Monday, November 5, 2007
Getting Settled
We are starting day 12 here at the ranch. It has been, and continues to be, an interesting transition for me. We arrived at about 9:30 pm on the Wednesday before last, and sort've hit the ground running. Ruby is on gardens crew and I have been assigned to GWP, for the next two months. Some say that GWP stands for General Work Program, while others maintain it is short for, "Gee, where's Peter???". Peter is our fearless leader and is a master at orchestrating all the work projects related to the GWP. He is, however, a bit hard to locate at times. Most recently, we disassembled the roof on the recycling shed, to prepare for demolition. Then an excavator was brought in to knock the brick walls down. The wood was denailed and sorted according to it's destination. Reusable bricks were separated from broken ones. And, the old Sauna was renovated to become the new recycling shed. I think the highlight of the week was moving the cider press. It's quite heavy and was apparently moved to it's temporary location about 27 years ago. It is a working press and produces a huge amount of cider every year. It's also manually operated, as are a lot of the tools here. We probably could have moved the press with a lift or tractor or some modern tool of convenience. But Peter saw fit to incorporate a more team oriented means. We devised a track of 2x4's and placed 4 ft. lengths of 2" PVC (It was Grey SCH40 conduit, Dan) to be used as rollers. Pry bars were used to lift the press on to the track and it moved across the rollers with little effort on our part. We were even able to make a series of 45 degree turns along the way, pivoting all that weight on just one roller. I just thought it was really cool. Everyone working together making adjustments as needed to stay on track, literally. I guess it was a bit symbolic of life as well. I enjoy the work a lot. I just wish I could sleep better. I have been troubled with nightmares and sleepless nights. Anxiety seemed to come out of nowhere and wake me in the middle of the night. It was as though I was being suffocated. I could take deep breaths, but the oxygen didn't seem to reach my lungs. Very scary. The boiler room is on the other side of our bedroom wall and has awakened my on many occasions. But mainly, there's a feeling like something is going on here. Something I can't see but feel deep in my bones. I pray more here than I have in years. It is getting colder. The highs barely reach 50 and the lows around 20 degrees in the evening and at night. The days have been mostly sunny and beautiful, but much shorter than San Antonio. It's is dark by 5:45 or 6:00. And now with DST...you get the idea. We are quite a ways up, in the mountains, but a few nearby peaks still manage to block the sunlight fairly early in the afternoon. Monday and Tuesday are our days off. It works out ok, for now, but we hope to get Sunday/Monday off if an opening presents itself. We spent last Monday and Tuesday trying to winterize our wardrobe. We found a mission with an awesome thrift shop. They had a huge selection of nice winter attire for a price that was very helpful. I found three fleece pullovers, an insulated rainproof shell, waterproof pants, two pairs of mud boots (for farm chores), a couple of scarves, and an assortment of warm head gear. Ruby increased her wardrobe significantly, as well. I think I may head back there today to look for some more pants and a jacket with a rainproof hood. Ruby has designated "MONDAY" as her day to rest without interruption, so she is back at the apartment doing just that. I rest in a different way so I am down at the main house typing away at this computer. The rest of the ranch is on crew working, so it is fairly quiet in the living room. This weekend was a lot of fun. Saturdays and Sundays are days off for the residents, so we try to give them a bountiful selection of activities to pick from. Some would rather just read or rest, but most find something that interests them. A hike. Playing frisbee on the front lawn. Trip to town for shopping or Ben&Jerry's. There are several really talented musicians here so I organized a jam session on Saturday. They were lacking a drummer, so I filled in. It's been a while since I've played, but it was a lot of fun. The anxiety that led to me "putting down my sticks", several years ago, was no longer present. We had a really good time. I wanted to do something cooking related, for an activity, so I organized a cooking class for Sunday. Saturday night, Ruby and I drove into town to pick up a few things from the co-op. I had decided to make fresh spring rolls and needed a couple of things the ranch didn't already have (i.e. rice wrappers, daikon, sweet chili sauce, etc.). We had a blast making the "Spring Lake Rolls". Ruby suggested we make them using an assembly line. Awesome suggestion. It really made things go smoothly. And I was really glad she wanted to participate. We seem to work together better here at the ranch. I hope to make this a regular weekend activity. On a side note, I am learning to knit, as is Ruby. It's a good way to pass the time when it's too cold to go outside (when that time comes) and it produces something helpful to one's warmness. It is not uncommon for guys to knit up here, so I don't feel self conscious about it. I want to talk more about my interactions with people here, but I will do that at a later time. If you are one who prays, please pray for C. For some reason, my heart really hurts for him. He seems to be a prisoner in his own mind. We talked for over an hour last night (first time we have ever really talked) and I really hope he can work through some things and be whole again. That's all for now. Love you guys.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
We're Back!!!
We have returned from our trip to Vermont, safe and sound. The experience was life changing and it feels as though I brought a piece of the ranch back with me. The people, both staff and resident, really made an impression on me and I find myself missing them. Weird, huh? I've even had dreams about it. It is definitely going to be a difficult decision for us to make. Here's my interpretation of the trip:
Saturday, September 1st
We spent the entire day checking and double checking our trip supplies. We decided, days prior, that it would be best to bring only carry-on luggage. I stuffed my hiking bag with clothes, and stowed my pullover hoody (rolled up) where the sleeping bag would normally be strapped. Ruby decided to go with the gym bag and, likewise, stuffed it to the brim. We were each allowed one quart size ziplock bag storing as many 3oz. (or less) bottles of toiletries as would fit "comfortably" inside. We had toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand sanitizer, deodorant, mousse, mouthwash and Ruby's makeup all in two individual ziplocks. I believe, however, that "comfortably" is up for interpretation. We stowed our ziplocks in their own compartment, so we could easily remove them for inspection. It was time to go. Daniel had agreed to apartment-sit for us so we could rest assured the place would be alright in our absence. We loaded up the truck, grabbed the pooches and pooch related gear, and drove to Geoff & Theresa's house. They had graciously offered to host us for the night and drive us to Austin the next morning. They would also be Gigi and Daisy's surrogate parents for the next couple of days. We shared an awesome meal together and then hit the hay. Four A.M. comes really early.
Sunday, September 2nd (a.k.a. the BIG DAY)
As I stated before, four o'clock in the friggin morning is really early. Especially when you have spent the last five or six hours trying to sleep. I guess we were a bit excited, and nervous. We rushed to get the slobber cleaned off our faces and jumped in to Geoff's truck for our journey to the airport. Hunger was upon us so we decided to stop at Chacho's for some grub. Surely the drive-thru would be quick, right? WRONG!!! Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting. Aw, man!!! Now I had to poop. I run inside Chacho's and take care of business for at least ten minutes. When I run back out, Ruby and Geoff are still waiting for the food. Now, we're running late. We haul boo-tay to try and make up time. As we begin pulling out our food, we realize that our long wait was in vain. They had screwed the order tremendously, and not in the good kinda way where you get stuff from the "nice" side of the menu. We ordered really good tacos with fajitas and stuff. We were given bacon & egg tacos and a bean & cheese taco. Oh yeah, and a pint of borracho beans. Yay. We decided that making the flight was more important than justice so we pressed on. Geoff maneuvered that truck in ways I didn't know were possible. The beeps coming from his radar detector sounded like morse code and I kept expecting him to open a secret compartment with a flashing red button inside. It was a rectally tightening experience and the heavy drizzle that ensued really helped to keep us awake. We arrived at Bergstrom Airport with only a few moments to spare. Not having checked baggage was a huge bonus and since we had printed our boarding passes, the day before, we could go straight to the plane.
We boarded and found our leather seats, stowing our bags in the overhead compartment. Ruby looked a little nervous, but was really doing well. We plugged in our headphones and watched a little DirectTV on the screens in front of us. JetBlue Rocks!!!! After taking off, the airline attendants brought us bottled water and cranberry juice, followed by some tasty snacks. I had the TerraBlue chips and Pistachio/Almond Biscotti. Ruby also had the Biscotti but opted for the roasted cashews instead of chips. They also had chocolate chips cookies, Munchies and animal crackers, which we partook of on later flights, as well as coke products, arizona ice tea and coffee. It wasn't a meal but, as snacks go, it was very tasty. We both decided to watch "Fantastic Four - Flight of the Silver Surfer". Cool movie. The flight to New York's JFK Airport took just under four hours.
We arrived at JFK at around noon (eastern). We were starting to get hungry again so we walked around the food court for a while in search of the perfect NY grub. We opted for pizza. We shared three slices: 1) Spinach & Cheese, 2) Three Cheese, and 3) Vegetable. The pizza was good, but didn't quite live up to all the hype. Our flight to Vermont would be leaving at 2:30 so it was time to board.
We're back up in the air again and the scenery from the window is beautiful. This plane is a little bigger, with three seats on each side (instead of two) but the ride is a lot shorter. Just under an hour. Same leather seats, same snacks, same drinks, same cool directTV and XM radio. Oh look!!! A mountain!!! There's another one!!! (Unfortunately we missed out on a lot of good kodak moments. Electronic devices must be turned off for about twenty minutes during takeoff and landing.)
So we land in Burlington (that's in Vermont) and the anticipation is growing. Bridget will be picking us up but we have no idea what she looks like or what she'll be driving. We wait outside for a while and then decide to make a sign. I hold up the "Spring Lake" sign and wait. A few minutes later, we see someone walking towards us with a "Joseph & Ruby" sign. It was pretty funny. We exchange greetings and hop in the Honda for the two hour drive to Cuttingsville (that's in Vermont too). The scenery is just...wow! Mountains and green and blue skies. Why in the world did people, long ago, decide to Go WEST??? Maybe it's the snow thing I keep hearing about.
So we arrive at the Ranch at make the one mile drive, up the steep hill, to the main house. It's getting dark so it's kinda hard to get the full effect. The weather is much cooler and the air is cleaner than I have ever experienced. We will be staying in the Godly House (named after a supporter of the ranch) which consists of two houses next to each other. The two houses are named Maple and Cedar. We will be staying at Maple. Bridget shows us to our room, where we drop our bags, and we head down to the main house for dinner. It's about 6:30 p.m.
Ok, so I had heard that the food was good and was ready for a good meal. I figured it would be a fusion of granola hippie influenced cafeteria style food with a au natural flair, and I was ok with that. But I was not expecting the amazing culinary talent by all three chefs at the ranch. We arrived at the end of dinner, so we were mostly alone in the dining room. We stuffed our plates with fresh salad stuff (like a gourmet salad bar), chicken curry, lentils masala, roasted fingerling potatoes, grilled squash and fresh mixed berries. It was awesome and everything was cooked perfectly. We pack it all in, talk to a few people (residents or staff???), and head back up to the Maple House. On the way, we decide to join a few guys sitting outside, on Adirondack chairs, and look up at the stars. We talked a little but mainly just gazed upwards. It was nice.
Back at the house, we settle in and unpack a bit. After a hot shower, we crash on the air mattress and it's lights out for the both of us...sort've. We discovered, after talking the next morning, that we both had trouble sleeping and felt a little sad and lonely. Homesickness I guess. Thankfully the sadness left with the night. It's a new day.
Monday, September 3rd (Labor Day)
Saturday was the 75th Anniversary celebration for Spring Lake Ranch and everyone is still chatting about the fun they had. We're told there was approximately 350 people present at the celebration. The ranch normally accommodates about 60 people, half residents and half staff. Breakfast started at 7:30 and we were ready to put the feed bag on. We saw dry cereal and grits on the table, along with english muffins and fruit. We got our fill but really wished there would have been meat involved. After we finished eating and noticed other people leaving the kitchen with eggs, bacon and pancakes, we felt kinda silly. We didn't ask, so we didn't get. Apparently, the standard protocol is to write your order on this tablet in the kitchen. Then when your food is ready, the cook calls your name. We were feasting on the "extras". We will not be making this mistake again I assure you.
Breakfast is over and it's time for the morning meeting. We continue to meet new people whose names we seem to forget as quickly as we learn them. The days activities are discussed and we get ready for our a.m. chores. It is considered a weekend day so the residents have the day to do their own thing. Most choose to do laundry and hang out in their rooms or in the main house. Ruby has farm chores, which she can tell you about later, and I have main house clean-up. I end up sweeping and mopping the kitchen and dining room. Piece of cake.
While sweeping I hear a voice from behind me. It's a deep voice coming from a shorter, older man with a long gray beard. He crosses his arms, puffs out his chest and projects from deep within his abdomen, "I'm Rob...the MEAN!" I turn to him, startled a bit, smile and utter, "good to meet ya." He barely smiles and responds, "That's my way of saying 'who are you?'" "Oh", I say partially embarrassed, "I'm Joseph...the humble." He breaks out in a deep laugh. I relax a bit. He's not going to kill me. All is good. We talk a little and he tells me of his time as a hippie in the 60's and how he came upon Spring Lake Ranch in the early 70's as a part time cook. He's been a full time chef there since '92 and prides himself in his ability to "rule with an iron fist" He's a nice guy...I like him. He asks me where I'm from. I tell him that we're from Texas and you can almost see the blood leave his face. "Texas?" "You're not one of those *blah blah blah* communist *blah blah blah* are you???" "No," I respond. "But I do have stock in oil," I add. His smile returns to the left side of his mouth, careful not let on that he is amused. "Better not let that get around," he advises, and then turns to return to his lair (the kitchen). We talk more several times over the visit. I like him. And I think, perhaps, he didn't hate me too much.
After chores, Ruby and I meet up again and are given a nice tour of the ranch. Rachel, on of the house advisers, is our tour guide. We see the gardens and the green houses and are told to eat anything we like. She tells us a little about the ranch and it's workings. She also tells us about her history with alcohol abuse and the road to sobriety. There's an interesting balance, among staff, of people with former substance abuse issues and those with no known issues. Just like any community I suppose. Henri Nouwen wrote a book called "Wounded Healer". I've only read parts of it, but I think I understand the overall message. Wounded people, who think they are useless because of their wound, can be a huge part of the healing process of other wounded people. Something like that anyhow. This book came to mind when I was visiting Spring Lake Ranch. At times you could tell who was staff and who was a resident. But most of the time, you just forgot to look for a distinction. It didn't matter, most of the time. An older gentleman, nearing retirement from SLR, described it like this: It's like a swinging pendulum. At one end of the swing is an institution with rigid rules and boundaries. At the other end, a fluid community of people living and working together with a generous portion of patience, encouragement and realism. Sometimes we have to be more rigid. Rules keep us out of trouble. But other times we can just flow together and it just works. I liked his explanation. It made sense to me. Anyhow, where was I? Ah yes, the tour. So we finished up our brief tour and decided to do a little exploring ourselves.
We mozied down to the garden to see what was growing. A lot of stuff...I'll leave it at that for now. Ruby will probably talk more about that later. We each picked a tomato and a basil leaf and munched on those for a bit. Very tasty. Then, Ruby said she wanted to show me the farm, so we hiked up the long hill to take a gander. After looking around a bit, we decided to walk to the lake. The running joke around there seems to be, "What's the name of the lake again?" Anyhow, it was about a 15 minute walk through the woods and up and down hills. Thoroughly enjoyable, I must say. I have never seen that much green. We are deep in the woods until we reach a small clearing that leads to the dock. The sunlight is beaming through the break, leading us to our next amazement. Spring Lake. Wow. There was a lot of "I've never seen" going on during this trip so bear with my repetitiveness. This lake is surrounded by large green hills and mountains. The water is so clear you can see the bottom through the ripples. We are alone except for a guy catching a little sun on the dock. We approach and say hello. Steve welcomes us with a smile and plenty of questions about life and Texas. We counter with plenty of questions about life at the ranch. He seems really nice. Very content to just lay there and soak in the surroundings, but also very content to "chew the fat" with us as well. Our stomachs tell us it is time to head back for lunch. We say goodbye and follow the trail back through the woods. It just all seems to good to be true. It's very hard to be objective in the midst of it all. We walk...and talk...and walk some more. The main house.
It's meal time once again and we are starving. I had a big salad and some flatbread with hummus. I think Ruby had the same. Oh, and there was this onion soup that was killer good. Then it was a treat of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and Rob's homemade fudge. Yeah BABY!!! Ruby and I choose to sit at different tables so we can "work the room" so to speak. We were advised, from the beginning that it would be beneficial not to spend our time stuck together. Good advise, as we were able to meet and spend time with a lot more people collectively. After lunch we decided to participate in a hike. Piece of cake, right???
As it turns out, the Appalachian Trail runs right along side the ranch. How cool is that? Ruby and I both read a book, recently, about a couple of yahoos that decide to hike the 2000+ mile trail from Georgia to Maine. We had no idea we would ever set foot upon it. It was as beautiful as it was challenging. We just kept going up and up and up. We would get to what seemed to be a peak only to find out that there was more "up" in front of it. I was told, by our trail guide Lucas (another adviser), that we had climbed to an elevation of 1700 feet. Merely a foothill I suppose, but a challenging hike, none the less. We were tired but in a good way. We exited the famous trail and followed the loop trail around the lake back to the dock. Steve was still there, but was joined by several other people now. We decided not to get in this time. Ruby put her feet in and I just relaxed. After a while, it was time to head back. This time we were able to ride in the back of one of the farm trucks. It was bumpy. Very bumpy.
Rob was busy stoking the coals on the outdoor grill and I moved in to get a little more information. Steaks as it turned out, were on the menu for dinner. Steaks from a cow that formerly grazed the pastures on this very ranch. He cooked them perfectly, medium rare, and paired them with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed carrots. I don't remember the dessert but I'm sure it was great as well. And of course, there was salad. I decided that my favorite dressing was a combination of the Maple Sweet & Sour (from the maple syrup made on the ranch) and the homemade blue cheese dressing. Aw yeah!!!! By now, we knew a lot of people and they knew us, so talking was a lot easier. It still seemed like wherever we sat, though, we were soon the only ones sitting there. It became an inside joke between Ruby and I. Things changed a bit on our last day at the Ranch, but I will discuss that later. Dinner was a success and we were bone tired. We decided to head back to our room and take our showers and stuff. Nighty-night.
Tuesday, September 4th (Work Day)
This was to be our introduction to a normal weekday at the ranch. We walked down the hill trail for breakfast at around 7:30. This time we were well prepared to partake of all the breakfast delicacies. I had a little oatmeal with maple syrup and then entered the kitchen to place my order. Barb, one of the chefs, was working her magic on the flat-top flipping rows of eggs, bacon and pancakes. The smell was delightfully torturous. Two eggs over easy, two strips of bacon and one pancake, please. Five minutes later I was scarfing it all down. By now the place was filling up. New faces were appearing in all corners of the room, people that were off for the weekend. There was a brief morning meeting and a little free time before work. Ruby was to be on gardens crew and I the GWP (General Work Program). I was told that I would be working on the roof a yurt. Steve (remember Steve?) and I joined this other guy (one of the house advisers), whose name I forgot at least 10 times and still can't remember. We climbed the hill to the workshop where we would pick up the supplies. We grabbed a couple of ladders, some scaffolding and two unknown tools from the pit of hell. Our objective was to figure out how to use these "ladder jacks" to set up scaffolding and then fix the roof. Two hours later, we are still screwin with the ladder jacks. We couldn't figure out how they were suppose to go and I was frustrated by our failure to proceed any further. What I soon came to realize was that it was not just about completing the project, but rather about the journey and the little accomplishments along the way. The process was just as important if not more than the outcome. The journey rather than the finish line. I get it. Steve suggested we donate the antique (1930's) tools, to anyone willing to take them, and write them off on the taxes. Steve has a degree in business administration. No one thought that to be a bad idea. We talked for a few more minutes about the demise of "the evil ones" and yada-yada-yada it was time for lunch.
I was told we would be having leftovers which was fine and dandy with me. I had a little of the chicken curry from Sunday night. Still awesome. Then, of course, a big salad (greens, tomatoes, homemade pickled vegetables, feta cheese, raisins, edamame, fresh croutons and my signature dressing blend). I had forgotten about the soup. I quickly arose and worked my way back to the soup pot on the wooden buffet. It looked really good. Mushrooms, dill and a creamy soup base. It was in fact, Hungarian Mushroom Soup. I think it was the best mushroom soup I have ever put in my mouth. And as if things couldn't possibly get any better... pineapple upside-down cake with fresh whipped cream. It's a good thing I'm not led by my stomach or it would be really hard to be objective about this place. I push back from the table and rub my full belly with content. Life is good.
I am excited to see what work crew I will be on for the afternoon. I am told first that it will be gardens, which is cool with me. Then a slight change in plans and I am assigned to farm crew. I think they wanted to make sure that we [ruby and I] were on as many work crews, collectively, as possible. Good call! After relaxing a bit, we met in front of the Main House to discuss the afternoon's agenda. We would be restoring a rock wall, I was told. I somehow pictured a rock climbing wall, but was pleasantly surprised. Apparently, stone walls have been used in New England for a couple hundred years and a ton of them are still standing thanks to the dedicated volunteers that keep them restored and looking great. It was a cool tradition and I would get to be a part of it. The stretch of wall we would be working on was barely visible anymore. The vegetation and dirt had somehow wicked it's way up and over the rocks leaving only a green speed bump where once a mighty wall had been. We pulled out the rocks, some big and some small. Some were really big and required the use of iron pry bars. Then we removed the vegetation that had taken over and began to rebuild the wall, piece by piece. There were a few helpful rules, but for the most part it was just common sense and artistic license. For maximum strength and stability, it was advised that each rock be touching three other rocks. In case I forgot to mention, these walls have no mortar to hold them together. Just rocks and gravity. Some of the residents weren't digging the whole experience but, when given the chance to make some creative decisions, seemed to enjoy their artistic freedom. I had a blast!
Midway through the afternoon work, we took a twenty minute break. Rachel told me that I could help her with the p.m. farm chores after the break. We ascended the hill, once again, past the rock wall and up to the farm. We were joined by Ramon, a resident of two years, who seemed to know the farm chores inside and out. We filled all the troughs with water, hayed the calves in the barn, and fed the barn cat. Turns out her name is in fact, "Barn Cat". The whole ordeal takes about twenty minutes and we head back down to the rock wall. We finished it just before four o'clock. Time to put everything away. We loaded up the truck with the tools and drove down the hill to put them back in their designated spaces. Then it was free time until dinner (6 p.m.).
Free time, for me, was basically just an opportunity to get to know people. All I needed to do was join a group or individual sitting outside and conversation would just happen naturally. Sometimes the conversation was serious and deep. Other times just light hearted or comical. But always good and always positive. And let us not forget, afternoon snack. It was really good, but Ruby can tell you more about it later. After snack we decided to visit the lake one last time. This time, I was getting in. We walked through the woods, up and down the hills, once again. There were a couple of staff members sitting on the dock, sunbathing no doubt. Ruby stepped down to the floating dock and put her feet in the frigid water. I headed for the ladder. As soon as my feet touched the water, I knew it was not going to be easy. I inched my way in, cringing every time a dry part of my body pierced the surface. It was miserable but I was determined. This was, I was told, perfecting swimming weather. I finally made it all the way in and I have to admit it got easier. I swam around a little and then decided to get out. Dinner was approaching and I wanted to dry off before leaving the warmth of the sun. The woods have minimal sunlight which I guess is beneficial to all the ferns. After getting dried off, we walk back to the main house. I had planned to change first, but opted to eat first. Dinner was just beginning and I couldn't stand to wait any longer. What can I say? The food is really good and all that swimming made me hungry. Some of the residents found my tropical swimming trunks amusing. Not typical Vermont dinner attire, I suppose. I don't know if Vermont is ready for me.
This would be our last dinner at the ranch. I loaded up my plate with meatloaf, mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffed squash and homemade bread. I went light on the salad this time to reserve plate space for the important stuff. Everything was, of course, awesome. I mentioned earlier about Ruby and I always ending up alone at a table. Perhaps it was just the speed at which everyone ate. I don't know. But this time was different. This time I sat down with one other guy and before I knew it the table was full. And everyone was engaging me in conversation, even after they had finished eating. It was so nice. Unfortunately, sadness was starting to set in. The reality of leaving a place I had become so fond of. Leaving people that I had really started to care about. I wanted to make the most of the evening.
Bobby (one of the residents) is an amazing vocalist and guitarist. He reminds me a lot of Dave Matthews when he sings and plays. You could find him, most evenings, strumming his guitar on the balcony out back. This evening was no different. I grabbed a bongo drum and headed out to join him. There's just something about this place the allows me to feel free. Normally I am timid about playing in front of people, especially talented musicians. But here it's different. I just knew it would be ok. Dori (a new adviser) was sitting out there with him, strumming a guitar and talking about songs she likes. Bobby would respond with his rendition of each song. I just banged on the drum and hoped it came out right. I think we sounded pretty good. We played a few Bob Marley songs and Bobby sang a few songs he had written and composed. One was about Vermont. Pretty funny. We were soon joined by another resident who had become good friends with Bobby. They both came to the ranch on the same day. She was normally very quiet and withdrawn, seeming frightened by her surroundings. She held in her hand a piece of paper with songs written on them. She said they were not songs she had written, but I had never heard them before. Bobby started to strum and like a true professional she found her cue. Her voice took me by surprise. It reminded me a lot of Alanis Morissette. So here I am, beating on my drum with Dave and Alanis, having the time of my life. I wish it didn't have to end. Ruby said she heard the playing from afar and came over to see where it was coming from. She said it sounded good. I thought so too. The evening chill was starting to get to us. I had on shorts and a hoodie so my legs were starting to go numb. We decided to call it an evening and went back inside the main house. At this point it was apparent that we needed to say our goodbye's. We would be leaving the ranch at 3 a.m. and wouldn't have another opportunity to say goodbye. I wasn't sure if I should shake hands or hug so I did a little of both. At this moment, I hoped I would get to see these wonderful people again. Ruby and I walked back up to the Maple House for our last night at the ranch. It was to be a short nap.
We took turns showering and packing our bags, positioning them for the early morning run. It was a little after ten when we finally went to bed. As I said before, it would be a short nap.
Wednesday, September 5th (Coming Home)
It's 2:30 in the morning and we are really tired. We get ready as quickly as possible and grab our bags. The walk down the hill is pitch black as it was apparetly a new moon. Amazingly we made it without falling. As we approached the bottom of the hill a pair of headlights came on and started towards us. It was Bridget, I'm sure really diggin the idea of driving a four hour round trip in the wee hours of the morning. It was so nice of her to offer. We stopped for breakfast at Dunkin-Donuts and we were off. We arrived at Burlington Airport at around five, giving us an hour to get through security. More than enough time. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. We were both really tired and only moving when we absolutely had to. The last hour or so, in the air, was a bit rough. The skies were turbulent and Ruby got a little nauseous. We really just needed to sleep. We landed in Austin around noon and Geoff was there to pick us up. We stopped at Steak & Shake for a quick bite to eat before driving home. The burgers were ok but the onion rings sucked. The grease was old. I quietly mentioned this fact to the manager and received an astonishing response. He said, "Yea, I noticed it yesterday but our filter is not working." Apparently it would be a couple of days before it could be fixed. I guess he didn't feel the need to shut down the fryer or speed up the repair process. I'm glad it wasn't the refrigerator that broke. I miss the food at the ranch. Our ride home was uneventful and much slower than the trip up on Sunday. We arrived at Geoff and Theresa's house and picked up the girls (Gigi & Daisy). Then it was off to our little apartment. We needed to sleep and prepare for the work the next day.
So there you have it. I'm sure I left out a lot of details, some important and others less significant. I talked with so many people and saw so many amazing things. I wish my words could do the experience justice. The pictures, thanks to Ruby, really bring the words to life. I took the pictures from the airplane, but the rest are hers. It was a good trip. Thanks for sharing in our memories.
Saturday, September 1st
We spent the entire day checking and double checking our trip supplies. We decided, days prior, that it would be best to bring only carry-on luggage. I stuffed my hiking bag with clothes, and stowed my pullover hoody (rolled up) where the sleeping bag would normally be strapped. Ruby decided to go with the gym bag and, likewise, stuffed it to the brim. We were each allowed one quart size ziplock bag storing as many 3oz. (or less) bottles of toiletries as would fit "comfortably" inside. We had toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand sanitizer, deodorant, mousse, mouthwash and Ruby's makeup all in two individual ziplocks. I believe, however, that "comfortably" is up for interpretation. We stowed our ziplocks in their own compartment, so we could easily remove them for inspection. It was time to go. Daniel had agreed to apartment-sit for us so we could rest assured the place would be alright in our absence. We loaded up the truck, grabbed the pooches and pooch related gear, and drove to Geoff & Theresa's house. They had graciously offered to host us for the night and drive us to Austin the next morning. They would also be Gigi and Daisy's surrogate parents for the next couple of days. We shared an awesome meal together and then hit the hay. Four A.M. comes really early.
Sunday, September 2nd (a.k.a. the BIG DAY)
As I stated before, four o'clock in the friggin morning is really early. Especially when you have spent the last five or six hours trying to sleep. I guess we were a bit excited, and nervous. We rushed to get the slobber cleaned off our faces and jumped in to Geoff's truck for our journey to the airport. Hunger was upon us so we decided to stop at Chacho's for some grub. Surely the drive-thru would be quick, right? WRONG!!! Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting. Aw, man!!! Now I had to poop. I run inside Chacho's and take care of business for at least ten minutes. When I run back out, Ruby and Geoff are still waiting for the food. Now, we're running late. We haul boo-tay to try and make up time. As we begin pulling out our food, we realize that our long wait was in vain. They had screwed the order tremendously, and not in the good kinda way where you get stuff from the "nice" side of the menu. We ordered really good tacos with fajitas and stuff. We were given bacon & egg tacos and a bean & cheese taco. Oh yeah, and a pint of borracho beans. Yay. We decided that making the flight was more important than justice so we pressed on. Geoff maneuvered that truck in ways I didn't know were possible. The beeps coming from his radar detector sounded like morse code and I kept expecting him to open a secret compartment with a flashing red button inside. It was a rectally tightening experience and the heavy drizzle that ensued really helped to keep us awake. We arrived at Bergstrom Airport with only a few moments to spare. Not having checked baggage was a huge bonus and since we had printed our boarding passes, the day before, we could go straight to the plane.
We boarded and found our leather seats, stowing our bags in the overhead compartment. Ruby looked a little nervous, but was really doing well. We plugged in our headphones and watched a little DirectTV on the screens in front of us. JetBlue Rocks!!!! After taking off, the airline attendants brought us bottled water and cranberry juice, followed by some tasty snacks. I had the TerraBlue chips and Pistachio/Almond Biscotti. Ruby also had the Biscotti but opted for the roasted cashews instead of chips. They also had chocolate chips cookies, Munchies and animal crackers, which we partook of on later flights, as well as coke products, arizona ice tea and coffee. It wasn't a meal but, as snacks go, it was very tasty. We both decided to watch "Fantastic Four - Flight of the Silver Surfer". Cool movie. The flight to New York's JFK Airport took just under four hours.
We arrived at JFK at around noon (eastern). We were starting to get hungry again so we walked around the food court for a while in search of the perfect NY grub. We opted for pizza. We shared three slices: 1) Spinach & Cheese, 2) Three Cheese, and 3) Vegetable. The pizza was good, but didn't quite live up to all the hype. Our flight to Vermont would be leaving at 2:30 so it was time to board.
We're back up in the air again and the scenery from the window is beautiful. This plane is a little bigger, with three seats on each side (instead of two) but the ride is a lot shorter. Just under an hour. Same leather seats, same snacks, same drinks, same cool directTV and XM radio. Oh look!!! A mountain!!! There's another one!!! (Unfortunately we missed out on a lot of good kodak moments. Electronic devices must be turned off for about twenty minutes during takeoff and landing.)
So we land in Burlington (that's in Vermont) and the anticipation is growing. Bridget will be picking us up but we have no idea what she looks like or what she'll be driving. We wait outside for a while and then decide to make a sign. I hold up the "Spring Lake" sign and wait. A few minutes later, we see someone walking towards us with a "Joseph & Ruby" sign. It was pretty funny. We exchange greetings and hop in the Honda for the two hour drive to Cuttingsville (that's in Vermont too). The scenery is just...wow! Mountains and green and blue skies. Why in the world did people, long ago, decide to Go WEST??? Maybe it's the snow thing I keep hearing about.
So we arrive at the Ranch at make the one mile drive, up the steep hill, to the main house. It's getting dark so it's kinda hard to get the full effect. The weather is much cooler and the air is cleaner than I have ever experienced. We will be staying in the Godly House (named after a supporter of the ranch) which consists of two houses next to each other. The two houses are named Maple and Cedar. We will be staying at Maple. Bridget shows us to our room, where we drop our bags, and we head down to the main house for dinner. It's about 6:30 p.m.
