My response in reference to Jen Hatmaker's posts on FB about recent activities in McKinney:
I am so glad that people are praying, but please also remember law enforcement in those prayers. They get hit from every direction and are under constant scrutiny from their communities, media, administration, and government. The very jobs they are hired and trained to do become the reason for investigations, loss of employment, death threats, and disrespect. Not all officers are bad, not all teachers are mean, not all cooks spit on your food. We all make mistakes but very few of us have people with a camera ready to catch yours and post it for the world to see. Now all you have to do is mention "police" and it becomes a scandalous report of violence, racism, and loss of accountability. I am finding that many of the journalists and public figures that I watched and listened to are very one sided. They are quick to judge and report that some of these incidents are caused by malicious law enforcement. What if, just what if, someone reported on the lack of respect for authority, disregard for the law, a common sense of entitlement and blatant absence of manners for fellow man? It starts with US people. Discipline your children, don't make them afraid of the police, if it isn't yours-don't take it/use it/break it/or set it on fire. When you are told by someone older than you or in a position of authority to sit down, be quiet, hands to yourself, leave this area-then do it! Don't be where you shouldn't, doing something you shouldn't.
Most men and women who choose this profession, do so with a passion. A desire to make a difference and help people. Most of the bad employees get weeded out along the way, and what you are left with are people who are willing to give up personal lives, birthdays, holidays, sleep, money, and support to be available for their community. We should all value each other. It has nothing to do with color or even profession. It is Biblical. Every life matters to someone. From the top down. Everyone is important. Administration should work harder to acknowledge and appreciate their officers. Pay raises don't come, trainings are denied, time off is hard to get, and you never know when you will be thrown to the wolves should an incident occur.
These officers have days they can't always talk about. Things that get held inside in an effort to put on a normal face. Dead bodies, children hurt, people fighting over where to eat for dinner. Hard stuff, dangerous stuff, dumb stuff, funny stuff, and great stuff.
This all makes my head hurt. I just don't know how to help anymore.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Dirty Laundry
Give us Dirty Laundry...
I keep hearing this 1982 Don Henley song in my head as I suffer through yet another new story of police brutality and the race war that police officers have supposedly created. It is a load of crap. I don't know who is to blame for this growing lack of respect for authority, specifically law enforcement officers (which I will refer to as LEO's for brevity's sake).
1. Is it the fault of community? A group of people have decided that they are mistreated more than others and that it must be caused by their color. They say are sought out and killed like animals because they are different. No, you are responded to because you have acted like criminals.
Don't start nothin', won't be nothin' , as they say.
2. Is it the fault of parents? Have you taught your children that they are entitled to certain things, certain behaviors because a hundred years ago a people group was treated badly and therefore because you are distantly related then you can continue to fight their battle? LEO's aren't standing on their side of the field chanting about your race, color, sexual preference, religious belief, etc. Not at all. They are chanting for you to stop giving them reasons to deal with your children. Whatever the age. Whatever the color.
How about you teach your family manners, and respect, and how to keep their mouths shut and their hands to themselves, and don't lie?
3. Is it the fault of LE and City administration? For not standing behind the very LEO's they employ to do a job? They are screened, hired, trained, screened some more, and given a task. A task that most other people are afraid to do. It is a hard job. Even firemen won't go on scene until the LEO's have secured it. However, when an officer gets put into a corner and relies on their training (and someone conveniently videos it) then admin/government is the first one to issue a statement telling the world that they are troubled by what the video shows. Troubled by the fact that they did what you pay them to do? What did you think you were paying them for? To just stand there and look pretty in their shiny badges and clean uniforms? Why give them real guns at all if you are going to freak the hell out when they have to use them? How about you hire PETA, Greenpeace, and Miss America to protect society? Maybe crack heads, prostitutes, and pedophiles? But make sure that they are meeting the social criteria lest they accuse you of discriminating against them because of something stupid. Mayors and police chiefs should back their LEO's as much as they possibly can, otherwise you are undermining what little authority they have left. And that is quickly fleeting. And to the President of the United States, you aren't helping. Maybe it is time for a national address were you read the list of things we learned in Kindergarten and tell people to stop being irresponsible jerks and take ownership of their mistakes.
4. Is it the few bad LEO's that are mucking it up for the good ones? They certainly are NOT helping. If you are not interested in protecting all people and can't hack it on the streets, then please become a probation officer or counselor and get out of the way. You are making things way worse for people who are doing their jobs properly.
5. Or is it our dear sweet media to who is to blame? Why must you take a simple case of "this guy did something wrong and this LEO showed him the error of his ways" and make it about race. You don't show when a black officer arrests or takes aim at a white/black/Asian/Hispanic/Native American suspect. You don't show when a white officer arrests or takes aim at a white/Asian/Hispanic/Native American suspect. Nope, you have honed in on white verses black, with the white role always being played by LEO's. You report the story with it being obvious that you are playing that angle which creates more chaos and anger. No facts, not complete videos. Just enough to get some views. You are not concerned for the safety of the people involved in the story. Only your ratings, and sponsor money. Social media has made it possible for people to tell lies and share stories without merit or fact. They spread like wildfire because somewhere else in the world something bad has happened so we all want to get in on the fight and make it our own. Even if that means distorting the truth to our social media advantage. Equally confusing is how witnesses or involved parties can post their truth in support of LEO's but no one wants to hear it. Instead, let's ignore the truth and have a protest and make ourselves look even more irate and belligerent.
Regardless, I am sick of it. Most of the cases where officers have been investigated, they have been vindicated. Does that matter to a group of people? No, they will continue to wait until the next member of their group gets caught jaywalking and they will turn it in to some hate crime. Am I saying this people group is exclusively one color? No, not at all. This people group consists of cop haters. I can't tell you if the majority of them are a certain color. I can't tell you if the majority of them are criminals. I also can't tell you if the majority of them have ever walked in the shoes of someone who leaves their family to go out and take bullets for the very people who want their heads on a stick.
I can tell you that my husband is a LEO. I can tell you that he works with mostly good officers. The same way that you could say some people make better teachers, nurses, burger flippers, preachers, and gas pumpers. I can also tell you that they widely feel like their city government and department admin do not have their best interest at heart. Money, media and politics play more of a role than it should when you are dealing with a profession that leads the pack in divorce, depression, and suicide. I can tell you that the majority of our community are supportive of the police here. Now, having said that, I am saddened by how many friends and acquaintances have remarked or posted about recent activities or stories out of Ferguson, Baltimore, and now McKinney by passing immediate judgment that LE are out of line. I know that there are officers are make mistakes, but as proven by most of the recent investigations, the officers in question are acting within their right and professional capacity. My husband is a good man. He makes the best decisions he can given the circumstances he finds himself in. And even in a small town where he has had to arrest people we grew up with and he was close to, he does a damn good job. He is fair and forgiving when he can be. He gives chances where he thinks it might help. He uses force and authority where it is asked for. And he would take a bullet for a cop hater if that's what it took to do his job. I would lose my husband. My daughter would lose her father. My in-laws would lose their son. For a person who spent time and effort spreading lies, rumors, and hatefulness about their protector.
I am sorry if you don't like their language or tone. Next time someone breaks into your house why don't you calmly and quietly ask them to put down your things and leave peacefully? See how that goes. They speak in the manner fitting the situation and in a way the suspect will respond to. For some people in life, cursing is their normal vernacular. Therefore, officers speak to them in a way they understand. For others who won't listen, cursing gets your attention and reminds you that this is a serious situation. They can't yell at your with your first and middle name like your grandmother might have.
Long story short, quit being victims but don't pick up a fighting stick unless it is really necessary. There are plenty of just causes that need intercessors like poverty and child abuse. Know your facts, let the professionals do their job, and if you find it hard to obtain either of the previous items-shut the heck up. I will unfriend you. I will walk away from your conversation. I will invite you to consider that you are misinformed, uneducated in the issue, gullible, naïve, or wrong.
And because of the Dirty Laundry style of media these days, I guess I will check the weather by walking outside.
I keep hearing this 1982 Don Henley song in my head as I suffer through yet another new story of police brutality and the race war that police officers have supposedly created. It is a load of crap. I don't know who is to blame for this growing lack of respect for authority, specifically law enforcement officers (which I will refer to as LEO's for brevity's sake).
1. Is it the fault of community? A group of people have decided that they are mistreated more than others and that it must be caused by their color. They say are sought out and killed like animals because they are different. No, you are responded to because you have acted like criminals.
Don't start nothin', won't be nothin' , as they say.
