Austin's Lesbo BBQ

I'd like to get out of town.

I dread going into work...all twenty hours that I put in a week. I spend most of it reading and karaoke-singing/cleaning to BOB FM.

Yes, I still work at a pizzeria...and, no, the basic functioning of this type of restaurant hasn't changed since the last time you visited...

It's just that business is s-l-o-w this time of year. As opposed to this time LAST year, when I was working at a restaurant that was crazy-busy in the summer.

A time for reflection...I suppose. But, no...not really. I...NEED to get out of town.

I've been feeling this for several weeks.

The Peace Corps stuff has come to a lull while I await the very last, tiny test result to come in (and even after that, it's more waiting...), school is about to start and I can't decide whether I'm really looking forward to working as a costumed-prison-warden again...or dreading my non-educator employment...

Gah. Moving. There's that too....I'd like it to just happen. Like, one day I'm at my house, and the next day, I'm not! And...if I play my cards right, it just might work out that way...

...all this, and I still feel like the future is Jell-O...and not your fun-lovin' Bill Cosby puddin' pop Jell-O...but, rather, the scary pear-cube-laden-molds that rest upon a table of less thanks and more giving (Christ. Use your imagination..).

..and, I'm just starting to believe that...sure, I don't have it that bad, but it's hard to get a genuine smile on my face.

Eh. Mediocrity works. I'm still alive, right?

I worked for six hours tonight, but it felt like nine...or at least seven and a half. Again, I pretty much just read and hung out...by the end of the night, all "work" had been done and there were a few bike-riding-customers hanging around the shop come closing time.

Nice guys, they were....asked me to give them and their bikes a ride home for a ten dollar bill in my favor. I didn't really see how it could hurt...I have a truck, the bikes fit and so did they...so yeah. Why not?

I checked out of work and casually mentioned to my shift-leader that she should probably tell someone if I didn't show up to work in the next few days, but, really, not to worry...these three guys had just put down an equal number of pizzas...and couldn't have been any older than 20...maybe.

Anyway. It's not that exciting. I gave them a cautious ride home (as I get a little nervous when there's live cargo in my pickup bed) and dropped them off at the Chili's on 45th street. One of the guys handed me the promised bill...we exchanged a few chatty words and then parted ways.

So, I get home and empty my pockets only to discover that they had given me a twenty instead of a ten! Well...damn. I felt kinda guilty...I should've looked at the money and offered them change...or something...but, I didn't. I just pocketed the bill...as it's habit.

A three mile ride is hardly worth twenty bucks but, I didn't really know what to do. I had a brief exchange of first names with these guys...but, I'm pretty bad about paying attention to that kind of shit. I'm a third-meeting-gets-the-name-down kind of person.

So, I did what any thoughtful, twenty-something Austinite would do: I posted a Missed Connection on Craigslist...

I figured that would suffice...at least, for my consciences' well-being. But, hey! Next thing I know, I done got a reply!

His email..I just thought this was so damn cute....or, maybe, a reaffirmation of humanity:

hey how funny... dont worry about the change we all decided it was worth
the extra ten.
we had eaten a bunch of ganja food earlier and were way fucked up.. we
werent looking forward to the ride at all.
thanx a bunch for the ride, nice to know theres still nice people in austin.

Anyway. It put one of those things on my face that appears without forethought...oh yeah! A genuine smile...