Thought I would finally join this subreddit and give a run down of my experiences.
Last year, I bought a 2018 Prius with the intent of using it to go on road trips and live in it -- mostly because I have been trapped in the middle of frickin' nowhere my whole life and have never had a true adventure. I have never seen a mountain in-person prior to these trips. I also have a very comfortable IT job that easily facilitates me living in a car and working remotely without issues and with a lot of free time.
I went on two separate trips so far. The first one was about 2.5 months long and the second one was about 3.5 months long. I have traveled from Seattle, WA to Key West, Florida and put over 20,000 miles on the car in the process.
My first trip was comprised of South Dakota (Badlands, Black Hills), Yellowstone, Idaho (Coeur d'alene), Oregon (Forests, Crater Lake, Portland, beaches), Nor Cal (Redwood forests, beaches), Washington (Beaches, Seattle, Olympic National Park), and Montana(Glacier National Park).
And for my second trip, I went to Louisiana(New Orleans), Florida(where I spent most of the time and explored nearly everything), up the coast to Charleston, SC, and into the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains(Gatlinburg, Asheville).
Everything was amazing. I don't know if I have a favorite, but the beauty of Glacier National Park particularly strikes me. I also thoroughly enjoyed swimming in the crystal clear springs throughout Florida.
My setup is not particularly elaborate, but I didn't spare much of an expense:
- Tinted windows. - Front and rear dashcams with batteries for when the car is off. - Custom fit sun shades for all windows (Weathertech). - Weathertech floor liners. - A basic cooler. - Redundant IT setup so I don't get fired. (2 laptops, 3 chargers, a car charger, 2 hotspots) - A 4" thick full sized foam mattress pad and a sleeping bag, couple of blankets, couple of pillows. - Suitcase full of clothes, towels.- Bag with misc supplies (Laundry, food, trash bags, medicine, wet wipes). Wet wipes are great for cleaning yourself when you don't have access to a shower for some reason. - A Black Card membership to Planet Fitness (for showering mostly). It also makes a good excuse if you ever decide to sleep in a Planet Fitness parking lot (not my first choice). - Rain guards so that I can roll the windows down in bad weather.
And that is basically all I needed. I know people have much more elaborate DIY setups, but much of that I never found necessary or was interested in. I also ended up buying a USB fan that I never used because if I ever really needed heat regulation I would just use the AC.
One thing that I wish I had thought of beforehand is to get a Prius with a sunroof. It would have been nice to be able to stare up into the sky while I try to sleep, or to open it up and let some air in.
One thing I might consider in the future is a signal booster for my hotspots. These can be pricey, but worth it if your job depends on a reliable connection. Although I think I can get by without one by using apps that help you pinpoint the location of cell towers and by mooching off of hotel wifi access.
I took out a few credit cards prior to purchasing the car and supplies in order to score a bunch of bonus travel points (I had saved up most of the cost of the car prior to buying it). I used the Plastiq service in order to use car payments towards the qualifying payments required for the credit card bonuses. The fee they charged was definitely worth it for the points I accrued.
So I set out on the road with a boat load of free points I had thought I would need for hotels here and there. It's a good idea if you like to go to them from time to time. During my first trip I went to hotels twice a week (mostly to work). I eventually realized that I could work entirely out of my car without issues and without much discomfort, and during my second trip I only booked a hotel a couple times. As I write this, I still have around half of my points...
It's been the time of my life. I would do it full time if I didn't have other obligations (my cat, mostly, who waited patiently at home).
As a result of these trips, I have decided to move to the west coast permanently, which means I have another trip coming up soon. On my next trip I plan on going through Colorado, maybe stop at the Grand Canyon, and make my way through southern/central California.
Now I'll just focus on what it was like living in the Prius and what my preferences are when I do it rather than the trips themselves. If anyone has any questions about anything, feel free to ask.
I've only been explicitly shoed away twice, and one time a security guard caught my attention but allowed me to continue what I was doing. The first time I was shoed away, I was at a casino parking lot. I have stayed at many casino parking lots, and most of them never bothered me, but this one in particular had saw me put up my sun shields (from the outside) and was determined to kick me out. Since then, I started putting my sun shields on only from within the car so that people are less likely to notice, and I think it has helped.
The second time is when I was staying in Key West, Florida. Key West thinks they have a problem with people living in their car, so the locals don't take kindly to people camping in their cars and are extra vigilant about it. No one actually explicitly shoed me away, but someone dinged my car with a bell and yelled "No overnight parking" generally for the entire parking lot, which was enough to scare me away. They may not have known I was sleeping in my car.
And the time when the security guard approached me, I was sleeping in a large vacant lot two nights in a row. The first night went fine, and the second night alerted them more that something was going on and caused them to approach me. But, they thought I was homeless and destitute or something, and they let me stay there because they pitied me, but they told me to leave first thing in the morning.
My location of choice? Mid-sized hotel parking lots. I did this almost exclusively on my second trip. Holiday Inns, Courtyard by Marriots, etc. No one who worked at any hotel ever bothered me, tow away zone signs be damned. If I park in the right location, I get free wifi access, which is great for work. That was my primary motivation. Sometimes people staying at the hotel would catch on to someone being inside of the car and gossip about it such that I could hear them, but no one ever really bothered me.
Other than hotels, free camp sites are nice. (freecampsites.net) Sometimes you can get really lucky and find an abandoned camp site with a full bathroom and shower and electricity next to a scenic lake or something like that.
Other places I stayed at that I would recommend: Walmart parking lots (in good neighborhoods), 24 hour gym parking lots, Cracker Barrels, Cabelas, the aforementioned casino parking lots.
Side streets. I am not really a fan of side streets, but I think it depends on the neighborhood. It's a bit paradoxical because these might be locations where it's actually legal to park and stay overnight, but the people who live in the house you park next to can get suspicious of you. I would much rather deal with someone who works at a hotel or as a security guard and is underpaid than with a curious and possibly grumpy homeowner.
The first night I ever slept in my car, I stopped at a small town in South Dakota where I stood out like a sore thumb, and every time I would try to find a parking spot on a side street, someone would come out of their house and approach me. They would confuse me with someone they knew, or they would just look at me suspiciously. Everyone in a small town in the middle of nowhere knows everyone, and they know that you do not belong there. I ended up sleeping in a car dealership out of desperation and with someone probably watching me the entire time.
Rest stops. I never use a rest stop. They do not seem safe to me, because everyone knows that there are sleeping travelers there, and thus predators can go to these places looking for people to victimize. It defeats the purpose of stealth. The safest thing to me is to draw minimum suspicion that someone is even trying to sleep in their car. But as I never used them, I don't have any real world experience. The stories of people being attacked at them was enough to keep me away from them.
