When I was around fifty my daughter was trying to find entertainment for my grandson’s 5th birthday party. She was trying to hire a clown. She called the ones In The phone book (you remember that right?) they charged $150 and they were all booked. I’m always looking for a way to make more money so she called me and said”Mom, I have the perfect side business for you” all I had to do was make a clown outfit and learn how to make balloon animals in 2 weeks!! a I don’t recall ever saying no to my daughter or my grandson for that matter but I did it. I went online and bought a vcr for balloons 101 and made a clown outfit out of 100% polyester (big mistake)

I have never had so much fun in all my life and I cannot tell you how much joy I have had over the following 20 years. 

I have had a lot of jobs and businesses over my life but this is the one I miss the most. 

Watching the smiles of the children and even the parents was so rewarding. If I could do it again I would but old age creeps up on you ànd my tired hands just can’t do it anymore but gosh I miss it. Thank you Leah Shanahan Reed for introducing me to the most enjoyable time of my life. Besides your birth of course. (😇)

 We spent one night at the empire rest stop on 101 North. Ana cried the whole time I was driving. I did pull over and try to comfort her and she was quiet for a while but she was not happy. She was fine when we weren’t moving but as soon as we started up again she was miserable. I did sleep well so that was good. She didn’t drink any water and that bothered me. When I woke she ate a lot which was good but still no water. I took off for Eureka but I felt strongly that she was not going to be a traveling cat so when I got to Eureka I gassed up and turned around to head home.

I think I failed to mention that when we first left Petaluma she was in her “no escape” harness so I felt pretty good about her safety. However about five seconds after I took off she was out of it and all over the car.  When we were on our way to Eureka we had a long talk. She said “take me home, and never put me in a car again”.😩

I didn’t want to give up on my road trips, after all I am 79 and I have no idea how much time I have left but I also know that Ana will be happier alone at home than with me in my car.

The gas!! $6.59 a gallon. Really bad planning on my part.

Oh well June I’m getting my oil changed and hopefully I will be able to take another road trip. I’m thinking south along the coast this time. Monterey and Santa Cruz.

I did get my annual National parking pass so that will come in handy.

Until next time.

On the road again…

 My car is almost ready. Ana doesn't know it yet but she is too. I have an order coming in tomorrow that I need for my trip then I am on my way.

 My back seats have been removed and my cot came yesterday. I know I need to rearrange but that will probably happen more than once, knowing me. Ana was not fond of her second harness so the third one is coming today, fingers crossed. My plan is to take to the road next Sunday. Shooting for overnight but if it goes well I may keep going.

See ya!

 Good morning, still getting my car ready for my big adventure. Ana’s first harness looked very uncomfortable so I returned it and got a softer version. I guess I will remove my back seats myself today so stand by. I also found a shorter cot on Walmart that should fit in my car so I ordered it. I’m getting antsy to go. I’m 79; not sure why I waited so long To do this. But I’m doing this. My ultimate goal is Alaska. it’s okay if it takes me a year to get there. What else would I be doing? Nothing; sitting in my apartment waiting to die. Ana has Aids. Maybe she needs an adventure, maybe she doesn’t want to sit in her apartment waiting to die. Let’s do this Ana, Alaska here we come!!

Taking my cat, Ana, car camping

 A couple of nights ago I took Ana out to my car for a couple of hours. At first she was all over the car checking it out. She found her food right away and started eating. She also found her covered litter box and used it, yay!! I crawled up and lay down on my bed and she sat in her litter box! “Ana, come up here”, and she did. She stretched out next to me and for an hour, I swear she didn’t even blink. I’m thinking she wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. Then I said, okay let’s go home and put her crate out. She jumped in and we went home.

I got my car refrigerator yesterday and it’s pretty cool.i just need a good power supply for when I shut off my car; otherwise it will run on my car battery when I’m driving.

I’m also looking into some solar panels.

I was wondering how to secure Ana when I’m driving and also if I’m outside my car cooking where do I put her? I found this clear back pack for animals so she can see everything and yet she’ll be safe. It will come on Saturday. As soon as I figure out how to post photos I will.

A little history on Ana. She is around 8 years old. I found her at Pet food express on their adoption day. I think it was fate. My middle name is Ann and my clown name was SunshineAnnie. She also has felineHIV. But she is very healthy. We are super close.

I will research how to post photos so I can show you her new crate.

Ham radio

 So after going through the testing for all three licenses and spending a fortune on rigs I have decided to give it all up. I can’t do ham radio and travel. I’ve already sold my 2730 and an antenna and because of the extra money I got a refrigerator for my car. 

I took Ana out on the patio a couple of days ago and she did not like the leash. She managed to out of all of it in about three seconds. I put just the harness on today and tightened it up but no leash yet.

I got her portable litter box. It’s pretty cool it’s completely contained with a flap for her to enter and it has a drawer that I pull out to clean it out.

I ordered another 3” memory foam mattress because I have feeling 3” isn’t enough and I want to be comfortable. I also ordered a sheet so I can tuck it all in. 

Let’s see today I got my portable fan that uses USB port to charge and a black and decker hand vacuum for my car. I have a frig coming Monday and a cargo box for the roof of my car for extra storage. Mostly for tools and maybe extra blankets. Oh I also got a code reader for when the check engine light goes out, and pepper spray.

I guess I’m mostly concerned about how Ana is going to handle all this. It will definitely be a new experience for her. I’m taking her for a long weekend.

Later

CR-V

 So I’m in the process of fixing my CR-V also I can camp in it. I got my 3”memory foam mattress and I put that in the back with the back seats down. My grandson came over Sunday and said he could take out the back seats for me which will give me more head space. Each month I’m going to buy a few things for my camping trips. This month was bed, mesh window covers and rain guards. That’s so I can roll down the windows a bit to let air in. I already had window covers for night time when I go to sleep. I have two one burner stove tops to boil water, make coffee etc. Shane said he had a two burner Coleman stove I could have with wind guards so that will be great. I ordered a hot spot so I’ll have WiFi but it won’t get here for a few more weeks.i have power banks, nothing heavy duty but I can charge my 330 watt one in my cigarette lighter. I also got a harness and leash for my cat. I put it in her and she didn’t fight it but not sure if she likes it. I want to take her for a walk but I’ll probably start with the patio first. I also got a mount for my Icom 2730 ham radio. It fits in my cup holder.

Next month I want to get a good cooler. I thought about a refrigerator but they need a better power source and those are pricey. Also where would I put it. Also need a portable litter box. 

Also next month I want to get a cargo box for my roof. I can store a lot in one of those. Also will get bear spray for when I’m hiking but I need to find out if they are actually harmful to the bear. If anyone knows please let me know. I figure the bear has more right to be there than me so…

I need a portable fan., fire extinguisher. I also need to renew my passport but can’t do that until the end of the year.

I have a narrow container with a lid that’s very sturdy that I can use to store kitchen stuff. I also have a three drawer plastic storage unit that I can store under my bed. I’m hoping with the back seats gone I can buy a cot that fits, if all else fails I can use my patio lounger as a cot. It doesn’t lay back all the way but it reclines so I think it will work.

That’s all for now, God bless,

 It’s getting iffy here with the changes in management and ownership of my apartment community. My rent is $279 so if I have to leave my apartment I’m not sure where I’ll go. I’m seriously considering moving into my car. I love to drive and I’ve always wanted to travel all over the states. This would be a good time after the snow is gone.

I’ve started to sell my furniture. I bought some supplies for my car. A 3” memory foam mattress. I already have a sleeping bag. I’ll try that first and if I need more I’ll see if I can find a cot to put in the back of my car. I’ve gotten rid of a lot of art supplies. I’ll bring my charcoal pencils and probably color pencils and my crocheting. I’m very low income so my family gets home made things for birthdays and handmade ornaments for Christmas. I love to read and I like Libby which is a library app so I don’t have to pack a lot of books, although there are a couple I will bring. I have two different one burner propane elements. I might get the two burner one but will see how these work out. I do love to cook so that might be my biggest challenge. I do want to get a refrigerator but it depends on if and when I can get a power supply for it. Some things are going to be on my list and every month I will get a couple of more. This month is my 3” mattress, rain guards for the car, mount for my ham radio, hot spot (WiFi), cat leash. I already have some storage once I get my bed I’ll be able to figure out the storage and see what I need to buy. I have solar panels and a power bank, not sure if it does much. I know it will power up my laptop and iPhone but not any appliances, that’s why the stove top. I have to have my coffee! I would like to get solar panels for the roof of my car so that will go on my May list and maybe a really good power bank. I’m also trying to make more money cleaning apartments and shampooing carpets so I can get more stuff. That’s a good idea but then I would have more stuff to put in my car. I do plan on getting a storage unit so if I stay local I can keep my equipment there.

I will also get a subscription to planet fitness. For $15 a month I can work out and take a shower, Yay!My drinking is doing okay, probably because I have a purpose.

Take care all, I’ll be back, promise.