Date Set.....

Please See PayPal Link Below

That's the day I arrive in Mississippi!

(Be honest.....when you see that state's name, it takes you back to elementary school!)

The gig actually begins on June 3rd. I'll be overseeing dogs, a house, and internet concerns. The person I will be working for has to be in America's Hat (Canada) for a project that will run a week or more.

Mixed emotions.....

It's that "Fish Or Cut Bait" feeling.
It's that "What Am I Getting Myself Into" feeling.
It's that "I'm Leaving What's Safe And Probably Gonna Die" feeling.

I'll be honest. Some days I REALLY miss Camp Scooter SouthEast: Afscootistan. Overall I was comfortable, had consistency, and a support "Fail Safe" network close at hand. If I wanted to be alone, easily done. If I was feeling sociable....99% of the Home Of Falling Prices and McDonald's Associates like me and enjoyed conversing.

I am a GREAT talker!

The "reliability" of The Sovereign Conversion Van Of Wonders is questionable. The electronics are still acting up and I have yet to fix or replace the bad hose, thermostat, and variety of substances in the radiator. It does tend to go through fluids (oil, trans, etc.) kinda quick.

On the plus side, it has a full tune up, 4 BRAND NEW tires, and the engine runs strong.

My concerns are pretty much gas and other such resources. This is the FIRST gig I have been able to land in over two and a half years. And it's not like it's the next town over I need to get to. It becomes all about the greenbacks.

I know others in my situation use things like PayPal, but I don't have a bank account for funds to be sent to. PayPal charges something like $11.00 PER transaction to send a check, which really cuts into things. Thus, I have not used them to solicit donations. I've been looking for day gigs locally, but have yet to find anything that I am able to perform.

At the bottom of this page, I have placed a PayPal Donation button, should you like to contribute. The friend I am staying with has offered to allow me to transfer from my PayPal to her bank, and cash out the funds to me.

 !!!!THIS IS FOR A VERY LIMITED TIME!!!!

Not looking to make this an ongoing thing. It's quite temporary. My goal is to work, not fund raise. I simply have to be able to get to the gig.

I am excited, and apprehensive. Reinvigorated, but holding full blown enthusiasm at bay.

A real mixed bag of things.

We'll know soon, won't we.

Until next time........

Not Much To Tell Really....

..but figured I should stop and pop my head in here.

BACKSTORY: I am at a dear friends house who did some serious damage to her back and neck in a fall. She works out of her home and there is a significant amount of weighty objects that need be moved in the course of her business. I offered to stay here and help her in any way I can. A big bonus for me is, I get to cook all her meals! The neck soreness/stiffness has subsided a great deal and her tail bone region seemed on the mend. Until Monday, the day after .....

Where she lives is The Jerzey Shore region. Although I am more a fan of lakes than oceans, I do enjoy the little trips here and there are various scenic/historic sites.

Saturday, she took me to a park called "Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook" where there is a memorial to the victims of 911 that were from Monmouth County. Added significance to this spot is the view of Manhattan that is spectacular! It also gave many a front row seat to the horror of that day.

As you approach the Memorial, there are plaques creating a timeline of events from that morning. The center piece is a giant Eagle clutching a  chunk of steel beam from Ground Zero in it's talons.

It has an impact.

The next day, that was also quite beautiful, she wanted to head over to Sandy Hook, near Fort Monmouth. It seemed walking on grass or pavement was fine, but once we hit sand it was a different story. For myself, having lived in "The Sovereign Conversion Van Of Wonders at Camp Scooter: Southeast, Afscootistan" and not exercising as much as I should, I felt the extra effort my legs needed to rise to in order for a gate that was a little less than dorky.

For her.....it messed up her back again.

She worked as much as she could on Monday, but that was taking it's toll. My memory kicked in, and I recalled that my father had a troublesome back, for which he would bathe regularly using Epsom Salts. I figured that would help her to some degree, purchased said crystals, setting a rendezvous for her with the tub.

Perfect temperature, calming surroundings......sounds nice, no?

Was great until she started to empty the tub!

While sitting in the living room, I hear this frantic, loud banging on the front door. I got downstairs to answer it, and it's the family who lives in the lower half of the house asking if she was alright.

I said sure, why?

Seems the water was not finding it's way to the sewer, but rather, across the ceiling downstairs to a light fixture, and on to the forehead of a family member trying to sleep.

So much for the bucolic feeling resonating to all parts of her body subsequent to the calm of the bath. Lot's of fretting, damage control downstairs...and phone calls back and forth.

The relief and healing from that immersion was short lived.

So....in summary.....

I still have to fix the radiator hose that sprung a leak and get it to a shop so it can be replaced and the rad drained.

I still have to let the electronics of the alarm system dry out more so it stops messing with the systems and my head. If that doesn't work, I have to rewire a WHOLE LOTTA stuff!

I am still here helping her as much as I can.

Target to head south is around Memorial Day.

We'll see how that works out.

Anyhoo....now ya'll are up to speed.

Until Next Time....

So, I Get This BRAND NEW Set-0-Tires And....

!!!UPDATE!!!!! 

Turns out it's a hole in the hose. Can't get a new one readily, so worse comes to worse, I can try patching it. The electronic mess is half what it was, so hopefully by tomorrow it will be back to normal, at least for straight driving.

