the pieces of my life

Okay, it’s past midnight, which means while I still have an entire workshift to go, I’m actually leaving tomorrow. Soon, very soon, I can stop playing the “48-hour” game (you know, “48 hours from now I will be eating a home-cooked meal”; “48 hours from now I will be fast asleep in my own bed”; “48 hours from now my feet won’t be hurting”) and start playing the “24-hour” game.

Tonight’s moving along, but I can’t remember the last time I was this tired. And I have to stay up tonight for my last night at the Nugget. There’s a party in the hospitality suite after work. I’m going to make it up till 9 a.m. come hell or high water. How’s that for living on the edge?

What’s with all the people giving World Trade Tower remembrance and tribute books as Christmas presents? Doesn’t seem too cheery to me.

One more hour until we start cleaning and one hour and fifteen minutes until I get to fall asleep on the bus.

Almost done, almost done. Today was the first time I slept late enough to be awoken by the alarm. Tonight though will be a very late night, as it’s our last night to hang in the casino after work. After Tuesday’s shift, it’s straight to the airport!

Speaking of the casino, I’m way ahead. Dolphins won tonight, easily covering the spread. And while I didn’t get first place in the slots tournament–that sneaky Chad played at the last minute and swooped into first place–I did come in second, which was still a lovely $100.

And my team leader saved me tonight. They needed folks to break in Crisplant, and he sent others, even though the Crisplant team lead requested me (I’m a fast chuter).

Some woman is unknowingly getting two holiday gifts. A guy had sent to himself two items: 1) a gift-wrapped Visor, with a gift card, “Merry Christmas to the bestest sweetie in the whole wide world.” 2) a non-gift wrapped copy of How to Make Love All Night (And Drive a Woman Wild: Male Multiple Orgasm and Other Secrets for Prolonged Lovemaking)

It was close: almost came to blows when Deb took over my gift wrap station. Luckily, she saw the error of her ways and moved. You don’t mess with my gift wrap station.

A gift to “Mom and Dad”: The Wrinkle Cure, which promises, “look years younger in days–without surgery!”

What do you think this person’s deal is. In one chute: The Art of Seduction, How to Get Anyone to Do Anything You Want, Never Be Lied to Again, 48 Ways to Power.

Another package grouping: Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book, Erotic Confessions, Penthouse: Between the Sheets. I guess that will be a very Normal Rockwell kind of holiday, no?

Crisplant all morning–not too bad today, although they kept changing their minds about where I should work.

Amazon slot tournament at the Nugget: so far, I think I’m in first place (I got 6402 tonight, which means little to those not playing, but it’s good).

Another gift I do not want: The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Handwriting Analysis

Success! The ice cream vending machine has been refilled. I have not only an ice cream sandwich, but a neopolitan one, and it’s one of those cool vending machines that uses a vacuum to suck the ice cream up.

I was going for a personal best the past hour, and I missed. My best is 33 presents in an hour, and I only did 32 last hour. However, we are out of DVD sleeves (oh joy), which slows me down considerable.

An odd gift grouping: The Best of George Harrison, Manhattan Unfurled (drawings of the skyline of NY), and Miles Davis: Complete in a Silent Way Sessions.

Honest-to-goodness, real-live, I’m-not-making-this-up gift cards for a set of presents (rather bland presents, I might add):

Card 1: Amazon, your Customer Service is getting pretty lousy. Merry Christmas, [name]. Love, [name]

Card 2: Amazon, your gift process is lousy too. You said I could write one note and have it put on each package, but you lied. Merry Christmas, [name]. Love, [name]

Card 3: Amazon, what the hell is the deal with selling cars? What are you trying to do, create your own nation? And you’re still not even making a profit, for God’s sake! Merry Christmas, [name]. Love, [name].

Happy birthday, Sweetie! Promise next year I’ll be in the same city as you for your birthday.

I didn’t think it was scientifically possible, but it’s true–last night was longer than usual. Somewhere between 9:42 p.m. and midnight, an extra two hours and 27 minutes were snuck in.

All four waves are here. The break room is a madhouse, and I now have to wait for a computer.

The make-me-gag gift card of the night: on the book It Takes a Village by Hilary Rodham Clinton, “Children are precious. If you teach them well they can change the world. Never underestimate your powers as a parent.”

Why are there so many matchbooks in my pocket? Adam, how many times have I told you to stop picking up matchbooks where ever you go? We have plenty. We have enough to get us through about hundred power outages, at least. You’ve got to stop this nasty habit.

Oh, and I did not detect any shower action happening between last Tuesday and now.

I’m starting to think that it’s not a good sign when I sit down at the black jack table and the dealer says, “Hey Downtown,” and then I call to the pit boss, “Hey Greg, I need tracking,” and he calls back, “Don’t worry, Jenny, I saw ya and got ya down.” But I’m still running pretty close to even, and it’s sucking up a lot of my off time. Last night of serious gambling, since it’s back to F.C. tomorrow (tonight?). A bit o’ black jack, some $3.95 steak and eggs, and a bit more black jack to round out my night. Off to bed. May not be able to do much updating while I’m at the warehouse, as all four waves are here and working the next few nights, which means competition for the computers may be fierce. But, while tomorrow night is the first night for wave 4 (wait, I mean tonight), we’re close to gone. Focus on the candy. Remember the candy (who can name that reference?).

I sure hope that guy’s showered between last shift and tonight’s shift.

Pam and Tim are engaged! Yeah, yeah, yeah! That was the best news I’ve heard in a long, long time. Was so excited when she called, even in my exhausted, blurry state.

Other than that, just trying to make it till next Wednesday morning. Saw Monsters, Inc. again last night (didn’t have a whole lot of movie choices). There going to start adding in outtakes to the film on December 7th, which I find pretty annoying. But I’ll see them all when they’re put on the DVD. That’s definitely one to own. Anyway, been doing a bit o’ gambling–I’m down about $5. Not too shabby for how many hours of entertainment it’s given me (and the free drinks; have I mentioned the free drinks?). Bowled tonight over at the Hilton, but I was so beat I only stayed for one game. A nap revived me and now I’m getting ready to go downstairs and hit the black jack tables again. Digging those black jack tables!

Only five more days. I can do this for five more days. Can’t I?

So even with all of us moving into Crisplant for part of the night, we broke night-shift gift wrapping records. I myself wrapped 146 presents yesterday.

More gifts I don’t want: John Denver Unplugged, Pop-up Book of Phobias, computer game: Mary-Kate and Ashley: Crush Course

After all that eleventh hour crap, my day off got off to a great start starting last night (or is that actually this morning?) with bloody marys at 5:30 a.m. An hour an a half at the black jack table, and I walked away up $6.50 (even after those five drinks–four of which were free). And then, my peeps are the best peeps. They sent me a great big gift basket of wine, bubble bath, cookies, and candy. This place is surreal–the Wheel of Fortune slot machines are now in my dreams. Christmas carols are piped in over the sounds of the casino. People are at those slot machines at all hours. And of course, for us, day is night and night is day. But tonight is all-you-can-eat dinner at the Rotisserie Restaurant, and then it’s a double header at the movies. Tomorrow night is bowling at the Hilton (how odd is that?). Hit the Laundromat this evening so my clothes are nice and fresh. And I still have per diem burning a hole in my pocket.