Ghost Dancer arrived at the RTR today.

This morning I worked at the Rock Club as Foreman of the Lapidary Shop.  Had free breakfast and lunch at La Mesa RV, then returned to the Rock Club to play this afternoon.  Then headed up the hill to Dome Mountain where the Vandwellers are gathering.  And lo and behold, who shows up, but our very own "vandweller's founding father,” Ghost Dancer.  What a guy!  Folks were surprised and pleased.

Suanne made a wonderful stew for all of us.  The campfire was lovely until some decided to burn up a lot more wood than required.  That always ticks me off... as I think of how many meals I could make on the fuel burned up in one night.  So, I just leave so I don't have to sit around and be angry over the issue.

My friend Liz has folks helping her... by making her a bed for her van.  AstroBri is here.  VJ from VanIncidentals is here.  Lots of new people I haven't met before.  I don't know how many people are here, but I bet there are 30 or more vehicles.

The night is clear and not too cold.  I'll be able to leave my rear door open and watch the stars tonight.  I am hoping to spend more time with those who have come to the RTR, but my volunteer work for the Rock Club and helping to set up and tear down for the annual Pow Wow will have to come first.

One thing for sure that is making me feel great is all the folks that have rallied around me because of the slander a disgruntled vandweller (?) has been putting on the WWW, in spite of the fact I gave him a blanket when he was cold, camped with him the first two weeks he was here so he would not be alone, showed him all around town.  Shared my food with him and even let him sit in my van to eat when it was cold outside... in spite of the cigarette smoke saturating his clothing, and even polished his silver watch band which he almost seemed irritated at me that he had to walk to my van so I could hand it to him.  He didn't even look at it.  And because I told him I wasn't a one-woman welcoming committee for every vandweller who comes to town... he turned on me and began slandering me on the web.  BlogSpot won't do anything about it unless there is a lawsuit, he won't do anything about it though I asked politely four times, so I just have to live with it.   The folks who know me, know he is lying, and even those just meeting me have reassured me that the guy must have a mental problem.  So... trying to ignore it and move on. 

There is lots of fun to be had here and I'm going to just have me a bunch of it.  It doesn't get any better than this until tomorrow.

The New Year - 2012

Well, the old year couldn’t have ended any better.  Thanks to a vandweller connecting me with Liz, I now have a new lifelong friend and soul sister.  We met in the desert on BLM land and first thing we had in common…. was matching key lanyards.  What a hoot.  That was just the beginning.

We drove on out to find a more wilderness area and made camp, talked, giggled, walked her dogs, etc.  Then a neighbor came by, Cliff, and asked if we liked fish.  Said he would bring us some for supper the next day.  The next day he brought us even more fish.  Wow!

 

Our camp was surrounded by more wildlife than I have seen in any Quartzsite area BLM land.  Quail, doves, sparrows, and some other little bird I didn’t know.

Gamble Quail ?

More giggles and laughter as we told each other our stories, followed by the best fish I’ve ever eaten… Ocean Snapper I think he said.  He fishes all over  the country full time, has a large freezer, vacuum packs and quick freezes it – then I guess he runs about the desert on his ATV giving it out to homeless ladies?  First meal I’ve cooked in ages… guess I haven’t forgotten how.

The meal was followed by more laughs and a really awesome sunset.

The next day did get better, we had free breakfast and free lunch at La Mesa RV.  Three free meals in a row… how can it get better? But it will.

I took an early morning walk to scout out a better camp… because we had parked on top of an ant colony.  This is what our camp looked like then.  A lot of people ask, what is it like out there…. well, BIG.

We relocated and then I made Scrambled Eggs and Ham for breakfast.  Had found these bell peppers at Trader Joes and they are to die for.  Very yummy.  Liz’s furries looked on mournfully.  Last night they got a whopping big piece of fish that slipped off the plate.  They got no ham and eggs.  Great pooches.  Great New Year’s Day.

Rescued dogs, BooBoo in background and Lew-Lew in foreground.

I experienced some social trauma right before I met Liz and was pretty upset… and she just let me vent and vent until I got it all out.  I had heard on the radio a couple of days ago, that "Happy people don't make New Years Resolutions. I'm not happy about ONE thing so I made ONE resolution: "I will not speak the word "arrogant" in 2012, nor two names that have the initials JL and GC. One hates Quartzsite the other hates me... but I love both Quartzsite and myself… so moving happily on assured that each day will be better than the last as I continue to grow and learn.

Happy New Year friends and I am wishing you all the good health and happiness that I am feeling right now.  Oh, thanks to a dear Canuck I know, I now have a new tool… the Swankie Whammie!   I’m all ready for whatever 2012 brings my way.