The hardest thing to make is a phone call when you have no idea what to say. Or what you'd even consider saying. One that you've thought about for over a week and still can't decide.

I had this dream Saturday night.

I was at the mall with my mother and my sisters. They were shopping and I was told to buy some Turkish Delights. I went to the candy store and at first was told they did not carry them, but then they found some. They took out all the Turkish Delights and laid them out for me. Then told me to pack them up in the chest they provided for the candy. I loosely packed them in even though some had fancy velvet cases. The chest was huge, but I could carry it, just barely though.

As I left the candy store I ran into Shane and his brother Cody. I talked to both of them while putting the chest down. After a minute or two I go to leave and realize that the chest is no long there. After searching around the general area, including going out to the parking lot to look, I leave to find my mother.

She tells me how disappointed she is in me for losing the chest (no mention of the candy). I sit on the ground devastated (the whole dream I was in a depressing mood, just upset really) and that was the final straw. Everyone just starts to leave the mall, and I am left there in the middle of this big open area all alone.

Not really a good dream. But a vivid one.

"We are meant for each other and not meant for each other. It's a contradiction. "

Great Quote. Ok movie.

So my weekend has been a little less eventful than I had orginally expected. But can't be helped. Looking back it seems I didn't even get out much. But that's not true. I went for walks and was outside often. Its bizarre that "doing something " has to be out with people. I mean even today I haven't gotten out yet, but have fixed up my bike (inflated wheels, greased the gears and chains and did some stitching on my biking shorts). That's doing something. And of course I've done my daily drawings.

I did get invited out last night to a hookah bar. I almost considered it since my other plans fell through, but man I don't like hookah bars. I refrained from going on that premise. I mean regardless of the fact that I don't smoke, never have smoked, anything....well that's not true. I did take a few puffs from a cigar once......it was with my friend Mark not too long before he was getting married. I hated it. Could have been the cigar (I'm fairly sure they were cheap ones), but I digress....I don't smoke. I was never happier than when New York passed the smoking ban in bars. Yes lots of people were pissed, I wasn't one of them (although the Old Pink never really enforced that law). Anyways, I turned down going to the hookah bar.

Anyways, this weekend I've been listening to Wussy a lot lately. I was supposed to go see them play out here on Saturday, but like I said, plans fall through. Robert Downy Jr. said it best in Tropic Thunder; "Ain't nothing but a thang." But Wussy, they are all sorts of fantastic. Haven't been able to stop listening to them all weekend.

So early on Saturday night I decided I should watch a movie. I checked out Hulu to see what I could find. Their movie selection has been a little disappointing as of late. But I saw the movie Wimbledon on there. I had seen this movie years ago with Jenna. She fell asleep and I stayed up watching it. I'm man enough to admit I really liked this movie. For a romantic comedy (I guess you could call it that) it was really good. So yeah....I had a beer and watched Wimbledon by myself. And enjoyed it.

On the other side of things I've discovered Sour Patch Jelly Beans. Fantastic. Best thing to happen to Jelly Beans since Starburst Jelly Beans years ago.

This is from Facebook. No rules needed.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Of course. I'm the namesake. Named after my father, who was named after his father, who was named after his father, and who knows how far it goes.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I don't recall. But last time I was in Buffalo Dan punched me in the chest really hard out at a bar for my birthday, and I probably came close. I'm sure I deserved it though.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yessum. Why wouldn't I?

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Mmmmmmm.....Chicken.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nope.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Of course. I'm awesome.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Do I ever not.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
I think so. Or maybe not. Hasn't bugged me either way.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Yes.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
I don't eat a lot of cereal. I do like making Chex Mix.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Well I don't tie them when I put them on, so why bother when I take them off.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Not a big ice cream fan. But I've been having a lot of Shamrock Shakes lately, so mint?

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
I'm generally a happy person.

15. RED OR PINK?
I have a red smoking jacket that I inherited from my grandfather. I don't smoke, but its freaking awesome. So red.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST Favorite THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I'm occasionally indecisive.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Probably my college friends. They're who I count on when I'm down. Particularly Pat and Dan.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
Well I'm not going to tag people (I don't really believe in it unless it directly pertains to that person....and I do realize I'm doing this because someone tagged me. Oh well.).

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Very comfortable, old, holey, blue jeans. And no shoes, or socks.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Wussy.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Dark Blue.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Coffee. Really good Buffalo Wings.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Brooke.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Haven't known them long but they make a good impression. So yes.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Hockey. And Football.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Dark Brown. With one really adamant gray hair that keeps coming back.

28. EYE COLOR?
Brown.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Yes.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Veggie Burritos from Mighty Taco.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Scary Movies.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Dick Tracy (the 1990's cheesy Warren Beatty and Madonna one).

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Dark Blue

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
I'm indifferent. But Summer provides frisbee golf weather and doesn't get old nearly as fast as Winter does.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Both.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Eh.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Eh.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama. I'm also re-reading The Metaphysical Club.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
I am sans mouse pad.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Some episodes of Lucy Daughter of the Devil.

