Victories & Frustrations

It seems lately that no matter what I listen to there are key phrases in songs that set me off. What's worse is my brain will switch out certain words in a song to make me bawl even more yesterday driving to work being the most recent event of this happening. It's been almost 3 years since my dad passed away and some days he is all I can think about. The memories I have are in my forefront and are playing like a home movie in my head. Someone told me that it has to be the holidays that are triggering these and I agree since they started around Thanksgiving with the first memory surfacing was our last Thanksgiving together and the first time I really saw my dad cry. The reason I call this post "Victories & Frustrations" is because he was there for all my victories, graduations, swim team, wrestling, my promotions at work and he was there through all my frustrations and hard times, moving from Grandview and away from all my friends, losing my grandpa, the many pets, and arguments with my mom. This last Easter my younger sister had all of our family pictures and was letting us go through them and take what we wanted and I came across one I had never seen. It is a picture of me and my dad walking towards the ocean just talking. My mom must have taken it without our knowledge. This is one of the many victories that I was talking about because all I hear is his voice telling me how proud his is and that out of all his children, I was the first to take that step of self independence. He would tell me that I was the only one who left home and only came back to visit and when I called I wasn't asking to borrow anything. He would say "Bobby, you are the one who made something of yourself and for that I'm so proud of you" god what I wouldn't give to hear that again. The first time he met the bear was a proud moment for me because my dad just excepted him as part of the family. They sat on the front porch of the house and bullshitted. I miss him so much and very lucky to have had such an amazing person as my dad. I love you!!

Waking Up Is Hard To Do

I found myself hitting my snooze on my alarm yesterday for the first time in such a long time. I guess I wasn't completely ready for the weekend to be over. It just dawned on me that there is less than a month before Christmas and I'm looking frantically for a particular item for the bear. So, I'm searching the interweb to find it and have it delivered before Christmas. Although we aren't that materialistic, we do love stuff. The best thing is we are almost done shopping for everyone, we have 2 people left. God, I love shopping for other people.

Ode To The First Four Day Weekend

It started off as a normal Thanksgiving, and ended not so normal. My sister-in-law's mom had bypass surgery on Thanksgiving causing the brother and his family not to have their traditional Thanksgiving with both parents this year. We were swore to silence about the ordeal because the sister wanted some time to clear her thoughts and not to think about something she couldn't change and to keep her mind on something else if not for a little while. Dinner was great like always, but there wasn't as much left overs as there were in the past sad day. That night was babysitting at our apartment (weird I know, and not an invitation for us to watch any other kids). She was well behaved and we just played our video games all night, while everyone was out for Black Friday!! The bear and his brother were out until 3 am, and the brother came back to do it all over again at 6am (crazy bastard). The bear was taking advantage of a trade in deal at Gamestop towards mom's new 3DS (we got to keep her on the latest trends) which ended up only costing under $60. I slept most of Friday, 12 hours to be exact. Before me and the bear made our way out after the kid was gone. We started our tradition by hitting Starbucks, then over to purchase the 3DS. That store was so damn organized this year compared to years past, and we were in and out in moments. We then hit Best Buy where I browsed my shoes (CDs). Nothing really caught my eye except for Kelly's Greatest hits, but I'm not buying an entire album of songs I already have just to get 3 new ones and the always gag-a-fying Christmas song. Don't get me wrong I do love Christmas but I've heard the songs enough to know that traditional is always better than someone's new version. The madness of the mall wasn't as exciting this year, but it has put me in the Christmas spirit, and the shopping spirit. Saturday brought my sister down from Auburn to go shopping and we hit one place WALMART. She hates shopping and having the child she has I can understand why. Unlike the kid we watched Thursday evening, this child is out of control. You can look into his eyes and see evil shit just brewing. You know he's just coming up with something he thinks is clever and hurtful. So we started with lunch, to where the child showed us why I'm glad we don't have children. Then onto wally world, to where we shopped as fast as we could. The kid doesn't like the word no and better yet hates listening to my sister. In fact, my sister would say one thing and does the exact opposite just to spite her. I ignored most of it and thought to myself "It will be all over soon!!" as I know my sister was thinking the same thing. We made our way back to my apartment, we wrapped some presents while sipping on coffee and having a bonding moment before we said our goodbyes. God I love my sister and so happy that she's turned her life around for the better. Sunday found me getting up at 8:30am to find a deposit slip sitting by my cigs. I look and to my surprise it says $400. First thing in my head is how much did he borrow from the parents (which I was hoping nothing since we already owe them $1200). I looked into his wallet and there was not withdraw slip. So I let it sit there for the time being and turned on the football game. The Seahawks were pissing me off and I realized it was time to take the dogs so got them out the door and around the field. When we got back the bear was still sleeping. Which isn't a bad thing, means no voice mocking my love for sports. After the bear woke up he explained to me about his good fortune and laid my fears to rest. Not a bad start to the day until seeing the Seahawks lose, lol not the end of the world. We then ventured out again this time to ToysRus and World Market. For dinner we decided to try Dickey's Barbeque for the first time. It is very good and expensive, but with the bear's good fortune we decided to treat ourselves. It was quite a weekend and now it's back to work to repeat all of this to my co-workers.

I Ask One Thing.......

Remind me next time to never ask questions that will cause me to just instantly hate the day. If I were bugging you excuse the fuck out of me!!

Office is Closed

The office of the cub will be closed for Thanksgiving so feel free to browse all the re runs all you'd like. All have their special Blossom episode types. Here is my first of 3 four day weekends!! CHEERS!!

Three Day Work Week

As Thanksgiving comes closer, 4 days to be exact, I begin to be excited for the holidays. Turkey day starts my excitement with food and family, then it's time to shop for the loved ones. This year, I only have to work three days before Thanksgiving and we are watching our niece while her parents (Santa) go shopping to find those deals. I found out that the shopping on black Friday for them doesn't mean Christmas shopping, but selfish purchasing as well. That is fucking awesome if you ask me, but I'm just glad I'm not going to be stuck in that but like I stated in an earlier post, it's tradition for me and the bear to watch from the sidelines. However, I heard that the bear's brother has recruited him to help in the madness this year leaving me and the little one to play our 3DS until our heart is content. All that aside, Saturday we get to put up our tree for the first time in our new place. It's going to look so good, but where to put it. I have a general idea of where it will go, we just got to make sure it's out of the way. Thanksgiving also starts three four day weekends for me. The other two are Christmas and New Years. Gotta love the holidays.

Expect The Worst

As years have taught me anything is that if you expect the worst in any situation then you are not as disappointed. But when the outcome is the opposite then you have pictured in your head then you are welcomed with a nice surprise. This was the case yesterday, I was invited to a job fair and had selected Diva to accompany me, however with all the things happening at work she was unable to join me. Instead it was suggested to me to invite another and I wasn't too thrilled about it at all. It wasn't I dislike the suggested replacement (in fact I hardly even know her), but more like "what do we talk about". My boss man came in and said "just bond with her". Oh yeah easy for you to say, I don't know what is going to be talked about and even scarier what remarks are going to slip out of my mouth because of something the other person said that rubbed me the wrong way. This was not the case, I left the lodge around 11:10am because I kept forgetting something in my office. I got to the Armory around 11:32am and thought to myself I'm so happy to only be 2 minutes late, but after 2 circles around the place and remembering about the place where I parked when I was there for my job fair that I got hired at, it was already 11:50am. I was so late now, so I lugged what I had brought down the alley way and waited for traffic and was told that our booth was in the back on the right, and to my pleasure there was my co-worker waving at me and all set up. I was so damn impressed and at that moment realized this wasn't going to be bad at all. And my bosses voice "just bond with her" rang out and put a smile on my face. He does know what he's talking about. Between the visits from the interested participants looking for work or just free stuff, we chatted and got to know one another. I realized that she is a very well spoken person who just has the thirst for knowledge, instant friend right there. As the event came to a close, she gave me a hug and said it was fun and that we need to do it again. I agreed and packed up what we had left and I headed to the lodge to submit my expense report and drop off all the business cards I acquired. As I was getting ready for my beer date after, I received a text from my friend saying he had to cancel, and a text from the bear saying we received our deposit check from the other apartment. I was somewhat bummed because I was really looking forward in having a drink with my friend, but happy about being done with the other apartments. I'm glad the weekend is here so I can relax and then it dawned on me that we only have a 3 day work week next week which makes me a happy cubby.

Hard Decision

I've been struggling for awhile now about letting a friendship die. Basically due to it's been a one sided thing for along time. The person is just a flake without really knowing it. They don't mean any harm and I know this but it's frustrating to have a conversation with yourself and not being told in advance of changes to where you're not wasting your time. I don't wish any harm to the person, but nothing but happiness for their future. However, there is no place for me in that said future. So good bye to you and may your life be surrounded by those who truly love and appreciate you.

Is It For Real

I could understand how other countries look at us with disgust. We have an entire day (that is spreading to a holiday) devoted to shopping and getting deals. The same event that was so unorganized a few years back that people were trampled upon because of crowds. The fucked up part about that is, here is a person dying on the ground and no one really gave 2 shits, they just continued to shop for deals and fight amongst themselves. Black Friday has always been around since I can remember, but I don't remember it ruining Thanksgiving. Now that I'm an adult, it's more of a spectators sport to watch as these people claw and scratch their way to the front of 2 hour lines with the "amazing" deals they just had to have the day after stuffing themselves. Oh wait, I forgot, this year it starts on Thanksgiving. Just like last year, the employees are getting hosed, however I remember having to work on the holidays for many years so I don't feel too bad for them. We all have jobs and I'm fortunate enough to have one now that allows me to enjoy the holidays. Last year, I worked at least 2 holidays when I was in finance, but now I'm in HR, which will be closed. What is even better is that I get Black Friday off so the bear and I can enjoy our tradition of going to Starbucks and getting our peppermint mochas and wonder around the mall watching the hoards of people shop shop shop. I can understand the whole making the customer happy, but why ruin Thanksgiving? Instead of blaming the retail establishments, why not take a look at the demanding people who made this possible by saying "Oh I wish I could leave my family and shop at 8pm on Thanksgiving evening." Really???? You'd rather shop than spend another moment listening to the same old stories, and the trickery of leaving the clean up to the kids. Although we may seem selfish and what not, I'm still glad to be an American, so the opinions of other countries don't bother me. It's just who we are, and as the years go by we aren't going to change anytime soon.

Now It's Legal.....Well Almost

So Washington wanted the legalization of marijuana and the voters got their way. It passed on state level, however they have a huge hurdle in their way.....THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!! Unsurprised to me, I had three individuals asking about this new passing law. I simply told them that they can't SMOKE. We still test for it and you will still be fired for smoking it. Until it is okay'd by the FED then it's still considered illegal to us. These three were somewhat smart enough to ask but what about those who were stupid enough to run out bought from their dealer (which this law is supposed to eliminate the whole dealer) and smoked until rendered retarded. My partner in crime said it best "I'm moving out of this fucking state!!" Yes, I did like to smoke it at one time, but it's been almost 5 years since I touched the stuff and some part of me misses it, but I would never jeopardize my job for it. Until it's federally approved, it is banned from our house and from my person.

On a positive note, gays are free to get married here in Washington. Imagine a world of man and wife, wife and wife, man and man unions. It's crazy how times have changed from when I was growing up to today. Granted, I didn't have the hatred that most people had growing up, but we were still taught the wrong message back then. With the marriage now changed to the union of human beings, I'm happy to say we are all equal now. Does this mean the parades can go away now? The celebration of traffic can stop? Nope, because of all the hatred in the world that still exists and the point of views that still occupy all our minds. Don't get me wrong, I do like gay pride however we wanted equality so where is the straight pride days? Oh that's right, it's called Octoberfest LOL just kidding.

Relaxed and Ready

What a great weekend of nothing to do but enjoy our new home. We are officially down to 2 boxes which are full of wall decorations. Since the bear is the tallest, he gets the task of hanging them up. Saturday, we spent the whole day just lounging around, me on the computer playing Bejeweled and him exploring our channel line-up. Besides the walks with the dogs, we just pretty much stayed inside. Yesterday, he decided to go shopping with his brother, while I was responsible to empty a few more of the boxes and set up the nick-knacks since I'm the shortest it was easier for me. Oh, Saturday also reminded us on how different the two places were. Where as Courtside is full of white trash scum who would rather scream at each other, our downstairs neighbors here at Woodland came up to introduce themselves and exchange numbers in case anything like noise was a problem. They were a young couple and very respectable. So weird and a difference it is moving across the street. So back to Sunday, as I watched football and unpacking boxes, I looked around and sighed to myself on how happy and amazing it is to be in such a nice place. Now it's Monday and I'm ready to head back to work and be productive.

Innocent Bystander

Many of you know that I'm not so innocent, however I do find myself in the middle. I'm a friend when a friend is needed and yesterday was no exception. My diva was having an emotional day being it her mom's birthday. I wanted to console her and so I did. I listened to her as she told me her woes. Although I may have given a little advice, I really was there to listen. At lunch, a mutual friend of the Diva and mine consoled to us her woes. I agreed to much of the issues stated, however I just listened. I would never reveal anything discussed nor would I blab it around to others who weren't involved with the discussion. Those who truly know me, know that I don't gossip or go around saying shit that was told to me in confidence. I really like to think that I'm better than that. You all have my love and I hope that in the future things go as you feel that they should. Just remember that the bumps in life are just that and not mountains.