I think today’s been one of the best days I’ve had in a long time… But so damn tiring too! It’s barely dinnertime and I’m already dead-tired. But I guess if I’m gonna be exhausted, there are way worse reasons to be, huh?

It started out this morning at the restaurant. They finally finished installing all the appliances in our kitchen, and Victoria and I were like two kids in a candy store testing everything out. It was all so beautiful, at first we were both too afraid to risk dirtying anything. But once we got started trying it, we couldn’t stop!

I really went all-out with our appliances. Everything’s top of the line stuff — even better than what Greg and I stocked the old kitchen with. I’m totally dying for the chance to finally break it all in for real.

I still remember how excited I was before opening day the last time I did all this. It felt like all my hard work was finally gonna pay off… But I didn’t realize until way too late that all that work was wasted. I mean, I put so much of myself toward something that wasn’t really mine. And it sucked.

But this time, I’m doing things right. This is my vision. My DREAM. And three weeks from tomorrow, it’s finally happening.

As of today, construction’s officially finished. Plus we already have all our permits in order, all our deliveries are scheduled for the next couple months, and we start training our new staff on Monday. We’re so freaking close. It’s kinda killing me… But in the best way possible.

I guess a part of me is still scared shitless… But mostly, I just can’t wait. And days like today are when it starts hitting me that everything’s finally coming together. When I turned thirty last year, I kept telling myself this was gonna be like a new chapter in my life or something. And maybe I was right. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

And I’m not the only one starting a new chapter either.

After Victoria and I finished up at the restaurant, I headed downtown to help Hope unpack some of her stuff — all her boxes from San Myshuno finally arrived this morning. Nothing big, just little knick-knacks and pictures and stuff like that. But she had so much of it.

We had a lot of fun though. I made us some lunch, and we spent the afternoon hanging out and laughing together while we unpacked. It was pretty awesome, actually.

I know it wasn’t easy for her to move back after all this time, but I think this is gonna be really good for her. She’d been telling me for months about the trouble she was having with finding jobs back in San Myshuno… She was having a really rough time. And part of me had almost wanted to suggest she move back here when I first heard about it, to be honest. But I didn’t want it to be weird, y’know?

I’m just happy she was able to figure it out herself. I really missed her.

Anyway, I should probably wrap this up so I can shower and get ready. I’m picking Abigail up at seven for a movie… I know I complained about how tired I am, but we had SO much fun the other night (well, you know that already from how I went on and on about it, huh?) that I decided to call her up and ask her out again tonight… Kinda last minute, I guess. But luckily she was free!

Honestly this is the first time in months that I’ve been the one to suggest a second date. And we usually don’t make it past the second or third anyway — Most of the girls I’ve been seeing are just so fake, y’know? But Abigail really seems different. She’s so sweet and funny and down-to-earth… Cute as hell too.

Obviously it’s hard to tell much after only one date, but we’ve really been having a lot of fun together, and I can’t wait to see her again.

See what I mean? Today’s seriously been the best. I guess I can’t really tell if it’s the restaurant, or Hope, or Abigail… Maybe all three? Whatever it is, it’s amazing.

And it’s made me happier than I’ve felt in a really long time.

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Today is Father’s Day, but instead of making a sappy little Father’s Day card like last year, I instead thought we should all raise a glass to Zayne, for being the most sexually-responsible Rosebrook so far 😛 (Though I know some of you are growing impatient and wishing he was a little LESS responsible 😉 )