Take pictures? Of what I've done? Huh. Wouldn't that be boring? I'll try some and post later.
Won't be back online until a week from this coming Wednesday, at the earliest. Unless I find a place in Tucson and have the leisure to use it.
Just finished lunch and am on the way to Mescalero.
TTFN
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Jordan Dane
Sunday 1/24 9am
I picked up the latest book by this author, The Wrong Side of Dead: a Sweet Justice novel. Can't remember ever reading her before. She's won all sorts of awards: her first book was Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2008, and another book was Romantic Times Best Intrigue Novel of 2008. She was a manager in the oil and gas industry.
The blurb sounded interesting: a computer wizard guy in peril and a bounty hunter woman out to save him. And there were two other "strong" women characters.
It starts out fairly well in Chicago with a gruesome murder and the guy finding himself at the scene, not remembering anything, and busted by the cops. One of the strong women is a cop and she calls the bounty hunter, who is in the process of hauling in a bail jumper all by herself (sure, un huh).
Then we switch to New York with the third woman, whose boss/lover runs a secret society of vigilantes who hunt down evildoers that are beyond the law. This woman is also a secret sex addict.
All this by page 54.
Now, I can deal with the sex addict, though it gets really boring as that seems to be all she can think about (and not particularly imaginatively, either).
Vigilantes, however, bother me a great deal. Does no-one see the problem with that sort of secret society? Yes yes, there ought not to be people beyond the law, but the concept of vigilante justice is not a way of upholding the law. Just the opposite, it undermines the law and creates an atmosphere of ignoring and sneering at the law, and promotes the idea that "the end justifies the means."
Very dangerous.
And these kinds of groups are proliferating around the world (Blackwater "security" forces and the people who hire them, for example). It's a "shoot first, ask questions later" type of mentality, and always degenerates into groups like the KKK and the Nazis.
Not something I think should be applauded or lauded.
I picked up the latest book by this author, The Wrong Side of Dead: a Sweet Justice novel. Can't remember ever reading her before. She's won all sorts of awards: her first book was Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2008, and another book was Romantic Times Best Intrigue Novel of 2008. She was a manager in the oil and gas industry.
The blurb sounded interesting: a computer wizard guy in peril and a bounty hunter woman out to save him. And there were two other "strong" women characters.
It starts out fairly well in Chicago with a gruesome murder and the guy finding himself at the scene, not remembering anything, and busted by the cops. One of the strong women is a cop and she calls the bounty hunter, who is in the process of hauling in a bail jumper all by herself (sure, un huh).
Then we switch to New York with the third woman, whose boss/lover runs a secret society of vigilantes who hunt down evildoers that are beyond the law. This woman is also a secret sex addict.
All this by page 54.
Now, I can deal with the sex addict, though it gets really boring as that seems to be all she can think about (and not particularly imaginatively, either).
Vigilantes, however, bother me a great deal. Does no-one see the problem with that sort of secret society? Yes yes, there ought not to be people beyond the law, but the concept of vigilante justice is not a way of upholding the law. Just the opposite, it undermines the law and creates an atmosphere of ignoring and sneering at the law, and promotes the idea that "the end justifies the means."
Very dangerous.
And these kinds of groups are proliferating around the world (Blackwater "security" forces and the people who hire them, for example). It's a "shoot first, ask questions later" type of mentality, and always degenerates into groups like the KKK and the Nazis.
Not something I think should be applauded or lauded.
Saturday 1/23
Saturday 1/23 Noon
Have remembered the name of the old Vincent Price movie that was on the other night:
Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs
with Fabian! It was an Italian production. In the right mood, it's probably a lot of fun.
Black tank was full so have done a dump. Will do a dump/flush on Wed. am, just before leaving and won't take the sewer hoses with me.
RIP Jean Simmons, actress. Not a "great" actress but certainly nice to watch, especially in "Guy and Dolls" with Marlon Brando, one of my favorite musicals, though I don't have a DVD of it. Come to think of it, I don't have DVDs of a lot of musicals I like.
I've also been enjoying the Wanda Sykes show. Talk about diversity -- one of her sidekicks is a drag queen. And it's nice to get a black perspecctive. Unfortunately, it's only on one night a week, on Fox yet (and she's mentioned how odd that is).
Have remembered the name of the old Vincent Price movie that was on the other night:
Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs
with Fabian! It was an Italian production. In the right mood, it's probably a lot of fun.
Black tank was full so have done a dump. Will do a dump/flush on Wed. am, just before leaving and won't take the sewer hoses with me.
RIP Jean Simmons, actress. Not a "great" actress but certainly nice to watch, especially in "Guy and Dolls" with Marlon Brando, one of my favorite musicals, though I don't have a DVD of it. Come to think of it, I don't have DVDs of a lot of musicals I like.
I've also been enjoying the Wanda Sykes show. Talk about diversity -- one of her sidekicks is a drag queen. And it's nice to get a black perspecctive. Unfortunately, it's only on one night a week, on Fox yet (and she's mentioned how odd that is).
Friday 1/22
Friday 1/22 1pm
Lots of wind last night, though it didn't keep me awake much, just occasionally jolted me awake with a gust that rocked the rig. Been raining all day so far, but not a downpour. I just went out to feed the cats and put the bowl under my rig so it would stay dry -- the black male came out when he heard me, came trotting over to let me pet him as payment for food, and discovered the food bowl (whereupon I was ignored).
Called the carnival to see whether they'd made up their mind. They said not yet; will probably be another week or two.
A campground in Prescott AZ is considering me, part-time, with site and wage, possible long-term. We'll see.
Got a replacement bulb for the one that fell out of the fluorescent fixture, but it doesn't light up either. I think these fixtures are shoddy and poorly designed -- I got what I paid for, I guess. Will have to think about buying better ones.
Sorry to say that Kage Baker has a brain tumor, recently operated on. All the best to him. Try his SF books sometimes; they're good.
RIP Robert Parker, age 77.
A really good writer of mysteries, for the first six books. Creator of interesting characters, like Hawk, though he became a caricature in later books. An academic first (a professor of literature at one of the Ivy League), Parker hit big with the Spenser books and then began to believe the depiction of masculinity in his books, as evidenced by the author picture on some of his books (big mean-looking guy with big mean-looking dog on a choke chain). He wrote a few books not in the Spenser set and they were dreadful.
It's now 7pm, the start of primetime TV here, and there's nothing on but the Haiti concert. I think it's a good idea, you understand, but I've already given the Red Cross some money earmarked for Haiti and now I have nothing to watch. I don't understand why it has to be on all the channels. Foo.
11.30pm The weather report seems to say that tomorrow is going to be nasty but clear on Sun Mon Tue, and get nasty again on Wednesday, just in time for my foray to Tucson. Great. Just what I need, slogging into the teeth of a big storm, rain, wind, etc. Good thing I'm taking two days to do it -- I may need both of them.
I've taken to staying up late to watch the Craig Ferguson show -- he's way better than David and Jay and Conan and Jimmy and whoever. Ferguson is a naturalized American originally from Scotland (Glasgow). He has a nice line in sardonic humor. He's much more of a performer than any of the others and he has interesting guests. He just said: "The Mythbusters guys are heroes to me so it's a big deal they're here tonight. It's like Derek Jeter meeting Babe Ruth or Mel Gibson meeting Hitler." I think that's really funny (especially since I loathe Mel Gibson).
Interviewing one of the younger mythbusters guys, who loves robots, who started out at ILM and built R2-D2 and C3PO. Ferguson says "is C3PO gay? The guy says, "no, he's English." Ferguson takes a beat, looks at the audience, and says, "I think all our questions are answered." Funny funny.
