Home is where the heart is. And the food. Oh, and my Mom and Dad.

No matter how far we wander, or off track we get, there is nothing nicer than knowing we always have a place at Casa Agredano.

Christmas is a big deal here, loaded with pan dulce, tamales and multiple festivities. From the tamalada to Mom’s New Year’s Day homemade menudo brunch, we cram a year’s worth of visits into one solid month.

My four sisters and all of their kids and grandkids (I stopped counting at 12), keep us busy and entertained, especially on Christmas eve during the White Elephant exchange.

Poor Alex, she didn’t get what she wanted!

There’s lots of catching up to do, especially with friends from our Tripawds community.

Yesterday we had a blast boating with three dogs on Newport harbor, on a classic Southern California winter’s day. I felt kinda guilty having so much fun on the ocean after hearing about the horrible blizzards back east. California Dreamin’ indeed!

Meanwhile, the rig sits outside with birds poopin on the roof, and black streaks accumulating from all of the rain. Inside, it’s cold and lonely, waiting for our return.

We’ll be leaving here soon, and off to our wintertime adventures. Leaving my family will be just as hard as ever.

Since we can’t go any further West, we’ll be heading east toward the Slabs for a spell, then off to Quartzsite for our first snowbird experience. We’ve avoided a Quartzsite pilgrimage for this long, since the snowbirds there mostly consist of old timers and it just seemed too conservative and boring for our taste.

This year, however, we changed our mind, since the hipsters from NuRVers and the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous will be there to add a little life to that party. Or more like a lot of life! Good times are in the works!

I’ve been thinking a lot about my Dad these days. I usually do this time of year.

On December 22, nine years ago, we stopped by to see him as he lay resting in a Rohnert Park rehab hospital. We were on our way south from Eureka to Los Angeles for Christmas with la familia. And he wasn’t heir for rehab.

Too many unhealthy choices about food, alcohol, and exercise had finally caught up with him. And it was doubtful he was leaving the place on his own. But I honestly didn’t think his time ad come. We’d certainly get to see him again on our way North the following week.

Before heading on our way, I kissed him on the forehead, something I hadn’t done in… forever.

He looked up at me and said, “I’m ready.” At the time I thought, “ready for what?” – knowing deep down exactly what he meant.

James Clark Nelson (Right, With His Father)
August 20, 1925 – December 22, 2001

The next morning at los Agredanos, I awoke to hear my sister was calling – not exactly something that would happen unless there was urgent news to report.

The next time I saw my dad was in a dream. He was happy, healthy, and frolicking around on the floor with Jerry. Not exactly something the big man would do – ever – but he was clearly there to tell me all was OK, that he was in a better place.

When my mom passed, I wondered for a long time why she never visited me in a dream. It was eventually brought to my attention that she likely had nothing left to say. I knew my mom would be better off when she went, because she had survived a long hard illness. Dad on the other hand – having gone relatively quickly – must have needed to let me know he was now at peace.

For this, and so much more, I thank him. And I can only hope to leave the same impression he did on others…

“On meeting Jim, one was immediately struck by his abounding good humor. Even when situations did not favor him, he met them all with a grin and his self-deprecating humor. He was also adept at separating the important from the trivial, which was vital as a cadet.”

~ West Point A1 Company Roommate Jim Johnson

How to Find West Point Graduate Obituaries

Rather than turn this into a sappy eulogy, I think my dad would appreciate if I make it a helpful post for anyone searching for West Point classmate obituaries.

I have always been very proud of the fact that my father graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point – and Harvard, after not being commissioned upon graduation due to medical reasons.

With all our personal possessions back home, I couldn’t exactly read the obituary for USMA Cadet 15494. That was James Nelson’s Cullum Number.

After searching far and wide, I finally discovered Dad’s Memorial Article published in the Assembly (Sep 2002). I finally discovered The West Point Connection, which has a page for Fallen Graduates, which lets visitors search records In Memorium by Class.

