we have some time off. for me, this means finding another place to sleep in between jobs, so i'm headed to mt. shasta tomorrow together with a gentle frenchman here from the island of bali. it was a decision made today and will be accomplished under a shoestring budget. i'm here to make money, but it hasn't quite happened yet and thus, i have been freed to explore the wilds of northern california in the midst of a beautiful fall.

this will kill time so that i don't arrive at my next stop too early. it will also allow me to check off one more stop on the list. i've always wanted to go to mount shasta. here we go.

once i get to my next stop, i will once again be ensconced on a piece of land in the middle of nowhere, though further north in humboldt county. it's a beautiful time of year. it's unbelievable that it happens.

northern california, land of ancient history and not-so-ancient outlaws. here i am.

yesterday overhead i noticed a couple of vultures flying low. they were joined by an eagle and a crow. the crow kept bothering the eagle as if to say, 'you're the beautiful one with regal feathers, powerful beak and talons and i am your black nemesis.' crows and birds of prey are notorious enemies.

in my car, illegally, i've been told, is a hawk feather i found on a trail in the pisgah national forest in north carolina. there are also a couple of crow feathers - my portland, oregon neighborhood was full of crows. they were noisy and aggressive, divebombing dogs, cats and pedestrians alike and gathering in groups of thirty or so in certain trees throughout the neighborhood. they'd also leave feathers in my yard and those, the ones i haven't given away, now reside in my car together with the hawk feather. these birds are, apparently, mortal enemies in the natural world. in the supernatural, they're apparently both accompanying me, either working together or canceling each other out.

it could just be that given all the idle time and herbal encouragement i've got too much to think about and plenty to look at. the air smells of harvest season, of fall leaves underfoot, gunshots in the distance, deer walking through trees, it's a recipe for a swimming head...

home again 27th

also, link of the day:

sweet little deep sea fishies. so cute! squee!!!

I woke up the other morning scratching my right arm. I took a shower, scratched my arm. Put on deodorant (cleanliness is next to godliness), scratched my arm. I thought that was weird, because normally I do that exact routine every day, except for the scratching bit. I looked down at my arm to see why it was demanding such an inordinately large amount of attention, and I saw a red welt blossoming on my skin. Sick.

Who gets a mosquito bite in New York City? That’s like being slapped by a homeless man in Nebraska.

I figured it was a one-off, but the next day I woke up scratching both my right arm, and my shoulder. Oh great. I had a serial biter on my hands. I walked around the apartment for a little bit, looking for the culprit. Murder was on my mind, I admit. I couldn’t find it, but I manage to smack quite a lot of marks that were on my walls with a rolled up Glamour. That will show them to mar my paint job.

A few days went by without any more nocturnal attacks, but after eating some ramen while watching Futurama, I realized I was scratching my right cheek. Oh no – NOT THE FACE! So I went on the hunt again – and I found him. He was kind of floating around in my bathroom acting a little drunk. There was a lot of Coke Zero and ramen running through my veins – maybe the combination of caffeine and sodium is like SoCo for mosquitos. I went to smack him between my hands, but I couldn’t seem to do it. I kind of followed him around a little bit, but every time I was ready to deal the death blow, I had this overwhelming sense of guilt. After all, he was just trying to get a meal. Really, was that so different from me when I scrounge through conference rooms after meetings at work looking for a free Snapple and maybe a cookie?

I let him go. He kind of looped around towards the kitchen and I lost him. So that it feels more normal that I let a mosquito fly around feeding off of my blood (MY DELICIOUS BLOOD), I’m going to consider him/her a pet. I’ve kind of wanted a pet anyway. Kind of shooting for something more of the canine persuasion, but I guess “baby steps” and all that. Itchy doesn’t need to be walked, and he feeds himself. Sure, I run the risk of contracting some sort of disease and the discomfort of those scratchy “love nibbles” as I’ve come to call them – but I get to pretend like I’m responsible for the care of a living thing. And friends, that’s what we call a “symbiotic relationship.” Look it up, it’s in the biology book.

First off, I'd NEVER let my mom live alone.. it's something I'll probably carry on my shoulders until she dies.

Besides, it's not all too bad living in the city.

Sure, it's different--much different---uncomfortable different, but that's the reason why I moved in the first place..
I wanted to start over.
Make a significant change in my personality.
Be more straightforward like I used to be.
The move was partially me trying to find myself again.
( You:You know who you are Sarah! myreply: you don't get it yet, I'll elaborate later)

You want to know the real reason why I moved? THE MOST INFLUENTIAL?

I truly thought I could leave everything behind me..
I figured, I'd rather move then subject myself to more disappointments from friends.
This way, they can't hurt me--I'll be impenetrable now.
Like that, I'll have an excuse to not be able to show up somewhere rather than always making up lame reasons why I can't go.. (which turned out to be my forte during highschool.)
Maybe I just wanted to put my friends into the ultimate test. . .
will we still keep in contact or will we just fade?

I know within me--beyond recognition of my true self--is pessimism at best.

Deep down all I am ever truly doing is complaining.

I've seen a personal close friend change into somebody I knew to the product of FAKE. (What?)
What I mean is, I've seen a girl lose herself in the desire to become closer to her lover.
Changing herself---turning into him.

But then I realized that in the past I did the same thing. Changing myself for a guy. Being what he wanted me to be. I catch myself still doing that on occasion only to find out one day that I don't feel quite happy doing that. . So that's what I meant by finding myself.

I've caught a friend in so many lies that when I (for the first time ever) instigated and put her in the spotlight--she reacted the way I knew she would. Which made me feel like burning the bridge. But instead, I practically just turned my head the other way..like I always do. But I just got tired of it.

(SORRY GOT A BIT OFF SUBJECT)
*back on*

I was hesitant to move at first. Incredibly picky about where to live. Examining EVERY flaw and criticizing. . putting my two cents in--and then some.

Once settled, it was surreal at first.. I occupied by time with movies, music, chores.. my life in a nutshell. . feeling a little numb. not truly feeling everything.
Until one night. . I let everything build up inside me that it all came pouring out.
I spent the night crying about everything I left behind.
I just got used to it. Socializing online. But for some reason fearing going outside. . (WHY?)
Because I was afraid of the unknown. I mean, I always felt like a big fish in a small pond but now I just feel like a fish out of water. Small. Insignificant.
Every weekend going out with my mother exploring---nearly depending all too much on her.

I realized one day, maybe everything happens for a reason. I've gotten just about everything that I ever wished for in the past: I wanted to move badly (3 years ago)... I wanted to Graduate to make my mom proud of me (recently)... I wanted to leave all my friends behind(2 years ago) ...OF COURSE my wish on a boyfriend never happens.. . .typical... but God knows I'm used to it..

I thought, "Better late than never, thanks God!"

I kept seeing signs. . Almost quite literally. . (hence my banner. . Taylor Street and the guy I like being named Taylor). Signs pointing me in the direction of someone I longed for. .I ignored it at first.. kept thinking to myself, what are the odds? . . . And yet, the more I turned away from all these signs, the more they found me. Til I finally just accepted it. Now every time I see a sign that reminds me of him, all I do is smile as my heart flutters at the hope I can't believe I still have..

After a while of being here--it's not soo bad.
Though I'm probably in the worst shape ever (I'm nearly non-active).
I've still got my health. Roof over my head. Food.
That's about all you can ask for.
...

I find myself still afraid of "the big bad wolves" or what I call the "street walkers" who don't exactly have a home, money, or spend most of their time hassling other people during the day and at night..
Like the hobo always asking "spare some change" nearly like an episode of Southpark.
I mean, I'm a good girl, I feel sympathy--so I'll give--out of the kindness of my heart.
But HONESTLY, with all the money I see everybody giving this particular guy. . and I STILL see him with blood shot eyes on the street corner asking for more. . ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Sometimes you gotta help youself!
* * * * *
Everybody has problems. Everybody can be insecure. (random?)
* * * * *
So maybe for once in my life I should follow my own advice to get up, get moving, and never stop trying. Build myself a foundation for my life and just keep living.

Sure, it'll take a while to get to know the whole city, seeing as I don't drive yet.
Sure, when I first got here I saw somebody vomiting behind a building.
Sure, I'm afraid at night when I'm walking and some black guy comes behind me asking for money.
Sure it's different and different is not always good.

