Two-Lane Bloggin’

Current Mood: Silly

Before I moved to Central West Virginia, I never heard of “free gas” or “free water.” Now, here on the farm, I crank the heat in winter without a thought, and take long, hot showers until the water runs cold.

Of course, we still pay for electric, but we work to keep that utility bill low the best we can. For example, the minute it was warm enough to dry clothes outside on the line — I discontinued use of the dryer. Besides, in a house without air conditioning, who wants to heat up the place with the dryer running?

We splurge for hi-speed Internet, but feel that it’s a balance since we refuse to pay for cable or satellite television. We can watch news, weather, shows, movies — on the computer, if we wish. We also splurge for Netflix movie rentals — but still, Netflix and Internet combined is still cheaper than one Direct TV bill.

We have a garden. If I lived in the city, I wouldn’t have lunched on a fresh-picked cucumber yesterday — nestled on a bed of fresh-picked leaf lettuce.

I worry about those in our country who can’t grow their own food, or survive without utility services, or have any idea how to cut these expenses.

I could never survive the urban jungle. Where on earth would your plant your beans?

Filed under: A Day in the Life on July 8th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Current Mood: Meditative

The current economy is tough on small businesses, new businesses, old businesses. I’ve seen articles on various media outlets on the topic of all three. It’s like dissecting the downfall of the world’s economy, featuring each symptom without making any true diagnosis.

Several people have said that they don’t know how we do the magazine. How we get by, how we’re making it, etc. It’s understandable. Hundreds of similar publications have come and gone in West Virginia, popular but unsupported, or mismanaged, or underfunded, or whatever. I can think of five, right off the top of my head, two which have taken great blows in the last year alone.

To anyone casually-known that asks, I say we’re doing great. But the truth is, NO one is doing great right now. All of us are feeling a pinch. The thing about Frank and I though, is Frank and I are accustomed to feeling pinched, we are fortunate to have the choice to live in rural West Virginia, and we don’t have children.

Accustomed to Feeling Pinched 

When Frank and I met — many, many moons ago — we were both in the bottom, black-slime levels of our entire lives. We lived in a secluded cabin on top of a mountain in Wirt County (See http://www.twolanelivin.com/Archives/dec07tlfl113.html), with wood heat, water from a cistern of rain water, and 4-wheel drive only in the winter. We were both jobless, and in debt. But, it was a healing and recouperation time for both of us. We learned to do without frivolities, and thus, learned to appreciate simpler things.

Then, we both got jobs in the rat race. We paid off debt, upgraded our lives and surroundings, had dinner out alot, doubled our VHS collection. And at one point, we found ourselves in Chicago Illinois, each of us with offers for high-dollar positions in a toy company. We chose to be unemployed in West Virginia instead, and came back to Frank’s family’s farm.

Then we were feeling pinched again, and we got used to it.

We found 9 to 5 jobs here, good jobs, with benefits — and we were miserable. In the meantime, we just got used to doing without some things, and like it. We don’t pay for cable or satellite, we don’t go out much, we try not to be wasteful — some things, after a while, become automatic.

For example: The minute the weather broke for summer, I quit drying clothes in the dryer. Savings? Up to $7 a month.

Also, we already make a habit of getting everything we need in a single trip to town. We even check with family members before we go to see what they need.

We use candles and lanterns for evening lighting when we’re watching movies.

We close up the house in the summer before the heat gets in — and don’t have air conditioning.

We use coupons. We cut back on our meat and dairy. We work to be happy with what we have.

So many people wonder how we’re “doing it” - but I wonder, do they know how to “do it” too?

Filed under: A Day in the Life, Two-Lane Livin' on June 28th, 2008 | No Comments »

Current Mood: Excited

Starting this month, we’ll have delivery notice commercials on two local radio stations, 105 WKQV (105.5) and The Summit 100.3.

The spots will let readers know that the new issue is available, and will feature some of the topics within.

We heard one yesterday (actually two) while we were on delivery.

It’s a strange thing to be delivering magazines, and then hear someone on the radio tell the whole world what you’re doing….

Filed under: Two-Lane Livin' on June 26th, 2008 | No Comments »

Current Mood: Happy

Delivery of Two-Lane Livin’ magazine takes five to six days, depending on weather, vehicles, appointments, unexpected issues, etc.

On at least three of those days, we have two vehicles running in separate directions.

First off, 15,000 copies won’t fit in one vehicle, so we normally take two to pick up the print-run from the printer. (In good weather, we can tow the trailer on the Jimmy, but only if it’s good weather.)

From the printer in Parkersburg, we both head to Elizabeth, where we split off. I deliver Elizabeth, then run down Rt. 5 to Grantsville, then come on home. Frank takes Rt. 14 to Spencer, delivers in Spencer, then comes home along Rt. 33.

Then we unload about 10,000 copies into the house, only leaving enough in each vehicle for the next day’s runs.

If you were to come to our house right now, and step in the front door, you would be surrounded by 6′ high stacks of Two-Lane Livin’.

We don’t deliver by county. When we started this almost a year ago, that was our mistake. Thinking by county. We spent too much time (and gas) tracking back to get back home.

Eventually we mapped out delivery “circles” — For example, South Calhoun, South Roane, Clay and Kanawha are all on one run.

Once we had our circles mapped, then we studied and searched for “circle shortcuts.” On the Lewis / Upshur run, shortcuts eventually saved us nearly 100 miles.

You would think though, that after 10 months, delivery would be come routine.

It has not.

Closed roads, construction, timing, high water, doctor’s appointments, vehicle troubles, deer impacts — all these can set you off by an hour, or a whole day.

Still, delivery is the best part of the whole process. Hearing compliments, seeing people excitedly grab the new issue, jamming on the radio with the windows down, viewing the beauty of West Virginia’s two-lanes along the way…

Even though we’re covered in black newsprint smudges for a week, delivery is always an enjoyable adventure.

Filed under: Two-Lane Livin' on June 26th, 2008 | No Comments »

Obviously, since I’m writing this, Frank and I did not go camping as planned. Instead, we put in a vegetable garden this week, and are doing vehicle repairs this weekend. Sigh… Still, it looks a little wet for camping to me, but Frank will camp in any weather.

I will be getting a day trip in next week however, when I drive five hours East to pick up my Mother halfway home from my niece’s house. Five hours to get her, five hours to get her home, and another hour and a half to get me home… Oh well, it is Mother’s Day after all.

This is the first time in a long time that I’ve had my own veggie garden, and I admit, I am both excited and proud about it. I don’t know if I’ll have any luck with the venture — but I do know we’re going to have lots and lots of peppers. After we got the ground plowed, disked and ready — Frank and I both bought plants wherever we went. Not being together on these trips, and not coordinating with each other, we did get too much of some good things. If you like peppers — any kind of peppers — see us this fall. Still, I’m trying some new things this year — lettuce and carrots from seed, peas, onion sets. I’m doubtful about any success with the carrots or peas, but I do think there will be some measure of produce from the lettuce and onions…. A pound of onion sets should go a long way…

Mostly, I would say we have a salsa and relish garden. (Although I hope, this year, to share with all of you some of my hot pepper jelly!)

Filed under: A Day in the Life, Our Yard & Garden on June 22nd, 2008 | No Comments »