Cats out of the bag...RV dreamers

Last week a Louisville, KY newspaper called the workampers at Amazon, in Campbellsville, KY, Amazon Gypsies. She did not paint a pretty picture. Now a second article has been written that stated that the first article was harsh. The local NBC station talked about RV living and working.

Tonight, my friend (the Lindseys) have made the news again. While Josh declined to go on camera, some others did. The Lindseys daughter is in the video although not a speaking part. She is the kid in the Santa hat. Diane Sawyer ABC World News did a brief run about people unemployed, living in RV's and looking for work.

Take a look. One guy actually said that he didn't want the word to get out about how great it is to traveling, live in his camper and work when needed. Boy, I think he blew it.

Wish I could put a link to the video, but not sure how to do that. Just google ABC world news.

Campbellsville, KY....Amazon Gypsies

Susie Grimes, Latisha, Elisha, and Josh Lidsey Missing Zac and Isaih Lidsey

The RV lifestyle is not for everyone but I love it. Today we visited Sue and Josh and Latisha Lidsey in Campbellsville, KY. They are working the Amazon seasonal jobs. Sue started in Sept and Josh in November. They did this last year.

We all worked together (volunteer) at Wolfe Creek Fish Hatchery near Lake Cumberland Damn, last year.

Josh treated us to lunch. Thanks Josh. What a great day.

If interested check out this article written by some idiot on the journal newspaper in Louisville, KY. Talk is that someone has a problem with Amazon not paying union wages. Don't know nothing about that but they did take tid bits of the interview's and put them together to make RVing and working seem like desperate and deprived people.

This is long and the video on the web site is worth watching.


Holidays: a job.

Hard-up retirees and unemployed workers with children have converged on this rural town in RVs and campers to spend a few months earning $10 per hour filling orders at an Amazon warehouse.

Amazon offers a free place to park and plug in. When work ends Christmas Eve, the campers pull out.

Many have lost their homes and live on the road, home schooling their children along the way. Others are retirees who had planned to see the country but now work along the way to supplement depleted investments. Those not old enough for Medicare typically lack insurance.

We are among the economic refugees. We are lucky to earn enough to get our laundry done and eat macaroni and cheese,” said April McFail, 52. “I think it says America needs something different. This is supposed to be freedom and a good life. Now it is a sad note.”

McFail's husband, Terry, lost his job last year at Dow Chemical earning $18 hourly in southern Michigan. They lost their home to foreclosure in May. Pooling $8,000 in savings, they purchased a 1987 Winnebago and hit the road. They worked as campground hosts in South Dakota for the summer, arriving in September to begin work at Amazon.

A short time later, April McFail's diabetes forced her to quit the Amazon job. She could not manage 10-hour shifts four days a week lifting packages up to 30 pounds each. Health-care benefits left over from her husband's job at Dow expire Tuesday.

'Amazon Gypsies'

Lunchboxes in hand, “Amazon Gypsies” walk down the hill to work from the company camp built on a gravel parking lot next to an auto junkyard. A nearby state park extended its hours through Christmas at Amazon's request.

Amazon pays campsite rental, water, sewer and electric. Some campers choose to save their propane and rely on electric blankets and heaters to stay warm at night.

Blankets cover the windows of the Wicklane family's 1997 Fleetwood ca

mper. An electric space heater whirrs on the worn linoleum floor. After losing an electrician's job and a house in Florida last year, Kurt Wicklane found work unloading Amazon trucks in Kentucky to feed two daughters, ages 3 and 9, and a son, 5


Courier-journalCAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Amazon.com has what many migrant workers want for the h

Jeff Jones Chev...Versailles, KY

The day before T-day (Wed), Mr Thracter called to request I take my Van to a Chevrolet place to scan the transmission for codes. He had called a place in Danville, Ky and they said the charge for the scan would be $79.95.

Bob Allen Cadillac/Dodge/GM in Danville, KY, is the dealer I went to last Feb with Craig's Cadillac. Check my page on May 26, 2010. I didn't like them then and I still do NOT. Stopped by Bob Allen on my way home from the Back Doctor. Told the service tech who I was and the mechanic had called about a scan on the transmission. Asked the tech what the charges would be, he said $84.95 and the charge would go on from their depending on what they have to do. I left. Good bye.

Called Jeff Jones Chev in Verailles, KY, they changed my water pump on the van last year. Their charge would be $32.00. So I drove the 26 miles, very slowly. Top speed was 40 MPH and less on the hills.

Arrived 11:00 am. Big Al, called and talked with Mr. Tharcter. Four hours later I asked for the charge today and she said $32.00, I like people who tell the truth. I have decided to just replace the transmission. Cost will be $2,700.00 for a GM rebuilt unit. With a 3 year 100,000 mile warranty. I will let Jeff Jones Chev do the work. I'm just tired of it all.

Oh, after test driving the van, I drove and the tech had the scanning hooked to the computer, the van did slip and no codes showed on the scanner. This 4L80E transmission has problems that don't fall in the mechanical end. In my opinion. But I could spend $3,000 just looking for the trouble. Sheeeesh.

Trans ordered and will be here Monday. I will need to get the converter off the repaired trans to return to Mr Thracter. He said his previous charge of $854 was a 'wash' but I feel I the need to pay him. At least the cost of the filter. What is the right thing to do?

On a lighter note. Walked in the show room and they had a 76 Cadillac Eldordo and an 83 Buick Rivera.

These cars made me feel young.

I think I would have sold my soul to have owned either one of these.

Call them what you want. Yank Tanks, land yachts, these cars are big and heavy. Makes me think of Elvis and Las Vegas. Those where the days. Of course, I think Disco was fun.

Plans Change...car trouble

Saturday Night

You may remember the first night I worked the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY, that my Van’s transmission acted up. That was September 28th.

Thracter repair shop in Burgin, KY has had the Van on and off for the last 2 months. He replaced the converter and tuned the clutches and gaskets of the transmission. He said it was OK, but to drive it before taking off for Louisiana. I drove away and 30 minutes later returned. Not fixed. His bill was $854 dollars. He retuned my check. That was 7 days ago and I have not heard a word from him. No use to call him.

We intended to leave Thursday morning for Louisiana. I would drive the Van and pull our enclosed 12 foot cargo trailer. Craig, driving the Honda CRV pulling our 10 foot open trailer. We would return, to Harrodsburg, Ky, in the Honda.

That would leave the Motor home to pull the Honda CRV and the rented U-Haul to pulled the Cadillac on a rented car carrier. Sheesh what a plan, it would work. But noooooooo, that will not happen. We would be moved and all our stuff would live in one place, Louisiana.

So I asked Craig, if we are here for the Thanksgiving holiday, could we go to Louisville and see the zoo, church Hill downs, baseball museum and Mohamed museum. Just be a tourist. Sounds good.

Well the weather forecast is blink, looks like the lows will be around 22 degrees with highs not much better. The zoo animals will not come out, and staying in the Motor home may be hard. I am treated for the tropics.

Oh, by the way, Dr appointments are still running my life. I need to be careful, one of these test and x-rays might show something wrong. So far I just need to make a life style change to handle my back problems. At least that is what I hope.

Vevay, IN......Belterra Casino

Just across the bridge and your in Indiana.

Another company celebration. Craig is working two projects at the same time. The Kentucky Utility job here in Harrodsburg and the Kentucky Utility project in Gent KY (near Cincinnati).

We lived in Ghent, KY before moving here to Harrodsburg. Last night was a blast and the food was beyond great. Very very good job on the food and everything else.

Doctor appointments run your life

Doctor appointments run your life

A big part of going full time/part time in the RV is getting your health in order.

No one in this house is checking out of life but we should not ignore any medical conditions.

