WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 1ST 2000
Kinko’s from 3pm to midnight. I find it very difficult to write about work. Notice I rarely do. But I should. I’m not going to start today though. Must sleep so I can be up by 8am and work till midnight again. Am I nuts? Monday was a typical day at both jobs. Halloween was lovely. I slept in then Vice came over and we went to UT to throw around the football. I sincerely believe that I could play catch with a football 24 hours a day. I would hold it as I eat and sleep as one really long catch. We found a bowling ball and it ended up going over the side of the bridge to be viewed at the bottom of the water for years…or until it sinks into the mud. I took a nap until it was time to pass out candy. I dressed up as Emmitt Bumms and pretended to be sleeping on the porch until the trick-or-treaters approached. I startled a few of them. Our neighbor Brian came over and chatted for a while. He’s a good guy. I went with Vice to Fricker’s where all the little annoying High School chicks bounced around. I was happy to get home, watch “The Prince of Egypt” and play guitar. Oh, on Monday I didn’t watch Monday Night Football. Instead I carved pumpkins with Kevin…after work of course. I still owe Lisk $20 for the Pearl Jam tickets.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 3RD 2000
I don’t remember skipping Thursday. I just wrote a response letter to Chris in GA. He’s a 1ST class sharp shooter and shit. Oh yeah, yesterday was my 8am-midnight day. I was late to Kinko’s because a lady had 12 things to get framed and it took forever. The manager generously called Kinko’s and explained the situation. Is that something I really care to remember? No. That is why I don’t write about my jobs. I’ll write about the fine lady that flirted with me today. If only I had said the right things…flirted back…who knows? That caused a good hour’s worth of regret. She wanted me…or at least she wanted me to think that she did. Vice beat me at P.I.G. this afternoon before work. Being that the shots must be copied exactly, we would say things that the other would not like to say so they lose concentration when it’s their turn. No, I don’t feel like giving an example. Oh, I’m moving back to Nashville.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 6TH 2000
I got up at 5:30am today and Dad drove me to Michael’s in the dark. I walked home humming at 1pm, played drums then slept till almost 4pm when I drove Mom’s car to Kinko’s where I stayed until 11pm. The attractive girl at Kinko’s gave me a furry coat. Not that I’m special though. She was giving it to whoever wanted it. It looks perfect on Emmitt Bumms. Ashley told me that she’s excited to meet me this Thursday. I hope I’m not nervous around her. I’m not expecting to be anything more than friends so why would I be nervous? I might as well throw out a comment that has nothing to do with anything: Sometimes it seems that the whole world is full of immoral, greedy people. I feel that way when I watch TV. Vote Bush tomorrow?
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7TH 2000
I didn’t vote for Bush…and I’m glad because he won Ohio anyway. I voted for Ralph Nader because he represents neither republican’t nor democrap. It is 1:30am and the electoral votes are tied at 232…I think. We’re waiting on Florida and a couple smaller states. For some reason I’m pulling for Bush. Probably because his vocabulary is almost as bad as mine. I can relate to him. So, yeah, I’m moving back to Nashville. I’m not sure when but soon. One thing is for sure: I have no desire to gain one more ounce of knowledge about my stupid, stupid, STUPID JOBS! I ABSOLUTELY HATE GOING IN THOSE BUILDINGS EVERY DAMN DAY! Anyway, I don’t talk much at work. I’m not too comfortable around anyone at either job. If I had to guess who doesn’t like me I would say “Angel at Michael’s” and “Rebekah at Kinko’s”. I’m just not as nice as I could be.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10TH 2000
Here are a few updates in my ever-changing life: On Wednesday I worked early till late yadda yadda yadda. On Thursday I got up at 4am and waited by the front door for Mr. and Mrs. Newbold to pick me up. At 4:15am Mrs. Newbold called asking where I was. I walked out front, looked over to the neighbor’s porch where Mrs. Newbold had been knocking on the door and said “Here I am.” I slept in the backseat until Cincinnati then sat nervously till Louisville. From there I drove the rest of the way to Nashville. The Newbold’s checked into a hotel while Wayne took me to OfficeMax to see if anyone I knew still worked there. Vaso was still at CopyMax and Donna was at the service counter but Mr. Sawnger and Mr. Miller had transferred locations. Oh, and Nicole had left for college. As soon as Donna told me that, my nerves settled. I went to Michael’s and they said I could transfer there. Hooray? Back at Wayne and Matt’s apartment my nerves were calm…until Heather called and said that Ashley was really nervous to meet me. Severe stomach pains proceeded…and continued as I went to Opry Mills to meet up with Wayne’s friends at a bar… and continued as I walked from Opry Mills through the cold and rain to the Grand Ole’ Opry House. And the story ends. As soon as I walked up to Ashley and said hello my nerves were gone and I felt more confident than ever. She looked so pretty. I sat next to her comfortably as Matt won the contest. I don’t know how comfortable she was though. She seemed a bit down the whole time. I don’t think she listened to half of the things I said so by the time we got in her car and ate at Ruby Tuesday’s with the Newbold’s, I wasn’t as comfortable anymore. She dropped Heather and I off and we awkwardly said goodbye…whatever. Then Matt came over and we went downtown to celebrate his victory in some smoky club. Our first gig is at the Hard Rock Café on December 11TH (flip to that date to see if it actually happens). That means that I must move back as soon as possible…which is two weeks from tomorrow! I am looking forward to living with Heather. She’s the greatest person. Oh, all I did today was eat at Denny’s with the Newbold’s and drive.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11TH 2000
I have been forgetting to mention that the election is not over yet. Florida screwed up and wants a recount. Gore leads at the moment but supposedly Bush is likely to win. When? Nobody knows. Nader did not get the 5% needed to get the Green Party funded. I just read an email from Heather. She’s excited that I’m moving in. She also said that Ashley likes me. I was so happy when I read that. Not because I think I have a chance with her but because we have become friends and I thought she really found me to be repulsive two nights ago. I get to watch the Lions tomorrow!
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12TH 2000
6-4! I can’t believe I forgot to mention that the Lions got destroyed by the Dolphins last week so head coach Bobby Ross retired! Gary Moeller’s first game as interim head coach was a big VICTORY!!! I told the folks at Kinko’s that I’m leaving in two weeks. They hate me. I wrote a letter to RCT Oliger last night. Now I’m going to Family Video with Kevin to take “Frequency” back. Cool movie!
MONDAY NOVEMBER 13TH 2000
THE LIONS WON YESTERDAY!!! (Just a reminder) Michael’s in the morning. Kinko’s in the evening. The manager at Kinko’s hates my guts for quitting. His face flushed with anger when I told him. The manager at Michael’s is fine with it. I got my paperwork transferred to Nashville today. Carrie came in to Michael’s and we walked around the store and goofed around for about a half hour. I hope to get together with her before I go for good. I volunteered to unload boxes at 7am tomorrow. I wish I wasn’t nice sometimes.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 15TH 2000
Yesterday? I froze my ass off at Michael’s doing freight. Not happy. Doing the same thing tomorrow. Not happy. I ran into an old friend at Sears yesterday. He has a college degree in Human Resources…and he graduated the year AFTER me! I’m sure I’ll be more and more surprised by the speedy passing of time as time passes by more and more speedily. This morning started with a phone call from Vice at…way too early. I hung up on him without thinking and went back to sleep. A half hour later I woke up in a headlock. We cruised that mall and went to Toys R’ Us. I would rather have been sleeping but I appreciate that Vice appreciates my company. I played drums and guitar until I HAD to go to Kinko’s at 3:30pm. Something bizarre happened today. As I was working behind the counter when I heard a familiar voice say my name. When I looked up I found myself in the presence of BIRD! Yes, the Bird from Aces N Eights! He’s a little stockier so I almost didn’t recognize him at first. He’s been living in Toledo for 4 years and is a regular at Kinko’s. He knows the majority of the staff. We caught up pretty well. He’s married with kids…so is Bill…and Adam of course. I emailed Steve Anway this evening telling him that we may use the band name “StraightFace” again and asking him if he wants to play guitar with us. For some reason I doubt that he will leave grad school at OSU to move to Nashville to be in a struggling band. The sister of a girl I used to have a crush on, Jaime, made some copies today. I talked to her for a minute. When I told her that I used to have a crush on her sister she said, “Who hasn’t?” Sounds about right. I talked to Newbold today. He thinks I won’t even have to work because we will be so busy with the music. Wouldn’t that be just dandy? I asked a brainy guy at Kinko’s for a band name and he came up with “Tortfeasor”. He explained what it means. He always explains what he means. He’s brainy.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18TH 2000
