Dreaming in Circleville Ohio

All night my dream went in a loop of me in a cramped truck driving from work thru the city. repeating the same congested route shifting gears with a floor shift and clutch talking to the other two men in the cab with me. I'm not a small man and though I didn't recognize one of the men, the other, and more talkative, was Terry (Hulk) Hogan. Far too many bodies in the little trucks cab. Now that Nice (the dog) has bullied his way under my blanket I can see the relation between the dream and the reality..Why "the Hulkster" was dictating driving instructions is a mystery.
I remember the dream ending, it being my time at the wheel, easily blending into the flow of traffic despite Hulks warnings it was too difficult.

I'll write something of value after I get somewhere for breakfast or this evening when I have finished this task I have of reviewing my first long walk for diabetes in 2007.

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looking back while moving forward

Yawn! I spent the day driving more than half way to Pittsburgh to recall the experience. Taking some notes as I went. Wonderful people and many forgotten bits from that time are both good and some sad. Now I am exhausted so I will soon be asleep.

I got the house taken care of with the neighbors on all side helping out.

Just a Few Ducks

As anxious as I was last week I have changed to a calm and deliberate resolve to get the preparations out of the way. Things are falling into place, bills paid, jobs finished, tasks tasked. In the morning Nice (the dog) gets his shots a month sooner than is needed, which leaves cleaning and arranging the house, travel supplies, and the WG van(the two ton grape). A nice woman today took it upon herself to go to AAA and get every travel book and map of the north east for me. She was giddy with pleasure from twisting the guy at the counter who wanted specific routes and destinations. She laughed as she recalled the look on his face when she said she wanted maps all the way up the coast to Maine. A real head Bangor...
If all goes well we will be headed out Sunday.

Counting Down

All the little things are going together for the road trip. I have been spending good times with my son these last days. We'll both be leaving this fine city the same day,just in different directions. He is heading back to Madison and I am going to D.C. and beyond. Just a few things more to finalize.
Earth Day in the Capitol is where I'll give the world a new coat of paint, a once over, a fresh look. I may even wear a new hat. No hidden messages here. I have a few jars of blue and green and a Stetson that's not had a thousand miles of sweat and rain or cradled the weight of the world 'atop it. Like the one I have worn so long it is hard with salt and mountain dust. I bought it for myself as we walked thru downtown K.C. My ATABOY for a journey well walked. I have been babying the thing so; it's time to break that hat in!
Am I rambling?
On Earth Day I'll do my little part for the World with a stroll thru D.C. and then begin my little part for diabetes with a stroll through the summer

Anxious

Today I want to go and I know I need to save more "quan" for the trip. There are things I need to do for a few people, and for myself. I am anxious to get on the road. Just like last year, my body is retaining, and my belly is expanding, like it knows what I am about to do and is storing fat. Like the happy Buddha.
I will be starting soon. This time I will start around earth day in our nations capitol. It depends on me now how close to earth day I start. Like the saying goes, "Your needs are taken care of, your wants you have to work for."
The oak next door is leafing, the mimosa in my yard still holds a few seed pods and awaits its spring calling. My 'angst' holds no sway. I don't want to post this . I will anyway

When Life Gives You Lemons...or a two ton grape

A few weeks ago I was contacted by an old friend who needed to move her coffee shop out of it's current location and store it at home. In exchange for my help she proposed to give me her van which she used as the smoothie and coffee mobile. I agreed and after much hard labor I have a well maintained conversion van. The original owner bought it new and was a mechanic who used it only for vacations, very good condition. I had been thinking that someday I might splurge and get something to use on our walks that was more suitable than the dirty old electricians truck that had obviously been driven hard by disgruntled employees as a work truck and all terrain vehicle. This gets better mileage by virtue of good maintenance so I now have the new World Guy Mobile complete with earth emblems embroidered on the seat backs and an earth engraved on the front vanity plate. (The manufactures emblem) Kentucky requires only one plate one the rear so I will keep it.
And it is purple like a cartoon grape...

