Supertech is on vacation this week, so I’ve been covering her shift. So far it’s been ok; Monday was fine, Tuesday we were running around, and today went pretty well. We managed to score ourselves a tech from a Maine store who’s not half bad, smells really good, and has all the front store cashiers swooning over him. He’s totally what I’d have gone after 10 years ago - that sort of cute but dorky type. You know, the type of guy just like Eddie. The RPh wasn’t bad today. I’ve got another 2 days of working with her though, without the A-Team of me and Supertech, so we’ll see what she’s like on Friday when she’s had to not only take it upon herself to correct every single thing that the other techs do but deal with her least favorite tech tomorrow night and the other things that drive her crazy. I could tell some stories, but I’m sure if she just Googled me she’d be able to find me without any trouble, so I’ll keep some stories to myself

We’ve been living here a month now, and so far things aren’t bad. I don’t freak out about every little creaking sound from upstairs like I used to do when Comrade moved around upstairs in Pawtucket, which is something that I was a bit worried about. We’re definitely eating better because Mom cooks us actual food, and we’ve been taking lunches to work (although I do get myself a #6 at Wendy’s once a week). Moneywise we’re doing ok so far. Eddie goes to work with Mom so we’re not making an extra work trip any longer, and the commute for me is only about 5 miles more than it was before. I have to get up a few minutes earlier to get to work on time, but it’s not that bad in terms of what we spend on gas - I put 10 gallons in today and it will probably last me until next Tuesday or so.

And those of you who don’t play WoW or don’t care either way can just skip this stuff. Eddie and I decided to take the plunge and leave our cushy little officer positions in the guild we were in. It was a tough decision; we’d been there since the guild was formed and had watched it grow from a handful of players to a pretty big guild. However, over the past few months it had really gone downhill, especially after the originally guild leader had left. Any time anyone had tried to set up anything, half the people who signed up wouldn’t show up, and the ones who did would wander on an hour after things got started at times. Eddie and I got tired of being considered 2nd string players and never, EVER getting invited to anything even though we’d made it quite clear that if we’re not on and someone wanted to do something we’re a text message away. For those of you who actually play and understand what I’m talking about, our guild managed to get into Kara as a guild once. Eddie and I were in there that time, and that was the only time we’d ever managed to get in, because no one ever thought to extend an invite to us. We were the guild bench warmers.

So this week we jumped ship and applied at a very large guild that has more organization than I’ve ever experienced, which is something that they’d need with something like 400 players (compared to our paltry 40) and something like 4 Kara runs going on at the same time every week just to farm badges, in addition to the extra ones that people organize on the fly during the week for folks who missed out and the bigger raids going on doing the 25-man instances. It’s quite the change, and really going to force me to totally go outside my comfort zone and actually talk to people. People that I don’t know. Thankfully, they seem like a cool bunch of people so far, and I’m looking forward to signing up for a run next week.

When the alarm clock went off at 4am today, I was already awake. I hit the snooze button to try to squeeze those last precious moments of sleep out of the morning, unsuccessfully I might add. This week is another week of overtime for Eddie, and since the employees seem to be more productive when they’re not being harassed by throngs of eldery wanting to know where they can find the creamed corn or complaining about how back in the old days they could buy a can of coffee for a quarter, everyone is going in at 5am rather than 7am. The extra money will be helpful, considering we went and bought food tonight and spent about double what I expected to pay, but the effects getting up that early has on us sucks.

I got to school only to discover that I had a test today. This was the one test that I took where I firmly believe that I sucked hard at it. I haven’t gotten the grade back, but I know that it wasn’t up to par with the other ones that I’ve taken. I’ve also got a midterm on Thursday that will also give me a run for my money. Sounds fun, eh? I’ll probably actually study for this one.

I was voted “most likely to be contacted” should aliens manage to decipher my RSS feed and read my site. Would I get an anal probe? Because I don’t want to be probed. Only Eddie is allowed to do that, and even that is rare. Probe or not, I’ll be showcased tomorrow on the front page of Blog In Space. Funkycool.

Yes, I just made that word up.

Pickle tried to help me study and do homework tonight. She took books, pens, a half-filled bottle of Coke, and notebooks out of my bag, crawled under and on top of my book while I was reading, attempted to rip pens out of my hands while I made notes, and ate half a Post-It note. There were also several rousing games of “you call them pant legs, I call them tunnels” and “here, allow me to chew through your bra strap” and “yeah, I bit your arm, what the fuck are you going to do about it, hmm?”

Eddie cooked pork chops with brown rice tonight. Not half bad. We probably won’t be buying that rice again though, because we both seem to prefer white rice instead.

Oh well, off to shower and relax for a little while with WoW (hit level 26 on my main tonight, then got ganked by some dickhead orc) and most definitely Law & Order.

Apparently, admissions-lady liked me enough to accept me, give me the grand tour of the facility and register me for classes starting September 28th. However, all this hinges on the fact that I’ve got a meeting on Tuesday to go over some financial aid stuff, because tuition is $11,300.

That’s right. Eleven THOUSAND dollars and change. For a course that my mother took FOR FREE when she became a pharmacy tech.

Providing that I qualify for some loans, I may be able to bring things down a more managable amount. The maximum amount for Stafford loans is about $3000. Maybe I’ll be able to get something in Pell grants that will cover the rest or at least bring it down enough for me to beg, borrow, and steal what I need, because I really would like to go.

“To whom it may concern/ Attn: Kim - Marketing DeptI am trying to reach a woman named Kim, who works in yourMarketing Department. I met her this past Sunday (11/25/01) in Boston at a sports bar, and I am asking for your help in trying to reach her. I can only describe her as 25-29 years old, 5′3-5′5, shoulder length brown hair, brown eyes, attractive, and of Italian or Greek decent. I realize this is an odd request, and an odd forum to begin my search, but this is the only way that I can think of that I might be able to reach her again. I am hoping thatbeginning with you, and although quite a long-shot, this message will ultimately end-up in her email in-box. I only ask that you forward this email to someone whom you may think can help me. Again, my ultimate goal is that this email, after being forwarded through several departments & people, will eventually reach her.

Please take a moment to consider my request, and help me reach her if you can. The only other information I have is that she travels to Albany NY on the corporate jet, and frequently is involved with [bank name] functions that Red Sox players Pedro Martinez & Nomar Garciaparra attend. Thank you for your help. Again, all I ask is that you forward this message to the next department or appropriate person who may be able to help me. Kim: It was nice taking to you Sunday. I hope we meet again. Contact me at the email address listed below if this long-shot message reaches you.Sincerely,[name and email withheld to protect my ass]“

This man has balls of solid brass.