...so of course, something had to go wrong!!!

BACKSTORY: In order to work on The Sovereign Afscootistan Conversion Van Of Wonders' engine, one must approach it from inside the car, not under the hood. In the common technicians vernacular, this is known as The Dog House. It's this big ass mound right between the two front seats. In so much as ongoing work was still to be done on it to bring it up to snuff, said Doghouse was loosely set over the engine, just enough to block out noise.

I had a friend significantly hurt their tailbone and neck in a tumble and I offered to help out with anything needed. Offer accepted, I head over to their place. As I am approaching the N.J. Parkway, I notice the engine temp indicator is moving upward. This is generally no big deal, I have a sticky thermostat that is getting changed in the next few days. That's the reason the doghouse is still sitting loosely over the engine. It's happened before and, the more I drive, it clears and then gets normal.

 No biggie, right?

I head on to the Parkway and I see the temp head south. Pop on the radio and begin enjoying the calm of not worrying I'll get a blow out at 70 M.PH., nor slide off the road.

It's around then the hissing begins.

I look at the temp and it's rising...falling...rising...falling.....RISING....PEAKING!!!!

Next thing, I am surround by vaporized, weaponized coolant vapor and can't see much of anything. I open both windows to clear it out and cover my face with a sweatshirt sleeve. My glasses are fogged over, thus they have to go, and I can't see my gauges. Imagine all that steam you see in the picture above, only inside where I am sitting.

Now here's the thing....

I don't want to have to deal with The New Jersey State Police. Not because I don't like them, I am a supporter of law enforcement, but because I don't need a million and one questions with an impending rainstorm looming.

I open the hood, using aforementioned sweatshirt to protect my had as I undo the radiator cap in anticipation of the common gusher of an over heated engine. I open the caps and....

....nothing.....

Nary an ounce of fluid to be found.

Middle of the damn Parkway, with an empty, overall displeased, radiator and vehicle.

I begin digging in the van for ANY fluid I could pour in just so I can get to the next exit.

I found:

12 Juice Boxes
1 bottle of Vinegar
2 Half full bottles of window cleaner
1 half bottle of concentrated violet scented cleaner
1 half gallon of Prestone Anti-Freeze.

Started the engine again, temp began to drop, and was back on my way.

A few miles, and it once again is blowing steam all inside the cabin, as heavy as before, if not more so. The weaponized steam smelled like italian dressing on a fruity salad, with a teasing hint of "clean".

We limp to the next exit and I get water to re-fill the rad....running the engine as one is supposed to do when the engine is HOT! Temp heads southward once again, significantly so, and I head back on my way.

This moment of calm was quite short lived. Hissing, heating, yadda yadda yadda. Raining, windows open weaponized steam everywhere, sweatshirt over nose....

Off the Parkway I go. FORTUNATELY, it was an exit I could use. Stopped at first gas station I saw and filled rad again. What I discovered is that:

A: Temp hadn't peaked as much as before.
B: The rad wasn't fully drained.

Answer: Leak in rad hose. (Perhaps)
Result: TONS of steam!!!!!
Result B: HAVOC!

I keep charging ahead.

Kindly note it was an exit I could use...not the one I was most familiar with. Followed the signs and figured I was maybe 10 minutes from destination. Then the van and I could chill, I'd be able to help my friend out, and deal with the issue tomorrow.

I must have been off in lala land or feeling the effects of weaponized rad fluid, because I missed a turn somewhere, thus......

          Welcome To Red Bank New Jersey

Nice town and all. Home to @ThatKevinSmith 's  (Clerks, Cop Out, Chasing Amy) "Jay And Silent Bob's Secret Stash" store and Bon Jovi's "Soul Food" 5 Star charitable restaurant. (Seriously. I know folks who have dined there and they say the food is great! Click the name to learn more)

The problem? The steam is increasing and I am getting stuck in every in-town traffic problem imaginable AND unimaginable! I mean, c'mon...a train smack in the middle of the city?!?!? A slow moving one at that.

I think to myself this is all ultimately manageable and get on with the business of finding my way to the proper route to desired destination.

Well..I learned something new. You know them, there Gremlins" The creatures that get into things and mess stuff up? I learned they don't live in Gremlinville...they reside in weaponized radiator steam!

The red indicator for my alarm system lights up and stays that way. My door locks keep locking and unlocking over and over. When I finally arrive at the location, my lights won't shut off. All that moisture has screwed up many of the electronic systems in the van, and I had to disconnect the battery. EVERYTHING up front is sticky and smells like a fruit salad bathed in a light Italian dressing, whimsically whispering a scent of "clean". It all became so absurd, I simply couldn't help but laugh at all of it, in spite of myself.

I check the internet to see what weather is expected, and see no rain and outside I see the Sun burning through straggling clouds. I open the windows and figure, in the morning, the systems will have dried out and, hopefully, resume normal operation.

Wake up...have coffee...turn on laptop....look out window.

IT RAINED!!!! Seems it rained pretty good.

Aw, phooey!

As of this writing I haven't been outside to begin restoration of Afsccotistan's Ministry Of Transportation's Flagship Vehicle. The effects on my royal lungs, yet to be determined.

Stay tuned.....