Checking in from the road - Page 2 - ThinnerTimes

Duckie · 06-22-2007, 09:35 AM

omg. I'm laughing out loud here.

CeeCee · 06-22-2007, 01:04 PM

Good heavens! I'm laughing my butt off reading your post- and I'm at work! I am enjoying your posts from the road- you have always been soooooo eloquent...
Family- ain't they a marvel? I think it's a good idea, leaving early. Seek out some wide, open spaces and clear the cobwebs and mush your family has deposited there.
Is there somewhere I can forward a big bottle of hand sanitzer, by the way?

LisaM · 06-22-2007, 02:03 PM

Stopped back by the library since I was on my way to the post office. Gotta love a small town, they already know me here and just sign me in to the computer automatically when I walk in the door

Laughing Boy was giggling over an Elmer Fudd/Daffy Duck cartoon online...

Scout's honor.

My kinda guy.

Duckie · 06-22-2007, 11:04 PM

gotta love Elmer Fudd... be vewwy vewwy quiet... we hunting wabbit!

LisaM · 06-23-2007, 11:41 AM

More family drama - just talked to my mother-in-law. Had hoped to be in Wisconsin for her gall bladder surgery, scheduled for late July, but they moved it up to Friday, so I won't make it. She told me she was glad I couldn't, as the grandson living with her has been diagnosed with what she called "something or other personality disorder." They have him on meds, which he often refuses to take, and evidently he's threatened her life, etc., and she doesn't want me in the middle of it.

I just keep repeating the serenity mantra, or whatever you choose to call it: "Please grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." I'm not changing my family any time soon. Not sure I would if I could. They have a certain homicidal charm, you know?

Anyway, I'll post again when I connect again, not sure when that will be. Right now, I plan on being in Santa Fe on Monday, Denver on Tuesday, Sheridan, Wyoming, on Wednesday, and Columbia Falls, MT on Thursday... should be an interesting week. After that, I'll go home to Illinois when my friend kicks me out, I imagine...

The library is very quiet today, in fact the loudest sound is my typing on this keyboard with the icky thing that feels exactly like blister skin on it, to keep the little crumbsnatchers from ruining it...Gotta fly!

LisaM · 06-26-2007, 07:49 PM

Well, I made it to Taos, New Mexico, the first night out from Fort Stockton... very much what a good friend of mine calls a "left nut" area, 'cause that's what you pay for everything. Found a hotel, finally, in my price range, just a short walk from the downtown plaza. Drove out to the Taos Pueblo, where many of the elders live in the ancient lifestyle, no running water, electricity, nothing. Unfortunately, they close the gates at 4:30 pm, and of course I got there at 6:30.

The three-mile drive was a sobering lesson in cultural realities. The homes lining the way were little more than shacks, it looked like the poorest of the third-world countries--the abject poverty within a stone's throw of the multi-million dollar homes in Ranchos de Taos was especially striking. Here's a linkto the statistics for the Pueblo. The median income is $20,000 a year, and that's gone down since 2000.

Anyway, got back to the hotel about 8 pm, walked down to the Plaza, and of course, they'd rolled the sidewalks up at dusk or so. The only place open was the candy store (big fat lot of good that did me), but they did sell ice cream, so I payed a buck fifty for a tiny cup of fat free, no sugar added chocolate frozen fare. It was lovely...

Back to the room by 9 pm, only to find that the promised Internet connection was not working. Gave up on that after much cussing.

Up at 4:30, and out of town on my way to Raton Pass without a cup of coffee because NOTHING in Taos was open at 5:30 am. Finally found a restaurant in Cimarron, New Mexico, about 7 am, after driving over a lot of curvy mountain roads, even falling asleep for that one split second that scared the living crap out of me. More curvy mountain roads after that, some good pictures (I hope) of a pronghorn antelope, some beautiful mountain scenery. Then, it was along the eastern foothills of the Rockies for the next 11 hours straight. Did take some pictures on the fly of things that interested me, and will post them soon.

Got my semi-monthly reminder that I had gastric bypass. Picked up some trail mix at the Kum & Go (swear, that's the name of the convenience stores here--does no one but me think that's obscene?

) in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Ate a couple ounces of it after I got back on the road, and started feeling like ca-ca immediately. Don't know if it was the raisins, or something else. Thank goodness there is no traffic in Wyoming, and that I had a garbage bag within reach...'cause I was upchucking at 84 miles an hour for approximately the next 50 miles.

Tomorrow is another ten-hour drive or so, up to Columbia Falls, Montana, where I'll be in residence the next two or three weeks...at a minimum until my best friend's birthday. After that, well, we'll see.

Baron Patrick · 06-26-2007, 08:30 PM

LMAO

Kum & Go? I could just see something like that here in So. Cal!

Where do you work?
At the Kum & Go.
Is that a new sex shop?
Nah, you can just get coffee, beer and stuff.

Stay safe, have fun, and watch out for that killer trail mix!

Tim · 06-26-2007, 08:58 PM

Lisa welcome to my home, I've lived in Columbia Falls for 25 years. Give me a pm and I will give you my number and maybe have a cup of coffee. Maybe I know your friend or my wife does. She knows everybody here.

bballmom · 06-26-2007, 09:13 PM

Lisa,
My name is Bettina and I have been visiting the forum off and on for years. (mostly just reading) I have to tell you I love your posts! I was laughing so hard and loud that my daughter came in the room to see what all the laughter was about. I look forward to your updates. Still laughing....

sdgrrl · 06-26-2007, 09:24 PM

I too have seen Kum and Go! I too thought they were so obscene that it must have been born out of staggering ignorance.

I love Montana. We did a x-country trip on Rte 2 8 years ago, staying at Glacier Natl park on our way to Seattle. So lovely--such a very big sky. I admire your ability to strike out on your own to drive 10 hour days, etc. I'm sure you and your friend will have a spectacular visit. I love your Charles Kurault updates from on the road--please continue if you can!

What a darn shame about not being at your MIL's for her surgery and unwell son! I can feel your disappointment all the way down here.

take it easy and stay awake!

Love you,
Donna