When the goin’ gets tough, they can kiss my...

I'm trying to clean everything up a bit in the apartment before the new year. It's out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new mentality. I sort have adapted Chinese New Year philosophy into our own.

So in spirit of that, I also have to clean house in my mind and air all of my grievances from 2007. I usually don't complain, and I most always try to stay on the sunny side of life. But I have to do this, then I will move on. The list is composed a’la David Letterman style.

Top 10 worst things about 2007 for us
10 — Countrywide Home Mortgage
9 — Any one that is associated with buying and selling homes. Meaning lawyers, brokers, agents, loan officers, and city municipalities that force home owners to abide by ridiculous laws passed in the middle of the night. They are all shysters.
8 — Peekskill Water Department
7 — Not getting paid for our first wedding
6 — Having to remove an oil tank from our driveway
5 — Not being able to continue our wedding project the way I intended
4 — Having my calculator (that Joseph bought for me from MOMA) stolen by a spoiled teenager, whose parents make more in one year than Joseph and I will make in a lifetime. Thanks a lot, jerk ass.
3 — Dorothy
2 — The Guggenheim won't return my calls
1 — Emily tore a ligament in her back right knee. She now needs surgery that will cost more than we have.

Thanks Ted Nugent for the title lyrics!

Emily tries but misunderstands...

Yesterday we celebrated our Emily's birthday. A big 8! The doctors kind of guesstimated her birth since she was a found puppy of sorts. The vet said Christmas, but you know what happens when your birthday is on Christmas...so we give her presents the day before. Lots of dog biscuits and a homemade fish toy.


Cheers

Christmas Is Going to the Dogs

On a lighter note, we’d like to wish everyone Merry Christmas and hope you have a safe and happy New Year. Look for some changes to this blog (when we can get around to it). If you liked the paintergirl blog, I think you’ll be pleased.
Here’s hoping everyone takes their chill pills, and learns to take a little responsibility with their lives. Whether it be fiscally (with one’s own credit or, say, the national debt), or socially (I don’t know where to start with this one—littering, parental responsibilities &c).

peace + love

Intervention again

Again-the management would like to apologize for the following message, but they feel it is necessary to post. To everyone else, again they are sorry.

There is a certain member of our family that is acting inappropriately. It's horribly rude and selfish to call so late and demand information from relatives. Calling over and over, leaving messages is embarrassing. You need to speak to a member of the clergy, or a counselor. In the end, no one can help you but yourself, except you need assistance from an outside source. This has gone on too long and has only gotten worse. Get help.

Some numbers you should call
(770) 271-8989 Christian counselor
(770) 236-8442
(770) 952-3308 counselor

Sleigh bells ring...

I'm feeling very photo montage-like tonight.

















This is what happens when you put something wet outside. He he. This photo does not illustrate how I was imitating my son talking. The arms dried the way he sleeps.














And here are 4 of the 50. These are a few of my favs. Painting 4 x 4 is a challenge. I want to do a gigantic palm frond.

Can't get you out of my head

Over the past several years I have become interested in things that have been in the periphery of my life for a while. At first my chosen obsessions were limited to the typical things a teen or pre-teen (geek of my age) would be interested in: the Beatles, Star Wars, Marvel Comics. The whole "interest in girls" thing which followed threw everything off kilter, and out of perspective, for a while.

Some of my more recent obsessions: Steely Dan and the "lost" Gaucho album, and cartoonists Chas. Addams and Charles Schultz. You may know Addams from the Addams Family or his brilliant New Yorker cartoons. A complicated man with some very interesting and sad relationships. What got me into Schultz is that a cursory reading of stories and interviews with him led me further into a person of great depth. You might not be aware of this if you are casually associated with his strip Peanuts (a title he despised), but rediscovering the strip as an adult makes me appreciate it even more (maybe not so much the later years).

Below is a piece he wrote in You Don't Look 35, Charlie Brown! It's kind of unexpected from someone who wrote comics. And not likely something you'd hear from someone as well known.
There must be different kinds of loneliness, or at least different degrees of loneliness.... The most terrifying loneliness is not experienced by everyone and can be understood only by a few. I compare the panic in this kind of loneliness to the dog we see running frantically down the road pursuing the family car. He is not really being left behind, for the family knows it is to return, but for that moment in his limited understanding, he is being left alone forever, and he has to run and run to survive. It is no wonder that we make terrible choices in our lives to avoid loneliness.

Had swept the winter street...

These are the days that reindeer love
And pranks the northern star,
This is the sun's objective
And Finland of the year.

Emily Dickenson

New stuff

50 small paintings show. Pictures will follow.



Just finished reading The Single Hound by Emily Dickenson, and loving our discovery of Rockwell Kent.

Buffalo soldier in the heart of America

Here's a bit of a photo tale of the first 2 days of the trip.

When we left Bennington, it was snowy and slushy. Not the most ideal conditions. I was excited about our first wedding, but I was not looking forward to "camping out" in freezing temperatures. My mom was worried and I was too. I'm a weather fanatic. I know what it's like on the Great Lakes in late fall. I was prepared, though. Everyone had snow boots, coats and tons of clothes to layer. Sidd man the cat stayed home. I'm sure Emily would have loved to have stayed home too, but since she isn't a 9lb cat but a 50lb dog she was forced to tough it out with the rest of us. The great city of Buffalo was the halfway point we tried, and didn't quite make it to.

We pretty much stayed on I-90 all the way. Here is the fog on the first day. I took some really spooky shots of the fog in various ways. There were several fog mountains and some eerie fog fields. I love the fog fields.

Merrily we drive along...."hey mom what is wrong with this lion's teeth?" ahhhhhhhh! Nothing like having a giant book placed in front of your face without warning.


Next day the fog turned into rain. We were deciding whether or not to make a stop at Niagara Falls (we were so close), but the weather was terrible. I just wanted to get to Lorain.

Here we are one night, parked in, yes Walmart for the evening. I love how my son now treats me like the paparazzi. Next summer the inside gets painted. The wallpaper is horrible. And check out those green cushions. Bad I tell you.

Mandala and me (SPC)

Something which I wear on my skin, which is with me all the time.

It is a bat taken from a symbolic Chinese image typically referred to as the five good fortunes.

The five fortunes are Wealth, Health, Longevity, Love and Virtue. I'm not sure which one I picked, but I like to think that it becomes whichever I need most at that time.

Check out other fashion dos and don't at SPC

gets me to the church on time...

It was a lovely wedding.

The family was there along with some very special friends.

Rita had picked a very lovely place. A barn that had been restored. Despite some farm equipment and a very menacing stuffed raccoon, it was very sweet. The raccoon was a little funny.

I loved Rita and Edwin reciting e.e. cummings poem i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart).

And both of their boys were the ring bearers.

Rita's mom gave her away, and I loved that too. I wish would have had my mom give me away instead of my uncle.

I got to met all of her brothers and another blogger-Hotmama. She was a crazy woman and made me laugh. Her and her husband, along with 3 of their 7 children, oh yes and a stowaway cat were there as well.

Over the Rainbow

First and foremost, congratulations to Rita & Edwin on their wedding.

It was lovely and we are so happy to have been a part of it.

There is quite a bit to talk about form this journey, but I am so tired from driving all night.

Du kannst mir sehr gefallen

Here's the tree all wrapped up and ready for it's trip to D.C. I was looking forward to seeing it pass by in the parade. As soon as we were right beside it, my eyes were flooded with tears. It's a shame such a beautiful tree was cut down for just a month in the White House. Before it was taken down, along with 50 accompanying trees, a woman from a local Indian reservation said a prayer and thank you to the tree.

We left for Ohio in slushy, snowy weather Tuesday morning.
Last night we stayed in another Walmart in Newark NY.

Updated photos on the Project home site. Includes photos from Halloween (and Bennington's Great Pumpkin Challenge) through the Capital Christmas Tree celebration.

Dashing through the snow...

Boy, I don't know about you but I am tired. What a week it's been! Making the above logo used up the rest of what little strength I had.

As noted above we are a week away from our first official wedding! We finally got the RV back after some repairs. Who would have guessed ball joints for a camper would cost so much? It's a good thing we keep getting opportunities to paint on windows and signage jobs. Not exactly what I planned on doing, my background is in marketing and ad design, but it's nice to be our own bosses.

We had a few flurries today, which made it seem very Vermont-y and all. There is an abandoned lot across the street and it's where the town Christmas tree went up. We've heard there are going to be ceremonies there and Santa is going to put in an appearance. The town is really being decorated nicely with pine trees on the sidewalks every few feet, wreathes on street lamps and lights on buildings. As noted earlier Bennington is supplying the official tree for the White House and there will be a big to do on Monday. After that it's off to Cleveland.

Thanks for following our misadventures so far, hope you keep checking back. We get far more visits than the comments reflect, please leave a message or say "howdy".

Saved by Zero...

I read this A-Z meme on JC and Vedrana's blogs. It's a make up your own category A-Z. Ours is about what is current in our lives. Except the color ones. :)

A-Apple Tartlets. I just made them for the first time last night.
B-Blue. Blue is my favorite. Blue jeans, Blue Moons, Cerulean blue, Cobalt blue
C-Coachmen. I miss the 'ole girl.
D-Downtown. The past week we have walked everywhere. Lucky we have a cool downtown area.
E-Egg Nog. Our favorite thing to put in coffee at this time of year. Egg Nog light of course.
F-Feng Shui.Arranging what little furniture we have. Mostly it's about eliminating clutter.
G-Gordon Lightfoot, Gary Wright, Goldfrapp. Listening to lately
H-Hannaford. Local grocery store. We prefer Price Chopper. We like belligerent sounding stores. And it's scary because it looks like an axe cutting the flag. Very weird.
I-Incense. For general sense of peace and fighting garbage smell in hall.
J-Jury Duty summons. What Patti got in the mail after we moved.
K-Karma. Trying to teach our wee man about this.
L-Lorain, Ohio. Where the wedding will be next week with Rita.
M-Monty Python. I think we always watch the series when we live in apartments. Funny how that happens.
N-New England. Where we like being this winter.
O-The Onion. Catching up with it online. I used to get weekly in the city and miss it.
P-Painting. Surprisingly I have been painting windows. If I get paid I'm validated right?
Q-QWERTY. Trying to explain the computer keyboard to the wee man.
R-Rockwell Kent. Check out "A Northern Christmas" by him from the library.
S-Soups. It's the season of the soup. Chicken Barley, Butternut squash and potatoes, Red lentils and ginger.
T-Trim.The hardest part to paint in an apartment with 30 ft ceilings.
U-Under the Willow Tree. A children's book, again check it out at the library. The illustrations are super.
V-Video Camera. What we need to work on, our promo and skit videos. Is YouTube still around?
W-Wedding certificates, wedding pictures wedding outfits.
X-Xmas. This is Latin, people. I was always led to believe this was sacrilegious.
Y-Yellow. It used to be my favorite color as a child. I had a bright yellow room forever. One day I came home from school and my room was beige. I cried for a week. The next summer I was allowed to paint it yellow again. Thanks mom!
Z-Zero. Reading a book called "In Search of Captain Zero". One surfer who is looking for his friend who has dropped out of society in search of the perfect surfer oasis. It's kind of sort of like dear Hunter S., but not laugh out loud funny.

Anyone that wants to be tagged, you're tagged. Tell me if you do this because I like reading them too.

peace and love
p + j

Come In Number 51, Your Time Is Up (SPC)

This is my entry for self-portrait challenge's "what I wear". Not one to let a good challenge go the wayside, and besides why let the Mrs. have all the fun, I submit my uniform as thus.

Gearing up for our own Wedding Project, we devised outfits which we could mix and match easily and would help create an identity for us. This is my warm-weather casual Rev look. Not easily seen on the tee, in white letters, are the words "Reverend Joseph". This is in case anyone forgets who I am.

What I like about this shot is that it looks like I am in Heaven's waiting room. The high-contrast and texture also makes it seem like a real photo, not digital.

For more saints, sinners and everything in between swing by SPC.

She's leaving home...

Hi America,
I hope everyone is hung over from all those raging Veteran's Day celebrations (I know how out of control those can get). Speaking of our vets, I'd like to offer a big salute to those who helped make us a wonderful country. I only hope their sacrifice and effort has not gone to waste and that future generations are able to make their ancestors proud of the US of A once again.

