30 November 2008

Tomorrow, the first of December; where does it go.  At my age it seems like I am standing still, blinking, and days have passed by.  Time, what does it mean......something that man put some structure into.  It could just be one large second......that is what it feels like.

We area at a rest stop east of Tucson, Arizona and we just took a 20 minute walk around the area.  We can both tell we are in some altitude; 4,490 feet to be exact.  It is better than being in attitude!  Our hearts are a-thumping as we haven't been in altitude since last winter.....funny, it seems like summer right now........

It is gorgeous outside and the temp is perfect; clear, cool, and brilliantly sunny.  The rock formations are beautiful.  We found several that looked like big animals; a whale, turtle and a lizard.

Chet, who is a real trooper,(and fears for our lives) has driven the whole trip as the electrical system is malfunctioning somehow and the batteries won't stay charged.  They are fine so it is something we have to have looked at by Freightliner.  Chet is looking for someplace we might stop to have it looked at.  He has to keep his eye on the battery light and then turn on the generator or hit the booster switch.  Seeing that my fingers are glued to the steering wheel when I drive and my eyes won't leave the road I probably wouldn't do so well....the coach would roll to a stop in no time fast!!!!

We finally left Texas last night and stayed in a really nice rest area in New Mexico.  There was a marathon of the tv show Dexter on so we watched 3 1/2 episodes.  We are caught up as it is on at the same time as a different show that I like.  We can watch them both now as we have east and west coast feed on our tv.  I don't know if you watch it but I really got tired of his sister's character.......she is a real garbage mouth and it gets a bit tiresome.......that is from someone who never swears..........ha ha............

We have to add a kitty photo section to our web page.  They get into some of the most bizarre sleeping situations.  We have been taking a lot of cute photos of them.

We are going to get on our way so happy day to you; or second................

29 November 2008

Gads!!!  It has been 29 days since we left the island and started our way west.  That is amazing.  We ride in our now 1/2 time home and watch the world go by.  We just passed someone pushing a shopping cart along Interstate 10....trust me, we are in the middle of NOWHERE!!!....milepost 181...only 181 miles until we are out of Texas.......no disrespect WC and Leslie.

Happy belated Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate.  We spent our 2nd, not in a row, turkey day with WC and Leslie, one of their two sons and daughter and respective families.  Four little ones ranging from not to be born until January to 2, 4, and 6 years old.  They are very cute and we had a nice time.  It is their tradition to go to Threadgill's Restaurant.  People start lining up before it opens at 11:00 a.m.  The last time we were finished before noon which seemed a little strange to me.  I had a hard time adjusting to eating so early.  This year we finished at 12:30 and that seemed just fine to me.  We then went back to their son's house and promptly fell asleep.  We, a collective we, as Chet and I weren't the only ones.  

Later the 4 men went to a Texas football game which was 1/2 hour away but left at 3:30 to miss the traffic to be in time for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff witnessed by 98,000 people. Chet said they walked about a mile from the car to the stadium and had a lot of time to kill before the game started.  I guess the score, being completely lopsided at 1/2 time, allowed them to leave and come home early. 

I did a lot of knitting while Laura and Amy looked at the "Black Friday" ads and plotted their strategy for being at the stores at 4:00 a.m.   Leslie and I respectfully declined.

She and I left to return to our motor homes around 9:00 p.m. and as we left we saw a policeman sitting at a 4 way stop.  She did her thing and we turned the corner to see the flashing blue lights.  What a lovely way to end a sweet day......not!!!  He had to stop her to issue a warning regarding the light on the rear license plate holder being out.  Maybe he was bored.

We got back to the park and our hubbys rolled up to the sound of Moose and Twilly sitting on the air horn of the MH.  That was probably greatly appreciated by all of the other people there.  Chet checked our license plate's illumination and it was okay.

We left Round Rock yesterday and passed through Austin but didn't stop.  I wanted to go to Fredericksburg where we had spent a couple of days the time we spent a month in Texas with WC and Leslie.  It is the nicest tourist trap I have been to yet.  We ate at the same German restaurant we had gone to the last time and had a great meal.  I then got to rummage through a couple of shops while Chet snoozed in the car.  I only made it to 3 stores before I had done more damage than I needed to, so I ambled back to the car .  We went back to WalMart and hooked up and drove for several hours before stopping at a rest area for the night.

We have been riding and riding and riding and riding and looking at Texas and listening to a book on tape.  It is thrilling to have to drive hundreds of miles through not much of anything; not even a cornfield.  We did see our first cacti, though.  Riding and listening to a very boring story that we keep hoping is going to get better and listening to the lady's voice who is reading it has been almost more than we can bear.  We're hoping the old man in the story will die already so we don't have to hear her try to make herself sound like an old man.  We are at a rest area right now and Chet is napping and I am cherishing the silence.

I always read these to Chet before he posts them for me and I was going on about how bored I am today....He asked me if I wrote an A-muzing muze.  Bad isn't it!!!!!!!!!

I have to get back to my knitting so I can finish Lilli Mae's blanket; a pink and purple one, fit for a Princess...................

25 November 2008

We had a bit of a time getting out of New Orleans today........perhaps too many tortured souls needing to be heard.  It felt like it was time to leave as the heaviness was becoming too oppressive; an area filled with pain.

We showered, got the car hooked up and we left.  We disengage the tranny when we tow the car and use a key to turn the ignition 1 quick click so it will follow and let the steering wheel turn freely.  The trick is the key.  Somehow it didn't get turned as far as it needed to be.  We got into a huge traffic jam going over the Huey P. Long bridge and were going very slowly most of the way.  When we got off someone motioned us over...the tires weren't turning properly and we fortunately only rubbed a little of the passenger side tire.  It can be a very expensive disaster.  We said our thank you's and drove on.

I only counted 3 noses and 12 furry legs....Twilly was no where to be found.  He slips out sometimes and ended up being outside almost 7 hours one day at the park.  I was slightly hysterical and getting more so as I was tearing through the MH.  I'm crying, for a change, and yelling for Chet to get off the freeway.  He did and we were both getting frantic.  We were looking everywhere and getting ready to go back and start looking where we stopped.  We full well knew that we would never find him where we had stopped to check the car but were going to try.  We looked in the drawer under the sofa and voila, Twilly.  I am tired of my stomach being in a knot and it has been most of the time in New Orleans.  We had a nice time and saw a lot but there is an underlying feeling of pain and sorrow.

