Such the completionist I am. I need to just sit down and write this as an actual complete story instead of trying to blog a story.
Anyway... question of the day (and most likely month since I don't seem to use this blog anymore):
If you are in your mid to late 30s, and you still go out every weekend with the expressed intention of 'getting wasted', should you look at your life and realize maybe you aren't as happy as you like to think you are?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, November 30, 2009
day 1, part 5
My watch says 6:05 PM.
The garage is still and dark. I can hear neighbors in the street talking, trying to figure out what just happened.
The flashlight battery is freshly charged, so the light is bright and fills the garage. I work my way around the wedding stuff and pull the emergency release cord on the garage door opener. The door is heavy and difficult to lift, but once moving, it easily slides to the top of the track.
The air seems to vibrate with a dull hum. About 20 people mill around in the street and yards nearby, trying to get a view of the sky. I go back in the garage, grab my ladder and lean it against the front of the house.
There was definitely an explosion. I can see a huge plume of black smoke and flames that must be over 100 feet tall. It looks to be somewhere along I-35, probably near 38th Street. I can’t tell if it is on the East or West side of 35.
It doesn’t look like a building fire… more like a jet flame. I think I can hear the roar.
Maybe a gas line?
“We still have a downtown?”
Tom startles me and I have to sit quickly to keep from falling off the roof.
Tom lives across the street with his wife. I don’t typically socialize with my neighbors, but he and I have had a few conversations about the yard and house upgrades.
“Looks like a gas line blew somewhere along 35. Come take a look.”
I wave him up the ladder.
“Jesus.”
We are both hypnotized by the flame and smoke.
My watch says 6:15.
The garage is still and dark. I can hear neighbors in the street talking, trying to figure out what just happened.
The flashlight battery is freshly charged, so the light is bright and fills the garage. I work my way around the wedding stuff and pull the emergency release cord on the garage door opener. The door is heavy and difficult to lift, but once moving, it easily slides to the top of the track.
The air seems to vibrate with a dull hum. About 20 people mill around in the street and yards nearby, trying to get a view of the sky. I go back in the garage, grab my ladder and lean it against the front of the house.
There was definitely an explosion. I can see a huge plume of black smoke and flames that must be over 100 feet tall. It looks to be somewhere along I-35, probably near 38th Street. I can’t tell if it is on the East or West side of 35.
It doesn’t look like a building fire… more like a jet flame. I think I can hear the roar.
Maybe a gas line?
“We still have a downtown?”
Tom startles me and I have to sit quickly to keep from falling off the roof.
Tom lives across the street with his wife. I don’t typically socialize with my neighbors, but he and I have had a few conversations about the yard and house upgrades.
“Looks like a gas line blew somewhere along 35. Come take a look.”
I wave him up the ladder.
“Jesus.”
We are both hypnotized by the flame and smoke.
My watch says 6:15.
day 1, part 4
Trish isn’t home yet, but I chalk that up to the ongoing traffic problems. Check my phone, but still no signal. Hopefully she’s alright.
The cat is wound up… running and jumping around the house like he is chasing bugs. Gives me a needed laugh as I head out back to check on the dog.
“Babu?”
I see her head peek around the gate of her pin.
“Come on, kiddo. Let’s get you some fresh water.”
She cautiously walks across the yard; tail tucked, eyes locked on me.
“What’s the problem, pup?”
I squat to her level and start to scratch her ears. She immediately relaxes and pushes herself closer to me.
She knows something is off today; should have paid attention before I left the house.
My watch says 5:57 PM.
“Let’s go inside and get you some food”
I dump her water bowl into the yard and head for the door.
I don’t know how to explain the noise… I remember as a kid there was an explosion at (I think) a refinery that could be heard for miles around Longview. Our house was 15 or so miles outside of town, but I remember my mother or father saying that they thought the chimney had fallen. It was a single BOOM similar to the sound of a sonic boom; only much, much louder.
It lasts all of a second, but I feel the sound pressure in my chest as the air pushes out of my lungs. My ears immediately begin to ring and my eyes begin to water. The windows on the porch and kitchen shatter in their frames.
I stumble to the ground, gasping for air. It’s like the world has gone silent and still. My head swims as I try to comprehend what just happened. I can faintly hear the dog barking; sounds like she is miles away. Shake my head to clear the cobwebs.
What the hell?
The dog has gone nuts; sprinting around the yard, just barking.
“BABU! INSIDE! NOW!”
I pull fresh air into my lungs and fight off the urge to panic.
I pull open the back door and shove her inside. The slamming door causes the remaining glass in the back window to fall out of the frame into her kennel.
“Babu, go to your mat.”
I point to her padded mat made of egg crate foam.
She slinks over and lies down. She looks calmer, but her eyes are still wild and she is shaking. Her kennel is closed and latched, so I’ll worry about the glass later. I grab a chair from the table and lay it on its side in front of the bigger pieces along the back wall.
