I’m getting ready for my next Road Trip! I’ve got Gypsy Rose Lei in the shop. I brought it in for a look over. I put about 3,000 miles on her driving out to California and back.
Pittman’s Garage in Abilene comes highly recommended by my brother David. He was raised here. Graduated from high school and has lived here a long time. A good and honest mechanic is a valuable resource indeed! A brother who can recommend one is priceless!
I asked them to change the oil and filters and take a look at her. I told them I was going to be putting a lot of miles on her this year and wanted to be able to trust her.
Well like any good mechanic that looks, they’ll find something. That’s where the trust comes in. So after poking around and taking the wheels off…
One front strut was leaking but might as well replace them both. They’ve got the same mileage. The previous owners probably hit a pot hole or something. Could leave it but it’s old..
Replace both!
Now the bad news sir.
Rotors and brakes all around.
Less than $3000. Almost $2500. Worth it.
Looking at a 17’ Braxton Creek Bushwacker Plus travel trailer or a similar length Clipper model. You can see them on RVtrader.com. But that’s putting the cart before the horse. Or the trailer before the hitch in this case.
She’s got no hitch!
The mechanics at Pittman’s really didn’t want anything to do with installing them. 🤷♂️ I honestly don’t know why. If you look at videos on YouTube it looks pretty easy. I just wouldn’t want to try and mess w/ lifting.
U-Haul seems to have a side hustle in hitch installations. I’d have to reserve it weeks in advance though and I don’t want to wait that long!
I guess I’m going to have to actually talk to people. Yuck! 😉
It’s getting close to 9pm. It’s a brisk 50f w/ a breeze. I’ve got my baggy Levis, Black Oakland Raiders jacket, over a bright red Fresno State sweatshirt, that’s hiding a Hufflepuff T-shirt. I’m wearing my knit beanie my mom made for me. It’s been a couple of days since I shaved. I look homeless.
So I’m standing on the edge of highway 285 smoking one of the pre-rolls I’ve purchased along the way. I’m waiting for a pause in the traffic. It’s not like I’m trying to dash across I-5. There’re stoplights in the distance, I just have to wait.
I like being in a state where weed is legal. C’mon Texas & Idaho, get it together!
Anyway, I’m standing there looking at my app and looking across the highway, but it isn’t The Burger Den. It’s Denny’s! Aha! It’s a fake burger place created during the pandemic so they could sell more food through DoorDash.
I make it across eventually with no issues and enter the restaurant. It’s about a 1/3 full. Mostly along the same wall. There isn’t anyone at the check in podium. Another couple is there sitting down in the lobby.
I see a stressed out 30s something woman dart in and out of the kitchen. She says just a minute as she heads out to the dining area.
I notice the couple are sharing a phone screen, so I look down at mine to reassure myself this is actually the right place. I don’t see any signs about a Burger Den. But it looks right on my screen.
After about 10 minutes she asks if I’m here for the door dash order. “Yes.”
“We don’t have strawberry ice cream for your shake. In fact we don’t have any ice cream!” She said with an exasperated expression. “How about New York Cheesecake?”
“Yes please!”
She disappears for several minutes then comes back to tell the couple they didn’t have seasoned fries. She offered to reimburse them or they could come back the next day.
When she comes back with my food, I asked how many people they were missing because they were obviously slammed.
She’s the assistant manager. The real manager left early and her in charge because, ‘The evenings are usually light.’ It’s Friday night! She has one chef and one server. She said she’s going to close it down soon. I told her she wasn’t getting paid enough.
It’s an example of something I want to write more about. Homelessness, low paying jobs, medical costs. Our country has serious problems.
Anyway I get back to my room, turn on the tv, put the cheesecake in the fridge, and enjoy my burger and onion rings.
It’s an old Rosanne episode. It’s in the middle of the one where she has to take a lie detector test. After a few questions she realizes they’re trying to get dirt on the gay employee! 90s plot lines! Am I right?
