Calm to my Chaos |
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Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Julia just pointed out that she once worked at Pizza Hut. We agreed that working at Pizza Hut sucked way more than working at Baskin & Robbins. We also just decided that everyone should get three "Uncles" in life. So, that whenever they just want to give up they can say, "Uncle." Speaking of which, I once knew this really stupid chick who thought that people have six livers. When I was in high school, my first job was a holiday job at Champs Sports in the Pasadena Town Square mall selling athletic shoes and apparel. (Funny how life is so cyclical that I now work at the media agency of record for adidas and spend my days helping them sell athletic shoes and apparel.) But, after Champs, I joined one of my friends working at the local Baskin & Robbins. I think that every red-blooded American at one point or another worked at Baskin & Robbins. I started as a "scooper", so to speak, and over time realized I actually had a flair for cake decorating and started doing that more and more. It was really a great job. I worked with my friends, or friends at the time, and spent hours upon hours just laughing with them while waiting on disgruntled customers. There were the occasional regular customers like Susan, the ice skating teacher. And, that older woman who would always come in and get vanilla malts because they were so fattening. She would bring them home, blend in eggs for protein, and serve them to her sickly husband in an attempt to help him gain weight. The Baskin Robbins I worked at was in a shopping center anchored by a Randall's grocery store, a large craft store, and a Mexican Restaurant. In between were various eateries and Asian nail shops. But, most importantly, there was a Taco Bell across the parking lot and a Subway next door. And, of course, being the dishonest high school kids that we were, we had struck up deals with our dishonest colleagues of both Taco Bell and Subway. The deal is quite obvious. We would basically give them free ice cream in exchange for free food while we worked. However, this all had to be done "below the line" so to speak so as not to raise suspicion amongst anyone's manager. Over time I got to know the ladies who worked at the Subway quite well. (One of them's husband participated in Low Rider shows and made t-shirts for the event. She always promised to bring me a t-shirt from one, but never did. One of the great disappointments of my life.) I probably ate more Subway within that year and half span than any other human, with the exception of the obvious... Jared. Tonight, I left work at around 10:40 after working a 14-hour day in the office. I was driving home and thinking what I'm usually thinking after working my ridiculously long, unrewarding days ... "What am I going to pick up for dinner?" Bristol Farm would be closing in twenty minutes, Feast from the East closes at nine o'clock, California Chicken Cafe would close in twenty minutes. As I looked out the driver's window of my car, I noticed none other than a Subway with an "Open" sign flashing in the window. After making a completely illegal, and likely unsafe U-turn in the middle of Santa Monica Blvd., I parked and went into Subway for what I literally think was the first time since I was in high school, working at Baskin & Robbins. No shit. (After living in Austin for five years I became incredibly spoiled on the best sandwiches in the world...Thundercloud Subs. After that, Subway fained in comparison.) I unenthusiastically ordered my sandwich and they placed it in that long, narrow, clear plastic bag that apparently is only made for Subway as I've never seen another bag like it anywhere else. When I got home and bit into my underwhelming sandwich, I had a total flashback from the taste to sitting on top of a five gallon bucket of cake icing in the back room at Baskin & Robbins laughing hysterically at something stupid Matt was doing. And, all I could think was how much I'd rather be working at Baskin & Robbins right now. I need sleep, a day off and a raise. But, instead, I'm going to go write three presentations. (P.S. - Another great story from my time at Baskin & Robbins is the time three guys came in to buy a cake for their friend's bachelor party and asked me if I could write profanity on a cake. Given that there was a store full of families, I had them write their request down on a piece of paper for my evaluation. I took a look at the paper and said, "I can do that. What color do you want the writing in?" Their reply was, "Pink. Glowing pink." So, after I was done, those three guys walked out with a cake for their buddy with the most perfect cursive cake writing of my life in the loveliest shade of pink icing... the text reading, "Suck a Dick." I don't know that I've ever taken so much pride in my work throughout my entire life as I did in that single instant.) I love L.A. Just as I was about to drift off into slumber, moments ago, I was awoken by a familiar buzzing sound. A look off my bedroom balcony confirmed. There was a police helicopter circling our house casing a spotlight onto Santa Monica Blvd. Jesus. Just shoot the bastard and let the rest of us sleep. Don't know if anyone has ever checked out this magazine before, but I saw it on the newstand at the Newsroom Cafe in West Hollywood this weekend and it reads quite interestingly. It is a magazine about books and has involvement from Dave Eggers amongst others. But, check it out. It's called The Believer. Monday, August 30, 2004
I was watching Martin Sheen on Inside the Actors Studio. For a man who barely graduated high school and has spent his life as an actor, Martin Sheen, to me, is wise beyond education. He is a man who seems to be educated by life and his proactive experience of it. Among the many insightful things that he said, he said: "I love my country enough to risk its wrath." This was in reference to Martin being such a political activist and having been arrested 64 times for protesting. (He is currently still on probation.) But, I thought... what an amazing statement. He loves his country so much that he's willing to point out its faults which many of us are too cowardly to face. It's amazing to think of the potential that approach has. The way we as a nation and our government approach so many issues that face us today is by placation of the majority. We underestimate the power of helping the majority realize something that they may know to be true or right underneath, but need help and leadership to reach. Rather than actually leading a nation and its people to what is right, the approach is to simply play to the lowest common denominator for the sake of "winning". When we don't challenge ourselves or allow ourselves to be challenged by others. By not holding ourselves up to an ideal, we make no progress. We may not be able to change the world in a sitting or one stroke of legislation. But, we can change ourselves. And, given that the world is made up of individuals, think about the amazing power those individuals can have. Sunday, August 29, 2004
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