One Seven Seven

Yeah, I know. I haven't been blogging much. Work on that hospital scene in Chapter 16 is going slowly, and it's frustrating trying to hammer it into what I want/need it to be, and as a consequence I haven't felt like writing other stuff on top of it. This weekened, however, I'm chaining myself to this comfy chair in front of that laptop if need be so as to expedite the progress.

But I don't want this thing to lay dead either. I do have some ancillary ideas for what I'd like to do in here, given that there's no big stories to discuss and no wacky chicks circling me at the moment, meaning the current events topic well is a wee bit dry.

I also have some thoughts on a three part Joyride update I'd like to do, if for no other reason than tying up some loose ends I left there (and to revisit one of my favorite ongoing projects, albeit in shorter form). The other day while at work I was all fired up about this thought, but right now it's only lukewarm, and I guess I'll decide sometime over the weekend. Stay tuned, folks.

*****

Today at work we hit 177 guns created from various parts. Given that during the just before lunchtime hours we worked on a 44 rack of 7.62's (aka the hardest guns in the known world to bolt-fit), and were dangling under the 100 mark by lunchtime, reaching that number was an amazing come from behind victory for us.

And I have to give credit where due. While I did bust my backside to provide numbers and worked in my capacity as the ultimate team player, doing what need be done wherever it need be done, I wasn't alone. I've criticized Cooter several times in the past for being a listless, lazy, little fuck with a bad attitude, but after lunch he put it in gear, was motivated, and did bust some ass. In fact, the two of us together this afternoon made for a pretty formidable team.

Of course, he was motivated by the idea that if we hit the goal of 175, we'd get out early again. By the time this thought motivated him, which was after lunch, I knew it was mathematically impossible for us to reach the goal in time for us to get out early, and in fact I doubted we'd even get there by the end of the shift. Oh, but we tried like hell. I try to get the numbers everyday regardless, and usually I have to pick Cooter up and carry him through the day on my back (much like I typically had to do with anyone put with me at LSI), but not today. He was focused and worked hard. I could have done without the grouchy attitude that came with it, but at least he was trying for a change.

And I appreciate that.

*****

Nothing new on the Amy front. They still aren't getting along so well, as I hear, but no young girl has appeared sitting on my doorstep with suitcase in hand ... yet. That may or may not ever happen, and so I wait.

Cooter's talking about renting some mobile home over in Sunapee, too, over by his grandmother's house. I asked him how Amy liked the idea, and he says she was all for it, which surprised him and surprised me. He doesn't like Claremont, and has wanted out of the apartment he's living in for some time now, but the Sunapee place moves them both relatively closer to me, which gives me a bit of concern.

Still, though, I've been keeping my distance for a long while now. I haven't talked to her online or otherwise in weeks. I haven't even seen her in person for over a month now, since the last time I did the Allison trip. When I want to distance myself from somebody, I'm really good at it. After Shannon alienated me somewhat with her idea to move to Vermont with Kenny, thus breaking up the apartment situation, I backed off then, too. I did it with Krysten when our sexually tense situation reached unmanageable proportions (which is why doing this is called "The Funari"). And I've done it other times as well. It's easy. It, in fact, is in my nature to exist this way. Because seeing Amy causes me pain right now and I can't take it.

I won't tell you, however, that all of my sexual frustration as relates to Amy (or Jen for that matter) has been completely expunged. Because it hasn't. That's my cross to bear, though.

*****

On an unrelated note, even though that last line of thought brought it to mind, there is a young lady who works at that gas station/convenience store (the one I last spotted Jen at) who reminds me a *lot* of that Jenny M chick from Holyoke (you know the one), except this one is better looking and probably has a better personality, too. I can't quite place my finger on why I'm making that association so strongly.

But it is deeply unsettling.