Schedule Switch!

After this update its once a month, i'll see yall every Weds!

Everyones KungFu Fly-ighting

LifeOfAGamingArtist.BlogSpot.com

It WILL FIT!

LifeOfAGamingArtist.BlogSpot.com

Moving Day

LifeOfAGamingArtist.BlogSpot.com

Storage Janga

LifeOfAGamingArtist.BlogSpot.com

Mental Break

LifeOfAGamingArtist.BlogSpot.com

Pack It Up

New Year, New Plug!

New Year, New Plug!

Oh yah, im starting a new schedule this year so while I get into the swing of it Im going to throw filler at you!  I mean.. Great Content.. :P

The Twice a week Updates will keep going Till the end of January.  But after that, its changing to once a month and i'll randomly be throwing Comic Pages in place of Text because its a Slice of life Comic and its about us living.. HERE!  In a Tin can! :D

So the next few updates are going to be the comic pages detailing our crazy ride here... Which you've already read about.  There will be 4-5 of them.

If you like the comments, check out the weekly updates here:  LifeOfAGamingArtist.BlogSpot.com

If you have questions or topics you wanna discuss then feel free to pop a comment below or send me a email at SouthernBelleArtShop@gmail.com with the Subject Line reading "Mutts Talk."

Till Next Time my Pretties!

Linda

Our First Christmas as a FAMILY!

Our First Christmas as a FAMILY!

YAP!  Sal and I married on the 31st of December so this was our offical first christmas...

Oh my lord, gift buying.

What do you get someone with limited interest and no space?

Well, I got him a handmade keychain (some for mother unit, and both were ADORABLE!).  But our Anniversary is coming up too!  EEK!

They both got me some POSCA paint pens and copics respectively.  I loved it, they loved theirs, everyone was happy and hunky dory.

We had Homemade fries with Chopped Steak. (Traditional is double the cost, too many leftovers, and just too long.. 1 lb steaks and heaps of fries a piece will still give a food coma but be cheaper.  You see how we spend our holidays?)  And then we watched Christmas movies.  Moms first time seeing Meet the Kranks.

Dogs all got giant gator chewies from pet sense.

It was a happy day!

Now im going to go flip the gas.  Because holy crap, it got cold.  Jumped from 60-70s down to 30s in like 2 days.  Burr.  I like the cold, but the blubber needs time to adjust!

Linda

Happy New Years!

Anniversary!  Oh, and Have a awesome New Year!

Heres my get of jail free card, its my anniversary.  One Year of Wedding Blis--Uh... Not killing each other!  What?  We love each other but we also desire to kill each other.  If thats not love, I dont know what is!  (No comments, either, the fairy tail crap is for Disney!  Real Life is finding someone you can want to kill but want alive more.)

Seriously, my lifes a open book, see more about our relationship and life by checking out the webseries I run LifeOfAGamingArtist.BlogSpot.com  Its a slice of life, comical comic and updates every Friday.  Boom.  ^.~  #ShamelessPlug

SO!  I've shown my crazy, im going to enjoy my time today.  I hope the rest of you have a awesome New Years Eve, hope your not too hungover tomorrow if your a drunkard tonight!

Linda

Holidays!

Holidays!

Recount of Family Holidays (We have our Christmas with the family early!)

So!  On a lighter note, here holiday news!

Thanksgiving was super... awkward.  First time i'd seen most of the family since.. well, 4 years.  Christmas was much better.  Sal wasnt sick and joined us so I had someone I could actually talk to (What?!  its a damn 9+ year gap between me and everyone else!)

My 2 youngest cousins, dear lord they look like bloody twins.  I heard their mother get them mixed up a time or two.  You wouldnt believe there was a 3-4 year difference.  Similar hieght, size, voices are pretty close too...  Its uncanny.  But who knows, both are still in Middle school, there is atleast 1 more good growth spurt, one might end up 6'8" and the other hangs about 5'6" (speaking of which, they are both about 5'3" and they are enjoying not being the shortest.  My grandma and their mom has that honor now.)

