Holidays and Vandwelling

To the rest of the United States, it's Thanksgiving. It's just another Thursday to me. Several places are offering a free turkey dinner.

Many people suffer from depression or emotions on holidays. A couple of years ago I sat down and thought about this.

Quite a few of the secular holidays are based in the Christian religion. Valentine's day...actually a day to celebrate St. Valentine. Easter, a religious day along with good Friday and Mardi Gras. In fact, except for Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and  Independence Day, I think all the holidays we celebrate are Christian based. Even Halloween is based on a religious holiday...hallowed eve, the evening before All Saints Day.

I'm not anti Christian, anymore than I'm anti Jewish or anti any religious group. So, since I don't make a big deal about celebrating the Jewish holidays (I'm not Jewish) why should I feel the need to celebrate the Christian ones?

Why do I feel a need to celebrate Christmas any more than the other religious holidays at that time of year. That makes no sense to me.

Once I did some research and looked at the reason these holidays came into existence, I stopped feeling deprived, lonely, or left out. I decided for me that I'd enjoy relaxing and letting others celebrate their holidays any way they wished. I even wish them happy turkey day or Merry Christmas.

I enjoy just having a quiet day to myself while the rest of the world is preoccupied with their holidays and celebrations. Most people don't even notice I'm not celebrating the day.

I'll enjoy a turkey dinner today. Why not. I enjoy the foods traditionally associated with Autumn. I love sweet potatoes any time of the year. Pumpkin is another favorite. I'm not much on cranberry sauce anytime of the year...unless I'm using it to bake into a meat or enjoying a muffin.

The rest of the day will be spent pretty much as normal. A little cleaning, a lot of rest (I'm still recovering from a nasty  coldŷ flu), some reading, watching some videos. And I need to sort out laundry, getting it ready for a laundromat trip. I really hate doing laundry but it has to be done.

Today, as every day, enjoy family, the weather, your fur family, and friends.

Good Coffee To You

See ya down the road
Lou

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Sick While Full-Time In A Van

You wake up fuzzy headed and not feeling good. Every bone aches and you've got a headache. You think about coffee and your stomach goes round and round. You've got a common flu.

A flu in an apt or house isn't fun. It's actually a little easier in a van.

First...find a parking spot you can sit at for a couple of days. Two important features will be a place with a flush toilet and a trash dumpster.

You'll want a good sleeping bag and a nice big fleece or micro fiber blanket. Put the zipper of the sleeping bag in top center...you avoid drafts on your side that way. The big microfiber blanket..will be a good serapé.   I also tent myself in the micro fiber blanket at night, over the sleeping bag, making sure to leave an air tunnel for fresh air.

A small bathroom waste basket or a plastic coffee can with lid will be handy for nausea. A squirt of any cheap dishsoap and water will easily keep it clean.

Get a case of bottled water. It's much easier than gallons or the big Reliance 7 gal water container.

This is when you'll especially appreciate ramen noodles and augason freeze dried foods. And a 12v water heating element. Soup and more soup. Light and often. I am eating half a cup to a cup of soup and waiting a half hour to an hour before eating more.

If you are congested (either head or chest congestion) put lots of dehydrated onions in your soup. For a cough, use either a can of pineapple (Drink the syrup and eat the pineapple) or a teaspoon of raw honey with quarter teaspoon of cinnamon. There is a 2T limit of cinnamon a day. I get real cinnamon bark organic at a local flea market. Using a small grater or the old method of mortar and pestle. You can find the small mortar and pestle in many shops. If you get the Mexican stone style, you'll need to season it by grinding corn in it.

Plain old generic aspirin will easily manage fever and aches. Use as directed. 2-325mg tablets up to 4 times a day for no more than 1 week. Aspirin truly is a miracle drug and often underestimated. The active ingredient in aspirin is found in white willow bark tea.

You will be a bit grouchy and cranky. It's best to avoid human interaction in person and online.

Unless you're unable to keep fluids and some food down, there's no reason to rush to the doctor or emergency room. A flu is a serious illness but as long as you follow good care fur it, It generally resolves in a week to ten days.

A 24 hour bug is not the flu. It's generally mild did poisoning (bad food or dirty utensils, dishes). The two most often causes of this are onions or improperly rinsed dishes. It's much safer to use a spray bottle of vinegar and water to clean dishes than the traditional dish soap method.

