Blizzard 2010.

Holy Smokes. I wanted snow but I wasn't expecting this much snow.

The last week was overwhelming busy. I'll just have to come to grips with the fact that working in retail will forever make me dislike the holidays, just a little. I won't be as bad of a scrooge as I was this year. But I will have a little PSD anytime I step at a checkout line.

I am struck by how predictable people are. Retail reminds you of the horrors of consumerism and the bane of our existence is wrought with ungrades. Every year a new item comes out that children, adults, and those of us in the middle NEED. It turns everyday good people into savages. I am not a person who constantly needs an upgrade. I've had the same tv, glasses, dvd, phone plan and ipod for the last five years. I don't see the point in having an Ipad or an e-reader. I don't need tv on my phone or the interweb at my fingertips.

I'm not that complicated. Give me a paperback book, my simple ipod and some warm pajama pants and I am set for life. This year people came out in hoards to shop for Christmas presents. It was disheartening, and stressful and a bunch of the seasonal employees crumbled under the pressure. The rest of us defended ourselves against rude customers, crying babies, and one kid who threw up all over customer service. We hugged it out in the break room and sang songs of survival.

And we talked about drinking. A lot.

On Thursday I had to open (8am to 4pm) but was able to spend the rest of the night and Christmas morning at my aunts house. Our relationship is mending. The whole fiasco of last year is still pretty painful but I love hanging out with my baby cousin. She is five now and her personality is infectious. When my aunt asked if I wanted to spend the holidays with them all I could think about was Michelle. How awesome it would be to help her open presents.

When I got to my aunts house, all three of them (Michelle, aunt and Chris) were camped out on the couch watching cheesy movies. Michelle almost knocked over as she hugged me to the ground. We spent the rest of the night baking cupcakes and drawing pictures. I even helped her make her first real story book. She came up with the characters, story and pictures herself. I just wrote every choppy five year old sentence down. She squealed with excitement when I told her to sign her name after the finished product. I am nurturing a creative kid in the making.

On Christmas day I could only stay until noon because I was scheduled to work 7am the next day at Le Sad Store. My aunt had to work Christmas so it was just Michelle, Chris and I. I wanted to be able to help Michelle open up all her presents, followed by setting up all her toys to play with. She got a Leapfrog device which she played for the majority of the morning while I braided the hair of some Rapunzel-isue doll.

Being around her eliminated all the scrooge like sentiments for me and by Sunday even though I had to get to work at an ungodly hour because Le Sad Store had to mark down all of the holiday items, I was giddy all day. So people were still assholes once the store opened. So I was completely exhausted and drained from having to work so early. But that didn't matter because getting to play Just Dance for Kids with a uncoordinated five year old is the bees knees of pick me ups.

Everyone else did not share this same giddiness. Kat and some others (who usually don't work weekends) had to come in and were miserable looking. Blue was there and he showed off his very cool feather hat but sulked most of the day as well. I do adore boys with interesting fashion however and asked him to model it on during our lunch break. It was cute. McAbs however was in a horrible mood, per usual. I asked him how Christmas was and he replied 'I drank, a lot". When i asked why he said 'because it's Christmas. it's what we do at home'.

Alright then.

However during my break as I was talking to my mom on the phone McAbs walked down the aisle where I was lingering and bent down to kiss me. I kid you not!!!!!!! Evident by how many exclamations points I used. He kissed me ya'll!!!

It was a small peck, soft and unplanned one, as if there was an imaginary mistletoe over our heads. It took me off guard (soft lips, unshaven face, boy smell, blushed cheeks). It lasted less than 3 seconds. But holy crap. A kiss from the boy I was not expecting one from. He then walked away as if nothing had happened and said 'merry Christmas Beckett". No words. No words at all.

I played it off very cool around the rest of the day. I didn't mention the kiss. He didn't mention the kiss. We talked about Just Dance and he said I was the only nice person at work. I said he wasn't too shabby when he wasn't sulking around and being a turd. We will not mention it at all, I guess. It will remain something he did unexpectantly, my cheeks will just have to de-blush themselves.But when I got home, I did bring my hand up to my mouth just where his grazed mine. What a weird boy.

And THEN I got presents from my best friend at work. In a very cute Christmas bag I got a doctor who nerd fans greatest gift....A sonic screwdriver! I nearly cried from happiness and then felt guilty because I didn't get him anything (I'll spend the next few days surfing the net for superman related gifts. any ideas will be greatly appreciated).

Today there is about 20 inches of snow on the ground. I am still going to work ( I freakig hate retail) but combined with my presents, hanging out with Michelle, and a kiss from McAbs I am feeling the holiday spirit all of a sudden. Or I am just high off of all the love.

Thank You Blizzard 2010.