March 17, 2011

Begosh And Begorrah

Today I *ahem* "celebrate" thirty-one years of service with the public sector. I know, I've been with this job longer than a lot of you have been alive, but I assure you it was very unintentional. Thirty-one years of beige walls. Thirty-one years of customers who suck the life right out of you, some with really sad stories and others who manipulate the system to avoid being productive members of society. Thirty-one years of seeing different administrations come and go. I especially loved the last six years of no raise, which will probably remain the trend until I retire. At this point of my working life I can say it will all be worth it only when I'm loafing around in a hammock collecting my pension.

Today is also St. Patrick's Day. Happy that, to whomever welcomes the greeting. I don't normally go to my day job on St. Patrick's Day, my work anniversary, because St. Patrick's Day in St. Paul, MN can be a little rambunctious. I recall many years ago having to take the bus to and from work, and the ride home on St. Patrick's Day usually consisted of much raucous talk and even a bit of puking. Lovely. And no, the raucous talk and puking didn't come from me. Eventually I just stopped going to work on that day all together to avoid the sour smell of barf. The tradition stuck even after I started driving a car to work.

I'm not really sure why I'm at the day job today, after many many years of skipping it. Perhaps the job zombies ate my brain while I wasn't looking. Whatever the reason I want you to pity me, and also admire my persistence and dedication. I need this from you, because frankly, thirty-one years doesn't much matter to those whom I serve.

March 01, 2011

Turn Around

It was a small house on the side of a mountain, and the middle of the night.  I was watching this video when I realized we wouldn't be together forever; in fact, it was the end that night.  You woke up and came to sit with me as I watched.  You had no idea...