Hodge Podge

Back to the Bay Area and back to the Grind. I worked most of the week and then worked a college football game on Saturday as part of a police detail. I am really hating my dayshifts, I have to say. There is too much activity going on, too many annoying people calling in with "What if..." questions, and little if any down time. Not to mention the alarm going off at 6 AM. I feel like I am back in high school. Not a good thing.

Tip jars are bugging me. Is there anyplace without a tip jar these days? Dry cleaners, coffee places, and the like. What is next? Muni drivers? Grocery store cashiers? I worked in restaurants for years, so I feel partial to servers and take out servers. But what is the criteria for giving a dry cleaner a tip? If they simply cleaned my sweater and did not loose it or fuck it up, does that justify a tip? If whatever person serving you (ie. at Peets or Jamba Juice) is pleasant, does that necessitate a tip? It just kind of bugs me. Dunno what the solution is.

Between the election and the financial crisis, NPR speaks of nothing else these days. It is hard not to get wrapped up in the panic of the media and the government. Once again, thank you 24 hour news cycle. I am fortunate that I work for the government, so I feel a bit more secure about my job security. At the same point, at best life is a crap shoot. Panicking is not going to do me any good. I will try to cut my spending Suze Orman. I really will. I am a hard worker and still young enough to prostitute myself in a pinch. There is always the corner Mary. (I am kidding to all of you taking me seriously. I would use the Internet, the corner is too cold.)

Obama is up, McCain is down, and Sarah Palin is the gift that keeps on giving. Who would have thought a month or so ago that she would have turned out to be such a train wreck? I am thankful for small miracles. They occur all around us.

Hope you are all doing well. Cuidate.