Hope everyone has a good holiday. I'm enjoying mine. Walked down to the Apache Cafe. Will have their T-Day buffet soon. Talked to my brother, who's in the process of transferring all 200+ of my music CDs to his iPod. I left them with him when in SF last May. Then he will find me an iPod and transfer them all to it and send it to me. Yah!
Will talk to Quinn Yarbro soon and get the latest newsletter issue ready to go out on Monday.
Oh right, comments from B. HazMat is short for Hazardous Materials -- which is pretty much any chemical or combustible, as far as I can tell.
The naked man -- heh heh -- is a wizened old coot who owns a used bookstore in Yuma AZ and works there naked, though I believe he's begun to wear a cock sheath. He's had the store for years and has been written up numerous times, sometimes nationally.
That's it, folks, until next Monday.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wed 11-25
Wednesday 11-25
When I got to work at 1pm, Shane said Alfred had come by the store for a flying visit and wanted me to call him. I got him at 7.30 but he said he was eating dinner and would call me tomorrow. Shane also said Alfred told him that I would be moving in two weeks.
I think, if that's true and is confirmed by Alfred, that I'll give it a try. But hitch itch is getting stronger. I may just quit in January anyhow and go to Quartzsite for some fun. The only break I've had since last June 1 is the 5-day drive to Picacho.
Was invited to go with Bob, the regular, to Cracker Barrel for T-Day dinner, where he's gone for 40-odd years. I thanked him but declined; said I have a personal problem with them (but didn't tell him it is their right-wing politics that's the problem). I'll just go to the Apache Cafe.
When I got to work at 1pm, Shane said Alfred had come by the store for a flying visit and wanted me to call him. I got him at 7.30 but he said he was eating dinner and would call me tomorrow. Shane also said Alfred told him that I would be moving in two weeks.
I think, if that's true and is confirmed by Alfred, that I'll give it a try. But hitch itch is getting stronger. I may just quit in January anyhow and go to Quartzsite for some fun. The only break I've had since last June 1 is the 5-day drive to Picacho.
Was invited to go with Bob, the regular, to Cracker Barrel for T-Day dinner, where he's gone for 40-odd years. I thanked him but declined; said I have a personal problem with them (but didn't tell him it is their right-wing politics that's the problem). I'll just go to the Apache Cafe.
Tue 11-24
Tuesday 11-24 10.30 pm
Well, I talked to Alfred on Monday and told him a lot of what's been going on. He said he was going to drop by the store today and would come out to my rig and we'd have a long talk about what he could do about it.
But he was a no-show and no phone call, either.
Now, he may have had some emergency he had to handle, or he may have had a heart attack and died.
Decision time is upon me, and I'm pretty sure it won't take more than a week.
If I do quit, I'll go to Quartzsite until I hear from Strates Shows. If I don't get that job, I'll find something else.
Well, I talked to Alfred on Monday and told him a lot of what's been going on. He said he was going to drop by the store today and would come out to my rig and we'd have a long talk about what he could do about it.
But he was a no-show and no phone call, either.
Now, he may have had some emergency he had to handle, or he may have had a heart attack and died.
Decision time is upon me, and I'm pretty sure it won't take more than a week.
If I do quit, I'll go to Quartzsite until I hear from Strates Shows. If I don't get that job, I'll find something else.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Today
So I did call Alfred and we had a long talk about my unhappiness. He's coming to the Akela Flats store tomorrow and we'll have another long talk and decide just when I'm going to the Alamogordo store. I told him I almost just walked out the other day, which I've never done, but which is a good measure of just how unhappy I am. So we'll see.
As to the comment about Rose reading my blog -- I'm pretty sure none of these people read at all, blogs, books, magazines, newspapers, anything. I bring in magazines I'm done with every week and invite them all to take what they want. None does and they get taken away to a shelter.
Allergy attack has subsided somewhat, just some drippiness and an occasional sneeze. Bought some local honey to see if that will help.
Will report next week on what Alfred and I decide. Thanks for all the emotional support, folks. It really means a lot to me.
As to the comment about Rose reading my blog -- I'm pretty sure none of these people read at all, blogs, books, magazines, newspapers, anything. I bring in magazines I'm done with every week and invite them all to take what they want. None does and they get taken away to a shelter.
Allergy attack has subsided somewhat, just some drippiness and an occasional sneeze. Bought some local honey to see if that will help.
Will report next week on what Alfred and I decide. Thanks for all the emotional support, folks. It really means a lot to me.
Sat-Sun 11/21-22
Saturday 11-21 & Sunday 11-22
It's almost open warfare between me and Rose. When it was time for my break, I said, I'll just go and let you have ALL the customers. And there were a few other incidents. I've come to the conclusion that she has a huge inferiority complex which she tries to assuage by (1) cozying up to the boss (Leeann) and (2) picking on the low persons (me). I hope she doesn't irritate me to the point I lose control of my legendary (at least in my own mind) temper. I've tried several different approaches and none has worked, so I've given up.
In the middle of the night (2.30 am) I woke up with a massive allergy attack under way, nose and eyes streaming, machine gun sneezing, sinuses packing up etc etc. Took one antihistamine pill, then another, then another, over the next few hours (max is 5 in 24 hrs), and it finally backed off just a little. Took a fourth when I got to work at 1pm Sunday. Had been up and down, dozing and napping and allergy-ing. One hour of work convinced me that I wasn't up to it, sweating with fever and dizzy.
Told Leeann, who was getting ready to leave. No sympathy, just "I'll see what I can do." Then, "I have to go to town but then I'll be back. And then I get to do a 13-hr day tomorrow."
Well, I said, I didn't do it on purpose, you know.
Anyhow, she came back and I left work at 3.45, just as the pill had started to wear off.
Believe I'll be calling Alfred tomorrow to tell him I can no longer stand working here at this store, and maybe I'm not cut out for Bowlin. The more I learn, the more bureaucratic bullshit there is. Example: a display case came in for textile goods, along with a diagram of what goods are to be put where. So, no initiative needed, thank you very much.
Not for me, I think.
It's almost open warfare between me and Rose. When it was time for my break, I said, I'll just go and let you have ALL the customers. And there were a few other incidents. I've come to the conclusion that she has a huge inferiority complex which she tries to assuage by (1) cozying up to the boss (Leeann) and (2) picking on the low persons (me). I hope she doesn't irritate me to the point I lose control of my legendary (at least in my own mind) temper. I've tried several different approaches and none has worked, so I've given up.
In the middle of the night (2.30 am) I woke up with a massive allergy attack under way, nose and eyes streaming, machine gun sneezing, sinuses packing up etc etc. Took one antihistamine pill, then another, then another, over the next few hours (max is 5 in 24 hrs), and it finally backed off just a little. Took a fourth when I got to work at 1pm Sunday. Had been up and down, dozing and napping and allergy-ing. One hour of work convinced me that I wasn't up to it, sweating with fever and dizzy.
Told Leeann, who was getting ready to leave. No sympathy, just "I'll see what I can do." Then, "I have to go to town but then I'll be back. And then I get to do a 13-hr day tomorrow."
Well, I said, I didn't do it on purpose, you know.
Anyhow, she came back and I left work at 3.45, just as the pill had started to wear off.
Believe I'll be calling Alfred tomorrow to tell him I can no longer stand working here at this store, and maybe I'm not cut out for Bowlin. The more I learn, the more bureaucratic bullshit there is. Example: a display case came in for textile goods, along with a diagram of what goods are to be put where. So, no initiative needed, thank you very much.
Not for me, I think.
Friday 11/20
Friday 11/20
So next Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. Bowlin gave a 20 lb turkey to all its employees. I declined. After all, it's just me, my freezer is too small (though I could have left it in the store's freezer), my oven is too small to cook it. So far, nobody has invited me to dinner, and I don't expect anyone will. And I don't think I want to spend several hours being polite with any of these people. I think I'll walk down to the Apache Cafe; they'll have something. We close at 2pm that day, if there aren't any customers, that is.
Got a call from Carol up at Alamogordo, wanting to know if I had any news about when I'd be transferring. Said no, though Alfred is "working on it." We talked about the people here and agreed that we didn't like any of them, the store is filthy, and Ryan (the 17-yr-old) is useless.
Told her about the request on his "to-do" list one day last week to clean the rubber mat that had gotten some soft drink syrup spilled on it. His comment was "With?" And so it hasn't been cleaned yet. How about soap and hot water, just to start?! It's going to be interesting to see how he adapts (or not) to the Army next year. No hiding out in the warehouse talking on the phone for hours and still getting paid for it. Sheesh.
Saw an ad in Workamper News from the Strates Shows company (the carnival I want to work for). Called them to say I'd sent in a resume last spring and would still like to be considered for any kind of office work or cashier or whatever. They said they'd pull my resume and put it in the folder for consideration for next year's season, but it might be a while as this season is just winding down. Think I'll hang on with Bowlin for a few more weeks. If I'm still unhappy by the end of December, I'll quit and go to Quartzsite, where the big rally happens in late Jan. and lots of RVW women attend.
One woman suggested I might get a job at the bookstore owned by the Naked Man (though lately he's begun wearing a cock sheath). I said, but but I'd have to look at him all the time; shudder. He's not very attractive. It's a thought, though.
Tomorrow I'm going to take the Hazmat test, per Alfred's instructions. Guess I'm not going to be let go. Leeann said he's working out a lot of stuff at other stores in order to be able to transfer someone here. We'll see.
So next Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. Bowlin gave a 20 lb turkey to all its employees. I declined. After all, it's just me, my freezer is too small (though I could have left it in the store's freezer), my oven is too small to cook it. So far, nobody has invited me to dinner, and I don't expect anyone will. And I don't think I want to spend several hours being polite with any of these people. I think I'll walk down to the Apache Cafe; they'll have something. We close at 2pm that day, if there aren't any customers, that is.
Got a call from Carol up at Alamogordo, wanting to know if I had any news about when I'd be transferring. Said no, though Alfred is "working on it." We talked about the people here and agreed that we didn't like any of them, the store is filthy, and Ryan (the 17-yr-old) is useless.
Told her about the request on his "to-do" list one day last week to clean the rubber mat that had gotten some soft drink syrup spilled on it. His comment was "With?" And so it hasn't been cleaned yet. How about soap and hot water, just to start?! It's going to be interesting to see how he adapts (or not) to the Army next year. No hiding out in the warehouse talking on the phone for hours and still getting paid for it. Sheesh.
Saw an ad in Workamper News from the Strates Shows company (the carnival I want to work for). Called them to say I'd sent in a resume last spring and would still like to be considered for any kind of office work or cashier or whatever. They said they'd pull my resume and put it in the folder for consideration for next year's season, but it might be a while as this season is just winding down. Think I'll hang on with Bowlin for a few more weeks. If I'm still unhappy by the end of December, I'll quit and go to Quartzsite, where the big rally happens in late Jan. and lots of RVW women attend.
One woman suggested I might get a job at the bookstore owned by the Naked Man (though lately he's begun wearing a cock sheath). I said, but but I'd have to look at him all the time; shudder. He's not very attractive. It's a thought, though.
Tomorrow I'm going to take the Hazmat test, per Alfred's instructions. Guess I'm not going to be let go. Leeann said he's working out a lot of stuff at other stores in order to be able to transfer someone here. We'll see.
Wednesday 11/18
Wednesday 11-18 9am
Rolled around on the ground yesterday, underneath the rig, taking pictures of the black water tank to send to a fellow Toyota RV owner. He needs to replace his and our models are the same. Very difficult to measure something with no square edges, especially while lying on one's back with about 4" of maneuvering space. But got it done. Slithered out and then picked off goatheads (local name; think sandspurs) from my back and side and feet.
Winterizing the water hose with foam wrap doesn't seem to have helped. Past two mornings haven't had water till the sun warms it up. Hmmm. Fortunately, I always have water in my Brita pitcher and in two 1-gal jugs.
Was surprised that Joanna what's-her-face (the "model") was eliminated on Dancing With the Stars. I thought she'd come a long way and showed real promise as a dancer. And Donny Osmond, though a stellar performer, had been messing up recently. But he is a real crowd pleaser, though he has trouble portraying any emotion other than upbeat showman, so a tango's fierceness is beyond him, and a salsa's sexiness looks pouty instead.
Didn't actually watch the results show last night as it's on opposite So You Think You Can Dance, a real dancers show. The krumper Russell has been wowing everybody with his ability to learn other styles. And the b-boy Legacy has recently been growing mightily, too -- did a killer Paso Doble last night (barechested. Yum). The ballroom guy and the girl (forgot her style) he's partnered with did a really fine contemporary dance routine -- she was excellent and he was a rock solid partner.
Wish I could have continued with my ballroom dancing career, though it was doing my knees no favors. Ah well.
Rolled around on the ground yesterday, underneath the rig, taking pictures of the black water tank to send to a fellow Toyota RV owner. He needs to replace his and our models are the same. Very difficult to measure something with no square edges, especially while lying on one's back with about 4" of maneuvering space. But got it done. Slithered out and then picked off goatheads (local name; think sandspurs) from my back and side and feet.
Winterizing the water hose with foam wrap doesn't seem to have helped. Past two mornings haven't had water till the sun warms it up. Hmmm. Fortunately, I always have water in my Brita pitcher and in two 1-gal jugs.
Was surprised that Joanna what's-her-face (the "model") was eliminated on Dancing With the Stars. I thought she'd come a long way and showed real promise as a dancer. And Donny Osmond, though a stellar performer, had been messing up recently. But he is a real crowd pleaser, though he has trouble portraying any emotion other than upbeat showman, so a tango's fierceness is beyond him, and a salsa's sexiness looks pouty instead.
Didn't actually watch the results show last night as it's on opposite So You Think You Can Dance, a real dancers show. The krumper Russell has been wowing everybody with his ability to learn other styles. And the b-boy Legacy has recently been growing mightily, too -- did a killer Paso Doble last night (barechested. Yum). The ballroom guy and the girl (forgot her style) he's partnered with did a really fine contemporary dance routine -- she was excellent and he was a rock solid partner.
Wish I could have continued with my ballroom dancing career, though it was doing my knees no favors. Ah well.
Tuesday 11/17
Tuesday 11/17
Was reading the new Rolling Stone magazine on the 25th anniversary of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concerts. Reminded of some of the music I've both enjoyed and heard live.
1980 Tucson Racquet Club, poolside. B.B. King. This was the year I took "off" after quitting the Univ. of Arizona. I spent a lot of time at the Racquet Club and one summer night, there was the great man himself. I was about 50 ft away up on the snack bar patio. Magical.
[Sidenote: Had lunch on this patio with Ross what's-his-name who was in a popular Western series on TV, two guys, lots of science, can't remember the name. Nice guy. We talked food, which relaxed him from being the "star".)
1970s or 80s Tucson. Pinetop Perkins and the Muddy Waters Band. There was a dive bar I used to frequent. One long half was bar, the other long half was music and dancing. And there was Pinetop Perkins, somewhere in his 70s then (he's still performing now in his 90s) and members of the Muddy Waters Band, rolling out that barrelhouse piano, in that small smoky sweaty bar, people milling and drinking and yelling and dancing. Perfect.
1970s UofA campus Tucson. Papa John Creach. I'd been a fan of his since I heard his electrifying fiddle playing backup for the Jefferson Airplane. A concert hall was not the best venue for him -- no dancing etc -- but the sound was glorious.
1990s 45 Cherry, Asheville. Koko Taylor. An ambitious blues bar, sadly defunct. I was dating Andy, a younger man who frequented DBN and was smitten with me. He was a music radio reporter and took me along to hear the great blues shouter. Loved her music and was already a fan, but she's so short (and the floor so flat) I could only see the top of her hair. Another time at this same bar, I went with Andy to hear Willie "The Lion" Smith, another great blues guy. Fun times.
If we go way way back, to the early 1960s, I saw Jimmy Reed play in Houston. He was so stoned, they had to tie him to the chair so he wouldn't fall out. But he gave a great performance. One of the few Delta Blues guys I like (I like Chicago blues better).
Also in Houston at that time, Etta James was the house singer at a bar and she and I shared a fondness for Sherman's cigarettes (she liked the blue paper ones). That's when I was involved with the drug dealer and was doing a lot of speed (also another story).
Memories can be fun sometimes. Now, back to the Rolling Stone.
Was reading the new Rolling Stone magazine on the 25th anniversary of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concerts. Reminded of some of the music I've both enjoyed and heard live.
1980 Tucson Racquet Club, poolside. B.B. King. This was the year I took "off" after quitting the Univ. of Arizona. I spent a lot of time at the Racquet Club and one summer night, there was the great man himself. I was about 50 ft away up on the snack bar patio. Magical.
[Sidenote: Had lunch on this patio with Ross what's-his-name who was in a popular Western series on TV, two guys, lots of science, can't remember the name. Nice guy. We talked food, which relaxed him from being the "star".)
1970s or 80s Tucson. Pinetop Perkins and the Muddy Waters Band. There was a dive bar I used to frequent. One long half was bar, the other long half was music and dancing. And there was Pinetop Perkins, somewhere in his 70s then (he's still performing now in his 90s) and members of the Muddy Waters Band, rolling out that barrelhouse piano, in that small smoky sweaty bar, people milling and drinking and yelling and dancing. Perfect.
1970s UofA campus Tucson. Papa John Creach. I'd been a fan of his since I heard his electrifying fiddle playing backup for the Jefferson Airplane. A concert hall was not the best venue for him -- no dancing etc -- but the sound was glorious.
1990s 45 Cherry, Asheville. Koko Taylor. An ambitious blues bar, sadly defunct. I was dating Andy, a younger man who frequented DBN and was smitten with me. He was a music radio reporter and took me along to hear the great blues shouter. Loved her music and was already a fan, but she's so short (and the floor so flat) I could only see the top of her hair. Another time at this same bar, I went with Andy to hear Willie "The Lion" Smith, another great blues guy. Fun times.
If we go way way back, to the early 1960s, I saw Jimmy Reed play in Houston. He was so stoned, they had to tie him to the chair so he wouldn't fall out. But he gave a great performance. One of the few Delta Blues guys I like (I like Chicago blues better).
Also in Houston at that time, Etta James was the house singer at a bar and she and I shared a fondness for Sherman's cigarettes (she liked the blue paper ones). That's when I was involved with the drug dealer and was doing a lot of speed (also another story).
Memories can be fun sometimes. Now, back to the Rolling Stone.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Today
Have done the Deming run. Gas, propane, groceries. Also made an appointment to get my eyes checked in a couple of weeks (if I'm still here) and then get new close-up glasses, which they'll be able to fit to my current frames (hooray).
Am now sitting in the Apache Cafe, having had my meatloaf lunch.
I'm so boring. They know what I'm going to order now.
I was more pissed at Rose than I thought and, after having decided to let it go, wound up snarling at her the very next day. I wandered off toward a customer to see if she needed any help. Rose piped up from where she was ringing up a customer, "that's my customer." I wheeled around and said, ever so sweetly with clenched teeth, "of course she is!" She turned from her customers to start arguing with me, and I just said "Fine!" and went stalking off.
Ever since, she's been extra friendly and helpful. Who knew?
December 3rd is the end of the 3-month trial period. If nothing has changed by then (i.e., I'm still at Akela), then I'm going to quit. An RVW friend who's in Quartzsite AZ right now has checked into some park rate there and found one for $220/month (plus electric, which would probably be about $100). I could bop over there for a couple of months and then find something else.
We'll see.
Am now sitting in the Apache Cafe, having had my meatloaf lunch.
I'm so boring. They know what I'm going to order now.
I was more pissed at Rose than I thought and, after having decided to let it go, wound up snarling at her the very next day. I wandered off toward a customer to see if she needed any help. Rose piped up from where she was ringing up a customer, "that's my customer." I wheeled around and said, ever so sweetly with clenched teeth, "of course she is!" She turned from her customers to start arguing with me, and I just said "Fine!" and went stalking off.
Ever since, she's been extra friendly and helpful. Who knew?
December 3rd is the end of the 3-month trial period. If nothing has changed by then (i.e., I'm still at Akela), then I'm going to quit. An RVW friend who's in Quartzsite AZ right now has checked into some park rate there and found one for $220/month (plus electric, which would probably be about $100). I could bop over there for a couple of months and then find something else.
We'll see.
Friday 11-13
Friday the 13th
Made a nice big sale (before Rose came to work, of course). There's a huge box of fireworks, mostly artillery shells, that separately would sell for $1200, on sale for $700. Sold one. However, had to get Shane over to explain exactly what's in the box (which is about 8 ft by 3 ft) -- he gave the customer a long spiel about the contents and basically sold him on it, so I wound up giving Shane the commission. I just got to ring it up.
Now, the commission rate is only 3%, and the total sale was $800, so we're not talking huge amounts of money here. But it was the right thing to do. It would have been really nice if I had gotten a crash course in fireworks: what the types are, what they do, etc. But I've mentioned the haphazard training methods before.
Rose was up to her usual poaching behavior. One was particularly blatant. A guy walked in, walked up to me at the counter and asked me a question about an item. Before I could get my mouth open to answer, Rose came from wherever she was, passed behind me saying, That's right over here, and off they went.
I was seriously pissed. Gave considerable thought to having it out with her. But I talked myself out of it. Over my long life, I've learned not to say things in the heat of anger as I tend to use a sledgehammer instead of a scalpel. Once I get really angry and let it all blurt out, there's no going back or mending it. I think I'll save it all up and have a talk with her when I know I'm out of here for sure.
I'm pretty sure she doesn't do it to anybody but me. After all, I'm low person on the totem pole and everybody else is either management (Leeann, Shane) or longtime employee who doesn't care about sales (Mary Lou).
Grrrr.
Made a nice big sale (before Rose came to work, of course). There's a huge box of fireworks, mostly artillery shells, that separately would sell for $1200, on sale for $700. Sold one. However, had to get Shane over to explain exactly what's in the box (which is about 8 ft by 3 ft) -- he gave the customer a long spiel about the contents and basically sold him on it, so I wound up giving Shane the commission. I just got to ring it up.
Now, the commission rate is only 3%, and the total sale was $800, so we're not talking huge amounts of money here. But it was the right thing to do. It would have been really nice if I had gotten a crash course in fireworks: what the types are, what they do, etc. But I've mentioned the haphazard training methods before.
Rose was up to her usual poaching behavior. One was particularly blatant. A guy walked in, walked up to me at the counter and asked me a question about an item. Before I could get my mouth open to answer, Rose came from wherever she was, passed behind me saying, That's right over here, and off they went.
I was seriously pissed. Gave considerable thought to having it out with her. But I talked myself out of it. Over my long life, I've learned not to say things in the heat of anger as I tend to use a sledgehammer instead of a scalpel. Once I get really angry and let it all blurt out, there's no going back or mending it. I think I'll save it all up and have a talk with her when I know I'm out of here for sure.
I'm pretty sure she doesn't do it to anybody but me. After all, I'm low person on the totem pole and everybody else is either management (Leeann, Shane) or longtime employee who doesn't care about sales (Mary Lou).
Grrrr.
Thursday 11-28
Thursday 11-12 8.45pm
Business has been really slow (already mentioned more than once), which means lots of standing around (mentioned many times), which makes me hurt (mentioned to the point of overkill).
There. That's the update.
I talked to Alfred last Friday and he said he hoped to have news about the move to Alamogordo within two weeks. We'll see.
Ryan and I have sort of "bonded" over kung fu flicks. And even Rose is more friendly these days, which sort of happened all at once after my new strategy of standing way back and letting her have all the sales she wants. Cause I really don't give a shit.
A roadrunner has been strolling by my window in the early mornings.
Big storm is rolling in off the pacific so we should cool down a lot by Sunday, to about a high of 58, then slowly back into the low to mid 60s. [Update: the front is moving more slowly so cold now is Monday-Tuesday, with a low Tue. night of 32 deg.]
Other than that, no news.
Business has been really slow (already mentioned more than once), which means lots of standing around (mentioned many times), which makes me hurt (mentioned to the point of overkill).
There. That's the update.
I talked to Alfred last Friday and he said he hoped to have news about the move to Alamogordo within two weeks. We'll see.
Ryan and I have sort of "bonded" over kung fu flicks. And even Rose is more friendly these days, which sort of happened all at once after my new strategy of standing way back and letting her have all the sales she wants. Cause I really don't give a shit.
A roadrunner has been strolling by my window in the early mornings.
Big storm is rolling in off the pacific so we should cool down a lot by Sunday, to about a high of 58, then slowly back into the low to mid 60s. [Update: the front is moving more slowly so cold now is Monday-Tuesday, with a low Tue. night of 32 deg.]
Other than that, no news.
Late Post for 10-30
Friday 10-30
Forgot to tell you about the Greyhound bus that had to stop here late Thursday (maybe it was Wednesday) because one of the wipers busted and they needed to fix a new one on and needed pliers (!). First Rose and I knew of it was when about 30 people piled into the store, headed for the bathrooms, and then started buying warm things (blankets, ponchos, bajas, etc; asked for gloves and knit caps, which we don't have). Also bought lots of snacks and drinks.
They really needed the wipers as it was spitting rain and snow flurries and was cold. The driver asked for pliers, which I found, but he broke them -- I mean, the metal shaft broke in half. Must have been really cheap pliers. Anyhow, I went and got my toolbox and they (the driver and two "helpers" from the passengers) chose my vise grips and my channel locks and got the job done.
One of the helpers admired my Russian blue stone ring, said his father was a jeweler and he recognized the stone. The driver was very pleased with our service and said he was going to mention it to all the other drivers.
Anyhow, Friday itself was another day of me standing around while Rose bustled in front of me and got almost $800 in commissionable sales while I managed about $150. I find this sort of competition distasteful, which is why I've never liked working for commissions. That was the big problem when I was teaching ballroom dancing -- the base salary was about $50 a week and you were supposed to make it up to a living wage with commissions. But that required pressuring people into signing contracts for more and more lessons. I loved teaching but not that kind of selling.
And RIP, Soupy Sales.
Forgot to tell you about the Greyhound bus that had to stop here late Thursday (maybe it was Wednesday) because one of the wipers busted and they needed to fix a new one on and needed pliers (!). First Rose and I knew of it was when about 30 people piled into the store, headed for the bathrooms, and then started buying warm things (blankets, ponchos, bajas, etc; asked for gloves and knit caps, which we don't have). Also bought lots of snacks and drinks.
They really needed the wipers as it was spitting rain and snow flurries and was cold. The driver asked for pliers, which I found, but he broke them -- I mean, the metal shaft broke in half. Must have been really cheap pliers. Anyhow, I went and got my toolbox and they (the driver and two "helpers" from the passengers) chose my vise grips and my channel locks and got the job done.
One of the helpers admired my Russian blue stone ring, said his father was a jeweler and he recognized the stone. The driver was very pleased with our service and said he was going to mention it to all the other drivers.
Anyhow, Friday itself was another day of me standing around while Rose bustled in front of me and got almost $800 in commissionable sales while I managed about $150. I find this sort of competition distasteful, which is why I've never liked working for commissions. That was the big problem when I was teaching ballroom dancing -- the base salary was about $50 a week and you were supposed to make it up to a living wage with commissions. But that required pressuring people into signing contracts for more and more lessons. I loved teaching but not that kind of selling.
And RIP, Soupy Sales.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Monday 11/9
Big adventure today! Instead of going 20 miles west to Deming, I went 35 miles east to Las Cruces! Whoo hoo!
It's a city of about 75,000, and has a Barnes & Noble. That was my main reason to go there. I haven't been to a bookstore since I left Tucson in mid-September, so it was time to be a little bad (financially, that is). And, of course, a few of my favorite authors had new books out (JD Robb, Barbara Kingsolver, Charlaine Harris -- the Harper Blaine series).
Then I found the local equivalent of EarthFare and got some good coffee and bread and eggs, and a few other goodies.
By that time, I was tired and so headed back to the Apache Cafe to do the wifi thing. Had thought about eating in Las Cruces, just for something different, but the only Japanese I could find was at a restaurant called "Euro-Asian Cuisine" so I thought not.
Am still at the cafe and about to go check my friends' blogs, check the bank, and go "home." Watch the dance shows this evening while munching on blueberry croissants. Sounds good to me. See y'all next week.
It's a city of about 75,000, and has a Barnes & Noble. That was my main reason to go there. I haven't been to a bookstore since I left Tucson in mid-September, so it was time to be a little bad (financially, that is). And, of course, a few of my favorite authors had new books out (JD Robb, Barbara Kingsolver, Charlaine Harris -- the Harper Blaine series).
Then I found the local equivalent of EarthFare and got some good coffee and bread and eggs, and a few other goodies.
By that time, I was tired and so headed back to the Apache Cafe to do the wifi thing. Had thought about eating in Las Cruces, just for something different, but the only Japanese I could find was at a restaurant called "Euro-Asian Cuisine" so I thought not.
Am still at the cafe and about to go check my friends' blogs, check the bank, and go "home." Watch the dance shows this evening while munching on blueberry croissants. Sounds good to me. See y'all next week.
Saturday 11/7
Saturday 11/7 6.30am
Well! At least it was busy yesterday. I still didn't have a good money day but there were people in the store to talk to and help out. We've gotten a 25¢ table and things are flying off it. So the sales don't amount to much in toto.
I don't hurt nearly as much when I'm busy scurrying around; it's the standing that's the problem. And we did have some things to check in, price, and put out on the quarter table (one item was little ceramic western hats covered in glitter). You know about glitter, don't you? It gets everywhere. Just touch the little hats and your hands are covered in blue glitter.
I wish that guy who wanted the "widower's" ring would come back; I've found some here in the store that would fill the bill. He was looking for a wedding-band style ring but black, to indicate that he is a widower but not interested in being set-up with friends of friends etc. I hadn't heard of this before.
I see out my window that we have some clouds, nicely pink with dawn light. This is a major weather change from the same old same old blue cloudless sky. There's not supposed to be any rain with this cloud cover, and it'll still be in the mid-70s (about 10 deg. above normal). One of the main reasons I left Tucson after 14 years was the sameness of the weather -- boring boring.
Amusing incident yestereve. A customer (tall burly guy) saw our stuffed jackalope and began asking questions about it -- are they scarce? are they a mutation? do they damage crops? etc. Ryan was talking to him and soberly answered all these questions. Those of us who could hear were having a hard time not laughing out loud (customers, too). As soon as the guy left, we all laughed, including Ryan. One customer snorted, "Easterners!"
So I told him about growing up at the beach and people would come from inland (like New Mexico, Texas, the Midwest) and want to take some ocean home with them in a jar. We would carefully suggest they pour a little out so that when the tide came in, the jar wouldn't overflow. And they would carefully do so, put the lid on, and go home happy, leaving us laughing at "Inlanders!"
Well! At least it was busy yesterday. I still didn't have a good money day but there were people in the store to talk to and help out. We've gotten a 25¢ table and things are flying off it. So the sales don't amount to much in toto.
I don't hurt nearly as much when I'm busy scurrying around; it's the standing that's the problem. And we did have some things to check in, price, and put out on the quarter table (one item was little ceramic western hats covered in glitter). You know about glitter, don't you? It gets everywhere. Just touch the little hats and your hands are covered in blue glitter.
I wish that guy who wanted the "widower's" ring would come back; I've found some here in the store that would fill the bill. He was looking for a wedding-band style ring but black, to indicate that he is a widower but not interested in being set-up with friends of friends etc. I hadn't heard of this before.
I see out my window that we have some clouds, nicely pink with dawn light. This is a major weather change from the same old same old blue cloudless sky. There's not supposed to be any rain with this cloud cover, and it'll still be in the mid-70s (about 10 deg. above normal). One of the main reasons I left Tucson after 14 years was the sameness of the weather -- boring boring.
Amusing incident yestereve. A customer (tall burly guy) saw our stuffed jackalope and began asking questions about it -- are they scarce? are they a mutation? do they damage crops? etc. Ryan was talking to him and soberly answered all these questions. Those of us who could hear were having a hard time not laughing out loud (customers, too). As soon as the guy left, we all laughed, including Ryan. One customer snorted, "Easterners!"
So I told him about growing up at the beach and people would come from inland (like New Mexico, Texas, the Midwest) and want to take some ocean home with them in a jar. We would carefully suggest they pour a little out so that when the tide came in, the jar wouldn't overflow. And they would carefully do so, put the lid on, and go home happy, leaving us laughing at "Inlanders!"
Friday 11/6
Friday 11/6 6.30am
Woke up aching. Business has been really slow this Wed. & Thu. so there's lots of standing around. I try to keep moving most of the time so things won't stiffen up but there's just nothing to do. When I first came in, there were some things to unpack (t-shirts, leather jackets and vests), put on hangars, and then put on racks. Rose came in at two pm and by 3pm, it was all done. Then? Nothing.
Including customers. Both Wed. and Thu. were really slow. Yesterday, I didn't even make $100 in my register. It's the damned time change -- freaks people out and they rush to get home by dark. It'll take a week or so for everybody to adjust and then I hope that business will pick up.
We're supposed to be decorated for xmas by now and be playing xmas music. Ick. As usual, Leeann does all that herself so the PM shift doesn't get to do any of that. As a consequence, it's not done yet. And, of course, we're not supposed to arrange the displays on any of the tables either.
So not only do I get to stand around for six hours, I'm bored bored bored.
I know -- bitch bitch moan moan whine whine. But isn't that what my blog is for?
Woke up aching. Business has been really slow this Wed. & Thu. so there's lots of standing around. I try to keep moving most of the time so things won't stiffen up but there's just nothing to do. When I first came in, there were some things to unpack (t-shirts, leather jackets and vests), put on hangars, and then put on racks. Rose came in at two pm and by 3pm, it was all done. Then? Nothing.
Including customers. Both Wed. and Thu. were really slow. Yesterday, I didn't even make $100 in my register. It's the damned time change -- freaks people out and they rush to get home by dark. It'll take a week or so for everybody to adjust and then I hope that business will pick up.
We're supposed to be decorated for xmas by now and be playing xmas music. Ick. As usual, Leeann does all that herself so the PM shift doesn't get to do any of that. As a consequence, it's not done yet. And, of course, we're not supposed to arrange the displays on any of the tables either.
So not only do I get to stand around for six hours, I'm bored bored bored.
I know -- bitch bitch moan moan whine whine. But isn't that what my blog is for?
Tuesday 11/3
Tuesday 11/3 10pm
Yesterday I did the errands -- laundry (no carts! no chairs!), gas, groceries. Walmart was out of the specific bulbs I need for my lights so I bought a different size and hope it'll work if I need it. Also got the window plastic kit which I'll put on soon.
Bought some batteries (duracells). Later bought a Consumer Reports magazine. When I read it that evening, there was a report on batteries. Energizer lithiums are better. Will remember this for next time.
Went to the Apache Cafe and did the internet thing. This Friday they're going to have a seafood buffet until 8pm. I can't make it as I don't even get off till 7.30. Drat. Had my usual meatloaf dinner. Got home by 4.30 and got hooked up before it got dark.
I hate daylight savings! Especially in the fall, when the changeover happens, it's so sudden. One day it stays light until 6.30 or 7; the next it's dark at 5 or 5.30.
Was glad to get all my errands done yesterday so that I could do absolutely nothing today. Took two naps. Stayed off my feet. Have actually built up enough stamina to stay on my feet for the 6-hr shifts but seven days in a row really took a toll. I hurt bad by Sunday.
Back to work tomorrow.
Yesterday I did the errands -- laundry (no carts! no chairs!), gas, groceries. Walmart was out of the specific bulbs I need for my lights so I bought a different size and hope it'll work if I need it. Also got the window plastic kit which I'll put on soon.
Bought some batteries (duracells). Later bought a Consumer Reports magazine. When I read it that evening, there was a report on batteries. Energizer lithiums are better. Will remember this for next time.
Went to the Apache Cafe and did the internet thing. This Friday they're going to have a seafood buffet until 8pm. I can't make it as I don't even get off till 7.30. Drat. Had my usual meatloaf dinner. Got home by 4.30 and got hooked up before it got dark.
I hate daylight savings! Especially in the fall, when the changeover happens, it's so sudden. One day it stays light until 6.30 or 7; the next it's dark at 5 or 5.30.
Was glad to get all my errands done yesterday so that I could do absolutely nothing today. Took two naps. Stayed off my feet. Have actually built up enough stamina to stay on my feet for the 6-hr shifts but seven days in a row really took a toll. I hurt bad by Sunday.
Back to work tomorrow.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Thursday 10/29
Thursday 10-29
I'm so over these people here. There's no training; it's all piecemeal, casual statements. And offers of help are frequently turned down, unless I really push it. For instance, Leeann and Shane were talking about doing inventory on children's t-shirts and how Carol used to do them so Shane didn't have to. I said, you know, I could do that if you'd just show me what you want done. Silence. And then Leeann said, well, okay. So she showed me how and it took about two minutes to explain it and then I went and did it.
Rose has no sense of humor that I can discern. And she bustles about, breathing fast and sighing gustily. I said, is there anything you want me to do? Not right now, she said. So I stood around, listening to her frantically whipping around. She has to do a lot of the closing financial stuff I'm not yet permitted to do, but she also did the cleanup on the food things, that I do know how to do. Why? No idea. She also takes a lot of sales away from me, which is irritating. She seems to be competitive about it, which I'm not. Mary Lou is the only one who actually talks to me.
And I never hear anything when I do things right, just criticism or orders when I did something wrong.
It's beginning to feel like Crescent City, where I was a lump in the store with nothing to do. Kit, the VP of the organization, was in today, and I mentioned that i was really looking forward to moving to Alamogordo, and he assured me that Alfred was working on it. At least there I'll get to learn stuff, like all the reports that are due all the time, constant inventorying, etc.
Not happy. Starting to think about just quitting and finding something somewhere else. I heard that the new military budget cuts out some plane program that is a big deal at Holliman AFB at Alamogordo. No idea yet what effect it'll have.
Tuesday 10/27
Tuesday 10-27
Well, Leeann is back as of last Friday. And my schedule has increased to 6-hr shifts, and I'm on for 7 days straight. Had Sunday off and will now work Mon-Sun. I protested but she said she really needed the coverage. I asked what she had heard from Alfred about me moving to Alamogordo as Carol had called again, wanting to know when I'm coming. She said he's looking for someone to fill my place here but doesn't have anyone yet.
I'm generally pissed and thinking again about quitting. We'll see.
Big storm coming in tomorrow, mostly late, and will be cold by nighttime (in the 20s). I'll get out and put the wrap on the water hose and the foil over the sewer line and hope it doesn't all freeze. Very windy now and I've put my antenna down, just in case.
Looks like I won't be back online till next Monday.
Well, Leeann is back as of last Friday. And my schedule has increased to 6-hr shifts, and I'm on for 7 days straight. Had Sunday off and will now work Mon-Sun. I protested but she said she really needed the coverage. I asked what she had heard from Alfred about me moving to Alamogordo as Carol had called again, wanting to know when I'm coming. She said he's looking for someone to fill my place here but doesn't have anyone yet.
I'm generally pissed and thinking again about quitting. We'll see.
Big storm coming in tomorrow, mostly late, and will be cold by nighttime (in the 20s). I'll get out and put the wrap on the water hose and the foil over the sewer line and hope it doesn't all freeze. Very windy now and I've put my antenna down, just in case.
Looks like I won't be back online till next Monday.
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