Santee, CA

The rains came (or are coming if the weather predictions are right). The dampness makes for cool weather but afternoons (like now) seem to clear a bit and the sun helps. While they really need the water they don’t seem to have infrastructure to accommodate this onslaught. LA already got half of it’s annual precipitation in the storms this week. The biggest impact for us is walking the dog. Karma doesn’t like the rain drops anymore than us and she is quick to do her stuff if it is pouring down. We try really hard to take advantage of the breaks for her to run out and do and get back in. Luckily, she loves to be dried off and just jumps and turns in the towel to get dry.

The rain here is much different from Alaska’s mists or our experiences in Alabama last Spring. The sky is cloudy and then without warning (or a little breeze) it pours down rain. Then it stops and the sky doesn’t look any different than it did before or during the rain. (One exception, this morning on our walk Karma and I saw our first rainbow here.) Then after a rest it pours down again. Sort of like buckets of rain on a track with no rhyme or reason to the frequency of dumping the contents.

We haven’t been updating our blog lately. If we aren’t traveling or actively in some pursuit it seems kind of pretentious or flashy to update the blog with everyday normal boring stuff – went to the grocery, etc. Ruthi had a twitter account but after a few days gay up on it. Guess it’s generational – just doesn’t interest us. We do use text messaging quite a bit. But that’s to address specific people now telling the whole world “I just did something”.

Santee, CA

Kassie came down to see us for a few days after visiting a friend in North Carolina. We did some tourist stuff and finally got to the zoo. All three of us have mixed feeling about zoos but San Diego’s seems very focused on endangered species. We even rented one of those electric wheel chairs for Boots to ride around on.

Santee, CA

A customer of Ruthi’s asks about how we Bedouin Nomads are doing. Here’s a recent update we sent him - Camels are doing better now that we replaced their front feet (tires). Overall this diesel engine should take us farther than even we are imagining (300+ thousand miles). We are at 35,000 currently and slowing down our tour. Wintering in San Diego is nice; a few rains but every desert needs moisture. In the Spring we’ll go see Boots’ son and family for 4-6 weeks in Reno area; then slowly enjoy the NW (Northern coastal California, Oregon, Washington) and if we’re up to it Idaho and maybe Montana. Then Fall with the kids again and Winter in a warm place. This sounds like a great way to spend time! Even the dog is getting into the late rising. Some days she’s slept in as late as 9:30 – which is perfect for Ruthi – the longer she can put off their morning 30 minute walk the better.

Santee, CA

Ruthi took the Trolley (part of San Diego’s MTS - Metro Transit System) down to the pier to tour the USS Midway Aircraft carrier with her older brother Bill and his youngest daughter (Tonya) and his grandson (almost 3YO SAM). Wow, it is huge! We think Ruthi’s younger brother (Paul) served his last tour on an aircraft carrier.

SAM was able to get into about a dozen planes and helicopter cut-aways. There were all sorts of buttons to push and toggles to flip. They provide headsets and tapes that provide details on each exhibit. You should have seen SAM’s eyes when he was listening. Such focus!! Anyway, Ruthi had a great time and while the MTS isn’t quite as easy as LA’s metro system, it does save stress of driving down, finding parking, etc. etc. etc.

Santee, CA

Ruthi’s technical karma has seemed to fail her. First, her small small small (not much bigger than a pack of 3 by 5 cards) died a slow painful death. She did get a replacement here before the final death but not in time to rescue all of her “stuff”. The company (OQO) which made her miniature machine went out of business in April 2009. So, she was searching for assistance and finally found someone she is working with to rescue her content off the old machine.

Then Ruthi accidently dropped her cell phone into water. It died fairly quickly and the only pain was with Ruthi and un-accessible her phone contacts (300+). She went to Verizon and they suggested that the phone be stored overnight in a bag of rice to get the moisture absorbed from within the phone. RICE was the answer at least for contact access. But alas Ruthi needed to get a new phone and new battery.

Santee, CA

Today was our 25th anniversary of being together. Since neither of us is interested in marriage or civil union or whatever, this is just a marking of how long we have enjoyed each other’s company. We went to a movie (Invictus –great by the way) and dinner (Olive Garden) – 2 of our favorite past times! Speaking of movies – Blind Side and Precious (bring a lot of tissues) are also worth the fortune it costs to go to the cinema.

Santee, CA

Well the sun came back out but it is COOL in the low 50’s. What about global warming? Like summer in Alaska, you don’t want to be in the shade.