New Years Eve of DOOM

Hmm, well. On the upside, I am feeling better. Yay for me!

On the flip side, tonight has been, well, fairly disasterous! It starts off with my woman getting home later than expected, so our simple evening at home got off to a late start.

We ordered from this little mexican food joint near by. Told em 20 minutes and we'd be down. So we head down to Albertsons down the road to pick up some firewood. My woman seemed a bit perplexed at the "purchase of firewood", suggesting that I needed to bring the firewood inside to be rung up... Anywhoo, after telling her that it was not necessary and explaining that "seasoned" firewood did not mean it had salt and pepper on it, we headed to the food joint.

Upon arriving, it was clear the order was not ready. Waiting another 10 minutes, plus another 3 for my missed order of refried beans, we were off for home. Once home, I set up the firewood and started it up. Smoke started to fill the room. Yay, fire hazzard! Oh, and yes, the damn thing was open. Smartasses. So, we've been burning fires for the past two weeks and tonight it decides to smoke us out of house and home.

After a few well placed shots of giant glasses of water. The fire was out, luckily. The room fairly filled with smoke. So, open all the doors and windows and hit the fans and play clean up in the fireplace. *sigh*.

That done, we head off to the meals, which are now cold and need to be microwaved. I pop Return of the King into my newly returned & supposedly repaired DVD player. Now, honestly, I have more DVD players than TVs. But this particular DVD player I purchased last Christmas because it had a little surround sound speaker system with it. The damn thing has never worked right, it sounds like ASS. Just crap, crap sound. Either you can't hear the voices, or the bass is too overpowering, or it crackles and hisses. Just shit. I sent the thing in to be repaired and they sent me a new one. Tonight was the first trial of the new player.

It fucking sounded worse than the last one! Absolute shit. So, I pull out the surround sound speakers and figure I'll just play it through the TV. To my surprise, it still sounded like ass!! Apparently the player itself sucks competely at properly decoding sound from a DVD. Wonderful. I pull the DVD player aside and put a new one in. Finally, great sound.

So, now it is after 10pm and my woman has decided to get comfortable, do some laundry (cuz we have no socks), and watch New Years in New York (her home town). But CHRIST, we are talking about a 4 hour movie we haven't even started yet!! I'm going to be up to three in the friggin morning watching this thing! I have a feeling that that is not going to happen...

Icky blah blah

So, took my day off recuperating. Luckily I still had some antiobiotics left over from a previous illness. Figured I might as well take the damn things, tire of feeling crappy. I am feeling better tonight. Not perfect yet, but hopefully another 12 hours or so will fix that, mostly. Short day tomorrow anyways, since it is new years eve. I work a four hour open shift, with another person working the close shift for four hours. I assume we should not be busy at all. Though, I have been wrong before - stupid customers..

My woman starts her new job on Monday! She has to fly out to Florida to do it though. I thought she was only going to be gone, initially, for one week. Seems that it is actually two weeks. Then I think she comes back for a weekend and heads out again! Well, going to be a lonely month for me, it seems. I can tell you right now I am going to miss her. I am a "loner" enough type of person that I can handle a few days apart without missing a beat. But we've been together for quite some time now, so I know that after those initial few days.. I'm gonna start feeling lonely.

Well, gotta go get my ass in gear and ready for tomorrow. Hoping the night will heal me well.

U Scan like my ass

Well, crap. So, it appears I am sick once again. Damn retail. Thought it might be allergies, but a day later has proved me wrong. I don't feel like total crap at least, just a headcold thingie type thing. But I left work early to come home and relax. My woman was so sweet to me last night taking care of me by making soup and even hot cocoa! Yeah, warm fuzzies on that one.

Speaking of previously mentioned woman. She got a promotion today! So yay for her! She is going to be doing some training position within the bank. More pay and more secure. I am sure more effort as well, but she can handle it. The wild thing is, that she starts Monday! She actually has to go to Florida to go train for this gig, so she is going to be gone for the most part over the next 4 weeks or so. Not so thrilled about that part, but I guess that is progress. Hopefully I can cope over extended periods without her. Worst case, I can always cook up the cats if things start to look grim.

As for my rant of the day, I stopped at Fry's grocery store to get some food and juice for me tonight. They have those U-Scan things. You know, where you scan the products yourself, bag em, and go on your merry way? The concept here is to increase speed of checkout. That is, of course, unless you are dealing with the typical every day human rabble. Fuck, people are stupid! C'mon, you put the products bar code over the scanner and when it beeps you toss it in your bag! How difficult can that be?! Apparently, very difficult for some. I swear, some people get up there and it's like they are looking at a blue print to a nuclear reactor. I'm sorry, but if you are that stupid, that is what the full service checkouts are for!

A day off. Or is it?

Well, today is my first day off in two friggin weeks. Thank God the schedule is back to normal now. Since things have been so fast, furious, AND repetitious the past few weeks even in my sleep I am working. I fucking hate that!! It's like I'm home, asleep, but dreaming of selling cameras. Damnit, I don't want to dream that! Guess that tells you how much I have worked lately. My subconscious must be in withdrawal.

My allergies are hitting me today. At least I think it's allergies. Could be a light cold. Just took some allergy meds so I should know in an hour or so. If it is a cold, I'm not too worried, it seems pretty week. I'm guessing allergies! Either way, it sucks.

So, my woman is off today as well. She is already asking me what WE are going to do today. I can understand her point of view, that we have a day off today and we should do some things together. But damnit, it's my first day off in two weeks! I just want to relax. OH, but that's only after I finish all the errands that have piled up over the last two weeks - like go shopping, clean up my portion of the apartment, repair the vacuum cleaner that someone broke, and then, maybe, have time to kick back and Rest and Recreate.

My woman seems to have thoughts that we must DO something SPECIFIC to make the day worth while. *sigh* I guess we differ on the thought process on this one. I always feel that if we are here, in the same apartment, even if we are doing nothing, we are still spending time together. Otherwise, I would be at work. Cuz, see, when you are away from each other, that is NOT spending time with each other.

On my "news note", anyone catching this crazy 9.0 earthquake and tidal wave shit in Asia? Like over 50,000 dead so far! Jeez. That's an insane amount. But I think I may know why. Every time I read a story from someone who survived, they all talk about, "the water crashed through my HUT" "My HUT was washed away!" Damnit people, didn't you ever read the story about the three little pigs? Build your shit with BRICK for christs sake!

Horrible Holiday Cheer

Well, it has been two LONG, exhausting weeks. Lots of hours, lots of running around, lots of bitchy people. Aren't the holidays grand?! But the day is finally upon us. A day off really! A day OFF! I'm tired to my bones at this point. Though, I can't quite remember another holiday season that has gone by so fast. Tomorrow will be another busy day to be sure, but things should be getting back to normal this week - where I can actually have some time to sleep & relax!

The woman and I spent a nice little Christmas eve together which included visiting my folks and then coming home to open our presents in front of the fire. Think we did well this year. Thank god for wishlists! Far better than our first Christmas together, when she got me some ugly fountain and I got her a bag of rubberbands or something. Yeah yeah, I wasn't too good at the gift giving thing. I'm better now though.

So, I did get some DVDs - Invader Zim: Horrible Holiday Cheer, Season 3 and first season of Gargoyles. Zim is aways a riot and Gargoyles has been long and coming. They took forever to get that out on DVD. Damn Disney. I also received the Philips 642 DVD Player. Now, why they hell do I need another DVD player you ask? Since we already have two? Advancing technology, thats why! Really, this one has been highly touted and sought after as it can play: AVI, DIVX, and MPEG-4 computer movie files! Whats all that crap mean? It means the damn thing can play the typical run of DVDs, PLUS any computer movie file I download from the net, I can just copy over to a CD-R and it will play it! I think this will be most cool and fun! Great when we may want to watch anything of our choosing, I can just download it, send to to CD and throw it in. Very cool

Lastly, I received a very nice pair of wireless headphones. Since, a lot of times, my woman crashes before I do and I'll stay up and watch TV, I have to mute the thing and go the subtitle route. So this will be nice that I can actually listen to the TV without disturbing her. I think she might have spent too much on this particular item however... but it is a nice surprise.

So, we are off to visit her folks today. I really wish we had more time to.. well, sleep. But I guess I'll have to fit that in next week. Heh, Along with everything else. I fear I might doze off at the dinner table at some point.

Anyways, Merry Christmas to all of you!

Whooohoo for Bhutan!

Yeah, Bhutan who what? Yeah, well, I didn't know either. But I am moving there. Well, ok, no I'm not. But I like the concept A LOT. Bhutan, apparently a kingdom in the Himalayas, has banned smoking and the sale of tobacco products!

If you can't tell by now, I am not a smoker. Actually, I hate smoking with a passion. It's vile. I can pick up the stench two blocks away, no joke. One of the biggest annoyances is where I work, the mall has this little congregation area outside the mall exit, in the parking lot, where people can go sit down and poison themselves. The fuckin problem with this is that I am forced to walk past this area on my way to and from work. It's like, oh, I have to walk by the "stinky people", yay. I really hope such a ban comes here to US at some point. I'm sure it would be tough, but damn, clean air would be nice.

Today was insane. I think I spoke too soon in a previous post. It was just jammed packed today. The highlight of the day (besides raking in loads of cash) was that my mom and my woman stopped by to visit me at work! Normally I am kinda weird about visitors at work. It's kinda like, work environment must be separate from friends/family. Not sure why I am like that. But it was really a nice day brightener.

I also realized I suck at introductions. I should say, still realize. Cuz I always have been bad at them. As one of my co-workers walked up to me, I really didn't say anything about who I was talking to or what not.. I dunno, just don't think along those lines. Took my woman to speak up and introduce herself. So now I feel stupid AND embarrassed.

Anyways, the holidays have just been flying by. Can't wait till they are over. Just from the stand point that schedule will go back to normal and I will actually get a few days off and some free time again.

What? A day off you say?

Yes, it is true! A day off for me! Sorry for the lack of updates, but I've been BUSY! So, just today already, I have been to the DMV to get a duplicate title (to finish off the sale of my old car), got a haircut, and went shopping! So, the rest of the day is for myself and/or myself and my woman! Since she is off today as well!

Oh, by the way, whatever you do, don't drive near a mall this time of year. Jesus Christ! Instant traffic jam as soon as you get near these joints. God are people a bunch of sheep. Who shops retail anymore anyways with the Internet? Pffft!

Work has been going well, despite the sleep deprivation. Although, compared to previous gigs at the "big box" stores like CompUSA or BestBuy, it sure is not anywhere near as busy and hectic traffic wise. I have been pretty surprised at how "minimal" the customer traffic has been overall. I mean, it's steady, but not overwhelming. Honestly, I miss the overwhelming. Great for the adrenaline rush.

As most of you know, I am a big Sci-Fi fan. One of my favorite classic movies is "War of the Worlds". New viewers take note regarding the 1953 version, get the VHS version, not the DVD version. Yeah, only time you well ever hear me say that! But in the DVD version they fucked up the transfer and you can see the wires holding up the Martian War Machines. Just shitty. How can they release it like that? Just terrible. Anyways...

So Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise are doing a remake. Now, I really can not stand remakes. I see no reason for them and it seems like just a simple lack of fresh ideas, however, that being said... If this movie can be done well, it would really rock hardcore. Dig the teaser here.

Well, off to grab a hoagie and play on the computer. Yay for me! At least for today.

Did a week go by already?

Christ! Ok, so, that week flew by. Sorry for no updates in a while. Work is keeping me super busy. I am sure most of you know the routine - get up, go to work, come home, sleep, repeat.

However, today is my ONE day off this week! Last day off until Christmas as well. Of course, the day is filled with ERRANDS! I must hit the dreaded DMV to get my car title so I can finally put the nail in the coffin on my old Dodge. Haircut and shopping are in order as well.

I am up way early for a day off, but figured I'd get an early start and get the shit out of the way. The woman is off today too, so we get sorta a day together (inbetween each of us running errands!). Not sure what she will want to do today, if anything. Though, I am always content just to reeeelaaaax.

I'll add a bit more interesting detail later... for now, off I go!

I'd Fiesta but I'm too tired

So, the holidays trudge on. I think the six day work weeks are already getting to me. I came home today and just crashed. Couldn't even keep my eyes open. Thank God I have tomorrow off.

We had a run through by the big wigs today. Been anticipating it for a week now. So days of preparation for the arrival of my boss, my bosses boss, and his boss to come out and check out the stores. The visit lasted like 20 minutes and they didn't even do any heavy digging. The top guy was just worried about low warranty sales. Though the second guy in charge (hes the regional manager) said the store looked the best it had ever looked in the 10 years he has seen it. So yay for that.

I was looking at the top cheese, who I had never met before, thinking to myself that hmmm.. he looks like a "Good ole boy". My suspicions were confirmed when his cell phone rang and began playing the tune "Sweet Home Alabama." I don't think they noticed my smirk.

So, with a compliment and a promise to increase extended warranty sales, they were off like a flash to the next store. So much for all the preparation. I walked in the back and said to my lab guy "Well, that was uneventful". He looked at me with surprise and said, "They left already?!". Haha.. they didn't even go back and say hi to him. Guess it's all about sales this time of year.

So, now I am too tired to head out again. So my dinner is going to consist of cereal, a raisin bagel, and probably some cookies. Which leads me into my Fruity Pebbles story. I was shopping at Frys the other day and needed cereal. Now, I hate buying cereal at Frys cuz it's way over priced there. Gotta go to Walmart for cereal. No reason any sane person should pay more then $2.50 for a damn box of cereal.

Anyways, they had all sorts of "Pebble" cereal - fruity, chocolate, yadda yadda - for like $4.00 bucks. Then I see the "FIESTA Pebbles" for $2.00. Hmm, what the hell is with this I think. Upon closer inspection, it really is Fruity Pebbles but in MEXICAN. Hence, the "Fiesta". Well, shit, I grab some of that laughing my ass off that the same damn product, just in Spanish, costs less. Interesting view on our society, I thought.

The Good, The Bad, & The Stupid

I took my woman out for her birthday last night. I had it planned out pretty well. I made reservations for us at Ristorante Tuscany. This was the place I took her on the night I proposed last year (also for her Birthday). I actually reserved the same table we had that night. So, after a really nice dinner, we went off to Coldstone for some ice cream. It was really nice time. I think she really enjoyed it. :-)

Then today, of course, back to the grind. Our upper management is pushing Magazines really, really hard lately. Oh, what say you? What the fuck are Magazines? Well, yes! We have a gimmick where our devoted customers can get 3 FREE magazines for 3 months. Yay. What a deal. Of course, absoutely what the flying FUCK does a camera store have to do with pitching these fucking worthless magazines??! Well, bottom line, I am sure some fuck at the top tier probably gets HUGE kickbacks for this shit.

Now, the problem lies in two points. First, none of the sales people give a rats ass about pitching magazines. Why? CUZ ITS STOOOOPID! Yes, with 4 "O"'s. It's just that bad. Second, most smart customers (hmmm, wait..., anyways...) are kinda onto the whole magazine gig that you basically have to call and cancel the damn things or they start charging you. So, the whole district just hasn't been moving the things.

Well, fire and brimstone came down today. As I am sure our bosses got reamed by their bosses and shit trickles down hill. So they stated today that store managers or stores not selling magazines will be subject to corrective action and possible termination! Yeah, you heard that right, over fucking, god damn, stupid ass, magazines. Typical corporate world folks. Full of shit. So, I guess I will get some NEW jobs lined up just in case. What a joke.

To add insult to injury, today was jackass customer day! I would have sworn it was a Sunday (cuz that't is *usually* when the jackass customers come out). Without going into the sordid details, I kicked some French fuck out of the store for given me greif about wanting to pay for some little trinkety shit with $100.00 bill when I had just opened. I also blew some pissy couple out the door today for thinking we were there to teach them everything they wanted to know about digital cameras. Guess what folks, I ain't your teacher and don't get paid to chat. If you are an arrogant bastard to start with, I ain't showing you shit if you obviously aren't buying shit. Want an education? Take a class.

Ah, I see it is closing on midnight. No rest for the wicked. Though, it has been extra tough this week since Ultima Online has been having some huge shard events. In particular, the Defense of Trinsic against an undead army. (ok, fine, there is that geekboy coming out again) but what can I say, it's damn fun! Lots of folks showing up to fight against overwhelming odds as a team. (That's me in the red firing a bow on top of the archway). I tried to get the woman to join me in battle, but she was fearful of dying. hehe

Well, off to make some nice chocolate milk then hit the sack. Another day dawns tomorrow...