As they say, along the The Long Gray Line…

And when our work is done, Our course on Earth is run,
May it be said, “Well done: Be thou at peace.”

Maybe my comparison between New Belgium Brewery’s Tour de Fat festivities in Fort Collins and Burning Man was a bit of a stretch, but you’ve gotta admit that the spirit of creativity and neighborliness is just as incredible for this gigantic yearly celebration of bicycle culture.

I’ve always dreamed of a day when bicycles rule the city. Thanks to Tour de Fat, my little fantasy can happen every summer.

When you live the hobo lifestyle, many people will mistakenly assume that you’re either a trustafarian or you’ve won the lotto. We’ve had many people comment “oh you must be rich” when we tell them how we live.

Rich in spirit, mind, body and soul maybe, but financially, we are not (yet! hah!).

Most people don’t believe it, but you really don’t need to be rich to take an extended travel sabbatical and see the sights you’ve always wanted to see. All it takes is the determination to work out the details and finance the trip.

No More Excuses!

If you’re thinking of hitting the road but your finances, job, family, pet or health situation is keeping you from doing it, stop right now and pick up a copy of “Answers to the Common Excuses Not to Travel Full-Time.”

Our NuRVer friends Chris and Cherie recently published a useful 78-page e-book that addresses 15 different excuses that people make for not living the travel lifestyle they’ve always dreamed of. From figuring out how to get rid of your stuff, to planning for health care and making a living, “Answers to the Common Excuses” will motivate you to put your dream in motion.

Available on a pay-what-it’s-worth-to-you basis, just just follow this link to pick up your copy today!

Dare I say it? I miss my Spirulina. Wait, let me clarify… I miss my breakfast smoothies, even the green ones.

Back at the stick house, we made fruit smoothies for breakfast just about every morning. But we don’t bring a blender with us on the road.

While I prefer my smoothies more berry in color, I got to liking the green variety we started making. I didn’t need a green smoothie challenge to acquire the taste either. All it took was one batch we made with spinach to discover there had to be a better way – better tasting at least.

Leave it to the wannabe vegan wife to come up with the Spirulina idea. But now that we are blenderless, I sure miss the smoothies – taking the stuff in a shot is like taking medicine. But I digress once again.

When looking up my Nü Hawaiin drink recipe in the NüRVers forums, I realized it was Sarah to whom I owe for turning us on to the green smoothie idea. But I will pass on the spinach and celery.  Spirulina Powder does the trick, with just a couple teaspoons.

Having operated a print shop or two, I can tell you the stuff is identical to cyan ink toner. Don’t get it wet! But when handled with care, it delivers a potent mix of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Spirulina has been found to strengthen the body’s defense mechanism. After all, it is the richest source of vegetable protein available (over 60%). Rich in beta carotene, iron, vitamin B-12 and the rare essential fatty acid GLA, it really is the super green food health nuts will lead you to believe it is.

Did I mention it tastes much better hidden in a fruit smoothie than taken in a shot glass of apple juice!? Both methods deliver the same healthy benefits, the former is just actually enjoyable.

And for the record, I prefer to add Spirulina to light colored smoothies. It tends to turn dark berry smoothies black. Here’s a suggestion for a vibrant bright green smoothie that will help you start your day feeling good about what you had for breakfast. (Shown above topped with Rene’s scrumptious homemade granola.)

Super Healthy Green Muck Smoothie

Serves two. (Not vegan, modify at will!) Blend together in blender until smooth:

• Two Ripe Bananas
• 1 Orange
• 1/4 Honeydew Melon
• 1/2 Cup Vanilla Yogurt
• 1 Cup Soy Milk
• 2 Tablespoons Agave Nectar
• 2 Teaspoons Spirulina

Please note that I don’t “do” recipes, preferring much rather to wing it – to taste – by trial and error. Results may vary.