Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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Many of our readers know that Pepe and I have spent most of the 2021-22 winter months on Cruise Ship cruises along the Mexican Riviera. Sailing out of either Long Beach or San Pedro. Originally I had planned cruising would be a good way to spend some time during the winter months. I had great plans for spending the 2022 summer months doing something other than cruising. However, with the escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic, our cruising activity has continued. Royal Caribbean MS Navigator of...
Pepe and I have spent most of the 2021-22 winter months with Cruise Ship cruises along the Mexican Riviera. Our ships sailed out of either Long Beach or San Pedro ... a short 3-hour drive from my home. Depending, of course, on traffic. Driving through the heart of Los Angeles during rush hour traffic can be challenging. The last 4-months have been aboard the Royal Caribbean MS Navigator of the Seas which sails weekly around Baja, California for 3-, 4- and 7-night cruises. Sometimes the ship stop...
It has been awhile since I wrote – which was September 2021. An unexpected medical emergency put me in the hospital (and Pepe in a kennel) for several days. After we came home, there was the time-consuming task of adjusting to a new routine, one filled with frequent follow-up visits to the doctor and my body adjusting to the many prescription medications that are now required. Our activity slowed to a life of staying home, resting and recuperating from the surgery. Our only outings were now l...
I recently realized that my life with Pepe, during this ongoing pandemic, does not require that my rather boring, mostly self imposed, Sheltering In Place routines mean that I must stay home all the time. This COVID virus won't be eliminated and will continue to mutate but eventually the Pandemic will end. It won't upend our lives forever. The coronavirus is not something we can avoid all the time; we have to prepare for the possibility that we will all be exposed at some point. This is...
Life With Pepe for the past 18 months has been spent primarily at home. Our sheltering in place routine has been a bit longer than it has been for most people as there were an extra few weeks added to the pandemic lockdown due to my recovering from emergency surgery just before the COVID outbreak. Prior to COVID, Pepe and I traveled a great deal, visiting family and friends all over the country. Often we would travel by cruise ship up and down the West Coast of the US and Mexico; Alaska,...
Life with Pepe this summer has been very different for both Pepe and I as we are dealing with an unprecedented, for the Tehachapi area, heat wave. Tehachapi is a true "four seasons" mountain community. At 4,000 feet elevation, on the cusp of the Mojave Desert, annual ambient temperature changes are normal and not a big issue for me. Much of my working life had been spent outside and I learned to adjust my routine work duties to fit the daily forecast - bundle up as need for the cold; strip to...
Life with Pepe during this ongoing pandemic has given both Pepe and I a lot of time with not much to do. I often spend my COVID sheltering-in-place mornings with Pepe the Dog Warmer, and a blanket on my lap, sipping coffee while reviewing the news on the Internet. I scan the highlights, occasionally clicking on something that may be new news. Hope springs eternal for something new during these COVID days. Recently my thoughts were of us older ones as I review the morning news. We are the pre-Bab...
Now that "this" is beginning to wind down in our local area I – accompanied, of course, by my constant companion, Pepe – have just barely begun to take a toe step into potentially hot water during the SIP (sheltering in place), isolation routines that have been pretty much well established for us during the year 2020; now leading into mid 2021. Simple things, like meal planning and purchasing food combined with preparation and enjoying the pleasures of eating the meal itself, have been an eve...
Life With Pepe during this ongoing pandemic frequently brings unexpected episodes to my rather boring, self imposed, sheltering-in-place routines. Last fall Dogs For Better Lives (DFBL) – Pepe's alma mater – encouraged me to enter Pepe's shelter rescue and his coming into my life, in the Petco Holiday Wishes Grant program. Thousands of entries are submitted each year and the chances for a winning story are slim as there are only about 50 winning submissions. The entry could not be more than 500...
