RVers As Seasonal Workers At Amazon…
December 24, 2011
If you are receiving a gift or bought something for yourself this Christmas season from Amazon, chances are an RVer help get it to you.
Many RVers earn additional cash while working on the road. Here’s a story about RVers working at Amazon. Just click the link below the photo…
http://www.treehugger.com/economics/jargon-watch-workampers-follow-seasonal-jobs-rv.html
I’m fortunate that I no longer have to work, but for those who need the extra income temporary employment helps.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust
The Idea Didn’t Work Out…
November 27, 2011
I’ve been hauling around a bicycle on the back of my motorhome or towed Ford Bronco II for about ten years and I have never been happy with the storage arrangements. It’s such a hassle….the taking off and putting back-on process. It ends up being more work than enjoyment. And now that I have Mary in my life…I have two bicycles to deal with. Oh Joy!!!
Since I was so unhappy with the previous storage arrangement…I thought I’d try a new idea. When we were in Mendocino a couple of months ago, we parked behind a van than had a bicycle on a fold-down hitch. The owner seemed happy with the arrangement. Hmmm…so I decided to give the idea a try and ordered the parts.
Over the last several days I attempted to get the arrangement to work in a way that I could be happy with. This photo shows the fold-down hitch on the back of the Bronco with one bicycle attached…
That didn’t seem too bad.
Then I moved on to putting the two bikes on the rack…
In the photo all appears okay…but appearances are deceiving. In this mode the bikes are too close to one another and they didn’t mount properly. So I added the extension to be used in the four bike mounting mode. That set the bikes apart and they were mounted properly. The I put the cover over everything and evaluated the situation. The cover ended up big and awkward to handle…plus it blocked my rear vision from the drivers seat in addition to blocking the the rear tail and brake lights from behind. That’s not good…so the cover had to go.
With the two bikes on the four bike extension it put the outer bike way out there…so much so that when I tried to pull the rack back into the upright position and insert the holding pin by myself…it required a much too strenuous effort to accomplish. Realizing that sometimes when we are out and about shopping we sometimes open the rear lift door on the Bronco several times a day…I then knew this was not a good idea. So after several hours of messing around with this idea…I knew the fold-down hitch also had to go.
So now both bikes are now mounted on the back out the motorhome…the lesser all all evils…
I’d just as soon get rid of both bicycles for the little that we use them…but…Mary still insists she wants to ride a bicycle…so they remain.
So now I start the fun process of returning the items. The cover we bought from Amazon…no problem. In five minutes I had a prepaid return label and UPS will pickup the package at Mary’s doorstep on Monday.
The 26 pound bike rack was purchased from a different vendor and will prove to be somewhat more difficult to return. First of all…they are not open on the weekend…so I couldn’t communicate with them yesterday…got to wait until Monday. Then they charge a 20% re-stocking fee…we have to pay for the return shipping…about $20…got to get a return authorization number and arrange to get UPS to pick it up…yadda, yadda, yadda!!! This company needs to study how Amazon handles returns. I’ll never buy another item from the bike-rack vendor ever again. ‘Nuf said…the idea didn’t work out!
I was scheduled to depart for the south land Monday morning. Since I now have to wait until Monday to communicate with the bike-rack vendor and there’s a weather forecast for dense fog on Monday morning…I’ve been forced to delay my departure until Tuesday morning. Such is life!
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust
More Low-Light Test Photos…
August 19, 2011
In yesterday’s Blog entry I posted six low-light test photos taken with my new Sony DSCHX5V Digital Camera. They were also the very first photos taken with this camera. Last evening at dusk Mary and I took another walk around our campground. Using the Anti-Blur low-light setting will allow us to take photos in museums where flash photography is not allowed. Here are ten more test photos…
This low-light setting on the camera is really interesting. When you take a photo…it actually takes six different photos at different exposure settings and the combines them into one final photo. Amazing technology!
In other news…
My other Sony camera which was sent to Sony for repair was returned to me yesterday. It was then returned by me to Amazon via UPS. The replacement/exchange process is now complete. The new camera seems to be working just fine.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust
Yesterday Was A Good News Day…
August 18, 2011
in four different ways.
First…my new Sony Digital Camera…which replaces my factory defective camera sent to Sony for repair…arrived from Amazon in less than 24 hours after I placed the order…with no shipping charges to me. Amazing Amazon.com! I carefully inserted the memory card…took a couple of photos and it seems to be working fine.