My oldest cousin (like 9 years younger then me still.. Yah, im old) is in high school and shes trying so hard to push out of the kid circle and be a "adult."  I say shes dumb, enjoy the kid circle, the adults are boring.. xD  But Christmas she decided it was more fun talking to the younger adults (aka us) since we hung out with the kids to eat and chat.  We actually talk back to her and talk about things besides the basic "Hows school, what grade you in now?"  Trust me kid, I hated those too.  And I was the only grandchild for 9 years and got asked what grade I was in every year still.

The 2nd oldest is just getting to high school and hit that "Im too cool/this is so dull, why am I here?" phase.  Sucks for her, I make a living out of busting people out of that.  I made her crack a smile atleast 6 times and I think she hated me so much for it.  But hey, what can I say?  I cant stand seeing people upset!  Plus, making people laugh is one of my few talents.

And im so sorry to my aunt!  I think I beat her out for being the mac and cheese maker.  Grandma loves mac and cheese and I just have a great recipe.  Usually we had to bring rolls and stuff cuz we lived so far away, but now were the closes so we can actually offer cooked goods.  Though my cooked dishes didnt get much love.  Next gathering im just making a quick sheet cake.  Everyone loves cake.  And no one can beat my cakes!

But Thats about all of interest that happened unless you wanna hear about my mom and her siblings arguing over a lunchbox and them going through pictures.. Or how my entire family thought I bought my christmas cards.. *eye twitch*  even though the image has my signature.. And website... And character..

Im going to stop there... x.x

Linda

Merry Christmas!

Well, F.

Well, F.

(Recount November 6th)

So, Everything is fixed but our Conman- Oh wait, I mean "Repair guy" didnt turn in our claim.  Why?  Because hes not a legit business anymore and required we pay him cash only because a military bank isnt a "good enough bank, sorry."  We were so frazzled... We did it.  Were out 1,500 and looking to take him to court.

Dont pay for cash on anything.  Ever.  Tell them to go F themselves, Check, Credit, or nothing.

And now they blocked our numbers too, kind of them, huh?  Well, he can be served.  Because the IRS is slow about a lot of things, but they are quick to come after any dumbass that doesnt pay taxes and they will do some serious searching into your accounts, especially if its a reliable source... Like someone with almost 15 years experience in tax prep.  Karma is a C U Next Tuesday type of girl.

So short update this time.  I'll have maybe one more Recount Day then im starting on the happening here and now.  So, Yap!  Sorry this was a bitchy post, but man I hate this shit.  When someone struggles to get by as it is, screwing them out of almost 2 months of income isnt a drop in the bucket.  And im not a vindictive woman by nature, but I mean really... I've got no patience for conartist.

So Jeff Pickett, running a Mobile RV Repair "business" (No license mind you, so if you value your warrenty or want insurance money back)  You and Cyberpower PC are the biggest piece of shit and can both burn. ^_^

Living it Up but not Prepared!

I was not Prepared!  *Queue Illidian Meme*

After living here a few weeks we've found things we still needed...

1. InstantPot

We got rid of our crockpot knowing we'd buy one of these.  Everyone recommends them and after some research it'll be nice for quick rice, slow cooking, water bath canning, makes yogurt, and quick cooking.  Plus I can use it outside in the summer to keep it cooler inside.  :D

2.  A Grill

Yah, we didnt have one and wont this year but it might be nice to get one for summer.  If im really into my instant pot we might not get one.

3.  Reverse Cast Iron Griddle

We live near a Lodge Factory so we waited to buy one!  I have a 2 piece skillet that becomes a dutch oven, a small cast iron pan, and a large pot for noodles/tea.  It'll also be a great Cookie Sheet/Pizza pan so, yippie!

4.  TV Mounts

It shakes so naturally we need mounts for our two TVs to keep them in place so I already found elbow mounts so they can be pulled out and seen from the couch and one for the back room so Mom can see on her bed.

I personally love having my monitor on a mount that moves so I know having the TV on one (especially since flat screens are impossible to watch at too much of a angle) will be awesome.  It'll be like a mini Movie theater once we set up the reading nook (yes, im going to make a reading nook/canopy bed out of the couch... Dogs love hidie-holes and it'll be human sized!)

