Tell Me About One of Your Weirdest Jobs
Plus a few notes from the road—sorry I've been gone so long!
TEAM!
My apologies, it’s been more than a minute since our our last walk. I’ve been on tour promoting my new memoir, Dirtbag, Massachusetts. If you haven’t already ordered yourself a copy, it’d mean the world to me if you considered doing just that (ask for it at your local independent bookstore or library!). You can also order a signed copy of Dirtbag, Massachusetts via the good people at Books Are Magic—just be sure to specify you want a signed copy when you order. If ya still ain't sold, Michael Ian Black said some kind words about the book in the New York Times, and Dirtbag is now a New York Times bestseller. Also, if you’re a Walk It Off subscriber living in the UK, please know that the book became available there yesterday. Pick up a copy at your local bookshop and tell your friends!
As I mentioned back in April, Walk It Off will be moving at a slower pace this year. With that said, I couldn’t have possibly predicted (nor dared to dream) that Dirtbag, Massachusetts was going to take off in the way it has this past month. I am incredibly grateful. But I don’t want you worried that Walk It Off will sit stagnant for the rest of the summer. Or year! I’ve got some great walks coming your way—Stephanie Foo! Jason Diamond!—and promise you’ll be getting those soon. Thank you so much for your patience.
Ok, now that the logistics are out of the way, let’s get to this week’s question.
The last Walk It Off we did was with artist and graphic novelist/memoirist Leslie Stein. It’s a fantastic conversation (if you missed it, I highly recommend checking it out). Leslie talked about the many different jobs she’s had while tirelessly pursuing her art. That—plus Dirtbag, Massachusetts being about a few of the interesting jobs I’ve had over the years—got me wondering, what was one of the weirder jobs you’ve ever had? Let me know in the comments below! I miss y’all’s stories so, so much, so I can’t wait to read ‘em. And, like I said, more Walk It Off will be coming soon. Thank you, always, for your ongoing support. ❤️
Yours in walking, -Isaac
PS: My tour has been extended. Come see me IRL!
In college back in the 90s, there was a blind philosophy professor. I had a work-study job wherein I read to him: sections from philosophy texts as he prepped for lessons, student papers, etc. The weirdest (coolest!) thing was that he had an encyclopedic memory and would point to a shelf in his office and say something like "I think the Descartes "Discourse" should be the third book from the right with the blue binding and I believe Part 4 on God and the Human Soul is the section I'm looking for." He was never wrong!
Well, my first job out of college was driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, a 23-ft long fiberglass hotdog/bun. Our job title was "Hotdogger" and we appeared at all kinds of events, from grocery store visits to high profile sporting events. I logged thousands of miles up and down the east coast and through the midwest that year (early 90s). I drove in rush hour traffic in Manhattan and filmed a segment with Gilbert Gottfried for USA Network's Up All Night. Mostly, though, it was radio spots with the local morning zoo show, lots of puns and dodging innuendos, and handing out so many wiener whistles to little kids and their parents, who often remembered the Wienermobile from their own childhood.