Second…after five different phone calls to the Sony Repair Center in Laredo, Texas I finally got an Email with a Fedex tracking number. The un-repaired camera is scheduled to arrived by 4:30 PM today. Once it arrives…I’ll open the package to add the associated components and documents and then tomorrow ship the unit to Amazon…completing the replacement exchange.
Third…my friend/mechanic Mike in Monroe called last evening to tell me that he will have the time to do my Bronco transmission work for me. The transmission leaked some fluid last Friday after it got hot climbing Mt. Constitution on Orcas Island. While it’s not leaking at the moment….I’ve decided that because of the age and mileage on it…to replace all the associated seals. On Monday we will drive about 60 miles south to Monroe so Mike can do the job next week. I’d rather have him do it here…a person who I know and trust…rather than have it breakdown out on the open road and have to deal with an unknown transmission shop.
Fourth…last evening at dusk Mary and I took a walk to test the low-light capabilities of our new camera. Using the Anti-Blur setting…the one we will use in museums that do not allow flash photography…I took the below photos. After I ran them through Picasa…which I do with all my photos…they turned out just fine. If you left click them…they should be viewable in the larger size…
I would not have been able to take theses photos with my old Olympus camera without using a flash…which is a very harsh direct kind on light. The new camera…in this low-light setting…actually takes six shots…all at different exposures in one second…then combines then into one final photo. I’m most pleased with this first test of my new Sony DSC HX5V camera.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust
Customer Service – Recent Night And Day Experiences
August 17, 2011
Recently…on August 1st…I wrote my very first rant ever…entitled A Full-Time RVers Perspective On Customer Service.
Here’s the link in case you missed it…
http://otrwjam.wordpress.com/2011/08/01
Since that time I have experienced the WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE OF MY LIFE!
It all revolves around my new Sony Cyber-Shot DSCHX5V Camera…as shown here…
I ordered the camera from Amazon on July 25…received it July 29…and after a short while found the memory card slot to be factory defective…so on August 6…shipped it to the Sony Customer Satisfaction Repair Center in Laredo, Texas. Without going into all the specific details…trust me on this…Sony has the very worst of customer service! Here’s the Sony logo…how appropriate that for other than the words…it’s all black! Also the words…Make.Believe…how appropriate for that’s exactly describes their customer service. Don’t get me wrong…I love Sony products and have bought many over the years. This is the first time that I have had to deal with their so-called customer repair service. Again…just trust me…they do not have a clue what those words mean! I finally demanded that they return the unrepaired camera to me. As you might have already guessed…that’s my recent Night experience.
Now on to the Day experience…Amazon…they are just terrific! I went to their online site…entered my phone number…and WITHIN FIVE SECONDS…my cell phone rang and it was an Amazon customer service representative on the line wanting to know how he could help me. Again…without going into all the details…I ordered a replacement camera…same Sony model. They are not even charging me for the replacement camera…but trusting me to return the defective camera to them. I ordered the camera at 2:00 PM yesterday and it is scheduled to be delivered today. NOW…THAT’S CUSTOMER SERVICE!
Mr. Sony…I hope you get to read this second rant of mine. You make great products…but your customer service stinks! I would have used stronger words…but I’m a gentleman. End of Story!
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust
I Buy A New Computer…
August 2, 2011
My Toshiba Satellite computer is 6.5 years old…a dependable workhorse…that was showing signs of getting tired. Since I recently installed the 4G modem and router in the motorhome…the cpu would occasionally load up to 100% capacity…locking up the computer and requiring a re-boot to be functional once again. In addition the brightness on the screen was showing signs of diminishing with age and trying to brighten it up via the control panel had little effect. So…I began considering a new computer. Here’s old dependable…
But I really loved my Windows XP operating system and hated the idea of parting with it…but facts are facts…nothing lasts forever and change appears to be the only constant in life. I hate the Windows Vista operating system (which Mary has on her computer and loves) and now that Windows 7 is here…it appeared it was time to go ahead and take the leap.
Last Friday while in town I needed to stop at Wal-Mart and while there stopped by to look at computers. They did not have many on display…perhaps 12…but one of them happened to be the Sony Vaio VPCEH11FX…a very nicely designed unit. Wal-Mart price $499.
Next I decided to stop at the nearby Best Buy store where I was likely to see more computers on display. I immediately zeroed in on the Toshiba Satellite’s…when all of a sudden….there it was again…the Same Sony I saw at Wal-Mart…only at Best Buy the price was $479.
I tend not to be an impulsive buyer…so I didn’t buy it…then. Instead I returned to the motorhome and fired up old dependable…to begin my research of the Sony computer. I’m an ex-engineer…I just cannot help myself…I need to feel comfortable about what I am buying. Several hours later over the next couple of days…the research was completed and I was ready to buy.
Part of what my research revealed is that all companies online are selling this computer for $549…all except Amazon…who usually has the lowest prices…was selling it for $599. I never thought Best Buy would have the best price…I thought they would be the highest. But in this case they were the Best Buy!
So, yesterday back I went to Best Buy and did the deed. Here’s the Best Buy page on this computer…
Here are two photos from the Best Buy website…
If you are interested… here is a short video review of the computer in white…I bought black…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Ahb0OQDKE
One of my decision-making factors was that Geeks On Tour…RVing computer experts (husband and wife) who travel the country teaching RVers about computers…both own Sony Vaio computers and speak very highly of them. Here’s their website link… http://geeksontour.com/
Another deciding factor is that I’m a quasi-Sony fan having owned a number Sony items over the years. Last week I just bought a new Sony digital camera. Being an ex- quality control engineer I’ve alway associated the Sony name with quality.
When I went back to Best Buy yesterday,,,I went to look for the Sony computer,,,and couldn’t find it by looking for a $479 price tag. I asked a sales associate where was the Sony compter? We looked together and found it…at a new price of $449. The price dropped $30 over the weekend. So the moral of this story is…it pays to do your homework. In this case…knowledge that it was the right computer to buy…plus a $30 price reduction, Such a deal!
And so I now start the process of learning a new computer, operating system (Windows 7) and the transferring all of my files from the old to new computer. Here’s a photo showing my transfer station with the new computer on the left and old dependable on the right… making it easy to sit before both computers as necessary…
For your techies…the new computer has an Intel Pentium B940 Processor which just came out in June of 2011, 4GB Ram, 500 GB hard drive and a 15.5 inch screen. More than enough computer for my purposes.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust
Bow, Washington
July 26, 2011
Yesterday I drove the about 60 miles from Monroe to the Thousand Trails Mount Vernon RV Resort located in Bow, a few miles North of Mount Vernon, Washington to begin a three-week stay.
Bow, Washington has a population of 6,099, and as a child, the famous CBS news correspondent Edward R. Murrow lived here.
While the campground appears to be near Interstate Highway 5, it is buffeted heavily by beautiful tall fir trees. Only a little very low highway noise can be heard when the wind is out of the West.
When I arrived at 1:00 PM it was raining steadily and the temperature was 61 degrees. At least I’m not too hot! This appears one of those years when Summer in Washington does not begin until about August 1st. The extended weather forecast…starting in about two days…is sunny and in the low to mid 70′s…just right! Besides without rain there would be no beautiful fir trees.
Hopefully I can get out today and take some photos around the park.
Speaking of photos…once I arrived yesterday and now know my space number…I ordered my new camera from Amazon which should arrive in a few days.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust
More Camera-Related Time…
July 25, 2011
In yesterday’s Blog entry I discussed how I had spent the previous four days looking at hundreds of cameras and reading dozens of camera reviews as part of the process of finding new cameras for myself and my life-partner Mary. Finally…I decided on the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC 4X5V…Mary still had not yet made a decision.
I spent the better part of yesterday reading the down-loaded 60 page Instruction Manual and 160 page Handbook for this camera in order to become better acquainted with it prior to its arrival.
Today is moving day for me. My three-week stay at Thousand Trails Thunderbird RV Resort in Monroe, Washington is over and I’m obligated to move to another park. So today I’ll drive the motorhome about 50 miles north to Thousand Trails RV Resort at Mount Vernon, Washington.
When in that area I usually stay at Thousand Trails RV Resort at Laconnor…but I just recently finished a two-week stay there. In addition…it does not have a swimming pool…but rather one-half mile of Puget Sound waterfront. Mary really enjoys the Thousand Trails swimming pools and I’m hoping to get her back with me in about another week or so. She’s currently attending to business at her home in the gold country of central California.
Once I arrive at my new location and know my new space number in the park…I’ll place my order for the camera with Amazon. Speaking of Mary…she finally made her decision to buy the same camera after exhaustive research with other cameras she had been considering. It should work out well…both have the same camera. Between the two of us…we hopefully will learn to use all the neat things the camera can do. Mary ordered her camera yesterday.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust
Cameras, Cameras And More Cameras…
July 24, 2011
It all began four days age when my life-partner Mary…who is currently still in CA attending to business…told me that her camera flash suddenly decided to stop working. She confirmed…no…she had not accidentally turned it off…yes…she was using fresh batteries. So, I guess it has really quit working.
