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Friday, November 6, 2009

Change

Life is just one big adjustment after another. Just when you get used to one thing, it changes and in times like that, it's good to be thankful for the little things.


falling

I'm thankful for the simple pleasure of raining leaves and kids that haven't lost the wonder of a perfect fall day.

pondering the leaf

I'm thankful for my little muse and for the wonder I get to relive through his eyes. Eyes that are learning to appreciate colorful leaves for the first time.


an offering

I'm thankful for life's small offerings and gifts.


brothers

I'm thankful for brothers who actually like each other.


work isn't work in this kind of light

I'm thankful for light so beautiful it hurts my insides.


kansas autumn

I'm thankful for the explosion of the color yellow right before the stark season of cold and nothingness.


brown

And I'm thankful to the Maker of the Seasons who does not change but has made change all around us to keep us from getting complacent and for us to enjoy.


Just a good quote for the weekend

stripes and continents

Life is too short
to wear boring socks.




Go forth and conquer the weekend!


Monday, November 2, 2009

Letters From Your Friendly Cashier: Gross But True

Dear Shoppers,

Unfortunately, we have enough disgusting incidents that I've decided to make a whole series of Gross, But True letters. Let's just use these as friendly reminders on the proper and sanitary way to shop.

Gross, But True Fact #1
Leaving poop on the floor might be acceptable behavior for dogs, toddlers, crazy Aunt Myrtle in lock down and maybe citizens of the imaginary planet you come from, but here at The Market, we actually frown upon those who would leave such gifts by the registers.

Gross, But True Fact #2
While it's fun to let your innocent wee ones try on the bloody, drooling faces of evil in the Halloween mask aisle, please remember that the masks aren't just hiding their precious faces. No, they are also hiding germs. It astounds me that, especially now with the rampant flu viruses plaguing everyone, that you all would put these against your pie holes. But it astounds me even more that you allow your sick children to cough into them and leave nice presents for all the other stupid heads trying these on.

Sure, complain that we need wipes at the doors to disinfect the carts. Raise hell that a cashier coughed all through your transaction. But hey! It's Halloween and we're going to cough into the bloody troll face so everyone can catch the swine flu that we don't know we have yet! Joy!

Gross, But True Fact #3
If you get something from your body on the back of the toilet seat, for the love of Mike, wipe it off. I have nothing witty to say about such things because it is beyond gross.

Keep it clean,
The Friendly ex-Cashier

Letters From Your Friendly Cashier: Inside Out 3

Dear Candy Crazed People,

Whoa Nelly! In my 4 1/2 years at The Market, never have I seen such a craze right before Halloween! What gives? We had every register open (except for the 2 that are broken) and still had lines. It's almost a relief for me when that happens because at that point there's nothing I can do. If people complain, it won't be because I don't have enough lines open, but because their fellow humanoids stole their idea and just couldn't resist the spooky sales and came out in droves.

It was a fun day: Halloween. The Man let us wear "safe and appropriate" costumes and being the exemplary employees that we are, pushed it to the limits. It was awesome: you all seemed to enjoy being checked out by witches, dolls, devils, gypsies, pirates, and hey-what's that tall girl with the striped socks supposed to be? A bug?

Once and for all, I was batty. Don't you get it? Here's a reminder:


It's a little something I like to call 'a play on words.' Obviously by the amount of times some of you asked me to repeat myself, you still didn't really get it. Perhaps all that candy had gotten to your deeper thinking skillz. Or perhaps you are just stupid.

Either way, I enjoyed the smiles and the "oh, you're so cute's" because at 6 ft tall and big boned, I don't get the "cute" compliment all that much. I did not enjoy the few of you who looked at me like I was trying to take away your birthday. Snotty looks at my fun striped socks really only tell me that your just jealous at my extra long legs.

Next year perhaps I should just go as my true self: an Amazon Warrior. Then I can just kick some butt and take names. It will be fun!

I find that the day after a holiday, everyone is really tired and cranky. And rightly so. However, it's not nice to take it out on employees at The Market. We're tired and cranky too, but we have to keep smiling so you feel good about spending $200 on groceries after you've already dropped $250 on candy and costumes a couple nights earlier.

For example, the lady who complained to me about the cashier coughing while checking her out: What gives Lady? I know everyone is all a-twitter about the Swine Flu, but get a grip, will ya? Have you been in a cave? Have you yet to get any of the other nasty viruses going around? Because I'll tell you: if everyone with a cough stayed home to keep from contaminating your groceries, then there'd be 2 cashiers left to work and then you'd probably gripe about the lines being too long.

I'm sure it didn't escape your notice that the cashier did cough into her arm; I'd been watching her all morning and was quite proud. You promised to call our store manager and give him an ear full and I eagerly await that since you will probably misquote me and get me in trouble. Perhaps you could go live on Planet Ah-Ah where nobody ever coughs, sneezes, farts and a unicorn named Harry will play Uno with you every night. Sounds wonderful.

Oh, and by the way, here's a little tip for you with somewhat lazy tendencies. We're usually just thrilled to go on price checks for your box of butter without a bar code. We pee our pants with excitement when a shirt has lost its tag. We moan with delight when you swear the price said $3.47 and it's ringing up for $3.59 and you follow us to make sure we find what you're talking about. But once we're back there and you remember that you forgot food coloring, you should know that if you ask us to retrieve it for you, we can't say no.

But we can plan your demise with our fellow supervisors. It will likely include a 5 step plan where the pain gets a little worse with each step and it might or might not include green jello and thumbtacks.

Just sayin.

The Friendly ex-Cashier

Monday, October 26, 2009

Glamour in the Corn

Yesterday we celebrated my 33rd birthday. It was awesome. Charlie and I took glamour shots of each other in the dried corn patch...or as Jack called it: the corn bushes.

batty

We combined my birthday with our annual fall dress up party. It was a nice reprieve from my normally hectic schedule.

charlie and the corn

Since I got your attention with my return to the blogosphere with my last two cashier letters, I thought a random update was in order.

Sprinkled with random photography...of course!

015

As you probably guessed, I'm a manager type where I work now. Since Charlie's lay off, I got promoted and am working way more hours than I used to. The transition has been relatively smooth, but Charlie still needs a job. He is doing all the homeschooling and doing a wonderful job at that.
thinking about corn

child of the corn
I'm down with all the changes. Except I do miss the gremlins. Surprisingly so. The upside is that they are all super excited to see me when I come through the door, with The Cuteness screaming in delight and then harassing me the rest of the time I'm there. Nothing says I Love You like throwing yourself on the floor and demanding juice.

let go

Working more has been a lesson in letting go. I've been down with that also. I guess I was just ready for a big fat break. However, I've gone from wrangling gremlins to wrangling wayward customers and cashiers and the like. Maybe I should start carrying a bow and arrows? I'm a pretty good shot.

056

Chaz just turned 12. He's pretty awesome. When he's not turning Jackelope's brain to jelly from torment, he's charming everyone and acting too cool for words.

054

Zoe's almost 10. Need I say more? However, I will say she's a pretty good shot too. I couldn't be more proud of my female gremlin.

035

Grandma Diana is making her yearly visit right this second. My laundry room has never been so clean. Do you have any idea how smoothly this house would operate in my absence if she lived here all the time? Perhaps we could refuse to take her back to the bus...*insert evil laughter here*

034

Just so you know, Jackelope has an imaginary cousin in Mexico without a thumb. I knew you wouldn't be complete without that knowledge. I've got your back.

Life is going at breakneck speed and I'm thankful the writing bug has bitten again. I won't have as much time for it, but I already feel better having started it again. I had a wonky Monday and am starting to feel nice again already.