LETTERS FROM STEVO: Working Class Hero Vol. III...The Iceman Cometh!

It's been a while since I've worked on my "Working Class Hero" series, so here is Volume III. Not long after 4 years of sloughing thru high school (I have an awesome ACT score to validate this) I acquired a job working for Dewey at the Ice Plant. We manufactured and delivered bags of ice to various grocery stores, gas stations, trading posts and other strategic locations. This job will go down in my personal memoirs as one of my favorite gigs ever!

This was a seasonal job that peaked during the summer months. We would work 60-70 hours a week. A typical day entailed coming in at 7am, working until about 6-7pm, then having to go back in at 10pm to bag ice for an hour (lest the ice bin overflow). During the weekend 10pm shifts, we occasionally were blessed by the presence of some of the ladies we had been hanging out with that night! They were typically just curious about an "ice plant".

Working Saturdays was a requirement and though Dewey tried to avoid it, sometimes Sundays needed to be worked as well. You were notified of your schedule at the end of your shift...Dewey would say, "10 tonight, 7 in the morning". We would have to chip the floor in the cold room because ice would build up from the belt above...at times the ice build up would get close to a foot thick. We would use crowbars to crack it then shovel it out. We would have to deliver ice all over the region, including various trading posts on the Navajo Reservation. Once, on a route on the Res, the hood on my truck wasn't closed properly and flew up shattering the windshield as I was driving! Luckily it didn't knock the glass onto me...the window remained intact but cracked into thousands of pieces. I had to drive an hour back to Farm Town on a freeway, looking out the drivers side window because I couldn't see through the windshield!

We became known at the various drop off locations due to our unique product. Often times, upon seeing us arrive with our bags of ice, customers would comment that, "the iceman cometh". We hated this! We developed an "under our breath" response to this greeting, but unfortunetaly I can't repeat it in this forum. We would also get to know the other vendors such as "Rainbow" John...a known drug dealer and driver for Rainbow bread. There was also the Cheetos guy who once wiped out in front of us. This accident triggered the obvious joke from my esteemed colleague with the nice mullett..."It's not easy being cheesy!"

There are many other events and funny stories that transpired during this gig, but I unfortunately cannot recount them on this record. For behold, I have written them on mine other record. Oh yeah, one last thing...I once went to work with the stomach flu and while driving my route, would stop off the side of the road to hurl! Nice!

Quickie With Stevo: Amy had a good time too!

We found this sign and Amy found herself "curiously" attracted to it...Apparently it's some sort of rum native to the island. Amy also forgot to mention that we made out with the stingray. We definitely had a good time and wouldn't trade the experience for anything!

A Letter TO Stevo....Happy Birthday and Anniversary....Off to the Grand Cayman!

Every year, as spring rolls around Steffan and I celebrate our wedding anniversary on April 28th and his birthday on May 2. This year was our 9 year anniversary, and Steffan's 33rd Bday. We celebrated by going to the Grand Cayman. We really have not been on a vacation that did not include kids or sleeping on some one's air mattress -Not that I do not love spending time with the kids, or family and friends that let us stay with them - I love that too. But this time we BIG! We researched the most relaxing beach location and then found the best possible resort. So, we ended up at the Ritz Carlton on the Grand Cayman (http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/GrandCayman/Default.htm). Need I say more? Probably not, but I will...
We spent 5 relaxing days and nights, mostly sitting on the beach and eating incredible food. I read 3 books, and 3 magazines, snorkeled several times, and swam with the sting rays. We tried to do a little shopping and sight seeing, but quickly decided we would avoid all tourist traps and just enjoy our time on the beach. Who needs to shop in town when there is a Tiffany's right inside the hotel anyway? :)
It was an amazing week, and provided many new topics/stories for my memoirs, entitled "Livin' with Stevo"...I will share a couple.
Steffan thought he would get a great tan on this vacation, so he started out a week ahead of time to prepare himself for the sun. He jumped into the tanning booth and disregarded the advise of the 17 year old working at the Tanning Salon, and went twice as long as he should have. Of course he came out burnt as can be. He repeated this task a couple more times before our departure, never quite learning....but building that base, right?? Oh no....day 1 on the beach, Steffan neglected to sunscreen his legs and feet. We sat on the beach, reading and swimming, for literally 7-8 hours. Nearing the end of the day, a lady sitting near by said to him, "Oh my, did you get that sun burnt just today". Steffan's reply, "Oh no, I tan red". And red he was, the rest of the week he had a hard time even walking. And since our return he has been peeling like crazy. Some people never learn...
On day 3 we decided to head to Sting Ray City and also a couple of Snorkeling stops. We used Captain Marvin's Tours and ended up on a boat with about 10 other vacationers. Instead of a quiet, relaxing, and beautiful trip out into the ocean snuggled next to his beautiful wife, enjoying the fresh sea air, Steffan introduced himself to all the men on the boat, and proceeded to discuss hours and hours of football. 5 hours later, after 2 snorkel stops, visiting the sting rays, and stopping to see some starfish, Steffan had barely touched the surface on his knowledge of the NFL and College sports - past, present, and future. As we left the boat, one guy even asked him if he worked in the football industry. He wishes!
Steffan had a great birthday, if I do say so myself. He was spoiled as usual, which is really my specialty. I love for everyone in my life to have the best birthdays, after all it is their special day! (I am still waiting for the return favor from him. However, thoughtfulness and gift purchasing have never been his forte. I have learned to get over it...most of the time. But this year was my big 3-0. Still, nothing. But I did not take it out on him this year, I still went all out.) We spent the night before we left going out for Wings and Bday cake with the family, so the kids could wish him a happy birthday. He got Guitar Hero Metallica, and the Complete Guitar Hero Band. He also got a minirefridgerator for the basement, so he will not have to walk up the stairs for soda. Since this purchase and set up, which he took great care in doing, I honestly never see him. He has retired to the man cave in our basement to watch and play for hours and hours. Luckily he includes the kids on the fun and he has Mya sing her heart out and Peyton rock out on the drums. It is pretty dang cute to see them all playing together and rocking out to Metallica. Peyton has to be the guy with the mohawk and Mya loves the rocker chicks. I haven't decided whether this purchase was good or bad...I now have the main TV to myself, and all the time I want to myself at night...however, Steffan has no concept of time down there. I think he would play all night. And he is getting more and more deaf each day. And he is learning more and more useless information by the minute. Who knew he could learn more about rock than he knows about football?! Once we were in the Cayman the celebration continued, I took him out for the fanciest dinner we have ever had. It was a 5 star restaurant, which included a 7course meal. He was in heaven! Unfortunately for me it was seafood, but it was still incredible!
We have been back at home for just over a week, going through the hell I call "vacation punishment". Work has been crazy, the kids have been clingy, and our house was pretty messy until we got through all the laundry. But it was completely worth it! I am happy to confirm after another year of "Livin' with Stevo" that I did in fact marry the man of my dreams - not prince charming, or a knight in shining armor - I do not need that in my life. He is there to make me laugh, challenge my thinking, love me completely, make me feel beautiful and special, and make up my other half. We are a complete compliment to each other and truly enjoy each other's company. Confirming that for another year is truly priceless! (Hopefully my parent's agree and volunteer to watch the kids again next year!)

Quickie With Stevo: My Apologies

UPDATE!!! After calling her out in a LETTER FROM STEVO, My Lady of the water finally decided to get in the damn pool and swim with her children. I'm finding this technique of calling her out via LETTER FROM STEVO quite effective. We were in the Grand Cayman the first week of May and I'm going to blog about it, but I'm waiting on Amy to download some pictures onto the computer so I can post them with the blog. So, I apologize for taking so long to blog...you can blame my better half. Meanwhile, Ma Busch is in town to party and Peyton is running around yelling, "beg for mercy!" and "I'm going to eat you for breakfast!" I swear on my Dodge Charger I didn't teach him this. I'll be back with the update on Grand Cayman...