Le sigh, almost a month since my last post. I'll put something in MS Word now so people don't get too bored.

We had a long weekend.

I was offered a job doing tech support (in the same building as I worked in before, no less) for decent cash. The class starts on the 13th.

Thursday, I went to see the Cramps. It’s the second time I’ve caught them. They never fail to excite and entertain. The Groovie Ghoulies opened. They didn’t seem to have a set list; they played whatever requests the audience happened to shout out. They put on a good show as well. I didn’t have much cash to see the show, so I couldn’t get a shirt so I settled on a plastic pill box.

We had to dog-sit for my partner’s parents since they were out of town for the weekend. We headed there on Friday night. Their house is far on the other side of town; a huge McMansion. I don’t mind going over there, but sleeping in someone else’s bed sucks.

Saturday morning, we were hungry so we headed to Einstein’s Bagels (about the only place in Las Vegas that comes close to being a café). They murdered my bagel and couldn’t even make a latte. We sat down outside so we could eat and smoke. We noticed a bird that was missing a claw. I felt so sad and disgusted; but that bird seemed like most of the sheep that was going in and out of the restaurant.

That night, we went to the Devo show. I saw an ex-girlfriend. We got a shirt and some buttons. I thought Mark Mothersbaugh looked exactly like his father. He’s getting older. They didn’t play “Worried Man”, but I’ll live.

Not much else to report, I’m afraid.

In the news today, someone found about 300 letters to god floating in the ocean of the Atlantic City coast. A sample:

A teenager poured out her heart on yellow-lined paper in the curlicue pencil handwriting of a schoolgirl, begging God to forgive her and asking for a second chance.
"Lord, I know that I have had an abortion and I killed one of your angels," she wrote. "There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about the mistake I made."
One unwed mother wrote that her baby was due in four weeks, and asked God to make the father fall in love with her and marry her so the child would have a father.

I’m actually crying; of course my tears flow easily.

Moved in now; we're feeling each other out and learning to live together. It's always an interesting time learning someone's life. Now, time to find a job.

Poop. I moved again. We're mostly set up, but we have a ton of gear. I'll try to write more soon.

I certainly wasn’t expecting these past few weeks to turn out like this. After losing my job and the unemployment insurance took its normal bureaucratic time, I didn’t think I’d make it. A few friends and even my father tossed me enough gelt to make it for a bit. The unemployment finally kicked in, just in time, and I thought it’d be an easy few weeks while I looked for a job and took care of business. I was offered a job at another call center, but that was rescinded for some reason.

In the meantime, I’d developed a close friendship. My living situation had become somewhat untenable; one roommate moved in her boyfriend (this wasn’t a problem, they almost never left the master bedroom), however the couch-mouse decided he could do the same thing. Five people in a two bedroom apartment is a bit crowded. Two cats, two guinea pigs, a ferret, a cockatiel, and a black widow makes for a menagerie. I spent more and more time with my new friend instead.

I got a frantic email from one of the roommates. We’d been evicted. It seems that the couch-mouse brought home a car and someone promptly slashed all four of his tires. The apartment management was through with his bullshit, they decided to have it towed. He sat in the car and refused to let them tow it, so they called the cops, and we got evicted. With the couch-mouse no longer in any of our plans, we were scattered, scared, and broke. I decided to wash my hands of it and move on, in with my new friend.

So here I am, living with a girlfriend, with my pets and most of my stuff (I did abandon one or two silly things along the way). I took the time to pierce my septum and do some other crazy things, but that’s for another story.

Got my septum pierced last night. It's kinda sore still, but looks cute!

Okay, take a deep breath. Still not much going on. I went to a welfare office to see if I could get some bus tokens, but they were out; at least I got a ride and didn't have to walk. Some friends have been coming over; one even took me to see Clerks II. I have guinea pig food and some human food to last a bit. I just have to make it a couple of weeks until I start a new job. So how's your summer?

[18:52] tenebras23: I suck at life
[18:52] j********: I suck at board games.

Okay, now I'm a grease spot. Out of the frying pan, I suppose. So today, instead of walking down to the welfare office, I walked over to That Other Call Center (of Doom) to apply. I didn't wear a tie, just slacks and a collard shirt, but I did shave at least. I did the application on one of their computers since it seems the online one I did at home didn't filter through. They didn't give me any of the tests or an interview at that time. I have an appointment for 9am a week from tomorrow. So I get home to find a message on the machine from the apartment complex. It seems the rent was a day late and they want $60. A little time later, a note gets stuck in the door saying it needs to be in the office by 9am tomorrow. It doesn't say "or else" but I think it's safe to infer that. I don't think we have $60 between the three of us. I have a bad feeling that we will be getting a 72 hour notice first thing tomorrow. A good friend of mine sent me $60 via Paypal when I related this, but of course that will take 3-4 days to transfer to my bank account. I applied for the Paypal debit card for future such emergencies. That being said, I don't see much choice other than calling my dad to come pick my ass up if we do get evicted and a few friends to see if they want to store/have some gear. I'm almost out of people food, piggie food, and smokes [been out of booze for a week or two, but really now what's important?] and won't hear from unemployment for at least another two weeks.

I suppose I have a few friends I can call, but I fucking hate that. Two friends helped bail me out with groceries (and even smokes and booze) the last time this crap happened, and a few friends have been helping me limp along this time. I'd almost rather go back to Bakersfield; or at least stow my gear at two or three friends' pads and couch surf until I find out about unemployment or find a freakin' job that pays more than pocket change.

The desert sky is opening up with thunder and rain.

Well poo. The unemployment office finally called me today, of course at the end of a 4 hour window that I had to sit by the phone through. The woman didn't even ask me about my second-to-last job, the reason I was told that they had to call me. I'd already given someone else all the infomation about my last job, so I have no idea what the hold up is or even if I'll be getting benefits before my guinea pigs starve.

I would have gone to the welfare office to apply for food stamps, but by the time I'd finished on the phone it would have been too late to trek out there. I'll just wake up early tomorrow and see if I can't scam a ride from someone. It's only about 4 miles away, but that can leave some big blisters if you don't wear the right shoes.

I've sent in dozens of copies of my resume to different places, but it seems like I'm just dropping it down a well. I should sell all my stuff and bum around San Francisco. Still, I've made it this far, not much sense in giving up.

I think the summer drains all my desire to blog. Maybe it's the lack of beer. I had something of an interview today, however. Perhaps I'll have beer monies again soon. It won't be in time for Clerks 2, but whatever. How's everyone else doing?

Osama bin Laden is a pisces.

Crudsticks. I really don't want to drag my ass around town in the crippling summer heat looking for a job, but the rent must be paid. I need a sugar mama or something.

News reports of another dead infant found behind a casino in a garbage bin. A close friend of mine was working in a casino one day when they recieved that same news. She never saw the child and probably had never even seen that part of the casino, but she came home in tears. I wonder why this happens; why this happens so much in Las Vegas.

Crud. Looking for a job again. Any ideas?

It's great to see Charlie Rose back on the air. He got sick somewhere in the middle of nowhere and got shipped to France for some treatment. I used to feel dirty when I'd switch from his show to Letterman for a moment; I don't do that anymore.

Being poor.

¡Ay, chingado!

I finally made it to the DMV. My California license expired in March, so I thought I was going to get stuck with just an ID, but the first person I spoke to (the greeter/receptionist/traffic controller/whatever) was really nice and, when I said I was getting just an ID card, told me I could still transfer my motorcycle license as long as it hasn't been over a year! It took about an hour and a half, but a friend was with me so it wasn't that bad. I thought it would take like three hours.

After that, we got some bomb Mexican grubs. The restaurant is different that my usual Mexican dives; Diego Rivera paintings on the wall instead of Emiliano Zapata photos (like Taqueria Santa Cruz or the Pancho Villa place in San Francisco). Granted, Diego was probably just as bad as those bandidos that were running the Mexican revolution, but whatever. He was screwing Frida Kahlo so I guess he leaves Zapata and Villa in the dust.

After that, we went to her place. I brought some films to watch. I found the first two episodes of the Tales of the City mini-series on VHS in a thrift store, so I thought we should watch that. It's just amazing and we both wanted to watch the rest so we went to Barnes & Noble to see if they had the DVD. The one out on this side of town didn't even have a film and music section! How gauche! I still bought the novel, since I gave my copy away a long time ago (to someone that lives in San Francisco and her grandfather's restaurant is mentioned in it, so she says). I also picked up a copy of the new issue of 2600, for shits and giggles.

Still thinking of Tales of the City, we went to the next store, Cost Plus. We found some great posters and I got four bamboo placemats for my dining room table. Those will perfectly match that royal Chinese yellow table cloth I found when we were thrifting last week.

Okay, that’s enough for now.

What a day off. It started off well enough; I woke up and started drinking. I headed out to pick up my check (this ghetto place doesn't do direct deposit) and managed to get on the wrong bus. Shitty, but my own drunk ass fault. I noticed about a mile down the road, so I just walked back to where I started. When I got to the office and got to my check, I noticed it was a bit larger than I'd expected. They finally decided to allow me that commission they've been talking about. So then I go to the store to get guinea pig grubs and some booze when an over-eager cashier decides to not only ID me but then not allow me to buy booze since he thinks my ID is fake and it's expired anyways. Oh joys, at least I got a brick of nag champa and some extra cash.

I'm sorry for the lack of regular updates; I'm just beyond words at the moment.

"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." - Kristin Wilson, Nintendo, Inc., 1989.

We went to see Hairspray last night; so much fun! I recommend it if you get a chance.

Nothing to see. Move along.

As much as I love curried lentils, they make for some smelly gas.

Isaiah 60:20

Your sun will never set again,
and your moon will wane no more;
the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow will end.


I want to sit in shiva for my fallen friend[s], but I don't know if that has the full expresion of my sorrow.

Anyone got a spare USB keyboard?

It’s the late Easter, or perhaps the unseasonal weather they tell us. The pundits and talking heads will find any excuse.

Crud. No updates for two weeks and it comes down to someone dying in a car crash. My friend Aurora passed away while on vacation in Mexico. I think I want to hide for another two weeks.

I just found out that my high school debate coach died.

Looks like we're moving soon. I hate moving, but it's time to get out of this house. Stairs + Jim + booze = bad things.

Le sigh. I didn't get a lot of gear for my birthday, but I got two dresses and some free booze. That's usually enough. I really loved being able to see a lot of old friends again.

Happy birthday to me.

You should have seen us in our prettier days.

I've found my perfect birthday present.

Decoritive and practical!

I just got a call for an interview; it’s in Summerlin of course. For those of you not in Las Vegas, imagine there being a bright center to the universe, that’s the bus line that’s farthest from. It would take me 6 hours a day just on the bus. No thanks.

My brain has been somewhat blank of late. I guess I start work on Monday. Perhaps I’ll have enough to celebrate my rapidly approaching birthday with a beer or two at Cheers. Of course, I’ll have to pay to get my license renewed before I splurge. At least tomorrow I’m going to be drinking scotch with a friend; nice way to get my last weekend of freedom out of the way.

Job interview today; didn't get it. I have another tomorrow. This is getting annoying.

Sisters of Mercy show with my Honey; Time at Cheers with Friends; lots of vegan grub given to me since I'm a half-breath from homeless. This post should be 2,000 words long, but I think I've said it already.

I have to again say I have good friends. A friend I haven't seen since New Year's came over to hang out and brought some beer for me. The small things can count the most.

Social Distortion was fun. Mike Ness had hurt his arm, so they had someone else playing guitar for him. The stand-in didn't know the songs that well, but it didn't interfere with the show much. Stay tuned for Sisters of Mercy and job hunt updates soon.

Okay, Jenny rules. She brought over the stuff I asked for. I gave her porn instead of my guitar. :D

Okay fine, I give up. Someone bring me some cockatiel food, some guinea pig grubs, a 12 pack of Newcastle, and a pack of Sampoerna X-tras. I’ll give you a guitar; maybe the practice amp if you stay and hang out.

I finally have an interview today. It's for an online travel agency. Just customer service, but it'll pay rent and make sure my cable doesn't get cut off.

Went into a temp agency; I'll probably be working by Tuesday.

My mother is reading Dr. Seuss over the phone for me. This is the most wonderful thing I've had since I was 5. It is his first novel, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street

Tales of the City is on Logo, the new queer network. I'm crying my eyes out over the views of San Francisco and it's lifestyle.

Woke up at noon and started drinking vodka and Kool Aid. I seriously need to get motivated.

Nag, nag, nag. I just took a multi-vitamin and it made me puke. I should know better than to take pills on an empty stomach. I’m almost out of cash and almost out of food. My roommate got some romaine for my piggies and a pack of cloves for me so we’ll still be fine for a few days. I wish I could communicate the rest here, but it’s a little personal to be vented here. Wish me luck.

Ya Basta!

Damn, Sisters of Mercy is playing Las Vegas and I've blown too much of my savings to get tickets. Life is rough.

"Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me."

One of my wonderful guinea pigs just passed away. Her name was Pris.

Geh. Happy friggin' new year.