Posts by Liz

It’s my birthday!

Today is my birthday – I am 52 – not one of the milestone birthdays…and I’m not thinking about it in any other way than it’s my birthday – my day to – to what? Well, it always feels a little special, but generally, I don’t “do” anything different except maybe allow myself to have whatever food or drink treat I would like … because after all, “It’s MY birthday”!

There is a blog that I check once or twice a week: Karen Cheng’s Snippets of Life.  Karen just turned 29 – she wrote about it.  She lives in Australia with her husband and 2 young sons.  They have a house.  Karen works from home on some web projects but primarily she is taking care of her family.  I have very little in common with her – only the bit of technology interest/skill.  I just enjoy the peek into her life and thoughts.  So, after her 29th birthday – facing next year’s 30th – she shared some of the thoughts and questions she has about turning 30 as in “the big THREE-O” – and then she invited the sharing of stories from her “readers”.

Getting older, aging, the NUMBER – I’ve thought about it a lot!… 30, then 40, then 50 – my gosh, 50!  Even if 60 is the new 40, there is not really any denying that 50 is “middle age” – I am no longer “young”.  I don’t know where the exact line is but I do think that 50 is across it!  I don’t feel  50 – there are many times that I don’t even feel like a grown up – just a “kid” masquerading as a grownup.  How did I get to BE 50 – well  52 years old?

Karen asked some questions that she hoped someone might answer – one is “What finally made you feel 30?”  Tough for me to answer because I STILL don’t feel 30!  I remember sitting across the table from a friend’s aunt and mother one morning and we were all casually talking about age.  My friend’s aunt who was in her late 60’s, wrinkly, white-haired, moving a bit slow, commented that she still felt like a kid inside and every morning when she looked in the mirror it shocked her – ‘Who is that old woman?”.   I think of that often, especially first glance in my own morning mirror.  I’m not wrinkly or white haired (a bunch of gray, though!) and often get mistaken for much younger than I am.  But I can see the changes – my face has certainly softened, widened, plenty of fine lines – I catch a glance in the mirror and wonder, “Who is that woman?”

Me

 

I neither wear nor have interest in “youthful” fashion.  I am energetic and athletic and move easily and well but 20-30 something women look very young to me.  I AM older and sense that.  But I sense and feel it more in terms of experience and maturity – a different outlook, pace, sense of self and well-being – a calmness.

And I have to laugh at myself because the maturity is more along the lines of the realization that I DON’T know what “IT” is all about.  The REAL evidence of “coming of age” for me  is a sense of contentment.   Oh – there are plenty of things I want to do, places I want to see or see again, character improvements I’d like to make – no less hopes and dreams than when I was younger, but I’m not so anxious about them.  It is not as if the completion of any of them must be done to make my life good or successful.  I’m free to enjoy “today”.

I’ve made conscious choices about where I live, how I live, my work, my family and I’m happy with those choices.  I’ve tried things – some have gone well and some have not.  I don’t like to fail, but I’m not afraid of failing – I’m more afraid of fear keeping me from trying something.  I LIVE my life in the way that is right for me – right for my beliefs and my character.   I don’t believe life is predestined but I do believe that things unfold as they should and that we are given always what we need even if not all that we want.  I have learned to live with insecurity and in fact to understand that we cannot attain real security and so have reached a point where I can enjoy myself and my days in spite of life’s circumstances at any given moment.   I am content.  The number has ceased to be important.

Endless Summer

Usually there is some sadness here in Northwestern Montana as summer comes to an end – this year, though, we are all not only ready for it to be over but praying for that first heavy snow – at the very least some good rain and a hard frost!  Between record heat, record fires and wasps/hornets/yellow jackets it has been a summer to remember although hardly with fondness.

 On the good news front, the fire near Glacier (Skyland) and west of Whitefish (Brush Creek) have calmed a bit – or at least they seem to have a handle on the fronts nearest homes, ranches and structure.  Seeley Lake (Jocko Lakes) allowed some evac’d residents home.  Tomorrow will be pivotal as a cold front – a REAL cold front is due to whoosh through with wind at the start and possibly strong to severe thunderstorms following.  The storms are supposed to be “wet” and next week’s forecast is for a fall-type scenario with much cooler temps and real RAIN. 

