Scribble World Travel Blog

How we traveled with 2 cats

We have had quite a few people express curiosity as to how we managed to road trip around the country in a van for 6 months with TWO cats, so today I thought I’d share how we did it.
We began our adventure in Arizona in October and slowly traveled north before eventually driving down south again through early April. For the most part, we had very decent weather, but that’s not the half of it. I don’t think we could have traveled with two cats, let alone one, without some important safety measures.

For starters, we put an extra deep cell battery in our van. We then hooked it up to a
pure sine wave inverter to power a fan…so the fan worked even when the vehicle wasn’t running.

Second, We customized our van effectively changing the temperature dynamics by removing all the back seats and installing an elevated bed instead. The bed consisted of a wooden platform, covered by memory foam and piles of insulating blankets and pillows. Having the bed in our van not only saved us a lot of money along the way on accomodations, it also provided an excellent basement-like shelter for our cats to chill under.

The temperature difference was HUGE! The warmer air would
accumulate in the upper level, while beneath the bed the temp was always a bit on the chilly side.

We also had a large roof rack bag. The roofrack bag served as additional insulation for our van, deflecting the sun rays and providing yet another barrier. The roof rack bag was filled with clothes and extra blankets.

We made sure the cats always had plenty of food and fresh water at all times.

Their litterbox was easily accessible in the back of the van-also making it easy to clean simply by lifting the hatch.

We put up window shades on all the windows. Also, we would leave all the windows in the van partially open to allow a natural breeze and prevent the oven affect.

Common sense also played a role-we parked in the shade, did most of our site seeing during
the cooler morning and evening hours as much as possible and most importantly did
our van traveling before the hot spring and summer months.

I also recommend monitoring the temperature of your vehicle at all times. On some days, it’s probably a good idea to spray your pet with cold water which will have a cooling affect as it evaporates,
while you run your quick 10 minute errand. Some people even shave their pets.

I’d rather be overly precautious than not cautious enough whereas our cats are concerned. They are family members-unfortunately, it may be a while before they start opening doors and calling us on our cell phones, so in the meantime, another possibility is to leave the vehicle running with the a.c. on if there is a spare key. Another precaution is to wear a stopwatch as a reminder there’s a
pet waiting for you.

On another precautionary note, it is very important to realize that our pets are far more sensitive to heat than we humans are. The first sign of panting is a red flag that the animal has gotten too hot. Panting can be a sign of heat stroke. Other signs are findng your pet in a stupor and even seizures. A vet should be consulted at the first sign of heat stroke. According to the Maricopa County Gov site, normal body temperature for dogs and cats is between 101-103 degrees Fahrenheit, but it only takes seconds to rise to deadly levels.

Also relating to vehicular pet safety-did you know that antifreeze containing ethylene glycol is deadly, yet sweet and appealing to pets? Instead you can use products with propylene glycol, which are more pet friendly.

Many tourist destinations are taking positive steps in becoming more pet friendly and we found this very encouraging on our travels. The Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, FL encouraged people to bring their pets with them- and also, The Kennedy Space Center near Titusville did too-they had a complimentary pet kennel.
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MaxCold Igloo Cooler Review

This is a review of the MaxCold Igloo Cooler 5 day cooler, which we used while traveling the U.S. in a van for six months as our travel cooler.

The MaxCold Igloo cooler with its 70 quart capacity is a decent size for a road trip cooler. It has a light blue reflective color and ultratherm insulation throughout. The advertisement states that ice can be kept cold for up to 5 days at 90 degrees Fahrenheit. “Up to” are the key words. Ours never seemed to last longer than 2 or 3 days- and in the warmer parts, like Florida, we found ourselves replenishing ice daily.

Now, before I scare you into thinking the MaxCold Igloo Cooler may not be a good investment, let me just add that we kept the cooler behind our van on a black cargo rack-so while the blue color of the cooler may have been reflecting heat, our cargo rack was absorbing it. Next time, we’ll attempt to insulate/shield the cooler better.

The cost of ice varied quite a bit on our travels. The self service ice stands tended to be the best deal. On average, it was probably around $2/bag for a 10 or 20 pound bag. Replenishing ice almost daily at times can add up so determine if what you’re trying to keep cold is worth the cooling cost. If $60 for a months supply of ice is saving you from buying hundreds of dollars in eating out than it’s worth it, but if you’re just keeping bottles of mayonnaise and a few hot dogs cold, it’s probably not worth the expense. We usually kept a few of shelf stable single serving size packets of our favorite condiments on hand. The kind fast food restaurants usually give too much of at the drive thru.

