Toro: the Neighborhood Friendly Boy

That’s how Bill introduced you to me, as the neighborhood friendly boy, the beach boy, the best boy.  You were all those things.  You died on Wednesday, it was awful.   Nat found you and he covered you with your blanket.  You waited until everyone was gone and then you left too.  Bill called me on his way home from work, he sounded okay then, I cried like a baby.  He said I could come over for a small ceremony, but I had to keep it together.  I thought he was serious.  I had to wash my face twice and put on makeup just to look remotely composed.  When I got to your house it was dark.  I brought dinner and Jameson and found that I was already two shots behind.  There is something so unnerving, so endearing, and so horrible about seeing grown men cry, even if they are young men.  It means something horrible really has happened.  Then your Papa came home.  Nat had called him at work and he’d rushed to get to you.  We picked a spot and dug your grave together, on the side of the Squire.  Originally, Papa Dave was going to put you in his Mom’s backyard, but we didn’t want you stuck with a pack of ferrel chihuahuas for eternity.  Your Pap carried you outside and everyone said something, you’re buried with Bill’s blanket, my scarf and a rock.  Yesterday your boys put rocks over your spot and Bill even tossed one in the ocean for you.  He’s really sad.  You know he’s a stoic, but he loved you so much, he cried as much as I did- that’s a lot.  At least I can get away from it, the truth, they can’t.  They walk around the Squire and everything reminds them of you.  We’re watching out for your Pap, making sure he’s okay in your absence.  We miss you boy and we’ll love you always.

Unemployment

    I got laid off yesterday.  In parting, my former employer gave me two weeks severance, a quick apology, and the promise of a sterling recommendation.  The best thing about being laid off, is nothing.  Like grief, coming to terms with unemployment has it's stages.  Shock, anger, sadness, bad TV, panic, more sadness, drunkenness, laziness, the list goes on.  The problem is, it seems you don't experience each stage just once. I've cried about it at least three times, I've panicked even more than that, but it's the bad TV thats bothering my currently.  I saw at least three previews for movies about getting married and they're all coming out in the next few weeks.  What the hell is that?  Sure, for the people getting married this spring or summer, it's very cutesy; but what about the rest of us?  What about the people way too unattractive to embrace the idea of marriage?  What about the hopelessly unemployed (c'est moi)?  The crazy cat ladies?  The elderly?  Homosexual individuals (in most states)?  You couldn't throw us a zombie flick, maybe a heist, or some form of espionage since we're clearly not getting married and thus cannot identify?  I think the titles of the upcoming "films" are something like, " Bridesmaids", "Something Borrowed", and I can't remember the other one but it was pretty lame too.
      Day two of being laid off, I had to go shopping for an interview outfit.  Since, I wore scrubs to my last job, I really don't have any formal work clothing.  After the second hour of shopping, I began to envy the people who become suicidal when they're laid off.  I've applied to 16 jobs so far and am either under or overqualified for all but one.  That one is perfect and I'm willing to bet it'll be the one I never hear back from.  Just kidding, I don't plan on hearing back from at least half of them.  Ouch.

Cocoa Puffs

I really like that we're not pussy-footing around with chocolate flavored cereals anymore.  Move over Count Chocula, Cocoa Puffs, and Cocoa Pebbles, because Kellogg's is straight up puting chocolate chunks in their cereal.  Also, apparently if I eat this crap twice a day I'll actually lose weight.  What has become of the food pyramid in this country?