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February 28, 2005
Update
Just figured Id give a quick update since I havent really written in about a week now.
Things here have been pretty mild. Work has been getting more frustrating. Im getting the feeling lately that several people there have decided to make me the scape goat for everything that goes wrong. Im not sure why but my guess is that people are easily influenced by bullshitters.
The girl who knows it all has been telling tall tales (im sure) and people are falling for it hook line and sinker. The funny part is that I would have expected people to be a bit wiser than that.
So needless to say, Ive been going in, doing my work, and leaving. Cant do much more than that but with all the frustration it really makes it hard to get through the next 5 weeks. Im hoping it will get better but not expecting it to. My guess says it will just get worse as time draws to an end. Sad, but there was potential there for at least a few good friendships. Stepping stones of life.
As for other updates, my futon is nice but Im wishing I would have gotten the bed now. Its definitely better than the one I was sleeping on though so I cant complain too much. I got my wireless mouse and my apple keyboard set up and ready for my computer. Its tough spending money and having stuff but not being able to use it. Soon enough though (a few more weeks that is).
I ordered the surround sound system too on ebay which Im now having problems with. Apparently the "system" didnt come with speakers so Im trying to fight it. The auction never said anything about the system not being complete and leads you to believe different. Perhaps someone who doesnt know this system would probably not have been the wiser but because I already own the same system complete, I would have expected the auction to say "subwoofer and remote only" which it didnt.
It gave the description of 5 speaker "output" which to me is misleading. Last email I sent is requesting a full refund prior to me shipping it back. If that doesnt work, I will end up disputing the charges, filing a complaint with paypal and ebay, as well as leaving my first negative feedback ever. We shall see what happens.
I did manage to spend some time drinking over the weekend. Went out for a couple of cocktails Friday night and ran into my friends Rick and Scott. I only had a few drinks and came home early.
Saturday, I went to the gay.com brunch (again hung out for a bit with Rick and Scott). The brunch wasnt as big this month as it was in January. There was a total of about 10 of us and we went to The Sausage Factory on Castro. My first time there and I wasnt too impressed. Although the food was ok, my stomach wasnt feeling the greatest afterwards. The food seemed to go right through me and I was in the bathroom most of the afternoon.
That evening I went over to see our friends Rob and Rick (whom we stayed with last year while visiting and who came over New Years Eve). They IMd me on AIM and had just come back from Costco with a huge bottle of Absolute, which they were using for white russians. It was nice to go to someones house and have *them* make *me* cocktails lol. I stayed a few hours and then came home.
Sunday another day of cocktails (mind you only a few each day so not as much drinking as you would imagine at this point). I went to brunch with my friend Logan and this guy Sean (not sure if thats the correct way to spell it or not). We started at 10am with Mimosas and then went to the Mix for a bloody mary. I was tipsy by noon so home to take a nap.
I did talk in between to Kym in Rochester for a bit and then slept for about 2 hours. I was supposed to me Logan and Sean at the Eagle but got a call from my friend Allan who was heading to Metro. Being that it was raining I didnt really feel like going all the way to the mission for beer bust, and so I joined him at Metro.
My first time there and I actually liked it which surprises me. Metro is a bar on Market in the Castro which is set on a triangular corner and on the second floor. They have an outside smoking area that overlooks Market St as well as Noe and 16th. Lots to see and every time Ive walked by there, there is always a bunch of drunk guys outside carrying on like obnoxious fools (think str8 guys of the gay community. You know the ones). So needless to say thats what I expected.
Instead it was a mild crowd, the place was nice inside, and they served food too. I had nachos. ;-)
We stayed about 2 hours while it down poured outside and watched the Academy Awards. A few cute guys (at least the drunker I got) and a few drinks later, we left. I walked with him to the Edge, and came home.
Thats about it for the update. Not real exciting but thats how its been. I do miss Josh and wish he was here. Soon enough though, soon enough.
Posted by Des at 04:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 21, 2005
A Rainy Presidents Day
Ok, so the weather has been changing and its been raining and cloudy for the past week. Several things are going on. First of all, it appears to be like mid April weather in Rochester. The trees are budding, the cherry blossom tree in the back is a beautiful pink, and allergies are in full swing.
Today was the worst storm Ive seen yet. It was actually hailing in Oakland. Its kind of funny to watch these CA people (oh wait, Im a CA person) run to the windows to watch the ice come falling from the sky only to melt before it even gets close to the ground. It was like God had opened the sky up just to put them in a state of awe. Really folks! Its only hail.
I have to say that its a bit weird to have mid April weather in February. It kind of makes me miss the winter for a bit. I know, its odd but the change of seasons is really different here and a different feeling. Normally in mid April, I would be anticipating warmer weather, summer, and all the great things that come with it. It seems more exciting after coming off a long, cold, snowy winter, than it does when the weather really hasnt been all that bad. Either way I guess I still wouldnt trade it for the world. Just slightly miss the excitemnet of Spring.
As for the day itself, it was Presidents Day as you all know. Im not quite used to every place closing for Presidents Day. Even most restaurants were closed. It was like a real holiday where the city just shut down for observance. CIGNA of course was open.
