Some PICTURES & more rain…….

Well, the weather – it’s raining off and on again. I’m kind of amazed – or appalled – or something!  It makes going out for a walk a PITA. At least it was in the 60’s today – that’s a plus!  :)

My ABS light has been on intermittently, and Dale looked at my brake pads today – and of course, they are toast.  I bought the ‘upgraded’ semi-metallic pads – per his instructions.  I hate spending $68 of June’s $175 miscellaneous budget on stuff like this – I mean, I want to buy FUN stuff, not the basics!  However, the truck needs to stop; that is unarguable.  So………..in the next couple of days Dale is going to install them.  I might in fact wash the rims – a first. 

Well – a couple of pictures – I just have to figure out this software!  OK – I found the insert picture icon – if I can find what I just downloaded into this new laptop, life will be good!  So – a picture of Emma as the graduate, a picture of the three kids, and a picture of the view from my  rear window here at the F & F Arabian Ranch! 

Emma – May 15, 2010 – Macalester College, St Paul MN

Christian, Emma & Eli

Rear Window View at the F & F Arabian Ranch

 

Sun!

The sun came out!  Rained all night – and it’s clouding up again – but we had a mostly sunny day!  Woo hoo – Memorial Day weekend and Spring has come to Bend.  :)

Got my laptop squared away with programs and old files today, shopped at Costco, ran into an old customer which was lots of fun, and visited another friend who had a booth at the Saturday market.  Lots of people out – she has done fairs for a long time I guess – and more than paid for her booth today which is always a good thing!  She does glass mosaic work and makes pendants out of Scrabble letters with pictures on the reverse side.

I pulled a tendon in my right leg this afternoon – kind of up near my butt.  It’s making stairs tedious!  I need to go sit on my bag of frozen corn for a few minutes – did it for 10 minutes earlier; it seemed to help. 

So – pretty lazy all in all.  I suspect tomorrow will be more of the same.  My finances were so screwed up in May, with people not paying what they should, when they should, and going to MN for the graduation – I have just thrown up my hands on the month – I have started June.  Well – June is starting tomorrow for me – I’m hoping it’s  more controlled.  :)

Ummmmmm – Still in Bend…………..

Hi all – well – the place in Grants Pass sent the brakes – we presume the correct ones, but at 3:09AM someone in the UPS transfer station in Roseburg OR sent them to God knows where – and it wasn’t Bend OR!  So – they are out for delivery on Tuesday, June 1. 

I am back at Cris and Tim’s – it’s a little awkward to get in here – but gorgeous once my rear is in place.  We have high overcast – it actually looks foggy – makes me think we’re at the beach, but of course, we aren’t. 

Oh, it’s a holiday weekend!  I’ll put out my little metal American flag – it’s so cute!  I got it from Carla Betts for helping with the Fourth of July parade the first year she was the official chair and I was now the ‘first assistant’.  You know – I liked doing that parade!  Sometimes I’m amazed that I chaired it for 7 years!  Lots of bagpipe bands! 

That’s it for now – going off to have lunch – need to write my poor boss – he’s going to think he’s totally lost me!  If I had fuel money I would certainly be going over to Corvallis to see Mark, but that isn’t an option, so I’ll just cool my heels.  Some more…………

 

Not ‘On the Road Again’

Well – I’m still in Bend!  Got up bright and early – those of you who know me well know I don’t exactly rise and shine – got the rig over to Coachmasters only 15 minutes late, only to discover a couple of hours later, when I was expecting the ‘we’re all done’ call that in fact the brake pads were the wrong ones.  Ahh yes…..

I’m spending the night – a chilly thunderstormy night – in the Coachmasters parking lot.  The heat is on – the dogs are asleep although they haven’t yet had dinner – I have electric hook-ups so I’m going to have some cheater mac and cheese tonight.  I’m going to take a shower and fall into bed. 

I spent the day tracking down the sewer hose collar piece that did NOT come in the box from Walmart as it should have – and I didn’t notice ‘til now as I didn’t need it ‘til now, and yes, I NEED it!  I realized how long Bend is as I drove up and down, up and down!!  My Dad commented on that when they built the parkway in 2001 – I’ve spent $40 in fuel the last week just sort of going nowhere!

Oh – the good news is the rent check cleared and I got my ‘utility’ bills paid – as well as my health insurance.  I even have fuel money.  If I ever get to leave town!  LOL  If the part is wrong tomorrow I will go back to Cris and Tim’s to wait – the view is infinitely better there! 

I’ve said goodbye to Dale yet again – bought every last little thing I think I might need; poop bags on sale, Yerba Mate for Emma, a soft Frisbee for Katy, etc.  As if these items don’t exist in Idaho or Wyoming!  I’ve told Emma my goal is certainly to be to Jackson by the 8th – she arrives from St Paul that day. One would have thought I had time to spare – now I wonder if my boss really believes I’m ever going to show up!  :) 

Maybe I’ll be on the road tomorrow – I’ll keep you posted!

Progress!

We’re in the midst of a thunder storm right now.  I’m heading out in a few minutes for my last Bend supper – at least for a few weeks.  Going to a burger place with a friend who works at Costco. 

Got a check for the rent that was due; of course the check is being covered by a deposit the tenant made today, and of course that deposit was a check – so the funds aren’t available until tomorrow – but there is a light at the end of the tunnel!  With a little luck I’ll be able to pay a handful of bills tomorrow, get the trailer brakes done and head for Idaho! 

