A bit of warmth. in A small but passable life.

Another couple of days over at the student union with Walt Whitman on the kindle.

I had found a 8.5oz can of peas. Not really sure how long it had been in the van before it came rolling out of wherever it'd been. The can was a little rusty but I heated them up in the microwave. Tasted like peas to me.

Yesterday Angela stopped by after her class at 5:15. She only had a few minutes to stop and chat, but it was nice. It had been exactly a week since I'd seen her. She had spent the first three days of that week at home, sick with a cold. I'm always glad when I see her. It affirms my belief that I hadn't said anything stupid the last time I'd talked to her.

Last night it was 39 degrees in the van at midnight. That was the first midnight above freezing for a long time.

And when I got up this morning at 11:30am it was 50 degrees in the van. Unreal. I had planned for such a morning so I started right in. I got all the clothes put away from that last load of wash. All set for another six months or more. I sorted through that last batch of mail I'd piled up.

I decided to go ahead and trek to the library. I packed up my knapsack and headed out. I returned that last book. I perused the shelves and found two more books. I stopped at the grocery store on the way back to the van. I bought wheat bread, milk, bologna, Miracle Whip, and Pringles. I already have cookies and cereal. I'm set up for a long weekend without the student union and the microwave. I bought a half gallon of milk, hoping it won't freeze overnight so I can have a bowl of cereal in the morning.

I sat in the van and started on one of the books. The temperature started dropping. By the time it had dropped to 47 degrees I decided my toes were getting cold and it was time to bail out. I ate a sandwich for lunch and then packed up and headed over to Hardee's.

I had brought the book so I sat and read it all- "And Every Day Was Overcast" by Paul Kwiatkowski. It was a great book with a different format. It was basically a picture book with some story telling.

After I put the book aside I found that Hardee's wifi was doing its stupid thing again. And now there is no one there who knows how to reset the router back in the office. I packed up, again, and came over here to Burger King.

It is supposed to be 65 degrees on Tuesday. And starting that night may be three or four nights in my summer sleeping bag. Wednesday night for sure, with a predicted low of only 52 degrees. That will really be nice.

The other book I picked up today is a collection of novellas by an award winning author. Maybe if I take my time with it, it will last a couple of days.

I need to try some more writing. I even took my 'manbag' with my notebook paper and pens with me over to the student union the last few days, but just ended up reading on the kindle. I did manage to do some journaling in my actual journal.

The contents of my grocery tote (what I carry over to the student union):

That awesome 32oz Pyrex microwave bowl Jassy bought me.

2 potholders.

My coffee mug.

Spoon & fork.

Ziploc bags carrying a days or so worth of non-dairy creamer, sugar, and instant coffee.

2 pkgs. Swiss miss hot chocolate mix.

1 quart whole milk.

Cheese.

Cookies & saltine crackers.

One can of whatever is to be heated up that day.

I could probably pack all that into my knapsack, but it just seems easier to keep everything together and carry everything in the grocery tote.

And now for the next three days my routine is to be interrupted. Now I'm wondering what will be open on campus during Spring Break. If there is nothing open hopefully by that time it'll be warm enough that I'll already be spending the days in the van.

Anyway, Spring will be here, some day. Until then I'll just keep on with the day-to-day business of living day to day.