The Blog of Crispy

    After...wow, 21 days, I am finally back with a new entry. I know I have at least one fan out there, so you damn well better be satisfied at this point or I shall hunt you down and impose my wrath. I kid you not - I really will..

     Let's cut to the chase, though. Quite a bit has happened in my life in the last three weeks. Let me first update you on Taylor, as I kind of left my readers at a cliffhanger in my last entry. Well, after a few phone calls I found out that Taylor was still in the hospital. When I had spoken to his mother’s boyfriend, two days prior to my last entry, he had said Taylor would be returning home the next day, so I got kind of concerned when I was unable to contact him for a couple days after that. On the third day I managed to get in touch with Taylor's sister, who told me he was still in the hospital - for both the drug overdose and another chemo treatment - and was even kind enough to give me his room number a phone where he could be reached. Now, normally one is not so jumpy about where their friends are, but when your closest friend is in such a fluctuating state of health, you tend to be a little more concerned then usual. So, anyway, I went up to visit him for a while and also had the opportunity to become acquainted with his girlfriend, Jasmine, who is so awesome. I envy him for that. She is such a nice girl and yes, she is undeniably hot.

    Speaking of girlfriends...I have finally made some achievement in that field. It took me long enough, no doubt about that. It's been about three years since I have had a real girl friend and it looks like that losing streak is about to come to an end. At the beginning of this school year, I had the privilege of becoming acquainted with one of my new classmates, who I happen to be attracted to - and I have a strong feeling that this attraction is mutual. Maybe I'm just crazy, but I think I will ask her out for the traditional dinner and a movie some time this coming week. I have high hopes. I'll let you (or maybe you all - don't really know who reads this) know if it all goes up in flames or if I succeed in my next entry.

    Aside from that, I have recently moved out of my home, which I have lived in for all of my seventeen years, about 30 miles away, to a small town called Lamoine. Did I mention my parents just got divorced? Yeah, that's why we are moving. It wasn't really all traumatic, unless I am unknowingly repressing some sort of manic depression - in fact, I had wondered why they _hadn't_ yet divorced, for a number of years. I almost welcome it, in a sense. I am glad that they are both happier now. But that's beside the point. We just moved everything out of the old house, across county to Lamoine in under two days. Tiring? Most definitely - But I'm happy to be through it with my sanity at least somewhat intact. I live with my father, by the way...

    Here's the background with me and my father. I love him and all, because he _is_ my father (unless there is something they haven't told me yet), but on the flip side, I don't exactly like him. We we're never really that close. I never do things with him and I don't particularly enjoy being around him. You would understand if you knew the man, so please don't attack me for being a hateful person, because that's just not me. For one thing, in most situations, he just doesn't get it. I have often wondered if he has mental issues (seriously) that have just gone unchecked. In all honesty, I don't think he is running on all six cylinders upstairs - to put it simply, he is a very confused man - and I really feel bad for him because of that. Again, if you knew him, you would know what I am talking about. Sorry, but that's just the way things are.

    My mother, on the other hand, is totally different. She, as far as I am concerned, is a little more in touch with reality. I love to spend time with her and she loves to spend time with me. The thing about her is that she was always extremely strict and overprotective of me, while I was growing up. Because of her, I lived a very sheltered life and missed a few opportunities along the way. I certainly forgive her for that, though, as it is just water over the damn and I know that is certainly not what she indented. My mother lives in a condo in Edington, which is just across the Penobscot rive from Bangor. I visit her, when I have the time and I enjoy every second of that. If I could, I would live with her (now that I am older and generally make my own decisions without my parents intervening.) But she only works part time and doesn’t really have the financial means to support me in her own home. I am, however, seriously considering moving in with her, after I graduate High School and have the ability to better support myself, financially.

    Finally, I am very excited about an upcoming event that was actually born only yesterday. Taylor’s Birthday was a few days back and for a gift (normally I don't buy  uber-expensive gifts for my friends, but Taylor is going through some rough times right now and I really wanted to cheer him up) I purchased two Boston Bruins tickets for him. Last night he informed me that he would like me to accompany him to Boston and stay with a friend of his, who just happens to be a doctor. The dude's name is David. He's 26 and was working at EMMC (Eastern Maine Medical Center) and is moving to Boston soon for some sort of three or four year assignment. We've all hung out before and he's a really nice guy. I mean this in no offensive way, but he really hasn't grown up yet, so he's really socially compatible with me and Taylor. Right now, the working plan is to bus down on October 20th and see the game and stay for a day or two with David. I have been two Boston on many, many occasions, so I know my way around really well. I'm definitely looking forward to the trip and hope Taylor feels the same way. He loves hockey - especially the bruins and I love going to see just about any live sporting event, so I think we'll both enjoy it.

    Okay, I know I said that was it, but I do feel the need to update my reader(s) on how my new job has been going. With the exception of one incident, it has been going really well. I've gotten used to it and it's a whole lot easier for me, then it was for the first couple weeks, when I was still being shown the ropes. I want to take back my words about Sherrill, one of my supervisors. Yes, she is a little depressed at times, but I think I was just judging her at a bad time. I'd guess she was just having a bad week. She seems much nicer now and I enjoy having her as a boss. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Angela. In fact, I need to reinforce what I said about her before, this time ten fold. A couple weeks back, I encountered a customer, who it now seems, was out to get me, for reasons that I cannot entirely figure out. The story goes like this: One day I was working the an express register. For those of you who don't know, express is a 14 item or less register, where the cashier is not accompanied by a bagger, so he/she has to do twice the work. Most people like to abuse the express registers, because the lines are generally shorter. This lady was no exception. She approached the register and I noticed she obviously had more then 14 items. We usually don't enforce that rule, though, unless there is a huge line or the customer has A LOT of groceries, so I saw no problem with the lady's order. She then commented that she though she may have more then 14 items so I counted them for her. I said "Yeah, you've got sixteen items, but that's not a problem. It's supposed to be fourteen items or less, but we generally don't enforce it." Apparently, she was offended by my response (and I can honestly say that my response was not delivered in any deviation from a kind, respectful tone.) About an hour after that, I was called to the shift leaders office and was lectured by, you guessed it, Angela about why I shouldn't count customers items (apparently not even if they ask) and how I shouldn't tell them how many items they have or, in any way at all, enforce the 14 item rule. First off, I think that whole rule is fucking retarded - there, I said it - because they have signs at every express register, implying it, but it is NEVER enforced and apparently you can get fired or get an extreme lecture, if you do. I didn't hold a grudge against Angela. She was just doing her job. But after that, she has never treated me with 100% respect, like the other shift leaders do and she gives me these dirty looks all the time. It does piss me off, but I'll choose not to dwell on it (I was just letting you in on the back-story), as I shouldn't turn Angela’s issues into my own.

    Well that's about it for this entry. Yes, I know it was long...consider yourself congratulated for making it this far. It’s getting really late and I've got a shit load of homework to get done for TV-Video class tomorrow, so I gotta end it here. Until next time, this is Crispy, signing off. </>