My Beloved Carhartt Coats

This really grinds my gears.  Adam posted an older pic on facebook of me in my last Carhartt jacket.  That coat and I were like peas and carrots.  I commented on how I missed it, and Rebecca then had to go and ask what happened. I thought about it for a second and remembered it had been stolen! Then I remembered that I had TWO Carhartt jackets stolen from me in 2007! Not only that, but they were both stolen from the same bar!!

The first jacket was a great one.  It was that golden brown Cahartt color that is more beautiful then a summer sunset.  With a zip-up front, a good sized hood, and two triple stitched front pockets, it became my armor. 

Ulysses is a trash bar in Sea-Tac. I went out one weekend night to see Gabe perform his stand up routine.  I was in charge of video, and took off the jacket to get a bit more comfy.  I put it next to some of the speakers, microphones, a laptop that Jonny D brought and by the end off the night it was the only thing that was pilfered.  I scoured the entire bar at least 4 times and it was nowhere to be found.

 

Second Carhartt jacket was the duller brown but had the great thick flannel lining.  I think that that was the one that my Mom bought me years ago for a birthday.  (is it proper to use the word that twice in a row?) 

We end up going to  Ulysses's again a few months later.  Of course, once again, I am with Jonny D, Gabe, and Skeez-Bag Nick.  We're there for some CD party that Gabe is affiliated with.  Once again, I get asked to man the camera and take off my jacket for comfort.  I made fucking gawd damn sure that it was in a safe place this time, but NO! Once again, so many higher value items were still sitting around. I searched and searched, and searched... I was once again left with a broken heart standing on the back stoop of The Ulysses Tavern in the general...... greater.................. Sea-Tac area.

Obviously this is not a Carhartt safe bar, I warn all that ever step foot in that shit hole to keep an eye on your Carhartt's!!

Locking Down!!

For as long as I can remember back, I spent the entire last weekend in my apartment in Kent.   It's been interesting.   I never thought I would miss cable television as much as I do.  I watched a few movies the past few days. Reservoir Dogs, Wild Things, House of Wax, Dawn of the Dead, Palindromes, and for a few hours last night I was able to get on Hulu to watch The Office and a lot of Cops.  I did a bit of cleaning, mostly just day to day stuff like dishes and laundry.  I should have been packing, but by looking around, it isn't much that I can't handle within a few hours.

With so much left to do until the end of the month I think it's time to lock it down and quarantine myself within the 98032 zip code from here on out**.  I think I really just need to get used to coming home to an empty place every day and keeping myself in check.  It's hard to get home and not head directly to the store for a 6-pack or 5th of whiskey. No beer and no t.v. make Swirly something something. 

So here goes. With having to move in 15 days, it's time to turn on my A Game. Well at least my very best B+ Game (I have so little A Game left).  I am going to trap myself in the valley so I can start cleaning, packing, saving, blogging, and whatever else I need to clear off my plate.

It's been a long 2+ months of being broke and paying rent and bills.  At least I've found that with a strong will and great friends, I'll be able to survive anything.

Just a few shout outs. First, Adam, thanks for the extra cash, the BBH games, the beers, and just being good like that.  Big David, thanks for the cash money for my birthday.  It really tied the rent together.  To Crimp Daddy Supreme!! I don't think I would have gotten by the past 2 weeks without the $40 and $75 gift card to Safeway.  Not to mention Nathan.  Nathan.....hmmmmm......... I'm coming up blank here dude, sorry  :)  And to anybody else that has come kept me company (Mickey, kind if looking in your direction), bought me a beer or 2 (Thyda, YOU ROCK!!), or has just helped me out in anyway!! 

"If ya don't know now ya know, it's Swirly Fuckin' Joe, BIATCH!!!"

** Possible exception on Saint Patrick's Day**

How it all began!

The year was 1995. Bill Clinton was President, Forrest Gump won the Oscar for Best Picture, and O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder. 

I was 13 at the time and, just like many other nights, I was over at Jonny D's house.  We used to hang out there all the time.  Sleeping/eating/drinking in the trailer, and pretty much taking over the house.  I never knew why his parents had tolerated it so much, but I suppose that's why they are great people.

There was a man.  Quite an odd man. A man by the name of Patrick. He was friends with Jonny D's father and had used to work with him at the IRS.  Many would say that this man was not right in the head.  Some would call him eccentric.  Other's would say he's bat-shit insane.  I happen to agree with the lattest.

We had quite an unusual relationship with Patrick.  He'd drop us off at movies and even pick us up in Downtown Seattle after 2 a.m. after the buses had stopped running. I never really knew why he did us all of these favors, but think it may be that older people have a harder time finding marijuana than young teenagers do.

A lot of us were hanging out in Jonny Durango's garage (aka The Dump), when I can recall the first instance.

Patrick yelled, as he opened the door, "Where's that Joe kid at??! I'm gonna give him a swirly!!"

It would continue on like this for the first few weeks after I had met him.  Whenever we had a run in, he was always fiending to give me a swirly.

"Joe, get over here and get a swirly!"

"Get back here, you're getting a swirly tonight!"

"Does anybody know where that Swirly Joe kid took off to??!"

He had even plotted kidnapping me.  His plan was to snatch me on my way home from school in a borrowed van.  If all worked out, I would have died strapped to a chair in his basement.  The party was themed "Bop-A-Swirly-Joe-With-A-Tazer-Twist."  Essentially, it would cost $20 (of which I would receive none), to hit me in the head with a plastic baseball bat, give me a swirly, and then shock the shit out of me with a tazer.  Luckily for me, it was just the insanity talking.

And  as the 2 words were combined, a life long nickname was born.  Just as peanut butter is to jelly, Bert is to Ernie, Swirly now had Joe. 

I still am referred as SwirlyJoe by many. Also, I don't think I can ever get rid of it.  All in all, that's why it's such a great nickname.  I didn't create it, it stuck, I got in tattooed on my leg, there is a pretty awesome rap about me, and most likely it will be engraved into my tombstone.

This would have been easier if I had the theme song from Doogie Howser M.D., playing.

Boredom is Rage Spread Thin

Here I am blogging again. It's day number 2. I told myself that I will at least make a valid attempt to commit to this. Nothing like the time I commited to being Heavy Weight Champion of the World. That was hard so I quit.

As soon as I get in front of the computer, I get writer's block. This is actually the 3rd version I've done. I think that I need to find something that I have interest and passion in to make this a success. My life doesn't seem to be interesting enough that anybody would want to follow it everyday, but who knows. Hopefully I'll find inspiration as I walk home after work in this beautiful weather.

New Blog

Blog.. 

I've been having the blog word shoved in my face lately (Adam, kind of looking in your direction.) I think I am going to give this another try.

Not much goes on in my day to day life.. maybe some amusing anecdotes, add a dab of failure, stir it up with a few tall cans, and that's pretty much what you get.  I am just going to tell it like it is regarding the world that I live in. Whether it be work, life, moving or even just flat ass broke.. I hope to at least share a few experiences of The Man, The Mystery, The One and Only....

 The SwirlyJoe!