So, as you can see, things are a bit different around here.
In short, I got bored with my old template. I kept everything simple with the new look, but I like the colors and the subtle designs. And thanks to Justin's help with the HTML coding, my blog actually looks like what I want it to.
I'm sure there will be more to come as I continue to tweak, but for now, enjoy the prettiness.
Love!
~g
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Wicked Winter Weather Whips White With Wrath
Whoa. Massive alliteration Batman. Apparently blizzards are good for my vocabulary and word usage.
So, there's a blizzard. Yeah. Just in case you didn't know. :)
At 11pm at night, after only a few hours of heavy snow and wind, there is a drift outside our door that is roughly waist-high on me. I doubt any of us will make it to work tomorrow, although my manager called tonight to ask me to make a full-faith effort to get in tomorrow, but not to risk my life. The snow and wind are supposed to continue well into the day tomorrow, so we'll see how things look in the morning. In the meantime, we have three of the four cars in the driveway, bumper to bumper, and we are all snug and warm in the house.
Winter has arrived. With a grand entrance, if I do say so myself.
In other news, things have been busy for me of late with the job. I have now taken on nearly all aspects of my position and have really settled in. While I am still looking for a permanent position in my field, I am making some money in the meantime and trying not to loose faith in the human race.
For clarification, I have always been a weird person attractor. I don't know what it is, but people seem to feel they can be their strangest and often worst selves to me and around me. I don't think I am overstating the level to which I attract the crazies. Actually, I know I'm not, because when I recount my stories to people who have a similar perspective as I do the stories are typically followed by, "Something like that has never happened to me! Weird!"
Some of my favorites from Chicago were the police officer giving me the bird and the panhandler calling me a bitch for telling him to let go of me and stop hitting me up for money with an obviously fake story about having just come from his mother's funeral and his new mission in life of raising enough money to find the cure to breast cancer.
And now I can add Christopher and Banks stories to my crazy list. This past Sunday I got, in one day:
I finished my Christmas letter today and I have my cards, so be watching your mail in the next few weeks.
That's the latest from my world. It's an exciting life.
Much love!
~g
So, there's a blizzard. Yeah. Just in case you didn't know. :)
At 11pm at night, after only a few hours of heavy snow and wind, there is a drift outside our door that is roughly waist-high on me. I doubt any of us will make it to work tomorrow, although my manager called tonight to ask me to make a full-faith effort to get in tomorrow, but not to risk my life. The snow and wind are supposed to continue well into the day tomorrow, so we'll see how things look in the morning. In the meantime, we have three of the four cars in the driveway, bumper to bumper, and we are all snug and warm in the house.
Winter has arrived. With a grand entrance, if I do say so myself.
In other news, things have been busy for me of late with the job. I have now taken on nearly all aspects of my position and have really settled in. While I am still looking for a permanent position in my field, I am making some money in the meantime and trying not to loose faith in the human race.
For clarification, I have always been a weird person attractor. I don't know what it is, but people seem to feel they can be their strangest and often worst selves to me and around me. I don't think I am overstating the level to which I attract the crazies. Actually, I know I'm not, because when I recount my stories to people who have a similar perspective as I do the stories are typically followed by, "Something like that has never happened to me! Weird!"
Some of my favorites from Chicago were the police officer giving me the bird and the panhandler calling me a bitch for telling him to let go of me and stop hitting me up for money with an obviously fake story about having just come from his mother's funeral and his new mission in life of raising enough money to find the cure to breast cancer.
And now I can add Christopher and Banks stories to my crazy list. This past Sunday I got, in one day:
- Middle-aged sisters screaming at each other about our shitty clothes
- A husband who called his wife fat and lazy after telling me his wife's size
- A woman who's beautiful scarf (which she had bought from C&B 4 years earlier) was ruined when the gas overflowed at the gas station and got on her coat, scarf, pants, shoes, hands, etc. Of course, she knew we wouldn't have the same scarf, but what scarves did we have and what were the fabric compositions because really, just look at her hands, she can't wear just any type of fabric (because the corrosive gasoline, cold weather, and advanced age couldn't have had anything to do with her dry, chapped hands). On a side note, after tying up nearly an hour of my day, she bought a scarf, only to return it, TRIPLE BAGGED, the next day because she got home and her nose was running and she couldn't figure out why until she saw the scarf on the back of the couch and figured out it was the fabric or the dyes. So she triple bagged the scarf, left it in the garage all night, and drove it back to us the next day to return our poison to us because she wasn't going to be responsible for it any longer.
I finished my Christmas letter today and I have my cards, so be watching your mail in the next few weeks.
That's the latest from my world. It's an exciting life.
Much love!
~g
Sunday, November 29, 2009
From behind the register
Black Friday. A day known in the United States for mass consumerism consisting of door-buster deals, fanatical shoppers, elusive products, and general greed and rudeness. A true American tradition that ranks right up there with baseball and Grandma's Apple Pie.
This year I had the rather unfortunate opportunity to experience Black Friday not as a shopper but as an employee of a retail store. As a member of the management team AND the newest employee, I was given the responsibility of opening the store at 6:00 AM CST, which meant arriving at 5:30 to get the registers ready and do some paperwork. There were several women outside the store, waiting for me to put up the gate. As six drew near they started moving in closer, one even going so far as to knock on the window of the store to get my attention.
I ignored them and waited until 6:00 sharp to open the gate. There was no reason they needed to be in the store early and I knew if I didn't get the paperwork done before I opened it wouldn't get completed until much later in the day. I finished everything exactly at six and moved to open the gate.
I had the gate at shoulder height when I stopped to get a better grip so I could push it upward with the needed force to have it open completely when the women waiting in front of the store started ducking under the gate and around me to get in the store. Seriously, a sweater is not worth the haste... and patience is a virtue people.
I rung my first sale only a few minutes after six. It was two women who, I discovered, had been out since 11 pm the previous evening. I was their last stop before they headed home to fall down and not move. I understand wanting to get a deal. I understand trying to be a savvy shopper and taking advantage of sales. I don't understand staying out all night, standing in the freezing cold, competing with other people, and overall being an idiot.
I was alone in the store from 6-8 am. When the schedule was done it was felt that, based on last year, one person would be enough. That ended up being a poor assumption. I was incredibly busy and had lines of disgruntled women upset with me. I wasn't moving fast enough. I was taking too long to fold the clothes. There should be more than one person working ("Are you even aware it is BLACK FRIDAY?!"). I didn't need any information about them to take their money. They have a plan and a schedule and I am messing it up.
All told, in the two hours I worked alone, I think only 2 or 3 people said a civil word to me. When my help came in at eight I was ready to take a break. I only succeeded in trying to stay away from the cash registers for a few hours until the next help arrived and I could take an actual break and get out of the store.
It was an experience I hope to never repeat.
I have a few rules I would like to share with the world regarding Black Friday:
1. It is not worth it.
2.If you choose it is worth it, be nice.
3. You will have to stand in lines.
4. Your schedule will change.
5. You will not get everything you want.
6. Be courteous to the retail employees - they are simply trying to do their job and follow what is typically corporate-determined protocol for processing a transaction.
7. Being mean to the employees will not suddenly make the employees want to help you.
8. Look for ways you can help make things go smoother. Take items off the hangers. Fold items with the price tag clearly visible.
9. Don't get caught up in where you are going and where you have been - focus on where you are.
10. Ask yourself if your mother and grandmother would approve of the way you are acting.
11. It is not worth it.
I highly doubt I will ever go out on Black Friday after this experience. The nicest thing I can do for anyone working in retail on that particular day is stay home.
Love!
~g
This year I had the rather unfortunate opportunity to experience Black Friday not as a shopper but as an employee of a retail store. As a member of the management team AND the newest employee, I was given the responsibility of opening the store at 6:00 AM CST, which meant arriving at 5:30 to get the registers ready and do some paperwork. There were several women outside the store, waiting for me to put up the gate. As six drew near they started moving in closer, one even going so far as to knock on the window of the store to get my attention.
I ignored them and waited until 6:00 sharp to open the gate. There was no reason they needed to be in the store early and I knew if I didn't get the paperwork done before I opened it wouldn't get completed until much later in the day. I finished everything exactly at six and moved to open the gate.
I had the gate at shoulder height when I stopped to get a better grip so I could push it upward with the needed force to have it open completely when the women waiting in front of the store started ducking under the gate and around me to get in the store. Seriously, a sweater is not worth the haste... and patience is a virtue people.
I rung my first sale only a few minutes after six. It was two women who, I discovered, had been out since 11 pm the previous evening. I was their last stop before they headed home to fall down and not move. I understand wanting to get a deal. I understand trying to be a savvy shopper and taking advantage of sales. I don't understand staying out all night, standing in the freezing cold, competing with other people, and overall being an idiot.
I was alone in the store from 6-8 am. When the schedule was done it was felt that, based on last year, one person would be enough. That ended up being a poor assumption. I was incredibly busy and had lines of disgruntled women upset with me. I wasn't moving fast enough. I was taking too long to fold the clothes. There should be more than one person working ("Are you even aware it is BLACK FRIDAY?!"). I didn't need any information about them to take their money. They have a plan and a schedule and I am messing it up.
All told, in the two hours I worked alone, I think only 2 or 3 people said a civil word to me. When my help came in at eight I was ready to take a break. I only succeeded in trying to stay away from the cash registers for a few hours until the next help arrived and I could take an actual break and get out of the store.
It was an experience I hope to never repeat.
I have a few rules I would like to share with the world regarding Black Friday:
1. It is not worth it.
2.If you choose it is worth it, be nice.
3. You will have to stand in lines.
4. Your schedule will change.
5. You will not get everything you want.
6. Be courteous to the retail employees - they are simply trying to do their job and follow what is typically corporate-determined protocol for processing a transaction.
7. Being mean to the employees will not suddenly make the employees want to help you.
8. Look for ways you can help make things go smoother. Take items off the hangers. Fold items with the price tag clearly visible.
