The Five Things I Do

Where, Oh where to begin? Things went from dismally slow to so fast it's hard to keep up. And I sure haven't had much time to log my thoughts and experiences here. Since I have been lamenting the job search for so long, let me begin there. I got a job part time at UPS sorting boxes. The hours are over night, and the pay isn't much, but the long term benefits can be enormous. I just hope I can hold out there long enough to see them. After being there a year, the benefits are free. Free medical, dental, and vision. Tell me another company that does that. By itself, that is reason enough to take $9.50 an hour. Also, in a year, I can put my name on the list to become a package car driver. They top out at $30/hr after two years. I think I can handle that! The workout is a fringe benefit that one can't really argue with either.

I was also hired by Carlton Cards at Newport Centre Mall. They called me looking for an assistant manager, and I, of course, heeded the call. Full time days and overnights make for a busy, busy week. I am pretty sure I can get one day off a week from both places to relax, and write...or sleep. Keeping this busy really does keep me out of trouble. Fortunately, or not.

Two weeks ago, I joined a church out here in Jersey City. It is somewhat similar to the teachings I grew up with, but not quite as legalistic...perhaps that's not the word I'm looking for, but they are definitely not as judgemental. I don't believe it's up to people to judge anyway. I really like the practical teaching they offer and the people are really friendly. What? Friendly people in New Jersey? Oh, yeah.

I met someone out here. He's a really great guy, and his name is Ismael. The "h" is silent because it nonexistant. He and I met a few weeks ago after a short chat online, and have really become good friends since then. He was a lifesaver last weekend when my aunt and her friend came to visit. He opened his home to me so four people would not have to stay in this one-room apartment. I appreciated it, and I'm sure my sister did too.

Sleep. I do that too, every day for a couple hours.

Usually, when I sit down to write, I just let it come out. I'm never really quite sure where my ramblings will go. Interestingly, just the other night, Ismael told me that I do too much. My response was "Three things. I only do three things. No, four. I only do four things. Wait, no five. Five, and that's it." They are working at UPS, working at Carlton, church, see Ismael when I can and sleep. Funny how it turns out the four paragraphs above were about those things. I had to add the fifth cuz I only do five things. I'll keep it to this for now, but there is more news coming. And big!

Note: After publishing this post, I read it and the last one. The similarities are scary. Perhaps I need to do more than five things, so I have something different to write about. Perhaps I need to do less, so I can keep track of what I have already written. Or, maybe I just need to write about the funny things that happen every day instead of overviewing the bigger things in my life. Stay tuned.