Memorial Day

Of course, I thought about my father today, a Master Sgt in the 82nd Airborne in WW II, a glider pilot into Normandy on D-Day, having already been in North Africa and Italy. He won a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, but recovered well and came home to get on with life. One year later, he contracted polio and died when I was 3 and my brother was to be born a month later.

Had a nice time at Gabi and Greg's today, with a feast of fabulous grilled steak, red cabbage slaw, asparagus, etc. Greg came and got me so I wouldn't have to move the rig back and forth. I'll be in their driveway starting tomorrow.

Park Party

We had a cookout here at Arbor RV Park this afternoon. About half the residents came and most of the owners kids (4 generations). So overall we had about 20-25 people. Everybody brought something (I did pickled veges) and something to grill. There were two nice big trees we sat under with a nice breeze. It was 90 in my rig but only about 80 under the trees. There was a dog (chihuahua) and a baby (pretty quiet, though, which is good; Jean's great-grandchild).

Tom and Jean (owners) both expressed hope I'll come back to the park after my stint helping pack Gabi's house. Jean is from Franklin NC, I think I said before. She wanted to know how come I didn't bring something really "southern" to the picnic. I said it was too much work. I also told them that if I get the part-time job I've applied for, I will come back. It's a nice quiet place and very friendly, so it may not be fancy but it has other good things.

A very nice time. And Gabi and Greg are going to have me over on Monday for their cookout.

New Phrase

Now that I've gotten all the MB books out, I've been sucked into reading them yet again, starting with #1. And yet again, I've been delighted with something I never noticed before (on p.22).

I've learned a new phrase, which may, I say may, be scatological. Or sexual. Or it might be military slang of some kind. I just don't know, but I think it's really funny.

Well, stuff me standing load!

Said in admiration of a particularly clever psychological move on another character's part.

Do you think it's sort of like "well, shut my mouth!" as we say down south? And just what kind of "load" are we talking about? Cannon? Bowel? Penile? You see where the possibilities might lead us.

I Found 'Em!!

They had slipped down under some other books and couldn't be seen, but I persisted and now I have all 13. Yah!

Now I have to find the 3rd pb of the Madeleine Brent books (Peter O'Donnell pseud) that my list says I have. I'm still looking for the other 6 pbs to buy, but it's kind of daunting now that I saw a pb of Heritage of Shadows going for $50.

I feel m-u-u-u-c-h better now! (I miss John Astin a lot).

Oh yeah -- RIP Lena Horne, Martin Gardner (mathematician and skeptic from Hendersonville), and Art Linkletter.

Missing MBs

I was dragging out out all my Modesty Blaise books for a project and come to find out that I'm missing two of the paperbacks! They're on my list as being in the RV, but I've heaved my way through all the book bins and they're nowhere to be found. Most annoying!

I'm carting around two hardbacks (signed limited editions, yet) because I haven't found paperbacks to carry around instead. I just checked on both Amazon and ABEbooks, and his books are going for fairly high prices now (after all, he just died). It would cost me about $100 to get all four paperbacks. I'm actually carrying three hardbacks but one (Cobra Trap) hasn't been released in mmpb, though I think there's a trade softcover of it.

Sigh.

The missing pbs means that I can't re-read the whole series whenever I want to (sob).

Lunch Outing

I was on Facebook yesterday and noted that Tom Trusnovic had commented on a friend's post. Now, Tom and I both worked at Reader's Corner, but he left Asheville (after I did) to return to Santa Fe. So he's been there all the time I've been in Abq. Who knew.

Anyhow, he was coming into the city today, so we got together and had lunch, at Salsa's Cafe on Coors Blvd. I can't tell you the name of what we had, but it was the Tuesday Special. And we both got "christmas" sauces (that's New Mexican for both red and green sauce).

He's just above to move to Austin Texas, so it was good to see each other. Naturally, I forgot to take a picture. Ah well.

Then I went grocery shopping. There's to be a BBQ here at the park on Saturday, so I got some hot dogs (for me to be grilled) and some pickled veges as a side dish. Will do the melding in a couple of days.

Nothing

is what I've been doing. Two days of work last week, nothing since. Well, I've been reading through the box of books DB sent me, and enjoying nearly all of them. And doing crossword puzzles. And watching Dancing with the Stars etc on TV. Sidenote: The season is about to start for So You Think You Can Dance -- yah!

On June 1, I move back to Gabi's driveway and start helping her pack up her house. That ought to be enough work for a while.

I could, of course, be going around doing touristy stuff. As usual, I only do that sort of thing when somebody drags me out. I always wind up having a good time.

Work, Then Not

So I whipped through the assignment from RQA, visited 10 stores in two days. Was done by 3pm on Sat, though I had thought I'd space it out until Sun. Was on a roll so decided to go ahead and visit the last three stores. Had the most trouble at the very last store. The manager was an officious twit. I need to get proof of visit, a store stamp or a no-sale receipt or a business card. He said he didn't have a store stamp and couldn't do a no-sale ring-up, so he fished a receipt out of the trash with a huff of impatience. Asshole.

