2008 in review and Toasts and rhyme to the future-2009

Ah, friends, it is a marvelous feeling to look back on a year and find good things among the inevitable sorrows. I can say with certainty that good health is a giant totem along with meeting a new love; children who live and learn well that life is what you put into it brings me great joy. Grandchildren are the frosting to match the silver in my hair. Friends are gold without which life would be tarnished. I can truthfully say my cup runneth over.


Tonight we celebrate the turn over to a new year in which we determine to look ahead to some things new and wonderful and say, I'm alive and well and happy. I toast all of you tonight as I hoist a glass-

In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want. (Traditional.)

Stir the eggnog, lift the toddy, Happy New Year, everybody. ~ Phyllis McGinley

Here's a toast to the future, A toast to the past, And a toast to our friends, far and near. May the future be pleasant; The past a bright dream; May our friends remain faithful and dear. ~ Anonymous

Each age has deemed the new-born year The fittest time for festal cheer. ~ Sir Walter Scott

New Year's Eve

Play a thin tune
on a paper horn
Old is dying
New is born

Scatter confetti
over the floor
Sweep an old year
Out the door

Blow up a wish
in a bright balloon
Whisper dreams
To a midnight moon

Play a loud tune
on a paper horn
Old is dying
New is born

by Myra Cohn Livingson

Hummingbirds, New Years Traditions

The weather is warming, but the previous weeks cold didn't discourage the hummingbirds. We hung a feeder in the grapefruit tree and true to form, they found it even though it is located on the North side of the motorhome, in the shade, without sun. They are pretty and cheering. I do my yoga on a mat on the cement "patio" cushioned by a rug and it feels good to look up at my new little friends.
Doing the internet in the library can be quite irritating because their filter is so judicious. For instance, some days my Van Gogh post will not show because some Van Gogh's are apparently offensive? Hum Bug! It happens more often than you'd think with some of the simplest subjects, none of which I can remember off hand.
I'm taking Amoxicillan for my dental surgery and have opted not to drink. But, I'm making an exception for the New Year. Grandma Moore liked to have fresh cracked crab for the New Year. She and Doug enjoyed it as a favorite. Many people eat black eyed peas for the New Year. Since Jim has no New Year tradition, we are going for the Crab. That, a bit of champagne and good company.How could anyone ask for more?

Roosters,Virginia Adair, Salt Free Drinking Water

We wake to roosters every morning, a condition I adore. I once had a rooster named Fat King Crow. He was a magnificent specimen of all colors having Buff Orphington, Road Island Red and who knows what else? The turquoise feathers juxtaposed with the black and buff present a fine cowl, a proud tail; add to that a thick attractive comb and wattles. Handsome as a prize. His picture is not available from Yuma, but I promise to dig it up when I return home. On another subject, locally, Brownie’s Restaurant, (opened in 1946) is a hot spot. They offer internet which is soooo nice for the traveler. They have a local sausage, (I hope I spell this correctly,) called a Kamanan Sausage. I decided to try it. A winner!!. The waitresses are personable, efficient and have a sense of humor, besides.
An anomaly about Yuma is the many stations to buy salt free water. I’m assuming the ground water here has salt intrusion. Just over the hill is the inland sea and vast sand dunes. I haven’t researched it for accuracy yet.
I’ve a book of poems by Virginia Adair that I love. Consider the following in the wake of the recent Santa Ana Fires that destroyed so much of Southern California-

In September
The Sant’Ana

Makes dogs tremble
Arsonists go mad
Lovers bite in bed

At all hours
sirens howling
Into the foothills

Along the ridges
Rows of hideous suns
At midnight

Trees burst

Insane deer
Run with the horses

She writes with a hard, true edge.

Smoke filled rooms, and recycling, nyet, Rabbit Sculpture, si'

Karaoke was a great idea, doncha know, but smoke filled rooms are a thing of the past in California. Not so in Arizona. Walked in, spent two minutes, and Karaoke or not, couldn't stay. In those quick minutes, my sweatshirt and hair were already stinkin' Can't believe I used to be a pack-a-day woman!!
Recycling is nearly unheard of in Yuma. We found two boxes in the whole town that fund raise for Habitat For Humanity. They only collect plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Something has to change. Me be the one woman crusader and I am planning a few protest phone calls and a letter writing campaign. You can't keep a good activist down.
When I was young Ron Sigrist used to call me "Little Mother Mary Matzek", as a tease. I guess the name still fits, only my cause is not children these days but the environment. I'm a green through and through.
Also a wanna-be artist. I admired this rabbit sculpture that marks the border returning to the United States from Mexico. Enjoy.

Weather Cheated and Tamale Rich

Jim is feeling cheated because his winter home, Yuna, (he's a snowbird) is cold instead of warm. He is tired of wearing sweats and wants to get into sleeveless t-shirts and shorts for the duration, especially since he is skewing his winter to return to (brrrr!) cold Murphys while I have surgery in February. We all have our comfort levels and 65 degrees is definitely not for Jim.
But, its okay, the friendly weatherman is forecasting 70 degrees in a few more days and then the Rambler will be out and about without shivering. I keep telling him I've got weather Karma. Its a fact, wherever I go, I bring the sun shine with me. Well, sort of. I know we've been smiling a lot. I guess that qualifies for sunshine.
Dental work yesterday gave me a new smile and if that isn't a reason to celebrate, I don't know what is.
So tonight, we'll spend happy hour at the America Legion so I can try my smiling voice on Karioke. But, not before eating another wonderful dinner of home made tamales via Lydia. If you are in Yuma, you should call her and she'll make them special for you. The best I ever tasted, really. Call 928 388-1577

Philosophy, psychology and new friends

Jim has a bunch of RV friends that are members of the WINs. WIN stands for Wandering Individuals Network. They share holidays, excursions, all types of gatherings. Many belong to more than one group, such as LOWs, Loners On Wheels, ESCAPEEs, self explanatory. It amazes me how many people love the RV lifestyle. Jim was featured on a television program about single RV'ers on the AARP channel last year. We decided to interview some of the unusual characters we've met in the RV world and see if they won't make a book.
Consider Randy Vining, an intelligent fellow who likes to leave as small a footprint as possible. He calls himself the stealth RVer. He lives in about 100 square feet, uses about two gallons of water for a shower, he uses only solar power, (some rigs have wind generators as well.) He made his own RV which he calls a stealth RV because you could never tell by looking at it that it is a domicile. He can park it on a city street and basically live anywhere he wants without arousing anyone's curiosity. Randy, the Stealth RV-er, is a member of WINs. He has a relationship philosophy that kind of defines people who have this wanderlust. A big part of their make up is to have a great sense of fun and humor.
Randy drew two figures, one resembles a snowman the second one resembles an upside-down snowman. The woman he desires is represented by the upside down snowman. Strong (lg. circle on top,) represents a strong parent relationship, middle circle, represents responsibility, (ie can support herself and balance a check book) small circle on the bottom, has a small sense of the child. He on the other hand has a weak (small circle on top) parent script, his center is equally responsible, can take care of himself and balance a check book, large strong circle on bottom has a large sense of the inner child. Does that make a balanced couple? Hmmmm. Jim says he never pays attention to such stuff. Hmmmmm! Randy and Jim are both fascinating characters. We've set up two interviews and have two more in mind.
Today, the day after Christmas, was another dental day. Feeling a bit bruised but my smile looks great. The French meat pie, by the way, was supreme, and, yes, I give out recipes.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL

Yuma Indians are the Quechen's. They have a modern casino and a not so modern church. But, we all know the Reason For The Season. We decided to visit the Yuma Indian Church and we found a charming little Creche nearby on their site on a hill above Yuma where you can look down on the Imperial Valley with field upon field of lettuces, kale, spinach cabbages, cauliflower and date palms.
They were Christianized many years ago but they have a large surviving population here in Yuma. The city is heavily Hispanic and Indian. The Mexican people are very friendly and musical and also very Chatholic. The Mexican people like their music with a strong beat and very loud. They love festivals and occasions to party. We picked up fresh home made tamales at the Arts Center in old town Yuma for Christmas plus we bought the ingredients for the Meat Pies and a bottle of champagne. The music of Christmas is magical as is the season. Merry Christmas to all.

