Hope today has been wonderful. All the best for a fab year ahead!

Hi, my name is Lee and i am addicted to Converse All-Stars.

The first time i tired a pair on, it was peer pressure.

I thought my big flat feet wouldn't fit into them, but with a little bit of encouragement, i was convinced the orange would look fabulous!

They fit!

Since then, i can't walk past a store if i know they have them...

I had to have a special shelf built in my home to house them.

Here are my latest pairs:

Black with an Anarchy A and a Peace Sign & Black and Green plaid.

Less than a half hour ago, i left my last shift (11p - 9a) at the hell hole i called my work. No longer will i have to endure the boss calling me stupid to my face and behind my back; laughing at my tears when she was speaking ill of me; or having her go stone quiet from full volume when i enter a room. Some day, not at my hand, but with someone who really won't take it anymore, her game is going to come crashing down. I just hope she doesn't drag down too many others with her.

What a week!

Nana's funeral was as good as one can be. My brother did not punch my uncle Brad in the face like everyone was expecting/hoping/wondering. He cheated my brother in a business partnership that left my brother and his family with nothing -- lost their house, all the money they had and his business. My dad felt the pressure as the oldest and executor of trying to ensure everything ran smooth, but that was the funeral home's job, not his, i reminded him repeatedly. Grieve. That's your job.

I had an issue with my boss not really beleiving me that she died and i had to bring in a card from the funeral, an obit and a death certificate. Sheesh.

Then, i found out the new guy, a temp. with more seniority than me bumped me out of my shift. I am stuck on night shift. Lovely.

My mom is ill. She has COPD and a really really bad cold/virus according to her doctor. Today, i called to check in on my dad and see if she was doing better and it turns out she has pus/ooze coming out of her eyes. Go to the doctor! Why do people avoid going?

So, we went to Hamilton for the funeral. Took only 2 of the 3 days i could have not wanting for someone at work to be screwed over on the 24th.

Worked on the 24th (3p-11p) and 25th (7a-3p). Then to Hamilton for xmas and boxing day.

The stress got to me and my dad while we were cooking, trying to share a small kitchen space and do what my mom usually does and we have very little experience with.

Had a heart to heart with him that his ego was a bit injured when he didn't know what to do and mine was when he stepped in assuming i didn't know. Dynamics. *sigh*

Otherwise, those 2 days were quiet and peaceful. Played a lot of scrabble. Damn, i love that game... even when i am shit at it and i am in a brain freeze (90% of the time!).

Worked a 12 hour shift, carefully avoiding the boss. Went grocery shopping and got close to $800 of non-perishables to tide everyone over while i am on vacation.

Had issues with the human resources about a 4 hour time off thingie and had to run to the doctor to get another note. Apparently, just having a note saying you have an appontment is not enough. I needed to have one that said i went. *rolls eyes*

Then, the boss' boss' boss came in when i was the most experienced in the house and i got quizzed on procedures and medicaid plans.

When we left my 'rent's house i had a low tire warning sign with Gwen (it's what i named my MINI). We filled it up and it went away. But came back. It went away. It came back. Today, i had a flat. Blam... all the way down to the rim. Oh, and the dealer can squeeze me in in... uh... three weeks or so. WTF? So, i called Russo's Auto (LINK) (not covered under warranty anyway) and they could take me.. WITHIN AN HOUR! Guess where i went?

After i left Russo's i went to work to fax over the doctor's note and to get my visa receipts signed... i forgot to get the reciepts signed from the other day... and again today. Damn it.

I wanted to check to see if i got any of the bids i put in, too, but the boss was on the phone and the computer. Darn.

Then, at 11pm a co-worker called me. He got his bid to another house (his is in West Seneca) and i got mine too. I got a full time gig with the state!! YAY! Best way to end a pretty shitty week.

2012 WILL be betters! It will. It will!