Here we go, the bust out is in progress. Up early the goal is to get to Bismarck. Of course this being North Dakota the roads may be a problem. Hopefully we can make it to the airport. Road information is not coming across the radio from NPR so we are looking at the maps on the internet. The information is sketchy, but will have to do. Getting stuck is not a good option.
As always there are dozens of little task, like shut off the water, the water heater and so on. The real trick is not to forget something vital. Wait the guy on the radio is talking. Maybe he will say something about the roads. He is giving the weather, how about the roads. Nothing, he said nothing about the roads. Mrs. Kadizzle is still in her PJ's. Getting Mrs. Kadizzle to actually blast off is a big job. Each little detail has to be dwelt upon. The house must be sparkling clean when we leave. The garbage disposal has to be sanitary, the window blinds just right. The obsession goes on. The garbage can has to face the right direction. Now, Mrs Kadizzle is inspecting my luggage. The TSA right here in my kitchen. Now she is going to repack my grab bag. This is how things get messed up. Kadizzle puts something in his luggage and Mrs Kadizzle takes it out.
So keep up to date, see if the next epistle comes from AZ, or will we be stuck in the winter wonderland?
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Friday, December 30, 2016
Stillness at the Crazy Club.
As the sun shines in the windows of the crazy club Shinny tells Mr. and Mrs. Kadizzle about the slow shopping season in Hazen. Snow has plugged up the town and the dollars cannot get out to be sewn into the economy. So the crazy club has been still. Stoupini is in Port Townsend, and even the gossip has come to a halt. Shinny said the Christmas cookies needed to be eaten so Kadizzle plowed into them. The Crazy Club may shut down for January. Crazy people will be roaming the streets with no where to go. Wait, that has always been the case.
Cliff is out hiking today with the new boss in AZ. Little Mike has been worn down and is taking a break. Mrs Kadizzle will kick some ass and the loppers will be in the hands of the choppers next week.
Will it flood in Hazen this spring? With the huge piles of snow everywhere the chances of water problems seem good. If the perfect disaster comes look out. If the ground is frozen, full of moisture, and it warms up too quickly rivers will run. If Montana sends a good load the lake will come up and the good ship will be able to get into the back bays.
Cliff is out hiking today with the new boss in AZ. Little Mike has been worn down and is taking a break. Mrs Kadizzle will kick some ass and the loppers will be in the hands of the choppers next week.
Will it flood in Hazen this spring? With the huge piles of snow everywhere the chances of water problems seem good. If the perfect disaster comes look out. If the ground is frozen, full of moisture, and it warms up too quickly rivers will run. If Montana sends a good load the lake will come up and the good ship will be able to get into the back bays.
Trusting experience
Has this happened to you? Someone tells you to do something that seems wrong, dangerous, or just not right, and what do you do? Kadizzle remembers one of these experiences with Kee Chee. Kee Chee was an old Indian in Canyon De Chelly. Strangely Kadizzle met the niece of Kee Chee about two months ago some 20 years after Kadizzle went up the canyon with Kee Chee.
Kee Chee was an Indian guide. You cannot go into the canyon unless you hire a guide. Kee Chee told Kadizzle to drive into the river. This was a bit strange, but Kadizzle thought we would cross the river in the Toyota Tundra. No, Kee Chee told Kadizzle to turn and drive up the river. This seemed wrong. Kadizzle inquired with Kee Chee if indeed he heard him correctly. Chee explained that the bottom of the river was perfectly flat and all sand. It appeared to be that way. So in about two inches of water we drove up the river with no problems. Must have been an old Indian trick. Kee Chee said you could not drive up the river if it was dry you would sink in the sand. Everyone has seen this phenomenon at the beach.
So what is the point? Well sometimes in life you have to just trust someone. Of course many times this may go wrong. How do you decide who to trust? It is strange that often we trust people we do not know more than someone we have known a long time. When you get on a plane you trust the pilot, who may have just come from a bar, but you trust him. Doctors are the most dangerous people in general to trust.
Once upon a time Kadizzle was a student in college in West Virginia. Two dolts paid by the college led out outdoor recreation class. The dolts took us on a trip to Cooper's Rocks to repel the 900 ft rock face. Now the two dolts had talked a good game, and Kadizzle assumed the dolts had some actual repelling experience. At the top of the repel Kadizzle was a bit concerned about the tree the dolts were using for an anchor, but figured the dolts must know what they are doing. One of the dolts was a pretty fat guy. Kadizzle asked the fat guy leader if he was going to go down the repel line next. This is when the fat guy who was telling everyone how to do it replied, " No, I have never done this before". The dolts had just read about repelling, and only knew what was in the book. The fat dolt said he was scared just standing there. Kadizzle went down the rock face, and the dolt teaching the class climbed back down the trail. So the moral of the story is the old line about don't assume anything.
