Posts Tagged prep
Posted on July 12, 2009 by angela
My son is an itchy guy. He has severe eczema, and lots of allergies which seem to also manifest their annoying-ness on his poor skin.
Night-time is the worst. He has never been a good sleeper, and I can count the number of times he’s slept through the night on one hand. Even after he falls asleep (which can itself be a scratch-fest battle), he will ultimately scratch himself in his sleep until he wakes up. When things are really bad, his face and head get seriously inflamed and look horrible. This, in turn, gets us the scorn of every mother pass on street. We must be neglecting our child.
This week, Bode is going to the allergist to get more allergy testing done. He’s already been tested many times for hundreds of different allergens, but we keep going back for more tests to make sure we’ve covered everything. Parents with severely allergic kids – us anyway – daydream that we have missed one major allergy that is causing all of his problems and one day we’ll find that one magic thing to avoid that will make him better. The problem is, he’s allergic to everything.
Anyway, he is not to have any antihistamine for 7 days, and this has made night-time worse than usual. He seems to be suffering from hay fever symptoms as well. Last night, my 3rd night in a row of only a few hours of sleep, I started the panic and worry that comes in the middle of the night.
How are any of us going to get any sleep in that small van? And even in hotels, the constant change of sleeping venue seems like a miserable experience. Dust and dust mites at hotels? Yeah – major allergy.
But, in the light of day I always see a little clearer and have a little more hope. Perhaps getting out of this house, or away from these trees and grasses may help. And hopefully, with the constant change, he’ll learn to sleep better and his body will take advantage of the night instead of trying to fight it. Think positive.
Posted on July 10, 2009 by angela
Jason was absolutely giddy when he saw the new bus engine today.
We took a mini road trip to Sacramento for things VW. First stop, a VW guy with a windshield. Bob had a ’71 camper van in the driveway and 4 in the backyard, including one made into a club house by his daughter, and a ’59 double-door panel van. Even I was a little impressed.
It turned out that the windshield had a ding in it, but we managed to walk away with a rear window with defroster and a side mirror. There’s nothing like shopping for miscellaneous car parts in someone’s backyard. As expected, it was mostly an opportunity for Jason to talk shop with a local VW nut.
Next stop, Elk Grove for the new engine. Art had a VW van in the garage, a hot rod in the driveway and another car under a cover. He’s been building engines for 30 years, and had answers for every question Jason threw at him. He even had it hooked up to an engine stand in the driveway and fired it up for our approval… I have a good feeling about it. Now, if Jason can get it in our bus, we are one step closer to a working vehicle. 35 days to go.
Jason was absolutely giddy when he saw the new bus engine today.
We took a mini road trip to Sacramento for things VW. First stop, VW guy with a windshield. Bob had 1 camper van in the driveway, and 4 in the backyard, including one made into a club house by his daughter, and a ’59 double-door panel van. Even I was a little impressed.
Next stop, Elk Grove for the new engine. Art had a VW van in the garage, a hot rod in the driveway and another car under a cover. He’s been building engines for 30 years, and seemed to know the answer to every question Jason threw at him. I have a good feeling about it. Now, if Jason can get it in, we are one step closer to a working van. 35 days to go.
Posted on July 8, 2009 by angela
Ever try to get a four year-old to sit still and smile for a photo? Tell them it’s for a passport and they’ll have to show it to border patrol to enter a foreign county. It works wonders.
Bode’s existing passport is actually going to expire soon… well in a year anyway. We just might be gone for longer than that, so it’s a good thing we checked. For adults, they’re usually good for 7 years or so. Not for kiddos. I suppose it makes sense, since he’s only a few months old in his existing passport photo. Nevermind that the photo is of an infant and the they somehow managed to make his hair fire-red.
Posted on July 6, 2009 by angela
Why am I packing and storing 35 plastic promotional cups, but not a single real glass?
Texas Championship Rose Bowl Cup, Happy New Year 1999!, and Wurstfest: A 10-day Salute to Sausage… you cups will be packed safely away. All other drinkware – wine glasses, coffee mugs, pint glasses, highballs, lowballs, beer mugs, pilsner glasses, and the ever-lingering sippy cups… garage sale or donation pile for you!
All of the things I was dreading having to sort through seem so much easier to throw into the donation pile than I expected. All those clothes that never really fit right, but I held on to them because they were pricey — gone! Those questionable clothing items that someone gave as a gift in the best intentions that I thought maybe some day I’ll wear in front of them – donation time. Tiny tiny T-shirts with much loved band logos, that just really don’t fit a gal that’s had a baby — here ya go childless friend!
It’s quite liberating, actually. And, of course, I’m looking forward to replenishing my wardrobe some day. However, shoes are another story. Jason’s current packing argument with me: quantity of shoes. Our desired number of shoes per person are 4 pairs apart.
Posted on June 30, 2009 by angela
It takes two vans to keep one running, or so the saying goes.
We are now on our second van, but this one hasn’t run since we bought it in March. It’s not that Jason hasn’t been working on it - it has been a near daily activity.
This 1971 red VW camper was literally a piece of crap when we bought it. It was impounded by Oakland police and sold at auction. We bought it from a guy who had supposedly cleaned it out. The inside had to be stripped clean, power-washed and scrubbed. And this van was in a little bit better shape than the first van.
Posted on June 18, 2009 by angela
We have to be out by August 14. Out of our house…
Although we have talked about this for months, the path is now laid and we must move on in 50 days.
I thought the (secret) purchase of a VW van last year was just a result of a midlife crisis. Within weeks he was talking about a major road trip.
A trip of a lifetime. For months it has been in the back of our mind. But now, as of tonight, the lease for our house has been signed. The curtains and appliances stay – everything else has to go.
Oh the list of things to do. So, what do we do tonight? We drink a bottle of wine and watch a chick flick.
Tomorrow, we start the purge, the plans, the chaos.
The story has been told to some friends and family. There has been a lot of worry and/or excitement from both. This site will help to keep those interested in our whereabouts and adventures informed.
Bode: To indicate by signs, foretell.
A good beginning bodes well….
Posted on February 6, 2009 by angela
It couldn’t happen. Not yet at least. There was no way, without a van we could rent out the house and be gone in 6 weeks. And so, we’re looking to summer.
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »
