So here is the daily grind...

Hello all,
This is the first day I can actually say I have to myself. I have started a new job at a company that does party supplies. I do not mean the balloons or streamers, but the tents, canopies, moon-walks, giant grills, chairs, tables, etc. I am a delivery driver/laborer. My job is to load up my truck, grab another laborer, which usually doesn't speak English, and drop off the load to the customer. This involves setting up the tents/canopies, and whatever else they order. I have been working close to 50 hours a week, and it is possible I could work up to 60 hours a week. I do not have much free time, so I am figured typing out a new blog would be wise this week.

Beyond the job, life itself is rather smooth. The pay is very low at the company for me, but the overtime makes up for it on the checks. I have been able to slowly increase my wardrobe, which was needed because I have wear my clothes until they disintegrate off my body. I got rid of a lot of stuff before I left Hawaii, and now those clothes are falling apart too. So I was able to get some new pants, and some new shirts. I am still being a minimalist, and I don't feel bogged down by the number of items I have available to me. It all still fits in 1 suitcase, so I can leave at any time, which is my M.O.

Speaking of leaving, I will be traveling to San Francisco this weekend to visit some friends from Hawaii. Eirik is out there and it will be good to see him since he left the island in December. I am sure we will do some drinking, but I will be doing a lot of sightseeing. I have not been out in the Bay Area since the first Further Festival, which was in the late 90s. I booked a ticket for Alcatraz on Monday, so that oughta be fun. I will probably grab some fresh seafood at the market on my trip back in from The Rock. Other events that I have planned are a visit to UC-Berkeley to talk to someone there about my possible Ph.D. application, which will be sent off in a few months. Since it is a very good Burkean school, it is only fitting that I apply there. I will be in San Francisco for about 4 days/5 nights. It should be an awesome trip.

I have re-applied to NEIU and HPU for a 2nd M.A. because of the poor economy and my inability to land a lucrative position with my current degrees. I was a bit down and out about the whole affair a few weeks ago, but the new job has changed my outlook a bit. Since the job is a seasonal position, it will end just in time for the new school year to start. I thought I had some opportunities to teach at Triton College, but their silence over the past 8 weeks has caused me some cognitive dissonance, and since I am good at removing the dissonance, Hawaii has become another option yet again. I will let you all know how that plays out in the next 6 to 8 weeks.

The process of starting a new program was a bit hectic at first, but recently I have been given information about it only being a change of program form. I had filled out the applications again, but only after paying the monies to the 2 schools was told I only needed a program change. I do not understand this because I graduated with my M.A., but I guess it still means I am a student of these schools. NEIU is because I applied to finish my M.A. there after the first semester at HPU when I thought I couldn't afford the island life. HPU is good because I graduated from there and my old professors/Dept. Chair/Dean of the Arts and Humanities College have all recommended me based on my academic skills and merit. I believe this will work out for me quite nicely. Even if I get in, I am still applying for my Ph.D. at a couple universities, so if I get accepted I will leave behind the 2nd M.A. and push forward with that.

The new book will be out in September. That is a guarantee. My publisher will be working on the editing and a few other things that I have been supposed to fix. The process is coming to an end, and I can safely say it will be available for purchase very soon. After that, I was thinking of getting a book of poetry published, maybe around Christmas or the first of the year. I have hundreds, if not thousands of poems that have been collecting over the years. I think the format will be a walk through time in the life of me. The poems will have little blurbs about what I remember about them, or who inspired me to write them. Most of them are dated, but some are not. I think it will be a good book to publish in hardcover, which will be my first one.

As for life, well I got a couple flat tires on my car on my lunch break on Sunday. It cost 150 bucks to fix and that is not cool. I still have the bad luck, but it hasn't broke me yet and I don't think it will be able as I get older and older. My ex-wife Karen had a beautiful baby girl a few weeks ago. We finalized the divorce in January, and here she is with a new family. She seems happy, and that makes me happy. I am so glad she is doing well, even with someone else.

It is becoming apparent by the day that I will probably not have kids. I have tried over the years, but I think I may be shooting blanks. I said I didn't want to have young kids in my house after I turn 60, and it is becoming increasingly clear that it will not be happening soon, if at all. I am fine with it, although I thought it would be really nice to carry on my last name since I am the last male to do it in this family. Ah well, there are other Kirschnick's in the world, just not ones from this blood-line.

Somebody broke into my Grandma Kirschnick's house the other day. My Aunt Sandy chased the guy away, and he came back an hour or so later and broke in again. It was in the wee hours of the night, thankfully nobody was hurt. The intruder lives in the same complex and I guess he was drunk and high and thought it was his house. I don't know if I believe that or not, but it is what it is! My grandmother never liked cops, and I doubt she will press charges. They gave her a hell of a time when they were looking for me over the years. Threatening her with Obstruction charges, lying to her about what I was doing or wanted for, and even threatening to arrest her once. I have not seen her in a while and have been meaning to go out to Rolling Meadows where she lives, but just can't seem to catch up with her to set a day.

Then there are the pubs in my neighborhood, or the drinking in general. I have been bouncing around looking for a good local pub besides the ones I am familiar with. I think I have found it. There is a place here in my neighborhood that has $2 Guinness on Wednesdays, $2 Blue Moons on Tuesdays, there is pretty much a $2 drink special every day of the week except Sunday ($3 bloody mary). I have been going there a couple days a week, usually for a cold one after work. Working outdoors in the hot sun makes a man want to enjoy a cold brew. It reminds me of the Shawshank scene when they tar the roof of a building and the head cop lets them drink some ice cold beer afterwards. Andy DuFrain...

The 4th of July was a good day. Spent it with the family, drinking some brews and BBQ'n. We had awesome ribs and some other delightful foods. I watched the fireworks at the park a block over from my house, because the City of Shit-cago decided to cancel the annual fireworks at the lake because they are broke. I personally believe celebrating America's B-day should never be used as a scapegoat for saving money. We are celebrating something much bigger than ourselves. They could have cut the money from somewhere else, like the New Years Eve fireworks, hell America's B-day is more important than a new year anyway!

Well, I have a lot of chores to catch up on, and I do want to get out of my house for the day so I better get stepping. I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4th, and I look forward to writing to you all again in the coming weeks. Maybe after I return from SF next week...maybe!

Later,
Kenny