Showing posts with label Coyotes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coyotes. Show all posts

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Blabbin' in Blythe

Something must be wrong with me...I haven't picked up my camera in almost a week. I actually don't even know where it is right now! I just don't see the point of taking pictures of the same thing day in and day out...but hopefully that will change soon. Each day we get closer to January, which means (for us) Quartzsite. I know there are some people (who have been there before) that won't be there this year, but we have never been and it's been a major to-do since even before we started our journey...so we will be going this year and are pretty stoked about it. So, right now it's a little bit of a waiting game but it's giving time for J' to grind it on the work-front and for me to find all the stones in the world to wrap as jewelry! I'm going to have to go through them soon and maybe weed out some of them...and maybe not, hee hee! I am having a hard time finding a place to put them...we'll see. I also haven't really been doing much lately due to my shoulder dislocating a couple of nights ago. The first time my shoulder went out was probably around 2002, I was making a salad at work...go figure! I went to a doctor and he told me surgery wasn't really a possibility due to the flexibility of my muscles and bones because of swimming. He said my shoulder would just stretch right back out to where it is now in time, so he gave me exercises to do and saved me a ton of money! It goes out a few times a year now and when it does, it's so amazingly painful...it takes my breath away. I'm very thankful to have J' around (most of the times it happens) to be able to put it back in place. This time I was pulling the blinds down on one of the windows...POP! I was stuck in between the bed and the ceiling and couldn't move to a better position, it actually paralyzes me...hurts to move, to breathe, to think. After it gets popped back in, the crying and the pain starts...it's just so freakin' painful. For about 2-3 days I can't really do much with it: can't raise it, lift anything over a lb. with it, sleep on it, and walking Savannah has to be done all left handed so she doesn't yank it out of the socket again. It stays sore and spasms for a few days, it's just a real big pain in the butt. I've been having a hard time sleeping due to my shoulder (and the cold) and the other night I swore I was going crazy! I was in between barely asleep and barely awake, actually having nightmares when I heard this noise and started seeing what I thought were lights. At this point I didn't know if I was in my dream or if something was actually going on around us, so I laid there trying to wake myself up. I thought I was hearing cars racing...? What a weird noise right? I mean we're in the middle of the desert it's about 12:30 in the morning, pitch black, freezing cold outside...who would be out here racing cars at this time of the night!? Just as I was trying to make sense of things I see headlights coming straight toward my window and hear a car motor, could have been a Mustang? Then I see this car whizzing by my window...what the crap!? I raise my blinds and see taillights of not just one car but two more ahead of the one that just whizzed by my window. I looked at my watch, in my mind it was like 3 a.m., it was only 12:38 in real time. Savannah was very interested in the whole thing, she was puffing her cheeks, getting ready for a fight. I cracked my window with the screen on it because I heard voices. I have to say, it's kind of unnerving to be where we are and have cars this close to you and able to hear voices...almost like they are walking toward the van. I haven't been this 'weird' feeling this whole time we've been doing this, but I was actually scared at this point. I couldn't see them due to us having our shades in the front windows (keeping cold out, warmth in) and also being in bed...still trying to wake up 100%. They sounded like they were only about 50 yards in front of the van, they were blaring music, hootin' and hollerin'. I just couldn't wrap my mind around why people would come out here at this time of night and hang out, outside...it's like 30 degrees outside! After J' heard me moving around and Savannah huffing and puffing, we started talking about it and he said it was probably just some high school kids drinking with nothing better to do. This was probably true, I just didn't want them to start messing with us because they were bored. I stayed up and tried to watch out of the window...couldn't see anything but pitch black. I finally heard them turn the music off and doors shutting, then heard what sounded like a Jeep climbing a hill pretty close to us. I opened my blinds back up and there were lights coming up over the hill on the side of us, then the lights were coming straight for the van at a pretty good speed. There's no way these people didn't see us. The "Jeep" turned and drove behind us then came up from behind at probably about 30 mph then swerved around the van, got back on the road and finally left. Jerks. It took me about 2 hours to finally fall back asleep, Savannah just wanted to keep looking out the window as she laid her head on the sill. I have to say that as small as she is, she's a great protector with super good hearing!


