Neighbors...close and far away......

I have a close friend we call Popcorn, who wrote this essay and I wanted to share it with you...it rings very true...Leave a comment and tell me waht you think about today's society and how we treat everyone from those close to us to those we have never met....

Essay: "Neighbors"


Neighbors. What do most of us know about neighbors or care for them? For the most part, nothing. Most people nowadays don't know their neighbor nor do they care to know them. Why? I don't know why. I mostly believe it's due to being from a "me-me" society; a society and culture that cares for no one or nothing but themselves.

Neighbors at one point in time used to be like extended family. That has changed. Most people don't even care about their own family, let alone some people who live next to them. "Why should I care for them, I don't know them," they think. Truly, why should they?

Why? Simply because without care for others then there is no true care for one self. "How?" You ask. Well, look at it. Without true 'neighborly behavior' society falls apart. Even if stuff happens on such a small scale as neighbors not getting along, it turns to big scale problems. Society is based on the well being of its members, the interaction of its members. Anyone who is even slightly familiar with sociology will point this out to you, but do you ask? No, of course not. You're too busy buying clothes or throwing away your slightly used shoes just because 'they are a year old'. You're too worried about yourself to worry about others.

I guess I sound very socialistic (which I'm absolutely not), because some of their arguments ring true. What is the well being of the individual, when the whole is decaying? Why should people care if everything is going to shit? Well, because one person can make a difference. If one person tries to reach out to their neighbors for selfless reasons, then that one becomes however many they reach out to.

A good society is not based on the well being of the economy or government body, but the well being of the people. Not the individual, but the whole. If everyone would take a true interest in others, then we would be a healthier society.

Health updates and such...

I found out that it wasnt the pain meds that caused the severe reaction...it was the augmentin xr sr.
Now I can take the pain meds like i need. So if I take alot of pain meds in the morning then about an hour later I can stand to get down all the pills. I am feeling alot better for the most part. Still haveing a bit of a time but hopefully soon all will be well and I can start to travel again. I have a feeling that my days are not up!!

I will not give up on my dreams..remember I said that several months ago and I still mean it!! Alot of ppl around me want me to stop and get a real job and stick it around here...I take a look at that senerio and think..where will that get me in 20 years? Definitely not somewhere I want to be!! Do I want to be stuck in one town for 20 years, if you know me or even if you dont and all you have to go is this blog..you should know...that NO that wont do!

I love thrills, I love challenges, I love living!

Hospitalized...

I just wanted everyone to know why I have been gone for so long. I just got released by the hospital today. I had a sore throat when i went to bed. I woke up at exactly 420am the next morn...In sever pain. My neck was swollen on the outside severly from my ear my cheek (even my cheek bone was sore to the touch) and all the way down my neck. The inside of my throat was so swollen you wouldnt have been able to put a pencil though it. I could barely breath, couldnt even drink water. I tryed some homeopathy (usnea that I had) helped a little but not enough...I was dizzy sweating and freezinf with a high fever. I didnt go to the hospital I thought I could weather it out...The next day I called my sister and asked her if she could bring me something to help..needless to say I couldnt take so Blue was talking for me while I wrote everything down. When she got there she said tht I needed to go to the hospital emediately (but at that point i didnt understand what she was saying I was sooo sick) so I didnt take the advise...I slept for 2 days...then finally I went to the hospital because it wasnt getting any better at all..infact it was getting alot worse. I went to our local hospital here they got me straight into the ER, something that had never happened before...never gone straight in..normally takes a couple of hours...but guess I was that bad. They sent in several ppl one after another boom boom boom, finally the actually doc arrives in the room and says I needed a CT scan cuz he was afraid that I could be getting an abcess in my throat. Didnt know you could have an abcess in your throat, thought that was just a tooth thing...but well right after the CT scan they shipped me to Springfield hospital to a St. Johns. There I stayed for a while. Where I got alot more needle poked and many bruises but the staff was extremely great! Actually the most bruising I got was from the hospital here. I have so many needle bruises all over...from my hip to all over my arms...they were gonna stab my throat...glad they didnt have to do that...Well i dont have long here and i need to take some more pain meds...The meds that they subscribed me I couldnt afford...cost over 200 dollars but the hospital has this service to help some ppl who cant afford meds...ofcourse they are very picky on who they help...and well my throat was a severe thing...they emmediatly got a fax down there to pay for all the meds. I have to take 16 peniciallian pills everyday no joke. and ofcorse all the pain pills i will need. even have a refill. I dont have much time like i said here so i am not gonna correct my misspellings so plaease excuse that. Well I got released today around 2pm or so. I still have to go back for surgery on my throat but I have to wait till jan. Unless its gets worse..which i hope it wont. I couldnt breathe, drink water, eat...nothing..I was puking becuase of all the acid in my stomach and not having anything in my stomach for almost 3 days. and it took all day with pain meds and many anti biotics to get my throat to open up enought to allow some water through and when i was finally able to eat some jello it was realy great. Oh and I couldnt talk ofcourse. Now I can talk, eat semi soft food, and drink. Still hurts but not nearly as bad as before. Well gotta go if you have any questoins please feel free to ask em...lots of love!!

Hitching from Norwood, MO (54mi)to Springfield. MO (85mi)to Harrison, AR Shoutout to Monte!

Ok so I just left Smitty's house 2 nights ago. Watched the Cowboys vs 49ers Sun before I left..Which had me leaving really late (330pm). Ruby and I walked several miles, till roughly midnight. I would have kept walking but we were so cold. I have no idea what the temp was but it was cold..my fingers from thumbing it, was almost numb. Well I set up the tarp (first time btw, just the tarp part), and my sleeping bags and me and Ruby settled in for the night, in between the W60 and the outer road. Well (I am guessing on "times") about 2 or 3 am, I still hadn't been able to fall asleep, because my nick was really hurting (from the pack and from the terrain) and I hadn't eaten that day so I vomited 3 times (during the course of the night) from acid in my stomach, I had a huge headache, and freezing, well at about 2 or 3 am it started lightly raining..so I pulled the tarp over us the best I could but it just wasn't doing all that much good..so needless to say I got about an hour or so of sleep and when morning came we were really wet and cold. Let me tell you how cold it was...when I woke up and started to pick everything up I couldn't feel my fingers nor my feet, and Ruby's nose (which is normally red) was almost white and her ears were freezing (which are normally really warm...). Well after walking for a while a trucker finally picked us up and took us to the bus station. I arrived at the station at about 9am and Blue was due in at 12:30...Well Blue arrived and we went to walmart..about 2 miles away (I think). I don't know if you guys know or not but I have asthma really bad and had ran out of my meds not quite 2wks ago. So I was having a really hard time breathing. Well we went to walmart to see if i could get my meds transferred...well they could but they discontinued the meds that i take(which normally only cost me $12.00) so there was a new meds that were much more expensive ($43.00)..YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!! So there was no way I could afford it..So since I couldn't get the meds I went around the walmart and tried to find some food...well this was a fairly new walmart, I wouldn't find the food (i cant see very well so I thought they had just put it in an odd spot, So I asked a walmart employee about the food...well that walmart hadn't gotten there food stuff yet..go figure..so I talked to her about some over the counter meds for my asthma...one thing led to another and she also has asthma...but didn't have an inhaler on her. Here is a really kick ass thing...she got off work in 10 min, she TOOK me to her house and gave me a full inhaler!! Then took me back to the walmart! How awesome is that..a TRUE LIFE SAVER! So got back to the walmart and we left there and went across the street to the BIG Kmart (first time I had been to one of these) well Blue went inside and got some tuna and some peanut butter crackers (needed protein really bad). While we were eating, this woman comes up and says here go buy you some burgers and hands us $5...cool! So after we left there we walked around trying to remember where my friend monte lived...couldn't hardly remember..so we walked several miles up and down streets that I thought were right...finally after it got dark we went to a Shoney's and I used the phone..btw I didn't know monte's number anymore, so I called his work and of course he wasn't working and they couldn't tell me (legally) his number, so they called him instead and gave him the number to where I was..awesome huh!! Well he called me..and come to find out he didnt even live in the same place anyways...so we got a cab and went to his house. Had a wonderful time..I got to watch mon night foot ball and monday night WWE!! So I didnt have to miss any of my shows LOL...Needless to say we all had a wonderful time. Gotta love Monte! Well monte had to be at work early so at about 730am we left with his mom and him..dropped him off and then she was nice enough to take us to the corner where we needed to get to get on the freeway...Awesome....and dear if you read this...thank you sooo much. So we stayed at the gas station for a while...and this dude comes up, he has lots of piercings like I do...he says I see your headed to Ark..Im from ark too...and he said he wanted to help us out...this guy didnt have a bunch of money..infact it looked like he gave us all he had...he gave us $5....We werent flying signs or spanging.....So I got up and hugged they guy and told him how thankful I was. and Blue hugged him too. Well after that we headed up the ramp to hwy65..walked about 6 or 7 miles, I think, till we got to the ramps of freeway 60...I told Blue that I wasnt going another step from this spot that we stopped...It looked like the best place to camp for the night. I didnt want to get caught again like the other night where Ruby and I froze.. Well about 20 min later...my cousins husband shows up and gives us a ride all the way to my sisters house!! How cool is that...I said I wasnt walking another step..and I didnt have tooo!!! So here I am. Using her computer, so you guys can know whats going on...So tonight I get to take a shower and lay in a real bed (tho at monte's I got to sleep ina real bed too), but this time I dont have to get up at 7am...and boy am I tired....found out my pack weighs almost 100lbs....boy is it majorly heavy...well thats all folks lol...

Loving You All
Ali

Travelers....

I have a brother who has been trying to make it to Missouri from SC. Have many of you ever heard of manifesting? I mean making something happen just by thought? Well, my brother Blue did just that. About 15 minutes after getting off the phone with me, he got a greyhound ticket purchased for him. And a day before that he was needing more money...well he found 3 dollars in his pocket...I think that's great news...

So Monday the 24th I will be picking him up from the bus station in Springfield. Then we are heading south for thanksgiving..going to spend it with my brother-in-laws family. Its not that far south..I have a few ideas of what I wold like to do. First, I want to spend some quality time with my sister. While I was in Harrison the last time I didn't get to spend any time with her...I miss her something terrible.

I have a good friend that I haven't seen since high school in OK..I would really like to spend some time with her and her family...and I just love spending time with my family(friends are my family too). I hope to meet some great family..like ACE, BLUE, and JAI...Nata..sooo many...SCIENCE..ohh so many..Love You ALL!!

Well this is going to be a short post...just wanted to update everyone....and tell ya all that I LOVE YOU!!!

Picture time

Excuse the order of the pictures...
I think I am bloggeriliterate...

I cant seem to get them in order.
The top pic is my Marlboro Sleeping bag.
The best sleeping bag I have ever had.

My Mr. Wooly...very warm, just a tad small, but works to keep the lower half of me warm (especially my feet..burrr it can get cold down there).

Here is a top pic of my backpack...
Special Thanks to Heather...Thank you for the backpack!!
See the clear handle?
Those boots you see are tied to the handle.
To keep them out of my way,
I face the toe toward front of the pack...

The Inside of my bag..I keep trash bags as liners for my backpack
So when it rains I will still have dry clothes to change into.

Another pic...out of order..lol
This shows you the top of the trash bag..
I wrap it around till its water tight...then zip it up

Here is the bag all zipped up...
The weight really distributes well in this pack...

Here is a cool extension I did to my pack...
Remember that red sleeping bag you saw in the first pic...
These are the straps that go to it.
I cut them out and put them on my pack to help with the weight...

