BAMBOOZLED! WTH?

 Look at this:

WTH? Just this morning as I was freezing my ass off I told someone, "When I was planning to move to Tucson, I imagined I'd be wearing sandals everyday for the rest of my life! I'm freezing!" I was wearing a turtleneck and a Norwegian wool sweater. I actually threw away most of my cold-weather clothing in celebration of this life-changing transition.

I moved to get away from this weather!

I've been putting my tent out to hold my camping spot so when I come back from errands I know I still have it. Poor tent! It used to be waterproof so we'll see. Inside I put a plastic tote filled with gallons of water and laundry detergent. I also gathered a couple large rocks from the desert. This way if we also get monsoon winds, the tent won't fly away to join the herd of javelinas roaming free.

Then it felt cold, the wind kept shifting. As I'm laying in bed writing letters I look up and THERE IS SNOW IN THOSE HILLS!!! WTF?

No. No. And No. Can I go to Mexico?

The nice thing about the rain besides my sinuses don't feel so dry is the desert smells so good in the rain!

My Monthly Luxury...and Planet

Today was the first day in over a month I had a shower! Yeah, sane or maybe civilized people would think that is crazy. I told my friend I was planning a shower and how long it had been and she said, "I could never live like that!" HA! At the Women's Rubber Tramp Rendezvous speakers at the "Personal Hygiene" presentation said not only do they get used to it, after a while they just don't care if they bath or not and they really don't care what others think (or smell!). I have found it doesn't bother me anymore. The first three weeks I thought I would crawl out of my skin as it felt so gummy and dirty. Now I don't even think about it.

But today, I spent an extraordinary amount of time under a nice, warm, clean-water shower! It was glorious. I was told about it from another van-dwelling woman. There are places like Pilot Truck Stop that have showers for $18.00. That's way out of my budget. Most van-dwellers have memberships at fitness clubs, but they are too smelly for me. I've heard aquatic centers (swimming pools) also have showers for the fee of a swim. About a month ago I visited City of Rocks in New Mexico and was surprised to find free showers there, too! They surmise if people hike around the "city", they might want to wash off the sweat. That shower was glorious, too.

This shower was at the Catalina State Park just north of Tucson. Pay the $7.00 day fee and the showers are located in the camping area. As I stood in awe of clean water pulsating on my body, I reminisced on how I used to take up to four baths at day when I had a house. I really took all that luxury for granted!

More importantly, since arriving in Tucson I have not been able to find Planet Dishwashing Liquid. If you've been reading my posts since the beginning of this blog, you know since becoming chemically sensitive, I have been using Planet Dishwashing Liquid for EVERYTHING: bathing, washing floors, washing cars, washing dishes (!) and most importantly, washing my hair. Several friends and relatives have wondered if it would damage my hair, but after twenty years, I don't see a problem.

What do I do without Planet? I bought ECO dishwashing liquid and it was horrifying leaving my hair stringy and dirty looking. I bought some bulk non-toxic shampoo at the co-op in New Mexico, but in a not so sealed container it was a mess. It also just made my hair feel saturated in some kind of film and flat.

After searching two states, I finally found Planet at the Food Conspiracy, Tucson's downtown food co-op! I washed my hair and OMG! it makes my hair feel so clean and healthy! It's no longer as flat as it was! I really hope Planet isn't going out of business...maybe they've just reduced distribution in Arizona? It has gotten really, really expensive, but for me, it's well worth it!

Energy Hogs

Van life is a whole different mindset! I've never in my life have I considered how many watts I use, or the voltage, or the amps. Honestly, although I sat in on a solar class at Quartzsite and these terms were explained, it all went right over my head! However, my life is now consumed by wattage!

Bluetti 

The Bluetti is Big Blue's power source and it gets its energy by one of three options: 1) being plugged into the cigarette lighter when Big Blue is running, 2) into a power outlet, or 3) solar-powered with portable solar panels. When I plug an electrical appliance, laptop, or cell phone (AC, DC or USB) into the Bluetti, I can see how many watts it is using. If the object uses too many watts, the Bluetti is drained in no time. The mantra of experienced van dwellers is "MAKE SURE IT IS 12 VOLTS! DO NOT GET 110!" I'm learning.

Heaters and air conditioners are problematic because they are energy hogs. The first one I bought was sucking about 800 watts. It was returned. The second one was given to me...1200 watts! The Bluetti was drained to only 20% in only 20 minutes! OK! Now I'm starting to understand. If my energy is drained, it's way more work to charge it back up and if I don't, I might have no access to power!  Most people get propane or butane-fueled heaters, but those are toxic to me so that is not an option. (I'm finding my only option to be warm might be Mexico....)

My standard, everyday lamp is low wattage and clocks in at about 30 watts. For a little ambient light, that's worth it. There are battery-operated and solar-powered lights, lanterns, and flashlights available, but I've been trying to use what I have to avoid spending too much money.

However, I've purchased strings of solar lights I call my "rat lights". For $9.99 at Harbor Freight they are well-worth the price. Two of the strands go under Big Blue at night to deter the destructive pack rats, but I had an extra strand that I use INSIDE the van. 

If I turn on their blinking function, it's like a disco! When the sun goes down, Big Blue becomes a disco van! 

My first cooking appliance was the rice cooker on the advice of a girl truck driver. "You can cook a ham in it!" I was sold. Not that I ever eat ham, but if it can cook a ham, its capabilities are endless! The rice cooker uses about 300 watts. Too much. A meal will delete the Bluetti about 30% which isn't bad. Again, most people prefer toxic propane or butane-fueled cooking appliances because the fuel is cheap, accessible and easy to use.

Then someone highly recommended an induction cooktop. They are not cheap, but I was craving real food. The Nuwave Flex Precision Induction Cooktop runs $108.68 with tax. I waffled (pun intended) when I was told it is an energy hog, but I threw all caution to the wind and bought one anyway. I didn't realize one needs special pro-induction pans or it won't work. I discovered cast iron pans are compatible! (I'm so glad I never got rid of my cast iron cookware!) OMG! This was a game changer! Here is my first meal on the induction cook top. It was the first time in months I felt like a real person eating real food!

Just as I was enjoying this tasty meal, sitting on the sidestep of my van, gazing upon the beautiful views of the Catalinas, a herd of javelinas came frolicking for my viewing pleasure. They (6?) were about fifty feet away, but still gave me a fright since I was told they can be vicious especially if they have babies. There were babies. They are definitely one of the ugliest creatures on the planet, big hairy hogs with fangs. (Is it any wonder the psychopathic landlady thought they were cute?) I was told normally one smells them first, but I received no stink warning. They stayed on the outskirts never crossing the cement. Had they started charging, I would have slammed my door shut faster than one could yell, "ENERGY HOG!" (You can barely see them in the center of the photo rummaging through some sticks. Sorry. My camera has a weak zoom in feature.) I had planned to go for a nice walk after dinner. Ah, no, not tonight!

Just as I was feeling a little disappointed the javelinas didn't charge across the cement and dive for my delicious dining experience, a loner javelina appeared not ten feet away from my van! Holy Mackerel!

He circled my van, always staying in the desert never walking on the cement, then disappeared off into the sunset. It was quite exciting. Yes, I closed my van door and worried he'd maul the towel I had drying outside.

The next night as I prepared another fabulous meal on my Nuwave with the door wide open, I constantly surveyed the desert behind me watching for big black blobs approaching in the night. 

The Adventures of Big Blue continue...

Quartzsite, Rubber Tramp Rendezvous for Everyone! 2025

The Rubber Tramp Rendezvous continued the day after the Women's Rubber Tramp Rendezvous ended. There was definitely a different vibe and a lot more people! I wanted to hear the presentations on Alaska which covered driving through Canada, Mexico, and "Solar Basics". 

I spent the morning volunteering only because I woke up in the middle of the night and didn't have much to do. First they assigned me in the coffee shack, but it seems I was just an extra person in the way even though I was the only one cleaning the counters. 

Then they assigned me to help with the name buttons. Now that is more my style! I got to write names on buttons and meet a lot of people. This went well for about two hours until a stinker pushed her way up along side me and demanded to stand where I was standing. I find people bathed in stink to be self-centered and obnoxiously thoughtless anyway, but this was also her personality. I refused to move so she slithered up to the other side of me way too close. I didn't want to give up my awesome volunteer position. At one point she screwed up the button using 2024 instead of 2025 and the button makers gave it back to me. I gave it back to her. She screamed at me, "It's done!" and proceeded to give it to the button makers. I retrieved it, handed it to her and said, "Look at the date." I'd had it with her and I was starting to feel lousy so I asked the lead to place me somewhere else. I went to the free table. Not as fun, but I did get first look at the freebies coming in. I got two new pairs of pants and two beautiful plates that would fit perfectly in my kitchen storage bin. I was sick for the rest of the day and all night. 

The next day they had another Open House and I saw all kinds of amazing van builds with the most intricate storage and organizational systems!

I realized I was out of food. I could drive to Parker for more substandard junky-type gluten-free food, but I decided to leave. I really wanted to see the Mexico presentation, but that would mean hanging around for four more days until it was scheduled. I was hungry.

Quartzsite, Women's RTR, 2025, Day 2 and 3

 

Day two at the Quartzsite Women's Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (2025) had a glorious presentation on safety. I found out my stun gun is one of the best! To date I've never had an opportunity to test it so this is good to know. I also learned it's important to use a stun gun on bare skin for best effect and Canada doesn't allow stun guns over the border. What would I do with it? Hmmm...

That afternoon we were treated to an "Open House" of vans, cars, trucks and small living spaces less than 22 feet. It still amazes me the organization some women have to live in a car. One particular vehicle was owned by, Angie, a delightful Californian with a free-flowing positive energy. She has a small pickup truck and the back looks like a doll house! Again, incredibly organized, but her creative sensibilities make it look so inviting with a blue and aqua color scheme and her fiber art works. She uses magnets to hold everything down on the counters so they don't move during transportation. I crawled in there and felt right at home wanting to curl up and take a nap:

I asked Angie about not having a refridgerator and she explained she doesn't use one, she buys and eats mostly fresh foods, lives out of grocery stores, and she's lost 40 lbs in the last six months! This was inspirational to say the least. She also took a hula hooping class so she would have easy and fun exercise on the road and has lost several inches around her waist. She was happy to demonstrate her skills:

Then the wind began...I'd been warned about wind both online and my friends at the south camp. This clocked in at 24 mph throwing sand and dust all over everything. I wondered if my van would still be upright in the morning. It was really nasty and I vowed never to live in Quartzsite. It stopped by the next day, but this is normal for flat desert locations.

Day three included a presentation on Hygiene with a panel of experienced van-living women. After their talk audience members were welcomed to share their tips. There was a lot of laughter as they shared not-so-good experiences, mistakes, and a whole lot of embarrassment.

After one month living in my van, I felt pretty experienced on toilet procedures having learned the hard way in most cases. Many shared it is difficult to separate urine and feces especially for older women and some claimed you have to train yourself. I have not mastered this skill. It was shared pine pellets from feed stores are good to use. Since I have been unable to find small bags of pine chips at pet stores, and as we all know, they only come in large quantities (20-40lb bags), I was so grateful when one woman who had just bought a 40 lb. bag offered to share so I acquired a ziplock full of them. Several women shared they don't use toilet paper! Some used a cloth one can buy that can be washed. Hmmm...sounds messy, but perhaps once I evolve from a "newmad" into a more experienced van lifer, I'll consider this. It would be nice to eliminate the expense of toilet paper.

Showers. I have grown accustomed to not bathing which is odd since I used to take up to four baths a day when living in a house. First, I'm warm so I'm not in a situation where I'm so cold I have to regulate my body temperature constantly. Second, the thought of bathing in a communal space gives me the creeps! Most of these women said they don't shower and they don't care! I loved the attitude! However, if one really needs to clean, aquatic centers and state parks are good options.

Laundry. Not much was mentioned about laundry. I was tempted to contribute to the chemical sensitivity challenges with laundry, but as a "newmad" I didn't feel that brave. Maybe next year.

That was the last day of the Women's Rubber Tramp Rendezvous. It was a day of sunshine and no wind! Tomorrow the all-inclusive Rubber Tramp Rendezvous starts.

Quartzsite: The Women's Rubber Tramp Roundup 2025, Day 1

Just over three hours from Tucson through Phoenix...

Phoenix in all its polluted glory...

...is Quartzsite, a dusty little nondescript town that doesn't make much of an impact on most people driving Interstate 10 until the winter when vehicle dwellers ascend to attend The Rubber Tramp Roundup in January which was exactly where I was heading. It's also a mecca for van dwellers to live during the winter fulltime since the town basks in sunshine and is surrounded by free BLM land (maximum stay of 14 days) or for-pay at a "long term visitor area" (LTVA) which costs about $40 for 14 days or $180 for seven months or anytime between September 15th and April 15th.

I've been reading about this event for years knowing it's the place to go to meet like-minded people, get help, get information, and have a great time. I was looking forward to the experience!