We had to take the Coach in for a check up recently (BTW is an RV a he/she? we probably need a name for easy reference, any suggestions, folks?). Consequently we've been without transportation for a few days now, and maybe a few days more. I have to confess I kind of miss the gas guzzling beast. I guess I got used to having to floor it to get it to minimum speed. Cruising down side streets at a g-force inducing 15mph, but feeling like it was going 45. Having to drive in the middle of the road if there are cars parked on both sides of the street. Parking as far away from a store entrance as possible so I can take up the necessary four car spaces. Running out to pick up a few things, probably burning up $10 worth of gas. Good times. You can see how we got into the fix we are in now.

Hopefully it's all being done for a good cause, which I hope somehow outweighs the (carbon) damage done. Now why does that line of reasoning sound familiar? Maybe it's time to work on some real solutions that will have a clear and visible result.

Beatniks are out to make it rich...

Ah yes, my rejection from the Guggenheim. I think it sounds better with my touch up, don't you?

I always thought that grants were to help artists (ie-artists that need assistance, not established artists who already have support, benefactors and patrons). I'm not bitter but it would be nice to get a break.

Have you seen her dressed in blue...

I wanted to participate in this months Self Portrait Challenge.

It's my Hockney look.

I begin with my morning attire.

MTV hoodie, very soft terry cloth American Apparel pants, and some crazy janky slippers that keep my feet really warm.

Check out more SPC here.

King of the road

one of the first campgrounds we went to (and, coincidentally, the last as well), when we first started this quixotic journey was a place called greenwood lodge and campsites.

i was in pretty bad shape mentally, from working up to and beyond the sale of our house, packing and moving up to the last minute (we literally went back to our former house after passing papers and had to take stuff off the porch), adjusting to the camper we'd just picked up, and driving for an interminable time. and although i seem laid back to most people, i'm naturally tense on the inside. by the time we got to the above mentioned campground i was pretty much on edge. it didn't help that we arrived on short notice at a very busy weekend. consequently we were part of the 'overflow' campers. that meant the only place available to us was by the lodge. or rather, right next to the lodge. about 2 feet from the upper deck of the place.

our electricity and water were plugged into the actual building itself. needless to say, i gave patti no end of grief. our son picked up on my complaining, and sharing my temperament anyway, piled on like we were badgers backed into a corner. yes, i feel bad about it now. the stay happened and actually ended up okay, blah, blah, blah....we traveled on to maine, and new hampshire.

on our way back through vermont we needed another place to stay and greenwood was close. this time however was different. we arrived after season, when most sites cut the power, drained the water supply and headed to some northerner's dream of heaven in north carolina. thanks to global warming, it was unseasonably warm and they decided to continue letting out sites. our timing must have been fortuitous, or patti really hit it off with the owner, as we were given...THE. BEST. CAMPSITE. EVER.

the location was semi-private, close to the woods and trails, not on a very traveled road and on a cliff overlooking a pond. high five! we ended staying a week, could see the milky way at night and saw shooting stars. and that is the lovely picture that illustrates this post.

Lookin' back on the track for a little green bag

I love Vermont. I don't think I could find this in Peekskill, or Atlanta.

God Bless our county.

She'll make you breakfast, she'll make you toast...

Part 1

So we lived in the RV for 3 solid weeks. It's funny how we knew nothing of RVing until we were well, living in it. Living the life. Two artists who knew nothing of an RV. Completely crazy. It was odd and stressful, and now, hysterically amusing.

In the Coachmen, when we slept in the loft, there was a 3 inch space from our noses to the ceiling. I tried pretending we were in a submarine. That's the kind of space we were dealing with. Now currently, in the apartment we have 30 foot ceilings. I couldn't think of a bigger change. Oh I guess sleeping outside would do, but let's not get carried away.


Here's the kitchen. I love the sink and wish I could take it with me. I'll sound like an old timer when I say this, but they don't make 'em like they used to. It's solid metal, man. I should be so lucky to have one like this in a house. It's beautiful.

Life in a northern town...

Here's the window I painted.

Today I have to take it off, and then I will paint a nice Christmas Tree.

Why a tree on November 1st?

Bennington was picked, or I should say a tree was picked in Bennington that will go to The White House for Christmas. Pretty cool. The tree will travel down Main Street on November 19th.

Also taking part in NaBloPoMo. This should be fun and I hope I'm entertaining.

