Work? Sick? "Snakes on a Plane?" I don't know which one is worse.

Work was work and not the true chaos I was expecting. I go in expecting pure chaos but when you have enough people it works out well enough.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: You can do anything with enough cold medication and caffeine. I also find once I start working I'm too focused to notice I'm sick.

Don't tell Management that...they'll never let me take a sick day.

Not like I take sick days anyway. I've only taken one. All the others they simply sent me home. At least I showed up for those.

Dani is too grumpy to mention tonight. All her friends went out without her. I almost want to say "she's cute" when she's grumpy but I won't...because while she's always cute she didn't seem like the most pleasant of conversation. I'm also not in the mood to deal with a pseudo backwards "crush" after a seven and half hour opening shift on the busiest day of the year when I'm sick!

Wow, what a shit start to 2007. Good news? It can only go up from here.  

I should really go to bed.

None of that End of Year survey nonsense. I'm too tired.

Whoopee frickin' doo. 

Maybe I'll be in a better mood in the morning (doubt it)

Maybe Dani will be in a better mood in the morning (More likely)

-Cleric

Still, I'll wish all you guys a Happy New Years.  

It wasn't that bad a shift: Most people thought we were closed. Answering the phone with "*insert firm greeting here* we're open" made for short calls. It became later "*insert firm greeting here" we're open til' 11*".

Actually, people didn't really come until two...maybe three. Once they shook off the hangover and decided all they could do was sit at home and watch movies... 

I should never PV anything. Anytime. Ever.

I don't have the finesse for a job like that. I'll stick to "Movie Nerding" and "Till Horsing" thank you very much.

I don't know why I stayed those two hours after I got off. I cleaned up well enough but it felt like I didn't accomplish anything.  

Of course, this is retail...I never really have anything to accomplish. Just serve customers.

So despite of what I said yesterday, I'm fine. Dani? Less than fine.

I might just have to drop that cute girl for now.  

Emphasis on "Might." I hope these are just a case of the "Post Holiday Grumpies." What's the differential on that?

 I've watched way too much college football...

Anybody watch "Life on Mars"? Mum and I just caught the last episode of the first season. Apparently grandmum watches it, but I highly doubt she'd watch anything on Showcase. Still, it's British and pretty darn cool.

I might have a day off tomorrow. I'll get back to you on that one.

Oh snap, I need a bus pass.

-Cleric 

Here's hoping I get healthy sometime in 2007. I'm doing alright. Another day off my feet I should be better by Friday's shift.

Oh, did I mention I’m not working for THREE days? I know, that's unheard of for me these days.

I turn around and notice a red package lovingly wrapped atop my shelf. Inside sit a seal pup white scarf with matching mittens. I don't know what I'm going to do with it right now. I have at least two months to act.

Let's leave it there.

Going Ons at The Firm:

The crew seems interesting in going on for Indian food next week. Todd knows a place and we all love Indian food. I'll sit there and sweat and gasp for air because I can't eat really spicy foods, but I still love Indian food.

On the flipside, no one has really talked to Mark since the "incident" at the Chanukah party. The general consensus is that he's now fine with what happened, but you can never tell with Mark.

Staci seems eager to watch Heroes with me on the 22nd and then go for dinner to "dish" about it. Don't over think it. I'm certainly not. It would freak everybody out if we did over think it.

I wonder why Sheppard hasn't worn his jacket over the past three Atlantis episodes? He got that badass leather one too. Why am I mentioning this? Anyway, I know the rest of the season is going to kickass. I can't wait.

Hmmm, that was random. Not too random, just random enough.

I guess I should start talking to SG21 about gearing up for the mission in March...

Wow, that sounded awesome.

When customers phoned yesterday I should have answered "*insert standard Firm greeting* We're always awesome!"

The new movie "Smokin' Aces" looks terrible, but I'm all over a multi hitman/single hit movie. Come on, I wanted to see "Beer Fest" when it first came out. Still have to rent that.

Anything else?

Nope.

Oh well.

2007 is truckin' along nicely...

Truckin? (Sigh)

-Cleric 

Mmmm, interesting title. I wonder where I'll go with it? Probably nowhere, like always.

Today on the sick scale I'm at a 54%...which is good enough for me to get up and out but nothing constructive. Today I'll need to be at least 65% to finish all the things I need to.

Dani still seems really grumpy. I should have a talk with that grumpy girl. Maybe, just maybe that will make her less grumpy. Oh, and maybe the sky will turn orange and rain monkeys. Who knows?  

I haven't set any resolutions this year. Besides the standard "workout more", maybe my other one will be to have more confidence in myself. Of course, that's the same one I've set for 3 years and nothing has really changed.  

Did I mention Staci put a picture of a coffee mug on her phone to represent me in her visual caller ID...she then ordered me to "call her more." ...Don't over think it. I know I'm not. Again! I ran Staci against my panel of experts and the conclusion is there is something darker beneath Staci's wacky crazy surface. My panel is rarely wrong.

Once I get back to school I'll be better, but right now...wee bitty depressed. It's because I'm sick.

Done and Done.

-Cleric 

Title Forthcomming. Trust me. It'll be a good one!

"*Cleric*! omg Americano Buddays 4 Life (with an a, because it's cute)"

I give you full permission to overthink that one. Considering I haven't been doing that much lately I think it's time to overthink something. That's why I put "Where's my Americano Buddy? " into my MSN Name.

Yes, I baited it.

No, I don't care. I'm allowed to bait here and there.

I managed to get out of the house today for a couple hours. Best Buy was bust for laptops. The sales guy said they're completely sold out of stock on the Toshibas and are down to demo models. The good news is newer models are due out soon. So I hope I can get my hands on the latest and greatest before the semester ends. Perhaps something with a massive battery life. Less than an hour with family Lappy just does not cut it. I'll probably call it...Lappy 586, just to be witty.

Just a note on a couple things. I won't go to Future Shop nor buy HP simply because both are THE DEVIL! Yes, I'll pick up the odd CD/DVD or Xbox accessory from Future Shop because the prices are the same everywhere else and they don't charge commission on such items. I had an HP printer way back in the day and that thing was the sole bane of my existence until we got the Canon.

I just got the Joshua Radin Itunes session with two of my favourite songs from him on it. Winter and Closer are Zach Braff picks(both were on Scrubs episodes). When they are acoustic oh boy do they rock socks.

Speaking of that, Itunes music...I have to pay off my excessively large credit card bill in the next couple days. Not like I don't have the money, it's just larger than it's ever been before. Credit that to the Xbox and emergency registration fees. The rest is Itunes music and Starbucks HotSpots.

The next one is going to have a random Full Throttle because "The Firm" debit machines were down that day. Oh and that SPCA $15 I promised. They got my number wrong...called again to verify. It was that same monotone guy again. I guess that's his only job.

I'm better. Spiritually. I guess my mood is tied to a certain cute girl. Not a lonely girl. I've dealt with that before.

I guess this one is a little retroactive, but it's such a great story to tell. I was working a normal shift, Britany was in. I caught a glimpse of The Beast and went on full alert looking for sharp objects because I don't bring my sword to work. Britany, using all her newly acquired shift leader skill simply said "Hey *Cleric* can you go to the back and grab me that thing?"

I replied "right away Britany!" and darted off to the back. A few moments later and a careful peak outside the door and The Beast was gone. I think I owe Britany one for that. Imagine the paperwork we'd all have to fill out if I fell a demon in the middle of the bullpen...infront of customers...on a Saturday...

Probably not as bad as if I committed suicide in the middle of the bullpen with a garbage bag...infront of customers. The Sarge will attest to that one. Hypothetical scenario.

Oh, one more thing.

SUCK IT "THE OC"! SUCK IT LONG AND SUCK IT HARD!

Yes, your first season was awesome but enough is enough. I hated Marissa but the show died with her. Deal with it.

Maybe Rachel Bilson will get more movie rolls.

Wasn't Jennifer Morrison in "Grind" with Adam Brody?

Hmmmm, Random. I'm done. The Firm Crew just called a drinks meeting, so I'm out.

-Cleric

...*Like I ever use my real name*

I'm even more random when I'm sick.

My next screenplay idea is "Natalie Portman: Secret Agent."

That's what you get when you call in sick to work and spend the rest of the night watching Alias reruns on Space. I'll owe Todd a marker. Too bad Matt was already working. I still have a week to call in from him. That's how it works at "The Firm", we back each other up no matter what. 

I wish my clinic doctor was more like House, it would have made the half an hour wait worth it. He did say I need to lose some weight. I guess that's making fun of me...if I didn't already know it and think about it everyday.

Mark and Staci were they're usually selves last night. Mark thanked me for stepping up during that incident at the Chanukah party. He would have stepped in if I wasn't there. Saint was doing something "stupid": I step in.

It's what I do. It's what she's done in the past with Kirstin...The Beast...Elizabeth...the McCollum Girl etc. Kirstin doesn't get a colour.

Gear locked and loaded for Richmond. Of course, I'm not ready to go. I don't know the best bus route and hey, I have some sort of infection in my lungs. My mucus is a green and oh...I went to a doctor. Antibiotics and a nasal spray which is large amounts of uncomfortable. I promised myself I wouldn't go in there and use the word "present" or "symptoms." Eight years of medical school beats three seasons of House.

 Saint got caught in the golf ball size hail that fell for a few minutes.

 Done and done. Watching House because that's the only thing that makes me happy...after going to the doctor...and being sick.

-Cleric 

Up. My throat is still a little sore, but the antibiotics seem to be doing their job. Jury is still out on the nasal spray. I'm expecting some fantastic(al) reaction that I'll never get.

That customer was right: House on DvD is great but if you watch enough of them in a row all they do is CT and LP every thing. I told that same customer about the House drinking game. I think that was appropriate.  

I'm thinking of getting into cooking. Nothing fancy, but something more gourmet then lemon curry chicken. My main problem is presentation. Sure, it tastes great but it looks like shit. I have the green salad with dressing down packed but I need to find a quick and easy starch with a quick and easy main dish. Pilaf and chicken have always been a favourite.

This "cooking" project is going to begin with research. After research is the Proof of Concept. Yeah, i looks great into the picture, but can Cleric recreate it? Once you get the PoC down, you have to try making the meal under a time constraint with emphasis put on presentation. This is known as the Dry Run. After the Dry Run you finalize anything you need to and get ready for the real thing.

Omar is right: Why the fuck haven't we gotten into "Dr. Who" yet? We've been on board for everyother sci fi the world has thrown at us, but why not the "longest running science fiction show"? Yes, Stargate SG1 is the longest running NORTH AMERICAN science fiction show. It is also credited as the longest running cable science fiction show, but you rarely hear that one. All you seem to hear is LONGEST RUNNING SCIENCE FICTION SHOW which is a little off.

The reason I want to get into Dr. Who is to see the Geek Chic Tenth Doctor. That's just me though...It's way cool to mix pinstripe suits and Chuck Taylors.

Dani? Well, nothing really. Considering I have the next eleven days off from work I should do something. Maybe just Americanos. Then who knows, I'll cook her dinner? Wouldn't that be cool?

The answer is yes.

Done? Done.

-Cleric

Did I mention I have the next eleven or so days off from Work? Of course I did.

It bears repeating.

Class still Tuesday and Wednesday but I don't consider that work. Well, not right now: Class hasn't started yet.

Saint needed to gear up for an engagement party she was working today, so yesterday we trekked through Metro looking for all sorts of makeup equipment. To me, it was a scary and confusing world. That eyelash curler thingy looks like a lethal medial tool. It gives me the jibbles. Still, Saint was happy someone came out with her. At least Metro was less crowded than the last time we went...a week before Christmas.

We broke out "Band of Brothers" and go through the first part. No Saint, its World War II, not World War I. The absence of the Japanese does not automatically make it WWI. She saw "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Flyboys" and should know better.

Speaking of World War II, Operation California has a dangerously short window of opportunity. Just under a week now(well, according to official sources...6 days, 6 hours and roughly 7 minutes once you carry the two...or so I've been told). Of course, now I've had to break into several stages. So far it has two.

Whoopie Doo.

Oh, as of now all information regarding the operation are classified most secret. I don't want to go overthinking things.

I put with the Aunts this morning. Even dad was shocked it was all an act. I simply have to act twice my age to pull it off. They can't deal with "kids."

Anything else? Tomorrow is the staff Christmas Party and I've been working on my beer tolerance this weekend. It's going to be awesome.

Done? Done.

-Cleric