Can't Think Of One

It has been a rainy day and all I have done is overdosed on TV. I can now do without TV for a month. Tonight I have to take a shower and then I am going to curl up with a good book. I like these days, once in a while. The only thing bad about today is the shower part, I have to walk in the cold, wet, rain to the bath house but I am going to get wet anyway.

Yesterday was just as uneventful except mom and I decided to gamble away our usual amount and I walked out with enough cash to pay for our stay at the RV Park for this week and another. We celebrated by splitting a hot dog and an order of fries. We also don’t plan to go back because why push our luck.

Hannah, I would call you when I am having one of “those” days and I will when I can. There are times when a mom can’t talk to a daughter though. It is not a pride thing, it is because I am going through a lot of emotions that I honestly don’t know where they are coming from. The last time I had a conversation with a “professional” I was given little yellow pills and I stopped crying for several years. I don’t want to make that mistake again. Maybe that is what I am doing is I am catching up on lost tears. Don’t worry I cry when I am laughing. Sometimes I cry because life is wonderful and it just takes my breath away. I will admit that sometimes I cry because I am depressed but I am fine, I am who I am…. I wouldn’t change a thing. I am okay.

Pat, mom and I are planning to head to Texas. We have to have some repairs done to the van and while waiting for parts we plan to do a little exploring. If you see a white van with a row of possums on the dash - WAVE - that is us!

Grandma Rosie - it is great to be back.

Sigh

When I tried to schedule an appointment with the Chevy Dealership that serviced the van previously I was told that my van was too big for their service department.  Then I was referred to another dealership in Tucson and that is where we were for 5 minutes today.  Obviously someone didn’t do their job but I did talk to a mechanic.  They want me to bring it in when the light is on and that might be challenging.  So we are going to bring it in Monday at 7:00 and I was told that we will be there all day.   Oh joy.   I don’t know what they are going to do that is going to take all day.  

Mom and I decided to go to Saguaro National Park and do a little hiking.  We enjoyed ourselves so much that we forgot that we needed to purchase propane.  We will be snuggling down in our blankets tonight.   Today was a nice day, fresh air does a body good. 

Tomorrow we will be cleaning house, getting propane and maybe go on another hike.

Moving On

 

Mom and I finally made it to Ajo and met up with Michael. We had a wonderful adventure exploring Chico Shunie. The pictures I took do not do this part of the world justice. Cabeza Prieta was just an amazing place and I wanted to stay longer and explore more. Michael was a wonderful host and was very knowledgeable about the area. Mom and I really enjoyed our day. It was just fantastic.

When we dropped Michael off our plans was to grab a bite and then go to the bakery and listen to some music. My brakes had a different plan. This time I felt a loss of power, enough to concern me. I went back to the park, found my road assistance number and left late morning. I was not a happy camper. When we left I saw a golden eagle and took that as a positive sign. We made it to Sells Arizona and the brake lights came back on so I stopped at a gas station and waited. We made it to Tucson late afternoon and the van will be going in tomorrow. They are going to find out what is wrong and that is that. Mom and I would have like to have stayed longer in Ajo, explored the Buenos Aires National Refuge and try to see Tubac before they close the state park. I don’t like to be in Tucson because it gets a hold of you and doesn’t turn loose. We are here until the 4th of March and by that time we should be through with our yearly physicals. Let’s hope the doctor doesn’t want to keep us.

The internet at this park is really poor. I will be on when I can. I will be uploading pictures as well.

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

All For A Date Shake

Today was the petroglyph site and as soon as we get the generator fixed we will be staying in place like that. A truly beautiful place and so quiet. We also met a very nice gentleman and he talked us to driving to Dateland for a date shake.  It was very good.  Trust me on that one.

Since we purchased our van we have had a unique problem. We have had it checked out and the only sensible conclusion would be an airplane flying overhead or radar in the air. We have had so much fun with it though. You see our horn will honk, or the doors will lock sometimes with the horn letting us know and sometimes not. Our TV turns itself off and on as well. We jokingly say “we have a ghost.” Ok I will admit we blame dad. The doors lock and mom will say “dad is around.” Tonight mom and I were engrossed with an intense Law and Order. It was coming to the conclusion and mom and I were glued…. Then the TV shut itself off. I yelled “Dad knock it off.” As soon as I said it, the TV came on. Hmmm


We are in Ajo and will be visiting Michael tomorrow. We plan to spend two nights here before continuing our slow trip back to Tucson.

Update

Nothing wrong with the brakes and the testing was covered by warranty. That is a relief. Tomorrow mom and I plan to go out in the middle of the desert and I am thankful that my brakes are in good working order. I hope to have some great pictures to share.

It has been hurry up and wait with an umbrella winter

This winter has been pretty crappy. If we were not fighting rainy, damp weather we were being given instruction on patience by the Roadtrek Company. It has been hurry up and wait with an umbrella winter. Now we are heading for Chevy dealership in Phoenix on Monday.