Right now we are in Texas at a rest area to watch SVU and get a bite to eat and then we are going to push on a while longer.  We are really looking forward to seeing WC and Leslie and will spend our 2nd turkey day with them and their family. Their daughter-in-law is very pregnant so it will be a low key day.  We like Austin and want to go to the Whole Foods again.  It is their headquarters and it is a visual treat.  We also have to go to Costco and change our Garmin GPS back to a Magellan.  The Garmin can't seem to get us where we want to go.  Anyhow, it has attitude....tee hee.

Have a lovely..........

 

24 November 2008

It is Monday and severe rain with the possibility of thunderstorms is the forecast.  Severe???????  I don't think I like that word.  Chet has gone to the laundry in the park where we are to do our wash and I am going to start the housecleaning.  We are scheduled to leave tomorrow but may leave later today if we get finished with what we have to do.  We will be heading to Austin Tx. to spend a couple of days with our friends, WC and Leslie, who we met on the road 3 years ago.  We always try to meet when we are anywhere near each other as we travel the country.  We love our time with them.

Yesterday we did our ride to the Lower Ninth Ward to see the newly built Musician's Village, Habitat for Humanity homes and the project that Brad Pitt started right at the area where the levee breached.  Musicians Village was a several block area with houses that were the same with a heat pump unit on a platform behind the house and a shed for storage.  They were all painted happy bright colors.  Habitat for humanity was in full swing.  The other development is just starting and a few homes were finished  They are all solar powered and look to be a green community.  The shapes of the houses were quite different; modern.  There was information re: the development and it had the statistics of the 1,800 people who died from the hurricane.  1,000 of those who died were from the Lower Ninth Ward.

We sat by the levee and just looked across to nothing but weeds and torn up streets, where you could see streets.  I saw a patch of tall water plants growing which was strange to see amongst the weeds.  It will take years to rebuild, if ever.  The levee is rated for a category 4 hurricane.  I have a hard time understanding why it is being rebuilt at all as we know we have no control over Mother Nature.

We started to go to the area by Lake Pontchartrain where the water was supposed to have been over 10 feet.  We passed through an area of New Orleans as I remembered it.  The big old mansions with huge old trees with moss hanging to the ground.  There were blocks and blocks and blocks of the old cemeteries with the above ground burials.  The amount of money it cost to build the amazingly elaborate burial sites; some the size of small homes is obviously quite a lot.

We decided we had had enough and turned around to go to the French Quarter to walk around the Marketplace.

The shock and despondency that I felt for two days was not as acute yesterday.  

We are driving through Houston tomorrow and Leslie said people are still in tents from hurricane Ike that hit in September of this year.  Unless we see from the freeway, I doubt we will seek out the destruction.  I just watched a video on youtube and that was enough.

Have a sunshiny day, at least in your hearts..................

Hmmmmmm, we will have to see just exactly how hard it is raining to determine when we leave.  You sure can't run for the hills here....

 

 

22 November 2008 Part B

I finally rose at 10:30 this morning after a heavy night.  My eyes have not stopped leaking yet as I am still sorting.  We went for a drive out towards the bayou today to go to a restaurant that was there but not repaired enough to be open.  We saw a lot of rebuilding again, but amongst that, so much more devastation.  

We went to the French Quarter and walked around for a while this evening.  It was crazy (my age is showing) as I had some fun there in my youth.  That is probably the most night life we have been in since we started traveling.  We usually stay away from it except for a movie on occasion.  We're real rip roarers.......not!

Tomorrow will be another day of exploration as we couldn't take the heaviness that we experienced two days in a row.  We will go see where the levees broke and some of the areas that are being rebuilt by Brad Pitt, Habitat for Humanity and the Artist's Village.  

Chet doesn't ask to stay places longer too often but did not want to leave here yet.  I was glad he expressed his feelings.  I said we should find a little piece of property here and spend our winters.....just a fantasy!

Peace to you all, I quit for now.

Love to you and thank you all for your responses today and love and thanks for my sharing this with you.

 

22 November 2008

 

It is 4:57 a.m. Saturday morning.  I had to get up as my head has been whirling for hours.  Lying in bed thinking isn't particularly comforting when thoughts are not pleasant.  There are a few different things going on that have made me feel like I have been splattered against the wall and pieces of me are oozing down it.  One I will share with you now, as I have to get it out of my head and on to paper.

 

We went for about a six hour ride ride yesterday.  We went to The Lower Ninth Ward and south along the Mississippi Gulf Coast to see, first hand, what happened when Katrina struck.  I knew, while we were riding around, that I would have a delayed reaction to what I saw.  It is inexplicable.  All I have seen on television cannot even touch the reality of seeing firsthand the utter destruction that was wreaked on these areas.

This is America, this is a travesty.  I can only begin to understand, now, what it must be like to live in a war zone or the places where genocide is happening, what fear must run through the plundered and some of the plunderers.  My god, it feels like the world is going down the drain-as water when the stopper is pulled out of the tub.

 

We saw the Mississippi Gulf Coast before the hurricane hit and the beauty of the old homes was astounding.  The complete and utter destruction of the landscape and the homes and businesses is unfathomable.  Brick, stone, wood homes gone, but for some pieces of the foundations.  The trees that survived were putting out new leaves and limbs after three years.  The debris still piled around, the stilts in the water that used to hold piers.  The new bridges that were built to replace the ones washed out, that enabled access to Bay St. Louis and Waveland.  It was hard to see,; to look at and absorb, but it is being slowly rebuilt as the area took a direct hit from the hurricane and insurance money was perhaps more accessible to the fortunate who had the deeds to their properties.

 

It was a beautiful day and difficult to mix the devastation with the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico and the white sand.

 

The part I am having the hardest time with is what we saw when we went to The Historic Lower Ninth Ward, as the rather new looking concrete sign said as we entered.  We didn't go to the other areas that, too, were devastated.

