[Elspode]

Last week, I worked on Monday night, and made my best take so far. Last night, without a Monday Night Football home game for the Chiefs (Home of the Swiss Chiefs Defense!), it was utterly futile. I only worked for 3 hours, had only four deliveries, and made $8 in tips. I checked my mileage, and I calculate that the $1 per run they pay me covers my gas expense +25%, based on my MPG.

Mrs. Elspode commented that it was hardly worth the time spent to make so little money. I made just over $8.00/Hr. once expenses are removed, so I don't know...at least I was keeping a positive flow of money, little though it was. Even if this was all I made three days per week, I would still bring in close to $250.00 more per month than we have now. That's enough to pay a couple of bills, right?

I can't bring myself to consider what I'm doing to be in any way futile, no matter how little it earns. Working this part time job impacts my most treasured personal commodity (free time), and has caused my many projects to be put on hold indefinitely. Therfore, I really *need* to view it as a positive contribution, lest I go screaming into the night and developing untreatable depression.

It was drizzly again last night. It has been *very* grey and drizzly here for about the last six weeks. In fact, it has drizzled, rained, fogged or otherwise dampened me on every single delivery night I've worked. Even the comraderie of the storefront seemed pretty dampened and low-key last night. There was very little joking around, everyone being quite serious about what they were doing. The Captain was totally efficient, using a minimum of words and expression as he directed the crew. Merle was cheerful, but mostly gone on deliveries all night, so I didn't get much out of him either. I'm going to consider this a blessing, at least until such time as I begin to get comfortable enough to be bored. The younger guy (whose name is Robbie, BTW) was similarly on the run all night (full time guys get kept busier than part timers like myself), pausing only once to comment on his anticipated paid vacation in the coming year.

I put in quite a bit of time pulling pizzas from the oven ("Hot pie!"), cutting them and boxing them up last night. You wouldn't think that cutting pizzas would be real tough, and in fact, cutting an eight-slice isn't. But - there's something unnatural about doing a ten-slice cut. The 5x5 symmetry required just doesn't ring true in my mind; I can't visualize it before I cut it. The result was four rather creatively cut pies, with geometries and areas of individual slices varying radically. I could only hope that those pies found their way to individuals with good senses of humor.

My "Happy Chore" was stocking the pop cooler. I want this to be my Happy Chore forever, please. Nice and clean, and not much to do on a slow night. Most people don't get soda with their orders, and I didn't break a sweat.

On the positive side, all four of my deliveries were on time! This is a first. Each of my other nights, all but one pizza were late. I chalk my success up to many factors. First, I didn't have any multiple deliveries. Second, I actually have gotten much better at locating addresses. Third, when it is less busy, the turnaround time on the pies is much, much shorter, leaving me more time to effect delivery. The map book and mega-light have also been invaluable additions to my routing.

I'm going to work all weekend this week. I hate the thought of it, but I've got to bite the bullet. Yule is just around the corner.