Last night I was walking downtown to catch the bus home and for some reason decided to try just walking all the way home. I went down along the waterfront, through Elliot Bay Park, cut over to 15th just before Interbay, over the Ballard Bridge, up Ballard Avenue, and finally made it to the final march up 24th. The whole time I kept convincing myself that I wouldn't make it the whole way. "I'll just make it to the end of the park and then catch the bus." "I'll just go to the bridge and catch the bus" And so on. I'm actually very pleased with myself for making it the whole way. I google mapped my course and it worked out to be 8.4 miles. It told me there are other shorter ways to go, so I might have to try another route while the weather is still good...
For those of you who haven't noticed Joseph is back to blogging! YAAAAY!!! I really enjoy his blog. Great photography and always an interesting little blurb. Check it out if you haven't yet...
Lil Wayne is in solitary for listening to an unauthorized music device. I think it's fitting that it's his true love that got him put in the hole. Still need to get his new album. Haven't read many reviews but a coworker recommended it. FREE WEEZY!!!
I can't believe that the chili cook off is this weekend. I don't think I'm going to be much of a contender, unless P decides to do a joint entry. Then I'd be guaranteed a victory. He's never lost....
Speakin' of Lil Wayne, here's the new video for the track he did with Eminem:
Showing posts with label Ballard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ballard. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, December 28, 2009
You can all start calling me Cashel Boyle O'Connor Fitzmaurice Tisdall Farrell
I'm behind on my reading. I picked up Ulysses on the ride to work this morning and realized that I had over 120 pages to read before tomorrow's meeting. I've already got through over 30 of them, which is why I've decided that I could take some time out to blog. Mad props to PMRob for dropping the knowledge that Ulysses is available to read online. For some reason I think it looks better if I'm at my desk reading a webpage than with a book open...
Strange set of dreams last night. The first began at a party. I believe we were near the university. Everything was going well until we realized that we were almost out of wine. EmRu was going to drive to her house to get more and I decided to tag along. We chatted off an on but mostly I was playing with my G1 phone. I'd just got it and was in awe. We arrived at her place, which was my old place in the U-district at the bottom of the steps of death. She returned to the car with many bottles of wine and we headed back to the party. Before we returned I woke up. 
I got dressed and went to meet with PMRob. We had plans to do something and on our way I told him about the dream I had and how I had to go buy a G1 because my dreams were telling me that it was essential. He immediately agreed and changed course to go there instead of our predetermined destination. We went to the TMobile store at 85th and bought the G1 from a sales associate that we both had talked to before. While we were there PMRob freaked out after the sales manager had asked him multiple times if she could help him with anything. I thought he was going to shoot up the place. I quickly completed the transaction in order to diffuse the situation and we left. Then we were driving around for a while as I got the phone set up. We decided to get back to the original plan. We were driving for sometime, I still had no idea where but before I fully understood what our destination was I woke up. 
I was late and had to rush out of my house. I was supposed to met with NESF, BK and Stoner for some kind of event at a school. I ran down to the 7-11 where I ran into JSh, MNom, and Mr Quick. MNom had a case of PBR's. I wondered why we needed beer for a school event but that didn't really matter. I asked them where the others were and I was told that BK and Stoner were on their way to Shelton. "Shelton!" I exclaimed. Mr Quick then explained to me that we were going to a local school while BK and Stoner were being sent out to Shelton and that they boarded a ferry 45 minutes prior. NESF then rolled up in an old station wagon that must have been manufactured in Europe as the drivers side was opposite what us Americans are accustom to. We loaded into the car and I relayed the previous dreams to everyone at which point it was agreed that I should get a G1 phone after the event. We were arriving at the school when I woke up. 
I was lying in bed thinking about what time I had to go to work when my sister came in. This is when I first realized that I wasn't in my bed now, but the bed I had 10 years ago at my parents house. She was trying to get me out of bed to help her decide which color hangers matched best with different shirts she was hanging in her closet. There were dozens of colored hangers and even more clothes. I was still laying in bed while she held up various color combinations. I quickly gave my advice about which went best where. As soon as that was done I started to say, "You're not going to believe this series of dreams I just had." "Oh yeah?" she replied. The room then filled with a shrill noise, that turned out to be my alarm. I was so disoriented when it went off I ended up overturning my bedside table. This time I was really awake and covered in water that spilled...
Went down to the Locks yesterday. Love that place...
Seriously, Cashel Boyle O'Connor Fitzmaurice Tisdall Farrell has got to be one of the best names of all time...
Thursday, December 17, 2009
We could have died
I have this pain in my left shoulder. It's been a couple days now. It was really hard to get to sleep last night. When I finally did...
I was in a packed van. I knew everyone from various places with the exception of one small boy. He was sitting in the far back with Dom, another child. SN was watching over them. The middle seat had NESF, MNom, DH and Ton. I was riding shotgun. Devid was driving.
We were cruising down the road to go check out a new deposit of antiques. It wasn't long before sirens came up behind us. "I think we're getting pulled over," Devid said. "I can't let that happen," Ton replied, leaned out the window and opened fire. Everyone was caught off guard. There was screaming and chaos as one of the bullets took out the front tire of the cop car. It spiraled uncontrollably behind us as we sped down the road.
"What the hell was that!" "Don't you know there are children in this car!" "Are you insane!?" Finally Ton spoke, "I'm not going back to jail. If they pull us over we're all going to jail." We were now fugitives and everyone accepted that fact easily.
This didn't stop us from our previous mission. We made our way to a spot under the Ballard Bridge. The whole area was piled with various tables, lamps, sofa and other furniture. There was some discussion about the era from which a certain piece originated. Lots of talk about what would look best where. None of it mattered. I was continually looking over my shoulder expecting a swat raid.
A few pieces of furniture were selected and loaded into the back of the van. We were loading everyone up when we realized the children were missing. We divided up to find them. I went down near the waters edge to find they were in the middle of the canal on some sort of metal disc.
Another disc was near the shore that I used to reach them. When I got us all on the same platform the water seemed to crystalize into razors. Large sharks were swarming around piranhas. "Stay close to me." The disc began rising and sinking slightly, causing our surface area to diminish. The children were crying and each had a death crip on my shirt. I successfully navigated the disc back to the shore and the water returned to it's usually tranquility.
"We need to find a place to lay low for a while." Ton directed us to Renton. We came upon a shanty with the title "Adam's" on the sign. I'd never seen a place like it before. The walls were crumbling and the lights occasionally shot sparks. We sat down at a series of tables and ordered a round of drinks, "virgin for the minors". A large poker table was brought out and it was explained that we would have to play to pay off the debt for the gun used earlier. We were only a few hands in when an old girl friend of mine showed up with a group of rather large men. They wanted to play pool but the poker table was blocking the pool table. She began screaming. "You guys this might be bad, that's my ex-girlfriend." One of the men grabbed the edge of the table and chucked it across the room, chips flying everywhere. "This scene is spent we need to go." There was a lot of confusion as we all tried to get out. "We have to go back and pay the tab!" "After all of this you're concerned about a bar tab?" "We can't burn this bridge we'll need these people again." I rushed back in and paid the tab quickly, narrowly avoiding a barstool to the head.
We ended up at a house similar to what I imagine Brooklyn row houses to look like. Everyone was on edge and each of the windows was manned by someone with a gun. Suddenly my ex arrives in a vehicle with a friend of hers. They'd come to return the SN's purse that they'd stolen. As I'm walking out to talk with them I turn to DH and say, "I want a red dot on her head until she leaves."
I went down to talk to them. Her friend says that they're sorry and the money and key rings are gone. I looked in the purse. There were many keys and key chains floating about. My ex then leaves her friend standing on the stairs as she tears off. We discuss how screwed up the whole scene was. Some time passed and my ex showed up again. Her friend jumped into the car immediately. As they were getting ready to drive away my old girl pulled a gun from her lap, "you've had your chance." Before she was able to fire a shot came from the house behind me. She was hit right in the hand, which caused her to drop the gun and hit the gas pedal. I turned around to see Devid with a shot gun smiling from the top floor window. I gave him a salute and went inside.
We decided that we had to go back to "Adam's". We drove past the building 3 or 4 times, sizing up the scene, before deciding to head in. We pulled around back to park by the pier. There was a group of people down a small alley. "We aren't ready to meet them yet. Best to avoid em for now." "Meet who?"
The parking lot was nearly empty but there was still a man directing traffic. His neck arched up and to the left, his eyes to the moon. His face was a festering green and he wrecked of rotting flesh. Zombies.
He approached the van asking for a fee. SN grabs a gun from under her seat and blasts him right in the head. The children start screaming as she begins to wipe the goo from their faces. "I ain't paying that thing." People start pouring out of "Adam's". As soon as they realize that we were the same people involved in trashing the place earlier any glimpse of tolerance was gone. They each had some form of very large gun within arms reach and suddenly we realized that this wasn't a standard gun fight, but more a display of high powered artillery. Rockets exploded all around us. I could hear the clankering of metal and concrete as grenades rolled into view. Flames engulfed the view in the rearview as the owner of the establishment ignited the end of a long wand connected to a tank of gasoline strapped to his back.
I remember looking over to Devid in the drivers seat. "This is way too hot for me." And he peeled out. The smell of burning rubber overpowering the rest of the carnage.
As soon as it seemed like the worst was behind us I lit a cigarette and looked back, "Is anyone dead?" The young boy was the first to reply, "We could have died?"
I was in a packed van. I knew everyone from various places with the exception of one small boy. He was sitting in the far back with Dom, another child. SN was watching over them. The middle seat had NESF, MNom, DH and Ton. I was riding shotgun. Devid was driving.We were cruising down the road to go check out a new deposit of antiques. It wasn't long before sirens came up behind us. "I think we're getting pulled over," Devid said. "I can't let that happen," Ton replied, leaned out the window and opened fire. Everyone was caught off guard. There was screaming and chaos as one of the bullets took out the front tire of the cop car. It spiraled uncontrollably behind us as we sped down the road.
"What the hell was that!" "Don't you know there are children in this car!" "Are you insane!?" Finally Ton spoke, "I'm not going back to jail. If they pull us over we're all going to jail." We were now fugitives and everyone accepted that fact easily.
This didn't stop us from our previous mission. We made our way to a spot under the Ballard Bridge. The whole area was piled with various tables, lamps, sofa and other furniture. There was some discussion about the era from which a certain piece originated. Lots of talk about what would look best where. None of it mattered. I was continually looking over my shoulder expecting a swat raid. A few pieces of furniture were selected and loaded into the back of the van. We were loading everyone up when we realized the children were missing. We divided up to find them. I went down near the waters edge to find they were in the middle of the canal on some sort of metal disc.
Another disc was near the shore that I used to reach them. When I got us all on the same platform the water seemed to crystalize into razors. Large sharks were swarming around piranhas. "Stay close to me." The disc began rising and sinking slightly, causing our surface area to diminish. The children were crying and each had a death crip on my shirt. I successfully navigated the disc back to the shore and the water returned to it's usually tranquility. "We need to find a place to lay low for a while." Ton directed us to Renton. We came upon a shanty with the title "Adam's" on the sign. I'd never seen a place like it before. The walls were crumbling and the lights occasionally shot sparks. We sat down at a series of tables and ordered a round of drinks, "virgin for the minors". A large poker table was brought out and it was explained that we would have to play to pay off the debt for the gun used earlier. We were only a few hands in when an old girl friend of mine showed up with a group of rather large men. They wanted to play pool but the poker table was blocking the pool table. She began screaming. "You guys this might be bad, that's my ex-girlfriend." One of the men grabbed the edge of the table and chucked it across the room, chips flying everywhere. "This scene is spent we need to go." There was a lot of confusion as we all tried to get out. "We have to go back and pay the tab!" "After all of this you're concerned about a bar tab?" "We can't burn this bridge we'll need these people again." I rushed back in and paid the tab quickly, narrowly avoiding a barstool to the head.
We ended up at a house similar to what I imagine Brooklyn row houses to look like. Everyone was on edge and each of the windows was manned by someone with a gun. Suddenly my ex arrives in a vehicle with a friend of hers. They'd come to return the SN's purse that they'd stolen. As I'm walking out to talk with them I turn to DH and say, "I want a red dot on her head until she leaves." I went down to talk to them. Her friend says that they're sorry and the money and key rings are gone. I looked in the purse. There were many keys and key chains floating about. My ex then leaves her friend standing on the stairs as she tears off. We discuss how screwed up the whole scene was. Some time passed and my ex showed up again. Her friend jumped into the car immediately. As they were getting ready to drive away my old girl pulled a gun from her lap, "you've had your chance." Before she was able to fire a shot came from the house behind me. She was hit right in the hand, which caused her to drop the gun and hit the gas pedal. I turned around to see Devid with a shot gun smiling from the top floor window. I gave him a salute and went inside.
We decided that we had to go back to "Adam's". We drove past the building 3 or 4 times, sizing up the scene, before deciding to head in. We pulled around back to park by the pier. There was a group of people down a small alley. "We aren't ready to meet them yet. Best to avoid em for now." "Meet who?"
The parking lot was nearly empty but there was still a man directing traffic. His neck arched up and to the left, his eyes to the moon. His face was a festering green and he wrecked of rotting flesh. Zombies.
He approached the van asking for a fee. SN grabs a gun from under her seat and blasts him right in the head. The children start screaming as she begins to wipe the goo from their faces. "I ain't paying that thing." People start pouring out of "Adam's". As soon as they realize that we were the same people involved in trashing the place earlier any glimpse of tolerance was gone. They each had some form of very large gun within arms reach and suddenly we realized that this wasn't a standard gun fight, but more a display of high powered artillery. Rockets exploded all around us. I could hear the clankering of metal and concrete as grenades rolled into view. Flames engulfed the view in the rearview as the owner of the establishment ignited the end of a long wand connected to a tank of gasoline strapped to his back. I remember looking over to Devid in the drivers seat. "This is way too hot for me." And he peeled out. The smell of burning rubber overpowering the rest of the carnage.
As soon as it seemed like the worst was behind us I lit a cigarette and looked back, "Is anyone dead?" The young boy was the first to reply, "We could have died?"
Thursday, December 3, 2009
"Get the fuck outta m'way" or What we did instead of going to Joanne Fabrics
I got home last night and was watching a lil TV when I got a text from the NESF. Earlier in the day we'd briefly discussed getting together. I replied to the text and then decided it best to just call him. The conversation went something like this:
NESF: This is [desomniac]
Desomniac: Excuse me?
*grumbles*
Desomniac: Did you just say you were PMRob?
NESF: No, this is [desomniac]
Desomniac: Oh well then...this is [NESF]?
