Fortune Smiles: Settling in Houston

As described in the previous post, sometime in mid-January I (Aggie) got the flu that was going around. Nighttime temps were projected to be in the high 20's, and our source of free firewood had just about been exhausted. Cougina decided that it was time to leave Quartzsite. Though I didn't feel like a road trip, Cougina was set on it, so we loaded up our bicycles and the rocking chair he had bought me for sitting in the booth, and headed for Houston. Cousta (our name for our pickup), performed like a champ with her 340,000 miles. She was the first of a series of smiles from  Fortune. After four days of easy driving (a two day trip when I am healthy), we were in Houston on a Sunday.

We rented a room for a week at Studio 6. We acquired the herbs needed, and began preparation of the bath tincture to combat my MRSA. We also spent a few days driving around town, window shopping places that we couldn't afford. On Friday, we toured two apartments that had been advertised on Craigslist. One was a no-no, with tattooed gang members on the property.The other one became our home that afternoon.

Our Timbergrove apartment is $695 per month, all bills paid, for a 650 sq ft one bedroom apartment, in one of the most attractive (to me) neighborhoods in Houston. Inner Houston real estate has become hot, and my old neighborhoods are getting too congested and expensive. Timbergrove is at the edge of that development, with a view of the downtown skyline, yet out of the congestion and traffic problems. Our apartment is surrounded by far more expensive places, and also situated on White Oak bayou, with a bike/running trail and a park right outside our back door.Yes, the place is old, but it has brand new tile on the floors and in the bath, and fresh paint. It's perfect for us.

I signed the lease and picked up the keys at 4:30 pm on Friday, came back to the motel, and started perusing Craigslist for furniture. All we had for home furnishings was a rocking chair and a few plastic spoons. I inquired about a nice solid wood dining set for $50. The woman invited me to come look at the other stuff the next morning. It turned out that  a Tanglewood (Bush Senior's neighborhood) estate was being emptied, and we managed to get almost all of the home furnishings that we needed for $450!

This included the oak table with two leaves and six chairs, leather couch, upholstered armchair, end table, bookcase, lamp, large mirror, two paintings, radio, two nightstands, barbeque, and outdoor table. For the kitchen, we now had Mikasa china for 8, everyday hodgepodge of dishes and flatware, 3 sets of glassware, coffee pot, pots and pans, serving bowls, three vases, broom, etc. All of this was of the quality you would expect to find in the home of an older person in an upper class neighborhood. We called my strong young son, who came to help us move the heavy stuff, made a few shuttles to the apartment in Cousta, and voila, we had a furnished apartment in less than 24 hours! The next morning, we checked out of the motel and took the bicycles to the new place. Dear friends also contributed an area rug, a desk, a juicer, sheets, pillows, clothing, plants, etc.

I haven't expounded on the details of living with a gas grill and a cooler for a kitchen, a share in a rented portapotty for a bathroom, and a wood fire for heat. While I miss sleeping under the stars every night in a bugless, virtually rainless place, it was physically demanding, especially with my health problem. I hope that I have shown you what a gift it was to fall into a comfortably furnished place so cheaply and easily. And just in time for the first bath!

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE

Quartzsite to Houston via Pickup

After losing all our belongings in the fire in October 2012, we spent a few months in Quartzsite, AZ, sharing a vendor booth with our dear friend Eric.

We haven't mentioned that, just before the fire, Aggie had contracted MRSA, the antibiotic resistant, recurring staph infection. It got into my system through a thorn that got deep into my knee. When the doctors finally figured out what it was, I got the right antibiotic and it was gone in ten days. Just a few weeks later, I scraped my shin on my bicycle pedal. After a couple of weeks, I realized that it wasn't healing. On top of that, I had an ear infection. Off to the Quartzsite clinic for another round of antibiotics and topical antibiotic for the shin.

It was obvious that it wouldn't take too many more of these infections to destroy my health. Cougina started researching and found a Chinese herbalist who thought the MRSA could be permanently removed from my system, because he had had many previous successes. The only catch was that I needed to take regular baths. We were living outdoors in Quartzsite, and the only bathing we had access to was the shower at the laundromat down the street.

We began to make plans to settle down, in order to have access to a bathtub. We found a charming 1985 Toyota pickup, with 340,000 miles, for $1000, that could take us where we decided to go. We gave her a new battery, two new tires, a cleanup, and a coat of grey primer. Aggie loves her 5-speed transmission and her narrow body. The owner promised 30 mpg, and, sure enough, she did that on the highway.

As we discussed where we would settle down, Quartzsite was having its winter cold spell, and Aggie ended up with the flu that was going around. Fortunately, our trusty pickup was ready to go. We hopped in and drove to Houston. After a week in our usual Studio 6, we found an apartment and settled in.

Up next, a look at our apartment in Houston...

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE

A New Look in Jewelry.

We have set up a vendor booth in Quartzsite, AZ for the winter, partnering with silversmith Eric Karas. At left, you see Eric's first piece using gemstones. These are a 21.5 ct pink topaz and 7 ct yellow aquamarine, set in 999 silver, which contains more silver than 925 sterling. These stones are reclaimed from the fire, so they do have cracks. However, they would still be effective for empowering prosperity or successful conception and  childbirth. We are asking $225.

