Wow what a job it is getting Gypsy ready to roll for another 5 months on the road. She was oh so dusty from our last trip to the Steens. After more than 40 miles of gravel road everything gets covered with a fine layer of dust and must be wiped down. Plus despite all our efforts to keep her mouse free we always get stowaways for the summer. This year I found one under the love-seat that makes into a bed. What that does to me is BLEACH everything I can! I feel like bleach cleaner oozes out of my pores after 3 days of cleaning.
Traveling with two dogs also means everything they lay on gets cleaned/washed/ and vacuumed. It means being prepared for dog emergencies also so they get a first aid kit much like we prepare a first aid kit for us. For Cleo it means taking her booties so her toes don’t get picked on again; plus a comb, tweezers and hemostats for pulling out thorns and prickly stuff, of which there is a lot in the desert. As cruel as it sounds we get them groomed so we can see between the toes to find those little pricklies. Cleo travels with a cashmere sweater so if she gets cold she can wear that. Not too spoiled is she? Timmy is so hyper he keeps himself warm just moving around all the time. One of the things we do for Cleo as she is so short, is put her in an elevated dog seat that straps her in, but she can see out the window. We strap both dogs in just in case of an accident. One of the things that drives me crazy around this part of the country is people let their dogs stand on the backs of open pickups and wonder why they go missing. Some do restrain them but a majority don’t and I want to scream at them all the time. I guess they don’t figure on stopping that truck fast or the dog jumping out of the truck, nor do they really care about the welfare of their animal!
After last year I am taking very warm gear to wear. I usually do go very prepared but I am taking a heavier coat and better hat. I am a cold handed woman and must always take light and heavier gloves. I start using them when most people don’t even think its cold!I I love fingerless ones when you have to help get set up; or the ones with the leather outers and fleecy innerds. My down jacket I ordered just came and I will be WARM-plus I will be plugging the Olympics in Vancouver,BC! It has USA on the back and Olympic logos on the front. I take Ugg boots for being around the campfire at nights. No socks yet your feet are toasty. I am not pushing products here but I have had my Uggs for many years and they are still in great shape. These are the ones with the leather tops and suede up above. Your feet can get wet and you don’t feel it. They don’ stain like the suede ones do either.
In this technical age we have to remember all our charging cords for phones and IPOD and cameras. I have a huge computer bag that can carry all the paperwork cord and files I need to take. You still have to pay bills while your on the road-unfortunately. Thank gosh for this computer, even though I yell at it a lot. With grandbaby coming its even more important we keep in touch with family.
I’ve learned a lot about being on the road after 2 years. I still feel like a newbie but I am much more savvy about what I need for cooking,cleaning and just general well being. We take momentoes from home with us, mostly art, rocks and pictures to remind us of home and to make gypsy more homey.
Our friends from down south called us and are already at the Hot Springs. It’s nice and warm; in the 80’s and I do wish I was there now as it has been cold here and getting colder. We are keeping busy even in the cold though. Today we cleaned out Egor, our truck that pulls Gypsy. Miles of dust came off and he is so much cleaner.
I spent the rest of the day getting all my jewelry tools, findings, gems and wire together. It is hard to predict what you will work on so I made a list of some of the things I would like to get made. I think that helps me organize my boxes better. I always want to get some work done during the winter. El Centro is a great place to work and play; it’s just balancing both that’s hard! It is a great place to ride bikes and lots of rocking nearby.
The yard is getting winterized; straw got spread today and trees got trimmed. I even transplanted my Lilac tree. I hope it survives because it will be in a better location and we will be able to see it when it blooms! I have lillies to split but don’t know if my bod will co-operate and let me do it. I have been a bit slow and tired from all the cleaning and organizing so I must slow down. Oh well…it gets done when it gets done.
I have managed to keep up with Obama’s health care reform and hope he can be the president to make it happen. I got ticked off the other day after our local representative voted against the reform bill and wrote a letter to the editor of a local paper and got it published. At least my words can now be read by more than just myself and friends. As much as I don’t like the VA health care system, it does work for a large population and yes, it is government sponsored. I know a lot of people say that smacks of socialized medicine but I am afraid that is what we will need to rescue the fiasco of a health care system we have. Please write your reps and let them know to vote for this bill. Doctors will still make lots of money but the system will have better control and more people will benefit.
Its definately ready to go soon, its been snowing all evening. It’s awfully pretty but not if you have to work out in it. The dogs have a bit of fun when its deep enough to cavort in but when it just powders the ground it’s more of a nuisance.