blkdragon

grounded
2009-02-22 16:57:26 (UTC)

Services aren't social

2/17/09– 10:28 pm? Didn’t get up for the pool this morning,
phone was ringing, Charles asking if I’d take him home after
class; I told him that I had no gas for that and he then
acted as though he’d found the dollar he needed to catch the
bus home. I needed to go to Social Services, made it there
by 9:20am, the place was packed beyond capacity; I tried to
find the line I belonged in. I had to listen to idiots
complaining about things they were (obviously) previously
aware of, idiots trying to be amusing, the guy behind me
continuing to ask aloud; “Where’s my gun-where’s my gat?”
If he wasn’t doing that he was attempting to direct traffic,
“Make way for the lady,” then there was the jerk complaining
about his pregnant girlfriend getting him up at 6 am to be
there; she’d gone outside to smoke a cigarette and left the
Baby and young Son with the (supposed) Father. This clown
was talking about “Punching this bitch in the face” for
leaving the crying (for his Mother) Son with him, talk about
the dregs of humanity, I’m aware that the poor aren’t the
only inconsiderate assholes in the world; thankfully I was
only 5th in this line.
My phone would ring, it was Charlotte, I tried answering and
missed the call; I tried calling and noted “emergency calls”
on my screen. I didn’t bother trying again, I planned to
call AT&T upon leaving, I’d just spoken with a rep last
night about my bill and the next payment; I made a point to
confirm that my service wouldn’t be interrupted. I got to
the counter, the woman would tell me to return Friday
morning, I couldn’t believe it and repeated what she
suggested with incredulity; I smiled at her and made my
exit. I’ll certainly be there Friday at 8:10am, I’m sure
I’ll have to dress for inclement weather, we’re expecting a
storm tomorrow night and it’s supposed to continue until
Friday; I’m accepting the reality of my situation with
humility. I called AT&T, informed the representative of my
problem, he suggested sending updates to my phone; I’d need
to turn it off for 15 seconds. I’d turn it back on to wait
for the representative’s call to check on the status of my
service, everything seemed to be fine.
I’d decided to stop at Devon’s job, he was on the phone with
his Uncle, apparently his (crackhead) Father hadn’t returned
home in the last two days; the girlfriend called his Uncle.
There was nothing Devon could do about that, we said hello,
I told him what I’d been doing so far this morning; he asked
why I was walking. I told him that Social Services wasn’t
that far from my apartment and it was a relatively pleasant
morning, he’d inform me that if I’d had a full tank of gas
I’d have driven, not likely but perhaps; depending upon the
weather. We didn’t talk about much, he’d ask if I needed
money, I’d tell him that I did; he’d ask how much I wanted
and pulled out the largest denomination in his wallet. I
told him when to expect his loan returned, he tried to joke
about the possibilities of my not returning his money, he
needs to stop thinking of his life as a dime store novella;
he’s not Buggy Regal and I’m not Dregs Simon.
He asked what I’d be doing later tonight, I told him I was
supposed to be doing Yoga, I was heading home to prepare for
the pool; I told him I’d stop by if he’d be up at 7:30 and
he said that he’d probably be preparing for bed.
I called Charlotte, she asked why I hadn’t picked up the
phone when she called, I told her what had happened and what
I had to do; I asked where she was? She told me that she was
preparing to enter a pool, one of the events she’d planned
for Charlotte and herself, she’d keep me on the phone as she
prepared; we’d end the conversation when she realized she
needed both of her hands and she asked if she could call me
later? I was now home and told her that she could call, I
packed my bag and headed for the pool, I said hello to Faye
and told her that I was not in if Charles came by; I then
went downstairs. I put my suit on, weighed in @145 and hit
the pool, Nicole appeared and said that she was tired; I
didn’t bother her with useless banter. I entered the pool,
leaving the fins on the deck, I pushed off to begin a breast
stroke; I seemed to be exerting a lot of energy without
benefit and returned for the fins. I had no plan of attack,
no idea how far I’d swim this morning, I knew from looking
at my stomach that I no longer needed to swim daily; I could
only be flatter if I were dead. I decided to do 1/4 mile, I
began with the breast stroke, after lap two I took of the
gloves and lap three would be a freestyle stroke; it took a
lot out of me as I knew it would. Nicole watched me take the
gloves off, she smiled, I think she likes to watch me cut
through the water as much as I like doing it. I was trying
to figure out the smoothest way to turn at the wall with
fins on, how to stroke and breathe keeping my head under
water, getting to a point where I can do the freestyle
without exerting so much energy; I doubt if the exertion has
much to do with my recent injury. I’d also planned to do
more swimming under water, see how long I can hold a breath,
I’ll do more of that on the breast stroke; I think I’ll try
something different in the morning. I believe I’ll continue
doing sets of three, breast, back and freestyle, with the
last three laps freestyle.
I’ll be shooting for 3/4 miles on Thursday, I think I can
dive underwater as I approach the wall and reverse my
direction without a pause, since I’m not necessarily working
on speed (per se), I’m working on muscle interaction; I
think I may include my arms on the back stroke as well.
I’d stop to talk with Nicole, while I hung onto the wall,
Cathy’s Sister came into the pool; pretty young thing, she’s
19. Nicole would tell me that she’s as ditzy as her Brother,
apparently they’ve all been adopted; she seemed to be rather
nice though. I didn’t pay the girl much attention, Nicole
and I would work on the ring idea for a while, I showered
and dressed to leave. I turned on my phone, Charlotte had
called, I dialed her number and was talking to her on my way
out; I said good bye to Faye and told Cathy that I’d contact
her whether I planned to do Yoga or not.
Charlotte was telling me about her swim, how she’d hit her
head on a rock and bordered on a headache, she and her
Daughter weren’t having as good a time as she’d thought; she
was basking in the sun and planning to take a nap. We talked
until I got close to home, I told her to go to sleep and
we’d talk later.
I returned home to find a letter in my box from Lynne’s, I
thought it was the money she suggested sending, I noted the
envelope had tape on it; I opened it and found a card from
her Daughter. I opened the card, more like a snowflake, it
had nothing in it and for a moment I thought someone had
stolen the money Lynne may have included, I called her and
found out that I was wrong; thankfully. She laughed and we
talked while she prepared to go somewhere with the girls,
I’d send a text to her Daughter, thanking her for the card;
she’d respond with a text. Lynne would call me later, Pelham
would call while I was on the phone with her, he left a
message stating he’d been by the apartment; I never heard a
knock at the door.
I’d gone to the store after talking to Lynne, perhaps he
stopped by while I was gone, I guess he didn’t notice there
are no tags on the Stratus; I could have sworn I told him
that I was now driving the Caddy, not important though. I
now realize I need to go to a locksmith to check out the
keys for this design, I imagine I’ll return Pelham’s call,
have him put my ear to sleep.




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