MOOD

Standing in the perfect cold of late April, a lightly packed bag on my shoulder, waiting for the bus home with sore soles, listening to Amos Lee, I feel perfectly happy. I think I feel like a perfect nobody, ignored by the crowd around me and location unknown to any of my friends & family.

I don't feel like I've escaped the unpleasant or difficult bits of my life but that this is a small breather which I am not taking for granted.

I am further pleased that I can sleep in tomorrow.

I passed on a 10-minute lift in favor of this 30-minute bus trek because I don't feel like talking.

//

FRAME

I'll be working mostly in the afternoon for the next two weeks, just as I did this week.  When I was first asked, I think I faintly winced but I didn't have any solid reason to refuse. The thrill of the unknown encouraged me slightly. (NEVER know what will happen on the late shift.)

→ Once it was settled, I took comfort knowing that this meant more time with Miserable S____ who is an afternooner through and through. Six more opportunities than usual.

On TUESDAY

•What I didn't expect but was quickly confronted with on Tuesday, the first late shift, was that I missed seeing all the regulars that aren't around in the mornings. People who work later in the day, generally, are MUCH more chill than those working earlier which changes the nature of conversations and acquaintanceships.

•Three people called hello to me by name and none of them was in line or being served by me. They just hollered across the store. :)

•I got to talk shop with one of the guys who bets via ProLine occasionally, plays ball locally and has jaded-realistic fanship with the Toronto Blue Jays. He called Bautista my "hero" when mentioning his recent dinger and he was so oddly facetious about it! I corrected him on the heroship.

•I was able also to listen to the Jays game in full (like I did tonight), to catch up on Twitter and send some important emails.

On THURSDAY

Tonight I had a breakthrough in what I've been working on for weeks with my other job which turned out to be a real pick-me-up.

The highlight of the night was probably when Pats fan S____ came in mid-shift and stayed to chat with me for about 40 minutes.  He even bought me tea.  I don't think I enjoy being habitually called "Sunshine" more by anyone else.

He is one of a handful of people who get to see me at my most friendly, most relaxed, most exuberant, most kind, most smiley and most outwardly joyful.

[unplanned transparent departure]

I think I like the "Sunshine" handle because it seems to reflect that list of traits (for which sole credit can only go to Jesus).  I'm happy if you interact with me and you notice the things that are different about me because I know Jesus.  He's worth knowing and reflecting.

[end departure]

Side-perk: S____ gave me some starting points for my country music foray.  I told him I had decided yesterday that I should stop hating the genre and he laughed.  I asked for some names hoping for two or three and hoping for names I didn't recognise.  He gave me seven and I've heard of three.  I'm eager to start sampling.

LATE ADDITION TO POST:

I think I inadvertently struck a nerve with Miserable S____ this afternoon.  I could be wrong but I'm interested to see what happens when next we meet.  It's the kind of nerve strike that could illuminate the most mysterious lightbulb about him and allow me to understand - and therefore serve - him better.  I don't intend on being cruel, tapping away at something painful and sensitive but I'll have vigilant eyes open for his bait to revisit the topic.


--

END BIT

Because the late shift means I can live like a night person AND because I'm not doing uni courses presently, I feel like I'm on vacation.  It's wonderful to FEEL like you're off work when you're not.

Watching "American Idol" (2001-present)

...because they're featuring the music of Queen this week.

Half-watching this episode and half-sending text messages, -reading a letter, -writing/deleting emails and now -blogging I decided a few things.

1) Ryan Seacrest's hair is.... hair.  It's something.  This is not an important comment at all...I'm just a little mesmerised by it.  It's so...perfectly coiffed..and not like I remember it.  Also, I heard yesterday that he signed on with AmIdol for two more years at $15 million per annum...I think this is... a tidy sum.  It makes me look at him differently.  He looks like a millionaire.

2) I think I need to give it up re: country music and try something.  When I think about it I cringe but when I hear (some of) it I get engaged by some je ne sais quoi.  I want to sais quoi!

3) Joshua Ledet needs to get a label.  All record label execs are idiots if none of them signs him by the end of this thing (assuming he doesn't win).  It's insane to hear someone who knows the craft of singing so inside and out.  He's creative and passionate ...can't put it into words.  Please watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ4pNlvt0m8  It's two minutes and eight seconds long.

