Smiling So Much That My Face Hurts

Honestly I have no witty remark to start this post with, so let us move straight to the point. Today was fabulous. It did not start off fabulous as there is an unbelievable amount of tension in the apartment. My roommate is not pleased with my decision to go to Alaska and makes it a point to remind me of that with his silence. C'est la vie. I do not expect all of my choices to be praised.

Anyway, I went to work dreading the talk that I would have to have with my boss. I mean, asking off for two months is pretty much a big deal and not many employers would tolerate such late notice. Every Tuesday I work with both of the owners, so I had ample time to bring it up and beg for mercy.  However, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Fear was lodged in my throat for some reason. All I had to say was, "Hey guys, I just want to let you know that I will be in Alaska until next year. Mind keeping me on the payroll?" I mean, it sounded simple enough in my head. 

That's when opportunity came knocking on my door- and I let that bad boy in! The new girl on staff came in during my shift asking if anyone could cover for her this weekend because it was her Father's birthday and they wanted to go to the Renaissance festival. My boss looked perturbed. Messing with the schedule is one of his many known pet peeves. "Why didn't you ask off earlier?" he said. "I just found this out now," she replied sheepishly and continued to plead with him to find someone to take her shifts. All the while I stood in the shadows with this "could this be any easier" look on my face. If I had a cat handy right then I would have been stroking it. 

"I'll take them," I volunteered. Boss-man was thus pleased and the schedule was saved. (Muahahaha!) After that, my vacation time was given a thumbs up, as Boss-man's rage was still directed at new girl. Thank you new girl for taking the heat. I don't know how much more I could have handled. 

When I got home Mike gave me a call and I told him the good news again because texts simply could not do it justice. His smile was so big that it was audible. Holy cow this is really happening. 

So I carry a journal with me at all times now. I developed this habit after I started working on the book, so when inspiration strikes, I will be ready for it. Well, there was a to-do list written out right when I agreed to go to Homer. Most of it is checked off, including the "handle job issue" section, which was tended to immediately after speaking with the Boss-man. Tended to, as in me writing in big, bold letters "I GOT OFF!" I am so happy that I don't even care that one of the guys at work saw it on the counter and wrote a perverted comment on it. I pretty much set myself up anyway. Kudos, you sneaky little bastards. Kudos.