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

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

It's- - - - - -

95 degrees outside and windy. 

This too shall pass.

Not soon enough.

da bunny

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

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.

I promise I'll update soon....

But right now I've got the galloping crud and I can hardly breathe.  If I don't feel better by tomorrow then I am going to go to urgent care since my doctor is triple booked with other people having the same thing.

Wait,,,,,wait for it.....

another bright and cheery (maybe) post coming soon. Need to be imaginative. Ok.Maybe not.

Wednesday October 17,2012

IT IS 88 DEGREES OUTSIDE

THERE ARE NO CLOUDS

WHERE ARE OUR CLOUDS AND FOG???

WHERE ARE OUR 70 DEGREE TEMPS?

THEY CALL IT INDIAN SUMMER. 

I WANT FALL AND WINTER.

COOL AND COOLER.

THAT'S MY MANTRA!

Random musings about stuff

• In less than 4 weeks we make a huge decision for this country. If you aren't registered to vote do is quickly and be ready to cast your ballot. This election is more important than any of the last 4. Don't let a cabal of right wing theocrats run our country. 
• I lost $8 at Trader Joes this morning. It fell out of my pocket when I went to get my keys out. I was chastised and castigated for it. When I replied to the person saying such things, I was not polite. Nor did I wish to be. 
• Listening to the police scanner for the beach area is interesting. I also listen to live ATC from the LAX tower. 
• There was thunder and lightning the other day but very little rain here. Other areas were drenched. 

• The shuttle is inching it's way to it's new home at the CA Science Center. A Toyota Truck pulled it over a freeway overpass. Cool and cooler. 

That's it, 

There will be more next week. 

A Happy Woman's Life Book Page 56

A Happy Woman's Life Book Page 56

By Amulbunny   

October 4,2012

Outside my window. . . 66. Cool. Lovely.

I am thinking…  The heat wave is over.

I am thankful for…  making do with bits and pieces.

From the learning rooms… Reading and peace.

I can't believe . . .how awful the debate was.

From the kitchen . . . Mac and Cheese and Peas?

I am wearing…  Floral sleeveless blouse, slippers and shorts.

I am creating . . . Need to “fall” color the living room.

      

I am going…   to do the best I can with what I’ve got.

I am reading . . . Winter of the World, Heaven Should Fall

I am hoping…  One day at a time.

I am hearing…  Fan rotating next to me, tv in the other room.

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

One of my favorite things… sauerkraut.

A few plans for the rest of the week…

1.  Get some onions for stew

2.  Cleaning kitchen all the way

3.  Vacuum and mop

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing:

I saw the shuttle Endeavour on its LAX flyby.

Pink ..... Packers!

It's nearly October, hate is coming out in droves.

Even one of my all time favorite reads is back to recycling her hate so I'm going to steer away from her awhile. It's quite predictable and I'm sorry for her lack of imagination. She apologizes that she will surely offend, and then she does. Pharisee thy name is CB. 

I will say here and now that I can be an evil manipulative bitch. Don't know anyone that one time or another in their life isn't. But to consistently feed evil to your children (I'm not forgetting the blog of another viper in Christian clothing in AZ either) and your readers, Don't you think God is looking at you and wanting to smack you on the side of the head for being so evil? Where does the hate come from? 

As for me, I have been fighting off a horrible chest cold. No I didn't go to the doctor. I figure it will burn itself out. The fever is gone, only thing left is the lingering cough which can be contained with Delsym. I know the stuff costs an arm and a leg, and of course there was no generic at Kroger, Hell Kroger doesn't even carry tylenol. I was just too burned out to go to CVS. 

We did have a great trip to Pismo Beach. I could live up there. All it takes is money. 

I'm still formulating a plan that involves a wrist rocket and some turkey shot for that damn bird. 

Daughter is at walk in care, has a stuffy head. I think it's her sinuses and they'll give her something for it. She's keeping me posted via text messages. 

Husband needs to get a job and soon. I'm tired of this 24/7 togetherness. 

Later peeps.

da bunny.

If you are short and trying to take pictures 0f the shuttle.....

So I'm 5'1 and trying to squeeze in with a crowd of over 200 people on a parking lot roof. It was magnificent. Even if it doesn't look like it, it was. God Bless the USA!!!

Not lost or forgotten.....

Back from the trip. I'll update as soon as I start to feel like a human being again.
There's a saying  that away is good but home is better.

Overwhelmingly tired.  Some bug has tried to get me. I wish it would either bloom or die.

Post op report

In at 0530, home by 0930.
Fingers on r hand look like sausages.
Bandage off, bandaid on.

77 and dripping occasionally here. Hot and sweaty.
Crabby husband.
Tired but ok.

peace

Well?