9. Don't get caught up in where you are going and where you have been - focus on where you are.
10. Ask yourself if your mother and grandmother would approve of the way you are acting.
11. It is not worth it.
I highly doubt I will ever go out on Black Friday after this experience. The nicest thing I can do for anyone working in retail on that particular day is stay home.
Love!
~g
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Paychecks and Bills
It's amazing how these things seem to go together. Like peanut butter and jelly. Cereal and milk. Naps and rainy days.
I received my first paycheck last Friday. Last Thursday I had my oil changed and my transmission fluid flushed and changed. While necessary maintenance, the oil and transmission fluid changes weren't exactly cheap. So it goes with car ownership.
The job is going well. It's nothing to difficult. I am having a blast getting to know one of my coworkers, Connie. We worked together closing this past Saturday, then went out with her roommate and had some fun away from the store! She's a total sweetie and I am so grateful that I am making new friends.
For the most part I have the job down. I am currently going through my CARE training (Christopher & Banks' selling policy) and have begun to create legacy documents of the things I am learning. I cannot believe that the opening and closing processes are not written down in the form of checklists. More than that, given all the paperwork looks the same, I cannot believe that the order of the paperwork piles is not listed anywhere. Stores like this must have a lot of turnover and I find it a bit ridiculous that the training of new employees is trusted to institutional memory. I have been taking notes throughout my training and have created some documents that will serve as reminders to me and training mechanisms for future employees. Of course, in my insane mind, creating lists and flowcharts is fun. I think it's that whole creative energy thing.
As of yesterday all Christopher and Banks and CJ Banks stores were to be decorated for the holidays. Connie and I did the decorating for our store on Saturday since my manager assigned the decorating to me and I didn't work Sunday or yesterday. It really wasn't difficult to decorate since corporate sent every store a 23-page decorating guide that explained what to put where and how to make it look (yes, the guide was illustrated). All of the decorations in the stores were sent from corporate so every store will look exactly the same. Head to your nearest C&B to see my work!
I am happy to be working and to feel as if I am being productive and doing something with my days, but I'm not really that pleased with my current circumstances. I had thought my discontent was due to the fact that I was not working, but now I have a job and the discontent is still there. I had some very specific ideas about where I would be personally and professionally at this stage in my life and my reality is nothing like my expectations. I do feel a bit happier and at peace since I started working, but I don't really feel that settled or like I am in the right place. I still have that holding-pattern feel rather than a grounded feel. I just wish I knew what I was waiting for.
The weather continues to be crazy. I'm going to be super sad if we don't have a white Christmas but I am starting to wonder if I am going to have to come to terms with a brown Christmas. I am a big fan of distinct seasons. Moreover, I think those seasons should happen at their proper times. Fall and winter aren't cooperating with my desires this year.
I have been horribly negligent of my 101 blog. I know I am long overdue of for updates and will make an effort to get to them soon. The lack of my own computer is definitely part of the reason I am not updating my blogs regularly but I am holding off on replacing my laptop until after the holiday season. I am not fully sure of what type of computer I want and I have noticed that most laptops have been marked up several hundred dollars since I looked at some options this past summer. Go capitalism!
That's about it. I really don't feel like I have much to report these days. I will, however, try to be a bit more consistent with updating my blogs, even if it is only to say there's nothing to say.
Love!
~g
I received my first paycheck last Friday. Last Thursday I had my oil changed and my transmission fluid flushed and changed. While necessary maintenance, the oil and transmission fluid changes weren't exactly cheap. So it goes with car ownership.
The job is going well. It's nothing to difficult. I am having a blast getting to know one of my coworkers, Connie. We worked together closing this past Saturday, then went out with her roommate and had some fun away from the store! She's a total sweetie and I am so grateful that I am making new friends.
For the most part I have the job down. I am currently going through my CARE training (Christopher & Banks' selling policy) and have begun to create legacy documents of the things I am learning. I cannot believe that the opening and closing processes are not written down in the form of checklists. More than that, given all the paperwork looks the same, I cannot believe that the order of the paperwork piles is not listed anywhere. Stores like this must have a lot of turnover and I find it a bit ridiculous that the training of new employees is trusted to institutional memory. I have been taking notes throughout my training and have created some documents that will serve as reminders to me and training mechanisms for future employees. Of course, in my insane mind, creating lists and flowcharts is fun. I think it's that whole creative energy thing.
As of yesterday all Christopher and Banks and CJ Banks stores were to be decorated for the holidays. Connie and I did the decorating for our store on Saturday since my manager assigned the decorating to me and I didn't work Sunday or yesterday. It really wasn't difficult to decorate since corporate sent every store a 23-page decorating guide that explained what to put where and how to make it look (yes, the guide was illustrated). All of the decorations in the stores were sent from corporate so every store will look exactly the same. Head to your nearest C&B to see my work!
I am happy to be working and to feel as if I am being productive and doing something with my days, but I'm not really that pleased with my current circumstances. I had thought my discontent was due to the fact that I was not working, but now I have a job and the discontent is still there. I had some very specific ideas about where I would be personally and professionally at this stage in my life and my reality is nothing like my expectations. I do feel a bit happier and at peace since I started working, but I don't really feel that settled or like I am in the right place. I still have that holding-pattern feel rather than a grounded feel. I just wish I knew what I was waiting for.
The weather continues to be crazy. I'm going to be super sad if we don't have a white Christmas but I am starting to wonder if I am going to have to come to terms with a brown Christmas. I am a big fan of distinct seasons. Moreover, I think those seasons should happen at their proper times. Fall and winter aren't cooperating with my desires this year.
I have been horribly negligent of my 101 blog. I know I am long overdue of for updates and will make an effort to get to them soon. The lack of my own computer is definitely part of the reason I am not updating my blogs regularly but I am holding off on replacing my laptop until after the holiday season. I am not fully sure of what type of computer I want and I have noticed that most laptops have been marked up several hundred dollars since I looked at some options this past summer. Go capitalism!
That's about it. I really don't feel like I have much to report these days. I will, however, try to be a bit more consistent with updating my blogs, even if it is only to say there's nothing to say.
Love!
~g
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Customer Care
The job is going well. The most difficult thing is the standing for a full shift, but I picked up some good shoes that will hopefully help with the foot and leg pain. Until I get used to it, though, I'll be popping the Ibuprofen with some regularity.
I figured out the register on my first day, returns and nonmerchandise items on my second. The only thing I still need to figure out is the order of the closing paperwork. There's about 20 different printouts and they all have to be in a specific order. I get the daily math stuff, although I'm a bit slow at it and double check myself a lot. Once I get the formulas and locations of the proper numbers memorized the math won't be a problem.
I have met most of the staff and think I will get along fine with all of them. Some of them will simply be coworkers, but there's at least one whom I think I will be friends with. Overall the job is nothing too difficult and I am doing well at it. Yayy for gainful employment!
It seems like I should have more to say about it, but I really don't. There's a whole bunch of specifics about the store and the job, but those are boring. Basically, it's everything that is handed down from the corporate office in an effort to make every store uniform. There's a certain way to hang and fold the clothes, to where the racks are placed in the store, to what clothes are grouped together (color stories), etc. At the store level we get color "how to" sheets for everything, and it's our job to make our store look like the pictures. We do have some creative discretion when it comes to layering and displays and such, but it all has to be from the same color story. On Sunday I learned, via color pictures, 23 different ways to tie a scarf. An hour later I had a lady who liked a scarf but didn't know how to wear it. I could help her!
I had yesterday and today off. Tomorrow I go back for a 6 day stretch that includes the largest promotion event the company offers. It should be a fun time.
In other news, our washer seems to be broken. We have a laundromat in town, but we also have two homes of close relatives between 2 and 7 miles from us, and they won't charge a dollar to wash and a dollar to dry per load. It will be at least a week before we can get a service call, so laundry is going to be fun for awhile.
November seems to be giving us the weather we should have had in October. Things are seriously messed up in the weather department. I'm not complaining overly much since it means I don't have to scrape my windows when I get off at 9 pm, but I will not be happy if December and Christmas are brown. That would just be wrong.
Since I don't have a computer I am now spending significantly less time online. I only get on the computer about twice a day now. I guess this change in my computer habits is good for me, but I am grateful that I something like a job to fill my hours now. I'll probably seriously start looking for a replacement to my laptop after the holidays. By then I should have some money in the bank and things won't be marked up for additional profit.
That's about all that's going on in my life. Pretty boring, but at least I'm being productive again.
Love!
~gk
I figured out the register on my first day, returns and nonmerchandise items on my second. The only thing I still need to figure out is the order of the closing paperwork. There's about 20 different printouts and they all have to be in a specific order. I get the daily math stuff, although I'm a bit slow at it and double check myself a lot. Once I get the formulas and locations of the proper numbers memorized the math won't be a problem.
I have met most of the staff and think I will get along fine with all of them. Some of them will simply be coworkers, but there's at least one whom I think I will be friends with. Overall the job is nothing too difficult and I am doing well at it. Yayy for gainful employment!
It seems like I should have more to say about it, but I really don't. There's a whole bunch of specifics about the store and the job, but those are boring. Basically, it's everything that is handed down from the corporate office in an effort to make every store uniform. There's a certain way to hang and fold the clothes, to where the racks are placed in the store, to what clothes are grouped together (color stories), etc. At the store level we get color "how to" sheets for everything, and it's our job to make our store look like the pictures. We do have some creative discretion when it comes to layering and displays and such, but it all has to be from the same color story. On Sunday I learned, via color pictures, 23 different ways to tie a scarf. An hour later I had a lady who liked a scarf but didn't know how to wear it. I could help her!
I had yesterday and today off. Tomorrow I go back for a 6 day stretch that includes the largest promotion event the company offers. It should be a fun time.
In other news, our washer seems to be broken. We have a laundromat in town, but we also have two homes of close relatives between 2 and 7 miles from us, and they won't charge a dollar to wash and a dollar to dry per load. It will be at least a week before we can get a service call, so laundry is going to be fun for awhile.
November seems to be giving us the weather we should have had in October. Things are seriously messed up in the weather department. I'm not complaining overly much since it means I don't have to scrape my windows when I get off at 9 pm, but I will not be happy if December and Christmas are brown. That would just be wrong.
Since I don't have a computer I am now spending significantly less time online. I only get on the computer about twice a day now. I guess this change in my computer habits is good for me, but I am grateful that I something like a job to fill my hours now. I'll probably seriously start looking for a replacement to my laptop after the holidays. By then I should have some money in the bank and things won't be marked up for additional profit.
That's about all that's going on in my life. Pretty boring, but at least I'm being productive again.
Love!
~gk
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Job alert!
I have a job!
I am the new Assistant Manager for a local women's clothing store. I am viewing my position as temporary but expect to be at the store throughout the winter at the very least.
I have a sneaking suspicion this job will either make me love or hate humanity. What I really hope is that it will teach me to find the good in everyone.
On a more practical note, this job will be a good place for me to work on my conversation skills, practice the theoretical management stuff I have in my head courtesy of my graduate work, and overall be a good place for me to get my feet wet without an insane amount of pressure.
So yeah. That's about all that has happened in my life since my last post.
Wait, that's not true. My laptop died. It's totally dead. No more. Gone from me forever. Sadness.
But hold on there just one minute! I have a new job and an upcoming steady income. I should be able to replace my laptop in a few months. Until then, I can use Justin and Carrie's computer to access the internet. Funny how that all worked out.
Now I think that's all. I am a thoroughly unexciting person.
Love!
~g
I am the new Assistant Manager for a local women's clothing store. I am viewing my position as temporary but expect to be at the store throughout the winter at the very least.
I have a sneaking suspicion this job will either make me love or hate humanity. What I really hope is that it will teach me to find the good in everyone.
On a more practical note, this job will be a good place for me to work on my conversation skills, practice the theoretical management stuff I have in my head courtesy of my graduate work, and overall be a good place for me to get my feet wet without an insane amount of pressure.
So yeah. That's about all that has happened in my life since my last post.
Wait, that's not true. My laptop died. It's totally dead. No more. Gone from me forever. Sadness.
But hold on there just one minute! I have a new job and an upcoming steady income. I should be able to replace my laptop in a few months. Until then, I can use Justin and Carrie's computer to access the internet. Funny how that all worked out.
Now I think that's all. I am a thoroughly unexciting person.
Love!
~g
Friday, October 16, 2009
Creative impulses
Lately I have been feeling the need to be creative and expressive. I think it's the lack of a job and therefore lack of outlet for these impulses.
While I was in Hobby Lobby dropping off an application earlier this week I picked up an inexpensive drawing pad with heavy-weight paper and some colored pencils. My method of outlet has been to turn to a random page in my new sketch book and do whatever I feel like doing on it. Some of the stuff is kind of silly and/or strange and at first I felt embarrassed, but then I decided it's my darn sketch book and I can do whatever I want with it.
Pretty much anything that involves color looks like a 5-year-old drew it. Some of my pencil sketches are actually alright. I'm much better at abstract or geometrical things than I am at trying to portray an actual item or creature. Marshall and Justin most definitely got the artistic talent in the family. Still, it's fun for me and a way to channel some energy.
This week I applied for jobs at Bed Bath & Beyond, Hobby Lobby, Walden Books, Christopher & Banks, and Pet Smart. All are obviously not super long-term options for me, but it would a paycheck and something to do. BB&B and Christopher & Banks are the most promising. We'll see if anything comes of it.
Everything went well with my car. Along with the radiator flush and fill they adjusted the headlights (per my request. Apparently it was a good request as the headlights were horribly positioned.) and did an overall inspection of the car since it's new to both them and me. The only thing that came up with the inspection was the need for a transmission flush and fill, but that will come in about 1000 miles when the oil is done.
The high school football team is still doing well. They lost for the first time last week to a team that is ranked better in the state. I guess it was an absolutely brutal game that included one player getting his leg broken, and although Denver lost they did manage to score on the other team several times. Up until that point in the season the other team had not been scored on at all. Next week is the last regular season game, after which playoffs will start. Denver has already secured a place in the playoffs, so the town is guaranteed to get even more excited about and behind the team. Ahh, small towns and what's considered important.
One of my favorite seasonal websites is back online. There's a guy in Colorado that decorates his house for both Halloween and Christmas and broadcasts his display around the world via several webcams. He has all of the lights and inflatables hooked up to X10 controls so visitors to his website can turn his decorations on and off with a click of the mouse. The website is admittedly gaudy, but that's part of what makes it so good. Make sure to check it out and have some fun!
Marcus, can we look forward to another Christmas album this year?
That's about it for new stuff from me. Love!
~g
While I was in Hobby Lobby dropping off an application earlier this week I picked up an inexpensive drawing pad with heavy-weight paper and some colored pencils. My method of outlet has been to turn to a random page in my new sketch book and do whatever I feel like doing on it. Some of the stuff is kind of silly and/or strange and at first I felt embarrassed, but then I decided it's my darn sketch book and I can do whatever I want with it.
Pretty much anything that involves color looks like a 5-year-old drew it. Some of my pencil sketches are actually alright. I'm much better at abstract or geometrical things than I am at trying to portray an actual item or creature. Marshall and Justin most definitely got the artistic talent in the family. Still, it's fun for me and a way to channel some energy.
This week I applied for jobs at Bed Bath & Beyond, Hobby Lobby, Walden Books, Christopher & Banks, and Pet Smart. All are obviously not super long-term options for me, but it would a paycheck and something to do. BB&B and Christopher & Banks are the most promising. We'll see if anything comes of it.
Everything went well with my car. Along with the radiator flush and fill they adjusted the headlights (per my request. Apparently it was a good request as the headlights were horribly positioned.) and did an overall inspection of the car since it's new to both them and me. The only thing that came up with the inspection was the need for a transmission flush and fill, but that will come in about 1000 miles when the oil is done.
The high school football team is still doing well. They lost for the first time last week to a team that is ranked better in the state. I guess it was an absolutely brutal game that included one player getting his leg broken, and although Denver lost they did manage to score on the other team several times. Up until that point in the season the other team had not been scored on at all. Next week is the last regular season game, after which playoffs will start. Denver has already secured a place in the playoffs, so the town is guaranteed to get even more excited about and behind the team. Ahh, small towns and what's considered important.
One of my favorite seasonal websites is back online. There's a guy in Colorado that decorates his house for both Halloween and Christmas and broadcasts his display around the world via several webcams. He has all of the lights and inflatables hooked up to X10 controls so visitors to his website can turn his decorations on and off with a click of the mouse. The website is admittedly gaudy, but that's part of what makes it so good. Make sure to check it out and have some fun!
Marcus, can we look forward to another Christmas album this year?
That's about it for new stuff from me. Love!
~g
Sunday, October 11, 2009
So ready
We winterized today and are now totally ready should snow decide to fall and stay.
Yesterday my brother's father-in-law woke to a solid layer of snow. Somehow that snow missed us here in Northern Iowa, but made it to Southern Iowa and created a perfect blanket. Weather patterns are odd things. Not to be outdone, today I awoke to a perfect layer of leaves in our front yard area. It seems overnight the main tree that borders our driveway decided to drop well over half of its leaves. The front yard, half of the driveway, and half of the street were coated. It was actually rather impressive... see:
That's a lot of foliage. I mean, a lot. Notice how all of the yards around us are devoid of leaves. That is not because those homeowners are all on the ball, it's just that we happen to have a tree with tons of foliage that decided to strip overnight.
I have never been a fan of yard work. I don't really care for gardening (although getting vegetables out of my own garden this year was a lot of fun), I can't stand weeding, and I'm more than happy to let the grass grow tall and pretend I live on the prairie just like Laura Ingalls. I do, however, thoroughly enjoy raking up leaves and cleaning up the yard for winter. I also enjoy shoveling snow. I'm a strange one.
My life of late has been fairly inactive and sedentary, so when I saw all the leaves this morning I was rather excited to get out and take care of them. I waited until about 1 p.m. so it would be a tad warmer, then dressed myself in layers and went out to get my rake on. It took me about 45 minutes to make several giant piles out of everything. When no more piles could be created I headed into the house to break open a can of tuna for a stray kitten that I had scared away from its hiding place in our front yard and to yell for mom to come out and help me take care of the leaves. I figured we would be putting the leaves in bags or into our small trailer to take to the landfill. Either way, the job would be easier with two people.
When Mom came out she informed me that the leaves are her winter mulch for all of the flower beds that line the house and the garage. While I went about the task of scattering the piles of leaves six inches thick over the beds, Mom cut back and generally cleaned up everything and then began mowing, with the grass clippings going down on top of the leaves in the beds. That is some well-mulched dirt!
About the time I finished getting the leaf piles taken care of (I even got the stuff off the street since it would blow back at our house and yard anyway) Justin came out to help. He and I worked together to clean out the gutters, check the heat tape on the roof (some is still working great, some it not working...boo!), and cut back the honeysuckle and other trees and vine plants around the perimeters of our yard. We filled our trailer to brimming three separate times. Grandpa Mabon was kind enough to come up with his truck and be our runner with the trailer. He took everything to the local landfill and disposed of it for us, then came back for more. When he dropped the trailer off for the last time we were able to fit all remaining branches in the bed of his truck, which he dropped off at the landfill on his way home. He was a great help in making sure everything got taken care of today!
The last step was to cover the air conditioner for the winter and move the snow shovels to the front of the garage. The weather is calling for snow showers tonight and tomorrow, but we'll see how much of that actually happens. We'll probably have to clean out the gutters one more time and we may replace the heat tape that is not working, but that's for the next clear, somewhat decent day!
When everything was finished it amounted to exactly 5 hours of work for me. It was really nice to be outside and active and productive and I am the happy type of tired tonight. I feel good that something that needed to get done did get done and that we were able to take care of so much. And I am also incredibly happy we were on the ball this year with outdoor winterizing! A lot of times it's early November before we take care of the gutters and leaves and then it's a miserably cold job. Today was not the warmest day (we worked in high 30s) but while we were out the weather didn't seem too bad. I only started to feel cold after we came in and I realized how red my legs and arms and hands were, despite having had everything covered properly. A warm shower, hot supper, and several blankets have taken away the chill. I would cite a snugly cat as well, but he's been banned from my room for having the audacity to throw up on my ivory carpet only 6 inches from the open door and easy-to-clean hardwood floor.
This coming week I will, as always, be looking for and applying for jobs, but I am also going to learn about my car and proper fluid maintenance. I have popped the hood and taken a look at everything. I have referred to my owner's manual. I have asked Mom and Justin questions. And I still have a few things I don't know. I have been planning on taking the car into the shop soon since there is a chip in the windshield that I want to make sure is sealed before the frigid temperatures cause it spread, and while it is there I will be asking the mechanics some questions. I think, per Mom's suggestion, I'll also have the antifreeze flushed and refilled since it is on minimum now and I have no clue what kind of antifreeze is currently being used or how long ago it was added. I'm not due for an oil change for another 600 miles or so, but I do not want to wait on that chip in the windshield. Look at me be a responsible automobile owner. :)
As it has gotten colder (especially considering how early it is for cold weather) I have been reminded of how grateful I am for a warm home, plenty of weather-appropriate clothing, and good food. I may not have all that I want right now, but I have more than enough to make me happy.
Tucker's really happy the heat is back on as well. He loves to lay along the register in my room when the heat is running. I am always a bit concerned since I know how hot the register metal gets, but he doesn't seem to mind. I guess all of that fur is good for something. The below was taken before I banned him from my room.
Love!
~g
Yesterday my brother's father-in-law woke to a solid layer of snow. Somehow that snow missed us here in Northern Iowa, but made it to Southern Iowa and created a perfect blanket. Weather patterns are odd things. Not to be outdone, today I awoke to a perfect layer of leaves in our front yard area. It seems overnight the main tree that borders our driveway decided to drop well over half of its leaves. The front yard, half of the driveway, and half of the street were coated. It was actually rather impressive... see:
That's a lot of foliage. I mean, a lot. Notice how all of the yards around us are devoid of leaves. That is not because those homeowners are all on the ball, it's just that we happen to have a tree with tons of foliage that decided to strip overnight.
I have never been a fan of yard work. I don't really care for gardening (although getting vegetables out of my own garden this year was a lot of fun), I can't stand weeding, and I'm more than happy to let the grass grow tall and pretend I live on the prairie just like Laura Ingalls. I do, however, thoroughly enjoy raking up leaves and cleaning up the yard for winter. I also enjoy shoveling snow. I'm a strange one.
My life of late has been fairly inactive and sedentary, so when I saw all the leaves this morning I was rather excited to get out and take care of them. I waited until about 1 p.m. so it would be a tad warmer, then dressed myself in layers and went out to get my rake on. It took me about 45 minutes to make several giant piles out of everything. When no more piles could be created I headed into the house to break open a can of tuna for a stray kitten that I had scared away from its hiding place in our front yard and to yell for mom to come out and help me take care of the leaves. I figured we would be putting the leaves in bags or into our small trailer to take to the landfill. Either way, the job would be easier with two people.
When Mom came out she informed me that the leaves are her winter mulch for all of the flower beds that line the house and the garage. While I went about the task of scattering the piles of leaves six inches thick over the beds, Mom cut back and generally cleaned up everything and then began mowing, with the grass clippings going down on top of the leaves in the beds. That is some well-mulched dirt!
About the time I finished getting the leaf piles taken care of (I even got the stuff off the street since it would blow back at our house and yard anyway) Justin came out to help. He and I worked together to clean out the gutters, check the heat tape on the roof (some is still working great, some it not working...boo!), and cut back the honeysuckle and other trees and vine plants around the perimeters of our yard. We filled our trailer to brimming three separate times. Grandpa Mabon was kind enough to come up with his truck and be our runner with the trailer. He took everything to the local landfill and disposed of it for us, then came back for more. When he dropped the trailer off for the last time we were able to fit all remaining branches in the bed of his truck, which he dropped off at the landfill on his way home. He was a great help in making sure everything got taken care of today!
The last step was to cover the air conditioner for the winter and move the snow shovels to the front of the garage. The weather is calling for snow showers tonight and tomorrow, but we'll see how much of that actually happens. We'll probably have to clean out the gutters one more time and we may replace the heat tape that is not working, but that's for the next clear, somewhat decent day!
