So, what should I do now?

[East Coast Hustle]

None. I was using it as an example of a place I would never live.

[East Coast Hustle]

Also, I got offered 2 jobs in the last 2 days.

One is a chef job for the guy who owned the restaurant I worked at in St. Thomas. Loved working for him before. He's an awesome guy, always had something to teach me, and really took care of the people who worked hard for him.

problem is, the job is in Mount Dora, FL. Not sure I can talk myself into that.

The other is a job working on an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana with an old friend of mine from the VI. Seriously brutal work, but I'm not afraid of that and the money is killer. But I'd have to relocate to some bayou town full of frenchies in the middle of the swamp. Not sure I can talk myself into that either, but I might try.

[AFK]

Yeah, but it beats being surrounded by a bunch of Frenchies AND 6 feet of snow.  Am I right? 

[Dysfunctional Cunt]

Also, I got offered 2 jobs in the last 2 days.

One is a chef job for the guy who owned the restaurant I worked at in St. Thomas. Loved working for him before. He's an awesome guy, always had something to teach me, and really took care of the people who worked hard for him.

problem is, the job is in Mount Dora, FL. Not sure I can talk myself into that.

The other is a job working on an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana with an old friend of mine from the VI. Seriously brutal work, but I'm not afraid of that and the money is killer. But I'd have to relocate to some bayou town full of frenchies in the middle of the swamp. Not sure I can talk myself into that either, but I might try.

Mt. Dora is a really nice area.  It's inland but in Florida's "lake district" so there are lots of neighborhoods and districts built around the water.  It has hills which, if you've lived in southern Florida you truly appreciate.  Plus, it's pretty hurricane safe as much as it can be in FL.  The kid's dad's grandparents lived there and he grew up there.  It's beautiful there.  One of the top 3 places I would live in if I moved back to Florida.

Besdies, for everyone's complaining, Florida really isn't that bad.  I mean you choose who you associate with so it's not like you have to be friends with the local tards.  They do provide an endless source of amusement.  Yoou're never more than a couple of hours from the Atlantic or the Gulf.  AND.......  It doesn't fucking snow there!!!!

[rygD]

We could start a doomsday MATH cult. Not only do we enlighten with dread prophecy, we teach precalculus as well!

I am in!  I am horrible at math, and have tried for years to better myself at it.  I even suck at very basic elementary math (yes it takes me a bit to add, subtract and multiply, and unless it is very simple you don't want me to do division).  I really love math, especially the more advanced stuff.

When is the world going to end?

[rygD]

Also, I got offered 2 jobs in the last 2 days.

One is a chef job for the guy who owned the restaurant I worked at in St. Thomas. Loved working for him before. He's an awesome guy, always had something to teach me, and really took care of the people who worked hard for him.

problem is, the job is in Mount Dora, FL. Not sure I can talk myself into that.

The other is a job working on an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana with an old friend of mine from the VI. Seriously brutal work, but I'm not afraid of that and the money is killer. But I'd have to relocate to some bayou town full of frenchies in the middle of the swamp. Not sure I can talk myself into that either, but I might try.

I bought a car from a guy who did repairs on oil rigs.  I was told he made really good money.  LA seems pretty nice from those I know who lived there.  Also, I think he lived in Baton Rouge, but worked out there.  Would living a little ways away make it easier for you?

[East Coast Hustle]

you misunderstand me.

when I say "I'd have to relocate to some bayou town full of frenchies in the middle of the swamp", what I mean is "goddamn, that sounds like the sort of weird backwater shithole that would be right up my alley. I bet they wouldn't call the cops when I sight my gun in on the front porch."

[Freeky]

you misunderstand me.

when I say "I'd have to relocate to some bayou town full of frenchies in the middle of the swamp", what I mean is "goddamn, that sounds like the sort of weird backwater shithole that would be right up my alley. I bet they wouldn't call the cops when I sight my gun in on the front porch."

[The Good Reverend Roger]

It's great, having ECH back full time.

Of course, it probably sucks for him, having the TIME to be here this often.

But it rocks for the rest of us.

[rygD]

you misunderstand me.

when I say "I'd have to relocate to some bayou town full of frenchies in the middle of the swamp", what I mean is "goddamn, that sounds like the sort of weird backwater shithole that would be right up my alley. I bet they wouldn't call the cops when I sight my gun in on the front porch."

There you go then.  Does sound like something to look into, especially with all the monies.

[East Coast Hustle]

It's great, having ECH back full time.

Of course, it probably sucks for him, having the TIME to be here this often.

But it rocks for the rest of us.

while I appreciate the sentiment, and while one of the only good things about being broke, bored, and unemployed is that I get to interact with you spags more often, you can be sure that I will be quite happy to have to be an absentee slumlord again.

As much as I enjoy talking about doing shit, I REALLY enjoy just DOING shit.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

What sucks is that because of the time of year, I can't even show you all my favorite things. The Pipe, Eagle Creek, the Swath, Bagby, Little Crater Lake... all of those things are dry-weather activities, more or less.

I think there might be some abandoned railroad to check out, I've got to get on that. Also... The Mausoleum. It's amazing.

[East Coast Hustle]

f'sho. I'd like to see some of the cool and/or weird spots.

[East Coast Hustle]

OK, so it looks like I've got it mostly figured out. I'm gonna take some shit-ass job for the next couple of months (Subway, Little Cesars, bouncing at a shitty strip joint, whatever) to keep the bills paid and allow me to keep my enormous tax return saved away for future investment. Then in May I'm heading back to Maine for another season at the restaurant, having successfully negotiated myself a 13% raise over last season. Spend the summer stashing away my huge paychecks and living rent-free in a camper in my buddy's back yard. Head back to PDX in october with a MUCH more impressive resume, since this summer I will not only be the chef at the restaurant but also the consulting chef of my boss' private island retreat & organic farm and vinyard (which after several years will finally be ready to rent out for exorbitant sums of money this summer). Spend October & November trying to get hired as a head chef or GM of someplace worthwhile, more for the networking opportunities that such contacts will afford than because I think I'll actually land a sweet gig out here. Assuming I'm still unemployed when NEXT year's enormous tax return comes in, that's when I will purchase my food truck and start slinging some dope-ass street food on the streets of PDX in the spring of 2011.

It only took 4 years, but I have regained both the desire and the ability to go back into business for myself. Also, I figure I can pull 50 grand a year with the food cart working 50 hrs a week and still take 2 months off every year to go to STT or whatever. I'd brag about the ridiculously amazingly awesome and unprecedented idea I have for the food itself, but it's actually literally the best idea I've ever had and it's something that NO ONE else in America is doing, so I'm KMFMS for now.

ECH,
back on the hustle

[Darth Cupcake]

I will go to PDX to dine at your food cart and get into hijinks with Nigel.

...Come to think of it, PDX sounds rather cool, when I put it that way.

Good luck with the plan! It sounds exciting.