It's No Adult Film Star, But It'll Do

Well, I've now completed one week of my new job. For those of you who missed it, I am now a QAR (Quality Assurance Representative) for ICT here in the 'chi. I must say, it's MUCH more nerve pleasing than my last go 'round, which quite literally almost gave me a nervous breakdown. This job is something I think I can do for a lot longer than three weeks, if they don't lay me off by then. Apparently, at the west side location (I'm on the south side), 40 people have been laid off this week. Let's hope that's where it stops, because I'll be damned if I'm flippin' burgers up in this motherfucker.

Anyway, that's the good news. The bad news is, because of the schedule layout, I have to work every second Saturday. Not so bad, really, but did they have to make me work on both Saturdays when Gnosh and Obsidian Reign are playing shows together? I was really looking forward to that shit, too.

Speaking of stuff I'm going to miss, my daughter Taya's sixth (!) birthday is on Friday. For those who don't know, seeing my children involves a 3-1/2 hour drive, which isn't happening when I'm working 4:30pm-1am.

Regardless, it's completely staggering when I think about the fact that not only do I have children, but my little baby girl is almost six years old. To those of you who are fortunate to hold your children every day, I say savour these moments, for they leave us far too soon.

So, even though I know she won't read this, I send out the happiest of birthday wishes to Taya. I love you, and hope I can visit you really soon.

Um... sorry 'bout the downer. I try to keep a smile on my face, but this time of year kind of runs me through the wringer. Hopefully by the time next week rolls around, I'll have a brand new PV to offer. Let's hope.

Until next time, be safe. And, call someone you love.

THREAT LIKE ME
Written October 2003
I wrote this happy little ditty around the time my unemployment cheques were on the verge of expiring, I was working little to no hours for my part-time job, and I thought I was losing my grip on sanity. More than anything, it's an anthem to attest to the fact that, no matter what kind of bullshit you go through in life, the only important thing is that you do, indeed, go THROUGH it. A simple little acoustic number that I actually recorded, and I think it turned out okay. Maybe it'll end up on my forever delayed debut album.

You know what you're doing
All stoned and triumphant, and vividly conscious
But it's better than losing
Lately, I'm losing much more than I wanted

You smile, and I'll stay for a while
Until the bottles are emptied, and our judgment's defiled
You say, "It doesn't get better than this"
But if it was so good, then I wouldn't have bandaged wrists

(Chorus)
Oh, so many ways to go
Many a threat to be seen
But, of all of the dangers I know
I've never known a threat like me

I've got me a thimble
It holds all my dreams without spilling a drop
When you feel you're in limbo
You can't hope to climb, because the fall never stops

You sigh, a few hours go by
Until faith's just a memory we confuse with a lie
You say, "How did we ever come to this?"
But if I knew the answers, I could've loosened my fists

Chorus