Not dead, just in Podunk

I'm not dead or on an internet strike, I'm just in Podunk. The actual name is Arcola, but it qualifies as Podunk. This is not a put down, just a fact. What, you ask makes a place "Podunkish"? Well you must be at least twenty minutes from any form of civilization. For example, to go to "the store" one must get in the car and drive for at least twenty minutes. Now don't go to hollering. I don't mean the mom and pop gas station that also sells milk and nightcrawlers, a real store.

Also, to earn the certification of Podunkish, all local merchants must look at you like you're crazy when you try to pay with (gasp) a debit card. Ther must also be the absesnce of any national bank branches. When you really need cash to purchase your night crawlers you have to use the local bank who only charges five dollars for the pleasure of using thier ATM. One of my other favorite things is the magic inability to use your cell phone indoors anywhere in Podunk. They work intermitantly while driving. As long as you do not got over signal scrambling hills or pass parish lines. Once inside, your cell phone may ring, but you can not actually talk on it. Houses in Podunk are apparently constructed much in the same manner as bomb shelters and are made to break up any kind of radio signal.

Podunk has it's upsides. My family is here. I can ride a four wheeler all day and never get tired of it. No noisey neighbors. No traffic sounds all night long, etc.

It just takes me a few days to readjust to the pace. I also have to realize that the posted speed limit is only the speed to stay under, not travel at. People here would cause wrecks in any urban area. They drive ten or more miles an hour below the speed limit. And for those of you who haven't visited Podunk lately, it's all two lane. No four lanes. No passing lanes. All curvey roads with streches of five or miles in which to get caught behind someone going about twenty-five miles an hour. So, I am still here, just not as here as I am at home if you know what I mean.