A Quieter Spot...

I am trying to figure out what I can eat, on this anti-fungal diet.. .   knowthecause.com   with the facilities I have available to me.  Cold, raw vegies are just not feeling much like "comfort food" while the weather is cold and rainy.

This morning I got a warm egg and bacon sandwich at Subway.  It had bread and cheese in it that I am not supposed to eat... but dang it, I was hungry!

Found a quieter spot in the Walmart parking lot, but didn't sleep so well.  Woke up several times.  Need to remember to take that ZZZquil.

* * *

From Z's blog... a pic of B. with Tsjavo  :)  I think he is really happy over in Sweden :)

They have even started geocaching!!  Yay!  Now they are going to try and catch up with me!  haha, but I am about 385 ahead of them!

* * *

We got hit with a snow storm, big time, and this side of the mountains just doesn't know how to handle it.  The city does not have any snow plows, and there are no ranchers with snow blades on the front of their vehicles to help out.  The only place I found that was clearing the snow at all was at Safeway.

The first morning it had just started when I got off of work, and I was a little afraid of driving with other drivers on the slick pavement, so I pretty much hightailed it for the first clear parking lot I know of.  So I parked at the side of the closed Mongolian Grill and waited it out.  It snowed, and snowed and snowed... up to about 10 inches!!

I had turned on the van to warm the place up a bit during the night, and then I had inch thick ice on my windshields when I was ready to move.  I wanted to wait until the temperature had warmed up and things wouldn't be so icy, but the warm temps never appeared, although predicted, for over 4 or 5 days.  So I ventured out in the middle of the next day, to find a better place to park... somewhere with facilities, food and wi-fi.  Only the Will of God got me out of that parking lot.... I was slipping and fishtailing around, even in low gear!  Then I kinda sunk down into a depression and thought, "What am I going to do if I get stuck?"  I just went forward and backward, and forward and backward, and then, I caught traction and was up and out of the parking lot!  The highway still had so much snow, and only a clear rut where cars had gone previously.  It was a little bit scary.

Made my way to Safeway, and was able to breathe a little easier.  Moved so the plows could clear the snow around me, and got some hot soup, and settled in to watch a little TV on the internet.

That next morning, it got down to 19*  I think that is the coldest temperature I have ever been in, in the van.

Here is a pic so I totally remember that I don't want to do this again next winter... live somewhere where it is cold and snowy...

This was not fun.

Next year I want to be in Arizona!!  

But I have to leave by March because it's already getting into the mid-80's there in mid-February!

* * *

To pass the time, I spend a lot of time in the stores.  I was looking for some almond flour because I can eat nuts on this special diet, but not peanuts or pistachios. I didn't find any in Walmart, but I discovered Coconut Flour and Quinoa Flour !! who knew? I also checked out Silk's Almond Milk and that is only 30 calories per serving, rather than 120 with regular dairy. Wow. Wish they sold in smaller containers though because I want to try it, but not have to buy a whole 1/2 gallon. Venturing out of my comfort zone... good deal!

* * *

I made my way back to work, barely through the ruts again, did my 12 hour shift, then just stayed in the parking lot until my next work day started.

When I got off the next morning, finally my frozen rear view mirrors were thawed and the streets were finally looking fairly clear.  Have I said already said that this town does not have snow plows?

Then I decided I need to try washing my hair in the van...  It was something I had been putting off trying...

As I posted on FB...

  Going to try washing my hair in the van today... wish me luck! 

Sue Success!!

Heather How in the world do you wash your hair with no running water? How and where do you shower daily? How are the kitties?

Carolyn You're a pioneer woman! The Lord is preparing you for blessings!

Sue  Heather... well you start with a plastic bag, a towel and a bucket on the floor, and a bottle of water in your hand... and your shampoo. It was only 36* so the water was cold... and talk about a brain freeze!! Got my hair wet with about 1/4 of the bottle, shampoo'd and rinsed with the rest of the water. Dried vigorously with a towel so I wasn't sleeping with too wet of a head. It's do-able when you need to. I have a whole routine for a birdie bath as well. I was going to go to the truck stop today, but their driveway and parking lot were just too slushy with snow... was afraid I might get stuck so I didn't stop. Cats are fine... Tirzah is on the left there, looking out the window

Sue I used to be able to wash a dinner's worth of dishes in one pot of water... and I once took a complete shower in 3 gallons of warm water in practice for Y2K... so I guess this is somewhat of a piece of cake for me! Hair turned out soft and fluffy Good thing I am just a "wash and go" kinda girl! (Always have been)

Heather Wow you have a whole routine. Glad it works. Glad the kitties are ok

Sue Heather ... the kiitties are just getting fat because they don't have much room to run, but I notice that they are not eating much either. Yarikh jumps from the front seat backs to the back bed area a lot, and often on top of me!! They have a big window in the back and the whole front of the van to watch the world from. Yarikh often lays on the dash

* * *

:)

Living Life in the Open...

... while stealth camping in a suburban setting in your van.

Well this afternoon while I was waking up and getting ready for work, I got to thinking that there was a microwave at work!  I can get food at Walmart, and microwave it there on my break, or even before I start work, or even after.

Then I remembered there is a refrigerator also.  So I have somewhere to keep a small amount of foods cold, if I put them in a lunch pack.  I am sure it will be pretty safe because there is this sign:

And there is coffeemaker and creamers also, so I need to remember to bring my thermal coffee cup.  Although I have basically given up drinking coffee for a while, it's nice to have a cup of it every now and again.

* * *

Got Def Leppard's Rock On playing in my mind....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEhZd3U4CYA

Hey kid, do ya rock and roll
Rock on, ooh, my soul
Hey kid, do ya boogie too, did ya

Hey shout, summertime blues
Jump up and down in my blue suede shoes
Hey kid, do ya rock and roll, rock on

And where do we go from here?
Which is the way that's clear?

Still looking for that blue jean, baby queen
Prettiest girl, I ever seen
See her shake on the movie screen, Jimmy Dean

And where do we go from here?
Which is the way that's clear?

Still looking for that blue jean, baby queen
Prettiest girl, I ever seen
See her shake on the movie screen, Jimmy Dean

Jimmy Dean, rock on, 

Rock on

Hey kid, rock and roll, rock on
Hey kid, rock and roll, rock on

Hey, hey, rock on
Hey, hey, rock on
Hey, hey, rock on
Hey, hey, rock on

Songwriters
BAKER, GARY/JOHNSON, JAY/ROSSINGTON, DALE

Published by
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC


:)

This Morning...

As I posted on Facebook...

It was 34* when I pulled into Walmart's parking lot this morning. The sunrise was that indescribable pinky - orange color and just beautiful!  My $20 electric throw plugged into a converter on my drive from work did a super job of taking the chill of the sheets away.... snug as a bug in a rug and slept a full 8 hours waking up only once. Life is good. Thank you Jesus!!

 

:)

Enjoy the Moment...

There are so many posts on Facebook of pictures with inspirational sayings.  Some are really cute, some make you think, some I look at and think to myself, "I know that already, and I am pretty sure I apply it to my life."

This evening while at the laundromat washing the sheets that belong in the motorhome, I met the man who owns the place.  We chatted a bit while he was emptying out the coins from the machines.  He said he was old and cranky.  He says he has 3 and half more years of this, then, at age 62 he is going to go on Social Security, sell the two laundry places he has, and hopefully live long enough to enjoy it. 

I don't want to be like that.  No matter the situation... I want to enjoy the Now.

* * *

Today is my last night in the motorhome.  I have to work tomorrow night at 6pm, taking a shift for the other night gal.  I hope the Family comes home from their trip early enough that I can say goodbye (and get my doll house.)  I have two piles of things by the door right now... one to go into the van, and one to go into the trailer to take to storage.  It is a clear night, and it is supposed to be sunny again tomorrow.  

Thank you Lord for the nice weather, and not having to move stuff in the rain!  The rain is coming Monday or Tuesday but by then I will be snug as a bug in a rug in my van.

My view in the motorhome... 

As soon as I get the stuff that goes into the van in there, then it will be time to put the cats in, and then I can concentrate on getting the rest of the cleaning done.  Vacuuming all the corners and wiping down everything.  Anything left in the motorhome is going into the trailer for tonight, to be separated tomorrow.  

I want to live in the moment. I want to be conscious of everyone and everything around me.  I want to enjoy the here and the now.  I am on the brink of another new adventure, and I can't wait to see what it is all about.

* * *

Watching one more TV show on the internet while the kitties sleep on the bed... not knowing the changes that they are about to endure.   They have spent time in the van before, so they should adjust quickly and easily.  But it will be a change, and that is always a little disconcerting.

Doesn't this look innocently blissful?...  my sweet Tirzah...

Yarikh is usually not so relaxed... but he is enjoying his rest....

* * *

Well it was cold and dark, and I just wanted to wait.  So I didn't sleep much really, but I got up a little after 8am and began.  Before I put anything into the van, I vacuumed it out.  Then I transferred my sleeping blankets and arranged them on my bed.  Then I piled things and bags of things into the van.  Then I asked Yarikh if he was ready to go... he pondered at the door, so I put a blanket around him and whisked him into the van.  Tirzah was calmly sitting on the couch, and I just had to pick her up and get her in.  Yay!  Pet Transfer complete!!  :)

Started with the bedroom floors and went to the shower.  Then I started at the front of the motorhome... the part the cats only ventured into, and I am gonna say that it took some time to wipe everything down and Armorall the dash and doors.  I vacuumed the seats and floor as well.  By 10:30 I was tired, so I laid down for a half an hour.  Then I started in the kitchen and just plugged away, inch by inch, bagging things up to put in the trailer - I don't have any boxes - and by 2:30, I was almost done.  I said goodbye to the other couple who lives on the compound, hooked up the trailer, and took my last look.

Got to storage and unloaded just about everything except food and household products for G.  It all managed to fit after I rearranged it yesterday.  I SO need to dispose of stuff!

And I left my lights on!!  So I had to ask another patron of the storage facility to give my battery a jump.  Luckily he said yes, and it started right up.

Drove to Corvallis and took a 30 minute nap before G. returned from an afternoon date, and he rolled the trailer to the side of their house.  I took a quick shower, and then left to grab some take-out and drive to work, and here I am!!  :)

* * *

So, to live in the moment...  I took this picture as I left for the last time...  the gate is opening to my future...

And the way is clear for what God has next in store me...

Before I got to the end of the driveway, I paused, opened my door, and slapped my birthday flip-flops together to dust them off.

* * *

It's kinda funny that I had this big idea of an exit, and I got everything I needed into the storage unit... good... and then I killed my battery... bad.  Kinda makes me wonder what really is in store for the future...  I guess some good and some bad.  That sounds like life!!  :)  And I am going to be aware of and submerge myself into every moment!!

:)

What Day Is It?... MORE TO COME

Oh my!
Today is National Granola Bar Day, National Hugging Day, National New England Clam Chowder Day,and Squirrel Appreciation Day!  I will leave the celebrating details up to you!!  Enjoy

A Bit of a Rant, and the Future...

For all of the times I have written the address of this blog on a piece of paper for friends, no one follows my blog at all... except for some Asian group that has glommed onto it and emails me with requests for advertising money or something.

Page visits stopped two days before my mom died.  I guess she was the only one who really cared.

Now, although I write for her still,  I guess I am writing more for myself because I am alone, and sometimes lonely.  Right now I am a little out of sorts because the court didn't throw out the case my ex is putting on me to stop alimony, and when I was talking to my son on the phone while he was trying to fill out some college loan paperwork, he couldn't hear me for some reason and he was getting frustrated and so was I.  Then he had to dash off to meet a friend.

So, life continues on...

Maybe someday my great-great-grandkids will be doing some genealogy research and come across this blog, and find out all this stuff about me.  Who is really to know that couldn't be true?

This is how I feel right now...  Just a kind of great big "AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH !!!!!"

* * * 

I have been looking at ads on craigslist.org for available rooms.  Most want more money than I really want to spend.  Most also want you to stay for longer than a few months.  Understandable.  I just don't know what is going to happen after the work on the seasonal job ends.

This morning when I got off of work, it was 34* and the van was cold.  But by the time I got halfway home, the van was warmed up some.... I have a pretty good heater.  I am thinking that a small investment in either an electric blanket, or a small electric heater, (or both!) turned on only while I am driving from work to Walmart would probably do the job of taking off the chill.  This is do-able.  The whole, stealth-parking-living-in-my-van thing is really not that big of a deal...  I mostly sleep during the hours between my 12 hour shifts during the first part of the week anyway.  Staying warm is easier that trying to cool off in the van.  Also, the cats do better in the cold than in the warm.  I have no air conditioning system in the van for when it gets hot.  (Let's all try to forget the Drive from Hell... trying to escape Lake Havasu at 1:30am when it was the "coolest" at 94* to get across the desert before the sun actually came up - Ugh, that was a horrible experience!)

My only real issue is getting my hair washed, and a nice shower now and again.  Working means I need to maintain some appearances.  I can take a shower at my son's place, but I don't want to horn in on him every week.  I need to research some gyms in town or the YMCA for showering facilities and what that may cost.

