Day 56: Sunny, 70's; 63 t/a
ASM: Shannon
HC: Riley
Loaders: Isaiah, Steve (from LG), DS Ian
1) Was called in; arrived 5:10; Olivia was obviously pissed off.
2) Had zero energy. Did manage to do AP4Me and LU.
Outfit: Black CBS tee, cut off capris, small diamond hoops
Day 57:
Day 58:
Day 59:
Day 60: Rare Sat
I know, I know.....ten days in and I'm just now realizing I never posted my goals! Heck, a few days ago I posted on Patreon, thinking the 8th was the 9th. I'm slightly confused, lol.....
I was surprisingly productive last month!
-Lose 5 lbs (start 244) Lost 4! Whoot!
-Send Aiden to editor Check!
-Contact Dawne' for cover art Check!
-Do well at Creative Market Ended up dropping out in order to drive to Lafayette a day early
-Do well at Author Fair Sold 2, swapped 2, donated 2. Probably would have done better had I read an excerpt or talked about my publishing journey.
-Do well at NHS Craft Fair Sold 3; the majority of readers wanted murder/mystery. Did hand out a lot of cards for those who read on Kindle!
-Do well at Youth Leadership Craft Fair Sold one, but maybe sold 3 more on Kindle??? Plus met a woman writing her memoirs and a woman whose 13 y/o has begun writing stories.
-Find out about passport photo Staples???
-GET VAN FIXED!! 4/16: Cleaned and replaced loose battery cables; ran for an hour then quit. Mom got $9K back from taxes; she's offered to help.
Health: Leg wound is still being pesky. Collagen pack didn't work, so am back on antibiotics (#5 for 2 weeks). It IS shrinking, and this is the antibiotic I only take twice a day.
Had my teleconference with Dr. Steve on the 5th; my BP is still borderline high, so he wants me back on the BP meds when I'm off the antibiotics. I've lost 4 pounds, so wondering what I did differently last month??
Hours at work have been switched back, thankfully. I'm working my a$$ off this month, to pay down my credit cards and get editor and cover art paid!
Books Read: 8
Print: 4
E-book: 4
DNF: 0
2026 Events:
June 5-7: Indy Comic Con (Panelist)
June 13: Pride, French Commons, Vincennes, In 5-9pm
June 26th: Summer On Main, downtown Vincennes, 5-8pm
July 10-12: InConJunction Convention, Wyndham West, Indpls
July 17-19: Imaginarium, Louisville, KY
Aug 8th: Indy Author Event
Aug 22nd: Lafayette Comic Con, Tippecanoe Co Fairgrounds, Lafayette, IN ($40)
Sept 12th: StompCon, Fowler, IN
Nov 11-15: ICGAHS
Nov 28th: Creative Holiday Market, 1972 KCARC
Dec 2-3rd: GSH Christmas Vendor Event ($50)
May Goals:
-Lose 5 pounds (start: 240)
-Pay Editor Check!
-Pay Cover Art 5/1: $50
-Enjoy anniversary Check! Nice, quiet day, and dinner at Yamoto
-Pay for ICC parking (park whiz)
-Enjoy Mother's Day
-Buy one more pkg Book Sleeves from Temu
-Buy one more pkg sarcasm notepads from Temu
-Buy 5 more pkgs whisk charms from Etsy
-Buy 1 more pkg guitar charms from Etsy (June??)
-Publish Aiden and buy copies
-Send Daughter's MS to editor
-Republish Rex Nancy working on it
-Fill out passport paperwork and turn it in
-Find out about passport photo Staples???
-Add words to Dragon story stalled and Hallmark-inspired story
-Buy new soap dish for MBa
-Finish trim, lights, medicine cabinet, and shower guard in MBa
-Pay down CC and start pecking away at med bills
-Read 6 books
-Finish current e-book
Day 50: Rain, 60s; 95 t/a
ASM: Shannon
HC: Riley
Loaders: Jax, Isaiah
1) Felt weird all shift. Didn't know if I was tired or hungry, or if the mushroom-swiss burger I'd eaten made me feel sluggish.
2) Was HOT from 2-6pm!
3) Had LOTS of returns! Several were taken back during my 15 min break, then more the first 15 mins of my lunch, and finally even more at close.
4) Felt like I had mild 'brain fog'.
5) Bought a 4th of July headband!
Outfit: Blue hooded Cabela's sweatshirt, Hallmark Movie tee, dark jeggings, large hoops.
Day 51: Sunny, 60s; 77 t/a
ASM: Dan
HC: Levi
Loaders: DS Charles, Darien
1) Felt a LOT better today!
2) Cust tried to 'help' me bag and put the caulk tubes in the bag wrong!
3) Didn't get my 1st 15 min break; Olivia left at 4.
