My Cardboard Balcony

Wow, it's been a week! It's been a great week, though. I love my new job, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow, when I'll be dressing up for my girlfriend's parents' Halloween party. Working at the bookstore has been a blast thus far. Obviously, there's a lot we have to do before we open it. I've been lifting boxes, scanning books, hammering pegs to put shelves on, shelving books, and all around enjoying myself. I've tired out my arms, gotten bruises and splinters, and enjoyed the company of some funny and smart coworkers. It's been a lot of fun, and I really want to keep working at this place after it's officially opened. There's even bigger news for me to share, however, than my first week of work. My handful of readers, I have snagged an apartment. It's a beautiful, affordable place on the waterfront in a city south of my hometown. It's close to a bus stop that can get me very close to my workplace very quickly. And, most

Sorry, my few readers, but no time traveling today. I'm tired, bruised, and happy from a long week of work, and I'm going to rest before a fun Halloween party tomorrow. More on all that in my introspection, coming promptly!

The meat was overcooked, the salad was limp, and to top it off, my stove wasn't working. My guests were supposed to be here in a half hour, and I was already considering ordering take-out. My girlfriend tried to tell me it was all going to be okay, that supreme pizza would suffice. But these were her parents and two brothers that we were talking about here. I had wanted to impress them and wound up instead with singed skirt steak.