How Paladin Met His Sunshine

As I mentioned in my last Roadtrip 1995 post, the Wife and I met online. I promised myself to post about it sometime. I guess now is as good a time as any so here goes.

I had been visiting the Fox Television website looking for information on one of their new shows (Space: Above and Beyond). I came across the chat rooms and decided to lurk there for awhile to see what was happening. My username at the time was Paladin. Yeah, I played way too many computer games back then.

The Wife, then teaching at an all girls school in Omaha, had discovered a slip of paper on the classroom floor that had the address for the Fox chat rooms. She had logged on to make sure her students weren't going to someplace inappropriate. Her username was Sunshine. She was in the chat room looking for a literature chat. That is when Paladin met Sunshine.

I don't remember what we talked about that first night. It must have been something interesting as we set up a time the next day to meet again. We chatted a lot over the next three or four weeks. We even picked the name for our future dog (Homer) during our chats. We exchanged names and pictures eventually (I sent her a picture of me at Glacier NP's Scenic Point above the cloud layer). I mentioned her at work where my friends asked the obligatory: "Are you sure it's a woman?" It took very little time for me to become completely smitten.

Then something happened. I can't remember exactly what it was. I think it had something to do with someone entered the chat room and started to talk like they knew me. Whoever it was, they were talking smack and it was all a pack of lies. They were just trying to mess with us in a very mean-spirited way. This upset the Wife and I a lot. We ended up logging off in a bad mood that was telegraphed loud and clear. I remember getting up and pacing in my small apartment not knowing what to do - I felt like crap. Then the phone rang.

Back then I had a listed phone number. The Wife had called information and had gotten my number. I answered and, if I remember right, she hung up. Then she called back and this time we talked ... and talked. After talking on the phone, chatting just didn't do it for us. We ended up calling each other almost every night. That is until I got my $400+ phone bill - Ouch! We cut back on out phone calls while I investigated different phone plans. We changed plans so that we both could get reduced rates. The plan we got on offered free holiday calling to a number of your choice and we spent hours talking on those days. On New Years eve we talked for 12 hours with only a couple hour long breaks. We even watched TV together while on the phone. We were crazy kids back then.

Over the next five months or so we wooed each other over the phone and e-mail. I baked chocolate chip cookies and brownies for her and her students. We exchanged Christmas gifts. I sent her roses on Valentines (A first for both of us). I even sent a yellow rose to the school receptionist to make sure everything got to the Wife in a timely fashion. Six Months after we met, during Spring Break, I flew to Omaha to meet her in person. She picked me up at the airport and we went to a restaurant to make sure everything was O.K. We both had safety outlets - My Mom lived in Omaha and the Wife's friends called to check up on her a few times. We ended up at her place and we had a great week re-introducing ourselves. It turns out we liked each other in person as much as we did on the phone.

The Wife visited a month or two later. The first half of the visit was a little rough for some reason. We were both a little tired from work and stuff. Mid week we went for a picnic at Lake Cachuma and visited Solvang, a touristy Dutch town. We had a great time and our moods did a 180. The remainder of her stay went very well.

Her second trip out also went very well. Especially after I proposed to her. It wasn't anything fancy. We were walking into a mall and I turned to her and said, "You want to get married?" and she said "Sure." We walked straight to the jewelry store and picked out rings. The mall isn't there anymore. I think I proposed where the Home Depot is now.

When summer started I flew back there and we went to meet her family at their lake house in Iowa. We officially announced our engagement and congratulations were exchanged. I was expecting a grilling from her family but it was a lot easier than I expected. We set a date for the wedding for next summer. We figured it would be smart to give ourselves a year to let the euphoria settle and to make sure we knew what we were doing.

We left the lake house and did a roadtrip around Minnesota and the Great Lakes. Nothing like traveling with someone in a small car to see if you are comfortable together. We experienced our first Alpine Slide at Lutsen , visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cincinnati, and dropped by the Wife's Alma Matter, Notre Dame (Where, once again, I tried and failed to finish a piece of One Thousand Chocolate Chip Cake at the Steak and Ale). When we got back to Omaha we had survived each other - a good sign.

Over the next year we flew back and forth spending a week together here and there. The Wife came out and we spent Christmas in a cabin outside the entrance of Sequoia. It snowed the day we got there and the trees were covered in snow - very beautiful and romantic. The lodge owner suggested we do the Ladybug Trail as it was lower in elevation and would be relatively snow free. The road to the trailhead went from a two lane road to a narrow paved road to a narrow dirt road to a narrow, rutted dirt road. If we had run into another car going the other way it would have resulted in a lot of backing up for someone. It was kind of scary in spots but well worth it as the hike was enjoyable for both of us. We even saw some Ladybugs. Along this road we encountered the rare magic black mountain cow. We turned a corner on the narrow road and there was a cow. There was a shear cliff on one side and a sharp drop on the other. We couldn't figure where it had come from hence "Magic."

After Christmas we went to Las Vegas to celebrate New Years. The strip was closed to cars and revelers were partying out in the street. We watched them blow up the old Aladdin hotel - very cool and boomerific.

At the end of the school year the wife moved out. Then the real whirlwind started. She flew in on Thursday. Interviewed at one school on Friday. We looked at a house on Saturday. We made an offer on the house on Sunday. She interviewed at another school on Monday. We received a counteroffer on the house on Tuesday. She got job offers from both schools on Tuesday. We counter-counter-offered on the house on Tuesday. We opened escrow on the house on Wednesday - a 13 day escrow. She accepted one of the job offers soon after. 12 days after opening escrow, we moved into the house. Two days later we flew back to Iowa and a week later we got married. WHEW!

After the marriage we flew to Calgary, rented a car and drove to Jasper for our honeymoon. The drive up 93 is one of the most amazing drives - ooh-aaws along the entire way through the Canadian Rockies to Jasper. Three days in Jasper and one in Banff and a day driving in between. We stayed at a place called Becker's Chalets that the Best man and Matron Of Honor had recommend. A wonderful place. In Jasper we white water rafted, took a tram up Whistler's Mountain, went out onto the Columbia Icefield glacier in a sno-cat, and did a short but spectacular hike that overlooked the icefields (we saw rams butting heads). We had a wonderful Honeymoontastic time.

We flew back to Omaha and drove the Wife's car and some of her stuff to California and the rest is history. And what an amazing history it has been. Thinking about how much luck was involved in our meeting makes my head spin. We figure that if we had passed in the street, we wouldn't have even looked at each other. The way we met online is the only way we could have met. I can't wait to see what comes next.

Plaques For The Memories

Last week we had a big working group meeting with out head honchos from D.C. I received a cool plaque showing their appreciation for me doing my job. I had my picture taken receiving the plaque and all. Today at an "All Hands" meeting the Captain (I work on a Navy Base) was supposed to present me with a Letter of Appreciation (Suitable for framing). At least that's what my supervisor said before he left on his month long vacation. I went to the "All Hands" but there was no letter. I don't know what happened there.

I never was that ambitious. I spent the first 15 years or so of my career keeping my head low, keeping a low profile, and keeping out of sight. This place can be a whore house at times - the better you perform the more you get screwed. I did my job and tried my best to keep everyone happy with what I was doing. The way to advance here is to go into management and I've never been interested in management. I have always been one of those people who try to steer the leadership from the background. It's kind of like being a manager without the responsibility that comes with the position. Five years ago my old job was moved to another state and I moved to my current position which has a lot more responsibility. I think I've done an O.K. job. I met schedules and solved problems as they came up. It took me about three years to overcome my aversion to responsibility enough get into the swing of the job.

My supervisor came to me a few weeks ago and asked me to write up a list of accomplishments and achievements over my career. This input would go into the letter the Captain would present to me. I sat down and realized that I really didn't have any major achievements. I had supported other people in their achievements. No ones fault there but my own. I submitted a rather bland description of my rather bland career. Gee, I wonder if that's why I didn't get the letter.

I feel like a walking contradiction. On one hand I don't want the attention. On the other hand I want the recognition. I guess you can't have it both ways. I do like the plaque though.

Countdown

Some of you may have noticed the countdown clock just below the travel magnet on the right side of Homer's Travels. Those of you who are members of my family know what it's counting down to. Over the past few months, I have picked up some good on-line friends who don't know me personally. They, and the occasional random visitor, may be wondering just what that countdown is. The countdown is to my last day of work.

Our parents, siblings, and most of our other relatives live in the mid-west (Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota). I have been away for just over 20 years. The Wife has been away for over 10 years. We have decided to move back to Omaha to be close to our families (Yes, I have been to Westroads where the recent shooting took place). I will be resigning from my job on the 3rd of January 2008. The wife will continue working until the end of the school year. In June/Early July we will make the move.

I haven't posted about it on Homer's Travels before now because the Wife has not told her work that's she's leaving. She intends to tell them after she returns after the new year holiday. We decided I could post about it since the only people from her school who read Homer's Travels already know.