 

I don't know how to explain the utter devastation before our eyes.  I have seen it over and over on the television and was in no way prepared to see what it was like first hand.  All I can do is share some of what I saw which will in no way impart to you the vastness of the devastation.  We are going back today with a better understanding of where the levees were breached, exactly, with the help of google earth.  It is possible to go to the sight and go up and down the streets and see for yourselves as it has been documented on ‘Google Earth’ using ‘street view’, under ‘layers’.  I have no idea how many pictures we took from the car as we drove around.  It felt like we had crashed a funeral; deeply personal and private yet almost devoid of life.  There were blocks after blocks where the homes have been demolished with a few left standing here and there.  Perhaps 1 in 50 homes were being rebuilt and I felt discomfort as I drove by something so deeply personal.  The pavement was torn up and the wires still hung in a jumbled mess from the light poles.  One pole that was split and leaning was secured by a few 2x4's.  I had to do a double take.  The lots or ground, as the actual lots were not discernible, were covered by 3 years of weeds and tall grass that survived; very few trees left standing.  

 

As an offshoot, the trees as we entered New Orleans for miles were just bare sticks standing as a testament to the force of the wind that stripped them naked.  Other areas they were snapped in half and there was a half sized forest of sticks.  

 

Getting back on track......there is some rebuilding happening, perhaps 1 in 50 of the scattered houses that are left standing.  The writing on them left from when they were inspected, one by one, and marked with initials of the inspecting crew, the number of dead or alive, and something else I can't remember; one house sprayed with dead dog in garage.  The standing houses were stripped naked and it was possible to look straight through them and see some drywall and just plain studs.  We saw piles of appliances strewn about.  There was one blue house that was buckled in a strange way and upon further notice there was a truck embedded in the house with the front lights and grille showing.  

 

We were speechless most of the time, I full well knowing that the wetness welling up in my eyes was going to hit me hard and that it did at 2:00 a.m. when I woke.  It is now 5:48 and I have to go back to sleep to be able to get up and do the rest of our sightseeing today.

 

You might ask why would people live below the water line.....I have no answer other than they did and were there, plundered and then torn out of their homes and neighborhoods probably never to return.  So much poverty, so much and it was that way for years.  Perhaps just owning a home was the dignity that the residents wanted.  I just know humans can be very inhumane.  Perhaps out of the inhumanity we show to others as humans allows some to rise above and be humane.

 

I just read this to my sweet husband, who is sitting up with me.  I asked him if what I had just written touched what we saw today.  He looked at me and said, "a bit".  As you can now see, it is impossible to describe.

 

20 November 2008

Another sweet day had by us in "The Big Easy".  We went back to Mother's Restaurant for lunch.  Chet had Jambalaya and we shared some greens.  I just tasted his lunch and I have been breathing fire ever since.  Oh boy, I won't do that again.  My Maalox will accompany me to bed tonight.

Afterwards we walked to the IMAX to see "Hurricane on the Bayou".  We were expecting more Katrina footage but it wasn't what we got.  There was some, but a good part of it was about the shrinking wetlands that are disappearing at an astounding rate due to man made causes.  They are trying to rebuild them by planting mangrove trees and other things that will keep the sand from washing away.  After the movie we walked around a market place a bit and bought a few t-shirts and a few other goodies.  We managed to spend all of our cash and I wouldn't let Chet use his $20.00 lucky bill that he found the other day.   

We then went back to Mother's for Chet's bread pudding dessert.  It is like nothing we have ever tasted.  They make their coffee with chicory and could almost be eaten with a spoon.

Instead of driving over the bridge we took the ferry across the Mississippi.  It was fun and took a little more than 5 minutes.  We entered on the side and drove around it and then exited on the other side at the other end of the boat.  It runs every 30 minutes and costs $1.00 one direction and the other is free.  The lights on the river were beautiful and we saw a huge tall ship going down the river and tried to take some pictures but a huge cargo ship blocked it from the lights that would have let us photograph it.

My kitten, Moose, has been sitting on me since we got back to the motorhome.  I guess he missed me.  It is a bit hard to type with him in front of my face.

Well, my friend and loved ones, another day................... 

 

19 November 2008

We had an absolutely splendiferous day today.  We woke to startling sunlight and slowly got ready to go to the information center.  It was closed on Wednesday.  We drove across the Mississippi....into the city to have lunch at Mother's Restaurant; a restaurant that has been there for 70 years.  It was great....Chet had gumbo and red beans and rice.  I had a po' boy sandwich of ham, beef, cabbage, pickles, mustard, au jus on a roll.  It was great.  Chet had the most amazing bread pudding I had ever tasted for dessert.  We walked to Canal Street, through part of the French Quarter.  It was a sweet afternoon.  We started to walk back to the car and went back to Mother's instead so Chet could have some pecan pie and coffee and I could use the toilet after having 3 glasses of diet soda and a glass of water during our first visit.  We ended up talking to a couple for some time about Newfoundland and Twillingate.  That was fun; just like being in a restaurant in T'gate.  We then went for a ride to the riverfront park and walked to see the water.  After being approached by a very drunk young man who was getting a bit belligerent, we decided to leave until daytime.  There was an old riverboat with a calliope aboard and someone was playing it.  We saw the ferry we will take across the river to go to IMAX to see Hurricane at the Bayou.  It was being made coincidentally as Katrina hit so they certainly got to expand upon it.  Tomorrow we are going to take a Greyline tour of the hurricane ravaged areas.  We decided on the 2:30 one so we wouldn't miss it.  Tee hee.  We had to go to Home Depot for some wood to put under our jacks as they are sinking in the asphalt.  All is good..................we are smiling!

 

18 November 2008

Here we are all snuggled in our campground, Bayou Segnette, in Westwego, La.  It is a state park and we will take a ferry across the Mississippi to the French Quarter.  First we will go to the visitor's center tomorrow to get the low down on what to do.

