it's been months, but what can i say? life got in the way.
i spent about one month as an on-demand walker, then switched to route for the last four. now senvoy's shaking everything up and i'm back to on-demand.... little routine, i miss my regulars out in lake oswego (jason and sasha and susie) and even ran into a friend out there once. weird stuff. but i get more variety downtown and experience more of portland. i dream. i try different exits out of buildings, explore a bit. today i invested in a new sketchbook and a brushpen and drew a little bit.
some sadness though:
yesterday i ran into an old coworker from the first fred meyer i worked at, years ago (when i was 18, 19) and we chatted a bit. always good to run into someone with the same half-forgotten memories. then i got home and checked my messages, which included one from a coworker at the last fred meyer i was at to call her.
our coworker and friend alan powell had passed away on sunday.
he was a remarkable artist and a funny guy.... a born brit, he'd just become an american citizen five months ago and was looking forward to voting for obama for president. he was only 39. i was going through my cds this morning and found one of clash that i'd copied off one of his, i've been listening to it all day.
this morning i arrived at base and dom (now the sole route walker downtown)had way too much stuff to carry, it wouldn't even fit in his bag. they're trying to make him do all the mail too, plus tossing specials at him. i called dispatch and asked if they could hold off sending me work for a bit so i could help.... i had to insist to our manager that he allow me to aid with the mail. poor dom. this is ridiculous.
and this afternoon i got home to an email from my mom... my great uncle bob, who was in pretty bad shape the last i saw him, had passed away as well. i don't think he was planning on voting for obama though.
oh, and the latest on april news: i did a little search, there wasn't anything much, but she and ezra were looking for a ride on craigslist last week across pennsylvania.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
day five: 4.10.2008
I have to apologize for my short entry the other day. A.... went home sick and we had to scramble to cover it. She left her bag behind after I asked, without it I wouldn't have anything to carry mail in! She didn't want to, when your job depends on a messenger bag it's an ordeal to leave it behind.
I've had a lot of headache with route information and just about walked my poor feet off yesterday (Wednesday). My phone won't dial out for me at all, no matter what I do. Thank goodness I carry a cell of my own, otherwise I'd be completely lost.
Yesterday as I was unloading my li'l' green bag I stabbed my right hand with a sharpened pencil I kept in there for exams winter term. It bled a bunch and luckily I was at HQ with some downtime and a first aid kit close at hand (a heh, heh). I just took a picture, it's still sore. I'm starting to get my writing callouses back too.
I like the responsibility, trust and freedom associated with this job. Here in LO there isn't much eyecandy but more free time to write and people are pretty friendly. With things going the way they are, I'm going to call Nature Boy today and see if it's possible to get him a job too.
Another thing I'm going to do, most likely starting Monday (if I'm alone) is to take little polls, a new question every week, possibly even recording answers and releasing podcasts as the time goes on. We'll see.
. . .
B route was on the light side today... Only one special order on the phone, a dropoff, thus I didn't need to check my inbox, just mark it off. Two other pieces of mail and my schedule. I got an address wrong and walked eight extra blocks, but still ended up with an hour to kill. April'd finished her on-demand for the time being, so we met in Pioneer Square and decided to get miso soup after sitting at the Portland Coffee House for a few minutes. We walked across the street and got two bowls of miso soup, green tea and left a 25% tip for $5 total! Yum.
Did an exchange, a pickup and dropped everything off with R... I'd already eaten, so walked to the Central Library and looked at a puppet display on the 3rd floor before finding a nice spot on a south-facing windowsill to sit, across from the occult section. Which isn't allowed (sitting on the windowsill, not the occult section) apparently.
I've made myself a little desk. They gave me a manilla envelope with my phone, I put my book and a pad of paper in it and folded it in half. Papers I need or have used go in the fold and I keep my current route info rubber banded on the outside. It's great, any time I need to write things down I pull the whole thing out and fish for a pen. I think I might bring materials to make a more permanent one with me as time goes on... find a darning needle, cut some bike tubes. Tile samples to stiffen.
