Week #3

I start work at 2:30 and get out at 6:30. Four hours, some would say, "Suck it up" but my how my shift goes depends on someone else's mood, something I'm not particularly fond of. I can count on having a bad day 2 out of 5 days of my work week. I really enjoy my job on good days, it can be very rewarding, but on the bad days, my patience run thin and sometimes the thought of getting a new job crosses my mind. The hours are too perfect to fit my classes in durring the day and then work a few hours in the evening, so the only "sucking up" I'm going to do, is sticking out this job for as long as I can.

I need to start getting ready by 1:40, done by 1:50, my L.L. Bean tote bag is packed, which consists of a sweatshirt, water bottle, and a binder with all my work papers in it. Before I go, I let Brodey out, throwing the firsbee for him a few times before putting him inside for five hours.

 It 2:00, time to go.

Google maps says it's 16.4 miles from my door step to the place where I work, 28 minutes. However, after doing this drive for a little over two years, it feels like it takes an hour to get there. The drive is boring, there's only one way to get to there, unless I want to add an extra 20 minutes to my drive for a scenery change, I'd rather spend the extra 20 minutes at home with my dog.

I get in my car, put my bottle of water in the cup holder, tote bag in the passenger seat, and put the radio on Z107.3. I channel hop the entire way to work, annoying myself at times. I can't call anyone to talk to make the time pass quicker since I have spotty service and it would only frustrate me to keep losing signal and having to keep calling the person back, so I safe myself the trouble.

The drive starts by going through the town of Dexter, from one end to the other.  Nothing ever changes, besides maybe a new pothole that may have emerged. One pothole is big enough to do front end damage, for real. All this town does is fill the holes with some kind of tar filler that washes out when it rains. The only part I look forward to is going over the lake, passing over the bridge that has the lake on both sides.  I get to see how rough the water is, see if there is anyone fishing, or if there are any boats out there. It's even better when it's sunny and nice out.

The next 13 miles are nothing but hills, trees, and a house here and there. Fortunately, I don't get stuck behind any buses, just the occasional slow truck driver that struggles up the hills. Which, ironically enough, seems to only happen when I'm running late from throwing the frisbee for Brodey one too many times.

After getting past the lake in Dexter, the speed limit is 50mph, except for about 1/4 way through, in North Dexter, it turns to 45mph going down a hill, which is as annoying as it sounds.  Especially since every now and then a cop will tuck himself in behind a building at the base of the hill waiting for someone to pull over. Luckily, I havent been that someone...yet.

There are two houses I'm in love with that are along my daily route. The first one is about the halfway point on my journey to work. It's a cute two story, old farm house that has apparently been updated. It has tan cedar shingles, two bay garage, paved driveway and a freshly planted willow tree out front by the rock walk way. The only negative about the house is its about five feet from the main road. But I can picture it now, I'll be walking up the rock way, while David's parking the SUV in the garage, I'll let Brodey out and he'll go greet David with jumping up on him. Later in life, I'll be yelling at the kids to stay away from the road. That house wont work.

The next house is about five miles away from work. It's a split lever house with pretty green cedar shingles, a  two car garage, cute porch, paved driveway, and sits about a half a football field's length away from the main road.  You're greeted with a huge rock that has the family's name on it, and beautiful flower gardens line the well taken care of lawn. The only negative thing about this one is that I'm not a fan of split level homes, but I could look past that depending on the layout of the inside. Again, I can picture it now, David will be getting home from work being greeted with the large rock that says "Sinclair's", Brodey and I will be waiting on the porch to greet him next, and we'll walk up the stairs into our house so I can get dinner ready.  Later on in life, the kids will be playing on the lawn. It could work.

Back to reality, I find myself wondering what type of mood my consumer will be in, hoping I dont have to walk on egg shells to please him today.

At about 2:19, I see the same black, extended cab truck I see every day at the same time. He never seems like he's in a hurry, so I haven't figured out if he's going to work or going home from work, or if he even works? Either way, he's on some sort of a schedule. I wonder if he's caught on to seeing me at the same time every day? Some day I'll wave.

Going through the town of Guilford, enjoying my last few quiet seconds by myself, I admire the small town. The little shops, an elderly couple walking holding hands, tennis courts, and a play ground. It seems like a nice, quiet little own. I pull onto the Reddy Ave, mentally preparing myself for my four hour shift that starts in about 10ft. I pull in, grab my tote bag, get out of the car, walk up the stairs, take a deep breath, and knock on the door. It's not long before I'm already checking my cell phone to see what time it is.

After the dreaded four hour shift, I hop into my car with a sigh of relief. I'm headed home and not even a dropped call when going in and out of service is going to ruin my ride home!