With it, Bart was operating on holiday schedule which means there were delays. On holidays it runs on Saturday hours and run fewer cars with fewer intervals. It really sucked.
Coming home on Muni this evening, it was kind of funny. There was a black girl (and it has nothing to do with the color of her skin) but her and her bf were locked together and looking into the dark window of the cab that would normally hold the train operator. Her comment was priceless. She turns to her bf and says "if it wasnt for these lights you wouldnt even be able to see us".
Now my first thought was "if it wasnt for the lights, you wouldnt be able to see any of us". Then I thought about a guy I used to work with at Price Buster Mattress. Str8 guy and about as much smarts as a box of rocks (btw, he is white). He had just gotten his hair cut from the beauty school next door. They messed it up so this other guy I worked with decided he could fix it up in the back. Yes interesting concept.
After they were done, and there was very little hair left, we went outside to smoke. His comment was "you know, its almost like I can feel the wind blowing through my head." Did I mention, not too bright?
To give you another story about this guy, he was reading the newspaper one morning and expressed how the newpaper is so informative. Anyway you get the idea.
So now Im home and my futon should be delivered this evening. YAY, a new mattress to sleep on. Hopefully it will be more comfortable and help with my headaches. Im predicting it will.
I did manage to set up my room last night in expectations that my computer will eventually arrive. My poor desk is just sitting there now with the monitor and keyboard and they just look so lonely.
Other things I need to do is take pictures of my CD-RW and post it on ebay. I wont need it now and I am hoping to get $20 for it. If anyone wants it, its an external Memorex USB, Ultra Speed. 52X 32X 52X. Its in excellent condition.
da be da be da be dats all folks!!!!
Posted by Des at 04:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 20, 2005
Shopping!!!!
Its been a few days since Ive written and being that gay.com is down (no chatting for me this morning) I would write a bit about the weekend. Josh tells me I havent updated in a while (although I updated Thursday and for some reason his browser didnt refresh it).
To begin with, my taxes went into my account Friday morning and Ive been on a non stop spending spree. Josh says I out did him which is hard to believe. Ive seen him shop before lol. It feels good to be able to spend money while I can. There are quite a few things (as Ive mentioned before) that I wanted and havent been able to afford just yet. I figure if Im going to do it, now is the time, even though Ill be laid off in 6 weeks. If I dont buy the stuff now, then I most likely wont for a while.
So to start off, I ordered my Mac-Mini Friday morning first thing (priorities hehe). I decided to get the 80 gig hardrive instead of the 40. Just seemed more logical for $40 extra. I have to say, the beginning of my relationship with Apple didnt start off well and I was a bit irritated.
The total with tax came to 788.80, however when I looked at my checking account after, it showed they authorized 800.63 along with (2) $1.00 authorizations. Although the difference isnt much, I still dont like the fact they authorized more than what the charge was so I called.
The first person told me it was in case there were adjustments that needed to be made, such as additional items. This wasnt a good answer for me, so began transfer number 1. The second person said there was nothing they could do and there went transfer 2 and 3. Finally the fourth person (whom I requested so I could complain) gave me another answer for the higher amount. She told me that their "system isnt capable of calculating the tax and is only an estimate so it will calculate the highest tax in the nation".
If I wasnt already running late for work I would have argued but instead I accepted it (still unhappy with the answer) and hung up. What I would have liked to have said (and I wrote a letter) was "You are Apple and known for your more expensive and so called superior computer systems. You mean to tell me that a company that manufactures such great equipment, doesnt have an authorization system that will authorize the correct amount of sales tax for the city of San Francisco which is only an hour and a half away from where your headquarters is?". Yeah its a long sentence but its what my thoughts were at the time (still are).
So the worst part that sits in my mind is not the amount but the cause itself. I was told "no one has complained about it before". Well let me be the first then. My bank holds that amount until a charge goes through. If you dont charge the account until the order is ready to be shipped (3 weeks), then you are holding money of mine that doesnt need to be held. I dont care if its $13 or $1300, its the fact that it is held and shouldnt be. I would much rather them charge the account the whole amount so that it comes off hold and shows as a charge. They should also advise customers that order online that the amount authorized may be higher based on this info. It just seems like good business to me.
Ok, so nuff about that lol. Im still anxious to get the new computer. So now the rest of the spending. Because the Mac-Mini doesnt come with a monitor, keyboard, or mouse, I needed to shop for those items. The monitor was easy. I bought a 19" from my roomie for $40 - Thanks Ste3ve *smile*. As for the keyboard and mouse, I wanted to go wireless to accomidate the internal bluetooth. All the combinations that I saw seemed way too expensive and after hours and hours of research and reading, I finally decided I would go with an Apple USB keyboard (which has 2 built in USB ports and works as a hub), along with a logitech wireless bluetooth mouse (8 buttons... what will I ever do with them all). The keyboard will use one of the 2 USB slots on the computer, and Ill have one left along with the 2 on the keyboard. This will allow me to plug in my printer, camera, and my web cam.
I also needed speakers which I found a 6pc surround sound set on ebay like the one I already have so I bought it. Its used but it said excellent condition and the seller seems to have a high rating so I figured why not. Im very happy with the system I already have so it would only make sense to get a second one for my room and for the computer. With everything, this computer is now costing me about a grand lol... So much for the "affordable" Mac. But just the same, its still a Mac which will be great for my photo work.