*strange noises mixed with silence*
Desomniac: Can we start again?
NESF: I'm sorry I'm having trouble communicating today.
*forgotten words*
NESF: So what are you thinking?
Desomniac: Oh I dunno, Morocco?
NESF: Joanne Fabrics?
*laughter*
Desomniac: I guess Joanne's would be closer.
NESF: Than Morocco? Yeah.
Then there was a back and forth about insecurities and the unsavory nature of the crowd at Joanne that I can't remember exactly. After some time we got back on track.
NESF: Well are you thinking you want to do something there? Or here? Somplace else?
Desomniac: Well I spend a lot of time here. You probably spend a fair amount of time there. Maybe we should go somewhere we don't see all the time.
NESF: Some where to get a beer?
Desomniac: Oh a beer sounds nice.
*I went to get a beer out of the fridge*
NESF: With some buck hunter. But not the high def.
Desomniac: Where would we find such a place?
NESF: Well there's the Loft...or that strange place next to the chinese restaurant I was telling you about.
Desomniac: Strange? Chinese restaurant? I'm in.
*chuckles*
NESF: Alright well get down here.
Desomniac: I have to finish this beer.
NESF: You opened a beer?
Desomniac: Well yeah, you put the idea in my head. Let me pound this back and I'll be down.
NESF: Late.
So I finished my beer rather quickly and snagged a bus down the hill. After meeting up we went in search of a cash machine. In order to avoid surcharges NESF opted to just buy something at Bartell's. Beatles calendar? Yes but no. Coffee's not cheap enough. Cards! Playing cards were the answer. Then we got sidetracked in the toy section reminiscing about miniature pool tables and realistically designed dinosaurs. For a moment we considered stealing all the prize tickets from the beanie babies, but that too was dismissed. Did you know that they still publish Archie comics? The checker was a nice guy. Didn't say too much. Do you need a bag? NESF placed the deck of cards in his super hidden interior pocket. I say interior purely as a guess because this compartment is so secret I couldn't see where they went. A green tinsel wreath as spotted as we left, it would have been just as good as cards.
We reached our destination and took note of the scene. The location was strange to say the least. We entered through a door that led into a very well lit room void of people that housed a ping pong table, two pool tables, Fish Tales pinball game, Cruisin' USA, chairs scattered about, a few tall tables and the ever important Buck Hunter machine. About 2/3rd's of the way back there was a hole cut into the wall. It seemed to be a recent addition as the threshold wasn't finished in any way.
On the other side of the portal everything was different. There were many people crammed into the small area. The lighting was poor at best and an argument seemed to be looming. As I tried to make my way to the bar and order a beer a man slammed into me. The waitress started yelling at everyone to move aside. NESF and an old man had some communication about how the guy was an asshole. I was order when my attacker tried to apologize. He was friendly enough in the end. Wanted to know who won the Gonzaga/WSU game. As I was sorting through all of that I felt a nudge on my other side. It was the old man who looked especially surly and said, "get the fuck outta m'way." Which I promptly did.
We got out beer and retreated back to the game room, desperately trying to make sense of everything that was going on. We started up the Buck Hunter, which was impeded by the placement of the ping pong table. In an attempt to move the table slightly we seemed to have broke it, one of the net posts dislodged from the table causing the net to collapse.
A younger group of people started to show up. It led to a strange mix. The first two of this new crowd seemed to be interested in either the ping pong or the Buck Hunter as they got their drink and took a seat in a spot where they had a very good view of us.
People congregated outside the windows off and on, mostly based on who was smoking at the time. At point I glanced outside to find a man, probably in his mid 40s, standing by the doorway smoking a cigarette. He was dressed in what could accurately be described as rags which gave the impression that he hadn't bathed since Labor Day. The striking thing about this man was his eyes which were fixed on us. It was as if he was studying his prey. Needless to say it was extremely unsettling. Things would have been different if we had The Fastest Knife in the World, but we were without.
More people showed up. This group definitely seemed interested in the ping pong table and was displeased with our presence. I overheard one of them say, "they even broke the ping pong table", which we did but how could he have known? For a moment I thought we were going to have to fight this guy along with the rest of the bar, but he held his tongue, at least while we were there.
Everything about this place seemed to be against us. I felt extremely out of place. NESF more so than I as he pointed out, he was wearing a sweater. The regulars at this place would have lynched us in a moment if it weren't for the established law outside of its walls. Luckily for us they couldn't keep us in there for ever.
We decided that one beer was going to be more than enough time spent there and finished the game quickly. NESF paid cash on the tap and I got my card back. We both breathed a sigh of relief upon exiting on the sidewalk.
We headed down to the Ballard Loft. Nice spot. I hear it's a mad house on the weekend, but it was very pleasant while we were there. They also had a brand new Buck Hunter Open Season machine. I'd yet to play it so it was exciting. Nothing of real consequence happened while we were there, which was a very welcome change given our last experience.
