The Ryan RV Express: April 2026

Wednesday (April Fools Day), first thing in AM Dan heads to dentist for routine visit; Corrie feeling better; rain returns and not much more done. Thursday morning Dan heads to another every other month luncheon gathering of Classmates he attended the Coast Guard Academy with from JUN1970 to JUN1974. There are about twenty-five Classmates who live in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Obviously it is easier for some to attend than others to attend. Today there was five attendees. But on a few occasions fifteen show-up (with some driving up from Oregon). Today’s lunch was at Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant. Last Classmate gathering was 29JAN.

Friday before lunch time we load-up Fiesta and head to the Pitre’s for Easter weekend. Not much done after arrival. Saturday morning after Mason’s haircut; Jaxson, Mason & Dan head to Naval Undersea Museum, Keyport, WA. Last visited in NOV2018!

The Ryan RV Express: 01-30NOV18 - Sultan, WA

From there it was off to Suburban Sip, Jaxson’s new favorite spot for high sugar drinks (your choice of soda like coke, then add syrup flavor like coconut, and finish with cream). Tasty drink, but not worth visiting unless you want high sugar drink. Turns out these concoctions called “dirty sodas” originated with Mormon followers (who have religious restrictions from alcohol and caffeine) in Utah around 2010. And is fast spreading via internet influencers on the web.

As Per WIKI -- Avoiding common drinks like coffee, tea, and alcohol led the Mormon community to embrace sugar, often in the

form of soda. While sugary beverages similar to the dirty soda have long been popular among the Mormon community as an alternative to prohibited drinks, it was not until 2010 that the first official dirty soda shop appeared.

From there back to Pitre house. Rebecca & Corrie garden after running errands; Dan mows the small lawn. Son-in-lawn Raymond was supposed to fly into SeaTac airport in afternoon from national guard deployment. But he got stuck in Texas because of bad weather.

Sunday (easter) find out Raymond arrived home while we were all asleep. Grandboys receive their easter “baskets” of goodies and money. Then grandboys outside to look for the hidden eggs. Then several hours spent working on yard/garden in the great weather.

Ladies cook great dinner of ham, mashed potatoes, fresh veggies, etc. Mason who loves to cook (even challenging recipes) makes fresh pasta dough and uses his pasta press for fresh fettucine. Then adults play several games of cribbage and off to bed.

Monday early AM we pack car and head home. Great weather so Corrie attacks the veggie/fruit garden and Dan mows two acres of grass. Rebecca takes boys to Great Wolf Lodge and Water Park. There they will meet-up with other parents and boys from the neighborhood.

Tuesday, 07APR, beautiful day Corrie has medical appointments. Dan heads to lunch with Habitat for Humanity volunteers he worked with up until covid struck. It has been six years and Habitat of Snohomish still hasn’t recovered. Our chapter has two vacant land areas with detailed plans drawn up for multiple houses. But the cost of new construction even for a charitable organization hasn’t allowed anything to be started☹ Dan heads home and does more mowing and then cleaning up alder branches/leaves from fall/winter wind storms.

Wednesday AM Dan heads to Stevens Pass Ski for what will be last skiing of the season for him. Great weather; almost a Bluebird Ski Day🙃!

A bluebird ski day is a clear, sunny day after a snowfall A bluebird ski day is a clear, sunny day after a snowfall snow fall, with perfect conditions & perfect visibility, fresh powder, and calm conditions ideal for skiing. Only thing missing was fresh powder, but that’s asking a lot for April in the Pacific NW. Anyway there was a great view of Mt Baker which is often not visible from Stevens.

Then Dan heads home, eats lunch, packs an overnight bag and catch ferry to Rebecca & Raymond’s. This is so he can drive Pitres to SeaTac airport tomorrow early AM for a short family vacation/visit to Hilton Head, SC. Then return to house and grab Roux for dog sitting in Sultan.

Thursday, 09APR, early morning Dan jumps into Rebecca’s car with grandboys and we head to SeaTac airport; where they get out to catch their plane. They will meet daddy Raymond in SC for the short family vacation. Dan heads back to the house, gathers up Roux the dog and heads to our house. Great weather for outdoor chores; Dan starts re-connecting Corie’s veggie garden drip irrigation system.

Friday overcast but no rain; Dan spends most of day on taxes; Corrie works in yard. Late afternoon Dan removes unknown invasive plant (turns out Black Locust tree). Looked small, but turned into one big pile of debris. Plant native to small areas of inland south/east USA. But becomes very invasive once it gets growing elsewhere☹!

Sunday after lunch Dan takes Roux back to the Pitre’s house in Silverdale. Then early evening heads to SeaTac airport to pick up Rebecca and grandboys back from short vacation to Hilton Head, SC.

Plane on time and back to the house and Roux for bedtime.

Monday mid morning Dan meets Rusty Burke at Johnny Coffee/Waffle House for coffee and lots of sea stories. Then after couple of hours they head to their cars and run into another CG Academy Classmate Mark Mercier and friend Kay. Turns out Mark and Kay were down from Port Angeles for some shopping and gonna take lunch break. Rusty had errands to run and Dan only had a ferry to catch sometime, so he joined them.

Not wanting to be odd man, couple of times Dan tried to bow out. But Kay being gracious and former CG Officer brat would not let him until their lunch was done. Truly a pleasant surprise and great time. Waiting for ferry Dan discovers USAA credit card is blocked; after half hour on phone card unblocked and Dan catches ferry home.

