Two Hundred Seventy-Second Entry

I'm at work again, studying. I got here at about 7:30 this morning. I am dead tired. I worked til 11 last night. My body just aches.

Sacramento on Thursday was a big success. DSA signed off on my plans. Excellent.

I've started thinking about a vacate in May. Not a big flying one, just a boring stay at home or go up to the Bay vacate. I don't think I've ever taken one of those. I'll be done with the big test, so maybe it would be a good thing to just veg for a week or more. I'll try to do it around my birthday.

GOD I'm tired.

Kipp called in "sick" last night, leaving us a bagger short. Apparently, his car broke down in Sacramento and he couldn't get it fixed. He called last night to find out his hours for today, and I could hear a girl laughing in the background. Car troubles my foot. I guess I'd do the same thing if there was a possibility of sex.

I am soooo tired. I was hustling last night to get all of my closing stuff done. In 40 minutes, I cleaned all the checkstands, put away all of the go-backs(about 30 items,) and got all the carts(about 20). Like I said, my body hurts.

There is a new mandate that says all baggers must stamp their sweeps and actually do them. There has been a lot of stamping sweeps but not actually doing them. The new Store Director is cracking down. Rumor has it he is actually going to start looking at the surveillance tapes to see if we are actually doing them. I wouldn't really mind so much, but there are some baggers who just get away with anything just because they shmooze with the right people. Somehow I think the new mandate won't apply to them.

Next week I get my Albie's benefits! I think I'll go see a podiatrist first, an accupuncturist, maybe a little allergist, and a pinch of dermatologist. Believe me, by the time the year is out, I will have seen any type of doctor you can think of. Any suggestions?

Two Hundred Seventy-First Entry

I am currently in my office at work digesting my Panda Express lunch. Why on a Saturday you ask? I am studying for my exam with Kuna (a coworker). He wants to meet up to study on a regular basis, and today is the first day of that studying. We are studying for different exams, but it helps to have someone to help you not procrastinate.

We couldn't think of a place around here conducive to all day studying. All the libraries close early, and restaurants and coffee places are too distracting. It sucks. The only place we could come up with is here, the lovely TC Gvmt. Plaza building. I guess it's alright. I have access to the internet, and that's good.

I've already covered 5 chapters out of the 89 in my Reference Manual. WooHoo!! It's all easy stuff though. Background...like vectors, algebra, metric system, calculus. Nothing engineering yet. But I can't wait!

Two Hundred Seventieth Entry

I didn't do squat this weekend. I worked at Albertsons, entertained my parents and went to my grandparents 60th anniversary party. It was fun hanging out with all my family.

Oh yeah, I watched Paparazzi. Don't waste your time. I watched Meet the Parents on USA. It was really funny, but probably even more so without all the censoring and commercials.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday I am closing at Albertsons. For some reason, they gave me Friday and Saturday off. I am a little upset about that. I would much rather work on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and one week night than four weeknights. I think they're trying to fuck with me.

Good/Frustrating news. I gave Steve a ride home from Albertsons on Sunday night and he told me that Wes(fourth in command, manager) said that I work hard and I should be made a clerk. Golly gee Wes, thanks for the compliment. But when exactly is that gonna happen??

Funny thing. Wes' favorite saying is "Git 'er done". He says that for everything. It also explains why he's been in a good mood lately....hehehe.

A cashier, who shall remain nameless, has vowed to get Chad fired. I won't hold my breath. He was pissing me off this weekend. Almost back to his old lazy tricks. Hmmph!

Back to work...

Two Hundred Sixty-Ninth Entry

I would like to give a shout out to Rouja.

I am drunk. Drunk is good.

As of last week, there was only one person that I didn't get along with at Albertsons. His name is Chad. Chad is an extremely lazy 16 year old that is only working because his parents are forcing him too. Not that he needs to, his parents are filthy rich. Anyway...

Last Wednesday I decided that my ill-will towards Chad should end. Partly because he was showing great improvement in the grocery bagging arena, and partly because I felt bad for him being picked on by all the Checkers. Brad, a checker, was laying into him verbally about how he needs to do what all the checkers ask of him. I stuck up for Chad because all Chad seems to know how to do is stand around and cop a tude. That ended the silent hostility between me and Chad.

Today, our truce is still intact but wearing thin. Today was a particularly tude-iful Chad day and a lot of the baggers weren't havin it. There was even a mini-shoving match between the well-liked Kipp(a bagger, 20 years old) and Chad. Kipp lamented the fact that Chad cannot be the subject of a Kipp ass-whoopin' because he is a minor. But Kipp swears that if Chad was 18, Kipp would kick his ass all over the place. Yes, it was as "high school" as it sounds. The rest of the night Johnny(another bagger, 19 years old) and I were chanting "Kick his ass" under our breaths. Very very high school.

Tomorrow night I am closing, I have Tuesday and Wednesday off and am closing again on Thursday. I have Friday off and am working a relatively early shift on Saturday. Pretty cherry schedule if you ask me.

Sleep time..

Two Hundred Sixty-Eighth Entry

I was loaned a DVD of a christian comedian called Brad Stein about three weeks ago. I have yet to see it. Every day I am reminded by Blas(the office religious zealot) to watch it. I really have no desire to watch it, but will do so because I told him I would. He probably thinks that by watching it I'll probably start rollin' around on the ground and speaking in tongues and swear off my evil ways of watching TV and DVD's with the word 'ass'(gasp!) in them.

The last month and a half have been really draining; physically, mentally and financially. I spent over $700 on presents. I love to give presents, especially to little kids, i.e. Georgia and Shaley and Dalila; the look of excitement on their faces is priceless and the hugs and kisses are even better. I like to receive presents, don't get me wrong, but not as much as giving.

I was really excited about my Festivist gift. I have the Nikka Costa CD in my truck right now and it is one of the best CD's I have ever heard. Love it, love it, love it. The sad songs make me sad, the happy songs make me happy. Thank you Lamar!

New Years Eve was fun. Hanging out with Jen, Lisa and Amy was fun. I got drunk and erased all evidence of it. Sorry Lisa, no blackmail.

Getting back to the daily grind after a very enjoyable holiday season really sucks.

2005 is going to be a busy year. My PE exam is the only thing on my list for the first third of the year. I'm afraid I won't be any fun at all through April. I'll be studying for the exam my every spare moment. Quitting smoking and paying debt down are other priorities for the first two thirds of this year. The final third is full of difficult choices: real estate investments, change in career, education continuation, relocation to the bay area-out of state-abroad. It's going to be tough, but at least all of these choices are connected. One choice will dictate the others.

2005 will not be a very social year. I plan on staying at home in Tulare a lot and spending less money in return. When I want to get away, I'll go to the other place I feel real comfortable, the coast. Meaning, SLO. It's only half the distance than to the bay area...I could go and come on the same day. I could probably even do some studying there.

Have a good year everyone!