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| Hokay.
I am now in my new place. So far my room is furnished with a coffee table, a tv, suitcases, and an inflatable pool toy which I have been sleeping on. I have a bed on the way, yup.
Today I was sitting at Java Jones thinking to myself and reviewing my past. So far since coming to America I have studied psychology, philosophy, love, and now food. Mind, soul, heart, stomach and the appetites of each. I went to boarders to pick up some more books for summer reading and thought it only appropriate to get "The Reasons of Love" from the philosophy section, and "How we are Hungry."
I am now on my way to the pool to soak up the last rays of sunlight and enjoy a book or two.
It's only been a week since I became unhomeless, but I can already feel the life lessons slipping, I find myself too comfortable.
"The lust for comfort murders the passion of the soul, and walks in smiling to it's funeral."
I have yet to write a lengthy list and lengthy thank-you to all of you involved, it is on the way.
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| Finally, I am finished with my finals. They all went fairly well except for overcooking the eggs.
I am sitting at Java Jones again with my backpack full of clothes, Teresa, laptop, other backpack full of books, bedroll strapped to the outside - large white mocha and large iced coffee.
I still have one more project to complete and turn in by Thursday.
This month - I really must say - has been incredible. Absolutely with out a doubt a face to face encounter with the world in all its pain beauty ugliness and joy. I have had several moments that hit me with such force, such clarity. I stared the moments in the face and said to myself, "Daniel, you remember this moment, remember how you feel RIGHT now. Hold on to this and treasure it."
There was the time I did my laundry at the marina, then took a nap in the park, after my nap I went to 7-11 and bought a microwave pizza. As I sat out front hiding from the wind behind a garbage can I thought about where I would be an hour from then: work; a high end - fine dining establishment. "I can do anything."
There was the moment last night near the end of the barbecue in the driveway. We sat around the coals talking and trading jokes - a few waiters, a single mother, a high school student, a parking attendant, and an ex-con. I had a love poem in my pocket from the inside of a chocolate wrapper. When the coals died down I put it in, the flames kept us warm for a little longer. REMEMBER this moment, how unlikely that this group of strangers -now friends- would sit around eating tri-tip and hot dogs the way we did that night.
Only four days of this remain, soon I will not have this marvelous excuse to meet strangers. Oh, my new address:
649 Verde Mar #E
SB CA 93103
Look at the amazing location on googlemaps! Wow.
I should try and get this project done soon.
Much love.
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| Today the 11'th day of my homeless state. I have stayed at 6 places so far.
Finals week is right around the corner. There are so many stories I could tell, and I don't really know what to write except that this past week I've realized that I have a lot more friends than I thought.
I still feel drained and worn, perhaps work tonight will rejuvenate me?
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| To one and all.
I finally found a place to stay...
in June.
The month of May, for me, will consist of sleeping on friends couches, preparing for finals, and working.
That Daniel guy sure is a crazy one.
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| Attack of the FalangIt was a dreary Sunday night at the Harbor and I had just been moved from section G to C.
Table 302 was pushed together with 303. If I was transferring the table to another server I would say something like this: "4 adults, 3 children, separate checks, the kids meals didn't come with the fruit and salad substitutions they requested (the only thing that got messed up on their highly customized order), and the lemon meringue was 'too soupy' and got sent back. Good luck." But I'm a nice guy and wouldn't do that to -most- of my comrades. Also, I needed the money, so I kept it. I also kept 307, family of three, waiting for their desert and coffee, oh - and when he said "coffee" he meant an espresso.
But not to worry, now I'm moving into a good section.
As I head to the bar to get the espresso I note that 211 has just been seated. I see a well dressed family of 5, I hear accents, I do not hear english. Danger danger danger. I greet them, and to my relief the father speaks english, in fact - they all do! I easily sell them some bottled water and a few diet cokes. I turn around and start for the bar again.
Not so fast, 210 has just been seated.
