We interupt this with an important message

Well, no stories from the trip today. OK, well maybe tangentially.

On Thurs. evening I was apparently finally in phone range of a cell tower. The middle of the night I get the jingle that I had a message. I didn't listen until I got up the next morning. And there was my sister saying she had adventures with my mom. Meaning my mom's car had broken down and the police brought her to her realtor's and then she got home and never told my sister anything. I don't even remember how my sister found out. My mom was out of it when my sister talked to her.

So, there was a ton of emails back and forth (once I went to the local library where I was and signed up for a library card since I had to have one to use the computer and it was the only public computer in town) and ultimately she has surrendered her car. A huge transition for her, of course. Not made any easier by the fact that she thinks taxis are too expensive and the free shuttles are 'a pain' and she doesn't want to burden anyone - way to destroy any possible options. [now you know where I get my attitude from]. It will get worked out though, even if I have to smack her upside the head. Figuratively of course. I was glad that the 10 minutes I did researching car donations really helped.

And this morning I listened to myself and did not go to a networking breakfast. I just didn't want to go. Several young people who go are so friendly and I've talked with them about doing some follow up (mostly me getting stuff to them, or me asking from them politely), and NO RESPONSE. That irritates the hell out of me. I also didn't trust myself to say 'someone please give me any job you know of'. Yeah, no, I'm not that desperate, but sometimes I feel that way.

I had a dentist appointment and found out there that the very expensive night guard that was made for me where I used to live is not mine. The teeth mold they sent me was not my teeth (even though it had my name on it). So, now I have to deal with that office and either get my money back or get my real night guard. Oh well. I think the dentist here might be really nice and not charge me for today's appointment, though I said I was there for the 20 min and should be charged.

Speaking of medical stuff, I am finishing up my taxes and I had so many medical expenses last year that I easily went over the 7.5% cutoff for deductions. Joy? In any event, glad I had most of the receipts and can use it to get money back.

OK, work calls.

It was very interesting because between the time I talked to my sister on Friday and when I could actually get on email, I was so scattered. I went to a gas station and wanted to get a lottery ticket and couldn't communicate that well, forgot to pay for a small candy, forgot to take the candy with me, etc. Amazing how it affected me - I was quite stressed.

Sand

One early morning we went to the sand dunes. Important to get there early or late, otherwise it's HOT. Also important to get there when it's not windy, unless you have a lot of skin to lose. Thankfully it was not windy when we were there. The sand just past the parking lot is so fine it's incredibly soft. Later it becomes harder, but still feels good on the feet. The walk back was at times kinda hard on the feet because it was HOT. But it was so beautiful, and good exercise to boot - walking on shifting sand uses muscles that aren't often used.

Dunes


I should be a model. Such long legs.


Two boys of the friends of ours walking along the dunes.


If you get there early enough, you see a lot of critter tracks. Such as these: Kangaroo rat tracks


One of the good quotes from the trip: we came across a lizard that was out in the sun. He ran into his little hole, and one of the boys looked down in, and then started shoveling sand into it. His mom: Stop that. He has a hard enough existence as it is without you making it harder.

Shadow of the Valley of Death

We have returned! Escaped the shadow!

1,639 miles in a rented Chevy Traverse. Really a great car! Never thought I could say that about an American one, sadly.

571 photos with my new camera.

Great trip.

I have this up on my wall now - Happy Friday!

If I knew who drew it, I would buy the original. I love it that much.

Shake a finger at me

Down in dumps today.
Ate chocolate, felt better.
Worth the calories.

Stuff and Nonsense

- I go to the gym often enough that they don't need to look up my name. I like that.
- The sun's in my eyes.
- I looked around this morning to see where the nasty smell was coming from, and realized it was me. (I use the same workout clothes on multiple days, until I can't stand the smell anymore. It may be time.)
- I had 1/3 bar of chocolate and several (5) cookies yesterday. Two factors led to it: girl scout cookies arrived from my sister, and spent 2 hours at REI to find a pair of hiking boots (where I bought the chocolate as I was checking out).
- I drive to the gym, which is a mile away. I know it's wasteful and expensive (given that gas is over $4 a gallon here) but I allow myself to do it.
- I got my alumni magazine yesterday. Hoity toity place. Wonder if they'd allow me to write a note to the alumni section saying I really need a job and give me one.
- If you had a disgusting tenant and were cleaning out shit they left behind, would you keep the razor if it were a good one?
- NOVA tonight is about the Japanese events. Should be interesting.
- Have discovered we get Robot Chicken, and it is now the new thing to watch. My favorites are the really quick ones that take you a minute to get (or in my case several minutes, or hours). One I remember in the last several shows was a shot showing a Seizure Center in the background (at least, some kind of Seizure treatment place) and in front of it was one of those inflated 20 foot high tubes with arms that go spastic all over to call attention to a store. Took me 10 times as long to describe it as it did to show it. Even then, not sure I described it such that you understand.
- Off to Death Valley next week. Alas for me, it's supposed to be close to 100 (which is high for April). M just got very excited about it - he likes hot dry weather.

Weekend

So, highlight of the weekend was going skiing for a day on Sunday. They've gotten a lot of snow so really looked forward to it. What do I mean by a lot of snow? That's the parking lot mound.


I carpooled with 3 others. The driver was a nice guy, but he really likes to listen to comedy on Sirius radio (snippets of comedians). I guess there's 4 or 5 stations on it, one of which is Crude or Raw or something like that. So, add my general neutral to negative desire to listen to comedy and raunchy/rude humor, and it was a little not so fun. I couldn't block it out either... It's funny that the one person I laughed at was Rodney Dangerfield. I must be old.

It was a great day to try lots of things since they had had so much snow. I went to the top of a really intimidating Wall (it was windy and cloudy):


Also went into the trees, though with not enough downhill power to keep me going, so I had to get out of my skis. And promptly was knee/thigh deep in snow. Took one really interesting fall in which my skis ended up tips down, parallel, and I got thrown off of them. Also took one fall in which I heard crack crack crack up or down my neck (each vertebra) - I didn't get paralyzed though so that was good.

When I get home and take a shower, I see the stress points on my feet (heel and side of the upper foot) from the ski boots. Hmm... can't be good. Oh well!


Some sky shots on the way home.