A good day, lots of caffeine (enough for a headache) but I managed to pull my teabag out of the jar quick enough that the Earl Grey isn't too bitter cold (somehow bitter doesn't bother me when it's hot).
I'm attempting to be the politest messenger ever when I have the time. Stopping to talk to people when I have a moment (though refusing to give change or sign petitions), holding doors open for the next person, "please" and "thank you". Always.
I saw another unicycle today, on the MAX. Not amored, though. Just glad I caught a glimpse.
I've had a lot of headache with route information and just about walked my poor feet off yesterday (Wednesday). My phone won't dial out for me at all, no matter what I do. Thank goodness I carry a cell of my own, otherwise I'd be completely lost.
Yesterday as I was unloading my li'l' green bag I stabbed my right hand with a sharpened pencil I kept in there for exams winter term. It bled a bunch and luckily I was at HQ with some downtime and a first aid kit close at hand (a heh, heh). I just took a picture, it's still sore. I'm starting to get my writing callouses back too.
I like the responsibility, trust and freedom associated with this job. Here in LO there isn't much eyecandy but more free time to write and people are pretty friendly. With things going the way they are, I'm going to call Nature Boy today and see if it's possible to get him a job too.
Another thing I'm going to do, most likely starting Monday (if I'm alone) is to take little polls, a new question every week, possibly even recording answers and releasing podcasts as the time goes on. We'll see.
. . .
B route was on the light side today... Only one special order on the phone, a dropoff, thus I didn't need to check my inbox, just mark it off. Two other pieces of mail and my schedule. I got an address wrong and walked eight extra blocks, but still ended up with an hour to kill. April'd finished her on-demand for the time being, so we met in Pioneer Square and decided to get miso soup after sitting at the Portland Coffee House for a few minutes. We walked across the street and got two bowls of miso soup, green tea and left a 25% tip for $5 total! Yum.
Did an exchange, a pickup and dropped everything off with R... I'd already eaten, so walked to the Central Library and looked at a puppet display on the 3rd floor before finding a nice spot on a south-facing windowsill to sit, across from the occult section. Which isn't allowed (sitting on the windowsill, not the occult section) apparently.
I've made myself a little desk. They gave me a manilla envelope with my phone, I put my book and a pad of paper in it and folded it in half. Papers I need or have used go in the fold and I keep my current route info rubber banded on the outside. It's great, any time I need to write things down I pull the whole thing out and fish for a pen. I think I might bring materials to make a more permanent one with me as time goes on... find a darning needle, cut some bike tubes. Tile samples to stiffen.
A good day, lots of caffeine (enough for a headache) but I managed to pull my teabag out of the jar quick enough that the Earl Grey isn't too bitter cold (somehow bitter doesn't bother me when it's hot).
I'm attempting to be the politest messenger ever when I have the time. Stopping to talk to people when I have a moment (though refusing to give change or sign petitions), holding doors open for the next person, "please" and "thank you". Always.
I saw another unicycle today, on the MAX. Not amored, though. Just glad I caught a glimpse.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
today's post will be late... possibly as late as saturday
i did write a ton today, but i'm busy getting ready for work tomorrow, volunteering at filmed by bike (7pm show, i'll be one of the three lovely rafflistas!) and the midnight mystery ride.
at best, i'll be away from home (and the thus the computer) at least 17 hours.
it might take me a couple days to catch up, but i'm not abandoning the project. just taking a quick break while some other things are going on.
--la
at best, i'll be away from home (and the thus the computer) at least 17 hours.
it might take me a couple days to catch up, but i'm not abandoning the project. just taking a quick break while some other things are going on.
