I got off work early tonight, and right now I'm at Kathy's house, waiting for her to get her costume on so we can go to Twig's in Blowing Rock. They have a costume contest and Night Train, a Guns-n-Roses cover band, tonight.

My football costume was a big hit at Mike's, even though we had few customers. Of course, when I changed into my mad scientist mode, people liked that too. Piccies will be up soon (I hope).

Ahhhh, Halloween! One of my favorite holidays. And what am I doing for it, you may ask?

Well, first, thank you for asking. I am WORKING a DOUBLE SHIFT for Halloween. :P:P:P *sigh* Costume-wise, it looks like I'll be wearing TWO costumes this Halloween. First, at work, I'm dressing up as a football player. It's all part of some kind of theme for the restaurant. Many of the other waitresses are dressing as cheerleaders, another waitress is dressing as another football player, and we're trying to convince someone else to come as a coach. We'll see.

Then after work, I'll head to Blowing Rock, where I'll be dressing as a mad scientist and seeing a band with Kathy. Actually, the mad scientist get-up is Kathy's, but she wants to go as Carmen Miranda. The only problem is that she hasn't been able to get in contact with a woman who has the skirt she needs to make it happen. If she can't get it by this morning, I'll have to go to Boone on my break and take the mad costume to her, and go as the football player.

Shakespeare of the Day:

Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Macbeth, Act IV sc. 1

Just put in a few new bloggers to my daily reads over

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There. I hope so, anyway. They aren't showing up on my IE. Maybe it will just take some time. I spent 3 hours last night getting rid of deadwood files in my computer, and it still isn't done yet. *sigh*

If you see more than three listings under "daily reads", please tell me so.

Got Possum back from the vet late yesterday; surprisingly, she had already awoken from the anesthesia, and HATING her pet carrier. I picked up some moist cat food to treat her (I normally feed her Meow Mix), and put her in the guest room to give her some peace and quiet.

She seems much happier this morning. Possum's even playing at my feet as I'm writing this. I wish I had some cat toys for her to play with; maybe I'll break down and buy some soon. In the meantime, Bailey doesn't seem to notice.

My Shakespeare calendar quote of the day:

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that low'r'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.

King Richard III, Act I, sc. 1

Hopefully, when I get home from work tonight, Uncle Wendell will have brought home some stovepipe for the wood-burner. I'm hoping that we can get some wood together for the winter, also. God, I LOVE being a mountain man! lol

ARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!! I just broke the top E string on my guitar! And just when I was going to learn some new stuff, too! *bangs head against wall* Okay, I'm not gonna panic, I'm just gonna go out and get some more strings (when I can afford 'em). *sigh*

We-he-hell, I just got back from taking Possum to the vet. I'm getting her fixed as part of my "don't need no more kittens before I get married" campaign. I'll be picking her up at 4:30, and I hope she's more sedate than she was when I took her over. I thought for a while there that she was gonna tear her pet carrier apart when I put her in this morning.

This weekend has been one of strange dreams. Last night I dreamt that I was at dinner with several of my friends and family, celebrating mine and Kathy's upcoming nutuals. Only Kathy was nowhere to be found. Suddenly she shows up, wearing equestrian gear and apologizing for her lateness. I asked her to get changed, and she disappeared for a moment, only to reappear in a while Chanel-type business dress. Don't remember much after that.

In any case, this pales in comparison to the dream I had Saturday night at Kathy's. I dreamt that a bunch of people were gathered at the church down the road from my house, when we heard that we were being invaded. Suddenly a yellow mist fell from the sky, and I saw a bunch of characters from "The Simpsons" die. Then groups of Nazi-esque people came riding up and demanding our surrender. We fled and scattered, and the rest of my dream was split up between hiding from and attacking the fascist invaaders.

I'm still trying to figure out what it all means. If you have any ideas, just post 'em in the comments box below. :)

Something I need to talk about here. Just a little story.

There is this waitress at Mike's whose life is like a Jerry Springer episode. She's recently separated (I think) from her third husband, who has turned out to be a drug dealer, a thief, AND a bigamist. Of course, she herself has been known to dabble in illegal narcotics herself, and her Camaro has been cited by both the Banner Elk and Newland police departments for its shabby condition and broken windshield. Imagine, a car in worse shape than mine. *shudder*

Anyway, we were working together (along with 4 others) Tuesday night, and closing the store down for the night. We had everything done but the vacuuming, when all of a sudden this couple waked in the door, 10 minutes to close. They brought cups in with them, and let me tell you, they weren't sippin' Kool-Aid.

Anyway, Waitress X went to serve them, and the rest of us tried to look like we weren't staring right at them, waiting for them to haul their drunk tuckuses out of there. They stayed 'til 9:30, sipping out of their "go cups", and eating the flounder that W-X brought to them; she spent some time talking to them too. They finally finished eating and left, only to each come back in after several minutes and use our bathrooms (which HAD been meticulously cleaned an hour before.) Finally, they left the parking lot at 9:40, but not before the drunk woman nearly drove their Jeep off the embankment by the restaurant.

I found out last night that the reason W-X was talking so much to the couple was that she and the drunk woman had spent time in jail together. *shakes head* I don't really know the point of this story, other than to say "customers SUCK!"

PS, thanks to Cali for putting in the comments box on my blog. Good webmistress! :D

you're welcome clint @ comments ;)

I'm fine, how are you?

One thing I neglected to mention last post is that Kathy and I had our first major arguements during our trip to Knoxville. Mostly over money and responsibilities. We both argued and we both felt awful. Things are better, but I am assured that there will be more arguements in our future together. Hopefully they will be few and far between.

I'm looking for a new job as we speak. Preferably one in an office-type setting. Much preferably, one where I can actually use my creative talents to some use. In the best of all possible worlds, one where I can act in the Boone area, and be paid well, while still having time to spend with my beautiful girlfriend (yes, YOU Kathy! ;) )

I rearranged the CDs in my car's disc changer this afternoon. While going through my collection for something to put in, I came across Hootie and the Blowfish's crackedrearview. I put it in, and you know...

I like it.

*pauses for Crinkle to scream in agony*

No, seriously! Okay, the singles were WAY overplayed on radio back in the mid-90s, especially where I lived at the time, being a stone's throw away from their hometown of Columbia. Yeah, they weren't particularly innovative or challenging to the cultural landscape. If I were to describe them in terms of cuisine, HatB might be considered "comfort food". But in times like these, it's nice to have a little "comfort food" music to listen to and *wait for it* sing to.

Yes, Crink, I actually sang to "Let Her Cry" on my way home from work tonight. Whatcha gonna do about it? :P You know, you could send me a 25 Ft. Stanly CD to remind me what Columbia's BEST band sounds like *poke*. But I'll leave that up to you! lol

Kathy and I went to Knoxville this past weekend to visit her brother and family. Patrick seems cool, if a bit preppy. His son Ben is 18 mos. old, and cute as a button! :) We all (Kathy's mom and stepdad included) went to a hayride in the middle of nowhere Saturday, while we young couples (me and Kathy, Pat and Julie) had dinner at the Macaroni Grill Friday night.

And then there was Kahy's Ahab-like quest for the Moby Dick of dress shoes. lol I swear she tried on or looked at every pair of silver dress shoes to be found in the Southeast, before she decided on a pair she found in a JC Penny in Johnson City. To celebrate, we went to a restaurant called the Crazy Tomato, and split a couple of calzones.

My parents went back down to Georgia yesterday, so I didn't get to spend much time with them. However, I shold be seeing them in a few weeks for Thanksgiving. I'm trying to convince them to come up here, as well as the rest of the family. Maybe we can all have one big celebration here at the homestead.

I told my parents this afternoon. Mom and Dad both cried, and so did I. All the siblings are very happy for me, as is everyone I've talked to on the phone today. My friend Steve Palmer accepted my offer to be my best man, and both my brothers have offered up their services as groomsmen.

I took the "Princess Bride" personality test today. My scores are as follows. These are the characters I am most like, ranging from most to least:

# 1 Fezzik
# 2 Inigo Montoya
# 3 Wesley
# 4 Buttercup
# 5 Max the miracle dude
# 6 Prince Humperdink
# 7 Count Rugen (6-fingered guy)
# 8 Vizzini (or short bad guy)

If you haven't taken it yet, go to the link above.

*big voice* ANYBODY GOT A PEANUT?

Ahem...

I suppose I should put this into my blog, seeing as how it's, y'know, a significant milestone in my life.

This past Thursday, Kathy and I were talking about grad school, and the fact that if/when I go somewhere next fall, we will be separated by the distance from there to Boone for a year (well, 9 mos. from August '02 to May '03). Anyway, she said she wanted us to get married before I left, so we could be connected while we were apart.

So we agreed to get married. I'M ENGAGED!!!!! WOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! *does happy dance all over the 'Net*

We plan on being married in May of next year. She wants to wear a purkle dress, and have lots of music. She also wants to see a marriage counselor beforehand, to find the potential weak spots in our impending betrothal. I still need to get her a ring, but that will come in time (and after I pay for the GRE). Still in all, the thing I never thought would ever, ever happen, but always wished I could do, is happening. :)

Spent a nice weekend with Kathy. We went to her mom's place Saturday night, and after having a fantastic dinner, we all went out on the Blue Ridge Parkway to look at the changing leaves. Absolutely beautiful. I wish I had my camera, but Kathy's mom brought hers along. I took a few shots, and I hope I cna post them here or on my main site as soon as possible.

Afterwards, Kathy and I came back to Boone and she bought me an early Christmas present; a practice book for the GRE. I hope to take the test in December, and then move on to grad school. Kathy and I have been discussing the possibility of the two of us going to UNC-Greensboro, me for an MFA in acting, and she for her doctorate in voice. I hope we can do that.

Turns out that the parents aren't coming up today after all. Dad's not feeling well, so they're gonna wait. In the meantime, mine and Kathy's plans for tomorrow have changed from going to Knoxville with her mother, to me and my parents joining her and her mom in Blowing Rock for lunch, to Kathy and I going to her mom's for a cookout.

Hopefully I will be inspired to write for my site soon.

Spent the night at Kathy's last night. She made me steak and potatoes when I got there from work, and believe me, it was a welcome dinner. After a late morning, I made my way to Lenoir to get my speeding ticket taken care of.

I got the ticket Labor Day weekend when I was driving Kathy's mom's truck into Lenoir. I was talking to Kathy, and we were going down a steep hill. I lost track of my speed, and got pulled over. I got a $115 ticket.

Well, I went to the Caldwell County courthouse today to see if I could get it reduced. I ended up paying $100 and being charged with a 64 in a 55 mph zone, instead of the 70/55 originally on the ticket. A little more than I thought it would be reduced to, but I'll take it instead of the $115.

I finally heard from Steve Palmer the other day. He called me at 2am (!), and we talked for about an hour, catching up and talking about life matters. I'm hoping I can go see him sometime soon.

My parents are coming up here tomorrow. I don't know how long they're staying, but Kathy's mom has invited us all to have lunch at her house Saturday night. We'll see if my parents are up to the challenge. lol

A quiet day at home today. I might have gone in to work (in Lucia's stead), but it turns out they didn't need me on the lunch shift. I'm pretty sure that Mike's will be closed on Mondays and Saturday lunches by the end of the month.

I miss Kathy. I mean I really, really miss Kathy. I spent most of the weekend with her this past weekend. Friday night was good, but I screwed up Saturday. I ran out of gas, and called her for help. She wasn't in the best of moods, and I felt like a dog for running out (when I could have easily gotten gas before I ran out).

When I finally made it back to her place, I started crying, mostly because I was afraid that she was angry enough to break up with me. I'm still kinda new to relationships, and I've been burned by enough angry women in my life to genuinely worry about what would happen in this relationship. However, she assured me that though she was angry at me, she was still in love with me.

I have a few ideas for a column update to my site, but I can't get myself motivated to put them to the screen. Hopefully I can unblock myself and write them down tonight.