Peach Cobbler

Back up to the creek this week to pick peaches. Although the mud surrounds their trunks, the trees are producing wonderfully. I don't know if they will survive, but we continue to reap the bounty of the fruit.

The Peace Corps roller coaster continues, but in my favor. And it has occurred to me - I'm going!!! I don't know where, what, or when. But I am going. Other plans are underfoot. I'm fixing all of the little things on the car, in preparation for selling her - things like replacing the belt, flushing the radiator, maintenance type projects.

And best of all, I'm getting ready to take a vacation. I'm flying to New York state where my parents live and will have two glorious weeks of visiting, being by a lake, scrabble, and being taken care of. Not to mention perhaps a lazy rainy day. Tule will go to dog camp which she greatly enjoys.

Sadly this week we said goodbye to Tom, our superintendent, and his very fun family. He's moving on to another park, as is the habit of us parkies. I wrote on his card that I hope to know him for a very long time. I'm sure I will and it will enrich my life to make that effort.

Peace Corps Update

After jumping through a few more hoops medically last week, I received a message from the Peace Corps today. Perhaps some of my returned Peace Corps volunteer friends could help interpret the news. I think it is all positive.

"Medical: Complete. A decision has been reached regarding your medical review. Please look for a letter in the mail."

"In order to coordinate your invitation with your medical accommodation requirements, the Office of Medical Services and the Office of Placement began an OMS/Placement review on August 12, 2008."

I really can't imagine what my medical accomodation requirements are since my doctor was waxing poetic about how healthy I am. It may mean I go to South Africa instead of Senegal? Aye! Stay tuned.

The thesis front is more dismal. Upon further review of my advisor's most recent comments, I really don't feel there is any way I can do what he needs me to do. So plan B is to ditch this effort and start over. I still have three years to finish my degree. Plan B involves getting a new advisor and turning my Peace Corps work into my thesis. I am slated to be doing environmental ed and that should make a nice project to write about for my environmental Masters. I've got an appointment to speak with my college advisor (different from my thesis advisor) next week. She is wonderful and will give me good advice. Stay tuned on that front as well.

Tanks

Most of us do not associate Monday morning comic relief with utility companies. But as we know, every now and then the world surprises us. A few days after the flood I called all of my utility companies to shut things down at the mudded house. The propane company gave me the happy news that I would get a refund for the propane in my tank once they had a chance to go in and pull out the tanks. Yipee. So two days ago, an envelope from the propane company was in my mail box. Imagine my disappointment when I opened it and found a bill for the next year’s tank rental. I called this morning to explain the mistake which was quickly acknowledged. The woman on the phone then went on to explain why refund checks had not come out yet. Seems as though many of the tanks cannot be found, cannot be removed, etc. I smiled to myself and smugly informed her that my tank only moved about six feet, was lodged up against my house, and was easy to access and easy to read, therefore it should be no problem to determine my refund. After waiting the requisite beat of a seasoned comedian, she replied, “That’s not your tank.” So, who knows when I’ll get my refund, but she did make me laugh. Seems as though the tanks have serial numbers making it easy to know whose is whose.

Pedicures For All My Friends

Or, Baboon Behavior 101.

The day I was driving through Bishop to spend my Red Cross Kmart voucher, I passed a spa advertising pedicures. Now that's what I really need, I thought. Later I joked to friends that the Red Cross should be giving our pedicure vouchers. Well, one of those friends took me at my word and got me a gift card. Today I had my luxurious treat.

Reminded me of course of the million times I've taken advantage of Mom trimming my toenails. Even now, at 40 years of age, I can't get together with her without coercing her into clipping and picking at my toes. She's so indulgent. She'll do one foot, then the other, then another, as all the little hair folicles on my head stand on end. I'm guessing she caught on to that trick years ago. But she's a good sport and baboon mother. For those of you who question the value of old Matlock reruns, know that they are the perfect foil for mindless foot picking. And for those of you who cringe at the thought of human baboonery, well you never had a Mom like mine. I'm so sorry. A little girl was hanging out while her mother worked in the spa. I asked her to pick out a color for me. Fantastic, n'est-ce pas?

Remembering Farley

The little kitty who didn't come out of the mud. I have given up trying to find the other cat; the raccoons were eating the food I left out.

Farley was the shy one, the one disinterested in human affection. But she loved her brother, Hayduke. They came from the shelter as feral kittens. She was quick to curl up with Tule, and didn't mind the doggie licks across her face. Farley was the killer of the bunch, specializing in lizards, birds, and the occassional pack rat. She liked sleeping on the patio chair in the shade, was good at climbing trees, and had a habit of leaving rodent parts under the bed.

My favorite Farley story is from when we moved up to Oak Creek two years ago from our little house in town by the cow pasture. I spent a long weekend cleaning the old place, after moving our things up to the creek. The last piece of the puzzle was to catch the cats and take them up. I got Hayduke without much trouble, stuffed him in the kitty cage, and locked him in the new house. No Farley, though. The dogs, Hayduke, and I spent the night at the new place - completely out of the old house. The next morning the dogs and I went back down to see if we could find her. I had no idea how I could possibly catch her, though. Well we stood in the back yard for just a few minutes. I set the open kitty cage on the back step. Darned if she didn't waltz all the way across our big open yard right into the kitty cage. 'Nuf said. We were family.

Our New Home

Here are a few photos of the new place. I am still feeling discombobulated - can't find anything, worried about Tule and Hayduke settling in. I guess this is a lesson preparing me for Africa where I probably won't feel in control of anything for the first year that I'm there.
The porch where we like to sit and have breakfast and supper.
Living room and desk. I haven't thought to sit in the living room yet, but it's nice to have my desk unpacked. Cable internet hooked up in a few days.
Won't eat at the table, chairs seem fragile. Nor at the breakfast counter which like many things in the house is designed for people much smaller than I - like the ceiling fans.
Wonderful bed and nice lamps. Cozy set-up here. Thanks for the sheets, Mel.
The glorious guest bathroom. The hidden secret in this room is that the bathtub (for little people) is serving as my storage space! What a happy moment it was when I thought to do that.