Category: Diary

This diary entry is part 3 of 29 in Lily's diary dated 12 - June 2022

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

LILY!!!!!! The Marie Wrangler!!!  Tamer of Beths!  Annoyer of Sabbys!  Lover of Jack!!!  Well… ummm…

So I looked up the Texas code last night, and…. well, it’s not just the owner.  I can’t sell alcohol.  At all.  I guess that’s why he needs to take care of that transaction.  Not that I mind.  Less work for me! But as it turns out, there are no restrictions for how many hours a 16 or 17 year old can work…  as long as we’re not doing any prohibited activities.  Sabby doesn’t want me working more than around 40 hours, though, so that’s that.

But one of those prohibited activities is, I can’t use powered bakery machines.

I can’t help Sabby make cookies in her company.

Awwwww.

But actually, I had an idea. A great idea.  I won’t tell you right now because someone might steal the idea and then it won’t be a good idea anymore!!!  But Sabby loved it – though she told me that if we do it, we’re hiring someone.  I kind of agreed.  But no more clues!!!

OMG it’s a good idea!!!

In fact, Dave loved the idea so much that he wants to invest now!!!  He’s going to build Sabby a kitchen in the backyard!!!  OMG!!!  It’ll be up to code and perfect for making lots and lots of cookies!!! And considering what she can do with one small oven…

And he can start whether or not my trust administrator says yes!!!  He has a company, after all!!  And if he wants to eat the cost of materials and labor, well, he can do that!

But if my trust administrator says yes we can ramp up all the quicker!!!

OMG this might be happening!!!

Oh, we heard from David today.  He’s not, well, a happy camper.  The counselors called Sabby and told her he’s… well… not misbehaving, but not cooperating.  They took everyone on a nature hike, and he refused to go.  Just straight up refused.  I mean, Beth levels of refusal.  They said if he doesn’t go then he’s got latrine duty, and he just crossed his arms and said “bring it”.

Well…  what a time to pick to grow a spine.

So the counselor just slung him over her shoulder and dragged him along anyway.

That…  turned out to be a bad idea.

She has a sore back, and he just turned into a lump – you know, like the protesters did back in the 60s?  I mean, who taught him that???

I guess I gotta actually admire the kid.  When they got back, the counselors called Sabby, and she lit into him.  She went all Claire Huxtable on him and said “We spent a lot of money on that camp, the least you can do is pretend to enjoy it.”  I didn’t hear what he said, but Sabby turned red,, and that’s quite an accomplishment for a woman with her complexion.  She then yelled “David Alexander Smith, if I hear one more peep out of the counselors about you not cooperating I will drive up there myself, I will take you over my knee in front of all of your fellow campers, and I will tan your hide.  You don’t have to like it.  I can’t force you to like it.  But you are going to cooperate.  If they want you to go on a hike, you will go on a hike.  If they want you to clean the toilets, you will clean the toilets.  You will do anything they tell you that is not one of the things we discussed earlier.  Do you understand?  Or do I have to come up there and make good on my threat?”

I guess he knew when to pick his battles.

It’s funny, because he backed down.  Beth wouldn’t have.  Beth would have told her to bring it, waited for Sabby to arrive, and dared Sabby to make good on her threat.  I’m… not sure Sabby would.  But… I’m not sure she wouldn’t, either.  They’ve almost come to blows and Dave had to step in.  And that’s probably why David backed down.

Anyway, Liz is over tonight.  Time for bed.

Love you all!!! ❤

This diary entry is part 2 of 29 in Lily's diary dated 12 - June 2022

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

So today I talked to the trust administrator.  I told him that I wanted to be an investor in Sabby’s business.

He didn’t say no.  But boy, did he not say yes, either.

He takes his job very seriously, I mean very seriously.  And that’s good!  I mean, it’s not his money, it’s my money, and his job is to make sure I don’t spend it stupidly.  He said he’d need to see a business plan and talk to some underwriters and meet Sabby and all sorts of other fun stuff.  But he said if it all checked out and I understand the risks he’d give it the green light.  He also said that it very likely would not all check out and she’d better have a killer business plan because he’s inclined to say no.

Fair enough.

So I talked to Sabby.  I told her I wanted to invest a sizable amount into her business.

Her first reaction was “hell no”!  She kind of went Claire Huxtable on me.  But this time I told her to sit down and shut up and let me talk first.  She was…. shocked enough that she did just that.  I told her that she told me not to give away money and that I understood and that I was not giving away money.  I told her that I wanted a (not small) share of her company and that I was not going to be a silent partner.  I told her that I love her and I love her cookies and that I want to see her succeed, and everyone else loves her cookies too and I know a good thing when I see it.  I said that I know I’m sixteen and that I wasn’t going to throw my weight around or anything like that, and that I have a lot to learn, but my trust administrators know people and I think we can make this work.

