tool is useless because the darn thing is plastic.

The guy at the auto parts store had a grabbing tool like this...

He tried for several minutes to snag the old filler cap, then finally said "You know, it ain't hurting anything down there."

At that point, I bought a new cap and headed home.

So, if you need a seven-ten cap, I have one you can have for free.  You just have to get it out.

Jeopardy

The answer is - "What is Jeopardy?"

And the question was "Name my all-time favorite game show."

Since current champion James Holzhauer has been on the show, it's been more exciting than ever.  Thank goodness he was back yesterday and continuing his amazing streak.

The answer is - "What is your least favorite game show?"

And the question, Alec, is "Name the Jeopardy Teachers' Tournament."

I can accept the dumbing down of the clues on Jeopardy's Celebrity Tournaments.  After all, they are playing for charity, and few of the contestants take the competition seriously.

But - In a contest that supposedly pits the best and brightest of our nation's educators, I would expect at least the level of difficulty seen on an average day. 

That is not the case, and the teachers seem to struggle with the clues they get - the first three people in the check-out line at WalMart could do as well.

It's embarrassing and it's downright annoying, but at least it's over for another year.

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