Point of Clarification

Bonjour mes amis!

It was brought to my attention that my description of my current and future living conditions are somewhat confusing to those not in the "know."  Therefore, I shall try to clarify this as best I can while not invading people's privacy.

Story:

Hannibal met Bonnie.  Hannibal and Bonnie became instant friends.  Their shared interests and distaste of most of man-kind sealed their friendship.  Hannibal and Bonnie were tired of where they were living and the exorbitant cost of renting a home.  Finding a rental that would accept Panda was also a problem.  Therefore, purchasing a home seemed to be the best course of action.  House found.  House purchased.

Fast forward.  Bonnie meets Clyde (which happened due to the awesomeness of Hannibal, tehehe).  Bonnie and Clyde are a match made in Heaven.  Hannibal approves of Clyde, which, let's face it, is what really counts. *smirk*  Not to mention, Clyde understands the process of appeasing the roommate God(dess) and does a fantastic job of it.  Bonnie and Clyde want to spend their life together.  Unfortunately, Hannibal and its attachment to the house is in the way of this.  Solution?  Refinance and quit deed!  Problem?  Waiting for the loan to mature to be able to do this.  Solution? Hannibal moves out (with contract between everyone) into travel trailer to begin dream of having Tiny Home and Clyde et al. move in.  Everyone happy.  Families created, curmudgeons appeased. *fingers crossed*

Clear as mud?

Mr Skellington posted this to me today and I thought it quite appropriate.  Brought a smile to my face since it really is so very true.  The ecard posted above was posted by another friend.  I love that my friends understand my curmudgeonry so well and still love me for it, hahaha!

I have a quick rant I wanted to share with all of you oh-so-lovely people:

Please, for the love of whatever you hold dear, please, change lanes to get away and give people and emergency vehicles space on the shoulders to work and do what they need to do safely.  

This is one of my all-time biggest pet peeves.  When people are so GD ignorant to not give people space on the shoulder.  I challenge every single one of you out there to stand on the side of the interstate trying to do your job and help others with vehicles less than ten feet away from you blowing by at 60mph+.  It is rattling to say the least.  Stressful.  So, give them a brake and move away.  A few seconds of being slower is better than vehicular manslaughter and the label of being the ultimate DB for the rest of your life.  Fucker.

Live long and prosper.

--Miss you Mr. Spock

I'm home!

After driving a lovely 8h today, I finally made it home.  I took the longer route (time-wise), but it was much more scenic and healthier for the Jeep.  My friend, Mr. Tony Stark, gave the Jeep a name- Buehlla.  I consider the Jeep an "it", so we decided to shorten it to Buehl, which is more gender neutral.

I took the scenic route to my friends' place as well.  The Jeep/Buehl does not like interstate driving.  Apparently, 35" tires, manual transmission and low gearing are the trifecta of suck when trying to drive fast.  Add in going up and down in mountains and the suck increases exponentially.  On the way I stopped at the Perry Arch Bridge.  Pretty cool stuff.

On the way back I took Hwy 95-Hwy 55, so all the scenic parts of Idaho.  I had not been to the Lewiston-North of Grangeville area for years.  It was quite nice to see it all again through a different mindset than previously.  I stopped at the White Bird Battle overlook (and to give Buehl and my legs a break).  Breathtaking scenery.  Heartbreaking Nez Perce history.

I found this photo on my Facebook feed and just had to share it with the following statement:

"Oh oh, thats me! Hear that, gentlemen? Im a goddamned fucking Queen. This bitch aint need no saving!"

My friends bought some land and are building their dream homestead on it.  They are accomplishing a lifelong dream of theirs to live as sustainably as possible and eliminate their carbon footprint.  I applaud them and am admittedly jealous of this plan of theirs.  They are learning about forestry management in order to be the best forestry stewards they can be for the land that they live on and share with this planet.

I helped them haul fallen trees and branches to be burned.  I also helped (minimally, in the grand scheme of things) build some of their cabin.  I forced myself to address some discomforts I have with heights by climbing the 14' ladder and walk across support beams without floors, and walk on the porch suspended (in my opinion) high above the ground since they built the cabin into/on a hillside overlooking the creek on their property, on boards that are not yet secured to the support beams.  I had so much fun!  I was the errand-runner for my friends as they installed the porch roof.  I simply could not overcome my fear of losing my balance and plummeting to the ground in a heap of pain or death to go up on the roof.