April in our mountain community brings drastic changes in the weather. The previous week has been "Winnie the Poo" blustery almost every day. Cold mornings with a lot of wrap-the-coat-tight winds later in the day. That makes for stay inside days for both Pepe and myself. We go out less than usual for essential needs, Pepe goes out to quickly take care of business, and wants back in. We've got new neighbors – usually I make every effort to get acquainted with a new neighbor; however social s...
Chances are you have a "pandemic routine." Pepe and I have grown into a routine. A routine such as is common for an "older couple" that have been together in isolation during this ongoing pandemic - even if it is only a dog/master couple routine. Recently I went to bed earlier then usual with a minor headache. One that an aspirin would not give me relief from. Early to bed is normal for Pepe and I; however not this early. It was still full daylight. Pepe always follows me to bed. His bed is on t...
Now that Spring 2021 is well on its way, there is "Spring in the Air." Other than the excitement of getting both COVID vaccinations, life is continuing pretty much very quiet and ho-hum for Pepe and me. Of course it will be a few weeks before the vaccination is fully effective. Then there's the possibility of my falling into the small percentage that is not protected by vaccination. The high percentage of COVID-19 positives that still show up every day, combined with the variant changes of the o...
I usually fall asleep early – in the chair, of course. When I wake up, I go straight to bed after putting Pepe out for a stretch. I'm fairly certain that this virus we've been dealing with for over a year will not end soon. Vaccinations will help, of course, but vaccinating everyone will take considerable time. So, what to do with my time? I'm thinking that overnight hiking and car camping may give me an outlet. This activity will allow us an opportunity to get away without traveling very f...
Another month has passed. Now well into the second month of the second year of life during this pandemic. Combined with a lung surgery a year ago, there have been many anxious moments for me. My hearing assistant and constant companion, Pepe, has been a blessing for me with his always being around. Our daily lives, even with the first step of the vaccination scheduled for this week, has mostly been staying inside. The cold and wet weather has drastically limited our ability to get out for long w...
For the past year I've been good about following the medical experts' recommendations to SIP (shelter in place) with personal and social separation. However, I did take advantage of the isolation recommendations to get out with the slightest excuse for essential needs shopping and "walking the dog." After all, isolation from the virus does not mean staying inside. Living in a somewhat rural, small mountain community has given Pepe and I some freedom to get out of the house. With the COVID-19...
As Pepe and I adjusted early last summer to the challenge of improving our ability to go walkabout for more than just an around the block exercise, I began planning a PCT hike point-to-point on the two nearby PCT Trailheads: Willow Springs Road to Hwy 58 - a distance of about eight-trail miles. With elevation changes and uneven terrain that would require major adjustments to our everyday flatland walkabouts. We would make the hike being prepared for an overnight camp just in case. Then...
If I told you that the Coronavirus pandemic has been a blessing in my life would you believe that? Due to the pandemic Pepe and I can no longer travel ... our Mexican Riviera one-week cruise in March; a three-week Alaska small ship cruise last May; and a flight to Barcelona with a two-week European cruise last September were all canceled. The two-month Mazatlán condo for a this winter's getaway is canceled. We are now, pretty much stuck at home because of the pandemic. Where's the blessing in...
After returning to Tehachapi, shortly before Thanksgiving 2019, I made arrangements for another pre-Christmas cruise to the Mexican Riviera. San Pedro departure, returning to San Diego. I usually drive to the pier parking in the ships parking lot for these short cruises as San Pedro is only three hours from our home. This cruise would be different because getting from San Diego back to the car would be challenging for me. Pepe and I take public transportation whenever possible, since Pepe is a...
I am recently retired from a long working life. Well over 70 years of age, somewhat financially secure with a small retirement income. I debated with myself on how to spend my retirement years. I am in reasonably good health; however a hearing disability allows me to have an ADA Certified Service Dog. Pepe is a small, male Chihuahua mix, 8 years old, that accompanies me everywhere. I've lived in Tehachapi for nearly 30 years, enjoy the "four seasons" and like the lifestyle we locals get used to....