Good Coffee To You

See ya down the road
Lou

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Cold Weather...In The Desert Southwest

When you're in southern New Mexico you don't automatically think of cold weather. It was 35 degrees this morning.

I'm originally from Michigan. I've vandweller in sub zero temperatures safely two winters in a row. It's not my favorite thing to do, but I am one of the experts on winter weather Vandwelling while not hooked up to any power sources.

In the morning, move van so that you're either parked facing due east or due South, or any spot in that range. Passive solar heat (the sun) will quickly have the van warm enough to crack windows for comfort.

Dressing for the weather (remember I'm a woman and my experience reflects that)...I love layers. Tank shirt, t shirt, then a sweatshirt or sweater or long sleeved shirt. Flannel shirts rank high on my list. Warm socks, leggings, a skirt over that. Fingerless gloves and stocking hats are definitely part of my wardrope. And I really love those $1 stretch gloves. As the day warms, I peel layers off.

It's now time to open my back door and get my soft boots that smush into a little spot. Warm head, hands, and feet mean I stay warm.

Sheets are nice...in a house or a fancy rv. I prefer a fleece or micro fiber plush blanket...inside my sleeping bag (which I actually zip up in cold weather). A small $3 fleece blanket lightly covers my face to warm the air I breathe.

Yes, I have a buddy heater. I've actually stored it away in my travel trailer that's currently in a safe paid storage lot.

I go to bed early and get up when Sun is up. I'm retired so generally I can choose my own hours. No clocks or watch necessary most days.

Learning how to adjust and adapt to life rather than forcing life and climate to adapt to me.

Good Coffee To You

See ya down the road
Lou

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Cool Weather And Soup Kitchens

Happy Saturday. I had planned to already be at the flea market. My back decided that was not a possibility.

Coffee in hand already. It's a very brisk 59 degrees and I'm parked in the shade.

I may just hook up my long triple tap 12 v outlet to the auxiliary (house) battery and snuggle up in my blankets. Or I could just bring my red fleece blanket up front and fold it like a shawl. I may do that since I've nice hot coffee up here and I'm charging my phone.

Today is sack lunch at the local soup kitchen. Since I'm moving like an arthritic turtle, getting an already to eat lunch with snacks is very attractive.

Soup kitchens serve more than just the homeless. They also are there for the very poor, the elderly, and the disabled. There is also the aspect of socialization that often occurs in the above mentioned groups of society.

I live with MS. By going to a soup kitchen, I get a balanced meal that usually includes vegetables, salads, and fruit. Eating a good diet means less medical issues from the MS. It also exposes me to different foods that I might not normally buy. There are several foods that are now part of my life because I tried them first at a soup kitchen.

I'm on social security disability. My income is under $800 a month. By budgeting that carefully and with a little help from friendswhen needed, I manage to live carefully but also to travel sometimes, slowly and in stages.

I love exploring new places and cultures. I'm not so much for all the tourist spots. I thrive on getting to know areas of the country so different from my native Michigan. People, scenery, customs, and foods fascinate me. I've learned ru appreciate the beauty of the southwest desert. There are endless vistas to explore, intriguing plant life and animals to memorialize in digital photos. It enriches my eyes.

Today's high temperature is supposed to be 65. I've been in the desert southwest long enough. You'll see me all bundled up, stocking hat and wool sweater under my hoodie.

Good Coffee To You

See ya down the road
Lou

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Flea Markets

Good morning. I've got my Coffee in hand.

Today is Friday. I do flea marketing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

This is one of the smaller markets. It's only $5 to set up outside for a 10x10 spot on the asphalt.

I'm no longer physically able to set tables up by myself, so I've got a friend coming to market with me. Today is his second ever time as a vendor at market. I've been doing flea markets as a vendor at least ten years in many different states. 

I've got a Clark's original flea market guide and another thick book that list many of the flea markets all over the United States. I've often used that to decide where I go next. It's always a crab shoot trying out a new market.

I'm drinking my coffee, waiting for him to load his couple odd boxes of stuff. He's bringing his easy up canopy.

My tables store on top of my van. There are also two chairs and a large shade umbrella up there.

It generally takes less than a half hour to have all tables down and set up. Within 45 minutes of arriving, all my jewelry is set up to sell.

It's a nippy 51 degrees right now. Weather will be sunny and reasonable for the market.

Good Coffee To You

See ya down the road
Lou

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The Joy Of Solitude

I love my solitude, my time alone in the van.

For example, my morning cup of coffee, I'm all by myself. It's a time to gently enter my day.