Having a cooler while camping and boon docking saves a bundle. We’d pack our MaxCold Igloo Cooler full of ice, (frozen water bottles work well too, then as it melts you have cold water to drink).  No need to waste gas driving into town for food with a good cooler.

When staying at a motel, we could usually use their ice machine to top up our ice also.
It’s all in the details…but make sure you’re having fun, afterall, that’s what road trips are all about!

p.s. Stay tuned for more Road Trip Travel Tips and advice to Save You Money-

Whether you’re trying to travel on a thin budget of $15/day or just wish you had more money for the things that matter, we’ll be sharing our road trip lessons in budgeting and making the most out of traveling and being on the road.

RV Pros and Cons

If you’re thinking about buying a new or used Rv, here are some RV pros and cons to consider based on our experience with a Maui Rv rental in Australia.

Space:

After traveling around the U.S. in a Honda Odyssey where space was at a premium for long term travel, space in our Maui RV rental was a definite pro.  I loved the fact that there were cupboards and under seat storage compartments for storage.  The closet was small but still a nice feature and then there were separate drawers and cabinets for kitchen-wares.  A shoe rack above the door and hooks to hang coats also made life a little more organized.

We took advantage of additional storage by keeping some things in the bathroom when driving.  During the day, we could use the bed above the cab as storage for our suitcases. At night, we’d move the stuff down to the cab.  This would have made it a little difficult to leave in a hurry though.  Also, if you have to do it everyday it could get a bit tiresome, depending on how heavy your “must have” stuff is how much time you have to complete the maintenance task.

A kitty litter box would have fit nicely on the bottom step by the door for those traveling with a pet…

A RV space con is that after we started using the kitchen sink to do our dishes, we discovered the gray water was overflowing into the bathroom, which also doubles as a shower.  We couldn’t be certain anything we stored in there wouldn’t get wet.

The Shower…

The Cons: Aside from the gray water gurgling up into the shower after washing dishes we also noticed a bad smell.  At first we thought it was from the black water, but we hadn’t yet used the toilet and we didn’t notice the smell until we started doing our dishes.  It became something we had to tolerate and we would open the roof vents when parked.

Balancing Act

We had a few scares when we started driving away suddenly realizing nobody had shut the roof vents-so that was always fun- trying to close the vents while driving-swerving all over the place.  The RV felt precariously tippy at times-and it occurred to us that perhaps our things were out of balance-we probably shouldn’t have had so much heavy stuff in the upper storage levels and cabinets.

Water Limitations..

Considering the water limitations, it was impractical to take a real shower, so that surprised me that the shower- something we thought would make the RV experience a step up from our van travels- was a pretty much useless feature.  There may, however, be tubes you can buy to give you extra water, but you would probably need to have a place to empty your gray water-and a nice environmentally friendly shampoo and soap so you could let it out on the side of the road as necessary.

Rv Toilet

The toilet we avoided as much as possible, but in a pinch, on those dark and scary nights, it was a bonus not to have to go outside. The strong smells didn’t make this an attractive long term solution though-even with the blue liquid chemical additives the RV dealership provided us. There’s surely a better way?

Gas

Gas, obviously was more expensive than our van.  It would cost around U.S. $130 to fill the gas tank in Australia with prices in the $1.45 Australian dollars/liter range.

Structural Integrity

As far as structural stability, I wouldn’t recommend taking an Rv some of the places we went.  In Karijini National Park, the closet door jiggled right off the hinges while we were driving over a particularly rough patch of dirt road.  We had a pocket handyman to re-attach it, but that was a rougher ride than that RV was probably built for. Luckily our dishes didn’t break. Driving to the Wilderness Camp at Cape Leveque called Kooljaman also would have been a bad road to take the Rv down-luckily we had a 4×4 for that, but even so, structural integrity seemed questionable at times.

The Awning

We never did get around to using the awning…it may have been nice, but we didn’t stay any one place long enough to make learning how to put it up, and take it down again, worthwhile.

