6:09 p.m.
AHall80: Guess we’re going without Max.
RubyMars: I’m sorry.
AHall80: It’s all right. I’m not going to not go just because he can’t. I can’t just take time off whenever.
RubyMars: I agree.
RubyMars: Still sorry though. I’m sure you’ll have a great time with Des and your other friend.
AHall80: Yeah, it’ll work.
RubyMars: :)
8:08 p.m.
AHall80: Leaving for the airport in a minute AHall80: Got a long drive AHall80: I’ve been trying not to be in a shit mood but failing at it
RubyMars: It’s okay. It isn’t uncalled for.
RubyMars: Have fun though and relax.
RubyMars: Send me pictures.
AHall80: All right I will
AHall80: Be safe, RC
RubyMars: You too.
June 19th
2:01 p.m.
AHall80: Hey
AHall80: I made it
RubyMars: Hey.
RubyMars: Did you have a decent flight?
AHall80: Two flights.
AHall80: They were good. We got to stretch out a little in economy since Max and his sister/friend couldn’t go.
RubyMars: That’s good. :) RubyMars: Did you get any sightseeing done today?
AHall80: A little. We saw something called Scott’s Monument and walked around this park. Went to some place called the Royal Mile and saw the castle from outside.
AHall80: The line to get in was too long, so we didn’t go.
RubyMars: Boo.
RubyMars: Besides that, everything sounds fun.
AHall80: The Internet at this hotel is too slow. I’ll send you pictures another day.
RubyMars: Your tour thing starts tomorrow?
AHall80: Yeah. 5 days.
RubyMars: Lucky.
AHall80: You all right?
RubyMars: Yes. Working.
RubyMars: Trying to work, you know what I mean. Making things I can’t sell yet. Trying to finish the jobs I have before I leave in a few weeks.
AHall80: You’ll sell them.
RubyMars: I like your optimism.
RubyMars: I’m acting like my sister, I’m sorry.
AHall80: What’s going on with your sister anyway?
RubyMars: She’s still hiding that she’s training. I don’t get why, but whatever. My mom is still paying her dues so she can skate even though “she isn’t” and we all know she’s a big, fat liar.
RubyMars: I don’t get it. I really don’t. But I still love her anyway.
AHall80: What don’t you get? Why she isn’t skating?
RubyMars: Yes. She doesn’t get it. She doesn’t remember how tight money was for a while with the rest of us. My mom wouldn’t have been able to afford putting the rest of us into any kind of lessons, but by the time Jazz wanted to skate, my older brother and sister were already out of the house, that’s the only reason why she could. She doesn’t get how lucky she is. I tried telling her once a couple years ago, but she didn’t get it.
RubyMars: One Christmas, I asked my mom for roller skates and she couldn’t buy them for me because she didn’t have the money and didn’t want to ask my dad to buy them.
RubyMars: Jazz doesn’t know about any of that.
RubyMars: After my heart thing, there was a while where my mom wouldn’t let me participate in my school’s field day. I was the only kid who couldn’t. She doesn’t get how lucky she is. I love her so much, and usually we get along really well when she has time to hang out, but sometimes she drives me crazy with how self-centered she can be.
RubyMars: That was longer than I thought. I guess it bothers me more than I think it does. Sorry.
AHall80: I’m sorry, Ru.
AHall80: I get why that would piss you off.
AHall80: Tell her.
RubyMars: Maybe.
RubyMars: :) RubyMars: Changing the subject. Have you gotten any sleep?
AHall80: Yeah, it’s been easier than when I was back home. The time zones aren’t so different.
RubyMars: Good. Are you sharing a room with someone?
AHall80: Nah. I was supposed to with Des, but since Max isn’t here, I got my own and Des gets the room the girls were supposed to share.
RubyMars: I know it sucks, but that is nice.
AHall80: Yeah
AHall80: Trying not to be a shit about it
RubyMars: Too late. :) AHall80: Har har
AHall80: I’m going to bed. Msg you again when I can.
RubyMars: Okay, have fun, stalker.
AHall80: Night, Rubes.
June 20th
3:15 p.m.
AHall80: What are you up to?
RubyMars: Hi stranger.
RubyMars: Just finished arguing with my sister.
RubyMars: No biggie.
AHall80: With your little sister?
RubyMars: Yes.
RubyMars: My big sister is sane.
AHall80: What happened?
RubyMars: We were eating lunch when she started complaining about how much she hates her job and is so tired of everything. Literally, everything. She complained about how hard her mattress is and how she’s hoping to talk my mom into buying her a new one. I think that’s what drove me the most crazy.
AHall80: Keep going RubyMars: So I told her that her mattress is newer than mine and how if she wants a new one she should just save up money at her “shitty job that pays her $10.50 an hour” and buy another one because it isn’t like she pays rent or insurance or anything.
RubyMars: It was like another person was using my mouth to talk to her, Aaron. I’ve never talked to my sister like that. I don’t think I’ve ever talked to anyone like that.
AHall80: For real?
RubyMars: For real. She got so pissed after the shock wore off. She said I don’t understand what she goes through and how her life isn’t as easy as everyone thinks it is. I don’t think her life is easy. I know how hard she works. So then we started arguing about that.
RubyMars: Then, I told her she needed to quit acting like a brat and either get back on the ice or not so Mom wouldn’t keep paying for her coach if she didn’t have to. I know I got to her because all she did was look at me and storm out.
RubyMars: I feel bad for saying all that, but not really.
RubyMars: My stomach hurt and I sweated a whole bunch the entire time. That was the meanest thing I’ve ever done.
AHall80: That wasn’t mean. That was tough love. She needed to hear it from somebody.
RubyMars: Thank you for telling me that. I still feel bad.
AHall80: Don’t.
AHall80: I’m proud of you. That took guts.
RubyMars: It did.
RubyMars: :) AHall80: When I first started getting promoted, it was hard for me to be tough on these guys that I’d known who weren’t moving up. I didn’t know how to treat them or act because I didn’t want to step on their toes. At the end of the day, you know you got to get things done even if you’re pissing somebody off. You just figure it out with time. Sometimes you have to stop and finally make your point… like you did with your aunt.
RubyMars: What you’re trying to say is that you’re bossy now?
AHall80: I’m used to people listening to me.
RubyMars: That sounds about right. :) AHall80: ….
RubyMars: Have you always been bossy?
AHall80: When I know what I want and think I can do it better than someone else.
RubyMars: I’ll take that as a yes.
RubyMars: I’m not. We balance each other out. It isn’t a bad thing.
AHall80: You’re bossy when you want to be.
RubyMars: Sometimes, but it’s rare.
AHall80: Sure
RubyMars: Like you said, when I know what I want.
AHall80: And in the middle of the night when you’re in a mood.
RubyMars: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
AHall80: Sure
RubyMars: ….
RubyMars: I’m logging off now.
AHall80: Lol
RubyMars: How was your day? What’d you do?
AHall80: Got picked up early for the tour. We stopped in a town called Dunkeld, I think it was called, stopped in an old pine forest, walked around a loch… that’s what they call a lake… with some old castle in the middle of it. Checked out Loch Ness, and we’re staying in this town called Ullapool for two nights.
RubyMars: You went to Loch Ness????
AHall80: Yeah, the water is so dark, it looks like coffee.
RubyMars: Jealous.
AHall80: You’d love it.
RubyMars: :) Now you have to live your life for me too, mister.
RubyMars: I wouldn’t be doing my own thing if it wasn’t for you, so I’m doing my part living my life for you too.
AHall80: :]
RubyMars: Thank you for being such a good friend to me.
AHall80: :]