Still on the Edge in Sumas

Back to work this week. Friday a day off thanks to my usual 3.5 day per week schedule. Life still good even if I am back to work...

I'd been on full-time vacation schedule for a couple weeks; beginning on Tue August 23rd which was the last day I showed up in the office. It seems like I accomplished something, thouogh in truth I've only been coasting lately, in order to more fully enjoy my copious free time. I was late for a meeting that Tuesday morning, but I took decent notes, so hopefully when I return on the 6th I'll have something useful to say. Nervous about leaving the bus across the street from the office. Nervous about driving the bus in the city. Just nervous.

Later that day (I left early as well) after spending hours with the dog walking around Lincoln Park (Seattle) I wound up at B&G's place. They fed me leftovers, got to know Sadie, and we went to bed at a reasonable hour.

Wednesday was the first day of the official and first bus trip, even though I'd driven the bus down from Boston Bar on Sunday. Walked arouund Westwood Village (West Seattle), which is growing quite yuppified, priced expensive pans in Bed Bath & Beyond, drove the bus around White Center (also West Seattle--I don't recommend it in a 35' school bus), bought ice, and after a stop at a great Taiwanese grocery in White Center, Sadie and I were off to American Ridge. Gas just past the Muckelshoot Casino, sandwich from QFC, and on to the campground. Arrival to much fanfare...Moonsong gave big welcome and helped me back up; high temp alarm; nip of whiskey; festive new friends. Thumper jumps aboard and explores; Carlos says hi.

Thu 2nd day...Thumper massage; DM & Allspice & Grego & David; news of pat's dad; shaken martini, Allspice bday; Grego performance; qfc sandwich; generator fiasco; well lubed; MS's hook-up

3rd day (Friday) Lulu excellent Latte; carlos pancakes; fried rice; sun bathing; hike w/sadie; chips n salsa; gnarles visit; nail salon;

Sat? lazy afternoon; sense of timeless lack of having to; Gnarlene & me 'crashing' the cocktail party at the Uncommons; me and Grego playing

Sun? river walk with DMoon & Allspice...nude swim; pizza; I'll take the kithcen pots to Boston Bar on the bus; Tyler and Moonsong and Gnarles and Whoretense: Faere Power Brokers. Carlos & the Otterwinkles?.

Mon...cold chicken (not cold enough); Sadie's snakcs on the drippings; Carlos and Lyle stop by; ..watch Lyle come w/Carlos...

Tue...painted goddess on bus...get ready to leave

Wednesday...packed up my own and the AR kitchen stuff. Finally leave around noon. Drop off Douglas around 3 near VP. Drive through to Sumas. Mark is in Vanc. Sigh.

Thursday Sept 1st I spent catching up on email, cleaning out the bus, prepping for the trip back to Boston Bar.

Friday a Canadian border cop refused me entry with the bus! She was going to issue me a 3 day "Customs Permit" but I didn't see the point since that meant I'd have to return the bus to the states. The border cop didn't want me to bring in the bus and leave it...she said "It doesn't work that way." Funny, its worked that way fine since I brought it into Canada over a year ago. Total power drunk fascist etc...&%@!)

So we turned the bus around, took Mark's Toyota to BB, and headed back to the States (Sat).

Labor Day weekend I decided to take the bus for a last visit to Shadow Falls campground, and say hi to Bryan and everyone there. They just did a Hawaaian party there Saturday night. No worries. The bus is fine. Sick of it really. Need some time away. Looking forward to driving the artcar for a change! Geez...