Slab City

What is RV travel without going to Slab City, the old abandoned Army base in Niland CA.

Wow, what an imagination.

Everyone who goes to the Slab's is welcomed by this guard post.

You can see what is going on from this "city" bulletin board.

Darn, the "Mud Pots" were dry as a bone.

"Container Charlie" was quite the interesting guy.  He is a college graduate who has chosen to live free in Slab City.

"Container Charlie" is giving us WIN's a tour of his area.

Want to read a book?  No problem, there is a library in the city not to mention a church and weekly entertainment.

Tom at work, he is the amazing artist who painted both tanks and his own RV.

You have not seen Niland area until you visit Salvation Mountain, amazing place!

This is Leonard, the creator of his mountain.  He has been here over 20 years.  He is a very spiritual man, bless him.

I'm sitting in one of the rooms of Leonard's creation.

I post again at last! I know I introduced my new little grandson, Wyatt Glenn Albertson, from my youngest daughter Elizabeth, my 5th grandchild, at Christmas but I wanted to share him with you again. Photo quality could be better but that is the way it is I'm afraid. He is a sweet little guy whom I miss. He is with his mommy and so are my others in Texas. I only get to see them all and two of my daughters about once a year, way to little I'm afraid. My middle daughter, Niki is in NM and I only get to see her about once a year also. Hope you enjoy this little guy.

This first photo of the construction of the bridge in the last post was taken in September 08. These two were taken this month, late February 09. The cables are holding up the arch, once the "corner stone" is placed and the road meets in the middle the cables will be removed as well as the tall columns above the roadway. They will then put support cable across the bridge.

Hello, I'm baaaacckkk! I left my last nursing assignment in Texas a couple months ago and and am now in Boulder City, NV. This was the weather a couple weeks before I left. I can't say I was glad to leave except for I had to say goodbye to two of my daughters and all of my grand-children. I have visited the Boulder Dam several times over these past weeks to see the construction. It is awesome. Can you imagine being up there with nothing but cables holding you up. I understand no work is done during heavy winds. The dam will not be visible from the bridge and that's too bad I think. I'm busy taking care of the rest of the issues of my Uncles estate and checking on his house. I have it up for sale even though it is a beautiful home and overlooks Lake Mead. I can't imagine living here since I have no family or friends so I hope it sells even in this tough market.

Here's the Christmas gang of Christmas Eve since I had to work Christmas day. Me, baby Wyatt, Katherine, Annette, Trina, Elizabeth, Makayla and Garrett. December 28th we gathered with some of the rest of the family in Arlington TX at the nursing faciltiy where my Aunt Joyce is living. Trina, me, Maria, Tracy, Warren, Doris, Katherine, Aunt Joyce and Cherie.

How about a visit to the little "ol Faithful"; New York City traffic; and the Abraham Lincloln Monument. And two of the four, submersibles my dad piloted. The deep Quest and the Alvin. He was the first person to set an American flag on the bottom of the ocean with a robotic arm on the deepest dive in history at that time in February 1968, over 8,150 feet down.

Special Times

Here a few shots of things I have enjoyed doing over these past years. Obviously I can't put everything but this and the next post will give you a little taste. Flight co-ordination of the Blue Angles and the Reno air show, Albuquerque, NM, rock rappelling, visiting Elvis at Graceland, and loving the mud.

Finally, I made it back to Texas to start my job at Medical Center of Lewisville Texas. I took a little time to visit Livingston when I went to vote and to see what envelope I live in at the mail center. Met the editor who arranges the articles I write for the magazine and toured the editing area. It was a nice little tour. The park area is still a mess from the hurricane. About my "new " RV.... I mentioned a few bugs I had to get worked out....you can see one of the problems was the new model frig by Dometic. The freezer got to nearly 50 degrees and the refrigerator to 60. I lost all my food also! All is well now. It needed the new updated control board. This is the hospital I work in. My contract started September 20th and will end January 17. I will be heading to Quartzsite to see my WIN friends after that, if they still remember me that is.

Another Out With The Old and In With The New

Well, I made it to Coburg Oregon. Yep, I took the dive. After living in my Monaco for six and a half years I knew what I wanted in an RV. As long as I must keep working I plan on being comfortable. If I trade down it won't be for awhile. Unfortunately, Monaco does not make what I want in the 36 foot or shorter so I reluctantly chose a different maker. Now that the few bugs are worked out I love this coach. It is a 2006 Western Alpine and had 8000 miles on it. It is in prime condition and a dream to drive.

Heading to Alturas, California

After I left Boulder City, NV in August I headed toward Alturas, CA to put my mothers' ashes to rest. A task I so did not look forward to. Even so, it was a beautiful drive. While there I visited my cousin and reacquainted myself with the little town again. I spent some peaceful time sitting by my Uncle John, grandmother and grandfather and mothers gravesides. While there I stayed in a very quiet, very nice RV park in an out of the way place called Likely. If you are ever out that way, try it out. Just stop at the little store and ask for the location, you can't miss it. After a few days I headed north to Oregon to my original RV sales lot to get a little RV work done.

My Family

Here is a short introduction to some of the rest of my family.

My eldest Trina and her husband William (Willie); my youngest Elizabeth and her little ones, Makayla and Garrett and baby Wyatt; my middle girl, Niki; Trina's eldest, Katherine and of course me; and Trina's youngest Annette; I love em' all !!!

Katherine's Big Day

In May I loaded up a U-haul truck and headed to Texas from Boulder City, NV to take my mothers furniture to my daughters and to attend the wedding of my eldest granddaughter, Katherine. It was beautiful. She lives in Taft California near her husbands family. I got to visit for a few days then flew back and landed in Las Vegas. My work was not quite done in Boulder City with my Uncle home. His house is for sale. It is beautiful and over looks Hoover Lake from his kitchen and living room. At long last I will be on my way to Oregon to bury my mothers ashes. I so don't want this final chapter to happen, but it must.

A Catch UP on My Events

Hello all, at long last I am able to update my blog. Since I last wrote in my blog my Uncle Everett passed away. I spent time taking care of his affairs and took a few hours after cleaning his house to R & R. I tried a little ultra-lite flight. It was a blast even though I don't like flying. Here's a pic of me in the "plane".

Here He Is, The Main Man In My Life In Boulder!

Well folks, here I am in Boulder City, Nevada since March 08, shortly after my mom died.  I have been here caring for my Uncle's needs and personal affairs.  Unfortunately, I had to have him moved to a skilled nursing facility since his care needs are more than I could continue to handle 24/7 without any help.           

Today, July 15, he turned 80 years old.  Here he is in his room at the Nevada Veterans Home here in Boulder City.  This photo was taken a few days ago on a better day when I really bugged him to smile.  He is stable and holding his own even though he does not want to participate in the life within the facility.

I've been busy in his house getting it painted, scrubbed of 17 years of smoking damage and sprucing it up.  You can see the wall stains in the photos above.  What a job, even have to change the carpets.  I had hoped to leave last week, but it will be next week, around the 22nd, if then, I hope.  At least I won't have to worry about this job when I get back here in a few months.  I can focus on visiting him and resting.                          

When I leave here I will be heading north to Alturas, CA to visit family and put my mothers ashes to rest, at last.  Then off to Idaho to R & R with my best friend, Sandy and her husband Ray then off slowly toward Texas.  I will be there by October.  I sure hope to bump into some of my RV friends along the way.