I notice a lot of RV bloggers have trouble blogging this time of year.
Travel slows down, and in some cases, stops altogether. It’s cold outside and bloggers are holed up inside their rigs. Not much to write about, they lament. Gee, people, c’mon! Where’s your creativity! There’s always something to write about! Surely I’ll never fall into the dreaded Blogging Doldrums!
How pompous of me.
Today I fell in up to my neck. I make several, futile attempts to put together a blog entry. Oh, what drivel! Absolute crap! In the trash it goes!
I do have standards to keep.
Therefore, no blog entry today. Instead, the crew is taking over.
rvsue
Canine Corner: “We take over for RVSue” by Spike and Bridget
“Well, it looks like ol’ RVSue has crashed and burned, Bridge.”
“Everybody needs a little break, now and then, Spike. Try to be nice. She’s asked us to take over for her. We need to do a good job for her.”
“Yeah, and I’ve got a great idea.”
“Oh, boy, I can just imagine. What is it, Spike?”
“We post all the photos that she doesn’t want anybody to see. You know, the ones where she’s hollering at us for running out of the photo, and the ones that make her look fat, that sort of thing. It’ll be hilarious. ”
“What! Spike! No way would I embarrass RVSue like that! You’re mean.”
“Then how about photos of us?”
“NO! Don’t you dare, Spike!”
“Aw, c’mon, Babe. Maybe if we put up a slideshow of us, RVSue won’t be chasing after you so much with the camera. Besides, it’ll make the ol’ girl happy. Be a good girl, Bridge. Do this for RVSue. She’ll love it.” [slideshow]
The crew did an excellent job!
Thanks, Michelle.
Ah, Brig and Spike you sure cute!!! Love the pics and thanks for helping Sue out with the blog.
The crew didn’t let me down!
Sue: Great pictures of Spike and Bridget. Next time you can’t find anything to blog about, how about a picture tour of the BLT. Just a suggestion, but I would really like to see how you have set it up.
I’ll do that some time. Here are some past posts that contain photos of the BLT’s interior.
The kitchen:
http://rvsueandcrew.com/2012/03/20/a-clean-casita-with-a-kitchen-that-sparkles/
The bathroom:
http://rvsueandcrew.com/2012/06/24/a-tidy-town-and-a-clean-throne/
Storage:
http://rvsueandcrew.com/2011/11/06/storage-solutions/
The same thing occurred to me while I was reading this post. Thanks for asking for me! I like to see how people personalize their RVs so they look more homey.
You may be disappointed when you see the BLT’s interior. I’m all about function and clean lines. If it doesn’t serve a purpose, it doesn’t come into the BLT. I get tired of a decorated space very quickly. But i’ll take those pics for you . . .
You are so clever. I have had to step away from the computer for awhile recently so I know that feeling well, especially since we have been sitting in one place for the past couple months.
Sitting in one place does make blogging difficult. I find that the photos I take help me come up with something to write. When I don’t take photos, I can’t rely on them for inspiration.
Being at San Elijo State Beach near San Diego is lovely but one can only take so many pictures of the ocean. Give me some mountains or desert and I’m a happy gal! 🙂
And one can only take so many photos of creosote bushes and palo verde!
That is so true! 🙂
What a wonderful job Spike and Bridget………RVSue gets a much needed day off! Thanks for filling in!
Love the pic of Spike’s heiny/tail….and the one of him being a bed hog! Surely that bed isn’t large enough for all of ya’ll. But where is MOM going to sleep?
We’re a Chinese puzzle, all of us together on that narrow bed.
Hi, Sue and crew, Nice pictures..If I’m not mistaken . I think you posted a while back that you and the crew all snuggle up together and sleep in the same bed. How can that be possible on such a narrow bed ? Are you able to change positions at all during the night…(without anyone falling out,, Just curious… BTW..When the time comes I think I am leaning more towards the Liberty Deluxe model (like yours) for all the reasons you gave to me last year..Cheers Dominick
Hi Dominick,
The bed is narrow, true. I wake up a couple of times each night. I check on Spike at the foot of the bed, make sure he’s covered up and not about to fall out. Bridget snuggles up in my arms. Somehow it works! Took us a while to figure it out.
I’m very pleased with my Liberty. I think it has the most flexible layout. You can make it up to have a double bed or a queen-size bed. Some people set up for a twin bed and then modify it, using a custom mattress, so it’s a few inches wider. Nice to hear from you…
I think I would try all the different sets up first after living in one a few weeks and find out which would better suite my needs. Who knows got to get one first and see what happens… thanks for the quick response…
You’re welcome. I know what you mean. I had my Liberty set up with a double bed the first few months.
