Hi,
This entry is of no particular topic but some odds and ends. Instead of writing in the patio in the back of my truck or by a quiet pool, I'm writing inside the cool air conditioning of a fast food place about 60 meters from where I'm parking tonight; kind of different sitting barefoot in AC watching the outside traffic traveling in the heat. It's about 6 PM and the place is empty though the drive-thru is busy but that part is always busy at all times of the night. Whoever owns this franchise probably lives in Hawaii...hell, probably owns a major piece of it.
Well, the Dallas area has had four straight days of sunny skies with pleasant breezes and the high temperatures of the day in the low 90's; not bad. I may have to start wearing shoes a bit more with the sunshine beaming through; the pavement is getting a little too warm for bare feet. So far, I only wearing shoes when I have to enter into some places of business. Saves on socks...
I've had less than two cigarettes today and I know of a place that, if walked, the round trip would be less than ten minutes and there is a high probability I could experience a highly lucrative 'butt harvesting'. But it is hot enough to make me sweat and I don't wanna. I guess my current need for tobacco is over shadowed by my unwillingness to sweat. Maybe that particular dark mother of evil doesn't have quite the hold on me as she once had.
Tuesday was an odd day. I had a couple of tasks that I planned on but I missed my 'window of availability' that morning that exists between 4:45 and 5:45 AM during the week for attending to hygiene and, of course, washing some items of clothing. That is the first time I missed such an opportunity. I had to settle for a face wash and teeth brushing only. So I postponed those tasks till tomorrow since I would have been self-conscious of my ...unkempt state. Plus I had a zit.
A benefactor paid a visit Sunday night and dropped off some much needed resources - namely, a cell phone with airtime, fuel for Black Thunder and for me. He also bought me the first well balanced meal that I've had in awhile. Afterward, I again knew the feeling of full. As for the cell phone, it is the first time I've had one and, knowing me, he provided the supporting documentation that came with the purchase. He knows what a techie I am. Anyway, the fuel and the mobile communication capability significantly increases the odds in my favor...and there is the added benefit that he and his family are pulling for me which means a lot in itself. As for the resources that were delivered, when I looked at the volume of the bounty that night, I wondered where am I going to store it all. The next morning I broke it out and thought things over. As it turned out, everything fit with the exception of three items. The space available in the cab remains the same which means that I won't have to reduce any of my indoor activities...such as they are. The items that I returned were because of not that I couldn't fit them in but rather due to their ready availability in my current environments and those returned are: the case of water - at this point, I've experienced no difficulty obtaining that resource; unlike Jeremiah Johnson, I'm existing in an area with a basic supporting infrastructure where this resource is abundant and I deem it a low probability that I will find myself, one morning after back flipping out of the cab of the truck, in the middle of the Sahara desert like I've seen on some survival shows and forced to live off the land while a camera crew follows me around carefully recording my slow demise. Same reasoning applied to the two paper products. The refund was downloaded to a gift card that will provide several more meals. So, like Jeremiah, I wasted nothing and I didn't have to kill and skin a fur bearing varmint. By the way, a 5 oz. can of chicken mixed with two packets of mayo and one packet of Pizza Hut crushed red pepper and spread on a split roll of 25 cents of ethnic bread roll makes a very satisfying meal.
Next item is about pool noodles, you know, those tubular things with a hole in them that you can use at a pool to assist you in floating whether you can swim or not; they come in bright colors. Well, there are a couple of grownup uses that I'm sure that the engineers didn't think of; on second thought maybe they did. They can be readily substituted for a bonafide beer bong and, believe you me, works with flying colors. Now I'm not advocating alcohol abuse...I'm just saying if you're caught short and want a quick beer buzz and have a noodle handy, you're good to go. They can also be used as a javelin and are somewhat aerodynamic for a few meters. No pain is involved upon contact and they're too big and light to poke an eye out or remove a piece of your delicate, moisturized hide. Just don't try to chunk one while it's in use as a beer bong; some of the natives might become upset over misuse of a natural resource and it might be difficult to throw when someone's lips are still attached to one end of it.
