Building Our Dirtbag Mobile Part 2- Plywood

Check here for the steps before this post.
While out with a truck, Eli picked up the plywood needed for our platform. We made sure to get a finished hardwood ply-board to reduce splinters and catching on our sleeping bags, etc, during our trip. The little things count. We also wanted hardwood so we could have something sturdy but still slim. We ended up with Top Choice Birch Plywood (.47 inches x 4ftx8ft). This will give us enough to build the bed platform with the "extender flaps" as well as the extended table in the back (although we have another piece we had laying around we will be using for our table).

We got right to assembling once we had the plywood at home.

First we joined the support beams. Top beam to the two side beams first with wood screws and brackets for extra support. We measured where we wanted the second beam thinking if we needed to move it, in the event the plywood wouldn't hold our weight, we could take out the screws and move it to where we needed the support most. We joined the second cross beam and tested it. The plywood bowed a little once we sat on it so we decided to add more support at the corners to allow the room needed for our hide-a-table. When the car seats are laying flat, there is a hard metal piece in the middle of the cabin followed by a very soft part. We opted to have the support across the hard part. The added support in the corners bypass the need to figure out where the next hard spot is.

We also decided to add additional support between the two cubbies where the hinges will sit. We have the lumber and you can never have too much support.

Once the frame was built, we traced it on the plywood and cut the extras off. Next steps will be cutting and placing all bells and whistles.

Supplies this trip:
Birch Plywood .47inch x 4ft x 8ft $34.27
Total with tax: $37.01

Running Project Total: $88.44

Building Our Dirtbag Mobile Part 1

How we decided on this trip (past post).

We have plenty of time to create our Dirtbag Mobile but we are so excited, we couldn't wait to get started. We've searched online for Instructables or blogs from Dirtbags before; took a little of this and a little of that and created our plan. Our two favorites were JMYilla and Jeffers. We decided we wanted a little more headroom so we made our support a little shorter (8 inches rather than the traditional 12 inches).

Sketched out plans, just like Poppie taught me.

The best part of our plan, and the most important part is the Honda Fit. When we bought this car in 2007, it was the first year these amazing wheels were available in the US, and man, have we gotten use out of it. We used to joke about how everything fits in the Fit. We took it camping early on and filled the car with five adults and all their camping gear-it fits! I think we all took pictures with the hatchback opened, filled with gear. We've transported lumber for house projects, boxes from Ikea, puppies, plants, trees, whatever fits! It generally stays in sport mode for Eli to put his work stuff in and take out on the ready. With the back seats in sport mode, we can build the platform up to the front seats while in driving condition and have a hinged "flap" to extend while we are parked and can move the front seats forward.

We plan to have two cubbies at the back doors for personal storage- clothing, food, anything that needs to be kept out of sight. We have about 7 inches deep to work with (turns out '2 by 8's' aren't actually a full 8 inches deep). The doors will be hinged and have a handle to open and close.

Second storage will be for our tent and cooking supplies in the section of the trunk. Again, a hinged door will allow us to open and close as needed but will remain closed while on the move. This door will also hold a little added bonus: an extending table as seen in Jerrers Abode on The Road. Brilliant!

Our first trip to Lowe's, we got enough to get us started. Support beams, brackets, wood screws and drawer sliders. We can fit a lot in Fitty, but the plywood would have to wait or get cut. We just wanted to get started so we opted to wait for the plywood.

We measured twice, cut once and double checked everything would fit. IT FITS!

Dry fit was a success!

Supplies and cost:
2x8x8 (3) $5.71 each- $17.13
4 count 2.5 corner brackets (3) $2.98 each- $894
8x2.5 wood screws (50 count)- $5.58
18 inch drawer sliders (2 pack)- $15.97
Total with Tax: $51.43

Measurements:
Side beams: 56 inches
Cross beams: 37 inches


Building continued here.

Summer Sabbatical

We have recently come to the understanding that work is killing me. Not literally, but very much so figuratively. I've lost the excitement for life and I want it back. As with anything, Eli and I made a plan to fix it.

Step One: Take back my health-I've heard of friends having fertility issues for months and then getting pregnant after going Paleo. One friend was losing weight to get pregnant and on her way to fertility treatments found out she was pregnant. Of course, our mutual friend went Paleo after that and got pregnant on her first IVF cycle! I'm in. I gave up refined sugar and carbs such as bread, rice, grains, beans, corn and white potatoes. It wasn't easy at first, but now I'm getting the hang of it.

We aren't trying to stress me out with this diet, so if I mess up or "cheat," we roll with it as long as it is once in awhile. I can't remember when I felt better. Joint pain is gone; I'm able to walk a lot more and do gentle exercises (walk the dog or light yoga). Our food is fresh and the kitchen sink is full of dirty dishes every night. I love cooking; I love eating; it was a no brainer.

Step Two: Quit my job- I knew the news wouldn't be taken lightly but I had to get out, by any means necessary. I was over worked, totally stressed and not happy. Now that I'm treating myself better, I need to be treated better. I broke the news to the boss and we were able to strike a deal. Part time, reduced responsibility, and work mostly from home for a pretty good portion of my regular salary. I'll take it!

Step Three: Summer Sabbatical! We want to get away. We are packing up the old Honda Fit (lovingly referred to as Fitty) and going out west! We'll have about ten days of just me and the hubs and the open road. We'll stop along the way, visit friends, camp, hike, eat, sleep, and of course poop (I can't help it, I don't have a colon!). Thus, our Dirtbag Summer.

Dirtbag trip 2015 over the Grand Canyon

We are bumping up our Dirtbaggedness this year. Last year we booked hotels/B&Bs and flew to Vegas to start the trip. This year, we are driving from Atlanta to Colorado. Living out of the car for so long (as the old folks we have become) requires a little more creature comforts than we used to pack. We are outfitting Fitty to be an amazing little camper! All DYI! We hope you follow our journey into the gorgeous sunset of our Dirtbag Summer!

Building begins here!

Fresh Green Bean Salad

Our green beans have been BOOMING! lately. I am so excited to have free, fresh veggies to whip up with dinner. I was making Lemon Pepper Tuna Tacos last night and HAD to use up my GBs. I checked the handy Internet, and after consulting my fridge and pantry, I came up with this little ditty. 

Green Bean and Cherry Tomato Salad

Green beans (It's just the two of us so I didn't need many)
Halved (freshly picked) cherry tomatoes
Onion- maybe half of a medium one?
Equal parts vinegar and olive oil
A little bit of sugar or honey (I used about 1/2 teaspoon? Maybe one tsp?)
Salt and pepper to tasted
Throw in some herbs if you got 'em!

I steamed cut green beans and onion. I kept the onion in larger pieces while steaming so I wouldn't lose them in the pot. I pulled out the onion first and chopped it then the green beans when they were a suitable tenderness- however you like. 

In a bowl, I mixed the vinegar and oil and added the sugar- whisk until the sugar dissolves or the honey in well incorporated. Then stir in the GBs and tomatoes. Chill for a little bit and you got a great side salad for a picnic or any summer meal!

Side note: I've read that the green beans change color because of the acid in the vinegar but I didn't experience this. Also, Eli felt it was too vinegary so maybe I'm a freak but I like it that way. If you alter the amount of vinegar, I won't know and as long as it is not too much less than the oil, it shouldn't be a big deal. Make it your own! ;)

I was in a hurry when I made this but also consider roasting the tomatoes before tossing... how great would THAT be!?

Family Heirloom Gardening

I have very fond memories of my dad spending the day with us on little projects around the house when we were growing up. It sounds so suburban-middle class, but that's what we were. I keep those lessons with me everyday. He would paint with us and teach us perspective; we would mow the lawn and he'd tell us about yard maintenance. One day, I remember it was just me and my Poppie. He told me about the California Golden Poppy. It was our state flower and he loved having them all over our yard!

This day, he had cut some of the flowers and was working with them over the dining room table. He had a plate with tiny black dots all over it. He was harvesting the seeds. I don't remember much of the lesson verbatim, but I can still remember the feeling of stretching across the table with my knees in my dinner chair. Stretching to see what he was doing with these tiny, little seeds. I remember him putting a clear glass bowl over the lot of seeds and telling me that they were going to POP! And that would be our next poppy flower.

This memory is why I call him Poppie today and one day my children will do the same. And when they ask why, I will tell them this story.

Fast forward to many, many years later, my cousin Katie starts up her own seed business. She is crafty, money smart and LOVES to garden. Last time we were in Michigan visiting, she had everyone, including our aunt, sitting on the floor over newspaper separating seeds from the dead heads of plants. She explained how she separated them, packaged them, labeled them and sold them at the farmer's market and on-line. She is crazy-imaginative and so meticulous.

In our garden this year, we have new tomato plants next to plants that re-sprouted from last year! We have some of cousin Katie's seeds and some plants we got from the local farmer's market. This year we started off with Bibb lettuce and a red Romain. We ate off the lettuce for a good month or so before it bolted. ARRRG! I tried different tricks to keep it from bolting so early but I just couldn't keep up with the growth. So, I pulled some plants to make way for new vegetables but I left some of the bolted lettuce to see if I could get seeds from them- Like cousin Katie does. ;)

After weeks of this over-grown lettuce, I saw flowers come and go and today noticed little tufts of fluff on the end of the old flowers. After searching the trusty Internet, I found out it was time to harvest the seeds.

I pulled the fluffy heads and collected them in a small dish. I brought them inside and, like my dad, I sat at the dining room table to separate the seeds from the rest of the plant. What a great haul!

I, of course, planted some right away in plastic cups and brought them inside to water and start growing. I labeled the rest of the seeds to plant later in the year or even next spring!

I'll be charting the progress to see how long it takes to germinate and harvest. I can't believe Katie does all this with TONS of plants!!

We'll see how it turns out! I'll keep you posted.

UPDATE: After a week or so of watering, I found only one sprout in my seven cups. I did some more research and it looks like lettuce seeds need a cold snap to become viable. So, I threw my other seeds in the fridge. We'll see what happens. ;)

Silver Linings and Thorns

The only way to get through the roller coaster of UC, is to look for the silver linings. Everything will come and go. Even though, sometimes it seems like things just keep going... The pain will subside at some point.

The problem with living your life like that, is that when you get a rose, you often see the thorns.

Over the last week, my bathroom visits have drastically reduced. At night, especially, I'll get up ONCE! The whole night. I haven't been able to do that after a normal sized dinner for I don't know how long!

While in the bathroom at 3:35am the other day, I was thinking about this. Immediately after congratulating myself, in my mind, I got a twinge. Twinges are normal; Gurgles are normal; Any odd abdominal noise or feeling has become normal. But this twinge awoke a fear in me.

The thorn- What if I have a kink in my J-pouch!? This isn't UNcommon. Most people with the surgery find they have a kink at some point. It sounds painful and one of the first signs is slow movements...

By the time I woke up, I had forgotten about the twinge but it made me think, when will I not have the "thorns" popping up? When will it just be a normal tummy ache?

To make it worse- My heart palpitations are back! What is that!? Hahahaha

Denied Worker's Compensation

Today, I received an email from my worker's compensation adjuster. In the email, she thanked me for my patience and then bluntly said, "there will be no claims paid."

I immediately sent it to my Human Resources department and the Executive Director. I had been talking to my old supervisor all morning about how difficult it is to forgive the woman who choked me when I feel that I have all the repercussions for the assault she did onto me. She assured me that the woman is deeply sorry and she hasn't been in the office until recently.

Of course, after the email, I was sobbing. I met the ED in the hallway who said, "HR will know how to appeal it. I'm sorry to hear that," as he cleaned his oatmeal bowl and quickly walked out of the room. I went to the HR's office- Empty. I sat on the couch and waited for her return from, what I assume was, her smoke break. "What's going on?" she asked as though she had been forced to say it. I told her I was denied worker's compensation and her response was, "Yeah, I got the email." Really? Then why'd you ask? Why else would I come into your office? Certainly not for a social visit.

We called WC and the adjuster said I was denied medical bill reimbursement because I did not go to WC approved doctors. I need a referral from the doc-in-the-box they send us to for Worker's Comp and preliminary drug testing. Even if I go now, they will not make it retro-active.

I went to that doc-in-the-box and saw the same doctor that evaluated my neck injury hours after the assault. We had a heated conversation where I learned that, despite my lack of a medical degree, I should have told him that I needed to see a therapist when I saw him in September. Then he would have referred me to one but now, he can't say to go to a therapist because I am already seeing one; he wants me to stay with this therapist because he knows the whole story already... He suggested I go back to my HR. Yes, the lady who told me to go to this doctor and asked me, "What do you want me to do? You act like I have some power in all this!" Human Resources at its finest.

I am calling every attorney I know, gathering all my documents, apply for government funded assistance because the company, that my organization pays to cover their employees after things like assaults, decided not to pay out money that has been paid to them for this exact reason.

When the assault happened, all the supervisors were happy to help and expressed how I "deserved" compensation for this attack. Now, no one feels it is there job to make it happen.

There is light at the end of the tunnel; This tunnel is just really long.

Homemade, homegrown salsa verde

Mmmm. As the winter approaches, we are coming to our last harvests. Today was our tomatillos and pepper.
I roasted the tomatillos and pepper, after halving them, until blackened. In a pot I added olive oil, onion and garlic. I chunked the harvest and added it to the pot. If I had lime, I'd add it now but I just added some salt and veggie stock. Simmered; blended; simmer until thick. Booyah! It is amazing with my black bean quesadillas.