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North   You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?"  Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
The Midland	 
The Northeast	 
Philadelphia	 
The South	 
North Central	 
The West	 
Boston	 
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

9/4/11

I have to be at the hospital at 0530. Surgery is scheduled for 0730. I should be home by 1030. I hope they give me good pain meds. My hand is going to hurt like an SOB.  The incision is made mid palm.

Peace.

Fire along side the river.

There is a huge brush fire near where we would be camping this Labor Day weekend, had it been a normal weekend. The blaze grew from 20 to over 700+ acres with no idea of containment.  Guess there won't be any gold panning at the east fork for a few days.


Life is normal. Adults living in close quarters with other adults tend to get on their nerves. I read 10 of the 12 Sookie Stackhouse books this weekend. Easy reads. Hmmmm.

Peace.

labor day

Have a good 3 day weekend. Unless something new, exciting, or shiny flies by I am planning on reading 6 books. Yep. Then I am putting my brain on charge.

Saw some of these over the san gabriels this afternoon

they are called lenticular clouds.

Groovy. 

If you dig deep enough.....

In this blog you will come upon a blog entry (http://amulbunny.blogspot.com/2011/05/thats-what-it-is-gang-for-real-for-sure.html) that talks about a trainwreck.

I have followed this person on Carepages and now on FB and her life is better than any soap opera that I've read.

After writing that she relocated back to MI, broke up with the guy, hooked up with another guy who had multiple DV arrests, ended up getting a TRO against him and her kids are along for the ride. Whatever she was waiting for in MI didn't happen so she packed up the trash bags and the kids and went back to Lexington KY. Within a couple of weeks of being in Lexington, something egregious happened and her boys were taken away and put into foster care.

She has been to court twice. She is supposed to follow instructions and do some things and then the court will consider returning the children to her. She got an apartment, but has no furniture, nothing to cook with, no fridge. Her mental health is being evaluated and she hasn't even bothered to try to make an appt to see someone and get some help. She's "too busy". If someone took my kids I would have jumped through every hoop I could to get them back.

This is so sad. I will follow it as long as I can.

sadness.

A Happy Woman's Life Book Page 55

A Happy Woman's Life Book Page 55

By Amulbunny   

August 22, 2012

Outside my window. . . 78, windy and muggy

I am thinking…  the kid won’t be thrilled this afternoon

I am thankful for…  unemployment insurance

From the learning rooms… deciding what to do

I can't believe . . .SBDINC screwed all those people

From the kitchen . . . meat something?

I am wearing…  Packers TShirt, shorts, bare feet

I am creating . . . I have no freaking idea

      

I am going…   to pray that a new job comes soon

I am reading . . . nothing right now

I am hoping…  I can calm down.

I am hearing…  Dirty Jobs making bologna.

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

One of my favorite things… frozen fruit bars

A few plans for the rest of the week…

1.  Grocery shopping

2.  Cleaning kitchen all the way

3.  Mop floors

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing:

Quick Edit.....

It looks like the Las Vegas job is kaput. He talked to the manager there today and he's leaving the end of September. Of the 16 lock shops SBD bought in 2008, only one is still open, and they have writing on the wall as well. So no reason to pack and up move only to have the job go poof in a year.

We'll manage. We always do.

This is how I feel right now

A speedbump in the race of life

• Husband came home and told me they are laying off the staff and the shop will close in 42 days. 
• Damn bird next door got into a kerfluffle with someone or something and squawked for a whole hour. If I had a wrist rocket, it would be gone. 
• Dog is driving me batty today.
• New back door will be up hopefully by the end of the weekend.
• Might be having a long distance marriage. Look at it like a deployment.

later alligtors.

THANKS FOR PUTTING ME OVER 10,000 VIEWS. MAKES ME A HAPPY CAMPER.

What would you think about a family.......

1. That eschews contact with anyone except their immediate family.
2. Where the father's word is equated with pronouncements from God.
3. Fun is doled out in the father's opinion when it's approved by God.
4. No reading of local or international news, "We get it from standing in line at the grocery store".
5. All vacations are taken together, Only the male members of the family are allowed to travel alone. 
6. Women members of the family are to be obedient to any male over the age of 13, even if they are in their 30's. 
7. Courtship models are touted as supreme to 2 people meeting each other and getting to know them. Honoring God by not touching that person during the courtship, no holding hands, no hugging, no hanging out alone on the front porch and just getting to know each other without  chaperone present. Any phone calls and emails must be approved and listened to by the adult male parent. 
8. Women once they have agreed to this model and wedding, are relegated to be basically slaves of patriarchy. 
9. This family has a daughter over 30, a SAHD, who patiently waits for her prince charming while 2 of her brothers have married. The family says they are a model of courtship, yet this talented, charming woman is not allowed to go to a regular church service, go to the library to get books to read, all book have to be approved by the father, the BIBLE reigns supreme. She remains a child locked in a woman's body.
10. No friends of their own age. The father has decreed that the children (even adults) will lose their focus with God and dishonor their family if they mingle. 
11. No outings with friends to movies. God doesn't like that something takes your focus away from him. 
12. No organized sports, it takes their focus away from God. Funny, I heard a lot of prayers from kids playing sports, please God let me kick this goal, please God let me hit this ball......
13. The last wedding began with a sermon about death. Nothing about love and happiness, but death and the wages of sin. If I had been that bride, I'd have turned around and raced out the church door, because that was basically a birds eye view of what life was going to be like. Scheduled to the enth degree, no free time to develop interests, because they would take your focus away from God. 
14. And last but not least, a honeymoon on the converted bus as the family goes to several conventions. No privacy. Sounds like fun doesn't it?

So this family had a failed courtship, a wedding called off 6 days before the date. For a system that is supposed to protect people from giving away a piece of their heart to someone, there are hearts shattered and in pieces. 

This courtship model essentially gives 2 people who've been taught all their lives that sex is dirty and to be ashamed of their bodies, a license to go from 0 to 95 on their wedding nights. Most people who date and have relationships, usually take their time to get to know someone and they when they are reading enter into a physical relationship. How awkward it must be for 2 young people who've probably never seen another person of the opposite sex naked to jump into bed on their wedding night and make wild monkey love? 

Makes you wonder where Jesus comes into all this? To make a child feel like she is going to hell with the sinners? To equate breaking the engagement to the death of suffering of our Lord, and his resurrection the only saving grace? I say bravo to the child. Your light would have been hid under a bushel wielded by the cult leader. Your marriage wouldn't be just the 2 of you, it would have been you, your husband and his father. I feel bad for the young man, he's never had to experience heartbreak before and has no one other than his cult leader father and brothers to fall back on. 

Be careful of wolves in sheeps clothing that promise you the path to righteousness. You may fall into a cult that you can't escape from. 

A random thought for this Monday. 

There are times when I am a big meanie!

A blogger who've I referred to in the past posted this on her not a blog the other day:

"There have been laws proposed to make planting vegetable gardens in our back yards illegal. There are laws proposed to make Christianity illegal, as well as Christian Homesteading."

Now I'm pretty adamant about sources and the like and I emailed her to ask her to cite her sources where it's said that there are laws that are proposed to make Christianity illegal. I won't get a reply, perhaps a minion will say I'm a meanie again. I'll put it out there to the minions then:

1. When has Christianity, in this country been illegal? 
2. What jurisdiction says that backyard gardens are illegal (I'm not counting pot growers BTW) and I do know of the front yard gardens which have been cited in MI which to me is ridiculous. 
3. Christian Homesteading is a made up thing that this blogger has been flogging. Lets gather bushels of acorns, make acorn flour and bake something. Let's go pull up random plants without researching in a reference book if they are good or bad. Let's go pull up mushrooms willy nilly and risk liver failure and or death from using the wrong kind.
4. Let's see if the blogger says she's being misquoted or her words are being turned around. 

I just have a built in bullshit meter for crap like this. 

The long awaited flounce may yet come. Not from me, I'm here for the long run. Too many things on my mind to get out into the ether. 

I'll be more prolific for the next couple of weeks because I'm having hand surgery in September which will limit my typing ability unless I use voice to text. My trigger finger has been shot up twice with steroid and nothing has helped. There fore i'm having the tendon sheath released. 

da bunny

A Happy Woman's Life Book Page 54

A Happy Woman's Life Book Page 54

By Amulbunny   

August 8, 2012

Outside my window. . . 79, hot and muggy

I am thinking…  today we get new flooring in the kids hall

I am thankful for…  fans, fans, and more fans

From the learning rooms… paying attention to important things

I can't believe . . .I missed feeling 2 earthquakes this AM

From the kitchen . . . no cooking night, Kids are out.

I am wearing…  sleeveless blouse, denim shorts, bare feet

I am creating . . . not much in this heat

      

I am going…   to wait for the flooring guys

I am reading . . . Folly’s Beach

I am hoping…  we are done with flooring problems.

I am hearing…  Air Disasters on Smitsonian

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

One of my favorite things… summer nights

A few plans for the rest of the week…

1.  Grocery shopping

2.  Call the university I’m interested in

3.  Mop floors

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing:

Should I or shouldn't I?

I've been thinking about going back to school. You have to remember that this is a recurring theme in my life. The lack of money is one of the deciding factors. My age another, will my kids be paying off my student loans if I up and die? I think it would be a good use of my time. Better than sitting on the computer all day and doing nothing worthwhile.

We'll have to see.