Since she’s so busy with other matters…and I have lots of free time on my hands…she asked me if I would do some camera research for her online…and I happily said…sure.
As I started my research…I got to thinking about my own camera. It’s an Olympus Sytlus 800…8 megapixel…weather-resistant model which I bought when it came out in 2005 for 400+ dollars. It’s still in excellent condition…takes great pictures…but…has some limitations. Being six years old it is now considered obsolete in comparison to the cameras of today where six months is considered light-years.
Here’s a photo of my Olympus Stylus 800 Camera…
So…as part of my research…I also started looking for a replacement for myself. There are dozens of manufacturers and literally hundreds of models.
In the last four days…I’m almost cross-eyed from looking at hundreds of cameras and reading many lengthy camera reviews. Finally…I’ve reached my decision. It’s a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC 4X5V. It’s one heck of a camera with an impressive amount of features for only $189 from Amazon.
If you are interesting reading about this camera…you should click this link…
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX5V-Digital-Stabilization/dp/B00328HR76/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1311444956&sr=1-2
I’ll place my order with Amazon tomorrow after I drive the motorhome about 50 miles north to the Thousand Trails RV Resort at Mount Vernon, Washington…for my next three-week stay. Once I know my new space number at that campground…I’ll be able to place the order with Amazon.
If you are a techie-type and are interested in the technical details of this camera…simply enter Sony DSC 4X5V Camera reviews in your Internet search box and you find several reports. One the reviews indicated…”one good thing about our current economy is that camera prices have come down substantially”. I’m truly amazed what this camera does for such a low price.
In the meantime…Mary continues to wade through the multitude of information I have emailed to her. At this moment…she has yet to decide what she will buy. I’ve only made one recommendation to her…at the frequency with which she drops her camera,,,she should make sure her new camera has a metal case! 
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust
Mobile Mansions
August 29, 2010
Jim says:
Yesterday I finished reading Mobile Mansions with a sub-title of Taking Home Sweet Home On The Road by Douglas Keister. I bought this book while at the RV Museum in Elkhart, Indiana a few days ago.
It’s 160 pages with lots of photographs and text about the history of Motorhomes and presents photos/information about many of the most unusual motorhomes from the past. If you like RV’s and enjoy reading about them, I highly recommend this book to you. I paid $25.00 for this book, you can buy it at Amazon for $18.21 plus shipping. here’s the link…
Here’s the book profile from the Amazon website…
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
What do Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Mae West, Howard Hughes, John Madden, the Partridge Family, Ken Kesey, The Who, and Barbie have in common? Each had a home on wheels-be it an old converted school bus, a massive RV cruiser, or elegant house car. These celebrity motorhomes are only the frosting on the cake in Douglas Keister’s entertaining and informative new book Mobile Mansions.
From the Inside Flap
Mobile Mansions takes you on a captivating exploration of homes on wheels-everything from early diminutive camp cars to modern-day diesel-belching, lumbering leviathans complete with saunas, balconies, and gourmet kitchens. From the eclectic to the exquisite, the luxurious to the rare, this detailed RV guide showcases the diversity of some of the most lovingly restored RVs on the road today.
In this reference for pop culture connoisseurs as well as RV-loving enthusiasts, Keister documents an amazing range of vehicles, including small camp cars from the 1920s, house cars from the 1930s, campers from the 1950s, and finally modern-day motorhomes that first appeared in the 1960s. Well-known brands like Winnebago, GMC, and Travco are featured as well as one-of-a-kind vehicles like the Lamsteed Kampcar, built by Anheuser Busch, the Zeppelin House Car, and Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion car.
Also included in this ultimate guide to RV nostalgia are descriptions, as well as a sampling of photos, of the RVs of cultural icons: Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Mae West, Howard Hughes, John Madden, the Partridge Family, Ken Kesey, The Who, and Barbie. Each had a home on wheels-be it an old converted school bus, massive RV cruiser, or elegant house car.
Entertaining and informative, Keister offers a fun-to-read, informative history of the recreational vehicle illustrated with luscious full-color images, rare vintage photographs, and a sampling of period advertisements. Step inside a wide variety of mobile mansions and feel yourself swept up in a wave of wistfulness, rediscovered adventuresome, and a longing to hit the road.
In other news…
Mary and I are still in Decatur, Illinois. Yesterday we did some shopping and got rid of Mary’s latest recycle collection. We also went to a local 1800′s festival. It was too hot for me so I stood under a shade tree while Mary walked around. One more day here and then we move on tomorrow.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
My three books may be purchased at http://www.lulu.com
Just enter Jim Jaillet in the search box.
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