Usually when we ride through the downtown of a big city the skyline and the buildings are very beautiful in a downtown sort of way.  The downtown we passed today looked tired and battered.  It was a sad feeling.  We started our approach to the city and had to go across a pretty long bridge next to a new one being built.  We went over several sections made out of metal.  It really rattled a lot and I was yelling oooooohhhhh.  I didn't like it one bit.  The sides of the concrete parts of the bridge were made of the concrete pieces they use on freeways when you have to change lanes during road construction.  Every so often there were regular sections of the sides of the bridge.  It was long.  I found out it was the one that was washed out in the areas we rattled across.  Oh boy, it feels weird just writing that.  After that, we went over a really high bridge as they have to make them tall enough for the ships to go in and out, to and from the ocean and the Mighty Mississippi.  It is one of the largest ports in the world here.  I always get the willies when I go over big bridges, ever since I was a child.  I have a real love/hate relationship with big bridges.  Being in the motor home makes you feel like you are hanging out over the edge.

We circled around the downtown area after passing areas that you could see the devastation of Katrina.  Some of the buildings still covered with tarps, some with the walls missing and you could see clear through them.  We haven't even been where it was the worst so we have only seen the surface.  The park where we are is being worked on and the cabins they rent won't be ready for another 2 years.  There is a levee that runs along the edge of the park.  It is the only with a FREE laundry that we have ever been to.  I spoke to the girl in the office who had to leave here after the hurricane.  She said she cried every day until she got back.  I told her I used to cry when we would see the tv while in Montana.  I said shame on this country for what they didn't do.

We were really hungry and were told to go to a restaurant near to here.  It served trays of crayfish, crab, deep fried stuff and nothing the color of green.  I like green with my meals and that is not mold......salad or fresh, cooked veggies.  The waitress had a real bad attitude so we decided to go somewhere else.  We come to New Orleans and where do we end up...........The Texas Roadhouse.  Maybe tomorrow we will find something more authentic.

We took a walk for the second time since we left T'gate.  This flu is traveling all over me.  Yesterday it felt like I was going to get the stomach flu and today it is in my head .  My chest is feeling better.   Ahhh the simple pleasures in life.

Yesterday, we had to stop in Birmingham, Alabama, to take Moose to the vet; all 3.8 pounds of him.  He has a bad flu and after spending a lot of dollars we left with him and 3 different medicines.  He got 2 shots and is a lot perkier tonight.  He spends his time nursing on Twilly and Freddie.  Those dufuses just lay there like a mommy cat and let him go to town.  I guess they're all getting something from it?????????????

It is time to hit the hay so we can start exploring tomorrow.  We think we sill stay until Sunday before heading to Texas.

Hello to all of our friends.....we miss our stick house but love being on the road again..................

 

16 November 2008

We just crossed into Alabama which turned this into a 4 state day......Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama.  Chet is getting weary so we are heading 10 more miles south to a WalMart.  We pulled in to an information center/rest stop but it was posted no overnight parking so we decided we wouldn't push it so we are moving on.  Sometimes we do stay when it is posted and so does everyone else.........

Last night we pulled into a WalMart as I said to Chet that we should stay there as we wouldn't have to listen to the trucks and their generators at the rest stop.  We got to the WalMart and there must have been 10 truckers there.  We've never seen so many, maybe 1 or 2.  We pulled behind and to the right of a livestock hauler and I asked Chet to move but he assured me it was empty.  It is those times I hate the fact that I eat meat.  We got all settled in and a big 5th wheel trailer pulled in next to us.  We had the tv on so we didn't hear their generator until we went to bed.  It was so loud and was actually vibrating our bed.  I was really furious as the whole point of not going the extra 10 miles to the rest area was so we could have quiet.  Chet asked me if I needed any quarters for the vibrating bed, as he did his usual go to sleep immediately trick.  I lay there thinking of all of the things I could say or do but finally decided no one was attending my war so I went to sleep.  It was still whining along when I woke up this morning.  I managed to keep myself contained and not at their door asking them why they couldn't have gone somewhere across the parking lot....oh well, we are now at the Alabama WalMart and are all by ourselves which is nice.  

I feel a little better today but still not up to snuff.  We were supposed to stop and see our friends, Eddie and Linda, in Tennessee, but I called them and said I didn't feel well enough.  We are on our way to New Orleans and very excited about that.

We stopped in Nashville at Costco this afternoon.  Most people go to listen to country music and see the sights of the town.  We have been there twice and have been to Costco twice.  We really rip at the sightseeing sometimes.  The sky was clear and the sun was shining.  I wasn't quite sure what to do....it has been weeks since we have seen a clear, sunny day.  Chet said it was like that the day we were in Nashua, NH, but I was on a shopping mission.  

Chet did take a picture of a missile at the rest stop a little while ago.  It was a Saturn 1B, the kind used for the early Apollo moon missions.  They were the ones used before the moon landings.  They are built here in Alabama.

I have only ventured out of the motorhome twice in several days and just sat in the waiting room at the Fleetwood plant.  This has been a nasty sick and I am trying to behave and not push it.

The kitten is still sneezing and has a runny eye but there is nothing wrong with his appetite.  We will see how he is tomorrow and decide if he needs to see a doctor.  Poor little guy.

It's terrible watching California burn.  More than 800 homes, mobile homes, and apartments gone.  I remember every November being fire season.  The Santa Ana winds always come.  I remember watching one fire just about 1/2 mile from my home many years ago.  That's why I said to Chet that we should leave Malibu 2 years ago when we were wakened as there was a fire that had started up the canyon behind the RV park.  We left quickly as I was only too familiar with the California fires.

I will tell on myself......we went to eat supper at a buffet several nights ago at a really cute place that was filled with antiques and many things were outside; phone booth, old train, gas pumps, wagons, wheels, a metal horse, and on and on.  We left the restaurant and I was still taking in the sights.  There was a square enamel looking box with a hose coming out of it next to a gas pump.  I said to Chet to look at the old thing they used to fill tires.  He replied "it is what they use to water their hanging plants with, dear".  Fortunately there was a bench there as I just doubled over in hysteria.  We had a VERY big laugh and I told him he had better not EVER tell our friend WC who always loves to tease me mercilessly as he says "why, it's just so easy".  We were talking to him this afternoon and I started laughing so I took the phone and shared my story.  He said in his Texas/Oklahoma drawl, "Gaye, it's so good to hear you".  Oh, we have some good laughs with him and Leslie, often at my expense, due to my gullibility.  It is good for the soul when in fun.

