Settling In

After almost 5 months of living homeless, I have finally moved into an apartment.



I can't believe all the shit that I had in the storage shed. The amount of crap that I keep hauling from one place to another is simple ridiculous.



Insurance? For what, my piles of junk.



Books? Why the hell is there a big, super heavy box containing a full set of the World Book encyclopedia? I can't even guess the last time I used an actual book to reference something. Hell, I don't even remember when I actually kept a phone book around. Do people still use these reference materials? Damn, if it isn't online then it never existed. Maybe these books are for when the internet goes down, god forbid. Oh wait, I have backups...Comcast, Sprint Broadband, and the iPhone's AT&T Cell Data Plan. Maybe I don't need all these methods of getting online...



Anyways back to all those freaking books...maybe I should have a good old fashioned Farenheit 451 bonfire. Hmm, could be a reason to have a party. "Come on over, have a few drinks, and roast some marshmallows over the burning pile of books!" Yeah, no.

Love in Calgary

Today I checked into a low budget motel since I wanted to save some money. The motel looked ok from the street but that was an elaborate facade. Once I entered the room I knew what I had been duped. There was stains on all the chairs, inviting one to have a seat and relax. The numerous cracks on all the walls gave the room a cave-like atmosphere, which was very cozy compared to the pouring rain outside.

Anyways, after popping a PBR and turning the TV to a Family Guy marathon, I reclined on the bed and felt at home. That was until I heard the bed banging upstairs. Oh well, it only lasted for a few minutes. No worries. Then I hear a lot of movement in the room above and then the door opens and closes. I didn't pay much attention since Brian was in turmoil watching Lois's boobs grow because she was trying to ween Stewie off of breast milk. This show is so stupid that it is funny. Later, after Lois's boobs go back to normal I hear the upstairs door open and close, then there is a lot of movement around the room. Finally, after another 10 minutes I hear the bed banging again. I think, hmmm, someone must have taken a dose or two of Viagra. I decide to head out for a walk after the credits roll on the TV. When I finally return after maybe 30 minutes, all is quiet and now Quagmire is in love with Peter's maid for the week. I know how this is going to end and I'm sure it will offend some group or another. So by the time the show starts getting offensive (and good) I hear the upstairs door open and close again. I'm thinking, that they really like to go outside, maybe for a smoke or something.

So then after 15 minutes I hear the bed banging again. WTF? OH, yeah, I finally got it...my motel room is downstairs from a prostitute. Great, time for a few more PBRs. This gets me thinking, after the PBRs of course, but what would it be like to be a prostitute. I did catch a glimpse of her once from outside, she's probably early thirties but looks 60, possibly due to heavy drug use. So each day, she gets up in a rat-hole motel room and waits for the phone to ring. The Johns start arriving early in the morning (I found this out the next morning) and she then "entertains" these men for the rest of the day. I'd guess around 10-20 each day. I'm sure she takes a day off now and again but most days are probably spent in the motel room. I can only imagine how destructive this lifestyle is to her mental and physical state. Although I'd guess that some amount of drug use helps keep the reality of her life from her.

Yeah, so my time in Calgary was kind of depressing. I was very happy to head into Banff NP the next day. Maybe I should stick with camping in the forests and not venture into the cities very often.

Job Security

I remember the first time I worked at a company that had to lay people off. It was back in the pre-dot com bust era but you could see the writing on the wall. The day that it happened and I watched good people walk out the door I remember thinking I NEVER want that to happen to me. However, I was lazy and didn't actively seek another job and was finally laid off during round 4 of the company's lay offs. When it happened I was in shock and my self-esteem plummeted to an all-time low. I felt so useless, like everything I had ever done at the company had been a failure. It wasn't until after I had got a new job that I didn't feel useless anymore. I know, I know, it is just a job, but...I think that silly work ethic gets in the way sometimes.

Why am I thinking about this again? Well, my current company has laid off some folks again. I think this is the 5th or 6th time in the past 18 months that they have let people go. This time they laid off a few people that I know, one is even a friend. Luckily my friend didn't have any kids or family to support. I remember when I was a kid (13-14 yrs old) my Dad got laid off. My parents really insulated my sister and I from it but I could tell there was an elevated level of stress between my parents. My Dad eventually found something that gave him the opportunity to go to work for himself. Funny side note: A week or two later his old company asked him to come back, he refused. Years later, I think he was much happier to have left the company.

I really think that these things work out for the better in the end but knowing that doesn't help when you are in the situation. There is just the dread of not having any real money coming in and still having to pay all your bills. In addition, you suddenly have all this free time in which to ponder your situation.

Sigh...writing is on the wall, again.

Sleepy Time

My nap is over, I can hear the river again. Where I was, I don't know, but I'm back to the hammock, alongside the North Platte River. I look up between the branches of the trees and see a jet, marking its path, temporarily across the sky. Where are they going? Shouldn't I be up there on my way to the next project? No, not today. Today I'm here, in the moment, with no plan. Fish, hike, bike, read, or sleep.

Hmmm...sleepy time.

