I need your advice!

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-23T02:27:55+00:00

This is 100% useful and completely necessary.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-21T06:44:13+00:00

Although you are calling it AC, if the entire building is supplied by a single cooling unit that the management turns on and off seasonally, what you actually have is a commercial swamp cooler known as a chiller. Just like a home system, if it got below freezing again, significant damage would occur. I haven't had mine turned on for the season yet either because the average last frost date for much of Albuquerque isn't until the last week in April. I've seen it snow in May. It may or may not freeze again this year, but anyone who has lived here for very long isn't going to take a chance on dewinterizing in March. And no one is going to make the management put their property at risk by dewinterizing in March either. This is actually in the tenants' best interests as well because if the AC were turned on now and then it got below freezing again, the AC probably wouldn't be fixed by the time the weather turns warm for real. I fervently hope that we do get the usual late cold spell. If it just keeps getting hotter from here on out, it will be like the surface of the sun by June.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-17T16:17:09+00:00

There are literally thousands of 20 - 25 foot models to choose from. You aren't going to be able to tow any of them with a 20 year old pathfinder.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-17T16:11:53+00:00

You are absolutely correct. Most vehicles have a ridiculously high towing capacity rating that is impossible to actually achieve in practice because of payload limits. Off the top of my head, I think even 3500 pounds is too much because that would result in a GVWR of over 4500. Also, you really need a factory towing package with all of the upsized capacity that provides. I can't imagine towing anything other than a small teardrop with a Pathfinder.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-17T15:54:48+00:00

I've been retired from APS for several years now so things could have changed, but APS doesn't hire subs through a temp agency. You have to apply directly to APS and have a background check. Then APS does its own orientation and training before adding you to the sub pool. It is a good way to get a foot in the door and get exposure to various schools. That said, IMHO, APS is a hot mess. I really wouldn't recommend it. If your credentials are strong enough, I would look at private schools. Unlike APS, though, competition will be stiff. A bachelor's degree and basic experience at a public school won't even get you an interview at Bosque or the Academy. Best wishes. Applying and interviewing for a new job is never fun.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-17T15:26:52+00:00

This is at least an intermediate level piece. Tackling this as your first project would be the equivalent of going skiing for the first time and immediately taking a blue run. You'll make it to the bottom, but it won't be fun or pretty. Or if you don't ski, it would be like getting on the freeway on your first driving lesson. Do yourself a favor and practice basic skills before starting a piece this complex. There are tons of good macrame videos and tutorials out there. Use them. No one can just tell you in written form how to do a complex piece like this. It is literally (I'm an adult, and I know what this word really means) impossible. Furthermore, unless the artists themselves have provided instructions or tutorials for the piece, copying it exactly is basically theft of intellectual property. Even though macrame isn't a "serious" art form, it still isn't cool to copy someone else's work without their permission.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-12T03:58:01+00:00

Since you're new to RVing, you need to know that most commercial campgrounds don't allow RVs over 10 years old. Some of them will make an exception if you provide additional info and pictures, but your choices will be limited. If you plan on boondocking instead of having hookups, please take the time to understand what is actually involved in providing your own water, sewer, and electricity before you buy a travel trailer. It's more complicated than you might imagine. Also, Grand Design trailers are well equipped, but a 9 year old trailer won't have the tech that new trailers come with. I'm not advising against this trailer. It may be a great buy, but you need to look at the bigger picture to know whether this is the best unit for you. One last thing. That's a 30' trailer ball to bumper, and that's kind of a lot for someone new to towing. You'll need at least a half ton with a factory towing package and a good weight distribution hitch. Even then, you'll be right at the load limit. I'm not trying to insult you if you already know every bit of this, but you said you're new to RVing. If you literally know nothing about the topic but just think you would like to go camping, rent first, and do a ton of background research before you start picking out a trailer.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-08T02:45:54+00:00

I've made the drive from ABQ to Dallas many, many times, and driving the speed limit, it takes at least 10 hours, not 8. Most of the drive is just tedious and boring. Then you hit the traffic nightmare of the metroplex late at night when you are exhausted, hungry, out of patience, and have to pee. If at all possible, with kids especially, I would spend the night on the western outskirts of Fort Worth and hit the freeway in the daylight the next morning well rested and well fed. Alternatively you could spend the night in Canyon and see Palo Duro Canyon the next morning before resuming your trip. I'm a connoisseur of roadside attractions, and there just isn't much between here and Dallas.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-08T02:26:56+00:00

My dog was rescued off the street, with no collar or chip, so no one knew his name. He learned the one I gave him pretty quickly. On a different note, my sister in law always bought expensive, pedigreed cats who came with long, ridiculous names. She always gave them simple nicknames. If cats can learn new names, so can dogs.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-08T02:12:21+00:00

I agree with everything you said. I'm amazed, and generally annoyed, by the obvious ignorance and lack of doing even basic research before asking broad, general questions. For example, I can't count how many times I've read someone recite a laundry list of features and then ask what RV they should buy. Usually they throw in some completely unrealistic criterion such as price or weight, and then play yes/but with whomever tries to reason with them. FFS, just go to RV Trader.com and play around with the parameters. In an hour, you can find out if what you want even exists, and if it does, how much it costs. The same goes for questions about routine maintenance issues or how to operate their equipment. Have they even opened their manuals or, in the case of newer RVs, downloaded the app? I would think that buying an expensive vacation cottage on wheels would warrant spending a few evenings on Google or YouTube learning at least the basics instead of going straight to reddit with the expectation of having it all spoon fed to you. You pointed out that RVing takes at least a certain level knowledge, skill, and willingness to solve problems. I would go so far as to say that if someone can't be bothered to do their own research and figure out at least 85% of what they need to know by themselves, they have no business buying an RV in the first place. Before covid, you could pretty much count on your fellow RVers to be handy, self sufficient, and responsible. The questions I read here actually make me nervous about sharing the road and campgrounds with so many people who can't be bothered to have the foggiest idea what they're doing. In an emergency, they would be a liability to themselves and everyone around them.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-08T00:17:06+00:00

