- No witty title here - Thursday, July 29, 2004 You know when you get on a roll? When you start something, and you just have to finish it? And, all the sudden you're interupted by the cool, the tres hip owner of the dingding, and you must take this call lest your 'tres hip by association' reputation be smeared for life? Ok, maybe I lost you there. but, I'm done. I'm going to bed. Damn art bug.

posted by April @ 4:41 AM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Just Grindin' - Wednesday, July 28, 2004 ...the daily grind, that is. I can't smother in this heat any longer, lest I die right here and now.  It shall be Lake Tahoe this weekend, to get some mountain air, some hiking, and check out the new restaurant on the tip of the Ponderosa - apparently it's the most amazing place to have breakfast. Another week with a lot of phone calls, if I skip town I better bring the homing device eh, the cell phone.  It's been so great chatting with Bridie over the summer, she's been doing so well and I couldn't be more proud!  She has that long drive from Saratoga Springs to Colorado Springs; hardly know how one could hold up during that cross-country venture.  I just hope you have an automatic, girly.  I'm sure somewhere between Illinois and Kansas it's gotta be a bitch on the clutch.  Of course, with her blow-your-mind cycling regime this summer, I say you just 'Lance' it all the way to CS.  Talk about rollin' up in style!  You better drive safe, I don't wanna have to reassemble your ass when I get there. And ok, I'm slowly learning to like the fact that World Cup 3 will be in Madison, WI.  Apart from how much gouda I can smuggle back to California, I'm so happy that we'll be able to see a good short track adventure buddy that we haven't seen since Marquette; which only could have happened if the cup was moved.  Judes, if you're out there, we LOVE ya, you crazy fellow Irish biatch!  Short Track trips aren't the same without ya. Read a little of Apolo's book last night, just wanting to get inspired.  It worked.  It doesn't take long for Anton to convince me. A few Last calls: Jo-izy, I'm glad you're feeling better.  I have a crapload of things to send you (I know, I've been saying that forever), but I'm getting it all together to send your way.

posted by April @ 3:46 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- A whole new 'me' - Monday, July 26, 2004 That light feeling is still following me. "April, you look different!", she says.  The woman who bore me, she should know right? I feel different.   The next few weeks are going to be a rollercoaster ride.   Phase 1: ST Gear It's an ST frame of mind until the end of this month.  Working on bringing short track speed skating to the masses, and trying to learning more about this fascinating community.  I'm going to visit the ice rink near me, SkateTown in Roseville, and do some chatting with the manager and give out some flyers.  We have a pretty cool short track club at the Roseville rink, and I didn't even know this!  Although, seeing some NorCal skaters at the Cleveland Championships this year should have made me realize this.  I'm re-vamping ST Gear's website to be more user friendly, and to add some new aspects. Phase 2: Colorado Springs Ah, the trip that almost didn't happen!  Flights have been so expensive, of course traveling in the summer that's to be expected.  We're set for August, and I'm excited to see what productivity will come from this trip.  I found a killer flight deal coming out of Frenso, CA. and had to jump on it.  This wouldn't have worked without, in my eyes, the 'Mother Theresa' of short track, Sooz.  And if she's reading this, Sooz, you're the most incredible chick on the planet.  Short Track and it's athletes are lucky as hell to have you around - and I am, too.  Bringing the Laptop to talk HTML with Sooz, and work with her on the next website that she's put up my sleeve, lol.  Seriously, I don't know what energy I'm running on anymore.  I'm stoked to see the newest additions to the OTC, and hopefully get Bridie to finally show me a real live turncable. Phase 3: Reality Bites All things must be accomplished alongside me starting college courses again in the Fall and focusing on changing jobs.  At this point, I don't know how it's all going to be done, but I know that determination goes a long way.

posted by April @ 1:11 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- And then again, it's just life - Sunday, July 25, 2004 *sigh* This has been a pivital weekend for me.  So much bliss, yet the small things can be bittersweet.  Everyone's been out of town, and having this quiet house to myself has been the pleasure and the pain - when it comes to thinking about the things, the emotional issues I've been dealing with lately.   Who would have thought that with all the exciting news, happenings, and soon-to-be-happenings, it would bring up some really weird feelings of the hard times. Adulthood is such the journey.  Learning unwillingly, at best, about what you're really made of.  Let's just say that I discovered aspects about myself that are not quite right.  I had a long talk with my mother, walking by the man-made Natomas Lake near our home, and just laid it on the line.  All my frustrations, my hurts, etc.  I've found that my mother is one of my best friends, someone that knows me and what I've been through.  She tirelessly listens as I rattle off about this road I'm on, this road to becoming the 'fantasy April' that I see in my head.  You know, the level-headed girl that makes all the right decisions, thinks before she speaks, makes everyone proud. My mother and I got into a deep discussion (I guess the walking-enduced endorphins are a big part of that) about something happening in my life now, and it was fairly simple.  All the sudden, she felt the need to bring up some events in my past that really broke me down.  Not using it as a weapon again me, but merely showing me where my heart was lacking and why. I don't talk much about it, never see the need to, but hell - this is my blog. I had a friend that I met in second grade.  We hit it off, and were stuck like glue for 7 years.  Her mother became like a second mom to me, and I spent a lot of my young years going back and forth to her house about every weekend.  To me, she represented not only someone that knew me, but someone that would never leave.  About 2 weeks before my 16th birthday, she and her mother came to my house with a big surprise.  My obsession of the minute back then was The Beatles, and I had just about every piece of memorabillia, records, CD's, you name it.  She informed me that she would be taking me to Lincoln, CA. for my birthday - to see a group called Rain; they have imitated the Beatles look and sound since the early 70's.  I was stoked.  We spent that weekend having the time of our lives, watching the concert until late into the night, and making plans for her birthday in October.  On monday, I came home, told my friend how amazing that weekend was and how I could never thank her enough, waved goodbye, and never saw her again. One month after the concert, my mother was acting odd after watching the news one night.  She was really worrying me, and I pushed her to tell me what was wrong.  I guess what she had seen on the news was in the papers as well, but I had happened to be oblivious.  That weekend, my friend's mother was murdered.  Deeply in debt to the wrong people, she was killed, put in the trunk of a car, and left on a long highway.  I didn't believe my mother at first, I couldn't.  I just remember I kept saying "are you sure it's her, are you sure..." Shortly after, we received a call from the family of my friend, and they made sure we knew as much as they could tell us.  My friend went to live with her father in the Bay area, and I've never seen her since.  Sometimes I feel guilt, that I wasn't there for her during the most tramatic time of one's existance, but it was as though time stopped.  I was numb for years after, but have come to realize that the pain still effects me today.  In my decisions, my choice of friends, my choices in relationships, everything.  That day, something in my head went off, and made me believe that everything good in my life is only a facade and soon I'd be left hurting.  It's amazing how one event can change your life in ways that you don't even realize. I loved my friend's mother, but in a way, it was 2 deaths.  I lost someone important to me, and I'll probably never get over not fighting to stay connected. I'm working on myself, and the way I deal with hurt now.  It's been a painful climb to this point, but I know the day I stop loving is the day I stop living.  I'd give anything to be able to talk to my friend again, maybe someday God in my mercy will bring her in my path - but I cherish friendships more than I ever have.  It's a whole new way of looking at the people you care about the most, and knowing how fast they can be taken from you. So, my therapy session for the weekend is complete, and despite it all I feel incredibly light today.

posted by April @ 6:38 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Getting Inspired, once again - Tuesday, July 20, 2004 This summer, apart from frying into an unrecognizible mass on the sidewalks of Sacramento, I've been discovering things about myself - about myself as an artist.   In the last year I've incorporated the majority of my artwork into computer graphics, websites, and other visual media that I enjoy.  The astondment started when I realized when was the last time I picked up a pen, a pastel pencil, and made a 'hardcore' piece of art?  Will I be hence forth known as the artist that use to draw?   It was funny, at the Passage to Paradise banquet we met a lot of new friends of Kimo and Jan (some which were blown away to hear our Apolo/short track adventures).  Kimo would introduce me always as, "...this is 'The Artist' "    The Artist, formally known as April.  Yeah, Prince I am not - it made me laugh.   I ran across the Livejournal of a friend I met a while back (I've had my LJ since 2000), and she's a great artist.  She has an incredibly unique style, the best way to describe being it's somewhere between reality and fantasy.  I just haven't made the time to produce more pieces, and it's definitely been a sore spot.  Making the Apolo Art Book back in Feb 2003 marked the last time-comsuming pieces I put out.  And as much as I know I wanted Apolo to have that book, I miss those pieces.  Your art is like your children, in a weird way.  I've said many times that I work best under inspiration and, oddly enough, pressure.  I never go into an art piece with full confidence and ease; maybe it reflects on my self-perspective.  It's the way, the sick formula that drives me into the finished product.   As of late, I've had neither inspiration nor pressure, which explains the dry spell.  My pressures are now tied into work, my business, getting an apartment, the list is too long.  Regarding inspiration, well, the mix of being preoccupied and not taking - not making time - to do my art kills inspiration.  But, I'm learning to not shut out the things I love, even if they're not high on my 'to-do' list of the moment.  My artwork seems to give me a tanglible happiness despite what's going on around me.    I'm slowly working my way back to large pieces again, but last night I spoted a picture of Apolo in my jumble of papers on my computer desk.  It was a shot that the beloved Jennie had taken at Nationals in Cleveland.  This girl has a great eye for 'moments', not just good shots.   Anyone with a nice camera can take a good shot, but where the rubber meets the road (or where the shudder meets the spring, in this case) is capturing a mood, a feeling, a moment in time.  That's the difference between those that see a good shot and say, "Wow, that's a excellent picture!", and those that say nothing, but look in awe.  That's the sign, because if the mood, the feeling of the picture hits you when you look at it, there's really nothing to say but to soak it up for a bit.   This picture of Apolo says so much - his quiet dominance, his soft-spoken, matter-of-fact demeanor, he looks submissive, yet completely in control.   *and, it goes without saying that he manages to look SO hot in spite of all that*   I saw this picture, realized I had pastel graphic art paper the exact color of the sponsor fleeces the team wears, and wouldn't you know it - inspiration.  It was late, I didn't have much time, and I actually couldn't find the rest of my pastel pencils I had hidden from myself!  I thought, eh, it's ok, I don't have to finish it, no rush.  Funny thing is, an unfinished art piece sat in front of me and was strangely complete.  There's a term in the art world known as Impressionism - where the subjects of the art are true, yet just an impression of the given subject shown in an unconventional way.  Luckily, Apolo's little nuances and distingushing elements are very memorable, and it's easy to tell who it is.   So, I'm happy with it...and on the road to inspiration, it serves it's purpose.

posted by April @ 1:13 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- [insert name here]'s Got Mail - Monday, July 19, 2004 I have a ton of things to finish up tonight, but thought I'd glance at my email. And lo and behold I get the weirdest email - well, maybe not the weirdest - in my inbox today. Went a little something like this: Hi, my name is Tyler Love I am looking for a girl named April that I met a Shaver Lake a few years back and came across this email address. Please respond and let me know if this is, in fact, who I am looking for. Thank You Tyler Love Whoa?  I mean, really, I know that the name April isn't on the top 40 most popular names, but who finds a random email address with the name 'April' on it, and emails that person with this request?  I've never heard of a Tyler Love - kinda sounds like a porn name to me.  Athough, I did have a friend back in the day named Rick Love.  I had mentioned to Rick that his name sounds very much like, you guessed it, a porn name.  Then I thought this could be poor Tyler's only slick way of meeting people on the net.  Pick a name, throw in your 'long-lost' sap story, and presto - you're now an email stalker.   And this 'Shaver Lake' sounds way too kinky if you ask me.   So, I'm left with this email in my box, wishing for some odd-ass reason that I was, in fact, this 'April' our mr. porn name is looking for.  I know, I know, too much on my plate to add a scandal to the mix.  Of course, if I receive an email from Tyler's greek cousin from SoCal named Harry Pairatesticles, then the search for a new box begins.

posted by April @ 6:14 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Olympic trials and tribulations - Saturday, July 17, 2004 From the start, I've been excited and pumped to watch the track and field trials for Athens.  Not simply because they're going on right in my own backyard, but it's a summer olympic sport that I find thrilling to witness.  Remembering the anticipation of wondering if 'Flo Jo' could pull off one more amazing time trial while still keeping her manicure ravishing - getting even a bit emotional while seeing Michael Johnson or Marion Jones become the sweethearts of the trials; history being made before your eyes.   Obviously, my local papers are saturated with latest news, and instead of reading the bantering of a sore loser or the happy tears of a unexpected winner, I get this:    Great efforts flow, but not the words "With the drug scandal growing, Craig Masback, the CEO of USATF, addressed the issue in a group interview session Friday evening.  'The most important thing is the integrity of the competition not be compromised,' Masback said. 'I don't know that any of us have enough perspective to know how much damage has been done (to the sport).   'If a single athlete has a positive for drugs, that is a problem for the sport of track and field. We're committed to having a level playing field.'"     I realize, and am not naive to think that doping isn't a major problem in these highly competitive sports, certianly a situation that shouldn't be taken lightly.  But most often throughout this year's coverage, I've just been shaking my head in...not dismay, but disappointment.  So many articles on the Games have stated that, yes, "one athlete" that tests positive for drug use ruins the flow of the event - and it couldn't be more true.   I've never seen so many athletes testing positive, never seen so many investigations.  It not only ruins the flow, but it's stealing the spotlight from what should come down to a heart-pounding race to the line, nothing more.   Personally, I say why even attempt to strive to become an olympian if you're going to dope to get there.  The Olympics, the seemimgly only pure form of sport that we have left, is having it's great image smeared like butter.   It reminds me strongly of what Apolo Ohno mentioned back in 2002:   "It's just that mentality; if you're going to cheat [to win], it's not like winning.  You've already lost, because you gave in..."

posted by April @ 10:50 AM [[ 0 comments ]]

- That's the way the feta cheese crumbles - Friday, July 16, 2004 Martha Stewart sentenced with 5 months in prison I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or...bake some spanakopita and make a krazy-glue wreath.   And thus continues my on-going love/hate relationship with this talented felon.

posted by April @ 12:29 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Uh, run that by me again? - Thursday, July 15, 2004 July is continuing to taunt me maliciously with it's 'fry an egg on the sidewalk' weather. Have I ever said how much I hate summer? I enjoy all the summer activities, some are among my favorites, but not enough to gamble with heat stroke the next day. Well, spitting in the face of summer, I'm soon off to run some much needed errands. This week has been off to a refreshing start. Molls, I'm still icing my sides from laughing during our phone antics. It was so great to talk to Sooz again, who called me after playing phone tag for weeks. That little lady is quite special to me, and it was so fun to chat and catch up. Well, that phone call was, yet again, the production of good things. My ST world will change again, and I'm doing things I thought I'd never do. A lot is going on in the next few months, and sometimes my head just spins. I'm humbled, and always have been, to be so involved in different areas of the short track community. The Olympic movement has always been a fascination of mine, since I was real young. But now, it's struck a cord with my life at this point, and it's morphed into a passion. So yes, I'm still whirling from that phone call. I'm excited, nervous, feeling very inadequate at times, but that's part of the Journey, right?

posted by April @ 1:55 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Those Crazy Short Track Enthusiasts! - Tuesday, July 13, 2004 A million thank you's to the lovely Jan (1/2 of the Jan & Kimo dream team) for mailing me some photos from P2P. For many reasons, this P2P was special and from it come a lot of special shots. Photos are so crucial, since while it's all happening, it feels like a dream. It's like living a dream, of sorts. Being blessed with the opportunties to attend Kristi's awesome charity events and be in the same room with a dozen of the world's most amazing athletes. I think my assumptions are true; it's the energy in the air and the human will to succeed that becomes so addicting. And it's been (and goes without saying) a honor and privledge getting to know Apolo, the Olympian, as well as getting just a touch more of Apolo, the 22 yr old from Seattle. I see him in a different light than 2 years ago, yet my respect and admiration hasn't and will never change. Athletes, stars, anyone really isn't obligated to show 'the real' them. I must say at P2P, I've never seen Apolo more happy and relaxed, ever. He seemed truly comfortable in his own skin. We've seen Competition Apolo, laid-back Appearence Apolo, I'm-around-my-teammates-don't-draw-attention-to-me Apolo, and then June 26th Apolo. If anything, seeing him in all these different situations has been eye-opening and gives one room to understand him more, respect him more. But that night it was as easy as joking about $65,000 charity donations made in food stamps and sharing ideas and comments about William I-dance-like-a-constipated-robot Hung. Under all the stardom, extreme talent, stellar work ethic, and those devastating good looks...Apolo's just really, honestly a sweet, funny guy. Well, the lovely Jan was roaming with the camera after dinner that night. I had just chatted with AAO and he had turned for a moment to answer Kimo's call. I was standing so close to him, and saw Jan's camera lift up for a picture. I couldn't help but show the love and give props to the 'man of the night' - luckily this was all while he wasn't looking: Yeah, like Apolo's gonna want to take up the 'IHOP' deal with this 1/3 of the crazies. Hey, did we mention we'd throw in entertainment? And we swear, William Hung's not on the program. If anything, it's always a blast to make Apolo laugh, and he we all did a lot of that.

posted by April @ 6:58 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Photoshoping - Monday, July 12, 2004 I've been discovering the nifty trick of making media brushes for Photoshop. Always on the look out for brushes that I liked (but could rarely find), I now realize how simple it is to make brushes that are perfectly your own. Of course, you knew that AAO had to be immortalized, so here's a few of the Apolo Brushes I made: click to view the series

posted by April @ 6:56 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- One of them days - Not feeling too cool today. Can't really put my finger on it, which is worse. *sigh* So stereotypical of a monday.

posted by April @ 4:08 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Say it's not so - So why was Ape late getting back to Sacramento from Visalia? Well, Lupes is more fun than a barrell of monkeys - plus, we were intently watching the Olympic Track and Field coverage going on right now in Sac Town. Just before I left, it happened and I couldn't believe it: Jones Fails To Qualify For 100 Meters "SACRAMENTO -- Marion Jones failed to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team in the 100 meters Saturday, losing out on a chance to defend her gold medal in her signature event at the Athens Games." To imagine that 4 years of hard work could simply go up in smoke with one trial run? I wanted to see Marion go all the way...I was even going to get tickets to go watch the trials in hopes to see her do some 'Track Damage', but I digress. I still may think about watching a trial, but I'm pretty bummed.

posted by April @ 1:06 AM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Central Cali - Sunday, July 11, 2004 Having a great time down here with Lupes. Yesterday was movie night. It's sad, but going to the cinemas and watching 2 movies is the most I've watched in a long while. Lupes and I drove to Frenso and saw Anchorman and Spiderman 2. Movies upcoming that looked really good were Collateral with Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx. Sweet Son of a bee sting, Anchorman was hilarious. Lupe and I were literally doubled over in the theater! Have I ever mentioned Will Ferrell is funny as hell? And Spiderman 2 was SUCH a great movie. Toby Macguire is such a superhero hottie. The tight skinsuit Spidey was sporting reminded us of another superhero hottie - that fights the bad guys on ice *wink* Well, I should pack up and head back up north to Sac in a bit. I have a lot of work waiting for me at home!

posted by April @ 5:31 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Are those cows I smell? - Saturday, July 10, 2004 Yes sir. I'm typing from the beautiful, yet pungent Visalia, TX. I mean, Visalia, CA. Where all your local caltrans workers are either your relatives or...cows. Where the vast scenary that tickles your senses is lots of trees and...I mentioned trees, right? I drove down this evening and arrived at Lupe's doorstep about 9pm. A few things on the agenda: 1. Check out a hot sushi bar in Frenso (yes, there ARE some exciting things in Frenso) 2. Do some 'research' for future travel plans 3. Watch "Anchorman" and prepare to piss a kidney And you thought Visalia, CA. only had fields and grazing mammals. Well, it does...but we're making evil plots to paint the town.

posted by April @ 1:19 AM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Adventures in Scribbling - Thursday, July 08, 2004 My lack of mentioning artwork or drawing doesn't mean that I don't miss it. I've been busy with other projects, busy with work, busy with...life. I think I have a tendency to get a little cranky if I can't do some art; mainly because it's so calming for me. One of the many ultimate ways for Ape to relax and make the world go away. I also miss my Apolo cartoons, and am working behind the scenes to resurrect them to lurk the net once again. I was working, and in mid thought I got the bug to 'doodle'. I grabbed my nearest writing tool (a crappy pen, no doubt, on it's last inking leg) and my ink jet laser paper. Getting the urge to draw is crazy, since most of my artwork is fueled solely by inspiration. Eh, I can tell I'm a bit rusty, but I pumped out a retarded scribble nonetheless. Hmm....keep in mind this was a fast sketch - really fast. Didn't mean to make it look like water bottles have slipped down his skinsuit - yikes. I need to work on the shape, however believe it or not the thighs...they are that big. And Lord knows I wouldn't have those thighs any other way. *ahem* ok, anyway...back to the drawing board.

posted by April @ 10:00 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- San Jose, you say? - ...but you know I don't speak spanish!. It was quite alright, because 4th of July weekend was a 'devil of a good time'. The weekend went by so fast that it's all a blur now. The Double Tree hotel definitely proved itself in the "Get down, Get funky" department, with parties in the lobby every night after the Dancing competitions at the Tahiti Fete. It was great getting to know Molly's family and experiencing a little more about her culture. Let me just say that I was, hands down, the whitest samoan there. I'm Irish, what the hell do y'all expect...a tan? I try. Frankly, I think you're damn fortunate if you get some lucky charms and a claddah ring up your nose from me. I put up some of my photos on the cam for all to enjoy, ponder, or just plain confuse themselves with. Btw, this week is movin' faster than Apolo racing a Japanese bullet train, no?

posted by April @ 5:20 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- SushiCam does it again - Wednesday, July 07, 2004 I've said before how much I enjoy Jeff's website and blog, and his photographs are in a word - mind-blowing. Ok, that's two words. His photos for the day were super, but this one in particular made me laugh so hard. Maybe it's my enjoyment of Anime, or the fact that it's just friggin' hilarious. Check out this photo he took today... ...and read the caption at the bottom. I never see such clever and witty warning signs in the States. Japan, you know what's up ;)

posted by April @ 2:12 AM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Plumeria it is - Yes, I'm going back to my plumeria for this blog layout. I swear, this one stays...well, longer than the others anyway.

posted by April @ 12:52 AM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Tahiti Fete-tastic - Tuesday, July 06, 2004 Rolled into Sacramento about 10:15pm last night. The drive from San Jose wasn't bad at all. What a crazy July 4 weekend we had. I have some fun pictures I'll have to put up tonight. Thanks, Molla and Molla's mom for letting us join the festival. I have my kakui nut lei hanging on my car mirror! Lupes, we missed your se habla espanoling self after you left. And yes, I woke up this morning groggy and mumbling something about "6 or two for 10". *ugh* I don't wanna see another white russian as long as I live. But the white Zin, yeah, he can stay.

posted by April @ 4:04 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Details are not enough - Saturday, July 03, 2004 Yeah, as much as I love me some incredible, mind-blowing reviews - I need to see it for myself. I'm heading to San Jose in a bit for the Tahiti Fete. I'll let you know if Molly will keep her stellar record of Emmy-award winning reporting. And did anyone hear about this? That's it, I'm moving to Lowell, Massachusetts. Ok, maybe not. *cries*

posted by April @ 8:52 AM [[ 0 comments ]]

- As The Coffee Cup Turns - Thursday, July 01, 2004 I'm beginning to think that Colombia Supreme and Kenya isn't all they're brewing at Starbucks. Out and about in mid-regular route yesterday, I decided to take the laptop down to my SB and work. Now, I've been an irregular customer as of late which is odd, and apparently I'm not the only one that notices it. I order a 4-pump mocha frappacino, twice blended, lots of whip. I'm deeply engaged with my computer screen, and in walks Ednil. He scurrys to the back counter, with what looked like his work attire in one arm. I'm casually chatting back and forth with the other girls behind the counter, and Ednil is rushing around like a busy bee, yet stops at my table. "Hey April, how are you doing?" He's one of those people that just can't help but give you this certain, eh, look. As I looked up and answered there was already a cheesy grin on my face. Yikes...tell me that's not a dead giveaway. It was bloody hot as hell in Sac Town this afternoon, and at the tail end of my day I could hear the faint sounds of a Venti passion tea lemonade calling my name. Now, if someone calls me I'm not one to be rude, so I answered and ended up in SB's front door. The place must have just had a rush, because it was pretty empty. Just Danny and Nate behind the counter. I walk in and Danny turns his head from the coffee blender he was tending. "Hey Danny!" I said, probably in an overly chipper voice come to think of it. No joke, his face lit up like a christmas tree. "April! How are you? Hey, where have you been?" I walked up to the register and Nate leaned over the espresso machine to say hello. "Work's been keeping me busy, I know I've been a stranger lately." I told Nate I'll take a Venti Passon tea lemonade and if he could make it fast I would love him forever. He was busy getting it ready, and Danny fumbled his way to the register. Danny looks like your typical california boy, sandy blonde hair, blue eyes. He is inherently gushy and smilely, and he really resembles a german guy I had a crush on back in high school. "Oh, I'm so sorry about that, April. Now you ordered..?" I reiterated and breaking a weird pause I asked him... "So...how are you doing? Everything's going good?" "Well I'm doing good now! It's so good to see you! I've been askin' everybody here, 'where's April?'" If this boy is lookin' to earn brownie points with his sweet talk - well then he's doin' a damn good job. For a guy that never got my name right in the beginning, he's not only puttin' out the welcome mat but taking off my shoes as well. As I took my drink and left, I said my farewells, and Danny's eyes [and goofy grin] followed me out the door... "Have a great one, April!" Now, I'm not one to have the best self-esteem, so however strangely out of the ordinary his attention to me seemed, it was sweet. Who needs a soap opera when you've got your local SB? Where the 'question of the day' should be 'what did they put in the coffee this week?'.

posted by April @ 6:56 PM [[ 0 comments ]]