And I was having such a good day

Having a good day at work (cashier at a retail store), keeping busy so my long day goes by quicker. 9 hours is a long time to stand on my feet, but next week I'm getting a nice paycheck so feet will just have to get use to it. Then a note appears and I'm the first to read it. A customer had emailed the corporate office a complaint that a cashier was rude. So with lots of notes in margins from management on how badly they are horrifed such a person would say these things about "us". Then later another note was added of a list of complaints against us cashiers. My real opinion would get me fired so I have to resort to apply for other jobs in the hope of an interview. At least businesses are expanding instead of closing so I have hope. So I will just state facts here. Fact #1: Management did their math wrong but then people don't like their math (or grammar) corrected. Fact #2: Rude is open to interpretation and often used when customers have a temper tantrum and don't get their way. No cashier enjoys being bullied and sometimes that causes our "nice and friendly" disposition to drop suddenly. And another fact: This rude cashier could have been anybody simply following the rules given to them. Management wants us to follow rules and even thought of reward system to encourage this, and then they get mad when we do follow them because a customer got mad (oh my goodness, how could anyone predict that was going to happen!). Fact #3: Customers who say they will never shop our store again will always and mean "always" show up a week later to shop. Blackmail never works on me but management always cave in, with horror, at the implication and reward the complainer with coupons. A perfect example how corporations only see with the customer point of view only and ignore the point of view of employees. And then they act surprised when people quit on them. (From A Christmas Carol: I would love to give that Mr. Scrooge a piece of my mind and I bet he would choke on it). Fact#4: I make people mad at me every day and I refuse to hang my head in shame over it: Today I made several customers mad because our new system will not allow us to take coupons early as we did before; one person got mad because I was calling to look up a store card for the customer ahead of her and stormed to another register; another got mad because an item was not on clearance and I made it worse because it was too late to remove the item and she didn't want to wait in line at customer service to return item; and finally I made someone mad because I left the counter to straighten when she wanted to check out and yelled at me to come back. I won't go into the list of complaints and only say "They want us to call for help and then get mad when we do" and "I don't being treated like a child and be demanded of me to ask permission to use the bathroom". OK, alright, I got it off my chest. Going to bed.

Taken for granted

I just love being taken for granted. We get a video from the corporate office to describe the changes coming in new computer system. Complete waste of time if you ask me (nobody ever does). So it is installed 2 days late so I, customer service, and jewelry counter are first to explore it. Asking a manager what to do is useless becasue they know less than we do (rarely do they touch the cash registers). All alone with nobody to help me, I figure things out (always taken for granted by corporate that everyone can do things without directions and considered stupid if we fail). I apologize for learning a new system when taking too long with a customer. Takes about 2 hours to get use to it and tell my incoming coworker the basics. I take a break as incoming coworker arrives. She panics at firts customer calling for the manager to help her. At the sight of anything new throws anyone over 50 into a panic. She slowly figures things out with my help. Coworkers and cashier manager compare notes on experiences. That always helps. Today older than 50 coworker looks over my shoulder as I explain the system while ringing up customers. Line of customers builds and she gets on her own register. Goes into a panic at the first step (scan merchandise). Then get additional cashier help from the floor sale clerks. Both need help so I leave my customer 4 times in order to help them. I apologize and give her a coupon for her patience (sometimes it pays to be patient). Floor clerk leaves so I leave my next customer twice to help my coworker. Give another coupon for her patience. A manager shows up to help my coworker so I rush through my customers so the line doesn't build up again. Manager leaves to give someone a break so have to continue helping my coworker, but less frequently and my answers become verbal commands what button to push so don't need to leave my customers. After couple hours, she is gettign the hang of it, but full of questions. I never such surprise or complaints about how fast I rang up customers. I'm much faster than their brain could follow and astonished the transaction was done and I was just waiting for their signature.

We have a girl

Tonight changed the baby fish tank water and set the baby fish next to adult tanks. Baby Beta fish Dovey changed color and set off vertical horny female stripes viewing the male Beta fish. Male fish strutted for her turning bright red. So renamed the adolescent girl Thalia.