Sue, I was just looking and I see that you have been receiving about 1 thousand hits a day
So I believe It’s time for Spike & Bridget to start there own blog, I think there will be some carry over from those hits ,, So for sure they should also have “Goggle Ad Sense” so they can start to buy there own treats…
Just a thought,,, safe travels
Ha! That’s all I need… Spike and Bridget turned loose on their own blog. About the ads… WordPress says “No can do.”
You stay safe, too, John.
Am I reading this wrong or what am I missing? You certainly can have AdSense on a WordPress blog. I have many. And there are millions out there using WordPress with Adsense.
WordPress doesn’t allow it when they are hosting your blog but RVSueandCrew is on its own domain, right? You can use WordPress as your CMS and have AdSense on it. As long as Spike and Bridget have their own domain you could put AdSense on it. You must know this. What am I missing?
Yes, it is possible to put AdSense on a WordPress blog. People do it all the time. And some get yanked off of WordPress, because technically it is against the Terms of Service which every WordPress user agrees to, whether self-hosted or not. It is a very confusing issue. I’ve read discussions on WordPress forums where a rep from WP Support explains the rules and no one seemed to understand it clearly.
As Nina of Wheeling It blog says, “It’s very murky.”
I would need to set up an account with a host like Go Daddy in order to put up the ads. I doubt the income would offset the cost of the host. Mainly I don’t want to do it because I don’t feel like dealing with the issues if my blog is yanked. I’m by nature a rule follower, not a rule breaker. And I haven’t even mentioned the rules that Amazon.com places on its associates.
I don’t consider myself a rule breaker either. What you stated above is just not correct – it is NOT against their Terms of Service. I really don’t understand where this murkiness comes from.
From the WordPress.com website:
“You can run any ads you’d like if you manage your own WordPress installation. More info, including hosting recommendations, can be found at get.wp.com.”
It really is plain and simple: If your site is hosted by WordPress, then no, you cannot place any ads on it. (Even then though they will work with you and allow it under certain conditions. Mainly if you have a high traffic site.)
If your site is hosted somewhere else, you can run any ads you want.
For free WordPress hosting (and NO ads), go to WordPress.com
If you want to place ads on your site, go to WordPress.org
I’m certainly not trying to cause any trouble here, RVSue. Really just trying to be helpful (and help you make a few dollars from your work on his blog that everyone enjoys). I have no idea what kind of traffic you get… I think someone mentioned a thousand page views per day. If its in that neighborhood, I could almost guarantee it would more than pay for hosting (which is relatively cheap).
I am also familiar with Amazon’s associate program and see no reason why this blog wouldn’t qualify and be within its rules.
Again, just trying to be helpful, RVSue. 🙂 You have my email address if you want to discuss any of this further.
I understand your intent, Mitchell, and don’t see any reason to be offended.
Where I found myself jumping off the idea of ads was that part where you manage your site. There were responsibilities at that point (with a self-hosted .org site) that I know I’m not astute enough re: technology to handle. I can’t remember what those responsibilities were. I’d have to look it up. I remember my reaction… No way can I get involved with that. I’ll take another look at it.
I appreciate your confidence in my blog and in me that I could actually make money doing this. And thanks for the information. I don’t know where you found that! Everything I looked at was negative.
Great job Spike and Bridget.
P.S. You better watch out Sue. I suspect the crew may be plotting a total takeover of your blog!
I don’t know how people blog without a crew to help them out. Soon it’ll be ME helping THEM out.
I Know I had word press at one time,,,, maybe time to change…..
I dunno . . . There are things about it I like.
Good job guys!! Loved your photos…………you did your Mum proud. I see you have the same fencing for a small yard as my dogs do. Great idea isn’t it to keep two very inquisitive dogs from roaming when I am not looking. We have single beds in our van and both dogs insist they sleep with me………and I have the smaller bed………go figure!!
Hi Glenda,
I love the pen! The crew? Not so much, but they don’t fight it. I never have to stake it down to keep them in.
Lol, loved this post! When in doubt, present the pups!
Glad you enjoyed it, Lisa. My crew comes through for me!
Hi, Sue. I’ve got a slow connection tonight and the photos won’t load, but I’ll check them out tomorrow. So good to see Bridget and Spike are doing their fair share for the blog!
I’m in the blogging doldrums, too. So I’m looking to other blogs for entertainment. There’s one I follow who are going through the getting-rid-of-stuff/organizing thing so they can go fulltime in their Casita when the weather warms up. Their excitement is contagious. Reminds me of when you started your blog.
