Poof! Overnight, the Ocotillo have bloomed and when the wind stirs the stems, the orangeish blooms wave. Exhibiting their spring finery, they seem to be saying "Hey,look.... I'm here."
http://aneyefortexas.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/the-splendid-ocotillo
I ordered 500 Ocotillo seeds as they're used as a type of hedge. I'll get some grown plants too but the 6 footers go anywhere from $20 to $125 so the hedge won't be complete in my lifetime.
Another first this month was the sighting of a javelina, mistakenly called a wild pig and a/k/a the collared peccary.
The one I saw was out for a stroll on Patton - a paved road. As I sped along at 65 mph, the little stinker got the lead out and gallumped across the road quite smartly. He looked pretty funny but I hear that they can be aggressive so I was glad I was in the car.
That was not the most exciting part of my day though. Chuck was going to be taking the RV out for repairs and I was concerned about a part of the road that would cause a side to side rocking. Out here, if you don't like something about a road, you go around and forge a new one....which I did. I was on my way to Big O tires as we found a nail in one tire and when I got there, they asked what the heck I'd been driving through!. Well hey, it was just a few Cholla Cacti that I drove over...requiring two new tires. Guess people forge these roads using something other than a low-slung Chrysler convertible. We've been looking for an old workhorse truck but until we do, the convertible will continue to take a beating. Like the RV, I'm glad the car was old to begin with.
Chuck now has our solar totally up to speed and is happy that we don't have to continually make runs into town for propane. We should start drilling our well tomorrow and will be overjoyed to discontinue water hauling...this will enable us to take long showers and be able to install a clothes washer! Wahoo!
Our other news has nothing to do with the desert. I was recently voted on as an Intern Board Member (no voting rights yet) for MUFON. I'm honored and excited. MUFON's new Headquarters is in northern Kentucky so I'll be flying there four times a year starting the end of this month.
While installing our new solar panels, Chuck started thinking about how to protect them from EMP (electromagnetic pulses). This led to the filing of a provisional patent which would have an amazing number of applications if his idea works as he thinks it will. So - now I'm involved in trying to find a company or companies to align with that would assist in testing, manufacturing and sales. The largest solar panel company in the world is right here in Tempe so we've contacted them and are holding our breath to see if they get back to us.
We feel, at 65 years +, that we're reinventing ourselves....using our minds and having fun. If only our bodies were going along with the program.....
We won't be doing anything special for Easter but will thinking about all of our friends and family.
Happy Easter -
Vicki and Chuck
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
March 6, 2012 Addendum
Per our realtor:
"It's very normal behavior for the Gila woodpecker. He's marking his territory by hammering on anything metal. It's even more entertaining when you are in a neighborhood and there's more than one hammering on the metal chimney caps.
Isn't nature wonderful at 5 am??" Elaine
Chuck says he doesn't think it's cute, entertaining or any of that crap that the Gila Woodpecker is marking his satellite dish!
"It's very normal behavior for the Gila woodpecker. He's marking his territory by hammering on anything metal. It's even more entertaining when you are in a neighborhood and there's more than one hammering on the metal chimney caps.
Isn't nature wonderful at 5 am??" Elaine
Chuck says he doesn't think it's cute, entertaining or any of that crap that the Gila Woodpecker is marking his satellite dish!
March 6, 2012
The Wacky Woodpecker
Every once in a while, in an early and otherwise totally silent morning, there’s a vibrating, staccato sound that is felt as much as heard in the “house.” It seems to come from over the bedroom area. Chuck, who always sleeps in, hears nothing and continues to snooze – he doesn’t have his “ears” in. If I didn’t know better, I’d wonder if I was picking up some kind of radio wave through my newly crowned and very pricey molar. Then, not knowing anything about pipes, I assume it has to be the pipes…but we’re not running any water. Could it be something the Feds are doing?
After considerable thought – having few other pressing issues out here in the desert - I come to the conclusion that it could be a woodpecker. And, yes, there it is on the internet. The Arizona Woodpecker….a brazen little guy with a bright red band on his head, the females more elusive and subtle in their attire. http://birdfotos.com/birdfoto/woodpecker/arizona.htm
This morning, armed with my camera, I was out with the dozen or so paint chips that we picked up at Home Depot yesterday. With my back to the sun, I hold the chips up so that I can compare the color on the chips with the desert vegetation. We want to pick a new color for the exterior of the “house” that will blend in with our surroundings – making us even less visible. This IS ISNAS you know (It’s Survival – Not A Spa). Using one of the very few skills I acquired in Art 101 at UWM, I squeeze my eyes shut…is it chip A or B, B or C? I’m amazed at how dark the green is that I eventually select…we thought it was going to be Behr Outback but it’s Crocodile instead!