We wrapped it up around 11 and walked back toward NESF's. Just as he was about to turn on his street a bus rolled up that I hopped on for a few blocks up to the 7-11. I went in for some taquitos. "I'm not going to get the taquitos till your card clears. Not to say you're a dead beat but I can't put em back once I pull em out." Strange thing to say I thought. Then wouldn't ya know, my card declined for some reason. I panicked for a slight moment. "See." "Eh, hold on, lemme try this again." I ran the card through and very carefully typed in my pin number. APPROVED. Phew. "Oh I guess you are good."
"I better be. If that thing is declining I've got bigger problems than taquitos. Like my rent."
"See I pay cash for my rent. I guess I forgot to do it the other day. My girlfriend called me all worked up, 'my mom hasn't got your rent yet' I just told her to chill and grab it out of my room. Then get this, they go christmas shopping. All freaked out about the rent and then they go blow it on gifts. Women and shopping, I'll never get it."
He handed me my reheated processed goo wrapped in a tortilla.
"Me either. Talk to ya later man."
"Yeah those girls are always..."
He was still talking as I left.
NESF: This is [desomniac]
Desomniac: Excuse me?
*grumbles*
Desomniac: Did you just say you were PMRob?
NESF: No, this is [desomniac]
Desomniac: Oh well then...this is [NESF]?
*strange noises mixed with silence*
Desomniac: Can we start again?
NESF: I'm sorry I'm having trouble communicating today.
*forgotten words*
NESF: So what are you thinking?
Desomniac: Oh I dunno, Morocco?
NESF: Joanne Fabrics?
*laughter*
Desomniac: I guess Joanne's would be closer.
NESF: Than Morocco? Yeah.
Then there was a back and forth about insecurities and the unsavory nature of the crowd at Joanne that I can't remember exactly. After some time we got back on track.
NESF: Well are you thinking you want to do something there? Or here? Somplace else?
Desomniac: Well I spend a lot of time here. You probably spend a fair amount of time there. Maybe we should go somewhere we don't see all the time.
NESF: Some where to get a beer?
Desomniac: Oh a beer sounds nice.
*I went to get a beer out of the fridge*
NESF: With some buck hunter. But not the high def.
Desomniac: Where would we find such a place?
NESF: Well there's the Loft...or that strange place next to the chinese restaurant I was telling you about.
Desomniac: Strange? Chinese restaurant? I'm in.
*chuckles*
NESF: Alright well get down here.
Desomniac: I have to finish this beer.
NESF: You opened a beer?
Desomniac: Well yeah, you put the idea in my head. Let me pound this back and I'll be down.
NESF: Late.
So I finished my beer rather quickly and snagged a bus down the hill. After meeting up we went in search of a cash machine. In order to avoid surcharges NESF opted to just buy something at Bartell's. Beatles calendar? Yes but no. Coffee's not cheap enough. Cards! Playing cards were the answer. Then we got sidetracked in the toy section reminiscing about miniature pool tables and realistically designed dinosaurs. For a moment we considered stealing all the prize tickets from the beanie babies, but that too was dismissed. Did you know that they still publish Archie comics? The checker was a nice guy. Didn't say too much. Do you need a bag? NESF placed the deck of cards in his super hidden interior pocket. I say interior purely as a guess because this compartment is so secret I couldn't see where they went. A green tinsel wreath as spotted as we left, it would have been just as good as cards. We reached our destination and took note of the scene. The location was strange to say the least. We entered through a door that led into a very well lit room void of people that housed a ping pong table, two pool tables, Fish Tales pinball game, Cruisin' USA, chairs scattered about, a few tall tables and the ever important Buck Hunter machine. About 2/3rd's of the way back there was a hole cut into the wall. It seemed to be a recent addition as the threshold wasn't finished in any way.
On the other side of the portal everything was different. There were many people crammed into the small area. The lighting was poor at best and an argument seemed to be looming. As I tried to make my way to the bar and order a beer a man slammed into me. The waitress started yelling at everyone to move aside. NESF and an old man had some communication about how the guy was an asshole. I was order when my attacker tried to apologize. He was friendly enough in the end. Wanted to know who won the Gonzaga/WSU game. As I was sorting through all of that I felt a nudge on my other side. It was the old man who looked especially surly and said, "get the fuck outta m'way." Which I promptly did.
We got out beer and retreated back to the game room, desperately trying to make sense of everything that was going on. We started up the Buck Hunter, which was impeded by the placement of the ping pong table. In an attempt to move the table slightly we seemed to have broke it, one of the net posts dislodged from the table causing the net to collapse.
A younger group of people started to show up. It led to a strange mix. The first two of this new crowd seemed to be interested in either the ping pong or the Buck Hunter as they got their drink and took a seat in a spot where they had a very good view of us.
People congregated outside the windows off and on, mostly based on who was smoking at the time. At point I glanced outside to find a man, probably in his mid 40s, standing by the doorway smoking a cigarette. He was dressed in what could accurately be described as rags which gave the impression that he hadn't bathed since Labor Day. The striking thing about this man was his eyes which were fixed on us. It was as if he was studying his prey. Needless to say it was extremely unsettling. Things would have been different if we had The Fastest Knife in the World, but we were without.
