We had a great time visiting with Pete, JB, and their 3 daughters, Collier, Lilly, and Margaret (ages 6, 3, and 1 respectively). Christmas was very different than we are used to, which usually involved a bunch of adults that got together, exchanged some small, either meaningful reminders of our lives or gag gifts that we all get a good laugh over (usually at someone’s expense). This year was all about family getting together, tracking Santa on the internet until about 10pm, then the frenetic opening of dolls by the kids in the morning. Oh, and there were some adult gifts that were exchanged on the side. And, to our surprise, Santa did find us even though we were on the road! We ended up also spending New Year’s in Athens. We spent an early New Year’s Eve with friends Del and Vicky, then spent New Year’s Day with the Stevens and Bowdoins and assorted friends. By this time the dogs were very used to life with kids, and all three had identified The Food Source, aka Margaret, who is always good for either a handout or something yummy (to dogs and little kids at least) dropped or spilled.
The three dogs discovered The Food Source, aka Margaret
Since we were trying to contact BAHA (for dog import papers to get into Belize) and a customs broker over the holiday, responses were a little slow. We finally go the dog papers faxed on Wednesday from Belize via Pete and JB’s friend Monica, and vet Glenn, another friend, did a thorough examination of the dogs for their final USA vet check and certification papers (glad Marge and I don’t have to get papers like that!). We also had to wait for Nock’s biopsy results, which fortunately came back with good news the day after New Year’s, a two week wait due to the holidays – nothing malignant, but if she gets more lumps in the future we should get them removed.
I (Tom that is) put in a couple of days of work with Del on a kitchen, helped install his fence for his pups, and worked on his garage reorganization. I also helped Pete put in a set of shelves in their laundry room, reorganize HIS storage shed, and worked with JB on setting up their company books on the computer. See any patterns here? I am still trying to get everyone in the world organized!
Pete and I also took the truck over to his buddy, Mike Horsman’s, garage (which Pete built) to do an oil change, change some filters, check the brakes, rotate the tires, and get a quick once over prior to setting off from the East Coast. Mike was very impressed with the work that had been done by Aaron Bunce, our mechanic from Honeoye, NY, and how it was obvious that whoever had worked on the engine had cared about making sure that what was done to the truck would last for our trek to the jungle.
Mike’s background is in working on BMWs and other imports and he currently restores MGs, Jags, and small sport cars, mostly for people to race around the countryside in. It was strange that we had to push 2 cars around, by hand, to make room in the shop for the truck. We could have put any one of his projects in the back of the truck.
I also tried to caulk the roof of the camper, but in spite of trying to fix the leak in the roof of our “home” we still need to tarp the roof to prevent showers in the “front hall” when it rains. I did manage to use an air compressor to get all the dead bees’ nests out of the exhaust tube for the water heater, so now we won’t have flames crawling up the side of the “house” when we want hot water.
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