Getting the Jeep ready to tow, volunteering and devastation from the McKinney fire

I simply love my new Jeep Wrangler 4XE. It is truly the perfect vehicle for me. I'm so glad I bought it and not waited for a Ford F-150 lightning. Because of the size of the battery on the Lightning, it would have taken forever to charge the truck at my RV site. The Wrangler I can charge over night while plugged into the motorhome. This month, I ordered the parts to be able to hook up the Jeep to the Motorhome so it can be towed behind it. Next month, I'll order the parts to be able to control the brakes on the Jeep when the motorhome brakes. I'm trying to do this in such a way that I don't have to accumulate any more revolving credit. $500.00 this month, and about $400.00 next month.

I've been at my new position at the California Department of Technology for two months now, and I'm really feeling like I fit in. I'm learning alot, I'm enjoying what I am doing and I feel like I am making a difference. There have been some rumbles about employees having to come into the office once a week. But they have also said that they will try to make considerations for those that were hired from outside the area during the pandemic, so we will see what happens.

In addition to feeling like I am making a difference at California Department of Technology, I truly feel like I am making a difference at Siskiyou County Animal Control. As I mentioned in previous posts, I put in a lot of hours to help support the Animal Control team during the fires this year, and they all took a collection up to give me a gift certificate to Callahan's Lodge. I was so beyond touched for their generosity, frankly it almost brings me to tears, and I'm having a hard time figuring out how to use it.

I glad I am able to contribute to Rescue Ranch and County Animal control. I truly love working with the dogs... It gives me purpose, and as I get older that becomes more and more important. I now am understanding how those who get older don't feel valued. It's so rewarding to see the happiness in the dogs tails and their eyes when they light up when I come into the shelter. It makes me feel needed. I think we all feel completeness when we feel like we are making a difference.

I was watching a new TV program called "Fire Country" on CBS the other night. It is based on Cal Fire and the Inmate camps that they run in conjunction with the California Department of Corrections and rehabilitation. And there was a line in there that really registered with me. One female character was talking about her father and how he talked constantly about Cal Fire and all the blood, sweat and tears that he put into it, but she then acknowledged, as she was going through the Cal Fire recruitment process, just how much she was putting into Cal Fire and how much she was getting in return. I found it a haunting echo to what I feel volunteering for Siskiyou County Animal control. There have been many times that I have found myself being so thankful that I get to volunteer at Siskiyou County animal control and feeling the need to thank them for letting me do what I do at the shelter. It is sad sometimes, when I go into the shelter in the evening, seeing all the dogs that just want a little attention with their water bowls full of debris from the day, and getting such satisfaction out of the simple things like rinsing out their water bowl, filling it full with clean fresh water, and then taking if nothing more than 10 or 15 minutes each, to pet the dogs and tell them they are loved. It leaves my heart so full. Full in ways I could never explain.

A couple of months ago, the county shelter was in so much need of help, I didn't know where to start. With the donations that came from my Facebook post from my friends in dog rescue, I was able to focus on buying a wash tub so that we can wash dogs at the shelter. Prior to now, we've had to transport dogs over to Rescue Ranch to wash a dog, now we can do it in our own facility. I got some money back from the purchase of the Jeep, and put that money towards the wash tub. I love doing things like this that have the potential to make everyone's job easier.

Stephanie from the County Shelter had told me about a road that she explored last year that was full of wonderful fall colors. She knows I enjoy the outdoors and suggested I go check it out. She did remind me however that this was an area that had been significantly impacted by the McKinney fire this summer and that it might not be quite as exquisite as it has been in the past. None the less, she was right, this is the sort of thing that I enjoy doing and I ran with her suggestion. So, one day, I loaded Remi up in the Jeep and we went for a ride. Sadly, she was correct, this area had been severely impacted by the wildfires. But, it was also interesting to see how despite the devastation, how some shrubbery was coming back, really quite quickly.