30 November, 2012

A Happy Woman's Life Book Page 58




A Happy Woman's Life Book Page 58

By Amulbunny   
November 30,2012

Outside my window. . . 63, rainy and cool.

I am thinking…  I could sleep all afternoon.

I am thankful for…  heat.

From the learning rooms… sometimes it’s really what it is.

I can't believe . . .the GOP are still acting like buttheads.  

From the kitchen . . . not hungry, don’t want food now.

I am wearing…  long sleeved tee, jeans, sox and slippers

I am creating . . . an idea of how to decorate.
      
I am going…   to bug my kids.

I am reading . . . Far North. Set in Iceland by Michael Ridpath

I am hoping…  my stomach calms down.

I am hearing…  tv in the other room.

Around the house. . . . 1 dog, 1 cat, 1 husband.

One of my favorite things… real Christmas cookies.  

A few plans for the rest of the week
1.  Decorate.
2.  Get the front swept, lots of debris from the rain
3.  Get some split peas and vegetables.


Here is a picture for thought I am sharing:




25 November, 2012

Can you tell me please....

Where my Christmas spirit is? Let me count the ways:


1. Husband has been laid off since August and right now is enjoying his "vacation" on unemployment. 
2. He wants to go gold mining but he spent any extra gas money we had on lottery tickets. 
3. He is becoming obsessive again and I can't deal right now. 
4. He says he will do something specific and if I ask about it, it doesn't get done.

Don't lecture me about being submissive and telling me I should build him up. I've been married to him for a long time and his behavior is appalling. He was dxed with diabetes type 2 and won't take his meds. Denial. Well if he dies, I will be pretty angry. 

I'm really depressed about things. The kids have to help and they can't tell me they can't afford it. I can't cut any slack. I have no money except what is there to pay rent. I need something but I don't know how I can get there to get it and pay for it.





19 November, 2012

Ah the good life.....East Fork San Gabriel River, CA

Or you'd think so. Except for the USDA-Forest Service Cop who hassled me. But to his chagrin I am well versed on regulations regarding prospecting and parking lots. If you are going to be a cop, at least learn how to interact with people. It's the I'm a LEO and you're not mentality that gives some cops a bad name. Seen it before and will see it again.

This trip wasn't as hunky dory. Had a vapor lock on the freeway and discovered a manifold leak. Hwy 39 was closed due to fire, so we had to take another road which even under good circumstances is a puke inducing ride. This is the loop map. We went up the Glendale Mountain Road which meets the East Fork Road. We were camped at the top far right at the end of the non highlighted road. Bonita Camp Rd. or the end of the East Fork Rd. Coming home we took the East Fork Road to Hwy 39 (Azusa Avenue) to the 210 Freeway.

Anyway here are some random pictures to go with random thoughts.

Steep path from parking lot down to river 

Looking downriver from the parking area 

 The trailhead to Heaton Flats- Graffiti you can't escape from. And the parking lot lights don't work. 

Looking upriver. During heavy storms the river bed increases over 50% of area. 

Looking down the road to the Cattle Creek Bridge.  

The old pump building. Above this is a razed lot where there was a ranger station. 

 Saturday morning overcast and rainy
The prospector and his bike rig to take his equipment to the river. 

The 11 lb guard dog.  

 The end of the East Fork Road and the trail head to Heaton Flats and beyond. 
 The slope below the trail. 
 Typical mid week parking lot situation. Bathrooms in the little building. 
 The diamond shaped discoloration is from hydraulic mining in the late 1890's to 1920's.
 An idea of the flood plain and the actual river size now. 
 Trail to camping area below parking lot. 
During the summer months it's packed with people who
don't respect the river. 
 Same trail but a little to the south.

It was a nice trip even with the hiccoughs but as always it's always good to be home.

Up next, Thanksgiving. More thoughts on that after the fact. 

da bunny

14 November, 2012

No internet. No cable. NO cell phones.

Oh my. We must be driving up in elevation to pursue some of that fabled dust. Actually I am taking a stack of magazines and my Kindle and I'll be thrilled.

