The "what's next"symdrome

Ever since we made the trek to good old Nevada, I keep asking myself what will happen now. Well here is, I thought we had finally made it through the worse of the winter weather. Yes, it is still winter here and most likely continue to see some kind of winter storm until late June, but that's not really what's next. What is, is we have been here one month and have completely ran out of propane and no where within 100 miles to fill the tanks. Three tanks in fact two 40-lb. tanks and a 100-lb. tank, this is a little dis-heartening considering when it is warmer we can go 3-4 months just on the big tank. To make things a little more interesting is that means no cooking, showers, dishes etc... until Friday. Well maybe some cooking as long as its done in the microwave. Oh, did I mention we are completely broke. Yep a whole 35 dollars to our name. So even if I wanted to drive the 100-plus miles to Elko Nevada, I can't. Thankfully I did have the peace if mind to pack the heater, so I won't be in an igloo at nights, i didn't however pack the range just for emergencies such as this.
I do have to be conscious of the fact that I am heating with electric heat, this morning I was with out power, apparently at some point after Monte had left for work the main breaker in the trailer flipped. Not a huge deal it just meant that my heater was working overtime. Note to self, make sure to clean the air intake filter once in a while. It was disgusting. Amazing when its clean it even heats better, what do you know. I'm a genius. NOT!
So for the next two days I am gonna be ruffing it, kinda. if you can call microwave meals and a washcloth shower ruffing it.
As it would seem nothing ever happens just by its self, so while I now have to "ruff" it, it almost got much worse. We had the problem when we arrived, the waste tanks freezing, we fixed that by getting a tarp and wrap part of the end of the trailer to trap some of the heat coming from the propane heater we got to thaw out the tanks. Like I said earlier we are completely out of propane, so heating them to get things moving again was out of the question, unless I wanted to spend my day under the trailer with my blow dryer, and that ain't happening. The low teen temperatures had given me reason to suspect that to be the case. But today, the temperatures once again reached sweltering heat of a whopping 42 degrees. Knowing that I went back to the drawing board, and came to the conclusion we had a plugged toilet. Its definitely not easier to plunge out the clog, mainly because a trailer toilet is well nothing more than a port-a-potty that can imitate a flush. I was hoping to finally use my toilet wand to clear the clog, but alas it didn't help any, so I had to get the broom handle, yes I know what your thinking and no I didn't use my broom, I have an extra handle for such an occasion. With my broomstick in hand and some poking and prodding the blockage washed away. Yeah another headache gone, I'll have to run the water more frequently so this sorta thing doesn't happen again.
Yes it may seem these little incidences are nothing more than a nuisance, but to be living in the moment with them it can feel like nothing good is happening, or than it will never end. You'd think by now after 4 years of trailer life nothing would seem to bother me and I just go with the flow, apparently I get "blocked up" to.

Frustrations

While living in my trailer is quite boring, I do try to find things to occupy my time so the days don't feel like they are never ending. Lately I have been trying to do all the legwork for my grandmother, so that not only she but that family as well, have an up-to-date family tree and address book. I have spent many, many late nights trying to find those who are family and ask for their information, while I have had some success for the most part I have fallen short. I am not sure if it that they just don't feel like replying or they just think I'm some nut trying to get info on them. Either way my efforts are falling on deaf ears.

Not that I'm really complaining, well I guess I am, why must it be so difficult to do something so selfless and take care of the things that mean a great deal to those whom you care greatly for. She (my grandmother) has given of herself for almost 90 years to all who she would call family and friends. She has never asked or wanted help from anyone, maybe it was the era that she was raised, that the woman must take care of the family and household. But now, due to a recent stroke that has taken part of her and her spirit, how can I not want to give her something. She has for many years sent letters, cards well wishes to all she meets, I somehow feel that in some way I am keeping that alive for her even if I am the one doing it. It gives her pleasure knowing that this simple card giving, while to many is outdated thanks to the Internet, is in some small way letting each person that card so lovingly has been sent to, lets them know that yes, there is someone out there that thinks of me and wants me to know that I am loved.

I have been shouldering this burden for 5 months now, even though this is not what I wanted to do in the beginning I knew that it was for her that I was doing it not for me. Knowing that I boxed up my selfishness and chose to give a little of myself for something that is hers and continue sending those little reminders that you are still loved and not forgotten.

How I wish, that there were more out there in the world that gave a moment of the day to someone that just might need that reminder. I know that we are here in this world for better or worse to impact the people we meet and share our lives with.

Yesterday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery

Today is a gift

Those words are so true, how can we not take the time and share a moment of our time with those who are important.

Today is number 1

Well here it is, the very first blog. I will admit this is something that I thought would never be doing, sending out into the Internet stream, my thought, worries and all my crazy travel woes. And yet here I am doing it.
I hope that whomever decides that this is worthy of their time enjoys to read. You might find that some days there will be a long winded narrative of the days happenings and others will be a blip. Either way I'm sure you will enjoy.

This is just a side note, Spot as you would have it is not the names of any of my kids, but was my nickname in high school. Thanks in part to Walt Disney's "The Newsies", even today, 15 years later I'm still stuck with the name.