Campfire

[BarbaraRose]

Steve is my ex, recently broken up. We were good friends for a long time before we got involved, and we are still good friends. He is currently helping me get some of my financial stuff figured out. He convinced me that when I move, it would be a lot cheaper to ship my few belongings to CA, instead of paying to install a trailer hitch ($200+) and renting a trailer ($300+) to take it with me. Plus I will get better gas mileage without pulling a trailer (I get about 25+ mpg). I hadn't thought of that. That would save me at least $500.

Steve thought the beer was just fine! I couldn't tell since I hate beer anyway.

Ironically, today was really busy at the shop and I did 10 hairctus! So I made more in commission today than hourly salary. However, commission is figuered weekly, so after sitting around doing nothing all the other days, that commission will go right out the window! Hopefully, tomorrow will be busy too. If nothing else, the time goes faster and I am having more fun than when just sitting around (not to mention more in tips!) (10 haircuts would be a slow day at Great Clips!).

Our lake was officially ice-free today! Yay!! It was really windy here today and it blew the ice right out. Driving home and seeing the large waves and white caps, it seemed to me the water was happily saying "Ahh!! Free at last!" I happily say "Ahh!! Spring at last!"

[bikerchic777]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I just feel like I have a lot of catching up to do! It feels a lot like trying to get to know a new family and trying to get everyone's name straight and all that. Now there's Mike the neighbor guy AND Steve...

I didn't know you were planning to do all that with the hitch and trailer, etc. I thought you said you pack light and just take some clothes and a few things. Depends on what you ship if it saves you that much money. Be sure you check on that. When my kids went to live with their dad, I shipped a bunch of their stuff UPS and it cost me a lot! Maybe you could get bids on http://www.uship.com. Any guestimates on when yet? I'm trying to zero in on just where I want to go out there next winter. Seriously looking at Indio or Desert Hot Springs.

Glad business is picking up. Maybe the warm weather is making people want a summer cut! It does me!!! I just got mine cut real short.

[BarbaraRose]

I am planning to pack light, but I have a small car (Ford Escort Wagon). I will need my clothes (don't have too many tho), TV, VCR, boombox, some books, golf clubs, folding chair and loveseat, bedding, personal items, pet carrier for the ferrets (dropping off in Denver), maybe a cat, ferret cage (broken down), etc. I don't think I can fit all that in my car. I think my dad might want to ride with me out there and that would add a body and a suitcase, but he would also pay for food, lodging and possibly some of the gas.

Maybe I could also pack my tent and just pitch that next to your rig where ever you end up out there! Anybody know if there are any cg's in the Coachella Valley that allow extended stays? I looked on-line but they all say 2 week max. (Other than Slab City at the Salton Sea, but yuck! Wouldn't want to live there!)

I am sure the salon is busy because of it being Easter weekend and spring fever. The guys are all going real short for summer.

[bikerchic777]

Do you get the feeling we've taken over the campfire, Barbie? OK...so you do have stuff to bring. I like the idea of your dad riding along and paying for stuff I still let my mom pay for things, too. She says she appreciates me driving and doing things with her, so I think that is how she repays me....though I don't expect anything but her love in return. In your case, it would certainly be helpful! The tent is not a bad idea. Since you golf...maybe we could work camp at a golf resort Can't you just envision it? You in your tent at a posh golf resort in Palm Springs Seriously though...Have you ever thought of work camping and then cutting hair for people for "tips"? I heard there was a lady who cut hair at the Navy base in Key West and everyone loved that service! I'm going to put a sign on the bulletin board at the campgrounds at the lake this summer for eyeglass adjustments and minor repairs and see what happens. I have casually mentioned that I'm an optician when an eyeglass issue has come up and I instantly had work. I found a lady's lost lens in Miami and put it in her glasses for her. She had just got them and they didn't make her lenses right, so I told her to take them back to Lens Shafters and have them remade...which she did! Last week a man in our park mentioned that he was going to get his glasses adjusted that day because they were killing his nose. I asked him where he was going and he said he didn't know. I told him I'm an optician and offered to do it and he was so happy! I even made a house call with my tools and he gave me a whole bag of grapefruit from his tree! Hey...maybe my sign should say "Will Adjust Eyeglasses for Food" Anyway...my battery is getting low on the laptop, so better go check out the elec. issue. This is fun planning with you, Barbie! We will get it all figured out...and have a lot of fun on the way!!!

[BarbaraRose]

I've got some chocolate covered marshmallows tonight! Not sure they will work well for toasting tho! Also got some Russian vodka (Steve brought over) and OJ for later! Come on out and party with me around the fire!

My little tent pitched next to the 18th green at the PGA West golf course! Ha! (Gives a whole new meaning to pitch and putt! ).

I have thought about doing haircuts, but I would have to do it for tips, donations or bartering, since legally I couldn't charge for them. It would work tho, since hair is biodegradable and actually good fertilizer for the soil, I could do them outdoors (I've done it plenty of times before!). Haircuts with a beautiful view and the relaxing sounds of nature! Can't ask for anything better than that!

[carold]

There's a guy at this park that does haircuts and color (word of mouth only.) He used to take donations, but now charges $12 for cuts, don't know about color. However, he has a park model (trailer ) and even has a chair in his "salon". He asks people to shampoo before they come. Has as many customers as he wants. carold

[BarbaraRose]

I would imagine that he would be busy! I wonder if he is licensed and just takes his chances? I would like to know how he gets around the licensing thing, unless he doesn't have a license and then he isn't doing anything illegal (other than most likely not reporting it for taxes...). That would be a good way for me to make some money once I have my own RV. Are the campgrounds OK with people doing stuff like that (selling services, etc)?

[bikerchic777]

If you like coconut, the toasted coconut marshmallows are AWESOME roasted over a campfire! Can't find them everywhere so I have to grab them when I see them. I could use the stiff drink after my harrowing day with the attack pit bull!!!

Most Parks won't let you put out a sign for services or if you sell anything, but most will let you put a note on the bulletin board in the clubhouse or laundry room. Word of mouth is great if people like your haircuts. I followed a gal who used to cut my hair and then she went back to college. I asked her if she would still cut my hair so she said she would do it for tips. I paid her what I was paying,minus the extra that was usually the tip since she was getting it all. I went to her apt. Worked out great! In Parks I think most people would be happy for the convenience, like me adjusting their glasses so they don't have to drive into town. If you combined that with work camping for your site you could probably do fine. Now you just need to get that camper! My SIL's dad lives across the street here and has a class b just sitting in his yard. He has only used it a couple of times and not likely used the stove or shower. I told my SIL to let me know if they sell it. Would be nice for one of the girls who wants one.

[VickieP]

I think I'll put another log on the fire and prop my feet up a while. I went to the dentist today and got my permanent crown put on, only took 15 minutes, I was preparing for a long time in the chair. Didn't hurt a bit, so I came home and mowed the whole yard. That was after pushing the John Deere out of the fenced doggie yard so I could jump the battery with the truck. I'll probably have to get a new battery this year since the one that's in there has a 2006 sticker on it. I remember when we were kids, my parents would always wait till after Easter to cut the grass the first time, so they could hide the Easter eggs. All our friends, neighbors and cousins would come over. I can still remember one year we peeked out the window and watched them hide the eggs.

[Acadianmom]

My DH and I went to get our border collie this afternoon at the trainer's. We had to get doggie kisses all the way home. He's trained to work cattle and he was there for a brush up on his commands. He doesn't bark if people come around but let a cow move and we hear about it. Guess we are safe from cattle rustlers. lol

I was going to mow today too but we got back too late. Our grass isn't growing but the clover is taking over. I don't know if the freezes killed the grass. I need to see if the Weed and Feed fertilizer will kill the clover. The last time I tried to use some of that it killed everything. Our grass must be weeds too. It seems like my roses went from sticks to fully leafed out over night.

The TV shows I like are on CBS and that darn basketball is on again. I thought we were through with that.

[BirdbyBird]

Enjoying the fire and did manage to jump in the hot tub for a few minutes. Work is feeling like WORK. The computer system was having hick ups last week and they let us leave early one day. Now they are allowing us to work overtime at time and a half! Just thinking about inflatable kayaks and camp ground fees And since I am spending my day all day long reading high school handwriting in the process of scoring the proficiency tests I am also sending apologizes to all my past educators that had to read my long answer or essay questions! Thank goodness the computer screens have zoom buttons, some of the handwriting is really really tiny! I also know that many of the students that are required to take these tests now would not have been taking very few tests back in the dinasour days that I actually attended school.

My step mother is becoming weaker and weaker but still appears determined to have knee replacement surgery. Her daughter and I both have doubts regarding her ability to make it through surgery and rehab....but she is still gets to make her own decisions even if they are bad for her. So, if she demands that she be so independent, I say okay and leave her to make her own mistakes...like over drawn checking accounts and mailing unsigned checks to pay her rent! Libby, her daughter, lives in NYC but is driving back to Ohio with us after my daughter's wedding in NC in the end of April. She will be here in time to spend a few days with her mother before the surgery at least.

The dogs are all well. It is hard to believe that Izzy is now 1 year old. She is still our baby. All of them are zoned out tonight after spending the afternoon out in the sunshine monitoring suspected wildlife!

Need one more little splash of vino and I'm good to go.

[avalen]

I'm exhausted and more than likely going to bed early tonight. Had an intestinal
upset today and I won't go into details but it totally wiped me out. Don't know why,
and I felt just fine otherwise. Drinking a little extra water so I don't dehydrate and
took some pink stuff. Just hate those kind of surprises.
Just gonna kick back and rest. Somebody stir the coals.

[bikerchic777]

Sorry you didn't feel well today, Ava! I really hate those surprises, too. Too bad you didn't have your colonoscopy scheduled for tomorrow...lol. I don't tolerate the pink stuff well. Immodium AD for me if it goes on too long. Gatorade or Vitamin Water to get rehydrated and electrolytes back in balance. I eat a lot of yogurt, especially Activia, almost daily to keep healthy bacteria in my intestines to help prevent those "surprises". Hope you're back to normal tomorrow!

[BarbaraRose]

Not sure if I have a cold, allergies or if I am sneezing from cleaning house today (dust, chemicals, etc), but I am pretty miserable tonight! Hitting the Sudafed and Zicam to cover all my bases. Didn't have to go into work (office job) today so I stayed home and did laundry and got some cleaning done. Went to work tonight at the salon but no haircuts. Got some reading done tho since it was so quiet there. I have been reading books on how to become a Mystery Shopper. It sounds very interesting and could be fun for some extra money. Buster is still limping but seems to be getting a little better (he's been getting into all kinds of trouble tonight!) so I am going to wait a couple more days before I decide to bring him in to the vet. Just finished my evening cookie snack so off to bed (if I can stop sneezing!!).

Have a good night!

[bikerchic777]

IBarbie...I hope you are feeling better this morning! Hope it was just the dust and not a cold. Sounds like Buster is on the mend if he's getting into trouble. I'm like you...I'm not too quick to dash to the vet. I think Rags' ear is going to be fine, also. I looked at it last night and it just has a hard scab on it and no oozing. You will have to tell me more about the mystery shopping. I've thought about that,too. I've been mystery shopped when I was working in retail as an optician and got a good report. In fact, I got an award in that store. I have done a little of it on my own, but called it competitive shopping, to find out what other optical shops were charging for their glasses. Its also a good way to see what a place and people are like where you might want to work. Like you would go maybe get a haircut or something at a shop to check it out. You can find out a lot about how someone likes working there and how they get paid, etc. while you're in that chair.