There's a Steady Sound in the Rig... Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap

What can I say... the excitement around here has been... tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap... sounds a little like one of those annoying drippy faucets...

I sort of wonder, since you can hear voices from other rigs pretty easy in these tight little campgrounds... what people think when they walk past this rig... and hear a guy apparently talking to himself. :) (I read my work back out loud as I'm writing) I expect some folks think that OTHER folks have been spending too much time alone! :)

... especially when what I'm reading back to myself is an argument between two or three people! Bwahahahahahahaha!

I've been making steady progress on The Horsemen which will be #3 in the Jeb Taylor series. Still pushing for an April release... looking more like LATE April. :)

There's not a terrible lot to write about someone who's been spending the greatest amount of a day... sitting on the couch with a lap top on his lap... surrounded by notes and papers... writing.

Buuuuut, no matter how a guy might feel the need to keep his nose to the grindstone and do his "work"... he does still have to stand up... walk outside in the sun and stretch his legs a few times a day or his brain turns to this ugly green goo...  There's more to life than work... even if he has a real liking for his work.

In the interest of walking a bit... Pima County Fair Grounds has a Free RV show going on now... but you know me... walking around gazing at double axle motorhomes with basements bigger than my worn out Old Jayco and mortgages that look to me like the national debt are not what toots my whistle... even if some lunatic banker could get talked into financing the deal for an even greater nutcase refugee mountain cowboy... who would have to borrow a dime to rub two nickles together. ;)

That and the inner motivation to somehow get smaller, lighter (on both the road and the wallet) and somehow simpler... just has gotten me looking at the new and flashy with kind of a Meh attitude. 

Did get off the grounds the other day... to find a propane refill.

Hmmmm... don't you just love it when you go to the intersection you were given directions for... to find propane... and find nothing but an intersection in the desert?

One thing I like about County Fairgrounds is walking through the barns. It's a hard thing to describe. Most likely one of those "If I have to explain it you won't understand" sort of things... but... the smell of a horse barn, the sounds in it... just the feel and Sense of it when you're in it stir memories and feelings that bring back good times...

... and set a mind to drifting and wondering...

Wondering Drifting Keyboard Tapper in the Desert
Brian

Dairy Queen, Fairgrounds and Hot Rods

Made the pickup at the airport and rolled south anxious to get out of town... Phoenix... Denver... Las Vegas... it makes little difference... Such places don't fit by boots.

Grabbed a blizzard at the Dairy Queen in Picacho... you know... to fuel the sorting out of a decision of where to spend the night. The goal was the Pima County Fair Grounds, but the time being what it was, and the distance to go, it was gonna put us in there after dark...

... considering that they usually back the rigs in utilizing some butter and a crow bar... I didn't really want to get there after dark and add that handicap to the mix!

Buuuuuut... I finally said to hell with it... didn't really feel like walmarting it... so we went on, and lucked out with a clear space to easily back into... and only took a 1/4 pound of butter to grease the way.

By now it was past seven. The refrigerator was only cooling four bottles of beer and the cupboard only held a couple cans of beans, some tomato soup four packages of Ramen and a 1/4 bottle of syrup... so wanting something better we went to find somebody else that was cooking...

Found a place to eat, just on the other side of the interstate... A place called Hot Rods out on Old Vail Road just east of Houghton road in Tucson.

Picture a restaurant, pub, custom auto shop... and motorcycle shop...and a general service shop all rolled into one...

Inside there's a #18 Nascar by the front door... and a restaurant/bar/auto shop... it's Really pretty cool. You sit where you can look out into part of their shop as they work on and restore all sorts of vehicles...

*view from a table in Hot Rods*

The bikers have a shop there to keep them happy as well...

*Some of the bikes at Hot Rods*

I "borrowed" this pic off their website...

I don't think they'll mind. ;)

I read some of the reviews... and as usual... they run from loved it to Meh...

Me? I liked it. We had a pizza, and a really good "Craft" kind of beer off the Tap... The manager came by and we talked for quite a while... While the waiter didn't wipe my face or kiss my cheek... he did his job. The Pizza, a chicken/BBQ/ green peppers and onion mix... Was Excellent to my taste.

The place was sparkling clean and all the staff was cheerful and doin' what you expect 'em to.

We got out for fifteen bucks and I had enough to eat so considering the times, I can't complain.

I will be back...If you're a motor head check out their website in that link above and give 'em a try next time you pass by.

edit* Oh, and I forgot to mention, she saw it. I don't pay any attention to such things... but for those that need it they apparently have Gluten Free options for you as well...

Back at Work in the Fairgrounds
Brian

Loaded Up and Trucking... And Juuuuuuuust a Touch of Badger Pokin'

Well almost...

Now that the funeral for those Colorado Broncs is done... how about stirring the pot. I ain't done that in some little while. :)

Heidi flies into Sky Harbor in Phoenix this afternoon where I'll swing by dragging 30 feet of rattle trap fifth wheel behind a smoke belching diesel dodge. Yup... a rolling cowboy roadblock.

Gonna do my best to see how well I can agitate the Air Port LEO folks with my over sized passenger pickup Vee-Hickle.

Yeah... Doing my part for global harmony. I'm about as skilled at that as Coca Cola is... :) Now there's an argument that a lot of folks just don't get... and it AIN'T about politics or selling soda. And it AIN'T about Die-Versity...

 And QUIT with the hysterical BS about racism.

It's about etiquette and sensitivity and understanding simple, natural Biology...

Diversity is the sweet sounding trap that well intentioned people fall into. Another of those "good ideas" where the reality of it... Hits you like a brick if you don't duck from it fast enough.

Yes we should honor all the cultures that came together to form this nation... BUT... you can't do that... UNLESS... you Come Together... FIRST.     DUH. Otherwise your differences are only Diversity... which keep you separated. DIVIDED... Diversity = Division... kinda the natural way of things.

The base, bred in instinct is to protect the clan, the tribe, the pack, the family... The INSIDE from all the OUTSIDE threats. It's simple, basic biology folks. Ignore it at your own peril.

The celebration of Diversity must come from standing on the foundation of Commonality.  The human critter is just that... a CRITTER. It responds as all others do, with basic, instinctive, biological reactions. The first of those is that if something is different, if something is Out Of Place... it is a threat... to be guarded against, until proven otherwise.

The ONLY way you can suppress and control that basic, biological command is to build a foundation of commonality. A common bond... Upon which you can then hang all the colors of diversity.

The FIRST place you start doing that is Language.

You'd think all the high dollar egg head psychologist sorts that Coca Cola could employ for their marketing games could figure that out... considering a puss gut, bald headed mountain cowboy did... a long damn time ago.

As long as you focus on the things that make people different... you will divide them... DUH! That will overpower their intellect. (and folks, ALL politics is based on divide and conquer)

Highlight their common aspects first. Show them how their inner goals are the same... FIRST... and then all those other bits will fall into place.

And That is Today's Poking the Badger
Brian