Takin' It Easy

All I did Sunday, really, was never get dressed, clean up Puddin's spot in my room, and watch television on my laptop. I caught up completely with The Big Bang Theory, my room now smells really, really nice, and I finished the last assignment due in over a week for Psychology. But most of the day really was just sitting around in my room and watching television shows. I'm catching up on Flashpoint again. Because, honestly, I think it turned out to be my favorite show of all time. Even over Prison Break, Firefly, Dexter, and Lie to Me. Those shows are definitely my top favorite, but I think Flashpoint wins over them all. I just can connect with all of the characters, even Leah and Rafik, whom haven't been around long. I actually cried when Wordy left the team, but unfortunately I never knew Lewis that well because it was still season one. I'll be rewatching season one, and I think I'll be doing it with Abbi. She needs to know the awesomeness that is Flashpoint. I also had tears come to my eyes frequently in this latest - and last - season. I think a lot of it has to do with Ed, too. What the hell? Spike is the best character on there. Spike takes so much shit, more than any of the other team members (even Ed and Greg), and he doesn't break down at all. Things are finally starting to wear down on Ed, but Spike is still going strong. He still tries to get the girls, and I have no idea why he can't! He's on my top ten favorite characters list for a reason. I tried writing "Michelangelo Scarlatti" and I think I ran out of room. His real name is a mouthful. The actor's name is a mouthful, too. Besides Spike, though, I love all of the characters. Raf was never very high on my list, and nor is Greg, but Sam and Jules, Ed, Wordy - hell, even Winnie - are such lovable characters. Unfortunately, Leah hasn't gotten a lot of character development or screen time yet. She's kind of just a robot right now.

Um, wow. I love that show, okay? I'd definitely recommend it to someone that likes to know their television characters. That likes some action, but some drama as well. It's a cop show, sure, but it's different. It's very character-driven.

I even went to bed relatively early yesterday, too, which isn't common. Though I knew that I'd have to wake up "early" today.

I didn't get out of bed until 11:25. I kind of just stared at my clock for a while, since Puddin did aide me in waking up on time. She usually freaks out about eight and eleven in the morning, and sometimes more often than that. Sure, she's annoying as hell, but she's been a part of my room for at least four months. Months. I don't know how I do it, to be honest.

Promptly after waking up, I got dressed and ready for the day, and then went to pick Abbi up from school. Since it was before noon, we ended up at the Pinkney Recreation Area at one of the smaller lakes. We stared at the lake for a little bit, and then ended up hiking.

Okay, so I thought the hike would be rather short. We'd be done walking after maybe an hour or so, and get to see some cool sights. We hit our first marker at, like, an hour into the hike. We ended up hiking for at least three hours. By the time we realized where we were again, we were so relieved.

Funny thing is, both of us want to go for a couple day hike. Grab Olivia, pull together some items, and go hiking. We'd camp during the night, eat a couple meals, and travel by foot. Ohmydear, I want that so bad. Since Abbi's a girl scout, she may be able to gather some materials Olivia and I can't really find, we'd divvy up the heavier items between us (i.e. pots, tent, cooking supplies). Like, I want to do this so bad, I'm going to figure out how to do this right. We're going to get a couple days off, find a good place to hike (like, something that'll take at least two or three days to hike), and I'm willing to go anywhere in Michigan. Because outside of Michigan isn't as pretty. Let's be honest, unless we're going to the Appalachian Mountains or something. Because that does have Michigan beat. Still doesn't have as much water, though.

It's happening, damn it. Abbi and Olivia are definitely people I can spend days with without any break, and just walk through nature. I know we'd get along. But ... I need to get those two together just to make sure. Hehe, yeah. I'll get right on that, actually.

I mean, okay, Jeff would also totally be up for something like this, but ... :/ We're not there yet, and three rough-and-tough gals can figure hiking out on their own.

Ohmydear. What if we can't, though? I'd cry. Because I don't want to hike near home. I want to go somewhere, leave the car there while we explore nature. We three would be alone with each other. So if we can't get along, bad things can happen. Olivia and Abbi are, like, the only people that I can spend forever with, though, and not have problems arise. Seriously. The life of an antisocial.

We finally made our way out of the woods at three. There was a brief period there where we ended up at Silver Lake, and while both of us knew where we were, we couldn't find the way back to my car.  We then proceeded to follow a long ass trail that was hell bent on throwing as many hills at us as possible, passing by Kimber's house, and nearly got run over by a biker that managed to actually sneak up on us while biking on dry leaves. I seriously freaked out and jumped towards Abbi (and off of the path) when I realized he was behind us. He disappeared so quickly, too. Like, once he was out of our sight once, we couldn't find him again, and he left our sights quickly.

We both hugged the Milan, and the ended up at Soggy Butt. I paid $9 instead of $10, which confused the hell out of me, and my nachos didn't fill me up for once, but they were still yummy in my tummy. And I wasn't tired anymore, which kinda was the point of eating before going to work.

But since Abbi didn't work with me, I dropped her off for her girl scout's meeting, and then walked into work a half hour early. First I asked Ralph if it was okay if I clocked in early. He was more than fine with it. And it's a good thing I did it, too, because it was actually a busy Monday. For, you know, a Monday.

I ended up working back today. The new guy, John, was working up front when I walked in, and once Erich arrived, he helped John up front. Ben got phones, and Owen was swing. We always leave the easiest position to fill open when we don't have enough people inside: cut table. Which left me as back, since I can do anything. Except manage.

And deliver to a house two blocks away from our shop, apparently.

Speaking of which, Opi brought that up again today. He asked, more passively than anything, where Huron View was, and I described exactly where it was. He kind of looked at me for a second, and then said if he should even trust me. Funny thing is, Huron View isn't described very well in our list of where the roads are located, and I was very specific with my directions to him. When he walked in the store again after the delivery, I turned around and asked him, "Well? Was I right?" Yeah, I certainly was.

Opi also asked me today, when I was kind of doing nothing, and he was packing up for a delivery, if I liked his sweater. Nate doesn't do that sort of thing, okay? He lets other people speak first. I told him it was very stripey. Because it was. But then I asked him why he didn't have his normal sweater. Which he then asked me which sweater that was. Oh, I dunno, the one you always wear. Turns out he didn't have anything in his car or anything, so he went to TJ-Maxx and bought a new sweater instead of going home and getting his other sweater. And for some reason, Nate wears white sweaters. While working at Classic. And having to do dishes all of the time. Op is an odd one, I'll tell you.

That was about the extent of our conversations, with a couple other words added here and there, but that's typical for Nate. Although at one point, I peeked around the mini-wall in the middle of our store to ask him a question, and he obviously didn't hear me at first, but knew I was speaking to him. So when I stared at him expectantly for an answer, he kind of looked around with wide eyes before addressing me again with a semi-nervous laugh: "What?"

I don't know if it's because he's new or what, but John's kind of a quiet guy, too. I think it is just because he doesn't know any of us. And he heard me talk a little too much shit about Jon. I think I'm just going to start calling Jon Stupid. According to him, he's the smartest one that works at Classic, and both Abbi and I are dicks. So I'll just call Jon Stupid. And call John by his real name. John's friendly, though. We exchanged a couple words while we were cleaning our areas.

The cleaning schedule agenda things are already getting easier and faster to do. I think it's a thing that'll stay, at least for a while, and the shop already is starting to look better. The cleaning schedule is still a pain in the ass, but at least it's not as bad as it was the first couple days we started it. And, of course, they started it when I was working, so I've only missed one day of cleaning so far. And I've done the cleaning schedule for everything but phones so far. Already. I've done the cleaning for up front twice. The cut table once, and the back once.

I got out of work early today, too. 8:30, man. I never get out before nine anymore. So it was nice, even though I've done absolutely nothing since coming home. But I'm cool with that. I think I need a couple relaxing days, especially before I have to go up and deal with Kirk's devil children. I was telling my Mom that all of Kirk's offspring are horrendous, and she asked me, "Even Meghan?" Okay, she's an exception, but I think it's because there isn't as much of Kirk's influence in her life, more of her mom's. She lives with her mom. Bethany, Noah, and Seth, are raised by Kirk and Praema, and they're both awful parents. I hate dealing with that family. And then, there's Ethan, who has ADD or something. He's a big kid that likes to be overly physical, way too loud, and doesn't have a respect for a personal bubble or anything. He practically sits on top of me (Bethany actually does sit in my lap, and she's supposed to be ... nine? Maybe older than that) and won't leave me alone (Bethany does that, too, but we can temporarily scare her away by turning off the lights; Ethan likes to brave the dark sometimes and cling to whomever is nearest to him so he doesn't have to leave). It's nice that the most annoying kids are afraid of the dark.

I swear, though, if I have to deal with an angry Kirk about the fact that we don't want Bethany downstairs (which is the best place I can find for a retreat), I'll yell right back at him. I've definitely got the guts now, but I don't want my mom have to deal with him or Bethany. Because she hates it up there just as much as me, and she actually has to deal with the people that don't come downstairs with me. I'm going to stand up to him, though. I'm not afraid of him anymore. If I can stand up to my dad, I can stand up to Kirk. He's a muscle-bound idiot that thinks his kids can do nothing wrong. They already think I'm a rotten egg, so I might as well prove their point. At least I'll have my mom, Grandma, and Madelyn on my side. Because they know. Poor Madelyn has to deal with Ethan on a daily basis, though.

I still need to find someone that will take care of my rabbits, though. Because I feed them on a daily basis, and if I suddenly throw a j-feeder full of food at them, they'll become happy idiots and kill themselves. My mom said she'd have Monica do it for me, but she'd end up calling the animal control on me or something because the rabbits don't have adequate shelter. Maybe I can do better for J, Caj is definitely fine, and I need to put up plastic for Jill and Isis. Puddin's inside, so if she has a problem with how Puddin is treated, bite me. I think it'd be absolute bullshit. Because those rabbits get fed enough, Caj's body has decided it's going to go thin again, but the girls are fine. J is a plump little thing. They have hay, now that I spent a fucking fortune on one single bale. I need to find someone else to get hay from. I'm not paying that much again, and I'm going through a lot more than I initially thought I would.

I'm going to ask Monica anyway and set up a little lean-to thing to block wind. Because I'm only giving Cashmere a box. The girls and J will be fine.

And they have water. Cashmere goes through at least half a gallon of water a day alone, but everyone does have fresh water. Though Jillian does a fine job of dirtying her water something fierce. Which is why she has two bowls of water.

So this weekend, I'll find someone to feed my rabbits, label Cashmere's new cage, bring my laptop, and try my damnest to ignore the chaos at my grandma's.

And if I can't make it to the rabbit show in Lansing Sunday morning, I think I'll shoot someone. I want to register Puddin, see if J can still show (tattoo him), and that's about it. I seriously wonder why I want to show rabbits so bad sometimes. What really is the point? Yet I still want to do it.

Meh.

Time for popcorn and more Flashpoint. I'm done.

And if Jeff doesn't reply to me, I won't even be able to go on another date with him for a long time. I like seeing him.

Wait! I never explained our conversation we had this weekend.

At first, I was asking him when we'd be able to see each other next, and we came up with Tuesday, but we never formulated any plans. He switched the topic to how physical of a person I am. I know I have a strong touch barrier. I don't usually like people in my personal space (refer to my rant about my cousins), I usually refrain from touching people, and sometimes get a little jumpy when people touch me. But Jeff, if we're going to be a couple, that touch barrier should definitely be reduced. He told me he's a physical person. He likes snuggling, hugging, kissing, etc. I don't know if I'd enjoy that, and I told him. He asked me what he had to live up to, with my history with guys, and I told him he's already surpassed them. We actually have something emotional going on. We got to know each other before talking about this. Which really does sound funny, since I've known him for a very, very short time still. But I like Jeff. He's the guy I want: a little geeky, someone who will listen and understand, someone who will make compromises, shares pastime activities with me, etc. He's smart, funny, adorable, concerned, supportive, and outgoing. My "boyfriends" before, that stuff never really existed. When we actually reach the point in our relationship where that touch barrier needs to be reckoned with, I feel like an emotional bond will help disappear it much more easily and comfortably. Besides, I'm uncomfortable with new things. When I took my first delivery, I was freaking out and wanted Nate by my side to guide me through it, despite having gone on a delivery with Tiller before. But now I can take them without a problem and get excited over it (minus the Fourth Street delivery). If things continue the way they are with Jeff, it'll probably end up like that. I'll tell him that. I need him to know.

I just wish I could be with Jeff more often. We can't consider what we have much yet, simply because we haven't really seen each other. I'm hoping that will change, and soon. I really, really do.

Trust me, this isn't something that really happens. When people get close, I get uncomfortable. I usually push people away. I usually need alone time. I don't usually wish to spend my free time with another.

And then there's Abbi. XD

So, that explained, popcorn and TV show time.