Too Soon

A few months ago I helped pack my brother and his family's belongings in a moving van for his move to the mountains of Colorado. Leaving me, the baby of the bunch, the last to remain in Louisville. Though I am a grown man and spend little time with my brother in a way the separation came too soon.
Some weeks later my son returned from the road. It was the dead of winter and we spent our evenings together in the front room with the fire to keep the draft down getting closer than we had been since he was very small and I rode him in the basket of our trike; he with his lttle helmet and the occasional balloon, or when we first threw the world-ball over the fence when he was sevenand frollicked in the park--care free. He left after another month,the hometown kids he had grown up with just as petty to him as always, he calls me evry few days and is happy on his own learning about life in his own way. Learning well,in leaps and bounds. I wanted him to stay but he was miserable, laying guilt and critcism only ailienated the rest of his family from him; he only keeps close to me. Still, he grew up and away too soon.
As I walk to encourage people like myself to do something healthy I remember my mother, gone too soon.
My middle school friend whose brother passed in his late twenties, too soon.
An Apache' shaman who my wife and I visited often just as my son was born who went to the hospital and never left, dying from diabetes at the same age as my mother, too soon.
In high school I had a friend who just a couple months ago befriended me on FB passed last night after amputation and dialysis. I had tried to call him a couple times, had intended to visit. Intended to help him in some way with my fund raising. Too soon.
Life smacks me in the face sometimes. Bites me in my asspirations.As the weeks till I begin the next walk speed away the time for action can not come too soon.

Springing Forward, and the things I miss...

I sit on the porch this morning, having set the clocks to spring, waiting for the call from the man to work that should come in moments. Having taken our morning stroll around the neighborhood with Nice (the dog), the sprigs of spring have been showing for days, in some cases weeks even sprouting through the melting snow. I've turned off the heat in the house to get ready for the cool mornings on the road that will surely come with our trip up north. Cool mornings put spring in our steps.
With the spring comes the smells that have been frozen over the winter months. The scents have keyed my memory, much to my surprise, of the days last year on the road. The unfortunate wild life who didn't make it to the far side of the road. Indiana had all manner of things, Illinois had frogs and turtles in abundance, Missouri had things I never see in Kentucky like armadillos and more. I miss the sunrise, the fog, the dew, early birds, the deer, the scunk and rabbits. I miss the sweet smell of scunk and the odor of road kill. I miss the smiles, the conversations with strangers and new found friends. I miss pushing myself far beyond what I thought I was capable of. I miss doing some good.

Can't blame it all on the Smartphone

I've just looked back on some of my last postings and see that I can't spell or punctuate. Thought it is mostly written here on the blackberry I won't use it as an excuse. Sometimes you have to sift through a few weeds to find the berries. We all have strengths and shortcomings. That will not keep me from tossing words like fluffy seeds to the wind. I could make up a few dozen excuses but the blame lies on me. If it bothers you, don't read my ramblings, I will still love you.
The days are getting longer and Spring will soon be here. A few patches of canvas for the World and some fresh pieces of gear then World Guy will have a few more tales for the year.

Counting the days...

Two months from today we will be heading north to begin another walk.I will have more to say as Earth day grows close.For now it's anticipation and preparation for a world of fun!

Hard Freeze and Nice Whine

As this New Year has been frozen since it's first hours and the wood pile quickly dwindles to ash. I listen to NPR and hear the temperature in Antarctica is 40 degrees.
Far to soon I am longing for spring.
Nice (the dog) has taken to whining impatiently for the long walks. A mile or two hardly phase him. Our short walks in the mornings and evenings stay his groans less and less. Occasionally we walk for four hours. This only gets him in the mood to pull and tug on the leash. He then jumps high with the rope in his teeth, growling back and forth, coaxing a tug of war as he alternately frightens or amuses passers by.
We both long for Spring.

Happy New Year.

On this blue moons new decades night.
my hopes yours are good and right.
The days months and years ahead.

Best wishes, health and happiness.

Cheers and good night!