Listening to the Action Man during work

"Ashes to Ashes" played in ear. David Bowie's voice is hypnotic. No sign of the Scooter Gang of Lot 2. No sigh of anyone. Sundays are slow days. I only bring in 53 tickets. I look over to lot 3 and see new guy - whose name I haven't bothered to learn yet - standing at the very entrance, something I don't do due to the safety hazard of being hit by a moron. And there are a lot of morons who park in lot 3.

Like me, new guy calls in people who don't pay. One guy asked Super when they started charging and that he parked there yesterday and no one was there. When Super said I was there, the guy said, "Well, he must've not been doing his job." We can always figure out the liars this way. They always accuse me, the only true parking lot Nazi in the midst of the ball park, of not doing my job. No one gets in for free on my watch. No one.

With that, I let in three people for free. I couldn't be bothered with their excuses of not having any money. Well, the first two anyway. The last one was a sweeter person who only had two dollars. She asked if there was free parking. I told her to go ahead. It's pretty pointless for her to go to lot 3 and have to pay for parking she's already paid for as a student. She's nice about it. She attempts to convince me otherwise. I tell her it's a free shot. No one's going to do anything to her car. I let her in on the truth of the tickets - they're for inventory use only. No one comes around to check cars. It would be too hard to distinguish guests from workers from guests who beat the system by coming early.

And the inevitable happened. Javi came to work. It wasn't something we were expecting, but we knew shit would blow up sooner or later. We kept our cool.

On Evaders, Firing, Work Changes & Books

Javi was out yesterday. Fred and I already knew he was planning on missing work. As we were heading our way to our lots, Estella told us they were not going to want Javi back. The reason wasn't good by the sound of her voice. Fred and I talked it over for a bit. We couldn't come up with anything.

Tim was supposed to take Javi's place in his absence, but he was a no show. Another guy assigned by Super came to relieve me of parking two and sent me to three. I wasn't happy about the news. I went anyway, but being pissed off meant no one was getting in for free. No one.

The toll jumpers laughed at me as the zoomed around and parked for free. When they walked to the gates of the stadium, Estella was standing there waiting for them. As they left the lot, I laughed back. Another toll jumper told me I should be standing up front. That four people got passed me. Which is funny because the four people who got passed me did a U-turn (not really) and came back to me to pay, or ask if I was there to collect payments. How do I know this? Because I was talking to one when he told me that I had to move up.

My response was angry, "Sir, I can be standing anywhere on the lot. I can have a huge sign that says pay here. The thing is, people like you will still continue to take the other route and still say I'm not doing my job right. If you didn't see me, you would've turned where you're supposed to and continue to park. Instead, you drove along the median and turned into the lot to park. And there's several of you who do that and then you act innocent and pretend that you didn't see me. Today I chose to be further in the lot because you all expect me right there as you turn in. I've already caught seven people who normally don't pay because they didn't see when I was closer to the entrance. Don't tell me how to do my job and I won't tell you how much of a dick you are."

I'm sure that was embellished...all that in one angry breath seems impossible. Later I told Super the same thing. He agreed, even stating that me standing there in the sun with a bag strapped on my shoulder was a sign that people had to pay.

After going in, I went to the bank, counted my money and came out eight dollars over. It should've been twelve, but Super apparently hadn't turned in the money he picked up. The guy who took parking two, normally in tickets, asked me how I keep my bag organized. It's a hard job especially when people come in waves. The money gets bunched. Because I'm the only person in the lot who has a bag (I provide my own), I suggest that maybe management looks into to buying three more (just in case I'm absent). Hopefully the word gets to Bossman.

Fred and I went back to work to pick up the barricades. When returning, because Javi was out, Super put me on gate duty, a job I loathe because I have to do some more standing. Starting Monday, however, I take over Mom's maintenance job after parking. I'm probably not going to see a raise in my paycheck as my mother let me in on her secret after agreeing to do so. Apparently there isn't any work to be done, she just makes herself look busy. Great. But if I have to go in during the day to do the job, then I'm asking for a raise.

While on gate duty, I learned who will be replacing Javi, one of the beer island guys. While speaking to Super about parking three, he asked if he could have a book. I looked up, unsure what was going on. Super looked at me and repeated what he just asked. My eyes grew wide. What happens in lot three, stays in lot three. I don't tell them I listen to music or that I write during down time. And I never, ever look like I'm not working. When I write, it's in a tiny composition book and I do it standing.

However, I do carry a book with me that I read before and after work, never during. I'm not that crazy. I've tried it once, but it doesn't work. I'm thinking new guy just lost his spot in lot three.

Hecklers, Nazis & Toll Jumpers

Toll's three dollars (I was in lot one, today). Across the street it's two dollars. It's simple. In the years that the city has had a baseball team, there has never - EVER - been a time when you didn't have to pay the price. Granted that it has gone up significantly, it's still nevertheless a charged fee.

Today, I got a woman who drove behind me, following Estella. She probably figured if the lady in the black truck didn't have to pay, then she didn't either. The lady in the black truck, of course, works at the stadium. They caught her at the door. There's no need for that anymore.