Fuses/Power

We had a couple fuses blow on us.  Chris would probably be the one to talk more about this issue.  He found it odd that he was able to make a set up for our van to run a laptop and GPS program while driving with sufficient power, while in the Rv, it was easily overloaded because the fuse between the battery and the cigarette lighter power outlet didn’t allow as much power as we were trying to draw from it.  The AC outlets were only powered when plugged in at a campsite.  Chris bought an inverter in Australia for around $60 to plug into the cigarette lighter. The inverter made it possible to power one computer at a time.  In our van we had a thick cable going from the main battery to the auxiliary battery and a 1,000 watt inverter hooked up to the auxiliary battery allowing for more power.

Temperature Control

Another pitfall of the RV was that some days we would get really hot sitting in the back. Having the windows open seemed to make things worse, not better..so we had to wait and give the A.C. from the cab a chance to reach us in the rear, which could take a while.  I recommend water and an ice cold ginger beer in such situations.

Radio

The radio rarely had a good signal. Satellite radio is the way to go. We used Sirius radio while traveling in the U.S. which worked very well.

Fridge

One concern with the fridge in our Maui RV-it seemed to work well for most items, but the small freezer was not quite cold enough for our ice cream snacks-which became quite melty and we were “forced” to eat them right away.

Ants

As soon as our first day on the road, we discovered ants had already nested in our RV rental.  We did our best to keep the kitchen crumb free, but still, they were present and it was not particularly fun sharing our home on the road with ants but we could not seem to find where they were hiding in the RV. To avoid this problem, you’ll want to keep food in sealed containers or zip lock bags and clean up spills and crumbs immediately. Ants are drawn to these things-even in an RV.

A Simple Table…

I’ll end on a pro-it was great to have a table in the Rv as it makes such a convenient place for the laptop and other items.  Space was a constant struggle traveling in the van and having a table to work at would have made been a big pro.

Happy Road Trip Travels!

President Bush in Tucson, AZ

Cops were all over Swan and other nearby roads in Tucson, AZ last night.  This was a mystery to Chris & I until we got home and searched online news for the cause.  I thought maybe a bus packed full of convicts had escaped :)  But nah, it was just the President. 

President Bush departed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base sometime a little after 10 P.M to spend the night at Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa.  He was attending a sold out $1000/plate early morning fundraiser for Tim Bee, the Republican Congressional candidate who will be running against U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat, who in my opinion is doing a nice job.  You can learn more about Giffords at http://giffords.house.gov/ if you’re interested.

But those Republican’s stick together, which is to be expected, even though President Bush’s approval rating is only 28%-the fundraiser is reported to have been attended by more than 400 people, raising more than $500,000 for Tim Bee.

This was President Bush’s fourth visit to Tucson since taking office, and it was a short one.  He left before noon, and plans to spend the weekend at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Rain Clouds Catalina Mountains Tucson, AZ

What a sight to behold!  Dense smokey rain clouds smothering the Catalina Mountains in Tucson, AZ.  You could just feel the energy in the air as the clouds struggled under the weight. No sooner had I snapped these shots, the downpour began and I raced for cover! It’s nice that it’s a warm rain.

Summer Storm In Arizona

Monsoon season is fast approaching and we got our first taste of it tonight watching a beautiful Tucson sunset followed by a good rain and some thunder and lightning.  It was fun trying to capture a picture of the lightning, but challenging-so sporadic, you almost have to be psychic to know when and where to snap your photo.  Hopefully in the upcoming weeks, we’ll get some more good practice.

Chris is holding onto Paws with one hand which is rather a challenge-Paws is a big boy, around 22 pounds last time we weighed him. The bathroom scale was one of the many items we sold last October before setting off on our van travels across the country.  Some things are not missed! :) Paws is a cat, by the way, not a dog.

We’re on the lookout for a good cat sitter right now, so we can go do some more traveling. During the colder months we could take them with us most places, but with 100 plus degree weather, that is no longer an option.  It’s bizarre though, ever since we stopped traveling, they’ve been yowling a lot-especially at night when we’re trying to sleep. I think I need to get more Feliway-the synthesized cat pheremones that are supposed to be calming.

You wouldn’t think so, but the cats actually really liked the traveling lifestyle-I suppose because the van was kind of cozy with lots of great hiding places and comfortable perches-kind of a kitty palace in a way-just the right size to make them feel like kings.  Plus there were windows all around, so they were getting the royal view to all kinds of interesting activity.  The apartment is probably a bit dull by way of comparison.  Ever since we took Paw’s ratty old collar off him, it’s become his favorite toy. He’ll carry it around in his mouth like a dog bone and yowl until we throw it for him.

We’ve been adding more movie reviews, and Chris has been working on some new guitar lessons and is anxious for some feedback.  He was also playing some fun “Chinese” music to go along with my “virtual trip to China” entry.  He doesn’t think it’s very good, but I like it and I’m trying to get him to put it up.

Oh, I got my 19 momme silk duvet cover and silk filled comforter-it is dreamy to say the least, so soft and smooth.  Wish I could afford to give one to everyone as a Christmas gift.

Virtual China

While it may not have been possible for me to physically be in China this week, I saw no point in letting bygones be bygones-so I opted for a virtual Chinese experience instead. How did I go about this amazing feat you’re probably asking yourselves….well, I can’t give away all my secrets…but my first stop didn’t even involve leaving the coziness of my kneeling Yoga-Chair.

The fascinating world of E-Bay transported me all the way to the sights and sounds of the tempting Shanghai Silk Marketplace where I learned all about momme weight-(the official measuring system for a fabric so fine) as well as the many varieties and lusters to choose from.  I found, what I believe, will make a most luxurious silk filled comforter topped with a 19 momme Charmeuse duvet cover.  I am ecstatically and impatiently awaiting it’s arrival.

To make my Chinese trip even more authentic, I found an Asian Market in Tucson, called Grant Stone.  There were enough varieties of tea to fill a whole aisle. I’m experimenting with two kinds I’ve never had before-one is called Gohyah tea which comes from a bitter melon.  The information that came with it is mostly in Chinese, but it states that it is good for the liver, bile, and digestion among other things.  I gave Chris some the day after he’d had a few beers and wasn’t feeling so hot.  He didn’t like the taste too much, but it seemed to make him feel better.  I kind of liked it, it’s an unusual taste, unlike any other herb I’ve tried.

I’m also trying Hawthorn tea for the first time. It has a nice mildly sweet berry flavor, and according to my herb book, Hawthorn tea has been taken as a heart tonic and to enhance circulation.  I also found an old favorite, a box of Gunpowder tea, also from Shanghai.  I’m going to attempt to make my own version of a boba tea (bubble tea) drink with it.

Add to that list some yummy hot and sour soup and it wasn’t half bad for a virtual trip! 

Catnip For The Cats, But What’s Next For Us?

June has begun, the weather is great, the pool is warm, and now we find ourselves contemplating where the road will take us next.  We haven’t been to Mexico in a while, a day of shopping and exploring sounds fun, but I keep thinking about the movie we just watched called Border Town.  Scary!  As tourists we never seem to hear about that side of things. 

Meanwhile, there are other interesting possibilities-hot springs, waterfalls, hiking, Oregon, Colorado, Canada, China, Australia, Costa Rica, Thailand?

Trader Joes sells these delicious freeze dried fruits from Thailand.  I am quite infatuated with them- freeze dried mangosteen, freeze dried banana slices (they’re really sweet and nummy-lots of thin little slices), rambutan, mango, pineapple slices….I’m on the look out for a place that sells them in larger quanties to save some bucks.  They seem like the perfect snack.  I love how they start out so lightweight and airy, the coolest texture on the tongue.

Anyway, I was looking into a flight and hotel deal to China the other day. The advertised price was just $899 for 10 days.  But then in the fine print there were all these extra possible fees, so I’m not sure the price quoted was all that accurate.  By the time I added up all the possible extras it was quite a bit more.  I’ll have to get more organized and research what all these fees actually mean…like when it says “up to $200″…that’s rather vague. 

Life is a bit disorganized right now.  We’re slowly but surely being re-integrated back into society more or less-you know, re-buying those things most people take for granted.  Our living room has pretty much been turned into a storage facility for boxes and packaging materials. We don’t want to get rid of them for a while in case we need to return something.  It’s amazing how much stuff we’ve re-accumulated in just under 2 months though-from desks to dishes…  We’re striving to keep our load light but things don’t always go according to plan. 