Ok, so I had heard that the food was good and was ready for a good meal. I figured it would be a fusion of granola hippie influenced cafeteria style food with a au natural flair, and I was ok with that. But I was not expecting the amazing culinary talent by all three chefs at the ranch. We arrived at the end of dinner, so we were mostly alone in the dining room. We stuffed our plates with fresh salad stuff (like a gourmet salad bar), chicken curry, lentils masala, roasted fingerling potatoes, grilled squash and fresh mixed berries. It was awesome and everything was cooked perfectly. We pack it all in, talk to a few people (residents or staff???), and head back up to the Maple House. On the way, we decide to join a few guys sitting outside, on Adirondack chairs, and look up at the stars. We talked a little but mainly just gazed upwards. It was nice.
Back at the house, we settle in and unpack a bit. After a hot shower, we crash on the air mattress and it's lights out for the both of us...sort've. We discovered, after talking the next morning, that we both had trouble sleeping and felt a little sad and lonely. Homesickness I guess. Thankfully the sadness left with the night. It's a new day.
Monday, September 3rd (Labor Day)
Saturday was the 75th Anniversary celebration for Spring Lake Ranch and everyone is still chatting about the fun they had. We're told there was approximately 350 people present at the celebration. The ranch normally accommodates about 60 people, half residents and half staff. Breakfast started at 7:30 and we were ready to put the feed bag on. We saw dry cereal and grits on the table, along with english muffins and fruit. We got our fill but really wished there would have been meat involved. After we finished eating and noticed other people leaving the kitchen with eggs, bacon and pancakes, we felt kinda silly. We didn't ask, so we didn't get. Apparently, the standard protocol is to write your order on this tablet in the kitchen. Then when your food is ready, the cook calls your name. We were feasting on the "extras". We will not be making this mistake again I assure you.
Breakfast is over and it's time for the morning meeting. We continue to meet new people whose names we seem to forget as quickly as we learn them. The days activities are discussed and we get ready for our a.m. chores. It is considered a weekend day so the residents have the day to do their own thing. Most choose to do laundry and hang out in their rooms or in the main house. Ruby has farm chores, which she can tell you about later, and I have main house clean-up. I end up sweeping and mopping the kitchen and dining room. Piece of cake.
While sweeping I hear a voice from behind me. It's a deep voice coming from a shorter, older man with a long gray beard. He crosses his arms, puffs out his chest and projects from deep within his abdomen, "I'm Rob...the MEAN!" I turn to him, startled a bit, smile and utter, "good to meet ya." He barely smiles and responds, "That's my way of saying 'who are you?'" "Oh", I say partially embarrassed, "I'm Joseph...the humble." He breaks out in a deep laugh. I relax a bit. He's not going to kill me. All is good. We talk a little and he tells me of his time as a hippie in the 60's and how he came upon Spring Lake Ranch in the early 70's as a part time cook. He's been a full time chef there since '92 and prides himself in his ability to "rule with an iron fist" He's a nice guy...I like him. He asks me where I'm from. I tell him that we're from Texas and you can almost see the blood leave his face. "Texas?" "You're not one of those *blah blah blah* communist *blah blah blah* are you???" "No," I respond. "But I do have stock in oil," I add. His smile returns to the left side of his mouth, careful not let on that he is amused. "Better not let that get around," he advises, and then turns to return to his lair (the kitchen). We talk more several times over the visit. I like him. And I think, perhaps, he didn't hate me too much.
After chores, Ruby and I meet up again and are given a nice tour of the ranch. Rachel, on of the house advisers, is our tour guide. We see the gardens and the green houses and are told to eat anything we like. She tells us a little about the ranch and it's workings. She also tells us about her history with alcohol abuse and the road to sobriety. There's an interesting balance, among staff, of people with former substance abuse issues and those with no known issues. Just like any community I suppose. Henri Nouwen wrote a book called "Wounded Healer". I've only read parts of it, but I think I understand the overall message. Wounded people, who think they are useless because of their wound, can be a huge part of the healing process of other wounded people. Something like that anyhow. This book came to mind when I was visiting Spring Lake Ranch. At times you could tell who was staff and who was a resident. But most of the time, you just forgot to look for a distinction. It didn't matter, most of the time. An older gentleman, nearing retirement from SLR, described it like this: It's like a swinging pendulum. At one end of the swing is an institution with rigid rules and boundaries. At the other end, a fluid community of people living and working together with a generous portion of patience, encouragement and realism. Sometimes we have to be more rigid. Rules keep us out of trouble. But other times we can just flow together and it just works. I liked his explanation. It made sense to me. Anyhow, where was I? Ah yes, the tour. So we finished up our brief tour and decided to do a little exploring ourselves.
We mozied down to the garden to see what was growing. A lot of stuff...I'll leave it at that for now. Ruby will probably talk more about that later. We each picked a tomato and a basil leaf and munched on those for a bit. Very tasty. Then, Ruby said she wanted to show me the farm, so we hiked up the long hill to take a gander. After looking around a bit, we decided to walk to the lake. The running joke around there seems to be, "What's the name of the lake again?" Anyhow, it was about a 15 minute walk through the woods and up and down hills. Thoroughly enjoyable, I must say. I have never seen that much green. We are deep in the woods until we reach a small clearing that leads to the dock. The sunlight is beaming through the break, leading us to our next amazement. Spring Lake. Wow. There was a lot of "I've never seen" going on during this trip so bear with my repetitiveness. This lake is surrounded by large green hills and mountains. The water is so clear you can see the bottom through the ripples. We are alone except for a guy catching a little sun on the dock. We approach and say hello. Steve welcomes us with a smile and plenty of questions about life and Texas. We counter with plenty of questions about life at the ranch. He seems really nice. Very content to just lay there and soak in the surroundings, but also very content to "chew the fat" with us as well. Our stomachs tell us it is time to head back for lunch. We say goodbye and follow the trail back through the woods. It just all seems to good to be true. It's very hard to be objective in the midst of it all. We walk...and talk...and walk some more. The main house.
It's meal time once again and we are starving. I had a big salad and some flatbread with hummus. I think Ruby had the same. Oh, and there was this onion soup that was killer good. Then it was a treat of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and Rob's homemade fudge. Yeah BABY!!! Ruby and I choose to sit at different tables so we can "work the room" so to speak. We were advised, from the beginning that it would be beneficial not to spend our time stuck together. Good advise, as we were able to meet and spend time with a lot more people collectively. After lunch we decided to participate in a hike. Piece of cake, right???