We also have another photo update on our main Wedding Project website.

Peace and love
p

So I have to say I love you, in this song...

I'm cheesy at my best, and worst, and will pick the worst 70's songs, I know.

Happy Anniversary to us today.


Sometimes it doesn't seem possible that we've been married so long.
But it really happened and I remember the day.

14 years ago on a windy, later, rainy day in Orlando.

Driving to my mom's house in the morning of the wedding, I can recall hearing a Led Zeppelin song on the radio, leaves were blowing across the road as a gust picked up. I thought to myself, this is really real. We're doing this.

The funniest and one of the memorable moments was when my two brother in-laws had to go ask a man to stop using his chainsaw so we could get through the ceremony without out it looking and sounding like some terrible B-horror flick. There are pictures of me laughing in the bushes.

14 years later, I'm still amazed at everything we have set our minds to and have accomplished. Some decisions we've made may not have been the best, but it has taken us to the point where we are now, and I'm grateful for that.

I love my dear sweet Joseph. Happy Anniversary. xoxo

Happy Anniversary, Honey Bunny – your guy

It's an institute you can't disparage...

So much going on but first let me tell you about the upcoming wedding—The Wedding!!

She's a blogger whom I've known for awhile now. We've never met though. She's lived in Georgia but she's a midwest girl, and now she's back in her hometown again. Her poetry is divine. She has a certain way about her and I can't wait to meet her and the family.

And we, or I should say Joseph, will be marrying her and her fiancee.

I love this picture taken of her when she was first engaged over the summer. She has a sparkle in her eye.

The happy couple is Rita (as in Ritapita) and her soon to be hubby Edwin.

I cannot wait until the wedding. It's going to be the Saturday over Thanksgiving weekend.

We'll be traveling by way of Buffalo, and through Cleveland. Now I can sing my favorite Ian Hunter song, "Cleveland Rocks", that was made so popular by The Drew Carey Show. Joseph better videotape me in front of the Rock and Roll Museum singing this.

Trailers for sale or rent...

Ah ha. Here is my self portrait food/kitchen.

Oh the RV life. I'm sitting at the little dinette with the kitchen directly behind me. D-I-R-E-C-T-L-Y!

Notice the close proximity to items on the counter. If I need some wine, oh let me just reach behind me. Ta da! Is it some water you need? Oh let me just stretch a a bit. Perfect. Need an extra plate? No problem. You get the picture.

Remember too that when the RV is in motion, everything must be put away. My only breakable items are our coffee mugs. Those I would place in a bottom cabinet where movement was minimal.

You can see more spc here.

A long time ago, in the kingdom of candy...

This is how it is.

We had a really nice vacation in Vermont and Maine. Definitely excited to see more. The thing is, couples were not beating down our door to be married and sponsors were not coming through either. As much as we tried, it hasn't quite taken off yet. There are things in life we cannot force. *Great idea but this is going to take more time than we were thinking.

We're not stopping the project, but we've decided to set up a winter home-base and schedule weddings in advance. The upcoming wedding at the end of November (I'm still keeping this a secret until we have the word GO) keeps us in the north. Most campgrounds are starting to close now or at the very least turning their water off. So by November we'd be forced to stay at Walmart parking lots. Not my ideal situation.

OK kids, we now have an apartment in Bennington, Vermont.

It happened like this. Most of the morning was spent driving around looking for houses to rent. in Bennington. That was a little disappointing. It soon approached the the morning snack hour and we decided to park the RV and stroll around downtown. It's such a lovely little town. So here we were standing on the sidewalk talking and Joseph pointed to a sign in a widow of a store, APT FOR RENT. We looked at each other and immediately went inside. I knew instantly it was going to be a perfect fit. The owner and her and husband, late of Staten Island , fell in love with the town 3 years ago and bought the building we live in. There are 2 studio apartments in the front and a 2 bdr apartment in the back. We are surrounded by buildings. It's our NYC apartment in Bennington.

Discussing our situation just a second ago, Joseph and I thought Denver, Norwalk and even Peekskill was going to be like this.

*As usual we welcome any suggestions for ways to get the word out and acquire couples or sponsors. Of course any help from fellow bloggers is appreciated, as something like this can really take of virally

rainy day people don't talk, they just listen...