I bought some fresh organic catnip for Ox and Paws which they loved! Today has been a fun day, it felt like my birthday because I got 5 packages in the mail!  I have new healthy herbs to make tea with, a printer, a free beach bag from a credit institution for spending so much darn money, and my mom was wonderful enough to send some love in the form of some kitchenwares and my beloved ol’ foot massager (I gave it to her when we hit the road and wasn’t expecting to ever see it again, so it’s an unexpected treat).   

Life is good.  I do miss the road though and I hate how much gas prices are now.  Chris was looking at these plans the other day for building a device that uses water to somehow extend the life of your fuel.  If it works, that sure would be awesome!

Best Cats In The World

These are our crazy travel cats-adjusting to life beyond the van!  They’re such good sports. We think Ox and Paws are the best cats in the world. Just look at them-they’re cute little fuzz monsters, what’s not to love?  Sure, some people might like dogs, but dogs are smelly and they drool.

Both of our cats come when we call them.  Some people say they have a hard time getting their cats to come and that cats are aloof and anti-social. Again, you just have to understand a cat’s psychology. Knowing how to do a good kitty call also helps.  Now if we could just teach them to use the toilet…(and flush afterwards) although, nevermind, I just remembered an article I once read about cat poop being toxic and hurting some marine creature if flushed down the toilet.  Ok, litterbox it is. 

Happy Valentine’s Day

Paws wants to know if you’ll be his Valentine…?

The Chicken Bone

It has been a delightful and charmed existence~the good and the bad, I have loved all the ups and downs for they are the sugar and spice of life.

I swallowed a chicken bone (sharp)-by mistake obviously.  I wondered what dammage it might cause internally.  We walked around for a while and I put it out of my mind.  But now it has been a little over an hour and there is a sharp sickening pain in my stomach, and it is cold outside and I am sweating.  What happens when you swallow a sharp object?  The body is just tissue, flesh, acids… What defense does it have?

Other thoughts occur-would I go to a hospital if it meant saving my life?  Yes, but only if I knew i would otherwise die-otherwise, a false alarm would be too devastating a price monetarily. 

We hung out on the beach for about an hour, but it was cold and windy, so we didn’t swim today.  Sure was fun yesterday though-it’s hard to describe in words just how fun tackling waves is for me-it’s so easy, I feel so strong and capable-just soaring over the waves as they crash to shore~wondering why I’m the furthest one out~and why Chris is still watching nervously from the shore-worrying about sharks.

At the Theater of the Sea, an employee said the chances of getting bit by a shark are about 1 in 600,000-you have a greater chance of getting struck by lightning (1 in 30,000 I think).  And the rare shark bite is usually a case of mistaken identity-thinks you’re a sea turtle or something and when it realizes it’s mistake, it spits you back out. 

10:34 So I feel a little better now-maybe my body can overcome this little chicken bone matter afterall-people have survived stab and bullet wounds afterall.

Looking at a monstrous piece of chicken, Chris said, “Do you think somehow the kids in Ethiopia caused American obesity?”  haha..you know-eat your food, there are starving kids in China/Ethiopia…don’t be ungrateful by wasting it..

Chris went for a bike ride today.  We saw a really skinny girl that didn’t have a butt. Oh, and we watched some windsurfers-looks like they were having fun. 

What Did You Expect? Tamiami, FL

We’re at a park in Tamiami waiting for the pool to open at noon so we can swim and take showers.  I was sitting at a picnic table nibbling on a cookie but feeling somehow dissatisfied with the experience-it didn’t live up to my memory.  I tried to eat another more slowly still to see if I could recapture that magic-and got to thinking~sometimes there is like a shadow or an echo of a taste-that we do not always need the full flavor.  Our memory kicks in and taste is an autopilot function that many of us are not actively engaged in-we do not always look for subtle differences or register that an experience is not what one thinks it is.

For example, in Austin I was drinking a small bottle of unpasteurized orange juice just raving about how it was the best orange juice I’d ever had.  When it was gone, I refilled the bottle with pineapple juice, and the next day sat drinking it.  Chris asked for a sip-thinking it was the the orange juice I’d raved about.  I played along & handed it to him, trying to keep a straight face.  Afterwards, I asked what he thought & he nodded in approval and said it was good.  Later, I offered him some pineapple juice but he refused, “You know I don’t like pineapple juice.”

“What if I told you that orange juice you had earlier was pineapple juice?”

“I’d know the difference,” he assured me.  Well apparently not.  The minds power of expectation…drinking “orange juice” and expecting something good-that is what you get.  Drinking pineapple juice and expecting something-likewise, that is what you get.  Taste your food as though for the first time…you might be surprised. 

Bang! You’re dead.

5:13 A.M.  “What does it take to get her up to write this early?” the watching world wonders- apparently, my own death.  It was a dream without plot.  One minute Chris & I were fighting because he wanted to go on this tour and have the van re-tiled.  It sounded good until I saw the pricetag in the thousands.  The ridiculous price meant nothing to him-he had made up his mind based on feeling, not practicality or logic.  It seemed we were going to go our separate ways-he was trying to sell the van, even though I was in it. 

Suddenly, two big trucks came up, said they’ve been looking for a van like this-and then start blasting the crap out of the van and us without motive.  We didn’t have a chance-they had a missile, machine guns, and to take all sport out of the matter-they had bullet proof glass.  It seemed so senseless yet real and final. It’s interesting, I’ve heard people say you can’t die in a dream.  I was shot dead and everything went white.  I also heard that you can’t read in a dream, again not true.  Black letters appeared on the white screen:

“Bang! You’re dead,” like a computer game-then I woke up.

I woke up feeling afraid-like life is so tender and short-and we can die for the most senseless of reasons.  But then I suppose that’s what computer games are like too-the player might start out with a goal and then there are all these obstacles to get around.  And like a game, life can be very absorbing, randon, full of surprises, and we all know- life can seem unfair. 

So, if life is a game and we exist but temporarily inside this matrix, I wonder what the goal of the game is.  To have fun?  To win? To get the highest score?  Or perhaps to convince other would be “players” (livers) that it’s a good game worth playing.

Chris is gently snoring.  All is still dark, I’m writing by the blue glow of a mini flashlight.  Roosters are crowing-prematurely it seems… yet it is somehow comforting to know I am not the only one whose awake. 

Traveling, I have seen all these memorials-be it for hurricane victims from 1935,  or a deceased, but loved county commissioner, or a wealthy old couple who donated piles of money or land to a park or library-and have their picture there with gracious thanks for their generosity-it all seems so meaningless when these people existed before my birth.  It’s nice to have the park, but does it really matter who made it possible? 

It’s of mild interest, particularly if there’s a story behind it-but for the most part, these monuments that say, basically, “I was here, I existed,” seem silly.  They make the family and friends feel like they’re doing something to keep that person alive and relevant for a while.

These monuments could be destroyed, or replaced with new monuments, dedicated to different people, and the world would just move on.  New life would come, the cycle of life continuing, the focus staying on the young-the relevant.  And that’s what monuments are-an attempt to preserve a bit of our youth & relevance-a lasting display of our life’s work.  But while billions of others go on existing, living, and striving after a bit of their own relevance, it feels like an impossible task to appreciate everyone all at once. 

We forget and we move on with our own life stories.  We wonder to whom and for how long our life will be relevant.  We carve our names in trees, dump junk in landfills, kill strangers overseas—millions live, millions die-we seem quite capable of carrying on regardless of what great or terrible thing came before us.  We start new-as though the world has only just begun existing with our own set of experiences.  Thrashing, tearing, striving, racing toward the unknown finish line.  5:50 A.M. 

Help, We’re Locked Out of Our Van!

Ok, so around 3:30 we stopped at a Starbucks.  Chris had been driving, but my keys were in the ignition-I ran inside to use the restroom, taking for granted that he had the keys.  We ordered our drinks and were on our way back out when Chris got this concerned look on his face and asked if I had a spare key-I thought he was joking.  Turns out he had taken the keys out of the ignition, then opened the side door to get something-set my keys down next to his, then forgot BOTH sets of keys.

I’m irritated, he’s defensive-things are escalating-he’s determined to fix it ourselves-not to pay someone a bunch of money for a careless mistake. He’s trying to figure out a way to get through the window, or open the hood in hopes of triggering a fuse that might unlock the doors..I’m worrying he’s going to make things worse…things are getting tense and neither one of us wants to be the one to ask for help…plus our cell phones are in the van.

Then Mike came along…this guy had the patience of a saint-he stood with me for 2 hours as we worked things out.  I said how we didn’t have much money & mentioned how our cargo box had been hit and it seemed like we were having a bit of bad luck.  He had suggested AAA, then had another thought-what about the Honda Dealer?

