Old Time TV.

With the change to HD for TV and the need to get a converter box to receive local and/or non HD channels I've begun to notice a difference in the viewing habits of the different areas of the country. The first thing I notice was the dearth of channels the deeper one moves away from major population areas. It was like going back in time almost to the beginning of the television era. Only then the lack of programing was also in the major population areas. Back then it was known as TV, the great American waste land. Most of the performers in the old shows have gone on to that TV land in the sky.

Now I notice the types of programing that is available. Naturally ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX are almost everywhere. The next large provider of TV is Public Broadcast stations (which didn't exist back in the day). Especially near college areas. PBS is also an outlet for the states to advertise themselves to the people within their state and to the travelers. It is a great place to find interesting sites to visit while within the state.

But the greatest thing that I notice is the retro programing. The Rifleman, Dragnet, Beverly Hillbillies, Leave it to Beaver, Gunsmoke, Andy Griffin Show, Peter Gunn, and anything else that made it through the time warp of 40 or more years. There is even a station called RetroTV. To me it's retro of the mind.

My perspective on such programing is negative. Especially when one of the suggested therapies for fighting Alzheimer is to do new and different things that force the mind to work. But I also realize there is a need for some people to connect with memories of the past. I don't own the world and I don't believe that my way is the only way.

This is the programing of the good old days. Is it where the mind of the viewers are stuck. For them it appears that nothing has changed. Or is it a sancturary for the stressed out mind?

THE GREAT SNOW STORM OF 2011.

At least that's the word for 4-8 inches of snow in what is called Upstate in South Carolina. Our reference point for Upstate is the I-85 corridor. This storm has been on the news stations radar for at least the past week with predictions of 1-4 inches for upstate. The day before the storm was for 4-7 inches with the adverse conditions beginning about midnight on the 9th of January. At five in the morning the prediction for accumulation amounts was 7-12 inches. Later in the evening of this day it is suppose to deliver us some freezing rain. Then we are suppose to have below freezing temps. That's what I like about the south??

The buzz word for the day is "Stay home".


The first priority of snow removal is the main arteries. Interstates, US highways, with back roads on the bottom of the list. In previous travels up and about the area are I'm in total agreement with the buzz word of the day. These Upstate back roads are like riding on a roller coaster. The roads are narrow. Up and down . Blind curves and hills. Shoulders. Fogitboutit. They are a hazard when the weather is good.


But when the big one finally stopped we were hit hard. About 3-4 inches. And after the snow there was freezing rain in our area, less than 1/2 inch, and a drop in temperature that caused our pipes to freeze. Well, the water pipe at our park site. But with a freezer full and water jugs for backup we will be able to weather this storm too. Seems like I ran into some of this great southern weather last year when we went to the Mardi Gras.

Spring? Naw.

Fair Play, SC.


We've had some pretty decent weather for the past couple of weeks. In the seventies during the day and the forties at night. We have heard, from the local news stations, that the fall foliage has run it's course. I don't know where his report came from but not here. The trees have been beautiful and with the weather as good as it has been they have held on to their display of colorful leaves.
Even today with the rain and haze you can still see and feel the impact of the changing colors. What's even better you can watch the metamorphose on a daily basis. You can see each progressive change of color as they travel toward the shedding of their leaves and prepare for the next season of growth.

DISCOURSE

We are now approaching that seven days in December that juggle the minds of all with thoughts of peace, a second coming, gifts, gatherings, greed, war, despair and whatever window of life one chooses to open and look through. These same actions are with us throughout the year. It's just that at this time we are inundated with them in such a narrow period of time and it is continuous.

We participate in this madness without really giving much thought to the when, what, why, where, who and how of our actions. If we add to each of those words and placed them in front of a statement like - do I have to do this - It opens more windows. If you can do that and it leads you nowhere then you have reached an answer or you aren't thinking.

But that thought process should not be seasonal. It should be a habit until it becomes second nature. Like breathing. And to stop thinking is not an option.

Stink Bug Transporter

We left the stink bug capitol this morning and traveled to Stoltzfus RV in West Chester PA. It was to catch up with the monies we spent at the Hershey RV show. We are having a tow package installed to pull the car we bought that replaces the scooters we are trying to sell that the doctor said I should not ride anymore. (Taking a deep breath). But that's another story.

At any rate I did my stink bug inspection when preparing to leave. The weather has been cool and wet the past few days and that decreased the numbers of bugs on the exterior of the MH. Still inspection is in order. Upon pulling in the front slide out I noticed a bunch of them on the inside of the seal. When I say a bunch I mean more than a dozen, hanging together for the warmth and comradship of each other. Whatever that means. Also on the locking bar there was another dozen or so doing the same thing. Now they are inside. And now I give them a good drink of Raid and watch them fall off in a dead drunk. I love the word dead.

Upon clean up I look around at the top of the slide out seal and durn if there ain't some hiding around in there. Well there is still more drink left. Pass the can. After the clean up it was time to boogie on down the road. Whoops there is one crawling on the driver's side window. Spritz. Dead.

Upon arriving at our destination I found another half a dozen or so crawling here and there trying to miss the party. No way. Death awaits them also. I don't believe that I've erradicated all of them but so far the inspection has been a great benefit over what we had to put up with last year at this time. I would suggest that each of the travelers in the MH world do the same.

And don't forget your tow.