031108

                                                                                                              Ocala, FL

Tuesday March 11, 2008

     6:57am  I got a whole nine hours of sleep last night. I went to bed at ten last night. My feet really needed it. I had a perfectly concealed little campsite right in the middle of Babylon.

                   No trespassing

     7:38am  I am all packed up and ready to go. I'm walking into town.

     7:46am  Todd, who's out here cleaning in front of the Arby's, he's hooking me up with a cigarette. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit, thanks.

     8:08am  I went to the Tas-T-O donut shop and bought me an apple-fritter for a dollar. I'm walking to downtown now.

                   I'm walking down Silver Springs Boulevard.

                   Walked up Watula and turning left. There's signs pointing to downtown.

     9:20am  I walked back to the plaza downtown. Ocala History. I was walking around looking for someone to tell my story to. I made my way back to the plaza with the painted horses. I walked by the elementary school and gave my website to a couple kids walking. I want a cigarette.

     9:33am  Judy, who's working at the food cart downtown, hooked me up with a cigarette. I appreciate it, Judy. Everybody gets credit. Thanks a lot.

                   I just got out of the bathroom at the Walgreen's on Eighth Avenue. I'm going to a gas station and stand there wearing my shirt.

     10:46am  I came over by the Citgo close to where I crashed. I'm going to smoke a cigarette and expose my shirt.

     11:08am  The greedy ass at the Arby's told me no. I was just testing you anyway.

                     Hehe, I'm going to go hit up Zaxby's, I'm going to hit up the Burger King, I'm going to go hit up Lee's. It's all a number's game.

                     The greedy ass at the Zaxby's told me no too.

                     I went across the street to Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken.

                     Hehe, I love telling them I was just testing them anyway.

     11:21am  Sweet, I'm getting hooked up at the Subway. The manager was doing an interview with somebody.

     11:25am  It was Roberta who was nice enough to hook me up with some food at the Arby's. I appreciate it, Roberta. Oh, it was Tracy? Everybody gets credit, thanks a lot.

     11:29am  The greedy asses at Lee's told me no too. They failed. I was just testing you guys, anyway. Greed shall be your downfall. Hahaha. Thanks for making my story so interesting.

                     They told me no real quick at Lee's. "We can't give you food."

                     It's alright, I got Subway anyway. Muhaha.

                     Charlie Horse, steak, seafood and cocktails.

     11:37am  Ken Bryant at the Charlie Horse is hooking me up with some food. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit. Thanks a lot.

                     Man, it sucks. I walked the wrong way to the highway. I walked down Silver Springs and now I have to walk all the way downtown to get close to 75.

                     Earlier I called Shane's phone number and it didn't work. So I'm getting out of town.

     12:32pm  I came to the plaza again and I'm going to eat. There's a cop over there by the food stand. Hopefully he won't see my shirt. Actually, I hope he does. I want to talk to him.

     12:40pm  John, his friends call him David, he volunteered me a donut. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit, thanks.

     12:51pm  I got directions from that cop.

     12:53pm  The greedy ass driving the bus won't give me a courtesy ride. "No, we don't give courtesy rides. That will be a dollar."

     1:04pm  Passing Pine. I see a sign that says To 75.

                   This black dude just came up to me and asked me if I wanted to make some money. He said he had some payroll checks. I told him screw that, got any weed?

     1:48pm  I just stopped at the Chevron to rest and made a snipe-rat from the ashtray. I wish I had a dollar and change for a pouch of Buglers. The guy inside told me it was a couple miles to the interstate.

     1:54pm  Leaving the Chevron over at 27th Avenue. Walking SR 200. A couple miles to the highway.

     2:01pm  Badass, Central Florida Community College. I'm going to go see if I can type.

                   This isn't a real community college. You have to be a student. It's not a community college at all. I guess they only consider you a part of the community if you are paying tuition.

     2:17pm  I see the highway like half a mile down the road.

     2:28pm  I just took a picture of myself in the mirror.

     2:29pm  The cashier at the BP gas station by the interstate gave me a couple cigarettes. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit, thanks.

     2:34pm  I am on the onramp. Please Love, mobilize me.

     4:02pm  I got tired of thumbing it. I saw a bum on the corner. I don't see him anymore. I'm going to make a sign and take over his spot.

                   I went back to the gas station and found an empty box. I'm going to make my signs. Hook a brother up/smoke a brother out.

                   Shit, that bum is still there. He's got a big Great Dane with him.

     4:44pm  I'm on the other side flying my signs and passing out my website.

     4:50pm  The state trooper is at the stoplight. I'm going to cover my shirt with my sign.

     4:54pm  Jennifer gave me the first donation of the day. She gave me a dollar. I appreciate it, Jennifer. Everybody gets credit, thanks.

     5:19pm  The bum gave up his corner. It's all mine.

     6:05pm  David hooked me up with a cigarette. Everybody gets credit, thanks.

     6:18pm  Some guy right now driving a Mustang Cobra just hooked me up with a handful of change. He said, "It's just because you got that shirt on."

     6:20pm  The bum's friend drove up and asked me how long I was going to be working that corner. I told her not that long, that I already had the money for cigarettes. I'm going to go buy some cigarettes and thumb it on the onramp again.

     6:32pm  I manifested that tobacco money, I went and bought some cigarettes and I'm back on the onramp thumbing it. The bum is back there with his dog.

     8:56pm  I found a camp real close to the onramp in the patch of woods right next to the Volkswagen dealership. Other homeless people sleep here. They have a camp set up. I wandered off in the woods and found me another spot. I had to cut some branches with the saw on my Leatherman. I'm going to go to bed soon, even though it's still early. Nobody is going to pick me up at night. Hell, nobody is going to pick me up in the day either. I think maybe my shirt is a little too strong for the East Coast. The two times I got picked up quick yesterday, they didn't see my shirt at all.

Next day..