2/11/2008 Construction Site

This week I am working with my friend Paul in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee at the illustrious Dollywood theme park owned by Dolly Parton, philanthropist and double D goddess.
Paul and his wife Dawn have their own scenic painting company and I have had the privilege of working with them a whole bunch through the years.
Last year I joined the two of them at the tail end of the construction of the MYSTERY MINE roller coaster at Dollywood, and ever since I have longed to return. I never went as a child, although I seem to remember groups from my church being bussed there some Sundays after church.
This week I am helping Paul (while Dawn is out of town) get started on the RIVER BATTLE, the newest attraction to open this spring. Today was my first day this year and Paul took me all over the bustling construction site to show me the major changes made since last year.
After making the rounds to every burn barrel, we found ourselves jogging towards the heated break room to escape the post-dawn subfreezing temperature.
I immediately brewed the dirt like coffee grounds and stood by the radiant heater whose cord disappeared under the bathroom door.
Paul and I were chatting while waiting for the coffee to brew when some dude burst forth from the bathroom. He had been in there for quite some time, and Paul and I were unaware of his presence until that moment.
He greeted Paul with a slow, eastern Tennessee salute and Paul apologized for disturbing him. The guy insisted "I can't be disturbed! I work at a firehouse with 40 other guys!"
To me it seems like that makes him ultimately, and endlessly disturbed. Especially if the firehouse only has one toilet.
He continued with his pleasantries then turned and looked at me, kind of surprised and said with a chuckle "Well!??! Where's the other one!?! (HehHehHeh!)"
Confused, Paul looked at the wall behind me, then the coffee maker, then the heater, then the microwave, and finally the guy said "Dawn. Or your wife, I mean"
Paul and I looked at each other and decided not to delve into this dude's blatant classification of myself as an object which had been mysteriously exchanged for that other, more red-headed object that was working along side Paul all of last week.
Paul introduced me as his old friend and coworker and the dude gave me the smarmy-est look ever. He was definitely really young.