Dreamflower's Mathom-house

I made this little display for the store. I figured it would work for the entire summer; it went up just before Memorial Day, and can stay up through the Fourth of July and Labor Day!

Here's the pic: ( Read more... )

This afternoon at work, a customer came over to me and asked me to come and look out the window.

Staggering along the verge between the parking lot and the road was a man. The customer told me he'd seen the man fall. The poor fellow was carrying three huge bundles-- maybe a tent, an oversize backpack and something else I couldn't identify. He kept dropping one or the other, and he looked like he'd fall over again at any minute. The heat was as brutal today as it's been for the last month.

The customer told me he'd seen the man fall in the ditch and was laying down for a while before he got up. I asked him to go and speak to a manager, as I couldn't leave my area. He spoke to L., and she went out to see about it. She took some water, and I observed them briefly talking before I had to get back to my register and wait on customers.

L. told me afterwards that the poor fellow was homeless. He'd slept outside last night, but he was looking for a church or someplace where he could stay the night and maybe get a meal. The customer who first voiced his concern put the homeless man and all his gear in his truck, and was going to take him to a church he thought could help the poor guy.

All I could think about was that I was glad that he hadn't had a heat stroke or anything, and that I hoped he'd be OK. And I wish I'd had a chance to tell the Good Samaritan customer what I thought about him, because he might have saved that man's life.

Too many people are so close to being in the same boat as that poor man.

I am not used to working on Sunday. The whole routine at the store, and the rhythm of the customers is totally different. Plus I started my morning off by getting locked in the broom closet.

Yep. See, I was told to clean the women's restroom, which I actually like doing, because it's something different than stocking shelves or waiting on customers. So I went into the broom closet that is located between the women's and men's restroom in order to get my cleaning supplies. Got them together. Turned around and pushed on the door to go out-- nothing happened. I suddenly realized someone must have turned the latch on the outside (there is no inside latch), so I start banging on the door and hollering. In just a few minutes, someone heard and let me out.

The girl who'd locked me in was all apologetic-- she didn't know I was in there, and she'd wanted to hang her apron on the latch, so she turned it. (It's not a very good hanger in the "open" position.) This is a habit a lot of the employees have, because we are not allowed to wear our aprons into the restrooms for sanitary reasons. BUT, there is a HOOK *IN* the broom closet for that purpose. If she'd opened the door to used that hook, she'd have known I was in there. *sigh*

Anyhow, I'm glad to be home. I do work tomorrow, but it's a short shift, thank goodness!

The DH and I are going to postpone Valentine's Day until next week, when hopefully both of us will be off at the same time, and also we have a payday on Fri. that should include a ton of overtime. Still, I had fun making a Valentine's Day wreath for our front door. Pic behind cut... ( Read more... )

So, what's everyone else up to?

They are still telling people to stay off the roads. But I called the store just now and they want me to come in to work.

It's not far. In normal weather it takes only 2 minutes. I figure it may take me an hour or more to get there today.

Also, I went in Sunday and got my schedule Sunday, and I saw that I was off Mon and Tues. But now they are saying was scheduled to come in and didn't.

I am fixing to get dressed and see what I can do. It's 8AM, and if I start now, I MIGHT be able to get my car moving on time.

This sucks.

ETA Our across the street neighbor kindly came over and used his snowblower on our driveway. I have come in to change my socks and warm my feet up, and then I am going to head out. I will go very slowly and just hope I don't get stuck between here and there.

If all goes well, I should be home by 4:30 or 5.

Bamboozled. Swindled. And I'm still not quite sure how it was accomplished. ( Read more... )

...was indeed, a better day, though extremely long and exhausting.

Clocked in at 7:15AM, had a lunch break from 1:15 to 3PM, and then back to work until 9PM. Spent the whole morning washing dishes--which actually is something I enjoy. It was even more fun, since I was getting to know a few of my new co-workers, and as we were washing new equipment, we had fun trying to guess what the heck most of them were, LOL!

Still, even when I was younger and working full time, I never put in *those* kinds of hours. I really envied the youngsters who were still bouncing around and ready to party after we got off. (Of course, *that* could have had something to do with all the ice cream some of them consumed...)

I'm going to leave for work again in just a few minutes...

It's off to work I go--

For my first real day of work. I'll be training until 1. Then I will come home, eat lunch, and then go to the Health Dept. for a Hepatitis A shot.

Wish me luck!

Last summer, I started looking for part time work. With the economy the way it is, it seemed like it was necessary. I thought that I had one job, but then my mother died and I lost it. I didn’t have much luck finding something else local, but last week, I put in a application at the local
Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Store. They have built a new and larger store to replace the one we have. I turned in my application and had a preliminary interview. I was pleased when they called me back and asked me to come in again today--I thought for a second interview. Instead, I was given a hire packet, watched 3 videos on the clock, and left with two aprons, a hat, and a time card.

I will go in tomorrow for my first day of training. They are orienting everyone in the “old” store--but the new one opens next week.

I have worked retail before, but not fast food, so this should be an experience. I hope I have the stamina for it--but many of the other employees look to be around my age--not all of them are “kids” in their teens or twenties. So I hope I will do all right.

The other good thing is a 15% employee discount. Since the stores sell groceries (they have fresh produce, meat, and baked goods) as well as dairy products, ice cream and fast food meals, it should really help out our grocery bills.

I don’t know what my schedule will be, but I will still make time for hobbits.