When I stopped talking, I was a little worried, but she didn’t speak for a while.  All sorts of emotions were warring on her face – anger, thoughtfulness, concern – then she finally spoke.

“How much do you want to invest?”

“A hundred grand.”

“A…  what?”

“A hundred grand.  That should be enough to get started, at least – or at least a very good start, and you’ve already got a customer.  The owner where I work is chomping at the bit to be able to sell your cookies, and he’s got several locations.  And if you can get similar financing, that’s 200 grand or more, and should be plenty to lease a storefront and get cracking.  Don’t you think?”

“I don’t really like it,” she said.  “You could lose everything.”

“So could you,” I said.  “I know you’re not rich, but Dave’s got a successful business and knows people.  Your cookies sell themselves, Sabby!  All you have to do is let them taste your cookies and they’re hooked.”

Sabby sighed.

“Give me your business plan and a tin of cookies,” I said.  “I’ll send them to my trust administrator.  He gets to decide, and he’s more business savvy than I am.  If he says yes, it’s not just me, and he already said he was inclined to say no but he’ll give you a fair shake.  Just… let me try.”  I grinned.  “He hasn’t tasted your cookies.”

Sabby grumbled something about impertinent teenagers with too much money.

“I’ll call my lawyer,” she said, “And we’ll draw up incorporation papers.  We’ll need an LLC set up to have a place to put whatever money anyway, and I’ve been procrastinating.  I’ll have a business plan in a week or two.”  She grinned.  “Want to be CEO, COO, or…?”

I laughed.  “How about…  we don’t worry about titles?  You can be the Chief Sabby and I’ll be the Chief Lily?”

“First lesson, Lily.  A corporation needs officers.  There has to be a Chairman, a CEO, a COO, and a treasurer.  Quite honestly, having you onboard might tank any chance of institutional financing, but you’re right about Dave, he’s got contacts and I didn’t think about that.  I’ll ask him who he knows that might be interested in investing.”

“Have you thought of a name?”

“I was thinking Sabby’s Cookies.”

I giggled.  “Let’s think on that.”

“What, you don’t like Sabby’s Cookies?”

“We need a name that shows how good they are!!!  Sabby’s Heavenly Goodies?”

She sighed.  “I hate it when you’re right.  Maybe not that, but it’s better than mine.  We’ll talk to the lawyer soon.  I have cookies to bake.”

I giggled.  Sabby thought I was a good investment two years ago.  Now, it’s time to return the favor.

Love you all!!! ❤

This diary entry is part 1 of 29 in Lily's diary dated 12 - June 2022

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

It’s June!  Can you believe it???  Lily Day is a month away!!!  The one year anniversary of this diary is a month away!!!  Should I do something special?  What can I do special?  I don’t know.  I’m just a girl.

So…  summer is kind of boring.  Going to work, working, coming home, eating dinner, practicing piano and studying Japanese, and going to bed.  It’s nice to not have to go to school… but is this better?

Speaking of school, Sabby’s been looking at private schools.  She wants me to go with her on a tour of a few one afternoon soon.  I still don’t know how to feel about it.  I kind of like the idea… but is it too late?  I don’t know.  And there’s no way to get a transcript.  I guess I’ll have to take tests, if they allow it.

And…  and she’s still working on getting financing to open her business!!!  I wonder if I can invest.  It’s not giving money, right?  It’s investing money.  It’s different!  I mean, everyone who tries her cookies loves them.  Maybe I’ll talk to my trust administrator and see if I can get in on the ground floor.  I have enough to put in a sizable investment.

Sabby taught me too well.  Haha!!

But business does make things awkward.  We’ll see.  I haven’t run this past her yet, and knowing Sabby…

Anyway.  I gotta go.  Marie needs walked.  She is always sooo happy to see me when I get home!!

Love you all!!! ❤

This diary entry is part 30 of 30 in Lily's diary dated 11 - May 2022

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

More work today.  Everyone was coming home from the holiday.  The people who come in during the weekdays are sooo different than the people on weekends.  You got folks in business suits or skirts and heels coming in to pick up a breakfast sandwich on the way to work, or a snack for lunch.  They’re not as leisurely as weekend folks, they just want to get their stuff and go.  Can’t blame them, I guess.  But woe to any karen who crosses them!!!  I heard “lady, just let it go, I have somewhere to be” today at least once.

Of course the karens don’t care – to a point.  When there’s a line of people behind you telling you loudly to shut up and drop it, even karens sometimes wilt under that kind of pressure.

I can never work by myself either because I’m sixteen.  That means I can’t sell alcohol or cigarettes.  I mean, I don’t know if it’s legal or not, but the owner doesn’t allow it, and as much as he likes me, he doesn’t trust anyone under 21 to not buy stuff for their friends – and that could get him into serious trouble.  So I’d rather just let him handle it.  Usually he’s there when I am, and while I’m doot dooting he’s in the office doing office stuff, or unpacking pallets, or whatever he has to do.  He says he likes me up front because I’m a pretty face and pretty faces sell more.  No, silly billies, he doesn’t say it creepily and he treats me fine.  It’s all business, and he’s right.

Sometimes his wife comes in to help too.  She’s a nice older Indian lady.  She’ll bring Indian food for lunch and lets us eat some too.  It’s nice of her!  I pay it back by bringing extra Sabby cookies when she gets on a tear, and as I said, those are popular.  In fact, they’re so popular that people are extra nice so I don’t cut off their supply.  LOL!!!

I saw a car at the pumps today that made me laugh sooo hard!  It had a bunch of bumper stickers, and the Japanese word フックオフ.  I won’t tell you what it means, and it’s misspelled anyway (should be オーフ).  But I laughed sooo hard!!!  It’s almost as funny as if someone had put ざけんなよ.  Hehehe!!!

So David update: he is NOT having a good time.  He called the night he got there, pretty much crying.  Apparently he mouthed off to one of the counselors and he had to help do the dishes for the whole camp!  Sabby just said “good, I’m sure you deserved it.  Don’t come crying to me unless you’re actually hurt.”  Sounds like it might be a good place for him.

So Marie needs walked, Beth needs brushed, and sleep needs… sleeped.  Bye!

Love you all!!! ❤

This diary entry is part 29 of 30 in Lily's diary dated 11 - May 2022

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

Today I worked!

I didn’t do much else!

I went to work in the morning after my run and shower, and came home this evening.  I’m not sure I much like it.  I think I’d rather have fun and go to the mall and the waterpark!  But working is important, I guess.  I need to be able to afford gas, especially now!  And today was Memorial Day, so again, lots of people came around to buy horrifically unhealthy but admittedly pretty tasty food.

And they do have lots of chocolate.

So I came home just in time for dinner, and as usual Sabby made something delicious.  Beth can’t seem to make up her mind if she’s jealous that I’m working or feels sorry for me.  I mean, she likes to go shopping and have money, but she can’t really work yet until she’s sixteen.  There’s this Pita place over near the 45 and 35 interchange where they seem to hire only teenagers, so I suggested she apply there when she’s old enough.  Or HEB.  HEB seems to be a good first place to work.  I don’t know, though.  I like where I work.  For now, anyway.

Marie missed me when I came home!  After dinner I took her for a nice long walk, and she loves walks!  She sniffs everything!

Anyway, quiet day.  Not much to talk about.  The Japan trip is coming up soon!  In about a month, give or take.  Emiko and I are talking a lot more trying to get the details down.  I think Jack’s a little jealous, but he’ll deal.  If he wants to come with me to Japan, he has to put a ring on me.  Haha!!

Besides, I also see him in a while, too!  Yay!!!  I miss him soo much.  I mean, we video call but it’s not the same.  Grace’s dog is really growing up, though!  She named it Lily!  Awwwww!!!!!!

Lots of stuff happening this summer, but kinda spaced out, but it’ll be so much fun!  I hope I get to go to the waterpark too a couple of times!!!

Love you all!!! ❤

This diary entry is part 28 of 30 in Lily's diary dated 11 - May 2022

Hi! It’s me!  Lily!

David went to camp today!!!

I was working so I wasn’t there to see him off, but the camp is out in east Texas, so Dave’s driving him.  He wasn’t happy last night, but oh well.  I guess we all have to do things we don’t want, especially when you’re ten.

Maybe he’ll come back a little better version of himself.  He’s got a lot of potential, but lessons just don’t seem to stick for some reason.

Holidays are busy at work!  Since I work at a convenience store off 35 (I can tell you that now!) there’s all sorts of people on the way north or south wanting horrifically unhealthy food or horrifically overpriced gas or…  well, the bathrooms are clean, so nothing horrific there.  But there are all sorts of people coming and going.  One lady came in wearing a mesh dress, and not much else.  Really?  Oh well, people gonna people.  The holidays where the karens are the worst are the ones where there are lots of expectations, like Christmas – Memorial Day is pretty chill, considering.  Not to say I didn’t run into a couple.  I actually found a way of dealing with them that the owner’s started using too.  when they start raising their voice, I just say in the most sincerely caring voice I can muster, “do you need a hug?”  They either don’t know how to respond, get madder, or… actually need a hug.  When it works, it really works.  When it doesn’t, it’s back to the tried and true karen management techniques.

I’ll be working shifts on weekdays from now on.  I’ve never done that before.  I wonder what it’ll be like.  maybe some weekends too, but that was a compromise so I can take time off for vacations.  I mean, after all, I’m young and it’s summer!  Owner seems to understand that all too well.

Doesn’t hurt that sometimes I bring him Sabby’s cookies.  Oh, did I tell you?  He loves them.  He told me if she starts making them commercially he’ll be the first customer!  She’s working on a business plan to get financing now, but I can’t say much more until that goes through, so…  wish her luck.

Off to bed.  I’m a working stiff tomorrow!!!

Love you all!!! ❤

This diary entry is part 27 of 30 in Lily's diary dated 11 - May 2022

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

We went to that space today for a bit of a party!  It was fun!!!  They had lots of food, and lots of things to see!  They have a room with woodworking stuff (Dave loved that!), and a room with laser machines to cut stuff.  And an electronics room too, kind of like the lab Dave built for us!!!  The Tinkerer guy was there too and he showed us a cool thing he made with lots of LEDs and a Pi!!!  YAAAAYYY!!!  I want to make something cool like that!!!

No one ate the cake though, it was the weirdest thing.

Anyway, then we went to the store and got stuff for a picnic, and… well… went and had a picnic!  Dave grilled and it was delicious!!!  It always is!  Then we played frisbee and ran around with Marie!  Marie loved it!  She’s such a silly pup!!!

I…  don’t really understand Memorial Day.  Some people seem to treat it as a solemn day, and others as an excuse to picnic or a day off.  Maybe it is solemn.  But didn’t the people who died, die so we could have picnics and have fun?  Wouldn’t they want that for us?  Maybe not.  I don’t know.  I don’t understand war.  It seems so stupid.

But at least they died for something they believed in.  Maybe.  Dave was telling us that back in WWII and Vietnam they drafted people.  So maybe they didn’t die for what they believed in.  Maybe they just died.

Either way, I think maybe they’d want us to have fun.  Isn’t that one way that their deaths weren’t in vain?  Us having fun and… being American instead of whatever we’d be otherwise?

Well, military guys who died, it’s nice to have fun.  Maybe I get to have fun because of you.  So maybe that’s something to be happy about as you look out from wherever it is people go when they die.

Come on, I’m sixteen.  It’s not like I’m some kind of expert on these kinds of things..

Love you all!!! ❤

This diary entry is part 26 of 30 in Lily's diary dated 11 - May 2022

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

And I learned about a THIRD WATERPARK!!!

OMG!!!

So I told my subscribers this a while ago, but I live in a town in Texas called Round Rock.  It’s a suburb of Austin, with about, umm…  120,000 people now?  It’s a nice little community.  You might have seen the tornado that hit us last month on the news, I wrote about it!  That’s how I met Diana!  But I kind of have to tell you because… WATERPARKS!!!

There’s, umm.. the Kalahari waterpark over near the Dell Diamond… there’s the Typhoon Texas over in Pflugerville (Pflugerville!  Hah!  What a silly name!!!), and I just found out about a third one near Old Settler’s Park!!!  There are waterparks everywhere!!!  The Kalahari is the third largest in the country, and it’s the one we’ve been going to, because it’s an indoor park!!!  It’s open year round!  The Typhoon Texas doesn’t open till tomorrow!!! I can’t keep saying “the waterpark” when there’s like three now!!!

I LOVE THE WATERPARK!!!!!  Well, as long as I keep my top.  hahah!!!

I think there might be some in Austin too.  I don’t know.  But they’re all clustered around me!  Round Rock has all the best stuff nearby!  We’ve got the baseball team!  We’ve got the waterparks!  We’ve got the Ikea (OMG I love the meatballs!!!) – well, Georgetown does but it’s close!! There’s a mall just down the tollway!!!  It’s such a nice place to live!!!

Except Sabby tells me it’s getting really, really expensive to have a house here.  Boo!!!

But the Austin area is really growing, with lots of new towers!  That’s why Dave’s still doing well!  Structural engineers are needed for thousand foot towers!!!  I hear he’s working on that big “supertall” they’re just starting work on downtown!!!

I didn’t want to tell you where I lived because some of you are silly-billies, but it’s hard to talk about things when I can’t talk about things!!!  Dave wants me to tell you he believes in the second amendment.  Not sure what that means, but he thought it was important.

I just asked him!  He says it means that if someone comes after me, they won’t be long for this earth!!!  That’s kinda sad, but…  he loves me!!!

I guess Kevin was lucky he just got told off.

Anyway.

It’s the first Friday after school ends, and everyone has no school now!  And I don’t have to work tomorrow!  PARTY!!!! All the girls are over!!!  There’s sooo much stuff going on!  Games!  Movies!!  Selfies!  Sooo many selfies!!! Crystal was teaching Allison how to do duckface!  That might not be popular when she gets home!!!  Diana made us tacos, Sabby made cookies, Dave grilled the meat for the tacos…  OMG what a fun night!!!  Everyone’s settled down now, we’re going to make a pile, and sleep in a little tomorrow.  We’re heading to that space tomorrow for their party! The Texan Tinkerer has something to display too!  It’ll be fun, he told me about it!!!  He said he’s put a hundred hours of work into it so far!  I believe it!!!  He’s a little awkward but really knows his stuff!

Anyway, it’s time to brush each others’ hair and tell stories!  Allison’s really good at telling stories!  She might be nine but everyone listens, she’s got quite the imagination!!!

Love you all!!! ❤

This diary entry is part 25 of 30 in Lily's diary dated 11 - May 2022

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

And my recital was tonight!!!

OMG was I nervous!  I’m never nervous!  I’m always cool as a cucumber!  … are cucumbers cool?  I guess.  But tonight I was nervous!!!

Everyone was there!  My family!  Liz and her parents!  Crystal and her parents!  Diana and Maria!  Emiko and her family!!! Even Allison and her parents!  I think half the hall was my cheering section!  They even had Jack on video (though he was muted, of course)

I walked out and took a bow and…  and I thought I was going to cry!  All my friends and family!!!

so I played…  and…  and I didn’t really remember anything, but I don’t think that was my first recital.  And… and that’s confusing.  You’d think for a recital like that, someone would remember me.  Why doesn’t anyone remember me?  I think that’s the most confusing thing.  Just some person in Washington who occasionally drops bombshells…  I have so many friends and family now but no one remembers me!

After the recital, I came out, and everyone told me it sounded really good!!!  I guess?  It is so weird to be completely the center of attention like that.  Jack told me… well…  I won’t tell you what he told me, but I blushed soooo hard.  Let’s just say it’s a good thing he’s there and I’m here or my gown might not survive.  Sigh.  And then we went to a pancake place and I had chocolate pancakes!!!  YUM!!!

Next week I start working a lot more… but some vacations are coming, and yaayy!  Oh and the other waterpark opens this weekend!!!  YAAAYYY!!! More slidey watery fun!!!

I’m still a little depressed but been keeping busy.  I keep having these dreams, I’m not sure if they’re memories or if they’re like memories… but…  they hurt.  I don’t know why, they just do.  Hmm.

Well, I’m tired.  It was a long day.  Oh, Saturday there’s an event at that space that Sabby bought us memberships to, I think we’re going.  And I’m signing up for some classes there!!!  Yaayy!!!  I’m taking Saturday off, but I’m working a lot more, so I guess it all balances out.  I don’t have a huge bank account, but it’s doing okay.  And with the price of gas right now, it kinda has to.  This isn’t a political diary and I don’t like to talk about politics, but it sure feels like the people who make decisions want to mess things up.  I mean, I’m only sixteen, and even I know that some of these decisions are stupid!!!

Well, anyway…  time for bed.  David leaves for his camp on Sunday, and Sabby’s doing all sorts of buying and packing and fussing and worrying.  She gets so annoyed with him sometimes, but he’s still her kid.

Love you all!!! ❤

This diary entry is part 24 of 30 in Lily's diary dated 11 - May 2022

HI! It’s me! Lily!

I had the real dress rehearsal tonight!  It was fun!  My teacher rented an actual concert hall – if a small one – with a very long concert grand piano!  It’s so different from a regular piano, even a grand one.  I like it!!!

So I played through and my teacher had a lot of feedback for me, but she said I did a really good job, and we’re ready for the recital!  It’ll be me and one of her other advanced students.  I get before intermission, she gets after.

I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to high heels though.

Oh oh oh we got some severe storms last night!!!  I swear, in Texas, when storms come, they really come.  The sky was flashing like a strobe light, and it was raining so hard it looked like fog!  But after a half hour it left and then nothing but boomies for a couple of hours.  I was reading into that kind of storm – it’s called a squall line.  And it squalled!!!

I’m tired, though.  I think I’ll turn in.  Real recital tomorrow!!!

Love you all!!! ❤