Kee Chee was an Indian guide. You cannot go into the canyon unless you hire a guide. Kee Chee told Kadizzle to drive into the river. This was a bit strange, but Kadizzle thought we would cross the river in the Toyota Tundra. No, Kee Chee told Kadizzle to turn and drive up the river. This seemed wrong. Kadizzle inquired with Kee Chee if indeed he heard him correctly. Chee explained that the bottom of the river was perfectly flat and all sand. It appeared to be that way. So in about two inches of water we drove up the river with no problems. Must have been an old Indian trick. Kee Chee said you could not drive up the river if it was dry you would sink in the sand. Everyone has seen this phenomenon at the beach.
So what is the point? Well sometimes in life you have to just trust someone. Of course many times this may go wrong. How do you decide who to trust? It is strange that often we trust people we do not know more than someone we have known a long time. When you get on a plane you trust the pilot, who may have just come from a bar, but you trust him. Doctors are the most dangerous people in general to trust.
Once upon a time Kadizzle was a student in college in West Virginia. Two dolts paid by the college led out outdoor recreation class. The dolts took us on a trip to Cooper's Rocks to repel the 900 ft rock face. Now the two dolts had talked a good game, and Kadizzle assumed the dolts had some actual repelling experience. At the top of the repel Kadizzle was a bit concerned about the tree the dolts were using for an anchor, but figured the dolts must know what they are doing. One of the dolts was a pretty fat guy. Kadizzle asked the fat guy leader if he was going to go down the repel line next. This is when the fat guy who was telling everyone how to do it replied, " No, I have never done this before". The dolts had just read about repelling, and only knew what was in the book. The fat dolt said he was scared just standing there. Kadizzle went down the rock face, and the dolt teaching the class climbed back down the trail. So the moral of the story is the old line about don't assume anything.
Every six months
The doctoring is done and the news is good. Old Kadizzle will continue on the planet. The good news is the PSA is at zero, which means either the prostate cancer is gone or it cannot find a new home. In a body this size it should be able to find a new home, of course it may not want to live in a fat neighborhood.
Saturday morning the laws of physics will lift us into the air and we will head to Arizona. Just imagining the door of the plane opening into 55 degree weather is a comforting thought. Once back at the Earth Module there will be no more television, good sound system, or snow. Long hot showers will be a thing left in Hazen. The humming birds will no doubt be glad to see us and we will be able to hear the coyotes under the window.
Saturday morning the laws of physics will lift us into the air and we will head to Arizona. Just imagining the door of the plane opening into 55 degree weather is a comforting thought. Once back at the Earth Module there will be no more television, good sound system, or snow. Long hot showers will be a thing left in Hazen. The humming birds will no doubt be glad to see us and we will be able to hear the coyotes under the window.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Coal Mining Blues
Coal Mining Blues. Kadizzle started his career way back when Kentucky didn't have any union men. Not really, but it seems that long ago when Kadizzle used to get up from bed at night, and get ready for the midnight shift. Way up the little valley in the hills past Benwood Kadizzle would head to the mine. The mine was just a change house, some small offices, and mainly a shaft. As mines progress new shafts are put down to get people to work. Otherwise you would spend a lot of time riding underground just to get to where you will remove the coal. Kadizzle can remember so well sitting in the cool evening air waiting to hop on the elevator and go down to the mine. All the miners sat around dressed in filthy cloths with their headlamps on. Coal mines run on time. If you are not at the bottom of that shaft when the man trip comes you don't get another chance. Just go home unpaid. Kadizzle was always amazed by the elevators that took miners down to the depths. The amazing thing is they are identical to elevators in a big office building. The inside of the elevator is a nice stainless steel finish and the button panel is just the same. Only one problem, you do not get to select the floor you will get off on. There is only one button, and that takes you to the basement. In the basement it is a whole different world. The mantrip is there to take you back into the mine where the coal is cut. Eight hours later you emerge, go up the elevator, and try to wash the coal dust off. It never works. Your body is permeated with coal dust. In the shower room you scrub, and scrub, but when you go to the bar people know you are a coal miner by the raccoon eyes you have from the coal dust under your eyelids.
