5 year plan and all that

I'm getting ready for a major upheaval and I paused to consider a few things.  Usually, I spend most of my time chasing my tail.  Work, drink, sleep, drink, eat, sleep some more, drink some more, and back to work.  It's like trying get a Mustang out of ditch in January.

So, I decided to take a job back in Fort Wayne.  It's pretty much just a change of scenery doing the same crap I'm doing now.  Other than getting to hang out with the Granola family, I get guaranteed hours and possibly a little overtime.  

I'm going to work as much as they will let me for the first couple of years.  With reduced expenditures, I should manage to pay off everything.  Possibly even the house if I play my card properly.

Once I'm debt free or nearly so, working for money to pay bills is over and done with.  So then why work?  Other than beer money, seriously why continue doing mindless repetitive work?  

That's where the five year plan/vision board/finding my calling comes into play.  Once I have all my shit paid off, I get to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.  And  I think I've got a plan.  

I like wine.  And beer.  And margaritas.  Oh hell, I like to drink.  So why not make a living with what I enjoy.  At first I thought about a winery in Indiana.  I will miss the weekends at the winery listening to bands and drinking wine.  Currently, there are six or seven wineries in the area and a couple of real nice wine shops.

Then I remembered all the rose bushes and other herbalesque victims I've nurtured.  At least when I plant things, I'm halfway done with the burial.  I'm sure given time and patience, I could grow some lovely grapes and other fruit to ferment.  But that sounds like more work than I want to take one.

Then I remembered the Tin Roof.  It was a nice little place with fancy frou frou coffee drinks and a nice selection of wine and beer.  They served dinner and often had bands entertaining customers.  Why not bring the winery experience to the Fort?  A nice building down town an extensive selection of wine.  I was even thinking of doing something kitchy, like featuring only domestic wines. And, since there are now wineries in all fifty states, I'll have the largest selection of domestic wines in the country.  At least one from white and red from each state.  B.B. King will provide the blues.

Sucker!!

Yup, I'm a sucker.  For a free tote bag.  If the bag is roomy enough or exceptionally cute, I'll bite on a purchase with purchase offer.  The last one, the obnoxious metallic Pink tote Victoria's Secret they at me on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 

I was going to buy some of the fragrant lotions and potions anyway, but a huge shiny bag for an extra ten bucks, jackpot.  I think.  

That's why I love this time of year.  All the department store cosmetic counters will throw in a shit ton of freebies if you spend enough money.  And the fragrance gift sets are full a swag this year.

And now with the emphasis being green, the free and cheap tote bags are everywhere.  And extra dollar or two will garner a reusable grocery bag at most grocery, discount, and department stores.  Some even offer to donate part of the proceeds (not sure which part) to some environmentally friendly charity.

At this point, I have so many large totes that I use them as shopping bags.  I am the most fashionable bitch at Wal-Mart.

So I got approved for a transfer back home.  In a few weeks, I'll be back home again in Indiana.  I've got to pack my shit and hit the road.

What I'm not packing:

Clothes that don't fit

Dishes. It's not like I'm using them now anyway

Wore out towels and other linens

No more than two comforters, three quilts, and a three throws

Broke down anolog TV

Any cheesy pictures and plastic wall decorations

Lawn mower

Furniture

Food

What I am packing

Can't leave behind the shoes

Electronics

My power tools

The cat

Wine, lots of wine

Heat

One and Done Tour

After spending Thursday night with my sisters watching a drag show (queens, not cars) Friday was spent recovering after combat shopping.  (more on that later, maybe)

Saturday night inspired my sister, Heather, to take me on a tour of some of the questionable places in Fort Wayne.  Most people would referee to these places as dives, but they are more than that.  Most are small neighborhood joints that cater to a small, yet surprisingly diverse, clientele.  The only criteria was no cover charge.

I was going to go into detail about each places, but ADHD is a bitch.  So, all the places were pretty much the same.  They were dark with beer limited to the standard domestics. The entertainment was either karaoke or some guy playing CDs on a stereo.  So, I'll just give a few awards.

Best Beer O'Sullivan.  They have Guinness on tap.  'nough said.

Worst Beer The Rock.  Domestics served in cans. 'nough said.

Best Smell Broadway Joe's.  Not sure what the were spraying, but it masked everything unpleasant.

Worst Smell  It's a tie.  The sewer gas odor at The Rock was a little off putting  While the distinct herbal smell at was enough to turn tail and find another place.

Best Bathroom Fatboy's.  It had lockable multiple stalls, which was a rare find that night.  It was also very clean and there were plenty of supplies for wiping and washing up.

Worst BathroomCurly's.  Where to begin.  OK, the vomit on the floor. It was hard to see on the red carpet on the floor, but the smell was unmistakable.  Not able to rest on their laurels, the shiny silver wall paper knocked any all other rest stops off the map.  

Special Hot Bar Tender Award Uncle Lou's Steel Mill.  You might want to stop by and see for yourself.