I love instant coffee. I can exactly measure the coffee, instant creamer, flavored liquid creamer, and sugar.

Today it's in my travel cup that a friend gave me two Christmases ago, a pink Silver Buffalo cup.

I've been parked at a friend's apartment all week after doing the flea market Sunday. Today is Thursday, I'll do the market Friday, Saturday, Sunday. So, today is clean off the dash, get outfits ready for the weekend, and put the van in transport to market mode.

As I savor my morning java, I reflect on my next couple of days, sorting out the important tasks from those that can wait.

And of course, it's when I write my blog entry for the day. I never know what I'll write about that day until I start.

Morning is a time of reflection, processing, and planning. It's my time for me. My friend's two big dogs come out. The greet me, accept their morning pets and greeting, then go off to do their morning constitutional and back in the apartment for their morning bones and naps in the recliner.

Today, I went up to Harry's apt. Harry is retired military and a recent widower of two years. He's sweet and kind of lost without his wife of 32 years. I like a good real life love story.

I love having several hours a day all to myself and all night with no disturbances. I'm adjusting to being a no-dog-van. I miss having a dog but I'm also enjoying the solitude. Some me time.

Good Coffee To You

See ya down the road
Lou

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Vanlog 20181115.0841

You'd think being down in the desert Southwest, it's warm, and usually it is. However, desert nights and mornings can be cool, even downright chilly. Your body adjusts to the heat and you get cold easier.

In Michigan, I would have considered mid 50 degrees to be a warm, balmy morning. In southern New Mexico, it's definitely a brisk, chilly morning.

I could just turn on the buddy heater or a stove. My buddy heater is in my travel trailer over the summer, and I'm in the midst of a total van rearrange.

Normally I'd park in the sun facing east. I'm parked at a friend's for the month and the van is in total shade most of the day. So much for passive solar heat.

So, this morning I got a bit creative. I'm wearing my rainbow colored stocking hat. Over that is a nice synthetic hoodie, a bit big. I like them that way.

I took my nice red microfiber plush double bed blanket and folded it in half. I threw it over my head and wrapped myself up in it as if it was a shawl.

I've hot coffee in my hands in a clean spaghetti jar. I wrap my hands around the coffee, savoring its warmth, taste, and aroma.

I've already rolled cigarettes for the day, and I'm enjoying streaming an old show White Collar on Netflix.

It's a perfect morning. Shortly, I'll continue the van clean & purge. Right now, it's a day on the edge of possibilities and all is right with the world.

I've today and tomorrow to work on the van, then Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I'll do the flea market with a friend to help.

Good Coffee To You

See ya down the road
Lou

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Cold Mornings, Doghouses, And Coffee Protocol

Vans have a doghouse. The doghouse has a compartment...the equivalent of a car's glove box.

Just above the compartment are drink holders. Don't use the drink holders...it's a trap...lol

This morning, before coffee, I needed to look for something in the compartment.   Oh no. The bottom had coffee and tobacco that had hardened to a solid, glue like state. I stuck a  straight pin about half an inch into my thumb. Oh the agony.  The compartment is empty, some vinegar water on a paper towel soaking the bottom to clean it out.

Now for my coffee. OMG I've actually done something productive before coffee (petting and greeting my friend's huge dogs doesn't count)

It's 46 degrees this morning, I have not had my coffee yet, a friend is brewing a pot. People have spoken and expected a response from me...pre-coffee and cold. And I'm in the city....arggghhh

Ok, the world is safe. I was just handed a glass jar of coffee...just the way I like it.

Glass jars are awesome coffee cups. They allow you to wrap your cold hands around the coffee. There are things we all do on a cold morning with our coffee...we wrap our hands around it. It's too hot to drink so we raise it near our mouth and inhale the aroma. We look at the sun and the horizon, assessing our day. We listen to the normal morning noises, birds, dogs, and the usual.

All our senses seem to wake up with that streaming cup of coffee in the morning. I'm going to go sit inside in a warm recliner with dogs trying to share it and enjoy my coffee.

Good Coffee To You

See ya down the road
Lou

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The Age Of Instant Experts

We've all seen them...the person online who jumps in...

You have people who will give links...to any subject in the world...based on their limited internet research.

What happened to people sharing their own experience? What happened to the old ways...one person showing another how they do something, or boys learning to fix lawnmowers, tractors, cars, vans? Where skills were passed down from one person to the next.

