The Bosque

Yes, you're a fuckhead...but you're my fuckhead.

Happy birthday!

Apparently, I scare some people. But it's not my looks or my attitude that freak 'em out. No...it's the way I knock on doors.

A lot of places on the South Side either don't have doorbells or they no longer work. So I tend to knock hard. But on a few occasions, I've apparently scared the shit out of people. Like tonight:

Syc: *knocks on the door*

Person inside: "Who is it?!" (sounding angry and annoyed)

Syc: *announces the name of his store in an angry and annoyed voice*

Person inside: "That dude sounded like the police...he's retarded."

I like to think of myself as having presence.

As a child in the late 70s and early 80s, I saw Opels occasionally...usually the Apollo (a clone of the mid-70s Chevy Nova). In the late 80s, I'd occasionally see a Manta in front of the European car repair shop near my house.

Last September, I saw an orange Opel GT sitting outside an auto repair shop here on the South Side; I passed it several times on deliveries. I even called Wolf when I saw it, as she is a fellow Opel fan. Unfortunately, I never got a picture of it, and haven't seen it recently.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw another GT...a green one. And it looked like it was in pretty good shape compared to the orange one (which was pretty rough). But I couldn't remember where I saw it.

Then I saw it again a couple of days ago along Jamieson Ave. in St. Louis Hills. I made sure to get pictures this time:

Last night, I was out at Tim's house having a few beers with him on his deck. I left about 11:30 and headed down the steps from his deck to my car.

The steps are rather high, except for the last one at the bottom. And I forgot about that. And I tried to take it as I would the rest of the steps. And I went flying.

I twisted my ankle while falling and landed on my hands, rolling onto my right shoulder. Other than my ankle, I scraped up my hand a little bit, but was fine in the end.

And no...my fall had nothing to do with drinking.

Okay...so I said I would put these up last week...my bad.

Allow me to introduce you to the new pizza delivery vehicle, a 1990 Honda Accord EX:











Incidentally, this is the first foreign vehicle I've ever owned.

I paid $750 for it on Tuesday, and Tim and I have put about $400 into it since then. It sat for 4 months prior to us buying it, so it needed some maintenance. It needs about $300 more (a new windshield and a sway bar) and it will be totally up to snuff.

We've both already used it for deliveries, and we're quite happy with it. My only complaint is that it's a stick...my left foot needs to get used to hitting the clutch.

It needs a name, though. All suggestions welcome. So far, Louise and Elaine are in the running.

The car has been purchased. It is sitting out on the street as I type this.

Photos tomorrow.

Patience, grasshoppers. :)

Sadly, I will not be purchasing a newer vehicle. I won't get into the details, but it was not due to anybody's fault, really.

Although...it is my fault in the end. I made some bad financial decisions back in the day that are going to hurt me for at least the next 5 years. One of the effects is that I can't get a decent car loan in my own name. And so, I will probably keep Barbie until she totally falls apart.

Which brings us back to a delivery car. My brother and I have decided to buy one after all. Tim already has one lined up, and we could have it as early as tomorrow.

More waiting...

No new car yet...Barbie is sitting in my backyard. The car has been selected, papers signed and a trade-in amount offered. Unfortunately, Enterprise couldn't get final approval from the bank today, so we have to wait until Monday.

I hate waiting...

After much back and forth and thought, Barbie (my 2003 Chevy Malibu) is headed to a used car lot or auction house. I am trading it in for a newer car later today.

I've put 36,000 miles on the car in just 17 months. It's been on 2 round trips between St. Louis and Philadelphia, not to mention Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York City, Baltimore and the Jersey Shore. I've spent a lot of time in the car...and this may be the car that I've become most attached to of all the cars I've owned. But with the warranty near its end and me schlepping pizzas until at least the spring, I've decided to start fresh.

Originally, I considered purchasing a second car to deliver pizzas, but Tim and I didn't really see any decent pizza runners for $1000. A few came close, but I wasn't really comfortable with them. I thought about saving a little more money, but quite frankly, I didn't want to sink more than a grand into a second car. And I considered buying a brand new small car--even test-drove a Chevy Aveo 2 days ago. But my family has had a good relationship with Enterprise Car Sales over the past few years, and I can get a car way better than the Aveo from them for the same price as a new Aveo. I have my eye on a particular replacement, but I will not mention it at this time for fear of jinxing myself. All will be revealed tomorrow.

I actually teared up a bit over Barbie while I was delivering pizzas earlier tonight (yesterday)...I'm going to miss her.

From the CBC: At least 10 stingrays have been killed on the coast where Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin died after being stung by one of the marine species, according to fisheries officials in Australia.

Michael Hornby, executive director of Irwin's charity Wildlife Warriors, fears fans of the 44-year-old wildlife enthusiast may be taking retribution on the stingrays.

"We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline."--MLK

...are paying off...slowly but surely.

When I was a kid, I would look at street maps all the time. When I got my drivers license, I started driving to many of those places. Yeah, I was a total fucking nerd.

Today, I was asked to go to our other South City location for the afternoon. Apparently, they were getting slammed pretty hard and only had one driver. The other store is in a nice part of town, and covers an area as large at my regular store. Tim has worked there before, and apparently, the tips are better there.

(Damn right they were...in 2 hours, I made $50. I worked 4 hours over at my regular store tonight and made $80.)

The minute I walked in, the manager asked me if I knew where two locations were. I said yes, and was on my way. I think he asked me that almost every time I took more orders out. But I knew them all. And I'm not over in that area all that often.

Yeah...I fucking rock. Too bad I can't work over there more often...the area is so much nicer than my current one. And the people are nicer. Ah well...I'll take what I can get.

From MSNBC: Brad Pitt, ever the social activist, says he won’t be marrying Angelina Jolie until the restrictions on who can marry whom are dropped.

“Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able,” the 42-year-old actor reveals in Esquire magazine’s October issue, on newsstands Sept. 19.

Pffffft!

...and why I'm going to marry her.

I was making a delivery last night, and the street was kinda dark, so it was hard to see addresses. I thought I had pulled up to the right house, but it was actually down about 4 or 5 more houses. So I got back into my car, left the door slightly ajar, put the car in drive, and just coasted down the street until I got to the house.

I got out the car, closed the door and went to the passenger side to grab the customer's order. But I couldn't open the door. One of my biggest fears had just come true.

My car doors automatically unlock when the car is put in park. And they won't relock unless someone is in the car to lock them or I turn the car off and hit the lock switch. But the car doors automatically lock when the car is in drive and begins to accelerate. And I left my car door open as I coasted down the street. Get the picture?

Fortunately, I was in a good neighborhood, and the couple I was delivering to was incredibly nice. They let me use their phone to call the store, my parents and April. We then sat on the front porch and talked for a little bit. They're a young couple (about 3 or 4 years younger than me) who probably hadn't bought their house that long ago, and they told me a little about themselves and how they got to where they were. I told them a little about my 6-year sabbatical and talked a little about Philly and the East Coast. It was a nice conversation.

My parents have the spare key to my car, but I kept getting a busy signal at the house...I figured my mom was on the internet. So I called April, told her of the situation, told her to go my parents' house and get the spare key and meet me. Thank God I wasn't far from the store, my parents' house or April's house.

April got there in about 10 minutes with the spare key. I gave the customers their food, thanked April profusely and went on my way.

I gave the couple 50% off their order, since they had already been waiting 30 minutes when I took the order out and it sat in the air conditioning for another 15 minutes. They called the store shortly after I left to make sure that I didn't get in trouble and to tell my boss that I was really nice. My boss wasn't sweating it...shit happens, plus I'm probably one of the few drivers that doesn't give her a hard time.

I need to get a spare key made and keep it on my person while I'm delivering, since I don't carry my wallet on me. I got very lucky this time...I don't want this situation to happen again.

April had a horrible day yesterday, yet she came through like a trooper when I really needed her. She almost always come through for me, actually. And when she can't, she goes down trying.

