June 17th - Elena

So I went into my job today not really knowing what to expect. My first impressions of the bookstore had been that it was a pretty relaxed atmosphere and since it is locally owned there arent’ a lot of stupid corporation rules to follow (*cough* HASTINGS! *cough*).

I get to work and a guy named Leo is responsible for training me. I had met this Leo fellow a few times before. I think it’s due in part to his recommendation that i got this job. Anyways, the pattern for the afternoon went a little something like this….

Few serious moments of training

Half hour of talking about what brought us to Boston, our respective eduations and ages and growing up in the Midwest

Few serious moments of training

Half hour of talking about religion, race and fellow co-workers

Few serious moments of training

Hour of laughing internally at Leo and one of his friends’ conversations

Boss lady came in and we did work.

I think I’ll like this job. Seems easy enough.

Now I will leave you with a few quotes between Leo and his friend.

Leo: “So where you moving?”

Friend: “Not sure, I’m still thinking about squatting somewhere.”

Leo: “Seriously? Let me know! I am in! And I know a few other people who are interested to. All I need is a laptop and change of clothes and I’m set.”

Then they proceeded to discuss how they would bathe once a week and live off the land…which brings me to…

Friend: “I’ve decided I’m going to stop buying meat. Seriously, there is an overabundance of food running around that we don’t take advantage of. Squirrel…rats…mice. “

Me: “Uh…I have a mouse in my apartment.”

Friend: “SWEET! Catch it and I will roast it on a tiny spit and EAT IT!”

Me: “…………….”

And another…

Friend: “I don’t know who I am or what I’m doing. I mean, DANG man – when I was little all I wanted to do is get all kinds of guns and *BOOM BOOM RAKKATA RAKKATA POW POW people all day. But now I’m a hippie who’s all about peace and love and can’t stand the idea of hurting someone. What HAPPENED man?”June

And lastly…

Friend: “You know when you exercise you’re just tearing your muscles up right?” (Goes on this huge anti-lifting weights hardcore exercise rant then drops down out of sight).

Leo: “Dude? DUDE!”

Friend: (Pops up outta nowhere) “Oh hey man whats up?”

Leo: “Uhhhh what were you doing?”

Friend: “Pushups”

Oh man, I must be so starved for human companionship (not that my sister isn’t excellent company) that I find these guys halarious. I love random people.

AND as if this post isn’t random enough – I was giving Leo my address so he could put me in the system and he stops and goes, “um, who is your room mate?” I point to my sister. Turns out he knew the people who lived in the apartment before us. It’s a small world, even in Boston.

In honor of my cousin Josh McGinn everyone should check out this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeQ-wjDH4F4

He’s going to Istanbul, Turkey to study for the summer. I hope he remembers it’s not Constantinople anymore.