Day at the pool

Took niece and nephew to the pool at my apartment complex. Went over to pick up kids and nephew has appointment so went there first w/brother-in-law. Walked niece over to the river bridge and looked at the ducks swimming in built up garbage on edge of the dam. Then brother-in-law left for work and kids went with me to my apartment. It was snacktime. Ate some freezer pops and juice. Sprayed on the suntan lotion. Nephew didn't want to swim, but once we got there he did. I brought life jackets in case they wanted to swim on the deep end. They freaked a little when couldn't touch the bottom. I couldn't touch it either, but I could swim so I didn't need a life jacket. I swam with the kids across the pool to calm them down. Auntie would never let them drown. Sister was suppose to join us for swimming after her errands, but took so long she just picked them up. We all went out to eat at a pizza place. Nephew told the clerk he liked another pizza place better to my sister's embarassment. He seems obsesed over this place and always wants to go there. I think it is the soft serve ice cream they have. When returned home (w/out kids), cats were ready to play. I had to clean a fish tank. When done, went to bed. Cats had to wake me up early this morning.

Daily routine

We are making progress on the cat harness. Precious put his face in the loop and promptly took it out before I slid it down his neck. Stinker. Got to be called a mean lady by a customer the other day. Her daughter grabbed gift cards to play with and I ever so nicely asked for them back now please (since they were leaving). Oh no, her daughter is going to play with them if that's alright with me. I want the cards back (hey nice didn't work). Lady gives me the cards and as they leave she tells her daughter I was a mean lady. Well, that little girl will become a shoplifter in the future since her mother teaches her that stealing okay. And customer called the store to complain I was rude for not letting her daughter keep the gift cards. I know we aren't suppose to make customers angry, but sometimes we have to. I guess a new person has been complaining how the store is not just like the store person came from. Cashiers should always be busy and never stand around waiting for customers to come (customers don't know we are available to check them out when not standing at the cash registers and floor people tell us don't bother straightening cause it will get messy again). In addition we are no longer allowed to lean on the counters between customers. I asked how are we stand for an hour without moving. The announcement person had no idea how this person thought we should be standing. Besides that, this person is not in charge of the cashiers so what difference does it make to this person. Had a customer watch me as I was helping a customer as she was leaving (I'm sensitive to people watching me cause it means shoplifter). At the door, she stared at me as if she was waiting for me to do something. I said my usual, Have a good day (customer I was helping was leaving). She relaxed and smiled saying Thank you and calmly walked out the door. I wondered if she was a shoplifter, but have to let it go since I didn't see her take anything. I opened my too friendly mouth to a customer with a sunburn. I said, "Somebody had fun in the sun". No, she said, she had chemo and that makes her skin red. I quickly apologized. She didn't seem offended, but can't always tell. People are often nice to your face and then complain to the manager.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there. Got to be called a mean lady by a customer today. Her daughter grabbed gift cards to play with and I ever so nicely asked for them back now please (since they were leaving). Oh no, her daughter is going to play with if that's alright with me. I want the cards back (hey nice didn't work). Lady gives me cards and as they leave she tells her daughter I was a mean lady. Well, that little girl will become a shoplifter in the future since her mother teaches her that stealing okay. And customer called the store to complain I was rude for not letting her daughter keep the gift cards. I know we aren't suppose to make customers angry, but sometimes we have to. I guess a new person has been complaining how the store is not just like the store person came from. Cashiers should always be busy and never stand around waiting for customers to come (customers don't know we are available to check them out when not standing at the cash registers and floor people tell us don't bother straightening cause it will get messy again). In addition we are no longer allowed to lean on the counters between customers. I asked how are we stand for an hour without moving. The announcement person had no idea how this person thought we should be standing. I opened my too friendly mouth to a customer with a sunburn. I said, "Somebody had fun in the sun". No, she said, she had chemo and that makes her skin red. I quickly apologized. She didn't seem offended, but can't always tell. Had a customer watch me as I was helping a customer as she was leaving (I'm sensitive to people watching me cause it means shoplifter). At the door, she stared at me as if she was waiting for me to do something. I said my usual, Have a good day (customer I was helping was leaving). She relaxed and smiled saying Thank you and calmly walked out the door. I wondered if she was a shoplifter, but have to let it go since I didn't see her take anything. And finally, I wore my new dog tags with my Dad's info on them. After work I stopped by a florist to pick up a long stem red rose and black ribbon. Florist was confused when I said I was copying Phantom of the Opera. Guess florist doesn't watch many musicals. Ribbon got torn when florist stapled the paper around the rose closed. I took the rose out of the paper and placed it on my Dad's grave. My Mom's and sister's plastic flowers were still there, but my real ones with patriotic decoration were gone. I kissed the stone and left. I know it will seem crazy to my family to drive 30 minutes to spend 2 seconds at a grave when it is not Memorial Day. So I keep that myself and few people who read this blog. Then on my way home I stop to get a bite to eat and as I'm leaving, I run into a familiar face. Person didn't say anything so maybe it wasn't who I thought it was. Last thing I need right now is discussing this person's celebrating father's day with husband and kids while I am visiting my father's grave cause I have neither. God must have a sense of humor I don't appreciate.

