Stuck Between Gears
Waiting on repairs, leaning on family, and finding progress where we can
This week has been an interesting one.
Ruby and I have settled into a temporary roost here in Southern Oregon. We’re currently staying with family while the van is—once again—back in the shop.
The last time we checked in, we had just arrived home after a stressful journey. Since then, it’s become clear that the van repair is proving more complicated than expected. To be fair, the van itself isn’t being difficult. The warranty company, however, is another story.
They’re requesting additional photos before approving a transmission replacement—photos that would require a complete teardown of the van. The dealer’s response was simple: Sure, but who’s paying for that? The warranty company says they’ll only cover it if the photos justify the replacement. And so, here we sit, at a stalemate. There’s more to the story, but the short version is this: progress is stalled, and my frustration continues to simmer.
In the meantime, I’ve been putting my energy where I can—into producing quality content for HiveWire Daily, the relaunched and rebranded news outlet I previously operated as Klamath Falls News. Since the relaunch on October 27, traffic has exceeded expectations. KFN used to average about one million social media impressions per month. HiveWire Daily has significantly surpassed that. In November alone, we reached two million views, and in just seven weeks total, we’ve crossed 4.3 million views collectively.
Last week, I was able to make a quick trip to Klamath Falls to drop some items into storage, reconnect with former clients, attend the Chamber’s holiday gathering, and get a much needed haircut at Sammy’s Parlor. It was genuinely good to see familiar faces. Ruby came along, of course, and once again proved she’s far better at networking than I am. She was the life of the party. I probably should’ve brought a dog to these things years ago.
While we didn’t secure any new advertising or marketing contracts during that visit, the seeds were planted. I’ll keep watering them and see what grows.
Beyond that, there’s not much more to report this week—except that Ruby finally got a much-needed bath. Her last one was way back in July, and she was overdue. She’s now incredibly soft and feeling like a whole new puppy.
Until next time, my friends. Journey safe, and we hope to see you out on the road again soon.
~ Brian and Ruby
Ruby and I are grateful for you — truly. Every person who reads, follows, and supports this journey helps keep us moving, even on the days when the road feels heavy. Thank you for being here, for believing in us, and for giving this adventure meaning.
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