I woke up early this morning to get more firewood. This was the view in my backyard. I couldn't help but think of my favorite Uncle -- the Great Turkey Hunter! Meanwhile, I am still working on getting unpacked.

The Tires -- the continuation

Do you remember my post about the possibility of having tire trouble? I had received advise from my psychic advisor that about 3/4 of the way I would have tire trouble. You may remember that I decided to buy new tires. And I am glad I did, as the roads through the mountains are a little rough. (Snow tires with studs are legal here in Oregon.) Anyway on Wednesday I had an alarm about my tires. (Prius's have a tire pressure monitoring system.) And since it was near the time for an oil change and a 30,000# check up, I headed to the local Toyota dealership. They found a screw in one of the tires. As I had bought the tires at a Toyota dealership, they have free road hazard and so the tire will be replaced. I have to wait for the tire to be shipped in. And meanwhile I have to keep topping off the tire. The air monitoring system makes it easy to know when I need to do so.

So the Journey continues with one new tire. lol.

I Have Landed

After an extensive search I have found the place I am going to stay for the next several months. As you learned from my last post I decided to search for place around Ashland, Oregon. I simply like the mountains and the trees. But property and therefore rentals in the immediate area are pricey. And I was particularly wanting a place by myself. I decided rooming with anyone would slow down my writing process and so I was searching for the perfect studio apartment. I managed to find a place in Gold Hill (just out of Medford) that was a bit over my budget, but workable. A barn. Yep, I'm living in a barn -- and I have roommates or more accurately barn mates. Two horses and two burros who live on the other side of the barn. I haven't formally met them yet. My landlords are two very nice people who are also retired and I may babysit from time to time. I will post barn mate pictures later.

If you are a regular visitor to this blog then you know that I had previously found a place but felt so uncomfortable that I left within hours. Thanks to some discussion with a friend I think I now know why. The ocean. The ocean has a very intense energy -- particularly during the winter and I think it simply was wiring me. I know all this talk about energies is way too "foo foo" for many but there are many people who can feel such energies. I am but one of them. I just thought I'd explain why I was unable to find a place along the coast.

I had visited the barn the day before I actually rented it. After my last experience I decided to sleep on it and felt so comfortable I proceeded and moved in yesterday. The only downside is there is no bed. I have ordered in an airbed. I slept on one for a year and half and so am sure that I will get along with this new one. Meanwhile I bought a mat and am sleeping on the floor for a few days until the airbed gets here. Oh, I guess there is another downside: no air-conditioning and it does get up in the 90's and even 100's in August. Talk about incentive to write fast! I bought a small table and desk chair separate from the computer desk provided. I have set the table up in front of window. And the above picture is of the view out that window. I'm sure I'll spend many hours there. Currently, I still busy setting up housekeeping. I will advise this blog when I begin to write. Internet service will be connected which is good because I have gotten tired of Starbucks.

The Journey of finding the perfect place is over. From time to time I will need a break from writing and as I explore the area I will post pictures. And now the Journey of writing begins.

Finding the Right Place

I have spent the last several days trying to find the right place to locate. Some of you know me as a very intuitive person and may naturally think that I would know exactly where to locate. Not so! Yes, I felt guided to the Oregon Coast. I have spent the last several days exploring it. It is like no other coastline. And I did think I had found the perfect place to stay in Gold Beach. A very gracious lady offered me what appeared to be nearly the perfect place, yet after just a couple of hours I did not feel comfortable there. My discomfort had nothing to do with this gracious lady, or her pets or her home. I just felt like I had to move on and so I did. I was more upset by my ill grace of moving out than of not finding the right place.

I investigated another place in Depoe Bay. The place was a dump. Pure and simple and all of that just for $475 a month. And I'd only have to share it with eight other people. And so I once again moved on. (By the way, the picture is just along Route 101 and doesn't depict any of the places I investigated. Once again I moved on.

I spent some time investigating the Reedsport area. I even bought a couple of newspapers and checked the want ads. I checked out several properties. Nothing felt comfortable. So once again, I moved on. This time to Coos Bay.

It might interest you to know that each of these investigations required three to four hours of driving. I have come to greatly appreciate the 40 mpg that I have been getting with my Prius. Oh, and if you didn't know -- there is no selfserve gas stations in Oregon. How long has it been since you said, "Fill it up with Regular?"

I once again checked Craig's List for possibilites and even checked out a house that I had seen a For Rent sign for. It was just an okay location - no warm fuzzies - and was $650 a month - way out of my budget. So much of what is available are vacation rentals and are completely out of my price range. As you can imagine, I had become a little frustrated by not finding the right place. It is so important to my writing process that I feel comfortable in my setting. And so once again I decided to move on.