I sold my Toshiba laptop that I bought in '99...that is 1999! Can't believe I had it for nearly eight years! I only used it for word processing and email, nothing that would cause it to pull a cyber muscle. I didn't have broadband so it was kinda slow in that respect but never had any problems with it. These days I use the library resource; it's faster, the environment cooler and there is coffee (that's right, I started drinking the stuff). I got 20 whole bucks for the laptop at a place that buys those sort of things and, of course, Black Thunder demanded her half which she will get in fuel. I hope the laptop gets a good home and that it will be well taken care of; still a lotta life left there. Of course, that frees up some space in the cab of BT that I can use for...welllll, not really known at this time. The space is too small for a large flat screen but is just about right for one Amazonian pygmy who is shorter than usual and their own cooler of cold beer (and noodle)...to share.
Well, that's all for now. Take care and a nice weekend.
David
Friday, July 20, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Homeless - 20
Greetings, fellow humans,
Hope ya'll a good weekend...I certainly did. We actually got so see the sun and some blue sky in Dallas!
I thought I would share a few things with you about your designated camping spots, about events that you should be prepared for that will more than likely occur in the early morning hours while you are resting in your vehicle that probably exceed the parameters of your expectations concerning this lifestyle. The following episodes have happened since the first of May when this way of life was gently ushered into my arena of experience. To wit and in no particular order:
A couple of woman, mid to late 20's, pulled into the lot around 3:30 AM and drove to the grassy area that that I usually park by. They stopped their late model car and quickly ejected from the transport to expeditiously make their way to the grassy knoll where they then proceeded to puke their young guts out or, as I prefer to term that activity, 'scream for traction'. After a couple of minutes, it seemed to me that they were unwilling to enter the 24 hour 7-11 that was less than thirty meters away possibly due to the store traffic and their condition and appearance, which would have in all likelihood, be quite fetching in happier times. I walked over with a towel and large bottle of water and offered a opportunity to 'freshen up' which they wordlessly accepted. It was not a pretty sight. Talking with them, I learned that they had been at a bar just a few minutes away since getting off work celebrating a week's end. After a bit they recovered sufficiently and got back in their care where one of them lit a cigarette. I asked if she had a spare and was handed a nearly full pack and thanked and they drove off into the night. Postscript: the towel survived.
One night I awoke when a car had pulled up within 2-3 spaces from me (you are going to spot a pattern soon) and two young women were yelling at each other with their windows down. I didn't move and remained prone in the cab. It seemed that the difficulty was based on a choice that one of them had made regarding a sexual partner, or to use a term conducive in more polite circles, 'a reproductive opportunity'. After a few minutes of this, they quieted down for a bit and the car drove off. Please draw your own conclusion regarding the dynamics of their relationship. Postscript: I went back to sleep.
At one of my camping spots, mostly on weekend nights but sometimes during the week, too, there will a vehicle that pulls up and sits there idling with lights turned off. After a brief wait, another vehicle pulls beside and one of the occupants jumps into the other vehicle for 2-3 minutes, then returns to their own vehicle and both drive off. One of the transports is invariably a tricked out SUV and the other one is not so stylishly modified. The 'visitors' vary in race and sex but the ethnicity of the SUV remains constant. Draw your own conclusions. Postscript: I don't wanna know, don't need to know.
There were a couple of times during May that a police cruiser paused near my vehicle and sat there for a few minutes. I have no doubt that my plates were being checked for anything untoward. It seems that the conclusion was reached that I am harmless and there was no need for a more aggressive deep sensor probe that involved white, plastic gloves. Since that event hasn't been repeated, I assume that there is an entry in Big Brother's database that reflects my current status. Postscript: some of my body parts are more relaxed these days.
There has been more than one 'come on' from 'both sides of the pond'. I don't know your orientation but mine is the ol' standard meat and potatoes and such activity is not on my list at this time. Maybe it's the method being employed, i.e. - pulling up close to Black Thunder in the early AM and attempting suggestive conversation while appreciably hammered. I'm used to such behavior but usually I'm hammered too and there is music playing. Maybe I'm getting too picky...
One night I awoke upon hearing approaching footsteps and tensed. I sat up when there was a rapping on my passenger side window and saw two guys; by appearances, maybe high school or early college age. One of them asked if I was alright. As the conversation continued, I noticed a distinctive aroma and commented. They offered and I declined. Jeeez, it was after 3 AM! Remember what I said earlier about keeping your wits about you. The one that was doing the talking them went thru a list of 'party favors' asking if I needed any, of which I declined and they went on their way. Now, I don't have a problem with drug usage as long as it is not the focal point, the be-all and end-all of a person's life that precludes professional and personal goals and attainments. At most, those experiences should be an infrequent side show. Postscript: damn glad a cop didn't stop by to ask what was going on and one of the guys responded with "Nuthin, Ocifer!!".
