“Ay Cesar,” the prophet responded, “but not gone.”

Later that day Cesar was stabbed to death 23 time.  I’ve wondered upon hearing that if it was truly Brutus and his minions that killed Cesar, or the seer wanting to insure his foretold fortune is fulfilled.

With that…. The Ides of March are swiftly approaching, and if it was good enough for Cesar’s departure it’s good enough for me.  I’ve been having some back and forth trying to figure out this much abbreviated stay after the previously oft mentioned predicament I’ve found myself.  I was going to leave at the end of March, then I thought the 8th, but now I think that if I can stay at my mothers (as she’s offered), I’ll put in 2 weeks notice on the first of March.  Therefore, March 15th will be my last day at work.

With her 8 big dogs, it’ll be difficult and uncomfortable for me and my 3 little dogs, but beggars can’t be choosy.  I’ll have to keep mine cooped up in the room most of the time for their safety.  I’ll also have to figure out how to get them outside for walks, but it’ll work out.  It’s only for a few weeks and then we’ll be able to start our new adventure.

So as that seems to be the most likely solution at this time….Beware the Ides of March, for unemployment is coming…

I love Colorado.  I’ve enjoyed every visit I’ve ever had there.  If forced to chose only 1 of 2 choices, anywhere in Texas I fancied or my least favorite city in Colorado (Pueblo), I’d still chose Colorado.  I don’t regret the decision to leave here.  That’s not what this is about.  I AM leaving here, and I AM heading to Colorado.

The “options” I speak of are the options that befall me once I set foot in Colorado.  My friend Brad lives in a Lakewood, which is a town within Denver Metro.  That is where I’ll be establishing my base camp, in or around Lakewood.  But I don’t know that I want to live there.  Personally, I would rather live in Boulder, or further West.  I LOOOOOVE Boulder, but it is SUPER expensive.  I don’t know that I could afford to live there, and I don’t know that I would be happily-ever-after in Denver.  I really like Colorado Springs, and I could live there, but happily-ever-after?   I don’t know.

I think about my brother a lot in this regard.  He packed and bailed first, and went to Oregon.  But after moving to his destination he is not sure it’s where he want to stay forever.  I kinda got that feeling the last time I was in Lakewood.  Like I may not want to be there forever and ever amen.  I won’t know for sure until I get there, but part of the issue is that I have all these other options I would have chosen if I had more money, or some sort of marketable skill.

If money was not an issue, or I was marketable to the Fortune 500, I would prefer to move out of this country.  Europe would be my ideal dream.  I watch the HGTV show, House Hunters International and always am ready to head to the airport immediately after.  I watched an episode recently where a couple moved to Italy and bought an apartment in this Old World village called Trevigno (said like the Spanish name Treviño).  They paid $40,000 because it was move in ready.  I almost cried.  I was trying to figure out if I could rob a bank and make it to the airport before I’m found out.  (kidding….or am I?)

Canada would be a great option and VERY high on my list.  Last time I was in Canada I didn’t want to come back.  I sat at the Border crossing for 2 hours and nearly wept trying to figure out a way to transform into a Canuck.  I still to this day have the Canadian money I had left over in my safe.  I never exchanged it back because I knew I would some day be back.  I have every intention; once I get settled in Colorado and start applying for schools and financial aid, I fully intend to apply for schools in Canada.

Also, the North East still has my heart.   I miss New York a lot.  If I could afford it; and could find a job that would pay enough to not need to work 2 just to pay for a 300 sq/ft apartment; I would move to New York right now.  It’s Jewtopia, and that would be so awesome.  I could do the whole city life, subway rides, deli stops, central park runs sort of world.   I dreamed a dream in time gooonnneeee byyyyyyyy…….

I’ve been told of a possible job in North Dakota too.  That is with an engineering firm and could open me to getting a job over seas with some experience.  It’s not ideal, but The Dakota’s are beautiful.  They’re pretty close to Canada too…

Regardless, I’m so glad to be leaving.  I’m not happy with the way I’m going, but at least I’m going.  The universe will work itself out for me.  I have faith in my determination and perseverance.  The world is my oyster, I just have to find the right Shucker.

If you’ve been keeping up, you know about the situation with my apartment complex.  If not, read it here first: http://blogadoodle.org/stress-and-motivation

Well after some panicking and stressing and freaking out, I came to the realization that I have 2 options.

#1 Cancel the move and find an apartment to sign a 1 year lease and maybe try again next year.

#2 Ramp the timeline up

So being the level headed, safe and responsible person I am,  I’ve decided to ramp it up.  (Yes, that was the well expected sarcasm in the beginning of that sentence there.)

The original plan was to work Rodeo to make as much money as I can, then on the first of March I would give the Sheriff’s Office 30 days notice.  30 days is not required, but it would give me plenty of time to clean up loose ends and close off as many cases as I could to not have someone else left holding my bag.  That would have put my last day as March 29th.  Then in April I would have plenty of free time to sell off all the uneeded clutter I’ve amassed by going to the flea market and setting up a booth for a couple weekends. Then when my final check came in I could celebrate my sister’s birthday with the family and then head out peacefully and quietly.

But no, Texas is a shithole, and as such it constantly shits on your plans.  So in careful consideration; after a brief period of freaking out; I’ve decided that the plan needs to be changed.  I still intend to work Rodeo the whole way through as permitted. Then after Rodeo, on Monday February 27th, I will give 2 weeks notice.  That means Thursday, March 8th will be my last day at work.  (My week is Sunday through Thursday). I am going to see if the apartment will let me pay for March without signing a new lease.  I don’t know that she will, but she might.

If not, I’ll put everything in storage for a month and move into one of those Inntown Suites for a few weeks.  That will give me some time to still sell off what I can, donate the rest to Goodwill and go.

If this plan works out…as….planned…… That would mean I am going to be unemployed in 33 and a half days from right now.  For some reason that wasn’t as scary as approaching 60 days was, and this happened overnight.   I’m just ready to get out of here I guess.

See, I don’t pay rent here, and in exchange I am their courtesy officer.  I walk the property at night, I do their monthly light check reports, I handle all the parking issues.   And, every time a resident calls the answering service to whine about a dog barking, a car alarm going off, an upstairs neighbor “walking too loud” or loud music and noises I get called.  3 to 5 times a week, sometimes twice a night, at all hours.  I’m woken up constantly with this stuff, all in exchange for rent.

Now I’m fired, so as I don’t work here I’m also essentially evicted.  she says I ‘still have the option of residing at Huebner Oaks,”  I just have to sign a lease and start paying rent (at a ridiculously overvalued rate) I just can’t afford right now.

As I plan to quit my job and leave the state in April you would imagine I wouldn’t care much, and I wouldn’t but a few Major problems.

#1 It’s February and Rodeo so I’m going to be working 15 hour days for about 20 of the next 27 days, leaving me almost no time to look for a new place, pack and move.

#2 Even if I can find the time (and energy) to do it, I need to find a month to month lease, which will probably cost me as much as staying here, but I can’t sign a 12 month lease here.

#3 I am already behind budget financially since the NBA cut half the season, and thusly my pay. Now this unexpected expense 56 days, no 55 days before I’m going to be unemployed is going to hurt.

I’d like to say I can’t believe this Bitch didn’t have the audacity to call me and tell me face to face, but I’m not.  She’s a total bitch, and her entire staff hates her.  She’s fired several maintenance men, and at least 10 different leasing agents in the 14 months she’s been here.  She has never responded to a single e-mail or safety issue I’ve raised since she came.  I’ve been on pins and needles thinking she was wanting to get rid of me for a year.

Sigh… I don’t need this right now.  At least it’s another sign telling me I DO need to get the hell out of this place.  San Antonio has had this awful, negative cloud over me and my family for quite some time.  More motivation to pack it up and find a new chance at life.

As I wrote in that, I sent the fil-A-Holes my opinion.  Today I got a response….

I got an e-mail response to today from Timothy, through an e-mail titled “Chick-fil-A CARES.”  This is what good ‘ole Timothy had to say:

Dear Mr. Skurnik:

At Chick-fil-A, we have a genuine commitment to hospitality for all of our guests.  We are not anti-anybody and have no agenda, policy or position against anyone.  We have a 65-year history of providing hospitality for all people and, as a dedicated family business, serving and valuing everyone regardless of their beliefs or opinions.

We support a number of organizations that enrich the communities where we serve daily. Some of these organizations are faith-based and marriage-focused and other organizations are not.

We continue to focus on our mission to “Be America’s Best Quick-Service Restaurant” and our aim is to provide the highest quality food in a clean restaurant with excellent service.

Sincerely,

Timothy

Chick-fil-A CARES

Chick-fil-A…We Didn’t Invent The Chicken,

Just The Chicken Sandwich.

On the Web at www.chick-fil-a.com

SOOOOOOOOO, THIS IS MY RESPONSE TO THAT:

Mr. Timothy,

So glad to hear that you are “supporting a number of organizations that enrich the communities”.  How can we Facilitate a Public Donation from Chick-fil-A to the “Human Right Campaign” (http://www.hrc.org/support) to help them in their work to ensure “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equal Rights,” so that we can help spread the word that you “[value] everyone regardless of their beliefs or opinions.”

I’m sure the most discriminated population in America would love to know that such a large organization at Chick-fil-A believes in and honors the message of Jesus to “Judge not lest ye be judged thyself.”  Maybe spread a little hope for kids like this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdkNn3Ei-Lg&feature=share  That life doesn’t have to end just because you’re different.

I’ll be updating my websites with your message of hope, I look forward to hearing about your message of Commitment to ALL Humanity.

Take Care,

Oren Skurnik

San Antonio, TX

For some reason I don’t expect much, but let’s see what happens…

Then today, the house of Chicken came tumbling down.  To my extreme dismay, I learned today that Chick-fil-A® “Explicitly does not like same-sex couples.“  UCH!  I can’t support a business that supports segregation and doesn’t believe in equal treatment for all humanity.  As of today, I no longer…..eat……chick…..fil…A….wahhhhhh!!!  You Bastards!

I posted the following to their “Contact Us” page:

Oh my goodness, my world is shattered. I was just commenting about how much I like your business practices of letting families having a day of worship and how you have dog treats in your drive thru. Then today I find out you “explicitly don’t like same sex couples.” Considering some of the people I care about the most in the world are same sex couples, I could no longer in good faith spend another dollar at an establishment that promotes hate and segregation. If more people still believed as you do, we’d still have slavery, and women still wouldn’t be able to vote, and they’d be property of their husbands. So awful that you put on a public face of care about family when you really only care about “families like yours.” Such a sad day for me. I eat out twice a day due to my job, and your place is one of my favorites…was one… Goodbye waffle fries, I will miss you. Goodbye Splenda Lemonade and perfectly cooked chicken with extra pickles. I only spend my money with those that spread love and support all Americans rights, not just the ones they agree with. Also, I’ll be posting this letter to my websites, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and myspace and I know people will share it. Spread Love, not Hate and Discrimination. You have a lot of work to do to recover from this. Good Luck.

I also posted the same to their Facebook account.  How about you spread the word too.

So said when people want to put others down.  The more I know about humans, the less I like them.  I think it’s time to go back to my planet.

To be honest, the pros have increased and the cons diminished.  I used to think, can’t you just do 10 more years and get that retirement?  Can’t you just deal and hang on?  I realize more and more every day that I can’t.  So really the only thing that concerns me at this point is my health and the insurance issue.

Being diagnosed a diabetic makes it a little more complicated.  I’m hoping that I can get myself in better shape, maybe lose 100 pounds of baggage and possibly do away with the Diabetes all together.  That would be good since without insurance I won’t be able to afford the medication.  It’s $400 a month just for the pills, that’s rent.  And that doesn’t include the testing supplies.  Hopefully I’ll be able to kick it into gear here soon, cause so far I haven’t been able to find the motivation.  Knowing me, it won’t come till I actually leave and have no choice on the matter.

The only other thing that concerns me is the fact that financially, I’m a little behind the curve of where I wanted to be now and when I leave.  Those damn greedy prima donna’s in the NBA are wreaking havoc with my finances.  With the NBA lockout, and those selfish bastards not willing to split profit’s 50-50 with the owners I’m out thousands of dollars.  If they don’t work, I don’t work at AT&T.  It’ll put me a few grand behind, but I’m not going to extend it any further.  March 29th will be my last day, if not sooner.  But not later.

Which makes me think of something funny.  I’ve told damn near everyone that I’m leaving at the end of March.  I did that on purpose because there is no way I’ll tell everyone I’m going to leave and then change my mind.  I’d look like an asshat.  I work best when; as my grandmother used to say; sometimes the best choice is no choice at all.  But how funny would it be to show up April 1st, ready to work and be like “APRIL FOOLS!!!”

Not gonna happen, but it would be funny none the less.

129Days 10Hours 55minutes left till my last day here.

I recognize that I’m destined at this rate to either get back into physical shape and try and be a cop elsewhere, the though of which I dread.  OR, I’m left asking if you want fries with that.  I’ve been contemplating going back to school, but I’ve been wracking my brain to try and figure out what to study.  I like photography, but that’s a very difficult “career” choice.  While it would be nice to be able to take pretty pictures and make a living selling them, the reality is that most people that major in photography are destined to either teach photography or work at Glamor Shots.  Neither sounds appealing.

I’m mathematically retarded so Finance, Accounting, Business, they’re all out of the question.  As is science, biology, chemistry and the like.  I’m knowledgeable in computers at just slightly over standard user level.  But After the last 2+ years as a detective stuck behind a computer screen, I’d probably kill myself if I had to do this the rest of my life.  So Computer engineering, Electronic Engineering, Computer Aided Drafting, CAD operator, Web Design, all that is shot.  My options are dwindling.

I get bored easily.  I can’t do the mundane.  I’m not a switch flipper and lever puller.  I get antsy and I want to do new things.  After a while of been there done that I’m ready to move on to something different.  This makes making a decision on a degree field is damn near impossible.  I figure that I’m either going to job hop for the rest of my life or I’d have to rob a bank to have money to start my own business.

Then the other day I was watching one of my favorite TV shows, Flying Wild Alaska, when it hit me.  Every single time I watch that show I catch myself saying, “I wish I could do that.”  Now I’m like, “Why can’t I?”  My father got his pilots license at around my age.  One of the guys that used to be a reserve officer at the Sheriff’s Office got his license and now flies Lear Jets for a living.  Why can’t I?  That sounds sounds so exciting.

So I started looking, and Denver seems to be a MECCA for Aviation Schools.  Then I came across the Metropolitan College of Denver.  They have a Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science and they offer a degree for a Commercial Pilot.  It’s the first thing that I can think of in a long time where I though, I could really do that.  Not be an airline pilot per se, but commercial.  Like charter flights, or cargo planes like UPS, or even these small planes like in FWA.

Maybe even go to Alaska and have an adventure or two.  I’m going to check out the school when I visit in December.

I’m kinda excited about this actually.

Denver is a HUB airport for Southwest Airlines. They’ve been having occasional $69 each way specials they’ve been advertising. They’re internet only deals, and you have to be in the know to know. A friend of mine told me about it so I signed up for their newsletter to wait for the next $69 deal.

Well they just had an even better deal. Book a flight online between November and February and they had $57 each way flights to Denver. You gotta be an idiot to pass that up. I figured they’d have like a Red eye flight or maybe one with 2 lay overs and you can only fly on Wednesdays.

NOPE! They had several flights a day and some where nonstop. WHAT THE…!!! So I’m dying to see Colorado in December. I know, I know, starting next year I’ll be seeing it every December. But still, I figure why not take a long weekend and go up, see my friends, play in the snow, check out Vail or Aspen decorated for ChristmaHanaQuanzika, and even be able to set up some stuff for when I move up in April (Like a PO Box so I can forward my mail somewhere.) Definitely, definitely definitely have to get corn fritters at White Fence Farms!!! That’s without question.

So I done did it and booked my trip. I put in for Wednesday and Thursday off (I’m already off Friday and Saturday). Karen has graciously agreed to check on the fur babies while I’m away. So I’m off for a little VACA! Woo Hoo.

I’m so excited to see my friends the Thoemke’s and I also want to check out some schools while I’m up there. Maybe do a little job research as well. Whatever I do, it’ll be nice to be home for a few days. But back to SW Airlines, I can’t get over this price. With Taxes and airport fee’s the round trip came out to $139.40. That’s less then half of what you’d normally pay one way. Also, Southwest Airlines is cattle car seating.

There is no per-assigned seating on their planes. You line up to board based on your last name. So the Adams’ get first choice seating while the Zavala’s have to sit next to the toilet. Buuuuuuttttt, they have what they call the “Early Bird.” You can pay a little extra and get to go on the plane first. I figured at that fare, I could splurge so I paid the extra $10 each way.

So here’s the breakdown, Airfare: $159.40 Rental Car: $228.92 Isn’t that nuts! The rental cost more then the airfare.  I mean, I’m not complaining, I upgraded to the 4X4 SUV since it is Colorado in December, and I want to head into the mountains a bit. But still it’s funny.

So I leave December 7th, at 9:40am arriving nonstop in Denver at 11:00AM.  I return December 10th, departing at 5:55pm and arriving back into the anus of the USA at 9:15pm.  That’s assuming I don’t get snowed in.

Did I mention I was excited?