Along with all of that, I bought a futon which will be delivered tomorrow after work. I went with an inexpensive frame (since it will eventually just be spare room use) and a better mattress. The frame itself looked as sturdy as the other more expensive ones but was just a bit more basic. It was sitting in the back of the showroom, which from my experience in selling mattresses and futons, is where they put the ones that have a much lower mark up. Im confident I got a good deal and saved money to compensate my computer necessities.
So thats been my spending spree. Im currently working on my budget so I can pay Josh for the phones, and also in about a month, get some accessories for them. What I looked at already would run about $90 for a holster and bluetooth headset. That should be affordable the beginning of April. After that, I will be done spending extra money which will be perfect since my severance will run out the second week of May.
This brings me to unemployment. I called both the CA office and the NY office since I have wages in both states during 2004. First off, the NY office was MUCH nicer and MUCH more helpful than the CA office. What I found out is that because of my first two quarter wages being in NY, I am entitled to NY unemployment. If I dont use this, I will lose it because every quarter I start, a quarter drops off in NYS. With this I would also be eligible for CA unemployment after NY runs out.
Here's the delima. I could use NYS and get a lower weekly rate (only about $20 but its already much lower than my current salary), and survive (barely). Once that runs out and if still needed, I would be able to file a claim with CA. If I find work before that, my CA benefits will still be in tact in case for some unforeseen reason, I need them.
The other option would be to go the way I planned and file a claim with CA and receive the higher weekly payment (about $150 a week lower than my current salary) and do what I originally planned out which was to take some training classes and put myself at a higher standard for when I do want to enter the job market again in August. Problem is if I use my CA benefits and start a job that lays me off again, I wont be eligible at that time for any unemployment at all. its a tough decision and I guess Ill have to work out the details in a budget format on excel as I seem to be addicted to lol. Can budget money but for just cant save lol.
So thats where Im at. Yeah, long entry but if you made it this far, youve made it to the end. Congratulations if youre not asleep lol. Your prize will be in the mail shortly (however in the fine print it says Im under no obligation to actually send anything more than an email saying thank you).
Peace and best wishes and happy Sunday
Posted by Des at 07:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 17, 2005
Quickness
Just a quick entry tonight....
Josh left today to go back to Heartwood. Not sure when he will have a chance to come back down. Could be 5 weeks till the next break unless he gets a chance one weekend in the middle. Who knows.
All I know is it felt weird coming home from work, seeing his stuff gone (and for those of you who know him, he brings alot down when he comes to visit). Its kind of quiet this evening and its kind of sad not having him here but May and graduation are only a few more months away. Its comforting knowing that the time is getting closer.
As for other updates. My taxes should be in my account tomorrow morning which means I will be ordering my new computer first thing in the morning. Im excited about that. YAY for the Mac-Mini.
Still no word on the phones. They were ordered on Thursday afternoon and were supposed to ship to Roseville (something about shipping only to the address of the credit card used and stolen identity stuff. Blah blah blah). Anyway, since josh ordered them and Im paying him back, they had to go to his grandmothers house first and then she will be shipping them here. Hopefully they arrived yesterday or today and she will be shipping them to me asap. At that point Ill have to ship Josh's off to him. Im so excited. Me with the latest in electronics. Who'd of thunk it? lol
Im also hoping to get my futon soon. After consideration and hearing Josh say that a mattress would be fine to suite both our needs at the moment, I still feel a futon would be better for the time being. We can always look at mattresses later on down the road and find something we both want to sleep on.
Thats about it... Work was ok but Im glad tomorrow is Friday. Hooray, then only 6 more weeks of work. Im counting down the days.
Thats it for now... happy weekend to all who read.
Posted by Des at 08:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 15, 2005
Starting off Stressed and Confused
Ok, so Im up early this morning and doing my normal routine. Josh got to sleep at 4:30am and Im already becoming a bit concerned that he wont make it up in time to meet me and go with me to the doctors.
Im a bit scared and would be more comfortable having someone there with me. So with that Im worried he will sleep through the alarm or will end up being late.
around 6:15am, St3ve wakes up and asks if I think Josh would mind taking him to the hospital. Part of me is thinking "this is going to ruin things" and the other part thinks "This is serious for him and he needs someone to take him". So I wake Josh up after an hour and a half sleep and he is off to take St3ve to the hospital.
Now Im really worried about Josh being able to be with me. I mean, by the time he gets back here, he is going to be exhausted, and now he will have even more of a chance of being late or even missing it all together. Another part of me says "he is really going to need his sleep and I should let him have it" but truth is Ive mentioned before that I really need him there and Im worried about going alone.
So Im a bit confused as to what I should do. I mean, its not St3ves fault because he got sick. Josh didnt plan on having 1 1/2 hours sleep (although I asked him last night to come to sleep at a reasonable time in order to prevent oversleeping).
With that, and being I was leaving work early anyway, I decided just to call in. I figured I would be here and if Josh needed to lay down, I would at least be able to get him up when I have to go. Im not sure calling in was the right thing though.
