A slice of pepperoni goodness from Tony's Pizza
Today was a different day than most. My alarm perked me up at 7:00 a.m. only to be smacked and set to snooze. I didn’t fall back to sleep though. I merely stayed at rest in bed glancing over at my clock. Sometimes it’s just nice to lie in bed a little longer. My clock was starting to get impatient with me, and was readying to warn me of the pressing time, but I beat it to the punch and got up and out of bed before the second obnoxious buzzard. I was ready and set to go to work by 7:25 when it hit me. I was awake. You might be thinking, “Well duh, Dan, you are up and at’em.” True, but normally at this time of day I am more zombie than I am awake, but today I was vibrant and alive. I could have been ready for a 20 minutes conversation (those who know me will understand the significance of that), but time insisted I get moving. Ate some cereal, collected my things and off I went.
As I opened the door I was hit by a mysteriously warm breeze. It is always an adventure, in Eastern NC, guessing whether the air is going to great you warmly or slap you with its firm opened hand. Again, today was different than most. I approached my dew stricken car and was engulfed by the overpowering smell of Armor All and other cleaning products used to detail this 12 year old beauty. Start the car and immediately I notice the gas light on. It’s great parking a car on a slope because it never gives you a break on your gas level. Of course I still had plenty of gas to get to work and probably back, but I knew I better fill up just to make the car happy. Something else was different today; my car started with an abnormal rumble. Ugh, I hate when the car does that. Whatever, time to get some gas and off to work.
I filled up my tank, emptying out the contents of my wallet into the petrol dispenser. I get back in and start the car up. Ah the gas gauge is back where—WHAT!? Check engine light? Yup, today was a different day than most. Of course being in a rush and not wanting to miss my first class of the day I drove off and enjoyed the bumpy ride. I felt bad for the car a little, thinking about the torment I was putting it through, but it’s a car, not an elephant (it will forget). After complaining and complaining, and driving to my other morning class I headed over to Autozone to get the codes checked. Misfire! Whatever the hell that means. I guess there is one of many possible things wrong with the spark plug. I asked the guy the all important question, “can I drive it?” He gave me the “I’m not gonna be responsible for your disastrous moment” response and I was on my way. My day was looking a little better. I needed something to give me a boost so I wasn’t a complete grump my last class, especially because it’s speech day and I need to make it through any of the subpar speeches.
This is where our good friend up top comes in: Tony’s Pizza in the Jacksonville Mall. One of the only respectable pizza joints in eastern NC that can actually claim to sell pizza, and this Ex-New Yorker loves him some “real” pizza. I went inside and pondered my order. One or two slices? Plain or pepperoni? I opted for one because I didn’t want anything bad happening to me later on in the day, if you know what I mean… You can guess what the latter question’s answer was. I got my slice and found my seat. I took a moment to really take in the smell of this wonderful sight. I marveled at the gleam the orange grease made on top of the cheesy layer of goodness. And for that moment, that short time sitting alone with this slice of pizza, my day was better.
I tip my hat to you Tony’s, and the other few establishments around this area, for making this grumpy guy, who started off on a good foot, finish the day on a good stomach. On my drive home tonight, I will forget the grumbling my car makes as it transports me home, and appreciate the greasy rumbling my stomach makes as it reminds me of an awesome lunch break.
Enjoy your evenings. Until tomorrow.
