My final day at work and getting ready to move

For the benefit of Tori the comic above says:
Customer: I have to return this. I dont have the receipt, but it's unopened.
Clerk: Um, we dont sell this item ma'am.
Customer: Of course you do. Im certain I bought it here.
Clerk: Im sorry , but Im positive we dont carry this item. The register doesnt even recognize the barcode.
Customer: I dont care what your computer says. I found this old Grumbel's bag in my closet, so I MUST have bought it here. What more proof do you need?
Clerk: Let's just skip right to the part where I call the manager, shall we?

Yesterday had its ups and its downs. I was feeling better than I had in a week or so, namely because I'd had 3 days off and my feet weren't killing me like they had been. Basically my day started off great. When I got in, the department looked pretty rough, but not nearly as bad as it had been in the previous days. Within the first couple hours (I started at 5pm), I managed to get 3 aisles straightened up and all the reshops that I had found that were ours (but just in the wrong aisles) taken care of. I was scheduled with 2 guys ( both scheduled at 3pm) and that gay girl (scheduled at 2pm) but she'd been at the registers all day doing returns. The guys, on the other hand, werent register trained and had been trying to keep up with the department. Imagine the surprise that I was able to deal with 3 whole aisles and they hadnt managed to do one each yet. I took the shopping cart of the other departments worth of stuff to the front and sorted it into the proper reshop carts, then brought our two carts of reshops back and had one all put away before the guys even knew I was back. My buddy of the two suggested that I go catch a break so I decided to get my lunch in at 7pm. When I got to the floor redid my 3 aisles in about an hour's time. Again reshopping the stuff that belonged to us but were simply in the wrong aisles. I took the backet of stuff belonging to other departments up front again (boy the people in this store are damn pigs!) and started sorting them into the proper baskets. This trip up to the front really irked the shit out of me though. The main reason why is because there was no one up at the service desk to answer questions and I couldnt get anyone in management up there to save my life. I had a customer twist the hell out of my words after cutting me off as I was talking to her. *ugh* Rude bitch. So I felt no problem in correcting her error in a nice loud voice. Adding, of course, that had she allowed me to continue in the first place she would have known all her facts. Nah, had no problem dressing down a customer when it was called for. I havent all season and especially not on my last night. What were the bosses gonna do? Fire me? Nah, all I'd get is a slap on the wrist and a warning for the first offense. I got back to the department and told the one guy I wasnt going to the front again for the whole night as if I got treated like that again I was gonna bodyslam someone. I made good my promise and didnt go to the front not once the rest of the night. The girl scheduled with us didnt make it back to the department until 915pm or so. It was no big deal as 4 out of the 10 aisles had been clean for a couple hours and well maintained since then (I had gotten bored and not only done the 3 I was responsible for but cleaned up the next one over). I caught a break around 945pm and when I got back took a spin through the 4 aisles again. As I was going through one aisle, something caught my eye. I brought it to the gal I was working with and asked her if she noticed something odd about the product. She saw nothing wrong with it until I had pointed out the little sticker on the item. It was a price tag for $10. Mind you most items arent priced in this store except the seasonal items and the redboxed ones in toys. The particular brand in my hand was neither of those, infact it was a LeapFrog item which never bears a sticker. The sticker wasnt even one our store uses......wait for it.......it's one that BIG LOTS uses. Mind you, this product was definitely a return AND had to go past at least 2 other people before it made it to the shelf....and the newbie...the person who'd only been at the store 3 WEEKS noticed it. *insert eyeroll here* Being that it was a Big Lots sticker, my best guess is that our store had sold it some time ago and it had gotten discontinued as that's how Big Lots gets alot of their merchandise. If this is the case, that means when it got returned, it was no longer in the store's system and the computer had to contact the home office for a price so it'd be on file for sale later. If the returner got what the product scanned on our price checkers...well then they got less than what it was marked for. Oh well....wasnt ours to begin with anyhow.

Around 1055pm or so , I left the sales floor for the night. After punching off the clock, something told me to swing by the personnel office to see if I could catch a manager back there. I was surprised to find 2 managers and a floor supervisor in there. I asked to speak with one of them and explained that I had talked to the assistant over my area and what exactly was going on that that was to be my last night. Thankfully the assistant had mentioned it to the rest of the management staff. I was a bit surprised as I had worked for smaller companies that didnt have the amount of communication that this store has. The floor manager gave me my exit review and on the paperwork checked the box saying I was rehirable. This way if I go back to the same company again I shouldnt have a problem getting a job. I signed the paper and surrendered my name badge. I told her once I got my checks and my hubby came in, I'd surrender my discount card (hubby had it in his wallet) but no one had told me where to go to get my pay. Shoot they were right there in the personnel office.... woulda been nice if someone had said something during orientation about where to go. So anyhow I got my first 2 paychecks yesterday (one was a one day check for my orientation). I'll have another in 2 weeks time that will have 1 week's wages on it. Once we get to Virginia, I'll send the store my new address so they can mail me the check. I went to the front and got them cashed (thank goodness this company will cash out your checks for you). Then I met hubby at the front and while we were checking out, I took my discount card and brought it to one of the managers.

Today I spent the day weeding the junk off my desk and packing what I could. I decided what needed to come with us and what could go into storage. Yes, I did actually have a desk there. I was beginning to believe everything was just hovering there. Once I got that done I finished packing my crafts. Ive got all the plaster pieces ready to be shipped. Tomorrow I will be finishing up packing my crafts (like I only paint...puh-leez). I have to condense my paints and weed out the paint brushes. While Im at it I have to pack all my needle work and sewing projects. With any luck I'll have a corner and part of a wall in the guest room emptied out so we have a place to put all these boxes that are starting to pile up everywhere. Im hoping to have enough sorted by Friday to know what can be dropped off to the second hand stores. We've already decided that the sofa can stay as we'll have no room for it in an apartment. That's ok though as we have the futon that TxSis gave us and it's much lighter to move, takes up less space AND doubles as a bed...so who really NEEDS a sleeper sofa when you have all that. It's not as though either cost us anything anyhow.