Christmas Eve and the living is Easy What with bicycling and ice cream trucks

Its true, I had four hours of dental work today. Not the fun way to spend Christmas Eve. But, again, life is good when you are healthy, have enough to eat, have good friends and a wonderful family.
Being in Yuma, I saw a hummingbird at the feeder we hung in our own private grapefruit tree. Yuma is refreshingly easy to find one’s way around. The street grid is set up with Streets flowing North and South and Avenues flowing East and West. Oh, oh! Can you tell what I’m about? Yesterday, I took a bike ride along the canal, moved onto city streets, and got disoriented. I spent 40 minutes retracing and finding my way home. I HATE admitting doing such dumb stuff, especially in a city that is so easy to navigate. We take our native intelligence so much for granted that we allow ourselves to be careless. I had no phone, no money,and no identification on me. Something any respectable grandmother would be sure her GRANDSON had on HIM. Fifty lashes with a wet noodle for me. But, hey, ten miles on the bicycle was just dandy exercise and I loved the cool wind in my face, and getting around on my pedal power. Virginia bicycles from Davis to Sacramento State every day she works. She is a dedicated Green, and pedal power is green and great exercise. She also shops and picks up kids at school from her bike. Virginia has muscles on her muscles. Hmm, wonder if I could wrist wrestle her and win. I used to be good. The challenge has been hurtled!!
Another nice thng about Yuma, in years past, children loved the jingle of an ice cream truck on the street. They are pretty much caputski now, but 5th St. still responds to the jingle of an ice cream van. I had to get a picture of this anomaly.

Spelling Errors, Jabberwocky

Poor spelling is the bane of my life, it seems, but as always, Professor Howard Hoyt comes through. Once I got the correct spelling for Jabberwocky, I could actually look it up on line and it was so much fun reading it again after just listening to Kristanne recite it once again for me over the phone, that I decided to include it in today's blog. Our family has had a tradition of reciting poetry at Christmas, and Kristanne once chose to recite Jabberwocky which she does in triple time. She also does the Grecian Alphabet forward and backward in double time. Such talents the Matzek's have. Brings back a lot of fun memories. Doug reciting Ogden Nash's The Potato, Dad, performing perfectly from memory, The Creamation of Sam McGee, everyone singing Black Widow, yeah, yeah, yeah. Love you all.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

DECEMBER 22, OF ANNIVERSARIES, MEAT PIES AND CHICKENS

This date marks an anniversary of sorts, for Jim. Thirteen years to the day of full time life on the road in an RV. I had never met anyone (in their right mind) who would, could-chose to divest themselves of all material goods and hit the road. He claims stress free living makes you happier and healthier than ever. It works for him. Haven't decided how we'll celebrate yet.
We are making French meat pies for Christmas and I spoke to his cousin Janette from Quebec about the family recipe. And, of course, my own cornish pasty, I already know how to make pasty so meat pies are much the same thing. From my own childhood and Jim's, our families did the same: made meat pies at Christmas to share after midnight mass. We are finding we have a lot in common, not only nationality, but traditions and attitudes; likes and dislikes in concert.
Yesterday, went out for breakfast at an internet cafe; we walked the canal, lazed about and read books, watched a movie, and, in general, treated the day like a weekend off. Stress reduction is definitely my favorite cup of tea right now. Saw these wonderful little banty chickens on the canal.

