Kinda Like The Playboy Advisor...Minus The Sex and A Roof
"Hi Diddly Dee, No 'Lectricity For Me"
Who doesn't love puppies and kittens?!?!?It's like being an Uncle again.....even a taste of being a grandparent. Gotta Love It!
Carlos!! Owner of Vincenzo's Pizzeria (Budd Lake 973-681-8282) for feeding me nearly every day and his family for being so terrific and welcoming.
Who doesn't love puppies and kittens with Santa?!?!?
For my Russian friend who helps almost daily with my life's blood, gasoline.
To those who truly care about my well being...thank you!
In airtime order:
Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin for fighting the good fight, keeping me entertained and informed.
To the "Home Of Falling Prices",,,thanks for your ongoing hospitality.
(Carlos' wife, Gina, just brought me a tuna sub with TONS of toppings!)
To McDonald's and Panera Bread for the Wifi....thanks.
To my intestines for being as cooperative as they have been.
The folks on Hanover Ave. and in Morristown for their efforts and support. Not forgetting Sister Catherine's as well.
And last but certainly no way least...God. Not sure what you are trying to show me, but I keep watching. I look forward to meeting you soon.
I am sure I am forgetting someone or something, but I can blame my dain bramage for that.
So there you go. No whining, no DNR, no dying rainbows.
Until next time...
Yes...your humble narrator had a Pet Rock named Stanley. I took my stewardship of Stanley quite seriously. He got lot's of sun, mineral supplements daily, and plenty of "Stanley Time" with me.
He went everywhere with me, when he was still pocket sized. But as with all things, he continued to grow and my ability to tend to him compromised, which wasn't fair to him. I found a Pet Rock Rescue facility in, of all place, Boulder, Colorado. They had an excellent program where he and other Pet Rocks could find fellowship with one another, lot's of exercise so as to not gather any moss, as well as proper educational opportunities, mostly vocational.
(picture of Stanley on my Dad's 1966 Pontiac 2+2)
At the Rescue they could learn how to be a part of landscaping, and Stanley had a particular obsession with Stonehenge, aspiring to be like the stones there. 
I encouraged his dream in the regular letters I would send.
Time passed and Stanley drifted away from me, off to find his place in the sun...and the soil...to live out his dream.
Flash Forward.....
In this homeless adventure I am on, I have an ability to be geo-flexible, and decided to use said found freedom to look around and see if I could find Stanley somewhere. I used the Internet search database: lost_found_petrocks.org and got a lead as to where he is now.
I drove to the location, and there he was!!! Standing proud and tall and all growed up looking like a Stonehenge Boulder....was Stanley!!! Tears welled up in my eyes as I took in how much he had grown, strong and tall, and hoped he didn't hold my sending him for adoption against me.
BEHOLD....STANLEY!
Towering over the ground that lies in his shadow! Guarding over his little one's that lay at his base. I couldn't be more proud! Those "Flintstone Vitamins With Minerals" really paid off!
He understood my reasons for sending him to Boulder, and actually felt it gave him the best opportunity for fulfilling his dream. He introduced me to his young charges. one of which is named Stanley, Jr. and wants to follow in his Dad's imprint. 
We chatted a bit more, and the Stanley had to get back to his duties looking all towering and stuff. I had hoped we could email, but he isn't into the internet...no arms or fingers. That explains why I never got any letter back from him.
I promised to stop from time to time, and will do my level best to honor that. But I drove away, a lump in my throat, knowing he is doing well, had found his place and is living his dream, Bold and in the Sun!
Until Next Time....
There she is! The Conversion Van Of Wonders all decked out with festive lights shaped Tiki-ish, with a string of Palm Trees and Pink Flamingoes to boot!
I decided to get a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) adornment. And it's not as bleak as you may be thinking. I am not Suicidal, Homicidal, nor Americanidal. I am simply looking at this mostly logically, even if partially through woes colored glasses.
I have no connections of any depth with anyone, relatives or otherwise. I pretty much just simply exist. And I don't see things getting much better.
I am a mostly spent soul...tired and worn. For 20 some odd years it's been one thing after another. No family to speak of that stays in touch nor most friends, for that matter. I tried to figure out what I had done that I earned me this "price"....this "karma" to deal with. Not saying there weren't highlights, but overall, one miserable thing after another.
Top that off with the stuff I did to myself...choices...directions..etc., and it's a bit of a load.
Then the fall of 2007 something changed in a big way. Things I had nurtured, learned, encouraged, experienced, sacrificed for seemed to be coming together in a BIG way. And as it led into the new year and beyond, I thought maybe the cloud has lifted and I can count on things being at least o.k.
02/16/08 The Acceleration Of The Downward Spiral!
It all came crashing down that day. What gave me my very breath was yanked away and an hour later, my bar sink in the basement flooded out sewage. A metaphor for my existence.
A new business I was developing with my lawyer on started to go south and the basement flooded once again.
Add an invasion in to my laptop, some rather soul scorching revelations, and the months of February and March 2008 became, and remain, the worst two months of my life. Thus, my first attempt at a successful heart attack. It was at that point I decided to give up the fight for the house.
I also gave up on my fortunes changing. Sure I danced with the idea of heading west and finding my life's completion, but that fairy tale left with the road blocks thrown at me, keeping me here in the Garden State.
On the physical side, there is a history of strokes on both sides of my family. My Dad had one in his 50's that left him unable to speak for the most part. My maternal grandmother had one in her 40's and my mom one in her 60's or 70's.
The doctor thinks I have had a couple of small strokes. She wants me on meds for the rest of my life. She wants me to quit smoking. (I actually toyed with that one, but changed my mind) My vision changes moment by moment. Sometimes I have trouble understanding what people say to me. My memory which had been all but photographic slips away from me. Living in the Conversion Van Of Wonders and losing the house is the least of it. Really, that is hardly a factor. It's the other stuff that impacts.
No connections.
No family.
No future.
13 years spent building a structure, only to be evicted and the architecture deeded elswhere.
D.N.R.
I won't take my own life, but I did figure out a pretty spectacular way to do so if inclined. Murder is a cardinal sin...even if the life one takes is one's own. I want to go to Heaven. I want the condo in the clouds with a view and cable. Thus, I won't take my life. However, I won't let anyone save it.
I had my chances with the unsuccessful and successful heart attacks as well as the diverticulitis. Thing is, death scared me like you wouldn't believe. Thus, I sought treatment. I had delusions of moving on with my life, that I finally accept is simply not going to happen. I don't fear it anymore.
Turns out I have to create a Living Will and get it registered. Nice thing is I can change my mind later, if things become worthwhile. Hope springs eternal, no?
In the interest of staying "Green", I thought I'd look for a used DNR bracelet. I mean, how much wear and tear could one of those really have? If it's message is heeded at an opportune time, it's a "use once" thing. Kinda like condoms and diapers!
SIDETRACK: I saw the VERY best marketing for condoms in a store once. There was a huge display of different types and makes right next a LONG aisle of diapers and baby products. Makes one think and consider, no?
Really...how many people would consider a DNR item a family heirloom? I can hear the conversation now......
Drew Peterson: Hey sweetie, I got something for you...
Wife #5: For me? Oh really? Let me see, let me see....
DR: It was my grandfather's. He wore it everyday. Kathleen wore it for a little while, but I want you to have it. Here...
W5: D...N..R.....DNR...What does DNR mean?
DR: It's Aramaic for "I Love You" Granddad was into dead thing.....er...languages. But we'll pretend the "D" stands for Drew!
W5: Oh sweetie....I love you, too! But I must head out. Going to my mom's today, you know.
DP: Yes, I remembered. By the way, I adjusted the brakes and the transmission. No sense paying someone else to do it, when I know best how to keep my pumpkin safe on the road!
W5: You sweet thing, I love you!
DP: DNR sweetie, DNR!
See...one use. Of course if some company makes these like underoos or band aids with your fav cartoon character on it, maybe ariel or Spiderman, I'd get one of those instead.
August 4th, 2010: One Year Anniversary Life In A Van
Will be a year tomorrow, as of this writing. And again, I see a shift in the aforementioned corner of the net. Stuck here again until October, and again plan to be south for the winter. We'll see. Seems the powers that be mean to keep me here no matter what.
With my luck, the DNR will come into play when someone leaning or kneeling over me while I'm out of it, will only speak Aramaic!
Until next time... when I point out some positives around me.
