American Life Today

Wouldn't it be nice to meet an American, everyday?

As I traveled on my road trip last year, I expected to see some amazing places. I didn't expect to meet some of the most fascinating people along the way.

As I listened to their stories, I thought that there needs to be a way where people could learn about their life! Who is going to tell their story? How about them! I found it exhilarating to listen to personal stories from all walks of life in campgrounds, restaurants, parks, and truck stops.

That's how American Life Today.com came about. I wanted to capture the "everyday" American life asking them 5 questions, to keep it simple. Because you know how it is when granddad dips into the "juice" at the campsite...he can go on and on. I wanted to share just enough to keep you interested and awake, as well as promote a favorite charity.

Some of your stories have moved me to tears.

As sad as it is, the site will come to a close soon. I am going to start another journey in the next few weeks so I will schedule all of the remaining profiles that are waiting to post. After that, I will post as they come in but I will no longer beg you to answer the questions. You know I did!

A big THANK YOU to those of you who took the time to share your life. I know that people have enjoyed reading them, especially me.

Until the next adventure...

Travels with Max

I am about to begin another cross country road trip. The past few weeks I’ve been preparing to leave and this time, I am renting my home. I am lucky enough to be able to have a nice young couple and their chocolate lab stay here while Max and I embark on our adventure.

This time, it’s going to be different.

“Trailie” is staying home, Max and I are going to camp with a tent, I am going to read more, journal more and paint a little. I have a general timeline but I don’t know what path we will take yet. I have two weeks to decide which roads we will embark on, or perhaps we will leave and decide as we go.

Renting out your home is a journey in itself. I’ve lived here for 7 years and when you settle in a place, you usually don’t take the time to see what you have. I am going through and cleaning all cupboards, drawers, closets…everything. It’s a lot of “stuff.” Doing this cleanses the soul in a way. I am not attached to things as I once was. As time consuming and exhausting as it is, it brings a sense of relief to find homes for unwanted items and to purge the things I haven’t looked at or missed in years.

Max is settling in just fine. He is now guarding the house and is used to our little routine we have around here. It’s nice. We are bonding. I introduced him to “trailie” the other day and told him about the adventure Maggie and I had last summer. I broke down and cried. He slept at my feet.

Max and I will document our journey here so you can see what we are up to. I would love to hear of a destination that holds a special place with you.

Planning his Escape

It's been a while since I've painted so I decided to give it a shot. Here is Max in the gate which should be called "Heeeeeere's MAX." He's a bit of a devil I am finding. I know this is nothing like what Kellie Straw does with her dogs, but it sorta looks like Max so that is success to me.

Max

I can't imagine my life without a pet. I've had cats, dogs, guinea pigs, turtles, and fish as pets growing up. As you know from my travels, Maggie and I had the trip of a lifetime last summer. The past few months have been incredibly hard not having her around. She was with me for 10 years. Moved with me 4 times. Visited 26 States together.

Last Sunday, I went to the Farmer's market to pick up some strawberries and came home with a new family member. His name is Max. His time was up at a local shelter and a rescue group saved him on his last day. I took him out of the group cage to spend some time together and he didn't leave my side. I didn't want him to. I was instantly smitten.

I haven't had a small dog in the house for 23 years. My last 2 dogs were both larger so it's an adjustment. For instance, you need to bend lower to the ground to pet them, watch where you step so you don't crush them, buy smaller toys, less food, softer play and it's harder to hide your "does my butt look big in these jeans?" days with a smaller dog in a picture. Now there is nowhere to hide. Your butt looks even bigger. Not that you turn around and squat with pictures with your dog. Never mind. Anyway...

No, I am not going to carry him in a purse.

One of the things we are enjoying is going to the dog park and the dog beach. This was something I could never enjoy with Maggie since she would try to attack anything that wasn't a human. A bit of a buzz kill.

I look forward to this new chapter. I am excited about taking Max on new adventures. I think another trip is in order. Soon.

Here are some pictures from his week of making friends at the park and playing at the beach:

Telluride

What an amazing town! Telluride is a small beautiful mountain town in Southwest Colorado. I feel in love with this city the moment I drove in.
The mountains!
The fresh air!
The cute homes!
I was impressed. I drove to visit my friend, Katy and her family. They gather together each year for the bluegrass festival. Little did I know what a production it is for the locals. Of course I didn't! It's a local secret. Apparently, if you want a spot at the front of the stage, you need to have "runners" spend the night in line to get a numbered ticket. That ticket is your chance to run like hell to the stage to rip open a tarp and claim your space.
This is serious business.
No joke.
It's a modern day Oklahoma run. I had no idea.
Fortunately for me, first time visitors are exempt.




It was a day of touring the city, riding the gondola up the ski mountain, strolling through a farmers market, browsing the shops and enjoying the music at the festival. Oh, did I mention Elvis Costello was playing?? My all time favorite!

Since the tarp runner did their duty, I was able to walk to the front of the stage to enjoy the performance.