Then it switches to a young Galeki and a young (insert actress name here) having one of those conversations. Two young people have.
Him: I just want to spend time with you. I want to be your friend.
Her: But you want to do more than hang out.
Audience laughs as he stammers affirmatively
Her: So if I don’t then you won’t be my friend.
Him: No! I thought about this. If you want to just be friends that’s ok!
He starts to walk away and she pulls him in for a kiss.
Cut to Rosanne watching in horror. “Dan! What did you say to her?”
“Well I tried to be there for her and…”
I identified with the father trying to balance his family interactions but fails unintentionally. I identified with the boy who loves someone so much, that being a friend is sufficient. Even if there’s a longing for more.
I turned it off. There really aren’t any coincidences are there? It’s just staring right at us. But we have to accept it before we see it.
So I get to the hotel after over seven hours of driving. The Roswell Inn. Have you any idea how many, creative ideas could be generated here? I like it. I’d like it more if I was a townie, so I could talk shit 💩 about the tourists.
I want to try to narrate my evening thus far. A friend of mine is feeling down. I’ll try to make this a decent story.
I check in the at the front desk. The 20 something girl, sorry young woman, politely checks me in. But sadly doesn’t check me out. You get to a point as a man where it’s just too creepy to even joke flirt. I can’t do it. I’m Cringy McWeirdo. I’ll just make us both uncomfortable.
Anyway.
I drive to the building where my room is. Yep 16.
Rooms 14-17 are in a separate building with what I’m assuming are 4 more apartments on the other side. There are 4 parking places parallel with each of the 4 doors. 15 & 17 have cars. My first choice of the evening . Park in the empty spot in front of 14 or parallel park to get between 15 & 17?
There’s a lifted truck parked in 17. Its owner couldn’t manage to keep its massive grill out of my spot, 16 which is empty. 15 has a new red Cadillac. 14 is empty. I don’t have time for anything else. I park in 14s spot. Like Forrest said to Kennedy, “I gotta go pee!”
I had been squirming in my seat for the last 1/2 hr driving in. I thought there’d be a bathroom in the lobby. Nope. Sucks getting old sometimes.
I get back to the room…
Ahhh
So I’m tired. 2 hours ago I thought I might explore the town or museum. Nope. Just bring the food here please! DoorDash! Tip your driver!
So I’m looking at the map and there’s a burger place across the road (highway). The Burger Den. Never heard of it. Maybe it’s local. I could wait another hour and pay someone to bring me something more exotic, but that Wake & Bacon burger (with a fried egg) was calling to me. French fries and a shake? I’ll be right there! Ordered from DD but pick up instead of delivery. Sure I could have driven, but I’ve been driving all day! I needed the walk. It’ll be ready in 20 minutes.
I get my keycard, leave the wallet, take some cash and go out the door. I’ve locked myself out before. Awhile ago at a hotel that didn’t have a night manager. Never again!
I look closer and see there is plenty of room. I’m not going to have to parallel park. I can just slide right in. I don’t have my car keys.
I go back to the room, retrieve the keys, park the car, and start cleaning out the trash. I bring in drinks from the fridge, expensive electronics, and clothes bag w/ toiletries.
I’m holding all of this stuff and doing the pocket search for my keycard. Nope. When did I set it down? Search the car. Nope. Dang it! I put the heavy stuff in the car and walk down to the office. It looks closed! No!!!
No. It was open. I’m just always expecting the worst. The girl remembers me, thankfully, because I don’t have my ID.
So I go back to the room. Open the door. Yep, there’s my keycard! I immediately unlock the car, put the 2nd keycard in the cubby, get my stuff, lock up the room and the car, and I’m off to get my burger, which should be done by now!
I checked in to the Day’s Inn, ordered a pizza, vaped, and started writing what I was thinking. Then after I had read it a few times, I was stoned and started editing. That was a mistake! So here I am the next day, in my new room, not stoned, and editing. THC is fine for stimulating divergent thinking. But it sucks for executive functions like decision making. Here’s the important parts:
{Author’s note: I was in a great mood and feeling humorous. As I get to be a more active writer, I’ll categorize things better. Clean up the message. Stay on point. Tangents can be their own posts later. Etc.
So this was some funnies:}
When I started writing, waiting for my pizza, I hear two guys right outside my door. They’re us. I hear all sorts of alpha male call outs of Hemis, Cougars, Navy, Real Truck, etc.
Loudly
Silverback style
I’m a chimp
I won’t twist your head off.
I’ll eat your face.
End of funnies.
I’m safely ensconced in my hotel room. I don’t want to say where I am. Let’s just say they’re known for Aliens. 😉
I love my new car!
BOTH headlights stayed on? ✅
Free SiriusXM radio✅
{Author’s note: I start joking again.}
🔺 of 💀 didn’t come on ✅
I got the pink slip baby! ☑️
(It’s in the mail or something.)
{😬 yikes. Really cringe at these}
My mom says I should name it…
The contenders so far
Silver Bird
Silver Fox 🦊 lol
Silver Surfer 🏄
{Author’s Note: This is a thought that I’ve been working on as a comedic bit. Or something. Funny idea? Where I’ve written edit and a time was yesterday’s stoned edits.}
GenXAssemble! 🇺🇸
So this triggered the earlier thought of GenX Assemble! I know it isn’t original. I have images of people in cosplay level gear in whatever timelines alts etc. edit 10:26pm
Here’s a thought I had while driving:
GenXAssemble!
TikTokers answering the call in whatever form they want. (stitching) 🧵?
Edit 10:27 😬 ok. Time out. Don’t whatever you do hit Publish yet. Ok. Whew! You don’t want to know.
edit 10:31PM sounds of woman screaming incoherently in the parking lot. Alpha Males, you’re up! Edit 10:32
{These are remarks from last night while editing}
Original text…By that I mean I’m not editorializing, I’m editing. So I’m deleting obvious crap. I’ve put enough time into it, I want to keep it for when I’m not stoned again. I don’t drive stoned.
Edit ok, the alphas are beating their chests and thundering around with their big loud cars with their big
loud engines going vroom , vroom
Yes. They trigger anxiety in me. 🖕 them.
There it is. 🌙 ok. Time to just chills a bit. Save for tomorrow. I like what I did. Save as and continue mañana 🪝🍅🥬
{So this was the end of my stoned edits. I was tired and wanted to sleep. What follows is what I wrote before the stoned edits but after sober edits. I’m editing now, in Flagstaff. The thoughts are a continuation of the GenX Assemble idea. }
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Anyway, here’s my point.
Our time has come. We were made for this moment. We were raised by mostly self-interested boomers who wouldn’t trust their instincts and instead read books about how to raise their children. Wait, that was me. Insight:
My parents read Dr. Spock (not Mr. Spock) it was confusing.
No we read “What to Expect When you’re Expecting” That is we bought it and passed it down to our kids.?
You too? GenX 🙌
{This was a real-time recognition of the fact that I was raised by a parent reading a book because that’s what nearly everyone was doing, that I did it too AND that I had passed it down.}
All of us short-circuited, burnt out, non-diagnosed fellow trauma survivors out there have to suit up, mount up, and most importantly get up, off our asses! Ass?
{The “core” idea is that even though we have different opinions left and right, we have a lot more in common. Trying to find a middle ground that we can start from. The middle needs to rein in their extreme fringes. I deleted unfunny jokes.}
You see,
You shouldn’t be praying in public.
I know you mean well.
But you really aren’t helping.
Here’s what I believe,
We are most sincere when it’s just us alone with God. I understood that truth a long time ago.
Even with the most sincere motives, when we don’t keep that part of our existence private, we’re actually harming our “spiritual” understanding.
Anyway
Very rarely we come across someone, and look in their eyes w/o any reservations, because we don’t have any doubt, that they accept us exactly as we are.
And in those moments we experience the Love of God.
However,
I no longer believe that it is Supernatural. I believe it is a part of the Universe. In ways I do not, nor could ever fully understand. But it is worth increasing our understanding.
Is it not?
Do you concur?
I now believe like never before that nearly all organisms experience something of what it is to be alive. So the closer they are to us in awareness, the more we can understand and empathize with their experiences.
Not intelligence or emotion or any of the labels we characterize existence as, just awareness,
If that is true, then we need to drastically and dramatically rethink our coexistence with the rest of the Earth.
{I was getting full of myself}
Random intrusive 💭
Deleted
Broken antenna like I had before❌
Room less than 80 bucks. ✅
Great Pizza from Dion’s. Spicy but good quality pizza 🍕
It’s a shame they were delicious
👽
Ok 👍
Here’s my idea 💡
{I had this bit in my mind where I was a conman trying to get the reader to want to know what my idea was. As I was about to reveal it, I’d think of the conman saying:}
What you think I’m an idiot? I’m just going to blurt out my Million Dollar Idea? Huh. Get lost.
So.
For my next bit I want to set the scene as I am experiencing it at this moment…..
I’ve never been more tempted to steal…Uh oh! El Diablo!
This chair looks awesome. I love the color scheme.
Time!
{I wanted to include a picture of my room to make it more Bloggy. This was when I decided to edit while stoned}
(I finished writing about an hour and a half ago. I scrolled through it a couple of times. Went back to the beginning to try and record that train of thought I had had while driving, and then trying to record it later while stoned)
{This is how I feel about legalization. Especially when stoned}
Texas, Idaho, let’s legalize it! C’mon y’all! Fellow cowpersons 🤠 I have a lot of respect for those that live the strait edge (?) lifestyle. Not for me.
At least not tonight. 😉
Tonight I am going to enjoy the pleasant effects of a great Indica King Louis (Louis)🤣 XIII)
10:04 PM local time
That whole train of thought was instigated by a White Christian woman on church TV. She said something about Satan that made me laugh out loud.
Anyway
I have this idea see…
Leverage the awesome power of ChatGPT to
Ha! You really think I’m just going to say it.. What a Maroon! Gull-a-bull! 🤣
When I owned a home I had a garage. And an attic. Heck it had all kinds of storage. Now that I’m an apartment dweller, I’ve got more than no space and less than home space. My storage unit has been a nice buffer. I thought this was going to be my last emptying.
Nope. There is just too much stuff still! I forgot about my daughter’s clothes and Nick-knacks too. But there’s a mobile gasoline/lp gas generator I don’t want to give up and a bunch of books I can’t throw away…
My car is full with two guitars, a plastic bin with lots of pictures and albums, a printer, and many coffee cups, hats, and books shoved in nooks. It’s full and I’ve got my suitcase, backpack, and gym bag in my room. 🤔
I’ll make it work. I want to stop by Costco tomorrow and look for deals on computers. I’ve got a $163 credit with them. I’ll get coffee and some golf clubs if nothing else! 😉
Then breakfast with the Boys before heading back. Linda refuses to talk to me. I talked to them last night and the three of us agree on the specifics of my side. So there’s no problem with us three and our relationship. We’re working out a gaming schedule. Maybe Tuesday and Thursday WoW Classic? Eve Online? 🤷♂️
I’m proud of my sons. They’re strong in ways I never was. When they say (and especially when they do) things that are responsible and adult-ing, I am confident for their future. They’re going to be fine.
Did you know when you touch something your skin doesn’t actually physically come in contact with the surface of a table say. The little electrons of the atoms of the molecules that make up your skin repel the little electrons of the molecules that make up the fibers of the wood of the table.
But. You don’t really “touch” the table. Little nerve fibers pass on bio-electro-chemical “signals” like a baton race. Here, pass it on. Then something something happens and you of your reality experiences the sensation of a smooth surface under your fingers.
And yet…
Anniversaries are important to me. It’s a PTSD thing. But it’s also a way for my brain to focus. It’s easier to remember details on anniversaries for me than on other days when I may be reminiscing about my past.
The universe is telling me reality is connected on a more fundamental level than I could ever conceive. I have no idea how wrong I really am with my pretentious guesses about the truth. I can accept that. That makes sense. Every human being is equally far away from humanly inconceivable truths. Accept that. Get a good seat. Watch it happen.
Tomorrow will become an anniversary of sorts for me. There are a few events that have happened in my life that I can remember distinctly because of the importance and intensity of the moment.
When I run across an anniversary of one of those moments it can be like touching an electric fence. I feel what I felt then, in a way. Subdued of course, but the intensity of it was forgotten until I was surprised to find it still there just waiting to be remembered.
I’m experiencing memories of last year because I actually kept a journal. Several journals. Wow. I really thought a year ago that any day now, the divorce will be final and I’ll get to live in an apartment instead of in a tent next to my daughter’s RV.
It’s been a ride let me tell you. I’ve got audio recordings going back to 2017 talking about the trouble I was in at work. I want to see my wedding videos! Remember what it was like to feel the words when I told my wife I loved her.
Tomorrow will establish an anniversary. I will be debt free tomorrow for the first time in about 40 years. If I allow myself to become ensnared in that foolishness again I’ll deserve whatever consequences I earn! Not me friend. I have seen the light.
Accounting Day? Accountability Day? Net Worth Declaration? The Truth Shall Set You Free day. Needs work.
Crap, I thought. I just wanted to puff on my vape, which is perfectly legal in this state, outside.
There was a sign at the desk that said there would be a $250 fine if you smoked “any substance” in your room. Ok. I’ll smoke or vape outside by the street light. Make it plain I wasn’t smoking in my room.
But now 15 minutes later someone is banging on my door.
Did I mention this was a cheap motel? $65 for the night. 7.0 rating on Expedia. I’ve never had a bad stay with Expedia. But I think tomorrow I’m going to kick it up a to close to a hundred.
I didn’t have my glasses on when I opened the door so I was squinting. A surprised looking 20-something man took a step back and said, “Sorry, wrong door.” And left
🤦♂️
What was I thinking? My dad had a good phrase for what I needed to do. It involved the undoing of an impossible arrangement of body parts.
Why did I open the door? Because I assumed I had done something wrong and was going to be in trouble. What a schmuck.
It makes me think I have a guardian Angel sometimes. I certainly can’t intimidate someone just by looking at them. My John Travolta looking guardian Angel gets in between and scares them away.
More likely he just got the wrong number. They’re nearly impossible to read from your car. His car was just sitting out there idling for a good 5 minutes before he knocked. From the sights and sounds of this place, I’d say there’s some drug dealing and use around.
The walls are thin. I’ve got my AirPods on noise-canceling so hopefully I can get some sleep.
Tomorrow is the big day. I will be debt free as soon as I can pay off the debt I owe. That will be sometime tomorrow. 12:01 am? CT or MT or ET? Lol
It is both obscenely unfair and ridiculously stupid that it has taken this long for life to arrange itself so that I can finally be debt free! But that’s another story for another day.
I was laughing to myself about how “white trash” I could make this. Sometime tomorrow, a bit will flip and I will suddenly have access to nearly $100k at nearly the exact same time I will be arriving in Las Vegas, baby! It was meant to be! 🤩🤑
No coincidences!
No. I will not succumb to that temptation. Or bewbies. But I will risk up to $1000 on blackjack and craps. I will get some good bourbon and several cigars. If I win I’ll get an expensive dinner. If I lose I’ll get McDonalds. If I break even I’ll find a buffet! 😉
I have already given my mom a check to pay her back for the help she gave me when I really needed it. If that bounced I couldn’t face her again! No, I am so looking for forward to paying off 30% credit cards and lawyers so that I don’t owe anyone anything! I won’t actually blow it, but it would make a good movie. Or at least a country song.
The window couch was nice.
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Sixty years 