“You are the result of 4 billion years of evolution. Fucking act like it!”
~Anonymous
I left Bloody Basin on Saturday and drove to Prescott Valley, AZ. I stopped at Tractor Supply and topped off my propane tank, then on to Fry’s Grocery Store to get some items to make dinner for Barbara and Lark during the week. As I turned onto Manley Drive, Cosmo started barking. At first I didn’t know what was wrong, but then I realized he knew the street and knew where we were going. I got parked and lit my fridge (it still baffles me that “lighting the fridge” is a thing) and when I opened the side van door, Cosmo hopped out and ran through the garage and greeted Lark and Molly. He had been there often enough to know his way around.
I was last there in May, so there wasn’t a lot of catching up to do. We chatted a bit and I ordered a pizza. We played scrabble at night and then we all went to bed early.
Lark had a full week and kept busy doing odds and ends. Barbara and I compared Wordle results, chatted, and most days she took a nap in the afternoon, and I headed out to the van to relax or read. It was hot most days, bordering on 90⁰, but cooled off nicely most nights.
I spent much of the first day “opening presents.” I started ordering things from Amazon a couple weeks ago, knowing I’d have an address for a week. I got new cords for my laptop and Google Mini, a holder for my Google mini so I could hang it up permanently instead of having it fly off the countertop every time I drove. I got vitamins and supplements, a blood pressure cuff to monitor my BP (It was high two times last month when I checked it at Walmart—probably because the stress of going to Walmart rockets my BP through the roof. I checked it sitting in my van in a safe driveway—128 over 73. Doesn’t get much better than that.) My favorite new toy is my mini-toaster oven.
I put it to good use several times already toasting everything bagels and English muffins. It’s tiny, but I already had some mini bread pans that will fit in it. (Sylvia Plath would still be alive had she invested in a mini-oven instead of the larger gas version). When I get back on the road, I’ll have to try making some banana bread, corn muffins and cookies in it.
I’ve still been consistent in my daily workout each morning. I got a new kettle bell, just a tad too heavy for my workout level. It pushes me to my limit on some exercises. I still have my rubber bands, and I got a yoga mat so when I’m out in the wilderness, I can put it on the ground and do push-ups and sit-ups. I’m easing into my routine gently. My goal is to do what I can each day without missing. So far, so good. I’ve been eating better too. While having access to a full kitchen I made some West African Ground Nut Stew (Moosewood Restaurant Recipe—my favorite) and some eggplant lasagna. I had a salad with most meals and a vegetable (mostly fresh broccoli). I feel good physically, mentally, and emotionally that I’m back on the right path.
Each day I picked a cupboard to empty out, clean inside, and then before putting stuff back, I discarded anything that I’ve not used in the past 6 months. I rearranged several cupboards and closets so I’d have room for my new mini toaster oven which is approximately an 8” cube. I laundered all my seat cushions and vacuumed and hosed off my rugs. I scrubbed the floor and took the van to a carwash to get the mud and dust of the summer off so I’d start clean for the fall. I also got my oil changed and gave Cosmo a bath. It was a very labor intensive but productive week.
Saturday, I started packing up. Having stayed here a week, I brought many cooking items and assorted food inside, and took my exercise equipment (minimal as it is) outside so I could work out in the back yard each morning. Cosmo brought in some of his toys and so there was a lot to gather up and put back in the van. I will leave early Sunday morning and head back to Bloody Basin for a week or so—just until it cools off enough in Phoenix for us to be able to head south again for the winter.
Lessons From The Road: I learned this week that I’ve become quite flexible in many things. I spent this week in a driveway, and although the road Barbara and Lark live on is not a major thoroughfare, it is still a somewhat busy road. Vehicles, mostly trucks, drove through during the night. Some had trailers that bounced and rattled. A few motorcycles would pass with loud mufflers. I could hear them through my deep sleep, but they never bothered me enough to wake up. We went to a couple thrift stores during the week, and made a trip to Big Lots. We went every night to a nearby park to walk the dogs. I adjusted to “the city” surprisingly well. The week before, I never saw another human, and next week I’ll go back to Bloody Basin Road where once again I will probably have no interactions with anything beyond tarantulas and cows. I impressed myself with my ability to adjust to my environment. The calming factor is that I live in my van no matter what environment I’m in.
My second lesson was how easily I’ve been getting back on track with exercise and eating more real food. The fall has something to do with that. An age-old mindset of summertime is over, vacation is over, and now it’s time to get down to business. I’ve decided to switch up the routine I’ve had since I hit the road and instead of lounging in bed each morning, reading the NY Times, and listening to NPR and drinking coffee and eating muffins or some highly refined sweet treat, I’ve begun getting up, and having only coffee while I do my word games (Wordle, Connections and the NY Times Mini Crossword) and then immediately go outside and work out on an empty stomach. I come in and eat a concoction I invented years ago when workout out in a serious way: Egg whites, banana and oatmeal and raisins cooked into a waffle. The perfect amount of protein, fiber and fruit. Doesn’t compare to Hostess Do-nettes, but I can already see my belly is in remission. After my workout, I feel pumped up. I feel like I accomplished something big. I look in the mirror and see my posture is improved and although I don’t have bulging biceps and a 6-pack abs, I do look just a teeny bit tighter. It makes me happy.