photo induced mayhem

I have two full days of photo lab behind me. The first day wasn’t so bad. Pretty slow day actually. Took orders and managed to get them done ahead of schedule (aside from two that came in late and I would later hear shit for them). The one thing that had me on edge that night was the fact that I was in charge of doing photo inventory and it wasn’t the greatest thing to have to do. It got worse when I forgot the menu to go to on the little scanner gun to access it. In the end it took about twenty minutes to figure out and then fifteen to complete the inventory. After that the night was finished.

On day two of photo the day started off well. I didn’t have many orders and I maintained good times. This would change after lunch. One of the customers came back and complained about his picture CD. It turns out that on the CD his pictures were upside down. I told him the easiest way to fix this is to copy them to his PC and flip them. He responded by saying that he shouldn’t have to and that we made the mistake and in turn fix it. I also told him that it was the way the film was developed and run through the machine. He again said that we should be accountable for “mistakes” like this. I walked over to the assistant manager working that night and told him the details. They told me to get the CD and leave it overnight for the main photo technician to work on, so I got the CD and told the douchebag that I’d leave it for her to fix. Later on I was working on some film orders when the machine suddenly started spitting it out and telling me the film was too big even though it was the normal 35mm size. I was baffled. To try and work around I attempted to manually scan the film (something we usually do often when things screw up). I put one of the film strips in and it seemed to scan fine. On the second roll the machine seemed to work but then came back out and the machine continued to say scanning. I tried to see if I could cancel it as it locked up the machine. No luck. The machine was literally locked up. I tried all I could but couldn’t get it back to normal. I again talked to the manager that night and told him. He checked it and agreed that something wasn’t right. Again I left a note for the main tech. At that point I was freaked out that I might have screwed everything up and that I would be held responsible if it broke. The only good part to this story is that it was after closing so no other customers where dropping orders off. Since I have been off the last two days I don’t know the status of the machine but I will find out today. The main tech is also working so I expect to hear something about it. She doesn’t like me much so I know it will be on the negative side. Just dandy.

As for the last two days off I haven’t done much. Just sit around watching TV or playing games. I got a new book which seems like it will be fun to read. It’s called Seagalogy – A Story of the Ass-Kicking Films of Steven Seagal. Although before I read it I need to finish up World War Z. I also have Battle Royale but I think after WWZ and Seagalogy I will start it over since it has been a while since I have read it. Another thing I have done is download the trial for Lord of the Rings Online. I was at Best Buy the other day and looked at the MMO section. I haven’t paid for a MMO since back in the days of Earth & Beyond. The only other MMO I really played was Guild Wars but I am burned out on it. LOTRO seems interesting so I’ll give it a shot. The other two I was looking at were EVE Online but it seems to complicated and the last was Age of Conan which seems cool but I wish there was a trial so I could try it without jumping in fully and then possibly not liking it.

As for today, I work. My parents and brother are driving down to SoCal to visit my step or half brother or whatever he is. He is in the country for a little bit it seems with his Korean girlfriend (he works for the Army at the DMZ or something). My dad’s ex-wife asked if we wanted to see him but since I have to work it doesn’t apply to me. She tried to set it for tomorrow but I work until Monday so it wouldn’t work anyway. I guess she really wanted me to see him or something. Oh well. So the three of them are headed down while I work. Fun 4th.

jolie butt

Life has been pretty easy lately. After two days off I went back to work last night. It turned out two people didn’t show so I had to be on register one while the girl who was hired with me was called in for cosmetics. With only three people closing the store it was a bit hectic at times but we managed pretty well. Tonight is my last register shift before starting photo on Monday. I know I will probably be nervous as all hell (especially with the backlog of orders we will have since the machine as been down the last two days). Hopefully all goes well and I don’t break anything. The good news is that on Monday when I start photo there will be another guy there who can help me out if I am in a bind (even though he is on register that night). On slightly bad news I start my shift an hour and half earlier than normal which probably will become regular throughout summer until school starts, so it will be 2:30pm instead of 4pm. I also have some days where I start at 11am and noon. Those will be odd, but they are longer than my regular shift which means more money.

As for earlier today I went to the local Washington Mutual to deposit my paycheck and move some funds around. After that I went to the theater and watched Wanted. It was pretty cool, kind of like throwing Shoot ‘Em Up, The Matrix, and Equilibrium in one movie. Also, Angelina Jolie’s butt was mighty fine.

a slow down of a day

Today has been pretty slow. I woke up at around 9am and watched TV for a bit. I also played a bit of Condemned but other than that I haven’t done much. Tomorrow I have work which I will (hopefully) be able to pick up my next paycheck. Saturday is also a work day which means I work two of the busiest days of the week. Hopefully I don’t end up on register. I like anything but working on the register. I’ll get Sunday off but then go back in on Monday. Hopefully everything goes smooth. All I know is that July needs to come on over so I can get Civilization Revolutions and spend my days conquering the world. Sounds like a good plan.

an unexpected request

I was enjoying my day off yesterday until around 4:20pm when I received a call from one of the assistant managers asking if I could come in because one of the scheduled couldn’t show for whatever reason. I told them that I would (the extra cash is the only positive thing) and so I cleaned up and headed over. Fairly easy shift. Just one minor thing to make it less than perfect. One lady bought a phone card and when you get one a special paper prints up. I gave it to her when she was a checkout. A little later I was over at Taco Bell for lunch when one of the other guys comes over and tells me that she came in again asking for it. I told him I gave it to her so it she probably lost it or threw it out. He goes back and after lunch I check with the assistant manager about it. She tells me that the lady did a return and re-bought it to get the paper. She also told me to make sure they know what it is and I said I would. Now I get to go in today to get ready for the transfer to photo. Hopefully I deal with less annoying people. I am really going to enjoy my day off tomorrow. I don’t want to work for a fifth day straight.

