All right, I'm heading in tonight around 6. I have to pick my car up from the shop and run by the bank, then work for a few hours. I've been sick since Thanksgiving with some kind of really lingering cold, and even though moving is so much fun, for some reason it hasn't helped me feel any better.

Anyhow, thanks, Austin. I won't miss the crappy building, the awful preponderance of blacklights, and some of management's more questionable hiring practices, but I will miss quite a few of the sweet gals and guys who work at XTC. And some of my favorite customers, too, one of whom totally made my weekend last Saturday with a charming card and graduation gift.

I will try to make a more extended update later; but on top of everything else, the fan in my laptop began making an awful noise earlier today, so I am hesistant to use it too much.

Yeesh, what a day yesterday. It was so damn slow, I guess because of the post-holiday weekend? Ick.

There was some extremely wasted/stoned guy who showed up around noon; first he tried ot haggle at the front door over the (deeply discounted daytime) cover, then he stood up at the bar, being way too friendly to everyone. He was walking around randomly talking to other customers until the manager told him to chill the hell out. At one point, he told me he'd hugged his plants that morning. He was a pest. He came to tip me on stage, then when I pulled out my garter after dancing for him, he said, "I'll get around to it." "You'll get around to it?" I said in disbelief. My first song was ending, so I went behind the stage to tell the DJ to get him away from the stage, where he'd set down his glass. Billy says, "Why? What'd he do?" Oh, nothing, I'm just asking you to get a guy off my stage for no reason, you dork. Here, let me spend time explaining while my second song is starting. He began to dance by the stage and finally Josh came over and told him to sit down.

I went to thank Josh later, and he said, "Yeah, I've had to throw him out three times before." "Uh, you think about just NOT LETTING HIM IN anymore?" Jesus.

It was so slow that a couple of girls who bought outfits totaling $40 from me couldn't pay me. That is ridiculous. I'm anticipating it'll be better todya, and if not at least I can watch football. I'm probably just going to work from 3-8 or something, unless it winds up being busy.

It's back to work for me tomorrow night; the beginning of the end of my time at XTC, though I might be back in March for a little while.

And school is coming to an end; I'm finished with most of my obligations there. Unbelievable. Someday I'll explain why it took me so long to finish.

The flight back was so much easier than the flight there. Then I had to immediately go to class, which was a little jarring, but not too bad.

I replaced the faucet in the new apartment's kitchen; the landlord bought all these lovely new stainless steel appliances but left the crappy leaky brass faucet which cost $50 to replace. I had replaced the faucet in my current place when I moved in because it didn't have a spray attachment, and it took me about half an hour to do. Well, this faucet had some kind of bizarre washer-type nuts which were a complete pain to remove. It was a hideous task and took hours for me to complete. My hands are still torn up. But we have a gorgeous new faucet now. And of course a new massaging showerhead.