We hiked around the property.  I must say, there is something so soothing and "completing" to hear golden eagles cawing/screaming while soaring over head.  And then hear the sound of the wind moving the trees so that they rub against each other.  And the gurgle of water in a stream cutting through and over rocks.  Serene.  My friends have chosen well.  They will have a good life there.  They are working so hard to reach their dreams.  I am so proud of them for it.  So proud, that I feel compelled to help them complete it and live it as well.  Maybe?

I am glad to have friends such as the thoughtful Tony Stark and his badass wife, Pepper Potts.  I only get to see them every few years, but they are the sort of friends that make an 8h drive more than worth it!  I was so sad to leave them today.  They are a part of my "Tribe" and with a tribe of so few members (due to VERY restrictive membership access), I cherish the ones I do get to see.  My Tribe understands when I post something like this:

One of the things I love best about my Tribe is that everyone is different.  And they all respect that of one another.  They are communicative enough to share their points of view.  They are awesome enough to know when to shrug their shoulders and take life by the horns.  They are all very independent-minded intelligent individuals who have goals in life and strive so hard to reach them.

Mr. Stark taught me how to operate a tractor with a backhoe on it and blade up front.  He also showed me how to drive/operate the Mitubishi bulldozer (tehehehe), as well as, "Olga" a 1955 military xm215 (i.e. giant old dump truck).  Olga was pretty challenging since it is a manual transmission, yet no syncros.  This means that the gears do not slow down to match each other for you to be able to shift up or down when you depress the clutch.  I managed to shift up fairly well, but going down, I simply kept grinding the gears.  I had to put it in neutral and stop it before shifting again.  It is also a full time 6x6 and no power steering.  If I drove that thing regularly, I'd have AWESOME guns, bwhahaha!

It is always so hard to come back to real life after a vacation.  Come back to the responsibilities of life.  The hum drum rig 'um an' roll of it all.  Not that my life is drole by any means.  It is not.  My life is pretty damn awesome.  But spending so much time being happy and full of fun times is what I strive to achieve.  Yes, I went on vacation and ended up helping roof a home, cut and collect/drag trees, driving and operating a variety of useful machinery and hiking are all things I consider time well spent.  Especially when done to help others.  I will bend over backward to help those I deem worthy.  That is what being a friend is.  That is what being a member of my Tribe does.  We help one other.  We help make sure we have the most fulfilled live possible.  I am so happy for Mr Stark and Ms Potts.  They are such a wonderful couple.  I smile when I watch them interact with one another.  I only hope I can find someone to make me giggle like that when I see them.

My Tribe fits wonderfully into this example of a Venn diagram.  Tehehehe:

I am slowly getting closer to accomplishing some of my life long goals.  I bought a house in 2014.  Due to a series of events, of which I am not sad about, nor is the process a negative situation, I will no longer have the house.  Instead, I plan to downsize my life.  I have mentioned the difficultly in procuring a loan for a tiny home.  So, in the mean time, I will live in a travel trailer.  I am very excited about this.  I already have a place to park it, hook it up and live.  Now to just find the as close to perfect trailer as possible.  In order for me to keep them all straight, I am listing my potentials I have found on craigslist here:

• 1997 32' WT Road Ranger (Pullman) $8500 --> call only
• 1996 Fleetwood Terry 30ft Fifth Wheel (Nampa) $7950
• 1995 29' Alpenlite Riviera 5th Wheel (Mountain Home) $6995 --> emailed, appt to see on Sat
• 2001 33ft Sunnybrook 5th wheel (Meridian) $9500
• 2000 27' Terry 5th Wheel w/slide (Meridian) $7500 --> call only
• 2000 27' Salem by Forest River 5th wheel (Boise) $8495
• 1997 30' Komfort 5th wheel (Shelley) $6900 --> emailed
• 1998 28' Wldrnss/travel/camp5th.whl.trl (Pocatello) $6700 --> Bonnie's g-pa to check out
• ???? 33' Komfort 5th w/2slides (Wendell) $6995 --> call only
• 1993 36' Challenger 5th Wheel (Burley) $6300 --> SOLD
• 1994 30' Kit roadranger w/tipout (Clarkston) $6400 --> emailed
• 1993 32' Fleetwood Prowler (Clarkston) $7000 --> emailed
• 1999 29.5' Layton 5th wheel (Libby, MT) $6000
• 2004 28' Keystone Outback BHS (Meridian) $8000 --> emailed
• 2004 23' Forest River Wildwood (Meridian) $9995 --> dealership, contacted
• 2002 Skyline Layton (Boise) $6911 --> dealership, contacted

