Ultimate Christ

Isn’t it crazy that this is year is already coming to an end? It seems like just yesterday I was ringing in the new year with this incredibly handsome guy as we danced to the thumping applause of another year’s arrival. And now that same guy and I are looking for our own place together. In the words of Shane Dawson, “CRAZY”. 

Honestly, I also can’t believe I’ve kept up this blog for as long as I have. And entire year and a half of chronicles to marvel at. Or bullshit to rehash, whichever prerogative, depending on the subject matter. I’m just looking forward to 2019 and what it will, hopefully, offer. Prosperity would be an amazing theme to the new year that I could really get behind. 

The past week has been sort of a lot, but all in all, it’s been pretty well. My boyfriend and I went back out to the Christmas pop up bar and tried more drinks from their festive menu, and that’s been a nice place to commiserate. Low key, or really high key, I guess, drama on that end, but what can you expect from double date type scenarios? Kelly and Andrew are great and all, but aren’t we supposed to leave petty drama in high school? I don’t know, I’m just over it really.

Work has been rowdy lately, per the usual course that happens at least once during the work week. My manager was super rude to me again, and we ended up having a talk in the office. I felt a little better, just in the sense that I was able to get everything off of my chest during that little meeting, but the conclusion is thus: I think it’s just time for something different. My goal is to try and get on at Barnes & Noble. I’ve been wanting to work there for years and, while it’s still retail, at least it’s more geared to something I would love to be dealing with and surrounded by. I just think that would be a step closer in the right direction.

And then the descending of Christmas happened! After work was finally over with Saturday, it was full Christmas mode as far as I was concerned. My boyfriend ended up getting us an early Christmas present in the form of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and we’ve been playing the hell out of it. We’re still trying to unlock all of the characters, but it’s a lot of fun just trying to win and get everyone on the roster. We’ve incorporated some Mario Kart 8 in there too, because we’d been playing copious amounts of that before we got Smash, so it’s been nice to lean into leisure with the Switch lately, a wonderfully welcomed reprieve from the work stress, at least.

We went to a Christmas party this weekend and our friend Chelsea’s and it was a lot of fun. I’m beginning to wonder if that’s where the genesis of my sickness truly began, but I guess I’ll never know. And also this weekend was Christmas Brunch, which was fun but also drama filled. It’s been a very drams filled week honestly, and I’m just really ready to surpass it. Then it was back to work Monday, Christmas Eve, and thankfully, it wasn’t too bad. I really wasn’t determined to do that much in the first place, considering the fact that it was Christmas Eve, but I made it through the day.

Then gift giving! Since my boyfriend and I were spending Christmas Day back where I’m from, we did our Christmas here after work on Christmas Eve, and it was a wonderful consumption of the holiday spirit. My boyfriend got me some pretty awesome things, one of which is a Hufflepuff Quidditch captain shirt that even had my name and favorite number on it. It’s amazing, and probably one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received. Along with some Funko Pops of Dorothy from Golden Girls and Velma from Scooby Doo, which I’ve never owned before, he just knows me super well. We also got a couples massage from his mom, so we’ll definitely be taking advantage of that soon, hopefully around our One Year.

Then the trip to Salem happened. We got up super early, around 6 AM, and started the trek. It wasn’t too bad, jamming out to Christmas music on the way there. We arrived at my moms place, after a lot of planning and coordination, and it was weird. Things with my mom have just been that, weird, lately, and that translated to when we got there. Keeping in mind, this was my boyfriend’s first time meeting them, and given all the weirdness, I’m sure it was weird for him. But things weren’t all bad. I gave them their gifts, and my mom gave me mine. She gave me some money along with a Barnes & Noble gift card, which is awesome. I wasn’t expecting a whole lot, or really anything, just based on our relationship lately, but I was thankful to receive them. I’m not a super materialistic person, I would have been fine with no gift. But again, it was much appreciated. So after my mom gave Allen this super awful and higher alcohol content beer, we headed over to my grandparents for the Christmas there. And it was pretty great. There’s just something from the energy of the Christmases there that I really enjoy, I’m not sure what it is. But I love it. My grandparents ended up giving me enough money to get Vellum, the writing program I haven’t shut up about lately. A ton of clothes from my dad and stepmom, cute heart cut out frames of pictures of me and Allen, and my grandma loved her coloring books and apparently my grandma adores his mug that I got him. I don’t like the Donald trump subject matter of the mug I got him, but hell, at least he’s enjoying it. We started heading home, but I was starting to actually feel sick, just so congested, and we were over the drive, so we ended up getting a hotel for the night in Charlottesville. It was actually a really nice getaway, and we had sushi king on Christmas, so that was a pretty cool way to end the holiday. 

And! I bought myself a used MacBook! Literally how long have I been talking about having a MacBook? Literally forever. I bought it off someone from Facebook Marketplace, on Thursday, which was exactly one year to the day that I bought my iMac from someone in Facebook Marketplace. The universe had a funny way of showing itself sometimes. But so far, it’s great, and I can’t wait to be able to write portably again!

Things have been fairly chill in the past few days, except for work yesterday, but what can you do? We had our cooking class last night and it was awesome. Well, the end result was awesome. It was awkward at first, and we thought we would be cooking every part of our meal, but we teamed up and everyone made one thing? I don’t know, perhaps TV has ruined the idea of cooking classes? All in all, it was a fun experience and the people were pretty great. Hopefully, after work today, it’s a chill weekend for us to just relax, and then New Years shenanigans can take place. And here’s to 2018 for being hell of a year, and to bigger and better things in 2019. 

Until next year,

— Justin

Suzanne Elizabipt

| Now Playing: My Only Wish by Britney Spears & Bad by Lennon Stella |

I won’t post the lyrics for either, but seriously, these two songs. One stuck in my head because it plays at work and the other came later, but I’m obsessed with it.

I’m so ready for Sunday to get here. I’m writing this over the course of Friday and Saturday, and right now it’s Friday morning at work and I’m already so ready to go home. Anyway. The title of the blog is something I’ve been saying a lot, in regards to the cat haha. Although, Ultimate Christ, from the way home from the  Christmas bar last night, with Britney’s song playing, would be a good future title haha. 

When we woke up Sunday morning, it was already hella snowing. We even somehow woke up a lot earlier than we normally would have on a day that we get to sleep in, so 9 was a tad early haha. But it was already snowing so much, so we got up. I don’t remember a whole hell of a lot that we did prior or throughout the day. But a little later in the evening, we started watching Fat Salt Acid Heat and it was getting really good. We were just about to start Acid when the power went out, maybe it was the snow but there was power around us, so who the hell knows. The power ended up coming back on around 3:40 in the morning, so that was good. 

I got up for work Monday morning, and it was a feat getting out into the world, but the interstate was just too much that early in the morning so I ended up going back home and calling out and went back to bed. Plus, I never get two days off in a row anymore, and I just really needed it. We ended up finishing Fat Salt Acid Heat, and it just made me want to cook and eat haha. We did some more decorating upstairs and watched movies for the rest of the day. But coming back to work on Tuesday was what I needed. All I did was run clothes all day long, no management bothered me, it was just a really really good day that was perfectly calm and serene. Watched Order of the Phoenix when we got home, started watching Ready Player One, Benzo called because the plans went askew but then it all worked out. Ready Player One was super fucking good. I actually ended up liking it a lot more than I originally thought I would, but it was super worth the wait. Wednesday wasn’t too bad at work, we had Jenny from the Tappahannock store with us, and she’s just great. Super knowledgeable but personable and knows what we’re going through. She’s just a really good manager and I just wish she worked here. I also wrote on lunch for the second day in a row, so go me. I heard back from the people who did my first book cover and I’m slated for July 9th. I mean, Taylor Swift trash, am I right?

So after work, we had to start getting ready to head over to Lewis Ginter and meet Benzo and her mom and Bev, and that was just a time. Not in a bad way at first, because when I saw Bev in a wheelchair, I was thrown off simply because I didn’t know she was in a wheelchair. But from the time we got there, it was just a mess. It was hard trying to see the lights but also worrying about trying to cater to everyone which just doesn’t work. Despite the entire stressful night, it was still a good time and Allen and I got some really great pictures. We went to Cheesecake afterwards and that was just a bust. And then Allen and I went to Bar Louie after that for some drinks and I was just so spent emotionally that I just wanted to go home. So we did, and started to watch Chicago, but we got tired and ended up heading to bed. My day off Thursday was pretty chill, we got up super late and Allen had his fourth day of not having work ugh so jealous haha. But it was a fairly relaxing day. We watched Dumplin, which was so damn good, love it, and did some stuff around the house before making dinner and he went to his last show. I did some more writing while catching up on Riverdale. Ugh, I just want to write full-time already. 