See the toes of the boots...
and you can see how I have the shoe strings
used as rope to tie the boots to the handle.

Here is a pic of the saddle bags that I made Ruby.
If you want one for your special pet..I am up for trading and green energy donations...

Ruby loves wearing her saddle bag!

This is the flap over the pocket..

Easy to open, and I have added snaps to this one..
But next time I will use buttons..Snaps don't hold very well at all!

A for Ali

My Bob Marley Pull-over
The only jacket I own....

Ruby, a truly wonderful friend...

See the flag...told ya....
May love always be there to pick you up when your feeling down....
Loving You All
Ali

Numerology Report

http://www.smart-horoscope.com

Numerological Report

Your Life Path Number is 11 Your Life Path Number represents the path you should take through life and the talents and skills you have to make your journey a rewarding one. Much is expected of those carrying an 11 Life Path Number. Yours is the journey of the Spiritual Messenger. You are meant to explore and come to understand life's spiritual mysteries. As your wisdom grows, you will share your vision with all of humankind. Your Life Destiny Number is 6 Your Destiny Number sheds light on those things you must accomplish in your life to be fulfilled. Your purpose in life is to serve by nurturing family and loved ones. Your sense of beauty and community will make you a harmonizing force for those around you. You will bring to our world two qualities it is all too often missing: love and balance. Your Soul Number is 3 Your Soul Number describes your deepest desires and dreams and the person you truly want to be. You desire to make people happy, laugh, and be all they can be. You want to create, have fun, and remain ever enthusiastic. You are a lover of life, and will do all you can to ensure those around you are aware of just how grand a gift life is. top Your Personality Number is 3 Your Personality Number reveals the "external you"--the personality traits others will know you by. You are a lover of life. You are extroverted and charming, and always want to have fun. You are the lucky possessor of the proverbial "magnetic personality." Your enthusiasm for life is contagious. Your potential to create and inspire others to create seems limitless. Of course, you are not fault free. You can be gossipy and display unwarranted jealousy. In the end, however, most will find your exuberance for life irresistible. Your Maturity Number is 8 Your Maturity Number reveals the person you will come to be--your true self. Those with an 8 as their Maturity Number will find rewards through their accomplishments. Their early lives will be spent learning how to apply power without becoming dictatorial and finding a balance between the material and spiritual world. As you mature you will be called upon more and more often to lead others. If you learn to apply authority without becoming tyrannical you may well be thought of as one of the world's great leaders in your later years. The 4 Pinnacles Pinnacles represent moments in your life in which you realize current goals and learn some of life's lessons. If you are at the beginning of a Pinnacle, then they can be used as a predictive tool to assist in managing your future. Your first Pinnacle begins at birth and last until around the age of 27. Your Second Pinnacle last through the next 9 year and the Third Pinnacle last for 9 years after the Second Pinnacle has passed. Your Fourth Pinnacle picks up where the Third Pinnacle ends and last throughout the rest of your life Your First Pinnacle Number is 9 A 9 Pinnacle means you are in a period where your love for your fellow man will be at its zenith. In this period you will play healer and inspirer to those around you. A 9 Pinnacle is never easy. You will be asked to sacrifice meeting your own needs for the good of others. You may experience the pain of loss, but in the end will be rewarded by fulfilling your soul's need to ease the pain of others. Your Second Pinnacle Number is 7 A 7 Pinnacle marks a time for study, self-discovery and spiritual development. Your focus on the inner-self will bring out the loner in you. If your 7 is a First Pinnacle you will probably have to deal with a feeling of alienation. A 7 in the Second or Third Pinnacle demarks a time for further spiritual exploration and refinement of your understanding of yourself. As Fourth Pinnacle, the 7 denotes yet more time exploring your inner-self and the sharing of your wisdom with others. Your Third Pinnacle Number is 7 A 7 Pinnacle marks a time for study, self-discovery and spiritual development. Your focus on the inner-self will bring out the loner in you. If your 7 is a First Pinnacle you will probably have to deal with a feeling of alienation. A 7 in the Second or Third Pinnacle demarks a time for further spiritual exploration and refinement of your understanding of yourself. As Fourth Pinnacle, the 7 denotes yet more time exploring your inner-self and the sharing of your wisdom with others. Your Fourth Pinnacle Number is 6 A 6 Pinnacle notes a time of love and devotion to friends and family, or possibly the building of a new family after a divorce. During this Pinnacle your energies will be focused on your home-life. You will nurture your loved ones and beautify your surroundings as much as possible. During this Pinnacle that which is in your heart will come to the forefront. The 4 Challenges Challenges denote personal weaknesses and temptations you will have to overcome and strengths you will have to develop to fully realize your goals. The 4 Challenges have the same time frame as the 4 Pinnacles. Your First Challenge Number is 1 A 1 Challenge signifies the struggle to become independent, courageous and have faith in your convictions. If the number 1 appears as your first Challenge you are learning to define your self. Should a 1 appear in your other Challenges you are learning to remain true to your self and become more confident. Your Second Challenge Number is 6 A 6 Challenge marks a period in which you will learn to balance the needs of your family with your own. You will learn that true nurturing can only come from your heart. Your idealistic views of marriage may be shaken some, but if you learn to temper them some you will be happier and more secure on the other side of this Challenge. Your Third Challenge Number is 5 A 5 Challenge marks a time when you most overcome your fear of change and risk. You will also learn to liberate yourself from that which restricts your self-expression. While a 5 Challenge may be a bit scary, it is a time of great personal development marked by the growth of your individual freedom. Your Fourth Challenge Number is 7 A 7 Challenge always marks a very serious period in your life. This period will be marked by intense introspection and the pursuit of spiritual wisdom. Your challenge will be to move through this period of self-discovery while dealing with the isolation such inner journeys often cause. Also you will have to learn to differentiate reality from fantasy. The 3 Cycles Cycles occur in 28 year periods. The First Cycle last from birth through your 28th year and is called your Formative or Seed Cycle. The Second Cycle--your Productive or Fruit Cycle--begins at age 29 and last through your 56th year. The Third Cycle, your Harvest Cycle, begins with the coming of your 57th year and last throughout the rest of your life. Your Cycle Numbers tell you the lessons you must learn and goals you must meet to stay on your Life's Path and achieve your true destiny. top Your First Cycle Number is 4 This is a time for you to put things in order. You will address many of life's practical concerns during this period. Discipline, order and a willingness to work hard are your greatest allies during this Cycle. Your Second Cycle is 5 Change and the development of personal freedom are the earmarks of a 5 Cycle. You will find fulfillment and joy in the adventures this Cycle holds for you. This Cycle will show you life at its most exciting. Your Third Cycle Number is 2 If you are in a 2 Cycle you are going to develop at a slow, even pace. Your talents for peacemaking and gentle persuasion will come into play often. Understanding relationships will be your main goal in this period. Should this be your Third Cycle, patience and diplomacy will be the characteristics of this Cycle. Your Birthday Number is 5 This number is most influential between your 28th and 56th year. While it is not the most important number in your profile, it does have an effect on your Life's Path and Destiny. You are curious about everything and above all else value your personal freedom. Change does not scare you. Indeed, you embrace it. Your Personal Year Number is 1 This number tells you what is happening in your life this year. This number should be used to help you avoid setbacks and focus your energies on those areas of your life where you are most likely to achieve your goals. This is a good year for new beginnings and projects. Your focus should be on yourself and self-improvement. This is the ideal time for you to plant the seeds which will lead to you attaining your goals in the future. Your Personal Month Number is 9 This number tells you what is happening in your life this month. Use this number in the same way you would your Personal year number, but apply it only to the current month. This a month in which you should clean up loose ends, let go of the past and prepare yourself for the future.

Where to go from here.....

I recently got back in touch with a friend that I have known for many many years...since I was 11. We haven't talked for a couple of years. I think mostly that is my fault. I used to be horrible at staying in touch. I just heard some horrible news. I would like all of you to pray for her. Her name is Lisa and she has gone deaf. It is basically that her bones in both of her ears have grown together and they are killing the nerves that help her to hear. She was telling me that a normal person hears at 10 to 20 db, her good ear is at 80 db and her bad ear is at 95 db. None of the doctors can help her because the aids that she needs will cost her 10,000 per ear. I would like everyone to pray for her.....or at least send her some love....

I am still in Missouri at Smitty's...yes I know..I have been here allot longer than I had anticipated. But I realize that maybe there is a reason that I am here for so long...There is definitely some healing that needs to be done here....

I am having a real problem on trying to figure out where I want to go. I have had offers to go to Florida, Arizona and Chicago...

Here is my problem...I don't really want to go to Florida (have no interest in Florida, never have), I feel if I go to Arizona I will get stuck there...I don't want that...You guys know how much I hate feeling stuck...and I really don't know but one person in AZ...and going to Chicago..I had a friend offer me a bus ticket to get there and back to here....but i am traveling with me dog and don't want to leave her at all...even though I do have some great friends here who I could trust to watch her and yes they have agreed...but she is my responsibility not theirs...and the person in Chicago is not even family like you guys are...van dwellers and rainbow...We used to be good friends but then I have changed so much that I am not sure it would be good for my spirit...I have thought about going to see my friend Lisa in Arkansas, or going back to the Community.....argggg...

I want my "family"!!

i have been doing allot of oracle(tarot) reading for myself lately....and I keep getting the same message....wonderful things are happening right where I am, I need to live in the moment and stop getting caught up in the "future plans" and most importantly it is telling me to "SLOW DOWN"

SO I am going to try and take the advise...sometimes I get lost in wanting to travel and see all my friends...I want that very badly...I want to spend some time with all of those that I feel close too...but you know there is something that I have lost track of...I have allot of "family" right here where I am...Some of these people I haven't seen in a long time...maybe that is what I need to do...focus on where I am instead of where I am not...no one can stop me now, I can go anywhere...and no one can take away my dream now...I would like to eventually visit all of those wonderful ppl out there...like 721pm..Voluntary Simplicity, Holding, Jonna,FreedomVan, and many many more......!

I think, as I am writing this, what I am actually doing is figuring out what to do...

I really feel close to the spirits...and I always look for them for advise and guidance. I have found that where ever I go, there is a reason I have gone there...whether it is to heal someone or myself (spiritually and physically). I have a great healing heart and my love is very very strong. I believe that love can heal all wounds...If you are in need of healing, please email me..or if you want an oracle reading also email me...my readings are free....and I am very in tune with my cards....especially here of late...If you feel that I should be there with you to help you heal....please let me know...and if you love me...let me know that too...I love to hear that I am loved...now I know most of you are not yet set free to love all...but I pray that one day, you will be set free to love unconditionally all those around you who need your love....

Lots of Love To All of You!!
Ali

A new name for a new beginning......

Sitting under the Learning Tree...

My current location is in Missouri. I have been here since Monday afternoon of the 27th. Let me tell you about the friend I am currently visiting, his name is Smitty and like most southerner's he loves his Confederate(Southern Cross) flag but that's not what makes him so special and amazing. Smitty, the man of fathomless knowledge has been teaching me about true history. I have learned a few things that would piss most Americans off. If you get pissed, good! But instead of me telling you what I have learned, I will let you do the research or you can learn for yourself. I want to tell you that these videos are quite lengthy, make sure that you have plenty of time to watch them. The first video has 9 segments each about 9 min long called Judea Declares War on Germany, by kapitalisten on youtube, the second series of videos is David Cole who did his own research, 7 videos, by RevisionistsRus on youtube. Be fore warned, you will be shocked, I was! Smitty, has given me a reading list, as I finish one book, he has another set for me to read. ATM, I am reading Sun Tzu's The Art of War, the revision and editing done by Dallas Galvin and translated from Chinese by Lionel Giles. An amazing book that I believe everyone should read. Whether you believe in war or not, WAR HAPPENS!!! The next book that I am to read is called Common Sense by Thomas Paine. I keep wishing that I can stay here longer so that I may read more of his wonderful book collection. Smitty's library is extremely extensive. Here are some of the books that I would like to read and think you should too:

The Age of Jackson by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
Jacksonian America: Society, Personality and Politics by Edward Pessen
Look Away! A history of the Confederate States of America by William C. Davis
South was Right and Myth of American Walter D. Kennedy and James R. Kennedy
War for What by Francis W. Springer
The Series:
Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara
The Killer Angels by Micheal Shaara(Jeff's father)
The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara

Another awesome and insightful link-

youshouldknow.ucoz.com
www.youtube.com/kapitalisten
www.youtube.com/user/RevisionistsRus

If these links don't work, copy and paste...

One of the books that I have been reading and am almost finished with is Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Edited by Dallas Galvin, translated from Chinese by Lionel Giles. I wanted to show you an excerpt in the book that I wanted to share with you. In Chapter 4, pg 99, Tactical Dispositions,

16. The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.

-->What this means-->
Notes, commentary, and appendix

There is a very strong temptation...for government forces to act outside the law, the excuses being that the processes of law are too cumbersome, that the normal safeguards in the law for the individual are not designed for an insurgency and that a terrorist deserves to be treated as an outlaw anyway. Not only is this morally wrong, but, over a period, it will create more practical difficulties for a government than it solves. A government which does not act in accordance with the law forfeits the right to be called a government and cannot expect its people to obey the law. Functioning in accordance with the law is a very small price to pay in return for the advantage of being the government.

Sir Robert Grainger Ker Thompson Defeating Communist Insurgency.
Experiences from Malaya and Vietnam (1966)

--------------------->I say AMEN!!!<---------------------------

To introduce you to the book...if that didn't already.....

Strategy, Espionage, Deception, Military Tactics these are the themes elucidated in the ancient Chinese text The Art of War, the indispensable handbook to a subject that has occupied kings and generals for a millennia...Sun Tzu...Thought to have lived in the 5th century B.C. at roughly the same time as Confucius...His family was part of a clan of experts on arms and fighting...[He] belonged to an extended family whose members for generations had made their living as military advisers...[His] work is a unique admixture of simplicity, an utter absence of self importance, sufficed by the authority born of experience, and a breath-taking determination and passion for "ordering"--for setting the record straight, for getting out the truth whatever that might be, whatever the consequences. In the pages...you will not find the wicked delight Niccolo Machiavelli, the Renaissance Italian author of "The Prince", took in describing the deceptions and stratagem of the profane world. The Art of War is quintessentially Chinese: wise beyond it's pages, cryptic, simple...and at it's root, pacific.

Mid-October with friends

I have had some very interesting company as of late. When I left Cedar Creek(a part of the community), I went to see one of my oldest friends, Heather and her wonderful family. There I stayed for about 5 days. I was not planning to stay for such a long period of time. When the second day arrived, I went with Heather to take her pets to the Vet. While I was there, I asked the Vet if she ever did charity work and if she did, I said, "I had recently adopted a female dog (who was in need of her shots)". The vet said for me to come back on Monday and she would do the shots for free, and if I ever came back that way, that I might could even work some there. So, therefore, I stayed 3 extra days because I figured that, that opportunity was not one that's comes about very often.

I had a wonderful visit with my friend. We exchanged a lot of information about herbs and other plants. I was even able to teach her a few things about the natural, native plants that grow, right in her own yard. Needless to say, we made some very awesome dinners and I left her with some really great recipes.

About recipes, I had a friend from the community mention that I should have a spot here, reserved for recipes since I am now eating only organic foods. I would like to introduce you to a recipe that I discovered while making a salad....I call it...Ali's Fresh Lawn Salad. Now most of the green ingredients you can substitute for others that you may have in your garden but there are a few that are a necessity to the taste of the salad and the medicinal properties.

1 c Sorrel (found in most yards or near so)
1/3 c Plantain (preferably not the broad leaf)(also found in most yards)(great medicine)
1/4 c Dock (younger leaves are better, you can use one or two of these leaves, strong flavor so don't use too much) (another strong medicine)
1/2 c Kale (This you can substitute for another green which you may have in your garden such as Spinach or Collard greens.)
1/4 c Carrots (thinly sliced)
1/4 c Rose Petals
1/2 c Tomatoes (sliced thick)

Dressing

1/3 c Sour Cream
1/2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar (can substitute for another sweet vinegar)
1/2 tsp Honey
1 tbs Olive Oil (can substitute with any natural oil that is not an animal fat such as coconut oil or peanut oil)
1 tsp Ground Dill (fresh or dried)
1 tsp Ground Mustard (fresh or dried)
1/2 tsp Sea Salt

Mix all the salad ingredients, mix the salad dressing...then of course, mix everything together and enjoy!

Well, there is my first recipe. Hope you enjoy!!

Heading North then East...

I am heading out tomorrow. Heading north through Harrison, AR, to Springfield, MO, then to Mama Wanda's for the 31st all Hallow's Eve Celebration, then north to Chicago then east to West Virginia, then further east eventually to see the ocean. All along the way, I hope to see new and interesting people and have alot of kind conversation's.

Just recently, about 2 weeks ago, I met a wonderful travel partner, her name is Ruby, is about 8 years old by my guesstimates. She is a Red-nosed Golden Retriever. When I met Ruby, we had an instant connection, she never leaves my side and she has slept with me this entire time. Once I started making her backpack, she instantly changed gears. She no longer wanted to come inside and she keeps coming to get me. I see the excitement in her eyes. She knows it is time to leave, even I feel the strong pull. I made the backpack for her yesterday out of an old pair of jeans. It only took one day to make it. Now she has had it on all day, empty of course, then tomorrow I will fill it with all her food and a few other items and then we will head out. I cant wait to get a picture taken...Soon.

Sharing the Love!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Jumble of Information(get your act together)

I promised more blogs so here is one more.

Remember before, when nothing much was happening, so, I didn't have much to write about, well now everything is happening all at once. I have so much to say but its so hard to say because there really is so much.

I want to tell you about some great herbs...

I started my moon flow yesterday. The cramps were making me miserable. When we sat down for dinner, I had a bowl of homemade cream of potato soup that I made 2 days ago. Well I put allot of Cayenne in my soup...My cramps were gone in about 10 min of eating the Cayenne. So now I am making Cayenne capsules and taking 2 when I feel the cramps surfacing. I only had to take 2 of those capsules yesterday. So any of you women out there that read this please try it out and if it works for you like it did me, please share it with others. Us women do not need to suffer more than we already have to.

Another remedy that I have been using is Jimson Seeds, otherwise known as moon flower, or datura. Normally a hallucinogenic but i have been using the seeds in a tea and by smoking them inside my cigarettes. It has helped my asthma tremendously. I take about 25-50 seeds a day..in a tea. If you do this, please have allot of water handy...because you WILL get VERY VERY THIRSTY!! It dries up your mucus membranes. If you take it for prolonged periods of time, please use lotion on your body, because it too will become dehydrated.

When we left the gathering, we had 9 people all together including 2 children. We headed in separate vehicles to the community. Where we are staying at now.

We were traveling in a u haul and got pulled over. The reason the cop pulled us over..."he said" it was because he didn't get the info back in time. HMM I think they felt threatened by the uhaul. It is blatant and different. Most people are scared of what they don't understand or of things that are so very much different from their own perspectives.

Talking about cops...I have a story for all of you.

I was unfortunate about a week ago. These wonderful people let me come to their house for showering, doing my laundry, and they let me sleep on their couch. Well that morning I was rudely awakened by a helicopter swirling in the skies. It was right over the trailer. It kept circling the trailer. Come to find out they were growing pot outside. Well they took me into jail, even though I had never met these people till the day before. I believe that I was illegally put into jail. No handcuffs, no information, no fingerprinting. This was my first time in jail...believe it or not. I generally stay out of troubles way. Now the bad thing is that the Van Buren County in Arkansas is stating that there was over 300,000 worth of drugs and contraband. That's BS. I may not have known them that long. But they were old hippie folks who didn't even sell their pot to anyone. Everything they had was for personal use. The cops said they found heroin and methamphetamine...that's also BS. They hate those nasty drugs. Those are haters drugs not lovers drugs. They have them atm with 4 felonies. Which I have heard will be dropped down to a small misdemeanor..how do they get away with all the crap the government is doing? I personally believe the government is slowly cracking and changing. I hope that it will collapse! Let the crazies out, don't be afraid, they will kill each other off...in the mean time learn your wild herbs and wild fruits and vegetables. That may one day save your life. Needless to say I will never go back to the town of Clinton. Insanity!!

Ohh another note about jail..my cousin from California was there too....small world.

I have given up most of my possessions. The only things I have left are a few clothes that fit into a small backpack, my tarots, trade items, sleeping bag, and my tent. That's all I have now. I am donating all of my books and things to the community. Everything that I cannot carry on my back.

I don't think any of you knew that I had been living with the same contact in my eye for about a year or so. I finally was talked into getting rid of it. So, I took it out about 3 days ago. Its difficult to see but I am managing. Also, I have asthma and I am trying to get some funds up so I can buy my medication and some new glasses.

I am going on a journey north to Springfield, MO and the surrounding areas. Going to another gathering soon. If your on my way and you would like to help in any way please email me. I can use all the help I can get. Greenergy(money), manifesting, kindness, hugs, ride, couch to sleep on... If you would like me to visit you in your town just email me....I would love to see most of you! Live to love to live!!! A wonderful motto!!

You guys are probably wondering..what about John? Where is he in all of this?
I'm not sure but you can email him at storaged@hotmail.com if you wish or you can find him on myspace www.myspace.com/storaged

Different paths for different people. In the beginning I was going to hitch it and live on the streets, but i fell in love. Well I am still in love but I have to let that love go. I am really not sure what is wrong with John, he doesn't answer any of my questions. Nor will he answer my emails. I have a very strong feeling that he has found another. Which is fine with me. I have found love in every corner I look. Not necessarily sex but still love none the less. I do crave some good sex since I haven't really had any in a long time. Even when John and I were together sex wasn't something he gave me very often. So I am definitely craving something sweet!

Playing Catch-up

I want to get most of you caught up on what has been happening. There is so much going on and SO much that has happened. Good and bad.

John took me to Mountain Home, AR to catch a ride with "Brother" Robert. I became emotional when it was time for John to leave because had to be at work just an hour from that time. When he left we were on good terms and still in a loving relationship (or at least I thought so).

The first week in the woods was terrible for me but it was one of the best things for my health. I have always been used to eating all those poisonous food such as McDonald's, Sonic, high fructose corn syrups, and MSG filled products. During that first week, I started detoxing all those horrible toxins out of my body. I almost jumped ship that first week. As the weeks went by, more and more people arrived. As people arrived, more and more work was being done. We were staying very busy, working even in the heat of the days. When the event date finally arrived (I thought I might had been in a stalemate until that moment, wondering if the event was ever going to come to pass), I watched everyone pull-in and gave everyone a huge hug and welcomed them home! The love was so strong, I couldn't help but to shout it out at the top of my lungs!! I was in love with the feelings of family and love.

When Sunday rolled around, people started packing their things up and heading out, but before everyone left we had a very successful trade circle. We got rid of 3 hermaphrodite kittens. I got a hair wrap and a new earring that is huge and has the letter A hanging from it. My new nickname is AliCat but they call me Ali for short. Not many people know my real name anymore which I think is really nice. A new transformation deserves a new name!!

There is so much that has happened, that I am not going to put it all in one post. So for the rest of the story you will have to wait till I can get it written...

Last days...

Last day of No Meat Week.....

As you all have obviously noticed, I added the No Meat Week. Well, I haven't had any meat since Sept 1st. Its not been exactly easy because most of what is around me is meat. But I have managed by eating allot of corn on the cob and beans. Which by the way was absolutely delicious! Today I had a baked potato for lunch, yummmy yummmy!!

Last days...

This is my last post for a month. I will be leaving for the Rainbow Guide Fund Raising Gathering on Tuesday the 4th and will not be returning till Oct the 10th. I will be helping as much as I can, to set up the gathering. I wish you all well while I am gone! I will write down my blogs while I am there then I will post them all when I get back. Expect a long letter, LOL.

I wanted to say Thank You to all who have been so kind and generous!

Thank You to...

My Van Dwelling Family
My Rainbow Family
My Blogger Family
And Especially, my beloved, John, whom I am going to miss terribly! I love you baby!


I Love You All!!

Just letting you know whats going on

I realy dont feel like posting but I think that I need to. This post may not be the best but thats ok.

Im not feeling well at the moment. I feel really dizzy and tired. I feel like I just need to lay down. My stomach hurts, too.

Update on John and I, I believe that everything maybe ok, for now. I love John very much as most of you know and I dont want anything to happen to our relationship.

I will be attending the Rainbow Gathering outside of Thayer, MO. I should be there in about a week or so. If you are going or would like to go or want more info contact me through my email alicatpurrrrrrrrrrr@gmail.com

The Rainbow Guide Fun Raiser October 3rd--6th 2008 In Southern Missouri

Ignore all rumors of cancellation or organization!

Live Lightly with the Land and People!


Howdy Folks;

The Rainbow Guide Fun Raiser will be held from October 3rd--6th 2008
in South Missouri complete with three days of live Music, camping and
a community kitchen serving home grown organic food. It?s an open
bandstand and all are encouraged to come out and perform at this event.

Free copies of the 2008 Rainbow Guide will be available at this event.
All donations to the Rainbow Guide should be made online at:
http://rainbowguide.info This is an alcohol free event so please do
not bring any alcohol to this event. School buses and trading circles
are welcome. Dogs cannot run loose at this event due to livestock and
must be secured or on a leash at all times.

Things to bring: Lots of love and a lot of positive energy.

Volunteers are needed to help with site preparation and are encouraged
to come out at least a week early and leave late. Things which would
be helpful for site preparation would be shovels, pruning shears, and
a weed eater if anyone has one and even a chain saw would help due to
flooding which took place earlier in the year and moved stuff around.

This is a totally free event in the Spirit of Rainbow. All are welcome.

Directions to the Rainbow Guide Fun Raiser:

From Thayer Missouri go east 14 miles on highway 142 until you come
to Indian Country Junction Store and turn left on highway "E" and go
approximately 2 miles and turn right on highway KK and go
approximately another 2 miles and turn right on County road 240[a dirt
road] and go approximately 1 mile and turn right through opening in
the fence [spot will be marked] and follow road on into the event and
someone will show you where to park and set up camp.


For more information call: 417-938-4606 or send an email to:
uministr@ortrackm.missouri.org

That is Your Dream Not Mine!!

That is exactly what John said to me, when a friend suggested we come and live with them on their land for a time. Get out of town, into the country. They had plenty of food, so we would never go hungry. And they would show us how to make money.... Without having to work for a company nor having to stay in one place... and teach us how to convert a diesel engine into a veggie engine so we no longer had to worry about gas.

Does he think that I will give up my dreams to fulfill his?

Why cant we both have our dreams and live them together? Isn't that what living the good life together means?

All I want is to be free.

I believe John doesn't want to leave.. Maybe its because his family is here, his friends are here, and his job for the last 7 years is here. He has an umbilical cord attached to all these things. I cut my umbilical cord 4 months ago. I finally had the inner strength to live my life for me. It was very hard to leave everything behind, everyone I had known. I know that those of you who have been following our story since the beginning may know a bit about this. Let me refresh and give you the details I never gave...

Right after a very lonely birthday, I went to Schwagstock and it opened my eyes. I didn't have to live the way my family wanted to me to. I didn't have to take any more shit. My life was going straight down hill. I was even thinking of killing myself again. Yes, I have come very very close to dying by my own hands. It was time for true freedom. Yes, I cut the ties from all my friends, family, and everyone who knew my face or my hair. I didn't go to the store anymore. I wouldn't go anywhere for fear of being sucked back into it. Well, after about a month I finally started to do more, go more places, I even called my sister to wish her happy bday. After that, I knew that I could still live my own life and have some family too. But I wasn't going to let them drag me down. In fact, they didn't even try. We just chose not to talk about certain things. And that's the way it is now. But ever since I cut my ties with them I have felt like the wind..I can go and no one can stop me. I may love John but he will not stop me either. I am glad to have loved him and to have had allot of fun with him. But I will not change my dreams for him. I have worked and hurt too much to just let them go out the window....They can go out the window but I will be following them.

I'm sorry John I am sure that you will be reading this. I really do love you so much. But I am afraid that we are soon to part ways. Our bodies and minds traveled together for a time but I feel there maybe a split in the road coming up ahead. Thank you John for a wonderful 4 months.

I believe everything happens for a reason. I have always thought that but now, since my life has changed so profoundly, I not only believe it but I see it as truth. When something happens, I know it was meant to happen. Sometimes I do not understand why but then after a time it tells me why. I believe in reading the messages, putting them all together and trying to understand them.

Everything happens for a reason and every action has a reaction. Every path you chose to take, takes you somewhere.

My life is guided.

I am not led.

Ranting from the local library

I am writing to you from the local library. Its a hot day out. The wind is warm and barely blows. We are down to very little gas at the moment but hopefully tomorrow we will have a few extra dollars.



I rearranged the van so now it is much more homey. I even took apart the sides of the van where the drink holders are towards the back of the van. That is where we will be building Kiko her cage it will be molded to the wall and around the tire well.



Not allot of exciting news. Just wishing there was somewhere close by that had either a swimming pool or a creek (prefer a creek, I never have like pools). I have been looking, as we drive, for a nice shady, cool spot to park. But have not found any yet. Maybe I am looking on the wrong side of town. I think tomorrow during the heat of the day, while John is at work, I will look on the other side of town and see what other parking spots are available.



I have been getting a bit worried about the police problems that I have been seeing arise. Not just locally but, it seems, everywhere. Some of my van "Family" have been harassed by the police..



Why is it illegal to live in your vehicle?
Are they telling the truth?
Is it really illegal to live in your vehicle?



Do you think the cops look at people who live in their RV's the same as they look at those living in their car or van? Why should they look at us differently? They are both mobile, with wheels. You can have just as nice and cozy a van as you can an RV. And vans cost allot less in purchase price and in gas price. To me the van is the logical choice. If you place your cards right, you can have all the amenities of an RV. From the head room to the toilet.

I am so glad this blogger saves your blogs...I would have just lost all of my ranting to this computer because it decided to shut down the Internet for a bit and well I had to relog in...Thank you Blogger!

Now it seems I have another 30 minutes to talk if I choose to. I have been using most of my extra van time to read a few good novels. Its my favorite pastime! I am reading Cast of Fate at the moment. Cant remember the authors name.

I have decided since I have the use of the library I will look up the laws for us van dwellers and see what I can find, locally and nationally. I don't want to live in the fear that they may make our lives unpleasant. Not that I would mind moving somewhere else, but John has his obligations here.

I don't know if everyone knows or not, but we had bought a reasonably pricey van because of the loss that we had earlier in the year. We are buying the van for 2450, and after this payment coming up on the 5th we will have paid 1300. That leaves us only with 1150.

If you have read Freedomvan you will have read that she is trying to get rid of dept. I have thought about that many times. Should we stay longer and pay off more debts? Or should we not worry about the "bad credit" and just continue as we have been. I really don't think I will ever own anything beyond a van and a few meager belongings. In fact, before we decided to move into a van, I was thinking of leaving everything behind and using my feet to get me home, where ever that might have been. I was tired of that way of life. Always the same things day in and day out. Always going back to the same place with the same yard. I don't want that life of having to work and work for nothing. Never able to enjoy yourself. I would prefer not to work for a company but to work for myself and my own means, or to help others. Not help the richer get richer.

Well my rants have really made this post long. But its about time to go. The clock that keeps ticking down is telling me that I have 16 minutes left to rant....haha..... If anyone lives near me or is going to be near me..even if only for a few hours or days, please come visit with us. I want to meet "new friends" and "new family."

Finally Full Time Van living

So we finally got the van running. We replaced the solenoid and fixed the battery cables. We have been rotating between staying at the local rest stop and Walmart parking lot. Its really great to finally be completely mobile. The Walmart parking lot is actually a really great place to park. The only down side is the sweeper truck that runs every night. One of the greatest things about these 2 parking spots is they have bathrooms really close that I can use at any time during the night.

During the heat of the day, its too hot to be in the van and with gas prices the way they are, we started spending allot of time at our local library and bookstore. Harrison is a very small town and we thought it would be really hard to find different places to park. But really its not that bad. We will be looking for new places to park soon. Don't want to stay too long in one place.

We ordered a new power cord for my laptop the other day, it should be here in about 3 or 4 days. It will be nice to be able to use my computer whenever I want. Posting will be allot easier that way. One good thing about the computer not working is I have had to find other means of keeping myself occupied. I love to read but I hadn't read much because I was constantly on my computer. Well, when I get the power cord, I am going to make sure that I don't spend every waking moment on it. There are so many other things to do and see.

About the van and its progress, I had been searching for different deals on craigslist.com. I found a futon for $65 dollars and a kitchen with stove and all for $100. Well the stove was really nice but it was too big for the van but the futon fit perfectly. We bought two captain chairs that swivel. We haven't put in the chairs yet but the futon fits perfectly and its comfy. The futon is really groovy with a Tye dye mattress. Since we got the futon we have storage under the bed. I still have allot of work to do on the van. I have to reorganize everything and we are going to remove the center table from between our seats and put it in the back for more storage and a night table.

Well, I am at my sisters house using her computer so I guess I Will say bye for now. Just remember that dreams can be realized and imagination is the key.

Lonliness

You ever get lonely even though there are plenty of ppl around you?

That's how I have been feeling lately. I think it might be that even though our dreams are getting closer and closer, its just not fast enough for me.

I want to leave and I miss our van!! Our van has been broke down for almost a week and there is nothing till tomorrow that we can do to help her. We have been stuck at his parents house sleeping on the sofa. I don't want to be here. Its not because of his parents its because I want to be in our van I want to feel independent not confined. I want to spread my van wings!Maybe that is why I feel so lonely. But I think that even when we do get our van, I will feel sated for the moment but then I think that it will all start again.

Is that the itch you feel when you long for the road?

Our van is at a local convenience store because we couldn't even afford to have it towed. Sometimes I wish I could just go there and stay in the van where it sits.

I long to meet new and interesting ppl. I want to travel say hello, cook them some great food, share music, jokes, and stories of their life and what their future dreams are, stories of their travel. I want to see how they live, and then make them a keepsake before we depart on our separate journeys.

I don't want the memories that I could be having, to pass me by.