What a Weekend

I had such a great time on my trip.  I really didn't want to leave, but I have to work at eight in the morning tomorrow.  It was so nice to see my friends; we really need to get together more often.
We slept in for a long time, but we had stayed up until two, so I don't feel bad about that.  We hung around the house for a while and watched Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix.  I hadn't watched the show in a long time, and now I want to go back to it.  I think I have watched the first season, but I'd like to go back and watch the whole show again.
We were planning on having sushi for lunch, but the restaurant didn't open until five, so we went swimming instead.  We were only in the pool for half an hour or so before the lifeguards forced us to get out.  There were some dark clouds in the sky and we heard a couple claps of thunder.  The rules of the pool say that after any thunder there can be no swimming for thirty minutes.  There was one more sound of thunder ten minutes later, which restarted the clock.  We just hung out on the pool chairs for forty five minutes and talked.  It was nice, but the water was so tantalizing just feet away.  I enjoyed a nice ice cream cone while we waited.
Finally, we were able to get into the pool again.  We splashed around for another hour or so before we needed to drip-dry before getting into the car.  Apparently we were all too excited to get to the pool, because none of us remembered to bring towels.  After a while more lounging on the chairs we headed back to the house.  Several showers later, we finally got to go out for our sushi.  Oh my, that was good.  Between the six of us we ordered 13 rolls of sushi and a plate of chicken.  We were stuffed when we left there, but we still went to a Mexican restaurant for desert.  I don't know why.
My friend is very good at Spanish and began speaking it with the waiters in the restaurant.  For some reason this made them think that all of us spoke Spanish, so they didn't speak a word of English to us while we were there.  We were able to figure most of it out though, and we only had to order desert, so it was more amusing than anything.
After that three of us had to leave for home, which was sad.  I went back to my friend's house with him and we watched Paranormal Activity II with his roommate.  We didn't get to bed until two (again!) but we had a great time.  He also helped me speed up my computer, which was an added bonus.

Today we went to lunch at a little Greek place that had fantastic gyros.  I was able to go there with one of my best friends, who had just gotten back into town today.  I hadn't thought that I would be able to see her this trip, so it was a nice surprise.  I wish we had of had more time together, but I had to leave for home.  Four hours later I'm sitting on my couch.  It's nice to be home, but I can't wait to see my friends again.  Next time, it's their turn to visit me!

Escapades

Last night was simultaneously exhausting and exhilarating.  I left town around ten in the morning.  I didn't leave right away though; I had a few shopping stops to make first -- mostly to buy my friend's present.  I finally got on the road around eleven thirty.  The trip was mostly uneventful, which was nice.  I did stop on the way at this dirty little souvenir place.  I wouldn't have stopped at all, but I had drank a giant glass of chai tea and was about to explode.
When I got in there I could not find any sign of a bathroom, which was disheartening.  I ended up buying a little heart bracelet and asking the clerk about facilities.  He pointed me to the back of the store.  I felt kind of bad going back there because it had the feel of a storage place.  It didn't seem like somewhere I was supposed to be.  The bathrooms were marked as men and women however, so I guess they were meant to be public bathrooms.  Hidden public bathrooms.
The bathroom itself was hideous.  There were two toilets in it and no stalls.  It was literally just two toilets sitting next to each other with a roll of paper in the middle.  To share, I guess.  I didn't even wash my hands there, choosing to use my hand sanitizer I keep in my car, because I felt like that sink would make me dirtier rather than cleaner.
After that though, I had a few hours of open road and a straight shot to my destination.  I had a blast seeing my friends, many of whom I hand't seen in months or a year.  We drank some and cooked some and watched TV some.  I won't get into too many details, but it was a great time.  I didn't get to bed until almost two in the morning, but I still somehow woke up fully rested at five.  I have no explanation for this.  I'm sure I'll crash again by mid-afternoon.
Today I'm looking forward to Sushi and swimming.  I can't wait!

