Campfire

[Bethers]

I agree you made the right decision, Judy. That said, I love that route you aren't going to be able to take. I try to wait until it's clear that way when I drive through - especially because I really dislike driving through El Paso - but do so when necessary.

[JudyJB]

I'm coming back to New Mexico next spring, like in May! I should have known better than to plan to go through the mountains this time of year. Bad weather is the whole reason I am taking the southern route to California in the first place. As it is, it is pretty chilly here. Wind is down, at least.

Oh, and I did drive that route a couple of years ago.

[Liz]

Yeah, I was looking at that route too. Guess it won't be a good idea in December either.

[JudyJB]

I ended up taking the southern route, driving U.S. 62 from Carlsbad to El Paso. There were positives and one big negative, but I would do it again. The negative was that I did not realize this road went over a pass--6,900 feet or something, so it was really, really windy. It goes right through Guadalupe National Park, so I stopped in the Visitor Center, when they pointed out that the power had been going out all day because of the wind. Did I notice the wind socks on the way in? No wind speed, but it was a little scary because I had to drive about 50 MPH tops.

The positive was that those mountains are drop-dead gorgeous!! I had not expected that, so was very impressed. Tallest mountain in Texas. Also, they have a no-hookups, no dump station campground for $8 or $4 for us seniors. Basically it consists of white lines drawn on a parking lot, but the views of the mountain are spectacular and I would stay here in a flash and plan to do so sometime in the future! Location, location, location. And bring your own water because they have no threaded faucets, so you have to use a jug or bucket. Good Verizon, however, but no gas stations for 130 miles. Who cares when you can look at gorgeous??

[Bethers]

I like that cg, Judy (said loosely, because it IS a parking lot) but like you would go back. I remember that Jean (Sparkle) got a flat tire there - and Good Sam Road Service had to send someone from the town of Carlsbad - he was the nicest young man. And, yes, it's gorgeous there! And when we went to Carlsbad and stopped at the tire place the young man recommended, they fixed her tire free - and not just checked all of mine, but replaced the crappy extensions I had - for free.

[Bethers]

I spent way too much money on Amazon today. First, because my printer which has been acting up for a couple years really did die - so necessity demanded a new printer. I can't complain, I have had that really cheap one at least 12 years. I bought another cheapie, but not the cheapest, because I looked at the prices of ink and the cheapest - well, it would be cheaper to replace the printer than to purchase new ink. I needed some other things, which have been in my cart. Had to do some soul searching about how badly I needed them - and moved lots out and got necessities. The others will be purchased when I get back to SD and don't have the extra taxes I have here.

I talked to one of the men here about doing a few things inside my rig for me. If I had the tools I could do all of them myself, but I don't want to - get the tools OR do them. He said no charge, but I told him lets wait until I have everything and see what he says when he looks. I'm more than willing to pay a fair price - or take him and his wife to dinner.

I always enjoy walking here (wouldn't in the crowds they get in the summer, I'm sure) and the other day I was talking about having seen quail, but not recently - and today, I saw a covey of them. While Lyn and Sandi were here I mentioned I see deer, but usually down by the sites they were in - last couple days, they've been visiting me on the upper level. I always enjoy the Acorn Woodpeckers and the various Blue Jays here - and several other kinds of birds I haven't worked hard to identify. But one bird is pretty fleeting and I would like to see it better. Only have caught it a couple times, briefly. We also have a "petting" zoo here. Mostly I feel sorry for the animals in such an enclosed place, but they are certainly well-fed and I talk to them every time I go by. There are a couple alpacas in there and I'm told they don't like dogs, so I'm careful about not letting Peaches too close to them (I hear they'll kick her )

There's a trail around the outside of the cg - has lots of inclines/declines - but I think I've done all sections now - today did more than 1/2 of it. We only haven't done it all at one time, because Peaches decides to head off the trail on one of the legs back into the cg. I keep telling her one of these times I'll be directing us!

Basically was a bum on my two days off ... there's always next week. The weather should be really nice the next few days .... of course, it''ll probably go back down on my days off. I'm used to it and ok with it. So far I've not had a problem with any of it ... we'll see how I feel if El Nino causes the amount of rain they are predicting for the area. Please, no more hail, though. I think I got more damage to the rv with the hail this week than I got in SD. Frustrating. That's one problem my old rig never had. Go figure!

[JudyJB]

I will take a fantastic view any day over almost anything else. I have learned that instead of liking being in forests with lots of trees and shade, I like wide open spaces where you can see for miles. Much less claustrophobic.

Another really crummy "campground" that I like is either of the ones that have electric at the Salton Sea. Both are on parking lots, but have great views. And I will take a view any day over a pool, hot tub, and "activities."

One of my other favorite campgrounds is Midway in the Big Cypress National Preserve. It has electric and communal water fill and dump station, but no amenities whatsoever, not even cell service or internet, which you know I need. What I like it that it is in the middle of nowhere--midway between Miami and Naples on the Tamiami Trail. Fifty miles to nearest grocery store or gas station. It is in the open and has mowed grass instead of being in the Cypress forest, which means fewer mosquitos. It has paved roads and paved campsites, but also has a small pond/lake in the middle with a couple of alligators. What it DOES have is access to birds. Right across the highway is that ditch that the birds and alligators love, plus it is about 5 miles from a visitor center with a pond full of big fish and even bigger alligators.

[BirdbyBird]

Checking in around the campfire. I see that folks have kept the hot tub clean and up and running. The temperatures here in Ohio are heading down and my bones are feeling the hit. A dip in the hot tub might be nice and the wine is still stored in the shed with the firewood and the beer.

In general I have gotten out my layers and it appears that I will be hunkering down in place for a few weeks. A friend called last night and asked if I wanted to go to Spaniel Club. (Which is a big show just for spaniels) It is in Philly, PA, at the beginning of January. Which means that I will probably be spending New Years even in PA. Josep will be a week shy of being old enough to show in sweeps but I have never been to Spaniel Club and thought it would be fun to go watch the big wigs and the top national dogs that will show up. And this is a great chance to share expenses. Audrey really isn't competitive enough to enter at this level but maybe if I swap her out with her sister Daisy, Mama Lyn won't notice..... Daisy is competitive enough for both of them.

Sticking around Ohio for a few extra weeks in December gives me an opportunity to try some more accupuncture for my rebound headaches and work on some personal projects here that I have put off forever because of working and travel schecules..... Not that I am complaining because it was traveling...and we know that travel is good for our spirit.

So don't let Florida move away. And anything you Floridians can do about the, "It is going to be cold in Florida this winter," prediction "in a warm it up" positive way will cheer my heart and bones.
I still hope to head down to Brookville for their January shows and then maybe the Ocala ones and then play with the new kayak for awhile before I have to head north for the spring scoring projects at work here in Cincinnati and the opportunity to earn more travel and dog show cash....... And for those interested I will probably pack one of the inflatables, too, to give anyone who might be interested a chance to paddle around with me.

That is the jello that I have at the moment but flavors and the shape of the molds are bound to change some over the coming weeks!

Hope folks are finding their way safety through whatever journeys are currently set in front of them, especially the life detours that no one willing chooses.....what matters is that we keep on "truck'in" and embracing the adventures as we discover them one mile at a time.....

Tina

[Acadianmom]

Tina, I don't know what a rebound headache is but I had migraines for years. I finally figured out that chocolate is one of the things that will give me a migraine. Also, the medicine my doctor wanted me to take for osteoporosis. I don't drink enough wine to be sure but I don't think I can drink red wine either.

Have fun at the dog shows.

Martha

[monik7]

My migraines stopped the day I stopped working!!!
Sandi

[BirdbyBird]

Thanks Martha. Rebound headaches start out as regular tension headaches but over time from taking high amounts of OTC pain meds in my case in particular, Tylenol being the worst) become daily occurances. After ten years of taking Tylenol the rebound headaches would return within 6 hours as migraines complete with the light sensitivity and need to crawl into a fetal position. My way to carrying on and working as if nothing was happening and maintaining perfect attendence was to keep taking Tylenol around the clock to prevent the "crash". There were enough opportunities to lose track of time and experience the initial auras of a crash for me to know that if I wanted to stay functional...

Doctors here not being very helpful I finally went to the Cleveland Clinic headache specialists ten years ago. So now for the last ten years I have been taking daily prescription medication to prevent the rebound headaches from shuting down daily activities. I have been able to take less medication over the years and have tried to lengthen the time between dosages. I tried some accupuncture last November/December that helped move me a little closer to my goal of decreasing dosages further. I would love to heal my crazy brain neurons that think they need this stuff and be free. I even tried the nerologist route before and he just recommended a different medication the when I tried it made my head scream at me that it wasn't liking this new chemical. I listened to my body/brain and saw no big benefit to switching from an effective medication that I was tolerating well to one that seemed to have some weird side effects.

Both accupuncturist that worked on me last fall seemed surprise when their interventions were not completely successful. That was not reassuring to me but after twenty years I was not surprised. So at this time....I will take miracles and complete healing or... progress towards. The less medication I have to take on a daily bases the happier I will be. I have already spent years thanking the healthy "liver" gods for not crashing down on me with their rath for abuse behavior.

[WickedLady]

My migraines stopped the day I got rid of my husband. Really!

[Acadianmom]

Sandi, not working has probably helped me too. lol

My migraines would seldom happen during the day. I would wake up in the middle of the night with one. I would be up and down with an ice bag, sometimes throwing up. They would usually pass by the time I had to go to work. The only time I tried taking a prescription drug I though I was going to throw up my toenails. Quit taking that. I am very resistant to taking anything except Anacin which is basically aspirin. I try not to take Anacin very often either. Maybe about once a month I will take an Alieve if my shoulder is hurting too much.

I made the mistake of buying a bag of Halloween candy again. Five or six of the small Halloween candies was enough to bring on a headache. Some people just never learn.

My sister said that after her surgery the nurse came in and hung an IV bag. A few minutes later they were back in there and took it down and put up a different bag. She ask what they were doing and they said the first bag had corn syrup in it. She is allergic to corn. I have never given much thought to what was in an IV bag. She is much more allergic to morphine. I hope they don't forget that.

Martha

[Bethers]

I'm getting more headaches again, also. Years ago got them pretty much under control with a chiropractor. And he taught me exercises, etc to help but when they are caused by the weather, it seems that nothing helps much - and that's what is happening to me now. Possibly some allergies, also, but, like this morning, when I wake up to a different pressure system outside, I know it's happened because I wake up wanting to cover my head and press on all the pressure points and not get up. (If I didn't have Peaches, there are many days when I'm off, like today, that I probably wouldn't leave my bed!) That said, I never missed work, either, Tina, and back in the day, would sometimes come home and not allow a sound or any lights, etc. Since my significant other was a musician, the no sound was difficult for him, but he honored it by heading to someone else's home to make noise. (And this was when my hearing let me hear whispers across the room - oh, that I miss lol)

One thing that has always helped my headaches (which I'm told makes no sense) is eating ice cream cones or popsicles. And a cone is better than a bowl - something about the cold hitting my tongue and roof of my mouth. There's always some help - but I'd weight 2000 pounds if I did that every time.

You've got me thinking about acupuncture. My original chiropractor was going to go that route next, but we never needed it.

Martha, chocolate hasn't seemed to hurt me, but give me food with msg, or caffeine, and instant headache. And caffeine is so sneaky - it's in products people would never think to look for it. And, yes, I know, everyone tells me that chocolate has caffeine -but it's different and doesn't have the same effects.

[avalen]

My migraines stopped the day I got rid of my husband. Really!

Yep, been there too, divorce will fix that migraine