Keeping the mind sharp

Some people like to ward off the mental cobwebs with sudoku, word finds or crosswords. I am not one of those people (though who am I kidding, I do love me a crossword!) Instead I like to play a game that's one part creepy, two parts detective and three parts fun. I call it the Who's Zooming Who game.

I've played it in the past and have had a ball with it.It's easy to play. All you do is try to figure out if people are dating/doing it. Generally it really isn't that hard and the game is over in a few days. But the current game I'm in, oh, let me tell you. I have had to pull out all the stops. Well, ok, not really but it's been a difficult one to figure out. I think I've been playing this current round for about a month and I'm still unable to figure it out. But I have learned today that I will get a surefire answer in a few weeks if all goes as planned but I kind of want to figure it out on my own. I want to know, I really do but a part of me doesn't. I don't know if I'll be disappointed or relieved once this game is over. A big part of me doesn't not want the two subjects to be zooming so I'm afraid of the let down if the big piece of the puzzle comes through and they are in fact two becoming one. But then a part of me will be ok with that because then I can move on and start a whole new game, I'm Going to Screw with You because I Know. It too will be a fun game to play.

Never before has two subjects- whom we will refer to as Taylor and Riley because they are both unisex names (could be two dudes, could be two girls, could be one of each!)- made the game so tough for me. I know for a fact Riley has someone in their life. I know it. Riley speaks out it often. Taylor? Not a clue. Taylor and Riley can be seen hanging together while on breaks. But then again Taylor also sometimes hangs with me while on breaks. I have it from one unreliable source that the two are indeed in a relationship. I can't believe the source 100 percent because the source has a history of lying. Then there are things like Riley had a few days off, didn't go anywhere special like out of state but did spend it in another city. If it were me had I had a few days off and didn't have any plans I think I'd kick it with my man. I get nothing from Taylor. They are incredibly unhelpful in my game. But Taylor gives more away with subtle things with body language and buying habits. Yes. You are damn right I look at those!

The kicker will come in a few weeks. Then I will know for sure if, as I said, everything goes as planned. I will have a final answer to this great game. Then depending on the answer I get to start on my new game which might be equally satisfying.

I should start charting my findings. It might make things more clear and easier to draw conclusions. It might make it more creepy. I'll have to think about that.

Just a Matter of Policy

Oh world. I would like to inform you of a certain courtesy when shopping towards the close of business:

Get the frack out of the store at closing time. Or at the very least get in line when you hear that announcement that say "Oh hey there people. Yeah we're closed to you need to come to the check out now."

If a place closes at 11 that does not mean since you're in the store you get to stay as long as you wish. Oh hell no. It closes at 11. That means you need to have your pretty little ass out the doors at that time.

It doesn't mean you can wander the aisle looking for all that you need. Nope, uh uh, no sir-ee.

Last night I had some peach of a woman get pissy because she couldn't stay and shop. She strolled in 5 to closing and I was walking the front checking the aisle so I told her nicely that we were closing in 5 to which she exclaimed "What?! I thought you closed at midnight! Oh what am I going to do?! Oh I'll be fast." She was nice then and I thought that hey maybe she will be out of here quick.

Cut to ten minutes later and she's still out there. A few minutes later the manager rounded her up and oh was she pissy then. "I didn't know you closed at 11!" Bullshit lady I just told you we did. Then she had to be difficult. She got all defensive over her coupon that was only supposed to be used at a different store so to shut her the hell up I took it. Then she was all "Oh I'm not going to shop here anymore. I didn't know you closed."

Cry me a river, princess. You were told. You got the same five minute warning everyone gets. Then you got to shop past close. I don't care if you didn't know the hours were different. It's only been that way for a few years.

I don't know where people get off being such jags. I want to go to where they work and wait until it's time for them to go home and then make them wait on me or whatever. Oh what's that? Oh it's time to go home? Ooooh yeah no not so much see it's still 5 and I'm pretty certain your hours are 9-5 and not 9-4:59 so I  can still be helped until 5 and if we go over, then well we go over.

Buttheads. The whole lot of them. Buttheads. It would be a little different if the people were a little apologetic if they were in there late but no. Most of the time they are in fact buttheads. Snotty, pissy, little punks that need to pull their collective heads out of their asses.

There. I feel a little better. Not a ton but at least I got that off my chest.

While I hate it when people stay late a little bit of me likes it because then I get to make my closed announcement which is fun. And then if that doesn't work I get to start to boot people. And oh that's a joy! It really is.

Ah the little things. They make the day better.

Song O' the Day

Because I love fitting songs, this is my favorite song today.

"What Are You Looking For?"
-By: Sick Puppies

I walk the line of the disappointed
I celebrate when I'm in pain
My heart and mind can be disjointed
I built a bed in this hole I made
I recognize that I'm damaged
I sympathize that you are too
But I wanna breathe without feelin' so self-conscious
But it's hard when the world's starin' at you

Another piece of the puzzle, that doesn't fit
You throw your arms up, you're so damn sick of it
What are you working for
What are you searching for
Love
You won't be thinking of cars when
You're on your death bed and dyin'
You'll only be thinkin' of what you are paying for,
What you are praying for
Love

You join the line of the getting richer
You keep your pace but it's movin' slow
You are defined by all that you have hoarded
But you're surprised it doesn't fill up the hole.

Another piece of the puzzle, that doesn't fit
You throw your arms up, you're so damn sick of it
What are you coping for

What are you hoping for
Love
You won't be thinking of cars when
You're on your death bed and dyin'
You'll only be thinkin' of what you are paying for,
What you are praying for
Love

I'll never be what I see on the TV screen
I just keep dreaming of what I'm never gonna be
I can't think of a better way to waste my time then try

Another piece of the puzzle, that doesn't fit
You throw your arms up, you're so damn sick of it
What are you hurtin' for
What are you searching for
Love love love love
You won't be thinking of cars when
You're on your death bed and dyin'
You'll only be thinkin' of what you are paying for,
What you are praying for
Love love love love

You won't be thinkin' of cars when
You're on your death bed and dyin'
You'll only be thinkin' of what are you workin' for,
What are you waitin' for

Let Down

I think there's two things that I beat myself up over the most. When I make myself seem foolish or stupid and when I disappoint myself.

It's one thing for another person to disappoint me. It's a fact of life. People disappoint. It's going to happen. But it is so different if it's someone else doing the disappointing then if I'm the one I disappoint. It is so much worse. It's that way because in damn near every instance a part of me has doubt. A part of me is second guessing but the rest of me is steaming full-throttle ahead. And then when that bitter moment of disappointment happens the little part of me that was hung from the start pipes up and I just want to scream. I should have known better. I knew from the start that this could happen but I just had to continue.

It's terrible. I don't like it one bit yet here it's happened and it'll continue to happen. That's just the way things go. It wouldn't be nearly as fun to play it safe all the time but in moments like these I wish I had.

This is why I don't like to make a big deal out of things. To get excited over things. I hate the let down. I hate feeling one minute on top of the world, thinking about all the potential, the future what could be and then the next minute-boom- let down.

Aye. Whatever.

A Soliloquy on Snow

I hail from a land where snow falls an average of 50 inches a year. It is nothing new nor is it nothing old that the flurries fly here quite often once the calendar turns past October.

Why is it then in this day and age that when the forecast calls for more then an inch or two people flock to the store like we'll all be home bound for months after the first inch accumulates?

Certain things I can understand the need to get with a snow storm on the horizon. Filling up the car before it starts to fall is alright since you never know if you'll get stuck or how long the commute might be. But groceries?! Come on now. Do a lot of people honestly not have enough supplies to make it through the day they might be stuck in the house? Or at the very most two days?

I can't recall a storm where we've been stuck at home for more then a day. We might not have gone out for two days but had we needed to we could have. And I grew up in the country! The roads were never plowed before 10  a.m.on days following a storm if we were lucky.

