Heat!

I woke up today to the sound of Eric bleeding the lines on radiators.  It's already so warm in here.  Ahhh.   They obviously don't bleed, the valve just releases air.  

In our week we're still dealing with selling stuff.  Kai potty issues.  Getting ready for winter and appointments. Everyone looking at the 5th wheel wants to live in it.  They want it but don't have places to put it or money to buy it.  It's been interesting, sad and frustrating.  Yesterday's shopper was a doozy.  Eric and I ranted for a few minutes after she left.  I'm hoping she isn't the one to come through.  That's petty of me.  She was a real nut.  

Kai has reverted a bit with pottying at school so out of desperation I imposed new rules yesterday.  Harsh ones and involving food so he knows I mean business.  For every day there is a note in the back and forth book about dirty or wet pants there will be no after school snack.  He cried hard at this.  12 years old.  Yeesh.  Next, for every time he poops at home there will be a small candy treat.  In an effort to encourage him to stop saving his pooping time for school. He likes the attention and hands on help in the bathroom at school.  He wants to be babied.  It's weird and definitely crazy making.

Part of my coping methods when things are a bit nuts around here is to take the focus off of the kids issues.  Quite frankly we've been trying to potty train Kai for 8 years. As well as teach Luk to be more responsible with his bathroom issues.  The trailer search has been really good for me, perfect timing. A fun distraction.

Our debate of downsizing to one rv rages on.  I'm losing the battle.  Eric wants a mid size trailer. So it's looking more like replacing the motorhome than replacing Cheese.  Back to needing bigger sites, sani dumps and more challenging drives and parking.  It's a weird fight because I can't deny that all the perks of a proper toilet, beds for everyone, a full size fridge with seperate freezer are all really appealing things.  We saw one a week ago that we compare all others to.  So today we're heading back for a second look.  We're bringing Mom for the sniff test.  We're bringing boys to see if either can get in an upper bunk.  Pulling out the awning and trying propane things.  It's getting serious.  

I'm overthinking and worrying trailer weights.  Eric went to Dodge today and confirmed a few things with both the van and the Jeep.  The trailer should be ok for both and the mechanic (35 year red seal with Dodge) gave Eric a bunch of ideas for increasing towing capabilities on both.  So today I'm cautiously hopeful that we can almost agree.

I love this kitchen!  

These are the Falcon we're zeroing in on.  Eric is totally intrigued by the tin cladding in three rows.  We've never seen one like this before.  Fingers crossed.

We also found out the Jeep has a couple recalls outstanding so she'll go in for those as soon as I make an appointment.  So many appointments.  

Eric has been struggling to find parts for the moho.  He lucked upon a guy by chance that has the same motor at home that he's parting out.  He picked up the replacement part today for $150.  We thought it would be $1000 plus if we could even find one to order. Update, the part didn't fit.  New one ordered for 700. Hopefully it arrives eventually. It's super sad to imagine selling the moho but as we look to retire and downsize spending we really don't need big engines to repair in the future.  If the future plans were to only camp on the island we would keep the moho.  

Lili and Lian are going to see Mackenzie Porter in Vancouver in November.  She enlisted me to get her tickets today when the venue opened as she's in class.  It was easy.  General seating.  

Eric is closing up the pool today.

Jia starts school on the 28th.  

It's Luk's Birthday on Saturday.  He wants nothing. His only request so far is clam chowder at the Rock Cod.  

Oh....and the biggest news of all...my a1c is below target!!  I just had blood work yesterday.  6.4 (goal is anything under 7) I was blown away when I checked.  It has never been that low.  I have an appointment with the Endocrinologist next week.  Curious to see if there will be med changes. Oh, and it finally happened, I went to Superstore yesterday and there is no Ozempic.  Update: they called it came in! I'm on a list.  I have one week to locate some.  My plan was to splurge on something with white flour and sugar after the fasting blood test.  Then I felt too guilty and just didn't bother and because I'd missed breakfast and ate a small brunch I was off schedule and ended up in a stupid low by dinner time.  They are scary and shocking how fast I plummet.  Eric gave me a bowl of fried rice and I felt human again after about 10 minutes.  Crazy.

It took all summer but I finished Gilmore Girls.  I miss them now.  

On the road all weekend.

Saturday we met the guy who bought Fei's car to hand over the other key, we met Lili at the same Tim's to hand over her tuition check and some props for her pantomime in her drama class.  Her 1st elective.  And for bonus we met Mary and Charles at the same Tim's.  We visited for a bit and then they joined us to go kick some tires on the rv lots in Parksville.  I had 6 trailers flagged to look at.  We saw 4 of them.  It's so bleak.  I didn't find my unit.  Eric looked at one on Friday for me, he hated it.  

The top was off the Jeep, the sun was out, we had no kids with us and the wind was fabulous.  

Late lunch at a pub in Parksville with Mary and Charles.  

On Sunday Eric woke up and asked where we were going today.  Haha.  Of course I had a list.  A morning visit to Cobble Hill.  The trailer was quite amazing and is in the top running but it had a smell.  I couldn't idenify the smell.  We need to go back and sniff again.  Then home.  Then to Langford.  Lovely trailer but too big and too heavy.  Communicating is hard for some people.  Then home.  Then to Port Alberni with the kids. We dropped Jia to hang with May on the way.  The trailer we went to see was a disaster.  I sort of wanted to give the owner crap for wasting our time but she was sweet and totally clueless.  Her unit needs to be parted out.  Oy.  She has messaged me twice dropping the price significantly. Sigh.  So then we went to Arbutus in P.A. and checked out our 1st Micro Winnie.  That is the top contender right now.  I think.  Maybe. They're trying to clear out their 2022s.  Which were overstocked after the pandemic rush.  