A quick Google search has produced a gym where I can get a free 14 day pass :)  Might be a couple others in the area.  There are also two truck stops off the freeway that offer showers.  I will see what campgrounds might be around in the area also.

What is really great about living in my van is having everything with me all the time... I never have to "go back home to" get something, or drop something off.  It will really make me more mobile.  Instead of hanging out at home, I can take my home with me on a new adventure.  So this will get me out and about on my days off, and I am glad of that.

That is the short-term future... until my seasonal job ends. I don't know if I want to stay in this area or not.

I have possible plans to accompany the lady I met in Joseph on a cruise... if she makes the trip a reality.... and I had thought of getting my car in Arizona.  Since I don't have a place to bring it back to, I might put that idea on hold.  Friends in L-town would like me to come visit.  And of course there is the financial question of making ends meet.

If I wasn't so deep in credit card debt, I could live really easily.  But I have things I have to pay off, so plug away at it I will.

I was sharing with my best-bud C.J. that I was having a difficult time finding just the right temperature aboding spot... not too hot - Arizona in summer, and not too cold - all of the upper part of our country and all of the east coast... and she suggested Northern California.  So I started doing some light research and have found a place that has a moderate Mediterranean climate...  Napa Valley.  There has to be a lot of service jobs in the area, don't you think?

So I am considering checking it out for reals.  But I am not sure I really want to settle down.... I'd like to keep traveling.  I'd like to make it to Glacier National Park... just as I was hoping last summer.  Maybe head to the mid-west to see family... maybe to the east coast (before winter hits).

Then this morning while I was thinking that my Family said they would give me a good reference... maybe I should consider being a nanny for a family that is really rich and will take me traveling with them :)

So many adventures to look forward to.... I wonder where the road is going to lead this year?

:)

And on another note...  I am playing this game on my phone... constantly... (only not in French! lol)  If you read this years and years and years from now... look it up in Wikipedia... lol  Currently I am on Level 24.

The Rug...

So, I'm driving home from San Francisco, like a bat, in order to get to work to take a shift for someone else, and I realize I got an email from Papa New, my Family...

Sue,

I am sorry to say that we have found your services are no longer needed.  It has been great getting to know you and we have appreciated your thoughtful insight and the help you have provided. We just no longer have the excess income required to sustain your position and we also don’t feel we need any further help at this time.  Of course you can take 30 days to get your things together and we are very happy to give you a great reference.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  You will always be welcome for a cup of tea and a visit and I’m sure the kids will be expecting that. 

Respectfully Yours,

This totally rocks my boat because a) I had planned on being with this family for about two years, and b) just two weeks prior, he was talking about getting a 5th wheel for me, and parking it over in the orchard, blah, blah, blah, and how everybody loves Miss Sue.

I responded later that night to the email, stating my first reaction...  "Oh wow.  Okay."  I mean really, what am I going to say?  So I did make a few comments, no specific questions, but I received no answers in reply for this turn of events out of the blue.

But then, I can't say I am totally surprised.  One thing I learned about these people is that they make split decisions and act impulsively on them (I think).  They made an impulsive decision that they needed somebody, and they put out an ad on craigslist and they "hired" me four months ago.  Now they have changed their minds.

It was quite a shock at the time, and I went through some anger and a little resentment, but it's been a good run, and this isn't a surprise to God, so He must have another plan and just hasn't told me yet.

I have to give this some thought now.

* * *

After driving 10 hours home from San Fran., I worked 10 hours, then only slept 3 1/2 hours and woke up with a horrible cold.  Worked 12 hours, and slept about 4 hours.  Then I got some Nyquil, and was able to get a few more hours of sleep each day.  Slept most of Friday, and had plans for Saturday, but the electricity was off due to a neighborhood outage from the windy, rainy storm we'd had, so I just pretty much lazed around and napped most of the day.

* * *

On a much happier note, G. enjoyed his week in Sweden very much and posted this note on Facebook:

Well Sweden, it's really been too short of a trip but I love you anyway! I'm so happy I got to see so many people, thank you everyone who contacted me to meet up, I've really missed you guys... Sweden round 3 can't be too far off now though.

G. and his Swedish sisters...

With his Swedish Mama...

Enjoying the freedoms of Swedish life...

So, after church and doing laundry, I picked up his girlfriend, E. and we went to Portland to bring the world traveler home.  I drove G.'s car and E. was my navigator... we did good!  On the ride up I told stories on G. about when he was little, and then we made our way to VooDoo Doughnut... it's a current rage, so I had to go.