My back is a crack/broke vertebra, right before the trail bone begins. Spondylolisthesis, a very common thing, so it seems. Surgery to screw the thing together is a long recovery and may not gain much pain relief.

The month of Dec I will do therapy to learn exercises to gain muscle. Our new life style, in the RV, may be just the right thing to do.

Buuuuutttttt, the x-ray showed an enlarge gallbladder. I am scheduled for tomorrow for an ultrasound.

Then the dentist appointments begin. How did I get so fragile?

These things need to be understood by myself and my husband. I believe living a nomads life in the RV makes this knowledge very important. Both with Craig and me and the dogs.

D-Day has moved from Dec 17th to Dec 30th. One extra paycheck. I guess

Holiday events and dinners

Several dinners and celebrations are planned and I would like to go. It is amazing how dinners that are company sponsored still cost us.

Not a very good picture of Craig and I. Place was ugly and lighting bad.

This dinner is called a project competition event, planned for 45 but about 25 showed up. The place is an Italian restaurant call Bellini's, located downtown Lexington, Ky. Not far from the KY University campus. Guess who was playing a football game that night. Traffic was heavy and parking a problem. But big city downtown, at night, is magic. People are walking around and hanging out. The lights are bright.

Although I was very glad to be invited and be here, nothing about this place impressed me.

The Kudu has arrived...one year later

Last September Craig took the trip of his lifetime. I say that with all the love in my heart, because he thinks he will get to go again. No way, way tooooooo expensive. But he received a bonus pay from a job and those dollars and more, paid his Safari to South Africa.

Ladies it was worth every penny. Craig is a hunter and this trip made him very very happy. Good for him.

Guess what is in this big box from South Africa!!!

..

Lots of dead heads that I will get to look at for the rest of my life.

Early retirement and Health Care

Looks like we have a D-day date, that is, the job completion date for Craig at work!! That date will be Dec 17, 2010. Sooooo, we will have two paychecks then life will change. I have read a lot of blogs about retiring and leaving work, but I never thought about actually not having a paycheck coming in. That is, a paycheck that you just worked 40 or more hours for.

Because Craig never takes a vacation, we will have 8 weeks of regular 40 paychecks then they pay the balance of his 540 hours of unused vacation. The Company benefits package happens this time every year. Today we got that completed using a conference call to benefits. We are field people so HR doesn't help us much. that's life in construction. Time to ask medical coverage questions!!

For 2010 we paid about $350 a month for health coverage, with the lowest deductible they offer. During enrollment for 2011 we asked what cobra would cost. And the answer is $980 a month, that would leave it as it is. If we only cover Craig the cost is $480.

I have Medicare, this complicates things. I have gotten different answers to the same questions. How are we suppose to know want is the truth. The question is, with me, is United Heath Care or Medicare the primary insurer?

Because Craig is a active employee and I am already covered by UHC, then UHC is the primary. That means UHC would not quote us the cost of full coverage for Craig and supplement coverage for me.

Craig has an existing condition, you may remember my post about the cost of Enbrel, if not covered by insurance. Think we would have problems buying insurance, for him, without going thru Cobra. Maybe the best situation would be to have Craig on Cobra and buy my supplement policy with someone else.

Sorry this is so long and confusing, but I am confused.

RV Camping or RV Resort

Rving (camping) is a world that fits all. The ’tenters’ are the most amazing. I think of the Condo as a tent, just a real nice tent.

Since the year 2000 I have spent 3 to 4 months of the years in my Class B van camper. Craig was working and never came with me. Sooooo, the jury is out on what kind of Rver Craig will be.


The planning process to move into the Condo (motor home) is a every day thing. Tonight Craig asked if we are going to do a lot of hiking. Great question, because I wonder if we will want the same things when traveling. Craig was born and raised on a large farm in Bridgewater, South Dakota. I am a Air Force brat, but mostly raised in south Louisiana. Two very different people.

