So, I wasn't sure whether to stay the weekend over in Littlefield or whether to hop around, as the Waylon Jennings RV Park offers up to 4 nights free. I met up yesterday with a family of musical missionaries who was playing at the Littlefield Independent Baptist Church, and headed out with them today for a church picnic. It was nice to get a chance to unwind and to play volleyball (horribly) for the first time in many years.
I had some good conversations with the folks I met, and will head back tomorrow for.Sunday AM church service. It's relaxing to get a chance to visit with folks.
They have a restaurant called "Classic Pizza" here, and I noticed it immediately because of the ld Pizza in "Spin man" logo (Enidite friends will kow EXACTLY what I'm talking about here). As I drove up, other similarities were obvious, so when I grrabbed dinner, I asked the waitress, and it was indeed an old Pizza Inn. The food wasn't too bad either.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Littlefield, Texas
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| At the entrance to the horseshoe pit. |
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| More horseshoe pit |
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| Good thing I got it from this side. Otherwise, it would be "Sgninnej Nolyaw". And we can't have that! |
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| It is, in fact, the 5th largest forest in West Texas (sorry, couldn't resist!) |
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| Well, after complainin that they just kept showin his hands and not his face on TV, you'd think they'd choose handprints! |
So I had determined ahead of time that I was going to utilize the Waylon Jennings RV Park in Littlefield, Texas. A few days on the road has made me a tad weary, though, and it was a little more difficult making it there than I expected. But I did, and as I did, I encountered the Hinkle Family, a group that ministers in nursing homes, as they were making camp. They were playing a small independent Baptist church and invited me to join them. I did, and it was a wonderful group of people. I wasn't sure if I was going to stay the weekend here or try campsites up the road, but I think I'll stick around. Because there are no shower facilities, though, I am considering heading to a campsite closer to Seagraves (Monday night's worksite) for Sunday night. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, though.
All in all, this road trip has been a resounding success. We have enough to comfortably get through vacation (even though I have two jobs currently booked on "open days" during the vacation), and I've decided we need to start an RV fund. I can do these trips with my family, but I'm not going to enjoy them too long.
Above are some pictures from the campgrounds.
Friday, June 20, 2014
Just the Good Ol' Boys
So today was a good one. I hit the job in Amarillo, took a little longer than I hoped, but I still had time to make Clovis due to deliberately playing the time zone in my favor. I had to wait for a shipping label to be sent for the Amarillo job's return parts, though, as the store had misplaced it. They have a FedEx ship center in Clovis, but no copy/print. I was able to email the shipping label to the FedEx guy and get it out of my hair. Done and done.
I headed down the road to Littlefield, met a seemingly nice family of musicians, going to go listen to some picking for the night, staying at Waylon Jennings RV Park. Not too shabby.
I should have some road pictures before the weekend's out, but for now gotta split!
I headed down the road to Littlefield, met a seemingly nice family of musicians, going to go listen to some picking for the night, staying at Waylon Jennings RV Park. Not too shabby.
I should have some road pictures before the weekend's out, but for now gotta split!
Oklahoma BOOKED!
One of the hardest things about what I am doing is the obvious uncertainty But if life has taught me anything, it's that nothing is certain. The Great Recession taught us that, if we didn't already know.
And so, with vacation coming up, I have been trying to book work out that way early in the week. Yes, I'll have to break away from camp, but I need to take advantage of all of the work I can, and this will be before most of the festivities start. I still have a request in for Wednesday night, which would be a little bittersweet, but again, I can't let these opportunities pass by.
My hope is that during our week in Okemah, I can land enough work that we don't actually have to pay out of pocket for travel, meals, and lodging. Even better would be getting paid, but we'll settle for a break even vacation. These two jobs put me about halfway to that goal.
I thought briefly about pulling the request for the Wednesday night gig, but landing it will put me about 80% towards the goal. The Monday and Tuesday jobs are morning jobs, so there's still time to book in the afternoons. And I do have a request from a buyer to let him know when I'm in the area. So making money on this trip isn't too farfetched.
And so, with vacation coming up, I have been trying to book work out that way early in the week. Yes, I'll have to break away from camp, but I need to take advantage of all of the work I can, and this will be before most of the festivities start. I still have a request in for Wednesday night, which would be a little bittersweet, but again, I can't let these opportunities pass by.
My hope is that during our week in Okemah, I can land enough work that we don't actually have to pay out of pocket for travel, meals, and lodging. Even better would be getting paid, but we'll settle for a break even vacation. These two jobs put me about halfway to that goal.
I thought briefly about pulling the request for the Wednesday night gig, but landing it will put me about 80% towards the goal. The Monday and Tuesday jobs are morning jobs, so there's still time to book in the afternoons. And I do have a request from a buyer to let him know when I'm in the area. So making money on this trip isn't too farfetched.
Awake Way Too Early
Got to test out the new sleeping accommodations last night. We put a foam mattress pad in the back, as a more comfortable alternative to sleeping stretched out on the back seats. I would have tried it Wednesday night, but didn't want to get too comfortable, lest I oversleep and miss my assignment.
Not the best sleep I've had, but not the worst either.
When I decided to do this, one of my reasons was to gain a clearer perspective on a whole subculture we often ignore. And I believe I'm getting that in spades. The irritability, the frustration, all of it is a part of what a lot of people suffer every day. It's certainly helping me to establish a more compassionate perspective, as the old saying goes, we really can't understand someone until we've walked a mile in their shoes.
I miss my family. I miss routine. I miss hot showers, my front yard, and the coffeeshop. McDonald's coffee (the cross I must bear in order to crib free wifi and usually electricity) is just, frankly, not the same, and, let's face it: there's a dearth of healthful options on the value menu.
I woke up at 3:30 this morning, and made the most of it. I had a good opportunity to get cleaned up in the spacious restrooms of my chosen nightly pit stop, and that is a major plus. I would have liked to sleep longer, but I figure I'll make it up on the back end.
I've noticed that in playing everyday, I am beginning to pick up a lot of tunes "organically". I am far from being an accomplished guitarist, but starting to believe I can actually make it as a busker once I find both the courage and the opportunity to try. I'm not sure what I will encounter busking randomly in Texas.
I have two assignments today, so it's back to Kinkos to make some copies. Ergh. I miss small town libraries as well.
Not the best sleep I've had, but not the worst either.
When I decided to do this, one of my reasons was to gain a clearer perspective on a whole subculture we often ignore. And I believe I'm getting that in spades. The irritability, the frustration, all of it is a part of what a lot of people suffer every day. It's certainly helping me to establish a more compassionate perspective, as the old saying goes, we really can't understand someone until we've walked a mile in their shoes.
I miss my family. I miss routine. I miss hot showers, my front yard, and the coffeeshop. McDonald's coffee (the cross I must bear in order to crib free wifi and usually electricity) is just, frankly, not the same, and, let's face it: there's a dearth of healthful options on the value menu.
I woke up at 3:30 this morning, and made the most of it. I had a good opportunity to get cleaned up in the spacious restrooms of my chosen nightly pit stop, and that is a major plus. I would have liked to sleep longer, but I figure I'll make it up on the back end.
I've noticed that in playing everyday, I am beginning to pick up a lot of tunes "organically". I am far from being an accomplished guitarist, but starting to believe I can actually make it as a busker once I find both the courage and the opportunity to try. I'm not sure what I will encounter busking randomly in Texas.
I have two assignments today, so it's back to Kinkos to make some copies. Ergh. I miss small town libraries as well.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
The Dark Side of the Road
Warning: this article is going to be a bit darker than normal. If you want full time happiness, please google "mommy blogs". You will probably be much happier with the results.
I love the road; I genuinely do. But by the time I roll in my driveway next Friday, I will be ten days away from my family. With the exception of last summer's trip to Australia, I have never spent that much time at a stretch away from my kids, and I had one along with even on the Australia trip.
Never. In nineteen years. And yet, until I can afford to load my family up and take them on the road, this is the new reality.
But I'm not supposed to talk about that.
When I left the house my wife had to assure the kids that I was coming home. They see so much uncertainty around them that when I'm gone, they live with the fear that I'm never coming home.
But I'm not supposed to talk about that.
Every night I pass on the road, I have thousands of people pass me by. Statistically, most are Christians, or claim to be. Even if just a small amount, just a fragment really are, not one of them stops just to talk, just to lend the companionship on a friendly voice. I find myself having to duck into stores and libraries to escape the blazing heat of the day that makes you feel half baked and disoriented by the time I turn in for the night. And yet everytime I address the reality, I'm criticized, condemned, and told what a rotten stinking negative person I am.
But you want fluffy bunnies.
It's this simple: if you can't be my friend in the rough times, I don't need you in the good times. I don't need money, don't need pity, just a pat on the back from time to time and a recognition of how hard I am working just to tread water.
When I commented that I couldn't make money in the community, a lot of folks laid into me. Some of those folks even claim to have tried to be my friend (although their definition appears to be "Facebook friend").
I'm actually not an overwhelmingly negative person. I try very hard to put a positive spin on things. But sometimes, when the hail is pounding on your van roof, and the winds are tearing away at your last shred of resolve, you have to give. Even Jesus did, and I can't expect to be any better than him.
So if you are my "Facebook friend", and you expect me to poop rainbows, do us both a favor, go to Facebook and unfriend me. I frankly don't need you.
For those of you still here, understand that the romance of what I am doing is there. But that romance of the road does not for a second detract from the fact that I am missing another day in the painfully short time I have with my children. And that's time I'll never get back.
I love you, even the asshats. But I don't love the fact that when I need a shoulder, I get turned away and called (yes, literally in at least one instance) a "crybaby".
I love the road; I genuinely do. But by the time I roll in my driveway next Friday, I will be ten days away from my family. With the exception of last summer's trip to Australia, I have never spent that much time at a stretch away from my kids, and I had one along with even on the Australia trip.
Never. In nineteen years. And yet, until I can afford to load my family up and take them on the road, this is the new reality.
But I'm not supposed to talk about that.
When I left the house my wife had to assure the kids that I was coming home. They see so much uncertainty around them that when I'm gone, they live with the fear that I'm never coming home.
