New Species!

This particular species of the Bluecollarus Martimus--never before seen in this locality--is a previously undiscovered species, and therefore rare sighting indeed.  There have been numerous sightings of other species of Bluecollarus Martimus in our area but all sported a much longer and more colorful plumage--most commonly jet black or straw yellow.  This variety--sporting a distinct short, gray plumage--is truly an exciting find.  There is speculation that this particular species of the Bluecollarus Martimus may actually become a common sight in our area.  Click for full size:

Marty has been with us for a long time in "grunt-laborer" years.  You see, a year can seem like two or more when you're doing repetitive grunt labor work so in reality he's been there probably 20 or 30 years if you look at it that way.  Most grunt laborers only do the meaningless tasks asked of them just long enough to determine that there must be something easier out there in the working world that will still pay for their cigarettes and bus fare and then they move on.

When he first hired on it was winter.  It was one of our winters that actually had snow, and we were impressed with Marty.  Why?  Because he rode a moped to work!  Here it was--slushy and snowy--and there was Marty.  He wasn't late nor did he miss any days.  I remember going the same direction as he went on the way home one day and passed him going up the east hill of Kent.  Mopeds aren't very powerful, and maybe it was partly that fact and partly the fact that there was snow on the ground, but there was Marty--buzzing along on that moped.  We admired that.  We wondered how he could possibly ride that little scooter with balls that big or a brain so tiny--whichever the case was.

I always wondered how long his vehicles would last.  Whenever he would "come into wealth" and end up with a vehicle of some kind we never knew how long it was going to bring him to work.  The moped died.  The nice-looking mid 70's Ford pickup he inherited from his grandpa lasted quite a while, but little by little it started giving him trouble.  After a while it stopped bringing him to work.  He had a small brown Datsun or Toyota for a while, but like all before it, it too disappeared.  Now Marty is a guy that bums rides.  When he leaves work he'll ride with anyone that can drop him closest to home or a bus stop--whichever works out the best.

When it comes to the various incarnations of Marty, we'll always fondly remember the Alice Cooper era.  A time when his long, straight hair was jet black--as black as shoe polish.  Then there was the surfer dude/mad chemist look when his hair was bright yellowish (probably supposed to be blond).  Now he has a haircut that fits him.

I showed his new straight, gray flat-top to Sue the other day.  Her response:

"Hey, he looks like a regular guy!"