I didn’t think I had anything to write about today but I do: It is FREEZING outside! I made friends at work with the two people that weren’t friendly before. Rebekah from Kinko’s offered me a ride to Michael’s but as I went to get into her car I realized that I drove to work. Duh! Then I palled around with Angel all night at Michael’s. She gave me a ride home because Mom came and got her car. Yesterday I saw “The Grinch” with Kevin and Vice. It was pretty wonderful. Brad wrote Vice and I a short letter from boot camp. He’s in the transformation process. When I wrote that we were heading down separate paths I didn’t think he would’ve taken the one he has. I hope there are as many pretty girls that shop at the Michael’s in Nashville as there are here. Oh yeah, I don’t know how I’m getting there. Oh yeah, I get my upper wisdom teeth pulled on Monday. Oh yeah, my library books are 17 days overdue. Oh yeah, I’m tired.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 20th 2000
Bloody mouth! Yesterday was Sunday. THE LIONS WON AGAIN!!! Coach Moeller’s second victory came against the Giants. I am a happy fan though I didn’t get to see the game. I was scheduled to work at Michael’s from 10am – 6pm and Kinko’s 3pm – 11pm. Oops! I left Michael’s at 4pm but when I got to Kinko’s they said they didn’t need me. I hung out at Brian Ray’s listening to bootlegged Dream Theater CDs and playing guitar all night instead. I took my electronic drums for him to have. I have stitches in my mouth. The right wisdom tooth popped out easily but the left one broke at the root. The dude cut into my gums but still couldn’t find the missing root. They took x-rays that revealed that the root must’ve gotten sucked out by the blood sucker thingy…so he really didn’t need to cut into my gums! Lots and lots of blood ran out of my mouth as I slept from 2 to 4pm. Carrie came over and we went to Maumee to see “Meet the Parents”. It was subtitled for the hearing impaired and it was funny as hell! We watched Monday Night Football at Brian Ray’s then went to Tyler’s where I had applesauce for dinner. Vice agreed to drive me to Nashville on Saturday.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22ND 2000
Kinko’s today, Michael’s yesterday. Last night Vice came over and we wrote letters to Brad then went to Fricker’s. I wore my new Emmitt Bumms coat and some dude kept touching it. Then he tried starting a fight with us but we didn’t advance. My teeth…or I should say my lack of teeth has been irritating but not as bad as I thought it would be. I’ve been eating regularly. There is a girl at Kinko’s that thinks I am “giving up” and “running away from difficulty” because I’m leaving and she’s not joking. I don’t think she knows what a joke is. A joke is taking your job too seriously.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 23RD 2000
AH VICTORY! 8-4 on the season! Today was Dad’s birthday…and Brad’s birthday…and Thanksgiving. The Patriots were the Lions’ victims today. I rarely watch Late Night TV anymore. It is on now but I don’t feel like looking at it…probably because I have to be up by 8am. The food at Aunt Nancy and Uncle Larry’s was GREAT! I looked at Scott’s photos from Montana. I felt envy. Vice stopped by for a bit then we had a surprise party for Dad. Kevin and I saw “Little Nicky” for free. Bad movie. Bad entry.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 24TH 2000
CRAZY PEOPLE! The parking lot at Michael’s was packed at 8am when Kevin dropped me off. By 3pm we had taken nearly 50 frame orders as opposed to the usual 10-20 per day. I called Kinko’s to see if it was necessary for me to come in and they said yes and sent someone over to pick me up. Mom is in South Carolina. Last night was the last time I’ll see her till Christmas. Rebekah from Kinko’s was about 20 minutes early so I left in the middle of a rush. We went to the mall to drop off an order and it was a ZOO! Kevin picked me up at 11pm and I packed up quickly. Good night. Fare well Toledo…for now?
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 26TH 2000
WARMer. I’m in my big bed next to my drum set in my new room in Heather’s apartment. I just won two games of “UNO”. Vice arrived at 9am Saturday morning and by 9:15am I had said goodbye to Dad and a sleeping Kevin. I should’ve written this earlier today being that I had nothing to do besides set up my drums. Anyway, everyone at Opry Mills had a funny look to give my wig. I got Heather’s key from the Gap then Vice bitched the whole time we unloaded my stuff down the long walkway with three sets of brick steps. Back at the mall we watched “Unbreakable” then spun under the lights at the hotel. Oh, before the movie Wayne hooked us up with dinner at Old Hickory. After spinning we watched “X-Men” at Newbold’s apartment. Vice was up by 10am and as soon as he dropped me off at Heather’s he hit the road and I went back to sleep. I dreamt that Ashley came over but I couldn’t stand up to say hello. The first band practice is on Thursday! I still have to get a vehicle! I have yet to meet the people at Michael’s. I have no idea what my life will be like in one week. Heather and I talked to Ross on the phone tonight. He is coming down on the 9TH hopefully. Ashley came over to go out with Heather. I guess she was here as I slept this afternoon. Weird! I can’t help but be a bit frustrated around Ashley. I want to flirt with her but I can’t. It seems as if she likes me but at the same time as if she doesn’t. It’s kinda sad how I built this up in my journal while there really was nothing to build up. I need groceries!
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 29TH 2000
My things have changed since I last wrote in here. I am engaged! Of course I’m not. I have a VAN! A white ’95 Dodge Ramvan. It’s enormous! I got up early on Monday and went around with Wayne looking for a vehicle. The first stop was the last. I knew right away that it would be perfect for the band. It’s only $9000 and I put $1000 down on Tuesday. I had to have Matt co-sign because I have no credit score and only a part-time job. Once the van was in my possession I took out 3 rows of seats and loaded it full of band equipment. The rehearsal room is big and gray. I was very let down by our first time jamming. I didn’t think we’d be that bad. I hope no one heard us. I felt sick after that so I tried to sleep but I woke up and stayed up late with Heather making CD covers. I was scheduled at Michael’s at 9am today. At 9:10am Matt called and said that my van was about to be towed! I ran outside, pealed the stickers off of the window and went to 100 Oaks without shaving. Rhonda and David are the new characters in this book. They told me about the ghost in the frame shop. After work I watched Newbold play at the Fifth Quarter. I was really late because I drove way down to the Courtyard Café thinking that it was the Fifth Quarter…then I got lost. It turns out that the Fifth Quarter is 2 minutes from this apartment. I’ve been there many times before. Just forgot where it was that’s all. Anyway, I sat with Marty, a producer guy that Matt has been working with. He is very cool. Matt and I went to Denny’s where a dude sat begging for money just outside the door. I don’t feel like describing it but he was so ridiculous that Matt gave him a couple dollars from the tips he made playing piano.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30TH 2000
DAMN! 8-5! I watched the game on the big screen at Heather’s family’s house. We had our first rehearsal today…well more like auditions. I must sleep now. I’ll introduce the two guitar players (Dan and Josh) and the pretty blonde girl in the frame shop (Joani) later.
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