Simple pleasures

November 20th, 2005

I had the best Friday night. It was great because it was in sharp contrast with that same morning and afternoon — which totally sucked!

In the morning, I had to stop by the home of my soon to be ex-husband, Endicott, to pick up my mail and some of my personal belongings. I dreaded that errand for days. I don’t respond well to him. Actually, I kinda freak out. My heart pounds in my chest — and not in a good way! If I’m around him, or even hear his voice, I become instantly upset and sick to my stomach. Yes, I’m one angry person.

The rest of the day, I was sick with worry about money, and impending bills. Thanks to two self-absorbed flakes, who both put off paying me for work, I’m incuring $200 a week in rental car fees. Why am I renting a car? I’m renting because I can’t afford to have my actual car repaired. Why can’t I afford to repair my car (blown headgasket)? Because I haven’t been paid! Neither straightforward requests for money, nor plain ol’ fashioned pleading has worked for me.

There’s also the rent money due on the 30th, and tons of other bills. Thank goodness I have a third job working for a good, reliable man. Without that job, I couldn’t afford the rental car or the gas money that allows me to work for other people who refuse to pay me…Yeah, I’m screwed.

Friday evening, I heard from one of the two flakes. He owes me the most money, so he gets most of my, “I need to be paid NOW!” phone calls. His voice was strained and slurred, with a whole lot of loopiness thrown in. He has hardly slept in days. (Join the freakin’ club!) I don’t remember him actually promising to pay me, but he did say he’d call back the next day. Promise? I asked. “If I don’t,” he replied, “I’m sure you’ll call me!”

Given how many times I’ve been promised payment only to be put off yet again (it’s been three weeks now), I probably shouldn’t have believed him, but I did. I know, I know…but I don’t have many options besides taking him at his word…Except maybe calling him a flake on the Internet!

I hung up the phone, then poured myself a margarita — my favorite drink. I channel surfed through the local PBS stations until I saw Steve Martin — my second favorite comedian, but don’t tell him that! Between clips from his hilarious films, I flipped through my fashion magazines — yep, my favorite pastime. I put my feet up on the couch and finally relaxed.

There’s nothing like a nice buzz, and a quiet evening with an intelligent, laugh out loud funny man (even if he is just on the tv) to put me at ease. It was a perfect evening.

Adios,
Flo