And with the rush of people snow brings on comes lines. Oh lines. Long, long, long lines which I have to deal with. Lines that honest to god give me nightmares at night. Lines that I have no control of and try my best to combat but they remain. And people get bitchy with me! With me for the lines because everybody needs to stock up for five inches in the off chance they're snowed in for 14 hours. I'd love to tell people that we can't predict weather. That I'm sorry but there's more then enough cashiers open on a normal day but since Jack Frost decided to precipitate everybody is going buck wild.

Aye. I love snow but I hate it. I love the first snowfall. It's romantic especially at night. I love snow in street lights. I love how quite it makes things. I hate how it makes people buttheads.

Book bender

I've been on a real book binge lately.

I've taken to reading at work while on my breaks. I get some shit for it mainly because I read while walking like a total nerd but it's all in good fun. So what if I like to expand my mind with some classic literature? My brain needs some stimulation since my work can be pretty mind numbing at times.

I probably didn't start reading until a few weeks in at the new place. I started Labor Day weekend. In the time I've read there I've made it through "The Old Man and the Sea." "O Pioneers!" "Walden and Civil Disobedience" and I'm part way through "The Federalists."

Next on my list is "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and "The Interpretation of Dreams." We'll see how old Freud treats me. I had to read part of his writings for a class in college and liked it. I'm on a bit of a Hemingway kick. I read "A Farewell to Arms" years ago (side note: it makes me a little sad I can say things like years ago. It means that I am, in fact, growing up) and enjoyed it. Then I read "The Sun Also Rises" about two years ago. I picked up "The Old Man and the Sea" back in September and breezed through it in a few days. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.

I really enjoy Willa Cather. I should pick up more of her books or have Santa bring them to me since he is going to be arriving soon. It probably would be more sensible to borrow books from the library but I love owning them too much. There's something about a nice, well balanced bookshelf that I love. It probably has something to do with I feel like I look smart having lots of book and I jump at any opportunity to look smart!

If you act like a child then I'll treat you like one!

So I've got this guy at work who has anger issues. He can be a bit of an ass at times and he goes off the deep end and just gets pissy. It's basically a temper tantrum. Other people have a difficult time dealing with him and they ask me what the secret is to it. My secret? I treat him like a two year old since he acts like one at times. I ignore half of what he says when it's negative. I don't respond to him when he acts negative. When I have to, I try to be positive and make the solution as simple as possible. Just like with a two year old, I don't tolerate attitude. Nope. Nada, none. I don't take it and I'm pretty certain it's well known.

I'm thinking that the next time he gets a 'tude with me I'll tell him my simple whatever on dealing with kiddies. He's got a couple of options-improve your attitude either on your own or with my help or take a nap. Only a nap wouldn't really be an option. I'd love to put him in time out. I really would. There's been a number of times where I've wanted to shut him down and make him leave. He can be absolutely ridiculous at times. I don't know how he hasn't been fired yet. All I know is I don't take his crap. He hasn't really laid it all on me yet like he's done to other but oh. I dare him to. He'll be in for a surprise. I will not allow it.

It's kind of fun being in a semi-power position. Not only do I get to lay the smack down on employees. Oh no. I get to lay the smack down, at times, on customers. Like creeps and thieves! There's a lady who is a frequent thief. She isn't your typical thief, she doesn't hide things in her coat or anything. She eats things like produce that has to be weighed before checking out. That's stealing. Or recently she's into doing that type of thing with grocery items. Well let me tell you. It brings such excitement to my day when I see her in the store and that I get to tail her. Only now she knows I'm on to her. She goes the other way when she sees me coming. I've got my wing men though who do the tailing for me and keep me in the loop. It's great fun, it's almost like sport. Only now the days of stalker her are soon to be done. The next time she's in store she's going to get kicked out for good. Which will be good but it'll also be sad. I'll miss my stalking. Unless of course she returns after being booted. Then the cops will get called and she could be arrested for trespassing.

This is my life now. Excitement comes to my days in the form of shoplifters and creeps. Pissy employees and rude customers. It isn't half bad. It certainly can be fun.

By the way....

Giants won the World Series! Giants won the World Series! Giants won the World Series! Giants won the World Serrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrries! Woohoo!