Tuesday evening, January 18, 2011 Tubac, AZ.
No WIFI in this place, the Trailer Tether. I crept slowly in with Mozart around 7:30 p.m. in the dark, and didn't see much on the way except a clear darkening sky and a huge full or just-about-full moon up 45 degrees when I got my first glimpse.
I'll start with yesterday; up and on the road at 6 a.m. and drove to Needles for gas at $3.38 and a 1/2 mile out of town it was $2.89. Doesn't that just make you wanna scream? Well, I did. Loud and long. AAARRRGGGHHH! so now I look for the truckstop gas LOVE'S (isn't that a great name? like the bread) and TRW or something.
I was ridin' on fumes by the time I neared my Sun City Grande destination, and had to pull in for another fill-up. I'm having doubts about Texas because of the distance and because of major electrical issues with my rv; and because of the cost of gas. Mainly because of non-confidence with the rv. I pulled into Dan and Linda Foss' beautiful homestead and had no interior lights. New battery, remember? Bummer. Dan checked it out this morning but it was beyond his expertise. He has a 200' rv (I'm exaggerating a little) and I didn't even want to see it because I'd have RV ENVY and Linda said even THEY have RV envy! Everybody gets it! Hahaha! Well, I really really like my little rig, but I want to have confidence in it that it will do what it's supposed to do.
My propane was just above half this morning. I started with a full tank. Where did it go? Then the refer was on, but now that it's turned to elec, it's not very cold... maybe it's just slow.
Anyway I spent a lovely night in a beautiful house with a "spool" [spa/pool] and a 3-hole putting course in the back yard on the lake on a golf course. I didn't like the tall metal fence, but sure enjoyed sitting by the firepit and having a glass of wine with them and their neighbor. Linda made a fantastic delicious chile relleno for dinner. It was really terrific. Dan told me she makes several at once and freezes them. Here's her great idea... she cooks with the rubbery pans, freezes the casseroles, the pops them out into plastic bags for storage in the freezer; then pulls one out, puts it into the rubbery pan for cooking. One pan, lots of different casseroles. Brilliant idea. Super great for motorhome travel when one has a freezer on board! I have a Playmate by igloo. Not quite the same.
Their front doormat cracked me up! I took a photo of it. Here:
So it's like summer here. I brought exactly ONE pair of shorts and I'm going to wear them every day until I'm back on the coast, I think. I brought a swimsuit, too, but haven't uncovered it yet.
I left Dan and Linda and headed toward Phoenix around 10 or 11 this morning, thinking I'd have lots of time to get to Tubac before dark. My friend Alan is visiting a ladyfriend in Tucson, so I called him to see if he could look at my electrical problem. He told me where to meet him and it just happened to be THE SAFEWAY where the shootings were last week! OMG. There were shrines everywhere and piles of flowers on the corner and I only took one photo of the front of the store from a great distance as I was too embarrassed to get closer and gawk. Horrible tragedy and there I was, right where it happened!
Alan checked out the new battery, connections, and the wiring, replace one fuse inside, but we couldn't tell what that one had done, and he felt bad because he couldn't fix it and I had to get going.
I left him and phoned another friend of mine with an rv in Tucson and he gave me directions to his place and said he was near an rv repair shop so I hurried over but when I got there at 4 he was tied up on the phone with business for almost an hour and I was chomping at the bit and my skin was starting to crawl and he finally looked at more fuses, burned out 1 or 2, traced some others, and voila! I have light, but I still don't have power to my power panel!
I'm now hooked up to shore power, have water coming in and I'll be ok here for the next 3 days. Then I'll return to Tucson and deal with the problem before I continue with my trip... Scottsdale to Sedona to ? Since the weather is nice now, I really really REALLY want to go to the Grand Canyon to paint for a day or two. Then to Albuquerque and maybe Santa Fe. Texas? Oh so far, so much ga$ and I'm waffling today on that.
It wasn't the happiest day; I'm better now, more relaxed, safe for tonight and when I stopped at Trader Joe's this morning, I was able to stock up on lunch food for the next 3 class days. So I'm ok for now. I'll post this as soon as I get a connection. Until then, be happy!
Wednesday eve, January 19, 2011
ok today was the first class. 8 students that include the coordinator, Kathy, and her sister Helen, Lee who is picking me up in a few minutes to go to a WOMEN AND WINE party that takes place the 2nd Weds of every month, or 3rd or whatever this one is; and I got a ride back to CoCo for my gold boots, blue lapis, blue pants, print shirt, red jacket and hot curling ironed hair and fresh red lipstick! This place is fabulous. Casitas everywhere just outside the town/village; not time yet to browse or shop, or anything since we spent the whole day at the State Park and painted. I'll put up the picture; mine was about 4th best in the class, so I don't feel smug or left out or however one feels at one end or t'other of the art ability spectrum. It's good, all women except for Michael Chesley Johnson, who is quite married and knows Maeve Croghan!
We had an oil demo this morning; only one other student is pastels, so tomorrow will be a pastel demo at a golf club where there are some old farm buildings, silo, grainery, etc. Should be fun; Lee will pick me up. Her husband is out on the coast; they're from LA and he misses the ocean. Can't say I blame him at all. I'm looking for water... heard there was a lake at the golf club... not my idea of water, but reflections, trees, etc. might make it ok. Running water is pretty scarce here, except for the Colorado and I picked up a jug-full to help flush out the potty.