Outfit: B/W striped shirt, dark jeggings, black danglies
Day 52: Sunny, 60s; 82 t/a
ASM: Alex
HC: Riley
Loaders: DS Charles, Isaiah
1) Olivia had a curious thing going on. When I arrived, she was in the bathroom (2:50-ish). At 3:05, she took her break in her car (smoke break???), arriving around 3:20. Then at 3:55, she had to use the bathroom again, and returned around 4:12!
2) Customer's card declined; maxxed out. Wife got fraud alert; came in and wrote a check. Joked her hubby was in 'time out' while we waited for her arrival!
3) Everyone liked my hair cut! (4 inches off!)
4) Mr. Prov ran in at 9:53 and checked out with his PVC fittings at 10pm.
5) Isaiah informed me his last day is the 14th. Booo......
Outfit: Blue crew Cabela's sweatshirt, black dog tee, large gold hoops
Day 53: Rain, low 70s; 82 t/a
ASM: Alex
HC: Riley
Loaders: Jax, Isaiah
1) 'Chatty Cathy' customer held up the line; it was backed up to Aisle 19. Someone called Alex and said it was 'freakishly long'. Madi came down to help, but by then, I was down to 2 customers in line!
2) Had to page 3 times for a Code 50 and for the saw. Jax blatently ignored me until I saw him, then pointed out the customer waiting by the saw. Madi unlocked the 100' drain pipe for me.
3) I'd forgotten my raincoat and had texted D about it, then CALLED him a few hours later. He brought it.....at close. Fortunately, it had stopped raining by then.
Outfit: Brown gauzy shirt, dark jeggings, blue sappire hoops
Day 54: Rare Sat Sunny, mid-70s; 122 t/a
ASM: Alex
HC: Levi
Loaders: Jax, Kyran (import from LG)
1) As you can tell from the transactions, was BUSY!! Non-stop for 3 hours; Trevor came to give me an o/r and stayed to help me out for several minutes!
2) Isaiah called in; hence Kyran's appearance
3) Finally calmed down around 8:30!
Outfit: Gray leopard stripe l/s tee, dark jeggings, thin gold hoops
Day 55: Rare Sun Mother's Day Sunny, 60's; 66 t/a
ASM: Alex
HC: Levi
Loaders: Jax, Miguel (from LG)
1) Chaos around 3:45! Yancy had gone to break (we were dead); Jax was at lunch; DS Charles had gone home for the day (I didn't know this). Suddenly, one customer needed shingles brought down; another wanted a pallet of concrete blocks; a woman needed help getting a board from the rack. Multiple pages for Jax or Charles went unanswered. My Zebra malfunctioned; #2's phone didn't work. Finally, Alex appeared and filled me in the situation. He helped the woman and got down the shingles. Jax reappeared and was able to get the blocks. By the time Yancy got back, things were somewhat under control! I took my break at 4:45 and gratefully sat down!
2) Saw Izzaboo! (formerly of Millwork)
3) After Yancy left, at one point I needed an o/r, so moved to #2 again until Charlie arrived.
4) Learned someone shoved a pallet of garden pavers into the rack and bent it; it took two forklifts to get it down without it crashing down.
5) Friend Julie and her hubby Jorge were my final customers.
Outfit: Blessed G'ma tee, #1 Mom pin, dark jeggings, large hoops.
Ep 9: Jimmy Fallon Adds To This Episode
Damage Control: Everyone is scurrying around trying to assure Devins they didn't vote for him.
Christian offers to give his SITD to Jon, who turns around and tells Joe he'll take it, then vote him out.
Immunity/Reward Challenge: Holding onto a bucket and OUTLASTING JEFF to earn a bag of rice!!!!
Jeff vs Ozzy, Joe, Tiff, and Jon (Jimmy Fallon's idea)
Rizzo, Emily, and Devins drop....who proceed to HECKLE Jeff!
Cirie drops
LMAO! Jeff is in pain after 6 MINUTES!!!
Jeff drops....TRIBE GETS RICE!!!! After 7.5 MINUTES!!!
Christian drops
Aubrey drops...."How are you wrenching that up?" "I'm psycho!"
Steph and Tiff drop.
Jon drops after 12 mins
Ozzy vs Joe.....Ozzy drops...JOE WINS!!!
Journey: Christian wins the rock, paper, scissors.
Task: Complete a puzzle before your rope unspools. He doesn't do it. (Jimmy Fallon's idea)
Loses his advantage of writing a name down; now has to read a letter at camp.
Returns to camp and reads the note. HAS TO VOTE HIMSELF OUT AT TRIBAL!!!
Emily tosses Ozzy's name out to Cirie and Tiff, who decide to vote HER out.
But Rizzo wants Christian gone.
Tribal Council: Emily, Christian, or Devins?
Christian, as he's casting his vote for himself: "I look forward to your apology".
