Gone fishing...well, maybe

My parents are visiting me in Tampa for the week, and fishing is the only thing that my dad has wanted to do since he's been down here. I don't think he's even said the words "beach" or "sailing" since he got here. He's been talking about going "real salt water fishing" for years, but for some reason, this year he finally decided to really do it come hell or high water - which just might happen. Tropical Storm Fay was supposed to hit us initially, but it missed and slammed Jacksonville instead. Unfortunately, Fay has got to be the slowest moving storm in history and she seems to have stalled over north Florida. The outer edges of it might swing down and either hit Tampa today or at least make it really nasty - particularly in the bay - which is where I'll be.

My dad and I were originally going to go deep sea fishing but that all changed when the blessed meteorologists began claiming, yet again, that a hurricane was headed up Tampa Bay. Today is my parents' last day here and my only day off from work this week so it's fishing or bust! All of the deep sea fishing boats have already canceled their trips due to false weather reports, but we managed to find one bay fisherman who is willing to work with us. Thankfully, he has learned not to trust weather reports and is supposed to call us at six a.m. and tell us that it's either too nasty to go or say, "To hell with it. If you don't mind getting a little wet, let's go!" I'm hoping it will be the, "To hell with it," philosophy. So, as I said, I was up at five a.m. for a fishing trip that very well might not happen, but, then again, it just might. Only time will tell.

Big Day!!

Chris and I are getting our new couch delivered later today!! That's right people - no more sitting on a pile of blankets on the floor to watch the Olympics or BBC America! We've hit the big time. Between jobs, school, getting our own apartment, and now, all necessary furniture required, it appears as though we have grown up and become full-time adults sometime in the past year.

In addition to moving into modern times, my parents are also coming down today to visit for a week. Unfortunately, my asshole boss managed to completely screw up my request to have morning hours this week, and he has given me a 39 hour week - closing every, single, f#*!ing night. My reaction to this (in front of my boss) was, "WHAT?!? I talked to Andrew about this - I explained it thoroughly to him!" My boss's reaction, "I thought your parents came this week. Besides next week is the beginning of school. We need everyone here. I might be able to let you come in a little later some days. I acknowledge that we've had this conversation." My reaction (in my head) F#*! YOU, LEWIS!!!! And to hell with F#!*@ing Staples!! That's it. I'm done. I quit! My parents want me to find another job before I quit this one, but my boss has been treating me worse than shit since I started last month. He uses hand motions to communicate, instead of saying two words. I'm not a dog. He has also been riding everyone's ass about the damn "Staples Rewards Card." I'll only say this once - if you don't print a lot, it won't do shit for you. Lastly, I'm not the only person who thinks he's an asshole - most of my customers think the exact same thing, and they tell me so - on a regular basis. "That man is an asshole."
"That man is such an ass." "I hate Lewis. Please don't make me talk to Lewis." "Why won't he just let you do your job?" a customer asked me last week. My reply, "I don't know, but I hate it." This is how it's been for a month. I can't take it anymore and for $7.50, forget it!! I was making $8.00 an hour at my first job and at my last job, so don't give me that for $7.50 I can treat you like shit and ruin your life crap. I QUIT!!!! Besides, one more year and I'll be a college graduate.

A lot of people at work talk about how great the pay is once you get into management. Right. Well, compared to $7.50 it would look like millions, wouldn't it? No thanks. I'll tough it out and take my chances with English. Besides, it's taken me to Europe, Florida, and all over the Southeastern U.S. I've become a champion collegiate rower, an open water certified scuba diver, and a world traveler since going to college. The only thing I've been since I worked at Staples is angry - really angry. It's not fair to Chris and it is sure as hell not fair to me. It's just a college job and there are thousands of those out there. I'll go find another one, thanks. See ya Lewis. He was right though, 38 years at K-Mart might have been a "career" but it's not one that I want. You have fun.

As the old man once said, "Don't sweat the small stuff." Goodbye Staples. I'm moving on.

Mom and Dad, I'll see you guys and Cali dog tonight. I can't wait!!

Back online!

I finally got my laptop back today. I had to wait at Best Buy for almost thirty minutes to get it, but, now I have it and the poor guy seems to have made quite a comeback. They replaced the battery, that they had just sent me in June, and they have, finally, replaced the fan. They replaced the heat sync for it when the computer was less than a year old but not the fan. It was so loud when it booted up that everyone at the library would give me dirty looks. Now though, it seems almost silent compared to what it once was.

Regardless of its current performance though, it is five years old and far beyond what I would call, "out dated." I'm afraid that it is on its last leg as I will, hopefully, be replacing it in September when my student loan comes through. Until then, it's holding up well - I can't ask for more.

Where are the crazy people in Tampa??

They're in Staples!  I met one today - she was horrendous, to be kind...really, really kind.  She was one of those people that you know to stay away from because they're in a hurry and are going to run over anyone in their way.  She came to me with a pack of spiral notebooks and a "pencil case."  I proceeded to check her out - she was very short with me about everything.  She only had two items, and I had to call a manager over twice to assist her.  The second time the manager came over she dragged him off to show him the "pencil case" that was supposed to be "25 cents."  After holding up the line for a minute I began to hear "You're a F!@*ing liar" coming from the aisle where she had taken the manager.  Finally, five minutes later, while the manager was trying to escort her out of the store she insisted on checking out.  

She came back to me, even more perturbed than before and demanded that I check her out.  I had entered both items into the computer and when I told her the total she let out the most obnoxious sound I've heard recently.  I told her that she needed to tell me what to take off the total if she didn't want it all.  She replied with, "I just want the notebooks.  I don't need your mouth."  To this, the very sweet, old gentleman behind her in line replied with, "And we don't need yours," to which he added a very sincere smile and a wink at me.  The woman continued with, "This matter does not concern you, stay out of it...please."  The old gentleman continued, "You're not being very polite."  Finally, having had enough the woman said, "I was polite, I said please."  As I handed the bitch the source of her problem and her receipt I answered politely, "Sorry for the inconvenience.  I was polite too, I apologized.  Have a nice day."  I smiled at her snarling, despicable face, and the old gentleman said cooly as she took her bag, "Please, have a nice day," and winked once more.  

The manager proceeded to escort her out of the building and then returned to me and said, "You can take a break too - if you need one."  I thought about it, but I never took it.  It wouldn't have made a difference though, I wouldn't have gotten what I needed from it; a double shot of rum and my fist in the bitch's teeth.  Instead I finished my shift and went home after closing.  Chris and I are now watching the NFL preseason opener with the Colts playing the Redskins and the rum is soon to come.  As this day draws to a close, and I get to work an eight hour shift tomorrow, I remember what the old gentleman said to me as the bitch walked away, "Don't sweat the small stuff."  Remember that.