It’s a Set-up [Or, The Beginning]

Hey, gang! Welcome to my life – where anything is possible and nothing is as it seems. I’m Freedom and I’ll be your host, coming at you from within the depths of Geistopia.

DOC: Velcum To My Life ees a prochect, un experiment in Life unt ART. A living storyboard, if you will. Its premise ees zat life ees experiential, unt zat you can, unt do, experience ze life you choose. It ees based on Ze Veel of Life unt Ze ARTs for Ze New Millennium as life building tools. Ja, it’s true!

WALT: Welcome to my Life is an I T.V. Studios/Geist…House Players Production, in association with the Center for Creative Inspirationalism. JustUs Productions, the parent company, would like to give a ‘Shout-Out’ to the following for their ongoing, and oft-times unknowing, inspiration and support:

Princess Cuddlebug

Princess Sunshine

Craze & Co.

The Shaman

The Pillar

F’n Bob

The Warden

The Entire Putt-Putt-Putter Clan

FaeriePrincess

Professor Siggy Chong

Sparky Wentz-eclaus

The VanMan and General Ralph Glossop (may they R.I.P.)

The Messengers of The Galactic Federation

The Looch

The Bassett Hound

Bert-On

The Baker of the Cornbread

Andy Pandy

The Mudder

Zason

Oh, Danny Boy

St. Diane & You

Brother John

Queen Spooky

Thing 2

Snuffbox

The Nameless One

Good Man, Charlie Brown

‘Jim’

The Rox

CCPA

Senoll #5

Superstar

Sir Richard Slouch

The Wix-ians

The Socialite

The Village of Idiots

Piz-Niffer

Dancing Queen

Downtown Encyclopedia Brown

The Legendary Pink Elephants

Baby-Mama Rabbit

Belle

The Witch Baby

Aaaand, of course, a very generous sponsor who (not-so-much) wishes to remain anonymous.

It is…Sunday, January 10,2021. Time...Revealing

Theme – Acceptance

Lesson – Release Control.

Observation – Control is Dictated by Desire

The Post

I wanted to write now because I do not know what exactly the rest of my day holds. I picked up a waiter gig today. I’m going in about 0930. I don’t know anything beyond that. I don’t know what time they are planning on letting me go. I don’t know if they will want to use me again over the next three weeks. I have already let them know that I will not be available after that.

So, it has been quite a week – shifts, changes, life happening…fast.

I’m OK with it all. It’s a little hectic and I probably haven’t had time to really process it all yet, but I feel good overall. Every day things tweak just a little bit more into place.

The course of things is built on Faith right now. That is what it is going to take move through the next 2 [or 3] months. However, things are off to a good start. For example, over the last two days I have generated almost all income I lost this week. I am only $20 shy, and I better be able to make that [and then some] today. It has come in the form of gifts, and money not spent, and payment for services. It has been cash and gift cards. I did not work hard, nor long. I was not stressed. And, more important, I didn’t try. I didn’t go looking for work or money. Other than one simple post on Facebook, I haven’t really had a chance to look and do. My days have been set before I get to them and they seem to fill up quickly.

Well, enough of my rambling. Let’s get on to the action…and the announcement…

Wednesday, January 6, 2020; 0624

*deep sigh*

I’m not sure where to begin. My soul is a-whirling and my head she doth spin. I was going to try to write last night, but I get so tired so very early in the night anymore. I think most of that is just from being cooped up in The Vantasm all the time.

I hit a sort of pinnacle yesterday. I say “sort of” because it is nothing super huge or incredible. I just reached a point of completion. After weeks of loading and unloading and sorting and organizing - The Vantasm is [mostly] put together. There is still some tweaking to be done. (There is always tweaking to be done.) But, for now, I have everything I that I need. My clothes are organized and functional. I have my monies and important documents. I have plenty of food-like substance. I have my tools and some books. I’m set.

I have decided on a layout - for now. It is probably one that I wouldn’t have considered had I not had The Princesses last weekend. It is practical and functional. Everything is stored and fairly easy to get to. I have plenty of room and open space up front. I have a small, but comfortable seat in the back, where I can prop my feet up if I wish. And, there is plenty of floor space, which is important because that is also my bed at the moment.

I have been all over The Vantasm trying to figure out what was going to work best for me. I spent New Year’s night on the very back seat. It was still up from The Princesses. It was comfortable enough and not such a bad option. However, that is where the little desk, which holds both my coffee maker and my altar, sits. I tried, the next day, to find a new home for it, but nothing works quite as good as that space.

So, the next night I tried the front seat. It wasn’t terrible. I was comfortable enough. At one point in the night I had even figured out how to stretch across both front seats. [All I needed was a cushion to block the seat belt buckle.] However, the next night, I couldn’t figure out the same positioning. I stayed in the driver’s seat, but eventually found myself on the floor in the back. At the time, it only allowed me enough space to just curl up. I have figured out a layout, or perhaps I was led to it…

WALT: *sarcastically* It re-veal-ed itself to you.

DOC: Actually, Wery often, life vill unfold itself before us, if ve chust…

WALT: Quiet, Doc! It is waaaaay too early in the morning. I haven’t had enough vitamin THC for this.

DOC: Don’t chu mean vitamin C?

WALT: Nope.

Anyway, I have a layout that allows me to stretch out and toss and turn about throughout the night. Last night was the first I tried it. It is satisfactory and I am pleased.

I am pleased, overall, with The Vantasm. It is practical and functional…and livable. I can make coffee, and soon I will have a saucepan. I can sit and work at this blog [or any other number of things,] or play a game, or watch a movie.

It’s funny to me. A couple of weeks ago, one of the teenage crew members asked me what my days off were like living in a van.

“I don’t know. What are your days off like?”

They’re pretty much the same. I may be living in a van but I still have things to do and life to live. Yesterday is the perfect example. I had chores, such as laundry - which included putting it away, plus getting together what I needed for the next couple of days. I had house cleaning to do. I cleaned the inside of the van, put stuff away, reorganized, got rid of trash. [I washed the outside and vacuumed this morning.] I made to-do lists and put papers in their place for later tending. I went to the store. I visited with friends. And, when I was ready to lay down for the night, I turned on some Cobra Kai.

Today, I will run to the store, get some cash, and then fill in the gaps with whatever work or entertainment I can come up with until it is time to start my shift at The Job. Tomorrow morning I will get up, kill some time in whatever way I can, and then I have some metal to pick up around 8 AM. Then it will be off to Olde Geistopia to unload it and start going through the cans to prep them. Again, I will visit with some friends and take care of some business.

My life is no different than anyone else’s. I’m just living it from a different space.

So, The Vantasm is finally put together and all of the extra is done. The holidays are over. The trip is complete. I can leave it as it is for now and see how it works. There are still little things to tweak here and there, but overall, everything is in its place and I am functional.

After I was all set yesterday, I sat for a bit and just appreciated my space. I am finally where I need to be. It has taken weeks. But, I can, now, both function and be productive [such as extra work] and continue to tweak and organize. Then I realized it was January 5th and I chuckled a bit.

I say it every year. I said it this past year as Yule was making stirring about. People hear it or read it and talk to me like I’m nuts. Yet, here we are.

Every year, my life shuts down in a sense, becomes a Void, over the course of Yule. In that time, I receive gifts and a notion of what the new year may hold. The Void continues through the first week [or two] of January, as I sort through the gifts and rearrange my life. I never really become functional until about the 6th or 7th. And, here we are. The 6th and I am finally ready to take on my world and whatever may be around the corner.

Usually, by the 13th/14th I have a clearer idea of how my year starts and I can start working towards it. Then, by Imbolc on February 1st, The year and its works finally begin.

This year is no different. I am settled and functional. Right on time. Plus, I already know there are decisions, choices, to be made by next weekend - which will be the 16th/17th. The funny part is that I am fairly certain the choices have already been made. I am just waiting on one factor to be certain. [Plus, some bit of major validation wouldn’t hurt.] They are big choices. Certainly life changing (and perhaps life defining) choices. I do not want to get into them quite yet. Sunday will be better for that. But, certain choices made would take effect on Imbolc.

I have one more thing that I want to touch on, or get to, before I head to the rest of my day.

So, as I have said, I am full-time in The Vantasm. This includes sleeping at night. My biggest challenge in this is having safe, and legal, places to park. I currently have two driveways in which I can park. Let me tell you what I find most interesting about this.

One is The Putters’. They have been extraordinarily helpful in letting me park there whenever I need to. The thing is, they share a driveway with Olde Geistopia. So, every night I park at The Putters’ I am sitting right next to their house. It’s just fascinating.

Now, I appreciate The Putters’ hospitality of sorts, but I never want to take advantage or overstay a welcome, so I started looking for other places to park. I found another driveway. The house itself is empty, so I called the owner and asked if I could park there from time to time, every couple of nights. She said yes.

It is the house across the street from Olde Geistopia. Directly across from The Putters’, in fact.

The thing that fascinates me the most is that I cannot get away from there. I can’t go back, but I can’t get away completely either. Even all of my stuff is still there in The Cave, so when I need it I have to call ahead and go there.

I was hoping to have a place and/or a storage unit by now. I just really want to sever the connection completely and let life move on. However, The Universe seems to have other thoughts. I realize, with the consideration of impending choices, why I wasn’t able to get a place or even a storage unit thus far. It makes sense to me. So, OK, my stuff is there and it is safe until The Imbolc Shifts are complete.

What I don’t get is this need to shove me right into their faces like this. I mean it’s definitely a bit uncomfortable for me to know that I am right there. But, how uncomfortable must it be for them? And, to what end? What purpose could it possibly serve?

Here is what I like about my current parking spaces.

I have always loved the street that Olde Geistopia sits upon. It is quiet and peaceful and zenful - any time, night or day. There are neighborhoods and developments and activity all around, but for some reason, that one little strip of street stays just as it always is and has been. I have so very often over the years sat on the front porch at night, just to enjoy the stillness. I have taken many middle of the night walks up and down the quietest parts. I have even, on occasion, just sat out on the porch roof to watch and observe. I find peace in it, and now I can see it every night from the comfort of my van.

I really gotta get to my day now. Peace Y’all.

Thursday, January 7, 2020; 1727

Wow. What an intense 24+ hours. My how things shift.

Ask & It Is Given.

Fo’ sho.

(So, always be careful what you wish for.)

Ain’t that the truth.

Anyway, I’m sitting in another one of my parking lots just trying to kill time until it’s time to park for the night. It has been, what seems like, an endless and active day.

I woke up in Weilersville. This was not part of the day’s plan. I was going to sleep in the parking lot at work after closing last night. This would have put me almost half way to where I had to go this morning. However, as is typical in my life - plans changed.

I slept in a little bit this morning, but then I was up later than usual as well. [and am I feeling it now lol.] I got myself together, stopped for a coffee and headed out. I had metal to pick up on the mountain. It was a good load and it will bring a pretty enough penny. I won’t get rich, but it will be something.

From there, I ventured over to The Hill to attempt a visit with ‘Jim.’ Unfortunately, he wasn’t home when I got there. But I called him and we are going to try to get together next week.

From there to Geistopia to unload the metal.

Once that was done, I was over at The Putter’s where I met up with The Professor and the three of us had a safety meeting.

Then into Macungie to grab some more metal and the. Some fast food. I stopped at Exxon and got my cheap coffees and now, here I sit.

Between unloading the first load of metal and going to The Safety Meeting, there was one other little adventure. I was able to take Craze for his drive. I explained to Big ‘D’ that I wasn’t able to promise what life will hold for me after January. So, she let me take him today. It was only an hour drive. We went through Topton and passed his one sister’s former house, as well as one of his brother’s old homes. We continued on through Fleetwood, then over to Kutztown and back to Olde Geistopia. We chatted off and on throughout the drive - about this that, and nothing. I plugged the phone into the stereo console and played a Willie Nelson playlist for him. I wanted him to be comfortable and relaxed. He said he enjoyed it and I am glad.

I posted my Wish List for 2021 on my Facebook pages. Responses were interesting to say the least. When I posted it, I mentioned that the main reason for doing it was to put it out to The Universe, so that The Universe could send it back to me. I looked at the list today and in just a couple of days, I find myself able to cross quite a bit off of that list.

It’s not always about the item, but the purpose. On the list was a new phone. I do need one, especially for GPS purposes. However, it is not really in the budget right this moment. Another purpose for a newer device is to correct my audio issues with doing the videos for WTML. I may not have gotten a new device, but I am getting a lavaliere mic that is supposed to work with phones. So, we will see. I should have it by tomorrow night, so Saturday I will run a test video. I should also have my saucepan, which I am excited to try out. I will have tapestries to hang in the windows as well. Nothing like that availability of a bit of privacy.

Next, I need to return to Olde Geistopia and drop off this load of metal so that I can get into the back for sleeping tonight. Then I will park at The Putters’ for the night.

I don’t have a lot of stuff on the docket for tomorrow but I do have things to do, such as going to Queen Spooky’s to pick up my deliveries for The Vantasm and meeting up with SnuffBox for a lil tete-a-tete. Other than that, I need to sort through the metal and cans. That could take a little longer than it sounds, because I need to dig out some of my old tubs that I used for hauling in the past. I’m not done collecting and already it is not a simple ‘box’ job. I also need to continue to tweak The Vantasm. I have new lights to hang. I ordered them just for the remote, but it won’t work with the old lights. Al I have left for organization really is some small miscellaneous stuff that needs to be tweaked into place. I also have a few items in The Cave I want to try to find over the course of the next couple weeks.

Then we are on to Saturday and…well…I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out when we get there.

Choices and decisions have been made. Now is not quite the moment for sharing. I will by post end though. I was going to wait until next week because of how the choices may impact The Job, but as of last night, that is no longer a consideration. [That, too, shall wait in it’s telling.] I just find it interesting how it all unfolded because I really couldn’t decide how to handle The Job through all of these choices and it would seem that was decided for me.

Friday, January 8, 2020; 0719

OK. It’s time to stop for a moment, take a breath and let life catch up with me…or allow me to catch up with it. I’m not sure which is the case at the moment. I have known for some time that life was shifting. I knew there were big shifts involved. Yet, once again, I was not quite expecting things to unfold how they have. Admittedly, part of it is an ego problem that I need to learn to curb in some way. It’s not so much reaction at times like these (though that doesn’t help.) The concern is more, what is setting me up for moments like this? What do I do [exactly] that can put people off so greatly and have them completely turn on me? I have some answers to that question, but not all of them. Some of the answers I am OK with, some I may need to work on.

Still, even without these glitches in my system, what has come to pass would have anyway. It was the inevitable course. I just didn’t expect it quite this soon. In my mind, it throws the plan off a lot. But, it also answered some questions for me.

One way or another, I was leaving The Job by the end of the month. This much I knew. The question was whether I wanted to go back after I complete my next task [or receive my last gift.] The answer, it seems, is no. It’s a shame. I’ve grown fond of it all, and even a little bit attached. It’s why I thought I might want to go back when I am done. I mean, it’s not a terrible gig. It’s just frustrating. My problem is that I only know one way to do that job and that is to do it right - by all standards and procedures. However, in our restaurant it was just a whole lot of people doing whatever they wanted to do, with no regard for anything else. And, there was no one there to actually correct it. The GM is just as bad as the rest of them and, very often, encourages this behavior.

It gets frustrating because at manager’s meetings [and during other discussions] I have to hear about all of these things we need to work on or improve and all I can think is, “If we just followed the systems and routines we’ve been given, half of this would be taken care of.”

If we followed hold times, verified order accuracy, asked all the questions and handled all interactions the way we are supposed to, then survey scores would be up. In fact, if we handed out receipts with every order, surveys would increase. [The Rule of Odds.] The scores themselves would be better because the food would be hotter, the orders would be right, and, whether it is sincere or not, the service would seem friendly and the times would be faster.

Food cost would be lower if we portioned correctly each and every time, if we followed hold times, if we managed our food prep and cookouts, if we actually used the waste sheet that can be printed from the computer.

All of the cleaning tasks that we blow labor on, trying to squeeze in and get done at some random [and last minute] moment would be done if we just followed the daily and weekly cleaning charts that are right under our noses every shift, every day.

Labor would not be a concern if we scheduled appropriately and used the time we actually have to get things done instead of people gathering to talk or being on their phones. [And, don’t you dare ever tell them to stop doing it either - they will not only ignore you they will give you attitude the rest of the day.] This part wouldn’t be so bad, but it includes half the management team.

To top it all off, we have people who do a lot of no call/no shows or show up at some point during their scheduled shift, or decide they need to leave early. This is the kind of thing that brings us to the moment I was done.

One such employee is a repeat offender. Such a repeat offender that when you see him on the lineup you automatically say - if he shows up. You begin to plan ahead for him coming in whenever he gets there, if he comes in at all. I decided I had enough of this. Not only is it bull crap, but it is disrespectful to his fellow co-workers. One of his fellow closers walked several miles to work in a nor-easter because we were open. So he’s dedicated. Then he comes in and half the nights this other guy doesn’t show up and when he does he is always late and the first thing he does is get coffee and talk with everyone. How is that fair to the guy who shows up for his shifts and works twice as hard to make up for this guy’s absence or lack of effort? Or. what about the guy who works his 8 [or more] hour shift and then is asked to stay longer to cover the gap left by someone not being there?

So, last week, this guy doesn’t come in for my closing shift. It’s not the first one in the last month. I decided I was done with this and if he did actually show up for future closes with me that I was going to send him right back home. If there is one thing I have learned from his absence is that we don’t actually need him.

Well, Wednesday night, he showed up 30 minutes late. We had already been short handed and the night was going but it was rough and intense. He walked in, clocked in before I noticed him and when I did I told him to clock out and leave. He refused. I told him again and let him know that I can just as easily clock him out. He refused again. This time I just plainly told him to get out. He refused again, adding that I should call the GM. [Because the GM coddles this behavior in him.] Before I could contact the GM I received a text from him that he needed a ‘good close’ because the big boss was coming on Thursday. I replied, “Then you better get your ass down here and help,” and proceeded to tell him what was going on. He called. We talked. I should write this employee up but let hi stay.

Fine. Whatever.

I told the closers what was going on and that we had a lot to do. Next thing I know, this guy is having his coffee, leaning casually against one of the sandwich boards. This was the third time already that night that I had found him like this and he had only been there an hour by the time I left. So, I told him that we had too much to do and he needed to get to work. He brushed me off with a wave of his hand. [Fuck me, I guess.]

It was in that moment, I was done. He can act that way if he wants. They all can. And, there’s nothing a manager could do about it if they wanted to, because the GM will always get the employees’ backs and let them think it is OK.

So, I left.

That was the ego - reactionary. It has happened a few times at this job. It is what I must learn to control. I’ve lived long enough to know that there is BS with every job - I just need to raise my threshold of tolerance.

But, like I said, it was an inevitable course of action - to leave. The choices had determined that.

But more later. Time to find a restroom and then get to my day.

Saturday, January 9, 2021; 0306

Yup. It’s that early.

It’s a new day, a new year, a new life…a new me, I suppose. I have a tendency lately to wake up around this time. I think it’s because this is when it starts to dip to the coldest point in the night. So, I usually open my eyes long enough to get the heat going. But, this morning, I figured I could get up if I wanted. At this point, my day [my life] is entirely mine.

I started the van, and the heat. I played a little game. I’m Re-warming coffee now. And I’m trying to upload the first Official video of 2021. It’s going very slowly. Either I am sitting in a very bad signal spot, or I have managed to use a lot of data in just the past week.

It is actually the second video, but the first was just a test. Thanks to Spooky Queen I have a lapel mic that works with the phone. It is actually the best audio I’ve had - possibly ever [with the phone.] I’m limited in my distance from the phone, but for upcoming purposes this is not an actual issue.

It was fun to do the video. Sometimes the dialogue with Da boyz feels a little forced but last night it seemed to flow freely.

Let’s talk about yesterday for a moment. My day moved slow. I did find a restroom. [Just in time.] I did get to my day. It just moved very, very slowly.

I returned to Olde Geistopia and started working on the cans. I have to go through the bags I’m given just to make sure there is nothing else in with the metal - plastic rings, plastic bags, trash, etc. I figure it also gives them fresh bags that are not sticky or dripping with beer. Not that that is important for the cans themselves. It is just nicer for transporting and dumping.

It was cold. It was so very cold. It was much colder than I would have liked. I had to keep getting in the van to warm up. This is how most of my day would go. I would get out and do what I could until I was too cold. Sometimes it was just a little bit, others it was just a little bit more.

I managed to do the cans and sort through the other metal. Just as I was finished with that Sparky showed up with a bucket of copper wire. Little by little that pile is growing. I have a few weeks before I need to take it over, so let’s see if I can make it grow some more.

Yesterday was payday, so I followed my routine and put my finances in order. After all was said and done there wasn’t a lot left over. I mean, there’s money there and I can make it through next week. [Im only looking at survival one week at a time at the moment.]

However, it will be my last pay. There may be a small amount in a check in two weeks, but this is what I have at the moment. I’m not worried about it. Spooky says she’ll be worried for me. But, why? This has been over and over again for almost 2 full years. Each and every time, I survive. I pull through. Undeniably, there has been a lot of help along the way. I couldn’t have survived if not for the awesome network of friends and associates that I have.

There was a time, even over these past two years, that that would have bothered me terribly. I don’t want people to feel like they have to help me. I don’t want them to have to help me. But…Nothing’s Ever Done by One. Everyone gets help from somewhere. Everyone has a partner in the effort.

Even if you can say, “no one’s ever given me anything. I’ve worked for it all,” you have still had partners - employers who give you a job and a pay you can work with, banks who give you credit and loans, friends who lend a hand, the random person on that social marketplace who sold you something you needed cheap.

Nothing is Ever Done by One.

This time around is not much different. Already I have been contacted by a friend about potential work. It’s real work, not odd job stuff. This is only a concern because things will change in the next three weeks.

Speaking of which - On Wednesday night, I was given another 3 Day, 3 Week, 3 Month Cycle. 3 days would be today. 3 weeks takes us right up to Imbolc and 3 months pushes us towards Easter. It all makes sense. Like I said, in 3 weeks things are going to change. And we won’t really see the impact of those changes until at least Easter. I don’t know what could be ‘special’ about today, but so far everything leading up to today has been pretty bangin’.

I know that today I go to see Brother John about doing some odd job work for him. Little by Little, Bit by Bit it all comes together.

I even received two gifts yesterday. One was a gift card to help towards the upcoming changes. The other was a couple of items that were given to me. I was going to buy them, because I needed them. So, I was saved that money spent, and A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned. With that logic in mind, then, yesterday, I made the equivalent of almost a full day of work at The Job [minus 1 hour.] I did this with absolutely no effort. Yes, it was all in the form of gifts, but that does not change that it happened. This does not include the money I will eventually get from the metal I played with all day.

My day today is fairly straightforward. (Haha! Sure it is.) I need to run to the store(s) and pick up a few miscellaneous items. I have to go to Brother John’s. I also want to start my hunt for sneakers and jeans.

I posted my Wish List on FB and a lot of it has come to fruition. So, I decided I would move on to some of the next items on the list.

If I Can, I Do.

Beyond all of that, my main priority for today is to finish tweaking The Vantasm into shape. The contents are fairly complete at this point. I still have plenty of space with which to work but most of it relies on and revolves around the very back compartment. That is something I can really only go through when the sun is up and when I am parked someplace where I can take things out completely, such as a park. That will probably be my first task this morning. I can’t go to Brother John’s until later in the morning.

After The Vantasm is tweaked and organized I need to do the same with my business life. I have apps to search through, work to find, jobs to activate, email to read…and finances to update. Some of these are simple, some a bit more time consuming.

I think I am going to look for a portable DVD player of some sort. Then, I can at least watch movies while I try to work on things.

I also want to get another tapestry. I like what I have going on here and one more will make it easier.

I am going to write again before the close of the day. Tomorrow’s writing must start the post and what I have left to say cannot be said first

1956

Another day over. It certainly wasn’t the day I was expecting but it was a good day. I helped a friend, did some work, made some money, and ate…a lot.

But that is not why I am here tonight. There is something I have been waiting to tell you, Fellow Travelers - something you have been waiting to hear.

It is time to go.

It has been on the docket for 8 years and I have felt it swelling and developing over the past few months. In the last two weeks there has been plenty of validation and affirmations.

Allow me to officially announce…

The Whoodoo Voodoo Tour

That’s right. The Quest is on. This was no easy conclusion to reach. But, it is not random either. It’s what I saw in October when I had My Escape. I didn’t know what I was seeing, but I knew it was time for a journey. At the time, I would have never anticipated that it was coming so quickly. I had been certain this tour wouldn’t happen until next year. But, I knew I needed to start getting out and about. I needed to refresh and recharge my spirit.

Then I got The Vantasm and the feeling intensified. The first night I had her we went on a 100 mile round-trip journey. I just wanted to test her out - get her tires wet, if you will. It felt good and it felt better every time I got behind the wheel. More and more as I drove, I could see the open roads of America before me. I could hear wandering winds whisper in my ear. Gettysburg was probably the greatest challenge of all. I swear, if I hadn’t had the plans with the Princesses on New Year’s, I probably wouldn’t have stopped driving that night.

At this point, I plan on leaving February 1st and returning March 21st. Of course, this will change somehow along the way. As will the itinerary, I’m sure.

There are three main stops - New Orleans, Key West, and Savannah. In that order. There are plenty of side stops along the way and I am giving myself plenty of time to explore and to work.

I had my doubts and my questions, but this week’s episode of Job Drama cleared them all up.

I would write more, but this is the day I woke up at 2:30-3:00 AM and I haven’t slept since. Not even a nap. I think it’s time for that.

You will have to wait until next week for more details.

So, without hesitation…

If you’re not already there, go to the Welcome to my Life Facebook page – WTML. Or the YouTube channel – WelcomeToMyLife08. You can also find me on Facebook under Rev. Matt.

Wherever you are and whenever you are – Like, Comment, and Share – we’re on a Journey and it takes you to get there.

So, for now and for always, from here in Geistopia, this is your beloved Rev…

WALT: And Walt…

DOC: Unt Doc…

JOHNNY: Aaaaand Johnny…

And those guys, saying, “Stay Tuned-In, Fellow Travelers,” and wishing you Peace, Love, Light…

WALT: And Freakishness, Baby.

The Totems & Archetypes

**from Ted Andrews’ Animal Speak**

Hawk - Visionary Power and Guardianship.

Messengers, protectors and visionaries. Visionary power and leading you to your life purpose. There is a message coming. What you eat, you become. Kundalini. Childhood visions are becoming empowered and fulfilled. The ability to soar and glide upon the currents. Great Heights while still keeping your feet on the ground. Attacks by people who won’t understand you - attack your ability to soar. Teaching of higher expression of psychosis and vision. Beauty and harmony in moderation. Lead you to using your creative energy in manifesting your soul purpose. Hope and new ideas. A need to be open to the new or shows ways that you may help teach others to be open to the new. Be observant. Life is sending signals. Careful in expression. Comments and actions will be strong and powerful with the ability to tear and/or kill.