PP #9: Thanksgiving, no politics, more drama!

Project: Pioneer #9 November 23, 2023 (Thursday 11am)

One. Week. Left. until our pioneer journey truly starts! It’s getting really real up in here. We’re almost down to just random piles of stuff we’re sorting through. Almost all big stuff is gone, except my big old writing desk, I don’t think it wants to part. Nor do I :-(

Project: Pioneer is the live reality journal of a couple and their small dog as they leave their ‘normal’ life in a luxury apartment for a new semi-off grid life in a small recreational vehicle, just at the start of winter. We cover prepping, politics, spirituality, afterlife, RV life, and personal finance. (Audio at this link, Apple, and Spotify)

But…wait! It’s a special day. Thanksgiving. As I said prior, I’m not a big fan of the false premise the holiday is based on. But, it’s a good day to be thankful for all we have to be thankful for. There are many, many people spending the day alone or away from their families. Be thankful you’re not one of them (unless you really want to be, ha!), be thankful for the military, law enforcement, firefighters, medical workers, anyone that has to be on the job today, for you. Be kind to someone today, and they may be thankful for you! Please, no feats of strength or airing of grievances, or talking about those not present. Go easy on the alcohol, it’s a horrible substance.

I documented Thanksgiving away in Farawayer. I’m spending the day alone today in solidarity with everyone else that has to. And, because I desperately need a down day, need to get things done around here, and watch the Packers while I’m doing it. I have a turkey TV dinner in the freezer, just like old times! I’m kinda psyched about it. Well, it’s me and Pia. She’ll get turkey too. Giavana is off in her hotrod to spend the day with her mom and kids. I’m heading out to see mine on Saturday, when hopefully the roads are clear of lunatics.

Speaking of which, we made a Costco run on Friday just to grab some coffee and return a few items. Easy peasy, right? Of course, Henrik was thirsty (Henrik, always thirsty, Pia, always hungry…these kids!) so we pulled into the long lines at the pumps. We’re sitting there waiting patiently, nice acoustic coffee house music playing, and she says, “That guy is trying to tell us something.” I look over at the next row where she’s pointing and there’s a guy in a big red busted up Dodge Ram pickup gesturing wildly and mouthing something. I figured maybe our tire was low or something.

I rolled down the window and it went like this (not exaggerating!)
Me: Hey what’s up.
Him: You’re a dumb m***f***, you know that?
Me: What? Did I do something to upset you?
Him: No, you’re just a dumb m***f*** and you have a dumb truck.
Me (to Giavana): Did we cut him off or something?
Her: No, he was already in line.
Me: Why are you saying this, what did we do?
Him: Because I can, m*** f***, you don’t want to get hurt.
Giavana: Please, Billy, please don’t get out of the truck (dials 911 because in the past I would have gotten out and bad things would happen, circa battle on the lake 2015). Please let’s leave or move to a different line.
Me: (backs up, takes picture of his license plate, drives to different lane, guy still going off)

Anyway, the state cops came, walked up to the guy, and he gave them one of those “I don’t have to talk to you,” deals, maybe sovereign citizen BS he heard on his socials (a Jan 6 rioter just tried that in court, and was quite shocked when he was hauled away to jail anyway, because it’s BS propagated by lunatics and people who want to take your $). We drove off with him surrounded by even more state cops and wildly flailing his arms around. I guess he found out he does have to talk to them! I wanted to watch the show but Giavana wisely pushed to leave. I have no political bumper stickers or anything like that.

Hence our journey. Society is clearly unravelling around us. You heard about our recent incident at the movies. It’s unreal, and scary. The sharp slide of decency, morality, ethics, compassion for others is incredible to witness. That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing, minimizing and making sure we’re prepped and mobile. Can anything save us? Maybe if whomever is guarding the Ark of the Covenant unleashes it. Or, the second coming. We ready. We being kind to those with less, especially immigrants, just like Jesus asked on behalf of his Father.

The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:34

So, are you really a believer, or just when it’s convenient? The Word is the Word, my friends. And, if you don’t believe, it’s just the right thing to do.

I’m really proud I stood down. If it had been a Friday afternoon in the past, I’d already have been to happy hour and it would have turned out differently. You can’t do mano-e-mano anymore, everyone’s walking around armed, especially the nut jobs like this guy. He seemed to be intoxicated, high, mentally unwell, or all three. I guess it was about poor old Henrik! The state cop said, “Well I like your truck.” I told him we did too, and that’s all that matters, right? Do we have a right to tell others they have to be like us, in terms of how they look, worship, dress, love, vote, or what truck they drive? Isn’t that snowflake-level insecurity and intolerance?

Ok, I said no politics. It was just a question, geez. My dear mom asked why the politics in here. It’s because of the above. Our one little voice in the storm of a major “news” network that’s admitted to lying to its viewers, not following journalistic standards, and in fact calling their own viewers stupid for actually believing the things they’re hearing on their channel. If we can wake up a few cult members, it’s worth it. Speaking of which, we just watched Twin Flames on Netflix. Incredible story, and the same basic thing—lonely, not too bright people being taken advantage of by evil and greed. Although one woman was a scientist, naivete and gullibility is a whole other thing.

We went out to Red House to tidy up some details inside. I’m still not sure how everything will fit. We may do a second desk at the end of the bed, since it flips up. More pictures coming for you paying subscribers! But check out what this couple is doing, with three kids and about the same size RV! They have every inch optimized. I think we’re going to need more wall hooks (we just ordered these awesome ones)… I think we may need a bigger boat…

I’m still messed up in my sleep. But you know what? I’ve come to really enjoy waking up at 3am. Instead of stressing about if I’ll get back to sleep, I just lay there, empty mind, enjoying the perfect peace, quiet, and stillness as the world sleeps. Guess what happens then :-) zzzzzz

I’m making a lot of post office runs with the stuff we’re selling on eBay. I’ve realized that there must be a class I need to sign up for as I get into my 80s. It’s probably called “Senior Post Officing” and I think it covers standing there chatting up the poor harried clerks about sports, politics, the weather, completely oblivious to the long line of folks behind. I think there’s a grocery store elective on that as well.

Oh yeah, Giavana and I were actually forced to occupy the same room/office because her desk sold. So, she occupied the big writing tank of a desk I formerly used (now for sale, now me working at a folding table in same room). That lasted about two days until she retreated to another folding table in the dining room (sniffs underarm). I wonder how this bodes for one week from now, when we’re literally shoulder to shoulder. Or, we could really, really retire, as I’ve been encouraging.

What’s next? One week left so we’re scurrying. Hey, also big drama on the horizon—remember how I procrastinated on doing that sewer hookup? Welp, soon we should be doing our first official dump of the grey and black tanks (I outlined the procedure in a previous post). There’s a hard right turn all that mess has to make toward the end, at the sewer port into the ground. Will they make it? Stand by, we’ll let you know soon! Narrator: Some neighbors looked at it and shook their heads skeptically. We may need to incorporate laxatives in our diet… Speaking of which, my TV dinner is ready!

Hey, share this with your Thanksgiving dinner tablemates for some exciting conversation, heh :-) Do a reading from the Church of the Pioneer.

“Hear me people: We have now to deal with another race. These people have made many rules that the rich may break but the poor may not. They take their taxes from the poor and weak to support the rich and those who rule.”

— Chief Sitting Bull

Got questions? We’re happy to answer them, just post away below!

I still have a shelf full of my novels and no room for them at Red House. I’ve asked our friends at Wild Lake Press to mark them down to half off, about $5, while supplies last, just for you pioneer journal readers (discount may not show until you check out). That’s pretty much my cost. If you buy any, you can let me know if you want a custom inscription and signature on it. Remember, many authors don’t get famous until they croak, so it could be an investment! Or, not. Sigh.

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