Friday, July 10, 1992
Thursday, July 9, 1992
July 9, 1992 - Thursday - Kimmeth Powell
Kim is wonderful! I built my hopes and dreams for today on a bunch of assumptions, and it all turned out magnificently. Kim is the first girl that I have ever actively chased. Both Jennifer and Nicole took it upon themselves to get together with me. I had looked at our schedules yesterday at saw that we both have this Saturday off. I planned on asking her to come with me to Busch Gardens, hoping she didn't already have plans. I was also somewhat nervous about asking, and also started getting scared that I wouldn't get the chance when we hadn't been able to talk on the phone by lunchtime. When Frank told me to go to lunch, I knew that Kim was up in Lift 2, and after quickly debating whether to just go (I knew that would be considered holding back and I just couldn't) or call, I went up to the panel and had Ray hand me the phone. Despite Frank seeing me talking, I stayed on and asked her, and she said probably depending on if Teresa hadn't planned anything major for them. Teresa is leaving for St. Louis in a week so I would understand. I was estatic and ran off to have a big ham sandwich for lunch.
Later I was working the unloading brakes with Andre, and we were talking about all of the girls. I kept turning up towards the control panel and looking at MichŠle. Every once in a while we would wave and smile. Andre said that she is the best looking girl on the flume. I started telling him how I don't think Kim is too shabby either, I said she has nice hair and a really nice ass. I told him how we've been on the phone a lot lately and how I asked her earlier to come to Busch with me. I also told him about taking her home and going to McDonalds to eat. He said I must really like the girl and slapped me five. He told me that she had switched shifts with him earlier and would now be closing. Now it would be Kim, Mark and I closing and the two of them were at that moment up in the lifts. I realized that I needed to hurry and ask her if I could take her home before Mark got the chance, and told Andre. I almost figured that I was too late if they were already talking on the phone.
She ended up taking Andre's place a while later and we both laughed as he nudged me on the shoulder with his fist and wished me luck. I asked her if I could take her home or had Mark already beat me to her. She told me that she hadn't even asked Mark and would be glad to let me. Yay. I won. That was somewhat of a major proving ground for me and I am so glad of the way it worked out. By that point I realized how awesome my day was going, everything I tried to do was actually happening.
Then the storm came. It seemed like another hot sticky rainless day, then all of the sudden the thunder came and the rain. Mark, Kim and I were out talking on the platform. April had just walked out when Frank told us one person needed to stay out and the rest had to come into the back. We all ran up the stairs, leaving Kim at the back. I laughingly grabbed April by the shoulders and told her that she wasn't going anywhere, and told Kim to come on. April eventually staid. Good girl.
I found out earlier that April took the Flume test three times, you're only allowed two tries and you can only miss two or three. I only missed one on my first try. She's a fat slob and I was pissed that they let her work here, so all day I kept telling her that she doesn't belong here and needs to quit. I of course was doing it in a teasing way as not to seem entirely mean. Earlier last week I had gone down the schedule with Kim and Amanda and picked out the people I'd keep and the one's I'd fire if I were a supervisor. I picked Billy, Jason, and April for firing. I believe that there should be an image that must be kept to work at Busch Gardens and they just don't fit it. Well I found out that in the past week, Billy got fired for too many call ins, Jason called in saying he had to quit for personal reasons, and April would be fired in Frank hadn't of put in a good word for her to Shirley on the test. That's weird, maybe I'm psychic, or maybe somebody told a supervisor what I said, or something. I'm just glad that Billy and Jason are outta here.
Anyway, Frank, Mark, Agnes, Kim and I stood around the table and talked. We started talking about cars and I put in how my catalytic convertor got plugged, and how I had all of my brakes redone and my bearings repacked. I told Frank that's why I keep wanting to stay until closing, for the money. The money part is true, but mom paid for most of the car repairs. Frank then said that someone needed to take April's place and we all stood there and laughed. Frank flipped a coin for us and Kim lost. We started talking about those Brazilian tour groups and how those kids carry a hell of a lot of money. They found a little pouch once with $2,000 in it! They also have seen where the group will come in with a briefcase full of money that the leader will pass out in packets to all the people. Mark and I were joking that we were going to go jump us some Brazilian kids. It was funny. Meanwhile Agnes was just sitting there drawing lines with a pen all over my hand.
As soon as the ride reopened, Frank sent Kim on break and me on dinner. We sat with this girl from Tidal Wave named Noelle. We kept up a pretty smooth conversation the whole time talking about Teresa's kid and how Kim will miss him when they go back to St. Louis next week. He's her two year old beach bum. She has some little bruises on her legs and said it was because he was standing on her when she was playing with him. I complained that he gets all of the action and told her that she needed to lose the bruises if she wanted to tag along with me at Busch Gardens on Saturday. When Kim went back I actually talked to Noelle for a while about working on the Tidal Wave and all. I have seen her plenty of times in the lounge but we had never talked.
When I went back to platform Kim was on the control panel. i told her I just had a thought. If she had to talk to Teresa first and I don't work tomorrow, then how am I going to find out what we are doing. She put a hand up to her ear and told me that I could give her a call and smiled. I told her that I don't have her phone number. She said that she was aware of that and to go get a pen. She wrote it down on a paper napkin, 237-3263. That is now my most valuable piece of paper, except for maybe my $500 savings bond. Frank was nowhere to be found but Kim and I knew that I was supposed to go to Spillway to relieve MichŠle. When I got up there she asked me what was that (the napkin) and I said a phone number. She asked whose and I told her it was Kim's. She said oh in a long drawn-out suspicious way. Whoops. I had talked to her on the phone earlier when we were shut down but not for long. Ray and MichŠle had been up in the lifts and weren't talking together so Kim suggested that I introduce them. When I started talking to her she went over and started talking to Mark so I hurriedly got off the phone.
At about 6:30 I saw Kim go up to Lift 2 but decided I'd wait until she called or until seven, whichever came first. She likes to sit and vegetate for a while when she first goes up and she later thanked me for letting her just sit for a while. She called at about 7:03 and we started talking for the entire last hour. She stood in the doorway of Lift 2 and I stood at the back window so we could see each other as we talked. She wants a baseball cap so we were picking out good ones on the peoples' heads and said that we'd just grab them as they went by. I told her that an Olympics hat would be cool and she agreed. We get a thirty percent discount on the merchandise up at Olympic Village so I figure we'll look if we come on Saturday. I really want a T-shirt. I told her that I was hungry hoping she'd want to stop on the way home. I was stupid on Monday being so tired and all. I forced myself awake this time and was almost hyper when it was time to leave.
I waited for her to come down the lift and we walked back to the platform. Frank told us to go see hoe Mark was doing sweeping the queue house. We laughingly ran out to the stairs and both called to Mark and asked him how he was doing. We went back to Frank and told him that Mark was doing fine. He laughed but then told us that he meant for us to help him. We didn't get out of there until 8:30. I don't know when Kim told Mark that I was taking her home but he just said bye and walked away not waiting for us when it was time to go. Ha ha.
When we got out of the car there were about five semi trucks blocking my car in. I did some fancy maneuvering and curved around them with relative ease. As we got out to Busch Blvd. I asked her if she was hungry and she said not really. She then asked me if I was intent on stopping and I said yes, how about Wendy's. That sounded alot better than McDonald's. We both had to use the bathroom. I told her I was treating since I dragged her into this place and she laughed. I was much more suave about treating this time. I ordered a large Frosty and large fries and she got a regular Frosty. We went and sat by the window and had alot of fun this time. We had eaten all the fries early so I went up and bought another. They asked me if I ran out already and I told them that she ate them all. The manager was right there helping with orders and they all laughed. They had looked about as dead as we do at the end of the day at Busch and I was glad to make them laugh. We were both in uniform and I kept seeing a minus on the cash register and then I realized that Busch employees get a ten percent discount. I wish they would tell us these things.
This time I got to hand feed her some fries and she did the same to me once. This food was definitely much better than Monday night and we never stopped talking and laughing. I kept dipping my fries in my Frosty, I have loved that since I was little. I threw a french fry at her once and when she through it back I told her she couldn't do that because this was a family establishment. We had wondered earlier why guys had to wear shirts on the rides and that was her reasoning. She told me that she wasn't throwing it at them, only me. I told her that she was an adult and was setting a bad example for the kids and that since I'm only seventeen I was still allowed to throw fries. She said yeah, that she was contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She then asked me when I turned eighteen. I told her for all practical purposes in two days, but then I had to confess my real birthday. Her's is on January 24th.
I told her that I really missed those little black kids slobbering on my seat and throwing toys at us. Wendy's was cooler, nicer, and had soothing music playing which made for a really nice atmosphere that kept me going. The people were also all white. We had a few fries left and a little bit of drink left when we were done. I told her that there were hungry kids in... and she goes Ethiopia. I told her there were probably hungry little kids just outside that would gladly take our food. We started making jokes about that and it was funny. We kept talking the entire way home instead of having silent periods. I turned on my radio and my bass and she laughingly told me that I really did want to get mugged. There was a guy walking towards the stop sign on Powhatan and I didn't stop. I told Kim that he would have probably taken the rest of our fries, and we wouldn't have even had to offer.
There was a road closed sign blocking the right lane just before her house. She goes oh well and asked me if she could stay with me, and I said sure. We then said our goodbyes and both parted in very good moods. Thank God. I just hope we get to spend all day Saturday together. I can only imagine the things that are possible. I'm in love.
Yesterday on the flume I was sitting up in Lift 2 when a boat came by with a somewhat attractive lady, about 38, with a really cute 17 year old in the front, and a cute 16 year old in the back. Just as they were going over the hill, the mother looks in at me and goes `Now YOU'RE cute!' like everyone she has seen today was ugly. I laugh as the girl in the front goes `Yeah, you're cute' in a very reassuring voice. I also had a younger girl tell her friend `He's the one I was telling you about' as I unloaded them from the rear brakes. It's amazing what this can do for one's self confidence. I was flirting with every girl that I could, saying hi and smiling, and sometimes keeping eye contact with a cute one for a long time. I got a really good stare and smile from this girl as I was going up to Spillway. I love it!
Today there were tons of girls all in skimpy bathing suits. I flirted with as many as possible giving some of them deep stares with a hint of a smile on my face. It's fun to have a girl grab you're ankle after you load her into a boat, and I had one blow me a kiss up at Lift 2. I think I like having my hair cut shorter, ever since I did every day has been this way.
But I love Kim.
Later I was working the unloading brakes with Andre, and we were talking about all of the girls. I kept turning up towards the control panel and looking at MichŠle. Every once in a while we would wave and smile. Andre said that she is the best looking girl on the flume. I started telling him how I don't think Kim is too shabby either, I said she has nice hair and a really nice ass. I told him how we've been on the phone a lot lately and how I asked her earlier to come to Busch with me. I also told him about taking her home and going to McDonalds to eat. He said I must really like the girl and slapped me five. He told me that she had switched shifts with him earlier and would now be closing. Now it would be Kim, Mark and I closing and the two of them were at that moment up in the lifts. I realized that I needed to hurry and ask her if I could take her home before Mark got the chance, and told Andre. I almost figured that I was too late if they were already talking on the phone.
She ended up taking Andre's place a while later and we both laughed as he nudged me on the shoulder with his fist and wished me luck. I asked her if I could take her home or had Mark already beat me to her. She told me that she hadn't even asked Mark and would be glad to let me. Yay. I won. That was somewhat of a major proving ground for me and I am so glad of the way it worked out. By that point I realized how awesome my day was going, everything I tried to do was actually happening.
Then the storm came. It seemed like another hot sticky rainless day, then all of the sudden the thunder came and the rain. Mark, Kim and I were out talking on the platform. April had just walked out when Frank told us one person needed to stay out and the rest had to come into the back. We all ran up the stairs, leaving Kim at the back. I laughingly grabbed April by the shoulders and told her that she wasn't going anywhere, and told Kim to come on. April eventually staid. Good girl.