More people showed up. This group definitely seemed interested in the ping pong table and was displeased with our presence. I overheard one of them say, "they even broke the ping pong table", which we did but how could he have known? For a moment I thought we were going to have to fight this guy along with the rest of the bar, but he held his tongue, at least while we were there.
Everything about this place seemed to be against us. I felt extremely out of place. NESF more so than I as he pointed out, he was wearing a sweater. The regulars at this place would have lynched us in a moment if it weren't for the established law outside of its walls. Luckily for us they couldn't keep us in there for ever.
We decided that one beer was going to be more than enough time spent there and finished the game quickly. NESF paid cash on the tap and I got my card back. We both breathed a sigh of relief upon exiting on the sidewalk.
We headed down to the Ballard Loft. Nice spot. I hear it's a mad house on the weekend, but it was very pleasant while we were there. They also had a brand new Buck Hunter Open Season machine. I'd yet to play it so it was exciting. Nothing of real consequence happened while we were there, which was a very welcome change given our last experience.
We wrapped it up around 11 and walked back toward NESF's. Just as he was about to turn on his street a bus rolled up that I hopped on for a few blocks up to the 7-11. I went in for some taquitos. "I'm not going to get the taquitos till your card clears. Not to say you're a dead beat but I can't put em back once I pull em out." Strange thing to say I thought. Then wouldn't ya know, my card declined for some reason. I panicked for a slight moment. "See." "Eh, hold on, lemme try this again." I ran the card through and very carefully typed in my pin number. APPROVED. Phew. "Oh I guess you are good."
"I better be. If that thing is declining I've got bigger problems than taquitos. Like my rent."
"See I pay cash for my rent. I guess I forgot to do it the other day. My girlfriend called me all worked up, 'my mom hasn't got your rent yet' I just told her to chill and grab it out of my room. Then get this, they go christmas shopping. All freaked out about the rent and then they go blow it on gifts. Women and shopping, I'll never get it."
He handed me my reheated processed goo wrapped in a tortilla.
"Me either. Talk to ya later man."
"Yeah those girls are always..."
He was still talking as I left.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Lost and Found
There was a couple of noteworthy interactions that I had this weekend...
I left work on Friday and it was pouring rain. It was wretched. I went out to wait for the 7. Every part of me was soaking wet. I could feel the water pooling in the crevasses of my hoodie, the tops of my boots, and the inner workings of my ears. It had been a long time since I'd been that wet. After 30 minutes of waiting in God's vengeance the 7 finally arrived.
As I boarded the bus I could tell I wasn't the only one left in the rain. The heat was blaring and the humidity was nearly unbearable. Everyone on the bus looked just as miserable as I did. As I was lamenting my position I got a phone call from Nick. We spoke for a little while and made plans to watch a movie. He had asked me if he should bring a movie, which I confirmed by saying, "Once I get home and dry myself out I'm not going anywhere in this."
The woman in front of me overheard this and turned around to give me a high five. I wrapped up my phone call quickly and started up a conversation with the woman. She told me about how she was regretting her decision to go out and get a gift for a friends baby shower. We exchanged hateful words about the weather and then she began to tell me a story.
Some three weeks prior she had noticed that her bus pass was missing. This was a huge problem being as her arthritis had recently placed her on disability and her fixed income didn't allow for unexpected expenses. However without her pass she'd been having to pay the fare for each ride. So in the last three weeks she'd been searching like crazy to find her pass, with no luck. Now as she was planning her trip downtown to buy a present she decided that she would take the 7 instead of the 106. She hadn't taken the 7 in weeks, but something made her decide to on that day.
She boarded the bus and sat down. Not five minutes later a young man boarded the bus. Upon seeing her he got slightly excited and sat beside her. "I just knew I'd see you again," he said. "I'm sorry have we met before," she replied. "Only briefly. We met on this bus a few weeks ago. Just after you got off I realized that you dropped this.." He then pulled her regional disabled bus pass from his jacket with her picture on it. She could hardly contain herself. She was so grateful.
As she was relaying this story to me she said something along the lines of: "It's just so nice to see. Now I'm not sure if I believe in God but I tell you, there is some higher power out there. These kinds of things don't just happen. And it was a YOUNG person nonetheless. I'm just so happy to see that there is still some good in this world." I replied, "There's always been good out there. It just gets harder to find with every day." At this time we were pulling up the stop at 4th and Jackson, where I had to get off. I thanked the woman for sharing her story with me and got off the bus. The rain was coming down hardest yet. Strange thing was that this time it felt more like a baptismal than a punishment...