--la
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
day four: 4.9.2008
tired. lost. half-crazy.
i started out the day walking with april, but got pulled to do the b and c routes for a...., who went home sick from lake oswego. walked across the morrison in a record four minutes, stabbed myself in a pencil, borrowed a bag and walked it.
planning a route isn't as easy as it looks, when your phone's beeping and you've forgotten a stop (especially when you have a set schedule to keep with additional orders to deliver or pick up. yowch.)
sink or swim, i doggy paddled. kept my mouth and nose above water.
i started out the day walking with april, but got pulled to do the b and c routes for a...., who went home sick from lake oswego. walked across the morrison in a record four minutes, stabbed myself in a pencil, borrowed a bag and walked it.
planning a route isn't as easy as it looks, when your phone's beeping and you've forgotten a stop (especially when you have a set schedule to keep with additional orders to deliver or pick up. yowch.)
sink or swim, i doggy paddled. kept my mouth and nose above water.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
day three: 4.8.2008
Today I got to work definitely on time! Hooray! Though mysteriously bleeding from my left hand.
Shadowed A.... again today. After sorting through the morning mail we got a ride with B....2 down to Lake Oswego. It was pretty peaceful, trees and birds, but a little lonely and dull with no eye candy for distractions. Finished up early and sat around for a ride back to HQ.
In the afternoon, we walked all over the place. Not too much to say. But my eye was all over, checking boys out: a curly-haired cutie in the Central library, the rider of the homebrew yellow Bianchi (I admit disappointment, seeing the bike a couple of times around town already I had high expectations for the rider) and a security guard at the county courthouse. Yum.
I actually managed to pack a lunch today; seasoned brown rice, carrots, cucumber and pickled ginger in my bento box along with an orange. April gave me the last bite of a candy bar she bought while telling me a story about moving a box truck parked too close to the streetcar tracks (might have to record that one and post it later).
Finished up at 4:30 and walked by Cameron's Books before crossing the Morrison in the pouring rain. Grabbed my bike (S... hid my helmet, grrr, but told me where it was) and rode up the esplanade to Rose Quarter where I saw a vision, a lovely dream in my particular brand of people watching.
A red-bearded man in glasses commuting (I'm assuming here) on a big (wheelsize somewhere between 28" and 29") blue unicycle.
Le sigh.
Then my mom called (she had pants for me) and I had to negotiate with her the exchange and ended up waiting a half hour for her to pick me up. But I was giddy and silly the entire time waiting and wrote an "I Saw U" when I got home.
Shadowed A.... again today. After sorting through the morning mail we got a ride with B....2 down to Lake Oswego. It was pretty peaceful, trees and birds, but a little lonely and dull with no eye candy for distractions. Finished up early and sat around for a ride back to HQ.
In the afternoon, we walked all over the place. Not too much to say. But my eye was all over, checking boys out: a curly-haired cutie in the Central library, the rider of the homebrew yellow Bianchi (I admit disappointment, seeing the bike a couple of times around town already I had high expectations for the rider) and a security guard at the county courthouse. Yum.
I actually managed to pack a lunch today; seasoned brown rice, carrots, cucumber and pickled ginger in my bento box along with an orange. April gave me the last bite of a candy bar she bought while telling me a story about moving a box truck parked too close to the streetcar tracks (might have to record that one and post it later).
Finished up at 4:30 and walked by Cameron's Books before crossing the Morrison in the pouring rain. Grabbed my bike (S... hid my helmet, grrr, but told me where it was) and rode up the esplanade to Rose Quarter where I saw a vision, a lovely dream in my particular brand of people watching.
A red-bearded man in glasses commuting (I'm assuming here) on a big (wheelsize somewhere between 28" and 29") blue unicycle.
Le sigh.
Then my mom called (she had pants for me) and I had to negotiate with her the exchange and ended up waiting a half hour for her to pick me up. But I was giddy and silly the entire time waiting and wrote an "I Saw U" when I got home.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Day Two: 4.7.2008
Today I made it to work almost/halfway on time. Most of the drivers were gone already, but B.... and A.... were still there. S... told me that I'd be shadowing A.... today and her reply: "Am I training my replacement?" Not the greatest introduction. April arrived a little later and squeezed my butt hello, had it been anyone else it would've been instant sexual harassment, but certain friends earn their privileges.