Bougainvillea Christmas Bouquet

Being a Michigander, I fell in love with the bounteous bougainvillea when I moved to California. While walking the Canal that makes the Imperial Valley imperial, (all that Colorado water) we came accoss this marvelous bush. Doesn't that make a beautiful Christmas Bouquet? We thought so. Enjoy.
We are still without a regular, dependable signal because the server we paid for still isn't repaired but internet cafe's and the library keep us going.
Hasta la vista

SNOW IN MURPHYS, SUN IN YUMA

Jim Jaillet and I are discussing how to collaborate on a book. He is an excellent photographer and I have a writing background. A win, win. You've heard of the worst writing contest? Snoopy is the mascot. Snoopy always starts out his novel with these words: It Was A Dark And Stormy Night- and no, I didn't win the worst writing contest. Check it out on-line. Bulwer-Lytton Contest.
I miss being with my family for Christmas but I'm looking foward to many more Christmases with Jim. Besides, it is supposed to snow down to 1500 feet in Murphys and in Yuma, while slightly cool right now, the temperature is set to go up. I'm getting my dental work done during the next three weeks, then heading back north. Posting early today since we don't have a signal in the motorhome. We'll ride our bikes along the canal today and hopefully have a photo to post tomorrow. For now, here is a photo Jim took of me in the motor home.

MOVING DAY, PICKING GRAPEFRUIT, MEETING HORST AND MARGOT

Dec. 18th
Got up to a wet, wet motor home, drippingly we moved to Patriot Park which is lined by a citrus grove. What luxury to pick fresh grapefruit from your motor home ladder. I’m drooling about a wonderful salad Michal Houston taught me to make in Cabo last December. Fresh grapefruit sections mixed with ripe avocados and dressed with a sweetish vinegarette. Can also add Shrimp. Can’t go wrong. Fresh squeezed juice each morning. Oh frubish day.
No, Howard, frubish is not a word. (Howard Hoyt is a language professor, retired, friend of mine.) It comes from Alice In Wonderland’s Jaborwocky. Which reminds me, daughter Kristanne can still recite Jaborwocky by heart-on demand.
But, enough of grapefruit and Alice’s friends.
Today we met Jim’s friends Horst and Margot Schneider 88 and 87 years young, respectively. Youth is in the heart and these two are young, fascinating and still honeymooners. We became acquainted over cookies and port. He read to us from some of his writings. His website is www.bookandpoems.com. He is very old country wise, and so is Margot. The two have so many talents between them they are like a mini university. I know everyone is busily baking and wrapping for Christmas. This is a wonderful time of year. Hard to believe Christmas Eve is only 6 days away.

BACK ON SCHEDULE, SORT OF.

December 17th.
I’m learning the mottoes of the road warriors, such as All Who Wander Are Not Lost. And Go With The Flow. And IDAAT which means One-Day-At-A-Time; this same motto is the special license plate on Jim’s Bronco.
At the Slabs, Jim and I hiked each morning with his friend Leo, 77, who winters in Slab City and goes home to his lady in Oregon during summers. A loveable guy with a crusty personality and an affectionate doberman named Juno. We became instant friends. Juno found a dead body under a desert bush last year, Leo told us. Life in the desert is harsher, decidedly different than the city. Characters abound, here, a niche for wandering souls who care not for prescribed life in the fast or slow lane.
Took a Slab City Shower in the outdoors, a sort of rite of passage and very enjoyable.


On the way to Yuma, we crossed the Mighty Colorado River where it dwindles to a trickle, but explorers traveled to Yuma for this crossing because there were few places to get across the raging waterway. It was 1200 miles between crossings, then.
Nearby the Dunes Recreational Area, seven miles wide and 10 miles long, a vista of drifted sand. The modern bridge rises above the sand dunes for an easy crossing but the dunes were a difficult place to traverse in the "old days". The famous “Plank Road” was in view from the bridge, the only way to navigate the sand before the invention of dune buggies and fat wheel ATVs, other than on horse back, donkey or camel.
We arrived in Yuma, parked at the American Legion until we decide where to hook -up.
Yesterday, we crossed the border into Mexico at Algodones for my dental evaluation. It will take three weeks to get my teeth fixed. Arranged to rent a place for a month so we will move today. But, hey, if the rain, which is heavy right now, persists? We can move tomorrow. A smooth advantage associated with life on a “Magic Carpet”.
Christmas seems surreal on the road but we have a wreath on the Motor Home and another on the Bronco. A first for Jim. Several choices of where to spend Christmas and the New Year from an activities list in Yuma. In the new park we will have a mailing address, HOLY COW! Time to order some movies from Amazon.com. Don’t sweat the small stuff and life flows.
Hasta la vista.

