My Weblog

Today I'm home...........

I won't say I have the day off. I have quite a lot of work I want to get accomplished. But I don't have to go to the store.

My feet hurt bad enough last night that I despaired of ever talking myself into putting on another pair of running shoes. However, I managed this morning. I did take about 25 steps in my bare feet and I felt every single step in my ankles. Obviously, I need better shock absorption than bare feet afford!

Last night I set to work on what I think is a worthy endeavor. I decided I want to list out everything I've spent since starting the job and also listing what that was spent for. I'm not going to list out what was paid for bills or food. However, if it falls into another category, I want to take a close look at it. What I do not want to have happen here is "leakage". I am not young anymore. And who knows how long I'll be able to do this job. I really need to be paying off what is owed to folks and saving the maximum. I am not going to fault myself for things that will ultimately pay me money. So, for example, what was spent to create these shades will not be listed. I expect ultimately that will save me significant amounts on my energy bills. I will spend what I need to spend, but I do NOT want to spend without realizing what I am doing. So, I think this kind of analysis is necessary. The first step was to make sure the budget tracking program I use is up to date and I've done that. Today I'll start sorting what was spent in terms of where it went. In order to be accountable to someone, be prepared to receive this detailed information. After all, it won't do me a whole lot of good to be accountable to the dog, LOL.

I did something else yesterday that was probably worthwhile. I called an insurance company to get a rate comparison. It seems to me that driving 36-45 miles a WEEK should result in very low rates. I had had a recommendation for a company that supposedly has great rates. Well, guess what? Their quote exceeds what I am currently paying by 50%! Ugh! 

I am up, awake, and dressed--ready to start the day. While I'm at the desk today, I will be working on backing up files. I've not really mentioned that this month, but I've been working on it steadily. I am backing up, as we speak, the first of 5 large files remaining to be backed up. When those 5 are complete, I'll be about 97% done. Yay, me!

Another desk task will be to uninstall a program and reinstall it. I ran an update on this particular program about 10 days ago. Since then, I have these software conflicts with AOL. Believe me, I'd rather just ditch AOL, but I can't do that because of clients. 

And, as far as the desk goes, there are always (it seems) piles of paper to go through and mucho to shred/file.

I want to do a load of laundry consisting of linens. I wanted to do these during my 3-day hiatus, but I didn't get it done. So, today is the day.

I need to do that thing in the kitchen where I look at all the stuff that has accumulated on the horizontal surfaces and put stuff away. I am not good at this, but I have to keep trying. I also need to go through the fridge, looking for science experiments. 

I want to make progress on the next shade. I did tape the one almost completed shade back in place and I used significantly more tape. I hope that helps keep it in place til the Velcro arrives. Today is 13 days and counting since they cashed my check..............

My bathroom needs as much time as I can give it. It has horizontal surface problems too as well as just needing a thorough cleaning.

The Master Bedroom will get an allocation of time. Once I strip the bed, I'll need to put clean linens on the bed. And then there just happen to be horizontal surfaces in there too!

And sometime today I have to buy some dog food. Either that or Parker goes hungry and we can't have that! I WISH I could wait til Wednesday when the SSI check hits the bank, but I can't. I have already about scraped the bottom of the barrel clean. But, I do hate spending money today to pay for gasoline to go to the same store I will have to go to again later in the week for a "real" grocery shopping trip. 

Somewhere in there, I need to work in some design time as well. Wish me luck!

Gotta run. Places to go and things to do. You know how it is! YOU be BLESSED today.

 

Early Out............

I was offered an early out today and, uncharacteristically, I jumped at it. I was hurting and I just wanted it to stop! It was only 20 minutes, so it won't hurt my paycheck much............

I didn't leave the store right away. I hung around to pick up my schedule for next week. I am confused about something, but I don't dare ask any questions! In the employee handbook we are told that schedules are done 30 days in advance. Therefore, if we need a certain day off, we have to request it in writing. I asked the capo de capo about it and she confirmed that the 30 day thing is solid. So, why, when I go to print out my schedule, does it only include the next 12 days? This makes no sense to me..............

A few weeks ago, I bought some outlet covers and switch covers. I discovered I needed more of those. Do you think I could find them in the store? No, of course not! WHERE did they go?

I also need some stuff to repair some hoses. However, I could not talk myself into walking from the middle of the store to the far south end for repair parts. Maybe I can do that tomorrow or Wednesday when I'm not working and not standing on my feet for hours on end. I also have two empty water bottles. I need to exchange those for full ones. But, then there's the problem of lugging them in from the car! And, I need some lumber, which, of course is on the far north end of the store...... Maybe I should just use one of those carts the store provides for the handicapped? Probably not. They'd probably terminate my employment if I tried that!

Today was an uneventful day. Well, almost............ I was sent on break. When you come back, you're supposed to talk to the head cashier/capo de capo to find out where you are supposed to be. They may want you just to open another register, or they may send you to relieve someone else who is due a break. So, as I was headed into the break room to grab my vest (you can't go outside in your vest!) I passed the head cashier who told me that she was going to lunch. So, that meant I had to report to the capo de capo. When I went to the break room, she was standing, fully visible by the front door. When I came out she was nowhere to be seen. I waited a while and then one of the more experienced cashiers said I should call her. So, I grabbed a phone at an empty register and called her. She said she'd be "right there" and for me to "just stay where you are". Well, I didn't know what she meant. Someone was on the register I'd vacated. So, I waited since she said she'd be "right there". Instead, the store manager wandered out and wanted to know what was going on. I told her I was waiting for the capo de capo. She rousted the capo de capo from another area and then the capo de capo said she'd wanted me to open the register from which I'd called her. I had no idea she would know where I was calling her from. I still don't know how she would have known. What if I'd been at the end, or borrowing the phone in customer service? So, maybe that's another black mark for me. I dunno. I hope not. 

This is going to be a pretty easy week for me. I work 4 days, but two are behind me. I also work Tuesday and Thursday. The shocker is I actually have 3 days off, including the whole weekend! But, next is another marathon. I don't know what's on the schedule for the week of the 6th, but I work straight through Aug1-Aug5, 5 days in a row! Oy! My feet and ankles and hips and buttocks already hurt just thinking about it, LOL. No, not true, but you can be assured I'll be praying a lot before I start that journey! 

It's nasty here today. I think we are getting smoke from the Southern California fires. I've seen that before and right now it's not as bad as what I've seen. But, this morning you couldn't see the mountains that surround the city. This afternoon, coming home, Some of the northern mountains (the ones close in) were hazy but visible, but the mountains further out were barely there. In the past it's been so bad you could actually smell the smoke, but so far that hasn't happened yet. 

I've had one nasty customer both yesterday and today. Yesterday's happened late in the day. I was taking care of a customer when a woman wandered up and asked me where the bags of salt were. They used to be by the doors so people get confused when they don't find them where they expect them. I answered her, "They're on aisle 15." Then she says "they are usually by the door." I responded "Yes, ma'am, but they've been moved to aisle 15." She got all huffy and marched off mumbling about how I looked like I didn't want to talk to her. (Nevermind that I was waiting on a customer who'd been standing in line, waiting his turn......................"

Today, I had a couple come through the line. We were busy and the line was longer than it should have been so there were folks lined up behind them, waiting to be helped. This couple had a boatload of stuff and I got it all rung up. Then they couldn't decide how they wanted to pay for it. She finally hands me a scrap of paper with a bunch of numbers on it and informs me that  is her account number. Okay?!? Fortunately I'd been through what to do in that situation the previous day. You can't use the same machine because to do so would mean clearing off all the stuff you just rung up. So, you have to go to a different machine. I did that and started the process of drilling down to get to her account. I actually got there but then I had to get her to give me ID. After all, she didn't have her card and she could have just written down some random numbers from somewhere. About that time she got snippy and decided she'd use another card because I was taking too long. It was bad enough that the gentleman in line behind her commented on her behavior......

But, believe me, I've been through worse than either of those two women dished out and, though it sometimes perplexes me, I am not gonna fold my tent and run now, LOL.

So, I have about 4 hours til bedtime. I am going to get busy. I hope you had a blessed day. I was able to go to church on the internet for a little while before work and I enjoyed that. 

 

Surrounded by bargains...........

but, I'm going to have to pass some of them up. Bargains or not, cash is the issue. I did, however, take advantage of one. I realized last night, with shipping time, I would not be out of line to think about ordering more of the Warm Window fabric so I can go ahead and finish up these windows. I don't want to be sitting in front of leaky windows now or in the winter. But, of course, I was going to have to have a "deal". So, I opted to look at a JoAnne's ad that was sitting in my inbox. Glory Hallelujah! You won't believe the deal I scored! 

The fabric is usually $28 a yard. I got it for half price. Then I found a coupon for 20% off. Then I found a coupon that gave me shipping for $4.99. They ship this fabric in these big LONG cardboard boxes, on a roll. I have no idea what that would normally cost, but I don't think want to find out. I'll bet it's a scary number......... The upshot of the whole thing is this: The fabric plus tax would have cost me about $210. And then I would have paid for shipping besides. However, I got the whole deal for $85. 

Did I want to spend $85 right now? No, I did not. But, you can't deny that is some deal! And I am intent on finishing these shades. I am also very sure they are going to save me money on both air conditioning and heating costs. So, I will get my $$$ back in my power bills and in my gas bills. That's the kind of spending I can justify in my own head! 