My criteria thus far:

• Minimum 25' long
• Prefer at least 1 slide
• Bumper pull preferred, but can perhaps work with 5th wheel
• Prefer double pane windows since living in year round
• 1 bed (no need for bunks since it is just for me)
• armchair/lay-z-boy in addition to the standard pull out couch
• High R value in walls, ceiling and floor
• No water damage

Benefits/Pluses:

• Solar panels
• Outdoor shower

Any feedback is much appreciated.  Thanks!

Questions I am using in my email to potential sellers for me:

Does it have a clean title and are you the only owner it's ever had?

Was it ever lived in full time?

When was the last time the whole sewer system was flushed?

Does it have central air and heat?  What are the BTUs?

Does it have double pane windows and is there insulation in the subfloor/ceiling?

Have pets ever been in it?

Has it ever been smoked in?

How new are the tires? Tread?

What is the towing/max weight of the trailer?

Has it ever had/has leaks?

Does it have a "polar/northwest" package (i.e. 4-season ready-ish)?

Are the the jacks manual and independent of each other?

Is the refrigerator a gas/electric combo?
What kind of batteries does it have?
Does it come with a generator? Solar panels?
What kind of sound system does it have?
What kind of entertainment system does it have?
What sort of inverter does it have?

ive been absent

Because im on vacation, bitches! And because im on my phone. And im not sure how well you may know me (if at all), but those that do would understand that Hannibal and technology, especially that of phones are not a good mix. Much swearing, misspelled words, deletion, fat thumbs and general frustration ensues. My thumbs are already tired and my lack of capitalisation is really annoying me, but not enough for mr to correct it. Fuck it. Yup. Fugh itttt.

Id love to share pics and links and other generally cool shit on this post, but, once again, blame the phone. Id probably go super nova pulsar like trying to figure that shit out. So for now, this ranty thumb-numbing post will have to do. Bitxhes. Or more like bitches.

And now. Before i get carpal tunnel or something like it, i should end thia this this this (fuck you "s") post.

Wotds of wisdom of the day: when ca%ying large sheets of metal roofing, be sure to wear appropriate gloves. If not, that lovely large piece of heavy awkward thinly cut metal has this annoying way of slicing into your fat ass pudgy fingers like a knife in semi turgid butter. Fuck you metal. The cuts in my fingers now itch and are annoying as fuck. Especially when they come in contact with shit...or water. But esp shit since i really have to scrub. no diptheria here! Im (mostly) hygeinic!

I'm Published! (and some disappointment)

I attempted to post yesterday, but the internet was being a douche. So I gave up and watched SVU in bed.

 I wrote an article related to a project/course that a coworker and I developed and teach. I submitted the article to our national association that has a quarterly publication. They accepted and printed it! Woooo! My article is on 3 glossy pretty pages, yay!

 I also heard back from a former boss of mine who now teaches in a field that is the main overview of my job. He said that he is doing a new course and would like me to teach for a day (I asked him about it last year). WOOOOOOO!

 I ran out of razors last week and felt the desire to shave my legs. I splurged and got 4-bladed razors. Holy Fuck! I have seriously been missing out on a nice smooth and cut-free shave all these years in the interest of being a cheapskate! Never again. I am hooked on the 4-blade razor. Mmmmhmm. That shit made my legs sexy smooth. Granted, only I will know and feel that. But at least it makes me happy, right?

 Mr. Jack Skellington helped me review and brainstorm stuff to try to obtain a goal I have always wanted to achieve. Very useful stuff. Upon further contact clarifying things related to my goal, I found out I cannot yet achieve it. This makes me very sad and disappointed. As I know I can currently reach the goal and be awesome after achieving it. But people and stupid rules prevent it from coming to fruition. I have a list of things I need to do to reach the goal. I will be damned if I do not go above and beyond to get all of them and then kick some muthafuggin arse on my pursuit of my life's dream.

I am worried that I will not be able to afford the requirements to achieve my dream.  It will cost upwards of $1,500 for me to accomplish what I was told needs to be accomplished.  This makes me very sad.  I earn enough money now to just get by with some occasions to eat out.  All the rest goes to bills, gas/transport and food.  I will not lie.  I feel pretty cheated right about now by people who lack vision and the ability to think outside the box.  *sigh*/endrant

This article/photo collection made me happy. I think it is important for people to realise that we are all human. Thank you, theChive.

I have found in life that I do not attract the kind of man I am attracted to.  This is also disappointing to me.  Most recently, a self-proclaimed anarchist contacted me on the dating website.  He was very articulate and verbose in his writing.  He also exhibited drive for the things he found important in life.  Which I applaud.  But given me and given him.  Yeah.  That will NEVER work.

But his last message to me (after I responded in answering some questions he had), was very eloquent.  And I felt the need to share it here:

"Thank you for your thorough, and revealing response to my inquiries. I think that you are correct in your assessment of our affinity. I doubt we could be friends, just because I am sure we posses contrary radical belief systems. Radical, coming from the latin root radix, meaning root. I believe that sharing space would be rather enjoyable, maybe even exciting, but when it comes down to it I believe that the system you choose to support does not have my best interests in mind. 

I do not wish to suggest that you are a bad person, in fact I feel that within my investigation of your profile, and a very thorough on at that, I found much love, care, and support for the things you believe. I enjoy anybody that lives life with their convictions, just as long as those convictions are not forced upon others. This is where I feel we would disagree. I think that any system that needs to use overarching force upon its own citizens is inherently flawed. I recognize that some are doing the best with what they are offered, or provided, but I require a grander introspection. I wish to witness a day when people no longer begrudgingly accept what they are given, but fight vehemently for what they want. I do not believe I am anti american, but rather anti totalitarian. Thomas jefferson, also a self proclaimed anarchist is one of my favorite dead white dudes, and he would be rolling over in his grave if he saw this country in the state it is now. 

I also respect everyones right to have their opinions, as long as those opinions do not become oppressive actions. That is the distinction between an anarchist and everyone else. Anarchy is simply the mutual respect for voluntary associations. This is not an understood, nor respected belief within the structure you choose to defend. 

Again, thank you for your time, and showing you valuing me as a human being by respectfully responding in kind. I wish the best for you in life, and love.

Love and chaos,

xxxxxxx"

Climbing Mountains and shit

Today kicked my ass.  Woke up way too early for a weekend day to go hiking with Team RWB Boise again.  This time we hiked up Cervidae Peak.  Total mileage roughly 8.5mi.  Half of it basically straight up.  Just when you think you're going to have a break on going up, nope, false peak, keep going.  Ugh.  My hammies and quads and everything else waist downward will hurt like a muthafucka tomorrow.  At least I only carried my camelback with water rather than my regular rucksack.

Here's the route I mapped using Backcountry Navigator and uploading to this website: Cervidae Peak

And now pics:

All the pics were taken from the end/top.  I took others, but these are the best ones I think.  The last one was taken by a fellow hiker and I liked it so much, I just had to add it.

And now, since my internet is shitting out on me less than every 30 seconds....in the interest of me not destroying things, I shall conclude this post and add more tomorrow.

GD'd Fuggin' Awesome day!

Today has been a good day.  Today is the kind of day that I wake up and live for.  Today is a day that brings a smile to my face.

I have noticed that after I joined various activity groups, interacting with people with similar interests as myself, my general happiness in life has increased.  Being around people that are also happy and motivated makes a huge difference in a person's outlook on life.  At least it does for me.

 Photo c/o Shutter Thug (awesome photographer)

I have roller derby practice on Saturday mornings.  I suck at roller derby.  And I am not trying for modesty here.  I really do suck.  A lot.  And I am totally fine with that.  I go to practices to have fun- to interact with an amazing group of people who are so supportive and helpful (especially to a newb like me) and so very talented.  I have been doing derby for about one year now.  When I started, I did not even know how to skate.  Now I can do quite a few things.  Not as many as I would like, but practicing and commitment to the goals will get me there.  Today we did a lot of footwork.  I had a great time!