As it turns out, the Appalachian Trail runs right along side the ranch. How cool is that? Ruby and I both read a book, recently, about a couple of yahoos that decide to hike the 2000+ mile trail from Georgia to Maine. We had no idea we would ever set foot upon it. It was as beautiful as it was challenging. We just kept going up and up and up. We would get to what seemed to be a peak only to find out that there was more "up" in front of it. I was told, by our trail guide Lucas (another adviser), that we had climbed to an elevation of 1700 feet. Merely a foothill I suppose, but a challenging hike, none the less. We were tired but in a good way. We exited the famous trail and followed the loop trail around the lake back to the dock. Steve was still there, but was joined by several other people now. We decided not to get in this time. Ruby put her feet in and I just relaxed. After a while, it was time to head back. This time we were able to ride in the back of one of the farm trucks. It was bumpy. Very bumpy.
Rob was busy stoking the coals on the outdoor grill and I moved in to get a little more information. Steaks as it turned out, were on the menu for dinner. Steaks from a cow that formerly grazed the pastures on this very ranch. He cooked them perfectly, medium rare, and paired them with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed carrots. I don't remember the dessert but I'm sure it was great as well. And of course, there was salad. I decided that my favorite dressing was a combination of the Maple Sweet & Sour (from the maple syrup made on the ranch) and the homemade blue cheese dressing. Aw yeah!!!! By now, we knew a lot of people and they knew us, so talking was a lot easier. It still seemed like wherever we sat, though, we were soon the only ones sitting there. It became an inside joke between Ruby and I. Things changed a bit on our last day at the Ranch, but I will discuss that later. Dinner was a success and we were bone tired. We decided to head back to our room and take our showers and stuff. Nighty-night.
Tuesday, September 4th (Work Day)
This was to be our introduction to a normal weekday at the ranch. We walked down the hill trail for breakfast at around 7:30. This time we were well prepared to partake of all the breakfast delicacies. I had a little oatmeal with maple syrup and then entered the kitchen to place my order. Barb, one of the chefs, was working her magic on the flat-top flipping rows of eggs, bacon and pancakes. The smell was delightfully torturous. Two eggs over easy, two strips of bacon and one pancake, please. Five minutes later I was scarfing it all down. By now the place was filling up. New faces were appearing in all corners of the room, people that were off for the weekend. There was a brief morning meeting and a little free time before work. Ruby was to be on gardens crew and I the GWP (General Work Program). I was told that I would be working on the roof a yurt. Steve (remember Steve?) and I joined this other guy (one of the house advisers), whose name I forgot at least 10 times and still can't remember. We climbed the hill to the workshop where we would pick up the supplies. We grabbed a couple of ladders, some scaffolding and two unknown tools from the pit of hell. Our objective was to figure out how to use these "ladder jacks" to set up scaffolding and then fix the roof. Two hours later, we are still screwin with the ladder jacks. We couldn't figure out how they were suppose to go and I was frustrated by our failure to proceed any further. What I soon came to realize was that it was not just about completing the project, but rather about the journey and the little accomplishments along the way. The process was just as important if not more than the outcome. The journey rather than the finish line. I get it. Steve suggested we donate the antique (1930's) tools, to anyone willing to take them, and write them off on the taxes. Steve has a degree in business administration. No one thought that to be a bad idea. We talked for a few more minutes about the demise of "the evil ones" and yada-yada-yada it was time for lunch.
I was told we would be having leftovers which was fine and dandy with me. I had a little of the chicken curry from Sunday night. Still awesome. Then, of course, a big salad (greens, tomatoes, homemade pickled vegetables, feta cheese, raisins, edamame, fresh croutons and my signature dressing blend). I had forgotten about the soup. I quickly arose and worked my way back to the soup pot on the wooden buffet. It looked really good. Mushrooms, dill and a creamy soup base. It was in fact, Hungarian Mushroom Soup. I think it was the best mushroom soup I have ever put in my mouth. And as if things couldn't possibly get any better... pineapple upside-down cake with fresh whipped cream. It's a good thing I'm not led by my stomach or it would be really hard to be objective about this place. I push back from the table and rub my full belly with content. Life is good.
I am excited to see what work crew I will be on for the afternoon. I am told first that it will be gardens, which is cool with me. Then a slight change in plans and I am assigned to farm crew. I think they wanted to make sure that we [ruby and I] were on as many work crews, collectively, as possible. Good call! After relaxing a bit, we met in front of the Main House to discuss the afternoon's agenda. We would be restoring a rock wall, I was told. I somehow pictured a rock climbing wall, but was pleasantly surprised. Apparently, stone walls have been used in New England for a couple hundred years and a ton of them are still standing thanks to the dedicated volunteers that keep them restored and looking great. It was a cool tradition and I would get to be a part of it. The stretch of wall we would be working on was barely visible anymore. The vegetation and dirt had somehow wicked it's way up and over the rocks leaving only a green speed bump where once a mighty wall had been. We pulled out the rocks, some big and some small. Some were really big and required the use of iron pry bars. Then we removed the vegetation that had taken over and began to rebuild the wall, piece by piece. There were a few helpful rules, but for the most part it was just common sense and artistic license. For maximum strength and stability, it was advised that each rock be touching three other rocks. In case I forgot to mention, these walls have no mortar to hold them together. Just rocks and gravity. Some of the residents weren't digging the whole experience but, when given the chance to make some creative decisions, seemed to enjoy their artistic freedom. I had a blast!
Midway through the afternoon work, we took a twenty minute break. Rachel told me that I could help her with the p.m. farm chores after the break. We ascended the hill, once again, past the rock wall and up to the farm. We were joined by Ramon, a resident of two years, who seemed to know the farm chores inside and out. We filled all the troughs with water, hayed the calves in the barn, and fed the barn cat. Turns out her name is in fact, "Barn Cat". The whole ordeal takes about twenty minutes and we head back down to the rock wall. We finished it just before four o'clock. Time to put everything away. We loaded up the truck with the tools and drove down the hill to put them back in their designated spaces. Then it was free time until dinner (6 p.m.).