Saturday night I met PMRob for dinner. After dinner I expected to go home for a quiet evening but PMRob had other ideas. We went to King's for a beer. The scene was a madhouse so we bailed. Went to the Stepping Stone. Great little place. They had live music and good ales. From there he insisted that we continue one our journey and we went to Copper Gate. Swanky little place. I'd go back, but it would definitely have to be with the right group of people. Now at this point I was completely done with the evening, unfortunately it wasn't done with me. We crossed the street and headed up to the Viking, apparently I was having a vitamin R deficiency. We drank the pitcher of Rainier and I ended up talking to this really chill guy from Germany. We talked for a while about skiing and other such nonsense. The bartender made the announcement for last call and I'd realized that I was out too late. This however still wasn't the end. PMRob convinced me that we had to go back to 7-11 and get some Rainiers to drink while we hit up the wii bowling at my place.
However on the way home from 7-11 I found a phone, Blackberry 8900, just sitting on the sidewalk undamaged. I picked it up. I'd thought of getting one many times in the past but decided against it for financial reasons. After picking up the phone I looked through the recent calls and without even thinking about it called the last number to see if I could determine the phones rightful owner. I called the last three numbers with no answer. Then I started poking around and found the Facebook app on his phone. This identified the man as Rodney and I was able to send him a message over FB. However that would be meaningless as the phone rang.
It flashed the name Stanley as it vibrated. I answered it. A voice on the other end said, "So you made it home Jeff?" This kind of freaked me out at first. Mostly because in some ways I am a Jeff. I recollected my thoughts and replied, "No, I'm not sure he did. I found this phone on the sidewalk." "Well I'd say thats not a good sign at all." "I'd say so." "See this isn't Jeff's phone either. He was keeping it safe for a friend of mine. Is it possible for me to meet with you tomorrow to get the phone back?" "Yeah no problem. Just call me tomorrow at this number."
I then spent the next hour explaining the PMRob the situation with the phone. It was a little complicated and he was struggling to understand all the players in this scene. "So you have Stanley's phone?" "No I have Rodney's phone." "Ok, so who's Jeff? And why are you talking to Stanley?" It went on for some time like that. We were up till nearly 5am bowling and drinking and trying to figure out all the pieces.
I woke up Sunday morning and the phone had been ringing off the hook from a variety of different numbers. I finally connected with Stanley who promptly came and picked up the phone. Later that I day I got a call from Rodney. I guess he wants to buy me dinner. It's not a new phone, but I'll take a free dinner for doing the right thing any day...
As I passed through the warehouse this morning they were playing the Beatles. This pleased me greatly...
I left work on Friday and it was pouring rain. It was wretched. I went out to wait for the 7. Every part of me was soaking wet. I could feel the water pooling in the crevasses of my hoodie, the tops of my boots, and the inner workings of my ears. It had been a long time since I'd been that wet. After 30 minutes of waiting in God's vengeance the 7 finally arrived. As I boarded the bus I could tell I wasn't the only one left in the rain. The heat was blaring and the humidity was nearly unbearable. Everyone on the bus looked just as miserable as I did. As I was lamenting my position I got a phone call from Nick. We spoke for a little while and made plans to watch a movie. He had asked me if he should bring a movie, which I confirmed by saying, "Once I get home and dry myself out I'm not going anywhere in this."
The woman in front of me overheard this and turned around to give me a high five. I wrapped up my phone call quickly and started up a conversation with the woman. She told me about how she was regretting her decision to go out and get a gift for a friends baby shower. We exchanged hateful words about the weather and then she began to tell me a story.
Some three weeks prior she had noticed that her bus pass was missing. This was a huge problem being as her arthritis had recently placed her on disability and her fixed income didn't allow for unexpected expenses. However without her pass she'd been having to pay the fare for each ride. So in the last three weeks she'd been searching like crazy to find her pass, with no luck. Now as she was planning her trip downtown to buy a present she decided that she would take the 7 instead of the 106. She hadn't taken the 7 in weeks, but something made her decide to on that day.
She boarded the bus and sat down. Not five minutes later a young man boarded the bus. Upon seeing her he got slightly excited and sat beside her. "I just knew I'd see you again," he said. "I'm sorry have we met before," she replied. "Only briefly. We met on this bus a few weeks ago. Just after you got off I realized that you dropped this.." He then pulled her regional disabled bus pass from his jacket with her picture on it. She could hardly contain herself. She was so grateful.
As she was relaying this story to me she said something along the lines of: "It's just so nice to see. Now I'm not sure if I believe in God but I tell you, there is some higher power out there. These kinds of things don't just happen. And it was a YOUNG person nonetheless. I'm just so happy to see that there is still some good in this world." I replied, "There's always been good out there. It just gets harder to find with every day." At this time we were pulling up the stop at 4th and Jackson, where I had to get off. I thanked the woman for sharing her story with me and got off the bus. The rain was coming down hardest yet. Strange thing was that this time it felt more like a baptismal than a punishment...