Peace and out till we get back.

da bunny

05 November, 2012

It's- - - - - -

95 degrees outside and windy. 

This too shall pass.
Not soon enough.


da bunny

03 November, 2012

A Happy Woman's Life Book Page 57



A Happy Woman's Life Book Page 57

By Amulbunny   
November 3,2012

Outside my window. . . 67. Cool. Lovely.

I am thinking…  Doing grocery shopping was too much.

I am thankful for…  coupons and store brands.

From the learning rooms… You don’t know what quiet is in the city.

I can't believe . . .this election isn’t over yet.  

From the kitchen . . . Stouffer Cheese Enchiladas.

I am wearing…  Cotton long blouse, black jeans, slippers.

I am creating . . . a packing list for the next trip.
      
I am going…   to buy stock in Kleenex.

I am reading . . . Winter of the World and any number of dumb romantics on my Kindle.

I am hoping…  One day at a time.

I am hearing…  Cooler fan and a far away prop plane.

Around the house. . . . 1 dog, 1 cat, 1 husband.

One of my favorite things… tootsie rolls.  

A few plans for the rest of the week
1.  Get over this crappy cold.
2.  Change plant out front
3.  Remind my daughter to buy detergent


Here is a picture for thought I am sharing:


Redondo Beach after the storm



02 November, 2012

The camping trip

10 days ago the errant spouse asked me to go camping at the end of East Fork Road, above the east fork of the San Gabriel River. Since we gave up tent camping years ago, that meant bringing the motorhome out of storage and sprucing the old gal up. Groceries, dry ice, and load the baby and off we went.

We went up Wednesday evening after the traffic died down. The only thing you hear when you pull into your parking space is quiet and the river running 300 feet below you. Got the coach leveled and sat down and read some more. The dog needed a quick walk with the dad and then it was make the beds. Rearrange the table to make the bed, lay down the cushions, blow up the air mattress, get the sleeping bag and pillow laid out and go to sleep. The upper bunk gets the same treatment. I sleep below because I have to get up and go to the head more than once a night.

We've got a queen sized enclosure over the cab and the small double area in the back. A stove, fridge, and head. No shower. So after a couple of days it's time to head back to the land of hot showers.

Morning #1 we do some cleanup and sit and have our hot chocolate. It's a pleasure to sit and enjoy the quiet. The spouse went up the hill behind what was the ranger station instead of down the river. Don't know if the dirt was productive because it hasn't been panned out here at home. That takes a lot of time. For some reason the quiet and fresh air makes dinner an early treat. We can't watch any movies because we're down a battery on the coach side so we retire to our bunks and read till it's time for turning off the battery. The quiet is what gets me. At home we have aircraft flying the reverse pattern from LAX at all hours, sirens from the fire trucks and police cars, horns honking, loud neighbors. Up there we have birds of prey and a stray coyote or two at night. I've seen 2 low flying police rescue choppers since I've been going there. National Forest vehicles make the loop of the parking lot, the police come up to use the restroom, but other than that it's quiet.


This is the view we'd wake up to every day. Pretty neat.

Morning #2, breakfast and then the spouse goes down to the river. The dog and I go down there about 3 hours later and watch him play in the water. We all walk back up to the coach and have lunch. He goes back down and comes back about 6 pm. After dark. I get kind of nervous after dark, there are critters out there. But here's a picture of the man and his gear:

That's about 100 lbs on his back. Next time he's taking his bike even though it's kind of sloped coming back up. 

Another early evening. Not our typical Friday night. 

The next morning, Saturday, we awake to lots of noise, people and a packed parking lot. It's the weekend and the people who run the bungee jumping off the Bridge to Nowhere (about 5.2 miles beyond the end of the road) are gathering their suckers...um patrons to go up there. Our quiet peaceful spot is jammed to the gills with day people. We load up and put everything away and head down the hill to the 210 Fwy, to the 605 South, to the 105 West to the 405 South. 3 exits later, we're nearly home. 57 miles and an entirely different mindset. 

So I'm still sick. Voice comes and goes. Fever comes and goes. I drove today and that wore me out. 

We're going up again. There has to be that one nugget that calls his name. 

da bunny.