This is the part

[camwyn]

where I run through the hallways screaming 'no no no no no'.

Derrick my co-worker (yes, he spells his name like that, no, he is not a construction worker, no, he is not particularly tall nor is he gangly, no, he has nothing to do with oil, any more questions) came up to me just now with a piece of paper in his hand. "Camwyn," says he, "you like adventure, right? Wanna go on one?"

"What adventure? Where?" say I warily. I'm in the middle of adjusting a board member's record in the fundraising database and am assuming he means a fire in one of the uglier areas of Paterson or Newark, as it's well known I go on these things without fear.

"New Orleans," says Derrick.

AAAAAAGH. I think I set the record for use of the phrase 'I'm going to Canada' the most times in a two-minute time span in the course of my refusal. Interspersed with 'I already did my three weeks away from the chapter', of course, but the main thing weighing on my mind was I Am Going To Canada Dammit. They need our chapter's ERV down in the Isidore/Lili cleanup region and the DSHR (Disaster Services Human Resources) System mandates that at least two people have to go with each ERV, even if it gets reassigned when the driver checks in at the scene. It's known around the Chapter that I'm more than willing to accept dirty scutwork disaster assignments, whether it's computer related or puppeting at small kids or opening a storm shelter or whatever (dude, we're Red Cross, it's what we do), so I guess they figured I was a good one to ask.

I'm not going. I have my vacation coming. I did more than three weeks on the DSHR this year, first in Denver, then in Texas. The chapter's in an unhappy situation financially, like every other Red Cross unit across the country, and it would be grotesque of me to ask them to pay my salary for three weeks while I wasn't there. they only get reimbursed for my salary if I hold a DSHR rank of Specialist or better, and I have to take the DCO class for that. I might technically be ERV certified (I say technically because I haven't taken the mandatory defensive driving course yet, that's coming soon, I think) and I might be a DCO Tech verging on Specialist, but dammit - I can only ask so much of the Chapter, and even if I could ask anything, I'm going to Canada. I'm not giving up being foreign for a week, no matter how powerfully seductive the idea of 'sorry, can't take the midterm, I'm gonna be in New Orleans' might be.

*clutches Amtrak tickets tightly, retreats into corner until only glowing eyes can be seen* Precioussss....

Comments

[mephron]

Today's answer is "I'm sorry, I have vacation plans that would be difficult to cancel at this time. I'm sure someone else can help you with it."

Ther's also "IEEEE! MY SPLEEN!" (Which I like, as it takes so much out of their faces.)

[quintus.livejournal.com]

I thought about saying nothing... but figured I would anyway...

On getting as far as "Camwyn," says he, "you like adventure, right? my mind raced rapidly ahead and I expected to read on and discover some horrific tale involving you being shown the contents of someones 'gimp suit modelling' weekends. (*)

As opening conversational gambits go... it's a good one. Not as bad as "(insert co-workers' name here) likes dressing up at the weekends as well..." though.


(*) Not that I am casting aspersions on the redoubtable Derrick.

[camwyn]

Shaddap. I still have the power to insert modern legends into the PBEM. There's an awful lot of water out there and the Japanese have been very creative about stocking the ocean with the nightmare prospects of their collective unconscious.

*tries to hold a stern face*
*snickers*

[quintus.livejournal.com]

And as the giant reptiles jaws closed on them, the Void Engineer closed her eyes and repeated over and over "I am not being eaten by Godzilla... I am not being eate-"


Bad girl... Baaaad girl...

[lwood.livejournal.com]

"Camwyn," says he, "you like adventure, right? Wanna go on one?"

Woo, that's a candidate for the list of Famous Last Words, that is...

-- Lorrie

[goweli.livejournal.com]

I suppose it'd be bad to be the Devil's Advocate, and say that New Orleans is a neat place? Probably.

Have fun in Canada, Camwyn.

Sasha

[camwyn]

I fully intend that, when I eventually get around to dying, it will be utterly unexpected and the result of doing something that can only be classified as 'following up on famous last words'. Well, that or a meteor or lightning strike. And even the lightning strike will probably happen after I go outside and yell 'all gods are bastards!', as I've done that a few times and have yet to be struck.

I'm the idiot who runs towards the fire and volunteers to drive the truck through the flood. Of course it's gonna be Famous Last Words.

[mephron]

New Orleans after not one but two hurricanes have wandered nearby? I think that drops it out of the Fun Central running right there.

[camwyn]

I dunno. I found fun in flooded Texas (the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch) and some to a lesser degree in flooded La Crosse, Wisconsin (they had some nice bookstores and an inexplicable Giant Beef Cow on the roof of an insurance building). Hurricane-smacked New Orleans is probably still more fun, even if I was serving as Mass Care instead of DCO. But I've had my chance at disaster service for the year, and I paid for my train tickets already, so Og go Canada, not Big Easy.

[lwood.livejournal.com]

I love you. Marry me.

(Leaving aside that I'm already married and other issues...)

-- L

[camwyn]

Ah, sorry, cadhla already asked. Two or three times.

[lwood.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, it was her homicidal rage I was citing as another issue...

-- Lorrie