Other than that it's been pretty darn quiet around here. I think all in all we've only had 6 buggies pass by the van during the day, the entire time we've been here (2 weeks). We haven't even send a ground squirrel in over a week, nor any Coyotes. The cold doesn't just keep us in the van, it also gets the critters! Where do all of the Coyotes go, we wonder? I mean, they still have to eat, they can't just go to Burger King! Now, that's a funny image...haha


I was just looking to see what my last 'photo session' was of. I had actually hung my camera up outside to take pics of my "skinny" jeans (well they used to be) to send to a friend of mine. A few days ago, I was talking to a girl of mine about weight loss and I had actually come across a picture of me a couple of years ago with these jeans on, they were skin tight on me...looked like they were painted on me they were so tight. That same day (we had this conversation) I noticed I was wearing those same jeans. I now call those jeans my L.I.M.P. jeans = Load in my Pants! I swear they are so big on me now I can take them on and off without unbuttoning or unzipping them! So I did a side to side picture to show her...




[caption id="attachment_2996" align="aligncenter" width="232"] Whoa vs. Whoa[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2997" align="aligncenter" width="225"] L.I.M.P.![/caption]

If you're looking for a new "diet" just join us Vandwellers! It's a little different when you don't have fast food on every corner calling to you because it's easier, an oven to bake your favorite pies and cookies in, or a refrigerator to store all your yummy leftovers in, that mostly never get eaten! If you want to lose those extra few pounds that just won't come off,  just live in your van for a few months...works every time! haha


PEACE


&


Chicken Grease ya'll!


Thursday, December 13, 2012

Visiting the Boogie Monster

This morning was a little unsettling. Savannah and Daddy went out this morning (off leash) while I dressed myself and the bed. They hopped back in to help me make the bed; I was laying in the bed fixing the blankets, Savannah was in the passenger seat and Daddy was in between the bed and the chair and all of a sudden I hear J' say, "Whoa...look!" About 15-20 yards from our back window was a loner coyote. We searched for my camera while keeping an eye on him...where the heck is that thing!? I can never find it when I really want to use it! He hung around the back of the van for a good 7-8 minutes, little by little walking further away. The wheels started turning in J's head like they did mine the other day when I didn't have Savannah on a leash...all of the oh my god's and what if's. Phew, we're not even letting her out of the van without being leashed up first and without either of us at her side. My little pot belly pig is a meal waiting to be had out here!


Actual rain clouds rolled in as well this morning. We haven't seen rain or dark clouds like this in months, it's kind of cool to see something different.




[caption id="attachment_2951" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Moisture![/caption]

We figured if it was going to rain, we might as well run into town and get some things to refresh our stock and we also needed to pick up a multi-meter...always good to have one of those on hand. After picking up a few things at Albertsons and K-mart (no Wal-mart in this town) we did a little discovering on the other side of town. We saw more towers, so we thought we would give them a try...you never know until you try!



We found a spot back on more BLM land but it seemed a little "shady" to us. Oh, we're still camping here but it's pretty close to I-10, the ground is pretty soft (may turn into a big mud pit?) and there are a lot more trees and bushes around here. The one thing I like best about being in the desert is I can see what's ahead of us for miles when I'm walking Savannah. Here I feel like the Boogie Monster and his wild animal friends are going to jump out and attack me at any moment, it's a little creepy and the huge black clouds in the sky are not helping.




[caption id="attachment_2953" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Déjà vu of the Mangroves[/caption]

Almost as soon as we got parked and settled, it started pouring down rain. It was nice to smell the rain again, something we both miss terribly. With the rain came the wind and the cold...the not yet freezing but pretty darn cold! The rain stopped long enough for me to do one last potty walk with Savannah...even creepier at dusk!




[caption id="attachment_2954" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Like a scary movie[/caption]

I think tonight we will all just be cuddling together, not cold enough to get the heater down...yes, Savannah is back in the bed. The whole crate thing lasted like 3 or 4 days total because as soon as we got the grand idea, it started getting "too cold" for her to be down there by herself. I woke up one morning about 2 a.m. and could hear her teeth chattering...she's just a baby! haha Cute lil pig! So far, our internet is pretty good here and we don't know yet if it's our antennae signal or the rain as to why we're having problems getting channels, but there's nothing like snuggling in our fort with the boob tube getting heat from all the dutch-ovens! haha Savannah...that lil' dickens!


Cuddle tight homies!


PEACE


 

 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Standing by...

Being up on this hillside has been really nice. It's pretty private up here so we have been able to take showers without feeling any peeping eyes...but who knows really! It always feels nice to get that full-on shower in though, that most times it doesn't even matter if there were. Yesterday we talked about driving into town (today) due to a phone call I didn't want to miss and our phone signal strength has been in and out roaming. We left the mountain at about 9:30 this morning. As we drove down the trail to the main road we saw some animals, at first I thought they were Burro's because of their color, but as we got closer we saw that they were just little babies. Babies of what, you ask!? Baby Bighorn Sheep...although these were Babyhorn Sheep...haha so freakin' adorable.




