Joei Carlton

Moving Right Along

I have temporarily resolved my computer problems.  I thought the program wasn’t working because I couldn’t convert a couple of chapters of my new mini read from  Open Office to Publisher 2007 and a friend helped me get the chapters into the book.  Once I started reading the printout I discovered that the problems were occurring all the way through the book.  I deleted the entire booklet and I’m retyping it directly into Publisher. Seems to be working and a lot less frustrating - it’s a lot of work though.  After a just a few days I’m about half way through it.

I’ve also had an offer that I couldn’t refuse.  My cover/website designer Brion of www.bookcreatives.com has offered to do my mini book covers and has sent me copies of the 2 covers.  Laughed so hard my eyes were watering.  Showed the covers around and everyone approves so I’ve decided to change the cover of How I Lost 3 Pounds in 30 Years of Dieting Without Going Hungry as well as a new cover for Down on the Farm.  Can’t wait to finish this one and go on to the next.  Have at least 3 or 4 more on the drawing board and (hopefully) they will all have the same character on the cover.  A new line with my own trademark.

Lots of activities in the campground that I’m enjoying and, being that this is my special week, I’ll be heading over to the Bonnie Hunt Show on Thursday.      Joei

Back to Production

I’ve known for a long time that I am far more productive when I’m comfortable with my surroundings and being back with friends in this area is proof.  My new mini - How ya gonna keep’em DOWN ON THE FARM after they’ve seen the farm - is ready for it’s last editing.

Worked until midnight last night and 5 chapters have now been put into Publisher.  I’ve only done one other book so it took a while to figure much of it out. I’ll finish the rest of the book sometime over the weekend.  The evening before I worked on the front cover and, again,  sometime over the weekend I’ll be doing the back cover.  Have a few ideas for that one.

My PHD teacher friend, Joan, will be doing one last editing and I’ll be printing out the book in no time at all.  The next job will be to get it to my computer/website guru, Brion Sausser, at www.bookcreatives.com and get it up on my website.   I’m away to the races.

I’m thoroughly enjoying being in a bigger camper.  Cleared off part of the table last time to have Joan in for dinner.  She brought washable plates that I don’t seem to have in the camper and homemade cookies for desert.    All’s well.    Joei

Home, home in the campground

Long day yesterday. Finished loading my stuff into Don’s 5th wheel and he delivered it to the Golden Village Palms in Hemet.  I followed in my truck and the last couple of miles I pulled in front to lead him directly to the front gate. Can’t remember the last time my camper was off the back of my truck and I forgot how bumpy the ride is without it - needs some weight in the back - but we made it without any problems. 

I booked in for 5 weeks. Because I’m using a different camper (in someone else’s name) they gave me another 1/2 price week.  Can’t beat that.  I couldn’t believe how easy Don made backing up that camper into a tiny little spot look. It took over an hour to set the 5th wheel up because we couldn’t get the television working and I had bitched and moaned so much about not having cable that he certainly wasn’t going to leave me without it.  Everything was done by about 2:30 and at 3:00 we went out to lunch - he dropped me off at the camper and went to take his son out for a birthday dinner.

Speaking of birthdays I have another one coming up in a few weeks.  Last year I spent my birthday at the Ellen DeGeneres Show and this year I’m heading to the Bonnie Hunt Show.  Booked it today.

Although I’ll find another campground (probably in Mesa, Arizona) for next year I’m glad to be back in Hemet. Ran into several friends who (said) they were glad to have me back.  Set up my computer last night, watched television (Desperate Housewives - my favorite) and damn near froze to death because I don’t like heat at night.  My little electric heater warms my little pisser in less than an hour - this humougus camper needed hours and I turned it off before it even warmed up 5 degrees.  Ah well…..can’t have everything.   Glad to be back amongst friends.    Joei

Last 2 weeks

My last 2 weeks on the road have not been what I expected.  The Western Horizons Membership park was anything BUT luxury.  No cable, no internet that worked and members weren’t the least bit friendly.  They might have been happier if they had cable and internet.  Needless to say - I didn’t join.

