Category: retail

Animals, anxiety, Automotive, Dogs, Emotions, family, Friends, Gardening, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

A Stormy Bit

1972italy

I am up earlier than I want to be, incase I need to go into work early. We got hit with nasty weather yesterday and last night. As a matter of fact the wind is starting to pick up. But a coworker lives down a two track that is a mess when this stuff hits. But some idjit in a big truck thought is would be fun to tear it up along her two track so with the weather she wasn’t sure if she would be able to get out. I told her to shoot me a message if she needed me to come in for her.

I went to bed way early. I was just too tired. But I feel as though I haven’t had enough. Stella got me up around 2:30am to go out but we went right back to bed. Both pups are asleep behind me. I know Stella is starting to feel sore from playing with Archie. I have been trying to distract him so he leaves her alone for a bit.

Still no word on getting my car in. I am trying not to be an ass about it but I really need to get my car in! Why this mechanic? Because he has been very good with my vehicles and if I don’t have all the money at once I can pay him the following week.

Both the store manager and the store owner have gotten involved in the issue with my one distributor. Since the store manager got to witness the mess the guy made and the fact that he was talking smack behind my back (we have never met) has ticked both of them off. The store owner has set up a meeting with them to straighten things out.

I am gonna wrap this up. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Gardening, Learning, Life, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

The Crazy Is Loose

1972italy

Stella was sick at breakfast so I am running a bit behind. I gave Archie some more food so he would stop bothering Stella while she tried to finish her breakfast after getting sick and Stella started trying to eat what was in his bowl. So I ended up give her some too.

Last night felt like chaos. Things got done but I shouldn’t have had to do this in the first place. The guy that comes in from one of my distributors to “stock” their beer just needs to go. He messed things up bad enough that I took photos. The store manager saw what they guy did first hand. Apparently I’d called about him before? Yeah, no. But I will be happy to call again. As a matter of fact the store owner can this time. The guy seemed to be really mouthy about me. While I wasn’t there. Anyway I had to redo all my singles backstock (this seems to be a weekly thing now) when I got to work. It kind of spiraled from there.

This morning I need to do my cigarette order as it did not get done yesterday. This will be a cram session since he seems to come early now. So hopefully nothing major happens so I can get it done. I don’t know when we are meeting with the bosses today. I need to have that done!

A storm is supposed to hit today so I don’t know what will be going on as the day progresses. Someone said 8am will be when things start to hit the fan.

And the clock says I have officially run out of time. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Food, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Medical, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Keep On Comin’

1972italy

We are only six days into the month and already it has been crazy. We have a new fridge. That works. But it doesn’t fit where the old one was (which is now totally dead). So for the time being it is plugged in but sitting at an angle where it is supposed to go. But it works. I will pull the last of the stuff from outside in and put it in the freezer.

I did get one of my promotions started at work. I pulled together a punch card promotion for my shooters (small bottles of liquor, also called airplane shots). I plan to have a shot of the week and if you buy one you get a punch on your card. If you buy two of any of the other flavors you get a punch n your card. Once that is filled you get a discount on your next purchase. it just started yesterday so we’ll see how it goes. I am also running a recipe contest that you have to use the shot of the week in. The recipe can be a drink recipe or a food recipe. At the end of the week I will pull them out and have people vote for their favorite one. Whoever wins gets a $10 gift card for the store. So we’ll see how it goes.

I have heard nothing new from the Brewery I contacted. I am still going to do the event, I just need to figure out how to word the flyers. I am debating about how early to put the flyers up. I don’t want to do it too early but I want to get people excited about it so they come. Sooooo…. in looking at the calendar I think that maybe the end of next week would be a good time. That would be about a month to the day. I also need to pull things together for the event. I am worried because they are redoing the store around that time. I have no idea where my set up will be. I’d prefer in front of the beer cave but that is at the back of the store. And I have no idea when this moving of the store’s internals will take place.

I did take a few photos of the repotted plants as well as my one cactus that after several years has actually started to bloom! I had no idea that this cactus bloomed. I just thought it was a cool looking cactus. I am very excited to see what she does! I think I might be able to include a photo of the little display I have set up for my promotion as well.

I see that it is late. The pups are snoozing behind me on the loveseat. Archie has been busy this morning with a bone but, much to Stella’s chagrin, settled on the loveseat with/on her. We’ll see how the day goes. I might see if I can get them playing outside. The snow might be too deep still for a walk on the property. It’s not that we can’t navigate through the snow so much as if Stella’s paws are constantly sinking in the snow her paws will get colder faster. Then she will start the holding a paw up because it is too cold thing. Archie seems to not care about the cold. Unless you get that soul chilling wind that we had a few days ago. Anyway, I need to get his posted. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Aging, Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Gardening, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Forwarding… mostly

1972italy

Oh I am done adulting…. I got home from work to hear that the fridge has gone down again. Chris has ordered parts to try to fix it again. Meanwhile roughly half of our fridge is in the snow outside the door. The rest has been lost. I saved what I could when I got home. We might have leads on a replacement but I have no idea.

Archie is out here with me. Stella has stayed with Chris and is in bed with him. On the plus side I have the next two days off once I get home this afternoon. It looks like I am back to my regular schedule. Mostly. On several days I am there until 3 pm instead of 2. That means I won’t see Chris at all.

This will be a short post as I seem to be running late. I hope that is not an indication of the day. Fingers crossed! Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Back at It

1972italy

It is a bitter cold this morning. Nobody wanted to get up. My sleep schedule is all off. My brain doesn’t want to shut down so I can get to sleep on time. I will need to retrain it. Hopefully my schedule goes back to normal for next week. That will help.

I got my succulents and orange tree repotted yesterday. So far everyone looks ok. My violet is still going strong after being repotted a few weeks ago. I was worried about her. But, she has some blooms so she is settling in. Speaking of blooms, one of my cactus plants has small flowers on top! I couldn’t believe it! (Naturally I did not think to take pictures🙄)

I still haven’t heard anything from the brewery. I may just start putting up signs and just edit them as needed. I want to start generating publicity as soon as I can. That will be on my to do list for work. I also need to check numbers. It has been a while since I have. I try to every week but it has been around two weeks now.

I should probably wrap this up. Oh, I will have another fun garden project this Spring! Chris is bringing me home tires to turn into planters! I am very excited! I will need to figure out where they will go first. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Food, Gardening, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Travel, Writing

The Middle of Nowhere

1972italy

I slept in a little. But really not at all since I actually went to bed a lot later than intended. My body is used to staying up several hours after I get home from work. So it has been nothing for me to have just fallen asleep when Chris gets home. And my body is used to 8-8:30am being our wake up time so I have time to do this. Ironically I still have to go to work today. I was so used to just getting dinner for just. that night, I forgot to get enough for three days. So the kids and I will have to take back bottles and cans. I don’t know if I will have enough for everything. Thank goodness for 10 cent returnables!

The pups still aren’t sure about me staying home. They don’t quite believe it. I don’t either to be fair. I don’t really want to go out but I would like to get them out of the house. Stella especially. She hasn’t gone for a ride in months. I still have my little to do list for my two days off. On that list is talking to my parents. Honestly I just want to disconnect from everyone. I have dealt with customers and their problems for 8 days. I’m kinda over dealing with people right now.

I honestly don’t know what to write. My brain is just empty. It’s one of those break out the crayons and color because that doesn’t require any thought. I guess I will add some photos and get this posted. Sorry for the blahness of it all. Atleast it’s short! Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Automotive, Cooking/Baking, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Food, Friends, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Travel, Writing

Do I See A Light?

1972italy

Today will not break me… Today will not break me… Last night was a near thing. I had a lot of customers/friends come in last night. I got a lot of love from everyone. And several good hugs. I told the pups that I still had one more shift to go, as they hunkered in on the love seat. The next time I turn to look at them they both have tear in their eyes and coming down their cheeks. That hit hard. They have been so very good. When I woke up this morning I seriously thought about not going anywhere tomorrow. But I think that they need some time outside of the house. And Archie needs to know that car rides don’t always mean going to the doctor. I think we will just stay in the area though. I don’t know what is wrong with the car yet.

I have heard back several times from the Brewery I contacted for my event in March. I am hoping that they send us some swag to pass out. I thought about doing it from 3-5pm but I might extend it to 6pm. That way anyone that gets out of work at 5pm has a chance to get there. I have several recipes to make but that will depend on when I can get ahold of the beer. If it is that day then it will be a long day for me at work because I will be cooking in the deli all day before the event. If they send the beer a few days before then I can piecemeal it out over two days. Although I might be able to ask the deli to cook for me as well. We’ll see.

I need to water my plants again already. My banana tree looked a bit sad after a few days of being happy. I checked and the dirt is bone dry. I checked several other plants and it is the same. So once I post this I will be going around and watering those that need it. Not all of them do. So I will check each one as I go. I am shocked at how dry some of them are! It’s like they haven’t been watered in a week or more.

I have limited funds this week so I have to make sure that I don’t go crazy. Car payment came out today so that was most of my check. I have to remind myself of that. When I feel like this I tend to overspend. I also need to figure out an anniversary gift for Chris. I am truly at a loss. I do plan to use the pasta maker I got for Christmas and make us some fresh pasta for dinner. Then we can use it together to do something. If I use it first I can hopefully get an understanding of it so that when we both use it, it goes smoothly.

Ok, I ought to get this posted and give the kids their treats. One more shift. One more shift. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Automotive, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Travel, Writing

Nudging Forward

1972italy

The sky to the South is sunny with mostly blue sky. The sky to the North is so dark it is almost black. Archie is chewing on a bone from last night while Stella is dozing behind me under a blanket. It was hard to get up this morning. As tired as I was I just couldn’t get to sleep. But when I did I was out. Archie tried to get me up around 7am. Both our sleep schedules are way off.

Last night went better than expected. I had a customer give me a big batch of dog coats, toys and blankets. I put them in the washer when I got home. There is even a big saddle bag backpack! I haven’t tried it on either dog yet. That might be a fun add on for nature walks this Spring and Summer. Some of the coats will even fit Archie if needed. Archie has already adopted the frog toy. We played a lot with that before bed last night.

Both pups were awesome last night. A bag of bones was left on the counter (they were supposed to get them when Chris left for work but things got a little crazy) and neither dog tried to get them. Either of them could’ve easily pulled it off the counter. I am very proud of both of them!

As much as I don’t want to go anywhere on Thursday I might load up the dogs and do my running then. I don’t want Archie to not like going in the car. If we leave before Chris gets up then he can have some extra quiet time. Unless of course I have to drop the car off. But I think that might not be til later this week. We might even go to McDonald’s in Kalkaska for cheeseburgers. And a Happy Meal for me of course! Then I can come home and repot my plants. It is about time to give them some plant food too. I just did the last of the special food for the banana tree yesterday. I made it in a gallon jug so it will last awhile but there is no more in the packet that came with the plant to make after this.

I guess I will get this posted. It is a bitter cold here (way below freezing after the windchill) but no snow. Chris blew out the driveway before I went to work yesterday. Hopefully it will last. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, dreams, Emotions, family, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

A Monday Muddler

1972italy

Mother Nature seems to have remembered which season we are supposed to be in. The temps are barely in the double digits and we seem to have gotten several inches of snow over night. Yay. With the windchill it is even colder. I have pulled Stella’s hoodie out and left it by the door. Archie doesn’t seem to need anything. He just naturally runs hot.

Yesterday morning was slow enough that I worked on plans for various things at work. I mocked up flyers and printed recipes. I also tried to come up with other ideas. I have a feeling that if my big event goes well I am going to be expected to do a quick video clip to post. I am ok behind the camera but not in front of it. So we’ll see.

Three more days. I came home wiped out last night. I had a hard time staying awake til my appropriate time. I kept falling asleep. I am hoping that the night goes fast. Well, the next three days to be honest. If I can get all my tills counted I should be able to get out at a decent time. I am hoping before 10pm. I plan to bring bones in before I leave for Chris to give to the pups when he leaves. Hopefully that will help with me not being home.

I need to water my plants again. It is so dry in the house that most of them need to be watered twice a week or they start looking all shriveled. I also have adopted six more plants. They are succulents and small plants. I plan to put two to a pot. I also hope to get repotting done as well. I might leave a little early Wednesday so I can go pick the stuff up. I really don’t want to have to leave the house on my days off. I can spread out a tarp or something and get everyone repotted on my days off. I should probably think about starting my seeds. When we get closer to being able to plant outside I will start some of the seeds in egg shells again. Not all of the seeds like the egg shell idea so I will have to be choosy. I also need to start planning what is going to be happening in my gardens this year. I need to make a serious effort instead of the usual fit-it-in-when-I-can that normally happens. Especially if I am putting up my greenhouse.

I am going to wrap this up and ger it posted. Thank you everyone for reaching out. And as always, thanks for reading and stay safe!

A ‘weed” in my yard
Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, Gardening, Life, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Party Plans

1972italy

Yesterday went better than expected for all of us at work. Let’s hope things continue that way. I also decided to do an event at work. There is a local brewery (Bella’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan) that does a very popular seasonal beer (Oberon) every year. Popular enough that they have a day and event named after it. It is one of my favorites so I decided to contact the brewery and ask if they had any promotional stuff that we could give away at our event. Then I let the store owner know my plans. He is all for it! So I need to do some serious planning (and call the Elk Rapids store about making my punch cards for my other event). I think I might even make a few flyers to put up. I think if I play it right it could be very well attended. So that is my next big project.

The snow has been sneaking in. You don’t notice that it is snowing very much. A few flakes here and there. But when we got up this morning you couldn’t see anymore paw prints on the back porch. I am grateful I don’t have to brush/scrape my car off every morning anymore.

Three more days… I hope the pups will be ok on those long shift days. We’ll see. I do get to sleep in the next five days because I’m closing then two days off. Another perk is I will have two days off, work two days then have two days off. I am trying to look at the bright side of things.

I see that I need to wrap this up. Thanks for reading and stay safe!