So, I am looking forward to the arrival of that fabric. And I am SO thankful for the inspiration I had to check to see if there was some solution to leaky windows a few months ago. The one place every house leaks energy is windows. I just knew there had to be something out there that would help. Originally I was thinking about making "shutters". Years ago, in a magazine, I saw an idea where some folks made shutters out of plywood. They then covered them with batting and fabric, and when it got cold outside, they closed those shutters. The shutters completely filled the window area and saved a lot on heating and a/c bills. I searched but couldn't find anything on this idea. I would have at least wanted measurements. And some idea of what thickness of batting would work, and I struck out. I had visions of me trying to get shutters cut to size and then finding, once they were padded out and fabric covered, that I couldn't close them. That would never do! I think these shades should work just as well, and besides they'll be lighter weight. So I don't have to worry about how to anchor them to the wall without all sorts of aids to help bear the weight. 

We are in for a round of VERY hot weather. The weather forecast for the next 6 days is for highs up around 110-114 degrees. I work today, but tomorrow I will be devoting time to making another shade! Sadly, I still have not received that Velcro I've been awaiting while holding my breath, LOL. I taped the shade to the 9-pane door with packing tape. It held for 2 days. Then I found the shade on the floor yesterday evening. I will be taping it up there again today, using more tape. I REALLY want to block that western sun! 

My little tomato is getting bigger. I'd guess it to be about 1 inch long. Looks like it might end up being a Roma-style tomato. That's just fine with me! Even though the dog munched on the tomato leaves, there are still more blossoms out there. Oh, I do so hope those blossoms set, but I don't know in this heat. I just keep watering and watering. Given how hot it is and given that I am having to water manually, I am really glad I planted in containers that could live in bigger containers which would make sure the plants had plenty of water. 

A few weeks ago, I was concerned because my little moringa trees had yellowing leaves. My first attack was to move the container to higher ground. I figured since these trees are supposed to be drought tolerant, maybe they were getting too much water. And, sure enough, they are greening up really well. All the top growth is green. I think I am going to try to get them planted in September, early in September, to give them time to grow and become more hardy before it turns cold. Yes, I do still have 94 more seeds, but that doesn't mean I want to spend time growing trees for the same exact spots for which I am growing these. Once they are in the ground, they should shoot up pretty fast. They're about a foot tall now. I am thinking they might grow as much as a foot a month once they're in the ground! 

Design has been on the back burner the last couple of days. Honestly, I barely had enough energy yesterday after work to sit here like a vegetable. I'm starting later today which means that by the time I should be getting off, business should have slowed down significantly. So, I don't think I'll get held over today! Besides, I have more time this morning to get a few things done. And, speaking of that, I'd better get started. YOU be BLESSED today! 

I THINK it was a blessing............

but I'm not absolutely sure. I was supposed to work 9-2 today. However, I had edged to within an hour of quitting time when the department head came to me and asked if I would be able to stay til 5PM. Whew! To be completely honest with you, I wouldn't swear to you that my body has completely recovered from the 6-days-in-a-row thing. And here I was being asked to work 8 hours (minus a "lunch"). Did I want to do it? It was a toss up. In this house, 3 extra hours pay will come in handy any day of the week. But, at 4 hours I was already hurting. My response was "If you need me to stay then, of course, I will".

She gave me 45 minutes for "lunch". I jumped in the van and drove through Burger King. Sad to say that a Whopper and frozen coffee drink cost me about 75% of an hour's wage! I chewed on that Whopper at the traffic lights and drove like a maniac to get home. You see, for the first time since I've started there, I'd forgotten to take a blood pressure pill. I had an alternative in my pocket and took that, but by the time I climbed in the van, I had one of those back of my head headaches and I knew I needed the real thing. So, I drove home. I ran in, took a blood pressure pill, cut a pain pill in half and slipped it in my pocket, and ran back out.

Poor Parker, he was SO confused. He's never seen me do anything like that before. So then, of course, I drove like a maniac to arrive back at the store. I took half a pain pill and went to work. I am telling you, by the time I left, a little after 5PM, I think my 95-year-old mother could have walked to the car faster than I did. Half a pain pill or not, I was just one gigantic ball of pain from the waist down. The worst of it was my buttocks/upper thighs, my ankles, and my toes. 

I laid down for a while. Now that I'm back up, my ankles are really talking back to me. I just walked to the kitchen and it was not a pleasant journey, LOL. I am SO grateful I ran through Trader Joe's yesterday afternoon and bought half 'n' half and milk. Otherwise, I'd be eating dry cereal in the morning and drinking black coffee (blech!). There is no way I could have gone anywhere for that stuff this evening. 

As I said, the extra bit of money I made will come in handy. However, it was a bigger thing than that. As I get stronger, I will want to take on extra shifts or fill in for extra hours, like today. And the way to get that stuff offered to me later on is NOT to turn it down now. 

