tarnish

OMG! Fuck working retail during the holidays! Especially two jobs, ugh. my x-mas weekend was nearly the death of me. From friday to monday it was go-go-go. I was originally only schedulaed to work x-mas eve at Avenue. I wasn't even scheduled at gamestop for that day, until I go in on friday, and make a crack about being glad I didn't have to work the hell that is x-mas eve, when my ASM informed me that the manager had changed the schedule, and that I was working. He didn't ask if I was already scheduled to work that day. He didn't tell me that he scheduled me, he just did it. I was pretty pissed, since I had shit to do after work, and didn't want to have to work BOTH jos on x-mas eve. I let him know that I had to work Avenue that day, and he said he'd find someone to cover my shift. I made the mistake of letting him know I was only on-call for the last two hours of my shift at avenue on x-mas eve, and even though he said he had it covered, his girlfriend comes running into the avenue, asking if I can run over and help them out at game stop because there are tons of people there.

I walk into gamestop, and there are two manager, and two game advisors working. I'm thinking, oh, cool, we should be able to do this no problem. I come back out from the back room, and EVERYONE, except me and on manager are left. The store manager, the guy he had covering my shift, and the other game advisor all left. it was only 2:30 at this point and we were scheduled to work until 7:00PM. It's christmas eve, in the busiest store in our district, and there are only two people working. (and the reason the guy who was covering my shift left, was because his neck hurt from sleeping on it wrong. Boo-fucking hoo bitch, I'm on my rag, with some pretty fucking killer cramps AND the trots. Plus I just finished a 6 hour shift at my other job. So fucking eat me)

I'm mostly just pissed with my manager, because he didn't do what he needed to, to ensure that the store would be running properly, and left us there to flounder. The cutomers were fucking nuts on top of that too. I had some old dude, totally bitch me out(curse words and all) because I told him he had to wait in line. Then he has the nerve to tell me that I need to be nicer to my customers on christmas eve. I seriously wanted to slit him throat in front of his grandchild.

after we finished with work, derek and I went to visit his gramma and cousins. It was nice, pretty quick since we got there so late, but still very nice. Dereks gramma got methis super cute Guess watch. It looks like a charm bracelet, and the watch fave is in the shape of a heart. It's my very first bling I tells ya. She got Derek a nice shirt and sweater from Nordstrom, and his aunt got me a bad ass candle in an even more bad ass box, and she got derek a 25 dollor gift credit card thingy.

His uncles gift to us was amazing though. As some of you may know, Derek recently lost his grandfather to cancer. What many people don't know is that his granpa was an accomplished artit, who also did work with the disabled to help them expand their creativity. Dereks uncle put together a book of grand-dads best artwork, as well as some of the drawings he did of and with the people he worked with for over 15 years. It's a beautiful collection and i know that TONS of work went into creating it. It made me cry.

We spent the night at dereks moms house. And in the morning we opened out stockings, and drank Mimosas and had pumpkin bread. Dereks mom loves to spoil her kids, which is awesome for me, since I am now considered one of her kids. She game derek a pot leaf spaed cookie cutter, and a pot-leaf shaped slinky, along with a bunch of candy and goodies. She got me a bunch of nightmare before x-mas stuff in my stocking, which was awesome.

After we finished with stockings, we went to church. It was a quaint little service, hardly anyone there. Father Gary read the Polar Express, and gave a very short sermon. It was really nice to see him again, he's such a nice man. He seriously reminds me a of keebler elf. hehe. (for those of you who dont know, Father gary was a good friend of Dereks grandma, and he was there for her a lot when she was getting toward the end of her life).

After church we went home to check on Dublin. He was fine, and happy to see us, so we played with him for a bit, and brough him his stocking, which was filled with all sorts of doggy treats, rawhide bones, and dog biscuits. Then we went to MY parents house, bleh. I had told my mom weeks ago, exactly what my plan was. I asked them all to only give me cash, so I could take everything I got from everyone(all the cash I mean) and put it all towards my new digital camera. But for some reason that got translated into "I want you to buy me a camera" and so they gave me a gift card to fashion bug.

Not only is there not one of those near me, they really don't sell ANYTHING that I would like to wear. Some people think avenue only sells old lady clothes, well, they've never been to fashion bug. I tried to kindly explain why I couldn't use the gift card, and of course that pissed them off. I was like, A: There isn't one near me. B: even if there was, they don't carry the things I like(which my mom understands because she doesnt even shop there herself) and C: Why would I want to buy clothes from a store that doesn't sell anything I like, and where I don't even get a discount?? They calmed down and explained my original plan about the camera, and my grandpa was like," well shit, we'll just give the gift card to your gramma and I'll write you a check." Thank god for grandpa, the only one who can see things clearly and rationally.

I gave them all gifts for the first time in years! Since I now actually have money. it was great. They all liked what they got, and it turned out to be a pretty cool day.

After we left my parents we went to visit my other grandparents, for a little bit. That was a totally last minute side trip, since we didnt even know where they were till we got the my moms. It was so great to see them again. Gramma made us home-made candy, and sent us home with left-overs, and my brother showed up with his gf and brought me a gift card to torrid for 100 bucks. Apparently when you're an employee there, they give you a 50 percent discount on the git cards you buy, so they paid 50 bucks and got a 100 dollor gift card. FUCK YES I NEED TO WORK THERE. I also checked out ther gf's new ride. She just got a scion. It's actually pretty rad.

we then traveled BACK to dereks moms for dinner and presents. drinking occurd, and we all made out like bandits.

Lke seriously, I can't even begin to express just how fucking spoiled we all are at dereks moms house. It's seriously, rediculous.

Derek received:
Tons of work clothes(from me and his mom)
DVD/VCR combo
Special edition Red Mario Kart DS
Wario Ware for the DS
Mario kart for the DS(obviously)
Castlevania for the DS
PJs
A T-shirt with this on it

it's the molecule for THC
Movie tickets and snacks
and other things I can't remembr right now.

I received:
Nightmare before x-mas jacket
hat, scarf, and gloves
this!

It's Zim's house! I already had all the DVDs, but the house came with a collectors special dvd, and a gir action figure.
A kick ass book on the entire career of the beatles

^ MAC Indulgence: 7 face. A pretty little compact which includes 4 eyeshadows, two lipsticks, one blush, and two brushes.
An ULTA makeup case(it's rad. It's rounded and totally retro style) with TONS of makeup inside. I already threw out the tag, but it's seriously tons. 5 lipsticks, two lip glosses, 50 eyeshadows, 25 lipgloss sample pallet. about a dozen brushes, tweazers, mascara, eyeliners, lipliners I have no idea what that must have cost.
Anne Rice: Interview With the Vampire
4 movie tickets
this kick ass pot-related t-shirt. :
and a really awesome dragonfly ring and ring box.It's gorgeous.

Derek and I received: 8 books, various ones that we both wanted to read.
nightmare before x-mas towel set
" " " Ceramic wate bin
" " " Shower curtain
Tickets to go see Brain Regan(a comedian)

So in the end, the hassle of work, and the stress it causes, is nothing when you have awesome people to share your holiday with you, and you happen to be spoiled brats who make out like bandits at chrstmas time.

I hope you all had an absolutely fabulous holiday and that you got each and every thng you wshed for.