I rolled into town not knowing anything...where to go, where things were, where to shop. I dragged up and down Main Street like a teenager looking at the buildings and trying to orientate myself. Lots of businesses, novelty shops, small grocery stores, and gas stations. 

Millions of RVs, trailers, and vans of all kinds parked all over. Lots of desert. Lots of sun! The temperature was about ten degrees above Tucson, or around 60-70 degrees during the day and 50 degrees at night. However, there is wind that kicks up the desert dust and is relentless.

Not only am I a total newbie not only as a van dweller, but also as a RTR virgin. They call us "Newmads." I have been told it's a bit of a derogatory term as people are proud of their longevity. I am definitely a newmad and not afraid to admit it. I just met someone this morning who has been living in his van for thirty years.

The Women's RTR was first, and my goal on this first day in Quartzsite was to find the city park. This part of the RTR is just for women and takes place January 8th continuing through January 10th. Women ONLY! I love it. I arrived right when the volunteers were being oriented and met Susan. I asked her where she was planning to stay that night and she gave me GPS to the Dome Rock BLM which I found easily.

Dome Rock BLM with Big Blue

Dome Rock BLM 
View from the Bush

I texted my friends Michele and Pete who I met at the Tucson BLM. They were staying at one of the LTVA's and invited me for a visit. They paid for a six-month pass and with that comes some amenities: bathroom facilities, garbage disposal, and water, although some of these conveniences are located at other LTVA areas. Here are the views out my van windows at their LTVA...lots of space between RVs, campers, vans and cars, some foliage, and lots of rocky desert landscape.

I love how some created rock or stick walls, designs in the deserts, compasses, peace signs. My friends constructed a Christmas tree out of a branch using some ornaments they found. (They were here over Christmas.) The wind picked up blowing the dusty landscape all over. My friends informed me to keep my windows closed as their RV is covered in a thick layer of white dust. I was instructed not to park near bushes or trees as that is where the car-chomping pack rats live!

The other option for camping are the free BLM campgrounds scattered all over. To the far north up highway 95 is Plomosa located at Plomosa Road. It's farther away which could account for it being not very populated:

Hi Jolly is located also on highway 95, but closer to town. It was very populated:

Roadrunner BML is located about 6.9 miles south on 95. I didn't visit. As I mentioned above, I stayed at Dome Rock BLM.

I checked Quartzsite grocery stores for healthy food options. Nothing. Not one item deemed organic or gluten-free. I brought enough food for the Women's RTR, but when I noticed the schedule for the regular RTR included some workshops I wanted to attend extending my stay, I wondered where I could get supplies.

There is a McDonalds, a Pilot gas station and a library (opens at 7am!) for free wifi! However, I was warned in advance due to all the people logging on it, it's very weak and not dependable. It kicks off without warning.

Day One of the Women's Rubber Tramp Roundup. They have free tables where people can bring the items they no longer want for others to take. I wish I would have known about this as I could have donated a whole lot of things from my storage unit. Next year! I gleaned about five blouses, toothbrushes, and dental floss. 

Many booths for bonding opportunities: games, crafts and even a booth for sewing if you need something stitched. Booths for nonprofits, t-shirts, name buttons, coffee and snacks. 

It's a shame there is no consideration for chemically sensitive people since so many are forced to live in vehicles. There is a smokers' section right next to the entrance/exit which I find poor planning as people who are chemically sensitive don't need that kind of exposure. There are air-freshened porta-potties that aren't too toxic, but there is a regular park bathroom they reserved for volunteers. It is not air freshened. Again, no consideration for MCSers who can't be exposed. At least most of us can go to the bathroom in our vans or RVs. Coffee and snacks are all conventional. No dietary restrictive options.

A majority of the participants were older women and many of them are living in cars. CARS! I watched a few during lunch from my van get their kitchen supplies out of the back. These ladies are ultra organized! This Smart Car below was on display at the "Open House". Yes! You can live out of a Smart Car!

Orientation was at 10:00am which gave us lots of tips and rules. Followed by instruction on how to camp on public land which was very informative.

Outside Quartzsite, I dump my garbage every day at a gas station, store or where there might be a bin. I wondered how we do it here...if every vehicle dweller dumps their garbage in Quartzsite, the little town would be overflowing. There is a transfer station and a dump north on highway 95 that is FREE! I'm hoping I can get my van weighed there.

After the speakers, I drove to Parker to check out the stores. There is a Safeway that has limited organic and gluten-free food. Walmart is across the street. Gas is cheaper in Parker.

