I wish I would have written sooner.

This year has been THE adventure to say the least.  I started off the year in Florida, quitting my job of 11 years to go "On the road" with my boyfriend, our dog and our new to us RV.  The RV ended up in the shop and we ended up in the Ocala woods.  We had a fabulous gathering this year, and thank goodness for that wonderful experience because we will not be going back this year because there was a forest fire and we feel that the forest needs time to heal.  After Ocala and the RV repairs, we actually left.  And then we broke down again and thought we would never actually leave, but we did.  Stopped in Georgia to visit some friends, stopped in North Carolina to pick up someone else, stopped in Tennessee to pick up another person, broke down in Oklahoma for a week, ran out of gas in Texas, had a nervous breakdown in New Mexico, contemplated stabbing someone in Nevada and finally made it to California.  We stayed in spot for a few weeks with and old friend, but I felt super isolated and we really had nothing to do and had depleted all of our funds.  We took a chance and moved across the state where we ended up staying until December when we had the RV towed again, and that brings us to where we are now.  There were a few weeks in June/July that we went to Montana for the National Rainbow Gathering, and now we are staying in a lovely little cottage with a beautiful view of Knocti and Clear Lake. We have two rooms with two kitchens, two bathrooms, two TV's and it's just about wonderful.  There are six of us here and two dogs and it's fabulous.  I know some people were/are shocked at how I have been living without modern conveniences like heat, running water and in a large communal group, but I think they are just jealous because I get to be free.

Days weren't always great.  There were fights, arguments, complications, waffling, and rude, selfish, demanding people.  The summer was really stupid hot and the winter was miserably cold.  I did miss temperature controlled indoor spaces.  It was a challenge to earn enough money to just provide for our basic needs, but we have been able to provide for ourselves and others.  I tried very hard to ensure the happiness of others, as it seemed as though it was in my job description for the year, but I feel like I have neglected my own happiness in this.  Some people may say something clever here like, "You should really stop and take care of yourself," or, "You didn't really have to do everything for everyone."  However, I have found that I can truly only be happy when the others around me are happy.  I am a sponge.  I have learned that when the people I am around are upset or angry I can't really handle it, in my own head, so I do everything I can to help them and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.  At any rate, this year has been a learning experience.
Some things I have learned...
Everything will work out
Effective communication is the most important thing in the world
To ask for help when I need it
Drunk Mark and sober Heather don't really get along
Don't share a small house with six dogs
I am truly a housie at heart.  I like not having to put on boots and two jackets to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night
My car takes a beating and keeps on ticking... with some repairs of course
Being a flatlander makes it really scary to drive out here
I'm really not a big fan of jam bands
I still don't like Kombucha, coconut water or Chai.
I should have put more things in storage for when we return to Florida
Who my true friends really are
and plenty more, but my back hurts from sitting in this weird position while using the computer so I will add more later.


The time that we have spent in

Chickens...

I know, I know... I haven't said anything in quite some time.

Living on a hill in NorCal is a beautiful thing.  I have a great view, the air is clean, the chickens are clucking, and everyone is friendly here.  We are trying to make a name for ourselves here.  I got my seller's permit in California and I am working on getting the Mendocino County Farmer's Market application approved so I can start vending my wares.  I did sell some stuff to a store in town here, but most want me to come back in summer or fall.  Spring is apparently not a busy time for them.  We are right off the 101, so it's a fairly touristy area from what I understand.

The trip out here was epic.  It took 3 weeks, including a week of being stuck in Oklahoma.  We had our ups and downs, but the day we made it to California was magical.  I remember Roger and I played every California song we had on our ipods as we approached the border.  We were thrilled to finally be there, and less than an hour to our first California destination.

The destination was Grass Valley.  It was really pretty area in the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.  It was nice being there and visiting with an old friend from high school, but we were very isolated and had nothing to do.  We took a one day trip across the state to see a few of Mark's friends and fell in love with the area and the idea of having work and friends nearby, so about a week later we moved.

We now live in a smallish town about an hour inland from Ft. Bragg.  We still haven't made it to the coast yet, but soon.  I want to see some sea-lions dammit!  Regardless, we are happy where we are, the boys are working and I am beginning to vend at the Mendocino County Farmer's markets, as well as selling some of my stuff to shops in town.

The property we live on is 80 acres and has amazing views.  There are 2 dogs, 2 chickens, and a 72 year old, Romanian, retired ship captain, care-taker that live here as well.  The care-taker has re-named Mark to "El Greco" and I think I like that much more than "Overboard", so we're going to try to make it stick.

So anyway, there is work to be done... sorting trash for recycling.  Until next time my friends, Lovin you!

Road Ready?

Not quite...

Hopefully by today our RV will be up and running, rather than sitting in Mark's parent's driveway.  I've had so many people ask me if I was counting down the days, so here goes.  Today I have 4 days left of work, 4 days until we head to council in Ocala National Forest, 10 days until some of my favorite people arrive and 12 days until we roll out to Disney.  Of course, after Disney we head to Ocala Seed Camp and then we pretty much stay in the woods until the end of February.  After that, back to Tampa Bay for a minute to wrap up some things, then we begin our trek west.  I have been dying to say that I am moving back to California ever since I moved away from there in 1996.  Wow... Did you really ever think I would do this?  Of course you did.  Yea yea, I know I am NOT supposed to talk to the reader; I teach my kids that all the time, but this is different, I am not telling a story, I am telling YOU about my life. 

