Big Boy Pants

I've spent the good part of my life, acting like a little boy. I was selfish and self-centered. I allowed fear to control my every decision, to drive my procrastination. I wanted everyone to like me, and thus, cared what other people thought about me. I had a hole in my soul, that only things like alcohol seemed to temporarily fill. I gravitated to abusive relationships and shallow friends, who were not really interested in me, but for what was in "It" for them. I lived a life as a phony. I demanded from God, what I wanted, and was thankless for the things I was given, things I needed. I was a selfish Prick.

Today, I am living out the consequences, I am reaping what I sowed. I would not however, trade my life today, for the one in my past, if I the requirement necessary, is returning to who I once was.

Now, when I say that I'm going to do something, you can count on me showing up. When I wake up in the morning, I am grateful for the new day and for what God has given me, what I need in glorifying him. I no longer want anyone to take care of me, rather I strive in trying help others in finding a this new way of life. I put on my Big Boy Pants, and today I can handle anything Life put's in my path, with gratitude.

Fresh On The Road

On the road, there are a few options in having some comforts of home. One would be getting a hotel room, working my way down the list:

1. Hotel Room
2. Motel Room
3. Cheep Motel Room
4. KOA Camp Ground
5. Independent Camp Ground

Then comes the Truck Stop, which more or less equals sleeping in the car/truck/van/camper, though a little know secret to these commerce service centers is, you get a shower relatively cheep. I've heard the jokes, "Don't Bend over if you drop the soap," and other comments, and unfounded. Here is how it works:

1. Pay a fee, usually 8.00 - 12.00
2. Take the receipt and wait for your customer number to be called and posted on the monitor.
3. When called, it will indicate to which shower you should report.
4. Much like a self service car wash, one punches in a code, which unlocks the shower door.

Inside the shower room, you will find what one might compare to an ultra small hotel room. There is a toilet, mirror, sink, bench, a clean wash cloth and towel, a new bar of soap, and the shower. There are no time limits, so one can spend as long as you might like in nice hot water, works wonders out of muscles sore after a many miles ride, or in my case, sleeping on a third bench seat in the back of a van.

Dear Bob Evans

Dear Bob Evans Restaurants,

I want to apologize for using your bathroom facilities in Lake City, Florida but not eating at your restaurant. I realized something was wrong a full hour before stopping at your place of business. I want you to know, I attempted a stop at the Best Western, behind your establishment, but knew the moment I got out of the car, that I would never make it to their front door.

I glanced by the sign in the window that said, “Bathrooms are for Restaurant Guests Only.” Your greeter did an excellent job, “Welcome to Bob Evens; How many in your party,” she asked. I sprinted past her, shooting her a knowing look. She smiled, which I interpreted as, “Sir, the bathroom rule doesn’t apply to you, I can see you have a major emergency.” It's was a near religious experience Mr. Evans, I was trotting as I asked to God that I might make it to the stall. I abandoned the thought that I might add to my prayer the toilet be clean, at this point I didn't care.

Mr. Evans, I'm sorry if I caused any loss of business to your fine chain, I imagine anyone entering the men's room after my visit, had loss of appetite. If I can make it up to you by recommending to all of my family and friends, that they please frequent your eatery, I will do so.

A Grateful,

Peter Solomon

Oviedo

Yesterday, it rained for most of the drive north. I had to keep checking my speed, because for some reason I was in a big hurry in getting here, knowing I will have only a small part of this trip completed.

I ate dinner with a friend at Mellow Mushroom, one of my favorite pizza chains. It was good catching up and seeing each other.

Spent a nearly sleepless night. Now that I've gone for a run, I might try and catch a nap before hitting the road. From here on out, I know things will are going to get very interesting. 

Get Up!

I lay there awake in Futon, tossing and turning, disaster dancing through my head. Maybe I'll turn on the T.V., hopefully something on requiring more than a few brain cells. "History Channel - Illegal Drugs And How They Got That Way, Cocaine & Crack," great, well at least it's not pawn shops or muscle man custom motorcycles. I look down at my phone, 2:30am, have to go to sleep getting up at the crack of dawn to leave. The alarm goes off, I can hear the wind slapping the rain against the front room window. I roll over, just a couple minutes. I sat up, it's 9:30, so much for my plan, then again, does it really matter, not in a rush really, I have nothing but time. Throw in a load of wash, finished packing up the van and here I sit at Starbucks, getting a last cup on rehab avenue. Just for Today, I will not procrastinate, as it's been my experience that not making decisions, is more often than not, worse than any of the choices. 

Across from Big Al's Steaks

Forward

Big Al's Steaks, Authentic Philly Steak Sandwiches the sign across the street blares. Just another night at rehab Starbucks on Atlantic Ave in Delray Beach. The internet, a painful crawl; Pearl Jam screaming in my ears.

Every Story has a beginning, and sometimes we turn more than a page and start a new chapter. It's one of these defining moments, where things are so radically different, one can only start a new volume. The Following blog, this forward to this new volume and first chapter, I hope to chronicle this new undertaking that might only happen to your humble author, me. What Facebook status would not do justice to what may be, my greatest adventure yet.

This place, this time, this moment, is where and when, all the really good things begin.