My delima is being they are laying us off as of April 1st, I dont want to give the impression that I am slacking because of it. I truly am not. Im also concerned about "how it looks". Its Tuesday after I had a four day weekend. I havent had any warnings about calling in but still worry about getting let go earlier that April 1st and loosing the severance. Im sure they have to follow protocal for it but still I worry.
Given that and the past reactions Ive had from my boss, I have been disappointed in reactions to issues. When I was sick with red palms, rash all over, palms peeling, there wasnt even "are you feeling any better" from her. When my grandfather passed away, I emailed them and they didnt bother to read it. When I finally had to confront them with the news face to face, I didnt even get an "Im sorry to hear it" from her. Im wondering now how this will play out and Im torn as to if calling in was the right thing or not. I guess Ill find out soon enough.
So Josh got home after a couple of hours. It was a good thing I stayed home today as he didnt have his key with him. He would have either had to go back to the hospital, wait, and come back with St3ve who got home around 11:30 and still had no sleep, or gone to sleep in his car. Anyway, Im glad I was here.
He slept for 4 hours, woke up, and went with me to the doctors. Im kind of disappointed because the doctor said she recommened keeping the cyst. Apparently theres two ways to remove it. 1) make a small hole and suck it out which wouldnt get the whole thing. This leaves some of it in there and there was 100% chance it would come back. The other would be to make a slice in my head about 3 inches and cut out about a half inch around it, which would leave about a 3 inch scar. Neither one seem like a good option, thats why she said since its on my head and in my hair, she would just leave it. She said it isnt bothering anything so it would be fine.
So now that all raises the question as to what do I name it? Hmmmmm any suggestions?
St3ve is ok. Not too sure what the doctor said but he did prescribe medicine which is always good. I havent really talked to him all that much since I napped when I first came home and just now woke up.
Glad the day is almost over. Till tomorrow.
Posted by Des at 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 14, 2005
Valentines Day
So I had the day off (vacation day) and Josh was up late last night so I went out to buy a card and flowers. I figured I already had dinner planned at the Stinking Rose and The Tea Orgy at Samovar but would get him a card and flowers anyway.
As I looked through the cards I wondered "Is there really a card that says what we want to say, and is there one with enough space to say how we truly feel about someone". I found one that would due and went to the flower shop.
I took a brief look at the flowers and contemplated buying some and making my own arrangement. I didnt want to spend a lot of money on it because I had just got finished with the weekend in Monterey (which ended up costing quite a bit) and with dinner and tea, it was pretty much just a little extra something for Valentines Day.
It took me about 2 seconds to realize this was not a way to go. I thought about the little plant store around the corner that we had stopped in the day before. I realized how untraditional a plant is but figured it was a good representation of our relationship. Most people would gasp at the thought of *a plant* for V-Day but for some reason it just seemed more perfect.
Not only was it untraditional like our relationship, to me it also represented growth in our relationship. Flowers will die, and I want something that could have a chance to live on and grow. It just seemed more perfect. So while he slept, I was out.
When he woke up (I woke him up like usual) we had the best sex (but that stuff is a bit private, besides it could scare some people). I just had to add that in there.
He loved the plant and loved the card. I still dont think I could have done justice to the card compared to what he wrote on mine but it came from the heart and spoke the truth.
So a few hours later we are off to dinner. Traffic at 5:30pm in San Francisco is hell. Who would have guessed (sarcasm). Well we should have. We didnt arrive at the restaurant till 6:15 and the reservations were at 6. Thankfully they didnt give up our reservations. This was our first time here and oh boy, lots of garlic.
They had an area of tables like a normal restaurant would but in the back, they had special, secluded tables which was more private and more intimate. Each table was divided by a red curtain which gave us the feeling we were alone (almost).
The service was above average however not quite the best Ive ever had. She forgot the wine but quickly got it for us once we reminded her. They were very tentative to waiting on us and bringing our appetizer and entree.
We started with garlic spinich fontina fondu which was really good. Not big on the portion I noticed. We also ordered the Bagna Calda ( Garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil and butter with a hint of anchovy)to go with our garlic rolls. The portions still seemed a bit small but hopefully our entrees will be bigger.
Needless to say, they werent. If we didnt have our appetizers, we most likely would have still been hungry after the entree. I had the prime rib medium cut which is served with garlic mashed potatoes. Josh had the baby back ribs (which also came with the garlic mashed potatoes).
The food was delicious on my end, and I believe Josh enjoyed his as well. The last thing was to pay the bill and leave. After they removed our plates, we sat there for about 5 minutes just waiting for our check. It was annoying for a moment but tolorable. Overall on a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate it a 7.
As left, we noticed the time and had about 20 minuutes to get back, drop off the car and walk down to Samovar. Now mind you, the tickets were 29.10, which included tax and gratuity. I hate when they include gratuity but figured its an event, so be it.
We arrived there shortly after 8pm and there was a line outside. This was my first turn off. I ordered advance tickets to this thing and I have to wait in a line?
So here's the rest of the kicker. Not only did we wait in line to get in but spent a good 20 minutes in line for self serve desserts and a cup of tea. After waiting in line for 20 minutes, there was so many people there, that it was almost impossible to find a place to sit without sitting on someones lap. I wasnt happy and after thinking about it, I paid a gratuity for this crap?