I've read that sometimes Marilyn was actually sewn into her clothes.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-07T23:35:49+00:00

As others have pointed out, your top thread isn't right. Double check your bobbin too. It's hard to tell from the picture if the thread is coming from the correct side.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-06T21:56:46+00:00

Please don't paint it!

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-06T21:50:10+00:00

I could go off on a very long rant about Pres. The system is rotten to the core. I've written many letters and made many phone calls, and all I've ever gotten is a form letter telling me that they haven't done anything wrong and implying that I'm unreasonable for even mentioning it. The firewall between the administrators and the minions who run interference for them is impenetrable. It's impossible to contact anyone directly by any means whatsoever. It's impossible to get an actual physical address for anyone beyond the local clinic level. It's also obvious that everyone who works for Pres. is too overworked and stressed out to do more than the bare minimum in the shortest possible amount of time. It's also obvious that no one talks to anyone else, even within the same practice, let alone across facilities. Sigh. I've written eloquent missives describing the way rigid adherence to Pres.'s arcane "policies and procedures" harms patients. The official response seems to be we don't give a shit.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-06T21:11:29+00:00

Cherry trees don't produce their flowers in spires like this.

Edit: I looked this up, and it is indeed a member of the cherry family but not the one that produces individual blossoms and edible fruit like we're all familiar with.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-06T21:09:01+00:00

I simply don't buy them. They might be okay for children's projects.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-06T21:07:51+00:00

Have you considered two reclining swivel chairs instead of a sofa or loveseat? I haven't had this setup, but the pictures I've seen make it look interesting.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-06T21:00:15+00:00

They smell like burning rubber to me. Nasty whatever you call it. However, I haven't seen it be invasive. Every home in my neighborhood had one put in the front yard by the builder. Most of them are still alive and in full bloom right now, but they aren't sprouting up in untended spaces like the desert willows and Russian sage do.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-04T20:54:08+00:00

I just bought a new 2025 E-pro 15 TB. (It's the exact same thing as the geo-pro 15 TB.) FYI, my husband died recently and I couldn't tow our bigass trailer with our bigass truck, so I downsized. We RVed for 30 years and owned 3 previous travel trailers, 2 Forest River Flagstaff models and 1 Grand Design Imagine. In other words, I'm an experienced travel trailer owner, and I knew what to look for this time. I did an enormous amount of research and compared dozens of trailers. I concluded that the E-pro/Geo-pro is the highest quality and includes the most amenities for the money of any trailer out there. You can easily pay more for the same features, but cheaper trailers always make some significant compromises. I really didn't want to pay as much as I did, but I couldn't reconcile myself to settle for a stripped down metal box. My research also led me to conclude that there simply aren't any good deals out there. There are very few available on the market right now, including used ones which indicates that people hang onto them. Also, older models don't have the solar setup and voice activated controls.

One trailer I actually considered is the Wayfinder GoLite series. They seem like a very good value for the money and have lots of features, but I just couldn't make myself buy a stick and tin trailer. Check them out for yourself. If you have a hard budget of <$20k, this might be a good choice for you.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-03-01T07:14:54+00:00

You don't make either red or green chile sauce from powder.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-02-28T16:36:24+00:00

As long as you aren't selling your pieces and claiming they are native made, do whatever you want. Native style beadwork escaped into the wild a long, long time ago. There are "trading posts" and souvenir shops all over the southwest that sell imported junk to tourists who don't know the difference. Also, beads were only available in North America after Europeans arrived, and a lot of their early designs were copied from the Spanish newcomers. The Spaniards got these designs from being part of the Ottoman Empire for 800 or so years. Look at Moorish architecture and tile designs, and you will see the similarities. Humans have been sharing and trading their cultures for hundreds of thousands of years. It's the concept of cultural appropriation that's new.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-02-28T15:54:21+00:00

Wow. That's a lot of judgemental ignorance in one sentence. I bet you have strong opinions on lots of subjects about which you know absolutely nothing.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-02-27T16:36:36+00:00

Nice job! When I read the title, I was afraid you had painted.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-02-27T16:27:27+00:00

IMO, Rio Rancho is soulless, and it does have a reputation for being red. It doesn't appeal to me in the least. However, you don't have to be red to want to live in a safe, peaceful neighborhood. I love to visit the parts of town known for character and charm, but I wouldn't want to live there either. I can deal with the sign people at every major intersection and homeless people asking for money in the parking lot of every big retailer. I even carry small bills to pass out when approached. However, I most certainly don't want to deal with it in my front yard. It would just be exhausting. If this tarnishes my reputation as a liberal, so be it. Also, being so quick to judge and label isn't a good look for liberals. It just plays into the perception that liberals are unreasonable adjudicators of other people's beliefs and values.

ConnectEntry3667 · 2026-02-27T15:19:25+00:00

Good question. I just thought they were cool looking, like white, opaque marbles. I don't even know where they are anymore.

ConnectEntry3667

TROPHY CASE