Birthday Favors Are Complete!

Well, yesterday we went into Edmonton to get Shawn Hardings tattoo done. This time, our trip ends in success.
Stephanie, Shawn, me and Jamie, we all went together. I made SURE to fill up my gas tank the day before, and a Jerry-Can, since gas is supposed to be going up to a whopping $1.50 per litre in Alberta for the long weekend. I saved a bit by getting it when it was cheap [Cries...] at ONLY $1.27 a litre.

This time I kinda knew the route to get to the tattoo parlour, so we went as fast as we could. Despite my wishes at going a little earlier than normal, they chose to go at JUST THE RIGHT TIME, where we would end up with mere minutes to make the final strecth in city to make it there on time.
We had maybe two minutes to get there, and as we entered, found out the artist was on his lunch break anyway, and would have a slight delay before working on Shawn.

Well, nobody wanted to sit in my scorching truck on that plus 30 degree day, nor could we stay in the tiny lobby at the tattoo joint, so we decided to leave Shawn there to get his work done. Both girls wanted to go shopping at Kingsway Mall.
We said goodbye to him, not having to pay for the tattoo until the work was finished. Jamie and him made sure they could communicate by cell-phone, and made sure their numbers added up.

So, the girls and I decided to do a little shopping then. The mall was only a couple of blocks away, so it wasn't too hard to get to.
For the first hour, oh my god... The girls looked at shoes, dresses, tops... Here I am, torn. Some of the outfits looked HOT. But I don't like to go shopping, especially with Stephanie. She'll get this mental image of what she wants and likes, but she won't share the details. You just trail along as she hmmms' and hahs', and try to offer suggestions. However, all of my suggestions are 'hideous' or 'ugly'. If I say nothing at all, I get yelled at for not helping her pick out outfits. What the hell?! [Throws his arms up in exasperation.]
Jamie is looking for outfit pieces for a wedding that she has to go to this summer, so for her, at least I can get a picture in my head.

We entered three swim-suit stores... [Drool...]
There are things in it that make my head spin, and my girls were looking at them! I suggested that if they wanted to look really hot, they should get that swimsuit that has a cute mini-skirt thing on the bikini bottom. They gave it a curious side-glance with a smile, then we moved on.

We entered all types of shoppes, but a few stand out. The comic book/hobby/anime store was one of them. Inside the girls immediately went to the costume side, so they could find cos-play accessories for an animethon that they both are going to this summer. Steph didn't find much for herself, as she and Jamie have to actually modify clothing and MAKE her costume, but Jamie found something for hers instead. She got a handgun holster, that can fit on either your waist or leg. Very cool, she's going to borrow my realistic soft-air handgun when she goes.
We entered a pet store, and there it was, a puppy that I fell in love with. $1200 for a puppy! O_o
Found out Jamie and Steph want to touch a snake one day. Heh, I forgot to tell them that as a kid I went to the zoos all the time, and touched all manner or creatures. (Appropriately, of course...)
Passed by the love boutique... >_>

After a bunch of shopping, Jamie got her call from Shawn, so we made our way back through hellish big-city traffic, and arrived. Turns out that tattoos can only be paid for in cash. I didn't have any cash on me, neither did Jamie.
The closest ATM machine was across an intersection (or so we thought), so Jamie left us. I remembered inside my head that many ATM's only spit out $200 tops, so I tried to find one. The guys inside said there was an ATM just next door in the chinese food place, so I went in there, and pulled out the $250 to cover Shawn's tattoo, just in case. I mean, if Jamie could only pull out $200 from hers, I could make up the difference.
Jamie was taking too long, and the owner guy was getting mad that we didn't have the money, so I just paid it all up front, then Shawn and I skedaddled out of that store.
We were getting into the truck, and Jamie was crossing the street, a furious look on her face. She angrily said, 'What the hell!?', in regards to why we were outside, ready to go. She was upset, since she wanted to pay. I told her I just had to pay inside, so we could go, and that Jamie could pay me back out here. A little fury remained, and didn't go away, until she forked over what I had paid. She was 10 bucks short though, but I didn't say anything. $240 is $20s' is close enough.
After a bit of driving, she cooled off a lot. I think the heat of the day, the stress of getting things done on time, the fact that this should have been done two weeks ago, was all adding up. It's over now babe, it's cool. Let's head on home...

Nope. Jamie wanted a Burger King, and there's, what, maybe two in all of Edmonton. Trouble is, nobody knows where one is. I drove around, letting instincts guide me. When I used to work with her dad, I seemed to recall an area of town with a great selection of fast food places. So, we went for a drive.
I'm all happy because I bought the movie 'The Lost Boys' on DVD, and a few CDs, from an HMV store in the mall. Jamie bought some tunes as well I think.
We eventually get there, and I said that I hate drive-thru (and it's true), so we went inside, to enjoy air conditioning.
I had never been to a Burger King before, so it was new to me. I had my virgin Whopper for the very first time. Hey, I liked it. O_o
All three of those yahoos got those little card-board crowns to wear. I chose not to. Silly little things... >_>
Shawn kept showing off his tattoo, and it looks good by the way, but I was getting a little annoyed from the whole trip experience. I mean, no offence to Shawn or anything, but everyone's been catering him to make his birthday special. And since his tattoo thing has been delayed, the special treatment has been stretched out.
See, last trip we all made, Shawn Hale was our driver. He was courteous enough to drive Jamie, me, himself, and Harding out for dinners and stuff. We all like Jamie, as more than a friend, but since it was Shawns birthday, we 'catered' to him, and said nothing when he dominated Jamie's attention and time. Harding alos doesn't always seem to realize how far we're bending over for him. We were driving, playing some good tunes, to distract the fact that Jamie was being monoploized by him in the back seat. Shawn in the back was annoyed by the tunage, and TOLD the driver, big Shawn, to turn his own stereo down. Big Shawn needed directions on where to go next, and asked the two in the back. Shawn in the back wasn't stopping his non-stop conversations, so he felt he was rudely interupted. Hey, we were in an intersection, and needed to know where to go.
Me, I've had to top up my gas tank for these trips twice now, for the tatoo and all. It ain't cheap. Plus the time I spend, and the annoyance and danger of city driving. How much it hurts me to see Jamie become monopolized by another man... The fact that the trip had nothing good in it for me, and that the entire weekend(s) were catered around him instead. It's hard man, really hard, to put up with the fact that the woman I'm in love with is doing extra special favors for my rival/friend. Plus, she's planning on going to his house for the night, staying up late and playing games, giggling, making sexual innuendo...
There's a limit on how much I can take. When I start viewing my friend with envy/contempt/hurt, then it's time for me to retreat and leave the room.

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Last night, after Jamie and Shawn left, I took Stephanie with me to go to a seasonal outside icecream place, called 'Millers Icecream'. She lazily rode her bike beside me, and off we went. I bought a scoop of bubblegum, topped with a scoop of tiger icecream, all on a waffle cone. She got a chocolate kahlua rush thing, on a waffle cone. 11 bucks! O_o Ah well, totally worth it.
We lazily walked/rode back home, taking the long way back, down some back sidewalks and stuff. I love lazy evenings, with the heavy summer air turning into a cool breeze now and then, the smell of the trees and grass...
We made it home, where I met one of my mums new friends. Another Michelle, a very young mom with two kids. She is CUTE! ^_^ But not my type.
I gave my mum a nice, long foot rub, before she went to bed. The heat in our house, I don't know if she'll be able to sleep at nights any more. It's even warm in the basement.
After that, I was alone with Stephanie, so I gave her a bunch of rub-downs too. Started on her feet and legs, working my way up. I was on her inner thighs when I was interupted. Shawn and Jamie arrived. I guess they changed their plans to play games at Shawns' dads' house to play at our house instead. So whatever. Steph and I were watching a movie, so they had to wait until we finished.
I put Steph on the floor, and did her back and shoulders next. Did the back of her legs, swatted her bum, and told her I was done when the movie was over.
I went downstairs, and at 2am, Rinni, my Australian friend, had a nice long talk with me.

So, it is now Sunday morning. I have morning wood that will NOT go away, and it's pissing me off. I can feel the heat outside, it's humid today, not dry. Ugh, it's like those long, lazy summer days of my younger days, the kind of hot, lazy days that usually end up in trouble, like sneaking around and having secret sex with the neighbour girls.

I'll update in a bit. Gonna try to veg out by playing War-Crack. Later folks.