We ended up talking to two lesbians who made room for us and some straight girl sitting next to us with her bf. We didnt talk to the boyfriend because he was up getting his girl more tea. We didnt stay long. It was hot in there from so many people and quite frankly I wanted to walk out as soon as we got there.
So we left and I was trying to figure out if I wanted to stop by the Mix for a drink before heading home. Josh didnt have a preference. It wasnt until we started walking by, that I made the decision to stop in. Moulin Rouge's Come What May was playing as we were walking by, and that was my que to stop.
I ordered a cosmo and Josh had a plain tonic with lime. As I ordered, I ran into my friends Kevin & Jim who moved here about 2 years ago from Rochester and havent had the chance to see since I moved here myself. They were just leaving so it was a brief encounter but still I was glad I stopped in and ran into them.
I also ran into my friend Logan who I hang out with on occassion. I finally got to introduce Josh to these people which Ive mentioned on occassion as well. It was a quick stay, I finished my cosmo and we headed home. Overall it was probably the best Valentines Day ever.
Hope everyone else enjoyed theirs.
Posted by Des at 07:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Home To SF
So we woke up early, checked out of the hotel and headed back to SF. It was a great weekend and a magical one I decided. It really went well and there wasnt a problem in sight for me. I wasnt sure how Josh was feeling about it but I knew it was the best weekend we ever spent together.
We made it back to SF in about 2 hours. We pretty much talked a little about the trip and as it turned out it was pretty special to him as well. I knew he enjoyed himself and had a good time, but didnt have any idea that it was as special to him (perhaps more so) as it was for me. Its funny but Im usually the one who takes moments and becomes emotional about them. Im the sentimental one. Thats why I take pictures. Its nice to know we both felt the same way about it.
It was nice to be home though. We went for a walk down Castro and came home and cooked Stir Fry. We watched Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which I decided half way through that I needed to go to bed. I was in bed a little after 9pm.
This morning Im up at 6am recapturing the weekend. Its Valentines Day and its going to be as great as the past few days Im hoping. I finally made reservations (not sure if I mentioned it) at the Stinking Rose which seemed to be full according to their website. When I called he told me they had openings and that the web site was wrong. So dinner at 6 for us.
After dinner, we are heading to Samovar for the Tea Orgy. Im not sure if I mentioned that I did end up buying tickets or not but I did and we will be there. I just wish there were other people we knew going but oh well, it will still be fun Im sure. We were hoping St3ve would go but alas, he turned us down. Hopefully one of my faithful readers (as Josh put it), will see this entry and say "oh I wanna go to that". I hope I hope I hope lol.
Well more on how the day goes later. Now its time to wake up, finish cleaning the dishes, go to the post office and mail out a package, and go to the store to buy a card. Its going to be a great day.
Posted by Des at 06:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 13, 2005
Aquarium and the Making of the Weekend
Saturday we got up early and went to the aquarium. Our plan was to spend some time there and look around Cannery Row. The aquarium was fantastic and we spent about 3 hours seeing the sharks, the jelly fish, and all kinds of neat sea creatures. I cant explain it but there was some kind of magic in the air. Everything seemed to be going right.
We hit Cannery Row, which was a dissappointment. Mostly touristy stuff which I thought would be great if we were there with someone from out of town but alas we werent and it was rather dull and traditional. We left quickly as we were hungry and the sun was going to set in about 2 hours.
We headed back toward the hotel, went to the Art Museum briefly to pick up some info about an art walk and then off to a restaurant called Rosines for lunch/dinner. Dinner was ok, the waitress wasnt all that into things and I hate when you look at someone and you just know they are faking their smile. That was the impression I got from her.
So this evening after all was said and done, we took a drive down the beach to look for the best place to take a picture of the sunset. It was cloudy but we were hoping to find the right place where the sun would set so beautiful and capture the moment. The clouds seemed way too thick, a bit hopeful, but not so promising. The water was beautiful, and the sounds of the ocean seemed to put us at ease. Relaxing more and more with each crash.
We finally parked and sat down at a bench. We stared at the ocean for a bit through the thickened clouds which now had a slight pink hugh from the sunset (or lack of). It was still pretty. It started to get a bit cold and after finally losing faith of capturing the sunset that was originally going to make the weekend even more special than it has already been, I decided I didnt want to stay for the remaining 1/2 hour to wait and find out.
As we stayed a moment longer, and caught one last look at the horizon, Josh handed me a bar of chocolate and a card. As I read it, tears came to my eyes as I could hear his voice in my head telling me how appreciated, how loved, and how special I am to him. Its funny but sometimes, although we know these things, it really means so much just to read the words that you know came from the heart. The love, the emotion, the feelings of being with someone you care about.
This moment was my "sunset" of the trip. It was the moment that captured our Monterey experience. It was the moment that was that made everything feel perfect and right. I was truly beautiful and I cried.
When we got back to the hotel room I was figuring out my budget for the weekend and seeing how close I was to staying within it. I noticed the charge on hold from Rosines (the restaurant we at lunch at) and the charge was higher than it should be. It was exactly $1.66 more which surprised me. I left the waitress just a hair under 15% because I wasnt completely satisfied with the service and when I calculated the amount that was on hold, it was exactly a 20% tip. I was a bit ticked.
I called them up asap and here is how the conversation went after explaining the situation. I heard first that it was my bank that automatically does that. I responded by telling her, every other restaurant Ive eaten at didnt do that. She explained that the charge went through fine in which I asked to come down and let them print me out a receipt showing the correct amount. She said I could come down and she could show me but couldnt print me a receipt that had the correct total.
At this point it was getting a little heated and I said it wasnt the $1.66 issue that was the problem and if they corrected it, thats fine but I just wanted them to admit it was their fault rather than continuing to make excuses. This was when she told me I was becoming annoying.
Well that would say enough (if you know me) and I asked for her name. I was delivered with a "Why do you want that?". Why are people so bold and so strong until you want their name? I explained that if I was coming down to take care of this issue, I would want to speak to her since she was the one who knows the situation.
At this point the tone of the conversation changed. She explained that their machine automatically sends this amount. Yes! "Your Machine". Now hearing this, it was my turn. This was the admission of guilt I was looking for. I said "ok, now let me explain something to you. I have worked in this kind of industry before accepting credit cards and know that its a button on your machine that automatically calculates the 20% tip and that it was your machine that is programmed to do that." I explained "Most restaurants will hold the amount of the bill without gratuity unless there is a large group. If they are adding in gratuity (which the bill didnt reflect when it was brought to me to sign), then they should be advising their customers. Otherwise all other restaurants Ive been to put the actual amount of the bill into their machine and then adjust the amount up to include tip.". She played stupid and surprised to hear that information. She changed her tone and apologized (which was all I really wanted to hear). Finally I felt like I won the battle.
The rest of the night was pretty smooth. We went to another coffee shop and realized why the stores in Monterey seemed to be full of rude employees. The reason being, a tourist town, the jobs are probably occupied by locals who get fed up with people from out of town. They get irritable and expect people to understand how their business works. This just isnt going to happen. My thought is "You wanted your business in a tourist area for the money, then you need to have your help accomidate the tourists as well as the locals".
With that, it was now late and we went back to the room, stayed up for a bit and then went to sleep so we can leave Monterey.
Posted by Des at 06:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 12, 2005
Monterey
When we last left our caped crusaders, they were expecting to go to Monterey.
Thursday night was fun. Josh arrived around 6:30 and we had his friend Josh C (the C, not to be confused with my Josh) over for dinner. We cooked for the 4 of us (Ste3eve included).
I got a bit tipsy and went in and crashed but it was nice to have company, and it was nice to see that Josh C. Its funny but he lives so close, yet we dont really see him all that much. They grew up together, came out together and were good friends since childhood, and for some reason, we dont get to see alot of him.
Part of it would be my fault because what little time I have with Josh, I like to spend quality time together. Just the 2 of us. So I tend to monopolize his time alot while he is on break. Soon enough though, he will be done with school (he graduates the beginning of May), and then we will have all the quality time we want. I cant wait but we still need to figure out living arrangements.
We havent decided yet, if we want to move (which may be a possibility) or stay in the place we are at which is small. If we move, its a pain in the ass, and if we stay, the place may be too small for 3 people. Stay tuned to see what happens.
So Friday went well. We woke up, got ready for Monterey, and were off without a hitch. We made great time and arrived in Monterey around 3pm. It was beginning a gentle rain which in some cases would mean disaster. It was actually calming and relaxing. Its nice to get away from home although its kind of odd to live in a city such as San Francisco and want to escape on occassions.
So last night we went for a walk in the rain, looked around, had dinner at this great mexican place called Zocalo, came back to the hotel, watched 13 going on 30 (which I actually liked surprisingly), and went for another walk. We stopped and had coffee at this great little bookstore which I actually liked. I saw two versions of the Harry Potter books in Chinese and Arabic. That was weird.
The place was great up till the time we were leaving. When Josh asked if they had a bathroom, he was told no and to go across the street to the hotel over there. This surprised me. I mean, a bookstore/coffee house without a bathroom for customers. I was a little ticked about that so while he went across the street, I went inside to ask for a comment card.
With this, I told them I was surprised they didnt have a bathroom and advised the girl (the same one that said no) that we had sat and had coffee and it wasnt as if we were some guys off the street. When she found out I wanted to write a letter, she started making excuses which pissed me off more but I kept my cool.
She explained that she was trained to say no when people asked and that she was just doing what she was told. She asked me not to mention what she was telling me about the training, in which I just agreed and moved on.
So here's the sitch'. I can appreciate that she was doing what she was told and suppose perhaps it wasnt her fault, but the truth is, if they are trying to stop people from coming in off the street (mind you its Monterey and a tourist town), then perhaps they should qualify people before they "just say no". Perhaps state "bathroom is for customers only" or "Only people who buy stuff can use it". Althought they both still sound rediculous, it would have at least given us the option to tell her that we had purchased coffee and enjoyed their store. Needless to say, it didnt happen that way, and I will be writing to the owner.
After the bookstore, we were both still in a great mood. We took a walk in the rain, took some pictures at night, and went along the beach a bit. Such a relaxing, romantic evening. The waves crashing onto the shore. The sound of birds chirping as they wander the sands. It was fantastic.
