On the White Line

Not only do we get to sleep with Baby Ita tonight, we also scored a spot with FREE electrical hookups. Man, I love when casinos are trying woo RVers!

My mom was sixteen years old when she started working at my paternal grandfather’s store, and that is where she met my dad who was 22 years her senior. Although completely smitten with each other, they waited until after her 21st birthday to marry.

All my life I heard stories of the two of them in their early years… even caught wind of a poem dad had Mr. Maloney, the local poet, write.

A few days ago, my mom was cleaning out a drawer when she found my dad’s wallet. It had been hidden in a dark corner since he died ten years ago.

Inside the billfold she found a folded piece of newsprint… the poem had been published in the local paper in 1950, and dad had carried it with him everywhere he went.

It’s 2012, 101 years after my dad’s birth, and I’m constantly reminded he’s still here with us.

SWEET SIXTEEN

I know a little maiden
Just sweet sixteen, no more,

She works behind the counter
Of a local grocery store.

Her skin is smooth in texture
Her eyes a heavenly blue,

She’s not too tall and rather slim
Her hair of auburn hue.

She’s full of pep and vigor
But never in a rush,

She seems to have the old technique
Of knowing how to blush.

She’s neither bold nor forward
She tries so hard to please,

Whether you want a peck of spuds
Or just a pound of cheese.

In school she is a Junior
In spare time she’s a clerk,

Of one thing we are certain
She’s not afraid to work.

Well liked by the customer
Patient all the while,

She takes a lot of kidding
With a great big friendly smile.

It’s refreshing just to watch her
And anyone can see,

This little girl I speak of
Has personality.

Tho faithfully I promised
I wouldn’t tell her name,

But the founder of this business
From good “Ould Ireland” came.

For years it stood upon this site
Tho changes have been seen

Even to the personnel
“Ted, “Cracker”, “Bob” and “Gene”.

—Joe Maloney

It’s worth noting that Ted, Cracker, and Bob were my dad’s brothers… and dad, his name was Gene.

Okay, my title is a little misleading. The application was only one page long, but the support documents they required added another 19. Including:

1. Letter of Intent
2. Application Checklist
3. Photos of Raw Materials
4. Photos of Work in Progress (at least 5)
5. Photos of Artist and Studio
6. Photos of Finished Products
7. Photos of Booth Layout with Business Banner
8. Copies of Receipts for Raw Materials
9. Copy of Driver’s License
10. Copy of Marketing Materials (business cards, brochures, flyers, rack cards, etc.)
11. Check for Application Fee

That’s a lot of work for an application, but we’d love to be a part of the show… it’s a weekly gig on Thursday nights in Palm Springs called Village Fest. If you visit the Coachella Valley, it should be on your “must-see” list.

Alas, they’re not accepting jewelry vendors at this time, but we thought maybe they might consider us for the a mixed media category or as stand-by vendors. We’ll see.

Since joining Weight Watchers, Dairy Queen Blizzards have become a weekly reward for us… versus the gluttonous indulgence it used to be.  Alas, the season at some locations has come to a close.

It’s a bit early for this much of the white stuff.

We celebrated my sister’s belated birthday with a surprise visit to Kohler-Andrae State Park near Sheboygan, WI (hmmmm, she didn’t want to spend her birthday in a Walmart parking lot).

Anyone who follows us, knows we’re no strangers to boondocking… especially blacktop boondocking courtesy of Walmart. Lately, we’ve been overnighting in all sorts of hook-up-free locations.

It was a Foggy Night in the Walmart Parking Lot

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I have to admit, we’ve got a pretty nice setup here in Ajo, AZ. While our friends Maryann and Dick are away, we’ve created an outdoor studio in their driveway. I’m busy crafting shard jewelry while Corey works away at his freelance projects.

I can’t think of a better environment to foster my creativity, and the peace and quiet that surrounds Ajo has been a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of shows.

Mom tried to convince me that she could sneak over the Mexican Border by taking the "back road."

My mom flew home two weeks ago, and we didn’t even acknowledge it. To say the least, we’ve gotten a little behind on the blog.

Let me bring you up to speed

Corey and I returned to Palm Springs to participate in the Arts Festival, visit with Corey’s uncle, partake in the swap meet at College of the Desert, spend some time with my friend Erin from college, and spend a few more nights in the “most welcoming Walmart parking lot in the world.” During that time, Corey was also juggling a big freelance project, so it didn’t leave time for much else.

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We’ve been hiding out in Ajo, AZ, for the last few days. It’s been quite and experience that can be summed up with Santa Cruz Red Chili Paste, chollas and javelinas.

The chili paste represents one of the many ingredients that make up our friend Mary Ann’s home cooking. Thanks to her, our bellies have been about to burst.

I also learned why people say the cholla cactus “jumps.” One of those little buggers attacked my finger, and let me tell you, once one of those little barbs gets under your skin, it is really tough to get out.

But the highlight has had to be the havelinas. These animals are kind of like a hairy wild pig with no tail. They seem to be all over Ajo, but only come out at night. Last night we saw a huuuuuuuge one at the front gate. This evening we spotted six more plus one little baby one in the back yard. For someone who hasn’t seen them before (and who doesn’t have any crops for them to destroy) they were absolutely fascinating.

We also made a trip to Organ Pipe National Monument… stunning!

Here are some pics from this week: