No, I didn't forget.....

....that  I have a blog to write. 
Here is our situation:  Paul and I made our way back to the Keystone factory to get our trailer looked at for the 4th time because of a frame flexing issue.  Paul has been upset because he can see things shifting and warping.
We showed the shop manager some of what we could see happening inside, and he had someone from the company that built the frame there to look at it when they pulled the frontcap off the trailer. The bottom line is, they agreed with Paul that there is a serious issue with the trailer. There are welds that are broken, the floor is bowed, the outriggers that hold up the floor are bent, and the walls are separating.  Although it can be fixed, they have offered to help us get a brand new 2012 5th wheel.  They don't make the same model we have, so we are actually getting a slightly bigger one.
So, although it's been an extremely stressful week, we are very happy that the company is willing to help us to the extent that they are.
We should have the new trailer by the end of next week, so I'll post more then.

Al Capone's Vault-Deming, NM

More on Al Capone in a second.  First, we didn't go to Silver City NM- as usual, the weather is really putting a kink in our plans.  Silver City is at a higher elevation, and because of that, the forecast called for a low temperature of about 20-not something we are interested in experiencing on purpose.  So, instead,  we headed for Deming, NM, which is on the way to El Paso.  We stayed at another Escapees Park, although if I had it to do again, I would have stayed at the State Park-the trains were very LOUD, and so was the highway noise.  Our first day there I experienced my first major dust storm EVER (I still feel like I can taste it).

Dust storms are one of the things that we don't have back east- snow, yes, dust, no. They are one of the many differences between the eastern part of the country and the western states. I have also started to learn the names of some of the flowers and cactus that are prevalent in the west.  I can now recognize plants such as Palo Verde,  Prickly Pear, Ocotillo, and Mesquite.

Yesterday we spent the day rockhounding at Rock Hound State Park. Usually at the state and national parks you aren't allowed to take anything from the park, including rocks, flowers, even driftwood, but Rock Hound  State Park is different.  It is home to a wide assortment of stones, geodes, and quartz, and you are allowed to take them with you if you find anything you like.

       Paul and I hiked several miles, digging, looking for geodes (a hollow rock sometimes filled with crystals). So here's where we get to the part that reminds me of Geraldo Rivera when he went on live TV searching for Al Capone's Vault.  He had no idea what he was going to find when he dug, looking for the vault- he just hoped he was right, and the vault was where he thought it was.  Geodes look like regular rocks on the outside, except they are usually pretty round.  You have to cut them open to find out if there are any crystals inside.  We found what we THINK is a geode, but we haven't cut it open yet, so we could easily find out that its just a rock!  So now that I have said that, I am sure everyone is waiting with bated breath to find out if we have a beautiful geode, or a plain Jane rock. I am really curious myself. Oh, and Geraldo was wrong, so on National TV he dug a hole and found absolutely nothing.

This morning we left for El Paso, put the Everest in storage for a month , and we are back at Paul's parents' house.

El Paso, TX

A quick update, since I don't want to go too long without posting anything.  I am struggling to see, so there may be typos in my post. I went to an eye Dr. in December and ordered new glasses from Costco (we even had to re-join, just to be able to get the glasses.).  When I got them, they weren't right.  I wear progressive lenses, and my right eye was still blurry.  Anyway, back and forth several times, long story short, I just dropped off my new glasses again to get re-done, so I am making do with OLD glasses from about 5 years ago.  Can't see much.
The trailer is still at Camping World, apparently waiting for parts.  We'll go check on it before the weekend, just to make sure its still plugged into the electric outlet. When last we left it, it was in a site with full hook-up, but who knows if they moved it.  I want to sneak in to check on it, since I am happy for them to keep it as long as necessary.  We are just going to store it for a month anyway, and the longer they have it, the cheaper the storage will be for us.
Tom (Paul's brother) and Sue have come and gone.  It's been pretty sad around here, but it was good to have them here for a couple of days.  We didn't end up meeting with the doctor (long story) although the "original" Porters did have a conference call  with him on Saturday.  We also had a meeting with a Neurosurgeon today, and got some new  insight and feedback from him regarding Tom's condition. I think its going to be a very difficult  time here in El Paso.
Technically, Paul and I, and Jess are all still "Michiganders" and because of that, I have made dentist and doctor appointments for all of us in Michigan this spring.  Our daughter Jess also has jury duty in May, so we will pick her up from Ball State in Indiana, and head straight for Michigan, so she can fulfill her civic duty (at 20, she is pretty excited about it).
As for the near, and midterm future, Paul and I will book a last minute trip to Albuquerque in early Feb. for our anniversary.  I think we will shift the days since the superbowl is on the 7th, and we'd like to be back in El Paso for that.  I was very sad that Brett Favre didn't make it to the superbowl...he is "old" like us, so we were rooting for him.  I guess we'll root for the Colts, since the Patriots are out, and I kind of think its cool that 2 Manning brothers are quarterbacks (plus, Jess DOES attend a college in Indiana).
This afternoon I finished booking flights for both of our kids to meet us in Las Vegas for Jess's spring break.  Our son Stephen lives in Boston, and we booked a flight for him to meet us there for a couple of days, so all 4 of us will be together again for a couple of days.   I am soo looking forward to that.  Paul and I will take the trailer and the cat and head there, maybe leaving a little early, so we can do a little hiking along the way.

El Paso, TX

We've left Arizona behind now, and we're back in Texas, where the weather isn't quite as nice, but it sure isn't as bad as it seems to be in the rest of the country.  Lows in the 30s, highs in the low 60s, so I won't be complaining.
We got here Monday, got settled and then went to see Paul's dad in the hospital. I haven't been feeling all that great, so I haven't been to see him since Tuesday.  We did meet with Hospice on Tuesday and got some good information as to what to possibly expect in the coming months.  We are essentially in a holding pattern right now.  Tom has not improved since the accident, nor has he gotten any worse. Basically we have to wait until one of those two things happens, then we'll have a better idea of what the future holds for him.
 In the meantime, the Everest has been in the shop, with a list of things that need to be fixed.  Most are small things, but the main thing is the flexing in the frame at the front of the trailer.  Unfortunately, the repair place called Paul yesterday to say that they have tried everything the Manufacturer told them to try, and its not working.  We may have to take it back to Indiana to the factory. We should know more today or tomorrow. Other than some parts they ordered, everything else has been taken care of.
Hard to believe that we put 5000 miles on the truck in the last 6 weeks, but we did, so Paul is at the Ford dealership getting the oil changed again.
We may, in time, take a side trip or two from here, depending on how things are.  Jess (our daughter) wants to spend spring break in Las Vegas since her step sister is getting married there.  I want to try to take a trip to be there for it, since I am not interested in going 5 months without seeing Jess!


General blurb for anyone who hasn't read previous posts....


Paul and I are in El Paso with his parents. On November 30th Paul's father fell through the floor in the attic. He has no broken bones, but is currently still unconscious. We have curtailed our traveling for the time being, and will stay with his parents for as long as they need us here.

Pictures of Our new home