The next six months or so are going to be hectic. I'm looking forward to the move with anticipation and anxiety. There is so much to get done. We have to sell or donate all the stuff we don't want to move. We have to sell our house. We have to buy a house in Omaha. We have to move our stuff. The wife will be looking for a job. I will be taking a year off to be a househusband. We are going to see if we can live on one income. We have some nice savings built up. The one big financial advantage of this move is that we will no longer have a mortgage once we move. I expect I will get bored soon though and will find a part-time job or maybe a job I can do from home.

We have been planning this for a while now. When I started counting the days there were over 1,000. When we made the decision it gave us extra incentive to go see the sights in California since it is not likely that we will be back - at least not anytime soon. That is also why I started doing all the hiking in the area. I want to soak in as much as possible before I leave.

I have lived more of my life in Oxnard than in any other place. It's going to be a little tough to leave but Oxnard has never really felt like home to me. Moving back to Omaha is moving back home.

Hiking Ventura County #38: Matilija Falls

After two weeks of big bump healing, it felt great to get back out on the trail. This Sunday I chose to hike to Matilija Falls. This hike leaves from the same trailhead as the Murietta Trail I did earlier this year. I had actually mistaken this hike for another. There is a hike that follows the Upper North Fork Matilija Creek which I have done portions before. When I read the description the day before the hike I realized that the Matilija Falls were on another trail (i.e. there are three trails leaving from the same trailhead, not two).

I got up early on Sunday and got to the trailhead at 6:45 am. On the way I had to drive around fallen rock on Matilija Road. This road closes often which must drive the residents crazy in the rainy season.

This morning it was COLD - 44ºF. Well, cold by California standards that is. I was wearing a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt jacket which kept me pretty warm as I walked up the dirt road. What I had forgotten is gloves. My hands were frigid so I pulled the jacket sleeve up to cover my hands which worked well. There was a chilly breeze most of the day and I kept the jacket on for about two thirds of the hike - a lot longer then I expected.

The road passes through the Matilija Canyon Ranch Wildlife Refuge before heading deeper into the canyon. The road follows the Matilija Creek, crossing the creek twice. I was surprised to find one of the fords that had always been covered in water to be dry - damn this drought!

The road continues past the signed Upper North Fork trail off on the right and the signed Murietta Trail on the left a little further on. The road continues until you come to a 'T'. Turn right and you reach a wooden gate. The road crosses private property here - the forest service has easement rights. There was a sign on the gate that said "STOP - No Entry - Fire Hazard." I stopped and contemplated the sign briefly, looked around to see if I could see anyone in the nearby ranch buildings - nobody in sight, and decided to say "to heck with it" and walked through the gate and continued on the road. If the trail was really closed I figured that there would have been more signage and a threat of fines or something. The fact that the Matilija Wilderness area is not in the Zaca Fire closure area also seemed to indicate that it was open to hikers.

The road continues through the ranch. Once you pass through the other side of the ranch land, the path narrows to a single trail. The trail takes you to a camp at about the 2 mile point before turning left and follows the creek up. I found a geocache at this camp, "Matilija Camp". When I was looking for it I was smacked in the face by a tree branch. I didn't think much of it until I was finished signing the cache log. I put the cache back in it's hiding place and looked around - everything was blurry. I closed my left eye - things were clear. I opened my left and closed my right - things were blurry. I blinked a few times but it was still blurry. There was no pain and it didn't itch or anything. It was just blurry out my left eye. This kind of sucks as my right eye is a little near sighted and the left eye is a little far sighted. The blurred left eye limited my distance vision. I walked over to the stream and splashed some water (running water which I assumed to be relatively clean) into my eye. Nothing. I decided to keep on going figuring it would get better.

The canyon, quite wide where the road goes, narrows here and the cliffs overhead are pretty cool. There was a variety of trees along the trail including some that showed some of their fall colors. In southern California you sometimes forget that trees change in the fall.

At this point the trail becomes a little iffy. The trail is not maintained. Some parts are in great shape and easy to follow. Others parts, not so much. The best advice here is keep going upstream.

I kept going upstream. I kept loosing the trail - the blurry eyesight didn't help much. Each time I reached a dead in I would cross over to the other side of the creek and I would inevitably find a trail. There were cairns every now and then on the many rocky portions of the trail but there probably should have been more.

At one point I followed what I thought was the trail up the side of the canyon. After climbing the steep hill for a short while, I decided that I was going the wrong way. I headed back down the hill but not on the trail that I had gone up on. This was possibly a mistake on my part. The hillside was covered in crumbly shale and climbing down felt more like surfing. I'm surprised I didn't fall on my behind. I made it down to a level spot about 8-10 feet above the creek. I looked for a way down to the creek. The only place that appeared doable was a steep rock face with some teensy-weensy hand/foot holds. A tree was growing near the creek and a thick branch ran parallel to the rock face and I figured I could use this to steady myself on the way down. I started crawling down on my butt - crab style - searching for footholds. I reach up with one hand and grabbed the branch. The act of reaching knocked the precarious hold friction had on my rear-end and I started to slide like a stone across the sheet (that's curling terminology for those scratching your heads). Realizing friction was not going to stop me I grabbed the branch with both hands. The branch bent with my body weight but stopped my slide with my boots about a foot from the edge of the creek. I got back on my feet, took inventory, and then reached around and felt my behind - two tears in the seat of my pants - one on each butt cheek. @#$%^! Fortunately these holes are small and I can patch them up. I can't afford to replace my pants after every hike. I didn't take any pictures of my pants - sorry.

At about the 4.4 mile point you come upon a side canyon. I turned up this canyon looking for a cache ("Two Trees") and located it right beside the first waterfall. It's quite impressive. More rain would have made it more impressive but then crossing the creek would have been more difficult. The waterfall was two tiered. I climbed up to the top of the bottom tier where I found an impressive pool. A little too cold to swim in today though.

I left the falls and went back to the main canyon turning upstream in search for the other waterfalls and caches hidden about a quarter mile further up. The rock hopping was pretty strenuous and it was tough going at times. I found another cache, "Backpackers Cache", before heading up to the second waterfall. The second falls was also impressive. It was also the end of the trail. There is a third waterfall and pool above these falls but to get there you have to climb a rope. I looked at the rope and realized it went straight up a shear cliff. I decided that two waterfalls were enough.

By this time my stomach was growling so I walked back to a small camp (there are several along the creek), sat down on a makeshift chair of rocks and logs left by past campers, and ate lunch. I looked around and could see that my left eye was still blurry. Things seemed a little better but I wasn't sure if it was my brain adjusting to the blurriness and just using the right eye more or if there was really any improvement in the left eye.

I headed back down the creek and hiked back to the car. I passed a few people, hikers and residents of the area, on the way back. By the time I made it back to the car my legs were tired. All the rock hopping really sapped the strength.

This was a great hike despite the aching muscles and the blurry eye. My eye, by the way, is better after a good nights sleep. I found a total of five geocaches and searched for eight (two have been missing for a while and I just couldn't find the third). Pictures can be found here. The total distance hiked was 9.28 miles with about 1,201 feet of vertical.

Championship Winning Saints!

Last night The Santa Clara Saints defeated Bishop Diego Cardinals to win the state championship. I wasn't there but the Wife was there with her Helmet Of Victory. The Saints trailed until the last couple minutes when they tied. The game was won in overtime. Good going Saints!

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that this is their first championship win in 42 years!

Not A Drop Of Rain In Sight

What is it with meteorologist in southern California? They predicted 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain from Thursday night through Saturday Afternoon. How much did we get? Z*E*R*O. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I wanted to spend a quiet Friday listening to the falling rain. Instead I watch the 25 MPH wind blowing the crap out of everything.

It is so rare for the meteorologists out here to get it right. They say it's going to rain, it doesn't. They say it's not going to rain, it does. It's going to be hot, it's cold. Well, you get the picture. What can you expect from guys named Johnny Mountain and Dallas Raines.

Of course I may be a little tough on these guys. Maybe southern California just has unpredictable weather. Maybe since we really don't have weather out here, they are just not used to real weather. It befuddles them.

Tomorrow I'm hiking Matilija Canyon. They are predicting partly cloudy, cool, and dry. I hope this doesn't mean that it will be pouring while I'm out on the trail.

Santa Clara Helmet Of Victory ... And Embarassment?!?

I have many reasons to love the Wife and one of them is because she is crazy - in a good way. The Santa Clara Saints Football team are in the championships (Go Saints!). The championship game is Saturday. To prepare for the game the Wife bought 15 batters helmets, spray painted them gold, and epoxied little Saint Clare statues to the top of the helmets. She is going to give them to other teachers and they will wear them to the game. With the paint fumes on Wednesday and the epoxy fumes on Thursday, I think we were both going a little loopy.

