Feel'n like crap...

Weather has been absolutely beautiful. Couldn't ask for anything better.

The old Billy Bob is wore slap out from all the research on the internet look'n for a reliable vehicle to tow behind "da house". I were think'n it was gonna be easy. Whoa, was I ever wrong. The search has been narrowed down to either a standard shift Ford Ranger or a Jeep Cherokee. Not a Grand Cherokee...just Cherokee.

Here what I found so far. Just outside of Austin is a beautiful 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport,

and then up by Dizzy Dicks house in Conroe is this 1999 Ford Ranger XLT.

 Since nephew Joseph is out of town on a job, I ain't got no way to go inspect them.


News flash....just in. 2000 Mazda single cab 4cyl 5 speed standard shift pick'em up in Corpus Christi.

May just have to go take a look see this one.

On the other side of the coin, old Billy Bob been feel'n like crap.

Toad hun't...part 3

1.The continuing saga of the "toad hunt" goes on. To my surprise, after much more research, the Ford Ranger 4x4 pickup transfer case can't not be shifted into neutral with out a special kit and reprogramming to the computer. So this new found information narrows my search down to "more friendly" 2WD standard shift Rangers. Of course I have other choices....such as Isuzu Troopers and Rodeos.

Ok....got appointment with another bro in law to look at "that jeep". Get his professional analysis.

3:30pm.....or there abouts

Well there went that appointment. Now it get'n too late in the day to be check'n stuff. Wanted to play a round of golf ball swak'n tomorrow, but priorities are priorities.

For those that don't know how much "stuff I carry with me.
1. A whole boat (folded up)
2. Portable air compressor (to blow up boat)
3. A boat motor (100 HP trolling motor)
4. A propane tank and related hose
5. A trolling motor battery
6. Fish'n stuff....poles, tackle boxes
7. Folding camp chairs
8. Gas can
9. Water transfer pump
10. A great big ol' spare tire
This is why I need something bigger than a Suzuki Samari....or something like that

Stuck in a rut....

Yep, it were definitely cold last night. My thermometer thingy says the low last night was 26 degs. And I trust my thermometer thingy. Maybe this is the last day of winter for south Texas. Let's hope so.

Don't suppose any of ya want to hear bout "toad" hunt'n no more. Well, I gonna tell ya anyhows. Yesterday afternoon was spent in it's entirety of cruis'n car lots look'n for the perfect towable vehicle. Light curb weight and enough carry'n capacity for my "junk" and collectables. Well, it weren't a successful day. Although I did find 3 possibilities, but guess what, they all weigh bout the same as "that jeep".
Isuzu Trooper

Isuzu Rodeo

2005 Dodge Dakota 4x4

Of the 3, I like the Trooper the best, but still not exactly what I'm look'n for. More look'n on the horizon.
Then I got to think'n. "Oh boy, here we go with the think'n again". What if I just keep the "that jeep" and spend some more $$$$$ on it? Got to do some serious think'n on that.

I were sit'n here think'n last night. Where I gonna go to next and what I'm gonna do in 2012. It didn't take me very long to figger out that I have no freak'n idea for my future. This is one of the drawbacks of get'n older and run'n out of dreams.
Got to do some serious think'n on that. "Take yer time Billy Bob, it all gonna be fine".

Two old goats

Billy Bob, you make some of the smartest decisions I ever see. Boy howdy let me tell ya, it was cold this morning in Sinton, Texas.....42 degs when I finally roll out of bed. It's expected to reach a blister'n 63 degs by this afternoon. That's almost golf ball swak'n weather.

So far things ain't look'n too good in the used car and truck markets. Either all the Ford Ranger pick'em ups is been sent to Mexico or Obama's Cash for Clunkers has took them all off the streets. I've Craigslisted in most big cities in Texas, with in a reasonable travel distance, and there is a severe shortage of small trucks throughout the state. This should be easy in the truck capital of the world....Texas. Why didn't I keep my "little red bronco ll"???

For those that missed the goat pics yesterday, here they are again. 

Nephew Joe is a rigger for one the biggest crane operations in the State of Texas. Get's called out to all over the place. Well, today he didn't get called out. So later on today, we gonna go look'n at "toads". At least that's the plan. Once I get this frog business behind me, I can go on with my life as it's supposed to be for a retired person. You know what I'm talk'n bout....sit outside in the sunshine sip'n a cup an' do'n nuttin all day.

Speak'n of swak'n golf balls, I'm think'n wednesday morn'n bout 9 or 10am would be a perfect time for an exciting round of golf with the OFM Barney. It's been a long time since Barney stomped me in a round of golf, but I think I'm ready again. Last round I played was with old "pesky neighbor" Wayne back in June I think it was.

Oh yeah, speak'n of old "pesky", I talk to him night fore last. He going home today.....or that what he told me anyhows. It's been a rough row to hoe for him this last year. Hope he will continue to improve in 2012.

Ok....got things to do....

Break'n wind.....

Billy Bob, you make some of the dumbest decisions I ever see. Had you looked at the weather forecast for today, Sunday January 1st 2012, you would have known the winds were 25 to 30 mile a hour out of the north and will progress throughout the rest of the day.