Life has it's ups and downs, but mostly it's downs.
But we all somehow adjust. We just can't give up, that's all.

So leave here with a realization of hidden wisdom from the heart. And I leave you with a song.
[audio http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/3/6/856496/STAIND - Believe.mp3]
This song is "Believe" by Staind.

. . .
Maybe I should stay up all night and see the sun rise all by myself..why not? I'll go to the roof of the garage for the apartments... might be fun..
And listen to 1979 by the Smashing Pumpkins..cause that's the song that reminds me of daybreak.
[audio http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/1/12/631271/1-09 1979.mp3]

I picked up the winter wings, the armwarmers and the patchwork skirt for free ! They are so lovely!

Stockings: Calleta's Hobo Infohub from the Urchin Collection (free but hard to find). The clothes are on a dock in the water under a big crane, better ask one of the regulars there.

Hair: PhiloticEnergy Anila (Lucky Chair)

Boots: Angry Monkey (free) not new, but still among the best freebie boots you can find !

SOi SOi

In response to Word Catalyst Magazine's latest prompt.

Meta.Live.Nu was selected by the Burning Life organisation to get land access in order to be present at Burning Life 2008.  On show is the experimental 'information-art' installation by Ze Moo:

"Grid Gypsy Camp: Brazil"

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Burning%20Life%20(Tigris)/222/222/22

This cross-reality, information-art installation is our reply to this years Burning Man / Burning Life theme "The American Dream". It is partly inspired by the Burning Man festival, partly inspired by the Terry Gilliam movie 'Brazil' (1984), and partly inspired by the article "Avatars consume as much electricity as Brazilians" by Nicholas Carr. Other inspirations into this interactive mixed media art piece come from various real global social, political and enviromental issues.

Next to this, Meta.Live.Nu at BL 2008 will also present some sculptures by invited artist Herman Bergson.

Meta.Live.Nu special thanks: Tooter Claxton, Arcadia Asylum, Cel Edman, Amanda Dench, Talia Tokugawa, Talen Morgan, Luv Ock, Jamal Mfume, Ryan Linden, DFM RTV INT, De Balie Media, Freeteam, DDS,

Burning Life is a non-commercial virtual festival of Art, Fire and Community. It is the virtual version of the American Burning Man festival and starts saturday 27 september 2008 in Second Life.

* All Burning Life sims close for maintenance: Saturday sept. 27, SL 6:30 am PDT (= 15:30 CEST)
* Gates Open to the public, Saturday sept. 27, SL 9 am PDT (= 18:00 CEST)
* Center Camp stage fires up, Saturday sept. 27, SL 11 am PDT (= 20:00 CEST)

Official Burning Life website:

http://burninglife.secondlife.com

Websites for participants:

http://BurningLife.org (http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Burning_Life)

http://BurningLife.info (http://vburn.org)

Other Burning Life websites:

http://BurningLife.com

http://flickr.com/groups/burninglife

http://secondlife.wikia.com/wiki/Burning_Life

.

This post was updated at 5 october,18:10 CEST

More updates coming up!

Tonino Accolla will be a guest on Radio Kiss Kiss, with more than 2 million listeners for the one hour show, DJ for a Day. The program will air on Sunday between 9am - 10am. Tonino will discuss Hobo, the new concept-space opening in Pigneto, Rome on October 4th. We invite everyone to listen to the event and to join us for the opening celebration!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Tonino Accolla è un doppiatore e ex-attore di teatro e televisione italiano. Considerato da molti uno dei migliori doppiatori comici d'Italia, è noto al grande pubblico per aver doppiato Eddie Murphy in tutta la sua filmografia, e per aver dato voce al personaggio di Homer Simpson nella versione italiana della celebre sitcom animata de I Simpson. Tra gli altri attori doppiati ci sono anche Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hanks, Mickey Rourke, Ralph Fiennes, Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller e Gary Oldman (Léon e Il quinto elemento), nonché il personaggio Timòn nei film d'animazione (al cinema) della serie Il re leone. È stato direttore del doppiaggio della maggior parte degli episodi de I Simpson trasmessi in Italia, oltre che di vari film fra cui Borat. È fratello del compositore ed editore Francesco Accolla e zio della doppiatrice Natalia Accolla.

