062805

 

rest stop to Truth or Consequences, NM

Tuesday June 28, 2005

     5:32am  I woke up around 5:15 this morning. I got enough sleep. I went to bed early last night around nine. I just got all my stuff together and am about to climb down.

     5:49am  I'm going to read one of the official historic scenic marker here at the rest stop. It's Parajes San Diego. "This paraje, or stopping place, provided travelers along the Camino Real with a final opportunity to water their stock and prepare their caravans before leaving the Rio Grande Valley and entering the desolate Jornada del Muerto. Caravans on their wa to Santa Fe started in the evenings and traveled non-stop until they reached the Paraje de Fra Cristóbal 100 miles to the north."

     5:58am  Manuel told me no and I called him a greedy ass. He's looking at me right now.

     6:20am  Oh yeah, I was able to bum a cigarette of some guy in a Penske truck. He couldn't give me a ride but he gave me a cigarette. I appreciate it, brother. Some black dude, cool.

                   I came over and I'm standing right next to the highway in front of the rest stop. Before they pass me I stick my thumb out. Right when I see that they're not going to stop, I turn my thumb down and mouth real noticeably, "You failed!"

     6:58am  This greedy ass. I wish he had a front license plate so I could take it down. He didn't even look at me at told me no.

     7:30am  I already got my ride out of the rest stop. Good 'ol Gene is hooking me up with a ride to T or C.

     8:30am  Gene just dropped me off in Truth or Consequences and he gave me a whole ten dollar bill! I'm hungry, man. I appreciate it, brother.

     8:33am  I'm in T or C already. I'm going to walk into town. He dropped me over by Exit 79. He even volunteered me ten bucks. He told me, "Here, good luck saving the world." I'm going to buy some weed with it, hehe. I can score food for free.

     8:38am  It doesn't seem like the Pizza Hut is open so I'm not hitting them up. Hmm, I see the KFC/Taco Bell there. Maybe they'll hook me up like they did last time.

                   Actually, it's a little early. Nowhere is open yet. I think Subway is open. I'm going to go hit them up.

                   Damnit, they weren't. I'm hungry.

     8:46am  I've been walking down Date Street. I'm going to read the historical marker for Truth or Consequences.

                   "Population 7,289. Elevation 4,576. In 1581, Capitan Francisco Sanchez Camuscado took possession of this region for the king of Spain, naming it the Province of San Felipe. Significant European settlement of the area, however, did not occur until the mid-1800's. Once called Hot Springs because of its curative natural hotsprings, "T or C" since 1950 took its current name from that Ralph Edwards radio program."

     9:21am  Not only is Gina Martinez listening to my story, she hooked me up with a cigarette. I appreciate it, Gina.

     10:05am  I had a great conversation with Mama-G. Gina Martinez. She listened to my whole odyssey.

                     There's the BBQ on Broadway right there. I'm going to go score some breakfast(6-24-03, 10:05am).

     10:09am  Sure enough, called that. I'm getting hooked up at BBQ at Broadway. They're giving me breakfast.

     10:46am  I am stuffed. I had a huge breakfast at the BBQ on Broadway. Two big pancakes, some scrambled eggs and some bacon, yum. I don't know where I'm going to go now. I want to find some kids. I want to find some marijuana.

     10:57am  I told this pretty blond girl my story in front of the resale boutique. I'm going to keep walking down the street. Down Broadway.

     10:59am  I'm walking down Daniels Street.

     11:03am  Walked Lamar to Pershing.

     11:08am  Passing the Riverbend Hotsprings. The youth hostel.

                     That park isn't that far from here.

                     Screw it, I'm going to jump in the river and take a bath.

     11:34am  I just got out of the river and walked to Ralph Edwards Park. Just like I remember last year, Our Lady of Belen is giving out sack lunches at the park. I appreciate it, guys. Everybody gets credit, thanks.

     11:35am  I ran into some kids at the Ralph Edwards Park who recognized me from last year. Nobody has any weed, anywhere. This town is real dry. This one girl told me, "Let me give you some advice. Don't be asking around to buy weed in this town. The cops are trying to eliminate it and they've almost accomplished it." Well shit, that may be my sign to leave. I'll go back to the police station and see if they'll hook me up with a bus voucher like they did in 2003(6-24-03, 2:18pm). I want to find that party place where I went last year(7-17-04, 4:00pm). The one with that special tree.

     4:22pm  I have had the weirdest shit happen to me in Truth or Consequences. Right off the bat. I was walking down the street. I walked by this one house that I recognized that I went to last year. All of a sudden this wingnut chick Rhonda came up to me. She was all over me. Like a minute after we had met she was all kissing me on the lips and shit. I thought, "Oh cool, I, of all people, might get laid. Finally." This crazy bitch even sucked my dick in the alley. Then we went to this house where she crashes sometimes, where there are all these other crazy people living. Bonafide nuthouse. She handed me three condoms and told me to come back. She had gotten me all hot and bothered. I thought I was going to score. There were condoms and everything. I thought I was going to get laid, which would have been a cool blessing. I never have sex. She had been all kissing on me and groping me and stuff. She sucked my dick in the alley, for crying out loud!

     5:37pm  I am still chilling with Rhonda. Her friend at the nuthouse they live at just handed me this book and I opened it to a random page. "Excerpt from the Tablet of Wisdom. This is an epistle which all merciful have sent down from the kingdom of utterance. It is truly a breath of life unto those who dwell in the realm of creation...when peoples of the world forsake all evil, hold fast that which is good, strive to be a shining example unto all mankind, and true reminders of the virtues of God amidst men. He that riseth to serve My Cause should manifest My wisdom, and bend every effort to banish ignorance from the earth. Man's merit lieth in service and virtue and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches. Take heed that your words be purged from idle fancies and worldly desires and your deeds be cleansed from craftiness and suspicion. Dissipate not the wealth of your precious lives in the pursuit of evil and corrupt affection, nor let your endeavors be spent in promoting your personal interest. Be generous in your days of plenty, be patient in the hour of loss. Adversity is followed by success and rejoicings follow woe. Guard against idleness and sloth, and cling unto that which profiteth mankind, whether young or old, whether high or low. Beware lest ye sow tares of dissension among men or plant thorns of doubt in pure and radiant hearts."

     6:19pm  Duane hooked me up with a cigarette. I appreciate it, guy.

     6:46pm  What a crazy day I've had in Truth or Consequences today. It was weird. I finally broke through Rhonda's spell and came to my senses. I was being controlled by my penis. Man, this girl sucked my dick in the alley. I was all thinking, "Cool, I'm going to get laid." When she pulled out condoms I thought it was a sure thing. This girl was just schizoid. Like totally off-the-wall. She said she had seven personalities. The whole house was just nuts. She most of all though. I got bored and decided I'd go walk around and find some people to tell my story to. I have work to do. What a waste of a whole day.

                   Ahh, I'm going to go to the Ralph Edwards Park and ask around where the Dukatt store is(6-24-03, 1:55pm). Maybe there'll be somebody there to tell my story to.

     6:55pm  I am talking to Ali and Karis at the Ralph Edwards Park. What was your email? k_rai_m@yahoo.com I had asked if anyone had a cigarette and Ali hooked me up. Camel Wides. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit.

                   I'm going to go see if I can get hooked up with some Mexican food. Ali just hooked me up with two more cigarettes. I appreciate it, brother.

     7:35pm  I had a great presentation with all these kids in the park. I'm going to go to the A & B Drive-in and see if I can score some food.

     7:47pm  The greedy asses told me no at A & B. They gave me the old manager isn't here bullshit.

     8:21pm  I forgot to tell you. I found the Dukatt place. Oh shit, the Shell gas station is right close by it. I went in there and Lorrie recognized me. The cashier. I showed her my list and everything.

     8:32pm  I'm talking to Sean in front of the Shell station. What was your email? stoner4life69@hotmail.com

     9:02pm  Jacob, at the Dominos of all places, right next to the Shell station is hooking me up with a pizza. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit, thanks.

     9:43pm  I've had some great presentations tonight. Oh yeah! I got hooked up at the Domino's! When I asked him if he had any mistakes he could hook me up with he was all surprised. He said, "As a matter of fact, we do." He gave me a whole pineapple pizza. I'm going to go hit these kids up for my story right now.

     9:53pm  What were your names again? Danielle and Emerson. They pulled up at the gas station and I told them my story. What did you want me to remember? They're moving into a new house at 116 1st @ Ceder. On July 1st they move in, but they'll be totally moved on the 4th. Whoa, badass. Danielle just hooked me up with a lighter!

     10:00pm  Jenny is giving me two cigarettes at the Shell station.

                     I'm having some great presentations in front of the Shell tonight. Everybody is listening to me. I am blowing people's minds left and right. I saw this one girl right now. She was in her car and she yelled out to me. She asked me what I was doing. She sat down and listened for a bit. Then her friend came out of the Shell and girl told me, "Come here, I want you to meet someone." I said my introduction and the lady says, "Didn't I take you home one time?" It was that one time when I ended up at that party last year(7-17-04, 9:35pm). She was surprised it had been a whole year already. I told her, "I'm back."

     11:01pm  Right now I started talking to this guy and a girl in their car. Ha, now they're all staring at me wide-eyed. See, their friend had gone in to get something and I hit them up for my story while she was inside. They got all into my presentations. They even turned the car off. When their friend came out of the store they told her, "He just wants to tell us his story." The friend said, "Oh, I don't have time." Right now as I was making this entry and the one girl who was looking at me was staring at me hardcore. I've had a damn good productive time in Truth or Consequences.

     12:10am  I have a marvelous update to make. This guy Jacob from Domino's. After he hooked me up with a pizza, I told him my stuff. He even let me tell him my whole odyssey story. A little bit after I came and he asked me if I had a place to crash, because if I didn't, he wanted to invite me over. That's so awesome. He's even going to let me show him my stuff on his computer. It's going to be awesome. I am very happy right now. I love ending up where I should.

                     Be sure to look up A Visitor From the Past poem. It's a damn good poem. It'll make people think.

                     And it rhymes.

"A VISITOR FROM THE PAST

    by Thelen Paulk

I had a dream the other night, I didn't understand.
A figure walking through the mist, with flintlock in his hand.
His clothes were torn and dirty, as he stood there by the bed,
He took off his three-cornered hat, and speaking low, he said:

"We fought a revolution, to secure our liberty.
We wrote the Constitution, as a shield from tyranny,
For future generations, this legacy we gave,
In this, the land of the free and the home of the brave."

"The freedom we secured for you, we hoped you'd always keep.
But tyrants labored endlessly, while your parents were asleep.
Your freedom gone, your courage lost, you're no more than a slave,
In this, the land of the free and the home of the brave."

"You buy permits to travel, and permits to own a gun,
Permits to start a business, or to build a place for one.
On land that you believe you own, you pay a yearly rent,
Although you have no voice in choosing how the money's spent."

"Your children must attend a school that doesn't educate.
Your Christian values can't be taught, according to the state.
You read about the current news, in a regulated press.
You pay a tax you do not owe, to please the I.R.S."

"Your money is no longer made of silver or of gold.
You trade your wealth for paper, so your life can be controlled.
You pay for crimes that make our nation turn from God in shame,
You've taken Satan's number, as you've traded in your name."

"You've given government control to those who do you harm,
So they can padlock churches, and steal the family farm,
And keep the country deep in debt, put men of God in jail,
Harass your fellow countrymen, while corrupted courts prevail."

"Your public servants don't uphold the solemn oath they've sworn.
Your daughters visit doctors so their children won't be born.
Your leaders ship artillery and guns to foreign shores,
And send your sons to slaughter, fighting other people's wars."

"Can you regain freedom for which we fought and died?
Or don't you have the courage or the faith to stand with pride?
Are there no more values for which you'll fight to save?
Or do you wish your children to live in fear and be a slave?"

"Sons of the Republic, arise and take a stand!
Defend the Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land!
Preserve our great republic and each God-given right,
And pray to God to keep the torch of freedom burning bright!"

As I awoke he vanished, in the mist from which he came.
His words were true, we are not free. We have ourselves to blame.
For even now as tyrants trample each God-given right,
We only watch and tremble, too afraid to stand and fight.

If he stood by your bedside, in a dream while you're asleep,
And wondered what remains of our rights he fought to keep,
What would be your answer, if he called out from the grave?
Is this still the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave?"

                    Jacob told me that some anti-elitist group is trying to recruit him here in T or C.

     1:32am  What's up with the water here in town?

                    Jacob: "The water system in T or C, the pipes are lined with asbestos, which is a chemical that is known to cause cancer. Which is why I only drink bottled water."

Next day..