Can't say I think much of the band on the show tonight: Hot Rats. Lots of sound and fury signifying nothing (thanks, Faulkner).
Lots of wind last night, though it didn't keep me awake much, just occasionally jolted me awake with a gust that rocked the rig. Been raining all day so far, but not a downpour. I just went out to feed the cats and put the bowl under my rig so it would stay dry -- the black male came out when he heard me, came trotting over to let me pet him as payment for food, and discovered the food bowl (whereupon I was ignored).
Called the carnival to see whether they'd made up their mind. They said not yet; will probably be another week or two.
A campground in Prescott AZ is considering me, part-time, with site and wage, possible long-term. We'll see.
Got a replacement bulb for the one that fell out of the fluorescent fixture, but it doesn't light up either. I think these fixtures are shoddy and poorly designed -- I got what I paid for, I guess. Will have to think about buying better ones.
Sorry to say that Kage Baker has a brain tumor, recently operated on. All the best to him. Try his SF books sometimes; they're good.
RIP Robert Parker, age 77.
A really good writer of mysteries, for the first six books. Creator of interesting characters, like Hawk, though he became a caricature in later books. An academic first (a professor of literature at one of the Ivy League), Parker hit big with the Spenser books and then began to believe the depiction of masculinity in his books, as evidenced by the author picture on some of his books (big mean-looking guy with big mean-looking dog on a choke chain). He wrote a few books not in the Spenser set and they were dreadful.
It's now 7pm, the start of primetime TV here, and there's nothing on but the Haiti concert. I think it's a good idea, you understand, but I've already given the Red Cross some money earmarked for Haiti and now I have nothing to watch. I don't understand why it has to be on all the channels. Foo.
11.30pm The weather report seems to say that tomorrow is going to be nasty but clear on Sun Mon Tue, and get nasty again on Wednesday, just in time for my foray to Tucson. Great. Just what I need, slogging into the teeth of a big storm, rain, wind, etc. Good thing I'm taking two days to do it -- I may need both of them.
I've taken to staying up late to watch the Craig Ferguson show -- he's way better than David and Jay and Conan and Jimmy and whoever. Ferguson is a naturalized American originally from Scotland (Glasgow). He has a nice line in sardonic humor. He's much more of a performer than any of the others and he has interesting guests. He just said: "The Mythbusters guys are heroes to me so it's a big deal they're here tonight. It's like Derek Jeter meeting Babe Ruth or Mel Gibson meeting Hitler." I think that's really funny (especially since I loathe Mel Gibson).
Interviewing one of the younger mythbusters guys, who loves robots, who started out at ILM and built R2-D2 and C3PO. Ferguson says "is C3PO gay? The guy says, "no, he's English." Ferguson takes a beat, looks at the audience, and says, "I think all our questions are answered." Funny funny.
Can't say I think much of the band on the show tonight: Hot Rats. Lots of sound and fury signifying nothing (thanks, Faulkner).
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Today
Spitting rain today, just enough to muddy the windshield, even though the overhang protects it quite a lot.
Did the Penney's thing and got shirts. Did the Hastings thing and got magazines. Did the Walmart thing and got the other pantry unit. Doing the cafe thing with wifi and lunch. It know, it's all so predictable and boring.
Also got my hairs cut. Based on a picture, she cut in the basic shape and I'll go back in a month or so and get it refined. It's a sort of a pixie cut or layered -- I don't know.
Am thinking seriously of going to the petroglyphs site on Sunday. I have to make a run to Mescalero, and the petroglyphs is about 10 miles north of Tularosa, so it wouldn't be an onerous drive. It all depends on the weather.
If I do go, I hope I'll get some nice photos.
Did the Penney's thing and got shirts. Did the Hastings thing and got magazines. Did the Walmart thing and got the other pantry unit. Doing the cafe thing with wifi and lunch. It know, it's all so predictable and boring.
Also got my hairs cut. Based on a picture, she cut in the basic shape and I'll go back in a month or so and get it refined. It's a sort of a pixie cut or layered -- I don't know.
Am thinking seriously of going to the petroglyphs site on Sunday. I have to make a run to Mescalero, and the petroglyphs is about 10 miles north of Tularosa, so it wouldn't be an onerous drive. It all depends on the weather.
If I do go, I hope I'll get some nice photos.
Wednesday 1/21
So I'm heading for Tucson on Thursday Jan 28, return on the Sunday the 31st. I was prepared to stay longer even if I had to quit this job, but he and Deb are planning to leave on Monday or Tuesday anyhow. It's going to be a killer drive (335 mi each way) -- the max I can do in one day and still be coherent.
I'll get back late Sunday and have to work Mon-Tue; then I'll get to collapse for five days.
Have spent the day refining my new pantry. Set up bungee cords to hook on the back, run over the top, down the front, and hook to the milk crate it's sitting on. This makes it a unit not so easy to topple. And I'm going to get some new grip liner to put under the milk crate down on the shower pan, as well as between the crate and bottom unit. This will make the whole thing less likely to shift around. Pantry-wise, it's working out well and everything fits. And it's ever so much easier to get in and out of the bathroom.
Will go to town tomorrow and pick up my new shirts at JCPenney -- I think I mentioned that I'd seen one on a bank teller and liked them a lot (got one red and one blue).
The only thing I have left to sort out is the big unit on the back rack. And then what will I do? I'll have to think up a new project, won't I?
There's a class on Line Dancing at 1pm tomorrow at the Sr Ctr -- may check it out.
I'll get back late Sunday and have to work Mon-Tue; then I'll get to collapse for five days.
Have spent the day refining my new pantry. Set up bungee cords to hook on the back, run over the top, down the front, and hook to the milk crate it's sitting on. This makes it a unit not so easy to topple. And I'm going to get some new grip liner to put under the milk crate down on the shower pan, as well as between the crate and bottom unit. This will make the whole thing less likely to shift around. Pantry-wise, it's working out well and everything fits. And it's ever so much easier to get in and out of the bathroom.
Will go to town tomorrow and pick up my new shirts at JCPenney -- I think I mentioned that I'd seen one on a bank teller and liked them a lot (got one red and one blue).
The only thing I have left to sort out is the big unit on the back rack. And then what will I do? I'll have to think up a new project, won't I?
There's a class on Line Dancing at 1pm tomorrow at the Sr Ctr -- may check it out.
Tuesday 1/19
Tuesday 1/19 7am
Very disjointed sleep last night, up at 5.30am. Front moving through, clouds, maybe rain, snowing up north of Albuquerque, achy knees.
Got a smaller shelving unit (four drawers $8 each) and couldn't wait, so I took out all the foodstuffs, dismantled the big shelving unit (bang bang bang) and got it undone enough to drag outside. Moved the full laundry bag out. Put in the new shelving, sitting up on a plastic milk crate so as to access the bottom drawer. Turned it this way and that to test access.
Finally put it in with drawer fronts facing front wall, which means the drawers only open halfway, but also means that during travel they won't fall out and dump food everywhere. The only things I access every day are my coffee canisters. The drawers are translucent so I can tell what's in each drawer -- handy. Things like the juice bottles and the baby wipe packages fit around the unit down in the shower pan. I could also turn the unit sideways so the drawers open all the way and put bungee cords on when traveling. Hmmm. A work in progress.
The only things that don't fit are the tall canisters with potato chips in them (I think one canister on its side will fit in a drawer). So I'm going to get one more drawer and do away with one chip canister. Maybe I'll get a differently shaped canister so it'll be easier to get in and out of the drawer. Also, I now don't have a place for the laundry bag -- must think about that.
I'm also going to put some tape along the sides to keep the drawers from coming loose from each other -- they just sit down on each other along a little groove; the big unit had legs that slotted into the frame, like a mortise and tenon joint.
One reason for getting drawers instead of a one-piece cabinet is the shower pan lip -- cabinets have doors and the lip would prevent opening them. It's about 4 inches deep. Now, I could put a platform on top of the lip, with a support in the back corner, and put a cabinet on the platform. However, that's considerably more hassle and would require all sorts of construction and ways to attach the cabinet to the wall, etc etc. The drawer units are much easier and more flexible.
Am waiting to hear from brother about the actual dates of the Tucson Gem show. He's borrowing the RV from Deb's brother and we're all going to boondock on some land that Tinnee owns. I'm determined to go, even if I have to quit this job to do it.
No answers yet from any of the applications I've sent out (JR is doing the same thing and says he's getting no response either). I'll just keep on. Or when I get to Tucson, I'll look in the paper and see whether there are any part-time jobs. Or I'll go talk to Bookman's and see what they have on offer. I'll call the carnival this week, too.
Very disjointed sleep last night, up at 5.30am. Front moving through, clouds, maybe rain, snowing up north of Albuquerque, achy knees.
Got a smaller shelving unit (four drawers $8 each) and couldn't wait, so I took out all the foodstuffs, dismantled the big shelving unit (bang bang bang) and got it undone enough to drag outside. Moved the full laundry bag out. Put in the new shelving, sitting up on a plastic milk crate so as to access the bottom drawer. Turned it this way and that to test access.
Finally put it in with drawer fronts facing front wall, which means the drawers only open halfway, but also means that during travel they won't fall out and dump food everywhere. The only things I access every day are my coffee canisters. The drawers are translucent so I can tell what's in each drawer -- handy. Things like the juice bottles and the baby wipe packages fit around the unit down in the shower pan. I could also turn the unit sideways so the drawers open all the way and put bungee cords on when traveling. Hmmm. A work in progress.
The only things that don't fit are the tall canisters with potato chips in them (I think one canister on its side will fit in a drawer). So I'm going to get one more drawer and do away with one chip canister. Maybe I'll get a differently shaped canister so it'll be easier to get in and out of the drawer. Also, I now don't have a place for the laundry bag -- must think about that.
I'm also going to put some tape along the sides to keep the drawers from coming loose from each other -- they just sit down on each other along a little groove; the big unit had legs that slotted into the frame, like a mortise and tenon joint.
One reason for getting drawers instead of a one-piece cabinet is the shower pan lip -- cabinets have doors and the lip would prevent opening them. It's about 4 inches deep. Now, I could put a platform on top of the lip, with a support in the back corner, and put a cabinet on the platform. However, that's considerably more hassle and would require all sorts of construction and ways to attach the cabinet to the wall, etc etc. The drawer units are much easier and more flexible.
Am waiting to hear from brother about the actual dates of the Tucson Gem show. He's borrowing the RV from Deb's brother and we're all going to boondock on some land that Tinnee owns. I'm determined to go, even if I have to quit this job to do it.
No answers yet from any of the applications I've sent out (JR is doing the same thing and says he's getting no response either). I'll just keep on. Or when I get to Tucson, I'll look in the paper and see whether there are any part-time jobs. Or I'll go talk to Bookman's and see what they have on offer. I'll call the carnival this week, too.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Today
I've been sorting and discarding and rearranging, as you know, so today I cleaned up, fed the cats, and came to town. Am now at the Rustic Cafe, eating an enchilada with rice/beans -- not bad.
One of the things I got was a smaller version of the storage unit ("pantry") I have now. Smaller means I won't be able to stock up, which means less weight to haul around.
I did call Carol Bruce but her mother had to go to Las Cruces for something medical so she wasn't available. She sounded very surprised to hear from me.
As to TMI, I find that I'm very detailed in writing, less so in speech. And anything smacking of "interrogation" makes me get very cagy. That is, I answer the question exactly as asked, so if it's phrased incorrectly to get the info you want, too bad. Typing is so easy for me that I can just natter on and on (just like I'm doing now). There's no-one "listening" so there's no need to be cagy or censor stuff (though, of course, I do censor).
I also give info out as "stories" in an effort not to be boring, but some people find that irritating. Years ago, a woman I was friends with was listening to me and another person when it came out that I had been in the Air Force. Later, she was extremely upset, crying almost, that she hadn't know that about me. It seems her idea of being a "friend" is to furnish a detailed resume and timeline of your life.
One of the things I got was a smaller version of the storage unit ("pantry") I have now. Smaller means I won't be able to stock up, which means less weight to haul around.
I did call Carol Bruce but her mother had to go to Las Cruces for something medical so she wasn't available. She sounded very surprised to hear from me.
As to TMI, I find that I'm very detailed in writing, less so in speech. And anything smacking of "interrogation" makes me get very cagy. That is, I answer the question exactly as asked, so if it's phrased incorrectly to get the info you want, too bad. Typing is so easy for me that I can just natter on and on (just like I'm doing now). There's no-one "listening" so there's no need to be cagy or censor stuff (though, of course, I do censor).
I also give info out as "stories" in an effort not to be boring, but some people find that irritating. Years ago, a woman I was friends with was listening to me and another person when it came out that I had been in the Air Force. Later, she was extremely upset, crying almost, that she hadn't know that about me. It seems her idea of being a "friend" is to furnish a detailed resume and timeline of your life.
Sat 1/16
Saturday 1/16 12.30pm
I treated myself to a copy of the Wilson Quarterly (Autumn 09) as the lead discussion was "The Future of the Book." I used to read this journal all the time at DBN. Very scholarly but not so much it's not accessible (I didn't have to drag out a dictionary as I did when I read Eco's "The Name of the Rose").
Anyhow, in the Book Review section, two new books on Ayn Rand are reviewed. I'm reading along when the review mentions her play, "The Night of January 16th."
Good grief! I said aloud. I didn't remember that she wrote that! I had been instantly transported in memory to the Shores of Tripoli Club, Libya, about 1956-57, where that play was put on with my mother in the cast.
It's not a great play, by any means, but audiences like it. It's a courtroom drama and the audience plays the part of the jury, renders a verdict, and thereby chooses which of two endings the play will have. It was a modest success on Broadway in 1935.
It was nice to engage my brain a bit. There were articles on the lead-up in East Germany to the Berlin Wall takedown, expanding train service in this country, population shift and other changes in the last 40 years, and exit lessons on wars. There was also a short piece on how the Orthodox church in Russia has expanded recently (even 60% of the country's atheists say they're orthodox -- hmmm).
A most interesting piece on Knut Hamsun, the Norwegian Literature Nobelist (1920). I know I know, you've never heard of him. Well, most people have never heard of him. Somewhere along the line in my reading career, I read his most famous book, Growth of the Soil. It was okay. Now, however, I find out that he was a rotten person. I mean, he gave his Nobel medal to Joseph Goebbels, calling him an "idealist"!!! Which I suppose is "true" in a twisted sort of way, but Hamsun was a Nazi admirer all the way, welcoming the takeover of Norway. I'm glad I didn't admire him much as a writer.
Other than that, I did a little sorting of tools. I also made author lists for each book bin so I find an author without opening each one. I also put peach tissue paper in the diffusers on the fluorescent lights, which modifies the light okay, but I think I'll try pale pink and see if I like it better.
Tomorrow I may tackle the big storage bin on the back rack. Or I may call Carol Bruce and see if she wants to take a drive somewhere Sunday or Monday.
I treated myself to a copy of the Wilson Quarterly (Autumn 09) as the lead discussion was "The Future of the Book." I used to read this journal all the time at DBN. Very scholarly but not so much it's not accessible (I didn't have to drag out a dictionary as I did when I read Eco's "The Name of the Rose").
Anyhow, in the Book Review section, two new books on Ayn Rand are reviewed. I'm reading along when the review mentions her play, "The Night of January 16th."
Good grief! I said aloud. I didn't remember that she wrote that! I had been instantly transported in memory to the Shores of Tripoli Club, Libya, about 1956-57, where that play was put on with my mother in the cast.
It's not a great play, by any means, but audiences like it. It's a courtroom drama and the audience plays the part of the jury, renders a verdict, and thereby chooses which of two endings the play will have. It was a modest success on Broadway in 1935.
It was nice to engage my brain a bit. There were articles on the lead-up in East Germany to the Berlin Wall takedown, expanding train service in this country, population shift and other changes in the last 40 years, and exit lessons on wars. There was also a short piece on how the Orthodox church in Russia has expanded recently (even 60% of the country's atheists say they're orthodox -- hmmm).
A most interesting piece on Knut Hamsun, the Norwegian Literature Nobelist (1920). I know I know, you've never heard of him. Well, most people have never heard of him. Somewhere along the line in my reading career, I read his most famous book, Growth of the Soil. It was okay. Now, however, I find out that he was a rotten person. I mean, he gave his Nobel medal to Joseph Goebbels, calling him an "idealist"!!! Which I suppose is "true" in a twisted sort of way, but Hamsun was a Nazi admirer all the way, welcoming the takeover of Norway. I'm glad I didn't admire him much as a writer.
Other than that, I did a little sorting of tools. I also made author lists for each book bin so I find an author without opening each one. I also put peach tissue paper in the diffusers on the fluorescent lights, which modifies the light okay, but I think I'll try pale pink and see if I like it better.
Tomorrow I may tackle the big storage bin on the back rack. Or I may call Carol Bruce and see if she wants to take a drive somewhere Sunday or Monday.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Today
Successfully shipped off five packages/boxes, all books but the busted light fixture. Then took La Luz Road all the way into town, instead of going back out to Hwy 70. New scenery!
Passed the Deutsch Schule. There's an outpost of the German Air Force here.
The road becomes Florida Ave. (flow RI dah) which is right where I wanted to go. Got gas at second cheapest place in town ($2.72), groceries at both Lowe's (meat) and Walmart (everything else), dropped stuff at thrift store. All that done, I headed for the Rustic Cafe --
where the waitress fucked up my order. First time that's happened. She's the one who flirts with all men, tolerates all women, wears enough makeup to properly call it "maquillage." So she doesn't really care. I hope she won't care about not getting a tip.
I may call Carol Bruce tomorrow or Sunday and see if she wants to go to the Petroglyphs area. I don't work again until Tuesday.
Am I getting sweeter with age? Maybe, maybe not. It's all relative, isn't it?
Passed the Deutsch Schule. There's an outpost of the German Air Force here.
The road becomes Florida Ave. (flow RI dah) which is right where I wanted to go. Got gas at second cheapest place in town ($2.72), groceries at both Lowe's (meat) and Walmart (everything else), dropped stuff at thrift store. All that done, I headed for the Rustic Cafe --
where the waitress fucked up my order. First time that's happened. She's the one who flirts with all men, tolerates all women, wears enough makeup to properly call it "maquillage." So she doesn't really care. I hope she won't care about not getting a tip.
I may call Carol Bruce tomorrow or Sunday and see if she wants to go to the Petroglyphs area. I don't work again until Tuesday.
Am I getting sweeter with age? Maybe, maybe not. It's all relative, isn't it?
Thu 1/14
Thursday 1/14 8pm
Corporations are so weird. We have a category of goods called AQ, which is native american-made stuff like jewelry, dream catchers, etc. I found a couple of items elsewhere in the store to use in displaying some jewelry and it had to be taken away as nothing but AQ can be in the AQ cases. So weird.
The store has been readied for the big annual inventory and we aren't supposed to move anything between now and Monday, when the inventory team will descend on us. I'll be off that day so Kenn will be on (that's why I worked today). Better him than me.
Even so, Caleb and I had to do the normal inventories today -- he did t-shirts and I did leather garments. Boring.
I now know that he was a goth in high school, was heavily into black metal and a "church of the vampire," with accompanying tattoos, was a tagger, and more. He likes to talk to me -- or maybe anybody, for all I know. His wife, who is active military, may be deployed to Afghanistan soon, and there's some hassle about him taking the two children. She's reluctant for him to have them, based on no evidence (at least from his point of view).
High winds this evening. I've put the TV antenna down. Earlier today, I could see it was snowing in the Sacramento Mtns and I thought about getting a picture but decided the effect was too subtle to catch easily.
Am going to use the post office at La Luz, a small community between here and Tularosa. Then to town for a few necessities. May drop by the senior center, or may drop into the local pool hall downtown. Will also try to do the wifi thing.
A lot will depend on the weather and my achy bones.
Corporations are so weird. We have a category of goods called AQ, which is native american-made stuff like jewelry, dream catchers, etc. I found a couple of items elsewhere in the store to use in displaying some jewelry and it had to be taken away as nothing but AQ can be in the AQ cases. So weird.
The store has been readied for the big annual inventory and we aren't supposed to move anything between now and Monday, when the inventory team will descend on us. I'll be off that day so Kenn will be on (that's why I worked today). Better him than me.
Even so, Caleb and I had to do the normal inventories today -- he did t-shirts and I did leather garments. Boring.
I now know that he was a goth in high school, was heavily into black metal and a "church of the vampire," with accompanying tattoos, was a tagger, and more. He likes to talk to me -- or maybe anybody, for all I know. His wife, who is active military, may be deployed to Afghanistan soon, and there's some hassle about him taking the two children. She's reluctant for him to have them, based on no evidence (at least from his point of view).
High winds this evening. I've put the TV antenna down. Earlier today, I could see it was snowing in the Sacramento Mtns and I thought about getting a picture but decided the effect was too subtle to catch easily.
Am going to use the post office at La Luz, a small community between here and Tularosa. Then to town for a few necessities. May drop by the senior center, or may drop into the local pool hall downtown. Will also try to do the wifi thing.
A lot will depend on the weather and my achy bones.
Wed 1/13
Wednesday 1/13
Day off. Besides doing a dump/flush, I went to lunch with Carol Bruce, the local RVW member. She picked me up at 11am and suggested a drive up to Ruidoso and back down through Cloudcroft. Yow. That would have been about 3-4 hours, cooped up in a car with a stranger. I said, lunch is fine. So we went to Juan's in the mall, which turns out to be a fast-food type place, with others near it, sort of like a food court. As expected, the food was edible but that's all.
Carol is a retired teacher from Deming, and grew up here in Alamogordo, so we had lots to talk about. She's getting progressively deafer so sometimes it was difficult. Pleasant, likes to read, has traveled a lot, is a night owl. Short and chubby.
Her rig is an Europa, which she took me to see. It's a small Class A (28ft); I'm 21ft with the back rack), separate bedroom with two twin beds, tub/shower combo. Design is very non-colonial, clean lines, light woodtones. Very nice, indeed. And she says she gets 17 mpg in her 8cyl engine. Of course, it's been in the shop for 18 months and nobody seems to be able to fix the overheating problem. They've even replaced the engine.
She came to see my rig when we returned and thinks it's "cute" and just enough for one.
Wants to get together for day trips, which I'm willing to do as she'll drive. And she says she'll have me over for dinner. Agrees with me that there's not a lot to do here if you aren't a church-goer, and the sidewalks roll up about 8pm. Seems there's a church here for every 12 people! She says she's spiritual but not religious (un huh).
All in all, not too bad a day. Took a 2-hour nap this afternoon, needed because I got up at 6am after a slightly disjoined sleep. Groggy after the nap, though, which is unusual.
Friday I'll be shipping many boxes of books, and the broken light fixture.
Day off. Besides doing a dump/flush, I went to lunch with Carol Bruce, the local RVW member. She picked me up at 11am and suggested a drive up to Ruidoso and back down through Cloudcroft. Yow. That would have been about 3-4 hours, cooped up in a car with a stranger. I said, lunch is fine. So we went to Juan's in the mall, which turns out to be a fast-food type place, with others near it, sort of like a food court. As expected, the food was edible but that's all.
Carol is a retired teacher from Deming, and grew up here in Alamogordo, so we had lots to talk about. She's getting progressively deafer so sometimes it was difficult. Pleasant, likes to read, has traveled a lot, is a night owl. Short and chubby.
Her rig is an Europa, which she took me to see. It's a small Class A (28ft); I'm 21ft with the back rack), separate bedroom with two twin beds, tub/shower combo. Design is very non-colonial, clean lines, light woodtones. Very nice, indeed. And she says she gets 17 mpg in her 8cyl engine. Of course, it's been in the shop for 18 months and nobody seems to be able to fix the overheating problem. They've even replaced the engine.
She came to see my rig when we returned and thinks it's "cute" and just enough for one.
Wants to get together for day trips, which I'm willing to do as she'll drive. And she says she'll have me over for dinner. Agrees with me that there's not a lot to do here if you aren't a church-goer, and the sidewalks roll up about 8pm. Seems there's a church here for every 12 people! She says she's spiritual but not religious (un huh).
All in all, not too bad a day. Took a 2-hour nap this afternoon, needed because I got up at 6am after a slightly disjoined sleep. Groggy after the nap, though, which is unusual.
Friday I'll be shipping many boxes of books, and the broken light fixture.
Sun 1/10
Sunday 1/10
After much heaving about and transferring stuff from one bin to another, I have achieved space. There are now no bins on the rear dinette seat, and it will become a "desk." I may get a cushion for it and a small folding table to sit in the footwell. If I really do become an indexer, that will be a good working setup. UPDATE: Moved two of the bins to the empty dinette seat because I realized that I wouldn't be able to operate the sliding window as the bins were so tight against the window. It's still more spacious looking.
The really big bin is gone from between the dinette seats and is now up in the overhead (which means I got to clean that floor area for the first time in months). The medium bin came down from there. So the front dinette seat under the TV houses four bins, three small and one medium, in two stacks with misc items on top (DVDs, xword puzzle book, tiny wicker case of cords for various appliances, phone book, etc.)
The permanent library is now housed in four small bins, three of which are stacked at the end of the sofa, taking up about half a cushion and leaving me 2-1/2 cushions to lounge on. Those three also make my bedside table, with current book, glasses, clock, etc. I did dispose of the wicker suitcase (gave it to the store for display, maybe of textiles).
Also got rid of most of the packet food (gave it to Carol). If I can adhere to my plan of not stocking up on food, I should be able to replace the monster 4-drawer shelving unit now sitting in the shower pan. I'd get something smaller and then I wouldn't have to edge into the bathroom sideways.
So, I'm pleased with my progress. Next week, I'll work on tools and the like.
And today I'll do laundry and shower, ready for my two days of work. I plan to wash the sleeping bag and maybe my down booties (which haven't been washed in 30 years -- heh). UPDATE: I forgot to take the down booties along so they didn't get washed. Next week, I got split up and will work Thursday and Tuesday (remember, our week runs from Wed to Tue), so I'm working Mon, Tue, Thu, Tue, off Wed & Fri-Mon).
Called a local woman who's a member of RVW and we're going to have lunch this coming Wednesday, at Juan's in the mall (her suggestion). Name of Carol Bruce, not running a rig right now, and is living with her mother. She's picking me up at 11am to go have lunch.
So, I'm discovering that folk out here are early risers. I mean, pool tournaments at 9am! Lunch at 11am! We're not farmers, you know. We have electricity -- we don't have to follow the sun.
After much heaving about and transferring stuff from one bin to another, I have achieved space. There are now no bins on the rear dinette seat, and it will become a "desk." I may get a cushion for it and a small folding table to sit in the footwell. If I really do become an indexer, that will be a good working setup. UPDATE: Moved two of the bins to the empty dinette seat because I realized that I wouldn't be able to operate the sliding window as the bins were so tight against the window. It's still more spacious looking.
The really big bin is gone from between the dinette seats and is now up in the overhead (which means I got to clean that floor area for the first time in months). The medium bin came down from there. So the front dinette seat under the TV houses four bins, three small and one medium, in two stacks with misc items on top (DVDs, xword puzzle book, tiny wicker case of cords for various appliances, phone book, etc.)
The permanent library is now housed in four small bins, three of which are stacked at the end of the sofa, taking up about half a cushion and leaving me 2-1/2 cushions to lounge on. Those three also make my bedside table, with current book, glasses, clock, etc. I did dispose of the wicker suitcase (gave it to the store for display, maybe of textiles).
Also got rid of most of the packet food (gave it to Carol). If I can adhere to my plan of not stocking up on food, I should be able to replace the monster 4-drawer shelving unit now sitting in the shower pan. I'd get something smaller and then I wouldn't have to edge into the bathroom sideways.
So, I'm pleased with my progress. Next week, I'll work on tools and the like.
And today I'll do laundry and shower, ready for my two days of work. I plan to wash the sleeping bag and maybe my down booties (which haven't been washed in 30 years -- heh). UPDATE: I forgot to take the down booties along so they didn't get washed. Next week, I got split up and will work Thursday and Tuesday (remember, our week runs from Wed to Tue), so I'm working Mon, Tue, Thu, Tue, off Wed & Fri-Mon).
Called a local woman who's a member of RVW and we're going to have lunch this coming Wednesday, at Juan's in the mall (her suggestion). Name of Carol Bruce, not running a rig right now, and is living with her mother. She's picking me up at 11am to go have lunch.
So, I'm discovering that folk out here are early risers. I mean, pool tournaments at 9am! Lunch at 11am! We're not farmers, you know. We have electricity -- we don't have to follow the sun.
Sat 1/8
Saturday 1/8 8am
Cold last night (about 20). Cold enough that this morning I turned on the big heater to help warm the rig up (it was about 56 in here at 7am). My little utility heater does its best but sometimes it's not quite enough. I did sleep well, though, as I remembered to add flannel pjs to the caftan (bottoms go under caftan, top goes over -- easy on easy off). Is this TMI?
Have all books sorted and ready to pack up to go to various places. Quinn laid claim to a few, including The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony. So today I'll root around in the warehouse and find some boxes. I'll get all nice and sweaty and then do a shower and laundry. Wednesday will be shipping day.
Looks like we'll be settling into Mon & Tue work full day, then five days off. I think I'll do the Three Rivers Petroglyphs next week. I need to get in touch with RVW women in the area so I'll have something to do in my off time. I think there's an indexer woman in NM, too, so I may try to get in touch with her.
I'm really enjoying having LIGHT. I taped the diffusers over the fixtures, which helps cut the glare. I think I'll get some yellow tissue paper to lay in the diffusers -- regular paper is too thick and dims the light too much.