In the midst of the great paint chip selection process, I hear that vibrating sound; now I have a chance to investigate further. And – it’s a dang woodpecker pecking on the TV antenna for all he’s worth. No wonder it’s vibrating. Really, does that behavior serve as a type of knife sharpener and he’s honing his beak or what? As I’m trying to capture him on film, he senses my interest and flies….to the satellite dish on top of the RV. More rat-a-tatting. This would not please Chuck. So now I have another question to ponder. Is this normal behavior or do we have a wacked out Arizona Woodpecker on the loose?
Every once in a while, in an early and otherwise totally silent morning, there’s a vibrating, staccato sound that is felt as much as heard in the “house.” It seems to come from over the bedroom area. Chuck, who always sleeps in, hears nothing and continues to snooze – he doesn’t have his “ears” in. If I didn’t know better, I’d wonder if I was picking up some kind of radio wave through my newly crowned and very pricey molar. Then, not knowing anything about pipes, I assume it has to be the pipes…but we’re not running any water. Could it be something the Feds are doing?
After considerable thought – having few other pressing issues out here in the desert - I come to the conclusion that it could be a woodpecker. And, yes, there it is on the internet. The Arizona Woodpecker….a brazen little guy with a bright red band on his head, the females more elusive and subtle in their attire. http://birdfotos.com/birdfoto/woodpecker/arizona.htm
This morning, armed with my camera, I was out with the dozen or so paint chips that we picked up at Home Depot yesterday. With my back to the sun, I hold the chips up so that I can compare the color on the chips with the desert vegetation. We want to pick a new color for the exterior of the “house” that will blend in with our surroundings – making us even less visible. This IS ISNAS you know (It’s Survival – Not A Spa). Using one of the very few skills I acquired in Art 101 at UWM, I squeeze my eyes shut…is it chip A or B, B or C? I’m amazed at how dark the green is that I eventually select…we thought it was going to be Behr Outback but it’s Crocodile instead!
In the midst of the great paint chip selection process, I hear that vibrating sound; now I have a chance to investigate further. And – it’s a dang woodpecker pecking on the TV antenna for all he’s worth. No wonder it’s vibrating. Really, does that behavior serve as a type of knife sharpener and he’s honing his beak or what? As I’m trying to capture him on film, he senses my interest and flies….to the satellite dish on top of the RV. More rat-a-tatting. This would not please Chuck. So now I have another question to ponder. Is this normal behavior or do we have a wacked out Arizona Woodpecker on the loose?
February 1, 2012
Solar flares. Michio Kaku. Mayan Predictions. Erich von Daniken. Magnetized car cases. Food as the most valuable commodity in a disaster. Global recession. Weather instability and massive animal die-offs. My Chuck, the electrical genius, aware and concerned about the power grid. These thoughts swirling around, seeping in over time.
And so, we begin our Arizona adventure. If the power grid were to go down, Phoenix, AZ has one of the most survivable climates. Chuck’s solution, go to Phoenix and set up an off-grid station – a place we could live on solar power doubling as our winter get away. It needs to be remote…and economical.
As we often do – we went to Craigslist – and found a remote, tiny 800 sq. ft. home powered by solar. Met the owner - a synthesized music artist – who lived there until he met his wife – through Craigslist! Per usual, there are issues. We worked it out so that we can rent for two months to see if we really want to pursue a purchase.
