Friday, January 23, 2015

LESLIE & PETER’S LAST DAY SO WE HEADED OFF FOR A DESERT HIKE PLUS A LAST MINUTE REMINDER……….

DSC_0003

POINTING TO CONGRESS AZ ON AN AFTERNOON HIKE

Well it was my last day in the RV & after tonight’s sleep Pheebs & I will be moving back into the house.  Peter & Leslie leave Saturday heading for Las Vegas to get themselves on a big shiny bird for their flight back to Buffalo where they will make their final 1 hour+ drive back home to Webster New York. 

DSC_0013

Have really enjoyed my 5 days & nights camped out in our driveway.  A great opportunity to catch up on a lot of reading.  Despite having a TV here in the rig the only time I turned it on was to watch President Obama’s State of the Union speech earlier in the week.  Not being the least bit politically minded who would have ever thought I would have watched that……but I did.

DSC_2980

IT IS A WILD & WOOLY COUNTRY OUT HERE IN THE SOUTHWEST

After Thursday’s cold windy day it was nice to step outside this morning & feel that warm sunny touch on my skin.  Could immediately feel energizing rays coursing through my body pumping up my enthusiasm levels again.

DSC_2974 DSC_2976

DIDN’T TAKE PETER LONG TO GO FROM THIS……….TO THIS:))

Some may wonder at times when I occasionally write about enjoying my alone times such as my week in our RV or the many country road drives Pheebe & I take when we are back home in Bayfield.  Some may wonder how Kelly feels about that.  I can assure you we are on the same page in our thinking.  It is not only an alone time for me but it is an alone time for Kelly as well.  It agreeably works both ways.  She too much appreciates her alone time & it is one of the reasons we were attracted to each other right from the beginning.  We both sensed in each other our independent natures.  We like our private space & appreciate the peace of mind it brings to each of us.  We are not & have never been a couple who needs to be together 24/7.  First couple years of our relationship was week-ends only.  We lived in distant cities & never saw each other between Sundays & Saturdays.  But we hung in there & really appreciated seeing each other when we did.

DSC_0006

TODAY’S INTREPID HIKERS

I never feel lonely or alone unless I walk into a big crowd by myself.  It’s rare anymore that I do that but if & when I do I am immediately aware of my feelings.  Needless to say I avoid big crowds.  Even for short periods between relationships or marriages years ago I do not remember feelings of loneliness but that’s not to say it couldn’t happen if I were to spend a long time by myself or suddenly find myself without a partner again.  I sometimes wonder about fellow RV’ers traveling solo.  They have by choice decided to travel on their own & I often wonder what their true thoughts are & how they really feel about that.   Different for me & my enjoyable short periods of alone time because I always have a partner to come home to or a partner who is returning home soon.  But what if I had no partner, how would I feel about that.  It is a question I have no answer for.  Would I like years ago seek out another partner for companionship or would I now at this latter age & stage of life finally just throw in the towel & go it alone?  Not something I dwell on of course but the thought is always there just as I am sure it is with everyone else out here from time to time……………    

DSC_0008

A NICE SPLASH OF COLOR IN THE AFTERNOON DESERT

DSC_0010 DSC_0004

THE BEAUTIFUL SONORAN DESERT JUST GOES ON FOREVER

And an interesting excerpt (to me) from a book (Quiet) I am presently reading & I may add, enjoying.  “Studies have shown that, indeed, introverts are more likely than extroverts to express intimate facts about themselves online that their family & friends would be surprised to read, they say that they can express the ‘real me’ online.  They welcome the chance to communicate digitally.  The same person who would never raise his/her hand in a lecture hall of two hundred people might blog to two thousand, or two million people without thinking twice.  The same person who finds it difficult to introduce himself to strangers might establish a presence online.’ ……… ‘Aha’ I thought as I smilingly read this & thought, so that is my excuse is it:)) 

DSC_0011 DSC_0012DSC_0014

HEADING BACK TO THE JEEP

Kelly, Leslie & Peter headed off to Nichols West for lunch.  Luckily I didn’t have to go.  Not that the food isn’t good or anything it’s just that I’m not comfortable in certain kinds of environments & higher end restaurants is one of them.  Maybe it’s because they won’t let me eat my soup with my fingers in there.

DSC_0016

SAY CHEESE PLEASE

Two o’clock this afternoon saw us piling into Jeepers for a drive & short hike in the desert out behind our house.  Same place Kelly & I were hiking one morning in March of 2013 when we came upon Two Dead Rattlesnakes.  We had a high cloud cover move in this afternoon dropping our temperatures.  Combined with a westerly wind we were all bundled up on the warm side.  Leslie spotted a Saguaro with an odd top to it & I think this cactus may very well be in the early stages of morphing into a rare Crested Saguaro.  We all agreed to come back in 50 years & see how it is progressing.  We were back home before 4.

DSC_2983

DSC_2981

Right after a supper of Chicken Parmesan we hustled ourselves outside for a backyard campfire.  First one this year actually.  Night was cool so we had to dress warm.  Had my fingers crossed a big red fire engine wouldn’t pull up in front of our house like it did a few months ago when I was burning some brush.  Winds had died down so it wasn’t too bad out.  Still had to dress warm against Arizona’s desert night air.  Nice fire & nice coals.  We all ended up smelling like Smokey The Bear:))DSC_0004

DSC_0002DSC_0009DSC_0008

DSC_0012 DSC_0023

blogfest1

<<< AND A LAST MINUTE REMINDER TO EVERYONE

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A fourth grade teacher in Ventura County, California as a fun assignment, I gave her students the beginning of a list of famous sayings and asked them to provide original endings for each one. Here are some examples of what her students submitted.

The grass is always greener….. when you leave the sprinkler on.

A rolling stone….. plays the guitar.

The grass is always greener….. when you remember to water it.

A bird in the hand….. is a real mess.

No news is….. no newspaper.

It's better to light one candle….. than to waste electricity.

It's always darkest just before….. I open my eyes.

You have nothing to fear but….. homework.

If you can't stand the heat….. don't start the fireplace.

If you can't stand the heat….. go swimming.

Never put off 'til tomorrow what you….. should have done yesterday.

A penny saved is….. nothing in the real world.

The squeaking wheel….. gets annoying.

We have nothing to fear but….. our principal.

To err is human….. To eat a muskrat is not.

I think, therefore I….. get a headache.

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry, and….. someone yells, "Shut up!"

Better to light a candle than to….. light an explosive.

It's always darkest before….. 9:30 p.m.

Early to bed and early to rise….. is first in the bathroom.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a….. blister.

There is nothing new….. under the bed.

The grass is always greener….. when you put manure on it.

Don't count your chickens….. it takes too long.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

ALMOST HAD MYSELF A DAY WITH NOTHING TO SAY, BUT…………..

DSC_2968

SOMEONE HAS A GREAT IMAGINATION ALONG DATE CREEK ROAD…SEEN WEDNESDAY

Felt to me like a Siberian wind this morning as Pheebs & stepped out of of the rig.  Nothing compared to Northern Latitudes of course but for me it felt cold.  Desktop thermometer said it was 42F so figure in wind chill factor with that & it’s cold enough for this guy. 

DSC_2970

ALSO ALONG DATE CREEK ROAD

DSC_2969 DSC_2973

A BIG ROCK SKULL & A TEETERY-TOTTERY ROCK

Nothing planned to day so I hung out in the rig reading again.  Sunshine beaming in Big EEE’s windows made it toasty warm so it was a no brainer where I was going to be feeling most comfortable. 

DSC_0011

Try as I did I just could no longer slog my way through the mire & mud of my latest book, Party Of One: A Loner’s Manifesto. I finally bailed out.  I think author Anneli Rufus lost her focus after a few chapters & the book for me just entangled itself in a network of gnarly vines leaving me in a confusing state of total disinterest.  Downloaded Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by author Susan Brown & am finding it a much better read……..so far. 

DSC_0002

JUST HANGING OUT IN THE RIG WITH MY BEST PAL

Kelly & Leslie returned to the Congress Depot (Rosebrook) to browse through all the really neat clothes & artsy antique furnishings & southwestern trappings.  We bought some Mexican flavored furniture pieces here a couple winters ago when we were outfitting our house.  Not your traditional big box fare at Rosebrook.  How refreshingly different.

DSC_0007

BY THE LOOKS OF THAT WHITE BAG I THINK BROWSING TURNED INTO BUYING

Leslie & Peter thoroughly enjoyed their tour of Wickenburg’s Desert Caballeros Western Museum Wednesday.  Peter felt is was very professionally done & on par with any big city high end museums.  They also enjoyed an eatery just around the corner from the museum called, Nana's Sandwich Saloon.  We have heard good things about this place but Kelly & I haven’t been there yet.

