Greetings, all of you beautiful peoples! It’s your humble vagabond, paingawd(AKA Greg), here with another update of how topsy turvy my life is at the moment. I’ll warn you now-This is going to get all sorts of mushy, simply because you are some of the most generous, loving, kind-hearted and just all around awesome people of which I’ve ever had the pleasure of interacting.
As you all know, my home(and a LOT of others) was destroyed in the Camp Fire(It’s not a name I’d have chosen, but what do I know?) So many of you have reached out, wanting to know if the family and I were safe, how to help, offering prayers, positive thoughts and just generally wishing well on yours truly. With all of the stress, grief, anger(Rake a forest? SERIOUSLY?) confusion and despair…Well…I lost it. Went wonky in the noggin. Hooked a hard left into a figurative wall. All mental and emotional faculties went into a fetal position, hooked a thumb into their mouths and decided to wait this one out. Stress is a harsh mistress and the breakup is a bitch(Pardon the salt in my language, please. I promise to keep it PG-13) Thankfully a brother from another mother managed to give me the verbal headslap that I needed to get back in the game.
Things are looking up. It ain’t pretty, but it will work-kinda like my old, trusty rusty Ford pickup. Hell, if that stout machine can run through fire and flame, cough out a couple of goobers from its throat and keep on rolling down the road, then I shall endeavor to do the same! It’s because of the kindness and generosity of a LOT of people that I’ve never met face to face-namely, you. Yes, you. The one reading this right now. All of your care, concern, and overwhelming kindness and generosity have lifted me up and have given me the strength I so desperately needed to get back into the fight for my family, friends and community both here in (what was and will be again) Paradise and here on ELR. When I opened the email from @Alisa , I was floored that you all had put together a donation for me. I’m floored. Gobsmacked. Dumbfounded. Agog. Bewildered, befuddled and more. There are no words(Are you sure about that? You just used a whole slew of’em….) that could even BEGIN to express how honestly and sincerely touched I am.
Blessed? Blessed.Abso-effing-loutely. That’s the word. I am blessed.
Blessed to have “The kindest place on the internet” at my side, ready, willing and jumping in to help. Thank you, from the depths of my heart. You are all my family. Brothers and sisters, all.
There are so many messages that I want to answer and will, but it might take a day or two. Things are still moving quick-We’ve gotten a trailer on loan from family and are in the process of getting it mucked out and kitted to our needs. We’ve secured fencing for the cats so that they can be safely allowed outdoors. It’s gonna get crowded with a tubbo like me, the dainty lady and ten cats in a trailer, so a little room for them to stretch their legs and poop in the dirt is kind of important. We’ve begun the arduous process of rebuilding our lives. Save for a few minor hiccups, things are starting to look up.
I’ve gotten more than a few requests as to what I need, or what can people send. @fidalgo_vapes has graced me with a new rebuild kit for my RTA’s, @Woftam went further overboard and ordered me a new Steam Crave Titan with Aromamizer Supreme to boot, and @SessionDrummer just slayed me with a Fatality. Holy Shitsnacks, Batman! I’m flabbergasted. @Mjag let me know that a slew of others wanted to know what I still needed, so as weird as it makes me feel, I thought that maybe a list of what I’ve got and what I prefer to vape would let people know where I sit with regards to gear.(OK, real talk. I’m always the one that gives-It feels abundantly awkward when people are wanting to help me. Then again, I’ve never been in a situation like I’ve found myself…So…yeah. Awkward. But I still love you all!) I was prescient enough to grab my mod, my charger and batteries and toss them into a bin with the Chromebook, a bottle and a half of some juice and some other minor items(I was going to be mixing the day that the fire broke) With the current items that are coming, I think that I should be set for gear. If you’ve got some spare juice, I’d love some homebrewed goodness. I’ve been buying the cheapest juice I can find in town and I’d forgotten just how overloaded with flavorings and sweeteners those things were!(Pro tip: Naked 100 juice is like vaping some nasty granny’s perfume. Not. Recommended.) I’ve been vaping 3 mg since The Troubles and tend towards fruit creams, bakery flavors and dark tobaccos. If you’ve got a favorite recipe along those lines and would like to share, I’d be thrilled, honored and thankful. I typically vape around 45-65 watts with my Trusty Aromamizer(The Billows went up in flames, so I guess they billowed for the last time?) @Alisa has my contact info-We talked earlier today(HINT: She’s awesome!) and she gratefully agreed to act as a keeper of the sacred address. If you hit one of us up via PM we’ll get it to you.
All of you are so very special to me. If there is EVER anything that I can help you with, ask and I will move mountains to make it happen if I can. If I can’t, I’ll stand with you with a hug, a shoulder or a cheesy movie quote. Cross your arms and squeeze: a HUGE hug from me-Cheers!