A Trip

I am very excited today.  I've been planning a trip for the past week to visit a friend of mine from high school.  It's been a long time since I've seen him.  I thought for a while that I was not going to be able to go.  I only had a week's notice before the trip, so I hadn't asked off of work.  I was already scheduled to work all weekend, so I began the mad scramble to find someone to cover my shift.  It took a long time, but I finally got it covered.  I owe my co-workers a lot of favors now.  A lot of favors.  One of them is going to be working all weekend to help me out: Saturday morning and evening and Sunday morning and evening.  I feel bad about that, but I am so thankful that she was willing to do it.
So now here I am, bags packed, on Saturday morning.  I plan on leaving in just twenty minutes or so.  I need to stop by Barns and Noble on my way out of town and pick up a birthday present.  When I don't know what to get someone I always give books.  It's a great safety net gift.  They also have these little "Ugly Dolls" there that I think he will love, so I will pick up one of those.
I am not looking forward to the trip itself though.  I really hate driving long distances.  Five hours is not terrible, but it's not fun either.  On the bright side, it will be a great opportunity to listen to some of my new music.  I love talking to people as company, but sometimes it's nice to just to just sing along with the music.
I'm going to miss my puppy while I'm gone though!  I know it'll only be for two days, but I'll miss playing with him every day!  I'll miss seeing my dad and sister, who are visiting, but I'll be going to see them in just a few weeks.  That will be a whole other post!
I'll have new things to write about after the trip, so stay tuned!

Fireworks

Fire flies up high in the air, exploding with a crash that makes the whole ground shudder.  I hear other dogs barking at them, but it doesn't seem to stop the onslaught of bright booms.  I'm glad that my big brother Shadow is here with me.  He looks up at the explosions too, but he doesn't seem scared.  If Brother's not scared, then maybe I don't need to be either.
My family seems relaxed around me.  They are chatting and watching the bright lights in the sky.  They call to me, but it's late at night.  I'm tired.  The explosions don't let me go to sleep, though.  I wander around the back porch trying to find a good place to lie down.  It's all the same wood.  There is no great place to sleep, much to my disappointment.  Mommy takes me up on her lap, but Shadow won't fit too, and I want to be with him.
Oh!  What's this?  There's something yummy stuck to the foot of the table here.  Pappaw had been cooking something out here all day.  This tastes like that smelled.  I will like it for a while.  My family is laughing at me now, but it tastes really good!  I will lick it until it doesn't taste good anymore.
Shadow goes down the stairs into the grass, but I don't feel like jumping down them.  I watch him with sad eyes, but he doesn't come back up until Mommy calls him to go Inside.  I go too.  Then they put something cold in my ears.  They've been doing this for a while now.  I don't like it.  It does seem to help with the itchiness, but I don't like it.  At all.  It was a little less bad this time though.  Mommy gave me some treats.  It makes it better.  Now it's time to sleep, though.  Shadow hops up onto the couch and Mommy lifts me up with him.  Zzzzzzzzz.

Gem of Knowledge

        Justin grabbed his bag and ran out the door.  If he didn’t hurry, he was going to be late to his first class of college.  He made a mental note to smother his roommate in his sleep tonight.  He deserved it after turning off Justin’s alarm clock so that he could get more sleep himself.  He decided to take a short-cut across campus.  If he jumped the bushes in front of Dean Hall, he could cut a good five minutes off his walk.  He was nearing the aforementioned hall now.  In one decisive movement, he leapt over the Dean’s prized garden.  He came up short however, and found himself lying on his back in a pile of what used to be tulips.   As he struggled to get up, he heard a yelp come from underneath him.  Startled, Justin jumped to his feet.  When he looked back over his shoulder, he saw a small black and brown puppy wagging its tail at him.  He closed his eyes with a sigh.  He was definitely going to be late now.

He continued on his walk to class, hoping the tiny creature wouldn’t follow him.  Luck didn’t seem to be with him however.  He looked back, and saw the thing trotting happily by his side.
“Go away,” he whispered, “We’re not allowed pets on campus.”

The dog sat down at his feet and panted up happily at him.  Justin looked around, unsure what to do.  He couldn’t just leave it out here all alone; who knew what could happen to it.  With a sigh, he picked up the thing - which he saw now was a boy - and stuck it into his nearly empty bag.  The puppy gave a small bark of protest, but quieted down when Justin glared at him.
“None of that, now.  You’ll get me in trouble.”

