THE NEW CAREER













Well, the first week of a new career is over. Week one of a 6-week training program at Greyhound has been succesfully completed. This with glowing accolades from both instructors. If only they'd known how it almost didn't start. I'll get to that.

The first day was strictly classroom. And I had two strikes against me as I forgot two things I was specified to bring (my Class 2 learners license and a void cheque). More on why that happened later. The next four days were split between a little class work in the morning and then straight to the bus for pre-trip and post-trip inspection training as well as driving.

I was a bit stressed out at first seeing as it was only my second time behind the wheel of a large bus; and this one was 45 feet long as opposed to the 40 foot bus of Coast Mountain (the only other bus I took out on a training run to date). But, after a few right turns with a good instructor all was well. As the week concluded I was pulled aside by an instructor who told me I had a very good first week of training. But, of course.

Well, it almost all didn't happen as I had to seriously consider calling in sick on my first day, especially during the two times I spent vomiting between 3 and 4 a.m. Monday morning. Random Thoughts and I started Sunday afternoon with three pints and a bite to eat at The Charlatan, the newest hot spot on the Drive. From there RT dropped me off at Stella's where I continued the beer drinking. After the beauty of a couple of servers started to enrapture me along with the alcohol I had to kick it into high gear. Thus, I ordered up a couple of Jack Daniels in a tall glass with a lot of ice. Those went down rather smooth and quickly and I had to say my goodbyes before I went ahead and told one of my favourite girls in the world exactly what I think about her. This would usually be a good thing, but you see, I think she has a boyfriend, and I technically didn't even have a job at this point. So, I left Stella's.

On my way home I came across a little place called Falconetti's. Looked nice enough and there was a couple of cute girls working there. Ahhh, Jen and Brit. So, upon my entrance here I had to have another beer. The next thing you know that beer had vanished and in it's place appeared a couple of Jack Daniels in a tall glass with a lot of ice. Time flew, I watched some of the Canucks game and before I knew it I was walking home before I told one of my other favourite girls in the world exactly what I think of her; even though I think she'd like it if I told her.

Well, I sit down on my couch once home and get ready to listen to the rest of the game on the radio. Lo and behold there's a roach sitting in the ash tray right in front of me. A few bone joint movements later and Bob's your uncle, that roach is touching my lips and I'm inhaling like a fiend. A drunk, horny, in love fiend. Next thing you know it's past midnight, I'm laying in my bed fully clothed and we're back in the first period of the hockey game; the radio had kicked in the midnight re-broadcast. I get up, disrobe and fall right back into bed after turning off the radio and lights.

Cut to 3:19 a.m. I make my way to bathrooom and take a leak. No problem there, make my way back to bed and crash. A few minutes later I feel a rumbling in my belly and up into my throat. I've been there before and knew I had to make that walk of shame to the washroom to let it all out. It came out and I felt like I would die. Back to bed and less than five minutes later I got that feeling like a blow the pride again. Up again, walk of shame again, and then an expulsion like nothing I've had in years. What ever happened to the days before January 4, 1997 (the first time I ever threw up from alcohol consumption). Anyways, made it back to bed and managed to sleep till the alarm went off near 7 (after I'd reset it from 6:30).

So, that's the story of my first week in new employment. I still don't like the idea of working.