A early Sunday AM, an white SUV pulled close to Black Thunder; I mean so close, a large human would have had difficulty walking in between. When I retire for the evening, I leave both windows and the rear sliding window open several inches to take advantage of the night coolness and whatever breeze that might be happening since my truck doesn't have a ventilation fan either (!!?!). That's probably one of the reasons that I'm such a light sleeper these days. Anyway, I heard low voices and sneaked a peek over the window sill of the door and saw a woman preparing to...relieve herself. I soundlessly retreated and prayed intensely for a cloak of invisibility. After she was done (yes, I heard!) and stood up, she noticed one of my legs propped up and rapped on the window and asked if I was alright. After a few beats, they left and since I was awake anyway, I got out to stretch out - have to do that at least once a night to minimize stiffness in the morning. That's when I noticed that some of her...biological byproduct...had flowed around Black Thunder's left front paw. AUUGGGHHHH!!!!! Postscript: I apologized profusely to BT and told her this life ain't easy and things will be different soon.
One thing I don't understand about these episodes is that the parking lots in both camping spots are huge. What is it with vehicles pulling up so close to me in the early AM (thank the gods the SUV doesn't!)? Does BT exude an aura of peace and protection over the area that humans sublimely detect and gravitate toward? Only the gods know...
Well, that's it as far as significant late night events and I hope that is as far as it goes. There are a couple of other episodes but they are of a similar flavor already related to. I would really not have to deal with 1 or more AKs spewing 9mm rounds indiscriminately in my immediate location since they tend to leave such distasteful and unsightly marks.
In concluding, I must share with you the loss of a close friend that expired while in the line of duty, fighting the good fight against despicable evil right up until the very end. It was my oral-b electric toothbrush that had been deprived of a power source for recharging since the first of May. The manual indicated that it could last without recharging for 30 days with two uses daily but it lasted until this morning, over 60 days' of impeccable service, performing its' sacred duty with a song in its electronic heart and a smile on its' lipless face. It hung on until cleaning the last quadrant of my mouth, on the very last molar and then collapsed. But even in death, it's bristles twitched sporadically against the tooth as if unwilling to relinquish its' cherished duty that it had performed faithfully for so long. You will be sorely missed and well remembered, old friend, as I manually assume your duty after so many years...
Hope ya'll a good weekend...I certainly did. We actually got so see the sun and some blue sky in Dallas!
I thought I would share a few things with you about your designated camping spots, about events that you should be prepared for that will more than likely occur in the early morning hours while you are resting in your vehicle that probably exceed the parameters of your expectations concerning this lifestyle. The following episodes have happened since the first of May when this way of life was gently ushered into my arena of experience. To wit and in no particular order:
A couple of woman, mid to late 20's, pulled into the lot around 3:30 AM and drove to the grassy area that that I usually park by. They stopped their late model car and quickly ejected from the transport to expeditiously make their way to the grassy knoll where they then proceeded to puke their young guts out or, as I prefer to term that activity, 'scream for traction'. After a couple of minutes, it seemed to me that they were unwilling to enter the 24 hour 7-11 that was less than thirty meters away possibly due to the store traffic and their condition and appearance, which would have in all likelihood, be quite fetching in happier times. I walked over with a towel and large bottle of water and offered a opportunity to 'freshen up' which they wordlessly accepted. It was not a pretty sight. Talking with them, I learned that they had been at a bar just a few minutes away since getting off work celebrating a week's end. After a bit they recovered sufficiently and got back in their care where one of them lit a cigarette. I asked if she had a spare and was handed a nearly full pack and thanked and they drove off into the night. Postscript: the towel survived.
One night I awoke when a car had pulled up within 2-3 spaces from me (you are going to spot a pattern soon) and two young women were yelling at each other with their windows down. I didn't move and remained prone in the cab. It seemed that the difficulty was based on a choice that one of them had made regarding a sexual partner, or to use a term conducive in more polite circles, 'a reproductive opportunity'. After a few minutes of this, they quieted down for a bit and the car drove off. Please draw your own conclusion regarding the dynamics of their relationship. Postscript: I went back to sleep.
