God Hated Me

I wrote that I went to the sheriff and before I crossed the street I entered a county office and asked where the police were.  They directed me there.  I drove there and made a report.  I then drove out of town.  I had sent and received word back from Whit and Dew bout the party in Sac.  I resolved to buy beer when I got gas.  I made good time to Garberville. I pulled into Chevron in the middle of twn and got gas.  I bought some beer.  The car then wouldn’t start.  This had been a problem at another point in time but this time it was different.  I walked around and waited moments later the gas truck driver that had been behind me yelled at me from across the street.  He needed to get out.

I moved the car with him and some random guy and then told CHP that I had left the car next to his in a handicap spot until I figured out the problem.  I walked to a place called B+B and spoke to a customer and an employee.  Blain the boss was out.  The customer Rod told me he could help.

Looking at the problem I began to realize it was not a quick fix.  Rod suggested I get some starter fluid.  We tried this and it was not getting fuel.

He helped me move the car and I gave him a five.  We walked to B+B and I asked about my options and said that I would not get far with a dead fuel pump.  Using their directions I found an internet place and called a rental car and a Chevy place.  Don said he was going to lunch.  We had to wait and he also told me about the Redway option for the fixit.  He quoted me a price.

I met a bunch of dogs and a casual laborer.  Dave, the driver, and I left too late for me to make it to the rental place.  We talked a bit and he took some calls.  I had a bunch of calls from people.  Ben said that god hated me.  Dave unloaded the car and I looked for the rental office but they weren’t there.  I dropped the keys, texted the party in Sacramento and then walked to Ukiah town center.  I called a Uhaul place that was closed and passed another one that had closed only moments before I arrived.

I continued on state until I found the town center and a bank.  I looked at the Economy Motel and later checked in.  I went to the Mexican place and had fish tacos and then to the bar for a beer and then I went to the brewery.  I read my book and went to sleep.

The morning of the day that I wrote this I started my new book and then I fell asleep.  I got woken up by the Chevy place and they said to wait.  I got up at around 1030 and went to an internet café and breakfast at Schatt’s.  When the shop gave me the cost I called home to check on what to do.  Mom told me that one of my cousin’s had died and that he was at church.  I texted him the shop’s number and then I went to the internet spot.

I had a hard time determining whether to go to the shop or to the bus but later after a taxi ride and a long wait I found myself on the bus with a text from dad that things were ok.  The grayhound left me in a location way far away from the Santa Rosa bus station and I had to catch another bus to get to it.  I wandered around the town pissed for a long while and then boarded a 101 bus for SF.

This is a hybrid series that is strait from my notebook as my Notebook Analysis is but also chronicles my life at regular intervals like the Memo series.  It is essentially meant to be a retrospective of what I have written and experienced developed from my notebook pages.

Art and Anniversary Parties

On the 5th of May I visited Twin Peaks and I took this photo. What is it? I have no idea.  I looked at my notebook around the 16th and listed out many of the things that had happened during this period. I ended up attending a bunch of parties that I really enjoyed going to. On the 17th of May, I met a friend at café Soleil and then traveled to two Art Parties and, then much later that night, the Suppen Kuche anniversary party. The very next day I had an interview for a job that I wanted.

It occurred to me that this combination may not be too out of the ordinary. My last few employers have made me realize that human resources departments seem to organize their hiring around the first day of each paycheck. For instance, I have found that after my employer would always initiate interviews one week before the end of the pay-period and new personnel would always start on the first day of the pay period. In the meantime I have noticed that parties are planned for the days after the pay period ends.

On the twentieth, I watched the eclipse at the Academy of Sciences. I was sick for a while after that and on the week of the 21st, I spent a lot of time rewriting my notes. I had time to clean house and visit the cleaners and had the house to myself. I started feeling better and on that Friday the 25th when I saw Dark Shadows at the Kabuki.

This is a regular series chronicling my life at regular intervals. This Memo series is meant to be a retrospective of what I have written and experienced. In each of these posts I use my notes in conjunction with memory, mementos and souvenirs to create a snap shot of my life.  I wrote this on the 26th of May and posted it to the blog on June 13th.

Do I Bring a Towel?

I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately.  I have always disliked sleeping on my back.  I suppose that if I did more sit ups this would change but I in the meantime just don't do it.  I tend to sleep on my side.  However, in the past month I have even had trouble in this position.  So I toss and turn.

I woke up this morning at 5, which means I really only got like four hours of sleep.  So, I decided, because I had been telling myself to for about a week now, to go to the beach when the alarm went off at 6.

There were all these things that I knew would come up.  Like keys and ID and shoes and "Do I bring a towel?" and other stuff not worth recounting here.  There was the cold.  It was cold.  I was really groggy.  Even after being up half the night it was interesting to realize how much I wanted to return to that tedium.

I kept thinking, "I'm going to hate this," on the way down.  I only live five blocks from the beach so the reality is that I didn't think this too long but it only made the experience that much more immediate.  Every block brought the reality of the sand, the waves, the in-your-face-power of the thing that closer.

When I got to the Lower Great Highway I just kept going up the trail and over the levee, across the upper roadway, over the fencing, through the brush onto the sea wall over to and down the stairs....  I took off my shirt and flip flops and trudged through the sand saying, "Well here goes..." and then I was in the water.

I hate wading into water.  It only makes the difficulty of getting used to the temperature all the more drawn out but with the ocean it isn't the same.  You can't just jump into it.  The waves start small but as you walk (or run) out to meet them the weight of the water begins to slow you down.  Then there are the variety of waves that you have to deal with and then WHAM that big one comes in and knocks you silly.

And then there you are.  In the ocean.

From then on, even on the way home, I didn't once dislike the waves, the temperature, my outfit, the wind, the walk.  I just found myself at home spraying my feet off, showering and getting ready for the day.