Not much really going on in the political world, this week. I’m more focused on personal items, otherwise known collectively, as LIFE. You’ll get a column like this out of me occasionally.
A few of the highlights:
Mother’s day 2005 was actually a nicer day than I’d envisioned, it being the first Mother’s day after my wife’s mom had passed on. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how that would go, for a number of reasons.
We went to Chruch as usual, and left from there to run over to the grave of Donna’s Mom… the landscaping has apparently been tended to by the staff there, finally. I was starting to wonder when they’d get to it. I do find myself missing her… and of course Donna does as well. But you continue, as you can…. because the only other alternative is far less attractive.
From there, we ran over to my Mom’s place for a cookout, on her brandy-new gas grill. The thing is a pleasure to use,I’ll tell ya. The kids ran around for a while, and had a good time… and for the first time in many months, we actually had the time to visit with my Mom.
We laid plans to run over to Medina next weekend with her… It’s a little berg about 40 miles west of here,,,, and I’ll tell you about that next week; it’s already a long story. If you’ve got kids, particualry if you live in Northeast Ohio, check back here next weekend. I’ve got a treat for you.
Work on Bit’s Box [1]proceeds apace, now that spring has come. 
Got the first serious clean-up done, the fridge is installed, and we’re nearly warm enough to where I’ll be able to lay down a coat of wax. Still got some work to do on the front bumper to repair some winter damage. But it’s looking OK.
It’s getting warmer around these parts the last week or so… we’ve been getting temps of 60 and 65 the last 4 days or so. Very nice. The instinct is kicking in to get the trailer out of the garage and start getting it road-worthy. We haven’t laid any plans this year for any extended road trips, (Fuel costs be hanged ) but I’m sure we’ll get in a weekend or two in some of the area’s parks, even if we don’t make one of our usual long hauls somewhere. Since we didn’t manage to get out last year…. at all… I’m rather keen on getting it going this year.
I guess perhaps I shouldn’t be complaining about the fuel costs too much; As conversions go this one really isn’t bad; I’m getting about 20 or 21 with it. Not many conversions can claim 4500-5000lbs of tow capacity and yet that kind of MPG rating. I plan to hold onto this one as long as I can, given the choices; Either going full-sized conversion, which gets me about 15 or 16 mpg or going in the same size class which buys me a reduction in towcap, and front wheel drive… which I don’t like to tow with in any event. The Box only has about 100k on it, no rust, no body damage, no major mechanical issues… so I suppose I won’t need to worry about it’s replacement for another 100k or so anyway.
For this summer, though, Ohio, PA, Extreme southern and Northern NY state will do for now. Even with Fuel Costs in the $2.30/gal range, trailering with my current rig is still cheaper (read: More do-able) and more fun than flying, paying the long buck for a rental car and a hotel. Safer, too. Damn seldom you’re going to hear about rigs like mine being hijacked into buildings, or bombed off the highway. Besides, they tend to get miffed when you try to light a camp fire in your hotel room.
Other matters:
Congrats to Bob Bittner, owner of WJIB/740 in Cambridge, who is pictured here at the station’s controls, courtesy of Garrett Wollman. I had the pleasure of working for Bob back in the middle 70’s at WVOR/100.5FM here in Rochester, when Bob was the Program director here… in a studio not 5 minutes walk from where this column is being written, in fact. Word from Bob today, is that his station is pulling a 1.0 in the latest book in the Boston market beating out several other AM stations in that market. An amazing feat, made all the more amazing by the fact that WJIB only runs 250 watts, and the big AM guns there are stations we’ve all heard from; WRKO and WBZ and they’re running 50,000 watts each. A real David and Gliath story. There are times when I miss radio work… and this is one of them. (Sigh)
It pleases me no end Bob’s doing so well, there. Bob also owns and operates WJTO/730 up in Bath Maine, which is one of my favorite spots in the whole northeast for vacationing. Here’s where we stayed [2]last time we were up that way. Better watch out, Bob; I may drop you an application next time I’m up that way, which may be as early as next summer.
By the way, you can see lots of other pics at Garrett’s site, found here. [3]If you’re at all into Radio, it’s worth the stop.
Above all, life continues. Nothing earthshaking in this week’s missive.
But sometimes, that’s the best way to go.