The night ended on a romantic level for me, reconfirming my feelings and knowing after 2 years together, how much we still care about each other. Ive only had one other relationship that has lasted this long and I remember all the negative feelings arising after about a year and a half. I remember wanting to get out of the relationship. Its amazing when we learn that we can continue to care about someone on the same level (and sometimes higher level), as the day we met.
I still love him very much and its nice to have someone after 2 years, that I still want to plan a life with, and continue moving forward and enjoying each others company in so many ways both physically, mentally, and on a romantic level.
This morning Im up early and writing, while he sleeps for another 1/2 hour. We are off to the Aquarium today, a stroll down Cannery Row, Perhaps an Art Walk, and then I want pictures of the sunset on the beach. Hopefully, another romantic day.
Ill keep you posted
Posted by Des at 07:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 08, 2005
Our Anniversary / Valentines Planning
First off today is the 2 year anniversary of the day Josh and I got together. Hooray!!! 2 years. Can you believe it?
For those who've known me a while, and since I came out, Ive gone through MANY dates (ok sex, flings, etc... but always looking for the right one). As some people would call it "rolls of toilet paper". Thats a story in its own.
Anyway, I can hardly believe its been 2 years. Its my second relationship thats lasted at least this long, and its been far too long in between. Its nice to know that we are still happy with each other, still love each other very much, and still have plans for the future together. Never know what to expect, but its definitely a good thing and Im looking forward to many more years together.
Now speaking of my boyfriend (who is very wise mind you), he has informed me that I have been stressing over finances way too much lately. Im the type of person who lives paycheck to paycheck, my credit sucks (therefore no soup for me), and I am constantly budgeting to make sure I have enough to last me through out the month.
Lately Ive grown very tired and impatient on what I have wanted months ago but couldnt afford. Theres so much I need to buy to make up for what I lost when I moved (mind you I didnt have much but things were still mine). Now that I have a refund coming from the government, I really want ALL those things Ive been hoping for and although I can afford all of them within a months time, I still want them now. I dont want to wait any longer. So Ive been stressing.
I need to stop that and live life and do what I can, when I can. I should be happy to do half the stuff I want to within the next few weeks and then shortly after, be happy I can do them in a months time. Im going to try and live by those rules and try and relax more.
So on that note, last night I did my calculating of finances, and realized what can be done soon, and what would have to wait a month. I figured everything out and I will have plenty to get me through the months. We will do Monterey this weekend, I can buy my computer, and then depending if we can get discounts on those phones we wanted, I will either get them this month and put the futon off till next month, or visa versa if we cant get the discount. Either way its managable.
The other plans we were looking for seemed within the budget as well. Valentines Day dinner at The Stinking Rose, and the The Tea Orgy at Samovar . Well I wake up this morning to find that The Stinking Rose is booked Valentines Day and the flyer we got from Samovar says $23 a ticket and their website says $29.10.
Blah, reworking the plan. We cant go to dinner the day before because we will be rushing back from Monterey and the day after is a maybe because I will be having my cyst removed that afternoon. Hopefully it will all work out and I know I need to take a breath and let it play out the way it will but cant help but to stress a bit over the plans going bad.
We will see as the day goes on.
Posted by Des at 06:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 07, 2005
Some Excitement, Some Disappointment
So lets see. I dont have a lot of time so Ill try and narrow it down.
I figured out my federal taxes and looks like Ill be getting back a lot more than I thought. With my bills being up to date (and early no less), I can use my next couple of paychecks, plus my taxes to do the following.
1. This weekend Josh and I will be going to Monterey for a couple of days. Im looking forward to it and neither of us has ever been there.
2. I will be getting my Mac-Mini. Not all the options I want but will get the ones that cant be upgraded later on down the road such as the super combo drive, the internal bluetooth, and the memory upgrade.
3. I decided to get a futon instead of a mattress. Although I could afford a mattress, it doesnt seem like the best choice. First off, Josh wants something alot more expensive than what I can afford right now (lol, go figure). This leaves me two options. a) get a full size mattress and box spring which eventually can be put into a spare room, or b) a futon, which will allow space in my current room, be used as a temporary couch when we get a place until we can afford a sofa, and then at that time, instead of having a spare bedroom, we could have an office with a spare place for people to sleep. The futon thing sounds like the more practical way to go.
4. We are both getting cell phones. YAY!!! Who would have thought I would have a cell? Not only are we getting cell's we are getting the Treo 650
Im really excited about it.
So tomorrow is our 2 year anniversary. He may be leaving today to go visit his grandmother and we will celebrate our anniversary in Monterey. Cant wait.
Valentines Day we are going to Samovar for a "tea orgy". Actually its not what it sounds like. Samovar, is a tea house in castro which is doing a special Valentines function. It sounds like fun so we will be enjoying various teas and socializing.
Ok, all that sounds like fun but now comes a bit of disappointment. I still need to call unemployment and check the actual benefits Im entitled to, but the information that I got from a friend who has been unemployed is that the benefit is for 6 months and not 12. This means I will most likely have to get serious about finding a job around August 1st. Still cant complain but I need to have something by October 1st.