After some contemplation, I decided to check out the Ashland area. I knew I had felt comfortable there when I had studied with Neale Donald Walsch. The first place I checked out was the Windmill Inn where I stayed before. It had a very loving energy when I stayed so along ago. Sadly it was closed and the energy had died away with it. Another company were operating the suite portion of the hotel, but it was too expensive to stay at. Regardless of that, I feel comfortable here. I have come to realize that while the coastline is beautiful, it doesn't much for me in regards to the energy I feel. I feel more comfortable amongst the mountains and the trees. I stongly feel I am going to relocate here. Or in the area. Ashland can be very pricey. So it might mean locating to Medford or even Grant's Pass. I prefer not stay in the city proper but in the country. I am actively checking out Craig's List and the local paper. I am in contact with several possibilities. And feel confident I will find the right place.

I apologize for the length post, but felt you would like to know what's been going on. And so the Journey goes on.

Brother Tree Pics Added

As I sit here at the Avenue of the Giants, I thought it would be nice if I could share photos of my experience as well. So I figured out how to do so and am updating a past positng with photos. I hav added the text of the posting so you don't have to scroll down. Now I'm off to have breakfast and visit other redwoods.

I'm not sure I can explain/describe the experience I had yesterday. Those of you who have known me for a long time may remember that some four years ago I had an extraordinary experience within a redwood tree. The tree spoke to me. It was a profound experience that left me in tears and I had to sit down for awhile to recover from it -- I wasn't sure that my legs would support me. Afterwards I found myself more conscious of my footsteps as I realized I was walking on hallowed ground. As the angels laid out the path my journey west would take, they strongly desired me to once again visit this particular redwood. It was clear that they felt it was a necessary step in my preparation for Oregon. So my friend and I made it a priority to visit the tree. Saturday was a beautiful sunny day after several days of rain. The redwood is located in California in Memorial Park, just eight miles from the coast. After stopping at coast to enjoy the ferocity of the ocean waves, we made the trip inland. The forest was wet and we used a blanket on the bench of the picnic table as we ate our lunch. I know that some of you won't fully understand and think that it's a bit "too Californian" but there is such a wonderful energy in the forests. It is one of the reason I am going to Oregon to write. For those who are conscious of energies, forests are very peaceful and yet very powerful places. Particularly in redwood forests as they have been here thousands of years. After lunch we made our way to the tree we have come to think of as Brother Tree. It's slightly off the path and we had to step carefully so as not to trip. I placed my hand upon the bark and was instantly connected to Brother Tree. A profound connection that once again brought tears to my eyes. The tree welcomed me back. I might even say rejoiced at my return. This tree has had part of its trunk burned out and it's possible to step into this tree and be surrounded by living, breathing tree. Brother Tree beckoned me in, but I was not quite ready. The angels had told me that I would be transformed. By now tears are flowing, just from the loving energy of this tree. And I stepped in and was overwhelmed by the energy that surrounded me. I knew I was in a sacred and holy place. And this tree continued to communicate with me. I was overwelmed that this tree which I knew as a sacred and holy thing observed me as a sacred and holy thing. This tree, as well as the rest of the forest, was joyful -- truly joyful -- that I had stepped into my path - Oregon, and the book. It's very hard to describe this energy, this profound energy. I was sobbing just from the pure love, pure acceptance from this tree. As I continued to dwell inside Brother Tree, I was healed. I had no idea that I needed healing and could not tell you what was healed -- only that I was healed. It was the tree's blessing upon me and that which I am about. Finally my sobbing stopped and I spread my arms out and gave my thanks, my gratitude to Brother Tree. As I stepped out of the tree, I was aware that I had been profoundly changed. Healed in ways beyond words cannot explain and humbled by the tree's belief in me and in what I am to do. It was difficult to walk and we walked slowly along the path visiting others parts of the park/forest. Eventually we made our way back to Brother Tree to say farewell. I once again laid my hands upon it's bark and expressed my gratitude for what I had been given. His last message was to say hello to his sister. He was referring to my upcoming trip to the National Redwood Forest. It was made clear that I would have another equally profound healing while there. Brother Tree told me to come back on my way back to Iowa when the book is complete. I am sure I will make the trip. Those who feel energies will understand what I experienced, and those that don't only need know that it was a profound and sacred experience -- just another experience along my Journey of the Heart.

Avenue of the Giants

Shortly after posting this message I will continue my Journey. I will be visiting the Avenue of the Giants today and perhaps tomorrow. The Avenue of the Giants is part of the redwood forest located in northern California. There are redwoods big enough to walk through and perhaps even drive through. If you have read my previous blogs you know that I had a profound experience with a redwood tree. Brother Tree told me to say hello to Sister Tree. And that is what I am on the way to do. I don't know if I will have an equally profound experience or not. I'm just going to enjoy the forest.

