We'll Go Dancing in the Dark, Walking Through Downtown ...

Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.82.21
Current Song - That's All (Genesis)

Tonight's meeting of East End's evening coffee clatch brought up the topic about how Sterling has gone downhill. It's a common topic.

This time, we talked a little about the "old" downtown. Places like Fourth Street Methodist, the Lincoln Hotel, Emil's, Susan's, etc.

For those who remember these places, the word "businesses" is the synonymous word. To me, that word is "destruction."

You see, I was a five-year-old kid when these places fell to the wrecking ball. It was my first visual experience with things ceasing to exist. When you are that young, you think everything lasts forever. Then, "out of nowhere" there's a big hole in the church building. Then more buildings had big holes in them.

Pretty soon I thought every building would have big holes in them. My house, my neighbor's, the Synagogue, the old chiropracter's home, Wallace School, grandpa and grandma's house ...

I thought the whole town was going to be destroyed. Where were we going to live now??

I didn't say anything until the Wayne-Burdue building (in the other part of downtown) had holes in it.

"Are they going to tear down Sterling?" I asked either mommy or daddy.

(That building was actually being renovated)

It was extremely weird seeing these buildings just not there anymore. The KFC was where my grandma was an assistant manager. On a pre-school walking trip, we stopped at the Kastle for ice cream - and Mr. Fell of Fell's Barber Shop (remember "New Bosnia?") invited us all in and we each got a piece of candy. Eberley's Drug was a frequent errand for the family.

The specific area I'm referring to (if you don't know) is bounded by Locust Street on the east, Avenue C to the west, Fifth Street to the north, and Third Street to the south.

I found an online archive of the old buildings. It's from the Sterling Public Library's photo album. A lot of the pictures are of the library's new addition.

Work

Cutter's Log - Supplemental

My fill-in assignment at Dixon appears to be over. They hired someone.

I really enjoyed working there. Some of the things I learned there that I can bring back to my store include: making sandwiches faster, facing bills, and caring about the coffee.

This is why I like working at different stores. I get to learn things that can help me at my own station (see how). But the biggest thing I will miss about Dixon East is getting to meet a lot of new people. The customers there are more friendly than the customers who come in my store. I find myself not stereotyping customers there compared to East End. It actually made me look forward to working THERE, compared to my place.

I'm going to miss it there. I'm going to miss getting along with everyone there. Can't say that same thing about my place.

Call it the generation rivalry rekindled. I thought things were getting better about a month ago, but lately things have been going down a slippery slope. A bad chord was struck when it came to the super-regular customers. "Those people." Those people? You aren't going to talk to my regular customers, then I won't talk to your regular customers. Plus, I don't like talking to other workers about work gossip. I don't bring my personal life to work, I leave it at home. That way I don't let it get in the way of my performance, and my customer relations.

I'm doing just three days this week: Christmas day from 10:00 to 6:30 p.m. and the usual weekend nights. I'm working one extra hour on the weekend, plus the Christmas shift is a 2 1/2 hour extension of a normal shift. Holiday pay for me is $12.37/hour. I'm probably going to make just over $200 for the week, which is roughly $100 less than doing two stores.

So I'm going to go back on the floating block: One day a week at another store.

Computer is Back

Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.32.21
Current Song - Hello News

Another virus came. Another virus gone.

Now it's time to get the website back on schedule.

Without a car

Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.41.21
Current Song - Stormy (Classics IV)

I've been battling a cold/sore throat/runny nose/headache/cough, and just about the whole nine yards on a Nyquil bottle. I've been staying at home lately (aside of work) to try to make myself feel better. I don't think there's much out there as far as sports in the coming days. I can only imagine what's out there - rides to and from places only close by.

I'm working the nightshift up in Dixon tonight for the second time. Most of the sandwiches were made over the weekend, so that cuts out some time. The cooler isn't what I thought it was, so that's cut out. I think I'll be okay.

I'm off Tuesday and Wednesday all day. I'm working Thursday and Friday midshift, and the usual weekend close, along with Sunday afternoon at Dixon. There's a wrestling meet in Dixon on Thursday vs. Rocky, and that's about it. Hopefully I get the car back by Friday. I really want to go to Hononegah-Boylan on Friday night.

What was supposed to be a couple of days at Dixon has now turned into a month and a half.

Also, there's supposed to be some Christmas get-together of the store's employees on Saturday. It's going to be AT the store. When I'M working. My performance may be judged or something?

I hate Winter

Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.01.21
Current Song - Deacon Blues (Steely Dan)

When I was younger I never really cared about how wet my clothes were. Now I can't go outside without trying to figure out how NOT to get them wet. This always ends up failing. There's nothing I can do about it, though. It's a texture thing.

We don't have a garage at home (well, we do, but it's filled with junk), so our cars are always outside. Mine and Chris's are out on the street, and they either get plowed in or snowed in. So we have to dig our cars out and try to get them over the pile of snow that's in the way of the street. It takes a lot of driving and reversing to do that. I got it out and headed to work in Dixon.

I get halfway there and my car starts to vibrate. So I think there's something stuck between the car and one of the tires. I clean it out and proceed to Dixon. The same thing happens. So I turn onto another road and it seemed to have cleared out. Now I needed to turn around and go out. I pull in a driveway, and put it in reverse, and I hear a bunch of clanging. I get the car back on the road, but I can't move anywhere.

I go to a house and call a tow place, and call work and tell them I'll be late. My car is towed back home and I get a ride to work. The problem, we think for now, is a broken drive axle on my front side. A rough estimate is $250 to get it fixed. It won't be looked at until Monday.

I feel like Greg Oden.

Of course, the stretch where I plan on covering things is the same stretch my car breaks down. So I'm going to have to come up with backup plans. I think I can get rides from my parents and my brother. Chris is going to work the Carson on Saturday, and I already told him to have me tag along and take some pictures.

I'm pretty much limited to Sterling, Rock Falls and Newman until the car is fixed. Absolutely okay for anyone, but most of the events are going to be yawners for me. A quick look at their sports schedules for the week shows there's not much excitement going on for the next week or two. Many away games, some absolute yawners, etc.

Wow! Been a while

Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.70.21
Current Song - All I Want (Toad the Wet Sprocket)

My wall calendar is still on November - which should give you a glimpse of how far I'm really behind because of work and school.

Part one of class is now over with. I just took my Film final tonight. Half of it was to be done over the course of the week in the form of essay questions. I could only try to put together a mildly coherent thought as I was answering them. I'm making a guess at high D or low C. This leaves one more day left, and that's the Math final. I'll prepare for that all day tomorrow.

Because I've been spending a lot of time worrying about finals, I've been very slow at keeping up with NISB. I didn't even get a F5 piece in last week. Things I've been putting off are noe too late to be put up. Since school will be out of the way for the time being, I have more time.

Plus - I was able to reduce my work schedule to the point where I am off of East End for four days, but in Dixon on Wednesday afternoon. I'm working Friday afternoon at Sterling.

This means I have Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights open - and possibly Saturday morning if I can muster it. I have four of the five Friday bits figured out so far, so I guess I'm doing okay.

Saturday afternoon - Carson DeJarnatt Wrestling Invite (hopefully a gamer)
Friday night - South Beloit @ Pecatonica boys basketball (gamer)
Thursday night - Bolingbrook @ Morris wrestling (pics) & Ottawa @ Morris girls basketball
Wednesday night - Rock Falls @ Dixon wrestling (pics)

... and hopefully I follow this.