Christian voted out, 6-3 (Devins)-2 (Ozzy)
Ep 10:
Survivor Auction!!!!
Devins: $160 fries
Emily: $100 milkshake
Jon: $60 cracker tray
Aubrey: $280 mystery chaos and comfort. Aubrey eats 2 grubs, then get the cookies and milk
Cirie: $180 blanket
Steph: $260 grilled cheese sandwich
Cirie: $20 toothbrush and paste
Jon: $320 Sea slug, but Ozzy gets the fried chicken
Cirie: $280 charcuterie board
Rizzo: Protein shake, 2 chicken breasts
Ozzy: Entire cake
Jon: Peanut butter sandwich
Aubrey: $200 mac and cheese
Everyone's in for a shared item at $20 each. Letters from home! But at the same time, Mr. Beast (YouTuber???) arrives with a Beware Advantage that will be revealed at Tribal Council. Neither Joe nor Tiff got any reward.
Next, Jeff closes the auction and says 'Follow me to the Immunity Challenge!'
Immunity Challenge: Balancing on a beam while balancing a ball on a bow.
Steph drops within seconds
Rizzo drops
Cirie drops after 2nd section
Aubrey drops
3rd section:
Devens falls off, but gets back on
Devens drops
Emily drops
Jon drops
Joe drops
Ozzy drops
Tiff wins!
Chaos in camp as rumors fly!
Cirie has an extra vote
Ozzy has an idol
Steph has a steal-a-vote.
Who will use what? And will it be effective?
Tribal Council: Ozzy, Steph, Rizzo, Cirie, Devins??
Devens spills the beans on everyone who called people out, including Steph's steal-a-vote. People began whispering. Jeff and Cirie begin laughing over the chaos! "You either laugh or cry, Jeff" said Cirie.
Mr. Beast Beware Advantage: A gold coin, heads or tails. One person will flip it and if they win, they earn immunity AND prize $$ DOUBLES! If they LOSE, they go home.
Who flips the coin? Someone has to volunteer, or everyone draws rocks.
Devins flips the coin! He calls heads.....HEADS!!!! Prize $$ is $2 million and Devens is SAFE!!!!
Aubrey, Steph, or Emily?
Steph steals Devens' vote.
Stephenie voted out, 8-2 (Aubrey, Steph's votes)
Day 44: Heavy rain, high 60s; 61 t/a
ASM: Shannon
HC: Riley
Loaders: Jax, Isaiah
1) Heavy rain began around 5; flooded our loading bay. DS Ian found the squeegee and we took turns using it.
2) Aaron Knepp was in the store for 3 hours, with his family. I teased him about bringing everyone in so we could see they DO exist! Ian got a chuckle out of it!
3) Darrell T tipped a cart on end; I left it; he said he wanted to see it like that in the morning!
4) Woman decided the two Stanley cups were too expensive, so instead of handing them over, she put them into the blue buckets in front of the register. WTH????
Outfit: Gray G'ma tee, blue SC sweatshirt, faded jeggings, thin gold hoops.
Day 45: Sunny, high 60s; 107 t/a
ASM: Keri
HC: Levi
Loaders: Jax, Isaiah
1) Arrived; discovered Isaiah had submitted his 2 week notice; Raven 'stole' Olivia from Lumber to help out due to being short-staffed. Zion and Lazarie called in.
2) Isaiah had twisted ankle, so was taking it easy
3) Customer took the survey, then was immediately scammed. "You won $500" popped up, but when he called the number, the guy wanted him to buy GCs from the app store. NOPE!
Outfit: Blue sparkly tee, black plaid, faded jeggings, large zirconian studs
Day 46: Sunny, 60s; 81 t/a
ASM: Dan
HC: Riley
Loader: Jax (Isaiah and Darien called in)
1) Customer in a hurry was 'rude' to Pro Kath, who promptly dubbed him an ass. He was just in a hurry and stressed, imho.
2) Jonah (Ian's son) rang up three customers and almost got his hands on the cash, but I intercepted it!
3) Olivia was 'stolen' again!
4) Jax went to lunch @6; within fifteen mins, a customer needed nearly 30 sheets of drywall. Couldn't get anyone's attention. Payton arrived; shanghied him to help out. Two mins later, another customer showes up with concrete molds and explains he can only find 5 or 6 when our app says there's 21 in store. I call again for help.....then Chad walked in. Told him to clock in and help the guy, which he did:)
5) Maria got the SM job!!!!!!
Outfit: Gray hooded sweatshirt, faded jeggings, small diamond hoops.
Day 47: Cool, 60s; 78 t/a
ASM: Alex
HC: Levi
Loaders: DS Charles, Isaiah
1) Arrived; Olivia was at CS!
2) Freakishly busy at first: 3-4 (21); 4-5 (11); 5-6 (18)
3) Couldn't get ahold of my guys to find flooring; turned out they were outside with no phones.
4) Tried to return Raymond's order; was unable. He went up front; turned out it was still in the system as Pick up later! He'd picked it up on Mon, and no one had printed the ticket.
5) Accidentally cut up the new break schedule; Levi, being 'offended' by my actions, found it and stapled it back together!
6) Saw Mr. Miller, Kyle, and Dave (doggy dad to Maple and KD).
Outfit: Blue/white striped sweater, faded jeggings, silver chains.
Day 48: Cool, 50s; 95 t/a
ASM: Alex
HC: Levi
Loaders: DS Charles, Sam
1) 14 people in 1st 30 mins!
2) Went to lunch @6 instead of 6:30
3) Saw Kyle and Olivia:)
4) Screwed up and printed loading ticket before it was given to customer
5) Fire/rescue at Subway around 9pm
6) Customer tried buying 4 ceiling tiles (sold by box).
7) Woman reportedly said she didn't care when we closed; she was going to get her 'f---'n items!' She left slightly after 10.
Outfit: B/w buffalo check sweater, faded jeggings, red and white hoops.
Day 49: Rare Sat Cool, 50s; 69 t/a
ASM: Shannon
HC: Levi
Loaders: Jax, Isaiah
1) Met Michael, the new cashier
2) Was steady until 7pm; after Michael left at 6, was busy for a straight hour!
3) Jadyn had the heater on when I arrived!
Outfit: Mama Bear sweatshirt, faded jeggings, large hoops.
Off the next 2 days, to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary:)
Ep 7:
Jon and Dee get into it; Tiff's mad about Kamilla going.
Everyone's mad at Aubrey for not playing her idol.
Coach begins creating haikus....
Oz and Riz return and their minds are BLOWN about the 3 tribals!
Emily tells Riz she knows about his idol, and throws Dee under the bus. Dee is now furious at Emily for not keeping her mouth shut.
Journey: Steph's name is pulled out of the hat; goes off to Exile Isle, and has to tether her arm toa bucket for an hour. She gets the Steal-A-Vote advantage!
Reward Challenge: Rolling large boulder through obstacles, then puzzle.; wins Chinese Take Out.
Teal: Jon, Cirie, Chrissy, Coach, Aubrey, Tiff, and Rizzo
Purple: Christian, Ozzy, Emily, Devins, Dee, Steph, and Joe
Teal gets their boulder 1st
Teal gets to the keys 1st, followed by Purple
Purple gets the lock open 1st; Emily struggling.
Purple to the wall 1st, but Teal gets everyone up 1st
Puzzle comes down to the wire, but Teal wins reward and the right to fight for Immunity!
Immunity Challenge: Holding balls on a paddle above your head while standing on a balance beam.
Devins out 1st
Emily drops
Christian drops
Steph drops
Dee drops
Joe drops
Ozzy wins!
While half the camp enjoys the Chinese food, the other half schemes against Dee.
Coach begins to piss off players, and Dee and Tiff scheme against HIM!
Tribal Council: Dee, Tiff, or Coach?
Dee tries to cause chaos at Tribal.
Dee plays her Shot-In-The-Dark: Not Safe.
Aubrey plays her idol.
Dee voted out, 8-4 (Tiff)-1 (Coach).
Ep 8:
Everyone has to divide into pairs; Cirie's chosen to be the odd one out.
Pairs: Aubrey and Devins
Jon and Christian
Chrissy and Coach
Emily and Rizzo
Ozzy and Steph
Joe and Tiff
Immunity and Reward Challenge: Obstacle and Ball maze: Twist: One PAIR will be voted out!
Toss ball into bucket, then race to grab it as it rolls down the track.
Next, partners pass the ball back and forth, using paddles as they go across a bridge.
Then you assemble a plank bridge.
1st 3 pairs across move to final round.
Maneuver a ball from a cage, then move it through the maze.
1st pair wins immunity and reward, spaghetti meal.
Joe and Tiff in the lead to the plank bridge
Tiff and Joe, Ozzy and Steph, and Aubrey and Devins move on!
Aubrey and Devins through the cage!
Oz and Steph on the maze!
Finally Joe and Tiff on the maze!
Joe and Tiff have one ball....
Oz and Steph have one ball....
Joe and Tiff win!
Cirie goes to Exile:)
She has 30 mins to find a coconut with a phoenix and she can return to camp and vote. If the timer runs out, she stays at Exile and doesn't vote.
She found it!!!
Tribal Council: Coach and Chrissy, or Devins and Aubrey?
Devins grabs his fake idol from the fire pit! People start to scramble....but aren't really buying it.
Coach played his Shot In The Dark....Not Safe
Chrissy and Coach voted out, 10-1 (A+D)-1(E+R)
