Category Archives: WTF

I’m Moving On

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Well here I am on a Wednesday night. It’s getting chilly out. Lot’s of rain last night, it’s what I fell asleep to. I had an interview scheduled for this morning at 9:30, so that meant Bill making sure I was relatively coherent before he left.

I left the apartment a little after 8:00. I am not one to be late and will leave early and arrive early so as not to be tardy. I was able to flag down a bus that was a block past my stop and the bus driver was gracious enough to let me on board as I thanked her profusely.

A walk through Bryant Park like I used to do when I was working with Greg Stevens at 800 Third Avenue. I was early when I got to 44th Street and Lexington Avenue and waited outside the building for 20 minutes before heading in at 9:15 for my 9:30 interview.

The interview went well. The interviewer was Jill and she reminded me of Miriam Molloy and Nancy Gerstern, two women who had the same composure as Jill. Jill talked and talked as she walked me through the offices, after taking an elevator and then 2 flights of marble steps.

We sat and I listened to Jill go on about the job and what my duties would be. I felt like I had the job already and when the time came I asked a question which Jill promptly answered and continued talking about what duties I would have while I worked with a team.

I sat there and listened as Jill talked, thinking about how sweaty my t-shirt was, if it was going to rain outside when I left. It was an hour long interview just like yesterday. I was soon back on the street, an hour to kill before I headed back to the cigar shop.

I called the recruiter and let her know that I think it went well. She was happy to hear that and I was happy to tell her. I called up Bill and told him that it went well, then I headed into the cigar shop after walking around through midtown.

It was Don and Calvin today. Marcus flitting about somewhere. Apparently there was a cigar event going on tonight, scotch in the cigar shop, steaks at a nearby restaurant then back to the cigar shop for more scotch and cigars.

After being in the cigar shop for about 45 minutes, I got a phone call from the recruiter, congratulating me on landing the position. I was happy that I did but soon felt guilty. Don is leaving the cigar shop, his last day is Saturday, and now I am going to give notice, right before the busy holiday season.

Yeah, I’ve been unhappy working at the cigar shop, but these guys were good enough to take me in. And I lost about an inch around my waist and I intend to keep it like that. I’m basically not looking forward to facing their disappointment.

There is the fact that it’s a Monday through Friday job, and it basically pays a lot more than what I am making now. I don’t think telling Marcus and Calvin the truth will suffice so something else will have to be said. Bill is thrilled though and his happiness is encouraging to me.

I will tell Marcus and Calvin something on Friday.

Oh and Martini Basher came in before I came in, still hurt by my writing a few lines about his crap reggae CD. He can dish it out, but obviously he can’t take it. Punk ass.

I Learned the Hard Way

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Well well well. Where to begin? I’ll start at the end. As I was walking from the cigar shop to the bus terminal, listening to Pet Shop Boys singles collection, by cellphone rings. It’s Bill. My first thought was that Bill was nearby and saw me stomping down the avenue.

No, it wasn’t anything pleasant like that. Bill told me, he was washing his hands in the bathroom and heard some water running behind him and walked into the kitchen to find water spewing forth from the hot water heater that was installed 2 years ago.

Peter our absentee landlord decided to save money and bought a General Electric hot water heater from Home Depot. I told Bill to turn off the spigot (tighty righty, lefty Lucy) and then I called Julio. A hint of panic in my face as I asked him to do me a favor, to go up to our apartment and check to see if Bill was able to turn off the water.

He moaned but did come upstairs. I then called Peter and let him know what was going on. He was on the line with Bill and got off the phone with me as soon as he could. I trudged to the gate and chatted with Hyman Gross.

He asked how I was doing, what kind of day did I have. I told him I was glad the work was done and also told him about what happened with the hot water heater. He assumed the hot water heater was in the basement like other places have. Not us. Our hot water heater is between the stove and the kitchen sink.

He asked how big the hot water heater was and I told him it was as big as he was, which made him remark that it was probably shrinking like he is. Hyman is in his 80’s in case you didn’t know. His remark made me laugh somewhat.

But as the minutes moved on I realized how much of a hassle this was going to be. I have a job interview tomorrow morning, with a recruiter. It’s for a Monday through Friday job and that’s what I was looking for.

The hours are unlike any hours I’ve worked before. 5:30PM to 1:00AM. It’s a law firm and my job would be to make sure all the lawyers and others will get their town cars home. It’s also supposed to be an immediate hire.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. I came home and trudged up the four flights to the fifth floor where U heard voices. I was hoping it would be Peter but he’s an absentee landlord after all. It was Bill and Julio in the kitchen.

The blue bucket underneath the spigot collecting a steady stream of water, wads of paper towels on the floor, some puddles as well. Julio took off a pipe from the water heater since it was difficult to use the bucket with the pipe there, and with the hot water heater now defunct, the pipe in question was redundant.

Julio stayed for a little while as I threw out the paper towels and laid down newspapers, remembering the method used when the cellar in our house in Lodi would sometimes flood. Super absorbent and cheaper than paper towels.

Also threw down some rags to sop up the water. Julio split and went back to his life, Bill and I discussed Bill taking off tomorrow for the installation of a new water heater. Peter’s flunky Robert is supposed to get one and deliver and install it.

Robert is an idiot and I don’t trust him so I will have to tell Bill to keep an eye on everything Robert does. So that is where I’m at right now. Very tired too.