Festivus
Today is scheduled for the great Festivus celebration. Festivus will require a lot of work. Snow is piled everywhere. Just getting down to the creek will be a lot of shoveling. More firewood needs to be gathered, but if all goes well the celebration will go forward.
Ticklepinch is stuck out in the country with her mom, and dad, so who knows it may just be the old Grandparents. The deck has snowed in again and the big question is can the garbage truck make it down the street.
This is the first year in twenty years the Kadizzles put up a real Christmas tree. Taking it down should be relatively simple. Perhaps Kadizzle can convince the boss to toss it in the Festivus fire today.
Before long we will head back to the warm life in Arizona. No more endless hot showers and a few other amenities will be missed, but warm sunlight is a fair trade. No television in the wild. That is a good thing. Sleeping with the windows open, a good thing. No noise, the silence of the desert.
Ticklepinch is stuck out in the country with her mom, and dad, so who knows it may just be the old Grandparents. The deck has snowed in again and the big question is can the garbage truck make it down the street.
This is the first year in twenty years the Kadizzles put up a real Christmas tree. Taking it down should be relatively simple. Perhaps Kadizzle can convince the boss to toss it in the Festivus fire today.
Before long we will head back to the warm life in Arizona. No more endless hot showers and a few other amenities will be missed, but warm sunlight is a fair trade. No television in the wild. That is a good thing. Sleeping with the windows open, a good thing. No noise, the silence of the desert.
Monday, December 26, 2016
Waves of snow
Well boys and girls we are awake in North Dakota. Ah, yes, a blizzard. So look out the window. Mate is going nuts worrying about one blizzard thing and another. Her favorite is worrying about the vent for the furnace plugging. Next she just transferred that thinking to the dryer vent. The front door is just about the same height as the drift in front of it. The back porch Kadizzle just cleaned a few days ago is back to it't original condition.
Inside coffee is brewing, and NPR is blasting on the radio. Festivus is scheduled for Tomorrow and the dig out will take a massive effort. The wood pile is not high enough and more wood will be needed.
There will be nothing like the year we are about to enter. A crazy man has been elected president. Trump is so unpredictable it is hopeless to figure what he will fix or mess up. It is like going to the monkey cage at the zoo. Of course the old Trumpster has put his other favorite monkeys in the cage with him. Giving an insane, egotistical, delusional, man control of nuclear weapons, the economy, and congress is going to be a sled ride we will not forget. Most of us have tried controlling a drunk, now we will have a man drunk on power. If we are lucky he will play golf and let lesser idiots try to manage the government.
Sometimes good things can accidentally happen. What if an old abandoned building burns down in the middle of town. If a new building or park takes it's place the tragedy was not so bad. Trump could have the effect of educating people. Sometimes a car wreck inspires people to drive safely. Right away we will see the brakes come off as the Republicans try to destroy years of social progress as fast as they can. The current plan calls for throwing as many people into poverty as possible. Tax breaks for the rich in and of themselves can accomplish this, but old Trump will include the destruction of social security and medicare. The poor white trash that voted for the Donald will have fun once the food stamps evaporate. Starving granny by taking away her social security will be fun to watch. The military gang will be provided with so much money and so many new toys their heads will spin with joy. Christmas will be every day at the Pentagon. We are only days away from the beginning of the Apocalypse. But then again, maybe the trainers can restrain the monkey. Maybe some Republicans will see the disaster Trump will try to bring on and stop it. Maybe it will just take a little longer for the Republican party to implode than people think. It will be a good show, and we will all have a front row seat.
Inside coffee is brewing, and NPR is blasting on the radio. Festivus is scheduled for Tomorrow and the dig out will take a massive effort. The wood pile is not high enough and more wood will be needed.
There will be nothing like the year we are about to enter. A crazy man has been elected president. Trump is so unpredictable it is hopeless to figure what he will fix or mess up. It is like going to the monkey cage at the zoo. Of course the old Trumpster has put his other favorite monkeys in the cage with him. Giving an insane, egotistical, delusional, man control of nuclear weapons, the economy, and congress is going to be a sled ride we will not forget. Most of us have tried controlling a drunk, now we will have a man drunk on power. If we are lucky he will play golf and let lesser idiots try to manage the government.
