Jimmy’s Diner 11/7/07

    I first put this up on Michael Palin’s website.

Linda, the time may be right to put together the stories.  Jena may have to close the place.  She barely breaks even.  The place is mainly a tax write off and so she can have extra food for the family.

Today I learned more of the story.  “Jimmy” the founder, was her long time boyfriends father.  He died in ‘03, and Jena ended up with the place.  Problem is, Jimmy was a larger than life man, and owed debts all over town.  No major supplier will work with Jena, therefore she cannot get breaks on food and other supplies.  She works 6 1/2 days a week, no staff other than her father and Elizabeth helping out.  This is partly why Jena “tells” you what you are eating.

I am writing a childhood friend who runs a lighting business and wants to invest in stuff in Arizona.

Well today, Jena’s daughter Elizabeth who is eight (obviously not the same Elizabeth as the one who assists with the cleaning) had homework and was trying to get the rest of us to do it for her.  She tells Jena what to do as well.

“Wait a minute, how come she can do that?”  I cried.  “She is cuter,” was Jena’s rapid response, then Jena proceeded to make a face at me.  I told the city workers we were going to have to go there in drag and a therapist would have a field day with Jimmy’s.
Jena and her father (also named Mike) told me about the two therapists (who were also lesbians) who stopped in at Jena’s.  They looked around and reacted like the line in the Billy Currington song, this must be where rednecks come from.
I will miss it if Jena closes.  The Wednesday entertainment is always there.

Jimmys Diner 11/1/01

It was another show.  I walked in just in time for Elizabeth to drop a can of Pepsi and have it explode.  Mess all over.
Jena left early to go to the doctor, she was not feeling well.
The Parks Dept workers were there but we tried to behave because two older women came in who had never been before.
Jena’s father told me about when Paul McCartney lived in Tucson.  He used to repair the gates the company I work for builds.  He worked on his gate and still have the old remote from it.  He told me he used to play with the remote driving by to be a wiseguy.
I had meat loaf for lunch, because that is what they had the deal on, so it was made crystal clear that was what I was getting.  Same deal, just did as I was told.

Jimmy’s Diner 9/2/07 Labor Day Weekend.

    It is good to have a place where they know you.  Turns out I dropped my drivers license there!

Actually today, We had entertainment watching three 60’s leftovers (for the British folks, think AbFab) trying to get a truck tire changed.  It was work on the tire (with no skill and all the wrong equipment, take a hit and go back to work).  Jimmy (Jena’s husband, not the original owner) said they were going to call the cops because the truck was dumped in the middle of the parking area, but they never got to it.  It really was Bread and Circuses.

Jimmy thinks it is a hoot that I am putting Jena in a future book.   “Oh, so it is non fiction?” he said with a smile.

Jena is still short a waitress and she has her dad cooking.

I took photographs of the place and will post them in the near future.    The usual suspects were there when I arrived after softball practice.

Jimmys Diner 8/08/2007

    I always learn something when I am in Jimmys.  Today, I learned how the road from the border crossing at Lukeville to Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) was built.  An old man named Roger, who used to sell trailer homes told me.  During World War II, the United States wanted to be able to protect the Pacific Fleet in the Gulf of California if need be.  Now, people drive Mexico Route 8 to go on vacations.  I also received some advice on buying foreclosed homes, (if I ever have that sort of cash).

The four regular city workers came in.  Jena had no waitress and has a broken foot.  She was not a happy camper, her daughter brought a snake in (I nearly fell out of the chair thinking in was a rattler).  Patty the horse trainer came in.

Another day off in my hangout learning about cowboy life and other in Arizona.

Jimmy’s July 11, 2007

    Well my lessons in Spanish are improving.  I am starting to use sentences and learning more verbs.  Makes carrying on a conversation a touch easier.  Elizabeth is a great teacher.

Didn’t get to speak with Jena much.  Most of my time spent with Elizabeth and my notebook.

Writing Poetry in Spanish

    I am still learning and one of the denizens of Jimmys Diner is tutoring me.  I cannot get over it.  Tonight I wrote my first two poems in Spanish.  I am going to read them at a party on Sunday.  I eventually want my Moriarty book translated into Spanish since I have a Hispanic character, (namely his wife).

Also, while I expect people in the United States to speak English, I expect to be able to function in Spanish in Mexico.  It is only fair after all.  When in Rome etc.

Jena is Getting Her Starring Role

Jena said she wants to be the crazy lady in one of my books. Well tomorrow I get to tell her where she stands in this.

I am writing a book (just have notes so far) about stuff going on around Tucson’s historic rail depot. I moved Jimmy’s to the Depot. Hey, it is an old railroad dining car, it fits, doesn’t it?

Well, Jena is already telling me how she wants to be portrayed, for goodness sake.  She wants to be in a fight, but not kill the person.  If it is made into a movie, does Jena play herself?  Good question.

April 24th, 2007

Well yesterday, two guys who work for Tucson Parks and Recreation were there. Jena was having great fun at their expense. She told them they were lazy but they were city workers so they got away with it.

Jessica told me I was getting a hamburger. I could choose fries or onion rings. Just to be a wiseguy I asked what if I want both? Jena piped up with you have to then get a second hamburger and pay an extra four bucks.

Surely you are joking?
Do I look like I am joking?
Why do you guys come in here anyway? You know I am going to give you a hard time?
Easy, we have to go home and be abused. We don’t want to get out of the habit.

A tourist couple came in right after Jena put the closed sign up. “How come HE is still here,” the man asked pointing to me in an annoyed tone.

“Don’t worry. Like sand in the hourglass, when my diet coke is finished, Jena will get the broom and I will be swept out of here, like dust in the desert.”

Jena wants to make sure I use her real name when I put all this together.  Jimmy’s is also the place where I get tips on where to find a junkyard and I found a cleaning lady.  Elizabeth, the Mexican lady who sometimes helps Jena out.

It comes in handy and it beats hanging out on the corner.

Jimmys Diner

This is a great place to come up with stories. It is an old Santa Fe Railroad dining car. The kitchen was the kitchen when it served as a railroad car. I will have stories as we go along.

The food is basic. The standard breakfasts of eggs pancakes, potatoes or tortillas and beans. Lunch, hamburgers etc.
Most of the clientele are regulars. People who work at the airport, delivery guys on runs, older guys who have had breakfast there for years. The other waitresses are either family or old friends. Yesterday, a Mexican cleaning lady named Elizabeth had to help Jena out. She had the closed sign on. I went up there suspecting trouble. Turned out, because she was short staffed, she was only serving the regulars.

The old guys in the morning are a hoot. I just listen though. These are rough retired truck drivers, airport and railroads workers. They have become Evangelical Christians. Last Saturday, the loudest one, Bob said “The Israelis mistake is not running the Palestinians out!” I muttered sarcastically, “so that’s what us Jewish folks are getting wrong.” Jeri Anne one of the waitresses said, “keep it down!” If they find out you are Jewish, they will never leave you alone!”