PEE JUGS: An art form. I don't know how female dwellers live without pee jugs. It must be difficult. I imagine getting up to pee a bunch would break stealth. It's bad enough that you're more vulnerable as a female to begin with. But as a male dweller, you will be presented with a variety of options. Gatorade bottles might seem like a good idea, being that they have a wide top and can store a decent amount. And while you may be able to pee in a Gatorade bottle here and there, you may underestimate how much you have to pee and how much space you actually have. Really, you want at least a gallon jug, and you want something with a nice tight screw cap and probably a firm handle. Large bottles of tea also work well. The last thing you want is to spill pee. Take this sage advice and do not learn the hard way. But also be sure to take advantage of the majestic pee jug if you are privileged to do so.
And never go to bed when you have to poo and think you can hold it in. It sucks. You rarely ever do this when you live in a house and you may not appreciate how uncomfortable and how bad of an idea this is until you try it. No, I did not poo the bed, for the record.
Anyway, that about wraps up everything I have to say for now. I will answer any questions. I love Prius Dwelling. It's been the time of my life. I want to continue doing it on and off for the rest of my life. These kinds of long trips are simply not financially possible to do if you stay at hotels unless you are loaded. I should probably write a tl;dr.
Edit: Added Rain Guards to my setup list.
submitted by During the last press conference, Governor Edwards stated that the next conference would take place the same time next week, and as of 9:30 AM, there hasn't been an announcement stating otherwise. I will update this post if the time changes.
LINKS TO WATCH SUMMARY
Gov. John Bel Edwards - We have had 3 weeks going in the wrong directions with cases and hospitalizations. Whatever we discuss today does not reflect what happened this weekend. Why do I mention this? We know Memorial Day was when our numbers stopped getting better and started getting worse. I pray the same is not the same for 4th of July.
- We have lost all progress made in June and are seeing some numbers that rival our peak in April.
- Today we report 1,891 new cases and case positivity is slightly over 10% (*Mod note: it is 10.4%).
- 95% of cases today are community spread with only 5% coming from a congregate setting.
- Reporting 20 additional deaths for a Toal of 3,231 deaths from COVID-19 for the state of Louisiana.
- There is a slight dip in hospitalizations (only 3 less than yesterday) but we are very concerned about the numbers we are currently seeing. We are also concerned with the conversations we are having with the hospital CEO's and Medical directors.
- The total of hospitalized with COVID-19 is 1,022, the last time we over this was on May the 19th.
- Hospitalizations have doubled since June the 13th.
- Recent case growth reflects the majority of cases are young people, with the majority of cases coming from those below 30 years of age.
- Difference between today and 2.5 months ago, is 2 months ago our numbers were driven by the New Orleans area, particularly Orleans and Jefferson parishes as well as the river parishes. [Back then] it was only one region of the state that was fueling rapid growth and high numbers. The rest of the state did not see cases to that extent. [Now] we are seeing more even growth in hospitalization and cases across the state. We are beginning to look like Texas.
- We have a statewide epidemic, not one that driven by a couple of Regions
- Testing sites are slow to get test results returned. Today the delay is due to a lack of reagent in the Commercial Labs. Because they do not have the amount of the necessary component they cannot report their results in a timely manner. This is being worked on as we speak.
- We are concerned about the delays because we want to know if people are positive, people may be asymptomatic, may not be taking the proper precautions by quarantining, and be unnecessarily exposing others to the virus.
- It is critical for anyone who has been exposed to someone who has tested positive to the virus to self-quarantine for 14 days while you wait for your test results.
- If you have been in close contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive, EVEN IF YOU TEST NEGATIVE YOU NEED TO QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS you may have contracted the virus but may not have had the appropriate viral load to be detected when you were tested.
- Some good news with testing surge testing in Baton Rouge got up and running yesterday, but was short-lived due to the bad weather. The White House Task Force chose 3 cities in the United States for this type of testing. This should tell you all you need to know about whether we have a serious situation and if it is getting worse. WE do and it is.
- The goal is to test 5,000 people above the baseline and get a better idea of just how many cases are in the Baton Rouge area.
- You do not need to a resident of BR you can live by a nearby parish and get tested.
- You can be tested if you are symptomatic, or been exposed.
- You can also be tested if you are not symptomatic.
- [LIST OF 5 SITES]
- Testing will run until July 18th.
- Pre-register DoINeedACovidTest.com (registration is not required).
- More info can be obtained by calling 2-1-1.
- This morning there was a conference call with about 20 hospital CEO and medical directors from across the state to get an update directly from the field.
- Nearly every CEO and MD on the call reported sustained increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations. We have completely lost the gains we made over the past couple of months and its all happened in less than 3 weeks. Very concerning.
- Some people continue to believe this state of Louisiana continues to do better, that is not the case.
- Some regions have more hospitalizations than they ever saw in March or April.
- The two hospitals in Lafayette each have more patients than they saw during the previous surge.
- Good News: Patients they are seeing are in the hospital are younger and the illness is not quite as acute. Stays are not quite as long, and a smaller percentage of these patents are in the ICU or on ventilators.
- Access to Remdesivir is been reduced, no one is out, but with the current caseload, they are concerned about not having adequate supplies.
- Hospital capacity is not strictly related to COVID-19. Just because we are in a pandemic does not mean fewer people are going to have strokes, motor vehicle accidents, etc.
- The biggest concerns center around staffing and keeping testing supplies and treatments in stock.
- Staffing issues are exacerbated by pronounced community spread, causing more staff members to call out because they are positive.
- We are seeing a slight change in COVID-19 hospitalized patient demographics as they skew a little more white and male than the previous cases, and as previously mentioned, the average age is down.
- Patients are more white, male, and young than before.
- Appears now, at least anecdotally, that the hospitalized patients reflect our state demographics as a whole.
- FOLLOW MITIGATION MEASURES.
- We simply have to wear a mask when we are outside of our homes and interacting with people who are closer than 6 ft.
- Everything we are learning from in this country, and around the world, indicate that mask usage is incredibly important to cut down the rate of infections.
- Dept. of Health is sharing an additional breakdown of race by parish to be published weekly.
- 41% of cases are from Black Residents and 29% from White Residents.
The "Great Doctor" Billioux - LDH continues to try to publish more and more data weekly. They have added more information such as the percent of positive cases by regions and hospitalization breakdown by region to the Dashboard. - The difference between this rise in cases and what we saw earlier on is that we have significantly more data which allows us to communicate to you a lot more early warning signs. - We haven't yet seen real big rises in ventilator usage like our neighbors in Texas, but if these curves continue we will probably see these numbers go up. - More individual information was added this week regarding race data. * Louisiana was one of the first states to provide race data for people dying by COVID-19. - LDH now feels comfortable putting out race data by cases. * There is still 19% of cases that they do not have race data. Whether it is from lack of information taken when someone is tested or inability to get information from contact tracing. - Still see there is a disproportionate number of African Americans who are contracting COVID-19 when compared to their white counterparts. * This is also true for our Latin-X communities. - The disparity is starting to narrow, at least for deaths. - It is important that we know where COVID-19 is and how to protect ourselves. - At the regional level, we can see other races beyond the Black and White races available for parish data. - Where is COVID Spreading?
Outbreak Setting | Number of Outbreaks | Cases | % of Cases |
Food Processing | 11 | 423 | 30% |
Bar | 36 | 393 | 27% |
Industrial Setting | 16 | 117 | 8% |
College/University | 3 | 84 | 6% |
Restaurant | 16 | 68 | 5% |
Construction Site | 3 | 48 | 3% |
Casino | 4 | 38 | 3% |
Social Event - Private | 3 | 38 | 3% |
Office Space | 8 | 36 | 3% |
Wedding | 7 | 31 | 2% |
Gym/Fitness Setting | 3 | 26 | 2% |
Ship/Boat | 1 | 25 | 2% |
Other Worksite | 8 | 24 | 2% |
Social Event - Public | 1 | 24 | 2% |
Child Daycare | 7 | 17 | 1% |
Religious Services/Event | 2 | 17 | 1% |
Recreation | 2 | 10 | 1% |
Retail Setting | 3 | 8 | 1% |
Camp | 1 | 5 | 0% |
Grand Total | 135 | 1,432 | 100% |
- This is the information we are able to get through contact tracing or reports. This represents a significant underestimation of these different settings in the overall cases. Many people are unable to call specifically where they may have been able to pick up the virus, or if they were in a particular bar.
- If you go to any setting, whether it is on this list or not, and you do not feel comfortable because people are not following safety standards leave, walk out, protect yourself, and protect your family because that is what is most important. This will allow us to keep as many sectors of the economy open.
- These new parts of the Dashboard will be updated every Wednesday.
Questions by Dr. Billioux
Explain the 14-day quarantine... Gov referenced the need to quarantine for 14 days. As we do contact tracing and tell them they may have been exposed, we know that some people's initial urge is to go out get tested. More often than not its been several days since your exposure, so testing is reasonable. If you know you have been exposed today it is not advisable to get a test today. Regardless of being tested, 5 days after exposure and it is negative, you can still turn positive on day 13 or 14. Quarantining is for 14 days regardless of your test result. If you ae been exposed you need to do whatever you can to isolate yourself from other members of your household and certainly do not go out.
Why we are seeing cases in college universities when they are currently closed? So there is a couple of data points that we have around that. One is that for the last week or so more than 1/3 have been from 18-29 certainly 29 or less. So that is the same population we would see around college campuses. The other point that I may is that even though the universities may not be open hey still remain centers of our community were people of this age group reside. A university draws a large group from that age range so it is not surprising to see an increase in those locations. Note it is 3 we have identified out of 84 cases. We are trying to engage college students to make sure our message is clear to inform them on the best ways to keep themself safe. Even though are seeing very few people are needing hospitalization and even fewer are dying but if you increase the number of people who are exposed in this age group the number of people who will be hospitalized or who die will also increase. We now have 25,000 active cases statewide, even if these individuals are in a low-risk group for bad outcomes for COVID, but anywhere anyone else goes there is a higher chance of being exposed to COVID-19 whether they are going to bar or a gym the likelihood of catching the virus is higher.
Cannot hear question - will update later
We definitely see most cases coming from population centers but from the beginning, we have seen cases coming from rural settings. If you look at the map every parish has cases, as we increase testing in smaller parishes we see increases in cases. Some of our smaller parishes rank highest in the amount of COVID cases and deaths in the nation. It is a problem that is truly statewide. This is not a New Orleans or EBR problem, we have COVID cases rises spreading everywhere across the state in the way we did not in March.
Are you tracking cases in prisons and correctional facilities? Why isn't this reported on the Dashboard. We track cases wherever they come from. We want to know if they are from individuals that are residing in the setting or staff that work in a setting. We recently partnered with the CDC to do more comprehensive testing in a prison int he North, we work with the DEpt. of Corrections with their testing procedures, same on the parish level to help them support their testing. Individuals' locations are not identified to the public unless they are posing a risk to the public. If we take an example of the bars in Baton Rouge and were not able to identify everyone who had been there we did make a public statement. It is not mandated by the Federal government to be reported like nursing homes are.
How can we make restaurants safer We always look at how we can make any setting safer. Recently we are looking at how we can increase enforcement. Having people in these settings to makes sure staff and patrons are doing what they can reduce their risk in these settings. Bars produce a particular risk. You may be leaning in closer to yell over sounds or if you are slowly drinking a drink you are not taking a mask on and off. We are visiting those sites.
How many new citations or violations have been given from the LDH Data is not available. Normally we give a warning and then a follow-up visitation and if that is not corrected by the followup visit a citation is not ordered.
Are you planning to break up COVID-location exposure by regions No. Anyone one of these settings you should assume it is going on in your neighborhood. What is more important is to make a self-assessment when you enter a setting if it is safe for you to be there or not.
Gov. John Bel Edwards - As you can see with the known outbreaks the majority are associated with bars.
- Food processing settings dominate those numbers but those individuals work and often times live in close proximity with one another as well.
- No matter how you slice and dice the numbers, COVID-19 is probably more present in Louisiana today than it has ever been
- Need the people to step up, pay attention, and do their part.
- One number that was not previously highlighted, is the amount of per capita cases in the country. We were as high as number 2. AS things got better we were number 10 in per capita cases. *Today we are #5 in country for highest amount of cases per capita
- More known COVID-19 in Louisiana today than we have had at any point up to now.
- Another number that Gov. Edwards forgot to give is we are in the 8th day and we have reported 137,000+ tests already. The monthly goal set forth by the White House Coronavirus Taskforce is 200,000 tests per month. WE are working hard to know what is going on in Louisiana and get in front of it.
- Everyone in Louisiana you have a role to play. Let's take care of one another by wearing a mask. When you wear a mask you are not protecting yourself so much as you protecting others from you, and when they wear a mask they are showing the same courtesy you are.
- Wear your mask anytime you re outside of your home, interacting with people who are not part of your household. Stay 6 feet away. Stay home when you re sick. Wash hands with soap and water frequently.
- The next press conference will be next week, with no set date or time yet.
Question by Gov Edwards
Earlier you compared us to Texas. Texas is limited crowd size, cracking down on restrictions, and adding a statewide mask mandate. Are you considering limiting crowd sizes, adding restrictions, or instituting a mask mandate?*
- We discuss everything I am not currently contemplating a statewide mandate. We are not up to 4 local mandates, Orleans, Jefferson, East Baton Rouge, and Shreveport (he misses Kenner), these are the largest populations of the state.
- We want to be fully consistent with the White House Coronavirus Taskforce guidance which recommends that mask mandates be declared by local governments.
- Whether we have a mandate or not, we cannot be clearer in the messaging we have been stating for months. **If you are interested in having more customers in stores and in restaurants, then you want mask usage because it decreases the number of cases. Anything that reduces the case count and flattens the curve is ultimately going to be very very helpful. The single most important thing people can do is wear a mask. Gathering sizes are being looked at, in regards to venue capacity right now we may be more liberal with that than Federal guidance we are getting.
Other states are considering closing bars and indoor dining. Seeing the surge in cases have you reconsidered the current restrictions on restaurants and bars? I will tell you that we are getting the guidance directly from the cOronavirus task force as well we have done over 3,100 site visits over the last 10 days or so. Primarily working through the Free Marshall Office we are trying to gain more compliance with existing restrictions and are having success in almost every case. We will be starting our followup visits and if there are repeat violations actions will be taken there. In regards to 50% occupancy for on-premises dining, we are on par with what Texas is doing now. Our decision not to go into Phase 3 was the right decision. I can only imagine what the case would be if we removed to Phase 3. We are paying attention to all of these things and maybe making some adjustments to the restrictions. Currently, we remain focused on getting compliance with existing restrictions. If this proves to be insufficient to get our numbers under control we whatever is necessary to not put a strain on our hospitals. We are not there today but we are on-trend to get there.
President Trump says he wants all students returning to school for in person instruction, do you have guidance on what you would like to see with schools reopening? First of all, I would hope aspirationally we want to see our schools open 5 days a week for in-person instruction, but at the same time, we have to balance the interest of preserving the health of students, staff, and faculty. We need to look at what situation is at any given time of the situation, particularly in advance of when that school year will commence. You will see school districts implementing even more measures to protect students, staff, and faculty. Under no circumstance do we anticipate a return to pre-COVID normal. Even if we have in-person instruction on campus it will not look like how it was prior to COVID. Not like to see school assemblies, students eating in lunch, students will not be coming into contact with people who are not their immediate cohorts. It is important to get students back onto campus not just for education but for nutrition, social well being, mental health services, and we have to remember that teachers and school counselors are mandatory reporters when they suspect a child has been subject to abuse or neglect. For all these reasons we ant them back on our campuses but we ate to do it safely. Only recently the CDC related a plethora of guidance. K-12 leaders are pouring over that now to make sure it is incorporated into our plans of reopening.
Impossible to know on July 8th what it will look like or whether it will even be possible to open schools a month from now. Question about fall sports and Senators Fields request that K-12 sports be cancelled for the Fall It is a little too early to say on July 8th what this will look like. I appreciate the concerns of Senator Fields, that decision may be a prudent decision but we are not at the time where that decision needs to be made. WE need to know al little more and get a little deeper into the calendar before the decision is made.
Question about how Gov. Edwards feels about then comparison of wearing a mask to the holocaust It is utter nonsense and sad. My best advice to anyone who wants to talk about any person or situation today and compare it back to the nazis or the holocaust is not appropriate. Certainly not in this circumstance where mask-wearing is recommended across the world now, including by our own Federal Govern and White House to wear masks to stop a disease that is highly contagious and highly lethal. It just misses the boat on all fronts to compare that to something related to the holocaust.
cannot hear question Dr. Birx called me last week they were looking at certain hot posts across the country where you had increases in cases and positivity that were very pronounced. They wanted to assist going into those areas with additional testing, with the hopes of identifying more people with the coronavirus, put them into quarantine, and cool off these hot spots. In EBR we may be seeing this because of the younger demographic, we are a college town, we do not know why we are seeing it but we appreciate the help and hope to get the 5,000 additional tests today between now and July 18th. This is the only federally sponsored testing taking place in Louisiana presently. If you have questions about this testing or how to take advantage of it call 2-1-1 doineedtogetacovid19test.com to pre-register. [location of testing sites]
submitted by Since people want to take Perkins to task over this commonsense measure, Shreveport City Council is going to vote on an emergency ordinance requiring masks. The measure, if passed, would take effect immediately. The proposed rules in the legislation reads:
****************************
Section 1: In response to the World Health Organization’s March 11, 2020 designation of the COVID-19 outbreak as a worldwide pandemic, and because infected persons can transmit the COVID-19 virus others before showing symptoms, all individuals within the City of Shreveport must wear personal protective masks or facial coverings over the nose and mouth while inside commercial buildings, public buildings, and places of worship.
Within the City of Shreveport, personal protective masks or facial coverings must cover your nose and mouth in the following situations:
a) In all commercial buildings, public buildings, and places of worship.
b) When indoors and in common areas, such as but not limited to, restrooms,hallways, stairways, elevators, or any room or enclosed area where other people (except for members of the person’s own household or residence) are present in commercial buildings, public buildings, and places of worship. This shall not apply to private households or residences.
Section 2: Within the City of Shreveport, personal protective masks or facial coverings must cover your nose and mouth in the following situations:
a) In all commercial buildings, public buildings, and places of worship.
b) When indoors and in common areas, such as but not limited to, restrooms,hallways, stairways, elevators, or any room or enclosed area where other people (except for members of the person’s own household or residence) are present in commercial buildings, public buildings, and places of worship. This shall not apply to private households or residences.
c) While riding public transportation, paratransit, or rideshare.
Section 3: The following individuals are exempt from wearing a face mask/covering:
a) Persons younger than two (2) years old.
b) Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disabilitythat prevents them from wearing a personal protective mask or face covering. This includes persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a face covering could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a mask or face covering without assistance.
c) Persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
d) Persons for whom wearing a facial covering conflicts with their religious beliefs or practices.
e) Persons for whom wearing a personal protective mask or face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.
f) Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the mask or face covering is necessary to perform the service.
g) Personal protective masks or face coverings must be worn upon entering and exiting restaurants, bars, or other establishments that offer food or beverage service. However, persons are exempt who are seated at a restaurant, bar, or other establishment that offers food or beverage service, while they are eating or drinking, provided they are able to maintain a distance of at least six (6) feet away from persons who are not members of the same household or residence.
h) Personal protective masks and covering must be worn upon entering and exiting gyms or other fitness or recreational facilities. However, persons are exempt while working out at a gym or other fitness or recreational facility provided they are able to maintain a distance of at least six (6) feet away from persons who are not members of the same household or residence.
i) Personal protective masks or face coverings must be worn upon entering, exiting, and remaining in places of worship. However, persons are exempt who are speaking to or addressing the group/congregation or singing in a choir, provided they are able to maintain a distance of at least six (6) feet away from persons who are not members of the same household or residence.
Nothing within this Emergency Ordinance shall prohibit the temporary removal of the mask or face covering for the purpose of any necessary assessment, recognition, or identification during the course of a legal government, or medical service.
Section 4: Businesses must require all customers, clients, and visitors to wear personal protective masks or face coverings over the nose and mouth, while indoors, and conspicuously post signage at or near all entrances clearly indicating requirements and prohibitions. To the extent feasible, businesses are encouraged to have unused face coverings in stock to provide to customers, clients, and visitors attempting to enter but do not have a face covering.
Section 5: Throughout the duration of this Emergency Ordinance, restaurants, bars, or other establishments that offer food or beverage service, nightclubs, gyms and fitness clubs, barber shops and salons, casinos, shopping malls, movie theatres, places of worship, and all other businesses operating, must strictly adhere to the all orders of the Governor of Louisiana.
Section 6: For elections, all persons should follow the guidelines established by the Secretary of State.
