Two Hundred Ninety-Seventh Entry

Do I have "Door Mat" tattooed on my forehead? Am I a sucker for a compliment and a gorgeous set of tits?

Thursday was a typical day. Went to work and hated it.

Marcia invited me over to her house to check out her Gazelle. You know, that stupid Tony Little(whatever his name is) workout machine. It was weird that I was going to my boss' house.

I had mentioned to Marcia that I was looking for a machine to do some exercise. She told me I could have it for free, I just had to come pick it up. Sweet!

As the end of the day approached, I got her address and directions.

Before I left, Blas asked me for help moving some of his mother-in-laws stuff. It was weird that I was going to Blas' house, considering I'm such a heathen and stuff.

His wife, mother-in-law and kids were all out of town at some skirt wearing, long haired, no TV/drugs/alcohol conference in Santa Maria. I met him at his mother-in-laws apartment and picked up a BBQ. Lucky me for having a truck and being able to take such things.

After that, I went to Marcias house and checked out the Gazelle. She has a nice house. Her husband, Gene, was there and he was watching some movie. I took the Gazelle. It is in mint condition. Even the little LCD screen still worked. While I was there, she tried to unload a bunch of other stuff on me, the biggest one being a spa. Yes, a giant-ass-no-room-for-it-anywhere spa. I said I'd think about it and ask around. It's for free. That's definitely a plus.

She is trying to downsize all of her "crap" before her big move to SLO. She doesn't want to take all that stuff with her. She's been making weekly trips to the landfill, getting rid of perfectly good stuff.

We(Marcia, Gene and I) talked outside for a bit before I left. They were talking to me about getting out of the county and applying for Caltrans. They really wanted me to apply. I think I will.

I was literally a quarter of a mile away from Marcia's house when I get a call from a very frantic and stressed out Tia Luisa. She was complaining about Avo's pills and how the stupid doctor hasn't OK'd a prescription refill. Then she tells me about her interview on Friday. Interview? What interview??

She was up at Stanford earlier this week for some medical stuff and on the way back her and Debbie stopped in Hollister.

(Tia has been talking for a while now about moving up north where the air is cooler and less polluted. She had set a firm deadline for the move at next summer.)

Well, they liked Hollister a lot. They get home on Thursday morning and Debbie checks on the internet for teaching jobs in Hollister, and wouldn't you know it, they were looking for an Art Teacher! That just set the ball a-rollin' for Tia. She called them up and found out that they were interviewing on Friday. That meant she had until the end of the work day on Thursday to get a resume and three letters of reference faxed in. She got it all sent in and here and Debbie spent the better part of the rest of the day getting her Portfolio's prepared for the interview panel.

Hence the frantic Tia I had on the phone Thursday afternoon. I told her not to worry about the pills, I'd take care of it. And I took them some dinner.

Friday morning was almost typical. The Krispy Kreme donuts were there, but Marcia wasn't. She's been having doctors appointments and stuff for her physical on Fridays. I guess we will just have to get used to no Marcia around here. It will be very sad around here when she leaves.

Just after work, I got a call from Tia, and her interview went really good. Good. Camping plans were still on, and she downloaded a giant list of stuff to buy for the trip. Lotsa, lotsa food. Mmmmmm.

I went on my way buying a bunch of food. I dropped it off a Tia's house and went on my way to run a few more errands. I got back to Tia's house and she was on the phone. She was offered the job in Hollister! She made no promises about accepting the job, but she was just thrilled. That gave this camping trip a whole new meaning.

We didn't leave Tulare 'til about 6:30. We got up to the campground at about 8:30. It was so nice up there. Cool, breezy. Wonderful. It was very nearly dark, so the first thing we needed to do was set up the tents. Tias have a giant tent that is really a cinch to assemble because it is color coded. Well, it was dark already and the tent took a little longer to set up. Plus, it started raining on us. Just a little, though. Enough to give us a sense of urgency about setting up camp.

The tents went up with little problem and the fire was started with even less problems. So we just sat. And talked and sat and talked. It was nice to unwind. We cooked Aidell's sausages on the grill over the fire. Yummm....they were soooo good. I was in bed by 1 am.

Saturday started out nice enough. I awoke in the middle of the Sierras to the sound of birds chirping and a light breeze blowing through the trees making that beautiful sound that only wind through trees makes.

I had to be back in Tulare by noon to get ready for my last shift at Albertsons. Debbie cooked delicious french toast and we ate very well. By the time we were done eating, had our post breakfast cigarettes, and took down my tent, it was 10:30am. I was cutting it close, but I would still make it to work on time.

I rolled in to Tulare at 12:30. Jumped in the shower and sped off to work. I was two minutes late. What are they gonna do, fire me?? I love that line. I've used it countless times in the last two weeks.

Sebastian/Sebastard/Slob tells me that Dan/Big Guy/Manager of the Year wants to see me in the office.

Knock, Knock, Knock
Door opens.
Dan: Hey Phillip, have a seat.
Me: Thanks Dan. What's up?
Dan: Have I ever told you that you were my favorite cashier?
Me(Happily/Flattered): Thank you, that's nice of you to say.
Dan: It's true. You are the hardest working and nicest cashier here.
Me(Half Flattered/Half Confused): Thanks Dan.
Dan: Everyone else here thinks so too.
Me(Zero Flattered/100% Something-smells-fishy): Uh, thanks.
Enter Malissa/Manager/Miss California
Dan: I have a huge favor to ask.
Me: No kidding.
Dan: Steve is going to be out for the rest of the month. He brought in a doctors note.
Me: Really?
Dan: Yeah, and Sebastian's going on vacation this week.
Me: Oh.
Dan: Yeah. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind postponing your last day for a week.
Me(incredulous): What?!
Dan: It would be a big favor to me.
Me: Would I get Steve's wage?
Dan: No.
Me: I don't think I...
Dan(begging): Please, please it would really get me out of a spot.
Me: I really don't...
Malissa: Please? It's just for this week.
Me: I kinda have to...
Malissa: I'll show you my tits!
Me: Ok.

And that's how I got roped into working an extra week at Albertsons.