Day 24: Warm, 70s
ASM: Alex
HC: Austin
Loaders: Joe, Jax
1) We're forced to be on #2 again. Neither Kem nor I are happy.
2) Beginning on the 24th (tomorrow), we have to enter our PIN to access Workday "for extra security"
3) At 5, I hopped back on #1, only to discover it was out of $5s and $10s.
4) Final customer left at 9:45.
Outfit: Maroon blouse, dark jeggings, silver spirals
Day 25:
Day 26: Rare Sun
Day 19: Warm, sunny, low 70s; 94 t/a
ASM: Maria
DS: Kari
HC: Austin
Loaders: Charlie, Joe, Bright
1) Had trainee for the 1st hour:)
2) Ran out of $1s at 3:30; was on #2 until 9.
3) Military discount now working on Lumber???
4) Was short-staffed, so had to cut my lunch short by 10 mins.
5) Needed o/r, so hopped to 1 for 3 customers until ASM Shan arrived.
6) At 9pm, #2 was out of $10s,$5s, and $1s. Went back to #1, where I stayed the rest of the night.
7) Final customer left at 9:10.
Outfit: Palm tree sweatshirt, faded jeggings, sea horses
Off tomorrow for eye appointment, take Ned's SA box to him, and Behind The Brians at 7pm:)
Day 20: Cold, windy, high 50s
ASM: Maria
HC: Austin
Loaders: Joe, Bright, Vince
1) Was called in to work Garden 4-8, but ended up in Lumber til close
2) Was insanely busy for 1st hour!
3) Customer had 4 carts, but needed something else, so ended up on #2 until they found it.
4) Needed an o/r for discounted cabinets, so hopped to #2
5) Final customer wanted bulk gravel and sand; had issues finding it. Then found it, and did a refund/rebill.....but refunded the wrong item. Oops!
6) Was putting away hangers, but couldn't find them. Dumped them in an almost empty box.
Outfit: Mama Bear sweatshirt, faded jeggings, small diamond flowers
Day 21: Sunny, mid-60s; 83 t/a
ASM: Maria
HC: Sonia
Loaders: Conrad, ASM Charlie
1) T showed up at 4, and I lost my mind; can't talk and make change at the same time. Called me 'old friend'; he's lost 20 pounds and looks GREAT! Told me 'talk soon' and left. Le sigh.....
2) Threw caulk, paintbrush, and $1 at people.
3) Did return, only the card was different than the one the customer used; consulted HC Sonia, who gave him cash, but the register never printed out a return slip.
4) Andrea was in a bad mood, b/c she'd been called in and "Adrianne took an hour and 10 min lunch'....I ended up getting back 5 minutes later. She'd already logged off and left the minute she saw me.
5) I'd just locked the doors and opened the big door when a customer ran in, saying he only needed to get 2 boards. He was in and out in 2 mins, before HC Sonia cleaned me out.
Outfit: Red hanky hem turtleneck, faded jeggings, tiny diamond and sapphire hoops
Day 22: Warmer, low 70s; Floater duty 11-4; 36 t/a
ASM: Alex
HC: Kayla
Loaders: Charles, Tate, Jax
1) Worked Lumber while Kem took her lunch break, and the new scanning the IDs for LCA have begun. Had to do it twice.
2) Worked LG while Robin took her break, and BOY have things changed! Had issues finding the mulch and pavers. Rain showed up for about 10 mins, which thankfully drove everyone out of LG! Had to learn to use the Zebra to page, instead of the phone. Bleh.
3) Took my 15 min break, then worked Self-check out for 15 mins until Andrea returned. Had issues helping a customer insert his $$; forgot to press 'cash' 1st. Geez.....
4) Went to lunch, then an intestinal attack hit as I was clocking back in. Had to clock out at 4 and go home after cleaning out the coffee pot and spotting Jax in aisle 20.
Outfit: Blue Whitehorse sweatshirt, faded jeggings, tiny sapphire hoops
Day 23: Sunny, mid-70s; 90 t/a
ASM: Chris
HC: Austin
Loader: Jax, Vince
1) Was called in around 12:30, to work 3-close; Halle called in.
2) My dustpan was MIA; found it as I was leaving at Fashion Bath desk.
3) Had to return SOS order; wasn't sure I'd done it correctly.
4) Thai truck was there, but didn't have any expendable $$. THOUGHT about it though!
Outfit: Brown gauze blouse, faded jeggings, sapphire hoops
Will I get called in again tomorrow????
Day 15: Cold, sunny, high 40s; 104 t/a
ASM: Chris
HC: Austin
Loaders: Bright, Vince, Jax
1) Discovered someone pilfered FOUR MORE of my lunchables! Questioned Matt, who denied it. So either Kerri's lying or there's another thief in the store.
