A while in the making, apparently.. [Part 1]

So, I haven't updated all week. I guess that's what happens when you find a way to get out on a regular basis. I've managed to spend every bloody day this week with Charles and Melissa. Sheesh. I would be sure that I was wearing out my welcome, if I hadn't asked point blank if I was, and offered to come home, and they both made a point to reassure me that I wasn't intruding. I mean, let me run down what I've done this week, and you'll see what I mean.

On Sunday, I was at work at 3am, because I had to train to do the Zone Reports. I hustled and got all of my normal stuff done by 8am. (Of course, if you think about time used, that means I took an hour longer than normal.) I didn't get to sleep until a little after midnight Saturday, and had to get up at 2am, so I think I didn't do too badly, you know? Anyway, I went to the other store to do the Zone Reports with Loistene. I got there before her, and I was worried that I was running late! :)

It went well. Heck, it's just data entry in a couple of spreadsheets. The Zone Manager thinks that I would need two weeks for training, but I really have it already. I am, however, going back so that I can learn how Loistene pulls the last year sales data for the stores in the zone. Also, given how busy my week has been, it probably wouldn't hurt as a refresher, either.

After work on Sunday, I came home, got ready, and went to the church where Kevin's parents were having their 50th weddding anniversary. Yeah, that long. The ceremony was awesome. The vows each of them wrote to the other were REAL tear-jerkers. I found myself on the verge of bawling at least 3-5 times. It was that beautiful.

After the "reception" was over, Charles & Melissa, Rick & Brandi, and I went to Charles' place, where we grilled bratwursts, made soft pretzels, and had some Corona (with lime juice, since Schnuck's was out of limes). Rick and Brandi left, and I wound up watching an episode of 24 with Charles and Melissa (06:00-07:00). That was a really good show. I have always thought that it was a novel concept for the show to follow time like that, and figured that I'd like it, but this was the first episode I've seen.

I came home, and slept.

[Continued in next post]

A while in the making, apparently.. [Part 2]

On Monday, I was off, so I slept late. In fact, I did nothing particularly noteworthy until I went to meet Melissa to check out some houses. Charles had school, and she asked me to go with her so she wouldn't have to remember them on her own. Charles pretty much expected me to go. Heh.

We saw five houses that day, and the first couple were nice. I liked the first one best, but it backed up to Highway 64 in Lakeland. Ick. We swung by Corky's for dinner, and Melissa grabbed a rib dinner for Charles, who we then met at home a short while later. We watched an episode of Cops, and I came home. I went to bed a little after midnight that night.

On Tuesday, I got my work done okay, and work wasn't memorable, except for one thing. The Zone Manager saw me, and asked how training went. I told him that I wanted one more week to make sure I have it ironed out, and I'd be okay. I also mentioned that there were some improvements that I could do to the sheets to optimize them (which is true, since one sheet is nothing but information you've already entered on the other one).

His reply? "Good, I want to change them up. You and I are going to have to get together and see what can be done."

*picks up jaw* I must say that stunned me. And it made me feel damn good. As I walked past him (we were going opposite directions), I felt a grin break out on my face that I couldn't stop. Cool.

After work, I met Melissa for three more houses. We ran late, so we went to the second first, and came back to the first, since it was vacant. Well, the second house was just perfect for a new couple starting out. We saw that house second. It was in Bartlett, in a nice neighborhood, and even their buying agent commented that it felt like a new home. So, Melissa called Charles, and Charles left school to come check it out. (He's been told by his teacher he already has an A; however, he left tonight because it was just work on a project, which he could do at work.) They looked at it again, and put a bid in on it.

We went back to their place, and had bratwursts, pretzels, and beer. Then it was home I went.

On Wednesday, Charles called me to say that their buying agent had talked to the listing agent. The listing agent was impressed with the bid, and thanked them for it. Not an hour later, I got a call from Melissa that the bid was accepted. Barring an unforeseen snag, such as the appraisal, the house is theirs. So, after work on Wednesday, I went to their house to "celebrate" wtih them. We got more Corona, some pizza, and watched the Barry Manilow episode of American Idol (and then the results show - TiVo rocks). What happened to George? He was noticably weak in this week's performace.  My favorites, like everyone else, it seems, were Jennifer and Latoya. I don't like Fantasia, and I doubt I ever will.  I was shocked, though, that those were the bottom three. I felt the guys were weak, but the women all kicked much butt.

We also had bought some powerball tickets, so we stayed up to watch that. It's a shame, but neither of us won. We finished the night with an episode of 24 (07:00-08:00), and I came home, thoroughly beat.

Work on Thursday was a pain in the ass, since I couldn't seem to catch up. I think my level of weariness contributed to it, since I would find myself pausing to rest from time to time. I was so glad to get done that day. I left work, and went to Best Buy, where I bought Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Master & Commander. I hung out with Charles and Melissa again, to watch one of the movies, but they had to go grocery shopping, too, so we did that too. (I'm glad they went, because I found some things I needed to get anyway.)

We came back, made Hamburger Helper, and watched an episode of Charmed, since it was too late for a movie. I came home and watched Kill Bill Vol. 1 with Aron. That movie is awesome. My single favorte part was when Oren (Lucy Liu) assumed control of the council. Her statement about collecting heads was so funny I watched that three times before I continued the movie. :)

[Concluded in next post]

A while in the making, apparently.. [Part 3]

So, I went to bed last night at 2am. No matter, since I get to sleep as late as I want, right? Wrong.

I got a call from Kroger at 720am, because an order hung up in the only checker's register. It took around 30 minutes to clear up, and by the time it was done, I learned something far worse had happened. Tim, the closer last night, had called in, but had been replaced by Kathy. Kathy, unlike Tim, doesn't know how to do an End of Day.

Needless to say, Jennifer doesn't know either, so the store close hadn't been done at 8am. Fortunately, she had only given out two tills, and was able to run the cut off. I walked her through it on the phone, and when it was done, I went back to sleep. I slept until noon.

And I'm still tired.

Tonight, though, we're supposed to game, since Charles is jonesing to do so. I don't know if I will be able to make it. I'm just drained. Couple this with the fact that I have work tomorrow morning at 600am, and you'll see I'm flirting with disaster. Maybe I'll take a nap for a couple of hours. [looks at clock, and sees time as "2:35pm"] Or maybe not.

Let's see how this thing goes.

Oh yeah, in other news: I've cancelled my subscription box at Comic Cellar, and I'm only having him hold the manga that I am reading. So, that's a drastic slash on what I'm spending in there monthly, and now I'll like everything that's there, too. Sounds better to me, you know?

A quick post about a close subject..

Have you ever had someone ask you "If you could do anything, what is the one thing you wish you could do?"

Oh, it may not have been in so many words, but someone has to have asked you that question before. What was your answer? A million bucks? A new car? The love of millions? A car worth a million bucks that is loved by millions?

I've never had a really good answer for that question before. Lately, as in the last six months or so, I've realized what my answer to that query would be. Unequivocally, it would be a single, four-letter word:

Sing.

I would love to have a voice that is its own musical instrument. To be able to express myself through my voice, just by changing the notes of my humming, or singing some band's lyrics my own way, would just be so fulfilling. As it is, I sing in my car all the time, and when I'm by myself driving, I don't hold back. And it feels so damn good. It's a shame when I get where I'm going, or I'm playing chauffeur.

*sigh*

Now that I've revealed that, I'm going to bed.... I have work in the morning.