Snow, lies and Japanese girls...

So last week we had the 7th worst blizzard in Colorado history. No exageration. And now, less than one week later, we're getting hit again. It's crazy snowy out there, and the highway to Denver is a suicide run...

Sarah and Kiah spent the night with me at the hotel, and when we woke up this morning we decided to make the trip home. Partially to get Kiah back in his normal surroundings, and partially because our cell phones were to be delivered today. Well, we missed the Fed Ex person by a few minutes, so we'll have to wait till tomorrow for the phones. :(

Erina Kamata's little sister Mami has been planning on visiting us for some time. She flies in today. Yeah. Today. In the middle of a blizzard. Strangely enough, Denver International, where she was scheduled to fly into, is still open. Her travel arrangements are non-refundable, so she flew into Dallas this morning and was getting ready to fly to Denver when she called us. I stressed just how bad the roads were, and said I'd do everything I could to get to Denver to pick her up, but I might not be able to, and she might be stuck there. She was worried, but I said that she should try getting a flight to Colorado Springs from Dallas. She tried and called back to say that they wouldn't let her. I told her I'd start out right away for Denver, and we bundled up and went home. When we arrived, I was ready to jump back in the car and head up to Denver when we got a call from Erina. She said that Mami had gotten a flight to Colorado Springs, and that we could pick her up there! That was awesome news, as suicide missions don't appeal to me. Erina told me to check my email where she would catch me up on the whole story.

It turns out, that after I emailed Erina this morning with the suggestion for Mami, she called Mami and found out that they had told her "no." Mami was in tears by that point, and Erina told her to tell the American Airlines people that her grandma was in a coma, and that she needed to get to CS right away! I can't believe this girl! Anyway, Mami was too embarrased, and said she couldn't, but Erina insisted, she did, and they put her on the next flight to Colorado Springs! What an unbelievable morning!

So thanks to Erina's coniving, I won't be spending the night in our civic, half way to Denver buried in a snow drift on the side of the road... Mami won't spend the night in Denver International Airport... and Mami's grandma just might come out of that coma.

Peace,
Jim

New schedule, and fessin up.

Well, today I started work at 4:30 am. I will be doing the same thing all week. Couldn't be happier. The tips are great in the early morning hours, and my work day is over by 1.

Michael came in around six, and I pulled him aside as soon as I saw him. I was like, "remember how I said I was good at spinning? Yeah. I'm not. Don't know why I said that. I admire it, and enjoy hearing it. Never done it in my life."

He laughed, said that he's done stupid stuff like that before, and that we should start a support group for people who say dumb things together.

Needless to say, we have an inside joke now.

Thanks to everybody for your insightful commentary. It's interesting to see the different reactions and advice that one singular act can elicit.

money, food and pregnancy

Well, we've got more good news.
Our food stamps finally went through yesterday, two months worth, making up for the month that we were waiting for an appointment. We met with the people over at the office last Thursday, and were supposed to have our food stamps money later that day. (They use a card now, which works like a debit card, and separates food items from the rest of what you buy automatically. It's called a "quest" card.) But due to computer problems, things were delayed until last night.

We are so happy to have groceries in the house. All the money I've been making has been going to appease the bill collectors. We finally got our W2's from Starbucks, and filed our taxes. There were a ton of problems with the W2's as well, but it's stupid to go into that. Verizon will see the bulk of our return, but that will be one monkey off our back.

Things are going great at work. I am really excited about the future. Everything is looking up. I don't know if I'll be able to handle life without a major crisis. Thank goodness the baby is on the way! lol.

Sarah and I are going to a funeral today. One of my coworkers woke up the other morning to find his wife had died in her sleep. She was only in her 30's, and had some sort of seizure. He's pretty messed up, as one would figure. I can't imagine a more damaging thing to happen. Car accidents, and other risks in life are almost expected, and while they shock you, it's not right there... in bed with you. While you slept. Please keep him in your prayers. His name is Karl.

Oh, to end on a happier note, I told a bizarre little white lie the other day, and I have no idea where it came from, or why... but I have a feeling that it's going to try and humiliate me in the future. The supervisor of the front part of the restaurant at my job was talking to me the other day, and I showed him a cd mix I had made for another coworker. He liked the cover, and I said I had been a graphic designer, and that I still did stuff on the side. "I'll have to have you do the cover of my album!" he said. "You have an album?" I said. "Yeah... it's not done, but when it is..." and so on. The conversation led to the fact that it's a "philosophical rap" album, and that Michael, the dude I'm talking to, has been an underground rapper for quite some time. Participating in battles and the like. (For reference to "battles" watch 8 mile.) Well... I told him about my crazy first dorm in college, and about the battles that we used to have in the basement floor. All true. I used to battle a bit, and my dormmates would generally draw the battle lines between race. The puerto ricans and white guys vs. the black guys. Or other combinations. At this point, everything I said was true. Until I chose to say something really stupid. Perhaps "chose" was the wrong word. I said something stupid, and was just as shocked as he was when I said it. Now to preface what I said. I wanted to downplay my skills as a "battle" rapper. I am ok, but probably not near the calibre of this fine gentleman. But instead of merely downplaying my rapping skills, I apparently needed to justify it. I said, and I quote... "I'm not nearly as good at the rapping thing, as I am on turntables." WHAT????!!??! I mean. I listen to records, but I have NEVER EVER EVER scratched, dj'd... done anything of the like. He reacted with a great big "Really?! That's awesome man. I have to hear you sometime!" This bars me from ever hanging out with Michael in an arena where the possibility of me spinning could happen. Or I have to have someone teach me. It reminds me of the episode of coupling entitled "The man with two legs." I am Jeff. So all day, every time he sees me, he makes spinning motions, and says "I gotta hear you man!" I want to die.

Welcome to my stupid, stupid life.

Peace out!