I do have a fear I need to overcome.  Last month I had an accident.  We did 27-and-5, which means try to skate at least 27 laps on the track within 5min.  I usually get around 12-17 laps.  We had just finished and were slowing down as a cool down.  A teammate ran into me from behind and I fell hard on my tail bone.  It took about 4 weeks for it to finally heal.  And was not a process I would like to go through again.  I do not blame my team mate.  Shit happens.  And I know she feels terrible about it.  It's derby.  Pain happens.  But now, I have this fear while skating laps that someone will plow into me from behind again.  It is a fear that is holding me back.  I need to overcome it.  But am not quite sure how other than doing what I am doing- still skating and not letting it stop me.

After that, I watched some lovely Det. Olivia Benson kicking some ass.

Then it was time for Panda and I go rucking....with a group...to a place with other people and dogs!  ZOMG!  I would be lying if I said I was not a wee bit anxious about taking Panda along.  She is a rescue.  I believe she was not properly socialised when she was younger and now has anxiety issues when she sees other dogs.  Her initial reaction is to go on the defensive and snap at the other dog.  And when the other dog reacts negatively- game on!  Time to fight!...maybe?  Her lack of experience around other dogs makes her very frustrating to handle when exposed to them in a rather uncontrolled environment.

So, went Rucking with the group.  Up a steep ass hike to a point overlooking the entire city.  The view alone was worth the almost-grueling hike.  I had been up there before, but you can drive close to it and do an easy hike in.  Today, we started from the bottom.  I chatted with various members along the way.  It is so nice getting to meet other people in general, much less interesting people who take an active roll in their lives.  And Panda did pretty well!  Only a few minor tiffs.  She's a trooper with her own ruck sack filled with water bladders, hahaha!

Afterward, we met at a local microbrew/restaurant downtown.  And this is where my brain started to cease to function optimally.  Which is a fancy way of saying my blondeness took control and I became an idiot.  After chatting and eating, guess who discovered she left her wallet in the Jeep?  Yup.  This gal.  So I power walk the 3 blocks to parking garage and discover I cannot leave the garage because you have to pay before leaving and since I did not have money on me at the time I entered the garage, I was stuck in there.  I took Panda out, we walked back to the restaurant.  We walked into the restaurant (with everyone cooing over her) and I paid my bill.  And fuckitall, I forgot my leftovers.  ARGH!  That was a damn good BLT with egg.  BOOOOO!

Team RWB’s mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.

Flatulence R Us

Important information I learned this week: Hannibal's GI tract does not process wheat berries in an aromatically pleasing manner.  Today was thankfully the last day of my consumption of them from the ENORMOUS batch I made earlier this week for all my meals at work.  Trying to sleep when you're tired, but cannot due to the level of gas passing out of your ass AND the gut retching smell of aforementioned gas is a great way to keep you awake.  FML.

Other things I have learned recently:

It is harder to get financing for a Tiny Home than originally thought.  Some builders classify them as travel trailers.  Others classify them as RVs.  Either way, when you call a bank asking for an RV loan (for the kind that are classified as such) for a Tiny Home, the bank balks and advises you that RVs are not for permanent residence and thus they cannot give out a loan for a Tiny Home that will be lived in.  *sigh*  I need to call a few more banks/credit unions to see if they all say that.

So far, they have recommended I get a personal loan instead.  Hey, guess what twat nuggets?  I would not be financing this "home" if I have enough collateral to pay for it!!!!  Dipshits.  Talk about exasperating.

I compiled a massive collection of websites and ideas on my Pinterest Page for tiny home/garage/sustainable living.

For now, I think a temporary plan is to get a used RV or travel trailer and live in it for a few months.  I found a great RV park that actually has almost zero crime and the owner will let me live there even though it is a 55 and older park.  Woooo!  Best part- the park is close enough to work that I could either run/walk or bike!  That means I can save money on gas and wear and tear on the Jeep.  Which will all go to help me save money in general to pay down debt to get collateral/down payment on my planned Tiny Home.  Huzzah!  *fingers crossed*