Special Edition!

Oh yeah!  I am indeed the proud owner of a Special Edition.  There may have been other Special Editions in my checkered past but none come to mind at the moment.  This could be a first!

The SE's predecessor slipped out of my hand and went splat on the unforgiving tile floor.  Post splat, it started and stopped, operated at half speed, obviously circling the drain and primed for owner assisted suicide.  I obliged, tossed it into the waste basket.

Went online, checked the usual suspects for a replacement: Amazon, Walmart, etc, seeking (as always) the biggest bang for the buck.  Couldn't believe the number of models - and prices - out there; Amazon had 37 models with prices ranging from $15 to $220.  Gotta wonder about the high-end models: do they do the job better - faster, deeper, harder?  I doubt it.  But hey, they include a branded charging glass with USB cord!  Whoop-de-freakin'-doo!

Ended up going to Walmart which had 8 models in stock, $25 - $190, including aforesaid USB model.  And, the SE.  Wow!  Special Edition!  In stock!  Only $40!  Tossed that puppy into the cart and boogied on to toilet paper, coffee filters, bananas, blah, blah, blah.

Okay, I've made you wait long enough.  Here it is.  Eat your heart out!  You may be wondering what makes the SE so S.  Me too.  Looks exactly like the one I gave Trish for Christmas except for color; her's is blue.

Yep, it's a Sonicare toothbrush, been using them for decades, great little machine except for the built in dumb-ass features: beeps at 15 seconds, stops at 1 minute.  Those irritating features may be helpful in training a 5-year old but I'm a 2-minute kind of guy.

Reflection, Part 2

The Reflection is a quantum leap above the Cougar in amenities and conveniences, not a Rolls Royce but definitely a high-end Buick.  Of course, the major thing for Trish is that the color goes well with the new truck.  Well ......maybe not THE major thing - but it's right up there.

The interior is more tastefully done than was the Cougar,which boasted Early French Whorehouse decor (it didn't boast for long though; I ripped out the curvy valances and window side wings the minute Trish gave me the go ahead.)  Conveniences the Cougar lacked include a high powered exhaust fan with wall-mounted control panel, automatic leveling (a biggie), convection microwave.

Amenities include heated recliners, and, would you believe, an electric fireplace?  At first, we thought what a joke, a fireplace for cripes sake.  Now, we're thinking Oh Yeah, crank that puppy up and take off the morning chill!  It's located below the TV.

It's 31' long, a hair longer than the Cougar but has more floor space - 3 slides instead of 1.  The dry weight's about the same, 8K and change, more aluminum, less wood.

This being our 4th RV, we know the drill when it comes to upgrades and enhancements, and we start slapping them on right away.  For the last several days we've had daily deliveries of goodies from Amazon, etrailer, et al.

Now, I'm in install mode: single control bathroom faucet and shower valve, paper towel holders in kitchen and basement, 2 propane gas gauges, 3 entry step covers, 2 closet shelves, extra sewer hose storage tube, screen door grille and handle, 3 roof vent covers, 2 level indicators, fridge fan, hangers for hoses, electrical cords, towels, and keys.  And a partridge in a pear tree.

Reflection, Part One

There was nothing much wrong with my old truck, a 2013 RAM 2500.  It had its quirks but pulled the Cougar just fine.  I was in a time bind when I bought it, with no viable options available in make, model or trim level.  It was basic, and - despite my well-earned reputation for frugality - I'm pretty much done with basic. 

My 2017 Chevy Silverado isn't basic.  It's loaded with goodies and creature comforts that will be much appreciated by this old creature - and my favorite female creature as well.  That said, the new truck came with a major problem: the bed is 5" higher than the old truck, and the side rails are higher also.  You have to pole vault into the bed if there's no stepladder handy.  

The real problem though is that the Chevy and Cougar aren't a match made in heaven.  Not even close.  They have irreconcilable differences: truck is too high, 5W is too low, no way in hell to make them compatible.  So, the RAM is gone (traded in), new truck sits in garage, Cougar sits a few feet away, can't move trailer with truck, now what?

Raise the 5W?  Not good.  Lower the truck?  Even less good.  Replace the Cougar?  Maybe.  But: we love the Cougar, have added lots of upgrades, got it just the way we want it - with one exception: we decided to convert the fold-out sofa/bed to a day bed.  Two days prior to getting the truck, I ripped into that old sofa/bed, totally demolished it and set the pieces out for the trash hauler.  Lovely.  Just freakin' lovely!  Can't move Cougar, have to sell it in place, and I just made it less sell-able.  Talk about shitty timing!

The above situation was resolved several days ago.  We drove up to Las Vegas, traded in the Cougar, and bought a new 5W that would work with the truck.  The new rig, made by Grand Design, is a Reflection 29 RS, pictures and details coming in next post.