So, well, a lot of little details have combined to help me fall into the un-work week schedule.  For 3 out of the last 4 weeks I've worked 2 days, and then taken the next five off.  Then worked 2 days, than taken the next five off.  I don't know, except for the lack of pay, it kind of works for me...

    This week it was labor day- forget it, I ain't working if there aren't any desperate commuters to give me thier money.  Then there was wait-at-home-for-the-plumber day (kitchen sinks, not my fault).  And then there was... well there was I drank myself into such a stupor that I overslept by about 5 hours... which leads to my motto with this job- "better never than late...".

    So Thursday finally rolls around, and I go into work.  My usual (except for Tuesdays and Fridays, when the driver with the bad back gets it) cab is sitting on the lot waiting for me.  "Alright..." I'm thinking. "I'm all ready to try my luck..."

    It isn't until I'm at the gas station, putting my money into the tank, and throwing my bag into the trunk,  that I notice it's still got no spare tire.  I'd totally forgotten about it, figuring that the problem has been taken care of since the Friday before when the night driver had to use the spare when a bald tire blew on the Bay Bridge at rush hour...

    "Ohh shit..." says another piece of my mind at that point.  That's when I remember that one of the other tires was worn to the point where I could practically count the steel belts.  And, sure enough, it's still there on the car.  It's been nearly a week, and it still hasn't been changed.

    "Hey man," I remember, distinctly, painfully clearly even, asking the mechanics... "this other tires bald too..."

    "No... we don't have any more tires." the mechanic answered me.  6 days ago he answered me that... and still there's no tires?!
 
    I stared in disbelief, for several seconds... and then just shrugged.  "Ohh well, fuck it.  I'm fucked, or I'm not..."

    What more was there to say or do?  I'd already put my gas money into the tank.  There was now no choice but to try to work it and make it back, or fold and lose it.  So off I went, this morning, to face the streets on a very bald tire, with no spare... just trusting to dumb luck to see me through.

    It turned out to be a busy day.  I made money.  I only slept for maybe 45 minutes of my 12 hour shift.  And the tire held...

    I think, after doing this job for 5 years, I should start playing poker again.  I'm hell at bluffing my way through shit these days.

    I only wonder if the night driver is stranded on the streets somewhere, right now.  I hope not. Smoking Joe's a good guy.  What I really hope is that the bastard with the bad back who drives it Fridays gets stuck somewhere, and has to wait an hour and a half for the company tow truck to rescue him, and that he then has to deal with being lectured for going out without a spare...

    Better him than me...