The Good, the Bad, and... the Good? · 4:17pm Mar 5th, 2015
Things are happening. Like, really happening. I know most people don't give a shit about what goes on with me, other than "when are you going to update you miserable pile of-"
Weeeeell, lets start things off with that then! Ch2 of Whittler is done, just waiting final nip-picking edits, then it will be posted. Dibs ch2 is almost ready for editing, just got a little bit more to go with it.
Now, to the Good, Bad, and... Good again? That doesn't happen often.
Good #1: New job!
That's right. For the past two months I've been working a weekend job at a local airport as a lineman. Basically I fuel airplanes, move airplanes, and whatever else is needed of me (mostly the new "mechanic"). The job has been wonderful, my boss even more so. That being said, as of this Sunday, I will be becoming full time! The days aren't exactly set yet, but I'll either be Thurs-Sun for like, eight to ten hours a day. Or Sat-Tues, the same hours. So what does this mean? Well, I'm hoping it means that with those three days off of work it will give me more spare time to actually write more without feeling exhausted from the dumb hours of delivering newspapers.
That now brings up the Bad.
I'm sure like 1% of you really care at all, but because I like to tell stories I'm gonna give you a little bit of back story as to why me quitting my newspaper route is a bad thing. My mother has been delivering newspapers for over 25 years, the last 15 being with The Flint Journal. Since I was about eight years old, I have been helping with these newspapers. For most of my younger years I just rode along with her, rolling and bagging them so she could throw. Or tube the occasional paper that was on the opposite side of the road. Then on the Sunday edition, I rode in the back of a panel van, on my knees stuffing well over two thousand Sunday newspapers. Back then, those bastards were like two inches thick.
Eventually, once I got my license, I began actually delivering the store route. I'd have one of my friends tag along while I drove. They stuffed, I got out and dropped them off. Then, four years ago, I got my own route. Over the course of these many years, things have only gone from bad to worse with not just TFJ, but newspapers in general. From cutting days, to raising prices, to even cutting delivery areas. Not to mention the fact that my knees are shot from the years in the back of that van, and my wrists are pretty much gone too. Things have only gotten worse, and for the longest time, I was frustrated with it. I wanted to blame something, and so I found the internet to be the main culprit. Thanks to the internet, the younger generations feel as though there is no more use for the paper. I could sit here and argue my points/opinions as to why I think that's a load of shit, but I've learned better. Besides, one of my close friends brought up a very good point.
"The newspaper has been around for hundreds of years. It's a wonder it is only now becoming obsoleted."
It's a rather good point, the more I think about it. And while it sucks for people in the industry, I guess everything has its time. So, you may then be wondering, "ROB, just why is this a bad thing then?" The fact that I'm quitting something I've done for literally most of my life, that's why. I have to admit something; I have issues with change. It's why I'm so old fashioned, and why all my stuff is older than I am. See, those things are already obsoleted and old, there for they don't change. Newer stuff? It's constantly changing and advancing. So how I see it, if I keep myself in the past, I have nothing to worry about. It's already been skipped over, so my constant stays the same.
It's probably not very healthy, but neither is drinking.
So while I'm super excited for my new full time job, the fact that I'm giving up something I've done for so long has really rattled my already deteriorated mind. It also doesn't help the fact that, because my route is so far from Flint. That doesn't sound like that big of a deal, right? Well, here's another story. About two years ago, another carrier decided to quite as well. His route was close to mine, and we'd pass each other occasionally while we delivered. When he quit, they couldn't find a replacement. So, since it was so far out, they decided "If we can't find a replacement for the route, we're probably gonna eliminate it." And that's just what they did.
In the warm months, I deliver to over 160 people, and another 20 Sunday only's. That's roughly 180 people I will be dooming to the possibility of no longer receiving the paper if they can't find a replacement. 80% of my customers are older, borderline elderly, whom can't even leave the house. And in these colder months, I drive up their driveways and toss the paper at their garage doors or porch. This has been a huge weight on my shoulders, and I just don't know what the right thing to do is.
I'm sick of the life the newspaper has given me, but I'm also sick that because of me quitting could be effecting these loyal customers I've had for four years.
Well, enough of that crap, lets get on with the final good.
The Good #2: Regular Livestreams planned.
Not sure if any of you remember years ago when I did regular weekly livestreams. Well, because of this new job, I'll be having three free days to do whatever, so once I know what days I will be working I plan to set aside one evening a week for a livestream. It will either be me and some other authors playing video games (to which you can hear my horrible voice) or me writing, answering questions, and listening to records. I know there are a few of you out there whom enjoy just having the stream up in the background with my records playing, and that's cool with me.
I'm really hoping that with this new change in my life that things will begin to improve. Falling into a regular sleep schedule for the first time in my life. Being able to set aside my good thinking hours to focus on fics and enjoy this little hobby of mine. Not destroying my vehicles every week, and actually being able to afford to fix them the right way, not half-assed like I've been doing for so long. I guess let's just see where the future takes me, hm?
Just don't expect to find me behind the wheel of one of these new hydrogen bomb cars though. I'll stick with my un-economical explodable gas tankers I call my cars, thank you very much.
Aw, but atomic powered cars are really retro!
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