Hopefully we can post this as Chet is having a hard time getting hooked up to the internet.

Peace to you................  

 

15 November 2008

Here we sit in Decatur, Indiana, and the rain is relentless.  We are in a gravel/dirt parking lot with 50 amp electrical hookup.  I was too sick to move yesterday so we thought we would stay the weekend.  Boredom is setting in and December is drawing closer so if the rain lets up sufficiently I suggested we hit the road towards Tennessee.  

I was really counting on going to Shipshewana to the Amish town but they are expecting snow flurries and here and just plain snow there for the next 5 days there.  I can't see myself going outside in my condition or the forecast conditions.  

The night before last I woke to not being able to get enough air and was pretty close to a trip to the ER.  I was finally able to get the dryness in my throat and chest to moisten with lots of hot water and a Lifesaver.  Maybe that is why they call them Lifesavers.  I slept and groaned a lot yesterday and by bed time I was ever so slightly better.  I had a pretty good night and am able to talk a bit today.  I guess that is enough to make me want to leave.  I suggested we go see Linda and Eddie for a day and then head over to New Orleans.  That sounds intriguing and Chet thought so, too.  From there to see WC and Leslie and then off to California.  The time just gets away from us.

At least we are sitting out my ailment for free instead of in Malibu as we did last year at about $56.00 a night.

I don't have much else to tell you except that we are still astounded about the cost, or lack of, for repairs to our coach after 2 days in the shop.

California is ablaze again.  It seems to be a November thing...........what a shame for those affected.  

 

12 November 2008

It is now 7:23 a.m. and we just found a McDonalds so we cold sit and drink coffee and decaf for me.  We dropped off the coach and of course we had to take the cats with us........so get this picture in your mind.  Our car is filthy; covered with mud from the unpaved roads at Cynthia's and a mixture of rain and snow and of course, the towing of the car.  The motorhome doesn't look much better, either.  We are bundled up as it was pretty chilly at 5:55 when we drove over to the Fleetwood factory.  We knew, but didn't really want to think about the fact that we had to take the cats with us.  Sooooooo...........Chet had to unload enough stuff from the car, that we call our garage, so we could put 4 beds, 4 cats, potty box, food and water on top a layer of chairs and various and sundry other things that cover the back of the car.  I don't think the floor shows anywhere but the front of the car and that is where we put the food.  This should be an interesting day!  I said we look like we live in our car with 4 cats.  It is quite the picture and I will take one if I have my camera.  There wasn't even room for the blanket I am knitting.

I'm sick, and had about 5 hours of sleep.  We went to WalMart last night to buy an alarm clock so we could set it and our phones so we would get up.  Brett called at 4:30 when he woke to go to the bathroom.  We figured if he was up at 2:30 he could call and make sure we were up.  He got up at 1:30 and called us.  I never heard a thing.

The cats can't figure out what's going on.  They'll be okay as they are pretty good guys.  Moose was shaking as he hasn't really been out in the world at all and I was holding him as we talked to the service men.  We will need new batteries as Chet had to keep the generator on a good part of the driving time so he could hit the auxiliary switch to keep the batteries going.  We didn't want to buy new ones before they checked them to make sure the alternator was okay.

We have NO idea what we will do today......it will be interesting as it unfolds but first we will go back to the factory parking lot and take a nap in the car.  At least we won't look too silly there, i.e. like we have a reason to be in the car with 4 cats and asleep.

Being around Jack and Annie made my heart ache for Jack and Lilli Mae.  He, who has been able to lug around more than his body weight since learning to walk; his sensual side with the hands that have to touch and feel everything.  I remember how his fingers softly moved along the stalks of high grasses as they gently swayed in the wind.  How he loves to be tickled and told me I was the "tickling grandma" and MiMI was the "playing grandma".

The freckles across his nose that I see in his pictures make that beautiful face even more adorable.  Lilli Mae, who can tussle with the best of them, who comes down the stairs all dressed in her princess outfits.  How she loves to dress up and and twirl like a ballerina.  It will be interesting to see how they have changed since we las saw them in April.  

This is the longest I have been separated from my boys in their whole lives.  Even when Mitchell modeled and lived in Japan and Italy, it wasn't this long.  My boys/men who have hearts of pure gold and platinum and the most precious gemstones known.  That doesn't mean they are perfect all of the time; it just means that they are so preciously "there" when they are needed.  My daughter's, and their love for their children and their men; my sons.  We don't all live in a fairy land.....this a mom speaking of the things she cherishes most in the world..........and then there is my husband who allows me to be exactly who I am; a woman, a wife, a child, a mother, an artist, slightly tilted and a pain in the ass on many occasions.  I am a blessed woman.  

Fortunately, I am learning to live one day at a time and realize it's all ok.  Learning to be able to live my life.  It is a process.  We live in a motor home and that has been home for 5 years.  We are now into year 6 and as Chet puts it.......we live in our wheel home and the world goes by our windows.  It is a strange but incredible way to live and we LOVE it.  

We had better go see what is happening in the car....................catch you later.

It is later and I am just ga-ga...so tired but wanted to finish this before I take a nap.

We went back to the lot at the repair place and bless my husband.  He just closes his eyes and goes to sleep.  I couldn't do it so I went into the waiting room and sat on the couch.  My legs were cold and wouldn't warm up so I eventually asked if I could go get a blanket from the coach.  The man I asked went for me and I had my night- night.......all I could do was snuggle up and close my eyes.  I never got to sleep.  They close at 2:30 and were not finished so we are parked about a mile away at another one of their buildings.  We have electricity so that is nice.  I am able to use the dryer to dry my vest that I managed to spill my soda all over.  I rinsed it out and it is drying right now.

We just ate and are in bed for a nap as I can't think straight.  It is 5:23 here.

I heard from Marilyn yesterday and it was so sweet.  We miss them as much as she says they miss us.  We really care for them a lot.  I am fading fast, so goodnight  

 

11 November 2008

We are off to a rip roaring start to Indiana.