I drove around to about 10 different parks in Quartzlsite.  The one park that had a few spots I didn’t want to stay in - everything was old - no people around - and the campers looked like they were there since the last flood - as Noah would say “The Great Flood.”  I left and drove to Yuma. I arrived late, thanks to a camper just pulling into the Sam’s Club parking lot I knew that I couldn’t stay in their lot. Apparently the police come around at midnight and tell you to leave.  That would have scared the heck out of me, to say the least.

I found a campground, paid for the week and then discovered that they didn’t have cable either.  The people were super friendly and made my week a little more pleasant than normal.  The neighbor parked behind me invited me to dinner the night I arrived. The next day we went to the Home Show in Yuma - which took about an hour to go through and at noon we left for Quartzsite - so I got to pick up about $20.00 worth of beads - stuff I would have paid 3 or 4 times that in a regular bead store.  I was happy. 

For the weekend my new/old friend Don drove down to Yuma to spend some time with me.  Thoroughly enjoyed our visit and on Sunday drove down to Algodonis, Mexico - not sure of the spelling but we left his truck behind gates on U.S. side and walked over.  It seems only the pharmacies, doctors and dentists do any business there….and it is a flourishing business.

The rest of the week went slowly in the campground. Played bingo, cribbage, did some beadwork with a neighbor and left in a violet storm yesterday.  Lots of rain, heavy gusts of wind that threatened to blow me off course but I saw nothing of the flooding that I watched on television last night.  I was very grateful to be off the road. 

I’m currently at Don’s place in Morongo Valley, north of Palm Springs.  This afternoon I’m unloading my stuff into his 5th wheel, off-loading my camper from the back of my truck which will stay in his gated yard and he’ll be delivering his trailer back to the campground in Hemet where I’ll stay for the next month.  I’ll find a new campground next year but for this year heading back to friends, Golden Village Palm with it’s a–hole manager and Don will have a 45 minute drive to come visit me.  I think that’ll work all the way around.  Tonight - skinny dipping in his pool and hot tub.  (Just seeing if you’re paying attention)

By the way…..woke up to snow on the ground in Morongo Valley this morning. With this weather I couldn’t have stayed in Canada - but look at the fun I would have missed.    Joei

Best laid plans

If you read my last update you know that I was meeting my former roommate from my wild California days back in 1962 -  for coffee on Tuesday - Joyce picked me up around 2:00 (actually 2:15 because she’s always late) and we went out for ice cream. 

In 1962 she met (and married) her husband, Chuck, in Palm Springs while we lived in Los Angeles.  She never wanted to go there alone so she dragged me along for company.  While she dated Chuck I met and went out with his brother Don. I was 18 - Don was 20 - almost 21.

While we were having ice cream on January 12th she talked about the family (mostly Chuck’s because Joyce has no siblings) so I got caught up on most of the family.  Needless to say I asked about Don. She said Don has been widowed since 2003, a real nice guy, still a hard worker and should be go find him.  We did. We ended up having dinner together and lots of laughs. He confessed that he NEVER forgot me. Last weekend he drove 263 miles (each way) to meet me in Yuma.  :)  

To be continued at a later date.  I’ll be heading back to Indio.  :)        Joei

Indio

I feel like I’ve jumped from the frying pan into the fire.  I was glad to leave Hemet because I wasn’t able to take my camper off the back of my truck - which meant I couldn’t just jump in and go.  I’m at a Western Horizon’s Park in Indio with no cable television - which for me means no television period. The internet via Tengo is like no internet at all so today I brought my computer into the office to discover I’m answering about 50 e-mails, updating my website and my facebook and I’m not finding people friendly and no one is sitting outside their camper talking.

When I checked in and noticed on the instruction sheet that there was no cable I remarked about it.  The woman behind the desk told me to “read a book.”  A funny thing did happen last night - I was in their library and 2 of my books - Kiss this Florida, I’m Outta Here and A Million Miles from Home were on their book shelves.  The reason I was in their library was because there were no seats at the games table - like I said rather unfriendly here.

Two good things along the way.  (1) I had lunch with my cousin Lee (Cookie) as she has been called most of her life and we haven’t seen each other in about 30 years - possibly more and it was wonderful reconnecting with family, and (2) today I’m meeting with my ex-roommate Joyce and I have not seen her in about 10 years so it’ll be good to catch up.  We were roommates in the 1960’s.

