Happy Birthday to Kid #2

When someone becomes a parent, they can only hope that their kid will turn out to be an awesome human being, but like so many other things in life, it's a big ole crapshoot. 

Today I'm looking at this 30 year old person and thinking back over the years, and feeling like Hubby and I really got it right. (high fives with Hubby)

Kid #2, you're wonderful and amazing, and I've had the thought many times that it's a privilege just to know you - but I have the absolute honor of being your mom. What a lucky girl I am. 

We love you so much. Happy Birthday!

Smooth Brain Day

I had a pretty massive therapy session yesterday and am feeling delightfully drained today. Nothing is happening inside my head. It's so nice and quiet. 

Work is going well, too - before work, I ran into Dan (not literally) at a new coffee place we talked about a week or so ago, that we both learned about on Tick of the Tock. I was behind him in line - he was riding his bike. The mocha was so great and I will definitely be back again soon. 

Someone left a cute note on my desk that has a drawing of a little man and says, "HI N, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY". I suspect Rowan of this. P.S. It's Halloween, because it's the most unselfish holiday, and it's just fun as hell to dress up, carve pumpkins, eat and give out candy, see the costumes, etc. I love the community-ness of it. 

Also, someone here posted a poll for the students and staff, asking whether folks liked Dutch Bros or Starbucks. I added the new coffee spot and added votes for Dan and myself. 

THREE WEEKS TILL THE BIG TRIP AND I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!

The M Word

She's not allowed to take up any more of my time, or my words. We're just done. 

Except to say this: she said something to Heidi today that alluded to the idea that she thinks no one in the store likes her. The irony is, if she just treated us politely and professionally, she wouldn't have to worry about it. Instead, she bitches about us to our supervisors - which gets back to us - and then acts fake-nice to us when she's with us in person. 

But I'm not making great choices about her, either, as long as I keep talking about her. I've decided to stop spreading toxicity, and just be done with her.  She doesn't deserve any more than that.

IN A WEST END TOWN, THE DEAD END WORLD

... currently the song on the PA and I am happy about it.

Kyle's been sick for two days and I'm sick of THAT. Hurry up and get better, Kyle! Dammit!

Workplace pranks abound. On Friday, Ryan hid my computer mouse, and yesterday, I had to text him to find out where it was, since I couldn't use my computer to do any work. Didn't matter that much, because of KYLE. With him gone, I had to assume the cashier position and actually ring people up at the register. GEEZ, KYLE.

Anyway, to get back at Ryan, I found a file folder, placed a stupid picture of Dan's head inside, and put it on his desk with a sticky note from "Monica" saying "Please review this and see me ASAP". Apparently it did the job - he was pretty freaked out. It mostly made up for being alone for TWO DAMN DAYS (THANKS KYLE). 

(Next song was Ballroom Blitz)

We just counted all the Dan pictures we have hiding around the Clubhouse (Monica literally called our cashier department this, not in a complimentary way) and we're up to eight. EIGHT. 

The Very Small Friday

Due to R's spring soccer schedule, her last, I asked Ryan if I could work a 7:30-9:00 shift today so Hubby and I could catch her game in Centralia. Originally it was scheduled for 11:00 AM, but now is happening at 7:00 PM. I didn't tell Ryan, though. I'm fine leaving at 9 and going home early.

It's been a tiring week - not only because of the longer hours of rush week, but also because Hubby's had some weird little things going on that have required him to take the car to work most of the days, which has resulted in my walking to bus stops, the library, etc. All the unexpected physical activity took its toll - I just collapsed into bed yesterday afternoon. I'm looking forward to a mostly restful weekend with some free time to work on the house. The poor little storage unit must be missing me. It'll be nice to have energy and free time at the same time. 

The next check will be great, though. 

THIS PLACE IS CURSED

It's starting to remind me of that episode of The Love Boat when they held a vow renewal ceremony for a couple who'd sailed on the Titanic (and were jinxing the crew).  All the cast members attended this couple's wedding wearing various medical aids (eye patch, neck brace, etc). 

We have the broken ID computer, the non-working Pepsi cooler that ELECTROCUTED DAN (he's okay, just had to go get an EKG test), and then Register 2's computer decided to be a poop. And NOW, Register 4's scanner is refusing to work! I'd wonder what's about to break next, but I'm afraid to hear the answer!

Yikes.

 We had a spicy customer earlier in the morning and it kind of messed with my mood. 

LATER: Damaris has learned about the ID computer situation and he's throwing an epic (and hilarious) fit. Some quotes: 

- "God gives the toughest battles to the stupidest soldiers" 

- "When I'm running races, you know what I like? More hurdles"

- "This is reaching Mr. Krabs level of stinginess"

I'm patting myself on the back for hiring him last summer. YES. Go me!

In other news, Hubby is off to the dentist's office again for his ouchy mouth. Poor Hubby, I hope he can find some answers and relief from the pain today. It's been getting pretty bad. 

"Boy, are you dumb."

Monica strikes again, acting like a TOTAL GENIUS about this ID computer debacle. 

Since she couldn't see paying for a new computer or new software or a new camera for the ID room, in which we job-description-ingly create IDs for the students, she decided to partner with Security to create IDs with their computer, camera, and software. Since the bookstore makes money from each ID made, she doesn't want to let them handle the whole thing completely. 

So this is her stupid solution (there's no other word for it):

When a student comes in to the bookstore and requests an ID, we have to check the student's enrollment status here on our computer.

Then we fill out a ticket and take it to Tara in Security (who only works Monday through Wednesday). 

On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, Tara will create the ID. On Thursdays and Fridays, it will be done by one of our cashiers. Damaris and Rowan will train on the software first, along with Ryan. 

If they want a bus pass (provided free by C-Tran for the college), they have to come back to the bookstore and have us set that up for them with their new ID.

It's beyond dumb and as I was just saying to Rowan, she is the thorn on the rose that is this workplace. WITHOUT FAIL, she always chooses the stupidest possible solution to any situation. 

I've worked with people who were obtuse and heartless before, but no one has ever been this dumb.

NOT MUCH LATER:

She is universally mocked at each of our homes. Rowan says her name has become a verb at their house. 

Spring Rush 2026

I can tell my legs will be tired tomorrow. It's nice to have lines of people, though. Also, the ID computer situation has been addressed (somewhat) and will hopefully be resolved sometime in the near future. 

Doughnuts!

Rowan the Rock Star brought doughnuts to work today, like an absolute HERO. So good. I'm so glad I started drinking coffee early enough in life that I can enjoy it with a doughnut, and late enough that I remember the days when coffee was absolutely wicked, and I would go straight to Hell if I ever drank it. Coffee is that much more enjoyable now.

I normally don't work on Fridays, but Spring Quarter starts on Monday, and apparently they decided my presence was necessary, so here I am. No complaints out of me, though - there's doughnuts!

Later, I'll be swinging by home to pick up M and the little girls for a trip up to L's house. The girls are spending the night and having Easter Saturday with L. We'll be picking them up tomorrow. Tonight, Hubby and M and I will be at Costco, buying big poofy Easter dresses, a ham, and other delights. 

HAIR UPDATE: It still looks fine from the curlers. I just brushed it and came to work. Probably tomorrow I'll wash it again with the purple shampoo, and roll it up. We're gonna un-yellow the HECK out of these strands!

Why does it feel like Tuesday today?

Weird.

I have a long day of work today, with an extra hour tacked on to the end of my shift, AND a training here on campus. No playing for me today (not sure what that would look like, anyway, but it would probably have involved a storage unit). Kyle is out with a migraine and he is missed. 

Hubby has been battling a sore mouth for a long time and is going to see the dentist this afternoon. We'll see if he feels up to coaching at practice tonight. 

11:03 AM: On break. Quietly, the front end staff have acknowledged that Monica likes to pile on the Receiving work without asking, or paying us Receiving wages, and my feeling is that no one should voluntarily take on projects (Rowan was being sweet and restocking for Kayla today). If Monica wants to physically bring a project up here and ask us to perform a task, that's one thing, but no more of this taking stuff on out of the goodness of our hearts, or our boredom. She has SERIOUS problems with boundaries, and commandeering our cashiers is a huge issue for her. 

12:02 PM: Hubby visited and grabbed the insurance card for his appointment. Here's hoping it goes well. Poor guy has really been hurting lately. 

I have 28 minutes left in my shift and it's been a pretty fun one, minus the usual irritation someone (see above) always brings. Quite the thorn on the rose, she is. 

HAIR UPDATE: The rollers worked well, as did the purple shampoo, mostly. There's still a big yellow streak in my bangs, but maybe several shampoo applications will take care of it, as long as I continue to avoid the curling iron. 

THIS IS NOT AN APRIL FOOL'S DAY JOKE POST

 It absolutely is not. It just seems like one. 

What happened to March? March 2026 was a lovely month, with a minimum of drama. It just scooted away, quick like a bunny. 

Feeling totally like an April Fool's Day joke is our now-penniless state here at the bookstore. The pennies are gone from the tills, and from now on, when we give change in cash, it'll be rounded up to the nearest five cents. So, what do we do with our pennies now? Do we accept pennies from customers? Rounding up just feels wrong and weird. Hopefully the next POTUS will pull a Mormon Prophet and change everything back to the way it was when the current guy goes out. 

Okay, back to counting my penniless tills (it's just so strange).

9:34 AM: Watching the Lincoln City webcam on my computer monitor - it's stormy over there today, so it's mostly gray and wet-looking. Bleah to that. 

I think I'll write a March recap. (type type type) Okay, done.

11:57 AM: Boss Lady was ON ONE today. Kyle left early, he was so angry. Damn, woman, you're amazingly good at pissing off your employees! 

After reading that my curling iron is turning my white hair yellow (and my brown eyes blue), I decided to stop using it, and go back to using the purple shampoo that's supposed to brighten my hair. I came home from work, chatted with the kids, and hopped in the tub for the shampoo - I'm supposed to leave it on my hair for 5 minutes and doing that in the shower is a pain in the butt. We'll see how this goes.