DSC_0004 DSC_0003 DSC_0006

GROANER’S CORNER:(( There were two evil brothers. They were rich, and used their money to keep their evil ways from the public eye. They even attended the same church, and appeared to be perfect Christians.  Then, their pastor retired, and a new one was hired. Not only could the new pastor see right through the brothers' deception, but he also spoke well and true, and the church membership grew in numbers. A fund-raising campaign was started to build a new assembly.  All of a sudden, one of the brothers died. The remaining brother sought out the new pastor the day before the funeral and handed him a check for the amount needed to finish paying for the new building.  "I have only one condition," he said. "At the funeral, you must say my brother was a saint." The pastor gave his word, and deposited the check.  The next day, at the funeral, the pastor did not hold back. "He was an evil man," he said. "He cheated on his wife and abused his family." After going on like this, he finally concluded, "but, compared to his brother, he was a saint."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

JEEPING AROUND IN THE SONORAN DESERT TODAY

DSC_0033

Kelly brought out a coffee this morning & Pheebs went  back with her into the house for her breakfast.  Climbed into the shower about a half hour later & was unaware Kelly had let Pheebs back out.  Wasn’t until I was out of the shower & had sat back down at my computer & opened an email from Kelly in the house that I saw a photo she had just sent of our little Pheebers waiting, waiting, & waiting outside the rig’s door.  I quickly jumped up, opened the door & let her in.  Following pics were taken by Kelly from in the house of a very patient little doggy waiting & waiting for me to come to the door & let her in…………………….

unnamed

unnamed 

Leslie expressed an interest in seeing House/Indian Rock again so about mid morning we all pilled into Jeepers (except for Pheebs) & headed off out in the Sonoran desert just a block behind our place.  Last time out there was with Jean & Skip a few months back.  Nice morning with a thin high cloud cover made for a nice walk among the Sonoran deserts big boulders & various cactus plants.  One of my favorite areas close to our house.

DSC_0004

LESLIE STEADIES HOUSE ROCK THIS MORNING

DSC_0007 DSC_0008

WONDER IF THERE ARE ANY RATTLESNAKES UNDER HERE

DSC_0012

INDIAN GRINDING HOLES…MORTEROS

DSC_0013 DSC_0016

DSC_0020

A NICE HIKING AREA NEAR HOUSE/INDIAN ROCK

 DSC_0014

Walking back along a section of dusty road we had driven in on we met a couple on an ATV.  Turns out the fella driving is from Alberta & not to far from John & Brenda’s Dog Pound North.  In fact he had just met them a week ago at North Ranch.  This same fella was on an ATV ride with Janna & Mike a week or so ago to Baghdad & also knew them as well.  We didn’t get his name.

DSC_0024

DSC_0030 DSC_0022DSC_2948 DSC_2949

LESLIE KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON WHERE SHE’S WALKING AFTER PETER WALKED INTO A PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS

DSC_0023

Headed back into Congress but before going home we took a drive out to the end of Ghost Town Road & showed Peter an old mine shaft we had come across a few days ago.  We were all back in our yard by 12:30 & that pretty much wrapped up our day.  Everyone kind of retreated to their restful corners.  For me it was into the Motorhome with some good ‘old’ country & western music for a change while I wiled away a few hours reading.  Hank Williams, Marty Robbins, along with my favorite western harmonies by the Sons Of The Pioneers:))

DSC_2951

CONGRESS AZ. IN THE FOREGROUND

DSC_0035 DSC_0002

JEEP 2 DOOR WRANGLERS ARE NOT EASY TO GET INTO OR OUT OF

DSC_0017

LESLIE & PETER KNAPP

DSC_0027

DSC_0025 DSC_0003 DSC_0032

DSC_0037 10940419_10152679469941989_3799210650765830623_n

LOOKING INTO THE JAVELINA MINE SHAFT NEAR THE END OF GHOST TOWN ROAD…PETER TOOK THE PHOTO ON RIGHT WITH HIS IPHONE & I PLUCKED IT OFF HIS FACEBOOK PAGE

I particularly liked Sharon’s comment on my post last night regarding the topic of ‘loners.’ In part her comment read,  “All my life I've been a person "alone"... but I've never been lonely.... but as others have said, being alone and being lonely are totally different. The beauty of loners life is that while they may not NEED a companion, when they have one they can still have their space.... be alone.... even when in the same room with their best friend”.  Sharon write’s THE ODD ESSAY.

DSC_0021

GROANER’S CORNER:(( After enlisting in the 82nd Airborne Division, I eagerly asked my Recruiter what I could expect from jump school.  "Well," he said, "its three weeks long."  "What else," I asked.  "The first week they separate the men from the boys," he said.  "The second week, they separate the men from the fools."  "And the third week?" I asked.  "The third week, the fools jump."