How To Cure Cold Feet
"My feet are frozen, I'm running on like 5 hours of sleep, by the time I'm done working I will have put in about 11 hours today, and I just want to die", I said, consciously avoiding eye contact.
"Oh, really?" she replied. I decided to make eye contact just in time to see hers in mid roll.
"Well, maybe the whole death part was a little melodramatic", I said with a dismissive grin. God, I'm charming.
Unmemorable moments of meaningless chit chat later, and I was awarded two free V.I.P. passes to Desperado's, a country night club in which this delicatessin clerk moonlighted as a waitress on the weekends. I graciously accepted. I don't enjoy night clubs.
This encounter occured about halfway through my adventure today. I woke up this morning at 6a.m., primed to wear a different hat within the beer distributing company I work for. My normal job is merchandising, however, the driver needed a helper to run his route with him today. I was happy to accept the task. Today was one of those unequivocable days where you just roll with it all, and appreciate the little things. I spent most of the day unloading cases of beer off of a semi truck, in the blistering wet cold, winter wind blasting my lips and cheeks mercilessly. And to tell you the truth chapped skin, aching muscles, and all I was never in a bad mood. A lot of interesting things happened today that I otherwise would not have experienced had I not opted for the challenge of being a driver's helper for the day. Two of our stops were inside the Army base. We were met with armed guards, and I am most certain this was as close to a loaded assauly rifle as I had ever been. They were cool though, and did not make us jump through hoops to enter the base with 1000 cases of beer. I assumed this was standard, but the driver assured me, they never are quite so leniant with their routine searches.
Larry, the semi driver, bought me lunch. I was humbled and my chivalrous gut instinct was to decline, but since I'm technically homeless right now I decided I would be remiss and idiotic to turn down a free meal. I literally inhaled the cajun chicken pita and swallowed the last bite as we approached our next stop. At this point, we had been standing in inches of freezing slush for about 7 hours. I felt as though my toes were literally tiny blocks of ice, but I knew a nice warm shower was just around the corner, so I pressed on.
We eventually made our way to the largest stop of the day, delivering over 400 cases to a deceivingly small neighborhood meat market. Manning the meat grinder, cash register, and pretty much everything else in this cozy little joint was the kind of man that can (and did) within the course of 2 hours, completely restored my faith in mankind. I honestly cannot sum up into words what a kind and gracious man Rich (or Uncle Rich as he would prefer you to call him) is. He was small, in his 60s, soft voiced, and agile as teenager. One could easily and instantly assertain that his aura had not just rubbed off on me. A steady stream of who I can only assume to be more than regular customers stopped in to make a purchase as a ruse to shoot the breeze for a spell with Unclue Rich. He made me a sandwich and told me I could have anything I wanted to drink out of the cooler on our way out. There is no doubt in my mind I have become one of his more than regular customers.
I finally returned to whatever I am considering home for the time being, soaking wet and sore, and looking forward to the workload ahead of me. I jumped in the shower and realized how much I enjoy being homeless due to the little things like using other people's showers. They are always filled with all kinds of products I would never even consider buying, and then I realize how much I like them. Note to self: I need to find myself an Avon rep and purchase my own bottle Sea Exfoliating Gel.
A few hours later, Nick, Ryan, Brandon, Amanda and I all met at our new practice space/recording studio in Warren to sound proof the walls. We found out that a LOT of people we know have rehersal space in the same building. Quite awesome. We hung out for a bit, got the walls covered in sound reducing foam and made our way home. In between leaving the practice space and picking up my cell phone charger that I left at Tom's house three days ago, I decided to get taco bell, where I swear to God above and all that is holy, the van ahead of me in line had a fucking chihuahua popping its head out of the window as if it were the one placing the order at the drive through speaker. Incredible.
I am now back at Ryan's where I will be sleeping tonight, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Although it will be slightly more routine than today, I'm really enjoying life right now. Not having a secured retreat is forcing me to be productive. The studio room will be done by tomorrow and just in time to record a few bands that are anxious to record with me.