This morning we had to go to Costco as our printer ate a piece of paper last night and we couldn't get it out as it had rolled around some unreachable place.  We got a new one and exchanged my cute little Nikon camera for a Canon due to its lag time in snapping a picture.  We then went to Staple's to get some card stock for new business size cards for our pertinent information and some greeting card sized paper.  I also found this neat lap board to use for my computer while riding.  Chet had bought some paper last evening at the local Meijer market but the card stock was pretty flimsy.

We went back to Cynthia and Steve's to shower and get hooked up to leave.  All went well but we had to go right out of the driveway instead of left as there wasn't enough room to turn.  We followed the GPS and ended right back at Costco......oh well it was a good try.  We were being routed a different way than we had planned.  We need to go to a Flying J and dump and refill with water.  We also have to check the propane as we loved running our partially fixed heat.  Chet took advantage of our wrong direction and returned the paper to Meijer's and on the way out he found a $20.00 bill.  That was profitable.

Now, we are headed in the right direction!!!!!!

It is really cute how the cats were all lined up in their beds on the couch/Chesterfield!  Their little heads were all sticking up when Cynthia came to bid us adieu.  Now Moose is all tucked in with Freddie in the smallest of the 4 beds.  I guess they are all warm and toasty.

Aha, here we are at the Flying J..............

We had a nice visit with Cynthia and the kids.  She was the only one that was well.  Steve was really sick and we are crossing our fingers.  She came in to say bye as she had to get Annie from pre school but I assured her we would still be there when she got back; we were..................it was a good thing as we hadn't taken any pictures of her, Jack of the wealth of information and Annie of the perpetual smile.  Cynthia is a dear friend and like a daughter to me and I love her dearly.  This is the 4th trip to see them since being on the road.  They live in a beautiful tree lined and covered area with ponds in yards and some streams.  The roads are not paved as the people want to keep the area rural.  There are some amazing estates there.  We giggled and said it felt like we were on a Newfoundland paved road as we bounced and rattled out of there.

I'm not so sure crossing my fingers is going to do much for me as my chest is tight and last evening I felt like I had been hit by a tractor.  Speaking of tractors, I may get to fulfill one of my life fantasies and get to drive Jon's tractor when we get to Eureka.

We just bought a bunch of books on tapes which we have really enjoyed except they are all cassettes and we don't have anything to play them on so Chet just returned them.  $3.00 a box was too good to be true.

My lap board works great for typing in my seat.

We are getting no place fast tonight...............but that is okay!

 

9 November 2008

We just drove through a snow storm to get back to our wheel home.  It is so strange as the flakes look like they are coming straight at you.  It was so pretty.  We went to eat and had chinese food and sushi....yum, then to our 3rd movie in almost 7 months and saw "Changeling" with Angelina amazing lips.  It was HEAVY and we didn't bounce out of it.  We have been laying low as we have been on the go, pushing, since we left our stick house.  Chet went to bed at 7:30 last night.  We had to go back to Target today as we never got 1 of our bags of stuff yesterday so.............

I don't have much exciting news for you at the present time.  The trees are so very beautiful.  I got a little camera, a Nikon Coolpix, to carry with me so we have a camera more accessible.  I took a lot of pictures of the snow on the car and the motorhome and some pictures of the trees.  Grant you, what I think of as a lot of snow is not much to people who live in it.  Maybe I will get the chance in T'gate next winter.

Not much to say except "Hello"......................

 

7 November 2008

Good morning.......and a good one it is.  We had a good night sleeping at the information center and I even went to bed at 11:00 p.m.  That is about 2 hours earlier than usual for me.  

We are on our way to our friend Cynthia's in Grand Rapids, Mi. and will get there this afternoon, late.  Unfortunately it will be a quick visit as she has to work 12 hour shifts on the weekend at the hospital but some time is better than none.   We don't want to push it with winter coming and hit some snow before we get to head due south after Indiana. We will get there this evening and stay until Tuesday when we have to head to Indiana for our 6:00 a.m. appointment for the coach at the factory.  It is a good thing we got the steps fixed in NH.  They worked for almost a day and are so bad now that we just keep them retracted.  We keep a stool at the door so we don't forget and walk out with no steps.  We know someone who did and she broke her collarbone.  I am tired of pain and hurting myself so I will be well aware of the step situation.  I am already hyper vigilant as they have been broken for so long.  It was always a guess as to whether they would slide when getting in or out of the beast.  I guess I am trying to assure my boys that I pay very close attention to this problem.......it's all the other things we need to worry about as I am usually going 5 directions at a time.

Guess I had better get some breakfast.........

We are at Cynthia's and Steve's now and it is amazing that almost 2 years have gone by since we saw them last.  Jack and Annie have gotten big and are really cute.  

The farmland in Pennsylvania and Ohio is so pretty.  It is a lot more lush here as there is more than a minimal amount of dirt for things to grow as in NL. 

We are really tired after a long day's ride and are off to bed................

 

6 November 2008

It is 8:55 p.m. and we just crossed from New York into Pennsylvania.  We stopped at the information center, hopefully for the night.  My Grey's Anatomy starts at 9:00 and Chet is putting up the satellite dish to find a signal.  Hurry..........only 2 minutes to go.

We started at noon today and it certainly wasn't because of the view at our campground.  We fall into our habits easily even when the time changes and we pick up hours.  We still seem to have trouble getting on the move.  That's okay, I guess, as we have no time clock to punch....the joys of retirement!!!!!!

My show is on so I will be leaving now..............

 

5 November 2008

This is not how I was planning to start my muze today, but we are driving through the mountains of Vermont and it is almost like a Twillingate sunset.  The sky is afire with the most sumptuous hues of oranges and pinks.  Our first year on the road we decided that Vermont was our favorite state.  I should say that feeling has not changed one bit.  We're not on the freeway and we are driving through the quaintest towns with rambling brooks along the sides of the road.