I didn't have enough time to read their whole menu, and later I saw that they have a LOT of combinations.... but here is what we got....  The Captain Crunch was E.'s favorite, we got the bacon-maple for G., and I had to get a classic!!  Sadly, I bit into him before I thought about pulling out the pretzel and squeezing him to make him "bleed" raspberry jelly... lol

We walked around with our pink box, window shopping and looking at the old buildings.  We also searched for and found a geocache... E.'s first !  (The Flyin'SpiderFam is now up to 389 found!)

It is just so exciting to be in the "downtown" of any city!  People, lights, there is just a vibe in the air of something always going on... life pulsating...   I wouldn't want to live there, but I would like to know my way around an exciting downtown area.



From the skywalk of Pioneer Plaza... downtown Portland...

From there, E. and I went to IKEA... I mean, the boys can't be having all of the Swedish fun, can they?

Inspiration...

I saw this picture, and I thought, "What a great idea for all of those ticket stubs, notes, and scraps I have tucked away for scrapbooking that really don't go with any pictures, or a whole page."  I would like to have a set of 3 or 4... yes, I have enough paper goodies to place in them.  I even thought of including a View Master reel, and a Lake County Fair 4-H ribbon.  It would be quite the conversation piece, holding lots of adventures and memories.  Maybe frames 24" x 14" or so.  I am really excited about this project.  Just need a place to spread out to do it.... preferably without a lot of cat hair!

Wow, just writing that reminded me of the room my folks had in the garage... my dad put a door from the front hall into the garage, and then they plastered the walls with postcards, pictures, posters, paintings, brochures, certificates... all sorts of things from their travels.  It was an entertaining space and it was way fun with all of the memories.  I am not even sure if there are any pictures of it in our family albums... I am sure there are.  Maybe that is where my scrapbooking excitement began....?

After all that window shopping, we were hungry and had dinner in IKEA...  E. had never tried Swedish meatballs before.  She like them!  I enjoyed them also.

Her mom and her boyfriend, who live in the area, stopped by for a short visit while we there too.  Good to chat with them a bit :)

And then we scurried in the misty rain to the airport...

and welcomed G. back home...

It was a good day, and not too long of a drive home.

:)

San Franciso... MORE TO COME

So after all of the phones calls, the exasperation, the driving, and finally seeing the "rat" onto the plane... I decided to treat myself to a hotel room - rarely do I ever do this - and spending Saturday down at Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 mostly to have a shark burger for lunch.

Thank goodness the hotel was just 2 miles out of the airport... I was exhausted!  I had already made the reservation online, but when I got there, they upgraded me to a suite. This meant I got a love seat and a coffee table in the room :)  But the king size bed was comfy, and I had wi-fi, cable and a coffee maker, which I used, and a refrigerator, and microwave which I didn't.

Took 3 three-hour naps interspersed with long hot showers while keeping track of G and Samson's airplane on flightaware.com.  I was still tired in the late morning, but knew I needed to go out and enjoy the day.  I extended my stay for another night, and got up to head down to the city.

The girl at the desk had given me directions to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and a map of San Francisco's downtown and waterfront and I was off on the adventure...

Figuring out the BART ticketing system took me a few minutes, but I got myself a card with enough $ on it to get from San Bruno to Powell Street and back.  I wondered if these are collectible, like baseball cards,  but found out later, they are rechargeable. So then I wondered if the next out of the shoot was a different guy...

It wasn't until I was seated and we had gone a little ways that I remembered that Cathy C. and I had ridden BART across to Oakland in the fall of 1975, just so we could say we had gone "under the San Francisco Bay"!!  We just turned around and came back... but we had done it :)

When I got off at Powell, which was about a half hour ride, I exited up onto the street where it was sunny and bustling with humanity.

 I walked about two blocks, and found the terminal for the Famous San Francisco Trolley Cars.  The line was long and it took well over an hour, but I enjoyed the sunshine and talking to a guy who called himself Cable Car Willie - but I can't find him through Google - who told me some history on the cable cars and what was happening in the city today.  I gave him a little money.

I loved the architecture of the buildings here...

Me with the trolley and on the trolley... Famous San Francisco Trollies...

View of the ride... up and over several hills...

This is at the top of Lombard Street...

Which looks like this, if you were across looking over at it, on a spring day...

Here's what it looked like in 1922, when it was being constructed...

More up and over... toward the bayfront...