Finally... finally, we got our cross-country trek underway this morning....at 2:15 AM Pacific time. Our final day in Mariposa was almost non-stop work. Save the time we took to savor the sunset (always a delight there), we spent the day packing the final boxes, a job that for some reason seemed to grow with every box we packed... the end, while ever "near" seemed determined to test our tolerance.
Just One More Box... REALLY!!
Final Mariposa Sunset
Stovepipe at Sunset
Still, we did finally batten down the last hatch, and set out on our journey...easily two days after our targeted departure date/time, but with more good memories woven in the process.
I, for one, was tired. I had not slept well Tuesday night, lying awake most of the night reminding myself of how little time we had to complete this maneuver. The redundant reminders served little purpose and only managed to tire me further. Joe, who at least slept through the night Tuesday night, albeit, a short night, waking and starting the final packing day at 8 AM, assured me he was fine to drive. So, even at that ridiculous hour and with so little sleep, we took the plunge. Predictably, within an hour, I was snoozing in the truck, taking advantage of the pillow and blanket Joe's mom insisted I take. Joe drove the truck, now heavy with all of the boxes, down the steep grades and back up the next steep grades... something I am just as happy to have slept through!
Judy, Refreshed Feeling After a Nice Truck Nap
The dawn was quite spectacular, and we were offered a variety of picturesque landscapes to capture, though through the dirty windshield of the truck, our cameras met some challenge. Still, when day ended, between the two of us, we'd happily snapped more than 900 photos.
Windmills on the Hill
Judy and Joe -- On the Road
Windmills at Sunrise
California Skies and Mountains
Now, even though I am on "vacation" from work, I am still expected to attend meetings, make presentations, etc.... (I ask you, what IS a vacation these days?) So, with the MANDATORY meeting/presentation time approaching, and the next steep grades shortly ahead, Joe decided the gas tank, then reading 1/4 full, would do well to be filled. He pulled off in the "quaint" little town of Needles, CA.... a stop we immediately regretted. Though he drove the oversized truck around the town, checking ALL of the gas stations, we discovered the LOWEST price for gas was $3.69 a gallon... highway robbery, even when compared to the $3.09 we'd paid outside of Barstow, CA.
Still, not knowing whether we had sufficient fuel to make it up and over the next grade, or to the next available gas station, we poured 18 gallons of the liquid gold into the tank. True to form, when the time came to get the receipt, the printer at the pump was not working and a trip inside to the attendant was required. And even then, as it turns out, the receipt given was not ours, but the previous customer's. It seems the happy gas station owner/operators were too busy laughing and chatting with each other about how the customers were complaining their prices were too high, to actually pay attention to minor details such as giving the correct receipts to their highway robbery victims. All said, by the time we pulled out of that miserable little town, whose the MOST memorable feature BESIDES the overpriced gas was the ridiculous number of FLIES, we agreed there was nothing there that would inspire us to EVER stop in Needles, CA a second time.
Just Say "NO" to Needles, CA
Since time was now running very short, Joe found a place where I could hope to enjoy a bit of quiet and shade, in the middle of the desert, while taking the conference call for work...my boss had ASSURED me it would only be about 10-15 minutes for the call.... One hour later, with more flies trying to make their way into the cab of the truck, and the cell phone battery, in constant "roam," just about to give up the ghost, my part of the presentation was complete, and I was allowed to return to my "vacation." (Of course, they also gave me an assignment to complete tonight, but I suppose "vacation" means different things to different people.)
Shady Desert Mobile Work Spot
On Our Way Back to Rt. 40....Truck
Having Trouble Making the Turn onto Rt. 66
Classic
Lake and Mountains
Joe, Taking a Shot
And so we were back on the road. Hard work and long hours of driving were finally catching up with Joe. It was time to locate a place to eat and a motel to catch some shut-eye, before the next long haul. We started our exploration for the motel first, opting for inexpensive....in the fine town of Kingman, AZ. It appears that "inexpensive" and "clean" are mutually exclusive, as not only the first motel we tried, but the second as well, offered us rooms at 150% of the price advertised on the marquee outside, and BOTH featured DOGFOOD on the bedspread and floors. I am completely serious! Apparently motels that are "pet friendly" are also "cleaning optional." The first was, admittedly, worse than the second, with the additional feature of a WORM on the animal hair covered carpet, but the second room was still unacceptable, and we went to motel number three, where, like Goldilocks, we found the room to be, "just right."
An added bonus to the room we rented was the discount at the local diner just across the parking lot. The food was good, the service was decent and the price was acceptable...all's well that ends well! As I write this, Joe is snoozing. I will complete my work assignment before turning in, but decided I'd rather unwind with a blog entry BEFORE tackling the work project.
