Oddities and invisibility...

Suggested Soundtrack: "Lonely Day" by Phantom Planet



The days at work are all the same. They lack the variety of the restaurant shift, with all its activity, and new challenges, and fun coworkers with whom constant interaction is a part of the job. My job, once training is done, will consist of me answering the phone and selling people loans. Not fun in a conventional sense, in any sense really, but potentially highly profitable. I have to remind myself that that is why I am here. I knew it would be tough, and maybe I'm a wimp for complaining so soon, but I'm good at complaining, and I've got some gripes, so I'll get 'em out. In a minute.

But first: Did anyone know that there is no law in Texas that specifically states which way your car should be facing when you park on the street?



It takes some getting used to. You drive down the street, and an oncoming car veers across your lane and stops, facing you, on YOUR shoulder. "Doop-de-do," this person is singing as they hop out, "another good parking job for ol' Randy. Wait a minnit. Why's that guy with California plates lookin' at me like that? Hey fuck you, faggot!"
Welcome to Texas.

One very good thing: Dr. Pepper EVERYWHERE. They make it here. I don't even think the Texans know who Mr. Pibb is.

The radio here isn't terrible. 'Humorous' would be a good word. Driving in to work, I heard an ad featuring a southern couple who were allegedly relaxing and enjoying the sunset, which started normal enough, then took a strange turn:
Husband: "Sure is beautiful out here, little lady."
Wife: "Honey, what's that you're smoking?"
Husband: "Why, it's a Black and Mild. It's got that big, rich, texas flavor."
Wife: "Really? Give me a taste."
(Sucking sound, dramatic pause)
Wife: "Mmmm!!"
...and so on. I almost laughed myself into a telephone pole. Hopefully there's more like this floating around.

In other, related, news, I'm still getting used to the "Smoking or non?" question at restaurants. Gets me every time.

Fireflies kick ass. 'Nuff said.

On getting around: I live about an hour north of Dallas proper, in an area of suburbs known as the "metroplex." There are no natural landmarks to help the newcomer with directional issues. At long last, I have figured out how to effectively navigate this flat and featureless expanse: Water Towers. Every city, town, or half-baked municipality has its very own water tower, complete with the name of said city, town, etc. painted on the side. They are the only thing, besides the random clusters of office towers, that break up the landscape. So: going from Parker to Frisco? Look up. There it is! A big water tower that says "Parker." Now, look around you. Within sight should be ten to twenty more water towers, ranging in distance from "close by" to "peeking over the curve of the earth." Locate the one that a) says "Frisco" explicitly, or b) has some kind of sylized "F" and an American Flag. Drive towards that tower. See how easy? No need for mapquest!

On religion: Churches are big here. Culturally and figuratively. Fucking HUGE. The buildings are massive, warehouse-sized things, that look about as much like a church as a Wal-mart does. Same size parking lot, too. I was invited to go this past Sunday, but I respectfully declined, so that I could do the...

Quadruple Feature!!!! Yes sirree, your movielovin' pal Nik saw four movies on Sunday, in a row. Sunshine, followed by Simpsons, followed by Die Hard, followed by Bourne. The plan was flawlessly executed, the timing was perfect, the price was five dollars. That's right, the first show of the day is only five bucks!! Hahaha! I'm gonna wait a month and do it again. This was a perfect Sunday for me because I love movies, I hate church, and can't ride my bike anymore (see previous post). Plus the weather is always crummy, so I might as well be inside. I would recommend any of the movies I saw. Simpsons was funny as hell, Sunshine was super intense if you're into sci-fi, Bourne was incredible and had the best fistfight ever in it, and Die Hard was, well, Die Hard. I can also proudly claim to have seen the preview for every movie being released for the next year and a half (some I saw twice). I thought I might catch SOME flack, but I moved about the theatre like a ghost. Which leads to my final topic...

The nobody factor. I am nobody here. It's an odd feeling. I'm not saying I was the King of San Diego or anything, but I felt liked in my community, at my job, and it felt nice to go out at random and see people I knew. It took seven years to get to that point, so I can't expect to be embraced immediately by all the cool people of Dallas. Really, do I even deserve anything at this point? I'm a guy, who's new to the area, who owns nothing, and doesn't have his own place, and is still in training for his job. I wasn't expecting to make great friends right away, I really don't even want any new friends. I want my old ones. But it was me who left, so I can't bitch. But is it gonna change me? Was the Nik I was in SD, the Nik of the Wrong Trousers song - happy, carefree, Nik - was he a result of the environment? A cool job, a cool city, great friends, popular with the ladies: is that why I was the way I was? Or did my personality get me those things? I guess the coming months will tell. In the meantime, I have all the time I need to work on my reading, or fitness, or whatever. Maybe I should just avoid all human contact and work work work? No fun there. But a sound financial plan, to be sure. Because as soon as I make friends, I'll start drinking, and partying, and blowing money, which we all know I can't control. What to do, what to do?
I feel isolated. The family I live with is cool, but conversation is limited. I'm missing out on talking to a ton of my friends on a daily basis, and they only lack one friend, easily replaced. Hardly anyone calls me, which is no big deal, because I've never been much of a phone talker. But now it seems that if I have anyone on the line I get out a few days' worth of missed conversation. I hope I'm not bugging anyone. I hope if I am, someone will let me know. Don't let that stop you from calling me. It's not as bad as it sounds. I mean, it's only been a week! Why am I whining? I've got Mike, who last Saturday came by for some grilling and pool swimming. We got to drinking, and I got ahold of some painkillers, and it was just like the good old days...

On the up side, I am getting a lot of reading done. A lot. I've finished four books since my arrival, and am well on my way into two more.

Next time: nothing depressing!!