I'm hooked up to the water here now, and tonight when I return I'll light the hot water heater so in the morning I can shower. There is a shower available, but I'd rather get used to my own rig. I'm concerned about the refer; it runs on gas, but I don't want to use up my gas while I'm sittin' here, but then I don't want to ruin my food, either. I will need ice tomorrow and might just want a cold beer when I return after painting all day. it's a veyr long day; 9 until 4. We were invited to Cathryn's casita (bigger than a casita I can assure you) for wine this evening, and I caught a ride with her, had a glass of red, looked around; beautiful, close to neighbors, nicely decorated, lovely. here's my ride. tata.
So... a party of women drinking wine, eating fingerfood that everyone was supposed to bring in addition to a bottle of wine each. I think I'll start doing this in Mendocino.
The best was jicama with chili powder and lime and a spicy dip; then Lee, the lovely woman who took me there, had brought a chile relleno casserole and it was fabulous. There were a couple of other dips and chips and some cheese and a cheese platter and then some salami with cheese and gluten free crackers came. It was nice. full moon. I loved being in this bveautiful empty home with strangers... fun to talk to a few and might even have made an art connection as well as connecting with someone who visits the north Calif. coast on occasion.
So I get back to Coco and there's NO ELECTRICITY! I don't get it. I was there earlier, plugged in the curling iron, turned on the lights, turned everything off when I left, and zap............ nada. Thank goodness I have the battery lantern to get me through the night. It's 7:40. I really don't want to go to bed quite yet. What do I do?
I walked down to the deli touse their wifi.. they're closed and I can't get logged on so I'm writing this in my journal and will send it whenever I get a connection. Not happy about this, but very happy to be here in this cute town, I guess... no shopping time yet... and will paint at the golf club tomorrow.
Feeling angst about the rv electrical problem and don't think I want to head out into TX with the situation the way it is now. We'll see. Maybe Tom Higgins can fix it on Saturday. Bummah.
Friday morning January 21 and it looks like my computer clock is on CA time less 22 minutes because it says 5:50 and it's 8:12 here. Another beautiful sunny day here; I had heat last night and lights, so I sweated until about 1:30 when i finally got up and turned OFF the heater control and then slept so hard because I was under down and it got pretty cold and you know how you sleep hard when it's cold? well, I didn't wake up until about 7:30.
I thought stream of consciousness writing would be more fun than dragging the Dell down to the Deli (always adore alliteration, especially when it's not planned) to get online. I'll send this out tonight with pictures.
Anyway, I got up and cleaned up and boiled the eggs I'd bought at Trader Joe's in Sun City Grande before they all floated (one did) and smelled something funny and realized my eggs weren't the only things cookin' when I noticed an orange glow on the edge of my small paper plate. Ok good sign. I'm startin' this day out by puttin' out fires so that means I'll have a really good day painting. We're going to a mission. My new friend Leigh is picking me up. She's great hauling me and my stuff, and boy you should see my stuff... WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over the top as far as stuff goes. Then there's Katherine from Creed and originally from Arkansas, and she's got me talkin' lak her already! Can you tell? Well, sounds just lak thaaat!
I'm inspired to write about my experiences here or on this trip and hope I find a way to copy the blog for the times when I type live and in living color! For now, I gotta get going! Almost 8:30 and class is at 9. Leigh is picking me up in 10. tata!
Friday night. The group went to a Greek-Mexican restaurant for dinner! After a riproaring game of pool in the very old 18890's bar next door, we tucked into a dinner of moussaka or chile rellenos, tilapia or spanakopita or whatever. It was fun talking to everyone to find out how they happened to get to Tubac. I was the only outsider and might like to return next year around this same time. I like it here! I really like these women! One just had reconstruction surgery for advanced breast cancer surgery and was actually the coordinator of this group. She had 6 sisters and a brother growing up, and has 4 of her sisters here! Pretty amazing. I think her brother is nearby, also.
It was a beautiful day; started out a little chilly, but warmed up nicely and I was able to complete (almost) 2 pieces at the Tumacacori National Park mission grounds. I painted the door to the mission and an archway with a hanging terra cotta fluted pot. Makes me want to do pottery again!
I have much unpacking of art stuff, and packing of other stuff so I can head out in the morning and meet Leigh at 10 for her to show me her jewelry at Kyle's gallery here in Tubac. And it's "ack" not "ock", btw.
It's late. 8:20 p.m. Last night I was sawing logs at this time and I'm finally finished re-packing the rv for quick escape in the morning. $24 plus tax to stay here 4 nighte... about $107. Not bad. But it's a dump. I'll try to remember to take some pictures in the morning on my way to the shower. I haven't put on the waterheater in the rv since I didn't know if I'd have gas, or lights or anything at any given time/day. It's taxing.
Saturday morning 1/22/11 in the Tubac Deli for quiche and WiFi. Good coffee, several regulars. Great quiche with a paper-thin crust that's easy to peel off!
I'll meet Leigh for a tour of the galleries that show her paintings and jewelry, want to spend at LEAST 30 minutes shopping! And then head for Tucson and probably a new converter for CoCo. Had a very comfy night last night and thought of something funny but can't remember what it was this morning! Maybe THAT's what's funny! suzi on Saturday.
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