Monday, January 6, 2020

Sushi With Dino....

Week 3 in the desert was our best yet weather wise. Sunny days with highs in the 60’s brought smiles to everyone’s face in our little desert community. People often ask “Don’t you get bored out there in the desert?” Our answer is “No”. 

So far we have been content not doing too much. I initially thought that maybe we would be discontented without a project to work on every day. But we have adjusted just fine relaxing and just enjoying the down time. That is the beauty of the being here with friends; you can do as little or as much as you want. No judgements, no questions.

We went to Yuma this week with Dino and Lisa to explore a couple of the flea markets. That was really a bust as the two we went to were lame. The highlight of our trip was going to Ninja Sushi for lunch. Barb and I make a point of stopping here when we are in the area. 

The bonus is that we were able to share it with Dino and Lisa. Since it was buy one get one free we each ordered two, sat back and waited for our orders. When they came Lisa, Barb and I dug right into our sushi using the chopsticks provided. Dino, was another story. It was both sad and entertaining trying to watch Dino struggle with the chopsticks as his gnarled arthritic ridden hands fumbled with the sticks. 

He would try and grab a piece and totally miss. Time after time after time he would poke his chop sticks at his plate and come up empty handed. It was like he forgot he had opposable thumbs as he would poke and jab at the sushi. Then the one time he did finally connect with a piece he crushed it like grape and nearly send it flying on the table behind is in a mad effort to get it to his mouth!

We were ½ way done with our rolls when he finally stopped the waitress and asked for a fork. The waitress brought a fork and a cellophane wrapped chopstick cheater called Fun Chops that they apparently give to toddlers who have not perfected the use of chopsticks. 
With renewed enthusiasm Dino tore into that cellophane wrapper like a man possessed. For the next minute and a half we watched him trying to open the apparently “Dino-proof” package before Lisa ripped it from his hands, opened it and handed it back to him. Dino attached the chopsticks and began stabbing at this sushi again with the same result. 
Fun Chops, not so fun for some!
Maybe if he didn’t have arthritis it might have been easier but for some reason I doubt it would have made a difference. Since the rest of us were now done with our lunch and were just watching him with tears streaking down our faces. Barb and I from laughter, Lisa on the other had....she was just silently crying. He finally picked up his fork and finished his meal. Well, most of it, as by the time we left there was sticky rice all over the table, on the floor and I think each of us had some in our hair from Dino’s flailing chopstick routine.  We were so traumatized, Barb, Lisa and I are now in counseling trying to work through what we experienced. Some things you just cannot unsee….. 

Saturday morning Barb and I packed up our belongings and left our desert family and headed to a new location closer to town right along the highway in the hopes of getting better visibility to potential buyers. We lowered the price as well and are now less than a mile from town right on Highway 95. A lot noisier!
View from the road. Our rig is above the truck

View into town

Barb building a fire pit
Since moving over here we have had a lot of interest in the rig. With a couple people coming back for a 2nd walk through and one has been over 3 times! Several people have said it was priced too low but we have had it on RV Trader for almost two months, listed it on about every Facebook Marketplace we can think of, Craigslist in Phoenix and Las Vegas and every bulletin board in town and not one call. Yet it takes moving it by the road to get people to see it? I thought this was the age of technology!?!?!

We also had a surprise visit from blog followers Butch and Dona. We had met them a couple years ago while on a walk when Butch walked up to us and asked “Is that Daisy?” Apparently she is more recognizable then us! 
Fellow RV'ers and home builders Butch and Dona
We have a lot in common with Butch and Dona. They both love bow hunting, both travel in their RV and are in the process of self-building their own house in South Dakota as well! We chatted for well over an hour before they needed to head back. We traded contact information so we could stay in touch in the future. 

Arriving this week were friends Guy and Sue as well as Cindi and Roger. We had not seen Guy and Sue since this past spring and summer when they spent several weeks at our place helping out prior to their work camping gig managing 6 campgrounds outside of Hill City. Roger and Cindi was even longer than that but again in South Dakota when they stayed on Jim and Brenda's property next door for a couple of weeks. 
Guy, Sue and Barb

Roger and Cindi
With luck next post will be about us selling our rig. In the meantime we will sit here by ourselves trying to attract potential buyers. It will be different not being with our friends but we have been over for a couple of happy hours to catch up on the latest gossip in the desert!

30 comments:

  1. We'll have to try that sushi place when we are next in Yuma. I'm about as capable with chopsticks as Dino, so I'll be asking for the 'cheater' as well!
    Have you tried dressing in a clown outfit and waving a sign by the side of the highway? That should get folks looking......but maybe not at the rig.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The clown outfit might just be the ticket, I will see if Barb will wear it!

      Delete
  2. I like how they made the Fun Chops day-glo green, so everyone in the restaurant knew Dino was chopstick-challenged. The poor guy deserves a steak dinner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He does not deserve a steak dinner! If he did, it would be chop steak at best.

      Delete
  3. Poor Dino ... going to Sushi Places is a great weight loss choice for him even if it was unintentional. lol Good luck that your rig is soon sold and money in the bank. Great seeing you guys again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Never thought of it as a weight loss program but you just might be right!

      Delete
  4. LOL!! Poor Dino, hope he's over the trauma of chopsticks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Poor Dino?!?!? We were the ones that had to watch him and experience it!

      Delete
  5. Thanks for my morning entertainment. Poor Dino! Fingers crossed you get the rig sold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be bittersweet, it has been a great rig for us!

      Delete
  6. Now that was funny :) I have had trouble before but not like that. Good thing you're so sympathetic lol. Sounds like you are getting more interest in your rig with the new spot. Hope it sells for you, waiting to find a deal is frustrating.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Truth be told, I struggle with them as well but not quite that bad!

      Delete
  7. Good luck on getting the rig sold! It certainly is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for that. I am back in therapy now that I had to relive the horrible episode again. I may have gotten PTSD from it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I always love your posts when you and Dino are together. Video or pics would have been the icing on the story!! Glad you are getting some foot traffic on the RV. It's a great rig and will make someone a nice home!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pictures would have made horrifying for everyone who reads the blog and that just would spread the misery!

      Delete
  10. And all this time I thought sushi was finger food! Sending positive vibes that the right buyer sees your rig and takes out the checkbook!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I (Steve) have to admit that Im not that great with the sticks either...especially rice. A rather primitive way to eat...right Dino?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe we will have to take you next time!

      Delete
    2. You are right Steve. I would rather stuff food into my pie hole with a miniature shovel and pitchfork. Then lick my fingers when I am done.

      Delete
  12. They say Exposure and I'm not talking about you taking your clothes off. will sell anything. Expecting your rig to sell before the Big Tent Event opens.
    Be Safe and Enjoy your friends.

    It's about time.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dino has probably been scared for life. Poor guy! Sushi will never be the same for you four. Sure hope the rig sells now that you have some interest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think in the future he will just ask for the fork right away and eliminate any chance of additional trauma.

      Delete
  14. I don't know, but I've heard that standing on top of your rig while wearing a bathing suit will get you all kinds of attention. Perhaps not the kind of attention you want, but you know what they say: "there's no such thing as bad publicity." :)

    Good luck!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps while playing a guitar!?!?! Trust me, that would not bring anyone in.

      Delete
  15. I think you still have some rice in your hair! I'm sure Dino would improve with more practice or maybe just bring a spoon at the beginning next time, it would be easier for everyone.
    Hopefully the new location helps in your quest to sell. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete