So bring it, already!

Impede away
Before I get carried away and turn into a Red Wings fan on my readers (yikes), I should catch you guys up on my ticket situation. Went to the court too dressed up (but I didn't know what to expect and at least it showed that I cared. I could have also came from work, so whatever), and waited. This man started calling the people up to the counter. I was second. To my recollection and because I matched the writing, it was my cop. He said I had two options (the famous "options" word that I heard the night I got pulled over), one of which was, because I had nothing on my record, to accept an impeding traffic ticket worth $145 and no points, or we can go in front of a judge, he would state his case and I mine, and if the judge accepted mine it would be dismissed or I would have to pay the fine and get the points. Hmmmmm, tough choice. I took the impeding traffic option. I don't even care about the money (which is more than the fine of the ticket) because at least it was a one-time deal instead of paying for a measly first-time speeding offense for two years. So after all that was over with, by 1:30 too, might I add, I felt stupid for being so freaked out but learned my lesson. Then on the way back to my safe haven of Macomb County, there was almost a Super Chev sandwich in downtown Pontiac. Luckily the car behind me was able to swerve into the right lane, or I would have been in bad shape. I aslo kept cursing the jeep in front of me until I passed it after M-59 turns into a freeway. Ruddy bastard. I was at the store by 2:30 and only stayed until 7. Once my nerves calmed down, I was exhausted. So that was that and it's time to move on.

Is it 4:00 yet?
For most of the day Friday, I kept busy and didn't look at my watch. I reorganized my flip flops and sunglasses (two tedious chores, one of which is my sole responsibility [shoes]) and made the displays of them look pretty in every department. As I was going through the sunglasses, I found big boy glasses in big girl and both big girl and big boy in the baby girl section. You can only imagine my irritation. To add to my disgust, as I was getting stuff to fill big boy, I found MORE flip flops. Flippers never go in the spot in which I found them and I prompty unpackaged them, put them with the others and went to bitch about it to Dee. All she did was make an excuse, heaven forbid anyone dog MaryFrancis. She is one of two that I just cannot stand. I looked in boxes in the big girl section of the backroom labeled shoes and to my most sincere suprise, I found none other than BABY GIRL shoes. Honestly, wtf is that? Showed Dee the shoes, told her how the box was labeled - no reaction. I showed Kelly how the box was labeled and she couldn't believe it. Then she said, we should make you in charge of shipment Amy. I said, hey, at least it would be organized back that. She asked if we should put in the request now. Ha. While I wouldn't mind that, I don't know if anything will come of it, so I'm not waiting for a miracle of a person with organizational skills to go in the backroom. That actually took up the majority of my day. I punched out at 4, was changed and out of the mall by 4:07 and on my way downtown. I think I punched in at the Joe at 5:02, marking the first time in four years that I was ever late. And no, it doesn't even matter, there are habitual late-comers and as long as you're there by doors, it's generally okay. Two minutes isn't going to make or break my paycheck from Mr. I, so I could care less.

My third Game One - so much better than the past!
I had enough time to get a hot dog and go upstairs, check in with Jack and then find someone who was passing out flashing lights. Yes, ushers are allowed to show some team spirit, but only in the playoffs. When I checked in I got a button that was to be "mandatory" on our uniforms. I've never actually had mandatory flare before, that's rather exciting. So these flashing lights we are supposed to turn on whenever the Wings score. I did that after Langer scored and it shortly burned out thereafter. Nice, quality merchandise from Olympia Entertainment. Really, would you expect anything else? The guest relations guy giving wristbands to my standers gave me his instead. It wouldn't have been a big deal, but the people in my section got a kick out that damn light. I don't know how the opening show was because I was distracted by people wanting to know where their seats were (the nerve, right?), so I don't know if it was good. I know it was loud and I know there were drummers on the ice and in some sections. And banners dropped at the end. But I didn't catch the video.

Two octopi on the ice during the national anthems made Karen Newman actually show some character. She smiled and acknowledged them, stopping short of laughing during the Star Spangled Banner. It was kinda funny. The third came after the game was tied up. And then there was a raw steak or something thrown on the ice. Not sure what that was about, but hey, it's the playoffs, almost anything goes.

It was a nice time for Maltby to remember that he actually is a hockey player and that scoring goals is part of his job description. There are always multiple overtimes, but these were more exciting to watch. Why? It was old school hockey at its best. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and at times, got very into the game.

Return of the -uh- Wings fan?
I had to deal with a couple of those guys. One kept testing me the whole night by stepping out of bounds. As I walked by to check wrist bands at the start of each period, he kicked me once. Then after Malts won the game, he came up and tried to grab and hug me. Fucking little hobbit, I should have beat him with my flashing light stick, but all I did was tap him on the shoulder with it and make him move behind the red line. Ugh. Annoying little guy, he was. Another one just stared at me for the time I was up in the aisle greeting people as they came in. He was on the other end of the wall, so he didn't present as much as a problem as the hobbit did. And when I walked by to check wristbands he tried talking to me and I just turned and walked away.

A girl was waiting for a stop so she could go take her seat and she turned and told me that I looked just like Natalie Portman. This of course got a group of guys standing behind me to say, hey Natalie, what's goin on (or something like that). I turned and laughed at them. Then I told her that I'd never heard that comparison before, but she said oh no, it's good, she's cute. So that was kinda fun, too.

And my Wing fandom has returned, though not as full force as once it was. Not yet, anyway.

Gone with the Wind
This has taken me far too long to write, so I have to go get ready for work in a mad rush. While you're out enjoying the weather, I'll be stuck inside the store. Again. I feel as though I am living at that place. Bye.