What to get in Adventures in paradise

Yesterday I awoke at 4am, and it was awesome because it meant I could actually enjoy an entire day off to do whatever I wanted. The previous day pretty much didn’t exist because I woke up at some ridiculous time, like 5pm or so and then felt really tired again by around 10pm, so I literally only witnessed around eight hours of the day. The perk of that though was waking up refreshed and ready to take on the world by waking so early the next morning!
Those other three hours or so were spent with my friend Theresa. She’d rang me and was at the gym, so I said I’d meet her after she was done. Trouble is, the gym wasn’t where I thought it was and I ended up way too far toward Southbank rather than North Quay, and had to backtrack when she sent me screenshots of directions to where her gym was. I swear they moved it!
Anyway, I’d literally just sat down when she walked out the door, so it was probably good timing (me getting lost) anyway. We ended up walking all the way down to the Milton Maccas and servo and just sitting inside chatting. She was bitching about the people she’s living with and I was pretty much just listening, telling her I agreed with her about how batshit-crazy they are and she needs to get out of there.

Theresa’s the sort of girl who can just talk and talk and talk, like complete motormouth. I was stunned to learn about a few of the issues going on in her life. I suppose the last time I really hung out with her was on our road-trip down to Nimbin earlier in the year, which was a bit of fun, mingling with the hippies and stoners all day.

So yeah, I got a fair bit done yesterday since I’d woken up so early, even though I’d only gotten home around maybe 1amish. Theresa was nice and dropped me home. How often does a girl drop me home?? :P
I had intended to catch a bus to Chermside to look for a birthday present for my best friend Moe, but, as expected, the usual Thursday text came through on my phone from my manager asking if I wanted to work.
God-dammit! Every. Single. Week.

I decided not to reply to it for a while, and get some sleep. It meant an 8pm til 1am shift, which I knew I would be a complete zombie by the time that rolled around, so I was of the mind that if I woke up on time, I’d go in, and if I slept in, I obviously wouldn’t go into work. So yeah, I didn’t reply until I was sure. I set the alarm on my phone (sure that I’d probably just shove it off and go back to sleep), but somehow I woke up before the alarm (ALWAYS happens when I know I have somewhere to be - still no idea HOW by body always does that, except that picnic that time I’d slept through). I then replied that I’d work, now that I’d rested a bit to be able to handle the shift.

It’s just as well. I get there and realise the poor 2IC was there all on her own. Another staff member had been called in also, so if both of us couldn’t work, the poor girl woulda had to complete the shift solo.
I dunno what the hell is going on with Thursdays at my work. They took off all the staff that DID work Thursdays and now it seems I just get called in to replace them every single week. Pretty sure I’ve been called in the past four or five Thursday nights, all of which I’ve done except one. The good thing is I don’t have to accept them, as I’m not casual, but I usually do. I’d already accepted an extended Monday shift and an extra Tuesday shift, so taking on tonight’s shift has almost doubled the hours I normally do in a week, which is nice, considering next week will be a non-rent week. I figure since I couldn’t go buy his present then, I’ll go and get it next week.

I’m still not sure what to do about his birthday party. Naturally he’s organised it on a Saturday night, when normal people have parties, but I work every single weekend evening, which totally blows for my social life. I was going to apply for leave for it off, but I noticed I have over 75 hours of sick pay, which might as well be used because you lose it if you don’t, and all of the other staff members don’t have an issue with using theirs (hence why I get called in so often, to cover their lazy asses), but I always hate the idea of using sick leave unless I’m actually sick. I just feel guilty. So the idea of potentially calling up sick on my mates birthday to use up 5 hours of that 75 hours is a little daunting, but it would make a lot more sense to use that up rather than have it taken from my annual leave, like I usually do.
I just figure noone else gives a damn, so I shouldn’t either. I might be able to use the runs as an excuse or something? I’m not very good at faking sickness over the phone. Maybe I can just say something’s come up?
Yeah, me wanting to party and drink with my bestie.
He’s very political, so I’ve already got him a gag gift I found on ebay, which is Tony Abbott toilet paper that says ‘Wipe that grin off his face’, so hopefully he finds that hilarious. I’ve got to get him a proper present yet however. We are the type of friends who put thought into our gifts to each other. I have some thinking to do before the party next weekend.