My day commenced with me picking up a previous rider. He lives near Lynden, but needed to go to Safeway first and then over to the Birch Bay Cafe. The one who rents out kayaks to people, especially the glass bottom ones. Now as it stands I said I would go and partake in some Birch Bay kayaking at their new establishment, but the weather has been awful and the social schedule has been rather full lately. He understood. The owners told me that people do kayak in the rain from time to time, probably more when it is sunny. Really? I’d hate that. Yes I realise I’d get wet anyway, but I’d prefer the Sun beaming down onto me, instead of it hiding behind rain and pestilence. He said later their going to sell beer including some of the local breweries. Aslan, Kulshan etc. That’s a great idea and you could have a few TVs for American football. We already do was the response. Oh well then. Excuse me for breathing, nah that’s great news.
I dropped them off and I progressed north by the bay, taking in the beautiful scenery. When I noticed a man running across the road without warning, he didn’t even see I was driving along. There was something along the road. From the beach side to the house. People were painting the house. I broke to avoid the lanky runner from Pro Paints. Then I was about to keep going through running over what appeared to a pipe for spray painting, when a red headed burly meat head of a man yelled at me. “Wait! Wait!” I broke a second time, he obviously wanted the pipe that was laying across the road. Then he looked at me in anger yelling “Uber, Uber!” Um yeah that’s right do you want one or are you going to keep chanting like a dumb Neanderthal? Seriously. I kept driving, but I thought you know what? Where’s ya friggen traffic control? One I could have hit your lanky bean string of a colleague and two I could have damaged a key piece of equipment. No cones, no people with stop signs just backwater contracting and a hazardous work ethic. Was tempted to turn around and go back and yell at them for their negligence and then I thought no money is way more important to me than wasting my breath on those idiots. Not to mention who knows what they could have done. Thrown paint at my car. Actually it would have been funny yelling at them in my accent, because for some reason an angry Australian seems far more intimidating than an American accent. That’s what I hear anyway.
Next customer was probably my favourite customer yet. She was from Cuba but sounded like Fran from that TV show the nanny. She was by far the most intriguing individual I had and for the most part I felt a gray hair pop out of my hairline somewhere. She was using words I didn’t really understand. As far as I know they were English. We discussed bad bosses and how some tip toe on the sexual harassment side of things. She used words like whack, woke, and inspo. I did agree with her on many factors, but I really had to read an online dictionary afterwards. Do I need to diversify my vocabulary or just keep being me? “Fair Dinkum, dat hella shi is whack, people need to be more woke”. Yep, nah I’m good. She talked about immigration and what she went through to get to America. I said but Cuba would be cool, but it’s very limited. It’s somewhat backward. Damn embargoes. Making it hard for everyone.
I dropped her off at her work and couldn’t help but think of her friend that has a terrible manager that is a full blown male chauvinist. Doesn’t believe in climate change and jokes about the #metoo movement to his staff. Highly unethical and inappropriate. Wanker.
Next ping was a lady visiting from New Hampshire, not the Old Hampshire the new one. Yep anyway she was here for a motivational speaker who discusses how to turn your wealth into more wealth. Sounds nice. The wealthy, perhaps one day I’ll be rich with an entrepreneurial idea that makes me stupidly rich and I can then give to the charities I want. The ethical ones, not the ones where the CEO makes a billion a year. Their rubbish in my opinion. Not helping at all. Anyway we discussed the homeless issue and how it’s getting worse wherever you go. I certainly see it. New people on Holly Street every day. Some it’s a choice, but some it’s an unavoidable circumstance. Drugs, bankruptcy, family issues, so many it’s hard to know who’s story you are driving past. Well the drug addict one is obvious unfortunately. I dropped her off at the Chrysallis and told her to go to the spa. Apparently it’s good.
Finally I picked up a bloke from the San Juan Island airport terminal. Not a common pickup, but occasionally you get a ping from there. He was flying home after doing construction on San Juan Island. He had a set square and tools with him. We had to go to the mechanic to pick up his vehicle. We talked about archaeology, construction, and the residential landscape of the islands, with the majority of them being Airbnbs. I told him about my blog and hope he’ll check it out someday. Maybe when he’s bored or waiting for a plane.
Next up thirsty Thursday’s.