Cougina is also ready to make jewelry once again. We have a tray of newly purchased gemstones, wire, and tools.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE

Sleep Setup Review: Big Agnes Big Creek 30 and Thermarest NeoAir Trekker

Since the recent fire, we have had the opportunity to re-purchase all of our gear. Having been forced to rethink everything on our gear list, it seems a good time for a few reviews. I'll start with sleeping bags and air mattresses, as we are so delighted with our setup.

We reordered the same Big Agnes bag, the Big Creek 30. We have what is probably a classic outdoors couple's problem. I (Aggie) can barely stay warm with all my clothes on in a 4-season down bag, and Cougina likes to keep even a cheap synthetic unzipped to prevent overheating. However, we wanted to sleep together, not separated by walls of insulation and ripstop (i.e., separate bags)! Last summer, when Cougina insisted that my pristine Western Mountaineering down bags must go, and wanted to get a $59.95 special suitable for children's sleepovers, this is what I came up with.

Big Agnes: Great Idea, Good Execution

https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Bag/bigcreek

I haven't found a couple's bag that approaches the concept of the Big Agnes. It's a doublewide, modified mummy. That is, the footbox is somewhat narrower than the top, but not a lot. So, it is a compromise between minimal weight (my ideal) and freedom of movement (for C). There are full-length zippers on each side, so that I can keep my side closed, and Cougina can let cool air in on his side. There is an adjustable elastic cord that can draw the head covering over my head, while he leaves his open.

The Big Creek utilizes the same design concept of all Big Agnes bags, in that there is no insulation on the bottom. BA's contention is that one crushes the fill that he lies on, rendering it useless for insulating, and therefore, useless weight. Instead, there is a slot on the bottom to slide in your pad or air mattress. Having tried it, we both like it. When I feel too cool, the sensation comes from above and around, rather than below me. Also, staying put in the bag, rather than sliding around on a mat, adds more comfort than I expected.

It specs out at 4 lb 7 oz, a weight that I can live with. Still more than my two down bags, but I won't feel so badly when C spills or walks on it.

Does the bag really work down to 30 degrees? We were looking for a 3 season bag, because we spend a lot of time in the desert summer where it is quite warm at night. However, we knew some cold nights were coming. Lately, we have been throwing the bag out under the stars. No tent. No clothes. A set of old sheets as bag liners, for comfort next to our skin, and to keep our grime off the bag. (When touring, we cut the sheets to fit the bag and sew them together at the feet with a shaped footbox.) The bag kept us warm enough with temps in the 40s and 50s. Although I got a little too cool toward morning, C still had his side unzipped. For the last few days, temps have been in the mid 30s. C zipped up his side of the bag, and we have both used the head covering part of the time. It has taken both a heavy wool blanket and a lightweight synthetic patchwork quilt (thrift shop purchases) on my side only, to keep me toasty warm. Obviously, we wouldn't carry all that extra weight when touring. Then, I will probably wear underwear on cold nights and perhaps look into a down blanket.

The less-than-perfect aspect of the bag is that the zippers, as you can find other reviewers saying, really take special attention to get tracking and not catching fabric, which is not a fun thing in the middle of the night. Also, the head covering is nothing like the glove fit I had in my single mummy bag.

However, frequently, one of the first remarks in the morning is about how much we enjoy this bag. Most often from Cougina, who really wanted to prefer the $59 bag, but must admit that he is not cramped in the bag, and yet has the feeling that we are "two bugs in a rug."

What completes the setup and makes it so very sweet are the NeoAir Trekker sleeping pads. I will review those next.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Phoenix Rising

As expected, we are recovering nicely from our fire losses, thanks to the support of wonderful friends. We have posted recovery status at CovinCovina Hermiticia...

Phoenix Rising

Thank you for your support in prayers, words, and donations.

BLESSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE

Ashes to Ashes

Yesterday, we lost everything that we own, except our bicycles, trailers, phones, and the clothes we were wearing, in a fire. We want everyone to know that Kayla will be posting the Daily OOMPH! for us until we can replace our equipment. We will not have the Tarot class on Monday, October 22, but will plan to resume class next week, on October 29.

Our friends in Quartzsite, AZ, Eric and Diane, had invited us to stay in the immaculate fifth wheel trailer behind their house. We had moved everything into the trailer, and were sitting on the front porch visiting. We noticed the neighbors gathering across the street, but couldn't see what the fuss was about. Eventually, one of them came over and said, "Did you know that you have a fire in your back yard?" The trailer was up in flames, which were even more spectacular before this photo was taken.

One of the neighbors worked for the fire department, and came over in street clothes and dismantled and removed the propane tanks. As Cougina says, he is a true hero. The fire truck arrived in 6 minutes, and they had the fire extinguished 6 minutes later. We are in awe of, and indebted to the Quartzsite firemen and firewomen. (When the protective clothing came off, one of the sweaty beings who had walked up to our fire was female.)

We've found a few gemstones in the rubble, but the ones that are still in one piece are cracked. We found some wire, which can hopefully be sold for recycling. Soft packages of tuna, and one titanium cook pot, have survived. We will be replacing everything else: tent, sleeping bag, panniers, laptop, video cameras, etc.

We are so happy that everyone is safe, and the house on the property was spared.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE

Spirit Trees

A Spirit Tree

Over a year ago, we posted about the death and rebirth process here at An Old Man's Journey: What Happens When We Die. We have writtten about one rebirth option, for souls who have completed their paths, in the following post on the Covina Hermiticia blog: Spirit Trees

THINK GREEN
BLESSSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE