Summer Resolutions

Alright. I understand that no one reads this. I have accepted it. In fact, I have accepted it so well that this is the first time I have written an entry in about six months. If only to entertain myself for a moment on this summer afternoon, here is the most recent entry.

What have I been up to? As usual, with the end of winter semester, goal setting has attracted the spotlight. I have never really understood the whole New Year's resolution thing, but Spring Time resolutions are another matter. I can dig Spring Time resolutions. Many of the resolutions are repeat offenders, but some are first offenses. Here goes nothing.

Write a short story.

Make a dent on my reading list.

Redesign this blog.

Work out three times a week.

Visit the temple weekly.

There they are. Soak them in.

And here's a sneak peak into what I have accomplished thus far. Designed and programmed. Check it.

My Cultured Side.

Stephanie, the history department secretary, enters my office. As usual, I am seated at my desk, but there is something different. Instead of being occupied by emails and internet, I am reading. Stephanie takes notice of this.

"Whatcha doin'?," she asks in her high voice. Her lips return to their usual tightly pursed position after finishing the question.

Not wanting to spark a conversation, a distraction from reading, I answer quickly, "Reading."

She takes no notice of.. or rather chooses to ignore the fact that I am trying to avoid distractions.

"Whatcha readin'?" Tight lips again.

"The Scarlet Pimpernel."

She raises her thin eyebrows and utters a surprised, "Really?"

"Yeah." I bring the small red book closer to my face.

She continues. "What inspired you to read that book?"

Suddenly, I sense a judge in my office. "I heard it was about spies."

"Ah..." That is all she says. She doesn't leave.

Putting the book down, I decide to end this. "Why so surprised?"

"Oh, no reason."

"No, really. Why are you surprised?"

"Nothing..." She tries to retreat back to her desk.

"Oh, come on. You have to have a reason."

"Well, I just didn't think you were the kind of person to read novels about 18th century Europe."

Finally, the truth. I guess only cultured people read about 18th century Europe.

Cultured? Who's to judge?

The Scam.

My name is Brett Myers. I work at Freschetta Pizza. And yesterday I was scammed.

Dearest Scammer Person,

Yesterday, you saw me behind the counter. The pizza counter.

I don't know what your thoughts were. I am no mind reader.

Perhaps you were planning how you would scam your next dollar; perhaps you just wanted some pizza. It doesn't matter anyway. What does matter is that when the moment came, you decided that your integrity was worth a dollar.

You found my weakness.

Each and every time upon giving a customer their change, I worry that they will look at the change and see that I have accidentally shorted them. It isn't an overwhelming worry. Just one that lingers on the edge of my mind. You already know this.

So when I handed you your change, you did it. "Oh, you only gave me three dollars... Shouldn't it be four?" you said so innocently as you held three dollars up to my view. Looking down at the register, it read $4.00. And so I hurriedly handed you another dollar.

Four hours later, when the money room was counting the money in my box, they discovered that I was a dollar short.

Well I have news for you. I'm on to you.