She finished them Thursday night. The "J" was planning to stop by to see them. There was a knock on the door. The Wife donned a Santa Clara Helmet of Victory and opened the door and ... was face to face with a total stranger. There was a short pause when no one said anything then the lady at the door, without skipping a beat, asked if Eileen was home. Except for the pause, the lady did not react at all to the Wife wearing a gold helmet with nun stuck to the top of it. The Wife told her that she had the wrong address, closed the door, and promptly died of embarrassment. I, of course, supported her by laughing my A$$ off. It's been a long time since I laughed so hard. The wife was mortified but she started laughing because - what're ya goin' to do? What's done is done and what 's done is hilarious.

The "J" arrived and I opened the door to make sure the lady hadn't come back with the police and to prevent any more embarrassment. We shared the story with the "J" and we all had a good laugh before going out to eat at Pirate's.

Update 4: The Big Bump

Good news. This will probably be the last update on the big bump status. The Nurse Practitioner removed the packing and gauze and replaced it with a band aid. She said it looked good and that packing was no longer needed. She also said I didn't have to come back unless it takes a turn for the worse. Yeah!!

I have been waiting to get away from the packing because I have not been able to shower. I have been giving myself sponge baths which, frankly, are no fun and I always feel not quite clean afterwards.

I asked her if I could go hiking this weekend and she said "sure" so, depending on the weather, I will be back on the trail - probably Matilija Falls. It's supposed to rain Friday and Saturday so I may have to hike on Sunday. There should be some good water in the creek.

I Have 100, Do I Have 200!

Last night was the charity auction at the Wife's school. This is one of the few school functions that I attend and I usually have a good time. Last night felt different and I really don't know why. The auction starts off as a mixer giving time for all the 'yoo hoo - hi there' activities and gives a chance for everyone to look at, and bid on, the silent auction swag. The auction was held in the pavilion this year, a much larger venue, and the crowd was quite large. The theme was the Oscars and everything was very well decorated. When you entered you walked the red carpet, a carpet lined with stars with the faculty's names on them (They mis-spelled the Wife's name - Drat!), got you picture taken, were interviewed on camera by two students, before entering the main hall. It turns out the interview was being shown on the big screen in the pavilion so you could see everyone be dorky as they came in. I am sure I was just as dorky as everyone else.

I have been to about four of these things and I have never bid on anything. I usually don't see anything that I can't live without. The Wife, on the other hand, usually finds a couple things to bid on. This year it was a Longaberger Handbag, a pair of Korean Porcelain Ducks, a Silver Bracelet, a String of Pearls, and a Pink Beach Comber Bicycle with the obligatory bell.

As they closed down the silent auction tables everyone took a seat and had dinner - salad, bread, stuffed chicken breast, potatoes, and mixed vegis. The food was pretty good but for some reason I didn't have any appetite. I only ate about half of the main course. The chocolate cake that was served for dessert was consumed completely - I have my food priorities.

There was a tribute to a priest who was leaving. They had a hilarious slide show of some of his high school pictures. It was also almost his 50th Birthday. They saluted him and other alumni at the auction including a lady from the class of 1938 (She was excited about the bottle of wine they gave her).

During dessert they brought up an auctioneer to sell off the live auction stuff. The Wife bid on a few things (the pearls and the bike) but didn't win anything. Some of the auctioned items were interesting - a helicopter tour of Oxnard with dinner at the exclusive Tower Club (you get to land on the heliport), A private airplane flight over the Grand Canyon, Dinner with Oxnard's Mayor (an alumni), and autographed footballs. The auctioneer kept shushing the crowd and making lame jokes - we couldn't wait for him to shut up and get on with selling things.

Now, for some reason my enthusiasm just wasn't there. As I said I had little appetite, I was a little warm, my back ached for no reason whatsoever, and, unlike previous years, dress was cocktail formal so I was in a suit. I'm a jeans and t-shirt type of guy and I'm just not comfortable in a tie. Having said this, the Wife thinks I look damn fine in a suit and I would have to agree with her. I just don't want to wear it all night. Other then that there really wasn't any reason that I shouldn't have had fun. I knew people there - the Wife, the "J", other teachers I have met along the way. I really wanted to support the Wife but I think I just fell flat. I hate when I let her down.

After all was said and done, the Wife walked away with the handbag and the ducks. This was better then the big fat zero we left with last year.

Pickles And Lederhosen

For those you haven't decided what they what for Christmas, here are a couple of suggestions. The first is illustrated at left. Who doesn't need a Yodelling Pickle?!? What have we done without one for so long?!?

The other gift is the Wind Up, Hopping, Yodelling Lederhosen. The pièce de résistance is the ergonomic knockwurst remote control. Nothing like a knockwurst to get you pants a hopping and a yodelling.

You can find these and so many more totally awesome cool stuff at Archie McPhee.