2) Needed an o/r for a countertop; no one came. Hopped over to Pro Kath's register and as soon as I logged on, the customer next in line turned and headed up front. *shrug* Helped the next four until Dean told me 'never mind' and just paid the wrong price.
3) When I went to lunch at 8, Theresa bought me a lock for my lunchbox. Pretty bad when I have to have a lock on my PERSONAL lunchbox in the fridge.
4) HC Austin said he'd never seen me mad. "Oh, I am LIVID! One I can forgive; 2 raises my eyebrows, but 4? PISSED OFF!"
Outfit: Crew neck Cabela's sweatshirt, white mock turtleneck, new dark jeggings, small textured hoops
Day 16: Windy, high 50s, rain; 82 t/a
ASM: Chris
HC: Austin
Loaders: Bright, Jax
1) Ran out of $1s and quarters; had to be on #2 until 6:30.
2) Window wouldn't ring up; 'not found'. Called Bright; he tried to fix it and needed an o/r. ASM Chris said we're no longer using the old Genesis code, but overrode it and had him send an email to Crystal, due to 5 more being on the shelf. Chris also authorized 10% off, but the military code wouldn't take it off, so he had to o/r it again.
3) Bill locked his keys in his car, so while he was waiting for his wife to bring the spare set, I had him take back a few returns and my trash to the hopper:) Then told his wife to tell him to take her to Denny's, lol....
Outfit: Gray leopard stripe, black vest, white mock turtle, new dark jeggings, small gold hoops
Off tomorrow to go to Lafayette!
Also talked to Holly about my hours; she said they should pick up next month. Projections aren't predicting heavy sales until maybe next week or so.
HC Austin's birthday is this weekend; told him I'd bring him cupcakes on Mon!
Day 17: Warmer, high 50s; 48 t/a
ASM: Alex
HC: Austin
Loaders: Joe, Bright
1) Came home from Lafayette, and stopped in to drop off my Hershey kisses and to use the facilities. HC A was in the breakroom and asked if I wanted to work. I said sure, so parked my car, called the SU and told him I was at work. Sent Dawson to Garden after we busted the line.
2) Only worked a 4 hour shift, but still got a 15 min break.
3) At 9:45, Dawson had nothing to do, so I let him take over the register while I returned items to Plumbing, Hardware, and OSLG. Clocked out at 10, then picked up the SU and went to Denny's. I was starving!
Outfit: Cozy blanket sweatshirt, white mock turtle, new dark jeggings, thin gold hoops.
Off tomorrow for Marci's wedding!
Day 18: Palm Sunday Warmer, high 60s/low 70; 80 t/a
ASM: Shannon
DS: Keri
HC: Kayla
Loader: Joe, Conrad (new guy)
1) Accidentally told my cousin about his mom's mild stroke, when Uncle B wasn't telling him, b/c he's in Italy. Oops....Uncle B called me; I apologized, then apologized to my cousin W, then later MOM scolded me via text.
2) Halle left at 5, and suddenly everyone descended on me, PLUS needed a forklift for 20 mins:
-Deck boards needed brought down
-Needed 34 sheets of drywall
-Pallet of concrete
-Order needed loaded (Lady was upset she had to load her own 8 bags of concrete, plus find the stakes!)
3) Needed an o/r; hopped to #2 until HC Kay arrived
4) Ran out of $1s at 6:30; fortunately had enough quarters to cover it
5) Customer DROOLED while paying....ugh!
Outfit: Bless This Mess sweatshirt, new dark jeggings, silver crosses
"Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26 RSV)
"For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgement." (2 Timothy 1:7 RSV)
"....he saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy." (Titus 3:5 NIV)
Why did I quote those three verses? They popped up in my Daily Devotions this weekend.
The 1st one was about having FAITH in our Lord, and what is happening in our lives. Since joining social media in 2009, I've accidently alienated dear friends with my conservative stance, and over the years learned to skip over posts I didn't agree with.
This is becoming harder and harder.
I clung to my faith during the Obama years, praying nonstop that no one would be seriously injured, due to the fact we'd lost our Union insurance and didn't qualify for HIP (medicaid-we made $200 too much). It was either buy short-term insurance that was around $2-300/month, but didn't pay ANYTHING, or cough up $650/mo for the 'Obamacare', and change doctors. In other words, did we want pain in the wallet up front, or make payments to the medical team?
We opted to make payments to the hospital. Thankfully, it came with zero interest, and payments were only around $50/mo. When you're on unemployment and waiting to be approved for disability, this was doable. When disability and his early retirement arrived, things got WAY better.
