December 11: Florida ... Finally

A few minutes after 4pm, I pulled out of the maintenance facility in Alma, GA and at half past dark, I pulled into a Love's Travel Stop in Jacksonville. I don't like driving in the dark, but hey, there have been a lot of things lately I haven't liked. On that list is my diesel heater that's given me PTSD. Men fiddle with it, it works. I go to turn it on and I get E-06. Since I seem to be the only nomad I know with continuous problems, I will be looking for a spell or charm or banishing before I try to fiddle with it. Luckily it's warmer in Florida than it was in Georgia. My newly formed plan is, when the distributor or manufacturer in China finally responds to my emails, to buy a replacement motor and a whole other unit to keep with me. How long it takes to get here, where to ship it when I'm on the road, and what kind of tariffs might be added on to the $264 cost are unknowns – but necessary for managing my stress (and cold nights).

If you need work done on a big rig, I highly recommend Joe at Precision Maintenance in Alma. He was the one that put in a new transmission and six tires in the spring. This time it was to take care of the A/C, whatever was preventing me from pumping gas at more than a drizzle, occasional stalling, and some other little things. It took from Monday morning until this afternoon to get the fan I needed. Turns out mine was in very bad shape. No only was I not getting cold air out of the dash A/C, it seems the engine was also not getting cool air and it could have burned up. (I don't think that was the technical term I was told, but whatever it was scared me. I profusely thanked Karmalita and Dragon for keeping us safe. I hope by the time the purple candle I made for her burns down, I will know her name.

I was productive the three days I sat in the garage. I designed a card for Yule, found a printer (after five tries) that could cut and fold for less than $1.45 a card, rehung my fairy lights above the cabinets, wrote two and a half articles for Pagan Pages, curated my daughter's Christmas wish list, and began to prep for the ritual planning class I am doing with the coven Thursday night. I also used up my hot spot allotment ... rarely able to get on WiFi other than at the Homestead.

By dark, I should be in Robin's driveway in Vero Beach. In addition to hanging out with her and the girls, writing out cards, getting to my beloved beach, scheduling a pedicure, and shopping for food, I am trying to figure out a funky way to hang my new purple blackout curtains. Your ideas are welcome!!

I am about to hang up the hammock and get to sleep early, because Jennifer will be back from her delivery at 9. The double sheepskin Rain showed me how to use in the hammock is a blessing. I'm hanging on to hope that one of the double hammocks she found on Marketplace will respond so I can buy it. I washed this one ... after putting my head where my feet usually go and noticing a much darker shade of cotton.

Are you feeling Sunday's full moon energy yet?

I'm feeling the vibration of trucks coming, idling, and going ... and large airplanes flying low overhead. I'm excited, too, about getting on the road again.

PS. Something else not to LOVE … paying $5.99 for WiFi at LOVE’s and not being about to get it in the parking lot, and not being able to get a refund, so I am standing at the changing table in the woman’s room so I can post this. Unfortunately, I switched to Mint Mobile three weeks ago and altho I have an unlimited plan, I was just notified I have used up my hotspot allotment.