I've walked away from almost every previous relationship with the feeling that I gave so much and got back so little. But I've never felt that way with April. And as we continue down our path of sickening and disgusting happiness, I know that it will never be an issue.

I love you, baby!

xoxo

Last night, I completed my 6th class in my masters program. I have 6 more to go.

The program hasn't been as difficult as I thought it would be, but it's still challenging at times. I go into the halfway mark with four A's, one A- and a probable A for this last class. Yeah...I rock. :)

My next class is Organizational Culture, I think...I have the books around here somewhere.

I enjoy school, but I just want to finish this program up. I'm ready to go. I want phat cash!

Wolf is at the keyboard today.

After many years of being banished to the back side of the Spectrum, and more recently in storage, Rocky is back where he belongs!!

PHILADELPHIA-September 6, 2006 - The pedestal is ready, the crane is ready and Rocky will soon be restored to what many believe is his rightful place, on the grounds of the Art Museum, near the steps he made famous.

After months of debate it came down to a vote by the city Art Commission. It may or may not be art, but the Art Commission voted 6 to 2 to return Rocky to the Art Museum grounds. Another triumph for an icon that has come to symbolize victory against all odds.

Frontenac, in West St. Louis County, is one of our richest--and snootiest--suburbs. It's like the Main Line in Philly, except that Frontenac may actually be snootier.

Having said that, this story from today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch brought a smile to my face: A trailer park that persevered for years in a battle against the city of Frontenac now has won the right to remain where it is, along the Highway 40 South Outer Road.

The Daniel Boone Mobile Home Park sits less than a mile from Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue and a few lots away from homes that cost $495,000 and up.

Bahahahahahahahaha! But what the hell is a "trendy, upscale mobile home development?" Shit...just move to South City if you want trendy and upscale mixed with trash.

They paid someone to use their kid!

From MSNBC: Ronald Isley has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison for tax evasion.

The 65-year-old R&B singer was also ordered to pay $3.1 million in back taxes to the Internal Revenue Service, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Conte.

He's a blatant tax evader...that's obvious. But how the hell is he going to pay $3.1 million to the Feds if he's stuck in prison for 3 years? Not to mention, he's in poor health...what's the point of prison? Jail for tax evasion is about as stupid as some of the sentencings for drug crimes, IMO. Stick him on house arrest and if he recovers enough, give him a Willie Nelson-type deal.

What a waste of money...fucking idiots™...ALL of 'em.

From MSNBC: Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and environmentalist known as the “Crocodile Hunter,” was killed Monday by a stingray while filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.

The guy has been handling crocodiles for years, but was killed by a stingray. Ain't that a bitch...

...but it depends on the situation.

Last night, I was making a delivery to an apartment complex that I dislike (Tim, Riverbend on S. Broadway). As I was walking to the front door, I noticed that I had the wrong order. As I headed back to my car, I saw a large object sitting on my front left wheel.

It was a big ass raccoon.

I pushed my car from the front bumper and yelled at it to go away, but it didn't move. Then a woman sitting on a bench behind me threw one of her shoes at it. It then jumped onto my door and clung to the window. She then threw her other shoe at it and it jumped down and ran away.

So I grabbed the right order and headed back to the front door, where I met the customer. Because this place is sketchy, we ask the customers to meet us at the front door. As I walk up, the woman is arguing with her boyfriend, who appears to be headed out with his friends for the night. He's a tall skinny white guy wearing one of those sheer doo-rags that looks almost like a Muslim hijab...Eminem has worn one before.

I am so buying one of those now...

Never a dull moment...

I think this speaks for itself:

From MSNBC: Andre Agassi kept his U.S. Open campaign alive and staved off retirement again with a 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5 victory over a battling Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus to reach the third round on Thursday.

Agassi, ending his illustrious career after this 21st successive trip to the Open, extended his Open run by closing out an extraordinary fifth set against a cramping Baghdatis with a service break to finish the three- hour 48 minute contest.