Next thing I know, I’m back in Starbucks using their phone book to find a Honda dealer & and I get ahold of a nice guy who says, “no problem, happens to all of us, I can get you a spare for $5, where are you?”  Only it turns out the unfamilar city I’m in is more than an hour and a half away, so he goes online and gets me another number.  Only the next guy is more concerned with red tape-he says he needs proof of ownership-my ID and insurance card are not enough.  I say I’ve got the title in my van..he talks to his manager and calls me back to say he’s sorry but they can’t.  I’m breaking the bad news to Chris & Mike-Mike says I should call back and ask to speak with the manager-to be persistant.  This I do, but am still getting the same story.  I’m about the hang up, Chris reaches for the phone, “so if I pull up our registration online, will that suffice?”  Finally, the guy relents, but we still had to get there.  Mike’s car was full of stuff, but he pointed to a car from Montana with a bike on the roof, “he’s got a bike, you’ve got a bike….worth a shot.”  And sure enough, the guy from Montana comes out, is real nice and agrees to give Chris a ride to the dealer.  Mike waits with me and keeps me entertained with travel stories, stem cell research, a restaurant he walked by in South Korea with a cat chained to the oven, his soft spot for animals and the 3 cats he’s adopted, among other things.

A guy from the Honda dealership gave Chris a ride back, and we had a spare key for just $3, (plus the $4 it had cost to pull up our proof of ownership)-but all in all, way cheaper than the alternatives.

It’s funny how things can just sort of work themselves out. The lesson of the day was persistence.  I never would have thought to pick up that phone and call again after being told no.  Plus, in a funny way I got what I had wanted-to stop driving, spend some time outdoors and get to know someone.  Kind of reminds me of The Secret.

A word from Ox and Paws…

Meow-weee, Hey folks! We’ll have to make this quick,  We’re  busy guys you know….lots of windows to keep an eye on, food that needs eatin’, water that needs tipping over, blankets to fuzz up, kitty litter to scatter, massages to purr through, suitcases to claw, catnaps to take, humans to train… We’re swamped! Some days I just don’t know how we manage,  but that’s what they’re feedin’ us the good stuff for.  Speaking of which….*gasp* we’re almost out of food! Help a cat out,

PurrBallFully,

Ox & Paws *kiss kiss*

12:03 A.M.

I look at my watch, just now, as the desire to do something with purpose arises- the desire to be productive-to build toward something tangible.  And when I see the lateness of the hour, it is not relief I feel-to be spared the burden of this task-but a twinge of disappointment-that it would be nice to stay up late, thinking & writing.  We are housesitting, however, and the dogs will need feeding and to be taken outside around 6A.M. 

I wonder why I make so many unsatisfactory decisions-especially with money…like that taco salad that was far from the fresh mixed greens experience I had hoped for-a nasty fried tortilla shell smothered with sour cream-one could hardly call it a salad.  And why did I let myself get suckered into getting that silly back scratcher from Mexico? 

Birthday dinner at Lake Elmo Inn

Lake Elmo Inn, known for its pampering service and delicious food, is independently owned and operated.  It’s also the first place I ever worked. Back in the day, I fell in love with their wild duck soup, which I was pleased to see is still on their menu and just as good as ever.

Other options include roast duck, rack of lamb, mouthwatering steaks….delicious pasta, and lots of other choices.

My favorite day to work at Lake Elmo Inn was Sunday.  That was the one day I actually got to sit down for a rushed 10 or 15 minute break and chow on the delectable brunch buffet offerings….all the expected breakfast fare, and a whole array of unbeatable dessert offerings too-like the classic Sin Of The Inn.

When I make it back to Minnesota, it’s cool when I have an excuse to go to Lake Elmo Inn as a pampered guest-kind of a ”Yay! It’s my turn!” moment.  Pretty slick of me to have my birthday in MN this year, made for a perfect excuse to go, and my Mom was kind enough to pick up the check-even better

Just a side note, but Lake Elmo Inn is one of the only places I’ve seen an automatic seat cover changer in the bathroom…you push a button and a new plastic seat cover spins out.  And that’s even before those paper ones started popping up everywhere.

And another innovation, now they have a coat attendent to give you a pickup ticket for your Minnesota bulky winter coat.  As a special birthday treat, our table was offered our choice of complimentary champaign or sparkling grape juice also.