April 10: I'm Having A Day

Today would have been my dad's 96th birthday (if I did the math correctly). Along with going through photos and savoring memories, I will raise a martini to him, and eat a piece of cake. (Check out my personal FB page for some more pictures.)

The day began just before sunrise, with a last walk on the beach before heading inland. I usually go back to sleep, but I had some calls for information to file my taxes. And that was a fiasco. I so miss being able to talk to a person, and not a voice directing me to go to their website ... or push a series of numbers and then get passed around and around to agents who are never the right person.

So I was already grumpy when public works graded the beach all around us, turning a hard packed surface into sugar sand ... that I backed into ... and got stuck. Really, really, good and stuck. (I don't do anything half-assed!) It took two knights in shiny trucks (and a wife's purple Jeep) to get me out. Then was a nasty bridge to cross and mile after mile of highway construction with Jersey barriers which had me clenching my jaw until I got a headache. Dash lights are going on again, but Karmalita is driving just fine, so I'm talking to her sweetly and keeping an eye on the gauges.

But by 3, Brenda and I had showered and made it to the barbecue restaurant, which is a Harvest Host, so we will spend the night. (Tomorrow night is a winery ... then Cracker Barrel after that ... )

I'm including several photos from my last three days camping on the beach ... which had been my dream since before I got my first skoolie.