Tomorrow I’m off to Quartzsite.  I’m hoping to find a campground so I’ll stay for a week before heading to Yuma for a month.  If I can’t get into a campground I’ll stay only a day or two for the Gem and Jewelry Show and to go to the Book Store where the owner walks around wearing nothing but a sock (and not on his foot). Hey - don’t judge me - I’ve been widowed a long time.

My newest Mini Read - Down on the Farm (or How ya gonna keep’em DOWN ON THE FARM after they’ve seen the farm) is being put together for printing.  Over the next week or so I’ll be coming up with a cover design.   Another mini to put on my website.   Yeah!!!!!!!!  Joei

2010

Welcome to 2010. I remember the talented and very funny entertainer - Dean Martin - who always said that he felt sorry for the people who didn’t drink because when they got up in the morning they knew that that was the best they were going to feel.

I started off 2010 with a wicked case of food poisoning and on this date, January 6, 2010, I am finally feeling much better.  Woke up this morning feeling hungry and looking forward to my first cup of coffee in almost a week. A taste of Hazelnut and it was delish. 

2010 can only get better from here on out.

When I realized, on New Year’s day that I wasn’t up to snuff and got worse as the day went on I decided to stay in this campground for another week and called the office to arrange it. I didn’t want to be on the road feeling the way I did NOR did I want to be in a campground without knowing someone should things get worse and, of course, they did.  Thankfully I have friends in this campground who picked up a few necessary supplies like Gatorade and who checked on my from time to time every day.  Thank you to all. I don’t know what I would have done without you.

My extra week is almost up.  I’ll be moving out of my spot on Saturday morning and heading to a craft show here in the campground and then hitting the road for Indio/Palm Springs area, Quartzsite and Yuma, Arizona, El Centro, Oceanside (where my sister lives) and Sunland, California (where my nephew and family live) and by that time it’ll be early March and I’m due back in Canada March 15th. Another winter in the sunshine.

I have decided to forgo Fountain of Youth Campground at Salton Sea, California.  Too far out of the way and way to expensive ($230.00 per week).

Until my next post from someplace down the road - Happy 2010.    Joei

Heading East…..soon

I’m now in my last few days here in Hemet and looking forward to getting out on the road again.  Laundry was done this afternoon. It was sprinkling when I went over around noon and I hoped it would stop by the time I was ready to leave but it didn’t.  Didn’t do much damage.

I called a campground called Fountain of Youth in Niland, California (Salton Sea area) - which I’m told - is about 60 miles from everything - including groceries.  By the day it’s $38.00, by the week it’s $230.00 and I decided to pass it all.  Out in the middle of nowhere I wouldn’t pay $38.00 to rent a hotel room so I sure as heck won’t pay that to stay in my own 10 feet of space.

I’m in the computer room now and before leaving I’ll check out all the campgrounds in Quartzsite.  Anxious to go to the Gem and Jewelry Show that starts on January 1st and goes until February 28th. I’m back in a jewelry-making mood since I’ve sold a fair bunch since I’ve been here.  Bought some wonderful new beads at Michaels and looking forward to making up some new earrrings and anklets.

The weather is supposed to be sunny and warm for the next few days so it’ll give me an opportunity to air out my camper.  I also purchased a little traveling companion. His name is BB - I’m not sure if it stands for Brown Bear (or Bare) or Big Bopper but he’s a Gund - oh could be BB Gund - but he’s a cuddly brown bear.  If I call him BB Gund I’ll let him ride shotgun.

Have a great New Year everyone and I’ll write when I get parked someplace in Arizona.   Joei

Time to Celebrate

Don’t know why I suddenly feel that energy boost but I’ve been all over my computer.  Yesterday I did another edit of 15 of the 20 chapters of my new mini-read that I’ll be calling Down on the Farm - so far that’s the favorite. Actually that’s the shortened title of How Ya Gonna Keep’em DOWN ON THE FARM After They’ve Seen the Farm. It’s looking good and it’s funny and I’ll edit the last 5 chapters today.

Yesterday I sent my completed story called Winter Wonderland to a contest in Surrey, BC and updated Truck Camper Magazine with story and pictures about last summer hosted (in part) by BC Camping and RV Coalition and the BC Ferries.  Could have send a hundred more pictures but I don’t think the magazine had room for them all so I sent 5.  Great fun.

