The Dog....That One....In The Picture....

...that's Bob The Dog. My companion on this trip to paradise. I have known Bob since moments after his birth 'cause his mom, the neighborhood trollop, decided to deliver him on my sofa!

Bob and I have considered one another a long time.

And Bob has made the transition to this new way of life pretty well and quick. Overall, I have been proud of him.

So why, on this day, is he lucky to be alive??

FOUR HOURS EARLIER: I am enjoying the company of the aforementioned best friend in the world and his family. It is the event to introduce his daughter's VERY significant others parents to the larger circle-O-friends. And I am dutifully going back to the chariot to tend to Bob and what his needs are at that moment. He even got to join in 'round the chimera as the attendees enjoyed a variety of adult beverage and toasted marshmallows. Then back to the chariot for his good nights sleep.

Well seems our friend, Bob The Dog, had no intentions on sleeping. Instead decided to "customize"the interior of the chariot.

SIDETRACK: When my sons were learning to drive and then ultimately used my vehicles on a regular basis, I allowed then 2 incidents each before I banned them from further use. So...2 customizations on other peoples cars happened and they got a pass for said incidents.

Look down................there!

Bob will be given the same grace. I mean, this is the last thing I need...but fair is fair.

Thus, Bob The Dog gets to live another day.....and after this rain delay...and commerce delay..(have someone coming to buy scrap metal from me this monday)...he and I head out tomorrow evening.

Until next time...


UPDATE: Bob The Dog and I went down the street to another neighbor's home to chill. Well, the ladies there couldn't resist and Bob got a much needed bath and then got lotioned. Lucky doggy!

Trying To Get My Chevy Out Of Dodge

Getting ready to head out by Saturday or Sunday. I have been looking at websites showing free or really cheap places to stay headed towards Dixie. Like The Beatles sang,"I'll Follow The Sun"

(Damn...I wish I had something other than this very small window to type in. There must be a way.)

It is with a dash of apprehension I do this. It's a big break from what I have had at my disposal for the last month and a half. Currently I have:

Power

Internet

Showers

Support

This will be it...on my own!

And I have to put into practice some of the things I have passed along to you. And, as long as I have internet, I have access to the world.

SIDETRACK: I watched the Season Premier of "House, M.D." last night and it was outstanding!!! One show that has never failed me.

Believe it or not, I actually have a palm sized video projector in the van. It's this incredible little thing given to me by BenQ to evaluate (I am full of surprises, no?) So if I ever get a hankerin' for that big screen look...I have that as well.

SIDETRACK REDUX: Yes it's been listed on Craig's...no buyers. Bad economy. Still available, though.

What I won't have?

Security. Grounding. Safety.

Kinda essential to one's well being, yes? At least to me it is.


She looks pretty mighty...formidable...foreboding...yes? It does to me, and I should feel safe in it. I suppose, overall, I do. This van has protected me in the past. It even healed itself in the middle of the night in the middle of Pennsylvania. (Honest...it really did. Ask me about that sometime.)

When I get called to my new address in the sky, my kids have instructions to place my carcass in this van and bury me in it.

When very few loved me, this chariot did.

Kinda like the way things are now.



So...Miss Chevy Van Twenty and I are getting ready. At minimum, it's a trial run. At most...it may finally be the beginning of the new beginning.

It has to start somewhere! Sometime!




Time is now!

Advance Warnings

As if the colder temps, once the sun takes it's leave, weren't enough of a hint. (I mean I could blame that on global cooling. Remember that from the 70's??) But now the leaves are giving me a definite heads up! There is no denying it....fall is here. Being addressless and all can be a kinda neat adventure. Not so much an adventure when it starts being cold at night.

Now it's gonna suck for a bit!

I will allow that the days have been at a perfect temperature. But the last couple of nights...yuck. Good thing I have some gas in the tank and could run my engine for a bit. Going to hit a few yard sales this weekend to see if I can find a previously loved sleeping bag or 2. At some point I'll get a mattress like I had before and be set up proper.

So....my eyes look south and need to get focused on getting outta here.

GNMMBNM10377037

Someone Stop The Earth...

....from traveling around the sun, please! That way, seasons kinda stop changing.

In my area, freeze warnings for tonight have been posted. Last night was pretty damn cold. There is something to be said for indoor living.

At some point soon I'll have to trek southward, but for now I am stuck here.

In New Jersey...

In my van...

In the cold.

But it is what it is and I'll deal with it. It's not deadly cold. And I can wake up and run the engine for heat. Uses up my gas, but que sera. I knew this would happen, but I am not really prepped for it.

What's that expression about what doesn't kill you????

And it won't...this is temporary. Actually becomes a bit of a motivator. Frankly, I am motivated just that resources are low right now.

(As I am typing this, a neighbor just pulled up and gave me 2 packs of smoke. Very nice of them!)

Tonight I have been invited to a friend's house to see people I have seen in some 20 or more years. A former drummer of mine reached out this past December and we have reconnected to a degree He's the one that put this together. They get to see my homeless guy beard in person!

The house has heat...and a bathroom!

Cool.

Not sure where I am headed with this post, I am pretty much just rambling. Don't feel sorry for me, keep good thoughts and prayers for my energy and resources to kick in and get me south!

Until next time....

Things I will miss...

...not so much about the house itself, but the things I relished when having lived here, in this neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, there have been some splendid, special moments that took place there in spite of my ambivalence towards the building . But the things that ground you, are the day to day

The very special mom and her beautiful children in the house behind me, in their yard nearly every warmish day. Barefoot, playing, making noise. And one was born on my birthday!!! Absolutely wonderful!

The mid day gatherings with my neighbor and his brother. Bronx Italians who would get into the most fierce arguments over...nothing. And then the moments where it was one laugh after another.

The same neighbor. My best friend in the world. And the great food he would make!

My basement bar. Some amazing things took place down there!

The nights spent in the kitchen with the aforementioned best friend, drinking Milwaukee's Best and shooting the shit for hours!

And last but not least...the giant pine tree across the street. At the VERY top, there was one branch that stood straight up, apart from the overall form of the tree. And on that single branch, I would see one bird at a time sit there, look around , and consider himself and the world he could view. I'd sit on my deck and just look up at that bird and for whatever reason, feel relaxed and at peace for a time.



(This is not the tree...but you can get an idea at the tippy top of the branch of which I type)

That branch broke off one year, but another was reborn shortly after. And again, one solitary bird at a time would stay and take in the vista before them. And again, I would look up and feel a calm over me.

My Sheriff's Sale occurred in February. When spring came, and the neighbors emerged once again into the sun, I looked up for that branch...and it was gone. No other appeared in it's place. Instead, many grew...many birds would perch...it just wasn't the same. I said to the aforementioned best friend in the world..."That's my sign. It's time for me to go."



So, my faithful readers, it is with a bit of regret I am moving on, but only a bit. The internet will keep the aforementioned best friend and I in touch. And I will visit from time to time. Maybe even be here on a day when that wonderful mom and her blessed children are out in the yard doing their thing.

I'll miss those things...but that one branch...the special branch....MY branch...

Is gone like I will be, soon.

Until next time...

Favors, If I May.....

A couple of things, you, my faithful readers can do for me.

Keep your eye out for a GREAT deal, or free, trailer. You know...bathroon, bedroom..home! I am in New Jersey, so geography is important.

Also, kindly forward links to this blog to everyone you can. I can use the readers and hopefully they will find something interesting from the ads that appear here. Support this blog by supporting those who advertise here.

Until next time....

Don't Let This Define You!!!!

I am not my addressless situation!!! I refuse to be identified by this temporary situation! So many posts I see on other sites, the bloggers and respondents make this who they are.

I have been described as eccentric, eclectic, generous, bright, talented, annoying, boisterous at times, etc. But I am not going to point to myself and say that I am homelessness..and neither should you.

To me this is an opportunity...a slow moving one, granted...but an opportunity none the less. I have wanted out of New Jersey since the mid 80's. One thing after another got in the way of that, and I was stuck here.

Happens.

I see this as God pushing me out the door. And truth be told, I brought some of this on myself. I have responsibility here. I have been victimized by certain things, impacted by certain things, without question. But I refuse to make my identity as that of a victim. That's weak. The untrue. That's pathetic.

I battle being seen as or feeling to be pathetic. And you should as well.

As I said in an earlier posting, I seek the place to spend the rest of my days and find that good fortune to put my talents, experiences, and creativity to good and profitable use.

Don't "be" your current circumstance! Don't be defined by what is a temporary situation. May become a LONG temporary, but at some point resolved and in the past.

Chin up...eyes front...D E E P breath...

You and I will move past this! You and I will prevail! You and I will NOT make this who we are! It's just what hand we have been dealt for now.

Until next time...

Theme Songs: Talkin' 'Bout My (Addressless) Generation

I have a soundtrack that constantly plays in my head. Admittedly, it's better than Satan asking me to do stuff, but can be annoying all the same. What happens is I see something...read something that kicks off the jukebox in my brain, and I find it playing over and over and over....

You get the idea. I heard this once described as "earworms", something that sticks in your mind that is catchy and can't be readily shaken off.

So...it is with this in mind I offer a couple of theme songs for our current state of affairs.

First Roger Miller: King Of The Road




Second: One of my favorite bands The Who: Going Mobile





Why not email or comment your songs for the road? I look forward to your suggestions.

Until next time....

Readers From "Wish Upon A Hero"...

Without intending to, I created a post that ran afoul of the rules there. I figured if I was offering something to raise some cash for myself, it would be easier for Heroes to help, as opposed to sending cash.

There was an issue, in that, it's considered spamming...offering for sale...etc. and that is against the website's policy. I have NO quarrel with Wishuponahero.com at all. They do great things there. But I wanted to explain why my post there disappeared.

So please continue to visit and tell anyone and everyone to stop by. I can see some links coming from email accounts, so I know the word is getting out.

Thank you!

Until next time....

Neccesary Diversions

This geo-flexible lifestyle can be pretty daunting...and take it's toll on your energy and state of mind. I can't imagine having the responsibility of kids being in tow during this phase of your existence. Thus, something to break that darkish spell can be quite helpful! Here are a few links to help you along in that quest.

Sidetrack: Just a note, the adverts you see to the right and below this post....you click and I make a little bit of money. So if something there piques your interest, kindly feel free to click away!

Ok...

Here's one I just happened across and, lo and behold, it is Walmart themed!

http://peopleofwalmart.com/

This one is funny as hell!!! A real pick me up...some items.

One thing I did miss was my cable TV. Although I can't get FOX NEWS shows via the 'net, I can watch many regular full length shows on my laptop. Streaming video has come a LONG way and the quality is quite good. A month ago this was recommended to me but I pretty much blew off that notion, being the video/audio quality snob that I am. When I finally gave this one website a shot, I was very surprised!

www.hulu.com

You can catch full length episodes from FOX, NBC, ABC the next day after they first air, and some full length flicks, as well as vintage TV shows. The other night I watched the first episode of the original Adam 12. Man was that show hokey as hell!!! And the commercials are much shorter than when you watch whatever program when aired.

There are also some shows for the kiddies, too.

Programs are presented in either Low Res or Hi Res and in stereo. Not full Dolby Digital 5.1, but certainly adequate for viewing while in this foot loose and fancy free mode.

All 3 cable news networks offer some streaming, live content as well. That way you can keep up on current events for those times when you are feeling really good about stuff, and need to be brought down a peg or two! And of course, there is always YouTube.

So there you have it! As I find more funny, interesting, and compelling sites I'll let y'all know.

Stay safe!

Until next time...

I Refuse To Be "Radicalized"!

Rant Flag Up!

Well..ok, mild rant.

I have been looking over some other homeless websites and I am seeing a fair amount of railing against the system....support for obamacare....more money for the homeless and housing. Complaining about the rich, the banks, Bush, conservatives...yadda yadda yadda!

Well here's my deal. I am, and will continue to be, very conservative. I would tell others I am to the right of Reagan but on this side of the soil. My homelessness has more to do with the likes of Rangel, Frank, and Dodd ( I can hear The Three Stooges going.."hello, hello, hello..HELLO!") than those of a red state temperment. Frankly, the biggest reason I am seriously considering relocating to Wyoming is it's Republican bent. And to spend some time with Dick Cheney in a duck blind.

But I digress....

My current state of affairs is not going to change that. I don't want to be poor...always on assistance....having to worry about the weather because I live outside. I want to regain the kinds of opportunities I have had in the past. And the current administration is working to prevent that...more government...less capitalism....growth....opportunity. What with Cap And Tax as well as Socialized Medicine. Not progressive, but regressive things.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have been on unemployment for some time now, and I do get the $25.00 a week Obama bonus. I have had food stamps in the past. and when I have had to, I am grateful for assistance I was able to get. But I don't want that for the rest of my life. Frankly, being out on my ass is probably a good thing! Get's me motivated to finally leave New Jersey and get moving toward something new and hopeful.

Thus, don't look for me to become liberal, progressive, or an anarchist because I am addressless. I really hope to be able to accomplish something new in my life, my next carreer, or be in a place where I can use talents I have already put to use in the past.

Wish me well, if you will, as I keep good thoughts for the safety and success of all. The safety and success we get from determination and a helping hand, not a lifelong handout.

Until next time....

P.S. Y'all should be listening to Mark Levin, Glenn Beck, etc. with a VERY open mind. I have loved politics and news since VERY young, and have worked in TV news. These guys are spot on.

Getting to know you....getting to know all about you...

After my first foray in an address flexible lifestyle, I would say I had new neighbors everyday. And I would take the time to get to know them. Exchange stories, just shoot the bull...and sometimes...one time....something quite poignant.

I was at a rest area in Pa., don't recall exactly which one, when a really good sized RV pulled in and parked in front of me. 15 minutes or so later, a guy came out and started shucking corn at the bench next to me. I could see his wife doing something at the sink through a window.

Sidetrack: I feel every person has a life story that is compelling, interesting, funny, etc. I had ofttimes mentioned I would like to create a TV series from a park bench, and just videotape my conversation with whoever sat next to or near me. To this day, I still want to give that concept a shot.

Anyhow...I digress....

I start my conversation with this guy and we exchange this and that, and then get down to why we are each on the road. I have mentioned mine at the time before here...separation from the una-ex. His was a worlds away different reason from mine.

His wife had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. At that time she had perhaps another 10-14 months to live. So they sold everything, bought this magnificent RV and decided, since they had no kids, to drive all over America. See all that they...together...could see as much as possible...experience as much as possible...with what time they had left.

That "compelling" thing I mention when sidetracked.

The point is, I learned from this guy. It had not been all that long ago at that time I had lost my wife to cancer. But beyond that, he gave me some tips and ideas to help me along in what I was experiencing at the time.

Networking...not always about finding a job.

You can get tips to save....to stay alive....places to stay....places to avoid....etc.

I would also happen along to something and weasel my way into it. I was watching a live feed for WBRE in Wilkes-Barre and introduced myself to the reporter-ette. She told me she liked my style and who to reach out to at the station for a job.

Got hired.

una-ex took that gift away....more on that MUCH later.

I was pretty much staying in a public park in Kingston and met up with someone who put me in touch with the Chamber Of Commerce guy trying to get an arena built. I wound up directing, shooting, editing the promo/marketing piece for that effort. I recall a late night voice over session in a grade school converted into condos. I had a FM radio guy as the talent and he was reading the copy like an FM radio guy. I directed him to read it like he was a scholar...teaching a class. Worked much better...the guy had a great voice!

The arena is standing and successful today!

Talk with and to ANYONE you can. Not only may you get info from them, they may learn from you as well. In Disney's "Tarzan", Phil Collins sings..

"In learning you may teach..and in teaching you will learn..."

Or something like that. You know what I mean.

Don't ya'?

Until next time....

Need A Cupcake And One Candle

It's the one month anniversary of my introduction to my new future!

Getting anxious to move out in to the world...just this last minute crap...as well as lack of fiscal resources currently.

So if you happen upon Bob The Dog and I...be sure to wave..and keep good thoughts for us.

BTW..you all should be listening to Glenn Beck!!!

And have a safe and wonderful Labor Day Weekend.

This Is For EVERYONE And ANYONE!!!!

Took a short road trip today, just because. There is a GREAT Scenic Overlook off of Route 80, and I wanted to get some video of Bob The Dog. Well, my camera threw a clot and won't read the 8 Gig SD Card, and the footage was lost, as were some stills.

So I pull into a full blown rest area to try some things to correct the situation (I couldn't and now have to deal with tech support tomorrow) and I started to notice something troubling.

Allow me to preface this by stating that rest areas are, by the very purpose they serve, full of transients. Momentary visitors stopping to hit the lavs...get a snack or drink from the vending machines....eat the sandwiches they packed....and other stuff.

I noticed cars pull into a spot or up next to the building....and kids..some times little kids..let out, I presume, to use the rest rooms. No adult accompanying them...left vulnerable to whatever could befall them. How much lazier could someone be????

When my kids were little and all, I wouldn't have even considered doing something like that! After my wife passed away, I was VERY grateful I had sons, when I found myself in a public place shortly after she died and they needed to pee.

Anyhow...get out of the damn car and walk your kids into the building!!! I mean, it's irresponsible enough to do something like that where you live. But to do so in a rest area is absolutely stupid! Especially on a highly traveled holiday/vacation time.

Grow up!

Until next time....

Simply Not There....

From time to time I will post feelings, thoughts, etc. about...stuff. Not always going to be about tips and all.

I am parked and camping in the van one lot away from my ex-house. At least 4 times a day, Bob The Dog and I march back and forth in front of it while he does his bidnez on the front lawn.

And I don't feel a thing. I don't long to be inside. I don't lament losing it. I have no feelings towards it. I try to find those feelings of loss...remorse...pain...they ain't there. Bad stuff happened to me while in that house.

3 Relationships..

My first wife passed from breast cancer.

The second wife did what she could at one time to ruin everything for me.

The last significant relationship evaporated in a heartbeat after 13 on and off years, after about 6 months of something really intense!!!

Since February life has been....disappointing. Change that...devastating.

Glad to leave it behind.

If it weren't for the fact stuff of mine is still in there and some legal lingering this and thats remain, I would be on my adventure already..heading out into the country to find the place..home...that I want want to die in. NOT that I want to die now, but when I draw my last breath, I want to be able to look around the room and say to myself...I made the right choice. I know if I had passed in this place, I'd be in hell even if I was an angel while I lived.

So I see this addressless thing I am dealing with as somewhat a blessing in disguise. I'll be ok..I have been before. Maybe a bit diminished...the light just that much dimmer inside me..but ok. Alone..but ok.

Anyhow...from time to time I may wear my cyber heart on my virtual sleeve. Next post....about networking.

Until next time....