Section 7: Schools, daycares, and summer camps are to follow the guidance established by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) and Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).
https://www.shreveportla.gov/AgendaCenteViewFile/Item/23533?fileID=48109 submitted by Edited to add: My apologies for the title! I meant to put Heidi's BFF but during the mist of me posting this the breaking news started and I was 100% distracted and they were talking about Casey!! (damn reddit for not letting me be able to edit the title)
Hello,
I am just going to do a bullet point recap of the conversation that Jay is 4 Justice had with Heidi's best friend Caressa. I am going to try and organize this to the best of my ability.
How does Heidi know Caressa?They met a church camp when Caressa was 13 and Heidi was 11.
Overview of Shane and Heidi's Relationship:-they met at a casino where Heidi worked while both living in Louisiana.-they have been together almost 10 years-lived together on and off-were last broken up from November - May-Shane moved back in with Heidi in May-overall, they have not had a good relationship. Some good times but mostly rough relationship.
Beginning of Shane & Heidi's Relationship:-Caressa did not hear a lot about Shane until Heidi and Shane got into a fight-Heidi called explaining how bad the fight had gotten. Caressa decided to drive to Austin to pick up Heidi. Heidi called Caressa back and told her not to come over and the she was fine. She said "love you, bye". So, Caressa turned around.
How was Heidi in the days prior?Caressa states that Heidi did not act different. Her mom was there until Tuesday. Last time Caressa talked to Heidi was right after Heidi dropped her mom off. They had a super brief conversations.
How did Caressa find out Heidi was missing?-receivied a message from her fiance-Caressa called her friend Rachel. Rachel has just arrived at the apartment because Heidi was missing.-Caressa spoke with Shane and Shane said "he had gotten home and Heidi's car was at home, the door was wide open and all of the babies stuff was still there. Their dog, Zeus, was on the balcony. Heidi's car was unlocked, her purse was in it. They could not find the phone. Shane called Heidi at 12pm, phone was off. He got home around 2pm. Tried calling again, phone was still off. Thought Heidi was the neighbor's, Katrina. Waited for Heidi to come home. Got a call from school to pick up their son, Silas. After picking up Silas, he called Katrina. Katrina then got a hold of Rachel, who got a hold of Caressa. Caressa is not sure how he got a hold of Katrina.
What items are missing at this time?Keys and phone
Did anyone talk to Heidi after Bookfair?-Their friend Megan got at a text at 8:23am from Heidi. (Megan also met Heidi at the same church camp.) Heidi had texted Megan about breastfeeding. Megan did not get the text until later because she was sleeping. By the time she tried to call / text later, phone was off. (Did not disclose a time).
Any communication with Shane since Heidi went missing?Yes, Clarissa speaks to Shane on FB message. Shane was giving updates on Heidi when Caressa would ask. By Saturday / Sunday when Caressa would ask, he stated he was "sick". And that is the last she's heard. Other friends have said that over the last two days he has been silent. Says that this is weird. Also says that Shane called a friend and talked normal, like nothing was wrong. Answers the phone like "Hey! What's up!?". This seems odd to Caressa.
What about the dumpster?-She does not believe that Shane was looking for keys.- Dumpsters leave on Thursdays at 7pm.-He did not call police until 7:30 , which is after they would have been emptied.Thinks it is weird that Shane would call the police after dumpster would be emptied.-He does not normally wear a beanie - thinks this is out of character.
Call from Aftercare?-Shane never received a phone call from them-Shane picked up son at 5:30pm (have surveillance of this) which is different than what he originally told police
Shane's News Appearances?-He is normally awkward-But it does seem off to her, specifically his body language.-She does believe he was under the influence on the first interview.Raw Interview-Whenever Heidi and Shane would get intense, that’s the demeanor he would have. Specifically when he walked off camera. How Caressa always envision how Shane would get when Heidi would talk about their fights.
Normal Work Routine for Shane?Not sure of his routine but sometimes he was not home for days. Was gone before 8am. But, Shane would often be gone for days on a drunken binge.
Paternity of Margo?There is a question of paternity!! Paternity has not been established. It is either Casey or Shane. She went with Shane bc it was closer.-Shane knows about Casey.-Shane stole H phone and messaged Casey.-Really bad disgusting text messages-She confirmed it with Casey-During the pregnancy S would question the paternity-Would do this during a binge
Abuse Allegations?Feb – Shane came banging on the door while Rachel was there – this is when police were called and the police report was made.Ever witness H & S when S was confrontational?Has been there for one of their fights. He threw wine glasses, he was trying to grab her. She was running away. Tried to hide in a closet with Silas. Caressa went into the living room and asked for Silas and in the middle of the exchange S threw a wine glass that could have hit Silas or Caressa. Careesa’s parents came and got them.
-Phone was a big deal-He would consistently call and text her when she was with her friends-He is very controlling / obsessive-Heidi would cancel plans because of Shane-Shane denies abuse allegations
Drugs?Not sure. He likes Vicodin, Xanax, there has been more. Lots over the last 2 years.
Marketplace?-Last time selling something on Marketplace was a month or two ago and to her knowledge hasn’t bought anything recently.
Polygraph / Interrogrations?-Shane did take one and she does not believe he passed it-Why has he not been arrested if he failed? No idea-Where did she hear about polygraph? She does not remember.-Does not believe shane has a lawyer at the time-Shane has been interrogated multiple times over multiple nights
GoFundME?-She is not sure why he has a Gofundme bc he did get a recent settlement from his grandfather-he should not need this money-maybe blew through the 10k and now needs money?-Caressa’s friend started a new GFM
What does Caressa think?-Many different theories-Sex trafficking? Potentially. Mind is not just set on Shane. But there are certain things she knows in her gut. Knows there are drugs involved. What if she was drugged?
Christopher Hurst?- Definitely thinks he’s weird.-Was not there when Heidi met him.- Chris checks up on Hedi a lot.- Says he did that bc he witnessed Shane and Heidi going at it a lot. (Chris went out with them a lot to bars)-Heidi never looked at him as a threat-Not really sure if she ever dated Christopher. IG makes her think they might have (his post from April 2018)-Heidi dated Casey during on & off time with Shane.
Rumors?Caressa got accused of being apart of it Heidi going missing because herfiance put a post up of making chloroform. Googled it because helping son with a project. They used this post as a way to show that Caressa was apart of it because the post was posted a day before Heidi went missing. Caressa Got asked to take a polygraph by investigators – she said she would.
the mugshot is trueStory: she got arrested because he whined about her not getting him a birthday present. They celebrate their birthday’s on Heidi's bc they are a day apart. She went to a store and she tried to steal him a birthday present bc he wouldn’t shut up about her not getting him a gift.Random tidbits:-Search party is real. Caressa’s friend set it up.-Caressa states that Heidi always has her phone on her and that she is always early to pick up Silas, never late.-Shane called police around 7:25pm.-Rachel verified that the purse was in the car and car unlocked. Claims car seat was pushed back. They are unsure why the police are not talking about the car seat.- They have called hospitals, churches, shelters etc. to check on Heidi-Carissa and friends were out looking for Heidi and Margo Friday morning-Does not believe Heidi has post-partum. States Heidi has been doing great.-Believes Zeus being on the porch is out of character. Although he could have potentially been on porch because of Margo.-Confirm Bar picture of Shane. She got sent the picture by about 40 people.-Heidi is a different person when she is not with Shane. Describes her as a "happy person".-When Heidi is with Shane she becomes a different person.-Heidi stayed with Shane because she believes he would change.-Does not believe Heidi would just leave on her own. Especially without talking to someone and telling someone her plan.- Her apartment is in the back – may be why nobody saw her.- Shane’s dad is known to be an enabler for Shane.- Silas is with H’s parents. Addison is also not with Shane.-Heidi has never disappeared or gone off the grid before.-Shane drives a truck.-Heidi talked all the time to Shane’s Dad bc of Silas. He helped with daycare money.-Numerous people have gone to investigators about abuse-Caressa’s mother believes the investigators know something (felt this when telling them about the abuse)- Heidi knew he was getting off early. She was hopeful to spend time with him.-Would the $25 upset him? Yes, there have been times where he would be mad about her spending money.
I think this is all but I am going to stop because of some potential breaking news happening on the video!
submitted by When I was nineteen I developed a severe case of wanderlust and left home without a destination, carrying little more than a beat up old JanSport backpack, a bag of jasmine rice, a camp stove, a copy of
Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac, and my sense of adventure. In the five years since I’ve developed into an experienced tramp and travelled through every U.S. state except Alaska and Hawaii, mostly for free via hitchhiking, freight hopping, trainsurfing, and plain old hoofing it. As you might imagine, I’ve had all sorts of adventures; some awe inspiring and life affirming, others miserable and disappointing, and a few downright frightening. I’ve tangled with violent ex-con hobos, macho railyard bulls with something to prove, deranged homeless people, knife wielding junkies, and bored security guards. I’ve been robbed (of the fourteen dollars I was carrying at the time), beaten, tasered, chased by dogs, stalked by mountain lions, and run out of town by angry locals. None of these experiences can hold a candle to the terrifying encounter I had last night. Not even close. I still have no idea what it was. If anyone has any clue as to what this thing was, please leave the info in the comments because I’m completely lost, and I have a feeling that whatever is happening to me is far from over.
I’d been hitching through the deep south for the last few days - Georgia, Alabama, and finally Mississippi - trying, unsuccessfully, to find some temporary work as a farm hand since my cash was almost dry. I eventually got frustrated and decided to head for a place in Texas where I’d had better luck in the past. I hitched a ride to a tiny railroad station in middle-of-nowhere, Mississippi where I knew freight trains usually stopped to change crews, and found a place to hide behind a large rock a couple hundred feet from the station. It was an extremely humid night, and I sat in my filthy clothes, stale with sweat, sipping a warm Miller High Life and listening to the night songs of the frogs and crickets. The moon above was heading towards full, providing plenty of light which I had learned was a blessing and a curse; making it both easier to hop a train, and easier to get caught.
I waited there for a couple of hours. Two passenger trains passed but I let them go; I was extremely exhausted and didn’t feel like trainsurfing (clinging to the outside of a fast moving train, for the uninitiated). Finally I saw what I had been waiting for; a big slow freight train which lumbered to a halt at the station for a crew change. I waited fifteen minutes and when the train started moving again I dashed from my hiding spot to try and jump aboard. Usually the freight cars are locked up tight and you have to jump up and ride the connectors in between cars, a dangerous and uncomfortable endeavor, or lay down on a flat car and hope for the best; but on this particular night I spotted a large red box car with its sliding door slightly ajar, and I made a beeline for it. I tossed my bag in first, then grabbed the handle next to the door and hoisted myself up.
Inside the boxcar was empty and dark, the moon and the occasional trackside lamp shining through the open door providing the only illumination. It was hot and stuffy and the air smelled stale, but it was much better than walking or trying to ride on the outside of the train. I sat down with my back against the front wall of the car with my pack beside me, settled in, and closed my eyes for some much needed rest. Here’s where things started getting weird.
About fifteen minutes into the trip I heard the distinct noise of someone clearing their throat over the clatter of the tracks. It came from inside the freight car, which I was sure had been empty when I boarded the train. My heart skipped a beat, my body tensed up, and I snapped out of my half-sleep searching for the source of the noise, but by now I was way out in the wilderness and the car was so dark I couldn’t see more than few feet infront of me. “Hello? Is someone there?” I said to the darkness. There was silence for about ten seconds before I heard that throat clearing noise again.
“Yes, there is,” replied an unseen voice from the other side of the boxcar. It was strained and high pitched, with a touch of uncertainty, like a person speaking in a second language they haven’t used in a long time.
“Oh, hello. Sorry, I thought I was alone here,” I said.
“You aren’t.”
“Ok. Well, my name is Kyle. What’s yours?”
Silence. No big surprise, I’d met plenty of travellers in my time who were reluctant to give out personal information. “Alright dude, no worries. I don’t really care what your name is, but since we seem to be temporary traveling companions, why don’t you come sit over here with me. I’ve got a couple beers I’m willing to share. They’re warm, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?”
More silence. This guy was starting to piss me off, who turns down free beer? “Fine,” I said into the darkness, “Stay over there then. Just know I’ve got a big ass knife over here, so don’t even think about fucking with me.” I was lying about the blade, it was actually a tiny Swiss Army knife, but he didn’t need to know that. He said nothing in response, but I heard another noise that sounded familiar, though I couldn’t quite place it. It sounded like someone methodically flicking a heavy piece of paper over and over, and it gave me goosebumps up both arms. We sat like that for a long time, me sipping my beer and him flicking that paper, or whatever it was.
fhwap, fhwap, fhwap After what felt like an eternity he finally spoke.
“Asulan,” the voice said, slow and halting, as if speaking took a great effort.
“What?”
“You may call me Asulan, if you wish.”
“OK,” I replied. “I’ve never heard that one before, what kind of name is it?”
“An old one.”
“Fair enough, Asulan. You gonna come over here and grab a beer now or what?”
“No.”
At that moment the train passed an intersection with a road, and the inside of the car was momentarily lit up by the flashing red lights of the crossing signs. Asulan was leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the boxcar from me, awash in shadow, and crouching instead of sitting in a stance similar to what the internet likes to call the “Slav Squat”. I could tell right away there was something off about the guy: he was all knees and elbows, his arms and legs thin and much longer than they should have been. He wore an old timey suit with a frilly under shirt and small bow tie; it reminded me of those black and white pictures you see from the 1800’s of stone faced Indians from the “Five Civilized Tribes”. His head hung between his knees, looking down at something in his hand, and a bowler hat sat upon his head obscuring his face. All I could see in the crimson light was a long hooked nose protruding from below the rim. He held something small in his right hand, which he slapped methodically against the fingers of his left.
fhwap, fhwap, fhwap.
Then the crossing was behind us and the boxcar was bathed in shadow once more. A shiver went up my spine as my brain tried to make sense of what I had just seen, of the freak sitting across from me in the freightcar, just out of sight.
