Victorian Life

A rainy Sunday night in Victoria finds me curled up in my tie-dye quilt from the van, watching old movies on cable pvr, Stormy at my side. I ventured out earlier today in the rain, gathering groceries with the intent to finally make a recipe from the cards my Aunt J.sent me. Choco squares. It isn't until I tried to make something that I realized how much I still don't have in the apartment. I had considered just not baking, not wanting to invest in baking materials, but there are several months before I hit the road again and I enjoy making my own sweets and sharing it with others. Friends gave me a sandwich & soup cook-book, and one from someone's school, but I miss my favorites. Many were contained in a cookbook the women's group and I had published many years ago. It had been in reprint for years, but once the store closed, they were no longer available. I carried two copies for years, but then the fire this past New Year's Eve took care of that. The cupboard the cookbooks were in was reduced to some charcoal bits on the floor, among the broken and scorched dishes.

I enjoyed the choco squares. I hadn't made them for years, I can't even recall just when. I used to always have a freezer full of sweet treats at one time in my life. Not now, when it's just me. Stormy doesn't eat cookies, heh heh. With each new purchase I worry that I'll have more to unload when I move back into the van again next April. I look around the apartment and suddenly feel crowded by my belongings, and feeling the need to purge.

So I'm not heading to California this fall, leaving that travel for the spring on my way to Mexico to volunteer for awhile. I am, however, heading back to the Gorge for a third show this year - Jack Johnson. I have tickets to see him in Chula Vista as well, but I'm less willing to stray that far from home right now. I love the Gorge as a venue, it's just gorgeous. And camping is a breeze with the camper. I'm hoping someone else will be interested in jumping in with me for this show. A. is considering it, as it's just one night away, possibly two.

The writing is coming along. It hasn't been easy. It's been difficult to sift through old memories about the community now that it's closed and life there will never be the same. Most of my memories are good and there are many, but the community is closed forever. People will visit from time to time, and stay seasonally to fish in the local area, but it is moving through an evolution back to the way it was when my ancestors first worked the area. Before long, no one will live there, which is why I feel pressed to compile the book that I am, before the memories of a once alive community fade, and those with history pass on. It has become a bittersweet process, the writing lumbering along as the pace did in another lifetime, my years in Grand Bruit.

I'm still struggling with a routine, trying hard to establish one, but each day brings its own challenges and distractions. The rain has started for the season, with rain every couple of days for a couple of days. I don't mind it, but will need to invest in some rain gear, like boots and a jacket. I don't own a single coat. I have a few zip up hoodies, but that's it. I don't expect to find really cold weather here, but there will be rain. Lots of rain. I love the smell of rain, particularly near the ocean. With the proper gear, I can continue to explore this beautiful city in all weathers, stopping by one of the many coffee shops for a hot one.

I walked the grounds at Government House this past week, gorgeous and hardly anyone there. Beautiful flowers. My next stroll is hopefully taking me to the grounds of the University of Victoria. I hear the campus is pretty...will be bringing my camera of course. Victorian life is good.

Stormy's Ready for Las Vegas!

Stormy had his vet appointment today at the Heritage Cat Clinic. He had his shots updated and a full exam. He was found to be in good health, other than his little anxiety problem. Stormy has been a chronic over licker, gnawing at his legs and belly mostly. It's been growing back in but then it itches him so he licks it. I put cream on him but then he licks that off, vicious cycle. The vet told me about Feliway, a synthetic pheromone developed to mimic the facial pheromone that cats exhibit when they're happy. It's worth a shot since nothing else I've tried. You just spray it in their environment where they hang out the most. She was out, and wanted a small fortune for the spray so I looked online and found some for half the price. He did well at the vet, got two needles, and a good exam. He weighs 16 lbs 10 oz...like a small toddler. He seemed very comfortable in the kitty exam room.

Stormy has his certificate of good health for the border and the Animal Inn he's staying in while we're in Las Vegas later this month. He can't stay in the Excalibur with me so I'm boarding him there instead. He will have his own condo, two 'rooms' and access to the playroom. The rest of the time he'll be with me in the van. I have a hotel booked in Hollywood but it's pet-friendly.

Stormy is going to be so very well traveled...

Dylan Road Trip

We had talked about the Bob Dylan show all summer, eagerly anticipating our journey to Seattle. It wasn't that we didn't already attend some shows all summer, but this was the big one. This was a legend that was in all of our top favorites that neither of us had been to see before. It was also the first show my friend and former host G. had been able to attend with us in the Karma van. I had spirited his wife away a couple of times to see Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and Ringo Starr. We were all thrilled to have G. along and he had a fabulous time, as did we all.

The journey began when we all piled into the Karma van at 5 in the morning following our pre-trip `meeting`. Game plan set, off we roared like a house on fire, well, not quite but we putted through the quiet streets of Victoria in the ripening dawn, heading for the ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles. We dropped the men off at the terminal to walk-on, given Karma only has 4 seat-belts and we didn`t want any snags or fines. We met up on the ferry and we dragged our still sleepy and slugging bodies to the lounge, overcome by occasional cat naps as we sailed across the strait to Washington. The men hopped in the van again with us and we wove through Port Angeles to our usual stop - Safeway for cheap gas and liquor, as well as some food for the weekend. We are always in awe of how cheap beer is - I bought an 18-pack of Coors Light for $13.49...

After putting the beers on ice, we hit the road again and headed for Renton, where Jimi Hendrix is buried, and his family erected a beautiful monument in his memory. This is where we met `Jolly Roger`who was a local who liked to hang out at the memorial. Interesting choice, considering it`s in the middle of a graveyard. The carving is gorgeous, and there are many lovely pieces. Many of them have lipstick kisses where adoring fans have left their mark. We left a note on some leftover art paper, not wanting to deface the monument. We also toasted Jimi with a drink, and as I read the lyrics inscribed, I could almost hear the guitar chords. Thanks Jimi, for the beautiful music you made in the years you walked the earth with us.

We headed into the city of Seattle next and found our hostel after a bit of searching. They don`t have a sign on the building, so we had to look for the address behind the overhung trees. I managed to find parking just around the corner where we could pay up until 6pm and leave the van overnight for free after that. We were short one hostel bed, so I offered to sleep in the van, which was fine with me as I know I can sleep in that bed. The streets were busy that night, but I was able to catch a few winks for sure before the mariachi band started up at the Mexican restaurant across the street, and the gas powered leaf blower buzzed around the dog park next to the restaurant at the bright hour of 8am on a Sunday morning. Then the crackheads started to surface, scuffling by barefoot and filthy, bumming for money, and twitching out of their skin and we hit the road after that.

The show was awesome. We were within a short walk to the festival and after tossing back a few beers at the hostel, we headed out and joined the masses that moved about the busy park. The space needle is right in the middle of the park, and loomed prominently over the festival, showing up in many photos. We hung out in the beer garden before the show began, which oddly enough was not within the main stage area. No drinking in there...WTF...the beer garden was interesting and the corner we chose to squat in for an hour or so came with a drunk passed out on the other side of the fence. Oddly enough I snapped a photo of him directly after snapping one earlier of the `no pass outs`sign in the main stage area. The police were eventually called and the police wagon came with one sorry looking cop who managed to get him roused, but let him stumble all over the place unassisted so the dude fell down a few times on the concrete, and at one point, stumbled over an 18 inch drop from the raised lawn to the sidewalk. Some time later, a white van showed up and two guys jumped out, gloved up and assisted the dude into the van. It wasn`t an ambulance, but appeared to be some kind of social agency. The guy looked pretty clean cut so likely spent too much time in the beer garden that day.

