Here are a few updates for you.
Yesterday, I cornered one of the bosses at work and told him
it had been a few weeks since we discussed my promotion, and I thought it was
time for action. He agreed, but he admitted that there are still some things
that need to be discussed between the managers before any moves are made. I
told him that was fine, but that I thought it was fair to ask for a raise while
I am waiting for that to happen, and he agreed to that as well. He told me that
he would talk to his boss, and include me in a conversation with all of the
chefs by the time my workweek is over on Tuesday. So, I guess sometimes you
just have to be persistent.
Speaking of importunity, my GoFundMe campaign has
been at a standstill for a while, and we’re getting down to the last few days—six
to be exact—until I need to withdraw, and use the money I’ve raised for its
intended purpose. If you’re interested, I have picked out the camera I want,
which will cost me about double what I have raised. It’s a Sony
a6000 series , 24 megapixel, mirrorless beauty. Here’s the deal, if I don’t
raise the $650 needed to purchase it, I’m still going to do it because it’s
something I want, and although I do have the money for it, collectively you
have more, and I want it. Maybe that sounds greedy, and it is, but like they
say, “’Tis the season.” Right?
Maybe that last line didn’t make any sense because it doesn’t
really apply to that situation, but it was fun for me to write.
It’s been nearly two weeks since I sent The Letter
to my brother containing a check for the amount I owed him, along with a couple
pages of apologetic prose that hopefully made it to its destination proper. No,
I have not heard anything from him, nor has the check been cashed. Really, it’s
okay. It hasn’t even been that long, and even if I never hear from him, I’ve
done all there is to do, and I’ve let go.
In other news, a very close friend of mine relapsed
recently. Reversion is a significant part of this recovery thing, in fact, it
happens more often than it doesn’t, but when it happens to somebody you care
about, it tends to tug at the proverbial heartstrings a little. Last night I
had a painful conversation with that person, with a mutual friend of ours, and
we all ended up taking a ride to detox. Having the courage to put yourself in
that place is a good sign, and obviously I wish nothing but the best for him,
but it is scary to see somebody in a condition in which you have never seen
them.
After the trip to detox we went back to their house and did
a little cleanup. After being told where the offending beverages were I went
into their room and took everything downstairs and began to dump it all out.
This was the first time in years I have been in possession of alcohol, and even
though I didn’t suffer any using thoughts while I dumped out the six-pack and
half of a bottle of vodka, I did have the thought that that’s how I would have
done it. A real alcoholic needs to get drunk quickly, and for me it was always
both beer and liquor. Beer alone could take all day. Imagine breaking your arm
then following the dosing instructions for Advil; it’s just not going to do the
trick. I know a few people will text or message me asking who it is that I’m
referring to, but please don’t. We don’t need this circulating until this
person is ready to tell you themselves. So, that’s what I’ve got for today.