Motorhome storage at National Indoor RV Center

One of the things that I have been so impressed with while we are staying at National Indoor RV Center is their indoor storage facility. I was asking the lady at the desk about how many units they store, and she said that they have about 300 (and have many requests that they cannot satisfy since they are currently full).

Looking in one of the side doors at the rigs that are stored

This is the set of rigs that are in the area between the service area and the storage area.

Looking down between two of the "front" buses - it looks like there are 10-15 lined up between this area and the back of the storage area.

This is the back of the storage area of the building

Stephanie, in Sales told us more information about the benefits for folks who store here: For folks who store their rigs here, they call in 24 hours ahead of the time they need their rig, and NIRVC gets the motorhome ready to go, including topping off fluids and starting the refrigerator so it is ready for the customer. While the rig is in storage, it is plugged in, and the building is heated if the temperature goes below freezing so the rigs don't have to be winterized.

They also have outdoor storage, I think - but I think it is pretty much full too.

And... they have a "campground" for folks who are getting service done. It isn't fancy, but it is nice to be able to hook up to electricity. There is a place for us to dump and to fill up with fresh water too. And, we get to chat with other "campers" too!

We are really quite pleased with the service we are getting from them. If RV'ing friends need a place in DFW for service, we would recommend National Indoor RV Center!

Estate sale today - but not ours

A member of our church passed away a few months ago and left her home to the church. I found out on Wednesday that they would be having an estate sale to sell many of the things in the home on Friday and Saturday, and volunteered to help out. Dwayne and I both went today to help... Dwayne worked with Clif in the garage, but Lynda assigned me to one of the rooms inside... the book room...

Many of you may know that Dwayne and I had many bookcases full of books that we got rid of when downsizing (I think I counted 60 shelves of books in the house)... so putting me in a room full of books, and books that I would like to read... ooooohhhhhh - the temptation!

I managed to leave this afternoon after only acquiring one book... but... there are still a lot that I would like to have, and I'm not sure my resistance will hold up through tomorrow.

Someone of my Dallas area friends, please come to 127 Ireland in Irving and buy books so I don't have to!!!!

Energy Ogre for Texas Electric bills

We went out for dinner with friends a few nights ago and they told us about signing up with Energy Ogre for their electric. He said that he figured he was in one of the worst possible scenarios as he had just signed a contract with an energy provider for the next year... and there would be a cancellation penalty to get out of that contract. But, he did the request-for-information with Energy Ogre, and figured at worst he would break even for the next year so signed up with them.

To his surprise, his energy bill has been below $40 for the past 3 months; his usage is in a range that happens to provide a $50 rebate from the company that Energy Ogre has him with, which has resulted in incredibly low electric bills!

We don't have an electric bill anymore, but I thought I would post this information in case someone in my Texas friends wants to look into this for their electric bill.
https://www.energyogre.com/?s=nav

By the way, if you do nothing else, read the FAQs about 1/3 down the page... https://www.energyogre.com/faq?s=nav
Someone has an interesting sense of humor...

Some other pictures - GWB Presidential Library and Museum

These were pieces of metal from one of the World Trade Center buildings. The events of 9-11 and afterwards were a large part of the museum. I was surprised by how emotional I got in this area of the museum - I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. Behind and around on the walls around these pieces of metal are the names of all the individuals who were killed in the airplanes and the buildings that were destroyed by the acts of terrorism.

One of the docents who was in this area of the museum particularly pointed out this to me, with the comment, "I didn't know that there was a 'Bush Doctrine' until I started working here." I didn't know either.

There was a replica of the Oval Office as it appeared at the time of the Bush Presidency. We were encouraged to sit at the desk and have our picture taken, and to make ourselves comfortable in the room.

Afghanistan Painting - GWB Presidential Library and Museum

The docent called my attention to this painting in the "Liberty is the Hope" wall of the museum.

"Windows of Opportunity"

You can see a better representation of it here: http://www.canesforcourage.com/paintings/

I copied the following from Major (Retired) Steven McAlpin's LinkedIn page:

Taking advantage of a transfer to Kabul, I painted a picture of American soldiers delivering some of the 208 desks and benches made for the school by the 92nd Engineer Battalion. I framed the acrylic on plywood painting with a window frame I purchased from the newly-renovated Teacher's Training College, also in Kabul. I mailed the painting to President and Mrs. Bush where it was warmly received.
I was surprised to learn in mid-2013, that the painting was to be featured at the G. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. I traveled to Dallas to see the painting for myself. As I was describing each of the 17 details to some friends, the museum director, Mr. Alan Lowe approached me with some unbelievable statistics: of the roughly 43,000 gifts the First Family received over 8 years, only 300 were selected to be in the opening exhibit of the museum. I found my painting protected in a glass case nestled just above a shawl from the Dalai Lama, and a hand-written poem by Cuban dissident, Oscar Bissett.
Needless to say - I am thrilled that my painting had been recognized in such a prominent manner.

White House Pets - GWB Presidential Library and Museum

It was fun to see the involvement of the White House pets...

In the Christmas, 2003 exhibit, it seemed that Barney, the black Scottish Terrier, had been given the responsibility for overseeing the decorations, but had to be constantly reminded to keep on task. (If you want to see the video of his activities, I found it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f_-ct4eJ9s)

There were commemorative statues of other first pets too:

India, the kitty had fallen asleep while reading "If You Take a Mouse to the Movies"

This Wikipedia article says that India, also sometimes called "Willie" was overshadowed by the White House dogs - but of course, kitties would not be stooping to the juvenile attention-getting schemes of dogs!  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_%28cat%29

Barney and Miss Beazley

Spot

Gifts from the Middle East - GWB Presidential Library and Museum

In the main hallway, they had an exhibit of gifts that were given to the Bushes from various countries. I found a few items in the "Middle East" gifts that I thought were particularly interesting.

Sculpture, Saudi Arabia - Golden desert scene with Bedouins, camels, and a tent given to Mrs. Laura Bush by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2007

Jewelry Set, Saudi Arabia - Sapphire and diamond jewelry set presented to Mrs Laura Bush by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2007

Sculpture, Israel: Sterling silver and gold representation of Jerusalem given to President Bush in December, 2001 by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon