I see that my post of two days ago didn't make it. I have a lot of trouble with the wifi system here at the camp. I didn't really have much to report, though, good thing as I see below while I'm typing this the notice: Could not contact Blogger.com. Saving and publishing may fail.
Things are just rocking along. More later.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Exhaustive Shopping
Yes, I'm officially exhausted. Unhooked everything successfully and was on the road by 9:30am. Off to Greensburg PA, passing through several Townships on the way as I-70 peters out into Rt. 119. Townships are common in this area. Anyhow, found the Barnes and Noble and made a successful (and costly) foray. Woundup with 3 hardbacks and 12 paperbacks. Ought to hold me for a few weeks, anyway.
Then off to Giant Eagle, a grocery chain, slightly more upscale than Walmart. Got some interesting coffees but found their selection of sausages way less interesting than Greenlife, and their chocolate selection was pathetic. I really wanted some interesting dark, and not by Russell Stover, for pity's sake.
Then off to Westmoreland Mall for a number of things, including getting my hair cut (in Sears), getting a manicure and pedicure for indulgence (at Europe Nails, mediocre job), bought a new pair of black jeans (Levi) to replace my paint-spattered and now muddy ones, bought a pair of black suede Naturalizer shoes with a zip up front on sale, got laces for my green hiking shoes (did you know that the number of holes indicate the length needed?). Ate Japanese seafood teriyaki in the food court (mediocre).
By this time, the ankle was screaming, the hips hurt, and the left knee said it had done its duty holding up everything and wanted to lie down now. Got back to KOA about 3:30. Had a little trouble getting back on the leveling pads but finally managed it. Got everything rehooked okay except for the TV cable which would not screw on and would not and would not and finally did. Then I had a nice nap. CSI this eve is a rereun so I watched So You Think You Can Dance and Miami Ink.
Now I've had some potato chips, some chocolate, a nice fantasy with standard accompaniments, and feel much better. I have tomorrow to rest up, and work from 3-10 on Sat. Have to start at 9am on Sunday with some sort of Craft Activity. We'll see how that goes.
Then off to Giant Eagle, a grocery chain, slightly more upscale than Walmart. Got some interesting coffees but found their selection of sausages way less interesting than Greenlife, and their chocolate selection was pathetic. I really wanted some interesting dark, and not by Russell Stover, for pity's sake.
Then off to Westmoreland Mall for a number of things, including getting my hair cut (in Sears), getting a manicure and pedicure for indulgence (at Europe Nails, mediocre job), bought a new pair of black jeans (Levi) to replace my paint-spattered and now muddy ones, bought a pair of black suede Naturalizer shoes with a zip up front on sale, got laces for my green hiking shoes (did you know that the number of holes indicate the length needed?). Ate Japanese seafood teriyaki in the food court (mediocre).
By this time, the ankle was screaming, the hips hurt, and the left knee said it had done its duty holding up everything and wanted to lie down now. Got back to KOA about 3:30. Had a little trouble getting back on the leveling pads but finally managed it. Got everything rehooked okay except for the TV cable which would not screw on and would not and would not and finally did. Then I had a nice nap. CSI this eve is a rereun so I watched So You Think You Can Dance and Miami Ink.
Now I've had some potato chips, some chocolate, a nice fantasy with standard accompaniments, and feel much better. I have tomorrow to rest up, and work from 3-10 on Sat. Have to start at 9am on Sunday with some sort of Craft Activity. We'll see how that goes.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Scouting the territory
Tomorrow I'm unhooking the rig and going off on a minor exploratory day. I do have to do a little grocery shopping but I'm also going to find a place to get my hairs cut and try to find an independent bookstore, new or used. And may just wander some back roads and see what's down there or over there or up there.
Must remember to drain the water tank before I go. No sense hauling around pounds of water when I'm on the system here and don't need the supply. Must also remember to unhook in some sort of linear system that ends with the sewer line. Last time I did it first and then had to clean my hands before unhooking the fresh water line. Will also get my propane tank filled. Not that I do a great deal of cooking but no sense running out when it's easy to get gas right here. As I'm hooked up with electricity, I'm using my hotpot to heat water instead of using propane. The things one learns when being an RVer.