The bad news and a bit ironic – I returned from Missoula on Monday 8/14.  Yesterday at approximately 2:15 a fire (Black Cat) started just a few miles from Jim n Mary’s RV park and additionally closed route 93 for some time.  Homeowner’s were evacuated with less than an hour’s notice.  Scary stuff and that kind of thing is a possibilty throughout Montana and probably a lot of the west until we get significant moisture.

So – VERY glad to be home – but glad to have gone… the little trip broke the anxiety, even given the continued high fire danger.  Local fire departments have been given funds to keep manpower and equipment staged and ready to quickly knock down any new starts.  My own volunteer district is now “manned” (and PAID!) 24/7 with 2 of 7 engines out of the halls and at strategic points of the district.

Karl and Bob are glad to be home and back in their routine – off leash and in their own space.  Always funny – the first night back they are both very snuggly – Karl, who on rare occasions will come on the bed ALWAYS joins Bob and I when we return home.  My boys – they are excellent company at home or on the road….

Karl and Bob

RV Transmission – Part 3

10:45 Monday morning – we are at the shop, the part is here!!! – so just waiting for the service tech to finish whatever.  I have power and internet so “life” continues – Bob and Karl napping as usual.

 It is not quite as smoky this morning as last night but smoke is supposed to drop and thicken so I don’t expect much improvement here or on the way home.

 3:40 – Home!  Transmission fixed very quickly – wasn’t as much “stuff” in the way as anticipated, trans serviced with fresh fluid and filter (yep, Al 25K!) and trip home was easy.

 It is VERY smoky and ash falling but still good to be home – nice break in the anxiety.  Will leave the motorhome mostly loaded and ready to roll but I think we’ll be ok for the duration. 

Repair and service details:  The internal F Solenoid had an electrical short causing the transmission failure warning and not allowing Reverse after the failure warning.  The failure warning disappeared on engine shut down – reappeared after shifting into 2nd gear at approx 28-30 mph.  Once the failure warning was on, Reverse was not available and the “range inhibit” light came on if Reverse was attempted.  D1,D2,D3 all available.  Reverse was available on a fresh engine start.

 The wiring harness for the F Solenoid was also replaced.  The original harness looked fine, but a new harness had been ordered “in case” so all new parts was the decision.

 The pan was dropped and trans fluid drained to do the solenoid/harness replacement so fresh fluid as well as a new filter were installed (mileage = 26214).  The Allison tech recommended 25K change of trans fluid and filter and it turns out that this is a quick and easy service on this coach.

After service we took a 15 mile round trip test drive which included a short but moderately steep pull up Evaro Hill.  No bells, whistles or warnings and shifting was smooth and normal.  Trans fluid was at the proper level on return. 

RV Transmission – Part 2

No problem getting to the shop this morning.  The tech who will do the work was filled in by the service manager/tech that did the diagnostic test on Wed and everyone is cautiously optomistic… at any rate, I have confidence in this place and the tech assigned to do the work. 

Shop 

Another shop…BUT my tech, Paul, VERY professional and competent but friendly and he loved Karl.  You can see his tool bench is very neat and organized.    He went right to work – we chatted a bit waiting for his computer to sync to the motorhome computer but otherwise he was all business which was a nice contrast to Wed.  In the photo above he is on the far right accessing the Allison computer.  Anyway, it is an internal solenoid gone bad – shorted so sticking and only problem is they didn’t have the right one so it is on it’s way “overnight” but since it’s Friday, that means Monday.  However, since they know for sure the problem, they were able to tell me ok to drive back and forth from Jim n Mary’s – worse case is it (transmission) will decide it only likes one gear – probably 3rd, but definitely not reverse. 

So… we are back at Jim n Mary’s until Monday.  I was paid through Monday and that should let the fire weather calm down a bit.  Monday we don’t have to be at the shop until 10:30 and they think they will have me on the road home 3ish – I’ll be happy with 5ish…anything earlier will be a bonus.

The parts cost is minimal… is it is the 4 hours of labor on Wed, 1.5 today and probably 4 on Monday that is the $$$.  Well, it’s only money and as said before – better here in Missoula, close to home and with an Allison shop – than somewhere without the service options.  The motorhome across from me came in “on the hook” per Paul – broken rear axle – now there is heartbreak!