052307

Arcata, CA

Wednesday May 23, 2007

     5:55am  I woke up around ten minutes ago. It's a beautiful day. The sun is up. It comes up early now. I think I got enough sleep. I crashed out underneath my little tree here by the highway. I've got a great little campsite here. I'm gonna pack up and go. First I'll smoke a cigarette and wake-n-bake.

     6:23am  I'm all packed up and I am leaving my spot here. I need to get a camera.

     7:11am  What a magical morning I've had this morning. I woke up at my little camp in the grass by the highway under the tree. I usually pack up my stuff and go right when I wake up, but this morning I took my time and smoked. When I decided to leave, I see this other brother walking to the Southbound hitchspot. He yells at me, "Hey, is this the way to get to 299?!" I told him, "I don't think so. 299 is North." He asked me if I knew where there was a pawn shop nearby.  I told him, "Umm, maybe Eureka." He said that he had a Leatherman he needed to get rid of. Shocked, I told him, "Dude, I need a Leatherman sooo bad. I lost mine in Portland. I really need one to cut the tennis balls for my stick." Man, I sat him down and told him my legend and he ends up volunteering it to me! It's a Leatherman Super Tool. It's about twice as big as my old one. Total upgrade.

     7:22am  That fuckin' blows my mind, dude. If I would've just packed up my stuff and left right when I got up like I usually do, I would never have run into that guy. This morning it was nice and I chilled out smoking. The sun was nice. Right when I start walking into town, I see this guy walking in the wrong direction. This guy ends up giving me his Leatherman! It's such a badass Leatherman! It's got a serrated blade. It even has a saw. I'm going to go to the Safeway and take a shit now.

     7:44am  I went into Long's Drugs and priced a can of three tennis balls. $3.50.

     7:47am  Tyler just hooked me up with a cigarette in the plaza. Appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit.

     8:34am  I'm the happiest man in the world today. I got me a badass new Leatherman. I came to my spanging alley by Don's Donuts. There was this other homeless guy, I think he's from Africa. He told me, "Yeah, I see you a long time ago. You gave me this uplifting spirit when I'm around you. Things are just different." I tried to tell him my story, but he wouldn't listen. I gave him my webpage. Man, I am so happy right now. Everything happens for a reason. Oh yeah, I'm going to get my mail today from the Endeavor. I'm going to get my webpage paid, and I'm going to head back to Laytonville. Wasn't that cool how I scored a courtesy ride all the way back to Arcata at the end? Then this morning I woke and got gifted a brand new Leatherman! Total upgrade! Hell yeah, that's awesome.

     9:01am  Plot thickens. I did get that book in the mail from Kali. A New Reality, by Carlos Castaneda. Another don Juan book. I can't wait to start reading it. But, the money, the gift card wasn't there. Kali was supposed to send me that with the book. Maybe it got stolen in transit. That sucks.

     11:57am  Just got finished eating at the Endeavor. I'm going to go fly my sign. I'm bored. Oh yeah, I got an email from Kali. She said she had sent the money the next day, so it'll be a bit before it gets here. I love Kali so much. She's my best friend in Portland.

     12:02pm  I forgot to tell you. I had this badass presentation at the Endeavor earlier. With this guy and a girl. This couple. They gave me some shoes. That way I can treat my boots with ShoeGoo and I'll have some other shoes to wear while they dry for twenty four hours.

     12:35pm  I am going to sit in my spanging alley and read my don Juan book. I have my big WPTMJ sign on my pack. I'm going to read my book.

     2:18pm  Dave hooked me up with some change for a new tennis ball. I appreciate it, Dave. Everybody gets credit, thanks.

     2:24pm  I forgot to tell you, my friend Jade. I gave her a good massage in Don's. I put her to sleep. She said it was that time of month for her, so she really appreciated it. I'm at my spanging alley asking people, "Spare change for a new tennis ball for my stick?" I show them my worn out ball.

     2:30pm  Alex hooked me up with some change so I could get a tennis ball. I appreciate it.

     2:40pm  Somebody just hooked me up with some change. They know who they are. Tried to give you credit, but you just kept walking. I appreciate it.

     3:49pm  This beautiful girl walked up to my spanging alley, Pheonix, what a beautiful name, I started telling her my story, but she got ancy and went for a walk. She was going to take me to the yellow house, but I told her I had been there before(2-19-07-5:28pm). She said that they needed a transcriber, but I already have my own project. She's hooking me up with some change, so I can get some new tennis balls.

     3:54pm  I just walked into Wildberries and pocketed a water bottle. That girl Phoenix is beautiful. So pretty.

     5:11pm  I bought some tennis balls at Long's Drugs for three fifty.

     6:11pm  I ran into this girl Rachel at the coffee shop. I hung out with her for a little bit.

     6:22pm  The funniest shit happened right now. I was smoking out this brother, what's your name? Ashtray in front of the bars in front of the plaza, where there used to be a trashcan, but there's not anymore. This lady walked by and I hit her up for my story. She ignored me pretty blatantly and just kept walking. Then Ashtray yelled out, "Hey, you dropped some money." She stopped real quick and looked around. We both laughed at her and Ashtray yelled, "Ha, you heard that, but you won't hear his story." I yelled, "We were just testing you. Gotcha."

Next day..