I found out earlier that April took the Flume test three times, you're only allowed two tries and you can only miss two or three. I only missed one on my first try. She's a fat slob and I was pissed that they let her work here, so all day I kept telling her that she doesn't belong here and needs to quit. I of course was doing it in a teasing way as not to seem entirely mean. Earlier last week I had gone down the schedule with Kim and Amanda and picked out the people I'd keep and the one's I'd fire if I were a supervisor. I picked Billy, Jason, and April for firing. I believe that there should be an image that must be kept to work at Busch Gardens and they just don't fit it. Well I found out that in the past week, Billy got fired for too many call ins, Jason called in saying he had to quit for personal reasons, and April would be fired in Frank hadn't of put in a good word for her to Shirley on the test. That's weird, maybe I'm psychic, or maybe somebody told a supervisor what I said, or something. I'm just glad that Billy and Jason are outta here.
Anyway, Frank, Mark, Agnes, Kim and I stood around the table and talked. We started talking about cars and I put in how my catalytic convertor got plugged, and how I had all of my brakes redone and my bearings repacked. I told Frank that's why I keep wanting to stay until closing, for the money. The money part is true, but mom paid for most of the car repairs. Frank then said that someone needed to take April's place and we all stood there and laughed. Frank flipped a coin for us and Kim lost. We started talking about those Brazilian tour groups and how those kids carry a hell of a lot of money. They found a little pouch once with $2,000 in it! They also have seen where the group will come in with a briefcase full of money that the leader will pass out in packets to all the people. Mark and I were joking that we were going to go jump us some Brazilian kids. It was funny. Meanwhile Agnes was just sitting there drawing lines with a pen all over my hand.
As soon as the ride reopened, Frank sent Kim on break and me on dinner. We sat with this girl from Tidal Wave named Noelle. We kept up a pretty smooth conversation the whole time talking about Teresa's kid and how Kim will miss him when they go back to St. Louis next week. He's her two year old beach bum. She has some little bruises on her legs and said it was because he was standing on her when she was playing with him. I complained that he gets all of the action and told her that she needed to lose the bruises if she wanted to tag along with me at Busch Gardens on Saturday. When Kim went back I actually talked to Noelle for a while about working on the Tidal Wave and all. I have seen her plenty of times in the lounge but we had never talked.
When I went back to platform Kim was on the control panel. i told her I just had a thought. If she had to talk to Teresa first and I don't work tomorrow, then how am I going to find out what we are doing. She put a hand up to her ear and told me that I could give her a call and smiled. I told her that I don't have her phone number. She said that she was aware of that and to go get a pen. She wrote it down on a paper napkin, 237-3263. That is now my most valuable piece of paper, except for maybe my $500 savings bond. Frank was nowhere to be found but Kim and I knew that I was supposed to go to Spillway to relieve MichŠle. When I got up there she asked me what was that (the napkin) and I said a phone number. She asked whose and I told her it was Kim's. She said oh in a long drawn-out suspicious way. Whoops. I had talked to her on the phone earlier when we were shut down but not for long. Ray and MichŠle had been up in the lifts and weren't talking together so Kim suggested that I introduce them. When I started talking to her she went over and started talking to Mark so I hurriedly got off the phone.
At about 6:30 I saw Kim go up to Lift 2 but decided I'd wait until she called or until seven, whichever came first. She likes to sit and vegetate for a while when she first goes up and she later thanked me for letting her just sit for a while. She called at about 7:03 and we started talking for the entire last hour. She stood in the doorway of Lift 2 and I stood at the back window so we could see each other as we talked. She wants a baseball cap so we were picking out good ones on the peoples' heads and said that we'd just grab them as they went by. I told her that an Olympics hat would be cool and she agreed. We get a thirty percent discount on the merchandise up at Olympic Village so I figure we'll look if we come on Saturday. I really want a T-shirt. I told her that I was hungry hoping she'd want to stop on the way home. I was stupid on Monday being so tired and all. I forced myself awake this time and was almost hyper when it was time to leave.
I waited for her to come down the lift and we walked back to the platform. Frank told us to go see hoe Mark was doing sweeping the queue house. We laughingly ran out to the stairs and both called to Mark and asked him how he was doing. We went back to Frank and told him that Mark was doing fine. He laughed but then told us that he meant for us to help him. We didn't get out of there until 8:30. I don't know when Kim told Mark that I was taking her home but he just said bye and walked away not waiting for us when it was time to go. Ha ha.
When we got out of the car there were about five semi trucks blocking my car in. I did some fancy maneuvering and curved around them with relative ease. As we got out to Busch Blvd. I asked her if she was hungry and she said not really. She then asked me if I was intent on stopping and I said yes, how about Wendy's. That sounded alot better than McDonald's. We both had to use the bathroom. I told her I was treating since I dragged her into this place and she laughed. I was much more suave about treating this time. I ordered a large Frosty and large fries and she got a regular Frosty. We went and sat by the window and had alot of fun this time. We had eaten all the fries early so I went up and bought another. They asked me if I ran out already and I told them that she ate them all. The manager was right there helping with orders and they all laughed. They had looked about as dead as we do at the end of the day at Busch and I was glad to make them laugh. We were both in uniform and I kept seeing a minus on the cash register and then I realized that Busch employees get a ten percent discount. I wish they would tell us these things.
This time I got to hand feed her some fries and she did the same to me once. This food was definitely much better than Monday night and we never stopped talking and laughing. I kept dipping my fries in my Frosty, I have loved that since I was little. I threw a french fry at her once and when she through it back I told her she couldn't do that because this was a family establishment. We had wondered earlier why guys had to wear shirts on the rides and that was her reasoning. She told me that she wasn't throwing it at them, only me. I told her that she was an adult and was setting a bad example for the kids and that since I'm only seventeen I was still allowed to throw fries. She said yeah, that she was contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She then asked me when I turned eighteen. I told her for all practical purposes in two days, but then I had to confess my real birthday. Her's is on January 24th.
I told her that I really missed those little black kids slobbering on my seat and throwing toys at us. Wendy's was cooler, nicer, and had soothing music playing which made for a really nice atmosphere that kept me going. The people were also all white. We had a few fries left and a little bit of drink left when we were done. I told her that there were hungry kids in... and she goes Ethiopia. I told her there were probably hungry little kids just outside that would gladly take our food. We started making jokes about that and it was funny. We kept talking the entire way home instead of having silent periods. I turned on my radio and my bass and she laughingly told me that I really did want to get mugged. There was a guy walking towards the stop sign on Powhatan and I didn't stop. I told Kim that he would have probably taken the rest of our fries, and we wouldn't have even had to offer.
There was a road closed sign blocking the right lane just before her house. She goes oh well and asked me if she could stay with me, and I said sure. We then said our goodbyes and both parted in very good moods. Thank God. I just hope we get to spend all day Saturday together. I can only imagine the things that are possible. I'm in love.
Yesterday on the flume I was sitting up in Lift 2 when a boat came by with a somewhat attractive lady, about 38, with a really cute 17 year old in the front, and a cute 16 year old in the back. Just as they were going over the hill, the mother looks in at me and goes `Now YOU'RE cute!' like everyone she has seen today was ugly. I laugh as the girl in the front goes `Yeah, you're cute' in a very reassuring voice. I also had a younger girl tell her friend `He's the one I was telling you about' as I unloaded them from the rear brakes. It's amazing what this can do for one's self confidence. I was flirting with every girl that I could, saying hi and smiling, and sometimes keeping eye contact with a cute one for a long time. I got a really good stare and smile from this girl as I was going up to Spillway. I love it!
Today there were tons of girls all in skimpy bathing suits. I flirted with as many as possible giving some of them deep stares with a hint of a smile on my face. It's fun to have a girl grab you're ankle after you load her into a boat, and I had one blow me a kiss up at Lift 2. I think I like having my hair cut shorter, ever since I did every day has been this way.
But I love Kim.
Tuesday, July 7, 1992
July 7, 1992 - Tuesday - Kimmeth Powell
It's late at night and I'm finally getting around to writing my journal. I've had a caffeine high for the past couple of hours. I took Kim to McDonalds and treated before taking her home. We had a pretty good time but I was just too tired. Our first `date' was the highlight of my day.
I was scheduled as cutback and had talked to Amanda about switching shifts but Sharlene called in so Andy let me take over her shift. I still had a while before I was due in and I figured that I'd find Amanda over in the lounge. I did so I sat down and talked with her for a while until Agnes showed up and Ray from Tidal Wave came over and sat down. Amanda just sat there, sort of excluded, as the three of us talked about the Olympians in the park and how we each felt about the professional basketball players being able to play. I believe that each country should be represented by it's best athletes in each sport. They felt that it should all be amateurs.
I was sent up to Lift 2 and had about fifteen minutes to talk with Kimmeth. I'm a little jealous of the fact that she and Mark are going to the beach today, with the possibility of her staying in St. Pete overnight. She was replaced by Amanda who didn't want to talk. I later ended up loading on platform with Kim, with Rebecca on panel, and Andy grouping. We were all talking and I kept walking around to the three of them, I was hyper and couldn't stand still. Amanda kept crying about unloading in the back and Andy and I were making cracks about her. I then asked Rebecca for some ice water. She kicked the door open and sarcastically told me to get it myself. I thus was forced to empty a quarter cup of freezing water all over her legs! It was funny. We seem to always be playing with each other that way lately.
After a while, Kim and I started throwing ice across the platform at each other. I got her in the butt, and she was jokingly opening her mouth for me to make a basket. I then threw a piece or two up at Rebecca and got a cute face back at me. I didn't leave before telling Kim what nice hair she has, and asking to touch it. I then relieved Agnes up at LIft 2 and called MichŠle who had just come in an hour ago. I go `¨Que pasa?' and couldn't figure out what she said back on my own. We started talking all about how to keep comfortable and stuff. It was the first time we talked alone on the phone and I didn't confuse her once. Go me!
I then went to lunch and had a turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, ketchup and mayonnaise. Afterwards I went to Spillway and talked to MichŠle for a few minutes. I got her big gorgeous smile and then she was asking me about shin splints. She was on the phone with Rebecca up at Lift 2 when I got there so I called her when MichŠle left. Right when I called she goes `shit!' because Amanda was coming up. My feelings exactly. But Amanda was finally in the mood to talk and we did for over half an hour about how we could smuggle softdrinks up into the lifts to drink. I called Agnes on platform twice and she hung up on me both times, not on purpose though.
At five Kim replaced Amanda and we started talking again. I was about ready to ask her if I was to be bestowed with the privilege of taking her home again when she asked me if I would. I said `I suppose,' and was very inwardly glad that I would get to. She also told me that she had a big turkey sandwich for lunch with Thousand Islands dressing. She told me I was gross for putting ketchup on my sandwich, and then I told her that her dressing was made partly of it. Later on, we both went down together, her to dinner, and I on break. When I got to the break room she was on the pay phone with someone. She was laughing and I feared it was Mark or some other guy, but I figured Mark. Damn it! Andy came in and sat with me. It seems that he likes her too somewhat and is always trying to talk to her when I do, and also seemed somewhat perturbed that she was so jovial on the phone. Like my big words? Now that I'm forgetting the Spanish I learned at Leto, I'm starting to pull all of my vocabulary back from my subconscious. Anyway, I sat there and folded up pieces of paper and flicked them at her. When I ran out of paper I just popped my head down onto the table and rested. I figured Kim would wake me up after my break was up.
Some black guy kept bothering her to get off the phone. She finally did when it was about time for me to go back. That's when I found out she was on dinner. I suddenly felt a light tapping on my head and tried to quickly grab her arm but couldn't. She was the phone with her best friend, Teresa. What a relief. She is the girl with the two year old son who is Kim's little beach bum. She told me that Teresa wanted to know if I would go out with someone older than me. I told her that every girl that I've gone out with has been older, but only by one year or so. She then tells me that that isn't much. I then realized that Nicole was actually younger by a month and I apologized for lying. I tried to leave the impression that I definitely would date someone older, even seven years older. Hint. Hint.
I got sent to the unloading brakes. There was a black guy from the Python who was working as the pool person so I talked to him. He just graduated from King with a 2.8 GPA. I found this out after bragging about being valedictorian and having a 5.3. We then were talking about the girls that work in the North area and which ones were good looking and all. I told him that he was just working with our best looker, MichŠle. We then were talking about the Dream Team and how they might possibly show up on the last day of the Olympic send off from Busch Gardens. I said how awesome it was that they just played in the Tournament of the Americas and won all of their games by an average of 57 points!
I feel pretty special today. How many valedictorians have a great job at Busch Gardens, a great tan, and good looks. I got two winks today from cute girls, a couple of long inviting looks, and One `you're hot!' And then I take a 24 year old out to dinner!
Anyway when I went back up to Spillway I was replacing Agnes. She asked me what was going on between Kim and I. I told her that I didn't know yet. I then asked her why she hung on me earlier. She said she didn't mean to but was getting calls on the other phone. She also reminded me that I called her yesterday and when I found out it was her I told her that I didn't want to talk to her. I just remembered why! I was calling Bryan to tell him about some gorgeous girls going on the ride! Anyway, she laughingly dumped her cup of ice water at me. I tried to get her with some water from the ice chest but I missed. I then called and talked to Amanda for awhile. I told her all about the awards I have won and about my GPA and it really seemed to impress her. Brad picked up once, he keeps seeming to pick up all the time to find me on the phone with someone. It's funny. Kim called at eight to tell us the last boat number. She said something like `Hey you guys...' and seemed a tiny bit distracted by the fact that Amanda and I were talking away. Amanda had called down a few minutes earlier to ask what was taking so long, and I ws still on the phone, so when Kim picked up I go `Hi sexy!' I'm not sure if she even heard me because she didn't say anything abotut it.
When I went down she kept talking to Brad, almost seeming to get back at me, but I don't know. We went over to the water fountain and splashed cold water on each other. Then, as we were sitting at the light on 30th we hear a horn honking to the side. It was Brad and he waved. I don't quite think he expected to see Kim with me and I laughed and am glad he did. We stopped into McDonalds and Kim ordered chicken nuggets and a drink. She paid for it and I quickly paid her back for it citing how wonderful I am. I ordered a Big Mac, large fries, and large drink. We sat facing the window looking out at the sunset over the Busch beer plant. How romantic! There were a bunch of little black kids with a couple of ladies eating. She told them that we worked where they saw the zebras today and if they didn't behave, we'd have the zebras come and get them. It was funny. She then asked us if we wanted some kids.
After declining her offer we kept talking. We then started tossing french fries at each other and almost mouth feeding them, I tried. We then started tickling each other almost off the seats. It was fun. I then drove her home and got to say hi to her brother, Dan, as I dropped her off in her driveway. It was a really interesting day, but I wish I hadn't of been so sleepy with Kim. I hope it all helped, I really think it has.
I think I am in love. I'm at a loss for words right now. My thoughts are swirling and my emotions are starting to take over my life again. Everything and anything can happen in my life in the next few months. I've fallen in love with Kim. Seven years older. I keep thinking about when she asked me if I would date an older woman. I haven't learned to control this new power of attracting women that seems to have fallen on me. I have never had that much of a self image, if any at all. I don't know what I look like. Of course I have looked in a mirror, but I don't know how others see me. I'm starting to realize that I'm in no way ugly, and am starting to use this new self confidence to my advantage. It just irks me that I can seemingly lure in a very wonderful 24 year old who is not at a loss for friends. I very much want to make her happy and I want us to have fun together. I have found myself not bragging about myself to her at all. I haven't told her about all of my awards, and I haven't let my ego come out at all. Our relationship seems to be entirely based on our thoughts about life, and our looks, my blue eyes and her beautiful brown hair. I haven't tried or felt like I've needed to try and impress her with my accomplishments. She's amazing, it's like the adult world is so much more beautiful and enticing than our hectic youth, which I am still in, which scares me. It is almost like I shouldn't be feeling this way. I am also scared about what is soon going to happen if I go to Gainesville and tear all of the bonds I have made just recently. Time is a necessity which I do not possess.
I keep seeing Agnes ask me with her cute foreign accent, `What's going on with you and Kim?' I will tell them tomorrow that I took her home and we stopped to eat on the way. I don't care if I repeat anything that I said earlier, these are my thoughts now. I wonder where she is now. I would give anything to know that she is home, safe and sound, at this very moment. It is all just so overwhelming. I'm playing with a young woman now and I don't know how to act. I don't know whether I should try to act more mature, or if I should keep up my youthful jovial actions. Kim had lived with a boyfriend of hers for a while, she has shared a condo with three guys, and has lived in Jamaica for a month. She went to college for two years in Ft. Lauderdale. It almost sounds completely against all of my sexist philosophies to even more than casually talk to her. What happened to marrying a girl with high goals and money and such, like I said, our relationship has nothing to do whatsoever on what we have. I just need to see and talk to her again.
Love seems to have stomped it's huge crushing foot straight down in front of me, and before I could turn, I ran smack into it.
Why save your kisses for a rainy day?
Baby let the moment take you're heart away.
Have you ever needed someone so bad?
Have you ever wanted someone,
You just couldn't have?
Did you ever try so hard,
That you're world just fell apart?
Have you ever needed someone so bad?
And to the girl I've gotta have,
I've gotta have you baby, yeah...
To give out such crazy love,
It must be some kind of drug.
And if my time don't ever come,
For me you're still the one.
Damned if I don't,
Damned if I do,
I've gotta get a fix on you.
Have you ever needed someone so bad?
Have you ever wanted someone,
You just couldn't have... Def Leppard
I was scheduled as cutback and had talked to Amanda about switching shifts but Sharlene called in so Andy let me take over her shift. I still had a while before I was due in and I figured that I'd find Amanda over in the lounge. I did so I sat down and talked with her for a while until Agnes showed up and Ray from Tidal Wave came over and sat down. Amanda just sat there, sort of excluded, as the three of us talked about the Olympians in the park and how we each felt about the professional basketball players being able to play. I believe that each country should be represented by it's best athletes in each sport. They felt that it should all be amateurs.
I was sent up to Lift 2 and had about fifteen minutes to talk with Kimmeth. I'm a little jealous of the fact that she and Mark are going to the beach today, with the possibility of her staying in St. Pete overnight. She was replaced by Amanda who didn't want to talk. I later ended up loading on platform with Kim, with Rebecca on panel, and Andy grouping. We were all talking and I kept walking around to the three of them, I was hyper and couldn't stand still. Amanda kept crying about unloading in the back and Andy and I were making cracks about her. I then asked Rebecca for some ice water. She kicked the door open and sarcastically told me to get it myself. I thus was forced to empty a quarter cup of freezing water all over her legs! It was funny. We seem to always be playing with each other that way lately.
After a while, Kim and I started throwing ice across the platform at each other. I got her in the butt, and she was jokingly opening her mouth for me to make a basket. I then threw a piece or two up at Rebecca and got a cute face back at me. I didn't leave before telling Kim what nice hair she has, and asking to touch it. I then relieved Agnes up at LIft 2 and called MichŠle who had just come in an hour ago. I go `¨Que pasa?' and couldn't figure out what she said back on my own. We started talking all about how to keep comfortable and stuff. It was the first time we talked alone on the phone and I didn't confuse her once. Go me!
I then went to lunch and had a turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, ketchup and mayonnaise. Afterwards I went to Spillway and talked to MichŠle for a few minutes. I got her big gorgeous smile and then she was asking me about shin splints. She was on the phone with Rebecca up at Lift 2 when I got there so I called her when MichŠle left. Right when I called she goes `shit!' because Amanda was coming up. My feelings exactly. But Amanda was finally in the mood to talk and we did for over half an hour about how we could smuggle softdrinks up into the lifts to drink. I called Agnes on platform twice and she hung up on me both times, not on purpose though.
At five Kim replaced Amanda and we started talking again. I was about ready to ask her if I was to be bestowed with the privilege of taking her home again when she asked me if I would. I said `I suppose,' and was very inwardly glad that I would get to. She also told me that she had a big turkey sandwich for lunch with Thousand Islands dressing. She told me I was gross for putting ketchup on my sandwich, and then I told her that her dressing was made partly of it. Later on, we both went down together, her to dinner, and I on break. When I got to the break room she was on the pay phone with someone. She was laughing and I feared it was Mark or some other guy, but I figured Mark. Damn it! Andy came in and sat with me. It seems that he likes her too somewhat and is always trying to talk to her when I do, and also seemed somewhat perturbed that she was so jovial on the phone. Like my big words? Now that I'm forgetting the Spanish I learned at Leto, I'm starting to pull all of my vocabulary back from my subconscious. Anyway, I sat there and folded up pieces of paper and flicked them at her. When I ran out of paper I just popped my head down onto the table and rested. I figured Kim would wake me up after my break was up.
Some black guy kept bothering her to get off the phone. She finally did when it was about time for me to go back. That's when I found out she was on dinner. I suddenly felt a light tapping on my head and tried to quickly grab her arm but couldn't. She was the phone with her best friend, Teresa. What a relief. She is the girl with the two year old son who is Kim's little beach bum. She told me that Teresa wanted to know if I would go out with someone older than me. I told her that every girl that I've gone out with has been older, but only by one year or so. She then tells me that that isn't much. I then realized that Nicole was actually younger by a month and I apologized for lying. I tried to leave the impression that I definitely would date someone older, even seven years older. Hint. Hint.
I got sent to the unloading brakes. There was a black guy from the Python who was working as the pool person so I talked to him. He just graduated from King with a 2.8 GPA. I found this out after bragging about being valedictorian and having a 5.3. We then were talking about the girls that work in the North area and which ones were good looking and all. I told him that he was just working with our best looker, MichŠle. We then were talking about the Dream Team and how they might possibly show up on the last day of the Olympic send off from Busch Gardens. I said how awesome it was that they just played in the Tournament of the Americas and won all of their games by an average of 57 points!
I feel pretty special today. How many valedictorians have a great job at Busch Gardens, a great tan, and good looks. I got two winks today from cute girls, a couple of long inviting looks, and One `you're hot!' And then I take a 24 year old out to dinner!
Anyway when I went back up to Spillway I was replacing Agnes. She asked me what was going on between Kim and I. I told her that I didn't know yet. I then asked her why she hung on me earlier. She said she didn't mean to but was getting calls on the other phone. She also reminded me that I called her yesterday and when I found out it was her I told her that I didn't want to talk to her. I just remembered why! I was calling Bryan to tell him about some gorgeous girls going on the ride! Anyway, she laughingly dumped her cup of ice water at me. I tried to get her with some water from the ice chest but I missed. I then called and talked to Amanda for awhile. I told her all about the awards I have won and about my GPA and it really seemed to impress her. Brad picked up once, he keeps seeming to pick up all the time to find me on the phone with someone. It's funny. Kim called at eight to tell us the last boat number. She said something like `Hey you guys...' and seemed a tiny bit distracted by the fact that Amanda and I were talking away. Amanda had called down a few minutes earlier to ask what was taking so long, and I ws still on the phone, so when Kim picked up I go `Hi sexy!' I'm not sure if she even heard me because she didn't say anything abotut it.
When I went down she kept talking to Brad, almost seeming to get back at me, but I don't know. We went over to the water fountain and splashed cold water on each other. Then, as we were sitting at the light on 30th we hear a horn honking to the side. It was Brad and he waved. I don't quite think he expected to see Kim with me and I laughed and am glad he did. We stopped into McDonalds and Kim ordered chicken nuggets and a drink. She paid for it and I quickly paid her back for it citing how wonderful I am. I ordered a Big Mac, large fries, and large drink. We sat facing the window looking out at the sunset over the Busch beer plant. How romantic! There were a bunch of little black kids with a couple of ladies eating. She told them that we worked where they saw the zebras today and if they didn't behave, we'd have the zebras come and get them. It was funny. She then asked us if we wanted some kids.