At one of my camping spots, mostly on weekend nights but sometimes during the week, too, there will a vehicle that pulls up and sits there idling with lights turned off. After a brief wait, another vehicle pulls beside and one of the occupants jumps into the other vehicle for 2-3 minutes, then returns to their own vehicle and both drive off. One of the transports is invariably a tricked out SUV and the other one is not so stylishly modified. The 'visitors' vary in race and sex but the ethnicity of the SUV remains constant. Draw your own conclusions. Postscript: I don't wanna know, don't need to know.
There were a couple of times during May that a police cruiser paused near my vehicle and sat there for a few minutes. I have no doubt that my plates were being checked for anything untoward. It seems that the conclusion was reached that I am harmless and there was no need for a more aggressive deep sensor probe that involved white, plastic gloves. Since that event hasn't been repeated, I assume that there is an entry in Big Brother's database that reflects my current status. Postscript: some of my body parts are more relaxed these days.
There has been more than one 'come on' from 'both sides of the pond'. I don't know your orientation but mine is the ol' standard meat and potatoes and such activity is not on my list at this time. Maybe it's the method being employed, i.e. - pulling up close to Black Thunder in the early AM and attempting suggestive conversation while appreciably hammered. I'm used to such behavior but usually I'm hammered too and there is music playing. Maybe I'm getting too picky...
One night I awoke upon hearing approaching footsteps and tensed. I sat up when there was a rapping on my passenger side window and saw two guys; by appearances, maybe high school or early college age. One of them asked if I was alright. As the conversation continued, I noticed a distinctive aroma and commented. They offered and I declined. Jeeez, it was after 3 AM! Remember what I said earlier about keeping your wits about you. The one that was doing the talking them went thru a list of 'party favors' asking if I needed any, of which I declined and they went on their way. Now, I don't have a problem with drug usage as long as it is not the focal point, the be-all and end-all of a person's life that precludes professional and personal goals and attainments. At most, those experiences should be an infrequent side show. Postscript: damn glad a cop didn't stop by to ask what was going on and one of the guys responded with "Nuthin, Ocifer!!".
A early Sunday AM, an white SUV pulled close to Black Thunder; I mean so close, a large human would have had difficulty walking in between. When I retire for the evening, I leave both windows and the rear sliding window open several inches to take advantage of the night coolness and whatever breeze that might be happening since my truck doesn't have a ventilation fan either (!!?!). That's probably one of the reasons that I'm such a light sleeper these days. Anyway, I heard low voices and sneaked a peek over the window sill of the door and saw a woman preparing to...relieve herself. I soundlessly retreated and prayed intensely for a cloak of invisibility. After she was done (yes, I heard!) and stood up, she noticed one of my legs propped up and rapped on the window and asked if I was alright. After a few beats, they left and since I was awake anyway, I got out to stretch out - have to do that at least once a night to minimize stiffness in the morning. That's when I noticed that some of her...biological byproduct...had flowed around Black Thunder's left front paw. AUUGGGHHHH!!!!! Postscript: I apologized profusely to BT and told her this life ain't easy and things will be different soon.
One thing I don't understand about these episodes is that the parking lots in both camping spots are huge. What is it with vehicles pulling up so close to me in the early AM (thank the gods the SUV doesn't!)? Does BT exude an aura of peace and protection over the area that humans sublimely detect and gravitate toward? Only the gods know...
Well, that's it as far as significant late night events and I hope that is as far as it goes. There are a couple of other episodes but they are of a similar flavor already related to. I would really not have to deal with 1 or more AKs spewing 9mm rounds indiscriminately in my immediate location since they tend to leave such distasteful and unsightly marks.
In concluding, I must share with you the loss of a close friend that expired while in the line of duty, fighting the good fight against despicable evil right up until the very end. It was my oral-b electric toothbrush that had been deprived of a power source for recharging since the first of May. The manual indicated that it could last without recharging for 30 days with two uses daily but it lasted until this morning, over 60 days' of impeccable service, performing its' sacred duty with a song in its electronic heart and a smile on its' lipless face. It hung on until cleaning the last quadrant of my mouth, on the very last molar and then collapsed. But even in death, it's bristles twitched sporadically against the tooth as if unwilling to relinquish its' cherished duty that it had performed faithfully for so long. You will be sorely missed and well remembered, old friend, as I manually assume your duty after so many years...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)