I have two pairs of New Balance shoes that I wear to work. New Balance shoes are good shoes and I've worn that brand for years. BUT, one pair just got eliminated from rotation, I fear. By the end of the day my toes were pushed up against the ends of the shoes and that contributed to the foot pain. So, I'm going to have to be on the prowl for a really good pair of New Balance shoes in a larger size at a cheap price. I already feel like I am wearing boats, but bigger shoes that avoid foot pain --well, yes, boats or not! I can still wear the others when I'm working around the house. And, with the bigger shoes, I'll be looking for some really thick gel inserts. As usual, I don't want to spend the money, but I think it's got to be done. 

So, here it is, almost 9PM and I'm just now available for work around here. I have the feeling it's going to be difficult to talk myself into walking, even to the next room. But, I need to do it, so I will, somehow. I may have to ask for Divine assistance. 

My prayer list is growing. So far I have three customers and their loved ones on the list. Whenever it's slow at work, I try to take a minute or two and lift their needs to the Lord. One lady's husband has been hospitalized for 5 months. She is worn to a frazzle, running back and forth to the hospital. He will be coming home soon so she is having to make changes to the house to accommodate the care he will need. To say she is stressed would be an understatement. There is another lady whose sister has been fighting cancer for 5 years, rounds and rounds of chemo. The sister just went to her oncologist and he decided he needed to rerun her blood tests. Of course, the fear is that cancer has shown up again in the tests he just ran. My customer is just heartbroken for her sister and for herself as well. She says her sister is down to 90 pounds and doesn't have much fight left in her. Today's addition is a guy named Robert who beats anyone I've ever known for negative attitude (and I was raised by two very negative people who are hard to beat when it comes to negativity). But, if you don't have the hope of Jesus in your life, it's easy to be negative. He has Graves' disease. I know a little about Graves' disease, but he claims that his doctors have told him he's dying from it, that the cells in his body are just breaking down. He also had some surgery done which he says was butchered. (We really do not have many "great" doctors in this town, though it is better than it was when I first moved here). He is Jewish and does not believe in Jesus as Messiah. He says he's also given up on God years ago. I told him God has certainly not given up on him. I also just asked him if, since I believe, would it be okay if I pray for him and he said yes.............

Well, I don't know that I'm going to get much done around here, but I won't get anything done if I just sit here and chat with you. So, I'd better try to do something! I hope you had a blessed day! 

 

"Pass the Spaghett!"

Years ago, a guy named Frank Foglio wrote a book by that title. It was the story of how his immigrant parents and his family ended up leaving Catholicism and becoming crazy Pentacostals. He talked about his mama's simple faith. He tells the story of how at one point they ended with several extra mouths to feed at their table. But, mama had way less food than enough to feed that crowd. And, in those days (shortly after the turn of the century) it wasn't like you could go to the corner market for more. So she, being of simple faith, did what Jesus did. She blessed the food and passed it around. There was enough food for everyone and leftovers. 

Well, I don't have a spaghetti story. However, how about a Warm WIndows story? I very carefully measured the fabric I have remaining yesterday. Then, trying to be sure I'd have enough to get at least the 15-pane window on the French door and the west-facing window, double checking my math skills, I drew to-scale pieces of paper and cut them out and laid them all out. I had one piece of graph paper that represented all the fabric. I had one piece of graph paper for the window on the French door and another for the west-facing window. Just now I decided it was time to start measuring and cutting. It struck me, as I gathered up my pieces of graph paper and my measurements to carry into the dining room where the fabric is laid out on the dining room table that I had missed something. I quickly cut another piece of paper to size and paper clipped everything together. I have just enough fabric, by laying it out carefully, to cut BOTH French doors AND the west-facing window! 

I have always said that this is not my house but "our" house, God's and mine. I included Him in ownership of this place years ago. Well, He just showed up and showed me how to get an extra shade out of the fabric I have on hand. This also means, of course, that, to finish the job, I only need to buy more fabric for the big, leaky, north-facing double window. That will save a lot of money, given the cost per yard of the fabric. Glory be! 

Oh, and here's another blessing. I just bought some shirts for work. I really want to wear only polo shirts. I feel they look much more "professional" than just plain ole tee shirts. My plan has been to acquire one per pay period. I learned a long time ago that if you LOOK like you know what you are doing, you get a lot more credit with customers......... Well, JC Penney has St. John's Bay polo shirts on sale right now for $7 each. And if you use the coupon code SHOP15, another 15% comes off the $7. I have found the color choices on Amazon to be a little limited, particularly since I am looking at buying them LARGE so they will fit over the back brace without calling attention to it. But JC Penney has something like 38 color choices! I landed some colors that don't exist on Amazon. Pretty colors, and the reviews on the Penney web site are favorable as to quality and fabric. Their lowest price shipping is 3-5 business days delivery (as opposed to Amazon's 2 business days delivery) and I saved a fair amount of money per shirt even including shipping compared to what I would have paid Amazon. LOVE this!

