Independence Day

I don't like saying Happy 4th of July. For some reason, the 4th of July isn't as powerful to me. Nonono, it's Independence Day! And unlike most other holidays, I don't sit back going "The meaning for this has become so twisted" or get mad at people cutting the name Christ out of Christmas. Nono, I get to reflect on all that was done for my country, be patriotic, have a good time, and watch fireworks! I love Independence Day.

Now, there are things I don't like about my country. It has become a twisted, materialistic, selfish, fat economy, that is now taxed to bits and in a sense, falling apart. However, it is the land of the free and home of the brave. It is the "city on a hill" and a beacon of hope to all in bondage. One nation, under God.

Onto the usual banter..

I set my alarm for 10:30 'cause I didn't wanna sleep in too late, but I wokeup at 9:30 and couldn't go back to sleep. o_o So.. I got up, turned on my comp, and went back to work on a picture I had started last night. I downloaded the Adobe Photoshop CS4 trial last night and started learning how to use the infamous pen tool. I had gotten a good start, but I couldn't copy and paste like I used to and it was really frustrating.. so I gave up and went to bed.

So with a renewed mind, I went back this morning and figured out how to copy and paste and went to town on a nifty mugshot picture of Theo. xD CJ beat me to a shower, so I just stayed and worked on it longer.

Got a shower, got dressed, packed up my stuff for work, my stuff for drawing, and got some food. Then I worked on that picture s'more.. Yeah. Then it was time to go to the Other Shaw's house. Everyone left, and I got out the door a little later because I got distracted by my mugshot.

Left, and my car was driving really nice for some reason. o.o Which was.. cool. Uhh.. we hung out a little, and talked about Transformers. :B That was pretty snazzy. I always love talking about movies. Theeeen.. I drew pictures. We ate. People swam in the pool. We made little explosives... Uncle JJ had me come out and help him with it once, so I officially know how to make these crazy loud exploding soda liter things. They also spent some time firing the potato gun and trying to catch the potatoes... xD

Then I had to get changed and go to work. :< I didn't think it was gonna be busy. And it wasn't for awhile. Then things actually picked up, and there was a time when I was bussing tables by myself and kinda fell behind. :< I was a bit bummed that I couldn't keep up. I know I'm new and whatnot, but still. TT_TT But in the end, it was okay...

All in all though, I don't like working there. :< I'll get my tipout tomorrow and be able to get an idea on whether or not this'll be worth it. I don't think it will be. Let's see.. Three and a half hours at $3.50, making like.. $11 maybe with taxes taken out. If I get.. even $10 tip out or so, that'd be.. about $20 maybe 'cause I think they take taxes out of that too? I'm not positive. So say it's like. $20 for a shift like that, which I appear to be getting a lot and seems to be the hostess average. That comes out to be like $5.71-ish per hour. :| Fail. Dude, minimum wage goes up to $7.25 in a few weeks. I could make like.. $25 at the Marquee in that time.

However! No one gets short shifts like that at the Marquee. The shortest one I know of is 6-10:30 in box, which is a measly four. It's still more though. I usually work seven hours or more a day, which is obviously more hours and more money.

It's hurting me more to limit my hours at the Marquee and try to pull the double job thing at the Steakhouse, especially when they're only giving me tiny weekend shifts. As much as I don't like it, and as much as I don't think it'll be worth it, I can't just quit. One, it'll look bad on my resume, ect. Two, people have put a lot of effort into training me and I've made a couple friends there.. Zane, Quinn, and Gary are pretty cool. The managers all know me. I kinda got to know a guy called Jeff. I haven't really jived with any of the girls, except Amber, but she already left for college. She was awesome. So it'd be just rude to leave so soon. :< I'd rather wait until it's closer for me to leave for college, so I have a *reason* to leave besides "This isn't really worth it, so I'm gonna gamble for commissions and work as close to full time as they'll let me on my other job."

.. But that is what I plan on doing later. When I get back from college (assuming I go this Fall), I don't wanna pull a double job. At least not with a place like the Steakhouse. Don't get me wrong.. the place itself is nice. It's not my passion nor forte, so I have trouble liking it, but it's a nice place. The pay and hours could be nicer though. I'd have to find a really good paying job to try the double thing again.

So, all rambling aside, Shannon and Vann let me off around 9:05 or so? I got out as soon as possible and called mom for directions to Rollesville. I wanted to see those dang fireworks... I've always loved seeing them when I was little. I have memories of lining up in the grass, sitting on the hood of the truck with everyone else, and drawing until there was no more light. Then the fireworks were spectacular and lasted 20 minutes, and we all slowly got out afterwards with Sweet Home Alabama playing in the distance.

And when I got there, it was PACKED. For like.. nearly a whole mile of road perhaps, it was packed. All the restaurants, stores, and gas stations were jam packed with cars and people. I didn't think I'd ever find a spot! But I went through the McDonalds parking lot and got an iced coffee, and I found a spot off to the side of the drive thru I could snag. So I drove around again just as they were starting, snagged that spot off to the side and parked. Then I grabbed my key, opened up my back hatch, and sat in the back of my PT, drinking my iced coffee while watching the fireworks.

I cannot tell you how long I've wanted to do that. ... Well, prolly since I got the car. :D So uh.. a little over a year? Maybe? Kay, that's not that long, but it's awesome 'cause I always wanted to do it and I finally did.

I was expecting them to be where they usually were, but they were in a different spot this time. Like.. behind the McDonalds, and behind the Mexican Restauraunt.. and prolly behind the Food Lion. But those are all right in a row, so I was nearly right under the fireworks. They were big, and high in the sky. <3 I practically had a front row seat.

Everyone watched with the occasional "oohs" and "aaahs" that go with this thing. About six McDonalds employees were standing in the parking lot, watching the explosions. No one was shopping. No one was buying food. The masses were all outside, eyes turned to the sky.

It only lasted 12 minutes this time. The economy must have affected this show too.. but it was cool none the less. I got some cool pictures, and got the finale on video. :D Plus, memories to last a lifetime. :B

Mom and the kids didn't quite make it. They caught the finale from a distance.

As soon as it was done, I jumped out of the back, shut the door, got in the drivers seat and beat it for the exit. I still got stuck in traffic though. xD It was alright though. I had my windows down, sunroof open, playin' some awesome music. I heard some cool montage made from kids saying the Pledge of Allegience, quotes from Presidents, and the song "Hero". That was awesome. I soon popped in my own CDs and sung awesome stuff aaaalll the way home. Of course, fireworks were all over the area in different places all night.

Yup.

I had a great day.

I hope you had an awesome Independence Day.