4) Jessica Sanchez I either have never heard before or couldn't remember her (which is disappointing).  Her voice tonight, singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" was fantastic.  I know that piece inside and out (give me a pencil and I could write it out from memory) but she made it new and interesting for me.  I really listened and I really liked it.  I didn't want or expect her to sound like Freddie and she didn't.  It was wonderful.  It's an accomplishment for ANY singer with such a well-known anthem -- and even more when the vocalist has a distinctive sound.

Her voice is so full and gorgeous and I can't describe it. Her second song tonight I watched twice. It was delightful.  Try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKOo_2q4_CM

5) I decided I like J. Lo's accent.  I guess I haven't listened to talk her much before but I for some weird reason find it really neat.

6) Randy Jackson annoys me.  It's all true.  I don't like his overuse of words like "dawg" and "yo".  Just don't like it.  I only call it overuse because it seems to be put on.


Having these other tasks to work on while watching has made it a pleasant experience.  I was able to ignore all the chaff (fanfare) about this show that irritates me. 

I think I'm trying to write two blog posts simultaneously so I'd better stop here.

the title of this blog post

On Friday I was meant to continue training/supervising a new hire and I did not find it easy.  This has got to be one of the two worst such experiences.

It's nice that this was her second day, so I didn't need to start from nothing but we had great difficulty communicating.  I asked questions and received a blank stare, she asked questions I didn't understand but refused to repeat them when I inquired.  I lost patience far too quickly.

While I worked on other things in silence, I was brainstorming other ways to bridge the gap and by the end of my shift hadn't come up with anything.

I got frustrated when she interrupted my answers with more questions that wouldn't have needed to be asked had she listened.  I was frustrated BUT I was incredibly disappointed with myself in my unwillingness to persevere.  At a point I gave up entirely and only corrected things after they went wrong.  I don't know how to teach someone who won't listen, I really don't.

I hope things get better for her and that the next person to work alongside her will be able to connect.


After 2pm we had a predictable rush so I worked on the second register to halve the pressure on the new gal.  I called the next customer over and took a second to recognise it was a regular: S____, the New England Patriots fan.

He obviously had seen me before I saw him and looked amused at my uncut flusteredness.  I was glad to see someone familiar.  It wasn't just a 2pm rush, I should add: there were 115 other things that had gone wrong that day, on top of my growling frustration.

He asked, "how's yer day been?" in a familiar way and I laughed, sighed and grumbled at the same time, which I expected to function as an answer itself.  He understood perfectly.  (He's answered my questions with grunts and eye-rolls before, too.)  I went on, because he was using the debit machine and there was time.

"I decided..." (I paused to firm up the decision, mid-sentence) "...yes, I decided to invent a new word to describe this day." I was waving an index finger about, as if some great lightbulb had gone on or plan had been hatched.  (It was also a much-needed outlet for my sillies.  Very few opps for silliness at work, I find.)  He looks up at me, waiting.  "Throttlesome."

It had just come to me.  And when it emerged from my mouth, I liked it even more.  Like the sound and shape of it and so forth.  Created on a whim...I like it.

His eyes opened wide in appreciation as he nodded slowly and commended, "Nice."  I nod along, liking it more and more.  "I like it."

I shake my head slightly, as if to shed selfishness and ask, "So how was your day?"

"I'm still here.  Still goin."  (His days end early because they start dirty early, like 4am.)

"What's the deal?"

"I work with some..." (the same bright, appreciative and now knowing eyes) "throttlesome people."

I laugh freely and say I got it.  We goodbye kindly and the next customer arrives.  It's like a breath of fresh air, being able to laugh with an acquaintance in the middle of a stresso situation.  Everyone should try it.

something theoretically noteworthy

About a month ago I passed my two-year anniversary at my music-related job and didn't realise it til later in the week.  I kept making a note about how I need to blog about it, to reflect on the twenty-four months but I alternated between over-thinking it and under-thinking it.

At the time I realised the anniversaryness, I was so frustrated with work that I refused to blog and have my whole stay colored by one rough week/day/month/whatever it was.

Now, I've lost the spirit of commemoration and remembrance but let's give it a college try.

•  I am pleased that I appear to have grown into the job and to have learned much about managing people, managing administration work and leading musically.  It feels like a good job and it mostly feels like a real job.  I enjoy it.
• I have been enjoying the creative outlet I'm afforded by the job more and more and more and more lately.  I have an idea, I plan it out, we execute and it often goes well.  I've never regretted a choice for creative innovation, no matter how poorly it panned out.
• I continue hoping for the opportunity to offer individual mentorship and essentially permission to tweak.

• I've learned to let things go. 
• I've learned to let things go.
• I have so much more ground to cover in terms of letting things go.

• I get frustrated often and I am tired of picking my battles.  I frequently feel handcuffed, brickwalled, glass-ceiling-ed, isolated, indignant and angry.  Sometimes I am wrong.  Sometimes I am right.
• I dream of progress and yearn for it weekly.
• I wonder what the calendar looks like.  I wonder what people's hearts look like.
• I would like to give up and I would like to persist.  (I end up thinking about one Sunday or Wednesday at a time.)

That is the end of my post.  The conclusion is that I like my job.  It is both very challenging and delightful.  I'm grateful for it.

like vegetables

I just deleted seven drafted posts from my Lieu de Naissance account and it felt great.  They were mostly unfinished ...just a few notes to remind me what I wanted to say when I came back to it but...I don't think I was ever going to go back to any of them.  One post was fully formed and ready to publish but my conscience was waffling so I left it to see how I'd feel in the morning.  I'm glad I waited.  That post was actually written in November and it needed to never be published online.  Now it is in the abyss.

This day has been insane.  I did go into work this morning, a little later and a little more why-aren't-the-buses-running? than hoped but we deal.  Lots of good news at work.... I have a sheet full of scribbled notes and it will be a challenging weekend but..I like challenges.  (This job hasn't challenged me in ages.  It's just customer relationships that make for hard work.)

I did get to intercept the uber-classy, super-smiley Red Bull rep.  We chatted briefly (he takes his work seriously).  He handshakefully congratulated me when I said why I was there on a day when I normally don't work. 

I didn't see the new baby-daddy but I did leave a cigar with his boss.

The other regulars I bumped into only gave me a hard time ("You never sell me any winners [lotto tickets]..", "Did you sleep in?") and I mouthed off right back.


I created something that looks like a decent outline for the paper I'm working on.  It needs more work.  It always needs more work.  SIGH.  But..I'm glad for progress.  I forgot how much research was needed... I hope my time budgeting is successful over the next six days.


This budget app I downloaded on Saturday is terrible.  It's showing me how I spend my money.  I hate it.  Accountability and sobriety are lame.

None of this is what I had planned to blog about.


--
On Tuesday Miserable S____ came in before I left.  I had actually hoped, that day, to be gone before he showed up.  I had just emerged from the loo at five minutes after three and there he was.  He's usually not in til at least 3.20.  I was a little annoyed.

I went to pack up my bag and my coworker asked if I would replace the paper in #12 before I left because she can't be in two places at once.  I grabbed the key and the roll and then just stopped and leaned on the counter, four feet away from S who was using the ABM.  He didn't look up and I didn't say anything.

"Is today your last day, too?" he asks almost sounding like Robert Munsch or someone equally playful. The day before I had mentioned that it was my other coworker's last day because he was hassling her about being in a good mood.  (I was practically jumping. "Tell 'im why!  Tell 'im why!"  It's so exciting when people get out.  I later realised that I thought I was quitting that whole day and while I talked to her after we'd switched over.  Ha.. I didn't feel too disappointed when I realised I was still on staff.  I was still very happy for her.) 

"NO.... Do you wish it was my last day?  Cos I do."

"Everybody needs a job...." I'm impressed with his softness because the last time we talked about work he was mocking me.

"Yeah, I know!"  (read: "Don't remind me!")

"... just not this job."  I'm shocked by what seems to be sympathy he's affecting.  He seems to understand a) that my job isn't awesome, b) that I don't do it for the glamour (i.e. that I do the job because I need the income) and, most interestingly, c) that I could (can?) do something better.  He sounded like he felt pity in a kind way.  Even if he didn't mean any of what I just wrote, I'll still take the encouragement.

He guesses that customer service is rough.  I [regret that I] interrupt[-ed] him and clarify that I don't mind the customer service bit at all. It's "the other aspects" that aren't so awesome.  He's still banking so I wait for him to look up so I can say I mostly really enjoy the customers except for the small handful of terrible ones, and I un-subtly point in his direction while avoiding eye-contact.

