Where am I?

I am so tired that I woke up this morning and didn´t know where I was. I am working very much. And I have been looking for those dogs. I have found one. I will not tell you which yet, so you don´t get excited. But I am very excited. I have to pull some strings. I have to find time to pull some strings, and make things happen. I think I am ready to move out. I have so many things to do. Wild!

Code Brown

There is a break in the heat, kind of--at least there's a wind.

It's nice working in the hotel and at the gas station, where the air conditioning works, where butter wouldn't melt, just soften a bit. Where I actually can get cold.

Dad wanted to go to the pool. So, I took him. We paid six bucks each for admission and as soon as we changed into our bathing suits, someone blew a whistle and said, "Code brown! Everyone out of the water!"

Bummer.

Dad and I, we sat around, in the sun. I bought juice from the concession stand and sat around some more. We watched the lifeguards gather together and then bring out a long net. "Are you sure that won't break it apart and make things worse?" I heard one of them say. "Things are already worse," another said.

I guess Code brown is a pretty serious thing. Everyone wanted to know who the culprit was, but no one would confess, of course. Who would?

Dad and I left after an hour. We didn't look into the pool, at least I didn't. We got ice cream instead.

Assessments

People are asking me all the time lately, "Are you okay?"

I say lately, but of course, people have been worried about me for a long time. Well, I am busy now, which is stressful but good. I have a bit of purpose again.

You want to know the truth? I think I am doing great. I ate five cupcakes this morning, and did not feel guilty. On my day off, I slept 13 hours, and told myself I deserved it. I did deserve it, by God. Who is the boss of Curt? Curt, that's who.

I am sure there is nothing original about this post. I remember when I was first arrested, all the assessments, all the questions. The men with red pens and the sympathetic women with funny hats. People asking if you are okay when they really know the answer and just want to find out why. What is wrong???

I would like my epitaph to read, "He was okay."

Maybe not, but it would be nice in the end if that were true. Hopefully, I am getting there.

Little Bit Fancy

The hotel I work at is a little bit fancy. Because it is a little bit fancy, it supplies robes to its patrons. And shampoos and lotions in little bottles. The patron is charged if he or she takes a towel or a robe, that is how precious the thread count is, which is pretty precious, I guess, because on more than one occasion, I have searched for a robe or a towel, and not been able to find it, and then I have to report it to my manager, Jo, short for Joanne.

The robes are white. They have little side pockets. I imagine that they are not funny if someone tries one on in an attempt to be funny. Unless, that person sticks their hands into the side pockets. That would be funny!

Wouldn't that be funny!

Carpe "Diem"

It is crazy to go from not busy at all to very busy. It is nice. It is good to work towards something. It is good to have goals.

I bought some pickling cucumbers yesterday at the flea market. I am going to make bread and butter pickles, and if they turn out well, maybe I will sell jars for supplemental income!

I have to sleep! Tomorrow is a new day!

Buenes "Noches"!

Napes

It is five letters.

A gas station is well lit at night. I guess I never noticed how well lit a gas station is until I started working at one. Not much happens during my shifts, I'm finding, except a few people pulling up and filling their cars with gas and then driving off. Sometimes, someone will buy coffee or use the bathroom. Sometimes, it is a stick of beef jerky.

I read the newspapers. All of them. Because I can and because I used to deliver these newspapers so that other people could read them, but I never looked inside, flipped the pages, smeared inky fingers on tabletops or on coffee mugs or on my face, by accident, haha! If only I had looked inside these bundles earlier! What great pleasure it gives me.

Down.

It's all about the Funnies. Dad never let me read the newspaper, or, maybe I never wanted to read the newspaper. Either way, it doesn't matter because I'm aware of the Funnies now, and that's what's important. That I know about the Funnies. The games. The comics. The crossword puzzles.

A clue is way of getting to know someone.

Neck parts.

Someone walks in that wants to talk, but not necessarily with a stranger. I have worked two shifts and already I can tell who these people are. They possess a nervous kind of energy like a bowling ball without a hole for the thumb, buy vitamin enhanced water, knock before using the bathroom, etc. They come to the register and there I am. Waiting.

I ask: What's a five letter word for neck parts.

In most cases, the response is a: What? Or a: I don't know.

But sometimes the person really gives it some thought, really doesn't want to let me down.

Sometimes, they come up with an answer that fits.

Beauty

I remember once, I was walking Warden and Stella. This was a long time ago, shortly after I had adopted Warden. Warden went into his pre-poop spins but somehow forgot what he was doing or got distracted by a smell and he lifted his leg and went number 1 instead of number 2 and then he just spun a little more and got back into the deuce. It was awkward, and kind of intense. And very beautiful, in its own way.

I guess the point is, sometimes maybe you start something, and maybe you lose your way, but it's important to finish, or try to finish, I think. I think persistence is what makes special people special.

Today, I stocked the minibars at the hotel. It was nice, better than cleaning up after people. The boss said that I did a much better job than the regular minibar stocker, who is blind. I met that person the other day, Melvin, and he was very nice. But I guess he is not a very good minibar stocker.

America, America!

Today, I eat a burger cooked with butter. Today, I drink beer. Today, I watch the fireworks. Happy birthday, America, America!

This Economy

Dogs need food. And shelter. And flea medicine. And heartworm medicine.

These things cost money. And of course, Curt Jimenez has needs too, which also cost money. He can no longer live with his father. He is emotionally spent.

Thus, Curt needed a job. Curt needed to find an employer as desperate as he is.

So now, Curt is working as the rendering plant.

Just kidding.

Curt is now working part-time cleaning hotel rooms.

Also, he is working two midnight shifts at the gas station.

Things are happening!

Fast!