OK. Southbound

 

OK.  I’m leaving for SoCal in an hour or so.  I talked to Monacita about caring for my cat- gave her the keys yesterday.  I called Jhni last night and asked if she was ready.  She’s got her bosses big ol’ Dodge 4×4, and will be in charge of the Big Bear drivin’.Talked to the papers boss – I’ll leave him a deposit slip for my account so I can just go- hell, he might even be at the store if I don’t leave soon.

Gas is cheap.  The snow’s gone …  for awhile.  I don’t have to work again until next Monday – got this coming weekend off.  Gonna go see my freind and see family whom I haven’t seen for decades.  It’d be nice if I saw my brother too….

I don’t think I’ll bother washing the car – I usually like to wash it before a trip, but this time?  Maybe not.  It’s raining anyway.  Water still beads on it – ten months after I bought it and ten thousand miles later … and it don’t smell "new" anymore, but it doesn’t reek of cigarettes either.  It cruises nicely.  Economically.  Mine.

Gotta love that part of it – "mine".

Manually, because I couldn’t afford the cruise control.  Turns out my bus driving checks didn’t go up THAT much with the new route… but it’s my contract basis now, and that means that this summer, when there’s no bus drivin’ there will be deposits to my account.  (work for nine, paid for twelve)  Won’t be gettin’ rich, but might stay moderately poor without falling totally into debt.

(which is dominated by the car… but it’s new, it won’t break down, and which the newspaper job pays for)

I’m doing the normal vacation routine – sleep till whenever, get up, feed the cat, make the coffee, turn on WGN and watch "Nash Bridges" at nine – I’ve always liked Don Johnson and the babes on his shows.  Microwave a Marie Calendar’s beef pot pie, take a shower, pack a bag.  Put the card reader in the bag for the camera.  TV lead too – I’ve got pictures of an icy Multnomah Falls to show off.  An extra memory card – ya never know.  4 sets of batteries and the charger.  Take all that down to the car, come back up and grab my pillow, some CD’s.  Make a few trips out of it, what the hell.  Once I drive away, I wanna keep going.

(oh, now I remember – I needed to wait till ten to get a gift card from Mike’s across the street for my cat sitter).  Speaking of food, the cat has a new bag of dry food and some wet food, a new bag of cat sond… and he’ll be ok if Monacita vists him once.  Twice or three times, even better – but he’s a good cat and will be ok, and I’ll be gone only 5, maybe 6 nights.

Guess I don’t need to put it off.  I figured on leaving Tuesday, but if I have no real reason not to, why not leave today?

Gas is cheap.  The speed limit is 75 through most of California.  The passes are clear – it’s time to go.

***

Well, after food and a shower.

Then, like a herd of turtles, I’m outa here.

*****