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S).
The sound a flash makes when its charging up on one of those one-time use disposable cameras you can buy. Press the flash button and hold it up to your ear to hear it charge up. I love it.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
California.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I can stand on one leg (either one) hold the other out straight in front of me (90 degree angle) and bend down slowly and back up without using my hands to support myself and keeping the leg straight out in front of me the whole time. Its hard. Try it.

46 WHERE WERE U BORN?
Glens Falls Hospital, Glens Falls, NY.

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Eh. Whoever does it.

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
Ha. Hahahahaha. Oh that's funny.

Like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones said once,

"That's the impression that I get."

I think its time to go to the grocery store.

Last Saturday, one week ago I underwent something that could have been infinitely worse than it actually was. One person even told they wished I hadn't told them the story. But its such a strange story, I think I'll tell it anyways.

My friend Reggie had been up all week. On Saturday I drove him back to Buffalo. After spending time with my friend Janine I decided to just drive home to Cleveland, so I could sleep in and relax all day. I felt like I needed it, like I'd been running since being in Vegas over Valentine's Day weekend. It was almost 11 at night, and I figured I could make it back to my bed by 2 am and sleep for a solid 8 hours at least.

Around an hour into my drive I notice my car starting to overheat. Which is bizarre because its 12 degrees outside, but I crank the heat and the temperature drops for about ten minutes. After ten minutes it overheats and starts smoking. I had just passed an exit ramp for Dunkirk and was just lost for what to do. I pulled over on the side of the highway just confused. I don't have AAA and I all the Hyundai services that came with my car expired last year. I look under the hood and see nothing but smoke....the oil seems ok but there is still fluid dripping out, no, streaming out from the engine.

I sit in my car for twenty minutes. Calling people, but then realizing I'm at least an hour drive from anyone, and I'll have to be back for my car the next day if I leave. I also realize I should just sit here on the side of the highway, freezing my ass off. So I decide to slowly back up to the off ramp I had passed. It was maybe a half mile or more away, including going under an overpass with no side lanes. The whole time my car is not making happy noises, but I make it. I slowly (read under ten miles an hour) drive through the off ramp and cruise into a 24 hour TOPs grocery store parking lot. I don't know what do, I don't see a hotel to stay at. At this time its after 1 am. I pull the extra clothes I had in the back of my trunk and bundle up. It is extremely cold, and I keep the radio on to keep me company as I try to sleep. I shiver my ass off even with all those clothes on. About 5:30 am, after maybe 40 minutes or an hour of on and off again sleep I head into TOPs to warm up. I still have no clue what I'm going to do.

There is a Tim Horton's inside the TOPs. I head there and the lady says they don't open til six but I can hang out at one of the tables if I want to. After starting to read a paper, the next thing I know is that its 6:30 and I've been sleeping at the table for almost forty minutes. I get a hot chocolate because I want the sugar more than I want caffeine. I head outside into the still frigid weather and start my car. No grinding engine noises like the night before. No smoke, no overheating. Its just doing fine idling in the parking lot. I drive to a part of the parking lot that is in the sun, because there is frost inside my car and I need it to melt.

After twenty minutes of idling I decide to drive it down a local road to see if its ok. Maybe, I think, I can drive it to Cleveland and get it looked at Monday. Just so I can be home. I make it down the local road about two miles before massive amounts of smoke come pouring out of my car. Unfortunately in my two miles of driving I am now in a random farm country, far away from anything recognizable as a business.

I get out and pop the hood. Even with no keys in the ignition, the car is still smoking and the fan is still running. Even I know its not a good sign and I know next to nothing about cars. I can't think of a single thing to do. I literally feel like walking into the field and laying down until it all sorted itself out or I pass out and die from the cold. It was a long night, I was exhausted, had no one to call for help that could be there anytime soon. Just then a white Ford F-150 truck pulls up heading the other direction. A window unrolls and I see the drive, with a beer in hand ask me if I need help. The word "HICK" is just screaming from mind. The sight of him (and his passenger in the front) both having a beer in their hands is not encouraging. There's even a third person half asleep in the back of the cab.

But I look at my car...still smoking with the fan running. And I look at them, just looking like a bad idea all together, and shrug my shoulders and say yes. They say ok, and then drive down the road and turn around doing a fish tail in the road in the process. They pull up in front of my car, both driver and passenger get out, throw their empty beer cans in the ditch next to the road, get out two more and then come over to look at my car.

A couple things to note that go along with first impressions of these two (the third is still in the truck). They are both obviously and admittedly drunk. I got the we've been out drinking universal symbol (lifting your hand to your mouth in a drinking motion) and followed with the comment "We've been drinking all night." The driver is wearing a trucker hat, and has big wire frame glasses and is a little chunky. He's wearing what looks like a policeman's jacket (which he later confirms he stole from a cop last time he was arrested by saying he was cold. The cop gave him the jacket and went to search his car. The guy takes all the police memorabilia off the jacket and when the cop comes back fifteen minutes later he doesn't remember giving him the jacket). He also is swearing at any car that drives by, giving them the finger and waving around his beer all over the place.

The other guy is a whole other story. He is really skinny. Has a little patchy facial hair. Oh....and he's missing a decent amount of teeth. And he has those teeth that are coming out of his upper gums that are black and brown and half there. Hard to look at really, yet you're curious about so its hard to look away. He's got on a white and black hoodie that I can't figure out what it is supposed to say, but whatever. He looks colder than I am.

They come over to my car and start poking around in my engine, waving the smoke out of the wave. The fan thankfully stops. They decide its my water pump that is broken. The whole time they start by telling me how they've been in that situation and tell me that's why they wanted to stop and help. They start trying to think of where to take me and decide that they can call "Mark" and he'll help them. After asking, I find out that Mark is a mechanic/owner of a garage behind a Kwick Stop in town that one of them works at. After talking to Mark (who normally doesn't open on Sunday), he agrees to look at my car.

At this point I ask their names. It turns out both of these two guys are named Josh. The guy in the back (who still hasn't moved) is named Mike. I should mention they've been stopped with me for about twenty minutes and they are on their third beers. They decide the best way to get to the garage is to tie my car to their truck and tow it that way . The driver (here to know as Josh 1) pulls a frozen rope out of the back of his truck. He's wrestling it while Josh 2 (no teeth guy) gets into the truck to warm up. With this racket Mike decides to come out from the truck. Did I mention they are all chain smoking, and all mentioning how they need more pot. Mike is only 17 and it shows. The Josh's are maybe 24. Mike makes a pretty rational decision, and decides that he will just call his AAA for a tow. Josh 1 chucks the frozen rope into the ditch (with the empty beer cans) and both Mike and I get into the truck to warm up and wait for AAA.

Josh 1 just stands in front of the door drinking and flipping off/swearing at every car that drives by. He is still waving around his beer telling everyone how he doesn't give a fuck. I start asking about this motley trio. Josh 1 is apparently a drug dealer, and told me hence he "owns this county." However he is also part of the volunteer fire department, and his father is a cop or sheriff or something. Josh 2 works at the Kwick Stop. Mike, being only 17 is going to a military school in two weeks. (Mike also reminds me of someone I went to school with when I was young....Joe DiMello). Josh 1 and Josh 2 are telling me a great story about how they almost burned down Josh 2's apartment earlier that night.

In the midst of this, the truck stalls and won't start again. Josh 1 gets up on the engine block and starts swearing at the engine. When I say up on the engine block, I mean both feet standing on the engine. He threatens to get a grenade from his apartment and blow up the truck if it doesn't start. Mike tries tapping the starter to see if that will help. Josh 1 is getting frustrated and gets a hack saw from his truck to beat the engine with. Except after two whacks, the hack saw breaks and the blade goes into the engine. Another ten minutes later he finally fishes out the blade (it ends up in the ditch, with many beer cans now).

Thankfully at this point AAA shows up. Josh 1 is insistent on helping out the AAA guy which just prolongs the whole process. But after my car is hooked up AAA guy goes to look at their truck. He tells them it can't be the battery but the Josh's insist that they want a jump anyways because it is most definitely the battery. Josh 1's cousin shows up in her car and pulls up to give them a jump, and AAA guy gives a slight head nod suggesting we leave.

As hard as it is to believe, when I get dropped off at the garage/Kwick Stop its not even 9 am. Time seems to have slowed. The garage is closed and locked up so I head into the Kwick Stop. Its still really really cold outside and as much as I want to sleep I wouldn't have been able to without freezing my ass off some more. And there's no place to sit in the Kwick Stop. I buy a coffee and make small talk with the cashier. Around 10:30 I decide its warm enough to sleep in my car some. Oh, and about an hour after being in the shop Josh 2 comes in and buys a 24 pack of beer.

I sleep for maybe forty minutes before Mark shows up. He's a normal jovial man. He starts working on my car right away. Around 4:30 he tells me he's done. I spent the whole time trying to nap, but being unable to. The chairs in the garage just were not that comfortable. It was the water pump. It had a hole in it. It cost just over $300 to fix.

I got home to my apartment around 7 pm. All told, for such a strange story I made out really well. I wouldn't have found that garage on my own. It wouldn't have been open even if I did. Because they stopped I was able to get home that day. By the time I actually stopped and thought about my day I was just shocked that the whole thing just happened. In the week since multiple people told me I was lucky not to have it go the way of "Deliverance." Now I've never seen Deliverance, but I know enough about it to know I never want a scenario like that.

I took some pictures because I felt I need proof that it happened.


Josh 1 searching for the hacksaw blade.


Josh 1


Josh 2 drinking in the truck.


You can't see.....but Josh 1 is being very helpful behind the steering wheel of my car right now.


Mike.

I've been running for a while. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.