Hey we have a WEDDING! I'm going to tease you all with that until it's all very confirmed and what not, but whoo-hoo! And it's someone in blog world that I adore. The wedding will be wonderful and exciting. There are some other changes coming but that too will be left at that until I find the right words.

Well first lets say, life on the road is not an easy way of living.

There is the lack of space.

The seating in our RV is less than desirable. My posture is suffering, Jos has a permanent crick in his neck from sleeping in the overhang...

Well, I won't continue but you get the idea.

It's super grand to see the country but we can't keep spending all of the money from selling our house for the trip (we didn't make much, a gambler in Vegas easily loses as much).

I know this sounds a bit jagged but I'm happy with our revised plans. It actually has all worked out and will enable us to continue the Project and keep our sanity.

I'm tired and there's a bit to do before bed.

peace and love
p

I see skies of blue, clouds of white...

We are back where we first began, in Vermont. We decided since we had no weddings planned we'd go back and explore Vermont after our holiday in Maine. Love the Vermont. Love it. Unfortunately we drove too long for 2 days. Saturday night we ended up staying at a Walmart (again) in New Hampshire.


Sunday was explore some cities day. Montpelier is the capitol and very lovely. As you can imagine there are quite a few tourists out taking photos of the leaf color changes in New England (Leaf Peepers). We went up to a small town close to Burlington. It was alright, but I expect great things from my future city and I can't see this town changing soon. Still, we thought we would drive in a neighborhood or two, just to check it out. As we drove past an elementary school there was a sign which read no trucks over 3 tons. Joseph said, "we're close to that," as he read my mind. We rounded the bend in the road there right in front of us was the oldest, most ricketiest wooden bridge I have ever seen in my entire life. Honestly it should have been for foot traffic only. No, I take that back. A cat walking across it would make it collapse. I should have taken a picture of it, but Joseph needed to back the humungo RV all the way down the street and around a corner. It was crazy. There were all of these cars coming.



I'll leave you with a photo of the Man in the Mountain mountain in New Hampshire. Notice the snow on top.

peace and love
p

The Sharpest Pencil in Town

This is a picture of me with Danny Webb of Webb's RV Center. We had seen an ad for his place in a KOA flyer from Maine and, well, I needed a new sewage termination cap (if you must know click here). In his ad it says "C'mon down, neighbor! The coffee pot's always on!" I wasn't able to snag any Folger's while we were there, but my son received a toy Jeep and camper from the man depicted in the ad himself! We were able to pick up a few supplies and Mr. Webb was kind enough to pause for a photograph with yours truly. In the short time we were there we saw him riding a fork lift, directing parking and generally making sure things were running smoothly—taking care of business like the Elvis of RVs.

They also have this cool gigantic pencil entryway, which is where I got the title for this post, not sure what it means, but as a designer I can appreciate a sharp pencil (is the sales staff sharp as a sharpened pencil? Despite the number of contracts they write their pencils are still sharp?).

I highly recommend this business to anyone in Maine or the upper Northeast in general. Great staff and great selection. Tell 'em Reverend Joseph sent ya. And don't forget to get your cup of coffee!

Rev. Jos

That I was meant for you and you for me...

Today we stayed put in camp(KOA on Mount Desert Island) because of torrential rains. I didn't like the idea of Joseph driving in this weather.Last night the wind blew so hard, you'd think it was a hurricane. My mom has always said she would like to have a tin roof to hear the rain at night. I can testify, no, not a good idea. It's so dang LOUD! You can't think because it so loud.

We had various activities to keep us busy. i.e. the wee man. Puzzles, stencils and trying to teach him Parcheesi. He also received (for good behavior) one of his favorite movies, Milo and Otis. I think most of his favorites are animals on a journey.

Oh, the rain and wind has started up again and it's 9pm. Tomorrow will be clear.

I just want to keep on loving you...

Photo update on website. Very funny.

Today we were in Bar Harbor, Maine. We drove around Acadia National Park. Breathtaking. There was a ocean liner visiting the islands. Tonight we did the Maine thing and had a fresh lobster dinner. Our son wanted to see the lobster but then refused to eat any. I can't really blame him. I have certain issues about eating them. God bless this lobster.

