Another Saturday Night

and I ain't got nobody
I got some money 'cause I just got paid
And how I wish I had someone to talk to
I'm in an awful way

(My apologies to Sam Cooke an Cat Stevens.)

Tonight was NLTO Movie Night, and it was a special occasion. Ericka and Linda are moving to Northern VA to be closer to Ericka's job, and this was the last event they were to host. Yentl was this month's selection, because Julian likes it, and it's one of very few movies featuring FtM characters with a happy ending.

Alas, I couldn't get a ride. It's my own fault, really. I've known that Nate had to work all week. I should've put out the word that I was in need days ago, but I was so sure that if I called this afternoon, my friends would somehow come through. That's what I get for waiting.

So I stayed home. I surfed the internet for a bit. Commiserated with friends over the demise of Battlestar Galactica (though most of us did enjoy the series finale). I spent some time watching CSI: Miami reruns on cable, and was getting ready to pop Pineapple Express into the DVD player, when my phone rang.

I mentioned sometime before that I'm a hotel night auditor, I think. Last week they fired my relief, and until they hire another one, they've got various part-timers filling in. The girl who filled in last weekend is AWESOME. She did the work without a hitch. The dude they got to fill in this weekend is USELESS. He isn't really what I would call a properly trained auditor, but he can push buttons, and the audit here largely consists of button-pushing. He called me at about 2100 to say that he wasn't sure that he could come into work, and asked if I could cover for him. I told him, "No." Nate had the truck, so I couldn't come in. Plus, I'm already scheduled for 40 hours this week, and my employers HATE to pay out overtime, even when it's necessary. Especially when it's needful, because then they start bitching about, "Why did we need to pay so-and-so?" Plus, I was a little miffed still about not getting to go out. I didn't tell him to sod off, but I definitely told him I wasn't going to cover his shift.

Flash forward a couple of hours. Nate's home from work. I get the news that our uncle Gary passed away this morning. We have a late supper, and start settling in for the night. My phone rings again. It's my associate from the evening shift, calling to see if I'm coming in. Dude called off, and told the job I was going to cover for him, without clearing it with me. I'm out of makeup and back in drab, but I really don't want to go into work. My associate says that she's called both the Front Office Manager and the GM, and no one's answering their phone. Especially not Dude. I called her back in a few minutes and told her I was coming in.

I do need the money. As for management's attitude towards overtime, forgiveness is always easier to get than permission. I made a snap decision, and hopefully acted in the best interests of the company.

So here I am, at work. My "not mine" shift ends in an hour. I imagine my relief will be a little surprised to see me.