The Tubular Trip Episode #3

California is awesome! Gwen and I are having so much fun. One problem, the root of all evils, money. We cannot keep living off the little money we have, we have to join the rest of America and get jobs. So not cool. We also needed the money to buy a car. Gwen wanted her dream hippie van. I wasn't so into that, i preferred and old VW beetle, but whatever got us where we needed to go was good. We did a little sightseeing the first day, but it soon became apparent that we NEEDED a car. So our second day in California we went job hunting. Oh Joy. While Gwen was off doing whatever, I walked the streets looking for some sort of job. There were tons of openings, but none felt right, especially McDonalds. I'm sure it is ok for some people, but not for me. As I was walking, about to give up hope, I passed by the Laguana Art Gallery. Art has always been big in my life. I draw, paint, and doodle. I had considered using that for a career option, but i didn't want to be a starving artist, so what else is there? Anyway, the gallery did not have a 'Hiring' sign, but i still went in. I'd continue my search after i looked at the art. I walked around the air-conditioned room examining the art on the walls. I found I really enjoyed the work of one painter, J. Evans. Whoever he or she was, their paintings were really good. I was so into examining one painting, Sunrise Over A Wheat Field, that I didn't even hear someone come up until a voice said, pretty loudly, "Can I help you?" I turned, with a rapidly beating heart, to see a grandmotherly looking woman wearing a bright red business suit. I smiled and she smiled back.

"I'm just looking thanks."

"I see you enjoy J's paintings."

"Yes very much."

"Well if you need anything, let me know."

"I will," she started to walk away, when out of impulse, something I don't normally do, I said "wait."  She turned back around and faced me. "Are there any job openings here?" She smiled.

"What's your name?"

"Ally Bennet,"

"I'm Meridith George. Follow me," I did so and she led me through two doors to a room where dozens of easels were set up, and were all facing the front of the room where there was a small stage with another easel set up. "This is the Learning Center. Set up for, mostly kids though adults may join, those who want to learn art." 

This was the perfect job. Teaching art, i had found my calling. This had everything i ever wanted in a job. Painting, and kids. I loved little kids, and sharing my love of art with them would be awesome. 

"I normally don't do this, but i have a feeling that you'd be a great teacher. Would you be interested in teaching this class?"

"Would I ever!" I said, unable to curb my enthusiasm. She smiled and we walked back to the front desk. While we were discussing paperwork and such, a guy walked in. He looked no older than myself, and had blue eyes and shaggy black hair. He walked right up to the front desk where we were at and  i thought my heart would burst. 

"Hey," he said. No sound left my lips. As you could tell, I've very shy/weird around cute guys.

"Ally this is Jeremy, Jeremy this is Ally."

"Nice to meet you," he said sticking out his hand, which i shook. 

"You too," I replied finally finding my voice. 

"Ally likes your work Jeremy," Meridith said.  It clicked in my mind. Jeremy Evans, J. Evans duh! 

"You do?" He asked excitedly. 

"Yes, it's very well done." 

"Thanks!" He gave me a huge smile which made my heart skip a beat. Meridith and I finished discussing the job, and soon I said my goodbyes. I left the gallery looking forward to tomorrow, when I started my job. 

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When I got back to the hotel Gwen wasn't there, I wondered where she was. I tried calling her cellphone, but like always she never picked up. I turned on the tv and awaited her return. Eventually she returned, a huge smile on her face. 

"Hey what's up?" I asked muting the movie that was playing. 

"Guess what, I made twenty bucks!" 

"Really how?"

"I played my guitar and people dropped money in my case."

"Nice."

"So how was your day?" Gwen said sitting down on the other twin bed. 

"Good. I got a job at an art gallery, as an art teacher." Thinking about the gallery made me think of Jeremy and a small smile came to my lips. 

"I know that look, you met a cute guy didn't you?"

"Yes," I smiled. "You know me too well. His name is Jeremy Evans, and he's an artist."

"Oh that's hot," the two of us laughed.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring, but for now I'm just enjoying the California sun. 