5.  Popcorn popper

Not a need but we love movies so I got a cheap air popper bowl for our microwave so it can be healthier and we can control the size.  We had a nostaliga one from Bella before we moved and were quite fond of it so it'll probably get use once a week atleast especially when you see the next one...

6.  Projector

I need one for work but for a little more and we can play vids on it too!  We cant afford it right now but its on my list!

7.  Camera

We wanna vlog so we need something better then my old phone for recording, plus taking photos.  Thats $300+ for a half decent one with video.

8.  More Storage Helpers

For our closets and for the desk, I might get a few more for the pantry like pull out drawers.

9.  New Mic and Games

Hah, I need a mic for streams and Sal wants more games.  Hes the RV gamer after all!

10.  Outdoor Furniture

We have room for a "Patio" outside the doggo fence, we brought our table so we decided a small sectional, maybe a chair, and I want a bar for me to use during prepping!

11.  Slide Jacks

Yah, maybe what we need most and were dumb for not having it yet but we DID order them!  Were waiting on them to arrive as of the time I typed this.  True its been almost 3 weeks but better late then never.

So not all of its camper themed, hah, but its 100% true we want/need!  So thats our list.

What would You want to buy for your camper stay?  any item you know you'd not be able to go without?  Let me know below!

Linda

Living La Vida Loca!

(October 20th)

So now were fixed..!  Oh wait..  Nope.  Our Tub is falling in and our toilet still leaks!  Ah, and our Oven doesnt work.  Gotta fix that one.

The repair guy came by for the 4th time and... Another Factory issue.  There is NO support under our tub.  Yap... Another factory defect.  There is no support or foam under there.  He was shocked it hadnt fallen in during one of the total of 6 showers we'd been able to have in here in our almost 3 weeks of being here.

Its just.. Yah.

We got a lemon, a true lemon.  Were very upset..

FML was meant to be Full Moon Lunatics but its going back to F My Life... x.x

And yet... im STILL happier here!  I mean really, what can a girl do?  Its all gotta look up at some point!  And I still have AC, im still happier here, especially now that my desk is mostly set up!  ^.^ 

Josh is very upset, his game system isnt hooked up yet so hes bored to death.  Mom is just mom.

Dogs like it now.  Wiggles has claimed the dinette under the desk, Lily loves the bottom bunk, River and BB move about enjoying different spots, Hoss has a happy place right next to me on the pillow bed he picked out (cute story, i'll have to tell you next time!), and Prince isnt still but he sleeps at night with me and Josh in the big bed, he loves it.  Oh and the playing!  The whole thing is rocking as they run like fat squirrels bouncing off EVERYTHING!  It like a jungle gym to them.

So ups and downs aside, its a happy time.

Once we get everything settled in and fixed i'll have to do a tour, maybe some vids and vlogs.  Longer post especially, hah... When im caught up and not recounting some from memory... Plus not much exciting to say when your just unpacking and settling, yah know?

So, till next time! 

Linda

Settling in and breaking down!

(Recount of Day by Day October 15th)

OKAY!  So 5 days in, our tanks dropped (They werent bolted in correctly...) Or camper has flooded 4 times, defected valve, plumbing wired wrong, defective toilet...  All of this being manufacturer issues.. That Camping world should of caught.

Were not happy campers because we've not had Sewer or Water for 10 days... 

Upside?  I dont mind washing stuff outside and going to fetch water.  Its not the best way to do things but me and Josh are both adjusting and okay to it because we can GET water.  The worse part has been the lack of Internet!

Yah, we were set to have charter come out and day of install, no one even calls to say "Oh yah, we cant help you."  No, I had to CALL the next day and say "WTH happened?"

So yah... We got to the Library every few days to download stuff off prime, upload work, and check emails.  Now that is upsetting as a gamer...

Upside?  I found unlimited Internet via satellite but we gotta get $500 for a dish but free install!  And $100 a month, more then we were paying, so ouch.  But hey, better then nothing?  Plus unlimited!

So.. Mixed feelings on everything overall.

Overall im still happier here even with all these issues because it was really bad at the house and this is mine, it was mine first, I paid for it (Well, still am..) and im just happier in a smaller space, its more fitting for me!

I'll catch yall around again another day with more updates, ive almost caught yall up on everything!  It might be Nov-Dec before you see this due to the lack of Internet but were getting closer.  ^.^

Linda

It wont fit? Is that a challenge?!

(Recount Day by Day, Oct 5th)

So moms gone, im sitting in here loving the AC, barely able to move with all the doggos piled on me, and trying to unpack.

Long story short, dont doubt me.

But you can fit SO MUCH in a camper!! I didnt even use all the storage.

Above the couch went Lillys sweaters, bandanas, the gloves, scarves, and winter hats.

Under the bed all my unneeded Art supplies that I couldnt use or didnt need for commissions.

Under the Dinette benches, Food in one, Art in another, and in the back one our computers sit on, stuff we needed to have on hand but dont need.. Like old tax returns, paperwork, photos, extra spices and jars, ect.

The pantries.. There is 2 whole shelves of BB and dog meds because BB has a insane regiment!  Then a shelf of batteries and other such things that you need.  Plus some of our meds.

The other Pantry has all the foods with the top most drawer being coffee and teas.

Closets have rolled up clothes till I can buy a organizer that fits.

Her side has one bunk holding her PC, Printer, 2 sets of drawers, and extra heaters that we dont need yet.  The other bunk is suppose to be for sleeping, but shes on the bottom with the dogs.

You get the idea.. xD  The entertainment centers, under couch, about micro and fridge, and above our beds.  Im also getting a set of shelves for the dinette to put my sketchbooks and copics because things are everywhere when I work so organizing is key.

Needless to say it was such a hard road.. But Im so much happier here, getting free of that house, having it be final.. Its wonderful.

Till next time!

Linda

LOAD UP!

(Day by Day Recount, Oct 4th/5th)

so the van is half full to the top...  We threw Josh in the back, River crawled in, Wigs crawled in... and that was all the space we had.. Oh.. Crap.  Its too late to make 2 trips there and back and the house is EMPTY and belongs to them in just 3 hours and its a 3 hour trip there.. Oh yah..

So.. Next I put in Prince, hes tiny and he fits in Josh's lap!  Next Hoss.  Its really tight... 2 dogs to go..  So I say "Hey lets let BB sit up front with us, she loves Driver seat"  That got shot down and Lily was too nervous for the back.. So we put BB in the back and long legged Lily sat in my lap...

Well the 3 hour trip too almost 6 hours as my mom drove EXTRA slow... and 1 hour it, know what happens?  This blue bin my mom just threw stuff in topples right on the dogs while were driving  I want her to pull over but what will we do?  I cant stop all 5 dogs, Josh is half buried in dogs and junk and its just a bad time.. So we keep going and he feels around.. The dogs are scared but okay.  (We wont even talk about Lil and her issues with this whole thing..!)

Well... This keeps up till we get there and I turn to look and say "Wheres Wiggles?!"

You know why they suddenly fit with a big bin fell?  Wigs got covered in blankets, BB SAT on him, and Hoss stood over him. For 6 HOURS.

So when I opened the door I saw Wigs under BB and he practically rolled out of the car with BB on top and Hoss happily stretched...

And heres Tucker.. My grandpas puppy barking his butt off, waking my grandparents..  So they come out at 3 am to see us.  Well, I did tell them we'd see them that morning.. Aha...

So we are all so tired we unload 1-3 dogs at a time, let them pee, and take them in the camper which is a very difficult feat since the lowest step is 2 ft off the ground because its unlevel ground and the blocks were leveled for the camper but that meant raising it... We lifted all but River and Lily who just jumped up and went right in (thank goodness they'd seen the camper before) and went straight to the couch to lay down.

Wiggles was the worse... 100 pds of blubber squirming around and too long for one person to get... and we were all so tired so it was hellish because we had to lift him almost 4 feet up because he HATES the camper steps.

And then hauling ourselves up...  I wont lie, I crawled in and collapsed after I dragged myself up the 3.5 ft climb into my bed which was more then twice as high as my old bed...  And I was out cold in 2 seconds.

It was 3 am, I was done.  I slept till maybe 6 am.

Then the dogs had to be taken out, and then we had to unload the van.  Josh filled the bathroom while I tried to unpack... There was 40 boxes, it took time.  Especially with the dogs piled on me, scared i'd leave because my mother dearest had left to talk to my grandparents and do payroll.

So Josh just unloaded onto the ground so she could take the van back before they charged us a extra day.  She came back the day after...

Just talking about this makes me hurt, oyie...

We'll stop this episode of bad memories till next time when we talk about unpacking...

Linda

Wait... You want WHAT?!

(Day by Day Recount Sept 29th)

So we hired these individuals recommended by the storage owner who said they'd work for $10 a hour... We called and called till we finally got them... Which was not easy.  They wanted $50 a hour.. Yah no, your unemployment didnt mean you were worth more then the professionals that covered damage to our stuff.  So they wanted $25 (keep in mind they wanted this for EACH PERSON and there was 3 so from $150 a hour down to $75)  Still no.  Two men and a truck was $50 a hour for 2 guys... so we told them $200 in cash 5 hours.  They took it...

Well the day comes and... Guess what detail they didnt mention?  We were suppose to provide a trailer or Uhaul..  Wait, what?  EXCUSE ME?!  You want us to go RENT a Uhaul or trailer when we pay you to move us?  They didnt even have a truck it was sedan!  And they tell us 30 minutes before we meet up with them when mom calls to confirm the meeting "Oh right, bring the uhaul with you" and naturally... She was ticked.. I was ticked.  Josh was ticked...  Dont forget a HUGE detail like that and then drop a bombshell.. just.. UGH!

So we call 2 men in a truck.. Lady one tells us travel is free!  Thats great, because they are a hour a way so it saves us $100.  Call cuts out, call back... Did you know they got commissions off setting orders?  Yah... The new lady refused to honor that free travel because if they charge it she gets a extra $10... and we say we need them for 2 hours and she keeps insisting "No, for a whole house you need them atleast 7 hours with travel!" 

Like really... We told you we only want them 2 hours to move really heavy things just across the road.

THEN she says WERE being angry and unreasonable when we were actually quite calm thinking "Whatever, we just want it done."  Oh yah.. after the last month hell broke loose...

Needless to say.. Mom spent a few hours cussing out people while I looked for possibly options.  Luckily my Dad and uncle came by for their part of the estate and old things that were in attic... Hello free movers!

So my dad and uncle spent 3 days straight helping us move stuff to storage, taking stuff to their place, and what have you... We were doing that till Oct 4th (the day we were leaving) at 5 pm before they bailed...

So we went and got the van and used it to move the last of it and then we loaded all the camper stuff which was half the van (Phew!).. Then cleaning.. More break downs... We all thought we'd grab some dinner on the way... Hah nope, its now 9 pm and were just starting to load the dogs...  Mom looks at me and says "All the dogs can fit!"  and you know what.. it wasnt easy...

But we'll go into that hell next time...!

Is this fate?

First off, happy Cyber Monday may the deals be ever in your favor.. Next

(Day by Day Recount Sept 25th)

Back to the drawing board so to say..  So this older guy comes in and he has NO interest at all... Then the next day we find out he reps a rental company and he wants to inspect under the house...  We say sure and his guy shows up and says its not that bad, confirming the bitch was lying (we figured since she refused to even let us see that report that claimed sewer leaks, 100% rotten beams, and mold...) So we sold it to the rental company!

They were very nice and professional but wanted us out by the Oct 3rd which was barely 5 days.. Aha.. We would have done it but ironically, we had a Dr excuse!  Josh had a Drs appointment on the 3rd and the camper was too far for us to take the dogs and get him there on time so we said we'd be out by the 5th.

So... Let the packing frenzy begin!!

We worked 18 hours a day packing EVERYTHING and getting boxes.  We also got ourselves set to rent a cargo van for moving Camper boxes and the dogs!

We also decided even though we would barely pay off the loan we'd splurge for movers... That was... Yah..

Its a short update I know, but I feel like the moving itself should be saved for its own update because... Yah.

Spoilers:  When I say I didnt eat or sleep more then 3 hours a night for a week, I mean it.  I was running on fumes, I broke 4 toes, threw out my back, had horrible lesions on my heels, and I was breaking down mentally every 4 hours.  It was a horrible experience all around and it was getting worse.

Linda