Day 13 – October 13th
I didn’t expect to here back from the job she was gonna get me, but I have, so it’s all good. Although working in a restaurant sounds lame. It scares me to see what goes on back there in the kitchen, and I’m worried it’ll totally turn me off from restaurants all together haha. They wanna pay me 7.5o an hour, which is more than minimum wage here (and Ontario’s minimum wage for that matter) so it’s alright I guess. And the hostel here has weekly and monthly rates, so I might just stay here, at least until I figure out what I’m doing. Hmmm, this could be the beginning of something wonderful. Or it could just be a phase I’m going through, but being here for a week less a day and having met a decent girl and getting a job is definitely a good start. Oh ya, this time I actually got her name. Melissa. And yes, I am writing this down to remind me of it in case I forget.
So I’m in Vancouver again, decided I’d catch Lions game. And as much as the CFL sucks more than then watching lawn bowling, I figure 10 bucks would be a good way to entertain myself for a few hours, if not only to cheer the visiting team. Which brings me to a little problem I have. How many fucking times are the Ottawa Roughriders gonna fold, then come back, then fold, then come back? it’s happened like 3 times in my life, and I’m sure it’ll happen more. CFL sucks. But the gate’s opening finally, so see ya!
Wow, that game sucked. 10-7 is a bad enough football score, but CFL football? In a field that’s 110 yards long, none of the two teams passed for more than 200 yards. Fuck, Flutie come back, at least you made it watchable.
It’s windy as fuck, pouring rain, and I’m waiting at what must be the only non sheltered bus stop in all of Van. Good thing there’s this tiny awning hangin over the front door of this condemned building or I’d be uber pissed. Can’t wait to get back to Chiliwack, eat, shower and party it up. Mel says apparently the Empress is a good place to get high and hang out. But I’m weary of going to bar that’s part of a hotel. Then again, that’s only cuz in Thunder Bay, 555, the empire, and those places are all run down crack hotels with bars. Who knows, could be fun.
On the bus now, and this is lame. Traffic is so backed up, the bus driver is gonna make Abbotsford its last stop on this one, so that instead of people waiting for hours in traffic, they can find other means to get home. What the Fuck? How the hell am I gonna get back? This aint good. I’ll check back in later, this is quite the pickle I’m in.
Finally, 3 and a half hours after the game ended, I’m back in my room. Being the idiot that I am, I figured the best way to get back was to hitch a ride. Fine, that’s ok, but to go one step further, I walked down the carpool lane to catch a ride and it actually worked. Some guy swerved out of the regular lane and offered me a ride. So that worked out ok.
Now I’ve just taken a good look at my room, the first time I’ve done so, and wow, this place is shit. The main part which has the hot plate and tv, is butt ugly. Green curtains, orangish tiles(hahahaha), a ceiling fan that doesn’t work and this couch wow this couch. It’s one of those flowery ones that’s all green with floral patterns over it, kinda like the one my grandma had when I was a kid, only hers wasn’t so bad. The bathroom is alright, I guess. I find these cast iron(???) tubs pretty cool, but again with the flowery shit. This time it’s wallpaper, and it’s green again. Oh well, it’s home. I feel like I’m the Bates Motel. Just please, no Norman.
October 16
Hey stupid book I’m writing too. I’m back. Been an eventful couple days. The last night I was here, I made it to the Empress, and was introduced by Mel to some pretty cool people. Place was great until they rolled out a karaoke machine. Those things scare me. All I picture when I hear or see karaoke is fat, old drunk women with no teeth gyrating their hips while they destroy an already bad Elvis song. And I’m cringing cuz I just pictured what I was writing. But anyway, it was fun. I don’t remember much of that night, but I do remember walking up the side of Little Mtn. Who the fuck calls a mountain little anyway? Apparently people who settled this mountain were high. We got up to this landing that serves as a sort of natural lookout. Smoked some blunts and the rest is blank.
And on the 14th, I worked my first day. Wasn’t as bad I thought, but you can smoke up in the walk-in fridge, so all is good. Paul, this dishwasher dude, is kinda slow, and not cuz of drugs, cuz he’s actually slow. It was explained to me by a manager, so he was supposed to show me what to do, but instead, I found ways to help him. Made me feel pretty good, you know, havin’ this dude around. I’m no pro, but I figure while he shows me the ropes, I can maybe find ways he can get better too. And what was supposed to be a training shift for 3 hours turned into a 9 hour shift. Is this really how things go in a kitchen? Better not be, or I’ll get away from the restaurants now.
And yesterday, I spent the whole day in my room recovering from another night of drinking. It was piss poor weather, she had to work, so I couldn’t really have made any plans, although her friend told me to drop by the empress anytime to chill. Apparently, he’s always there. But I wasn’t in the mood, and it was kinda nice to relax, especially after the past week. I did get out for a nice stroll in the evening. I’m in absolute awe of the scenery out here. Whichever direction I look, huge mountains, lots of clouds and buildings that look so much smaller than they are. It truly is amazing out here.
And now I should get ready for work. One bonus of this dive of a hostel being where it is, is that its like 3 blocks from work. And there’s a Mcdick’s across the street. I’m set haha, thought about gettin some groceries, but fuck that. I’m young, I can afford to eat like shit, and hopefully not have to pay for it healthwise for a long time. Big Mac here I come.
October 17th
Why did I get a journal with no dates in it? I’m keeping track of the date simply by counting on my fingers how many days have passed since the last entry. Lucky I have ten, I’m good until the 27th. I’m such a dork. So today I figure I’ll head out to Hope Springs with Mel and some of her friends. Her friends invited me to go along, and if her brother Jake and his buddy weren’t gonna go, I sure as hell wouldn’t. Nothing worse than spending a day with a bunch a girls who’ll just talk about shoes and Oprah or whatever girls talk about. But they’re going, so I’ll spend another day gettin’ high, drunk and wasting another day of my life. I do have to work tomorrow, so I’ll try to be home by noon. That way I should be good with 3 hours of sleep or so.
October 18th
It’s 3pm and I just walked into my place. I work in 2 hours and have no chance of getting some sleep. Thank god for caffeine pills. It says on the label that I shouldn’t take them if I’ve been up for more than 16 hours, but whatever. By the time my shift is over, I’d have been up for about 36 hours, I’ll die if I don’t take 1 or 7. So now I figure I’d take this little time before work and ramble on about yesterday’s adventure.
Hope Springs isn’t actually a place. Harrison Springs is a place in the town of Hope. Either I misunderstood, or Mel was high when she told me about it. Probably the latter. So we get to this place, and wow. It’s a big natural pool of steaming hot water. I wasn’t sure what the hell was under it to make it so hot, but I figure as long as a volcano didn’t blow up under me, I’d be okay. Jake had a brilliant idea to drop some E. Which was all fine and dandy, that is until we decided to go hiking in the dark. A flashlight hardly lights up when you’re strolling up in the woods up a side of a mountain. And to make it worse, I was in shorts and sandals and a tee, so the bugs were eating me alive. Well, I thought I was being eaten, but I woke up this morning with not a scratch on me, so I could have been imagining things. I did however wake up lying beside a stream. Good times I tell ya! The hike was great, and I never got laid in the confines of bush in the middle of the Cocahalas(not sure if that’s how it spelled, but I was told that’s the mountain range that surrounds Van)before, so that was a good experience. Also never thought I’d hit it off so well with new people. And it’s kinda nice.
This trip is already turning out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I really don’t think that I have it in me to ever return to Thunder Bay. I have a whole country to see, and a whole life to experience. My decision only took like 2 weeks, but that’s it. I know what I need to do now. Canada here I come.
Time for work, so maybe I should get off this ugly puke looking couch and get ready. Bye for now!
October 19th
So those caffeine pills I mentioned helped me survive yesterday. Seems the 16 hour warning was just a guideline. I feel like shit this morning but whatever. I’m hoping to get another few others of sleep before tonight. From what I’m told, people have a little shindig up on Little Mtn. every weekend, so that’s were I’ll be going. I can see myself burning out here soon, but I promise to myself that I’ll take a day or two off from any kind of partying/drinking/fun after tonight….Haha, I’m funny. Bring it on.
Just managed to get a couple more hours of sleep, so I feel a bit better. Wondering though why I’m laying here writing when I could be out gettin to know the city I’m currently residing in. Like it matters though I guess, I can walk across this city in like 20 minutes or so. It’s lame, I know. But it rocks here, so it’s all good. definitely better than Tbay ten fold. Ok, time to get ready. Time to party!
October 20th
Work, work, work. Fuck off. I’m in too rough of shape to go to work. It’s like 9 am and after spending the last 2 hours trying to fall asleep, it’s obvious that won’t be happening. I just hope this buzz is gone before I go in.
It was a blast last night. People out here are so much more friendlier than back home. You go to a party, get introduced as new in town, and everyone is instantly a friend. It’s great haha, until they get to know me. Not true, but still. Making friends is great when I know no one out here. Anyway, this girl was all over me, and being the nice guy I am, I went for it. And hopefully Mel doesn’t take our extra-curricular activities as dating , or I’m in shit. But before that, I just drank and drank and drank, mostly vodka, and then some tequila. I made it through my 26er in about 15 minutes, so I was definitely going for broke. And earlier in this entry somewhere I mentioned how I say no some things, well I did last night. I was offered coke, but that’s not my thing. So to compensate, I dropped some E. I’m so proud of myself.
Got to see two guys get in a fight too. The most retarded reason ever too; over a girl. Not that I care about the situation, but I can only assume it involved one guy fucking another’ guy’s girl, which is so stupid. Funny nonetheless. The only thing better than seeing a fight is when the guy that starts the fight gets his ass kicked. I laughed, then got back to this broad. Which again I didn’t catch her name either, or I just don’t remember it, either way, it works out for me. Random sex with random strangers is the best sex there is.
Just got in from work. And fuck am I beat. It was a good night though, these guys had RHCP blasting away, which has actually got me excited about the album coming out in the new year. But we smoked up, got our asses kicked from the busy-ness, and listened to some tunes. All is good in my world. Good night!
October 21st
Woohoo! Going into Vancouver today for a Canucks game. It’s only the Ducks though, so it won’t be any good, but an NHL game is always a bonus. If I’m lucky, me and Jake will get to heckle the Canucks without getting beaten up. But before that, I gotta eat. The problem with partying ever night is feeling like shit every day, and thus not eating. Gotta run to Big Mac land, see ya!
The Canucks game was good. Anaheim won 6-1 and we cheered them all game. Some guys behind us were gettin mad, but some security dude asked them to leave cuz they were drunk and gettin’ rowdy. Haha losers. And wow, it’s midnight and I’m actually here in my bed, sober. Well, mostly because the cunt at the Canucks arena wouldn’t accept my Ontario driver’s license as i.d. Even though I’m of age. I guess it’s good though right? Being sober for a change. Oh, who am I kidding this sucks. Good fuckin’ night.
October 24th
Wow, just wow. On the 22nd I worked all day, then started drinkin’ and haven’t stopped until about 3 hours ago. It’s now like 8 am and I’m supposed to meet Mel in 3 hours cuz we supposed to head to Vancouver Island for the day. And since I ain’t got a phone yet, it’s either bear it for the day, or stand her up. Tough choice. And perhaps if she finds out about me and that random chick, she’ll throw me of the side of the boat and feed me to the whale thingys. Anyway, think I will go. Might be good to get out. Lord knows I need the fresh air. And if I’m lucky I won’t puke on the boat ride.
But first, let me fill in the past couple days. I somehow ended up in a town called Merritt. I woke up on the edges of some farm, and as funny as that was, Jake and Rob thought we were somewhere around Chiliwack. So we walked and walked and walked, and after about 2 hours, I asked that if were near Chiliwack, where the hell is the highway? I know Chiliwack is small, but it’s in a valley populated by roughly 4 million people. Anywho, we eventually found Merritt, and a bus station. And because Rob lost his wallet, I had to drop 35 bucks on his ass to get home. But we had to wait 6 hours for a bus, so decided that gettin’ high was a priority and it’s a good thing we did. Merritt is like Nipigon in the way that it’s tiny, there’s nothing to do, and it sucks. So we hit up the local bar, yes at like 12pm, and did a shitload of shots. Buses and being drunk don’t mix. It’s even worse when you get kicked off 60 miles from your destination. Rob somehow managed to stay on but me and Jake got thrown off. I guess it beats having the police called, but here we were on the side of the highway, drunk and no idea where we are. Decided to try to hitch, and almost immediately we got picked up by a trucker heading past Chiliwack. But that lasted only about 40 miles, and once I pulled out a 40 of vodka in the back, he stopped and told us to get out. Like fuck, it ain’t like we were driving. Anyway, we found a dirt road to walk down, my idea since I wanted to drink my 40, and we walked the entire way back. It was about 1230 or so last night that we walked our way into town, and not a moment too soon. A buddy of his passed us near the Empress and invited us over to play some video games and smoke some green. Good times. And I can still kill anyone who dares challenge me on NHL ‘98. And note to self: don’t play poker for money when drunk. I lost 100 bucks last night, at 20 bucks a game.
So that was my past couple days. It’s no wonder I’m in the shape I’m in. Gotta get ready now, today’ll be rough, hope I survive.
I’m back. And it’s only been a few hours. She found out about me and that broad, and although she didn’t say she ain’t mad, she claims something came up, and she couldn’t go. I’m no expert on girls, but I do know when there pissed. Although to my defence I gave a valid excuse…”It’s not like we’re dating”. I figured she couldn’t be mad at me for it once I said that. But whatever girls sucks anyway, both literally and figuratively.
Haha, it’s like 11 pm and Mel just left. She stopped by to talk. Apparently, I’m in the wrong. I guess fucking a girl a couple of times constitutes as dating. What the hell is wrong with these people? Back home, there is a whole plethora of skanks that just wanna fuck. Anyway, I pretty much told her that because I’m not sure how long I’ll be around town for that dating isn’t what I want. And hey, look at that, she understands. So she ain’t mad, I’m still alive, and apparently our date to the island is still on. Anyway, I’m feeling like shit and even though I haven’t done much today, I feel like dying. See ya.
October 25th
Wow, I feel totally rejuvenated today. And I’m actually almost looking forward to the island today. I think I’ll suggest the campground I was at awhile ago. That place was bombdiggity, and I need to go back. The resident groundskeeper is my age and sells drugs. Best pot I’ve had so far out here, and supposedly he’s got connections to other shit. Wonder if he’s got a list made up? Haha. Anyway, leaving in an hour, and I should load up my book bag with booze. Bye!
