Hey all,
I guess it is about time for a new post. That huge oil spill really tears me up, that's why I put those videos up, but didn't feel like writing much about it.
It's like I take my re-usable bag to the grocery store, to save a plastic bag made from oil, and at the same time we spill 1 MILLION BARRELS into the ocean. Just feels so pointless.
And speaking of pointless:
"Fighting for Peace is like Screwing for Virginity" I got that from my friend Hugh in his daily funny e-mails from Canadia (I couldn't come up with that of course). Obviously, there is a lot of truth in that. Let me talk about Fighting for Peace first:
I met a gut this week, who brought his car to the shop where I work. Pan gasket blown, so his engine was really loosing a lot of oil, and that takes a long time to fix. He knew it. Did not have a ride, so he was just waiting and waiting and waiting to see what we could do. This is one of those un-thankful jobs, so I got it.
LOL I am not complaining, but my efficiency rating is really good, and even tho all my coworkers are really cool with me, it starts ticking them off a bit. And management is really happy with me, but they think the other guys should have a chance to get their hands on the efficiency bonus - only they SUCK and don't care to do a good job, and that is why they don't get it. OK let's just say it is a bit rocky at work, and I get the hard cases, and everyone else the easy ones right now.
Yeah, so this dude. He came with his truck and it was dripping coming in, and he didn't even have a ride. He looked messed up, like, you know, broken. He was sitting on the curb, sort of waiting for the verdict, LOL. I could see him from my bay. So I went up to the office and told them the truck needs at least the pan gasket and looks like the water pump (cos it's leaking), meaning timing belt, too. The guy zip-tied one of the cables inside, so he didn't look like he had that kind of money to spend. Mike did not really want to tell him, so he said if I wanted to show it to the customer? He said the book says at least 12 hours labor for all, and if he asked, the gasket is $50 and the water pump $130, but he should be doing the timing belt, too.
Normally I NEVER talk to customers except when they come to the back to get their cars and to give me a tip LOL.. but I got this vibe about that guy and that is why I said ok. So I went to him ont he curb and said dude you wanna come look and he just got up and sort of trotted after me. I really don't know why, but he gave me the vibe that he's been through a lot. And not even old, I figured younger than me, maybe 25, and in some ways cute.
So I show him where the gasket popped out and why it is leaking so badly. Adn where the water pump leaks. He just looks and doesn't say a word, so I tell him the tranny has to come out to raise the engine a bit to get the pan off, otherwise I can't get to the gasket. And he gives me this look, that reads like "I am so fucked" but it's like a sad thing. He didn't even say anything, so I told him yeah thats a lot of hours. I don't even have the heart to tell him what the waterpump costs and about the timing belt, and for sure not about anti-freeze and HazMat and all the stuff Mike adds up to it in the office.
Thats why I HATE to talk to customers .. I feel bad for them, but it's not my fault that there cars are often so fucked up and it just is a lot of work and parts to get them back together! And in a way, especielly with this dude... I felt he just got screwed royally and thats why I even agreed to go talk to him. I guess I felt I could relay to what he is going through, whatever that is.
OK, I am not wanting to lie to you but I had kid of a GUT feel what that was.. he looked like a military guy, one of those vets that got back and are waaaayyyy too fucked up to get back into normal life. It was just a vibe but he sure looked and acted the part. I met too many of these guys through Josh and Master Mitchell, and all their military buds.
So this guy still had not said one word. Dude, this is your fucking truck, not mine. You are already in for the diagnostics and shit (unless Mike has a really good day up front) so you better talk... ok I didn't say it but I was getting just a tick annoyed that I was the only one talking, and as FUBAR as I am, this is my fucking job. And NOT my job to talk to customers at all, I kind of went out of my way already.
Anyway, he finally worked himself up to say that this looks like it is going to cost a bundle to fix? And he said that sort of in a resigning way, like he was totally bummed out. I guess I knew why, of course it is costly, like $1,500 minimum (or 2k after Mike is done) and I felt he may have had like $20 in his pocket.
I just said dude you can't drive it like that.. you are lucky you made it here, it dripping as bad as it is. He just shook his head, and I just asked him whats the deal with you?
LOL he gave me this looooooooong look,like he was thinking if it was even worth the effort telling me, or just walk away from his truck. That happens, sometimes, we have two cars right now sitting, where the custies just walked away frustrated.
So whil ehe is thinking about that, I suddenly realized that I did not studder a single time talking to him!!! I mean not ONCE. Just because I was not even thinking, and was just so into the situation. LOL of course with that second, I knew the next thing I would open my mouth for, it was over with that.
So then he says dude, I can't do it. I just got back from Iraq, my 3rd tour, my girl kicked me out the day after I got back and she has a new guy, I am basically on the streets, and starting my truck after over a year, it starts pissing oil (by the way, this is a 2006 Chevy with just 43k miles on it).
What the fuck am I gonna do now? So here is a straight dude whose been obviously through a lot, in some fucked up country that doesn't even want our help, and who is very obviously fucked up. And then he comes back, his chick fucks a new dude, tells him to get lost, and then his truck of course doesn't work right (no wonder, if you let it sit for a year).
I wasn't really sure what to say. I mean that is just fucking WRONG. If you are with a soldier, you don't go fuck around, and that's true for str8 or gay, Forget about the don't ask don't tell, this is just not right (they still haven't repeeled that, have they?). I guess if anyone gets screwed being sent over there and risk their lives, just because they joined up to get an education and a chance in life, they deserve some respect, and some help when they come back. And mostly, if they got fucked up in the head doing it!
I couldn't think of anything to say so I asked him so what you with, Army, Airforce, or what? And he says army, nothing even cool like the Navy boys or Airforce. That made me sad.
So fuck. I know why I don't deal with customers, this is exactly why. Now I suddenly felt this was my problem somehow, not his. But with this dude, I wasn't mad, I guess it's just fate. So I told him to hang there, and went up to the office to go see Mike. LOL of course now my studderuing is back at the worst ever! I just meant to ask Mike if there was any chance if he would OK it to give the guy a break, being a fucked up vet and all but Mike did not even wait for 2 minutes for me to try to get that out. Most people get really impatient, and very fast. But at leas he got the drift, and very fast. He said the guy doesn't have the cash, right? So I nod. You want to help him out? I nod again. Mike looked at me in this "way" he got and then said "ok...." can he pay for the parts? LOL I was trying to say something but Mike said so if I wanted to sort that out with him, so I could just nod again - which I did. So then Mike looks at me and said SO WHAT?? Go talk to him and find out! And if you want to put in the labor, you know you are not going to get paid for the time, and it's not going into efficiency rating, right?
OK why am i feeling suddenly bad for trying to be a good guy?????? Anyway...
I don't even bother try to talk to the guy if he has the cash for the parts. Cos I forgot to say he was eying the water fridge we have (clear door), and when I told him dude get one if you want, it's free, and he gulped it down, but didn't dare get another one, so I went back myself and got him 2 more.
So I thought I call Josh... you have been reading my blog, and some of you sent me emails and stuff and think he is like the complete asshole or whatever, 'cos like he is with me. And I love him but many of you don't understand. But he is not like that at all.
So I called Josh, in the middle of the day, at work, and of course I can get hardly one word out. And like I've said, he can read my mind (ok maybe this one wasn't so difficult to figure out). He got the basics down fast and said don't worry, it will get sorted out. Tell the guy to chill and wait and start working. I KNOW WHY I LOVE JOSH. He knows what needs to be done, and he gets it done. I didn't even bother to go up front and talk to Mike, and since it was slow and I didn't have anything else to work on, I tried to tell the dude to chill and that it's gonna get worked out. Fat chance. He gives me this look but I guess he doesn't want to be judgmental about the studdering, so i finally scribbled on a pad "it's gonna be OK, go chill for a while". And get to work. Iknow when Josh is on it, I don't need to worry. Not if it's about serious shit, he would never ever leave me hanging there.
So, like 2 hours later, I got the tranny out, oil drained, engine propped up some to get the pan off, and about ready to need parts, and of all people JOE pulls up. LOL if you have been reading my blog for a while, you know who he is...... the big black guy who loves eating me for breakfast just because I am racist about black people, He tore into me a few times just for fun for that.
Anyway, so Joe pulls up, and I know there can only be one reason, and that is because of this guy and Josh. I wasn't worried though... Joe is AD, and I know all these military dudes stick together when it comes down to it.
Joe goes straight up to the office to Mike. LOL I have to say I was very curious what happened next :)
So after a couple of minutes, Mike and Joe come out to the shop to talk to me. Mike says are you ok to work on this for free, basically? This guy is going to pay for the parts. What can I say, so i get out a 'yeah' since Mike sees I got a lot of it apart already. And Mike gives me this look, like he is going to say "what is going on here that I don't know?" but shruggs his shoulders, and Joe talks to me the first time, like he has never seen me before in his life, and says if I think I can finish it by the end of the day? I am trying to say if I get the parts, then yeah (cutting it really close tho) but Mike picks up on that and says yeah the parts can be here in less than 20 minutes, so I can just nod.
So Joe says to Mike, OK lets do this and Mike walks backup front to get the parts and finish the papers. Joe stayed behind and and kind of headnutted me with his fist, and said "dude, I give you this one" (meaning something like he liked it). Then he went out to the guy, and after a few minutes they left together.
So I get cracking, cos to finish that, it is going to take a while... Mike came back al ittle bit later and had the gasket, the water pump, and the timing belt, and also some spark plugs, wires, and oil.... I knew this meant skippinglunch and maybe doing some over time. But hey, I was SURE this would get back to Josh somehow, and that cannot be bad :)
So i put in some effort, and got it all finished 10 mins to closing. Even adjusted the timing and fixed a few other small things. Joe and the guy didn't show up though, and 10 minutes after we closed, Josh calls, and says to hang out. SO just a minute later Mike came and said whats the deal with my friends (friends???) and I get out somehow they are coming. So Mike says it's all paid, if I want to stay and wait for them with the truck and key? So I do, and he closed up and everyone leaves.
TWO HOURS (!!!!) later Josh pulls up with the guy. When they get out of his car, the guy looks a little wobbly, and Josh just says to me to give him the keys. And then he introduces us, and says Kevin here fixed you up, and the other guy is Larry. That is the first time I even heard his name.
Larry is really done though... I guess it has been a while that anyone was nice to him, and he was obviously worked up a lot. He shook my hand but then he just kind of hugged me. That was a bit weird, I mean for a straight military dude, but sweet anyway. Josh said Kevin tell him you fixed him up right, but -fuck doh!!- I coudn't get a word out, so Josh said to Larry, don't worry, it's all fixed right.
And he said you will have dinner with us on Thursday, like that wasn't a question.
With that Larry takes off, and he seems really happy and awestuck. That did make me feel happy, too.. I mean i basically worked all day for nothing (free), but it still made me feel good, and MOST IMPORTANT, Josh liked it.
So yeah it was worth it. Josh took me to dinner (!!!!) and got me drunk (!!!!) and lol you know what happened later :-)
And that Thursday we did have dinner with that guy, and Joe was there, too. But he was all cool and chill, and I was at my very best behavior. he whole time I was expecting Joe to pull something with me, but he was all nice, really nice to that guy, got him to talk and shit, and it was chill.
By the way, just listening to this guy: you really (!) don't want to join the army and get sent to Iraq or Afghanistan or wherever. This is really fucked up, and when you get back, you get fucked even worse.
And you think, you fight for freedom and peace.
But is there peace in Iraq now? No.
Do we even have their oil? No. We have a huge oil spill here instead.
How many of our boys are dead for this? Over 5,000
How many of those coming back are fucked up? All of them.
So:
Fighting for Peace is like Screwing for Virginity
I have been screwing LOTS since i was 12 (well, got screwed), and I only got further away from virginity.
Obviously.
I guess I don';t need to talk about screwing too much.... onyl that I get it a lot, it's a lot of fun, too, because it's my bf doing it :)
All the other stuff just comes with it. ike having to go to Master Mitchell's sometimes, JOsh fucking around a lot, hitting a lot more than it's fun, and all that.
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