From The Stupid Files: Y7, W21

Day 75:  Hot, high 90s; 58 t/a

ASM:  Alex

HC: Austin

Loader:  Kaleb

1) Found out I'm up to 7 absences, and I get 2 more.  I need to find out where my others went; I thought I was at 4 or 5!

2) Matt asked us to fill out a survey:

-What are my career goals?

-What do I expect from them?

-What can they do to improve?

     a) I expect to retire in 15 years

     b) I expect to be given the time off I need to promote my work and to take care of my mom.  I do NOT call out frivolously; I only do it in a dire emergency.

     c)  I would like to train the closers in Lumber; I would like 2 lumber associates scheduled; I would like 25-30 hours per week; I would like 2 head cashiers per shift; I would like faster response times to Code 99s.

3) Was 90 mins late to work, due to not leaving Lafayette until 12:30, and had to run by home, since I didn't want my laptop overheating, or my deodorant to melt.

Outfit:  Gold tee, faded capris (unrolled),  Forgot earrings.....

Day 76:  Sunny, storms, low 90s; 72 t/a

ASM:  Daniel

HC:  Austin

Loader:  Joey

1) Matt was thrilled with my typewritten survey (see above), and told me that yes, there will be 2 lumber associates in the evening.  Also, the store was supposed to get remodeled last year, but was pushed back.  It's coming....

2) Customer had 5 full carts, which took me half an hour to ring up.  Loader Joe hopped on #2 in order to bust the line!

3) Customer wanted to save $$, so I signed him up for a CC. But the verification went to his email, which he doesn't have on his phone, so called his wife. When he finally got a hold of her, I sent two more codes, and we got him approved.  THEN, in order to use the shopping pass, it went to his email (head desk), so I had him text the info. His phone refused to cooperate, so after the 3rd attempt, I called ASM Dan. We ended up just doing the 20% and scanning the o/r.  Customer went on his way.

4) Joe and a customer pushed in a heavy cart of lumber for return as I was going to lunch. I looked at him and asked if he was okay, which he replied he didn't know. I told him to sit down for a few.  When I returned an hour later, he had gone to lunch.....but by 9pm hadn't returned.  Praying he's okay!

5) Kaitlyn Stevenson agreed to take my Friday shift!  Holly still hadn't fixed it, and I didn't want to burn a point.

Outfit:  Black Alaskan Hway tee, long capris, tiny silver hoops

Day 77: Rain, mid-80s; 76 t/a

ASM: Daniel

HC: Austin

Loaders: Kaleb, Jax

1) Heavy rain around 4; lasted until after 5. We offered our umbrella to anyone needing to go to their car!

2) Kaleb was drenched after being caught in the 1st wave.

3) Kaleb went home at 8:30, due to being drenched AGAIN while helping a customer load his order!

4) Customer made 5 trips in to fix his leaky water pipes.  Hope the last trip did the trick!

Outfit:  Dark gray IN tee, long capris, thin gold hoops.

Off the rest of the week for the Imaginarium Convention in Louisville!

Have REALLY enjoyed the Muzak this week!

All Out of Love

Making Love out of Nothing At All

Blue Bayou

Sometimes When We Touch

Get Closer

Don't Cry Out Loud

The Pretender

Slow Hand

He's So Shy

Longer

Leader of the Band

Kiss You All Over

Fooled Around and Fell In Love

The Girl Is Mine

Sweet City Woman

From The Stupid Files: Y7, W20

 Day 74: Sunny, high 80s; 100 t/a

ASM:  Alex

HC:  Austin

Loader: Jax

1) Elderly man who only wears overalls with no underwear and no shirt was in. Fortunately, he smelled better this time!

2) Loader Fred complained about Jax not bringing in carts.  I pissed off Jax by calling him up, then sending him out. Later, he retaliated by shoving a cart at me, which nearly hit me. I stopped it with my foot and nearly fell over.

Outfit:  White Valspar tee, faded capris, blue sapphire hoops

Ended up calling in, due to my mom being sent to the hospital with sepsis and possible stroke. Will update soon.