Photo: Alex Polidori é Tonino Accolla, Giffoni Film Festival 2008

Di giorno, lo spazio è articolato in maniera modulare, evidenziando una fornitissima libreria specialistica musicale e delle arti dello spettacolo, associata a una caffetteria-gastronomia basata su prodotti biologici e agricoltura di prossimità.

A “strettocontatto”, ogni sera, dalle 18 in poi, collettore invisibile e coeso, Hobo diventa terreno performante e streaming TV: musica live, dj set, incontri con “ Autor-reading “, presentazione libri, nuovi artisti, teatro, cinema, pittura, fotografia, architettura.

Elevando a metafora la figura dello hobo, mitico spirito libero di frontiera della cultura americana solidificatosi attraverso la letteratura tardo-romantica, la tragedia della Grande Depressione e l'esperienza esistenziale della Beat Generation, il concept-space vuole fotografare la complessità, le contraddizioni e le pluralità della nostra società contemporanea.

Hobo, la “casa senza mura” delle arti, ci farà pensare, viaggiare, riflettere, mangiare, leggere, vivere e sognare.....

Serata D'Apertura Stagione 2008/2009
Sabato, 4 Ottobre 2008, h. 19.00
Via Ascoli Piceno 3, Pigneto, Roma – Tel. 06.64850193
Email: hobo@musicastampata.com

Thanks for Tola Awofolu for wrting this up!

Oh and more about my luck, while waiting for Sam and Lisa outside school, I was getting my cell phone out of my bookbag to find their number but then I see them across the street and I fumble with my stuff and end up dropping my cell into the sewer grate!!! Not only did I see my phone fall in slow motion and close itself and fall in the little gap between the metal, but it just happened to be the the one sewer that was halfway covered with a metal slab (when they do construction on the street) and two wooden barricades!!!

How on earth does my phone fall into the one sewer that is almost impossible to drop things into?! It's almost completely covered!! Only me this happens to, only me.

Anyway, I could still see my phone because the sewer grate was clogged with leaves, (and it wasn't wet), so my phone landed right on top of the leaves.

So, after freaking out, I called my mom on Lisa's cell and told her the situation. My mom was trying to tell me to try and get it out by going back (by this time, we had already walked away) into a store nearby and ask for a hanger or something. So basically my mom wanted me to try and get my phone out by leaning down and trying to get it with a hanger...lmfao..but I really didn't want to do that because that would be SO embarrasing!! And my mom was all like, well you care more about being embarrased than losing your phone? and you know, stuff to that effect, like it doesn't matter and I should do it anyway. And I know she's probably right, but I just couldn't do it. So after my mom and I bickering a bit over the phone, and me telling my mom exactly where it is, she ended up just telling me to get on the train and go home.

So, while we were on the train, little do I know that my mom called 311 and they redirected her to the Department of Enviromental Protection who she spoke to about possibly retrieving my phone. So when I got home, my mom told me and she said that they told her that they usually dispatch someone anywhere within 4 hours of the report. So my mom wanted to go back down there herself, just to make sure that they found the right grate and that she would be right there to retrieve it instead of having to call us back, and them holding it for a while and blah blah blah.

SO! What happened is that my mom was there, and waiting..she found the grate, and saw my phone and waited for a bit. So they never showed up. So my mom is trying to think of a way to get it out herself. A construction truck passes by and stops at the light and she's like "Oh! Maybe they have something I could use!". So my mom goes over to the truck and explains and asks them, but the guys in the truck look really lazy and it's like, the want to just go home after a long work day so they just brush my mom off by saying they don't have anything. Anyway, so some random dude comes by and picks up my moms umbrella (which is lying like a foot away from her and my mom looks up and says that's her umbrella. So the guy gives it back to her and asks what she is doing. So my mom tells him she's trying to get her phone from down the grate.

So the guy is all like "OHhhh! Well I have a friend who, if you give him 5 dollars, he'll give you a tool that you can use to get it!".

So my mom is like really skeptical but finds this amusing, and asks What happened to just helping another person out? lol. So the guy's like, well he needs 5 dollars to get weed. LMfaoooo xDD hahah

Ok so my mom finds this really funny and says fine, so the guy goes and calls this other guy from across the street and gets one of those grab thingys that look like this:

So the guy goes over to the grate, and sticks the grabbing thing in, and is like right there at the phone...but the retard doesn't squeeze the thing lmaoo so he pulls it back up and he's like "Oh..I didn't get it". LMAO. SO my mom says "Let me do it" and grabs the thing and puts it in and is right about to get it when the other dude (who needed the money for weed), comes flying and grabs the thing from my mom (and my phone drops right back down) and the guy is yelling at the other guy that 'Now she's not going to give you the monEyy!!!' And he's calling the other guy stupid for letting my mom use the thing herself lmaoo. So they start to walk away, with the other guy still yelling and my mom is like, But I'll give you the 5 dollars!!! But the walk away...

So, after that, my mom ended up getting the phone out herself...lmao GUESS HOW.
WITH A HANGER!

lolllll. I swear, she used the hanger and bent it out and made a loop at the end and used it to get the phone. Lmao, my mom is amazing.

Rofl, 5 dollar weed, a reach-and-grab thing, and a hanger, all to get a cell phone that fell in a half-covered sewer grate, lol, only in New York :D.

Cerco artisti per Hobo!

Cari amici,

il 4 ottobre in Via Ascoli Piceno 3 a Roma, apre Hobo, uno spazio performante dove verranno creati in diretta streaming video, dove quattro volte la settimana si effettueranno spettacoli e concerti dal vivo che verranno registrati e trasmessi su internet e sulla web radio del nostro sito.

Hobo è una casa "senza pareti": potrete fermarvi a prendere un caffè o a comprare un libro o uno spartito, o semplicemente incontrare gli amici davanti a una birra e a un piatto di cous-cous.

Stiamo cercando artisti, musicisti e attori per la programmazione del lunedì: se avete proposte non esistate a contattarmi all'indirizzo email: stefania@musicastampata.com

Grazie dell'attenzione, appuntamento al 4 ottobre,

Stefania

The bag contained police equipment. Officer Warnes grunted with satisfaction, having felt his favorite truncheon within. He pulled it out, and said to the police, "Spread out in pairs and search for a man wearing a blue jacket and with 12,000 bucks in cash. Shouldn’t be too hard to find. Call in with you radios once you find him. Understood?" They nodded. "Let’s go!"

Barely ten minutes later, Constable Johnson told Warnes, "I have him. He’s on Second Street." Then, "Hold it there, sonny boy! Oh shit, he’s running again. Stop! Oh…man…I’m…getting…too…" Johnson’s voice cut off suddenly with an "OOF", as if he had been…

Kicked in the gut, Officer Johnson fell with an "OOF". Michael retracted his foot, swearing under his breath. Michael didn’t really want to hurt the old officer, but there was no other choice. He turned and ran again, his breath now coming in ragged gasps. Still, sweat pouring down his throat and into his shirt, he ran, hearing the cops behind him. He saw a garbage can in his way, tried to hurdle it but tripped and fell to the ground, knocking the garbage onto the streets. He stumbled to his knees. The cop right behind him fell on his face, saying…

"Shit." Warnes was now seriously pissed off. The only thing on the Second Street Plaza was an old fountain that had ceased to work, and a cardboard sign saying ‘Vietnam vetaran, have marci on old man. Plees give mone.’ Warnes spat on it. This had been his promotion day, so why, oh, why had that idiot Johnson misled him? There was nobody here. Why today of all days? He walked back towards the street to see Officer Johnson lying on the ground …

Gasping for air, Michael looked back to see one cop still on his tail. He turned his head to see a metal telephone pole right ahead. He ran straight into it and knocked himself to the ground. The cop skidded to a stop and handcuffed him. Michael opened his eyes. The cop grinned and said, "Got you, you son of a racehorse." Michael grinned back. The cop opened the bag. "Damn…this is a whole lot of money. I guess that I could maybe…" Officer Warnes gave him a good kick in the ass. It hurt. "You did a fine job catching this little Marlin, but if I see you look at that bag, I’ll beat the guts outta you. Is that clear?" "Yes, sir."

Warnes opened the bag. “There should be about, how much was it? Twelve thousand. Well, pack this off to the bank, and pack this one off to the jailhouse,” he said to a cop. "Eleven thousand nine hundred", spat Michael. "What?" "Eleven thousand nine hundred", Michael repeated. "That’s a mighty strange sum of money, son." Michael grinned, "Well, I might have left one hundred dollar bill in the bank, or it might have been in a chili bowl or on the street." "Strange, seeing as they were all packed in neat bundles, ten bills to a bundle." The Officer was getting tense now. "Give it to me, now." "Well, I don’t have it." They searched him. He did have one cent, but it was really grubby. No Benjamin. "Sonny, you better tell me where that damn Benjamin is." "I swear on the Holy Bible that it is somewhere in this city, " he taunted. "Damn it, son where the hell is it?" "Why do you care so much?" "Because if I don’t return every cent to the bank, my promotion is history! And if I don’t get this promotion, then I will be solidly indebted!"

The policeman that dropped the bag off at the bank came back, panting. "Kid, do me a favor and run back to the bank. Ask them how much was in the bag." The kid replied, "No need for that, Officer. They said that is was one hundred dollars short of the sum stolen, and that they will report us if they don’t get the money back." "Goddamn it, kid." The guy shrugged. "Well, one of us had better cough up some money." The cops now shied away, saying stuff like, "Well, I dunno, I mean I didn’t really do anything…You were the one who told that guy to go drop it off…Yeah! Why didn’t you check it?" "Okay, okay shut up all of you. How bout we all pitch in a couple of bucks, huh?" "Okay." They pitched in; all in all one hundred and two bucks. "Good. Now I’ll return this to the bank. Pack this rat up in a nice cozy jail cell."

Two minutes later, Officer Warnes realized he was hungry. He wandered to Burger King, brushing past a hobo in a faded red sweatshirt. He walked up to the counter. "Umm, I think I’ll have the number one with large fries." The clerk asked him in a pissed-off voice, "You gonna pay with a hundred too?" "What?" "I just asked, you gonna pay with a hundred too? Cause that hobo right there, in the red sweatshirt paid with one, and I’m sick an’ tired of doing that kind of hard math." Warnes just stared at her.

Sad times are among us. Still, the hopeful bear will continue his quest for food, and apparently clothing, in local trash cans and dumpsters.

When asked what his favorite thing to find is, the bear replied, "Seal carcass! It's my favorite!...but everyone around here seems to like it a lot because I never find any."

So when you sit down to your scrumptious seal dinner tonight, consider throwing a little bit in the trash. It might make one polar bear's day just a little bit brighter.

~

The U.S. Government this week "bailed out" the largest insurance company in the United States, AIG, to save it from bankruptcy. "Bailed out" is another word for "bought." For the record, government ownership of business or industry is a basic tenet of socialism or social democracy, which sounds better. This act was undertaken by the Republican administration of George Bush. And TB is glad they did it. 

I was listening just now to Senator Byron Dorgan who was called in to an emergency meeting with several congressional leaders of both parties. They were not asked, but were told what was to transpire. They were told the purchase was necessary because the failure of AIG would likely have sent our entire economy into depression and led to the failure of numerous large and small banks. They were told a failed AIG would result in numerous mutual fund collapses as the company is a top ten holding in numerous funds. And they were told a bankrupt AIG would lead to the collapse of several very large industrial companies. Dorgan wouldn't name them, but I suspect GM and Ford would be among these names. Before I get to the guide, take a moment and consider that we were, and maybe are, on the precipice of a true Depression. I can't even wrap my mind around the idea--it sounds alarmist and impossible. But so too did warnings of impending terrorist attacks before 9-11 and warnings of catastrophic storm surge before Katrina. 

This post isn't about blame, though you should not be surprised that I have emphatic opinions on where it lies. No, if we sink into Depression we will care much less about blame than we will about survival and recovery. I've put at least ten minutes of thought into these suggestions, so print this post and keep it handy if all hell breaks loose (you'll not be able to access it online after that, probably).

1. New career opportunities will abound in the field of hobo-ing. You should find a good stick, a red bandana, a hip flask and a Jed Clampett hat right away so you'll be ahead of the crowd. Store these where you keep your terrorist attack duct tape. You can use that to tape up the toes of your walking boots.
2. Start hoarding crackers and sugar packets from restaurants. I don't know what you will do with these, but anyone who's grandmother lived through the Great Depression knows it's important to have lots of crackers and sugar packets saved up.
3. Buy a jalopy. When you get evicted from your house you are going to need a vehicle suitable for stacking your rocking chair, HDTV, 48 pack Igloo and sack of crackers on top while still keeping enough room for at least 8 people. All the Mexicans are already in California, so instead of west, drive south to look for migrant worker employment. From what I hear on Lou Dobbs, there shouldn't be many folks left down Mexico way.
4. Figure out what you have that can be bartered. People are going to be pawning all their good stuff so you should keep your HDTV and Xbox 360 as forms of cash. Let people watch ballgames and play "The Force Unleashed" in exchange for things like beer and crackers to go on your jalopy.
5. Learn how to make moonshine. 
6. Go ahead now and start being real nice to the ladies at your local Chinese buffet. And save those fortunes so you can learn a bit of the language.
7. Work on your sad sack story. Here's how mine starts out: "Back in ought-eight I was practicing law in courtrooms with running water and ever-thang. Used to wear a two-piece suit ever-day. Folks considered me a real gentleman. I gotta mind to get back in that game if I can ever catch a lucky break. Say mister, you wanna share this sugary cracker with me? I'll tell ya all about it."
8. Find some good recipes for chili, stew, gopher and beans. 
9. Put lots of Woody Guthrie tunes on your Ipod. 
10. Re-think your old assumptions about macroeconomics. It'll make for stimulating conversation as you bounce around the country in your jalopy or as you sit around a freight yard campfire over a plate of beans. It could impress your new South American overseer or your local communist Chinese overlord that you should get a little extra gopher in your stew since you might be worth saving from starvation. And if you do it soon enough, it might even make this list unnecessary.

Robin and Finchy hop a boxcar at a Georgetown railroad yard. Their destination...wherever the train may take them. A hobo cat's life is not constrained by schedules or pre-destined places. Wherever the rails go...they will travel.

Robin watches the railroad tracks rumble by while Finchy keeps an eye out for any stowaway mice in their boxcar accomodation.

I pulled my hood up against the winds. Small stones whipped past, clattering off the windows. “It was a damn nice day!” I said. “Where’d it come from?”

“It’s hurricane Ike!” he replied. “Imported alla way from Mexico!”

Across the street, two men sat outside Miss Libertine’s café on wicker chairs. Cigarettes glowed in the shadows of their hooded jumpers. They puffed in defiance of the winds and the smoke was carried away. A siren in the distance.

The hobo cinched up his pants. “Good luck, fella!” he said, and stepped out into the street.

Yesterday was the last day of the break and also a Sunday so I thought we would be going to mass. We had breakfast and then an hour later everyone started getting ready to go somewhere so I presumed it was mass. Although when I asked Andreas he just said that we wern't going to Switzerland today! Left the houde and then we didn't go to the car so I thought we were walking to the church. Bells. Good sign. Then we started walking up a country lane. This was where I started to suspect we were not going to mass. We walked up for about 5 minutes then turned around and walked back. Quite boring and not very time consuming! Wow that must have been a really boring paragraph!

Then we got back to the house and my laundry had magically appeared yay! Then we had dinner, it was duck in lemon (I think) sauce with dumplings. It was okay but I felt a wee bit sick afterwards. Then the usual crazy shenanigans of the schmelzers. Yes. Board games and mario kart ds. Crazy times.

Then we started the long journey back to the school. Only to realise halfway through that I had forgotten my contact lenses and washbag! Andreas looked quite annoyed and didn't really talk for a while but we turned around and got it so I was happy! Then eventually got back to the school where I was abandoned again!

Back in school we had a meeting with all the teachers and stuff. Didn't understand alot of it but we had to vote for a year captain and vice captain (I think!). I voted for pacman

Today was pretty normal with PE and other classes. PE is really strange. The teacher has a really heavy accent so I don't understand a word and even the germans generally don't have a clue what he is talking about.  Rest of the day was pretty boring and since so far this has probably been a pretty boring entry I won't write much more!

Dance class and breakfast for sure tomorrow!