Friday was a fairly easy day at work, from what I can remember. And then we had Kelly and Andrew over after work because Kelly finished her last class before graduation so woo! We had some drinks and played some Picolo, which was fun. But I ended up messing up by downing drinks too fast during the game’s dares, and my stomach was not having it. Waking yup Saturday morning, I felt awful. Nauseous, tired, just not good. But there was no way I couldn’t go to work. And I wish I hadn’t. Because it was awful. I got into with my manager, because I was so tired of being spoken to like I’m less than a human, and confronted her about why she speaks to me rude as hell. And it was just bad. Then I ended up staying past my time to leave because my manager said I couldn’t leave without possibly facing disciplinary action, but I was so over it, I ended up leaving because don’t threaten me. After work, after getting some grateful comfort from Allen, we headed to see some lights with Kathy and her sister. We grabbed some dinner at Ironhorse, their steaks are so damn good. The lights were really cool, it was a drive through and you turned your car radio to a station and the lights were in sync with the music, super cute. I don’t really remember a whole hell of a lot from Sunday, just that it was a day off much needed after the day before. 

Monday, it was back to work, and I wasn’t feeling it after everything that had happened on Saturday, but it wasn’t too bad. Allen and I played some Mario Kart that turned into Drunk Mario Kart that brought some even more light hearted levity that was a gratefully appreciated. Yesterday wasn’t that bad at work either, I’m basically just biding my time. But I came across an interesting thought yesterday and made a video about it. I would love to make a Patreon to help further my writing. I just want to write full time so damn bad, you have no idea. For writing to be my full time job wold fill me up forever. And then after work we went to a Christmas bar downtown that was super fun. And today is my day off again, and I’ve been vlogging? Super random and I didn’t plan it, but yeah. Got my haircut, got some lunch, and now gonna focus on some writing. So ready for Christmas and traveling back to see my family. Let’s go now.

Until next time,

— Justin

I’m A What? Harry Potter

| Now Playing: Mr. Heatmiser by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy |

I’m Mr. White Christmas

I’m Mr. Snow

I’m Mr. Icicle

I’m Mr. Ten Below

Friends call me Snowmiser

Whatever I touch

Turns to snow in my clutch

I’m too much

I’m Mr. Heatmiser

I’m Mr. Sun

I’m Mr. Heat Blister

I’m Mr. Hundred And One

Friends call me Heatmiser

Whatever I touch

Starts to melt in my clutch

He’s too much

Thank you!

______________________________________________________

It’s a Saturday blog because I couldn’t be bothered to get it out on time haha. That’s just the truth. I could have posted it yesterday, since I was off, but I was determined to get some writing done in my second novel, and that just didn’t leave room for writing a blog too, so here we are. The title of this blog is basically something that Allen and I have been doing for a while now haha, brought on by when we were watching the Harry Potter movies. It’s basically done in the Milly voice, because we both love Milly so much, but yeah, we’re hilarious. 

Work has been a massive shitshow lately. Like the beginnings of this week, for example, have just been some fairly awful days. I still don’t know whether or not I’m going to get to move departments, but who the hell knows really. I haven’t heard anything else about it since I think Tuesday, so I have no idea what is going to happen in the near future. As far as work goes, I’m trying my best to stay level headed about everything from now on. Just taking it one day at a time, work my eight hours and then go the hell home and leave it in the parking lot. I know that this job isn’t forever, so there’s really no use getting worked up about it. I’m grateful to have this job, it’s just not the job I want to be doing for the rest of my life, like writing is. 

Thursday was the invited dress rehearsal for the show Allen is working on, and his mom and I really enjoyed it. I’m not well versed on all things technical in theater, so my judgement is very one sided, but the show itself was pretty funny and well done. Even though that Kelly woman is a real piece of work, let me tell you. Afterwards, we went out with Lorin and some other Longwood friends of Allen’s that had come to see the show, and then it was back home. Friday, his mom and I went out to Kabana for the grand illumination of the Christmas lights around Richmond, but it ended up sort of being a bust. The atmosphere was cool at Kabana though, all the Christmas music playing and the themed drinks, even if they weren’t that spectacular. The lights were underwhelming. It was probably better out looking into the city, but from 20 floors up, it was kind of a miss. The experience was fun though. Then we headed downtown and saw the new ice skating rink that opened up near Havana so that was nice. Then we ate at Havana and it was so damn good, I’m still thinking about that damn porkchop and the Granny Smith Apple mashed potatoes ugh. So good.

By Saturday, and working six days in a row, I was worn out and so tired. Allen had a show that evening, and we both wanted to have a drink and relax when he got off, so I ended up taking a nap to prepare for that. I was so exhausted that I pretty much fell right to sleep and slept for two and a half hours uninterrupted. God, I needed it. But once he got home, we were able to unwind and we watched The Polar Express, which I have never seen before. It was fairly good. Sunday, Allen had a show midday, so I ended up working on trying to get my writing stuff all situated. But I ended up going to the store because I wanted like Christmassy drinks, and I ended up making the Christmas version of jungle juice, which is jingle juice haha. It turned out okay, at least it was drinkable. We decorated the tree Sunday, and Allen got me this ornament that says our first Christmas. Ugh, love him. 

Monday I got super drunk after work, and we watched The Santa Clause, which is my Polar Express, hands down my favorite Christmas movie. Allen is still poking fun at me for how drunk I was, but ya girl really needed after Monday at work. Truly, I needed it every day this week really. Work has just been too much lately. So much so that after the day I had Friday aka yesterday, I don’t know. It feels like I need to start looking for my next step as far as employment. It’s just really fucking up my headspace and that’s not something I’m really willing to part with. The good news is I’ve been writing a lot lately, mainly when Allen has been at the shows, and I’ve been finally getting back into a groove of writing. Wednesday was the only chill day at work I had. I’m hoping today is like that because I truly need it. 

My day off Thursday consisted of literally writing all day long and rewatching The Haunting Of Hill House, so fucking good. It was a great way to spend the day, but then Allen and I went to our second apartment to look at. So Wednesday, we went to this place called Deering Manor, and this visit turned out pretty damn well. Despite the way everything seemed on the way there (we still just need to research the area more), the apartments and the grounds themselves are really nice, and I’m so glad that we finally found a viable option for us. We would each have about a 20 minute commute to work, which works out more evenly as far as traveling between us. They had their own model to show us, and it’s just enough room I think to accommodate what we’re looking for. However, the place on Thursday, while it is bigger, they didn’t have anything to show us, and they basically handed us pamphlets, which Allen’s mom had already gotten for us when she told us about the place, and sent us on our way. I would really like for those apartments to work out, only because it’s more square footage, but hey, at least Deering Manor can work, and that’s the main thing. Then after we got home, I was able to get some things off my chest that I’ve been wanting to say, and Allen and I just sort of had some time for ourselves to reconvene and reconnect, and I was so happy to have it. I just love him so much, and sometimes my head really plays tricks on me because, well I don’t really know why. But I have to remember that we’re in this together, and we love each other. And the thought of us having our own place together is so damn exciting, I’m ready. We watched The Mistletones before bed, which was a prettt good movie, come through Tia Mowry. 

Yesterday, work was shit casserole. Literally. I was let down about moving departments, so that’s officially not happening. Then there was so much going on in apparel and my assistant manager was on my case for no damn reason, it was just a mess. At least Allen was there to comfort me when I got home, God bless him, he was really supportive. I also finished all my Christmas shopping, except for his mom, which we’re doing after I get off work. He had a show last night and I was watching the RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectactukar which was as dumb as I thought it was going to be. Then I for sure determined that I’m going to have to use Vellum for writing because I tried to see how Scrivener would work and it’s not, so that’s out. Benzo and I FaceTimed for a while and then bed haha. Today wasn’t that bad at work, thankfully, I just can’t stand my manager. I’m officially looking for other employment because I just want to write full-time. Donate to my PayPal to help 😂😂 just kidding haha. 

Also, shout out to One Kiss by Dua Lipa for almost breaking the NP. It’s been stuck in my head over the course of this week haha. I think that about covers it. I’m gonna wrap some presents since I have the house to myself, Allen just left for a show and his mom is at a friend’s party. Then work on some book stuff, the hustle never ends.

Until next time,

— Justin