Ever since Bossman told us (meaning me, as I'm sure my reputation has followed me) we could not chase cars anymore, parking three has been less than stellar. However, I've discovered a cure for this. If I can't catch them in the act, then I'm going to embarrass them at the door. Well, today Fred got lot 3 and he was more than frustrated with the people. And there wasn't a thing he could do. I told him that the rules have changed and if he's going to play the game well, then he has to phone in the toll jumpers. I'd bust them too, if I had to. There's no reason for them to jump ship - if honest hard working people have to dish it out, then everyone should have to dish it out.

Problem is, now we've got a whole new set of problems. Escalation.

Much like the ending of Batman Begins, the way we play "the game" has changed since 2007. When I started chasing the cars down, they found other means of getting by me. Sometimes they'd come in packs. I'd leave my post as one of them jumped the median, while the other one pulled in. Chances are, I couldn't get both of them, and I couldn't be in two places at once. Today, the toll jumpers found a new way in - run over the barricades. City property defaced by a blue, white-striped Mustang. Or they speed right by us, knowing full well that we can't follow. When we call in descriptions, there are so many, how can we get them all down at once?



And Toll Jumpers aren't the only problem plaguing the stadium, leaving everyone in a pissy mood. The rate of insanity with the Hecklers has reached an all time low. Yesterday, there were only about six men who were booing, name calling and swearing - today they brought their girlfriends and others like them. Super had to go to great lengths to walk them out of the ball park because they were now attempting to start a fight with the visiting team - and I'm sorry, you hecklers out there, chances are the team will wipe the floors with you because you're all talk and no muscle. And next home stand, they'll be there again and probably worse.

But not only have they started with the visitors, but also a gang of teenage hecklers parked themselves on the home side. Estella's alone in the taking care of the crowd while we're off being parking lot Nazis. When we come in, we're only adding two extra guys. We can't be everywhere at once. We're walking around, attempting to keep the crowd calm.

It was a good day, nevertheless. Mainly because it was the last game of the home stand and I get nine days off to do whatever I please.

On a side note, the parking lecturers have decreased. Today, I got one, but for the most part he was too tired, too frustrated, or realized I've heard it all before.

No Change & Compliments

For the most part, yesterday wasn't a busy day. It was slightly better, but not busy for me. Monday, on the other hand, has been forecast as a busy day.

Most of the time, I was waiting until a car pulled up. When it did, the others soon followed. The another vehicle bearing the university parking permit made it look like they were going to park on the other side of me, but then quickly changed their mind and drove toward the end of the median and parked. Unlucky for them, I called it in. They had to pay at the door.

Closer to the end of my shift, two cars - one brown one blue - decided they weren't going to pay either. A guy in a jeep saw me taking down their license plates and he paid. Because I lost the brown car in that instance, I called in the passengers of the blue car. Later, I realized the brown car and the blue car came together and those who I called in were relations.

The rules of the game have changed. Because I can no longer chase them, I call them in. Most of them play dumb and act as if they didn't know, even though they slowed long enough to see me there. They do go around for a reason.

Estella complimented me - I wasn't there to hear it - stating I was a good worker. Not a good worker, no. I just don't like the fact that those who are honest with me pay, while those who like to break rules don't. Toll Jumpers shouldn't be rewarded.

Tricks of the trade & College students have gotten wise

There is no such thing as free parking. Most of the patrons would like to think there is by bypassing me. It isn't a hard task to do. They simply ignore me.

Because the rules of the game have changed, I'm not longer chasing them (unless, of course, it's a slow Sunday and I'm bored out of my mind), so the tricks have to change. Yesterday, and the days before, I implemented pad and pen trick. It's where I actually write down someones license plate after looking at me and driving forward. This puts them in a state of paranoia because they know I'm going to report their vehicle for not paying. This worked twice yesterday.

Another trick is the one Fred taught me, and one I've already been using. When a patron drives passed me without stopping, jumps the sidewalk or whatever other trick they have, I call them in and send their description. This gets them paranoid that I'm calling a higher authority - which I am, but not the one they think I'm calling - and they return and pay or leave the lot.

Now, I don't stop all the people who enter my parking lot. I've become very discriminative with who stops and who can park. The reason is because several of the college students who enter are parking for the gym across the street. So if I see the parking permit and if they're wearing what I consider work out clothing, they don't have to stop. But two girls have gotten wise about this. They pulled in and parked near the gym, only to drive off when I turned my back to them. Sneaky, but that just cost the rest of them who are actually going to the gym to be stopped and inquired.

Now, again, not all of them will be stopped. A few of them will be let in because I already know who they are and they've already established themselves. If they should sneak passed me, then the rules will have to change again.

Last night, however, I planned to speak with the manager of the stadium to tell him of the my problem. Yesterday was a lost of $10, which isn't much, but still all that money adds up in the end. Especially those who get passed me on Thursdays.

Estella wanted to put a block on the other side, but against my better judgment, I told her it was a bad idea as it would not only piss off a lot of college students, but also cause a great congestion in my area. What I need, even though it's highly not necessary, is a partner again. After Marcus departure - and his return yesterday left me with a shimmering glimpse of hope - I have been grinding my teeth. It's not so much that they bypassed me that bugs me, but that several other, hardworking people have to pay while these free spirit morons are allowed in for free. Again, I've never been one to screw over the hardworking.

So today, I'm going to make my case. Either I get to chase after them, or they give me a partner or they lose money. Simple as that.