Tuesday, 14APR, rain returns, Corrie has girls day out with Jan Formisano. Wednesday, Tax Day, heavy rain off and on. Corrie visits Verizon with latest cell phone issue. Dan works on getting Roku and BritBox app working again. Seems on recent long RV trip we forgot/lost usernames and passwords. Recovery prospect was daunting but even more so because there is no phone support. But after too much time dealing with AI support, finally chat with a human and now we have written copy of login info.

Thursday AC/Heat technician checks out our forced air heat/AC system. Friday Dan picks up another ton of 5/8th rock for vegetable garden pathways.

Saturday, 18APR, Dan catches ferry to Pitre’s; literally last, last, car on ferry out of Edmonds (thanks goodness for small car category (less than 12 ft).

After arriving at house Dan takes grandson Mason to scheduled soccer game (mom Rebecca to show up at start of game). Then back to their house to check out electric lawn mower and mow small front yard; not much else done.

Sunday, 19APR, another great weather day. After getting up Dan is off to Costco for gas before everyone else lines-up for gas. Due to high prices Costco here cheaper than “ours” in Monroe. Then off to second soccer game for Mason.

After game head straight to Kingston ferry. Luck-out once again – twenty minute wait and one of last ten cars loaded. Plus got off first! Get home to Corrie and Rocket; and jump on lawn mower and mow more grass.

Monday, more great weather; lots of outdoor chores. Dan mows hard to reach area of property with walk behind mower. Then weed whacks fence line; and trims some tree branches overhanging fence line. Break out the deck chairs and install their cushions to enjoy weather lounging on the decks.

Tuesday good weather light rain early evening; lots of outdoor work. Killing hornet nests; adding one more umbrella holder to small deck; killing weeds in driveway gravel; trimming fence with weed whacker; set out lawn chairs on deck. Frig tech back one more time☹

Wednesday AM wake up to rain and discover that roof leak in garage has returned☹ Luckily contractor coming by today to see about possible leak from month ago. At same time Corrie hitting road to watch grandson sporting events in Silverdale (Jaxson Football; Mason Cross Country). Leaving Dan dog sitting and to do indoor choirs. Gabe the roofing contractor exams leak area and thinks easy repair next week.

Thursday no rain; Corrie comes back from Silverdale. Dan works on sorting his record collection for possible sale tomorrow to DJ Records. Friday, 24APR, sun returns and good weather. Dan starts distributing 5/8th rock in fenced veggie garden. Technician shows up for routine service of our water treatment system. Dan mows and mows. DJ Record supposed to be here 4PM and then 8PM, and finally says will try again tomorrow.

Saturday morning head out to Monroe Home & Garden Show at the fairgrounds. Size and value of show has really diminished over the years. But the fairground still has Dan’s favorite ice cream soda “the purple cow”.

the purple cow booth is run by the Snohomish County Dairy Women and proceeds go towards scholarships and the Dairy Ambassador Program. Every 13th purple cow is free! Pro tip: It’s cash only and located on the east side of the fairgrounds near the judging arena.

Then home for outdoor chores while good weather lasts. Finally DJ Record tech shows up to appraise Dan’s LP Record collection.

If you know Dan, you know he has been into rock and roll music since mid-60s (and still is!). He recently realized that it was time to significantly reduce the number of his albums (480 plus LPs). Won’t bother you with the process of deciding on how to dispose of the LPs. But finally found DJ Records (St Louis business) who come to your house; appraise everything; pay immediately; and transport it.

After contacting them; their rep, Jeremy, showed up around 6PM and left at 9PM. First Dan pulled out 20 albums that he would keep. Then Jeremy sorted remaining albums into three piles. BIG PILE – no real market for. MIDDLE PILE – steady market demand for, $4 each). VERY SMALL PILE - $10 and up.

Then Jeremy looked at Dan’s not for sale LPs. He really wanted Dan’s Sex Pistols “Never Mind the Bullocks”. Apparently not many copies of the disc and album sleeve survive in good condition. Since Dan had CD copy of album, and it was worth $30; he said “sold”.

What to do with the BIG PILE? DJ Records would take all leftovers for sale in their bargain bin. Dan not wanting to deal with facebook market, consignment, ebay, etc. Dan said decision was fine! But Dan went thru the pile pulled out 40 or so albums, he would also keep.

End result - 420 LPs gone. About 60 LPs kept! Leaving over 500 CDs to deal with at some point down the road!!!

Sunday lots of outdoor work while good weather lasts. Corrie moves from one flower bed to another & starts prep’ing vegetable garden for production. Dan repairs one broken deck rail; starts spraying weed killer on driveway areas; then water seals deck top rails and benches of small deck. And finishes day by one hour of mowing.

Monday cloudy & cool; more outside work (like spreading 5/8 rock in veggie garden); and completing repair on deck rail. Tuesday, 28APR, cool and cloudy again; and we concentrate on outdoor work – adding sun umbrella stand; plant hanging hooks done on both decks; food bank run; etc.

Wednesday morning Dan catches Washington ferry to Kingston to visit Rebecca, Raymond and grandboys. Trip was to watch grandson Mason in Cross Country meet, and Jackson in middle school football game. Mason sick so no cross country. Jackson plays defensive linebacker and had excellent game (2 interceptions, couple of open field tackles).

Then back to their house for late dinner; while Jaxson at premier soccer league practice. Thursday (last day of April) Dan catches morning Kingston ferry to get home to Corrie and Rocket. After lunch Dan attacks invasive blackberries; weed whacks county road right away; Corrie works in garden.