[caption id="attachment_2373" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Helloooo Baaabae![/caption]

While we were in the mountains we decided to bungee our trash to the top-side of the van to keep it off the ground in case animals were around. We figured if we didn't drive like crazies, we would be able to drive with the trash still up there...haha It lasted for a couple of miles until we lost one of our towels that was under the solar shower, so we pulled off onto what looked like a trail down into some other BLM land (but a little too treacherous for Joon). While J' went to secure the trash, I saw something across the desert move. I looked up and there was a big ole' Coyote. I thought to myself, if he's that big from way over here, he must be friggin' huge up close!! He turned and watched us the entire time until J' got back in the van and we started driving away. Again I wish I could get a better focused picture zoomed in, but this is what ya get...





[caption id="attachment_2375" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hey big boy[/caption]

So...now we know they are present. Like I said before, when you go so long without seeing any predatory creatures, it's kind of like they aren't around...well there ya go! Down the road we go. We weren't really sure where we were going to go just yet, so we drove through town looking at parking lots, for grocery stores and a good place to park for the day. I just wanted to get my phone call done and out of the way and then the rest of the day would be for play...hooray!!




[caption id="attachment_2376" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Thank you![/caption]

We drove through town and up to the top of this big hill where we saw a bunch of RV's parked in a 'vacant' parking lot...they had a great view.




[caption id="attachment_2377" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Parking lot with a view[/caption]

We pulled into one of the spots to take in the Laughlin scenery from above. The guy we parked next to, Butch, was just stepping out of his 42' footer when we pulled in. We had a pretty long conversation with him about different places him and his wife had been, where they were going, where we've been, etc. He told us that one of the casino's used this lot to park the bigger RV's for $7.00 a day (dry camping).




 We parted ways after a good 45 minute convo. We were going to go check out the parking lots we passed when we drove into town, there were a bunch of RV's in all of the lots. We parked under a tree (for the shade, it's much warmer down here and not as windy) to be able to take my phone call. J' took Savannah on a long walk, while I waited. After waiting and waiting and waiting, I looked down at the phone...I had a voicemail. What? My phone didn't even ring. I tried calling the lady back, no answer, her voicemail was full. I called her 23 times, finally deciding to call another number and another number and another. After being transferred back to the full voicemail 9 different times and being transferred to unhelpful people I can say I was on the edge of losing it...okay I was waaaay over the edge. I had already lost it. All I needed was a confirmation on this one phone call and could go about the rest of my day. I clinched that damn phone like it was a life for the rest of the day with no one ever calling back. J' still tried to make me enjoy my day, he's such a good hubby! We walked around the different casino's, the first one we went into was the Colorado Belle but before you enter into the building you walk on a bridge over a moat. I walked up to the wall to look over and instantly part of my day had been reignited with excitement...KOI FISH!!! Oh.My.Gosh. I LOVE Koi Fish... I mean I have one tattooed on my neck for Criminey Sake's....so excited!



 They even had fish food...now who's smiling? This girl!




[caption id="attachment_2381" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Fish Frenzy[/caption]

 We walked through the casino pretty much just to get through to the Boardwalk/River Walk. It's so smoky in the casino's that if you're not playing, it's kind of hard to just walk around inside, so we headed out! The casino's sit on the Colorado River and even though the river is super low, it's still very cool!



We popped into a Mickey D's for lunch and splurged on the new "Threemendous" CBO sammies they have (Cheddar, Bacon, Onion). I got the chicken and J' got the beef...they are actually pretty darn good especially alongside a couple of apple pies! haha




[caption id="attachment_2383" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Better not be the price![/caption]

Due to the stress of the phone call we went back to the van to find a spot for the night, no sense in going back just to come back down tomorrow morning. We pulled out away from the tree, we needed sun on our panels but as we were getting into the van a guy (looked like he worked there) stopped me and told me allllll about the birds pooping on your car if you park under the trees! haha Thanks dude, very helpful. We moved over to the Pioneer parking lot, it looked like that was where the most RV's were parked.



After finding a good spot with good reception for Fox (which is thee hardest channel to find good signal for, for some reason) we took Nana on a walk around town.




[caption id="attachment_2385" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Big City[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2386" align="aligncenter" width="280"] ♫ I'll take you to the Candy Shop...let you lick the lollipop! ♫[/caption]

This is a fun little place. Hopefully I can get that phone call finished tomorrow, so I can stop thinking about it and get on with the fun stuff already! I'm just glad Savannah's not worried about it...




[caption id="attachment_2387" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hakuna Matata[/caption]

PEACE