Ended up spending the rest of the week with her.

July Goals

June just flew by!  Is it just me, or am I so busy I lose track of days?  We also celebrated Granddaughter Olivia's 3rd birthday, and made two trips to Lafayette (once for sinus dr and hair/dentist trip), in addition to having dinner with long-time friends Steve and Kristin, so I was able to relax a little:)

-Lose 5 lbs (241)

-Do well at First Friday Art Walk Rained out again

-Do well at Seymore event Sold 1, but met several new authors!

-Do well at Summer On Main Sold 3:)

-Do well at Pride Sold 10:)

-Finalize Playing With Time and set release date Not yet; cover model and artist had health issues, my computer crashed.

-Pay Editor ($50), Cover Art (funds in savings), Geek Con event,(Check!) and Lafayette Comic Con event (Check!)

-Start getting Sara's room cleaned up Carpet removed; walls sanded and painted; carpet pad removed; Alex's bed moved in

-Finish Ch 11 of Heart Song Check!

-Pay down CC Check, but am going to use it for my hotel fee at Imaginarium and start pecking away at med bills Paying down Comm Bank (hospital) and Maurices-let the daughter get clothes and I bought a few tees for me

-Read 6 books Only 3, but they were thick!

-Finish current e-book Check!

Health:  Did not get my brochitis or sinus infection:)

Books Read:  4

            Print:  3

        E-book:  1

             DNF:  0

2025 Events:

July 20-22nd:  Imaginarium, Louisville, Ky (Pd 9/12)

July 25th:  KCARC Craft Show ($25 Pd 7/10)

Aug:  Geek Con, Evansville Museum, Evansville, In ($40 pd 6/13)

Sept 19-20th:  Cil-Con, Effingham, Il (Pd 12/29)

Sept 27th:  Book Nook Book Fair, Peoria, Il ($75 Pd 12/27)

Oct 11th:  Lafayette Comic Con, Tippi County Fairgrounds ($50-Pd 6/13)

Nov 12-16th:  ICGAHS ($700-making payments)

2026 Events:

April 11th:  Dreaming Dirty In Michigan (Pd $60; still owe $120)

Aug 8th:  Indy Author Event ($250; Pd $50 5/16 still owe $200)

July Goals:

-Lose 5lbs (start 241)

-Celebrate Sara's birthday 3rd:  Her back was out.  5th:  She still wasn't feeling well.  12th: I was out of town with Grandma. 18th:  I was out of town at the Imaginarium Convention.

-Have fun at Imaginarium Check!  Only sold 2 books, but hung out with several friends!

-Publish Playing With Time Check! E-book pubbed 7/1; print pubbed 7/13!   5 copies ordered ($24 plus $21 S&H)

-Go to Food Trucks On The River (21st)

-Do well at KCARC event

-Buy new soap dish for MBa 

-Finish trim, lights, medicine cabinet, and shower guard in MBa 

-Make appt with foot dr about my right leg 

-Finish Ch 12 of Heart Song

-Buy BP machine 

-Pay down CC and start pecking away at med bills

-Read 6 books

-Finish current e-book 

July Reading Schedule:  

Leota's Garden-Francine Rivers Good story, but full of family drama, and as Mom said, a lot of crying!

The Matzah Ball-Jean Meltzer DRR!  OMG, I laughed so much while reading this!!!  Want to get her next one, Mr. Perfect On Paper:)

Once Upon A Platypus 2-Ron Braun Fun!

The Shrieking Gun Cafe-YW Lumaris DNF.....read the 1st 'book', and just not my interest.