In the Southwest, water runs over the land leaving channels called washes. During heavy rains, areas without a sewer system flood and deepen the washes. In rural settings, you may come across a barrier that’s been swung across the road to prevent you from driving any further. In less populated areas, those who have to drive through a wash may leave additional, huge ruts. Sort of like “mudding” or “bajaing” as Nicky calls it. That would be where we are. Six miles off of paved road. Few street signs. Routes that have become impassable because of deepening washes. You’ll be driving along and all of a sudden realize that there is a deep wash in front of you that you’re probably not going to make…no, no, no….time to back up and go around. There are long trails established by the locals to avoid the washes – right across someone’s private property. No matter. If there’s no fence, feel free to go on through. If the property is totally abandoned, it may also become a dump for old tires, etc. On one occasion, Chuck told me to turn right; we hadn’t gone very far until it started to feel like we were driving in snow, slipping and sliding in addition to sinking! Turned out that we were driving right down a wash and were sinking in the sand (Note: “quick sand” when retelling). I had visions of spending the night stalked by snakes and coyotes but we were able to back out. We drove a route a couple of times, marking it with stakes, before attempting it with the RV – but got stuck in a wash anyway. Although the car wasn’t on it, the car dolly dragged the rear end down - effectively wedging us in. Chuck’s solution, put the jacks down to lift the back wheels and pile stones under the tires to lift us up. This worked - but not without a lot of damage to our newly dent-free RV.
Our neighbor on the other side of the mountain wandered out to see what the heck we were doing. Good things sometimes come out of a disaster and this was one of those times. Marsha, who has lived here for 23 years has been a lifeline…she’s amazing but the one thing I found most interesting about her is that there is a gila monster living under her porch! She has a tiny dog named Sweetie that they found wandering the desert. I’d be worried sick that Mr. Gila would use its venomous bite to bring Sweetie down but Marsha says Gila’s slow and doesn’t bother them. According to Wikipedia, if a gila gets you, you should submerge your hand in water but where you gonna find a horse trough here in the desert?
In addition to the gila, we’ve seen lizards and a large, as yet unidentified, beetle. From inside of the house, we watched a coyote – perhaps 25 feet away outside the fence. We’ve been told to watch for wandering cattle, deer and donkeys as well. Marsha mentioned that she had recently seen the tracks of a mountain lion. Now that caught my attention. I make Chuck accompany me on any night-time excursions between the house and the RV. We also brought the guns out. This IS the Wild West.
To our surprise, we’re beginning to actually enjoy watching the desert. Seguaros fascinate us since we learned that it can take up to 75 years before they start growing an arm. Marsha also pointed out the slight bulges that represent good rain years. Sunsets are stupendous.
On a day to day basis, it’s been a bit like camping. The solar panels weren’t functioning adequately in the beginning. When the sun went down, so did the power and it gets pretty cold at night. Chuck didn’t want to run the heater, but we did use a few amps on the electric blanket to make it tolerable. He’s improved the system and hooked up the propane generator now – so that’s all good.
Water remains an issue as there is no well. Folks without a well haul water from town in big 300 gallon containers. We got lucky as Marsha’s son is happy to do that for a modest sum. Still, we have to watch our use of water very carefully. Putting in a well would be the first priority. We’re also driving in to our nearest town – adorable Wickenburg – to do the laundry. Serious shopping “Costco” and Michaels (for beads) requires a trip to Surprise! We took out a mailbox. Apparently because of the Patriot Act, this required two forms of identification and a copy of our rental agreement. Hard to hide out these days.
Send mail. It’s post office box 2147, Wickenburg, AZ 85358.
Love,
Vicki and Chuck
And so, we begin our Arizona adventure. If the power grid were to go down, Phoenix, AZ has one of the most survivable climates. Chuck’s solution, go to Phoenix and set up an off-grid station – a place we could live on solar power doubling as our winter get away. It needs to be remote…and economical.
As we often do – we went to Craigslist – and found a remote, tiny 800 sq. ft. home powered by solar. Met the owner - a synthesized music artist – who lived there until he met his wife – through Craigslist! Per usual, there are issues. We worked it out so that we can rent for two months to see if we really want to pursue a purchase.
In the Southwest, water runs over the land leaving channels called washes. During heavy rains, areas without a sewer system flood and deepen the washes. In rural settings, you may come across a barrier that’s been swung across the road to prevent you from driving any further. In less populated areas, those who have to drive through a wash may leave additional, huge ruts. Sort of like “mudding” or “bajaing” as Nicky calls it. That would be where we are. Six miles off of paved road. Few street signs. Routes that have become impassable because of deepening washes. You’ll be driving along and all of a sudden realize that there is a deep wash in front of you that you’re probably not going to make…no, no, no….time to back up and go around. There are long trails established by the locals to avoid the washes – right across someone’s private property. No matter. If there’s no fence, feel free to go on through. If the property is totally abandoned, it may also become a dump for old tires, etc. On one occasion, Chuck told me to turn right; we hadn’t gone very far until it started to feel like we were driving in snow, slipping and sliding in addition to sinking! Turned out that we were driving right down a wash and were sinking in the sand (Note: “quick sand” when retelling). I had visions of spending the night stalked by snakes and coyotes but we were able to back out. We drove a route a couple of times, marking it with stakes, before attempting it with the RV – but got stuck in a wash anyway. Although the car wasn’t on it, the car dolly dragged the rear end down - effectively wedging us in. Chuck’s solution, put the jacks down to lift the back wheels and pile stones under the tires to lift us up. This worked - but not without a lot of damage to our newly dent-free RV.