Survived the weekend

Finally a day off tomorrow. I'm exhausted. I know you think a cashier standing still for 8 hours is easy, but if it was then everybody would be doing it. I walk around straightening, greet people walking in the door, saying "Have a nice day" to people leaving, tell people with returns where service desk is, and hope the person to aid in carrying heavy objects to customer's cars shows up cause I don't like lifting heavy objects with my bad back and knees. And of course, check out people, argue with prices cause people can't read signs, try to sell our store credit card, and today stopped a couple from leaving with unpaid merchandise. Lady got defensive that they were not thieves and I never said they were, I just noticed pillows deep in the basket (when moved away from the counter) that I did not scan before that's all. Another lady got her coupons and credit card read and asked what else I needed, "Merchandise would be good" I told her. Got to be on my toes cause customers are certainly not. This weekend they had a bunch torture devices, I mean coupons. It makes it very hard to sell our store credit card when customers have a fist full of coupons making their purchase next to nothing. Who would sign up for a credit card when they can get the same store card discounts mailed to their house, in the newspaper, off the internet, or from a friend/relative with a store card willing to their coupons? Not very many. We try to entice and ensnare, but most people already have one or get oodles of coupons in the newspaper. Make people pay for their purchases and our store credit card discounts will looking intoxicating. Not that I make much money from those store cards, it just looks good when bosslady decides on raises and hours (best sellers get more hours). I just hope I can find a new job soon. I see little future here at this company. I recently found out I'm working the past 2 years below the starting wage. Nice, right?

Dance recital

Made it to dance recital just before it began. No dinner for me since the line was to long at McD's They did ballet Giselle and then all the tap, lyrical, modern, etc. Aunt was confused by the ballet story, "It was just a bunch of dancing to me", she said. Yeah, that is what ballet is: a bunch of dancing. I told her to familiarize herself with ballets beyond The Nutcracker.

Zoo was closed

Feeding the cats this morning, I get a call to babysit the niece and nephew. So drive them to the zoo to find the gate closed. So go the mall that has a bowling alley. Niece got 59, Nephew 65, and I 103, w/bumpers. Very last bowl for me was a strike, they were so proud of me. Walked to Food Court for our snack and played in play area. When they announced to leave so they could clean the play area, we went home. They played w/toys until my sister came home. Nephew took apart his Lego jet and wanted me to put back together following the instructions. I wanted a nap so said no.

New order

I ordered some dog tags todqay with my Dad's name on them. He told me once he had dog tags (he was in the Air National Guard during Vietnam Era, but never served in combat), but he never showed them to me and after he died we couldn't find them cleaning out the house. So I looked the proper format of militry tags and ordered them. I plan to wear them during special events, under my shirt of course.

Good deed

Did my good deed of the day. Mother told me to hide a toy from her son. Son comes and I asked if he was having a good day. Mother said it was his birthday today. Oh, it IS a good day. So sang Happy Birthday song to him. He wouldn't tell me his name so I sang "dear little boy". Mother laughed. And Wow, I have an amazing coworker. It was the end of her shift and she was so concerned about leaving me alone that she waited 15 mins for the next coworker to arrive. Turns out next person wasn't coming in today so she made sure everything was in order before she left. Geez people, this ain't first time I worked by myself. Even better, they let me go home 15 mins early.

Adventures getting quarters

Had an adventure getting quarters for laundry. Bank inside a grocery store gives me quarters. I get a few things I realize later I already bought a couple days before and forgot to cross off my list. But there are new things on the list. Go out to car, put groceries in car, drive home. At home, I can't find my purse. Not on floor nor trunk. Go back to grocery store. I hear clerk say, "Here she comes". I think they are talking about a clerk behind me. I ask if anyone found a purse. Yes. Oh thank God, I say, I was so scared someone stole it. Check purse to make sure all money and credit cards are there. Nothing misssing (Only in honest Iowa, right?). Go home, again. 3 car wreck by a stop light backing up the traffic. One car had front tires shredded. People from cars were on street talking so assume no one hurt. Then made it home. Still raining, but much less. Maybe I will have to put a coat over my laundry basket.

No sleep

Dripping ceiling last night and had hard time sleeping. In the morning, dumped the water and had to plunger the sink drain to get dirt and hair out of the pipe. Then I exercised. Yes, I exercied since my sore ankle needs stronger leg muscles to stay well. Did step aerobics and stretching. My heart started pounding so hard I had to stop and rest. Then continued my exercise until I was too tired to do any more. Next Precious had to nap with me with Frodo staring at us. Cats get jealous of each other and need their turn. Will do laundry when it stops raining. Have to go outside for laundry.

New tank and new fish

Had to get new tank for baby fish Dovey who kept attacking baby fish Snooki. While in the store, glanced at female Beta fish. Book said females do best in 3's. If have 2 then 1 fish dominates the other, and we can't have that. Named new female Demeter. Female Beta fish Athena approaches Demeter while Demeter remains still. Female Beta fish Aphrodite keeps swimming away when Demeter approaches her. Dovey got moved into a new tank. Snooki keeps looking for Dovey in tank next door. Dovey keeps hiding under the filter. Then the next day, Dovey's fins start to split into threads like Male Beta fish Posiedon's fins are. Maybe we have a boy. Must decide on new names. My fish have Greek Mythology gods and goddesses names. Perhaps: Zeus, Hermes, Hades, or Ares. The actor who played Ares in Xena: Warrior Princess was so HOT that I might pick Ares for Dovey's new name. I looked the actor up after the show ended to see if he had done anything since and found out he died falling off a wood scaffold/tower he climbed to watch a sunset. I was crushed. We shall see.

Memorial Day

Can't really say Happy Memorial Day since it is day of remembering the dead. Beginnging as Decoration Day honoring the dead Union Soldiers after the Civil War, in the 20th Century turning into a remembrance day of all the dead, vets and civilians. Though later in the 20th Century, it became a 3 day weekend full of frolic with barbeques and swimming at the beach. Some of us still leave flowers at gravestones of those we love. Today I took my Mom and sister to the cemeteries where my Dad, Grandparents, Great-grandparents, and Great-Great Grandparents are buried. The mysterious Peony Can Lady had not visited. We find someone (we assume an old lady) leaves peonies in coffee cans of water at the tombstones of my Great-grandparents and Grandparents on my mother's side every year. We don't know who does this so we call the person Peony Can Lady. Perhaps she will visit tomorrow. The cemeteries were full of flags and Mom thought too many (of course she dislikes anything in abundance). Yes, well, I explain, They are usually representing a soldier. Veterans from long forgotten wars die mixed in the recently war dead, that makes a lot of flags. Then brought Mom and sis to my Mom's place to chat. Women must always chat. Mom was embarassed to write a check for me in front of my sister. I asked my sister if it bothered her. She said she didn't care. I think the whole family knows my Mom supports. Pray I find a better job and maybe I'll stop borrowing. I'm trying the best I can. Mom dropped a big bombshell. A cousin of hers may or may not have cancer. Said cousin won't tell anyone, but Mom's sister (a nurse) helped her out after her surgeries and suspected it. I saw said cousin at my store in a wheelchair and she refused to explain why she was in it. Oh well, nothing we can do about it. Next went grocery shopping after depositing Mom's check. And finally, home where my cats and fish were so happy to see me. Now watching The Borgias. I don't know why I'm addicted to this show when have no religious inclinations. Must be the history part of it. I love history.

RIP Lovey

Lovey died last night and found this morning. I had it for 12 days. He was fine yesterday and the day before when I cleaned the female tank I set all the fish together and arranged an introduction for Dovey getting very close to adult size. Dovey is 1/4 inch shorter than the other females so we will wait to put her in the female tank. I started to wonder if all the babies were female and searched the internet how to tell juvenile fish apart. Lovey ate plenty when put back into home tank. I sensed nothing bad would happen. Sang Amazing Grace and let Frodo sniff the fish. Baby fish Lovey is buried in Pooky's pot with Sweet Peas and Forget Me Not's. Lovey will be missed.

Don't worry, be happy

As the song goes "Don't worry, be happy". Yeah, I'm happy my shift ended. All day, every single customer had to complain their original priced item was on sale. No correct price recited nor how much it should be off, they just know it was sale. Ok, call the section item is in and the clerk informs me item is not on sale. Now customers no longer want the item so I have a large pile of rejects. And the Most Annoying Customer Award goes to: The Immigrant Jerk who pretended not to speak English (Yeah, he knew what he was doing and what I saying) and refused to leave until he got his way. I wanted to push this a**wipe out the door. First he complains everything is wrongly priced when I scan them. First clue of a scam artist. Then I call back to item's department and the scanned price is correct. He argues further it is on sale. I repeat, "The clerk said the price is correct and I am not changing it". He goes back to the department and has a store clerk come up to the registers and force me to give me his desired price. Clerk tells me somewhere in the department there is a sign (not connected to the item he is buying) that says $12.99. Ok, fine, $12.99. Oh, wait, now he says its $9.99 and he wants it Buy One Get One Half Off from the new sale price. BOGO's are only done on original price, never from a sale price. But there is line building up behind him from all his arguing and this a**wipe is not leaving until he gets his way so break all the rules to get rid of him. Next he has a coupon too. Give him his receipt with a smile and help next person. I gave the lady behind him 10% off for her patience. And finally, help arrives to get rid of my long line. I bet you are happy not to work my job.

Today's adventures

This morning I fed the fish and 2 fish wanted to sleep. I tapped the tank to wake them up and they noticed the food floating on top. I got worried the other fish would eat all the food and sleeping fish get none. Went to work. My store caught a shoplifter. Person bought something from my coworker while I was on my break and then security ran out the door. A customer even mentioned "If they needed help, just ask for it". The person caught was middle aged so I think this poor soul does this for a living and sell their stash on Ebay. No sympathy is this heart for a professional thief. The person held their head down in shame so could see their face, but their hair seemed familiar. I wondered if this was a person who shoplifted from a store I used to work for 10 years ago. Guess I'll never know now. Then later on, a former boss of mine shopped at my store and came to my register with his wife. Always glad to see people I know. Next came home and fed fish again. All fish were happy to eat. Now have to clean a tank. My baby fish are getting so big, I'm guessing two are juvenile while one is still a child. They are nearly as big the adult female fish. Maybe a month or two they will be adult. Reading up on the difference between male and female to distinguish them. Still observing their behavior to be sure. Well, cats need attention. Later.

I'm popular today

Wow, I'm popular today. 2 phone calls, one last night and one this afternoon, to come into work today. I had physical therapy this morning and sprained ankle that is getting much better so it needs rest (not stand still at a cash register for 8 hrs). Searched on internet for an hour for beach chairs for the cats to relax in on the balcony (they like to be off the ground). I find plenty for $40, but that is too much for canvas and metal poles. I find a couple cheap ones, but they want more money for shipping than what I'm paying for the chair. Then one store said chairs could only be bought in their stores. There are no beach chairs in their stores, I checked 2. One clerk said to chck around Memorial Day, they should have them then. I'm sure I'll be working all weekend, which upsets my Mom wanting a ride to the cemeteries. I'm the only one in the family that visits cemeteries. Got a note on my door from apartment manager how people are complaining about the bird feeders people put out on their balconies. It creates a mess people don't like. Oh well. Fish are still alive. Haven't killed any more. Fish lke new tanks with filters. Filters creates a water current at top of the tank. I notice fish purposely swimming in the current like a treadmill exercise. It also circulates the food I drop in so they get exercise chasing the food. Even the smaller baby fish is determined to get its fair share of food, it can be on another side of the tank from larger baby and still food circulating around. Such as life. My exercise for today is combing matted fur out of long haired cat Precious. I keep feeling hard spots. I know by his reluctance to petting when he has matted fur (I feel it and it will be pulled out). I try to be gentle, but sometimesa harder pull is necessary. Been brushing to get excess loose hair off before they get matted. Ah, summer is here.

Today is just another day

Last night I had to return my fish tank so I missed the season finale of NCIS. Tonight I was not missing season finale of Criminal Minds. Got fish into new tanks. They are discovering the water current from the filter. I think they like the more space of their new tanks. And I like the filter. Tomorrow I have off so need to get to store for beach chairs and put together a shelf thing for fish tanks. News of Southwest Airlines coming to Des Moines. I hope that means the Great Recession is over. I need a better job. I'm tired asking mama for money every month. Found lecture notes at work how to do our jobs better. The theme was "We are a business, not a charity". Our "Make Customers Happy" policy has turned into "License to Abuse" by the customers (who could have guessed that was going to happen besides the lowly cashiers). Now we are to follow the rules which conflicts with "Break all rules to make customers happy" policy. Of course, if a customer get upset then do whatever they say. Hello?, of course every customer will throw a fit to get their way, what fantasy world do these people live in? How do these people think "License to Abuse" got started. Anyway, to bed. I need to rest my sore ankle.