1 year and a second

There is no quote for this one. I was thinking back over the past year and I realized that this was one pretty bad year for me. Honestly I couldn't think of anything really good that happened to me. And to make it worst...they are adding a second to this year. Thats right 2008 will be a second longer then 2007. Why? 2008 fucking sucked! And not even for me either. Most people I know had a pretty bad year...it was a bad year for the Country and for the World. I bet if I took a poll 8 out of 10 would like to erase 2008. I know personally I would like to go back to the middle of 2007 and restart. But that isn't how life works is it? There are no do overs and most of the time no second chances.

Happy New Year to all of you out there and lets hope that 2009 isn't a repeat of 2008, I don't think I can take 365 days more of 2008. Until next time....

Abyssinia

Randomness

I figured it has been a few days so I would throw up an old fashion fat man post.

*I believe that sometimes Corporations are out to screw themselves over. I mean it, I think that they let their formulas, paperwork and overhead screw themselves. Last night, what a week before Christmas, we were working practically a skeleton crew. At one point I was the only cashier and probably 25 people in line. ONE CASHIER A WEEK FORE CHRISTMAS! GOOD GRIEF! And you know what? I guess it is going to be that way tonight too. What could possibly be one of our biggest nights of the year and I will probably be alone or with one other cashier. We were so busy last night we weren't even able to answer phones at one point! But you know what surprised me the most about it all? Not a soul left the line that I saw.

*Continuing with the above work related stuff during this time of aloneness with all the "joyous" customers I had a lady ask me if I could call other cashiers. I had done it every other customer. I looked at her and said "They are all with other customers" and this lady rolled her eyes at me. I really wanted to continue and say we are either short up here or short on the floor, no matter what we do you will complain so what the fuck do you want from me? Of course being the good soldier I am I called again only to get a call from the manager telling me I was SOL and I was alone.

*Now that isn't to say that all the customers were assholes last night. Actually despite us being up shit creek staff wise most of the people were quite nice even though by like 8 I was dead on my feet. I tried, I tried quite a bit. I had spurts where I was my usually charismatic self (paraphrasing a customer).

*Ok I am continuing this from earlier as I got home from work a while ago. Today work wasn't quite as bad as last night but I did have two customers piss me off big time. One was this. I was helping two gentlemen with books they had on hold while I had the other cashier calling orders because we are really REALLY behind on them. I am walking back and this lady comes up and says "is ANYONE here to help us?" I looked to the other cashier and back to the lady and thought "well no there isn't. We don't help fucking assholes now get the fuck out of my store you bitch." or "help you with what? I am just behind this counter because I like it...did you expect me to...like ring you up for your books or something?" I mean we weren't just standing around and this bitch hadn't been in line more then 30second, a minute tops. She was a bitch. Another was this guy was walking up as I was doing a pick up on a till. I turn to him and say we will be with him in a just a second. You see I was pulling money out and don't like people/customers standing there. Just a safety thing you know, they could easily grab it and run or something. After I finish I am sealing in and doing the rest of the paperwork when this fucker says something like "can I come over now or am I interrupting still". I swear I wanted to jump over the counter and beat the fucker with his books.

*On good type news I took Ace out after our recent snow storm and he was cracking me up. First he is insane when it comes to snow and just starts sniffing everything like a nut job. Well today we got a lot of snow and he was running/bounding around in the snow. He climbed over every snow "bank" pile the plows made. I was laughing and he was covered. I needed it lets just say that. He is curled up next to me here on the couch. As much of a pain in the ass the mutt is he is the only thing I got.

*I bought myself a Christmas present a couple of weeks ago, the complete DVD set of The Wire. While the show isn't on the level of the Shield but its close. Its funny because it can go further then the Shield yet it seems less edgy. I know that a bunch of it is based on real life stuff that happened in Baltimore while the Shield is all fiction but I find the writing on the Shield better, especially early on.

*Speaking of the Shield, the series finally was a bit of a let down. Ok more then a bit. I was extremely disappointed. I just wish it didn't leave so many strings hanging.

Well I have been writing on this off and on the last few days so there you go. Time for a shower and to get dressed for work. Until next time...ABYSSINIA!

Even the Whales are at War

I hate hippies! I mean, the way they always talk about "protectin' the earth" and then drive around in cars that get poor gas mileage and wear those stupid bracelets - I hate 'em! I wanna kick 'em in the nuts! - Eric Cartman

I hate hippies. I mean I really fucking hate hippies. There is a show on Animal Planet called "Whale Wars". The idea of the show is that it follows a group of people who feel its their job to stop the Japanese from do "research" on whales.

I put research in quotes because some say that the Japanese aren't doing research but really just doing whaling under the guise of research. See the law says that no part of the whale can be wasted so they do their "research" and then sell the rest for upwards of a million dollars.

Now I am not saying that this is a good thing....or a bad thing. I haven't really decided however I will say that using terrorist like tactics to stop something, good or bad, is wrong.

Some of the tactics that the Sea Shepard's, thats the groups name, used include:

throwing of stink bombs that make the ship nearly inhabitable

boarding of the other ships in hopes that they will arrest them so they can accuse the Japanese of kidnapping

ramming the other ships

planning to cut the communications wires of the other ship

using ropes and other things to tangle the props of the Japanese fleet

What amazes me is the fact that these people don't see the problem with this. They look at this as ok because they are saving whales. They even make sure that these people are willing to DIE to save whales. Thats right, they put the whales lives over the lives of humans. It makes me sick it really does. Putting the lives of an animal over people.

However this show is entertaining in a certain way. What these people are doing are great entertainment wise. Within the first show they have a ship accident. So there is an entertainment aspect but honestly the show makes me sick. These people are the type who sit in their ivory tower.

While I enjoy the show it really shows that people allow their good ideas to go to the extremes. Personally I believe that everyone on that ship should be charged with Piracy. What the Japanese are doing is legally correct and unfortunately that is all that matters. The laws don't care if things are right or wrong morally.

Overall an entertaining show but honestly it just shows that perhaps it is time for humans to no longer be the dominate species.

Until Next time....Abyssinia!!

The Muppets

This looks familiar, vaguely familiar,
Almost unreal, yet, it's too soon to feel yet.
Close to my soul, and yet so far away.
I'm going to go back there someday.

Sun rises, night falls, sometimes the sky calls.
Is that a song there, and do I belong there?
I've never been there, but I know the way.
I'm going to go back there someday.

Come and go with me, it's more fun to share,
We'll both be completely at home in midair.
We're flyin', not walkin', on featherless wings.
We can hold onto love like invisible strings.

There's not a word yet for old friends who've just met.
Part heaven, part space, or have I found my place?
You can just visit, but I plan to stay.
I'm going to go back there someday.
I'm going to go back there someday.

Gonzo

I haven't been feeling well the last couple of days. There are several reasons but not the point. I just haven't felt well. I also had to work a weird split shift today which didn't help much either. But then something happened. Suddenly the store music switched from the usual crappy Christmas music to the Muppets. It changed my mood completely. I don't know why but the Muppets cheered me up. I felt better all around and found myself feeling almost normal.

As I said before the Holiday's are depressing for SO many reasons but the Muppets for that one moment changed everything. I believe that the Muppets should be required everyday for work. I know it would cheer me up each day, I mean how can you be in a bad mood with Fozzie telling bad jokes? Or with Gonzo and Rizzo singing and cracking jokes. I think the world has forgotten just what Jim Henson brought the world.

I am sure tomorrow evening I will be back in my piss poor mood but tonight thanks to Jim Henson I was in a good mood, cracking jokes. Jim, thank you.

Until next time....ABYSSINIA!

Christmas

The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin. - Jay Leno

I really...REALLY hate Christmas and the entire holiday season actually. I pretty much hate everything about it. I the congestion it creates...EVERYWHERE. I hate the people out and about bumping into each other, being even ruder then people usually are. You have EVERYONE asking for money. Ringing bells, asking at the door of places, businesses asking for donations.

As a retail worker I hate having to ask for donations...on a side note I do kick fucking ass at it and have more then double the next person on getting book donations...but really that doesn't mean I like it. I hate going to the store and buying a buck twenty five water and getting asked to donate ten dollars, and its even works having to asking people to buy a book for the same price as the one they are buying or more if all they are buying are a magazine.

Yes I understand the holidays are for sharing the wealth and are about other people and those less fortunate then us but you know something, I don't have any cheer this year. I mean I have even less then normal and that boggles the mind. It has been a rough year for everyone and honestly the last thing I want is to be cheered up.

Seriously sometimes I think it is just best to leave people alone. People need to deal with this shit storm that the country is in in their own way. That doesn't mean politicians giving us speeches. That doesn't mean giving "till it hurts".

I don't mean to sound mean, cruel, insensitive or any of those other words people spit out for people like me. You know what I am, I am me. I am a lonely 29 year old whose family doesn't seem to have much use for, who is single and really wishes he could just work on the holidays and forget that they even exist. I am me. Call me a Grinch...call me whatever you want....but I hate Christmas.

Oh and to make this year the worst Christmas EVER is that the last time I was happy, truly happy, was right before Christmas last year. Merry Christmas to me!

To everyone who enjoys this time of year I wish you a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays for any one of other faiths. For those of you who are with me and hate Christmas join me on the 25th and see a movie and walk the dog.

Until Next time...Abyssinia!!