Do you remember when, we used to sing...

The wi-fi has been terrible at the campground here in Belfast and our own connection has been spotty. No posts and no surfing for a couple of days.Maine Maine Maine!!! I knew for a very long time I would love it here. I'm not a big lobster girl (it has more to do more with Mr. Pinchy than anything else). I knew I would love this coast. Stepping has talked about the contrast from growing up on the west coast and now currently living in New England. For me, it's quite different from FLA too. I'm so used to smooth beaches and no rocks. This is all rock in Belfast. I adore it though. It's cold and rocky and has a nice sea smell. I could get used to this. Joseph hates the heat, and doesn't even like the beach, but this, this is different.

The sounds from the buoy in the harbor are reassuring. And my husband and son know how I have a seagull fear. Today I faced my fear and fed the gulls. What was so nice, these gulls weren't pushy so I don't think they knew I was giving them bread. They flew away from me while I threw bread and waited until I walked away. I'm sure they are used to getting scraps from the lobster boats, and were looking at me "Bread? Thanks lady."

On Tuesday it was sunny, Wednesday, not so much. The little man kept asking when the sun would come out. Not today we would say.

Right now we're in a library in Bar Harbor so we can look up campground sites and to make a post.

A re-cap of some things I have found out about myself in the past week:

It's not easy moving into an RV when you just sold a 2 story house. Joseph has said there is as much up keep for an RV just like a house. It's true, but a much smaller space. And then you have to readjust after moving driving on the roads. We are aliens in our house. Slowly we are learning the lingo.


I have serious mental problems when I try to read directions from Google and mapquest. I feel like a challenged individual. My old school way of looking at a map suits me well. Thank heavens we have a nice road atlas.

peace and love
p

Ramble On

chairs missing

This is a picture of the chair we pulled out of the camper as soon as we found someone with the right tools. God bless America and the breaker-bar socket wrench.

I'm gradually transitioning to our new life although it has not been easy. It's difficult to leave my compulsive, detail oriented, perfectionist self behind. It was a weird contrast to be living in the woods, at the campground outside NYC right before we left, and traveling to the City to tie up some last minute things. I really felt out of sorts, but still wanted to be taken as a NYC-er. However seeing the people on the trains and on the street I just found myself asking whether it was even worth it.

On the day we left from Croton Point Park, we passed through the dead cities, gentrified towns, fake neighborhoods, and finally to the rural areas and farmlands. As "Saint Dominic's Preview" came on the radio, the sun was going down and we could smell fresh air, and apple trees. We were leaving something behind and if we get anything out of this project it will be to end up, where ever that might be, as different and improved people.

Rev. Jos

1,2,3,4 tell me that you love more...

Catching salamanders in the pond at Greenwood Campsite in Vermont.

I cannot emphasis the beauty in Vermont. It's always the state we think of when we have pancakes, but is it so beautiful here. Stopped and watch an apple pressing and picked up the best cider and doughnuts I have ever had. Joseph has a penchant for roadside flea markets and I found the greatest bag.We drove through New Hampshire today and tonight we're in Naples Maine. Tomorrow it's the coast and to find those couples! There are plans to paint the RV as well. Nothing like an advertisment on a 27 footer.

Always look on the bright side of life...

"Remember what you have seen, because everything forgotten returns to the circling winds."

From a Navajo wind chant

For the past 2 nights we have been at a campground called Greenwood right outside Bennington, Vermont. It's lovely here. Did I not say I would fall in love with all the places we visit? If you are ever up this way I recommend a stay. You don't need an RV either, they have a lodge or you could pitch a tent.

Last night we sat outside and had dinner. As the sky turned dark I realized that what I was seeing overhead wasn't a cloud, but the Milky Way. I have never seen the Milky Way my entire life. The city lights have always been so bright where I have lived but here it's black. Jos and I tried telling our son all the constellations we knew. As we were searching, a shooting star went by and then another. I cried a little. I haven't seen a shooting star since I was a little girl. It was all so peaceful.