Sometimes good things can accidentally happen. What if an old abandoned building burns down in the middle of town. If a new building or park takes it's place the tragedy was not so bad. Trump could have the effect of educating people. Sometimes a car wreck inspires people to drive safely. Right away we will see the brakes come off as the Republicans try to destroy years of social progress as fast as they can. The current plan calls for throwing as many people into poverty as possible. Tax breaks for the rich in and of themselves can accomplish this, but old Trump will include the destruction of social security and medicare. The poor white trash that voted for the Donald will have fun once the food stamps evaporate. Starving granny by taking away her social security will be fun to watch. The military gang will be provided with so much money and so many new toys their heads will spin with joy. Christmas will be every day at the Pentagon. We are only days away from the beginning of the Apocalypse. But then again, maybe the trainers can restrain the monkey. Maybe some Republicans will see the disaster Trump will try to bring on and stop it. Maybe it will just take a little longer for the Republican party to implode than people think. It will be a good show, and we will all have a front row seat.
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Mazatal Wilderness
Ticklepinch
Ticklepinch spent the night at the other Grandpa's so old Kadizzle awoke to a calm home. Yesterday the little neutron ate a couple Christmas cookies and it was game on. Kadizzle had to chase, tickle, and rumble with Sylvie for hours. Then the time finally came to open the presents. The little princess was delighted with what she got, but she has no idea the surprise she is in for when she gets home. For months Sylvie has been begging for a set of gymnastic bars. So parents and grandparents with weak willpower submitted and the gym set is in the basement back home. If it wears the energy bug down it will be worth the insane price. The energy bug inherited a few things from Granny. The nuclear power is one of the genetic gifts from granny. Sylvie has endless energy and strength. Hiking up in the mountains is no problem for this kid. Also the girl inherited her grannies fascination for the weather. So grandma got her a little weather station that will constantly tell her the temperature outside.
Old Kadizzle was not as fortunate as the young Sylvie. A family with nine children has limited resources, but God must have had a heart. Kadizzle had an Aunt Agnes that worked with her husband at a famous toy factory. Does it get any better than having an aunt and uncle that work at a toy factory. One thing that would happen before Christmas was a trip to Aunt Agnes basement. There one would see a marvelous display of toys. Somehow Agnes keyed in on what opened your eyes the widest. Magically those toys would appear under the tree Christmas morning.
As Hazen experiences a blizzard it will be hard to motivate Kadizzle to go out on the creek and gather more firewood for Festivus, but only time will tell if he becomes brave enough to go out today.
Old Kadizzle was not as fortunate as the young Sylvie. A family with nine children has limited resources, but God must have had a heart. Kadizzle had an Aunt Agnes that worked with her husband at a famous toy factory. Does it get any better than having an aunt and uncle that work at a toy factory. One thing that would happen before Christmas was a trip to Aunt Agnes basement. There one would see a marvelous display of toys. Somehow Agnes keyed in on what opened your eyes the widest. Magically those toys would appear under the tree Christmas morning.
As Hazen experiences a blizzard it will be hard to motivate Kadizzle to go out on the creek and gather more firewood for Festivus, but only time will tell if he becomes brave enough to go out today.
Saturday, December 24, 2016
New Hat under developement
The hats are expected to sell well to the right wing crowd. A lot of crazy ideas are floating around in the heads of the Trump crowd. The trick is to keep them in. Also many Trump supporters fear information may penetrate their skulls which makes them feel like they made a big mistake. The hat will keep that information out.
Now that Trump is considering starting a nuclear arms race the hat should protect wearers from the radiation that is sure to flourish.
Friday, December 23, 2016
Eloise.
Grandpa and Ticklepinch are having a great time watching Eloise. Eloise reminds Grandpa so much of Sylvie. So here we sit in Hazen enjoying the freezing 4 degrees. Fran cooked up a wonderful meal for everyone at the Bodine country home. Bodines are slowly pouring in. It is not unusual for 24 people ot be staying in their home for Christmas. Of course they have the mother of all dinners. It takes a couple of big tables end to end to seat everyone, and massive amounts of food is cooked and consumed. We ran into Peggy at the grocery store with a cart overflowing with food.
Peggy is Fran's mom, and one of Kadizzle's heroes. Peggy is a staunch Catholic, but she would correct the Pope if she thought he was wrong. On several occasions Peggy has corrected the priest in her church after a sermon. Peggy plays the piano in church, so she is in the ideal position to spread the gospel according to Peggy. Before the election the priest had the audacity to promote Trump for president. After finishing her song on the piano Peggy got up and gave the Democratic view to the congregation. This is not the first time Peggy has pointed out that God is not a Republican too the congregation.
Well got to go now, Eloise is locked in a locker in the basement and the marraige she is trying to stop looks like it is going forward. The tension is building.
