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(This is the continuation of my telling of my short trip to NJ...my attempt to avoid a breakdown.)
Tuesday I woke up at 9ish, meaning I got about 11 hours of sleep or so. Maybe 10. Anyhoo, it was more sleep than I typically get. Mild jetlag and being awake for 33 out of 36 hours will do that to a person, I suppose.
Had canned peaches for breakfast, relaxed for a bit, then got ready to hit up the former place of employment and officially unleash the surprise.
Let me say, it was hilarious to see people, exchange greetings, then watch their faces as it occurred to them that, hey, I'm not supposed to be there. And there's a reason why I dyed my hair burgundy. People seeing me with my natural hair color would see me and think to themselves "Hmmmmm. She seems vaguely familiar." With burgundy hair, "Holy shit! I *know* that color!! It's Rebecca!"
First official stop, the hot foods department--head of my former department which was a branch of it. I collect my hugs and kisses (I had forgotten the NJ habit of kisses on the cheek) and go from one person to another, catching up. And I glance at the buffet, and guess what? It's chili day!!! (Long story made short. Some of the best chili EVER and I'd forever harass my manager to make it.)
Start moving towards produce, then on to seafood and deli. After catching up a bit there, I started to make my move towards the meat room and I had a plan in mind--I was going to stand partially hidden, call the direct number, make sure no one was using the saw(s), then pop out at them. Tommy Teddybear, as I have nicknamed the meat manager, saw me before I could get there and put the plan in action. I told him my plan and he thought it was hilarious. I'll do it next time. I got caught up there (and my #1 best at work boyfriend was on lunch somewhere on the property so he didn't yet know I was there), then moved around to different departments, checking up on things.
(Some new faces--some people looked at me like they couldn't believe a customer had the audacity to go into employee only areas--but plenty of people from my time there. I was starting to have a parade of people following me.)
I go up to the front of the store and see my Serbian mom. Yaaaaaaaaay!!! We talk for a bit, and she tells me that her husband will be in at 5. Cool. I have plans for 5:30ish, but I'll still get to see him. (Awesome people, btw.) Head back to the meatroom, confirm that they now know they have a supply of gum, and notice that I have been spotted by the elusive one. I thought he was going to cry when he found out that I was leaving the next day. I'm supposed to call him more often and then let him know when I'm coming out again.
First shift having been covered, I go outside to play while second shift comes in.
While outside, I get a text from my "date" saying that plans have to be postponed for a couple hours due to family stuff. No biggie. Make plans for later.
Find out my former cohort in crime called out because she has the flu. That sucks. And she's moving to Florida at the end of next month. Ah, well, I have ways to contact her.
Another friend who had the day off shows up and she gets in contact with another who is sick, but is willing to see me. As we wait for her, in comes my favorite cop. Off duty (not even doing the stand at the store for 3+ hours thing) so we do a quick catch up there and I snag his new email address.
Gather up the two former coworkers and hit one of the nearby diners. Meet the new girlfriend of the one (last I saw her, she was closeted. I didn't have a clue.) Fun was had by all and then we went to yet another friend's house...the sister of one of the girl's. Stayed there for a while, watched the end of a movie and flirted all around.
And there ends the fun.
Go back to where I'm staying and try to print my boarding passes. I can't do it, no matter what I try to do. Damn. OK...so I have to go to the airport a little bit earlier in the morning then I expected.
Sleep. Yay. Wake up, pack my stuff and am ready to go. My future parents in law, however, are not. (And did I mention that my flight time keeps changing? First noonish, then 11:40.) Damn it, as much as I want to stay longer, I can't. I have to work the next day!!! I'm worried because Dad has to get ready, Mom is trying to get everything together because after they drop me off at the airport they're going down the shore to look at houses, and they are taking forever. Now, if I'd had my flight stuff in hand, I wouldn't care. I could waltz in within a reasonable period of time and all would be well. Now I have to rush around Newark's terminal A, find a kiosk, print my Newark to Philly and Philly to Milwaukee passes and try to figure out about my Milwaukee to Green Bay stuff. (Different airline for the last one.) And my flight is now leaving at 11:20.
Except for the last leg of the trip, everything is worked out. Go to my gate and relax.
Head out to Philly. I'm not sure what I expected from the airport there, but it seemed small. Even smaller than Milwaukee.
Buy a couple of souvenirs, then wait for the flight to Milwaukee. Almost home!
Back in WI, I head to find a kiosk for the airline that's taking me to GB. Find it, print out my boarding pass, then go to security. It took longer to go through security there then it did in Newark. I've never had an experience like that. I was frantic because this last layover was the shortest of them all, and as much as I like Milwaukee, I kinda wanted to go home and see my family.
Fly to GB, the MOTH™ picks me up, and I'm officially home.
I had fun, but never again am I flying with multiple stops. And I should've taken a longer trip. I was on the verge of a breakdown and the delays didn't help. I only took 3 days because of my work schedule. If I had known that I was only working 20 hours last week and 24 this week, I would've taken at least a week to go out there. As it is, I'm now back to the stress levels I was at before I went.
