Pay it Forward

There are many days when I don't feel like getting out of bed in the morning. I had almost lost faith in humanity and then it happened, the second flat tire I had that week came to pass and because of this, I restore my faith. I was having the worse week, financial problems mostly, and I went back to the tire place on my lunch and they told me that they had to replace the tire because it was to worn down to just patch it. I had no choice but to pay them $90.00 to replace it. They told me I needed four new tires but I told them that I can barely afford the one I have to replace today. While I was talking with the sales person, there was a man standing in the general are I was and getting work done himself, I walked outside and was upset, I felt homesick, and broke, and felt as if I was considering the fact that I maybe I made a mistake moving to Albuquerque.
I composed myself, and walked back into the tire place and sat down to wait and began to pray for a miracle. The man that was getting the work done was leaving and wished me a Merry Christmas on the way out. I wished him a Merry Christmas back and thought it was a bit odd that he would say that seeing as how it wasn't even December yet. After he left, the owner of the tire place came in and asked me if I had some more time to wait and I told him that I thought they were almost done, he then informed that the stranger that wished me a merry Christmas also bought me the other three tires that I needed and they were installing them! I started crying tears of joy and realized that at the miracle I prayed for had happened.
I wrote him a letter thanking him, and even though I'll probably never see him again, I'll never forget him. I told him that even thought I could never repay him, I would pay it forward one day and do for someone what he did for me.
Sometimes I think that hope is lost but then I'm reminded about all of the goodness that exists in our world. People spend so much time focusing on their own problems, and become self absorbed, when there is so much to be thankful for. We must always remember that every day angels, like the person that lets you pass in traffic when you're running late, or the man you don't even know that pays for your tires do exist, so don't give up because miracles DO happen.

And the saga continues...

In my life, there is never anything that goes smoothly and by now I am completely used to the fact that if there is something that needs to be done in my life, I should be ready for it to go horribly wrong. Case in point, I buy a car and during the test drive it runs so smooth and I feel so lucky because the guy wants to sell it for 1,950.00, I talked him down to 1,450.00 that includes 2 large sub-woofers, tweeters on the doors and tints on the windows.
Keep in mind, before I saw this car I had no idea what a sub woofer did but I learned quick when the guy who was selling me the car started blasting rap music to give me a demo and the car started shaking. Now that I have the car, I blast Dave Matthews Band and Alanis Morisette so people that pull up next to me at stoplights look over bewildered that I'm not Hispanic and there's no Reggatone but hey, I like to spice things up a little.
Anyway, the seller of the car signs the title on the wrong side and the MVD, not the DMV like on the east coast, tells me that I have to get the guy that sold me the car to come into the MVD with me and sign an affidavit that the car isn't stolen, which of course consists of me picking the guy up because he doesn't have a car and bringing him with me to the MVD. Next, I have this gorgeous townhouse that I absolutely love, they told me it was really new, I don't know what qualifies as "really new" here in AQ but the shower leaking, no water pressure in the shower for hot water, and the heat only warming the top floor of my apartment to the point where I have to shut it off because I could actually melt from the blast of heat that's being loudly flooded into the room, leads me to believe that "really new" means not so new.
I moved here for many reasons, one of the main ones being that I had to get away from the east coast because the fast paced environment was turning into chaotic anxiety for me on a daily basis. Here, on the West coast they have a "no worries" mentality and that's great, except when having to drive next to anyone that lives here. I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that there are 3 lanes all of which people drive at exactly the same speed (not ever exceeding 40 mph, even when the speed limit is 55). I get so frustrated and then I have to bring myself back to the "no worries" mentality that always reminds me I don't have to rush ANYWHERE here because time is not of the essence. However, because I'm from NJ, the state with one of the highest insurance premiums in the country, I still get really pissed that people here drive to sllllooooowwwllly.
Another thing that I've realized is that people here have a very skewed preconceived notion of what people from NJ are like. For instance, some of my colleagues think that I'm from the ghetto, there is even a few people that think I'm related to the Mafia, and although I'm Italian I unfortunately have no ties to anyone that can help me eliminate those very select few people that I would rather not exist, such as the guy that was driving 25 in a 50 the other day next to me....I'm trying to learn to Fuggedaboutit..

No, I did not make it to the balloon festival this weekend. I answer this question because apparently, inquiring minds in Albuquerque would like to know. Apparently, the balloon festival is the only thing in the Querque worth attending and everyone gathers annually from all over to come see the hot air balloons float over the beautiful New Mexico sky. A couple of things prevented me from attending the fair, the casualties for one scared the shit out of me. Yes, the casualties, apparently a person fell out of the balloon and onto the freeway (a 100 ft. drop) which for me kind of skewed the excitement I had about flying up in one of the pretty balloons only to fall to my death (however, what a cool story it would be if you lived to tell it). Nonetheless, the balloon festivities must be saved for another weekend. I decided to stay cooped up in my house this weekend and throw myself a pity party because I am trying to learn how to stay home and relax that is something I could never accomplish while in N.J. due to the fact that there was always something to do. Someone was always going through some dramatic life crisis and needed my guidance so I ran for these people, and I really don't think that they ever truly appreciated it.
Now, there is no where to run. My life consists of work and whatever I dvr'd for the week. I used to read book after book, I think I've lost interest in things that used to motivate me and and I don't know when exactly that happend but I do know I need to rediscover those things that interest me so I can at least stop watching tv. When I lived in NJ, I complained that it was dirty and stinky and that there was nothing to do and now I am in a place that is clean, and the air is so fresh and I don't leave my town house. I NEED SOME MOTIVATION PEOPLE!

Ode to a scum bag

Finally, got a real home!

So I finally got an apartment, and it's a huge relief to finally be out of corporate housing! Living off the company is a great thing but unfortunately, the apartment has a "hotelish" feel that's not at all welcoming. The apartment I am renting is amazing, it's an upstairs downstairs townhouse with brand new plush blue (my favorite color) carpeting and a fresh coat of paint. Let's not forget the new stainless steel refrigerator and the washer & dryer that's included! Also, the amenities, oh my, the amenities... The indoor/outdoor pool and hot tub, a full service gym and a racquetball court (not that I've ever played racquetball but hey maybe I will one day). All of these wonderful perks for less than $800.00 a month (that includes water and a coveted "reserved" parking space) and I only had to sign 7 month lease! I could have never had something like that on my own in New Jersey, the price for a town house there would be upwards of 1500.00 and there definitely wouldn't have been a washer and dryer included or a for that matter a fridge of any kind. Did I mention that I have a balcony?? Yes, sweet, I know and finally the first thing I can actually call mine, I have the electric bill in my name to prove it. This is actually the first time I am bragging about AQ since I got here on July 23rd. I remember getting out of the airport when i landed here initially in awe of the lack of humidity. It wasn't long before I found myself loving the west coast and really considering staying here for a while. Honestly, it's really hard sometimes because I get lonely and I think about missing seeing the water and the bridges while I went running on the east coast. The next step is getting rid of the rental car that I have named the "Green Demon"