I left out of here about my usual time, 4pm and I went to get a payday lottery ticket at the store lower concourse at Clairview station and like yesterday, I rode in alone. Just the way I like it. I got to the office and met the young guard again—Ahmad’s replacement and I asked him what he was reading. Ahh Star Trek. I pulled out my novel, mutual science fiction fans smiling.  I mentioned something about how I’m considering changing jobs for security work for that reason—more time to read books. When I got in Rob had posted the bank report. I banked $1,159 for the week. Not great but I’ll take it. I was a bit Po’d because I wasn’t getting my cheaque right away. Other people were asking about them in the front 20 and Will said he’d be bringing them around. I felt better about that. I had a smoking night again. Not quite as good as last night but I ended up with $945 and a $100 and a $30 credit card. But as I was working away I became cognizant of what else a security job could offer me: More time to write. Well in theory at lest.  As much as I like Xl and all they’ve done for me, if I can get the ideal security guard job I just might take it. Also it would give me justification for a rent to own laptop. I could knock off a short story in a week and have it all ready to be printed off and out the door. Especially if I can get the hours I want, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.  I can get the idea ready to write on my time off and write the story, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning I can have it ready to be shipped to the editor. Well there’s a little more to it then that. I can get out a story every couple of weeks. This is over and above my novel. The only interruptions would be going on patrol. The other thing is I could get the laptop almost immediately.

The thing about getting the laptop is that sure it could be $60/month but that’s over 36 months. That rent to own laptop sounds cheap in the short term but over 3 years that laptop is going to be something like $2160 not counting the interest. Not even a Dell high end PC is that kind of money. The only thing that could make this work is if I can say rent to own for a month or more, month-by-month. This way I back up my work on the laptop and save up for one as I’m renting. This way I could enjoy having the benefits of a laptop PC right away without being locked into a long-term agreement. But that’s only if I can get security clearance (sc). If I can get sc then I’ll go get the job. If it’s close to my ideal job especially the graveyard shift at 15/45, then I’m going to take time off from Xl and just work the security guard job until I retire.  I also want this Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday on and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night off. This way I don’t have to fight with the boss to always have Lodge night off. Now if I can pass sc and get the job, then I’ll order the laptop. Only if I can get all the above going my way and only then will I get the laptop. Everything depends on getting sc.

The other thing is, I don’t have enough money (now) to get sc. I need $55. However I’ve been saying this a lot lately, that I’ve been wanting to put extra hours in. This next cheaque will be for rent. So I’ll put the extra hours in bills etc. I’m going to try and put 32.5 hours in. Not including any bonuses will get me about $135 extra and I’ll get the funds for that on Sept. 7th. Lodge week. With any luck at all on my side I should be able to book the appointment for sc Labor Day week. Now if I can book the appointment before I get the job the entire better.  Everything hinges on that as well. The other thing I could do is get the job and work part time (pt) until the sc is approved. Now if it is, then I can just phase out of Xl and work security full time. So, I’ll ask for pt work first. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, if that’s ok with Anne. It wont be long term. Just until if I can pass sc. I should know that within a week of applying for sc, but I’m still going to call the cop shop I think tomorrow anyway and ask if I need first to get hired on a guard company or can I get sc checked out first then apply. If it doesn’t matter, either way is fine, then great. If I have to apply first, I’ll tell the guard company everything up front. “Let me work pt hours first and if I can pass sc then I’ll work full time.” If they agree with this then great, I’ll still work Xl even though it will be rough for a few days until I get sc and The 2 weeks notice I’ll give Rob, then it’s back to work full time at $12 possibly even $14/hour, hard to say.

Ok, now that I’ve got this more or less sorted out we’ll see, which way it will go.  All I just know is that if it works out and I get $14/hour and 15/45 on an LRT run, graveyard shifts then I’d be a happy camper. I’d get that laptop and begin working with having even more time to work on my writing and reading. I’d be in my glory. But everything depends on getting the sc.

Earlier I ended up completing the “C” scene and getting things ready for the 2nd rewrite. The first rewrite was in blue ink. The 2nd rewrite is in red ink. I’ve already did, the prologue in red ink and inserted the “C” scene. It’s after the 2nd crisis point of the novel.

That’s all for now, 

e. Jim