USA

Given that the weather back home and surrounding our family and loved ones is ice, snow and freezing, we really appreciate the atmosphere here. Sure, I admit, I did whine about the cold and rain… once. I rescinded immediately once my mom told me it was snowing on her while she worked – yes, outside. And a full sized rainbow end-to-end isn’t something you get to see every day.

We take Charlie to a dog friendly beach called Avila Beach where there is no leash law. It’s a beautiful beach and full of pretty responsible dog owners, so you don’t need to worry about where you step. Gross, but unfortunately a true concern at dog parks. One day while we were here, I learned something new about my Cujo. He is a duck saver. Yup, he saved a duck. Poor little guy was tangled in yards of fishing line, weights, and multiple hooks that were already embedded in his webbed feet and legs. So after getting some tools and gloves, he recruited another guy to help and they performed the life saving surgery to free it. What a good guy. Awwwww.

The office of this park has sleds for the sand dunes, albeit for children. Do I even need to say that we tried it ourselves? Go figure, the lady in the office WAS right – we ARE too big and we ARE too heavy. So picture slow motion sledding, that’s what we did. The pictures somehow look like we could be speeding down the hill, but no. It was thrilling slow mo. Or rather effortful slow mo. This RV park has been a decent place to live for a while, we all (including Charlie) like the dunes, the sunsets and moonrises are beautiful, and for the most part (minus the crazy bitch I got in a fight with) it's quiet. It *should* be decent, rent here for a trailer spot costs more than our mortgage back home, ugh that's the worst part of California - the costs of everything are so outrageous. When we go back home, we feeling like we're stealing at the grocery.

Random beaches in the area - Morro Rock at Morro Bay, and Shell Beach.

Is this business name not ironic to anyone else?

I had no idea that butterflies live for only two weeks up to six months - that just makes them even more amazing and beautiful. There is an area in Pismo Beach where each year, thousands of Monarchs descend and gather for a few months, which causes people to do the same. Those big clumps of darkness are literally butterflies hanging on eucalyptus trees.

We had quite the eventful trip here this time – I’m not sure what was off - the weather was freezing and we were both somewhat ambivalent about coming here again, so maybe we unknowingly sought out roadblocks along the way or maybe we are finally getting less excited about being gypsies. Who knows, maybe neither? Maybe I’m just whining. Most likely that’s it.

This trip the fuckoffs just seemed to pop out in our way over and over – do people really not understand that when you are pulling something, your driving strategy is different? Sincere apologies, but we can’t gun it on an on ramp nor can we go to any pump at the gas station. You see that green pump labeled Diesel that you are sitting in your car in front of, just talking on your cell phone? That is the only damn pump we can actually use. And also, while I’m kvetching, when you are done pumping gas and you want to go inside to shop or pee or get snacks? Move your car! That’s what all the extra parking is for, I promise. We are not parked right behind you just because it’s convenient; we’re waiting for your ass to move.

Our issues were not only external, no no. We made it three hours the first day, and then got stuck in Jackpot, Nevada for the next two days during the chain requirements on the passes in Nevada and California. Getting stuck in Jackpot was not all bad, they do have a RV park, and we did get to see some games and had a couple good meals. One morning we woke up and the main part of the trailer was frozen, literally. One of our televisions died, and a camera. The camera has since come back to life, the television has not. The ceiling was frosted, the mirrors, the windows, the bananas, the water bottles, and last but not least – the slide out! It took ages to get that sucker in so we could take off. 6 below is not the most ideal trailer dwelling weather.

We normally stay at Motel 6 when we travel just because you usually know what you’re going to get – which is not much, but it doesn’t cost much either and they allow dogs. It’s the easiest safe bet most times. We decided to stop in Salinas a few hours out to get a good night’s rest and a shower. Now, this was at 11:30 at night but not super late and the area didn’t look horrible. I think we are pretty naïve, as we didn’t really pay attention to the cones in the parking lot to deter traffic, nor the security guard in the lobby. We also got a parking pass to leave in the window, which was new. As we pulled around back to the trailer parking, a car tailed in with us and came through the open driveway, following us tight. A lady was standing in her doorway just staring at us and talking. To herself. The entire time we backed up and parked. Then another car full of people came through driving slowly staring at us. While Cujo took a load in, a guy from the room upstairs came out to his balcony and watched him walk in. A different woman came from another side and crouched by a bush and tried to peer through it, while yet another car pulled up and parked in front of our room. This guy actually got out of his car and went up and looked through our window. All of this happened within about ten minutes. This wasn’t going to be our good night’s rest. We got our stuff, got back in the truck and got a refund. Crazy crazy crazy shit.

When we got here, we walked in to find a cluster inside as well. Pretty much everything fell apart to some extent. They say that every time you take your trailer down the road, it’s like an earthquake and it’s inevitable that things get weaker and worn – it’s true. We’ve seen this poor fifth wheel age over the past two years. Admittedly, we are not the easiest on it. However, this trip was paramount… things that broke – awning, tv, power outlets, shower door, kitchen table, kitchen drawers, water lines, and we forgot our kitchen chairs, haha! Have you tried to balance on a camp chair at a table? They are definitely built for lounging.

