Wednesday 10-21 9am

Instead of having today off, I have to work today and tomorrow and then have Friday off, work Sat., have Sunday off. I hate split days off. But, as of Fri. I go down to 5 hour shifts. Yah!

Had a big thunderstorm yesterday, first since I've been here. Rolled up from the southwest, moving northeast across the state. Expected to dump snow above the 9000ft level (we're at 4300 so no worries). Brought cooler weather in its wake, so we'll have about 70 day and 50 night -- not bad at all.

I wished I had my camera with me at work because there were some wonderful vistas with mountains limned against towering dark clouds with a small clear spot tinged with pink and orange and red from the setting sun. Very dramatic.

Won't be back online until Fri., I guess, when I'll walk down to the Apache Cafe. See y'all then.

Saturday 10-24 7am

Went to town yesterday and shipped some goodies and some books. Mary-Anne will take the books to DBN and sell them for me (it's one of the few that pays cash, reasonable cash; Bookman's in Tucson would give me $53 for credit or $11 cash, whereas DBN would give half the credit amount in cash).

Anyhow, went to town. Got my hairs cut. It's still really really short but at least it's all evened up now. Instead of looking like a fuzzy cueball, I look like a Roman senator (ala Richard Burton). I'll have to wear some makeup and jewelry to keep from looking like a stern male taskmaster or a retired football linebacker.

Did a little shopping, got some more flannel pjs (same pattern different color so can mix and match with the ones I got last time).

On the way to town, I turned south on Stirrup Road to check out Rockhound State park and Spring Canyon State Park. About 6 miles in I saw a bunch of RVs etc parked on the foot of some low hills (Rockhound S.P.) and continued on toward Spring Canyon, which sounded more enticing. Then I saw a sign for a 17% grade, looked ahead and saw a narrow 2-lane road snaking up the side of a mountain and disappearing over a steep crest. Debated but thought not, so turned around. 4-cylinder engine towing 5000 lbs would probably do it but at a walking pace and working hard. Best not. So prudent of me.

On the way back, saw Rockhound Road, with a sign for Deming, so turned west and followed the straight and flat road to the south side of town and went north to Pine St., the main drag.

My great adventure for the day. Nothing I wanted to stop to photograph. Of course, it was midday so the light was all wrong for good shots in the desert. I hope to get out in the pecan orchard before I leave, and with the extra rest now, I may have the energy to do so. I did take a picture out my main window (looking north). Not a terrible view -- I could be looking at the back of the store or at I-10 and the trucks whizzing by.

Go to work at 2.30 today and have tomorrow off. Plan to walk down to the Apache Cafe. Thought about stopping on the way back, but decided not, just to give the pains a longer time to subside.

Mon 10-19

Monday 10-19 6.30 am

Well, it's beginning to feel like Kansas (Toto). By which I mean, I'm feeling the same way I did at Amazon -- hurt. By the end of yesterday, I was not only limping but placing my feet carefully so they wouldn't buckle under me. Had a respectable day in sales, except for one fireworks sale of over $600, which took the day into the "really good" category.

Fortunately, today is OFF. I don't really feel like going to town but I want to go to the Apache Cafe and see whether I can get online and I'd like to treat myself to some ice cream and I need coffee soon, so I guess I'm going. I'll try to keep the shopping part (that is, the walking around in Walmart) really short to keep the stress down.

Shane said as soon as Leeann gets back this Friday, my hours will plummet down to five a day. Hooray, hooray, cartwheels in the grass (metaphorically speaking, of course). And it should be no more than two weeks here before going to Alamogordo.

Have dragged out my DVDs. Watched "Hair" the other day, and I think I mentioned "The Gospel at Colonus." I only have about 20 movies, and they break down into just two categories: dance and martial arts, or maybe we should just call it one category "body movement." I'd forgotten I had "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin," a classic of the Hong Kong style of the 1960s (from the Shaw Bros. studios).

The only exception is "My Name is Modesty," based on the Peter O'Donnell character that I have an extensive collection of; I suppose you could call it an action adventure movie. It's a "Quentin Tarantino Presents" movie, filmed in Romania. There are two main problems with it -- the woman playing Modesty Blaise (Alexandra Staden) had never done any action movies before, and it shows (she has sticklike arms and moves badly); and the guy playing the villain is very good but he's perfect for Willie Garvin, Modesty's partner all through the books. What a waste.

Pound pound pound on the door (7am). It's Shane. His wife just had a car accident and is being taken to the hospital (not life-threatening injuries) and can I come in and work 2pm to 7.30 today. Of course, I said yes. So much for going to town. A guy is coming from Butterfield Station to do the books this morning, and MaryLou and Diane can handle all else. I don't know who'll be closing with me, maybe Shane himself, as there isn't anybody else. At least, it's only 5.5 hours. He's working really long hours with Leeann gone.

All is well (9am). Shane's wife totaled the truck but she came out of it with just a few scratches. So he's back to work and so I can be OFF!!

Have gone to town and am now at the Apache Cafe, eating pumpkin pie and drinking iced tea. Soon I'll go back and get hooked up and collapse for the rest of the day and rest up.

Sun 10-18

Sunday 10-18 7am

Same old same old. Haven't even had the energy to do any photography. When I get out at night, it's dark, and in the mornings the light is too flat. Besides, the legs need all the rest they can get at this point.

Shane has been browbeating Ryan to actually get some work done. Said he was going to staple the list to his chest for emphasis. Ryan still finds lots of time to stand around and chit chat. He's 17, tall (maybe 6'1"), not bad-looking but has terrible acne. His brother William (whom I replaced) has now gone to auto-tech school in Waxahachie TX and he's thrilled as the brothers "hate" each other. I expect that situation will change as they age.

But if I had inherited Ryan as a worker he'd be fired already. His title is maintenance, and the jobs aren't onerous. But the whole store is filthy except where the customers can see. He'll drag out the mop bucket, for instance, and mop half the store, saying he doesn't have time to do the rest of the floor tonight (it's 5:45 and he's on till 7:30) as he has to stock the coolers (should take about 20 minutes) and fill the soda fountain ice chest (20 minutes) and do the bathrooms (about 40 minutes if he does a good job, which he never does). So he had 105 minutes minus 90, leaving him 15 minutes to fiddlefart around. Mind you, he'd been on since 4:30 but none of those jobs had gotten done. I had dustmopped the entire store in 15 minutes (also one of his jobs but I was bored).

He's talking about joining the army. I think it'd be a big shock after being coddled by his mama all these years. Gossip from Rose and Diane is that Leeann is one of those managers who gets away with lots of stuff that the company would come down hard on if it were a different manager. She's been "written up" several times but nothing ever comes of it. Managers are not supposed to take more than a week of vacation at a time but she's gone for three weeks; won't be back until this coming Friday.

Rose was doing a lot of inventory counting in certain categories yesterday but refused any help -- "oh, thanks, but I'm so used to doing it." Well, yeah, but I'm supposed to be learning this stuff and she gets so stressed out you'd think she'd welcome the help. But she may be one of those people who needs to feel over-burdened and underappreciated so she can moan about it.

