An Early Start

Posted on June 8, 2014 by TheJessicaness
entering California via I-10

entering California via I-10

This morning came sooner than I thought. The alarm went off at 5:15 and we were showered by 5:30. We cleaned out the car and then repacked it, took a group photo, and were pulling away at 6am with the temperature only 74 degrees. We will escape the city before the heat arrives. We got gas for the car and then Caleb took the wheel so I could write notes and then read to him – if Sparky would quit farting so we can roll the windows up while driving on the highway.

We reach the California border at 8:30 – on a route we’ve never been on together, and roll through Chiriaco Summit just long enough to get pictures of a corroded car at a rusted gas pump, the General Patton Memorial Museum, and the military tanks surrounded by other unused vehicles in a barb-wire compound. I would’ve loved to spend more time, but emotions are high and my anxiety level peaked. I wanted the doggy drop off to run smoothly before I enjoyed the rest of my day. We passed a field of wind turbines at 10:24.

Chiriaco Summit

Chiriaco Summit

I read to Caleb until we get near the Los Angeles city limits. I give him directions to the house that will be keeping our dogs until driving them 40 minutes to the airport on Tuesday, two days from now. We arrive at 12:30pm and tell the guy that the dogs need to be separated from all other animals regardless of anything else – playtime, adequate watering. We opened the box that contained their travel crates, assembly required, with bowls included and were told that absorbable material would be provided for comfort and liquid absorption. Sparky finds a ball and Piggy finds the water bowl. I say good-bye.

I felt terrible leaving as I heard Sparky crying at missing me. They may not eat and may go a bit crazy, but as long as they make it in one piece I will be super happy at their arrival in Bahrain. I will miss them terribly while we’re apart. Caleb must’ve seen the tears in my eyes and put on the comedian channel which helped to cheer me up. We drove out-of-the-way from our Highway 5 south route to Dan’s to go to Happy Cow Car Wash – complete with laser light show – at 2:30.

sunset in Imperial Beach

sunset in Imperial Beach

 

Part of me was happy to be doing something new and the other half of me was sad that the dogs weren’t there to bark at the water as it hit the windows. We pulled up, paid, changed the radio station as directed, and pulled forward. We were surrounded by flashy lights, soap suds, and a projected show in front of us. I think it was dancing cows, but it was hard to see while the windshield was covered in multicoloured foamy bubbles. We got to use the rest of the time on a dryer hose, because the guy beside us didn’t need it. I sucked out dog hair, food crumbs, and dried leaves while Caleb moved the seats and mats around.

I called Dan to let him know we were on our way. We stopped by Harper’s in Chula Vista and got my $30 back for an unsatisfied clarinet cleaning/repair job. I’m grateful to Steve for his dedication to customer satisfaction. I will use that money to pay for long-term parking at the airport and gas money for Dan for delivering our car. We pull up in Dan’s driveway at 4pm. He signed the P.O.A. and took our spare change – $2.41 with no quarters. Yoli, his generous wife, offered me some flan and I got Caleb to eat some too since it was so delicious.

saying good-bye to Piggy

saying good-bye to Piggy

Caleb dropped me off at Betty’s with the dried sage we got from his dad. Like other things that we pay a lot for down here – morels and asparagus – they grow wild in Montana and are free if you can find them. We went to Sea 180 Tavern at 5pm for a beer and hummus with pita served on a wooden board. We sat at a table with a fire, in the sun, looking at the ocean through glass – soon to have a broken piece from kids playing on the sand below. We walked back to Betty’s so she could gift me with a flowery headband – something to remember her and our days in southern California together – it’s perfect.

Caleb picked me up at 6:50, and we stopped by Bibi’s to hug goodbye to her and Dan, and then made our way to the airport after stopping at Don Panchos for a California burrito – Caleb’s last for the next two years. We parked in spot 138 with 74,500 miles on the odometer and were standing in the parking lot looking lost when the employee shuttle driver asked where we were going and gave us a ride to Terminal 1. We needed Terminal 2 so we walked there and picked up our tickets, but couldn’t check-in our bags yet – good thing we didn’t bring them with us, but left them in the car.

airport art - The World Through the Tapestry of Our Lenses

airport art – The World Through the Tapestry of Our Lenses

We asked at the USO to make sure they would be open. We went to the car to grab the bags and the driver that delivered us to our car would be the same one to take us back to the airport. We walked to the USO, checked in, and I got offered a couch for the night. They will lock us in at midnight and then we have two exit doors to choose from when we wake at 4am. I went to the lounge for a coffee while Caleb shaved his beard and found Father’s Day cards and filled one out for mine and used some space to write Caroline too – not that she’s a dad, but I appreciate her just the same.

I grabbed some snacks for breakfast – crunchy stuff in a bag and a muffin – when the USO won’t be open and then chatted with the volunteer about our prior service – he worked on helicopters in the army and then was a narcotic officer and worked in a jail for seven years. Caleb got done ridding himself of facial hair and then filled out a card too. Part of me knows I need to sleep, it’s after 11:15pm, but the other part is excited about the adventure I am beginning.

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A Day In the Heard

Posted on June 7, 2014 by TheJessicaness
pottery in the Heard - by Caleb

pottery in the Heard – by Caleb

As told by Caleb.

… Somewhere I had yet to see. We went to breakfast together and I ordered the protein waffle. From there we went our separate ways. Caroline and I got in the car and tried to leave U.S. Egg and head towards the museum when… “Look, they have cronuts!” If they are open we can get some since John has never tried them. Luckily, Candyland Cupcakes are busy cooking them and opened five minutes before we drove past. Four cronuts in a box, two plain and two chocolate, and we are headed to the house to drop them off and go to the museum.

We try to follow Google directions until Caroline recognises the way. We get to an empty parking lot and wonder if they are even open. We get inside and when I’m about to pay Caroline asks about a military discount and we both get in for free. Caroline asks what I want to see first, but I don’t even know what they have. Right then we are asked if we would like to join the guided tour. Caroline has never done it, so why not.

We start at the Beginning of Time in Phoenix and learn about the Native Peoples, talking about the different types of pottery and fabrics they made. We eventually fell behind the tour because of our discussion of fiber arts and ended up finishing sans guide or tour group. Caroline is an endless fountain of information about all things woven, knitted, or crocheted. We make our way out of the Native People’s exhibit and head through the rest of the museum.

We learn about reservation life and that the sensors on the displays are sensitive as I lean in to get a better look at an old newspaper. We saw on the way in that there is a Lego exhibit and have saved that for last. We head up the stairs and are deposited into kid-land… we fit right in. We made race cars that we raced against each other and some of the kids there. We made crowns and glasses, but sadly all fun things must come to an end as I made the Lego outline of Caroline lying on the floor after a horrific accident involving giant falling Legos. Luckily no one was hurt as they were foam rubber.

After all the fun it was time for lunch. We went to the Courtyard Cafe and both ordered the prickly pear lemonade. We got some guacamole and fire-roasted tomato salsa with chips to split and decided on the hummus veggie sandwich to split as well. I wish Jess could’ve been there to help us eat all the food. We ended up not being able to finish the chips and dip. We walked through the gift shop and were blown away by the extravagant prices on our way back to the car.

As we drove back we kept seeing second-hand stores and Caroline brought up making swants. As we are about to get to the house I miss the turn and we end up in front of a Goodwill… so we stopped to peruse the sweater aisles. We found a cashmere sweater, then another, and then four more. We each get three with the intent of unravelling them and knitting them into something else. As we are checking out we both get texts asking where we are so we immediately head home.

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A Day In the Office

Posted on June 7, 2014 by TheJessicaness
fatherly symbolism for, "I will miss you most awesome daughter ever!"

fatherly symbolism for, “I will miss you most awesome daughter ever!”

We were going to wake early to give us more time to our day if we decided to drive to Mt. Lemon in Tucson or to an art event in Flagstaff. Neither happened when Dad almost went into work. Instead we agreed to spend the day together and let Caleb and Caroline go to the Heard Museum – somewhere Caleb has yet to see.