Physically, things are much better. I've already warned folk that I'm getting back to normal and they may have to get used to a whole different personality. This kind of thing had dire consequences for me once. I met a man on a Azalea Festival (Wilmington NC) blind date and we fell madly in love and got engaged. However, I was ill with a kidney infection (though I didn't know that's what it was) and collapsed on Monday and was put in the hospital. He (Jim Stingley was his name) was wonderful; came to the hospital to visit, bought me a sapphire engagement ring, took great care of me during recovery, etc etc. Then I got well. Shortly after that, he said, you know, you're just not the person I thought you were, so let's get un-engaged. He hadn't even made the first payment on the ring yet, so I gave it back to him. I saw him once more, many years later in Los Angeles, and I still was too "well" for him. He's dead now.
Maybe more stories from my misspent past later. I've been thinking about personal fantasies a lot so maybe I'll have something to say about them (I love 'em). TTFN
Must remember to drain the water tank before I go. No sense hauling around pounds of water when I'm on the system here and don't need the supply. Must also remember to unhook in some sort of linear system that ends with the sewer line. Last time I did it first and then had to clean my hands before unhooking the fresh water line. Will also get my propane tank filled. Not that I do a great deal of cooking but no sense running out when it's easy to get gas right here. As I'm hooked up with electricity, I'm using my hotpot to heat water instead of using propane. The things one learns when being an RVer.
Physically, things are much better. I've already warned folk that I'm getting back to normal and they may have to get used to a whole different personality. This kind of thing had dire consequences for me once. I met a man on a Azalea Festival (Wilmington NC) blind date and we fell madly in love and got engaged. However, I was ill with a kidney infection (though I didn't know that's what it was) and collapsed on Monday and was put in the hospital. He (Jim Stingley was his name) was wonderful; came to the hospital to visit, bought me a sapphire engagement ring, took great care of me during recovery, etc etc. Then I got well. Shortly after that, he said, you know, you're just not the person I thought you were, so let's get un-engaged. He hadn't even made the first payment on the ring yet, so I gave it back to him. I saw him once more, many years later in Los Angeles, and I still was too "well" for him. He's dead now.
Maybe more stories from my misspent past later. I've been thinking about personal fantasies a lot so maybe I'll have something to say about them (I love 'em). TTFN
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Resting Up.
I now have two days off in a row, today and tomorrow. Hooray! The left side of the body has been making its displeasure known at having to be the support for the weak right side and its ankle. So it will be good to give everything a rest. My toes now look like toes again, instead of sausages, though they're still purple, and the ankle itself is still a baseball. But it is better.
One commenter said I should give myself a lot of time to adjust, what with all the radical changes in lifestyle I'm going through. Good advice, and I'm trying to do that. One of the things I could do here whilst hobbled was rearrange the "library" (a 3-shelf bookcase), so I did that and it now looks very professional. It doesn't have anything I want to read but I am giving it my books when I'm done. No, not my personal permanent library but the books I buy to have an easy read. I'm reading Kathy Reichs' Break No Bones right now, and have Nora Roberts' The Hollow in waiting as well as Mucho Mojo by Joe Lansdale.
I don't do libraries for two reasons: 1 To take books out you have to have a card which means an address etc. 2 You have to take the books back and in a specified amount of time. But I will do used bookstores (including Goodwill and the like) as well as buying certain new pbs. I did get a couple of hardbacks on a B&N sale table for $5, which I will donate to the library here. The pbs I can keep to trade in at other used bookstores along the road. At least, that's the plan.
When the schedule settles down, I should have three days off in a row more regularly. That's when I'll have time to go see the Wright homes. I'll definitely report on them.
Socially, there's not much to entice me. It's a family-oriented park so there's lot of couples with kids. And there's retiree couples. Of the male workampers, they're nice but not interesting to me on a visceral level. I'll just keep my little mental fantasy of a certain guy going.
TTFN
One commenter said I should give myself a lot of time to adjust, what with all the radical changes in lifestyle I'm going through. Good advice, and I'm trying to do that. One of the things I could do here whilst hobbled was rearrange the "library" (a 3-shelf bookcase), so I did that and it now looks very professional. It doesn't have anything I want to read but I am giving it my books when I'm done. No, not my personal permanent library but the books I buy to have an easy read. I'm reading Kathy Reichs' Break No Bones right now, and have Nora Roberts' The Hollow in waiting as well as Mucho Mojo by Joe Lansdale.