The Bears of Blue River-Charles Major

Home To Holly Springs-Jan Karon

Cleaning Homes in Scottsdale, AZ-Rick Smith

Secret Stories of Disney World-Jim Korkis

The Scarlet Thread-Francine Rivers

And The Shofar Blew-Francine Rivers

Redeeming Love-Francine Rivers

Finding Home-Sutton Bishop

Becoming His-KI Lynn

Tangled In Lavandar-Sandra Sookoo

This Is Us-April Decton

The Lady's Mine-Francine Rivers

Texas Bombshell-Cynthia D'Alba

Innocence Taken-Victoria M. Patton

Fish Tank-Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra

The Trouble With Angels-Maggie Adams

Just One Summer-Lynn Stevens

She Who Frees The Selkie-K. Malady

Double D Ranch-Rochelle Bradley

The Restless Few-James Watjen

How To Raise Viking Children-Troy Maynard

Trick of the Tale:  Genesis-Jen Selinsky

Echoes of Vengeance-Stephanie Lanham

Memoirs of an Angel-Brian Rodman

The Choice-Anne Greene (misplaced??)

Louise Penney book

A Quiet Strength-Janette Oke

Valley of the Shaman-Arlen Andrews

Joyful Poems For Children-James Whitcomb Riley

I Heard God Laugh-Matthew Kelly

Life Is Messy-Matthew Kelly

Franklin and Eleanor

-38

E-book:

A Game Of Gossip-Sandra Sookoo

Two-Bit Wizard-Keith Thompson

This Is Not The Story You Think It Is-Laura Munson

The Stanhope Challenge-Cerise Deland 

Dark Side of Disney-Leonard Kinsey

A Divided Heart-Alessandra Torra

Moonshot-Alessandra Torra

Trophy Wife-Alessandra Torra

Promised To The Worst Duke In England-Sandra Sookoo

Abigail's Journey-Jean Joachim

TBB (on wish list-was tired of not finding them!)

The Marriage Bargain-Jennifer Probst (2013-$10)

The Marriage Trap-Jennifer Probst (2013-$15)

The Marriage Mistake-Jennifer Probst (2013-$10)

The Marriage Merger-Jennifer Probst (2013-$10)

Into Thin Air-Jon Krakauer (2013-$15)

The Cookbook Collection-Allegra Goodman (2013-$11)

The Girfriend-Abigail Barnett

The Summer Without Her (Men???)-Siri Hustvedt

Searching For Someday-Jennifer Probst (2014-$8)

Hard As You Can-Laura Kay (2014-$9)

The Year of Living Biblically-A.J. Jacobs (2014-$15)

Retaliation-Yasmin Shiraz (2014-$10)

Accused-Yasmin Shiraz (2014-$10) 

Romulus-Marilyn Campbell ($5)

Gaslight Chronicles-Cindy Spencer Pape ($8)

So Far Away-Dakota Madison, et al

Defending Devon-Shannon West

Love Realized-Melanie Codina

Love Resisted-Melanie Codina

Assumptions-Melanie Codina

One The Run-Jade C. Jamison

Decker-AD Ellis

Sawyer-AD Ellis

Twins-RG Miller

Saving Sarah-Nan Reinhart

Monster Among The Rose-Linda Kage

A Life Before-Julien Ayotta

Flower of Heaven-Julien Ayotta

Dangerous Bloodlines-Julien Ayotta

Dare To Love-Sandy Sullivan

If I Fall-Lydia Michaels ($5)

If You Want Me-Tara Mills

Tomorrow-Samantha Kane

Backdoor Billionaire's Bride-Roz Lee (2019-$5)

The Play-Tawdra Kandle

Party Planning Can Be Murder-Kerry Schafer

Hopeful In Yellow-Sandra Sookoo

Magic In Mayflowers-Sandra Sookoo

Zero Chance-Linda Kage (want entire series in print)

From The Stupid Files: Y7, W19

 Day 68: Cloudy, humid, 90s; 101???

ASM:  Maria

HC:  Austin

Loader: Joey

1) Was very busy until 6, then was able to do LU and AP4Me

2) DS Ian had ice pops in the ice bin, so ate a red one. 30 minutes later, I slurred, "That'll be $324.06.." then enunciated it, and asked what was in that Italian ice? The customer, Joey, and I had a good laugh over it.

3) Had a customer wanting a fan, but we didn't have any in box. Offered to check them out, but they went on their merry way. A little while later, they returned; I rang up the fan 'needs loaded', as well as their other purchases, then hilighted their fan on the receipt so CS/ASCO would know it was already paid for, and sent them back to aisle 25.