When everything was finished it amounted to exactly 5 hours of work for me. It was really nice to be outside and active and productive and I am the happy type of tired tonight. I feel good that something that needed to get done did get done and that we were able to take care of so much. And I am also incredibly happy we were on the ball this year with outdoor winterizing! A lot of times it's early November before we take care of the gutters and leaves and then it's a miserably cold job. Today was not the warmest day (we worked in high 30s) but while we were out the weather didn't seem too bad. I only started to feel cold after we came in and I realized how red my legs and arms and hands were, despite having had everything covered properly. A warm shower, hot supper, and several blankets have taken away the chill. I would cite a snugly cat as well, but he's been banned from my room for having the audacity to throw up on my ivory carpet only 6 inches from the open door and easy-to-clean hardwood floor.
This coming week I will, as always, be looking for and applying for jobs, but I am also going to learn about my car and proper fluid maintenance. I have popped the hood and taken a look at everything. I have referred to my owner's manual. I have asked Mom and Justin questions. And I still have a few things I don't know. I have been planning on taking the car into the shop soon since there is a chip in the windshield that I want to make sure is sealed before the frigid temperatures cause it spread, and while it is there I will be asking the mechanics some questions. I think, per Mom's suggestion, I'll also have the antifreeze flushed and refilled since it is on minimum now and I have no clue what kind of antifreeze is currently being used or how long ago it was added. I'm not due for an oil change for another 600 miles or so, but I do not want to wait on that chip in the windshield. Look at me be a responsible automobile owner. :)
As it has gotten colder (especially considering how early it is for cold weather) I have been reminded of how grateful I am for a warm home, plenty of weather-appropriate clothing, and good food. I may not have all that I want right now, but I have more than enough to make me happy.
Tucker's really happy the heat is back on as well. He loves to lay along the register in my room when the heat is running. I am always a bit concerned since I know how hot the register metal gets, but he doesn't seem to mind. I guess all of that fur is good for something. The below was taken before I banned him from my room.
Love!
~g
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Winter is early this year
We are having our first hard freeze tonight and tomorrow's forecast calls for snow. While we can't really mark this as the beginning of winter I am fairly certain we aren't too far off. Time for me to find my winter coat and boots again. Everything of mine got sent/brought home from Chicago this past year in waves and I am still uncertain as to where some of the items landed.
Justin and I picked the last tomatoes of the season today. The tomato plants are still loaded down with a bunch of green fruits, but the freeze tonight will most definitely kill everything off. It seems like such a waste and yet I didn't know what to do with green tomatoes, if anything. Justin recommended frying them.
I don't have much to report these days. Life is pretty quiet. I spend my days looking for and apply for jobs but as of yet have not had one nibble. It's frustrating and a bit depressing. I knew finding a job, especially in this economy, would not be a cake walk, but I was not prepared for the difficulties I've encountered thus far. I just try to keep reminding myself that the right thing will come along at the right time, and until then I just need to keep looking and applying. I cannot believe I had the chance to get an excellent education without there being some way for me to use it.
Tucker is spending his days, as always, sleeping. He has developed a favorite new nap spot on the love seat in the addition and can be found there beginning most afternoons. He's always enjoyed being covered up while sleeping but until recently only wanted to tuck himself in. I apparently have gotten better at the whole tucking in thing, as he now allows me to cover him several times a day. He's a crazy cat.
And with paragraphs like that I am concerned I am becoming a crazy cat lady. I need a job and a man, stat!
Our little town's football team is performing phenomenally well this season, much to everyone's surprise. There is a good chance Denver will make a serious run for a state title. The town is really starting to come alive and get behind the team. Driving around town you'll see cars with the team's record painted on them and signs/words of encouragement. It's a lot of fun to see a community united behind something like this and I hope the team continues to perform well.
That's about it from my little part of the world.
Love!
~g
Justin and I picked the last tomatoes of the season today. The tomato plants are still loaded down with a bunch of green fruits, but the freeze tonight will most definitely kill everything off. It seems like such a waste and yet I didn't know what to do with green tomatoes, if anything. Justin recommended frying them.
I don't have much to report these days. Life is pretty quiet. I spend my days looking for and apply for jobs but as of yet have not had one nibble. It's frustrating and a bit depressing. I knew finding a job, especially in this economy, would not be a cake walk, but I was not prepared for the difficulties I've encountered thus far. I just try to keep reminding myself that the right thing will come along at the right time, and until then I just need to keep looking and applying. I cannot believe I had the chance to get an excellent education without there being some way for me to use it.
Tucker is spending his days, as always, sleeping. He has developed a favorite new nap spot on the love seat in the addition and can be found there beginning most afternoons. He's always enjoyed being covered up while sleeping but until recently only wanted to tuck himself in. I apparently have gotten better at the whole tucking in thing, as he now allows me to cover him several times a day. He's a crazy cat.
And with paragraphs like that I am concerned I am becoming a crazy cat lady. I need a job and a man, stat!
Our little town's football team is performing phenomenally well this season, much to everyone's surprise. There is a good chance Denver will make a serious run for a state title. The town is really starting to come alive and get behind the team. Driving around town you'll see cars with the team's record painted on them and signs/words of encouragement. It's a lot of fun to see a community united behind something like this and I hope the team continues to perform well.
That's about it from my little part of the world.
Love!
~g
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