Wire Less

The Sonora has returned to its warming ways and I write to the thrum of multiple fans since she (the Desert) appears not to have the energy to stir up a breeze. I have some chores awaiting but decided that Sunday ought to be a day of rest—pretty much like most of my other days.

The internet wireless service at the RV park has been boosted but it's still a mixed bag. Sometimes I can get a signal with all my windows shut and covered by mylar bubble sunscreens while at other times I can't pull a signal out of the ether with a grappling hook.

I've rigged a makeshift antenna by taping a dual-band wireless-N network adapter to the end of a mop. I extend it out the window so that it's above my roofline and clamp it to the window frame. Sometimes it helps with reception but all the time it looks silly.

The signal tends to degrade when there's a rig in the lot just east of mine, though they're never between me and the source antenna—not even close. So I don't get it.

Maybe I'm not wearing the right hat.

Wish come true

That cool rainy day arrived sooner than I'd hoped. No fans blasting last night and I shut all my windows, too. It's only 3 degrees warmer here in Tucson right now—44F—than it is at South Fork up in the San Juans in Colorado. The sun's out but it's supposed to rain again later today and again tomorrow.

I'm thinkin' that this is a chicken and dumplings day. I've got a new twist for my "cheater" recipe, which uses refrigerator biscuit dough. This time I've left the biscuits open in the fridge so they'll dry out a bit, a variation of an idea I saw on a TV cooking show. Hopefully it will make firmer dumplings. We'll see.

Under consideration

It's warm. Very warm. Not by local standards, of course, but folks that have air conditioning have been using it for several weeks now. I haven't turned mine on yet.

I did buy another fan. Now I have 4, including my rig's tiny bathroom exhaust fan. It's the fan that's tiny—come to think of it, so is the bathroom. The others are an odd assortment, but I won't bore you with that. Anyway, one or more of these fans are running 24/7.

It's actually not too bad. I mean, if I had to be doing manual labor right now, it wouldn't be much fun. But sitting here, just having finished an icy cold Coke—it's tolerable.

But it takes the fun out of cooking. As a result, for supper last night I had microwave popcorn and grapes for dessert. The chicken, pork, fish and steak in the cold storage are just dreams waiting for a rainy, cool day. Which have become fewer and farther between.

It will be cool in the San Juans. I think I'll stay in South Fork. I'll be just a stone throw from where the South Fork River joins the Rio Grande. It will be cool there.


I'm thinking about starting a second blog. One of different content. It's caused me to start reading the news again. I don't like reading—or hearing—the news. If it's not bad news it's stupid news. And if it's not stupid news it's outrageous news. I discovered a few years ago that filling my head with bad, stupid and outrageous stuff makes me feel awful.

And so I purposely detached myself; I quit reading, watching or listening to the news. I quit reading novels with gruesome plots. I quit writing about everything that was bad, stupid and outrageous. I even quit arguing—well, I cut back a lot. And I became a semi-hermit, only going out as necessary.

But when this darn Obama was elected, I was struck with a deep, ominous twang. It took me a while to identify the feeling, having been absent it for so long. Just as I feared—it was hope. Damned hope returns. Nertz! I don't need it. Life is much simpler without it. Now I probably have to start another blog.

Short timer

Soon it will be time to leave Tucson. Already the heat has tempted me to turn on the rig’s air conditioner once or twice. So far I’ve resisted. But the cool mountains beckon. Unfortunately, they’re still a bit too cool. In fact, it’s supposed to snow at home tomorrow.

In the park most of the mid-winter RVers, chiefly the Canadian contingent, have been replaced by Mud Season visitors from the Rockies. Mud Season is how us mountain folk refer to Spring. Only place I know where Spring is nothing to get excited about. Up to home every driving and walking surface that isn’t paved will be a quagmire. Many of the Forest Service roads won’t open until the middle of June; until they firm up traffic would simply trench them out.

Meanwhile I’ve completed several of the projects I had planned for my camper trailer. The bed’s been replaced with the new rocker recliner (Luv ya’, babe) with two four-drawer cabinets filling in for the under-bed storage that was lost in the exchange. The cabinets are much more convenient. And I still have the jackknife couch and the dinette for beds just in case, like if the Crown decides to quarter troops with me.

There’s a new large capacity convection toaster oven installed under the cook top. I also reinforced the load-bearing capability of both that cabinet and the microwave cabinet above the cook top. To keep the interior cooler I’ve rigged insulated sun shades for the windows and added an exhaust fan and a small oscillating fan.

Some projects remain. Still on my tewdew list is my kitchen counter extension. Like many rigs (other than the million-dollar behemoths), kitchen space is all but nonexistent. The counter extension will quadruple my work surface as well as providing a work area that’s raised a few inches, making it scads more comfortable for us taller types. And then I want to make an awning anchor system that will utilize the weight of my truck; still have a few wrinkles to iron out, though.

But diverse emotions abide: while I’m eager to return to Colorado, I’m sorry to think about leaving the Sonora. Ah, well, the increasing temperatures over the next six weeks will probably cure that sentiment.

Man vs Wild

Ah, the wild life. And the wildlife.

Just past midnight a week or so ago, my neighbors, Merle and Lynn¾a normally staid and quiet Canadian couple¾exited their travel trailer with all manner of whooping and thumping, raising an unholy ruckus that awakened everyone in our corner of the RV park. Fearing I might be missing a good party, I stuck my head out and asked what the fuss was all about.

Turns out that two javelina were under the Canadians’ trailer, rooting around in the bags of aluminum empties the Canadians had stored there. The javelina (HAV-ah-lee-nah), small, hairy wild hogs also known as peccary, scampered off, leaving only their musty scent on the still desert air.

Even though we are surrounded by Tucson, our wild enclave along the river continues to support a population of commonly rural residents. Besides the wild pigs, solitary jack rabbits and herds of quail, the coyotes continue their evening serenades, siren songs to pet dogs who sometimes end up on the coyotes’ menu. Then the other afternoon I spotted a road runner that was so tall I wasn’t at first sure what was speeding across the sand. His legs a blur, the spindly bird gave credence to the image of one of my all-time favorite cartoon characters. Made me smile.

Character Flaws

Deepest apologies for the long absence—but I've been on a honeymoon! And it was love at first sight!

Early December. I'm Christmas shopping, wandering with only minimal purpose, idly scanning both products and patrons. Suddenly, across the sales floor, in the midst of the gadabout shoppers and glassy-eyed salespeople, appears a vision in warm golden green brocade. She's broad and tall, with full arms and a plump, yet firm, back. I knew in an instant that we were meant for each other. Afraid to lose her in the rush, I plow through the holiday crowd. At last, breaking free, I rush the last few yards and throw myself into the arms of the most seductive recliner I have ever met. Three days later we moved in together; the intervening months have been one long orgy of unadulterated relaxation.

My extreme R&R—and the fact that I refuse to pay for internet service nor to much inconvenience myself in finding hot zones—has resulted in my thoughtlessly long absence from the waves. Hey, whaddaya want? So I'm not just lazy, but cheap too. Believe me, those are not my worst features.

Anyway, for the moment, I’m back.