Peggy is Fran's mom, and one of Kadizzle's heroes. Peggy is a staunch Catholic, but she would correct the Pope if she thought he was wrong. On several occasions Peggy has corrected the priest in her church after a sermon. Peggy plays the piano in church, so she is in the ideal position to spread the gospel according to Peggy. Before the election the priest had the audacity to promote Trump for president. After finishing her song on the piano Peggy got up and gave the Democratic view to the congregation. This is not the first time Peggy has pointed out that God is not a Republican too the congregation.
Well got to go now, Eloise is locked in a locker in the basement and the marraige she is trying to stop looks like it is going forward. The tension is building.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Undetectable.
Undetectable, ah what a good word. The PSA check today said there were no detectable antigens. Now, that is good news for Kadizzle, and perhaps a curse for the rest of the world. Once you get the dreaded cancer you live in six month increments. The nasty little cancer cells may be roaming your body looking for a new home. Discrimination is good in this case. Most neighborhoods will not welcome the cancer cells, however the little devils are clever. Once they realize they are getting no where, then they may decide that a disguise is needed. This is called mutation. So all it takes is one cell getting smart and the game is on again. So far so good. We all have to die from something, and Kadizzle would prefer something besides cancer. Kadizzle has always wished to die from acute prosperity. Unless lightening strikes that will be unlikely, and anyway we don't really lack for anything.
So here we sit in the arctic shoveling snow for entertainment. The little Ticklepinch is back for Christmas and should show up within the hour. The young gymnast is out at the other grandpas right now. Sylvie has been pleading for an expensive gymnastics bar to work out in her basement. Between the grandparents and the regular parents it looks like it will happen. Sylvie is so full of energy it should be a great investment. As is it seems impossible for her to stay upright. Constantly she is doing a cartwheel or a handstand. If the gift manages to drain her down to a reasonable energy level it may be a good investment. Granny is the one that put the energy gene into little Ticklepinch. Granny must be hiking, biking, or doings some physical activity every moment of the day. Grandpa on the other hand has perfected idleness.
Hopefully grandpa will get enough gumption to start preparing for Festivus. It appears there is a lot of snow on the creek and a lot of shoveling will be required. Then there is the wood to gather. Over the past years we have burnt the easy stuff, so wood may have to be dragged a long way. Well maybe tomorrow will bring enough good weather to make a go of it.
So here we sit in the arctic shoveling snow for entertainment. The little Ticklepinch is back for Christmas and should show up within the hour. The young gymnast is out at the other grandpas right now. Sylvie has been pleading for an expensive gymnastics bar to work out in her basement. Between the grandparents and the regular parents it looks like it will happen. Sylvie is so full of energy it should be a great investment. As is it seems impossible for her to stay upright. Constantly she is doing a cartwheel or a handstand. If the gift manages to drain her down to a reasonable energy level it may be a good investment. Granny is the one that put the energy gene into little Ticklepinch. Granny must be hiking, biking, or doings some physical activity every moment of the day. Grandpa on the other hand has perfected idleness.
Hopefully grandpa will get enough gumption to start preparing for Festivus. It appears there is a lot of snow on the creek and a lot of shoveling will be required. Then there is the wood to gather. Over the past years we have burnt the easy stuff, so wood may have to be dragged a long way. Well maybe tomorrow will bring enough good weather to make a go of it.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Johnny, a remarkable man
Up the street so to speak lives Johnny. By up the street Kadizzle means two camp sites to the East. Johnny lumbered in about a month ago in his old motor home that looks like it has fought many battles. Johnny is 87 and has probably shrunk by several inches. Johnny doesn't have a mean bone in his body, and to top it off he is a good liberal. Johnny comes down from Alaska in his motor home to spend the winter at Lake Roosevelt. There is something unique about Johnny and that is why the Forest Service values Johnny. Johnny was there when the 40 million dollars was spent to build the place. Johnny knows where every wire and sewer line runs, and he remembers. Johnny is a portable set of blue prints. So the employees can put Johnny in the truck and drive anywhere with confidence they can dig down and hit a pipe where Johnny says it is.
On just about any day Johnny will drive by ten times suffering from boredom. Johnny has a little white poodle or whatever it is named Bessie. Bessie rides beside Johnny with her paws on the dashboard or her head out the window. Bessie knows English as a second language. In the summer Johnny loves to fish for salmon, which he brings down for everyone. We had a great salmon dinner courtesy of Johnny.
What set Kadizzle on this train of thought was how much Johnny contributes. At 87 you cannot swing an axe or dig with a shovel, but the other day Kadizzle went into the shop and there was Johnny. Johnny was straightening up, and sorting bolts. How many people do you know 87 that are volunteers and get their ass out of bed and go work for the greater good. Johnny is the only one Kadizzle knows. May my old girlfriend who is 93 has a lot of spark. She is in the nursing home, and having a good time harassing everyone while no doubt she is cackling up a storm. Kadizzle does not plan to live so long, but if he does maybe he can have the energy of Johnny, or May.
On just about any day Johnny will drive by ten times suffering from boredom. Johnny has a little white poodle or whatever it is named Bessie. Bessie rides beside Johnny with her paws on the dashboard or her head out the window. Bessie knows English as a second language. In the summer Johnny loves to fish for salmon, which he brings down for everyone. We had a great salmon dinner courtesy of Johnny.
What set Kadizzle on this train of thought was how much Johnny contributes. At 87 you cannot swing an axe or dig with a shovel, but the other day Kadizzle went into the shop and there was Johnny. Johnny was straightening up, and sorting bolts. How many people do you know 87 that are volunteers and get their ass out of bed and go work for the greater good. Johnny is the only one Kadizzle knows. May my old girlfriend who is 93 has a lot of spark. She is in the nursing home, and having a good time harassing everyone while no doubt she is cackling up a storm. Kadizzle does not plan to live so long, but if he does maybe he can have the energy of Johnny, or May.
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Polar Bears looking in the window
Back in the arctic it seems like any minute a polar bear might peer in the window. Walking out to board the tiny cigar tube in Denver that brought us to Bismarck we had our first taste of the white powder. Of course in Bismarck the roads were terrible and snow was blowing. No in a mood to have a crash Kadizzle drove like what he is, and old man.
The house in Hazen just does not want to warm up. After huffing and puffing the furnace struggled to get the house up to 63 degrees. No more walking out the door at night in underwear to water the flowers. No more roasting in the sun reading The New Yorker. Humming birds will not be coming to the feeder at the window.
Now our task will be to buy unnecessary crap for Christmas and prepare for Festivus on the creek. Of course as we sit here having coffee the assistant is still going through tons of mail that came while we were gone. A few nice surprises like checks out of nowhere, and of course all kinds of nickle and dime bills. By Thursday the little Ticklepinch will be here jumping around like a wild Mexican jumping bean.
Mate has been obsessed with buying a home in Payson, Arizona. Being at the only home we do have Kadizzle realizes what a big yard we have after seeing houses placed on postage stamps in Arizona. Space around a home is nice. Our view back in Arizona is unbeatable. We look out over the lake and mountains, and if one was a little inventive you could see the cliff dwellings behind us. Now we see a white sheet of snow in every direction. In about an hour Kadizzle will have his first taste of the winter blast.
The house in Hazen just does not want to warm up. After huffing and puffing the furnace struggled to get the house up to 63 degrees. No more walking out the door at night in underwear to water the flowers. No more roasting in the sun reading The New Yorker. Humming birds will not be coming to the feeder at the window.
Now our task will be to buy unnecessary crap for Christmas and prepare for Festivus on the creek. Of course as we sit here having coffee the assistant is still going through tons of mail that came while we were gone. A few nice surprises like checks out of nowhere, and of course all kinds of nickle and dime bills. By Thursday the little Ticklepinch will be here jumping around like a wild Mexican jumping bean.
Mate has been obsessed with buying a home in Payson, Arizona. Being at the only home we do have Kadizzle realizes what a big yard we have after seeing houses placed on postage stamps in Arizona. Space around a home is nice. Our view back in Arizona is unbeatable. We look out over the lake and mountains, and if one was a little inventive you could see the cliff dwellings behind us. Now we see a white sheet of snow in every direction. In about an hour Kadizzle will have his first taste of the winter blast.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
What could possibly go Wrong? A Trump voter finds out.
The window was open all night and it went down to a terrible 39 degrees. Sleeping in cold air is great. Tomorrow we can sleep at the insane temperatures in North Dakota if we please. Mate is in the midst of purchasing a gift for the holiday season.