Free time, for me, was basically just an opportunity to get to know people. All I needed to do was join a group or individual sitting outside and conversation would just happen naturally. Sometimes the conversation was serious and deep. Other times just light hearted or comical. But always good and always positive. And let us not forget, afternoon snack. It was really good, but Ruby can tell you more about it later. After snack we decided to visit the lake one last time. This time, I was getting in. We walked through the woods, up and down the hills, once again. There were a couple of staff members sitting on the dock, sunbathing no doubt. Ruby stepped down to the floating dock and put her feet in the frigid water. I headed for the ladder. As soon as my feet touched the water, I knew it was not going to be easy. I inched my way in, cringing every time a dry part of my body pierced the surface. It was miserable but I was determined. This was, I was told, perfecting swimming weather. I finally made it all the way in and I have to admit it got easier. I swam around a little and then decided to get out. Dinner was approaching and I wanted to dry off before leaving the warmth of the sun. The woods have minimal sunlight which I guess is beneficial to all the ferns. After getting dried off, we walk back to the main house. I had planned to change first, but opted to eat first. Dinner was just beginning and I couldn't stand to wait any longer. What can I say? The food is really good and all that swimming made me hungry. Some of the residents found my tropical swimming trunks amusing. Not typical Vermont dinner attire, I suppose. I don't know if Vermont is ready for me.
This would be our last dinner at the ranch. I loaded up my plate with meatloaf, mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffed squash and homemade bread. I went light on the salad this time to reserve plate space for the important stuff. Everything was, of course, awesome. I mentioned earlier about Ruby and I always ending up alone at a table. Perhaps it was just the speed at which everyone ate. I don't know. But this time was different. This time I sat down with one other guy and before I knew it the table was full. And everyone was engaging me in conversation, even after they had finished eating. It was so nice. Unfortunately, sadness was starting to set in. The reality of leaving a place I had become so fond of. Leaving people that I had really started to care about. I wanted to make the most of the evening.
Bobby (one of the residents) is an amazing vocalist and guitarist. He reminds me a lot of Dave Matthews when he sings and plays. You could find him, most evenings, strumming his guitar on the balcony out back. This evening was no different. I grabbed a bongo drum and headed out to join him. There's just something about this place the allows me to feel free. Normally I am timid about playing in front of people, especially talented musicians. But here it's different. I just knew it would be ok. Dori (a new adviser) was sitting out there with him, strumming a guitar and talking about songs she likes. Bobby would respond with his rendition of each song. I just banged on the drum and hoped it came out right. I think we sounded pretty good. We played a few Bob Marley songs and Bobby sang a few songs he had written and composed. One was about Vermont. Pretty funny. We were soon joined by another resident who had become good friends with Bobby. They both came to the ranch on the same day. She was normally very quiet and withdrawn, seeming frightened by her surroundings. She held in her hand a piece of paper with songs written on them. She said they were not songs she had written, but I had never heard them before. Bobby started to strum and like a true professional she found her cue. Her voice took me by surprise. It reminded me a lot of Alanis Morissette. So here I am, beating on my drum with Dave and Alanis, having the time of my life. I wish it didn't have to end. Ruby said she heard the playing from afar and came over to see where it was coming from. She said it sounded good. I thought so too. The evening chill was starting to get to us. I had on shorts and a hoodie so my legs were starting to go numb. We decided to call it an evening and went back inside the main house. At this point it was apparent that we needed to say our goodbye's. We would be leaving the ranch at 3 a.m. and wouldn't have another opportunity to say goodbye. I wasn't sure if I should shake hands or hug so I did a little of both. At this moment, I hoped I would get to see these wonderful people again. Ruby and I walked back up to the Maple House for our last night at the ranch. It was to be a short nap.
We took turns showering and packing our bags, positioning them for the early morning run. It was a little after ten when we finally went to bed. As I said before, it would be a short nap.
Wednesday, September 5th (Coming Home)
It's 2:30 in the morning and we are really tired. We get ready as quickly as possible and grab our bags. The walk down the hill is pitch black as it was apparetly a new moon. Amazingly we made it without falling. As we approached the bottom of the hill a pair of headlights came on and started towards us. It was Bridget, I'm sure really diggin the idea of driving a four hour round trip in the wee hours of the morning. It was so nice of her to offer. We stopped for breakfast at Dunkin-Donuts and we were off. We arrived at Burlington Airport at around five, giving us an hour to get through security. More than enough time. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. We were both really tired and only moving when we absolutely had to. The last hour or so, in the air, was a bit rough. The skies were turbulent and Ruby got a little nauseous. We really just needed to sleep. We landed in Austin around noon and Geoff was there to pick us up. We stopped at Steak & Shake for a quick bite to eat before driving home. The burgers were ok but the onion rings sucked. The grease was old. I quietly mentioned this fact to the manager and received an astonishing response. He said, "Yea, I noticed it yesterday but our filter is not working." Apparently it would be a couple of days before it could be fixed. I guess he didn't feel the need to shut down the fryer or speed up the repair process. I'm glad it wasn't the refrigerator that broke. I miss the food at the ranch. Our ride home was uneventful and much slower than the trip up on Sunday. We arrived at Geoff and Theresa's house and picked up the girls (Gigi & Daisy). Then it was off to our little apartment. We needed to sleep and prepare for the work the next day.
So there you have it. I'm sure I left out a lot of details, some important and others less significant. I talked with so many people and saw so many amazing things. I wish my words could do the experience justice. The pictures, thanks to Ruby, really bring the words to life. I took the pictures from the airplane, but the rest are hers. It was a good trip. Thanks for sharing in our memories.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Spring Lake Ranch
Well, the time has finally come. After almost 30 years in Texas, we've decided to explore our options elsewhere in this big country. Ruby and I both have stable jobs, benefits and a potentially comfortable retirement (in about 25 years) here in San Antonio. By all accounts, we should be really happy with our life here. But we're not. Not really. We're young, artistic and adventurous. There's so much we want to see and experience. And I just can't help but wonder which direction would cause more regret. Staying where we are in lieu of pursuing our nomadic notions? Or, risking the absence of certain comforts by taking the road less traveled? I guess we're about to find out. We will be flying from Austin, Texas to Burlington, Vermont. Our friends, Geoff and Theresa, will be dropping us off at the airport in Austin and picking us up on our return. Our plan is to visit a therapeutic farming community in Cuttingsville, Vermont. We both applied for staff positions at Spring Lake Ranch about a month ago and have been invited to come for a visit and interview. Bridget, the Director of Human Resources, will be picking us up at the Burlington Airport and driving us the 77 miles back to the ranch, as well as schlepping us back for our return trip to Texas. The experience is designed to give prospective staff members a working introduction to life at the ranch. At the end of our visit, we will interview for the positions. If all goes well, we would be moving to the ranch sometime around the middle of October 2007. I'm so excited!!! A little nervous, but really excited. Since we can't take everyone we love with us, we decided to create this blog journal to share our experiences and feelings with our friends and family. We'll try to take a lot of pictures and journal as often as possible. We encourage you to respond with your thoughts and inquiries. I better close for now. We need to pick up some travel supplies from HEB. I wonder how many 3 oz. containers will fit into a 1 qt. ziplock bag (new airline rules). Hmmmmm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
