Love Trader Joe’s and the Apple Store

Off to the Apple Store…

I entered the Apple Store on my Garmin and it said it was about 16 miles from the Enchanted Trails RV Park.  I had scheduled my appointment online for 2:00pm.  I got to the store at  1:00pm so I went to the Genius Bar hoping they could take me sooner.  No such luck.  They are very busy and told me to come back closer to the time I had scheduled.

The Apple Store is located in a very high class shopping area know as Uptown.  Lots of very expensive stores.  I did find a Starbuck’s and stopped in there for a coffee and “Very Berry” coffee cake.  Then I just walked around until my appointment.

The Apple Store is really a very friendly environment.  I walked to the back where they checked me in and then they found a seat where I could sit until they could wait on me.  They had all my information regarding my speaker problem with the phone. Within a few minutes I was showing another guy my phone and he was writing all the information into an IPad.  Stuff like what I had done to see if the speaker would work, etc.

He took my phone and said they would check it out in the back and replace the speaker if needed.  He mentioned it could take about 25 minutes.  Within 10 minutes he was back with my phone and demonstrated that the speaker now worked.   GREAT!!  I can now hear when someone is calling me.  That is what a phone is for, isn’t it?

They were very professional and when I asked if there was any charge he said absolutely nothing.

Trader Joe’s in the same shopping center….

I walked out to my car and happened to notice a Trader Joe’s on the other side of the parking lot.  I haven’t shopped at a Trader Joe’s for a long time and had to go.

I usually buy my groceries from a list that I create on my IPhone.  Whenever I think of something I immediately write it down.  I usually don’t buy anything else unless it is on the list.  It usually keeps me from overspending.

However I only had a couple items on my list when I entered Trader Joe’s, but went ahead and shopped the entire store and bought my items that weren’t on my list.  I love eating seafood and if you check out the seafood in Walmart it is rather bleak.  Most times I usually buy any seafood from a good grocery store instead.

However, I did see some great seafood items at Trader Joe’s that I just had to have.  That and a packet of sushi that I used to enjoy many years ago.  I had the sushi for dinner that night.  YUM!  YUM!

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I also bought my favorite Italian Roast coffee.  I used to drink this coffee for many years before fulltiming.

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Very windy…

The rest of the day was very uneventful.  I was glad to get home after shopping as the wind was blowing very hard. New Mexico winds can get rather gusty at times.

Billy as in Billy Goat…

When Jim and I went 4 wheeling in Rockhound State Park he suggested a name for my Suzuki Samurai.  He said it was just like a Billy goat since it could go just about anywhere.  So Billy it is!

My Lazy Daze “The Breeze” as in the song by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Billy.  That sounds cool.  They make a great pair.

Will leave here on Saturday…

Saturday we will be heading north.  I didn’t want to travel on Friday because Amazon will be calling for my interview.  I missed the last time they called because my IPhone speaker wasn’t working and didn’t even here the call.  So they rescheduled it and I really need to get it right today.

I am leaving in the morning and found a Harvest Host winery that I can stay at for the night just north of Albuquerque.  Harvest Host offers many great places to stay like wineries, farms, and orchards and it doesn’t cost anything.  These places are located in every state even Canada and Mexico.  They don’t have hookups but with solar panels who cares anyway.  Besides I need to try a different wine for a change.

 

No hiking today…

Plans go awry…

When I met my friend Shannon she had mentioned we should do some hiking.  We made plans to meet at her rig yesterday.  After agreeing to it, I was checked my schedule and decided that would not work so I called her and took a rain check for Saturday instead.

My “Check Engine” light  of my Samurai had just come on and I wanted to verify that all was OK.  I had checked the manual and it did mention a few items that had to be checked at 80,000 miles.  The light came on exactly when it turned 80,000.

I wanted to have a Suzuki dealer check it out.  As you must know by now, I am not a mechanic by any means.  I made an appointment for 1:00pm and took it in for normal servicing.

When I got there I mentioned that my “check engine” light had come on exactly when it turned 80,000 miles.  The write-up guy told me that had nothing to do with it and there may be something wrong.  Then I had to wait while there mechanics took over.  I was fearing the worst.

About 2 hours later they came and told me they finally figured out why my check engine light came on.  It was because it turned 80,000 miles and it was alerting me to take care of a few items. DUH! That was just what I said wasn’t it?

I have to have an oxygen sensor replaced.  What the heck is that?  The mechanic said it was a sensor that goes in my exhaust.  I will do some checking on it.  Does anyone know what it does and why it has to be replaced?  The cost for doing the 80,000 mile check-up will be $670.  YUK!!!

I will buy it right now…

I saw the mechanics checking out my Samurai real close.  Then when they drove it up to me the guy offered to buy it right on the spot.  This is the 4th time I have had people offering to buy it.  These little cars are very popular since they are 4 wheel drive, very light weight, great gas mileage and make great tow vehicles for us RV’ers.   There is no way I would give it up after looking so long to find it.

Getting really hot

The temps are now in the 90’s.  I haven’t run  my A/C yet but the Fantastic Fan has sure helped to cool the place down.

Hiking on Saturday

I will travel over to Apache Junction on Saturday and do some much needed hiking.  I am really looking forward to it.  I will take my camera to get a lot of pictures.  STAY COOL!!