He takes great offense (pushing and pushing) and I claim I made no insult (digging a deeper and deeper hole of backpedallage) -- our norm.  Then he's ready for Powerade so I'm ready for changing the receipt roll in pump #12.  When I come back and I resume packing he accuses me of "loitering" once again.  I point out that it's 15h08 and that I have loitered not.  I give him a recap of the last three or four minutes, most of which he observed and point out that I stayed late because he made me talk to him.

I told him that if he wasn't so unlikeable* I wouldn't have had to stay.  "So.... work on that," I mumbled at the end of my rant because he was staring blankly**.  On the surface, my literal statement was that I didn't like him and that it was an unpleasant and obligatory chore to speak with him. 

**Sometimes I really enjoy not making sense because it can be just as much work as making sense if you do it right.

But, with any reasonable shred of common sense, a peer would decipher my rhetoric and see I meant just the opposite of what I'd said.  It was a very thin veil.  This probably accounts for why
*his face lit up and gave way to the biggest smile I've ever seen on him when I used this word.  I actually had to look away for a second as I said it which added even more weight to the confession. 

When he found his words, he continued to pummel me for not making sense, being ridiculous, etc, etc. as per usual.  I eventually gave up and admitted I had nothing. He grumped, "I didn't think so," (reverting to Guard-Up Miserable S____ in a flash) right before he became a Tim Hortons customer for the umpteenth time.

He turned to yell goodbye before he left, looking all inscrutable again.  Moments later, my coworker asked, "Why do you talk to him??  He's so depressing!"

I laughed and felt glad that she called him "depressing".  I sometimes fail to reconcile his two halves.  "Ohhhh, I think he's great," I blurted because I didn't really care how much sense it made or face it saved.  She didn't really get it.  I told her about the game I play that's called "Making an Incredibly Grumpy Person Smile/Ungrumpy for a Moment" (but not in those words) and she sort of got it.  I don't mind.  I don't know!

tomorrow

I was asked to stop in at work either today or tomorrow to get some instructions for this weekend.  The bosses will be away and the employee who just resigned leaves me with most seniority.  So... I'm in charge for a few days.  It's weird.

Going into work when I'm not working is generally annoying.  But, the perks in this situation are as follows:

- this is a totally new experience for me
- I'm dead curious about how I'll handle the responsibility 
- I will be in at the same time the Red Bull rep will be around (yay!)
- I will be at liberty to talk to any other regulars* I see
- I am guaranteed an early start on a day "off"

*I do hope this includes the one who just became a dad.


I hope it's a good start to a productive day.

triplicate

You might think that I only ever go to, think about, care about this one job by how much I've written about this lately in all these listful forms.  I think the truth is that it's the easiest thing for me to bit-size-ly process that at least allows me to get SOMETHING out in these days when it's hard to...get a lot of stuff out.  (That's my it's-almost-midnight brain that wrote the end of that sentence.)

(1) I didn't really want to work today
-because my threshold for doing this job seems to have just dropped
-because I'm left as the last person who can do all sorts of shifts and I'd have to be a total a** to say NO
-because I wanted to watch the Blue Jays
-because I wanted to work on a paper
-because I wanted a day off

So when I arrived at 14.56 (the bus was late) I didn't look totally happy.  I knew I looked irritated and I didn't like it.  I was planning to think it out and choose to be pleasant but hadn't found the moment to do it by the time 3.30 rolled around and Miserable S____ walked in.

I forgot I might see him today.  It kinda bothered me how drastically my mood improved before he even got in line.

"Well, hello!"

"'Sup." Thump (Powerade), thump (second Powerade).

"Want some cigarettes?"  I'm already walking away.

Thinks for half a moment (he never has to think about it..he's a pretty patternful guy) and reluctantly says, "Yeaaah..."  I'm pulling them off the shelf as he adds, "...gotta stay healthy."

I enjoy his sarcasm because it's so terrible.  It's so flat and doesn't travel far.  He just says what he says.  

I don't know how to respond so I look at the Surgeon General's warning photo and say mock-helpfully, "THIS guy looks healthy."

He didn't seem to find it that funny.  His response is a silent, dramatic closing of his wallet after retrieving his debit card.  It's virtually the same kind of response one gets from most smokers being told to quit.  A subtle kind of "get out of my face".

I'm welling up with stupid comments to make because he usually pays cash and I don't expect this extra time.  I decide I can't pick the least stupid thing and end up singsonging, while handing over his "Love, Mom"-inscribed bagged lunch, "Have fun at work!", the dear or sweetie at the end implied.

He grunts something and then a beat later declares, "Double time-and-a-half," and I nod (turning back into my sincere self without meaning to) appreciatively.  "Well, that's great," comes out of my mouth, non-sarcastically because I am a hard-core fan of silver linings.

He goes for coffee.  (Patternful.)  As he leaves he's still chatting across the store with J__ at the Tims counter because they always have something to talk about.  He yells his typical "take care" to her has he pushes the door open with his back.  Then he remembers me and I get slight nod and a coffee hand salute.  For a second, I thought I saw a look in his eyes like he knew me.

[Side note of life: That is an ODD look to be given by anyone in any situation, I feel.  When someone looks at you like they know you, I suppose it's like they're looking past what they can see.  I think it's some cool combination of unsettling and flattering -- at least the first time.  It wears off.]

I am probably wrong.  I had three customers in line so he only got an affectionate smile in return.  Moments later he's back in the store to use the ABM.  I finish what I'm working on and then throw over without looking, "You missed me that much, eh?"

Pause (I love those pauses haha).  "Yeah.  That's what it is," he answers in virtual monotone, also without looking up.

I laugh and start tying my shoelaces.  (That's not a metaphor, I just hadn't done it since changing into uniform.)

He walks toward the side of the counter and explains that he remembered he needed to get cash to pay for food from the lunch truck.  I had to ask him to repeat it because I didn't get all the words but also because I had understood enough to make 14 different puzzle pieces slip LOUDLY into place in my head and wanted a few extra seconds to catch up.  It's such a funny bit of information to share.  I didn't really need to know why he was pulling money out... People take cash from their bank accounts.  It happens.

"Oh, I see," is my response because there's not much to add.

"Yeah."  He's fully stopped now, not even trying to talk as he walks out, like he doesn't have time.  (Pause.) "It's nice when she just lets me run a tab for a week, though."  He has such a peculiar way of talking and of expressing things.  I'm not even sure that quote is true to him.  I also had to ask him to repeat this because I caught the word "tab" but the puzzle pieces were still doing their slidey thing and trying to shout connection after connection in my brain-ear.

I can't say everything I'm thinking but I will take this opportunity to try a cheap shot.  Straight face... "So.. someone trusts you..."  Immediately I was disappointed with the phrasing because it wasn't clear OR sharp enough but I put my foot in my mouth with him so frequently that it doesn't even matter any more.

Miraculously, he understood that there was an insult afoot and part of his face gave way to a smirk.  No real answer... Yet another pause and a dry, "Yep," that makes me think he should be named Wiley and sit on his porch with Jeb.  "I donno why...." he continues.  He's succumbed to the insult!  He took the dis and had no retort. Wonderful.

[Side boat: I just don't get this economy in which insult = compliment but it does exist.  So peculiar.]


I laugh but I'm out of things to say.  I can only do banter for so long.  He's decided to mosey anyways. 

(2) My boss had asked me to ask the guy across the street if he had a particular kind of vehicle available for Saturday in the event that said guy came in.  I decided to call
-because he probably wouldn't come in so late in the day
-because it was a faster way to get the answer
-because I could

(pleasant but well-rehearsed) "[name of rental place]."

(imperceptibly different from a prank caller) "Hello, am I speaking with [first name, middle initial, last name]?"

"Yes, you are."

"And I suppose you know who this is."

(pouncing, tone utterly changed) "OHHhhhh, do I EVER know who this is."

And of course I am now beside myself with laughter because THIS guy has some Jim Carrey-ish qualities to his delivery.  I don't think I was expecting him to get so informal so quickly nor to be in such a good mood.

(still laughing) "I do actually have a real question for you."  (This is the moment I realise he hitherto didn't know I hadn't only called for poops & giggles... and he wasn't put off.)

"OK!" he barks, sounding like a fired-up athlete ready to hear from the coach.

Now I'm laughing again but I get my inquiry out.  He can grant neither request A nor B and I finally respond with, "Geez, what is this -- a long weekend or something?"

Not missing a beat, "I know, right?  Like some sorta Thanksgiving or something..."

Laughing again, but realising I am still at work and have to watch people so they don't steal gas.  I can't even say much more than, "Something like that..."

He mentions a second holiday I forget and then says something about a guy dressed in red coming around to people's houses.  I don't even know.  But I'm still laughing at his absurd version of playing dumb.  Now I have to go because someone's approaching the counter and we goodbye.

Earlier today I had been reflecting on how I need to make a trip across the street to chat for a bit since I haven't done that in ages and he cant' come to me.  So, it was nice and timely to have a pseudo chat.  I just enjoy the psuedo-friendship...not quite sure how to say it. 

(3)  I saw a very familiar cargo van on Wyndham Street painted with Red Bull colors and logos.  I ducked into the nearest convenience store thinking that's where P___, our Red Bull supplier, might be working presently.  It might not even be his van.  He wasn't there so I kept walking but by the time I'd gotten back to where the van was, I saw him leaned against the wall on the phone.  He held up the "just a second" finger and I waited.  He got his answer, hung up, asked how I was, said it was nice to see me and initiated a hug all in one fell swoop.  Impressive.  I sputtered for a second, catching up.

We chatted briefly about nothing and a few things... He told me a bit about the morning's delivery, I sympathized ..I told him a bit about my life, he encouraged...
He was interested in finishing his work day before the long weekend and I was interested in seeing how the extra innings of the Blue Jays' season opener unfolded.  We were impeding one another so we soon parted.

I don't know why he said, "See you soon, eh?" so deliberately after we had already closed the conversation because...we don't see one another any more.  This was a fluke.  It was weird.  He used to say, "see you next week," every Thursday morning, often full of hope, which made total sense.  But ..this I donno.  (Almost looked like he just gave away a surprise party.)  Force of habit perhaps.

These are the stories.  The Jays won, 7-4 in 16.  And so it begins.  (So begins seven months of paying attention to the MLB.)

Three quotes from work (cos apparently that's what I do now).

(1) Miserable S____ came in a few minutes after my shift was done but I had stayed, checking the order that had just arrived. He reaches the counter and says to both of us, with all the enthusiasm and sweetness of a walnut, "Howdy, kids." When there are two of us he says "kids".

I turn and say with pure cheer before I can think better of it, "Hi Squidward!" I've been wondering lately how he'd respond to me calling him that on a regular basis.

I had turned back to my work before he replied (I didn't think he'd heard me) so I laughed into an invoice when he retorted, "Go f*** yourself. How 'bout that?"

I looked up and his face was smiling against his will. I don't think he likes that he can't always dampen my mood.

I told him I appreciated his entertainment value in my life. He threw another sarcastic remark at me and I fumbled a comeback.

He seemed decidedly less miserable overall today which I can't account for.

(2) A guy whose name I forget came up to the counter saying, "Well, hello my lovely," as if he really believed there was something lovely about me.

(3) The duo of regulars, C & D came in today and D, right off the bat, asked when my birthday was. He claims that he will bake me something (as I did for each of them on their birthdays). (I don't believe him.)

I said, deflecting, "It was yesterday. [rudely sarcastic look of condescending disappointment] Thanks for nothing."

One looks more gullible than the other in the skeptical silence but I give up the ruse immediately. It's in July. "July, eh....?" the clever response.

[pause]

"When in July?"

Now uncomfortable again, "Somewhere in the middle," I reply, waving my hand in a vague circle of the middle of the calendar.

They try to cleverly crowbar it out of me a bit more abd I say, "Somewhere between the 17th and the 19th," to which D oddly takes exception to being labelled the "middle" of the month. I blurt, "It's the eighteenth," with a faint whisper of exasperation because I'm not arguing about "late", "mid-", "mid-to-late" today.

"Ah. That's VERY specific," he nods, making a mental note but kinda sounding like he's still waiting for the full answer.

Deliberately shifting focus I throw in that it's the same day as Vin Diesel's birthday. D, with all the sarcasm of a thousand disgruntled pundits, turns to C drawling, "Ohhhh! Vin DIEEESEL's birthday. YES. That's gonna be the reason I remember..." He rolled his eyes like a diva. Apparently it was silly of me to say.

But C, oh the magical C, comes outta nowhere with an almost Jon Stewart-ish, "He's MY Italian dream."

I couldn't even laugh it proplerly because of how shocked I was. He's usually excluded from the conversation so I totally got sniped. But I did laugh heartily. Perfect delievery and timing....ha.