Life Is Good!

... and getting better, I think. Looks like my echocardiogram yesterday was uneventful.

* Bed: Queen-sized mattress and box spring, two thick blankies and a comforter and flannel sheets! Even seeing one's breath in the morning inside in July doesn't necessitate all of that, but I do "sleep hot." The comforter is more than adequate at this time.

* Food: I get $194.00/mo. That's adequate, and better than a single old man might get in most other states. But you can't buy toilet paper, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, laundry supplies and laundry-doin' or even showers (yes Virginia, there are coin-op showers, here!) with SNAP benefits. So it doesn't cover everything.

* CPAP: Well, actually an APAP, which is an auto-adjusting PAP. It works great!  And records all kinds of data about my sleepin', so... excellent!

* Power: Now provided by marine deep-cycle battery, which has to be transported to "the grid" for recharging every other day. A solar charging setup should cost ~$200, and negate the need to move the fragile battery around. On a scooter.

* Scooter: Getting close to having it up and running. Need a new helmet.

* Toiletries: I have an application to receive $194 cash per month to cover all non-food items (hopefully this can cover fuel for the scooter, as well). I mentioned showers... ideally, I'd be able to shower every day, yay!  But that's not likely, soon. Three a week, then?  That's a trip into Mos Eisley, 12km away!

* Fuel: Gasoline for the car/scooter. I'm hoping LIHEAP will cover me for a rick or two of wood to burn in the cabin this winter.

* Begging: I'm going to beg Georgia residents to sit back and not read this, as they've been awfully generous in the past! In time, all of this will sort itself out, whether through Social Security benefits or freelance tech help to the locals, I am sure.
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Bus Fail

Okay, so... the little trip across town didn't quite work out.

I only had 75 cents in cash, and didn't realize that I could only get my free transfer for a route that ran directly from the depot on the next cycle of routes, and not the route I needed that ran an hour later (wtf?!). So, I used my free transfer to go the wrong direction so I could get cash back from my debit card, and then spend several hours realizing I could not make my errand happen before the last bus headed back to Westwood.

But I got to see redneck graffiti.

And I took a few photos in and around the bus depot.

It used to be a train station, and still is, also.

That's right, people... The Drifters are comin' to big ol' Ashland.

tl;dr

Ashland's floodwall paintings are nice, but not as nice nor as numerous as Portsmouth's.

Pardon me for barging in.

None of these are as cool as the Mercedes-Benz buses they used to run here when I was a kid.

At least the depot has free WiFi.
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Leaving Gnashvegas

Going, going... not quite gone.

A man, a scam... Panama.

I will miss Amy.

Wanda on the sidewalk just outside my room at The Broken Spoke. Less visible, here. This is not a good part of town. Handyman goob for the motel suggested I pull her into the room, overnight. "Maybe not, but thanks for the suggestion!"

I gave the driver of this the Evil Eye out the window, as he was idling outside my room for sometime, and a box truck can fully well-conceal a Wanda, any day.

I fear not being able to find a nearby Dollar Gen for my travel needs.
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Weekend Recap, Succinct w/Lessons Learned

Wink is deceptively simple... for morons, apparently. If I hadn't seen this screen 100 times since Friday evening, I wouldn't have had to viciously cockpunch that old man for innocuously uttering "uh-oh" in my presence, today.  ;)

Eighth and Roast's hipster/quasi-vegan (not) biscuits are small, pricy and delicious.

Landlady felt guilty, gave me this.  :)

There are good people doing good works in Nashville. Click to, well, you know. h/t Ed.

Honda kicks major ass, forever and always, ramen.

Mormons can  be people, despite the majority who present as advanced androids with can opener personalities.

Awww, KITTEH!

Awww, HOPPY BEER!  I want the 12pk/2-flight "Deconstructed" set... brewmaster preparatory classes!

Steve is a fellow Smyrnan, rides a kickass Vespa 300ie Super and knows some awesome backroads in Roofie County. Also?  Hell of a Nice Guy, and newish friend. Here's our ride today, map junkies!

Steve and I are considering a counter-club alternative to Nashville's The Snakes SC. That would be the Volunteer Scooter Cooter Collective of Middle Tennessee. Must be age 40 or over to enter. And if your main ride is Chinese, under 100cc or pink and/or flowery, you must have a visible tattoo.  ;) Face/neck, preferably.

GoodYear is spying on me. I knew I shouldn't have started with the Michelins and the Wink mesh net.
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Hash Two

Lunch. Not as bad as it looked. 370 calories, too.

Lard (or mp), won't you buy me...

Kelvinator and Curly, man... a completely different dynamic than LarryElvis and Curly.

They get along great!

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Monday Is Also A Day

I wouldn't mind winning the Cold Beer Lottery. Any lottery jackpot, for that matter.

Laundry started, dinner was next. Dominos had a $7.99 pick-up special -- large 3-topping. Mine were onions, roasted red peppers and mushrooms. Half a large 'za, 800 calories. Hey, I had peas and corn for lunch!

Holla for the Dollar Tree. Getting some kitchen diddleys and stuff for the solar bathroom.

Wanda's all loaded up. Let's go home.

A rare sight in my presence: a paid-for sixer of Sweetwater 420, in toto.

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Morning Thread For Echo Refugees

Coffee and bagels at the door.
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Feral Farm, Nine (Final)

Click to embiggen to 1200x900.

As I prepare to leave Feral Farm, I notice the hummingbird poop all over my saddle. :)

A scenic overlook near the FFarm, on my way to the nearest gas station to make sure I don't get stranded very near all my friends who have no phone service. And, just got off the phone with Mrs. Feral, to let her know I made it back safely (feel like a dolt for not doing that last night!).

Interesting mural at one of the McD's I stopped in on the way back to give y'all an update.

Taking U.S 60 back through western Kentucky wasn't as scenic at U.S. 62.

My last check-in with y'all until I got home... the Ass-End of Fuck-All, KY. :) The bike and I both needed a rest. I smelled hot rubber as I pulled onto the gravel and unpacked the netbook/Verizon dealie. But I was 90 minutes from home, and determined to make it the rest of the way... which I did!

Before...
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Feral Farm, Eight (for ql and Pat)

Click to embiggen to 1200x900.

Paducah is home to the National Quilt Museum, so I thought I really should stop and get some snaps for ql (and as it turns out, Pat). Unfortunately, money was tight (I got back home with $20 left to my name), so I couldn't go in, but it's not so far away. Maybe I can return, sometime.

Final set of photos coming... previous...
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Feral Farm, Seven

Click to embiggen to 1200x900.

The other Charlie's horse. Charlie Horse.

Missouri Bird sits next to 1Watt's pooch, Thumper.

batguano's pooch, Wyatt, gets the start of his haircut.

batguano's other pooch, Carmen, circles the back deck where Dad is commiserating with the rest of the DFHs. It is only accessible from the house, and we rarely let the dogs into the house, but Carmen liked to keep close tabs on Dad, as well as herding the gang into manageable gatherings. It was great having a couple of pet-me beasts around, as I missed my guys a lot... but these pooches were not nearly as needy as Curly and LarryElvis.

The notepad beside the front door to the Feral Farmhouse. Amen. Their neighbors live up to this, it would seem. What a blessing the whole place is!

More to follow... did you see the previous one?
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