After my visit I will continue up the coast to Oregon.

The Healing Power of Friends

I continue to be amazed by the healing power of friends. Jay's funeral was on Saturday and my grief was and is as deep as when my father passed. Saturday night I was able to visit with other friends. Poker friends. I was able to surprise everyone with my visit as they all thought I was in California or even Oregon. I was joyously greeted with open arms and many hugs. There is such healing power in such love and acceptance. It was good to spend time with a good of folks that I love and soothed my greif. And it was nice to win second place. It would have been nicer to win first place, but John was getting better cards. Damn. lol.

I am back in California and will visit with my cousins for a couple days. On Thursday, weather permitting, I will head north toward Oregon. The Journey continues.

A dear friend's passing

It has been a very emotional couple of days. I have never seen so many people at a visitation. So many tears flowed and there have been many shared memories. In addition, I am so glad my ex-wife and I have remained friends as we have been able to greatly support each other as we have grieved over the passing of a dear friend. The funeral was today and there are not words to describe my feelings, my memories or my love for this man. I said it often last night and will repeat it here: Jay's grace was that he made friends feel like family. I will dearly miss my friend and I am sure today will not be the last day I shed tears over his passing.

Returning to Pekin

It was with great sadness that I learned that my dear friend Jay passed away yesterday. He had been ill and was unable to attend my retirement party on January 31st. I am deeply saddened by his passing.

I have left my cousins and returned to my friend in Oakland. I will be flying out tomorrow morning, arriving in Peoria tomorrow evening. Visitation on Friday. Funeral on Saturday. Will be flying back on Sunday morning.

I will return to my cousin's to visit. I will continue on to the National Redwood Forest and then on the Oregon Coast.

I am delayed a week but the Journey of the Heart Continues.

The Power of GPS

Wow! I have been greatly impressed with the Magellian GPS unit my brother gave me! I don't know how I would have got to my friend's house in San Leandro or my cousin's place in Santa Rosa without it. Not even with Mapquest. With the way California traffic speeds along it would have been difficult to look down at a map printed out of Mapquest.

Instead I heard a somewhat pleasant female voice give me directions. Being told of lane changes 2 miles ahead of the change was great! I was lead to the front door of each place.

As I moved from my friend's house to my cousin's I didn't see the exit the voice wanted me to take and I was instantly in the congestion of bridge toll booths. The voice calmly directed me to the first exit beyond the bridge and back to the bridge in the opposite direction and this time I did find the correct exit and crossed the correct bridge. Totally my mistake. Two tolls: $8.

Technology is great! And I thank my brother for the invaluable gift!

Visitng the Redwoods

I'm not sure I can explain/describe the experience I had yesterday. Those of you who have known me for a long time may remember that some four years ago I had an extraordinary experience within a redwood tree. The tree spoke to me. It was a profound experience that left me in tears and I had to sit down for awhile to recover from it -- I wasn't sure that my legs would support me. Afterwards I found myself more conscious of my footsteps as I realized I was walking on hallowed ground.

As the angels laid out the path my journey west would take, they strongly desired me to once again visit this particular redwood. It was clear that they felt it was a necessary step in my preparation for Oregon. So my friend and I made it a priority to visit the tree.

Saturday was a beautiful sunny day after several days of rain. The redwood is located in California in Memorial Park, just eight miles from the coast. After stopping at coast to enjoy the ferocity of the ocean waves, we made the trip inland. The forest was wet and we used a blanket on the bench of the picnic table as we ate our lunch.

I know that some of you won't fully understand and think that it's a bit "too Californian" but there is such a wonderful energy in the forests. It is one of the reason I am going to Oregon to write. For those who are conscious of energies, forests are very peaceful and yet very powerful places. Particularly in redwood forests as they have been here thousands of years.

After lunch we made our way to the tree we have come to think of as Brother Tree. It's slightly off the path and we had to step carefully so as not to trip. I placed my hand upon the bark and was instantly connected to Brother Tree. A profound connection that once again brought tears to my eyes. The tree welcomed me back. I might even say rejoiced at my return. This tree has had part of its trunk burned out and it's possible to step into this tree and be surrounded by living, breathing tree. Brother Tree beckoned me in, but I was not quite ready. The angels had told me that I would be transformed. By now tears are flowing, just from the loving energy of this tree. And I stepped in and was overwhelmed by the energy that surrounded me. I knew I was in a sacred and holy place. And this tree continued to communicate with me. I was overwelmed that this tree which I knew as a sacred and holy thing observed me as a sacred and holy thing. This tree, as well as the rest of the forest, was joyful -- truly joyful -- that I had stepped into my path - Oregon, and the book. It's very hard to describe this energy, this profound energy. I was sobbing just from the pure love, pure acceptance from this tree.

