Planning January Trip

I know it's only November, but I am already planning my upcoming trip to Arizona this next January.  :)

-The place:  Near Quartzite, Arizona

-The reason:  Annual gathering of people for the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous

-The purpose:  To attend the seminars, meet the many wonderful people I have gotten to know, check out the desert

-The stay: About two weeks boondocking in the desert

-The companion:  My co-pilot, Chevy, as far as I know (although my mom has threatened to go)

-The route:  Will take the more southern route along Highway 10 to avoid more of the nastier weather that may appear on Interstate 40

-The miles:  About 1140 miles one way.  Plus driving in between to nearby towns for supplies.  Will be splitting this into a few days to get there and back.

-The Hula planting:  I know for sure one will be planted in nearby Blythe, California.  This is the town John lived in up until 6th grade.  We went through there in 2001 and he showed me his house and the town and told me his growing up memories.  With the help of his sister, I am planting one in that town.  For Arizona, not sure yet.  But I will be planting one on this trip, I am hoping a spot just inspires me.

High School Story

True life story of what happened to me in my junior year of high school.


Was at a new school, in the small rural town of Erick, Oklahoma.  We had just moved there, I was a junior in high school at that time.  I realize now that it was not a big deal, being a small town, but I was new there and very nervous about fitting in.


I had and English class assignment to write a story.  Well..  my brain took over, haha.  That's all I got to say.  I got creative, haha.  I handed in my assignment.


The day came for the teacher, Mrs. Reynolds, to talk about the stories she read.  She got in front of the class and decided to read one she found pretty good.  And OMG, wouldn't you know it, she was reading mine!!   I could have crawled into a hole in the floor if there was one.  


I sat there, frozen in embarrassment, listening to her read to my fellow classmates my story.  So worried about how they would react to it, stupid worry.


Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds, for never disclosing the source of the story.  :)   Here is a gist of what I wrote to the best of my knowledge:


"I am here, sitting in the dark.  Alone.  Scared. 


I see no light, I have no way of moving. 


Suddenly, a small dot of light comes on.  I can see it, through the murky water. 


There is an eye peering down on me.  Looking at me.   Judging me.  I don't like it here.  This eye is still staring down on me. 


Again, I am left alone.  In the dark. 


All of a sudden I see a bottle above me with the words 'D R A I N O" on it.  (I did mis-spell this in junior high, lol)


Some thick stuff comes splashing down upon me, weird stuff.  And then..  I start moving.


WHOOSH!!!!   I start descending downwards, like a kid on a waterslide, down, down, down.


I am free!!!!!!  Weeeee!!!!


I am hair ball."






Yeah..  such was my brain in high school.

Van Halen Is Home!!

She is home..  and I'm $1900 poorer...

But DAMN she runs awesome!!!  :D