Cold last night (about 20). Cold enough that this morning I turned on the big heater to help warm the rig up (it was about 56 in here at 7am). My little utility heater does its best but sometimes it's not quite enough. I did sleep well, though, as I remembered to add flannel pjs to the caftan (bottoms go under caftan, top goes over -- easy on easy off). Is this TMI?
Have all books sorted and ready to pack up to go to various places. Quinn laid claim to a few, including The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony. So today I'll root around in the warehouse and find some boxes. I'll get all nice and sweaty and then do a shower and laundry. Wednesday will be shipping day.
Looks like we'll be settling into Mon & Tue work full day, then five days off. I think I'll do the Three Rivers Petroglyphs next week. I need to get in touch with RVW women in the area so I'll have something to do in my off time. I think there's an indexer woman in NM, too, so I may try to get in touch with her.
I'm really enjoying having LIGHT. I taped the diffusers over the fixtures, which helps cut the glare. I think I'll get some yellow tissue paper to lay in the diffusers -- regular paper is too thick and dims the light too much.
Friday 1/8
Friday 1/8 5am
A fine dusting of snow on the ground (maybe an inch), although the high winds didn't materialize (which is okay by me). Supposed to stay cold today (high about 40). Fortunately, I have nowhere to go and some indoor chores to do.
Have made a further cull in my permanent library and picked about 100 books to dispose of, and about a dozen books (mostly hardback) to send to Blair for storage. I'll be packing these books up today and will ship them out next Wednesday. Quinn called last night and laid claim to a few of them, so I'll pack those separately.
This will free up three of the smaller storage bins. I think I'll transfer the permanent library into two of them and dispose of the big bin that sits on the end of my sofa. So not only will I have less stuff in here, I'll have more visual space and actual sitting/loafing space. This is a good thing. Also, the small bins are easier to handle than the big guy, which weighs about 40-50# when full of books).
I think the third bin will become my TBR stash. That's the To Be Read pile. Right now, it's in my wicker suitcase, which I also plan to dispose of. It's not really sturdy enough to handle a lot of books but, fortunately, I don't have to move it often. If I have an empty bin, which is sturdy, I might as well use it and bite the bullet on my pretty suitcase.
I seem to have these culling fits about every six months, and I have less and less stuff all the time (I'm already down to four pairs of pants: 3 jeans and 1 chinos). Of course, I still have too many shoes and way too many shirts (about 30), but I'm working on it.
I've heard from the gay/lesbian campgpround in Bisbee (which I think is mostly gay guys) who said there is an opening coming up but I forgot to send my resume. So I answered and did attach the resume. I'll see what they offer (if anything).
Found out the Senior Center is only open Mon-Fri.
Also found a Daniel Abraham hardback at Hastings Books (used for $5) so I get it to try his real-person writing (as opposed to his MLN Hannover pseud). Title is Shadow in Summer: book one of The Long Price Quartet. No idea whether the rest of the series was published; this was the only book by him that they had.
A fine dusting of snow on the ground (maybe an inch), although the high winds didn't materialize (which is okay by me). Supposed to stay cold today (high about 40). Fortunately, I have nowhere to go and some indoor chores to do.
Have made a further cull in my permanent library and picked about 100 books to dispose of, and about a dozen books (mostly hardback) to send to Blair for storage. I'll be packing these books up today and will ship them out next Wednesday. Quinn called last night and laid claim to a few of them, so I'll pack those separately.
This will free up three of the smaller storage bins. I think I'll transfer the permanent library into two of them and dispose of the big bin that sits on the end of my sofa. So not only will I have less stuff in here, I'll have more visual space and actual sitting/loafing space. This is a good thing. Also, the small bins are easier to handle than the big guy, which weighs about 40-50# when full of books).
I think the third bin will become my TBR stash. That's the To Be Read pile. Right now, it's in my wicker suitcase, which I also plan to dispose of. It's not really sturdy enough to handle a lot of books but, fortunately, I don't have to move it often. If I have an empty bin, which is sturdy, I might as well use it and bite the bullet on my pretty suitcase.
I seem to have these culling fits about every six months, and I have less and less stuff all the time (I'm already down to four pairs of pants: 3 jeans and 1 chinos). Of course, I still have too many shoes and way too many shirts (about 30), but I'm working on it.
I've heard from the gay/lesbian campgpround in Bisbee (which I think is mostly gay guys) who said there is an opening coming up but I forgot to send my resume. So I answered and did attach the resume. I'll see what they offer (if anything).
Found out the Senior Center is only open Mon-Fri.
Also found a Daniel Abraham hardback at Hastings Books (used for $5) so I get it to try his real-person writing (as opposed to his MLN Hannover pseud). Title is Shadow in Summer: book one of The Long Price Quartet. No idea whether the rest of the series was published; this was the only book by him that they had.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Today
Got myself up and out early to be at the repair shop at 9am. The leak was one fitting on a line coming from the water pump -- an easy fix.
The lights, on the other hand, were a pain. First, the diffusers were impossible to get off without breaking them, which I did to save the mechanic the responsibility. Two of the lights were installed easily. The third one, however, had a faulty on/off switch so it'll have to be returned. BUT I now have a reading light over the sofa, and a light in the ceiling for central light. So much better. And I'm going to get some yellow paper to put over them to act as a diffuser and to warm the light up. When I need a replacement bulb, I'll try to get one of those warm-white bulbs.
Went and got the new schedule for the senior center. Why is it everybody assumes old people get up before dawn? Most of the things I'm interested in start about 9am, including playing pool. I'm just real sorry but I'm just beginning to be interested in the day at 9am, no matter what time I got up. And I certainly don't want to play pool at 9am. So we'll see.
The Rustic Cafe had a special on today of ham and potato soup, one of my favorites, so I got some to go and will have it for dinner with some asiago cheese bread. Yum.
The lights, on the other hand, were a pain. First, the diffusers were impossible to get off without breaking them, which I did to save the mechanic the responsibility. Two of the lights were installed easily. The third one, however, had a faulty on/off switch so it'll have to be returned. BUT I now have a reading light over the sofa, and a light in the ceiling for central light. So much better. And I'm going to get some yellow paper to put over them to act as a diffuser and to warm the light up. When I need a replacement bulb, I'll try to get one of those warm-white bulbs.
Went and got the new schedule for the senior center. Why is it everybody assumes old people get up before dawn? Most of the things I'm interested in start about 9am, including playing pool. I'm just real sorry but I'm just beginning to be interested in the day at 9am, no matter what time I got up. And I certainly don't want to play pool at 9am. So we'll see.
The Rustic Cafe had a special on today of ham and potato soup, one of my favorites, so I got some to go and will have it for dinner with some asiago cheese bread. Yum.
Tue 1/5
Tuesday 1/5
Not a busy day; didn't even hit $100 on my register. According to "history," we should have done $460. Oh well.
And the truck from the warehouse arrived with four pallets of stuff. That's about 40 boxes worth. Caleb and I did a few boxes. Kenn and Carol will do the rest over the next two days. I'm off for the next five days.
Plan to go to Alamo RV Repair tomorrow morning and see about the leak first thing. Then see about getting the new light fixtures installed. After that, I'll get some yellow paper to temper the fluorescent green. UPDATE: I called them and made an appointment for 9am on Thurs. am.
Other than that, I have no idea what I'll do with myself. Probably will go check out the senior center and may start taking a class or two. Fun stuff in one's old age.
