Wednesday, November 30, 2005

I'm a Day Dream Believer.....



Typical me, I'm always thinking of new ideas and things that I could do, only if i had money...

So, I need investors.....LOL...

Newport has several drive thru coffee spots, but no actual coffee shops. No place, other than bars, and the few resaurants, to sit and relax. It's a great, clean, town that could use a nice Coffee Shop. So today, I found the place. Right smack dab in the middle of town. It's a small (if even) two room house, with a converted garage that has an office in front. The back yard is perfect for a patio and garden in the Summer months. So, anyone want to move to Newport and open a business? Here's your chance.....

Back of house

Small Town Appeal.

Yesterday I drove into Sandpoint, Idaho, aprox. 35 miles east of Newport. It's a lovely little town located at the intersection of two rivers. In the summer there is a public beach, and from town, you can see the ski resort.
The Iced over River, runs under Coldwater Creek.

Downtown Sandpoint


Sandpoint, ID is the home of Coldwater Creek.

I stopped in to inquire about these beautiful paintings on nearly EVERY business in Sandpoint. They are done by an Artist by the name of Maria Larson, she is a long time resident of the town, who was contacted by the city several years ago, to create a 'Small Town' feel. Since then, it's grown from just Main Street, to most of the surrounding streets.

Frankly My Deer

Monday night, I adorned Joey with Christmas lights.


Tuesday afternoon, I looked out the window to find a regular sight here. But usually the camera is in the car.



Reiley looks on in excitement!


Looking through my tinted front window. There's one stepping behind the jeep, and one to the right.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Monday's Events....


I returned home after crashing in Spokane Sunday night, to snow on my Airstream. I stayed in for a while, but then saw the sun peeking out through the clouds for the first time in weeks. I headed out towards Marshall Lake, and hiked out on an old loging road. There is nothing more tranquil than being out there, alone, amongst nature, and not hear a sound, accept the flapping of a birds wings, or the scurrying of a tiny creature.




Below is a view of Newport, looking South, with the Lit tree, with a star on top.





Out here in the wilderness, there are still options. Should I go forward, or head down the hill... Only I will know which path I took....



Monday, November 28, 2005

Holidays Revisited, and my first days at work.



Well, it's been a busy weekend, so I haven't had much time to spend on the computer. I started my job at the bar this weekend, which I will touch on later, but being up all night has completely screwed up my sleeping schedule.

Thanksgiving ended up being much nicer than expected. I finally broke down and took my friend Nick from Spokane up on an invitation to his parents house, here in Newport. Dinner was at three, and I drove out to a nice house set back off of the road, surrounded by pines, and Massive, and I mean MASSIVE granite structures coming out of the ground. His family was wonderfully accepting of this new guy intruding on their family day. Nick's two sisters, in their early twenties, and one of them's boyfriends. Dinner was great.... yes, I said great.... The Turkey was moist, the pork was delicious, and stuffing... Oh, how I love stuffing. I did squish the mashed potatoes around my plate to make it look fuller. I just don't eat much these days, and I didn't want to get harrassed about not eating enough. I even went back for seconds. We watched Miracle on 34th street during dinner, then after dinner, a mini marshmallow fight broke out between everyone, but Nick's dad. Who didn't think it to be quite as funny as we all did. I tried to sit there, and be the proper guest, but when Nicks mom threw one at me, it was all over with the niceties. Nick's nephew, of 18 months found it fun, whenever one landed near him, he ate it.... I know, sounds jouvenile, but it was family fun, and everyone should let their inner child loose from time to time. Later in the evening we plaid a DVD game called shout. It's too much to explain, but much fun.

During the course of the evening, we were visited by a deer and her two fawns. They put Alfalfa out for them, and they came over several, a couple hundred feet from the house, to eat. They would scare, run off, and later come back. It was interesting watching the mother. She was on constaint guard, her ears perked up, continually watching, and listening, while the children filled their stomachs. Coyotes are plentiful here, and as often as they ran, there were may have been one present.

Coyotes are really amazing at night, Their calls almost sound like screams in the night, that can be heard from far distances. It's eary, but exciting.


As for my first day of work. It was VERY slow, but fun..... to get away from the door, I clear the second floor, bar, and dance floor of empty glasses, etc. Sounds dull, but it's fun to get around and see people. Nothing really happened on Friday. I worked with Edward, and some of my friends kept me company.
Edward and I

Now Saturday was more exciting. We were much busier, and I watched as people barely made it down the stairs, and yes, even fell up the stairs. It's rather interesting to watch people drunk at the bar. Friday, I arrived at 3 p.m. to do some side work constructing a platform for an ice machine, but my shift didn't start until 8:15. The night ended around 4:15, when I headed over to the bar owners house, and crashed on the couch, so I didn't have to drive home, then return at 3:00 to finish the platform, and deconstruct the trees. Unfortunately I was up at 11:00, so I didn't get too much sleep. It's hard to sleep during the day. I went to lunch, then headed to Nicks where we watched the first episodes of the Muppet Show. It's amazing to see how far they have come. Miss Piggy was just a plain ol' pig, and not so much a major star of the show. And did you know that the original Kermit was made from one of Jim Henson's mom's coats?? He was described, not as a frog, but a 'lizard like' character. Who Knew? Then back to the bar at 3.
Greg and I.

Later into Saturday night, the bar manager came to get me, and told me I was going to get to kick out my first patron. It turned out to be the ol' drunk that fell up the stairs. It was easy going, and not nearly as exciting as I had anticipated.

Now, I have to explain something odd about the bars here. They close at 1:45, at which point we herd the patrons to the second floor. All open containers, be it alcohol, or water bottles, have to be collected on both floors, before the bartender on the second floor can start serving water and sodas. It's a nice chance for people to dance off some of what they've been drinking, and believe it or not, most people stay until 3 or 3:30. Well, just as we started serving sodas, etc on the second floor, a heard a scream from behind me. I still don't know the difference between a drunken scream, and an emergency, but the bartender yelled for me, pointed at the womens bathroom, so, I bolted to the hallway, where I found some ten or so girls yelling, screaming, and holding back a girl. The other girl, obviously involved was standing there with her 'weave' in her hand. Both had gashes in their face. It was a whirlwind, but I escorted each one, seperately, down the stairs, out the door, and politely explained that they need not come back to the bar. Quite frankly, it was AWESOME!!!! There were several other instances, but not much to speak of. So, that was my first weekend at the bar. I can't wait to go back again on friday. Although getting back to Newport at 6:30 in the morning kind of stinks.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Happy Thanksgiving, blah blah blah.

Howdy All. Here it is Thanksgiving. One of my list of one of the worst Hollidays. Mostly because I don't like Turkey, Beets, Real Mashed Potatos ( but instaint Mashed Potatoes... MMMmmm Yummy), any vegetables that might be found on the table... So that leaves me with Dressing, and rolls. Last year my mom made rolls that looked like Loons.... Just a thought. It's a day of stress. It's always nice to see family, but moreso on birthdays, and Christmas, where there's more to the day than having to sit at a dinner table, crammed in like sardines, and forbid you have to get up to go to the bathroom or refill a drink, Suck it in, and everyone push forward so you can squeeze through.... So, for all of those people who feel bad that I am alone on Thanksgiving.... Thanks for the sentiment, but, really, I'm just fine. Actually I'm listening to Johnny Manthis' Christmas CD. Can't get enough of it.

Reiley is perched on top of my computer, as always. I had several offers to join people around town for dinner, but I think I'm going to hike, sightsee, or just sit here and read.



As I mentioned in a previous post, I decorated someones Christmas Tree this week. $350 later, it turned out to be quite a nice tree. The picture aren't all that great. But I'll share them with you. Who ever thought that Giant Ostrich Plumes would look good on a Christmas Tree???

I do hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving full of friends family and fun. Now here we go, the fast paced roll towards Christmas!!!

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

My Fascination with Airstreams.

Shortly after purchasing my First Airstream, this 1968 Airstream Safari. 22 Ft. Long, hitch to bumber. This is the one this I still currenly own, and yes, live in. Here it is parked in front of my house that I had in St.Louis.


Here is the same one.... parked in front of the St.Louis Arch , and at the Eads Bridge, which is immediately North of the Arch.





This is the finished product of the Second Airstream that I purchased, three months after the first one. This is a 1976 Airstream Overlander. Polished to a semi mirror finish. This took several months of polishing, using Aircraft Aluminum polish, a four step process, with three steps for step for each of the four steps, so I guess that makes it a 12 step program. These photos were shot in a ghost town on the Texas Oklahoma border, and at a Route 66 motel in New Mexico.

These were taken a few hours away from Las Vegas. We stopped in a campground in the middle of nowhere. It was beautiful.

The same 1976 Overlander, 27' from hitch to bumper. I'm not sure where this was taken.














These are my three babies. on the Left is the third of my collection, a 1964 Airstream Overlander, 26' Hitch to bumper. In the middle is the 1968 Safari, 22' hitch to bumper, which I still have, and the 1976 Overlander, 27' hitch to bumper. And there's me in the middle. Don't forget you can double click on any picture to enlarge.

Here's the third, the '64 Overlander, used for a promotional 'Flamingo' sale at ' THE BUG STORE' a home and garden shop in St.Louis.


These are photos from my first Airstream Rally in June of 2004, with the '68 Safari. It took place several hours NorthEast of St.Louis, at Moraine View State Park, in LeRoy, IL


This is my JOEY... The Airstream I currently live in. It's bright and colorful !!!
Here's the Kitchen in the Safari, just accross is the Couch that turns into a Full Size Bed.
And in the front of the Safari, is the Dining room. With a fold up table, and the two couches turn into twin beds. So, yes, this little baby can accomodate 4, if need be. THe bathroom, located in the rear, has a shower, sink, and toilet, all cramed into a 4' X 7' area. Very Cozy!