Wander Woman

Wonder Dog, Quilts and Black Water Tanks

Posted on September 30, 2014 by queenbookworm

I got to doggy sit my grand-puppy this weekend. Oliver is a 9-year old chocolate Lab who thinks & acts like a puppy. He may be the only dog I’ve ever met with a sense of humor. When Matt goofs with the dog, Ollie gets it and goofs back. He’s very well trained. You know how dogs take forever to sniff out the perfect spot to do their business? Matt’s command is, “This is the place, now POOP!” When I took Ollie outside I tried the command and it worked! Now if I could just figure out how to market that command for potty training parents I’d be a millionaire.

Ollie is also the only non-human allowed to use my hand-made quilts. Quilts are made with hours of loving stitches and should be well used but treated respectfully. I want my children and grandchildren to use the quilts I make for warmth, for crawling & changing diapers, for picnics & beach trips, for wetting & spitting up and sleeping. I’ve never allowed an animal on my quilts. But, I was cleaning out the Casita from my trip to the Keys and threw the used bedding on the floor and just didn’t have the heart to kick Oliver out of the bed he made from my quilt. He’s just so damn cute, and, since I was going to wash it anyway ….

Speaking of cleaning out the travel trailer, I finally have it down to a science. It took me a while to realize that instead of taking all my camping gear; chairs, carpet, buckets, cords, hoses, charcoal, etc. and schlepping them out to the shed, I can just store them in the camper. So, now I begin by removing all the food & drink; the wine bottles cushioned in my underwear and the vodka & tonic bottles wrapped in WalMart bags under the sink, & other perishables and valuables. Then I strip the bed & convert it back to a table & benches and remove everything else from the Casita. After a thorough cleaning & polishing, I load my camping gear back into the bathroom & I’m ready for my next trip.

Did you know that you can make your own black water tank cleaner? 1/2 cup Borax laundry detergent and 1/4 cup Calgon Water Softener. The Borax controls the odor and cleans the tank and the water softener makes the water softer and more slippery preventing waste from sticking to the walls of the waste tank. Just another great tip I picked up on Pinterest. Other women use Pinterest for recipes, fashion & design tips and I use it for tips on cleaning toilets – lovely.

Categories: Camping, Family | Tags: black water tank, black water tank cleaner, Borax, Calgon, camper toilet cleaner, chocolate Lab, quilts | 3 Comments

Aquaman tells Mom, “Procrastination Eliminates Choice”

Posted on September 27, 2014 by queenbookworm

It began as a small rough patch on the bottom of the pool, then a little chip, then a silver dollar size chip but, hey, the kids & grandkids were visiting & having a ball in the pool. When they left a week later it was about 3 inches in diameter. Then we were traveling, then more company, then traveling again. By the time the chip was 6 inches in diameter we called the pool company. Waited a week, called again. We were told to get two part epoxy underwater putty and someone with scuba gear to seal the edges so it didn’t get any bigger until we’re ready to re-marcite the entire pool. More traveling, other priorities, husband working on the roof of the cottage up north and now the chip is a crater about 14 inches in diameter so I called my son Matt – scuba diver, surfer, paddle boarder,water baby extraordinaire. We talked several times about the hole and what we should do about it. Eventually, he told me what to buy, A & B Epoxy Putty, and we scheduled a time for the repair.

Aquaman

I think he was slightly horrified at the size of the hole but put on his weight belt & mask & chipped out the edges while I kneaded the 2-part epoxy putty getting it ready for his use. He regretted not bringing his scuba gear because it took him almost an hour to free dive and mold the putty around the edges of the crater. He was shivering & light headed by the time he was done, but his work was meticulous. I made him hot broth & hot coffee.

I gushed over Matt telling him how much I appreciated his good work and thanked him lavishly for helping me out & told him how much I love him & how proud I am of him. He looked at me with his big soulful, hazel eyes and sadly said, “Mom, I love you but you gotta remember procrastination eliminates choice”.

Smartass.

Categories: Family | Tags: A & B epoxy putty, Aquaman, epoxy putty, marcite hole, pool repair, procrastination | 1 Comment

Key West, Key Largo … Humphrey Bogart Where Are You?

Posted on September 25, 2014 by queenbookworm

The best part of Key West is getting there. The turquoise water, the green keys, the quaint towns. Everyone should go at least once because the Conch Republic is unique. Visit not only for the history; the Truman White House, Hemingway’s House (with the decendents of his 6-toed cats), the southernmost point in the US, Mallory Square, the oldest schoolhouse, etc., but visit for the fun & energy of the town. I’ve been several times so I was just taking a fun day trip – a two hour drive from Long Key State Park.

I’m the one on the right!

While taking a picture of the iconic Marilyn Monroe statue in front of the Tropic Theater an old gent told me to go pose with her & he’d take my photo. He does this because he loves to see how people pose with Marilyn, especially the men. I can only imagine. Did I mention the locals are friendly, artistic & quirky?

One of the changes I noticed were the many chickens roaming the streets doing what chickens do.

So, I stepped over the chicken droppings and went looking for lunch on Duval Street. I had Havana Nachos at the bar at Sloppy Joes & a Blue Moon. I’m a huge Hemingway fan and really enjoyed the photos & other memorabilia on the walls. Two hours was more than enough time for me to roam around Key West & I was back at my campsite by 2:30. The skies were getting dark & the wind was picking up.

The thunder & lightening woke me around midnight. My little Casita was rockin’ & rollin’ and I could hear the awning flapping (why didn’t I take it down before dark – stupid, Stupid!)? I thought of the old black & white movie, “Key Largo” with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall & Edward G. Robinson set during a hurricane on Key Largo with a bunch of bad guys threatening the good guys.

The morning came dark, windy & raining. I poked my head outside expecting to see the campsite a mangled mess but everything looked pretty good. First, get that damned awning rolled into its housing so I can stop worrying about it. I could have used Bogie’s help. In “Key Largo” he outsmarted the goons, fell in love with Lauren Bacall and killed Edward G. Robinson in less time than it took me to roll up that slightly twisted awning. Lauren Bacall looked gorgeous & sexy after running out in the hurricane’s rain & wind to close the shutters on her hotel. I bet I looked just as gorgeous & sexy standing in the rain emptying my Casita’s tanks at the dump station.

Categories: Camping | Tags: Hemingway House, Humphrey Bogart, Key Largo, Key West, Lauren Bacall, Long Key, Mallory Square, Marilyn Monroe, Sloppy Joe's | 1 Comment

I Never Thought I’d Scream “EEK!”

Posted on September 24, 2014 by queenbookworm

Working at my desk I heard Tinkerbelle the cat meowing … and meowing & meowing. She was two rooms away batting something on the floor. Since my cataract surgeries earlier this month I am able to see two rooms away but could not quite see what she was pawing. Something dark & skinny wriggling on the floor. A worm? OMG, a snake. A little baby snake but a snake nonetheless. What’s that sound? Me screaming, “EEK” and jumping up & down. OK, OK, OK get the broom. Running around in circles, where’s the flipping broom? Oh yeah, it’s out in the camper. I yelled for Tinkerbelle to watch the snake, don’t let it move & ran for something with a long handle & found a sponge mop. I tried to push the snake out the back sliding door but only managed to flip it onto the sea grass carpet – Tink and I both jumped back & I stopped screaming long enough to consider what to do. Pushing it with the mop on the knobby sea grass would probably smoosh it into the carpet so, shivering, I ran for the vacuum. I flipped it on & held it over the squirming little body which disappeared. Not knowing if the snake would drop out when the suction stopped, still running, I threw the vacuum out the lanai sliding door (thank goodness it didn’t slide into the pool!), pulled the vacuum plug, threw that outside & slammed the door shut. Tinkerbelle was sniffing the carpet and under the couch looking for a nest of vipers I guess. Meanwhile the phone was ringing & I heard my neighbor, Annie, leaving a message, “Jodi, are you OK? I heard you screaming, let me know if you need me.” I grabbed the phone before she hung up & told her about the snake. She asked if I needed her to come over. I was a little embarrassed. She’s 89 years old and pretty feisty but I told her I didn’t need her. I need a mongoose.

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: cat, mongoose, snake | 3 Comments

Eating, Drinking, Kayaking on Long Key

Posted on September 23, 2014 by queenbookworm

My first full day on Long Key began with a glorious sunrise right outside my window.

I took my book, coffee, banana & hard-boiled egg outside to plan my day. Sometimes I get so excited I feel like a squirrel in the middle of the road – I don’t know which way to run or what to do first. There were a lot of kayaks at campsites when I took a walk along the shore last night. I get a vicarious thrill seeing how experienced campers set up their sites and all the nifty gadgets they use. Kurt told me that staring at other campsites is not good camping etiquette but I can’t resist. They don’t seem to mind when I stop to ask them what they’re doing or the purpose of something interesting looking. One guy explained the mechanics of his pooper-scooper – I thought it was a metal detector. I stopped to talk to one elderly gent who was trying to open a coconut with a screwdriver and asked when he’d be serving pina coladas. He invited me back for a drink in 2-3 days when he got the coconut open!

I always think that people who own (vs renting) kayaks know what they’re doing – although we own a kayak proving that theory wrong. When I noticed loads of kayakers out on the water, I figured I better get out there too because they most likely understand low and high tides and other boating stuff that is probably important. So I drove up to the ranger station & rented a cute little kayak & paddled & paddled & paddled following the other kayakers until I noticed that I was about 500 yards … a football field… away from shore. I started to panic (remembering the great white shark that recently took a bite out of a kayak with two girls in it) until I saw a guy step out of his kayak into knee deep water. I figured a great white would have to be crawling on its hands & knees to get to my kayak so I relaxed and enjoyed. I paddled to the end of the park and then back to my campsite where I stopped for a salad with cold chicken and a Blue Moon beer with orange slice, then jumped back in the kayak and returned it with five minutes to spare. What fun! I challenge anyone to feel stressed and upset after paddling for two hours in the ocean. Unless they meet the great white.

Categories: Kayaking | Tags: camp sites, great white, great white shark, kayak, kayaking, Long Key State Park | Leave a comment

Mamacita’s Casita – Let the Adventures Begin!

Posted on September 22, 2014 by queenbookworm

I never saw a live pig until I was 19. I was raised in Miami Beach in the 1950s and led a sheltered life. So, how does a spoiled, scaredy cat, mid-century girl end up with her very own travel trailer driving cross country alone? Here’s the skinny …

We took a hard look at our finances when I retired and concluded that if I wanted to go, do & see everything on my list I’d have to find a creative way to go, do & see. The most economical way for us to travel is by camping although up til then I considered camping staying at a cheap motel. I investigated RVs, campers and travel trailers before deciding that a Casita Spirit was the perfect travel trailer for me. Ultra-light for easy towing and all the amenities I need packed into 17 feet of fiberglass. I also had to find the perfect vehicle to tow the little cutie & eventually bought a Kia Sorento. Then all I needed to do was learn how to hook it up, tow it, back it up and set it up!

Mamacita with her new Casita!

After almost killing each other on our first couple of trips, I realized that this camper travel thing was my dream, not Kurt’s and he did not want to participate in every one of my hare-brained adventures. I needed to learn to travel alone if I wanted to be Wander Woman and must overcome my fears of the dark, the great outdoors and all things creepy-crawly or I had to give up my going, doing, seeing. So, I did.

I traveled to Long Key State Park at Mile Marker 62 in the Florida Keys and backed into a campsite by myself yesterday. I then set up camp and began my blog by the ocean.

First time I backed the Casita in by myself!

First time I’ve backed the Casita in by myself!

And set up camp by myself!

Blogging by the ocean – not too shabby a set up!

Let the adventures begin!

Categories: Camping | Tags: adventures, camping, camping on the beach, Casita, Casita Spirit, Kia Sorento, Long Key State Park, solo travel for women, solo women travelers, travel trailer | 2 Comments

You Know You’re a Mid-Century Girl If …

Posted on September 21, 2014 by queenbookworm

I’m a mid-century girl and you are too:

If you were born in the 1940s, 50s or 60s
If you wore a girdle and stockings to your first job but later burned your bra, threw out your girdle & started wearing pantyhose and mini-skirts and slacks to work & now wear Spanx if necessary
If you learned to type on a manual typewriter, then used an IBM Selectric then a computer keyboard & now have an iPad or notebook
If you worked where there was a telephone switchboard but now use a smart phone
If you watched I Love Lucy, Gunsmoke & Bonanza on a black & white television & now have flat screen TVs in every room with TIVO, ROKU or You Tube
If you used to get dressed up to go shopping downtown but now do all your shopping at the mall or on-line at Amazon.com or eBay
If you had to save up to make weekly long distance calls home to your parents and now use Skype or Facetime to stay in touch with family & friends
If you took shorthand, bookkeeping and business English in high school and still use all those skills
If you hand wrote letters in cursive to friends & relatives on nice stationary, stamped them and sent them through the mail and now use email and FaceBook to communicate with those same people
If you had a Brownie Instamatic or Polaroid camera that used flash bulbs but now use your smart phone to take photos
If you were forced to take Home Economics in high school but were not allowed to take Shop because you are a girl
If you helped your parents read (and fold) road maps during summer road trips but now use GPS, Priceline, Trip Advisor or a map app on your smart phone
If you used to wash and iron your cotton/linen/silk dresses then went to polyester because it was wrinkle free and now wear 100 % cotton, linen & silk again
If you used to play in blue jeans and Keds and now wear designer jeans, heels & blingy tops for evening wear
If you were forced into one of the accepted professions for women; secretary, teacher, nurse but retired as an Executive Assistant, school principal, senior teacher, politician, doctor, lawyer or para-legal, manager, engineer, astronaut or succeeded in whatever career you eventually chose
If you read the Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew and now read mysteries, blogs & the Wall Street Journal
If you went from watching Disney with your family on Sunday nights to visiting Disney World with your grandchildren