2.30AM

Awoke to a loud racket.

Hootin’, hollarin’, snortin’.

Stumbled down the stairs.

Threw open the entry door.

From the living room, “Bark, bark, bark.” (Now he barks.)

Burros.

I took a picture.










Back to sleep.

Bruce

G rated version: Hey kids, it was Santa Claus! Delivering late presents in the GFD.

Class in the Desert

Today I held an introductory computer class in our trailer for eight neighbors here in the GFD. They brought their laptops and we talked about files and folders, email, basic kinda stuff. A good time was had by all, and these friends even brought some munchies to stimulate our synapses.

Toward the end, tho, they started throwing the food around, having overdosed on the use of a three button wireless USB optical wheel mouse, so I couldn’t take a picture for the blog. Sorry.

Bruce

Lake Tyee No More

On our way south to the GFD, we received an offer on our RV lot at Lake Tyee in Concrete, WA. An OK price, amazingly in mid-winter in a depressed real estate market. We accepted without making a counter offer.

Deal closed a few days ago. Which confirms our plans to change our residency in March to Texas, now that we can no longer legally register our truck and trailer in WA.

TEXAS! Go Longhorns!! (That’s football, as I’ve just learned. Y’know, the ball that bounces funny.)

Gee, maybe we should have bought a Texas Blue Lacey dog instead of an Australian Terrier. (Just kidding, Clancy. Awww, c’mon now.)

Bruce

A New Day, A New Decade

47 years ago, almost to the day, I completed my Bar Mitzvah. And undoubtedly said, “Today I am a fountain pen.” Huh? Click here.

So today I am an old fountain pen. Better than an empty fountain pen. That will come some day.

I feel grateful to be alive, in good health, no longer working, and living an adventurous life with the woman I love. Oh yeah, Clancy too. (Down boy!)

Living in good weather all year round. Right now it's 68 degrees at 8pm, while 37 degrees in our former Olympia.

We expect to depart the GFD around March 1. Travel to El Paso, where we will change our domicile (residency) to Texas. Yee haw!

Lookin’ at our itinerary now for this trip to Texas, then New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, and back to Oregon for the summer.

Let the adventure resume!!

Bruce

PS While I was typing this, Clancy completed his latest training milestone. In less than one week, he learned to ring a bell at the door to go out for his excretory activities. Good boy!

Check out my new bumper sticker.
My dog is smarter than your hybrid car.

Last Day In My 50s

So tomorrow I turn 60. Six Zero, in case you can’t believe that someone so youthful looking and bon vivantish would reach that number so soon.

No, really.

Well, let’s look at the bright side here….

Now, return to reality.

Jenna has planned a dinner out with our GFD friends. (Look it up in recent posts. I can’t carry you forever!) As long as we get back by 8pm, in time for my newly scheduled nap before bed.

Really, 60.

Heard yesterday that George Will said, upon reaching 70, “Now I don’t worry about dying young.”

Sighhh.

Bruce

Out Out Damn Port (Sorry Willie)

Today a Phoenix surgeon removed the port catheter Jenna was carrying around for her recently completed chemotherapy. All is well now. Required a three night motel stay in the city. We didn’t see much (anything) of the city, what with doctor appointments and requisite big city shopping.

We had luckily found a covered surgeon to see her one day and operate the next. At the same hospital where Bruce donated his old knee just 11 months prior. Ain’t it a small medical world!

Would like to see Phoenix without pain and bleeding. Maybe next time.

Tomorrow we return to the God Forsaken Desert after a brief stop in Quartzsite AZ, home of the Big RV Show. We attended last year for a few hours, so figure we’ll carry on the tradition. Expect no purchases, thank you very much.

Bruce

Summer plans - hosting in Astoria

We have secured a summer position as volunteers at Fort Stevens State Park in Astoria, Oregon. Selling firewood from a motorized cart and dispensing information at the Info Kiosk. Four hours per day, five days per week, in exchange for a full utility site at this oceanside state park. June and July so far, tho likely another position will open up in August.

We camped at this park last year for two weeks. Loved it.

“Wood for sale! Wood for sale!! Termite free. No free samples, sir.”

“Yes, that sound you hear is the ocean. No, Godzilla does not live there. “

“Yes, you can swim in the ocean if you don’t mind drowning.”

We’re ready.

Bruce

Happy New Year from the Desert

We wish you a brighter year than 2008. Here in the God Forsaken Desert (GFD), we celebrate 4 days of accident free dog living (you know). Doesn’t get any better than that, believe me.

Upcoming (real) GFD events:

--Poetry reading in the gravel pit
--Dog burn, meeting at the dump station. (We assume hot dogs. Maybe we should leave Clancy at home, just in case.)

So, from all of us to whoever has nothing better to do than read this blog, we leave you with our resolution in a thousand words for 2009.

Bruce