And so, my personal saga ends for now.
Tuesday I woke up at 9ish, meaning I got about 11 hours of sleep or so. Maybe 10. Anyhoo, it was more sleep than I typically get. Mild jetlag and being awake for 33 out of 36 hours will do that to a person, I suppose.
Had canned peaches for breakfast, relaxed for a bit, then got ready to hit up the former place of employment and officially unleash the surprise.
Let me say, it was hilarious to see people, exchange greetings, then watch their faces as it occurred to them that, hey, I'm not supposed to be there. And there's a reason why I dyed my hair burgundy. People seeing me with my natural hair color would see me and think to themselves "Hmmmmm. She seems vaguely familiar." With burgundy hair, "Holy shit! I *know* that color!! It's Rebecca!"
First official stop, the hot foods department--head of my former department which was a branch of it. I collect my hugs and kisses (I had forgotten the NJ habit of kisses on the cheek) and go from one person to another, catching up. And I glance at the buffet, and guess what? It's chili day!!! (Long story made short. Some of the best chili EVER and I'd forever harass my manager to make it.)
Start moving towards produce, then on to seafood and deli. After catching up a bit there, I started to make my move towards the meat room and I had a plan in mind--I was going to stand partially hidden, call the direct number, make sure no one was using the saw(s), then pop out at them. Tommy Teddybear, as I have nicknamed the meat manager, saw me before I could get there and put the plan in action. I told him my plan and he thought it was hilarious. I'll do it next time. I got caught up there (and my #1 best at work boyfriend was on lunch somewhere on the property so he didn't yet know I was there), then moved around to different departments, checking up on things.
(Some new faces--some people looked at me like they couldn't believe a customer had the audacity to go into employee only areas--but plenty of people from my time there. I was starting to have a parade of people following me.)
I go up to the front of the store and see my Serbian mom. Yaaaaaaaaay!!! We talk for a bit, and she tells me that her husband will be in at 5. Cool. I have plans for 5:30ish, but I'll still get to see him. (Awesome people, btw.) Head back to the meatroom, confirm that they now know they have a supply of gum, and notice that I have been spotted by the elusive one. I thought he was going to cry when he found out that I was leaving the next day. I'm supposed to call him more often and then let him know when I'm coming out again.
First shift having been covered, I go outside to play while second shift comes in.
While outside, I get a text from my "date" saying that plans have to be postponed for a couple hours due to family stuff. No biggie. Make plans for later.
Find out my former cohort in crime called out because she has the flu. That sucks. And she's moving to Florida at the end of next month. Ah, well, I have ways to contact her.
Another friend who had the day off shows up and she gets in contact with another who is sick, but is willing to see me. As we wait for her, in comes my favorite cop. Off duty (not even doing the stand at the store for 3+ hours thing) so we do a quick catch up there and I snag his new email address.
Gather up the two former coworkers and hit one of the nearby diners. Meet the new girlfriend of the one (last I saw her, she was closeted. I didn't have a clue.) Fun was had by all and then we went to yet another friend's house...the sister of one of the girl's. Stayed there for a while, watched the end of a movie and flirted all around.
And there ends the fun.
Go back to where I'm staying and try to print my boarding passes. I can't do it, no matter what I try to do. Damn. OK...so I have to go to the airport a little bit earlier in the morning then I expected.
Sleep. Yay. Wake up, pack my stuff and am ready to go. My future parents in law, however, are not. (And did I mention that my flight time keeps changing? First noonish, then 11:40.) Damn it, as much as I want to stay longer, I can't. I have to work the next day!!! I'm worried because Dad has to get ready, Mom is trying to get everything together because after they drop me off at the airport they're going down the shore to look at houses, and they are taking forever. Now, if I'd had my flight stuff in hand, I wouldn't care. I could waltz in within a reasonable period of time and all would be well. Now I have to rush around Newark's terminal A, find a kiosk, print my Newark to Philly and Philly to Milwaukee passes and try to figure out about my Milwaukee to Green Bay stuff. (Different airline for the last one.) And my flight is now leaving at 11:20.
Except for the last leg of the trip, everything is worked out. Go to my gate and relax.
Head out to Philly. I'm not sure what I expected from the airport there, but it seemed small. Even smaller than Milwaukee.
Buy a couple of souvenirs, then wait for the flight to Milwaukee. Almost home!Back in WI, I head to find a kiosk for the airline that's taking me to GB. Find it, print out my boarding pass, then go to security. It took longer to go through security there then it did in Newark. I've never had an experience like that. I was frantic because this last layover was the shortest of them all, and as much as I like Milwaukee, I kinda wanted to go home and see my family.
Fly to GB, the MOTH™ picks me up, and I'm officially home.
I had fun, but never again am I flying with multiple stops. And I should've taken a longer trip. I was on the verge of a breakdown and the delays didn't help. I only took 3 days because of my work schedule. If I had known that I was only working 20 hours last week and 24 this week, I would've taken at least a week to go out there. As it is, I'm now back to the stress levels I was at before I went.
And so, my personal saga ends for now.
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