That night I stayed at Dome Rock BLM right next to a group of solo women travelers: Susan, Valerie and Angela and as the sun went down, we howled like coyotes!

To be continued...

.

2024: REVIEW AND RESOLUTION

This year was wild! It was an emotional rollercoaster, stressful, wonderful, horrifying, brilliant and, well, life at its finest. I survived to tell the tale!

 

AWESOME THINGS:

TAROT READING: Early in 2024 I had a tarot reading done. It was very informative and interesting. She said all kinds of incredibly accurate things, BUT then she said 2024 is the year I will MOVE! I started crying. Really! I started crying! She had no idea I was planning to put my house up for sale. Amazing.

MOVING: And I moved! "Moving" should also go under HORRIBLE things, too, due to the stress. But when all hope was lost, I kept chanting defiantly, “NO! AILENE SAID I WAS GOING TO MOVE THIS YEAR! NOT NEXT YEAR! NOT ANOTHER YEAR! THIS YEAR! I AM MOVING THIS YEAR!” And I did. As I drove away from Rathole in a Uhaul with what was left over of my worldly belongings, I had this odd sense of calm wash over me. I kept yelling at my friend who was in the co-pilot seat, “I FEEL SO CALM!” Nineteen years of anxiety, stress, and depression just melted away as I drove away!

SELLING: I started my marathon of downsizing last year and I just kept on going through 2024! I sold a four-bedroom house packed to the rafters worth of junk. I sold childhood memories, accumulated free junk, furniture, and about one hundred and fifty art history books plus another fifty or so non-art books! I still have the ads and photos and when I look through them, I am in disbelief! Near the end, I was giving things away, donating, and just chucking it in the garbage. I still ended up with too much: eighty boxes, two tables, five chairs that go with those tables, a bike, a bunch of art, and a twin bed frame. The leftovers are still being sold little by little to empty out the storage unit. I only cried twice. Once when I sold my rabbit statue that reminded me of my bunny and when I sold Kitty, the doll I had since I was four years old....But I was happy she got a new home instead of ending up in the garbage or worse, buried in the woods (as one friend suggested).

MAJOR SELLING: I sold my house! It almost didn't happen. It was close. All spring and summer - high season for real estate sales - and nothing. When I put it up for sale in May there were few houses in my area on the market and I was very happy and hopeful with the lack of competition. When June came around, everyone had their house up for sale! It was very discouraging watching my neighbors’ houses sell and mine just sit there. Actually, it was incredibly stressful. Would I be forced to stay another winter in rainy cold Rathole? Would I be responsible for financially maintaining both a house and an apartment? If you have seen photos I have posted, my house was a little unusual with bright walls, painted walls, floors and ceilings, painted switchplates and furniture, and all manner of crazy creativity. It’s not for everyone. However, many people, including some I didn’t even know, would approach me and ask, “Is your house the creative, colorful one being sold? Oh, I wish I could buy it!” I don’t know if they were just being polite, but it gave me hope. 

But still no offers. I found out of the three agents in my area, two of them weren’t showing it because there was a request to be fragrance-free and they couldn’t be bothered to go without stink in order to show it. Prospective buyers still showed up stinking of laundry detergent or shampoo. What a nightmare! I lowered the price. Nothing. I lowered the price again drastically and I got ONE offer in the fall. These people had inspections done on three other houses and deemed them not well-cared for enough. I had no hope since my house is over 100 years old, but they bought it! I am still amazed and thankful! I feel so free! No more house maintenance. No more cleaning gutters and windows. I don't care if the fence falls apart every winter or if the trees blow over onto the roof! Most importantly, no more bad neighbors. If I wasn’t so excited, relieved and thrilled it sold, I would put it under HORRIBLE for the nervous breakdown experience.

THE VAN!!!:  I finally bought a van! After searching for a van for nearly a year, buying Big Blue was sudden, easy, and comfortably meant to be. I was not prepared to move into a van and live in one, but I did, mostly out of necessity. The very steep learning curved adventure commenced! I really should put this under the SO-SO category since the adjustment was anything but awesome, but after two years of researching and planning, I finally did it and that is awesome! I renamed her Bluega, like beluga only blue, because she's a whale when trying to park! No more rent costs or utility payments. Free to travel and explore. The adventure begins!

 

TRAVEL: I haven't ventured out much yet with Bluega as I'm trying to get her outfitted for independence and waiting for winter to be over, but I have explored a lot of Arizona and New Mexico! So fun being nomadic!