The YOUAREME Guy

Last night I decided to start my trip a day early by driving up to the Cache La Poudre Scenic river area. The drive up the Poudre Canyon was beautiful and helped to let my mind wander. I stopped at the second campsite I came to since there didn't seem to be that many people camping there. The fee ($17) was pretty hefty but I figured it would be nice to have water and a picnic table as I organized all my gear. After about an hour I had camp set up and everything organized, so I decided to take out my new toy. For a very long time I've wanted to learn how to play the guitar but for various reasons I never tried. So yesterday, as I was getting supplies for my trip I stopped in a music store and bought a cheap beginner's kit. So there I was, sitting in camp going through all the items in this kit but basically not touching the guitar because it looked rather intimidating, when my camping neighbor walks over. This guy is easily 6'6" tall, wearing a Fat Tire baseball cap, carrying a half empty box of wine, drinking out of a wine glass, and staggering just a little. "Hi, don't mind if I come over?" I said, "Of course not!". I'll talk to anyone, especially if they have a good story to tell. I quickly learn that not only does this guy have a story to tell but he also needs to tell it, so I listen.


"I have my own business installing window treatments but it has been really hard lately. The last 3 months of last year I did 40k in sales but the past 3 months of this year I've done $200. I keep sending out resumes looking for work but no one is hiring. There is one company that has some work but they are in South Carolina and I live in Ft. Collins. I don't know what to do but since I'm going to get divorced from my wife I'll probably take the job and move. I've never been to the east coast but I like to kayak and surf."

There is a lot there but I focus on the important issue..."Have you already filed for divorce?"

"Not yet. My wife and I have been together for 8 years, married for 2 but she kicked me out of the house and so I figure we'll probably get divorced." After some lighter conversation, he steers the focus back to his crisis. I then ask a very simple question: "Do you love her?"

"Oh YES! I still love her." Then I'm thinking why are you at a campsite drinking with a stranger when you should be at home, trying to work things out. Of course, he is adamant that he can't go back, so I'm sure he did something he regrets but that just makes the making up much more fun! Right? Well, I try to cheer the guy up and eventually tell him a shortened version of my story. blah, blah, blah...when he stands up and shouts, "YOU ARE ME!". Then he hits me on the arm and sits back down repeating, "You are me, 4 years in the future.". Um, ok, calm down have another drink. "Imagine the odds of meeting like this! Crazy." yeah, craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy.

After a couple more hits to the shoulder he asks me to hit him hard in the ribs. Huh? "yeah, hit me as hard as you can." No. "Go ahead, do it." I begin to think that I need to end our conversation and call it a night. Ok. "Harder" "No, harder." ...maybe I shouldn't have shared my Vodka with this guy.

Guy, "Hey where are you going?"
"North. Wyoming, Montana, and probably Canada."
"Can I go too?"
What? Um, how do I get out of this situation without any complications? "Sure but I'm leaving early in the morning."
"Great. I'll park my truck and you can drive."
WTF? "Um, you need to drive too since I may have to drive back to Denver if work calls."
"Oh, ok. See ya in the morning."
whew...
This morning I got up and quietly drove away. I felt bad but the guy was a little strange and had some anger issues. While I wish I could help him, the best thing for him would be to either go back home and work things out or head to South Carolina, not freak me out for the next few days in remote areas of Wyoming. Yeah, I still feel bad about it.

As I was driving away I thought about when I was in a similar situation and if everything had worked out for the best. My answer came almost immediately and I laughed to myself when I thought of all the things I wouldn't have been able to experience and all the new friends I wouldn't have taken the time to meet.

If the YOUAREME guy reads this post someday I just want to say it was good talking to you and I hope your difficulties quickly work themselves out.

Rat dogs must die!

Last weekend I drove to Lake City, CO for what has developed into an annual Man-cation. There usually aren't any strippers unfortunately, but we drink beer, talk smart, and bag a few peaks. This year was no exception, although instead of getting lost in the wilderness we kept to the forest 4x4 trails. The first 14er was Handies Peak and it was relatively easy.

On the way down from Handies Peak I was disgusted enough to have to share my experiences. First, there was the Father and Son team from Texas. They both were wearing blue jeans, tennis shoes, and very little wet weather protection. "Hey, do you think we could make it up? Is it safe with the storm coming in?" WTF? You are stupid and have no business hiking a mountain, even one as easy as this. But heh, I'm a big proponent of natural selection so I just reply "I dunno... watch those clouds." My hiking buddy puts in, "Its only 20 minutes to the saddle and then another 30 minutes to the peak. I'd do it if I was on the saddle". Yeah, I think he hates Texans.


We continued down as the rain turned to hail giving the grass and distance rock a nice wintry feel. I love being in the mountains when there is severe weather (as long as I'm prepared). Not more than 10 minutes after "guiding" the Father/Son team I feel a BIG FREAKING BOOM directly overhead. Oh shit...time to walk very fast down the mountain, thank god for trekking poles! The Father and Son team continue on up the mountain taking my friends advice and completely ignoring common sense. Oh well...

Later, after the sun had come out and instantly turned the hail into steam, I ran into a BBW from Texas carrying her little rat dog up the trail. The rat dog had a freaking coat on but was still shivering. I've never seen anything so pathetic and in need of euthanasia. WTF? Are you kidding me? Who the hell is breeding these abominations? If you need to put a coat on your dog during the summer and carry him 1/2 mile from the car then you need to put that thing to SLEEP, and I mean the BIG SLEEP. As we walked past, I turned to voice my disgust to my friend Shane, but he pointed and said "Keep walking". He guessed that we weren't quite out of earshot. Good thinking Shane. Then later, I see another BBW from Texas riding an ATV with her little rat dog in a compartment bolted to the front. I decide to have another ice cold Pabst Blue Ribbon and just enjoy the scenery.

Disclaimer: So if you are from Texas don't get all offended since everywhere there are tourists, the locals make fun of them. At this very moment I'm sure there is a cheese head making fun of some F.I.B. because they were rude and obnoxious, and in Minnesota I can imagine all the jokes about the Iowegians.