a story, some work, and more whining

So, here I am again. You are probably wondering what I have found to complain about this time, but I am going to leave that until the end.

Lately I've been thinking that I should put up one of those cast pages to explain who everyone is. I talk about a whole lot of people here and most of the time I don't really explain who they are. Let me know what you think and maybe I will get to work on that.

The Checker auto parts store story first, then the work related junk and then the complaining about Jennifer. Once you get past the Taco Bell stuff I give you permission to stop reading (not that you really need my permission.)

So Wednesday I woke up and checked my transmission fluid, oil, anti-freeze, windshield wiper fluid and power steering fluid. I was in major need of power steering fluid. (This girl actually knows a little about her car.) I had guessed that was what the noise was but getting me to do something about it was another story. I was afraid it would have been something more expensive and more complicated, so I put it off.

I know that is stupid, putting it off is just going to cause a bigger problem. I called my dad and asked him if he remembered what kind of power steering fluid we bought last time. He didn't know so told me to go to Checkers.

I get into the store, stand at the counter for a few seconds and this semi cute guy (SCG) comes walking up to see if I need help. (Hello, I'm standing at the counter with empty hands of course I want some help, runs through my head.) I tell him I need some power steering fluid for a 1990 Pontiac 6000SE.

He comes out from behind the counter and speed walks right to the power steering fluid grabs a bottle and hands it to me.

SCG:"Do you think that will be enough?"

crista:"Thanks I think it should be."

SCG:"Oh, so your just running a little low, it is good to do regular checks on this kind of stuff."

creeksta:"That's what my dad says too, can I write an out of state check for this?"

SCG:"If you have your driver's license."

I write the check, give him my driver's license and stand there while he writes and the information down. He hands me my license back puts the power steering fluid in a bag hands me my reciept. Then looks at me for a second.

SCG:"So is Lander anywhere near Cheyenne?"

crista:"Umm, Lander is more in the center of the state, Cheyenne is in the south eastern corner. Why?"

SCG:"Oh, me and a couple of my buddies are planning on heading down there in a few days."

crista:"What for?" beginning to feel like I am interogating the poor guy just for wanting to visit the wonderful state of Wyoming.

SCG:"Oh a few of my buddy's and I got the wild idea that we needed to go down for Frontier Days, we heard it is pretty cool."

crista:"I couldn't tell you wheter it is or not, I've never been."

SCG:"So, do you think we can make the drive in 10 hours?"

crista:It takes us about 15 hours to drive from here to Lander, so I'm not sure."

SCG:"Then maybe I should say 12 if we are pushing it."

Through the whole conversation I have slowly been making my way to the doors, not trying to be rude, but I was a girl on a mission. I needed to go fax some papers to my dad so he could work out this mess with our car insurance.

crista:"Thanks for your help, have a good day, and a fun trip.

SCG:"Thanks you too, and I hope we do.

<3

I went to work today on my day off to cover the new girl's shift because she hasn't shown up at all this week when she was supposed to. I walked through the door and Rod yells at me. Then tells me nevermind he wants to talk to Joe first.

I know what is coming, he has found his shift manager trainers book and is going to try to give me my training book.

He finished talking to Joe and then tells me it is my turn. He stands up and grabs the book and goes to hand it to me, I stood there for a second and managed to finally spit out that I didn't want it anymore.

Rod looked at me and asked what was going on. I told him I would probably be starting at Target soon and that I had been trying to figure out a way to tell him that I might be leaving and still manage to walk out of the store being a friend of his. (Which I have heard is impossible, the last two girls that quit he absolutely hates.)

He explained why he hates them (they constantly talk shit about him.) And that he has kind of felt like he was going to lose me as an employee pretty soon, because he can't get me the hours I need to have to make this job worth while. He has been trying but it is hard working around all his other demanding yet unwilling to work employees.

He asked the details of the Target job. Told me that I would no doubt get the shift manager possision between Travis and I and that as soon as I finished the training book I would be making $7.25/hour. (The training book is a monster, he thinks it will take Travis until next summer to finish it, I guess he has faith in me and thinks I can get it done before this summer is over.)

He brought Travis into the conversation so I stated the fact that Travis and I have had several conflicts since I let it be known that I would like to be a shift manager (it is a well known fact Travis is constantly talking to Rod about me.) I don't want things to get more uncomfortable between the two of us if I get the postion and he doesn't. Rod said that he could work around Travis.

Then I mentioned the Health Insurance thing (I was surprised when Rod remembered that it was a thyroid condition that made the health insurance a major issue.) At that point he called the Fargo store to talk to John (the area manager,) about the situation. Rod was going to try to figure out a way to get me on the company insurance to keep me there. Both he and I know that only salary employees (managers & assistant managers) get insurance. I can't become an assistant manager work 50 hours/week (required) and go to school full time. It was a nice try, I really know how much he wants to keep me there.

I told him as soon as Target called me back I would let him know what is going on. I really don't want to quit, but I know if I want to gain any ground I have to.

I do feel a lot better about it knowing that I will be able to go into my Taco Bell and feel welcome.

<3

When I got home from work tonight I checked the messages and my parents had tried calling twice each, so being the good daughter I called them back and talked for a while. Of course I complained about being woke up this morning, and my mom got grumpy because that is all she ever hears about from Jennifer. How I always wake her up when I get off work.

That is what has me upset right now. It isn't me that wakes her up it is her cats that wake her up. They have nothing to do but sleep all damn day because she is never around to give them the attention they want and when she is here she is asleep. So the hear me close my car door and by the time I get to the porch one is sitting in the window and the other is at the front door waiting for me.

They are super lovey for about 10 minutes and then move onto the chasing each other around and pouncing on Jennifer's bed as they make the turn in her bedroom. That is what wakes her up, not me making any noise.

If I watch a movie, I plug my head phones into the TV so the sound doesn't disturb her. The keys on this keyboard don't make any noise either so that doesn't wake her up while she is sleeping. It may be my fault that they are moving around again, but it isn't my fault that they weren't asleep/not tired when I pulled into the driveway.

My mom is all for me working in the Target Deli, just because it closes at 9 pm and I won't be coming home at 3:30 am anymore, so Jennifer won't get woke up, because we all know how the world revolves around her.

Merlin has decided she wants to cuddle now so it is hard to type, this is the end.