After declining her offer we kept talking. We then started tossing french fries at each other and almost mouth feeding them, I tried. We then started tickling each other almost off the seats. It was fun. I then drove her home and got to say hi to her brother, Dan, as I dropped her off in her driveway. It was a really interesting day, but I wish I hadn't of been so sleepy with Kim. I hope it all helped, I really think it has.
I think I am in love. I'm at a loss for words right now. My thoughts are swirling and my emotions are starting to take over my life again. Everything and anything can happen in my life in the next few months. I've fallen in love with Kim. Seven years older. I keep thinking about when she asked me if I would date an older woman. I haven't learned to control this new power of attracting women that seems to have fallen on me. I have never had that much of a self image, if any at all. I don't know what I look like. Of course I have looked in a mirror, but I don't know how others see me. I'm starting to realize that I'm in no way ugly, and am starting to use this new self confidence to my advantage. It just irks me that I can seemingly lure in a very wonderful 24 year old who is not at a loss for friends. I very much want to make her happy and I want us to have fun together. I have found myself not bragging about myself to her at all. I haven't told her about all of my awards, and I haven't let my ego come out at all. Our relationship seems to be entirely based on our thoughts about life, and our looks, my blue eyes and her beautiful brown hair. I haven't tried or felt like I've needed to try and impress her with my accomplishments. She's amazing, it's like the adult world is so much more beautiful and enticing than our hectic youth, which I am still in, which scares me. It is almost like I shouldn't be feeling this way. I am also scared about what is soon going to happen if I go to Gainesville and tear all of the bonds I have made just recently. Time is a necessity which I do not possess.
I keep seeing Agnes ask me with her cute foreign accent, `What's going on with you and Kim?' I will tell them tomorrow that I took her home and we stopped to eat on the way. I don't care if I repeat anything that I said earlier, these are my thoughts now. I wonder where she is now. I would give anything to know that she is home, safe and sound, at this very moment. It is all just so overwhelming. I'm playing with a young woman now and I don't know how to act. I don't know whether I should try to act more mature, or if I should keep up my youthful jovial actions. Kim had lived with a boyfriend of hers for a while, she has shared a condo with three guys, and has lived in Jamaica for a month. She went to college for two years in Ft. Lauderdale. It almost sounds completely against all of my sexist philosophies to even more than casually talk to her. What happened to marrying a girl with high goals and money and such, like I said, our relationship has nothing to do whatsoever on what we have. I just need to see and talk to her again.
Love seems to have stomped it's huge crushing foot straight down in front of me, and before I could turn, I ran smack into it.
Why save your kisses for a rainy day?
Baby let the moment take you're heart away.
Have you ever needed someone so bad?
Have you ever wanted someone,
You just couldn't have?
Did you ever try so hard,
That you're world just fell apart?
Have you ever needed someone so bad?
And to the girl I've gotta have,
I've gotta have you baby, yeah...
To give out such crazy love,
It must be some kind of drug.
And if my time don't ever come,
For me you're still the one.
Damned if I don't,
Damned if I do,
I've gotta get a fix on you.
Have you ever needed someone so bad?
Have you ever wanted someone,
You just couldn't have... Def Leppard
Sunday, July 5, 1992
July 5, 1992 - Sunday - Kimmeth Powell
Today kicked ass!
I'm very happy about both of the results at Wimbledon this year. Steffi Graf smashed Monica Seles 6-2, 6-1 yesterday and Andre Agassi won in the men's finals today. Steffi has always been my favorite since I started watching tennis, and I am amazed at the fact that Agassi, who wouldn't sacrifice his neon clothes for the classic white even to play at Wimbledon, wins in only his second year playing at the tournament. That's awesome!
I took off to Busch Gardens at 9:45, an hour before I was scheduled to be there. I wanted to be there early because Kim and I had the same shifts so we could possibly talk before we had to work. I didn't hit a single red light down the entire length of Busch Blvd., and there was no traffic, so I made it to work by ten. I know that I'm going to have a good week if so much good has already happened just this morning. I was a little distressed yesterday because Kim and I were never in the lifts together, and she was on the phone a long while with Mark. I went into the back and sat up on the counter for a little bit.
Michele, who should have been in at ten, ran in at 10:20. Brad was cool about it and sent her to fill the coolers. I got up and went to the lounge with her. She told me how she locked her keys in her trunk, and her parents are out of town, and so on. She only put a little bit of ice in each one, and by the time we filled them with water, all of it had melted. I told her that everyone was going to bitch today and they did. I had fun running around with her. Then I had to wait a few minutes until Bryan and Kim showed up. Her hair was wet and she put it back into a pony tail. I scolded her for making her hair look plain.
We were both up in the lifts by eleven so I called her up on the phone. I carried up three cups of ice and sent one via guest up to Kim. I told her there was a present in boat thirteen, that I was sending her a piece of ice, ha ha. She really appreciated it though and was very thankful and glad that I'm so wonderful. She didn't do anything last night, too tired. As soon as I got home we all went over to the Causeway to see the fireworks. The ones over in Straub Park were really good and we watched the ones that the people in the cars around us were setting off. I was mesmerized sitting there on the guard rail staring into the headlights of the cars speeding by. Anyway, Kim broke up with that guy in St. Pete who came to get her last Saturday. It seems that he lives in St. Louis and they had seen each other once. He kept in touch and said that he wanted to see her when he came back. When she went out with him he was a total asshole and seemed like he didn't really want to see her. So she said see ya and when he tried to get her back she told him that she didn't feel like playing those games now. So the boyfriend problem has been taken care of, and so fast, too. Yes!
We kept on talking until about one. Yesterday while I wasn't on the phone with Kim, Agnes called me from up at Lift 2 and we talked for real for a while. I called Rebecca and we talked for the last half hour last night. She sounds really cute on the phone. Anyway, Kim and I went on break. Afterwards she got the loading brake with Rebecca, and I got control panel. I got on the phone 3-way with Bryan and Michele for a while. Bryan and I were rating women and we actually found a perfect 9. When she was up front I looked straight down and had a damn impressive view. I was being really loud, and kept talking to and looking at Rebecca the whole time. There were these two guys with really nasty long hair and I made the nice remark that we've found Marcella some boyfriends. Rebecca thought that was mean, but funny and true. Later on Marcella was working the back breaks and she won't call up to us if a hat goes by or something. She too antisocial and that pisses me off. I told Andy and Rebecca and they agreed. I pulled a hat out of the water once that she let go by and I just threw it into the unloading area, and let her pick it up.
I had my lunch after Kim, so it sucked. I got to work back break with Michele. Earlier when I was loading I saw Aunt Lovie and Bob. We talked for a couple of minutes and I gave them a nice front seat. Some Spanish people were doing a camera swap, and one of the guys in the first boat lost his hat. She had taken five years of Spanish and was trying to talk to the guy. Then when she started talking to the rest of the family about cameras and them wanting to ride, she didn't understand enough, and got confused. When I told her what they wanted, and I figured it out not knowing a bit of Spanish, she got mad at me for not telling her. I kept arguing that it wasn't my fault and I told her as soon as I realized what she was doing. She eventually forgave me. She then went to get us some water but the cooler was empty.
I then went on break. Kim and I had mentioned about wanting to go to McDonalds tonight, and I didn't switch with someone closing hoping that I might get to take her home. I chased down and walked out with Amanda, she said that she would trade me her closing shift for tomorrow. This guy who knows a lot of people and always sees me when I'm in the lounge by myself walked by as I was talking away with Amanda. That was good that I helped my image a bit. I went out to my car and cleaned as much as possible and even screwed the armrest in the middle back on. I was quite proud of myself for being such a handyman in the short amount of time that I had. I then moved my car up as close to the front as possible. I then carried back in four cups of cold ice water. It was so hot. I gave one to Andy, one to Kim who was greatly relieved, and I took the third back to Michele who was very glad, and I even offered the last to Marcella but she wouldn't take it. I was really in the mood to kiss ass. I had real laughing conversations with everyone who worked today except Brad and Marcella.
When the line got really short, Kim and I were loading, Agnes was on the panel, and Andy was grouping. We were having a hell of a time. I kept bouncing between the three of them talking away. It was great fun. I kept making Kim laugh. I was really hungry so I asked her if she happened to have a nice grilled steak on her anywhere, or possibly a club sandwich. She checked but couldn't find any. It was really funny though. She was also in a happy mood, and was swinging on the loading bar. I ran up, and all I would have to had done was move to tickle her on the sides and she would have flinched and fell in. I asked her if she was ticklish and she said very. We were having lots of fun and being really obvious about it right in front of the people.
We didn't close to one channel until 7:10, so I've gotten plenty of hours this week. After I pulled off seven boats, Andy told me that Brad said for me to do a trash run before I left. I asked him if Brad said that I specifically had to do one, or just anybody. We laughed and he said anybody. I wondered if Brad all of the sudden hated me that much. Anyway, Agnes helped me and walked with me out to the dumpsters. She asked me if I had decided where I'm going to college yet and was telling me about dorm life up in Chicago. She said that you would see naked girls running down the halls, go to strip parties, and 48 hour drinking parties. It was funny.
As soon as we got back he let us go. I waited for Kim. She started walking into the operations lounge and she asked me where I was going. I told her I didn't know, I guess I was just following her. She said good, and that she was running a report over to First Aid. I went with her and we tried to get a drink out of a water fountain but it was warm. We waited a while for it to cool off but it didn't. She picked up the payphone and called her mom to come and pick her up; I smiled and said I thought that I was taking her home. She asked me if I really would and I said maybe, I guess she'd find out if I let her in my car. Anyways I really fell that I'm getting on her good side. I've never been close friends with a girl this much before, we're getting real close to being better friends than Nicole and I were, if we're not better already.
I was just thinking a few minutes ago about how much I love this idea of not holding back. I could have just let her go, but now such big favors prove that I want to be more than just an acquaintance, and I love it. I really like the way this road is winding. Kim lives about two houses on the right of Powhatan off of 30th just off of Hillsborough.
I'm very happy about both of the results at Wimbledon this year. Steffi Graf smashed Monica Seles 6-2, 6-1 yesterday and Andre Agassi won in the men's finals today. Steffi has always been my favorite since I started watching tennis, and I am amazed at the fact that Agassi, who wouldn't sacrifice his neon clothes for the classic white even to play at Wimbledon, wins in only his second year playing at the tournament. That's awesome!
I took off to Busch Gardens at 9:45, an hour before I was scheduled to be there. I wanted to be there early because Kim and I had the same shifts so we could possibly talk before we had to work. I didn't hit a single red light down the entire length of Busch Blvd., and there was no traffic, so I made it to work by ten. I know that I'm going to have a good week if so much good has already happened just this morning. I was a little distressed yesterday because Kim and I were never in the lifts together, and she was on the phone a long while with Mark. I went into the back and sat up on the counter for a little bit.
Michele, who should have been in at ten, ran in at 10:20. Brad was cool about it and sent her to fill the coolers. I got up and went to the lounge with her. She told me how she locked her keys in her trunk, and her parents are out of town, and so on. She only put a little bit of ice in each one, and by the time we filled them with water, all of it had melted. I told her that everyone was going to bitch today and they did. I had fun running around with her. Then I had to wait a few minutes until Bryan and Kim showed up. Her hair was wet and she put it back into a pony tail. I scolded her for making her hair look plain.