So the conversation was about paying to park in a nice campground and visiting our neighbors, going out to restaurants and museums and coffee houses. I would call this RV resort camping. Or looking for parks that have the it factor, for me anyway, where the entertainment would be exploring, hiking trails, looking for water falls and enjoying the freedom of space.

Craig says he wants the it factor, but I think he will be a combination. When I roamed around in the Class B, I mostly dry camped, wherever I thought I was safe. Hardly ever paying a camp ground. I can not see my husband letting this happen.

Can Craig be trained? Will he let the 'boss’ mentality go? We are debt free and have a comfortable motor home, I’m thinking all will be fine.




Betty, I think this horse was trying to speak to you??? Look at those eyes!!!

Note: Waiting on the written report from my MRI of my back. Doctor's office did not call today, I'm not surpised. So tomorrow I will pick up a copy of the report from the hospital and my regular X-rays from last Monday. I will keep them with me. Then call the doctor or make an appointment and go see him. The weekend was a wash, no packing for me. But Craig did a lot, I just rested. I am done resting now!!!!!

Royalty....as a follower

Why would you become a blogger, for your family, because you love a dairy, or just for yourself. I am the latter; with no writing talent I just love recounting my adventures.

But some of the blogs I read everyday are fabulous talented writers. My favorites will make me smile, when I least expect to.

One of these talented people has read my posts. I am ecstatically happy and why is that, it is Because We Can!!

MRI test.....on a CD

My 10 am appointment was cancelled and rescheduled for 2 pm, which they did. The new machine was broke. Wow, hope I didn't get over radiated. I may glow in the dark.

Charles was a kind tech. I left with a CD in hand. The pictures of my back. Asked if I could 'see' on my computer and Charles said "sure".

Did just that. Very interesting but I have no idea what I'm looking at. Maybe Monday or Tuesday the doctor can explain. A real show and tell session. Monday the doctor should have the write up from the guy who reads the pictures.

IMO, this MRI should have been done Monday when I crawled in there and had the regular X-Rays. Today I feel great. Just saying.

Bulging Disc...Insurance running out

Our Medical insurance is the largest problem for our retiring plans. Can we purchase medical insurance? What address to use, seems that makes a difference on the premiums? Will this stop our plans?

Live, Love and retire early, these are words that I read (somewhere) yesterday. It is a sign. Other couples retire and pay medical insurance premiums. I believe we just have to decide that is what we will do.

Tomorrow I have an MRI done on my back. If I need surgery I'm hoping to get this done before we lose our insurance. Will this happen. Who knows. This back problems has been ignored for a very long time. I will not be talked into 'trying' things and still end up with surgery.

Oh Oh...Back out of whack

Ofcourse, you know the definition of life "what happens when you have other plans".

We are packing to move, a big move, lots of stuff and 800 miles. Pulled the vacuum out to clean the bays in the Condo. Pain, I scream, loud. Glad I was outside in the back yard, no one heard me and I didn't scarce the dogs.

This happens about once a year. I have never gone for x-rays or to the doctor about this. But now is different, I am older and our health insurance will run out when Craig leaves work this December.

I decided to complain. Off to the doctor's. Called about 1:30 pm and she said to come in at 3:30. Sheesh, I can't move without pain. Called Craig and he just doesn't get it. So I take myself to doctor's office about 3:00 pm.

I can not sit down because I can not get up, that is, without screaming in pain. They take me to a back room and ask questions and take my blood pressure (128 over 80). I stand up against a wall for over an hour and the doc comes in. He apologized but what can he do now.

He suspects a disc problem because I do not have a tender spot. That would be a muscle. If I lift my left leg, my back hurts. Off to the hospital for regular X-rays. Seems the insurance will not approve a MRI until a regular X-ray indicates the need.

Tomorrow will tell more. I just want to know what my body is doing to me. That age old question. WHY!!

Vicodin for pain and prednisol as anti-inflammatory. My dog and I are on the same med's.

Oh, Dr Wilson suggested that I should stop packing. Hey, you talking to me..........


Live, Love and Retire Early