My goal tomorrow night is somewhere near Boise.  Mark says there are some nice rest areas – boy – I’ve never done this – I wonder if I’ll sleep at all!  I’ll have to decide if a truck stop or a rest area is my better bet.  Ugh.  Oh well – it’ll all work out.  It always does!

I’ll be staying at one of two Forest Service parks managed by the Aud & Di group who are to be my bosses.  It’s been a while since I’ve had a boss!  I just realized that.  Hmmm……..wonder how this will go?  I get to stay for free if I help pick up litter.  Seems a fair trade.

I said a temporary good bye to Christian, my 25 year old, this afternoon.  I sure like the young man he is.  He has a great moral compass, and it’s becoming clear to me that’s one of the most important things we can give our kids. 

OK – enough rambling!  I know – no pictures yet – I promise – they’ll come!  Tomorrow night hello from the road – presuming I have the oomph and the aircard to do so!

Decisions

Hi all – I seem to have made at least one decision.  The park I’m to host in is still closed due to snow but I was offered a spot in the Palisades area of Idaho.  I think it’s on the Snake River.  I can meet up with my boss there and move up to Teton Canyon when the snow melts. 

I’m going to Coachmasters tomorrow night, getting the brakes done on Thursday morning and heading off to Idaho.  Hope to get to the Love’s truck stop out of Boise.  It will be my first night of staying in a truck stop by myself.  To make some of you feel better, I actually bought a can of pepper spray yesterday.  I guess I should take it out of the wrappings – it’s in what Emma would call ‘government issue plastic’ – and that can be a ‘b’ to get into – especially in time of need!

I’ve told my tenant’s Dad that I’m leaving – and am hoping someone will pony up the rent.  The money really matters to me and frankly, is peanuts to them.  I hate that he is believing his addicted daughter rather than me – but I guess maybe I’d be blind as well.  Makes me so grateful that my kid’s forays into drug use have been pretty mellow and mild.  So, so sad.

I’m working in Live Writer now – and I understand it is easier to post pictures.  First I have to download what’s in my camera.  I seem to be paralyzed by inertia these days.  That’s not like me.  Having decided what I’m doing in the next few days should help.  One foot in front of the other.  I think the cold, gray, overcast here in Bend hasn’t helped any.  I’ve always loved the enormous skies here – but when they are gray, there is just LOTS of gray! 

More soon – maybe pix of Emma’s graduation!  It was such a fabulous weekend!  Great memories.

 

Good news - bad news - hurry up and wait!

Just a quick note tonight! I'm working on the logistics of editing so this should get better, not worse! I heard from my tenant's Dad today and the good news is I think he's finally getting that she has NOT paid me all the rent that is due. With some luck that will be good news for me - good news = money!

The brakes for the trailer aren't in yet - probably tomorrow. I thought I was leaving on Wednesday afternoon for the Tetons until I got my boss' email tonight. The park I'm to be a trail head host in is still snowed in. They expect it will be the end of next week (the first week of June) before we can get in. I'm trying to decide what to do - they have offered me a spot in another park with electric hook ups only for a while - I don't know if I should go into the mountains, or just sit tight in Bend. Dale has said I can come back to his place. My heart wants to go see Mark but I think my budget won't allow that trip.

Had dinner at Greg and Karen's - did a load of laundry too. I love my friends here! OK - off to bed - need to think over my options. I'll keep you posted........... :)

The 'condo'

My living room

My kids! So proud!

Spencer & Katy

Day One

Well, this isn't really day one, but it's day one of the blog! I've been in my 'condo' for a little over a year now. I've roamed the Oregon coast, spent three months in Escondido living with friends in their house, spent several weeks in Vacaville visiting old family and friends in the SF area, spent 10 weeks in Quartzsite boondocking with valet service thanks to Larry and Sheila, and another 10 weeks in Crooked River Ranch with friend Dale.

I've had new tires, a new radiator, a new battery (truck), a new starter, hmmmmm - I don't even really want to look at that particular list! I've had solar panels installed. I have truck envy as I'd like to upgrade my '96 Dodge Cummins extended cab, long bed. I am currently coveting a 2008 Chevy Duramax X cab, long bed, but I suspect it will be a while.

I absolutely LOVE my 2000 Alpenlite. There really isn't anything I don't like about it! It is so clean and simple inside and incredibly light and bright with all of it's big windows! I took the aqua carpet, which I HATED, and just ran with it. I made a little mid-century haven (OK - a loose interpretation) but that's the feel. I brought one item from everyone special in my life to have with me. As I look around I just smile. I've enjoyed staying with friends, but I enjoy myself most when I'm in my 'condo'!

I'm on my way to the Tetons for my first Work Kamp job - a trail head host position at a NFS park in the Tetons. I need brakes on one of my trailer wheels, which should be fixed in a couple of days. Then I'll head East - 639 miles. Emma, my youngest, who just graduated from Macalester College in St Paul and has a teaching fellowship in Boston starting in August, will be flying into Jackson Hole to spend a month with me! She says she's going to whip my butt into shape. That is one of the unfortunate side effects of my new life - I'm not terribly active, and when all else fails, eat. I'm looking forward to this next adventure.

I'll keep this updated as I enter the world of cleaning toilets and directing traffic. At least that appears to be the job description! I found that I can earn up to $700 a month with my disability pending - that seems very odd to me - but whatever! This job pays minimally, but gives me a free place to stay and I'm excited. I'll also keep you posted on how Emma and I do in 300 sf!