Of course, if any of these stores had carried the product I was after, things would have taken longer. I was supposed to destroy the product and put the empty packaging in ziploc bags by store. Then I would send in all the bags and all the forms for the 10 stores. Most of the places had never heard of the brand at all, and two carried the brand but not the specific item. So it all went very quickly.

There's no new jobs yet so I'm lounging about, doing not much of anything. My next-door neighbors here in the park are Cindy and Charles, who introduced themselves the other day. Very nice folk, both short and stout. She works in billing at a hospital, and he's on the Univ. of NM police force. They have a wireless setup and graciously provided me the password so I now have wifi ALL THE TIME. Life is good.

Will post again when something actually happens.

Working hard

For the last two days, I've been driving all over Albuquerque to Circle K's and 7-11's and other stores for a product recall project. It was only about 50 miles total but it's city driving with lots of traffic and long lights, so it takes like 7 minutes to go a mile.

I'm really enjoying this independent contractor job -- it's right up my alley. No fixed schedule, just a due date.

And my neighbors here at the park have finally introduced themselves and offered me access to their wireless network. Yah! No more driving to Denny's or wherever. I stopped at a Starbuck's yesterday, only to find out that you have to go online and set up an account with them with money in the account ($) before you can use their network. Ha! Cancel my coffee, I said, I'm outa here.

I do have to go off to a FedEx to ship the paperwork for the 10 stores I've visited, but then I can come home and relax.

Wed. 5/12

Wed 5/12

Yesterday I happened to look up at my roofline and noted some jagged edges where the fridge vent cap should have been. Climbed up on a ladder today and saw that a whole corner of the housing broke off and the vent cap itself is missing. I suppose that I hit a tree branch somewhere along the line.

The park owner knew of a man named Jim here in the park who loves to help with minor repairs, so he called and told Jim about my problem. Jim stopped by and clumb (oh okay, climbed) up and had a look. We discussed what needed to be done and the upshot is that I'm going to go buy a large vent shroud, like the ones I have over all the other vents, and Jim will help me install it (for nothing).

He lives in a 36ft diesel pusher Class A and has a toad. He grew up in Socorro and never thought he'd want to return to NM. He spent a lot of years in Alaska but says he's never felt better or happier since he came to Albuquerque and so thinks he's going to stay here. He's one of those go-getter types who's out doing something almost every day.

I told him I felt the same way about western NC and so far haven't found any place I like better (except maybe the Bay Area but Asheville doesn't sit right on 3 or 4 major fault lines, which is a definite point in its favor).

Speaking of this park, I've turned my rig 45 deg and now back up to a small garage. I get more shade and less direct sun, and still have trees to look at, so I like it much better. Still planning on moving back to Gabi's driveway on 1 June.

Today

Thurs 4.30pm

Just got word from Gabi that my Modesty Blaise package has arrived! I'm so excited!

Will go tomorrow am to retrieve it and then log on and get signed up for the project and download all the documentation etc. Then I'll call the customer and make arrangements to go get the item. Then pack and ship it FedEx prepaid on Mon.

One nice thing about this company is that the clock starts when you sign on to a project and so all your time spent doing anything related to a project is paid for, and you get mileage, too. Nice

I'm at Gabi's and I see why the package took so long -- it said "Lane" instead of "Loop." This subdivision has lots of "Cherry Hill" streets, so the PO finally tried Loop and it got here. I'll restrain myself from opening it till I get back to the park, and then I'll have a small orgy. Thanks, C!

TNT

Thursday 5/6

I saw an ad from TNT Fireworks Co. for people to run a stand for them for two weeks (late June to early July, of course) in the central NM area. It's a well-known company; we sold their brand of fireworks at Bowlin. You work as an independent contractor for them, selling stuff on consignment. So I called and Kevin sent me an contract and a credit app. It can be good money, as fireworks are good sellers.

Well, you know me. I read the contract very carefully. For some odd reason, it was set up on an Excel spreadsheet! The first thing I saw was the table of costs, and some were refundable and some weren't (like a $200 cleaning deposit). Hmmm, I said. The ad said "no upfront costs" but then why would some be refundable, if you hadn't already paid them? Hmmm #1

Oh yeah, his email called this work a "fundraiser." Also odd. Hmmm #2

Then, in the "contractor agrees to" area, there's the statement that we would provide such things as tools, tape, staple gun & staples, and a cash register. Now, they deliver, by semi, the tent and merchandise and put it all up. They don't have cash registers? They expect me to travel around with a cash register in my rig? Hmmm #3

The next statement that gave me pause was the one that said the contractor must acquire a State Sales Tax License (as well as local permits) and must provide the license number to TNT before work. This strikes me as exceedingly odd. After all, I'm working for them, all monies will be turned over to them for an accounting before I'd get a dime. If this were true consignment, I'd only turn over to them what I owed them for the merchandise and, say, rental of the tent etc. I'd keep the profit. It wouldn't be their accounting that would figure my profit. Hmmm #4

Oh yeah, the split is 80% to them and 20% to me, and the prices are set by them.

