More Zany Brain

Railroad car wheels loaded on a semi-truck. There’s just something inherently wrong with that.

Well, it’s one point of view I guess. Big Bully.

I saw a van with an ad for Rock Star Energy Drink and a huge wifi signal graphic. The van is a wifi hot spot? Are you supposed to chase it down the road while computing?

A Cruise America RV went by and Dave said, “That’s what we’re doing.” He got that right. But, I’m sure glad we aren’t doing it in one of those Cruise America RVs with their obnoxious graphics.

A billboard said, ” Animals are kids, too. Don’t abandon them.” I know a lot of people who think their pets are kids but unless they or another human gave birth to them it is not true. Unless they are baby goats. We shouldn’t abandon our pets anymore than we should abandon our children but pets are not kids no matter how much you love yours.

Another billboard said, “We cordially invite you to act your shoe size.” I have no idea what they were advertising but it is an interesting concept. I wear a size eight. When I’m playing, eight is a good age to be but not when I feel like throwing a tantrum.

I like being the navigator when we are driving Interstate freeways. For three days the directions were I-15 north to I-70 east to Colorado exit 19. Even I could remember those.

As we crossed the Arizona border there was a sign that said, “Commercial vehicles must proceed to port of entry 30 miles.” That port of entry turned out to be in Utah. How does Arizona know if you went that far or not? How can they require you to pass through their state then come back before you turn to their interior?

Another billboard said, “What happens in Siever County you can share with your friends.” This is in response to “What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas.”  I never understood that last one anyway. I’m sure if I lost lots of money in Vegas, Dave would know about it. Plus, it would probably become a good campfire story.

Utah’s anti-litter slogan is “Don’t Waste Utah.” Instead of wasting it, use it all up?

We drove by some stony ground covered with a white material I think is salt. Is this where they get rock salt?

The exit sign said, “Ranch Exit.” Is there is a town named Ranch? Apparently not. Several miles later there was another Ranch Exit sign with the milepost listed above it. Then another one with a different mileage. Apparently, Utah has a lot of exits that lead only to private ranches. Some signs added “No Services.” In other words, don’t get off here unless you are headed for a particular ranch. Is that a Western Welcome? If so, don’t look for their wagon.

A sign said the next rest area had vending machines. I can’t read one of those without thinking Cheetos. It’s probably a good thing we didn’t stop there.

Then a sign said, “Eagles on Hwy.” The Eagles? A music festival?

OK. That’s enough to let you know I’m still out here. I’m working on a blog that started with about a hundred photographs. I’m trying to get them down to a more reasonable number before I post them. Watch this space.

TTYL,

Linda

Easter Surprise

When I think of an Easter surprise my first thought is of Faberge who made the phrase famous.

From www.stpetersburger.com/, “The great tradition to give eggs for Easter goes back to ancient times. In Russia tsars always presented painted eggs to their confidants. Among the Easter eggs the world famous name was gained by Faberge’s firm that created eggs with surprises from gold, silver and presious stones. The first Faberge eggs was produced in 1884 for the tzar Alexander III.”

My second thought tends to be of the original Easter surprise: the empty tomb of Jesus of Nazareth.

The surprise I got this year has nothing to do with either of those, though.

I was sitting home alone when our RV started shaking. My first thought was that the strong wind gusts predicted for Monday came early. I was surprised they shook our RV so much because we are parked in a fairly sheltered spot. Then, I looked out the side window and the trees weren’t blowing.

My second thought was that friends had arrived unexpectedly and were shaking the RV. So I opened the front curtain but no one was there.

So, when Dave came home I told him I thought there was something wrong with our jacks because they didn’t provide the stability I expected.

That was when I learned I’d just experienced an earthquake! Its center wasn’t very close so it wasn’t very strong here but it sure was a surprise.

TTYL,

Linda

Do We Count?

2010 is a Census year. This year the U.S. Government is required to count everyone living in this country. The U.S. Constitution requires this be done to determine how many U.S. Representatives should be elected from each state. That means people must be counted where they live.

Where do we live?

Funding for a lot of programs is also dependent on the number of residents who will be affected by those programs.

Where do we reside?

We live everywhere. We live wherever our motorhome is parked.

Today is Census Day. We are in California. Should California get the benefit of our presence today? Benefits that will last for the next ten years? Even though we will leave here tomorrow?

We are legal residents of South Dakota. We spend a few nights there every year. Less than a week. Should South Dakota get the benefits of us being legal residents there?

We do vote in South Dakota. We only vote for people running for national offices, though. It doesn’t seem right for us to vote for local people when we know so little about local issues. So we only vote for those who would afect what happens wherever we happen to be parked at any one time.

So do we refuse to be counted? That’s illegal. Everyone is required to be counted.

So when the Census Enumerator knocked on our door here in California we asked for a Be Counted form that let’s us decide what address to use.

Because the address is important. It determines who gets what for the next ten years.

But the form says we have to be counted at the residence where we were actually living on April 1, 2010. You may not use a P.O. Box since that is not a residence.

Our residence moves. Frequently. Our permanent address is a business address not a residence. Our mail goes to a PMB there. That’s a Personal Mail Box. Not a P.O. Box but not really different.

So, I have the form for us to be counted but I still don’t know what to do with it? What do you recommend?

TTYL,

Linda