I guess I'd better go. I know the time is going to reflect 1159pm but I actually started this around 10pm and it's really 137am now. I guess I ought to get to bed. Im not overly tired though as I caught a couple movies tonight while writing this (Shrek...which was on while I was catching Chicago's stream and A Knights Tale with Heath Ledger) and as such am a trifle keyed up. Ohhh no and the next movie up is one of my all time favorties...The Three Musketeers. What a wonderful cast this movie has Kiefer Sutherland (Athos), Oliver Platt (Porthos), Charlie Sheen (Aremis), Chris O'Donnell (D'Artagnian), Tim Curry (Cardinal Richelieu) and Rebecca De Mornay (Lady Sabine DeWinter). Some of the best lines I have ever heard came out of this movie (especially those voiced by Oliver Platt and Tim Curry...although Rebecca De Mornay's line of "and with a flick of my wrist I can change your religion" is quite priceless too.....). Anyhow I think Im going to catch this movie (for like the 43rd time) which means I may make it to bed around ohhh 4am or so....ahhh well.

Ok so my job aint so bad

When you have an 'I Hate My Job' day, try this:

On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy, and go to thethermometer section and purchase a rectal thermometer made by Johnson &Johnson ~ Be very sure you get this brand.

When you get home, lock your doors, draw the curtains and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed. Change into very comfortable clothing and sit in your favorite chair.

Open the package and remove the thermometer. Now, carefully place it on a table or a surface so that it will not become chipped or broken. Now the fun part begins. Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully. You will notice that in small print there is a statement:

'Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested and then sanitized '.

Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times...'I am so glad I do not work in the thermometer Quality Control Department at Johnson & Johnson.'

HAVE A NICE DAY AND REMEMBER -- THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE WITH A JOB THAT IS MORE OF A PAIN IN THE ASS THAN YOURS!

Seasons Greetings

I received this one twice. Once from my daddy in this email and once from the friend he mentioned via the snailmail. The bold, itallic white is what dad added....the purple bold is what was in the letter that had been sent.

Just a note to wish all a happy season.Was going to post a long note with all the normal wishes but we received a "Christmas letter" from a friend and he expressed it the best so I quote

" To all our politically correct friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, our best wishes for an enviornmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the relitious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious and/or secular traditions at all. We also wish you a fiscally sucessful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice or other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country not the only America in the western hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee .

To all our other friends Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."


And he is not even a lawyer. BEST WISHES TO ALL.

Today

Im doing some packing and weeding out of stuff. Right now Im working on my email account which is about 10% full. Normally I like to keep it around 2-3%, but since I've been working and busy doing other things I've been rather negligent in keeping it weeded out. As such, you're likely to find several posts for today as I attempt to bring the inbox down to a manageable level before our move...especially since Im not sure how often I'll be in to read messages and such on our trip. I know once we hit Tazewell TN I wont be in at all for a few days as the net service really sux there. Many that you find in here today will be emails that I felt needed to be shared. I have no special place to put them like I do with the jokes so they'll get placed in here for all to enjoy. If one post isnt your thing just skip to the next. Im sure there'll be something for everyone among these postings.

This first came from my SCSis:


Today...I wish you a day of ordinary miracles-


A fresh pot of coffee you didn't have to make yourself.


An unexpected phone call from an old friend.


Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.


I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in...


The fastest line at the grocery store.


A good sing along song on the radio.


Your keys right where you look.


I wish you a day of happiness and perfection bite-size pieces of
perfection that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is smiling on you,
holding you so gently because you are someone special and rare.


I wish You a day of Peace, Happiness and Joy.



Wishing you the best for 2008!

That, too, is my wish for all my friends.

The last few days

Translation of comic for Tori's benefit: A customer calls a department store and the assistant manager answers the call.

Assistant Manager : Thank you for calling Grumbel's

Customer : What time do you close tonight?

Assistant Manager: We close at 6pm tonight.

Customer: WHAT? I thought you'd be open late on Christmas Eve ! Why are you closing early?

Assistant Manager: So the employees can spend time with their families.

Customer: But what about the customers?

Assistant Manager: I guess they'll have to spend time with their families too.

Customer: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Heh heh heh. That comic strip is called Retail and is to retail what Dilbert is to the tech industry...ooohhhh so damn true. It takes place in a mall store which means the usual close time at the holidays is anywhere from 9pm to 11pm....sometimes later like midnight. But the store does close down for part of the evening. Now imagine the same conversation (if it happened at all) with a 24 hour store...throw in a couple hundred or more ESL's shopping there (assuming they even SPEAK E as their SL) and that would be how my Christmas Eve went.

Friday night the pace started picking up. We had a last minute shopper that had the cheek to gripe that the night crew was pulling pallets to the floor at 830pm. He said it was the wrong time to be doing it. I told him it was a good time as our shelves were nearly empty. He then countered with the "there's too many people in the store to be doing it" and I shut him up with the "but we're a 24 hour store which means we dont ever close so when's the best time TO do it??" Stupid people. *insert eye roll* Ok so he had a point but it doesnt really slow up so when ARE we supposed to restock our shelves??? At that point I was all for selling it down to the bare shelves, then I wouldnt have to tell people we didnt have something, it'd be bloody well obvious.

Saturday was really bad. Im sure I touched on that a bit. It was so busy that 1/4 of the shelves were empty before I even got in at 10am. By the time I left at 6pm, they were nearly 3/4 empty and things were flying off the shelves faster than we could pull them off the risers (the topmost shelves that are labelled "Ask associate for assistance"). Normally, we're told not to fill and stuff just take down what we need and maybe another 2-3 just in case. Nope, not Saturday. The assistant manager over the area cornered me after lunch and said to start pulling ALL the stuff off the risers and just stuff it anywhere there was space (which was pretty much everywhere). Here my feet are already starting to ache, my knee wants to give out and Im not liking heights too well. *sigh* Not about to tell him I simply cant or wont I told the manager I'd go as long as my feet and knees would allow to which I got a fair enough comment. In about 90 minutes' time I managed to get all of one side of the walkway done and decided that it was simply just too doggone busy to do much more. When the assistant manager came through again I told him as much....he noticed how much was down and the shelves were still looking bare and agreed that it would need to be done later. Around 4pm the department manager came in and I thought the poor guy was going to have a stroke. The group I was with, well we were barely keeping ahead of the reshops, and top things all off the group I worked with contained not only myself (who'd been working Saturday nights) but another guy that normally worked Saturday nights. NONE of my department manager's "dream team" was going to be working with him that night. Two of us were on the early shift and the third had been given the day off. He was stuck with the rookie and a few others that dont work worth a damn. Oh he was pissed. heh heh... He'd come up to me and said..."this is what we're gonna do" and I looked at my watch... he asked if I was leaving already and I told him 6pm. The poor dude's head nearly popped off.

Sunday was a 2-11pm shift. I cant remember who all I was working with that day. I know for sure I had the rookie and the one gal (who spent the last 3 weeks dropping the hint she's gay...not that it matters as Im, like one chatter was so fond of saying, stictly dickly). We were told this day to not attempt to clean up, just keep up with the reshops. I am so glad they said that because I would have had a stroke trying to do both. Not 2-3 days prior they'd been telling us things had to be perfect because the night crew didnt have time to reshop or clean up, there was simply too damn much for them to stock for them to bother. We had 5-6 associates in the area and were extremely hard-pressed to keep up with all the customers and the reshops. Again I left out of work having a rough time walking (even though I'd spent extra for supports to put in my shoes...). That place was absolutely trashed and I have to state now that the night crew did a major miracle getting it respectable by the morning shift. It was so bad that it would have taken "Jeanie", "Samantha", the whole Hogworts school (plus teachers, the Ministry of Magic, house elves AND the Order of the Phoenix) AND Merlin to set that place straight. It was so bad we could have applied as a National Castastrophe zone!

Christmas Eve was somewhat better. The customers didnt catch on for a couple hours that we were even open (thank God for small favors), however they figured it out in short order. We had the typical crowd in, the ones who havent even BEGUN shopping and wondered WHY there was nothing left. I took some real pleasure in being able to say no and point out that we'd had most of the goods a week and a half ago....full shelves of the stuff that was needed now. Ok, so, I shoulda got coal for that behavior but it's not MY fault they didnt pick it up when they saw it a week ago! Otherwise the day went ok. We had enough people in the department to get the reshops done in a reasonable amount of time and the 3 aisles I was responsible for were as neat as I could get them. It got to be about 10 minutes before 6pm and they started announcing the store would be closed at 6pm. I personally think they should have been announcing all day we were closing at 6pm and then started the reminders at 530pm at the latest. The hard part is that anyone in the first two aisles of toys simply cannot hear the announcements over the damn tvs in the electronics department (and not to mention the ESLs that dont understand them at all). Then 6pm came and they started with the "We're closing in 2 minutes" BS. They did this for 10-15 minutes....it got so that the L.Ps (loss prevention guys) had to start herding people out like so much cattle. There was a scuffle between one of the customers and an LP...chest to chest (or was it boobs to chest?) like a couple of roosters getting ready to spar. It got so rough they ended up calling some additional security in and had them posted at the entrances. One of the managers came back to toys about 15 minutes later to dress us down about the incident and the dude I was working with at the time told him that it was the LPs that did it...not us. Dude pointed at me and said that even I managed to keep my tongue and he KNEW how hard THAT was...LOL. Smart-ass. Man Im gonna miss him and the department manager. Anyhow as the manager was talking to the head LP dude, I saw the other LP racing down the walkway looking much like a rushing back with a cell phone attached to his ear. The discussion around me was rather animated until I said "and there goes number two at a dead run around the corner". All 3 heads whipped around and next thing I knew the guy I had been working with and I were quite alone. Seems they had not only last minute shoppers but a last minute shop-lifter as well. Good thing we had all the extra security around (including actual coppers) in the store.

Well we were told by management that clean up wasnt overly necessary again and when all the customers were out of the store we had to report to the front end. Once we got all the reshops done we'd be allowed to go home. Everyone pitched in as best as they could and when their area was done were instructed to go to their next favorite department and help out there. The entire compliment of the store was released around 730pm. I was so damn happy to be out of there. Management stood at the front and was wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and shaking hands. The assistant manager over Toys made sure to thank me for all the hard work I'd put in (Im sure he probably said that to a number of others as well though). I made sure to shake the store manager's and the head LP's hands as I doubt I'll be seeing them again before I leave from the store.

Not much else has gone on the last couple days off. My feet still hurt some but not to the extrent they had been. I think I may get through tonight without a pain pill. Good thing as Im down to one last pill and I may need that Friday night. Christmas day we just hung around the house and did not much of anything. The most we did was watch tv and hubby cooked supper. He got a nice winter coat from my mom and dad and I'd given him a couple dvds. Yeah...I was working and still managed to get him a couple small items! Had them the week before I started work, granted, and I didnt get to buy what I wanted to get him but he STILL had something under the picture of ivy on Christmas morning!! Take that last minute shoppers who made life hell for me! Today I nearly finished wrapping my dolls. I ran out of bubble-wrap. We could have gone out today but I simply didnt feel like getting out of my night gown and face the crowds....I've had enough of them for now thanks. The only other things I've managed to do since getting off on Monday night is finish up book 6 of the Harry Potter series (I'd had it nearly finished before I started back to work and hadnt picked it up since), started book 7 and redecorated all my web-pages. All my holiday decor is down now. I didnt really want to take it down until the first of the year but I dont know how busy we'll be and I dont know what kind of shape the net service will be when we first move in to the corporate housing. It's just best to pull it all down now instead of having it still up around February or March. Im not so fond of the decor on this page but I may have time in the next day or so to fix it.

I think that's about it. I think Im going to sign off now, curl up with a glass of egg nog and get another 2-3 chapters read in my book. Maybe I'll tire out enough for an early bedtime.

Merry Christmas

The candles flicker and there are some sparkle effects if you click the picture.

Punchline

Dec 24th

Dear Sir,
This is to acknowledge your latest gift of twelve (12) fiddlers fiddling, which you have seen fit to inflict on our client, Miss Agnes McHolstein. The destruction of her home was total. All future correspondence should come to our attention.

If you should attempt to reach Miss McHolstein at Happy Dale Sanitarium, the attendants have been instructed to shoot on sight. With this letter, please find attached a warrant for your arrest.

Cordially,
Badger, Bender and Cajole
Attorneys-at-law

***Evidentally the attendants were born, raised and trained in Texas.... :)

Pity party and next to last section of joke

I was so sore last night before the end of my shift that I was actually nauseous. It took a bit longer to climb into the truck but thankfully gravity helped me back out. I never made it to my computer to check for messages and hubby ended up bringing me a plate of food to bed which I didnt finish. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE to eat and if Im off my feed...well it aint a good thing. I managed to get my uniform shirts and pants into the laundry but hubby had to hang them to dry. I was in so much pain I grabbed a couple painkillers that I had leftover and kept my happy ass in bed. They didnt do much, just took the edge off a bit and put me to sleep. I was asleep before 730pm. Yeah my friends know what that means as Im a night owl. I woke several times in the night to switch positions and once for a nighttime journey to the bathroom. I was up again around 7am , took my morning meds and 2 more painkillers and back to bed. I have a 2-11pm today and an 11-8pm tomorrow. God help me get through these two days. My feet simply cant handle these cement floors anymore so Im guessing the next job down the line is going to need to be a cashing job with a fatigue mat at the register....better yet someplace where I can sit to do my job. Gotta go and get a good meal in me, then wrap my ankles (Im beginning to wish I'd told them last week was my last week I swear), and hydrate my skin with 15 layers of lotion as it's very warm and arid (actually both definitions of this adjectives work...) back in toys. I'll probably drop a proper blog entry on Christmas day...assuming I can even move that day...more likely the day after.

****************************************
Next to last section of joke

Dec. 23rd

Listen, Fuckhead,
What's with the eleven (11) lords a-leaping on those maids and ladies? Some of those broads will never walk again! Those pipers ran through the maids and have been committing sodomy with the cows. All 23 of the birds are dead! They've been trampled to death in the orgy. I hope you're satisfied, you rotton, vicious swine.

Your sworn enemy,
Agnes

Dec 22nd part of joke...

Dec. 22nd

You Rotten Prick,

Now there are ten (10) ladies dancing. I don't know why I call those sluts ladies. They've been balling those pipers all night long! Now the cows can't sleep and they've got diarrhea. My living room is a river of shit! The commissioner of buildings has subpoenaed me to give cause why the building shouldn't be condemned. I've asked the police to get you.

One who means it!
Agnes

The start of a joke

I meant to start this on the 13th but couldnt remember where I'd tucked it away. I really need to stop putting things were they'll be "safe" because I can never find them again ( I guess they're really safe if I cant find em again!). Anyhow I meant to start this on the 13th and post a segment a day but since we're already on the 21st, I'll post all up to the corresponding day. The rest I'll try to post on the day it's meant to be posted. This is an old joke that I remember from way back.... I hope you enjoy it.

***********************************

The Twelve Days of Christmas


Dec 13th


Dearest John,

I went to the door today and the postman delivered a partridge in a pear tree. What a thoroughly delightful gift!. I couldn't have been more surprised.


With deepest love and devotion,

Agnes




Dec 14th


Dearest John

Today the postman brought your very sweet gift. Just imagine two turtle doves! I'm delighted at your very thoughtful gift. They are just adorable.


All My Love,

Agnes




Dec. 15th


Dear John,

Oh, aren't you the extravagant one? Now, I really must protest. I don't deserve such generosity - three (3) French hens. They are just darling, but I must insist, you've been too kind!


Love,

Agnes




Dec. 16th


Dear John,

Today the postman delivered four (4) calling birds. Now, really, they are beautiful, but don't you think enough is enough? You're really being too romantic!


Affectionately,

Agnes




Dec. 17th

Dearest John,

What a surprise! Today the postman delivered five gold rings: one for every finger.You're just impossible, but I love it! Frankly all those birds squawking were beginning to get on my nerves.


All my love,

Agnes




Dec. 18th


Dear John

When I opened the door, there were actually six (6) Geese a-laying on my front steps! So, you're back to the birds again, huh? Those geese are huge. Where will I ever keep them? The neighbors are complaining and I can't sleep through all the racket. Please stop!


Cordially,

Agnes




Dec. 19th


John,

What's with you and those fucking birds?! Seven (7) Swans a-swimming. What kind of goddamned joke is this? There's bird shit all over the house and they never stop with the racket. I can't sleep at night and I'm a nervous wreck. It's not funny, so stop with those fucking birds!


Sincerely,

Agnes




Dec. 20th


OK Buster,

I think I prefer the birds. What the hell am I going to do with eight (8) Maids a-milking? It's not enough with all those damned birds, and 8 maids a-milking, but they have to bring their goddamned cows! There is shit all over the lawn and I can't move in my own house anymore.


Just lay off me, smart-ass!

Agnes




Dec. 21st


Hey, Shithead,

What are you, some kind of sadist? Now there are nine (9) Pipers playing, and Christ do they play! They haven't stopped chasing those maids since they got here yesterday morning. The cows are getting upset and they're stepping all over those screeching birds. What am I going to do? The neighbors have started a petition to evict me.


You'll get yours,

Agnes



to be continued....

All the Christmas tree talk that's been going on in the blogs lately made me think of this picture that I socked away in my files a couple years ago (for Tori...it's entitled Dog Christmases and shows a family of dogs sitting around in a livingroom. One asks if anyone watered the tree and every other dog said they did it...).

I was talking to hubby yesterday and we've pretty much decided it's not going to be worth getting a transfer. Considering that we'll be going into corporate housing first and that it's not likely to be anywhere where we end up, there wasnt much sense in getting a transfer to one store just to have to transfer yet again. It just means I have to job hunt when I get out there is all. However, I'll have a few weeks back under my belt again and not a 4+ year hiatus to overcome.

I went in a tad early yesterday (Tuesday) and spoke with the assistant manager over the toys department. We had had a conversation last week or so ago about the fact I may have to leave on very short notice because of a trip back east to find a place to live. This week I told him that my last day was to be the 28th of December. There was just no way in the world with all the packing and stuff to do around the house that I could work past that date. With the trip coming up (Im guessing this will happen just after the first of the year due to timing...no sense going before because many places wont be open to show apartments) ...by the time we get back I figure we'll have about a week and a half to get the lion's share packed. I'm figuring since they want him to start on the 21st our goal to be in at least the corporate housing by the 14th so we have a chance to get used to the area. The assistant manager was fine with this...well he looked it but it's hard to tell with that dude because he's ALWAYS smiling. Kinda reminds me of Jack Nicholson's Joker in the Batman movies. Anyhow he asked when I was due on the clock. I told him I had 30 minutes before I was due on unless they wanted me sooner...which they did.

Last couple days have been really busy. You'd think a big holiday was coming up or something. Tonight (Wednesday) felt almost like a Friday night. It was fine up until around 830-9pm and then it was like the floodgates opened. I'd managed to clean 4 aisles before lunchbreak even though I was saddled with a person even newer than me. *sighs* We wont go into that as I really have nothing polite to say about him. Im just tired of having to repeat every. damn. word. every . damn. time. You'd think after 4 days he'd learn SOMETHING. I swear all the synapses arent firing upstairs. *shups* Anyhow after lunch I spent most of the rest of the time helping the department manager keep up on the reshops and attempt to go back over a couple of the aisles I had previously cleaned. I had told him that he needed to try and pick up as he was reshopping because I wasnt the one staying past 11pm...he was and it'd make things a whole lot easier on him if he did. Im not sure he entirely understood that. Something tells me he's an ESL *sighs and shups*. The dept manager did tell me he's going to miss me when I leave though. I take it not many have picked up quite as fast. It helps that he and I are an awful lot alike (highstrung) although Im more the perfectionist than he is. Maybe it's a female trait.

I think Im gonna leave it at that though. I just wanted to leave something in here as Im not certain how much time I'll have for anything tomorrow. We're supposed to be going out with a few friends tomorrow night as a last goodbye type of thing.

I've come to the conclusion that

...I'm DEFINTELY too damn old for this shit. It's a week later now and my body still hasnt adjusted to being on my feet for 6-8 hours on a given day. I hurt so bad coming out of work and Lord I could just fall over getting out of the truck when hubby gets me home. Then there are the bruises that started showing up...Im pretty sure they're ladder inflicted though. Top things all off my body's behaving much like a child in their first year of school. Any parent reading this will understand what I mean. For those that are kid-challenged let me explain. A child spends all his or her time with you the first 4 years of their life. The only germs they really come into contact with are mom, dad's and the immediate family's. Once the child goes to school for the first time, they are exposed to germs they havent been exposed to before. When this happens what happens to the kid? They get sick. I've been out of the workforce for 4+ years..... Yeah, that's right, I've come down sick as a dog. Sniffles, sneezes and aches (on top of the aches of using muscles that havent been used in years) like you wouldnt believe. At one point I was sure I had the flu.

Friday I had a doctor's appointment. Not because I was ill but because I'd set it 2 weeks prior. You'd think that somehow I knew this was coming but that isnt the case. I'd originally set it to get one last check-up in before the move, refill my meds and possibly get a flu shot *IF* I was well enough to get one at the time (damn Cigna nurses have been nagging me for months to get one). Well the day before I was due in I came down with the yucks. After a quick look over (temp 97.6F, and 5 pounds heavier than the last time I'd been in *sigh*) they determined that I simply had another sinus infection (thanks to the up and down temps) and placed me on a decongestant and antibiotic. The nurse was a trifle worried about my bp (130/70) because the top number was higher than I normally have but once I explained I was back on the workforce AND in the Toy dept she understood why. I'll need to keep an eye out for that just to be on the safe side.

Saturday was absolutely unreal. There were 3-4 of us in the department and we couldnt keep up with all the customers. It was so busy that the department manager finally told me to just quit cleaning the department and help him keep up with all the reshops. Every 30-45 minutes that poor guy was bringing a cart or two back to our area for us to reshop. By the time 11pm showed up, we'd only *JUST* caught up with the reshops. I asked management on Sunday how well the store did on Saturday and we'd done over $700,000...no wonder we had trouble keeping up. On Sunday we were lucky enough to have 5 of us in the department until 10pm. Unfortunately, we STILL had trouble keeping up. We resorted to keeping up with the reshops and cleaning as best as we could. Customers were still arriving in the department by 11pm. Management was wanting a perfect department because the night crew had too much stock to put up to have to deal with cleaning the department. I doubt they got it. Two of the people we had left at 10pm and of the three of us left only one was a full-timer with any real experience in the department. I stayed until 1130pm and the full-timer was scheduled with the other newbie (newer than me and I dont think English was exactly his primary language..) until midnight. Management was anticipating a $600,000+ day...I wonder if we made it. Over a million in a weekend...not too shabby.

Today was my day off. I was hoping to get some sleep in for the day and try to get rid of some of this cold but it wasnt to be. Hubby had a goodbye brunch to go to (1130am) and he'd also scheduled the lady from the moving company to come in and find out what was needed for our move (she was scheduled for 1230pm). He panicked on Sunday and left a message for her to reschedule because of his luncheon. I asked him where lunch was supposed to be and when he told me where...I told him to call her back and let her know to come on in, I'd stay home and meet with her (the lunch was at a restaurant I am definitely NOT fond of). She arrived at precisely 1230pm and we went through the house discussing what her company would be responsible for packing and what was going on the truck and what we were transporting. It was a really quick meeting. I think I'll have hubby call tomorrow and make sure all of us are on the same page. She'll be sending her report to the moving company and then they send an estimate to the company that's paying for all this. Then they will be getting with us.

I spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening doing the laundry and packing my girls (the porcelain dolls) up. I figured I'd get them out of the way first knowing how time consuming it can be to wrap them up properly. Each limb got bubblewrapped then the whole piece was wrapped again. Hubby had brough home some nice sturdy boxes the other night and plenty of the "poppy-paper" so I could get them packed. I got 3 boxes done at 4 dolls a piece. I have 4 more dolls to do but around 830pm I gave up because I was too tired to do anymore. We had supper and shortly thereafter my NYBro called so I talked to him for about an hour or so. Then I tried to get in here and actually started the blog but around midnight or so my PaSis called with some good news and she wanted to celebrate. She knew I was the only one of her friends awake at this hour so I got to hear it all first....plus she wanted to thank me for the package that showed up on her doorstep. I'd sent her 6 handpainted decorations...3 little snowflakes and 3 teddy bears (1 pink to represent her, a darkish blue for the older son and a baby blue one for the littlest son). As I told her, I wanted her to have something from me that wasnt tied to that problem child (husband)that's been giving her hell lately.

Got a note from mom n daddy earlier in the week and their package arrived. For them I'd painted a mini nativity scene (The Holy Family, a sheep, and 2 Wisemen..dont ask me why they only gave me 2 Wisemen and opted for the sheep...wasnt my idea) and a basset hound for her to leave up all year. Knowing mom the Nativity will be up year round anyhow. The package to my SCSis arrived too. In hers I'd packed a small stuffed monkey for her and 3 snowflakes. For her hubby I'd painted 3 cardinals (he's a Cards fan). They have blue and white winter gear on but I hear from her that he's likely to leave them up all year like he did with the cardinal Christmas ornament she'd bought him the other year.

I think that's about it. I grabbed the idea of the sitemeter from Chicago's site as I liked the idea (thanks Chicago!) of being able to see who's reading the entries. Not that it really matters to me but I just want to see where my general audience is coming in from. I see one on there already that I wasnt expecting to see at all (at least Im pretty sure it's who I think it is...I could be wrong). Canada, I just want you to know you're more than welcome here and can leave a comment when you feel ready to talk.

Well I better scoot. The alarm is going to go off in a few short hours as hubby has his exit interview at 7am today. I'll probably get most of my sleep after he leaves. He'll be going out with his buddy after the "long walk" for breakfast and some time together. They wont be seeing each other much after this as his buddy managed to snag a transfer and will be staying in state.

*HUGS* to all

My job, his job and my opinion on tags, memes or whateverthehellyouwannacallem....

Saturday was my first full day at work. I spent a good 5 hours or so on my computer based learning training. I got all of my necessary training plus most of the others done that day. After my lunch I got with one of the managers and told him I got my trainign nearly complete and pointed out that I may actually be of better use out on the floor if he'd just get me a place to lock up my purse (Ive since stopped carrying it so I dont have to bother having a locker assigned....I'd have to share with someone because there's 550+ associates in the store and not enough lockers). I went out to the floor and got my first taste of retail at Christmastime again. *ugh* I felt like I was crammed in a tin of sardines and the department looked like a hurricane had whipped through. When I got home I felt like I had worked longer than merely 3 hours on the floor. My body was feeling like it had been run over by a FLEET of fully loaded 18 wheelers. I ended up taking a couple of ibuprophens before going to bed I was so damn sore.

Sunday was my shorter day. I was only scheduled for 6 hours. First thing I did was finish up my computer based training (only took 30 minutes or less) and then I spent the rest of the day on the salesfloor. This day was rougher because I was sent into the Barbie/ Bratz aisle. Good Lord Almighty was it a blessed mess. Only about half of the merchandise was properly shelf edged labelled and I must have had at LEAST 15 price checks out of that aisle alone. It took me a good 3-4 hours of my day to get that aisle cleaned up and looking repsectable. By now Im thinking that Im definitely getting too old for this shit. I seemed to have made a good impression on one of the managers on this day as there were several comments on how good that area looked. Again, when I got home I was sore as can be. I was going to grab a couple ibuprophens again but opted for some Legatrin instead as my legs felt like they wanted to cramp up on me (Im prone to leg cramps)...plus that medicine has a bit of a sleep aid to it as well.

As several of you already know, Monday morning we got the call we were waiting for. Hubby got offered that job in Virginia. This was no surprise to be honest....not even slightly. They will be sending the letter of acceptance and a few other things next week. Next step is for hubby to have a drug test done and then the next step is for flights to be booked for us to take a 4 day home hunt in Virginia. He is scheduled to start work for them the 21st of January which means alot of work and very quickly on this end of things. I've already got my schedule up until the 27th of this month so Im going to need to get with human resources in the next day or so and give them a heads up so Im not being placed on a schedule after that point....at least for the week afterwards as we're not sure when the other company is going to schedule us for the trip. I may have to just have to have them lay me off early. I was hoping to get another week or so of work and go right into a transfer but it doesnt look like it's going to work out that way. OH and I found out today that hubby's company may run out of work for them a good week early so he may not need to go to work at all next week. He will have to go in next Tuesday long enough to do an exit interview.

Today was another 6 hour day for me. The department manager decided since there was 3 of us working in the department that it would be a good idea to divide up the area amongst us. He ended up with 4 aisles while the other gal and myself each had 2 aisles, splitting the girls half of the area between us. I ended up in the Barbie area again and had the aisle next to electronic. *bleah* I would have rathered the pre-school and Leapfrog/ VTech area for sure. Maybe I'll get lucky tomorrow. I spent a good part of the evening labelling the one aisle as I cleaned it up. Although management was appreciative that I took initiative to do this, they stated pretty clearly that they'd much rather we just cleaned and did the reshops. Something about not wanting the modular layouts messed up. *bah* I pointed out that most of their layouts were already a mess (I indicated a HUGE glaring error that was made by the night stocking crew..I mean Fur Reals cats in the middle of a My Little Pony display....puh-leeeze) and that it was completely time consuming (read a real waste of time in travel) having to run back and forth to the nearest price checker (7 aisles over). In the time it took me to do a price check (and I had a MINIMUM of 15 just out of the Barbie aisle alone on Saturday) I could handle 3 other customers. Well they saw my point but still wanted it done their way *shakes head and rolls eyes*. At least they figured out real quick I knew what I was talking about and had experience in salefloor work....I am definitely NOT a rookie. The upswing on these 3 days is the gal I was working with swore I was only 25...LOL.

Now...for that last part of my title. I may come across as an ole stick in the mud but I do not play those tag/meme games anymore...period. I get more than enough of those things in my email and between those other accounts I get at least 2-3 a week and oftentimes the same one several times over. Im really sick to death of getting them and if I was to never see another again I'd be quite happy about it. No offense to anyone but please dont bother tagging me again. Yeah, I realize I probably have upset a few of you or at least disappointed someone...oh well. It wont be the first time and certainly more than likely wont be the last either.

Well I guess it's time for me to go to bed...it's been a long day.

early to bed,first day, phone call

I am so proud of myself. Last night around 6pm or so I turned OFF my computer and left the office area for the entire night. After doing dishes and eating supper, I got a shower and folded all the laundry I'd washed then I spent the rest of the evening in the bedroom. By 1030pm or so I was sleepy and instead of fighting it as per my usual I crawled right under the covers and damn if I wasnt asleep before midnight. Yes...you saw it right...BEFORE MIDNIGHT and I wasnt even sick...imagine that. UNfortunately it also meant I was awake by 1am and not wanting to go to sleep again....I ended up fighting with getting back to sleep until nearly 3am. *sigh* Well so goes getting to bed early... at least I made a good attempt at it! I didnt sleep so well after that though. I kept tossing and turning and my mind just did NOT want to shut off at all. I guess it figured I'd gotten a few hours and I needed to be up and going. I was awake by 630am and since there was only 30 minutes until the alarm I figured I may as well just get up.

My cab showed up around 810am or so. Thankfully the ride isnt going to cost me much when I have to take one. Less than an hour's wages one way. With the hours that I'll be pulling I wont have to cab it too often and when I do have to it'll be after my shift. Not that I honestly want to be riding a cab at that hour of night. They have me mostly on the 5-11pm shift with Mondays and Thursdays off the next two weeks. My Saturday shift is my longest at 2-11pm. Basically, if I was still streaming, I would have to drop my spot completely or stream the midnight to 3 am shift. With the hours Im pulling I may be online even less than I am now and Im not sure how often I'll actually be blogging but keep checking back just on the off chance I have an interesting night. Today was mostly alot of talk and the next two days are going to be alot of computer based learning (you watch a video on the computer and then answer a series of questions based on the video....simple stuff just time consuming). By Sunday evening I should be hitting the sales floor. I went shopping after work and got myself 2 pairs of khakis, a pair of jeans and 2 shirts. I think I'll be hitting Kohls on Monday or maybe tomorrow afternoon to see what they have in the line of navy shirts because I forsee not being too comfy in those 2 I bought at WallyWorld today. I find them a bit on the warm side. The jeans are for Fridays....we're allowed to wear jeans on Fridays only for a donation of $1 which goes to CMN (Children's Miracle Network). A good cause in my opinion.

The first thing we did today during orientation was a game. They had this board game of a "shopping" experience in "another store". The object was to get around the board and make it out of the store with your piece still registering in a "satisfied" or higher position. If your piece hit zero, it meant you were completely dissatisfied and your shopping trip ended. My team made it 3/4 the way before crashing and burning and our "customer" left in a huff dropping everything they were going to buy on the floor on their way out the door. I deeply suspect that that game is geared so it cannot be won period. It was a good way to loosen the group up some and prime them for the lectures though.

By the time I got out of training, hubby had gotten back to Dallas and was on his way home. He hadnt heard anything from the company last night nor this morning before he left. They ended up calling here around 940am and leaving a message for him to call back on Monday. *bah* I wanted an answer TODAY!! *snorts* Im guessing that if it was a "no thanks" they would have left that information on the answering machine so maybe it's a "yes, lets discuss money". In any case I wont know for a couple more days now. *insert huge eyeroll*

I think that's about it for now. Time to shut off the puter and spend some time with hubby...

Ask and ye shall receive

Updates updates updates!! Yesterday hubby left for his interview and I crawled my happy ass right back into bed. My TxSis called around 11am or so to let me know it was cold and snowing in Virginia. Ummm yes I know, not much I can do about it since he left the house at 8am and was probably in Atlanta by the time she called. I told her he brought a jacket with him and some gloves. I dont remember much more of the convo because I was only 1/3 awake but I do remember her saying that I sounded like I was on drugs at which I pointed out that I had just got to bed around 5am or so and was up to see him off then back to bed and she'd woke me up. Im sure I came across snippy and all but unfortunately Im still on a night schedule sleepwise and it WAS before 3pm...

Yesterday afternoon I got a call while I was out getting the mail. For some reason I didnt check the phone when I came in because I had only been outside for less than a minute. Imagine my surprise this morning when I realized the messages indicator was blinking. It was WalMart and they said if I was still interested to please give them a call. There is an orientation tomorrow morning at 9am. Nuts...this means I really DO have to be to bed early tonight. I think I'll crawl in around 10pm or so...that's when I got really tired last night anyhow (then by 11pm I caught a second wind and was up until 5am or so). I called them around 3pm to confirm I'd be there.

Hubby called around 1130am-12pm today and let me know he had a total of 5 interviews today. Actually he said 4 but one lady met with him twice so Im counting it as a separate meeting. He says that a majority of the meetings went well....except for the next to last one. I think he referred to it as the "psych" part of the interviews. I am thinking he's meaning like those long questionnaires at the end of job applications.....those ones that let the prespective employer see where your head's at. He's since called back @ 3:50pm to talk about it more. He has mixed emotions at this point. He says that he feels good about the interviews and feels that there may definitely be a job offer as they said they'd call one way or another either tonight at the hotel or leave a message here at the house by tomorrow (which means look for another blog entry tomorrow night or Saturday morning depending on the schedule I get). Although hubby's feeling good about the company itself, he's not so fond of the area. It's much too crowded for his liking and the prices are horrendous. It looks like he's going to have to bite the bullet and plan on a 45min- 1 hr drive one way each day to get to work so we can live in a reasonably priced apartment (ugh...back to an apartment again...*sigh*). I wont even repeat what he said about the traffic in the area (thank goodness he'd had fair enough warning from TxSis regarding that). So now Im not so certain where we are. I think we've decided that we'll need to just go with the flow and take the job if offered. We also discussed the possibility of him contacting the 2 in NC and or calling the one here in Texas to see how good the chances are of employment with them. In anycase I reminded him that even if he did contact the others and they said chances were good but not til the top of the year...it still didnt guarantee employment whereas a firm job offer from a company in an area we weren't too happy with is better than waiting on the others just to find out that they had nothing for him. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll call him after the offer was made with this group...who knows.

Well I'd better get going...it's time for supper and I wanna get a shower in tonight before bed. Before I do that, I have to drop emails to those that dont read this blog and get them caught up. Definitely need to get to bed early tonight so if I nod off (like I did last night while watching tv and reading) I can just sleep through until tomorrow. No sense encouraging that second wind to show up ya know.

When it rains it pours!

I took my title out of a comment Alice left me on my homepage. Holy frkn shit the day I had today!! As hubby is on the nightshift and Im trying to keep close to his schedule if at all possible I crawled into bed roughly 6am this morning. I must have been dead to the world when hubby came home because I never heard him come in. At 930am we got a call and the ringing got me clear out of bed and I was at the desk in the bedroom before fully awake. I heard hubby on the phone and figured he's handling it so I start to crawl back into bed. Then he showed up at the bedroom door with the phone....it was WalMart wanting to talk to me. All those apps, all that waiting and today of all days.....a company calls to schedule an interview. *shakes head* Top things all off they wanted me in this morning at 1130am. Well I guess that shoots crawling back under the covers outta my plans for the day as hubby said maybe it'd be a good idea to at least go to the appointment. *sigh* I re-iterated that it didnt make sense to go to this interview if he was going to his interview as Im thinking if they're paying for hotel, flight, car, food AND reimbursing the money he pays out to get to the airport (a fact he failed to share until today) then damn well sure they're probably looking to hire him. I mean why bother when Im really sure we're going to be moving it's not fair to me OR the company I interview at! But he insisted. So I went to my interview , which turned into 3 interviews one right after the other, and I was completely up front about things. I figure, worse case they'll say no right?I told them that hubby's company was closing the plant he is in and that he has an interview in Virginia in 2 days and with all that the company was paying out to get him there that I was pretty sure they were serious to hire him AND that it was likely that I'd only be able to stay a couple weeks ...four at the most. After all that, they still decided that they would like to go ahead and give me my opportunity to get my feet wet again. The understanding we came to was to place me on seasonal work. If it looks like Im going to have to move around then so be it...we'll look at a transfer OR I'll be first laid off. No problem there for me. *IF* we end up staying and WalMart likes my work then the option is they keep me. In any case all cards were placed on the table and both the company and I are on the same page (so they cant say I wasnt open about the situation). I also explained that due to my driving situation (namely I dont) that there is no calling me at the last second and expecting me to just pop in within 10 minutes' time even though I was just around the corner because I'll be at the mercy of cab service. Now for the good news....they're sticking me in the toy department. ~grinz~ Much like what I was doing at Toys R Us...cant argue there....plus they're starting me out 70 cents higher than the per hour I requested. I'll know for sure once they've done the background check and get the results of the drug testing they did on me whether or not I have the job for sure. They'll call me back in for orientation once they decide. Im figuring since the second interviewer said they were entering me into the system AND told me how much I was keyed in for my pay that it's more than likely a good sign I should go shopping for clothes that are dress code compliant.

My Amazon shipment arrived today. Im really happy as now I have a couple small gifts to go on the sofa for hubby to open. He was waiting on me to open the box but I just left it on the printer and refused to touch it again until he was gone. LOL He goes..."so whatcha get?" I held the box up and shook it gently (thank goodness they packed it so nothing shifted and made noise) and stated that I heard a cd in there for me...LOL Mind you the box is much larger than a simple cd... *giggles*. He's left for the night and I've since opened it, retrieved my Jordin Sparks cd and hidden the box with the rest of the contents elsewhere in the house (and honey....if you're reading this and think you're gonna look...forget it...it's boobytrapped) heh heh heh.

Anyhow, I've ripped the cd (why? I dunno...I wont be streaming until this job situation is settled unless I decide to see if I can go on a fill-in only basis...) and am listening to it now. It's not bad...better than I expected to be honest. Her disc will work well when Im playing my Natalie and Cherish cds.

Well I guess I'd better wrap this up because I gotta pull up some apartments I want hubby to check out while he's back east....get the info and directions printed out for him. He's got a service coming to pick him up tomorrow at 8am which means he'll be home a bit earlier than usual. I hope they send him home earlier than he's planning because the poor guy got zippo in the sleep department today. He caught 2 hours at work before coming home...an hour before my interview and that's about it as we didnt get back to homebase until 2pm or so and I had to cut his hair and he had to pack yet. By the time all that was done it was nearly 5pm...no time for a nap. I hope he sleeps some on the plane.