Hope things perk up for you soon! 🙂
Hi tinycamper!
For the last 6 months I have been trying to clean out my 3200 sq ft home and my 3 car garage (in Vermont) so when my house sells I can purchase my RV and become a fulltime RV’r. You mention that you have been following a site where the folks are getting rid of their “stuff”. Can you give me their site information so maybe I can get some fresh ideas on getting rid of all my stuff? I would appreciate any information you can give me.
Yeah, try http://rvsueandcrew.com 🙂 Just kidding, Krystina . . .
tinycamper . . . I’m sorry about the slideshow not working for you. I’ve purposely included posts with photos and no slideshows in some of my posts for the people with slow connection. I remember how annoying and frustrating it is to wait for something to load.
No need for things to perk up for me…. The days are great… making a blog post out of them that people want to read is the problem! Thanks for writing . . .
Great job, crew, and thanks for giving RVSue some time off from her blogging duties. The close-up photos are so cute!
Bridget turns freaky in close-ups. Her eyes change size, either bulging out or turning into little beads, and her nose grows. Strange dog.
I love Bridget’s pained expression in many of the photos… “again?” she is thinking. 🙂
BTW… some friends of mine just bought a used Casita. Just for little weekend trips as they are both working. They went just to look as they were thinking of buying a new one, but they fell in love with it and bought it. They have two dogs… a bit bigger than yours.
They’ll be very happy with their Casita. It will work fine for weekend trips, and it’s easy to store and tow. I wouldn’t recommend it for full-time living for a couple with two dogs, although it’s been done, but it’s perfect for short vacations.
Yes, full-timing isn’t something they are thinking about… it is more for short trips and visits to the grandkid(s). 🙂
Cute and helpful..what more could you want in in a crew? I just found your blog a few weeks ago and starting reading the posts from the beginning. What a lot of adventures you 3 have had! In the process of reading all these posts I’m pretty certain that I’ve fallen in love with Spike and Bridget. So you can imagine how pleased I was today to see a post not only written by them, but with so many great photos of them as well. Thanks guys 🙂
Have I given you an official welcome, Amanda? I always smile to learn that someone read my blog from the beginning. I agree . . . The crew and I have had a lot of adventures. Oh, the places we’ve been!
And I understand perfectly how one would fall in love with Spike and Bridget. They’re the best crew ever!
Welcome to our blog!
Great job crew.. Shiloh the princess & Arnold the Doxie from Canada, say hi to Bridget & Spike.
And a howdy back to your crew, Val . . .
Sue, I feel your pain. I publish a Newsletter every month and this month I had absolutely nothing to include. You’re right, it must be the time of year. Hey, you’re entitled to a break. I’m surprised you’re able to crank out as much as you do as often as you do! It’s quite a commitment. Happy camping and Happy New Year!
Same to you, Eileen! I type this as I watch another spectacular sunrise over the desert. Even so, how many sunrise photos can one post and write about?
I used to write a newsletter for a company. It was a major chore trying to get people to contribute some news. Tough job. I feel your pain.
Happy New Year RVSue! Thank you for posting all the fab photos of “the crew”. There is no way they could be more adorable! I have been following your blog for 4 months now and soooooo look forward to reading it and being with you in your new life. I am patiently (not really) waiting for my house to sell in Vermont so I can be on the road also. I am just about caught up on your past blogs and cannot believe how much we have in common when it comes to being “thrifty” in everything I do so I can save money for my new lifestyle. I also have been living in one room in my 3200 sq ft home. I am lucky in that I heat my home with wood so the oil consumption is minimal. I NEVER use my clothes dryer or hot water…unless it is for a shower. I run my dishwasher…maybe once a week…and set a timer to cancel the dry cycle…and so on. Thank you sooooo much for all your insights, your honesty, your FABULOUS sense of humor and your financial picture. I too will be traveling on about $1,500 a mo…YIKEES…but now I know that it is possible to do that 🙂 Set’s my mind at ease. Thank you again RVSue.
Welcome to my blog, Krystina!
We ARE a lot alike. I was born in Vermont. Is this the Yankee thrift we possess? Never using a clothes dryer when living in Vermont is quite an accomplishment. You know that satisfying feeling when you find a way to cut costs and squirrel away more money for your dream life. I found it addictive. The more I saved, the more I wanted to save! The reward of a life on the road is worth giving up a few things in the planning and saving stage.
