Charge it! All!

Our TT has what I would call a 'normal' number of AC outlets. Unfortunately, what's normal for most, is insufficient for a family with what many might consider to be an exorbitant number of things to plug in. Even with a bunch of outlet strips, the wall-warts take up a lot of room. Fortunately I found the Callpod Chargepod.

With the Chargepod I use a single AC outlet connected to the circular 'pod'. From there, I connect as many as 6 devices, each to its own connector. I like the convenience of the single adapter, plus it eliminates the tangle and confusion of all the chargers and wires I've had to unravel every time I needed to charge something. My wife likes that it keeps everything in one place, since I'm always trying to remember where I plugged in my (fill in the blank) when it's time to head out the door.

Backing up (not what you think)

Traveling is such joy. I do love being in different places and seeing the scenery along the way. Unfortunately automotive seating is not always the most comfortable, particularly for eight to nine hour stretches.

Driving our extended Ford Econoline van and pulling a 32 foot camper can get tense at times, especially when contending with trucks and high winds. Coupled with a relatively hard ride, my back tends to tighten up, so that at the end of the day's travel I'm lucky to be able to stand upright.

Luckily for me, the Brookstone folks (www.brookstone.com) loaned me their MiniMax Lumbar Massager. It has a 12 volt adapter that plugs into the van's outlet. It proved to be helpful at least for part of the trip but I couldn't simply leave it in place all the time... for a couple of reasons.

The first reason is that the massager is a little over two inches wide and only about eight inches high. The result of this shape is that it is easy to position wherever you want it. But its thickness means that while in place, the rest of your back is necessarily leaning forward and not up against the seat back. This makes for an awkward posture.

I was able to use the massager's remote control to change the speed, select from three settings for massage zones (both sides, center, or full), and set the duration of the massage action from a few seconds to continuous. I like the way it works, and it really does provide some relief for a tight back.

The second reason I couldn't leave the unit in place was because my wife wanted to use it. I actually think she got the better of the deal because she was able to change her seat position and put an extra pillow behind her, above the massager to support the upper part of her back.