So, I am chugging along today. I'll try to pop in later and catch you up if anything comes up. But, I do have to upload a kit to the store's server this evening and maybe even try to get it into the store's software and that may keep me busy! Have a BLESSED day!

Well, how about some good news?

First, I was contacted yesterday afternoon by a client who wanted her tax return finished by last night. Of course, I worked on it and got it done. Then she decided she couldn't come to get it til this morning. But, she did come this morning and she brought with her a dandy check! She would have eventually paid me, but due to extensions, the return is not due til October 15. But I have the money early and I'm grateful for it.

I got the shelves cleared off that are in front of the west-facing window. And I measured that window and the windows on the French doors. It turns out I have enough fabric to do the west- facing window and one of the French doors before I have to purchase more Warm Window fabric. That would leave me to buy additional fabric for the other window on the French doors and the double window that faces north which I know leaks and was the source of many a cold "breeze" during the winter. I am thrilled to think I can get two windows covered without spending anything additional, but I'll be watching the ads for an opportunity to get more of that Warm Window fabric for a good price. I also managed to get about 70% of the stuff cleared off the credenza. Still need to deal with the rest, dust the top of the credenza, and then try to muscle the shelves away from where they are, lay them across the credenza, and disassemble them. SO inconvenient that this has to be done from the bottom! But, one way or another, I'll get it done.

The window in the west-facing door has a shade on it now. The shade is merely taped in place. And it isn't hemmed yet. I'm still waiting for that darned Velcro. I intend to haunt Amazon tonight and see what, if anything, I can find there that will work. At least I know that if I find what I need, I can have it in hand by Tuesday. I sent an e-mail to the company from which I ordered originally and got no response. Need I tell you I'm pissed about that? 

I bought from the company I did because they were cheaper, but it's been 9 days since they took my money and still no Velcro.

Speaking of not getting something I ordered, I have been awaiting the arrival of a shirt ordered through Amazon, but not FROM Amazon. I discovered last night that they show the package having been delivered this past Saturday. Well, I don't know to whom they delivered it, but it certainly wasn't delivered here. Two packages were delivered, but neither of them contained a shirt. I complained through Amazon and was notified within an hour that another shirt will be shipped out to me ASAP. That's a lot better customer service, dontcha think?

Tomorrow is payday. I want to go through my checking account and see who has not yet been paid. I also have to make a grocery run. I am scraping the bottom of the barrel of dog food. I have a bunch of little stuff in a cart on the home improvement site. I'll be able to clinch the deal on that stuff tomorrow. 

So, tomorrow, I will need to make a bank run. I want to withdraw max $$$ from my payroll account. Then I will deposit what is needed into my checking account and try to stash the rest for emergencies. 

I will also cut fabric for the next shade so I have to decide tonight which window I'll be covering next. 

Comment on the "sweatshop": In all the gardening videos I've been watching for desert gardening, they talk about "micro-climate". This essentially means planting trees and using them to provide shade. This shady area is then used for planting other stuff that needs shade to grow. I think I have applied the concept to the "sweatshop". This evening, I think for the first time ever in summer, I have gotten chilly in this room. One shade taped in place and the swamp cooler accomplished that. I'm really pleased. I truly believe I'm going to beat the power company out of a few $$$ yet! That gives me sweet joy!

I decided to watch "Lone Survivor" again. I've watched this movie any number of times, but it was only tonight, after watching some of the goings on at the Republican Convention that I realized that while Mark Wahlberg plays Marcus Luttrell in the movie, Marcus Luttrell himself really IS in the movie. You have to watch the "extras" in the background really carefully, but there he is! This makes me more impressed with the movie because it makes me believe that his presence on the set lends credibility to the story as it's told. (Nevertheless, I still don't like the language, but, no doubt, that too is true to what happened. People don't observe the niceties of conversation these days and maybe soldiers under fire never did. I have no knowledge of that.)

So, for tonight, I am done. I hope you had a good day. I've made progress and that always makes me feel as though I've had a good day. 

 

6 outta 6

Tuesday evening

The survival of the one who prays the hardest or who is the most stubborn/determined. Yeah. That sums it up. And now I have 3 days off to try to recuperate. I hope I CAN recuperate in 3 days. 

I have sore spots on my sore spots. You can start at the floor and work your way up and it is all sore in one way or another. My calves feel like a developing case of shin splints. My hips and upper thighs hurt. My feet are almost numb, but almost numb in a painful way (which, I realize) makes no sense, but it's the best description I can offer). My ankles feel arthritic. And, my back doesn't feel tip top either. I think that pretty well sums it up. But, I just keep telling myself that the gospel doesn't promise it will be easy, just possible. And together, the Lord and I got it done.

I ran into a few mystery transactions today. I didn't want that but I couldn't help it. At least one seemed to be the result of someone else being lazy but I really don't know the whole story. A customer came up to my register carrying an empty box with an item number written on the top of it. It was a box for a combination lock/deadbolt. He said he could see that there were more of these locks in top storage (meaning you have to find and climb a ladder to get to them) but he was told that the people up front had them. Well, I called the head cashier. She looked in our locked storage and, of course, they weren't there. I don't know what she did but I saw her little head bobbin' in the direction of hardware, so I hope whoever was working there ducked. It took a while but she came back with a lock! Then the gentleman proceeds to tell me that the lock was advertised at $79. However, it is ringing up at $99.99. I had to call my head cashier over again to get clearance to ring it at $79. Geez.......

Later I had a customer come up with an invoice for $40. According to her, it was to pay for a service call to have her home measured for new carpet. I rang that up, no problem, but then my silly machine would not allow me to ring up anything else. I knew it had to do with the $40 invoice but I had no clue what to do. The head cashier was not visible. The client offered to go to another register and I took her up on it. Then I got that cashier to show me how to fix the problem the next time I encounter it. According to her, if you ring up an order that includes one of those, it's best to ring that item up last. I didn't know that. Apparently if you ring one of those up first, the system gets all hung up on how everything else is going to be delivered. That's kinda silly when part of everything else is a bottle of Gatorade and a candy bar. But, now I know and now I even have notes on it! I won't be offput by that kind of transaction again.

I was ever so grateful for leftovers from Panda Express. I mustered enough energy to nuke some of those and that was dinner. I still have leftovers for sometime tomorrow. 

I wanted to tell you: I went to Smart and Final on July 3rd. I picked up an 18oz container of blueberries. I brought them home and split them between two Food Saver containers. I opened the second container this morning and had some on my Cheerios. They were as good as they were 16 days ago. I challenge you to do THAT without a Food Saver, LOL!!!! Along the way, I am going to have to try to get some additional containers. They are almost too good to be true!

Wednesday morning

I was so worn out I went to bed at around 8:30 and only got back up 10 hours later. Hopefully, my body appreciates all that recuperation/restoration time! I DO need to make progress around here and it just won't do to be dragging myself through the day, still exhausted from the last 6 days!

I am still crossing my fingers for the arrival of that velcro. It is STILL not here! I have done everything but the top seam and the velcro application and that baby is ready to "install". I will be doing the top seam today as I have finally decided I do not want to install it the way it was done in the video I watched. So far, the fabric has held up very well, but I think with handling it might have a tendency to fray. So, it is best if all the rough edges are safely INSIDE the shade. I am seriously considering finishing that seam and then taping it in place til the velcro gets here, just to see if it really does make this a whole new room, LOL. 

Meanwhile, I want to work on this set of shelves that is blocking the next window. I need to clear the shelves and then clear the top of my credenza. I think the only way I am going to get those shelves out of the spot they're in is by pulling them forward and then more or less laying them across the credenza by just tilting them onto the surface. Then, I can unscrew them and take them apart and move them out of the way. It'll be a good way to clear off the credenza too, which needs done

Of course, there is laundry to be done, mostly work clothes. But, I need to wash linens too. 

I did not water my little garden last night so that has to be first on my list this morning. Besides, I want to check on my one little tomato, LOL. 

Hey, here's an interesting story: For years, I have referred to this office as a "sweat shop". The primary reason is that the a/c seems to be incapable of keeping the temperature in here even with the temperature in the rest of the house. Of course, all the rooms with west-facing windows are somewhat the same, but this room is the extreme. When they gave me my "red vest" the other day, they gave me a little bag filled with Reese's Peanut Butter minis. I left them lying on my desk and I came home from work to find them melted into one very messy blob of chocolate and peanut butter. I have yet to figure out how to eat that without wearing it, LOL. 

Well, that's it for today. See ya tomorrow.

 

 

5 down, 1 to go

Well, I didn't know how I was going to do 6 days in a row. I think the only way I am doing it is through the grace and strength of God.

In most ways it was a better day. Of course, I was still informed that I had broken some rules I didn't know existed. But, it was done with a little bit of kindness. I do hope I soon learn all these rules that no one has told me about. I swear, sometimes I think they only apply to me.

At about 3:20 I was sent outside to work in lawn and garden. It was hot out there but they have huge fans going and misters and right near the register is a swamp cooler that is putting out some cool air. I was told I'd be out there for an hour. I was actually out there for 2 hours. I didn't mind the heat too much til I walked back into the air conditioning! Then I realized how truly hot it was out there!

I watched a lady park and come in through the lawn and garden entrance. She went on into the store. I didn't think too much of it when I saw her coming back out through lawn and garden--until I saw that she had a whole assortment of stuff in her arms and not one thing in a bag. I stepped forward and addressed her and she ran past me and kept running. There were 2 or 3 (much younger) store employees in hot pursuit. They didn't go near her, but they did write down her license plate number. I don't know how much she stole. I did see and identify at least one power tool. Well, that was exciting.

When they called me back into the store, I was called over and they told me they had some "training" for me. Well, at least that didn't scare me, LOL. I am still not sure what they want. The lady from security said that when I am out there, I should be standing by the door. The head of the customer service department said I should be standing directly behind the register I was working on. Well, those are two different places I should be standing, and they're a good 6 feet apart. I guess I'll have to grow longer legs and learn to do the splits! The head of customer service said they do not want to see cashiers leaning against the adjacent counter. Well, I will tell you that we do that to ease our backs and still be able to see customers (as they approach) who need to be served. Remember, we are not to sit, not even for a moment. Try standing on concrete floors (even in good shoes and on mats) for 5 hours.......... I am trying to think if there is a cashier I haven't seen leaning against the counter and I can't think of one. Yes, I do feel singled out. But, I held my tongue and answered with a very respectful "Yes, ma'am." 

I pray every day not to be an embarrassment to the Lord. I don't want Him feeling ashamed of me and wishing no one knew I belong to Him. I have this tee shirt that says "Lord, keep one hand on my shoulder and the other over my mouth". Well, I figure He musta had one hand over my mouth today.........I'm grateful for that.........

So, no more leaning.......... This is gonna be rough.

I did make it through the day today with nothing but some ibuprofen. And, it's definitely slower and less stressful out there. So.........it wasn't all that bad. Another advantage was I could spend significant time bent at the waist and more or less lying across the counter, supported by my arms, with the top part of my body. That takes a tremendous amount of pressure off the spine and back muscles. I would never do that in the store proper--too many people around looking at me and seeing my butt, LOL. And, of course, it doesn't look very professional, to say the least. But, outside, for long periods, it's pretty much me, myself, and I. 

I received from a customer a few weeks ago a coupon for a free entree at Panda Express with the purchase of 2 entrees. So, I stopped at Panda Express on the way home and got myself some meat and veggies. This whole summer thing is an appetite killer. I am losing weight so that is good.

When I was working at a previous job, a lady there who mostly stood on her feet all day said she had lost something like 70 pounds in 9 months. So, I expected to lose some weight at this job, if only as the result of the different calorie burn between sitting (which I do most of the time at home) and standing which I do endlessly when I'm at work. But, I looked it up and according to the internet, I burn just 46 more calories in 5 hours of standing than I burn in the same amount of time sitting. I'm not gonna lose a whole lot that way! You have to experience a deficit of 3400 calories (on average) to lose a pound. So, I guess I am grateful that when it gets really hot, I have no appetite.

I tell you, soon I should have some of the firmest hip and butt muscles west of the Mississippi. Tonight, they ache like crazy. I am so grateful that after tomorrow I have 3 days off in a row--I'll need 3 days in a row to recuperate!

Well, it's now about 5.5 hours later. I can walk without hurting. The body's ability to recover is amazing. And, now, I'm going to help it recover even more by putting it to bed. Y'all be cool. I'll be back tomorrow.

 

Day 5 of 6..........

It's a 5-hour stint today, both easier and harder than a 6-hour stint. But, I've already begun praying over the day. I will be walking through those doors, prepared to give the very best I've got. I am counting on God to make it "good enough".

Well, I am beginning to wonder if I'm going to have any peppers or tomatoes from the garden. Something (I think it's big and black and named Parker) ate the tops off two of my tomato plants and off of my best pepper plants as well. There's really not anything I can do about it. The bags in which these things were planted are themselves disintegrating in the sun. I am way afraid to try to lift them and move them. My concern is that the bags will just come apart in my hands. IF I felt confident enough to lift them, I'd put them up higher where he can't reach them, but as it is, I don't think that's an option.

Unfortunately that impacts my hopes for a fall garden as well in that I can see that I will have to have some sort of fence around it. He's not real tall, so maybe not a high fence, but some sort of protection nonetheless. And, that, of course increases the upfront cost. Ugh! In my dream world, I can just grow veggies and not invest any up front money. Wouldn't that be a blessing?

I should have known he was up to something. I came home and he didn't come to greet me. He didn't even come when I called him. I'm sure it is because he was on the patio eating tomato and pepper plants. Incidentally, the tomato plants he chewed on had blossoms on them. Now, they don't even have leaves!

I had to do a hurry up job and get this week's kit out to the team. I thought it was ready to go until I started to upload it. Darn it! They got some defective files, but they are good enough to scrap with..........I was just running out of time and couldn't perfect the files, upload, and get everything out in the time I had available.

For a change, I remembered to take my meds early this morning. Perhaps I will make it into work and my hands will not be shaking? They do calm me down a little. I had to resort to a pain pill yesterday. I had cut one in half before I left and slipped both halves into my pocket. I didn't get them cut evenly, so I took the smaller half. I know, doctors and nurses are shuddering while reading this. But, I prefer to take the least amount of whatever will make me functional.

What a day!

So, I worked my first official 6-hour shift. I might have done better if it weren't the 4th day in a 6-day rotation. One nice thing about the 6-hour day--you get 2 breaks. Even a few minutes off my feet does wonders for my back. The sad part is that the "wonders" don't last, LOL.

However, it is quite the drag physically--those 6 hours. I about had it when it was time to leave. I was in a desperate hurry and no hurry at all to get to my van! I wanted out of there, I surely did. BUT, there was no chance of hurrying to get there..........

I had two rather crazy episodes today. I had a very nice couple come to the register with about $450 of stuff. THey wanted to split pay--in other words, put part of it on one credit card and the rest on another. They were aiming to put $300 on their store card because that gets you a $15 discount. And $300 was their credit limit. I have only ever done one other split-pay transaction, but I was rolling along quite well. THen, for no discernible reason the system froze up. It didn't matter one iota what buttons I pushed, NOTHING happened. I couldn't back track and try again and I couldn't move forward either. Of course, I had no alternative but to call the supervisor. She finally had to call the store's credit department and they did something that released the transaction. Geez! Apparently the transaction got hung up somewhere between processing and charging to his card. I guess you could say the machine treated it something like a "pending" charge. It never fully processed it, but we couldn't use the card because we kept getting "declined", so somehow the charge was blocking the use of the card, as if the credit limit was all used up. Anyway, those folks were amazingly patient. I don't think I would ever have been able to be that patient. We finally got it done, and got it done the way they wanted, but it sure took some effort. The supervisor told me it was nothing I had done, but she also said she had only seen the system do that a few times in her years with the company.

Then, right before closing, a guy rolled up to my register with a few little things and a whole spool of heavy duty cable. I rang up the little stuff, but that spool of wire had no price on it. It did have some sort of "item number", but when I tried to work with that, it calculated out to around $64. The customer said it should be $204. Quite the difference, wouldn't you say? I called electrical and asked for help. The guy took his time getting to us and when he finally came back, he told me the price should be $187.50. But he had no item number, just told me to "jam it in there". Well, no. I am fairly sure the system doesn't work like that and if it did, I KNOW I don't have authority to work around it. I called the head cashier and she was already up to her eyeballs in closing procedures. She couldn't come. There was another manager hanging around by the exit, but if he had a phone on him, I surely didn't know the number and he was nowhere in my line of sight. And, I am not supposed to leave the register............

The strange person from the electrical department hunted the manager down and told him something to the effect that he'd better get to me because "the sh*t was about to hit the fan". Well, now, I'm sure the customer was none too happy at that moment, but he had been nothing but polite. But the manager immediately headed my way, thinking either the customer or I were about to come to blows. Then the strange one from electrical produces an item number for the manager. Of course, he had no item number for me. I was just supposed to "jam it in there". Anyway it got resolved, but I think I ended up being made to look like an idiot because I couldn't ring up the sale, but I truly had nothing to work with.......

So, not one of my better days, LOL. But I learned that even head cashiers sometimes lose it. For example, I found the head cashier's employee card in my work area. Apparently at some point during the day she had laid it down there and walked away and left it. She was shocked when I returned it to her, shocked that she had somehow allowed it to get out of her possession. And, then, when I had the couple with the big order and the new store credit card that wouldn't process, I called her for help. She told me she'd be right with me. However, I watched her leave the front area where the head cashiers hang out and go off somewhere in the back. Finally, I called her and said "Did you forget me?" And, yes, she had. Then, when I came back from break, I went to the front desk to see where I was supposed to work next. The head cashier wasn't there and the woman who WAS there was having a total brain fart. I have no clue what it was she was trying to accomplish, but she just could not make it happen. I have to tell you seeing these three episodes made me feel a little better about myself though I wouldn't wish anything like this on anyone.

On the design side, I pulled out a kit I had started a while back and have been working on it for a day or two. I managed to get a good bit done on it this morning. I am right on the edge of blowing the whistle and calling it done.

I had in mind to actually try to cook something tonight, but by the time I finally got home and rested for a few moments, it was pushing 9PM. Who is gonna cook at that hour? Not me! I pulled out some frozen gnocchi from Trader Joe's and nuked it and called it dinner..........

Well, I'm sure there is an inch or two somewhere on my body that doesn't hurt. But, please don't think badly of me if I can't find it right off the bat. I am worn down to nothing. I am going to bed in hopes that I will wake up without pain. Goodnight.