He entered the classroom, and took a seat in the back.  He scooted into his chair, being very gentle as he put his bag on the floor.  The teacher raised one eyebrow at him, silently promising a talk after class.  The lecture went fine, until Justin noticed scuffling sounds coming from under the desk.  He looked down to find that his bag was wiggling and scooting across the floor.  He moved quickly, stomping on the bag’s strap to halt its movement.  His action didn’t go unnoticed however, and the professor called him up to the front of the class.  Completely humiliated, the poor boy handed his bag over.  The professor opened it, and gave a cry of surprise as the puppy leapt out.  Justin quickly explained the situation, hoping to keep out of trouble.  The teacher smiled and patted the dog gently.
“I guess we have no choice,” she said.  “We’ll just have to adopt this little fellow as our class pet.”
The class took a vote, and the dog soon had a name; Gem.  The teacher smiled at the dog.
“Well little guy, I guess you’ll be our own Gem of Knowledge.”

Good Bye

There were so many things that I wanted to tell you.  There were so many things that were never resolved.  Despite how I may have spoke or acted, I appreciated you.  I appreciated the advice you gave, though I didn't always agree with it.  I appreciated that you always pushed me to be the best I could, even when I didn't want to be.  I appreciated that you took the time to talk to me, even when I had nothing to say.  I appreciated how you thought of my feelings, even when I was trying to hurt yours.  I appreciate how you put up with my stages, even when I didn't know I was in one.
There are so many things that I took for granted.  There are so many things I'll never get back.  I miss being able to call you when I have nothing better to do.  I miss your hugs.  I miss the way your hair got frizzy in humidity - matching mine.  I miss your nagging.  I miss your letters detailing the advice you were afraid you'd forget.  I miss your smell being on everything in the house.  I miss worrying about you.  I miss you worrying about me.  I miss having someone to call when things were going bad.  I miss calling you when I'm scared.  I miss having someone to argue with about our moral issues.  I miss your religious influence.  I miss your instinctive kindness.  I miss your ability to find every hole in the ground.  I miss watching you dance when you think I'm not.
There are days that I still cannot believe you're gone.  There are days I reach for my phone to call you, only to remember that I can't.  When the family gets together, I still look for you.  It feels like you should be in just the other room.  I don't understand how you can't be around anymore.  I am so sorry that I never told you how much you mean to me. I am so sorry that I never got the chance to say Good Bye.

Required Words

Writing Prompt 185: Write a story using the words little boy, torn page, market, and cart.

I shuffle over to the couch and plop down on the sagging cushions.  Water drips down my face from my hair, still wet from the shower.  My eyes wander down to where my little boy is playing on the worn-out rug.  I always hated that rug.  Lee likes it though, so I’ve never replaced it.  He looks up at me now, his big blue eyes still bright with the ignorance that comes with youth.  I smile back.  He holds up his coloring book to me, showing me the car that he’s colored red.  Mostly in the lines.  His little hands slip on the paper and it rips down the middle.  Shoot.  I slide down to the floor with a smile.

                “It’s alright, Little Man,” I say, taking the torn page from him.  “We’ll work on this next page, okay?  What color should the puppy be?”

                Lee has lost interest in coloring now, though, and looks at me expectantly.  I’m too tired to entertain him.

                “Why don’t we go to the market, hmm?” I ask. 

His face breaks into a toothy grin at the suggestion.  Lee loves the market.  I put his shoes on his tiny feet and we walk out the door.  It is a short walk from our apartment and the weather isn’t too bad.  The sun is a little hot on the back of my neck.  I pick out a cart from the line and place Lee down in the seat at the front.  He looks around excitedly, but does not see what he is looking for.

                “Your dad’s around here somewhere,” I assure him.  “We’ll probably see him at check-out.”

                We go to the produce aisle first.  I pick out what I’ll need for this week’s cooking.  I grab a ripe-looking peach and hand it to Lee.  The juice dribbles down his chin as he takes a bite.  I should have brought something to wipe him with.  He finishes the fruit while I pick out the rest of what we’ll need.  Lee’s father smiles at me from behind the register.

                We exchange pleasantries, but Lee claims most of his attention.  He loves to tell his dad about his day.  He asks how I’ve been.  Tired, but good.  He’s looking forward to the weekend when he gets to take Lee.  He’s planning a day at the park.  I’m sure that Lee will tell me all about it.  We say goodbye and leave.  Lee waves goodbye over my shoulder.  When we get back, he starts to color the dog purple.