I'm telling you, there's something about being 66 that's doing a number on me. My face skin is looking coarse, and my double chin is growing apace. And, of course, any kind of plastic surgery is not an option, not only because of the cost. I have a philosophical objection to that kind of thing and will just have to adjust myself to reality. Which is something I had thought I was good at, but 66 is some kind of sore spot. Sigh.
I notice, too, that looking in different mirrors gives me a different look at myself. I was trying on glasses in the vision center and wondered who that frumpy old lady was, and it was me. When I look in the mirror in my rig, I don't look so bad. Odd, eh? Maybe it's the lighting. Yeah, that's it; it's the lighting. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Not a busy day; didn't even hit $100 on my register. According to "history," we should have done $460. Oh well.
And the truck from the warehouse arrived with four pallets of stuff. That's about 40 boxes worth. Caleb and I did a few boxes. Kenn and Carol will do the rest over the next two days. I'm off for the next five days.
Plan to go to Alamo RV Repair tomorrow morning and see about the leak first thing. Then see about getting the new light fixtures installed. After that, I'll get some yellow paper to temper the fluorescent green. UPDATE: I called them and made an appointment for 9am on Thurs. am.
Other than that, I have no idea what I'll do with myself. Probably will go check out the senior center and may start taking a class or two. Fun stuff in one's old age.
I'm telling you, there's something about being 66 that's doing a number on me. My face skin is looking coarse, and my double chin is growing apace. And, of course, any kind of plastic surgery is not an option, not only because of the cost. I have a philosophical objection to that kind of thing and will just have to adjust myself to reality. Which is something I had thought I was good at, but 66 is some kind of sore spot. Sigh.
I notice, too, that looking in different mirrors gives me a different look at myself. I was trying on glasses in the vision center and wondered who that frumpy old lady was, and it was me. When I look in the mirror in my rig, I don't look so bad. Odd, eh? Maybe it's the lighting. Yeah, that's it; it's the lighting. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Mon 1/4
Monday 1/4/2010
Got my schedule for the next two weeks. Only 14 hours a week, when I was promised 16 and told Kenn that 16 is the minimum I need. I've already begun looking for another job, sending out inquiries and resumes, but I will now step up my efforts.
I'm also going to call the carnival next week and see whether they are even considering me. I certainly hope so, but I'm not, as they say, sanguine about my chances.
I was emailed by a huge RV resort in south Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley (this was last spring). I may get in touch with them a little later if nothing else shows up.
I can always go back to Tucson and see about working at Bookman's Bookstore, though they want fulltime people. Still, it would be a fun job for me.
I've discovered that I like to have an end date for a job. I guess I'm still deadline oriented, after so many years of working to deadline in the prepress industry. Also, I don't want to just work -- I want to wander around some.
And I want to have some fun.
Got my schedule for the next two weeks. Only 14 hours a week, when I was promised 16 and told Kenn that 16 is the minimum I need. I've already begun looking for another job, sending out inquiries and resumes, but I will now step up my efforts.
I'm also going to call the carnival next week and see whether they are even considering me. I certainly hope so, but I'm not, as they say, sanguine about my chances.
I was emailed by a huge RV resort in south Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley (this was last spring). I may get in touch with them a little later if nothing else shows up.
I can always go back to Tucson and see about working at Bookman's Bookstore, though they want fulltime people. Still, it would be a fun job for me.
I've discovered that I like to have an end date for a job. I guess I'm still deadline oriented, after so many years of working to deadline in the prepress industry. Also, I don't want to just work -- I want to wander around some.
And I want to have some fun.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Today
Off to Mescalero for cheap cigs. Back to town for groceries. Decided to try out the local supermarket, Lowe's. Not terrible. Still had to go to WM for a few things. Then back here to the Rustic Cafe and had their signature omelet, with philly cheesesteak, bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
Time to start eating steak and salad more and lay off the cookies and hashbrowns etc. There -- a new year's resolution.
Hooray for Diana, finding out Hanover's real name (I just knew it was a pseudonym). I don't know Daniel Abrahams either but I'll check him out when I can.
I'm reading McKillip short stories. She can really turn a phrase and some are quite humorous, e.g. "She was so ugly that mules fainted at the sight of her." She smiled and three crows fell out of the sky in shock." Good stuff.
Time to start eating steak and salad more and lay off the cookies and hashbrowns etc. There -- a new year's resolution.
Hooray for Diana, finding out Hanover's real name (I just knew it was a pseudonym). I don't know Daniel Abrahams either but I'll check him out when I can.
I'm reading McKillip short stories. She can really turn a phrase and some are quite humorous, e.g. "She was so ugly that mules fainted at the sight of her." She smiled and three crows fell out of the sky in shock." Good stuff.
New Year's Day
Was up at 6am and back to bed about 11am. It's now a little after 1pm and I just got up. Thinking about lunch.
Found an email from a huge RV resort in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The owner had asked me to apply after seeing my resume on Workamper but I was heading for Crescent City then. She needed front desk people. I may apply for this. Summer in southern Texas -- yum (sarcasm).
Found an email from a huge RV resort in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The owner had asked me to apply after seeing my resume on Workamper but I was heading for Crescent City then. She needed front desk people. I may apply for this. Summer in southern Texas -- yum (sarcasm).
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve 8am
Picked up some locally roasted coffee to try and am having my first cup. Got something called Kokopelli blend (dark strong delicious), Piñon (with roasted piñon nuts), and a third kind (also dark and strong). I can tell, however, that they're all South American coffees used in the blends, so there's no earthy smoothness like Sumatra. And the piñon nuts give a slightly raspberry tang. And there's an acidic aftertaste. So I'm not too thrilled, drinkable though it is.
I told you about the "real" bookstore (Hastings). Right next door is a coffee shop called Hardback Coffee (aw, how cute!). I think I'll stop in there and see whether they sell coffee by the pound, roasted there, and what varieties they have. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll have both Sumatra and Ethiopia. If they don't, then it's back to WM and their store brand of organic coffee, and they do have both those varieties, so I can make my own blend.
One-half Sumatra (smooth, full-bodied, low acid), one-quarter Ethiopia (nutty, mid-bodied), one-quarter Espresso roast (for bite). Best I've found for all-around flavor, body, and smoothness, stout enough to handle cream and sugar, and the closest to Turkish coffee without all the fuss (first coffee i ever drank, in Libya).
Weather is sunny but somewhat windy, should be in the mid to high 50s today.
Am reading "Grimspace" by a new author, Ann Aguirre. It's SF!!!! Yah! Nice to have a change from all the paranormal/romance that seems to be taking over.
Also picked up two Patricia McKillip books at Hastings -- both used. I no longer buy her new but used is okay. Harrowing the Dragon, and The Bell at Sealey Head. Will undoubtedly enjoy them, though probably not as much as I liked The Riddlemaster of Hed trilogy. And I got two books by Jes Battis -- I think I've probably read one of these before but couldn't remember which; she's pretty good. And I treated myself to a Rizzoli monograph on Robert A.M. Stern, the architect -- it's used (was $40 new; got it for $8) so I can indulge my architectural theory jones.
Wound up working 5 hours, 12-5. Store finally closed at 8pm (I could tell because the outside lights were turned off). Caleb got chewed out for forgetting a lot of the closing things two days ago. I got told off because I took a smoke break and by the time I got back (4 minutes) a line had formed. Now, both Caleb and Carol were at the front, and it was no different than if I had gone to the bathroom, so I felt annoyed.
I'm looking for another job, any job.
Here's a nice sunset pic to go with the end of the year.
