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.

 

Took the plunge TWICE!!!

Bought a toad that wasn’t even for sale!

Some friends of John and Linda were in the market for an RV and they drove over from Scottsdale to look at one on mile marker 112.  Whey they were looking at a rig a great little Samurai drove down this road and Linda was yelling at me to ask them if it was for sale.

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  I looked at it but didn’t ask them to pull over.  I could have kicked myself.  Then a few minutes later I saw them come back the other way and I just had to pull them over.  They were on their way to do some shopping in Blythe.  I asked them if they were interested in selling it and low and behold Charley the owner quoted me a price that he wanted.  I looked it over real good and he told me a lot of good things about it.  It was a 5 speed manual 4X4, with new tires and brakes and a trailer hitch as well as a wench in the front.  I was sold.  I took down his name and phone number, but wanted my friend John to look it over with me.

I called them back and told them we wanted to check it out again.  John and Cookie went with me and everyone thought it was a great deal.  I called him and told him I would have a check to him by in two days.  Today I went to Parker with Roger and got a cashiers check from the bank then went over to pick it up.

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I am so excited about my new toad.  It is just what I have been looking for these past few months and worked hard to save the money.

Summer plans…

I also took the plunge and made plans for this summer.  I have decided no to work once I heard about what John and Linda had planned.  They are joining the Northwest Lazy Daze group and travel for 3 weeks into Alberta Canada.  My friends Ed and Carole, who just sold their home in Florida and are moving to Colorado will be going as well.  It should be a great trip.  We meet in Baker, OR, then into Idaho where I have already made reservations, and then into Alberta.  It should be a fantastic trip as we will also be going to Jasper.  I can’t wait.

More rigs coming into our area….

Chris a new fulltimer from Santa Fe, NM just arrived today and joined up with our group.  We had another great “Happy Hour” today and sat around the fire.  It is always nice to meet new people.  We will also be having more folks come later once the RV Show starts.

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Gathering around the fire….

Another great group tonight and Roger again had a great campfire.  Gil and Nancy were showing the pics of their trip several years ago to the “Burning Man” festival.  Mike got out his guitar and provided some great music for our entertainment.

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I spent a lot of money today but cherished every minute and the RV Show hasn’t even started yet.  By the way the weather here is super.  In the 70’s finally.