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"You Know We're Living in a Society" - George Costanza

12/27/2016

I've been in South Florida for more than five weeks now, but it's a location that I will never get accustomed to. While I'm living in a comfortable spot, enjoying the very warm weather, and getting in quite a bit of play time, it's crazy here.

There are far more Walgreen's than green trees, drivers texting to their hearts' content (at high speed), and more concrete than I've seen in a very, very long time. I shake my head on a daily basis at the sameness of the (expensive) housing developments, the multitude of shopping plazas, and the wide, high-speed roadways of never-ending cars.

As I consciously attempt to remain a civilized member of society, it isn't very easy to do. And, while I may regret not spending more time with friends here, I am shopping for a new homestead (a three-season tent), and dreaming of waking up to the sounds of Mother Nature.

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Short and Bittersweet

12/8/2016

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For those of you who had bets on how long I would last in the world of a multi-shift service peon, the winner takes all for two weeks!

While I really thought that I could adapt to the time changes, my eyes glazed over as I looked at the schedule for week three: two graveyard shifts and three second shifts. What do you do in between? Sleep!

However, it was not sheer exhaustion that sent me over the edge; it was the peon part of the job. For some reason, nearly everyone who sits at a desk at the Club has (or takes?) the right to treat the peons in any manner they so desire. In two weeks, I was asked curtly, “Do you know how to refresh email?”; listened to a 20-minute pontification on late check-out; and the finale, was told “I better learn how to do my goddamn job” quite loudly by the maintenance manager.

What is so uncanny is that I began this job concerned that the high-caliber guests would be demanding and condescending. As it were, they could not have been kinder and more understanding. So, I was sad to leave the guests, the gorgeous Club environment, and most of my co-workers, who truly understood.

With all of that, I can truly say:

This is the last full-time job I will ever take (and the last one that I will ever quit).
I understand the book Nickel and Dimed far better now than when I read it a few years ago.
My two freelance clients that have stuck with me the past two years are to be highly commended!

Where am I now?
Thankfully, I don’t mind moving about (to say the least). When I left the Club on Monday, I moved into a townhouse in Coral Springs (west of Lauderdale) to house sit for a month. A friend of a friend has headed north for the holiday season, and if I wish to extend another month, that’s an affordable option, too.

The remainder of the year is now wide open as I continue to freelance a bit, and pitch some new business! In between, I’ll be riding my bike, playing some cards, listening to live music, holiday partying, reading good books, and seeing friends, old and new. Life is too short for nonsense.

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"You Know We're Living in a Society" - George Costanza

Short and Bittersweet

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