Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Sometimes you just get lucky...

I showed up to work late tonight. I wasn't expecting it to be paticularly lucrative, and I was correct. Oh well that's not what this story is about.
On of the girls I previously worked with walked past me on the sidewalk and started going off about how hot I am. It's a true story I'm not horrible to look at. I yelled something back at her about how  she has a nice ass.
Later in the locker room, she bursts in the door, and starts in about how stunning I am and how great of a person I am, and how I should travel for work again. She is absolutely right I should.

It got me thinking about how incredibly lucky I am to work with a group of women who are supportive and open. How I really do feel bad for people who don't have a work enviorment like mine. Ther are lessons in teamwork they just don't teach you in school that happen in the strip club. Someday I'm going to write a book just about the lessons I learned, and sell it to major corporations to help with team building excercises. I am so glad that I made the choices I did and decided to have a temporary lapse in sanity to become a stripper.

I have been talking about it a ton lately, but really when I was younger i was sooooo wound up.  I was horrible to be around. This job has taught me to mellow out even when surrounded by chaos. It also taught me to really not take shit, to know when to throw words, or when to really throw punches.

Sometimes you just get really lucky.

Friday, November 16, 2012

The world works in mysterious ways

Preface ALLNIGHTER BOOM!
No, I'm not working all night. I'm just catching up on homework...right after this post. The joys of an allnighter low pressure, I'm going to be up all night anyway so why not throw on the lululemon pants and make a little soup to go with my redbull (I'm sexy and I know it).

The world is so funny sometimes. Typically I say things like "The universe just punched me in the face as I apparently didn't get the memo" I'm typically refrencing things not going my way in that moment. Today, today, on the other hand was totally different. Today was about as perfect of a day as anyone could hope for. I mean that in a perfectly normal perfect day sort of way.

I woke up this morning feeling strangely fine. By fine I mean I felt good and I also immediately thought I was the hottest thing since toast. My dog was pumped to see me. I made it to class early. I had a great time in my classes. I am actually enjoying my math class because for once it's not a review of something else. It's interesting and it's fun.

Came home, watched SATC and ate ice cream in bed. It was perfect. Hung out with my dog. A great afternoon at home. Had coffee with a dear girlfriend of mine before work. They were daydreaming about new furniture. My place is furnished so I live vicariously though others looking to furnish their homes. 

Then...it...got...exciting. I WENT TO WORK. 
It was a night in which I could do no wrong. I was on fucking fire tonight. It took me a little bit to warm up, but once I did, there was no one saying no. People were asking me for dances rather than vice versa. A gentleman even interupted a conversation I was having with another gentelman to request a dance. It was all very flattering. Then the inevitable happened. I walked up to someone just to be ignored. I HATE BEING IGNORED. So I followed him back to his seat. I introduced myself to him. His name was Daniel. He is an older gentleman, sometimes I stay away from the older gentlemen as they tend to feel that due to oh I don't know having their AARP card they deserve a senior discount and can take certain liberties since I am but a young girl who won't put up a fight. A correction is usually made and they soon discover I am a young woman with a bad fucking temper who may like to lean on your throat with her forearm, but whatever, I'm a harmless little weapon.

Daniel was different, he didn't seem old. We talked about things I would talk about with anyone else. He then complimented me on the way I sell. I love when people compliment this part of me. Regardless we headed to the back for a dance or two. We had a great time! SURPRISE! We laughed, he was respectful. It was lovely. We took a little break after a few dances, he entirely understood that I needed to make my rounds and was fine waiting a while. 

Fastforward to the "Ain't got no Champagne, Champagne Room". There was a point in our time together that hit me like a truck. Once again a man from work has restored my faith in men. He very lightly held my face looked me square in the eyes and said "You are love, aren't you?" I realized in that moment that even though I have had my heart drop kicked so many times, that a normal person would have given up and become a nun, or someone that really hates men, that I keep getting up and there is a part of me that still believes in love. I guess deep down I really do. I don't believe in finding it at work. I don't believe is storybook endings, or even in the character Richard Geer plays in Pretty Woman. I believe in a very realistic sort of love, I believe that you can love someone with your whole heart, but you can't make someone love you back. That it's possible to be a team, as long as you are not carrying your teamate inevitably. I believe in love as much as I believe in math, and math is the only thing you can ever really prove. 

I am so thankful for tonight.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Tell me why you do that.

I had two very interesting conversations recently. One was with a "normal woman" who assumed that there was something that drove me to being a stripper. Lets address that first...

No I didn't have a horrible childhood. No I don't feel like I need constant attention. No I do not have some hatred of men in which I feel like making them suffer (unless they ask).

