i had abandoned my old template in exchange for this new, incredibly bland one with the intentions of filling it with what html i knew, with backgrounds, links, and everything else that makes blogging feel like its worth one's time. however, i havent even posted for weeks. i apologize; but im sure im only apologzing to myself, for having nothing here of interest for anyone. having nothing here of interest for myself.
going from a cable to a dialup modem wasnt exactly incentive to start experimenting with the blog. getting a full time, 9-7 job didnt really help either.
and about the job: i really detest working this job, save the 3% of the time when customers are cool and actually put my nametag to use. otherwise, im dealing with groups of 27 summer school kids who each want their own dolphin bouncy ball and otter postcard, but dont understand tax at all - i ring them up, tell them the total, and they hand me a sweaty wad of money, hot from their excited palms, only to find that because the ball is 2.99 and the postcard is 50 cents, they thought 3.49 was all they needed. i give them the member discount (shhhh technically im not supposed to but how can i turn them away?) and yet eventually they slowly walk away from the register with their wants in their hands, desperately trying to decide whether it will be more worthwhile to keep the 14" pencil or the shark jaw keychain.
so once i get over my heart being broken a hundred times a day, i then have to deal with the inexcuseable obnoxiousness of the adults.
a lady hands me a dime, and it literally sticks to my fingers. "what is this?" i ask.
"oh, thats probably some gum i had earlier."
....niiiiiiiiiiice....
i know i sound like a brat. after all, this is my first actual "job." the life of a musician doesnt sound too bad anymore - play a couple of hours, get a dinner, play a few more, get a few drinks, ease the tip jar into view, schmooze, and i was set with money for a few weeks. now, i have to stand for 8 hours (they give us a stepping stool which, in the minds of our supervisors, takes the place of a chair - i wonder how they'd feel if we took away their chairs and gave them a stepping stool instead at their desk for a day - doesnt quite suffice, does it?), take people's germ infested money (im constantly washing my hands, they start to feel sticky after a dozen or so transactions), and wear pants that do not fit (i am SOOOOOOO sick of women's clothes being too short for me... when will someone make pants for a 6' female standard mall fare?!?).
i have so much respect for people that put up with working behind a counter full time their entire lives. ive always had respect for people who worked in retail, i always had a smile and a personable comment for them, but now, even more so, i have an understanding of how the whole process works. patience is a virtue.
my coworkers are cool. especially the adults. dry humor is what gets them through the day. that and a nap in the breakroom at lunchtime.
ultimately, im not going to do something like this again, unless i absolutely have to.
for those of you interested in retail, i advise against working at a tourist attraction that consistently attracts over 10,000 a day to their exhibits and stores.

but, i finally got to jam with houlette and trezise tonight. and we're doing it again tomorrow... i just hope i can stay awake.  ¶ 02:07