FRAGRANCE-FREE MCS FRIENDS! I finally found my tribe! It’s amazing going to social functions with these people and not have to worry about being poisoned!

FRIENDS: I made more friends here in Tucson in the first two weeks than I did in Rathole in nineteen years!

CYCLING: Tucson has cycling clubs, cycling paths, cycling shops, cycling swap meets (the biggest in the country), and cyclists. Lots of cycling! It's amazing to be able to ride my bike again after it's been stored in a closet for nearly twenty years. The first time I got teary-eyed. I have found an older women's group to ride with...more my speed! Excellent.

PEN PALS: I love my pen pals! Not only is letter writing good entertainment, but with this move it provided much needed stability and support. One of my pen friends sent me a collaged card she made in honor of my move that I received my first day in Tucson! I love it! I felt so honored.

SO-SO THINGS:

TUCSON: I moved to Tucson. I don't know. Initially I was really excited. Then I encountered the worst human on earth (see below under REALLY, REALLY HORRIBLE EXPERIENCES...) which greatly affected my feelings for Tucson It should have been great. This city has a multiple chemical sensitivity community, an art community, sunshine and dry weather most of the time, a lot of health- oriented grocery stores, lots of friendly people, and the whole city is one big bike lane! What could go wrong?  I now see the bad roads, bad drivers, constant congestion, expensive food, and Republicans. It's definitely not warm here in the winter at night dipping into the 30s, but it's not raining.  I was hoping my health would improve as so many have claimed, but it has only seemed to get worse. I wrote a summary post on Tucson.

ART: I tried joining some art groups: plein art and watercolor, but 1) the artist-members were really talented which made me feel stupid, and 2) when life got stressful, I stopped going. Maybe I’ll try again in the future.

UHAULING: I feel really proud I packed up what was left of my house into a Uhaul truck and drove all the way across four states. Driving 9 hours one day, then 15 hours, then 12 hours, then 3 hours was exhausting. My friend came with for company and that was fun. The truck was on the verge of breaking down the whole trip and we couldn't remove the key out of the ignition unless we wanted to be stranded. We slept at rest stops and truck stops. Then I unpacked the truck myself. Did I really do that? At my age?

REALLY, REALLY HORRIBLE EXPERIENCES:

THE PSYCHOPATHIC LANDLADY PIECE OF GARBAGE: I rented a tiny apartment from an elderly, possessive, self-centered, egocentric, obsessive psychopath who was in my face everyday criticizing, questioning, demanding and compulsively pathologically lying every step of the way. I was so incredibly stressed out and unable to function, tiptoeing around in my own home and afraid to touch silverware for fear she’d hear me, and paranoid as hell. When she'd hear me open my door on arrival, she's show up on my patio demanding to discuss some imaginary issue or demanded to know what I might be doing that she didn't like. She instructed me on requirements for cleaning the apartment and even what products to use, what I was allowed to do, what I can bring into the apartment, when I could use the patio at my door, threatened me if I left the gate unlocked, on and on and on. If I asked her a question or informed her of anything, she perceived it as a personal attack and would become vengefully defensive. Then she began wafting scented something through the HVAC system and that was my breaking point. I saw a lawyer and started defending myself. She eventually agreed with me this wasn’t working for either of us and let me out of my one-year lease. Thank god for small miracles! I can't believe I survived that. I will never in my life rent again.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: How does that happen? What is the point of voting if my vote doesn’t count because of this idiotic electoral college? It was rigged. Men with money who have friends with money can get away with nearly anything. Money and male dominance is the American way. I've heard about some of the voting statistics and how they aren't making sense. But this is our political system. I’m sick to my stomach. But at one point I told a friend if voting for the buffoon would make this psychopathic witch disappear out of my life, I would in a heartbeat!

RENTAL SEARCH: I was so stressed out knowing if someone bought my house, and I only had thirty days to move, would I be able to find a safe place to live? I made two trips to Tucson and couldn't find much. I finally settle on a tiny apartment owned by a woman who claimed to be fragrance-free who ended up to be a raving psychopath (see above). The stress of it all was unimaginable. I don't ever want to do that again ever!

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION FOR 2025: I don't have one. I told a friend I have had so many things happen in the last year, so many goals met, so many dreams fulfilled, I've had enough resolutions come true in 2024 to last me at least five or ten years. Maybe my resolution is to be calm, stress-free, and happy?