Musings and Thoughts While Van Down

Good morning. Coffee in hand, Mona sitting outside in back yard that is privacy fenced it. It faces east.
I'd like to thank the neighbors, who are nice but I can hear any door slam, for reminding me I don't do sticks n bricks well.

Water gets turned on today. I've got distilled water fire washing things and spring water for drinking/cooking

Water heating on stove to wash dishes.

Pot of rice is almost done, I'm thinking pinto beans, split peas, green peppers, and assorted veggies on hand.

The van interior is about halfway organized the way I want it. It's actually coming together perfectly. It took me less than 3 minutes to locate what I wanted when I went to the van to get dried food goods for cooking,

I spent time on craigslist van looking. In AZ, one on same condition as mine, approx same interior, and with not running motor...$3000-.
For now, I'm going with a used junkyard motor as soon as I get definitive price. In the future, I'm going to put a Reman engine in for my peace of mind. The rest of the van is a 90 on a scale of 100- this is the one for me. After looking at another dwellers build, I think I'll eventually put a built in desk where my current one sits, and cabinet shelves behind bed that open front and rear. I'll remove the front passenger seat and build storage with Mona's Chihuahua Command Central.

I've $198 dollars toward my engine. I can put $300 from my disability check with it. That still leaves me short of my engine.

paypal.me/LouBurgess if you can help. Put engine and either loan or gift in the message line.

It will take me a while to repay the loans but that's just life when you're on short income. I do know how to cut expenses to the bone when I'm in debt.

Enjoy my musings and ramblings

For those wishing to help with my engine

I talked to the people at got engines dot com.

Unfortunately, they are not willing to take small payments as they said.

If you view this blog on computer or
On smart phone/tablet open in chrome, select the three dots on top right, you'll have a menu drop down. Select view desktop site.

Once you're viewing this as a desktop site, then you'll see a donate button top of the blog. This allows you to use any standard debit card out credit card to help. You choose the amount.

Donations handled securely through PayPal, I have no access to any of your information other than your name and the amount. Thanks for helping.

My van needs a new engine

As many know, my van broke down on I-10 in New Mexico as I was headed for Quartzsite and Yuma.

I had it towed back to Las Cruces

It needs more than we first thought. It needs engine replaced.

I've found a used engine at gotengines.com it is 77,000 original miles, 5.4L V8, and it's the OEM motor for this van. Price $1896 free shipping. Warrentee 3 year 36,000

My total income is minimum social security disability. I have MS. I've refunded unused PayPal $ and have a balance of $6.38 in my PayPal. I have no bank accounts.

We know I do a lot for the van community, much of it quietly in private.

I'm not asking for a free van. I'm asking for some help. The $1896 covers price of motor only. I've got some local help free to pull old engine and put new one in, including loans of engine hoist and such.

If you can help, my PayPal link is paypal.me/LouBurgesspaypal.me/LouBurgess or you can call Joe at got engines.com http://www.gotengines.com/m/and donate directly. When engine is paid for, they will ship.
http://www.gotengines.com/step-two.php?orderid=10028762http://www.gotengines.com/step-two.php?orderid=10028762

I'm parked in a safe place, Mona, me and my van. No risk of towing or impound

Thanks
Stephanie Lou Burgess

Goodbye Lil Bear

My lil bear was run over Wednesday.
He and Mona escaped. Mona was retrieved safely, but Bear was run over on I-10 mm 112 New Mexico.

I feel his absence keenly as does Mona. As I write this, yet again I can barely see through tears.

I've got lots of pictures and videos of him.  I kept only his bed, his blankies, and his very favorite sweater. His collar frayed and fell off, so I have that and his tag.

He was born on my bed, the last puppy born, and the runt of the litter. For only being 3 pounds, he had a big personality.

Mona and I miss him a lot.

Chihuahua Command Central

I travel with my senior rescue dog Mona (Deer Head Chihuahua) and her son Bear (chi/yorkie mix).

They snuggle in bed with me but they do have their own beds. 

There's also a blanket and bed on passenger front seat, known affectionately as Chihuahua Command Central. Next to the front seat is my 48 qt cooler. It's topped with blankets. It effectively doubled the size of CCC (Chihuahua Command Central.)

I plan on removing front passenger seat in the future and building custom traveling Chihuahua Command Central for my cute road dogs.

In CCC, they have a viewing area of 180°. This allows them to be master of all they survey. Because of the size, it also allows comfortable sleeping for two, the ability to watch for me returning to the van (are there treats in the bag, c'mon let me sniff and inspect), and to adequately watch for dogs, cats, squirrels, and other things of grave importance for a travelling dog.

Tomorrow we start another road trip. They're actually very good travelers.

I'll put an audiobook on and away we go. Westward Ho!

I'll be doing meets n greets with old friends and new.

See you on the road.

Those wishing to contribute dog treats...use the following link 

paypal.me/LouBurgess

Day 1 Return To Fulltiming In My Van

I really love living in my van fulltime.

The van now has a nickname... It's my gasoline powered tipi.

Yesterday I finished moving out of the temporary apt. In spite of rain, I got most of the moved stuff out of van and into travel trailer in storage.

I was able to throw sleeping bag on bed in back of the van and stretch out. Mind you, I had to curl around da pups. My two small dogs are confirmed bed hogs and pillow thieves.

The front passenger seat is Chihuahua Command Central. It's very handy with 180 degree views for watching birds, squirrels, people, and of course barking at much bigger dogs.

Chihuahua command central has expanded. I found a 48 qt igloo cooler at Walmart for $16. It fits perfect sideways between front seats. I added a blanket over it. They love stretching out on it next to momma.

I cruised about 3 minutes and picked a good legal overnight parking spot. Had reflectix up on windshield and front windows covered in about 2 minutes. The spot even had free open WiFi.

I was overtired so it took me a little to fall asleep.

I prefer instant coffee...just what l like.  Today I drove over to Starbucks, got cup of hot water, and went back out to my van.

I had put all my coffee necessities in the cooler. So it was fairly easy to make my coffee.

Fresh water, food, and a morning walk for da pups, hot coffee and a perfectly ripened banana for me. I have several pkgs of loaf bread and a fruitcake onboard for my morning coffee.

Now I'm parked facing east, the van is comfortably heated by passive solar.

Time to read, relax, enjoy videos.

See you down the road.