All is well in our world.  We went to Costco yesterday and were sitting at our favorite place in Costco having a Costco dog.  I mentioned to Chet that there was an amazing feeling of peace in the universe; peace and a stillness.  He said he could feel it too.  We sat and let it permeate our bodies and then had a lovely walk around the store.  I took Chet back to the motorhome and went wandering in the stores for the rest of the afternoon before we had to drive to Concord, NH, to get the motorhome fixed today.  We now have working steps and heat.  We still need more done so we called the Fleetwood factory and were told that they were booked until the end of December.  I said, "I guess we won't be there".  A lovely gentleman named Dwayne helped us.  While dropping calls and reconnections, he left a message to call him back.  He talked to the service department and arranged to get us in at 8:00 am Wednesday, week.  I told him I would be there with bells on my toes and thanked him over and over.  He told me that someone with the name of Gaye Flyer can't be bad and he did this for us.  See, kindness prevails.

I got to bed late last night and woke with tears in my eyes this morning.  Memories of my childhood and my daddy flooded me with emotions that ran to my core.  I remember the first time I was allowed to ride the bus alone and came home and asked him why the  "coloreds" had to sit in the back of the bus.  I just couldn't understand as I saw them only as human beings and didn't even think of the color of their skin making a difference.  When we traveled when I was a child I saw the signs marked "whites only" and "coloreds only" on the bathrooms and drinking fountains and it just didn't compute for me.  I asked my daddy why were there those signs, what did they mean.  He explained it to me and always called me his little liberal with that sweet smile as he chuckled.  I have never forgotten  I got my fierce determination from my mom who was as tough as nails when she needed something accomplished.  My son Mitchell, tells me he learned from the biggest "bull" in the yard.  I have that same fierceness my mom had but also the spirit and demeanor of a child, in many situations.  My mother was the most artistically talented person I knew and would have shone had she lived in the "right" time.

My dad was a very soft man with a gentle smile and I didn't know of his stubbornness until it was my turn to care for him.  My dad and my mom instilled compassion in me and for that I am so very grateful.  I have to add I learned plenty of fear and shame too.  My parents, Protestant and Jewish, my dad without the college education that his brother had, them always living under the radar of discrimination, fearful that Stoll shortened from Stolowitz by a generation past, would give them away.  My being sent to a Jewish summer camp and begging to come home because I, one, hated being away from my mother and two, I didn't even know my daddy was Jewish.  I can still remember the shock in my body when they told me.  I have always reacted to incidents with various sensations in my body.   I always pained for the hurt animals and my mom said I always was bringing home the birds with the broken wings to try and save.  It was something I carried into my adulthood that has not always served me well.

My muzes are often stream of consciousness writing.  They are mine.  They are me.  I went to bed last night after seeing history made in this country.  The sound of Dr. Martin Luther King's voice was ringing in my ears.  I just looked up at the tv and saw a picture of our President elect and his family, as they walked on the stage last night and tears welled up in my eyes once again.  I got to see this happen in the United States of America.  I got to see this with my eyes and in my lifetime.  There is an African American that America elected to be our next President.  Maybe our country can start healing.  Maybe we all can be a little more compassionate.  Maybe we can take each others hands and understand that anything is possible.

May the Gods keep our future President safe...............

May I have another box of tissues.

 

3 November 2008

Where are my ponds; the large, small irregular, beautiful ponds of Newfoundland; my outports, my Twillingate.   We are driving south in Maine and I look to the side of the roads to see my old familiar ponds.....and then the sea.  None.........

We see the trees, devoid of leaves, no color.  We completely missed the fall colours in the states.  A little while ago there was a winding stream for a while but that is it.

We spent a much warmer night last night in Maine, just over the border.  We took showers this a.m. and are on our way to the town near the RV place and I am going to be in shoppers heaven.  There is no sales tax there like Oregon.  It gives me the feeling of shopping with everything on sale after the 13% sales tax in NL.  Oh, I may be inside Costco tonight, what fun!  I feel like whirling in circles when I get into a Costco.  It's fun just to look.  Sometimes, I am so easily pleased!!!!!!  We will be there all day tomorrow and I will have a full day of fun going into the stores.

We just drove over a small river that was perfectly flat and the water was pretty but....not the streams with the rocks sticking up in them as they run under the NL bridges.

Thank you to the Motosat gods...the dish went up last night and we had tv within minutes.  This morning we got hooked up to our internet and I feel so happy to have the dish working and that all went so well.  I think we even got PBS which we have never gotten before.

The sky is gray and looks like it could snow but there is none in the forecast.  That is a good thing for us.

We're listening to a book on tape which is a sequel to "Chocolat".  It is driving me crazy listening to the descriptions of the candies and hot chocolate.  I can almost smell them.

I will write more later......................

It is 4:32 p.m. now and my internal time clock is all messed up with the time changes from Canada and nationally.  It is dark here now.  I can just imagine winter in Twillingate.  

We were hungry so pulled off the freeway in to Old Town, Maine and it truly was a town named that.  It was a beautiful place built along a river with low water dams.  We had to circle to find a place to park but finally did and had a nice walk to Subway.  I figured we could Subway all across America for $5.00 a day each.  I should say that is less than you can buy food at the market for.  By the time we got to the west coast we would look like Jarred!!!!!!  

We still have several hours to drive so there will be no Costco for me tonight.

I wonder what the news is going to find to be hysterical about after Wednesday....on to another hype.  It was interesting in Canada as they had their elections and they had signs up for 3 to 4 weeks and then it was over.  It was so quiet and a pleasure not to have to listen to it for 2 years.

We went through a little of Mass. and then to NH.  We are at WALMART and bless the American yo-yo's.  The ones in the big bad truck had to drive by and honk their horn several times.  I think I like the simpler life better.............

 

2 November 2008

Type, knit, type, knit; what to do...............First, it IS snowing. I'm not my usual hysterical, happy self yelling snow, snow, snow. It is a bit disconcerting having our main HVAC system down and to be sitting 
inside of a motorhome, that could be called a luxury motorhome, in 2 pairs of pants, heavy extra furry UGG boots, two thermal long sleeve shirts, a lined sweatshirt, a hat that I had to take off so I 
could use my glasses, and fingertip-less wool gloves with a blanket and a cat on my lap. We are running the generator right now so I could plug in one of the electric heaters we have with us. On top 
of that, my nose is cold.