The second was a little more interesting. It was about monogamy and if one person can infact satisfy someone for well the rest of their lives together. My current stance on the issue. People change over the years. It doesn't mean that you love them any less, you just love them a little differently. Relationships are built on trust, you have to trust your partner. You have to trust that you can say anything to them, you can ask them for anything, that is why they are your partner. There is always going to be something that could get in the way, that will get in the way, and it is dependant on you how you react to that thing. Then there is us. I think we are the best thing to happen to relationships. We are available but not really. We are beautiful. We are also completely unbiased, and not very judgemental. If I had a partner, I would so much rather they go to a stip club rather than a bar. Women in bars are trashy, and ruthless, strippers although ruthless, are ruthless in a different way. A none-threatening to the public sort of way.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Re-defining happiness

Being a stripper totally skews my view of normalcy and happiness. I ran into while getting coffee this morning a good friend of mine and neighborhood neighbor before class. He recently started dating someone outside of his norm. Apparently he usually dates cute hipster girls this one is note, he described her as psudeo-goth, after his description of her, I laughed at him and corrected him that she is more neo-goth, considering her satorial choices sounded similar to mine. We ended up on the topic of the idealology of the person we thought we would be with a few years ago. I asked him if it mattered what she looked like and how she presented herself as long as she made him happy.

I suppose at this point that is the thing. Regardless of who we thought we would end up with do they make us happy? I have chosen to be with myself for a while, and I am happy. I think as we age we need to focus less on what the person we are with should be and ask ourselves how we feel more often. This coming from someone who rarely talks about feelings, is a pretty big deal. Do they make us happy? Do we find them attractive regardless of the fact they are out of our normal realm.

I have this totally burning question. As I age and as I watch things unravel in the strip club, I wonder how does one choose to be with someone for the rest of their lives. Everyone I have ever spoken with about this says that there is a point you just know, you realize you don't have a choice in the matter that they are the person you are suppose to be with. What if we ignore that feeling? What if we have passed our window up? Then what do we just float though life alone? Am I potentially dooming myself with my job? Considering that my job even before this has always been my first priority have I made my bed? Have I chosen work to be my partner till death or retirement due us part?

Monday, November 12, 2012

The weekend I wasn't "me"

Okay, okay, I was still me, but at this point I think I have seeped into my own personality and it's getting a little harder to seperate. I had better get acustom to it really quick as it appears more family time is in my future. Le Sigh, thus is the life I chose. It takes a fast mode of transportation to lead a double life, I suppose it's a good thing I fly. Drinking and driving->bad. Drinking and flying -> much better as long as I'm not flying.
Oh what I did this weekend. I ran my second half marathon this year. Thats right kids, 2 down 1 to go. Then I get to train for either Chi or DC. It might end up being chi, I'm missing Scores. I know it's stupid but I miss not knowing anyone and just working. I suppose that is the advantage to my club going down the tubes. I don't want to talk to anyone. Not talking means I'm just hustling.
I have completely lost my train of thought.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

The city sleeps alone...

I have had a song stuck in my head all night. It's called "Natural" It's off of an album called "Huggable Dust" I highly reccommend it.
It's so quiet sometimes, it's amazing, considering I'm in the middle of the city. It was quiet at work tonight too, not quiet as in there was nothing going on, just silent considering the number of people.
It's funny the things that change our days. I people we come into contact with and how they change us. I mean I'm not saying that I believe that everyone we meet changes us, sometimes we are just strangers forever, but then there are times when we get really lucky, and we find really interesting people. Sometimes we find them in the oddest places, sort of like things you lose behind your couch or your dresser and you don't find these things till you move the whole piece. Sometimes you move an entire piece of your life without thinking and you get lucky, you find people who are like, well something more exciting than say that wool sock you lost last winter. It's a pretty great feeling. I guess a sock is a pretty accurate analogy. It's warm and snuggly, and there are very few things I actually enjoy more than wool socks. Strange as I don't wear socks at work, but trust me, I love the sweat out of my smartwool socks. Sometimes people are like that, they bring you a happiness like wool socks, it's sort of fleeting as you eventually have to take your socks off. I mean you shouldn't wear those in the shower. I mean consider summer you typically don't wear wool socks, unless you are me and wear really thin ones while running, then you put them away for a season, pull them out in the fall and remember how happy they made you. There are people I feel the same way about.
I've also been thinking a lot about people who have disappeared like socks who we may not get to see no matter how many pieces of figurative furniture in our lives. Don't get me wrong I haven't lost anyone lately. I was just reminded during a conversation I was having last night that sometimes life isn't fair and it takes people away from us when others make stupid choices.
Alright enough of this strange sock thing. I'm hitting the hay.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Stripper walks into a locker room...

I was getting ready and one of the other girls walks in and the following dialog ensues.

