I've dumped a lot of dough into my gear.  I've dumped a lot into my paint.  I dump even more into gas, bridge toll, getting up hungover after 4 hours sleep.  That only really matters between the hours of 8am-4pm on game day (if I show up that early then I'm probably reffing).  It's the $5 in my pocket for the way home that really puts me in a good place.  I stop off at this little taco truck (roach coach) on the way out of Vallejo and grab a Mexican coke for seventy-five cents.  I think they taste better, maybe they actually don't, but the glass bottle reminds me of how cokes are supposed to be like when I was a kid (and hadda steal them b/c I never got an allowance).

$.75

        I suck on this icy glass container for up to the 580/Richmond exit.  The bottle gets tossed into the bed of my truck, I turn off into the Subway parking lot.  There's this cool little doughnut place next to it.  I grab two egg rolls done the right way.  Plenty of grease, no canola oil here I think it's done in straight grease.  They also have these kick-ass chicken sticks marinated in BBQ sauce for $1.35.  Grab one of those, bag 'em up, time to hit Subway.

$2.35

        The Subway next door has had a 6" meatball sub for $.99 for a couple years, and I'm all over it.  Grab one of those, good to go.

$1.07

        Now, the trick here is to be pouring the toothpaste consistency sweet and sour sauce onto the egg rolls, not spear yourself in the mouth with the chicken skewer, and avoid dropping a meatball onto your lap before ya hit the toll plaza at the Richmond Bridge.  I've been doin it for a while, so it's no big deal wiping off my steering wheel and heading home.  The big thing is how I feel after I've crossed the bridge.  My paintballing isn't complete until I cross the bridge.

        I'm full, the adrenaline has slowed to a slow roar, and I'm chainsmoking.  I'm having a blast.  It's quiet time for me.  In fact, it's the only real quiet time I get all week.  I forget about work, I forget about certification, I forget about tryin to chase Sean Takeda's salary (bastard).  See, until my $5 drive home, chances are that I haven't eaten all day, and had maybe 5 days worth of stress from work.  This is gone now.  I can appreciate seeing Mt Tam.  I see it every day, usually behind tail lights in gridlock or tryin to wind down after a particularly difficult client.  But I can see the Sleeping lady now on Mt Tam.  Until I started taking the $5 alone, I'd never seen a phenomena that I'd lived next to for about 18 years.  I notice the Golden Gate Bridge.  I love the way the Bay looks around 5:30 with the sun coming off it.

        I don't like drivin back with anyone unless they can keep quiet.  I mean I used to just split gas with whoeve needed a ride, but we'd get into big "I did great" or "I screwed up" conversations.  Screw it, we're off teh field and the day is over.  I've got three hours to burn before the Simpsons and the X-files.

        I can't stand the way Jack in the Box or McDonald's tastes after the day's end.  There's no honesty in it.  I'd spend about 8 good hours shooting at my fellow man, or waiting to torch 'em, and I want food that contains all of the salts and fats that I'm not supposed to have.  I wanna see the Bay and Mt Tam and all three bridges covered in fog and falling sun.  I don't wanna dwell on my performance.  I dont' wanna think about what new gear I'm getting for next week.  I've got a lot to do Monday morning that I don't wanna think about until the sports recap at 10.

(waiting until his next pay check for the special $10 ride home thru Oakland's soul food joints)

}8)

Chris Yu
MPN Columnist