We took the ferry last night and got to Nova Scotia at 6:30 a.m. Let's see, we lost a half of an hour leaving NL and the clocks went back an hour. If we make it to the US today, I will be all messed up as the time will change again. It is now 9:00 and we are heading down the highway towards the states. We could get there today but will have to see how we hold out.
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Chet slept, fortunately, on the ferry with the help of some Gravol. I am glad he did as we had less than a pleasant ride for the first hour and a half. The ferry pitched, rolled and shuddered in every possible direction while staying in an upright position. The girl in the cafeteria said it got a "little" bumpy on the way in as she makes the round trip. It didn't dawn on me that it was what we were experiencing as we left, until the light 
went on in my head and realized she meant coming in to where we left from and not at the other end where we would land. There were a lot of sick people and I couldn't go to sleep so I just kept my eyes shut so I wouldn't see the boat rocking. Finally it calmed a bit and seeing I wasn't going to sleep I knitted. I finally slept from 4:00 until 6:00. Needless to say I am furiously fighting to keep my eyes open right now. I will try to finish this before I pass out. My nose is still very cold.

We slept last night in Cornerbrook at the visitor's center, as they have a dump and water there. I was still in bed at 11:00 a.m. when we heard a knock on the door. I was surprised as we have never been asked to leave where we park. It turned out to be our friends. Josee and Cal from the Harbourview Restaurant. They were on a trip and stopped to say hello and goodbye. We got on our way and had rain and snow flurries all the way to the ferry. We just stayed inside and did some straightening while we waited for the ferry. We decided to "rough it" but I am not sure I like Group sleeping on a very rocky ferry so we will see next year when we go back to Twillingate where we will sleep.

The ground is pretty white outside. We just put $435.00 worth of diesel in the beast so running the generator will have to do to keep us in heat until we get to the dealer on Wednesday in N. Hampshire. Now the rooftops are covered with snow and it is on the sides of the road. They must have had much more than flurries as we are in a winter wonderland. This is the most snow we have seen since going to Cynthia's in Grand Rapids, Mi. 4 years ago. The radio said the snow was going to stop today....we have been following the snow plow on his way to somewhere. Now that I know it is going to stop, I can enjoy it. We've never driven in snow like this in the motorhome. 

Typing is a bit difficult at best but I am at an angle or the computer would be on Freddie's head. He's happy and he is keeping my leg warm. The cats survived their ride in the belly of the ship and when we left them they were all lined up on the couch in beds. Upon returning, they were all lined up in different order on the couch. Twilly has taken to vomiting every time we leave on a trip, just the initial leave, and then the rest, except Moose, followed suit as the day went on.

Freddie just left so I can adjust myself properly and get finished for now.

When I woke yesterday, I mentioned to Chet that it felt like we had never been out of the motorhome. It was like Twillingate never happened. Maybe it was a dream; it sure felt like it and it was very strange. I guess living on the road for 5 years makes it seem very comfortable getting back in to it.

I have to take a nap right now! It is snowing VERY hard and we are stopping for some breakfast. So much for the breakfast...Chet made decaf and went in to the Starbuck's of Canada.....Tim Horton's, for real manly man coffee. He was going to post this but came back covered in snow and decided we had better get back on the road due to the supposed flurries.....NOT.....Nina, this is a new learning 
curve for the CFA's from the states.....real snow!!!!!!!! 

Oh, my glory....blue skies and thank you for the clear roads. That was a bit unnerving. Unreal, we just drove out of the almost whiteout snow to absolutely none and sun. Do we live in some other plane of existence!!!!!!!! All of the people stopped at Tim Hortons and around the area have no idea that the world WE live in just clicked over to no snow and it was only 10 minutes away from there. 

Sometimes it feels like "Outer Limits".

 

31 October month, 2008

Happy Halloween to All of You!!!!!

Oh, goodbye Twillingate!!!!!!!!!! Boo Hoo. We are sad to go but we must. I have to see my grand babies and my children. They are the only hole in the existence we have found in Newfoundland. I wish I could say thank you to each and everyone we met this year. You couldn't have been nicer and many of you felt like old friends or family.

I don't imagine many people feel so fondly about the people who worked for them, but we found the nicest men to do our remodel. It was really empty not to have them around when they finished. Each one of you were so much fun and so good at what you did that it made it a pleasure to pay you. We look forward to having you work with us again next year. I just have to find a Loonie tree to shake while we are in the states. Somehow, I don't think they grow there though. Not to worry, we left some in Newfoundland.

The new friends we made, and those of you who took us up on our offer to drop in, next year I hope it will be more often as we will be so much more settled, I think. At least we drained the house correctly this time so we doubt there will be any disasters. I just hated to have to let it freeze while we were gone but it was fuel or heat for our home. Fuel won out and we hit the road 5 hours and 5 minutes later than planned.

It is 8:07 and we stopped in Lewisport for a Subway sandwich as we wind our way, hopefully to Cornerbrook. It all depends how tired my hubby gets as it is dark and raining....two major "no Gaye driving criteria". It is a steep learning curve for us to winterize and to start to get the motorhome packed on time. You would think after doing this, now into our 6th year, we would have a clue. We always end up throwing everything into the bus and cleaning it all up on the road. We will have a wait at the ferry tomorrow as we are leaving at 11:45 p.m. Hmmmmmm, oh for good weather!!!!!!!!!

It was really hard to say goodbye to Marilyn and Gordon as the have become like family and there will be an empty spot in our hearts until we see them again. We left our back porch EXIT sign on so they could see the house at night time. Chet says it for people to exit the world and come into our home.

It seems like we just got settled in to our home and then out again. Packing the yarn was an experience in itself!!!!

Well, my dears and my friends, I am going to stop so we can listen to a new book on tape....

Nina and John, thanks again for the supper last night. It was pleasant and made our sendoff much easier. I don't know when I will get this posted......until then, Love.

Welcome to my muze, Janet. I hope you and Ralph are doing okay.......will all of you who read this send good thoughts.