Now a thought has trickled into the brain of Kadizzle. What happens when you set out to do something and get a result you never dreamed of? Today we are all awake in a country that elected Donald Trump. This video will make you pee your pants laughing, but it illustrates so well what Trump voters have done. Things go terribly wrong for a Trump voter
Now a thought has trickled into the brain of Kadizzle. What happens when you set out to do something and get a result you never dreamed of? Today we are all awake in a country that elected Donald Trump. This video will make you pee your pants laughing, but it illustrates so well what Trump voters have done. Things go terribly wrong for a Trump voter
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Just an Update
Wind rarely blows here, but it is currently going nuts. The salvation is the temperature is in the fifties. The Forest Service Christmas party was yesterday, a lot of good food, and the big boss was following his tradition of playing Christmas carols on the violin. Also the strange gift exchange took place. Each person picks a gift from under the tree, one person at a time. The exchange system allows anyone to steal the gift from the person. A gift can be stolen three times, then it is out of play. If someone steals your gift, you take theirs, and on it goes. The Kadizzles got a very nice gift, but it was stolen, and we ended up with maple syrup. The process is complicated, but you get the idea. What a tradition stealing at Christmas time.
The Christmas party is a chance to meet all the people who work for the Forest Service in the Tonto Basin. People range from fire fighters to volunteers. People from every background are involved. We even have a Canadian volunteer.
On Monday the Kadizzles will return to the frozen north. It will be shocking to say the least. Natives of this area have no clue what real cold is. The rain and perhaps some snow on the mountains may get the streams running. One of the great sights here is running water falls, etc.
Mate and Cliff will go to Globe. Mate wants to buy some gifts from the Pickle Barrel. Yesterday Cliff came over and we had a dominoes tournament. Cliff turned out to be the champ. We need to revive the Mexican Train domino game that is traditional among RV people. `
The Christmas party is a chance to meet all the people who work for the Forest Service in the Tonto Basin. People range from fire fighters to volunteers. People from every background are involved. We even have a Canadian volunteer.
On Monday the Kadizzles will return to the frozen north. It will be shocking to say the least. Natives of this area have no clue what real cold is. The rain and perhaps some snow on the mountains may get the streams running. One of the great sights here is running water falls, etc.
Mate and Cliff will go to Globe. Mate wants to buy some gifts from the Pickle Barrel. Yesterday Cliff came over and we had a dominoes tournament. Cliff turned out to be the champ. We need to revive the Mexican Train domino game that is traditional among RV people. `
Friday, December 16, 2016
A few things I believe
Deep in the Mazatal Mountains
When we got to the trail head after a long scenic ride we found where someone cached water for the Arizona trail. Back in this wilderness you quickly realize how brave and determined hikers on the Arizona trail are. The people that hike that trail are by themselves miles and impossible miles from any kind of help. You cannot even land a helicopter in there. At the trail head a flyer was posted about a man that disappeared in 2010. The man's car was found, but the man has never been found. The flyer asked people to look for any remains of the man or his equipment.
Cliff and Kadizzle undertook the task of clearing some logs from the trail. The first log was easy. The second log required every kind of inventiveness we could muster. Using only natural materials to make a lever, rocks and fallen trees were used to move the large tree that was over one hundred feet long. After about an hour and a half we finally moved the tree from the trail.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
One more time
Five A.M. once more. One of the first things done in the Earth Module is the heat puff. The Earth Module crew sleeps with the windows open, so the Earth Module is about 45 degrees when the crew awakes. Heat from the furnace, the stove making coffee, and the electric heater all contribute to the heat pufff. The Heat puff quickly gets the little Earth module up to 55 or 60. Next Mate has to get the sandwiches made while Kadizzle get's his second update and gradually reaches an acceptable level of consciousnesses.
The Trail crew had dinner together last night. Originally the plan was to have pizza, but the damn pizza place was closed so we had to go to the Butcher Hook to eat. Cliff and Little Mike had liver and onions. Kadizzle took enough biology to know the liver is like an oil filter for an animal. Kadizzle is not about to cut the oil filter out of an animal and fry it with onions.
Today it seems Cliff, wants to still get the Oak Flat trail done. At this point that is the plan. The plan may change when we are all in the truck. This whole excursion takes about forty miles of rumbling on dirt roads. Who in the hell made all the dirt roads all over the mountains of the southwest? Making a road in the mountains is no easy task . People must have been on a desperate search for lumber or minerals. Only a jeep could have gone on most of the roads when they were at their best.
Little Mike has one of those breathing machines that pump air into him at night. He is trying to run the thing on solar and his generator. Hopefully he had a better night last night. Yesterday he complained he had to get up in the middle of the night and start his generator.
