Random. Ridiculous. Heart-Breaking. Life

 January 15 - 21, 2025

Tombstone, Arizona

The first two years of this blog are pre-fulltime travels. Looking back I found a lot of random life to blog about as well as all the preparation for our big adventure. I "met" many of you during those first years, some sharing the same preparations, others just ahead of us, a few seasoned road-veterans. Most of us have come off the road at least part-time, and I'm glad that so many continue your blogs or at least FB posts to keep us all in touch. 

At the end of 2019 we shifted to having an Arizona home-base with plans to travel 8 months a year. First COVID and then health and repair issues changed our reality to part-timers, grateful for the security of having a house to return to. 

Feels like I'm back to random-life blogging :-))

I'm not sure yet what we "are" now, but that little white RV in our lot keeps me motivated for more adventure. 

Inside the house we look and feel a little different with the arrival of new furniture. I hear of many people waiting weeks or months for shipments, but we were fortunate that the pieces I chose were in the the local warehouse making our wait one of days instead. Yay!

After Jeff and I move out the four pieces that were our huge and heavy 3-recliner sofa, I camp one evening before the delivery.

I'm happy with the change to a charcoal couch you can lie down on and having a coffee table again. My electric recliner is much more comfortable than the previous chair. Although I was disappointed I didn't find an orange one!

After one night of sleeping on the floor Tessa approves of the new couch, and sleeps there every night like she did on the old one. The priority of course.....

Although we are scary-dry, so far without our usual big puffy white clouds to break up the clear blue skies, it's consistently cold with lows below freezing most nights. Not cold like much of the eastern half of the country, but we know it's Winter! 

Our winters have their own beauty.

During summer monsoons arroyos like this rage with water. Usually for hours, not days. These haven't felt moisture for months.

Looking back, we've always had amazing January sunsets.

In addition to capturing beautiful colors, our 2-year old dual pane windows were a great investment that make a big difference in our comfort.

It is ridiculous that grown, semi-intelligent, adults become so vested in the outcome of games played by millionaires moving a weird shaped ball up and down a 100 yard field. 

And yet.

The Detroit Lions' loss is devastating to me. More so than any loss my Steelers have ever suffered. I was just so rooting for this incredible Lions team to finally get their shot at the Super Bowl, that when they lose their playoff game I don't even want to watch anymore games, even the Super Bowl. Ridiculous. Real.

So sorry dude.

Alas the Ravens' loss (sorry Pam and John) perks me up some (also ridiculous), and I'm ready to see which two teams go to the big game. We'll be joining our high-school pals in Kingman again so even more to look forward to. A gathering of ridiculous adults, what could be better??

It's calmed down, but the fire danger in SoCal continues. Most of our kids and grands live there. Henry and Cassidy and their folks were two blocks from the evacuation area of one fire, and the others are surrounded by dry canyons subject to high winds, just miles from the northern perimeter of two other fires. It's not a new concern in those areas, but given the recent devastation it's much worse this year. I can't wrap my head around the loss of entire communities - miles of homes and businesses. It's heart-breaking whether you're a famous wealthy person or a store-clerk barely getting by. The hateful "observations" of those who don't see that are as ugly as any looting. 

Henry in quiet, beautiful contemplation. 

Cuddle-bug Cassidy

Reese's big-girl moment :-)

Penelope up close with Mom, Reese up close with "Bear" (arriving in April). Priceless.