Bucket.

We had a convivial dinner with Bruno and Alphonse last night. Food was good, I had had most of a Bud Lite, and my lips got loose. I let down my guard and expressed an opinion.

Buckets are so useful!



Walruses love them some bucket,


and are bereft without them.


Buckets are important when you're having a bad day,


and important for having a good day.


But, when you put something into a bucket, odds are good you'd rather not reach in and get it back out. Buckets are a one-way street. I suggest we stop creating bucket lists. I don't like them. Don't put your list in a bucket.

Then Bruno explained: it's a list of things to do before you kick the bucket. Ecch! Dislike more!

We still need a phrase for this list, and I propose:

• Teeth list (things to do while I still have teeth)
• Gam list (from Bruno - things to do while my legs are still smokin' hot), and the related
• Cankle list (things to do while my cankles still look good)
• Feather list (things to do before all the feathers come out of my coat - not suitable for vegans)
• Wheel list (things to do while I can still get around)
• Cataract list (things to do while I can see them without an aura)

Who's with me? Anyone? Anyone? What would you call this list if I banned Bucket List from the newly-censored Internet?

Some Systems Go

This week has given us the chance to actually live in the Big Duck, for fun and to test some systems.

• Water: we have a leak somewhere near the shower inlet, so no running water yet
• Electric: yes, both AC (plugged in) and DC (battery power)
• Toilet: yes and no. The composting toilet is partially functional right now
• Heat: both furnaces work
• Cooking: coffee every morning
• Internet: MT (mooch technology) is effective at close range
• Geese: fully functional

We had propane delivered by the local supplier of propane and propane accessories. An electrician is working to install our inverter and batteries (transferred from the Duckette). We have an appointment with our trailer guy, Bill Fletcher, in May. He will fix the leak, install a solar vent shed for the toilet, and fix any problems we discover before then.

The next phase is to put the Duckette on the market and sell it.


Little Carrot is living large and orange here at the Big Duck. Her new moms made heroic efforts to integrate her into their kitty family; they were very sad that it didn't work out. We were sad to see them so sad, but not sad to take Carrot back with us. We found out she loves to ride, so she may do just fine on the road. Quack Carro-ac.

After three days, we brought Lily over.

They ignore each other. We love that.

Potty-mouth online

We frequent a forum for RV owners, and especially for full-timers. I got a message from another reader about our Nature's Head.


She had read the heat I took from other RVers about daring to question the poop-n-pump paradigm. People were angry that I suggested the possibility of not using drinking water to flush away waste. We compared notes; she had also encountered hostility over the notion, more than having her idea poo-poo-ed.

The Humanure Handbook is an awesome and funny read (warning: does not always refer to manure as "poop"), but some of these other books look pretty interesting, too. [If you ever want to buy a book from Amazon, please consider using my link here on the blog. I am also a big fan of the public library system, and recommend that resource highly.]

I look forward to hearing from her again with more potty talk. Elaine! Don't forget to write!

Late-breaking news: The urine bucket will NOT WARN YOU that it is full. Caveat urinator. That's Latin for "we won't make that mistake twice."

Starlite Galaxy

Glenn Miller's golden notes surround us with their glow. The evening is violet satin, and my shantung gown flows like sherry all around the ...

RV toilet?


I especially love the tasteful appointments in the Starlite/Galaxy room.

Oh, she's a beauty, with her Aqua-Magic. But, she's outta here! to make way for the Nature's Head we bought last year. There was some kind of crazy unreachable bolt that held the whole works in. The toilet must be destroyed! Bring in the Multi-Max! And her Dremel!



The Aqua-Magic Starlite/Galaxy was no match for Annie and her new tool.



Carolyn and Annie's reputation in the neighborhood was no match for me and the Aqua-Magic Starlite/Galaxy.



While I was lowering property values, Maria called to check in and to let us know about Car(r)a(o)t. She's doing very well, is about to be integrated, and has taken to tearing around their house with no apparent pursuer.

As I was "uploading" pictures yesterday, I destroyed them, including photographic evidence that the geese here are predatory. Luckily, I woke up just in time and spotted them preparing to double-team the Big Duck.

Next time, or some time after that:  pictures of Annie tearing down and rebuilding the Bucket Room.

It felt sad to end our vacation.  On to the mechanic who will be re-installing a rebuilt generator, installing the exhaust system, and repairing a rear support arm.