“Did you know that the lighter was invented before matches?” he said suddenly. I could almost hear in his voice the smile that must have been on his face. He knew I’d seen him, he knew I was scared, and it brought him joy.
“What?” I said, blinking. My voice sounded dumbstruck and frightened in my ears and I winced.
“The cigarette lighter came first, according to the technical definition of the word ‘lighter’ and the word ‘match’. Oh sure, people will tell you that the match has been around since the 500’s in China, but those were actually just sticks soaked in flammable liquids that had to be lit by another source. If you’re going by the true definition of a match as ‘a slender piece of wood, cardboard, or other flammable material tipped with a chemical substance that produces fire when rubbed on a rough or chemically prepared surface’ then the match wasn’t invented until 1826 by a man in England named John Walker.”
“The lighter, on the other hand, was invented in 1823 by a German named Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner. He called it ‘Dobereiner’s Torch’, very original, I know. Anyways, according to your people’s calendar, 1823 comes before 1826. Hence, the lighter was invented before the match. Weird, right?”
“Umm, yeah. I guess so.” I said. I couldn’t think of anything else to say. I instinctively reached my hand into my pant pocket and felt the cold, reassuring metal of my Zippo there. I closed my fist around it while he continued on as if I hadn’t said anything at all.
“I still prefer matches, regardless of their date of origin. They’re smaller, cheaper, and more reliable. You can even get waterproof ones these days. Plus, there’s no complicated mechanical parts to break or get stuck. Even if the lighter is newer, the match seems a lot closer to the old ways. Atleast to me. I prefer the old ways, the simpler ways, closer to nature, closer to the earth, closer to the way things used to be. There’s less that can go wrong that way.”
I was seriously freaked out now. Sitting in the dark with this strangely eloquent person, though I use that term lightly. I was beginning to wonder if Asulan was even human at all. I’d only seen him for a moment in the flash of that red light, maybe my mind was playing tricks on me. I was tired and a little buzzed from the beer after all. Could be my mind playing tricks, the way shadows sometimes look like looming figures when you’re walking home alone at night. The suspense was killing me, and I figured if I really was riding with some kind of monster I’d rather know about it. I pulled the Zippo from my pocket and spun the flint wheel with my thumb, to shed some light on this situation once and for all.
clink, clink, clink.
Nothing happened. It wouldn’t light. Not even the spark you usually get when the lighter is out of fuel, which it wasn’t; I’d just refilled it two days ago in Tuscaloosa.
“See what I mean? Can’t trust em’,” it said from the darkness. The smile was back in its voice now. The
fhwap, fhwap, paper flicking noise stopped now as well, replaced by a sound I did know - the
snap, snap, whoosh of a match being lit. He’d been flicking a book of paper matches this whole time.
A halo of dim orange light formed around him, and I could see him much clearer now. He looked up at me. The skin of his face was the dull gray of rotting flesh, all wrinkly like an old raisin, and his eyes were tiny black points sunken into his skull. His ears were thin, long, and pointed and now I could see that he actually was smiling. His teeth were a row of long thin spikes like needles, and there were several rows of them stacked upon one another like a shark’s.
“Are you a hunter, Kyle?” he asked.
“No,” I replied. “I’m a vegetarian.” The thing on the other side of the freightcar laughed; a cruel, wheezing sound like a hyena with pneumonia.
“Oh, but you are,” he said. “All of you are hunters in your own way. Hunters of pleasure. Hunters of comfort. Hunters of leisure. Destroyers of the forests. Polluters of lakes. Defilers of land. I’ve watched your kind for a thousand years. You’re all hunters. But I like you Kyle, so I’m going to give you a chance.”
The match had burned down to the long spindly fingers of its left hand, and began to dim and flicker. In the dying light I saw the thing that called itself Asulan toss the matchbook towards me with its right hand. The match went out while the matchbook was mid air and I lost track of it, but I heard it land in front of me somewhere near my left foot. I bent over to look for it, but as I did I heard a
kahwooooo from outside the boxcar and felt the air pressure change inside. We had just entered a tunnel and all light disappeared from the world. The boxcar was filled with complete and utter darkness. Somewhere in the blackness across from me I heard a rustle of movement.
On the verge of panic, I frantically searched the wooden floor in front of me with both hands, without success. I could hear something moving closer now with a strange scraping noise. Finally my left hand fell upon the matchbook in the dark, and with trembling fingers I broke off a match and lit it against the coarse striking surface on the cover. As I did the noise coming from the other side of the car stopped, as if he had frozen in place.
The first thing I saw in the new light of the match was the wall of the tunnel outside the open door of the boxcar, flying past mere inches away. There would be no jumping from this train, even if I wanted to, at least not until we were out of the tunnel. I was trapped in here with this thing. I looked across the box car to where it had been sitting, but there was nothing there. Asulan has disappeared. I waved the match from side to side in front of my face searching for him, but I must have swung my arm too hard because the match went out and I was back in inky blackness, that sliding scraping noise moving towards me once again.
I lit another match, my whole body shivering with fear now. It took three strikes to get it to light. The noise stopped again. I stood perfectly still, waiting, listening, as the match burned down. There was nothing but the clanking of the train on the tracks.
As the flame reached my fingertips I heard a hiss coming from the floor of the box car. I looked down, and there it was, laying on the floor on its belly. It must have been slithering across the ground like a snake in the darkness. It looked up at me with those sharp beady eyes and row upon row of needle teeth and hissed, rearing up like a cobra. The match singed the tips of my fingers and went out, and I screamed in the darkness.
I kept on screaming in the dark as I tore another match from the book and lit it. Now the creature was directly in front of me, an inch from my face. Its breath smelled of roadkill that has been lying in the sun for a week. Its clawed hands reached for my throat, but before they got there the world went black. I fell into unconsciousness. I don’t know if it’s possible to faint from pure terror, but I’m pretty sure that's what happened in that moment.
I awoke flat on my back on the floor of the box car. It was light out now. There was no sign of Asulan. I almost could have convinced myself that it had all been a dream if it wasn’t for the book of matches still clutched in my hand. I turned it over. The cover read ‘Choctaw Nation Casino & Resort - Durant’ above a stylized image of a winking indian brave with a stack of money in one hand and a long clay pipe in the other. My mind was foggy and my vision blurred, but I didn’t have time to think too much on it. I felt the train starting to break, which meant it was time for me to make my exit before it fully stopped and the railyard bulls came after me.
I moved for the door, but as I planted my foot to jump I felt an intense pain in my heel which shot all the way up my right leg. Me knee buckled and my leap turned into a tumble out of the door. I landed hard and rolled away, lucky not to have my leg severed by the train. I lay there for a moment dazed and breathing hard. When I finally sat up I noticed the shoe from my right foot was missing, though the left shoe was still there. I lifted my foot to my face and examined it for a moment until I found the source of the pain: a large, black, wicked looking thorn right in the middle of my heel. I grabbed it between two fingers and pulled, and my head was filled with red hot pain, but the thorn didn’t budge even a millimeter. I’d have to dig it out later with the Swiss Army knife, but not here and not now. I looked around and saw that I was sitting in an open field, in broad day light, directly below a large a large sign which read ‘No Trespassing - violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law’ and decided it was time to cheese it. I limped towards a small unmarked road next to the tracks, walking on the ball of my right foot to prevent the thorn in my heel from making contact with the pavement.