Saturday night I met PMRob for dinner. After dinner I expected to go home for a quiet evening but PMRob had other ideas. We went to King's for a beer. The scene was a madhouse so we bailed. Went to the Stepping Stone. Great little place. They had live music and good ales. From there he insisted that we continue one our journey and we went to Copper Gate. Swanky little place. I'd go back, but it would definitely have to be with the right group of people. Now at this point I was completely done with the evening, unfortunately it wasn't done with me. We crossed the street and headed up to the Viking, apparently I was having a vitamin R deficiency. We drank the pitcher of Rainier and I ended up talking to this really chill guy from Germany. We talked for a while about skiing and other such nonsense. The bartender made the announcement for last call and I'd realized that I was out too late. This however still wasn't the end. PMRob convinced me that we had to go back to 7-11 and get some Rainiers to drink while we hit up the wii bowling at my place. However on the way home from 7-11 I found a phone, Blackberry 8900, just sitting on the sidewalk undamaged. I picked it up. I'd thought of getting one many times in the past but decided against it for financial reasons. After picking up the phone I looked through the recent calls and without even thinking about it called the last number to see if I could determine the phones rightful owner. I called the last three numbers with no answer. Then I started poking around and found the Facebook app on his phone. This identified the man as Rodney and I was able to send him a message over FB. However that would be meaningless as the phone rang. It flashed the name Stanley as it vibrated. I answered it. A voice on the other end said, "So you made it home Jeff?" This kind of freaked me out at first. Mostly because in some ways I am a Jeff. I recollected my thoughts and replied, "No, I'm not sure he did. I found this phone on the sidewalk." "Well I'd say thats not a good sign at all." "I'd say so." "See this isn't Jeff's phone either. He was keeping it safe for a friend of mine. Is it possible for me to meet with you tomorrow to get the phone back?" "Yeah no problem. Just call me tomorrow at this number."
I then spent the next hour explaining the PMRob the situation with the phone. It was a little complicated and he was struggling to understand all the players in this scene. "So you have Stanley's phone?" "No I have Rodney's phone." "Ok, so who's Jeff? And why are you talking to Stanley?" It went on for some time like that. We were up till nearly 5am bowling and drinking and trying to figure out all the pieces.
I woke up Sunday morning and the phone had been ringing off the hook from a variety of different numbers. I finally connected with Stanley who promptly came and picked up the phone. Later that I day I got a call from Rodney. I guess he wants to buy me dinner. It's not a new phone, but I'll take a free dinner for doing the right thing any day...
As I passed through the warehouse this morning they were playing the Beatles. This pleased me greatly...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
In limbo, Ballardians, and the upcoming CCC
Well it's about time for a little more serious post. We'll see how this works out...
I moved, but I don't really fell like I've moved yet. I still have to finish up cleaning down at Lucile St. I think once that is completed I'll feel like I've actually moved. Right now it seems more like I'm in limbo. Should be all wrapped up tomorrow though...
The new place is great. I'm now a Ballardian. Well I'm told that I'm a Ballardite, but I like Ballardian better. It's a pretty sweet little spot. Upper floor in a smaller building. All the neighbors have been really chill so far. I think that it's going to turn out to be a great place for me. Now if I can just get through the last few boxes and get an idea of all the little things I need to buy (found out last night I don't have a can opener) I'll be set...
With the new place comes a new commute. It's a bit longer, takes an hour instead of twenty minutes. But there is an upside to that. I'd pretty much quit reading on the bus since I hardly had time before. I think I'm going to be reading a lot more now though. I've already started on a new book, Cloud Atlas. NESF gave it to me, I think for my birthday, earlier this year. I've been meaning to start it forever because it came highly recommended, but never seemed to get to it. Oh what I have been missing! It's fabulous. I'm only 70 pages in and I'm in love with this book. It's brilliant. I can't wait till I get deeper into it. I get the impression that it will continue to amaze me with each page...
We're drawing very near to the 300th post. I'm not sure if I'm going to do anything special for y'all, but figured I should at least mention it at this point...
I moved, but I don't really fell like I've moved yet. I still have to finish up cleaning down at Lucile St. I think once that is completed I'll feel like I've actually moved. Right now it seems more like I'm in limbo. Should be all wrapped up tomorrow though...
The new place is great. I'm now a Ballardian. Well I'm told that I'm a Ballardite, but I like Ballardian better. It's a pretty sweet little spot. Upper floor in a smaller building. All the neighbors have been really chill so far. I think that it's going to turn out to be a great place for me. Now if I can just get through the last few boxes and get an idea of all the little things I need to buy (found out last night I don't have a can opener) I'll be set...With the new place comes a new commute. It's a bit longer, takes an hour instead of twenty minutes. But there is an upside to that. I'd pretty much quit reading on the bus since I hardly had time before. I think I'm going to be reading a lot more now though. I've already started on a new book, Cloud Atlas. NESF gave it to me, I think for my birthday, earlier this year. I've been meaning to start it forever because it came highly recommended, but never seemed to get to it. Oh what I have been missing! It's fabulous. I'm only 70 pages in and I'm in love with this book. It's brilliant. I can't wait till I get deeper into it. I get the impression that it will continue to amaze me with each page...We're drawing very near to the 300th post. I'm not sure if I'm going to do anything special for y'all, but figured I should at least mention it at this point...
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