Also, I get my first paycheck on Friday. Should be hefty.

back to the mines, well sort of

My time off is closing up. I head back to work tonight and tomorrow before I get another day off. Not too bad. I think I can handle it.

In other news I got my debit card in the mail so I need to activate it sometime today. Although I’m still waiting for my paycheck before I start using it. Hopefully that comes soon as well.

running on fumes

Three nights down, two to go.

The night shift is sucking up my energy. Before work today all I wanted to do was lay down and rest. I didn’t go to bed until 4am and then work up at around 8am. Friday did the most damage as it was delivery day and I had to unpack a metric fuckton of totes full of candy, most of which ended up going to the back room anyway. Today I had to deal with other food items along with my usual duties of register, customer service, facing, and whatever else the shift manager needed me today. Although, I managed to finish my duties early and then went on to help another newbie out. She seems like she may keep me on my feet during the nights we work (like tomorrow). I was also happy to see that my success today was appreciated by the shift manager (who is also on my shift tomorrow) so things should go smooth. It really depends on who’s working to see how your day goes. Some are easy, others not so much. Just have to take it one day at a time. At least after Monday night’s shift I get a nice three day break until I work Friday and Saturday. The busy days. The good news is that this Monday, being Memorial Day, I get counted for double hours which means extra money. Whoo!

air brakes are not for cars, noted

Friday was quite the day. I woke up worried about my computer science test and how I needed to go to the student store and get a scantron for it. I headed out about ten minutes early so I could. As I was driving closer to the freeway I noticed something you don’t want to happen. The brakes on my car went out. My foot was pushing the brakes all the way down. My car just kept going. I got the “oh shit” look on my face as I carefully raced back home. I ran in the door and told my dad the situation and then said that I was going to take his car. I grabbed his keys and quickly swapped out important things for school. Once I was on the freeway I floored it. I parked in the closet spot I could find and jumped out heading for the student store. I made it there with eight minutes until the class. I saw Danny doing the same thing I needed to do. After grabbing the scantron I told him the details and he was surprised. We bought the thing and headed to the class barely making it in time. It also turned out that the test was easy.

Once school was over I headed home and my dad told me that my brake fluid was out so he bought a bottle and filled it. I was braking on air which doesn’t work like it does on trains sadly. I also reset the sensor so I will know next time.

a here, a there

Yesterday was decent. Went to English and then suffered through another hour of the computer lab. Total hours as of yesterday was just over three. I plan to make up another hour tomorrow but am questioning whether I should do an hour today or half an hour and the same for Friday to get my five. Then I just to two thirty minute labs on Tuesdays and Thursdays after that to get my one hour a week (or two if I need to get ahead for whatever reason. It is super boring in there and since I have no work I just fumble around. I’m sure someone is going to notice eventually. Maybe I can use my laptop or something. And as for school I think I will be getting last week’s math test back. Here’s hoping I did good.

another five

Monday already? Where the fuck did my weekend go? Totally not looking forward to today. In fact I never look forward to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Why? Math sucks. The only worthwhile thing to look forward to this week is tomorrow. For one I get to vote for the first time and the other is, well, I don’t want to spoil it just yet. You’ll hear of it soon enough.

As for today, after school I am heading over to a friend’s house so his dad can help me replace a part in the engine so the stupid check engine light turns off (hopefully). Shouldn’t take too long (again, hopefully). Other than that this week is looking to suck normally.

Oh yeah, the dream I had last night was normal for once (except for a few odd things, minor really), albeit unexpected. Not sure what to make of it being the current situation, but we’ll see.

powder keg mayhem

Today hopefully marked the end of that subplot I’ve hinted at a few times in the last few months. There was some heavy discussions to solve the problems and although some opinions may linger, most have been fixed. Both sides had their own support in terms of others to be by their side. Time will tell how well this situation defuses.

As for school Monday went by slowly at first but picked up when math came around. I mainly sent texts back and forth to Ashlee. Tuesday was the last long day of the semester. English wasn’t noteworthy at all, math was review crap, and career planning was talking. All the classes ended early so I had too much spare time during my breaks. Today was slow because of econ and the lingering situation. Math sped it up and ended early which was nice. Ashlee kept me company throughout the day. When I got home I prepared for the ultimatum talks to defuse the problem.

Tomorrow is the first day of finals, well the first of two. It will be the easiest of the two. English consists of just going down there at 11am tomorrow and talking with the teacher in her office for five to ten minutes. Yep, that’s it. Then I will be heading home as the counsel final is at 3:30pm where we have to write an essay. See, easy. Monday is the economics and math finals. I need to do as good as possible on the econ final and do the article assignments to pass the class with my current 72.5%. As for math, as long as I get a 50% on the final I will pass the class. I think I am in safe waters.

This morning between econ and math I signed up for next semester’s classes. 11 units total, 3.5 units under this semester, which is 1 unit below full-time. I’m hoping to have a job in the evening so I made sure every class was in the morning. Only one that isn’t is the next math class which ends at 2:45pm, but that is only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Tuesdays and Thursdays only have the next English class, which ends at 11am. I am also taking Computer Science which is on the same days as math only before. Should be interesting.

Time to get back to my cool girl Ashlee. I expect a giggle.