I don't do libraries for two reasons: 1 To take books out you have to have a card which means an address etc. 2 You have to take the books back and in a specified amount of time. But I will do used bookstores (including Goodwill and the like) as well as buying certain new pbs. I did get a couple of hardbacks on a B&N sale table for $5, which I will donate to the library here. The pbs I can keep to trade in at other used bookstores along the road. At least, that's the plan.
When the schedule settles down, I should have three days off in a row more regularly. That's when I'll have time to go see the Wright homes. I'll definitely report on them.
Socially, there's not much to entice me. It's a family-oriented park so there's lot of couples with kids. And there's retiree couples. Of the male workampers, they're nice but not interesting to me on a visceral level. I'll just keep my little mental fantasy of a certain guy going.
TTFN
Monday, May 12, 2008
Better Somewhat
Well, things are somewhat better, except for the weather (cold, rainy, windy). The ankle is getting better. I actually unhooked my rig from everything and went grocery shopping last Sunday morning. I got to the Walmart Super Center at 9am and the parking lot was humming. Naturally, I didn't know where anything was so had to walk the entire store to find things. Ankle didn't like it much and the drive in the wind and rain was slightly harrowing. But, I got it done and got back and backed up on my leveling pads just right and got everything rehooked. I'm so proud.
Things are some better here at the camp, too. Have been working with P mostly, whom I like much better than J, and who likes me, too. Had a long talk with the owner and she thinks I'm doing fine and have great potential. We discussed my stress level and have agreed to lower my hours to 28 a week instead of 35, which will help me a lot and give me more time to do some sightseeing (there are three, count 'em threee! Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the area).
So I'm feeling a little better all round.
Things are some better here at the camp, too. Have been working with P mostly, whom I like much better than J, and who likes me, too. Had a long talk with the owner and she thinks I'm doing fine and have great potential. We discussed my stress level and have agreed to lower my hours to 28 a week instead of 35, which will help me a lot and give me more time to do some sightseeing (there are three, count 'em threee! Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the area).
So I'm feeling a little better all round.
Friday, May 9, 2008
First Day Off
Didn't even stick my head out the door today, though I did wash my head. Am not sure how long I'm going to be happy here. Most of the people I've met are nice enough but their politics are far removed from mine. I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to keep my mouth shut for four months. If it gets really bad, I'll just quit, which will probably limit my KOA jobs in the future. But life is too short to deal with idiots, right?
I've also decided I'm still carrying too much stuff. Just a week of living in the rig is letting me know how little I need to cope with daily life. So more stuff will be going away before I leave here, including some clothes, office materiel, etc. Besides, the lighter I am the better gas mileage I'll get.
I've also decided I'm still carrying too much stuff. Just a week of living in the rig is letting me know how little I need to cope with daily life. So more stuff will be going away before I leave here, including some clothes, office materiel, etc. Besides, the lighter I am the better gas mileage I'll get.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Summer Job 1
I've been here at the Madison/Pittsburgh KOA Kampground since Sunday afternoon. Was on the schedule to start at 1pm Monday. Ghibli performed flawlessly on the way here, though it was a longer than necessary trip because of detours and hills (we do 20mph up hills). Got all set up with elec. water sewer cable tv wifi etc and snugged down for a much needed rest.
Monday walked up to the office/store (called the Lodge) to start work. At 2:30 we had an employee meeeting. At 3:35 I walked out to have a smoke and promptly fell off a step down onto concrete and sprained my ankle. Yes, my middle name is Grace. So I'm gimping around with a taped up ankle, taking baby steps, and feeling stupid and useless. Everybody's been very nice about it. Mostly I'm learning the computer system.
I'm the only southerner here but nobody's made any yankee smart remarks. Good.
More later.
Monday walked up to the office/store (called the Lodge) to start work. At 2:30 we had an employee meeeting. At 3:35 I walked out to have a smoke and promptly fell off a step down onto concrete and sprained my ankle. Yes, my middle name is Grace. So I'm gimping around with a taped up ankle, taking baby steps, and feeling stupid and useless. Everybody's been very nice about it. Mostly I'm learning the computer system.
I'm the only southerner here but nobody's made any yankee smart remarks. Good.
More later.
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