It has been a long week, and I am sure you're all wondering if all I did was a few runs. There has been a lot going on. Last Monday as I was going through the boxes in the garage, I found our truck brochure. Just to confirm what we had been thinking, I looked at the towing capacity of the truck and discovered that we will not be able to tow our new 5th wheel with our current truck. The dry (unloaded, fresh from the factory) weight of the coach is around 12,000#. The loaded limit of the coach is 15,500#. Our truck's max 5th wheel towing capacity is 13,200#. Hmm.
There is a law in California that we were informed of, and had to sign a paper stating that we had been informed of this law, that there is no cooling-off period on the purchase of a new vehicle. In other words, we were completely 100% obligated to buy that vehicle as soon as the ink of our signatures had dried. That puts us in a tight spot. Over the last week, we have gone truck shopping.
What we found was quite surprising. The smallest crew-cab 4x4 truck capable of towing our new coach is a Chevy Silverado 2500HD with a 16,200# capacity. Neither Ford's F-250 nor Dodge's 2500 Ram could tow more than 15,000#. Their answer was either a F-350 Dooley long bed or a 3500 Ram dooley long bed. Granted, we could tow over 21,000# with them, but that is way too much truck for ordinary living. We did discuss getting a Chevy 3500HD dooley. Maybe when we're pulling full time we'll regret the decision not to, but that is one big, honkin' truck. Way more than is necessary as a second vehicle. We're going to be living in the coach full time, but we're not going to be pulling it full time, at least not for the next two years. After that, it is anyone's guess. So we were able to locate a 2011 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 2500HD 4x4 that meets our needs. We should get it later this week. The funny thing is, it is the same color inside and out as our current truck. Once we remove the bed liner, tonneau cover, and step bars and install them on the new truck, no one will know it is a new truck!
We think we got a pretty good deal on both the price of the vehicle and the trade in. Many thanks are due to my friend from high school, Craig, who works at a dealership and was able to look at some auction sites to verify the trade in offer. The new truck is actually costing us less than the one we have cost us five years ago. It is still a kick in the wallet, and a completely unanticipated wallop, but this is what we want to do, so we're going to do it. This truck should meet all our needs, so please shoot me if I come back in less than a decade and say we are buying another truck!
So other happenings from last week. Bill went to Fleet Feet and tried on some new running shoes. While we were there I got the crazy idea to wonder if they were hiring. I think I would have a blast working there a few days a week. I could try out all the latest gear and learn more about the sport, and maybe even lead a few training runs. I mentioned it to Bill as we were walking to the car and he said I should go back and ask. They had already closed the door but opened it for me. The owner said that they were hiring and she'd get me the information the next day.
I have been filling out the application and questionnaire and it does feel a little odd. It has been a long time since I have applied for a non-professional job. It almost feels awkward. But I think I will bring a lot of skills to the position that most of their employees don't, and I am doing this not for the money, but for the experience. By experience, I mean being exposed to something I have developed a passion for. I sent in the paperwork today and am eagerly awaiting the call for an interview. I hope they won't think I am overqualified and not hire me!
On Friday, Doogie came up for a visit. He and I worked together in Fallon, and he is a great person. He lives down in Ventura County and will be deploying in a few weeks. It was a lot of fun to have him around. That evening we sat around and drank wine and caught up on the last few years. Saturday we went to the Monterey Aquarium, which was pretty spectacular. I am not an aquarium person, but this one was impressive. We ate lunch at the Cannery Row Brewing Company before going in. I thought the lunch was good, but it was not good to me. It really upset my stomach. I think the Gardenburger, that they assured me was a true Gardenburger, was just a veggie patty with some kind of paprika or something in it. I had a rough afternoon. The ice cream didn't help. The beer, however, was great!
That night we lit the inaugural fire in our new fire pit and sat around and drank wine and had dinner. It was great. I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to doing more of these fires. Sunday we decided not to run. We got up, showered, and then did brunch at the Mission Ranch in Carmel (owned by Clint Eastwood). The brunch was phenomenal and the views were outstanding. I give that place two thumbs up. I ate my entire omelet, something I usually don't do. The guy made it just right! Then we drove through Carmel-by-the-Sea and then back to the house. Doogie packed his bags and hit the road. He wanted to take the scenic route back home, stopping at some waterfalls along the way. He took some great photos. I want to go see that waterfall! It is in Big Sur, less than an hour away. If I had known about it last weekend, we would have stopped to see it. I really enjoyed Doog's visit. I hope we'll get to see him again after his deployment and before his move to the next duty station.
Today I met with CAPT Poindexter, the Dean of Students at NPS, and get his endorsement to volunteer for the Panetta Institute's Monterey County Reads program. This is a volunteer opportunity to work with kindergarteners through second graders and help them develop their reading skills. Apparently the literacy rate here is very low and this program is to get kids up to grade level now so that when they are farther along in school, the focus will be on the information rather than the reading. I don't have to devote a lot of time to it, and since my schedule is flexible, it is a great opportunity to do some good in the community. I try to do that wherever we live. I usually go to the animal charities so this will be a change for me.
Today I also went to Monarch Knitting in Pacific Grove and spoke briefly with the owner. It was really busy in there so I just stated that I had inquired about working there last week and was told to come back and talk to her. I offered to leave my information for her so that she could call me back when things were less hectic. I could tell that she really appreciated that offer. As I was writing, she asked me a few questions and I mentioned that I had been a shop owner up until a few months ago and I think she wanted to hire me on the spot! I told her that I would put together my portfolio (even though I had my samples in the trunk) and that we'd talk when it was more convenient. She asked whether I would be free tomorrow, so I may have an interview there before too long. I'd like to work there a day or two a week, maybe even teach classes (which is what I really want). As I left there I felt on top of the world!
Then reality smacked me hard in the head. I was walking into the Monterey Sports Center to inquire about swim lessons. I was about a foot away from the door when I felt something land on my head. What was it? BIRD POOP! Can you believe it? I was shat upon! Eeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww!
Needless to say, I was not happy. Thankfully I had some tissues in my purse and I was able to clean up most of it. I got the information that I had wanted and headed home. But first I had to get a room for the knitting group. I volunteered to head up the Fiber Therapy Group for the Spouse Club. I've been meaning to book a room at the community center, but haven't. Turns out they are all full. There is one that is available over by the housing office, so I went to look at that and I think it will work well, at least initially. So we are going to have our first get-together this Wednesday. There's a day group and a night group. There is the monthly social tonight so I plan to get the announcement out there too. I think it will be a lot of fun. It has been months since I've been to a knitting circle and I must say that I miss it.
So I came home and wanted to jump right in the shower. The dogs did not come greet me right away so I knew something was amiss. Karma apparently didn't feel like the bird poop was enough of a spirit crusher. The dogs took two Halloween decorations off the dining room hutch (where they have been for almost two weeks) and shredded them. Ordinarily this would make me irate and I'd yell at them. This time it's personal. Those decorations were hand made by my sister and were two needle felted ears of indian corn. WTF, dog?!? Thankfully they left the pumpkin alone and I still have that. I cleaned up the mess and took a shower. No, I haven't killed the dogs yet.
So it has been quite a week, with a lot going on.
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