Saturday, September 9, 2006

   Freeeeeowwwww!!!! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Saturday... 5:06 pm. Work. BORING!!!!!!!

Yeah. It's a Saturday and it's boring. WTF? Last night was fairly boring, too. The season just sort of suddenly dropped off somewhere along the line. Weird.

It's day 2 of 5 with the psycho. I hope I can turn my brain off enough to be able to ignore him for the most part, yet still function behind the desk here.

Hmm....not much else on my mind tonight. So... I go do other stuff now.

Laters!

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Friday, September 8, 2006

   Grrrowwwwlll!!!!

Friday. Gotta work with the little psycho tonight. I am so sick of working with that little creep. Four out of five nights this past work week were with him. If I have that many again, I'm gonna pitch a fit. No wonder I have the overwhelming urge to flip off the house of the airhead that quit a week ago, thus causing the torture of being scheduled to work with the psycho, every time I drive by it... which is twice a day because it's visible from one of the main streets through SUX that I drive every time I go to work or home.

I would have updated late last night/early this morning, but I was having connection issues. I couldn't even get anywhere on dialup. *sigh* So I gave up and went and played on my GBA... as usual.

I ran into a girl I used to work with at the bookstore. She's back in the SUX area, too. I told her I was considering going back to the screenprint shop. She thinks I'm nuts to even think about it. I still think it would be better than having to put up with the bullsh*t that goes on at the motel.

Anyhoo... I think it's time to finish off email. It's also about time to flip my chicken patty in the oven. Mmm... chicken...

Laters!
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Additional: I think my boss hates me. I just got to work and checked the schedule. I'm working with the psycho five nights in a row. Consider this a warning: I may be ranting quite a bit this week.

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Thursday, September 7, 2006

   I went to the Zydeco

Mmm... BeauSoleil. Good stuff.
I need more of their music.

Yeah... I like Zydeco.
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Anyhoo... Wednesday has come to a close and I didn't work with the little psycho. Woohoo!!! I also have Thursday off. I will experience raging domesticity and do laundry and some cleaning around the house. Whee.

Nothing else happening with me. I did get another chapter typed up and posted below. Read and enjoy if you've got the hankering for teen angst. Hahaha!!!

It's now 1:30 in the morning. I don't know if I'm tired or not, even though I'm yawning. I think I may go play on my GBA for a little while now.

Laters!

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Good Morning & Good Night

Samantha woke the next morning to see Hikaru sitting nearby, sleeping. She felt weak and her ankle hurt quite a bit. She was also slightly hungry. She didn't want to wake Hikaru, so she stayed quiet and looked around the room. She was in her own room, but wondered where Midori had been sleeping and how long she had been asleep. She tried to recall what had happened that night in the rain. All she remembered was leading Hikaru down the hill.

The door slid open and Midori came in with a tray of tea for Hikaru. She was both surprised and pleased to see him asleep and Samantha awake. She smiled as she set the tray on the floor. “I guess you can have the tea, Sam-chan,” she whispered. “I'm very happy to see you awake.”

“Has he been here along?” Sam whispered back. “How long has he been there?”

Midori nodded and helped Sam into a sitting position. “You've been asleep for over three days, and Hikaru-san has been here the whole time. He's very worried about you.” She handed a cup of tea to Sam.

Sam looked at Hikaru and sighed. “He shouldn't have stayed here. He didn't need to do that. You would have been here with me at night.”

Midori smiled again and said, “I know, but he's a bit stubborn.” They both giggled at that.

Hikaru woke with a start and the girls giggled again. “Good morning, Hikaru-san,” Midori said. "Would you like some breakfast?”

“Yes, please,” both Sam and Hikaru said at the same time. Sam looked at Hikaru and smiled again.
He looked down at his hands and mumbled an apology.

Sam said, “Midori told me you've been here by me for three days. Is that true?”

Hikaru nodded. “I wanted to be sure you were all right. I wanted to...”

“You wanted to what? Hikaru-san? What is it you wanted? You can tell me.” She reached over and lifted his chin so she could see his face. There were tears in his eyes.

“I'm so sorry, Sam-chan,” he said. “It's my fault you were hurt. I shouldn't have run off like that. If I hadn't, you wouldn't have been hurt. I'm sorry.”

“Oh, Hikaru, that's what you've been worrying about? It's not your fault. I don't blame you for anything.”

“But I...”

“But nothing. Stop worrying about it. I'm all right. You're not to blame.”

Hikaru wiped away his tears. “You're not mad?”

“Of course not,” Sam exclaimed. “That's just silly.” She would have continued, but Midori returned with breakfast for the two of them.

“Here you go,” Midori said as she set the tray between them. “Hikaru-san, there's a letter for you.” She went back to the kitchen.

Hikaru looked at the envelope on the tray. “Who is that from?” he asked. He picked up the letter and began to read.

Sam began to eat some breakfast and watched Hikaru as he read. His expression turned from one of curiosity to one of mild anger. “Hikaru-san? Is something wrong?”

“He can't do this,” he said quietly. “No. He can't do this.” He stood up to leave the room.

“Hikaru-san? Who can't do what? What's wrong?”