Also this week I joined Twitter. I have sent 6 tweets, have 5 followers AND so far got the first referrel to my website from Twitter.  I’m on a roll and I plan on continuing.  A very special “thank you” to my friend and teacher Julie Ferguson for all her help in getting me going on my new line of Mini Reads and Twitter. She is a true GEM. You can follow Julie at www.beaconlit.blogspot.com or on twitter at www.twitter.com/BLSJHFerguson.

Have a great holiday everyone and a safe and happy New Year.     Joei

Homeless at the Flying J

I’ve been on the road as an RVer too long to be nervous about the little things that can and sometimes do go wrong but the old mint green chevy that was parked behind my camper at the Flying J in London, Ontario on that late August day produced just a twinge of…..I don’t know exactly what…..but I didn’t like the feeling.

I had arrived around three in the afternoon and pulled into a parking spot directly under the lamppost that I knew would shine brightly once night arrived.  For me, it was a great place to read in bed without turning on the light that would run down my old battery. I just had to pull back the drapes and it was like being on stage with me in the spotlight. I did it all the time.

It was still early when I stopped for the day. I had already driven over two hundred miles and had, on too many occasions, driven the last hundred and thirty miles to Niagara Falls, Ontario bleary-eyed with fatigue, fighting to keep my eyelids from slamming shut over my windows to the world. I just didn’t want to go any farther and Flying J’s are just about my favorite spot to free camp. Within minutes I had purchased something to munch on and a 20 oz cup of half cappuccino, half decaf coffee and was in the truckers’ lounge watching a movie on the big screen.  If I was going to doze in a seat let it be during the slowest part of the movie and not behind the wheel of my truck.

It was around five when I went out to my camper to get some money for dinner. That’s when I first saw the slightly beat up car with the man sitting behind the wheel. Other than noticing him I just sort of put him out of my mind…..he was just resting before getting back out on the road, I thought. People did that all the time.

It was eight before I went back out to my camper. The man, somewhere in his fifties or possibly sixties, a day or two growth of beard, wearing clean clothes was still there.  I felt only slightly uncomfortable. I wasn’t scared because it was still relatively early in the day. I wasn’t overly nervous because there were lots of other people around. Besides….he was just sitting there. I went back into the lounge and settled in to watch another movie.

It was eleven o’clock and bedtime for me. I walked back out to my camper. The parking lot was illuminated by many lampposts just like the one I was parked under. The mint green chevy that had seen better days with the man, whom I assumed had also seen better days sitting behind the wheel, was still there. I just couldn’t ignore him anymore. He wasn’t going away. I approached from the passenger side, peeked inside and noticed that he was watching a little television set that was plugged into the cigarette lighter.

“Are you planning on spending the night?” I asked, expecting a barrage of swear words along with some nasty comment about “What’s it your business, lady?”

His voice was soft. The words were clear. His face was expressionless.  “Yes,” he said. “Will it bother you if I stay here?” he asked.

“No,” I replied. “This is my camper. I have lots of pillows and an extra blanket. Would you like them?” That is not what I expected myself to say. My answer surprised even me. He would have been much easier to ignore…..or better yet…..forget completely had he sworn at me.

“No,” he answered. “Bless you for asking. They took my house away from me today,” he said almost as an afterthought to the only person left in his workd that was listening to him.

“Can I help you?”

“No,” he answered simply.

It was a long night….longer for him, I’m sure, than for me but I didn’t sleep well.  I looked out several times to see him sitting there. I opened my camper door at around six. He was gone. I scanned the parking lot. Sometime during the night he had moved over three rows and was parked behind a larger motorhome. I approached from the driver’s side, no longer afraid of what he might do.

“I’m going to get a cup of coffee,” I said to him. “Can I get you coffee or a juice or breakfast?”

“No,” he said softly. “I don’t need anything. They took my house away from me.”

“I know,” I said, not knowing what else to say.

I returned to my camper, my heart aching. I stood there in the doorway wanting to do something-anything and in that split second I knew what to do. Several years ago a friend had given me a Bible when I was in pain. Someone needed it more than I did now. I grabbed the Bible from the shelf, put a few dollars into the pages, hoping he find them after I had gone, and went back outside. In those few minutes he disappeared. I don’t know where he went.

I have thought, worried, prayed and shed more than a few tears for him over the years.  I will continue.