Legos at the Heard Museum - by Caleb

Legos at the Heard Museum – by Caleb

We all went to breakfast together at U.S. Egg at 8am. I ordered the granola yogurt and an English muffin. We drank our coffee and said our goodbyes to Mario and his waitresses. From there Dad and I went to the office where we would stay until 2pm. The other two went to the museum and had fun making shapes with Legos in the temporary exhibit.

playing dead, not just for puppies anymore - by Caleb

playing dead, not just for puppies anymore – by Caleb

They split a sandwich there and brought home fry-bread. We went to North for lunch at 2:30 and split some fries with lemon aioli and a pizza with mushrooms and smoked mozzarella. We met back at the house and waited on the other two to get back from Goodwill where they found a great deal on cashmere sweaters. They want to unravel them and reuse the yarn. I felt like getting out of the house and bringing the dogs along, so dad-less we went to Echo Mountain Off-Leash Arena just south of their house at 5pm.

kachina dolls - by Caleb

kachina dolls – by Caleb

Caleb threw the ball for Sparky a few times and then I noticed Sparky’s left rear foot was bloody and that it was still 103 degrees out. I carried him back to the car, but we weren’t ready to go home yet. We drove down the street, pulled into a neighborhood, and then drove around until we found parking next to a trail sign. The dirt was hot too so I tried to keep the dogs in the shade. They did well. We were looking for the top of Mountains Preserve, but we only found a road to a water tower. We turned around and Caleb carried Piggy back to the car.

view from the hike

view from the hike

Back at the house with plenty of water and air-conditioning I read from The Glass Castle for a bit while the other two went back to their sweaters before Dad decided it was time for a movie – A Hundred Ways to Die in the West – in a theatre near us – playing now! It was a goofy movie choice for him, but we all laughed at the absurdity of the film that is set in 1882. From the theatre we went to dinner at BJ’s. Caroline and I split the kale salad, Caleb had a burger with fries, and Dad had a steak with mashed potatoes. I helped myself to fries with potatoes on top.

the unattainable top (while trying to avoid the hot dirt with dogs)

the unattainable top (while trying to avoid the hot dirt with dogs)

We skipped dessert there and I was anxious for the fry-bread waiting on the counter at home. I had a quarter of one while Caleb walked the dogs. Upon his return Caroline got out the box of cronuts so that Dad could try one for the first time at 10:38pm. There’s a story as to why he hasn’t had this experience sooner involving a man and cash, but that’s for another time. There were two chocolate and two vanilla – still good after being in a box all day. I made it until 11pm before deciding to go to sleep.

a box full of cronuts

a box of cronuts

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Dogs and No Postcards

Posted on June 6, 2014 by TheJessicaness
Piggy and me at the USDA office

Piggy and me at the USDA office

I wake up to the sound of Dad and Caroline moving around but usually lay there waiting until they are done using the bathroom and fall back asleep. This morning I walked the dogs and then lay down again. They left to start their days and I got up to shower. Caleb washed himself and the dogs. I had a piece of rye toast with passion fruit butter and bitter orange jam on it for breakfast.

We left the house at 10:30 for the dogs’ eleven o’clock appointment. What should’ve only taken 20 minutes ended up being six hours of running around between different Banfields and the USDA Wildlife Services office. While waiting on some paperwork, sitting on a bench by the check-in desk I saw a dachshund approach. When the owner neared I asked how many babies were in its belly. She assured me Pee Wee had a wee wee and no pups on the way. Oops.

A larger dog, with bows on, approached the scale and sat on it until she was given a treat. This went on about five times while a lady stood with a cat meowing in her cart and two girls dressed just as skimpily as their mother stood around waiting for their dog to be done at the groomers. Turns out the fat weiner dog wasn’t here to be seen (this time), he was waiting on his brother who made out with the veterinarian assistant in front of me – just another reason I won’t let my dogs lick things.

The same doggy nurse with the menagerie of dog poo on her face is the one that will help get our paperwork in order. At least when she hands it to us I don’t have to worry about her hands being dirty – or do I? The day cost some $200 for two physicals and a piece of paper saying as much. We finally got everything printed out, signed after returning to the office, and paid for in kitten souls, and got to the house at 5pm. I read to Caleb until Caroline got home 30 minutes later.

We began the debate about dinner, met Dad at the office at 7pm, saw Caroline play the keyboard and Rainy get hired at Timefire, then decided on True Food Kitchen. I said any spot in the restaurant would be fine and they almost put us in the lounge area, where the seats are bigger than the tables, which would be fine for drinks and cigarettes. I went to the bathroom as soon as we were seated and the sinks are located outside, trough style.

We split edamame dumplings, a kale crunch salad, a bowl of crudités, spaghetti squash casserole, and a tempeh sandwich with sweet potato bits and lemon kale. Dad ordered tuna and salmon. To drink we shared a medicine man, strawberry soda, kale juice mix, and an acai mojito. Dessert was a bowl of chia pudding, strawberry-rhubarb crumble, and a lemon tart with coconut whipped cream.

I left there three bites too full, but I wasn’t about to leave any sugary bite orphaned on the table waiting to be escorted to the trash by the busboy. I’d rather slather them on my taste buds and feel them slide down my throat where their joyous calories will give me the energy needed to find their family and eat them too.  I enjoyed the walk back to the car among the street lights, knitted poles, and stairs to where we were parked in the garage. Caleb and Caroline secretly decided to walk the dogs together, leaving Dad and I alone, only returning to cuddle with their spouses.

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Father Daughter Roadtrip

Posted on June 5, 2014 by TheJessicaness
garden kaleidoscope

garden kaleidoscope

Breakfast was had at U.S. Egg, after arriving at 9am. I had biscuits with sausage gravy. It’s not that I can’t eat meat, but it ruined the taste of the pepper gravy and buttery biscuits. I would’ve finished the four halves had I not had half of an English muffin with blackberry jam on it. Dad’s meal came over-meated and Mario, the manager, sat down to give us a tip on our soon-to-be expat home while Dad was busy talking to a waitress.

He told us not to show the bottom of our feet as it’s considered disrespectful in the Middle East because you’re showing the lowest part of your body, the unclean part. That is also why shoes are removed for prayers and the feet cleaned. Some Muslims find it respectful for youth to kiss the feet of their elders; others claim this resembles the prostration to God and it shouldn’t be done. I will keep my feet down and my eyes open. Thank you, Mario.

on the corner in Jerome

on the corner in Jerome

Dad opened the office for Dani and then we took Caleb home, so we could have one last father-daughter day before I leave for two years, after setting him up with a 12:30 appointment with Simon, Dad’s barber for 17 years. Had we left sooner Dad wanted to take me to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, to another part of this large, historic formation that I have yet to see, and that we haven’t seen together.

This didn’t stop us from heading north, but the road closure due to a car on fire did. We detoured off Highway 17 and stopped in Jerome – a small town full of photography shots that Dad had already taken. There are lots of rebuilt hotels and saloons that have partially survived fires over the years. And the ladies jail is located on the bottom floor of the New State Motor Building – which is where the women went after the town passed a law forbidding the red-light district from being located downtown.

books on a shelf

books on a shelf

There’s plenty of shopping, history, and chipped paint along with the dry desert heat that is cooled off when a breeze blows through the streets here. We notice a sign, “Will take credit card for water” – it’s not verbatim, but neither of us had cash. We get a water each and I get a root beer, not because I like soda, but to celebrate seeing a new place and getting to experience a sample of the 89A that’s famous for its 158 curves in 12 miles.

Then we drove to Sedona to the Blue Moon Cafe so Dad could order posole, a pork and hominy stew, and was again over-meated. I tried a bite of the hominy with broth and the spices were varied and fitting to my memories of Dad and I traveling the Southwest. I enjoyed my tea while he ate lunch. We made it back home after 4pm and he went to the office to not feel as guilty for leaving the employees there to work the morning alone.

outdoor bathroom

outdoor bathroom

It turns out Brinn decided to take the day off since he thought the boss wasn’t coming back in and influenced his girlfriend, a yet to be hired employee, to leave an hour and a half early so they could go shopping for supplies for his new apartment. Dad kicked Joe out so he could have some time to himself. I spent this time to write out postcards for Robert,  Jessi and Jake, and Sammi and Lyra. I read to Caleb for a while and then he scared Caroline at the door when she got home at 5:45. The look on her face was priceless.

We met Dad at Gil’s Taste of Taos at 7:15 with two bowls of guacamole and another with red and green sauce. I split a chile relleno with Caleb and saved room for a sopapilla. Outside were two women with their cars pointing at each other. They were fumbling with the jumper cables when Dad volunteered Caleb’s expertise and told us he would see us at the house. The women were grateful for the help when the second car started back up.

unemployed and on the street

unemployed and on the street

Dad’s working environment bummed him out and he didn’t feel like playing in the reindeer games. The rest of us opened Caroline’s ukelele book and as she practiced and sung lowly we joined her, but not with as much rhythm, melody, or grace. After 30 minutes it was just lyrics and then we started ad-libbing the songs replacing words with whore and sandwich. Out came the snail puppet to sing-a-long too. Dad went to bed early, lulled to sleep by his family band and my singing turned to yawning. Once the other two begin to put on pajamas I can lay my head next to Piggy’s on the pillow.

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