Freestyle Reading~"Look on the Bright Side"

I chose this story based on the title and then after reading the author's description, my choice was solidified.
I can relate to the author in many ways. He's a blue-collar worker, been through tough financial times and has a blunt "realness" about him that I really enjoyed. His writing style is very to the point, almost rough and very honest.
This story is comical to me. I'm thinking it's supposed to be, but who knows-sometimes I just have a sick sense of humor. The fact that his character just goes on making one bad choice after another, hoping that things will work out on their own with no action on his part is both funny and frustrating. I know there are people out there who are actually like that. People who could actually do something to help themselves, but choose not to. People who do nothing about their current situation and watch it get worse and worse. Why didn't he look for work quicker? Why did he go on vacation, and more to the point, why did he think he "deserved" it? I completely understood the border guard on that one. Although I did think it really wasn't any of his business.
The ending of the story reminded me a lot of "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place". The irony at the end is very similar to the waiter in that they both make light of their circumstances to hide the true severity of the situation.
"..-and I scooted over and nuzzled my head into that stack of newspapers and tucked my legs into my chest. I shut them good this time and yawned. I didn't see why I should fight it, and it was just until the library opened" (Gilb 340). My guess is that's exactly where he'll stay-on the bench with the newspapers and the other homeless people, and I think he knows it too.