Ruprecht! Leave the cork on the fork!
Ok, I think I left off with last Saturday.
Saturday was my first real break day. Remember how I said that I'm spending a lot of time with Lil' Brudder? Well, aside from seeing him at dances and such it is things like last Saturday that make me say this. So, Thursday he asked me if I wanted to go on an adventure with him Saturday morning, and by "go on an adventure with him" he meant did I want to drive him around and help him with his Christmas shopping. I agreed. Then we went to the DT Stomp and I'm not kidding when I tell you that by the time I got home I was beat. Like, utterly. I just kinda fell into bed. So then Saturday morning he calls me at 9:30 and tells me to wake up because I have a haircut in half an hour! It's a good thing he did or I would have completely slept through it and I would have felt really bad. Anyway, after the trim up (I have to get my hair cut as often as a boy anymore) I came back here to the 'Hood and picked him up and we set off on our adventure. We went to Target to pick up my paycheck and look at the dollar section. See, his family had decided that instead of spending a squajillion dollars on expensive presents for everyone, or drawing names and just getting gifts for one person, they would get gifts for everyone, but each gift could only be $1. So we hit up the dollar spot in Target and bought a green gel eyemask which Lil' Brudder thought was the coolest thing he'd ever seen. He went on this huge riff about a superhero named "Gel Boy" (Lil' Brudder) and his sidekick Madame Mousse (me). After Target he made me take him to Honk's $1 store. This is funny because literally only days before Annie and I swore to each other that we would never shop in that store. But he had his heart set on it. So we went and we discovered almost every thing we needed. The Blonde and his wife met us while we were there. The Blonde is really a wonderfully friendly guy. As is his wife.
So, LB's best idea was that of making his sisters in law guitar pick earrings. But since we knew that wherever we found earring backs they would come in a large pack, we were also trying to come up with other potential earring materials. And guess what we found? Those neon plastic cocktail swords! Sweetness? I think so! They were my idea, by the bye. And then we also found this package of naked, fist-raised babies (very Cake Wrecks reminiscent).
It took forever to get everything tracked down, especially as it was the last weekend before Christmas so there was insanity everywhere. But we finally did and headed back to the 'Hood for the grand final gift. The three brothers decided that they were going to give their dad a new picture of them for his desk at work, but not just any picture; no, they were going to give him the corniest, cheesiest, silliest picture possible. So they gathered around the big fireplace in the main lodge, they all put on goofy sweaters, held smarmy mugs, and stared off into space with identical smirks on their faces. I was in charge of taking the pictures. But I had to leave so that I could give Annie a ride to Costco and then to her massage appointment. By the time I got back they were gone.
I also had to work Saturday, so I headed in. While I was there I got a call from Denim asking me what I was doing because, as the first day of the break, she felt this evening deserved a party. She was sad I was working, but undeterred. Would I be interested in coming over after work? I incredulously reminded her that I wouldn't be off till about 2 am, but she insisted that this was ok. So, right one time at two in the morning I got off work and gave her a call. In all honesty I shouldn't have gone. I was sooooo tired! But I did and I went over and guess who else was there? Lil' Brudder! And guess what he showed me? The finished product of his earring projects. Let me just tell you, they were pretty much utterly sweet. But we didn't leave till 4! Oh it was sick!
And now for the story of the work day of death! My little book told me I was working Sunday from 11 to 7, but I was so incredibly tired that when 10 rolled around I simply could not get out of bed. I slept in till about a quarter after or so and then moved at a slug-like pace for the rest of morning. I got to work a few minutes late, all flustered, only to discover that in stead of 11-7, my shift was actually supposed to by 12-5. Nice! But it didn't end so much going that way. First, they told me to go ahead and clock in the hour early because they needed the help. I'm not even going to talk about how the minute I got up to the service desk they pulled my helper and then yelled at me for not catching up on everything. But then, around 2:30 my boss came and asked if I'd be willing to stay longer. For some completely unknown reason I agreed to this insane plan, and said I'd stay till a.) guest service was cleaned up or b.) 7 o'clock arrived. I mean, i figured I had thought I was going to work 11 to 7, so why not just stick to the original plan, right? Of course, that's all well and good until you're about to leave, you're walking literally out of the door, when your boss comes to you frantically begging you to stay just a little bit longer to cover the closer's lunch because there is NO one who can do it if you go. And when is the earliest the closer is willing to go on her lunch? Oh, not till at least 8. That means another hour and a half! Sick! But I don't like seeing grown men cry, so I agreed to stay and cover her lunch. But by the time I got out of that place I was sooo tired and my feet hurt and I was deeply ready to not be working anymore.
And guess what was waiting for me, hanging on the wreath on the door? Any ideas? My very own pair of sword earrings!
I don't think there could have been any more effective way to make me feel instantly happier. I texted Lil' Brudder and thanked him profusely.
Anyway, I think I'm done with this post for now Tomorrow I work for a million billion years, and then after I'm headed down to Price to spend Christmas Eve and Day with Sergey and his family. Considering I've hardly spoken to Sergey in the last month I hope this goes well. But his family is so great, I should be fine. His little brother and I always get alone well.
Oh dear! I still haven't explained the Linus thing. Shucks, I keep thinking I need to go to bed, but I am not tired, sadly. I guess I'll just get that out of the way. Ok, so remember how I called him and invited him to come and get frosties with us last Thursday? And remember how I left a message because he was asleep? Well, one my favorite things about Linus is how, even if it takes him a long time, he almost always gets back to you. So Friday morning I get a text from him:
"Thanks for the call last night. I leave for home today but we should hang out before school starts. Maybe get some free pie."
We text back and forth a few times and basically establish that he'll be back a few days before the end of the break and that we want to do something. Then I went back to sleep. The rest of the day I kept remembering that we were going to do something when he got back and I'd smile. And I realized something. You know how I've always really loved Linus, in a very open "I love you Linus! You're so funny!" kind of way. But I realized, as I repeatedly got all excited thinking about our conversation, that I kind of actually really really really like him. He's just so sweet and considerate and funny. I think it was when we were heading out to SLC and for absolutely no reason I decided that I needed to tell the Annie about our conversation that I realized that I was a little bit more excited than I needed to be and maybe I should reevaluate my feelings there. So later I admitted to Annie that I think I would really like for Linus to date me. She said she thought as much (that Annie, she's quick!) and we've since been trying to come up with ideas of how to make that happen. We've not come up with anything yet, so if you do, please feel free to pass that information along.
And now I really am done. I think I can fall asleep now and I have to work tomorrow at 11 again. 11 to 7:30 again, but instead of today, where I could look at the sea of carts and know in my secret heart that I was going to get to leave it all behind, we will be closing at 7, which means that I will have to deal with it all! Not cool friends, not cool at all!
Saturday was my first real break day. Remember how I said that I'm spending a lot of time with Lil' Brudder? Well, aside from seeing him at dances and such it is things like last Saturday that make me say this. So, Thursday he asked me if I wanted to go on an adventure with him Saturday morning, and by "go on an adventure with him" he meant did I want to drive him around and help him with his Christmas shopping. I agreed. Then we went to the DT Stomp and I'm not kidding when I tell you that by the time I got home I was beat. Like, utterly. I just kinda fell into bed. So then Saturday morning he calls me at 9:30 and tells me to wake up because I have a haircut in half an hour! It's a good thing he did or I would have completely slept through it and I would have felt really bad. Anyway, after the trim up (I have to get my hair cut as often as a boy anymore) I came back here to the 'Hood and picked him up and we set off on our adventure. We went to Target to pick up my paycheck and look at the dollar section. See, his family had decided that instead of spending a squajillion dollars on expensive presents for everyone, or drawing names and just getting gifts for one person, they would get gifts for everyone, but each gift could only be $1. So we hit up the dollar spot in Target and bought a green gel eyemask which Lil' Brudder thought was the coolest thing he'd ever seen. He went on this huge riff about a superhero named "Gel Boy" (Lil' Brudder) and his sidekick Madame Mousse (me). After Target he made me take him to Honk's $1 store. This is funny because literally only days before Annie and I swore to each other that we would never shop in that store. But he had his heart set on it. So we went and we discovered almost every thing we needed. The Blonde and his wife met us while we were there. The Blonde is really a wonderfully friendly guy. As is his wife.
So, LB's best idea was that of making his sisters in law guitar pick earrings. But since we knew that wherever we found earring backs they would come in a large pack, we were also trying to come up with other potential earring materials. And guess what we found? Those neon plastic cocktail swords! Sweetness? I think so! They were my idea, by the bye. And then we also found this package of naked, fist-raised babies (very Cake Wrecks reminiscent).