HOME ON THE BACK FORTY, DOCTORS AND DRUM CIRCLE

Friends, may I tell you that a blog is a wonderful responsibility. Hey, you gotta be here and posting. The trouble is we ramblers (me a newbie) discovered that the wi fi signal on the laptop isn’t always available as we traipse about the country. At times we are without a cell signal as well.
Here’s the skim: I flew home to Murphys Dec. 7th for a Doctor’s appt. , then a second doctor’s appointment. Attended a fantastic Drum Circle/Christmas Potluck at Jan Stewart’s with neighbor’s Suzy and Karen. See the photos: Caught up by phone with Pam Quyle. In other words, stuffed a lot in the 4 days I was home. I will have shoulder surgery on Feb. 11th, so the Ramblin Man and I will be returning in the cold of winter to take care of me.(I told everybody this ramblin guy was a keeper.)
However, Christmas will be spent away from family as I’m having dental work in Mexico Dec. 16th that will stretch to …?? Who knows? My dentist in Murphys was understandably unhappy that I chose to bypass his expensive treatment for affordable repairs in Mexico. I intend to return home with a new smile.

I flew back to Jamul Dec. 11th. Packed up, and the "Magic Carpet" (Jim's name for his ever movin' motorhome) took us to "The Slabs." Brief history, was once a minor marine base by the name of Camp Dunlap. It was closed in 1946 and sold to a private owner. The building foundations still remain and the place has become known as Slab City, at one time home to 5,000 campers, some drifters, homeless, and retired and vacationing RV-ers. We see a population of about 500 now with tents and million dollar rigs sharing the same neighborhood. It is also home to Leonard Wright, named by Congress as a National Treasure for his painting of Salvation Mountain. I'm having some very unique experiences. Pictures will follow (when I locate my camera cord or buy a new one in Yuma.) There are no services as we normally know them at Slab City, but there is a concert every Saturday night, Church on Sundays, a library, pet cemetery with the admonition CAVA CANI (beware of the dog) written by a typical Slabbite by the singular name of Tom (last name unknown) who wrote The Damn Fool. There is an outdoor natural hot tub and a community pit shower. (The Japanese have nothing on Slabbites.) They have an Ad Hoc Mayor by the name of Linda who has lived here for 20 years. She also publishes the Slab City Newspaper and has a radio station. I'll post again in two days when we reach Yuma where we should have a steadier wi fi signal. For more on Slab City, type it into your search engine and you'll find much information.
Chaio.

Life As A Hobo?

My friend Jim found a piece likening Hobo's to the RV Wanderers he has met during his years on the road. It touched me in a personal way since my father, Bill Moore, was once a hobo. He lied his age and joined the army at age 16 or 17. When they discovered he was underage the paymaster allowed his mother to pick up his check. As a headstrong youth, he decided that if they wouldn't pay HIM he wouldn't serve. He went AWOL, jumped trains and traveled for a couple years from Michigan to Los Angeles living in typical Hobo Jungles. His wanderlust satisfied, he returned to Michigan during the depression to face whatever was in store for him. Instead of consequences he met and married my mother.
The similarities are there, riding the roads, always favoring warmer weather, owning only what you can carry nets a simpler way of life. Only the courageous should apply.
For me there is no risk except meeting and enjoying unique people.
Last night I found myself reminiscing about Dad's proclivity to take in "bums" when we were growing up. We learned some "forbidden" songs if Dad took a swig to much.
"Oh, lady would you be kind enough to give me a bite to eat,
A piece of bread and butter and a ten foot slice of meat.
A piece of pie of custard to tickle me appetite,
For really I am so hungry I don't know where I sleep tonight.
Hallelujah I'm a bum. Hallelujah, bum again. Hallelujah give us a handout to revive us again.
(From memory, not sure on accuracy.)

