December 2011
Jose is out, and of course there was drama. I took the 30th off because I needed to be home and be there for whatever he was about to pull. About 10:30 that morning he says he's staying until the 4th. Yeah, right, buddy. "If you're here at 12:01 midnight, you're trespassing." So he blamed everything on me, just like he does everything else. It's always somebody else's fault with Jose, but me? I'm the furthest person from his world. He told a few more lies, continued with the charade about his new apartment, and on and on. I just laughed in his face and told him to shut up. Dumbass. Then he started scrambling and finally got his crap out by around 8:00 pm. Except for the load of dressers & cabinets he left on my porch to pick up the next day, which of course I knew he wouldn't. Now he's 2 1/2 years out of prison, no job, no job reference, no personal references, no rental references and no place to live. A year ago, he could have had a decent life and socked away about $15,000 by now, but he's a dumbass. And now he's on the street in Portland, Maine - in the Winter - and will ultimately go back to prison. Because he's a dumbass and will ultimately get caught doing something very stupid and very illegal. I guess opportunity doesn't mean the same thing to everybody. Surely there's a lesson for me to learn here, but I don't see it yet. I was kind and I was tolerant of all the b.s. Maybe it's all just part of the bigger picture of me - an eternally solo human - learning how to live amongst others. * * * Doing a lot of Amazon sales lately. I've been listing as many of my CDs that are worth anything, and surprised that more than a few are quite valuable. A still-sealed 6-disc box set of The Little Rascals - about $225. Really? Waiting to see what 2012 will bring. Will the new housemate come through? Will I list the house? Will I keep my job? Will the Virginian finally claim me and we live happily ever after? And what about the Roll-O-Rooter truck? * * * Well, to answer the question on everyone's lips - No. No, I did not keep my job. Another handfull of layoffs the week before Christmas, and this time I caught it. In the past three days I have already sent out a number of resumes, and studied and filed for unemployment insurance. That's a new one on me. But I think I've got it figured out, and I think this Winter is going to be all about selling every freaking thing in this house. Then I'm listing it in April or May. Looks like the Roll-O-Rooter truck may be pulling out this year after all. You kinda have to watch Fate and see what she's going to do. If she wants to dance, you dance. If she wants to sleep, you sleep. * * * I guess there are things worse than losing your job, and one would be losing your best friend. Monk, my little friend, my precious sixteen-year old cat, my Roll-O-Rooter traveling companion, had to be put down on December 22nd. Without a job and without my boy, life as I knew it is over. Everything is now officially in upheaval, and I don't know which way to turn or what I will do next. I guess I'll put the house up for sale in warm weather, and take it from there. Here is Monk's little tribute page. http://www.fairpoint.net/~darreninmaine/website/monk.html And here is Monk's little tree where he now rests.  There's nothing more for me here. Living like this. Time to get on the road. * * * My Zero is $250,382.05. My Dream Sale Price for all my possessions is $283,458.69. January 2012 Re-Tooling The Savings Plan |