road trip ambitions ...

   still alive, still antsy to travel, roll down the road, whatever it takes to just DO something for a change ...

   luckily, I am still blessed with 'cancer without much pain', and I am now 6-8 months past my 'Expiration Date', 'Use By Date', etc. ...
  
   I can't complain, (yet), I know I am fortunate to still be alive, and able to function so far ... I really feel for cancer sufferers that are enduring a living hell, I will always remember my old man, and how tough he was as he wasted away ... not a complaint or a whine, he was a hundred times the man I am, or ever will be ... you are truly missed, Dad ...

   I quit my cancer meds a week ago, so I am regaining energy, and feeling a little bit stronger every day ... I'll need that energy, as I am hitting the road in a coupla days, driving back to Illinois to see my family, and Sybil, 'one last time' ... seems like this is about the 4th 'one last time', but I can't help it if I'm still vertical ...

   the trip seems to be do-able at this time, I'm really more concerned about the return trip ... any health incidents on the road could be disastrous, financially, anyway ... I need to get back here before I keel over, so my van can be sold ... the van money will be all I have to leave my girlfriend, so an abandoned van in the middle of nowhere won't help her much ...

   I don't know how much good it will do, but I'll have a signed letter in the van, to request whatever local Ford dealer to tow it in, and keep it safe until it can be sold or retrieved for return to Kalifornia - whichever is more feasible ... I left the signed Title to it in the safe here at home, to make it all easier ...

   but, being the stubborn jerk that I am, I'll likely just stay alive and drive it back here, myself ... some people just don't know when to lie down and give up, I guess ... 

just sayin'

   I'm lucky my girlfriend understands, when people ask what in the world I'm thinking of, to take off on a long trip in my shape, she knows me well enough to answer "he's a truckdriver, it's what he DOES !" ...

   I will say, whoever buys my van is getting a really well-maintained, and gently used heavy duty van ... I love that van, it has been just great since I bought it brand-new ... FORD RULES !!!

   after this trip, I won't need the van much longer (hopefully, I won't be missing the Air Conditioner where I'm going !)

   seems like an awful lot of trouble for a visit with a dog, but I would give anything right now, for one of Sybil's big, hairy hugs !

  

call me irresistible !

   Sybil will turn 8 years old on June 21st ! - I won't be there that long, as I don't feel able to delay the trip another couple weeks, but that won't stop her from enjoying an early birthday gift ... gotta think that over, I haven't decided whether she should get sirloin, porterhouse, or prime rib ... decisions, decisions ... she won't care, anything smaller than a water buffalo would be swallowed whole, anyway ...

   her grey wolf blood might prefer an elk, antelope, or moose, or something, but Kroger doesn't stock those, I don't think ... I will check and see ... ya never know, hell, they sell tofu and crap like that !

   my last trip back east, I didn't take any photos like I normally do ... I had just left the hospital after the brain surgery a very few days before, and all my energy was directed at driving and just getting back home ... that has bugged me ever since, it just doesn't seem right for me to not document a road trip, however boring it is ...

   THIS time, I intend to make a better effort, photography-wise ... I'll be giving my good camera to my son while there, and using a much cheaper Nikon pocket camera on the return trip ... it will be interesting to see the difference between the Nikon lens, and the excellent Carl Zeiss lens on my #1 camera ...
    
    the van is all serviced and ready to go (Amsoil Signature oil and filter), greased, and tires checked, etc. ... all that remains to do is a Dr. visit tomorrow, refill some scrips, and fill the ice chest with bottled water, then we'll be ready to roll ... whoops, I said 'we', can't get past the habit yet, I'm still used to the idea of big Sybil over there riding shotgun ... wow, this is a young puppy-pic, I don't know if she can still get her big butt thru the window these days !

just checkin' out the neighborhood !

    I will try to update the Blog during the trip as I can, this will be the very first time I ever had to use WiFi for internet access ... for years, I used a Verizon USB system, but in their never-ending GREED, Verizon no longer uses the same system, and their newer 'hot spot' type of mobile internet just isn't very good - but, never fear, poorer performance didn't stop them from raising their prices ... 

   by the way, anyone looking for CHEAP cellphone and data access company, do yourself a favor, and check out the 'Consumer Cellular' company that advertises on TV ... 
   they use the AT&T and T-Mobile networks, so their coverage area is 'almost' as extensive as Verizon's (99% compared to 98%) ... unless you camp WAY out in the boonies like myself, you would never notice a lapse in reception ... 

   surprisingly, the Consumer Cellular's AT&T network sound quality is quite a bit better than Verizon's here in my  town, lots less background noise, etc. ... I didn't expect that, but that's what has happened ... 

   I also now pay a FRACTION of what I did with Verizon (and, without their lies and constant consumer scams) ... maybe I sound harsh, but with EVERY contact I ever had with Verizon, I always told them that I despised their company, but stayed with them for many years, simply because they had the largest network coverage ... other than that, Verizon SUCKS ! ... 

   ahhh, I feel so much better after I vent about the bad guys !

                            

not there yet, but getting closer !