2. Is it the fault of parents? Have you taught your children that they are entitled to certain things, certain behaviors because a hundred years ago a people group was treated badly and therefore because you are distantly related then you can continue to fight their battle? LEO's aren't standing on their side of the field chanting about your race, color, sexual preference, religious belief, etc. Not at all. They are chanting for you to stop giving them reasons to deal with your children. Whatever the age. Whatever the color.
How about you teach your family manners, and respect, and how to keep their mouths shut and their hands to themselves, and don't lie?
3. Is it the fault of LE and City administration? For not standing behind the very LEO's they employ to do a job? They are screened, hired, trained, screened some more, and given a task. A task that most other people are afraid to do. It is a hard job. Even firemen won't go on scene until the LEO's have secured it. However, when an officer gets put into a corner and relies on their training (and someone conveniently videos it) then admin/government is the first one to issue a statement telling the world that they are troubled by what the video shows. Troubled by the fact that they did what you pay them to do? What did you think you were paying them for? To just stand there and look pretty in their shiny badges and clean uniforms? Why give them real guns at all if you are going to freak the hell out when they have to use them? How about you hire PETA, Greenpeace, and Miss America to protect society? Maybe crack heads, prostitutes, and pedophiles? But make sure that they are meeting the social criteria lest they accuse you of discriminating against them because of something stupid. Mayors and police chiefs should back their LEO's as much as they possibly can, otherwise you are undermining what little authority they have left. And that is quickly fleeting. And to the President of the United States, you aren't helping. Maybe it is time for a national address were you read the list of things we learned in Kindergarten and tell people to stop being irresponsible jerks and take ownership of their mistakes.
4. Is it the few bad LEO's that are mucking it up for the good ones? They certainly are NOT helping. If you are not interested in protecting all people and can't hack it on the streets, then please become a probation officer or counselor and get out of the way. You are making things way worse for people who are doing their jobs properly.
5. Or is it our dear sweet media to who is to blame? Why must you take a simple case of "this guy did something wrong and this LEO showed him the error of his ways" and make it about race. You don't show when a black officer arrests or takes aim at a white/black/Asian/Hispanic/Native American suspect. You don't show when a white officer arrests or takes aim at a white/Asian/Hispanic/Native American suspect. Nope, you have honed in on white verses black, with the white role always being played by LEO's. You report the story with it being obvious that you are playing that angle which creates more chaos and anger. No facts, not complete videos. Just enough to get some views. You are not concerned for the safety of the people involved in the story. Only your ratings, and sponsor money. Social media has made it possible for people to tell lies and share stories without merit or fact. They spread like wildfire because somewhere else in the world something bad has happened so we all want to get in on the fight and make it our own. Even if that means distorting the truth to our social media advantage. Equally confusing is how witnesses or involved parties can post their truth in support of LEO's but no one wants to hear it. Instead, let's ignore the truth and have a protest and make ourselves look even more irate and belligerent.
Regardless, I am sick of it. Most of the cases where officers have been investigated, they have been vindicated. Does that matter to a group of people? No, they will continue to wait until the next member of their group gets caught jaywalking and they will turn it in to some hate crime. Am I saying this people group is exclusively one color? No, not at all. This people group consists of cop haters. I can't tell you if the majority of them are a certain color. I can't tell you if the majority of them are criminals. I also can't tell you if the majority of them have ever walked in the shoes of someone who leaves their family to go out and take bullets for the very people who want their heads on a stick.
I can tell you that my husband is a LEO. I can tell you that he works with mostly good officers. The same way that you could say some people make better teachers, nurses, burger flippers, preachers, and gas pumpers. I can also tell you that they widely feel like their city government and department admin do not have their best interest at heart. Money, media and politics play more of a role than it should when you are dealing with a profession that leads the pack in divorce, depression, and suicide. I can tell you that the majority of our community are supportive of the police here. Now, having said that, I am saddened by how many friends and acquaintances have remarked or posted about recent activities or stories out of Ferguson, Baltimore, and now McKinney by passing immediate judgment that LE are out of line. I know that there are officers are make mistakes, but as proven by most of the recent investigations, the officers in question are acting within their right and professional capacity. My husband is a good man. He makes the best decisions he can given the circumstances he finds himself in. And even in a small town where he has had to arrest people we grew up with and he was close to, he does a damn good job. He is fair and forgiving when he can be. He gives chances where he thinks it might help. He uses force and authority where it is asked for. And he would take a bullet for a cop hater if that's what it took to do his job. I would lose my husband. My daughter would lose her father. My in-laws would lose their son. For a person who spent time and effort spreading lies, rumors, and hatefulness about their protector.
I am sorry if you don't like their language or tone. Next time someone breaks into your house why don't you calmly and quietly ask them to put down your things and leave peacefully? See how that goes. They speak in the manner fitting the situation and in a way the suspect will respond to. For some people in life, cursing is their normal vernacular. Therefore, officers speak to them in a way they understand. For others who won't listen, cursing gets your attention and reminds you that this is a serious situation. They can't yell at your with your first and middle name like your grandmother might have.
Long story short, quit being victims but don't pick up a fighting stick unless it is really necessary. There are plenty of just causes that need intercessors like poverty and child abuse. Know your facts, let the professionals do their job, and if you find it hard to obtain either of the previous items-shut the heck up. I will unfriend you. I will walk away from your conversation. I will invite you to consider that you are misinformed, uneducated in the issue, gullible, naïve, or wrong.
And because of the Dirty Laundry style of media these days, I guess I will check the weather by walking outside.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
disciplining your kids
Raising kids is hard! This is a surprise to you? They are people, with opinions and hearts and brains and sass. When they are little you think that it will get easier when they get older but then they are taller than you and it isn't easier. Sure, they can make their own lunch for school and eventually drive themselves around, but there are still tense times.
Bear in mind-my kid is a good kid. Not like "my child is perfect and never does wrong" but hear me say that there are children with far more obstacles and challenges than mine has presented. But we have some trouble with school. And attitude. And wanting to be in charge.
She was accused of cheating at school on a paper that greatly affected her grade. Of course, she denied it. I was a teenager once. I cheated on work a few times. I skipped school more than a few times. I get the temptation. I also know what my kid is capable of. She probably did cheat. How do I know this?
She told the teacher to handle it however she needed to.
Not the words of an innocent person. Didn't fight for herself at all.
She is a confident kid, so I know that she could have fought if she wanted to. Also need to add that the teacher was her previous youth pastor from church. That puts a kink in things.
So here we are two months later and she gets "caught" cheating in a different class. So this is it, right? I am fed up. I gave her the benefit of the doubt before, but oh not this time! I text her and ask her to explain herself. I email the teacher back and ask for a meeting. She begrudgingly agrees, as it is a Friday afternoon after school and has a class half full of kids when we arrive (mental note-class must have an issue).
Here is the short version-
teacher: she cheated and I caught her. Zero given.
me to kid: you better explain yourself
kid (crying until she almost vomits): blah blah blah I didn't cheat blah blah blah I swear!
me to myself: my kid is showing emotion and begging! I don't think she cheated (on purpose)!!
me to teacher: could this have been a misunderstanding? would you be willing to let her stay and do the work now?
teacher: okay
Private conversation after kid leaves room: teacher tells me they all cheat all day long in every class on everything and she wants to write CHEATER CHEATER CHEATER on their papers.
Raising kids is hard enough without adding frustrated crazy old teachers into the mix.
Sounds like everyone needs a vacation.
Bear in mind-my kid is a good kid. Not like "my child is perfect and never does wrong" but hear me say that there are children with far more obstacles and challenges than mine has presented. But we have some trouble with school. And attitude. And wanting to be in charge.
She was accused of cheating at school on a paper that greatly affected her grade. Of course, she denied it. I was a teenager once. I cheated on work a few times. I skipped school more than a few times. I get the temptation. I also know what my kid is capable of. She probably did cheat. How do I know this?
She told the teacher to handle it however she needed to.
Not the words of an innocent person. Didn't fight for herself at all.
She is a confident kid, so I know that she could have fought if she wanted to. Also need to add that the teacher was her previous youth pastor from church. That puts a kink in things.
So here we are two months later and she gets "caught" cheating in a different class. So this is it, right? I am fed up. I gave her the benefit of the doubt before, but oh not this time! I text her and ask her to explain herself. I email the teacher back and ask for a meeting. She begrudgingly agrees, as it is a Friday afternoon after school and has a class half full of kids when we arrive (mental note-class must have an issue).
Here is the short version-
teacher: she cheated and I caught her. Zero given.
me to kid: you better explain yourself
kid (crying until she almost vomits): blah blah blah I didn't cheat blah blah blah I swear!
me to myself: my kid is showing emotion and begging! I don't think she cheated (on purpose)!!
me to teacher: could this have been a misunderstanding? would you be willing to let her stay and do the work now?
teacher: okay
Private conversation after kid leaves room: teacher tells me they all cheat all day long in every class on everything and she wants to write CHEATER CHEATER CHEATER on their papers.
Raising kids is hard enough without adding frustrated crazy old teachers into the mix.
Sounds like everyone needs a vacation.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
One more blog with a "Back to School" post
So there was a day or two where all anyone could post on social media were back to school pictures. Little Johnny and Sally all dolled up with their backpacks, smiling about their new adventure. Some were sad to be leaving momma's apron strings, but there were very few pics of sad children. There were NO pictures of sad parents. Why not? I tried googling one, and found nothing!
I don't think society talks a whole lot about being sad as an adult about things like your children going to school (at any age), driving, wiping themselves, helping do chores, leaving the nest. We are always so anxious for our children to reach the next milestone. Achieve the next goal. We rush and rush to the next thing and then one day realize it is all over. The End. They are grown and we are done.
I can't wait until my child:
sleeps all night, eats without puking, stops crying
rolls over, scoots, crawls, walks
gets out of diapers, gets out of pull ups, gets out of my bed
stops throwing tantrums, stops throwing food, stops throwing things in the toilet/trash
starts school, starts sports, starts cleaning up their own mess
learns to drive, gets a job, gets out of my hair
gets children of their own (at appropriate time) so they will know what they put me through and call me to apologize profusely for ever having pooped in the tub or snuck out of the house.
We hear stories told by other parents and we laugh a little out loud and then secretly cry on the inside at the thought of our children not needing us. Not wanting us as much as they did. It is a good thing that we all go through those seasons to prepare us and them to leave and be independent. That is what life is, training for us to know how to survive without each other 24/7. Preparation for the next step, always.
I wait for the ugly crying mother pictures on the first day back to school. The ones where they have just watched their baby turn and walk away from them, headed to their first classroom. Seeing the back of your child's head when you drop them at college (yuck, I don't want to think about that). What will they do without us? What will we do without them? So don't feel alone sad parents. You aren't being silly or needy. You are being completely and utterly normal. Just no one tells you that. Well there are those old women who always say "don't rush them, and make sure you nap when they nap, and don't worry about the dishes-they will be there later". The ones who warn us to take advantage of all this precious time (even when they are pouty, sarcastic, mouthy, and opinionated), it is still precious. In a smack them kind of way.
You can tell I am still a little melancholy about the whole thing but it is only day three of school. I will get acclimated before it is over. But then summer will come and I will get used to having her around all the time and we will do this whole thing again next August when Junior year starts and she is able to drive herself to the school.
Must go now. My eyes are melting again.
I don't think society talks a whole lot about being sad as an adult about things like your children going to school (at any age), driving, wiping themselves, helping do chores, leaving the nest. We are always so anxious for our children to reach the next milestone. Achieve the next goal. We rush and rush to the next thing and then one day realize it is all over. The End. They are grown and we are done.
I can't wait until my child:
sleeps all night, eats without puking, stops crying
rolls over, scoots, crawls, walks
gets out of diapers, gets out of pull ups, gets out of my bed
stops throwing tantrums, stops throwing food, stops throwing things in the toilet/trash
starts school, starts sports, starts cleaning up their own mess
learns to drive, gets a job, gets out of my hair
gets children of their own (at appropriate time) so they will know what they put me through and call me to apologize profusely for ever having pooped in the tub or snuck out of the house.
We hear stories told by other parents and we laugh a little out loud and then secretly cry on the inside at the thought of our children not needing us. Not wanting us as much as they did. It is a good thing that we all go through those seasons to prepare us and them to leave and be independent. That is what life is, training for us to know how to survive without each other 24/7. Preparation for the next step, always.
I wait for the ugly crying mother pictures on the first day back to school. The ones where they have just watched their baby turn and walk away from them, headed to their first classroom. Seeing the back of your child's head when you drop them at college (yuck, I don't want to think about that). What will they do without us? What will we do without them? So don't feel alone sad parents. You aren't being silly or needy. You are being completely and utterly normal. Just no one tells you that. Well there are those old women who always say "don't rush them, and make sure you nap when they nap, and don't worry about the dishes-they will be there later". The ones who warn us to take advantage of all this precious time (even when they are pouty, sarcastic, mouthy, and opinionated), it is still precious. In a smack them kind of way.
You can tell I am still a little melancholy about the whole thing but it is only day three of school. I will get acclimated before it is over. But then summer will come and I will get used to having her around all the time and we will do this whole thing again next August when Junior year starts and she is able to drive herself to the school.
Must go now. My eyes are melting again.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
What's wrong with my RV?
I thought "let's start with a funny one". I thought "don't get too heavy a subject until you have a week or so under your belt". I thought "pick something that has nothing to do with school starting back". SO I chose the RV. The classic, super fun recreational vehicle.
They don't tell you that you can upgrade the bed and toilet. We didn't tackle the toilet yet but we did put in a cushy pillow top queen size residential mattress. It makes the bed really tall but it is not so heavy that I can't get into the under bed compartment.
Or that there are hidden fuses all over the trailer that will blow. We knew about the ones in the breaker box, but were not aware that there were external fuses in bay compartments. It wasn't until the front landing gear blew a fuse and we had to hand crank the trailer to get it to the dealership that they showed us where those handy little jewels were. We stocked up on 30 amp fuses so as to not be stranded again.
Or that the airbag hitch they installed is notorious for leaking all the air out. We had to purchase a portable air compressor while on a trip to Alabama for this obstacle. We were packing up to head home and found the airbag in the hitch had bled out. So we towed it sans air to the nearest air supply about two miles away and filled up. Come to find out a tech said that the hardware needs to be replaced and they are known to leak. He also said they don't test the set up before the customer takes delivery, no soapy water or anything.
Or that you can purchase a water filtration system to put between the city water hookup and your trailer. When the water comes out fizzy cream colored, that's not an A&W root beer tap! You need a filter!
Or that you should invest in one of those foam swim noodles to cut a slit in and place on the bottom of your bedroom slide out. I hit my head twice on that thing. Made sense then why I had seen those noodles hanging from slide out bottoms.
Or that the back feet come down at separate times when stabilizing the trailer. Here I am pushing one side down with my foot thinking that something is broken, only to be told that they are on a pendulum and should come down separately. My bad.
You are going to feel every step and movement that other people make in the trailer and you are going to hear every acorn that drops onto the roof while you are sleeping.
But you are also going to love having a cool place to rest between swimming and hiking! A soft bed to lay down in, and a place to use the restroom that 5 million other people haven't already used.
They DID tell us not to wash the trailer with the water pointed up, to keep from spraying water into the side vents and into the trailer. And to drain the black tank first then the grey tanks. And to pour the cleaning tabs and a few bags of ice into the toilet before heading home to help clean the lines and black tank a little more thoroughly.
This is based on a 2014 Forest River Heritage Glen fifth wheel. And I will probably edit it and add more helpful tips as we learn more things the hard way. What tips do you have about campers that no one told you? Don't you wish you had one of those cute vintage campers that seem super simple?
They don't tell you that you can upgrade the bed and toilet. We didn't tackle the toilet yet but we did put in a cushy pillow top queen size residential mattress. It makes the bed really tall but it is not so heavy that I can't get into the under bed compartment.
Or that there are hidden fuses all over the trailer that will blow. We knew about the ones in the breaker box, but were not aware that there were external fuses in bay compartments. It wasn't until the front landing gear blew a fuse and we had to hand crank the trailer to get it to the dealership that they showed us where those handy little jewels were. We stocked up on 30 amp fuses so as to not be stranded again.
Or that the airbag hitch they installed is notorious for leaking all the air out. We had to purchase a portable air compressor while on a trip to Alabama for this obstacle. We were packing up to head home and found the airbag in the hitch had bled out. So we towed it sans air to the nearest air supply about two miles away and filled up. Come to find out a tech said that the hardware needs to be replaced and they are known to leak. He also said they don't test the set up before the customer takes delivery, no soapy water or anything.
Or that you can purchase a water filtration system to put between the city water hookup and your trailer. When the water comes out fizzy cream colored, that's not an A&W root beer tap! You need a filter!
Or that you should invest in one of those foam swim noodles to cut a slit in and place on the bottom of your bedroom slide out. I hit my head twice on that thing. Made sense then why I had seen those noodles hanging from slide out bottoms.
Or that the back feet come down at separate times when stabilizing the trailer. Here I am pushing one side down with my foot thinking that something is broken, only to be told that they are on a pendulum and should come down separately. My bad.
You are going to feel every step and movement that other people make in the trailer and you are going to hear every acorn that drops onto the roof while you are sleeping.
But you are also going to love having a cool place to rest between swimming and hiking! A soft bed to lay down in, and a place to use the restroom that 5 million other people haven't already used.
They DID tell us not to wash the trailer with the water pointed up, to keep from spraying water into the side vents and into the trailer. And to drain the black tank first then the grey tanks. And to pour the cleaning tabs and a few bags of ice into the toilet before heading home to help clean the lines and black tank a little more thoroughly.
This is based on a 2014 Forest River Heritage Glen fifth wheel. And I will probably edit it and add more helpful tips as we learn more things the hard way. What tips do you have about campers that no one told you? Don't you wish you had one of those cute vintage campers that seem super simple?
Happy Camping!
Jennifer
Monday, August 18, 2014
Where to begin?
Chapter one, page one-
In the beginning there was school. Where they are supposed to tell you everything you need to know. Kindergarten was useful and very informative, but not complete. Elementary, Junior and then Senior High certainly gave pertinent information but there were holes where life lessons would have to suffice. But who can wait to learn these things?
Things such as:
1. What happens if you don't file your taxes properly or at all...
2. When you don't take a friend to a public restroom with you...
3. Using the internet for good and not evil...
4. How you can love someone so much and still want to punch them in the mouth...
5. What really happens when you go to jail...
6. How to help your child through school situations you never experienced...
7. When a response is not necessary...
And many more. Things your parents didn't know, or couldn't tell you even!
So this weekend while on a family camping trip, I remarked that someday I would write a book with all these things in it. I then told my 15 year old daughter that she had better pay attention to my musings because I would probably die before finishing my handbook for a better society and she would need to complete my work. Ha! This from the girl who says "Don't tell me your problems, I'm not a chiropractor". It should be a good read if you can translate her way of thinking into proper English and complete and accurate thoughts.
So a blog is the better answer, simply because you won't have to wait for those little nuggets as you need them.. While my style of writing and thoughts on what is "helpful" may differ greatly from the rest of civilization, I know my friends will at least read my words and laugh a little. Since this compilation doesn't have to stick to any guideline or theme, you will find all sorts of helpful advice. And if you have an idea, question, or story to share-let me know. When I hit a dry spell, I may need a guest blogger.
So, thanks for stopping by this handy little spot where you may learn something new. And don't judge. I am not perfect, that's how I learned a lot of these things.
Jennifer
In the beginning there was school. Where they are supposed to tell you everything you need to know. Kindergarten was useful and very informative, but not complete. Elementary, Junior and then Senior High certainly gave pertinent information but there were holes where life lessons would have to suffice. But who can wait to learn these things?
Things such as:
1. What happens if you don't file your taxes properly or at all...
2. When you don't take a friend to a public restroom with you...
3. Using the internet for good and not evil...
4. How you can love someone so much and still want to punch them in the mouth...
5. What really happens when you go to jail...
6. How to help your child through school situations you never experienced...
7. When a response is not necessary...
And many more. Things your parents didn't know, or couldn't tell you even!
So this weekend while on a family camping trip, I remarked that someday I would write a book with all these things in it. I then told my 15 year old daughter that she had better pay attention to my musings because I would probably die before finishing my handbook for a better society and she would need to complete my work. Ha! This from the girl who says "Don't tell me your problems, I'm not a chiropractor". It should be a good read if you can translate her way of thinking into proper English and complete and accurate thoughts.
So a blog is the better answer, simply because you won't have to wait for those little nuggets as you need them.. While my style of writing and thoughts on what is "helpful" may differ greatly from the rest of civilization, I know my friends will at least read my words and laugh a little. Since this compilation doesn't have to stick to any guideline or theme, you will find all sorts of helpful advice. And if you have an idea, question, or story to share-let me know. When I hit a dry spell, I may need a guest blogger.
So, thanks for stopping by this handy little spot where you may learn something new. And don't judge. I am not perfect, that's how I learned a lot of these things.
Jennifer
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