I am wanting something vintage and closer to replacing Cheese and Eric is leaning to shiny and new and closer to replacing the moho. 

Back to regular life tomorrow.  

Of Course.

So, this week has been a gong show.  All of us in different directions. Vehicles dropped off somewhere every morning. Waiting for parts.  Lili needing a new car.  Having people calling about things for sale.  Eric working on all kinds of projects but mostly the moho exhaust system AGAIN.  A wee annoyance at the school with a male teacher who was on a mission to annoy me last year and took up his issue again this year.  I spent time awake planning my argument-confrontation and in the morning Eric insisted we simply tattle to the principal.  Haha.  Not my go to move but Eric just threw it out there and told the principal that this teacher was driving me nuts.  Not untrue.  Anyways.  The problem isn't me. I'm just fighting for Kai's right to have the same rights as other students once again.  The whole point of inclusion. He doesn't have to wear a damn hat outside if he doesn't want to.  Just like all the other kids with free will and choice.  He is definitely choosing not to wear a hat.  Unless there is a dinosaur on it and then maybe ;)

Today I slept in.  Eric got the boys to school. I have work today so was planning to stay put at my desk.  Eric however having a free day just took off to Sooke.  His sister Julie is moving back to the island and bought a house there.  He's meeting her and the house inspector there.  Then he's going to Saanich to look at a Bigfoot trailer.

I got it in my head midweek that we should consider a Boler for behind the Jeep.  It would be soooo cute painted to match.  However.  Although it would provide the bunk bed for the boys it wouldn't fit Jia.  Who doesn't want to camp with us anyways.  But.  So then I started looking for bigger Bolers.  I don't really love the look as much.  I did discover Bigfoot fiberglass ones though and I'm all over that now.  I found one I was wanting to look at on the main land but it sold last night.  Now Eric is looking at one today on his own.  It looks ok in the pictures but the bathroom is a dry bathroom.  Toilet only.  I would prefer a shower if this is a long term to replace the moho and Cheese thing.  He's super handy so I'm certain he could remedy that.  It's so weird not going with him.  Update, he thought the trailer was too small.  The hunt continues.

Lili's new car.

2018 Hyundai Accent.  25,000 kms $18500.  

This was a super smooth and painless experience.  We can highly recommend this lot. 

1st glimpse and she loved it right away.

Checking it all out.  She actually, shockingly fits this car!  She doesn't need her pedal extenders.  She can see and there is room between the steering wheel and her body.  

Playing Around

These two.  So cute.

There are two of these holding the roof plates in on the Jeep.  One was missing after the detail.  What on earth would this be called?  Haha.  Luckily we went back and they had it there.  

Lili's car went in yesterday and got bad news ipon bad news.  It's time for her to shop too.  Eric and I hit all the local lots yesterday.  It's really bleak.  Her list was short and clear.  We found a few that might have worked.  We fpund one that had just come in and started calling her.  She loved it.  After a test drive and Eric all over it and me taking tons of pictures and sending them to her she said she wants it. She is coming today to meet at 4.  The biggest issue for her is if she fits. Sad about her Tiguan but she knew it was coming and was ready for an upgrade.

Jia's 1st Day of grade 9.

Same school, same teacher as last year.  We met yesterday to map out her learning plan and set goals. She came out with a review package to work on for the next couple weeks.  She won't be back in the class until the end of September.

We drove by and saw the Jeep having her spa day.

Walter came home for a visit.  I hadn't seen him in weeks.  Eric reports seeing him out front occasionally but the rest of us rarely see him.  He looks good.  He has a small wound on his shoulder that is healing nicely.  His mouth looks ok re his stomatitis.  He's clean and clearly being fed somewhere.  He sat on my lap for an hour.  I loved on him as much as I could before I had to pick up the boys.  

I've put collars on him twice with notes and phone numbers.  Both times he's come back with it off.  We have discussed a tracking tag.  Maybe we can revisit that idea.  Walter is not a good candidate for being kept inside.  He goes nuts when he's locked in.  Putting people and other critters in actual danger. I'm fairly sure I'm done trying to have feral rescues as pets.    

Amazing!

We just got her back from a total detail.  Now I'm in love!  They did such an amazing job.  

I couldn't be happier with how she has turned out.  The dream Jeep.  

The fellow at the detailer had fun with this one.  He took some pics for before and after on his page.  People were commenting today on the color.  Lots of debate on if it's green or gold and some people even think yellow.  He's on a very busy corner of town with a ton of car and foot traffic.  There is a thrift store next door.  He noticed some car mats out back today and realized I didn't have mats and these were Jeep mats with great tread so they bought them for me for $20.  Haha.  I paid them back.  They're perfect.  I did buy a full set from Amazon, but I'll just use the back ones and Eric will put the front ones in the van instead.  

I thanked Eric tonight for all his contributions.  He didn't want thanks.  Of course.  He always just wants me to be happy.  Tonight we'll put in the mats, grab bars and seat covers.  Except I sort of would rather go for a drive ;)  As usual his vision was clearer than mine.  I didn't believe she would turn out as great as she did.

Oh, and Jia and I found a twin Jeep but it was in pretty rough shape.  In a not nice area of town.  We contemplated stopping for a twin shot for a hot second.  Safety won out.

Oh, and Jim the detail guy had me feel her paint because it's that smooth now.  Who knew paint on a car could be 'soft'.  

In other news we did have a couple come look at the 5th wheel to use as a live in on Salt Spring.  He grows medicinal herbs.  She clearly loved it and was asking how long they could leave it here.  He asked nothing at all.  I have zero feel on how it went.