Unfortunately for me, I caught a bit of altitude sickness. I drank a lot of water as instructed but for some reason, it still got to me. It sure didn't take away from the beauty. I would recommend a visit through this town. I know I will be back. Thank you Peggy Sue and Billy Bob for letting me stay in your beautiful home!

Happy Father's Day, Dad

I love and miss you.

Driving Therapy

There is something about driving that makes you think. Perhaps because your attention is focused on one thing...watching the road. When I go on a road trip, sometimes I feel the gas price is the cost of self therapy. What other time to you have to sit there focused on nothing but looking at one thing? Besides watching TV. You know what I mean.

As a bonus, there is no pesky homework.

I love it. I am taking a road trip this weekend to Telluride, Colorado to see the bluegrass festival with my friend Katy. It's a lively house with the kids and other members of her family with their kids. This town is so beautiful. I am still adjusting to the altitude and the fact that I didn't bring any other shoes but flip flops to wear. I will manage.

Along the way, I stopped at the Four Corners. It's where New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah come together. For $3 you can wait in line with several other tourists to take a picture of a landmark in the ground. Very exciting stuff.

Off to the festival today...

Sedona

Sedona is an amazing place. My mother lives there so I am lucky enough to visit from time to time (I am sure not often enough, if you ask her). She lives in a ranch house on a hill that she calls "Edge of Eden." I took this photograph last November from her home. Next to it is my latest "scribble." I gave it to her as a gift. It's number 6 in my little watercolor book. I look forward to scribbling more.

Life Experiences

Do you ever wonder how you arrived to the place you are today? All of the decisions, changes, events, people met, people lost, moves, jobs, and crossroads in life. I think of it sometimes.

I am writing this in my 4x9 teardrop trailer that's sitting in my driveway. Why do I even have this little camper? It came about from a dream I had a a kid to travel.

I did a few things this week including taking Maggie's leftover food, toys and 4 beds to the animal shelter for other dogs to enjoy. It was hard. I looked at all of the animals up for adoption and found 4 I loved. One I can't stop thinking about. But I know maybe it's not the right time. But, when is the RIGHT time? I adopted Maggie when I lived in a small apartment and kennel trained her while she was alone all day with no yard. "We" eventually made money and moved into a house with grass. When I lived in the apartment, people said it wasn't fair to her, but I fell in love with her. I can't imagine my life without an animal.

I digress. I was lucky enough to be asked to participate in an Oprah magazine photo shoot to recreate the painting, Sunday in the park. It was an experience for sure. I blogged about my day a little over a month ago. Alas, the photo is now out on newsstands in O. Here is it. Can you find me? Squint...see me?


So, the life list of things I want to do before I die:
"Appear" in Oprah Magazine...check
What shall I check off next? One can only dream...

The Itch

I woke up in the morning to a scratch.

I didn't think anything of it. I am used to bug bites. Not sure if that is good or bad, but just a fact. After scratching a while, I looked down at my ankles. Ack! Fleas! To my dismay, they were covered in flea bites. Maggie gave me one more present, I suppose. The house has been empty for weeks while I was traveling so it looks like the fleas had a party in the house while I was gone.

Good thing I have a vacation home ("Trailie") in my driveway. So, I left the house and bought some foggers. Skimmed through the instructions and turned them on throughout the house.

Phew, all secured. In my hastiness to get that taken care of, I forgot that my vacation home doesn't come with a bathroom. Great. There is a starbucks nearby, so that'll do it! Got there. Tried to open the door. Locked. That can't be... tried again. Locked. Ok...I wait.

Waited. And waited. At this point, I picked up every mug in their "gift shop" to look at the price to pass the time. If someone was watching I am sure they are wondering why I would think that the price is different on the same mug in a different color. Blue mug $4.95? check... Green mug $4.95? check... Red mug...duhhhh...are they out yet? Waiting. Waiting. Click. Flush. Click. Could it be? Is it time? No...more waiting. Now I am getting annoyed. What the hell is going on in there and do I really want to enter at this point?

Click. Click. Flush. Door opens... of course I am now sitting down looking down at my empty table pretending not to look. I peeked. Ok, first of all...it was a MAN in the ladies room. I wait. I think, "should I go in?" I go in. I have no idea what this man was doing in there but it smells like he just washed and groomed a few dogs and left the scent behind. And somehow, I am relieved by that. Whew.

So, I return home and settle in trailie. I brought my water color set so I decided to start painting a little. I kept looking at my feet to see Maggie. I miss her there with me. So, the night sleeping in trailie, missing Maggie and painting was sort of therapeutic. Never mind the broken back from painting hunched over and forgetting how hard the mattress is. It didn't matter. I felt close to her and her fleas were sort of a sign to let me know it's ok to go back in the trailer. I have been avoiding it. Or maybe it was a sign to clean the house because that's all I did yesterday.

Here is a photo I took in PTown and the painting I did in trailie: