Domestic Geek

I did want to mention one thing today. The Steelers' charter busses and their State Patrol escort passed me on I-70 today on their way to DIA as I was heading to WalMart. Part of me wanted to hate them for beating the Broncos in the AFC Championship game today, but another part of me recognizes that they outplayed the Broncos and deserve to go on to the Super Bowl. *sigh*

TODAY WAS MY LAST DAY EVER OF WORKING PIZZA!!!!!!!

I must admit I got a little misty-eyed as I laid my key and uniform on the desk and closed the backdoor as I left. Not because I was going to miss it, but because I was so proud of myself for finally letting go of it. Whatever purpose punishing myself with that job served, I didn't need it any more. Someone said to me the other day that I seemed a lot more confident since I got my design job and gave my notice to quit pizza. I asked Marcus if he got that impression of me also and he said that he did. Yay!!!! I hope this is the first of many positive changes that I'll be making in my life this year.

Marcus and I celebrated my last day by having an evening out together (since I don't have to get up before the butt crack of dawn anymore!). We started out by trying a beverage at Caribou Coffee. Somebody at his work gave him free drink coupons. Unfortunatley, they could only be used at the one that is out on E-470 and Smoky Hill Rd. Quite a trip from where we live! The web site says there is one at Iliff/Peoria. At least Marcus can use his gift card that he was given for Christmas there until they open the one on the corner of Potomac and Colfax this spring (along with a Chipotle). There was a little fake fireplace there that Marcus and I sat by and sipped our drinks. Very charming. The snowflakes on their cups were made of little caribous and antlers. Adorable! It was nice to actually have some deep conversation with him. It's been awhile. Then we had dinner at Qdoba and ended up looking at books at Barnes & Noble. He bought me a little book on CSS. Awwww. You know we're a geek couple. Then we watched British and American episodes of "The Office" and now I have to go to bed. It's almost 10:00, people!

I've made it through the first three books of The Chronicles of Narnia so far. I read this third one this afternoon. I also watched the last quarter of the Steelers/Colts game. I wanted to know who the Broncos were going to face next weekend after they embarassed the Patriots last night. If the Steelers won, Broncos get home field. If the Colts won, Broncos have to play at Indianapolis. I couldn't believe the end of the game, though. A minute and a half to go, Steelers are ahead, they start celebrating too early, they have the ball, Jerome Bettis fumbles, Colts get within field goal range to tie to go into OT and the kicker kicks wide to the right. Phew.

Anyhoo, it's going to take a few days to adjust to my new schedule. I'm sure my body is going to bolt awake at 3am thinking I had overslept. I napped when I got home from work, but I'm so tired still. It will be nice to actually get things done on the weekend because I won't be so freaking worn out. Now that pizza is over with, I can work on many of my goals that I have for this year. The first is a major redesign of my web sites.

OK, I'm off to bed--for a full 8-hours of SLEEP!

Well, It's almost 6:30 and I'm off to bed. Fourteen (14) more days of pizza hell. I really, really hate going to bed this early. After my merrymaking last night and not getting to bed until 1 am, then work this morning, I had no time today. Boo. If anybody screws with me during the next two weeks at the pizza place, I may quit on the spot. I'm not taking anybody's crap anymore. Hopefully, it won't come to that. Just finish my sentence and be released on the 15th. LOL

I'm feeling hopeful about the year ahead. Since I've resolved to take better care of myself, leaving pizza is the first major step. Less stess and anger, no flour in my lungs, no soda handy to drink, more sleep...a big step. I'm going to start practicing yoga as soon as possible after the pizza gig is up.

I had a lot to say, but I can't think of any of it right now. I'm just putting off going to bed anyhow. Guess I'll jot notes during the day tomorrow and hopefully have time to give a quick recap of the first full day at the new job.

G'night.

Well, I had a job interview today for a graphic designer position that starts in January. I'll find out tomorrow if I got it. Starting pay is lower than I would've liked, but it's more than I was making at the screen printers. There will probably be a substantial pay increase after six months. I figure this will be like an internship more or less until I prove myself. The big drawback is the place is in Larkspur (you know—the place where they have the Colorado Renaissance Festival every year). I guess the guys that work there carpool alot, so that could be cool. I know the two guys that currently work there from Platt, so I don't have any doubts that I can work and get along with them. I guess we'll find out tomorrow, eh?

Our power kept going out on Monday evening. If you tried to access our websites then and couldn't, that's why. It sucked because it was really cold outside and snowing a little, too. We burned stuff in our fireplace to keep warm until we gave up and went to bed. Of course my alarm clock's battery was dead so it wouldn't keep time every time the power went out. I'm not sure when the power came back on for good.

I've been a movie watching fool the last few weeks. I'm trying to make the most of my Netflix subscription while I'm underemployed, plus HBO had a free preview weekend in there, too.
The Longest Yard (2005)—wasn't sure I'd like this remake, but I did! (Except for Rob Schneider)
March of the Penguins—those Emperor penguins are insane.
Love Actually—still can't stand Hugh Grant, am liking Emma Thompson more and more and why does Alan Rickman (Snape) always have to be a bad guy?
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy—um, I don't get why this is popular.
Batman Begins—great movie. Much better than the previous Batman incarnations.
Beauty Shop—not as good as Barbershop, but a cute movie.
The Office: Series 1 (British Version)—just like the American one, took a couple of episodes to grow on me, but I like it.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—this just weirded me out. That single Oompa Loompa was too disturbing.
Spiderman—wasn't impressed.
13 Going on 30—love all the '80s references!

I'm sure I've watched more, but that'll do for now.

Well, I'd better get back to decorating the tree that Marcus slayed.

WARNING: MAJOR WOE AHEAD! (You've been warned...)

Man, I got up this morning ready to tackle my problems head-on. That lasted about a half hour before the heavy weight of depression crushed my spirit. I absolutely hate it when I get like this, but it seems no amount of positive thinking can overcome it. I know it will pass. It just really sucks in the mean time.

No Christmas for me this year. I made up my mind this morning. This little Christmas design for my blog is about all I can muster this year. In fact, the design is a little representation of what I'm feeling this year. Cold. Lonely. One isolated little Christmas ornament. What is the point of stressing over where I'm going to get money for gifts when I'm not even covering my bills? I had hoped to sell some of my things on eBay to get some Xmas cash, but apparently I don't own anything that anybody else wants. So, that's it. I'm done worrying about it. I'm not getting gifts for anybody this year. I hope those people that I normally exchange gifts with understand. In fact, I'd appreciate it if you saved your money and didn't get me anything, either. It's not that I wouldn't have appreciated the gift, but I'm just not into this holiday this year. I feel like a total scrooge, but there's nothing I can do about it at this late date (unless somebody very close to me wins the lottery or something). There's only 13 days left. I've got over a grand in unpaid bills right now since I've been underemployed for over a month. One of those is my car payment. I've been ignoring phone calls from creditors all day. I should've declared bankruptcy before the law changed, but I was trying to protect my credit rating. Guess that's all shot to hell now. I knew I was going to be screwed once the student loans kicked in if anything bad ever happened. Now I am. Joy.

I also missed the annual tree-cutting expedition this year. I was stuck at that suck-ass pizza job. The heat has been out at work while we were in the midst of our subzero cold snap. I got to work in 40°F conditions with a wind blowing in the non-weather-stripped back door. I've also been sick all week. Being so cold at work that your back aches from just standing there doesn't help one get over being sick. I didn't need or want to be wandering around the cold forest looking for an elusive tree. Marcus brought one home, but I'm in no mood to decorate it. I'm not even sure if I can get to my decorations in storage since I haven't paid the bill. They've probably put a lock on our storage unit.

I have only had one day off from the pizza place in a long time and that was Thanksgiving. We don't have enough trays to do enough dough for me to take a day off and nobody there will make dough when I'm not there. They claim they don't know how, which is a crock. I didn't go in today, even though I couldn't get it all done yesterday. I used every tray we had and there was not enough. Sad thing is, we had enough at one point. A certain spoiled bitch manager (the one the manager that killed himself had a thing for) threw out every one of a certain kind because she didn't like them. There was nothing wrong with them other than they annoyed her. Stupid suicde manger let her do it. Now I don't have enough trays to do my job and get a day off.

To make matters even worse, that same spoiled, lazy, control-freak brat 3rd assistant manager has been fucking with me. I wish I could've just thrown the store key in her face yesterday and never came back. I can't deal with that place anymore. I have NEVER worked at a place that was so dysfunctional. I had hoped that after the manager's suicide that the crew would come together. HA! I forgot that he trained all of them. I get myself in so much trouble grasping onto what things could be instead of dealing with the reality of what is. The reality is that most of the crew there is mean. They get joy out of other's pain. They treat everybody, not just me, like dirt below their feet, including customers. I've never fit in there and I need to get away from there for good. Once I find a replacement job for the screen-printer gig, I've got to find something to do on the side to make up the pizza income. I'm being abused there and I'm not going to take it anymore.

Finally, I always get really sad about my mom's death this time of year, but I'm really missing her bad this year. Dad is, too. He sent me an email this morning telling me so. I called him right away and he came over to take me out to lunch. In case anyone reading this didn't know, my mom went into a diabetic coma between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 1996. They kept her alive so we wouldn't have to deal with her actual passing during the holidays. She passed on January 4, 1997--two days before her 52nd birthday. You'd think I'd be able to handle it better after 9 years, but I don't.

Great. My period just started. Early.

I'm really cold right now. I think I'm going to go take a long, hot shower.