I followed the road until it met with a larger one that eventually became the Main Street of a small town, though I was so dopey by that point that I couldn’t tell you its name. I think it must have been somewhere in Louisiana, but I’m not exactly sure. I staggered through the streets, shambling like a zombie to avoid placing weight on my foot. All around me people stopped and stared, shaking their heads disapprovingly. I walked by exactly four women pushing strollers, and every one of the babies began to wail as I passed by. I met the eyes of one old woman who gave me a nasty look, but when I glared back she turned white as a sheet of paper, grabbed the sides of her head with her hands, and sprinted away from me back the way she had come.
Eventually I saw a motel on the other side of the street, and decided that after the night’s events I needed a little R&R to clean up and get my head back on straight. It would probably cost all the rest of my money, but at this point I didn’t care anymore.
As I stepped out into the street an older model BMW came screeching to a halt next to me and laid on its horn. I looked up to see a red faced old man sneering at me. “Get the hell out of the road, junkie,” he screamed out the window, horn still blasting. I gave him the finger and continued on my way thinking fuck off old man. I hope you crash that piece of shit car.
As soon as I stepped onto the sidewalk on the other side of the street, I heard the car peeling out. I turned around just in time in time to see the BMW swerve and then crash full speed directly into a concrete wall about 100 feet down the road. The front of the car crumpled like an accordion, and bystanders ran towards the car to see if the driver was ok. Holy shit I thought, did that really just happen. Oh well, serves him right the old prick.
I pushed through the door of the “A1 Motel” and entered a rundown lobby that looked like it had fallen out of a time warp from the 1970’s. Thin orange carpet covered the floor, and garish fake chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Behind the front desk sat a fat black man in a tracksuit staring at a tiny black and white TV. An old western was playing on the screen, John Wayne was firing his six shooter at a group of charging braves in full war paint. The man peeled his eyes from the screen, took one look at me, and started shaking his head.
“No, no way. No homeless,” he said.
“I’m not homeless,” I said. “Just a tourist. I have money and I’d like a room.”
“Bull shit. You ain’t no tourist. Look at you. You a no good bum, and we don’t let no bums in the A1. This is a quality establishment here. Besides, no vacancy.”
I looked up at the neon sign above him which clearly read ‘Vacancy’. He followed my eyes and let out a grunt, then leaned over and flipped a switch under the desk. A bright red ‘NO’ sign flickered to life in front of the ‘Vacancy’ sign.
“Come on man, I’ve had a really weird night. I’ve got a thorn the size of Texas in my heel, and I need a shower and a bed. I’ve got the money right here.” I began to reach into my pocket to show him, but he gave me a dismissive wave.
“I don’t care,” he said. “I don’t care if you have a million fucking dollars. You dressed in rags, you stink, and you look like you ain’t slept in a week, You a bum. Now get out bum, before I call the cops.”
I felt the rage rise, but there was nothing I could do. I turned to leave and muttered, “Whatever man, fuck you. Eat shit and die.”
But as I reached the door I heard a strange gushing noise from behind me and turned back around. The front desk clerk was facing away from me now, crouching over his desk, with his pants around his ankles, and as I watched he let loose a massive pile of excrement right on top of the desk. I gagged reflexively, but couldn’t turn away. The clerk turned back around, and his eyes were huge and frightened, staring at me and pleading silently for help. Then slowly, methodically, he reached down and scooped up a pile of feces with both hands, brought it to his lips, took a bite, and began to chew.
Then he took another scoop, and another and another, faster now, greedily scarfing down his own hot pile of shit. I stood watching, frozen in horror.
When there was nothing left to eat he looked up at me one last time, his face smeared with filth, his eyes like high beam headlights. Then he grabbed at his chest and keeled over the desk, slamming his face down hard on the wooden surface, and lay there. He wasn’t breathing.
What the fuck is going on here? I thought, as I turned again and ran through the door and up the street as fast as my gimpy leg would carry me. I didn’t stop running until I was a few miles outside of town. Then I stopped and tried pulling the thorn out of my heel with the tweezers in my Swiss Army knife. It was useless, the thing wouldn’t move at all, and now a bright red ring of infection surrounded the thorn. Eventually I gave up and turned my attention to hitching as far from this place as possible.
An old nun picked me up and brought me to the next town, pinching her nose the entire ride. I guess I must have smelled something fierce, though I couldn’t smell myself at all. I tried not to speak to her the entire ride, lest something bad happen. I did eventually ask her to drop me at the public library, which she did. I headed straight for the computers and started typing the words you’re reading right now.
Which brings us to the present. I have no idea what that thing that called itself ‘Asulan’ was, what it did to me, or how to get this thorn out of my foot. Like I said before, if you have any ideas PLEASE leave them in the comments. I really don’t know what else to do.
submitted by Welcome to Casino Camper! This website is operated by an RV'ing couple who have been living and traveling fulltime in a motor home since 2004. While traveling, it's great to have a free or inexpensive place to stop for the night. I hope you're enjoying and finding this site useful. This site is 100% operated by a private individual. The operation and growth of this website depends on the support of it's users. Casino camping is one of the most versatile types of camping in the United States. Those who have taken advantage of casino camping on their travels are likely nodding in agreement and those who haven't may be intrigued or, perhaps, disbelieving. Whether you have ever rolled a single camper-wheel into a casino's big parking lot or not, this guide is for you. Create your personal RV oasis right here at Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, LA. Our RV Park features over 200 sites, full hook-ups, a fully-loaded clubhouse and a pool dedicated to our RV Park guests. Discover our private cabins for you, your family and pets! Visit our site for more information. Biggest Casino / Gaming Facility in Louisiana. Out of all casinos in Louisiana you'll find Coushatta Casino Resort to be the biggest. It has 2800 gaming machines and 70 table games. You can reach South Point Casino by phone at (337) 738-1370 or by clicking this link: Coushatta Casino Resort to see its information page. 2nd Biggest Casino / Gaming Facility in Louisiana Best Camping in Shreveport on Tripadvisor: Find 88 traveler reviews, 22 candid photos, and prices for camping in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States. Casino campgrounds and RV parks in Louisiana. This map is only for Casino campgrounds in Louisiana. Louisiana's premier casino resort features a 100,000 square foot gaming floor, luxurious hotel rooms, a luxury RV resort, fabulous restaurants, live entertainment and more. Louisiana RV Camping: Campendium has 815 reviews of Louisiana RV parks, state parks and national parks making it your best Louisiana RV camping resource. “ Horseshoe casino is hands down the best casino in this area And the dare pool takes it over the top Rent a cabana and relax with friends while enjoying the scenery and great Bands. “ We love the buffet , we love going to the diamond lounge and visiting with friends, and the staff are so helpful.