We headed into the masses about an hour before Bob hit the stage and caught some of Neko Case`s opening show. And then Bob was on…and it was magic. He was a little gravely at first but then slipped into his groove. It was a very bluesy show, and Bob changed it up a fair bit, enough that unless you could hear and understand the lyrics (which is not always easy with Bob) it took a bit to recognize the song. I’m sure he has to get tired of playing them the same way after all these years. The crowd was lively, and I saw some ignorant parents with small children in the mosh pit, far too close to the speakers that could so very easily puncture their tiny eardrums…I’m all for sharing Bob with the kiddies, but 20 feet from the stage in a crowded mosh area with drunk and stoned fans is not where I would carry my 7 month old baby…there was a guy right in front of me with his little one in the backpack carrier. She was asleep for a bit of Neko but once Bob Dylan came on, she was screaming. They eventually left the area, wisely. Dumb parents. There was tons of space farther back, and lots of empty seats in the bleachers, so I’m sure they were serving themselves and not the wee one by pushing their way to the front like they did.

We all had a magical time, and rode the show glow back to the Karma van where we had a few more drinks before turning into bed for the night. We had to rise early in order to make the ferry crossing in good time. I decided to head north on the I-5 to the Canadian border and grab the Tsawassen ferry instead of Port Angeles as on Sundays they only have a few crossings, and if we didn’t make the 12:45pm ferry, the next one was at 5:15pm. We had no hassle at the border, dropping the men at the park before the border again, and made it to the 1:00pm ferry with just minutes to spare. The men had a close call with three officers who walked over to them as they were squat on the grass for a brew while we inched toward the gates. They managed to hide their brews, and come up with a plausible explanation as to why they were walking across an obviously primarily vehicular crossing…that they were with friends who didn’t allow smoking in the van so thought they would walk across the border, giving them time to have a few smokes…it worked, we picked them up at the visitor’s plaza and we were off like a Jewish foreskin, bound for home.

Next concert – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers at the Hollywood Bowl on October 1^st.

Saggitarius or Spy?

This was an interesting read today for my horoscope...I don't know if it is coincidence or someone is stalking me and giving out personalized horoscopes...haha...whatever the case, it was one of those things that just makes you go hmmmmmm...

"You're likely aware of your writing abilities, Sagittarius, but you may not realize the extent of your talent. It would be worthwhile to devote more time to your craft. You can't improve much if writing time is interrupted by other obligations. Take some time to produce something of value. Why not give it a try, even if just for a week or so, to see what you can do?"

That's IT!

Two weeks ago, everything I owned fit into my van. Now I have an apartment full of furniture. Granted, I haven't spent a lot of money, but it all came together rather easily and quickly. The next door neighbor moved out and left me her ugly floral sofa and loveseat, and a large television, old style. Great location...she even helped me move it into my living room. So I ditched the ghetto sofa, and left it on the curb for the Salvation Army. I picked up the coffee table a few nights ago for $15. Solid wood, and huge. I love it. I also picked up the dresser/tv stand a few days back too, free, curbside after a tip was phoned in, ha ha. I painted it deep pink, ran out of paint, will finish another day. Now THAT IS IT. I don't want any more furniture. It will start to look like my mother's if I try to squeeze anything else in here.

I am enjoying life outside the van. I no longer have to go to another building to use the bathroom. There is very little traffic on my street, and my bedroom is set way back from the street. One of the things I hated most about the RV parks was the huge pick-up trucks people rumbled through the parks with day and night, and had them idling while they tried painfully to park their beast. The bathroom is much appreciated. Most of the private park bathrooms, particularly in the states were hideously filthy and run down, if they worked at all. The state parks were in better condition, but their campgrounds also did not have power, which I needed, so I stayed mostly in RV parks. I'm finding it much warmer in the apartment though, to sleep. It always cooled off quite nicely in the van, but my apartment holds more heat I reckon. I have the bedroom window open all the time, but can't leave the living room window open - it's ground floor with no fixed screen, just a slider I put in to keep the bugs out.

Aside from the bathroom joys, I am also enjoying cooking in my own kitchen again. I could cook in my friend's kitchens along the way, but to be honest, there's nothing like your own kitchen, your own space, and cleaning things up at your own pace. My new kitchen is so small, I can usually reach everything from one spot, ha ha.