Stripper 1:Guess who got LAID!!!!!
Me: Nice work lady about fucking time.
Stripper 1: I know right took long enough.
Stripper 1: High Five's all around up high, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Stripper 3: You just gonna leave me hangin' ?
Stripper 3: So details?
Stripper 1: Awesome, like forever awesome, like till 6am awesome.
Me: Better than the last guy?
Stripper 1: Way, way, better.
Me: Where is he from?
Stripper 1: Texas, but he lives here now.
Stripper 3: Everything is bigger in texas, let me tell you about my ex-husband.

Discussion trails off, high-fives are continued, Work resumes, I go back to getting ready to walk out.

It was at this time I realized that we are way worse than the men I know. At what point did we become so, so, dude like.

I mean I think that most of our conversations had in the privacy of the locker room are hilarious, even when we are bitching about terrible customers.

Stripper 1: God fuck that guy, he totally ripped me off for $20 I fucking hate this shit sometimes. Such a douche. Fuck him, I want to go punch him in the back of the head.
Me: You could do that, I mean I would, wait on second thought don't do that you might get termed.
Me: Oh hey one more thing that is going to make this whole situation way worse...I ate four of your french fries.
Stripper 1: Bahahaha

Lastly
Me: I need my lock cut
Manager: Seriously?
Me: Yes, seriously.
Manager: RRREEEEDDDDDD did you forget your combo.
Me: Yes, yes, I totally did, because I am soooooo fucked up right now, I am sooo drunk, and I am soooo out of my mind loaded...No you jerk, it just isn't working.
Manager: *tries lock* Huh, I suppose you were right.
Me: Told you so.

Have I mentioned lately I find this job hilarious? Well I do.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Just the same old world changing post...

Before I settle in to study, there is some shit I would like to get off my very tall shoes, that I am not currently wearing, actually I'm wearing my running shoes (two weeks off of running will decrease your lung capacity if you were curious)
It's been one hell of a week off, I think I'm excited to head back to work tomorrow. Let's recap my week. Brace yourselves it's crazy. Monday missed a class to study, not sure if this is essentially counterproductive or not. Tuesday felt crappy, fell asleep, missed a boat load of text messages. (Sorry all) woke up felt better. Broke the law, went swimming in a pool that wasn't mine. Wednesday nothing happened. Here we are on Thursday, taking yet another night off.
So Tuesday was obviously the only day anything interesting happened. As I'm swimming with a group of friends. Ok, in the way of breaking the law it wasn't that bad one of my friends had a key. The subject of my job comes up with one of them whom I don't know super well, they of course have questions.
1.What's it like?
2.Do you like it?
3.Is it draining ever?
4.Do you find it challenging ever?

1. I don't know how to describe my job to other people anymore. It's interesting to me.
2. I love my job, I'm just a little down on it right now.
3. Occasionally. It bleeds over occasionally into my real life which is when life gets hard.
4. It's challenging to walk up to a person and sell them an intagible object without having much of a profile on them. Most sales you have a little bit of knowledge about the person. I don't, I have to make choices in seconds to try and make them as comfortable as possible in a strange situation...in my underwear.

Dating of course came up, I gave them the quick version of how this job ruins things and that's it, it's hard on people. The hours are exhausting. blah, blah, blah, we've heard the story before.

My good girlfriend W chimed in and stated she could never be a stripper, pretty sure she saw the imediate look of distain on my face.

Back to aquaintence, who states they didn't think they could ever find themselves in that situation ever, and why not just be a bartender.

Let's recap all the good things about me one more time just for good measure.
1. On being a bartender, it slipped my mind at the time. I had thought of bartending, then thought, If I'm going to get looked at like a stripper, I'm going to get fucking paid like one. Or so I thought when I first set out to do this.
2. Mostly normal life, I even took my pole down to perpetuate normalcy in my life. The only thing thats currently off is that I'm in a big nap taking phase right now.
3. I don't drink nearly as much as "normal" people or so I've discovered lately. I don't do any other substances.
4. School, although I'm beginning to not be so proud of this whole school thing for some reason, I think it's because everyone keeps asking me when I'm going to be done. I'm not exactly sure yet. About two years.

The question arose about redflags. Anytime anyone says red flag I laugh. I couldn't help but respond with I am a walking red flag, so you could take that for what it's worth. I went on to explain how if it were not for the scarlet S on my personal resume I would be just about great, but since I have a huge red stamp people tend to think I'm going to drag them into a deep pool of drama. I wish I was capable of that sadly I'm not. So I suppose on the issue of red flags watch out for the normal ones like "do they carry an axe? They may be an axe murder."

Gentlemen, just because we are strippers does not make us any crazier than any other woman in the world. I swear to god I'm so tired of talking on this subject will you all PLEASE just understand this. So I can go back to talking about the funny things that happen at work and never mention this again.

On a sidenote, when I referenced myself as a lady some posts back, I'm not sure what the hell I was talking about, I really meant good woman. There is a vast difference between a lady and a good woman. More on this topic (again) later.