But I'm not supposed to talk about that.
Every night I pass on the road, I have thousands of people pass me by. Statistically, most are Christians, or claim to be. Even if just a small amount, just a fragment really are, not one of them stops just to talk, just to lend the companionship on a friendly voice. I find myself having to duck into stores and libraries to escape the blazing heat of the day that makes you feel half baked and disoriented by the time I turn in for the night. And yet everytime I address the reality, I'm criticized, condemned, and told what a rotten stinking negative person I am.
But you want fluffy bunnies.
It's this simple: if you can't be my friend in the rough times, I don't need you in the good times. I don't need money, don't need pity, just a pat on the back from time to time and a recognition of how hard I am working just to tread water.
When I commented that I couldn't make money in the community, a lot of folks laid into me. Some of those folks even claim to have tried to be my friend (although their definition appears to be "Facebook friend").
I'm actually not an overwhelmingly negative person. I try very hard to put a positive spin on things. But sometimes, when the hail is pounding on your van roof, and the winds are tearing away at your last shred of resolve, you have to give. Even Jesus did, and I can't expect to be any better than him.
So if you are my "Facebook friend", and you expect me to poop rainbows, do us both a favor, go to Facebook and unfriend me. I frankly don't need you.
For those of you still here, understand that the romance of what I am doing is there. But that romance of the road does not for a second detract from the fact that I am missing another day in the painfully short time I have with my children. And that's time I'll never get back.
I love you, even the asshats. But I don't love the fact that when I need a shoulder, I get turned away and called (yes, literally in at least one instance) a "crybaby".
I'm Dog Tired, and So Are My Dogs!
One day, I figure, folks will get me. But then, sometimes I wonder where the fun is in that. Take yesterday/today for example:
Last night was booked out pretty quick. Under the old way of doing things, I would have headed back from last night's sojourn, and head out again tomorrow. In doing so, I would have missed today's assignment. Too little, frankly, to justify the drive to Amarillo, but good bonus money when I've made the decision to stay over. So the "road rules" mean not only saving money, but also making it, and a reasonable amount, to boot.
But it meant going in at 10pm last night, working until 5:30 in the morning, and crawling into the back of the van as the sun was begin to play peekaboo with all of the faces. To tell the truth, I was out so quickly I didn't even notice....with an alarm set for 9:30 AM.
Blast my luck, I woke at 8:30 AM. Plenty of time, though, to read up and get to the site. I did head to FedEx Kinkos, though, hoping that the business cards can be printed out right there, like, you know, the way a truly INNOVATIVE copy center would do business these days? Nope, you can print and order....for about twice what it would cost you with VistaPrint, with fewer design options.
What a deal, eh?
So the noon job would have in any other circumstances been pretty cush. Change out 5 PC's, with one of them being a wall mount XRay PC. I got this job literally because another tech was too nervous to put two lousy screws in the wall (that's it, folks, TWO screws), complaining he "doesn't do construction". Well, one, his loss, my gain; and two, there probably were more issues than that, truth be told. But it meant that I was on my feet for 12 hours out of an 18 hour stretch, and by the end, my ankles were screaming
I stopped by the Amarillo Museum of Art to view an exhibit from a friend (I do need to get out more), but finding no particularly intriguing venues for nightlife, will probably spend some quality time with my guitar and put in early. Tomorrow I am onsite at 10AM, and then have a drive down to Clovis to do the exact same thing, just further down the road. Mi Vida Grande!
Last night was booked out pretty quick. Under the old way of doing things, I would have headed back from last night's sojourn, and head out again tomorrow. In doing so, I would have missed today's assignment. Too little, frankly, to justify the drive to Amarillo, but good bonus money when I've made the decision to stay over. So the "road rules" mean not only saving money, but also making it, and a reasonable amount, to boot.
But it meant going in at 10pm last night, working until 5:30 in the morning, and crawling into the back of the van as the sun was begin to play peekaboo with all of the faces. To tell the truth, I was out so quickly I didn't even notice....with an alarm set for 9:30 AM.
Blast my luck, I woke at 8:30 AM. Plenty of time, though, to read up and get to the site. I did head to FedEx Kinkos, though, hoping that the business cards can be printed out right there, like, you know, the way a truly INNOVATIVE copy center would do business these days? Nope, you can print and order....for about twice what it would cost you with VistaPrint, with fewer design options.
What a deal, eh?
So the noon job would have in any other circumstances been pretty cush. Change out 5 PC's, with one of them being a wall mount XRay PC. I got this job literally because another tech was too nervous to put two lousy screws in the wall (that's it, folks, TWO screws), complaining he "doesn't do construction". Well, one, his loss, my gain; and two, there probably were more issues than that, truth be told. But it meant that I was on my feet for 12 hours out of an 18 hour stretch, and by the end, my ankles were screaming
I stopped by the Amarillo Museum of Art to view an exhibit from a friend (I do need to get out more), but finding no particularly intriguing venues for nightlife, will probably spend some quality time with my guitar and put in early. Tomorrow I am onsite at 10AM, and then have a drive down to Clovis to do the exact same thing, just further down the road. Mi Vida Grande!
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