It’s been a week of glorious fall weather, daytime temps in the 70’s and lows even as low as 39 one morning. The leaves are changing, the crows and sparrows are gathering–it’s fall–my most favorite time of year.
Our weird week started with a trip to Billings on Wednesday–I had a dentist appointment. The Cowboy in his daily perusal of Craigslist noticed a 2009 RZR 800S for sale–cheap–its young owner (probably in his 50’s) had covid and has not recovered. He spent 21 days on a ventilator, his heart stopped three times, he spent 30+ days in rehab, and still has breathing issues that require oxygen. He can no longer ride or do much of anything. So–the RZR had been parked in a shed on their property and had not been started since January. The machine would not start. The Cowboy was prepared with a new battery, crank straps and a winch. The new battery didn’t start the machine so we had to push, pull and winch it into our cargo trailer. A new project for the Cowboy!
We have too many vehicles–five road worthy, we would take anywhere vehicles. That’s a lot of batteries, tires and insurance for just two drivers! So, we decided to get rid of the 2017 Dodge Rebel we bought in Arizona and drove home to Montana this past spring. I put the ad on Craigslist and almost immediately a guy calls. He wants to fly from Longbeach, CA to Bozeman, Montana to pick up the truck. He asks nothing about the truck.
Our scam radars are immediately on alert. We agree on a price and he will bring cash. He is to arrive Thursday afternoon. He sends me a screenshot of his itinerary. On Wednesday he calls, “give me your bank account number and routing number and I will wire the money. It’s too far to drive and I will have the truck transported to California” I answered the phone call and was not nice when saying, “that’s not happening.” So, he tells me “OK, I will see you Thursday afternoon.” The Cowboy and I totally expected to never hear from the guy again.
Thursday morning bright and early I get a text, “I am at the airport getting ready to board.” A couple hours later I get a text saying, “I’m in Denver.” I tell him to take a selfie of himself in the Denver airport–he does and he is most definitely in the airport. We scurry around, leave for the Bozeman airport and low and behold Mr. Hammad Shahid walks off the plane, the Cowboy meets him and walks him out to where I am waiting in the parking lot. He buys the truck and jokingly asked me if I Googled him–I said no–he said, “you should have! I am a famous cricket player!” He was, is a cricket player and is worth millions according to Mr. Google! Hammad was a personable, friendly guy and thrilled to have the truck. It was an amazing, weird experience!
Friday evening we journeyed over the hill to Lonn’s to celebrate birthdays–our grandson in law Mike’s birthday was Friday and Katie’s birthday is Sunday. Millee the middle great celebrates her birthday the end of the month but I won’t be in Montana. Katie teaches school so I cooked taking filet mignons to grill, cheesy potatoes, salad stuff, asparagus, chocolate cake and homemade ice cream. BURP!! We had a delightful time as always!
Update–the new to us RZR now runs and has had a bath (it was filthy!) As I type this the clutch is out of the machine, a tool was built……….It still has issues but I have no doubt my handy husband can fix it. Will we keep it or sell it–who knows!
Saturday was a chore day for me–I even washed a few windows, one of my least favorite things to do!! I also made homemade tortillas for our lunch chicken fajitas.
The critters have been busy posing for the game camera–
Game cameras are fun!
And last but not least–the comment section of this blog continues to label people as anonymous. I reached out to WordPress and they asked me what browsers the commenters were using. So, could you tell me if you are using Chrome, Safari, Explorer, etc.??
My friend Ina had this meme on her Facebook page today and I’m thinking it appropriately describes our household–and we love it that way! Life is good!
Restoration Cowboy Style 
Hi Janna ….before I forget, I use chrome and safari. I signed in for this comment on safari. That was a weird exchange…who would have ever thought a person with millions was on the other end of your conversation! It is amazing to me that you have bears, big bears, in your backyard and I get excited to see a coyote, javalina, or roadrunner. Glorious fall weather sounds so nice…enjoy! The priority pyramid describes the Taylor home too…I love it! Have a great week! Gay
P.S. I’m going to try and sign it…🤞.
LikeLike
This anonymous business is so weird! When you left this comment I could see it was you–Joe T…..😃and I could see your email address as always. It’s amazing to us that we have all those bears traveling through–we’ve never had a game camera before. I knew you would like the priority pyramid!