Company policy is to check the bathrooms once an hour, and at Picacho Peak we did. Here, it may get done once a day, or not. The store is supposed to be mopped every day, with an occasional lapse. At PK it was, but not here. Ryan also leaves the mop bucket with the dirty water in it sitting in back (mop in it) for days at a time. This is next to the back door, you understand, where it would take two minutes to trundle it out and empty it outside.

I expect the situation to be much different at Alamogordo, first because it's so slow so there's plenty of time to do stuff, and second because Kenn and Carol aren't so jaded yet with the corporate bullshit. We won't have a "maintenance" person so we'll get to pass the jobs around. It's a tiny store, too, about a third the size of this one, so it shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

Thu 10-15

Thu 10-15

Well, did I get an earful of gossip today! Rose has transferred here from Butterfield Station, and Diane is the traveling gold inventory person. Rose is now here at Akela permanently and Diane is filling in. Both are big talkers and have been with Bowlin for some years. They proceeded to trash everybody they've ever worked with, including Leeann. Seems Rose used to work at Akela and she and Leeann had a "personality conflict." So there are strict guidelines from Alfred about what she's to do and not to do. Lots of what they had to say made no sense to me as they were talking about people I don't know. But they sure had a lot to say.

The unrelenting gossip is another aspect of corporate culture I don't care for.

Diane said at one point that she might want to stop traveling and manage a store again; I said okay, you and I can swap job. She travels I-10 to each store at least once a month to inventory the gold jewelry. Now, you understand that it get counted every night (at least it does at Picacho but not at Akela), every sale is written down and a running count is kept. There are items in the store that cost more than some of the gold so why isn't it counted and inventoried? We do have to record every AQ (indian-made) sale and do a running count, but it doesn't seem to be as critical to the company as the gold stuff. Go figure.

Diane also has a really loud voice, and has a verbal tic that is in every sentence (...and what have you...), sometimes twice. She's 60, stout, and fair, maybe 5'7". Rose is fairly short--5'5" or so, short gray hair, age 63, stresses easily, has a husband in really bad health. They mostly hung out and talked. Diane left at 4pm, forgetting to close out her register (Rose did it for her). So then Rose turned her attention to me as audience and talked and talked. I now know her whole family history. Neither of them know anything about me, not even where I'm from -- no curiosity.

When it came time to close, Shane dropped in just to check but basically she did it herself, with me helping. I could hear her breathing getting fast and raspy -- Rose, I said, it's not the end of the world, you know. But she's a self-confessed worrier and fretter.

Tomorrow at the Apache Homelands Cafe, there's a big meeting of many Apache bigwigs to discuss what's happening with the plan to make it a casino. One of the guys who was working on the computer system yesterday was in the store and said we should drop by to show our support. Somehow the guy and I got to talking about birthdays and he was very surprised to hear how old I am -- said he found it very hard to believe. Wasn't that nice? Of course, he bought a straw sombrero to wear while mowing his lawn, so maybe his judgment is a little suspect. On the other hand, it's a practical choice, wide enough to shade both shoulders, so maybe he's very clever. On the other other hand, having a lawn you have to mow is not smart, especially out here.

Am looking forward to Alamogordo. Hope it happens soon. The legs are not happy being stood on for seven hours a day.

Wed 10-14

Wed 10-14

So I hie myself off to town because it will be four days before I can go again. Did laundry, got new wipers, got some flannel pjs, some tp -- you know, the fun stuff.

Came to the Apache Cafe to get lunch and do email and blog. BUT it turns out they're either installing a new system or updating the old system. I'm sitting at the same table, using the same plug, but no connection. So far, they've told me to refresh my browser twice. Nada. Can't hang out here too long or the ice cream in my freezer bag will melt (it's mid-80s today).

Guess I'll see y'all in a few days.

Sat 10 Oct

Sat 10-10 10.30pm

I was really spacy today. Not sure why. Allergies are kicking up some and I only got five hours of sleep. It was slow at the store today so I got to leave a couple of hours early. Came home, ate a sandwich, took an antihistamine and an aleve and crashed for two hours. Still feel a little groggy.

Am still feeling okay with my decision to stay with Bowlin and transfer to Alamogordo. A town nearby is Ruidoso which has the Ruidoso Downs with quarter-horse racing. There's also a huge performing arts center. So there'll be some things to do. And there's an air force base just outside of Alamagordo, Holliwell AFB (which I've never heard of).

Thursday I did over $600 on my register, and Friday I did over $700. We have four registers (plus the fuel sales register). I've been told that some days at the A'gordo store, the day's total might be $200. Talk about being a slower store!

Am looking forward to Monday off. I'll go down to the Apache Cafe and do some internet stuff, posting to the blog, etc., while having a meal. Think I'll walk (heresy in The West).

UPDATE

Mon 1pm

Did walk down to the Apache Cafe. Had a meatloaf dinner with roasted red potatoes and iced tea. Good. And as you can see, am getting caught up again. Am supposed to be off Wed., but with Kenn and Carol leaving that day, don't know what my schedule is going to be.

Friday 9 Oct

Fri 10-9 7am

Here's a mountain picture I took on the way back from town the other day.

So I worked a 7-hr shift yesterday and it wasn't too bad. Of course, as I've said, I'm taking triple drugs -- two aleve before work, two during the shift, two later, and maybe one more before sleep. I switch off with extra-strength tylenol or ibuprofen. Everybody's in pain, not just me. Everybody hurts. Is this a way to live?

My mood has lifted with the decision to quit Bowlin. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to be satisfied anywhere. The application I sent to the rv park in Yuma was bounced with a "no such mailbox found." Wait, I think I already mentioned that.

So my plan now is to work here until they have a replacement and then go to Tucson. There's an ad out for a night security patrol at a rv/trailer park in Tucson that I might apply for. It would be 9pm-1am 4 nights on and 4 off. No pay, just a site and utilities. So I think I could handle a paying job of some sort on top of that. Bookman's sign said they wanted fulltime people, but maybe they could make an exception. We'll see.

Shane had to rework the schedule a little as he realized it was going to leave me alone in the store for a full hour. Today I work 12-7.30, tomorrow 9-4.30, then 12-7.30, then off for a day, so I'll trundle down to use the Apache's wifi.

During my marathon wifi stint the other day, I forgot to download my bank statement and account history, which I need to reconcile and do monthend etc. Also will check KOA and see what jobs are out there.

There's a good paying job in Knoxville, hanging and then taking down xmas decorations. From Nov 15 to Dec 15, then a two week break, and back for a month for takedown. Wonder if I'd like to do that?

Think I'll look into signing up with a national company like Kelly Girls and see if I can get more office-type work. I guess the really physical stuff is getting to be too much for me.

UPDATE 9pm

Change of plans. Alfred, the director of operations, is a smooth talker, and he likes me. So, after some discussion, we agreed that I could work part-time at a much smaller store (hours are 9 to 5 in winter, very civilized). I'll be moving to Alamogordo NM as soon as he makes arrangements for workers to come to Akela.

Also, the RVers Kenn and Carol are going there, too. He's been promoted to manager of that store, and Carol will work half-time like me. It also turns out that she grew up in Alamogordo. They're due to start at that store this coming Wednesday so they'll be gone really soon. All this is happening while Leeann is on vacation. In the meantime, Shane and I will have to pick up the slack and work lots of hours.

Anyhow, 25 hours a week in a small high desert town, no gas sales, no fudge/cookies (hooray!). And the town is growing towards the store so right now it's only two miles to town (way better than 20 miles). I'll make enough money to be comfortable. And I'll learn to do the books, as well. So I'll be doing lots of managerial stuff without all the hassle of actually being a manager -- sounds good to me.

Don't know exactly when I'll be moving (it's about 100 miles from here), but not for at least two weeks (I think).

Oct 7 All Caught Up

Here's some pix (all clickable to make bigger). This first one is Picacho Peak itself, seen over the compound wall.
Here's a palo verde tree at dawn, next to the frontage road. The train tracks are just beyond the frontage road.

Here's my rig with Picacho Peak in the background.
And here's my setup at Akela Flats NM. The store is beyond the fireworks sign. This is pointing more or less east.
And here I am, my western view.

Have gotten caught up on the internet stuff. Over 200 emails and a month's worth of posts to the blog. Hope everybody's happy now.

I'm not. Happy, that is. I think I'm going to tell Alfred on Friday that I just don't want to do this kind of work, full or part-time. It occurred to me that I had seen a sign in Bookman's Used Bookstore that they're always looking for workers. Bet I could get a job there -- ya think?

I fired off my resume to apply for the RV park job in Yuma. Promptly got a "no such mailbox" reply from AOL. Drat.

Am sitting in the Apache Homelands Casino/Cafe. Had a nice meatloaf dinner w/baked potato and iced tea. Called from the pay phone at Walmart and got my old cellphone reactivated -- took about 2 minutes -- and I got my quarter back, so the call was free. As soon as the transformer gets here, I'll ship the blackberry back, and that freight is free, too, so I just have to hand the box to the UPS guy.

Oct 6

Tue 10-6 7.30am

Called my phone company yesterday to find out how to make the cellphone work as a modem. Turns out that this smart phone (Blackberry Pearl Flip) requires OS 10.5.5. And of course, I have 10.3.9.

So will send the new phone back and have the old phone reactivated. I have to call from a landline with the fully charged old phone in hand so I can do whatever programming is called for. I told them I was in New Mexico but that didn't seem to make a difference. So I'll go to town tomorrow and commandeer the pay phone at Walmart, with lots of quarters, and see if it'll work.

Then, of course, I'll still be without internet access. Plan to come back to the Apache Cafe and use their wifi. Hope they have a plug I can use so I don't deplete the battery. Really want to apply for that park management job.

Talked to Chuck last night (boss at Picacho Peak). He's doing really well there -- has gotten the store into the black and Bowlin is very pleased with him. I told him about my feelings about the job etc and he said he'd thought from the beginning that I wasn't going to be happy. At least, he said, if I were still at PK he could "take care" of me and keep my hours low etc. We agreed that I would talk to Johnny Riley if the park job doesn't come through and tell him my problems and thoughts. I'll see if they have a job that's more office/administrative that will keep me off my feet.

We also agreed about the micro-management style of Bowlin, very irritating to those of us who have lots of experience in management. Not only do they try to micro-manage (no moving of display tables without prior approval, for instance), they don't really plan ahead so there's lots of crisis management. They're always putting out fires. I think a lot of that is because their so-called managers have no authority to do anything on their own, just lots of responsibility.

It's all very "corporate." Johnny Riley and I talked yesterday so he could check on the status of my training. There's a specific schedule for each week of what one is supposed to be trained in and it all gets faxed to corporate hq. I'm also supposed to watch videos of motivational speakers on selling and the like. Oh please! Like I give a shit.

I'm taking about three times my normal amount of pain relief these days -- not good. Beginning to feel like I'm getting shin splints. The knees are doing okay; it's the hips that are the real problem.

Starting Thursday, I'll be doing 7-hour shifts and I know I'm going to be in pain, limping, and walking funny. My days off will be split, too, so will only get one day of rest at a time. I'm not a happy camper.

Oct 5

Mon 10-5 7.30am

Pursuing a moth last night, it landed on my main light and I whapped it with the magazine and the light promptly went out and wouldn't come back on, even with new bulbs. Also found out that my reading light at the bed is out (also from whacking a bug). I must, simply must, get new light fixtures. I'm now down to one fixture in the sitting area but that's over the dinette (so not helpful for reading) and the fixture in the rangehood over the stove. Had to pull out the battery-powered LED light so I could read.

I know just what I want and have it bookmarked so I can order them. Of course, what with having no internet and having paid double what I expected on the rig maintenance, I now have to wait. So -- dancing in the dark.

Leeann's doing some training. Got taken around and showed the fuel tanks, how they're filled, how to read the gauges, how to read the pumps, etc. These readings are taken every day. Was given the Hazardous Materials book to read last night and will take a test on it today.

Have I mentioned how horrendous the flies are here? Surely I have. I've sealed off the dinette seat where the coach battery is -- there's a vent there for battery fumes (which it doesn't do but the vent is there just in case) and the door that the power cable goes out -- all prime ways flying things can get in. Also finally realized that in the cab the vents were set for fresh air, which means they could crawl through from outside. That's now fixed. The hope is that the only way they can get in now is when I go in and out the door, and I'm doing my best to do it seldom and quickly.

Oct 4

Sun 10-4 7am

I've been thinking about what I need in a job or place. It's now clear to me that I don't like retail unless it's selling books. I don't really care whether people buy the stuff in these stores, whether it's the nice stuff or the touristy schlock. This is not a good attitude for an employee. I mean, I do my best when someone displays interest in something to talk them into it but I don't really have the knack, and I really don't have the knack of "upselling."

Then there's the whole fulltime management thing. I've been management many times and just don't want that much responsibility (being a hyper-responsible type) as it will stress me out and I'll get hives again. Ick. Plus managers are in the exempt category and get to work any amount of overtime without getting paid for it. Double ick.

Also, there's the loneliness factor. Yes, I'm a loner, but it turns out I want people around to be alone from. At Crescent City, nobody was interested in getting to know me so I didn't have anybody to hang out with when the mood struck, but at least there were folk around to watch or say hi to. At this store, after closing time there's nobody around except the other RV couple and they haven't made any overtures of friendliness. It was some better at Picacho as Chuck and Zee were very friendly and helpful, so I think we would have gotten to know each other. And a couple of the local workers seemed friendly, too. But I was gone in two weeks so that cut that short. Here, everybody has their lives that don't have room for another person. Plus, Leeann and her two sons are three of the workers. Shane has a wife and kid and grandmother to look after. And there's Kenn and Carol, the RVers.

So here's what it boils down to: I want to be among people and closer to a town (walking distance to a grocery store etc.). I don't want to be management. I don't want to work fulltime. In other words, I don't want a "career." I want to make some casual friends to have dinner with or see a movie or explore the area or play cards. And I can hole up when I need to. The job of running a small RV park part-time seems tailor-made -- enough to do so as not to be bored, lots of people (some of whom stay for months, i.e. snowbirds), large enough town to have some amenities.

Sounds like Asheville, doesn't it? However, I'm not quite ready to quit the road and am not sure I could find work I'd like there. But we'll see how this new job I'm going to apply for works out. And I'm still very interested in the carnival-train job, so will pursue that for the future. I certainly haven't found any place I like better, though I do like New Mexico in general (but not the SW part).

Wish me luck.

Obits:
William Safire. Suspect politics but great writer on language and grammar.
Henry Gibson. Comedian, best known for "Laugh-In" -- wonderfully sly.

Oct 2

Fri 10-2

Finally got back about 5.30, straight from town. Blew off the burger and wifi. Just waned to get hooked up and kick back. Here's the saga.

You remember I was going to get some routine maintenance done on the engine? Un huh. Arrived at JT's Auto Service about 9.30am. Turns out the radiator needed more repair as there was a pinhole leak in the previous sautering repair. Add extra money and time.

Then the alternator bracket had busted loose some more and the bolt holding it in place was almost all the way out. Add more extra money and time.

I got them to run me up to WM so I could do my returns and a little shopping (like a charger for my new phone!). Naturally, the returns process is tedious. But I got it done, holding onto my temper. Ate some lunch at the Subway. Called them to come get me about 1.30. Back at the garage, I discovered I'd left one bag at WM and, of course, it was the one with the chargers in it. Sharon, Jack the mechanic's wife, graciously offered to run me up there (we're talking about 2 miles only).

The Customer Service desk has one person working (and she's working her butt off). Wait in line, present receipt and story, she says check at register to see if it's there, it isn't, go back to tell her, she says wait for manager (other folk waiting, too), manager finally waddles up (short, fat), takes receipts and goes off, eventually comes back to say yes, items really left behind, she says to me take receipt and go find new items in the store and bring back here, walk store to find items (of course are on both sides of store), go back and present items, she checks scan numbers, one is wrong, go back to get correct item (hard to tell 5 from 6 in itty-bitty numbers), go back to desk and she checks numbers, all correct!, puts in bag and I leave.

Apologize to Sharon for the 45-minute wait but she says no problem, not your fault. Back to the garage, where the bracket problem has been discovered and sent out for fixing. Start charging phone. Eventually, about 4.30, all done and money paid. I'm now officially broke. Go up street about half-mile to retrieve laundry I'd dropped off in the morning.

And start "home." By the time I get back out here, I'm done so I just continue on, get hooked up and keep charging phone. It doesn't beep at me when it's fully charged, so I have to keep looking at the indicator. Finally get to make a call, only to discover no-one has noticed that they hadn't been able to get in touch with me for a whole week. Humph.

I've never seen so many people with bad teeth! I mean, really bad -- black with rot, misshapen, missing, etc. There aren't so many hugely obese people, though.

It's 7am Sat. and was windy (making me sneeze) and now it's raining. I was going to walk to the Apache cafe today, with my computer, but we'll have to see how the weather does. I'm not going to unhook to drive a half-mile. Update 7pm Sat: rained all day, a "female" rain, very nice and cooling, but no walking.

Watching BBC World News: Anchor says "SAM-o-a" as opposed to Sa-MO-a most often heard. Interesting. Brits says in-VEN-tory, too, instead of IN-ven-tory as in the US.

Oct 1

Thu 10-1

I'm already bored with this job. I know, I know, it's only been a month, give it a chance, yadda yadda. It's retail -- what else do you need to know? And they expect "upselling" which is something I hate to do. Business has been really quiet these past two days, which makes it even more boring. Leeann is off, so Shane is in charge and he doesn't teach me anything. And he does jobs he should delegate, like mopping. Not that I want to mop, you understand, but there are things managers do that sellers can't do yet and anybody can mop. He's a pretty wiry intense sort of guy so maybe he just likes doing something more physical, where I'd rather sit in the office and do inventory and statistics.

Tomorrow I'm going to town to get some work done on the rig. Am also going to get a charger for my phone. Then I'm going to the casino to eat and do wifi. I really think I'll apply for that park manager job. If I can make $9/hour working part-time, why should I make $8/hr working up to full-time?

Updates later.

Tried to read Dancing with Werewolves by Carole Nelson Douglas. She's been around a long time and I at least thought I'd get a polished writer's take on this paranormal. But no-o-o-o-o. The heroine is an orphan with really white skin, black hair, blue eyes (Black Irish). And it's first person. She tells about being an orphan and having white skin many many times over the first few chapters. I finally said, "I got it, already! You're an orphan. You have white skin. Enough, already." And threw the book down.

And what's with the title? The author couldn't come up with something original? Wonder what Costner would say?

Sept 30

Wed 9-30

I was telling William about my wifi problems and he told me that the casino 1/2 mile down the road has free wifi. Now he tells me! I can walk it but I'd certainly need a flashlight. I could decide to make a night of it, take the computer and phone, have a game burger and get my email and send some so people don't think I'm dead.

Shane told me to close out my drawer early because business was so slow. Dust-mopped the store for my last half-hour.

Bought a cig lighter charger that said it would work for the blackberry phone. Well, it doesn't cover my model so will have to return it. Boo. Still waiting for the real transformer to come in from Mary-Anne.

Hot and windy today. Rig is rocking a little, sand blowing. Unpleasant. Probably not going to make the walk today.

Sept 29

Tue 9-29
The company graciously topped off my gas tank for me, for free. Then I was off to Deming about 10am. Got to dawdle along the frontage road about 45-50 with practically no other traffic. Got to Country Club Rd and turned south, looking for Auto-Tech, supposed to be past JT's Auto Service. I went several miles past JT's and never found Auto-Tech, so I now have an appointment on Friday to get my maintenance done at JT's.

Then turned west on Florida (flow-REE-dah) to the local supermarket, Pepper's. Not impressed. Up Columbus Hwy to Spruce and left a block to the Post Office, where I mailed all the packages. Too bad they weren't books and could go media mail.

Then I thought I'd try the library and see if I could get on their wifi to get my email and send a few, just to let folk know I'm still alive. However, it turns out that their wifi and Macs aren't compatible, which I've never had happen before. They don't have a clue why.

So off to Wally World for grocery shopping. Picked up a hand vacuum so I can do some cleaning inside the rig. Found a couple of pants in lightweight cotton/spandex made by Danskin (had no idea they'd expanded into regular clothes). They have comfy elastic waists, buttons so the bottoms can be folded up to mid-calf, and they have zippers so they make into knee-length shorts. I think they're great.

Got back about 2pm. Had placed some boards before I left for a slightly new position for the rig, so I just got lined up and backed right in. Got hooked up, turned on AC, put groceries away, collapsed. Really hot, about 90 or so. Supposed to cool off a little this coming week, but SW NM is the hottest part of the state.

Won't see Leeann again until Sunday (she's off We Th, I'm off Fr Sa). Be good to start my training as a closer.

I figured out how to put pictures of me and the rig on my resume -- clever, eh? A job showed up last time I got my email for a park manager in Yuma, year-round, 20 hours a week for $800 a month plus a site and utilities. Perfect. I may actually send my resume for it, just to see if I'd get it. If I do, I may just take it. This Bowlin job is really hard on the old bones and I'm not so sure I want to work in management again. Think think think.

Sept 28

Mon 9-28
Hooray hooray, two days off! Am going to go into Deming tomorrow and find the mechanic who's been recommended to me for non-RV stuff and make an appointment to get some basic maintenance done. Then I'll go the post office and mail off a few things I've been hauling around for a month (since Crescent City). Then I'll go to either WM or a local grocery and get a few items I've eaten up over the last week.

Then will work Wed Thu, be off Fri Sat, work Sun Mon Tue. The Bowlin work week is Wed thru Tue.

Am waiting for the transformer cable to get here so I can charge my phone and make (and get) calls. Then I can call for support about getting the phone to act as my modem. Dead in the water is my situation right now.

However, Ryan (Leeann's younger son, who works maintenance) brought over the ladder after I got off work yesterday and put the antenna extension on. Took about five minutes. Looks like I won't be able to put the antenna all the way down with the extension on as it won't clear the AC housing. So-o-o-o, either I run with the antenna about 4 inches up, or I take the extension off every time, which is not difficult, just a PITA. I don't think there'll be a problem leaving it on when I'm just doing local trips, as I've discovered the frontage road on the other side of I-10 goes all the way into Deming. We'll see.

Slight excitement last night. Lying in bed reading about 11pm. All of a sudden, there's a solid thump on the middle of the roof and the rig sways a little. I thought a wind gust had come through, as it's predicted to be windy soon. Then I hear padding about, coming forward. When it gets near the cabover, I whack the ceiling with my fist and I hear the critter jump down on the hood and then off (I presume, as I couldn't hear it land on the ground).

Now, there is a cat who lives under the front of the building near the front door. A regular sized cat. The critter who landed on my roof had to have jumped from the ground to the roof (about 9 feet) as I would have heard it jump onto the hood first. And it was heavy enough to make a big noise and make the rig sway. I turned out the lights and tried to look out and see it, but of course there was nothing.

Hmmm.

Sept 26

Sat 9-26
Well, just managed to wipe out my Thurs. entry by going too fast and hitting the wrong button. Can't remember what I posted either. Sigh.

My new Blackberry Pearl flip phone arrived yesterday about 4.30pm. Cost $50 to send it next day air! It's very pretty. After I figured out that the phone wasn't to be connected to the computer while I put in the info disc, I plowed my way through the demo of all it can do. Of course, I was interested in the basics, but they were easy to do. This phone is much more like the iphone in that it has a screen of icons you click on with the trackball.

On the other hand, I couldn't figure out how to connect to the internet. The only info I found was for "supported" ISPs and for Intel-based computers. Looks like a call is in order to US Cellular. Also, Mary-Anne had to get the transformer out to charge the phone so it could be activated, and when she packed up the box to send she forgot to put it in. So she'll be mailing that to me (at a regular rate). I can charge the phone through my computer using the usb cable, they say, except the diagram in the manual doesn't match anything I can figure out, so the phone is now dead. No internet AND no phone!

I've gotten Leeann the manager to back off on my hours so that I'm working 6 hrs a day (30/wk), instead of 37. My hips and knees thank her. I also told her I'd be happy to work a split shift and to work late. She said she has trouble getting people to work closing; everybody wants to work the AM shift. I said I prefer the PM shift.

Only made a couple of mistakes yesterday, small ones (like ringing something up in the wrong category. Some things here are in a different category than they were at Picacho.

The weather is fabulous! Mid-80s day, mid-50s night, sunny, dry, low humidity. There's something about New Mexico that I really like, better than Arizona or Texas. Now, down here in the SW corner, there are some mountains but they're small ranges, widely scattered. But the northern mountains are gorgeous (of course, it's a lot colder there -- it snowed just north of Santa Fe a couple of days ago). Las Cruces, 35 miles east, is the 2nd biggest city in NM and it's only about 80,000 people (200,000 in the metro area). Not bad. People just call it "Cruces." That will be my first trip.

Or not. I'd like to get some basic maintenance done on the engine, and I need to mail some stuff. So will probably go to Deming on Mon or Tue. Exciting stuff.

Sept 20

9.30am
Have unhooked everything except the power. All the foil is neatly rolled or folded and in the storage bin, along with the water hoses. The sewer line is tucked in its bumper holder. The chair is folded and stuffed in its sack. The TV antenna is down (I have a tendency to forget it). The AC is on and I'm just relaxing until it's time to go (around 2pm). Last minute stuff is to put the plant and the water pitcher in the kitchen sink for travel. I've already closed the lid over the stove. Unplug the little fan. Turn off the power strip. Unplug the power cord and feed it into its cubby. Turn on the engine and go.

Will go straight to the Home Depot and return the foil, then go to the B&N and browse a little, but mainly will sit in the cafe with a cool drink and see if I can download my email and maybe even answer some. If the battery holds out, I'll see if I can post something to my blog -- I've been keeping a journal since I got here. Then off to Beth's. Will report on that later.

Sept 19

7.30pm
Had a nice relaxing day for a change. Did do laundry. There's an empty doublewide here that has a washer and dryer. As usual with home-style machines, it took forever. But eventually got done. The other chore I did was cleaning my floor, which really needed it after travel and wind here.

Then I took a nap.

Then I went over to the store and bought a few souvenirs. I'll get them shipped out one of these days.

We had a dust storm about an hour ago. Fortunately, I still had the rig closed up for the AC to work. Now it's calmed down and I have all the windows and vents open for a nice breeze to come through.

Sept 18

5.30 am.
Have decided to break the trip up a little by stopping at the WM in Deming to sleep and stock up on groceries in the morning (that will be Tuesday). Then I'll go on to Akela Flats and have the rest of the day to get set up and relax a little before starting work on Wed.

Travis and Micah are going to go check out The Thing store etc. If they really don't like it, they're going to try to stay here. They have two kids (well, she has two kids), one in school, and it would be a hassle to uproot him. Also, they live in a trailer so have to pack up everything in boxes to move. I don't think I'd want to work at The Thing either (one of those major tourist trap places ("You Must See The Thing!), but Benson AZ is a pretty nice little town.

Interesting pair, both from the Reno area originally. They've been together about a year and a half (the little girl is two, so she's not Travis' daughter). Chuck thinks Micah may be on something (he thinks meth, I think cocaine). The pattern is that just before payday she gets grouchy and slow, and just after payday she's all bright and speedy. This is all hearsay as I haven't been here long enough to see the pattern.

I do know that I'd hate to have to work with her much. She's so speedy I can't understand her speech half the time and she zips about with little rhyme or reason. Maybe it's pure ADHD. Of course, Travis talks so fast I have to ask him to repeat himself a lot. She's short and skinny; he's tall and skinny.

Talked to Beth last night. Unfortunately, she's busy on Sunday day so I won't go to her house until 5pm. We'll go eat Chinese and talk away the hours. It's been 22 years since we've seen each other. I'll take Sun. afternoon to leave here and go to Home Depot to return the extra roll of foil insulation.

Am reading Trick of the Light by Rob Thurman and really enjoying it. It's a paranormal but way better than most. The characters are well thought out and presented. The plot, while it has many traditional elements of the genre, has enough original points so it isn't boring or too predictable. And while it ranges over human history/mythology, it isn't preachy or showy (though the author has clearly done her homework). It's first in a series: the Trickster novels, and if you like the trickster figure in all mythologies, you'll most likely enjoy this book.

Sept 17

5.30 am.
Well, so much for starting to relax.

I got called into the office yesterday early to meet with Alfred, the Operations Chief. He said they really need help at Akela Flats in New Mexico and how would I like to transfer there this coming week?

So I'm leaving here Sunday and going to spend the evening/night at Beth's house in Tucson, and will go on from there on Monday morning. I guess that's all the time we'll have.

Akela Flats is about halfway between Deming and Las Cruces. The store is about three times larger than this one and has an old-west stores facade (and no Dairy Queen, which is a good thing). It's at 4000 ft. so it should be cooler and have some trees. There's three RV sites right behind the store, even closer than they are here, and one mobile home site. The managers live across the highway on their own property, and their sons both work in the store, as well as other people. One son is going to trade school in a couple of weeks and I'm replacing him. Family businesses are always problematic but we'll see how it goes -- and I can always call Alfred and ask to be transferred again. I'll be getting more hours, too -- and we'll see how that goes as well.

I understand there's a casino there so it's a place to go for a night out. Deming is 20 miles west and Las Cruces is 40 miles east and I expect that's where shopping for groceries is. Las Cruces is bigger so it may have a B&N or a Borders for books. I'll miss Bookman's for used books here in Tucson as it's one of the best I've seen in the country.

Alfred mentioned how good the displays look and Chuck told him I had done them all, so he complimented me, which I accepted with my customary modesty. After the meeting, he told Chuck that he liked me.

I'm going to miss Chuck; he's a good boss. And the company is transferring Travis and Micah, too, to "The Thing" store in Benson AZ, where they're going to have to work in the DQ as well. So they're really cutting the payroll here. Everybody who's staying is a local hourly worker, so Chuck's the only RVer left here. Well, Dennis and Sharon are still here, but they manage the Plaza across the road. And Travis and Micah aren't RVers; they live in one of the trailers onsite here.

The schoolbus just picked up Micah's son -- at 5.30 am! Poor kid.

Sept 16

6.30 am. Didn't have the big noisy fan on last night so had a restless night. Still not used to all the noise. It'll be better in the winter when I'll close the windows and door, but until then I'll just sleep in fits and starts. At least, going in at 2.30 means I can catch a nap beforehand.

Work is going much better. I'm laughing more. This means I'm starting to relax and get the routines set in my head. Am doing fine physically, too. The pay periods are every two weeks and start on a Wednesday (today, actually). So the new work schedule came out for this week and next, and I realized that I'm working nine days straight. Chuck, I said, please don't do this to me. Break up my days off. He's working on it. Some big corporate hotshot is to be here today and after that Chuck can juggle stuff around. Today is my 6th working day. When I find out which days I'll have off (maybe tomorrow), I'll ask Zee if we can go grocery shopping and to the post office to set up my General Delivery status (the postmaster will even call if something comes in for me) and return the extra roll of foil insulation to Home Depot.

Chuck also told me that the payroll against sales is too high (as is usual in any business) and he's been told to cut everybody back an hour (not me, as I'm already just part-time). So it looks like I'll stay at part-time for longer than planned, which is fine. Won't be building up my cash cushion as fast as I'd thought, but it'll give me a real opportunity to get to know this company and whether I want to stay with it for a while. I haven't forgotten the carnival, either. I'm pretty sure that if the Florida carnival company calls me in January and says come work for us, I'll do it.

I've become the "display" person. So far, I've done the knife case and the geodes 3-tier table. Yesterday, when I came in, Travis said, oh good, you can do the gold cases. We carry a lot of gold jewelry, mostly South Dakota rose gold, and "Rio" which is lab-made opals, and some sterling silver with real gemstones. There was a Bowlin Collection that wasn't selling, so the company auditor (who was here yesterday morning) took it away. So I got to rearrange two large display cases with about 375 pieces of jewelry -- earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, etc. There's also a lot of SW style jewelry in other cases, much of it signed.

Sept 13

Thought we were going to have a storm last night -- big breeze, lightning off in the distance, a little thunder, but no, it moved on. However, it cooled stuff off, which was nice.

It's 7am and there's some loudspeaker in the distance -- 393! 394! To the starting line! -- have no idea what's going on. It's been repeating. And now it's calling for different numbers. 404! 405! To the starting line! Sure hope there's not a racetrack near here. That's all we need.

It's a bike race! It's along the frontage road right beside the traintrack. I've seen bikers out there from time to time. It's a nice long straight road (as are many in Arizona) so I thought they just used it for practice. But it looks like there's going to be a race. The numbers are up to 420 now.

I watched Nature on PBS last night and it was about a marathon race through Death Valley as a framing device for exploring the area. I think those people are crazy, certifiably. They weren't even running at night! A few did finish. One was a woman who came in about third; she was maybe 50, lean and brown and tougher than I can imagine, though she looked totally spaced out there at the end. The photography was astounding, and the critters interesting, especially the fringe-toed lizard. Death Valley is beautiful, in its own austere way, but not somewhere I'd want to spend too much time. Well, maybe for a day or so -- in January.

Didn't hurt so bad last night so think I'm starting to feel better. Got my Bowlin shirts so now look official. And I had a brilliant idea here in my rig -- the screen door has a smoked acrylic panel on the bottom half. I've been bothered by the heat and light coming in so early, so I took the panel off the bottom and affixed it to the top half (it had the clips so it's meant to move, or you could have panels all the way). Now, the light is blocked some and the heat rises so the breeze coming in the bottom is a little cooler than it was when it came in the top. I'm so smart.

436! To the starting line!

Sept 12

So at 6.30 this morning I was outside using bungee cords to attach the foil squares to the tires. Seems to work well and won't be too hard to detach when I need to go somewhere. In a couple of cases, I had to use two or three cords to reach, so I'm going to get some long ones and only have to deal with that one connection for putting on and taking off.

Dennis (manager at the Picacho Peak Plaza) just came by with a nametag for me -- yellow tape with my name on a Customer Service tag. I'm assuming this is an interim tag. The official ones have holes for an engraved plate with a person's name on it, and the title on the main tag. As I'm supposed to be a manager-in-training, I expect to get one of those nametags. I'll check.

Nicely overcast so far today. I didn't even turn on the AC until 11.30. Even though it was about 80 or so, there was a breeze so it didn't feel too hot. Or maybe I'm beginning to adjust somewhat.

It's dark out now at 7.30, when I get off, so it's started to cool off. This is good as the pavement isn't blasting the heat up. I'm parked on gravel and I'm assuming the foil squares are going to help keep it cool under the rig, and will help during the winter too. It can get cold at night in the desert (can be 30-35 deg.) but 60-70 deg. days. Nice.

Sept 11

The foil squares I cut for the tires and taped to them with duct tape blew off. So I need to get out the wire and punch it through one side, take it around the tire, and punch it through the other side, then twist the ends together. That ought to hold them on. When I need to remove them, I can just lift the loop up and over and leave it attached to the foil. Most RVers have tarps that fit their tires but finding them small enough for mine is difficult (my tires are 14").

Still not sleeping well because of all the noise from the freeway and the trains. The foil I put on the windows cuts down on the light from the security lights scattered about the property, so that helps. I'm so used to quiet and dark that this is a big change. I could cut down on the noise if I left the AC on all night but (1) it's noisy itself, though it's a constant noise; and (2) I like to air out the coach.

Looks like my schedule will be 2.30-7.30 for a while until I'm better adjusted. Little by little will add hours up to 32/wk. At some point, I'll be working 40 hrs/wk but I'm not looking forward to that. I think Chuck said that Bowlin considers anything over 32 as fulltime, so maybe I can stay at 32. I'd like that very much.

Was going to do laundry today but just don't feel like it. It's 9am and I already have the AC on so really don't want to go out unless I have to (like going to work at 2.30 -- a two-minute walk across the pavement).

Sept 10

Have begun cutting up the foil insulation. Did four pieces for the wheel wells. Stuck them to the tires with duct tape so they won't blow away. Cut a piece to cover the top half of one window (it doesn't open). Will fashion a piece to cover the west side window in the cab as it gets the sun. Will also cut a piece to cover the parts of the other window that don't open; have to leave the opening part uncovered so when it's cool at night, I can open it. Naturally, I bought too much foil so I have a whole roll to return.

I've moved the water hoses so they only get sun for about two hours and afterwards will be in the shade of the tree so won't need foil for them. Am going to make a cap for the sewer line, though, so the rubber doesn't go bad. It'll just be a tent with some tape to hold it down -- nothing fancy.

I've just talked to US Cellular and if I get a "smart" phone I'll be able to connect to the internet through the phone. Yes! So I've signed up for a new contract and will be getting a Blackberry Flip. As soon as it's been activated (in Asheville), Mary-Anne will ship it to me, I'll plug it into the laptop, and voila! unlimited internet access. This also means I'll have web access wherever I go, no need for wifi. Except, of course, if I go back to Concan Texas where AT&T has a lock on its towers so nobody else can use them.

Sept 9

Set off about 8.30am. Decided to go to Bookmans used bookstore. I used to go there when it was in a little warren of offices near 6th & Campbell. Just before (or after) I left, they moved into an empty grocery store at Grant and Campbell -- one of the old-style "supermarkets" with minimal parking. Anyhow, the store is still there, and they've expanded into other locations, too. They will pay cash but it's minuscule compared to the trade credit. So I tool the trade ($53) and still wound up paying $48 in cash for about 30 books. Not too bad a deal.

I had asked the owner for directions to the nearest Barnes & Nobel and he sent me to the one on Broadway at Rosemont, danged near halfway across town to the SE. There is another one in the Foothills Plaza (NW side) but he thought it would be too hard for me to find.

Lots of street names rang bells so I had no trouble finding my way around. Got about $200 in books at B&N. Then I went across the street to a Target. I wanted a pair of white cotton bermuda shorts. Success? No.

Back down Broadway and spotted Dodge Ave. (used to live at Dodge and Ft. Lowell) so thought I'd follow it north. Debouched into a mall and then out the other side. Stopped at Home Depot and got some quilted foil insulation rolls to protect tires, windows, etc. Dodge proved elusive so wound up going north on Country Club all the way to Ft. Lowell. Lots of Tucson looks the same but the commercial corridors have lots of new buildings.

Anyhow, wound up at Oracle and River to get gas. Also got the airbags filled. Decided to head for the WM at Marana so went north to Ina Rd, turned west and lo and behold, there's the mall with B&N, and, it turns out, a superWM behind it. I took my computer into B&N (free wifi) and had a drink and a sandwich (was beginning to feel a little woozy) while downloading my email (158 messages!). Then to the WM for groceries. And "home" about 3.30pm.

Sept 8

Worked a little over four hrs today and it was fine. Felt much better than I did yesterday. And the frenzy of customers has slowed down. The store now closes at 7pm (instead of 8pm).

One display case holds nothing but knives, from $200 to $3. They were a mess so I reworked the displays and they look much better. Micah and Travis were impressed (at least, that's what they said).

Chuck told me he'd talked to Johnny Riley (the guy who hired me). Johnny wanted to know how I was doing and Chuck said I was doing fine and that he thinks I am smarter than he is. Heh. I politely laughed. I told Chuck he's a better seller than I am and that I'm especially good at organizing and analyzing. So we were mutually pleased.

Am now off for two days. Starting Friday will work 5-hr shifts, 2.30 to 7.30 (takes half-hour to close out). Will go into Tucson tomorrow to grocery shop, book shop, ISP shop. Will be glad to get my foodstuffs in here and stop eating at the DQ, even though their grilled chicken salad is good (but they've been out of them for two days).

I've just eaten popcorn shrimp with coleslaw and french fries -- can't do too much of that and still fit my clothes. Have a nice big glass of tea, AC is running so it's 70 in here, and I'm naked. Life is good.

Sept 7

Labor Day 6.30 am

Busy day yesterday. I did well in sales, though it was because people were in a buying mood, not because I'm such a good seller. Also, Chuck turned over a couple of nice sales to me (like Minnetonka moccasins $75 a pair). Am beginning to remember a little more every day so don't foresee any problems learning the stuff. When it slows down a little, I'll get out on the floor more to learn the stock.

Today will be a full 8-hr shift so I expect to hurt a lot. My schedule will settle down in a couple of weeks to 5 days 6-hr shifts. Also, tomorrow the store starts closing at 7pm, so I'll work 1.30-7-30 normally. Uniform shirts are on order for me. Normally, it's t-shirts until you promote up a little but I whined and pleaded so am getting the polo shirts. And they're dark blue, not YELLOW! Yah! Blue or black pants, closed-toe shoes. I have a makeshift nametag right now but will get an official one soon.

Tomorrow I work 4 hours and then have two days off. Boy, do I need them. Of course, I have all sorts of chores to do, like laundry. But I'll have to unhook and drive 30 miles to north Tucson (Marana) to shop -- am out of almost everything -- and then 30 miles back. Chuck said we can work it out so I can go with them sometimes.

You'll notice that this offer came on my 3rd day here. The Crescent City people never made that offer at all, none of them, not the workamper or the locals. Yep, glad to be gone, and so much for California.

I'll be working mostly with Travis, husband (?) of Micah. They have two small kids and live in one of the trailers in the compound. She's small and fast-talking and fast-moving; about 24, used to be a waitress in Virginia City NV. He's tall and skinny and sort of looks like Neil Patrick Harris -- fine-boned and blond; about 25. He flirts with the customers (female). Says Micah has no sense of humor about that sort of thing. I don't know enough about their relationship to have an opinion on whether she has cause.

Kim is tall and fat with large discolored teeth (dark, like rotten). Pleasant. About 30. She's mostly been working out in the convenience store that handles the gas and sundries. I'll learn that, too, eventually. And you get to sit down out there, so it would be a welcome change. Alice, the assistant manager, is local, usually works morning shift (store opens at 7am), is short (5'5" or so), about 50.

There are more people. Some I have met in passing; some I haven't even seen yet. But I'm sure I'll get to know them all.

The Dairy Queen is at one end of the building, with separate management and employees, but owned by Bowlin. Open to our store. We get the employee discount on their food, and I discovered they have a very nice, large salad with grilled chicken, so I have something to eat.

Short story about Bowlin Inc: They had two kinds of stores, Bowlin Travel Plazas (nice Indian stuff) and Stuckeys (schlock) until about 20 years ago when the old man died. The son inherited the Bowlins; the daughter got the Stuckeys. A few years later, the daughter sold out to the son and so now there aren't any more Stuckeys; they're all Bowlin. But this is the store I remember that was a Stuckeys when I lived in Tucson 1972-87.

10.30 pm

This hot weather is kicking my ass. Remember I spent the summer where it never got over 70 deg. Then I drove 1200 miles, into 100 deg plus heat, and started right in working. So I've had no break.

Chuck's been good, though. After the first day of 8 hours, he backed me off to 4.5 hours. Today, though, was an 8-hr day and I had to bail after 4 hrs. Felt funny all day, kind of faintly dizzy. I got something to eat from the DQ and a large cup of ice cream and a big cup of tea. Came into the cool rig (AC on), ate, drank, put ice cream in freezer for later, and then keeled over for about two hours. Got up about 7pm and ate the ice cream about 9. It's late now but still so hot I have the AC on.

We talked about my acclimation problems and he's going to set my schedule for 25 hrs/wk for a while, until I adjust. I think my color, or lack thereof, today kind of scared him -- he was talking about hauling me off to the doctor. So we're going to ease me in a little slower, which will be good.

And we are heading into "fall" (hah!) so we should be dropping into the 90s soon. The monsoon season this year is the 8th driest year on record. Too bad as the rain is both needed and a welcome relief. We've had a couple of thunderboomers since I've been here and they were great. Several more would be even better.

Oh yeah. The company magazine arrived today. The headline read:

It's Fall. Time to Sell the Senior Travelers.

What I want to know is how much to ask for those senior travelers? Are the prices set by age? I mean, is someone who's 70 priced higher or lower than someone who's 80?

Sept 6

Worked a full 8-hr shift Fri and a 4.5 hr shift Sat; and will work 4.5 hrs today. There is no sitting down at all so by Fri. night I hurt pretty bad. He's going to try to ease me into it as much as he can. Cannot believe how antiquated their procedures are -- items all have barcodes but we don't have scanners and the registers aren't tied into a system. Certain things (like gold jewelry) have to be closely accounted so we have to cut the barcode tag off and tape it to a paper form and write up the sale info on the form and in a binder. There are little forms for everything, which means a lot of remembering for clerks.

Have found out that Chuck (who's a real talker) was a homeless street bum alcoholic in San Diego until about 20 years ago. Don't know what made him get sober. He's about 5'7", seamed and craggy face, very energetic. Loves to sell and is good at upselling, not my best thing; I usually let the customers direct themselves with only a little nudging from me.

I hate feeling that pressure from clerks myself so I don't do it, even though I know that many customers don't even notice and like to be directed. My grandmother was a master at commandeering a customer's will and informing her of what she would buy (and what she would not). And the customers seemed to think of that as "being taken care of"! I find it intolerable.

Sept 3

First wifi access since I left Tucson on Sept 20th.

Got up at 3.30 and headed out of town. Got to the Flying J in Eloy about 5am and had breakfast, which immediately tore up my stomach. Mind you, I only ate one bite of the greasy sausage, so it was the eggs, english muffin, or hashbrowns that did it. Or the bad coffee. Or the combo.

Hung out and dozed for a couple of hours. Got the rig washed at a truck wash place that had a sign We Wash RVs. It looks good. I think they were taken aback at my little rig -- their idea of RVs is probably monster Class A's (buses) or huge 5th wheels. But they did it and I had a Rain-X treatment put on the windows and other rubber. $27.50. Worth it.

Pulled in to the Picacho Peak DQ Plaza about 10am. It's obviously been here a while and isn't very upscale. I'll take some pictures eventually. Met Chuck, who got suddenly promoted to manager about 3 months ago, as the couple who were doing it weren't working out. They're now demoted and being given a second chance at the Plaza across the street (same company). Chuck's wife, Zelia (Zee), doesn't work. Next to the commercial area (store, Dairy Queen, gas/convenience store) is a compound with a few trailers and a few RV spots. One of the trailers is empty and is used as our laundry; I think it'll be my shower room, too (there's no hot water but that's okay). Local water isn't fit to drink (assorted weird chemicals plus arsenic traces) so bottled water is trucked in for us. There's no TV cable but I've managed to pull in several Phoenix stations with my antenna. I need to put on that antenna extender thingy I got and see whether it really works.

There's also no wifi!! The store has a satellite link but it's a dedicated company line. This is not acceptable; something will have to be done. I'm going to try my cellphone company and see whether they have a plan so I can connect the phone to the laptop and get a usable signal that way. Or I'll call a local ISP and see about signing up. Must have internet!!

I chose the one RV spot that has a tree on the west side, right next to Chuck and Zee's 5th wheel. He was a Budget Rent-a-car franchisee in San Diego but the economy bottomed them out, so they're now fulltime RV-ers. I need to get some of that quilted foil stuff and make window shades, tire shades, water hose shades, etc. The AC in the cabin has been on high since I got set up and came inside to hole up for the rest of the day. I got out the little fan to stir the air around better. I also discovered that not only is I-10 on one side of us, but a train track is on the other. A true garden spot, god wot.

I'm starting work at noon tomorrow. I think it's going to be fine. Chuck seems nice and has a good attitude.