Suburban Stealth VanDweller Scavenger Hunt.... Updated 2/26

Here is a game that all Van Dwellers who are living in a suburban area play!

Others who are thinking about the van dwelling life, or just want to have an idea about how van dwellers might live can play along also!

The directions are easy:  Choose your destination area, and arrive.  Find the following in quick order.  You can use maps, Google, advice from people you meet... but you can't mark them off until you actually arrive and scope out the amenities.  Have fun!

____  24 hour gas station with convenience store. (You have access to gas, snacks, and a bathroom.)

____  Walmart or other overniter-friendly shopping parking lot. Preferably 24 hour (for bathroom)

____  At least 2 different free entrance city or county parks. (Good for getting out and exercising, plus in mid-afternoon you can set your camp stove up on a picnic table for a hot meal without looking out-of-place)

____  Several safe areas to park during the day.  (You need to be moving around so no one gets excited that your vehicle has not moved in three days.  Shopping mall parking lots are good.  Don't park far away.)

____  Shower facility. (Try truck stops, local gyms, YMCA's, public swimming pools. Evaluate price, privacy and amenities,)

____  Two or three places where free wi-fi is available, preferably with accessible plugs for charging.  Note their hours of availability. (Starbucks, McDonalds, libraries)

____  Unlocked dumpster to dispose of trash.

When you have completed all of the above... Congratulations!  You have now earned the official esteemed title of  Suburban Stealth Van Dweller.

____  Extra Credit:  Entertainment.  Any place with TV to watch sporting events or Red Box video rental.


:)

Fun Weekend and Green Chili Soup...

I really don't know what to do with myself with all the days off I have.

I work so hard during the beginning of the week that I just sleep on the first day I am off, then I have three days.  What to do, what to do?  Feels like it ought to be a celebration of sorts...

So I had a really nice weekend this week...

I so totally enjoyed the massage at Apple Blossom Massage by Katie that I received as a birthday gift from G.  It was really relaxing and I felt comfortable.  After that, I walked a little in the downtown area and checked out some of the fun stores.  When I got hungry I found the Thai restaurant under Local Boyz and enjoyed a bowl of Massamah, with jasmine rice and oolong tea... Thai is my new fav !!

After that I went to a shopping area and browsed.  I found a really soft, furry pillow and a bird knick-knack that I thought was really cute.  If I had excess funds, I would have gotten them.

The next morning I was trying to find someone to have breakfast with, and called a young lady who is one of the boys' friends who I used to work with because we had promised to get together.  Well she is back in Lakeview and working at a doctor's office!

So I called G. and he asked if I wanted to go to a rugby game.  One of his roommates plays on the team but is currently injured and wouldn't be playing, but I have never been to a rugby game so I said, "Sure!"  He also said I could come over and make pancakes and he would make some coffee.

Rugby is a game with a little bit of everything.  It's kinda like soccer, but you don't really kick the ball only... it's kinda like basketball where you pass the ball between players... it's kinda like football in that the ball is the same shape, only bigger, but the players don't wear pads.  It's constant game play... hardly anything stops it.  If a player gets tackled, he just passes the ball to someone on his team (hopefully) that is behind him, farther from the goal... you can't pass forward.  It was fun to watch :)

And they start in these tight huddles where the ball is dropped in the middle.  Kinda crazy...

Sadly, our team did not win (the ones in the orange)... in fact, they were fairly creamed.

After that, we went back to his place and the guys decided to go to the driving range and hit a few balls, and didn't mind my trailing along.  That was a LOT of fun, and M. said I had a natural talent for it.  I have only hit golf balls once or twice before in my life.  It was fun.

M. showing G. how to swing...

I took a couple pictures, but didn't get everyone.  M. was showing us how, P. and E. and G. and me were learning, and C. was hitting pretty well because he was experienced.  It was a fun day to get out in the sun :)

Later, a crowd started coming over to their place, so after a bit, I begged out.  Slept down the street.

Went to church the next morning, and came back to make them all a pot of Green Chili Chicken Bean Soup before I headed off to go to work at midnight.  It was a recipe I got from Mrs. New.  Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

1 roasted chicken, picked and shredded
6 cups chicken broth
24oz green verde salsa, spiciness to your liking
3 cans white beans
2 Tablespoons cumin
bowls can be topped with sour cream, plain Greek yogurt, guacamole and shredded cheese if desired

Enjoy!

:)

I Will Always be a Mom... MORE TO COME