Life in the BIOAPI lane
Clearly, I'm posting less. Main reason - new job. Details to follow, but, it is pretty bad in almost every way imaginable: Longest commute I've ever had, unimpressive pay, rigorous time demands ... start with 18 hours of conference calls a week and build from there..., horrific working conditions packed 4 to a 10X12 cube, no windows, low ceilings, flooding bathroom ... it goes on, but I need material for the "why I quit" post.
A week or two into it, I began to realize that the long days were not a short term thing, and was wondering how soon to contemplate exit strategy. On a Friday night, about 7pm, I disembarked from my train, boarded my 12 year old Taurus, and began the last leg of my hour and 45 commute. On cue, a pedestrian walks in front of the car in front of me, which stops short, I brake, foot goes to floor, the Taurus proceeds unabated...
In the next quarter of a second, the experience of a lifetime of hand-me-down, used, pre-owned and well-worn toys, clothes, bikes, cars, houses and women ran through my mind, somewhere in all that I found the right reaction quick enough - pump the brake madly and steer away from the car in front of you.
I avoided a collision, but now had a dilemma - do I call AAA and pretty much piss away Friday night, already I'm exhausted from leaving most mornings at 6, and not being home before 8, till, maybe, tonight, or do I try to coax the car to the repair shop, a few miles away, through traffic lights and never ending congestion, and call my wife to pick me up there?
I drive.
By going juuuuust slow enough, downshifting the automatic, and pumping the brakes like mad when needed, I avoid disaster, and make it to the shop. There, I noticed the quickly growing pool of fluid just under the drivers side back door, which I would later be told was a rusted brake line, part of a whole system that was in sorry shape.
Wife comes to get me , brings me home for dinner, then we put the kids to bed. Afterwards, I mention how my years of driving old cars sure did come in handy as I knew how to avoid disaster, and even saved the time associated with a tow. I should have known I was inviting trouble - better off to be the pissed off stoic like dad. The return volley was unexpected - oh sure, maybe "You idiot - you could have killed yourself or others, and left your children without a father!" would have been appropriate, maybe even right, but I just didn't see......
"Well you know, you don't need to live this way anymore - I for one am sick and tired of looking at this crappy old kitchen table, it's not pretty, I'm embarassed by it, and I'm still angry you wouldn't buy me the one wanted ETC ETC ETC " for ten minutes...
While she was talking - no need to really listen to the specifics, I already know the tune - I thought about the original inspiration for this blog, the Bang It Out and Paint It lifestyle, and was reminded that it is not for everyone. I also wondered if she was right...not about the table, that's just fine, I tell you, but whether I should buy myself a better car - not just yet, though.
So, the next week, I drive our other old car to the train, for another hell week. Thursday night, 7:30, getting off the train, guess whose alarm is going off, light are flashing, and battery is dead?
I called my brother for help - he totally gets it, helped me out, and gave me no shit whatsoever. Thanks, Dom.
A week or two into it, I began to realize that the long days were not a short term thing, and was wondering how soon to contemplate exit strategy. On a Friday night, about 7pm, I disembarked from my train, boarded my 12 year old Taurus, and began the last leg of my hour and 45 commute. On cue, a pedestrian walks in front of the car in front of me, which stops short, I brake, foot goes to floor, the Taurus proceeds unabated...
In the next quarter of a second, the experience of a lifetime of hand-me-down, used, pre-owned and well-worn toys, clothes, bikes, cars, houses and women ran through my mind, somewhere in all that I found the right reaction quick enough - pump the brake madly and steer away from the car in front of you.
I avoided a collision, but now had a dilemma - do I call AAA and pretty much piss away Friday night, already I'm exhausted from leaving most mornings at 6, and not being home before 8, till, maybe, tonight, or do I try to coax the car to the repair shop, a few miles away, through traffic lights and never ending congestion, and call my wife to pick me up there?
I drive.
By going juuuuust slow enough, downshifting the automatic, and pumping the brakes like mad when needed, I avoid disaster, and make it to the shop. There, I noticed the quickly growing pool of fluid just under the drivers side back door, which I would later be told was a rusted brake line, part of a whole system that was in sorry shape.
Wife comes to get me , brings me home for dinner, then we put the kids to bed. Afterwards, I mention how my years of driving old cars sure did come in handy as I knew how to avoid disaster, and even saved the time associated with a tow. I should have known I was inviting trouble - better off to be the pissed off stoic like dad. The return volley was unexpected - oh sure, maybe "You idiot - you could have killed yourself or others, and left your children without a father!" would have been appropriate, maybe even right, but I just didn't see......
"Well you know, you don't need to live this way anymore - I for one am sick and tired of looking at this crappy old kitchen table, it's not pretty, I'm embarassed by it, and I'm still angry you wouldn't buy me the one wanted ETC ETC ETC " for ten minutes...
While she was talking - no need to really listen to the specifics, I already know the tune - I thought about the original inspiration for this blog, the Bang It Out and Paint It lifestyle, and was reminded that it is not for everyone. I also wondered if she was right...not about the table, that's just fine, I tell you, but whether I should buy myself a better car - not just yet, though.
So, the next week, I drive our other old car to the train, for another hell week. Thursday night, 7:30, getting off the train, guess whose alarm is going off, light are flashing, and battery is dead?
I called my brother for help - he totally gets it, helped me out, and gave me no shit whatsoever. Thanks, Dom.
posted by Steve at 3/31/2007 05:13:00 PM
5 Comments:
Sometimes you may need to step back from the BIOAPI lifestyle and consider that some things just can't be banged out or painted.
What you also need is a phrase that captures the philosophy that stands in direct opposition to BIOAPI. May I suggest "Had To Have It?" It's a phrase used by Dom and myself to describe a purchase made (sometimes by me, more often by our wives, never by Dom) that was impulsive (some DVD) or cool yet rarely used (a waffle iron; a chimonea). Then when the thing breaks or is thrown out or given away (after a year), you say, "Yes, that's right--had to have it! Glad we bought this thing! Had to have it!"
Had to have it. Brings to mind the famous words spoken by Senator Wendell Ford. The caller said, "I ain't near >rich as you."
So what did Ford say? I don't get it.
Look it up Jimmy. It's like how you are when you get that big ol' check from the IRS each year.
Let's go. New post.
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