My trip to NYC and Connecticut was interesting. I was raised upper middle class, but the lifestyle I have chosen to live is far from that. This trip was a big reminder of why I have strayed from my foundation. Most of the people I attempted to interact with were ritzy upper and upper middle class people. I went to an engagement party which must have cost somewhere between 6 and 10 thousand dollars (the location was free because it was in their huge backyard).  My father and I walked around the city mostly which was nice, but he also wanted to do touristy things (I went along because this was after all a father/daughter trip). I don’t quite understand why people pay $14 to take an elevator up to the 38^th floor of a building in order to overlook a horribly polluted city. The one costly thing we did for me was seeing Avenue Q on Broadway. I have been listening to the soundtrack for 2 years and finally got to see it. If anyone wants a good laugh I would highly recommend downloading the music.

Going to Connecticut was interesting as well.  I got to sit through a business meeting (was boring because it was, after all a business meeting. But it was about a new product my father and some others are working on which is a completely natural cleaning product made out of enzymes and such). I also got to see some of my family who I had not seen in years and even a cousin who is my age who I have never met (I come from a HUGE family).

Being back in Florida has been ok. I have been spending lots of time with all sorts of friends. Strangely enough the smell of marijuana is starting to smell good to me. The smell used to make my nose wrinkle, but I have been around it almost every day since I got back in town, so I guess I have gotten used to it.

I stand here sweating wearing nothing but my underwear. Thunder outside my window, music blaring from my 11year old CD player. I have been packing all my stuff all day. Tomorrow I take all my belongings from the apartment I have called mine for such a brief time. In the beginning this was a happy place. I came here and couldn’t stop smiling. Now I avoid this place at all possible costs. I spend all day and night away and when it is necessary to return I lock myself in my room, not wanting to interact with the other life closed in these walls.

I am attempting to rid myself of many of my possessions. So far I have filled 3 boxes of things I no longer need. The remaining things will be stored at my parents place and I will keep only that which I need with me. I have been offered multiple places that I may reside, and I do have the money to get a place to call “home,” however, I want to attempt to do the homeless thing for a while. As long as I do not wear out my welcome, I can couch-hop for a while. I also have a few other possibilities that I have been looking into which sound promising. I have though about all the necessities of a home in which I need, and I have worked out a way of getting most of it. Showers in the gym, power from school buildings, wireless internet access all over campus, kitchens to cook in at dorms, laundry facilities w/friends/family/or on campus, and food, as usual from the dumpster and from all the free food offered on campus. I may only do this thing a week or so, or I may find that it is easy to “live off the land” of a college campus. Either way, it is the next step to my Freeganhood. I will attempt to live a life without contributing to the system. (yes, I am aware that school is part of the system, but Florida is paying for 75% of my tuition, and the other part was paid for with my inheritance when I was only about 5 years old).

So wish me luck. I am off on another adventure. Saturday brings the big move, and then Sunday I am going to NYC and Connecticut with my father for a week. When I return I will begin my new living style and wait for classes to begin. If you see me sleeping on the lawn somewhere let me be, for that may very well be my place of inhabitation for the moment.

Well, a few people have commented to me that I haven’t updated in a while. I was contemplating the idea of not having an online journal anymore. Why should I post my life online for all to read? But then again, it’s a good way to may ones self keep a journal that they can look back at later in life. So, I think I shall continue, at least for now.

I got back in town about 3 weeks ago. I drove through most of the eastern states, up through Canada, down through Detroit, and then Pixlyn (My 97 Ford Taurus) decided she had had enough. Acorn was driving and BAM! The whole car started to shake wildly. We thought it was a simple problem but no, the mechanic told me that in order to get her back to Florida I would have to install an entirely new engine. I went to the CrimethINC convergence (since I was only 40 miles away) and then headed home.

After only 1 day of traveling with A&A I could hardly stand them (not a good way to start out a trip). I knew this was going to happen, so I prepared myself by loading up on books. Over the 2 month period I consumed myself mentally in reading so that what was around me physically would not affect me as much.  The gatherings I went to were AMAZING! I met great people and learned tons. Its so great that people share their skills with others. Here is just a short list of a few things I learned this summer thanks to others like myself… simple plant identification, how to make net bags, how to make rope out of plastic bags, how to make medicinal tinctures and slaves, how to crush rocks and make paint out of them, radical parenting, capoeira (a Brazilian martial art), train hopping and hitching, squatting 101, projection spitting, fixing bike brakes, and so on and so forth. I also learned all about genetically modified/engineered plants (ew, don’t want to eat those, or support that industry).

I got to see a few friends and some family along the way which was nice. I would have liked to do much more than I did, but A&A sort of held me back. Their question of the summer was “is it free?” and if the answer was “NO”, then there was a 98% chance we weren’t going to do it. I understand not spending money, but what the hell is the point of traveling if you arnt going to stop and see anything? They pissed me off to the point that I was planning on moving out as soon as I got home. Fortunately, I have had the past few weeks A&A free, so I now feel that when they return I will be able to put up with them. When I first got back to Tampa I actually looked into a few other options for living, I even tried to find a place I could squat. I guess I shall just wait and see how things are when they return.

Abby moved in temporarily on Sat. Its kind of nice to have someone else in the apt. I did enjoy having the place all to myself, but it is also nice to have someone to talk with at the end of the day, or someone to share meals with.

Now that I am back in Tampa I have been keeping myself occupied as much as possible. I go out w/people almost every day. I spend my quiet days reading in the park. I try to spend a minimal amount of time online (which isn’t hard being that I don’t have internet at my place), and don’t watch any TV. This past Sunday after FNB 3 of us went exploring and found a possible squat. How awesome would it be to have a Tampa squat?!!! Unfortunately its too far from USF for me to even attempt to live in. GRRR. No excitement for little ol’ me.

I have family from Michigan and Texas coming in town tomorrow. YAY! A week of family filled fun (and if not then I can go do my own thing). Then I will be around town for a week (who wants to get together?) and then I am going to NYC and Connecticut! Woot for more traveling before classes start.

Ok, that’s about all. I think I have typed myself out and I really doubt any of you are actually reading anymore. Peace out!

I not longer have a “bedroom” at mom & dad’s house!!! I  moved my furniture and such today to my new apt. YAY!!! I have a new room. This is so exciting. YAY. My first room off campus that is mine (definition of mine means I shell out the cash for it).

I am almost done with the RA job. I get to officially move on Sunday which will be great except the fact that I have to do walk throughs of every apt in my building with my boss. Grrr.

Tonight’s dumpster excursion was interesting to say the least. Got a ton of milk crates (need them to build myself a shelf). I somehow cracked an egg in my trunk and it got all over (fortunately I keep a tarp in the trunk), and we pulled something out of the NutritionSmart dumpster that seriously smelled like a rotten milkshake made of cheese and feces. OMG did it reek!!! The good find came from the public library. Can you believe that we got 6 crates of books and there were still probably at least 40 books in there? WTF is wrong with our society. In the one place which books are considered sacred, they throw them out by the dumpster full.

People should come visit my new apartment. It’s waiting for guests!