Changing Lifestyle

Lifestyle changes can be stressful and enjoyable, both at the same time. Traditionally a light sleeper, as in 6 to 7 hours each night, I now find I can sleep for 8 and 9 hours and still nod off while reading. Stress reduction is a major benefit of being gone from home and just "ramblin".
I listened to a hoot owl in the night and woke up to a tiny rabbit out the window in the morning instead of the traffic on Pennsylvania Gulch or a blaring telephone. In fact, we are out of cell range at this site and won't have phone service again until Dec. 13th. The disconnect is nice.
My companion wrote three books on his RV trip to Panama and all sites in between. Excerpts on his Seattle blog-http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/ramblinman but this morning I met a man who published 4 books on WWII and is working on a 5th. Another who publishes songs that he writes through a Canadian Company.
A woman who spent a career with the airlines told me travel gets in your blood and you can't stay home. She and her husband are full time RV-ers. Its a culture of its own.
I see a book coming!
Happy Birthday, Jim.

Lechuguilla, Planet Earth, Young Friend From Murphys

The Planet Earth video showed the most pristine cave in the world, right in our own backyard near Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Discovered and discarded as a nothing place it's true scope came to light in the 1980's. Travis Deem of Murphys, Ca., at age seventeen was one of a lucky group of cavers who were allowed the privilege of joining an exploration team. In a recent letter to me he talks about that experience and how it shaped his life.

"It is hard to believe that it has been almost 20 years since my first trip to Lechuguilla. I have also seen the footage from the Planet Earth series and it is spectacular, almost like being there.

I have not been to the cave since the early 1990's. Despite all the time that has passed there is seldom a day that goes by that I do not think about the early days of exploration at Lechuguilla and the amazing privilege that I, and several others from our caving group have had as part of it.

The article you wrote had several pictures to accompany it, one of which has two of my teenage friends Greg Stock and Kyle Fedderly entering a cave. Both of them went on to become world-class cavers, not only participating in numerous expeditions to Lech (Greg was there this spring) but also to Europe and Borneo. I spoke with Greg ( whom I had not seen except in pictures from caving magazines since we were in college) just about two weeks ago. He is now the first ever park geologist for Yosemite National Park. During our brief phone conversation he remarked about how those days were instrumental in shaping his life and I have to agree the same is true for mine. In an age were every surface of this planet (and several other planets) has been mapped, I take heart in knowing that common people can still venture into the unknown and make discoveries that can astonish the world. Those who have been blessed with the opportunity to enter Lech have all, in at least some small way, taken their place with the great explorers of other ages. I know that sounds a little melodramatic, but I believe it is true. I asked Greg if Lech has paled in comparison to the other adventures he has had caving all over the world and he assured me that both for himself and other Lech veterans it still stands out as the jewel in the crown of speleology.

As I get older I sometimes find myself wondering if it all really happened, did a bunch of kids really get to engage in exploring the most significant cave discovery of the 20th century? Did I really walk through those rooms filled with forests of crystal and sleep over 1,000 feet below the New Mexico desert? I recall very well waking up on Christmas morning 1989 along with Greg and Kyle in an area called the Western Borehole where all the floors were covered with snow white gypsum, that is one white Christmas I will never forget. I cannot overemphasize the grandeur and beauty of that place. As you can probably suspect, I would go again in a heartbeat.

The exploration that occurs now is much more regulated than in the old days. Although that probably means I will never return I believe it is for the best. Some past practices did real harm to certain areas of the cave and, once damaged, the cave has no means of healing itself. Exploration will go on but now the groups are small and their activities are limited.

I do still cave, now with my own children. I hope that their own experiences will shape them to appreciate the natural world, to be brave, but not foolhardy, and to treasure the fact that they live in a world where there is still a frontier to explore.

Travis Deem

Thank you Travis for enlightening us once again with your experience at Lechuguilla.

