It’s official. I am flat broke. Tomorrow I’ll walk around Emeryville until someone hires me on the spot, even if it means I have to quit in a week or so when I get a real job. I’ll wash dishes for a meal right now. I’ll shine your shoes, sure. Just give me a little rice or that lettuce that’s past its prime, and I’ll gladly do your math homework for you. Need your computer fixed or your house cleaned? No problem. Want a fence painted? A dimmer switch installed? A doghouse built? If you’ll provide a meal, you’ve got yourself a deal.

I’ve applied to about 30 or so jobs via craigslist, but I haven’t the BART money to apply in person. My one shift at Venus isn’t forthcoming yet (this past Saturday was my “retraining,” as if I’ve forgotten how to make a lattç, and I don’t get the meager training paycheck until next week sometime), and any job I do get, even in the next few days, isn’t likely to pay me for another week, at the very least. Still, I maintain that coming out here was a good idea, no matter how broke I am, and things will work out. I’ll have proper employment very soon, and a place of my own within a few weeks of that, considering that Carlos’ generosity means that I have no expenses other than food, transportation, and laundry until I find a place of my own.

In the meantime, I’ll only wear my more presentable clothing when I’m looking for work, and I’ll sell toenail clippings on ebay or something for food. I’m glad I still have multivitamins and strongly caffeinated tea.

“We’ll save your a_ _ and protect you from the evil forces of inefficient networks, crashing hard drives and corrupt files.”