you're lookin' at her

Imagine a musical montage that goes a little something like this...

L to the U to the C to the KY peanut butter JELLY time Oh Me So Lucky, Me Me So Lucky! HEY hey hey, goo-ood Byeee Bye Miss American Pie in Yo' Face Baby ME ME Lucky ME! Here I go, Here I go, Here I go again (DavidLeeRothScream) WAAAAAAAO!!! I ate some bugs, I ate some grass, I used my hand TO Legit, to Legit to Walk This WAY! Out, Way-ay Out the window and what did I see? There was this guy and a keyboard, And he went WEEEEE!

...and you'll have the party that's going on in my head. As I look forward to my second week at my new job, I'm feeling like somebody's got my number in the best possible of ways. Sweet location, sweet co-workers, sweet company, sweet prospects for growth--not to mention the fact that I got hired in a time when most small companies in Portland are bleeding talent... And that's when I get serious about it all. Folks, I recognize that I am INSANELY fortunate. Nobody knows it more than I do. I have friends who are beside themselves with frustration over the total lack of jobs in this city. I've driven down MLK and seen the crowds of day labor workers waiting patiently on the street corner for someone to point at them. The storefronts with freshly inked "Out of Business" signs, the lines at the shelters, the old ladies sitting on bus benches clutching floral suitcases... The walk to the office is opening my eyes to the plight my fellow Portlanders face in this economy. It sucks. I'm not going to apologize for being employed, but I promise to take the money I'm earning and use it wisely: I'm searching for a home to buy, which will open up the inexpensive rental property I'm occupying. I will try harder to patronize local business. I'll carry cash so I'll have a buck for Street Roots. And? I'm going to feed my savings. Sure, money is a tool that we use to keep the economic machine running. But! I am going to make damned sure that I don't become the next victim when the walls come crashing down again in 20 years. But enough ranting. Here's some food for thought: (via Twitter) "baconbaconbacon @NycoHerzog I wish our economy used bacon as currency" We can only wish, oh Sultan of Bacon...