Playing Hookie...

in NYC!!! Under the influence of tequila now. Much mo' betta than hauling buckets of plaster down the fricking stairs. Jodi, Jordan and I shopped all day.


New pair of Harleys for me and square toed harness boots for Jodi. Jordo has $200 to spend and has several things on hold at many stores. She's holding out till the end...after she's seen it all. They're both thinking of tattoos. Will keep you posted...

Mary Lake is holding down the palace. Wish she were here!

Home sweet hell

One week later... Alicia moved in to a studio, realized it was too small, canvassed the town, interviewed, and will end up renting space in an empty building. Turned down a job as teacher and opted for learning how to cast concrete (hopefully!) instead. {Please see wonderful web site for getrealsurfaces.com!!} It is just down the street from us (literally) and we have VERY high hopes for it on many levels, as they might employ Alicia, trade a painting for a concrete floor and provide us with a new architect.

                                                                                  

Meanwhile, back at the palace, Jodi, Mary and Jordan trudged on... and on: removing plaster, lath, trim, excavating basement floor (yet again), lamenting the state of our mortar, hauling, hauling, etc. Alicia picked today (of all days) to pitch in: Rat nest and soot day in the attic. HEY! Let's lug buckets of rat nest and plaster down two flights of stairs and toss it into the new 30-yard dumpster that adorns the street in front of our house! Over, and over, and over, and over.......... Ugh! Who knew hell was up??

Poor dear Lakey and Jordan labored within the confines of a "room" measuring three feet by four feet -- all day. Nothing to do but let plaster rain down upon you. Sad. Jordan is injured and Mary is damn tired, but well fed.

We're Here!!!

A little behind on blogging. Had a lovely evening with brother Jeff and sister-in-law Judy and Mom in Illinois. Accidentally erased every single photo in my camera from the trip, then left the camera in the hotel room outside Youngstown, Ohio this morning. Oops.

Drove up to the house around 4 p.m., after a quick grocery stop. Nebbie has already rolled in groundhog poop... Home sweet home. (Jordan LOVES the house!)

The real story is this: Alicia and I are now officially living together for the first time, in our house. True bliss.

Day 4

Photo of Wyoming, where we started the day. Too tired to say more than... South Dakota is a windy little mother of a state!!!

Hello from Alicia. We've crossed the big state of Montana, where

the grass on the hillsides moves in the wind like flowing water.

Wish I had packed my video camera in the cab, instead of a box

in the back. Tonight we sleep in Buffalo, WY (pop. 3,900). Jodi

wants me to tell you that today was an "uneventful day" and as

you read on, you will see why that makes us happy. So, we've

sort of had a slow start with the late departure and the unexpected

chance to sunbathe by the side of the road.... We're in no hurry,

thought, just enjoying the adventure and this beautiful country.

Day 2 (Sunday)

The day started off promisingly: spirits were high, sun shining. We are such girls! We pass the hand lotion and lip balm amongst us and we're off. Smooth sailing. A quick stop to gas up and buy bevies and we're flying toward Coeur d'Alene, ID.

Suddenly, the truck falters, stutters, loses power up hill, then dies completely as I pull off the road. I think we might have a fuel pump problem...

OH MY GOD, I THINK I PUT REGULAR GAS IN THE TRUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe I did that. Call Penske 1-800 number, confess, and face our options: the truck can be saved OR all of our belongings that took eleven or so hours to cram into said truck can be TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER TRUCK (!!).

We smile at the absurdity, accept our fate, and wait....and wait... and wait -- while sunning. Alicia strips down to bra (and jeans), Jordan moons oncoming traffic from afar

(for maximum sun exposure),

Jodi paces, then joins in.

We sun and we wait. We wait and we sun.

Our rescuing prince from Husky Trucking pulls in. Tim says our odds are 50/50. We'll take it!

Then we stand (sunning), pace (sunning), and wait some more (sunning). Gas is syphoned, oil emptied, gas and oil filters replaced, gas is syphoned again and our tank filled with 20 gallons of DIESEL.

Three hours later, and the moment of truth has come: our prince turns the key and the Penske beast roars away puking out a healthy spew of gray-blue smoke. She runs. She RUNS!!!

Gratuity is refused by our gallant prince. Tears well up. Our day is saved. Our trip is saved. All is saved.

As we continue driving, we laugh and laugh ('cause it's FUNNY) at how many signs are posted everywhere inside and outside of the truck DIESEL ONLY. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

Day 2: only to Missoula. We are happy. We are (some of us) sunburned.

Day 1: Ellensburg, WA

The big rig.

Sorry for the hiatus... forgot to say that it's "vacation time" from the palace. A whirlwind time in Seattle with many fond farewells (finally!) to friends and

family (fun on the 4th of July!).

If I were not so very, very tired, I would tell you all about our week of packing, trimming, painting, partying and ultimately, the drive away at 4 p.m. (!!) out of Seattle. 

We are sated on Pizza Hut and beer and must now all go to sleep at 8:30 p.m. (unheard of!).

I leave you with photos before and on the road.

                                           

P.s. this is the real beginning of OUR blog, as I am now joined by my beloved Alicia (and Jordan, too!).