Thursday, July 3, 2008

Quick Things

Ok so I'm postponing the second half of the St. Patty's Post to do another quick things so I have a few things that are interesting/humorous (sp?) that I'd like to share.

First off, the Hangzhou authorities rejected my visa on Monday, which fucking sucks. I was really looking forward to working/living there and losing it at what seemed like the last minute, when I had everything locked up is really disappointing. Luckily, I got some more offers, specifically in Wuxi and Wenzhou, a prospective offer in Hangzhou that I'd get through some visa hanky panky (no interest in going there), and possibly a job in Beijing working with xiao haizi (liitle kids...), which I'm iffy on. If Wuxi had more going on for it, or I had more info on it, then that'd be the decision if someone put a gun to my head right now, but I have a few days to make a decision (hopefully...) so I'll figure something out (hopefully...). Enough with this serious nonsense, now it's time for some tales from the tollbooth (maybe I should rename this Tales from the Tollbooth since I'm assuming most of the stuff in Quick Things from here on out will be from the Pike).

I'm working on the 4th, which is expected. Since I started work after sophomore year in high school, I've had one 4th of July off, and that was because I was in California at the time. San Diego to be exact (quick note on that trip: Roger Clemens has been pitching for pretty much my whole life. I've been to probably close to 50 or so Sox games thoughout my life. Aside from pitching for the Sox til I was 11 or so, he's also pitched for the Jays and Yanks. However, the only time I have ever seen him pitch was on July 4th, when he pitched for Houston against San Diego, pretty much the exact opposite end of the country. Weird). Anyway, the 4th may not be miserable this year, which would be nice. I was in the busiest booth on Tuesday, which means I shouldn't go back in there for another week. So as long as my bosses don't fuck me over, I should have an easy day and not have to deal with assholes (consdering at 9:45 last year I got an asshole and flipped on him when he called me slow, when I was the fastest moving lane out there. I really wanted to punch that dick).

The thing that kills me about the tolls is that lines occur pretty much every day. No matter how fast (or slow) I work, the sheer number of cars that come through the interchange every day means there will be some back up. What I can't understand is what people are doing in their cars when they wait 5+, get up to the booth, and don't have their tickets and money ready. Seriously, WHAT THE FUCK? Are you fucking masterbating in your car? Otherwise, what the hell else is occupying your time while waiting in line in your car? Damnit. I'm riled up even though I'm sitting on a couch with a mug of whiskey right now (maybe the Carlos Mencia polluting my atmosphere is the cause...)

me: so i'm going to name my son johan teemu
mom: what the fuck kind of name is that? teemu?
me: yea, it's a strong finnish name
mom: i wouldn't call that a strong finnish name
me: well then what would you call a strong finnish name?
mom: .......
dad: i can't believe you just walked into his trap

So apparently the Cross Island Ferry has a bar in most of its boats. I took an 11am ferry today (or yesterday I guess...). For reason, I really wanted to order a Bud Light. There was no real reason. I was driving, so I couldn't get drunk. It was 11am, which is not a respectable hour to be drinking beer, let alone Bud Light. And I was tired as fuck because I had to wake up at 730am (which I forgot about last night, leading to a 345 bedtime and a grumpy me for most of the day). So yea, no good reason, I just wanted a beer. It was kinda nice, it reminded me of when I turned 21, and I wanted to order a beer wherever possible, just because I was legal and I could. I remember my first beer at the Garden, Gillette (never Fenway, I haven't been there since September of the 2006 season-- I will rectify that before I return to China), bar, restaurant, concert (Killswitch and Hatebreed at Lupo's. I went alone, looked around and realized I was one of the older people there, and ordered a beer just because I knew half the crowd couldn't). However, never before on a ferry. I'm 99% certain my beer craving was just because I could and I never had, which of course means tomorrow night (today!) I'll order one on the way home. I know I had more, but I can't remember, so I 'm just going to call it a night here, I'll be back soon with some more St. Patty's Day and more tales from the Pike.