I almost wish this little homeless spell wouldn't end. If for nothing else, the shower gels.
"Oh, really?" she replied. I decided to make eye contact just in time to see hers in mid roll.
"Well, maybe the whole death part was a little melodramatic", I said with a dismissive grin. God, I'm charming.
Unmemorable moments of meaningless chit chat later, and I was awarded two free V.I.P. passes to Desperado's, a country night club in which this delicatessin clerk moonlighted as a waitress on the weekends. I graciously accepted. I don't enjoy night clubs.
This encounter occured about halfway through my adventure today. I woke up this morning at 6a.m., primed to wear a different hat within the beer distributing company I work for. My normal job is merchandising, however, the driver needed a helper to run his route with him today. I was happy to accept the task. Today was one of those unequivocable days where you just roll with it all, and appreciate the little things. I spent most of the day unloading cases of beer off of a semi truck, in the blistering wet cold, winter wind blasting my lips and cheeks mercilessly. And to tell you the truth chapped skin, aching muscles, and all I was never in a bad mood. A lot of interesting things happened today that I otherwise would not have experienced had I not opted for the challenge of being a driver's helper for the day. Two of our stops were inside the Army base. We were met with armed guards, and I am most certain this was as close to a loaded assauly rifle as I had ever been. They were cool though, and did not make us jump through hoops to enter the base with 1000 cases of beer. I assumed this was standard, but the driver assured me, they never are quite so leniant with their routine searches.
Larry, the semi driver, bought me lunch. I was humbled and my chivalrous gut instinct was to decline, but since I'm technically homeless right now I decided I would be remiss and idiotic to turn down a free meal. I literally inhaled the cajun chicken pita and swallowed the last bite as we approached our next stop. At this point, we had been standing in inches of freezing slush for about 7 hours. I felt as though my toes were literally tiny blocks of ice, but I knew a nice warm shower was just around the corner, so I pressed on.
We eventually made our way to the largest stop of the day, delivering over 400 cases to a deceivingly small neighborhood meat market. Manning the meat grinder, cash register, and pretty much everything else in this cozy little joint was the kind of man that can (and did) within the course of 2 hours, completely restored my faith in mankind. I honestly cannot sum up into words what a kind and gracious man Rich (or Uncle Rich as he would prefer you to call him) is. He was small, in his 60s, soft voiced, and agile as teenager. One could easily and instantly assertain that his aura had not just rubbed off on me. A steady stream of who I can only assume to be more than regular customers stopped in to make a purchase as a ruse to shoot the breeze for a spell with Unclue Rich. He made me a sandwich and told me I could have anything I wanted to drink out of the cooler on our way out. There is no doubt in my mind I have become one of his more than regular customers.
I finally returned to whatever I am considering home for the time being, soaking wet and sore, and looking forward to the workload ahead of me. I jumped in the shower and realized how much I enjoy being homeless due to the little things like using other people's showers. They are always filled with all kinds of products I would never even consider buying, and then I realize how much I like them. Note to self: I need to find myself an Avon rep and purchase my own bottle Sea Exfoliating Gel.
A few hours later, Nick, Ryan, Brandon, Amanda and I all met at our new practice space/recording studio in Warren to sound proof the walls. We found out that a LOT of people we know have rehersal space in the same building. Quite awesome. We hung out for a bit, got the walls covered in sound reducing foam and made our way home. In between leaving the practice space and picking up my cell phone charger that I left at Tom's house three days ago, I decided to get taco bell, where I swear to God above and all that is holy, the van ahead of me in line had a fucking chihuahua popping its head out of the window as if it were the one placing the order at the drive through speaker. Incredible.
I am now back at Ryan's where I will be sleeping tonight, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Although it will be slightly more routine than today, I'm really enjoying life right now. Not having a secured retreat is forcing me to be productive. The studio room will be done by tomorrow and just in time to record a few bands that are anxious to record with me.
I almost wish this little homeless spell wouldn't end. If for nothing else, the shower gels.