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December 06, 2003HomeSafe...SortaI must apologize for the delay in updating you, gentle readers. You will understand after reading this missive. I did make it home safely around ten Wednesday morning. I arrived that late because somewhere around Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a vicious stomach sickness struck me and every little town between Tuscaloosa and Winona, Mississippi, that had a 24 hour gas station received a visit from a sickened single guy in the south. Curiously enough, you see an entirely different side of the South when you stop in every gas station bathroom for about 250-plus miles...In any event, I pulled up at a nice truckstop just west of Winona and hunkered down for the night where I could rush to the facilities whenever, the, ahem, urge hit me. I was able to meet yet another blogger, our good friend Anastasia of Southern Musings. She has posted about it along with pictures. After looking at those pictures, two things become very clear. Stasia was right. After the Atlanta Blogger Brouhaha, she saw some of the pics from other bloggers there and commented that I never look the same in any picture. The other thing that became clear is that I was well on my way to being sick. I look like I'm about to be stricken if not already stricken. Stasia has already posted an update on my safe arrival and she has broke the news that only a few folks are aware of via instant messages, emails, and phone calls. When I finally made it into to town, I went by the office to pick a key to the guest house so that I could go get cleaned up and come back to the office. We had arranged for me to stay at a guest house for a few days because after I reallized that the trip to Atlanta would be extended much longer than two weeks, I had called the utility companies and had everything turned off at the house. On the way, I went by my house to drop off a few things and check the place. That's when I discovered my 'unwelcome home' gift. My carport door was unlocked. It was locked when I left. A very strange and painful feeling hit my gut and it hurt a little more than what had been bothering me. I stepped in and discovered that I had been hit by burgulars. The place was ransacked. It looked just like it does in the movies or on television, down to the mattress off the bed and the drawers left open. Everything of value on the street was stolen. Before you ask, it is a rented house and no, I (foolishly) do not have renter's insurance. I did have friends who drove by regularly for me, but not checking the inside. I feel stupid, but then again, it's a little town where folks don't lock their cars up at night and all that. You can bet I'll be locking stuff up from here forward. Then again the house was locked and that didn't stop them from coming in. I suspect a window because there was one open when I returned though the screen had been placed back on. A quick but not exhaustive list of items include: tv, dvd player, laptop pc, 3 vcrs, 12 ga. shotgun, stereo, several boxes of shotgun shells, clothing, dozens of cds, dvds, and videos. The police have been very helpful about it all, but they like I, have little hope that the perpetrators will be found. When the only window of time I can give them as to when it happened is three months wide, it is pretty difficult to track down. I'll be doing a little detective work in the local pawn shops to see if I can find any of the stuff there during next week's lunch breaks. The bright side of the entire ordeal is it just stuff. Stuff can be replaced. My local friends have welcomed me back warmly. Young's BBQ has re-opened and I am getting my fill of the best pork barbecue with the best sauce I have ever had. The folks at work have all welcomed me back and though it's a lot of hours and a lot of stress, it's still challenging and engaging. My stomach sickness is over so I have my health again. I'll be flying to Phoenix later this month to stand with my brother when he gets married to his high school and college sweetheart. Best of all, while I may have lost some material things here, I made some wonderful friends in Georgia that I know I can count on whenever I'm back over in that part of the country. They may have stole some stuff, but they can't steal my friendships I made. And those are much more valuable by far. Here is everyone I'd like to thank from my time in Georgia-- Kelley: For being my sis. Dax: For going out of his way to help me. Rob (and Georgia and Recondo32): For the wisdom and the laughs. Angie: For the directions and the shoulder. Kenny: For the fun and the hope. Denny: For the abilty to laugh at life and the world. Eric (okay not in GA, but still): For the new techniques and the ability to go the very edge of disaster and back off safely. Donnie: For the compliments and the gentle manner. Heather: For the fresh take on the world. Holly: Also for hope and the example. Jim: For the the comraderie despite the miles; he fell in love and I left without saying goodbye... Stasia: For listening and keeping me in touch with modern urban civilazation. I Thanks to all of you. You made my second time to live in Atlanta much, much better than the first. I love all of you folks. Post Script: The last song I heard from my Atlanta area station I thought was pretty appropriate. The first song I heard after losing the signal of the station I had adopted in Atlanta I thought was fairly fitting, The lyrics are in the extended entry. Hey Ya [Intro] [Verse One - Andre 3000] [Chorus] [Verse Two - Andre 3000] [Chorus] [Bridge - Andre 3000] [Verse Three - Andre 3000 (Repeating "Shake it" in background)] [Chorus] [Chorus continues until fade] Who Wouldn't Want To Be I got no money in my pockets 'Cause I'm ridin' with my baby Chrous: Now she's strummin' on my six-string (Repeat Chorus Twice) I got no money in my pockets Overtaken by Events linked with Merry Effing Christmas Comments
Aaaaw, thanks Adam. Sorry your week sucked. We're still here. Our comradery isn't dependent upon geography. ; ) Posted by: Key at December 6, 2003 05:29 PMAdam, I am here anytime you need me, whether from Arkansas or Georgia. Posted by: Stasia at December 6, 2003 11:05 PMAdam, I hope you sort everything out in Arkansas...just let me know if I can be of any assistance..but, as a side note...I was SURE that we were going to die walking to that cabin...that was friggin DARK...glad we made it back in one piece... Posted by: Eric at December 7, 2003 06:41 PMWhat I haven't revealed is later that night I walked back over to Rob's cabin to get my clothes (it was locked) and I did indeed fall down that emmbankment about 20 feet. How I didn't get a scratch is beyond me... Posted by: Adam at December 7, 2003 06:59 PMThanks for the laughs, give a shout when you get back this way, I think I owe you a beer. Posted by: ken at December 7, 2003 09:14 PMi hate that it happened to you. I learned my lesson the hard way too and didn't have renter's ins. when it happened to me... now, i do and good thing i do because it's happened again and we've had a flood and struck by lightning so GET IT! It's only like 60 for the year! Glad you are getting settled and just remember (as you've already said), it's just STUFf and it can be replaced eventually... just too bad some things had sentimental value and it's a shame others don't value that. Posted by: h at December 8, 2003 10:58 AMWell, I'll stop complaining about being screwed out of $65 because of a parking violation now. Sorry for your troubles. I had renters insurance b/c I was sure someone would burn the building down, not vandalize my apt. But it's a good thing to have, and mine was $120 a year. The price depends on where you live and what kind of structure you live in. Posted by: sugarmama at December 8, 2003 12:02 PMI'm sorry to hear that Adam, some bastards stole my saddle out of my locked tool box in my truck. They jimmied it open. It was the saddle my Dad bought me before he died five or so years ago. Not as awful as yours, but i understnad how you feel. *hugs and kisses to ya* Posted by: Ashia at December 8, 2003 04:33 PMThanks for the mention - I didn't think you remembered me ! ;o) Too sweet ! Good luck with your your new homesite ! Posted by: siso at December 9, 2003 04:54 PMPost a comment
 
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