Then 2016 happened, and I saw half my friends on social media start to get really ugly with posts. Five years later, I watched in shock as 'common sense' policies went out the window, and I clung to my faith. I decided that maybe God was letting it happen, in order to show our country what happens when you take this route and PRAYED that 1) that's what was happening and things would swing back to 'normal' and 2) the horrific Elder Abuse we were watching would finally be over.
#2 is now coming to light, but in no way, shape, or form are things back to 'normal'.
I guess this is the new 'normal', where half the country has lost their minds and the other half is getting their opinions drowned out.
It's become an 'us-against-them' mentality, with people so afraid of what they're seeing in the news they're reverting to childhood tactics....hiding in basements while the storm passes or becoming bullies.
I feel like I'm a child of divorce.....Mom wants this, but Dad wants that, and if I pick a side, I'll lose out on a great relationship.
Can we just STOP? Half the country is acting on pure EMOTION, while others are fact-checking, deciding for themselves and praying for guidance.
Where is the faith in our leaders? Where is YOUR faith?
When I say 'faith', I don't mean to hole up and do nothing BUT pray. Faith is also an ACTION; if you feel compelled to protest, campaign for your leader of choice, then by all means go for it. Just stop with the attacks on those who disagree with you.
WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE AND STILL BE FRIENDS!!!!!
I can still love and support you as a friend while silently disagreeing with your choices.
Just because I don't jump on your bandwagon doesn't mean I don't respect your right to your point of view. Is it too much that I ask you respect mine in return?
I love social media. I love the fact that I can stay in touch with friends who have moved away without depending on letters or phone calls. I miss reading blogs, but yeah, people have shorter attention spans, and I myself don't have the time to write a daily blog anymore. I barely have enough time to do the three per month on Patreon! Did you notice I didn't post my monthly goals until FRIDAY the FOURTH? Yeah, I was a little busy. Between the Evening Job, the trying to get my 38th book written, promotion events, watching my shows on Peacock, Paramount, and YouTube, and trying to keep my stress level under control.....that doesn't leave a lot of time left in the day. Even now, I should be working on Ch 10 of Heart Song but felt compelled to write this instead.
I don't know what the future holds. I don't know if I'm the right side of history. All I can do is continue to have faith, much like my grandparents did during the Great Depression.
Which brings up another point.....Mark Levin said a great deal of our 'wrong policies' began under FDR....I always admired the way he presided over his 12 years. Although a couple of years ago I found a biography of Eleanor and FDR and had to laugh b/c they bought a school bus for a school district, and when it broke down, the school district sent it back to the White House instead of fixing it themselves!!!
Think about it. If you're given something you didn't 'earn', how do you value it? My kids, if their toys were broken, they were tossed and not replaced, unless Grandma bought a replacement. But if THEY bought it with their allowance? It was prized.
Welfare was NEVER supposed to be a way of life, yet over the years, it's become one. I hear countless stories of young girls wanting to get pregnant so they can leave their dysfunctional homelife, get on welfare, and apply for government housing. And the cycle continues....
I've heard of good employees being given a raise, only to have them quit, because their raise causes them to LOSE their housing/welfare checks.
How wrong is THAT? Instead of moving up in a company and earning $$, you'd rather get it from the government???
I wasn't raised that way, and fought it my entire 30+ years of being on my own and marriage. Yes, we had to get food stamps once but used it WISELY and once the spouse was back to work, we happily said goodbye to it. Yes, I also enjoyed the brief time we were on Medicaid. But once the union insurance kicked in, I was happy I no longer had to make the yearly trip downtown.
Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox now. I need to eat and swap out my laundry, plus LEAVE in 15 mins.
WOW....March was a busy month!
-Lose 5 lbs (beginning 245) According to BKM's scale, I've lost 4:)
-Get taxes prepared Check! Getting refund from both! Oh happy day:)
-Have fun at ICC (panelist) Check! Had a blast!
-Do well at SI Con Sold 6:)
-Do well at BRC Sold 6:)
-Finish Ch 9 of Heart Song Check! Began Ch 10
-Read 6 books Read 5....3 print, 2 e-book
-Finish current e-book Check:) Now onto the next one!
Books Read: 5
Print: 3
E-book: 2
DNF: 0
2025 Events:
April 3-4th: GSH Vendor Fair Sold 6:) 3 each day:)
April 5th: Bartholomew Co Comic Con Sold 6:)
April 26th: Indy Author Event (volunteer)
June 13-15th: Superman Celebration, Metropolis, Il ($100)
June 21st: Farmer's Market ($15) and Pride (donation)
July 20-22nd: Imaginarium, Louisville, Ky (Pd 9/12)
Aug: Watermelon Fest ($60 due by 7/18)
Aug: CCC ($25 due 6/15)
Aug: Geek Con, Evansville Museum, Evansville, In ($40)
Sept 19-20th: Cil-Con, Effingham, Il (Pd 12/29)
Sept 27th: Book Nook Book Fair, Peoria, Il ($75 Pd 12/27)
Nov 12-16th: ICGAHS ($700-making payments)
2026 Events:
April 11th: Dreaming Dirty In Michigan (Pd $60; still owe $120)
April Goals:
-Lose 5 lbs (241)
-Do well at GSH Vendor Fair Sold 6:) 3 each day:)
-Do well at Columbus Comic Con Sold 6:)
-Enjoy the Indy Author Event
-Start getting Sara's room cleaned up
-Buy new soap dish and toilet roll holder Check! for MBa
-Finish trim, lights, medicine cabinet, and shower guard in MBa
-Make appt with foot dr about my right leg
-Finish Ch 10 of Heart Song
-Pay editor ($150) Sent $50
-Add words to new fairy story
-Buy BP machine
-Pay for Geek Con ($40)
-Pay down CC and start pecking away at med bills
-Read 6 books Check:)
-Finish current e-book Check:) Now onto the next one!
April Reading Schedule:
Day 13: Chilly, high 40s, cloudy; 69 t/a
ASM: Shannon, Ian
HC: Sonja
Loader: Brighton, Joey
1) The T/A would only show me up until 8pm; I had transactions up until 9:40!
2) We can use #1 again!!!!!
3) Fingers couldn't spell or type all night.
4) Had a trainee for an hour, and customer couldn't find his LAR/LCA account under ANYTHING, so ended up paying it himself. Then Pro Kathy told me not to enter city/state.....and found it.
5) Customer's phone # began 734; kept typing 735. *head slap*
Outfit: Blue hooded Cabela's sweatshirt, dark jeggings.
Off tomorrow for choir practice:)
Day 14: cloudy; rain around 7:30; 87 t/a
ASM: Shannon
HC: Austin
Loaders: Brighton, Joey
1) Had to take a phone order from Wagler Construction for Jax, who didn't know how to do it. Kudos to him for answering the phone, though!
2) It began raining as I went to lunch; returned an hour later and NO CUSTOMERS!!! Rain flooded parts of aisles 50-52, nearly all the way to the center aisle!
3) Was filming the storm at 9:30 when Shannon told me to put down my phone and close the door. :(
4) I'm STILL only scheduled for 13 hours per week. WTH???? Sent a polite email to Holly and Kari to schedule me 25-30 hours per week please. I CAN'T PAY MY BILLS ON 13 HOURS A WEEK!!!! I NEED TO PAY MY EDITOR AND COVER ARTIST!!!!!
(ahem) Okay, got myself back under control.
Outfit: B/w checked shirt; dark jeggings, red 'wavy' posts
Day 11: Chilly, windy, high 50s; 104 t/a
ASM: Chris, Keri
HC: Kayla
Loader: Jax
1) Customer needed help getting some OSB; had to have Matt get it, due to Jax not answering page
2) Customer chose to sign up for the rewards before he paid and held up the line.
3) Customer needed 44 sheets of drywall; Jax had gone to lunch; paged for forklift driver for 15 mins before Brent and Izzy arrived. Then customer went MIA for 10 mins; they couldn't load it until they arrived!
4) Customer was impatient as I was finishing up with a customer; I could only go as fast as the machine or customer was!
5) Customer tried to load GC with $2; it takes a minimum of $5. Said his buddy was sending him $$; then asked if he could take the GCs out to the parking lot while he waited! Umm, no......they're worthless until they're activated and paid for....
Outfit: Red l/s tee, faded jeggings, thin gold hoops.
Off tomorrow, unless I get called in!
Day 12: Sunny, high 60s; 108 t/a
ASM: Alex, Keri
HC: Austin
Loader: Vincent, Brighton (Joe called in)
1) Good news! Getting a $.25 raise, effective this next pay!
2) Finally was able to ask SM Matt about hopping to #1 at 5. "I don't care, but I'm just trying to follow what Corporate tells me." So?????
3) Customer told me 3 times "I hope I don't see you again tonight.", but came back 5 times!
4) Waited for an o/r for 5 mins before Kait arrived. Joked the discount would increase the longer it took.
5) HC A was going to send me to break at 4:30, and give me a 15 min break at 7:30. I told him NO, and to send me to lunch at 7:30. Finally went at 8:15.
6) ASM Scott put in his 2 weeks, then was escorted out 'for giving people too many chances'. Later found out he's taken a job with United Way. Also, Fmr ASM Maria's returning, and Alex is taking over Lumber. Yay!
Begged Alex to call me in tomorrow after 5....I need the hours!!!
Outfit: L/s black/gray tee, white mock turtleneck, black vest, faded jeggings, blue sapphire hoops.
