Haha! Happy birthday to me, eh?

[Alfonso Crawford]

Alright; today was my birthday: I'm officially 20 (and my ID has officially expired). I've pledged to get something in my life changed, and… well, I'll give you a little background. I'm a professional dish-washer: that's all you need to know, really. I am, naturally, filled with an intense rage, and I've channeled that rage into attracting something other than what I have into my life.

The first part of my Great Attraction started yesterday, when I got a job-opportunity from a co-worker that wants me to fix his computer. I've traveled across towns to just GET his computer to my apartment, and he's paid the taxis with a smile. When I talk to him about the complications I'm experiencing, and how I may need to charge him for software I'll need, he's supported my decision. I don't think that I could have started off with a better client.

This evening, when I went to visit a bar-tending friend of mine, I ended up chatting with a trivia-show DJ that just started at the bar. It turns out that he's from Baltimore, and had planned for a local guy to do the show, here, in the capitol of Pennsylvania, but the guy seems to have disappeared. Now, he's talking to me about being the Harrisburg-DJ of his little operation! On top of the DJ-thing, he's a financial advisor, which is good for me, since I'm getting a friend of mine to apply her business-savvy to getting into stocks. Let's hear it for a two-fer, eh?!

I've come across some birthday-money, too; a grand total of $225. I can do alot with ~200 dollars, at a point as early on as mine is. I've been developing an itch for writing, and I've got connections in various art-businesses, political venues, and the internet to get something exposed well somewhere. It also doesn't hurt that an extra, off-hand $10 can run-off quite a few pocket-sized indie-comics!

So you know, I'm an amateur game-developer. I keep my finger on the right veins, to specialize in fighting-games. I've, just today [yesterday?], quietly announced that I'm beginning work on my own twist on a popular game, and as I prove the project's worth, there is good sense to believe that I can get some community-support.

I know that rage and hatred aren't too widely embraced, here, but "the dark side" has helped me start walking out of the windowless kitchen I gain my rent-money from: besides, dish-washing is an affront to God; and it doesn't matter which god or gods you pray to. Dish-washing is against ALL of them. If you don't believe in deities, then dish-washing is just an affront on you, personally.

Have a good day!

[Zwynd]

Congrats on a possible career/life rework!

[Alfonso Crawford]

I also got invited to an orchestra-concert, by the bar-tending friend. Ain't I just a barrel of win, or what?

[Cristal Lilly]

congratulations on getting the ball rolling in the direction you want! it always makes me happy to see progress in someone's life.

as for anger being able to be the fuel behind change, I agree. it can be such a powerful tool. anger is a natural feeling and can be wonderful source of power. in my life I've used both rage and love to change and to overcome, both with success. but you have to rule your rage, you can never let it rule you. ever. and that is extremely hard.

I think the reason this won't be advocated is mostly because if for instance you lose your grip on love and it gets out of hand, the worst consequence is a broken heart.. with rage, worst consequence for losing control is a whole lot more terrifying, for instance you can actually start a war. I think that would be the worst possible outcome.

but when you say you could use hatred as a fuel.. I encourage everyone against this. I really do. hate is just a drain and loss of any objectivity.

but anyways, I'll stop babbling now. congratulations once again for making changes you wanted

[fellowtraveler]

You are a very interesting young man, Alfonso Crawford. There are great things ahead of you. I envy and admire you.

The rage is powerful energy. It doesn't have to be hate, really. There is holy rage and righteous rage and the rage for life that makes a seedling push stones out of its way to get to the light. The dishwashing was to teach you something. Not to mention that someone has to do the dishes and it was your turn, for a time. Never forget the dishwashers you will leave behind and what that felt like. As you go, don't hold it as a bad memory, just as an instruction.

I'm mostly too old and tired to drop into Spice and see you, and you won't be there anymore soon anyhow, but we very well might meet up sometime .

My son's a programmer - he can't work right now (long story) but he's thinking of getting into game development instead of the financial apps he was writing for Fortune 100 companies. He has a partner already, but who knows...

PM me if you want...I'd like it if you'd keep in touch and let me know how it's going for you. As it unfolds for you, keep a bit of humility and kindness with you, and remember those dishwashers. OK?

[Honeywith4bees]

Happy Birthday Alfonso! and Congrats on your chutzpah, I think that you will go far!

[Alfonso Crawford]

How could I ever forget about my time as a dish-washer? Those kinds of nightmares only go away with the kind of substances that I really don't wanna be caught with.

[fellowtraveler]

Originally Posted by Alfonso Crawford

How could I ever forget about my time as a dish-washer? Those kinds of nightmares only go away with the kind of substances that I really don't wanna be caught with.

You're in the middle of the nightmare right now. When you wake up and have some distance, you'll see the value, trust me.

[Alfonso Crawford]

Oh; I know that: It doesn't change the fact that the job still sucks.

[fellowtraveler]

Originally Posted by Alfonso Crawford

Oh; I know that: It doesn't change the fact that the job still sucks.

Well yuh, that's why they call it work...

I've spent a good amt of time working in 10 degree and 100 degree weather, snow/sleet/rain...there's always somethin'. Builds character, lol.