“Excuse me, Sam-san, I have to talk to Takeda-sensei. I'll be right back.” He went to the sitting room.

Takeda looked up as he came in. “What is it, Hikaru-kun? Is something wrong?”

Hikaru handed him the letter. “Can he do this? Can he really order me to Tokyo?”

Takeda took the letter and read. The letter was from Hikaru's grandfather and stated that as head of the family, he was ordering Hikaru to go to Tokyo to live. Takeda sighed. “I'm afraid so, Hikaru-kun,” he said. “I wonder what made him do this. We had an agreement that you'd be the one to make the first move.”

“I know. I was planning to write a letter to him, but hadn't started yet. I didn't know what I was going to say.” He sat down at the table. “Now there's no point, is there?”

Takeda frowned at Hikaru's attitude, but said nothing about it knowing the boy was tired from his vigil at Sam's side. “This letter says the carriage will be here the day after tomorrow,” he said. “I'll send Sam-chan and Midori-san with you and I'll stay here to take care of the house and any other business. Will that be all right?”

“I suppose,” Hikaru said flatly.

Again, Takeda let Hikaru's attitude slide. “Why don't you go back and eat your breakfast? I'm sure Sam-chan is wondering about you.”

Hikaru sighed and got up. He went back to Sam's room and sat by her side. He grabbed the bowl of rice and began to eat.

“Hikaru-san, are you all right?” Sam had just finished her breakfast when he came back into the room.

“My grandfather is sending a carriage to take me to Tokyo the day after tomorrow.”

“What? Is that what the letter was about?”

“Yes, he's decided that I need to go to Tokyo to live with him. It's his decision as head of the family.” He picked at his breakfast. “But he and Takeda-sensei had agreed that I could make the first move. I wonder what made him change his mind and do this.”

Sam looked at Hikaru and then at the bowl in her hands. “Yes, I wonder what happened, too.”

Hikaru looked at her and quickly said, “Don't worry about yourself. Sensei he'll send you and Midori-san along with me.”

“Oh. That's nice of him.” She paused and turned the bowl in her hands. “I met your grandfather one day at the inn. He seemed sort of sad and asked me to take care of you.”

“Sensei says he's strict and expects to be obeyed.”

“I'm sure that's not true.”

“He's ordering me to Tokyo and I have to go. He's the head of my family and it's his right to order me. I can't disobey him. It would make him look bad to have a disobedient grandson after what my father did.” He put his rice bowl back on the tray.

“Your father? How did he disobey your grandfather?”

Hikaru took Sam's rice bowl and put it on the tray, also. “My father was the second son. He wasn't allowed to marry without permission from his father and older brother. He fell in love with someone they didn't approve. So they ran off and married without permission. That is why I have to be the obedient grandson and follow orders. It would be an embarrassment to Grandfather if I didn't.”

“I see. So we go to Tokyo. I'm sure it won't be so bad.”

Hikaru frowned and looked away. He growled softly.

“Don't growl at me, Nakamura Hikaru-san,” Sam chastised. “That attitude will get you nowhere with me.” The look of surprise on Hikaru's face when he turned back to look at her made her start to laugh. “Now hand me that robe and help me up. I want to get out of this room.”

Out in the sitting room Midori smiled as she heard the laughter from the other room. “Well, Takeda-san, it seems she cheered him up again,” she said.

Takeda looked up and smiled. “I hope she can keep his spirits up once they get to Tokyo,” he said. “It's not going to be easy for them once they get to Nakamura-san's house. It won't be easy at all.”
* * *
It was the night before the carriage arrived to take Hikaru to Tokyo, and he was sitting on the roof of the house. The moon was just a sliver in the night sky and the stars went on forever. He looked around at the only place he'd ever known as home.

To one side he could just make out the roof of the dojo where he'd grown up. He wondered if the people that lived there now were using it for any sort of training. He could hear the ocean in the distance beyond the dojo. Off to his other side, he could see the silhouette of the Daibutsu. Even though he could no longer bear being near the statue, he would miss seeing it every day.

Kamakura by night was peaceful. Hikaru sat and listened. He could hear dogs barking and laughter in the distance. In the house below, Takeda and Midori were sharing a joke and Samantha was singing as she made final preparations for the trip to Tokyo. Hikaru had packed everything he needed earlier in the day with the help of Takeda. He sighed and looked up at the sky.

“Now where did that boy go?” Takeda asked. “I hope he won't try these nighttime wanderings in Tokyo. His grandfather won't stand for any of it.” He got up and went to the door. “Hikaru-kun, are you out here?” he asked.

“Up here, sensei,” Hikaru said.

Takeda looked up, but couldn't quite see where Hikaru was. “Up where?”

“I'm on the roof.”

Takeda moved away from the house so he could see Hikaru on the roof. “What are you doing up there? How did you get up there?”

“Thinking.”

“What?”

“You asked what I'm doing up here. I'm thinking. As for how I got up here, I climbed.”

“Climbed,” Takeda said with a sigh. He shook his head in disbelief.

“Yes, the things at the end of the house make it easy to get up here. You should try it. Did you need me for something?”

Takeda sighed again. At least he stayed near the house this time instead of wandering through town, he thought. “Yes, why don't you come inside and try to get some sleep?” he asked. “I know you don't need to sleep all the time, but you'll probably be ready for the trip if you do.”

“All right,” Hikaru said and stood up and walked to the edge of the roof to climb down. Takeda watched anxiously as the boy nimbly walked the crest of the roof as easily as walking down the street. Hikaru climbed down just as easily and came around the end of the house to where Takeda was waiting. He yawned and said, “You're right. I think I will try to get some sleep. I'm rather tired tonight.”

Takeda smiled and followed Hikaru into the house. The women had gone to bed and he realized he was more tired than he thought. “Good night, Hikaru-kun. I'll see you in the morning.”

“Good night, sensei.”

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Wednesday, September 6, 2006

   I wish there was a sneezing smiley in this thing....

Yep. My allergies are acting up again. I had the same thing this time last year, so I'm trying to figure out what it is that's got me so I can barely breathe. I've even got my cough back and it's squeaking! Arrgh! I hate the squeak!

Work last night was boring. The last of three in a row with the little psycho. However, I have to work with him Friday night. Whee. I really am getting to the point where I want to tell the manager not to schedule me with him because I'm going to remove his head one of these days. He just won't shut up!!! And he laughs at EVERYTHING!!! Even when there's a problem with one of the guests... such as a room being marked clean and vacant by housekeeping, yet someone is still in the room. He found that rather funny. He also sat and laughed while I was leaving messages for the tour group we had in. He is so frickin' annoying that I am ready to rip his lungs out.

Ah... enough of that. It's just past noon. I am tired and can't breathe. I have to work tonight and then have Thursday off. I need to do some cleaning around the house. Blah.

Laters!

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Addtional: Here's the Idiot of the Night Award for September 4th:

We have a contract with a local trucking firm so their drivers have a place to stay. Many of the drivers are from Southern states. On the night of September 4th, one of them points at the business center and asks, "Are those some kind of computer?"

I answer, "Yes," because, indeed, the business center is made up of two computers and a printer.

He replies, "Well, I'll be damned," in that characteristic Southern drawl.

And to think... this man is driving an 18-wheeler on our highways!

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Tuesday, September 5, 2006

   Yahhh....

It's 12:15 am. I should be trying to sleep. I'm watching something about the real Vlad Dracula and sitting here playing on the computer. Work was incredibly boring. It will probably be the same for Tuesday night... *sigh* I should take my laptop with me again if it's gonna be that boring.

I did some writing on my story again, so there's probably going to be an update here in the next day or so. Whee.

Time to work on my dictionary some more.

Laters!

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Monday, September 4, 2006

   Oh arggh...

...just sneezed my brains out. Which, in a way, is a good thing, because I have to work with the little psycho AGAIN tonight. Yep...got another three nights in a row with the little twirp. I just sort of shut my brain off when working around him. He talks and talks and talks. I just sort of grunt noncommitally every so often.

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying the Labor Day holday. I'm not. I have to work. Go figure. With it having rained yesterday and the holiday today, I probably won't have all the construction guys checking in today. That's kinda nice.

I'm seriously thinking of taking complete leave of my senses and applying for the graphic artist postition at the screenprint shop where I used to work. Advantages: I'd have a normal Monday thru Friday job; I'd be able to walk to work; I'd have holidays off. Disadvantages: the boss is an idiot about lots of stuff. Arrgh. I really want a web design position!

I'm gonna go read the rest of my email now.

Laters!

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Sunday, September 3, 2006

   Someone shoot me....

...well, not really.

It's Sunday. I'm at work. It's boring. I'm working with the psycho and he won't shut up.

My days off got extended by one! I had a Saturday off. It was so nice! I bought pants. I know... it goes against my theme to talk about pants. But I needed a new pair for work after discovering a big hole in the leg of the pants I wore Friday for work!!!!

I guess I'm gonna find something to do now that doesn't involve this computer. I've read my email. I've done the crossword puzzle in the Weekender paper. And I've got 5 hours and 47 minutes to go until my shift is over. *sigh* I'm not gonna make it without losing my marbles....

Laters!

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Saturday, September 2, 2006

   Mostly a day off.

Well, something finally happened. Friday was supposed to be a third day off, but the airhead called in about an hour & a half before she was supposed to work and quit! They wanted me to do the whole 3 to 11 shift, but I had made plans for the night already and couldn't do it. They got someone to work from 5:30 to 11.... so I ended up working from 3 to 5:30. But...with the airhead quitting, the schedule for next week got rearranged and I end up with Saturday off!!! Woohoo! Go me! I also get to have 40 hours again! Even better!

No..."even better" would be getting a new job!

So... here I sit, playing around online, trying to finish reading email. Time to download more podcasts on iTunes... Maybe work at the dictionary some more. w00t!

Laters!

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Friday, September 1, 2006

   Words! Words! Words!

Another day off is coming to a close! I've been playing around with a database and several emails and creating a dictionary. Woohoo! Otherwise, nothing much going on here. Still no excitement. If something happens, I'll let you know.

Laters!

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