Hanging up the keys

Yep. Looks like I'm going to be an ex-RVer real soon now.

My brother is buying a place for me to live. It'll also be an investment for him and a place to stay when he comes to visit. It's a .21 acre piece of land with a small, fairly new,  mobile home on it. We're in the contract's due diligence period right now and should close by the end of February.

If all goes well, we'll put a 2nd mobile on it and rent it out for a little income. There are, of course, some issues that have to be resolved (surprise surprise).

When I get fully moved in, I'll put the rig up for sale. It's been my fulltime home since March 2008 (six years! in 100sf!) so I'll be sad to see it go, but it's not likely I'll be on the road again so it doesn't make sense to keep it.

We've been "enjoying" the polar vortex here in western NC but had nothing like the nightmare they had in Atlanta. I mean we had the same amount of snow but seemed to handle it way better. Of course, we're more used to it than they are, but still! Why didn't those people just take the next exit and get off the freeway? Humpf.

Got a few things to do to the car -- valve cover gasket, power steering pump, but it's basically been a good car so far.

I'm going to try to have a space where my RV friends can stay, if they're coming through here. Let's stay in touch.

UPDATE: just deleted a religious fanatic's comment about "dying in my sins." Fine by me.

RIP

Run Run Shaw died yesterday. If you're a fan of early kung fu flicks, you know who I mean. Here's a link to an article on Buzzfeed:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnstanton/zen-and-the-art-of-run-run-shaw

RIP

Phil Everly has died.

He and his brother Don were icons of my youth. Sappy songs, sweet songs, but the harmonies -- wonderful.

Halloxmasween

Okay okay. I finally got a pic of me in a sort-of costume as Radical Red the Riding Hood. Here:

Now please don't tell me I look like the emperor in Star Wars -- his cloak thingy was black. Of course, I forgot the red around the dead fox's neck to indicate my bloody nature. But there are skulls and bones in the basket, too. And I'm holding the sword wrong. But it's as costumey as I ever get.

And happy holidays to all.

RIPs Missed

Cal Worthington, car dealer, LA area, very tall, dressed in western gear, known for ads featuring exotic animals. I'd forgotten all about him butwhen I lived in LA in the early 70s I thought he was a hoot.

Annette Funicello
Roger Ebert
Bonnie Franklin, of One Day At A Time tv series
Harry Reems, of Deep Throat
Joyce Brothers
Jean Stapleton, of All in the Family
Esther Williams -- she couldn't act worth a damn but she sure could swim
Slim Whitman
George Jones
Deanna Durbin -- I had no idea she was still alive
Ray Price

RIPs

Joan Fontaine, actress
Peter O'Toole, actor
George Rodrigue, painter (of Blue Dogs)
Doris Lessing

Been a busy few weeks.

On a personal note, nothing new has happened or is projected to happen.

Hope all have a nice holiday, xmas or otherwise. Stay home and drink on Amateur Night (New Year's Eve).

RIP

Eleanor Parker, actress

She was 91. Best known (at least to me) in her role as the Baroness in the movie The Sound of Music. She was gorgeous and had the most perfect posture I've ever seen.