We were both up in the lifts by eleven so I called her up on the phone. I carried up three cups of ice and sent one via guest up to Kim. I told her there was a present in boat thirteen, that I was sending her a piece of ice, ha ha. She really appreciated it though and was very thankful and glad that I'm so wonderful. She didn't do anything last night, too tired. As soon as I got home we all went over to the Causeway to see the fireworks. The ones over in Straub Park were really good and we watched the ones that the people in the cars around us were setting off. I was mesmerized sitting there on the guard rail staring into the headlights of the cars speeding by. Anyway, Kim broke up with that guy in St. Pete who came to get her last Saturday. It seems that he lives in St. Louis and they had seen each other once. He kept in touch and said that he wanted to see her when he came back. When she went out with him he was a total asshole and seemed like he didn't really want to see her. So she said see ya and when he tried to get her back she told him that she didn't feel like playing those games now. So the boyfriend problem has been taken care of, and so fast, too. Yes!
We kept on talking until about one. Yesterday while I wasn't on the phone with Kim, Agnes called me from up at Lift 2 and we talked for real for a while. I called Rebecca and we talked for the last half hour last night. She sounds really cute on the phone. Anyway, Kim and I went on break. Afterwards she got the loading brake with Rebecca, and I got control panel. I got on the phone 3-way with Bryan and Michele for a while. Bryan and I were rating women and we actually found a perfect 9. When she was up front I looked straight down and had a damn impressive view. I was being really loud, and kept talking to and looking at Rebecca the whole time. There were these two guys with really nasty long hair and I made the nice remark that we've found Marcella some boyfriends. Rebecca thought that was mean, but funny and true. Later on Marcella was working the back breaks and she won't call up to us if a hat goes by or something. She too antisocial and that pisses me off. I told Andy and Rebecca and they agreed. I pulled a hat out of the water once that she let go by and I just threw it into the unloading area, and let her pick it up.
I had my lunch after Kim, so it sucked. I got to work back break with Michele. Earlier when I was loading I saw Aunt Lovie and Bob. We talked for a couple of minutes and I gave them a nice front seat. Some Spanish people were doing a camera swap, and one of the guys in the first boat lost his hat. She had taken five years of Spanish and was trying to talk to the guy. Then when she started talking to the rest of the family about cameras and them wanting to ride, she didn't understand enough, and got confused. When I told her what they wanted, and I figured it out not knowing a bit of Spanish, she got mad at me for not telling her. I kept arguing that it wasn't my fault and I told her as soon as I realized what she was doing. She eventually forgave me. She then went to get us some water but the cooler was empty.
I then went on break. Kim and I had mentioned about wanting to go to McDonalds tonight, and I didn't switch with someone closing hoping that I might get to take her home. I chased down and walked out with Amanda, she said that she would trade me her closing shift for tomorrow. This guy who knows a lot of people and always sees me when I'm in the lounge by myself walked by as I was talking away with Amanda. That was good that I helped my image a bit. I went out to my car and cleaned as much as possible and even screwed the armrest in the middle back on. I was quite proud of myself for being such a handyman in the short amount of time that I had. I then moved my car up as close to the front as possible. I then carried back in four cups of cold ice water. It was so hot. I gave one to Andy, one to Kim who was greatly relieved, and I took the third back to Michele who was very glad, and I even offered the last to Marcella but she wouldn't take it. I was really in the mood to kiss ass. I had real laughing conversations with everyone who worked today except Brad and Marcella.
When the line got really short, Kim and I were loading, Agnes was on the panel, and Andy was grouping. We were having a hell of a time. I kept bouncing between the three of them talking away. It was great fun. I kept making Kim laugh. I was really hungry so I asked her if she happened to have a nice grilled steak on her anywhere, or possibly a club sandwich. She checked but couldn't find any. It was really funny though. She was also in a happy mood, and was swinging on the loading bar. I ran up, and all I would have to had done was move to tickle her on the sides and she would have flinched and fell in. I asked her if she was ticklish and she said very. We were having lots of fun and being really obvious about it right in front of the people.
We didn't close to one channel until 7:10, so I've gotten plenty of hours this week. After I pulled off seven boats, Andy told me that Brad said for me to do a trash run before I left. I asked him if Brad said that I specifically had to do one, or just anybody. We laughed and he said anybody. I wondered if Brad all of the sudden hated me that much. Anyway, Agnes helped me and walked with me out to the dumpsters. She asked me if I had decided where I'm going to college yet and was telling me about dorm life up in Chicago. She said that you would see naked girls running down the halls, go to strip parties, and 48 hour drinking parties. It was funny.
As soon as we got back he let us go. I waited for Kim. She started walking into the operations lounge and she asked me where I was going. I told her I didn't know, I guess I was just following her. She said good, and that she was running a report over to First Aid. I went with her and we tried to get a drink out of a water fountain but it was warm. We waited a while for it to cool off but it didn't. She picked up the payphone and called her mom to come and pick her up; I smiled and said I thought that I was taking her home. She asked me if I really would and I said maybe, I guess she'd find out if I let her in my car. Anyways I really fell that I'm getting on her good side. I've never been close friends with a girl this much before, we're getting real close to being better friends than Nicole and I were, if we're not better already.
I was just thinking a few minutes ago about how much I love this idea of not holding back. I could have just let her go, but now such big favors prove that I want to be more than just an acquaintance, and I love it. I really like the way this road is winding. Kim lives about two houses on the right of Powhatan off of 30th just off of Hillsborough.
Friday, July 3, 1992
July 3, 1992 - Friday - Thoughts about past
I've had a tremendous amount of time just to think about things lately. I'm not depressed either, I've been thinking all about my life and how far I have come, and how thankful I am for all of it. While at Busch Gardens earlier this week, since Kim didn't work, I found myself reflecting on all of the good fortunes that have fallen upon me in the past few years, and how earlier in my life I would have never dreamed them possible.
I'm partly referring to the fact that I am valedictorian. I never imagined that my rank would be anywhere near to number one. In fact I remember greatly hoping that I would make top fifteen, and was inwardly scared that I wouldn't. I had always heard about the people who always made straight A's, from Cindy Bush to Heath Harper to Jeannie Menoski. When I found out that I was number three, I flipped. Talk about a feeling of euphoria as well as a major ego boost. I found out that those Honors points really pay off.
My history teacher at Leto, Mr. John Hopkins, who was also the Student Council sponsor once told us a story. He was a very fun teacher who also made us learn alot, and was also very into our social activities and problems. He was one of my favorite teachers. Anyway, the story was about this girl who graduated from Leto many years ago. Everybody knew the person that was going to be valedictorian of that class, and nobody even thought of anybody else taking the honor. Nobody except that girl, she secretly took just enough classes, and made just the right grades, to beat the other person and to shock the school. Even though he told us this a while before we first received ranks, I always remembered it and it was sort of my inspiration to become number one. It made me sit down and think and figure out that with the right classes, I could beat Cindy. Once I knew that it was possible, I was damn determined to do my best to succeed, and I did. I thus have always been thankful to Mr. Hopkins, and have wondered if I would have ever though it possible enough for me to become valedictorian if it weren't for his story.
Speaking of favorite teachers, and great influences, I figure maybe I should write down their names so I will always remember. The first was Mrs. Edwards, my third and fifth grade teacher at Town & Country Elementary. Them there was Mr. Nabors at Potter for sixth grade. I first started doing well in math in his class because he made it fun. He had a contest once with a hard math problem. I won two rolls of pennies, which I still have, for getting the correct answer. He was also an interesting person. He could make beautiful chalk drawings, and carve reindeers from wood. The third was Mrs. Decker, my history teacher at Webb for eighth and ninth grades. She used to chain smoke and we made fun of her. She took us downtown many times on her own time to campaign for the 1988 elections. She was a fun and really nice lady. Stacy and I went and visited her once last year, she remembered me of course, but not Stacy. Then there is Mr. Hopkins.
I also was thinking about how I used to do back in the lower grades. I didn't do that great in many of my classes until they mattered. I went from C's in seventh grade science to straight A's from then on, until the end. It just seems amazing to me that I was under the wrong circumstances for so long and still came out so perfect. Obviously I have a much better self image and much more self confidence than I used to. I remember how I used to have a dreadful fear of talking in front of people, even in the gifted classes with the people I had been with for years. It was pure fear to that point that I once almost acted unrationally just because I had to give a couple of quick health reports for Coach Mueller in Health. Thank God nothing happened. He was a religious nut and tried his hardest to make a difference in the lives of his students, he really cared. I would love to go back and talk with him now, I think he would be very proud of my accomplishments. Anyway, now I am much more open and would never go back to being an introvert. As Jana said, she couldn't get me to talk to her for so long, and when she finally did she couldn't get me to shut up. Of course we used to talk, but it was just this year that it was about personal interesting stuff.
Another thing about my personality is that I always want the best. I would rather wait and not have something for a while, than to get a cheap version of something I want. I sort of used that philosophy in getting my job. Busch Gardens. I was wondering if, back a long time ago when we first had annual passes, if I ever thought that I would someday be working at Busch Gardens. I realize how extremely lucky I am to have gotten such a good job on the Flume ride. There were, so many people that day at the orientation, and only five of us were chosen to work on the Flume. Very few people got ride operations, and even then the only truly fun ones are the three water rides. I was lucky. I remember the day of the interview. I was there with four other people at that time, and none of our quick interviews were that impressive, except that I got to say all of my clubs and activities. Afterwards I lagged behind and told her about me working on valedictorian and so on. I have always wondered if I got a better job because of that, because Brad knew that I was valedictorian before I told anyone there.
They tell us how lucky we are to have gotten jobs there anyway, because there are always tons of people applying to Busch that are turned away. Only about three or four people got hired from Leto of the more than sixty that signed up. I really appreciate my job which is why I work hard to do good, and I seem to be the person that enjoys the job the most. I'm the only one that still has fun talking and waving to the people on a regular basis, especially the girls.
Uncle Jon stopped by today. I received a `graduation card' from him on Wednesday and a check for thirty dollars. The card was a Tampa Tribune order form because he couldn't find anything else. Rick had said earlier that the two of them had one shopping and couldn't find a graduation card anywhere. I thought it was funny and witty. I bought my base tube and it sounds damn good, not too loud, just perfect. I was comparing my car stereo to the one in Jon's van and was making fun of him.
I also received my housing bill today. I got Beaty Towers which is good. I had requested Broward Hall as my first choice because Derek, Minh, Jana, and Cindy did the same. I requested Stacy as a roommate and when he decided not to go, it probably got me bumped to Beaty. Oh well. But Beaty has some definite advantages. It is four roommates in an apartment like living arrangement with four rooms. Two double bedrooms, a KITCHEN with a sink, stove, and refrigerator, and our own bathroom! It is newly carpeted, air conditioned, with basic cable. In Broward, there is no carpet, no regenerator, one kitchen per floor, and one bathroom per thirty people. This could work out nicely as long as it is not run down. I don't think it is because some of the buildings were recently refurbished. I hope. Jon was saying that I will end up going to Florida for the first year, and get so bummed out from all the partying and studying, that I will want to come back to my job at Busch Gardens and go to USF for the last three years.
I don't want to leave Busch now as it is. I want Kim. She works tomorrow and Sunday. While I was at Sand Key on Wednesday and today, I kept thinking about all the things we did and said last Saturday. I was then psychoanalyzing it all. I was thinking along the line that when she said we would have good looking kids together, she has accepted me as a mature human being with whom she would have sex. He He. That sounds nice. Also, when I walked into the back after lunch that day, and saw the pad of paper with all of the doodles and the tiger, I asked who drew the tiger. Bryan said that he did and I told him that it was really good. I realize now that I praised something that Kim had done, in front of Kim, even though I didn't know that she had drawn it. I think she picked up on the fact that I thought something she had done was good, and I wasn't just saying it to be nice to her. She quickly picked up a pen and started working on the tiger after I said that.