I decide they'll have to wait a moment while I get the check for my daycare table and deliver the espresso. I drop off the drinks for 211, ice in the diet coke, I was testing them. I get an appetizer order and head to ring it in on my way to 307 with the espresso. On the way I see that 221 has been seated. I joke to Sean, "it's like I'm running a field hospital and I have to choose who has to die."
I deliver the espresso to 307 and drop the checks on 302-303 as I hurry to greet 210. The three of them are speaking in rapidfire french, as soon as I stop next to the table the woman barks "two lemontinis and one lemondrop" 211 is also ready to order. I go to the bar and ring in the martinis, as I do, one of the guys from the daycare table comes up to me with the checks. (OH no! Something's wrong.) Nope, he just wanted to pay and get out of there, fine by me. I swipe the cards and tell him I'll be right there with the receipts. I ask Justin to greet 221 for me and I load up a tray with martinis for 210 and more diet cokes for 211.
First I drop off the dc's to 211, then the martinis to 210. The woman explodes on me, saying she had ordered one lemontini and two lemondrops. I was so tempted to tell her that not only had I written her order down, but that she has spat it out so rudely that it would be seared in my mind for several days as two lemontinis and one lemondrop. I bite my toung and beg her forgiveness while I fix it. I return shortly, with drinks for 221 and the "correct" drinks for 210. This time I got it right...??? I rush off to pick up the check for 307 so they can leave, they've been my favorite table all night - and I've barely been there at all. Returning to 210, I take their order, two bacon wrapped scallops and one well done sizzling sirloin.
If you've made it this far into my boring evening, this is where the plot thickens. This is the kind of thing that I don't even think I could make up if I spent weeks. I'll leave out the complications of the family of 5, since they really weren't too bad, and even managed a higher tip than I thought.
Table 221, Family of 4, two small children. She orders a chop salad with no onions, miniburgers for their son, and a cheese quesedilla for their daughter, he orders the lobster tail, oh - and by the way, she mentions, it's his birthday. By this point in the evening, I am feeling rather frazzled, but I manage to flash a charming smile and say happy birthday as I dash away to put in his order and bring some fresh sourdough bread.
The food for 221 comes out before 210, because he ordered a well done steak. I was worried they would notice and protest, but they didn't. The birthday boy looked delighted to have his birthday lobster. I go away and wait for him to taste it before returning to refill waters and check on the food, everything was delicious. Finally, things are starting to settle down.
I head back to the kitchen and prepare the tray of food for 210, the sirloin is served on a sizzling skillet, the aroma is incredible. I carry it out and set the tray down next to 210, and I notice birthday boy on 221 staring at the steak. I'm tired, but still aware of my surroundings, particularly anything that will give me a hint to the needs/wants of the guest.
Retreat! The voices scream. -too late.
Birthday boy waves me over, "I'm sorry, there's something wrong with this lobster, it just doesn't taste like I remember lobster tasting like, I donno what they did to it in the kitchen, but it's just not good."
"Well I'm very sorry to hear that sir, (I say as I remove the 1/3 eaten lobster from the table) would you like to take a look at the menu and order something else?"
Inside my mind a different scene plays out. "Oh you don't like the lobster? Would you perhaps like to have this gentleman's steak, maybe his lemontini too?!?"
"Sure, I'll take a look at the menu." I return the lobster to the kitchen and inform the chef that "the lobster doesn't taste like lobster" then I go to Sam the manager and tell him that the birthday boy didn't like the lobster and is going to order something else.
As I head to the hostess stand for a menu, I wonder what I'll do if he orders the sizzle. Maybe a backflip, that'd be cool.
I return with the menu and he 'looks' at it, then asks me, "did that guy over there for the prime rib?"
"No sir, (I reply) that's the sizzling sirloin."
"I'll have that."
Nothing spectacular happens, I just crumble a little inside.
"And how would you like it prepared sir?"
"Well done please."
"Yes sir, well done" -and well played-
It didn't get much worse from there, just the usual birthday cheesecake, polishing wine glasses and silverware, resetting tables, cleaning server stations and doing postshift paperwork.
The martini table left me 20%, a pleasant surprise, and 221 left me a little over 10%.
Splendid.
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