I really enjoy being able to jump in the van and take off at a moment's notice, without having to dread packing up the camper and then later unpacking again when I parked for the night. I do try to walk somewhere every day, but when errands come up that are too far to walk, or involve carrying very heavy things such as furniture, I take Karma out. Sometimes I forget how much she stands out. People talk to me every single time I take Karma out. Today I was stopped in traffic when a couple of guys in a pick-up truck stopped next to me in the turn lane. One guy was half hanging out of the truck window, commenting on the van and informing me he was really drunk...it was 12:30pm. I still get lots of thumbs up, peace signs, honks, remarks, whistles, hoots, you name it. Karma soaks it all up...go Karma

The Writer's Life

So I've been in my apartment for 2 weeks now. Have mostly settled in, just waiting for the neighbor to move out this weekend and leave me her sofa and loveseat. I've rescued some curbside furniture and painted it up. All of the painting is finally done in the apartment, though mr handyman has been here nearly every day since, working in other units, or on the building itself. It hasn't been too distracting, but I do see him pass in front of my window several times a day. Not as much however, as the Brit next door. She paces the walkway and the driveway on the other side of the privacy hedge, smoking and chatting on the phone. My window is usually closed, so I don't hear her, thankfully. I just happen to notice her.

I've been getting some writing down, some research started, a fair bit of reading. I am finding the days fly by though, I wish they'd slow down. I checked into taking a sign language course this winter at the University of Victoria, however I have to take the first course, offered this fall. I can't do that as I'll be on the road for a few weeks, missing several classes. So I'm looking at taking some writing workshops in late fall from somewhere else. They have November dates, so that works for me.

Stormy has settled right in and I had him out for his first walk today. I hadn't taken him out before as I didn't have his harness. I forgot to ask my daughter to pop that in the cage with him. I picked one up this morning and let him get used to it before we went for a short walk. He likes to sniff everything, so it ends up being a lot of standing, not much walking. Almost like visiting a museum with someone who likes to take their time...hard on my back and not real entertaining.

I haven't been feeling up to snuff all week, mostly due to my fibromyalgia...got an achy breaky body...GAWD how I hated that Billy Ray Cyrus song...so I've been doing a lot of restless resting...can't get comfortable, too tired to sit all the time, and too sore to do much walking. I did walk over to my former host house last night for a couple of drinks, and paid for that on the way home. Thankfully it was cooler, so at least I wasn't overheated and sore. Just sore. It's what I love so much about Victoria's weather - cool nights. Always. Thank-you Victoria.

And now, with my writing put away for now, I'm going to sack on the ghetto sofa with Stormy and watch Ellen. She makes me laugh.

Thanks But No Thanks

Okay, I have had 4 visits from neighbors already today. 4 more than I was expecting or desired. First with the drill bits that weren't drill bits and now Anita has come pounding on my door with a blouse she thought I might like. I told her I stopped wearing clothes like that when I quit my government job. But thank-you just the same. She walked away, holding the so-not-my-taste blouse in front of her. I wear t-shirts and tank tops, not frilly-old-lady-office-manager-who-shops-at-Sears. Oh, and the Brit was back again. She's also shouted hello through the window where my desk looks out. I'm going to have to shut this down real quick or I'll be packing soon. I didn't realise that in being friendly with them in passing would quickly develop into "here are some clothes I thought you might like". Personally I think she was trying to get a look in at my apartment, as her neck near stretched off her shoulders while I was talking to her at the door.

I was looking for a quiet refuge to get some writing done. I may have to work at creating that. It might result in the purchase of some kind of window covering. I had wanted to be able to look out the window but that appears to come at a price. The view is so pleasant though, other than the neighbors...it's a beautiful tall green hedge with trees woven in and around it. Sigh...whine, whine, whine.

On a brighter note, I did get some writing done this morning, despite the interruptions and feel pretty good about that, and pleased with how easily it did flow when I got going. I was worried I would be facing some of the same block I had on the road. Nope - I'm off and running...to Walmart right now for something to cover the window...probably a sheet in a bright color that will keep nosy neighbors out but still let some light in.