When I walked in on Kim's break she seemed in a weird mood. It was like someone had just been talking bad about me to her and she was half upset about it. I wonder what she meant by pulling her fingers through my hair, though. I almost got defensive when she did, and got ready to get up, but I quickly relaxed and remembered (from Nicole) to leave her alone. She was standing, and we were facing each other, and she kept her hand on my hair for a while before she started back. I also like the fact that she trusted me enough to eat ice out of the cup I was holding that she had just seen me drink out of.
I'm thinking that this is all possibly just the way she is with friends, but too much is happening, and we talked far too much about too many personal things for me to believe that.
I'm partly referring to the fact that I am valedictorian. I never imagined that my rank would be anywhere near to number one. In fact I remember greatly hoping that I would make top fifteen, and was inwardly scared that I wouldn't. I had always heard about the people who always made straight A's, from Cindy Bush to Heath Harper to Jeannie Menoski. When I found out that I was number three, I flipped. Talk about a feeling of euphoria as well as a major ego boost. I found out that those Honors points really pay off.
My history teacher at Leto, Mr. John Hopkins, who was also the Student Council sponsor once told us a story. He was a very fun teacher who also made us learn alot, and was also very into our social activities and problems. He was one of my favorite teachers. Anyway, the story was about this girl who graduated from Leto many years ago. Everybody knew the person that was going to be valedictorian of that class, and nobody even thought of anybody else taking the honor. Nobody except that girl, she secretly took just enough classes, and made just the right grades, to beat the other person and to shock the school. Even though he told us this a while before we first received ranks, I always remembered it and it was sort of my inspiration to become number one. It made me sit down and think and figure out that with the right classes, I could beat Cindy. Once I knew that it was possible, I was damn determined to do my best to succeed, and I did. I thus have always been thankful to Mr. Hopkins, and have wondered if I would have ever though it possible enough for me to become valedictorian if it weren't for his story.
Speaking of favorite teachers, and great influences, I figure maybe I should write down their names so I will always remember. The first was Mrs. Edwards, my third and fifth grade teacher at Town & Country Elementary. Them there was Mr. Nabors at Potter for sixth grade. I first started doing well in math in his class because he made it fun. He had a contest once with a hard math problem. I won two rolls of pennies, which I still have, for getting the correct answer. He was also an interesting person. He could make beautiful chalk drawings, and carve reindeers from wood. The third was Mrs. Decker, my history teacher at Webb for eighth and ninth grades. She used to chain smoke and we made fun of her. She took us downtown many times on her own time to campaign for the 1988 elections. She was a fun and really nice lady. Stacy and I went and visited her once last year, she remembered me of course, but not Stacy. Then there is Mr. Hopkins.
I also was thinking about how I used to do back in the lower grades. I didn't do that great in many of my classes until they mattered. I went from C's in seventh grade science to straight A's from then on, until the end. It just seems amazing to me that I was under the wrong circumstances for so long and still came out so perfect. Obviously I have a much better self image and much more self confidence than I used to. I remember how I used to have a dreadful fear of talking in front of people, even in the gifted classes with the people I had been with for years. It was pure fear to that point that I once almost acted unrationally just because I had to give a couple of quick health reports for Coach Mueller in Health. Thank God nothing happened. He was a religious nut and tried his hardest to make a difference in the lives of his students, he really cared. I would love to go back and talk with him now, I think he would be very proud of my accomplishments. Anyway, now I am much more open and would never go back to being an introvert. As Jana said, she couldn't get me to talk to her for so long, and when she finally did she couldn't get me to shut up. Of course we used to talk, but it was just this year that it was about personal interesting stuff.
Another thing about my personality is that I always want the best. I would rather wait and not have something for a while, than to get a cheap version of something I want. I sort of used that philosophy in getting my job. Busch Gardens. I was wondering if, back a long time ago when we first had annual passes, if I ever thought that I would someday be working at Busch Gardens. I realize how extremely lucky I am to have gotten such a good job on the Flume ride. There were, so many people that day at the orientation, and only five of us were chosen to work on the Flume. Very few people got ride operations, and even then the only truly fun ones are the three water rides. I was lucky. I remember the day of the interview. I was there with four other people at that time, and none of our quick interviews were that impressive, except that I got to say all of my clubs and activities. Afterwards I lagged behind and told her about me working on valedictorian and so on. I have always wondered if I got a better job because of that, because Brad knew that I was valedictorian before I told anyone there.
They tell us how lucky we are to have gotten jobs there anyway, because there are always tons of people applying to Busch that are turned away. Only about three or four people got hired from Leto of the more than sixty that signed up. I really appreciate my job which is why I work hard to do good, and I seem to be the person that enjoys the job the most. I'm the only one that still has fun talking and waving to the people on a regular basis, especially the girls.
Uncle Jon stopped by today. I received a `graduation card' from him on Wednesday and a check for thirty dollars. The card was a Tampa Tribune order form because he couldn't find anything else. Rick had said earlier that the two of them had one shopping and couldn't find a graduation card anywhere. I thought it was funny and witty. I bought my base tube and it sounds damn good, not too loud, just perfect. I was comparing my car stereo to the one in Jon's van and was making fun of him.
I also received my housing bill today. I got Beaty Towers which is good. I had requested Broward Hall as my first choice because Derek, Minh, Jana, and Cindy did the same. I requested Stacy as a roommate and when he decided not to go, it probably got me bumped to Beaty. Oh well. But Beaty has some definite advantages. It is four roommates in an apartment like living arrangement with four rooms. Two double bedrooms, a KITCHEN with a sink, stove, and refrigerator, and our own bathroom! It is newly carpeted, air conditioned, with basic cable. In Broward, there is no carpet, no regenerator, one kitchen per floor, and one bathroom per thirty people. This could work out nicely as long as it is not run down. I don't think it is because some of the buildings were recently refurbished. I hope. Jon was saying that I will end up going to Florida for the first year, and get so bummed out from all the partying and studying, that I will want to come back to my job at Busch Gardens and go to USF for the last three years.
I don't want to leave Busch now as it is. I want Kim. She works tomorrow and Sunday. While I was at Sand Key on Wednesday and today, I kept thinking about all the things we did and said last Saturday. I was then psychoanalyzing it all. I was thinking along the line that when she said we would have good looking kids together, she has accepted me as a mature human being with whom she would have sex. He He. That sounds nice. Also, when I walked into the back after lunch that day, and saw the pad of paper with all of the doodles and the tiger, I asked who drew the tiger. Bryan said that he did and I told him that it was really good. I realize now that I praised something that Kim had done, in front of Kim, even though I didn't know that she had drawn it. I think she picked up on the fact that I thought something she had done was good, and I wasn't just saying it to be nice to her. She quickly picked up a pen and started working on the tiger after I said that.
When I walked in on Kim's break she seemed in a weird mood. It was like someone had just been talking bad about me to her and she was half upset about it. I wonder what she meant by pulling her fingers through my hair, though. I almost got defensive when she did, and got ready to get up, but I quickly relaxed and remembered (from Nicole) to leave her alone. She was standing, and we were facing each other, and she kept her hand on my hair for a while before she started back. I also like the fact that she trusted me enough to eat ice out of the cup I was holding that she had just seen me drink out of.
I'm thinking that this is all possibly just the way she is with friends, but too much is happening, and we talked far too much about too many personal things for me to believe that.
Tuesday, June 30, 1992
June 30, 1992 - Tuesday - Tracey, Nicole
Last night when I got home I found out that some girl had tried to call me today. They didn't know who it was because she said bye and hung up before they could ask. Chrissy said it sounded like Abby. I figured she was back from Massachusetts or wherever she went on vacation. A little while later she called again. She was talking softly and for a second before I realized that it was Nicole! Well I kept my promise to myself and let her call back first. We talked for a while. She wasn't felling good and I made her laugh alot which is good. She has a new boyfriend, Ali, and I'm glad for her. She wanted to tell me but she kept putting it off. I told her that she always ends up telling me everything anyways, so she should hurry up and tell me so we can go on to the next subject. When she realized how true that was we were both laughing for a while. I told her about me talking to Kim and all. I still haven't gotten my film developed with the pictures from school yet. I need to do that soon. I said something and she told me that I always say things so emotionlessly like I don't care, and that was one of my problems. I told her that I don't, just ask Kim. We kept meaning to get off the phone after a while, and she told me that I'm always so hard to get off the phone with, because I would keep saying something that would cause us to talk a while longer. She told me to call her sometime before July 11th, when she goes on vacation, so I guess I could. She told me not to strain myself though.
I also got a letter from Tracey. I think she liked the Garth Brook's tape, which is a relief.
June 12th '92
Dear Dan,
I received your letter on June 3rd, but I was not able to reply
before because I was busy revising for my science, maths, and
technology SAT (Standard Assesment Tests). I will not know my results
for another two weeks.
Thank you for the graduation card. You don't know how lucky you
are starting your summer holidays so soon, my holidays don't start
until July 4th.
Your card and `Garth Brooks' tape was a lovely B-day surprise, I
love the song "In Lonesome Dove" best because I once saw a mini
series about it and the music (the story of it about the girl and
sherrif), is in the same time, (the time of rangers and wagon train
caravans). So thank you for taking a big chance and buying the tape,
I love it!
News update. Last Saturday I went into Leicester to the Shires
Shopping Centre. I bought 2 necklaces, one long black/white beaded
one, and a silver heart on a string. PS I also bought a head scarf.
I should be getting some more info. about the courses I choose
for college soon, but I'll fill you in a bit more on that when I get
some more info. on it.
Do you play any musical instruments?, I do, I play the piano
(although I'm not very good --- yet!). I hope to some day be able to
play solo. What do you think about it? Have you any other ambitions
(besides possibly being a doctor someday)? I have decided that if I
can get good enough grades, I am going to be a doctor in the Royal
Navy.
Have you read any good books lately? I have just finished
reading "Day of the Triffids" at school, although it was a bit boring
in places, on the whole I though it was quite good.
I haven't heard any music lately (except G.B) because I have
been or rather had been revising for my SATs., Phewwww I'm sooooo
glad that they are over and done with.
You mentioned that you had left your school with an "armload" of
awards, but I'm afraid I can only boast of one cirtificate which I
will be recieving at a ceremony at the begining of July, its a
certificate for good work in design.
When are you going on holiday?, and where? I am going to
Scotland for a week of waterskiing, etc commencing from the 1st
Saturday in July.
Well please write soon
Loads - a - Luv
Tracey.
X
P.S.
I have included 2 `flyers' with this letter, because they are
the `in' thing in England (well Leic's anyway) at the moment, (I have
got lots of them stuck all over my walls.) You could do the same if
you wanted.
P.P.S. - Sorry about my grammar mistakes but I'm rubbish at
spelling!!!
I'm listening to Garth's `Ropin the Wind' right now to see exactly what I sent her. I love writing and sending stuff to her. The two fliers are cool little posters from night clubs in Leicester.
I hung around with Amanda yesterday at Busch Gardens because she was the only good looking girl there. Once we were up in the lifts I called her on the phone and we talked for a few minutes. (Lonesome Dove just came on) She was the one who made us hang up. I called her about ten minutes later and told her that she was no fun, and that I'm used to talking for two hours on the phone and she brushed me off after five minutes. She thought that was funny and explained that she doesn't usually talk long on the phone and liked just sitting there relaxing.
It has been raining and lightning on and off for the past three days. I was up in Lift 2 and had my leg up across the metal control box and my arm on the metal emergency telephone box. At the exact instant I saw a big bolt of lighting off in the sky, I got zapped by the surge it caused in the electric lines. It felt like a static electricity shock but it was weird feeling it happen just as I saw lightning and fun telling everybody down on the platform that I got struck by it.
A couple of times when the ride was down and I was on platform, I called Amanda up at Spillway. Alan came out and saw me talking on the phone and sent me out to the front of the line. I don't think it was because I was on the phone though. Yesterday I was also out front. It had been raining all morning and when I came in at 10:45 there were only 500 people in the park! If there weren't 1500 by noon they would close Busch Gardens and give everyone their money back. Otherwise they would lose too much money. There were a couple cute girls in the store across the walkway that I kept looking at. I'll soon have the guts to just walk up to someone like that and start a conversation. I've started being as nice as possible to MichŠle. She came back from dinner yesterday to relieve me off the back brake. She always smiles when she comes up to me, and she has a gorgeous smile, so this time I smiled really big back. I kinda sarcastically asked her how was her dinner. She goes `wonderful!' and I laughingly told her `that's good.' At least I'm hopefully staying on her good side. I still haven't had a chance to talk to her on the phone or on break yet. She works today though and I go in from 2:00 to 6:00.
I can't and don't want to stop thinking about Kimmeth!
I also got a letter from Tracey. I think she liked the Garth Brook's tape, which is a relief.
June 12th '92
Dear Dan,
I received your letter on June 3rd, but I was not able to reply
before because I was busy revising for my science, maths, and
technology SAT (Standard Assesment Tests). I will not know my results
for another two weeks.
Thank you for the graduation card. You don't know how lucky you
are starting your summer holidays so soon, my holidays don't start
until July 4th.
Your card and `Garth Brooks' tape was a lovely B-day surprise, I
love the song "In Lonesome Dove" best because I once saw a mini
series about it and the music (the story of it about the girl and
sherrif), is in the same time, (the time of rangers and wagon train
caravans). So thank you for taking a big chance and buying the tape,
I love it!
News update. Last Saturday I went into Leicester to the Shires
Shopping Centre. I bought 2 necklaces, one long black/white beaded
one, and a silver heart on a string. PS I also bought a head scarf.
I should be getting some more info. about the courses I choose
for college soon, but I'll fill you in a bit more on that when I get
some more info. on it.
Do you play any musical instruments?, I do, I play the piano
(although I'm not very good --- yet!). I hope to some day be able to
play solo. What do you think about it? Have you any other ambitions
(besides possibly being a doctor someday)? I have decided that if I
can get good enough grades, I am going to be a doctor in the Royal
Navy.
Have you read any good books lately? I have just finished
reading "Day of the Triffids" at school, although it was a bit boring
in places, on the whole I though it was quite good.
I haven't heard any music lately (except G.B) because I have
been or rather had been revising for my SATs., Phewwww I'm sooooo
glad that they are over and done with.
You mentioned that you had left your school with an "armload" of
awards, but I'm afraid I can only boast of one cirtificate which I
will be recieving at a ceremony at the begining of July, its a
certificate for good work in design.
When are you going on holiday?, and where? I am going to
Scotland for a week of waterskiing, etc commencing from the 1st
Saturday in July.
Well please write soon
Loads - a - Luv
Tracey.
X
P.S.
I have included 2 `flyers' with this letter, because they are
the `in' thing in England (well Leic's anyway) at the moment, (I have
got lots of them stuck all over my walls.) You could do the same if
you wanted.
P.P.S. - Sorry about my grammar mistakes but I'm rubbish at
spelling!!!
I'm listening to Garth's `Ropin the Wind' right now to see exactly what I sent her. I love writing and sending stuff to her. The two fliers are cool little posters from night clubs in Leicester.
I hung around with Amanda yesterday at Busch Gardens because she was the only good looking girl there. Once we were up in the lifts I called her on the phone and we talked for a few minutes. (Lonesome Dove just came on) She was the one who made us hang up. I called her about ten minutes later and told her that she was no fun, and that I'm used to talking for two hours on the phone and she brushed me off after five minutes. She thought that was funny and explained that she doesn't usually talk long on the phone and liked just sitting there relaxing.
It has been raining and lightning on and off for the past three days. I was up in Lift 2 and had my leg up across the metal control box and my arm on the metal emergency telephone box. At the exact instant I saw a big bolt of lighting off in the sky, I got zapped by the surge it caused in the electric lines. It felt like a static electricity shock but it was weird feeling it happen just as I saw lightning and fun telling everybody down on the platform that I got struck by it.
A couple of times when the ride was down and I was on platform, I called Amanda up at Spillway. Alan came out and saw me talking on the phone and sent me out to the front of the line. I don't think it was because I was on the phone though. Yesterday I was also out front. It had been raining all morning and when I came in at 10:45 there were only 500 people in the park! If there weren't 1500 by noon they would close Busch Gardens and give everyone their money back. Otherwise they would lose too much money. There were a couple cute girls in the store across the walkway that I kept looking at. I'll soon have the guts to just walk up to someone like that and start a conversation. I've started being as nice as possible to MichŠle. She came back from dinner yesterday to relieve me off the back brake. She always smiles when she comes up to me, and she has a gorgeous smile, so this time I smiled really big back. I kinda sarcastically asked her how was her dinner. She goes `wonderful!' and I laughingly told her `that's good.' At least I'm hopefully staying on her good side. I still haven't had a chance to talk to her on the phone or on break yet. She works today though and I go in from 2:00 to 6:00.
I can't and don't want to stop thinking about Kimmeth!
Saturday, June 27, 1992
June 27, 1992 - Saturday - Kimmeth Powell
I had today the best time at Busch gardens since the day Kim and I talked during the thunderstorm. I didn't have to be at work until 12:30, so I went to the Tampa Bay Convention Center where they were having a big audio sale. It wasn't as wonderful as the TV ads made it look, but if somebody had the money and knew what to look for, they could put together one awesome stereo system in their car. I only took a hundred dollars so I wouldn't blow all of my money on something stupid. I found some killer speakers in a bass box for only $109 but oh well. I'll just settle for a sixty dollar base tube for college.
When I got to Busch at about eleven, the center parking strip was full so I had to go around to Treetops in the back to park. I took the employee shuttle bus over to the flume. It had just started sprinkling again and some really dark clouds were coming. I was cutback and hoped they didn't call my house telling me not to come in. I went out to the platform where Brad and Bryan were loading, and MichŠle was grouping. I talked to Brad and to MichŠle separately for a few minutes before they talked me into taking a ride. They put a couple of guys in the back seat of my boat and just as we got around the first corner it started pouring. Then the first lightning struck and kept going really bad the whole time I was on the ride. We jokingly said that we were going to die. I waved to Billy at Spillway and Kim was up in Lift 2. I was soaking wet and when she recognized me she opened the door and just laughed. The guys behind me thought she was laughing at them but we didn't tell them. We said hi and goodbye as quick as we could. Marcella and Rebecca were unloading and thought it funny when I got off soaking.
They shut the ride down because of the weather and sent MichŠle out to the front of the line. I went out and talked to her for a while and then went up to platform. Kim was down and everyone was hanging around the loading brake so I joined them. We were talking about all of the stupid things people do on the ride. I told them about the lady that hit her head twice on the bar trying to get out yesterday. They thought that was funny. I then realized that Rebecca wasn't out there and asked where she was. I don't remember where Kim was at the time and why I wasn't with her anymore. I went into the back and she was reading The Color Purple. I told her she couldn't read anymore and took her book out of her hands. I then went back out front with my prize. They applauded my wit but then I took it back. I sat back on the counter and talked with her for a while. Bryan came back and I traded shifts with him so I could stay until closing. I have 39.5 hours this week which is much more than anyone who's seasonal usually can get. It's because I always ask if I can stay so I can get more hours and they usually let me.
Anyways Brad told Rebecca to go on lunch at twelve so I went with her to get food. I just had Black Forest Cake and a Coke. We went back to the other lounge and sat with Brad and the new guy, Jaime, I think. Rebecca ended up stealing my cherry so I smeared whipped cream on her arm. I then had to go change into my work clothes. The ride had just gone back up and Alan sent me up to Spillway.
Yesterday Kim worked but we didn't really talk until she was replacing me when I was leaving. She looked really tired though, a little pale. I told her that today and she said I was the second person to say that. Today we talked as much as during the last storm, but this time we also kept hanging on each other when we were on the platform. I also found out that she has a boyfriend but he lives way over in St. Pete so I can only hope that doesn't last long. Anyways I saw that Kim was up at Lift 2 so I called her. We talked for over an hour even though there were people on the ride. She brought up our little joke about her hair and my eyes when she told me again what beautiful eyes I have. I then of course told her how gorgeous her hair is. She said that a British guy just recently told her that she look's like Julia Roberts. It makes sense because she has the same sloped cheeks and she's just as hot. I was telling her how I want to live in England someday. She said so does she and to please take her with me. I said sure and can only wish she'd take me up on it.
After a while she said let's play our game where we call the people ugly and all, so we did for a while. When we were talking about eye color again and she was saying what a pretty blue mine are, I realized that I have never seen hers and remembered the color. She said they are a combination of hazel, brown, and green. I jokingly told her to look out the window so I could see, but then I said I guess I'd have to wait until we were down on platform. She said 'yea, then you can look deep into my eyes...'
When it was soon time for her to go we hung up so she could vegetate for a few minutes. I got bored really quick so I called Rebecca down on the control panel. It was the first time we have ever talked for real on the phone and we did for twenty minutes. By then Amanda had replaced Kim so I called her. She just got her hair done this morning and said with the humidity it felt like a cap. I told her from down at Spillway I couldn't tell any difference. We talked for about fifteen minutes before Rebecca took my place. I was eating a cup of ice and had a little left when I got to the platform. I told Kim I hate her hair because it's too long for me to stick ice down her back. She then stuck her hand into my cup and ate some of my ice.
For a while, it kept raining for just a few minutes at a time. Every time we shut down for 'inclement weather,' I would run up front to talk with Kim. At one point, she and I were standing at the control panel and I realized that I hadn't looked at her eyes yet. We stared with our faces less than a foot apart for a while. Her eyes are weird, brown and green mixed. I was looking with my little puppy dog face that I used to use on Nicole when I wanted something. My upper lip accidentally twitched and I swear I would have kissed her if she hadn't of told me about the guy that's coming to take her out tonight. I've never had such an irresistible urge before.
A little while later the storm picked up again and Kim got sent out front. The rest of us just stood around doing nothing. MichŠle and I said a few things but not much. After a while Brad sent me out to relieve KIm. I snuck up on her and tried to scare her from behind but she didn't even flinch. She asked me if I was coming to visit. I said no, I wouldn't do that, I was just replacing her. I then started talking to this young British guy about the storm and stuff. He said the best part about it was watching the cute girls walk by. He was funny and I enjoyed talking to him and even understood what he was saying. Then his wife comes out of the bathroom, and she was good looking. About five minutes later Alan sends Amanda out to relieve KIm. I told her that I just relieved Kim but I'd be happy to leave. We raced and I won but I told her I'd be back out to see her in a few minutes.
Alan sent me on lunch. Kim was on break. I walked up behind her and wiggled her chair. She had just talked Ray from the Tidal Wave into taking her home. When she stood up she put her fingers in my hair and told me it would look better if I cut the long hair on the side off. She said I have really pretty hair because its curly and all. After she was done rubbing her hands through my hair I went and got a Sprite and then went out to move my car into the center. Despite the rain, the guest parking lots were full, which surprised me. I got a good spot this time right behind the flume.
When I got back, Kim was talking to Alan, Bryan, and Andy. Rebecca came back a few minutes later. Kim was talking about an art class she took once and was drawing on a paper pad. She drew a tiger which was damn good. A few minutes later she came up and leaned on me. I don't remember what she said but I got a handful of water and chased her around the counter. Then she jumps into the pool, shoes and socks and all. She almost fell over and had to catch herself with her hands. We told her she was real smart for dodging a little bit of water by jumping into the pool. I then took her by the shoulders and teased her telling her that maybe she really does need a rest and should sit down for a few minutes. It was funny. She ended up taking off her wet socks and pinning them to the corkboard.
We then hear the dreaded phone ringing that means we're ready to open the ride back up. Alan sent me to Lift 2 and then asked who wanted to go to Spillway. Kim goes 'I do!' so we walked up the hill together. After a few minutes I called her and we started talking for another hour and a half. At one point Marcella picked up the phone and hears us talking and asks for Bryan. She didn't know that it was Kim and I up there blabbing away. Anyways I mentioned the fact that I am distantly related to Isaac Hull and possibly Pocahontas. She thought that was neat and said she didn't know if she was related to anyone important. I told her to marry me and then she would be. We were also talking about our ethnic backgrounds. I always say Welsh and Cherokee Indian which are the most prominent. She's Irish and Dutch. I love her already. She said that if we had kids they would be really good looking, with really pretty hair and pretty blue eyes. Wow!
We were also talking about speaking other languages. I told her 'Szeretlek, te fosom!' which means 'I love you, I want to fuck you' in Hungarian but I didn't tell her the translation. I was also telling her about Mehtap and how I want to learn German. She thought it was funny us renaming her Meg for convenience. Kim wants to learn Italian. At about six o'clock Alan picks up the phone and hears us talking. He just told me to go on break when Marcella came up and never said anything else about it. When she got there I kept talking to Kim on the phone for a couple of minute just to spite Marcella and to show her 'ha ha, I can get along just fine not talking to you.' After I apologized to Amanda for never going back out front with her, Alan let me close Spillway, which means I got to relieve Kim. She was telling me that she doesn't work again until Wednesday, which means I don't see her again until Saturday unless she comes in with some friends on Monday. I told her I didn't know what I'd do for the next two hours now that she was leaving, because she sure as hell won't catch me talking with Marcella. Oh well.
But I had fun doing this all today. I think the word that most describes the girls I like is 'sensuous.' Kim is definitely sensuous. I was also getting pretty close to Rebecca today in the back. She was sitting on the counter and for a while I was up there with her. I took her ice water once and poured some onto the table right between her legs. It came that close but she caught me first and moved in time. Then I could have called her literally frigid. Ha ha. I also, earlier today, just after Kim jumped into the pool, poured a nice bit of cold water into Kim's hair. That was when we were just messing around though. I had a Pepsi for breakfast. I guess the caffeine made me hyper. Damn I had fun!!!
Father took my newspaper article into his work the other day. Everybody read it and were congratulating me when I went in after going to the beach. Mr. Merchant read it and wrote me a little Post-It note that said:
Maybe we should be thinking about Senator Dan Skinner
R Merchant
I don't know but I think I like that idea. But I'd rather live in Europe. Maybe head of the U.N. or something.
I was thinking that two people can have one moment like Kim and I did back during the thunderstorm and then just sort of fade apart. But as soon as it happens again you have a much better chance of being good friends for a long time. Where the hell do I want to go to college! Kim was even telling me things that she and Mark were talking about. She's really starting to open up with me. We ended up on a very good note, both laughing, and thinking ahead to the next time we'd see each other. That was good. And I must remember that I owe Kim a round trip ticket to England someday!
That's all.
When I got to Busch at about eleven, the center parking strip was full so I had to go around to Treetops in the back to park. I took the employee shuttle bus over to the flume. It had just started sprinkling again and some really dark clouds were coming. I was cutback and hoped they didn't call my house telling me not to come in. I went out to the platform where Brad and Bryan were loading, and MichŠle was grouping. I talked to Brad and to MichŠle separately for a few minutes before they talked me into taking a ride. They put a couple of guys in the back seat of my boat and just as we got around the first corner it started pouring. Then the first lightning struck and kept going really bad the whole time I was on the ride. We jokingly said that we were going to die. I waved to Billy at Spillway and Kim was up in Lift 2. I was soaking wet and when she recognized me she opened the door and just laughed. The guys behind me thought she was laughing at them but we didn't tell them. We said hi and goodbye as quick as we could. Marcella and Rebecca were unloading and thought it funny when I got off soaking.
They shut the ride down because of the weather and sent MichŠle out to the front of the line. I went out and talked to her for a while and then went up to platform. Kim was down and everyone was hanging around the loading brake so I joined them. We were talking about all of the stupid things people do on the ride. I told them about the lady that hit her head twice on the bar trying to get out yesterday. They thought that was funny. I then realized that Rebecca wasn't out there and asked where she was. I don't remember where Kim was at the time and why I wasn't with her anymore. I went into the back and she was reading The Color Purple. I told her she couldn't read anymore and took her book out of her hands. I then went back out front with my prize. They applauded my wit but then I took it back. I sat back on the counter and talked with her for a while. Bryan came back and I traded shifts with him so I could stay until closing. I have 39.5 hours this week which is much more than anyone who's seasonal usually can get. It's because I always ask if I can stay so I can get more hours and they usually let me.
Anyways Brad told Rebecca to go on lunch at twelve so I went with her to get food. I just had Black Forest Cake and a Coke. We went back to the other lounge and sat with Brad and the new guy, Jaime, I think. Rebecca ended up stealing my cherry so I smeared whipped cream on her arm. I then had to go change into my work clothes. The ride had just gone back up and Alan sent me up to Spillway.
Yesterday Kim worked but we didn't really talk until she was replacing me when I was leaving. She looked really tired though, a little pale. I told her that today and she said I was the second person to say that. Today we talked as much as during the last storm, but this time we also kept hanging on each other when we were on the platform. I also found out that she has a boyfriend but he lives way over in St. Pete so I can only hope that doesn't last long. Anyways I saw that Kim was up at Lift 2 so I called her. We talked for over an hour even though there were people on the ride. She brought up our little joke about her hair and my eyes when she told me again what beautiful eyes I have. I then of course told her how gorgeous her hair is. She said that a British guy just recently told her that she look's like Julia Roberts. It makes sense because she has the same sloped cheeks and she's just as hot. I was telling her how I want to live in England someday. She said so does she and to please take her with me. I said sure and can only wish she'd take me up on it.
After a while she said let's play our game where we call the people ugly and all, so we did for a while. When we were talking about eye color again and she was saying what a pretty blue mine are, I realized that I have never seen hers and remembered the color. She said they are a combination of hazel, brown, and green. I jokingly told her to look out the window so I could see, but then I said I guess I'd have to wait until we were down on platform. She said 'yea, then you can look deep into my eyes...'
When it was soon time for her to go we hung up so she could vegetate for a few minutes. I got bored really quick so I called Rebecca down on the control panel. It was the first time we have ever talked for real on the phone and we did for twenty minutes. By then Amanda had replaced Kim so I called her. She just got her hair done this morning and said with the humidity it felt like a cap. I told her from down at Spillway I couldn't tell any difference. We talked for about fifteen minutes before Rebecca took my place. I was eating a cup of ice and had a little left when I got to the platform. I told Kim I hate her hair because it's too long for me to stick ice down her back. She then stuck her hand into my cup and ate some of my ice.
For a while, it kept raining for just a few minutes at a time. Every time we shut down for 'inclement weather,' I would run up front to talk with Kim. At one point, she and I were standing at the control panel and I realized that I hadn't looked at her eyes yet. We stared with our faces less than a foot apart for a while. Her eyes are weird, brown and green mixed. I was looking with my little puppy dog face that I used to use on Nicole when I wanted something. My upper lip accidentally twitched and I swear I would have kissed her if she hadn't of told me about the guy that's coming to take her out tonight. I've never had such an irresistible urge before.
A little while later the storm picked up again and Kim got sent out front. The rest of us just stood around doing nothing. MichŠle and I said a few things but not much. After a while Brad sent me out to relieve KIm. I snuck up on her and tried to scare her from behind but she didn't even flinch. She asked me if I was coming to visit. I said no, I wouldn't do that, I was just replacing her. I then started talking to this young British guy about the storm and stuff. He said the best part about it was watching the cute girls walk by. He was funny and I enjoyed talking to him and even understood what he was saying. Then his wife comes out of the bathroom, and she was good looking. About five minutes later Alan sends Amanda out to relieve KIm. I told her that I just relieved Kim but I'd be happy to leave. We raced and I won but I told her I'd be back out to see her in a few minutes.
Alan sent me on lunch. Kim was on break. I walked up behind her and wiggled her chair. She had just talked Ray from the Tidal Wave into taking her home. When she stood up she put her fingers in my hair and told me it would look better if I cut the long hair on the side off. She said I have really pretty hair because its curly and all. After she was done rubbing her hands through my hair I went and got a Sprite and then went out to move my car into the center. Despite the rain, the guest parking lots were full, which surprised me. I got a good spot this time right behind the flume.
When I got back, Kim was talking to Alan, Bryan, and Andy. Rebecca came back a few minutes later. Kim was talking about an art class she took once and was drawing on a paper pad. She drew a tiger which was damn good. A few minutes later she came up and leaned on me. I don't remember what she said but I got a handful of water and chased her around the counter. Then she jumps into the pool, shoes and socks and all. She almost fell over and had to catch herself with her hands. We told her she was real smart for dodging a little bit of water by jumping into the pool. I then took her by the shoulders and teased her telling her that maybe she really does need a rest and should sit down for a few minutes. It was funny. She ended up taking off her wet socks and pinning them to the corkboard.
We then hear the dreaded phone ringing that means we're ready to open the ride back up. Alan sent me to Lift 2 and then asked who wanted to go to Spillway. Kim goes 'I do!' so we walked up the hill together. After a few minutes I called her and we started talking for another hour and a half. At one point Marcella picked up the phone and hears us talking and asks for Bryan. She didn't know that it was Kim and I up there blabbing away. Anyways I mentioned the fact that I am distantly related to Isaac Hull and possibly Pocahontas. She thought that was neat and said she didn't know if she was related to anyone important. I told her to marry me and then she would be. We were also talking about our ethnic backgrounds. I always say Welsh and Cherokee Indian which are the most prominent. She's Irish and Dutch. I love her already. She said that if we had kids they would be really good looking, with really pretty hair and pretty blue eyes. Wow!
We were also talking about speaking other languages. I told her 'Szeretlek, te fosom!' which means 'I love you, I want to fuck you' in Hungarian but I didn't tell her the translation. I was also telling her about Mehtap and how I want to learn German. She thought it was funny us renaming her Meg for convenience. Kim wants to learn Italian. At about six o'clock Alan picks up the phone and hears us talking. He just told me to go on break when Marcella came up and never said anything else about it. When she got there I kept talking to Kim on the phone for a couple of minute just to spite Marcella and to show her 'ha ha, I can get along just fine not talking to you.' After I apologized to Amanda for never going back out front with her, Alan let me close Spillway, which means I got to relieve Kim. She was telling me that she doesn't work again until Wednesday, which means I don't see her again until Saturday unless she comes in with some friends on Monday. I told her I didn't know what I'd do for the next two hours now that she was leaving, because she sure as hell won't catch me talking with Marcella. Oh well.
But I had fun doing this all today. I think the word that most describes the girls I like is 'sensuous.' Kim is definitely sensuous. I was also getting pretty close to Rebecca today in the back. She was sitting on the counter and for a while I was up there with her. I took her ice water once and poured some onto the table right between her legs. It came that close but she caught me first and moved in time. Then I could have called her literally frigid. Ha ha. I also, earlier today, just after Kim jumped into the pool, poured a nice bit of cold water into Kim's hair. That was when we were just messing around though. I had a Pepsi for breakfast. I guess the caffeine made me hyper. Damn I had fun!!!
Father took my newspaper article into his work the other day. Everybody read it and were congratulating me when I went in after going to the beach. Mr. Merchant read it and wrote me a little Post-It note that said:
Maybe we should be thinking about Senator Dan Skinner
R Merchant
I don't know but I think I like that idea. But I'd rather live in Europe. Maybe head of the U.N. or something.
I was thinking that two people can have one moment like Kim and I did back during the thunderstorm and then just sort of fade apart. But as soon as it happens again you have a much better chance of being good friends for a long time. Where the hell do I want to go to college! Kim was even telling me things that she and Mark were talking about. She's really starting to open up with me. We ended up on a very good note, both laughing, and thinking ahead to the next time we'd see each other. That was good. And I must remember that I owe Kim a round trip ticket to England someday!
That's all.