Our neighbor on the other side of the mountain wandered out to see what the heck we were doing. Good things sometimes come out of a disaster and this was one of those times. Marsha, who has lived here for 23 years has been a lifeline…she’s amazing but the one thing I found most interesting about her is that there is a gila monster living under her porch! She has a tiny dog named Sweetie that they found wandering the desert. I’d be worried sick that Mr. Gila would use its venomous bite to bring Sweetie down but Marsha says Gila’s slow and doesn’t bother them. According to Wikipedia, if a gila gets you, you should submerge your hand in water but where you gonna find a horse trough here in the desert?
In addition to the gila, we’ve seen lizards and a large, as yet unidentified, beetle. From inside of the house, we watched a coyote – perhaps 25 feet away outside the fence. We’ve been told to watch for wandering cattle, deer and donkeys as well. Marsha mentioned that she had recently seen the tracks of a mountain lion. Now that caught my attention. I make Chuck accompany me on any night-time excursions between the house and the RV. We also brought the guns out. This IS the Wild West.
To our surprise, we’re beginning to actually enjoy watching the desert. Seguaros fascinate us since we learned that it can take up to 75 years before they start growing an arm. Marsha also pointed out the slight bulges that represent good rain years. Sunsets are stupendous.
On a day to day basis, it’s been a bit like camping. The solar panels weren’t functioning adequately in the beginning. When the sun went down, so did the power and it gets pretty cold at night. Chuck didn’t want to run the heater, but we did use a few amps on the electric blanket to make it tolerable. He’s improved the system and hooked up the propane generator now – so that’s all good.
Water remains an issue as there is no well. Folks without a well haul water from town in big 300 gallon containers. We got lucky as Marsha’s son is happy to do that for a modest sum. Still, we have to watch our use of water very carefully. Putting in a well would be the first priority. We’re also driving in to our nearest town – adorable Wickenburg – to do the laundry. Serious shopping “Costco” and Michaels (for beads) requires a trip to Surprise! We took out a mailbox. Apparently because of the Patriot Act, this required two forms of identification and a copy of our rental agreement. Hard to hide out these days.
Send mail. It’s post office box 2147, Wickenburg, AZ 85358.
Love,
Vicki and Chuck
Sunday, April 3, 2011
April 3, 2011
Gosh, where were we? We left California and headed towards Arizona with two goals in mind. We wanted to go to our first UFO Congress and I was able to secure an appointment at Mayo, AZ for the new gnawing pain in my "good" knee.
The UFO Congress had a lot of good speakers and was interesting but as usual, it was the connections we made there that were most important. I also spoke briefly with James Penniston, the individual who investigated the Rendelsham Forest incident in the 80s. The binary code which he felt compelled to write at that time has been decoded:
EXPLORATION [of ] HUMANITY
52 09'42.532" N 13 13'12.69" W
CONTI [NUOUS]
FOR PLANETARY ADVAN [CE ]
The longitude and latitude cross over at a point in the sea off of Ireland, over a submerged island called Hy Brasil. So interesting.
We were staying in an RV Park in Casa Grande, AZ. Two plants of interest which were new to me were the "Jumping Cholla" and the large Seguaro Cactus. The Sequaro is unique to the Sonoran Desert. Friends explained how early explorers would twist the arms of the Seguaro along trails to point the way. A warning sign for the Jumping Cholla tells of the pain caused by its needles - that look soft but definitely cause discomfort - when they seem to leap from the plant to your body. We also spent a little time skywatching, to no avail.
The trip to Mayo didn't reveal much. If I have osteonecrosis again, it hasn't shown up yet. A cortisone shot to the knee did wonders.