Let me tell ya a little bout driv'n a big motorhome against high winds. First off, it ain't nuttin like driv'n a little red pick up or a big ol' high dollar SUV into the wind. It's more like tak'n a 20 foot sailboat out to sea during a raging hurricane with 20 foot swells. I was headed down the road, just east of Roswell, NM back in 2003. There was road construction with only one lane of traffic each way. The winds were kick'n up in the 40's and 50's mile a hour. No place to pull off the road. Traffic was heavy. By the time I got to Roswell, my hands had to be pried off the steer wheel. Just a slight gust of wind in the 40 mile a hour range will change the direction of a class A motorhome into interesting territory....usually into an occupied travel lane. So you see, old Billy Bob don't like driv'n "Sally da house" in the wind.

After OFM Barneys surprise visit yesterday, I proceeded to the laundrymat. Loaded up 3 huge washers with a months supply of clothes that was in need of a good wash'n. That was the important stuff. The sheets and blankets will have to wait for another day.

Andrea asked if I were gonna be bored in Sinton. Well yeah I'm gonna be bored. There ain't nuttin there but a golf course. It's a hunnert mile drive to Corpus Christi there and back. I'll have no water other than what I bring with me. Electricity will be from an old 100 foots extension cord. But I'm not go'n there for pleasure. I got things to do. Mainly find a replacement for "that jeep". Nephew Joseph call me yesterday evening an' say he done fount me two to look at. Ya see, Joe knows lots of used car dealers and stuff like that. He gets around. And he's a wheeler dealer unlike his uncle Billy Bob who will buy anything for any price.

Ok...got to get stuff ready to roll. Things to do ya know.

4pm update...
Well that didn't take long. Pull out of my campsite right at 11:45 and head to the dump station. After a good dump, I pull straight onto the awaiting ferry for an exciting ride across the ship channel. No wait'n in line like I had expected. At 1:30pm I had backed "Sally da house" into her space and hook up 20 amp electric service. That mean if'n it gets cold, I gonna be using my propane heater.

"Hello,..... can I come in to visit"?

"Well sure, make your self to home". Just don't pee or poop on the carpet.....OK???

2011 was a good year....

It's been a good year when ya can sit back and count your accomplishments and fulfilled goals. Lifes toils and tribulations are soon forgotten when you look forward to a brighter day tomorrow.

The old Billy Bob had an exceptionally good year considering all the turmoil in the world and at home USA. Wars and rumors of war have no place in my life. Falling markets and rising gas prices have not effected my lifestyle. The ups and downs of everyday life have been outweighed by pleasure and happiness of doing whatever and whenever I so desire. So what if I have bitched and moaned from time to time throughout the year when things didn't go my way. They were soon forgotten and the good life carried on. Count your blessings, we got another year beginning tomorrow. I don't make new years resolutions 'cause they are way too easy to break.

Woke up this morning to another heavy fog bank....visability bout a hunnert yards. Another cold front is due in the area sunday evening with winds out of the north at 18 mile a hour. This is gonna affect my travel plans for monday, even though I have only 30 miles to go. And then, the highways is gonna be crowded with tourist and hung over travelers. Maybe I should leave a day early and avoid the rush and the extreme cold temps.

Toad hunt'n part #2

Boy howdy, it's all foggy outside this morning. And I mean foggy......

Had some good comments on my hunt for a "toad". I think River hit it right when he asked what I gonna use a toad for. Since "Sally da house" is also my home, I carry a lot of stuff with me. Some of this "stuff" is transported in the toad. You know what I'm talk'n bout....a storage shed on wheels. So, I need something big enough to hold it all. I can do without 4 wheel drive since I gave up gold prospecting and am no longer located in the desert and mountains. Most importantly, I need a motor big enough to get the full effects of a "cherry bomb" exhaust system. Billy Bob likes it loud ya know. Anything less than a V-6 is out of the question. Then there is the weight equation. It's not that "Sally da house" doesn't have enough horsepower to pull a toad full of "stuff" down the road do'n a hunnert mile a hour, but the fact of being overloaded and the possibility of damaging the motor and transmission....what I probably am tow'n "that jeep". From past experience, I will be "toad" hunt'n for a small size V-6 pick'em up (Ranger, S-10 or Dakota or equivalent ) with a topper or a medium size SUV.

Speak'n of toads.......years ago my daughter Angela had a sleep over party for her birthday or something like that. Well, I was the coordinator for all the games and such. We lived right next to the local cemetery, so midnight we all headed off frog hunt'n. The biggest toad won the prize....what ever it was I don't remember. Now if'n ya ain't never been in a cemetery at midnight with a bunch of 10 an' 12 year old girls, ya don't know what ya miss'n. And to talk a little girl into pick'n up a frog.....Oh my God. It was fun fun hilariously funny for a solid hour. Naturally a ghost story was told before going to bed at somewheres bout 2am. Wonder if any them girls still remember "toad" hunt'n in the cemetery?  

Had a wonderful visit from Barney the OFM yesterday afternoon. We went up the the Mexican food eat'n place and overindulged. With full bellies, we cruised around to a few of my old secret fish'n holes. Well hell no we didn't catch no fish. We was jist fish'n, not catch'n. 

One of the most dreaded chores of a full time RV'er is laundry. Well, old Billy Bob is down to a couple pair of socks and cream of the crop holey underdrawers. That should last another couple weeks, but I need to get'er done in the next 3 days before I head off to "el Rancho Abraham" in Sinton, Texas. Maybe today, but don't bet your last dollar on it.