Well, since being here I would like to say a lot has happened. And it has, in a life revelation kind of way. But not in your everyday, something always happening kind of way. I run the risk of being one of those people who, when asked how their day went, begin by describing my morning ablutions, what I had for breakfast, how long it took me to drive to the shop etc. If there was something interesting to talk about, I would. Perhaps people get by on family and friends, and that is something I see a lot of. Some of Dave's family live around here, and I'm sure that is to be close to his grandmother, and they all chip in to help her out. She knows what she wants, I'll give her that, and does not mince her words in the telling. But she is equally as generous and kind, despite having to talk quite loudly. Dave has almost given up on this - I have become the grandmother-grandson translator.
I found work fairly quickly here, as did Dave. Both of us hated our first jobs. He was selling satellite TV door to door and I was working in a sports bar called the Frosty Gator. We went to this establishment just before I started to get a feel for a Friday night. Turns out they like to get messy just as much as the English and we saw a fight get broken up. This was apparently due to a woman who had legs like tree trunks behaving lewdly with another woman. I had seen a bit of this behaviour but had missed the move that got her chucked out - she jammed a hand up her counterpart's skirt. It was noticed by staff and swiftly dealt with while the man that they were with proudly swanned out after them. I bet he just gets to sit in the corner and watch personally, didn't look too much like the Casanova he obviously thought he was. When we had drunk our fill we went out the front to hail a taxi and were convinced by some locals to join them at a karaoke bar. With free drinks promised we tottered along. I would describe them, but they had little to no comic or interest value aside from getting us drinks, so I'll spare you. We ended up home safe and sound albeit a little wobbly around the edges. So far that's our only night out to date - go us!
Unfortunately the Frosty Gator turned out to be more hectic than it needed to be as far as working goes. All mistakes paid out of my wages in full. The people were nice but took very little interest in me. I mean, I'm not presuming that I'm worth talking to, but at least find out?! I had one customer enquire after hummus - so I started with chickpeas (first mistake, they're garbanzo beans out here. Yes, I know, weird) and as I got half way through the description he asked 'So, is it meat?' Reaching into the depths of self control I responded with the negative to which he replied 'Ah! Hell no then!' I desperately wanted to turn to someone and have a giggle, but wondered who I might offend in the process, so I kept it as my own personal joke til the end of the day.
The main relief here is shooting. Before this, I had shot a gun a handful of times, and that was under Dave's instruction also. But I now find I have an eye for rifle shooting, which I very much enjoy. Handguns are fun, but not as easy to aim, and shotguns are great fun and rewarding because you rarely miss a target. Sadly I'm not shooting bigot Idahoans but just bottles and any other target type stuff lying around. But honestly, I have never come away from shooting without feeling better. It's not even the big bang (which is disappointingly small on some guns), and I've yet to put my finger on what it is. It's not the power, I think it might just be the pure concentration that goes in to aiming and firing a gun. But out here there is plenty of space to shoot. I can understand why the gun laws are so lax, and the state also has the lowest instance of gun crime in the country. When people are piled on top of each other, keep strict gun laws. Out here, you can just drive out to the middle of nowhere and fire off a few rounds. Better than a therapist!
We spend our days off either shooting at shit (non-alive shit), or walking across amazing old lava flows or in the mountains. The scenery out here is something else. So much uninterrupted space with a mountainous backdrop. I miss trees though, well, forests. Apparently northern Idaho is good for that. I'm working in Idaho's version of a fine dining restaurant. It is nice, I'll give the place that, but it's not how I'd do things. So maybe I should put my money where my mouth is and open up my own place. Just get me the hell out of Idaho first!
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