It took forever to get everything tracked down, especially as it was the last weekend before Christmas so there was insanity everywhere. But we finally did and headed back to the 'Hood for the grand final gift. The three brothers decided that they were going to give their dad a new picture of them for his desk at work, but not just any picture; no, they were going to give him the corniest, cheesiest, silliest picture possible. So they gathered around the big fireplace in the main lodge, they all put on goofy sweaters, held smarmy mugs, and stared off into space with identical smirks on their faces. I was in charge of taking the pictures. But I had to leave so that I could give Annie a ride to Costco and then to her massage appointment. By the time I got back they were gone.
I also had to work Saturday, so I headed in. While I was there I got a call from Denim asking me what I was doing because, as the first day of the break, she felt this evening deserved a party. She was sad I was working, but undeterred. Would I be interested in coming over after work? I incredulously reminded her that I wouldn't be off till about 2 am, but she insisted that this was ok. So, right one time at two in the morning I got off work and gave her a call. In all honesty I shouldn't have gone. I was sooooo tired! But I did and I went over and guess who else was there? Lil' Brudder! And guess what he showed me? The finished product of his earring projects. Let me just tell you, they were pretty much utterly sweet. But we didn't leave till 4! Oh it was sick!
And now for the story of the work day of death! My little book told me I was working Sunday from 11 to 7, but I was so incredibly tired that when 10 rolled around I simply could not get out of bed. I slept in till about a quarter after or so and then moved at a slug-like pace for the rest of morning. I got to work a few minutes late, all flustered, only to discover that in stead of 11-7, my shift was actually supposed to by 12-5. Nice! But it didn't end so much going that way. First, they told me to go ahead and clock in the hour early because they needed the help. I'm not even going to talk about how the minute I got up to the service desk they pulled my helper and then yelled at me for not catching up on everything. But then, around 2:30 my boss came and asked if I'd be willing to stay longer. For some completely unknown reason I agreed to this insane plan, and said I'd stay till a.) guest service was cleaned up or b.) 7 o'clock arrived. I mean, i figured I had thought I was going to work 11 to 7, so why not just stick to the original plan, right? Of course, that's all well and good until you're about to leave, you're walking literally out of the door, when your boss comes to you frantically begging you to stay just a little bit longer to cover the closer's lunch because there is NO one who can do it if you go. And when is the earliest the closer is willing to go on her lunch? Oh, not till at least 8. That means another hour and a half! Sick! But I don't like seeing grown men cry, so I agreed to stay and cover her lunch. But by the time I got out of that place I was sooo tired and my feet hurt and I was deeply ready to not be working anymore.
And guess what was waiting for me, hanging on the wreath on the door? Any ideas? My very own pair of sword earrings!
I don't think there could have been any more effective way to make me feel instantly happier. I texted Lil' Brudder and thanked him profusely.
Anyway, I think I'm done with this post for now Tomorrow I work for a million billion years, and then after I'm headed down to Price to spend Christmas Eve and Day with Sergey and his family. Considering I've hardly spoken to Sergey in the last month I hope this goes well. But his family is so great, I should be fine. His little brother and I always get alone well.
Oh dear! I still haven't explained the Linus thing. Shucks, I keep thinking I need to go to bed, but I am not tired, sadly. I guess I'll just get that out of the way. Ok, so remember how I called him and invited him to come and get frosties with us last Thursday? And remember how I left a message because he was asleep? Well, one my favorite things about Linus is how, even if it takes him a long time, he almost always gets back to you. So Friday morning I get a text from him:
"Thanks for the call last night. I leave for home today but we should hang out before school starts. Maybe get some free pie."
We text back and forth a few times and basically establish that he'll be back a few days before the end of the break and that we want to do something. Then I went back to sleep. The rest of the day I kept remembering that we were going to do something when he got back and I'd smile. And I realized something. You know how I've always really loved Linus, in a very open "I love you Linus! You're so funny!" kind of way. But I realized, as I repeatedly got all excited thinking about our conversation, that I kind of actually really really really like him. He's just so sweet and considerate and funny. I think it was when we were heading out to SLC and for absolutely no reason I decided that I needed to tell the Annie about our conversation that I realized that I was a little bit more excited than I needed to be and maybe I should reevaluate my feelings there. So later I admitted to Annie that I think I would really like for Linus to date me. She said she thought as much (that Annie, she's quick!) and we've since been trying to come up with ideas of how to make that happen. We've not come up with anything yet, so if you do, please feel free to pass that information along.
And now I really am done. I think I can fall asleep now and I have to work tomorrow at 11 again. 11 to 7:30 again, but instead of today, where I could look at the sea of carts and know in my secret heart that I was going to get to leave it all behind, we will be closing at 7, which means that I will have to deal with it all! Not cool friends, not cool at all!