I'm Leaving...

It’s strange to be making a choice to leave my life behind. I can't shake some sadness and regret. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to prepare; am I supposed to act like everything is normal?
It seems dishonest to try to get involved in on-going commitments. I won't be around. Everything is going to go on. Without me.
Maybe I felt like this when I moved here from Virginia, but I don't remember. I was hoping to think through to some realization while writing, I didn't.

Blurb

I got my license, I got into Penn State and those haven't even been the best parts of the last couple days. I'll write more when I'm feeling more miserable.

Thanks

Thanks all you readers, I'm encroaching on 200 page view and that is awesome. I could say I'd have never imagined this day in my wildest dreams, but that wouldn't be true. I appreciate your readership, but 200 views is well with-in the boundaries of my imagination. Maybe it shouldn't be if i keep leaving you guys hanging between posts for so long.

Not much has happened on the AT front, I'm still waiting for those all important maps.

As many of you may know I will be trying to take my driver's test tomorrow. This attempt is after I had two cancelled on me last week (one in Allentown and one in Hazelton; yes, the Hazelton that is an hour away; yes, I drove through the snow at great personal risk and got a half day off of work to find out it was cancelled after I got there; no, neither dmv re-scheduled me; yes, that means I have to go to the back of the line for driver's tests; yes, that is why I have to go all the way to Wilkes-Barre) Yes, I'm bitter, you'll hear more if I'm driving for three hours tomorrow and fail the test.

The next chapter will be out this week and I promise I'll update more often.
Go in peace to love and serve the world.

Eclecticism

I went to L.L. Bean the other day and got this jacket. Its pretty sweet and was origionally $180, but I got it for half off the sale price of $130 (that is I got it for $65). And considering the zip out lining, abundance of pockets, hood, head covering, and attached hankerchief I think its a pretty sweet coat. Unfourtunately you have to travel out to the Promenade to peruse through L.L. Bean's steeply discounted winter wear. There's a lot of overpriced boring crap, but the employees are very friendly.

I found a mini-flashlight that has three bright white LEDs on the front powered by a fold-in crank. Its small light weight and requires no batteries, so its perfect for my trip. One minute of cranking is like 15 minutes of light, its working well for bedtime reading.

P.S. L.L. Bean's urinal is awesome. I know like I now seem like I have a strange fasination with urinals but hear me out. There is no water. None at all. The pee just disappears into the edges of this ring (no urinal cake either). AND it seems like it stays clean because it doesn't smell like pee. Its probably great for the enviroment and that, but the no water thing boggles my mind.

Political Rant

I don't like this post. I don't I back up my arguements enough so I'm getting rid of it. Time magazine had a good article about the narrowing of the spectrum of cases the supreme court was hearing so if you're interested I could try to find my copy for you. Basically I was saying that strict constructionist justices are not doing their jobs because they take the law too literally and don't look for the intent.

Check List

WHOOOOOOOOO! Over 100 page hits, thats awesome, even though half of them are probably me. Thanks for taking the time to read my rambling.

I need:



more warm wicking undergarments

more water purification stuff

a jacket

rain gear

food

an mp3 player with a ludicrously long battery life

have backordered maps delivered



I think I'm almost ready to do this.



I have a problem with getting ahead of myself, but I was thinking what I'd do with my blog and facebook group after this hiking thing is over. I think I'll just have a new goal. I'm debating between biking across the country, kayaking the Mississippi, or running a marathon in the next couple of years. I might get fed up with these kind of ideas too. Thoughts?

Here's the first draft of Chapter 2 (And the first sentence of chapter 3):

Chapter 2

I took off my slippers when I got back and the little guy’s coat and shoes. He was asleep before I got back with the afghans (for him) and a pair of thick wool socks (for me).
So here’s a story idea. A guy finds a little kid alone in a snowstorm. What next? He’s sleeping on the couch across the room from my table/desk. Afghans are piled high, his face is serene. I need more material. I’m worn out.
I get up and go into my bathroom/kitchen. Why the architect designed the bathroom and kitchen to share a room I’ll never fucking know. Its given me bad habits, when I go anywhere you wouldn’t believe the strange looks I get bringing food into bathrooms.
The phone book is in a low cupboard near the toilet. I look up the number for child services in the phonebook and give them a ring. It rings through, there’s a message about being closed for inclement weather, beeeep. “Hey, I found this little boy running outside of my house this morning, well, I saw him fall when he was running. He was all by himself in the deep snow. I couldn’t figure out where he’d come from. I didn’t see anyone else around and I took him in. So, get back to me, he’s sleeping here now, um, this is Jim Carlyle, that’s c-a-r-l-y-l-e, at 4-8-4, 2-2-6, 5-3, 7-4...thanks.”
There wasn’t anything in his pockets, but he’s too young to be carrying a wallet. I should call the police or something. Are they the ones to call? Did I put the phonebook back? I don’t think this deserves a 9-1-1. Maybe his parents will come looking. I don’t want to get them in trouble. They deserve it though for letting their little boy out in a blizzard, but maybe it was an accident. He could’ve walked out of an unlocked front door. They must be worried sick or happy that they got rid of the little shit. He’s been agreeable though for me. What if the parents aren’t found?

Chapter 3

I feel asleep.

The End (for now)

What'dya think?