Not what I planned on doing, but I'll take it!

To recap, once I got to Escalante, everything started breaking: the refrigerator in the RV, the leaf springs on the Xterra, and my enthusiasm for gainful employment.

I got to feeling trapped.

So I spent a few days looking at cars online and trying to figure out my next steps.

Maybe the Good Lord was trying to lead me back to Colorado because in the midst of all this, I got a call from the old boss at the garden place. I could have my old route back and would I consider being a floater down the road? Ohhhh...maybe! I like to float!

So... Frank, a friend from Havasu who is now staying in Salt Lake, drove down to Escalante to take me to Vegas.

I'd settled on the CarMax minivan.

Then, it was hurry back to Escalante so I can pack and get to Colorado.

But on I-15 I had to pass this old camper that was on fire. With my windows up, AC on, and air on recycled air to close off outside fumes, I felt the heat as I passed.

Leaving the RV with Will and the Xterra at the repair shop, I left town in a hurry with a promise to figure out my vehicle situation in the next month or two.

Stopping north of Hanksville to run Buena on a red dirt road, I looked for rocks and watched the storm roll in.

Still trying to figure out the logistics of space and how to organize things, I settled in for my first night camping in the minivan. I'd made it as far as Rifle on Saturday, giving me a day to finish grading papers before starting work on Monday. So I loaded up on Red Bull and parked for the day.

Work went well. Within the first hour, I was back in the routine: merchandising, deadheading, watering. I started at eight and got off after four.

For right now, I'll be working six days a week. Today when I finished up at one of the job sites, Buena was asleep, cuddling her blue monkey.

Things of interest from this past week:

• The "Needles" poem. I don't remember where I saw it, but I snapped a quick pic. If anyone knows the author, please let me know. I appreciate the humor in it.

• The FREE SAMPLE in the Aspen cheese department featured these crackers, spread, and cheese...all put together and eaten in a bite. If you're looking for a taste sensation, it's worth your while to put it together!

• Another shell! This one I found today in the foothills around Mount Sopris. My altimeter said I was at 6600'.

And finally...look what I found today! Made me soooo happy!