My thought is this. Im still thinking Im better off pulling out my 401k (which Im sure wouldnt be advised by some) and using the money for a training class (which I was also advised isnt available). This would then put me a little bit ahead of the game when I do go searching for a job.
If I can receive free training, then I will bank the money myself into a savings account and draw the interest on that.
Everything will work out fine.
Thank you so much for the support I received. I truly know my friends and you guys are definitely the best. This includes my family (who in many ways have been my biggest support all my life). I love you all.
Posted by Des at 05:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 03, 2005
Realization
This morning, I started thinking about my life and where to turn. I hold alot in and it isnt easy or healthy. Since the move 8 months ago, Ive felt like I cant really talk to my old friends about the fears and issues in my life, I cant talk to my new friends because I cant bringd down that wall just yet (and new friends dont want to hear someone whine), and Josh is so far away to hug and find the support I need.
I was afraid yesterday for the first time about several issues. First, the cyst on my head. I know it isnt a big deal and people have them removed all the time. Mind you, Ive never broken a bone in my body, never spent a night in a hospital, and have never really had any kind of surgery in my life. So facing something that may seem small and minor to others, is inside me as a fear, a concern, and a bit of unease.
Second is losing my job in April. Ive never been in a situation like this. When I was younger and still living at home, I was laid off but had my family who still paid the bills and provided all the necessities, so it wasnt a big deal. Now its my life, my support, my means of living.
Many options and Im not sure how to go about them. The fear remains, what if it doesnt work out for the best? I could take the summer off and slowly look for a job. I could collect unemployment and perhaps take a class that will be usefull for finding a job down the road (like my certificate which prevented me from getting that other job). How will employers see that time gap in between jobs on my resume? Will I be able to make enough money to support myself once the severance is done and Im living off of just unemployment? Im faced with the same fear I had when I initially moved.
The third thing is Josh's possibility of staying at Heartwood another quarter. 8 months ago, I moved out here with plans of being together in May. 10 months apart was a long time. Ive been patient with the hopes that the time will go by quickly. With everything else going on, I looked forward to graduation in May and finally putting together the plans we started a year ago. How do I say "I dont want you to continue on because I need you here"? I cant say that. I wont say that. I mean I could and in some ways have but I know its selfish of me. I just feel like once again, the plans we made are being pushed back which brings a sense of disappointment.
So with all that said, I really feel alone, afraid, and unsure about things. Im feeling a bit down. I did realize one thing while talking to my friend Colleen this morning (who helped considerably. Thank you!) and thats the fact its all still part of "the change". The transition period isnt over till Josh is done with school.
I also know that losing my job is a part of change and the biggest fear Ive learned is that people are afraid of the transition and not the change itself. Its scary to be in transition because you dont know the outcome. So Im still dealing with two major changes in my life. Perhaps I will try and be less afraid of the transition but its definitely hard.
Ok, done venting. Back to being a pillar of strength for now.
Posted by Des at 06:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 01, 2005
Blessing?
So where to begin?
First off my new friend from Bart wasnt on the train this morning. Ive started looking forward to our morning encounters. Perhaps I scared him away *chuckle*. I seem to have that effect on people. Anyway, I enjoyed talking with him on Friday and Monday and would still like to continue.
I did manage to make the appointment to have my cyst (aka "tuma") remmoved. This will happen on February 15th. Im a bit nervous but it will be a relief to have that "thing" removed. Perhaps now I can shave my head once more lol. Who knows.
So down to business. Today we had a department meeting with "special guests". One being our directors boss and another woman who Im not sure of her position. To cut to the chase, they are eliminating our department in northern CA and moving our work to southern CA. What this means is effective April 1st, I will be out of a job. No, its not an April Fools joke early.
My first reaction was that this is a blessing since Ive been wanting to look for a new job anyway. Im keeping a positive outlook on things and already making plans to move forward. They will be giving a severence of 6 weeks effective April 1st, and I will also be eligible for unemployment. The unemployment would be roughly $100 less per week than Im making now, which wouldnt be too much of a loss. If I take that route (and I need to research it more), I may also be eligible for some kind of training while Im collecting unemployment. I still have to figure out if I would rather do that or persue another job prior.
So things I need to research are a) How my 401K works, since Ive only been there roughly 5 month (not including the time as a temp), my bought vacation time, what Im actually entitled to for unemployment, and I still need to go over the fine print of the termination contract.
That brings me to another issue. The termination contract Im not so sure is a standard contract because Ive never been laid off from a job before. In it, several things stand out at a glance and the major one would be if I do not accept a suitable job or interview for it, I would lose my severance pay. Im not so sure Im comfortable with that wording. I mean, what is considered suitable? Something of equal pay vs. benefits? Does it mean anything that comes along? I need clarification on that one.
As for my evening, my W2 from Blue Cross Blue Shield has still yet to come in the mail. I know they have my correct address because I gave them the information before I moved so they could forward my last paycheck. Ill give it one more day before I begin a series of phone calls to have another one issued, faxes (if they can do that), or somehow get what I need to file my taxes.
So thats been my day. Job search? Unemployment? Training? hmmmm... any words of wisdome out there?
Posted by Des at 08:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack