Bought a Bike

 First thing this morning I went to the bank to pay the second and last installment on my property taxes.  Glad to have that out of the way.  On the way home I stopped by Monster Pawn to take a look at their used bicycles.  I have several bikes the kids have left at the house over the years, but they are speed bikes that are positioned such that you are either looking down as you pedal along or bend your neck to look down the road.  I have arthritis in my neck so it causes me pain to bend my neck in that way.  I want to be able to see what is around me as I pedal down the road without pain.

They had one dirty blue and white slightly rusted six speed bike with high handle bars that worked perfectly but looked bad.  I gave the guy $40 bucks and put it on the bike rack behind the jeepster and off I went.  Brought it home and for the first time since I can remember, I washed a bike.  After removing the grime and rust it came out looking almost new.  It looks great I must say!  Not ashamed to put it on the bike rack now.

I bought the bike rack from Amazon.com several weeks ago.  It is a Yakima two bike rack and the color matches my jeep – black and silver.  It is a very sturdy rack that attaches to the spare tire and looks very nice.  I am now ready to take the MH to the Southwest, the jeep will get us to the remote places and the bike will take me deep into the interior before I have to start walking. 

I think I have all the transportation I need now.

My Part-time Job

I started a second small-time career when I took a mobile pro position at Advance Auto Parts in Normal, Illinois. I had been retired from State Farm for less than a year and I was getting tired of staying at home each day.  I needed to do something.  A friend of mine that worked at Advance put in a good word for me and in April, 2008 I started my new career.

Not much thinking involved and very little stress.  Just the way I like it.  I take parts from the store to garages around the Bloomington-Normal area.  Use their car, listen to the radio and drive on someone else’s dime.  Can’t beat that!

I only planned to work till Dolly quit her job.  She quit in 2011, but I am still working.  My boss at the time I started said I would still be working five years later and I said “No way!”  Well here it is 5+ years and I am still at it. 

I am close to the end now.  This December or very early January, Dolly, Fergie and I will be on a three month RV trip through the Southwest.