Swimmer

Until a year ago I had lived by the ocean for my entire life. When I say near the ocean I mean within two miles of the ocean. I miss it.

I didn't go swimming all the time but I liked seeing the water and the smell of the salt air. This photo is of the Gulf of Mexico. September and October are the best months for swimming down in Florida. The water is still warm enough to be enjoyable but the temperatures aren't so extreme that you can't enjoy the beach outside of the water.

Driver.

I have what I consider to be a brand new car. Its a 2009 Honda Fit. When I got it there were 4 miles on it. The Fit was my first new car and the nicest thing I had ever purchased. One day it will be passed by a home but for right now its the most money I have ever committed to one thing.

Last week I was sitting at a stop light when I was rear-ended. Some teenager who cannot even tell me what happened hit the car behind me who then hit me. So far the insurance is taking car of everything and we have a rental car for the low price of two dollars a day (damn taxes). But I have no idea when the car is going to be finished and I really hope that everything is fixed to my liking. The insurance company is guaranteeing the work of the shop we took it too because its one of their authorized locations. So, if it is not fixed to my satisfaction I can take it back to that shop for the life of the car. But, that simple fact that should make me feel better doesn't. I simply wish that it hadn't happened or that the guy who caused the wreck had a believable excuse for why it happened. I'd be willing to bet that he was screwing around with his phone. But, I'll never really know.

Roof Riding.

Living with Gabe immediately after high school was an extremely drunken time in my life. I had no job and nothing to do except hangout at the skatepark or tattoo shop. I would hustle money in various ways. Mostly giving the squids rides to the base from the tattoo shop, making needles or selling whatever I had at the time. Considering my priorities at the time I am lucky not to have been involved in anything illicit.

I was having a wake-up beer before going to job interviews and completely wasting those peoples time. I don't think I would have taken a job if they asked me, but the way I behaved nobody was going to ask me. I had no direction and no one to steer me in any specific direction. I was living in the moment. Which means sitting on the porch until drinking until sunrise and then trying to scrape together enough gas money to get across town.

One of these nights, while almost through our first case of Yuengling, me, Gabe, and Billie decided to go to the mecca of Southern late night cuisine: Waffle House. If there is a Waffle House in the town you currently live you are truly blessed. Might I suggest scattered, smothered, covered, topped and capped.

Anyway, Gabe got behind the wheel, he was the that special kind of drunk when you are a better driver. Billie got in the front passenger seat, she's a girl and they always seem to get that privilege. While I decided that I would ride the 8-10 blocks on the roof of Gabe's early 90's Corolla. I was holding on to the sides where the windows would have been and facing the oncoming traffic like a spear flying in an ancient battle. The ride went off without a hitch. I don't even remember being scared.

However, when we pulled into the parking lot, with me still on the roof of course, there were two police cars parked next to each other. Immediately, we all thought that we were busted and were going to jail. But, the cops didn't even seem to notice us go by. They were embroiled in an intense conversation about whatever the hell cops talk about and they wouldn't have noticed if I was on fire riding on the roof of the car.