Planet Earth, Local Herons On The Road

A Fabulous 14 hour video entitled Planet Earth provides an extraordinary view of our living quarters and the fact that we share it with so many creatures and places of great beauty. Its been a joy to see many birds as we roamed. The most spectacular at this time of year are the sitings of blue and white herons. The pictures don't always do them justice and the smaller birds are the back-up chorus that we hardly ever see fit to photograph and so often take for granted, even the loudmouth crows. Egads! The Matzek's have a few loudmouthed members if I do say so myself.
Cedric Puleston's family are bird people from way back and if you go to
http://puleston.osprey.bnl.org/OspreyFund/ospreycam.php
The ospreys are now hatched in his Grandmother's backyard. The fledgelings have left but if you click that link at Brookhaven, NY you'll get a number of interesting cameras for birds that you don't have to register to see. There are live cams and some not so live for kestrels, great tits, barn owls, peregrine falcons, black storks, gentoo penquins. Too many to list.
We are still at Pio Pico Thousand Trails. Pio Pico was the Governor of Mexican California. He owned this property as a Spanish Land Grant. Interesting man of mixed decent, African, Mexican, Indian, Spanish and European. When California became a state an assigned a new governor, Pio Pico fled. His land got promptly gobbled up.

Metallic Riches, Bakugans and Red Ants

What a fool, me, that I would buy a metal detector for this meander!! It clicked, I dug, and voila! Treasures! Look at them. A 1/2 inch rusted bolt, a rusty nail, two aluminum pop top can pieces and a bit of rusty wire, and a broken chunk of unidentifiable metal. Hey, laughter is healing.
And have you ever heard of bakugans? The things we learn from our grandchildren. Owen is posting at http://Quakeworm.wordpress.com. where bakugans live!
It rained here in Jamul and red ants swarm during the day over a pile of rocks. The detector didn't pick them up and I've always considered that anything used as a food source becomes scarce. Hmmmm! I've eaten ants before, they looked pretty tasty. Picked one up, popped it in my mouth, it bit my tongue, tasted like nothing, but hey, good protein shouldn't go to waste. Right? Besides, could have been gross.
Howard Hoyt, whom I've known forever, likes Jumpin' Jack Flash, just another thing we have in common besides 48 years of friendship. Check in to Planet Earth tomorrow.

Hitchhiking Refrigerators and Tupperware

Its a sunny Nov. 30th in Pio Pico, an RV Thousand Trails Park in Jamul. Jim likens the comings and goings in the park to a ballet as one rig leaves and another enters. His stress free philosophy takes hold and I'm enjoying the idea of mucho free reading time, not that I've done much reading-YET.
He is puzzling over his overloaded refrigerator.
Lets see...does that resonate with anyone? At home there are times when I cannot remove an ancient jar of pickle relish from the back of the frig because it is GLUED to the glass shelf.
Daughter Kristanne once claimed that little tupperware dishes were made to allow the leftovers to mold so you could throw them out. Oh, where did I go wrong? In her refrigerator foods are color coded, which reminds me of a fun book entitled "Hitchhiking Across Ireland With A Refrigerator." In the leftover haven was the lovely remnants of Thanksgiving dinner spent with daughter Kristanne and family. What a feast. Two different types of turkey, one smoked. Juicy and delish. The best dessert in the world via daughter Virginia, lets see, pears poached in white wine then baked on a short buttery crust spread with marzipan. Oh, my! Calorie City.

Maybe an ax murderer?

My journey with "The Ramblin Man" began Nov. 21st. Before I signed up as a blogger, I kept a journal, thus several entries follow. Hopefully daily entries hence.

With butterflies in my stomach, I left all that is familiar, house, yardwork, responsibilities (great) wonderful neighbors and friends, familiar surroundings, (not so great), to take off with a STRANGER!!! Egads! What's to become of one such as me to place life and limb into the hands of a stranger? Well, he did tell me to check him out with the penal authorities....hmmm! He spent two weeks on my driveway in his RV and all the neighbor dogs liked him. The neighbors too. I went for it!!

Introduction to Mary'sRamblin's

Life tosses us opportunities. Mine came from an RV friend, Jim Jaillet who invited me to join him in an adventure, skipping about California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. HO! says I. Time for a slice of life, mental meanderings, a bit of philosophy, a peek over my shoulder as we ramble our way about to see what we can see. Hope you find enjoyment vicariously in this blog. Feel free to contact me via email: mgmatzek@sbcglobal. net