A.... and I walked across the Morrison Bridge and began deliveries. Went pretty much without a hitch, she started teaching me about the phone and filling out the slips. Think I might have it down. We finished deliveries at ten and so had an hour to kill before catching a ride back to HQ to sort the B route, I read a little and remembered I had paperwork left.
We caught a ride with R... and started the sort, A.... introduced me to T.... and the Lake Oswego driver (whose name I cannot remember, ack! Too many names!), S... told us I'd be going with A.... and the LO driver in the morning to see things down there.
So we're sorting and talking a little and I noticed something strange. A.... and the LO driver were talking about April, but they were calling her Dingy instead. At first I thought they meant a dinghy, a little boat, but that wouldn't make sense. I filed that away in a corner of my brain and tried to concentrate on work stuff.
We rode with R... back to Congress and began the B route. Pretty simple, finished up in time (saw N..., but no time to talk, sorry N...!) to meet R... again to give him mail and envelopes for HQ, then it was time for lunch. A.... was hoping to meet her boyfriend, so I walked across the street and started reading a newspaper while I ate. April dropped by to say hello with an armload of depositions and I couldn't hold my discovery back, "Did you know that A.... and this other person call you Dingy?" "No."
And we talked about that for awhile. We were both convinced that the name didn't have the best of intentions behind it, but what was one to do? I gave her a noogie and she went back to work, leaving me to my lunch.
On C route, A.... mentioned that she'd walked in the same place I ate, bought her lunch and walked out after she saw me with April. Weird.
No real problems, finished up promptly and met April to walk across the river to return paperwork and grab my bike. We discussed the Dingy thing some more (I just looked it up, it's not pronounced din-gee but ding-ee, apparently it's slang for crazy and insane but I'm not sure if that's what they meant) and I suggested that she mention it to S..., even if she has only a little over a week left, this name-calling could have some deeper issues attached to it. Especially if A.... doesn't even want to be around her.
Home now, it's late, time to sleep once I pack my lunch for tomorrow.
A.... and I walked across the Morrison Bridge and began deliveries. Went pretty much without a hitch, she started teaching me about the phone and filling out the slips. Think I might have it down. We finished deliveries at ten and so had an hour to kill before catching a ride back to HQ to sort the B route, I read a little and remembered I had paperwork left.
We caught a ride with R... and started the sort, A.... introduced me to T.... and the Lake Oswego driver (whose name I cannot remember, ack! Too many names!), S... told us I'd be going with A.... and the LO driver in the morning to see things down there.
So we're sorting and talking a little and I noticed something strange. A.... and the LO driver were talking about April, but they were calling her Dingy instead. At first I thought they meant a dinghy, a little boat, but that wouldn't make sense. I filed that away in a corner of my brain and tried to concentrate on work stuff.
We rode with R... back to Congress and began the B route. Pretty simple, finished up in time (saw N..., but no time to talk, sorry N...!) to meet R... again to give him mail and envelopes for HQ, then it was time for lunch. A.... was hoping to meet her boyfriend, so I walked across the street and started reading a newspaper while I ate. April dropped by to say hello with an armload of depositions and I couldn't hold my discovery back, "Did you know that A.... and this other person call you Dingy?" "No."
And we talked about that for awhile. We were both convinced that the name didn't have the best of intentions behind it, but what was one to do? I gave her a noogie and she went back to work, leaving me to my lunch.
On C route, A.... mentioned that she'd walked in the same place I ate, bought her lunch and walked out after she saw me with April. Weird.
No real problems, finished up promptly and met April to walk across the river to return paperwork and grab my bike. We discussed the Dingy thing some more (I just looked it up, it's not pronounced din-gee but ding-ee, apparently it's slang for crazy and insane but I'm not sure if that's what they meant) and I suggested that she mention it to S..., even if she has only a little over a week left, this name-calling could have some deeper issues attached to it. Especially if A.... doesn't even want to be around her.
Home now, it's late, time to sleep once I pack my lunch for tomorrow.
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