I was five years old when my grandmother had me standing on a chair, with a dishtowel tucked around me for an apron, and a wooden spoon, stirring home made from scratch banana pudding.

I was allowed to help in the kitchen and each step in its own time. I got to snap beans, get peas out of pods. Next I was allowed to use a vegetable peeler, then a paring knife.

I eagerly waited being allowed to do more or being trusted with another part of cooking a meal. It was a major step being trusted with the meat for a meal, and finally being trusted to cook Sunday dinners.

It was about skills and gradually increasing them. It doesn't matter now If I cook inside a kitchen in a house, the kitchen in my travel trailer, over a campfire, or a campstove. I can make a full dinner on a fire outside as easily as in a fully equipped house kitchen. I can control the cooking temperature on a open fire.

I was not allowed to be an instant expert...I was nurtured and taught, each step building on the other. That has stood me well in life. I approach each new thing I learn in the same manner. I learn the basics, then increase and hone my skills.

My grandmother taught me that anything worth doing was worth taking the time to learn to do well.

In this age of "instant experts" I think I'll continue using my grandmother's method. Learn things step by step, in order, each skill  builds on the previously learned one.

See ya down the road
Lou

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A Perfect Rainy Day

I woke up to a cloudy, chilly, drizzling day.

It's prefect for my purposes. I'm cleaning/sorting/purging excess stuff from my van.

My routine is starting to change with no dog in my van.

I'm in town so I pulled out of Wal-Mart to a nearby shopping center with large parking lot. I'm wearing my fleece robe over my leggings. A warm hat feels good today. I'm wearing the wrist warmers Andrea gave me.

I made hot water for my coffee with my RoadPro element heater. Some pumpkin spice latte French twists are a perfect pastry for this morning.

I'm making progress on the van. Little by little I'm cleaning it. Baby steps. I've got the driver's pocket and passenger pocket sorted out. I've mentally divided the van into segments. I'm getting one segment at a time done.

My van takes a bit more organization because not only is it my home, but it also carries my sales stuff for flea market and my jewelry making/repair supplies. Each group of items needs it's own space.

So many people are pointing out dogs in need of rescue to me. Please stop. My van has to be fully cleaned and sanitized. The Vet thought Romeo may have had distemper. There is no cure, no treatment. It's highly contagious. If I were to get a dog right now (and I am no where near ready to do that) putting it in my van could be a death sentence for that dog.

I'm going to relax and enjoy my coffee & pastry

See you down the road
Lou

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Van log 20171107

It's time for me to fully clean out the van and do some modifications.

My van was a doggie icu for over a week. I've never really had the time to get this set like I wanted. Now I can focus on me and my van.

Once I've cleaned up the spilled food and water from the dog being ill, the next step is to wash all clothes and blankets.

I'll take the time to sort through and evaluate all clothes and bedding. Purge time. All clean useable items will be donated to the local rescue mission.

I'll reset all my jewelry for sale and my jewelry making supplies. Since it's cool now and I probably won't use my cooler, it can hold jewelry making items.

I'll find some help to take the two center seats out.

The four drawer wooden dresser unit has been scaled down. It now comes only up to the seat back.

I've got vision of my finished van in my head. There's not that much to do.

Now with no dogs, my entire routine has changed. I'll get my new routine established and move on with my life.

As gas permits, I'm going to do some short trips to get back into the swing of things. The trip to El Paso actually felt good in spite of the purpose.

I'm rambling a bit, but I'm sure most understand.

See ya down the road
Lou

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New Skills, Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone

There's been bunches of change in my life lately. Mona dying, Romeo being ill and then I had to make the tough call to have him put to sleep.

For the first time in longer than I can remember, there is no dog in my van or in my life. Apparently this is time for me to focus on me and my van. Challenge accepted.

The van is a total mess, so it's time to clean, sort, purge, and get ready to travel again. I've been in one area way too long.

I've already started moving things around  the dresser in the rear has been cut down and rebuilt. It takes up much less room with the same amount of storage.

I've learned to do the urban boondocking style. That's something I never thought I'd be comfortable doing. It's good to step out of my comfort zone and learn new things.

I have no idea what the future holds, but I know it involves new places, new things, new experiences. The short road trip to El Paso felt right and comfortable.

For all my friends that are so worried, don't be. I'm sad but I'm ok. It's time for Lou to be Lou again.

So I'll see you down the road
Lou
In her gasoline powered tipi

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