Staying Busy Out Here

Time flies when your having fun. Seems like it just flies by these days. It has been cold and windy the last few days down here in Quartzsite. MDA's Get-a-Way has survivied the windy days so far. Need to tighten up all of the ropes around the tarps this afternoon when we get off.

Business has been slow in the contact station the last few times Sandy & I have worked. Our shift is half over and so far no business today. We keep ourselves busy with our laptops, checking email, reading blogs and following the latest happenings in the world.

MDA's is coming together nicely. We moved Sandy's 5er over to the east side of the canopy so now have some relief from a direct wind assualt on three sides. Will take some pics and get them posted.

Chilly Sunday

Wow...where did all the cold weather come from? Woke up this morning and it was COLD. It was definitely a three dog night and I only have one, and Shadow was taking up space & covers on the bed. I got up and fired up the Onan generator so I could get the space heater Mom & Jack got me for XMAS (thanks again) turned on. It was back in bed until the chill was off before doing any serious moving around.

Shadow wasn't in any hurry to get up this morning himself. Once it warmed up, I took care of the morning bathroom details, hot water was ready for my shower, then dressed for work. Took Shadow out for a quick business trip, all he wanted to do was look for lizards instead of doing his business, so his trip was curtailed due to cold weather and winds.

Packed up the beater for the 150 yard drive over to the contact station. You may ask why I drive over when I could easily walk? I tether Shadow to the Blue Ox mount on the front bumper so he can stay outside of the contact station while I'm working. No animals or pets are allowed in & he's no exception. So I keep him close by and come out often or regularly when he wines to love him and let him know I'm ok.

It was very slow today so I read while Sandy messed around with her computer. I didn't bother turning mine on today. Some days are just like that. We wrote two tickets for the day before we closed at 1600. I know it's the lull before the storm.

I haven't said thanks to those of you who have read this blog, so thanks. Will try and keep it updated regularly.

Michael & Shadow

Quick Trip To Glendale

Shadow and I were initially planning on heading back into Glendale on Wednesday morning. Sometimes things don't quite work out as planned. Not saying anything major came up, just sometimes the best plans are those not made or adhered too. As it turned out, I had started reading a Reader's Digest Condensed Book (1977)just before closing up the contact station on Monday. The weather was perfect for sitting out under the canopy, doing some relaxing & reading.

Got up intending to get on the rode early, but the morning was really nice and Shadow was in the mood to search for lizards under every bush within 1/4 mile of the campsite. He was pretty tired after the hunt, so we decided to relax and wait to see if Steve would be driving back down here or directly over to Glendale. Well, Steve finally called and said he would be heading down here first, so that gave me more time to continue reading and working on relaxation techniques in the desert southwest.

Steve finally arrived and we decided to dine at McD's before the locals swamped the place after evening services concluded at the local church. After dinner, we fired up the portable space heater and both fell asleep under the canopy in our recliners. We were under the watchful eye of Shadow who was left on guard duty.

Thursday morning we messed around at the campsite for awhile, before finally departing for Glendale. Steve followed me all the way back to the house. My festiva' aka "the beater" cruised between 62-70 mph on the trip back in. Steve could have blown me off the road at any time. The trip home was uneventful and after checking mail, we decided on Golden Corral for dinner. We both pigged out and waddled out of the restaurant. Steve got back to the house, showered and left for work. He does work hard and continually stays busy in and around the house both here in here in Las Vegas.

Friday morning got up late and got everything ready to head back out to Quartzsite again. Decided to check out the AZ DMV on the way out of town. Received a notice to renew my CDL. Wasn't sure what that was about until I arrived to find the place packed. Seems Arizona has decided that all of the CDL's they have issued will have to be redone with a new expiration of 5 years from the date of issue. Of course that also requires having to pay new fees for the drivers license as well. Who said Arizona was having a hard time coming up with new ways to generate revenue? It took 2hours to get the new license before Shadow and I could get back on the road again.

Wow, forgot it was Friday and the ladies were having another meal in the bible tent at 1730. Arrived back at my campsite at 1720 with minutes to spare for the dinner. What great luck.

Back Down To Quartzsite

Well, it's been a while since I last posted. Decided to spend the snow-bird season down in Quartzsite this year. Once I obtained my long term permit, I asked about volunteer or paid position vacancies. Was surprised to hear they had a few positions still available if I was interested.

Talked to the park ranger and filled out the required application in quick time. I have been down here a month now and work at the contact station two days a week. Have met some great folks down here already.

My twin brother and I have our two motorhomes parked pretty close together with a canopy stretched between them. Thought it would be nice to bring out the bar and popcorn machine this year. Never know when folks will stop by and it's nice to have an area to sit out under. Will take some pictures and upload them into the blog asap.

Well, Shadow and I are getting warm in the rv so will take the hound out for a walk to stretch his paws. Hope you all are enjoying yourselves and having fun wherever you may be.

Back At The House

Wow, can't believe it's been so long since I posted anything on my blog page. I follow several blogs almost religiously, and yet haven't posted on my own site. Will have to make a serious effort to improve on that.

Well let me say I've been off the road for some time now. The rest of the Styx concerts were cancelled, so I returned back to Arizona. I was on in the latter stages of a serious cold and/or flu that sidelined me for a few weeks. Needless to say, I didn't accept any other driving opportunities during that period.

In fact, I decided that I missed being at home or out in my own RV spending time with family, friends and my constant companion, Shadow (my dog). So I have been doing short trips here and there in the RV between California, Nevada and Texas.

I did visit my son down in Houston to visit his family and get acquainted with my two grandsons, Evan & Ben. I usually avoid most areas where there are a lot of kids, any ages. But I must say, those ole wives tales about "your own" grandkids are TRUE. I was instantly amazed at the family resemblances, mannerism, etc. that these two little beautiful kids displayed.

I am so proud of my son Alan and his wife Erin. They are doing a fine job of raising their sons. Both are teachers and it's amazes me the patient and love they provide my grandsons while turning situations which would cause me to pull my limited hair out, into learning situations for my grandsons.

Well, i'll get back to do an update in a bit. Have someone at the door.