Total camping trips in the motorhome: 145
Total solo camping trips: 82
It's funny, every time that I come towards the end of a month, and download the stuff from my phone for the month, I always think, there isn't much to write about, but then when I start to review the video footage from my phone I think "Wow, look at all this stuff I did this last month..." and the month of April is no different. I really do live a full life. I admit, being single again, in some ways gets harder and harder each month since my divorce, but I through the good fortune of a couple of friends of mine, I do manage to keep my spirits up most of the time. If it were not for some of the friends that I have met through rescue, I would be facing a much deeper challenge than I do.
One of the first things I did this month, was I met up with my stepdaughter Katie who I occupied 20 years of her life as her stepdad. Many of her years were her teenage years, but once she moved out on her own and spent a little time facing them with her guy Russell, she came to appreciate how I tried to be a good stepfather for her, and that is all that I can ask for. I drove up to Pine Grove and met up with Katie, Russell and their son Jack. It was a beautiful drive up. This time of year in Amador county is simply amazing with the green rolling hills, which will eventually turn an amber brown. We had a really nice visit for a couple of hours. I truly miss them, but I am glad that she responds when I reach out to her and that we have the positive relationship that we do. Jack their son is just a amazing and happy little guy. I'm glad that he is healthy and growing and learning so well. I wanted to get Jack a little something, and I asked Katie if he had any Tonka toys. She told me about the one I had, so I got him another one to compliment his first one.
One of my co-workers at the California Department of Technology bought herself a 3-D printer. She found the plans online for making a classic Willies Jeep snap together model. She mentioned at work how she made a model kit for someone else she knew and I said, I'd love to pay her for a copy if she is ever so inclined. Well, she made me a model, but she wouldn't take any money. So, I got her a gift car and thank you card and dropped it off with her. Over the next few evenings, I painted the model pieces while they were still in the frame, and then assembled the jeep. Though the tolerances are pretty tight on some of the parts, I got it painted and all together. I love it!
This month has been an emotional one for me. I admit, I'm a bleeding heart liberal. I didn't start out that way, but with each passing year, I definitely lean more and more liberal. I think a lot of it has to do with the political changes our country is going through. I've really started taking an interest in those that are truly homeless and especially though that have pets. The last thing our shelters need, is more dogs being brought in, so if I can help a homeless person keep their dog I want to. So, now, I'm carrying care packages for homeless people with dogs that I run into. I gave one to a lady in Rancho Cordova who was going through the trash at a gas station so that she could feed her dog.
This month of April, May and to some degree June, are going to be busy with a lot of NVADG training. I'm looking forward to getting into the training this year because last year, I was so busy with work, that I just couldn't break away for some of the training. Thank goodness we didn't really have any incidents where I had to decline deployment requests because of work. I attended a great training on power and gas line safety given by PG&E and also a great joint exercise between NVADG and Nevada Counties Humane Emergency Animal Response Team on handling of livestock. both of these classes were great and I learned a lot.
This month, because of NVADG training, and also because of some SNAFU's of my own doing, we moved the motorhome a bunch of times. We spent time at Lake Minden of course, our Defacto home base, Lake of the Springs in Oregon House, Oroville at River Reflections RV park, and in Lodi at Flag City RV Resort. one of the wonderful things about living full time in an RV is the change of scenery, and this time especially we get to see some amazing sunrises, sunsets and we even get some great rainbows too!
Because of the budget shortfall for the state of California, we are doing a lot of work to see where we can save money with the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative network. There have been lots of meetings between the project leadership and the Governors office, but I was asked to come in on a Wednesday to the office and be prepared to be present at at the Governors office. Though this is quite an honor, I wasn't sure if I had the correct clothing ready for such a meeting. Fortunately, I did with some fashion advise from my friend Ally, I had my outfit ready to go. Though I didn't meet with Governor Gavin Newsom directly, I and some of the project leadership did meet with the Governors staff, and it was really interesting to see how the process works in making decisions.
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