The Tubular Trip: Episode #2

Ok, so me and Ally were having the time of our lives, but we were forgetting about one very big thing. Money. We were pretty much broke. Together our life savings and the money our parents gave us came to about $5,287 and 93 cents. Oh, and minus the $135 spent on the way here for the hotel, the bubble gum, Dr. Peppers, and the ice cream. 

First of all we needed jobs. 

Second, we needed a car. Sure we could take the trolly cars and walk around, but we're Jersey Girls at heart. And that means we are not walking anywhere. After all, I have been hoping to find my dream car in California: a 1967 VW Bus. 

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"Ally," I whispered. Ally has fallen asleep on the couch in our hotel room. "It's time to get up."

"Uhhhhh." Ally was groggy this morning, like every other one.

"It's a beautiful day," I sang into her ear. California really was beautiful. I surveyed our crappy little room, but it looked kind of nice with the morning sunlight coming through the window. After Ally finally got dressed we went onward into the great sunshine state.

"We need to keep on the lookout for my dream car." I was very hyper at the moment, filled with momentum and adrenaline.

"Oh no. Don't tell me you still want one of those gas guzzling hippie vans?"

"Shut up Ally!" I saw playfully. 

"Well, I'm just saying If you do actually find one i would NEVER drive it."

"You won't be driving it. I will."

And that was that. We hit the sights. On foot. Ally and I went to see the Hollywood sign and the San Francisco Bridge. We both loved California, but we both agreed the best part was the beach! The clean blue water, the clean tan sand, and of course the tons of awesomely hot surfers. Our first official day in California was a pretty good day and our dreams of coming here were not let down. 

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The next day the job search began. We woke up late again, with aching feet. Ally was on the couch watching a rerun of Lost and I was sitting on my bed strumming my ancient acoustic guitar that I've had since the seventh grade. 

"Wow, this episode is so old. It even has Boone in it!" Ally exclaimed. We were both into watching Lost, it was and still is our favorite show. Everything else on television is seriously crap. Except the FUEL channel on the higher channels with all the extreme sports on it. but of course the crappy tv in out room only had five channels on it. 

"Wow. It's eleven o'clock already," I said suddenly looking at the clock. "Turn the TV off, Ally."

"Ok, but this is almost over."

"Now!"

"Ok, Ok, no need to shout."

"Whatever. You know we need jobs. How are we going to pay for the room, clothes, food?"

"Yea, but I have no idea what I should do." Ally sighed.

"Neither do I. I feel like I'm not good at anything."

Ally started thinking. She looked at me and I still had my guitar in my lap. "Why don't you do something with your music? Those songs you wrote about Brandon aught to make some money. Huh?"

"Yea, that's not such a bad idea. But it's not like I can just waltz into a record company and start making a CD. I don't feel like getting a job anyway. Let's just win the lottery or something."

"Gwen, you are so hopeless."

"We are both hopeless." We both laughed and finally went our own ways to hunt for a job.

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Ally still had no idea what she wanted to do. Gwen had music, but what did she have? She just decided to walk around town and see if anything stuck out to her. The summer air was warm and she felt good as she strolled through shops in her flowy yellow dress. Many stores were looking for help, but she knew she was not going to work at McDonalds because they were not THAT desperate. 

Finally something caught Ally's eye. The Laguna Art Museum. She always loved painting and doodling in her notebook. Art was a hobby to her, but now she could possibly make it her job. She walked up the giant stone steps and into the building.

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After buying a lottery ticket and some gummy worms,  I sat down on a bench with my guitar case next to me (I seriously did not go anywhere without it) and chomped some gummy worms to think. Time passed and I thought I might join a band or something. Then get a gig at the House of Blues, and then BAM! Stardom. Sigh, that would be really awesome. I wasn't really seeking fame, but I just want to do something I love- music- for a living and not become caught up in the harsh and suffocating workforce. Not for me. 

To help me think better I pulled out old faithful and started playing some Bob Dylan, which is my favorite when I need to relax. Before I knew it some people were dropping money into my guitar case! It was amazing. California is awesome and that's all there really is to say.