"Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain....."

Since we have been in Washington, going back to May 30th, our hosts have been apologizing for Washington weather.   I don't know why, because we love Washington weather.  We're not used to rain, lightning and thunder, and 54 degree days in June and July..... we're from Southern California where all we get is sunshine, and 90 degrees during the summer, and then into the 100's in late August.  Thursday it was sunny, windless, and a beautiful "autumn" day in the 70's.....haha....but you say it's July....that is precisely my point!  We're getting autumn in July!  


I started out my day trying to solve a problem with my cell phone.  I have an HTC Rezound phone, which I got in January just before we started our journey.  You may recall me writing back then how much I HATED my old Motorola Droid, 1st generation, phone.  As much as I hated that phone, I love my HTC Rezound.  Well, near the end of the day on Wednesday when we were in Port Townsend I got a low battery warning, and shut my HTC down.  When I got home I plugged it in and turned it back on, but I never got broadband back....not on any level...not 1X, not 3G, not 4G.....nada, zilch, zippo.  I called Verizon Wireless yesterday afternoon and was told there had been some problem with an update they had done to their 4G system software, and to give it 24 hours.  Well, this morning, Friday, around 11am I still  had no broadband coverage, so around Noon I drove into Oak Harbor with the Lovely Elaine to the local Verizon store to have them look at my phone.  Howard quickly approached as we entered the store and asked how he could be of assistance.  I explained my problem in depth, and he asked me if I had done thus and such, and I responded in the affirmative to each question.  He then said it was probably either my SIM card, or the phone.  He removed my SIM card, then reinstalled it and rebooted the phone, but got the same results, so then he got out a new SIM card ($10.75 with tax) and installed it.......WALA......broadband reappeared on my phone!  Thank you Howard for your professionalism, and not one time blaming me.  So, this post comes to you courtesy of my broadband HOTSPOT on my HTC Rezound.  Frankly, in my unprofessional opinion, the broadband seems faster with the new SIM card.


Backing up in time just a little to Thursday morning, I tried pulling the battery, tried turning on "Airplane Mode", and a few other things I knew to do from experience, and no luck, so I moved on to working on the tandem to replace the bad rear tire, and then a few other adjustments.  After I finished that I went down the hill to talk with Bob, our host, to see if there was anything I could do to help him, and he said he was going to pressure wash the two sides of the house that get a little green mold (north, and northeast) and try and clean it off, so I helped him for a couple of hours.....that is hard work!  He was a 25' pole extension for his pressure washer and that baby is hard to handle when it is fully extended.  


Shortly after we finished our pressure washing the FedEx truck arrived with a box for me.  I have to make a confession.  About 10 days ago, when we were pulling into Marblemount (Alpine RV Park) I overshot the entrance so, about 1/4 mile down I attempted to do a 3 point turn in reverse.  I was backing the trailer into a dirt road so I could then turn around.  I would normally have had Elaine out directing me, but I was tired, and a little bit arrogant, and told her "I could handle this".......famous last words.....while the words were still hanging in the air I pinched the trailer, and this time crushed the other side of the tool box on the front of the trailer (the right side this time).  You will remember I nailed the left side back in Heflin, AL back in April, and was able to pound it back into shape while I were at my sister's home in Michigan.  Well, this time there was no fixing it, so I ordered a replacement on Ebay the day after we arrived in Coupeville, and it finally arrived yesterday.  So I went straight from pressure washing to installing the new tool box.  It looks great, and I will post picture of it tomorrow.    I was able to get it for $189 (shipping included).....a killer deal!


Early this morning around 3am, Friday, it started raining again, and included the usual lightning and thunder.  It rained steadily through mid afternoon.  I don't think we even left the coach until around 11am.  We spent the morning reading and drinking many cups of coffee.  Around Noon we decided to drive to the Verizon store, which I have already related, out of sequence, in this post.  After my phone was fixed we spent the rest of the afternoon visiting several thrift stores in Oak Harbor, and I actually had a good time looking for little treasures, even though we really have no room for more stuff.  I found a stainless steel creamer I had been wanting......like the ones they put on your table in restaurants.....$1.29!  Elaine found a single crystal candle holder for $1.99.  We also stopped at Ace Hardware and bought a small Revereware tea kettle, which I have also wanted for some time.


Karen, Bob's wife, returned home from Seattle for the weekend, and we quickly sat down to  cold Seviche, chips and salsa chased with Bogel Zinfandel, 20o9.  Afterwards we sat down and watched this week's "So You Think You Can Dance!" on the DVR (recorded Wednesday).  Bob and Karen love that show, just as much as we do.  I'm getting to where I can tell the difference between a waltz and the fox trot, or between the tango, and the paso doble!


Another week in the books....I will be spending large blocks of time tomorrow and Sunday watching the British Open Golf Tournament.......life is, indeed, good!


Thanks for stopping by!