Our RV is a 34' 1988 Pace Arrow.  Yup, she's a beast.  Hopefully today is the day she drives.  I know there will always be improvements we want to make, but seriously, how are we supposed to do a trial run to council when she won't even move out of the driveway?  It's all good, the gas tank is getting cleaned out today and put back on, and that should do it.  Cross your fingers for us.

So much to do, so little time.  I should really be getting all of this paperwork completed, however, one can only do the same thing for so long until ones eyes try to fall out. 


Anyway, I don't know if any of this has really sunk in or not, because I am excited, but it all just seems normal to me. 

The day of days...

Saturday morning we strangely woke up early. We had no more than 4 hours of sleep the last few nights, but we were ready to go. I don't know what happened, but I was sick. I got glutened somewhere, but I just don't know where. After I got it together, we went to Cuyahoga Falls Metroparks to see the Brandywine Falls. This just happens to be the site where my friend works. It was beautiful. My fear of heights was however, getting the best of me.

We also stopped at the ski lift, because how funny is it to see a ski lift in the middle of summer? Yes, this is us pretending to ski. I know, I know... dorks.

After the Parks we went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Downtown Cleveland.

The traveling exhibit was Women Who Rock. We also got to go into Johnny Cash's tour bus. That was pretty cool. They also had Lady Gaga's Raw Meat Dress. That was actually pretty gross. It looked like bloody human flesh. Apparently, it had been taken, immediately after she wore it, to a taxidermist. it was dipped in some chemicals to preserve it.

After the Rock Hall we went to the Cleveland Indians game at Progressive Field. I was excited to see what the gluten free offerings would be. I was able to eat dinner, which was good since we were starving. Here is what I found...

Party time, excellent!!!

This was party night. Stacey and Sean invited a bunch of friends and family over for a mid-summer night's party. This is always a good time including a lot of laughs. We ordered pizza from Tommy's pizza and chicken. This is, by far, my favorite of the gluten free pizza. If you ever make it to Strongsville, Ohio, you don't want to miss this.

Lunch

We arrived in Strongsville about 10am. Of course I laid on the horn as we pulled into the driveway. Sean came out and Stacey said we were rock stars for getting there so quickly. We had pretty good motivation. We hung out for awhile, and took showers and went to lunch. We went to this place called Treehuggers Cafe. They said nearly everything on the menu could be made gluten free and they even make gluten free bread in house. I ordered this crazy grilled cheese thing. It had onions, avocado, buffalo mozzarella and a few other veggies.

I really wanted these Sweet Potato fries, but they are fried in the same oil as something else, so instead I treated myself to a gluten free cranberry, chocolate chip cookie. :)

Atlanta

On Thursday, July 28, 2011, I left on my next greatest adventure. Jen and I stopped for random touristy things like, pecans in Georgia, and Florida randomness. We got stuck in a traffic jam outside Macon, GA due to an accident, however, we were greatly amused by this lovely car...

Best part is that I am pretty sure that is a stolen music stand from USF. This woman was stuffed into her car among her stuff which was piled to the ceiling. She did have a trampoline in there because that it what everyone needs. :P

We finally made it to Atlanta where we met Allison at Buckhead Pizza at the Galleria. Food wasn't bad, but wasn't the best gluten free pizza I have had. All I cared about was seeing Allison. It had only been 16 years. She looks exactly as she did in high school. I think she is going to visit Florida soon.

After dinner we hit the road again. We drove through Tennessee, Kentucky and then finally Ohio making it to Strongsville by about 10:00 AM.

To be continued...

I thought I was going to escape the heat!

It turns out that the north is having a heat wave. Goodie. It's as hot there as it is here. Oh well, at least I am going on vacation.

I am putting together the final details of the trip. We are stopping in Atlanta to have dinner with a friend. We will be visiting Buckhead Pizza to taste their gluten free pizza. We shall see how it stands up to the others I have tried. Once in Cleveland I am sure I will get some Tommy's Pizza, as I usually do when I visit up there. I think it was one of the very first gluten free pizzas I tried. It's literally right down the road from my friends house. I've also just learned that there are some gluten free options at Progressive Field where the Cleveland Indians play. I will surely be checking this out, as we are going to a game Saturday night after spending the day at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Apparently it's near section 164. Oh I will find it.

That's about all I have for now, my real concern is how I am going to manage to stick to Weight Watchers while on this trip.

Fun Stuff

This weekend I have had a visitor... the four legged kind. Jack. He belongs to my brother. He is such a love. He has been all snuggly and sweet. We have gone on walks and I have brushed him... a lot. He really likes it. It's really funny to listen to him walk around on my laminate floor. He sounds like he is tap dancing. He does slobber much more than I am used to. He's a good boy. He has definitely kept me company. Jay comes back to get him tomorrow at some time, and then I get to have my rescue dog from Dunedin Doggie Rescue, for 5 days. I am still trying to think of a name.

What do you think? So far I have Sasha, Lucy, LuLu, Sweetpea, Talula, and Sandy. Anyone have any ideas? I still don't know if I get her furrever or not.

On Friday I went to do some paint your own pottery at Art from the Heart Cafe in Dunedin. I have never done this before, but it was super fun. I made the coolest thing ever, but I can't show you what it is until Friday, so stay tuned. It's super cool, you won't want to miss it.

Tomorrow I am going (very early in the morning) to see Harry Potter. It's the last one. :( So sad, I have totally loved this series. I will give my review soon.

THE TRIP... I know that's what you're waiting for. We are going to do a sunset river cruise in Chicago, and a ghost tour, and in Memphis we are going to tour Sun Studios. Those are the only updates as of right now. Still waiting on suggestions. :)