Good Food After a Long Drive
The first leg of our journey ended without mishap, and we did get to see a lot of interesting things along the way.
Donkey in Red Pickup Truck
Train -- Kingman, AZ
Joe is NOT Climbing on the Train....
Iron Horse and Joe
Beautiful Landscapes
I am looking forward to a good night's sleep, and hope the decent weather we have enjoyed today continues to grace our journey tomorrow.
Well, we had planned to work Saturday, play Sunday, and work some more Monday, before pulling out with the truck loaded with boxes headed for Virginia. But, as things tend to work out in "real life," our plans were sort of shuffled by the plans of others. And so it was that Saturday managed to slip by with little real progress made toward to prep work for the move. Instead, as Joe had predicted, the party goers arrived a day early and so the party began a day early.....
Let the fun begin!
There were four carloads of friends and family that joined in the food and music fest. And we did have fun.
Good Food
Beautiful Child
Saturday Night....Clouds Rolling In
Still Clear Enough for a Beautiful Moon
As it turned out, the early party arrival was probably a good thing, as, par for the course, Joe and I brought less than favorable weather with us. Saturday night it began to drizzle and by Sunday afternoon, the on and off drizzle had turned into a full-fledged steady rain, and with the change in temperature, the cold wind made it uncomfortable to sit outside and play.
Making Music
So, for a while, everyone piled inside, but by nightfall, all had bid farewell, and were on their way back home.
As the Rain Took Over
Before the party officially broke up, the keyboard player, Barry, indicated he could play one more song before he'd have to head out, to make it out of the mountains in some daylight. As has become our custom, we wrapped up the music with our rendition of Danny Boy, the keyboard, the accordion, a couple of guitars and voices, leaving everyone with a smile on their face and tear in their eye. And that was that. With the bad weather, the party was over. But promises were made to continue the tradition, and I am sure there will be another "Yosemite Live" next year, as there has been for the past ten years.
This morning, with the promise of better weather, we headed out to return the rental car and pick up the truck.
Sky on the way to pick up truck
Truck Secured
Heading Back to Start Loading
We spent the day packing....well, OK, we spent the last of the daylight hours packing, and then took a break to go out to dinner with Joe's mom and sister.
Just Getting Started....
The good news is that, though it was not warm today, at least the rain kept its distance....it threatened, but never actually fell. Still, we had to wear our jackets and wool caps just to see us through to the afternoon, when temperatures managed to make it to the 60's.
Tomorrow will be the wrap up, battening down the hatches and getting our cross-country trek underway. Perhaps the party has really only just begun??? No matter what, I am certain, it will be an adventure!
We left the busy Redondo Beach, making our way here to the quiet loveliness in the Yosemite area yesterday late afternoon.
Leaving the congested roads
Drawing near
Getting Close
Ahhh...the gravel crunching under the tires....
We visited with Joe's mother last night, staying up until 2 AM. We played and sang, sitting around the kitchen table, just the three of us. We'd left "spare" instruments here last year when we returned to VA, opting not to carrying a guitar and an accordion back and forth on every trip. So, we decided we should give the instruments some warming up before the upcoming jam session. We played, and we sang, Joe's mom telling us stories she's told us many times before, but which clearly give her pleasure to tell...and which the songs always evoke. It was nice and easy. A good welcoming.
Today we were supposed to buckle down and get some prep work done for our drive back to VA, but we were both feeling very draggy...we opted to take it easy and simply meander around, planning for the next few days, eating good food his mom prepared for us, and playing and singing some more. And of course, we sat at that table and told more stories.
As we were finishing supper tonight, Joe's sister stopped in and joined us for the after meal discussion. Now sometimes I understood these discussions and other times I did not. For occasionally it is easier for the mother if the discussion is in her native tongue, and so the family converses in Czech. It really is not necessary for me to know what they are saying. I can sometimes pick up on the topic of their discussion, but not much else. During one of these discussions it was determined that we should all retire to the living room where the mother had some CD's and DVD's she wanted to give Joe.
We listened to some of the Czech music on one of the CD's and, of course, I did not understand a word. Nevertheless, the music was beautiful. Truly lovely. And the instruments' voices complemented each other and the singers' voices. I was particularly impressed with the clarinet I heard. I mentioned to Joe's sister that I really liked this music, and she assured me we should watch the DVD of the quartet that was playing. So, the DVD was located and for the next hour we all sat and watched the four Czech musicians playing the Bass Fiddle, the accordion, the clarinet and the violin, and singing the old Czech songs -- songs the mother knew well and with which she sang along.
During several of the songs, Joe, his sister or his mother would translate some of the words, so I could appreciate the meanings as well as the music of the songs. It was nice of them to do so, though, to be honest, the songs were so lovely, it mattered not what they were saying. We will take a copy of these CD's and DVD's home with us, and I imagine I will learn to play some of those songs. And when the DVD was finished and we all returned to the kitchen table for a last cup of tea before heading to bed. Joe's mother asked me if I really enjoyed the music, and I answered honestly that I did. Music is that way... I don't need to understand a word, to enjoy it.
Tomorrow will be a busy day with more family and friends coming to play. We have only a few short days here, so we are squeezing in as much as we can, still getting our necessary work done.
Once a year, or so, I find my way to the Redondo Beach area of California. I come for work, not pleasure, but have, for the past few years, taken the opportunity to visit with friends while I'm in town. I met my friend through work, she always being in CA and I in VA, and working together on projects virtually. We did not meet face to face until we'd already completed our first project together.
Over the years I have gotten to know her husband and their son. And the last time we visited, now more than a year ago, they had just brought two rambunctious puppies into their family. That was July, 2009.
Yesterday afternoon we arrived in the area and, as we'd planned, we arrived at their house to share supper and to catch up on everything. Their son, always a high energy kid when I'm there (cannot IMAGINE he maintains that high energy level normally) was in full gear! He was excited to see us, and hugged us, and immediately dragged Joe off to show him his musical progress on the piano. Meanwhile, his mother corralled me into the kitchen, and focused my attention on a highlighted portion of a document displayed on her laptop that sat, waiting, on the kitchen table.
"I need you to read the highlighted part and give my your opinion/suggestions for making it better," she said, as I read the highlighted portion of her resume. I gave her a couple of suggestions, and she thanked me, as she opened the kitchen door to let the dogs in....for the puppies were now full-grown, BIG dogs.. they are a cross between and retriever and a poodle....
The dogs about knocked me down as they greeted me with full body slam, "let's get acquainted," eagerness. I like dogs fine... but... well, I was smothered! As I extricated myself from their fond embrace, and made my way to the sink to wash my hands, my friend announced that supper was served and it was time to wash up and come to the table. (I was happy to oblige.)
Riley and Danny... Energetic Dogs
For the most part, the dogs seemed aware of their expected limitations to the kitchen area, venturing into the dining room only when they thought they could sneak past the watchful eyes of the resident adults...still, more than once during supper, there was a concerted effort to coax them back out from under the table where they were "hiding." Between the dogs and the boy, who wanted to play a piano piece he'd written, before finishing his chicken, it was a lively meal! In his defense, I think he might have been particularly energized in anticipation of his 10th birthday that was the next day.
Another Enjoyable Meal with Friends
After supper we retired to the back deck where three of the four adults enjoyed after-supper smoking. I hung around and enjoyed the conversation, though I must admit I managed to sit in the wrong place and developed a wicked sinus headache by the time the evening was drawing to close, I suspect from the smoke that seemed to be determined to envelop me!
Before we called it a night, though, we were treated to a "show" put on by the boy. He had performed similarly last year, playing CD's and dancing for all he is worth, a la Michael Jackson style. There is little doubt in my mind, this kid completely enjoys being the center of attention. He has a lot of personality, is bright, articulate, and............ exhausting!
The Energizer Kid...
...Never Tires
After the show and dessert of apple pie a la mode, we called it a night, it was, after all, a school night, and a work night. With my sinus pounding and my head still reeling from the energy level of the whole evening, I was happy to simply return to the hotel and relax, heading to bed earlier than usual! I guess I have to come to the conclusion that I am, indeed, growing older... I am worn out by the three-ring-circus energy level...and to think, my friends, the parents of this now 10 year old energizer battery kid are older than I am.... and my kids were 17 and 19 years old when their ONLY child was born!!!!
It was a nice evening, with good food, a lot of stories shared, antics of a child and a couple of dogs, and a little music (Joe played a few tunes on the piano while the apple pie and ice cream were being dished up).
Joe...Always Ready to Jam...
I imagine I will recuperate by next year, when I have a feeling I will return to the area. It's nice to know we are always welcome whenever we are in town.
It was back to work today, having enjoyed a pretty relaxing weekend. The work day went very well, and we finished up ahead of schedule. I have some loose ends to tie up tomorrow before heading up to Redondo Beach for the next few days, but all in all, I cannot complain.
Selecting Fruit and Vegetables this weekend
Throughout the day I kept thinking about an email I received this morning and which I read before leaving for the office. It was an email from my father. It was actually a reply to an email from my uncle, Dad's brother, but Dad copied all of us on his reply. What struck me about the email was how very nice it is that Dad, age 76, has my step mother Lynne at his side. Most of us take a lot for granted in our relationships, especially when those relationships have lasted more than 30 years, as is the case for Dad and Lynne. It is just so comforting to know that every once in a while there is an opportunity to really stop and appreciate that "significant other."
Dad's email was, I imagine, one of his first after being discharged from the hospital, having undergone surgery. He is recuperating at home now, awaiting further results from his doctors, and "next steps" based on those results. His story is lived out thousands of times a day in this country alone, I am sure. Still, it becomes immensely personal when it is you or your family member who is involved.
Dad wrote about his current situation,
"I am very fortunate in having Lynne here with me to help keep all the edges smooth! I found it helpful to take her with me to the doctor’s pre-op visit, and to sit in on the visit to the oncologist just before the surgery. As I pointed out to them, it’s better to have the “corporate memory” present for such visits. And of course, she was there to see me as I was taken from the operating room to the recovery area—a period of my life I had no recollection of at all! I had decided to include her in my doctor visits after my surgeon recommended that I think up all my pre-op questions, and write them down in advance, as I would surely forget them when I got to his office. So Lynne and I discussed them, she wrote them all down, and was there to make sure he covered them all—plus a few of her own. The upshot of it all is that I had extremely great care on both the domestic and professional fronts throughout the process—and I’m very grateful indeed!"
I'm not sure I ever heard my father express his appreciation for this wonderful wife of his in such terms before, and it just felt really good to read those words. Of course, I am hopeful his recovery is swift and complete and that Lynne will be able to rest awhile....helping care for recovering spouses can be exhausting even with the best, most appreciative patients!
Tonight, after work, after the day had slipped into night, Joe and I took a drive out. We ended up in a little Mexican restaurant...very basic, very authentic. We shared a couple of tacos (unlike Taco Bell's fare, one taco from this place filled me up!)
Enjoying Tacos
Afterward, we stopped at the local Food-4-Less and picked up a few supplies to sustain us in the upcoming days. We returned to the hotel and shared a couple of mangos we'd bought. It was, as always, a very pleasant evening. And then I spent another several hours working on reports, finally submitting them and calling it a day around midnight.
Mangos
Even as I worked, my mind kept returning to Dad's email. As I was writing this post, it occurred to me that it was not only that Dad had written such a nice acknowledgment of Lynne, but that, while I am all these miles from home, all these miles from being able to do ANYTHING really supportive for Dad during this time, it is REALLY nice to know Lynne is there and caring for him.
We finally had a really good meal tonight. We spent most of the day just knocking around, taking it easy. This evening we met my brother and his family for supper at a nearby Italian restaurant. We shared a really nice meal with lots of stories, and laughter. The food was delicious.
Happy and Full!
Joe likes to make little care packages for the kids when we visit, so today, before we met them for supper, we spent a little while in the infamous "99 cent store." Joe LOVES that place. We don't have them in Virginia and the Dollar Tree just does NOT hold a candle to the 99 cent store! Every trip to California includes at least one trip to the 99 cent store, where Joe has fun trying out all of the toys and looking at all of the interesting things offered for such a small price.
Filling up at the 99 cent store!
Since we will be visiting with friends in Redondo Beach next week, we took the opportunity to pick up some goodies for their son too. By the time we found our way back to the parked car, Joe was ready to make the little gift packages.
At dinner, after we'd all had our fill and while the coffee drinkers were enjoying their after dinner cuppa, Joe disappeared for a few minutes. He returned with a box. Everyone asked what was in the box, and he told them there were puppies in the box ... Well, these kids, 15 and 13 years old are not that easily fooled, but we all had a good laugh. Joe then proceeded to produce from the box the four little gift bags he'd made -- one for each of the family... BECAUSE... apparently, Ray and Denise are ALSO "kids!"
We sat and talked a while longer, took pictures of the kids and Joe, all wearing sunglasses from their gift bags, and had the waiter take a couple of all of us.
Gift Bags!
Haley... all grown up!
Joe Clowning Around with the Kids
Making me Laugh!
Haley, Andrew and Joe sporting Sunglasses
When the coffee was finished, we made our way out to the parking lot, where Andrew, my nephew, took the keys his father handed him. He has his learner's permit and is driving his family around these days. We said our goodbyes and climbed in our rental to head back to the hotel. As we followed them out of the parking lot, I thought, it's always the same... when in doubt, choose Italian... somehow, it is ALWAYS good! And then I watched Andrew as he drove through a yellow light and KNEW that inside that vehicle, my brother and sister-in-law were saying....."slow down, slow down, slow down....OK, just go through!!!" I have to say, I do NOT miss those days of teaching my kids to drive!
It was really nice getting to see them. Living on opposite sides of the continent, we don't get to see each other very often, but we always enjoy ourselves when we do get together.