I will start at the beginning. I had made plans to visit the petroglyphs on Monday and a trip to Ajo afterwards. Saturday mom and I went out to eat and on the way both brake lights went on and bells started going off. It was a typical oh crap moment because I am not mechanically inclined. I pulled over and turned off the motor and gave mom that what do I do look. I grabbed the instruction manual and looked up brakes. It said “you are in a whole lot of trouble-call a tow truck.” So I turned the motor back on, thinking maybe I was seeing double or something and it was all a bad dream but I wasn’t dreaming. So I shut off the motor. I sat there thinking, my brakes felt fine, I never noticed anything different. So I popped the hood and went out to take a look around. Thank god for pictures because I found the brake fluid doohickey and checked that and it was fine. So I got back in the van and fired that baby up. I told mom we are heading back to the park and I will think about it. On the way back the lights went out. So I thought to myself “well shoot, I am going to find that Italian place and grab a pizza.” Then I hit the grocery store and went back to park. The lights never came back on. It didn’t come on when I turned on the motor this morning. I am not going to take any chances.

I sat down and read the manual about the braking system last night and it could be the sensors needed to be reset. If it turns out to be nothing but a quick fix then I will be heading back to the petroglyph site and Ajo. Somebody down there wants to buy mom and I a hamburger.

Kids, yes I knew how to open the hood without the manual, no snarky comments on me laughing when the car salesman asked me if I wanted to look at the motor… Please don’t call because you know I will if the crap hits the fan.

The Pups In My Life

I have had four pups in my life since my old friend passed. Lu and Fi – Lu couldn’t travel and Fi wanted a family. I made up my mind not to get another dog. Around Christmas this year my daughter called and she found an Affenpinscher/Poodle mix that needed a new home. I admit to being a dog snob and I always wanted an Affenpinscher. Hannah’s beau, Robert picked her up at the prison where she was residing and flew with her to Florida where we were staying.  She came with a little Christmas bow on her crate.

Perhaps “prison dog” should have been a red flag but I wasn’t looking for flags, I was looking for a furry companion. I called her Abby. I think the first few days Abby was in shock. Since she was residing in a little cell prior to moving into a van I don’t think space was an issue. I think going from an adoring inmate to two crazy women proved to be too much for her. She was a one person dog and she was trying to figure out who she was going to attach herself to. Fortunately for me she picked me. Unfortunate for ma though because once Abby decided I was the one, Abby also decided mom had to go. You think living full-time in a van is rough try living in a van with a thirteen pound dog that wants to eat you. Poor mom… one false move and Abby was going for the throat. Since the rescue wanted her returned and not dropped off at a pound, we had to live with her until Robert and Hannah caught up with us in Texas. We sectioned off the van (Divide 19 foot by 2), mom was extremely careful and didn’t make any sudden moves when she was around me, and we made do. When Robert took possession of Abby she went for him and drew blood. There is good news for Abby, she is back in prison with her inmate and she will never be adopted out again.

After Abby left I was left with an even stronger desire to have a pup. When we arrived in Tucson we decided to get a puppy. So we found Annie and she was such a sweetie. She needed a home that would suit her needs. So Annie went to live with a nice lady who lives in Iowa. I am a believer in signs and I know someone is trying to tell me to wait…. Someday a furry companion will find me.


I was asked why I still grieve for my old friend. Why after almost two years I still mourn her passing… I know that it is strange why I grieve for her like I do and not for my human friends but the truth is she didn’t bite.

Still in Gila Bend, enjoying the brief rain, and tomorrow we are going to look for petroglyphs. Thank you everyone for your comments. It is good to be back.

Happy Birthday

I am going to try and dedicate 10 minutes a day to writing and maintaining this blog. Mom and I are still traveling and exploring. We are hoping to be heading to Texas at the end of March. We have some repairs that need to be done to the van and after that we plan to head to the east coast.

My birthday was the 12th of February. Mom and I were in Bullhead City and to celebrate my 51 years we went to the Aquarius Casino in Laughlin Nevada. I am not a big fan of the seafood buffet so we ate at a small café in the casino. Our waiter was Jose and what took place in that café was just like a scene out of “Will and Grace” only I didn’t hire Jose as my personal assistant.

Yes, I got a waiter fired on my birthday.

You have to realize that I do not complain to the manager unless I am really torked off.

We were escorted to our table and about 5 minutes later a party of six was escorted to their table. We sat and we waited…. Then we waited some more and finally here comes Jose. Jose couldn’t speak English and when he did speak it was done in grunts. Mom and I told him what we wanted and off he went. The party of six waited…. Then waited some more and finally here come Jose. He took their order. 45 minutes later Jose returns with the party of six’s meal. Judging from their reaction I was afraid of what my meal was going to look like. It wasn’t long that we found out. My hamburger bun was so wet that it was dripping off the burger. Plop Plop Plop… Not very appetizing. I scraped the bun off the burger and tried to eat the hamburger. Yeah right. I picked up my ticket and went to the manager. Then I filled out a complaint on Jose. So did the party of six. No, I didn’t pay for my birthday dinner; I took the money I was going to spend on dinner and went out to the slots and won. It turned out to be a great birthday after all…. But not for Jose.

Mom and I are in Gila Bend, making our way slowly to Tucson.