Homeless - 30

Hi,

What's new with you, fellow human? Hopefully, something good like your loving spouse won a lotto, your child whipped the holy bejesus out of the school bully, your offspring graduated from college and will begin supporting you for a change or maybe you got that recipe just right.

Well, I showed destiny who was in control of this swirling chaos that is currently my life. I shared with you that I had tasks that required me to be up and about by 5 AM in a previous entry. That didn't happen; I slept in till 7 AM. I thought 'OK, must have needed the additional rest'. Our bodies and minds are like that, you know. What I had planned for that day can be accomplished the following day. However, that night it rained and it was heavy enough that I had to close the truck windows. It got uncomfortably warm. I tried to come up with another location where I could sleep with the windows open but to no avail. Finally, around 1:30 AM I turned the truck on to utilize the ventilation system. I let the vehicle run for about 20 minutes which was enough to cool the interior down and I was able to sleep for about an hour before I had to repeat the cycle. Around 4 AM the rain stopped and I was able to open the windows for the coolness to enter the cab of the truck. I went back to sleep and was awakened by a light rain gently pelting my young supple face...at 8:30 AM! After the counter in my head incremented to 19515, I unfolded out of the vehicle to stretch. By the way, that counter incrementation is one of the first thoughts I have in the morning upon awakening. It's the number of days I've been alive. After I stretched for a few seconds, I turned around and a phone guy was looking at me from a couple of parking spaces away. Wearing nothing but shorts and a smile, I said good morning. He replied in kind and immediately altered his location. For two consecutive mornings, I've missed my window of availability for hygiene protocols. It's not as bad as one would think; after face washing and a toothbrush, things are decent. As Scarlett O'Hara would say 'Tomorrow is another day.' But...it doesn't matter if I have to go thru Satan himself, there will be no '3 peat'...if I may be so humble to request of destiny.

For those of you wondering why I didn't use the truck AC, I didn't due to fuel considerations. I haven't used the AC all summer.

I was talking with a benefactor recently and during the course of that conversation I became aware that I haven't shared my game plan with you in detail. I would hope that by now, with what I shared with you, you would have enough confidence in me to assume that I'm not exactly brimming with joy about the current set of circumstances that I'm navigating and that I am pursuing options to alter them. It's not my nature to just accept things as the way they are. Game plan as follows:

My primary task is the continuation and completion of the other writing project, with the goal of a finished product by summer of 08 and begin shopping for an agent. I work on that project on a daily basis, last week notwithstanding, by writing and/or structuring what I'm going to write. This task is the number one priority above all other considerations and will continue to be as long as I can metabolize oxygen. I did not create that project; it chose me. Sounds odd but that is how it unfolded and I now have that responsibility.

My secondary task is the continuation of this journal with 1-2 entries per week as per the defined scope of this particular project. Unless I embark on another project that requires much physicality for a short duration...and if it doesn't kill me.

All other tasks, endeavors or actions on my part will directly support the above two items. If there is a conflict, the primary task, within reasonable boundaries, will take priority.

Well, there you have my strategic orientation for the next 12-14 months. Now, for the tactical considerations concerning the supporting tasks in decreasing importance:

1) part-time work - 30 hrs weekly max or 2 weeks on then 2 weeks off, weekend work no problem; no work that leaves me exhausted at day's end; open to another location; no investment in work, t
that is to say that I'm not thinking about it during off-duty.

2) shelter - could live out of BT for awhile but renting a room would be ideal, maybe cheap studio in decent part of town; if unable to find palatable arrangements, BT will suffice until things change.

Now you are aware of the strategic and tactical boundaries of my goals. It is important to note that the above only relates to my linear endeavors; the non-linear portion of me has separate aspirations. And as with frogs, plans have a way of bumping into things. Adjustments to plan highly probable.

There is an above average probability that the secondary task will be concluded at some point after the transition to the next stage of my...existence. Barring an 'abrupt contract termination' and acceptance of the output of the primary task, both unknowns, the work of the primary task will consume my remaining time with additional installments; no less than 6 but no more than 9. All considerations are, of course, at the whim of the powers that be.

And I know what some of you are thinking; that if I win a lotto or rediscover love or something else that is equally monumental, everything I've just written will diminish in stature. Not so, Billy Bob. It doesn't matter if a unicorn showed up in the morning at the hot tub with an acclamation proclaiming me as Overlord of the Galaxy, the primary task will take priority in my thoughts and actions until fate decrees otherwise.

By the way, on the Overlord issue; I will be quite benevolent. I have very few whims and they can be satisfied simply. There will be free tailgating twice during the week as well as on weekends. No taxes, free health care and education, cable programs with substance, official dress code will be shorts and tank top (footwear optional), a deep tissue massage received by everyone everyday, all will die of old age, 20 hr work week with 6 months off during the year and free retirement, free ice cream, free...


David