On the motorcycle ride the other day Cliff and Kadizzle encountered a rancher. Kadizzle inquired about the wildlife. According to the rancher there are a lot of bear, and mountain lions around here. Kadizzlle cannot figure why we never see any. We have only seen one bear in six years. Cliff and Little Mike said they saw a good mountain lion paw print up on Campaign Creek. Shortly we will bust out the door, go over to the visitor center, trade the Toyota for the Government Truck, pick up Little Mike at his encampment, and be on our way up the mountain once again. It will take us until 8:30 to get up there. The Forest Service bunch all have the habit of starting work very early. The big cheese will be in his office prior to our arrival and so will a few more. They like to get to work in the early day to avoid the blasting heat. This is essential in the summer, but in the winter it is just a carry over habit. Hi, ho, ho, it is off to work we go.
The Trail crew had dinner together last night. Originally the plan was to have pizza, but the damn pizza place was closed so we had to go to the Butcher Hook to eat. Cliff and Little Mike had liver and onions. Kadizzle took enough biology to know the liver is like an oil filter for an animal. Kadizzle is not about to cut the oil filter out of an animal and fry it with onions.
Today it seems Cliff, wants to still get the Oak Flat trail done. At this point that is the plan. The plan may change when we are all in the truck. This whole excursion takes about forty miles of rumbling on dirt roads. Who in the hell made all the dirt roads all over the mountains of the southwest? Making a road in the mountains is no easy task . People must have been on a desperate search for lumber or minerals. Only a jeep could have gone on most of the roads when they were at their best.
Little Mike has one of those breathing machines that pump air into him at night. He is trying to run the thing on solar and his generator. Hopefully he had a better night last night. Yesterday he complained he had to get up in the middle of the night and start his generator.
On the motorcycle ride the other day Cliff and Kadizzle encountered a rancher. Kadizzle inquired about the wildlife. According to the rancher there are a lot of bear, and mountain lions around here. Kadizzlle cannot figure why we never see any. We have only seen one bear in six years. Cliff and Little Mike said they saw a good mountain lion paw print up on Campaign Creek. Shortly we will bust out the door, go over to the visitor center, trade the Toyota for the Government Truck, pick up Little Mike at his encampment, and be on our way up the mountain once again. It will take us until 8:30 to get up there. The Forest Service bunch all have the habit of starting work very early. The big cheese will be in his office prior to our arrival and so will a few more. They like to get to work in the early day to avoid the blasting heat. This is essential in the summer, but in the winter it is just a carry over habit. Hi, ho, ho, it is off to work we go.
Monday, December 12, 2016
Update on the Mountain.
Little Mike has never been in the mountains before and he was thrilled to ride to the top of the Four Peaks and hike down today on the trail crew. Kadizzle went up from the bottom and worked on the footpath while Mate, Cliff, and Little Mike came down from the top. It is a lot of hard work and the crew 63, 67,67, and 70 had to give in about 1:30. Although Kadizzle thought he had the bases covered with the phone for communications, he forgot one critical connector. So we tried the satellite communication system we carry. It worked, but all crew members need to practice. It is not easy to type one letter at at time, and the navigation on the DeLorme could be better.
So now the crew will embark for pizza in Tonto Basin. The pizza is good, but little Mike is finicky, Kadizzle will gobble it down with the help of Little Joey. A pitcher of beer might be in order. Cliff, and Mate claim they want to go back up to the top and do another day. Tomorrow or tonight we will have to decide.
The weather here has been fantastic and it is hard to be homesick for North Dakota, but we will be back in the land of the protest, or the fight against the Black Snake as the warriors call it by Sunday.
A friend of Mrs. Kadizzle was killed today in a plane crash in Moab. Sad to hear about. The man was a professional pilot who sometimes hauled freight. In the course of making an emergency landing he hit a power line. Mate just recently went repelling with the Moab crew which included the pilot. So life goes on and you never know what will happen next.
So now the crew will embark for pizza in Tonto Basin. The pizza is good, but little Mike is finicky, Kadizzle will gobble it down with the help of Little Joey. A pitcher of beer might be in order. Cliff, and Mate claim they want to go back up to the top and do another day. Tomorrow or tonight we will have to decide.
The weather here has been fantastic and it is hard to be homesick for North Dakota, but we will be back in the land of the protest, or the fight against the Black Snake as the warriors call it by Sunday.
A friend of Mrs. Kadizzle was killed today in a plane crash in Moab. Sad to hear about. The man was a professional pilot who sometimes hauled freight. In the course of making an emergency landing he hit a power line. Mate just recently went repelling with the Moab crew which included the pilot. So life goes on and you never know what will happen next.
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