OK, I am going to start sending political emails that support my various perspectives.
Here’s your chance to be removed from that particular list of receivers.
You can remain on the “HUMOR” (sometimes silly/stupid/inspiring or just cats/dogs).
And/or the “TRAVEL” (let’s you know where we are and how things are going, with our blog link).
While declining the “POLITICAL”.
Just respond and let me know. No response means you stay on all the lists and get added to my new one – your choice! Thanks and have a wonderful Fall day!
If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people---their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties---someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a Liberal.
---John F. Kennedy
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Oceano to LA to San Diego to LA to Oceano, CA
We needed to go back to SD for Boots’ headache fix. This time we boarded Karma at her regular daycare facility, so as to minimize her stress levels. We left early (for us) on Sunday and zipped through LA relatively easy. We got to SD in time to check out some other RV park options so we don’t have to drive the 300 miles each summer to avoid the heat in Santee.
Our motel/hotel was right in the middle of a number of restaurants. So, we were able to walk to/from for dinners. The Monday Drs’ appointments were spaced enough that we got to go to our favorite ramen restaurant. Remember this isn’t your college ramen experience at all. If you ever get a chance to see “The Ramen Girl,” you will have a whole other appreciation of the noodle called ramen. We were first introduced to REAL Japanese ramen in Hawaii and have sought it out ever since.
Anyway, after the last procedure we stayed overnight again so that we could rest and get an early (for us) start back up the coast. Knowing that we would be going through the 2nd largest city in the US on a Tuesday, we expected a lot of traffic. We like to drive I-405 through LA and Google Maps accommodates us well. As we have mentioned before, we have discovered the HOV lane (for High Occupancy Vehicles, i.e. 2 or more) keeps us out of harm’s way and pretty much zips along pass most traffic slowdowns.
So, we are moving along fairly steady between 60-70mph with cars in the other lanes crawling or maybe going 40mph. Suddenly, Google Maps tells us to get off I-405 and go to I-605 because of traffic delays. We talk about it and decide that being in the HOV lane means that the delays would have less impact on us and continue on I-405 North. Then we are instructed to get off and use I-710 to avoid more slowdowns – which we cannot see and are not experiencing in the HOV lane.
Next, we are informed that the road is closed ahead. We find that very hard to believe and decide to take our chances with any forced exit and the side streets that would need to be used. Since we weren’t towing (i.e. just had the truck), we didn’t see that as so bad. Soon, Google Maps tells us to exit to I-110 and then I-105 and finally I-10. None of which we do. We continue on I-405 to its end at CA 101 North with rare slow downs, no closures and relatively quick travel through LA. We think that Google Maps couldn’t tell that we were in the HOV lane and really immune to traffic delays as a result.
The moral of the story is always travel with more than 1 person in your vehicle and use the HOV lanes at every opportunity!
Our motel/hotel was right in the middle of a number of restaurants. So, we were able to walk to/from for dinners. The Monday Drs’ appointments were spaced enough that we got to go to our favorite ramen restaurant. Remember this isn’t your college ramen experience at all. If you ever get a chance to see “The Ramen Girl,” you will have a whole other appreciation of the noodle called ramen. We were first introduced to REAL Japanese ramen in Hawaii and have sought it out ever since.
Anyway, after the last procedure we stayed overnight again so that we could rest and get an early (for us) start back up the coast. Knowing that we would be going through the 2nd largest city in the US on a Tuesday, we expected a lot of traffic. We like to drive I-405 through LA and Google Maps accommodates us well. As we have mentioned before, we have discovered the HOV lane (for High Occupancy Vehicles, i.e. 2 or more) keeps us out of harm’s way and pretty much zips along pass most traffic slowdowns.
So, we are moving along fairly steady between 60-70mph with cars in the other lanes crawling or maybe going 40mph. Suddenly, Google Maps tells us to get off I-405 and go to I-605 because of traffic delays. We talk about it and decide that being in the HOV lane means that the delays would have less impact on us and continue on I-405 North. Then we are instructed to get off and use I-710 to avoid more slowdowns – which we cannot see and are not experiencing in the HOV lane.
Next, we are informed that the road is closed ahead. We find that very hard to believe and decide to take our chances with any forced exit and the side streets that would need to be used. Since we weren’t towing (i.e. just had the truck), we didn’t see that as so bad. Soon, Google Maps tells us to exit to I-110 and then I-105 and finally I-10. None of which we do. We continue on I-405 to its end at CA 101 North with rare slow downs, no closures and relatively quick travel through LA. We think that Google Maps couldn’t tell that we were in the HOV lane and really immune to traffic delays as a result.
The moral of the story is always travel with more than 1 person in your vehicle and use the HOV lanes at every opportunity!
Friday, August 12, 2016
CRASH – Oceano, CA
Here we are just minding our own business. Boots is getting dinner ready and Ruthi is waiting to feed Karma and take her for her evening walk. Ruthi, sitting at the desk, notices a new neighbor pulling in on the “slide” side of our rig. She sees that they are coming a bit close to the lamp post at the opening of the site and mentioned it to Boots. When the rig hits the lamp post and bends it a bit she and Boots stand at the windows to watch the rig. Then the rig hits the picnic table for the site and drives it into our utility station - bending the power stand to 45ᵒ (which smashes into our rig and makes a 2-inch square indentation), smashing the sewer connector, breaking the fresh water faucet connector (spewing water everywhere) and tipping over our water conditioner tank. We are yelling but they don’t seem conscious.
We run out and they finally stop. Ruthi keeps yelling at them and calling them names- “F#@$ing @$$Hole” and “F#@$ing Idiot.” The driver (40ish male) and passengers (2 80’s male & female) come out of the rig and say nothing to us. They stand around looking no place in particular. They don’t off an apology or volunteer to help. Boots and Ruthi went to the sites of 2 of the park office e workers to see if there was anybody in the park to assist. One of them was able to get the senior level camp host to come over and help us get things back together, verifying that the power was clean, water no longer leaked, sewer wasn’t running everywhere, water conditioner standing upright, etc.
In the midst of all this, the younger man and older woman decide to move the picnic table through the small gap between our units. Ruthi having no idea what they might be thinking laid into them and suggested they move it to the street behind their unit if it was in the way. She told them that moving it through that limited space was as stupid as were they. Still they said nothing. Ruthi finally asked them if they spoke English. (We do have a lot of European visitors at the park but they usually are in Class C rigs not 44 ft fifth wheels being pulled by a truck.) Still they had no response. Later, we figured out that they were moving the table to the front of their rig to begin setting up their camp site – UN F#@$ING BELIEVABLE.
Boots suggested to Ruthi that she had sworn at and belittle them enough and that she should stop. Ruthi on the other hand thought as long as they continued to stand around like idiots, she would continue to point that out is any fashion she wanted. And, she did!
The camp host offered us replacement pieces but we had what we needed for the night and could replace anything else tomorrow. He confirmed that the power was good. He and Ruthi did move the picnic table (the one the rig owners thought was so important to slip between the rigs) out of the way. And, most importantly, he found them another site and insured that they didn’t hit anything else leaving this site and getting into the other one.
After feeding Karma and taking her for her walk, Ruthi stopped at their new site to get their names, numbers and insurance information. She had stopped swearing at them by then and they finally spoke English and apologized. The older woman said that they had never been to the park before and the 40’s male had never towed the rig before. Additionally, she references that the younger man had some problems – no specifics - but his eye sight and social skills (or lack there of) might be included in the diagnosis.
Below are some pictures of the damage after the fact. We talked about how we don't remember to photograph until after it's over. Our initial focus is "righting" the damage. Probably a good idea, don't you think?
We run out and they finally stop. Ruthi keeps yelling at them and calling them names- “F#@$ing @$$Hole” and “F#@$ing Idiot.” The driver (40ish male) and passengers (2 80’s male & female) come out of the rig and say nothing to us. They stand around looking no place in particular. They don’t off an apology or volunteer to help. Boots and Ruthi went to the sites of 2 of the park office e workers to see if there was anybody in the park to assist. One of them was able to get the senior level camp host to come over and help us get things back together, verifying that the power was clean, water no longer leaked, sewer wasn’t running everywhere, water conditioner standing upright, etc.
In the midst of all this, the younger man and older woman decide to move the picnic table through the small gap between our units. Ruthi having no idea what they might be thinking laid into them and suggested they move it to the street behind their unit if it was in the way. She told them that moving it through that limited space was as stupid as were they. Still they said nothing. Ruthi finally asked them if they spoke English. (We do have a lot of European visitors at the park but they usually are in Class C rigs not 44 ft fifth wheels being pulled by a truck.) Still they had no response. Later, we figured out that they were moving the table to the front of their rig to begin setting up their camp site – UN F#@$ING BELIEVABLE.
Boots suggested to Ruthi that she had sworn at and belittle them enough and that she should stop. Ruthi on the other hand thought as long as they continued to stand around like idiots, she would continue to point that out is any fashion she wanted. And, she did!
The camp host offered us replacement pieces but we had what we needed for the night and could replace anything else tomorrow. He confirmed that the power was good. He and Ruthi did move the picnic table (the one the rig owners thought was so important to slip between the rigs) out of the way. And, most importantly, he found them another site and insured that they didn’t hit anything else leaving this site and getting into the other one.
After feeding Karma and taking her for her walk, Ruthi stopped at their new site to get their names, numbers and insurance information. She had stopped swearing at them by then and they finally spoke English and apologized. The older woman said that they had never been to the park before and the 40’s male had never towed the rig before. Additionally, she references that the younger man had some problems – no specifics - but his eye sight and social skills (or lack there of) might be included in the diagnosis.
Below are some pictures of the damage after the fact. We talked about how we don't remember to photograph until after it's over. Our initial focus is "righting" the damage. Probably a good idea, don't you think?
Saturday, July 30, 2016
BANG - Oceano, CA
It's a quiet Sunday morning. Boots is working on the crossword, AM Joy is on in the background, Karma has had her morning walk and Ruthi working on the receipts. Then BANG something hit our rig! We figured the kids here for the week-end lost control of their ball or Frisbee. Karma, of course, went berserk!
We looked out the window and saw a small bird collapsed on the ground outside Karma's window. We have been watching multiple Vet shows on NatGeo Wild (Dr Jeff, Dr K, Vet Life, Dr Pol, and Dr Oakley) lately. So, we knew that it would be possible for the bird to recover if it wasn't already dead. Ruthi went out, covered the bird's eyes and moved it to a shady area. It was still breathing and blinking its eyes.
It took awhile and we kept checking that it was still breathing. After about 20 minutes, the bird sat up and began to look left/right resting. It took another 20 or so minutes for it to standup and make some movements beyond breathing and head turning. Then our immediate neighbors returned from breakfast and their little dog came charging up our stairs to see Karma. This startled the bird and its recovery seemed to be over. It ran away and flew off. Whew!
We looked out the window and saw a small bird collapsed on the ground outside Karma's window. We have been watching multiple Vet shows on NatGeo Wild (Dr Jeff, Dr K, Vet Life, Dr Pol, and Dr Oakley) lately. So, we knew that it would be possible for the bird to recover if it wasn't already dead. Ruthi went out, covered the bird's eyes and moved it to a shady area. It was still breathing and blinking its eyes.
It took awhile and we kept checking that it was still breathing. After about 20 minutes, the bird sat up and began to look left/right resting. It took another 20 or so minutes for it to standup and make some movements beyond breathing and head turning. Then our immediate neighbors returned from breakfast and their little dog came charging up our stairs to see Karma. This startled the bird and its recovery seemed to be over. It ran away and flew off. Whew!
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Tiny Sinks - Oceano, CA
Back on September 15, 2014, we commented on the fact that many toilets in California are small, very small. Really! They look like the toilets Ruthi's sister has at her pre-school facility. OK, so now we have found the matching bathroom set. Here's the tiniest sink we have ever seen. It is in the bathroom of the very best hamburger joint on the central coast of California - Sylvester's. Really everyone we have met here has told us to be sure and go to Sylvester's. There are a number of locations but the original is just down the road from our RV park - lucky us!
Anyway, back to the main point of this post - check out the teeny tiny sink!
Anyway, back to the main point of this post - check out the teeny tiny sink!
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Slither & Skitter - Oceano, CA
44 railroad ties make a staircase from the lower up to upper level. Ruthi and Karma used go down and up for both the morning and evening walks. But the preponderance of snakes and lizards has forced them to only do the "up".
Walking down doesn't give the varmints enough time to get away from the feet stomping down the stairs. Karma on the whole has no interest in either. Though she will glance at them and determine that they are not ground squirrels, and then move on.
Coming up the stairs, Ruthi tries to make a lot of noise and vibration as she would prefer not to have an up-close and personal encounter with either of them. The lizards are ordinary and look the grayish color of the faded railroad ties; hence they are very hard to see unless they are skittering away. While the snakes are coal black with a fluorescent pea green stripe down the back. The snakes are in the garter snake family.
Walking down doesn't give the varmints enough time to get away from the feet stomping down the stairs. Karma on the whole has no interest in either. Though she will glance at them and determine that they are not ground squirrels, and then move on.
Coming up the stairs, Ruthi tries to make a lot of noise and vibration as she would prefer not to have an up-close and personal encounter with either of them. The lizards are ordinary and look the grayish color of the faded railroad ties; hence they are very hard to see unless they are skittering away. While the snakes are coal black with a fluorescent pea green stripe down the back. The snakes are in the garter snake family.
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
July 4th - Oceano, CA
Municipal fireworks started to go off about 8pm. Because the RV Park is high up on the dunes, we could see about 3-4 cities shooting fireworks into the sky for about 2½ - 3 hours. Ruthi and Karma walked out to the top of the stairs and got a panoramic view of the all the displays. Lucky for us, Karma is not in the least bit disturbed by the noise, crowds, or bright flares in the night sky. After Ruthi and Karma bored of the excitement, they returned home to listen to the private fireworks being set off on the associated (but not regulated by the park) sand dunes west of the parked RVs. The private explosions lasted until midnight. So, all in all the 5-cities area is a 5 hour extravaganza of fireworks.
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