We were on our way to do an investigation when we got word from Chuck's son that his 43-year old wife, Bobbi, had a 99% blockage of the "widowmaker" artery and had had a stent placed. Since they advised her to have two weeks of bedrest, we decided to head back to California. We did make a quick stop to exchange some film with an experiencer who lives in a remote area - so remote that we left the RV on a dirt road and took only the car in. Along the way, we saw many run-down, dilapated shacks without electricity or sewer - reminiscent of a third world country - dotting the desert. Hard to believe people live like this in America.
We stayed with Bobbi and Charles for almost two weeks and then headed for Texas. We started noticing that the RV didn't want to start when it was warm...and started right up when it was cold. We spent a day at Freightliner in El Paso but at least in the end, it was a cheap and easy fix. An eroded wire that was easily replaced. Elated at this news, Chuck tipped the mechanic who made short work of it. Of course, it didn't last long. Two days later, the RV wouldn't start....one of the new connections that had been put in hadn't been secured properly. Another $100 down the drain.
Back on the road, the RV parks were few and far between. We decided to pull into a "picnic site" for the night. I was worried that the highway patrol might not be happy with us over-nighting there but knew that another truck pulled in before I went to sleep. In the morning, I was amazed to see 15 or so large trucks parked all around us. I remember when I could tell who was up at Chateau in the night by their footfall or the squeak of their walker. Now I seem to sleep through everything.
The next day we were treated to the sight of the wildflowers that were popping up along the roadside, including the now familiar bluebonnets - yep, we're back in Texas! Our destination was Houston where we met up with Derrel Sims a/k/a "The Alien Hunter." Derrel has presented information about alien abductions all over the world. Chuck did a radio program with him and then did a presentation re equipment at a Houston meeting. We were also fortunate to sit in on a meeting with a highly credible witness and to actually view luminescence on the hands of another abductee, viewed under a black light. Whatever this is,it's fascinating stuff.
Vicki
The UFO Congress had a lot of good speakers and was interesting but as usual, it was the connections we made there that were most important. I also spoke briefly with James Penniston, the individual who investigated the Rendelsham Forest incident in the 80s. The binary code which he felt compelled to write at that time has been decoded:
EXPLORATION [of ] HUMANITY
52 09'42.532" N 13 13'12.69" W
CONTI [NUOUS]
FOR PLANETARY ADVAN [CE ]
The longitude and latitude cross over at a point in the sea off of Ireland, over a submerged island called Hy Brasil. So interesting.
We were staying in an RV Park in Casa Grande, AZ. Two plants of interest which were new to me were the "Jumping Cholla" and the large Seguaro Cactus. The Sequaro is unique to the Sonoran Desert. Friends explained how early explorers would twist the arms of the Seguaro along trails to point the way. A warning sign for the Jumping Cholla tells of the pain caused by its needles - that look soft but definitely cause discomfort - when they seem to leap from the plant to your body. We also spent a little time skywatching, to no avail.
The trip to Mayo didn't reveal much. If I have osteonecrosis again, it hasn't shown up yet. A cortisone shot to the knee did wonders.
We were on our way to do an investigation when we got word from Chuck's son that his 43-year old wife, Bobbi, had a 99% blockage of the "widowmaker" artery and had had a stent placed. Since they advised her to have two weeks of bedrest, we decided to head back to California. We did make a quick stop to exchange some film with an experiencer who lives in a remote area - so remote that we left the RV on a dirt road and took only the car in. Along the way, we saw many run-down, dilapated shacks without electricity or sewer - reminiscent of a third world country - dotting the desert. Hard to believe people live like this in America.
We stayed with Bobbi and Charles for almost two weeks and then headed for Texas. We started noticing that the RV didn't want to start when it was warm...and started right up when it was cold. We spent a day at Freightliner in El Paso but at least in the end, it was a cheap and easy fix. An eroded wire that was easily replaced. Elated at this news, Chuck tipped the mechanic who made short work of it. Of course, it didn't last long. Two days later, the RV wouldn't start....one of the new connections that had been put in hadn't been secured properly. Another $100 down the drain.
Back on the road, the RV parks were few and far between. We decided to pull into a "picnic site" for the night. I was worried that the highway patrol might not be happy with us over-nighting there but knew that another truck pulled in before I went to sleep. In the morning, I was amazed to see 15 or so large trucks parked all around us. I remember when I could tell who was up at Chateau in the night by their footfall or the squeak of their walker. Now I seem to sleep through everything.
The next day we were treated to the sight of the wildflowers that were popping up along the roadside, including the now familiar bluebonnets - yep, we're back in Texas! Our destination was Houston where we met up with Derrel Sims a/k/a "The Alien Hunter." Derrel has presented information about alien abductions all over the world. Chuck did a radio program with him and then did a presentation re equipment at a Houston meeting. We were also fortunate to sit in on a meeting with a highly credible witness and to actually view luminescence on the hands of another abductee, viewed under a black light. Whatever this is,it's fascinating stuff.
Vicki
Friday, January 28, 2011
Dedicated to the long-handled back scratcher/shoe horn
Years ago I came across a sturdy,long-handled back scratcher/shoe horn at a Dollar store. I bought ten of them for Chuck's Christmas stocking. We have three of them with us in the RV. Why in the world, you ask, would we carry them along with us? Pay attention full-timers!
Three days ago, we got back on the road, heading towards Vegas. Not our best day. We were driving along and it seemed to me that there was a slight change in the sound the wind makes as you're driving. I looked up and there was a two foot long crack in the front windshield. It hadn't been there before...we'd had no collisions...and had absolutely no idea what caused it. There are reports, you know, of invisible objects (UFOs?) colliding with cars but we'd felt no impact. We did take a torque-ing type turn, as sometimes happens, and I'd heard a thump in the back but didn't see anything untowards from my computer seat. Add the window to the list of things we'll fix when we're home.
Upon our arrival at Sam's Town RV,LV, I put the boards under one of the wheels and Chuck finished the leveling process. He then went to put out the slide. As he did, it appeared as though the rubber seal around the slide wasn't functioning properly. He sprayed the heck out of it before taking it out any further. Amount of damage there remains to be seen.
We then began the process of setting up the table, taking out the laundry basket and putting up the heat shield that we use for the front window. It didn't take long before we discovered that our feet were wet - wet with a sticky fluid ....that smelled really good. Source? A FULL 64 ounce bottle of clothing detergent had fallen out of the bathroom sink, the cap had splintered, and there was detergent covering the bathroom floor, seeping into the rugs, under the wall and between and under our linoleum squares. What a colossal mess!!!
Here's where the back scratcher comes in. We have a sliding door in back of the living area. Detergent had seeped into the narrow slit where the door is housed. How to clean? Solution: Tie a wet rag to the end of a back scratcher to make a mini-mop!
The back scratcher has 100 uses and has saved us again and again. You can fork stuff out from under the seats and behind the wheels, activate the "on" button on top of the computer which is hard to reach, get down in back of the couch (sometimes requires two back scratchers and a bit of co-ordination), and when desperate, check for clogs in the toilet (WARNING: Do not let go of the back scratcher).
Honestly, I could go on the road selling these things.
The LONG HANDLED BACK SCRATCHER/SHOE HORN.... don't leave home without it.
Three days ago, we got back on the road, heading towards Vegas. Not our best day. We were driving along and it seemed to me that there was a slight change in the sound the wind makes as you're driving. I looked up and there was a two foot long crack in the front windshield. It hadn't been there before...we'd had no collisions...and had absolutely no idea what caused it. There are reports, you know, of invisible objects (UFOs?) colliding with cars but we'd felt no impact. We did take a torque-ing type turn, as sometimes happens, and I'd heard a thump in the back but didn't see anything untowards from my computer seat. Add the window to the list of things we'll fix when we're home.
Upon our arrival at Sam's Town RV,LV, I put the boards under one of the wheels and Chuck finished the leveling process. He then went to put out the slide. As he did, it appeared as though the rubber seal around the slide wasn't functioning properly. He sprayed the heck out of it before taking it out any further. Amount of damage there remains to be seen.
We then began the process of setting up the table, taking out the laundry basket and putting up the heat shield that we use for the front window. It didn't take long before we discovered that our feet were wet - wet with a sticky fluid ....that smelled really good. Source? A FULL 64 ounce bottle of clothing detergent had fallen out of the bathroom sink, the cap had splintered, and there was detergent covering the bathroom floor, seeping into the rugs, under the wall and between and under our linoleum squares. What a colossal mess!!!
Here's where the back scratcher comes in. We have a sliding door in back of the living area. Detergent had seeped into the narrow slit where the door is housed. How to clean? Solution: Tie a wet rag to the end of a back scratcher to make a mini-mop!
The back scratcher has 100 uses and has saved us again and again. You can fork stuff out from under the seats and behind the wheels, activate the "on" button on top of the computer which is hard to reach, get down in back of the couch (sometimes requires two back scratchers and a bit of co-ordination), and when desperate, check for clogs in the toilet (WARNING: Do not let go of the back scratcher).
Honestly, I could go on the road selling these things.
The LONG HANDLED BACK SCRATCHER/SHOE HORN.... don't leave home without it.
Friday, January 21, 2011
January 21, 2011
We have ants...guess we've been in LA way too long. Some of the "only in California" experiences I've had here are: feeding the parking meter with a credit card, having the seat stolen off of my bicycle which was strapped to the back of the RV, sitting in TRAFFIC, sirens and helicopters, and helicopters and sirens. There have been two shootings at schools this past week. One morning I was awakened by the sound of a street person digging through the garbage bin at 5:00 a.m., collecting items for his version of a mobile home - the stolen supermarket cart (speaking of carts,they have a two-story Target store here that pulls your cart up alongside you on the escalator. Why can't they do this at the airport?)
On the other hand, we've had some quality time with Charles, Bobbi and the kids, and experienced the perfect day at the Malibu Bluff Park which lies between the Pacific and Pepperdine University. I also spent some time at the fantastic Getty Art Center. I was amazed at how most of the very, very old paintings have retained bright colors and even more amazed that these absolutely priceless works are exhibited without any kind of shielding. Of course there is a guard (mostly old and harmless looking) in each room but aren't they worried about people sneezing or stumbling and falling into the fragile canvasses?
Our only MUFON experience of this time period was an early morning call from the Director of Investigations. Chuck was still sleeping and I assumed that I would be asked to pass on a message; my adrenaline level shot up in an instant when they asked if I would wake him. An individual in law enforcement arrived home and was opening a sliding door to let his dogs out when he very clearly saw an orb outside, at close range. The dogs went nuts and started peeing all over....this was the first time I've seen that in a report but yeah, makes sense. The exciting part was that there appeared to be some trace evidence left behind in the form of burn marks. The bad news was that this was on the East coast and here we are on the West coast. This conforms to the Modlin Theorem..."if they're there, we aren't." Fortunately they had some excellent investigators in the area so we're anxious to hear if anything shows up in lab work. Events like this, reported by highly credible witnesses, keep us intrigued and involved.
I submitted an application for us to have a MUFON booth at the Wisconsin State Fair. Sites are tough to get but we've made a reservation for the entire month of August at the RV park there in case we're successful. We'll be in town way before that but not sure exactly when - all we know is that we're not taking any chances of driving the RV in snow.
In the meantime, we're sending "warm" wishes your way.
Vicki
On the other hand, we've had some quality time with Charles, Bobbi and the kids, and experienced the perfect day at the Malibu Bluff Park which lies between the Pacific and Pepperdine University. I also spent some time at the fantastic Getty Art Center. I was amazed at how most of the very, very old paintings have retained bright colors and even more amazed that these absolutely priceless works are exhibited without any kind of shielding. Of course there is a guard (mostly old and harmless looking) in each room but aren't they worried about people sneezing or stumbling and falling into the fragile canvasses?
Our only MUFON experience of this time period was an early morning call from the Director of Investigations. Chuck was still sleeping and I assumed that I would be asked to pass on a message; my adrenaline level shot up in an instant when they asked if I would wake him. An individual in law enforcement arrived home and was opening a sliding door to let his dogs out when he very clearly saw an orb outside, at close range. The dogs went nuts and started peeing all over....this was the first time I've seen that in a report but yeah, makes sense. The exciting part was that there appeared to be some trace evidence left behind in the form of burn marks. The bad news was that this was on the East coast and here we are on the West coast. This conforms to the Modlin Theorem..."if they're there, we aren't." Fortunately they had some excellent investigators in the area so we're anxious to hear if anything shows up in lab work. Events like this, reported by highly credible witnesses, keep us intrigued and involved.
I submitted an application for us to have a MUFON booth at the Wisconsin State Fair. Sites are tough to get but we've made a reservation for the entire month of August at the RV park there in case we're successful. We'll be in town way before that but not sure exactly when - all we know is that we're not taking any chances of driving the RV in snow.
In the meantime, we're sending "warm" wishes your way.
Vicki
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