37631 - April update

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Dag,
   Iris (Cochise, 37631 miles)

37170 - The other side in Tucson

The year is 2001 and I sit with S, my co-worker at Philips, at the airport in Amsterdam waiting for our flight to San Diego where we will attend an optical conference. S asks me what I would really like to do, if it was all up to me. I answer with a smile: "I would give up my job, fly to South America and bike around for a year or so." S, not knowing that I had given up my job a week before, looks up and smiles back at me: "Jeh, that would be great."

We sit again down and the question is on the table again. What to do with my life. This time I am less certain. What to do? I love this traveling, this living on the road, this discovering of the world. I can go for 2 weeks without a shower, I can sleep where ever, I can turn every penny before spending it.

There is however that other side of me. And S, being an Associate Research Professor in polarizing optics at the Arizona University, amateur astronomist and classical violin player is part of that one. That side of me which wants to be intellectual challenged, loves the company stress, the interaction with co-workers, to work on some challenging project for weeks, to create a product. I can listen for an afternoon to classical music, an evening to a practice session of a string quartet (I did got bored star gazing). I love good (expensive) cheese with some wine, theater, ballet, city life, friends over for dinner, being at home.

How to combine these 2 sides? Is there a way I can travel and be a physicist? Is there a way to do both? I have no clue how to do it, should I even strive for it? From time to time it can stresses me out a little.

Maybe my destiny is to look for it, to keep searching for the perfect life, to keep learning from the world.

Its good that for now I can just push it to the side and submerge myself more into nature. That always helps. Because the world...I just love it...

Dag,
   Iris (Tucson, 37170 miles)

36735 - More in Texas

San Antonio
I can stay with L and for an afternoon check out downtown and the Alamo.


Big Bend National Park
I wanted to float down the Rio Grande and got spared an embarrassment to not find a travel partner. There is hardly any water and I can kayak upstream and walk the tiny rapids into the Santa Elena canyon.


The next day I take a hike into the Chisos mountains. Which has beautiful views over the surrounding desert and well into Mexico.



Guadalupe Mountains National Park
I share a campsite with M and together we hike for a day and chase birds. M gives me an Audubon field guide of the South West and from now on I am an official environmental identifier. Its amazing how such a small gift can change my whole perspective of my surrounding. Thanks.



Carlsbad Cavern National Park
I must have been 18 and we had no language in common. He made me a drawing to show me where he had found the stalagmite he gave to me. Until today I will always think of his eyes when I enter a cave and wished he could see the Big Room with me. One of the most impressive caves I have seen in my life.


Hueco Tanks
No comment please.

Dag,
   Iris (Hueco Tanks, 36735 miles)

35322 - Oto wobbles

When I tell Oto that I want to drive less and be more in the outdoor the coming months he becomes upset. For a month we wobble from left to right everytime we hit 55 mph and cruise control is out of the question will I not flip Oto on its side. Time to make a stop at the local garage and replace the rear suspension. I leave the garage and what...Oto is still upset and wobbles. I check sway bars, balance the tires, check the springs, ask around and check on the internet; Wobbling of a Nissan pathfinder 96-98 is caused by worn out upper and lower control arm bushings (what???).

A garage will replace the bushings including the whole arms for about $800 and that sounds like a lot to me. Can I not just do it myself and replace the bushings only? Thats when project management skills kick in and I man it up. From farm girl to car mechanics...you just have to love it...

Project: Open

The 8 bushings are ordered = $150
The man is called, R = $0 (did you really thought I was doing this alone)

The impact wrench arranged from Gs teacher = $0 (that was so cool)
The compressor picked up from J = $0
The straight sockets are from a local garage = $0 (sure blond girl, take what you need)

The angle socket + lubricant bought = $25
The torque wrench obtained from a local auto store = $0
The leveled driveway spot from neighbour left = $7 (beer is always good)
The stands and a jack from neighbour right = $0
Another jack from B = $0

The bushings are replaced by a mechanical workshop = $100 (for you I lower the price from $160)

A new alignment for the finishing touch done at the garage = $40

Okey, it took us 2 days. The laptop onsite gave away that we had no clue what we were doing. The axle rotated and the drive shaft fell on the ground, but we didn't panic.

We used climbing webbing to try to pull the car cabin back onto the axle. But hey, we did it and Oto is happy again.

The total cost = $324 and 2 very proud people.

R, thanks thanks thanks.

Project: Closed

Dag,
   Iris (Austin, 35322 miles)