LikeLike
Nice weather for sure! We’re still here in Boulder City, NV and it’s WAY hot. Home in Wickenburg tomorrow and I think it will be a long time before we see 70! Love the “bear cam”….
Glad you weren’t scammed but – that was certainly an unusual transaction!
LikeLike
I love our fall weather but right behind it comes winter and that I don’t like. I bet it will be good to get home. I was wondering when the photos of Pam and John were going to pop up until I had an email from Pam last night! 😉Your name and address appears to me only in my WordPress Dashboard–do you have to sign in every time you comment?
LikeLike
We were so busy talking and catching up that I forgot to take any pictures when we were with Pam and John…..so you can stop wondering when they’ll appear! Sometimes I have to log on, sometimes not!
LikeLike
Signing in with chrome.
Game cams can be fun.
That transaction did seem touchy to start with, glad it all turned out for the best.
Jeanne
LikeLike
We used to sign in with our name and other information about any website we had. Now that is not the case, and I see that it lists me as Anonymous. I do not have a current wordpress login and I don’t like to use my facebook to login.
Jeanne
LikeLike
We are enjoying that game camera. I haven’t changed any settings which is the weird thing but something is most definitely different.
LikeLike
hmm my reply disappeared.
I was going to add that previously we had to give our name, email address and website when we left a comment. Now it does not ask for any of that, only telling us we should log in.
LikeLike
Please tell me who you are–
LikeLike
Coming at you live with the help of Chrome. Lots of bruins visiting.
LikeLike
Haha!!!! I definitely thought your truck sale was a scam until I got to the end of the story! That’s wild! Our priority pyramid is similar except the bottom, of course, says “Cat.” LOL. Are your roses called drift roses? We’ve planted similar ones. I comment using Safari, but cannot comment directly on your site…I have to go to the WordPress reader page.
LikeLike
We were sure we would never hear from the guy again, in fact we toyed with the idea of not even going to Bozeman until he could prove to us he was there–it’s a two hour drive! They could be drift roses–I planted them so long ago I have no idea but they are gorgeous this year!
LikeLike
What a great story – that one will hold up for years!! So glad Michael found another project, I do worry about him getting bored 🙂 This comment box is different from any I’ve seen here or on other blogs – usually I’m signing in on Google where it gives the option to be Anonymous or my name.
LikeLike
I used the email option which looks like it used my Google account.
LikeLike
We now have to come up with an Arizona project! I get so frustrated with technology when companies “update” and it changes MY settings!
LikeLike
Well,for certain an unusual vehicle transaction but ended well- just shows there are good intentioned people still about.Bears ,Michael:’s project- you’re right,life is good.The concrete is done so the extension must be next?Your flight to Arizona mulberry close.All the best.
A Jan es via chrome.
LikeLike
It was refreshing to find a honest person–he was funny, personable. Concrete will sit over the winter–not enough time before we head south to build a garage.
LikeLike
I’m a bit behind and also just finished reading about your Black Hills trip – one of my all time favorite places! Making a note to get back there sometime soon! We rented a little cabin outside the town of Custer and enjoyed ourselves so much. Thank you also for the bear pictures – I love seeing bears from a safe remove, but it would make me anxious to go out at night with Miss E. knowing they were around.
Cheers!
Ceci
LikeLike
Oh, my, I love the story about the guy who bought the truck. Sure screams scam to me, also. Glad all worked out. I’m sure Michael needed another project…haha! The bear photos are so cool!! You have a friend!! I use Chrome.
LikeLike
Yes, Michael always needs a new project! We were very relieved the truck deal worked!
LikeLike
That WAS weird. Here it is Sunday again, and I haven’t commented on last Sunday post. In my defense, we were camping on the Columbia, but are home again and trying to catch up. Love the bear. And really, it sounded like a true scam, hard to believe it turned out so well. More to come of course, I am still trying to catch up the last camping trip to Medicine Lake and now I have this one to Sauvie Island to write. Maybe I will get caught up eventually.
LikeLike
We certainly thought it was a scam. You two have certainly been doing some fall traveling–good for you!
LikeLike