I'll leave you with a very funny stop along the way at a wood sculpture workshop.

peace and love
p

Siren Song

"Camping" in the Wal-Mart parking lot, can't believe I just typed those words, went okay. Until somewhere deep in the night when I heard the most horrible sound I ever heard. We had adjusted to the white noise of speeding cars and "yee-ha"s from high school kids cruising through the lot, and exhaustedly fallen asleep. But at one point, it could have been midnight or 5 am, we were woken out of sound sleep by three LOUD whoops. This was followed by five LONG, LOUD and PIERCING whoops.

We formerly lived near a nuclear plant and had warning sirens all around us, but it was nothing like this. The sound was so loud it felt like the sound was coming from underneath us. We were smothered in sound. It was literally everywhere. Afterwards the noise gently wound down (we could actually hear the sound slow down and cease) and it was as quiet as Judgment Day again.

Still not sure what is going on up in Catskill/Hudson, but they've got one heckuva sound system.

And the visions...that planted in my brain...still remain

Well the sweet little Honda is sold (I blew a kiss to her). Now, all we have is a storage unit crammed with our worldly possessions and the RV.

We had 1 hr of daylight to get to a Wal-Mart parking lot after the car title transaction. I never knew this before, but Wally world allows RVers(us) to stay in their parking lots. I was semi OK with this until Joseph mentioned the Z word (rhymes with "mombie"). Getting here was not exciting. Directions from Google were sketchy and made us argue. Driving through cornfields and apple orchards at 8.30 at night is kind of funny, but not when you just want some food. Ha-how ironic, fields of food around us. Now we made a pact to not drive so late. I think we're in Hudson, maybe Greenport NY.


OK-it's all part of the journey and expect a video (cross your fingers) 0f us soon. We plan on finding some apple doughnuts and great cider tomorrow.

And this is really weird, I was putting away dinner items, and there was an overwhelming skunk smell in the camper. I thought I must be losing my mind because I was so tired. Joseph finally came to the front of the cab-and YIKES-it was as if the skunk was inside. Now remember we're in the middle of a parking lot. I looked everywhere outside. Totally Wiffy the ghost skunk.

Peace and love
P

I don't mind you hanging out...

The camper needs some TLC from us. We took curtains out pronto. Next came a back cabinet door for the cat's liter box. I think the cat likes the RV the most. Sidd the cat has all of these great places to jump on and away from the dog. He has started his ambushes already.


Today we stocked up on some camping food (dried beans) and I had to buy an aluminum pan. All my house pots are glass and well that's something to be avoided in a house that moves. Another item (a must) a hand held vacuum cleaner, which we picked up today. I put this baby through the ringer. So if this Black and Decker works and holds up, I'll be writing praises (and maybe they'll sponsor us?).

And—AND—Joseph again is doing something major. He tried taking out a chair in the camper. We kind of need the space. Right now the pets food bowls are in the kitchen and it's not fun working around them.

Tomorrow I think will be the kick off. I cannot believe it. I'll sell the Honda and it will be just us and the RV.

The chapel on wheels.

Here she is....The Coachmen wonder girl. This will be our second night stay.

Yesterday was full of going to the DMV, getting inspection and having the battery checked. All fun times when we suddenly have a home on wheels. Then for the the wild drive down the mountains back to Peekskill to pack our belongings. It was a frenzy of throwing big plastic garbage bags into the camper and trying to get to the campgrounds before dark.

It's all very much like moving into an apartment but a really really small one. And imagine our Emily the 50 lb lab and our 5 year son always managing to block our way of walking. I don't know how, but I managed to unpack most of the bags by bedtime.

There is still quite a bit to do. Today Joseph spent most of the day trying to repair a leak in the bathroom sink that soaked the floor between the shower and the toilet. All day we would have to jump from the kitchen to the back beds to keep our feet dry. Joseph fixed it. YAY. I knew he would, he amazes me in the things he can do. An artist, minister an rv mechanic.

And let me close tonight on this. We are in a campground that is very close to our old hometown. Funny no? And we took a walk tonight to the very end of the little point/jetty. There was a sign telling us a doctor planted 4 yew trees back in the 1890's that cost him 37 cents a piece. They were incredibly beautiful and the bases of them were 3 ft wide.

Oh and the last time I was camping, I was a girl scout. Some of the buildings here at the campground are um...very scary. I'll just say they are scooby dooish and we'll not mention an r rated movie. This is a whole wide world that we are very unfamiliar with.

Goodnight all.
Peace and love