The next thing was the requirement that all unsold goods must be returned by the contractor to TNT. You'd think they'd have a semi that would go from stand to stand, picking up unsold good, but no-o-o-o. Kevin didn't say where the delivery place would be, but a further statement said that no payment would be forthcoming until it was all received and inventoried at their warehouse in Lubbock TX. Does this mean I have to drive to Lubbock to deliver the unsold stuff? And how long will all this inventorying take? Hmmm #5

So, you can see my concerns. It sounds like TNT has no company presence in NM and wants to avoid same, so it makes its contractors shoulder the burden of sales tax accounting to the state. I'm not a NM resident, which could mean that I couldn't get a license anyhow. TNT does say it will "assist" in obtaining permits. Humph.

It all sound very weasely, don't it. I'll make a decision after I talk to RQA. If I start getting jobs from them, I won't do the TNT job.

JUST GOT MY 1ST JOB WITH "THE CO.! And the rep said he thinks a lot of work will be coming through soon, so I'm going to turn down the TNT job. Hooray hooray.

Mon 5/3 - Thu 5/6

Monday 5/3 to Thursday 5/6

Arrived here at Arbor RV Park on Sat. afternoon. I'm parked in a spot that's essentially part of a really wide, large driveway -- it does make for easy in and out, and I do have full hookups. No wifi, though. And there's no bath-house either. Or shade. It's a nice, quiet residential area, but for the price I think more amenities should be on offer. One real RV park's price, though about the same monthly, required so many deposits and whatnot that it would have been a huge amount just to move in ($330 rent, $200 rent deposit, $75 elec. $200 elec. deposit).

Today I went off and got my propane tank filled. I've been doing it every six months but I think I can do it every nine months, since I don't use my furnace or water heater. About the only thing I use propane for is the stove. If I need hot water when I'm not hooked up to elec, I heat it on the stove. And I have a small elec. heater.

Then I went to the closest library, hoping they would have wifi available, but the branch was closed on Mondays. So I went to the closest post office from there and mailed a package to B, and my resume to a local contractor looking for Sat-Sun afternoon hostess in demo homes for three weekends a month. It's not much but it's some money.

Still no jobs with "the company" in this area. Update 5/5 Got an email that they now want to do a phone call of 5-10 minutes re any questions etc. Maybe after that, I'll get some jobs.

By this time, having wended my way halfway across town, I went over to Gabi's and got online. Nothing very interesting.

The toner folk have agreed that they sent me the wrong cartridge, so I'm waiting on the replacement to arrive and then I'll return the wrong one. Update 5/5 Got new toner cartridge. I say new, but there was toner leaking all over so got dirty hands. I'm suspecting that it's a refurbished one. Have boxed up the bad one, went to Amazon to get the attachment with shipping label to print out (hooray for my new printer!). May go off Thu. and ship it.

I'm also still waiting for my package of Modesty Blaise comics, but I don't know how it was shipped; if it was Media Mail it could be another week. Update 5/6 And it's going to be bittersweet to get them and read them, knowing he's no longer with us.

Hooray for GPS. Even though I keep getting the "update now" notice, it hasn't led me wrong yet. I have to say that Abq roads are the worst yet. It's not that they're bumpy but that most curb cuts have deep swales and steep rises, so the whole rig gets swayed from side to side, which makes lots of things go wonky inside. It's not so bad if I can meet it head-on -- I can just go very slowly -- but turning in from the street is usually at an angle. And the speed berms are huge! It means about 2mph over them. I missed seeing one once and everything inside went up up and down suddenly. It even tossed some dirt out of the plant (which rides in the kitchen sink, you'll remember). And the toothpaste and toothbrush leapt out of their holder cup onto the bathroom floor somewhere -- had to root around to find them (and then clean them). It's all very annoyiing.

Peter O'Donnell

I've just received word that one of my favorite authors has died. I know I know, he was 90, after all. And he'd quit writing. But still, it was nice to know that he was there.

Modesty Blaise is his greatest creation. He started writing about her in the early 1960s, in a story strip in newspapers, and continued it for 40 years. In between doing the daily strip, he also managed to write eleven books about her. And he wrote nine books of "gothic" suspense under the name Madeleine Brent, all with strong heroines and set in exotic locales.

Pay no attention to either of the Modesty Blaise movies or the tv pilot. The first movie was a tongue-in-cheek comedy with Monica Vitti starring (she was sleeping with the director); the second was a serious attempt but the star has toothpick arms totally unsuited for a combat expert like Modesty. And in the tv pilot, they'd moved the action to southern California, wholly losing the British flair and humor that O'Donnell had supplied.

The books are great fun, and best read in order, though they can be read alone. Modesty is an ex-criminal (with a male sidekick Willie Garvin), newly retired at the beginning of the books (and the strips). But, of course, she's not even 30 years old and retirement palls. Somehow or other, she (or Willie) manages to get involved in intricate plots that require the use of all the skills they've acquired over the years.

And Titan is collecting the 40 years of strips into handsome large softcovers, which I am collecting.

I'm going to miss Mr. Donnell but at least I have the fruits of his efforts. RIP