4) Apparently, Gracie, our new trainee, had a rough day. With only one day of shadowing (that I know of!), they put her in LG, then ASCO, with NO training, and she didn't know what to do.  ASM Maria apologized to her. I showed her how I close down lumber, and she took some returns back for me.

Outfit:  Blue LU tee, dark capris, small gold hoops

Day 69: Sunny, less humid, upper 80s; 93 t/a

Ended up calling in on Tues, due to intestinal issues which hit at 2pm and didn't let up until 5:30.

ASM:  Daniel

HC: Kaitlyn

Loader:  No-show Joe

1) It was apparently 'Call-In Day', which I didn't get the memo and called in a day early, lmao! Kim, who worked my shift yesterday; Adrianne; and Joe.  Izzy covered the CS desk; Yancy came in and covered ASCO; Robin and I did our thing. Fortunately, NO ONE needed wood cut, or massive amounts of wood or drywall requiring a forklift! I had one customer with a pallet of cedar pickets, but those are in LG.

2) Pro customer had me get in Pro K's files to ring him up.  Only took me 2 tries to punch in the CC number.

3) Had to call Libby at 7:40 for a quick pit stop; as I was returning, I saw Raven coming to send me to lunch an hour earlier than the flow chart said!

Outfit:  Sage green 'flower' tee, dark capris, small textured hoops

Day 70:  4th of July; hot. muggy, 90s; 73 t/a

ASM: Alex

HC: Austin

Loaders:  Joey, Charlie, Kaleb

1) Discovered my intestinal issues are most likely caused by my meds being taken on an empty stomach! I'm suspecting the vitamin or Mucinex....

2) Had a contest to see which dept could sell the most fly swatters, bug bracelets, or American Flags. Front end is in 2nd place!

3) Other than being extremely hot (drank 2 bottles of water in 2 hours), shift was fairly good.

Outfit:  Blue 4th of July tee, dark capris, 4th of July earrings and scrunchie

Day 72:  Rare Sat; sunny, hot, mid-90s; 151 t/a

ASM:  Shannon

HC:  Isaac

Loader:  Kaleb

1) Was asked to come in due to Yancy calling in. Our plans had changed (was supposed to go to E'ville to take the daughter to dinner, but her back's out.  Doing it next Sat instead.), so agreed. Went in at 2, and barely even had time to grab a drink of water! Solid until nearly 6!

2) Was able to 'boss' Alex....I needed a forklift, but Charlie had left and Kaleb wasn't in yet. He told me to page....I asked if he would do it; I had a line clear back to aisle 19. I went back to ringing up; he made the page!

3) Traffic slowed down around 6, and was able to start the closing duties.

4) Kait swapped shifts with me; I'll take her Sunday (13th) and she'll take my Friday (11th). She's trying to arrange a way to take my Wed, so I can do the IG interview.

5) Passed out free ice cream and freezer pops:)

6) Had a Haitian man come up with road marker flags and an American Flag, and asked if that was okay to put in the back of his truck, so he was street legal!  Showed him where the FREE red flags are!

Outfit:  Spare parts tee, long capris (unrolled), small gold hoops

Day 73:  Rare Sun; cloudy; low 90s; 71 t/a

ASM: Shannon

HC:  Isaac

Loader: Jax

1) Clocked in early; thought my shift was 3-8; turned out to be 3;30-8!

2) Once Yancy left at 5, I was slammed for an hour!

3) Customer Marco thought I said $29 when it was $39!

4) Jax ignored my pages for customer assistance.

5) CFH was not understanding how much $$ was in her account.  Had to hop over to #2 while she 1st retrieved her wallet....then her phone to call her daughter....and FINALLY be rung up!

6) CFH #2 walked in at 7:58, then couldn't find what he was looking for in tools, then bi***ed about the fact Bill had left at 7:55!  He finally settled for two items after griping he'd driven an hour to get there, and checked out at 8:15.

Outfit: Blue flowered tee, dark capris (unrolled); thin gold hoops