Sarx

Had another reader ask Google if I was Jewish or not. Really: ask me! Or read the blog?

I spent nearly two hours reconnecting with an old friend yesterday: that was awesome. It was like we’d not ever been apart. It was also scary to see how many places our lives overlapped. We’ve got a very common blog-list. In fact, on one weblog recently we agreed with each other in conversation - yet we didn’t know each of us were us. That makes a total of three reconnections this weekend, and about 15 in the last 3 months. Still, it would be great to hear from the people listed on my “missing friends” page… Pace, Joe, Michael and Michelle. And my most recent realisation is I’ve lost touch with Jeff Ferris, from SF.

Been sending out resumes. Been filing out applications. Been networking. Been selling myself hard. It’s only been 2 weeks, however: I’m amazed that Todd kept this up for a year! It’s exhausting. I woke up saturday having dreamed about Amtrak - a place I’ve always wanted to work. Saturday was Transportation Day! Craigslist job postings, by the way: good resource, but often filled with spambots and hoaxes. When they offer $50K for typing… something is wrong.

On the other hand, it is from craigslist that I’m getting results - one interview seems to be branching into a second interview. I’m overjoyed about that!

My landlord, Bill, is one of the sweetest people on the planet. Still, as soon as I get a job, I think I’ll be looking for an apartment - this house is so HUGE that being left here alone is something I don’t wish to contemplate. Plus I found out that to work for Buffalo you have to live in Buffalo. I’m actually a block beyond the city limits. So I can’t do anything about it. I knew members of the NYC police force who lived in NJ. I know at least one (now-former) member of the Buffalo force who lives in Niagara. Why does a drug rehab worker have to live inside Buffalo to even get an interview with the city?

There are like 15 other rehab programmes here! Resumes continue apace!

Buffalo has this amazing grocery store: Wegmans. It’s like a cross between Safeway (in CA) or the more-upscale Ingles (in Asheville) on the one hand and Trader Joes. It has a HUGE selection, and the prices are very reasonable. Prices in Buffalo are variable: Soy Milk is like 30 cents less than Asheville, but other things are nearly double; yet at Wegmans most things are normal priced compared to Ingles. Nothing is as expensive as shopping in CA except for fruit (it is Winter!): navel oranges are like 3 for $2 which is way pricey. But we’ll see what happens come spring. Tops, the other grocery store here, reminds me mostly of Key Food in NYC or Cala in SF, or Bi-Lo in NC. It’s crowded, grubby and filled with off-brands.

I’ve got swipe cards for Wegmans and Tops :-)

RJ asked me how I was feeling this morning: my response was “rather sensitive, like the princess and the pea”. By which I mean one tiny thing out of sorts currently knocks me for a loop. I woke up at 8:30 this morning with only one thought: WTF Is my passport? After tearing the room (and the car) apart for 20 mins, I found it. It was not where it was supposed to be… but I was nearly crying by the time I got a hold of it. What woke me up with that thought? What caused me to suddenly realise the PP wasn’t in the valet box on my desk? Who knows. Glad I realised it was missing. But yes, it’s a case of the “Jumpsie Wumpsies” as the Countess says in The Women. Considering I’m normally the very calm guy (who helps epileptics, gives first aid, stays calm in a crisis at work, takes forever to get to “upset” let alone, “angry” etc) being edgy is a new feeling.

I’ve learned that the trains in the area make just enough noise to keep me awake suddenly. Trains used to help me fall asleep: but these are, in fact, idling on the track and so make LOTS of noise.

It is amazing to be this close to Brodie. To go over twice in 7 days was amazing. To see his family, to drive around… it’s like we’re dating. I mean… you know. It’s like the whole reason I’m here. Last week I showed up at his work palce with a potted miniature rose.

The look on his face made my entire lifetime.