As I continued to dwell inside Brother Tree, I was healed. I had no idea that I needed healing and could not tell you what was healed -- only that I was healed. It was the tree's blessing upon me and that which I am about.

Finally my sobbing stopped and I spread my arms out and gave my thanks, my gratitude to Brother Tree. As I stepped out of the tree, I was aware that I had been profoundly changed. Healed in ways beyond words cannot explain and humbled by the tree's belief in me and in what I am to do.

It was difficult to walk and we walked slowly along the path visiting others parts of the park/forest. Eventually we made our way back to Brother Tree to say farewell. I once again laid my hands upon it's bark and expressed my gratitude for what I had been given. His last message was to say hello to his sister. He was referring to my upcoming trip to the National Redwood Forest. It was made clear that I would have another equally profound healing while there.

Brother Tree told me to come back on my way back to Iowa when the book is complete. I am sure I will make the trip.

Those who feel energies will understand what I experienced, and those that don't only need know that it was a profound and sacred experience -- just another experience along my Journey of the Heart.

Road Report - Day 3

Stats: Drove 5 hours today. Mpg: 37-38.5 Mph: 65-80. Gas: $1.75 - $2.19

Mountains: A lot of mountain driving. Outside of Reno went over the Sierras using Donner Pass. Yes, that pass. It had snowed and I had to have chains. $80 installed, $15 to remove. Cash only. And it was mostly wet and slushy. Chains vibrated the car. Max speed: 35 mph.
Not sure the chains were necessary but the may be when driving the mountains in Oregon, so now I have them.

Arrived around noon to visit my dear friend in California. Will visit her through Monday morning then to Santa Rosa to visit cousins.

Will leave for Oregon on Thursday.

Road Report - Day 2

Stats: Drove 13 hours. Mpg: 35-37. Mph: 75-85. Gas Price: $1.49 - $1.99

Staying in Fernley, NV - about an hour away from Reno.

Mountains: They are majestic and beautiful.
Mountain Roads: Exhilerating. Going downhill at 75-80 mph without brakes is fun! Especailly as I was coasting and getting the best gas mileage possible. The downhill road into Salt Lake City was particularly exhilterating as there was traffic all doing the same thing.

I am definitely tired tonight. Am trying to stay up to 9 PM so I can call for free. Means it's 11 PM back in Illinois.

Should make it to Oakland by noon or little after. May not post for several days as I enjoy my visit.

Meanwhile the Journey continues.

Road Report - Day 1

Day 1 Stats: Drove 12 hours today. Mpg: 33-35. Mph: 75-80 Gas: 1.49 - $2.09
Made it to Laramie, WY. For those of you who worried that I would sleep in a rest area: I'm Staying at Baymont Hotel.

The last few stays have been about saying farewell to my family in Iowa. As I started out at 7 AM this morning, it felt a bit surreal -- I'm actually doing this. And as I crossed into Nebraska I found myself getting excited about the trip. Or maybe it's I'm looking forward to visiting with my dear friend in California.

Either way -- I'm on my way. The Journey continues.

Taking Care

Yesterday afternoon I had a reading with Diane Lee. I don't know how many of your have had psychic readings, but I have trusted Diane's for several years. She has helped guide my spiritual growth and has brought me understanding in many different ways. Now a psychic reading also works perfectly if it predicts an occurrence allowing you to take corrective action. Such is the case with my reading.

Diane informed my of tire trouble 3/4 of way out west. I took the corrective step of buying new tires. I was a little concerned about my tires before her warning. 25,000 on original equipment tires. Prius OE tires are notorious for not lasting much beyond 30,000. So I bought 4 new tires. And I'm sharing this part of my adventure just to reassure all those that I am truly taking care as I continue on my Journey of the Heart.

It was perfect.

First Day of Retirement! Hooray! I was concerned that I would be very emotional at my retirement party. And I was for a bit. I had a small party for my intimate friends in my room prior to the party. These are the people who deeply touch my heart. And leaving them is difficult. I greatly appreciate they being in my life, expressing that was a bit emotional.

The party was great, I would even say perfect. It was good to see my co-workers in this atmosphere. The facility did a great job and the decor was perfect. As was the food. And there were kind and loving words said by many people. I have not often spoken of my spiritual side with my co-workers. It was nice to receive so much interest and support. And there was lots of hugging and that's always nice.

I shared these words: Many people think that I must be out of my mind to retire at this time and move to Oregon to write a book. And they are absolutely correct. I am out of my mind. For the last several years,I have worked to get out of my mind and into my heart. I live from my heart. It's not always easy, but it's always interesting.

My blessing to everyone there and to everyone reading this: May you too learn to live from your heart. Get out of your mind and into your heart.

And now I continue my Journey of the Heart.