“Yaji?”
I look around for the cat.
He’s in the corner of the back guest bedroom under the bed, and refuses to come out. He’ll be fine for now. I’ll get some treats and see if I can’t coax him out in a bit.
The cat is wound up… running and jumping around the house like he is chasing bugs. Gives me a needed laugh as I head out back to check on the dog.
“Babu?”
I see her head peek around the gate of her pin.
“Come on, kiddo. Let’s get you some fresh water.”
She cautiously walks across the yard; tail tucked, eyes locked on me.
“What’s the problem, pup?”
I squat to her level and start to scratch her ears. She immediately relaxes and pushes herself closer to me.
She knows something is off today; should have paid attention before I left the house.
My watch says 5:57 PM.
“Let’s go inside and get you some food”
I dump her water bowl into the yard and head for the door.
I don’t know how to explain the noise… I remember as a kid there was an explosion at (I think) a refinery that could be heard for miles around Longview. Our house was 15 or so miles outside of town, but I remember my mother or father saying that they thought the chimney had fallen. It was a single BOOM similar to the sound of a sonic boom; only much, much louder.
It lasts all of a second, but I feel the sound pressure in my chest as the air pushes out of my lungs. My ears immediately begin to ring and my eyes begin to water. The windows on the porch and kitchen shatter in their frames.
I stumble to the ground, gasping for air. It’s like the world has gone silent and still. My head swims as I try to comprehend what just happened. I can faintly hear the dog barking; sounds like she is miles away. Shake my head to clear the cobwebs.
What the hell?
The dog has gone nuts; sprinting around the yard, just barking.
“BABU! INSIDE! NOW!”
I pull fresh air into my lungs and fight off the urge to panic.
I pull open the back door and shove her inside. The slamming door causes the remaining glass in the back window to fall out of the frame into her kennel.
“Babu, go to your mat.”
I point to her padded mat made of egg crate foam.
She slinks over and lies down. She looks calmer, but her eyes are still wild and she is shaking. Her kennel is closed and latched, so I’ll worry about the glass later. I grab a chair from the table and lay it on its side in front of the bigger pieces along the back wall.
“Yaji?”
I look around for the cat.
He’s in the corner of the back guest bedroom under the bed, and refuses to come out. He’ll be fine for now. I’ll get some treats and see if I can’t coax him out in a bit.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
day 1, part 3
My watch says 3:00 PM.
People are apparently not panicking yet. Target is busy, but not out of essentials. I buy 20 one gallon jugs of water, about 30 cans of vegetables and 10 loaves of bread. The dude at the check-out counter imprints my card and I head out towards the car.
Military convoy headed south on 35.
Are they moving troops from Ft Hood?
Paranoia setting in … military vehicles blocking the roads, the capital building cordoned off, almost a full day of no electricity in the city, no cell service… this may only be short term, but I do not want to be caught with an empty house. Worst comes, I have extra vegetables and water when everything normalizes.
I stop by Academy on the way home and pick up some propane canisters for the Coleman stove and charcoal for the grill. The store is surprisingly slow.
Maybe gas is back on…
My watch says 5:45 PM.
Finally home. No electricity, but the alarm is still kicking. The house is pushing 95 degrees inside.
Fucking Texas summers. Great time for this.
People are apparently not panicking yet. Target is busy, but not out of essentials. I buy 20 one gallon jugs of water, about 30 cans of vegetables and 10 loaves of bread. The dude at the check-out counter imprints my card and I head out towards the car.
Military convoy headed south on 35.
Are they moving troops from Ft Hood?
Paranoia setting in … military vehicles blocking the roads, the capital building cordoned off, almost a full day of no electricity in the city, no cell service… this may only be short term, but I do not want to be caught with an empty house. Worst comes, I have extra vegetables and water when everything normalizes.
I stop by Academy on the way home and pick up some propane canisters for the Coleman stove and charcoal for the grill. The store is surprisingly slow.
Maybe gas is back on…
My watch says 5:45 PM.
Finally home. No electricity, but the alarm is still kicking. The house is pushing 95 degrees inside.
Fucking Texas summers. Great time for this.
Monday, July 6, 2009
day 1, part 2
This has not been a good day. Hot morning, no electricity, no hot water, no cell, traffic, but at least I get the rest of the day off.
My watch says 12:45 PM.
Only in the office for about fifteen minutes, and the car is already hot. I crank up the a/c and think about the house. Currently running in the mid 90s and getting hotter. I need a fan... maybe three.
360 south is backed up as far as I can see. Not waiting through this again, I take the emergency turn around and head north. Traffic isn't much better, but it is moving.
People are not happy. Between Lost Creek and Bee Cave, people on the southbound side of the road are out of their cars yelling at each other. Can't blame them, this is pretty fucked.
I turn onto Bee Cave and slowly work my way back towards the city.
Still need a beer. I'm stopping at the first bar I see. They must be giving everything away cheap since the electricity is out. I cut down Westlake thinking Hula Hut.
Westlake Dr. is not too bad at first, but the backup starts again leading up to the gas station at Red Bud Trail.
No electricity, no pumps folks. Get moving.
Glad I filled up yesterday.
My watch says 1:30 PM.
Hula Hut is closed.
Damn
I head down Enfield towards Mopac. Gotta stop by Home Depot or Target, but I have no cash. Hopefully they have trained their folks on the old credit card imprint machines.
Finally make it to the Enfield/Mopac intersection and notice a Humvee blocking the on-ramp. Not a Westlake soccer mom Hummer, but a full amphibious, military model. Southbound ramp is fine, but two soldiers are keeping folks off the northbound side.
What the fuck?
I continue across town and there's another at 15th and Lavaca forcing everyone to turn north. At least it's in the right direction.
Something big has happened.
My watch says 12:45 PM.
Only in the office for about fifteen minutes, and the car is already hot. I crank up the a/c and think about the house. Currently running in the mid 90s and getting hotter. I need a fan... maybe three.
360 south is backed up as far as I can see. Not waiting through this again, I take the emergency turn around and head north. Traffic isn't much better, but it is moving.
People are not happy. Between Lost Creek and Bee Cave, people on the southbound side of the road are out of their cars yelling at each other. Can't blame them, this is pretty fucked.
I turn onto Bee Cave and slowly work my way back towards the city.
Still need a beer. I'm stopping at the first bar I see. They must be giving everything away cheap since the electricity is out. I cut down Westlake thinking Hula Hut.
Westlake Dr. is not too bad at first, but the backup starts again leading up to the gas station at Red Bud Trail.
No electricity, no pumps folks. Get moving.
Glad I filled up yesterday.
My watch says 1:30 PM.
Hula Hut is closed.
Damn
I head down Enfield towards Mopac. Gotta stop by Home Depot or Target, but I have no cash. Hopefully they have trained their folks on the old credit card imprint machines.
Finally make it to the Enfield/Mopac intersection and notice a Humvee blocking the on-ramp. Not a Westlake soccer mom Hummer, but a full amphibious, military model. Southbound ramp is fine, but two soldiers are keeping folks off the northbound side.
What the fuck?
I continue across town and there's another at 15th and Lavaca forcing everyone to turn north. At least it's in the right direction.
Something big has happened.
Friday, July 3, 2009
day 1, part 1
Woke up late this morning; no electricity. Fuckin' hot. Don't think there was a storm, but I sleep pretty heavy. Could hear the dog in the living room whining...
"What time is it?"
Trish grunts and rolls over.
I roll out of bed, and stumble to the living room.
"Mornin', pup. Need to pee?"
Babu dances in her kennel; her answer is obviously, "Yes you stupid bastard!"
Check the phone for the time, but the network is down. Weird, I thought these things had internal clocks. Grab my watch... "9:30! Holy shit it's late! C'mon dog; outside."
"What time is it?!?"
Trish is up.
I turn off the house alarm (supposed to have weeks of power on battery backup) and shove the dog out back. No time to hang out with her before the shower.
No hot water says there's either a problem with the water heater or the gas is out along with the electricity and cell network. What the hell? Wash quick, brush teeth, brush hair, pants, shirt, socks, shoes, keys. Trish is already gone, so I set the alarm and head for the front door.
Dog. Water for the dog.
Deactivate alarm, leave water for Babu on back porch. She's cowering in her hole by the faucet; tail tucked, legs shaking.
"What's the problem, dummy? C'mere."
She is scared to death, and wants nothing to do with me.
My watch says 10 AM.
"I'm sorry, kid, but I don't have time this morning. I'll see you this afternoon."
Lock the door, reset alarm, head for car. Plants need water; why is it already so hot? Another job for this afternoon. Gotta get to work.
Start the car and plug in my satellite receiver. No signal. Check terrestrial radio. No signal. What is going on? Flip to CD (RJD2's alright; only CD in the car), and get moving.
I hit the first bit of traffic trying to turn from Pampa onto Airport. The lights at Airport/Guadalupe and Airport/Lamar are out.
Fuckin' A, great! At least they aren't testing the trains
10 minutes to get across Airport and onto Guadalupe. Turn onto Brentwood to connect with Lamar. This light is out too.
Shouldn't there be cops out or something; directing traffic?
I cut across Lamar on Brentwood into the Crestview/Brentwood neighborhood. Turn onto Arroyo Seco to connect with Koenig. I can see the traffic backed up on Koenig as I come around the curve at Alegria.
"Shit." Looks like everyone else overslept as well.
I cut down Palo Duro to get me closer to Burnet. As I turn onto Koenig, I see that the Koenig/Burnet light is out too. At least this one has a cop directing traffic.
30 minutes after leaving the house, and I finally cross Burnet. And the story is the same all the way to Mopac.
Where are all these people coming from? Why can't they just get out of my damn way?
There's a massive wreck at the Mopac/Koenig intersection, closing the on-ramp. No lights here either. As far as I can tell, 4 cars; one upside down, one crushed into the bridge support, two follow ups. Someone died here. Likely multiple someones.
I should go home. This is just not worth it.
I check the phone again; still no network. Can't call work, can't call Trish, can't get out of traffic...
I'm going to murder someone today.
I take the backroads to get over to Westlake. Traffic sucks the whole way, all traffic lights out, but I finally make it to the office.
My watch says 12:30 PM.
I'm met at the door by security.
"No electricity today. You're welcome to take the stairs, but no electricity means no A/C."
"Great. I just need to talk with my boss. Will the doors open since our badges can't be read?"
"Got 'em all already propped open. Trying our best to circulate some air, but Texas heat and all..."
"Thanks."
I climb to the third floor and look for the boss.
There's no one here. Fuck this.
I climb down and head back to the car. I just want a beer.
"What time is it?"
Trish grunts and rolls over.
I roll out of bed, and stumble to the living room.
"Mornin', pup. Need to pee?"
Babu dances in her kennel; her answer is obviously, "Yes you stupid bastard!"
Check the phone for the time, but the network is down. Weird, I thought these things had internal clocks. Grab my watch... "9:30! Holy shit it's late! C'mon dog; outside."
"What time is it?!?"
Trish is up.
I turn off the house alarm (supposed to have weeks of power on battery backup) and shove the dog out back. No time to hang out with her before the shower.
No hot water says there's either a problem with the water heater or the gas is out along with the electricity and cell network. What the hell? Wash quick, brush teeth, brush hair, pants, shirt, socks, shoes, keys. Trish is already gone, so I set the alarm and head for the front door.
Dog. Water for the dog.
Deactivate alarm, leave water for Babu on back porch. She's cowering in her hole by the faucet; tail tucked, legs shaking.
"What's the problem, dummy? C'mere."
She is scared to death, and wants nothing to do with me.
My watch says 10 AM.
"I'm sorry, kid, but I don't have time this morning. I'll see you this afternoon."
Lock the door, reset alarm, head for car. Plants need water; why is it already so hot? Another job for this afternoon. Gotta get to work.
Start the car and plug in my satellite receiver. No signal. Check terrestrial radio. No signal. What is going on? Flip to CD (RJD2's alright; only CD in the car), and get moving.
I hit the first bit of traffic trying to turn from Pampa onto Airport. The lights at Airport/Guadalupe and Airport/Lamar are out.
Fuckin' A, great! At least they aren't testing the trains
10 minutes to get across Airport and onto Guadalupe. Turn onto Brentwood to connect with Lamar. This light is out too.
Shouldn't there be cops out or something; directing traffic?
I cut across Lamar on Brentwood into the Crestview/Brentwood neighborhood. Turn onto Arroyo Seco to connect with Koenig. I can see the traffic backed up on Koenig as I come around the curve at Alegria.
"Shit." Looks like everyone else overslept as well.
I cut down Palo Duro to get me closer to Burnet. As I turn onto Koenig, I see that the Koenig/Burnet light is out too. At least this one has a cop directing traffic.
30 minutes after leaving the house, and I finally cross Burnet. And the story is the same all the way to Mopac.
Where are all these people coming from? Why can't they just get out of my damn way?
There's a massive wreck at the Mopac/Koenig intersection, closing the on-ramp. No lights here either. As far as I can tell, 4 cars; one upside down, one crushed into the bridge support, two follow ups. Someone died here. Likely multiple someones.
I should go home. This is just not worth it.
I check the phone again; still no network. Can't call work, can't call Trish, can't get out of traffic...
I'm going to murder someone today.
I take the backroads to get over to Westlake. Traffic sucks the whole way, all traffic lights out, but I finally make it to the office.
My watch says 12:30 PM.
I'm met at the door by security.
"No electricity today. You're welcome to take the stairs, but no electricity means no A/C."
"Great. I just need to talk with my boss. Will the doors open since our badges can't be read?"
"Got 'em all already propped open. Trying our best to circulate some air, but Texas heat and all..."
"Thanks."
I climb to the third floor and look for the boss.
There's no one here. Fuck this.
I climb down and head back to the car. I just want a beer.
again with the beginning of the begin
the following is obviously fake. You are all alive and know that nothing like this has happened. You may ask, if there is no electricity, or if he is living in his car, how is he blogging? Well, you're stupid. Stop thinking about the how and just let me write. I swear, you are always judging me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