The best part of the trip had to be end, when we just happened to run into Pete and Ari at the Union Hall. Neither of us knew the other would be there. Curtis had gone in to get his dispatch and came back to wake me with the news of breakfast… NOW. Yeah, yeah maybe I was grumpy at first but that passed when I saw Pete and Ari. Poor things had to eat with us and we hadn’t showered in days, ewww. Sorry about that. We tried to stop the night before, I promise. Hehe. We went to one of my favorite places in Pismo, the Splash Café. Did you know you could have a chowder bread bowl at 9AM? I didn’t. It was the only time I’ve been there without a line. And, when you eat clam chowder for breakfast, you don’t get hungry until dinner. Or maybe it’s just that chowder – it’s all butter and cream. So bad but so good.

We are staying at a new place here, one on the sand dunes. These things are awesome. We have them in Idaho but I’ve never been. I just remember thinking they were dangerous and people got hurt or worse while riding motorcycles out there. Anyway, these are pretty similar I’m guessing, but thankfully the motorized area is a little ways down from us. We have been going over there and Charlie just runs and runs in the sand like it’s a big grassy field. On the other side of the dunes is the Pacific. The first day I was warned about a coyote or wolf that was spotted on the dunes, great. I’m not sure how serious the warnings are… there are also raccoon warnings around the RV park. Poor nature just doesn’t have many places to recede to.

What are the odds of this trucker name? Yeah, they are both common names, but also the names of Curtis and his brother. Okay, now I'm thinking this isn't AS cool as I thought it was when I first saw it, oh well.

It's been years, probably closer to a decade, since our house has been decorated for Christmas. Although we didn't go all out Griswald, we did put up a tree and a few bows. I'll admit, it felt much more festive - maybe that's why I never get in the holiday spirit - because you have to create it yourself?

Like every year, the Guidinger Christmas Party was a blast. They are some of the funnest people we know, very generous, very gracious, and their party always promises laughing your ass off.

Christmas dinner for 10 - with 3 present. Can't get better than that. Except for being lazy - playing Wii, reading a book or chilling with the pooch.

All in all, we've had a very relaxing, lazy visit back home. Lots of movies, shoveling and being bums. Wonderful way to cap off a spectacular year.

Here's to New Year's resolutions...
All the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal, or fattening. — Alexander Woollcott

May Tanabe Shiozawa, 87, of Pocatello, peacefully left this earth on Thursday, December 4, 2008. Her husband George was at her side. May was born on May 25, 1921 to Yohei and Tomiko Tanabe in Fort Hall, Idaho. She grew up in the Tyhee and Pocatello areas. She married George Shiozawa on August 11, 1941. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls L.D.S. Temple. Together they farmed in the Tyhee area, where they also raised their three children and were active in their church and community.
May later completed her college degree at Idaho State University and worked for many years as a medical librarian at Pocatello Regional Medical Center. She was active in the Japanese American Citizens League and the Tyhee Literary Guild. She was an avid gardener and expert quilter. She was an excellent cook who thoroughly enjoyed bringing the family together over a good meal. She and George were well known in the community for their sweet corn.
May was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in many callings. She and George served a family history mission in Salt Lake City, Utah.
May was a wonderful mother to Kent, JoEllen, and Brian and a devoted grandmother.
She is survived by George, her husband of 67 years, sons Kent (Nancy) and Brian (Joye), ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, and siblings Tsuneo Tanabe, Sanaye Okamura, and Shige Kuroki. She was preceded in death by her daughter JoEllen and brother Tetsuro Tanabe.
Funeral Services will be held Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. in the Chubbuck L.D.S. Stake Center, Stuart and Hawthorne Road, with Bishop Jay Buttars officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-8 P.M. Sunday evening at the Cornelison ~ Henderson Funeral Home, 431 North 15th Ave. Pocatello, and at the Church from 10- 10:45 A.M. on Monday morning. Burial will be in the Mountain View Cemetery, Pocatello. Online guest book and condolences available at www.cornelisonfh.com.

So long, California! Talk about an ominous view of our venture east into winter… went from explosions of Camp Pendleton to gun shots and sirens of Las Vegas.

Even though we weren’t home, we still got a great turkey dinner, thanks to the Avillar family! Many thanks to them for the sweet invitation and wonderful dinner. Everyone was so nice and Trisha’s dad was such a funny character. They’ve got one of the biggest cats I’ve seen – isn’t it? Curtis and Chico met years ago when he first started traveling, and have kept in touch, great, no?!

Yeah, yeah, I know they are horrible, but we still hit the buffets. After the second day and second buffet, we learned our lesson. Those are horrible places for us frugal ‘get all you can for your money’ types. This night was meat night, if you can’t tell. And this was plate number one.

Serendipitous, yes… that Cujo wore this shirt today.

We decided to do un-stripy things this trip, so we went down to Boulder City (a former mountain biking hill for Cujo) and over to Lake Mead. The lake was great, and the hike was fun – until we ran into this sign, ugh gross!

The view driving back into Las Vegas of the strip, and those new ‘fake’ satellite towers that are supposed to blend in with surroundings. What a great idea! I barely noticed it. What a difference. And all that shiny stuff on the ground and the mountain - it's glass. Everywhere.

Despite the majority of our time out of a casino, we still watched some football and horses a couple days. That was an interesting experience. We had to hear a woman’s lecture about why Oregon’s mascot is the Duck, about how much money she’s given them since 1962, and her standing ovations for scores – even during replays. Another guy told Cujo to fuck off. I also got mistaken for a hooker. Nice. As Kristen would say, “It’s face punching time…”