Picked up some locally roasted coffee to try and am having my first cup. Got something called Kokopelli blend (dark strong delicious), Piñon (with roasted piñon nuts), and a third kind (also dark and strong). I can tell, however, that they're all South American coffees used in the blends, so there's no earthy smoothness like Sumatra. And the piñon nuts give a slightly raspberry tang. And there's an acidic aftertaste. So I'm not too thrilled, drinkable though it is.
I told you about the "real" bookstore (Hastings). Right next door is a coffee shop called Hardback Coffee (aw, how cute!). I think I'll stop in there and see whether they sell coffee by the pound, roasted there, and what varieties they have. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll have both Sumatra and Ethiopia. If they don't, then it's back to WM and their store brand of organic coffee, and they do have both those varieties, so I can make my own blend.
One-half Sumatra (smooth, full-bodied, low acid), one-quarter Ethiopia (nutty, mid-bodied), one-quarter Espresso roast (for bite). Best I've found for all-around flavor, body, and smoothness, stout enough to handle cream and sugar, and the closest to Turkish coffee without all the fuss (first coffee i ever drank, in Libya).
Weather is sunny but somewhat windy, should be in the mid to high 50s today.
Am reading "Grimspace" by a new author, Ann Aguirre. It's SF!!!! Yah! Nice to have a change from all the paranormal/romance that seems to be taking over.
Also picked up two Patricia McKillip books at Hastings -- both used. I no longer buy her new but used is okay. Harrowing the Dragon, and The Bell at Sealey Head. Will undoubtedly enjoy them, though probably not as much as I liked The Riddlemaster of Hed trilogy. And I got two books by Jes Battis -- I think I've probably read one of these before but couldn't remember which; she's pretty good. And I treated myself to a Rizzoli monograph on Robert A.M. Stern, the architect -- it's used (was $40 new; got it for $8) so I can indulge my architectural theory jones.
Wound up working 5 hours, 12-5. Store finally closed at 8pm (I could tell because the outside lights were turned off). Caleb got chewed out for forgetting a lot of the closing things two days ago. I got told off because I took a smoke break and by the time I got back (4 minutes) a line had formed. Now, both Caleb and Carol were at the front, and it was no different than if I had gone to the bathroom, so I felt annoyed.
I'm looking for another job, any job.
Here's a nice sunset pic to go with the end of the year.
Wednesday 12/30
Wed. 12/30 5pm
Off today but Kenn called about 10.45 to ask if I would do the bank run as it's just him and Carol today. Of course, I said yes.
Then got to do my own chores -- feed cats, do dump and flush, take shower.
Am doing a practice index of Eat This Not That. Am using Excel to see if a spreadsheet will work for me. It's tedious, detailed, complex work. We'll see if I still like the process when I'm finished.
Tomorrow is the big Eve when we expect to sell about $10,000 worth of firecrackers. I'm on the schedule from 12-4 but Kenn said be prepared to work more than that. So I'm girding my loins (metaphorically, that is). I'll let y'all know how it went.
Happy New Year! and may it be better than you can imagine.
Off today but Kenn called about 10.45 to ask if I would do the bank run as it's just him and Carol today. Of course, I said yes.
Then got to do my own chores -- feed cats, do dump and flush, take shower.
Am doing a practice index of Eat This Not That. Am using Excel to see if a spreadsheet will work for me. It's tedious, detailed, complex work. We'll see if I still like the process when I'm finished.
Tomorrow is the big Eve when we expect to sell about $10,000 worth of firecrackers. I'm on the schedule from 12-4 but Kenn said be prepared to work more than that. So I'm girding my loins (metaphorically, that is). I'll let y'all know how it went.
Happy New Year! and may it be better than you can imagine.
Tuesday 12/29
Tuesday 12/29 7.45 am
So the storm has arrived. I think it came later than expected but when I got up at 6.30 it had just started snowing. Fortunately, there's no wind. The cloud cover kept the water line from freezing so I had water this morning. We're supposed to get 1-2 inches. I expect sales will be slow today, but I'll be working 9.30-5.
I've applied for a gate keeper job in Texas but probably won't get it. It's on a construction site, checking trucks etc in and out 24/7, near Ft. Worth or at MacAllen (on the border). They provide fuel water septic and a generator. It's very isolated but the pay is $100 a day, so I could make a lot of money quickly. Most terms are 30 days but could go longer. As far as I can tell, I'd either have to really stock up on food etc or sneak out in the middle of the night for a quick run to a grocery store. And I could get by with catnapping for a month or so. They probably want two people (m/f or m/m) with a toad (that's RV jargon for a towed vehicle), so that they can alternate and one can go on supply runs while the other is working. Ah well.
That sort of full-time is way more do-able than retail, standing on your feet for 8-9 hours a day. The work of checking trucks in and out is sporadic and mostly outside, and things are always changing. It's also short-term so there's always an end-date in sight. I think that's my main psychological problem with this job -- it'll go on forever. Kenn says he and Carol will only be doing this for another 18 months when he reaches retirement age (62) and then they'll be gone. I'll certainly be gone by then, one way or another.
I'm doing a lot of reading about the indexing career. They've suggested taking a book you own and constructing an index for it, just to see how it's done and how good you are at it. There's also specific programs for making indexes -- need to check into that cost. But for now I'll just use Word's indexing application and see how it goes. The ASI (American Society of Indexers) has a Jobs listing, too, sort of like Workampers. Members can use it for free (nonmembers pay).
Signing off now, with about an inch of snow on the ground at 8.15 am.
5.30pm
Accumulation of about 1.5 inches now all melted off, though clouds still dark and low. Fairly busy day in the store. Drove the company car to do the bank deposit, but first had to go back in and get a piece of cardboard to shovel the light dry snow off.
So the storm has arrived. I think it came later than expected but when I got up at 6.30 it had just started snowing. Fortunately, there's no wind. The cloud cover kept the water line from freezing so I had water this morning. We're supposed to get 1-2 inches. I expect sales will be slow today, but I'll be working 9.30-5.
I've applied for a gate keeper job in Texas but probably won't get it. It's on a construction site, checking trucks etc in and out 24/7, near Ft. Worth or at MacAllen (on the border). They provide fuel water septic and a generator. It's very isolated but the pay is $100 a day, so I could make a lot of money quickly. Most terms are 30 days but could go longer. As far as I can tell, I'd either have to really stock up on food etc or sneak out in the middle of the night for a quick run to a grocery store. And I could get by with catnapping for a month or so. They probably want two people (m/f or m/m) with a toad (that's RV jargon for a towed vehicle), so that they can alternate and one can go on supply runs while the other is working. Ah well.
That sort of full-time is way more do-able than retail, standing on your feet for 8-9 hours a day. The work of checking trucks in and out is sporadic and mostly outside, and things are always changing. It's also short-term so there's always an end-date in sight. I think that's my main psychological problem with this job -- it'll go on forever. Kenn says he and Carol will only be doing this for another 18 months when he reaches retirement age (62) and then they'll be gone. I'll certainly be gone by then, one way or another.
I'm doing a lot of reading about the indexing career. They've suggested taking a book you own and constructing an index for it, just to see how it's done and how good you are at it. There's also specific programs for making indexes -- need to check into that cost. But for now I'll just use Word's indexing application and see how it goes. The ASI (American Society of Indexers) has a Jobs listing, too, sort of like Workampers. Members can use it for free (nonmembers pay).
Signing off now, with about an inch of snow on the ground at 8.15 am.
5.30pm
Accumulation of about 1.5 inches now all melted off, though clouds still dark and low. Fairly busy day in the store. Drove the company car to do the bank deposit, but first had to go back in and get a piece of cardboard to shovel the light dry snow off.
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