One concern I’ve had is that someone would see that I live on less than $1500 a month and say, “Oh, I can do that!” And then sell their house, buy a rig, and sample a restaurant in every town they visit, pay camp fees every day, buy trinkets and pricey clothes, and so on.
You’ve got the whole picture, Krystina… It’s not just the budget, it’s how you LIVE within the budget. I have no doubt that you’ll be a successful full-timer, seeking and finding adventure wherever you go!
. . . and I love it too! Great idea, Spike! 🙂
Hi Louise!
Leave it to Spike to sweet talk Bridget into taking over! What a great job they did in selecting their pictures. Love the expressions on their faces and wondering just what they were thinking.
Spikey has a way with women.
Way to go, Spike and Bridget 🙂
In a pinch, the crew comes through.
Boy did those two cuties do great! I just want to hug them! My rattie Lucky looks like a cross between Bridget and Spike. They have huge personalities 🙂
Once a rattie owner, always a rattie owner. And when rat terriers are puppies, they are the most adorable breed. If anyone reading this doesn’t believe that, I suggest doing a search of rat terriers on Google images. I wish I had seen Bridget and Spike when they were babies. A baby Spike? I bet he was a terror!
A bark out to Lucky from the crew!
Hi from Olympia, Washington. Loved the slide show…..those kids of yours are quite the rascals. We are missing the sunshine of, for instance, the Flagstaff boondock where we metup with you after Burro Creek. Totally rainy here in our home locale. Cat Crewmembers-Ricochet Rocket and Sophia Feather say Howdy to the Terrors…..(I think they mean Terriers).
Check out http://www.washingtoncenter.org and go to their upcoming events for Jan. 19th. It is called the STUNT DOG EXPERIENCE. All rescued doggies perform stunts and amazing tricks, we have tickets. I think it might be a show you would enjoy if ever it comes to a town near you.
Diane & Beck
Mr Hank and 29 ft. Laredo 5th wheel
Hello!
I was thinking of you both the other day when I heard from Nita and John. They plan to go back to Burro Creek in March which you probably know already. I hope you enjoyed the holidays.
Oh, it’s rainy in Olympia, Washington. Doh. 🙂
Nice to hear from you. Glad that Richochet and Sophia are still your feline crew. Now I’m going to go look at the Stunt Dog Experience. Enjoy it on the 19th! I guess there’s no such thing as a Stunt Cat Experience . . . unless you count every day!
I looked . . . flaming hoops and all!
They did do a great job – wish I had 2 equally talented pooches!
On behalf of the crew, thank you, Diana. I think the most interesting dogs come from the pound!
RVSue,
As a former Arizonian, I find your posts quite interesting especially when you are residing in AZ. If your travels should take you to the ‘4 Corners’ area I suggest you find copies of Tony Hillerman’s books and read them while you are there. In March ’00 I moved to Cave Creek, AZ from Edwards, CO. A friend gave me one of Tony’s audio books prior to moving. While driving through Utah I was intently listening only to realize I was in Blanding, the town he was referring to in the book. It brought everything to life. For the next few years I traveled the same route often listening to his books. I even did side trips just to see the towns/areas mentioned in the stories. Not only did the books give me more insight to the lives of contemporary Native Americans but introduced me to an area of the country I probably would have never visited without Tony’s inspiration. The area and its people are absolutely fascinating.
Good wishes to you and the crew for safe and rewarding travels from an ex-pat in Kiev, Ukraine.
Wow! I think it’s safe to assume you are the first person to comment on my blog from Kiev!
You reminded me of the book, Coyote Waits by Tony Hillerman, that I read last year . . . Joe Leaphorn was the detective, I think. I, too, recognized some of the settings. It’s wonderful how a good story can lead us to new places and cultures. Good to hear from you, Warren.
What a couple of hams. (And no, I’m not calling them porky.) Just cute, cute, cute. Love Spike hanging out in the water!
I don’t understand Spike sometimes. He’ll soak his belly in water that is near-freezing! He’s a crazy guy. Can’t help but love him!
Bridget and Spike are always entertaining. I especially liked the picture of Bridget running away and choosing the outhouse in the woods as her new home. I recall laughing so hard when I read that posting a long time ago. The photos of them laying in the water cooling down are other favorites you included. You have two very special kids.
Hello, Beverly,
Bridget’s running away from home incident really did happen. It wasn’t “staged.” I actually did find her at the vault toilet looking down at me and our campsite and she refused to come when I called her, all as a result of my tapping her behind. I had to go up there and lead her home. And she really did sulk under the PTV. That particular Canine Corner is one of my favorites, too.